I refer to the report “Five full-time lawyers help boost legal-aid scheme” (May 19).
One of the most respected criminal lawyers of our time, the late Mr Subhas Anandan, once said that even “the most heinous offenders deserve their day in a court of law”. The foundations of Singapore’s justice system rest upon the value of equality. No matter what crime has been committed, all accused must be tried fairly and in accordance with the law. This would include them having representation in court, as they may have little to no knowledge of how the legal system functions.
Sadly, it appears that many accused people and even some who are in a way victims themselves (such as those forced into becoming loanshark runners) are unable to afford the often-costly legal fees and, hence, go into court unrepresented. They are at risk of being punished unfairly or even wrongly convicted, where the latter could cost them years of their lives. Such potential miscarriages of justice are unacceptable.
It is thus heartening to read that there are lawyers who are willing to step up and help, and that there are also law firms willing to chip in. This goes to show that the spirit of selflessness is very much alive in the legal community. That the Government helps fund the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) also shows the importance of ensuring those accused receive a fair trial with professional legal representation. The widening of the scope of aid under CLAS will also extend legal aid to a wider range of accused people.
However, even with such aid, demand still exceeds supply. As such, I hope the examples set by these five lawyers, some of Singapore’s top private law firms and even the Government will inspire more to contribute to our community and sign up for pro-bono activities or even take up cases under CLAS. Such efforts may not yield much monetary reward, but they will provide an invaluable sense of satisfaction for those willing to lend a helping hand.
Monday, 25 May 2015
[Today] Internships: A remedy for uncertainty
The Structured Internship Programme (SIP) offered by Nanyang Polytechnic (“NYP to offer structured internships to all its students”; May 16) sets a good precedent for the other polytechnics as well as the Institutes of Technical Education.
Simply doing well in academics is no longer adequate and such programmes are already established in the universities, providing undergraduates with opportunities to improve their career prospects.
Programmes such as these are particularly useful for those entering the workforce for the first time, and the orientation activities and work tasks will ease them into organisational processes and hierarchies. What stands out in the SIP is that students “will be matched with industry mentors as they undergo real-world training and embark on projects”.
Through my different attachments with companies, I have been blessed with mentors who are eager to not only share their insights, but also challenge interns to do much more. Such rigour is appreciated, and not necessarily present in the confines of a school.
More importantly in the long run, internships help students ascertain whether they might be suitable for a company or industry. Through months of immersion they get a glimpse at their possible roles and responsibilities, speak to colleagues who have amassed years of experience and expertise, and put into practice the know-how picked up in the classroom.
Even after three years of tertiary education, the future may remain hazy for some, and my internships during the holidays have been a good remedy to this uncertainty. For instance, working in a bank last year, even if it was for a short while, made me realise I was ill-suited to the finance sector.
Career guidance is crucial in the school and, in this vein, internships provide a link between academic courses and careers. Educators can help to shape perceptions, encouraging students to establish ambitions and aspirations on their own.
The SIP and its equivalent programmes are stepping stones. Ultimately, the onus is on students to make independent decisions. The notion of lifelong learning, which Education Minister Heng Swee Keat alluded to, is applicable too.
Just as undergraduates may have to source for their own internships, they will have to work for their own opportunities in the corporate world if they want to develop as individuals.
Simply doing well in academics is no longer adequate and such programmes are already established in the universities, providing undergraduates with opportunities to improve their career prospects.
Programmes such as these are particularly useful for those entering the workforce for the first time, and the orientation activities and work tasks will ease them into organisational processes and hierarchies. What stands out in the SIP is that students “will be matched with industry mentors as they undergo real-world training and embark on projects”.
Through my different attachments with companies, I have been blessed with mentors who are eager to not only share their insights, but also challenge interns to do much more. Such rigour is appreciated, and not necessarily present in the confines of a school.
More importantly in the long run, internships help students ascertain whether they might be suitable for a company or industry. Through months of immersion they get a glimpse at their possible roles and responsibilities, speak to colleagues who have amassed years of experience and expertise, and put into practice the know-how picked up in the classroom.
Even after three years of tertiary education, the future may remain hazy for some, and my internships during the holidays have been a good remedy to this uncertainty. For instance, working in a bank last year, even if it was for a short while, made me realise I was ill-suited to the finance sector.
Career guidance is crucial in the school and, in this vein, internships provide a link between academic courses and careers. Educators can help to shape perceptions, encouraging students to establish ambitions and aspirations on their own.
The SIP and its equivalent programmes are stepping stones. Ultimately, the onus is on students to make independent decisions. The notion of lifelong learning, which Education Minister Heng Swee Keat alluded to, is applicable too.
Just as undergraduates may have to source for their own internships, they will have to work for their own opportunities in the corporate world if they want to develop as individuals.
[Today] Refugee crisis: S’pore taking wise approach
I support Singapore’s position of not accepting any refugees, especially when the Rohingya migrant crisis is one rooted in domestic issues.
Some have said that if Singapore does nothing, we cannot escape the blame for the refugees’ plight. But one of the fundamental principles of the ASEAN Constitution is the right of each state to exist free of external interference.
Singapore has rendered humanitarian help in terms of manpower, money and relief items when countries were struck by natural calamities, and in search-and-recover operations in incidents such as last year’s AirAsia crash. It also has a regional disaster-relief coordination centre located at the Changi Command and Control Centre to coordinate humanitarian assistance for disaster relief efforts.
But it is foolhardy to ask our Government to set up refugee centres elsewhere to house refugees. This would contribute to the rise of human traffickers, as Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said recently in response to the crisis. Offering help blindly sends wrong signals to criminals and the larger world.
Some have said that if Singapore does nothing, we cannot escape the blame for the refugees’ plight. But one of the fundamental principles of the ASEAN Constitution is the right of each state to exist free of external interference.
Singapore has rendered humanitarian help in terms of manpower, money and relief items when countries were struck by natural calamities, and in search-and-recover operations in incidents such as last year’s AirAsia crash. It also has a regional disaster-relief coordination centre located at the Changi Command and Control Centre to coordinate humanitarian assistance for disaster relief efforts.
But it is foolhardy to ask our Government to set up refugee centres elsewhere to house refugees. This would contribute to the rise of human traffickers, as Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said recently in response to the crisis. Offering help blindly sends wrong signals to criminals and the larger world.
Saturday, 23 May 2015
[Straits Times] Late sporting icon's advice
TEAM Singapore's chef de mission Tan Eng Liang has called on athletes to outdo themselves at next month's SEA Games so that they can do their parents, schools and country proud ("Athletes, outdo yourselves"; last Wednesday).
With all the coaching and training, each athlete must also develop self-discipline and mental focus to give his best.
I have always admired the late badminton player Wong Peng Soon. He won the All-England badminton championship singles title in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1955, and was a member of the victorious Malayan Thomas cup teams of 1949, 1952 and 1955.
His deft drop shots, powerful left-hand flicks and nimble footwork have few comparisons.
His "secret weapons" were skipping ropes and dumbbells that he used off-court to develop feet and wrist dexterity.
On the few occasions I came under his coaching at Queenstown Secondary School, I was mesmerised by his skills and could not get even one point from him.
His parting words to me were "no late nights, no smoking and no drinking" if you want to compete well.
Gan Kok Tiong
With all the coaching and training, each athlete must also develop self-discipline and mental focus to give his best.
I have always admired the late badminton player Wong Peng Soon. He won the All-England badminton championship singles title in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1955, and was a member of the victorious Malayan Thomas cup teams of 1949, 1952 and 1955.
His deft drop shots, powerful left-hand flicks and nimble footwork have few comparisons.
His "secret weapons" were skipping ropes and dumbbells that he used off-court to develop feet and wrist dexterity.
On the few occasions I came under his coaching at Queenstown Secondary School, I was mesmerised by his skills and could not get even one point from him.
His parting words to me were "no late nights, no smoking and no drinking" if you want to compete well.
Gan Kok Tiong
[Straits Times] Writer of the week
WHO: David Kwok Ng Kan, 64, retiree.
MY FAMILY: Married with a son, Kelvin, 36, and a grandson, Royce, who is 17 months old.
MY HOME: A three-room flat in Tanjong Pagar.
MY PASSIONS: Swimming and walking. I am also a grassroots leader, doing volunteer and community work.
I FIRST STARTED WRITING TO THE FORUM PAGE...: In the 80s when I was working with a statutory board.
WHAT I WRITE ABOUT: Mostly on municipal matters so that the authorities can address the problems and solve them at the ground level.
WHY I WRITE: I write because The Straits Times Forum Page is an effective platform where problems can be put forward and picked up by the proper authorities and government agencies.
I READ THE FORUM PAGE BECAUSE...: It is the best way I can see how government agencies and statutory boards handle problems.
MY WISH FOR SINGAPORE: I wish to see more assistance and attention given to senior citizens and the poor, as well as more help for those who have fallen through the cracks.
I also wish for more incentives to be given to married couples to start families so as to boost the population of Singapore.
MY FAMILY: Married with a son, Kelvin, 36, and a grandson, Royce, who is 17 months old.
MY HOME: A three-room flat in Tanjong Pagar.
MY PASSIONS: Swimming and walking. I am also a grassroots leader, doing volunteer and community work.
I FIRST STARTED WRITING TO THE FORUM PAGE...: In the 80s when I was working with a statutory board.
WHAT I WRITE ABOUT: Mostly on municipal matters so that the authorities can address the problems and solve them at the ground level.
WHY I WRITE: I write because The Straits Times Forum Page is an effective platform where problems can be put forward and picked up by the proper authorities and government agencies.
I READ THE FORUM PAGE BECAUSE...: It is the best way I can see how government agencies and statutory boards handle problems.
MY WISH FOR SINGAPORE: I wish to see more assistance and attention given to senior citizens and the poor, as well as more help for those who have fallen through the cracks.
I also wish for more incentives to be given to married couples to start families so as to boost the population of Singapore.
[Straits Times] Preventive steps to avoid kidney disease
IT IS disconcerting to read that kidney failure rates are increasing in Singapore ("A new dialysis patient every 5 hours"; May 10).
Two prominent risk factors highlighted are obesity and diabetes.
However, there are other risk factors as well.
It is helpful to note that kidney failure usually develops from chronic kidney disease, although acute failure can sometimes take place from trauma and other medical conditions.
The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease is increasing at a rather alarming rate worldwide.
It is estimated that about 30 per cent of diabetic patients and 20 per cent of hypertensive patients have chronic kidney disease, which will lead to kidney failure without proper treatment and intervention.
Other risk factors for chronic kidney disease include hypercholesterolemia, obesity, a family history, systolic hypertension, atherosclerosis (inflammation and disease of the blood vessels) and proteinuria (increased urinary protein excretion).
Chronic kidney disease does not always end up in dialysis or a transplant; it contributes significantly to cardiovascular diseases, which include coronary heart disease, stroke, and often morbidity and death.
Singaporeans are encouraged to go for health screenings - and one result from these screenings may show albumin or protein in the urine examination.
This should not be ignored or interpreted as "normal". Further tests to exclude microalbuminuria and proteinuria should be undertaken.
If microalbuminuria is discovered and there is no medical intervention, chronic kidney disease may ensue.
We need to be aware that death due to cardiovascular disease for dialysis patients is about 30 per cent higher than for the general population and transplanted patients also need to go on long-term treatment to prevent rejection and other complications.
Dialysis and transplants also incur a high cost for the health budget of a population.
The message is: Preventive medicine is the way to go to avoid chronic kidney disease and renal failure.
We need to heed the call to combat obesity as well as unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles, and to go for early screenings and undertake preventive treatment to lower the rates of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Quek Koh Choon (Dr)
Two prominent risk factors highlighted are obesity and diabetes.
However, there are other risk factors as well.
It is helpful to note that kidney failure usually develops from chronic kidney disease, although acute failure can sometimes take place from trauma and other medical conditions.
The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease is increasing at a rather alarming rate worldwide.
It is estimated that about 30 per cent of diabetic patients and 20 per cent of hypertensive patients have chronic kidney disease, which will lead to kidney failure without proper treatment and intervention.
Other risk factors for chronic kidney disease include hypercholesterolemia, obesity, a family history, systolic hypertension, atherosclerosis (inflammation and disease of the blood vessels) and proteinuria (increased urinary protein excretion).
Chronic kidney disease does not always end up in dialysis or a transplant; it contributes significantly to cardiovascular diseases, which include coronary heart disease, stroke, and often morbidity and death.
Singaporeans are encouraged to go for health screenings - and one result from these screenings may show albumin or protein in the urine examination.
This should not be ignored or interpreted as "normal". Further tests to exclude microalbuminuria and proteinuria should be undertaken.
If microalbuminuria is discovered and there is no medical intervention, chronic kidney disease may ensue.
We need to be aware that death due to cardiovascular disease for dialysis patients is about 30 per cent higher than for the general population and transplanted patients also need to go on long-term treatment to prevent rejection and other complications.
Dialysis and transplants also incur a high cost for the health budget of a population.
The message is: Preventive medicine is the way to go to avoid chronic kidney disease and renal failure.
We need to heed the call to combat obesity as well as unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles, and to go for early screenings and undertake preventive treatment to lower the rates of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Quek Koh Choon (Dr)
[Straits Times] Efforts made towards cure for diabetes
AS A practising kidney specialist and chairman of the Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF), I have observed at first hand, over the course of several years, the rapid increase in patients requiring kidney dialysis, and the high incidence of diabetes among them.
This trend was reported in "A new dialysis patient every 5 hours" (May 10).
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause multiple complications, of which end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis is one of them.
At the KDF, in 2013, this was the principal cause of ESRD, affecting 36.6 per cent of our haemodialysis patients.
In the same year, diabetes was also the main cause of ESRD in 62.1 per cent of the new haemodialysis patients accepted into the KDF.
To put a halt to this worrying trend, diabetes must be targeted, by developing more innovative and possibly curative treatment.
The KDF's board has been strongly supportive of research work in this area.
In 2007, we signed a grant agreement with the National University of Singapore (NUS) in which the KDF pledged to sponsor and provide annual funding on a gene therapy, as a cure for diabetes.
The research team at NUS is part of a multinational effort.
Over the years, significant progress has been achieved.
The next phase is treating dogs with natural diabetes, before moving on to humans.
If successful, this will be of great significance to medical science and humanity, as it would lower the incidence of ESRD due to diabetes, and reduce the number of new patients going on dialysis.
The battle against diabetes and ESRD is a long and arduous journey.
At the KDF, we strive to educate the public in symposiums, community talks, and through our online materials.
We look forward to the fruition of gene therapy research at NUS.
Gordon Ku (Dr)
Chairman
Kidney Dialysis Foundation
This trend was reported in "A new dialysis patient every 5 hours" (May 10).
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause multiple complications, of which end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis is one of them.
At the KDF, in 2013, this was the principal cause of ESRD, affecting 36.6 per cent of our haemodialysis patients.
In the same year, diabetes was also the main cause of ESRD in 62.1 per cent of the new haemodialysis patients accepted into the KDF.
To put a halt to this worrying trend, diabetes must be targeted, by developing more innovative and possibly curative treatment.
The KDF's board has been strongly supportive of research work in this area.
In 2007, we signed a grant agreement with the National University of Singapore (NUS) in which the KDF pledged to sponsor and provide annual funding on a gene therapy, as a cure for diabetes.
The research team at NUS is part of a multinational effort.
Over the years, significant progress has been achieved.
The next phase is treating dogs with natural diabetes, before moving on to humans.
If successful, this will be of great significance to medical science and humanity, as it would lower the incidence of ESRD due to diabetes, and reduce the number of new patients going on dialysis.
The battle against diabetes and ESRD is a long and arduous journey.
At the KDF, we strive to educate the public in symposiums, community talks, and through our online materials.
We look forward to the fruition of gene therapy research at NUS.
Gordon Ku (Dr)
Chairman
Kidney Dialysis Foundation
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