Speaking up in Speaker's Corner

Do we need a Speaker's Corner to speak up? With the internet, would it be good enough? How would Speaker's Corner add up to the right to speak up on Singapore issues? The first thing that came into my mind is money. No, you don't need money to speak at the Speaker's Corner. But the spectators need money to get there. With the high cost of travelling, $3 average to and fro to listen to someone speaking at the Corner, would it be too expensive? Many Singaporeans are more or less confined to their homes and neighbourhoods unless there is a real reason to spend $3 to take public transport. They will have to think very carefully to want to go down to the Speaker's Corner. There will be some listeners, the same people day in and day out. Those that happen to stay around the Speaker's Corner, and those lunch time crowd of office workers working in the area. That may be all there is. And if public transport cost keeps going up, the number of spectators will likely to go down unless there is a hot issue that everyone wants to listen to. Or maybe a great orator will appear to enthral the crowd. Come to think of it, tranport cost is a big factor to decide how big the crowd is. For the many who have been used to the new media, the Speaker's Corner will be too far away.

The people behind our Olympic medal

Singapore Table Tennis Association Board Members. This list was posted by a forumer in TOC. Advisers Ms. Grace Fu Hai Yien Mr. Liang Eng Hwa Mr. Yeo Guat Kwang Mr. Chan Soo Sen Mr. Choo Wee Khiang Honorary Presidents Mr. Goi Seng Hui Mr. Tony Phua Mr Seah Moon Ming President Ms. Lee Bee Wah Deputy Presidents Mr. Jack Soh Tze Churn Mr. Ng Ah Hwee Mr. Seah Chwee Lim Vice Presidents Mr. Low Chee Seng Mr. Chew Soo Sheng Mr. Teo Hock Hoe Mr. Han Ngge Juan Mr. Lau Pub Taai Honorary Secretary Mr. Soon Min Sin Honorary Assistant Secretary Mr. Teo Nam Meng Honorary Treasurer Ms. Judy Sim Hock Cheng Honorary Assistant Treasurer Mr. Tang Shiuh Huei Legal Adviser Dr. William Koh Hai Keong Committee Members Mr. Foo Soo Peng Mr. Chia Wing Yew Mr. Tang Mun Fai Mr. Pang Tow Chai Richard Mr. Oh Eng Tiong Mr. Ong Teng Dit Mr. Tan Guan Kee Mr. Thomas Yong Mr. Loh Men Kuan Mr. Chan Pong Heng Mr. Steven Loi Mr. Chang Foo Chiang Mr. Timothy Ng Cheong Lum Mr. Ho Kok Khun Mr. John Tan Wui Meng Chief Executive Officer Mr Jackie Tay Auditor C C Yang & Co While everyone is celebrating the success of the Table Tennis Team, we shall not forget the contribution of all these people who have worked very hard behind the scene to make it possible. They are the unsung heroes in this saga and some recognition must surely be due to them. All 38 of them, including one minister of state, 3 MPs and one ex MP.

The joy of keeping pets

It is a big industry out there for pet lovers. Dogs, cats, birds, fishes, and whatever, are treasured by pet lovers who willingly part their hard earned money just to have them. Having them is only the beginning. Then comes the joy of raising them, feeding them, caring for them, looking after their health, their grooming and fetching them to the doctors. Some will bring them out to play, to restaurants for that special meals. It is a great experience to love and care for the pets. If only the pets can be children, lively, jumping, screaming precocious little ones. Now, would these children bring an equal amount of joy and laughter to the lives of the owners? If we can make Singaporeans love children more than pets, we may not have lack of babies problem.

A passionate plea by feedmetothefish

'Even though a commoner heartlander, I believe that I have as much right as the next guy (elite) to voice my concerns. As much as I've been talked down, insulted and idiotised by the "gracious" government, I'm as Singaporean as the Lee's, Goh or Khaw! The only difference is I'm much poorer and don't have a voice in parliament. As much as my friends and loved ones are fearful of me being "fixed' and done in by my politically incorrect blog, I still do so because I believe that "Sedikit sedikit, lama lama jadi bukit!" If enough people speak up or blog, the power will be forced to step out of their ivory tower to do some decent work, like knowing that there are poor and homeless beggars in Singapore, and actually helping them. Yes, there's fear in speaking out. I'm sure they have the machinery to track me down and sift me out even I'm blogging anonymously. But if we continue to accept their chutzpah and high handedness without a whimper, we are doing more harm than good to our country and ourselves. As long as there are people to remind the rulers that life for the masses is different from the elite, we are doing something right. At the risks of being charged for defamation, sodomy and what have you, I think if we do nothing, we deserve the crap that's dished out. In fact, ministers should be happy that feedback from some bloggers helps them do their job better. If I'm as audacious as they are, I'd say part of the million $,$$$,$$$ salary (paid to ministers) should go to the bloggers for their contribution (time & effort in writing blogs for free) in building an "inclusive society" that can "stay and move ahead together". Yes, the feedback and comments worth much! feedmetothefish' I extracted the above post from The Otak Stall. Bravo feedmetothefish! All bloggers must have this kind of spirit. Keep blogging. If more people blog about an issue, someone will here about it. The more people talk about an issue, the more weight it will carry.

Strike Toto also cannot pay

Read a posting in YPAP about a Stomper complaining that his mother's medical bill from a private hospital was $700k! Toto's normal payout is $650k. This is the kind of money that Sinkies are made to accept as reasonable. You want quality service, world class service, this is what you should be prepared to pay. Our lives are so good that we should pay several hundred thousands just to keep ourselves alive. The unthinkable thing is that private hospitals got the gumption to issue a bill of such an amount. This is ridiculous beyond any count. Hospitals must make it known to the patient how much it will cost or at least an ideal of how big the bill may come to. This will give the patient a choice to opt to die and save the money for his/her family. Hey, this kind of money is like a fortune to all the losers here.