tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129088202011-12-09T16:44:46.523+08:00Come Share His BiscuitsGilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1166762746134838812006-12-22T12:25:00.000+08:002006-12-22T12:50:03.330+08:00

... here. Do update your links! From January 2007 onwards, come to Mr Wang's new blog to read his new posts. See you around and Merry Christmas!

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1166429653648676262006-12-18T15:53:00.000+08:002006-12-18T16:36:28.850+08:00

So Mr and Mrs Wang decided to take the little kids to Chinatown. You know, so that they will appreciate our cultural history, Asian values and all that.Along the way, we stopped by an McDonalds outlet for breakfast. Then just a few doors away, I noticed this shop:Click to enlarge. The picture, I mean.Isn't that funny? This being a country where the government tells us that people are supposedly

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1166061213486982072006-12-14T09:31:00.000+08:002006-12-14T09:53:35.650+08:00

And basically it is a false, deceptive play. Yesterday's Straits Times carried the following article about the sex laws of Singapore. Note the part highlighted by me in orange:ST Dec 13, 2006Feedback focuses on sex lawsMarital rape law reforms inadequate, say some; continued outlawing of gay sex also questionedBy Ben NadarajanTHE private lives of Singaporeans appear to be the main concern among

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1165891554065151432006-12-12T10:33:00.000+08:002006-12-12T10:45:54.780+08:00

Apply for the POSB Everyday credit card:... buy all your groceries at Carrefour, and get a 5% rebate. And it will be as if the new GST increase never happened at all. Also, apply for the Citibank SMRT Visa Platinum Card: ....... which works like an ez-link card. Earn up to 2% rebate as you tap and go at MRT stations. For your other credit card expenditure, you earn rebates redeemable for free

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1165624545061613252006-12-09T08:10:00.000+08:002006-12-09T08:35:47.686+08:00

ST Dec 8, 2006Oversized condoms a headache for many Indian menNEW DELHI - Condoms designed to meet international size specifications are too big for many Indian men as their penises fall short of what manufacturers had anticipated, an Indian study has found.The Indian Council of Medical Research, a leading state-run centre, said its initial findings from a two-year study showed 60 per cent of men

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1165369287216562392006-12-06T09:31:00.000+08:002006-12-06T09:41:27.760+08:00

The article below suggests a significant change in policy thinking. I could feel pleased, or I could feel skeptical. On balance, I am more inclined to adopt a "wait-&-see" attitude. I still remember distinctly the last time PM Lee made such grand pronouncements. He had told us that he would make Singapore an "open society". Heheh.ST Dec 4, 2006Singaporeans 'always come first'By Zakir HussainTHE

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164764413354168222006-11-29T09:17:00.000+08:002006-11-29T09:43:58.923+08:00

ST Nov 29, 2006Ministerial pay 'lags behind benchmark'But decision on whether to relook salaries rests with PM, says SM GohBy Sue-Ann ChiaBRATISLAVA (SLOVAKIA) - MINISTERS' salaries are pegged to that of the private sector, but they still lag behind the benchmark.It is therefore likely that when civil service pay is reviewed, ministers' salaries will also be looked at, said Senior Minister Goh

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164634220132652022006-11-27T21:22:00.000+08:002006-11-27T21:32:31.773+08:00

ST Nov 27, 2006It's not the money that counts but the parentingI REFER to YouthInk's discussion on family ties (ST, Nov 13).I applaud Ng Chuin Song's philosophy that leaving kids in the hands of care-givers is unfair. This shows that she would be a responsible parent. Hui Min wants to 'provide the best' for her children - she wants the assurance of a good balance between time and money before she

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164633641572383962006-11-27T20:51:00.000+08:002006-11-27T21:35:42.776+08:00

There's a fairly long article in the ST today about drugs, but I just want to focus on one specific part of it. It's highlighted in orange below.Nov 27, 2006Not heroin, so not harmful? That's warped logicBy Yusuf Abdol HamidDRUG abuse has traditionally been associated with the riff-raff of society.Their poison of choice was primarily heroin, whose predecessor opium almostdestroyed entire

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164361205497128872006-11-24T17:34:00.000+08:002006-11-24T20:50:20.940+08:00

From Aftenposten, a Norwegian newspaper:40 percent feel discriminationA new survey found that 40 percent of Norwegians feel that they have experienced discrimination when seeking work, one of the best results in the 28 nation study.The survey by manpower company Kelly Services rated Sweden as the worst in terms of job discrimination, with nearly 100 percent of respondents saying they felt they

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164348043838356302006-11-24T13:50:00.000+08:002006-11-24T14:00:44.906+08:00

Goodness. Everyone knows that gambling is good for the soul. Why else would the PAP government want to build all those casinos on Sentosa? Ms Angela Lee ought to be arrested for writing such a seditious letter to the Straits Times. We should encourage young Singaporeans to be more entrepreneurial, to take more risks and to explore alternative careers in mahjong and jackpot. ST Forum Nov 24,

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164255671591944832006-11-23T12:08:00.000+08:002006-11-23T15:09:54.356+08:00

Yawning Bread is a brave man. Braver than Mr Wang.Yawning Bread has just written an essay entitled "The Niqab and the Freedom of Religion - is there any logical reason why people speak of the freedom of religion?".It is written in typical Yawning Bread style - articulate, intelligent and very well-reasoned. Nevertheless it takes a certain degree of courage to write it (even though most of his

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164084262986295832006-11-21T12:32:00.000+08:002006-11-21T18:06:14.276+08:00

The GST hike is a hot topic. However, so far I have said little. The reason is that I am ambivalent about it.According to PM Lee, the GST hike will enable the the government to do more to help poor Singaporeans. This implies that without the GST hike, the government is unable to help poor Singaporeans. I don't believe this.But anyway, if the government does really fulfil its promise to help poor

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164019387112748492006-11-20T18:18:00.001+08:002009-10-06T17:34:43.838+08:00

Singapore's most famous reservist.Recognise him?See article below - here is a recurring problem that will grow worse and worse over the years, as the number of PRs, foreigners and adults-turned-new-citizens steadily grows in Singapore.The writer is wrong to think that only small companies may tend to avoid hiring Singaporean men. The same problem would exist for any job where the individual

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1164002111818606512006-11-20T13:29:00.000+08:002006-11-20T13:55:13.016+08:00

In the Straits Times today, some writers discuss a July survey which showed that 53% of young Singaporeans would consider emigration. Can Singapore depend on its youth to stay here and take ownership of the country, our ever-complaining MPs lament in Parliament.Actually I wonder why young Singaporeans are being singled out in particular. After all, Singaporeans in just about every age group are

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163936084235800902006-11-19T19:30:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:34:44.300+08:00

Yaw Shin Leong was one of those WP youngsters who ran against PM Lee Hsien Loong in Ang Mo Kio GRC. Check out his blog. See his blogroll too - he refers to "Mr Wong Bakes Good Karma". Heheh.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163933775083599632006-11-19T18:43:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:22:23.356+08:00

So I've decided to change a couple of things about this blog.Firstly, the range of topics will be wider. Basically I'll just blog about anything I feel like. I won't be sticking just to social, economic, political and legal issues in Singapore.Secondly, irrelevant comments will simply be deleted. Also, please don't cut & paste entire articles from elsewhere into my comment section. Just leave a

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163735533209215012006-11-17T10:58:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:23:00.116+08:00

PAP MP Michael Palmer spoke in Parliament about the importance of a quality pre-school education. The text is available somewhere on the P65 blog. Palmer refers to scientific discoveries about human brain development. The quality and quantity of stimulation that a child receives in the first six years of his life will play a huge factor in determining his mental capabilities ... for the rest of

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163724266426579132006-11-17T07:59:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:23:49.970+08:00

ST Forum Nov 17, 2006 50% less returns from investment IN NOVEMBER 2002 I invested $10,000 in an AIA investment scheme for five years, using funds from my CPF Special Account. Recently, AIA informed me that, as of this month, the amount earned on the investment after four years is $800-plus. I wonder how much the company will pay me on maturity next November - maybe another $200 more. The CPF

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163720694607852482006-11-17T07:39:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:24:44.536+08:00

ST Online Forum, Nov 17, 2006MP's remarks about 'complaining' S'poreans are unfairI agree fully with the views expressed by Mr Benny Tan Seng Hee and Mr Wang Tiancheng, who reacted to Dr Mohd Maliki Osman's statement that Singapore is becoming a nation of problem-identifiers, not problem-solvers.As an ordinary Singapore citizen, I would like to state that words cannot describe my disappointment

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163505878237612232006-11-14T19:05:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:25:29.596+08:00

ST Nov 14, 2006Ageing profile is coming 'tidal wave', but Govt is preparedBy Sue-Ann ChiaLIKENING the issue of an ageing population to a tidal wave poised to hit, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Government was preparing for its effects.It will, for instance, look into helping older Singaporeans unlock the value of their assets, such as homes, so that they will have income in their golden

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163240098073177152006-11-11T17:39:00.000+08:002006-11-11T18:30:59.346+08:00

Business Times - 11 Nov 2006YESTERDAY IN PARLIAMENT'Many helping hands' the way to go: VivianHe says the reason for this model is to get the right people to do the jobBy WEE LI-ENTHE 'many helping hands' approach to taking care of people in need is a good model despite its flaws, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament yesterday.Although there are problems with the model

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163220343610650562006-11-11T12:32:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:26:56.806+08:00

Ask not what your country can do for you ...MPs decry whinging Singaporeans, call for soul searchingTODAY Friday • November 10, 2006Leong Wee Keatweekeat@mediacorp.com.sgINSTEAD of harping on what the Government can do to bridge the social divide, the spotlight in Parliament yesterday fell on Singaporeans. And there were some home truths told, too."A nation of complainers" and "a society

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163205100570358682006-11-11T07:10:00.000+08:002006-11-19T19:27:52.236+08:00

Financial awareness remains rather low among Singaporeans. In money matters, many of them still make quite basic errors. This article illustrates.ST Nov 11, 2006Many S'poreans don't have the right insurance coverA third of those surveyed can't tell what is sufficient level of protectionBy Finance Correspondent, Lorna TanALMOST nine out of 10 Singaporeans have an insurance policy but many of them

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1163005211901303702006-11-09T00:59:00.000+08:002006-11-09T01:00:12.400+08:00

Thursday November 9, 12:17 AMGovt to introduce laws on 19 new offences, expand scope of existing offencesSINGAPORE : The Home Affairs Ministry is planning to introduce legislation on 19 new offences and expand the scope of 19 existing offences in the Penal Code.Some of these changes are to keep abreast of technological changes which have taken place in the last two decades, such as the internet

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162997321550027472006-11-08T22:48:00.000+08:002006-11-09T00:41:31.916+08:00

Business Times - 08 Nov 200622% of residential property deals are with foreign buyersBy ARTHUR SIM(SINGAPORE) Foreign buyers now account for 22 per cent of all residential property transactions here - an increase of 24 per cent from a year ago.According to a report by Savills Singapore, 22 per cent or 3,143 of the 14,286 homes sold in the first nine months of the year were bought by foreigners.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162857369098147792006-11-07T07:55:00.000+08:002006-11-08T07:59:34.700+08:00

ST Nov 7, 2006Court orders transcript, images on Net removedBy Ken KwekSINGAPORE Democratic Party (SDP) supporter Yap Keng Ho has posted online a transcript and still images from police video clips showing him and two others allegedly speaking in public without a permit.He may be held in contempt of court for the act, District Judge Eddy Tham told him yesterday on the eighth day of a trial

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162603489188587312006-11-04T09:05:00.000+08:002006-11-04T09:29:39.590+08:00

ST Nov 4, 2006Tougher to get leaders to stay in govt for longThey need 10-20 years to master art of govt, but private sector a strong draw, says MMBy Sue-Ann ChiaMINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew believes it will be increasingly difficult to expect political leaders to stay in office for long, given the attractions of the private sector.But without good leaders stepping forward, Singapore will falter,

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162602116323717962006-11-04T08:39:00.000+08:002006-11-04T09:01:59.350+08:00

Singapore just has a way of boiling things down into simple catchphrases and key words. Here come our new 5 C's - Competitiveness, Cohesion, Compassion, Compact and Choices. The full article is very long, so I reproduce only an excerpt: ST Nov 4, 2006Singapore Dreaming: The other 5CsCash, credit card, car, condo, country club. Cliched. Li Xueying, Goh Chin Lian and Keith Lin speak to MPs and

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162531109099760462006-11-03T13:15:00.000+08:002006-11-03T13:18:30.276+08:00

ST Nov 3, 2006More time for 3 accused to view police videoTHE hearing against Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan and two others for speaking in public without a permit was adjourned yesterday to give them more time to view a police video of their actions.Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Lit Cheng yesterday provided DVD copies of the police recording to Chee, SDP member Gandhi

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162346497238916222006-11-01T09:25:00.000+08:002006-11-04T09:57:03.860+08:00

ST Nov 1, 2006Chee's bid to abort trial failsBy Ken KwekSINGAPORE Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan and party member Gandhi Ambalam have failed in a fresh bid to abort a trial against them for speaking in public without a permit.Justice Choo Han Teck dismissed their applications in the High Court yesterday.He noted that their trial, in the subordinate courts, had 'hardly begun' and they

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162275819980909042006-10-31T14:23:00.000+08:002006-11-25T10:16:42.140+08:00

An interesting interview with a doctor who has signed an Advance Medical Directive. It's basically Singapore's form of legalised euthanasia, although you can be sure that Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan wouldn't like to hear the E word being used in this context.Oct 30, 2006Terminally ill? Doctor has 'no intention of lingering'Dr Lee Wei Ling, director of the National Neuroscience Institute, tells

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1162117385962153432006-10-29T18:21:00.000+08:002006-10-30T07:47:15.433+08:00

I've just come back from a weekend getaway. I was somewhat surprised to see the large number of comments on my previous post, Mr Wang's Personal Trivia.It may be apt to reiterate my basic point. Mr Wang is not specifically telling you whether you should or should not buy a car; employ a maid; live in a condo; get married; or have children.Mr Wang is merely pointing out that there are many

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161860290959165732006-10-26T18:57:00.000+08:002006-10-26T19:05:27.210+08:00

Yesterday's ST Review section had two articles, each on a very Singaporean topic. The first article is about employing a maid: ST Oct 25, 2006The price of a good maidBy Newsdesk Reporter, Arlina ArshadAFTER giving birth to twins in July this year, marketing executive Ng Su Ming, 35, decided to hire a maid. She wanted someone who could help look after the twins and another toddler when she went

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161757082952288162006-10-25T13:37:00.000+08:002006-10-25T14:28:30.250+08:00

I was reading this article about the now-infamous Wee Shu Min:ST Oct 24, 2006Teen blogger counselled for her 'elitist' remarksBy Ken KwekA TEENAGE blogger has found herself in the soup after comments she made in her online journal were criticised by many Internet users for being insensitive and elitist.Raffles Junior College student Wee Shu Min, a daughter of MP Wee Siew Kim, sparked a heated

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com106tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161655124782851632006-10-24T09:55:00.000+08:002006-10-24T10:09:58.670+08:00

This one comes soon after its other achievement of being ranked as one of the world's top 20 universities. Some people may be skeptical, other people may be surprised, but in the past few years, the evidence is that NUS seems to be improving by leaps and bounds. Of course there is still plenty of room for improvement. Among other things - in the way they select and admit their EMBA program

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161646667449149152006-10-24T07:14:00.000+08:002006-10-24T08:05:12.566+08:00

ST Oct 24, 2006 Push to get more people to take public transport This is among aims of a review to set land transport directions for next 10-15 years TEN years after the White Paper on Land Transport was published, Transport Minister Raymond Lim yesterday announced that his ministry was going back to the drawing board to map out new directions for the next 10 to 15 years. Among other things,

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161587286823993402006-10-23T14:06:00.000+08:002006-10-23T15:08:07.600+08:00

An interesting article from TODAY:No points for this loyalty programmeTo retain star employees, companies should reward committed workers, rather than long-stayersMonday • October 23, 2006Liang DingziIS STAFF loyalty passé? Are we clutching at straws, refusing to recognise that in the changing, competitive world, this value is no longer as important a corporate asset as it used to be?At a job

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161347837632841462006-10-20T20:10:00.000+08:002006-10-20T20:39:52.360+08:00

The article below is from AsiaOne. It is about Mr Melvyn Chew, someone who semi-retired at age 37. He is not fabulously rich - simply very clever at living very cheaply. I don't really admire his lifestyle, but I do admire his courage in daring to live a life so different. I definitely understand what he's trying to say in Point 7. In my experience, people do often somehow expect you to want for

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161220146449808492006-10-19T09:01:00.000+08:002006-10-19T09:09:08.503+08:00

MRT trains seem to be an increasingly popular way to kill yourself (and others) in Singapore.ST Oct 19, 2006Man fatally hit by train, services disruptedTRAIN services were disrupted for a short while last night after a man was fatally hit by a train.Closed-circuit cameras at the Chinese Garden MRT station reportedly captured the man flinging himself into the path of an oncoming train.The man, in

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1161070624693580972006-10-17T15:35:00.000+08:002006-10-17T15:37:05.056+08:00

Click here and take a look at pages 11 and 12.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160979139629622122006-10-16T13:55:00.000+08:002006-10-16T14:18:00.650+08:00

Gayle Goh, writing for The New Paper, seems to share my views on the MPs' blog, P65. Gayle quotes me in her article and makes me sound a little harsh - I say "harsh" because in the days since I posted my article, the P65 MPs have improved and tried to focus a little more on serious issues. MPs' blogs a good move, but dare they go further?By Gayle GohThe New Paper, 13 October 2006SINCE Prime

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160962396504932972006-10-16T09:27:00.000+08:002006-10-16T09:33:16.760+08:00

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the abolition of the EM3 stream in our schools and I mentioned the Rosenthal effect. Now suddenly the Straits Times has an article on it too. Ah, how lucky our journalists are today - they have bloggers to educate them, or at least inspire story ideas.ST Oct 16, 2006Dear teacher, do you think I am too stupid to do well?Rosenthal Effect links teacher expectations to

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160961314668250612006-10-16T09:12:00.000+08:002006-10-16T09:15:15.320+08:00

Here comes a huge change in our criminal legal system. Unfortunately due to work pressures, I won't be commenting as of now. I hereby post the article first, and will comment when I find the time. Oct 16, 2006 Prosecutors to reveal all in proposed new law Defence lawyers will have access to evidence against their clients before cases go to trial By Ben Nadarajan STATE prosecutors will soon be

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160894634349719442006-10-15T13:35:00.000+08:002006-10-16T09:40:40.256+08:00

Today the Sunday Times has an article about saving for retirement. According to a survey, 90% of Singaporeans think they are saving enough by contributing regularly to their Central Provident Fund. I think that in many (most?) cases, this will transpire to be a bad miscalculation. Anyway:Oct 15, 2006Saving their way to early retirementTo some, a quicker exit from the rat race may be a pipe dream,

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160875289948671542006-10-15T09:06:00.000+08:002006-10-15T09:21:30.183+08:00

NUS does well again in another study ranking top universities around the world.1 Harvard University 2 University of Cambridge 3 University of Oxford 4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4 Yale University 6 Stanford University 7 California Institute of Technology 8 University of California, Berkeley 9 Imperial College London 10 Princeton University 11 University of Chicago 12

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160562966645737062006-10-11T18:21:00.000+08:002006-10-11T18:38:08.906+08:00

The Gifted Enrichment Programme is dead. I had missed this bit of news earlier. If you look at other recent changes to the education system, like this, this and this, you can pretty much get a sense of where Education Minister Tharman is headed.He doesn't like streaming, and furthermore he wants a system where students have more options to pursue what they're really interested in and feel they

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160561605066950612006-10-11T17:57:00.000+08:002006-10-11T19:51:10.033+08:00

Naaaah. I just have great faith in the ability of the Singapore government to mess up. Back in August, I commented on the supply of lawyers in Singapore and concluded that the government had made some major mistakes. I then went on to say this: "Lawyers are one example. Other examples have been doctors (undersupply) and engineers (oversupply).So if you are making your next career move based on

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160538733485236532006-10-11T11:38:00.000+08:002006-10-11T11:53:36.966+08:00

I will give you excerpts from three separate articles and let you figure out the connections, if any. The first article about the high number of very rich people in Singapore:ST Oct 11, 20061.5% of adults in Singapore have assets exceeding US$1mRepublic's concentration of the wealthy is far higher than global, Asia average, survey showsBy Finance Correspondent, Lorna TanIF YOU are looking for a

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160530471948452552006-10-11T09:17:00.000+08:002006-10-11T09:39:02.430+08:00

I had asked for guest writers. Here's my first! The article is an excerpt from Christopher Ng's upcoming 2nd book, Harvesting the Fruits of Prosperity. More details below about book & author.Only the fittest shall find marital bliss “You might as well show up with your salary printed boldly on your T-shirt. Save the women at SDU the trouble of asking", remarked a cynical male colleague when

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160357246842659272006-10-09T09:26:00.000+08:002006-10-09T09:33:36.070+08:00

In July, PM Lee said that he wanted the PAP to be more "hip and happening" so as to connect to young Singaporeans. In August, PM Lee announced that he wanted the government to use "new" media (ie the Internet) to reach out to the masses. And now - we have P65. The blog of 12 PAP MPs born after 1965.This is embarrassing. The design is poor; it lacks navigation aids; the sidebar is non-existent;

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1160209742943792112006-10-07T16:18:00.000+08:002006-10-07T16:33:18.510+08:00

While I'm on blogging leave, I invite guest writers to send me their articles (mrwangsaysso@gmail.com) which I will post on my blog if I think that they are interesting and well-written.Articles should not exceed 850 words and should be on a topical Singapore matter. I may edit articles for clarity. The writer should write on a topic on which he/she has some expertise, training or personal

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1159840262748698562006-10-03T09:38:00.000+08:002006-10-03T09:52:58.033+08:00

M Ravi is the lawyer who has been handling a large number of high-profile civil / constitutional / human rights cases in the past two years. He's the same chap who's been representing Chee Soon Juan in court. Anyway, something strange has been happening to him. I don't know what the real picture is - read this, this and this, and do your own speculation.I was quite surprised to see the

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1159839430435708232006-10-03T09:28:00.000+08:002006-10-03T09:37:10.860+08:00

ST Oct 3, 2006Poly courses at over 40 schoolsMORE than 40 secondary schools will offer courses designed and taught by the five polytechnics to their students, some starting this month.These 37 courses, for which separate fees are payable, range from design communication to microbiology and financial planning to electronic circuits. Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam first announced this

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1159601256015892692006-09-30T15:21:00.000+08:002006-09-30T15:27:36.550+08:00

As September draws to a close, I note that Mr Wang's Karmic Biscuits have reached yet another all-time high in popularity. Mr Wang's monthly unique readership exceeded 31,000 this month, and has more than tripled in the past nine months. So thank you for reading (and commenting). And if you have enjoyed this blog, don't forget to tell your friends about it!

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1159513110908523812006-09-29T14:32:00.000+08:002006-09-29T15:03:36.900+08:00

ST Sep 28, 2006EM3 stream to be dropped from 2008Pupils will be grouped according to ability in specific subjectsBy Jane NgTHE EM3 stream, on the way out over the past few years, is finally being scrapped.The hugely unpopular stream - which groups the weakest primary school pupils together - will be junked in 2008.Students will instead be banded according to their strengths in specific

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1159410520977530862006-09-28T10:28:00.000+08:002006-09-29T06:36:45.643+08:00

Sep 28, 2006Courts to review sentencing guidelinesCJ wants to strike new balance between punishing and rehabilitating offendersBy Tanya FongTHE courts are reviewing sentencing guidelines for major offences carrying jail terms in order to strike a new balance between punishing and rehabilitating offenders.Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong yesterday said a criminal justice system has to go beyond meting

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1159204568770338932006-09-26T01:15:00.000+08:002006-09-27T12:24:31.756+08:00

ST Sep 24, 2006PM to young: Help make S'pore betterBy Peh Shing HueiTHEY told Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong they wanted to engage the Government, to contribute and be heard.But the question that several young Singaporeans had at a dialogue with him yesterday was how. A youth parliament perhaps? Or internships with ministers, through blogs, or more such dialogues?Mr Lee listened intently,

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1159149293258648272006-09-25T09:46:00.000+08:002006-10-01T21:45:05.870+08:00

ST Sep 25, 2006SIA and pilots quarrel over pay once moreBy Aviation Correspondent, Karamjit KaurTHEY are at it again. Barely a year and a half after they mended fences, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its pilots' union are at loggerheads again, this time over salaries and benefits for flying the new Airbus 380 aircraft, expected to enter service next year.SIA and the Air Line Pilots Association -

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158630818445736592006-09-19T09:17:00.000+08:002006-09-19T15:50:05.456+08:00

As I walk to my office every morning, I am frequently accosted by people handing out flyers in public places. I get flyers with promotional offers to join the new "Fitness First" gym. I get flyers about special discounts at some newly-opened restaurant. I get flyers about investing in UK properties; about the wonders of noni juice; and how to make money by being a part-time telemarketeer.Flyers

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com85tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158478247942004802006-09-17T14:38:00.000+08:002006-09-17T17:01:02.423+08:00

Sunday Times, Sep 17, 2006Scholar charged with attempted murderMan accused of pushing ex-girlfriend off platform said to be depressed at the timeBy Selina LumAN ASEAN scholarship holder with a double degree possibly faces a lifetime in jail for allegedly attempting to murder his former girlfriend by pushing her off a train platform.Kwong Kok Hing, 26, was yesterday charged with intending to kill

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158460395359589762006-09-17T08:46:00.000+08:002006-09-17T15:45:30.933+08:00

So now they begin to realise. Heheh.I once wrote, on this blog, a series of posts about the flaws and failings of the scholarship system in Singapore - here, here, here and here. In one of them, I posed this question to my readers:Find two differences between Group A:Singapore Airlines / Singapore Press Holdings / Development Bank of Singapore / Singapore Power Ltd / SembCorp Industries /

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158369959217881422006-09-16T08:27:00.000+08:002006-09-16T09:55:41.476+08:00

ST Sep 16, 2006S'pore agrees to admit 22 of 27 blacklisted activistsBy Li XueyingSINGAPORE will allow 22 of the 27 civil society activists it had objected to previously to enter the country after all.In an unexpected statement last night, the Singapore organisingcommittee for the International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings said:'Based on input provided by the IMF and World Bank this morning,

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158285271028047392006-09-15T09:54:00.000+08:002006-09-15T10:50:33.910+08:00

Bloggers seem to be really going places these days. I hear that 18-year-old blogger Gayle Goh is just back from Bangkok, where she and veteran social activist Alex Au (Yawning Bread) spoke at a forum organised by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance. What was I doing when I was her age? Polishing my army boots and singing the "A-for-Alpha, B-for-Bravo" song on Pulau Tekong. Bleah.I just received an

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158213440408454842006-09-14T13:51:00.000+08:002006-09-14T14:03:04.326+08:00

... and on and on: ST Sep 14, 2006 World Bank hopes S'pore objection to activists not censorshipTHE head of the World Bank said he hopes that Singapore's decision to prevent some activists from attending the IMF-World Bank meetings is not a case of censorship.Singapore's position on 28 activists has drawn criticism from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.Singapore authorities said

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158208568451736772006-09-14T12:21:00.000+08:002006-09-14T12:37:55.506+08:00

In July, I wrote a post entitled "Politicians' Blogs". In it, I compared two blogs - the first by the Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, and the second by PAP Member of Parliament Teo Ho Pin. Basically, I concluded that Ho Pin's blog was disappointing.Today - well, see what happened. I wonder if this has anything to do with me. Did I just chase the PAP off the Internet?

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158127711538274892006-09-13T14:00:00.000+08:002006-09-14T09:42:55.076+08:00

Foreign Affairs Minister BG George Yeo just used the word "balls" in his blog post. "Balls", as in "testicles". Heheh. I don't know about you, but I like this. The man is loosening up. I see this as a positive sign: "What are the 3 B's? They are Brains, Balls and Breaks.Brains - well, it always helps if one is smart, alert and able to spot trends. One also needs a sense of social situations. We

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1158115949967074872006-09-13T10:51:00.000+08:002006-09-14T09:45:20.210+08:00

Do Singaporean men really decide to leave Singapore for good, because of NS? See for yourself.---UPDATE: The link is broken; the post has been removed; but the chap in question, TakChek, explains why, in the Comment section below.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157882488122056892006-09-11T14:36:00.000+08:002006-09-14T15:20:21.250+08:00

----UPDATE 14 September 2006: I've been informed that this post (or an earlier version of it) has been forwarded to Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean via the Government Feedback Unit. Or something like that.----NS is a provocative issue. So is foreign talent. Link the two, as I did here, and what we get is a passionate flurry of readers' responses. All good and well, but as in all passionate debates

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157901648836940422006-09-10T22:06:00.000+08:002006-09-11T09:41:02.956+08:00

I know that many readers are waiting for "Rethinking NS - Part 2". They will have to wait a little longer. Tonight I'm blogging about the IMF/World Bank conference which starts tomorrow in Suntec City.Back in July, I mentioned that the Singapore government planned not to allow anti-IMF/World Bank demonstrations to take place (except in certain prescribed indoor areas). I also said that the IMF

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157603954528287002006-09-07T12:35:00.000+08:002006-09-07T13:09:55.350+08:00

After a slow start, BG Yeo is warming up. His posts are getting more interesting. I hope he keeps it up. Thank you, Lesley, for highlighting these: (1) Global Connectivity and Friendships, and (2) Goal Setting & NS.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157594743467953692006-09-07T09:33:00.000+08:002006-09-11T09:39:35.233+08:00

Recently, I had lunch with a lawyer. A foreigner who has been working for some years in Singapore. He has PR status now and has been offered citizenship a few times. He also has a very young son, about three years old. During lunch, he asked me point-blank to explain the NS system and how he could avoid his son having to do NS. The man is looking 15 years down the road and calculating his

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com119tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157339723802111072006-09-04T11:06:00.000+08:002006-09-04T11:17:44.826+08:00

Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo has ventured into the blogosphere. He appears as a guest writer on local blogger Ephraim Loy's blog. I visited Ephraim's blog and was a bit disappointed. But never mind, it's a start, and that counts for something. I left a long comment on Ephraim's blog as follows:"Dear BG Yeo:Congratulations for your brave little foray into the wild & woolly world of the

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157252836497083112006-09-03T11:06:00.000+08:002006-09-14T09:47:28.193+08:00

ST Sep 3, 2006It's not funny, says MindefApart from security and safety concerns, others also find videos offensiveBy Jeremy Au YongTWO uniformed Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers stand in a jungle clearing on either side of a dirt path. One raises his rifle - loaded with blanks - and shoots his compatriot. The soldier retaliates, draws his parang and rushes at his assailant. More shots are

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157165484067622692006-09-02T09:36:00.000+08:002006-09-02T14:41:17.070+08:00

I had mentioned that the Straits Times recently interviewed me. They had wanted to do yet another story about MSM versus alternative media. The story appears in two articles today - on the Prime News and the Insight pages.The articles were rather .... boring. No, I'm not being mean. Just expressing my opinion. Go read for yourself. If you don't have the ST, click here.In a nutshell - global

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1157001246383750502006-08-31T12:28:00.000+08:002006-09-02T14:52:53.956+08:00

Gasp. Mr Brown wasn't nominated for Best Singapore Blog. How could that be? I guess it's because the man is already in a league of his own. Mr Brown is like an urban legend ... except that he's real.Anyway, there are 10 nominees for Best Singapore Blog and you need to rank them all. If you like my blog, put me somewhere near the top, ok? My own ranking would go something like this:1. Mr Wang

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156987934581344882006-08-31T09:16:00.000+08:002006-09-02T14:58:11.086+08:00

Contrary to popular belief, I do not blog about all important social issues in Singapore. Alas, my time is limited and sometimes there are too many topics in a given week that catch my eye.The sexual exploitation of child prostitutes by Singaporeans was in the news a couple of months ago. I didn't blog about it then, so I'll try to make up for it by now. Child prostitution does not happen very

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156892580237309082006-08-30T07:02:00.000+08:002006-08-31T10:08:32.666+08:00

K is a good old buddy of mine. We were hostel roommates in our freshman year at NUS. He studied engineering, and I studied law, and we both had the habit of studying with music turned on at full blast. Fortunately, we had compatible tastes in music.K was not a Singaporean. Born in a quiet, sleepy Malaysian town, he first came to Singapore as a teenager, to do his A-levels on an ASEAN scholarship.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com77tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156733437692969792006-08-28T09:02:00.000+08:002006-08-31T10:09:02.763+08:00

I am in my thirties and I have two kids, aged four & two. Having a 3rd child is something that Mrs Wang and I talk about from time to time. We like the idea, but it requires careful consideration.For us, the real constraint is time. If you want to raise kids, you should do it properly. To do it properly, you need time. I think we currently do a respectable job as parents of two kids. But the way

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156556617315743792006-08-26T09:35:00.000+08:002006-08-26T09:55:29.526+08:00

A prizewinning entry from the 2002 Arts Against AIDS competition. Its creator, Poh Maolin, said:"The idea of this poster was taken from an actual free sex advertisement on a wall in Geylang. By deleting the word 'sex' and replacing it with 'AIDS', I wish to warn the public that casual sex increases the risk of HIV infection. The feel of the poster is dark and dirty to emphasise the risk further.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156463889638305932006-08-25T06:53:00.000+08:002006-08-25T10:53:17.880+08:00

Is Mr Wang done with PM Lee's rally speech yet? Almost. First, let's recap two major trends/policies for Singapore:(1) Singapore faces the challenge of an ageing population (or so we're told). Current projections show that one in five Singaporeans will be over the age of 65 by 2030. The government therefore wants to encourage Singaporeans to have more babies.(2) Singapore's economy lacks skilled

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156388048878527582006-08-24T10:52:00.000+08:002006-08-24T12:00:25.800+08:00

Nowadays, when you want some quick info about something, what do you do:(1) Ask a friend and hope he knows.(2) Go to the library and borrow a book.(3) Google.Quite often, it would be (3). Right?PM Lee made his rally speech a few days ago. Suppose you missed the telecast and you wanted to find out what it was all about. You go to Google and you type "lee hsien loong national day rally speech".

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156307293600563582006-08-23T11:51:00.000+08:002006-08-24T12:06:31.283+08:00

Sometimes, reading the newspapers is like entering an imaginary world, one quite far removed from reality. Prof Ang Peng Hwa, Dean of the NTU Communication School, had an article in yesterday's TODAY. I shall not be too unkind, since he was obviously publicising his upcoming workshop on "Blogging and the Law". Still Prof Ang makes one point so strange that I just have to comment:Having seen

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156295178775413512006-08-23T08:50:00.000+08:002006-08-24T09:26:16.560+08:00

This latest publicity request comes from ECO Singapore. They are organising the National Youth Environment Forum, for Singaporeans aged between 17 and 30. The focus is on sustainable living; the aim is to challenge youths to rethink existing policies on environmental issues; and the topics include Energy and Climate Change; Biodiversity and Nature Conservation; and Poverty and Population.The

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156242318088825382006-08-22T18:14:00.000+08:002006-08-27T13:42:55.953+08:00

Action for AIDS has asked me to help publicise this event. It's an art competition to raise public awareness about AIDS. If you're into graphic/poster design; digital photography; digital video or digital animation, this could be a good chance to showcase your talent. Winning entries will be exhibited at various public events in conjunction with World AIDS Day in December. Closing date for the

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156243836530784162006-08-22T18:00:00.000+08:002006-08-22T18:52:46.976+08:00

Drats. I promised the organisers to give this event more publicity but I never got around to it. Oh well, better late than never. And besides, I'm not late. This musical will be performed at the Esplanade on 9 September 2006 and features well-known local performers Chermaine Ang, Chua Enlai and Pierre Goh. It also involves various organisations such as the Handicaps Welfare Association; the

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156216596949895272006-08-22T11:01:00.000+08:002006-08-22T19:00:57.406+08:00

A tidbit from PM Lee's rally speech:"Many people have put heart and soul into building what we have today. And through hard work and clear thinking, we've created something unique and something precious in Singapore, a home for all of us. Our forefathers have planted the trees which now provide the shade which we now enjoy. It's now our duty to plant trees and grow them, trees which will give

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156202550775369172006-08-22T06:29:00.000+08:002006-08-22T07:34:29.470+08:00

My wife and I were deeply inspired by PM Lee's National Day rally speech. In particular, we were moved by his comments about the need for Singapore to have more babies. This is so very important for the continued success of our economy. We want to do our part for the nation, so last night we decided to make love without a condom.HaAhahAHAha! Of course not. Don't be ridiculous.That's exactly what

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156151244816105072006-08-21T16:43:00.000+08:002006-08-21T17:14:15.123+08:00

The amount of intellectual dishonesty is staggering. Today the Review section (this being the ST's section for serious, "intelligent" articles) has an article about the importance of Singapore supporting its talented individuals. I fully agree with that sentiment - I just don't like the ST seems to feel compelled to twist facts to support its opinion. Take a look: ST Aug 21, 2006Making room for

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156144483581834472006-08-21T13:45:00.000+08:002006-08-21T15:22:40.610+08:00

An excerpt from PM Lee's speech:"Finally, let me talk about a major problem we face – population shortage. To keep our society lively and vibrant, we not only need our people to be healthy, but must also maintain our population .....To sustain our growth and prosperity, we need to have enough people living and working in Singapore. This means that we must encourage families to have more children,

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1156126673612823552006-08-21T09:22:00.000+08:002006-08-21T20:43:33.550+08:00

I didn't watch the PM's rally speech on TV last night. I always like good news. But the elections had just ended recently, and I figured that the PAP wouldn't be announcing any new benefits for the people (not for another four or five years anyway). Poked around the ST this morning, and true enough, these were the first four paragraphs I saw: Aug 21, 2006Embrace talent, technology to secure

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155872785819608682006-08-18T11:46:00.000+08:002006-08-18T12:01:32.690+08:00

Ah, the dynamics. Once upon a time, and not really all that long ago, the government decided that Singapore had an oversupply of lawyers. A series of big changes were then made to deal decisively with this problem.NUS (Singapore's only law school) progressively reduced its student intake each year, shrinking downwards to about 150 at its lowest point (and incidentally being more elitist than ever

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155807220647375072006-08-17T14:55:00.000+08:002006-08-18T13:29:03.526+08:00

I had previously commented on two ST articles about AIDS in Singapore - click here and here. In both cases, the ST used statistics in a most misleading way. Today, the ST is once again twisting and tweaking numbers in a story about AIDS: ST Aug 17, 2006Rise in sex infections hastens need to educate the youngThreefold increase in cases among those aged 10-19; over 40 have HIVSINGAPORE youths

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155781980717480942006-08-17T09:38:00.000+08:002006-08-17T10:35:51.566+08:00

A few nights ago, I watched "Life Story". It's a dramatised TV show based on the true stories of real people. Anyway, in this episode, the relatively well-known Singapore comedienne and actress Abigail Chay (Under One Roof; Money No Enough etc) played the role of the main character.The main character has had transsexualism since he was a young boy. Psychologically, he is unable to think of

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155708668557736892006-08-16T14:06:00.000+08:002006-08-16T14:13:59.636+08:00

More details available here.ST Aug 16, 2006Newsweek ranks NUS 31st in the worldNTU at No. 71 on its online list of world's top varsitiesBy Liaw Wy-CinA NEW global league table of universities compiled by international magazine Newsweek has ranked the National University of Singapore (NUS) 31st in the world.In its latest issue, Newsweek put NUS ahead of top institutions like Brown University in

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155622130438871372006-08-15T14:08:00.000+08:002006-08-15T14:35:38.156+08:00

Today, DPM Wong Kan Seng is in the Straits Times. The ST focused on the terrorism angle, but also reported, in an incidental sort of way, DPM's remarks about job seekers rejecting offers. ST Aug 15, 2006Security won't help if people take it easy: DPMBy Zakir HussainNO AMOUNT of security measures will be adequate against the threat of terrorism if people are complacent about their role, Deputy

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155549629259038972006-08-14T16:34:00.000+08:002006-08-14T19:14:31.650+08:00

Today, the ST Youth Ink section has the following topic:This year's batch of university graduates have just entered the workforce 5/8 and some are having a hard time adjusting to their jobs. They complain that they are not being given important work, or that they have to report every little thing to a boss. Do they expect too much? YouthInk writers have their say.Nur Amira, an SMU student, wrote

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155115211764544002006-08-09T16:01:00.000+08:002006-08-14T13:01:26.723+08:00

Here's MM Lee Kuan Yew, in a recent interview:ST Aug 9, 2006MM Lee on lawyers, politicians and S'pore's futureTHE idea of selling his skills, and doing a job where it did not matter if a client was in the right or wrong, did not appeal to Mr Lee Kuan Yew as a young lawyer here.Recalling those times in the 1950s in an interview with the Singapore Law Gazette, Minister Mentor Lee also said he did

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155092366673585792006-08-09T10:59:00.000+08:002006-08-14T13:03:09.500+08:00

Remember Char? He had posted some allegedly offensive cartoons of Jesus on his blog. Someone called the police and this led to the police investigating Char for possible offences under the Sedition Act. A few months ago, I wrote about Char's case, and in the Comment section of my post, I queried whether the police was wasting time and resources on such cases instead of focusing on serious

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12908820.post-1155003293638802692006-08-08T09:38:00.000+08:002006-08-14T14:30:24.636+08:00

Are we all set for the great casino game yet? About one year ago, I commented on the nation's new gambling plans and wrote this:..... when the casinos arrive and the loan sharks get locked away, it may well be the banks which celebrate most exuberantly. Addicted Singaporeans will surely borrow. They can even borrow to pay the $100 casino entry fee. Remember - no questions asked. That's a basic

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wangnoreply@blogger.com21