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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-seniors-should-not-stand-in-the-way-of-younger-staff Forum: Seniors should not stand in the way of younger staff Singapore must tread carefully in handling the issue of raising the retirement and re-employment ages. Care must be taken not to cause resentment on the part of younger workers. Workers in their prime (early to late 30s) might not be able to advance in the company's hierarchy if the seniors above them won't retire. Older workers who can afford to retire early should give the younger generation a chance to climb up. They can always volunteer or offer mentorship to the young if they are bored with retirement. If too many seniors cling to their jobs even when they don't need them, there may be fewer opportunities for the next generation. Francis Cheng Seems that old folks not needed in our country, just like what COVID-19 is doing to us.

Inspiring Nun, at her age, really can kick. https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/petite-nun-67-stands-tall-singapores-first-taekwondo-world-champion Petite nun, 67, stands tall as Singapore's first taekwondo world champion As a teenager, Catholic nun Linda Sim picked up taekwondo for self defence. "I have always been petite and small-framed. If I can run and kick, I don't have to carry a weapon to defend myself," said 67-year-old Sister Linda, as she is known, who is about 1.5m tall and weighs less than 50kg. "I'm the weapon." She continued to practise and hone her skills, even after she joined the religious order of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM) 43 years ago. Asked if she sees a contradiction between the martial art and her religious life, the fifth-dan black belt holder said: "Poomsae (a sequence of movements in taekwondo) is an art form and to me, it is like a dance. It is not violent and the (world authority) World Taekwondo's motto is 'peace is more precious than triumph'. "And St Francis said the prayer 'Make me a channel of your peace'. Taekwondo enables me to reach out to people in a non-church language," added Sister Linda, who describes Jesus as her first love and taekwondo as her life-long passion. And while her mission work has taken her to places such as Zimbabwe, it was taekwondo that took her to the top of the world in April this year. She became the first Singaporean to win a gold medal in the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, a world-level competition, in South Korea, according to Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) acting president David Koh. In Poomsae, the athlete performs a sequence of moves to fight an imaginary opponent. Sister Linda beat six other athletes to take the gold in the over 65 years of age category for women. "I felt on top of the world as I have reached a major milestone in my taekwondo journey. I felt great as this is the first time Singapore has won a gold medal and I also felt a great sense of gratitude to God," she said. STF's Mr Koh added: "The Singapore Taekwondo Federation is very proud of her. She is also a shining example to our young-at-heart Singaporeans that sports is for everyone." The older of two children of a civil servant father and accounts clerk mother, Sister Linda's childhood dream was to be a soldier or a police officer, until she found out that women performed mostly clerical or desk-bound roles in the army then. Thus, she worked as a secretary for four years after she graduated with an O-level certificate. In her teens, Sister Linda felt God calling her to religious life but she said her late mother initially took the news badly as she was afraid of losing her daughter. Among other reasons, religious sisters live in a convent and not at home and they could be sent anywhere in the world for their mission. While she was very close to her mother, Sister Linda eventually went ahead to join the FMDM, the nuns who founded Mount Alvernia Hospital in Thomson Road. She said: "I went to all the parties and did all the sports, but there was an emptiness in me. I kept feeling this stirring that God was calling me and I only found peace after I joined the sisters." It took her mother more than a decade to come to terms with her decision. Sister Linda spent 20 years overseas - 17 years in England in a variety of roles in the convent and three years as a hospital administrator in Zimbabwe. About 15 years ago, she learnt that the STF was teaching taekwondo to cancer-stricken children at the Assisi Hospice, which is also founded by the FMDM sisters. The STF then asked her to teach the children, after she told them about her interest in taekwondo and that she continued to practise the sport on her own in her free time, even after she became a nun. To prepare herself to coach, Sister Linda attended training sessions by the STF. But what got her on the competition track was when she saw older adults competing in a taekwondo competition in South Korea and thought she could do the same too. "After I saw grey-haired ladies compete, I thought I wanted to train to represent Singapore as I'm very proud to be Singaporean," said Sister Linda, who now coordinates the mission work of the FMDM sisters in Singapore. Since her first competition in 2011, she has competed in more than 25 international competitions and won more than 30 medals, including a bronze medal in the 2018 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. To prepare for the recent World Championships in South Korea, she trained at least three times a week for about nine months. This was despite the fact that she has had injuries to her knees and shoulder - which was also due to wear and tear as she became older. She said: "Age is not an issue for me." She now coaches children in the sport on Saturdays, as she loves interacting with children. Ms Pamela Lim's daughter Chloe Ng, eight, has been learning taekwondo from Sister Linda for the past three years. Ms Lim, a 32-year-old educator, described her as a very energetic coach. Ms Lim added: "Sister Linda is a really good role model for young children. We can see her passion and commitment to taekwondo and all the work she does as a Catholic nun."

Singapore's number of old will soon match young for first time http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapores-number-old-will-soon-match-young-first-time more policy changes coming up in future? in terms of more FT/FW coming in, and higher taxes to support the senior citizens...

CHIA Song Hwee Head, Strategy Co-Head, Portfolio Management Co-Head, Singapore I just realised Chia Song Swee former Chartered CEO is now one of the top guys in Temasek.... Common.... anyone here from Chartered Semi??? We don't know how his EXACT performance is like in Chartered but it is a FACT that during his years as CEO of Chartered semi from 2002 to 2009, Chartered Semi shares plummeted like a rock. In the end, we sold Chartered Semi to Global foundries. Seriously, what did he do that makes Temasek want him as Head Strategy??? Did chartered Semi do extremely well? What did he do that makes Temasek hire him to manage our Portfolio and Strategy? What strategy did he implement in Chartered Semi that ended up with Chartered share price dropping like a rock, making losses for many quarters, and ended up being sold to Global foundries. This is crazy.

SG50 giveaway for senior citizens 1. Take your parent's senior citizen card (those age 60) and go to The Transit Link machine (MRT or bus interchange), 2. place the card n select SG voucher 3. process, then Ok 4. $50 deposited to the card from Govt. Every senior citizen, with senior citizen card will entitled every little bit helps. TGIF bros

anyone know where i can get one of these phones for senior citizen? any recommendation? i'm thinking of getting one for my mom. about the pre-paid sim cards, which one has more cost saving for local calls? Jman888, u got any personal experience?

Just saw this video, i think last year back video. This old taxi uncle funny' lim pei is lau lang, you wanna pick a fight on me? All your action captured in my video' Haha damn funny.

and we are now 'learning from HK' on the urban planning matter. are we not capable, have we too many undesired flops? or we are well on top of our game? or neither? --- Senior civil servants to discuss population and healthcare issues with Hong Kong counterparts Singapore Permanent Secretaries are in Hong Kong SAR from 5 to 6 November 2012 to discuss population, ageing and healthcare issues. This is the fourth year public sector leaders from the two Civil Services are meeting to exchange views and experiences on issues of mutual interest. Leading the six-member Singapore delegation is Mr Peter Ong, Head of the Singapore Civil Service. The delegation will be hosted by Mr Raymond Wong, Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service and the programme will involve engagements with 11 Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries and other senior officials. During their visit, the Singapore delegation will call on Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration and Mr Paul Tang, Secretary for the Civil Service. They will also be visiting the City Gallery to learn about Hong Kong

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1208991/1/.html

is it claim piak piak $ ====================== A senior Foreign Affairs official is being investigated by the police over allegations of filing improper claims for expenses incurred during visits overseas. Chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Mr Lim Cheng Hoe was suspended on Tuesday and the ministry referred the case to the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) on Wednesday. The Straits Times understands he has not been arrested. Mr Micheal Tan Keng Siong is now acting chief of protocol at the ministry. The Business Times, quoting an MFA spokesman, reported on Thursday that the ministry had received information that Mr Lim, a veteran of 38 years in the Civil Service, had made improper claims for reimbursements, for expenses incurred by him, during some of his overseas visits.

Yesterday my wife asked why I didn't do something useful with my time. She suggested I go down to the senior center and hang out with the guys. I did this and, when I got home last night, I told her that I had joined a parachute club. She said, "Are you nuts? You're 69 years old and you're going to start jumping out of airplanes?" I proudly showed her that I even got a membership card. She read it & said to me, "You idiot, where are your glasses! This is membership to a Prostitute Club, not a Parachute Club!" Now I'm in trouble again and don't know what to do. I signed up for five jumps a week! Life as a senior citizen is not easy.

....b/w a Jr Lt and CSM? I know in the formal structure, a jr Lt is higher in rank even to the most senior NCO (senior warrant), but in actual fact, can a CSM punish a jr Lt like take extra duty or knock it down?

Ngiam Tong Dow called on PAP to win back trust from Singaporeans July 4th, 2011 | Author: Temasek Review Former head of the civil service Ngiam Tong Dow has called on the repressive PAP regime to win back trust from Singaporeans after a watershed election which saw it losing a GRC for the first time. In an article published in the Straits Times last Saturday, Mr Ngiam opined that young Singaporeans today will not easily give the government the benefit of the doubt and will judge it by its actions, not just promises unlike the older generation. He proposed changing two aspects in PAP policies

AS AN older citizen, I am uncomfortable about the presence of former government scholarship holders in the opposition. To me, it seems as if they are abandoning their parents who paid for their excellent education. Yes, one could argue that these candidates were in fact supported by taxpayers and will now serve all Singaporeans, and not only the People's Action Party. But, are they really sincere about helping Singapore achieve a better society by joining the opposition? Can they effectively check the Government or will they create more fighting or quarrelling like the parliamentary sessions in Taiwan? Aren't there enough ways of giving feedback to the Government? I can contact my Members of Parliament any time; I don't even have to make an appointment and can e-mail them when I need help. It takes time to know these scholar opposition candidates and I wonder if I should risk the four to five years it will take to know such a candidate's ability, and compromise national progress. A better answer for me is not to vote them in for this General Election and see if they continue contributing. I would even apply my answer to the Workers' Party's star candidate, Mr Chen Show Mao. I would like to see if he really relocates his family to Singapore, as he has told the press he would, if he fails to win the election. A candidate like Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim is too academic for an average voter like me. She makes good speeches but rarely champions a voter's bread-and-butter needs. A good MP to me must not only act as a check on the Government, but also serve the ground and offer effective solutions to the Government. I would prefer a few good opposition MPs than many who are merely interested in the glamour of being in the opposition in Parliament. Ho Lei Gi (Madam)

RIP sir Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan dies Posted: 27 September 2010 1038 hrs Photos 1 of 1 SINGAPORE: Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan died early Monday morning. Dr Sadasivan was 55 years old. The former neurosurgeon entered politics in 2001 and was among seven new promising new candidates slated for office soon after being elected. Late in 2008, Dr Sadasivan had surgery to have a cancerous tumour removed from his colon. His friend and former MP Chandra Das said Dr Sadasivan had not been well since, but continued working till about a week ago. Dr Sadasivan was married, with two children.

Hi all bros and sis. I am actually trying to find out why some companies will resort to such acts. The scenario is given below: Auntie A has not been working for quite some years. Her relative asked her to pass her her NRIC card to apply for some "incentives" government is giving to senior citizen. Auntie A started to receive $5+ from company X in CPF monthly contributions and get the checks from CPF for the Workfare something scheme. Auntie A never worked for company X. What benefits does company X have to make Auntie A a bogus employee? - Evade tax? i can't really find this online. please assist.

Happy Deepavali to our Hindu friends. 1. Two recent events caused me to reflect more deeply on Singaporeans' concern on the subject of immigration: an RC Deepavali function in Marine Parade and my visit to Fujian. 2. At the Deepavali function, several young Indian children put up some dance items. They were children of PRs from India. Their fathers came from Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai, amongst other places. They work in accounting and IT firms, like Microsoft and IBM. These children could easily pass off as Singaporeans. Their parents encourage them to mix with Singaporeans and they will grow up with Singaporean values and Singaporean friends. 3. When I was in Fujian, I visited my ancestral village, Wuling. I was able to trace my ancestry to as far back as 1403, 17 generations ago, to a remote village in mountainous Yongchun county. My father was born in China. I was born in Singapore. Though my forefathers were Chinese, all 16 generations of them, there is no doubt that I am Singaporean in my thinking and upbringing, and perceived as a Singaporean. I was warmly welcomed in my ancestral village not as a returning Chinese national but as a visiting Singaporean leader. 4. These two experiences tell me that the new immigrants to Singapore can become Singaporean in outlook and loyalty within a generation, if we make the effort to integrate them. New immigrants are PRs or new Singapore citizens. The rest of the foreigners in Singapore are mainly migrant workers. 5. In recent months, Singaporeans have expressed concern over the adverse impact of the large number of PRs and migrant workers on our way of life. This is understandable. Singapore is densely populated, so any slight difference in living habits is magnified. Singaporeans have also worked hard to achieve a high standard of living. Naturally, they fear being crowded out by the influx of foreigners - crowded out of HDB flats, choice schools and jobs. Some foreigners are also perceived to be taking advantage of the better opportunities and services in Singapore but without the obligations of giving back to the community or doing their share of National Service. 6. PAP MPs have raised these concerns in Parliament over the years. Ministers have explained why we need to top up our population with foreigners, and how Singaporeans will always have better benefits than PRs and foreigners. But despite this, many Singaporeans still feel uneasy that the government is continuing to take in more PRs and migrant workers. It has become an emotive issue. 7. To me, whether we should have more immigrants and migrant workers or not boils down to whether they help us to sustain and enrich the quality of life of Singaporeans. 8. Ideally, we want Singaporeans to have as many children as they can afford to have so that we do not depend too much on foreigners. But we have tried with baby bonus, maternity benefits, tax incentives, and child care support. They have not worked. We even tried state-sponsored matchmaking! For all our effort in encouraging marriage and procreation, our total fertility rate climbed only marginally from 1.26 in 2004 to 1.28 last year. This is still far short of the 2.1 needed to replace father and mother. In absolute terms, we need about 60,000 babies per year. Last year, we had only 32,400 citizen babies! How do we make up for the shortfall? 9. Without PRs and new citizens, Singapore will go the way of the dinosaurs. If we do not take in any more new immigrants, our population will begin to shrink in 2020. That is only 11 years away! Let me give you another statistic. In the last 10 years, the number of people aged 65 and above has grown by about 100,000 while the number of children aged below 15 had shrunk by about 50,000. This is an unsustainable demographic structure. 10. To sustain our present standard of living, we need to top up our population with immigrants, particularly those with skills, entrepreneurial drive and talent. Without them, my guess is that our growth rate would be easily 1 to 2 percentage points lower. Well, you may say, let us do without this extra boost of 1 to 2 percentage points from foreigners in future and be satisfied with our present quality of life. But it is not that simple. Without the foreign workforce, our flats and MRT will not be built, our buses will come to a standstill, our healthcare services will degrade, and many investors, including Singaporean ones, will uproot and go where talent is abundant. Instead of sacrificing just 1-2 percentage points of growth, our economy will shrink, and our quality of life decline. 11. But beyond just sustaining our quality of life, immigrants enrich our society. Immigrants inject a certain vitality and diversity to our society, adding vibrancy to our economy, and broadening our horizons in other fields like the arts, music, sports, and philanthropy. A commentary in Lianhe Zaobao last weekend observed that the influx of immigrants has already increased the vibrancy of the local arts and cultural scene and also introduced a wider range of cuisines to Singapore. 12. Opening our doors to immigrants and migrant workers is an emotive subject. It goes to the heart of what it means to be Singaporean. The government must take all views into account, and then persuade and win over Singaporeans. We will have to explain clearly and convincingly why Singapore is better off with immigrants. How do we remind Singaporeans that no more than a few generations ago, we were all immigrants? At the same time, how do we put Singaporeans first, and protect our cherished way of life? Are we bringing in too many, too quickly? As Singapore is the top choice for migrants, according to a recent Gallup Poll, can we be more selective? Is it possible to distinguish between those who are committed to Singapore and those who use Singapore as a stepping stone to other places? 13. We should also address what new immigrants can do to become more Singaporean. Conversely, what can each of us do to help the new immigrants integrate and be Singaporeans? How do we encourage the more successful immigrants to give back to Singapore society, in community service and/or donations to charity for example? 14. We will have to face up to the problems encountered by Singaporeans on the ground. Explaining in macro terms using overall statistics is not good enough. We have to deal with real situations faced by Singaporeans. 15. This immigration issue is a critical one, and we must bring Singaporeans on board to understand and support what we are doing. They must feel that they have a stake in the intake of immigrants and migrant workers, and see that these people, by bolstering our economy and demographic structure, make their lives better and not worse. Singapore is at a threshold. If we turn away immigrants, it will have dire long-term consequences for Singapore. If we have them in the right numbers and quality, it will boost our economic vitality. 16. It is not my intention tonight to open up another round of debate on this subject of immigration. Our more immediate priority is to ensure that our economy is set on the road to recovery, which is what the Economic Strategies Committee is actively deliberating. My intention is for us to quietly reflect on the critical importance of immigration to our long term future. It is a difficult issue confronting many societies. If Singapore can handle it better than others, we will have a considerable edge over the rest. 17. Finally, let me say that tonight's gathering is an example of a truly Singaporean event. It is Deepavali but we are celebrating it in a multi-racial way, with Indian, Malay and Chinese performances. 18. Have an enjoyable evening!

Hi, anyone with experience can advise me on this topic? Current things that makes me wanna sign on is that I don wanna waste my 2 yrs in army doing nothing, if i sign on i can learn more stuff and treat it as a working experience. I have a Dip in Mechatronics. I am signing on not bcos of the $$. For me i don really like military training and life that much at all so i thought i might as wel use this time to learn something about aircrafts. Any bros know the work timing? I am thinking that if its stay out, i can do my own business at night as well, and not being stuck in this profession for the rest of my life. Im not planning to be a senior tech for the rest of my career, and im gonna just treat it as a working experience and learning of new stuffs. Anyone has with experience in this matter? Thank u guys.

Source from http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNew...ory_343663.html

Ok, 1stly we should all give due respect to those really old drivers on the roads. However, I do find them slow in responses when come to changing lane, can't drive within lane, road hogging and etc. Hence, I would suggest that we accord them with a S plate that they must display promiently on their windscreens so that we can watchout for them. I probably want to siam them from far . Regards,

Dearest ICE Senior Citizens, Through observation, i dun see your posting anymore? A quick scan of previous threads, i have noticed many good articles as well as good ICE discussion from you guys but now......somehow you guys just vanished? Is it you find the ICE standards drop or you guys have achieve nirvana? Hope to hear from you.