Subsidized course for seniors

To
stforum@sph.com.sg
Sat, 09March.2011.
subject Re My point
I would like to refer to Mr Thomas Lees letter in the Straits times about Active aging and subsidized courses for seniors.
I whole heartedly support this suggestion as some of the courses at the community centres are quite expensive and retires may not be able to afford it.
I would like to bring a point forward as to why foreigners who are employment pass holders and dependants get to enjoy the same benefit as local Singaporeans.
I think it is only fair that Foreigners should pay more than locals.
When I travel to the UK, I have to pay the full fare on the train and buses where as local senior citizens pay nothing.They also have free and subsidized courses for locals but not for foreigners.
I think this should be looked into.
Community centres can collect more from foreigners and hence can give more subsidy to locals.

Indonesian maid who died in Malaysia may have been starved to death

Indonesian maid may have been starved to death.By Steven Daniel in Petaling Jaya/The Star ANN – Thu, Jun 9, 2011Star/ANN) - The Indonesian maid who died while under the care of her employers in Malaysia may have been starved to death.It is learnt that medical examiners at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) discovered that the 26-year-old maid, identified as Isti Komariyah, was emaciated at the time of her death."She was very thin and it is likely that she was not fed for several months," sources revealed.However, the exact cause of her death is still pending further examination.Meanwhile, the prime suspect in the case was brought to UMMC for a medical check-up.Isti's former employer has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure.Isti was declared dead upon arrival at UMMC at 7.50am on Sunday. An initial examination on her body revealed she had both recent bruises and old scars on her back, forehead and limbs.She had been brought to the hospital by one of her employers.The couple in their 50's, who alerted the police about the death, were subsequently arrested.They have been remanded until June 11 and are being investigated for murder.Isti had entered the country legally and had been working as a maid since December 2008.

Entry test for maids

To stforum@sph.com.sg
date Sun, Jun 5, 2011 at 9:35 PM Re Entry test for maids
Regarding Entry test for maids by Elizabeth Soh in the straits times thursday 2nd june 2011.
It is very sad to see that it is always the maids who are at a losing end.Any test that the MOM want the maid to do should be done in their own country first and in the language they are comfortable with. To send them back if they fail is so unfair as they pay so much to come and work here.As it is they are forced to work with out any salary for 6 to 9 months as the agents collect the salary as their charges and expenses.How can this happen in a country like Singapore. The foreign workers are treated like slaves.Something should be done to stop this as Agents are the one making money.My heart goes out to the maids as well as the construction workers who work so hard and sometimes end up with nothing. If the Employer is not happy they are sent back without any money.There should be some protection for the maids that the Employers have to keep them for atleast a year or pay the maid a compensation if they want to send the maid back to the agent.

The Rose

Some say love, it is a river That drowns the tender reed.Some say love, it is a razor That leaves your soul to bleed.Some say love, it is a hunger An endless aching need.I say love, it is a flowerAnd you, its only seed It's the heart, afraid of breaking That never learns to dance.It's the dream, afraid of waking That never takes the chance It's the one who won't be taken Who cannot seem to give.And the soul, afraid of dying That never learns to live. When the night has been too lonely And the road has been too long And you think that love is onlyfor the lucky and the strong.Just remember in the winter Far beneath the bitter snow Lies the seed That with the sun's love, in the spring Becomes the rose......