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Fourteen outstanding women inducted to Hall of Fame

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8 years ago

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The Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame welcomed 14 new honourees at a gala dinner and induction ceremony on Friday night (18 March). At the gala dinner, Mrs Mary Tan, Patron of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), presented each honouree with The Flame, a trophy that symbolizes the vitality of the women in the Hall of Fame and the torch of inspiration that is passed from one generation to another.
The Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (SWHF) was launched by SCWO in 2014 to recognise and celebrate the many contributions of women to Singapore’s development, and to share the stories of these outstanding women so as to inspire others, especially younger Singaporeans. In the first year 108 women were honoured, and in 2015 there were 11.
The 14 women comprise two Supreme Court judges, six sportswomen, two food personalities, a diplomat, an activist/advocate, a medical aid worker, and a community/social worker.

  1. MAY WONG – Pioneer community worker and tireless fund-raiser – Born 1899 Died 1989
  2. ALICE EDITH WILHELMINA PENNEFATHER – A pioneering and outstanding sportswoman – Born 1903 Died 1983
  3. TAN CHENG HIONG – Pioneer champion of women’s rights – Born 1904 Died 1999
  4. TAN YOON YIN – Singapore’s first lady of netball – Born 1929
  5. ELEANOR CLUNIES-ROSS – Pioneering athlete – Born 1934
  6. MARY BEATRICE KLASS – Pioneering athlete – Born 1935
  7. JANET JESUDASON – Pioneering athlete – Born 1936
  8. GLORIA BECK – Pioneering athlete – Born 1938 Died 2015
  9. JAYALEKSHMI MOHIDEEN – First female career diplomat – Born 1945
  10. ANG SWEE CHAI – Orthopaedic surgeon and medical aid worker extraordinaire – Born 1948
  11. LAI SIU CHIU – First woman on the Supreme Court Bench – Born 1948
  12. VIOLET OON – Singapore’s food ambassador – Born 1949
  13. AZIZA ALI – Pioneer restaurateur and promoter of Malay culture – Born 1950
  14. JUDITH PRAKASH – Key figure in Singapore’s growth as a global arbitration hub – Born 1951

One of the honourees, Dr Ang Swee Chai could not attend the induction ceremony because of Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA)’s refusal to issue an assurance that her Singapore citizenship will not be revoked. (read more here)
Each year, a short-list of candidates for induction is drawn up by the Resource Panel, assisted by SCWO’s team of researchers. The Selection Panel, chaired by Ambassador-at-Large Professor Tommy Koh, then decides on those to be inducted.
In his foreword in the 2016 SWHF commemorative booklet, Prof Koh notes that the Hall of Fame is already having the desired impact of inspiring others, especially the young.
At the end of 2015, an exhibition organised by SWHF and the National Museum (titled A
Salute to The Pioneering Women of Singapore) proved so popular that its scheduled run of five weeks was extended to 11 weeks. And students who attended SWHF talks and mini exhibitions at their schools spoke of how they were inspired to ‘step out of my comfort zone and do things to make a difference to others’, as one Secondary Two student put it.
Prof Koh added that in identifying the women to be inducted, the Resource and Selection Panels consider not just their achievements as individuals but also, where applicable, their contributions as team members. While the exemplary work and achievements of most of the honourees was in or for Singapore, some are honoured for having made a difference to lives and societies elsewhere.
“Singapore is a global city and it is right that our people are applying their talent, vision and passion as good global citizens to make this a better world,” Prof Koh said.
In his foreword, Michael Zink, Head of ASEAN and Citi Country Office, Singapore, said Citi was proud and honoured to be, for the third year running, the Presenting Sponsor of SWHF. The lives and stories of the women demonstrate that “with persistent focus, commitment and enthusiasm, dreams can indeed be transformed into reality”, he said.
Mr Zink added that as diversity and inclusion are prominent in the financial institution’s culture, Citi’s partnership with SCWO on the Hall of Fame gives it the opportunity to “align our diversity efforts and strengthen the impact of our strategy, programmes and performance”.
SCWO President Malathi Das in her foreword paid tribute to the honourees in a poem.
“Look in the mirror, And see what we see, A talented, magnificent and uplifting woman, Who has come so far, And has achieved so much,” she writes.
The stories of the women in the Hall of Fame can be found on the SWHF website (swhf.sg).
Also on the website are:
– Milestones, a timeline of the policies and laws affecting women in Singapore and of the achievements and contributions of individual women
– The Orchid Garden, a space where members of the public can pay tribute to the important women in their lives. Also featured here are the recipients of the Jamiyah Exemplary Mother Award and Great Women of Our Time Awards, and the tributes penned by visitors to the ‘A Salute to the Pioneering Women of Singapore’ exhibition held at the National Museum from Nov 2015 to January 2016.
The 2016 International Women’s Day gala dinner and SWHF Induction Ceremony will be held at the Tower Ballroom, Shangrila Hotel. Guests will include women parliamentarians, foreign diplomats, and senior civil servants, past SWHF inductees, and representatives of SCWO’s member organisations.

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Reddit user alleges brother-in-law secretly recorded her showering, asks for advice on what to do

A Reddit user recounted the disturbing experience of catching her brother-in-law secretly recording her while she showered. Despite her family’s efforts to dissuade her, she allegedly proceeded to file a police report. Netizens rallied behind her decision, affirming that she made the right choice.

Published

3 days ago

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12 September 2024

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SINGAPORE: A Reddit user recently shared her troubling experience, seeking advice on whether she could report her brother-in-law for secretly recording her while she was showering.

In a post uploaded on Wednesday (11 Sept), she explained that she lives with her family, including her pregnant sister and her sister’s boyfriend, who are staying with them while waiting for their Build-To-Order (BTO) flat.

The incident occurred one night when she was showering in a bathroom with a faulty door. To avoid disturbing her family with the loud noise caused by locking the door, she left it unlocked.

During her shower, she heard knocking and tapping sounds from the bathroom door.

When she looked out through the sliding door that separated the wet and dry areas, she saw a phone peeking over the top of the door. Shocked, she quickly closed the sliding door.

Afterwards, she felt overwhelmed and debated whether to inform her family. She also feared that her sister might have been a victim of the same behaviour.

Seeking advice, she asked on Reddit whether she could file a police report, and how the police might handle the situation if evidence had been deleted or if her brother-in-law denied it.

Netizens urge user to report incident

In response to her story on Reddit, many netizens encouraged the user to report the incident to the police.

One user strongly urged her to make a police report, stating, “You will only be enabling the criminal to commit future crimes if you let it slide.”

They explained that the police would record her statement and possibly confiscate the suspect’s mobile device for forensic IT investigations.

The Redditor reassured her that even if the data had been deleted, it was still possible for the police to retrieve timestamps of recordings or detect suspicious activity, such as deleting files at certain times.

They added that lodging a police report would serve as a precedent if the suspect engaged in similar behaviour in the future. The user was also advised to confide in a trustworthy family member or friend for support when filing the report.

Another user mentioned that she did not need to leave her room to make a report, as it could be done via the police website using Singpass, or by calling 999.

Additionally, one user recommended contacting the AWARE hotline for victims of sexual assault, particularly if her family was not supportive.

User files police report despite family’s reaction

In a subsequent update, the user thanked netizens for their support and confirmed that she had informed her family and filed a police report.

She shared that her brother-in-law had contacted her mother, indicating he was aware of being discovered.

Despite this, the user expressed frustration with her family’s response.

Her sister suggested that informing the family was punishment enough for her husband, and her parents urged her to “calm down” and reconsider filing the report.

The user felt disappointed by their lack of empathy, suspecting cultural norms may have influenced their reaction.

Netizens support user’s decision

In further responses, many netizens backed her decision to report the incident, assuring her that none of the blame rested on her.

One user praised her for being brave and doing the right thing by reporting the incident to the police, noting that “saving face” is a common cultural practice.

They added that the family should realise the true fault lay with the brother-in-law, describing him as a “pervert” and stating that no one should side with such behaviour.

Others reassured her that the family was already damaged by her brother-in-law’s behaviour, and that she had made the right choice.

A user expressed relief that she had filed the report, advising her not to feel guilty or be swayed by her family’s attempts to dissuade her.

They pointed out that many cases go unreported due to the desire to “save face” or “give someone a chance.”

The user added that her brother-in-law’s behaviour was likely not an isolated incident and praised her for taking the right steps to protect herself and others.

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TikTok video shows woman confronting 12 tenants in HDB flat, demands immediate eviction

A now-viral TikTok video shows a woman confronting tenants after allegedly discovering 12 people living in an HDB flat. She demanded they leave within an hour and called the police. While some praised the agent for enforcing HDB regulations, others felt the one-hour notice was too harsh, especially for migrant workers who might have come home after a long day. The current occupancy limit for four-room or larger HDB flats is eight people.

Published

6 days ago

on

9 September 2024

By

SINGAPORE: A now-viral TikTok video, with nearly 2 million views, features a woman, reportedly a property agent, confronting a group of tenants after allegedly discovering 12 people living in an HDB flat.

The woman, along with a person filming the scene, seemingly there for an inspection, is seen counting the tenants and questioning how many people are staying in the unit.

The one-minute clip, posted last Thursday (5 September) under the title “HDB unit being illegally sub-let,” captures the cameraman comparing the situation to “Crime Watch.”

The video alleges that 12 individuals are crammed into the flat, raising questions about whether this is allowed in Singapore.

While counting heads, the woman also inspects the rooms, revealing cramped conditions.

Clothes hang from window grilles, a thin mattress leans against the wall, and belongings are scattered across the floor.

At one point, the cameraman alerts her to someone in the toilet, visible as a shadow behind the door.

In the kitchen, she questions an occupant about a missing cabinet door, but he cannot provide a clear explanation.

In another room, visibly dissatisfied, the woman finds a dismantled bedframe propped against the wall and asks who is responsible for it.

Later, she sternly addresses some of the tenants, saying, “I give u one hour to pack your stuff, and get out of the place, if not I call the police.”

The video ends with a shot of a police car parked below the HDB block, but it doesn’t show or explain what happens next to the tenants or whether they were eventually evicted.

@homesinhd

Camera man feels like he is on Crime Watch. 12 pax squeeze in one flat in Singapore is crazy!! SG can meh? #realestate #realestatesingapore #singapore #crimewatch #police #exposed #caughtoncamera

♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) – Tommy Richman

In the comment section, some commended the property agent for taking responsibility by conducting spot checks to ensure tenants complied with HDB regulations.

However, others felt that the one-hour eviction notice could be too harsh for the tenants.

Several commenters speculated that the tenants, who appeared to be migrant workers, were likely unaware of the illegal subletting arrangement.

They may have paid rent, only to come home after a long day of work to find themselves being evicted.

In response to a netizen’s question about the illegal subletting, the admin of the TikTok account clarified that there were unauthorized tenants staying in the unit who were not registered with HDB.

The admin also mentioned that only six people are allowed to stay in four-room or larger flats, but some commenters corrected this information, noting that the maximum occupancy had been revised to eight.

Indeed, a joint press release in December 2023 announced that the occupancy limit had been increased from six to eight persons for three years, from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026.

This revised cap applies to four-room or larger HDB flats, including living quarters within HDB commercial properties that are comparable in size to a four-room flat.

The measure is intended to ease rental pressure, driven by the sharp rise in residential rents due to COVID-19 disruptions and increased rental demand.

However, authorities have also warned that they will strictly enforce the occupancy cap and may revoke rental approvals for homeowners who violate these regulations.

2019 Report Reveals Four-Room HDB Flat Housing 24 Tenants

In 2019, a report emerged alleging that a four-room HDB flat was housing 24 tenants, four times the maximum allowed by HDB.

The flat contained three double-decker bunk beds crammed into each bedroom, accommodating at least 18 people across the three rooms. One bedroom alone had eight occupants, and the living room was illegally partitioned into two additional rooms, rented to two couples, bringing the total to 24 tenants.

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