This is the cheapest place for internet access in town! The lovely lady who runs this shop actually sells imported clothes (Indian Style), but besides she has set up some computers for the VT addicted traveller.

15min-up to 1hr internet for 3 AU$
Theme: Women's Clothes
Address: 120a Elizabeth Street
Phone: (03) 6231 6639

Salamanca Market operates EVERY SATURDAY from 8am until 2.30pm, will operate on Saturday 26th December, Boxing Day this year and in 2010 because Christmas Day falls on the Saturday.

Over 300 stallholders sell produce and crafts from all over Tasmania. Ranging as one of the top attractions in Tasmania, The Salamanca Market is another good reason to slip into Hobart for a few days. Sadly we didn't have time to look around much but we got souvenirs- little items to take back home- fridge magnets and knick knacks for the kids.

Just about everything can be found- especially lovely arts & crafts and fresh produce

Here is the relevant portion of Asiaweek's interview with Ong (issue dated 10 March 2000)

It was this issue that caused the dispute between you and the government?

Yes. But I don't want to go into details and upset everybody. The thing is that the elected president is supposed to protect the reserves, but he was not told what these are until five years later. From the day the Constitution was amended in 1991 to provide for an elected president, he was supposed to fulfil that role. My predecessor, Wee Kim Wee, although he was not elected, was supposed to play that role during the last two years of his term. But he did not actively check. So, when I came in in 1993, I asked for all this information about the reserves. It took them three years to give it to me.

The holdup was for administrative reasons?

Either that or they did not think there was any urgency. You see, if you ask me to protect the reserves, then you've got to tell me what I'm supposed to protect. So I had to ask.

Why did they not want to tell you?

I do not know. Don't ask me, because I don't have the answer. I've been asking them. In fact, in 1996, exactly halfway through my term, I wrote prime minister Goh a letter. At that time, everybody was expecting a general election in December or January. After the election, a new government would be sworn in. When that happens, all the reserves, whether past or current, become past reserves and are locked up on the changeover date. As president, I have to safeguard them and they can only be drawn upon with my permission. So I said to Mr Goh It's already halfway through my term, but until today I still don't know all these figures about the reserves.

So the government had been stonewalling you, the president, for three years?

Yes. What happened actually was, as you know, in accounting, when you talk about reserves, it's either cash reserves or assets reserves. The cash side is straightforward investment, how many million dollars here and there, how much comes from the investment boards and so on. That was straightforward -- but still we had to ask for it. For the assets, like properties and so on, normally you say it's worth $30 million or $100 million or whatever. But they said it would take 56-man years to produce a dollar-and-cents value of the immovable assets. So I discussed this with the accountant-general and the auditor-general and we came to a compromise. The government would not need to give me the dollar-and-cents value, just give me a listing of all the properties that the government owns.

They agreed?

Well, yes, they agreed, but they said there's not the time for it. It took them a few months to produce the list. But even when they gave me the list, it was not complete.

It seems the Singapore government does not know its own assets?

Yes. It's complicated. It's never been done before. And for the assets of land, I can understand why. Every piece of land, even a stretch of road, is probably subdivided into many lots. There are 50,000 to 60,000 lots and every one has a number. If you want to value them all, it would take a long time. In the past, they have just locked everything up and assumed it is all there. But if I am to protect it, at least I want to know the list.

When they eventually gave you the list -- the incomplete list, did you have enough staff to do the checking and other work?

No, I did not. I only had one administrative staffer and two part-timers from the auditor-general's office.

Second Row standing: Lee Shaowu, ho ching, Li Haoyi, Lee Wei Ling, Li Yipeng (albino), Li Xiuqi
3rd Row standing: Lee Hsien Yang, Lee Huanwu, Li Hongyi, Loong, Lee Shengwu

I do my thing, and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.
Frederick E. Perl

This is an era when international mobility is a privilege that many of our bright young men and women enjoy. The world is their oyster.

They were born and raised in Singapore. Some may have completed their tertiary education here, while others did so overseas. But I have cousins whose children have chosen to exchange their pink Singapore identity cards for United States passports.

If ever there is a major crisis in Singapore, those who would be able to emigrate, be accepted by another country and get jobs there would invariably be people who are wealthy and/or professionals with marketable skills.

The Government knows that talent is mobile and that Singapore must compete with other countries to offer an attractive living environment and vibrant culture so as to retain talented Singaporeans and attract foreign talent here.

I am a paediatric neurologist. I can pass any medical examination that Canada, the US, Australia or New Zealand may impose before accepting me as a high-skilled immigrant or 'exceptional alien'. Would I take such opportunities?

SAF version:

To: Parents
of whomsover concerned

Please be informed that under Enlistment Chapter 32, we can arrest your son lock him up in Kranji for not complying with our orders. You yourselves can also be arrest for harboring anyone not complying with orders and be locked up in Changi.

You're hereby advised, it's best for you and your sons to comply.

Yours sincerely,

(rank (usually lieutenant, inspector or above) and name)

AWOL = section 22(1), chapter 295
disobedience to general orders = section 21, chapter 295
non compliance to lawful order = section 17(2), chapter 295
conduct to prejudice of good order = section 25, chapter 295

Question: What is emotionalism?

Answer: The English word "emotionalism" is defined as, "excessively emotional character...excessive appeal to the emotions...a tendency to...respond with undue emotion" (RHCD, pg. 433).

The Bible heart. The Bible has much to say about the heart of man, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4: 23). When analyzed, the Bible heart consists of intellect, will, emotions, and conscience (Matt. 13: 15, 22; Heb. 4: 12; Matt. 22: 37; Acts 23: 1).

Emotions are vital, but emotion must not rule the intellect. Fear, love, and joy are all biblical emotions (Heb. 12: 28; I Cor. 13: 1-8; Acts 8: 39). However, all these emotions depend on God's word for guidance, structure, and definition (cp. 2 Tim. 1: 7; I Jn. 2: 15; Jas. 4: 9). The elder brother was engulfed in emotion when he thus reacted to his brother's return, "And he was angry, and would not go in..." (Lk. 15: 28). Many people become blinded to the truth because their emotions are out of control.

Emotionalism in religion. Many organized religions rely on emotionalism. They work people into a frenzy and call this emotional, out of control condition salvation. Even during the time of real spiritual gifts, control and structure were to be practiced (I Cor. 14: 26-40). Christianity is basically an orderly teaching religion (Jn. 6: 44, 45, Eph. 4: 20). We are to "learn of Christ" (Matt. 11: 28 ff.).

Emotions uncontrolled blur and paralyze the mind. However, the intellect without emotion is spiritually worthless. The happy combination of emotion and intellect is seen in the Roman's obedience. "But God be thanked...ye have obeyed from the heart (emotion, dm) that form of doctrine (intellect, dm)..." (Rom. 6: 17, see vs. 18). A final warning regarding emotionalism: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Prov. 28: 26).

I was searching for some old books containing many of my favourite Chinese poems.
My books and my room at my parents' house have seen extensive changes since I moved to live with my brother Lee Hsien Loong's family from 2002 to 2005. My room at Hsien Loong's house was too small to move more than a tenth of the books I needed. So the rest, I left in my room in Oxley Road.
In 2003, after my mother suffered a bleed into her brain, my room at my parents' house was extensively renovated so a nurse could rest there. The nurse needed more creature comforts than I did. So a bed was placed in the room and a water heater was installed in the bathroom so she could have a warm shower.
And my books, packed in boxes, were moved into the basement. It took me two days a few weekends ago to find the books I wanted and even then, I couldn't find several.
But by chance, I did find the nine medals that I had been awarded for topping my cohort in medical school as well as individual prizes in subjects where I was first in class. One medal that I recall was made of pure gold was missing. I had handed it to my mother to be locked up as I have a talent for losing things.
I was surprised that I felt no sense of triumph or joy when I found the medals. In my immature youth, I had worked very hard to earn them. Indeed, 35 years ago when I was in medical school, I would study the following year's subjects even while on vacations, reading several textbooks on each subject before the new term began.
Hence, I knew not only the scientific facts that the authorities agreed about, but I was also aware of what was still controversial. When term started and I attended the lectures, I didn't have to take notes except when I wanted to prevent myself from falling asleep.
I remember that while I was still a medical student, I accompanied my parents on a trip to Osaka. A Mr S. Oya, an elderly gentleman who owned Teijin, a manufacturer of synthetic fibre, invited us to his house for dinner. His first wife had died and he had married a woman much younger than he was - a vivacious Japanese lady not at all sedate as one would expect a Japanese wife to be. When my parents introduced me to her, she prophesied 'one day you will be a famous professor'. I did not demur since that indeed was my ambition.
Decades have passed since then, and my priorities in life have changed. Medals and titles now mean little to me. What matters is that I must do right, and I should do so even if I offend people who have power over me.
I have acquired the title of 'Professor', but that gives me no joy. In fact, I prefer to be addressed as 'Dr'. The title 'professor' has been sprinkled around liberally among the medical fraternity here, and there are some professors with whom I certainly do not wish to be grouped.My younger brother, Lee Hsien Yang, once asked me: 'Why do you step on powerful and sensitive toes?'
I replied: 'But if I don't, who will do so to put things right?'
Hsien Yang is no coward. When in the army, to which he was bonded for eight years for accepting the President's Scholarship as well as the Singapore Armed Forces Scholarship, he earned badges for scuba diving as well as parachuting. He needed to get only one of the two badges, as all senior officers had to to prove to their men that they were not cowards.
Hsien Yang got both. Like me, he likes physical challenges. But as a businessman, he knows that antagonising powerful people does not make good business sense.
But I am not a businesswoman; I am a doctor serving patients in the public sector. Since 2008, I have also been a regular columnist in The Straits Times and The Sunday Times. I am much less important and well known than my two brothers or my sisters-in-law. But writing columns gives me a chance to discuss social trends and to point out government policies that I think are wrong.
That does not mean my bosses cannot take action against me if they so wish. But it is better to do what is morally correct than to be so afraid that one does not dare say 'boo' to our superiors. Pay rise, bonus, promotion or demotion are much less important than doing what is right. Besides, if I do not try to right a wrong that I am aware of, my conscience will bother me.
I don't think my temperament has changed since I was a child, but my purpose in life certainly has - and I hope it has changed for the better. I try not to hesitate to speak up when my superiors or even the Government do something that I think is not in the best interest of Singapore. The criticism is made with the sincere wish to improve our system and to benefit Singaporeans.
I do all this not because I wish to score points or gain glory. I do so because I owe Singapore a debt for the opportunities it has given me. In return, people in my position should always do what they think is the best for Singapore.

1. Prof Khoo Tsai Kee.

The 86-year-old former prime minister, now an adviser to his son Lee Hsien Loong's government, said Singapore's small land area made it difficult to deal with "acts of God."

"Whatever we do when we get extraordinary rains like we had recently, no amount of engineering can prevent flooding... unless you want to lose half the roads and have canals."

Interesting article. Having lived in both countries, let’s look at this point by point.

1. Article says – Australia cost of living is very high. Daily products and houses are expensive – much more than Singapore.

1. Not true. Australia is cheaper for lot of daily necessities such as subsidized healthcare, education and cheaper housing given a greater supply of land vis-a-vis a smaller population. In Singapore today (2010) $500k will get you a moderate-sized HDB flat, whereas in Australia that will buy you a house on an adequate size of land in a decent suburb in Sydney or Melbourne. In smaller cities like Adelaide or Brisbane, you’d get something pretty close to a mansion.

2. Article says – Singapore’s GDP per capita (nominal) is expected to overtake Japan this year. Becoming the highest per capita GDP in Asia

2. Agreed. But Singapore is a service-based economy & the value of its domestic goods and services is heavily reliant on external market forces over which it has no control. However the point about Singapore being well-placed to take advantage of the growth in China & India is true.

3. Article says – Singapore has an exciting future. ASEAN might become another CARICOM or MERCUSR, your Singapore passport can allow you to work and live freely in other ASEAN countries.

3. The Australian passport allows you to work & live freely in other ASEAN countries as well.

3. (Note point 3 appeared twice in the article so the same goes here). Article says – Singapore is much safer, less corrupted and has more convenient amentities.

3. Safer, yes. Convenient amenities, yes Singapore is more efficient & has better infrastructure. Less corrupted – not true. Corruption in Australian parliament would be exposed by the media the very next day. Openess & accountability to the Australian public is something every politician understands and accepts. However, Singapore politicians have walls & do not allow the media to probe behind the scenes. Therefore, given this lack of accountability to the public, if the corruption level in Singapore is higher I would not be surprised because nobody gets to know about it – unless the government wants to occasionally make an example out of someone. That said, I can’t comment on the specific level of corruption in each country.

4. Article says – Singapore offers a better place to bring up kids

4. Not true – it depends on what you consider important when bringing up your kids. Singapore may offer bilingual options in schools but Australia offers the same. The problem is the ‘kiasu-ness’ in Singapore society takes its toll on the kids very early on in life resulting in a highly stressful environment for them to grow up in. Although the Singapore government wants to encourage creativity & innovation, the school environment in Singapore is not conducive to this. Australia offers a much better work-life balance with more time given to working parents to look after their kids, higher baby bonuses & other government perks that encourage this work-life balance. There’s also a lot more activity in schools that foster play & learning through which children develop more holistically rather than being overly focused on just the academic aspect of education – which is just one part of the picture.

But as for the drug problem – agreed. Australia should adopt the same law as Singapore does when it comes to the drugs as this is a problem & causes a huge hole in the pockets of Australian taxpayers.

5. Article says - you just be a bit creative, you can easily get a nice house in JB, Malaysia or Indonesia and enjoy the less stressful lifestyle there as well every weekend or day.

5. Probably. But the weather, climate & countrysides in Australia are very beautiful too and there’s no need to bring your passport along when going on holiday.

6. In Australia, technology is so backward

6. Absolutely agreed. Technology here seems light years behind Singapore.

7. Article says – Australia has water problems. Small towns only have rain water tanks. Yucks, do you dare to drink rainwater?

7. True but the author makes a misinformed point in the article. There are water rationing regulations at certain times in the year – usually in summer. This means that there are certain days & times during the week when you can wash your car or water your garden but this has little impact on day to day living. As for small towns, yes may have a different source of water supply but these are towns in regional areas with tiny populations where most migrants do not live in. As for the point about rain water, one could turn the tables & say ‘Yuck, do you dare to drink new/recycled water?’

8. Article says – Australia has lots of dangerous animals.

8. True so does Singapore – especially the kiasu road drivers.

9. Article says – In Singapore, you can hire an expatriate maid to help you do your family chores. You can’t do that in Australia.

9. Yes, the cost of labour is far more expensive in Australia.

10. Article says – Running a business in Australia is exorbitantly expensive

10. Yes – compared to Singapore it is because of the heavy taxes in Australia.

11. Article says – In Singapore, there are much much more jobs and career options than Australia.

11. Not true. Both countries have a specific list of skills that are in demand based on the requirements of their economies. Depends on what one’s line of work is.

12. Article says – Food is Singapore is much cheaper and better than Australia.
12. Cheaper, yes in Singapore. Better quality, no. The quality of fresh produce is better in Australia. Plus the Food & Drug Regulations are stronger in Australia than they are in Singapore.

13. Article says – Australia has a very run down armed forces. only 50, 000 soldiers. Their strategy is basically to wait for America’s help in the event of a war. Indonesia has an army of 500, 000. Singapore has 400 ,000.

13. The author can’t be serious about this point. Numbers doesn’t mean an army is competent & besides Singapore, like Australia, needs its allies should there be a war.

14. Article says – Singapore’s property prices will skyrocket in a few decades

14. This point was covered previously.

15. Article says – Singapore’s CPF! You will have money for old age, housing! The employer puts in 12% as well dont forget! Australia has the superannuation pension scheme but their taxes will frighten you off!

15. Australia’s Superannuation pension is taxed at around 6.5%. The other type of tax is that over & above one’s pension such as investment income & other streams of income which is taxed at around 15%. Yes the taxes are higher in Australia but medical benefits also come with it. So it eventually evens out.

In summary, Singapore offers a lot of advantages to younger people with years of working life ahead of them but when it comes down to retirement, quality of life and family living, Australia is a better option.

Sorry, but I disagree with Kathi-lyn. Like this 14-yr-old boy, I feel the same. That’s why I made the decision 20 yrs ago to migrate. Life in Australia is totally different from S’pore. The Govt really looks after its own citizens despite taking in refugees every year. They don’t have money-faced politicians & the opposition in parliament are not afraid to question any dubious acts passed. Likewise the media there are constantly looking to dig up any attempt at coverups to give maximum exposure. Although the country is rich in minerals, they don’t fritter away their reserves as they are answerable in parliament. As for medical attention, they have world-class facilities which is available to rich or poor. Being a retiree, everything from bus fares to hospital care is subsidised. There is no need for the jobless to collect cans from the rubbish, sell tissues or fold cardboards to make a living. The elderly here retire with their dignity intact. Although there are sporadic acts of racism, these are short-lived. Being a minority, I’ve experienced worse in S’pore ! I really feel sorry for those in S’pore who don’t have the choice to move out from S’pore, what with it’s oppressive environment where the ordinary Joe is treated like dirt. Where the politicians behave so arrogantly knowing full well that nobody can shake them from their iron rice bowl. Where they denigrate the very citizens who voted them in with names like “daft”. Where when they made serious mistakes, do not take responsibility despite being paid million-$ market-rate salaries & are not required to step down eg. LKY, HC, WKS, etc. I wish all the best for this intelligent 14-yr-old & hope he makes it to the other side !
God Bless Singapore.

Hi, I’m so sorry to hear about your mom. You must be going through a really tough time right now and my greatest sympathies goes out to you.

But you cannot blame PAP for everything. Singapore’s health care and transport system is already top notch and your mom shouldn’t have gone to an ER for a check up as emergencies are priority there.

Secondly, if you’re not gonna stay in Singapore, where are you gonna live? Australia? Australia’s health care system in on the verge of collapse, their transportation system is horrendous, their cost of living is so high. The United States? A bullying suicide case just came on the news a few days ago in the US. Would you really want to build a family where you are/feel a minority? No way.. Singapore has its faults, but I feel that it is the best place to live in. Sure things may be rough but it is home. Plus, if you want to stay in Asia, Singapore is one of the best countries. Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia? Living conditions there will be worse!

What can the new government do for us that PAP has not already done? So what if a new government takes over? Does this mean that we will expel all the foreigners in Singapore? no.. there is no way any government will do this due to economic reasons. Change the health care system which has been in place for the past few decades and seems to be doing well (compared to other countries)? Such change cannot happen immediately.

And what if change is bad for Singapore? Singapore is a city state. It only takes one bad move for our country to be in ruins! You will understand this better when you grow up.

If your sons and daughters are entering or finishing college, please do consider to send them overseas to further their education. Having lived in China for so many years, I am clear that besides the language barrier, the local Chinese lacks the single most important element – Exposure. You cannot read this in any tertiary institution, you cannot buy this off the shelves; you need to be mentally and emotionally be ready to invest in your children’s future. They will learn to interact, to speak a different language; they will see the world and hence react differently.

I never liked the local tertiary institutions for 2 reasons. Firstly, their curriculum does not foster cutting edge technology R&D nor Creative Arts and Design talents. 2ndly, upon graduation, these graduates will be herded “factory like” into the Singapore local workforce and be instilled with local paradigms and culture. The funny reference to “kiasu and kiasi” – these may be funny reference to local mentalities, but it is not funny after a while, if you need to compete globally.

Yes, I am sensitive to several issues that my idea will encounter, working parents will need to bear with temporary separations, and the all important family unit will be temporarily disrupted. Spouses will pine for each other and parent will miss their children. Even though there will be tears and pain but there will also be joyous reunions every holidays and family visits.

However, please consider the long term value add to our people and our country (above and beyond the ruling PAP). We will have seen, experienced and become more exposed to the world beyond Changi Airport. With our opened eyes, we will know what is right and wrong, what should and what should not be.

My vision is to see locals returning to Singapore not just with value added global exposure, which will propel our economy forward. Furthermore, they will be more willing, able and capable to take their destinies into their own hands. To decide what the issues are, what the policies should be, who they want to see as administrators for their neighborhoods, their districts and their country.

My conclusion is a simple summary, if you can go, please go. If your kids want to go, let them, There will be risks, there will be pain and tears. However, by doing this, we evolve and we will better take charge of ourselves, we will be better equipped to vision and administer ourselves.

The Winds of Change are Blowing….Singapore for Singaporeans!

Pre-employment grant to help S'porean medical students studying abroad
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 29 July 2010 1622 hrs


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SINGAPORE : Singapore's public healthcare clusters are launching a pre-employment grant (PEG) to assist Singaporean medical students studying overseas during their final two years of study.

The students will receive financial assistance, assured employment, and opportunities for post-graduate specialist training, in return for a commitment to serve the clusters for up to 4 years.

The clusters, including SingHealth and the National Healthcare Group, said the PEG will be an additional talent recruitment measure to attract more doctors from overseas to supplement the local pipeline of doctors.

The pre-employment grant will cover up to 60 per cent of the remaining years of tuition fees, subject to a limit of S$40,000 per year.

All Singaporean students studying in an overseas medical school recognised by the Singapore Medical Council are eligible to apply.

The selection will be based on merit. Students should possess good grades in their medical studies, especially in their clinical training years.

Recipients of the grant will be required to serve in the hospital clusters for a minimum period.

Students receiving a one-year grant will serve in the hospital clusters for three years, while those receiving a two-year grant will serve for four years.

The service period will include the one-year housemanship period if it is served locally.

The clusters will pilot the pre-employment grant for three years, and review the cost effectiveness of the scheme at the end of the pilot.

Applications for the grant will open from August 16. - CNA /ls