Local News

Swedish black metal band Watain had their show in Singapore cancelled due to "security concerns". The band was supposed to perform yesterday when the MHA and IMDA both agreed to cancel it. On the day itself. 

This comes after some Christians voiced concerns of Watain's satanist views and deemed its music as a negative influence on youths. An online petition started by a "Rachel Chan" called for the ban of satanic groups in Singapore and has since accumulated more than 17,000 signatures. 

It seems like it was not enough that the concert was already rated R18 and not allowed to have religious references. On the other hand, having 17,000 signatures was enough to make the authorities scramble for a last minute decision to cancel the performance on the day itself.

In a statement by the IMDA, it said that "MHA has expressed serious concerns about the concert, given the band's history of denigrating religions and promoting violence, which has potential to cause enmity and disrupt Singapore's social harmony... MHA has therefore asked IMDA to consider cancelling the concert for reasons of public order, and IMDA has agreed."

It is no surprise that fans as well as non-fans with common sense are angry at the sudden decision. Some have blamed the authorities for overreacting to the complaints of a particular community. It is also not the first time some Christians have raised issues with concerts in Singapore. So why pander to their repeated whining? Why encourage them to think that their incessant whining are justified?

Amidst the backlash, a "Seth Lim" started another petition for the MHA to reinstate and reschedule Watain's show. So far, more than 1,350 people have signed it. 

Do you think the authorities will be pressed to reinstate it? If not, why the double standards? 

The authorities have no one but themselves to blame for their embarrassing decision. In the words of Watain's frontman Erik Danilsson,  

"We have been touring around the world for nearly 20 years and believe it or not, never have we encountered such old fashioned retardation... [it is] as if our supporters in Singapore were incapable of deciding for themselves."

Great. Now we are internationally famous for being old fashioned and retarded. Even Singaporeans are unsure if the authorities are capable to decide for themselves. 

In yet another black mark against the health sector, a doctor, who happens to be the Director of Neoroscience Clinic at the national University Hospital was fined $50,000 for disclosing the confidential information of a patient's condition. 

Dr Soo Shuenn Chiang, who is also a psychiatrist, gave the medical information on the patient, a woman who had mental issues. The information was given to the woman's brother, who had posed as her husband just by using the phone. The man had claimed to the doctor that the woman was suicidal and need to go for an assessment at IMH. Dr Soo, without verifying the information given, released the record to the man. This critical memo from the docotr was later used by the man to get a personal protection order from the family court against the woman. 

Makes you wonder if your medical records are safe anymore, with data being leaked left, right and centre.

Just when you thought nothing more can be done to ensure CPF money are not withdrawn as early as possible, the Singapore government, through Minister of Manpower Josephine Teo, announced that the retirement would be raised.

The reason cited by the Minister is that senior citizens are now enjoying more years of good health, and thus demonstrate a sustained productivity at work. The current retirement age stands at 62, and the re-employment age set at 67, but these are set to be raised, although the exact timing of when this would be done have not been announced. 

No one has said whether those actually affected, the seniors themselves, agree to this raising of the retirement age. CPF sum gets another injection of funds, first by announcing an increase in minimum sum, then subtle increase in withdrawal age, and now tweak to retirement age, to ensure CPF money stays in the coffers. If you harbour any hopes of seeing your full CPF amount while you are still fit and healthy, forget it. The Government already made the decision for you, you are told to work even if you want to retire.

On Tuesday, 5 Mar 2019, a video depicting an aftermath of an accident showed bodies strewn on the road, a bike on the floor and a badly dented car. At the end of the video, you can hear the driver of the car which caused the accident saying "problem with the car ah, not me ah!" This accident happened at Jurong.

You can watch the video of the aftermath here:

A video showing the car coming out of the carpark before it rammed into the other pedestrians was also leaked:

Was the brakes of the cars spoiled? Or was it the drivers fault? What do you think?

Small space to have sex Minister Josephine Teo said on Tuesday, 5 March 2019, that both the retirement age and re-employment age are to be raised. However, details are still yet to be finalized. A workgroup comprising of representatives coming from labour unions, the Government and the private sector has come to a consensus on the matter and it is a "significant milestone", she said.

The current retirement age is now 62 and re-employment age is 67.

However, on the "bright side", according to her, the eligibility age for us to get our monthly payouts from CPF will still remain at 65. How generous of her.

I wonder how many of us will be able to sleep well knowing that we have to work longer to hit our retirement ages. Does she really think that we Singaporeans really love to work that much? 

A car had mounted a kerb outside Raffles City on Tuesday afternoon, causing three people to be hurt. The accident happened near the Botanic restaurant, with police confirming that a car had been involved in an accident with three pedestrians along Bras Basah Road towards Nicoll Highway.

The three pedestrians are aged 29, 31 and 38, and all were taken conscious to Raffles Hospital and SGH. No reports on what happened to the car driver, and why he had mounted the kerb. Police are investigating the accident.

This incident highlights clearly that no matter what preparation Singapore has done to minimise risk of attacks, an attack such as this can happen anytime, and defenseless pedestrians are normally the victims. Thank goodness then that this was just an accident, with nothing more sinister towards it.