Retiree Jenni Tan, 61, never imagined that she would be dragon- boating or rock-climbing in her 60s.

Fellow retiree Sophie Kho, 64, used to declare herself “allergic to exercise”.

But thanks to Aspire55, which markets itself as Asia’s first “virtual retirement village”, both of them have been able to step out of their comfort zones.

Like retirement villages, Aspire55 offers social, health and care services, but it is more of a clubhouse than a village – its members do not make Aspire55 their new home, instead heading there only for activities.

Officially launched in 2014, Aspire55 is co-founded by entrepreneurs Janice Chia, 37, and Loke Yiing Ching, 43.

The clubhouse in Commonwealth Lane comprises a 900 sq ft indoor space with floor-to-ceiling windows and a 100 sq ft balcony and garden growing basil, sunflowers, chillies, pomegranate and pineapples in well-tended pots.

The indoor space houses nine pieces of senior-friendly gym equipment specially imported from Finland. The machines use an air-pressure system that is gentler on muscles and joints.

Smart cards ensure that equipment settings adjust automatically to the user and every member’s performance on a machine is tracked by software, so trainers can then customise each person’s regimen.

Read also: Best tonic for the elderly may be a gym workout: Survey

Beyond the equipment and technologies, Aspire55 members say what makes the gym different from others is its environment and the caring attitude of the trainers.

Some of the Aspire55 members live in condominiums and are members of country clubs, but shun the gyms located there.

“There’s no pull factor for me to exercise in those gyms no matter how good their equipment is because I will be exercising alone,” says Ms Kho.

Another club member, Ms Annabella Sim, 65, says: “We’re not interested in the quantity of gym equipment either. The gym may be big, but who’s teaching you?”

After trying out commercial gyms, some of them found that the trainers there are not interested in teaching “aunties” to use the equipment.

At the clubhouse, members are encouraged to exercise together in group sessions and interaction among them is facilitated by trainers, who not only advise them on exercises, but also give them quarterly progress updates.

The club’s event and fitness facilitator, Mr Norman Koh, 28, is an “auntie killer”, says Ms Chia, using the local colloquialism for a man who knows how to charm older women.

He holds a degree in Sport Science and Management from Nanyang Technological University and joined Aspire55 full-time last year.

Read also: New fitness test helps seniors work out best exercise for them

He is in a WhatsApp chat group with some of the members and organises events for them beyond the exercise sessions.

Some of the activities that members have taken part in include dragon-boating and taking on the aerial obstacle course and “flying fox” at Sentosa’s MegaZip Adventure Park.

“I would not have done these things on my own, especially as they are new to me,” says Madam Tan.

“But when I see my peers signing up, I tell myself, ‘If they can, of course I can too.'”

The sense of community and belonging among the members is enhanced with post-workout meals and regular pot-luck sessions organised by the club.

Ms Kho says: “This place is not your typical money-making enterprise. Through all that they do, I feel that I really belong here.”

Aspire55 started with just three members and now has about 80 Gold members who are in their 50s to 80s. These members exercise at the clubhouse twice a week and pay $1,800 a year for their membership.

Read also: Free Fitness programme for seniors

It has another 1,500 Silver members, who pay a one-time sum of $50 for lifetime membership.Silver members get access to events at special prices and a one-time free workout session trial.

Ms Chia says the club has yet to break even and estimates that it will take a few more years before it becomes profitable.

She, her parents and Ms Loke have ploughed several hundred thousand dollars into the business, simply because they saw a need for this.

“There isn’t a fun gym here for older people where they can exercise and socialise at the same time. We felt this could benefit this age group,” says Ms Loke.

Ms Chia says the Gold members have had 100 per cent membership renewal and attendance since the club started.

She hopes to continue to grow this club and will make plans for another clubhouse when the membership number approaches 200.

Since Aspire55’s launch, she has also received inquiries from Australia, China and Malaysia about her business model.

“Our clubhouse is like our members’ own home,” says Ms Chia.

“Here, we want to make our members laugh. We believe in creating purpose and happy moments in their lives.”

Read also: Robots to lead fitness lessons for the elderly​

Where seniors can go

Aspire55

What: Billing itself as Asia’s first “virtual retirement village”, Aspire55 offers seniors the opportunity to exercise and socialise at a clubhouse in Commonwealth.

Where: 08-34 One Commonwealth, 1 Commonwealth Lane

Info: Call 6473-6993

North West SwimSafer Club for Seniors

What: The first of the North West SwimSafer Clubs for Seniors was launched in 2014.

As of February last year, there were eight such clubs across Bukit Panjang, Yishun, Bukit Timah and Woodlands.

Besides equipping seniors with basic swimming and water-survival skills, the clubs are places for them to exercise regularly and socialise.

The swim clubs are run by the North West Community Development Council.

Where: Various locations

Info: E-mail Elise_Phang@pa.gov.sg

AWWA Rehab & Day Care Centre

What: On weekdays from 4 to 7pm, the AWWA (Asian Women’s Welfare Association) Rehab & Day Care Centre’s gym is open to members of the public.

Where: Block 126, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, 01-1929

Info: Call 6511-6790

ActiveSG Inclusive Gym @ Enabling Village

What: Located within the Enabling Village – the first community space here dedicated to integrating people with disabilities into society – the ActiveSG Inclusive Gym welcomes not only those with disabilities, but also the able-bodied and senior citizens.

The Enabling Village has outdoor fitness corners that are open to the public.

The equipment at these fitness corners is suitable for use by the elderly.

The Village, a five-minute walk from Redhill MRT station, was developed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development and SG Enable, an agency that helps people with disabilities.

Where: Enabling Village, 20 Lengkok Bahru, 01-05

Info: Call 6265-1292

Sundays @ The Park

What: Started in 2013, Sundays @ The Park is a programme initiated by the Health Promotion Board.

Targeted at both young and old, the programme has a variety of instructor-led workouts held at parks across Singapore.

Where: Various locations

Info: tinyurl.com/j6xqs4k

Exercise video

What: Seniors can watch the video, 7 Easy Exercises To An Active Lifestyle.

Produced by the Health Promotion Board, the 30-minute exercise video features seven exercises developed with the help of physiotherapists.

The exercises do not require special equipment and seniors can do them at home and at their own pace and time.

Info: tinyurl.com/zvr6777

brynasim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 01, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

2016 has been a full year.

One major focus has been the economy. Overall, we are not doing badly, considering the global economic uncertainties.

We expect growth this year to be 1 -plus per cent, still positive though less than we hoped for.

While the labour market has eased, unemployment remains low and we are still creating new jobs.

I know many employers and workers are concerned, but rest assured the Government is watching this closely.

We have launched schemes to help workers Adapt and Grow in the new environment, to Place and Train workers in jobs that are being created, and to offer Career Support to professionals changing careers in mid-life.

SkillsFuture is ramping up Earn and Learn programmes, Study Awards and Fellowships for different sectors.

Working with business groups and unions, we are developing Industry Transformation Maps tailored for different industries.

The Committee on the Future Economy is working on longer-term strategies for growth, and will publish its recommendations in a few weeks’ time.

Another major focus has been strengthening ties with major partners to create opportunities for Singapore companies and Singaporeans.

Prospects for the TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, have dimmed, but we continue to pursue other avenues of economic cooperation, including the RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

We concluded a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia. With China, our Chongqing Connectivity Initiative is making progress.

I held a retreat with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia in Semarang, where a Singapore company is developing Kendal Industrial Park.

Most recently, we signed with Malaysia the Bilateral Agreement for the High Speed Rail.

At the same time, we are making Singapore a City for All Ages – 26,000 households collected keys to their new or resale HDB flats and enjoyed generous housing subsidies; 150,000 senior citizens are benefiting from Silver Support.

We have completed our review of the CPF and launched the $3 billion Successful Ageing Masterplan.

More parents are enjoying good and affordable pre-schools, with 17,000 more children benefiting from MOE (Ministry of Education) Kindergartens and Anchor and Partner Operators.

Our students have topped international rankings in Pisa and TIMSS assessments for reading, maths and science, and they are ready to face the brave new world.

We have also updated our political institutions, in particular the elected presidency.

We now have a constitutional safeguard to ensure that we regularly elect presidents from the different ethnic groups.

The next presidential election will be reserved for Malay candidates.

I look forward to Singapore again having a Malay head of state since Yusof Ishak, our first President.

Singapore is making good progress, but the world around us is in flux. These are difficult and uncertain times.

In developed countries, a mood of nativist nationalism has grown. There is profound angst and discontent with the impact of technology and globalisation.

People want to shut themselves off, to insulate themselves from foreign competition. This will most likely hurt themselves and fail to improve their lives.

In any case, small countries like Singapore cannot close themselves up. Our best choice is to stay open, to continually re-invent ourselves, and to stand out among the countries of the world.

In our own region, the terrorism threat has grown, even within the last year. Race and religion continue to be prominent issues.

In neighbouring countries, these powerful forces are affecting politics, and creating tensions and uncertainty.

Whatever the challenges, I am confident that Singapore will pull through, because of the spirit and resilience of our people.

In this past year, I have met many Singaporeans who have proven that we can achieve anything we set our hearts on.

I met Singaporeans actively pursuing lifelong learning.

Like Ms Adelene Teck, an occupational therapist for 20 years, now studying for a degree at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

Her fellow students are all much younger than her, but she is undeterred and making progress alongside them!

Mr Muhd Shamir started as a molecular biologist but, after seven years, he launched his own technology start-up at Launchpad @Block 71.

A young entrepreneur, Shamir is active in the AMP (Association of Muslim Professionals), helping AMP to set up a co-working space for other budding start-ups.

During SG50, he was one of the organisers of Kita X, a festival that rallied young Singaporeans to exchange ideas to make Singapore better for the next 50 years.

Memorably, Joseph Schooling showed us how big, improbable dreams can come true with faith and determination.

It was not easy, but he put in the hard work. As he walked out to the pool in Rio that day, he carried the hopes of all of us.

We cheered him on, hearts in our mouths, as he swam the men’s 100m butterfly. When his hand touched the wall, the whole nation roared in celebration!

For the first time, Majulah Singapura played at the Olympic Games, and we sang our hearts out.

We did it again a month later, when Yip Pin Xiu struck double gold, breaking two world records along the way, and Theresa Goh won a bronze, at the Paralympic Games.

Our spexScholars’ achievements were the result of years of dedication, sacrifice and hard work. They dared to dream, and were determined to make their dreams come true.

They proved, in Joseph’s words, that “even people from the smallest countries in the world can do extraordinary things”.

Besides those who win gold medals, or dream of changing the world with their start-ups, I also met everyday heroes who quietly do their best, day-in and day-out.

Volunteers like Lalithama Nair, who conducts free gardening programmes for children and mentors teenagers to care for the environment.

Pioneer Generation Ambassadors like Koh Ting Beow, Satyabhama Karunakaran, Azizah, who not only go door-to-door to explain the government schemes to senior citizens, but also go out of their way to befriend them, personally taking them to clinics for check-ups, selflessly offering help and support.

Their sustained, collective efforts help to make a strong and cohesive society.

It is because of all these Singaporeans and many more that I am confident we can continue to do well despite the uncertain times.

The Singapore story is the story of ordinary Singaporeans doing extraordinary things together.

It is your story, my story, and the stories of everyone around us. It is the story of one united people, regardless of race, language and religion, carving out our place in the sun.

With this enduring spirit, we will make Singapore a better and happier home for ourselves and for our next generation.

Happy New Year!

This article was first published on Jan 01, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

It appears that the Singapore dollar will no longer be among the world’s strongest currencies in the near future, says Mr Sam Phoen, a co-founder of investment-management firm Wateram Capital.

As a result, it might be prudent for investors to diversify their holdings, moving from a pure Singdollar case to include assets in other currencies, such as the United States dollar, Australian dollar and sterling.

U.S. DOLLAR AND GOLD

The outlook for the greenback has strengthened for the year, says Mr Philip Wee, who is senior currency strategist at DBS group research.

“Unlike in 2013-15, the dollar is not rising from quantitative-easing policies weakening the yen and euro, but from a stronger outlook for America,” he notes.

Mr Phoen says that the greenback is likely to remain strong with higher US rates and President-elect Donald Trump’s new policies.

Thus, gold is expected to continue to underperform.

OCBC

economist Barnabas Gan says that one major factor influencing gold prices is the strength of the US dollar.

“With the Fed set to gradually increase rates, the dollar should strengthen accordingly, putting downward pressure on gold prices,” he says.

“However, if interest rates don’t rise as quickly and if the dollar doesn’t strengthen as much as has been forecast, then there will be less downward pressure on gold prices.”

EURO

The euro is trading at 14-year lows against a strong greenback.

Given the continued slow growth in Europe, the outlook for the euro remains bleak, says Mr Phoen, who feels that a break below parity against the US dollar is likely.

STERLING

The sterling has suffered a great deal since Brexit, and is likely to continue to underperform the US dollar as Britain works out its exit strategy.

However, the sterling could recoup its losses against the euro with populism sentiment now spreading slowly to the rest of Europe, notes Mr Phoen.

YEN

The Japanese currency could continue to weaken, slipping a little more to the low seen in 2015 of around 125 yen to the US dollar.

Overall, the level is likely to be between 105 yen and 125 yen to the greenback for the year, says Mr Phoen.

YUAN

China’s currency will continue to face depreciation pressure with incessant capital outflows.

“How far it will fall in 2017 will be limited by the Politburo’s desire to maintain price and political stability in China, and political pressure from the US. Barring a hard-landing scenario in China, the yuan is likely to outperform most other Asian currencies,” says Mr Phoen.

RINGGIT

The Malaysian authorities are taking steps to stem the ringgit’s decline, notes Mr Phoen.

Measures include pressing banks not to trade the ringgit non-deliverable forward market and encouraging repatriation of offshore earnings.

“The looming elections would also put some pressure on the ringgit. Overall, it is likely to decline a little more against the US dollar, but should remain broadly steady against the Singdollar, with a new base at above RM3 per Singdollar,” says Mr Phoen.

SINGDOLLAR

As Singapore’s open economy slows and it moves to reinvent itself for the next phase of growth, its currency is likely to face depreciation pressure, in line with the depreciation in the currencies of its trading partners.

In terms of the greenback, the rate is likely to hit $1.50 to the US dollar in the first half of the year.

AUSSIE DOLLAR

Australia’s currency is one that Singaporeans have a keen interest in, particularly those with investment properties there.

It is likely to be strongly supported against the Singdollar, and the rate could go as high as $1.10 per Aussie dollar this year.

lornatan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 01, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

A new law giving the authorities more power to ensure that pre-schools uphold standards was supposed to have been introduced last year, after an initial delay.

But it has been pushed back – again – following some negative feedback from operators.

The Government revised the timeline to better “prepare” the sector for the new requirements, said a spokesman for the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). The law is on track to be introduced in Parliament this year, the spokesman told The Sunday Times.

The original target was 2015, before it was pushed back to last year – and now, 2017. The repeated delays hint at the contentious nature of the new law, which will license Singapore’s 1,800 or so childcare centres and kindergartens under a new Early Childhood Development Centres Act.

The law aims to raise the overall quality of the pre-school sector through a “harmonised regulatory framework for kindergartens and childcare centres”, which are now regulated under different Acts.

But parts of the proposed law are unpopular with the operators.

For instance, a fine of up to $5,000 could be imposed for administrative breaches, such as not keeping a register of the particulars of enrolled children or staff members. ECDA officers will also have new powers to interview people and take photos, videos and audio recordings for “investigation and enforcement purposes”.

Some operators acknowledged the need to improve pre-school quality but felt several proposed rules add pressure amid a manpower crunch.

It was announced in March two years ago that the Bill was expected to be introduced in the second half of 2015.

Last April, the Government said it would introduce the Bill later that year. Then, in October, the deadline was shifted to this year, which an ECDA spokesman said the agency is “on track” to meet.

“ECDA has made some revisions to the earlier communicated timeline to provide the sector more time for a smooth transition onto the new regulatory framework,” she said, adding that more consultations with pre-school operators were held through town hall sessions last year, after the public consultation exercise.

ECDA also visited pre-schools to give “intensive on-site guidance to prepare them for the new requirements”, she said.

Two years ago, ECDA had responded to feedback from public consultations, saying that administrative lapses will not be deemed criminal offences – a change from rules in the existing two Acts – and that there will be processes to ensure ECDA officers’ powers are “appropriately exercised”.

Meanwhile, industry players said they believe ECDA is taking more time to review the proposed rules in the light of feedback.

The head of a childcare chain with about 30 centres here, who declined to be named, said: “I think ECDA wants to have a relatively good mandate before tabling the Bill. There are other issues, such as the manpower shortage, which operators are unhappy about.”

A petition, submitted to the authorities in 2015 by childcare operator Wee Care’s founder Denise Lai, called for changes to the Bill and garnered about 240 signatures.

Mrs Lai said: “As long as the Government excludes early childhood education from state funding, I think it will need to frame a Bill that takes the needs of private operators into consideration.”

Mr Ang Hin Kee, executive secretary of the Education Services Union – which represents pre-school teachers – hopes the delayed introduction of the Bill is beneficial to the sector. “If we rush it through, there could be unintended consequences. We want policies that grow and support this sector.

“Compliance with rules is important, but let’s not make it too onerous for operators and teachers to care for the children,” said Mr Ang, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Read also: What’s pre-school’s effect on kids? NIE skips to the chase

‘Happy toilets’ to teach pre-schoolers good habits

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 01, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Retired schoolteacher Satyabhama Karunakaran was 48 when she lost her husband to a heart attack.

Ten years later, tragedy struck again. Her daughter, just 34, died of a brain tumour.

But Mrs Satyabhama, still sprightly at 73, has channelled this grief into connecting with other senior citizens grappling with loss.

For two years now, she has gone door to door as a Pioneer Generation Ambassador, explaining government schemes and policies to the elderly, and inspiring them to stay active and positive.

Mrs Satyabhama, along with fellow ambassadors Koh Ting Beow and Azizah Abdul Rahim, were among the everyday heroes Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid tribute to in his New Year message.

“Their sustained, collective efforts help to make a strong and cohesive society,” he said yesterday.

Mr Lee also pointed to the “spirit and resilience” found in ordinary Singaporeans that he said will help the Republic weather the uncertain times ahead.

In a Facebook post yesterday, he wrote: “Our people are resilient and united, and many are doing their part to help others and contribute back to society.”

Mrs Satyabhama, who lives in Anchorvale, some blocks away from her remaining child, said a crucial part of her volunteer work is lending senior citizens some strength and a listening ear.

“Many of these elderly are living through periods of great loss. Some are losing their spouses or even children,” she said. “I know what they’re going through. I can tell them, you’re in so much pain but you will survive. Sometimes, that’s all they want: some hope.”

Mr Lee also highlighted start-up founder Muhd Shamir, for launching a co-working space for other start-ups and helping to organise an SG50 initiative called Kita X which encouraged young Singaporeans to dream up ideas for the nation’s next 50 years.

Mr Shamir, 34, launched logistics management software VersaFleet four years ago and is now expanding his company to countries such as Malaysia and South Korea.

The former molecular biology researcher is optimistic about the local entrepreneurship scene.

“It’s quite fortunate that Singapore has been positioning itself as a start-up hub.

“And in these times with more entrepreneurs, there is a whole community that can support them, nurture them and prop each other up,” he said.

Ms Adelene Teck, 43, was cited by Mr Lee as an example of Singaporeans actively pursuing lifelong learning. The mother of a 10-year-old girl chose to go back to school after more than two decades as an occupational therapist.

The diploma holder enrolled in the Singapore Institute of Technology, where she now learns alongside classmates 20 years her junior to get a degree in occupational therapy.

She said: “Over the past 20 years, the world has transformed so much in terms of technology, knowledge and culture, so I felt a strong need to return to full-time, cutting-edge studies.”

Mr Lee also lauded Singapore’s sporting heroes – swimmer Joseph Schooling and Paralympians Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh – who helped the country reach new heights in the global sporting arena last year.

Such triumphs, he said, were the result of years of dedication, sacrifice and hard work: “They dared to dream, and were determined to make their dreams come true.”

Community gardener Lalithama Nair, 55, dreams of future generations of Singaporeans doing their part to protect the environment.

She was hailed as an “everyday hero” by Mr Lee, for conducting free programmes for schoolchildren to learn gardening.

She has been running the lessons for the past eight years, for some 100 children each year.

“We cannot wait for something to happen, we have to make the change,” said Madam Lalithama.

“People care more about the environment now. The future is bright.”

This article was first published on Jan 01, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

About 200 childcare centres, or 15 per cent of all centres in Singapore, will raise their fees this year, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The proportion of the childcare industry raising fees this year is lower than the 20 per cent to 25 per cent in previous years, and comes after the implementation of government schemes that require certain operators to meet fee caps.

For 2017, most increments are 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the current fees, said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), which oversees the pre-school sector.

As of end-September, which was when latest figures were available, childcare operators charged an average fee of $1,011 a month for full-day childcare.

Those hiking fees this year said it is to cope with rising manpower costs, or because they had not raised fees in previous years.

Among the centres raising fees, the vast majority – more than eight in 10 – are run by private operators.

Less than 10 per cent of them are run by anchor operators, and the rest are run by voluntary welfare organisations.

None of the centres run by partner operators will raise fees.

Anchor and partner operators – which are government-appointed and have at least 300 places – get government grants but have to cap fees, at $720 and $800 a month respectively for full-day childcare, among other criteria.

Over 40 per cent of Singaporean children are enrolled in such centres, up from 20 per cent in 2012.

An ECDA spokesman said the schemes have helped to “anchor industry fees, as the operators are subject to fee caps and controls on fee increases within those caps”.

He told The Sunday Times: “After the partner operator scheme was implemented (in late 2015), the childcare industry median fee fell from $900 in January 2015 to $856 in January 2016, and is expected to continue at $856 in January 2017.”

All 169 centres under the partner operator scheme had to implement a one-off fee cut on Jan 1 last year, on top of meeting the fee cap.

The spokesman said there are no changes to the fee caps for both schemes.

One pre-school that is increasing fees is anchor operator My First Skool, which has 125 centres here.

It will raise fees at six centres by up to 5 per cent.

The Sunday Times understands that another anchor operator, MY World, will also raise fees at less than half of its 29 centres.

The other anchor operators are E-bridge Pre-School, Skool4kidz and PAP Community Foundation (PCF).

The first two have hit the maximum allowed, while PCF said it will not raise fees this year.

Ms Loy Wee Mee, director of Pre- School By-The-Park, said fees at two of its five centres here will increase by about 5 per cent. “We are raising our fees as our last adjustment was in 2013. It is inevitable, given the higher costs of operations,” she said.

Some other private operators, such as Sheffield Kidsworld and Ameba Schoolhouse, said they decided not to raise fees despite high operational costs because they wanted to be considerate towards parents, given the slowing economy.

Meanwhile, ECDA said it will continue to “facilitate the provision of affordable and good quality pre- school services” through the anchor and partner operator schemes.

Centres run by those operators are expected to make up half the market by 2020.

Interior designer Sue Bing Hao, 31, has a four-year-old daughter enrolled at a My First Skool centre that will not raise its fees this year.

He said: “It is good that it is not raising fees, but I guess it is a matter of time before the fee limits on anchor and partner operators are raised… I just hope that when fees go up, quality will go up too to justify the increase in fees.”

This article was first published on Jan 01, 2017.
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CHICAGO – Singaporean blogger Amos Yee, who is seeking political asylum in the United States, has expressed regret for the inflammatory posts that landed him in jail twice.

Mr Yee, 18, who is currently detained in Illinois, told Reuters that the videos he filmed insulting the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and various religions were in bad taste.

“I told you, it is hate speech, it is overly rude, it isn’t good activism,” he said by telephone from the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility in Illinois. “I completely regret making those videos.”

Mr Yee was jailed for four weeks in 2015 for uploading an obscene image and making remarks intending to hurt the feelings of Christians. Last September, he was sentenced to six weeks in jail for posting comments on the Internet critical of Christianity and Islam.

The teenager arrived at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Dec 16 and told US Customs officials he was seeking political asylum.

Mr Yee said he wanted to live in Illinois and has no plans to return to Singapore. He should have his first hearing in front of a judge within two weeks, said his lawyer, Ms Sandra Grossman.

Mr Yee said he has had no contact with the Singapore Government since arriving in the US.

While highly critical of actions of the US government abroad, particularly drone strikes in the Middle East, Mr Yee said the US provided the best platform for spreading his message of anarchist communism and ending private property and wage labour.

“It is not going to the best country. This is about going to the country that most effectively promotes my political philosophy of anarchical communism,” Mr Yee said.

Read also: Blogger Amos Yee, who is seeking US asylum, regrets making inflammatory posts which landed him in jail

Teenage blogger Amos Yee detained in United States

This article was first published on Jan 01, 2017.
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