[Straits Times] Improve water flow under Causeway

THERE has not been any significant progress in addressing the problem of recurring algae blooms in the eastern part of the Strait of Johor ("Fish farms pinning their hopes on clay"; last Friday).

There is a cheaper and quicker option.

Currently, several culverts under the Causeway connect the eastern and western waters of the strait.

But over the years since they were installed, they have become completely blocked.

Since both Singapore and Malaysia share the same polluted waters, we should cooperate to unclog the culverts so water can flow through.

Of course, this is just the first step, though a necessary one.

After this, we can then look at other preventive measures, such as reducing effluent from factories.

Additional bypasses, like sea tunnels, would be even better.

Hoang Bac Son

[Straits Times] Support our local fish farmers

THE recent plankton bloom which devastated fish farms in Changi, together with a similar episode last year ("Fishing in troubled waters"; March 16, "Plankton bloom causing fish deaths 'likely to recur'"; March 9, and "Mass deaths continue at coastal fish farms"; Feb 12, 2014), has spurred considerable apprehension about local farms' ability to produce food at a sustainable and profitable rate.

However, Singaporeans must be made aware that local fish farms are integral to the country's food security, and deserve adequate support.

Singapore imports around 90 per cent of its total food consumption.

Without local produce, we will be completely dependent on exports. This condemns us to a position where we will be extremely vulnerable to fluctuations in external food prices, and imported inflation.

Even though local fish make up only a small portion of the amount of fish we consume, it is still a valuable ballast against outside inflationary pressures and price instability.

In today's world, where overfishing has depleted seas in many parts of the world, tightening the global fish supply, it is even more crucial to maintain our own fish farms.

The plankton debacle attests to our local farms' lack of professional knowledge and training in fish rearing in Singapore waters.

It is, therefore, important to ensure that our fish farmers are well trained, equipped and funded to maintain or expand their operations in the future. This can come in the form of an interest-free loan or conditional government grants.

It is gratifying to know that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has been actively assisting the affected fish farmers. It is only right that we give them our support as well.

Kennard Chan Yanting

[Straits Times] Be cautious in exploring options to help patients die

DEATH is not and will never be accepted with ease, even though we know that all living things grow old, fall sick and eventually die ("Deep sleep v euthanasia: Is there a difference?"; ST Online, March 18).

Seeing our loved ones dying slowly is extremely painful and heartrending. Many would think only of how to keep their loved one alive for as long as possible. Euthanasia is never in our minds.

I am glad that assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal in Singapore.

Even if the authorities were to explore the deep-sleep option, I urge caution, because of the implications and moral issues that follow.

The deep sleep option described seems to involve the administering of specific potent drugs to lead to death.

This is unlike the Advance Medical Directive, where a person agrees in advance not to use any life-sustaining treatment to prolong his life when he becomes terminally ill and death is imminent.

The deep-sleep option is similar to assisted suicide and euthanasia. All are akin to robbing lives using medical grounds.

Lim Lih Mei (Ms)

[Straits Times] Love our nation, bin our trash

I APPLAUD the National Environment Agency's (NEA) initiative to grant the town council cleaners a day off every year, so that residents do their part in keeping their environment clean ("Time to bin dirty old ways"; yesterday).

Opinion editor Chua Mui Hoong and assistant political editor Rachel Chang noted that former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was "fussy about order and cleanliness" and believed a "tidy city bespoke an orderly government, a people with good social habits, and pride in their surroundings" ("Did Mr Lee create a Singapore in his own image?"; March 24).

I believe he wanted to instil a sense of belonging and ownership to his people because, after all, this is a shared environment and we can be united by demonstrating kindness and consideration towards others.

He set this tone for us right from the beginning, and it is only right that we carry this as our duty to educate our future generations on their responsibility in keeping Singapore a clean and orderly city.

Last week, people queueing in line, waiting to pay their last respects to Mr Lee, demonstrated that Singaporeans can keep the city clean by picking up our own trash. We do not need others to pick up after us because it is only right that we bin our own trash. The onus is on us and not the cleaners, and Singaporeans have demonstrated that they are socially responsible.

So, this is a timely call by NEA. Let's bin our own trash no matter where we are. Let's demonstrate that we are and can be socially responsible citizens.

Cecilia Ko Sok Eng (Ms)

[Straits Times] On the tree of education, flowers are also needed

THE idea of education is to nurture children until they grow into different parts of the tree to support society ("Learning for life? Policies, parents need to change too"; March 19).

Some people, like the economic-minded ones, are like the trunk, while others, like those who are strong in art or music, are like the flowers.

The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) does not encourage this goal, as it seems to encourage only the academically gifted.

It skews the perceptions of children and parents to think that academic achievement is the only measure of success.

What about other talents, and students who are gifted in their own way?

After all, the purpose of education is to help students discover their own talents and contribute to society after they graduate.

As a student, I can say that exam stress does affect performance. Hence, exam results would not be an accurate gauge of a student's intellect.

While students should try to overcome their exam anxiety, the authorities should not evaluate students by just one exam.

Wong Wee Jern (Miss)

[Straits Times] Sensible but Herculean task to tame tuition industry

THE ethos and Logos of Education Minister Heng Swee Keat's appeal to parents to forgo private tuition is sensible ("From 'study book' or du shu to learning with joy for life"; March 7).

However, changing the mindset of parents on this issue is much like Hercules cleansing the Augean stables.

The tuition industry has expanded so significantly simply because there is an overwhelming demand for private tuition.

Aiming for academic excellence is indelibly etched in the mindset of all involved in educating our children.

Parents cannot be faulted for wanting their children to do well in their studies.

School heads and teachers are pressed to conduct additional lessons in the afternoons, on Saturdays and during school holidays, so their students do well in the examinations.

Many parents, in their anxiety to spur their children to score better, send them for private tuition as well.

Some argue that if the teaching in school is done well, there is no need for extra coaching. This is a specious argument without substantive, corroborative evidence.

Even if it were true, there are still parents who would want their children to steal a march on their peers, in the unrelenting quest to be the creme de la creme.

The minister, in calling for a holistic education with a good balance of the academic, the extra-curricular, social skills, good character foundation and so on, did so in a visionary reach to better secure Singapore's future.

I wish him and all Singaporeans success, as we grapple with the here and now regarding tuition.

Ho Kong Loon

[Today] Nothing to stop bank from raising loan margins?

In June 2010, I took a mortgage that was marketed and signed as having the Singapore interbank offered rate (Sibor) plus 0.65 per cent as the interest rate throughout the loan tenure.

This month, I received a letter stating that Citibank is revising the rate to Sibor plus 0.85 per cent.

When I called the bank, I was told only that it is adjusting to market trends and that the small print in the contract allows for this.

So, the bank has invoked the clause without any good reasons other than it can legally do so. What would stop it then from raising the spread to 1 or even 1.5 per cent next year just because it could?

The Monetary Authority of Singapore or the Consumers Association of Singapore should do something, as this is unfair to consumers.