Kelvin Teo’s explanation on what had happened at Kent Ridge Common

November 2, 2009 by Kelvin Teo
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33 Comments on "Kelvin Teo’s explanation on what had happened at Kent Ridge Common"

Jonathan Sim on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 9:07 am

He may have paid for the server (which I believe doesn’t amount to much) and he may have written 90% of the articles.

But does this give him the right to shut down the site, and worse, redirect it to his new publication?

I feel sorry for those Kent Ridge Common people. They put their trust in a guy that has stabbed them in the back just like that.

New Era on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 9:40 am

I have always enjoyed reading Kelvin’s articles. He will make a brilliant journalist (not in Shitty Times though).

Welcome aboard TR.

Churuya on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 10:26 am

I beg your correction. Server bandwidth is not cheap when YOU have to pay for it.

*** Open question was if he was paid for writing the articles for KRC in the first place. Maybe this should be clarified by KT.

I think the situation should have been better handled like this. Make a public announcement on KRC website that you’re leaving and give them some time, say 2 weeks, to sort out their affairs with the webserver.

Articles written for KRC should remain there. Of course, unless KT has signed some document preventing him from duplicating his articles elsewhere, KT should just mirror them.

This is assuming of course, the separation was amicable.

But looking at the state of things, KT was probably writing most of the articles, paying for the bandwidth.

If so, it looks like a story which a bunch of friends happened upon yamashita’s gold and things started to get ugly.

Nicholas Chang on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 3:04 pm

If I remember correctly from an article on KRC in the past, their hosting costs only USD$29.90 for a year.

If this is true then what Kelvin did is despicable. What he basically did was to shut down KRC and prevent access to all of their articles not only for the KRC team but also its readers. I think the entire team must be scrambling to get a new server as well as load up whatever backups they have. And as I have just checked, their site is still down.

To shutdown the site and then re-direct it to his new publication the Kent Ridge Review is shameless. What’s more his new publication is a blatant plagiarizing of KRC’s name. While I don’t know what happened in the internal politics of the KRC, what he did was pretty deplorable.

Let’s wait for the news from the KRC side now.

Careless Passerby on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 8:07 pm

All we here is one side of the story, from some names lambasting Kelvin.

Such names claim not to know what happened internally, it seems they are hell-bent on doing some smearing. Which makes one wonders how they arrive at such a conclusion. This despite not knowing what goes on.

There are many possibilities to such an event. While some allege that Kelvin is a ‘bastard’ for doing so, it could also be that Kelvin maybe forced by circumstances to commit the act. When one leaves an organization, it could be due to many reasons. There are always two sides to the same coin.

All I am hearing is some smearing without sound reasoning. Sounds like a grudge being played out in the comments thread.
However, it makes for an entertaining read.

Careless Passerby on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 8:22 pm

Well, all I am hearing is just one side of the story, seeming in support of KRC with all the smearing.

Amazes me that these handles claim not to know what goes on. And yet they know about server charges, even claiming it is a despicable act. They also claim not to know about what happens internally.

Common sense tells us there are two sides to every coin. Whilst one side claims Kelvin is a ‘bastard’, the other side tells us that perhaps it is a necessary move by Kelvin in light of the circumstances at KRC.

This is just a minor issue, not worth the news.

sheldon on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 10:40 pm

“While I don’t know what happened in the internal politics of the KRC, what he did was pretty deplorable.”

but. if you don’t know what happened, how can you say what he did was deplorable?

XiSd Tay on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 11:12 pm

Its none of my business but I got curious and did some checks and made a few calls.

Here’s the story as it is from a reliable source.

1. Kelvin PAID for the hosting but let Lester use and manage the hosting account and domain name.

2. Kelvin made his intention of wanting to leave KRC and wants his articles back so that he may represent them at his new site, the KRR sponsored by TR.

3. Lester and his team were pissed and locked the domain and shut it down so that Kelvin was unable to retrieve his articles nor take backup copies of his data.

Last I heard, Lester and his team are REFUSING to let kelvin have his articles back and have even banned kelvin from the hosting account which he has paid for through his credit card and kindly allowed Lester to manage and run.

To each his own one always say, I propose that TR talk to BOTH Lester and Kelvin, work out an amicable solution to this little misunderstanding and persuade Lester and his team to allow kelvin to grab his article from the hosting account. Each can then go their seperate ways without any hard feelings. Work this out like 2 responsible and mature adults!

If one doesn’t trust the other, maybe TR can get Lester to talk to their host who with the know how can grab the data off KRC’s servers without Kelvin being involved in anyway. I am sure TR’s host won’t in anyway hurt KRC or sabotage KRC’s server.

My 2 cents.

Lester Lim on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 11:44 pm

Hi,

Let me address the claims made by your comments.

“1. Kelvin PAID for the hosting but let Lester use and manage the hosting account and domain name.”

The domain name and hosting has been paid by me for 2 years running (since 2007). As our readership spiraled, Kelvin offered to pay USD$29.90 to upgrade our monthly bandwidth about 4-5 months ago. Kelvin offered to pay as most of us on the team were students and did not earn an income. When I offered to pay him back, he did not choose to accept.

“2. Kelvin made his intention of wanting to leave KRC and wants his articles back so that he may represent them at his new site, the KRR sponsored by TR.

3. Lester and his team were pissed and locked the domain and shut it down so that Kelvin was unable to retrieve his articles nor take backup copies of his data.”

This is not true. Kelvin was asked to leave the team on 31st October 2009, and as he had the password to the administrative interface to the KRC server, proceeded to shut it down on the 1st of November. He then re-directed it to his new website that he had just registered, The Kent Ridge Review. After shutting down the website, and re-directing it to his new publication, he locked us out of our own server.

After all this was done, Kelvin then wrote us an email to notify us about his actions. Prior to this, Kelvin had not made any claims to me or anyone on the publication that he had wished to obtain his articles back. Had he done so, we’d have gladly offered to transfer his articles to him.

On 31st October, after agreeing to leave the KRC team, I proceeded to remove Kelvin’s login account to the wordpress interface of our publication. This was to protect the interest of the publication as there are sensitive information available on the interface. This was done after Kelvin’s consent to leave the publication.

“Last I heard, Lester and his team are REFUSING to let kelvin have his articles back and have even banned kelvin from the hosting account which he has paid for through his credit card and kindly allowed Lester to manage and run.”

This is again not true. Prior to forcefully and completely shutting down the KRC website, locking us out of our server and denying access to our own templates, articles and site design, Kelvin did not suggest to us in any way that he wished to transfer his articles over. As I’ve said, we’d have readily respected his wish had he made his intentions clear.

The control of the entire site is in Kelvin’s hands now. The SQL databases containing all of our articles and information is only accessible to him, and him only. We are still awaiting for him to give us our old articles back.

I hope that no false rumors are being further spread about this issue.

Thank you.
Lester

XiSd Tay on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 12:01 am

Lester, just so you know that I am not joking when I said I do check and do call, the new KRC is now headed by a Scholar Lady from MOE and is it the MAIN REASON why Kelvin wanted out, the details of WHY is clearly known to you.

Anyway, I am really not interested in the politics of KRC’s affairs and posted what I have learnt from a source I trust to be reliable and I appreciate your update to the whole silly fiasco.

However, you yourself admitted that you have changed the login to the shared hosting account which is registered in your name, then HOW ON EARTH can “The control of the entire site is in Kelvin’s hands now. The SQL databases containing all of our articles and information is only accessible to him, and him only. We are still awaiting for him to give us our old articles back”?

I am quite familiar with cpanel myself having toyed with it and created the chinese language addons for chinese users. I certainly know that once you have access to cpanel, you have control of EVERYTHING under that panel, be it email, mysql, etc etc. So then I fail to see your claim that Kelvin is instead having your articles?

UNLESS of course Kelvin still has the shared account login information but thats quite unbelievable because you are the registered owner/client of the said account and all you needed to do was to contact the host and have the password login reset.

Eitherway, like I have said in my previous post, to each his own, lets settle this matter amicably like 2 mature adults.

Agree to meet in the centre and each take his own data back and get the site up and running and to be fair to Kelvin, he did explicitly indicated in this thread that “I will also do my best to transfer articles not written by me back to the Kent Ridge Common’s owners”.

I am not sure who has the control panel login to cpanel but the one who has it should simply just facilitate the other party or his trusted appointee to download the data and move on.

I am willing to help grab the data if you think it would help to resolve this issue amicably.

My contact is isdtay@live.com if I can be of any assistance.

Lester Lim on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 12:17 am

Hey XiSdTay,

Thanks for volunteering your help! I truly appreciate it. I don’t get what you mean by ‘changing’ the login to the shared hosting. The only access to cpanel is available to Kelvin now. I have no access whatsoever (FTP, etc.) to the server.

As it is this issue has been overblown and dramatized. I believe also that there can be an amicable resolution to what is a truly bad misunderstanding, and am looking forward to it.

Cheers,
Lester

Agagooga on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 12:19 am

I’m not privy to the details of the internal politics, but hijacking a site is not a very nice thing to do.

For the first few hours I was very confused when the site was redirected to another domain for no rhyme or reason.

When you leave a company you do not blow up its premises.

XiSd Tay on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 12:33 am

@Lester Lim, according to kelvin, the login to cpanel have been changed and I verified that because he had asked for my help in downloading the database so that the site can remain intact for the new KRC management.

I was unable to login with the information he provided to cpanel so I wasn’t able to download his database as requested.

I was also made to understand that YOU hold the ownership of the shared account for KRC, so even if the password login were changed somehow, all you needed to do was to do a password reset via cPanel or the present host can reset it for you. You will then be able to login to cpanel and retrieve whatever you needed and allow Kelvin to do the same.

As it stands, KRC is down for reasons beyond my comprehension since you have control over the domain name and the shared account. Lester, you are in a UNIVERSITY, there must be SOMEONE you know there with the technical knowledge on how to properly point a domain name and use cpanel?

I am familiar with cPanel and if ONE OF YOU trust me enough to surrender the cPanel login, I can arrange for the site to stay intact as it is, get it up and running and download what kelvin wanted. It is of no interest for me to sabotage anyone of you nor KRC. I just wanted to see a small meaningless fiasco ending peacefully and not being made a mockery of, if Shitty Times gets wind of it.

A site down is doing NONE of you any good and the priority is to get it up and running while sorting out the differences later, amicably of course.

Again, you have my email, buzz me if you need me to help you with cPanel or restoration or whatever, FREE OF CHARGE

Lester Lim on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 12:58 am

Hey,

Thanks lots once again. I’m writing an email to you now. Let’s get this sorted out!

Cheers,
Lester

kelvin tio boomz on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 1:12 am

Kelvin has given a new definition to the word BOOMZ.. he basically kaboomed the entire KRC premises when he left. very sensational departure. pity it isn’t befitting enough of his personality.

From (another) Kelvin TIO.

jismo on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 1:19 am

i don’t see how lester lim is in charge of KRC if 90 percent of all articles were written by kelvin teo? it just goes to show that the entire KRC team are a bunch of slackers. even if the remaining KRC team get KRC up again, there will be a severe shortage of articles because kelvin is gone. KRC = Kelvin Teo. No kelvin teo means no more KRC. DUH.

Aloysius Chua on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 1:32 am

@XiSd Tay: May i ask, if you were not interested in the politics which are going on within the KRC as you have claimed, why was it necessary to highlight the point that the KRC is currently headed by a “Scholar Lady” from “MOE”? It bears sinister insinuations that this “Scholar Lady” is linked to the government and this is in conflict with her journalistic integrity. This is highly suspect and by making such insinuations, it indirectly questions the integrity and character of the individual involved.

What is the point in bringing up this detail? Does this bear any connections to this fiasco at all?

Temasek Review has prided itself on an alternative voice to the mainstream. Civil servants should be non-aligned to the ruling party and in this case, a future civil servant has stepped up to the mantle of leadership in an alternative news website to lend her voice against political issues. This should be encouraged as it shows that a future leader in the civil service has intellect to think for herself and not accept the status quo. It also debunks the notion that all civil servants are government slaves. Instead of critically evaluating and reading her works, what has transpired here is an attack on a personal level. This will achieve nothing.

Could you please explain your stand on this issue which you have raised?

Thank You.

XiSd Tay on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 1:55 am

@jismo, while it is true that Kelvin wrote 90% of the articles, one must not also forget that there are still 10% remaining in KRC that has contributed and earned some followings.

One must not write off anyone in particular till he/they have been given a reasonable period of time to prove themselves, the same goes for the opposition party in Sinkapore.

@Aloysius Chua, my stand and views on this fiasco is clear and simple.

I merely mentioned her to prove that I DO KNOW what is going on at KRC and is offering my help to resolve this issue amicably.

When I wrote a scholar lady from MOE, I DID NOT wrote it as “Scholar Lady from MOE”, so I meant literally she is a scholar from MOE, an undisputable fact, isn’t it not?

Your twisted interpretation that “It bears sinister insinuations that this “Scholar Lady” is linked to the government and this is in conflict with her journalistic integrity.” is something which is born purely out of your own wild imagination is beyond my comprehension.

I meant EXACTLY what I said and I DID NOT in my posting insinuate that she was related to the government and thus her journalistic integrity is in question. As a matter of fact, it was YOU doing the insinuation and inferrance, not me.

As for my views in this matter, I think it should have been thrashed out over a cup of tea instead of bringing it to the internet. These 2 are mature adults and should have done the right thing like adults do, instead of acting like teenagers.

soojenn on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 3:44 am

Well, well.. asking the key writer and contributor of articles on the site to leave? Seems more to it than meets the eye.

Now that the readership for the KRC has risen, this Scholar lady from MOE is heading it? Why the sudden interest? What has she contributed in the past and what can she contribute to the KRC? Well let’s watch and see the direction the KRC will take…

Well good for you Kevin, to move on … your articles have been refreshing and we look forward to see this on a site that supports you

Canny thoughts on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 4:03 am

It is obvious that no one is the sole person to be blamed for this saga. Hwever, it is evident to me that Lester Lim does not emerge to be an effective leader although he wants desperately to be one (like the current USA president). From his posts (here as well as his notice at KRC site), he is just blaming Kelvin Teo for what has happened without taking a good look at his own actions. What has he done besides from putting blame on Kelvin Teo? Lester’s credibility also comes into question from his numerous accusations of Kelvin without evidence of any sort. He claimed that Kelvin Teo was TOLD TO LEAVE but is there any evidence that he can use to back up his claims? Has Lester attempted to do anything concrete to improve the situation besides from acting like a victim? If he is all talk and no action, I seriously think Lester Lim is wasting everybody’s time.

soojenn on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 4:04 am

Just went to the KRC website and note this -
“The Kent Ridge Common will be back soon – bigger, better and stronger.”

Hmmm.. wonder who is helping them to get bigger and stronger? better – let’s see

KRC_Kena_Steeplejacked on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 4:29 am

Hehehehe, Soojenn, you have beaten me to it. MOE scholar taking charge…..long time and star writer told the leave…

I thought AWARE got steeplejacked, but this sounds like a steeplejack. Old member told to the leave. What a saga!

Canny thoughts on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 6:00 am

In fact, as smart onlookers, we should look beyound the obvious. Why did KRC encounter such mishaps recently? This leads us back to a year ago or so when KRC first came into existence. What is the original objectives and style of running KRC? Is it because the original objectives and style of management no longer hold that led to this saga? Some new members might well be trying to temper with writers’ autonomy to publicarion and rights to sources of communication. For instance, the “Scholar Lady from MOE” who joined KRC recently which some mentioned, could she be one of the factors for Kelvin’s so called “termination”? And Kelvin’s subsequent action(IF true) of seizing the server might well sprung from self-defence – To protect his articles before it gets destroyed. Kelvin Teo’s departure from KRC might well be a result of some internal clash of ideals to the way to publication as well as management style. Looking forawrd, KRC might be on the path to be led by some scholats who spread their creeds. =) Let’s see what eventually unfolds……

Ark on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 6:01 am

seriously, if Kelvin is contributor for 90% of the content, he can do what he wants. Don’t fuck around with your content providers

Churuya on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:18 am

@Aloysius Chua

Scholar Lady from MOE explains everything. Do you know what civil servants do?

“Please your minister, make him happy.”

Now that’s a massive conflict of interest. If SLM REALLY wanted to contribute, she can only do so anonymously.

Does anyone have a real name to stick to SLM?

Nyoro-n

Aloysius Chua on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:47 am

@XiSd Tay on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 1:55 am

Do take a look at my comment closely. I did not mention “Scholar Lady from MOE”. In your original comment, it is you who typed “Scholar Lady from MOE”. I have separated the words to show how much of a difference “Scholar Lady” from “MOE” and your version makes when read. This is not twisted logic. The very fact that your comment was put in such a manner makes a difference to the reader.

It is indeed sad that people forming alternative voices are divided by such internal squabbles. By virtue of that comment, KRC’s integrity along with this lady has been put in question as can be seen in the above comments by netizen. It is not born out of twisted logic because when a comment is this skewed, it leaves no room for other interpretation. This one single comment and the the manner in which you presented your stand on this incident has now caused irrevocable damage to KRC. I quote canny thoughts and his view on certain scholars spreading their creeds. Is this not an example of how your comment on a government scholar has misled other readers to believe she is a government mole. Of course, this may or may not be true, but it is still irrelevant. By labeling her as “government”, it seals off her fate of being non-aligned. Let’s not be naive, not all civil servants are slaves to the political masters.

Again, by mentioning that this lady is currently in charge, it indirectly suggests that a power struggle has occurred. This may be of reasons we do not know of. By leaking this out, whether or not your source is accurate, does not give KRC a chance to defend themself. Comparisons with the AWARE saga is premature and absurd.

XiSd Tay on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 9:05 am

@Aloysius Chua,

A scholar from MOE means that she will be or is going to be a teacher or something along that line. I have always had the highest respect for teachers and never had any reason to question my beliefs. So please do not put words in my mouth.

What is the problem with reading the post as it is instead of showing how smart one can be? If I had wanted to say she is a mole, I would have said it, no reservations about that. Losses means losses, what bloody negative wealth added, you tell me?

Besides, whats wrong with being a civil servant? Sinkaporeans have nothing against Civil Servants, many are against the policies implemented by the PaPies, not those low in the food chain civil servants, ya?

Furthermore, if I had wanted to cast a bad image on KRC, there are other details I can write about, no need to just mention that it will be headed by a ‘teacher’.

There is nothing for KRC to defend or clarify unless I mistakenly posted that the current head of KRC is a Scholar from MOE when it is not. There is nothing wrong with a Scholar Lady heading KRC as long as she do her job fairly and properly.

Anyway, if there’s anyone damaging KRC, that would be you. I made a simple factually correct statement and you twisted my intended meaning and started insinuating everything absurd. It is plain and obvious that it was actually you who wanted to insinuate the above by making use of my post, making it appear as if I am the one saying that when in actual fact, it was your reply to my posts that spilled more.

Anyway, I say again, I am NOT INTERESTED in the office politics at KRC, merely offered to help as an independant 3rd party, after seeing 2 mature adults engaging in childish squabbles.

Anonymous on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 9:38 am

@ Aloysius Chua on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 1:32 am

Your arguments about Scholar Lady” from “MOE” are misplaced I honestly believe.

XisdTay already prequalified his comments and he did offered assistance which was publicly appreciated by Lester Lim. There is no curry chicken to be cooked when there is neither curry nor chicken, only potatoes.

Your interpretation looks very much to be in the substance of your own speculative conjecture.

You or anyone else cannot possibly “read” into someone’s mind -be it XisdTay or anyone else.

Leave clairvoyance to clairvoyance, please!

Churuya on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 10:46 am

@SLM
Can this mystery woman make some statement in KRC homepage?

@XiSd Tay
You say it like it actually is. I like you.

@Aloysius
to quote Alyosius -
“Let’s not be naive, not all civil servants are slaves to the political masters.”

I wonder who’s the real naive person here. Who’s doing her appraisal at the end of the day? Instructions passed down may not be in black and white. Dirty world it is.

If the issue of SLM taking over the KRC wasn’t brought to the light of day, readers would be clueless as to the change in editorial control. TR is sort of open about that, of course more information is welcome.

As always, it is the job of third parties to this event to ask questions, so forgive my hyperactiveness.

nyoro~n

Ah Beng on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 10:47 am

LOL ! Agree Aloysius is kiasu one ! Scholar Lady from MOE – we are all entitled to interpret what we like from this snippet of fact. Tiko dun be paiseh ! Chenghu lang then chenghu lang lah, buay paiseh one !

From what I understand here :-

KRC major HR reshuffle – Kelvin beh song (why bey song, justified or not another private story – ne’er mind).

So Chinese say, ‘action first give you upperhand’ – chop chop ! Kelvin make KRC go la-la-land then protect own content first.

Honestly, this is ‘boh swee’ but maybe he has his reasons?

cpanel,mysql dunno what jargon limpeh dontch know who rite who wrong…

Let xisdtay help divide ‘archive articles’ – to each his own copyright, then let’s MOVE ON, gam boh? Swee boh ?

Aloysius, stop saying this insinuate that skew – u & i & everyone not born yesterday – anyway, truth will out eventually with time, yes ?

btan on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 6:16 pm

If he paid for the server and wrote 90% of the articles, why is KRC not his?

I guess this is a lesson in Intellectual Property management. Ensure you own the IP if you are the main contributor.

XiSd Tay on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:35 pm

Just an update, although Lester did email me and expressed consent to allowing me to ’split and divide’ the arctcles, he DID NOT follow up on his woeds with action.

The content remains undivided and KRR as I last saw, is starting from scratch, pieces by pieces.

Things are not looking good for the KRC camp since they have expressed that they WILL RETURN the articles to kelvin.

Observer on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 8:46 am