Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Human Rights Day, 10 December 2007

Human Rights Day, 10 December 2007

This year, the theme for Human Rights Day is the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One portion of the website is dedicated to how various groups can celebrate the event. sgwatchDOG reproduces the part for civil society.

For Civil Society
  • Organize campaigns to promote human rights in your region.
  • Produce a compilation of real-life stories of people who are working to realize their human rights.
  • Encourage local, national or regional media/journalists’ associations to organize a competition for the best published article/s on human rights throughout the year.
  • Hold seminars and/or speaking events that focus on issues such as the universality of human rights, their relevance in different religions, or the role of religious communities in the promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • Host a film screening and discussion or coordinate a film festival highlighting one or several human rights.
  • Arrange a poetry reading evening with locals reading their own poetry relating to human rights, as well as featuring readings of well-known poets’ writings on human rights.
  • Ask local artists to create a piece on human rights and organize an exhibit to show the work.
  • Organize a human rights stand at international/national/local book fairs to disseminate materials on human rights.
  • Organize an SMS/text message campaign encouraging people to read and know the Universal Declaration.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

It isn't easy for maids' bosses to seek redress

Consumer rights in Singapore are still hampered by weak enforcement measures. This scenario painted by the forum letter writer also highlights the tension between the rights of the consumer and the rights of the foreign domestic worker.
-------------------------------------
Straits Times Forum
Nov 1, 2007
It isn't easy for maids' bosses to seek redress
I REFER to the letter from the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case), 'Misleading data on maids: Bosses can seek redress' (ST, Oct 22).

Employment agencies are expected to provide true and accurate data to employers but most do not do so; neither do they care if an unsuitable maid is passed off to a family as they earn fees each time a maid is transferred.

CaseTrusted agencies may look good on paper but the accreditation does not count for much. When I approached Case over a dishonest maid agency, it explained that all it could do was send letters to the agency requesting it to 'do the right thing'.

The agency could ignore the letters and that would be the end of the matter. Case does not have any binding legal powers.

You may then consider taking your case to the Small Claims Tribunal. However, it also does not have any power to enforce a legal judgment.

I have been there too. The maid agency I had a dispute with sent a junior employee to the compulsory arbitration session who was unable to come up with a solution despite two mediators requesting the agency to find an amicable solution.

Meanwhile, the agency boss sat in his office in some dinghy shopping centre waiting for his employee to call so he could say 'no' continually as he preferred to have the matter taken to civil court. For the sum of about $3,000 (agency fee of up to $800 and outstanding maid loan paid by the employer of up to $2,000), it is not worth the employer hiring a lawyer and taking time off work to take the matter to court.

The time has come to regulate, through legislation, the conduct of maid agencies as breach of duty of care and non-disclosure are not one-off incidents.

A clean-up of the industry would also curtail problems of maid abuse, as it would ensure that employers get maids with the experience stated in their biodata, rather than, say, underaged and inexperienced maids with false passports.

It would also help if the 'maid loan' could be done away with as it is not fair for the employer to have to assume this responsibility. Let this issue be between the maid and her lender.

If the maid turns out to be unsuitable, the employer who has paid her loan upfront has no choice but to transfer her, or else forfeit the loan if he sends her home. This is why a lot of dishonest maids are recycled, to the advantage of agencies, which continue to collect transfer fees.

Tjio Swat Lianne (Mdm)

Young women earn just 2% less than men do

Straits Times
3rd October 2007

Young women earn just 2% less than men do

Women here have made big strides in gender equality, says Yu-Foo Yee Shoon

By Radha Basu
Community Correspondent
radhab@sph.com.sg

WOMEN in their 20s now earn 98 per cent of what their male counterparts do.

More women graduate from university, compared to men here, and women now own or co-own 87 per cent of Housing Board flats.

Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Yu-Foo Yee Shoon revealed these figures yesterday to illustrate how women in Singapore have made big strides in gender equality.

She was responding to a United Nations view that Singapore should define gender discrimination in its Constitution and review laws that could be seen as discriminatory to women.

At a meeting in New York earlier this year, a UN committee discussed the extent to which countries have met their obligations under an international treaty called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women – better known as “Cedaw” in short.

Mrs Yu-Foo presented Singapore’s report at the meeting as the Republic had acceded to the treaty in October 1995.

The UN committee applauded several moves by Singapore to end gender inequality, including its decision to confer citizenship to children born overseas to Singaporean women. Previously, only children born overseas to Singaporean men could gain citizenship.

But, it also expressed “deep concern” that Singapore still maintains “reservations” to – meaning it refuses to fully accept – certain articles of the Cedaw treaty that call for removing all discriminatory laws and customs, including those related to marriage.

Specifically, a bone of contention is Singapore’s allowing Muslims to defer to Syariah law, which the UN committee deems discriminatory towards women.

Mrs Yu-Foo said Singapore could not withdraw these reservations, as it had to “respect the rights of its indigenous people” – namely the Malays – “to practise their personal and religious laws”.

However, she did say Syariah laws are not “cast in stone”, and whether or not these laws should be updated is up to the MalayMuslim community to decide.

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) spokesman Nazirudin Mohd Nasir was also present at yesterday’s press conference. He said the Muslim community here regularly studies how other countries interpret and apply Muslim laws to check if updates are necessary here.

Mrs Yu-Foo said yesterday that rather than put in place hard-toenforce laws, Singapore is keen to make sure its women are treated fairly by giving them good opportunities on the ground.

Key among her current priorities is to ensure that more older women re-enter the workforce. Only 43 per cent of women aged 55 to 59 are employed.

Also, she wants to encourage more employers to adopt “flexible” work initiatives to attract and retain those who want to balance career and family demands.

The Cedaw committee’s recommendations will be duly studied, said Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports deputy secretary Chew Hock Yong, who also chairs an inter-ministerial body on Cedaw here.

“We take the committee’s comments seriously,” he said. “We need to look at each comment and ask ourselves – how can we do better?”

Singapore is due to give its next report to the UN Cedaw committee in November next year.

Working group on human rights planned

3rd October 2007
Straits Times

Working group on human rights planned

“We have to work to build up confidence. When you talk about human rights, some people always say, ‘Oh, don’t go there.’ But there are already groups in Singapore that are working for children’s rights, women’s rights, migrant workers’ rights etc.”

By Yeo Ghim Lay

AN INTERIM committee to establish a Singapore working group on human rights has been set up, with former Nominated MP Braema Mathi at its helm.

The Singapore working group, when up and running, will be part of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, a coalition of national groups from ASEAN countries which has its secretariat in Manila.

Ms Mathi was chosen by representatives from civil society organisations to lead the interim committee at a meeting here last month.

The move follows a decision by ASEAN ministers in July to include a provision in the ASEAN charter for a human rights body – the form and workings of which have yet to be finalised.

Civil society organisations from member countries – many operating via their respective working groups – aim to provide input and help shape the kind of human rights body ASEAN finally sets up.

Ms Mathi said yesterday there was now an opportunity to discuss human rights issues in a bigger way in Singapore, given the ASEAN foreign ministers’ decision on a human rights body.

The charter, a mini constitution for ASEAN , is expected to be unveiled at next month’s ASEAN leaders’ summit in Singapore.

Said Ms Mathi: “It is good for Singapore, as one of the founding ASEAN members, to be involved in the process. We want to see what we can do locally to help the process of this mechanism.”

Besides Ms Mathi, Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong and Mr Leong Sze Hian, president of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (Singapore), are on the committee.

Ms Mathi declined to reveal the identities of other members, saying the committee is still in the early stages of its work, and is in the process of recruiting more people.

Called the Singapore Working Committee for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, its activities will include dialogues and forums to educate and raise awareness about human rights, international conventions, ASEAN's charter and proposed human rights body, among other issues.

“We have to work to build up confidence. When you talk about human rights, some people always say, ‘Oh, don’t go there.’ But there are already groups in Singapore that are working for children’s rights, women’s rights, migrant workers’ rights etc,” said Ms Mathi.

Her committee will also work and hold discussions with civil society groups.

Among those she has spoken to is Think Centre president Sinapan Samydorai.

From 2003, he was the point man in Singapore for the Manila-based ASEAN group and headed the “interim Singapore Working Group”, which has held forums to promote awareness on human rights issues and the need for an ASEAN human rights mechanism.

But a meeting last month between representatives from civil society groups here and the Manila-based ASEAN group opted for Ms Mathi to coordinate the efforts and the work of an interim committee.

Mr Samydorai, who said he met Ms Mathi before her committee was formed, told The Straits Times his working group will listen to and welcome recommendations from Ms Mathi’s group and others.

On their part, both Ms Mathi and Mr Siew say they will remain open to engaging all relevant groups. They also stressed that the approach taken by the interim committee must be non-partisan.

Besides Mr Samydorai, lawyer and activist M. Ravi is understood to have his own group.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Photo editing?

Have a look at the My Paper article on the situation in Burma. (note the photo used)


Now look at the Lianhe Zaobao article on the situation in Burma (notice the difference?)


Let's see the original photo from Reuters...

一天内宣布回收50万件 美六公司同时召回中国玩具

What would it take for the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to set up a system to protect the safety of consumers? 6 US companies have just announced a recall of 500,000 pieces of China toys. Wave after wave of recalls seem to have made no impact on MTI.

一天内宣布回收50万件 美六公司同时召回中国玩具
韩咏红(北京特派员)

美国玩具公司展开新一轮的中国制造儿童产品召回行动。当地时间星期三一天内,共有六家公司宣布回收新一批总数超过50万件的中国制造玩具和儿童首饰,理由是这些产品被验出铅含量超标,达到危险水平。

市场分析人士相信,一日之内有这么多公司宣布召回问题产品,反映美国业界已加强检验产品。因此这类涉及中国制造玩具安全的召回行动,还将持续。与此同时,美国玩具商的经验已引起英国业界警惕。

英将加强玩具检查
英国的玩具及嗜好用品协会(Britain's Toy & Hobby Association)昨天表示,将加强对玩具的品质检查。

曾于2006年召回2万支中国制造儿童手电筒的美国Target Corp,本月26日宣布自愿召回35万件中国制造的儿童园艺工具和椅子,原因是这些产品的表面涂漆中的铅含量过高,这些产品从今年8月开始在美国售卖,售价介于3美元至10美元(约4.50至15新元)不等。

今年6月间刚召回150万件中国制造玩具小火车的RC2公司,这次召回800件“剑骑士”系列玩具。俄亥俄州的Jo-Ann Stores 召回1万6000件今年以来在全美各地出售的玩具草耙。

除了儿童玩具,儿童首饰也是美国公司加强检查的目标产品。纽约的TOBY N.Y.C公司扩大原来的召回规模,再召回2万3500件心型和猴型胸坠;以罗得岛为基地的Novelty公司召回850件儿童“旋转轮”金属项链,原因是这些项链的扣环铅含量超标。

虽然上述6家玩具公司均表示,没有收到报告显示这些玩具或饰品有小孩因使用这些产品而受到伤害,但从最新一轮召回行动看来,中国制造儿童玩具和用品在美国引起的铅含量安全危机,还在扩大。

全球最大的玩具商、美国美泰公司本月21日就中国制造玩具被召回一事向中方道歉,中国舆论界随后传出要求美国媒体也道歉、并要为“中国制造”赢回尊严的声浪,但新近的召回事件显示,涉及中国制造玩具的安全问题,尤其是儿童玩具和儿童用品中的铅含量问题,仍未告一段落。

美联社本周一曾发表报道说,自中国制造玩具大量被召回以后,美国一些从事产品测试的私人公司和实验室生意大增。一些有逾千名雇员的国际公司还准备增聘人手。

今年以来,美国玩具商因玩具铅含量超标而召回产品的宗数,至今已接近50宗,这个数字据说比是美国过去任何一年里玩具被召回的总数高出超过一倍。

连月来的安全风暴,给中国的玩具商以及在中国开设玩具厂的港商相当大的压力。中国的玩具商声称,一些玩具被认为有质量问题,是由于美国玩具设计本身有缺陷,但中国市场上含铅油漆,或劣质油漆的存在,仍是一些玩具厂老板的心头阴影。上个月,一名港籍玩具厂老板张树鸿即因误用了劣质油漆,导致他96万 7000件玩具被召回,张树鸿后来上吊自尽。

中国商务部:

严肃对待产品问题
另一方面,中国商务部发言人昨天对记者说,中国严肃对待产品安全问题,即使1000件产品中只有1件有问题,中国政府也会尽一切努力根据实际情况来认真解决问题。

中国国家质检总局局长李长江上周五会见美泰公司副总裁迪汤姆时也透露,为张树鸿提供不合格油漆的企业,已被追究刑事责任,四人被拘留。

Thursday, September 27, 2007

2 charged with RM200m Net scam

Malaysia Boleh! What about the Monetary Authority of Singapore?

The New Straits Times Online.......
By A. Hafiz Yatim

27 September, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara scored a first when it charged two directors with operating an Internet investment scam which saw them allegedly raking in more than RM200 million in just over a year. The directors of the Internet-based companies - PicPay Dot Com and New Mark Business Centre - became the first to be charged with collecting deposits without a licence in a get-rich-quick scheme.

The two - Briton Bryan John Marsden, 59, and his Malaysian wife Phan Sew Ken, 55 - are accused of duping thousands of investors in the scam.

Most of their victims are said to be from the United States, Australia and Britain while local investors are said to be fewer than 20.

The locals are believed to have invested RM650,000.

Marsden was charged with four counts of taking deposits without a licence while his wife was charged with two similar counts. All charges are under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989.

Marsden, a former project manager of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kuala Lumpur City Centre project, claimed trial to collecting deposits while he was a director of PicPay Dot Com and New Mark Business Centre.

Both companies were also charged with the same offence and Marsden represented them both.

Phan, a former teacher, also claimed trial to collecting deposits while being a director of both the companies.

The alleged offences occurred at PT 7323 Second floor, Jalan BBN1/2E, Bandar Baru Nilai, Seremban, between April 10, 2004, and July 4, 2005.

The couple face a maximum fine of RM10 million or 10 years’ jail, or both, for each charge if convicted.

The couple was produced at the Sessions Court here and in Seremban in August last year, where Marsden claimed trial to 51 counts of money laundering, while Phan claimed trial to 46 counts.

Marsden and Phan are being remanded at the Seremban and Kajang prisons respectively, after they failed to post bail of RM900,000 each last year.

Bank Negara deputy public prosecutor Fahmi Abdul Moin applied for bail at RM500,000 each with one surety for all six charges.

He also applied that the couple surrender their passports.

Their counsel, J. Kuldeep Kumar, told the court that their assets worth RM8 million had been frozen by Bank Negara as a result of the money-laundering cases. “I would like to apply that the frozen assets be used as bail.”

Fahmi said frozen assets could not be used as a condition to post bail.

Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff fixed bail at RM400,000 with one surety for Marsden, and RM300,000 with one surety for Phan.

She also ordered that both of them surrender their passports, and fixed three days beginning May 6 for hearing.

In April, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said the government was studying laws to put a stop to Internet investment scams .

Najib said people must be aware that they could lose money in such schemes.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

BBC NEWS | Americas | UN general assembly in full swing

BBC NEWS | Americas | UN general assembly in full swing

Racist blogs taken offline

TODAYonline
Tuesday • September 25, 2007

Nazry Bahrawi
nazry@mediacorp.com.sg

TWO blogs featuring racist comments have been blocked about a week after the authorities were alerted.

Peppered with vulgarities, the postings carried derogatory remarks about Muslims in Singapore. One blog was created in August and the other earlier this month. Both were apparently created by the same person — a Singapore-based male student, if the user profile on both blogs was to be believed.

Hosted on Google's Blogger site, both blogs were taken offline last week for violating the host's "terms of service". Just before they were blocked, the sites registered more than 140 hits in total.

Trainee teacher Tanveer Khan stumbled across the blogs on Sept 9. The 32-year-old immediately emailed an alert to the Media Development Authority (MDA).

Three days later, he received a reply that the police were looking into the matter. The blogs were blocked on Sept 18 and 20, respectively.

When contacted, a Google spokesperson told Today: "When we are notified of the existence of content that violates our Terms of Service, we act quickly to review it and determine whether it violates these policies.

"If we determine that it does, we will remove it immediately."

The spokesperson added: "Blogger prohibits certain kinds of content from being hosted on its servers."

More details on specific content that violates the company's policies are at www.blogger.com/content.g.

In response to queries, the Ministry of Home Affairs said: "The Government has always maintained a strong stance against activities that could disrupt our racial and religious harmony and will not hesitate to take action against those who attempt to do so."

It added: "The Police does not patrol the Internet because it is not practicable to do so. However, when warranted, the Police will inquire and investigate conduct on the Net based on specific intelligence received or information from complaints."

While such inflammatory sites should not be allowed to exist, Hong Kah GRC Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad agreed that it was impossible to monitor everything on the Web.

But Mr Tanveer told Today: "This person has a dangerous mind and needs to be traced. He must be stopped."

With the proposed changes to the Penal Code tabled last week in Parliament, a person convicted of causing racial and religious disharmony can be jailed up to three years or fined, or both. The Bill is up for debate next month.

Said Mr Zaqy: "If the blogger is found guilty, then I will leave it to the court to decide the punishment. I don't think there should be an exception in this case."

Public Statement on Internet Security

MAS

MAS had issued a public statement in July 2006 cautioning members of the public not to fall victim to unsolicited emails or letters purportedly from MAS requesting for their personal information or to transfer funds to a particular party or account.

Of late, MAS has again, learnt of isolated cases of fraudulent emails containing MAS' name, logo and letterhead. These emails ask the recipients for personal details such as banking information. We would like to reiterate that MAS does not send unsolicited emails asking for confidential information.

In light of increased internet security threats like phishing and the use of spyware, the public should be suspicious of unsolicited emails that bear the names of institutions and request for confidential information or give instructions to transfer funds to a particular party or account. Such emails usually represent an attempt to defraud the public. For tips to protect yourself from such fraudulent activities, please refer to the following MoneySENSE guides: "Phishing - How to Avoid becoming a Victim" , "Pitfalls of Dealing with Unregulated Persons" and "Protect Yourself Against Bogus Investment Opportunities".

If you receive any unsolicited emails or letters purportedly from MAS requesting for your personal information or offering to transfer funds into your bank account, you should report them to MAS immediately. You can contact us at:

Monetary Authority of Singapore
Communications Division
External Department
10 Shenton Way
MAS Building
Singapore 079117
Tel: (65) 1800 2258128
Fax: (65) 62270705
Email: webmaster@mas.gov.sg

24 September 2007

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

N0746140.pdf (application/pdf Object)
In a report submitted to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Philip Alston commented on his request for a visit to Singapore.

"The Government of Singapore, for example, with the highest per capita rate of judicial executions in the world, has firmly rejected a request for a visit. Instead the Government has opted to level ad hominem attacks by accusing the Special Rapporteur of pursuing a “personal agenda” that exceeds his mandate. Rather than opting to engage, the Government of Singapore asserts that it is for the Government whose practices are called into question, rather than the Special Rapporteur, to interpret the mandate given by the Council."

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Car imports come under scrutiny

Sep 14, 2007
Car imports come under scrutiny
Two traders arrested as Customs looks into importers underdeclaring value of vehicles
By Christopher Tan
THE buzz of wheeling and dealing at the Automobile Megamart in Kampong Ubi was interrupted on Tuesday morning when officers from Singapore Customs arrested two motor traders.

Ng Chee Siang, 24, and Chua Wee Meng, 37, were charged in court on Wednesday for trying to recover documents seized by Customs for an investigation.

If convicted, the duo face a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and 18 months in jail.

The alleged offences took place in June, at 61 Ubi Ave 2, unit #07-05 - which is also the office of a top parallel importer here. The company would not comment yesterday.

The Straits Times understands that the arrests are part of a crackdown on car importers suspected of underdeclaring the value of their cars, a widespread practice estimated to cost the Government millions in taxes every year.

A Customs spokesman confirmed that its officers were carrying out audits on car importers, but declined to say more as investigations are ongoing.

The Straits Times reported in June that the difference between the declared values of parallel imports and comparable cars brought in by authorised agents has widened in recent years.

The difference in taxes they attract can be more than $10,000 per car - thus allowing parallel imports to be priced far more competitively.

Parallel imports now account for 27 per cent of the new car market, up from less than 5 per cent in the 1990s, when the market was liberalised to facilitate such imports.

The crackdown is already having an impact, say industry sources. They have seen the open-market value (OMV) of several popular parallel imports adjusted upwards in recent weeks.

The OMV is roughly the cost price of a car plus the cost of transporting it to Singapore. It is the base rate on which all vehicle taxes are applied.

'There were some revisions,' a Singapore Vehicle Traders Association committee member noted.

Traders have started to advertise higher OMVs for some models. This has resulted in a wider-than-normal range of prices in the showrooms of parallel importers.

For instance, the hot-selling Toyota Wish XE goes for between $72,000 and $75,000, while the Toyota Estima X ranges from $99,000 to $108,000. The Toyota Harrier is now priced between $106,000 and $101,000.

Singapore Customs said the two arrests were the first made this year. Between 2004 and last year, it took four cases to court and collected $1.23 million in fines. Another 25 cases were settled out of court when importers paid composition fines of $3.2 million.

The fines collected pale in comparison to those for similar cases in the 1990s, when Customs and the Land Transport Authority recovered tens of millions of dollars, mainly from authorised agents.

'Motor traders have become a lot smarter. They don't leave incriminating evidence like memos and e-mail around,' said an industry expert.

Many of them set up companies in Japan or Britain which act as exporters, selling them cars and allowing them to quote prices that are far below factory ones, he explained.

'The burden of proof is on Customs...to produce evidence of a trader suppressing the value of a vehicle,' he said.

Observers reckon fundamental changes are needed if the problem is to be licked.

'We should apply taxes at the point of sale, based on the retail price of the vehicle,' suggested Mr Cecil Leong, managing director of Customs consulting firm Bryan Cave International Trade.

christan@sph.com.sg

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Optometrists & Opticians Board

Optometrists & Opticians Board

Waiting times at Polyclinics

2 new features to help people who intend to visit the polyclinics...
Queue Watch
Attendances and Waiting Times at Polyclinics

理财教育“课”不容缓

理财教育“课”不容缓
Financial literacy "lessons" cannot be postponed
Zaobao opinion piece, english translation to follow...
------------------------------------------
陈迎竹

房市热闹滚滚,股市谁也看不准,退休、年金和公积金又都成了最热门的话题。

这许多现象其实都涉及一个全民应该学习、但学校却并未重视的理财教育问题。

理财教育不被视为正规教育的一部分,不独新加坡如此,以先进国为主的经济合作与发展组织(OECD)到2003年才开始探讨普及理财教育(financial literacy)的问题。

它在2005年发表的报告中指出,澳洲受访者有67%表示了解复利概念,但要应用复利做计算时,事实上只有28%做得到;英国受访者有许多陷入财务危机而不自知;加拿大人则认为选择正确的投资比看牙医还紧张。

理财工作不能完全交给别人
在信息充裕的地区,民众在日常生活的大众传媒渠道中,毕竟还有耳濡目染的机会,人云亦云久之也有点概念。本地社会相形之下,信息不够普及,李光耀资政十年前就说过,新加坡金融界的“小道消息”不如香港,影响了市场的反应速度。

十年来,业内在这方面或许已有改善,但在老百姓层面,对理财的观念显然仍很贫乏,从不时在媒体出现的对金融机构的投诉就可见一斑。

理财就是个人财务的管理,不被列入正规教育的结果,是许多国人,不管受教育多寡,都缺乏这方面的知识和运作能力,乃至理解能力。

现在既然是知识经济的时代,金融商品日益多元复杂化,就像学者曾渊沧所说的,有一堆金融工程师专门在设计各种各样的投资工具,而显然其中细微与复杂的计算,莫不都站在所属金融机构的利益出发。

许多人在银行排个队,就被“顾客关系经理”游说,在无法深入理解自己所需的情况下,签下各种各样的投资商品。

在市道好的时候,皆大欢喜却不知何时应该下马;遇到市道逆转,受了内伤却可能已经找不到该有的“顾客关系”了。所以不少买了许多年的金融商品,到头来却发现白忙一场,即使不亏也没有满意的收获。

凡此种种,都是因为完全把理财的工作交给别人,一些人上巴刹买一袋青菜还得随时看紧,却在大把钱交给金融机构以后不闻不问,态度上还真是“青菜”得很。

于是,我们大多数人民的理财方式,过去莫不以公积金为依归,外加一点银行定期存款,买股票则与其说投资,很多人其实更像在赌博。

而相信还真的有相当多人认为遍布全岛三百多家的投注站是政府提供的理财便利店,生财之道多的是:多多、马票、大彩、足球,还有层出不穷的玩法,连老阿伯都会对着电脑荧屏看积分。

媒体时而免费配合赌博公司大事渲染中大奖者的故事,也更让小老百姓坚定“投注理财”的信念。

学校课程必须实际而有趣
传统教育观主导下的学校,功能从传道授业解惑到就业准备和职业训练甚至企业精神的培训,就是还没有把个人财务管理的行为与知识视为要务。

然而既已是知识经济的时代,了解这是个不能依赖一份工作做到老的时代,曾经定期提供退休储备的公积金,忽然发现都不够用了,对大多数的中低收入阶层来说,理财更成了一种必须终身持续的习惯。

现今社会上的理财知识多仰赖大众媒介,但是对受教育不高的人来说,往往可望而不可即,有心学习也缺乏系统,因此,因应时代的变迁与需要,理财教育更应该和两性教育、生命教育等等一起,成为学校教育的重要一环。

我认为学生在13到18岁之间,不管进入什么学校,都必须接受理财课程。理财事实上是一门牵涉面极其繁杂的知识,从复利的概念到投资工具、金融商品的种类,从风险的计算到金钱运用的选择,从财富的意义到面对金钱的态度,从具体细致到抽象概念。

课程可在几年的时间里传授,由浅入深,不必考试,但课程规划必须实际而有趣,教师必须有正确的态度和方法,让学生明白课程的意义和重要性。

金钱是人一生所需,大多数人一生所求,许多人穷其一生营营役役仍捉襟见肘,但正规教育却不把它纳入课程,冀望人民离开学校以后靠自己的接触去学习,是现代社会的虚矫与错误。

从小提供长期而有系统的财务管理知识训练,对国民成年以后养成理财习惯至关重要。人民有能力理财,国家才能彻底摆脱国富民贫的窘境。从这个意义上看,理财课程对绝大多数人来说,实在比物理化学几何代数重要得多了。

·作者是《联合早报》新闻编辑

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Additional free legal clinics by the Law Society

Singaporeans looking for free legal aid now have more options, due to additional clinics set up by the Law Society. This supplements existing legal clinics set up by various bodies, including community centres, family service centres, and other charities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Straits Times
Sep 10, 2007
Law Society office opens doors to give free legal aid
THE Law Society of Singapore has launched a pro bono or free services office to make legal aid available to people who cannot afford to pay for it.

'No one in Singapore should be bereft of someone to turn to if they should need legal advice or help, including those who cannot afford to pay for it,' said president of the Law Society Mr Philip Jeyaretnam on Monday.

Two pilot community legal clinics have been launched, as part of a new pro bono initiative by the Ministry of Law and the Law Society, with the support of the Singapore Academy of Law and the North-West and South-East Community Development Councils.

The two clinics will provide 'basic legal advice and information to needy Singaporeans and permanent residents', said Mr Jeyaretnam at the official opening at the Subordinate Courts.

'The opening of this Office clearly demonstrates the commitment of the Law Society of Singapore to its mission of serving the community by facilitating access to justice,' said Mr Jeyaretnam .

The pro bono services office encourages lawyers to contribute 25 hours of work a year, he said.

The office will administer the Law Society's pro bono programmes - Project Law Help and the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme - and will also work with the Legal Aid Bureau to develop new schemes.

'This will provide many more avenues for lawyers to volunteer their time to help needy Singaporeans.'

He commended lawyers who have been contributing to helping those in need. 'Over the years now, many lawyers from both large and small firms have been rendering voluntary service quietly behind the scenes in various ways,' he said.

'In these and other ways, lawyers do their part in making Singapore a 'happening' place.'

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Too many laws? (a.k.a. Not enough enforcement, not enough knowledge)

Lets sit down and try to list down the laws that relate directly to consumer protection in one way or another
  1. Banking Act
  2. Business Registration Act
  3. Central Provident Fund Act
  4. Charities Act
  5. Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act
  6. Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions and Safety Requirements) Act
  7. Companies Act
  8. Financial Advisers Act
  9. Employment Agencies Act
  10. Goods and Services Tax Act
  11. Health Products Act 2007
  12. Hire-Purchase Act
  13. House to House and Street Collections Act
  14. Insurance Act
  15. Medical Registration Act
  16. Minors’ Contracts Act
  17. Misrepresentation Act
  18. Money-changing and Remittance Businesses Act
  19. Moneylenders Act
  20. Multi-level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act
  21. Optometrists and Opticians Act 2007
  22. Pawnbrokers Act
  23. Poisons Act
  24. Price Control Act
  25. Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act
  26. Sale of Drugs Act
  27. Sale of Food Act
  28. Secondhand Goods Dealers Act 2007
  29. Small Claims Tribunals Act
  30. Spam Control Act 2007
  31. Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Act
  32. Travel Agents Act
  33. Unfair Contract Terms Act
  34. Weights and Measures Act
To be continued

Food Standards Agency - Agency revises advice on certain artificial food colours

Food Standards Agency - Agency revises advice on certain artificial food colours

Police, HSA raid Desker Road to curb sale of unapproved drugs

Channelnewsasia.com

Monday, September 03, 2007

Friday, August 31, 2007

Outdoor events by political parties banned

Straits Times
sgwatchDOG wonders which is the law that bans outdoor events, so that the actual text can be studied...

Aug 28, 2007
Outdoor events by political parties banned
A PERMIT application by the Workers' Party (WP) to hold a cycling event for its 50th anniversary was rejected because political parties are banned from organising outdoor activities.

This is a longstanding position, as outdoor gatherings by parties have the potential to cause a public disturbance, said Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee yesterday.

He was responding to Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim, who wanted to know why the WP could not get a police permit for a mass cycling event at East Coast Park.

Said Associate Professor Ho: 'The East Coast Park is a recreational park for Singaporeans and their families. It is not meant to be used by a political party to promote its cause.

'Apart from displacing the usual recreational users...it is an open area where there is greater potential for breach of the peace, public disorder and unruly behaviour.'

He said that police required political events to be held indoors or in stadiums where problems could be contained, adding that the WP could consider these venues. The policy applied to all political parties, he said.

To another question from Ms Lim, he said that even if the organisers were well behaved, others there might still cause problems.

To laughter, he added: 'Maybe cycle around the stadium.'

Then, WP MP Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) rose to ask why political events in public places were deemed to cause disturbances.

He also asked if Prof Ho considered cycling in a stadium a reasonable suggestion, and if the minister could designate a part of East Coast Park for sports by parties, just as Hong Lim Park became designated Speakers' Corner. Just before he sat down, Mr Low remarked: 'Cycling at Hong Lim Park? Don't tell me that, ah.'

To the first question, Prof Ho retorted: 'If you listened very carefully Mr Low, I don't know whether his hearing aid is with him because he wears one, I said there is a greater potential for law and order (problems).

'You may be well-behaving, but there may be other people whom you come across when you cycle who may stop you, may want to debate with you and that may attract a crowd, and therefore will result in problems the police want to avoid.'

JEREMY AU YONG

Money

sgwatchDOG kicks off the newly merged blog with a new section on Money. Issues like banking and insurance will be discussed here.

Instead of having multiple posts, and tying them together with tags, sgwatchDOG will try out a different approach, by using one blog post for each topic, updating that post with new info as and when needed.

One of the first big transactions that a person undertakes is opening a bank account. So it is must be quite humbling to note that protection of such accounts in case of a bank going bankrupt has only been implemented very recently.

The Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC) pays you money when the bank goes bust.

From the SDIC website,
"In the event a Scheme member bank or finance company fails, all of your eligible accounts with that member are aggregated and insured up to S$20,000, net of your liabilities to the member."

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Inquiries Bill

070031.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Another interesting bit of information from the eGazette website. It seems this new Bill, if passed into law, will repeal the Commissions of Inquiry Act. Wonder what major changes are being made, such that amendments could not be made to the existing Act, but could only be done with an entirely new Act...

8 consumer rights

From a Consumers International webpage...
  1. The right to satisfaction of basic needs - To have access to basic, essential goods and services: adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water and sanitation.
  2. The right to safety - To be protected against products, production processes and services which are hazardous to health or life.
  3. The right to be informed - To be given the facts needed to make an informed choice, and to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labelling.
  4. The right to choose - To be able to select from a range of products and services, offered at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.
  5. The right to be heard - To have consumer interests represented in the making and execution of government policy, and in the development of products and services.
  6. The right to redress - To receive a fair settlement of just claims, including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.
  7. The right to consumer education - To acquire knowledge and skills needed to make informed, confident choices about goods and services, while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them.
  8. The right to a healthy environment - To live and work in an environment which is non-threatening to the well-being of present and future generations.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

mouse print* and MythBusters

2 great concepts, one online, the other on TV. mouse print* reveals the truth behind the fine print. MythBusters conduct cool experiments to test various myths from past to present.

Dr Money had an article, which touched on fine print also recently.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Moose with wind are worse than gas guzzlers - Times Online

Times Online
How do we choose between saving the earth and protecting animals? Perhaps we should take it one step at a time... The news article claims that a moose contributes in 1 year, an equivalent of driving a motorcar for 13,000km. So, to ascertain if moose are a more serious problem than cars in Norway, we need info like the number of moose in Norway (120,000), the number of cars in Norway (?), the distance travelled by cars in Norway (?).

Moose with wind are worse than gas guzzlers
Roger Boyes in Berlin

They are dubbed the “Kings of the Forest” and are regarded by Norwegians as their national symbol.

Now, though, scientists have claimed that because of their burping and farting, the placid moose is an eco killer. During a single year, according to new research, a full-grown moose expels – from both ends – the methane equivalent of 2,100kg of carbon dioxide emissions. That is said to be as destructive for the atmosphere as the emissions released by 13,000km (8,000 miles) of car travel.

“To put it into perspective, the return flight from Oslo to Santiago in Chile leaves a carbon footprint of 880 kilos,” said the biologist Reidar Andersen, a biologist. “Shoot a moose and you have saved the equivalent of two long-haul flights.” The findings, from the technical university in Trondheim, place Scandinavians in a dilemma. Many are dedicated winter season tourists to Asian destinations such as Bali and Thailand. Is shooting moose about to become a fashionable way of easing their troubled envi-ronmental consciences? Researchers in Scotland and Wales have been examining how the feeding of dairy cows could be changed to cut back their gaseous belching. No such work has been possible, however, on the 120,000 wild moose in Norway.

Already, though, climate change is alleged to have so altered their eating habits that they are involved in an en-vironmentally vicious circle of increasing gas emissions. It began when snows started to recede in Norway. “Moose normally eat branches in the winter, a not particularly nutritious diet,” said Erling Solberg, of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. “But since snow has become so much rarer they have access to wild blueberries.”

The result has been fatter moose that are more likely to break wind. Moreover, better-fed, the moose have started to reproduce more quickly and herds are swelling.

Last winter there were reports of moose straying into towns in search of food – eating Christmas decorations and even smashing shop windows to reach displayed vegetables.

Norwegians are therefore pleading for higher hunt quotas to keep moose numbers down and the gas emissions under control. The hunting season begins on September 25 and the authorities have allowed a kill-quota of 35,000.

“Think of it this way,” said Professor Andersen, who hunts moose as well as researching them. “Remove a moose from the world and you have saved the equivalent of 36 flights between Oslo and Trondheim.”

The Kyoto protocol counts a tonne of expelled methane as the equivalent of 21 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

80 million metric tons of methane produced annually by ruminant livestock worldwide

Source: EPA

Interesting parts of the Telecom Competition Code (TCC)

sgwatchDOG just found out that the TCC requires licensees (e.g. M1, Singnet, Starhub) to reveal how many complaints they receive. See below for the full text of the relevant section.

3.2.7 Service Quality Information Disclosure Requirements

(a) Licensees must make publicly available, in a format
that can be understood easily by End Users, a report
indicating the number and type of complaints that the
Licensee has received from its End Users and a
statement as to the extent to which the Licensee has
met all applicable quality of service standards issued by
IDA.

(b) The Licensee must update this information at least
once each year. The Licensee may satisfy the obligation
to make this information publicly available by posting
the information on its website.

SingTel's entry
M1's entry
Starhub's entry

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Singapore

Advance Unedited Version (PDF)
The concluding comments from the CEDAW committee are out...

Cartoon heroes and villains

Kids' food | Food industry tricks
sgwatchDOG has always found it difficult to see why some of the consumer organisations are so concerned about food advertisements targeted at children. It's time to find proper scientific documents to see the correlation between these ads and their effects on children. sgwatchDOG is quite sure that someone has already done that, but it needs a bit of searching. In the meantime, you can read the Which? report on this issue.

Unregulated online pharmacies pose drug risk

Which?
Like other email users on the earth, sgwatchDOG receives tonnes of spam on online drugs. For people who are adventurous enough to try these sources out, a word of caution from MarkMonitor, via a Which? news article.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

13th ASEAN Summit website

Home
News that the draft ASEAN Charter will not be circulated publicly before the Summit in November has been discouraging, to say the least. sgwatchDOG will be lobbying for the draft to be released for public comments before its signing.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Court Dispute Resolution

Non-Party L.G.M. LIMITED (SINGAPORE BRANCH) MOEY & YUEN MOEY CHIN WOON MICHAEL
Defendant ORIONS BELT NETWORK PTE LTD SURIAN & PARTNERS SIDAMBARAM UTHAYASURIAN
Plaintiff CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE SOBHRAJ TAY LOW SUBRA & TEO LOW WAN KWONG
From the Subordinate Courts website

Monday, August 06, 2007

Women & The Economy - Ethical Consumption

UNPAC
Although the article is targeted at women, the consumer advice is nonetheless still relevant. Do think of the concerns before making your next purchase.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Employment

(Work in progress...blog post to be published gradually...)

The Employment Act is the main piece of legislation in Singapore for labour issues. Some of the useful information for employees...
  • (3) The notice to terminate the service of a person who is employed under a contract of service shall be not less than —
  • (a) one day’s notice if he has been so employed for less than 26 weeks;
  • (b) one week’s notice if he has been so employed for 26 weeks or more but less than 2 years;
  • (c) 2 week’s notice if he has been so employed for 2 years or more but less than 5 years; and
  • (d) 4 weeks’ notice if he has been so employed for 5 years or more.

NLB eResources

Available on the National Library Board (NLB) website. (access to documents requires login via a NLB Digital Library account, which is free)

There is also a new eSearch & Browse beta applications, which makes finding information much easier, as it allows searching across all eDatabases.

Consumer policy review
from 01/01/1994 to present in ABI/INFORM Complete and ProQuest 5000 International

Consumer reports
from 01/01/1991 to 3 months ago in Academic Search Premier, Business Source Complete, MAS Ultra - Public Library Edition and MasterFILE Premier

Journal of consumer policy
from 01/12/1977 to present in Springer Online Journals Complete

Monday, July 30, 2007

3 versions

ASEAN to set up new regional human rights body (Channel NewsAsia)
ASEAN ministers agree to form human rights commission (Inquirer)
Southeast Asia nations tackle Myanmar, but softly (Reuters)

Read all 3 stories, and make your own choice on which article is closest to the truth... Anyway, sgwatchDOG wonders what form the ASEAN human rights commission will take when it is eventually formed.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Should you be made to pay when you phone a helpline?

Dear Anna | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited
It sounds scary when the article mentions the sentence below.

"Actually, the law does not care what service providers charge for support, provided they make their charges clear and don't abuse premium-rate regulations."

It does seem unfair that companies will be paid more for providing a bad product or service.

Merged blogs

2 other blogs have been merged into this blog. This will allow a "one-stop shop" blog, plus hopefully improve the quality of posts.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Order Paper for Parliament

OrderPaper27.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Wonder if the various MPs are allowed to check if other MPs have asked similar questions...there seems to be a glut of questions on the closure of UNSW in Singapore. Anyway, the order paper provides good info on what's on the minds of the MPs, and one can also see what new laws are being considered...very important to monitor the human rights situation...

Monday, July 02, 2007

Crackdown on International Marriage Ads (The Korea Times)

Crackdown on International Marriage Ads (The Korea Times)
Looks like Singapore is not the only country which is facing the issue of objectionable ads relating to foreign brides...

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Amnesty International Report 2007

Singapore
Still reading through the section on Singapore...hope to do a comprehensive monitoring report based on international statistics...still in draft stage at the moment.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

SAF Act amendment

TODAY reported on the amendment of the Singapore Armed Forces Act, which "seeks to amend the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295) to enable the Singapore Armed Forces to be deployed in aid of civilian authorities for specified purposes or in specified events." as stated in the explanatory statement in the Bill (PDF).

sgwatchDOG hopes that this is not the start of the slide down the slippery slope towards the use of the military to arrest citizens.

The proceedings are recorded in the Hansard.

The Straits Times also has an article on this issue.

last updated: 10th August 2007

Monday, May 21, 2007

Global net censorship 'growing'

BBC NEWS | Technology |
News on censorship, which threatens the egalitarian nature of the internet. The Singapore country profile can be found here.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

human rights awards

http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGIOR800012007

Besides the good news regarding the awards, another plus point is the
number of human rights organisations involved in this.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

The Cost of...

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Documentary Archive
Many consumers are realising that the once simple method of choosing the cheapest product on offer is no longer so simple. Low prices may be an indication of abuse of labour rights of workers in the country of manufacture.

越来越多消费者在购买产品时,已了解到用最低廉的价格来选择产品已经不在那么简单。低廉的价格可能是因为制造产品的员工的薪金与福利不符合国际的劳工标准。

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices

Ministry of Manpower | Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP)
sgwatchDOG hopes that the new guidelines will make it easier to "shame" companies that place discriminatory job ads.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

US: Wal-Mart Denies Workers Basic Rights (Human Rights Watch, 1-5-2007)

Human Rights Watch, 1st May 2007
In line with Labour Day, which happens today, a report by HRW on attempts by Wal-Mart to prevent workers from joining unions.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Zahari's 17 Years

Google Video
Martyn See's documentary is now online...

Europe MPs 'gagged' by Singapore

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Europe MPs 'gagged' by Singapore
Another sign of PAP's reluctance to allow discussions about politics in Singapore.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Scuffle for organs sparks donor debate in Singapore

Such a sad story, sgwatchDOG feels sick just imagining the scenes where "police officers entered the ward and restrained the distraught family while Sim's body was quickly whisked away"...
----------------------------------
Reuters.com

Scuffle for organs sparks donor debate in Singapore
Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:55 AM ET

By Koh Gui Qing

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - As members of Sim Tee Hua's family sat at his bedside to pray for his recovery, they were horrified to learn that the hospital staff were about to turn off his life-support machine and use his organs for transplants.

The scenes that followed have shocked and upset not just Sim's family but many other Singaporeans, sparking a debate over the country's organ donor policy, which assumes that all citizens are willing donors, unless they have registered with the government that they wish to opt out.

Doctors at Singapore General Hospital had declared Sim brain-dead and said they could not delay switching off life support any longer because of the risk of damage to Sim's organs.

Sim's family had no objection to his organs being used for transplants but wanted doctors to wait one more day before turning off the life support machine.

But as Sim's 68-year-old mother and about 20 other relatives knelt weeping before the doctors, begging them to wait, nine police officers entered the ward and restrained the distraught family while Sim's body was quickly whisked away.

"The hospital staff were running as they wheeled him out of the back door of the room. They were behaving like robbers," said Sim Chew Hiah, one of Sim's elder sisters.

The Sim family's experience has prompted a wave of letters to the local media, with some people saying they would opt out in protest, and added fire to a debate about organ trading.

Lee Wei Ling -- a prominent doctor who is the daughter of Lee Kuan Yew, the first prime minister of modern Singapore -- last month urged the government to legalize organ trading, or the buying or selling of human organs for cash.

"Organ trading is frowned upon and usually not allowed in countries where political correctness reigns," said Lee in a letter to the Straits Times.

"If monetary incentive makes a potential living donor more willing to save another life, what is wrong in allowing that?"

Her views have some support from the public.

"If I can sell my organs, give my children a better life, and save someone else's life too, why not? Not everyone drives a Mercedes," said Khalid, 32, who gave only his first name.

Currently, anyone caught buying or selling human organs in Singapore may be jailed up to a year or fined up to US$6,500.

POOR DONORS

Those who oppose the trading of human organs say it promotes greater social injustice.

"To trade it and sell it for a 100 pounds, 200 pounds, or to the highest bidder, that is to prostitute your organ," said Dr Choi Kin, president of the Hong Kong Medical Association.

Such donors are likely to be the poor and uneducated people from countries such as Brazil and India, who can sell a kidney for as little as $1,000, the World Health Organization said.

And they are usually exploited by organ traffickers, who can charge wealthy clients up to $100,000 to $200,000 for a new organ, according to the WHO.

The chronic shortage of organs available for transplant is a global problem. In the U.S. alone, more than 6,200 patients die each year while waiting for an organ, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a U.S.-based non-profit medical group.

The shortage has forced doctors and governments to look for alternatives, such as the use of pigs' kidneys, hearts and lungs, or the purchase of human organs.

Many patients have also traveled abroad for transplants, notably to China, which has been accused by rights groups of harvesting organs from executed prisoners.

Since 1995, more than 270 Singaporeans have gone abroad, mostly to China, for organ transplants, the Health Ministry said.

DEFINITION OF DEATH

To ease the organ shortage, Singapore amended its Human Organ Transplant Act in 2004 to expand the pool of organ donors and the type of organs that could be donated.

Hospitals can remove the kidneys, liver, heart and corneas of all non-Muslim Singapore citizens or permanent residents when they die, unless they have objected.

Muslims can choose to donate their organs, as in Iran and Malaysia, although many believe that the dead should be buried with all their organs intact.

Doctors say a system which assumes all citizens are organ donors is necessary because even though many people are in favor of donating their organs, few actually come forward.

While many European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, and Spain, have laws similar to Singapore's Transplant Act, it can still be a sensitive issue.

When Brazil passed a similar law in 1998, it triggered a public outcry. The Federal Attorney later conceded that families could prevent the removal of organs for transplant.

Critics say laws which assume all citizens are organ donors are inadequate because the definition of death is debatable. Others are concerned that life-support may be turned off prematurely or that people may be unaware of the opt-out option.

"It should be up to the citizens to decide. These are their bodies, their organs, and therefore their decisions," said Dr Choi Kin. "If an accident should occur, it would be too late for them to opt out, even if they do not agree to donate."

In Singapore, some doctors had urged amending the Transplant Act, giving families the right to block such donations.

After the outcry over the Sim family's forced donation, the hospital and health ministry said in a statement that they would "continue to find practical solutions to minimize the emotional distress of families and staff in such situations."

Sim's kidneys went to patients who had waited six to eight years for donor organs, the ministry said.

His parents were offered five years of subsidized hospital fees -- and his family received a thank-you letter from the ministry for their "generous organ donation."

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Have child in a year, get $1,000

The Electric New Paper, Singapore
This scheme really demeans women's rights...

-------------------------------------
# Matchmaking agency's gimmicks raise eyebrows
# $1 downpayment
# Interest-free instalments
JUST $1 as downpayment for a traditional China bride.
With a baby bonus carrot to boot.
That's the latest marketing gimmick by a matchmaking agency, Mr Cupid International Matchmakers.
By Dawn Chia
20 February 2007

JUST $1 as downpayment for a traditional China bride.
With a baby bonus carrot to boot.
That's the latest marketing gimmick by a matchmaking agency, Mr Cupid International Matchmakers.

But there's a catch to its eyebrow-raising offer.

Grooms will still have to pay the remaining matchmaking package eventually - in interest-free monthly instalments.

Mr Martin Wong, Mr Cupid's managing director, explained his agency's 'new initiatives'.

He told The New Paper: 'Our initiatives are introduced in accordance with the directives of the Government - which are to encourage people to marry and procreate.

'We want to encourage more people to marry by easing their financial burden when they get married, especially for those who may have to pay for a car, flat and other household expenses.'

The cost of a matchmaking package is $8,000 - a special price for the Chinese New Year period.

It is only applicable to brides from Fujian, China.

Here's how the $1 package works:
# Clients pay a $2,000 downpayment for the matchmaking package
# Upon successful selection of a bride in Fujian, clients will receive a $1,999 hongbao from the matchmaking agency

# The remaining $6,000 is payable in interest-free instalments over 10 months (or $600 monthly). Civil servants may opt for a special 15-month extended plan (or $400 monthly)
# There is a baby bonus for those who give birth to their first child within two years of marriage.

Couples who give birth to their first child within 12 months of marriage will be given a baby bonus of $1,000. Those who do so within 24 months will get $500.

Without the promotion, a China bride package costs $9,000 and does not include the $1,999 red packet, the instalment scheme and baby bonus.

In launching this interest-free instalment and catchy $1 promotion, Mr Wong is well aware of the potential backlash.

While potential clients will no doubt welcome the offer, some people have raised a cautionary flag. (See report on facing page.)

But as competition looms and industry players get more aggressive, Mr Wong sees the need to up the ante and offer something different to potential grooms.

BOLD MOVE

The $1 offer is a bold move for a once-conservative matchmaking industry, which started out by matchmaking men with brides from China.

Over the years, market forces and demand have driven agency owners to look to Vietnam, Cambodia and Kalimantan for more brides.

But Mr Wong is confident that his 'good intentions' will not be missed.

He said: 'The $2,000 token sum we collect upfront is to prevent people from abusing the system.

'We will be conducting the same checks as we do for all our packages - extensive interviews, character checks, income stability and so on.'

His agency is the only matchmaking outfit with CaseTrust accreditation - an accreditation scheme for retail and service sectors promoting fair and ethical business practices so that consumers can buy with confidence.

While Vietnamese brides are still hot favourites among many Singapore bachelors, Mr Wong noted that there is a growing number who are enquiring about China brides again.

Since last June, four in 10 customers who approached him ended up choosing a China bride. The rest chose Vietnamese women.

These China brides work and live in small towns and have never travelled outside of China.

Most work as retail assistants, factory production operators and restaurant waitresses, and earn between 800 yuan ($160) and 1,000 yuan a month.

Mr Tan, a civil servant in his late 40s, has already snapped up the $1 offer. He is earning about $3,000 a month.

He said: 'I've been putting off marriage for many years, and my mother has been nagging at me to settle down.

'It hit me that I'm not getting any younger, so when I approached the agency and learnt about this offer, I took it up.'

Mr Tan, who claimed he has never been in a relationship, doesn't see the $1 offer as a dollar value placed on his potential bride-to-be.

Yet he admitted that if he successfully found a bride, he would 'hide the truth' about how they met from his friends and colleagues.

He said: 'Other people might think that I'm paying for a wife and gossip about it, but I'm really paying for the agency's service.

'I can afford to pay for the package upfront, but since there's this interest-free instalment, I might as well take advantage of it.'

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Counsellor: Don't put monetary value on marriage

CLEVER marketing gimmick, or a slap to the institution of marriage?

This is the question which ran through the minds of some people we asked.

And while some, like MP Halimah Yacob, didn't think a gimmick would push people into marriage, others had their reservations.

Family counsellor and therapist Charles Lee warned about having monetary values attached to a marriage and children.

Said Mr Lee: 'People should marry and have kids because they are emotionally and psychologically prepared, not because there is a monetary incentive dangled before them.'

Even Madam Halimah cautioned that going too far with promotions could be hurtful.

'We should not treat a marriage or the woman we want to marry as a product,' she said. 'It will cheapen the institution of marriage and demean the woman.'

Still, she acknowledged that most people are mature enough to think for themselves.

'People will get married and have kids when they are ready to, not because of a promotion like that,' she said.

'The $1 scheme is a creative and innovative way of attracting customers, but I don't think it will be the most important factor for rational people looking at marriage.'

Added Mr Lee: 'It is ultimately up to the consumer to be aware of the pitfalls, and be discerning enough to know if a particular scheme is suitable for him or her.'

As for whether the scheme could hurt the marriage, counsellor and psychologist Harry Low didn't think it would have much impact.

He said: 'If you want to hurt someone, you don't have to say you married her for only $1 or any other amount.

'Monetary value or worth is not the only thing you can use to hurt someone.'

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Poverty Analysis

Measuring Inequality
The Department of Statistics (SingStat) has just released a report which confirms that the income gap is increasing. In the report, the Gini coefficient is mentioned. Above is a World Bank webpage on poverty analysis which explains how the Gini coefficient works. Some of you may remember that Human Rights Day 2006 had a slogan of "Fighting Poverty: a matter of obligation, not charity". The SingStat report can be seen here.