Minjung's comment

One of the reason why i chose Singapore as a place to study is because Singapore is considered as a safe and clean country. I personally think Singapore is still safer than Korea as the crime rate in Korea is higher than Singapore but i would not say it is a safe country because i see the room for improvement from my daily life in Singapore. I think Singapore should work actively on installing CCTV cameras. In Korea, CCTV cameras should be intalled in all the elevators and stairs in every buildings, schools, apartments and houses by law. It is strictly controlled under the government so wherever I go in Korea, i can find CCTV cameras easily but in Singapore, i still see some places without CCTV cameras. In my condo, there is no CCTV camera in elevator. This is very dangerous because there is no proven evidence to track the murderer. Even if there is murderer roaming out freely in Singapore, it is very hard to catch him without CCTV records.

Singapore is very famous as a clean and safe country among many foreigners coming to Singapore. I really hope Singapore to remain as a country where people can stay without worries about their safety. Singapore is changing its landscape and demographics very fast and this brings along new challenges in security climate.
As a result,I think community involvement in security and safety efforts is very essential in our neighbours safe.The citizens of Singapore also should be more vigilant and take actions such as reporting suspicious charaters. Every actions done by individuals can help to deter and detect crime.

Prabhu's review on the article

Nowadays Singapore crime rate is increasing, a total of seven bodies found in various reservoir such as from Bedok, Serangoon and etc. According to the police report it’s identified to be a man’s body, it is said to be an unnatural death and this issue have caused a major impact among Singaporeans. The reservoir is currently undergoing desalting and the 5% of water is not being used for water supply. So the residence would have been drinking the water even before the body was found, wouldn’t this make us feel very uneasy!

The police have to look at this case very seriously as the murderer is roaming out freely in Singapore and we don’t know who might get murdered next. So everyone must take serious precautions in order to be safe. Personally I would suggest the PUB should install a CCTV camera in order to prevent this kind of incidents, so no one dares to go near to the reservoir to commit this kind of murders.

Widia's Comment

It seems that a body was found at Serangoon Reservoir recently and this is the seventh body found within seven weeks. This is indeed puzzling as there are human bodies found in different water bodies in Singapore within such a short period of time. Just last month, a body was found at Bedok Reservoir. These bodies will pollute waters and it is most worrying that we, Singaporeans, are consuming this water. The body was not found on the day and time it was thrown. The body would have decomposed over time and bacteria from the body would have seeped into the waters. The residents nearby who do not know of the body, would be happily consuming the water or use it for their everyday routines. Water in Singapore used to be certified as safe for consumption but in no time, it will no longer be with such cases occuring more often than usual. Even though water goes through a filtration process before reaching homes, how sure is it that the waters are 99.9% free from bacteria especially after being exposed to decomposing bodies? Perhaps it is time that the police force look into this matter and start stepping up their security. They could install cameras nearby the water bodies so that they are updated 24/7 with the things that occur around the area. They have to start taking action before they lose the trust from the public. For this case, Serangoon Reservoirmeets the demand of 5% of the Singapore citizens. 5% may be a small figure but it still just as important. Not forgetting that Singaporeans, are known to be "kiasu", it might be much harder to gain their trust after they have consumed polluted water.

David's comment

  After reading this article, it made me feel disgusted. This is not the first time this incident occured. I can't believe that this is the seventh body found in 7 weeks. On a average, it's about 1 death every week. What has happened to the citizens of Singapore? Is murder really a popular trend now? Do we really have that much of people to kill? Singapore is already under going an ageing population. This case has been classified as unnatural. They say Singapore is a safe country, but is this still true? First we have have floods, now we have rising numbers of muder cases. Also, the body was found in Serangoon reservoir and Serangoon and Punggol reservoirs makes up 5% of Singapore's total water supply. This is very disgusting..

Body found in Serangoon Reservoir

AsiaOne
Tue, Jul 12, 2011

The body of a man has been found at Serangoon Reservoir Tuesday making it the seventh body discovered around Singapore in seven weeks.

The Straits Times reported that the body was spotted floating near Block 122, Sengkang East Way at about 2.45pm by a Public Utilities Board (PUB) cleaning contractor who was making his rounds.

The Straits Times understands it was only slightly decomposed.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the incident at 3.12pm.

According to news reports, a fire engine, two fire bikes and an ambulance were deployed to the scene.

Identification documents found on the dead man indicate he was Chinese and in his 50s. Police were in the midst of contacting his family yesterday, and have classified the case as an unnatural death.

The PUB said in a statement that Serangoon reservoir is currently undergoing desalting and the water is not being used for water supply.

The new 4.2km Punggol Waterway, opened on July 3, 2011, connects the new Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs and runs through Punggol housing estate.

Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs are the 16th and 17th reservoirs in Singapore and will meet about 5 per cent of Singapore's total water demand.

The reservoirs will boost water supply by increasing Singapore's water catchment area to two-thirds of Singapore.

The creation of these reservoirs also provide an opportunity for waterfront living and more recreational options for residents.

Source:http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110712-288806.html

Widia's comment

Mr S.R Nathan has served the country for a long time and it is indeed about time we make way for a new Head Of State. In my opinion, Mr Nathan has done well in ruling the country as we have become a successful city-state in a short period of time as compared to most countries. I also look up to his humble character as he is aware of negative remarks from the public directly or indirectly and he was not taken aback by them at all. Instead, he continued doing his best to serve the nation and our people. Not only that, he was willing to step down given his current age. This shows that he knows his capabilities well and make good use of them. I hope that the new president will be just as good as him or maybe better for the good of our country.

David's comment

Though president S.R Nathan will not be contesting in the upcoming presidential election, after ruling Singapore for 12 years, he deserve huge credit for taking up such a major role. He has gain my outermost respect. He have definitely carried the burdens of Singapore. Our president informs that we face a future in which the challenges to our leaders will be different from those in the past, but every bit as substantial. We must choose our leaders wisely. Leadership is key in Singapore, as our leaders must be forward looking and have have those key qualities in them. Only then, we can truly lay the hands and future of Singapore to them..

David's comment

Though president S.R Nathan will not be contesting in the upcoming presidential election, after ruling Singapore for 12 years, he deserve huge credit for taking up such a major role. He has gain my outermost respect. He have definitely carried the burdens of Singapore. Our president informs that we face a future in which the challenges to our leaders will be different from those in the past, but every bit as substantial. We must choose our leaders wisely. Leadership is key in Singapore, as our leaders must be forward looking and have have those key qualities in them. Only then, we can truly lay the hands and future of Singapore to them..

Minjung's comment

Minjung’s comment

The next President Election will be held soon by August 31. President S R Nathan will not be contesting in the following Presidential Election because he believed he would not be able to undertake heavy responsibilities and physical demands of the position of Head of State. I want to emphasize that he really had tried to do his best as Head of State in all his duties, whether constitutional, ceremonial or community – related. He served as the President of Singapore over the past 12 years and Singapore’s economy has improved so much during the 12 years. I think Singapore is one of the fast growing countries in the world and it has been providing a good environment for many foreigners to settle down to spend their lifetime. I believe President S R Nathan has contributed so much to Singapore to achieve its development.   I hope the next President of Singapore selected in the following election will be someone who shows wisdom and integrity in looking after the interests of Singapore. 

Prabhu's review on the Articles

The mostly talked about subject right now among everyone is the upcoming presidential election, currently the president of Singapore is Mr Nathan, mention in the news he would not run as a president another term.as he believe that undertaking the indefinitely heavy responsibilities and physical demands of the position of head of state would be difficult as he would like to stand down. Mr Nathan has tried his best as a Head of State.to contribute to the society whether it is constitutional, ceremonial or community-related. He has also accepted the criticisms, as he said that it was expected.

According to the aritlcle Mr Nathan shows sincerity in his work and he is honoured to be our president and he will cherish the memory of the association with them and the deep affection they showered on his wife and him. Mr Nathan will be  remembered by every Sigaporeans for his contribution and sincerity he showed towards Singapore!

President S R Nathan will not contest upcoming election

President S R Nathan will not contest upcoming election

AsiaOne

Fri, Jul 01, 2011

President S R Nathan will not be contesting in the upcoming Presidential Election and will step down as President of the Republic of Singapore once his current term ends on September 1.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Nathan said he believed he would not be able to undertake the heavy responsibilities and physical demands of the position of Head of State. He will not seek a third term in the next Presidential Election, which must be held by August 31.

Mr Nathan, 86, has served as President for two six-year terms. He was first sworn in on September 1, 1999.

In his statement, Mr Nathan said that it was an honour to serve as the President of Singapore, and over the past 12 years, he said that he had tried to do his best as Head of State in all his duties, whether constitutional, ceremonial or community-related.

He wanted Singaporeans to know that if he had fallen short in any area, it was not because of the lack of effort or commitment, as he had sought public support for various social causes, benefitting the less fortunate.

Mr Nathan acknowledged that he had earned his fair share of criticism, adding that anyone who took on public responsibilities had to expect that. He also said that he would always cherish the memory

Statement by President S R Nathan

In a few days, I will be reaching the age of 87 years. At this stage of my life, I do not believe I can undertake indefinitely the heavy responsibilities and physical demands of the position of Head of State. I have therefore decided not to seek a thrid term in office and will step down as President of Singapore.

Over the past 12 years, I have tried to do my best as Head of State in all my duties, whether it be constitutional, ceremonial or community-related. I have gained new insights into lives of our people in all walks of life - the dispossessed, disabled, and impoverished as well as those able to enjoy the fruits of our economic progress. I have sought public support for various social causes, benefitting the less fortunate. If I have fallen short, I would like the people of Singapore to know that this has not been for the lack of effort or commitment. I have tried to do my best.

No doubt I have earned my fair share of criticism. Anyone who takes on public responsibilities has to expect that. I have taken such comments - whether made directly or via social media - as made in good conscience, and well-intended.

At the same time, I have been privileged, from the day I came into office, to recieve the goodwill and affection of countless Singaporeans, shown in many ways, both public and private. I will always cherish the memory of my interactions with these Singaporeans - I find difficulty in finding words to describe their affection and kindness.

Whatever the Constitution says about the powers of the elected President, and however varied people's perceptions of the Office may be, ultimately the welfare of our country and people depends upon the way Singapore is governed and administered. That depends in turn upon the qualities of the men and women elected by the people to Parliament, and on those who take up office in government. I believe that if those who serve in the government or any other area of public administration meet the demand of their office to the best of their ability, and if they show wisdom and integrity in looking after the interests of Singapore, we can ask no more.

We face a future in which the challenges to our leaders will be different from those in the past, but every bit as substantial. We must all be responsive to constructive criticism. At the same time, whether in the office of President or in the executive arm of government, we will always need people of strong character and vision who resist populist pressures and the temptation to sacrifice the long-term interests of the nation in response to those who merely snipe without having to take responsibility.

To serve as President of Singapore had been an honour. To Singaporeans regardless of race, religion or social status, I owe an eternal debt for the opportunity to do so. I will cherish the memory of my association with them and the deep affection they showered on my wife and me.

As for what the Constitution says about the powers of the Elected President, Mr Nathan said that the ultimate welfare of the country and people depends upon the way Singapore is governed and the qualities of the people elected to Parliament.

He said in his statement: "If these people show wisdom and integrity in looking after the interests of Singapore, we can ask no more."

Mr Nathan ended his statement, saying that he owed "an eternal debt for the opportunity" to serve as Singapore's President

Widia's Review

It is evident that the food producers in China are extremely stubborn as they still modified their food. In the article, watermelons were injected with growth stimulating chemicals to make it bigger. This would help producers reap in great profits. However, it seems like they did not spare a thought for their consumers' health. With the discovery of this modified watermelon, more people are afraid to consume China-made products especially after knowing the harmful effects it brings. In turn, this will affect China's economy in the long run as it has lost trust and loyalty from consumers. Despite protests and the punishments set aside for such producers, it still continues. It could be because the punishments are too light. For those who produce food which are non-lethal, they will only be imprisonment. I feel that the sentence should be heavier and fair to all because currently, only producers who produce food which are lethal will be sentenced to death. Both should be sentenced the same punishment as both affect consumers' health. This way more producers will think twice before wanting to inject something into their food products or mix it with certain chemicals. Death is indeed a great threat to most Man.

David's comment

The food problems in China has been around for a really long time already, and it seems that the situation is getting worst. In serious cases, they might cause death amongst the Chinese citizens. This has greatly affected the reputation of Chinese food and products, and that is probably why China is required to take action. I fully support China in making punishments more harsher. This serves as a warning to all those food violators. I can't believe that officials are even accepting bribes. I truly hope that this new policy would strike fears into the hearts of the evil.

Jeyshree's Comment On The Article

I feel that the law that they have imposed in China is necessary. Food is an essential thing for survival. It is kind of sad that even if you are hungry, you cannot trust the food  because the food security in china is rather bad. You would rather prefer to starve than consuming the food. The food in china is no longer safe for the people to consume. Thus, it is a must to have such law to ensure food security. Quoting from the article, "The overall food safety situation is stable and improving, but incidents that still occur regularly have seriously endangered people's lives and caused strong social reactions," It is the carelessness of some people that makes the situation in china worse. This makes the people in China no longer have the trust on their products. Thus, I hope that this new amendment to the law in China would bring back the trust of its consumers. It might also boost their economy to a better level.

Minjung's comment

I think China’s food contamination widens recently. Other than milk, pigs and watermelons, eggs produced in three different provinces in China were even contaminated with melamine. Melamine is very harmful to our health because it can cause kidney stones and renal failure in infants. Therefore, I agree with that those people who violate food regulations should be given harsher punishment.

I believe prevention is more important so people in China should also move aggressively to test a wide variety of food for melamine, including fish, vegetables and meats.

Prabhu"s Review on Article

Nowadays, food from China are posing a serious threat to the society and to the people in China. According to the article, those who didn't follow food safety rules will be serving longer jail terms and will be paying larger fines if found guilty of violating food safety regulations and  death sentences would be given in cases where people died as ordered by The Supreme People's Court.

 A total of 106 people accused of violating food safety, including two who received life imprisonment last month in a "melamine milk" case. If this situation keeps going on the reputation of the food industry of China would be deeply affected and the demand for food imported from China would go down as most of the people would't want to eat or buy food items from the country.In conclusion China should relook into this matter seriously and should do some changes to their food safety regulation for the wellbeing of the poeple.

China: Food safety violators to face death penalty By Steven Jiang, CNNMay 30, 2011 -- Updated 1134 GMT (1934 HKT)

A recent wave of exploding watermelons has spotlighted safety fears in China's food sector

Beijing (CNN) -- Amid deepening public concerns over the country's food safety following a wave of recent scandals, China's highest court has ordered judges nationwide to hand down harsher sentences, including the death penalty, to people convicted of violating food safety regulations.

In a directive released by the state-run Xinhua news agency over the weekend, the Supreme People's Court said in cases where people die from food safety violations, convicted suspects should be given the death sentence, while criminals involved in non-lethal cases should face longer prison terms and larger fines.
It also called for harsher punishment for government officials found protecting food safety violators or accepting bribes from them.

"The overall food safety situation is stable and improving, but incidents that still occur regularly have seriously endangered people's lives and caused strong social reactions," the directive quoted Wang Shengjun, the country's top judge, as saying. "Our task to maintain food safety remains challenging."

From milk laced with melamine, pigs fed with performance-enhancing drugs to watermelons juiced up with growth-stimulating chemicals, a series of recent scandals have outraged Chinese consumers, despite ramped-up government crackdown and state media campaign against food safety violations.

From last September to April this year, Chinese courts have tried and convicted 106 people accused of violating food safety, including two who received life imprisonment last month in a "melamine milk" case, Xinhua reported.

"It's clear that the credibility of the system will suffer," said Peter K. Ben Embarek, the World Health Organization's food safety official. "The (Chinese) consumer will continue to lose confidence in Chinese products and consumers abroad will equally lose confidence in Chinese products."

The latest announcement by China's supreme court, however, seems to run counter to another recent initiative to limit the use of the death penalty by the same court.

In its annual work report, the Supreme People's Court last week instructed lower courts to suspend death sentences for two years if an immediate execution is not deemed necessary.

The Chinese legislature had earlier amended the country's penal code to reduce the number of crimes punishable by death by 13 to 55.

China executes more people than all other countries combined, according to Amnesty International. It estimated the figure, considered a state secret, to be in the thousands last year for "a wide range of crimes that include non-violent offences."

The number of executions elsewhere in the world in 2010 was at least 527, according to the London-based group's annual report released earlier this year.

Prabhu's review on article

The National Solidarity Party's Nicole Seah, the youngest candidate running for this election has become one of the most talked figure in singapore. According to an article she is now the poltician with a total of 99,671 likes in facebook putting MM Lee Kuan Yew in the second position. Even though NSP lost to PAP with a difference of 13 % Nicole Seah mentioned that she will still continue to help the society. She has also managed to upkeep an image as a role model in young people minds.After the elections Ms Seah later issued a letter, "addressed to my friends, my fellow Singaporeans", in which she congratulated Mr Low Thia Khiang and his Workers' Party for "having made political history in Singapore". She also paid tribute to Foreign Minister George Yeo, calling him a "soldier, scholar, statesman" and "a perfect gentleman". This shows her intergrity and positive attitude she has for her constitution . Personally i salute Ms Nicole Seah for her courage and care towads the public. Nicole Seah all the Way!

Minjung's Comment On The Article

I don't really know about Nicole Seah but i can infer from the article that she is a very intelligent person. I think she is also a person with warm heart who is willing to help people around her as she even cried when she talked to a woman having problem with her child’s tuition fees. She was able to understand people well by sharing how their feelings.  A lot of young Singaporeans can take her as role model. Even though she is very young, she was able to attract people's attention by her interesting speech. I hope that she will be elected in the next election and  continue to grow to be a great politician for Singapore’s bright future.  I also wish to see more qualified younger candidates will join in the election.

David's comment on Nicole Seah

NSP, National solidarity party? Or Nicole Seah's Party? Goh Chok Tong said that in his perspective, NSP only has 1 member. Is that really true? However, i feel that that Nicole Seah has really represented the worries and cares of fellow Singaporeans. Though NSP lost in GE 2011, Nicole stated "To me this is just the beginning. I never saw the 2011 election as an end in itself … I was always thinking about what's going to happen five years down the road." This clearly shows us that she is still confident and forward looking despite failure, which shows that she has the attributes and the characteristics of a fine leader despite her age and experiences. The PAP has to improve on it's shortcomings, as there are no doubt these are the reasons why people are voting against them. Though NSP lost, they have really carved a new chapter in the general elections. However, we must not neglect the fact that PAP has granted us stability for the past 30 years. In a nutshell, like Nicole Seah said, "This is just the beginning." Who knows? The NSP might win my vote in the upcoming 5 years, but for now, the People's Action Party still have my uttermost support. Thank you very much for taking up your precious time. You guy's have been really attentive.

Jeyshree's Comment On The Article

Nicole Seah is one of the five members of the National Solidarity Party's (NSP). She has attracted many people by her speech. I think that she was able to communicate with the people well. She even cried when she was talking about the woman who was struggling to pay her child's tuition fees. This shows that she is able place herself as one of us. She is a good role model to all of the younger Singaporeans. She is willing to help more people despite the loss in election. I feel that we can learn a lot of things from her, starting with able to understand other people's feelings. GO NICOLE SEAH!!! =)

Widia's review on the article

Ms Nicole Seah, the youngest member in the five-member NSP team in Marine Parade General Representation Constituency (GRC), is definitely an optimistic and forward-looking Singaporean. Despite losing out to the People's Action Party, she did not admit defeat. She mentioned that this is just the beginning. She is most definitely an exemplary figure as she took defeat in her stride and is looking forward to contribute to the constituency. It is also very evident that she cares a lot about our country and our people. Out of her good will, she has also taken initiative to help a fellow Singaporean, who's facing financial crisis, tutor her child on a pro-bono basis. Pro-bono basis simply means that she does not expect anything in return after rendering help sincere from the heart. I definitely look up to her as she has good Samaritan characteristics and has a drive that never seems to burn out. 

In conclusion, we should not succumb to defeat easily and should continue pushing ourselves to our maximum potential that I am certain everyone has in order to achieve our goals. Defeat should not be taken negatively. Instead, it should be taken as a lifelong and worthwhile experience. We can use that experience to analyse where we have gone wrong and improve on that particular area. We should also contribute to the society as and when we can. There is no need to be a political figure to help others regardless of language, race or religion because we are all living in the same country. We sure do need more Nicole Seahs in our country. 

Nicole Seah: This is just the beginning

SINGAPORE - She walked into the Lavender Food Court looking to grab a bite before heading up to the National Solidarity Party's (NSP) headquarters across the street but ended up being swamped by the media and well-wishers.

Surrounded by reporters looking for interviews and supporters looking for photo opportunities, a tired-looking Nicole Seah trudged up to the NSP office without eating anything.

Ms Seah, part of the five-member NSP team in Marine Parade General Representation Constituency (GRC), may have just lost her very first election to the People's Action Party (PAP) team led by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong but she vowed to go on.

"I'm not tired, I'm raring to go. To me this is just the beginning. I never saw the 2011 election as an end in itself … I was always thinking about what's going to happen five years down the road.

"I'm not disappointed, I think it was a very strong show that we put up," said the 24-year-old, whose popularity has made her one of the higher-profile candidates in this General Election.

She said that she planned to head to MacPherson today to meet a woman struggling to pay her child's tuition fees. At a rally on Thursday night, Ms Seah cried when she talked about the plight of the woman whom she had met during a walkabout. Ms Seah told reporters that she is trying to get someone to give the woman's child's tuition "on a pro-bono basis".

"I'm not sure if I qualify as (a role model) but at the very least I've given young Singaporeans that space to talk … to think about how to formulate their own opinions … standpoints and the way they are going to contribute to the political discourse in our society," said the advertising executive.

Ms Seah said she is optimistic about the changes that are taking place in Singapore's political landscape.

"Things are going to get more interesting, you are going to see more young Singaporeans step up, a lot more qualified and credible candidates … to contribute to a more vibrant and diverse political landscape … and this speaks of how we are maturing as a society," she said. 

"(The campaigning experience) was definitely worth it. It was easily one of the most exhilarating experiences I've ever had and …

"It was a very difficult decision at the beginning to want to put myself out there, especially knowing how Opposition candidates have it tougher … But I wouldn't change a single thing.

"We can't wait to move forward and do more for the constituency," said Ms Seah.

Ms Seah later issued a letter, "addressed to my friends, my fellow Singaporeans", in which she congratulated Mr Low Thia Khiang and his Workers' Party for "having made political history in Singapore". She also paid tribute to Foreign Minister George Yeo, calling him a "soldier, scholar, statesman" and "a perfect gentleman".

As for Mr Chiam See Tong, Ms Seah said Singaporeans owe the veteran Opposition politician a "debt of gratitude" and added: "We will carry on the work you began. "

Minjung's comment

Osama Bin Laden is believed to have ordered the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 and a numerous peole in USA. Bin Laden is also known as the top of the US "most wanted" list. It's a great relief that the US's operation was very sucessful and managed to kill him but i personally think that it has made the world a much dangerous world. The reason is because there are still some Al - Qaeda's remaining leaders. Even though many were killed or captured, there are sill some new names have emerged.
Ayman al-Zawahiri is expected to replace Osama Bin Laden as the leader of al - Qaeda. He is number two in the "most wanted terrorist" list announced by the US government and he has a great potential to attack USA again. Many people and Ayman al-Zawahiri must be mourning and swearing to give their lives in revenge against US. Therefore, USA should be always ready for any atttacks from Al - Qaeda.
This means that the fight against the terror will still go on....

Prabhu's Review on Article

After reading and hearing the news of Osama Bin Laden being dead, the whole world was surprised and felt justice was finally served as the most wanted terrorist has been shot by the US Army. Osma Bin Laden the terrorist who made everyone grief in pain made a major impact in USA and the world after the 11/9 incident which happen 10 yeas ago . According to the article, it is mentioned that the US Army has buried him in the sea but is it true? Most of them are questioning his death as there is no evidence, President Barack Obama decided not to release the real images of bin Laden's body as there are fake pictures circulating around the net. People all over the world are anxiously waiting for the pictures to be shown in the media. Finally there willl be peace in the country, although the most wanted terrorist is dead the country must always stay vigilant at all times. You never know, when you or your country be attacked by a terrorist!

David's Review On article

After reading the article. I somehow have this strong feeling that Osama Bin Ladin is not dead. First and foremost, this is not the first time that the United States have claim that they have killed the Afghanistan leader. Not only that, after murderiing Osama, they threw away the body at sea. They could have at least show more hard evidence to proof that Osama was killed by them. Any Tom, Dick or Harry could randomly claim that they have killed Osama, or any Afghanistan leader of some sort. However, if i were to take their words. I feel that it might not be entirely a good thing that Osama has been killed and publicised like that. This would seem to serve as a great insult to the organisation and they would reform into a more stronger group and soon would plan their revenge. In a nutshell, i still have this strong feeling that Osama is not dead. I just pray that God bless America and every other nations being targeted. Amen.

Widia's Review On Article

The article mentioned that one of the most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, had been killed by the US armed forces. Personally I do not agree with this operation conducted by the US armed forces. Osama launched an attack on 9 September 2001. It has already been 10 years therefore I see no point in prosecuting this man. He has been living in fear for the past years after killing millions of innocent people. They say, what goes around comes around. At this time and age, humans should not live by this statement as it invokes the characteristic of carrying out vengeance in them. The US are highly respected by people all over the world. They should be setting a good example. Instead of immediately killing him, they could have held Osama captive and reasoned out with him before conducting prosecution. It is important to hear one's say before carrying out neccessary actions. At the very least, we would all know what he had in mind when he did that inhuman act. We would have known his last words or his purpose in doing what he did. So that it will serve as a reminder to the public and all the other terrorists.

Jeyshree's Review On The Article

He was the man behind the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was also responsible for the insecurity in certain countries.  Recently, the news said that the U.S military forces in Pakistan killed Osama Bin Laden. They also said that the U.S military captured his body and buried it at sea. It is indeed good news, but how reliable is this news? There is no evidence that he is dead for sure.  Well, there was news before that Osama had died, but they found him again. The Americans were happy in hearing the death of the religious extremist, Osama Bin Laden.  But however, there are chances that a new “Osama” can be formed. Never think that it’s all over.  We should always stay vigilant!

US has killed Osama bin Laden: Obama

Al Qaeda's elusive leader Osama bin Laden is dead and his body has been recovered by US authorities, CNN reported on Sunday.

WASHINGTON - THE United States has killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden nearly 10 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, President Barack Obama said in a dramatic televised address on Sunday.

'Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children,' Mr Obama said in a surprise late night White House address.

The world's most wanted man had been killed in a Pakistani compound in an operation on Sunday, which had been carried after cooperation from Islamabad, the US leader said.

Mr Obama said in the historic address from the White House that he had directed the US armed forces to launch an attack against a compound in Pakistan on Sunday acting on a lead that first emerged last August.

'A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties.' -- AFP

Minjung's Review On The Article

I think the behavior of the mother is very inconsiderate and I feel that she is not capable of being mother of two children. I’m sure the boy was very frightened and scared at the moment when his arm was stuck between the closing doors but his mom actually didn’t even take care of her child’s safety. If the tragedy had happened, I would have said that it is mostly the children’s mom’s fault!

This article reminds me of an article I read last week. It was also about an accident happened at a mrt station. A foreign student from Thailand had lost her two legs due to the accident. What happened was that she was waiting for a train and she was standing very close to the yellow line on the floor. All of a sudden, she felt very dizzy and fainted. Unfortunately, she fell onto the rail. Then, without time to take actions to help her, the train soon arrived. When she woke up, her two legs were already gone. After reading this article, I felt so sorry to her and her family, and I was so sad for the whole day. My mom also asks me to always stand far away from the yellow line. I really agree with David’s opinion. Despite the fact that the LTA is always trying their best to achieve safe mrt stations and the trains, there always are risks around us. Therefore, we should be more careful and be aware of many kinds of possible causes leading to an accident in order to prevent any tragedy to happen.

Widia's review on the article

In this article, this particular Singaporean mother had been said to be "silly" by fellow stomper,Jes, after witnessing her act of complacency. The mother of two, was seen rushing into the train's cabin when the train doors were just about to close. Technically we Singaporeans are said to have inherited the "kiasu" trait which in English simply means that we Singaporeans like immediate, positive results making us impatient to an extent that we demand to have certain things at that time period itself. With reference to this article, we can say that the mother had rushed for the train because she was not willing to wait for the next. The next train would usually take about 4 to 5 minutes on average. To us, 4 to 5 minutes may not be long but to those who are in a hurry, one minute alone is very precious. This Singaporean mother could have had important matter to attend to which we do not know of. She should not be fully blamed because I am sure that it was not her intention to cause harm to her own flesh and blood. She could have been mentally preoccupied to have not notice the incident. Also another possibility could be that her son was too afraid of the closing doors and despite her tugging hard at his arm to pull him into the cabin, he refuses to enter thus causing his arm to be caught between the doors. Whatever the cause, I am certain that the mother would take this a lesson to be more aware of her surroundings especially when she has her children with her. She is already considered lucky since her son did not face any severe injuries. I feel that the stomper, Jes, is being judgmental for the fact that she does not know what the actual matter is. There is a saying, "What you see, may not always be what it seems". I do not blame her as well, as it is human nature to jump to conclusions especially when we have just witnessed an accident. This would however, be a good time to appreciate our technological advancements to our transportation. The rims of the train doors are lined with rubber so should it clamp anyone, it should not cause any serious injury to anyone. Not only the train doors are equipped with a sensor such that it does not hesitate to open once it is not able to close properly. We should be grateful for these safety measures as it has helped reduced the severity of injuries.

Prabhu's review on the article

Nowadays MRT is prone to accidents, so the public must take responsibility by standing behind the yellow line and be more considerate to prevent any accidents in the future. After reading this article I was really shocked, why you should rush to get a train! Just wait 5 more minutes the next train arrives. This article proves that Singaporeans are so ‘kiasu’ they don’t even care about their loved ones. What if the boy got stuck in the MRT door, he wouldn’t be alive right now. The sensors on the platform doors should prevent the train doors from closing. This is a common problem and a serious risk to commuters SMRT should look into this matter. I would like to just remind the public to take initiative and follow the rules of the MRT.

Jeyshree's Review On The Article

This is not an uncommon norm, the people who use our systems of transportation do see this on a daily basis. People rushing in and out of trains, to them, being first is more important than the safety and comfort of their fellow commuters. The mother, I think is one who would fit into a typical version of an everyday commuter, what she did was way too alarming as she had even managed to put her son’s safety at risk, she could have waited for another train, but that would be too costly in terms of time, so she decides to rush ahead, let us think, if our safety  systems were not adequate enough, the son would have lost a limb, but hey, this is Singapore, everyone is confident in our public transport safety measures. I think this is something that needs a reform; people need to understand the dangers and the consequences of their acts. Please give way, Love your ride. =)

David's Review On The Article

 I personally feel that although despite the LTA trying their best efforts in making the MRT a safe place for us, I feel there are always risks still and there are still areas for improvement. This incident about the boy could be avoided. However, it’s not entirely the fault of the LTA. The mother has her own responsibilities on maintaining the safety of her child. She should be vigilant and alert about the actions of her child. So, in my own opinion, everybody has their own part to play in safety..

Chosen Article To Be Reviewed On

Parents, don't risk your child's life by rushing into train.


STOMPer Jes was shocked when she witnessed a mother rushing into a train at Orchard MRT station with her children in tow. One of the children's arms was briefly stuck between the closing doors, she said.

Jes relates the incident (Apr 25):
"A dangerous incident happened around 6.30pm, at Orchard MRT station on Monday, 25th April."

"I saw a mum dragging a girl and a toddler boy, rushing into a train when the train doors were about to close."

"The mum and the young girl had just managed to get into the train carriage when the door closed whereas the toddler boy's arm was clenched in-between the doors and his body was outside the train!"

"When I was worrying that another tragedy might happen, luckily the train doors opened and the boy was quickly dragged into the train carriage."

"Definitely, the boy's arm and body could be badly injured."

"Although a tragedy didn't happen, but this is definitely the silliest mum I've ever seen!"

"What for rush into that train when it might risk her son's life!"

"Huhh!"

"I hope people can be more patient when boarding the train even if they are in a rush!"

"Life and safety are far more important!"

"I was so shocked and the incident happened so quickly, I didn't snap any photos."

              Article from asiaone.com