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<TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>WongKanSeng <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>3:39 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 2) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>27451.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Dear Sir,
I needed to purchase one set of DEC phones and a memory stick for my computer earlier on this week and the Courts store in Toa Payoh is just the right place – conveniently located, good layout and display and the price is right.
Having read Temasek Review’s (TR) article of 15 January and how your company intends to recruit only Malaysians to work in your stores here in Singapore, I have decided against going to your store temporarily until you change your employment policy. I have since also emailed your employment advertisement and the TR article to my friends with a request for them to boycott your stores and to spread the message to Singaporeans.
This letter was written in response to another article in TR yesterday (19 January) informing readers you had, via a communications group, written to TR to clarify Court’s recruitment policy. You said the article was “erroneous” and “aroused negative sentiments towards Courts.” You demanded to remove the damaging articles (immediately) and to provide you with a right of reply.
Sir, we Singaporeans are a patient, largely humble, co-operative and most accommodating. Our present disposition is due to our past history – of migrant background and quietly seeking a living, colonized, conquered (by the Japanese) , re-possessed, struggled for independence, booted out of Malaysia; political strive and finally arrived in no small ways through our diligence and hard work.
Right now, we Singaporeans are engaged in a test of will with our Government. You will ask what has this to do with you. You see the Singapore PAP Government lacks morality on all counts. Despite the economic downturn it has permitted an influx of cheap labor that directly competes with unemployed Singaporeans. In their words, they are “cheaper, faster and better”. This First World PAP government adopts and implements cheap Third World policies.
The able-bodied Singaporeans are not of concern but what of our unemployed older citizens? The PAP government has abandoned them and they are asked to fend for themselves. Unwittingly, Courts and other MNCs have capitalized on this policy to their advantage – drive wages down.
Courts:
Courts as described in your website “is one of the United Kingdom’s leading retail furniture and home appliance companies…… more than 300 stores operating in 20 countries worldwide, Courts is also a globally operating company that can boast that the sun never sets on its retail empire”.
Truly, we expect Courts to be no less than a good corporate citizen in whichever jurisdiction they operated in with enlightened employment policies and above all upright principles. Our Government may not be moral and upright in their policies(we have other examples, Zimbabwe, North Korean, etc.), it does not mean that Courts should follow and take advantage as well.
Mr. Terry O’Connors CEO):
Mr. O’Connors, most Singaporeans look at you are a corporate leader and a captain of your industry. We expect you to be noble and upright in your personal bearing as well. Do what is right and do what is good.
What can Courts do now? The fact is the Malaysian recruitment exercise did happen. There is no reason to widen the rift. If Courts is sincere in wanting to clear the air and move on, I am suggesting that you do the following immediately:
a. Tender an open apology (perhaps to TR) humbly penitent;
b. Undertake to uphold fair employment practices; and
c. Promise not to repeat the mistake.
There is no need for lengthy explanation. Singaporeans are a pragmatic lot. We forgive and forget. We all from time to time make mistakes. Recognize and correct them and move on.
All Singaporeans ask is that you do what is right and fair and nothing more.
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely.
Richard Lu
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I needed to purchase one set of DEC phones and a memory stick for my computer earlier on this week and the Courts store in Toa Payoh is just the right place – conveniently located, good layout and display and the price is right.
Having read Temasek Review’s (TR) article of 15 January and how your company intends to recruit only Malaysians to work in your stores here in Singapore, I have decided against going to your store temporarily until you change your employment policy. I have since also emailed your employment advertisement and the TR article to my friends with a request for them to boycott your stores and to spread the message to Singaporeans.
This letter was written in response to another article in TR yesterday (19 January) informing readers you had, via a communications group, written to TR to clarify Court’s recruitment policy. You said the article was “erroneous” and “aroused negative sentiments towards Courts.” You demanded to remove the damaging articles (immediately) and to provide you with a right of reply.
Sir, we Singaporeans are a patient, largely humble, co-operative and most accommodating. Our present disposition is due to our past history – of migrant background and quietly seeking a living, colonized, conquered (by the Japanese) , re-possessed, struggled for independence, booted out of Malaysia; political strive and finally arrived in no small ways through our diligence and hard work.
Right now, we Singaporeans are engaged in a test of will with our Government. You will ask what has this to do with you. You see the Singapore PAP Government lacks morality on all counts. Despite the economic downturn it has permitted an influx of cheap labor that directly competes with unemployed Singaporeans. In their words, they are “cheaper, faster and better”. This First World PAP government adopts and implements cheap Third World policies.
The able-bodied Singaporeans are not of concern but what of our unemployed older citizens? The PAP government has abandoned them and they are asked to fend for themselves. Unwittingly, Courts and other MNCs have capitalized on this policy to their advantage – drive wages down.
Courts:
Courts as described in your website “is one of the United Kingdom’s leading retail furniture and home appliance companies…… more than 300 stores operating in 20 countries worldwide, Courts is also a globally operating company that can boast that the sun never sets on its retail empire”.
Truly, we expect Courts to be no less than a good corporate citizen in whichever jurisdiction they operated in with enlightened employment policies and above all upright principles. Our Government may not be moral and upright in their policies(we have other examples, Zimbabwe, North Korean, etc.), it does not mean that Courts should follow and take advantage as well.
Mr. Terry O’Connors CEO):
Mr. O’Connors, most Singaporeans look at you are a corporate leader and a captain of your industry. We expect you to be noble and upright in your personal bearing as well. Do what is right and do what is good.
What can Courts do now? The fact is the Malaysian recruitment exercise did happen. There is no reason to widen the rift. If Courts is sincere in wanting to clear the air and move on, I am suggesting that you do the following immediately:
a. Tender an open apology (perhaps to TR) humbly penitent;
b. Undertake to uphold fair employment practices; and
c. Promise not to repeat the mistake.
There is no need for lengthy explanation. Singaporeans are a pragmatic lot. We forgive and forget. We all from time to time make mistakes. Recognize and correct them and move on.
All Singaporeans ask is that you do what is right and fair and nothing more.
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely.
Richard Lu
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
