Sexuality education: Materials to be online soon

May 25, 2009

Sexuality education

Materials to be online soon

		Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Sunday that parents, from June or July, can have access to the materials and sit in on their children's sexuality education classes in school. -- PHOTO: BH

THE Ministry of Education (MOE) is making its materials on sexuality education more accessible by publishing them online.

Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Sunday that parents, from June or July, can have access to the materials and sit in on their children's sexuality education classes in school. If they are uncomfortable with what is being taught, they can pull their children out of the classes.

Quote Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday parents, from June/July, can have access to them and sit in on the sexuality education classes in school. If they are uncomfortable with what is being taught, they can pull their children out of the classes.

MOE's sexuality education materials have actually been available since 2000.

Dr Ng told reporters the materials had been sold at bookshops and made into VCDs and DVDs, but they had not been 'very interesting for the parents'. He felt it was a 'good opportunity' to relaunch the materials, make them more available and put them online.

He was speaking at a community event on Sunday morning where he reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to being open about what schools were teaching regarding sexuality and that parents could decide if they wanted their children to be involved in the programme.

He was addressing about 300 residents and grassroots leaders at a dialogue at the Nanyang Community Centre in Jurong West.

During the session, one resident raised the issue of sexuality education taught in schools.

The issue was thrust into the spotlight following some parents' concerns about sexuality education courses offered in schools by external vendors.

On Sunday, Dr Ng reiterated the importance of parents in their children's sexuality education, though many were uncomfortable about it.

He told the audience: 'If parents are willing to teach their children about sexuality education, please go ahead. Then my schools don't have to do it. But I know parents - I'm a parent - some of you are very shy.'

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STTA gets new CEO

May 25, 2009

STTA gets new CEO

		Ms Wong Hui Leng (left) has been appointed as STTA's new CEO to replace outgoing Chew Soo Sheng. --PHOTO: STTA

THE Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) has appointed Ms Wong Hui Leng as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to replace outgoing Chew Soo Sheng.

Ms Wong's appointment ends a two-month search for a suitable candidate, the association said in a press statement on Monday.

Ms Wong is no stranger to sport and the table tennis scene having served as STTA's General Manager from March 2000 to July 2005. She has also worked at the Singapore Badminton Association as its Finance and Corporate Services Manager.

She will join the association in August while Mr Chew is expected to leave STTA in late August.

Praising the contributions of the outgoing CEO, STTA President Lee Bee Wah said: 'Soo Sheng joined STTA in October 2008 as CEO to put in place systems and processes to professionalise the way STTA was run.

'Soo Sheng brought on board a leadership profile which was needed at that point in time of STTA's transition - a strategic management approach to review STTA's management systems, processes and high performance operations,' Ms Lee is quoted as saying in the STTA statement.

'We had an implicit understanding with Soo Sheng at the time of his appointment that he would come in and lay this foundation for growth before we bring on board someone new to carry on the next phase of growth.'

In March, Mr Chew indicated that he would like to return to running his business full time now that his task has been completed.

'The Management Committee agreed that Soo Sheng had performed very well and delivered all the objectives set out for him in a short span of time,' Ms Lee said.

Among his contributions: he revamped the local competition framework and competition formats to encourage broad based participation and enable early talent spotting, re-aligned zone centres, youth development squad, National Youth Team and the National Team and re-organised and rationalised the local talent and Youth Development pathway, starting from zone centres leading to national team.

Mr Chew, who will continue to serve the STTA in a voluntary capacity, said: 'I appreciate and value the guidance and support given to me by the various Management Committee members, staff and especially Bee Wah. Their strong support enabled me to execute these key initiatives swiftly.

'It is time for me to pass on the baton.'

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Students saw Widjaja jump

May 25, 2009

NTU STUDENT WHO FELL TO HIS DEATH

Students saw Widjaja jump

By Sujin Thomas
		Mr Lin-Zhenxing (left), also a final year student of the School of Electrical and Electronic Enginneering, was waiting for the lift on the 4th floor of the Research Techno Plaza when he saw Widjaja. -- ST PHOTO: WONG WAI CHOW

A FELLOW student witnessed a bloodied Nanyang Technological University (NTU) David Hartanto Widjaja jump off the roof of a link-bridge and captured the final moments on his mobile phone, a coroner's court heard on Monday.

Mr Lin-Zhenxing, also a final year student of the School of Electrical and Electronic Enginneering, was waiting for the lift on the 4th floor of the Research Techno Plaza, with a project mate at about 10.30 am on March 2 when he saw Widjaja, 21, on top of the glass roof of a bridge linking the school and the techno building.

In his eight-second video footage which was tendered in court, the 'shaky and slightly grainy' footage showed a person who 'appears' to be the Indonesian student sitting on the bridge roof. His right arm and legs were oozing blood, and his shorts and front of his Tee-shirt were blood-soaked.

The video clip showed him looking down, then towards his right. Mr Lin stopped recording after eight seconds as he needed the mobile phone to call the campus security guard. When he was about to end the call, he saw Widjaja jump four floors down.

The filmlet was extracted from Mr Lin's cellphone memory card and given to police after the shocking death fall, which occurred shortly after Widjaja allegedly attacked his final year project supervisor Professor Chan Kap Luk, 45, during what was to have been a discussion on the student's work.

Mr Lin also demonstrated how Widjaja pushed himself off the bridge, using a swivel chair in the coroner's court on Monday morning.

Four other students and laboratory staff also took the witness stand on Monday, giving their accounts of how Widjaja clambered onto the roof of the bridge and pushing himself off.

During a break at Monday's inquiry into the student's death, Widjaja's father and brother told The Straits Times that they do not believe that the man in the video clip was Widjaja.

Asked why, they said the footage was not clear and the body shape of the man did not look like Widjaja's. Mr Hartono, Widjaja, 56, said he intends to engage a forensic specialist to look at the video footage.

The inquiry continues.

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Chia Ti Lik in procession fined

May 25, 2009

2 in procession fined

By Elena Chong
		Chia Ti Lik (left) was fined for taking part in an assembly and procession without a permit with more than a dozen people last year. --PHOTO: ST

A LAWYER and a housewife were fined on Monday for taking part in an assembly and procession without a permit with more than a dozen people last year.

Chia Ti Lik, 35, and Surayah Akbar, 26, had been on trial with 12 others for 13 days before they decided to plead guilty. Chia was fined $800 on each of the two offences commited on March 15, 2008, while Surayan was fined a total of $1,200.

They are the fifth and sixth persons to plead guilty while the trial against the remaining 13 is on-going.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Isaac Tan said no one was permitted to hold any assembly or procession consisting of two or more persons within a specified area.

The Singapore Democratic Party planned to stage a protest rally at Parliament House that day but its application was rejected. Despite this, SDP went ahead with the assembly to protest against 'exploitative price hikes''.

Chia and Surayah, dressed in red T-shirts, took part in the assembly with the other co-accused.

During the assembly, Chia and other participants spoke and shouted slogans. Five of the co-accused also held up placards during the assembly. Police warned them to stop and disperse as they had gathered without a permit.

Despite the warning, Chia and the rest, except for one, held a procession from Parliament House drive-way to Funan DigitaLife Mall down the road, holding their placards as they walked towards the mall.

The participants ignored a further warning by police to cease their procession and stop displaying the placards.

The other four who have been fined $1,200 each are: Ng E-Jay, 31, Jeffrey George, 45, Muhammad Jufri Mohd Salim, 26, and Govinda Rajan Surian, 46. Jufri did not pay the fine and served an eight-day jail sentence while Rajan's appeal against sentence is pending.

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Nuke test a 'threat': Obama

May 25, 2009

N.KOREA CONDUCTS NUCLEAR TEST

Nuke test a 'threat': Obama

Obama says tests 'recklessly challenge international community'

Second nuclear test follows one in Oct 2006

Pyongyang says needs nuclear arsenal in hostile world

		Mr Obama (left) said: 'North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community.' --PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON - US PRESIDENT Barack Obama said on Monday that North Korea's nuclear and missile tests were a 'matter of grave concern to all nations' and warranted action by the international community.

Mr Obama, in a statement after Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test and reportedly fired a short-range missile, said: 'North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea's behaviour increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia.'

VIDEO N. Korea holds nuclear test (2:10)

The nuclear test was Pyongyang's second - its first was in Oct 2006 - and came just two months after North Korea launched a rocket believed to be a test of its long-range missile capability. Pyongyang said it had put a communications satellite into space.

'North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile programme, constitute a threat to international peace and security,' said Mr Obama, adding that Washington would work through the UN Security Council and the six-party talks on North Korea to address the issue.

'North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile programme, constitute a threat to international peace and security,' he said.

A US State Department official said earlier the United States was still analysing data from the test. The (US) Geological Survey confirmed that a seismic event took place consistent with a test, the official said on condition of anonymity.

'We are consulting with our six-party and UN Security Council partners on next steps,' the official added. Under the so-called 'six-party' talks among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, North Korea committed in 2005 to abandon all its nuclear programmes.

North Korea said it successfully conducted a nuclear test on Monday, a move certain to further isolate the prickly state, which argues it has no choice but to build an atomic arsenal to protect itself in a hostile world.

The latest test follows years of on-off negotiations with regional powers, which have been pressing the impoverished state to give up its nuclear ambitions in return for massive aid and an end to the country's pariah status. -- REUTERS

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N.Korea conducts nuclear tests: Security Council to meet

May 25, 2009

N.Korea conducts nuclear tests

Security Council to meet

		The meeting was requested by Japan's UN Ambassador Yukio Takasu following a North Korean claim that it had conducted a nuclear test. --PHOTO: AP

UNITED NATIONS - THE UN Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss North Korea's claim of a nuclear test, the Japanese UN mission said.

'The time of the urgent meeting is planned tomorrow afternoon,' the mission said in a statement released late on Sunday in New York.

The meeting was requested by Japan's UN Ambassador Yukio Takasu following a North Korean claim that it had conducted a nuclear test.

Pyongyang said it staged a successful underground nuclear test which was more powerful than its previous test in 2006, followed later by an apparent short-range missile launch.

'It is absolutely unacceptable,' said Japan's top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura, as Prime Minister Taro Aso set up a special crisis task force. 'Japan will take stern action against North Korea.'

Added Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone in Hanoi after meeting South Korean counterpart Yu Myung Hwan. 'It is an act that we can never tolerate... We, as the only atomic-bombed nation, need to take stern action.'

Japan quickly asked UN Security Council chair Russia to open an emergency meeting, and the Japanese UN mission said later a meeting had been scheduled for Monday afternoon local time in New York.

In Vienna, a UN-backed international committee preparing a nuclear test ban treaty said on Monday that North Korea's announcement that it carried out a nuclear test should be 'universally condemned'.

'Today's nuclear test claimed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) constitutes a threat to international peace and security and to the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime,' Tibor Toth, executive secretary of the preparatory committee for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation said in a statement.

'I am gravely concerned by this action. In particular, it is a serious violation of the norm established by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and as such deserves universal condemnation.'

The CTBT has been signed by 180 countries, but to come into effect it still needs ratification by nine key holdouts including China, North Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States. -- AFP

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N.KOREA CONDUCTS NUCLEAR TEST: Warns of more tests

May 25, 2009

N.KOREA CONDUCTS NUCLEAR TEST

Warns of more tests

		North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex near Pyongyang. -- PHOTO: KOREA HERALD

MOSCOW - NORTH Korea could carry out more nuclear tests if the United States continues attempts to intimidate Pyongyang, Itar-Tass news agency quoted an unidentified official in North Korea's embassy in Moscow as saying.

The source said new nuclear tests would take place 'if the United States and its allies continue the policy of intimidation against North Korea', Tass reported.

VIDEO N. Korea holds nuclear test (2:10) S.Korea military forms crisis team after nuke test report SEOUL - SOUTH Korea's military on Monday formed a 'crisis management' team of general-level officers after North Korea announced it had carried out a nuclear test, the defence ministry said. 'Top military officials led by the defence minister are holding an emergency meeting after forming a crisis management team,' a ministry spokesman said. ... more S.Korean markets hit SEOUL - SEOUL stocks fell sharply and the won slipped against the dollar on concerns North Korea's nuclear test early on Monday could sap investor confidence in the South Korean markets and economy. The main Seoul stock market's benchmark KOSPI fell 2.22 per cent by 0326 GMT (1126 Singapore time), although recouping much of its early more than 6 per cent dip. The won was down 1 per cent on the day at 1,259.9 per dollar. ... more

North Korea said it successfully conducted a nuclear test on Monday, a move certain to further isolate the prickly state, which argues it has no choice but to build an atomic arsenal to protect itself in a hostile world.

It also defiantly declared that it carried out a powerful underground nuclear test - a major provocation less than two months after launching a rocket widely believed to be a test of its long-range missile technology.

North Korea, incensed by UN Security Council condemnation of its April 5 rocket launch, had warned last month that it would restart it rogue nuclear programme, conduct an atomic test and carry out long-range missile tests.

On Monday, the country's official Korean Central News Agency said the regime 'successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of measures to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence'.

The regime boasted that the test was conducted 'on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control' than one carried out in 2006.

Russia, which shares a short border with North Korea, confirmed its facilities detected a nuclear test in northeastern North Korea, the ITAR-Tass news agency said, citing an unnamed Russian Defense Ministry official.

In Washington, a US counter-proliferation official said there was reason to believe North Korea had conducted a nuclear test. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Monday's tests raise the stakes in the tense international standoff over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

'If North Korea carried out a nuclear test, it would clearly violate UN Security Council resolutions,' chief government spokesman Takeo Kawamura told reporters in Tokyo. 'We will definitely not tolerate it.'

Japan will request an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss North Korea, Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka said, according to the Kyodo news agency. -- AP

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N.KOREA CONDUCTS NUCLEAR TEST: Countries condemn test

May 25, 2009

N.KOREA CONDUCTS NUCLEAR TEST

Countries condemn test

		The reported nuclear test by North Korea is 'very, very worrying', EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said on Monday. -- PHOTO: AFP

THE international community strongly condemned North Korea's nuclear test on Monday. Many countries also voiced their concerns and worries regarding the issue.

The United States has begun consultations with its allies in a bid to establish facts about North Korea's claim that it had conducted a new nuclear test, a State Department official said late on Sunday.

Reaction to N.Korea's nuclear test FOLLOWING is reaction from the international community and political analysts to North Korea's nuclear test. UNITED STATES President Barack Obama said North Korea's nuclear and missile tests were a 'matter of grave concern to all nations' and warranted action by the international community. 'North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea's behaviour increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia,' he said in a statement. ... more

'We are aware of the reports of a nuclear test by North Korea,' the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. 'We are consulting with our allies. Once we have established the facts, we will have more to say.'

The comments came after North Korea said it had staged a 'successful' underground nuclear test on Monday, which was more powerful than its previous test.

The Russian foreign ministry meanwhile, voiced 'concern' about North Korea's nuclear test but was still examining the situation, the RIA-Novosti state news agency reported.

'The information about the North Korean nuclear test evokes concern, but before reaching any final conclusions it must be carefully checked,' the ministry's press service was quoted as saying.

The reported nuclear test by North Korea is 'very, very worrying', EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said on Monday.

'I have not had it confirmed yet so I am very cautious still, but if this is so, it would certainly be very, very worrying and should be condemned,' Ms Ferrero-Waldner told reporters during a visit to Thailand. 'This is a very concerning moment,' she added.

Britain called the nuclear test 'clear breach' of UN resolution. 'I think we need to send a very clear message to North Korea that they need to re-engage with the six-party process,' British junior foreign minister Bill Rammell said in Hanoi on the sidelines of a meeting of Asian and European foreign ministers.

'It's again a very clear breach,' Mr Rammell said, adding that Britain was 'very concerned' about the development. -- AFP

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China opposes nuke tests

May 25, 2009

N.Korea conducts nuclear tests

China opposes nuke tests

		As the test has angered China, it is unlikely to back stronger sanctions as part of any new UN Security Council resolution. --PHOTO: AFP

BEIJING - CHINA'S government says it is 'resolutely opposed' to the nuclear weapons test carried out by communist neighbour and ally North Korea.

A Foreign Ministry statement says the North carried out Monday's test in defiance of the international community and its own commitments to denuclearise the Korean peninsula.

Japan vows 'stern action' TOKYO - JAPAN on Monday vowed 'stern action' against communist North Korea over its latest nuclear test and said it would seek an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. 'If North Korea conducted a nuclear test, it is a clear violation of UN resolutions,' said top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura as Prime Minister Taro Aso set up a special crisis task force. ... more

The statement on the ministry's website says Pyongyang should avoid actions that would sharpen tensions and return to the six-nation process to dismantle its nuclear programmes.

China is the North's main source of diplomatic support and opposed additional United Nations' sanctions after Pyongyang tested a long-range missile earlier this year. It also provides food and fuel aid to North Korea.

While the test has angered China, it is unlikely to back stronger sanctions as part of any new UN Security Council resolution, Chinese analysts said on Monday.

As a permanent member of the council, China has the power to veto any such resolution. But it is likely to face pressure from Washington and other regional capitals to support measures punishing the North for its test.

Pressure was already building on China to take a firmer stand as host of the now-stalled six-party talks among regional powers that aim to dismantle North Korea's nuclear programme.

Beijing condemned North Korea's first nuclear test blast in 2006 as a 'brazen' slap in the face for Chinese leaders, who give the North crucial economic and diplomatic protection.

This time, China's leaders will probably be more careful to balance their anger against worries that Pyongyang could make the six-party nuclear disarmament talks unsalvageable, said Xu Guangyu, a nuclear expert at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association. Already, however, pressure is building on Beijing.

'The Chinese must use their influence to help bring North Korea to the table for the six-party talks,' US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was visiting China, said in a statement issued through the US Embassy in Beijing.

Ms Pelosi was in Shanghai. 'Today's announcement makes that need all the more urgent.' -- AP, REUTERS

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North Korea: 3 missiles test-fired

May 25, 2009

N.KOREA CONDUCTS NUCLEAR TEST

3 missiles test-fired

		This Jan 5, 2009 photo shows a missile-firing drill in North Korea. North Korea seems to have test-fired a short-range missile on Monday. -- PHOTO: AFP

SEOUL - NORTH Korea test-fired three short-range missiles on Monday, the same day it conducted an underground nuclear test, South Korea's military said.

'North Korea (test)fired a short-range missile from Musudan at around 12pm (11am Singapore time) and two more short-range missiles from Wonsan at around 5pm,' a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. He gave no more details.

VIDEO N. Korea holds nuclear test (2:10) N.Korean test near 2006 test site VIENNA - THE 'event' North Korea says was a nuclear test on Monday measured 4.5 on the Richter scale. It was also within a couple of kilometres of a previous test in October 2006, a UN-backed group said on Monday. ... more SEOUL - THE following is the full text of the report released on Monday by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It was released after what the North said was its second nuclear weapons test. ... more

Yonhap news agency quoted sources as saying the North fired three ground-to-air missiles with a range of 130km.

MSingapore, Singapore Kopitiam, sunkopitiam, Singapore Forum, Singapurakini, missile test, nuclear test, North Koreausudan-ri on the northeast coast is where the North fired a long-range Taepodong-2 rocket on April 5. Wonsan is a city on the southeast coast, where another missile base is located.

Yonhap quoted one official as saying the North may have been trying to deter US aerial surveillance efforts following the nuclear test.

Japan's coast guard said last week the communist state was warning ships not to pass through waters within a 130km radius of the town of Kimchaek on its northeast coast.

The North says its April 5 launch put a satellite into orbit but other nations said it staged a disguised missile test. The UN Security Council condemned the launch and tightened sanctions on Pyongyang firms.

In response the North threatened more nuclear and missile tests. It announced on Monday it had conducted a second nuclear test, more powerful than the first in October 2006. The test was conducted in the Kilju region not far from Musudan-ri.

Countries around the world condemned the tests, with some saying they are considering imposing sanctions against Pyongyang. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said on Monday he was 'deeply disturbed' by North Korea's nuclear test and was closely following events.

The UN chief called on Pyongyang to respect UN Security Council resolution 1718, which demands that North Korea refrain from nuclear testing. The resolution was passed afte the regime's first nuclear test in 2006. -- AFP

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We're too mollycoddled

May 25, 2009

We're too mollycoddled

		Mr Sam Tan, MP for Marine Parade GRC, is worried that Singaporeans might have been so mollycoddled by the Government that they have become so used to what he calls 'recession cushion'. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

MANY Singaporeans see Government help as an entitlement, something they would tap on as a first port of call rather than as a last resort, said a backbencher in Parliament on Monday.

Recession? What recession? DESPITE all the gloom and doom coming out of the United States and other countries, it seems 'business as usual' for Singaporeans, who are still spending freely and as cheerful as ever, an MP has noted. Mr Sam Tan, MP of Tanjong Pagar GRC, wondered if this 'buoyant optimism' is the Government's fault. ... more RELATED LINKS SPEECH BY MP SAM TAN

Mr Sam Tan, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, is worried that Singaporeans might have been so mollycoddled by the Government that they have become 'practised at the craft of recession cushioning', and so accustomed to the government largesse.

'Each time the economy shows signs of slowing down, we've the NTUC and the e2i coming out to the forefront to job match, provide training, reduce retrenchment,' he said in his speech on the President's address.

'We've Ministry of National Development pump-priming with infrastructure projects. We've, of course, the Ministry of Communications, Youth and Sports and its numerous help schemes.'

Making clear that he is 'not diminishing the efforts' of civil servants and unionists, Mr Tan added: 'I am, however, wondering what the true impact of all these efforts are.

'Suppose you're the father of an eight-year-old boy who wants to learn how to cycle. Do you line the streets with cushions so that he would not hurt himself if he loses his balance?

'Do you brace his knees, and every conceivable part of his exposedbody with padding? You might, if you were an extremely protective father. But a commonsensical approach would be to let the boy have a go at it himself, and take the knocks and spills as they come.

'A boy who's mollycoddled is a very different person from the one who is physically tough and take the spills without fear, and whining. The latter, I think could be the approach that we take towards helping Singaporeans during tough times.'

Citing an example to back his point, Mr Tan said recently he has seen many residents, especially the elderly, come and see him at meet-the-people sessions.

'The difference is that while in the past, many of them would be hesitant to do so, and would rely on their children first. Today, many see the government help as an entitlement, something that they should tap on as a first port of call, rather than a last resort.

'I want to spare my children the burden of caring for me', they tell me. I am frankly astonished and dismayed, for my traditional Confucius values tell me that it is the natural obligation for children to look after their parents, and for the parents to be cared for by their children when they grow old.

'I would sometimes tell them 'You should let the children care for you, not the state, not because this is a good public policy (although it is), not because society expects it (although it might), but because it is the right thing to do.

'It is filial piety, one of the most fundamental values of the human race.'

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Petition to DPM Teo Chee Hean to give a special award to Liu Guodong

Petition to DPM Teo Chee Hean to give a special award to Liu Guodong

35 Signatures

Published by Eugene on May 24, 2009

Category: Sports

Region: Singapore

Target: Singaporeans

Web site: http://www.wayangparty.com

Background (Preamble):

Petition to DPM Teo Chee Hean to give a special award to Liu Guodong in recognition of his contributions to the Singapore Table Tennis team winning a silver medal in the Beijing Olympics

Ex-Singapore Table Tennis coach won an Olympic Silver medal in the Beijing Olympics games in 2008 for Singapore, but was never recognized for his contributions.

[A petition drive will be held on 6 June 2009 (Sat), 5pm at Hong Lim Park]

Petition:

We are signing this petition to request Singapore National Olympic Council to give a special award to the ex-coach of the Singapore Table-Tennis Team Mr Liu Guodong in recognition of his achievement in winning a silver medal for Singapore during the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

An Olympic medal is the pinnacle of all sporting achievements and is the most prestigious award that all sportsmen and women can dream of. Some spent their entire lives aiming to win a medal at the Olympics held every four years.

The importance, fame and pride attached to an Olympic medal is why winning athletes and coaches are accorded the highest accolade, honor and rewards everywhere in the world.

Unfortunately in Singapore which prides itself on meritocracy, an Olympic medal winning coach does not even qualified to be nominated for the "Coach of the Year" award which devalues the medal and make a mockery out of the award given out yearly by SNOC.

We feel strongly that Mr Liu Guodong is the only coach who deserves the "Coach of the Year" award for 2009. By not giving out the award this year, SNOC has indicated that it also share the same views as us.

The winner of last year award is Mr Radojko Avramovic and the year before, Mr Zhang Yong Qiang. With due respect to them, none of them won an Olympic medal before. In fact, none of the coaches who won the award since it was inaugurated in 1970 had ever won a medal in the Olympics games.

Singapore has spent millions of dollars on its Foreign Sports Talent Scheme is a scheme used by sports officials and organisations in Singapore to scout, identity and facilitate the migration of non-Singaporeans deemed to possess sports talent to play in Singapore colours in sporting events.

The aim of this scheme is to win medals for Singapore and Mr Liu has achieved this remarkable feat by leading the Singapore Table Tennis team to win a first Olympic silver medal for Singapore as an independent nation.

If winning an Olympic medal does not qualify a coach to win the "Coach of the year" award, what message will we be sending to other foreign coaches who are interested to offer their services in Singapore? Will the best coaches in the world be attracted here knowing that his performance will not be judged by the results he achieved in the sports?

Mr Liu Guodong was appointed coach of the Singapore Table Tennis team in 2006. He worked hard to bring the team up the international rankings which culminated in an Olympic medal.

Feng Tianwei, who played a pivotal role in Singapore's victory over South Korea in the semi-finals of the Beijing Olympics, was talent spotted by Mr Liu while playing in the Japan professional league in 2006.

All these occurred before Ms Lee Bee Wah took over as STTA President in 2008 3 weeks before the team's departure for Beijing.

Without Mr Liu's stewardship, it is unlikely that Singapore will win a medal in the Beijing Olympics. We should express our gratitude and appreciation for his efforts by giving him the coveted "Coach of the year" award.

Since STTA has refused to nominate Mr Liu for the award and SNOC has decided to not to give the award to another less deserving coach, we would like to request SNOC to give a special award to Mr Liu instead.

The SNOC Special Award is only given on two occasions in 2004 to the National Water Polo Teams from 1965 to 2003 for maintaining a 40 year winning streak in the SEA games and in 2005 to swimmer Joscelin Yeo for winning 9 gold medals in the SEA games since 1993.

Mr Liu Guodong had won Singapore numerous medals during his tenure as coach of the Table Tennis team. Based on these achievements, he truly deserves a special award from SNOC.

We implore SNOC to show the world that Singaporeans are appreciative, gracious and magnanimous enough to recognize the immense contributions of ex-coach Liu Guodong even after he has left the team.

For your kind consideration, please.

A group of concerned Singaporeans

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Let's have a code to ensure transparency of societies

Let's have a code to ensure transparency of societies

THE AWARE saga suggests the usefulness of instituting a "code for takeovers" for registered charities and registered societies, similar to the code which applies primarily to listed public companies and listed registered business trusts.

Charities and registered societies play a vital role in supporting a flourishing civil polity by delivering aid to the needy, providing advocacy on behalf of marginalised groups and serving as an intermediary between the state and the people.

If the boards and trustees of charities and registered societies are protected from challengers, they would tend to become complacent, if not negligent, and society would lose out.

What is crucial is transparency.

- First, the slate of candidates (both incumbent and newcomers) for the board or executive committee of a charity or registered society should be made known to the members at least one month prior to an election.

- Second, candidates should disclose whether, and with whom, they are "acting in concert".

- Third, candidates should disclose their intentions concerning the organisation and whether they plan to make any major changes to its direction or programmes.

The members of the charity or registered society can then make an informed decision at the election, and the crisis of legitimacy as was faced by the "new guard" at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) will be less likely to occur.

Joseph Wong Kok Sen

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28024.441

Why teaching youth about condoms is important

Why teaching youth about condoms is important

I REFER to last Wednesday's Forum Online letter, "Useful programme except for condom excerpt" by Mr Steven Tan, in which he argues that teaching youth about condom use will "confuse" them into unprotected sexual activity.

Last November, it was reported in the media that one in four sexually active women does not use birth control.

A 2002 profile of women going for abortions at the National University Hospital found that 75.5 per cent were married and a large proportion did not use birth control regularly.

According to Ministry of Health statistics, most women in Singapore who contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are married.

It is clear from the above�that many sexually active people in Singapore, including those who are married,�are not adequately informed�about the importance of using condoms.

The message of sexual abstinence�is not sufficient - young people must be taught about condoms so that they are�adequately prepared�when they do become sexually active.

The claim that teaching condom use "confuses" young people is the�same argument that persuaded Uganda�to abandon its strategy of�encouraging condom use in favour of "abstinence-only" education. After the change in strategy in 2001, HIV infection rates shot up.� About 130,000 new infections were identified in 2005, in comparison to 70,000 in 2002.

The World Health Organisation, Doctors Without Borders, and UNAids (a joint programme among several United Nations bodies) all take the position that the promotion of condom use is vital to securing public health.

The Health Promotion Board is right to teach our youth about condoms in accordance with�international expert medical consensus.�

We should not allow our discomfort with sensitive topics prevent us from protecting the health of our nation.

Jolene Tan Siyu (Ms)

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28486.212