SingapuraKini: May 6, 2009

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

MOE suspends sexuality education programmes by external vendors

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Singapore healthcare spending compared with other countries

Singapore healthcare spending compared with other countries

Singapore's total health expenditure amounts to just 3.4 percent of its gross domestic product. That's not only a fraction of what Western nations spend; even Malaysia, China and India spend more.

Malaysia spends 4.3 percent of its GDP on health care, China 4.5 percent and India 4.9 percent.

But Singapore spends more per head in dollars -- $1,228 -- than Malaysia, China and India. (All figures here date back to 2006 and are taken from World Health Statistics 2008.)

Life expectancy in Singapore is as high as in America, Britain and other Western nations and Japan and South Korea. So though Singapore spends far less than those countries on health care, it is getting good results.

America spends as much as 15.3 percent of its GDP on health care, Switzerland 11.3 percent, France 11.1 percent, Germany 10.4 percent, Canada 10 percent, Portugal 10 percent, Denmark 9.5 percent, New Zealand 9.4 percent, the Netherlands 9.3 percent, Italy 9 percent, Sweden 8.9 percent, Norway 8.7 percent, Australia 8.7 percent, Britain 8.4 percent, Spain 8.1 percent, Japan 7.9 percent, Israel 7.8 percent, Ireland 7.5 percent, South Korea 6.5 percent.

I came across these figures on the World Health Organization website today while checking on its swine flu updates.

Singapore will lower the swine flu alert level from orange to yellow next Monday, reported the Straits Times today. That's why I visited the WHO website to get more information. The Singapore newspaper's website seldom carries much detail.

These WHO country profiles, for example, I haven't seen in the Straits Times. If you want to know about any country, visit WHO and check Countries.

Singapore

Total population: 4,382,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 43,300

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 3

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 83/50

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,228

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.4

USA

Total population: 302,841,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 44,070

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/80

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 8

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 137/80

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 6,714

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 15.3

UK

Statistics:

Total population: 60,512,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 33,650

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/81

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 98/61

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,784

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.4

Australia

Total population: 20,530,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 33,940

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 71/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 82/47

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,122

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.7

Austria

Total population: 8,327,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 36,040

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 105/51

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,545

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.9

Belgium

Total population: 10,430,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 33,860

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/73

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 111/61

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,183

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.5

Canada

Total population: 32,577,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 36,280

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 89/55

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,672

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 10.0

Denmark

Total population: 5,430,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 36,190

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 76/81

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 111/65

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,349

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.5

France

Total population: 61,330,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 32,240

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 124/57

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,554

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 11.1

Germany

Total population: 82,641,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 32,680

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 106/55

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,328

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 10.4

Ireland

Total population: 4,221,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 34,730

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 68/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 88/56

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,082

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 7.5

Italy

Total population: 58,779,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 28,970

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 71/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 83/44

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,623

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.0

Netherlands

Total population: 16,379,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 37,940

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/73

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 81/59

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,383

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.3

New Zealand

Total population: 4,140,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 25,750

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 69/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 6

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 91/59

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,447

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 9.4

Norway

Total population: 4,669,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 50,070

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/74

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 86/53

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 4,521

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.7

Portugal

Total population: 10,579,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 19,960

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 133/53

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,080

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 10.0

Spain

Total population: 43,887,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 28,200

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 78/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 105/44

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,388

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.1

Sweden

Total population: 9,078,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 34,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/83

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 72/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 78/49

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 3,119

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.9

Switzerland

Total population: 7,455,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 40,840

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/84

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 71/75

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 80/47

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 4,312

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 11.3

Japan

Total population: 127,953,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 32,840

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/86

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 72/78

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 4

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 89/44

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,514

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 7.9

South Korea

Total population: 48,050,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 22,990

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 65/71

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 119/47

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,487

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 6.5

Malaysia

Total population: 26,114,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 12,160

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/74

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 62/65

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 12

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 197/109

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 500

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.3

Brunei

Total population: 382,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 49,900

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 76/79

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 65/66

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 9

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 100/74

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 394

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 1.8

Indonesia

Total population: 228,864,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 3,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 66/69

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 57/59

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 34

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 231/192

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 87

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 2.2

Philippines

Total population: 86,264,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 3,430

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 64/71

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 57/62

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 32

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 277/157

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 223

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.3

Thailand

Total population: 63,444,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 7,440

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/75

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 58/62

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 8

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 264/155

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 346

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.5

India

Total population: 1,151,751,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 2,460

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 62/64

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 53/54

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 76

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 276/203

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 109

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.9

China

Total population: 1,328,474,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 4,660

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 72/75

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 63/65

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 24

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 143/87

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 342

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.5

Israel

Total population: 6,810,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 23,840

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 79/82

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 70/72

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 5

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 89/48

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 2,263

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 7.8

UAE

Total population: 4,248,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 31,190

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/80

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 64/64

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 8

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 84/62

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 673

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 2.6

Qatar

Total population: 821,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): not available

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/77

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/64

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 11

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 72/64

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,426

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.3

Bahrain

Total population: 739,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 34,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 74/76

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 64/64

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 10

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 116/84

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 1,008

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.8

Saudi Arabia

Total population: 24,175,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 22,300

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 68/73

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 60/63

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 26

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 205/136

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 607

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 3.4

Kuwait

Total population: 2,779,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 48,310

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 77/79

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 67/67

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 11

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 68/52

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 535

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 2.2

Mexico

Total population: 105,342,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 11,990

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 72/77

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 63/68

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 35

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 155/89

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 756

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 6.2

South Africa

Total population: 48,282,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 8,900

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 50/53

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 43/45

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 69

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 598/531

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 869

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.6

Mauritius

Total population: 1,252,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 10,640

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/76

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 60/65

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 15

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 212/108

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 581

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 4.3

Lebanon

Total population: 4,055,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 9,600

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 68/72

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 59/62

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 31

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 193/133

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 608

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 8.9

Figures are for 2006 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2008

Jamaica

Statistics:

Total population: 2,699,000

Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 7,050

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 69/75

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 64/66

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 32

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 224/130

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2006): 240

Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2006): 5.1

Figures are for 2006 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2008

Nga Thio Ping's email to PM Lee

Dear PM Lee,

I am writing as a concerned parent with regards to the gay community and activists having again staged another push of their homosexual agenda into the schools and education; through hijacking “sex education” in our public school curriculum and in doing so, trying to purport and redefine the meaning of marriage and the meaning of family.

Our definition on Family and Marriage is unequivocal; “The family is the basic building block of our society and we want to keep it so. And by “family” in Singapore, we mean one man one woman, marrying, having children and bringing up children within that framework of a stable family unit.” This stand is in absolute agreement and uniform to your Government policy’s stand on Family and Marriage.

Prime Minister, in your policy statement on the debate on Homosexuality in Parliament on 23 Oct 2007, you explained succinctly the Government’s stand and why 377A was not repeal. In your speech you also rightly preempted this present move by the gay activist to PUSH FOR MORE, “to change what taught in schools, to advocate same-sex marriages and parenting”.

Again quoting from your same speech, Mr. Prime Minister, on the Government’s stand and on Singaporean society’s stand and definition on Marriage and Family; you stated, “Many Members have said this, but it is true and it is worth saying again. Singapore is basically a conservative society. The family is the basic building block of our society. It has been so and, by policy, we have reinforced this and we want to keep it so. And by “family” in Singapore, we mean one man one woman, marrying, having children and bringing up children within that framework of a stable family unit.”

Further in your statement, you reiterated; “But a heterosexual stable family is a social norm. It is what we teach in schools. It is also what parents want their children to see as their children grow
up, to set their expectations and encourage them to develop in this direction. I think the vast majority of Singaporeans want to keep it this way. They want to keep our society like this, and so does the Government.” … “This is the way Singapore society is today. This is the way the majority of Singaporeans want it to be. So, we should strive to maintain a balance, to uphold a stable society with traditional, heterosexual family values, but with space for homosexuals to live their lives and contribute to the society.”

So as the silent majority of Singaporean of many whom are not anti-gay; but who are strenuously opposed to these follow-up moves by the gay campaigners to push their agenda “to change what is taught in the schools, to advocate same-sex marriages and parenting”; firstly, we strongly stated our unequivocal support to you, our Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, and the abovementioned Government’s policy on Marriage and Family; and secondly to urge the Minister of Education and the Ministry of Education to come into alignment, promote and educate our children in strict adherent to this policy in all their schools’ syllabus and sex education programs.

We want to further remind you Mr. Prime Minister of your own pragmatic balance to this issue that can polarize our society; and strongly urge you not to allow or encourage activists to champion gay rights as they do in the West so that there is space in Singapore and room for us to live harmoniously and practically, all as Singapore citizens together.

“I think we have also been right to adapt, to accommodate homosexuals in our society, but not to allow or encourage activists to champion gay rights as they do in the West. So I suggest, Mr Speaker, and I suggest to the Members of the House, we keep this balance, leave section 377A alone. I think there is space in Singapore and room for us to live harmoniously and practically, all as Singapore citizens together.” Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament on 23 Oct 2007 as recorded by
Official Parliamentary Reports (Hansard).

I must stress most emphatically: The love all Singaporeans should extend to those who are afflicted with homosexualism or lesbianism should only be that of loving these homosexuals and
lesbians, enough - to most seriously and lovingly help them to be freed from homosexualism or lesbianism. No different from those who are afflicted with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, sex addiction and etc.

Should Singaporeans also tolerate any introduction of “Comprehensive Health Programme” that regards drug addiction, alcohol addiction, sex addiction and etc to be “neutral“? I must also stress: Those religious leaders who openly teach homosexualism and lesbianism to be sins, and who demonstrate genuine love for homosexuals and lesbians by reaching out to free them from such addictions - are the precious honest, truthful religious leaders Singapore and humanity need.

Majulah Singapura!

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Nga Thio Ping

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28024.107

Leaked email from Mary Loh

Derek HONG to COOS, cscc, eugene, graman, lawchua, visioncity, rswd2
From: Derek HONG
To: COOS English Church Staff - DL
cccscc@pacific.net.sg,
eugene@touch.org.sg,
graman@pacific.net.sg,
lawchua@lsbc.org.sg,
visioncity@pacific.net.sg,
rswd2@yahoo.com.sg
Date: Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 7:20 PM
Subject: FW: For your information

Hi everyone
Please alert our friends and members to register their concern with the MHA.

God bless
Derek

From: Tan Thuan Seng [mailto:thuanseng@family.org.sg]
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 2:12 PM
To: ‘Mary Loh’
Cc:Derek HONG
Subject: RE: For your information

Hi Mary,

Thanks for the alert. Regrettably its not the first time as its part of their “’Indignation”’ activities that they organize to coincide with National Day. I will lodge a complaint with MHA but perhaps you should also register your concern as it may be helpful for more people to write to the Police or MHA. If they have a good turnout and try to turn it into an impromptu Speakers Corner the police may take action to break it up.

Tan Thuan Seng | Chairman| T (65) 6336 1444 | M 9430 5345 | www.family.org.sg
9, Bishan Place, #08-03, Junction 8 Office Tower, Singapore 579837

—–Original Message—–
From: Mary Loh [mailto:kwuanloh@pacific.net.sg]
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 12:20 PM
To: Tan Thuan Seng
Cc:Derek Hong
Subject: For your information

Dear Thuan Seng

You may wish to alert the relevant authorities that the gay community are planning a unofficial “Pink Picnic” at Botanic Gardens on National Day from 4.30 – 6.30 pm next to the symphony stage. I was unwittingly invited.

Regards

Mary

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28024.106

Leaked email of Josie Lau's supporter

Dear friends,

I attended the EGM yesterday and would like to share my own impressions versus what was reported in the media today. I was there because of my concern with regard to certain teachings of homosexuality that has insidiously crept into our school system by way of the CSE (Comprehensive Sexual Education) Program. I am glad I went because it convinced me that we cannot leave it to others to watch over our beliefs and values. We need to be personally engaged. It enabled me to witness that the pro-lesbian/pro-gay lobby is indeed vocal, articulate, united and well-organized. If we are not watchful, acceptance of homosexuality will be the norm. It is already at our door step.

The CSE (initiated by the previous old guard committee) was brought to light by a group of Christian women who were elected as new exco members headed by Josie Lau. Contents of the CSE syllabus include:

- homosexuality is “perfectly normal.. people are born like this… its simply the way you are”

- anal sex – “can be healthy or neutral if practiced with consent and with a condom”

- pre-marital sex – “is really neutral”

Unfortunately, the press made Josie & her team to be a group of power-grabbing women who were out to grab control of AWARE to promote their own religious agenda. It was this perception that was the main focus that led to feelings of anger & hostility at the EGM, even by fellow Christians who sided with the old guard. Sadly, it was the old guard and media that painted their agenda as religious rather than concern about wrong values being promoted to our children.

Do not believe everything you read in the newspapers or forums.

The following were very evident at the EGM:

1) I got to witness first hand, the unity of the homosexuals/gays in attendance, the hooliganism bordering on lawlessness that prevailed throughout the EGM even as these people very forcefully and in a very unruly manner, sought to tear down the new exco at every turn, giving them no chance to speak or even talk about their plans. There was no respect for order but instead, chaos prevailed.

2) The new exco was booed, harassed, prevented from speaking, drowned out and blocked at every turn….simply because the other side was more boisterous, vocal, articulate, at times even physical (grabbing microphones, etc) and certainly well organized and orchestrated. Many in the audience were simply intimidated by the actions of the old guard’s supporters. Old guard’s supporters dominated the microphone, at times, forcibly snatching from others who wanted to speak. It was indeed shocking!

Yet, Josie Lau and the exco reflected calm & grace, though one of them did “lose” it initially, which the media highlighted while failing to mention the antics of the old guard’s supporters. It was really shameful and saddening. The old guard talked of being a civil society but the meeting was anything but civil. They asked for respect but showed none at all. Josie and her team should be commended for the way they conducted themselves throughout, with dignity and decorum.

3) The EGM was effectively hijacked by the old guard and supporters and I am personally glad that Josie and her team have decided to step down. They have served their purpose and they really paid a high personal price; they and their families. The focus should now be on the latest exco. I am thankful, at least, that Josie and her team have brought the homosexual agenda of the old guard to the surface and it is now up to each of us to continue the watch, if we really care.

Though I could not stay till the very end, it was very obvious to me that the Josie and her team consisted of women who were willing to rise up and be counted and, as a result, persecuted for their convictions as stated in Ephesians 5:8-11 :

” ….but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them”

The homosexual slant in the CSE program has been exposed and we parents hope the MOE will re-examine the content of the program with a fine toothcomb. If you are concerned that such programs have been brought into our schools, and taught to our children, you can join in a petition to the MOE at

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/parents_sex_ed_appeal/

At the same time, precious lessons have been learnt by us especially those who were present at the EGM. We need to rise up to our responsibilities and calling if we are to be effective Marketplace Ministers. It is not one of confrontation but one of blessing and redemption; yet at the same time not surrendering the grounds that God has given to us.

God bless

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28024.105

MOE Statement on Sexuality Education Programme

6 May 2009
MOE Statement on Sexuality Education Programme

1. In recent weeks, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has received feedback on the Sexuality Education Programme conducted by AWARE, as well as other lesson material not involving AWARE. MOE has done a thorough investigation. This statement presents the Ministry’s findings and future steps.
2. MOE and the schools do not promote alternative lifestyles to our students. MOE’s framework for sexuality education reflects the mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit.
3. Today, schools are allowed to engage external vendors to supplement MOE’s sexuality education programme. MOE has reviewed the internal processes for selecting and monitoring vendors and found that they can be improved. MOE will put in more stringent processes to ensure that training materials and programmes delivered in schools are in line with the Ministry’s framework on sexuality education. Schools will suspend the engagement of external vendors until the new vetting processes are completed. The Ministry is also reviewing ways to provide parents with more information about sexuality education in the specific schools that their children are in.
4. MOE has examined AWARE’s “Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Basic Instructor Guide”. The Guide contains some positive aspects, like the accurate information provided on STIs/HIV and role-play practice for students to say no to sex. However, MOE’s assessment is that in some other aspects, the Guide does not conform to MOE’s guidelines. In particular, some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex.
5. In view of this, AWARE's programmes in schools will be suspended and subjected to the new vetting processes.
6. MOE has also investigated feedback about materials used during General Paper (GP) lessons in junior colleges which carry information on alternative lifestyles. These materials and lessons did not involve AWARE. GP lessons are meant to promote critical thinking and discussion on contemporary issues. MOE investigations showed that the teachers had used these materials to initiate discussion on family structures, and not to promote alternative lifestyles. Nevertheless, MOE will remind school leaders and teachers to exercise greater professional discretion in guiding their
students when such topics are discussed. They should also adhere to social norms and values of our mainstream society.
7. Parents are ultimately responsible for inculcating values to their children. MOE’s sexuality education programme aims to complement parents’ role in helping students make informed, responsible and values-based decisions regarding sexuality.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28486.3

Aware sex guide suspended

May 6, 2009

Aware sex guide suspended

By Diana Othman
		The Ministry of Education (MOE) has suspended the sexuality education programme run by the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) in some schools. --PHOTO: ST

THE Ministry of Education (MOE) has suspended the sexuality education programme run by the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) in some schools, saying it does not conform to the MOE's guidelines.

In particular, MOE found some suggested responses in the guide 'too explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex'.

MOE suspends Aware's programme for schools

MOE suspends Aware's programme for schools

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has suspended the Association of Women for Action and Research's (AWARE) sexuality programme after a thorough investigation.
Related link:
» MOE now looking into sexuality education programme
» Get facts right on sex education
» What the programme teaches students
» Thanks, MOE

In a press statement released this afternoon, the ministry said that the "Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Basic Instructor Guide" had been pulled off because it did not conform to MOE's guidelines in some aspects.

In particular, "some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex".

However, it also pointed out that there were positive aspects in the guide, like accurate information on sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV and the role-playing practice for students to say 'no' to sex.

Giving a reason for its decision, MOE said that the Singapore education system did not promote alternative lifestyles to students.

It said: "MOE's framework for sexuality education reflects the mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit."

Apart from looking at AWARE's sexuality programme, the ministry also investigated the course materials used during General Paper (GP) lessons in junior colleges. The material had allegedly carried information on alternative lifestyles.

However it found that there was no AWARE influence present in these lessons: Teachers had used such materials to promote discussion on family structures and to promote critical thinking on contemporary issues.

MOE also urged parents to play a bigger part in sex education.

"Parents are ultimately responsible for inculcating values to their children. MOE's sexuality education programme aims to complement parents' role in helping students make informed... decisions regarding sexuality," it said.

MOE's decision to investigate AWARE's sexuality programme was a swift turn from its earlier stance late last month.

In a letter to the Straits Times forum, the ministry had said that it saw no reason because it had not received any complaints from parents about the programme.

However, two days after the letter was published, MOE said it decided to proceed with investigations as parents had started to express concern over AWARE's sexuality programme. In the meantime, an online petition - that collected about 1,300 signatures - had been circulating, calling for schools to "exercise greater care in bringing in sexuality programmes in future".

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090506-139674.html

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Chinese carriers - let them have them

Chinese carriers - let them have them
By Tetsuo Kotani

China's possession of aircraft carriers is not a matter of "if", but "when". Last November, an official in China's Ministry of National Defense touched for the first time in a public venue on the possibility of his nation acquiring aircraft carriers. China has purchased three carriers built by the former Soviet Union and one built by Australia, gaining an opportunity to study their structures.

One of those, the Varyag, was supposed to serve as a floating casino in Macau, but it is now moored at a shipyard in Dalian, where it has been painted the same gray as other naval vessels and an angled deck has been installed. The Varyag does not have engines and cannot be employed as China's first aircraft carrier, but it can be used for research/training purposes.

There is a rumor that China will purchase Sukhoi-33 (Su-33) aircraft from Russia. The Su-33 is a ship-based fighter carried on Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetzov. China has been training pilots for ship-based aircraft at navy aviation training centers in the Ukraine. The centers are equipped with simulators for taking off from angled decks, landing with arresting wires, and emergency response operations. In addition, since 1987, China has been training pilots as aircraft carrier ship captains at the Guangzhou Naval Academy. Nine People Liberation's Army (PLA) Navy pilots have completed the three-year course, and all are thought to be commanding destroyers. In a few years, they will become ideal candidates to captain an aircraft carrier.

Given the foregoing, that carrier is likely to be a 60,000-ton conventional propulsion carrier of a former Soviet Union model, which has been outfitted with an angled deck. But a carrier program consists of far more than just one ship. To have one carrier in regular operation, a minimum of two backups (for maintenance and training purposes) are necessary. It is estimated that a 50,000-ton class aircraft carrier in the British navy costs about US$5 billion to build and deploy. Even if the Varyag is used for training, it would be necessary to construct two ships, a cost of $10 billion.

Furthermore, aircraft carriers cannot be operated alone. In addition to ship-based aircraft, it is necessary to form a strike group consisting of combatant ships, submarines and supply ships, etc. In short, the possession, maintenance and operation of an aircraft carrier absorbs an astronomical amount of money and time.

So why bother? First, possessing an aircraft carrier is proof that China is a major power, and a sign of prestige. Second, it could shape the balance of combat capabilities in the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with Southeast Asian countries. To coastal countries that do not possess powerful military forces, China's aircraft carrier would be a major threat. China has made Hainan Island a base for its strategic nuclear submarines, and an aircraft carrier would be useful with regard to making the South China Sea "off limits".

Furthermore, protection of the sea lanes from the South China Sea through the Strait of Malacca and up to the Indian Ocean, and in particular, curbing a sea blockade against China, which could be envisioned at the time of a Taiwan contingency, would be possible. And finally, an aircraft carrier could be used for rescue operations during large-scale disasters.

Should we worry? Not yet. First, development and deployment of carriers, and all their paraphernalia will take decades. Second, the substantial price tag is not the only cost of such a project. Other countries in the region are likely to become wary of Chinese intentions as it develops power projection capabilities.

And third, a Chinese carrier strike group would be no match for a US carrier strike group, which is said to have striking power on par with a middle power nation and a defensive perimeter up to 700 kilometers. The United States is the only country with the capacity to operate the top-of-the-line carrier-based aircraft - and it can deploy as many as 11 such strike groups around the world.

Although the military balance in the Taiwan Strait already overwhelmingly favors China, which has deployed more than 1,000 missiles in the coastal areas, the introduction of Chinese aircraft carriers would not significantly affect the military balance. In fact, a Chinese aircraft carrier attacking eastern Taiwan from the sea would be a target for the US forces. Carriers are vulnerable to precision guided missiles, submarines and mines. In order to rule out intervention by a US carrier attack group in a Taiwan contingency, China's current access denial strategy makes more sense. In fact, China would need to give up some submarines and anti-ship missile development programs to build a carrier strike group.

China has every right to possess aircraft carriers. The day when China possesses carriers may not be far off. Although the international community shouldn't overreact, it is necessary to watch developments and respond. As Japan debates revision of its National Defense Program Guidelines, there should be an assessment of the implications of Chinese aircraft carriers on regional security. In response, Japan should:

# Maintain and strengthen the alliance with the United States. Steady implementation of the realignment of US forces in Japan, particularly involving the transfer of the carrier air wing from Atsugi to Iwakuni and securing a permanent training facility for field carrier landing practice within 200 miles of Iwakuni, are most important. That is because the carrier strike group based at Yokosuka is the keystone of US forces in the Pacific, and the carrier air wing provides its "striking power".
# Develop appropriate countermeasures. China's possession of carriers does not mean Japan has to respond in kind. More appropriate countermeasures include reinforcement of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) submarine fleet and reinforcement of air bases along the Ryukyu and Bonin islands. The reinforcement of submarines, the natural enemy of an aircraft carrier, provides an effective deterrent.

A feasible study of nuclear-powered attack submarines might be necessary as well since the JMSDF submarine fleet would be required to undertake blue water operations. Furthermore, since a Chinese aircraft carrier will likely carry the Su-33, it is also necessary to come to a decision promptly on the next-generation main fighter aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. On this point, Japan should request a prompt response from the United States on sales of the F-22.
# To counter China's access denial strategy, it is necessary to reinforce intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. Also, in addition to the steady introduction of next-generation patrol aircraft, Japan should strengthen cooperation with friendly countries in the region. For example, South Korea is in the process of building up its ASW capabilities, so Tokyo should consider revising the three principles of weapons exports, providing South Korea with P-3C aircraft, and assisting in improving their support facilities. Given the vastness of the sea areas to be covered, introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned underwater vehicles should be encouraged as well.

The PLA Navy just celebrated its 60th anniversary. Today, China is standing at the crossroads between continental power and maritime power. China is building up its military capabilities as other naval powers are conducting more brown water missions with fewer ships to keep vital sea lanes open. They regard the seas as highways, while China sees them as barriers.

Japan learned lessons from the Pacific War and has behaved as a responsible maritime power ever since. The possession of aircraft carriers would provide a good opportunity for Chinese security planners to choose the right path. Failure to do so will invite tough countermeasures from other maritime powers. We should not be frightened by China's progress in this area.

Tetsuo Kotani (tetsuo.kotani@gmail.com) is a research fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Foundation.

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Tough times breed nostalgia for Mao

May 6, 2009

Tough times breed nostalgia for Mao
By Wu Zhong, China Editor

HONG KONG - Although Mao Zedong died 33 years ago, the founding father of communist China seems to still be alive in the hearts of many Chinese.

A new wave of nostalgia for the late chairman is sweeping the nation ahead of the 60th birthday of People's Republic of China (PRC) and amid the global financial crisis. The leader, who led the PRC from its establishment until his death in 1976, is surging though his brand of socialism has long been officially abandoned and there has been criticism of "serious mistakes" such as the Cultural Revolution.

Chingming is a traditional Chinese festival for the dead when families tend to the graves of their ancestors. It normally falls on April 4-5 each year. During Chingming this year, tens of thousands of visitors flocked into Shaoshan, Mao's native village in Hunan province, to pay homage. According to Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao daily, on April 2 alone at least 30,000 people from various places of the country visited Shaoshan.

The visitors ranged from retired party and government officials to primary and high school pupils. They first bowed and placed wreaths at a 10.1-meter-tall bronze statue of Mao erected in the village - the numerical figure 10.1 stands for October 1, the date on which Mao declared the founding of the PRC in 1949. They then visited the mud-walled, clay-tile-roofed rural house where Mao was born. Many also went to pay tribute to the tombs of Mao's parents and ancestors near the village.

Another sign of growing nostalgia for Mao is the comeback in popularity of his Little Red Book among Chinese university students, according to a report by the France24 news channel. "We are selling five times as many copies of his book as before the [financial] crisis," said Fan Jinggang, the owner of neo-leftist Utopia Bookstore near Peking University. He said 200 copies had been sold a month since the start of the economic downturn late last year.

The global financial crisis has already cost some 25 million migrant workers their jobs in China, and university graduates also face an uncertain future.

"I have spent so much money in going to university to study," 22-year-old student Yang Lu was quoted as saying on the France24 report. "I will graduate next June, but I don't know if I will be able to find work. In this kind of situation, how could we not feel nostalgic for the Mao era, when all students were guaranteed work?"

Chinese are also increasingly worshipping the late chairman like a god. The Beijing-based Horizon Research Consultancy Group last year conducted a survey on religious beliefs in 40 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan.

It found that 11.5% of the families surveyed had a shrine in their homes of Mao, in the form of a statue or bust. This was only slightly less than the number of families (12.1%) that keep memorial tablets of their ancestors. Only 9.9% of families had a Buddhist icon, and 9.3% and 8.8% of families worshiped icons of the God of Fortune and God of Land, respectively. The survey did not cover rural areas, where many families are known to keep statues or pictures of Mao in their homes.

According to Hong Kong's Ming Pao daily, some of the visitors to Shaoshan during the Chingming Festival prayed to Mao to bless them with health, fortune or love, while some high-school students hoped Mao would help them pass their university entrance exams. Some retired cadres prayed to Mao for an end to official corruption.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Mao was worshipped like a god with his Little Red Book read like the bible. But shortly after his death, his merits were re-evaluated by the party when it was led by Deng Xiaoping, whose reform and open-door policy ran counter to Mao's ideal of socialism.

In the 1980s, Mao was "taken down from the sacred shrine" and articles and novels published that denounced the Cultural Revolution, a nationwide social and political upheaval spearheaded by Mao that he hoped would eliminate his political rivals and revolutionize Chinese society.

Between 1966 and 1968, Mao encouraged his young supporters, the Red Guards, to take over power from state authorities and form "revolutionary committees" to replace government establishments. But soon Mao's supporters split into factions and started fighting one another. In the chaos and violence that ensued, millions were killed and millions more injured or imprisoned.

Then in 1993, the centenary of Mao's birth, a wave of nostalgia for the chairman swept the country. It was partially encouraged with official memorial activities. Some people close to Mao, such as his guards, secretaries or doctors and nurses, published articles or books about his daily life, and movies and television series about Mao in war times were screened. One feature was common in all of them, Mao was depicted as a human leader - a great one, but not a god.

Even after Mao was removed from the "sacred shrine", some mysterious phenomena seemingly occurred that added to his god-like status. On its completion, Mao's statue was inaugurated on December 20, 1993, six days before Mao's 100th birthday. Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin visited it to remove the red silk covering the statue, but after several tries he still could not pull down the cover. After some whispered advice from one of his staff, Jiang respectfully stepped back and bowed three times to Mao's statue. Only after this did he succeed in pulling down the silk. Stories like this have led many people to believe that Mao had become a god after his death.

But the worship of Mao like a god, for whatever reasons, is just a by-product of the growing nostalgia for the chairman. Although Chinese people may generally live a better life today, they feel much less secure and safe than under Mao's rule.

"I earned less than 100 yuan a month [US$14 at today's exchange rates] in Mao's time. I could barely save each month but I never worried about anything. My work unit would take care of everything for me: housing, medical care, retirement and my children's education, though there were no luxuries. If I had some problem, I could always turn to my work unit for help. Now I receive 3,000 yuan as a [monthly] pension, but I have to count every penny - everything is so expensive and no one will take care of me now if I fall ill," said a retired middle-ranking official in Beijing.

China today faces social evils which were apparently less common - or publicized - during Mao's rule, such as rampant official corruption, a growing wealth gap, and rising crime such as drug abuse and prostitution. This is another reason people fondly remember the Mao era.

In a old joke, Deng was troubled by growing problems caused by his reforms, so one night he paid a visit to Mao's memorial hall at Tiananmen Square. Looking at Mao lying in his crystal coffin, Deng murmured, "Chairman, pray tell me how to deal with the problems." Suddenly Mao sat up pointing a finger at Deng and said, "You come in, I go out. And all these problems will be solved!" The joke shows that even years ago public discontent with societal problems had already began to grow and people wished for a strongman like Mao to solve them.

In the hope of finding a solution to these problems, some educated people such as the neo-leftists are re-reading Mao's works. They are outspoken critics of capitalist-style economic reforms and demand a return to some sort of socialism. (See China at a crossroad: Right or left?, Asia Times Online, Apr 24, 2009)

But the liberal intellectuals who support capitalist-style reforms strongly resent the public nostalgia for Mao. Well-known author Zhang Xianliang, who is also deputy to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, once tabled a motion urging the government to suppress the nostalgia for Mao, saying such sentiment would jeopardize ongoing reform and "opening up".

Apparently for Chinese communist leaders, Mao is still a legacy. So, public nostalgia for Mao could help justify the legitimacy of the communist rule of the country. For, while Mao's socialism is abandoned in practice, Mao Zedong thought is still upheld by the party, at least in theory. In this sense, the nostalgic sentiments could also somehow help fill the nation's ideological vacuum left by reform and "opening up".

However, for the communist leaders, nostalgia for Mao could also be a double-edged sword. If they fail to ease growing public discontent behind such nostalgic feelings, one day public discontent could erupt and threaten their rule.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28701.1

Aware Founder Vivienne Wee Charged

副教授涉詐騙城大

2009-04-30

串謀弟弟弟婦獲百萬元合約

【明報專訊】城市大學亞洲及國際學系副教授黃麗嫣昨日被廉政公署拘控，她涉嫌串謀弟弟及弟婦等3人詐騙城大，令一間公司取得一項價值100萬元的科技服務合約。消息稱，有關公司由黃麗嫣、其弟及弟婦等人持有。各人昨被落案控以詐騙罪，下周一在東區裁判法院提堂。

黃麗嫣東南亞問題專家

洋名為Vivienne
Wee的黃麗嫣（57歲），先後在新加坡及澳洲取得碩士及博士學位，現任教於城大亞洲及國際學系，亦是該校東南亞研究中心副主任，任教範疇為東南亞研究；她堪稱本港東南亞及伊斯蘭問題專家，2006年曾獲英國政府撥出約5300萬港元，支持東南亞研究中心一項為期5年的研究，以探討回教社區婦女的貧窮及不公平待遇問題。

城市大學發言人說，有關案件已進入司法程序，現階段不能作任何回應。

錄像公司東主同被拘

與黃麗嫣一同被捕的，包括其45歲任職程式設計員的弟弟Gregory Wee Kuan-wei，以及任職諾科思有限公司董事兼股東的38歲弟婦吳雅雙。同案廉署還拘捕35歲女子鮑杏璇，她是錄像公司Sparkland
Production的東主。

廉署指黃麗嫣、Gregory
Wee及吳雅雙同被控一項與鮑杏璇串謀以虛假陳述詐騙城大的罪名，以隱瞞一所和黃麗嫣有利益衝突的公司，取得城大一項價值100萬元的資訊科技服務合約。消息指出，該公司實際股東包括黃麗嫣、其弟及其弟婦。

吳雅雙亦與鮑杏璇被控多一項相類串謀詐騙城大罪名；鮑更另被控以4項處理犯罪收益罪名，涉及款項共462,665元。4名被告獲廉署准保釋外出，等候周一提堂。

http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/1118636/1.html

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Josie might not advise new exco

By Benson Ang

May 06, 2009

THE new exco of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) has not decided whether to invite deposed president Ms Josie Lau, 48, back as an adviser.

CELEBRATION: The new Aware exco (the 'old guard') were at the Aware Centre yesterday for lunch. The new Aware president Mrs Dana Lam is on the far left (in the floral cheongsam). Ms Margaret Thomas, a committee member, is in the middle (holding a singing bowl), and Ms Kerry Wilcox is on the far right. They are flanked by founding members and staff of Aware. PICTURE: LIANHE WANBAO

The decision will be made at an exco meeting later this week.

But, if Ms Lau is not invited back, it would be against Aware's constitution.

Article 14 states that the immediate past president shall serve on the exco in an advisory role for not more than one term.

The newly-elected president, Mrs Dana Lam Yoke Kiew, 56, said this was a new situation for Aware, since no previous president had resigned after a vote of no-confidence was passed on her exco.

The previous exco stepped down after the no-confidence motion was passed by 1,414 to 761 votes in an acrimonious extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Saturday.

Mrs Claire Nazar, the president before Ms Lau, is also expected not be invited to serve as adviser. Mrs Nazar had resigned after just 11 days in office.

When asked if Mrs Constance Singam, 72,, the last Aware president to serve a full term would advise the new exco, Mrs Lam said: 'The exco doesn't need Mrs Singam officially as an adviser to ask her for her advice.'

She said Aware members are always consulting each other. It is their way of supporting the new generation of Aware leaders.

'All executive committees have been able to draw on past Aware presidents on any issue.'

Mrs Lam also welcomed supporters of the new guard to participate in Aware's programmes and make themselves heard, just like any other member.

The exco would welcome feedback from the members, and their opinions will always be taken into consideration, she added.

When contacted, Mrs Singam said there is a culture of consultation in Aware.

Whenever a new committee wants advice, the members can just ask all the old presidents.

'It doesn't matter if I'm in the position of adviser or not. I'm retired and always available,' she said.

'I've been here for 24 years. I'm the walking encyclopaedia of Aware, so of course people will consult me.'

Lawyer Gregory Vijayendran, of Rajah and Tann, Aware's legal adviser at the EGM, told The New Paper that technically, under Article 14 of Aware's constitution, Ms Lau should be invited to serve on the exco in an advisory role as she is the immediate past president.

But he said the purpose underlying the article was probably to keep a link between the new exco and its predecessor exco in the context of a consensual handover at an annual general meeting (AGM).

Its purpose is in all likelihood to ensure continuity in Aware's programmes, a smooth transition between excos and not to lose the wisdom of the immediately preceding exco, hence the advisory role.

But two features distinguish the current situation from a typical succession procedure:

The current exco was elected at an EGM, not at an AGM

The previous exco resigned en masse after they received a vote of no-confidence

These might mitigate against the directive to invite an immediate past president to serve as adviser, he said.

'The letter points one way, the spirit points the other way,' he added.

Aware's new centre manager, Ms Magdalene Teo, also resigned yesterday, just a week after her appointment. She had replaced Ms Schutz Lee, who was sacked by the previous exco for allegedly not following instructions.

The old guard, including founding members Mrs Lena Lim U Wen and Mrs Hedwig Anuar, were at the Aware Centre yesterday for lunch.

Mrs Singam said she felt 'free' and 'very happy to breathe the free air at Aware'.

Additional reporting by Pearly Tan, newsroom intern

Guard against prejudice

The Aware saga has brought up a number of growing developments in Singapore society which need to be scrutinised more carefully.

Regardless of whether one supported the old or new guard or was ambivalent, there appears to be a growing divide between certain sections of Singapore society on a number of issues.

On issues such as homosexuality, as the Aware saga showed, there seems to be growing interest among certain fundamentalist Christian groups in the affairs of secular organisations.

As many have pointed out, when religion is mixed into the running of secular organisations or local politics, conflicts of interest will arise.

It may be timely for the Government to clearly define the boundaries and limits for interest groups (especially those with public standing) that may operate with a less than transparent religious agenda.

It is crucial that the Aware saga should not be simply interpreted - as some detractors have labelled it - as a mere 'catfight' between two groups of women and their opposing values.

To do so would be to downplay and trivialise a larger issue - that what was at stake during last Saturday's EGM was also about the future development of Singapore's civil society, and the need to guard against latent discrimination and the incursion of hidden agendas.

FROM DR KEVIN S Y TAN

Value religious harmony

I had always been a typical apathetic Singaporean. But the Aware saga made me realise how vulnerable our secular society is if we are not vigilant against those who seize control of secular organisations to champion their religious causes.

I signed up as an Aware member to support the 'old guard' at the EGM. I am heartened that so many people shook off their apathy to attend the EGM.

We take our religious harmony for granted. We must not. The authorities should take action against anyone who breaches the law and threatens the religious harmony we enjoy in Singapore.

FROM CHNG SAI CHOO

Have social values won?

The Aware saga may have drawn to a close, but I feel there are a few issues that have not been addressed.

Singapore Law does not allow homosexuality. Does that mean that Aware can now promote it after the 'victory' by the old guard? What will be taught in our schools from now on?

If a talk is held in school and the topic is to accept/ tolerate/ understand homosexuality as part of our society, as a conservative parent, I would not like my child to attend it. Can he be excused?

So the old guard won, but who is the loser? The new guard or our social values?

FROM DAVID NG

Bigger issues to tackle

It was heartwarming to hear new members and associated members who are parents speak up and agree that Aware's involvement in schools is good for their children.

By being honest with teenagers, we can help them make the right decisions after being informed of the consequences of their actions.

I have faith the new Aware team will not ostracise the previous Exco members who wish to remain as Aware members and volunteer under the new committee.

Let's move on. We have bigger issues to tackle, such as the economic downturn and the H1N1 flu outbreak.

FROM SIBBY ZB

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Shanghai Primps For Its Biggest Party

Photos

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Workers walk by Chinese Pavilion of Shanghai World Expo 2010 under construction

SHANGHAI -- Beijing, China's political capital, dominated the stage in China last year with its successful hosting of the Olympics. This week, Shanghai, its big rival for influence and tourist dollars, started the final countdown to an event that the city hopes will allow it to grab the international spotlight.

The Shanghai World Expo will open a year from Friday on May 1, 2010, and run till Oct. 31, on a picturesque stretch along the city's Huangpu River near the historic Bund. No small number of records are expected to fall: It will take up the biggest area of any world expo--2.2 square miles--and organizers expect 70 million visitors, more than any previous expo. About 5% are expected to come from abroad.

Yet no matter how good the preparation, the expo's success will depend on factors beyond the city's control. Security, which hurt the appeal of the Beijing Olympics for visitors and businesses, will again be a government concern, especially given the Shanghai Expo’s half-year length. In addition, the global recession could dampen turnout. With many American companies hurting, it is unclear whether the U.S. will be able to organize a national pavilion.

With a year to go, the city says all’s well for now. Some 234 countries and international organizations have signed up to participate, government officials said at press events this week. "Our preparations have been going smoothly," and the government has switched its focus to operations from attracting participants, said Hong Hao, director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

The Shanghai Expo marks the first time that China has hosted the event, which dates back to 1851, when the Great Exposition of the Works of Industry of All Nations was held in the Crystal Palace in London. Shanghai, a center for traders and romantics known as the "Pearl of the Orient" before the communist revolution in 1949, has emerged as one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations and multinational business hubs following three decades of economic reform. City leaders hope that the expo will be the city’s coming out party. The expo was most recently held last year in Zaragoza, Spain, with much less international attention.

The financial stakes are big for Shanghai, as well as exhibitors looking to impress locals. Spending on construction at the expo site will total $2.6 billion, which doesn’t include the city’s infrastructure spending. As high wage costs, fat city payroll taxes and the global recession hit manufacturing in the city, Shanghai more than ever also needs to build up its tourism and service sectors to keep growing. The city’s GDP in the first quarter grew a relatively meager 3.1%, only half of the country’s overall 6.1% increase.

Beyond the construction around the Expo area itself, it's hard to miss signs of Shanghai's preparation. The city is in a frenzy of infrastructure construction as new subways and roads are added ahead of the event. Older buildings in high-profile locales are getting a fresh coat of paint. Shanghai is divided in half by the Huangpu River, and expo events will be held on both sides, squeezing traffic on both.

One notable expo structure will be the China Pavilion. It has a classic Chinese architecture design which seems out of place in internationally minded Shanghai; at more than 60 meters tall, it will be hard to miss. The government says the China Pavilion is loftily “designed to reflect the idea of Chinese wisdom in urbanization’ which includes constant diligence, benevolence though profound virtue, learning from nature and harmony in diversity.”

If there is a U.S. pavilion, it would join the Chinese one in the eastern half of the event, but America could be a no-show at the expo. Unlike numerous countries, U.S. law bars the government from funding pavilions at world fairs, and with the economy in the tank, efforts to raise money from the private sector appear to be coming up short. The expo said in a statement that it is “making every effort to ensure that the United States will be represented.” Reportedly, a Chinese offer to provide an interest-free loan was turned down. U.S. firms such as General Motors are participating in separate pavilions; Cisco and IBM are sponsors.

The expo, whose main theme is “Better City, Better Life,” will also feature a first-ever “Urban Best Practices Area” that highlights how cities around the world are trying to improve the quality of life for urbanites--a fitting topic for China, the world's most populous nation, since urbanization leads more than 1 million people from the country’s cities into urban areas annually. As with Beijing's Olympic logo, the Shanghai Expo is giving its emblem some Chinese flavor. The symbol was inspired by the Chinese character for “world,” and is supposed to resemble a family.

The expo will have a corporate pavilion area that hosts 16 businesses. Among them: Coca-Cola, the People’s Insurance Company of China, Vanke Group from Shenzhen, and the China Shipbuilding Industry Corp.

Its list of global partners includes Siemens, China Eastern Airlines, China Mobile, China Telecom, Bank of Communications, General Motors and its main local partner, China National Petroleum, State Grid, Baosteel Group, Broad Air Conditioning, People Insurance and Shanghai Industrial Investment.

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The Perils of Global Banking

May 6, 2009, 5:44PM EST text size: TT
The Perils of Global Banking
Selling through subsidiaries, banks have left investors across the globe holding potentially toxic bonds. Now governments may restrain foreign financial firms

By David Henry and Matthew Goldstein

JA Solar Holdings, a once-thriving Chinese manufacturer of solar-power cells, is getting a rude introduction to the dangers of global finance. So is Peter Howard, a retired British tax official. And so are Cedric Ruber, a Belgian school inspector, and his father, Rene, a retired employee of the U.S. Army.

Each is trying to recoup money from Lehman Brothers, whose bankruptcy in September paralyzed the world economy. They're just a few of the tens of thousands of burned investors around the world complaining loudly that they were sold toxic bonds that were supposed to be safe. In street demonstrations from Hong Kong to Hamburg, protesters are demanding that their governments do something to get their money back.

Now there's a growing fear among economists, policymakers, and business groups that in the name of protecting their citizens from global financial institutions, governments could slow the flow of capital between countries—at a time when the world economy is already contracting. "We're looking at a period of, at best, a pause of globalization, and more likely a period of 'de-globalization,' " Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive officer of bond giant PIMCO, said at a conference on Apr. 27. Governments are already moving to impose new hurdles on foreign firms. Regulators in Britain have started asking U.S. banks selling bonds there to provide hundreds of pages of proof that the mighty U.S. government, which is backing the bonds, could actually repay them.

A revelation from Lehman's bankruptcy illustrates why public confidence has been so shaken. It turns out that during the credit boom, a little-known Amsterdam unit called Lehman Brothers Treasury churned out $35 billion worth of dubious bonds, fully a quarter of the parent company's total bond debt when it went bust. Many of those bonds, baroque in their complexity, were sold to small investors in Europe and Asia—high finance for the masses. In the U.K., at least 6,000 retirees bought in. Brokers in Asia plied small investors, a few of them mentally ill, with free digital cameras and flat-screen televisions. As Lehman fought for its life in its last six months, it pushed harder to sell the bonds, most of which were "guaranteed" by the parent company in New York.

Or so the investors thought. When Lehman Brothers Holdings collapsed in September, the bonds lost virtually all their value. JA Solar (JASO) ate $100 million. Howard lost $74,000 of his retirement savings. Rene and Cedric Ruber are out some $200,000.

The Amsterdam debacle offers a rare glimpse into Wall Street's relentless drive to exploit foreign markets. Overseas locales provide banks great opportunities for "regulatory arbitrage," the practice of searching high and low for the most beneficial legal environments for particular lines of business. Lehman chose Amsterdam because of the tax benefits there. In recent years Wall Street firms have set up thousands of overseas subsidiaries for various purposes. Among other things, the entities have sold trillions of dollars worth of risky "derivatives" like the ones bought by Howard and the others. Lehman had 433 subsidiaries when it blew up—and it was relatively small. Citigroup (C) has more than 2,400 .

That global tangle of bank subsidiaries is creating bigger problems than anyone realized. The Lehman case shows how hard it can be for burned investors to get their money back in the event of disaster. Its bankruptcy alone has spawned more than 75 insolvency proceedings in 15 countries, each with differing rules. Without coordinated efforts, countries could find themselves pitted against one another. Even Belgium and the Netherlands, two close friends, clashed after the multinational Fortis Bank began to collapse in September. The bankruptcy proceeding quickly devolved into each country looking out for its own citizens.
Tax Haven

Equally worrisome, Wall Street's embrace of foreign markets makes it nearly impossible for national regulators to keep watch over what's being sold abroad and to whom. Even now, in the thick of the credit crisis, the biggest firms on Wall Street, Goldman Sachs (GS) among them, are setting up deals to sell potentially risky investments through foreign subsidiaries. This is one reason why the current financial debacle is unlike any that policymakers have had to confront. "I wouldn't want to be a regulator today," says Fried Frank partner Thomas P. Vartanian, who served as general counsel to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board at the start of the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s. "Some of the buttons on the control panel simply don't work." Prominent regulators concede the point. "A lot of these institutions [that got into trouble] were already regulated," Sheila C. Bair, head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., said at an Apr. 23 industry conference in Washington.

It's no wonder that Lehman's Amsterdam operation is fueling outrage. The operation was created in 1995 to sell "structured notes," a type of derivative that's like a bond except that the payments are tied to the performance of other investments. The subsidiary had an Amsterdam address but was run out of London by Lehman Brothers International (Europe), itself a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings in New York.

Bankers call such enterprises "special purpose entities," but a more direct term might be "shell company." The Amsterdam unit had no independent staff and was overseen, nominally, by a board of five directors. Two worked for Equity Trust, a Dutch company that provides administrative services for companies and investors—everything from setting up trusts to serving as directors on boards. Equity Trust counted Lehman as a client. What's more, the Amsterdam subsidiary used Equity Trust's mailing address as its own. In the past, the address was used by a unit of Enron. Equity Trust declined to comment.

The Netherlands has emerged as a haven for companies that want to avoid certain taxes on profits. A 2006 report by SOMO, a research group that focuses on multinational companies, found that some 20,000 "mailbox companies" had set up shop in Amsterdam for this purpose alone. That's one reason the Obama Administration is proposing a crackdown on offshore corporate tax havens.

Jeremy Isaacs, head of Lehman Brothers International (Europe), oversaw the Amsterdam unit. He had been something of a wunderkind, embarking on his career in finance at age 18, with a back-office job at a U.K. brokerage. In 1989 he got a job as a derivatives trader at Goldman in London. Isaacs joined Lehman in 1996, at age 31, and within four years had taken the helm of Lehman's entire European operation.
ULTRA-Customized Notes

From 1995 through 2002 the Amsterdam subsidiary was a bit player in the Lehman empire. But as the global credit boom began, Isaacs turned the operation into a virtual factory, issuing $30 billion in structured notes from 2003 through August 2008. At industry conferences during those years, Lehman executives, including CEO Richard S. Fuld Jr., said the Amsterdam notes were an important source of revenue. Isaacs left Lehman two days before it collapsed.

Lehman's Amsterdam notes were bafflingly complex. In all, the unit issued some 4,000 variations, and the documentation for each type often ran to 600 pages. Lehman tailored the notes in an amazing array of styles to cater to just about any investing need. Would someone like a bond that would pay on the "outperformance" of Japanese stocks vs. U.S. stocks? Lehman created them, along with a "rocket tracker" on the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 index. How about a bond for a thrifty soul who wanted to guard against inflation in Italy? Lehman had notes tied to consumer price indexes there, and in Spain and Mexico, too. It shipped the proceeds from selling the bonds back to New York.

JA Solar bought $100 million worth last summer, at the urging of its Lehman bankers. It says the bankers pitched the notes (which paid a little interest each quarter if a certain commodity index registered a gain) as no riskier than a money market fund. JA Solar says it was told that at worst the investment would come out flat. "We did not anticipate [the notes'] coming even close to risky," says Anthea Chung, JA Solar's chief financial officer.

Now the company is reeling. It has written off the entire $100 million on its books. Its stock, which is traded in New York, is down 66% since Lehman filed for bankruptcy. JA is becoming one of the pioneers of de-globalization, preferring to keep its financial deals closer to home. "For the near future, we are quite comfortable with Chinese banks," says Chung. "They are backed by the Chinese government."

Lehman also tapped retail banks, including Citigroup and UBS (UBS), to hawk the Amsterdam notes, which were part of an enormous market. All told, Wall Street has sold more than $640 billion of structured notes to small investors around the world, according to StructuredRetailProducts.com—most of them from overseas units. That's about the size of the market for subprime collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), which brought on the global crisis. "[Lehman's notes] were sold directly by the banks to their retail customers," says Erik Bomans, a partner at Deminor, an advisory firm specializing in investor protection. Deminor, based in Brussels, is working with attorneys representing buyers of Lehman notes sold in Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands. To date, the firm says, it has been contacted by 1,600 investors. "You can't even call them investors—they were savings bank customers," says Bomans.

The Rubers are among those who claim they were misled. Rene Ruber says a banker at a Citigroup office in Belgium sold him and his son about $200,000 of Lehman notes, promising an annual return of up to 6%. He says the notes were presented as a risk-free savings tool. "In plain English, we were screwed," says Rene. "I was lied to. They are not honest bankers." His son Cedric says some of his lost money had been earmarked for a new home, and some for college savings for his two children.

UBS says it "properly sold these investments to its clients. The offering materials clearly identified Lehman as the issuer and discussed all the relevant risks." A Citi spokesman in Belgium says the bank "is committed to helping affected customers retrieve as much of their original investment as possible through Lehman's bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. and the Netherlands."

In Britain it's a somewhat different story. Most of the notes sold there were marketed under the names of various London-based brokerages. Investors say they never knew that Lehman originated the bonds or guaranteed them. "If people knew it was Lehman, many wouldn't have bought them," says Howard, the retired British schoolteacher, who purchased notes in February 2008. "Many [American banks] were having a sticky time back then."

Howard, 58, is trying to organize U.K. investors to recoup their money. Working from his home in Wantage, in Oxfordshire, he has spoken with about 100 people so far, he says. "The average age is 65," says Howard. "Most of them took some of their pension money and invested in these notes." He says he has been talking to members of Parliament to get them to pressure brokerages to reimburse investors. In the next few weeks, his grassroots group, SPIRIT—short for Structured Products Investors Recovery & Information Team—plans to launch a Web site to draw more attention.

Similar stories abound in Asia, where investors have taken to the streets in Hong Kong several times since Lehman collapsed. The government says the Hong Kong Monetary Authority received more than 20,800 complaints about the notes, called minibonds there. Government officials on Apr. 28 alleged that some banks sold minibonds to mentally ill investors, although more details couldn't be obtained.

The minibonds were similar to the Amsterdam notes except that they weren't "principal protected." Instead, a marketing leaflet said the minibonds were "credit-linked to a basket of well-known international financial institutions," such as JPMorgan Chase (JPM). In fact, they were tied to a CDO. The leaflet said the minibonds were safe and that returns "may reach 48.4%." But they were no more secure than Lehman's ability to pay back the cash. That risk was buried in the fine print, below icons for gifts—digital cameras, LCD TVs, even grocery coupons.
Gordian Knot

Now investors are trying to get their money back. —We feel totally cheated,— says Alex Chow, 51, who lost about $130,000 and is organizing more protests. "The bank stole our money," he says. Two firms that distributed Lehman minibonds have agreed with regulators to repay investors. About 6,000 investor claims are being settled, says the Hong Kong government.

Meanwhile, in Amsterdam, the untangling of Lehman Brothers Treasury is just beginning. Rutger Schimmelpenninck, a partner with law firm Houthoff Buruma who is serving as the bankruptcy trustee, is daunted by the task. His exasperation came through in an Apr. 16 report in which he complained that "almost all the notes are governed by English law, while the validation of debt…is under Dutch bankruptcy law. … Obligations under the notes are governed by New York State law [and claims] have to be calculated and filed in accordance with the bankruptcy law of the United States." There's no clean way to slice through the Gordian knot of contracts, he tells BusinessWeek: "The legal practices for resolving disputes in bankruptcy situations around notes with embedded derivative elements have not yet developed."

Regulators have worried about that sort of problem for years. "Insolvency proceedings from one country to another are completely different," says Michael H. Krimminger, special adviser for policy to FDIC Chairman Bair.

Despite the mess in Amsterdam, new deals are hatching in Europe. On Feb. 11 Goldman registered a plan in Ireland to sell notes that seem similar in structure to the ones sold by Lehman in Amsterdam. The notes will be issued by an Irish unit called Goldman Sachs Financial Products Europe, according to the prospectus. Like Lehman's notes, some of Goldman's will be backed by the parent company in New York. Goldman declined to comment.

Ireland, like Amsterdam, has become a favorite place for global banks to set up subsidiaries to sell financial instruments. A recent Government Accountability Office report listed Ireland among more than 30 nations where U.S. companies have established units to take advantage of easier regulation.

Goldman's operation is similar to Lehman's in another way. Two of the subsidiary's directors are executives with Deutsche International Corporate Services, a unit of Germany's Deutsche Bank (DB) that provides trustee and securities services to scores of investment vehicles set up by Goldman and others. The mailing address for Goldman's Ireland subsidiary? It's the one used by the Deutsche operation.

If more structured notes go sour or if bank bailout burdens grow, the biggest loser could be globalization itself. Josef Ackermann, chairman of Deutsche Bank, warned of the consequences of financial protectionism in a recent speech at the London School of Economics. "Market integration, for goods and services and for capital, is the bedrock of our prosperity," he said. But by selling risky instruments to unwitting investors around the world, Wall Street is placing that prosperity in jeopardy.

Business Exchange: Read, save, and add content on BW's new Web 2.0 topic network
End Life Support for Troubled Banks

Propping up failed banks isn't working, says Thomas M. Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Despite billions spent, markets haven't recovered, he wrote on May 4 in the Financial Times. Hoenig has argued for the forced liquidation of assets of failing banks.

To read Hoenig's column, go to http://bx.businessweek.com/banking-industry/reference/.

Henry is a senior writer at BusinessWeek. Goldstein is a senior writer at BusinessWeek. With Theo Francis in Washington and Bruce Einhorn in Hong Kong

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SingapuraKini

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

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Tough times breed nostalgia for Mao