TR EMERITUS

As the protracted Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) finally draws to a close, Singapore leaders and International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials are busy indulging in self-praise and mutual back-patting to justify its exorbitant price tag. IOC President Mr Jacques Rogge described the inaugural YOG as a "perfection" much to the amuse of Singaporeans without blinking an eyelid while Singapore sports minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan claimed that the event has "exceeded" his own expectations. It is not a surprise that there is no one volunteer among the eight Singaporeans being awarded the Olympic Order in Silver "in recognition of their contributions to the success of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games." The embattled Dr Vivian Balakrishnan only bothered to acknowledge the contributions of the YOG volunteers after a massive outcry erupted over a food poisoning scandal which remains "under investigation" to this very day.  Despite working under gruelling conditions with no pay, long hours and substandard food, our YOG volunteers have risen to the occasion and done Singapore proud. Without them, we can expect more embarrassing "glitches" cropping up which will further damage Singapore's international reputation as an "efficient" country. The Temasek Review pays tribute to our YOG volunteers - you are the real unsung heros of the Games and you deserve far better treatment and respect than what is accorded to you by the organizers. Though your ordeal is finally over, please don't forget to express your "gratitude" to them in the coming general election. We should forgive, but we should NEVER FORGET.     [Please sign the petition demanding a public apology from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for mismanaging the YOG here.]   EDITORS’ NOTE: Singaporeans, please feel free to email us to share your frustrations, anger and grievances against the YOG. Your views matter alot to us. You are a citizen of Singapore and as a citizen, you have the right to speak up. Let us be your uncensored voice and fight for your rights.   Related articles: >> Nanjing YOG director promises to hold next YOG with "thrift and efficiency" >> Vivian throws “smoke bombs” to confound critics >> Jacques Rogge: There will be more media attention for next YOG >> No public statement of support for Vivian from other PAP ministers >> Exposing the hypocrises of Vivian Balakrishnan >>Singapore schools forced to pay for YOG tickets >> Thomas Bach: High cost of YOG a concern >> Jacques Rogge: YOG is perfect promotion for Singapore >> Countering Straits Times ‘hogwash that YOG has caugh the “eyes” of the international media >> Jacques Rogge: YOG is a resounding success >> YOG volunteer: not much improvement in food >> Dr Vivian: YOG glitches unavoidable >> Petition demanding Dr Vivian to apologize >> YOG food poisoning scandal: Open letter to Dr Vivian >> Live maggot found in YOG food >> Ng Ser Miang: YOG gets positive reviews >> Kuo Chuan Primary School principal admits to blackmailing students >> Parents should pull children out of YOG >> No apology from Dr Vivian on YOG food poisoning scandal >> Massive outcry over screw-ups in YOG ticketing >> Why Ng Ser Miang should resign as Chairman of SYOGOC >> Dr Vivian: probe into YOG food poisoning scandal will take time >> PRC photographer fell down from temporary platform at YOG venue >> Cover-up of YOG food poisoning scandal? >> NEA, MOH to probe YOG mass food poisoning outbreak  >> Singaporeans “enslaved” by YOG organizing commitee >> Kuo Chuan Primary School students forced to pay $5 to attend YOG >> Singapore students forced to welcome YOG torch rally >> Mass food poisoning outbreak at YOG venue yesterday? >> YOG! What YOG? >> Canvas roof at YOG fell apart >> Zaqy Mohd defends MCYS >> Singapore students “invited” to attend YOG event >> Singapore volunteers forced to work long hours without rest for YOG >> PM Lee caught napping at YOG opening ceremony? >> Disaster at YOG opening ceremony >> 8 reasons why I am disappointed with YOG opening ceremony >> Netizens lampooned YOG opening ceremony >> No news of YOG opening ceremony in rest of the world >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve “DOG” food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Improved “DOG” food on 14 August 2010 >> PAP provides three daily buffet meals to YOG athletes and officials >> YOG volunteers complain about being given “DOG” food >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. 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Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD) calls on the Singapore government to set up an independent board to introduce transparency for deliberating clemency petitions in death penalty cases. SFD makes this call following the recent high court ruling that the President has no powers on clemency. On this point we like the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to confirm that the cabinet has always been the sole decision making body in deliberating clemency petitions. SFD notes that the last clemency granted was during the tenure of former President Ong Teng Cheong. In the interest of transparency, SFD would like the PMO to spell out its protocol for cabinet meetings in discussing clemency petitions. Moving forward, SFD proposes that the Singapore government convenes an independent clemency board, so that the President in future can take a decision on advice of this board. Among the task of this clemency board can include visits to prisoners for assessment. SFD notes that the Singapore government has set up boards, committees and councils to make decisions on a wide array of policies – from wages to public transport to political films – so why not an independent Board to deliberate transparently on clemency petitions, given that human lives are at stake. If the Government wants to execute people in the name of its citizens, then the citizens of Singapore ought to have a right to full disclosures of the government’s deliberations on clemency petitions.   Dr James Gomez Executive Director Mr Martyn See Executive Secretary  Read More →

I refer to your article on Straits Times dated 26 Aug 2010.   On the basis of your intuition, you said the opening of the two integrated resorts is related to the spectacular rebound in economic growth. We need reports based on facts and evidence, not intuition.   You said the resorts have added jobs and helped propel tourist arrivals to record highs. But how many of those jobs went to Singaporeans? How do we know that our tourist numbers have not rebounded from the recession year last year just like it did going from the SARS year of 2003 to 2004?   You said tourist numbers went up to a 'whopping' one million visitors last month after the IRs have opened. That's a mere increase of 118,000 visitors over the same month last year which is so much less than the 262,000 increase going from the SARS year of 2003 to 2004. There is nothing 'whopping' about the increase in visitor numbers judging from past experiences of recovery from economic crises.   While the integrated resorts have made spectacular revenues and profits, it is important to know how much of those revenues and profits have come from Singaporeans because gambling money that came from Singaporeans is merely money transferred from one hand to another that does not in any way contribute to any real output from the country.     Thank you     Ng Kok Lim  Read More →