[Today] In support of tighter Town Councils Act

The Workers’ Party (WP) has let down the voters of Aljunied, Hougang and Punggol East constituencies with the management of its town council. (“Town council management should be depoliticised: Low Thia Khiang”; Feb 13)

So far, its explanations for the lapses in financial management, and negligence and incompetence in corporate governance, are inadequate.

The most damaging revelation was the appointment of FM Solutions and Services (FMSS) as the managing agent and the owners as senior officers of the town council.

That FMSS was formed shortly after the last General Election (GE) may indicate an intention to profit from an existing relationship with the WP. Inexperience in managing a large town council is no excuse.

As the alternative party in Parliament, the WP must be ready, with the necessary political talents, to manage municipal issues and to take over the Government at every GE.

The reason that no managing agents, besides FMSS, are willing to take on the job because of political affiliation is also invalid.

Some 40 per cent of Singaporeans voted for opposition parties at the last GE. There would surely be a sufficient pool of willing companies. Furthermore, estate management is not rocket science.

I support the tightening of the Town Councils Act to bring it closer to the Companies Act, as town councils function more like a not-for-profit commercial entity.

Specifically, we should bar Members of Parliament and senior officers of town councils, including their close relatives, from having any commercial interest in companies engaged by town councils.

Overseeing related-party transactions through established procedural steps is less effective and transparent. Other bidders may not be privy to insider information that related companies are bound to have.

A tighter legal framework, though, is no panacea for proper management, with accountability, of town councils. The WP should eat humble pie and clean up its act.

[Today] Encourage debate on National Service

That Singapore needs a strong military, in which conscription continues to feature, is hard to dispute, and Mr Ho Shu Huang’s commentary “How do people view national security?” (Feb 17) makes a strong case for a long-term defence posture.

But it is less clear whether those who give priority to national defence can be persuaded that these “long-term security concerns cannot unconditionally eclipse immediate and real bread-and-butter concerns”.

In this vein, to shape perceptions of National Service, younger Singaporeans should be involved in related discussions. The perceived absence of threats necessitates stronger engagement on the “vulnerability” narrative Mr Ho emphasised.

However, such discourse should not be didactic. Instead of overwhelming participants with talking points or rehashed arguments, they should be encouraged to articulate personal perspectives.

There may have been missed opportunities during the Committee to Strengthen NS endeavour, when little attention was given to the pillars of defence and deterrence upon which conscription is premised.

Young Singaporeans should be asked for feedback beyond the present suite of surveys and convinced through conversations, not refrains such as the maintenance of a “defence posture”, which might be eclipsed by more immediate worries as Mr Ho mentioned.

For instance, how do they value the military and its conscription policies? Do perceptions change after NS?

Are they convinced by the prevailing narrative, and how should the Government respond to bright-eyed suggestions that Singapore, sans a sizeable force, can rely on diplomatic overtures or its allies when crisis strikes?

The answers might seem straightforward for the Government, yet it is the engagement process that matters. Tedious as it may be, individuals should not be told why conscription is necessary, but be encouraged to debate its relevance.

[Today] Learn from Japan’s woes as S’pore curbs foreign labour

In “Bring back ‘keep clean’ campaign” (Feb 13), the letter writer equated a growing population to declining cleanliness standards here, which is unfortunate at best.

She wrote also that “cleaning staff were stationed” at restrooms in certain Asian cities to keep the facilities clean. It is in exactly that, manpower, that Singapore is at a disadvantage.

It has been noted that Singapore is a clean city because of cleaners, and not yet as a direct consequence of, or inherent within, its national psyche.

No matter how many campaigns as are necessary, one issue that will not be resolved is the manpower crunch, which is already hampering social and national interests at different levels. It is only 15 years before a fifth of the population will be categorised as aged.

But many have seemingly not grasped the relationship between an ageing population, competition and globalisation, as well as the huge impact of such demographics on the socioeconomic and political landscape. Ageing is expensive for any country, money- and manpower-wise.

Japan, in the grips of a low birth rate and an ageing population, has opened up its workforce recently to the highest performers from around the region.

Singapore has a head start, but as policies are being reversed, let us hope that Japan’s woes is a lesson learnt before Singapore, too, loses its hard-earned advantage in this region and its place in the world.

If we are serious about valuing seniors and their contributions to making Singapore what it is today, the realities befalling us must become national priorities before ageing and manpower issues overwhelm us.

[Today] State should manage town council finances

It is sad that our ministers and Members of Parliament spent two days debating a town council’s alleged mishandling of accounts and unlawful acts. (“Unanimous support in House for tougher standards on TCs”; Feb 14)

I call for the state to put all town councils under its rule. Public funds should not be left in the hands of privately run outfits, big or small.

A new state-established division should manage the financial aspect of town councils while they perform their other duties.

Residents would then have peace in mind and not wonder if they are being ripped off for their estate operations and the cleanliness of their surroundings.

[Today] A multi-pronged, collaborative approach to wildlife conservation

We refer to the letters “Why zoos should house more rare land animals” (Feb 7) and “Zoos endanger future of rare animals” (Feb 9).

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), the parent company of Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo, together with the international community of modern zoological institutions, contributes to wildlife and biodiversity conservation by engaging and connecting the public to wildlife, scientific management of threatened wildlife within our living collection, as well as participating in field conservation projects.

Managing threatened species in WRS’ living collection can help fulfil a few conservation needs, including having “ambassador animals” for public education, providing research opportunities not feasible in the wild, and functioning as assurance colonies of captive bred animals as a contingency against extinction.

Many larger threatened land mammal species are managed as a part of a wider and coordinated regional or global captive population. These animals are ethically and sustainably sourced, with the majority being captive bred and exchanged with other zoological institutions.

For highly threatened species such as the Sumatran rhinoceros, conservation strategies are developed through joint decisions of multiple expert groups. Unless all stakeholders agree that it is in the best conservation needs of the species to be held in a zoo, the species will not enter our collection.

In Singapore, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund (WRSCF) has funded nearly 20 local conservation and research projects since its inception in 2009, including the Sunda pangolin, the Singapore freshwater crab and the banded leaf langur.

WRS also works with local wildlife authorities and animal welfare organisations on rehabilitating and repatriating injured and displaced local wildlife. We currently supports 20 regional projects for 24 threatened species, including iconic species such as the orang utan, Asian elephant and Tonkin snub-nosed monkey.

Collectively, WRS parks provide wildlife experiences for more than four million visitors annually. The parks engage visitors by raising awareness on the plight of threatened wildlife as well as empowering them to fight these threats.

Apart from exhibit interpretation, keeper talks and animal presentations, we conduct conservation communication campaigns, such as last year’s campaign against the alarming mass killing of rhinoceros in Africa to meet East Asian consumption demands. This year, we will roll out a campaign on the wider unsustainable industrial-scale illegal harvesting of wildlife.

To achieve the desired conservation outcomes, WRS collaborates with local and regional government authorities, field wildlife researchers, academia, conservation organisations (such as International Union for Conservation of Nature and TRAFFIC), animal welfare groups and other zoos.

No single group on its own is able to resolve the complex problems threatening our wildlife.

Modern zoological institutions such as WRS, with our mass appeal to engage the public, scientific proficiencies in managing captive wildlife for demographic and genetic sustainability, and professional readiness to collaborate with other experts in their respective disciplines, possess a unique, indispensable and vital role and responsibility in wildlife conservation.

WRS and our parks are well poised and ready to continue with the collaborative approach in our efforts to conserve threatened wildlife and biodiversity.

[Today] Learn from Japan’s woes as S’pore curbs foreign labour

In “Bring back ‘keep clean’ campaign” (Feb 13), the letter writer equated a growing population to declining cleanliness standards here, which is unfortunate at best.

She wrote also that “cleaning staff were stationed” at restrooms in certain Asian cities to keep the facilities clean. It is in exactly that, manpower, that Singapore is at a disadvantage.

It has been noted that Singapore is a clean city because of cleaners, and not yet as a direct consequence of, or inherent within, its national psyche.

No matter how many campaigns as are necessary, one issue that will not be resolved is the manpower crunch, which is already hampering social and national interests at different levels. It is only 15 years before a fifth of the population will be categorised as aged.

But many have seemingly not grasped the relationship between an ageing population, competition and globalisation, as well as the huge impact of such demographics on the socioeconomic and political landscape. Ageing is expensive for any country, money- and manpower-wise.

Japan, in the grips of a low birth rate and an ageing population, has opened up its workforce recently to the highest performers from around the region.

Singapore has a head start, but as policies are being reversed, let us hope that Japan’s woes is a lesson learnt before Singapore, too, loses its hard-earned advantage in this region and its place in the world.

If we are serious about valuing seniors and their contributions to making Singapore what it is today, the realities befalling us must become national priorities before ageing and manpower issues overwhelm us.

[Straits Times] No real competition in petrol sector

IN OUR free-market economy, while we have a few prominent petrol companies, we hardly see any difference in the price of petrol among them.

First of all, when one firm raises the pump price, it takes less than a day or two before the others follow suit. But when it comes to the reduction of pump prices, all adopt a wait-and-see strategy, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

The reasons that the companies have given for raising pump prices more than the recent hike in petrol duty are not convincing ("Petrol companies ordered to explain latest price hikes"; Thursday).

I urge the Competition Commission of Singapore to take a serious look at the matter, as in this sector, it seems like there isn't any competition at all. If there is, it is not apparent to consumers.

This is in contrast to supermarkets, where there is significant difference in the prices of certain items.

Tay Kok Cheng

[Straits Times] Make teachers take national exams

THE trend of private tutors sitting national exams to better gauge their mastery of the subjects they teach appears to be increasing ("Maths tutor sits exams to understand students better", Wednesday).

Maths tutor Ong Ai Ling said that though she aced both maths papers she sat, "it was not an easy task". I also know of a General Paper tutor who has sat the paper for at least the past few years, and concedes the difficulties of acing it.

I did not come across any school teachers who sat the national exams during my teaching stint in a secondary school.

Perhaps, the Ministry of Education could consider making teachers who teach graduating classes sit the national exams.

This may lead to improved outcomes for our educational system.

It would help ensure that teachers, many of whom would have sat their exams many years ago, are adequately equipped to prepare students for the recent changes in the exam format ("Memorising answers won't score you the As", Wednesday).

If teachers can prove that they can ace the same exams their students are sitting, it may help instil greater confidence in the teachers' efficacy in teaching the subject, which may result in fewer students relying on tuition. Teachers who get grades below a benchmark could be required to take corrective action.

Maria Loh Mun Foong (Ms)

[Straits Times] Rein in debt collectors

THE unethical and brazen methods used by some debt collection agencies appears to be a growing problem ("Debt collectors arrested after causing stir at Funan"; Feb 14).

Based on their behaviour, some of these debt collectors seem to believe they are a law unto themselves.

Their tactics are designed to embarrass, intimidate and harass debtors. Some also use abusive language and threats, including visiting the debtors home or workplace, sometimes in a large group.

Is it possible that debt collectors are getting bolder because the police are reluctant to rein them in?

Perhaps, it is time to check if debt collectors are misrepresenting themselves by appearing to operate for a law firm by using letterheads and other symbols associated with the legal profession.

It is time the authorities looked into reining in this growing menace and the unacceptable methods of debt collectors.

M. Lukshumayeh

[Straits Times] Cricket match analyses: StarHub replies

WE THANK Mrs Mandira Menon for her feedback ("Cricket matches need analyses"; Forum Online, Monday).

Coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup is provided by our content partner Star Cricket.

While game analyses are not currently available, tournament coverage is supplemented by daily match highlights programmes as well as magazine shows commemorating previous editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

We have relayed Mrs Menon's feedback to our content partner.

Nicholas Tee

Senior Executive

Corporate Communications

StarHub

[Straits Times] Committed to responsible gaming practices

THE number of Singapore Pools outlets has remained about the same for the past 10 years ("Gambling shouldn't be made so easy in heartland" by Mr James Wong Joo Sin; Thursday).

The periodic relocation or replacement of outlets due to the expiry of lease or area development may have given the impression that more outlets have opened, including those at FairPrice supermarkets.

Singapore Pools is firmly committed to operating in a socially responsible manner, in strict compliance with industry standards for responsible gaming codes and practices. At all times, posters and standees are displayed prominently in our outlets to remind customers about our house rules, which include no betting or prize claims by people under 18.

Our retailers and staff have also been trained to enforce responsible gaming practices. Our hope is that, with accessibility to our services, customers who wish to have a little flutter need not resort to illegal syndicates.

For the past 47 years, the surpluses from Singapore Pools' collections have been used to fund projects and good causes that benefit our community.

Doris Ho (Ms)

Head, Public Affairs Directorate

Singapore Pools

[Straits Times] Exams aligned with school syllabus

IN WEDNESDAY'S report ("Memorising answers won't score you the As"), interviewees said last year's O-level chemistry paper included questions based on the A-level chemistry syllabus.

All questions set in the national examinations are aligned with the syllabus that students are being taught in schools.

Students will not be examined beyond what is covered in the O-level syllabus.

The misconception is likely due to the perception that questions testing the application of concepts in a different context are outside of what is being taught in school. In such application questions, candidates will be provided with sufficient background information.

They will not need to have factual knowledge beyond the syllabus to answer these questions.

Students are tested on their understanding of concepts and skills they have learnt in the O-level syllabus, and their ability to apply what they have learnt in the context given.

Tan Lay Choo (Ms)

Chief Executive

Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board

[Straits Times] Maids must know right amount of fees to pay

THE call by an association representing maid agents in Singapore to cap fees collected from foreign maids baffles me ("Call to cap fees collected from maids"; Thursday).

A better solution is to educate maids on the right amount of fees they should pay.

Placement fees are made up of different components, which may vary depending on the country of origin of the maids. The amounts may be inconsistent even in the same country and are frequently not transparent to maids, employers and the Singapore agents.

Besides local and foreign agents' commissions, these fees may also include fees of recruiters in the maids' home towns, and advances made to the maids and their families before the workers report to the foreign training centres.

A portion of the placement fee may, therefore, comprise the maids' personal debts.

The maids' home government plays a critical role in educating its nationals on the rightful amount of placement fees that should be borne by them.

This will minimise the risks of profiteering by local and foreign agents at the maids' expense.

One should bear in mind that cases of overcharging come to light only when the victim lodges a complaint.

In the long run, it bodes well for the industry when Singapore agents are compelled to be transparent on the quantum of their service fees, without hidden components in placement fees.

Singapore employers must realise that a discontented maid is likely to prematurely terminate her contract, which, in turn, translates to unrecoverable placement fees.

Engaging a maid should be fair to all stakeholders.

Shirley Ng Chiou Peng (Ms)

Member, Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore)

[Straits Times] On Facebook

Will a road courtesy campaign be effective in helping us become better motorists?

There is no need for drivers to be rewarded - it is simply like rewarding kids with sweets to behave better and be more obedient.

- Jeremy Leong

There is still a lack of strict enforcement of traffic rules. That is why most accidents continue to happen. Maybe installing more enforcement cameras at accident-prone areas might help...

- Sebastian Kang

I think a good campaign coupled with measures that "villainise" discourteous drivers, while venerating the good ones, will be helpful - carrot and stick.

- Jaeger Meister Chan

Are there too many betting outlets in the heartland?

Limiting the number of betting outlets will not stop gamblers from gambling. You will just deter the occasional and fringe players from placing their bets. Hardcore gamblers will still find a way to place their bets, even if you limit the outlets to a few and away from the heartland. But it would be worse if some gamblers turn to illegal bookies for the sake of convenience.

- Jay Tun

You can only go so far in trying to stop people from gambling. Removing the outlets will only force them to use other avenues, it does not remove gambling itself. Why not look at the same type of controls as casinos? Have blacklists, for example.

- Mingchuan Mervyn Xie

Stop gambling. It should not be accessible in the heartland. This will at least solve the social problem of gambling.

- Curtis Khor

[Straits Times] But be mindful of high costs

SINGAPORE is studying Hong Kong's scheme to encourage the elderly to re-enter the classroom ("School doors open for HK's elderly"; Wednesday).

In pursuit of lifelong learning, seniors who have the interest and energy and, more importantly, the financial means to pursue a degree or diploma course should be encouraged to do so.

Hong Kong's scheme receives subsidies from the government.

While it is acceptable for the state to fund programmes for the elderly, such as those that teach life skills and basic computer use, the line needs to be drawn in the use of taxpayers' monies to fund degree or diploma programmes for the elderly.

Tertiary education is an extremely costly affair, and state funding of tertiary education for able, young adults can be justified in terms of the contribution to Singapore

society that young people are expected to make, and for a good number of years after graduation.

On the other hand, while providing seniors with a tertiary education may raise their self-esteem and help keep individuals mentally lucid, the monetary benefits to society are unclear.

For every dollar invested in tertiary education for seniors, the money could, perhaps, be better spent on other programmes that could benefit the elderly. Seniors who wish to pursue courses of higher learning could do so online, at a much lower cost.

Chan Yeow Chuan

[Straits Times] Chance for seniors to go back to school? Go for it

OUR seniors should emulate their Hong Kong counterparts, who embrace lifelong learning ("School doors open for HK's elderly"; Wednesday).

As Singaporeans are living longer these days, they can make use of their added

years in ways that please them: travel, sightsee, and go back to school.

For seniors who, for various reasons, had to stop their studies during their younger days, learning opportunities for them will be most welcome and made available.

If the many older people in Hong Kong can re-enter the classroom, there is no reason our elderly cannot do so, too.

Of course, some may be apprehensive about their ability to fit in with a classroom of younger people, and whether they can possibly learn all that is required at their age.

In developed countries, most higher institutions of learning have counsellors who offer guidance to individuals

before they enrol for courses. This gives them a head start so that they are better prepared for their learning journey.

Inter-generational learning is unique in that both the younger students and the senior ones can learn from each other through their interactions; they can also challenge each other to do better in their lessons.

Those who desire to live a more enriching and fulfilling life through continuing education must go for it.

After all, they have survived all the difficult times in the past and have the advantage of life experiences.

The journey to continuing education is not smooth and calm, but the highs far outweigh the lows.

Jeffrey Law Lee Beng

[Straits Times] Explore other ways to help poorest elderly

WHILE I am heartened to hear that lower-income retirees will have more support with the new Silver Support Scheme ("Cash payouts for the poorest elderly"; Tuesday), I am worried that this is a permanent promise of financial support.

Will this be the slippery slope to Western countries' social support schemes?

As our country ages, more retirees can be expected to be on the scheme. Currently, it is an average of $600 in cash each quarter. In the future, with inflation, there will certainly be a call to increase this amount, in line with the increased cost of living.

Any government which then dares to dismantle the scheme due to its unsustainability risks being booted out.

There are other ways to help our less advantaged retirees, instead of making a blanket promise to help all in the bottom 20 per cent to 30 per cent.

Foong Swee Fong

[Straits Times] Retail investing's decline a worldwide trend

RETAIL investing's decline is not a Singapore-specific issue ("Chance to restore confidence in SGX" by Mr Matthew Kwan Kai En; yesterday, and "Restore lunch break to rebuild confidence in local bourse" by Mr Tng Kim Bock; Feb 12).

Many countries, such as the United States, are seeing a drop in the trading of stocks by the average man in the street.

Instead, the advent and subsequent popularity of exchange-traded funds (ETF) have allowed retail investors to buy into a wide variety of market or country segmented stocks without incurring much brokerage fees.

With the recent introduction of smaller-sized lots for trading locally, this has made the buying of ETFs more affordable.

Brokers thrive on brokerage fees, which are generated by buying and selling of stocks.

As the average retail investor grows more sophisticated, he will realise that day-to-day trading is not much different from gambling, and is unsustainable.

Thus, investing in undervalued, fundamentally strong and regular dividend-paying stocks is a recent sign of growing sophistication among Singaporeans. But with this positive trait comes less brokerage fees being generated and thus, the attrition of brokers.

I doubt the Singapore Exchange and the Monetary Authority of Singapore can do much to change this phenomenon.

Changing the SGX chief executive or reinstating lunch time for brokers will not address what is essentially a worldwide trend. But we can take pride in the higher quality of trades being generated by the more sophisticated Singaporean investor.

Ewe Seow Chie (Ms)

[Straits Times] Replacing concession cards

WE THANK Ms Clara Chua Sieo Peng for her feedback ("Improve process to replace concession card"; Feb 19).

When a concession card is presented for replacement at our concession card replacement office (CCRO) and is still readable by a card reader, the remaining value will be immediately transferred to the new card.

As Ms Chua's child's concession card was corrupted, the card could not be read. Hence, a claim for refund had to be filed and the corrupted card sent back to TransitLink's headquarters for the refund to be processed.

As the infrastructure of a CCRO is different from that of a ticket office (TO), we are not able to replicate the full suite of the CCRO services at all TOs. To make it more convenient for our customers, TransitLink recently opened two new CCROs at Admiralty and Somerset MRT stations.

These are in addition to the six existing ones at Ang Mo Kio, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Jurong East and Pasir Ris bus interchanges, and Tiong Bahru MRT station. These CCROs are sited across different parts of the island where there is high commuter volume and they are easily accessible via public transport.

We will convert existing TOs or open new CCROs as the need arises. In addition, commuters can also apply to replace their concession cards without having to visit the CCRO via our website (http://ift.tt/1qXsdnk) or their smartphones using the TransitLink Mobile Services app.

With regard to Ms Chua's suggestion of crediting refunds directly into the commuter's bank account, we will be raising this with the relevant agencies for their review.

Corrine Ng (Ms)

Vice-President

Corporate and Marketing Communications

TransitLink

[Today] Improving public transport is best way to curb car usage

I refer to the letter “Reasons for petrol duty hikes sound” (Feb 26).

Curbing carbon emissions and car usage may seem sound enough reasons for the hikes, but the frequent jams and slow traffic on our roads are underlying symptoms of a bigger problem: A lack of efficiency in our public transport system.

On the day the Budget and the petrol hikes were announced, the irony was not lost on us that a track fault caused a disruption in train service. (“North South Line hit by hours-long train service disruption”; Feb 23, online)

Other everyday problems, such as being unable to board a packed train or attempting to board a single-deck bus during peak hours, are some of the factors that push people to own a car.

I do not own one and the writer might consider car ownership as a privilege, but with the problems many of us face when using public transport, owning a car has become a necessity, especially for families with young children or seniors.

As the writer mentioned, an array of measures is required to ensure that our roads are smooth. Then, the best way to curb car usage is to improve our public transport and make people want to use an efficient, world-class system.

After all, if one is going out with one’s elderly parents, would they rather be seated comfortably in a car or squeezed into a packed train without a seat?

[Today] Petrol duty hikes may push up prices of goods, services

I refer to the letters “Petrol duty hikes pour more pain on motorists” (Feb 25) and “Reasons for petrol duty hikes sound” (Feb 26). Both writers have a valid point on the pain and gain of the hikes.

As a motorist, after spending so much on a Certificate of Entitlement, I will continue to drive and bite the bullet. I would give up only when motorists are squeezed further, which may be a few years down the road.

Most of the motorists who will feel the pain of the hikes would be the middle income who need their private transport for work, and not merely for commuting.

The lower-income group may also feel the impact, however.

From past experience, when petrol prices go up, the prices of other goods and services, such as deliveries and house calls for plumbing or air-conditioning servicing, rise in tandem.

I am, however, sure that our Government has considered such an impact and has put in place some offset mechanisms, and not only the one-off road tax rebate, for the middle- and lower-income groups.

[Straits Times] Govt has means to fund extra expenditure

THE quarterly cash handout for Singaporeans aged 65 and above would certainly provide some form of assurance for the needy elderly in coping with the rising cost of living, especially in food, health care and transport ("Cash payouts for the poorest elderly"; Tuesday).

Some seniors may not have adequate family support or any work pension, while housewives who have never earned any income in their younger days may have little or no savings at all, and little, if any, Central Provident Fund savings.

While this new scheme seems to be a form of "state welfare" for elderly citizens, I believe it will not hurt our economy as our Government will have the necessary means to fund the extra expenditure ("Silver Support Scheme: Is permanent feature sustainable?" by Ms Alice Chong Chui Ping; yesterday).

Muhammad Dzul Azhan Haji Sahban

[Straits Times] Enhance public lighting

AS SINGAPORE aspires to become a "smart" nation, one of the projects that would benefit most people immediately is the enhancement of our public lighting system ("Keep HDB corridor lights on until 7.30am" by Mr Markus Christopher Ruddock; Sunday).

Street lights and those for public areas like HDB corridors, walkways and parks should be programmed to switch on or off automatically, based on the prevailing level of natural illumination and not solely on the time of the day.

Ng Chee Kheon

[Today] Learn from Japan’s woes as S’pore curbs foreign labour

In “Bring back ‘keep clean’ campaign” (Feb 13), the letter writer equated a growing population to declining cleanliness standards here, which is unfortunate at best.

She wrote also that “cleaning staff were stationed” at restrooms in certain Asian cities to keep the facilities clean. It is in exactly that, manpower, that Singapore is at a disadvantage.

It has been noted that Singapore is a clean city because of cleaners, and not yet as a direct consequence of, or inherent within, its national psyche.

No matter how many campaigns as are necessary, one issue that will not be resolved is the manpower crunch, which is already hampering social and national interests at different levels. It is only 15 years before a fifth of the population will be categorised as aged.

But many have seemingly not grasped the relationship between an ageing population, competition and globalisation, as well as the huge impact of such demographics on the socioeconomic and political landscape. Ageing is expensive for any country, money- and manpower-wise.

Japan, in the grips of a low birth rate and an ageing population, has opened up its workforce recently to the highest performers from around the region.

Singapore has a head start, but as policies are being reversed, let us hope that Japan’s woes is a lesson learnt before Singapore, too, loses its hard-earned advantage in this region and its place in the world.

If we are serious about valuing seniors and their contributions to making Singapore what it is today, the realities befalling us must become national priorities before ageing and manpower issues overwhelm us.

[Today] State should manage town council finances

It is sad that our ministers and Members of Parliament spent two days debating a town council’s alleged mishandling of accounts and unlawful acts. (“Unanimous support in House for tougher standards on TCs”; Feb 14)

I call for the state to put all town councils under its rule. Public funds should not be left in the hands of privately run outfits, big or small.

A new state-established division should manage the financial aspect of town councils while they perform their other duties.

Residents would then have peace in mind and not wonder if they are being ripped off for their estate operations and the cleanliness of their surroundings.

[Today] Adopt flexible leave system for religious, personal matters

I refer to the letter “More public holidays may be better” (TODAYonline, Feb 19).

I do not disagree with the writer that more rest equals increased productivity and morale. However, although an increase in the number of public holidays may at first glance appear to benefit the workforce, workers might in fact not benefit, while Singapore’s competitiveness as a global financial hub could be affected.

The writer to some extent rightly compared Hong Kong with Singapore to support his proposition.

But I will submit that a flexible leave system for religious and personal matters is a better solution, as it will provide our manpower with the option to plan and allocate their well-deserved breaks with their family.

With more public holidays, professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) may end up carrying forward their workload or work from home during the holidays.

Meanwhile, frontline and service staff will still have to work on public holidays. If this happens, it defeats the purpose of having more public holidays.

I believe a flexible system is a better solution than having more fixed public holidays, as it would enable our workforce to truly enjoy their holidays and would also support work-life balance and flexi-work initiatives.

The ongoing discussion on public holidays has not considered the practicalities and will ultimately result in expectation gaps among various stakeholders in society.

We must balance the wider interests of our workforce, our multicultural society and our status as a financial hub, in our search for a solution.

In my opinion, it is more constructive for employers to adopt a decentralised and flexible approach to achieve employee satisfaction on this matter of public holidays.

[Today] Learn from Japan’s woes as S’pore curbs foreign labour

In “Bring back ‘keep clean’ campaign” (Feb 13), the letter writer equated a growing population to declining cleanliness standards here, which is unfortunate at best.

She wrote also that “cleaning staff were stationed” at restrooms in certain Asian cities to keep the facilities clean. It is in exactly that, manpower, that Singapore is at a disadvantage.

It has been noted that Singapore is a clean city because of cleaners, and not yet as a direct consequence of, or inherent within, its national psyche.

No matter how many campaigns as are necessary, one issue that will not be resolved is the manpower crunch, which is already hampering social and national interests at different levels. It is only 15 years before a fifth of the population will be categorised as aged.

But many have seemingly not grasped the relationship between an ageing population, competition and globalisation, as well as the huge impact of such demographics on the socioeconomic and political landscape. Ageing is expensive for any country, money- and manpower-wise.

Japan, in the grips of a low birth rate and an ageing population, has opened up its workforce recently to the highest performers from around the region.

Singapore has a head start, but as policies are being reversed, let us hope that Japan’s woes is a lesson learnt before Singapore, too, loses its hard-earned advantage in this region and its place in the world.

If we are serious about valuing seniors and their contributions to making Singapore what it is today, the realities befalling us must become national priorities before ageing and manpower issues overwhelm us.

[Today] State should manage town council finances

It is sad that our ministers and Members of Parliament spent two days debating a town council’s alleged mishandling of accounts and unlawful acts. (“Unanimous support in House for tougher standards on TCs”; Feb 14)

I call for the state to put all town councils under its rule. Public funds should not be left in the hands of privately run outfits, big or small.

A new state-established division should manage the financial aspect of town councils while they perform their other duties.

Residents would then have peace in mind and not wonder if they are being ripped off for their estate operations and the cleanliness of their surroundings.

[Today] A multi-pronged, collaborative approach to wildlife conservation

We refer to the letters “Why zoos should house more rare land animals” (Feb 7) and “Zoos endanger future of rare animals” (Feb 9).

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), the parent company of Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo, together with the international community of modern zoological institutions, contributes to wildlife and biodiversity conservation by engaging and connecting the public to wildlife, scientific management of threatened wildlife within our living collection, as well as participating in field conservation projects.

Managing threatened species in WRS’ living collection can help fulfil a few conservation needs, including having “ambassador animals” for public education, providing research opportunities not feasible in the wild, and functioning as assurance colonies of captive bred animals as a contingency against extinction.

Many larger threatened land mammal species are managed as a part of a wider and coordinated regional or global captive population. These animals are ethically and sustainably sourced, with the majority being captive bred and exchanged with other zoological institutions.

For highly threatened species such as the Sumatran rhinoceros, conservation strategies are developed through joint decisions of multiple expert groups. Unless all stakeholders agree that it is in the best conservation needs of the species to be held in a zoo, the species will not enter our collection.

In Singapore, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund (WRSCF) has funded nearly 20 local conservation and research projects since its inception in 2009, including the Sunda pangolin, the Singapore freshwater crab and the banded leaf langur.

WRS also works with local wildlife authorities and animal welfare organisations on rehabilitating and repatriating injured and displaced local wildlife. We currently supports 20 regional projects for 24 threatened species, including iconic species such as the orang utan, Asian elephant and Tonkin snub-nosed monkey.

Collectively, WRS parks provide wildlife experiences for more than four million visitors annually. The parks engage visitors by raising awareness on the plight of threatened wildlife as well as empowering them to fight these threats.

Apart from exhibit interpretation, keeper talks and animal presentations, we conduct conservation communication campaigns, such as last year’s campaign against the alarming mass killing of rhinoceros in Africa to meet East Asian consumption demands. This year, we will roll out a campaign on the wider unsustainable industrial-scale illegal harvesting of wildlife.

To achieve the desired conservation outcomes, WRS collaborates with local and regional government authorities, field wildlife researchers, academia, conservation organisations (such as International Union for Conservation of Nature and TRAFFIC), animal welfare groups and other zoos.

No single group on its own is able to resolve the complex problems threatening our wildlife.

Modern zoological institutions such as WRS, with our mass appeal to engage the public, scientific proficiencies in managing captive wildlife for demographic and genetic sustainability, and professional readiness to collaborate with other experts in their respective disciplines, possess a unique, indispensable and vital role and responsibility in wildlife conservation.

WRS and our parks are well poised and ready to continue with the collaborative approach in our efforts to conserve threatened wildlife and biodiversity.

[Straits Times] Provide separate income data on citizens, PRs

IT WAS a delight to read Ms Radha Basu's commentary ("Make foreigners, PRs count in income data"; yesterday).

I had written a similar letter in The Straits Times Forum ("Employment rate: More data, please"; Dec 3, 2013) , calling on the Government to distinguish between citizens and permanent residents when publishing income data, including those for households.

However, I did not see a reply to my letter, and this year's statistics continue to lump such data under the umbrella of "Singapore residents".

It would be timely for the Government to explain why the data has not been made more transparent, given the difference in income levels highlighted by Ms Basu.

If there are concerns that such transparency would cause further divisions in society, it would seem more effective for the authorities to introduce measures to close any gaps, rather than keep the picture vague.

Chong Yi Ming

[Straits Times] Tougher laws needed on cyclists

WHEN I drive to work along Holland, Grange and River Valley roads at about 7.30am, it is common to see one or two cyclists on the roads ("Number of cyclists caught breaking rules: At least three a day"; last Saturday).

For drivers, keeping to the 1.5m recommended distance from a cyclist is already almost impossible without putting cars in the next lane in jeopardy.

It is not uncommon to see two cyclists riding abreast nonchalantly, and this presents a challenge to other, less confident motorists.

A few days ago, I even saw a cyclist without a helmet riding against the flow of traffic.

Sometimes, when I take the bus to work, I see cyclists riding in the bus lane, for instance, along Telok Blangah Road, and inconveniencing an entire busload of passengers. This is a common sight and defeats the purpose of the bus lane, which is meant to help buses make faster journeys during peak hours.

Cyclists, too, should be banned from using bus lanes during restricted hours, just as motorists are.

Many cyclists travel at high speeds and are at risk of being involved in accidents. If they are going to be allowed on the roads, they should be made to take a test similar to the Highway Code. They should also be required to wear proper protection gear.

Also, the authorities should be more vigilant in enforcing cycling laws on the roads. We should not wait for the next big accident involving cyclists to jolt us into action.

Sim Ghee Choon

[Straits Times] More competition needed to level price

MOTORISTS have been up in arms, both before and after the latest Budget announcement, over how petrol companies set their pump prices ("Petrol companies ordered to explain latest price hikes"; yesterday and "Petrol duty up but there's a one-year road tax rebate"; Tuesday).

When crude oil price goes up, the price increase at the pump happens almost instantaneously, but when the price of crude oil falls, petrol firms drag their feet in lowering prices.

When asked to explain their actions, they repeatedly give typical explanations, even when the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) and the Competition Commission of Singapore step in.

Instead of subjecting motorists to such unfair price hikes, more competition should be introduced to help level pump prices. Perhaps a social enterprise or maybe NTUC could join the industry, just like how FairPrice helps keep groceries affordable.

Yong Milian (Madam)

[Straits Times] Petrol firms should act fairly

PETROL companies should strictly adhere to factoring in only the increase in government duty when revising pump prices ("Petrol companies ordered to explain latest price hikes"; yesterday).

They should not increase petrol prices citing other factors, whatever these may be.

It is not ethical for petrol companies to seize every opportunity to raise prices.

I hope the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) and the Competition Commission of Singapore will vigorously seek answers from these companies.

If they are allowed to get away this time, what will happen the next time?

Tony Sim

[Straits Times] Self-employed need help, too

I AM a full-time taxi driver with three children, two of whom are still schooling. I appreciate the various help schemes set out in the Budget, especially the SkillsFuture Credit scheme, GST vouchers and those that help to lower the cost of our children's education.

Unlike workers in conventional occupations, who will see their Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings increase, and businesses, which will be getting assistance from the Government to soften the impact of rising costs, there is no such help for the self-employed like me.

Many of us voluntarily contribute to Medisave regularly, through a "Drive and Save" scheme set up by the National Taxi Association.

However, I hope the Government can offer more help for people like me who are self-employed.

Raymond Ong Thiam Khoon

[Straits Times] Shed more light on funding

BUDGET 2015 outlined a better future for Singaporeans, and one key area of this year's Budget is to provide greater assurance in retirement.

Measures that were announced to strengthen our social security system are a step in the right direction.

The Silver Support Scheme for low-income seniors is particularly heartening ("Silver Support to boost social security net"; Tuesday).

Providing cash supplements to them earlier will help them get on with their lives without having to worry about their next meal.

However, as a grassroots leader, I am aware of some concerns among residents about the fiscal sustainability of this permanent scheme.

Perhaps, the Government could shed some light on how this scheme would be funded in the long term.

Also, the factors that will be used to determine eligibility should be clear, transparent and fair.

For example, households with a higher household income do not necessarily translate to better support for the seniors in retirement as there could be many dependants living under the same roof.

Hence, when determining the level of income for the household, it would be more objective to look at per capita income instead.

V. P. Sreevardhanan

Secretary

Ang Mo Kio-Hougang Citizens Consultative Committee

[Straits Times] Is permanent feature sustainable?

I WAS pleasantly surprised by this year's Budget, which was innovative, comprehensive, fair and also seeks to reduce income inequality.

However, I am concerned that the Silver Support Scheme may have long-term negative consequences for the economy ("Silver Support to boost social security net"; Tuesday).

The scheme will be a permanent feature of Singapore's social safety net for the bottom 30 per cent of Singaporeans aged 65 and older. It will cost $350 million in the first year and is likely to be raised over the years, when more Singaporeans turn 65 and the cost of living rises.

The premium Singapore places on the individual's work ethic has proven effective. However, this new pension scheme is a step backwards.

To fund the Budget, we are raising taxes for the top 5 per cent of income earners from 2017, assuming that this move will not affect our competitiveness. But what about funding future increases of the Silver Support Scheme? What if the economy hits a recession?

We should not promise the bottom 30 per cent a lifelong cash annuity when they hit 65. This could erode the strong work ethic, or lead to people underdeclaring their income.

Such goodies should be promised for only, say, four years, with the scheme being reviewed every four years, for future batches of the elderly. This is because in the future, we could see the number of needy elderly folk fall, as people become better educated, better skilled and better able to take care of themselves.

The scheme could then be tweaked to support just the lowest 10 per cent of earners.

Alice Chong Chui Ping (Ms)

[Straits Times] Ez-link deposit: PA replies

WE APOLOGISE for Ms Beatrice Tang's unpleasant experience in recovering the remaining value in her old PAssion ez-link card ("Not easy to recover ez-link deposit"; Feb 16).

We have since assisted her in transferring the remaining value to her new card.

We have also contacted Ms Haslinda Samsudin and confirmed that the remaining balance from her old PAssion ez-link card had already been credited to her designated bank account last December ("Issue receipt for retained ez-link card"; Feb 19).

There is no deposit required for all adult ez-link cards, including PAssion ez-link cards.

For PAssion card members who need to recover the remaining amount of ez-link stored value in their PAssion card due to renewal, replacement or a faulty card, they can approach the nearest community club for assistance.

Jasmine Kwok (Ms)

Senior Director

Membership and Community Partnership Division

People's Association

[Straits Times] Family appeal for CNY show

MR CHEANG Peng Wah felt that Channel 8's Chinese New Year Eve Special lacked substantial and progressive cultural content ("MediaCorp CNY show needs improvement"; Tuesday).

We thank him for his feedback and will certainly continue looking at ways to improve the annual programme by increasing its cultural content, while keeping it light-hearted, fun and entertaining in a way that appeals to everyone in the family gathered at the traditional reunion dinner.

As for his suggestion that MediaCorp acquire Chinese show-business talent, our talent policy is based on getting the best person for the job, with a focus on local talent.

Paul Chan

Vice-President

Branding and Promotions, TV

MediaCorp

[Straits Times] Allow flexibility in HDB shop rentals

THE Housing Board (HDB) should curb rising rental costs that are a result of the bidding system for commercial rental properties, in a bid to prevent "rent-pull" inflation.

The HDB electronic bidding system promotes impulse bidding, as bidders are given 10 minutes to increase their bids for the rental premises of their choice.

Keen bidders end up submitting inflated bids, which they eventually pass on to their customers.

Also, new HDB estates have a limited number of commercial spaces and these are currently allocated to a few specific types of businesses. This, too, helps to encourage aggressive bidding.

HDB should allow greater freedom in allowing the types of businesses that can lease these shop spaces, so as to increase competition and allow businesses to match demand and supply.

There are many void-deck shops in mature HDB estates that have closed down shortly after opening, due to the restrictions in the types of trade allowed, and the setting of minimum bids.

HDB should follow the National Environment Agency's lead and abolish minimum bids for the renting of commercial spaces.

This may help lower bids and help defray operational costs, which will ultimately benefit the consumers.

Heng Mok Koon

[Straits Times] Difficult to validate petrol firms' claims

BUSINESSES often attribute price hikes to rising costs ("Petrol companies ordered to explain latest price hikes"; yesterday).

In relation to the price hikes by petrol companies, Shell has said factors such as distribution cost and other operating costs also determine pump prices, besides excise duties imposed by the Government.

But surely, these other costs that affect pump prices could not have increased overnight after the Budget announcement?

It also baffles me as to why all the petrol companies raised their pump prices at the same time to reflect cost increases other than the higher government duty ("Petrol duty up but there's a one-year road tax rebate"; Tuesday).

No business would admit it is profiteering. Businesses can easily get away with profiteering by masking it as a cost increase.

This is because it is very difficult for the Government to validate such claims, given the information asymmetry, especially in a complex industry.

Only businesses themselves know best how their industries operate and have full information about their costs.

In a free market, businesses will typically charge "what the market can bear". We cannot leave it to the conscience of businesses to behave in a fair or ethical manner.

Where a market is dominated by a few large players and lacks effective competition, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) should be more vigilant in its checks on businesses to ensure that they do not engage in exploitative or abusive behaviour to the detriment of consumers.

MTI should also look into strengthening consumer protection in Singapore, which currently lags behind many other developed countries.

Besides looking after business' interests, MTI also needs to adequately safeguard consumers' interests, especially where there is a lack of effective competition.

A right balance needs to be struck, in line with the Government's push for a country that embraces inclusiveness and collective social responsibility.

Tan Kim Choon (Madam)

[Today] Burden of health care weighs heavily on middle-income group

I refer to the report, “Hard choices needed on healthcare: PM” (Feb 11).

By year end, MediShield Life will replace MediShield to provide citizens with universal coverage. The promise to protect those who have pre-existing ailments, regardless of age, sounds noble, but can the lower-income group afford the premiums?

The shift, during the 1980s, from the previous government-funded plan to an emphasis on the current co-payment model has been hard on individuals coping with the high cost of living.

This was when restructured hospitals came into existence, run as private companies licensed under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act. Charges at these institutions rose, in spite of government grants, without achieving the efficiencies of the private sector.

While the Prime Minister reiterated that there is no free lunch, in order to forestall possible abuses in health-care spending, the amount patients must foot is no longer a token sum.

Health care is an emotional and political issue because the infinite demand must be managed using finite resources. With government subsidies directed at the lower-income, the burden of and responsibility for health care weighs heavily on middle-income earners.

Without the resources of the higher-income, they do not feel assured that the cost of treatment is within their means, but rather that access to quality care is determined by one’s ability to pay.

The principle that health care must not be free at point of service has been entrenched since the People’s Action Party came into power in 1959. The 50-cents co-payment during that time, however, is a far cry from today’s deductibles.

Since government spending on health care is extremely low, at 1.6 per cent of gross domestic product, why is the responsibility for considerable co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses, as well as the burden of risk, placed so heavily on our shoulders?

[Today] Dropping UK law schools may hit S’pore’s hub status

As a Singaporean reading law in the United Kingdom, I read with concern about the review of the overseas scheduled universities whose returning law graduates are eligible for practice here. (“8 UK law schools to lose spots on recognised list”; Feb 25)

Dropping eight of the 19 UK law universities on the recognised list may, in the short term, reduce the burgeoning supply of law students in the Singapore market, but may also be detrimental to the long-term success of Singapore as a regional and international legal hub.

This preventive measure may take us a step back in the liberalisation of our legal sector.

Diversity is an integral catalyst for developing our ambitions and jurisprudence. In legal education, diversity is a starting point for developing Singapore’s influence in international law.

I do not disagree that a sharp increase in the number of Singaporean law graduates would, in the short term, result in an oversupply.

However, considering the benefits of diversity in legal education the increasing number of returning law graduates is a testament to the attractiveness and potential of Singapore’s legal sector.

Reading law in the United Kingdom has provided me with the opportunity to learn from and work with international experts in arbitration and academia, for example.

It has enriched my experience, network and transferable skills, which will contribute to Singapore’s aspirations to being an international legal hub.

If the drastic approach we have now taken results in an increase in law students at the remaining 11 approved United Kingdom law schools, it would not solve the pertinent problem of an increase in Singaporeans pursuing law overseas.

A better solution is to allow the market forces of demand and supply to determine the suitability of applicants from diverse backgrounds, and to assess the individuals’ character and commitment to our legal sector.

I am grateful for the opportunity to develop critical-thinking skills and read law with an international perspective. Legal education per se is a process, and not a determinant of one’s ability to pursue law.

The perspective that one’s institution of study equates to one’s capabilities is wrong. It is the individual’s characteristics that matter.

In shaping our legal landscape, we should embrace the aspirations and commitment of Singaporeans as an opportunity, and not a problem, for the development of our legal sector in a globalised economy.

[Today] Reasons for petrol duty hikes sound

The writer of the letter “Petrol duty hikes pour more pain on motorists” (Feb 25) does not seem to comprehend the reasons for the petrol duty increase, namely to curb car usage and carbon emissions.

While measures have been put in place to achieve these aims, high car usage remains a problem, as evidenced by the frequent jams and slow traffic on our roads.

The Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme has been criticised for its limited effectiveness, as the residual cost of a car is lowered along with the rebate off the Additional Registration Fee. Car usage and carbon emissions should ideally be reduced further.

Carbon emissions pose a threat to our liveability standards and people’s health in the long term. It would thus be mindless to label betting, alcohol and cigarettes as “worse”, as these issues are all worth looking into.

The writer also wonders why there is no diesel tax hike, yet thinks that higher petrol prices due to higher duties will lead to inflation. However, the absence of a diesel tax hike is what keeps inflation down, since commercial vehicles use diesel.

As he said, it is difficult for people to give up their cars. An array of measures is thus required to ensure that our roads are smooth and air quality is good.

Owning a car is a privilege, not a right. If one wishes for a car, then one must be willing to pay for it.

[Today] Autism education: All hands on deck

I refer to the letter “Doctors should play bigger role in autism education” (Feb 23).

We have heard of different intervention strategies for autism, which include Applied Behaviour Analysis, Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-Handicapped Children, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy.

These therapies are scientifically validated, with experimental research conducted and replicated in various countries. However, such interventions should be specifically planned by professionals, together with parental input, to cater to an individual’s strengths and learning and/or behavioural challenges.

Parents who choose other forms of treatment should consult trained professionals.

For example, those who choose complementary and alternative medicine, such as a special diet or vitamin-supplement treatment for their child, should seek advice from a dietician and nutritionist. For interventions that involve psychotropic treatment, a qualified doctor should be consulted about any adverse side effects.

Parents should be well informed that autism is a multifaceted issue and there is no known cure currently. There are many causes of autism, such as environmental pollution, vaccination and allergies, genetic mutations and mental disorder.

Besides doctors playing a role in autism education, all relevant professionals — researchers, special education teachers, psychologists, biomedical science experts — should perhaps come together now to better educate and provide a service to parents and professionals on issues related to treatments for those with special needs.

[Today] Behavioural treatment better for younger autistic children

Many parents think that if their child does not start speaking normally at an appropriate age, it means that child has a problem expressing himself and requires help with his speaking skills.

However, if he has autism, this is merely a syndrome of a deeper, underlying problem: He may not understand the concept of communicating and has no desire to communicate with people.

Just as training a newborn to run would be premature, training an autistic child in verbal communication techniques when he has not understood the purpose of communicating is counterproductive.

He needs special guidance to overcome his foundational difficulties in social interaction, flexibility of thinking, communication and motivation as early as possible. This is where Applied Behaviour Analysis-Verbal Behaviour (ABA-VB) shines.

ABA-VB sessions include behavioural treatment to decrease problem behaviours and increase functional alternative behaviours, as well as joint attention intervention to teach the child to respond to the social requests of others. The child would also learn schedule training to help him follow a task list to complete a series of activities, and self-management training to regulate his behaviour.

Although speech therapy overlaps some functions of ABA-VB, it has a narrower focus. It targets verbal communication skills such as articulation, syntax and the correct use of language, and not issues such as motivation, temper tantrums or other behavioural problems. Some parents think it best to combine speech therapy with ABA-VB. This can be helpful, but will be costly, with limited benefits.

For the price of occasional speech therapy sessions conducted by a qualified professional, a child can receive intensive intervention from therapists using programmes developed by qualified professionals. Intensive intervention is more likely to create lasting change compared with occasional sessions. It is wiser to use speech therapy for refining verbal communication skills, after early intervention has provided a firm foundation for the child.

[Today] Wanted: Non-Chinese cabbies during this festive period

Many of the workers in essential services such as defence, health care, refuse collection, air, sea and land transport, et cetera, may have had to sacrifice part of their Chinese New Year celebrations with their families for the country’s sake.

In essential services run by government agencies, proper arrangements would have been made to meet the needs during this period.

This is not the case for taxi services, though. The cabs are rented from private companies and the drivers have more freedom to decide when to hit the road.

Last Wednesday evening, which was the time for reunion dinners for Chinese Singaporeans, I saw long queues at taxi stands in my neighbourhood and many people waiting for taxis along the roads. Many had difficulties getting one.

A friend told me that he had waited more than an hour and could not book one from the apps either. He later sought the help of a friend who had a van. I, too, helped my cousin to get to the airport after he had waited an hour.

While it is understandable that many Chinese cabbies had taken time off for their reunion dinner, I noted an absence of Malay and Indian drivers in my area. All I saw that evening were Chinese drivers, and I appreciate their much-needed service.

Non-Chinese taxi drivers should rise to the occasion and play their essential part during this festive period every year. This is part of Total Defence, which will succeed only if Singaporeans realise their social responsibilities.

[Today] Doctors should play bigger role in autism education

I refer to the commentary “Unscientific fears over vaccines a threat to all” (Feb 11). I feel that we still need to educate the general public about the importance of vaccination for our young children, so misconceptions about its risk can be reduced.

Even in our society, there continues to be a persistent unfounded fear of vaccines, especially for MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), which many allege causes autism in young children.

Letters and reports about the vaccine–autism link published over the years show that there is still a lack of understanding about autism and its causes and treatments. As a result, there is still a lot of misinformation about the condition.

One set of myths concerns the causes of autism. The most popular one, of course, is about the triple MMR vaccine, which was first brought into international attention through a now-debunked study published in The Lancet in 1998.

Another damaging myth is the claim that thiomersal, used as a preservative in vaccines, results in autism. However, the medical community, backed by the World Health Organization and the United States Institute of Medicine among other organisations, has found no causal link between vaccines containing thiomersal and autism.

Another set of myths concerns the treatment of autism. There have been too many risky claims about miraculous cures for autism.

Such claims include special diets, megavitamin therapy, secretin injection, crystal-stone healing, chelation therapy and the list goes on.

Many desperate parents, embracing false hope, have sought such unproven and unscientific treatments for their children with autism, and often without a clear understanding of the condition.

Perhaps our medical and allied practitioners can play a bigger role in informing and educating parents of children with autism about the disorder, its causes and the current appropriate treatments.

In this way, fewer will fall for unscrupulous claims of miracle cures and so-called studies.

[Straits Times] My point

Wheelchair user rejected by cabbies

EARLIER this month, I was in Tanjong Katong Road trying to hail a cab for my friend who uses a wheelchair.

After waiting a long time, I saw an empty Comfort cab and flagged it down. I indicated that the driver should turn into a driveway to pick up my friend.

He did as I instructed, but when he saw the wheelchair, he scooted off. I was flabbergasted. The same thing happened with two other taxis from the same company.

It is bad enough to be a wheelchair user and feel helpless, but to be blatantly rejected three times in quick succession by people whose job is to provide a service is beyond comprehension.

Can taxi drivers pick and choose passengers like this? Where is the gracious society we want to promote?

Goh Geok Eng (Madam)

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Penalised for bank's lapses

THERE were three unauthorised online transactions involving my UOB Visa debit card last September totalling $144.46.

Last November, the bank credited the amount back into my account. Last month, however, it debited the same amount from my account, the reason being that I did not file a claims form and the bank could not contact me by phone.

After many visits, calls and e-mail to the bank, I still have not received my money nor any communication from the bank.

Why am I being punished for the bank's inability to protect its customers' money?

Tham Weng Yew

[Straits Times] World-class cuisine: Make no compromises

SUGGESTIONS on boosting productivity and restructuring work processes in the kitchen fly in the face of promoting a product's added value through a USP, or unique selling point ("Fresh ingredients needed to fix eatery troubles"; last Thursday).

Like many other industries, restaurants can command high prices from willing clients only by providing personalised service from well-trained wait staff, with attention to detail and the human touch, in addition to delicious cuisine.

Surely then, the USP of all good restaurants is the ability to provide a unique dining experience to each and every patron daily.

Streamlining Cantonese (and many other respected) kitchens through multitasking and the use of technology belies the true nature and art of preparing and presenting world-class cuisine.

Brigade de cuisine, a concept popularised by the French, is universally found in various adaptation in kitchens of major restaurants around the world, including China.

This hierarchical organisation format thrives even in expensive and tight labour markets, in part, because of its success in maintaining consistency and standards, but also its apprenticeship system where aspiring chefs can learn their trade by complete focus and immersion in each speciality.

No automation can replace that.

Restaurateurs balance service, productivity and training to maintain their reputation in the trade.

Their restaurants are not in the same league as local fast-food outlets with machine-fried chicken, self-service food stalls in the heartland, or self-order eateries in the shopping malls.

Caution should be taken before making changes at the risk of losing our fame as the regional hub of world cuisine.

Goh Shyan Lii

[Straits Times] Related party transactions: MND replies

WE REFER to the commentary by Associate Professor Lee Kin Wai ("The problem with related party transactions"; Feb 18).

All town councils (TCs) are to prepare their financial statements in accordance with the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (FRS). Under FRS 24, a TC is required to disclose related party transactions in the financial statements, in particular, the nature of the relationship and the amount of transactions.

Prof Lee referred to the revised FRS standards, which are applicable to financial statements for periods beginning on or after July 1 last year.

Under the revised standards, transactions between a TC and its managing agent (MA) will also be considered related party transactions, if the MA provides key management personnel services to the TC.

When this comes into effect, all TCs, except Bishan-Toa Payoh TC, which employs its own staff, will have to make related party transactions disclosure in their financial statements.

This new requirement will apply to the TCs' financial year (FY) 2015/2016 (April this year to March next year) and subsequent accounts.

It did not apply to their FY 2012/2013 accounts, which was the period of the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) audit of Aljunied-Hougang- Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC).

It will also not apply to the TCs' FY 2014/2015 accounts (April last year to next month) to be tabled in Parliament in October, since the accounts began before July 1 last year.

The AGO audit highlighted that AHPETC and its MA, FM Solutions and Services (FMSS), are considered related parties under the prevailing FRS 24.

This is because the key management personnel of AHPETC - its secretary Danny Loh, its general manager How Weng Fan and its deputy general manager Yeo Soon Fei - are also owners of FMSS providing paid services to AHPETC; they control FMSS and have a clear personal financial interest in transactions between FMSS and the TC.

FM Solutions and Integrated Services (FMSI) and AHPETC are also considered related parties because FMSI is a sole proprietorship owned by Mr Loh.

In no other TCs are their key management personnel also owners of their MA. They are either direct employees of the TCs, like in Bishan-Toa Payoh TC and the former Hougang TC, or employees of the MA, not owners.

With the exception of AHPETC, all other TCs' auditors did not raise any observation on related party transactions in their auditors' reports.

Christine Yap (Ms)

Director

Corporate Communications

Ministry of National Development

[Straits Times] Good blood circulation vital

IN A diabetic patient, sooner or later, the blood vessels to the legs will be damaged by the disease.

This will lead to poor blood supply to the legs and, in turn, to poor wound healing if a wound occurs in the legs.

Without adequate nutrition and oxygen, the wound will become infected; this will only get worse until the legs become gangrenous and have to be amputated.

Using maggots to clear a dirty wound is just one of the methods available to clean a wound ("Maggots saving more patients' limbs in hospitals"; Tuesday).

If the poor blood circulation is not treated at the same time, no amount of maggot therapy will save a leg that is starved of nutrition and oxygen.

In patients who have undergone maggot therapy, and the wound heals, it does not mean that the limbs are saved from being amputated, if nothing is done to improve the blood circulation, by whatever means.

Maggot therapy solves only part of the problem. It can clean dirty wounds, but it is not the magic bullet to save diabetic limbs from amputation without improving blood circulation.

Tan Soon Kiam (Dr)

[Straits Times] Gambling shouldn't be made so easy in heartland

I SHARE the concern over young people getting started on the gambling habit at an earlier age, and betting more, especially on football ("Protect young from problem gambling"; Monday).

But one problem contributing to this is the ubiquitous presence of betting outlets at FairPrice supermarkets.

These betting outlets are open for long hours, and even as early as 8am, there are already queues formed.

I have several questions:

What are the criteria for housing a Singapore Pools betting outlet? Do all FairPrice supermarkets qualify? How about Giant and Sheng Siong supermarkets?

How much is FairPrice profiting from these betting outlets and what does it do with the profits? I find it hard to reconcile how an organisation that tries to help the lower-income by giving rebates, encourages gambling at the same time.

I have also seen people who look younger than 18 placing bets. Do betting outlet staff ask for identification? Are there posters warning those under 18 that they are not allowed to bet?

The minimum age for betting should be raised to 21.

Why are betting outlets, especially those at FairPrice, so conspicuous? Should they not be hidden in some corner so the young do not see them?

I have seen parents with children in tow queueing up to place bets. This is a really bad example to set.

Why are betting outlets allowed to operate such long hours? To curb gambling problems, these outlets should be allowed to open only from noon to 6pm. This will discourage people from betting before and after work.

How many betting outlets are there all over Singapore? How far apart are they and what is the ratio of their numbers to our population?

I remember that when these betting outlets were started, the main aim was the eradication of illegal bookies.

Are illegal bookies still such a big problem that we need so many betting outlets at FairPrice supermarkets?

James Wong Joo Sin

[Straits Times] Hefty petrol tax controls traffic congestion better

IN THIS year's Budget, the Government raised the petrol duties to discourage Singaporean motorists from driving unnecessarily, as well as to reduce carbon emissions ("Petrol duty up but there's a one-year road tax rebate"; Tuesday).

While the intent is understandable, it is unlikely that this will yield the outcome desired.

This is because the high cost of private vehicle ownership, given high certificate of entitlement (COE) prices, makes petrol a marginal utility cost for Singaporean motorists ("Costlier petrol 'unlikely to change driving habits'"; yesterday).

In order to truly discourage driving but to fulfil many Singaporeans' aspiration of car ownership, the Government should consider abolishing the COE altogether and replacing it with a hefty petrol tax.

The Government could use a formula to price the petrol duty in lieu of COE by dividing the COE price over the average mileage travelled by a Singaporean motorist over a span of 10 years.

With such a system, more Singaporeans can own cars but would definitely think twice about driving as they would be charged for car usage and not car ownership.

Additionally, this will influence aspiring vehicle owners to select more petrol-economical vehicles, and the carbon emission per kilometre travelled will be reduced correspondingly.

Lee Yong Se

[Straits Times] Students' real-life skills need upgrading, too

THIS year's Budget has initiatives to empower every Singaporean to learn and develop throughout their lives ("Grant, top-ups in push for workers to upgrade skills"; Tuesday).

This is a heartening move that recognises the importance of constantly staying relevant through skills upgrading and knowledge acquisition.

As we mark our 50th year of independence, the time is ripe to review our education system's effectiveness. Granted, our students attain stellar results in international tests and national exams. However, it is less certain whether the average student readily exhibits the qualities of a truly educated person.

Many students in Singapore fall short when it comes to communicative skills, especially if they are asked questions on the spot for which they have not prepared any scripted answer. Few students can confidently articulate their opinions on broad issues. Some do not even possess much general knowledge or awareness of current affairs.

Critical thinking skills may not be readily observed in our students. This may, in part, be due to the lack of time for reading amid a hectic daily schedule.

However, it is also questionable whether lessons in school sufficiently infuse and integrate real-life, current knowledge and issues into lessons. Perhaps, this has been sidelined by the heavy focus on exams.

While the constant upgrading of technical and vocational skills is vital, so is the need to have our students stay abreast of current affairs and have opportunities to debate issues that have an impact.

Likewise, our students need to have ample opportunities to hone their oratorical skills so that they can effectively communicate with others. Even in written communication, we need to ensure they understand the importance of tone and register so that they do not end up sounding too informal or casual in their language use.

We cannot afford to have our classrooms function as bubbles, with students cut off from current issues and concerns of the day.

While they may boast of impressive technical skills, they must also be equipped with updated knowledge. Otherwise, they are not truly empowered nor prepared for the real world.

Ng Seow Hwee (Ms)

[Straits Times] Fair for all, sets path for future

THE 2015 Budget is a very comprehensive one detailing the Government's methodical plan to secure our future as a nation while ensuring every Singaporean gets a decent share of the national pie, in particular, the low-income and sandwiched class ("Budget boost for the middle class"; Tuesday).

The civil servants who worked assiduously in the background to flesh out the broad policy strokes must be complimented for making the Budget all inclusive.

Not everyone may be pleased with the individual benefits they will or will not get. But detractors would be hard put to denigrate the intent and substance of this Budget.

Singaporeans, to a large extent, are the gainers, except for high-income earners who would be taxed more and the driving public who have to pay more for fuel.

As owners of a private residential property, my wife and I get little of the largesse distributed all round.

We do not grit our teeth in exasperation each time we are negligibly "gifted", while those who live in HDB flats reap larger harvests.

The low-income and sandwiched Singaporeans are deserving of more generous assistance to lessen the drag of the high cost of living.

During our productive years, through sound management of financial resources and early preparation for retirement through frugal, frills-free expenditure, we have set aside a decent nest egg.

Our joy and contentment are founded on family togetherness, caring for the grandchildren, doing the household chores ourselves, family outings, and taking care of our health - and that is a personal responsibility of all Singaporeans.

Ho Kong Loon

[Straits Times] Time to review how primary school science is taught

I ECHO the view of parents interviewed in Monday's article that our primary schools are being overly rigid in penalising pupils for answers that deviate from the marking scheme ("Only one right answer to science questions?").

It appears that we are quibbling over mere semantics.

Having coached my daughter in science for her Primary School Leaving Examination last year, I concede that the exam-savvy way demands a fair bit of rote learning in terms of memorising key phrases and words from textbooks, as well as so-called "model answers" from past-year exam papers.

Sadly, there is no way of circumventing this mode of learning. Indeed, it is a travesty of the inquiry-based learning approach and expels all the joy of appreciating the wonders of science.

Another bugbear is the use of science textbooks that are woefully inadequate in terms of content coverage. All that these slim volumes provide are key concepts, with scarce examples for application. Most children and parents are, thus, forced to buy an assortment of other textbooks and assessment books to plug the deficiency.

But what about the children whose parents can ill afford to pay for these supplementary materials, let alone tuition classes? It is an uneven playing field where income disparity impacts a child's academic performance.

There seems to be something inherently wrong with how science is taught in primary schools today. Perhaps the time is ripe for a systemic review of the curriculum to address all these concerns.

Marietta Koh (Mrs)

[Straits Times] Changi Airport Group: Efforts to ensure safe works

WE THANK Mr Francis Cheng for his feedback on the water supply disruption that occurred at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 last month ("Ensure pipe diversion work is done properly"; Forum Online, Feb 17).

Changi Airport Group (CAG) works closely with its contractors to ensure that all developmental works are carried out safely and securely.

On Jan 29, a pipe diversion by one of CAG's contractors disrupted the water supply to some areas of Terminal 3. Immediate action was taken to distribute bottled water to passengers, airport users and staff. Water was also conveyed from other terminals for use by affected tenants, and assistance was sought from PUB to provide temporary water supply to Terminal 3.

These efforts to assist tenants helped minimise the impact on their operations, with many of them continuing to remain open for business.

To prevent a recurrence, CAG will step up supervisory checks on such works. We have highlighted to all contractors the importance of strict compliance with all guidelines and development requirements for all works to be carried out.

Ng Chew Song

Senior Vice-President

Projects and Contracts

Changi Airport Group

[Straits Times] Let homes be peaceful haven for genuine residents

RESIDENTS of a building have an equal right to peace, privacy and security in their homes. Therefore, as much as an owner-resident enjoys this right, he also has an obligation not to infringe on his neighbours' rights to the same enjoyment.

However, when an owner sublets his unit, his neighbours are significantly exposed to an infringement of their rights if the subletting is for transient lodging.

Unlike a genuine resident, a transient stayer has little interest in maintaining a conducive environment. Neither is it in the interest of the person who runs the property unit as a transient lodging, given the nature of his enterprise.

An aggrieved resident faces an onerous process of resolving disputes.

If the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) faces serious challenges in tackling illegal subletting because of the "lack of direct evidence of infringement" and "impracticability of obtaining evidence from the landlords" ("Medical tourists flouting short-term rental rule" by Ms Beatrice Tang; May 24, 2014), it is far more difficult for a resident to fight for his rights alone.

If the URA allows short-term rentals, it would not only aggravate the negative consequences of current illegal subletting, but also tilt the entire system in favour of landlords.

Licensing and policing are always easier said than done. Therefore, I am not optimistic that regulations can effectively mitigate the risks of short-term rentals.

Until and unless the URA can hold a landlord accountable for his tenant's behaviour and effectively enforce a landlord's obligation to uphold his neighbour's rights, short-term rentals should not be allowed. Let a residential dwelling remain what it was intended for: a peaceful haven for genuine residents.

Ong Bee Lian (Ms)

[Straits Times] Remove reserved seats? We're not quite ready yet

MR LIN Weizhong's letter on Tuesday ("To promote graciousness, remove reserved seats"; Forum Online) piqued my interest because I had written about a similar topic on Oct 15, 2013 ("Real meaning of reserved seats"; Forum Online).

In it, I used a restaurant's reserved tables as an analogy. Basically, a reserved table is one that is specially kept aside for a patron, who expects it to be empty the moment he arrives.

To put it into context, a reserved seat should never be occupied unless you are pregnant, old, injured or with a young child.

Thus, whenever I see an able-bodied commuter on a reserved seat, my question will be, "Why is an able-bodied occupant sitting on a reserved seat in the first place?"

This is why, while Mr Lin has good intentions, doing away with reserved seats will not work.

On many occasions, I have seen an able-bodied commuter on a reserved seat, refusing to budge despite somebody else needing it more than him. By removing the reserved seats, the selfish attitude will be more prevalent than ever. It will become a case of "who blinks first".

For instance, who do you think will be willing to give up his seat when a pregnant woman boards the train? Is it the woman who has many shopping bags, the 60-year-old man who has just finished his night shift, or the 10-year-old pupil with a huge school bag? They are more likely to justify their own needs for the seat, than to give it up graciously.

At a time when we are still seeing people rushing into trains instead of giving way to alighting commuters, we are still not gracious enough to do away with reserved seats.

Donovan Chee

[Straits Times] Giving with your heart, and mind

AT THE National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), we believe that Singaporeans are a generous people. From non-profit corporations to individual volunteers and donors, we all step up to help others in need.

We, too, sympathised with 70-year-old Tan Soy Kiang ("More than $50k raised for man who got cheated: 5 other examples of crowdfunding"; ST Online, Feb 12) but felt that his plight also created an opportunity for Singaporeans to express their generosity.

Taking action empowers those who give to be part of the solution instead of waiting for someone else to take action.

The popularity and accessibility of social media have created online communities of donors who can quickly and conveniently "crowd-give" to various causes and needs. Unfortunately, technology has also made it easier for people to be deceived by fraudsters into pledging support and donations for a "cause".

Therefore, we should verify if the causes are genuine, even if friends endorse them, so that our efforts can go to where the help is truly needed.

It is important for all of us to be informed givers. The more we know, for instance, the purpose of the funds, the proposers and the fund-raisers, the better and more effective and meaningful our help can be.

The NVPC likes its givers to think of themselves as "equal partners" in aiding a cause or the needy.

Due diligence pays off because fraud is minimised, people's confidence in giving is strengthened and normal citizens pay it forward because they know it makes a difference and their efforts matter.

The NVPC's vision is to grow Singapore into a nation that gives, and we cannot do this on our own.

As we continue to build and deepen our work to create that culture of giving, we give thanks for all the amazing Singaporeans who share in their abundance each day.

Melissa Kwee (Ms)

Chief Executive

National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre

[Today] Wanted: Non-Chinese cabbies during this festive period

Many of the workers in essential services such as defence, health care, refuse collection, air, sea and land transport, et cetera, may have had to sacrifice part of their Chinese New Year celebrations with their families for the country’s sake.

In essential services run by government agencies, proper arrangements would have been made to meet the needs during this period.

This is not the case for taxi services, though. The cabs are rented from private companies and the drivers have more freedom to decide when to hit the road.

Last Wednesday evening, which was the time for reunion dinners for Chinese Singaporeans, I saw long queues at taxi stands in my neighbourhood and many people waiting for taxis along the roads. Many had difficulties getting one.

A friend told me that he had waited more than an hour and could not book one from the apps either. He later sought the help of a friend who had a van. I, too, helped my cousin to get to the airport after he had waited an hour.

While it is understandable that many Chinese cabbies had taken time off for their reunion dinner, I noted an absence of Malay and Indian drivers in my area. All I saw that evening were Chinese drivers, and I appreciate their much-needed service.

Non-Chinese taxi drivers should rise to the occasion and play their essential part during this festive period every year. This is part of Total Defence, which will succeed only if Singaporeans realise their social responsibilities.

[Today] Let’s remember cleaners during festive celebrations

In recent years, my Chinese New Year celebrations include not only the usual visiting and feasting with relatives and friends, but also a big-scale “lo hei” in my neighbourhood.

Every year, the Spring View Residents’ Committee organises a simple, yet engaging celebration for residents: More than 10 tables, each with a plate of yusheng, arranged on a basketball court.

Residents, regardless of race or age and dressed mostly in festive red, participate in this celebration graced by one of the Members of Parliament (MPs) of Jurong GRC.

Together, we watch a lion dance performance and receive red packets from the “God of Fortune” and two mandarin oranges from the MP, followed by the lo-hei.

The most meaningful part of the celebration is the acknowledgement of the hard work of the three cleaners who keep our neighbourhood spick and span. They are invited to receive a small token of appreciation from the MP.

We know them well after living in the neighbourhood for many years, and they have become a part of our neighbourhood.

Before dawn, while many are sleeping, they start mopping our lifts and common areas, and sweeping away dried leaves. In the evening, we can still see them clearing the dustbins.

During the long festive weekend, some workers were thanked for keeping Singapore humming. (“Health Minister Gan spreads cheer at hospital visit”; 19, online)

Let us also remember those who work long hours to keep our neighbourhoods clean.

[Today] Sensible to have more than one key to unlock CPF savings

I refer to last week’s Talking Point, “CPF: More choice, better security?”

A taxi driver once complained to me that he could not withdraw his Central Provident Fund savings despite being above 60 years old. “The money’s mine,” he said. “Why doesn’t the Government allow me to use my own money?”

For many of those who need money for their daily life, the issue has become an emotional one. To explain the whys and wherefores of CPF policies is not easy, even for a CPF officer.

There are three keys in the CPF logo, which represent “the unity of the tripartite relationship among employees, employers and the Government” and which could perhaps explain why withdrawing one’s CPF savings has become complicated.

A CPF member holds the first key, but cannot unlock his savings without the key held by the CPF Board, for buying a home and for investments, medical expenses, insurance schemes or children’s education.

When he reaches 55 years old, he must fulfil the Minimum Sum requirements before he can withdraw any excess savings.

Perhaps, those who top up the CPF accounts of their loved ones should also be empowered as stakeholders and a key holder, to ensure the savings of their loved ones are not withdrawn prematurely.

It is sensible to have this multiple-keys mechanism. As members have diverse needs and financial situations, striking a good balance between self-determination and government interference in the CPF system is a delicate task.

More flexibility could be installed, but there are limits to it, beyond which the objective and integrity of the CPF scheme would be compromised.

[Today] More public holidays may be better

I refer to the Manpower Ministry’s letter, “Impractical to make all key festivals public holidays” (Feb 14). Perhaps, the consideration is how it could be hard for Singapore to be competitive if we have too many holidays.

Our fierce economic competitor, Hong Kong, has 17 public holidays, though, and the Chinese territory has no problems remaining one of Asia’s best economies, often beating Singapore in economic rankings.

Unlike Hong Kong, Singapore is multiracial. So during this Chinese New Year, for example, those from the other races might be working.

This is true for services that must run throughout the holidays, such as public transport, our airport, the checkpoints and some supermarkets.

Hong Kong, as a homogenous territory, has the luxury of providing holidays for both major and minor occasions; the residents take their breaks and return to work refreshed.

Perhaps, overworked Singaporeans would be better off having holidays that make everyone happy. Every racial community is an important cog in our economy.

With less annual leave left, just so they can attend an important religious or cultural occasion, some Singaporeans may end up feeling less refreshed.

Further, more holidays means that the ever-important and growing tourism industry has more reasons to bring in foreign visitors.

For example, Thaipusam is a crowd-puller in Malaysia. Were it made a public holiday in Singapore, with the entire road for Hindu Singaporeans to perform their procession, there may be many tourists preferring Singapore as a holiday destination instead.

But it seems we want workers to work more days when it would be better to earn the tourist dollar, let our Hindu friends enjoy their religious festival, and for the rest of us, a well-deserved break.

The ministry should rethink this issue. What happened in 1968 is no longer relevant; we may have needed to make compromises then for our young nation to become an Asian Tiger, but we are at the top now.

More holidays does not necessarily mean a slow or weaker economy as Hong Kong has demonstrated.