The entitled, the woke, the agenda-driven, the vested-interest advocate etc.

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48% of S’poreans believe promoting women’s equality has become discrimination against men: Ipsos study​

Around half of Singaporeans also fear speaking up for women's rights, the study found.
By Jonathan Yee - 7 Mar 2024

Women’s equality has gone too far, say 48% of Singaporeans in Ipsos study​

Almost half of Singaporeans polled for an Ipsos study believe that promoting women’s equality has gone so far that it discriminates against men.
Gen Z men are also more likely to hold this sentiment compared to Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennial men.
The study, which polled around 500 Singaporeans aged between 21 and 74 years, also found that the majority had no preference when it comes to the gender of their political leaders.

Ipsos study finds 48% of Singaporeans believe women’s equality has led to discrimination against men​

The Ipsos study for International Women’s Day was released on Thursday (7 March) and conducted together with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London.
The study polled around 24,000 people across 31 countries, which includes about 500 Singaporeans.
Around two-thirds of Singaporeans — 62% — believe things have gone far enough when it comes to giving women equal rights with men in Singapore.

Source: Ipsos
68% of men polled felt this way, compared to 55% of women.
Ipsos also noted an “emerging sense of concern” in Singapore regarding the impact of gender equality on men.

This was borne in 48% of Singaporeans feeling things have gone the other way when it comes to promoting women’s equality into discrimination against men.
Singapore sits on the high end of the countries polled — 79% of people in Thailand feel this way, followed by 67% in India.

Source: Ipsos
IPSOS noted that 57% of Singaporean men have this sentiment, compared to 39% of women.

Fear of speaking up for women’s rights noted among 48% of Singaporeans​

48% of Singaporeans also said they were scared to speak out for equal rights for women as they fear reprisal. Of these, 51% of women agree compared to 45% of men.

Source: Ipsos
“More than half (58%) of Singaporeans also agree that men are being expected to do too much to support equality,” Ipsos said.

Gen Z more likely to think women’s equality has gone too far​

The study found that Gen Z males are more likely to think that women’s equality has gone too far, compared to Baby Boomers and Gen X.

Source: Ipsos
Gen Z women, on the other hand, are less likely to think this, although the sentiment does not differ significantly between Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z women.
Where inclusion in politics is concerned, 27% of Singaporeans would prefer a male political leader. However, just 7% would opt for a female political leader.

That said, 63% had no preference for either gender.

Source: Ipsos
Most Singaporeans also agree that both genders are equally competent in areas such as being honest and ethical, getting the economy on track, ensuring ethnic minorities are treated fairly, and benefiting those who are less advantaged.
Most believe male politicians tend to excel better in fighting crime, defending national security, and getting the economy on track.
Meanwhile, respondents tend to see female politicians as upholding fair treatment of women, uplifting the less advantaged, and treating those LGBT+ identities fairly.

Half have no preference when it comes to gender of boss​

Though 36% of respondents demonstrated a tendency to favour male bosses over female bosses (10%), the majority (51%) were neutral about the gender of their bosses.
Singaporeans were also mostly in agreement that both male and female leaders can create a financially successful and innovative company.
However, 16% think males are better, while only 8% believe females are better.
Katharine Zhou, Country Manager for Ipsos in Singapore, said there could be an unconscious bias when associating certain roles and capabilities between genders.
This is even though most have no preferences over their boss’ gender.

Sentiment warrants “further examination”​

Ms Zhou said it was “revealing” to see that most believe women’s rights in Singapore had gone far enough.
However, there is a “significant” gender difference in these perceptions, she said.
The sentiment espoused by 48% of respondents over women’s equality efforts discriminating against men also warranted further examination, she added, calling the result “notable”.
“It is also interesting to note the apprehension among Singaporeans about advocating for gender equality,” she said.
“This could be attributed to various socio-cultural factors and shows us that while we have made progress, there is still work to be done.”
She advocated for a more comprehensive dialogue on gender equality that “transcends familiar arguments” into an increased appreciation for emerging sentiments as found in the study.

 

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For many years, SingPost was led by a female chairman Fang Ai Lian who staffed the board with a number of female directors, to meet the women's agenda of having a gender-diversified board.
The same period saw SingPost's deterioration as a business.
Now they have to replace the female CEO with a male CEO.

SingPost appoints ex-SMRT managing director as new Singapore CEO​

Mr Shahrin Abdol Salam (left) will take on the role of Singapore CEO from May 1. He will succeed current CEO Neo Su Yin. PHOTOS: SINGPOST

Colin Tan
Senior Business Correspondent


APR 01, 2024

SINGAPORE – SingPost will have a new chief executive officer to head its Singapore operations from May 1, following a restructuring of the business that will see the group attempt to transform itself into a logistics company within three years.
Mr Shahrin Abdol Salam will take over the role of Singapore CEO from Ms Neo Su Yin, who is leaving to pursue career opportunities elsewhere, the group said in a statement on April 1.
Mr Shahrin was the managing director of SMRT’s Thomson-East Coast Line, as well as senior vice-president (strategic relations) at SMRT Corporation.
SingPost Group CEO Vincent Phang said: “Shahrin has a strong track record in leading operations, engineering and service quality, and I look forward to his leadership in our continued transformation.”
Said Mr Shahrin: “It is exciting and a privilege to lead such an iconic business, especially at this transformative time.”
He has more than 25 years of experience in managing operations, strategic planning, asset management, business development, engineering and customer service.
He has held various senior leadership positions, and was expert and adviser (rail agency) in the Dubai government’s Roads and Transport Authority.


Mr Shahrin, who turns 51 in 2024, was reported in early March to be “joining an organisation in Saudi Arabia”.
He said his U-turn back to Singapore was a difficult and personal decision.
“Family exigencies often call for tough decisions, and so I have to forgo the overseas opportunity to prioritise my parents’ needs,” he told The Straits Times on April 1.

“I am grateful for the timely opportunity SingPost provides for me to take this exciting leadership role in shaping SingPost’s next phase of growth.”
SingPost told ST that Ms Neo had tendered her resignation and given notice in January.
Separately, she also confirmed that she will be advancing her career in the aviation industry.
SingPost expressed its gratitude to Ms Neo for her contributions during her tenure as CEO of the Singapore business. The group credited her for her leadership through the Covid-19 pandemic, raising the performance of the domestic service, as well as growing the e-commerce business.
On March 20, SingPost announced it was embarking on a three-year plan to become a logistics company.
This followed an eight-month review that concluded that SingPost’s share price had failed to “appropriately reflect the intrinsic value of the company”.
The restructuring aims to make the group more efficient in capital management, while streamlining the business for growth.
Among the initiatives being considered is the divestment of non-core assets, with the sales proceeds being used to repay debt, ploughed into faster growing businesses or returned to shareholders.
Non-core assets that may be put up for sale include SingPost Centre in Paya Lebar, which was valued at $1.1 billion as at September 2023, along with a partial stake in its Australian unit, which accounts for around 60 per cent of the group’s revenue and profits.
In addition, its business units will be streamlined according to geographic zones – Singapore, Australia and the international operations that encompass some 200 markets through a global postal network – to give them more independence, increase their flexibility to pursue growth opportunities and, ultimately, achieve better valuations.
SingPost shares closed flat at 42 cents on April 1, after the announcement.

 

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Another female CEO replaced.

Consumer watchdog Case gets new executive director​

Mr Dexter Tay replaces Ms Lee Siow Hwee as executive director of the Consumers Association of Singapore on April 1. PHOTOS: CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE

Wallace Woon

APR 01, 2024

SINGAPORE - Mr Dexter Tay was appointed executive director of the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) on April 1.
He replaces Ms Lee Siow Hwee, who has helmed the association since 2021 on secondment from the People’s Association (PA).
Mr Tay, who was previously Case’s deputy director, has worked in various public sector agencies including the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority.
Ms Lee, during her tenure, helped streamline Case’s consumer services amid the Covid-19 pandemic, introducing online mediation for consumers to resolve disputes and launching a one-stop website where consumers could have their queries answered round the clock.
She also helped to extend Case’s dispute resolution services to more than one million NTUC members in 2022, allowing them to tap the services for free.
In 2024, Ms Lee launched Price Kaki Champions, a collaboration between Case and PA.
The programme saw some 2,000 volunteers recruited to look for good deals around neighbourhoods and promote community awareness of price comparison platform Price Kaki.

Case president Melvin Yong said: “I would like to thank Siow Hwee for her contributions in the past three years. She played an important role in leading Case through the Covid-19 pandemic and responding to emerging consumer trends and challenges.
“As executive director, she enhanced Case’s suite of services to consumers, extended the reach of our dispute resolution services to more consumers, and expanded our pool of community volunteers.”

 

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Another incompetent female CEO replaced.
The outgoing CEO Teo tried to downplay the falsification of circulation figures at SPH.

Former IMDA chairman to be new SPH Media CEO from July 15​

Former IMDA chairman Chan Yeng Kit (right) will take over as the new chief executive of SPH Media from Ms Teo Lay Lim. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
Lee Nian Tjoe, Senior Correspondent

APR 09, 2024

SINGAPORE – SPH Media, which publishes titles including The Straits Times and Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao, will have a new chief executive from July 15.
Mr Chan Yeng Kit, who is permanent secretary for health and the former chairman of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), will take over from Ms Teo Lay Lim, who is retiring.
In the media group’s announcement on April 8, it said Mr Chan, 59, brings a wealth of experience to his new role from his extensive career in the public sector, the labour movement and the private sector.
SPH Media chairman Khaw Boon Wan said: “Yeng Kit is committed to our mission to help inform and unite our people via quality journalism. Against the competitive pressure from social media, he will support the newsrooms to tap digital platforms to reach new audiences and build a sustainable commercial model.
“We are grateful to Lay Lim for kick-starting our organisation’s digital transformation. Yeng Kit will build upon the foundations that she has built.”
Mr Chan was appointed to SPH Media’s board in March. That month, he stepped down from IMDA’s board after having served on it for nine years.
As permanent secretary for health, a role he took on in 2019, he headed the Government’s efforts to develop Covid-19 safe management measures.

He was the permanent secretary for defence from 2013 to 2019.
The Public Service Division said in a separate statement that Mr Chan, who will be seconded to SPH Media, will be succeeded as permanent secretary for health by Ms Lai Wei Lin, who will relinquish her appointments as permanent secretary for transport development and second permanent secretary for finance on July 1.
Mr Chan has also held a range of appointments in the labour movement and private sector. These include management positions in the Public Service Division, National Trades Union Congress and the Suzhou Industrial Township Development.

An SPH Media spokesperson said: “Mr Chan Yeng Kit’s wealth of experience and expertise will further benefit the organisation as it navigates the opportunities and challenges of the evolving media landscape.”
Ms Teo, 60, is leaving SPH Media after more than two years as its CEO. She took over from interim CEO Patrick Daniel on March 1, 2022.
In its announcement, SPH Media said that under Ms Teo’s leadership, the media group made steady progress in areas such as digital integration, customer experience and talent development.
During her tenure, it refreshed its digital platforms and mobile applications to adapt to how different audiences consume content, it added.
For instance, new features were introduced on SPH Media’s news apps, and the first Tamil Murasu app was launched. A shared video and audio production facility for its newsrooms, Studio+65, was also set up to strengthen the group’s digital media offerings.
The SPH Media statement added that Ms Teo’s efforts led to greater data integration and analytics, which provide newsrooms with better visibility on how readers are responding to stories and support decision-making.
“Ms Teo has advocated for a culture of putting audiences and subscribers at the centre of what SPH Media does,” said the spokesperson.
“This has led to an expansion of options through which our audiences are able to access, consume and experience our content, especially the various digital channels.”

Responding to queries from ST, the spokesperson said the controversy over the inflation of circulation numbers uncovered by a March 2022 internal review was not a factor in the leadership change.
Among the findings from the review was an overstatement of an average of 49,000 daily copies, or 5 per cent of the total circulation then, of news titles, including ST. Several senior employees left the company in December 2022 following the audit.
SPH Media said the leadership change comes as the group requires a different set of experience and skills for its next stage of transformation, now that its digital foundations are in place to deliver quality storytelling and be the trusted source of news.
The spokesperson said Mr Chan has led organisations through challenges posed by digital disruption and behavioural shifts, and is well placed to lead SPH Media “to optimise the outcomes and ensure sustainable growth”.
SPH Media was spun off from Singapore Press Holdings in December 2021 as part of a strategic review to enable the media business to focus on quality journalism and invest in strengthening its digital capabilities.
Following that, the authorities said in February 2022 that the media group would get government funding of up to $180 million annually over five years to invest in technology and newsroom capabilities, including for the vernacular newsrooms.
With public funding, it would be required to provide half-yearly progress updates on how it is meeting key performance indicators, such as reach and engagement of its products.

 

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This is what happens when nature lovers pressure the government into letting fowl, otters, monkeys etc run wild.

Forum: Nature is fine, but not when it’s at the expense of sleep​

Jul 12, 2024


I empathise with the plight of Ms Chang May Choon (What price some quiet time at home?, July 7) and Mr Ramamurthy Mahesh Kumar (Spare a thought for those affected by noise, July 10), and would like to add that noise pollution comes from more than just inconsiderate humans.
There has been public discourse on good mental health in recent months. An important contributing factor is sufficient and quality sleep.
Unfortunately, this is being sacrificed because of the loud noises from jungle fowl.
In my estate, these birds often start calling as early as 4am, and their uneven and hoarse crowing can go on for hours, depriving many people of good quality sleep every day.
I recently polled about 20 people in the area, and 70 per cent said they were disturbed by the noise and would rather have the birds removed.
The irony is that humans are supposed to observe quiet hours before 7am, but we let these birds get away with noise pollution. I have seen residents call the police for less.
While the onus is on those who cannot bear with the noise to soundproof their homes, this is a costly solution and runs into thousands of dollars. Many earn a modest living and may not be able to spare the money.

For those who stay up late working, parenting or doing chores, sleeping early to get sufficient rest is not always an option either.
There are occasions when we can be more tolerant towards wildlife in our bid towards becoming a City in Nature.
But I think people tend to appreciate nature better when they are not constantly in sleep debt due to nature in the first place.
Advocates may say that this is the natural way of things, but let’s get real – we are no longer an agrarian society that needs jungle fowl to rouse us in the dead of the night to milk cows and gather eggs.
Would the authorities please do more to manage this?

Tan Yi Shu

 

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Many small businesses do not have the money to hire and train staff, or the business owners had no plans to do business with these customers.

Forum: More public awareness about guide dogs needed​

Oct 16, 2024

I refer to the news report about visually impaired people with guide dogs who still face challenges in public (‘I get rejected 70% of the time’: Visually impaired with guide dogs still face challenges, Oct 13).
It was reported that when they are with their guide dogs, they are often turned away at places such as fast-food restaurants, retail outlets, shopping malls, dining establishments and even when booking private-hire vehicles.
It’s disheartening to hear about the challenges they face.
We must take more steps to raise public awareness about the differences between pet dogs and guide dogs, which provide essential assistance to the visually impaired.
I have no issues when these guide dogs enter dining establishments or public transport with their owners and are seated near me.
It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that their owners are comfortable and can enjoy the facilities like the rest of us.
It is also in everyone’s best interest that we do not disturb or distract these guide dogs when they are “on duty”.

I recommend implementing more public awareness campaigns to promote the acceptance of guide dogs in various settings, including schools, hospitals, food and beverage establishments and shopping malls, as well as on public transport.
As we mark International
White Cane Day on Oct 15, let’s not only celebrate the achievements of the visually impaired but also develop practical ideas and suggestions to ensure this community is not left behind.
We must focus on fostering positive relationships and inclusivity in our society.

Muhammad Dzul Azhan Sahban

 

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Ben & Jerry’s accuses Unilever of seeking to muzzle its Gaza stance​

In 2024, Unilever announced it would spin off Ben & Jerry’s at the end of 2025 as part of a broad cost-saving plan. PHOTO: REUTERS
Updated

Nov 15, 2024

SOUTH BURLINGTON - Ben & Jerry’s on Nov 13 sued its parent company, Unilever, accusing the consumer goods giant of censorship and threats over the ice cream maker’s attempts to express support for Palestinian refugees.

The move ratchets up a longstanding conflict between the two that has flared since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip.

The lawsuit claims that Unilever recently tried to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s independent board and sought to muzzle it to prevent the company from calling for a ceasefire and safe passage for refugees, from supporting US students protesting civilian deaths in Gaza, and from urging an end to US military aid to Israel.

“Unilever has silenced each of these efforts,” Ben & Jerry’s said in the lawsuit.

The company, which is based in South Burlington, Vermont, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Unilever said it would strongly defend itself against the accusations.

“We reject the claims made by B&J’s social mission board,” it said in a statement.


Unilever is one of a number of global multinationals that have been grappling with how to navigate business amid one of the most fraught issues in the world.

The British conglomerate bought Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 and holds two of 11 seats on what is supposed to be an independent board.

Under the acquisition deal, Unilever agreed to let Ben & Jerry’s independent board continue to oversee the brand and its image. That included enshrining “guardrails” around the company’s social activism.

The unusual arrangement was supposed to give the founders continued control despite the sale of their company.

Instead, Ben & Jerry’s said in the lawsuit, it is now seeking to “safeguard the company from Unilever’s repeated overreaches”.

Tensions flared between the two companies after Ben & Jerry’s declared in 2021 that it would stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, saying it was “inconsistent with our values”.

The activism set off a tempest in Israel.

Giant US pension funds divested Unilever shares after the Ben & Jerry’s withdrawal, and Unilever shareholders sued.

In 2024, Unilever announced it would spin off Ben & Jerry’s at the end of 2025 as part of a broad cost-saving plan. NYTIMES

 

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Ben & Jerry’s v Unilever is the end of corporate do-gooderism​

When the conglomerate bought the progressive ice-cream maker, its social stances were a selling point, and then tastes changed​

Beth Kowitt

Ben & Jerry’s independent board sued Unilever last week, alleging that the parent company broke an agreement by by seeking to muzzle its Gaza stance. PHOTO: REUTERS


Nov 19, 2024

When Unilever agreed to buy Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, the consumer giant was looking to acquire not just the small Vermont company’s ice-cream operation but also its quirky, do-gooder ethos, which Unilever hoped to inject into its larger corporate culture.

For two decades, it was a happy union. Ben & Jerry’s grew into a €1 billion (S$1.42 billion) brand and got to preserve its social mission and independence, while Unilever capitalised on its position as the poster child for the corporate doing-well-by-doing-good movement.

Those days are over. Ben & Jerry’s independent board sued Unilever last week, alleging that its parent company broke an agreement by silencing its attempts to speak out in support of Palestinian rights. It’s just the latest development in the falling out between the two brands, which began in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s said it would stop doing business in the Israeli-occupied West Bank because it was “inconsistent with our values”.

The clash is about more than the war in Gaza. Across corporate America, the calculus for companies has shifted wildly when it comes to speaking out and taking a stand. No topic today is apolitical, no issue uncontroversial. Supporting climate goals or inclusivity can lead to boycotts and backlashes (see Walt Disney, Bud Light, Target Corp, Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply, etc). While companies were once desperate for their brands to stand for something meaningful, executives now often view it as safer for them to stand for nothing.

Nowhere has that change been more dramatic than at Unilever. For years, the company was a leader in the ESG (environmental, social and governance) movement, instilling every brand with a purpose – from Vaseline assisting in skincare for Syrian refugees to Hellmann’s mayo taking on food waste. Ben & Jerry’s was the gold standard, speaking out in support of gay marriage and fighting climate change, backing the Occupy Wall Street movement and calling out police brutality and white supremacy. But as Unilever’s results flagged and an activist investor circled, the company softened or slashed its mission-based pledges such as reducing the use of plastic packaging and paying direct suppliers a living wage.

Ben & Jerry’s, meanwhile, has refused to play along. To convince the founders to sell 25 years ago, Ben & Jerry’s independent board was given oversight of the company’s social mission, while Unilever was in charge of the brand’s finances and operations. That division of labour may have worked during simpler times, but Unilever has now discovered the hard way that those two things are not so easily disentangled. To Unilever, Gaza is a business issue, with implications for financial performance; Ben & Jerry’s views it as a moral one. Arguably, they are both right.

The Ben & Jerry’s acquisition at the turn of the century kicked off a flood of big consumer giants gobbling up small brands that fashioned themselves as socially conscious, sustainable or healthy enterprises. Coca-Cola acquired Odwalla in 2001 and a stake in Honest Tea in 2008. PepsiCo bought Naked Juice in 2007 – the same year Clorox added Burt’s Bees to its portfolio. A year earlier, Tom’s of Maine sold to Colgate-Palmolive. These so-called halo brands went for a premium, buoyed by the promise that they would showcase their new parent company’s commitment to the environment and good corporate citizenship. Like Unilever, other big multinationals promised not to mess with their brand magic and instead learn from their benevolent ways.


Now that grand experiment is over. Coca-Cola sold off Odwalla in 2020 and discontinued Honest Tea in 2022. A private equity firm acquired Naked Juice from PepsiCo in 2021. Tastes have changed. The Covid-19 pandemic forced companies to simplify their supply chains and cut back on their offerings. Some companies discovered that you cannot simply buy a purpose or a mission, which is out of fashion these days anyway. Others found that the halo wasn’t as valuable as they initially thought – and in some cases, even a nuisance.

Ben & Jerry’s will soon be added to that list. Unilever has said it will sell or spin off the brand and the rest of its ice-cream business. When it does, it’s unclear exactly what will happen to Ben & Jerry’s independent board and the causes it has long supported. This time around, not every potential buyer will view its social consciousness as an asset. BLOOMBERG

 

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Walmart, world’s biggest retailer, will curb diversity efforts​

Walmart is reversing course on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining a growing list of US businesses doing so.PHOTO: REUTERS

Nov 26, 2024

Michigan – Walmart is reversing course on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining a growing list of US businesses retreating on DEI programmes targeted by conservative activists.

The world’s biggest retailer will no longer consider race and gender to boost diversity when granting supplier contracts, and stop collecting demographic data when assessing financing eligibility.

The most prominent company so far to pull back on diversity promises, Walmart on Nov 25 confirmed it would stop using the term “DEI” in official communications. It will also curb racial equity training for staff, stop participating in notable rankings by LGBTQ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, and review its support for Pride and other events.


The changes were made public after anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck posted a social media video saying that he had threatened Walmart with a campaign to lead a customer boycott just days before Black Friday, one of the biggest holiday shopping events of the year.

Mr Starbuck said he contacted public relations staff at the company last week asking that it pull its support from LGBTQ causes and other DEI initiatives. He promised to call on his 700,000 followers on X to boycott the retailer if it did not make the changes. A spokesperson for the company confirmed conversations with Mr Starbuck over recent days.

Growing backlash​

The retailer said it would stop using “DEI” and instead focus on “belonging” and work on a respectful and supportive environment. It also confirmed it will review funding of all Pride events and monitor online merchants for what Mr Starbuck described as “sexual and/or transgender products marketed to children”, and remove items as necessary.


Walmart joins at least 10 other companies from Deere & Company to Boeing who have pulled back on their DEI commitments in recent months, as corporate America reconsiders diversity policies in the wake of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling banning affirmative action in college admissions.


That decision raised questions about the legality of corporate diversity programmes, prompting many companies to quietly re-evaluate their efforts. The ruling also emboldened a slew of anti-DEI activists, who say the backlash will intensify under US President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump’s cadre of advisers includes several vocal critics of DEI, including billionaire Elon Musk, who often reposts Mr Starbuck’s social media attacks. Mr Stephen Miller, who Trump nominated for homeland security adviser and White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has sued companies for their DEI programmes and launched federal complaints alleging that these initiatives discriminate against white men. Last week, Republican Representative Nancy Mace filed a resolution that would prevent the first transgender member of the chamber from using the women’s restroom in the Capitol. BLOOMBERG

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Woke is cancer

 

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Meet-the-People Session is not a protest venue, says Shanmugam after two women cause commotion​

ST understands the women belong to an activist group called Monday of Palestine Solidarity.PHOTO: K. SHANMUGAM/FACEBOOK

Aqil Hamzah
Mar 13, 2025

SINGAPORE - Two women confronted Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam at his Meet-the-People Session on March 12, causing a commotion outside his Chong Pang branch office that was caught on camera.

In a seven-minute video posted on Facebook by Mr Shanmugam, the pair are seen wearing shirts with “Press” in front, and the names of journalists killed in Gaza at the back. They approach him to talk about the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma).

The video shows them questioning him in a confrontational tone as residents and volunteers look on. At one point, they show onlookers the middle finger and shout at the minister when he walks away to attend to his duties.

In his Facebook post, the Nee Soon GRC MP said both women, who are sisters, were not residents in his constituency, and belong to a small group that has gone to different PAP Meet-the-People Sessions in the last few months to be “deliberately confrontational, create incidents, try and provoke”.

They typically put out their version of events afterwards, painting the MP and their team in as negative a light as possible, he said.

The women belong to an activist group called Monday of Palestine Solidarity, said the People’s Action Party in a post on its Petir website. The group has visited at least 10 Meet-the-People Sessions, including National Development Minister Desmond Lee’s in West Coast GRC and Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo’s in Jalan Besar GRC.

Mr Shanmugam said Meet-the-People Sessions are not places for protests.

“I understand that people may feel strongly about some issues. But (a Meet-the-People Session) is not a protest venue. It is where residents go to their MPs to seek help. Many have acute concerns — housing, jobs, medical needs, family issues, and would wait patiently, often for hours, to speak with their MP,” he wrote.

“Hijacking these sessions is unfair to residents. There are appropriate avenues for advocacy – but disrupting sessions meant to help residents who are struggling with everyday challenges crosses a line.”

In the video, Mr Shanmugam is seen explaining to the women that he only sees his residents, after one of them said she lives in Punggol.

She asks for proof that MPs cannot attend to non-residents at Meet-the-People Sessions, to which he responds that he will speak with them after attending to his own residents, if they do not mind waiting.

Initially, the pair agree. However, one woman then states that Mr Shanmugam’s explanation is “not true”, as other MPs have met with non-residents.

In his post, Mr Shanmugam said MPs can exercise discretion in seeing non-residents, even if the branch decides that only residents will be attended to. Most people understand this and would not accuse the MP of lying, he added.

The minister said the women accused him of lying, more than once, during the night.

“Their accusation, that I was lying, was typical of the way the engagement proceeded, through the night,” he noted.

Added Mr Shanmugam: “The antagonistic way in which they spoke, behaved, interrupted, threw accusations of lying, suggested that they wanted to make a scene, get some material to put out, rather than engage in a genuine discussion,” he noted.

In the video, one woman is seen getting agitated after being told that the conversation is being filmed. She demands that the video be deleted, adding that she did not consent to being filmed. Mr Shanmugam responds that as it is a public area, his volunteers have a right to record it.

“I told them that sometimes, my volunteers will follow me on my rounds, including at (Meet-the-People Sessions), video my interactions, take photos,” he added in his post.

Reiterating that the sessions are for residents, Mr Shanmugam said he informed the women that he would be happy to discuss Pofma with them, if there is time.

“If there is no time, then they would be given a time for either me or someone else to see them, discuss Pofma,” he wrote.

“I also had to step out for a while to join my Malay community leaders to launch a Hari Raya light-up in my constituency. I explained to them that it was a busy night, I had a lot of office work pending as well – so they had to understand if I was not able to see them that night.”

In the video, when Mr Shanmugam turns to go back into the branch office, the two women, joined by a man, shout at him and call him a “coward”.

Mr Shanmugam said in his post: “I went back to them to tell them off for behaving in this way – I was quite unhappy with the disruption they were causing.

“They can’t, as non-residents, come to (Meet-the-People Sessions) and insist that their political discussion take priority over the needs of the waiting residents,” he said.

He added that he spoke with the women, along with two others, for 30 to 45 minutes towards the end of the session.

“I told them that we were recording the discussion – because I know what had happened in other Meet-the-People Sessions,” said Mr Shanmugam.

He added that they told him they were not recording their discussion.

Said Mr Shanmugam: “I treat discussions at Meet-the-People Sessions as confidential, so won’t go into what was discussed.”

In a separate Facebook post, Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng stated his view that advocacy is important.

Citing his own experiences in advocating for different issues, he said: “But we must remain civil and respectful to get the change we want. That is part of advocacy as well.”

​

 

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Forum: Advocating for gender equality must not be seen as contentious​

Mar 13, 2025, 05:11 AM

The recent remarks by PAP Women’s Wing chair Sim Ann reflect views that reinforce gender stereotypes (Singapore forges own path to women’s development, says PAP Women’s Wing chair Sim Ann, March 9). Take for example her view that “by allowing eligible young couples to apply for Housing Board flats, women learn to run their own households from young”. Her comments reflect outdated gender norms that reinforce caregiving and household responsibilities as the woman’s burden.

We are also troubled by her description of feminism as divisive and adversarial. Why is feminism – an idea rooted in equality – seen as divisive? Feminism does not seek to advance women at the expense of men. It calls for fairness, shared responsibilities, and equal opportunities for all genders. If we are advocating for equality, why is that seen as contentious?

Beyond this, the idea that a key role of the PAP Women’s Wing is to “plan community activities, welcome newcomers and interact with constituents” signals a troubling view in the apex women’s body of the PAP about the role of women’s leadership. Women’s advocacy in such an important sphere should not be reduced to social hosting – it should be about shaping policies, especially those that advance gender equity.

The Prime Minister has acknowledged that women should not be pigeon-holed into these stereotypical roles. During his National Day Rally speech in 2024, he said that women these days “have every opportunity to excel in their careers. It’s not possible for them to pursue their goals and still carry a heavier share of the caregiving and housework responsibilities. So fathers must play a bigger role”.

He noted that deeply ingrained beliefs about men as “breadwinners” and women as “caregivers” must evolve. We would expect the Women’s Wing to lead the efforts on this front.

So, it was therefore disappointing to see this public interview, given to mark International Women’s Day, reinforce outdated roles instead of pushing for progress.

The United Nations Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women reminded Singapore in May 2024 that a country like ours should be aiming for 50 per cent representation in leadership roles, not comparing itself to the global average.


It would have been encouraging to see the Women’s Wing champion this push for equality, rather than simply celebrating the current number of women MPs (29 per cent) while accepting that leadership is still seen as a male domain.

When asked whether women ministers can take over portfolios like finance and defence, the Women’s Wing chair missed the opportunity to speak of the equal ability of women to do such jobs.

Women have made up half of Singapore’s graduates since 2013, yet only 15 per cent of our Cabinet ministers are women. Instead, Ms Sim talked about societal attitudes and how women today need to pave the way for others. This is indeed the pace of “quiet advocacy”.

The low total fertility rate in Singapore and many developed countries is no coincidence. Many women delay or opt out of marriage and motherhood not because they don’t want families, but because gender roles remain rigid, workplaces are slow to adapt, and caregiving remains undervalued. This is a societal issue, not a women’s issue.

Yet, the Women’s Wing’s advocacy plans for this year are focused on getting people to date, marry and procreate.

It would have been far more encouraging for women in Singapore to see the Women’s Wing focus on equal opportunities for women in the workplace, overcoming the “motherhood penalty” women face and push for retirement adequacy for women who are still bearing the unequal burden of caregiving.

The White Paper on Women’s Development spoke of a clear vision for gender equality in Singapore, one where women and men share opportunities and responsibilities equally.

But vision alone is not enough, and we need more than just “quiet advocacy” – we need clear commitments, stronger policies, and determined pushes for cultural shifts that reflect the reality of modern life and the aspirations of Singaporeans, both women and men.

Corinna Lim
Executive Director
Aware

 

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Two Meet-the-People Session disruptions in Jalan Besar GRC similar to that in Shanmugam’s ward: Josephine Teo​

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam posted a video of his exchange with two women at his Meet-the-People Session.PHOTOS: K. SHANMUGAM/FACEBOOK

Aqil Hamzah
Mar 14, 2025

SINGAPORE – Two incidents similar to the one that disrupted the Meet-the-People session of Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam took place at Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo’s meeting with residents.

In a Facebook post on March 14, Mrs Teo, who is an MP for Jalan Besar GRC, said she did not want to bring up the matter publicly, but decided to do so after he posted a video of his exchange with two women on Facebook.

The People’s Action Party identified the women as being part of activist group Monday of Palestine Solidarity.

In Jalan Besar GRC, Mrs Teo said both occasions were at her Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng branch office, with the first in November 2024.

At that time, Mrs Teo, who is Second Minister for Home Affairs, said two women attended her Meet-the-People Session to voice their concerns about the Republic’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

Although such sessions prioritise residents, who have urgent matters that need to be addressed, she added that she was prepared to meet the women after attending to her duties.

“For nearly an hour, I listened to their concerns.

“I also offered to write to the relevant ministries on their behalf, so that the authorities could hear their feedback.”

A few weeks later, an online article appeared about their exchange, despite interactions during Meet-the-People Session being confidential and MPs typically not publicly disclosing what was discussed, she said.

“Although the article acknowledged that I had engaged the two women empathetically, it was difficult to see any reason for publishing the piece other than to spread the word that they had successfully made a move at my MPS (Meet-the-People Session),” added Mrs Teo.

More recently, in January, a resident who had attended previous Meet-the-People Sessions was accompanied by a “daughter”, purportedly seeking financial help, she said.

When it was their turn to meet Mrs Teo, however, the younger woman passed the older one a document to read out, with the contents unrelated to the financial help they said they were seeking.

This second incident was carried out by a different activist group.

Noting that it was clear they were not mother and daughter, she added that volunteers had been supporting the older woman for some time by providing monthly groceries and weekly food rations.

Mrs Teo said: “To respect her privacy, we did not question how there was suddenly a ‘daughter’ accompanying her to (the) Meet-the-People Session.”

She and her volunteers continue to help the older woman to this day, Mrs Teo added.

The PAP said the Monday of Palestine Solidarity group carried out its activities at more than 10 Meet-the-People Sessions.

The group would typically create a ruckus in the waiting area and disrupt the queue system, while also filming and raising their voices, affecting residents.


Volunteers would also be heckled by members of the group, added the PAP.

Mrs Teo added: “It goes without saying that my volunteers were perturbed and saddened by such incidents – especially when they respond to help-seekers with sincere intent, never expecting to be led to an ‘ambush’.”

She said these incidents make it difficult for her and her team of volunteers to let their guard down, since they do not know if they might face hostility, or be secretly recorded and featured in articles that paint them in a bad light.

While she expressed her appreciation that residents are willing to raise concerns beyond immediate ones, she added that she is saddened that the tone of Meet-the-People Sessions seems to have shifted in her nearly two decades as an MP.

“My hope is for Meet-the-People Sessions to return to their truest purpose – they are not protest platforms, but a channel for MPs to engage their residents openly and attend to their most acute needs.”

In a separate Facebook post on the same day, Mr Sharael Taha, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said the actions of the women who disrupted Mr Shanmugam’s Meet-the-People Session were not representative of the Malay/Muslim community’s values.

He added that representatives from Monday of Palestine Solidarity visited a Meet-the-People Session at the Pasir Ris East constituency that he represents.

“However, their actions – including being rude to the volunteers and making hurtful comments about family – show they were never truly interested in meaningful, constructive dialogue that could genuinely help the cause.”

On March 12, two women showed up at Mr Shanmugam’s Chong Pang branch office, requesting to speak to him about Singapore’s fake news law, the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act.

During a tense exchange, one of the women was seen pointing her middle finger towards onlookers, with the pair – joined by a man – shouting at the minister as he walked away to return to his duties.