My Reflection (Saiful)
It’s one issue to snidely insult a person’s personal predilections but another to spew forth unmitigated labelling such as `gullible costumers’. Mr Yeo’s commentary has sparked hatred of Apple’s overzealous fans towards the scornful government head figure. There have been speculations as to why the statement was even made in the first place but I think the motive behind the slanderous words is more profound than what we care to consider.
A nerve pricking commentary is sure to grab more spotlight as oppose to a conservative speech where words are choose wisely to avoid offending any concerning parties. Human are cynical beings, we are right even when we are wrong and we just loved to see the fall of others. We relish in knowledge that others are suffering and what is more joyous than seeing the fall of a preeminent CEO who has everything to lose? However, after all the hoopla is wrung out, curiosity will eventually get the better of us and we will start to dig deep into the many possible interpretations of the message highlighted. Placing out mint IPADs and up-to-date notebook side-by- side, we will weight its benefits and realise that there is nothing that the IPAD has to offer that haven’t been covered by the electronic book. Hence, the concept of wasteful spending arises.
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Philip in a flap over Apple ‘dummies’ remark
By Angela Lim – May 13th, 2010
SPRING Singapore chairman Philip Yeo has enraged Apple’s legion of fanatical followers in Singapore over comments they feel are derogatory.
The Straits Times reports that Apple fans are furious about his claims that people who buy applications for Apple products are “gullible customers” and that they were wasting their money on “all sorts of useless applications”.
Mr. Yeo made the comments last week when he was the guest speaker at the Fullerton-St. Joseph’s institution leadership.
“I always tell my daughter, make products and services to sell to the dummies”, he added.
The YouTube video clip, that was first posted on Razor TV, has since garnered more than 3,000 views.
While Apple declined to comment on Mr. Yeo’s statements, local Mac, iPod, iPhone and soon-to-be iPad fans in Singapore have plenty to say.
YouTube user, Cryfamm, commented: “This is so downright ignorant and lack of respect for the Apple consumers (sic). Never should anyone of certain political background dispute the grounds of any customers preference in whatever they are spending their money on (sic).”
Popular local illusionist and J.C Sum was quoted on the same newspaper as saying he was upset not by the “dummy” label but because “he is the chairman of Spring Singapore!” SPRING Singapore is an agency responsible for incubating and funding small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
YouTube user, jeremyfoo, added: “And yet if a company comes along with an idea that has the potential to make money using the same model that Apple has, he wouldn’t hesitate to have SPRING invest in it”.
Others worry that Yeo’s remarks might have harmed Singapore’s chances of securing future investments from Apple.
The 64-year-old has since clarified to the newspaper that he had simply been misunderstood. He explained that he used the word “dummies” to mean “laymen, which is the major market” and not as an insult.
“If I was calling them idiots, I would have used ‘idiots’,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that, in fact, he too has ordered an iPad and will receive one from overseas soon. He further explains that his point (that many had missed in the video) was that Singapore should learn from Apple, a company that has found a very lucrative customer base.
This is not the first time the former A*Star chairman has courted controversy.
In 1998, as Chairman of EDB, he publicly named government scholarships holders who broke their bonds in order to shame them, sparking a major debate on bond-breakers.
In 2005, The New Paper published an article on his book in which he remarked that Singapore men were “wimps, whiny, and immature” even after undergoing National Service. The reason Yeo gave was that all bond-breakers since the early ’90s were Singaporean men.
A year later, Dr. Lee Wei Ling, head of the National Neuroscience Institute and Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter, publicly questioned the policy of Philip Yeo and A*Star, asserting that they were wrong by putting public money on competing with western countries on cutting-edge research. She said that Singapore should instead focus on niche areas in Biotech research.
http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/05/13/philip-in-a-flap-over-apple-dummies-remark
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Chinese tycoon jailed for bribery
Chinese tycoon Huang Guangyu jailed for bribery
Mr Huang's vast personal wealth put him in the authorities' spotlight
Chinese tycoon Huang Guangyu has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of bribery, insider trading and illegal business practices.
Huang, who was for a time the richest man in China, was also fined 600 million yuan ($88m; £59m), the official Xinhua news agency said.
He built a billion-dollar business from almost nothing, after dropping out of school nearly 30 years ago.
His business grew into a chain of more than 1,300 stores across China.
The court in Beijing said the Gome chain and Huang's property development company Beijing Pengrun Real Estate had between them paid out 4.56m yuan in bribes between 2006 and 2008.
The bribes, in the form of cash and properties, were paid to five government officials in exchange for corporate benefits.
The Gome chain of domestic appliance shops was the second largest in the country.
Canny investments in property helped Huang build a fortune estimated to be between $2.7bn (£1.72bn) and $6.3bn at the time of his arrest, and in 2008, he topped the Hurun Report's China rich list.
But a few months later he was arrested and he went on trial in Beijing last month.
He stepped down as Gome's chairman last year.
Bribery and corruption are ongoing problems in China, says our correspondent, but Huang may have failed to cultivate the right contacts, fallen out with influential backers or simply pushed things too far for the authorities to turn a blind eye.
Huang appears to have brought several government officials down with him, with various convictions for accepting bribes apparently connected to his case.
Those convicted include Zheng Shaodong, the former assistant minister of public security, his deputy and government personnel in the southern cities of Guangdong and Shenzheng.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8688623.stm (accessed on 18 May 2010)
Serene Chow comment
This article is about a tycoon in china jailed for bribery. It is reported that this is not the only bribery case. Previously, I have heard from my teachers that in china, for things you want to get done, like application of the business to go through efficiently without any mishaps, you will need to bribe the authorities that are handling the processing of the application. When I heard my teacher told me this, I did not believe him until now. It is so unbelievable that most businesses in china would resort to bribery to ensure that their business is on the right track or even growing.
For this Chinese tycoon, he built a billion-dollar business from almost nothing into something big today. But from what he did now, I am starting to suspect that he also bribe officials to achieve the achievements that he has today. Personally, I feel that he deserves to be jailed because he did something that is illegal. When anyone has done something wrong, they should be punished for their wrongdoings. I hope that when he is in jail, he would know that the mistake that he made is very disastrous and also would not repeat what he has done. Also I hope that this situation would bring to a stop in people china to continue the bribery.
Mr Huang's vast personal wealth put him in the authorities' spotlight
Chinese tycoon Huang Guangyu has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of bribery, insider trading and illegal business practices.
Huang, who was for a time the richest man in China, was also fined 600 million yuan ($88m; £59m), the official Xinhua news agency said.
He built a billion-dollar business from almost nothing, after dropping out of school nearly 30 years ago.
His business grew into a chain of more than 1,300 stores across China.
The court in Beijing said the Gome chain and Huang's property development company Beijing Pengrun Real Estate had between them paid out 4.56m yuan in bribes between 2006 and 2008.
The bribes, in the form of cash and properties, were paid to five government officials in exchange for corporate benefits.
The Gome chain of domestic appliance shops was the second largest in the country.
Canny investments in property helped Huang build a fortune estimated to be between $2.7bn (£1.72bn) and $6.3bn at the time of his arrest, and in 2008, he topped the Hurun Report's China rich list.
But a few months later he was arrested and he went on trial in Beijing last month.
He stepped down as Gome's chairman last year.
Bribery and corruption are ongoing problems in China, says our correspondent, but Huang may have failed to cultivate the right contacts, fallen out with influential backers or simply pushed things too far for the authorities to turn a blind eye.
Huang appears to have brought several government officials down with him, with various convictions for accepting bribes apparently connected to his case.
Those convicted include Zheng Shaodong, the former assistant minister of public security, his deputy and government personnel in the southern cities of Guangdong and Shenzheng.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8688623.stm (accessed on 18 May 2010)
Serene Chow comment
This article is about a tycoon in china jailed for bribery. It is reported that this is not the only bribery case. Previously, I have heard from my teachers that in china, for things you want to get done, like application of the business to go through efficiently without any mishaps, you will need to bribe the authorities that are handling the processing of the application. When I heard my teacher told me this, I did not believe him until now. It is so unbelievable that most businesses in china would resort to bribery to ensure that their business is on the right track or even growing.
For this Chinese tycoon, he built a billion-dollar business from almost nothing into something big today. But from what he did now, I am starting to suspect that he also bribe officials to achieve the achievements that he has today. Personally, I feel that he deserves to be jailed because he did something that is illegal. When anyone has done something wrong, they should be punished for their wrongdoings. I hope that when he is in jail, he would know that the mistake that he made is very disastrous and also would not repeat what he has done. Also I hope that this situation would bring to a stop in people china to continue the bribery.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Thai premier says protesters will be cleared
By DENIS D. GRAY,Associated Press Writer - Monday, May 3
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BANGKOK – Thailand's prime minister said Sunday the government was preparing to clear an area of Bangkok defended by thousands of anti-government protesters, seeking to end a crisis which has virtually paralyzed the capital.
Many Thais have grown increasingly frustrated with the stalemate, which has dragged on for nearly eight weeks, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and costing the country tens of millions of dollars. It has sparked concerns of a flare-up of civil unrest.
"We are sending a clear signal that we have given people enough time to leave (the occupied zone). We are now in the process of sealing off and cutting off support before we actually move in," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in an interview with several foreign journalists to be nationally televised.
Thousands of so-called Red Shirt protesters have occupied a barricaded encampment in the commercial heart of Bangkok, centered on its most upmarket shopping district, forcing the closure of several malls and hotels.
Abhisit declined to elaborate on an earlier announced plan to end the crisis which he said did not include the declaration of martial law. In an emergency meeting Sunday, the Cabinet approved special funding for the police to contain the demonstrators.
"My belief is that the majority of the people want the protest to end. Increasingly their patience is running out. This is a situation we have to handle," he said in the interview.
The protesters, mostly from the rural and urban poor, view the government as an illegitimate puppet of Bangkok's elite and the military, are demanding Abhisit resign, dissolve Parliament and call new elections.
Abhisit has rejected the call for quick elections and publicly suspended talks with the protesters but says he still hopes a political solution will persuade the Red Shirts to leave.
Speaking at a closely guarded military camp on the city's outskirts, Abhisit gave no indication when any operation against the entrenched protesters would be launched. But he said the demonstrators, who include a large number of women and children, would be given prior warning.
"I can say that we continue to exercise restraint and patience and the first, best solution is one that does not involve violence," he said.
In a small concession, the demonstrators on Sunday shifted their tire barricades away from a hospital on the edge of their encampment in a move intended to allow the medical facility to reopen.
Abhisit said earlier Sunday he was reluctant to give in to demands from a group of pro-establishment protesters who have called for a declaration of martial law.
"So far, from what we have discussed, we (the government and the army) think that the situation doesn't warrant martial law," he said in his weekly television broadcast.
The Red Shirts said they would ignore any declaration of martial law anyway.
"Even if they announce that, we are not going to go home, we are going to stay put," said Nattawut Saikua, a Red Shirt leader.
The Red Shirts drew intense criticism last week after raiding Chulalongkorn Hospital on the edge of their protest site, prompting medical officials to evacuate it of patients.
On Sunday, the demonstrators dismantled the barricade blocking access to the hospital and rebuilt it about 50 yards (meters) away, on the other side of the entrance to the facility. Police then used a crane to assemble a short barrier of concrete blocks in front of the new barricade, effectively fortifying the protest camp.
Maj. Gen. Vichai Sangparpai, a top police official, said the blocks were intended to keep the protesters away from the hospital, which was guarded Sunday by large groups of police officers.
Nattawut said the Red Shirt raid on the hospital was a mistake and offered an apology.
Since the Red Shirts moved into Bangkok in mid-March, there have been several clashes between protesters and security forces. With negotiations between the protesters and the government on hold and hopes for a peaceful end to the standoff dwindling, calls have grown for international mediation.
The International Crisis Group think tank said Saturday that Thailand's political system had broken down and expressed fears the standoff could "deteriorate into an undeclared civil war."
But Abhisit, in the interview, said that only in three or four of the country's provinces was there "a (protest) movement in parallel with Bangkok that has to be handled. The rest of the country is well under control."
____
Associated Press Writers Ravi Nessman and Thanyarat Doksone contributed to this report
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20100502/tap-as-thailand-politics-3rd-ld-writethr-7934085.html (accessed 3 May 2010)
This article is about a group of anti-government Thai protesters, also known as the Red Shirt protesters living in the rural and urban areas of Bangkok, Thailand. What actually happened was many Thais were frustrated with the stalemale that is ongoing in Thailand for eight weeks since the 3rd of May. Due to this particular matter, it had sparked concerns of a flare-up of a civil unrest. Protesters have even occupied a barricaded encampment in the commercial heart of Bangkok which ultimately forced the closure of most shopping malls as well as hotels. The protesters were unhappy with the government due to the fact that the government wanted to impose a martial law on the citizens, in which the citizens were not willing to abide. Protests were sparked off because the current Prime Minister, Abhisit, undemocratically pushed himself up to his current position.
I personally think that if the Thai government wanted to bring down the recent protest, they should put themselves in the citizen’s shoes and think in their point of view. From the article, it is reported that Thailand’s political system had broken down, and I feel that the way to repair the system is not to force military or government decisions on the people to cause more unhappiness among them. What the government should do is to listen to what the protesters have to say and to resolve the issue democratically.
The government of Thailand including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had decided to clear an area which is defended by many anti-government protestors. This decision was made to put an end to the stalemate conflict between both parties due to political issues. The incident has been around for 8 weeks up till 6 May 2010, which resulted in lives lost, closure of several hospital and malls, resulting in an economical downturn for the country. Military support was used to gain control of the situation, however citizens in that area were told to evacuate women and children were given prior warning. The situation have improved by a little when the Red-Shirt protestors moved the barricade away from a hospital , enabling medical care to be given out to those who are injured. I personally feel that the raid on the Chulalongkorn hospital was unnecessary as the protestors did not spare a thought about the injured and the sick at that moment in time and even took a week’s time to release it. Despite the rest of the country being well controlled, the government should make a firm stand on political decisions and have ample military support in the beginning to prevent such breakouts. (Benjamin)
The chaotic situation in Bangkok has started since March 2010. There have been protesters mostly coming from the rural and urban poor places occupying posh Bangkok shopping area, causing business operations to be impossible to operate. The protest has lasted for almost 8 weeks, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and costing the country tens of millions of dollars. Now plans have been made (election in November) to make the situation come to an end. The protesters call themselves ‘’ Red shirts ‘’. They view the government as an unlawful puppet of Bangkok’s elite and the military. This is also the main reason why they want to invade the streets so that something can be done to improve their lives. This protest, i believe is rather meaningless and it puts the economics of Bangkok at risk. The government should review on the reasons of the protest and come out with a proposal to satisfy the ‘’Red shirts’’. Personally I do not believe that violence can solve any problem, not to say the protest that has lasted for nearly 8 weeks. The leaders of the ‘’red shirts’’ should have a peaceful talk with the government with no violence incorporated to have a both win-win situation to restore the streets back to its original position. I really hope that Bangkok will be peaceful again as I view Bangkok as a beautiful country with enriched culture. (Serene Chow Hui wen)
The civil unrest which centred Bangkok, Thailand, has dragged on for 8 painstaking weeks. Anarchy and lawlessness has governed the once law abiding country. Death toll has amounted to 27 and irrevocable damages to public property in the sum of 10s of million. The protestors are marching around with their placards voicing out the same tune of unjust and dissent to the government’s mind puppetry for the military purposes. They demanded that Abhisit step down from power along with his parliament affiliates. In retaliation Abhisit is imposing martial law to the general public.
Not speaking from any hindsight, I view that civil disobedience is a vindicated form of patriotism. However, when it turns egregiously dirty for both government and protestors a line has to be stepped to prevent any further futile bloodshed. Violence will only beget more violence and no form of solution will be derived from a pile of rotting fleshes. We have all seen this profound depiction in WW2. A peace talk will be the more viable solution, one which will both satisfy the needs of the dissenters and ones regulating the welfare of the people.
The path of least resistance will bore the most effective of result.
(Saifullah)
By DENIS D. GRAY,Associated Press Writer - Monday, May 3
• Send
• IM Story
BANGKOK – Thailand's prime minister said Sunday the government was preparing to clear an area of Bangkok defended by thousands of anti-government protesters, seeking to end a crisis which has virtually paralyzed the capital.
Many Thais have grown increasingly frustrated with the stalemate, which has dragged on for nearly eight weeks, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and costing the country tens of millions of dollars. It has sparked concerns of a flare-up of civil unrest.
"We are sending a clear signal that we have given people enough time to leave (the occupied zone). We are now in the process of sealing off and cutting off support before we actually move in," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in an interview with several foreign journalists to be nationally televised.
Thousands of so-called Red Shirt protesters have occupied a barricaded encampment in the commercial heart of Bangkok, centered on its most upmarket shopping district, forcing the closure of several malls and hotels.
Abhisit declined to elaborate on an earlier announced plan to end the crisis which he said did not include the declaration of martial law. In an emergency meeting Sunday, the Cabinet approved special funding for the police to contain the demonstrators.
"My belief is that the majority of the people want the protest to end. Increasingly their patience is running out. This is a situation we have to handle," he said in the interview.
The protesters, mostly from the rural and urban poor, view the government as an illegitimate puppet of Bangkok's elite and the military, are demanding Abhisit resign, dissolve Parliament and call new elections.
Abhisit has rejected the call for quick elections and publicly suspended talks with the protesters but says he still hopes a political solution will persuade the Red Shirts to leave.
Speaking at a closely guarded military camp on the city's outskirts, Abhisit gave no indication when any operation against the entrenched protesters would be launched. But he said the demonstrators, who include a large number of women and children, would be given prior warning.
"I can say that we continue to exercise restraint and patience and the first, best solution is one that does not involve violence," he said.
In a small concession, the demonstrators on Sunday shifted their tire barricades away from a hospital on the edge of their encampment in a move intended to allow the medical facility to reopen.
Abhisit said earlier Sunday he was reluctant to give in to demands from a group of pro-establishment protesters who have called for a declaration of martial law.
"So far, from what we have discussed, we (the government and the army) think that the situation doesn't warrant martial law," he said in his weekly television broadcast.
The Red Shirts said they would ignore any declaration of martial law anyway.
"Even if they announce that, we are not going to go home, we are going to stay put," said Nattawut Saikua, a Red Shirt leader.
The Red Shirts drew intense criticism last week after raiding Chulalongkorn Hospital on the edge of their protest site, prompting medical officials to evacuate it of patients.
On Sunday, the demonstrators dismantled the barricade blocking access to the hospital and rebuilt it about 50 yards (meters) away, on the other side of the entrance to the facility. Police then used a crane to assemble a short barrier of concrete blocks in front of the new barricade, effectively fortifying the protest camp.
Maj. Gen. Vichai Sangparpai, a top police official, said the blocks were intended to keep the protesters away from the hospital, which was guarded Sunday by large groups of police officers.
Nattawut said the Red Shirt raid on the hospital was a mistake and offered an apology.
Since the Red Shirts moved into Bangkok in mid-March, there have been several clashes between protesters and security forces. With negotiations between the protesters and the government on hold and hopes for a peaceful end to the standoff dwindling, calls have grown for international mediation.
The International Crisis Group think tank said Saturday that Thailand's political system had broken down and expressed fears the standoff could "deteriorate into an undeclared civil war."
But Abhisit, in the interview, said that only in three or four of the country's provinces was there "a (protest) movement in parallel with Bangkok that has to be handled. The rest of the country is well under control."
____
Associated Press Writers Ravi Nessman and Thanyarat Doksone contributed to this report
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20100502/tap-as-thailand-politics-3rd-ld-writethr-7934085.html (accessed 3 May 2010)
This article is about a group of anti-government Thai protesters, also known as the Red Shirt protesters living in the rural and urban areas of Bangkok, Thailand. What actually happened was many Thais were frustrated with the stalemale that is ongoing in Thailand for eight weeks since the 3rd of May. Due to this particular matter, it had sparked concerns of a flare-up of a civil unrest. Protesters have even occupied a barricaded encampment in the commercial heart of Bangkok which ultimately forced the closure of most shopping malls as well as hotels. The protesters were unhappy with the government due to the fact that the government wanted to impose a martial law on the citizens, in which the citizens were not willing to abide. Protests were sparked off because the current Prime Minister, Abhisit, undemocratically pushed himself up to his current position.
I personally think that if the Thai government wanted to bring down the recent protest, they should put themselves in the citizen’s shoes and think in their point of view. From the article, it is reported that Thailand’s political system had broken down, and I feel that the way to repair the system is not to force military or government decisions on the people to cause more unhappiness among them. What the government should do is to listen to what the protesters have to say and to resolve the issue democratically.
The government of Thailand including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had decided to clear an area which is defended by many anti-government protestors. This decision was made to put an end to the stalemate conflict between both parties due to political issues. The incident has been around for 8 weeks up till 6 May 2010, which resulted in lives lost, closure of several hospital and malls, resulting in an economical downturn for the country. Military support was used to gain control of the situation, however citizens in that area were told to evacuate women and children were given prior warning. The situation have improved by a little when the Red-Shirt protestors moved the barricade away from a hospital , enabling medical care to be given out to those who are injured. I personally feel that the raid on the Chulalongkorn hospital was unnecessary as the protestors did not spare a thought about the injured and the sick at that moment in time and even took a week’s time to release it. Despite the rest of the country being well controlled, the government should make a firm stand on political decisions and have ample military support in the beginning to prevent such breakouts. (Benjamin)
The chaotic situation in Bangkok has started since March 2010. There have been protesters mostly coming from the rural and urban poor places occupying posh Bangkok shopping area, causing business operations to be impossible to operate. The protest has lasted for almost 8 weeks, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and costing the country tens of millions of dollars. Now plans have been made (election in November) to make the situation come to an end. The protesters call themselves ‘’ Red shirts ‘’. They view the government as an unlawful puppet of Bangkok’s elite and the military. This is also the main reason why they want to invade the streets so that something can be done to improve their lives. This protest, i believe is rather meaningless and it puts the economics of Bangkok at risk. The government should review on the reasons of the protest and come out with a proposal to satisfy the ‘’Red shirts’’. Personally I do not believe that violence can solve any problem, not to say the protest that has lasted for nearly 8 weeks. The leaders of the ‘’red shirts’’ should have a peaceful talk with the government with no violence incorporated to have a both win-win situation to restore the streets back to its original position. I really hope that Bangkok will be peaceful again as I view Bangkok as a beautiful country with enriched culture. (Serene Chow Hui wen)
The civil unrest which centred Bangkok, Thailand, has dragged on for 8 painstaking weeks. Anarchy and lawlessness has governed the once law abiding country. Death toll has amounted to 27 and irrevocable damages to public property in the sum of 10s of million. The protestors are marching around with their placards voicing out the same tune of unjust and dissent to the government’s mind puppetry for the military purposes. They demanded that Abhisit step down from power along with his parliament affiliates. In retaliation Abhisit is imposing martial law to the general public.
Not speaking from any hindsight, I view that civil disobedience is a vindicated form of patriotism. However, when it turns egregiously dirty for both government and protestors a line has to be stepped to prevent any further futile bloodshed. Violence will only beget more violence and no form of solution will be derived from a pile of rotting fleshes. We have all seen this profound depiction in WW2. A peace talk will be the more viable solution, one which will both satisfy the needs of the dissenters and ones regulating the welfare of the people.
The path of least resistance will bore the most effective of result.
(Saifullah)
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