TR EMERITUS

The inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) hosted by Singapore has lost its Olympian values of "excellence, friendship and respect" completely when it transpired that Singapore primary school students, including those in primary six taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) are FORCED to welcome the YOG torch rally and to attend its events. [Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] Last week, we published an article on Sembawang Primary School students being FORCED to welcome the YOG torch rally on 11 August 2010 under a heavy downpour, sparking a massive outcry among Singaporeans. A netizen who was driving back home managed to capture this shocking scene along Sembawang Crescent at around 5.10pm: [Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_mDji0Sa9o] As we can see from the above snapshots, it was still drizzling and some of the students were in raincoats while the teachers tried to shelter them with umbrellas. According to one teacher we spoke to on the condition of anonymity, they were asked to bring the students out as early as 3.30pm and were made to stand in the rain for almost two hours to ”cheer” for the YOG torch rally. “What to do? The instructions come from the top. We have to welcome the YOG procession even if there are thunderstorms. I just hope that my students won’t fall ill from standing in the rain for so long,” she said in exasperation. The shocking story was picked up by the foreign media who asked Singapore YOG Organizing Committee Chairman Ng Ser Miang for clarifications. (Ng Ser Miang denies that Singapore children were forced to attend YOG torch rally) Mr Ng denied flatly that Singapore school students were ever FORCED to support the YOG and claimed that they did so willingly: "There will always be stories flying around. Just look at the faces of the children that are there, the sparkle in their eyes and the smile on their faces. Those are not things you can force. I don’t think anyone will be forced to come to watch the torch relay or the games. So I don’t think there is any coercion," he was quoted as saying in Associated Press last week. We have received scanned copies of letters from two primary schools - Queenstown and Zhenghua, and a secondary school St Patrick's, proving once and for all beyond any reasonable doubts that Singapore school students are indeed COERCED by their schools and MOE to welcome the YOG torch rally even in the rain to generate FAKE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT for the YOG: (Above) St Patrick's School: Stated clearly in the letter that attendance is COMPULSORY. Parents have no choice to opt their children out of the YOG event. (Above) Zhenghua Primary School: Have no qualms dismissing students later should the YOG torch rally be delayed by bad weather. (Above) Queenstown Primary School: The preliminary examinations for Primary Six students were re-scheduled for the YOG. If the enthusiasm for the YOG is indeed very "real" and "infectious" as proclaimed by PAP Finance Minister Tharman or has really struck a "chord" with Singaporeans according to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, why must Singapore schools make it COMPULSORY for their students to welcome the YOG torch rally? Shouldn't the response be spontaneous with the students attending their events out of their own free will? Despite the overwhelming evidence showing that there is little or no support from ordinary Singaporeans for YOG and the scenes of students "cheering" the YOG torch rally captured on screen and reported in the Singapore media have been cleverly and carefully ORCHESTRATED from above to generate fake support for the YOG, the PAP minister in charge of the YOG Dr Vivian Balakrishnan remains DIVORCED from the reality on the ground. When asked by The Brunei Times on the lukewarm response from Singaporeans for the YOG, Dr Vivian retorted: "The answer lies on the ground, what people do and how they feel. At this point of time, I am quite confident that Singaporeans are proud of this and want to show our best to the world." Yes, the answer lies on the ground - Singaporeans do not care a damn about the YOG which is fast becoming a $387 million dollar FLOP and an international disgrace and disaster for Singapore. PAP Education Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen must explain to Singaporeans why our primary school students are being COERCED to support the YOG when it has nothing to do with them at the detriment of their health and studies. Shouldn't the consent of the parents be sought at the very least and the students given the option to opt out? Are we becoming like North Korea where thousands of its people are being forced by the regime to lend support its annual Arirang mass games? The Youth Olympic Games is a good initiative by the International Olympic Committee to inculcate good sporting values in the youth. Unfortunately, under the repressive PAP regime, it has now become the "Youth Arirang Games" and a laughing stock to the world. EDITORS’ NOTE: Foreign journalists, please stay tuned on our site and Facebook for the latest updates on the ground about the YOG. You can never get any authentic or accurate news from the Singapore media which is ranked a pathetic 133th in terms of press freedom by international media watchdog Reporters without Borders last year. All the papers in Singapore are owned by a single media company - Singapore Press Holdings whose Chairman is a former PAP minister Dr Tony Tan. Related articles: >> Mass food poisoning outbreak at YOG venue yesterday? >> YOG! What YOG? >> Canvas roof at YOG fell apart >> Zaqy Mohd defends MCYS >> 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 >> 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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NIE now is more like a prison than NTU. From a week ago to yesterday, people there were prevented to take food in, prevented to walk around NIE, prevented to walk out to canteens, forced to eat “dog” food supplied by caterer. Only at yesterday YOG opened the prison gate and admitted NIE people to walk out to NTU canteens at lunch time. But I still found some old cleaner waiting at “dog” food supply point at 13.00 pm. That’s because the no food supply message was sent by email at 11.47. How can those people know there will be no food? Staff can check computers and read emails by they are working with wastebins. Cleaners do contribute to YOG by their working and sweating. This is the way YOG treat them! Look at the email at 11.47, how can we ENJOY the games? From: ******(CPD) Sent: 2010年8月16日 11:47 To: All NIE Staff (NIE) Cc: NIE YOG Village Square; Subject: RE: meals Dear NIE Staff Please note that no lunch will be served from today. We can go over to NTU for our lunch between 12.30 to 1.30pm. Again, please be reminded to Wear your passes at all times and Please stay within the block corridors and avoid going into the Plaza. Thanks and do find time to enjoy the competition of the Games. AC  Read More →

According to unverified rumors circulating around in cyberspace, a mass food poisoning outbreak occurred at a YOG venue yesterday afflicting more than 30 people who ate the food, including the on site doctor. [Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] The Ministry of Health has reportedly launched an investigation into the case with the food caterer suspended. The incident was first posted on mycarforum yesterday evening by a former Cerano: [Source: mycarforum] His account appeared to be corroborated by some twitter postings: [Source: I hate YOG] When our correspondent tried to verify the story by calling the Ministry of Health hotline, she was directed to the National Environment Agency which did not confirm or deny the story so far. Netizens may like to help us call the NEA Hotline below to check out if there were indeed more than thirty cases of food poisoning at a YOG venue yesterday and post its response on our site : NEA Call Center: 1800-2255 632 The inaugural YOG was besieged by problems and controversies even before it was officially opened last Saturday. A few days earlier, there were reports of volunteers being fed inadequate and substandard food, sparking a massive outcry among Singaporeans. There were also reports of Singapore students being forced to volunteer for the YOG which were dismissed by the Singapore YOG Committee Chairman Ng Ser Miang as mere "stories flying around." Yesterday, a roof canvas at one of the YOG venues, *SCAPE, collapsed under a heavy downpour forcing the basketball match held there to be cancelled. Fortunately, nobody was injured. The Singapore media has censored all negative news about the YOG and its articles on it are completely divorced from the reality on the ground. If you have any information on the above mass food poisoning outbreak at a YOG venue, please email us immediately or post a message on our Facebook. EDITORS’ NOTE: Has your life been turned upside down by the YOG? Please share your views with us. We assure you that your identity will be kept strictly CONFIDENTIAL. We will be your UNCENSORED VOICE. We will publish your letter in FULL with ZERO editing, moderating or censoring. You do not have to suffer in silence! You have the RIGHT to speak up as a citizen of this country. Remember: you are a CITIZEN of Singapore, not a SLAVE of the PAP regime. Our mailbox has been swarmed by letters from YOG volunteers for the last few days. Unless you specifically want us to publish your REAL NAME, we will use a pseudonym instead. Please understand that due to manpower constraints, we may not be able to publish your letters immediately and we will have to stagger them a few hours apart to ensure that they get maximum exposure. Please keep your feedback coming! Singapore for SINGAPOREANS! Your interests always come FIRST. Related articles: >> YOG! What YOG? >> Canvas roof at YOG fell apart >> Zaqy Mohd defends MCYS >> 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 >> 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. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →