Snap Insight: When landlines fail, those in need of urgent help are left vulnerable

Snap Insight: When landlines fail, those in need of urgent help are left vulnerable

IMPLICATIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED OF URGENT HELP For those unfortunate enough to face a health or safety crisis during the outage, the option of using SMS to call for help may not be optimal or useful should the luxury of typing out a message not be afforded to them. Having personally witnessed someone who … Read more

Snap Insight: Budget 2024 CPF measures will improve Singaporeans’ retirement adequacy

Snap Insight: Budget 2024 CPF measures will improve Singaporeans’ retirement adequacy

REMOVAL OF CPF SPECIAL ACCOUNTS CLOSES A LOOPHOLE Bundled in the Budget 2024 announcements relating to CPF was the closure of the Special Account once members are 55 years of age and their CPF Retirement Account has been set up.  When implemented next year, this would resolve a long-standing anomaly whereby a CPF member aged … Read more

Snap Insight: Former Malaysia PM Najib’s reduced jail term is a bittersweet irony for UMNO

Snap Insight: Former Malaysia PM Najib’s reduced jail term is a bittersweet irony for UMNO

BOSSKU’S LASTING INFLUENCE Najib’s age matters a lot here. If he does not receive any sentence reduction, he will be 81 years old when released in 2034. If Najib walks free in 2026, he will be 73 years old – not significantly older than the past four prime ministers when they assumed office. However, the … Read more

Snap Insight: Iswaran charges are a blow to the government but also show its resolute action against corruption

Snap Insight: Iswaran charges are a blow to the government but also show its resolute action against corruption

Section 165 makes it an offence for a public servant to accept or obtain, or attempt to do so, a gift from a party with whom they have official dealings – even if there is no evidence of any official favour shown. Such a gift creates a conflict of interest – whether real, apparent or … Read more

Snap Insight: Malaysia PM Anwar’s new Cabinet choices display his strengthened political hand

Snap Insight: Malaysia PM Anwar’s new Cabinet choices display his strengthened political hand

THE KEY SEATS The appointment of technocrat Amir Hamzah Azizan, who stepped down as CEO of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to take up the position of second finance minister, will provide the operational support at the ministry, while Mr Anwar can ensure that the management of the national cash register does not become open … Read more