Dear Editors,

LHL, PM of Singapore sued a jobless citizen, Roy in Singapore Courts and won. Regardless of the circumstances, the case shows gross ungraciousness on the part of a PM.

We laugh at Shylock seeking his pound of flesh from Antonio in the Merchant of Venice. Do we laugh at LHL for seeking his pound of flesh? Should LHL now become the Shylock of Singapore?

It is still not too late for LHL to wake up and be more magnanimous. But will LHL?

Tracy Tan
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editors,

Was at kallang wave when A "trying to be smart" pregnant FT rudely sat on our seating with our belongings arnd. When we told her excuse me, she immediately told us this is public space.

Lol I giggle wondering what the hell she was trying to imply, when our pram was in front of her, our slippers and shoes was at the bottom of the place. She was literally seating on our belongings. Told her that these are our stuff ure seating on. Again she blab insisting this is public space

Lol I gave a laugh and told her, why do u think u r any better or smarter. Here not India leh, no caste system, u need to askk...At least politely ask for a seat. Public space yess!! But not India public space, we would gladly share the seat n move our belongings for u if u ASK. Now I say I lost my mobile phone, call the police and accuse u can? Coz ure seating on our belongings. So proud untill cannot ask for a seat issit? We end up giggling n laughing n somehow annoy her the whole time we were there.

Too bad we had to leave early and prepare the whole bench for her and thank her for the amusement.

I have alot of good FT friends that are surprisingly even more polite than us but this one sheep tickles me so much I have to share.

FYI shes not the only pregnant lady, my 6month old pregnant wife was standing for her when this happen.

My Cheap Thrill
A.S.S. Contributor

<Facebook post by Amos Yee>

Do not believe what the mainstream media is portraying.

The truth is that the police have been scouring singapore and trying to look for me all this time, (my family members have messaged me and said that the police has contacted them trying to capture me), but aren’t able to (due to living in places without cctvs, disguises, vpns, putting my handphones in refrigerators, you know all those good evading stuff), and they’ve used the mainstream media to spread rumors that I’m overseas, and claim that they’ve postponed the investigation to 22nd December, just so they can buy more time to try to do so.

And of course the reason why they haven’t issued a warrant of arrest and gotten the media to announce it, is because they genuinely do not want singaporeans to know that a 17-year-old boy has outsmarted and evaded them for this long, because once again, it looks really fucking embarrassing for the police.

But really, escaping the singapore police, believe me is really fucking easy. Unlike what the government and the mainstream media tries to portray by wildly boasting about the few robberies they actually managed to contain with news articles, big medals and trophies that cover police stations, the singaporean policemen are genuinely incompetent and really fucking suck.

From what I learnt in my time in prison, most of my prison mates have either taken or sold drugs (for a pretty large profit of $600/day I heard) but have never been caught for it, and apparently there’s a huge underground drug industry in singapore where coke and amphetamine are hidden in tic-tac cases and traded in places like jurong east, orchard and the burger king in ang mo kio; many people have committed awol (escaping national service) by using the ID of their siblings who have already finished national service, and theft is very easy to commit in singapore (there are many cases when the act is even caught on CCTVs inside the MRT Station, yet the police still aren’t able to find the thief; I should know, it happened to me and my LG phone).

So yeah, after about 5 days staying in the exact same place, I’m pretty much certain the police can’t find me, and I’m able to continue my work. More blog posts and videos to come; many of them will probably contain hate speech and be considered a crime, but really it doesn’t matter, the police can’t be find me anyways, so I’ll murder and rape as much as I want (I won’t actually do those 2 things, wounding religious feelings though, that’s cool).

And no even though I signed up, I will not, and never intended (even way before uploading the lee kuan yew video) to go to national service; you gotta be fucking retarded to think I’m willing to waste those 2 years of my life.

Well munchkins, the dance continues, a shame that one of the greatest geniuses born in singapore is deemed a criminal by the government, just like socrates, but really, that shouldn’t be surprising now shouldn’t it? Either way, your munchkin leader is here to stay, and I will see you guys very soon. Fuck the police, fuck religion, fuck pap, and welcome Amos Fucking Yee; have fun, MOTHERF**KERS!!

10.4% of workforce are part-time workers

“Some 10.4 per cent of employed residents were part-timers in 2015“.

As the resident workforce is 2,162,800 – does it mean that there are about 224,931 (10.4 per cent of 2,162,800)?

Work 35 hours is “part-time”?

A part-time worker is one who works 35 hours or less in a week. It used to be 30 hours until it was changed a few years ago in Singapore.

I believe out definition of part-time workers may be the highest in the work in terms of the number of hours worked.

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s Singapore Yearbook of Manpower Statistics 2015 – the median gross monthly income of part-time employed residents grew from $600 in 2004 to $827 in 2014.

This is an increase of about 37.8 per cent ($827 divided by $600) over the 10 years.

Part-time workers’ real pay increase only 0.75% p.a. last 10 years? 

As inflation was about 30 per cent  from 2004 to 2014 – does it mean that the real increase in income was only about 7.8 per cent (37.8 minus 30 per cent) over the 10 years or about 0.75 per cent per annum?

The average (mean) monthly earnings per employee grew from $3,329 in 2004 to $4,727 in 2014.

This is an increase of about 42 per cent ($4,727 divided by $3,329) over the 10 years.

Average earnings’ real increase only 1.14% p.a. last 10 years? 

As inflation was about 30 per cent  from 2004 to 2014 – does it mean that the real increase in earnings was only about 12 per cent (42 minus 30 per cent) over the 10 years or about 1.14 per cent per annum?

Note: “Average (Mean) Monthly Earnings (AME) refers to all remuneration received before deduction of the employee Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions and personal income tax. It comprises basic wages, overtime pay, commissions, allowances and bonuses but exclude employer CPF contributions.”

LeongSzeHian

<Complaint by SCAM VICTIMS>

We are a group on victims who got scammed by an online seller in Carousell. Her name is Karen Zhuo Xingfang. Her usernames in Carousell are Queen Imperio (KS Imperio), TK Empire, Khoo Palace & Glacious. Those who purchased from her before, no doubt your items are fake! She usually deals below her block at Hougang Ave 2 or she will use courier. Sometimes she will even ask her maid or mother in law to pass the items to buyers.

She sold us fake branded like Chanel, Hermes, Dior and Fendi. From accessories to shoes. She scammed around 60K from us. Serial scammer! When we realised it's fake, we confronted her and she denied! Still insisting it's real and emphasized it's her "air stewardess" sister who was the one who purchased the items from Europe. She even threatened us with her "lawyer uncle", saying will sue us for defamation. What a joke! And till now, we also never received any letter from her so called lawyer! Bullshit!

Then everyone of us proceeded to lodge police reports. Police got alerted as it was a serial scammer. So she was arrested in November 2015. Her house also got raided and police took away many many "branded" stuffs from her place. Ever since, investigations has been on going. And she is out on bail. But she is still continuing to scam people!

Actually she agreed to refund us before police arrested her but she "changed her mind" upon arrest. She and her husband, Mark Khoo decided not to refund us anymore. And saying we are harassing them. And even called for the police when we went up to ask for refund. Absurd! Criminals calling for police help?? Don't they know "owe money pay money"? They have since been using the police as their shield. Every time anyone of us message Karen Zhuo for refund, she will say she will speak to her investigation officer or ask her to call her investigation officer. What?! Everything also push to police! She is so annoying!

And now, she is avoiding all our calls and messages. Since she has no wish to refund us or give us an explanation, then we make sure she gets famous! Let everyone in Singapore know this couple who scam people! Karen Zhuo Xingfang & Mark Khoo!]

<Facebook post by Irene Tan>

Woman claims Singapore Police did not take action against drug dealers. But the drugs she found look like pizza cheese! Is the SPF lazy or is the woman imagining things?

Retrieved Heroine, Aphetamine(ICE)

Her Facebook post is republished in full below:

"BUT AT THE TIMING OF 2:45AM, THE POLICE VAN CAME DOWN WITH ABOUT 9 TO 10 UNIFORM OFFICERS, THEY REFUSED TO BREAK THE MOTOR BIKE BOX WHICH CONTAIN MANY MANY DRUGS!!!!!!

AND ONE INDIAN STAFF SEGENT WANTED ME TO DELETE AWAY ALL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF THE DRUG DEALER, I THEN ASK HIM U MUST HAVE TAKE THEIR CORRUPTION MONEY TOO!!!!!

AND HE THREATEN TO ARREST ME AS A PUBLICE NUISENCE IF I DON'T DELETED ALL VIDEOS & PHOTOS!!!!!!! GEYLANG POLICE DIVISIONS POLICE OFFICER ACEPPTED DRUGS DEALERS $$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A reader has shared with us a Facebook post by jambu ICA officer Adilla Ramli. She gives her view on the recent ICA jams.

Read her account here.

It has been all over social media for the past few days with regards to the horrendous traffic on our land checkpoint. Heres what i gotta say:

First things first, what people need to know is that the traffic has been there for years. Only that they didnt realised its December now, which also means school holidays and festive seasons that is around the corner. And not to forget the attractive 3:1 exchange rate that attracts more malaysian to come over and work. That causes the daily heavy traffic.

When people started complaining about how lazy and inefficient my officers and i are, i would really love to know whats their actual definition of efficiency. If the public see our clearance as slow, i cant see how faster theirs can be? As compared to many other countries, i personally think that we are seriously up to standard. We did our best to open up all counters and zones every day to ease the traffic.

What people need to understand is that checkpoints aint nothing like an amusement park. You come as and when you like, taking it all easy. Crossing over the borders is a priviledge, not an entittlement. You can always choose to stay at home, if you dont want to go through proper screenings for both passports and conveyances.

I see alot of keyboard warriors around here. Saying our officers arent capable of doing their job well. Singaporeans want a safe country. So we conduct proper screenings for everyone that passes through our checkpoints. We dont tighten our security for nothing. But, they whine yet again. Saying it causes alot of hassle and that it took so much of their time to deal with it.

But if we loosen it to please them (which we never did actually), security lapses will take place. And then once again, the officers are to be blamed. Complaining of how horrible they are at carrying out their jobs and that how incapable they are in keeping their country safe and sound.

So how now? We cant please everyone cant we? Theres always a price to pay for everything. I tell you, our officers work so hard everyday. Be it on car clearance, cargos, vehicle checkings, everything. They put their ass out there to ensure that everything roll smoothly. Have you ever for once appreciate their effort? No. You only think of yourself!

I wonder if you keyboard warriors ever complain and bark while going through other country's clearance. From the look of it, no one have got the balls to. The people who work in Singapore, yes you've got a family to feed. We have ours too. You choose to work here, no one forces you to. So, im sorry but you gotta deal with it. Same for the Singaporeans who decide to reside in Malaysia.

Our job is easy, they said. We only chop passport, they said. Okay lor, you win liao lor. If you think that you can do better than what our officers does, i strongly urge you to apply and join us. Be a part of the team and see how we roll everyday. Things are always easier said than done.

And to my officers, i respect all the hardworks you put in since day one. For both on the tough and easy days. This is our rice bowl and we know how to carry out our job well. Keep up the good work and let us not let anything stops us from doing our best, irregardless.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Adilla Ramli

When the new stations for Downtown Line (DTL) open this Sunday (27th December), adding 12 stations from Bukit Panjang to Rocher to the existing line, Transport Minister says that commuters should expect some "teething issues" over the next few months.

In his blog post, Khaw said that engineers have done thousands of tests of the whole system over the past few months, including many tests between the integration points of DTL1 and DTL2, but his engineers have told him that a typical "bedding-in" period of several months is needed before the system stabilizes. Mr Khaw warned that train disruptions could be expected during this period.

“While they can perform all forms of testing in a simulated environment, they cannot fully replicate how the system will actually perform in a live environment involving thousands of commuters,” Mr Khaw wrote.

“This time round, when we need to integrate a new stretch of the line with another that is already in operation, we can expect more challenges,

“But we are working hard to minimise any disruptions in this teething process. We must also anticipate the worst, and have drawer plans for contingencies in the event that disruptions do occur.”

Rides on the entire DTL will be free from 27th December 2015 to 1st January 2016.

According to an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) media statement, the ICA is stepping up security checks during the holiday season.

The ICA says that between January and October, there were 690 cases of Singaporeans trying to leave the country without the appropriate travel documents, including those travelling with passports that do not belong to them, expired or invalid travel documents, or no documents at all.

There were 3,500 cases of foreigners attempting to enter Singapore without appropriate travel documents in the same period this year. This was despite having already passed the Malaysian checkpoints. This is a new record of cases, which stood at 3,400 cases recorded for the whole of last year.

"Our top priority is to ensure the safety and security of Singaporeans," AC Alan Koo, Commander at Woodlands Checkpoint said.

Mr Koo said ICA takes such cases very seriously to ensure there is no "malicious intent", as terrorists may make use of false identities to enter the country. ICA said it checks every car entering Singapore for potential risks.

He added that it was important to investigate any security risk, drawing parallels between the tactics used by smugglers carrying contraband goods and terrorists carrying explosives, and as there are many similarities in the modus operandi of the two groups relating to their concealment of goods or explosives within vehicles or clothing, it was crucial not to take any risk lightly.

Mr Koo also revealed that there were some significant security risks detected during this December, which happens to be a holiday peak period. The increased security risks come in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks last month.

On a normal day, about 400,000 travellers pass through Singapore's checkpoints, but the number will usually climb to 430,000 during the year end holiday period. Similar surges in traffic are also common around the June and Chinese New Year holidays.

Traffic bottlenecks are also common due to poor lane control on the Malaysian border. It is common sight in the morning to see dedicated motorcycle lanes coming from Malaysia full, which results in impatient riders trying to force their way into car or lorry lanes instead. ICA has officers stationed along the international portion of the causeways so as to enforce proper lane use once the cars cross to Singapore, but ICA cannot control the vehicles on the Malaysian side.

ICA has reached out Malaysia's equivalent regarding the issue.

ICA also deploys officers to different locations and make creative use of infrastructure based on traffic demands. For example, a sudden surge in motorcycles may require some car lanes to be open to motorcycles to ease traffic flow.

Manpower needs were also beefed up for the year end peak season months ago, said an ICA spokesperson. Currently, more than 100 ICA officers work overtime in addition to their regular 8 to 10 hour shifts daily during the period.

"Our officers are working in a high-tension, high volume environment which can cause fatigue. We need to ensure we are not over-straining (them), which would affect their vigilance," says the spokesperson.

Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam has also weighed in on the jams at the causeway: "Our officers are working very very hard, they are working round the clock," he said.

"People understand that, as a result of what has happened in Paris and the heightened terrorism threats worldwide, ensuring the safety of Singapore and Singaporeans is ICA’s foremost priority," he added.

Shanmugam also said that ICA records suggest waiting time on the Singapore side of the causeway falls under three hours, so waiting times of four to five hours reported in the media are likely to include time spent on the Malaysia side.

Dear ASS Editorial Team,

Yes, we would greatly appreciate if you could post our side of the story. But rather than just publish the story of this disgruntled ex-employee, it would "take" some tarnish of our company reputation if you could let the public knows that our company really values Safety as First Priority and we really don't treat our foreign workers as animals. As a matter of fact, we treat them quite well. You may have to interview our workers to attest that.

With regards to Safety, it is really unfortunate that 2 of our workers were photographed to be not wearing safety harness last week, which was very dangerous indeed. Our management is determined to never let this kind of safety lapse ever happen again. For a start, below will be the additional measures and precautions that we will introduce with immediate effect:

- More safety officer will be employed to conduct daily check and daily safety meeting instead of twice weekly previously for all our sites;
- Will introduce Stricter Rules to punish those who didn't follow Safety Rules and reward those that obediently follow Safety Rules;
- Management will conduct weekly Site Safety check instead of fortnightly;
- All employees will be issued personal Safety Harness instead of sharing previously;
- More experience workers will send to Supervisor Safety Course to double as Site Safety Assistant when officer is not around, these performing workers will be rewarded with salary increment;
- Arrangement will be make for all other workers to attend relevant courses;
- Safe Work Procedures will be enhanced to integrate Management Inspection;
- More Site CCTV will be introduced to enhance Safety;
- Working at Height Permit will be issued stringently after thorough checking by Foreman, Safety Officer, and Project Manager;
- Simpler Checklist will be Introduce to workers, so those with poorer command of English will also understand;
- Introduction of Reward System for worker that assist to Identify Hazards;

What I can assure is that we will continue to strive to achieve better overall safety standard.

With regards to why we allowed few workers (not more than a handful) to stay on site even though we have our own ancillary dormitory below our office, there are 2 primary reasons. First is site security and thief prevention. Years ago before we allowed workers to stay on sites, our sites were being broken into as regular as once every fortnightly. There was also an incident whereby all new wirings and aircon copper pipings were dismantled and stolen in the middle of the night in one of our site. Simply unbelievable. It was so rampant that we were at our "wit end" and the police couldn't do much but advised us to installed CCTV and have some workers to guard our tools and equipment. We even had an incident after our workers stayed in, that a burglar was caught at our job site while stealing our steel scaffolding by our workers and handed over to the police.

Second, the permanent core workers prefer to stay at job site. The reasons that they told us was that even after changing to cleaner clothing, other MRT and bus commuters don't really like them. It is even more worse, if they happened to forget to bring clean clothing to change. They will encounter commuters who would cover their nose to signal that the workers were smelly, others give them a disgusting look and some even chilled them not to take public transport. Moreover, the workers prefer the time spent on transportation to better rest. Additionally, to reward the workers who volunteer to stay at site, our company give them additional monthly meal allowance and "staying at site" allowance.

Even though your team may have pictures that show quite a lot of wooden plywood being nailed to create platforms, it is only fair that we allowed the workers to do that as they need a place to rest during lunch and tea breaks.

Other additional benefits and assistances that our company provided the workers include:

- regular assessment and increment (there is no one worker that has worked more than 6 months and haven't received any increment);
- free training and upgrading courses;
- annual home leave for obedient workers including all paid two ways tickets;
- free Kentucky or buffet meals during festival such as Deepavali and Hari Raya;
- free Internet Wifi for dormitory and site workers;
- emergency loan without interest (case by case basis);
- yearly Ang Pow for all workers;
- yearly lucky draws with many prizes;

But all these benefits and assistance will not end here. As long as the company can perform better every year, we will introduce more and more benefits. We would greatly appreciate if your team could assist to highlight some of the above.....so at the very least we won't be labelled as the "Black Sheep". Thank you.

Warmest regards,
Anthony Ang
Director
Euro Builder and Electrical Pte Ltd

Dear Editors,

I received a letter recently from NUS to request that I give an Annual Gift to NUS. I remember LKY saying there is no free lunch in Singapore

I remember LHL saying recently that Singaporeans must not expect the govt to do anything for them but they must be self reliant. The pap is such a heartless party who has shown no compassion for poor and sick Singaporeans.

When I was in NUS, I had to work part time to pay full tuition fees. Where was the pap when the poor needed them? Where was the pap when the sick needed help? Now the pap asks Singaporeans to donate to President Charity, NUS and other VWOs.

Why doesn't the PAP lead singaporeans in this altruistic endeavour by showing more compassion rather than to victimise the poor and the sick? It is by their actions that we know the pap, not their words. So can the pap lead us in this area, rather than just talk and no action?

Tracy Tan
A.S.S. Contributor

<Call for help by Joey>

HELPING MY BROTHER TO SEEK FOR WITNESS!!

On 19 Dec 2015, Saturday about 1620 hr, my brother vehicle SGD5023Y was travelling along Tampines Avenue 9 towards Tampines Avenue 10. When approaching the traffic junction of Tampines Avenue 9 and Tampines Street 72 (traffic light is green), a vehicle number SJA4148H from Tampines Avenue 9 (towards Tampines Avenue 2) suddenly right turn and hit onto my brother car right side (front) when my brother has the right of way because its green light.

Due to the impact after being hit, my brother car landed on the Tampines Street 72 pedestrian walkway and vehicle SJA4148H landed himself in the middle of the divider. Due to the impact, my brother head, hand and leg was injured and my 3 years old nephew right side chin and right knee cap was injured. They both were send to CGH via ambulance.

As my brother vehicle and another party vehicle does not have video recorder to justify. Appreciate any kind soul to come forward to provide us the video clip to help my brother. Friends please help to share....Thank you so much!

This couple earns a living by going around to borrow money without having the intention to return it. The guy is Poh Yang Jun, 18 years old and the girl is Stephanie, 17 years old. It is believed that their current location is around Geylang area.

This is what happened: I used to be Yang Jun’s close friend, settling all his dirty problems for him, helping him whenever he needed help but he will never change. I thought that all the help that was given to him would make him realise his mistake and slowly change. Sadly, a leopard would not change its spots. I lent him a phone when he said he needed a spare phone, but he broke my phone’s screen and returned the phone to me without fixing it. We then went to fix it. I paid for the repair of the phone first as Yang Jun said he will return the money to me. In the end, he didn’t return me any money. He kept delaying the payment and always made excuses. I trusted and forgave him on countless occasions until I couldn’t take it anymore. I had a big quarrel with him but my mum was soft hearted and told me not to do things harshly. I listened.

Yang Jun’s being an asshole. He met his current girlfriend and the girlfriend had no place stay. He want to push the Girlfriend and stay at my house, I totally disagree but in the end they still stay for free for some days. They using our water, our shampoo and food is supply by us sometime even. Until one day they said they went Geylang and never came back!!! They throw their rubbish and stuff all at my house like as if my house was a galang guni house and went Geylang and never came back. While I was working they came back take their belonging and I never had heard from them already. They own us a huge amount of money and went into hiding.

JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BECAREFUL THEM BECAUSE I HEARD FROM ALOT OF PEOPLE THEY ARE EARNING A LIVING BY GOING AROUND AND LENT MONEY BUT THEY NEVER RETURN.

JUST DONT WANT ANOTHER VICTIM LIKE US***

After a further follow-up, many who have encountered the same experience with the couple had taken a screenshot and posted in on the comment.

Dear Editors,

Some PAP beliefs are:

1. Pay Singapore workers low wages
2. Pay CEOs, COOs, CFOs high salaries
3. Bring in 3rd world trash into Singapore as they will take any job
4. Charge high rentals
5. Maximise taxes etc

Perhaps the two most damaging beliefs are to bring in as many 3rd world trash as possible so that Singaporean workers will be paid low salaries. These have caused:
1. Social problems
2. Low purchasing power among Singaporeans

PAP is killing Singapore.

Tracy Tan
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editor

I saw this post from Migrant Workers' Centre Facebook page on the raid of an illegal foreign workers dormitory. I want to bring this out as it was not reported on Straits Times or Channel News Asia.

I was shocked by it because I can't imagine such large-scale organised illegal activity happening in Singapore. One of the photos says that at there are a hundred workers staying at that facilities. If you see closely, it seems that as much as ten workers were being stuffed into a 20 foot container. And the living condition is totally not acceptable. Socket connected to multiple devices was laid carelessly on the floor. Cooking stoves are just next to the bed. I can imagine how the place could easily catch fire.

After seeing these photos, I can't help but ask, how long have such activities been hidden from the authorities. And how many more out there?

This case also reminded me of the recent maid abuse case where a Philippino maid was starved from 49kg to 29kg. And now we are putting all these vulnerable workers in such living conditions. As a Singaporean I am ashamed of such things that some of our countrymen did. And I can't help but ask, have we become a land of abuser?

GM Seah
A.S.S. Contributor

I refer to the article “1,500 pre-schoolers receive S$130 grant for schooling needs” (Channel NewsAsia, Dec 21).

It states that “As part of its WeCare @ North West — Ready for School programme, the North West Community Development Council raised around S$200,000 from 80 corporate partners and individuals.”

Questions?

The subject news report raises several questions.

Why are CDCs competing with other charities for “limited” charity donations?

Do MPs arguably – may have an “unfair” advantage when they raise funds vis-a-vis other charities?

Why is such an essential programme for needy preschoolers not funded by the Government, since it had a cash Budget surplus of $25.3 billion in FY2013 as well as FY2012 under IMF fiscal reporting guidelines?

Do preschoolers from the other four CDCs get these $130 vouchers too, since it would appear that this “Ready for School programme” may be unique to only the North West Community Development Council?

Also, why is it that “When Mr Low was elected as MP for Hougang in the 1991 General Election, the only bursary available in Hougang was from the Education Fund of the Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) under the Hougang Community Centre…

When Mr Low learnt from a source that the CCC, whose Adviser as is the case with all opposition wards was (and still is till today) potential election candidate of the PAP, would no longer be giving out bursaries to assist these families, he was very concerned and disturbed. While he had to face numerous other challenges as a newly elected MP then, he was adamant that families facing financial strains, especially at the start of a new academic year when their children needed to buy new books and school uniforms, should not be left struggling on their own.

Although Mr Low initially assisted some constituents who approached him from his own personal resources, he was aware that he needed to find a long-term solution. More importantly, he believed that the solution should be community based, involving the Hougang residents themselves.”

The rest is history as they say and today, four of the original trustees from Hougang are no longer with us to witness the fruit of their hard work and warm-heartedness. I will always have full admiration for the way the community rallied together to start the bursary initiative and most important of all, to keep it as a going concern for 23 years” (“Hougang Constituency Education Trust: The community spirit“, TR Emeritus, Dec 19).

LeongSzeHian

Hi Editors,

I first got to know the company Cufflinks Holdings through a good friend. She told me that she invested around SGD 100K with this company in a Condotel project in Philippines and has been getting dividend monthly for the last 6 months.

At first, I was not interested at all, until she brought me to a soft launch of another project by the same company at Batam. It was a soft launch for another condotel project, The Islandica in Batam, Pulau Abang Besar. The investment requires SGD 30,000 which is lesser than the Philippine project and my friend who trusted this company managed to persuade me to invest.

She told me that she knows the bosses, the two brothers who are also Dato of Malaysia,(sorry I forgot their names). what convinces me to invest was that her son was working for that company and was very involved, so it can not be a scam. Based on trust, I finally agreed. We invested SGD 30,000 each in the Islandia Project.

The promise offered was:

1) We will get monthly dividends starting from 2nd month of investment.

In 3 years’ time when the resort was built and start running, as in renting out the hotel rooms. They will also give us 2 offers:

1) They will buy back the unit from us at estimated SGD90,000 (more or less)
2) We stay put the money and allow them to run/rent out the unit/room. At the end of the year, we will be be given out the profit from the rental.

I did received the dividend for the first 3 months amounting to SGD300 – 400 each month and received regular newsletter. But at the fourth month the dividend payment stopped and also the updates.

I started to get worried and contacted my friend but she assuring me that the company is doing alright. After 4 months of not hearing any news from the company, my friend told me that the company is having revamp and caught up in other projects. After about more than 6 months of no news from the company, finally there was an e-mail stating that the lawyers whom the company engaged has run away with investors’ money.

At a loss and with such lame excuse, I convinced my friend that this is a scam from the beginning.

Betrayed
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editors,

I would like to urge ICA and MOM to stop anymore foreigners work or reside in Singapore for the time being until transport, healthcare and residential infrastructure are in good condition to handle.

Hospitals in Singapore already not able to take good care of patient. My colleague whom met with work injury this morning was sent to KTPH around 10am. Hospital totally unable to treat his injury.

At about 3.45pm inform have to transfer him to other hospital due to lack of facilities and only confirm to transfer him to NUH at about 6.45pm. But until 8pm patient still at KTPH without treatment. Say NUH only can send him for surgery next day at earliest.

Michael Poon
A.S.S. Contributor

<Facebook complaint by Wilson Ong>

Please help to share and eliminate this Black Shop (L & H Mobile). This is Jovan Chew number 2. They saw me taking photo and started hiding. My mother went to a shop to purchase a Starhub prepaid card, and was told that the card is $38 and has no value in it. Thereafter, she was asked to top up another $10 for the value inside.

After they left the shop, my mother went to check with another shop for the same card, which she was told that there is already a $10 credit inside. I went back with my mother to the shop and the boss told us that they are not sure what happened, when I asked for the card, they said it is sold out. but will top up $10 into the card that my mother paid.

I was not happy and told them to check what happen and call me back. Later they called me telling me they have credited another $10 into the card. Then, I found this very suspicious and called Starhub which they verified that the card is under the $8 Happy Prepaid SIM.

The retail shop is L & H Mobile, located at the following:
100 JALAN SULTAN
#01-14A
SULTAN PLAZA
SINGAPORE (199001)
The business registration is 53248419C.

Dear Friends, please share and stop Black shops in Singapore!