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Beijing – A key conclave of China’s Communist Party elite kicked off Monday in Beijing, the official Xinhua news service reported, as leader Xi Jinping seeks to tighten his control over the organisation.
Nearly 400 top members of the world’s most powerful political party have gathered at the exclusive Jingxi Hotel to discuss changes to party structure and management for four days.
They will focus on reforming the “norms for political life” and the party’s internal rules for supervising cadres, Xinhua said.
The dry rhetoric around the Sixth Plenum, as the meeting is known, hides what may be a ferocious, high-stakes battle for control over the world’s second-largest economy.
“This year’s plenum on party-building is key to Xi’s entire political project, and could very well turn out to be the most important of his first term,” said Trey McArver, China analyst at Trusted Sources.
It “looks certain to further consolidate his grip over the party”, he added.
Since taking its helm in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping has sought to bend it to his will, and taken control of more levers of power than any leader since Mao Zedong.
His most powerful tool for bringing the party to heel has been an anti-corruption campaign that is now “the longest-lasting, (and) widest-ranging in party history”, McArver said.
The party’s Central Commission for Discipline and Inspection, its feared internal watchdog, said at the weekend that between 2013 and last month, more than one million members had been punished for graft.
China’s ruling party has 88 million members.
Xi has felled top generals in the People’s Liberation Army and seemingly invincible bastions of power such as former security czar Zhou Yongkang, eliminating potential rival sources of power.
But it has laid waste to the party’s organisational chart, paralysing grassroots bureaucrats petrified of making a mistake, a problem compounded by unclear and contradictory signals on what policies to pursue.
New policies will seek to address “outstanding problems” and compel senior leaders to be a good example for lesser officials, Xinhua said.
That could mean tightening regulations governing cadres’ behaviour and strengthening enforcement, analysts say.
Xi has described the party as a “magic weapon” that can be used to implement reforms necessary to achieve his goal of the “Great Rejuvenation” of the Chinese nation, an idea that he frequently describes as the “Chinese dream”.
He gave up his five-figure salary as an aesthetic doctor to volunteer full time at an animal welfare group.
Another animal lover sold her property to get some money to look after her charges and create a shelter.
These are the people who work behind the scenes at the seven animal shelters at Pasir Ris Farmway 2.
But an uncertain future looms.
By the end of next year, the shelters will have to leave as the authorities want the land for industrial development, reported The Straits Times.
The dogs are likely to be moved to Sungei Tengah in Kranji, where the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is located.
The people behind the shelters told The New Paper that they have always had their leases renewed every year.
Last year, they were told that the leases would no longer be renewed and from June this year, the owners have been getting letters reminding them about it.
In a joint statement to The Straits Times, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said that details of the Sungei Tengah tender will be provided when ready.
Lack of details
But the lack of details is making the animal groups unsure how to move forward.
Dr Siew Tuck Wah, 37, president of Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD), quit his cushy job last September to work with the shelter.
“My parents were very worried and thought I was crazy,” he said.
After quitting, he quickly realised that money ran out fast, he said.
“I had a bit of savings and I sold some shares in order to pay for all my bills,” said the dog lover, who has been volunteering at SOSD since 2012.
“At first, I just had four dogs, and because there was no space to house the dogs, I bought a small kennel for $400 and placed the dogs at my home.
“But I realised that there was a lot to be done… I felt there was a lot of public education to be done about this issue.”
He said he is seeing positive change.
“We see more people coming to our adoption drives…
“We also conduct talks at schools, hospitals and old folks’ homes to reach out to the masses.”
Today, SOSD has over 100 animals at its facility.
The group has to raise $40,000 to $60,000 each month to keep the shelter going. It expects that relocation will require some funds too.
Dr Siew admitted there is much uncertainty going forward.
He said: “The longer (the authorities) take to give us an answer, the shorter time we have to prepare for the relocation.”
He has started his own aesthetic clinic to bring in some money so that he can continue working with SOSD.
Expenses
Ms Mary Soo, 69, echoed Dr Siew’s concerns.
A decade ago, she said she sold her house and pumped over a million dollars from the sale into Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter, which looks after 150 dogs.
Ms Soo, a former high-flying bank employee and vice-chairman for the SPCA, said: “When I saw how the dogs suffered, I thought, somebody must do something for them.”
It costs about $10,000 a month to run the shelter, and while there are donations, about $5,000 a month still has to come from her own savings, said the retiree.
When asked about the relocation, she said: “Within a year, how are they supposed to get things done?
“We still have to set up a new facility. How are we going to build a new animal shelter in time?”
The Animal Lovers League’s (ALL) shelter, which takes up the space of about half a football field, has close to 400 dogs and over 200 cats.
ALL co-founder Cathy Strong said: “We are already spending $60,000 a month, including medical bills.
“With this impending move, we need to raise the funds needed for the construction of the new shelter.
“Even with the help of our supporters and volunteers, we can hardly make ends meet, let alone put aside money for the move.”
She sells flat to house animals
She spent her life savings to care for over 200 cats and 75 dogs at Mdm Wong’s Shelter. Now, owner Chaya Koi Kim, 70, is worried about her animals.
Madam Chaya said: “I only knew about the new relocation site from reading the newspapers, and I’m really worried about my animals.”
On Oct 15, Mr Louis Ng, an MP for Nee Soon GRC, told volunteers that the Ministry of National Development (MND) will announce plans later for the seven animal welfare groups at Pasir Ris Farmway that have to move out.
However, Mdm Wong’s Shelter is a private shelter and not one of the seven official groups.
But she will have to move as she rents a space about the size of a three-room flat from Ericsson Pet Farm, which will be relocated.
The former seamstress sold her five-room flat in 2001 and used most of the money from the sale to pay for the shelter’s rent. She and her husband then moved in with her son in his four-room-flat.
She spends about $8,000 a month to upkeep the shelter. The money comes from donations or from her children, who give her between $2,000 and $3,000 a month.
Volunteers
Helping her at the shelter are volunteers such as Mr Derrick Tan, 35, who is also president of Voices For Animals, one of the shelters affected by the changes.
He told The New Paper he would bring home stray cats, even as a child.
Madam Chaya, who started taking care of animals when she was in her 20s, said in Mandarin: “I always thought that the cats and dogs on the streets are very pitiful.
“I’m very frugal and have never once taken a plane before.
“All I do every day is complete my chores at home and go down to the shelter to take care of the animals.
“And I plan to do that until I die.”
When asked if she had sought assistance, she replied that she had yet to.
When contacted, Mr Ng, who founded wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), told TNP that none of the animals will be left stranded.
Mr Ng said: “MND is looking through all the options, as well as the ones submitted by the animal welfare groups.
“We would like to assure the animal shelters – whether you are registered as an animal welfare group or a private shelter – will be treated fairly and provided with options for the animals under their care.”
huienl@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
ashikinr@sph.com.sg
For the past 12 years, Mr Jason See Toh has worked seven days a week as a taxi driver after pulling down the shutters at his renovations company.
Mr See Toh, 54, made the switch because the flexibility of the job gave him more time to care for his younger son, Mr See Toh Sheng Jie, 20, who has autism.
Singaporeans would remember Sheng Jie as the famous “dino boy” who made headlines in August when a denim pouch with a dinosaur motif that he had drawn and designed went to the White House, thanks to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife Ho Ching.
Mrs Lee carried the pouch when she accompanied Mr Lee on an official visit to the US.
Mr See Toh admitted that his hectic schedule can be “tiring”, but he keeps going to provide for his family and make time for Mr Sheng Jie.
He told The New Paper at his three-room HDB flat in Yishun: “He has autism so I need to accompany him wherever he goes.
“That was part of the reason for the job switch… In between shifts, I will spend some time to monitor his homework and so on.”
His wife, Madam Wendy Chua, 53, is a residents’ committee (RC) manager.
Every weekday, Mr See Toh sends Sheng Jie to Pathlight School in his Trans-Cab taxi by 8am before picking up passengers.
At 1.45pm, he will return to the school to have lunch with his younger son before taking him home.
He is off to work again at around 4pm before calling it a day at around midnight.
On Saturdays, he sets aside five hours in the afternoon to be with Sheng Jie when he goes for his art programme at the Enabling Village at Pathlight’s The Art Faculty and he spends some time with him after that.
Then it is back to work.
On Sundays, he tries to spend time with Sheng Jie, his wife and older son Sheng Yang, a 21-year-old full-time national serviceman, before driving his cab at night.
Sheng Jie was diagnosed with autism when he was five years old.
INTEREST
His deep interest in dinosaurs began after watching his first Disney film Dinosaur (2000). Later, he would mould dinosaurs out of Blu-Tack.
The family encouraged his artistic talent by providing him with materials like clay and sculpting tools, which he would use to sculpt multicoloured dinosaurs and animals with vivid details.
Hundreds are on display in a glass cabinet in the family’s living room and stored in plastic containers.
Sheng Jie also draws dinosaurs in a sketch book he always carries around and is a walking dinosaur encyclopedia, rattling off names, traits and descriptions despite his inability to verbalise his thoughts well.
“(His talent) is a gift and we are very proud of him. I suppose, when something is taken away from you, you gain something else,” said Mr See Toh.
He hopes the recent media attention on his son has further raised awareness of not just autism, but on other conditions as well.
“There are many children with great talents, not just in Singapore but all across the globe.
“I also hope that the public can be more empathetic towards special needs children,” he said.
When asked about his hopes for Sheng Jie, Mr See Toh admitted that he worries about his son’s future.
Next year will be Sheng Jie’s last year in Pathlight.
“We want him to learn to be more independent and perhaps, earn a living for himself.
“When we can find a place that provides that, we can plan the rest. Now we cannot plan for anything yet,” said the cabby, who said he might consider another job switch someday.
For Mr See Toh, the growing competition in the taxi trade and weakening economy means that the flexibility of his job comes at a financial trade-off.
He said: “I can safely say that there has been a decline of up to 40 per cent in passengers in recent years.
“Before this, in the renovation industry, my family can still cope, but times are getting tougher. I can’t just make enough to cover rental and fuel, which is about $140 daily.
“Don’t even talk about savings or retirement… It’s hard enough trying to cope with the essentials.”
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
Consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.2 per cent last month, compared to 0.3 per cent the month before, which mainly reflected the smaller decline in private road transport costs and, to a lesser extent, higher food inflation.
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Commuters can look forward to hitching earlier train rides on Sundays starting from Nov 6, as SMRT train services resume regular service start times at a total of 13 stations.
They include stations from Joo Koon to Queenstown on the East-West Line (EWL), and from Bukit Gombak to Jurong East on the North-South Line (NSL).
Since June this year, train services at these stations have commenced up to an hour later than usual to allow SMRT’s engineers more time to work on rail maintenance and renewal projects.
In a press release on Monday (Oct 24), SMRT said that the resumption of train services comes seven weeks ahead of schedule.
Over 2,300 sleeper trains and more than 3.2km of additional Third Rail have been replaced over the past 20 weeks, the transport operator said.
The paid parallel bus service plying the route between Joo Koon and Bukit Gombak stations before 7am on Sundays will also cease after this Sunday (Oct 30).
minlee@sph.com.sg
SINGAPORE – SMRT train services on the North-South (NSL) and East-West lines (EWL) will resume regular start times on Sunday mornings from November 6, the train operator said in a statement on Monday (Oct 24) citing better than expected progress with…
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Their marriage was on the rocks.
While they and their two children would still go out for family outings, the couple had been living separately for four years.
Tragedy struck on Saturday night when Mr Wang Chan Foo, also known as Ongko Widjojo, 46, fell to his death from his balcony parapet at the Novena Suites condominium on Moulmein Road.
His wife, Madam Ng Soo San, 44, was later found dead by the police in his 13th-storey condominium unit.
She is believed to have suffered multiple stab wounds to her torso.
The episode unfolded while their daughter, 13, and seven-year-old son were at a nearby tuition centre, reported Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao.
Ms Ng’s brother, Mr Ng Jun Jie, 37, a tow-truck driver, told Shin Min Daily News that the two children had gone over to the condominium premises after their class and found out what happened to their father.
The girl, sobbing, then called her aunt – Mr Ng’s older sister – for help.
“At that point, my niece said she was looking for her mother and could not find her,” Mr Ng told Lianhe Wanbao.
Police said in a statement yesterday that they were alerted to the incident just before 7pm on Saturday.
It was only hours later that police found Madam Ng’s body inside her husband’s condominium unit, reported The Straits Times Online. Both Mr Wang and Madam Ng were pronounced dead at the scene, said the police.
A search on the Registry of Marriages website showed that the couple got married in 2003.
They owned a HDB flat at Toa Payoh Lorong 2, and rented a unit at the Novena Suites condominium.
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SOURED
But their relationship soured about four years ago, Mr Ng told Wanbao.
“My sister claimed her husband had hit her and so moved back to their Toa Payoh HDB flat with their children,” he said.
Mr Wang, who came from a wealthy family in Indonesia, stayed at the rented condominium unit.
Mr Ng moved in with his sister and her children two years ago.
Despite living separately, Mr Wang and Madam Ng would still take their children along for family outings, he said.
They had even planned for a trip to China next month, Mr Ng told Shin Min.
He said he last saw his sister on Saturday morning as she was about to take her son for his swimming class.
The next time he heard news of her was from his older sister, who had received a call from their niece.
Mr Ng told reporters that everything happened so suddenly and that it left him hurt and shocked, adding he did not know why his sister had gone to the condominium.
The couple’s children are currently being cared for by him and his older sister, he said.
No one answered the door when The New Paper visited the couple’s Toa Payoh HDB flat yesterday evening.
Police are investigating the unnatural deaths.
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”
The ending to beloved children’s book Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White gives an apt rendering of the relationship between teacher Jeyaram Kadivan, 34, and his former student, Mr Caleb Tay, now 20.
Over the course of a year in 2009, Mr Jeyaram spent his weekends thumbing over a paperback edition of the novel, scanning each page into his laptop using a machine that converted the scanned images into words.
If a paragraph was followed by a photo, he would diligently paste it in.
He did it all for the sake of a special needs student at St Gabriel’s Secondary School, where he works.
Mr Tay, who joined the school in 2009, had lost over 80 per cent of his sight by the time he reached Secondary 1.
When he was around five, he found out he had cone dystrophy, a degenerative eye condition. He could not see even nearby objects.
His eyes got tired and dry easily, and prolonged reading worsened his vision over the years.
Today, he estimates, he has only 10 per cent of his vision left.
He was the first and only visually impaired student at the school.
“Even though I am visually impaired, Mr Jeyaram supported me and gave me the opportunity to reach my potential,” said Mr Tay, who is now studying business at Singapore Management University.
For his dedication in helping Mr Tay and other special needs children at the school, Mr Jeyaram, an allied educator for learning and behavioural support, was given the Leading Foundation Teacher Award (LFTA) this month.
The annual award honours passionate, dedicated teachers involved in early childhood and special needs education.
When Mr Jeyaram started working at the school in 2007, it had yet to set up a support system for those with special needs.
He eventually helped such students by teaching them skills outside the classroom.
“I would have supplementary sessions with them,” he said. “Students with dyslexia need support in language, while students with autism learn social skills and behavioural management skills.
“When Caleb came, it was a shock as we had never had a student who was visually impaired,” he recalled. “We had to start from scratch.”
Determined to help the boy, Mr Jeyaram reached out to his own lecturer at the National Institute of Education (NIE) who is visually impaired.
Even though Mr Jeyaram does not have a family member with special needs, he has built up extensive knowledge.
He sat down with school counsellors and experts to find ways to help, making progress through trial and error.
While he did not directly teach Mr Tay a specific subject, he worked hand in hand with the subject teachers to make sure Mr Tay was not left behind.
Among the school equipment that he helped to modify for Mr Tay was a bunsen burner.
He taped the tip and base in striking yellow so Mr Tay would not get too close to the flame while doing experiments.
Many times, Mr Jeyaram had to enlarge text and graphs to reduce the strain on Mr Tay’s eyes, but that meant having to reformat the pages.
He remembers running into a host of problems, for instance, with English papers, “references to particular lines would not match”.
Mr Jeyaram insists that, even though he helped Mr Tay with learning tools, no student was given special privileges over another.
“Caleb performed duties at the library club. He wrote reviews and designed posters,” he said.
With the school’s guidance, Mr Tay scored seven distinctions at the O levels. Later, at Catholic Junior College, he aced his exams again and was able to enter university.
“I am so thankful that Mr Jeyaram believed in me,” said Mr Tay.
Mr Jeyaram, who graduated with a Diploma in Special Education from NIE in 2007 before earning a degree in education, also has a Diploma in Autism Studies from the Autism Resource Centre.
Currently, he is doing a Master in Education (Special Education) offered by NIE.
Seeing his special needs students excel is reward in itself.
“I would have not been able to do that much for Caleb and all the students if the teachers and school had not been accommodating. The child might have the potential but, if the environment is not supportive, even a bright student might not get far.”
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
SINGAPORE – Consumer prices fell for the 23rd consecutive month in September, as private road transport and accommodation costs continued to decline.
The All-Items Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.2 per cent year-on-year last month, compared with the 0.3 per…
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