TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent Beleaguered actress Foyce Le Xuan has stated clearly in no uncertain terms that she did not have sex with Singapore's movie director Jack Neo. In an interview with Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao, Foyce said that Jack Neo had only sent SMSes to sexually harassed her, but the two did not have any sexual relations. A mysterious person sent an email to Lianhe Wanbao two days ago attached with a snapshot from a sex tape showing a man making love to a girl in a hotel room. Foyce added that it is impossible that the girl in the photo is her as the size of her foot appeared to be "No 6" while hers is only "No 3". The protracted saga is having a negative impact on Foyce's personal. She revealed on her Facebook that her boyfriend broke up with her due to the rumors swirling around in the media: "I jus went through all the 60 comments on my last status. I m in great misery. I jus hv to say that i hv the break up becos I m pretty lost in this period of my life, i need to find back myself in God. I hv to leave my bf, though its really painful. As i knoe clearly that the man i need in my life is a man that is abov...e me, can lead me & let me willingly submit to him, but he is jus not the one." [Source: Foyce's Facebook] The email was also forwarded to Jack Neo who declined to comment on the matter. He did not make a police report and has since left Singapore. Some Singaporeans are perturbed by Jack Neo's non-reaction and wondered if there is an element of truth in the email. Jack Neo was embroiled in a sex scandal of late when his mistress Wendy Chong leaked news about their two-year affair to the media. Almost immediately, Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo posted an article on his blog issuing an open call to Singaporeans to "rally" around Jack Neo, the adulterer. The two men have known each other for more than 10 years and are so close that they even share a blog together. Jack Neo was awarded a PBM in 2004 and Cultural Medallion in 2006 for his contributions to the community. Both awards can be withdrawn if the recipients have proven to be of "doubtful" moral characters subsequently. Since Jack Neo is known to be closely associated with the PAP, it is highly unlikely that putative actions will be taken against him. News source: Lianhe Wanbao   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans.   Related articles: >> Alleged sex tape between Foyce and Jack Neo leaked? >> Foyce Le Xuan: I will stop commenting on Jack Neo scandal >> Foyce Le Xuan made police report against Jack Neo >> Foyce Le Xuan: If I confessed to having sex with Jack Neo…  Read More →

Agence France-Presse, 1 April 2010 Singapore's High Court on Thursday overturned a ruling acquitting a group of pro-democracy activists of taking part in an illegal march. The five, who include members of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), were cleared last year of taking part in the September 2007 protest. But the High Court accepted an appeal by the public prosecutor and ordered the court which made the original ruling to sentence the group. High Court judge Choo Han Teck said that "evidence on record shows that the respondents had a political purpose for what they called a 'walk'". "This appeal is therefore allowed and the orders for acquittal against all five respondents are set aside," Choo wrote in his ruling. Last year's acquittal had been a rare legal victory for Singapore's small group of pro-democracy activists who had in the past been jailed or fined for flouting the city-state's strict laws on public assembly. The five defendants had been charged for walking together wearing T-shirts with the words "Democracy Now" and "Freedom Now" in order to circumvent a law that barred public assemblies of more than four people without a police permit. Last year, Singapore tightened its rules so that any political gathering outside a designated zone known as Speakers' Corner would require a permit, regardless of the number of people involved. Chee Siok Chin, one of the five activists involved and an SDP member, said she was surprised by Thursday's judgment. "I think the impact, frankly speaking, is not on us. It's on the judiciary," she told AFP. Singapore, one of Asia's wealthiest countries, has been ranked highly by surveys in terms of its attractiveness to foreign investors but it has also been criticised for its tough curbs on free expression. - AFP  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent Malaysian supermarket chain Sheng Siong has rejected an appeal from Singapore stallholders not to increase the rentals by an astonishing 30 percent at the 5 wet markets it bought last year from HDB in a controversial sale. The Straits Times reported Sheng Siong as saying that "the rental hike was 'a decision made by our board of directors, after considering all factors, such as long-term and short-term costs and sustainability of the business model'." It claimed that the outcome is "inevitable" and sought the "understanding" of stallholders. The increase means that they will have to pay about $2,000 to $4,000 in rent. The duration of their contracts was also reduced from two to one year. As expected, it will be ordinary Singaporeans who will have to bear the brunt of the price increase and not big corporations like Sheng Siong. Marine Marade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng told the Straits Times that he had written a letter to Sheng Siong to "reconsider" the rental hike and the shortened duration of the contracts. It is unlikely that Mr Seah will get a favouravle response from Sheng Siong. Another MP Dr Teo Ho Pin who had earlier promised to help the affected stallholders at Fajar wet market "resolve" the matter has yet to comment on the issue. The Singapore Democratic Party has taken Dr Teo to task for not doing enough to fight for the interests of the stallholders. There are unverified rumors circulating in some internet forums that the son of one of Sheng Siong's founder had just tied the knot with a daughter of a senior government leader.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so as well.   Related articles: >> SDP takes Dr Teo Ho Pin to task over Sheng Siong rental hike >> Sheng Siong increased rental by 30 per cent in the 5 wet markets it bought >> SDP calls off planned speech at Fajar after being denied a permit by police >> SDP requests for a meeting with Sheng Siong >> Teo Ho Pin replies to SDP without addressing them >> Teo Ho Pin to SDP: “You didn’t do your homework!” >> SDP stops Sheng Siong from converting wet markets into supermarkets >> SDP writes to Dr Teo Ho Pin to oppose sale of Fajar wet market  Read More →