Email from Mr Siew Kum Hong

Email from Mr Siew Kum Hong

To: REACH

18 May 2009

Dear Sirs/Madams,

My name is Siew Kum Hong. I am currently a Nominated Member of Parliament.

Your website is currently hosting various comments that are highly defamatory of me and that are in breach of your Terms of Use, in particular, the comments suggesting or insinuating that I have received or am receiving foreign funding (including but not limited to the comments posted by "Right versus Wrong" on 16 May 09 at 12:45 PM, "Margret wong" on 16 May 09 at 15:50 PM, "James Lim" on 16 May 09 at 17:53 PM, "pinkdot" on 16 May 09 at 18:39 PM, "piss off" on 17 May 09 at 12:52 PM, and "GET THE FACT RIGHT" on 17 May 09 at 17:46 PM) at the URL http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/TalkAbuzz/SnapshotsofHotIssues/tabid/233/ctl/Details/mid/917/ItemID/82/Default.aspx Please note that I have made a police report about this matter.



I hereby request that:

(a) you immediately remove either the entire thread, or at least the offending comments and all associated comments at the above URL, and provide e-mail confirmation of the same immediately upon removal;

(b) you produce all particulars in your possession, custody or control pertaining to the users listed above, including all registration particulars and IP addresses (and corresponding dates and times) associated with these users and/or their comments, as soon as possible and in any event not later than close of business on Wednesday 20 May 2009; and

(c) you immediately preserve all information in your possession, custody or control relating to this matter (including the particulars referred to in paragraph (b)), in view of potential criminal investigations and civil proceedings that may require the production of this information.

Please feel free to contact me at my email should you have any queries or require any clarifications. Please send the confirmation requested for in paragraph (a) above, and the information requested for in paragraph (b) above to, to this e-mail address.

Thank you for your attention.

Siew Kum Hong

Response from REACH

Mr Siew Kum Hong has written to REACH to request the removal of postings which made specific allegations against him that he felt were defamatory. Mr Siew has disputed the allegations and informed us that he has filed a police report.

Mr Siew has also asked REACH to furnish him with the IP addresses and particulars of the netizens who made the alleged postings on the REACH website. As his request will breach our website's privacy policy, we are unable to accede to it.

As the administrator of the REACH website, we have the right to remove any postings, including those which we consider to be in breach of the Terms of Use of the website, or otherwise objectionable. We have exercised this right and removed some postings.

REACH offers an open platform for Singaporeans to engage the Government on issues as well as to engage one another freely with their views and ideas. We encourage responsible online discourse, and we would expect netizens to act with decorum, observe acceptable norms of cyber etiquette, and avoid making irresponsible comments. For meaningful and constructive engagement, netizens have to be accountable and responsible for the comments they make.

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Widjaja: Wails, blood, death fall

May 23, 2009

DAY 3 OF THE INQUIRY

Wails, blood, death fall

Witnesses describe events at NTU campus

By Sujin Thomas & Kimberly Spykerman

View more photos

TRAINEE engineer Pattarin Kusopalin was in the corridor when she heard 'thunderous wails' for help. The Thai national froze, wondering where the 'terrifying noise' was coming from.

Iranian student saw Widjaja on roof An Iranian PhD student, Ms Lobna Kamyab, next saw Mr Widjaja while she was on her way to a laboratory along a common corridor one floor below. He was ahead of her, climbing onto a parapet ledge. His clothes were soaked and he was dripping blood from an 'awful wound' on his right wrist, she told the court. The autopsy showed that it was a deep cut 7.5cm long. ... more

A door opened at the other end of the corridor in the Nanyang Technological University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and she saw a former teacher, Associate Professor Cheah Chien Chern, striding out.

He too had heard the cries for help.

Ms Kusopalin recalled that the door to another office then opened and she saw Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk, 45, backing out, his shirt heavily soaked with blood. Prof Chan staggered toward Prof Cheah, who saw that he was gripping a broken knife blade in his right hand. Frightened by the blood, Ms Kusopalin turned and ran.

Ms Kusopalin was one of seven witnesses who took the stand on Friday on the third day of the coroner's inquiry into the death of Indonesian undergraduate David Hartanto Widjaja, 21.

Their separate accounts pieced together the events of March 2, when Mr Widjaja allegedly attacked Prof Chan before falling to his death minutes later from four storeys.

Prof Chan told the courtroom that he asked Prof Cheah to call the police and an ambulance. When Mr Widjaja stepped out of his office moments later, he pointed at the young man and shouted: 'Can someone get the student?'

Mr Widjaja pointed at the injured professor and hurled some words after him. Prof Chan told the half-filled courtroom: 'I cannot recall his exact words but he said something that sounded like he was blaming me - that I was the one who started this.'

The hearing continues on Monday.

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Singapore to get access to JI head

May 23, 2009
Mas Selamat's capture
S'pore to get access to JI head
By Clarissa Oon, Senior Political Correspondent

MALAYSIA will give Singapore access to recaptured terrorist kingpin Mas Selamat Kastari and share all information gathered from him, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Friday.

He did not say when the Jemaah Islamiah leader would be returned to Singapore.

That was a matter for further discussion between security agencies on both sides, he said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Datuk Seri Najib said he could not reveal details of the attacks that Mas Selamat was said to have been planning against Singapore while in hiding in Johor, but added that Malaysia had shared this information with Singapore.

Mr Lee agreed that it was 'not a good practice to share publicly a lot of details about intelligence operations'.

Expressing confidence in the competence and professionalism of the Malaysian authorities, he said: 'They have been generous in sharing with us what they have discovered from their debrief of Mas Selamat Kastari and we leave it in their hands, and I'm sure that the matter will be resolved in good time.'

The 48-year-old terrorist leader escaped from detention in Singapore in February last year and was recaptured by Malaysian intelligence officers last month in Skudai, Johor.

Mr Najib and Mr Lee held up his recapture as an example of successful cooperation between the two countries' security agencies, and stressed the need to continue cooperating in the fight against terrorism.

Mr Lee said he had again expressed thanks and congratulations to Mr Najib over Mas Selamat's arrest.

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2 'weak links' in sex ed

May 23, 2009

2 'weak links' in sex ed

Parents and teachers 'not fully equipped' to provide right info, values

By Amelia Tan , Theresa Tan and Yeo Sam Jo
		Most parents, they said, are simply not comfortable discussing the birds and the bees with their children. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

PSYCHOLOGISTS, counsellors and other experts on Friday welcomed tighter checks by the Education Ministry on sexuality education programmes in schools, but said more attention should be paid to two weak links in the system: parents and teachers.

Most parents clueless about sexuality programme AS SEXUALITY education comes under scrutiny in schools, parents say what they welcome most is the fact that they are now getting more information about such programmes. Many of the 20 parents interviewed by The Straits Times on Friday said they had no idea what went on during sexuality education classes in school. ... more

In interviews with The Straits Times, several experts said these two groups are not fully equipped to pass on the right information and values to children.

Most parents, they said, are simply not comfortable discussing the birds and the bees with their children. What is worse is that many simply abdicate responsibility, and tell their children to get answers from teachers instead.

They added that teachers need more training to overcome the awkwardness many feel about discussing sex in class.

Said Madam Evelyn Khong, a manager and family life educator at Fei Yue Community Services, a group that holds sexuality education classes for students: 'Parents are uncomfortable talking about sex because they were taught by their parents not to talk about it. They don't understand sex fully, and think it's only about making babies.

'But sex is much more than that; it's an emotional, physical and psychological thing.'

Singapore Planned Parenthood Association president Edward Ong agreed, calling it a 'generational problem'.

Several parents interviewed admitted as much. Housewife Pricillia Ting, 44, who has two daughters aged 11 and 13, said: 'They are so young, they may not understand what sex is and may even get the wrong idea.'

Experts noted that this leads to the very situation Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Thursday should be avoided: Curious children turning to sources like the Internet and their friends for answers, and sometimes ending up with wrong solutions.

Meanwhile, teachers interviewed - all did not want to be named - said they would welcome more training.

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Irked by ping-pong controversy

Saturday May 23, 2009
Irked by ping-pong controversy
INSIGHT DOWN SOUTH
By SEAH CHIANG NEE

As recession spreads hardship, more MPs are on the receiving end of public wrath.

SINGAPOREANS who want to see a quicker reduction of government influence in society now have another reason to do so in the wake of the ping-pong controversy.

It was sparked off by the way the Table Tennis Association (STTA) had acted over a dispute that led to the loss of its talented Chinese trainer.

One of the most successful sports trainers here, Liu Guodong, had helped Singapore to win its first Olympic medal in 48 years. He had shaped the women’s paddlers to rank among the world’s best, as well as win the silver medal in last year’s Beijing Olympics, losing to China in the final.

Instead of receiving state accolade, Liu left for Beijing in a huff on Sunday after his second run-in with Lee Bee Wah, the STTA President, who is also MP in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s group constituency.

To Singaporeans, that connection spells political backing. Liu’s exit followed an accusation from the free-talking politician that the Chinese coach lacked “professionalism and integrity”, without giving any clarification.

Her organisation had earlier refused to nominate the popular Liu for the National Coach of the Year award as widely expected and supported by the National Sports Council.

This infuriated the Chinese trainer, the brother of China’s national table tennis coach. Liu felt humiliated, saying that it had impugned his integrity.

He asked her to justify the charge or apologise, failing which he may return to seek legal recourse to clear his name.

The way that Lee, a Malaysian-born politician, had handled — or mishandled — a talented table tennis coach caused resentment among Singaporeans and some mainland Chinese netizens.

It has led to Singapore being accused — rather unfairly — of ungratefulness, implying that his importance was downgraded after the Olympics feat. Some Singaporeans questioned the need to have a government person manage a sports body — as well as numerous others — instead of people with long relevant experience.

Lee is the latest of a number of MPs who have been on the receiving end of public wrath.

As the recession spreads hardship, the number of people who seek help from their MPs has sharply increased, some of them desperately.

Threats against MPs have been on the rise. In a recent case a woman MP was threatened by a rag-and-bone man.

Then an angry youth slammed a chair on a glass door when he felt another MP had talked down to his mother.

The worst case happened in January when MP Seng Han Tong was set on fire by an attacker, sending him to hospital with severe burns. He has just resumed duty.

Although this violence has raised public concern, one blogger said, “I am not sure whether the constituents are solely to be blamed.”

Many of the MPs hail from rich homes with little understanding of how the deprived class suffers, he added. “Until they join politics, some have never stepped into a public flat in their lives.”

The ping-pong flap has highlighted a growing unhappiness with the ruling party’s extensive role — and influence — in matters that have nothing to do with government.

“The government should just stick to running the country and keep its nose away from private business, running the media or sports,” said a returning graduate from Australia.

“Why is a PAP MP managing the game of ping-pong when there are more experienced people around?” he asked.

Scholars: how effective?

One of the pillars of this generally well-run city is its scholar system.

Over the decades, thousands of the brightest students have been given university scholarships and slotted back into society to run the country. This was expanded to include bright foreigners.

This was believed to have been adopted by Lee Kuan Yew from 1,300 years of Chinese Imperial exams, from which the emperors picked out the best to help them run China.

For Singapore, this had largely worked well in producing efficient civil servants and managers at a time when the world was a lot less complex.

Going forward, however, they face two problems.

The first is that while they are good at implementing policies, few actually shine at anticipating problems and creativity.

Visionary abilities often come from ordinary people, even drop-outs — not just scholars.

Secondly, too many “scholar” politicians lack the human touch or a social skill to connect with the masses. Today, Singaporeans want to see leaders and MPs who can relate with them.

Online writer, Robert Teh said the Singapore system that is based on assembling of a few scholars to come up with ideas, schemes and policies for the whole country would no longer work.

The conceptual assumptions about leadership and talents have failed to work for modern Singapore since 1970s and should be revised, he said, noting that “A leader is chosen because, among other reasons, he or she has shared certain common objectives with the people.”

When Singapore does well, the scholars were given the bulk of the credits, but when things go so badly as now, the big blame, too, goes to them.

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MM Lee: Asia can't bank on its own

May 23, 2009

NIKKEI CONFERENCE

Asia can't bank on its own

Recovery only when Americans start spending, says MM

By Kwan Weng Kin, Japan Correspondent
		Mr Lee said it was fortunate that Singapore has accumulated huge reserves that should see it through this recession, even if it were to last five years. -- PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO - MOST Asian economies are unlikely to see a consumer-led recovery as it will take a long time for Asians to raise their level of consumption, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew told an international conference here on Friday.

ON HIS BEING STILL ACTIVE IN HIS 80s AND THEREFORE AN INSPIRATION TO JAPAN'S ELDERLY 'My contemporaries, many of them no longer are in this world. Some of them who are, are in wheelchairs or are not ambulant. So please do not take me as the norm.' ... more

He was speaking during a dialogue with Japan Foundation president Kazuo Ogoura on the final day of the two-day Future Of Asia conference organised by the influential Nikkei business daily.

For Asian economies to switch from low consumption, high savings and high investments to become a high consumption society like the United States 'will be a long process of decades', said Mr Lee.

Speaking at a dinner for conference participants on Thursday night, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso had called on Asian states, which were dependent on exports for growth, to change to economies led by domestic demand in order to overcome the current economic crisis.

But the Minister Mentor said: 'I do not believe that in the short term there can be any change in a consumer-led recovery of these Asian economies.'

Even if Asians were to increase their consumption in the long term, as they become more confident of the future, they are unlikely to ever equal the US, whose gross domestic product is 70 per cent dependent on consumption, he added.

'The Americans believe tomorrow will always be a sunny day. The Chinese always believe tomorrow there may be an earthquake. So do the Japanese. So let's put something by.'

Because the world is already globalised, most countries, including Japan and Germany, will depend on an American economic recovery for their own economies to pick up, he said.

'When the American economy goes up by 1 per cent, I think the wheels will start turning again,' he added.

But he pointed out that two countries - China and India - could grow even though the US economy was down.

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Teach sex education in context of meaningful relationships

Teach sex education in context of meaningful relationships

I READ with interest the reports on how sex education is needed to counter worrying trends and the approaches to be taken.

There is one important factor missing in all the discussions and that is the context in which sex happens - in a relationship.

Sex education is not just about teaching how sex takes place or when sexuality is aroused. Nor is it about accepting the barrage of emotions involved in exploring alternative lifestyles. These make up only one component of sex education.

The reason there's such a mess is because the programme should be entitled "Relationships", with sex, sexuality and so on as sub-topics. If sex education is taught in isolation, our children will never see the importance of abstinence or why precautions are to be taken when engaging in sex.

Relationships should be the anchor to sex and sex education should be taught in the context of a relationship and all its intricacies, such as self-esteem, values and beliefs.

First, a complete and wholesome view of what a balanced relationship should be must be shared so that children from various backgrounds understand the goal and aim of having a relationship. The choices of abstinence and the consequences of indulging in premarital sex should be shared and revealed.

Share what happens when abstinence is not practised and when relationships are not honoured. Provide our children with a reference point for a good and wise choice.

Whatever the choice is, it is ultimately their choice and they should enter these scenarios with their eyes wide open.

Don't advocate options like wearing a condom as a choice for premarital sex. Instead, educate them on what is premarital sex in the context of a relationship so that our children know why it is not encouraged.

If they do eventually engage in it, it is their personal choice but one where they are made fully aware of the consequences. They need to be ready to deal with the situation after that.

So, it's really not sex education that needs to be taught. It's the importance of being in a responsible adult relationship that needs to be shared.

We, as a society, need to be brave to stand up for what's right, to communicate clearly what's right and allow our children to make the choices themselves and subsequently handle the various consequences of their choices.

Karen Chew (Mrs)

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