Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Sat, 12 Dec 1992 09:39:24 EST
From:         mulliner@OUVAXA.UCLS.OHIOU.EDU
Subject:      SG: NEWS: #12, 8 -11 Dec 92

                   Ohio University Electronic Communication


   Date:  12-Dec-1992 09:32am EST

     To:  Southeast Asia Listers               ( _MX%"SEASIA-L@MSU.EDU" )

   From:  Kent Mulliner                              Dept:  Library
          MULLINER                                 Tel No:  614-593-2707

Subject:  SG: NEWS: #12, 8 -11 Dec 92






Received:  12-Dec-1992 09:39am

Forwarded from Singapore International Foundation on Technet
gopher, with permission

SINGAPORE DAZE
+++++++++++++++
A twice weekly bulletin featuring local news snippets from
Singapore Publications. Issue #12: 8 - 11 December 1992

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
SPECIAL EDITION: AS BY-ELECTION FEVER BUILDS UP....
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.   >JB JEYARATNAM NOT CONTESTING<
2.   > SDP, NSP, SJP, PAP FORM FOUR-CORNERED FIGHT<
3.   >THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, KIDS<
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4.   >PM INVITE SINGAPOREANS TO COME AND SERVE<
5.   >FOUR CHARGED FOR BT LEAK<
6.   >FLYING HIGH AND CHEAP<
7.   >AN EASIER WAY TO SENTOSA<
8.   >SHORTER RENEWAL OPTION FOR CARS<
9.   >HEAR THE YOUNG LIONS ROAR...AND SNIFF<
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SPECIAL EDITION: AS BY-ELECTION FEVER BUILDS UP....
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.   >JB JEYARATNAM NOT CONTESTING<

Everyone waited with bated breath for JBJ to show up with his
Worker's Party slate on 9 Dec, the day nominations closed. The
New Paper even ran a special evening edition (in addition to
their usual afternoon issue) to catch the latest in the by-
election fever.

But WP supporters were disappointed, and frustrated. The Straits
Times (10 Dec) says that one of the four WP candidates withdrew
at the last minute and the reserve who was in Tuas was contacted
but came seven minutes too late for the noon deadline.

JBJ himself was disappointed to say the least, but he called upon
the voters of Marine Parade to support the opposition party of
their own choice. He added that the WP will contest in future
elections. He reiterated to the press that WP did not
deliberately stay out of the election despite speculation that
it was a pre-planned strategy.

NSP said that it had a pact with WP two days ago, that the party
with the best slate would contest and the other would withdraw.
JBJ said that both parties had also discussed the possibility of
two NSP candidates crossing over to the WP but nothing came out
of that.

2.   > SDP, NSP, SJP, PAP FORM FOUR-CORNERED FIGHT<

The Singapore Democratic Party, National Solidarity Party,
Singapore Justice Party and People's Action Party have each
presented their party's slate of four candidates.

People's Action Party
**********************
The PAP's line up includes the PM himself Goh Chok Tong, Mathias
Yao (Parliamentary Secretary to the Defence Minister), Othman
Haron Eusoffe (NTUC Asst Sec-Gen). Joining them is newcomer to
the political scene, Commodore (Res) Teo Chee Hean, who resigned
on 7 Dec as Navy Chief.

PM Goh said that if the PAP team lost the by-election, Singapore
would be in an "unthinkable" situation because nobody could
assume PMship immediately. BG Lee Hsien Loong and Ong Teng Cheong
face health problems and may not be able to take over the helm.

Commodore Teo said the notion that a democracy must have a 2 or
multi party system was too simplistic. He added, "I hope to come
in with an independent mind, to bring my own views, my own
attitudes, feelings to the problems that we face." If PAP wins,
Commodore Teo will be made Minister of Sate of 2 ministries.

Singapore Democratic Party
***************************

Ashleigh Seow, Low Yong Nguan, Mohamed Shariff Yahya, who have
had some political experience, will be three of the candidates
representing SDP. Dr Chee Soon Juan, 30, NUS Neuropsychology
lecturer, is yet another new face. When asked why he decided to
join SDP, he said there was a need for a 2 party system to check
and balance the Government. He also added that PM Goh has called
on younger Singaporeans who are capable, competent and of
ministerial quality to serve the country in politics, and he has
decided to heed the call.

National Solidarity Party
**************************

NSP has Tan Chee Kien, Ken Sunn, Sarry Hassan and Dr Paul Yong
in its slate. All except Ken Sunn (who's a management consultant)
are businessmen. Ex-University lecturer Dr Yong, 42, also new,
said that he joined the opposition because he believed Singapore
needed more leaders with "people skill" like himself, rather than
"first-class technocrats" like those of the PAP. "He added that
the by-election would give NSP its first shot towards becoming
Singapore's main opposition party in the long run."

Singapore Justice Party
*************************

SJP, which was defeated by PAP in Marine Parade GRC in 88 and 91,
fielded 2 new candidates, sales executive Yen Kim Khooi and
businessman Lim Teong Howe. The other 2 are technician Theng Chin
Eng and retiree Suib Abdul Rahman (ST, 10 Dec).

3.   >THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, KIDS<

ST, 10 Dec - PM Goh remarked that the big issue in the by
election is the future of the young through continual Cabinet
renewal. He said that it was for the young that he called the by-
election, that Singapore faced the issue of getting men of
ministerial calibre to join the government.

He repeatedly emphasised that the target of the by-election was
the under-30 voters, who form about 20-25% of the residents. He
said that younger Singaporeans must understand that political
self-renewal is meant to protect their own future. He said rather
dramatically that the whole of Singapore will be watching Marine
Parade. The future of Singapore depends on voters here.

Outlining the PAP's strategy, he said that their rallying theme
is For A Strong Future and A Good Home. He seemed to stress the
need to improve the lives of residents, mainly HDB dwellers,
touching on the ever important topic of housing and education -
the refurbishing of flats, the sale of tenanted HDB shop units,
the upgrading of neighbourhood schools and better kindergartens.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4.   >PM INVITE SINGAPOREANS TO COME AND SERVE<

ST, 11 Dec - News of the 2 DPMs' illness was like being hit by
lightning twice, says PM Goh at the 5th Anniversary Dinner of the
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).  It convinced him that they
had to look for more good people to join the government, saying
that the Singapore government could not be left to chance.

PM Goh emphasised that his government welcomed the people's
increasing desire to have a say in decisions affecting their
lives. He invited Singaporeans to challenge the Government's
ideas by coming with better ideas and solutions. But these ideas
should be put forward through proper mechanism.

He cited the IPS as a forum for discussion where participants
should be encouraged to comment on government policies and throw
up new ideas. He suggested that IPS build up a register of people
who could contribute ideas.

Welcoming PM Goh's suggestions, IPS Director Prof Tommy Koh said
that IPS already serves a s a forum and had a list of at least
30 people whose views were tapped regularly.

PM Goh also noted that the rumours about the 2 DPMs' illnesses
has affected the stock market. He said that investors would
reassess Singapore's attractiveness if political leadership was
expected to weaken. Singapore has a competitive edge for
investments because of its "political software", which is "our
political culture, values, the way we organise our society, our
pragmatism, our ability to recruit from amongst the best to
serve, and our responsive hardworking people." He suggested that
the IPS tell Singaporeans about this "political software". Prof
Koh said IPS would consider research on this , and added that
many countries are interested in what makes successful
governments tick.

5.   >FOUR CHARGED FOR BT LEAK<

The by-elections may have snatched the headlines in all the
newspapers today (10 Dec) but this news item also caught
interest.

Four people have been charged for violating the Official Secrets'
Act - Manu Bhaskaran, Crosby's economics research director;
Raymond Foo Jong Chen, regional economist at Crosby's Malaysian
research office; Tharman Shanmugaratnam, MAS economics department
director; and BT editor Patrick Daniel. They were formally
arrested earlier this wee and released on police bail of $5000
each.

All have claimed trial. District Judge Tan Siong Thye set 6 Feb
as the date for the pre-trial conference with Senior District
Judge Richard Magnus.

The charges follow BT article on 29 June written by Anna Teo,
with the headlines, "2nd qtr: Flash estimates point to below 5pc
growth". The government later announced a growth figure of 4.7%
for the quarter.

Shanmugaratnam, 35, is charged with unlawfully communicating the
flash estimate of 4.6% given to him in confidence by the
Department of Statistics to Bhaskaran, 34. The latter faces 3
charges - receiving the information, passing it on to Raymond Foo
and BT senior correspondent, Kenneth James. Foo, 28, is alleged
to have received the information and passed it on to his Crosby
colleagues in Singapore.

Daniel, 38, a former MTI offical is charged with having received
the information from Mr James and communicating to unauthorised
person, the readers of BT, in the papers.

The Internal Security Department searched the BT newsroom on 13
Aug, and seized some material and took statements from four staff
members - Daniel, James, Ms Teo, and associate editor Margaret
Thomas. Dozens of others from stock broking firms, government
departments and government-linked bodies were also questioned.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Christine Lee applied for the impounding
of the international and restricted passports of the four accused
and was granted the application, even though the defence counsel
objected to it. Bhaskaran, Foo and Daniel successfully applied
for their passports to be returned so that they could travel on
condition that they report to ISD on their return.

The defence counsel consists of K. Shanmugam of Allen & Gledhill
for Daniel; Tan Kok Quan of Lee & Lee for Foo; Michael Khoo of
Michael Khoo & B B Ong for Bhaskaran; Alfonso Ang of Shook Lin
& Bok for Shanmugaratnam.

6.   >FLYING HIGH AND CHEAP<

Singaporeans are making the most of the airfare war and the
strong Singapore dollar. A record 200,660 residents have been
jetsetting in December alone!

Many have taken off to Australia's Gold Coast, New Zealand,
China, west coast of America and London. Australia reported
100,000 visa applications by Singaporeans this year and the
Chinese Embassy say 120,000 Singaporeans applied for visas
in 92 (BT, 9 Dec).
7.             >AN EASIER WAY TO SENTOSA<

ST, 9 Dec - Starting next week, you can take a bus from Tiong
Bahru station or World Trade Centre bus terminal to Sentosa in
air-conditioned comfort for only $5. This includes the admission
fee to Singapore's Discovery Island.  The bus service operates
from 7 am to 11 pm. Once on the island, visitors can take the SBS
bus to visit attractions and also ride back to the mainland free
of charge. There are also plans to construct a light rail system
linking Sentosa to the mainland.

8.   >SHORTER RENEWAL OPTION FOR CARS<

TNP, 8 Dec - Cars reaching their 10th year can now choose the
"flexi-way" option to extend the lease of life for another 5
years instead of the standard 10 years. But if owners want to
further renew the vehicle's existence, they can't. Bummer!

9.   >HEAR THE YOUNG LIONS ROAR...AND SNIFF<

ST, 9 Dec - Well, it is about time they showed more mettle. And
Singapore's Young Lions, some flu-stricken, showed that they were
of sterner stuff when they scored a shocking 3-0 victory over
Malaysia in the opening match of the Merlion soccer competition.
And 45 000 people were at the National Stadium to cheer them on.

The three scintillating footballers who scored the goals were Lim
Tong Hai (21st min), Hasnim Haron (43rd min) and striker Fandi
Ahmad (61st minute). The agile Fandi, with his running nose,
received a standing ovation for his superb goal following a cross
from Malek Awab.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%




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