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What do you think? http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/penalties-crime-must-reflect-public-opinion-shanmugam Penalties for crime must reflect public opinion: Shanmugam SINGAPORE — How society feels about the punishment meted out in criminal cases has to be something the Government must pay heed to, but this does not equate to bowing to public pressure, said Law Minister K Shanmugam. This is because, if penalties do not reflect the weight of public opinion and people do not find them fair, the law would lose its credibility and would not be enforceable, he added. “You enhance the penalty (for a certain law) to reflect what people feel is the right penalty, what conduct should be more severely punished — that is not bowing down; that is understanding where the weight of public opinion is,” said Mr Shanmugam in an exclusive interview with TODAY last week. He added: “(Paying attention to public expression) is important because these people represent the ground feelings ... Penalties and criminal laws can only be enforced if people believe that they are fair and that certain conduct ought to be made criminal ... Otherwise they lose credibility.” Reviews of laws for a string of offences have been announced by Mr Shanmugam, who is also Minister for Home Affairs, in recent days, including some in high-profile cases that attracted close public attention, and even outcry. For instance, he directed his ministries to relook the sentences for sex offenders such as Joshua Robinson, a mixed martial arts instructor who had sex with two 15-year-olds and showed an obscene film to a six-year-old. The American was sentenced to four years’ jail, which was deemed too light by some — an online petition calling for a harsher sentence has since garnered almost 30,000 signatories. In a Parliament sitting earlier this month, Mr Shanmugam said reviews of the laws relating to the abuse of foreign domestic workers was also being conducted. While he did not cite any specific cases, news of the review came in the wake of a Singaporean couple who starved their maid, causing her weight to plunge from 49kg to 29.5kg in 15 months. The man was sentenced to three weeks’ jail and a S$10,000 fine while his wife was sentenced to three months’ jail. Public outcry over penalties in individual cases do not necessarily lead to a review of the laws, Mr Shanmugam stressed, noting that reviews have been announced by ministries for laws in cases that did not attract any public attention. Drugs, drink-driving, and false and malicious allegations against public officers are some offences that have been flagged recently for review. He said: “Even without public expression, when I see a sentence (and if) I see these needs to be looked at ... (where) I feel need a review, I announce them. And that is our job.” But, he noted: “When there is a reaction to a sentence by the public, as in the Joshua Robinson case, then I think it is important for us as policymakers to sit down and understand why people are upset ... It is important because these people represent the ground feelings — they are mothers, they are sisters, they are people who want their children to be safe.” He added: “But it doesn’t mean automatically you agree with it. You must assess it, whether it is also fair. So, there are two parts to it — one, whether it is fair; two, what does the public believe is right.” In a similar way to how he had urged the public against personal attacks on the High Court judges who recently reduced the sentences of six City Harvest Church leaders for misappropriating church funds, Mr Shanmugam said the announcement of reviews for laws should not be taken as an indictment of the work of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). The Public Prosecutor can only apply the law of the day and it is up to the Government to decide what the laws and penalties ought to be, he noted. “It is the task of the Government to decide what is the appropriate legislative provision. And that is the mixture of ... what is fair, what is right and also where is the weight of public opinion.” A deputy public prosecutor, who declined to be named, had reservations about reviews being announced soon after a case concludes in court. “When the Government says these things, it ties our hands,” he said. A former prosecutor, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that while public perception is a “relevant” concern, it “must not be the overriding consideration”. “Otherwise we may run the risk of undermining the rule of law with mob justice ... In my view, it would help if the AGC engages the public more actively and explains its decisions,” said the lawyer, who is now practising in a private firm. “This way, concerns of bowing to political pressure of public opinion would be allayed to some degree.” Lawyers TODAY interviewed agreed there was nothing wrong with public uproar leading to legislative reviews. Mr Sunil Sudheesan, president of the Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore, said: “The Government ultimately is a servant of the people. And if people are legitimately outraged (over a particular court sentence), then it should be of concern to the Government.” He added that the Ministry of Law reviews a whole host of laws, noting “it just happens there has been a number of high profile cases lately”. Legislative reviews are also a “product” of a more vocal and involved citizenry, said Mr Sudheesan. “I hope and trust that the engagement between the authorities and the public carries on for a long time ... The public should continue to speak up.”

Anyone does servicing package in Cycle & Carriage? Is it necessary to does servicing in Cycle & Carriage in order to valid the warranty? I know some of them does servicing at outside but still could claim warranty from the AD. Care to share is there a clause somewhere or any legal term to fight against?

Hi fellows! I am taking a trip to Sydney in Oct and probably crossing over to Melbourne during the course. For those who have been to the above, do highlight the things, foods, places there are Must-Do over there. Your opinions and suggestions are most valued, and thank you in advance!! :)

Increase of taxes, as country is more developed. Though a citizen of a higher tax bracket status, I do encourage to the gov to tax more on the rich, while maintaining those who are at the mid or lower tier tax brackets. This is a way to contribute back to the country. Taxes Must increase for social spending

Hi bros out there, Just want to check if anyone knows whether we must display Road Tax Disc. My fren say now no need cos even when stop by police they never ask why he dont display.

My Current car's COE is going to end next year, during my past around 20 years driving experience, always Manual, Sedan, NA engine, therefore my next car: 1. Must be: SUV + Turbo with decent Price 2. Better to be: Manual (it's a Dream Only) , MIJ, good FC, 3. Never consider: Sedan, Conti(Overpriced and low reliability) and Korean (roughness) brands based on above criteria, easily narrow to following: 1. Forester XT (wait for new gen launching next year) Pros: Attractive price, Powerful engine, fast acceleration, specious interior, AWD Cons: High FC, High Insurance, CVT, Burn engine oil (Hear said), Subaru Badge (ah Beng) 2. CRV-1.5T Pros: Low FC, Low road tax (1.5L only), low insurance, Honda badge(reliability), My current and past cars all Honda(loyalty discount if any), Cons: Ridiculers high price, underpowered (1.5L only), FWD only, only 2 Airbag for 5seat model, CVT, MIT, 3. Harrier 2.0T Pros: Powerful engine, fast acceleration, specious interior, Toyota Badge(reliability), DCT, Decent FC, Cons: FWD only, price High, Kindly advise Which one should I...

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1191578/1/.html SINGAPORE: A doctor with Changi General Hospital pleaded guilty on Tuesday to dressing up as a junior college schoolgirl and exposing himself to a university student. Thirty-seven-year-old Ivan Ngeow Ko Yen was first charged in August 2010 with insulting the modesty of the then-19-year-old student. He was loitering at a lift lobby in Clementi while donning a school uniform, comprising a top and a skirt. The girl noticed him at her block's void deck, but ignored him. However, she caught him lifting his skirt in her direction and exposing himself, as the lift doors were closing. A report was made later and Ngeow was arrested the following month. Ngeow, who is out on S$10,000 bail, will be sentenced on 24 April. A pre-sentence report has been ordered to assess his suitability for probation. For the offence, he could be jailed up to one year and fined. - CNA/wk

Is this product available in Singapore? All the foreign forum users who use it are all raving about it. its been around for some time.

Hi, is it a must to do wheel alignments if changing 4 new tyres? I am planning to change all 4 tyres soon . But not sure about whether to do wheel alignments or not ? Does it come free if change all 4 tyres or I need to pay for it ?? Appreciate your advise

Berry Good. About time.... decal is Tamper Evident

No 4 is good!

I'm not trying to be a troll. I'm really curious. http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=387379&DL=2286 How bad must this car be? An OMV of 43k, selling just 4k above its current paper value, depreication at 5k per year, and already has had 5 owners in the past 7 and a half years. I really wonder if the car can move when anyone buys it. All its previous owners must have thought they they couldn't lose much more since the depreciation has already been absorbed by the previous person. Looks like the car proved them wrong?

i'm wondering if is from the same hawker from bkk. anyone tried?

Hi All, need help from you guys. I have an 2011 MacBook air that currently showing me a blinking folder with a question mark. Need to get it fixed... Got anywhere to repair beside apple store? I scare they chop me carrot for it. Uncle liao, don't know all these stuff liao...

Went for the annual Qing Ming session yesterday at Peck San Theng @ Bishan. In other years, we will avoid the 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the actual day, to avoid the expected jam. This year, though, my uncle asked my mother to go yesterday (which I realized only when i asked being stuck in the jam, that it's the very weekend of Qing Ming) as my that works best for my cousins. Big mistake! I went via CTE side and missed the long queue which started before SPH, then had the bad experience of having to try to cut into the bumper-to-bumper queue of cars waiting to turn into Peck San Theng… Even before I reached there (to start to squeeze), at the traffic light, can hear got cars sounding (not sounded) their horns non-stop - an indication of the frustration of being obediently queueing but seeing other vehicles cutting in in front. The fact that the cars inside the single-lane road were crawling (as most cars will stop to allow passengers to alight somewhere inside, hence stopping traffic), doesn't help. 10+ years ago, when caught in such jams, I would let my folks alight on the main road, then I proceed to go to the HDB carpark opp RI to park and walk over, so as not to get caught in the unpleasant situation like yest. Now my folks are 79 and 82, and my mother had knee op on one leg last year, and is going for the other leg next month. She walks with a walking stick, very very slowly - but refuses to use wheelchair. Yest was to pray to her late parents and elders, and she insisted must go. Wouldn't have been able to make her walk the long distance from main road to go in... Really no choice but had to resort to squeezing in and cutting queue. Can feel the frustration and unhappiness of the other drivers. To them all, very sorry for the bad driving behavior. Apology... Already told my mum, next year if my cousins/uncle side said can only make it on the '2+2' peak weekends, then we split and go separately. Confirm don't want to do this again.

Probe launched after China pilots falsified records: govt AFP - Tuesday, September 7Send IM Story Print BEIJING, Sept 6, 2010 (AFP)

Looks like its a matter of time before MERS hit Singapore..... Singapore must be prepared for MERS: PM Lee The country's inter-connectivity and how the virus has been seen in neighbours Malaysia and the Philippines means Singapore must assume MERS will enter the country, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. SINGAPORE: The Republic must assume that the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) can and will enter the country, given its inter-connectivity and how neighbours such as Malaysia and the Philippines have had MERS cases, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (Jun 11). In a visit to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mr Lee said: "For us it's a matter of time, and for us, I wanted to be quite sure that our medical facilities our medical staff, the hospitals, the whole team are ready and they know how to deal with it. They don't fumble and we can contain it, and then put a stop to the disease in Singapore as quickly as we can." TTSH has been designated by Singapore's Health Ministry to be the hospital for MERS-CoV patient cases once the virus was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. South Korea on Wednesday reported 2 more deaths and 13 more new MERS cases in the country. PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND The Singapore public also needs to know how to respond, Mr Lee added. If one has travelled and feels unwell, or displays flu symptoms, these individuals should take it seriously and visit the hospital to get checked, he said. If there were to be MERS cases in the country, Singaporeans should not get into a panic, but know that the country is prepared and what can be done, he said. TTSH said it has a robust preparedness plan to handle global pandemic threats, along with the dedicated facilities. The hospital has started screening for suspect cases since 2012. It said all suspected and confirmed cases at the hospital will be isolated and managed under strict airborne infection control precautions. It added processes are in place at the hospital's Emergency Department, to evaluate and screen patients with clinical signs of respiratory illnesses and a travel history to suspected regions. If suspected, patients are managed separately with masks and placed in isolation rooms for further medical consultation. If needed, they will then be admitted into designated isolation wards at the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC). On Tuesday, Singapore also started temperature screening at air checkpoints for travelers arriving from South Korea. To date, no case of MERS-CoV has been reported in Singapore. But the Health Ministry has previously said the possibility of an imported case here cannot be ruled out given today's globalised travel patterns. - CNA/kk

P1 registration: Child must live at declared address for at least 30 months from July 2, 2015 Children who have secured places in primary schools under the home-school distance priority will be required to stay at the address for at least 30 months from the start of the Primary 1 registration exercise on July 2, 2015. -- PHOTO: ST FILE By Amelia Teng SINGAPORE - Children who have secured places in primary schools under the home-school distance priority scheme will be required to live at the address for at least 30 months from the start of the Primary 1 registration exercise on July 2. This new rule applies to children entering primary school next year. Previously there was no specific length of time set by the Ministry of Education (MOE). The ministry said on its website: "A child who gains priority admission into a school through his/her distance category is required to reside at the address used for registration for at least 30 months from the commencement of the P1 registration exercise on 2 July 2015." The ministry said that there are a small number of cases where families are unable to remain at the registered address for the entire duration of their children's primary school studies. Even so, a child who gains priority admission into school by distance must still abide by the new rule, it said. "If this condition is not met, MOE reserves the right to transfer the child to another school with vacancies, as the priority admission to the first school was based on the declared address used for registration," the ministry said. "The home-school distance category priority is given with the expectation that the family will reside at the address for the duration of the child's primary school studies, as it is for the convenience and interest of the child," it added. Families which have bought a yet-to-be completed property and plan to move in after it is completed, are required to live at the new address for at least 30 months starting from the time the family moves into the property. "For example, if the child registers in 2015 and only moves into the new address in July 2017, the 30 months stay period starts from July 2017," MOE said on its website. In March this year, a father who lied about where he lived to get his daughter into a top primary school was sentenced to two weeks in jail. The 35-year-old self-employed man, who cannot be named to protect his daughter's identity, pleaded guilty in February to giving false information to the school's principal on July 30, 2013. A charge of lying to a police sergeant 10 days earlier to change the address on his identity card was taken into consideration. The man had indicated his address as being within 1km to 2km of the brand-name school, when he registered his daughter under Phase 2C of the Primary 1 registration exercise in 2013. This allowed his daughter to secure a place. His identity card showed the same address, but the man actually lived in Balestier Road, which fell outside the priority radius. The address he provided belonged to his uncle's sister, and had been rented out. His subterfuge came to light when MOE visited the place. [email protected] - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/education/story/p1-registration-child-must-stay-declared-address-least-30-months-july#sthash.AgdvwxeK.dpuf

Here's a link to the full story

Just in on CNA. Those driving in or taking 170 bus to JB for day trip how? Got exception?

Not a question just for Grace Fu, but for you and me...... Kekeke 1. Stop digging my nose while waiting at red light 2. Ditto but scratching balls 3. Don't block or rush thru mrt train door ways, lift doors until alighting people get out first 4. Own self put back dirty trays after makan in food places 5. Don't complain 6. Don't every time red eyes when next person pay cash 7. Delete words like these from our mouth, keyboard --- COE, ERP, MIW, KFC, MBT..... 8. Always do opposite of NPNT 9. HELP sweep things under the carpet 10. These are more serious ones 10a Aim before we pee 10b Flush after we bomb 10c Keep leftover on side of our plate, not on food centre table 10d Avoid splashing water on road when driving pass pedestrians 10e Relak more when we drive, give n take. 10f Move off quickly, don't hog when traffic light turns green 10g 10h 10i

just now on my way home was stopping at a junction, preparing to turn right, you know those red right arrow stop and turn only when green arrow appears junction. This kuku just on my right was edging forward preparing to turn even when still red right arrow, then i saw the car behind flashing him/her, i tot who so kaypo, ok lah, mayb helpful trying remind the kuku cannot turn, sorry i cannot help not calling him/her kuku. But the kuku still turned, the car behind moved forward then stopped, wah, no wonder, a police patrol car. As they were just beside me, can see them discussing, then straightaway turned on their blinkers. But they never beat the red arrow, only once turned green arrow then they gave chase, since i also turned right, curious to find whether they can catch that fellow or not. I think he/she damn sway cos after turn there is another red light and the patrol car just stopped beside and gesturing to the driver to stop by the roadside. So dun think that these neighbourhood police partrol cars will not catch you if you break any traffic rules, so pls look left right behind in front above below and far far all directions 1st before you want to break any rules

Hi all, My family has this habit of 1st boiling the tap water before consumption. Is this an outdated practice or there is a specific reason behind this? Contemplating to fill up water flask directly with tap water and chill it in the fridge. Please feedback. Thank you very much. Regards,

This one really die also must bite back......... Severed Snake Head Kills Chef Cooking Cobra Soup The powerful King Cobra A chef cooking a soup dish from cobra flesh died in China after he was bitten by the snake's head – 20 minutes after it was cut off. Peng Fan was preparing the rare Asian delicacy from the Indochinese spitting cobra when the snake's severed head bit him with venom as he was throwing it into the bin, The Mirror reported. Peng died before he could be treated in hospital with life-saving anti-venom, police said. "It is a highly unusual case, but it appears to be just an accident," a police spokesman said. "He prepared the snake himself and was just unlucky. "There was nothing that could be done to save the man. Only the anti-venom could have helped, but this was not given in time. It was just a tragic accident." Diners who were eating in the restaurant at the time of the incident described screams coming from the kitchen. Lin Sun, 44, who was dining with his wife Su said: "We were in the restaurant having a meal for my wife's birthday when suddenly there was a lot of commotion. "We did not know what was happening but could hear screams coming from the kitchen. There were calls for a doctor in the restaurant but unfortunately by the time medical assistance arrived, the man had already died. After we heard that we did not continue with our meal." According to snake expert Yang Hong-Chang, all reptiles can function for up to an hour after losing their body parts. "It is perfectly possible that the head remained alive and bit Peng's hand," he said. "By the time a snake has lost its head, it's effectively dead, as basic body functions have ceased, but there is still some reflexive action. "It means snakes have the capability of biting and injecting venom even after the head has been severed." https://sg.news.yahoo.com/severed-snake-head-kills-chef-cooking-cobra-soup-101904733.html