Xmix

Nationalist rantings from a reborn Singaporean

2005-08-13T21:47:55+02:00

MUSINGS ON SINGAPORE'S 40TH BIRTHDAY
Not perfect but there's much to celebrate

BEING somewhat embarrassed with open displays of national pride, I must confess that I have been taking National Day for granted while I was in Singapore.

I will refrain from repeating how great a place Singapore is but living in Britain has made me treasure several aspects of life in the Republic.

While we may still face difficulties in fostering closer racial interaction and religious harmony, hate crimes have not been part of the routine existence of almost all living in Singapore.

Since the bombings in London on July 7, Islamphobia-related incidents in Britain have gone up by 600 per cent. Women with headscarfs were spat on and one Pakistani man was killed by a gang of white teens.

I may not be entirely sure that similar incidents will not happen in Singapore, but having lived in Singapore for three decades, I do not think my countrymen would do likewise.

Politics in Singapore would be considered a yawn for many political observers but, in 'mature democracies' where political mudslinging and brickbats are the order of the day, I am beginning to miss the more focused and rational discussion on resolving broader issues rather than name-calling.

While our political culture needs to be made more vibrant, critical and open, we should not dismiss it completely as being authoritarian.

I dare say that many Britons outside the sophisticated 'liberal circles' would yearn for a 'nanny state' where leaders persistently stress the need to be more employable through skills upgrading, changing attitudes, etc, rather than merely blaming certain personalities, institutions or groups.

The one aspect of Singapore I miss most is a slogan from the Singapore Police Force: 'Low crime doesn't mean no crime.' Living in an area with police warnings discouraging the use of mobile phones in public and advice to be discreet about personal belongings, I try to return home before midnight, learnt to look over my shoulder for suspicious persons, and avoid groups of loitering juvenile delinquents.

However, every time I return to Singapore, I drop my guard almost completely.

Singapore's achievement in these areas is not attributable to the Government alone. Without consensus from the citizens, no government policy, however well articulated, would bear fruit.

While there is room for improvement, there is also much to celebrate on our 40th National Day. I wish everyone in the land I call home 'Happy National Day'.

Liew Kai Khiun
London, UK

Comments

London bombings

2005-08-13T21:43:10+02:00

A lesson for S'poreans in UK's cool-headed reaction
Liew Kai Khiun a Singaporean in London
news@newstoday.com.sg

I heard the first ambulance siren at around 9.15am in my office near the King's Cross underground station, where one of the bombs went off.
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As I write this nine hours later, recovering from the shock of the multiple attacks in central London, the siren screams of the ambulances and police cars still echo along the eerie roads.
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I was lucky. I left home earlier than usual, took the London Underground and arrived at my office at about 8.30am – 20 minutes before the first bomb exploded. The difference between being in the comfort of the office and being a victim was just a matter of minutes.
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Since September 11, 2001 we have become numb to the television images of terrorist attacks, particularly the routine bombings in Iraq. But a rude reminder was given to us here that the places where we conduct our daily activities are actually the frontlines for the extremists.
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To them, civilians are merely pawns in a twisted game designed to permit them to achieve their goals. The ghastly remains of the exploded bus sit, ironically, next to a park which is home to a statue of the late Mahatma Gandhi — a man associated with peace and non-violence.
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There is much to learn about this attack for Singaporeans who are just as vulnerable as the Londoners to terrorism.
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The response of the emergency services was excellent. The various services — police, fire department, ambulances and hospitals — swung into action according to the earlier drills they practised hard. Although there was initial confusion and panic among commuters, the professionalism and confidence of the frontline staff kept the situation in hand.
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The British political leadership demonstrated its courage, clarity and compassion as leaders such as Prime Minister Tony Blair put up a united front to reassure a shaken public.
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Most importantly, the people of London have exhibited extraordinary patience and understanding, even as they were severely inconvenienced by the attack. Instead of getting annoyed with roadblocks and public transport disruptions, many are making adjustments. I continue to see on the streets the brave faces of people determined not to be cowed by acts of terror.
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As I end my note, I can still hear the sirens of emergency vehicles racing past my office building — something I hope Singaporeans will never hear.
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But, should we have to, we should face the situation with the same strength and dignity that Londoners proudly displayed on the gloomy morning of July 7, 2005.
Liew Kai Khiun a Singaporean in London
news@newstoday.com.sg

I heard the first ambulance siren at around 9.15am in my office near the King's Cross underground station, where one of the bombs went off.
.
As I write this nine hours later, recovering from the shock of the multiple attacks in central London, the siren screams of the ambulances and police cars still echo along the eerie roads.
.
I was lucky. I left home earlier than usual, took the London Underground and arrived at my office at about 8.30am – 20 minutes before the first bomb exploded. The difference between being in the comfort of the office and being a victim was just a matter of minutes.
.
Since September 11, 2001 we have become numb to the television images of terrorist attacks, particularly the routine bombings in Iraq. But a rude reminder was given to us here that the places where we conduct our daily activities are actually the frontlines for the extremists.
.
To them, civilians are merely pawns in a twisted game designed to permit them to achieve their goals. The ghastly remains of the exploded bus sit, ironically, next to a park which is home to a statue of the late Mahatma Gandhi — a man associated with peace and non-violence.
.
There is much to learn about this attack for Singaporeans who are just as vulnerable as the Londoners to terrorism.
.
The response of the emergency services was excellent. The various services — police, fire department, ambulances and hospitals — swung into action according to the earlier drills they practised hard. Although there was initial confusion and panic among commuters, the professionalism and confidence of the frontline staff kept the situation in hand.
.
The British political leadership demonstrated its courage, clarity and compassion as leaders such as Prime Minister Tony Blair put up a united front to reassure a shaken public.
.
Most importantly, the people of London have exhibited extraordinary patience and understanding, even as they were severely inconvenienced by the attack. Instead of getting annoyed with roadblocks and public transport disruptions, many are making adjustments. I continue to see on the streets the brave faces of people determined not to be cowed by acts of terror.
.
As I end my note, I can still hear the sirens of emergency vehicles racing past my office building — something I hope Singaporeans will never hear.
.
But, should we have to, we should face the situation with the same strength and dignity that Londoners proudly displayed on the gloomy morning of July 7, 2005. Liew Kai Khiun a Singaporean in London
news@newstoday.com.sg

Comments

protest

2005-06-17T14:24:28+02:00

March 11, 2005
Foreign NGOs can hold protests but not locals

I AM surprised that the Government has allowed 300 accredited foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to hold peaceful protests and demonstrations during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Summit to be held in the Republic next year.

This contrasts sharply with the ban that the police imposed on attempts by ordinary Singaporeans to stage peaceful demonstrations, particularly in the recent protests against the US war on Iraq.

More recently, the application for women's groups to hold a walk in support of the White Ribbon Campaign on violence against women was also denied. In reply to a query by a foreign journalist recently, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong stated that Singapore is too small to allow public protests and demonstrations which would have clogged the streets.

While I am not against these NGOs, I am disappointed that the Government is practising double standards by allowing foreigners to stage demonstrations, a right rarely granted to Singaporeans.

Liew Kai Khiun
London, United Kingdom

Comments

Being Singaporean

2005-06-17T14:22:47+02:00

Something about being Singaporean Date: 26/2/2001 5:58:25 PM
Being S'porean: A unique, collective experience

Feb 22, 2001

I REFER to the article, 'I want to be proud of Singapore... but what about?' (ST, Feb 20).

It is heartening to know that many Singaporeans are looking beyond their identity cards and passports for answers to what makes them Singaporean.

They are also not rushing to embrace the Government's symbolic gestures to promote national pride and awareness via patriotic songs.

Being world No 1 - from airports to international mathematics and science competitions - has already been taken for granted.

It is not something to be celebrated collectively for most Singaporeans.

Furthermore, we have been told recently not to be proud of our grammatically-incorrect, colloquial brand of English, or 'Singlish', which allows us to identify a fellow Singaporean instantly, even in a foreign country.

Associating ourselves with our physical environment and neighbourhood is difficult in a constantly changing landscape, where few buildings survive for more than 30 years and where the faces of our neighbours and colleagues change frequently.

While grand parades, like the annual National Day Parade, serve as momentary affirmations of our national identity, the feeling fades away eventually, as we revert to our mundane chores.

Finally, creating a 'us versus them' xenophobic mentality through soccer matches or foreign bogeymen is definitely not a healthy and rational means of fostering a collective sense of belonging.

However, we should not be alarmed that we have difficulty defining a national identity. In an increasingly globalised environment, the challenge to define ourselves according to our nationalities has become tougher.

For a long time, in our quest to make ourselves relevant to the international economy, we have been quick to show the world what we can offer in terms of infrastructure and facilities.

In the process, the line between local and global is blurred.

However, as our society becomes more established and confident, Singaporeans will be less inclined to conform to the simplistic prescriptions of tourist brochures, government policies or slick marketing gimmicks of global corporations.

I am glad to see some local organisations like the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and the Singapore Institute of International Affairs beginning to acknowledge these sentiments.

In particular, as part of its efforts to encourage Singaporeans to think global and feel Singaporean, the SIF has set up the 'Singapore Internationale'.

The programme supports and recognises Singaporeans, from artists to scientists, who are able to show the world something as complex as the Singaporean identity through their works.

To conclude, rather than seeking fruitlessly for the 'real' Singaporean founded on a set of imaginary benchmarks, we should be asking ourselves who we are, based on our unique experiences on top of our collective achievements as a nation.

LIEW KAI KHIUN

Comments

About learning English

2005-06-17T14:18:02+02:00

In light of the flurry of self-professed language police nick picking on every pronunciation and spelling, I agree with Professor Kirpal Singh that we need to address the more fundamental problem of language competency. It is sad that the Speak Good English Campaign has been reduced to superficially parroting what is regarded as the standard format rather than gaining a more meaningful grasp of the text and context of the language. In the process, we risk confusing a whole generation of especially younger Singaporeans bombarded with a cacophony of both local and overseas accents. It would be inevitable an English teacher would be asked by an innocent student why yah lah is any less legitimate that Yo! Man. And, by the religious emphasis on merely the linguistic correctness, we also risk alienating them from cultivating a deeper appreciation of the English language which is reduced to a set of sentence structures.

Hence, as suggested by Professor Singh, it is vital that we should not neglect the socio-cultural dynamics of the English language. Unlike the need to understand our cultural roots in the mother tongue polices, the emphasis on English seems only to be placed more on technical competencies in terms of being able to read instruction manuals and to be understood by foreigners. Although it is the first language of instruction in schools, it plays only the role of the language of commerce, leaving many devoid of a more comprehensive grounding in the language.

But, at this point, I would like to caution the authorities that the mere re-introduction of literature as a compulsory subject in the format of what Professor Singh considered as "the nation's best". As a secondary school student eighteen years ago, I still remembered the horror of reading the first paragraph of Shakespeare's Macbeth and subsequently Chaucer's Cantebury's Tales alongside with Jane Austen's Persuasion in addition to the poems of Woodsworth, Coleridge and Keats. As an ordinary teenager, these tongues and words seemed to come from another word. I found instead Catherine Lim's Or else the Lighting God and Other Short Stories more relevant to the dimension I exist in.

I used to perform badly in the English language examinations even I was considered a relatively more proficient speaker in school. But, I dare claim that my grasp for the language improved significantly after reading the National Geographic and listening to the BBC. In fact, there was an incident where my English teacher failed my composition test in Secondary Three as she refused to believe that it was my own efforts.

Hence, there is little point in getting bankers to taxi drivers to speak "good English" if it becomes merely contrived attempts to mimic a certain slang or accent, with little substance behind. What is more important is to go back to the basics of fostering a more conducive literary culture. This should be measured neither by whether we have extracted the lahs and lors from our conversations nor what sort of "cheem" (a Singlish expression of complicated) high literature syllabus to baffled students. Rather, it should be a culture where Singaporeans are inclined to read more extensively beyond the entertainment magazines, write more prolifically beyond SMS messages, company reports and emails, and of course listen to programmes beyond non-stop music hits. This in turn would enable them to articulate their thoughts more substantially beyond the common expression like " I think this one is very nice" even if it were to be pronounced in the most grammatically correct manner.

Comments

Killing Fields? More like Concentration Camps

2005-06-15T21:45:21+02:00

Below is an interesting analogy of Singapore as a Killing Field for foreign Domestic Workers by an Indonesian newspaper. I prefer to call our comfy homes concentration camps for many who slave for a pittance without even getting a day off.

ELECTRIC NEWS

Jakarta Post calls S'pore a 'killing field' for maids
Storm over a headline
By Sim Chi Yin

June 14, 2005

IT was a shocking headline.

--File Picture
A Jakarta newspaper recently referred to Singapore as a 'killing field' for Indonesian domestic workers.

The 16 May piece in the Indonesian capital's main English-language daily, the Jakarta Post, drew an angry response from the Singapore embassy there.

It also sparked an article in another newspaper, Kompas, and a lot of talk among observers in both countries.

The article was based on research by Indonesian non-governmental organisation Institute for Ecosoc Rights on the problems faced by Indonesian migrant workers here.

It quoted Ms Sri Palupi, a researcher with the institute, as saying: '...for many Indonesian domestic workers who live in poverty at home, the city state is like a killing field as they are not only over-exploited but physically abused and trapped in forced labour'.

It said 114 Indonesian maids died after falling from a height while working here between January 1999 and early this year.

But the quarrel is less over that than the use of the words 'killing field' - which bring to mind the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia in the 1970s and the Hollywood movie about the millions of Cambodians killed during that time.

A letter from the Singapore embassy, published in the Jakarta Post on 25 May, did not challenge the statistics, but noted that 'the number of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) who encounter problems in Singapore is a very small percentage of the 150,000 FDWs in Singapore'.

Signed by second political secretary Shang Thong Chie, the letter said the 'study' (quotation marks as in the letter) contains 'unsubstantiated allegations and factual inaccuracies... In particular, the use of the term 'killing field' is irresponsible and reprehensible'.

Ms Palupi, 40, told Kompas last week she was surprised by the use of the term.

'That phrase is too extreme, ' she said.

NEVER USED TERM

In an e-mail interview with The New Paper, Ms Palupi said she did not use the term 'killing field' in her study or interview with the Post.

When contacted, Mr Ridwan Sijabat, who wrote the Jakarta Post article, said: 'Palupi did not use the term 'killing field' in the study or interview. But when I proposed this terminology to her, she agreed with me that Singapore, to some extent, is a 'killing field' for Indonesian domestic workers because of the high mortality rate.'

Ms Palupi told The New Paper that the 'root cause of poor working conditions for Indonesian workers' was that their welfare is largely in the hands of private individuals - labour agencies and employers.

She had set out to investigate the cause of the high mortality rate in Singapore, she said.

A summary of her study, which will be completed next month, states that her team interviewed 120 domestic workers and their families.

The interviews were done in Singapore and four districts in Java and Sumatra, identified as popular supply areas for workers here.

The summary, which has been presented to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), concludes that many Indonesian maids here face 'poor working conditions' such as long hours, no rest days, non-payment of salary, inadequate food, withholding of passports, and confinement at home.

Some of these conditions fall within the ILO's definition of 'forced labour'.

The Indonesian embassy here confirmed the figures quoted in the summary - which cover deaths by falling and not by other causes such as illness.

It told The New Paper last week that the latest tally is 117 deaths.

Mr Fachry Sulaiman, the embassy's first secretary (protocol and consular affairs) said 48 of these were classified as accidents and 32 as suicides.

There were 21 'open verdicts' and 16 cases are still being investigated. He estimated about 60,000 Indonesian FDWs work here.

While there are no known comparative studies on this, the Indonesian Consulate in Hong Kong told The New Paper that in the territory (which has more than 93,000 Indonesian domestic workers), 32 have died because of accidents, illness or suicides since 2003.

Figures from the Indonesian embassy in Singapore show that for the same time period (2003 to 2005), 43 Indonesian maids here died by falling from a height.

In a written response to The New Paper, Mr Fachry said: 'Although the figures are worrisome, the embassy does not agree with the term 'killing field' used in the report.

'In reality, Singapore is one of the main destination countries for Indonesian domestic workers.'

He added that the 'relatively high' mortality rate of Indonesian maids here draws attention to the need for 'further improvements in domestic worker safety measures'.

Several have been introduced in recent years, the Singapore embassy's letter noted. (See report below.)

WELFARE SERVICES

Mr Fachry said his embassy has also taken measures to improve the welfare of maids here, including running a free monthly training programme, a twice-monthly radio programme and a shelter.

The embassy has also launched a website (www.kbrisingapura.com) with information on and for domestic workers. In an unpublished letter to The Jakarta Post, civil society group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) acknowledged efforts by various groups to improve conditions for domestic workers here.

Chairman Braema Mathi wrote: 'Things are improving albeit sometimes too slowly and we wish it could be better.'

She added: 'We feel the Jakarta Post's headline is a gross overstatement to an otherwise relatively fair accounting of the study...'

Some of the vulnerabilities faced by workers noted in Ms Palupi's study have long been raised by Singapore academics and activists.

Ms Palupi said the number of Indonesian maids who face problems in Singapore may indeed be a small percentage of the total number of workers here - as noted in the Singapore embassy's letter.

But, she added: 'I would argue that both countries should pay more attention to the protection and welfare of Indonesian domestic helpers instead of seeing them as mere statistics.'

Ms Geni Achnas, another Indonesian researcher studying Indonesian migrant workers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, called for an 'exhaustive investigation' by the Singapore and Indonesian governments into the deaths.

'The families of those 114 women are still searching for satisfactory answers,' she said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MOM moves to improve maids' lives

RECENT moves by the Ministry of Manpower to improve the safety and welfare of foreign domestic workers here are:

April 2004

Compulsory orientation programme was introduced for all first-time employers. This can be done online.

All new domestic workers were required to attend a four-hour safety awareness course.

Jun 2004

Accreditation was made a requirement for employment agencies to get their licences renewed.

Accreditation is done by two bodies, Consumers Association of Singapore and Association of Employment Agencies Singapore. The certification, meant to maintain standards in the industry of some 700 employment agencies, is valid for four years.

Oct 2004

MOM started monitoring employers who change their maids frequently.

All employers who make five or more work permit applications in a year must go back to the classroom for the employers' orientation programme.

If they continue to change maids, they will be interviewed by MOM. If this persists without good reason, MOM may reject their subsequent applications for a maid.

Jan 2005

MOM raised the minimum age for foreign domestic workers to 23, and introduced education pre-requisites. Maids must have proof of at least eight years of formal education.

Feb 2005

MOM spelt out - for the first time - in work permit conditions that employers must pay domestic workers their salary every month and no later than seven days after the last day of that month.

Apr 2005

Multiple-choice entry test in English was introduced for all new domestic workers, on basic numeracy and literacy, and safety tips.

Maids must pass the test within three working days of their arrival here. Those who fail have to be repatriated.

HELP

Indonesian embassy domestic worker office's 24-hour hotline: 9295-3964

Ministry of Manpower: on salary claims, call: 6317-1298; for other welfare matters: 6339-5505

Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home): 6341-5525 (for women workers), 6341-5535 (for male workers)

Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People (ACMI): 6280-5424

Indo Family helpline (for Indonesian domestic workers): 9489-9600

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ELECTRIC BLOG
TOPIC: Storm over a headline

BY liewkk69 2:36 am Jun 16, 2005

comfy homes for Singapore, concentration camps for maids
Compared to the nasty kingdoms in the Middle East, Singapore is indeed a paradise to many FDWs. But, in contrast to the more civilised countries, our treatement of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) amounts to that of slavery, something similar to the mui-tsai system in colonial Singapore. Many FDWs are at the mercy of their employers' goodwill as the government continues to legislate fair working conditions for them, namely, the limits on number of hours worked, and min day offs a month. I wonder what Singaporeans who lock their FDWs up will think if their comfy homes are like concentration camps to others. The killing fields may be a bit of an overkill, but it is a term that we truely deserved to be called. Ashamed to be Singaporean

Comments

Letter to Minister for Health

2005-06-09T17:04:03+02:00

13 March 2005
Open letter to Minister for Health Khaw Boon Wan

Dear Minister Khaw,

I am writing with regard to my concerns about the recent statements made in Parliament by MOS (Health) Dr Balaji Sadasivan on associating gay parties with "spike" in AIDS cases in Singapore. I look to our ministers as informed and responsible national leaders or what Confucius would call Jun Zi. But, even speaking as a hetrosexual male Singaporean, his speech is shockingly uneducated, unsubstantiated, hostile and dangerous. The texts of his remarks remind me more of Germany in the late 1930s than of contemporary Singapore. In another country, his apology and resignationwould be swiftly called for. Dr Balaji's repeated sweeping generalisations on homosexual Singaporeans has already done untold damage of further stigmatising a community that has in its own ways contributed to the development and prosperity of our country, even as if their sexual orientation have been different.

I regret the rather explicit language expressed on one of your minister, but, I am sure that you would agree that by merely appropriating blame or the act of creating scapgoats is not going to solve the problem of the Aids epidemic. On the other hand, it would only breed more hatred and ignorance. Although the state has claimed that it does not discriminate against gays, the actual policies from cradle to grave have proven otherwise. For a long time, Admitted, I have been programmed by the state endorsed version of sexuality to be homophobic. I am only beginning to shake off this prejudice during the past few years, but there are many who have not.

I believed that the government is sincere in creating a more inclusive and open Singapore and I urge you to excerise your authority to get the priorities right on fighting the Aids epidemic as a collective Singaporean responsiblity rather than the coming up with irrelevant and repressive policies on complusory tests for married and pregnant women or laying blame on gays.

It would be sad to stay in a country where one group is constantly living in fear and uncertainity from the hatred and prejudices of the majority.

Thank you for your kind attention from an ordinary but concerned Singaporean

Yours sincerely,

Liew Kai Khiun

Comments

Reaffirm our humanity: legislate with a heart

2005-06-09T16:44:02+02:00

Voices | Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Print Article Email To Friend(s) Feedback

Reaffirm our humanity: Legislate with a heart
Govt can be driving force in showing the respect our maids are due

I thank this paper for constantly raising the topic of the dignity of our Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs). As a Singaporean, it pains and shames me deeply that many of our FDWs toil for long hours without even a single day off.
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I am glad that this time, it is the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) that has called for the Government to legislate a minimum of four days of a month.
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Over the years, I have repeatedly written both to the newspapers and our national leaders, appealing to the Government to come up with such legislation.
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In a country reputed for heavy fines for littering and even for being naked at home, the Government's preference for benign neglect of what it terms as free market forces continues to disappoint me.
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Instead of merely giving half-answers, I hope that the Government considers the following.
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The Ministry of Manpower claims that it is unable to enforce any proposed regulations on compulsory off-days for what it continues to see as an informal economy. Yet, it is able to ensure that levies for work permits are collected and that FDWs go for their required periodic check-ups for pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases.
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It should not escape their minds that an FDW trapped at home without days off is more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
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It should be well aware that, without any state intervention, countless FDWs would remain imprisoned in houses for months, working long hours and without any days off.
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It is not ignorant of the fact that the $5,000 deposit required of employers has contributed to the greater reluctance to give FDWs days off — for fear of losing their deposits should their maids get into "trouble".
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Nonetheless, the ball should be in the court of employers, or society at large. Interestingly, those who have consistently urged for a 5-day work week to promote family planning have remained silent in insisting upon the same prerogatives for the FDWs.
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The day-off issue may not be a magic pill to resolve the problems faced by the FDWs, but it would be a small step towards realising my dream: That mothers will no longer have to leave their kids behind out of economic necessity to look after more privileged children in a strange land.
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That, even if they have to, Singapore would be their best choice as they will be protected by the same labour laws that our local workers have taken for granted.
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That household chores will not simply be pushed to the maid, but shared equally among members of the family.
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That, instead of dehumanising others and ourselves, we show the same respect for our FDWs as we would want bestowed on us.
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Letter from
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Liew Kai Khiun

Comments

Letter to Straits Times

2005-06-08T19:45:52+02:00

Feb 12, 2005
Your Insights

Last week, Insight examined the key changes that are taking place in tertiary education. Readers wrote in with their comments:

'I WOULD like to highlight two issues concerning cost and quality of university education with regard to the impending university reforms.
The fees hike should not aggravate the financial burden of students from lower-income groups, even with the ready availability of loans.
It would be pointless for the Government to establish schemes to assist poorer families, while simultaneously taxing their children in their pursuit of higher education.These are the same students who would probably have to take on more part-time jobs to cover university costs, thereby affecting their studies in the process.

It would therefore be fair to suggest that tuition fees be waived completely and unconditionally for students from families with a monthly income of less than $1,500.

As for quality of university education, the most important factor for the student is not just having good lecturers or facilities, but that of the student-ratio population.When I was an undergraduate in the early 1990s, the ratio was 1:6 on average for tutorials, and 15 people per class was considered outrageous. Today, the ratio has turned into an average of 1:30 for classes for many modules, with overworked lecturers who are also expected to be excellent administrators and researchers at the same time.

Hence, I urge those involved in the restructuring of tertiary education to get to the ground to get the basics right, rather musing on building castles in the air.'

LIEW KAI KHIUN

Comments

Letter to Today: FDW

2005-06-08T19:44:03+02:00

Voices | Friday, February 25, 2005 Print Article Email To Friend(s) Feedback

No excuses – enshrine their rights in law
Letter from LIEW KAI KHIUN

The fact that such an appalling guideline — giving foreign domestic workers (FDWs) one day off a month — has to be suggested by the Association of Employment Agencies reflects on the working conditions FDWs are subject to.
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I know of many families that see no problem or shame in not even giving their FDWs a day off for months, even on public holidays marking religious events.
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I do not see how any amount of public education or private moral suasion can tickle the conscience of these employers.
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The only solution lies in compulsion through legislation.
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Even aware as it is of the situation, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has consistently claimed it is "not practical" to regulate such private contractual arrangements, and continues to believe that most Singaporeans employers are reasonable people.
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Though having measures to protect the welfare of FDWs, MOM has fallen short in coming up with legislation concerning minimum days off for FDWs.
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The law should protect those who cannot protect themselves from abuse and exploitation. While FDWs are politically of marginal consequence compared to their Singaporean employers, nonetheless they should be treated as human beings with inalienable basic rights.
Letter from LIEW KAI KHIUN

Comments

Letter to Today: Forget Swiss Rolls, Lets go Dutch

2005-06-08T19:42:51+02:00

Voices | Friday, February 4, 2005 Print Article Email To Friend(s) Feedback

Forget the Swiss rolls, Singapore, it's time to go Dutch
Behind the issues of money versus morals, the casino debate reflects what sort of society Singaporeans want to live in.
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For a long time, we have been fed the ideals of the affluent but socially serene Swiss model, with state policies aimed at moulding Singapore into the Switzerland of the East.
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But, cities need to be vibrant and cosmopolitan — not only in terms of ethnicity and commerce but of ideas and culture — to stay relevant in a global context. This is what distinguishes prominent cities such as New York and London in the West, and Hong Kong and Tokyo in the East.
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While aiming to compete with these cities, the Government seems to have got its hands tied by an imagined moral majority which it constantly invokes, on policies such as censorship, bar-top dancing and homosexuality — topics considered non-issues in many major cities. But its "baby steps" approach has satisfied few, with accusations of tokenism raised in response to each statement leaders make.
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If the state is convinced of the need to position Singapore as a "funky" place to be, then take the Big Leap Forward, instead of a frustrating "one step forward, two steps back" approach.
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This was what the first generation of PAP leaders undertook to transform the island from Third World to First World.
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I have just returned from Amsterdam. Not only were there casinos in the main tourist areas, but also red-light districts and cannabis and marijuana "coffeeshops".
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And, in spite of the recent ethnic tensions following the killing of a film-maker over his documentary on the violence faced by Muslim women, Holland remains a relatively cohesive society.
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Its main cities, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, have remained economically and culturally relevant in the face of competition from London, Paris and Berlin.
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Dutch society has not collapsed with gay marriages, liberal immigration policies, varieties of "weed" and "hash" on menus, sex shops, and more importantly, an uninhibited exchange of ideas and views.
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Rather, it is this climate that has made them more receptive to change and ideas, and more committed to freedom. Just give Singaporeans a decade (or even less) and we can do better than the Dutch.
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While we do not need to replicate Amsterdam, I would say that it is time for us to go Dutch instead of sticking to boring Swiss rolls.
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Liew Kai Khiun

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Letter to Straits Times: Singapore season: Where?

2005-06-08T19:41:48+02:00

S'pore season... where?

I REFER to the report 'Brit encounter' (Life!, Feb 24) on the first-ever Singapore Season of arts events in London.

I spend about an hour commuting every day in London's underground trains and reading the free newspaper The Metro, which is available in the stations.

It has not been easy for me to spot publicity efforts about the events.

I have seen only two posters - one featuring the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (I think) and another of a half-naked Chinese male, supposedly from Ong Keng Sen's show.

Though they have a bold Singapore Season tag, commuters in a hurry would be forgiven to think that they refer to just another performance from China or Japan.

There is no mention of the Singapore Season in The Metro, which is read by almost every passenger. Neither do the famous London double-decker buses carry Singapore Season advertisements.

I think it is necessary for the authorities to review their advertising strategies in promoting Singapore's cultural identity.

The Singapore Season advertisements seem to be scattered and dwarfed by others linked to movies, museum exhibitions and travel agencies.

There is little attempt in the posters to either challenge the stereotype of an efficient but dull Singapore or give someone a good reason to spend money and time on our cultural productions.

I fear that many of the audience members would be Singaporeans livingin London who want to support homegrown acts, rather than the target foreign audience.

Liew Kai Khiun
London

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Letter to Straits Times: PUBLIC AIRING OF VIEWS ON RACE AND RELIGION

2005-06-08T19:40:14+02:00

Feb 19, 2005
PUBLIC AIRING OF VIEWS ON RACE AND RELIGION
Libel suits cannot guarantee social stability

I REFER to Mr Jamie Han Li Chou's letter, 'Why are we so afraid of the 'R' words?' (ST, Feb 17).Mr Han has called for greater relaxation on the media with regard to the sensitive issues of race and religion, as a means of fostering more open and honest dialogue. This would in turn help establish better cross-cultural ties and understanding.

He also suggests that we should replace the current practice of pre-emption with personal responsibility, under which people would be held accountable for any views deemed to be slanderous. While I agree with him on the need for uninhibited free speech, I have reservations that social stability can be guarded by libel suits when it concerns issues of religion and race.

Unlike the more routine municipal issues, matters concerning spirituality and ethnicity often touch raw nerves that cannot be resolved by just taking certain parties to court. As for social maturity, towering skyscrapers and high per capital income may give only an illusion of progress. Not everyone subscribes to the notions of religious and cultural plurality or of disagreeing without being disagreeable.

It will take only a few of these people to wreck irreparable havoc by pitching man against man. I remember my shock a decade ago to see the former Yugoslavia, a model of socialist multiculturalism, experience a civil war in which neighbours slaughtered each other because of their ethnicity. Mr Han also believes that in a more open system, fanatics and demagogues will not get away with making irresponsible statements and publications.

This 'system' that he proposes currently exists in more 'liberal' European countries, where far-right neo-Nazi political parties and anti-Semitic organisations exist. It remains disturbing even now to receive pamphlets from the far-right British National Party in London telling foreigners to 'go home' or to chance upon their public rallies attended by abusive hooligans. Freedom of speech in these countries has become freedom of verbal abuse.

The Singapore Government may not be the best arbiter of racial and religious issues, but it has not buried its head in the sand by ignoring the social undercurrents of religious and racial sentiments.

Through the press and other dialogue sessions, the authorities have openly discussed sensitive issues, such as the disquiet among other races because of the emphasis on Chinese language and Singaporeans' uneasiness over competition from foreign talent.

Rather than expect the Government to relax censorship laws in this respect, it is more important for Singaporeans to understand and reach out to people of different races, nationalities and religions.

The act of choosing to sit with another racial group for lunch instead of sticking with one's 'own' kind is monumentally more powerful than a hundred letters debating the nature of theodicy (the problem of evil).

Hence, instead of a 'blossoming of a hundred flowers' on publications on ethnic and theological debates, I long for the day when Singaporeans need not be prompted by the Government, and will not hesitate, to defend anyone who has been negatively and unfairly prejudiced for his identity and beliefs, regardless of race, language or religion.

Liew Kai Khiun
London, Britain

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Letter to Straits Times: Laws needed to protect proficient older workers

2005-06-08T19:38:51+02:00

Feb 7, 2005
Laws needed to protect proficient older workers

THE suggestion by labour chief Lim Boon Heng of a mandatory quota of jobs for older workers has sparked a debate on a trade-off between economic competitiveness and social welfare.Having interacted with countless older workers at McDonald's, from senior managers to frontline staff, I feel strongly there is no trade-off as long as you get the right person for the right job, regardless of age.

A quota will inevitably reinforce these notions of age as these jobs will be seen as acts of charity rather than proof of one's worth.The job market is highly prejudicial to older workers who are portrayed as stubborn, expensive, technologically backward and 'uncool'. Some fast food chains, kopitiams, 'hip' cafes and nightclubs employ only young and good-looking staff rather than those over 35. In the office, older workers with family commitments are sidelined by 20-somethings who are not burdened by mortgages or children's examinations.

The situation is even starker in manufacturing where factories often relocate to lower-cost countries.It will take a long time to forge a national consensus. Meanwhile, the Government should create anti-discrimination legislation to protect older workers who are proficient in their work but are passed over because of their age.

This will allow them to contest moves by companies to replace them with younger workers and highlight companies that recruit merely on the basis of age.

Liew Kai Khiun
London, Britain

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