http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,5562,314498,00.html?
[b]May 1, 2005
WP: Don't forget workers' sacrifices [/b]
THE PAP Government has been 'painting a rosy picture' of Singapore's
economy, but it shouldn't forget workers' sacrifices, the
Workers' Party (WP) said yesterday.
In its May Day message released to the media, the opposition party
called on the Government to bring
down the high living costs.
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,5562,314509,00.html?
May 1, 2005
TOP OF THE NEWS
Don't worry, the outlook is good: PM
By Leslie Koh
ANXIOUS about the economy? It's understandable but unnecessary. The
outlook for Singapore and the
region is positive.
So says Mr Lee Hsien Loong in his May Day message to Singaporeans,
his first as Prime Minister.
The New Paper - 07 Mar 2005
LET ME SELL MY TISSUES
He knows it's illegal, but this elderly man says it's the only way
he can eke out a living. Will the authorities sniff at his
plight?
By Jaclyn Lim
[email protected]
He knows that what he's doing is illegal (see report, right) but he
sees no other way.
And he wonders aloud: 'Why can't
the authorities relax the laws on my trade?'
Mr Goh Siang Leng, 63, suffers from glaucoma, a condition when
increased pressure within the eyeball creates gradual loss of
sight. He is now 95 per cent blind.
With no family to fall back on, he said that another reason he
prefers to sell tissue is that he enjoys the daily interaction with
people on the streets. But the
authorities have warned him to stop.
The National Environment Agency
(NEA) refused to comment on whether laws will be
relaxed.
My take on all these issues/news ? Singapore may not be like New
York or other cities where you can see beggars on the
streets.
It's just not possible-Under the destitute persons act in sg ,it is
stated:
Penalty for begging.
4. (1) Any person being a habitual beggar found begging in a
public place in such a way as to cause or to be likely to cause
annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a
nuisance shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding 2 years.
So , with this act imposed , it is ez for the gahmen to "remove"
any beggars on the streets- It is embarassing for the gahmen and an
testament that they have failed to improve the living standards of
the local people.
But then, with all that woo-haa about "positive forecast" for 2005,
we have tissue-sellers on the streets who are living in poor
conditions too similiar to beggars,struggling to ekk thru an
living.....Is Singapore really that well-managed as the gahmen
would like to show ? Have they really removed poverty out of
Singapore ?
