Gp Factsheet - Singapore Issues

SINGAPOR E Social (Censorshi p/Freedom of Speech, Media, Chx of Sg)

Event/Issue

Response from Public/Government

Defamation Lawsuit against Roy Ngerng - Controversial Singaporean activist and blogger 15 May 2014: wrote an article accusing PM Lee of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid by Singaporeans to the CPF

In a week after lawsuit was filed, successfully raised $80,000 through crowd-sourcing methods for his legal defense fund, total amount of $110,229 by June 2014

19 May 2014: received a Letter of Demand – take down article, apology, pay damages and legal fees.

Social (Migrant communiti es, Ethnic Tensions)

Took down article but continued to publish articles related to the CPF scheme + asked supporters to sign petition and participate in a protest. Little India Riot – 8 December 2013 - 2nd riot in post-independence Singapore since 1969 race riots Sakthivel Kumarvelu, 33 yo Indian construction orkers, run over by a private bus and killed. Angry mobs of passersby attacked both the bus and emergency vehicles that subsequently arrived 300 migrant labourers from Tamil Nadu and Bangladesh Singapore Police Force dispatched 300 riot police to quell the unrest Government has taken steps to improve housing conditions for foreign workers. -

Social (Criminal Justice, Human Rights)

Social (Media,

Nine purpose-built dorms, which come with cafeterias and basketball courts, will be built over the next two years. They will add around 100,000 beds to the existing 200,000 in about 40 big dorms.

“The supposed right of intolerance is absurd and barbaric. It is the right of the tiger; nay, it is far worse, for tigers do but tear in order to have food, while we rend each other for paragraphs.” – Treatise of Tolerance, Voltaire 1763

Shocked Singaporeans, raised debate regarding issues of general safety, overcrowding and increasing numbers of migrant workers in Singapore Highlighted ongoing ethnic tensions within Singapore, rising income inequality, country’s heavy reliance on foreign labour. Poor working conditions and quality of life of migrant workers Found out that victim was intoxicated during the accident. May 2014, total ban of alcohol with the closing of night spots and restrictions of nightlife activities in certain areas of Little India Managing foreign workforce: Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin – Efforts to raise the quality profile of the foreign workforce and help businesses reduce their reliance on low-cost foreign labour. Government introduced $5.9 billion Quality Growth Programme in Budget 2014 to help businesses and industries achieve this Dedicated recreation centres created for foreign workers in Soon Lee, Kaki Bukit, Woodlands and Penjuru. - Provide wider range of amenities, government can manage these shared spaces, increase satisfaction level of foreign workers

Singapore continues to implement its mandatory death sentences for 20 drug-related offenses, has been repeatedly criticized by United Nations human rights bodies and experts Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA) and Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act permit the authorities to arrest and detain suspects for virtually unlimited periods of time without charge or judicial review. In September 2011, Singapore’s Home Affairs Ministry said threats of subversion, espionage, terrorism, and racial and religious extremism keep the long-criticised ISA ‘relevant’ 2 corporations dominate the media, Mediacorp (broadcasting) owned by a government investment company, Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) (Print Media) – Private

Censorship )

Social (LGBT)

Social (Human Rights)

Social (Crime)

company but government must approve and can remove SPH shareholders, who in turn have the authority to hire and fire all directors and staff Speakers Corner: Only outdoor space where uncensored speech is allowed, people can demonstrate, perform and hold exhibitions. 28 June 2014, estimated record high of Corporate contributors for event: Google, 26,000 people turned up at Hong Lim Barclays, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, BP – Park for annual Pink Dot rally and attendance and sponsorship. concert Strongest indication so far of Corporate Held at Speaker’s Corner to show Singapore’s growing support of an all-inclusive support for Singapore’s LGBT society community and to campaign for equal rights regardless of sexual orientation. Singaporeans becoming more vocal and passionate, less apathetic about social issues Survey of Social Morality released by - Singapore seeing growing voices over Institute of Policy Studies in early 2014, issues like immigration, rising living costs 78.2% said sexual relations between 2 and gay rights, though in a country adults of the same sex was wrong, where dissent is actively discouraged 72.9% did not agree with gay marriage. and political gatherings require a permit Singapore remains a largely regardless of how many people involved. conservative society In April 2013, petition by 2 gay men to the WearWhite Movement Singapore High Court asking for Section 377a to Launched by Ustaz Noor Deros, Muslim be repealed was rejected. teacher, joined by Pastor Lawrence Khong of Faith Community Baptist Penal Code section 377a criminalises sexual Church, LoveSingapore network of acts between consenting adult men. churches - Wear white over the weekend of Pink Dot to stand against the promotion of homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle, and growing normalization of LGBT Passive euthanasia allowed: Advance Medical Directive Act (AMD Act) in May 1996 - Person is allowed to instruct doctors not to take extraordinary measures to prolong his/her life is he/she is terminally ill and unconscious by signing an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) But active euthanasia still illegal November 2014: Lunchtime robbery in Raffles Place - Indonesian businessman Kang Tie Tie, 37, carrying a bag with nearly $800,000 in cash and cash cheques when  robbed and stabbed. Passers-by detained the suspect, Arun, a 38-year-old Indonesian, who has been charged. - Money changer Ali Yousouf Saiboo, 35, was robbed of more than $600,000 in an Aljunied carpark. Three Malaysian men were charged, but five unidentified suspects remain at large.

Social (Ageing Population)

Budget 2014: Pioneer Generation Package - $8 Billion into Pioneer Generation Fund - About 450,000 Singaporeans will benefit, born before 1949. - Additional 50% off already subsidized bills at specialist outpatient clinics and polyclinics - All qualify for Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) – provide accessible and affordable medical and dental care. - Annual Medisave top up of $200-$4800 - Covered under MediShield Life. Subsidies given according to age to ensure premiums for the scheme are affordable.

Economic (employme nt)

Legislation in 2008 Set of guidelines by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices for employers to follow when recruiting, rewarding and retrenching employees - Job application forms should not ask for a person’s age, gender, race or even photograph, to alleviate discrimination Work Development Agency (WDA), who has set up a Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) credentialing system. - Constant knowledge and skills upgrading for the older generation to adapt and advance skillset so that they can still actively contribute to society, remain employable, relevant. - Vital in our ageing population, for lesser dependency on the working population.