Gen Y and Political Renewal

Watch Workers' Party Chairman, Ms Sylvia Lim on 'Channel News Asia'.

Part 1:



Part 2:

A meaningful email

Work for me had been really hectic due to shortage of manpower. As much as I would like to pen down my thoughts to certain issues in my blog I can hardly find time for it or was just too tired to do so.

Amidst this busy period, I received an email from a friend that I would really love to share with people that I know.

It says,

You cannot decide how long you will live, but you can live your life to the fullest.

You cannot change the weather, but you can change your mood.

You cannot change your looks, but you can smile to make yourself more approachable.

You cannot control others, but you can control how you react to the situation.

You cannot predict what will happen tomorrow, but you can make full use of today.

You may not have smooth journey, but you can put in your very best.

Letter in ST Forum

I refer to the letter published in Straits Times Forum on 9th Sep 2009, 'Few Babies? It's the Hotel Mama mindset'.

Letter written by Peter Huber

IT IS not by chance that Singapore has such a low fertility rate. There are many contributing factors, but an important one is the housing policy and the mindset behind it.

In Europe and the United States, people leave their homes in their early 20s or even earlier. With their salaries, they can afford to rent a place, maybe with a friend or two. Those aged 25 and above, who are still living at home, are considered strange, immature and lacking in independence.

In the West, people in their 20s experiment, enjoy their freedom and have probably more than one relationship before they settle down and start a family.

In Singapore, it is a policy that only married couples can have an affordable, subsidised flat. It is way too expensive for someone who has just entered the workforce to rent or buy an apartment on the resale market. So they live with their parents and enjoy Hotel Mama, which is comfortable and saves them some money.

But they have to follow their parents' rules, such as, 'When I wake up, you have to be in your bed, alone'. Bringing a lover home is out of the question. For them, childhood continues until they are well into their 30s.

Is it then really surprising that there are not many babies?

It is not just a question of having no private space. It is also a question of mentality. In the West, young people learn early to stand on their own feet, to take care of themselves, to live their own lives.

In Singapore, the young are conditioned to follow the rules, to live for their schools or jobs, to listen to their parents and to be obedient citizens.

But different qualities are needed for starting a family, such as readiness to take risks, independence and the ability to have fun.

In Singapore, there is too much emphasis on obedience, too little on independence. That is not good for having babies.

Some might say that Singapore has no choice because it is a small island. But I don't know any other big city which has so much empty land, even at the best locations next to underground train stations.

It seems to be the policy here to make available only a little land for buildings and to keep property prices sky-high.

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I agree with Peter on his 1st sentence, that is...

"IT IS not by chance that Singapore has such a low fertility rate."

Yes, it is not by chance that we are not having enough babies. The policies that had been put in place as well as the evolving role of women plays a part. For those who are not aware or had forgotten, a policy called 'Stop at Two' was ever put in placed in 1969.

The response to this policy was very positive. It was so good that the population of Singapore started to decrease. It was until 1987 that the government realize that the population is declining at a rapid rate that they introduced the policy, '3 or more if you can afford it'.

The pictures below shows the publicity posters back then.





Unfortunately, that is the only thing I agree with Peter.

Peter went on to explain that another factor that causes low birth rate in Singapore is that we are traditional in our thinking. That is, we stay with our parents only until we are married and have our own family. And the fact that because we stay with our parents we do not have the freedom to bring home a sex partner.

It seems to me that, only after having multiple sex partners and then a person will eventually settle down with one and that is how we can increase birth rate.

I was bewildered by the rationale or is there something else to it?

The Asians and the Westerners behave differently due to only one reason -- different culture leading to a different set of values. Therefore, what works for the west may not work for us.

One may say that I'm conservative but social as well as moral responsibility is equally essential.

'Come Together, Reaching Out, Reaching Up'

It's our Nation's 44th Birthday and as a Singaporean I'm happy with what we have achieve thus far. Let us not forget that this is possible because our ancestors came together many years back as one.

Yes, as one. That's the key message. Regardless of race, language and religion, they came together as one and that's how our Nation can prosper. May I also add in regardless of marital status in the case of married and single mothers. I hope that single mothers can eventually get to have the same benefits as married mothers. The latter also in their own way contributed to our Nation.

As Singaporeans, let's reach out to those who are in need, those who need help. Listen to them and may help be available to them.

The old lady selling tissue paper from table to table at the Kopitiam, the old man that collects cardboard to earn a living and the disabled middle aged man who sings along the road-side, these people are our Nation builders. As our Nation progresses, we should not forget them.

Our country continues to reach up, achieving greater heights and prosperity. Hopefully not at the expense of those who are in need.

May the Nation, our country truly becomes a place that we can call Home. A place that our young people will not run away from to work in other countries and eventually settled down over there. A place that we are proud to mention it to our foreign friends. A place that we, Singaporeans can depend on and not fear to be in. A place that our Nation Builders will be taken care of and not left something they have to take care of.

Lastly, let's come together like how our ancestors did, to reach out to those who need help and not leave anyone behind as we prosper and reach up to scale greater heights as one Nation.

"Happy National Day!"

'Sex is mutual, rape is violent'...I agree with this!

In Singapore,

Sections 375 (”Rape”) and 376A (”Sexual penetration of minor under 16″) share similar marital rape immunity:

No man shall be guilty of an offence under [relevant 375 or 376A subsections], if his wife is not under 13 years of age, except where at the time of the offence –

1. his wife was living apart from him –
   1. under an interim judgment of divorce not made final or a decree nisi for divorce not made absolute;
   2. under an interim judgment of nullity not made final or a decree nisi for nullity not made absolute;
   3. under a judgment or decree of judicial separation; or
   4. under a written separation agreement;
2. his wife was living apart from him and proceedings have been commenced for divorce, nullity or judicial separation, and such proceedings have not been terminated or concluded;
3. there was in force a court injunction to the effect of restraining him from having sexual intercourse with his wife;
4. there was in force a protection order under section 65 or an expedited order under section 66 of the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353) made against him for the benefit of his wife; or
5. his wife was living apart from him and proceedings have been commenced for the protection order or expedited order referred to in paragraph (d), and such proceedings have not been terminated or concluded.

From the above, it seems to me that as long as a wife is staying together with her husband, legally married to each other, even if her husband forces himself on her is not RAPE.

The definition of rape, also referred to as sexual assault, is an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or sexual penetration of another person without that person's consent.

"Rape is rape is rape. An extreme form of violence and violation. Rape of a woman by her husband should be treated just like any other kind of rape. Abolish marital rape immunity. There can be no exceptions."

I agree entirely with the statement above which I found on this website which was set up by a group of concerned Singaporeans.

As such I would like to take this opportunity to help spread the word and post the following announcement on behalf of the 'No to Rape' Team.....

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The No To Rape campaign would like to invite you to attend Towards Criminalising Marital Rape: A Public Seminar.

It is not illegal for a man to rape his wife under current Singapore law (with limited exceptions). No To Rape believes the law should treat all non-consensual sex in the same way - as criminal violence - even if the parties are married to each other. An online petition at NoToRape.com shows that more than 1,400 have agreed since 1 July 2009 - and the numbers continue to grow.

Bringing together expert speakers who have studied and worked on marital rape and domestic violence in a range of fields - from law to social work to activism - Towards Criminalising Marital Rape is a unique opportunity to explore the issues raised by the campaign's call to abolish marital immunity for rape.

Do you want to know more about what domestic violence in Singapore is really like? Are you interested in how to make the No To Rape objective a legislative reality? Or would you like to put your doubts about and disagreements with No To Rape to the experts? This is your chance.

Speakers:
* Dana Lam, President of AWARE
* Benny Bong, President of Society Against Family Violence
* Chan Wing Cheong, NUS Law Faculty
* Braema Mathi, MARUAH, the Singapore working group for an ASEAN human rights mechanism
* Siew Kum Hong, former NMP

Presentation titles and abstracts can be found at http://www.NoToRape.com/Seminar

7 Aug 2009, Fri
6:30 – 9:30 pm
Venue: TBC

Free admission + Open to public (registration required)
Register at http://www.NoToRape.com/Seminar

We look forward to seeing you there. Please feel free to send this invitation to anyone who might be interested in the event.

From 'No To Rape' team