Education statistics - Shall we be concerned?

 Indranee Rajah presented the latest Singapore population statistics in a media briefing yesterday. The ethnic population distribution of residents, not Singaporeans,  74.3 per cent Chinese, 13.5 per cent Malays, 9 per cent Indians.  What is the distribution of Singaporeans? Why this is not provided or not reported? What is the distribution of Singaporeans?

What I see as alarming is the data on university graduates last year. 34.7 per cent Chinese, 10.8 per cent Malays and 41.3 per cent Indians. Where have all the Chinese students gone? With a 74.3 per cent population, only 34.7 per cent of the graduates. Indians make up 9 per cent of the population and with 41.3 per cent of the graduates. Is this something to be concerned about? The Malays are just about right, could have more graduates.

Is the data saying that the Chinese have given up on tertiary education, taking the advice from some politicians that it is a piece of paper that cannot be eaten, so don't waste time and money? To make a career in hawking or taxi drivers no need to be graduates? Or is it that the Chinese are getting duller, not interested in education any more, while the Indians getting smarter and deserved all the increase in university places?

What is going on?

Covid19 vaccine - If AstraZeneca vaccine was made in China, it would have been banned by the West

 

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed with the University of Oxford, continues to face safety doubts.

The jab has been suspended in several European countries over reports of rare blood clots.

A top official in the European Medicines Agency on Sunday suggested that it might be worth abandoning AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for all age groups where alternatives are available.

But the EMA said the body's head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, had been misrepresented, and that he believed its benefits outweigh its risks.

"The decision on its use in different populations and ages is the prerogative of the EU Member States, based on specific factors such as virus circulation and vaccine availability," a spokeswoman said.

However, a study from British health authorities showed on Monday that two doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford or rival Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines stopped the need for in-patient treatment in more than 90 per cent of cases of the Delta variant....CNA

The above report showed that AstraZeneca vaccine is unsafe in general and should not be approved for use. That is why several European countries have banned its used.  Outside Europe and the USA, the users are countries that are desperate for vaccines, cannot get hold of other vaccines or refused to use Chinese vaccines and willing to risk the lives of their people in using AstraZeneca. Some countries donated this vaccines that they no longer want to use on their citizens to other desperado countries that do not mind the risk involved.

Can you imagine what the West would say if it is made in China? Dangerous, unfit for use, must be banned immediately, it causes more harm than good etc etc. The different and biased standard of the West is very apparent here. Now which silly country is still using this vaccine?

Take note of the last paragraph that said 'two doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford or rival Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines stopped the need for in-patient treatment in more than 90 per cent of cases of the Delta variant....' 

The way these reports about efficacy of vaccines must be read carefully. The 90% is about no need for in-patient treatment, or no need for hospitalisation. The efficacy to prevent infection is definitely very much lower than this.  Efficacy data could mean from infection, mild symptoms, need for hospitalisation/serious cases, and death. Do not be duped by such numbers as they mean different things.

US President Joe Biden, Commander-In-Chief, Must Act Against The 120 Military Officers Immediately

 The 120 military officers who signed the open letter ought to be court martialed immediately for spreading falsehood, for by-passing the military Chain of Command and for implicating the US President in a bad light, i.e. bad-mouthing and bad-stabbing their own Commander-In-Chief in public for the whole world to see.

In addition, the 120 military officers have directly violated the military laws and order, military process and military protocol. These taken together is tantamount to a subtle military coup and/or instigation of a military Coup.

The Commander-In-Chief of the USA cannot brush aside this direct challenge to his constitutional civilian command and control over the military and must take immediate action to arrest the 120 military officers who signed the open letter, and put them behind bars while awaiting further investigations, processing of charges and court martial proceedings.

Those same 120 military officers must be sacked immediately or temporarily suspended of their positions, functions and responsibilities, pending military discipline by court martial.Queen of Hearts

China Must Act Against G7 Aggression, Not Just Verbal Reply

Japan has ganged up with USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany and Italy to attack China with baseless accusations in order to pitch the Muslim World against China and the Hongkong Chinese against Chinese.

China has hit back with the usual toothless rhetorical warnings of telling her aggressors not to interfere with her domestic affairs and to respect her sovereignty and not to tell lies against China.

It is already long overdue for China to take concrete counter-actions to prevent, repel and stop the enemies attacks that have been going on for the last 200 years!

It is time China stand up with firm and resolute actions instead of mere rhetoric. The failure to take concrete counter offensive actions is the reason and the cause for the enemies to embolden themselves and gang up against China.

China's leaders are now seen by Japan and Western Powers as weak and incapable of dealing with aggressive attacks and intimidation.

For goodness sake, do something concrete and effective, President Xi Jinping!

SSO

Police officer beaten unconscious - Can you believe this?

On 23 February last year, at about 4am, Farhan, who was drunk, was having an argument with his wife at the void deck of Block 755 Jurong West Street 74 when a member of the public called the police over the commotion.

Four police officers, including Chong, were dispatched to the location, and they saw Farhan’s wife in tears. A female police officer was checking on the wife when Farhan became defensive. At this point, Fiqkri arrived and approached the officers aggressively, pointing his finger at the officers and demanding to know why they were questioning his brother.

Fiqkri asked Farhan and his wife to return to his unit and asked the police officers to “shut up”. Farhan left but verbally abused the female police officer first.
Brother did not "like" officer's face

Within minutes, Farhan returned and shouted that he did not like the faces of the officers. His twin asked Farhan whose face he did not like and Farhan gestured at Chong’s face.

Fiqkri turned to Chong and swung his fist at the officer’s face. Chong fell to the ground and Farhan joined him in assaulting the police officer. Farhan and Fiqkri rained punches and kicks on the officer, despite attempts by the other officers to restrain the brothers.

The brothers hurt another male officer, who was on reservist, during the struggle. Their violence prompted the female police officer to draw her baton and call for reinforcement. They finally managed to handcuff Fiqkri. Two other police officers arrived and handcuffed Farhan.

After Farhan was escorted into the police vehicle, he yelled and knocked his head on the window repeatedly. He then kicked the window three times, causing the right rear window to shatter. At that point in time, one officer was standing guard beside the right rear seat of the vehicle. The damage cost $201. Farhan has since made full restitution.

Chong was conveyed to hospital. His medical report, dated 9 March last year, stated that as a result for the attack, Chong slumped to the ground and briefly lost consciousness. He was diagnosed with abrasions over his eyelid, laceration over his ear, facial bruises, and a concussion. He was admitted for two days into the neurosurgery ward for monitoring.

Due to his traumatic head injury, Chong was given 29 days of hospitalisation leave. The other officer who was injured had bruises and abrasion over his head. Both officers' medical bills were covered by service insurance.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chng Luey Chi sought a jail term of between 39 months and 4 weeks, and 39 months and 6 weeks, along with three strokes of the cane and a fine of $3,500 against Farhan....

 

The above is reported in Yahoo News. Dunno what to say. 4 police officers at the scene and this happened to one of the officers. I reserve my comments. I can only shake my head. Please be careful with your comments. This is just for information as it is already reported in Yahoo News.

The only thing that came to my mind is that in Singapore, if you are being attacked, run for your life, do not hit back. If in the act of self defence you hurt the poor assailant, you  could be in big trouble. 

The next silly thing, oops, best thing, is to call the police for help and remain there to be beaten. Hope the beating would not be as severe as the above officer by time the police arrived, and you are still alive.

I am still puzzled why the other officers did not use their batons to stop the beating of their fellow officers. BTH.