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TO: NEXT INCUMBENT HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER Subject: MAID PARTY APPEAL LETTER I need your urgent advice about employing a maid. As a busy mother, I need someone reliable to help out at home. My maid is from Profits Agency Pte (PAP) and she has worked for me for a long time. Her mother worked for my parents and did an excellent job, so I had faith in her. For several years her performance has been very good, but recently she has become arrogant and insensitive, and is making lots of mistakes. For example: 1) She flooded my kitchen – she told me that the drain pipe has blocked (she was supposed to clear it once a month but didn’t). Then she assured me that it is very rare and won’t happen again in the near future. Guess what? It flooded again within a year! 2) She didn’t close a window and my terrier dog escaped. I was so worried cos he is dangerous and could bite lots of people. After the incident, she didn’t apologise and just shrugged her shoulders saying “What to do, it has happened.” Fortunately my neighbor found the dog and we locked it up again. 3) Without consulting me, she has been bringing in strangers for my house's maintenance work. She says they charge low wages and keep costs down, but they eat my food, make a lot of noise and rest on my bed. I think they even tried to seduce my husband. It stopped feeling like my home, more like a cheap hotel, and I don’t always want to come back at the end of the day. 4) When she first came to work for me, I instructed her to clean the different parts of the house at least once a week. But for some time she has stopped taking care of the bedrooms of PP and H; they are now dirty and messy. I asked why and she told me that the kids had been disobedient, so she was neglecting their bedrooms as a punishment (she has forgotten that she is paid to clean all the rooms). Even though my maid has worked for me for many years and I value what she has done in the past, I think she is now getting complacent. Her attitude is imperious and dismissive. She ignores my comments and basically treats my feedback as "noise". I wrote to the agency about her behavior; they assured me that they are the best agency around and all their maids are “Commited to Serve” – but I think it is just rhetoric and I don’t see that in her actions. Her salary is much higher than maids in other countries, but the agency say this is to keep her honest and stop her moving to another employer. They say there is a limited supply of maids, and Singapore isn’t big enough for more than one good maid agency, so I should not trust their competitors. I have to decide whether to renew my maid’s 5-year employment contract. When we discussed this she said that she is now part of a team, and if I want her I must also accept her friends doing part-time work for me. One friend is very inexperienced, can't do basic tasks or explain what she intends to do. I suspect that she is actually underage. When interviewed, she only seemed interested in her days-off and visiting Universal Studios. When she couldn't answer my questions she stomped her foot and exclaimed, "I don't know what to say!" But I am still expected to pay her a high salary. Now there happen to be a few other maid agencies - Workhard Pte (WP), New Solutions Pte (NSP), Super Personnel Pte (SPP) and Star Domestica Pte (SDP) - that offered me some helpers who seem sincere, genuine and intelligent. They are keen to work, willing to assist me and have a good attitude. I know that they may take a bit of time to learn how everything works, but frankly I am inclined to give them a chance. People say that the devil you know is better than one you don’t. But I feel that I can’t tahan my current maid anymore. Do you think I should sack my current maid and try out a new one? Appreciate your advice.

Champions League - FERGUSON hails Neuer Display Tue, 26 Apr 23:00:00 2011 Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was praised by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson despite conceding two goals in two minutes during the German side's 2-0 Champions League semi-final second leg defeat. Neuer announced last week he will leave the club he joined as a boy at the end of the season with Bayern expressing firm interest and reports linking United with the in-form Germany keeper with Edwin van der Sar retiring in May. Asked if he would make a bid for Neuer or whether a Bayern move had already been sealed, Ferguson told Sky Sports: "I think we know that (he will join Bayern), we know that for sure." Bayern have already asked for a meeting to discuss signing Neuer, who local media say would cost 20 million euros (£17.8m), and although that was turned down the Bavarians still hope the keeper will join them at the end of the season. Neuer made a string of fine saves in the first half to keep dominant United at bay in Gelsenkirchen but was finally beaten in the 67th minute when Ryan Giggs put the ball through his legs and two minutes later he was beaten by Wayne Rooney's strike. Although Ferguson was astounded by Neuer's overall showing he looks poised to go shopping elsewhere for a new goalkeeper with the likes of Atletico Madrid's David De Gea in the frame. "When (Javier) Hernandez scored and he was offside I think that told the players they could beat this keeper," Ferguson joked of the Mexican's disallowed effort at 0-0 when United, now almost sure of a place in the final, were rampant. "Our concentration, intensity and speed of passing was excellent. "We had less chances in the second half but were more dangerous, when Chicharito scored and it was offside it told the players they could beat the goalkeeper. "The continuity of selection in these games gives us good experience and work-rate and I have good options with the likes of Nani, Scholes and Anderson. We have selection problems now but that is what we want." Ferguson later said: "I think in my time at United this was the finest display of goalkeeping against us. I'm sure there were other feats but tonight we saw a very good one. Reuters

UNITED'S ROONEY sparkles in stadium of World Cup shame Tue, 26 Apr 23:33:00 2011 Manchester United's Wayne Rooney returned to the Auf Schalke Arena, scene of one of his most infamous moments of madness, on Tuesday but left with his reputation enhanced after a virtuoso display. The 25-year-old striker set up the first goal and scored the second after the break as United eased to a 2-0 Champions League semi-final first leg win against hapless Schalke 04 and all but booked their spot in the Wembley final on May 28. It was a happy return to Gelsenkirchen for Rooney, who was sent off for stamping on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho when England went out in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo's wink to the Portugal bench after he protested for then United team mate Rooney to be dismissed made all the back pages of the English papers the next day but Rooney will dominate the headlines for his brilliance this time. "I was delighted with the performance and the victory," Rooney told Sky Sports as he skipped over questions about 2006. "First half especially we had some great chances and at halftime we were disappointed not to be in front. I thought we dominated possession and deserved the victory." His ill-discipline cost England dear five years ago but back in the same stadium the forward was at the heart of much of United's good work having well and truly shrugged off the poor form which dogged him earlier in the season. SUPERB PASS Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did his best to thwart United until Rooney slipped in a superb pass after 67 minutes through the legs of central defender Joel Matip for Ryan Giggs to beat Germany's number one. Two minutes later Rooney latched onto Javier Hernandez's ball and scored with an easy finish to cap a superb performance that left Schalke's anonymous forward Raul in the shade. Rooney was substituted in the 83rd to pats on the back from the bench in the knowledge that he had gone a long way to almost securing a third Champions League final berth in four seasons. Rooney may not be the finished article in terms of attitude, given his recent foul-mouthed outburst into a television camera which led to a two-game domestic ban, but he has come back from a big blip in form looking stronger than ever. Maturity is beginning to creep in too, judging by Rooney's cautious views on the second leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday, where Alex Ferguson is so confident his side will go through that he has talked about possibly resting some players. "Schalke are a good team and you can't take them lightly," Rooney added. "We have seen how they went at Inter Milan (in the quarter-finals) and won 5-2 there. We must do a professional job and reach the final."

Champions League - UNITED overawe Schalke to edge towards FINAL Tue, 26 Apr 21:34:00 2011 Manchester United took a giant stride towards the Champions League final with a one-sided 2-0 win over Schalke 04 in the first leg of their semi-final at the Auf Schalke Arena. Incessant United pressure and a glut of chances finally told mid-way through the second half as Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney netted within two minutes of each other to give Alex Ferguson's side a clear advantage going into the return leg at Old Trafford next week. Victory was just the eighth time in 20 outings United have beaten German opposition in the competition, and if next week's game in Manchester proves as one-sided as this match, a third final appearance in four years for Alex Ferguson's side is assured. With Javier Hernandez and Rooney starting up front - support coming from the tireless Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia on the flanks with Giggs probing from midfield - the match belonged to United as they time and again found ways through an uncertain Schalke back line that was bereft of confidence. The visitors could easily have been three up within the first quarter of an hour and would have been had it not been for one man - Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper, courted by some of Europe's biggest clubs including United, provided ample proof of exactly why he is so highly rated with excellent stops to deny Rooney, Hernandez and then Park inside the first 15 minutes. Livewire Hernandez hit the side netting and dragged a shot wide of the upright before Neuer was called into action again, this time to deny the unmarked Giggs with a downward header amid some shoddy Schalke defending. Neuer, who has confirmed he will leave Schalke at the end of the season - of undoubted interest to United, with Edwin van der Sar set to retire at the end of current campaign - then repelled another crisp Hernandez effort and neither Giggs nor Park could capitalise on the rebound. But the two best chances of the first half came at the end of the period, when first Fabio - preferred at right-back to his brother Rafael and John O'Shea - blazed over the bar from 10 yards and then Giggs, who was clean through on goal, saw his effort well-saved by Neuer. United's dominance of the opening period was total in terms of possession, territorial advantage and chances. All that was lacking was a goal. Yet they began the second half as they had ended the first - on the front foot, in control and creating chances galore. And like in the first half, initially at least, they failed to capitalise on the glut of opportunities fashioned soon after the restart. Michael Carrick, enjoying one of his better performances this season in the acres of space he was afforded in the middle of the park, headed on target only for Neuer to tip over before Giggs wasted his second great chance of the night, firing wide of the mark with his weaker right foot. Hernandez then did find the back of the net, only to be flagged offside, but such was United's swagger, there was never a sense that it would be 'one of those nights'. And in the 68th minute, United finally broke the deadlock and took the lead they so richly deserved, Giggs making amends for his earlier profligacy with an assured finish from Rooney's cute ball through. Rooney doubled United's lead within two minutes, Hernandez playing the ball through for the England striker to fire low past Neuer. With Schalke looking highly unlikely to trouble Van der Sar at the other end and the game effectively wrapped up, Ferguson was able to withdraw both Rooney and Hernandez with one eye on the weekend's crunch Premier League clash with Arsenal. But even without the strike pair on the pitch, United could still have increased their advantage as Patrice Evra made good ground on the left hand side, only to fire wide of an upright. The Red Devils are now unbeaten in their last 12 Champions League matches. A 13th and they will book their place in May's final against either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Mike Hytner / Eurosport

CAUSTIC COMMENTS !!! Comment from Robert Ong 3 hours ago Dear Minister Mentor Lee, I can feel a strident groundswell of discontent among native Singaporeans, and this is threatening at worst to stress our social fabric, and at best to create a divide between the PAP and affected citizens. Let us look quickly at the main, but very important, grouses which I gather to be:- 1) Unimpeded flow of foreigners (whether as workers, permanent residents, citizens-to-be or newly converted citizens) - these foreigners displace jobs for native Singaporeans, and compete with S'poreans in many facets of life such as buying/renting flats; public transport congestion; road-congestion; car-park space shortages; a loss in the meaning & value of the S'pore identity (national servicemen questioning why they are defending our sovereignty), etc. 2) High cost of living made worse with ever declining wage level for the masses - wage increase unable to keep pace with inflation resulting in erosion of purchasing power despite the strong S’pore dollar and the handouts by the Govt. 3) Exponential rise in price of HDB flats and pte housing - the concern is that basic housing is effectively priced out beyond the reach of the vast majority of the younger generations to buy. Notably, there is a wide rejection of the "theory" of asset enhancement which is seen as beneficial only for those with plural ownership of flats/condos/houses, for which the vast majority is not in the group. 4) (A very contentious issue) - The unjustifiably high salaries of MPs, Ministers & Govt officials - seen against the backdrop of generally falling wage levels for the masses as well as the wide gap in income distribution; and the endemic loss of gainful employmt for senior, native S'poreans. The prevalent general perception that MPs & Ministers do not deserve their keep compounds the discontentment. Well, these are the basic misgivings (among many more) that ordinary S'poreans are lamenting about. It is crucial now for the Govt to EXPLAIN CLEARLY, CANDIDLY, FORTHRIGHTLY AND HONESTLY what the Govt will do to EFFECTIVELY alleviate these concerns & grouses, or if it is not possible, to painstakingly explain why they cannot be rectified for the general good of the Country. The Govt should also readily admit if there has been mistakes, miscalculations, ineptitude or lapses on their part which caused the problems to arise in the first place. As always, a proper, timely, frank & truthful explanation followed with quick effective corrective policies will placate more than if the discontentment is left to fester & deteriorate into grave & deadly social "infections" which could simmer to destroy the tenuous fabric of our nation. Sadly, the Govt is much less than honest & candid in explaining important policies that affect the livelihood of very many native citizens. As an example, PM Lee’s superficial & misleading explaination on how foreigners contribute to employment for Singaporeans & PRs (See Straits Times 23 Apr). Instead, the Govt has subscribed to a certain perverse logic that issues are best left either to be explained away PERFUNCTORILY or swept under the carpet to be told to the populace that the "Govt knows what it is doing, and is doing it for the good of the people". A Govt that is specious & glib does not earn the trust & respect of the people, its demise is swift & sure. Comment from SOS 5 hours ago Dear MM, With due respect to you, you are the founding father of Spore. You are our pride! But sad to say our sentiments have changed now; When parliament is being dominated by one party n parliament has become a piece of rubber stamp! When ministers lack accountabilities! When minister cannot deliver affordable public housing! When PAP continue to use the weirdoes and cut n pate the electoral boundaries to gain unfair advantage! When Tax payers’ monies are used to upgrade PAP wards only! Do you think the people of Yemen, Libya, and E----pt are tire of living? Bcos enough is enough!!

Can MM Lee still swing the votes ??? By Seah Chiang Nee | SingaporeScene – Tue, Apr 26, 2011 4:19 PM SGT COMMENT With the coming election tipped to swing against his governing party, the founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew, who is 87, has signalled his intention to continue in office. Speaking with a slight slur and looking his age, Lee posted his message in a low-key video that answered a burning question in almost every Singaporean's mind — and a few foreigners, as well. "I'm happy to be still representing Tanjong Pagar," Lee said, referring to the constituency that he first won 56 years ago. It was posted inconspicuously among other candidates' messages on the People's Action Party (PAP) website without an accompanying story. The pro-government press gave it scant prominence, and many Singaporeans first read about it in a Yahoo! news report. This means that if re-elected — as he will likely be — Lee will retain his record as one of the world's longest surviving leaders, although as an "adviser" to the Cabinet. Lately, the elderly politician has stayed out of the public limelight, speaking less and less, raising speculation that he may be preparing to step down. The low-key treatment was probably by design. "I think they want to project the retention of the 87-year-old Lee as a non-story at a time when other top leaders are retired," said a long-time PAP watcher. Fading relevance At any rate, it seems that the importance of whether Lee stays or goes has become less important, overtaken by Singapore's fast-changing politics. The electorate is changing; so is the PAP itself, so Lee — because of his health and age — is no longer very important to many people. The election (Polling Day: 7 May) is shaping up to be one of the hottest in decades that threatens to shake up the powerful PAP that Lee co-founded. A gradual build-up of public unhappiness is contributing to this. Years of excessive intake of foreigners that threatened white-collar jobs and depressed salaries of middle-class Singaporeans — as well as fuelled high inflation — are creating strong resentment in the republic. Singaporeans are worried about the future of their children and their country. The PAP is not facing defeat, not in this election anyway, far from it. It will undoubtedly retain its mandate to govern for another five years. The party probably has enough momentum of past — even brilliant — successes to let it win this election, especially with Lee around. The next one, well, that's another story. With nine days of campaigning from noon of nomination day (27 April), people are gearing for an erosion of popular support for the government. In 2006, the PAP won 66.6 percent popular votes and 82 out of 84 seats. The total votes are almost certain to drop (some say it's possible to dip below 60 percent). But under Singapore's "first-past-the post" system, it will be much harder to win many more seats. More worrying for 59-year-old Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is the prospect of losing the hearts and minds of youths, who are less accepting of his policies. Some analysts believe that this is one of the reasons why his father, MM Lee, wants to stay on despite his health. "He wants to ensure the PAP, with a large crop of new, inexperienced candidates, does not falter during its crucial self-renewal," a grassroots leader told me. Still appreciated That he intends to serve an 11th term in Parliament is welcomed by a section of the population, especially the elderly, that feels indebted for his role in building today's Singa­pore. "The older voters may be happy and feel a strong sense of comfort that he's still there," said a political think-tank researcher. One admirer wrote: "MM Lee, I salute you for what you and your team had done for Singapore. Without doubt, the PAP team put nation before self." Heart Sense said: "Dear Mr Lee, you are a great man of our nation and many Singaporeans have gained their success and prosperity from your earlier policies." Both admirers, however, said they felt that his successors were generally less capable and as a result quality of life had declined. The younger generation, which has no first-hand knowledge of Lee's past achievements, blames him for much of today's woes and wants him to retire. Immediately after Lee announced he would contest, a popular website polled readers for their views. Temasek Review said that 499 out of 574 respondents — or 78 per cent — opposed his decision. Two main reasons given for wanting him to quit are, firstly, to let the younger leaders to take over, and, secondly, they don't like his mega-high salary. The other 16 per cent say he should continue. One was Angie, who penned: "I want Mr Lee to continue to be the MP and stay as long as he can. Without him, we will never be able to enjoy what we have today." Since his wife's death, Lee seemed more conscious of his own fallibility. Asked by an American journalist, "So, when is the last leaf falling," Lee replied: "I can feel the gradual decline of energy and vitality. And I mean, generally, every year when you know you are not on the same level as last year. But that's life." For this election, knowing his past, he is likely to campaign hard for his son's — and PAP's — victory, his health permitting. Given his stature, he will likely be able to pull in a number of votes from Singapore's conservatives who fear sudden changes. But his ageing body and mind will weaken his role in the next five years, if it lasts. A former Reuters correspondent and newspaper editor, the writer is now a freelance columnist writing on general trends in Singapore. This post first appeared on his blog, www.littlespeck.com, on 9 April 2011.

SPECIAL REPORT - A Tale of Two Exchanges: How Singapore lost Down Under On Thursday 21 April 2011, 15:20 SGT By Michael Smith and Saeed Azhar SYDNEY/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan was in the South Korean coastal city of Gyeongju preparing for meetings with G20 finance ministers when he heard the news. An adviser had to pry the politician's attention from his mountain of summit paperwork to relay the story hitting the news wires that Friday afternoon in October: the Singaporean and Australian stock exchanges were in takeover talks. Swan was stunned. This was a large, politically-sensitive transaction involving the possible sale of Australia's stock exchange and no one had sounded out his office beforehand, a common practice given Australia's Treasurer has the power to block deals involving foreign owners. Swan, whose Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam was also attending the G20 summit, knew from the beginning the deal was going to be a political headache. It was just after lunchtime in Sydney that Friday when the Singapore Exchange and Australia's ASX Ltd both went into a trading halt pending an announcement about a "possible business combination". The news sent traders rushing back to their offices and raised eyebrows in the Singapore market as the first media reports surfaced that SGX was planning a full takeover of the Australian exchange. While Swan was distracted that weekend talking to finance ministers in South Korea about global growth imbalances, SGX boss Magnus Bocker and his army of bankers and lawyers worked around the clock to finalise the terms of the ambitious $8 billion takeover bid. On Sunday, Bocker flew from Singapore to Sydney where the long battle to sell his stock exchange consolidation dream was about to kick into first gear. The clearly excited SGX chief joined his Australian counterpart Richard Elstone on Monday morning to brief the media and investors on the deal their bankers code-named "Avatar", presumably named after the Hollywood movie about future humans invading an alien planet for its resources. The duo wanted to create Asia's fourth-largest stock exchange through an $8 billion cash and shares offer for ASX, which would cut costs and enable the combined group to tackle new competitors. "Magnus and I have not had a lot of sleep over the weekend. This is the beginning of what is probably five to six months of hard slog," Elstone told reporters gathered in the auditorium of ASX's headquarters that Monday morning. He could not have been more right. JUNIOR PARTNER Just as the Treasurer felt he was kept in dark about the deal, the two chief executives were taken by surprise five months later when Swan delivered a swift rebuke. They had deployed lobbyists to the Australian capital of Canberra, other global exchanges had since announced their own plans for mergers, and they had even amended the terms of the original offer to include more Australian directors on the combined entity's board. This had little sway on the Treasurer who on April 8 described his decision to reject the proposal as a "no-brainer". Swan, 56, who grew up in a country town in the northern state of Queensland, is a key Labor Party power broker representing the right wing. Among his list of reasons were concerns about relinquishing control of the nation's clearing and settlement systems, and Australian capital and jobs moving offshore. "Becoming a junior partner to a smaller regional exchange through this deal would risk us losing many of our financial sector jobs," said Swan, the father of three. "So let's be clear. This is not a merger, it's a takeover that would see Australia's financial sector become a subsidiary to a competitor in Asia." The decision threw a spanner in the works for the wave of exchange consolidation sweeping the globe and has left a cloud hanging over the future of the SGX, which needs to find new partners or possibly be swallowed up itself. It also opened old wounds about Australia's ambitions to become a regional financial centre and raised a political storm domestically in Australia, where Swan's minority government relies on key independents to get laws passed. Swan's political opponents and sources close to the exchanges said the official explanation was a smoke-screen for the real reasons the bid failed. "A lot of them seemed to me to be quite emotional and xenophobic type issues," former ASX chairman Maurice Newman told a business lunch in Sydney on Tuesday, describing the failure as a lost opportunity. The Singapore government's indirect 23 percent non-voting stake in SGX was top of the list, according to sources, although this was something the Australian government could never say publicly. While investors warmed to the offer immediately, politically the deal appeared doomed from the start. Even with the government's blessing, Australia's parliament was seen as the biggest hurdle, as SGX would also need other political parties on its side as well to remove a 15 percent ownership cap on the ASX. Former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's famous warning in the 1980s that Australia could become the "poor white trash of Asia" still resonates with some lawmakers, who are suspicious of the Singapore's government indirect links to the SGX. However, others argue a culture of bigotry and nationalism robbed Australia of a genuine opportunity to use Singapore as a gateway into Asia and boost its efforts to establish Australia as a regional financial hub. TWISTS AND TURNS In an unexpected twist, parliament never got to vote on the offer. Instead, word got out in late March that the government had already made its decision. In a series of media leaks and statements, which analysts said raised questions about the independence of Australia's regulatory processes, it was clear by late March the bid was in its death throes. At the time, Bocker and his advisers were focused on providing reams of documents and information to Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), a secretive panel of senior businessmen, who make formal recommendations to the Treasurer about whether a takeover is in Australia's "national interest". FIRB had been expected to take another two months to weigh up the bid and Bocker and his advisers were settling in for the long haul when word came from his advisers in Australia on April 4. that something was up. "The advice was that there could be something coming out in Australia. We weren't sure what it was," said a source with knowledge of the deal. On April 5, the disconcerting news hit Bocker's desk. FIRB had written to the SGX saying Swan was of the view that the bid should be rejected. Swan went public later that day, saying FIRB had advised him the takeover was not in the national interest and he "intended" to accept that advice. FIRB was telling the SGX what Swan thought and Swan told the world what FIRB thought but no one was telling anyone what they actually thought themselves, Australian pundits noted. Bocker quickly called a meeting at his office to discuss what should be SGX's next move and decided to go public with his views. Bocker had launched the audacious cash-and-shares bid for ASX in October just 10 months into the top job at SGX. The slim 49-year-old Swede with a booming voice and a ready laugh is a glad-handing networker, a familiar character-type in the Australian business world. So the father of three children felt a little aggrieved by the tone of the rejection. "Like us, he (Bocker) was very surprised on how strong the FIRB statement was," the source said. The FIRB statement came after SGX and ASX had replied to more than 100 queries from the regulator relating to their merger proposal, sources with knowledge of the deal said. Bocker later told reporters he was surprised because the letter contained no criticism of the proposed structure of the deal or the governance for the merged exchanges. He was clearly annoyed, his mood not helped by technical issues with a chaotic conference call that afternoon as journalists and fund managers from around the globe scrambled to dial-in. The rejection was a major blow, because the marathon-running Bocker had been discussing exchange consolidation with Elstone on and off for years. Their relationship goes back to around 2000 when Elstone was running the Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE). Bocker was then chief operating officer at Scandinavian exchange OMX and was selling technology to the SFE for its next-generation clearing system. The talk got serious around mid-2010 when new competition from alternative trading platforms ramped up pressure on exchanges globally to cut costs. Elstone's pending retirement was also a major factor in the marriage, as there would be no ego to stand in the way of Bocker's desire to run the combined company, the sources said. Another key relationship was between ASX chairman David Gonski, who is on the board of Singapore Airlines. Singapore Air's CEO Chew Choon Seng is SGX chairman. LOBBYING EFFORTS Investment bankers, analysts and some media commentators were critical of the FIRB decision, and said the Treasurer needed to better explain the reasons for rejecting the deal. "I think there should be more transparency on how the decision was reached. I think that would be in the national interest," Sydney University Economics and Business School Professor Alex Frino said. "We have a decision by the FIRB, and a very short statement by the Treasurer. I think the market needs more information." Others suggest the SGX was naive in the way it approached the deal. While Bocker had the ASX and its shareholders on board from the beginning, they failed to test the waters with the government or main opposition party beforehand. The ASX hired senior lobbyists to pitch its case. David Gazard, who once was an adviser to the former conservative government's treasurer, and Cameron Milner, who has worked with current Prime Minister Julia Gillard, led the charge, while well-connected bankers at advisers UBS were also involved. However, the lobbying may have started too late. A majority of politicians and their advisers questioned by Reuters in the last week of March said they had little or no interaction with representatives from either exchange and the general feeling was that the deal was doomed. SGX sources played this down, saying a lot of effort had gone into lobbying and they had confidence right up to the end of winning support from the government and the Opposition to get the deal through parliament. Australia's minority government only holds power with the support of Greens and independent politicians and the SGX needed the opposition Liberals-National Coalition on board to get a deal through. While the opposition's support for a deal was unclear, it didn't stop it from accusing the government of bungling the decision-making progress. "Wayne Swan has turned Australia's international reputation into that of a third-world country. His bungled decision-making process has reflected poorly on Australia in what has been a complex commercial process," Australia's shadow treasurer, Joe Hockey said. It was the first time the Australian government had rejected a major foreign takeover on national interest grounds since 2001, when Royal Dutch Shell 's bid for Woodside Petroleum was blocked. Swan said he would not oppose future deals if they protected Australia's financial architecture, enhanced the country's standing as a financial services centre in Asia, boosted access to capital for Australian businesses and supported growth in high-quality financial services jobs. However, the ASX is now seen as largely off limits. The deal's rejection also puts Bocker in a bind as he seeks other merger partners. Bocker has long had a reputation as a deal-maker. He joined Swedish exchange operator OMX in 1986 and made his mark bringing together seven Nordic bourses to form OMX AB, which he led between 2003 and 2008, before selling out to NASDAQ . "I don't see myself as a dealmaker, he told Reuters last month in an interview. "I see myself as an operator. I like building, changing and growing exchanges." Analysts say he'll be back in the fray after nursing his wounds from the bruising Australian bout, but he may not be the hunter next time, but the prey. Financial exchanges around the world are chasing cross-border deals to build scale and cut costs amid increasing competition from alternative trading platforms such as dark pools. The Tokyo and Osaka exchanges are in talks. Deutsche Boerse is competing with a partnership of Nasdaq OMX Group and IntercontinentalExchange to buy NYSE Euronext . The London Stock Exchange is looking to combine with Canada's TMX Group. The ASX experience has left Bocker and the SGX poorer and perhaps wiser. The Singapore exchange last week reported a lower-than-expected net profit, after booking S$12 million in costs related to the failed takeover bid. Now, analysts say, the talk in the market is that SGX itself is a takeover target. Bocker says he'll pocket the lessons learned and continue to seek out partnerships and strategic alliances, though nothing tangible was on the horizon. "Of course with the lessons learnt from ASX we will see what other things we can do, in line with other exchanges as well. So nothing specific." (Additional reporting by James Grubel in Canberra; Editing by Bill Tarrant)

S'pore inflation rate maintained at 5% On Tuesday 26 April 2011, 8:00 SGT Singapore's inflation remained unchanged at five percent in March, similar to the five percent increase in consumer prices in February. According to the Department of Statistics, the consumer price index (CPI) increased five percent year-on-year in March, primarily due to higher housing, food and transport costs. The transport cost grew by 13.4 percent, attributed to higher prices of petrol and cars, while higher electricity tariffs and accommodation costs increased housing costs by 7.1 percent. Meanwhile, food prices rose 2.6 percent, especially for vegetables, seafood, rice, meat, and prepared meals. In a research note released yesterday, Citigroup concluded that inflation will moderate for the rest of the year. "Headline year-on-year inflation will likely average four percent to 4.5 percent in Q2, but remain high at around three percent by year-end owing to the delayed pass through of pipeline inflation pressures as well as the expiration of deferred price hikes such as public transport fares," said Kit Wei Zheng, a Citigroup economist. Excluding accommodation costs, the CPI was 4.2 percent higher in March compared to the same month in 2010. In Q1 this year, the CPI grew by 5.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, core inflation, excluding private transport and accommodation costs, increased 1.8 percent in March compared to the previous year. The CPI climbed 0.1 percent month-on-month, as the higher costs of items such as housing, clothing and footwear were partly offset by lower transport costs. On a seasonally adjusted basis, it rose 0.3 percent in March against February. Leif Eskesen, HSBC Chief Economist (India and Asean), believes that inflation is expected to stay on the high side for a while, due to factors such as instability in the Middle East, higher wages and increasing food prices. "There is likely to be somewhat softer readings on economic activity over the next few months due to elevated oil prices and the spillovers from the tragic events in Japan, but that will not suffice to bring about slack in the economy."

PAP will remain strongest party: MM Lee By Ion Danker | SingaporeScene 1 hour 8 minutes ago Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says the People's Action Party will remain the strongest party in Singapore. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, MM Lee said there may be a few seats for the opposition either as constituency or non-constituency members. "We have introduced new rules so that up to nine of the best losers from the opposition will be in Parliament, so the opposition's voice is heard." MM Lee also shared that the cost of living and the cost of housing for young couples will be the main issues for voters in the coming elections. "We are building many new HDB homes but they cost more because they are better designed and more elegant. "But Singaporeans do not like waiting. They blame the immigrants for pushing up prices of the homes. The immigrants who are not citizens cannot buy new flats directly from the government, but they can buy off the open market from owners who want to sell their HDB flats," he said. MM Lee noted that there is some discomfort on this issue. He said, "We have got new permanent residents who have entered the market. But our birthrate or fertility rate is 1.16. "We need 2.1 to replace the existing population. 1.16 means we are halving our population. If we do not accept migrants, we will be an ageing and a declining population. It is a trade-off." "But our people feel discomforted seeing about one million foreign workers in our total population of 5.1 million. But most of these are people on two-year work permits, that can be extended but they have to go home eventually. They do the construction and the heavy work," he added. MM Lee also stressed that Singapore's economy is doing well and the government have raised living standards, employment prospects, education for their children; schools, institutions and tertiary institutions. "We have catered for both the top end and the lower end for those not academically inclined."

Weird Al gets a million views with Lady Gaga Parody AFP Relax Sat, Apr 23, 2011 12:21 AM SGT Satirical performer Weird Al Yankovic has had a viral video hit with his parody of Lady Gaga's song "Born This Way." Uploaded to YouTube on April 20, Weird Al's parody version, titled "Perform This Way," had attracted 1.5 million views as of April 22 and was the second most watched video on the site. The parody plays on Lady Gaga's relationship with the press and her flamboyant dress sense with lyrics such as "I might be wearin' Swiss cheese or maybe covered with bees it doesn't mean I'm crazy -- I perform this way" and "I'll wear a porcupine on my head on a W-H-I-M." Some controversy surrounded the song when Weird Al claimed that Lady Gaga had denied him permission to include the parody on his next album. However, the issue now appears to have been resolved with Yankovic reporting on his blog that Lady Gaga had agreed with his request and is a fan of the song. The full version of Weird Al Yankovic's parody can be found at: Lady Gaga's original "Born This Way," which has over 39 million views, can be found at:

More 3D SEX to come By Chin Vin Sen | Yahoo!Branded Cinema Online Mon, Apr 25, 2011 2:00 AM SGT 25 Apr - There will be 3D sex scenes in what is being touted as Southeast Asia's first 3D movie - "The Hunter" - according to the film's director Bjarne Wong. Speaking at the Shenzhen launch of the movie in early March, the Sarawak-born filmmaker revealed that he plans for the RM6 million horror film, due to shoot in June, to feature at least one sex scene between lead pair Isaac Ong and Tavani Hu - but audiences in more "conservative" territories may not see any, as it is likely to be lost to the cutting room floor. Earlier, the female lead, Tavani Hu, raised eyebrows when she obliged a ballerina-style jumping pose with Malaysian co-star Isaac Ong, who lifted her slight 42kg frame with just one arm at great ease. Cavorting and frolicking about with the press in suggestive poses, Tavani was seen to be happily lapping up all the attention from excited pressmen and curious onlookers. Asia Entertainment Media, the company that has invested in Wong's project, recently purchased a cutting edge 3D camera with a long-term view to produce 3D movies. The multi-nation joint production aims for distribution in territories such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, India and the Philippines. Other cast include Carmen Soo, Sharifah Amani, Cindy Chen, Smythe Wong, Koe Yeet and Lou Qi.

Minister's 'TOWN HALL' visit to Condo Disappoints By Mr Miyagi | SingaporeScene – Mon, Apr 25, 2011 6:21 PM SGT THE MR MIYAGI COLUMN I received a letter on Friday, 15 April 2011, from our condominium management. I thought it was probably about them fogging the place again and reminding us to close our windows. The last time they fogged without telling us, some of us chucked a fit and said they should always tell us when something's going down. It wasn't about fogging that the letter was trying to tell the residents of our small condo, but the impending visit of one of our Members of Parliament (MPs), the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Rear Admiral Lui Tuck Yew. The letter said there would be a "simple tea reception" served while Minister Lui was to speak and listen to the residents from 7:30pm on Saturday, so that he could "get to know the residents better and to seek their views and suggestions on local and national issues". My wife and I were really excited. The only visit by government agents and officials we ever had were regular ones by the anti-mosquito-breeding squad of the National Environmental Agency (NEA), and that was only because we had informed them two years earlier that our son suffered a bout of dengue. Also, this was, after all, the Minister who said we did not need Freedom of Information legislation, because "the government already puts up a lot of information on its websites". This was the Minister whose subordinate body, the National Arts Council, cut local theatre company Wild Rice's annual grant in 2010 by $20,000, because it "promoted alternative lifestyles, were critical of government policies and satirised political leaders". The move is now known in theatre circles as "Gahmen say Tuck Yew to the Arts". This was the Minister who labelled the discontent and negative opinions regarding Tin Pei Ling's candidacy as "noise". We had to meet him. We didn't harbour any unrealistic hopes, of course. Our condo consists of three blocks of three-storey walk-up apartments, and we were never holding out for lifts or covered walkways (though the owners are waiting for the elusive en-bloc offer). My wife and I spent a few hours thinking of what national and local issues to talk to our Minister about. This was our chance to tell him our troubles, even though we could always just pick up our phones or computers to email him. The idea of a town hall-like meeting excited me, even if for our condo, the town hall was going to be the al-fresco (read: damn hot) common area by the poolside. What would people say? What did our neighbours worry about? Would anyone heckle the Minister and ask him about his pay, we wondered. We planned our evening to finish dinner by 7pm, bring the dog down for his pee and poo, and then spruce up a bit (wipe crumbs and other food debris off our son's face) and take a nice walk down to the poolside to meet with Minister Lui. Hopes dashed Like many best-laid plans, this was dashed when the Minister and some of his entourage arrived at 7:10 and milled along the driveway to the open car park. They were chatting among themselves, presumably wondering where to begin because our condo's security guard had already gone home for the day, and wasn't able to tell the parliamentarian's people which block was which. They had, to my disappointment, opted for a door-stop visit instead of a townhall-like meeting. (In case you're wondering, our condo's "security guard" "works" from 7am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 4pm on weekends) I intercepted the group on our stairwell as I brought Mac, our nervous adopted Jack Russell Terrier, to water the plants. I said "hi" assertively, causing a few of what must have been about eight people to scramble through their clipboards, before I volunteered which unit my wife, son, dog, cat and I lived in. The Minister was then guided to where I was, and he introduced himself as the MP for our area before I politely said I had to bring my dog for his own walkabout before he peed all over the PAP entourage. The Minister said, "If he has to go, he has to go!" I was relieved that Mac didn't do what some of our friends are familiar with -- this dog will pee on you just to show how much he loves / hates / is scared by / is in love with you -- and came back in a few minutes, in time to see how much progress the Minister had made in our block. No one else seemed to be at home, so I managed to squeeze in some conversation with the Minister. In less than a minute, he asked me how many times a day I needed to walk Mac, I said twice, then he told me he once had a dog, a white samoyed, which died at age 6 and a half, and that it was very unusual. Then he asked what concerns I had living within this compound, and I said something to the effect of us having "some municipal issues (the dengue problem) which we have taken into our own hands (calling NEA)". And that was that. It was all over in a flash. I wasn't sure if he meant 6.5 dog or human years, or whether it was unusual because it died at 6.5 years or that it was an unusual dog, or that it was his opinion that the white samoyed, as a breed, was unusual. I didn't even get the dog's name. By 7:39pm the Minister and his entourage had done their doorstop round and left our compound, walking down the quiet street towards the neighbouring houses and apartments. I'm sure if no one from our condo had spoken about the need for brighter street lights in our area, he'd have figured it out. Pressed in my hand was a name card from the Minister, complete with a photo of him, and the address and timing of "MP Meet-the-People Session" at the local branch office. I didn't even remember him handing me the card. It will have pride of place on my fridge door, alongside other contractors' calling cards. I might mistake it for an electrician's though, what with the logo and all. Can't fault them for trying to make a fist of it. It's your turn, opposition candidates. Come visit our condo, because I think we still have food from the "tea-reception" they planned. Benjamin "Mr Miyagi" Lee writes across all media except where it can be construed as graffiti. More of him on twitter @miyagi and http://miyagi.sg

Confessions of a GE VIRGIN By Liyana Low | SingaporeScene – Mon, Apr 25, 2011 12:30 PM OPINION About 600,000 Singaporeans between 21 and 35 will be voting this election. Within this number, an estimated 200,000 will be voting for the first time. I, a 23-year-old final-year undergraduate, will be one of them. As a "GE virgin" (or so I'd like to call myself) going to the polls , bread and butter issues directly affecting me come to mind: if I'm going to get a job after graduation, if I'd have to pay through my nose for my first HDB flat, if my parents need to work with no hope of retiring gracefully because health care could be expensive. But beyond that, I'm also excited for this election because I realise (maybe a little too naively) that my vote contributes to Singapore's future. I suddenly feel empowered, so I spend time to read up on the different parties and their candidates because when I go the polls, I want my vote to be the right one for my country. Fortunately for me, a few like-minded friends were enthusiastic enough to book each other so that we would go and see Low Thia Khiang's rallies together this time around. We want to be part of the thousands of Singaporeans gathered at the field, listening to what he and the Workers' Party will say to win our votes. We want to see if this time, with Facebook and Twitter, the mainstream media can pull off the stunt it did in 2006 when it reported that only a few thousand were present at the rally, while this Youtube video showed otherwise. But I suspect that my excited friends and I could be the minority among our peers. Much has been said about Gen-Y voters and their sense of apathy regarding the coming elections. As a young friend of mine told me, "Got so many news on the election, I see already, also I sian, don't know what to follow, not going to follow already." And I can understand why she would feel that way. There are so many manifestos by so many parties, with so many voices screaming "our party is better than yours and can do a better job for Singapore". "Information fatigue" sets in more often than not and we settle back into our usual routine of school, projects and juicy gossip about who's dating who. In addition, there are others who also say, "Aiyah, no need to follow because nothing is going to change, the PAP is still going to win." And their cynicism is understandable because it comes from years of being told what to do and what to think by the government. And when we do try and think for ourselves, someone would come along and (condescendingly) say, "Please, we know what is best for you, just listen to us." But my hope for this upcoming election is that the apathetic majority becomes a minority, because I know that there are those young ones who do care and who do want to make a difference. One example is Hirza and Muna, who shot a YouTube video parodying politics in Singapore in order to increase awareness of the General Election among first-time voters. In the two weeks since it was first uploaded, it's gotten a respectable 22,000 views. Its light-hearted take on serious issues might not be a big formal debate about bread-and-butter concerns on national television, but I thought it was an admirable attempt by young voters for young voters, a majority of whom watch Youtube videos more than they do local channels on TV. And of course the talk of town: Ms Nicole Seah. The 24-year-old (only a year older than I am!) has stepped up and said that she wants to engage young Singaporeans in politics and show them that they can make a difference. In the short time that she has set up her page, the advertising executive has already garnered 16,850 (and counting) likes. (If it puts numbers into perspective, the PAP's page has 13, 140 likes, while the Workers' Party page has 7,183 likes.) While it helps that she looks like a "sweet young thing", I think what makes her more appealing to us GE virgins is that she is honest and herself in the public sphere, and it makes her relatable. She makes us go, "If she has the guns to step up, maybe I should at least take an interest and listen (and maybe make a Youtube video and become a Youtube star along the way?)" So fellow GE virgins, this is a chance to how our generation can think for ourselves and choose the people who can best serve Singapore's needs. It is chance for me to recognise that "Hey, sheltered while my world may be right now, in a few years' time, I know I will be feeling the full brunt of the government's policies, from education to healthcare to employment and housing prospects" and do something about it. And finally, it is a chance in our young lives to extricate ourselves from the world of assignments, classes, clubbing and relationships to be part of something bigger, part of a national agenda. At the end of the day, it does not matter if the opposition parties lose, because at least they have given Singaporeans a choice. That is what matters to me.

Young Singaporeans not HUNGRY enough: SM Goh By Fann Sim | SingaporeScene – Sat, Apr 2, 2011 1:10 AM SGT People's Action Party (PAP) veteran Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has described young Singaporeans as "not hungry" enough compared to their peers from other countries, such as China. The minister said this phenomenon is largely due to the fact that Singapore has been so successful in the past few decades. Speaking to a group of young Singaporeans at Singapore Polytechnic's Graduates Guild on Friday evening, he compared Singapore to China and said that Singaporean youths are too comfortable these days and have too many choices. "In China, that man has no other job to go to. There are 600 million people competing with him for jobs. In our case, because we have done so well, every year we are creating 50,000 jobs. We only have 20 to 30 thousand inflow into the workforce, people have choice. So what is the solution?" Mr Goh went on to talk about solutions the government can provide to fix the "lack of hunger". "Well, maybe just a bad dose of government and you have unemployment for five, six years and Singaporeans will feel hungry! Do you want that?" he said. "(The) answer is no! Because it's our job to make sure that we continue to grow and if we do so, they got a choice. What can we do? We all have a problem because people have a choice! ... Then you have to go back to productivity, to paying them well and so on," he added. The minister also urged young Singaporeans to vote carefully for the country and for their own future in the upcoming elections. "We are now preparing for a fourth-generation leadership to look after Singapore... This leadership transition is even more crucial than previous transitions," said Mr Goh. Senior Minister Goh also confirmed the managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Heng Swee Keat will be joining the People's Action Party. He posted on Facebook page MParader that "Heng Swee Keat is stepping down as (Managing Director) but not stepping away from MAS. He has been appointed board member." He also said Heng had the potential to be a Minister and core member of the 4th Generation team. Elsewhere, at separate events, two Ministers also came out in support of embattled young PAP candidate, Tin Pei Ling, as well as 32-year old Vikram Nair. PAP veteran and Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan hopes that the public can give the young faces a chance to prove themselves. "I think it will be wrong for us to be ageist, either against old or young. Look at the candidates in their own right," Mr Khaw said. Meanwhile Minister of Information, Community and the Arts, Lui Tuck Yew, said that the the most important thing is to "stand fast to your beliefs and your set of values," according to Channel News Asia. "Yes, pay attention by all means to the feedback that is given by others, particularly if it is constructive feedback on how we can improve ourselves - we all need to do that, not just the new candidates," he added. "But at the end of the day, we must also recognise that there will be some who will support us very strongly, there will be detractors, and we just need to make sure that we focus on serving the residents and doing our best for the future of Singapore."

Thriller Live "MOONWALKS" its way to Singapore By Satish Cheney | Posted: 22 April 2011 1622 hrs SINGAPORE: He may have been gone too soon but a concert dedicated to Michael Jackson's music is "moonwalking" its way to Singapore. The two-and-a-half hour show, called "Thriller Live", celebrates the music of MJ and the Jackson 5. Having dazzled audiences in London's West End, the show comes to the MBS Grand Theatre in Singapore from May 3 to 16. The man behind it is Adrian Grant, who was Jackson's friend for over 20 years. Grant said: "He was due to come and watch "THRILLER LIVE" in 2009 but obviously we all know he's sadly passed away. "He was going to come in disguise so nobody could recognise him. That's the kind of thing that Michael did often when he went to watch shows. I'm very honoured now that this show can continue Michael's legacy in a small way." Grant's most memorable MJ moment was the first time they met, when he was invited to the recording of Jackson's album "Dangerous". "He walked into the room with a big smile, he was singing, and I thought, "Wow, he sounds amazing". He looked great and I spent the whole day with him. "At the end of the day he asked me if I wanted to come to Neverland - his ranch - for lunch. And of course I said yes. It was fantastic. The ranch was a beautiful place - the chimpanzees were there, the giraffes, the llamas, and it was just magical," he said. And adding to the magic is not just his solo work but also music from The Jackson Five. Of course, it was not always magic in Jackson's life. He had his fair share of controversy. Grant said: "It was very difficult to read some of the headlines that were written about MJ and a lot of the negative press that he used to receive and I mentioned this this to him and asked him what he feels about all the bad things that were written about him and obviously, it was very difficult for him but he said there's nothing he could do about it. "No matter what he does, people will always have a bad story about him. Even when he's doing good things, people would twist it. So all I could do is speak highly of the man and focus on his music and his work as a performer, because that's what I think really made him the great artiste that he is." And it is that part of Jackson that will shine through, when "Thriller Live" hits Marina Bay Sands next month. -CNA/ac

OPINION: The NAKED Truth for Malaysians By Dennis Ignatius in Kuala Lumpur/The Star | ANN Thu, Apr 21, 2011 11:40 AM Kuala Lumpur (The Star/ANN) - Are Malaysians obsessed with SEX ??? That's the question I was asked recently by a foreign friend. He had been reading our newspapers and online media and was puzzled by our seeming obsession with all things sexual. I guess it must have appeared that way to foreigners, looking in on the daily goings-on in our country these days. Consider recent developments as reported in the local media. Over the last few months, we have been treated to the most sordid details of a major sodomy trial. It was even revealed that traces of DNA from several different individuals were found in the rear end of one, shall we say, particularly hard-pressed gentleman. Such lurid details were, until recently, deemed too crude to be even spoken of in polite company, let alone covered in the media. Reports from the sodomy trial also revealed a sad picture of police incompetence. Important DNA samples taken from unmentionable parts of the human anatomy were apparently compromised because they were not properly stored. Interestingly, if you did a Google search on sodomy trials, 99% of all the immediate references point to Malaysia. Let's hope the two don't become inexorably linked. And then, just as we were getting accustomed to the new normal in journalism, a video was released purportedly showing an Opposition leader in a compromising position with a prostitute. One of those who released the video is himself no stranger to such controversy. Some are now calling for the video to be screened to the public while others are calling for a royal commission of inquiry to examine the video. Not so long ago, that would have been the job of the film censorship board. Meanwhile, a member of parliament opined in the House that husbands are drawn towards sexual promiscuity because their wives are not making time to satisfy them. He also admitted that men are sometimes excited by what they see "at traffic lights". Now, who would have thought that traffic lights could turn people on? Perhaps this might explain those puzzling traffic jams in parts of the city. The honourable member went on to suggest that wives ought to drop whatever they were doing to immediately satisfy their husbands' sexual desires. So, women are once again to blame for all the ills of men. How convenient! With such nonsense emanating from high places, is it any wonder why people are beginning to think that we are seriously messed up? Or that Malaysian males are big on libido and short of fuse? Or that we are just a bunch of male chauvinists who see our wives as little more than domestic workers and sex slaves? Isn't it time there was a change of mindset? Perhaps if the men helped out at home as equal partners with their wives, they might not have too much free time, or energy, to think about the next quick fix. An idle man is the devil's workshop, to rephrase an old saying. But getting back to the issue at hand, reports from the Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry noted that while an interrogation was underway, one of the interrogating officers took time out to download and watch pornography on his office computer. Talk about multi-tasking! And if that wasn't enough, a newspaper this past week reported in bold print that the Chief Minister of Malacca blew his top over reports that young couples had been making out at some of the state's historical monuments, including Unesco world heritage sites. The Chief Minister fumed that the sites had become a haven for "unsavoury acts". Discarded condoms were also posing a hazard to early morning joggers in the area. In typical Malaysian fashion, the Chief Minister took council workers to task for their failure to keep a more watchful eye on nocturnal activities at the sites. Couples will now be monitored, or peeped at (depending on how you view these things), more closely. As an additional precaution, the CM promised to find the necessary funds to light up the whole area. Meanwhile in Johor, it was reported that female caddies at a golf club were doing more than just retrieving errant balls. The newspaper headline said it all: Caddies by day, call-girls by night. I won't go into all the risque golf jokes that will be coming out of this story. It is just as well that Malacca is pioneering the use of energy-efficient solar-powered lighting to keep its historic sites brightly lit because the way things are going, we might have to light up the whole country! All these reports, which circulate widely abroad courtesy of the web, have challenged the notion of Malaysia as a conservative country. It suggests as well that we might have a serious moral crisis on our hands. Happily, in the midst of all this came some much needed comic relief -- fake eggs were spotted in parts of the country. Either the nation's hens need to heed the advice of the aforementioned member of parliament or those solar-powered lights need to be turned down. Worried consumers need not, however, be alarmed; the fake eggs have been sent for DNA testing. Only in Malaysia!

Search is on for Thailand's most Beautiful TRANSVESTITE By Manta Klangboonkrong in Bangkok/The Nation (Thailand) | ANN – Mon, Apr 25, 2011 2:50 PM Bangkok (The Nation-Thailand/ANN) - Thirty Thai ladyboys get ready for beauty camp as the countdown to Miss Tiffany Universe 2011 begins. For 14th consecutive year, Miss Tiffany Show Pattaya is organising the most talked about beauty pageant for transvestites and transgenders in the world, Miss Tiffany Universe 2011. Last week, the excitement factor went up another notch as the last 30 contestants were picked to compete in the final round in Pattaya on May 6. The 58 contestants from all over Thailand were taking part in the first elimination round at CentralWorld Plaza in Bangkok. Under hot spotlights on an adorned stage, the contestants went through a "reality show" style of judging as well as realtime deliberation. Each was interviewed on stage and had to showcase their talents to meet the requirement of being beautiful inside and out, to fit this year's theme, 'I'm So Beautiful'. Many wowed the judges and the audience with such diverse talents as linguistic and sports skills. This year's judging panel features associate professor Seree Wongmontha, Prasert Jemjuthithum, Thailand's beauty queen guru, TV host Pongsiri Intrachai, Perfect Skin guru Darin Somsuwan, corporate communications officer of the Asoke Skin Hospital and the gorgeous Poy Treechada, who was crowned Miss Tiffany Universe 2004 and now dabbles into modelling and show business. From May 1 till 5, the final 30 contestants will attend a beauty camp, where they will get to bond and share experiences. Miss Tiffany Universe was initiated in 1998 to promote tourism in Pattaya, Bangkok and Thailand as a whole. Initially, the contest was well received among transvestites and transgenders in cabaret and entertainment circuits and later on became a popular platform for transgender men from all walks of life including doctors, scholars and business executives. It has since captured the imagination not only of Thais but also people from other countries who only come to Pattaya to watch the pageant. The final round takes place on May 6 at Tiffany Show Theatre in Pattaya with live broadcast on Thailand's Channel 7 from 11pm. Tickets to the contest are 1,500 baht ($50) and 2,500 baht ($85). Part of the profits go to the Thai Red Cross Society. The winner of Miss Tiffany Universe will compete in the Miss International Queen later this year where she will vie with contestants from other countries. The international pageant aims to promote camaraderie, understanding and issues surrounding transgenders and transvestites. With reports from Jofelle Tesorio/Asia News Network

Peace elusive as Thai-Cambodia Border battles rage By Martin Petty | Reuters Tue, Apr 26, 2011 9:44 AM SGT PHANOM DONG RAK, Thailand (Reuters) - Hopes for peace between Thailand and Cambodia faded on Tuesday after fierce border battles raged for a fourth day, despite growing international calls for dialogue and an immediate ceasefire. Explosions rang out across the frontier for more than three hours late on Monday as the two sides traded mortar and artillery fire close to two disputed 12th-century Hindu temples, intensifying the bloodiest conflict between the neighbours in nearly two decades. It ended a full-day break in hostilities and followed the cancellation of a visit to both countries by a top Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) envoy who had brokered a U.N.-backed ceasefire deal in February after deadly clashes near another temple 150 km (90 miles) away. Three Thai soldiers were wounded and a small skirmish took place about four hours after shelling subsided, Thai television reported. There were no known Cambodian casualties. Although on the surface, the conflict appears to be a dispute over sovereignty and territory, many experts are sceptical and believe the fighting is being fuelled by political interests in Bangkok or Phnom Penh, or possibly both. The two governments have been locked in diplomatic rows for two years and could be seeking to discredit each other and appeal to nationalists at home as Thailand prepares for a general election, expected by July. A change in government could be in Cambodia's interests. Thailand reiterated calls for a bilateral solution to halt the bloodshed that has killed at least 12 soldiers on both sides but Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya acknowledged the window for dialogue was shrinking. "We were hoping it would end in peaceful talks with the safety of civilians the heart," Kasit told reporters. "It's now beyond talks as friendly neighbours. In any case, we have to inform ASEAN countries that Cambodia is the aggressor." ASEAN'S REPUTATION Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan called for immediate dialogue late on Monday and said the reputation of the grouping was at stake if hostilities continued unabated. The conflict and rhetoric from both sides has been a setback for ASEAN, a 10-member bloc modelled on the European Union that plans to become a regional community by 2015. At the centre of the latest dispute are the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey Hindu temples in a heavily mined jungle area claimed by both sides. Thailand says the ancient ruins are in its Surin province, but Cambodia insists they fall in its territory. Fighting has been heaviest around Ta Moan, a complex that contains three temples nestled in a mountain pass. Both sides are also positioned around Ta Krabey, where fighting first erupted on Friday and reignited late on Monday. Thailand accuses Cambodia of building military bases there. In Phanom Dong Rak, about 30 km from the fighting, truckloads of evacuees arrived in makeshift camps after troops were deployed to clear villages in the line of fire. Thailand's Foreign Ministry said more than 30,000 villagers in two border provinces had been evacuated, while Cambodia said 22,000 people had been moved to safety, accusing Thailand of attacking villages 20 km into its territory. Analysts also say the Thai military could be flexing its muscles to preserve its sizeable stake in Thailand's political apparatus and satisfy conservative elites at odds with the country's powerful opposition forces. "The army has nothing to lose in a border clash. They show their relevance and show who is wielding the power," said Karn Yuenyong, head of the Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank. "The border and sovereignty issues matter to a group of conservative elites and this is one way the Thai army exerts its loyalty." Monday's clashes followed a day of posturing by both sides, each accusing the other of aggressive acts and attempted incursions into disputed territory around the temples. (Editing by Ron Popeski)

"Confidence is not based on my CUP SIZE" : Star Awards 2011 Show 2's Best Quotes By Han Wei Chou | Posted: 25 April 2011 1917 hrs SINGAPORE: The Star Awards 2011 Show 2 on Sunday was a glitzy, glamorous event that recognized the best talents in showbiz. Although it featured a host of performances by acrobats, contortionists and even trapeze artistes, the most entertaining bits of the show were still the zingers and anecdotes shared by the galaxy of stars who turned up for the event. Some of the best are captured below: Michelle Chong on the new competition "It is so hard to be a television host nowadays, with so many actors trying to snatch our rice bowls," quipped popular television host Michelle Chong, alluding to how actresses like Belinda Lee and Joanne Peh have turned television hosts for some television programmes. Peh in particular beat veteran hosts Bryan Wong, Mark Lee and Guo Liang to win Best Info-ed Programme Host at the Star Awards 2011 Show 2. Interestingly, Chong is an actress as well as a host and had previously acted in dramas like "Mrs P.I.". Huang Wen Yong thinks Xiang Yun is a tough act to follow "What old! I am a virgin ok! I just got my first popularity award this year! said Huang in response to a comment that he finally won a popularity award in his old age, before bursting into laughter. "Seriously, even if I follow in Xiang Yun's footsteps and win every year from now on, I'd still be 70 when I ascend and take home the All-Time Favourite Artiste award!" Bryan Wong finally catches a break "Finally, I can get out of my seat, and not because I want to go to the toilet! said Wong, who won a Top 10 Favourite Male Artist award after being passed over for Best Variety Show Host and Best Info-ed Programme Host at the Star Awards 2011 Show 2. Hong Hui Fang loves hubbys buff bod "It's really not easy for him (husband Zheng Ge Ping) to train and get this deep 'cleavage'. For ladies, it is easier because we can 'squeeze' and get cleavage," said veteran actress Hong Hui Fang, eyeing her husbands well-defined chest muscles appreciatively. Zheng's buff chest attracted a lot of attention on awards night, with Fann Wong even making a bid to touch his chest "because of popular demand" when he came onstage to receive his Top 10 Favourite Male Artistes award from her. "Actually I didn't want to show so much of my chest. At first, I was supposed to wear a T-shirt under my jacket but my stylist kept cutting the T-shirt deeper and deeper down the front. "I then decided to just forgo it and not wear anything under my jacket," said Zheng, who revealed that he worked out even when he was shooting a drama in Malaysia recently. Awards bad for Dennis Chew's heart "Last year, I was the ninth name to be called [as a winner in the Top 10 Favourite Male Artistes award]. This year, mine was the last name called! Why must they do this to me every year! "I felt like I was going to get a heart attack!" said Y.E.S. 93.3FM deejay Dennis Chew on how he felt when he made it onto the list of winners for the Top 10 Favourite Male Artistes award. Chew almost didn't get nominated when an error in the nomination polls caused him to be left off the list, along with fellow deejay Christina Lim. The error was corrected and he became the 21st nominee in a category that traditionally only has 20. Buxom Xiang Yun gets nods for daring dress from everyone but her kids "My husband didn't say much about my dress, but my daughter gave me a dirty look when she saw me in it just now (at the Star Awards 2011 Show 2)," said Xiang Yun, who turned heads with her voluptuous figure when she wore a cleavage baring dress to the awards ceremony. "I am not worried about it," said Edmund Chen, who currently runs his own production company, of his wife's revealing dress. "My daughter is the one who was very concerned. She came up to me and kept asking 'Daddy, daddy, did you see mummy's dress? What is your reaction!'" said Chen with a laugh. "My kids (Chen and Xiang Yun have a son and a daughter) will keep an eye on things so I don't have to worry!" Jeanette Aw has Unshakeable Confidence "Confidence is not based on my cup size," said Singapore actress Jeanette Aw, in response to her friends' reservations about her wearing a revealing deep-V dress with her modest figure, on the red carpet at the Star Awards this year. -CNA/ha

Tan Jee Say: PAPs economic policies will lead to SOCIAL DISINTEGRATION Singapore Election Watch Friday, April 22, 2011 Former Principal Private Secretary to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong Mr Tan Jee Say has launched a scathing criticism of the PAPs economic policies in the last few years. The 57 year old Mr Tan will be contesting in the coming general election as a candidate of the Singapore Democratic Party. In an interview with the state media, he warned: The economic policies that are being pursued now will undo all that we have achieved in the past 30 to 40 years and will lead to social disintegration. Mr Tan believes the influx of foreigners has depressed locals wages and crowded citizens out of jobs and schools, and that the decision to allow two casinos here has caused families to break up. Throughout society, people feel something is just not right, he added. He also criticised the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) report released last year aas simply whitewashing the economic issues. The focus should not be on raising productivity but on correcting bad economic policy, namely the propping up of manufacturing which has led to Singapores reliance on foreign labour, he said. According to a Wall Street journal editorial in January 2010, the relentless influx of foreigners has depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing and led to an overall decline in the quality of life in Singapore. Despite the prevailing sentiment on the ground, PM Lee continues to insist that foreigners are essential for Singapore. In a speech made at the official opening of IMFlashs US$3 billion high tech electronics plant in Woodlands today, Prime Minister Lee claimed that six in ten of the films employees are Singaporeans and permanent residents. and Singapore residents also take up two-thirds of the managerial and professional positions. Without the foreign workers, we would not have attracted this US$3 billion investment, and Intel and Micron would have built its wafer fab elsewhere. But by allowing in a controlled number of foreign workers, far from disadvantaging Singaporean workers, we have created more good jobs for Singaporeans, said Mr Lee. Since PM Lee did not even acknowledge the problem with the PAPs ultra-liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies in the first place, will he slow or even reverse the inflow of foreigners should the PAP win the next election comfortably again? The next general election may be the last window of opportunity for native Singaporeans to reclaim ownership of their nation after which they will surely to overwhelmed by the shiploads of foreigners the PAP is mass-importing to Singapore.

Michelle Chia’s marriage on the rocks ??? By ewenboey | What’s buzzing? – 2 hours 16 minutes ago Decked out in an outfit that is more suited for the bedroom than the red carpet, Michelle Chia arrived at the Star Awards 2011 Show on Sunday night conspicuously without her actor husband, Shaun Chen. The Internet is rife with rumours that the stars' three-year marriage is on the rocks, and that Chia and Chen are not sharing the same bed any more. When quizzed by The New Paper (TNP) if he had been served papers from Chia, Chen was taken aback and speechless. "How do you know about the letter? Can I not comment on this?" he replied. Dispelling gossip that the couple are not living together anymore, Chen added that he did not believe in divorce as he is a conservative man. "A man must be married. If a couple is having problems, then I believe in sticking through them. "It's not easy for people from two different worlds to be together, and marriage is a long journey," he added. Chen also emphasised that he "doesn't need to answer to people about his marriage". Under Singapore law, a couple has to be married for three years before filing for divorce, and a check on the Registry of Marriages website revealed that Chen and Chia have been married for exactly three years. In contrast to a more subdued Chen, Chia was having a blast posing for photographers in her see-through dress on the red carpet, and then later in her Madonna-inspired chili-red dress complete with fibreglass breast cones. TNP revealed that an industry insider confirmed the rumour that Chia is now dating a Caucasian. When Chia was quizzed at the event, she replied, "I don't want to talk about this. Let's just talk about clothes and awards tonight." She went on to talk about her racy Ferragamo outfit, and said that "it was sexy and not too vulgar...because it's like playing peekaboo without revealing everything." Chen admitted that he was shocked with her outfit, but added that she "looked pretty in it" and did not need his permission to wear it. He added that they did not walk in together during the event due to the arrangements made by the programming people. Other married celebrity couples at the show like Fann Wong and Christopher Lee, and Zheng Geping and Hong Huifang were seen hand-in-hand on the red carpet and on stage.

Opposition to be Alternative Gov’t: WP's Chen By Ewen Boey | SingaporeScene – Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:15 AM SGT The "star catch" for the Workers' Party (WP) wants the opposition to be an effective check and balance in Parliament, and become an alternative government in the future. At the unveiling of its final batch of candidates for the elections on Monday, WP chief Low Thia Khiang and chairman Sylvia Lim introduced corporate lawyer Chen Show Mao, 50, as one of their candidates. In his opening address, Chen, who advised the Agricultural Bank of China on its biggest IPO last year, shared his vision for the future. "The coming election is about your future. It's about into whose hands do you entrust that future? Do you give all of the power that affects your future to one party and hope for the best? Or do you keep that power for yourself and give yourself a choice, a choice of capable parties competing to give you a better future? "In order to have that choice tomorrow, you will need to support the opposition today. If we had a stronger opposition presence in Parliament, it would be good for all Singaporeans," said Chen, who is expected to be fielded in the party's 'A' team at Aljunied GRC. He added, "I'm Singaporean in the second half of my life, and I would like to give something back to my country through my work with the party." A graduate of three Ivy League universities -- Harvard, Stanford and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar -- Chen revealed that immigration and population policy, ministerial salaries and electoral boundary changes were issues that were important to him. Party chief Low added, "Not many people with such status and achievements are able to humble themselves, return to Singapore, and interact with people on the ground where they may have to deal with unpleasant and rude people." When asked if spending most of his life away from Singapore will affect his campaign, he assured voters that he has been keeping abreast of developments in the country and have been visiting regularly as his entire family -- parents and sister -- reside in Singapore. Chen stressed that regardless of whether he is voted into Parliament, he will be relocating his family to Singapore and also hopes that his 11-year-old son will follow in his footsteps and serve national service when he turns 18. The other three candidates introduced on Monday are entrepreneur Yee Jenn Jong, 46, post-graduate law student Pritam Singh, 34 and businesswoman Glenda Han, 35. Han, who has been with the party since 2004, has had prior experience running for an election when she was part of WP's "suicide squad" in Ang Mo Kio GRC in 2006. "From that experience, I've seen how important a role WP plays in being a strong political alternative in Singapore, where Singaporeans can turn to if they feel that is where they can be better represented," she said. She added that the 2006 election highlighted to her the responsibility and importance in the role she plays for the people. The final introduction brings the slate of WP candidates for the upcoming election to 23, which includes Low and Lim. It is the biggest team WP has fielded since 1988 and they are expected to contest in four GRCs and four SMCs.

S'pore People’s Party planning beyond GE2011 By Alicia Wong | SingaporeScene – Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:47 AM SGT The Singapore People's Party has started taking active steps to reach its goal of forming an alternative government. Party candidate Benjamin Pwee announced on Monday the formation of three new functional groups and the reorganisation of the party's existing Women's and Youth wings, as it seeks to rejuvenate itself and reach out to more Singaporeans. The new groups are the policy working group, Small and Medium Enterprises affairs bureau and Malay affairs bureau. Pointing out that the party is working toward party chief Chiam See Tong's vision of an alternative government by the next election, Pwee said, "The fact that we've set these five groups up in party rejuvenation, it's an obvious indication to everyone that we're looking way beyond just this General Election." "We want to be able to groom the leaders that will be up in the forefront for GE2016 and by that time, probably we'll be contesting way beyond just Hong Kah North, Potong Pasir and Bishan-Toa Payoh," he said. He also hoped that the party can field at least one more GRC team in the next GE. Pwee, who is part of the five-man SPP team contesting Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, described the five key groups as a "nuts and bolts active step in bringing more people into a structured relationship with the party". "We are hoping these five groups also start to reach out and get to know their segments and listen carefully to the kind of heartbeat, the kind of opinions, the kind of views they have about Singapore at large, the constituency they live in, and what would be things that we could raise or follow up with them in terms of representation," he said. The policy working group, headed by Pwee, will focus on translating issues on the ground into policy. It will "think through how to complement and strengthen the current government policy formulation process with some of the ideas we are proposing," said Pwee. The SME affairs bureau, headed by managing director and co-owner of two global biometric and medical device companies David Tan, will look into problems business owners face. For instance, high rental costs, funding and employment of workers. SPP is also considering setting up a micro-financing revolving loan from the S$2 million foundation it is trying to set up. The Malay affairs group, led by architect Juliana Juwahir, will seek to represent the community concerns. For instance, worries over how the influx of foreigners is affecting Singapore's demographic mix and a need for higher education funding. Each group now has about six participants but the party hopes to expand the numbers to 25 per group over the next six months.

SDA announces Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC line-up By Alicia Wong | SingaporeScene – 18 minutes ago The Singapore Democratic Alliance has unveiled its six-man team that will be contesting in the Pasir Ris-Punggol group representation constituency on Monday. In addition to the four candidates announced earlier, image consultant Patrick Lee, 65, and Sidney Soon, 54, who is self-employed, will be joining the GRC team. They will contest against the People's Action Party team headed by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. The SDA is an alliance between Singapore Justice Party and the Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS). The SDA team is headed by first time General Election candidate Goh Kim Seng, 66. The other three candidates are motivational trainer Haminder Pal Singh, sales executive Mohd Shafni Bin Ahmad, 32, and Tony Tan, 34, who is self-employed. SDA's secretary general Desmond Lim, who will be contesting in Punggol East SMC, also confirmed that the alliance will not be contesting in the single wards of Radin Mas and Sengkang West to avoid three-corner fights. Baring last minute changes come Nomination Day on Wednesday, these seven will be the candidates fielded under the SDA banner. All have pledged to be full-time Members of Parliament, if elected. Said Goh on the team's chances against DPM Teo, "It's a tough call, personally I like the man himself but we will certainly do our best and we have specific plans on how to reach the voters in order to get through to them." Haminder Pal Singh said the feedback they have received from residents in Punggol East and Pasir Ris-Punggol show that they want better security, more facilities for young children and more wet markets in the area. PKMS' second vice president Abdul Mutalib clarified an earlier media statement stating that the SDA is pulling out of Tanjong Pagar GRC. He said, the press release was made on an individual capacity and was not released by either PKMS or SDA. The statement said the opposition team, made up PKMS secretary general Nazem Suki, SDA's Ng Pian Ying, Socialist Front chairman Ng Teck Sion, Lim Mie and Abdullah Salim did not have enough funds and support from SDA and PKMS. Adbul Mutalib said, SDA was considering contesting in Tanjong Pagar but decided against it. He cited several factors including insufficient familiarity with the ground. On Monday, the SDA also unveiled its refined manifesto, A Heart for the People -- Singaporeans First. The manifesto seeks to address the concerns of the middle income Singaporeans. From its nine-point manifesto published earlier, the SDA has released a five-point manifesto targeting the issues they felt most worry Singaporeans. Lamenting the "social costs" that have resulted from economic pursuit, Goh said, "The time has surely come for us to moderate our relentless pursuit of economic development and material gains." The FIVE Areas the manifesto addresses are: 1) The rising cost of living 2) Skyrocketing HDB flat prices 3) The income gap 4) Job security being threatened by the influx of foreign workers 5) High medical expenses The alliance has proposed several initiatives to address each of the five issues. For instance, to tackle rising cost of living, it wants to introduce tie-ups with neighbourhood merchants where consumers can collectively buy daily necessities in bulk to save costs. It also wants to introduce a "rental leading to ownership" scheme where young couples who cannot afford the down payment for their HDB flat can rent the flat from HDB for the first five years. If they decide to buy the flat later on, the five years' rent money counts as part of their payment for the flat. To narrow the income gap, SDA is also proposing for the wages of the lower- and middle-income groups to be raised by 20 per cent, with the public sector taking the lead.