PBM Jack Neo claimed he didn’t have time to apologize due to wife Irene Kng

Written by Our Correspondent

Beleaguered PBM Jack Neo, who continued to be flamed mercilessly by the media and netizens alike for his “insincere” press conference now claimed (via Mark Lee) that he was forced to cut the press conference short “when his wife became too upset.”

Jack was embroiled in a series of sensational sex scandals when it was leaked to the press last week that a mistress of his had gone to his place at Pasir Ris to confront him and his wife.

The 22 year old model Wendy Chong subsequently alerted the media of a meeting held at Crowne Plaza between her family and the couple.

Following the stunning relevation which drew an immediate response from Foreign Minister George Yeo who called on Singaporeans to “rally” around his good friend Jack Neo, more and more women stepped forward to accuse Jack of “sexual harrassment” including a 16 year old girl of French descent.

The much anticipated press conference was held yesterday morning for Jack to explain his actions and clarify matters to the public, but it ended even before it began.

Soon after Jack’s wife Irene Kng finished her speech, she stood up to leave before “fainting” on her way out. Jack was holding her and heard shouting to the journalists following them to “go away”.

Jack was nowhere to be seen or heard after the “aborted” press conference, but sent his pal Mark Lee to deal with the media instead.

Mark Lee was earlier rapped by netizens for employing large number of PRC workers at his “Old Town White Coffee” chains.

In an interview with Straits Times, Mark claimed that Jack was planning to apologize, but he “couldn’t do it” because his wife stood up to leave.

“Jack told me in the car this morning that he was prepared to apologise to his fans, his parents, his siblings, his father-in-law, his church friends, the parents of the women and everyone who has been affected in any way by this,” he said.

Though Jack admitted his fault in the entire fracas, he did not offer a public apology to his wife or fans.

“He knew that Ah Bu stood up because she could not take it any more. The pressure and all the camera flashes were too much for her. So when she wanted to leave, Jack had to accompany her,” Mark Lee added.

The dramatic press conference leaves more questions than answers as the “fainting” episode becomes a major talking point among Singaporeans.

As your correspondent was watching the Channel 8 News last evening at a neighborhood kopitiam, an Ah Pek sitting nearby exclaimed – “Gei (fake in hokkien) lah! Pian (deceive) gin lan (children) ah!” drawing a round of laughter from the surrounding spectators as the scene was shown.

Whether the drama was staged or not, PBM Jack Neo remains a crowd-puller even when he himself is embroiled in a scandal in real life.

Perhaps he can derive some inspiration from his own personal misfortune in the next movie – “Sex No Enough” which will surely be a box office hit.

 

Jack Neo and wife Irene Kng’s press conference on 11 March 2010:

1. Video recording of press conference

2. Irene Kng fainted at press conference

3. Photo Gallery

4. Field Report: Jack Neo and wife broke down in tears

5. Live coverage of press conference

 

Related articles:

1. George Yeo slammed by netizens for supporting Jack Neo

2. Jack Neo makes advances to 16 year old French girl

3.Jack Neo’s 10 other flings after Wendy Chong

4. Wendy Chong on how Jack Neo initiated sex with her in his car

5. George Yeo supports PBM Jack Neo

6. Foyce accuses PBM Jack Neo of sexual harrassment

7. Wendy Chong: I had sex with Jack Neo twice a week

8. Jack Neo’s wife forgives him for extra marital affair

9. Jack Neo begged Wendy Chong to let him off

Buffett Takes $100,000 Berkshire Salary for 29th Straight Year

By Jamie McGhee from Bloomberg

Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. who pays the company for postage and personal phone calls, received a $100,000 salary for a 29th straight year as he arranged a $27 billion acquisition.

Berkshire’s shareholder equity, a measure of assets minus liabilities, rose 20 percent to $131.1 billion in 2009 and annual net income climbed 61 percent to $8.06 billion. Buffett received no bonus in 2009 and he doesn’t get stock options or grants, Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire said late yesterday in a regulatory filing.

“Considering that far-more-mortal executives have been paid far more for delivering far less, the standards of comparisons would warrant a monumental increase,” said Tom Russo, partner at Gardner Russo & Gardner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which holds Berkshire stock. “He could say, ‘I’m worth a billion a year,’” Russo said. “That’s not Buffett.”

Buffett reimbursed Berkshire $50,000 last year to cover the cost of postage stamps, phone calls and staff time used for personal tasks, the company said in the filing. Vice Chairman Charles Munger, who also made a $100,000 salary, paid $5,500. Buffett and Munger don’t use company cars or belong to clubs paid for by Berkshire.

Security Costs

Berkshire reported $344,490 in costs for Buffett’s personal and home security. That’s up 9.1 percent from $315,709 in 2008.

Buffett, 79, completed the purchase last month of railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. for $27 billion, the biggest acquisition of his career. He built Berkshire into a $200 billion company over four decades, transforming a failing maker of men’s suit linings into an enterprise with businesses ranging from car insurance and underwear to power plants and corporate jet leasing.

Buffett is also Berkshire’s chief executive officer as well as its largest shareholder. Since 2004, Berkshire’s compensation committee has determined salaries. Prior to that, Buffett recommended his own salary to the board.

“He views the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway as partners,” said Jeff Matthews, author of “Pilgrimage to Warren Buffett’s Omaha” and founder of the hedge fund Ram Partners LP. “If you have your own skin in the game, you own the shares of stock alongside your fellow shareholders and you make them a ton of money, you will make yourself a ton of money, and that’s the proper way to do it in his mind.”

Read rest of the article here

Chua Mui Hoong on why Parliament is not a “wayang”

Written by Our Correspondent

In the parliaments of other modern democratic states, ministers are often grilled for hours by lawmakers on their policies where they are expected to provide answers immediately on the spot.

Any lapse of concentration of display of incompetence will spell the end of their political careers as their speeches and replies are telecast live to the entire nation.

There are no live telecasts of the parliamentary “debates” in Singapore. The media selects only certain “presentable” segments to be screened and even then, it is unable to hide the many empty seats or the embarrasing sight of MPs caught napping away on camera.

The parliamentary sessions in Singapore are all scripted from the beginning to the end. MPs prepare in advance their speeches which are sent to the relevant ministries for detailed replies to be drafed so that ministers respond to their points in prior prepare texts. There are no impromptu questions or answers.

Despite being the highest paid MPs and ministers in the world, Singapore lawmakers seem to be lacking in proper oratory skills to engage in meaningful debate with one another in Parliament, not that they are required to anyway since the PAP controls 82 out of 84 seats in Parliament.

Aware of the amount of brickbats being hurled at the non-performing PAP MPs in recent days by netizens, PAP spin doctor and Straits Times Senior Correspondent Chua Mui Hoong is quick to write an article to defend her political masters.

In a lengthy editorial today titled “No wayang – MPs serve as early warning system”, Ms Chua “testify” that as a political writer who has been covering the Budget “debates” for 19 years, “Parliament is not just a wayng, scripted texts not withstanding.”

“MPs play a valuable role in the political process, often as an early warning system on issues simmering on the ground but not yet on the national radar,” she added.

The key role of MPs is to discuss, debate and decide on national policies and not just to provide feedback to the policy makers.

Unfortunately, the political process in Singapore is tightly controlled by a few senior leaders within the PAP such that Parliament is fast becoming a farce, if it is not already one.

For example, MPs usually spend a few weeks if not months debating on the National Budget in other countries before the Finance Minister finalize the details and announce it.

It is the other way round in Singapore. Finance Minister Tharman had already announced the Budget for 2010 two weeks ago after which the MPs start “debating” on it  – If this is not a “wayang” to show the public that there is a functioning parliament, then what is it

MPs, especially those from the ruling party, can never serve as an “early warning system” due to inherent partisan interests as well as being constrained by the Party Whip.

An open, accountable and robust political system is the best safeguard against possible abuse of power by the government. Unfortunately, Ms Chua appears unable to appreciate this basic in spite of her many years of experience as a political writer.

No wayang – MPs serve as early warning system

By Chua Mui Hoong from Straits Times

MP after MP stand up and read from scripts. After a dozen or so have spoken, up steps a minister and proceeds to reply to their questions – from a script.

Repeat for nine days.

The above might be how a casual observer would sum up what takes place during the debate on the Budget which ends today. About 80 per cent of the debate is scripted, in that MPs prepare in advance their speeches, and ministers respond to their points with prepared texts. One Parliament newbie was impressed at ministers’ comprehensive and quick responses, but was disabused of her admiration when I said the speeches on the ministries’ budgets were prepared in advance and made known to the ministry so they can prepare detailed replies.

With so much that is prepared, the cynical citizen is often left wondering: Is Parliament just a wayang? Just as half of Singapore today is wondering: Was that faint by Mrs Jack Neo five minutes into their press conference yesterday about his extramarital affair(s) just a show?

I can’t swear to the latter, not being present at that press conference, but I don’t doubt the poor woman’s suffering was genuine. But on the former, I can say as a political writer who covered her first Budget debate 19 years ago that no, Parliament is not just a wayang, scripted texts notwithstanding.

The exchanges that take place towards the end of debate on a particular ministry’s budget is unscripted. Here, MPs ask for further clarifications, and the minister has to deal with them off-the-cuff.

Read rest of article here

PAP to amend constitution to increase the number of NCMPs in Parliament

Written by Our Correspondent

The Singapore Constitution will be amended again yet by the ruling PAP. Three bills have been tabled to amend the Constitution as well as the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Acts to usher in “changes” to the political landscape.

As the PAP holds a two-third majority in Parliament with 82 out of 84 seats, it is able to amend the Constitution as and when it wishes to without any opposition.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong proposed last year to decrease the size of the Group Representatio Constituency (GRC) and increase the number of Non-Constituency (NC) MPs in Parliament to “reflect the aspirations of Singaporeans, and to provide for more diverse views in Parliament.”

Critics claim that the cosmetic changes will only perpetuate the PAP’s hegemony further as voters will be less inclined to vote for the opposition as they are now guaranteed more places in Parliament as NCMPs.

Without denying the PAP its two-thirds majority in Parliament, the NCMPs will be powerless to stop the PAP from tabling bills and forcing unpopular policies down the throats of Singaporeans.

Furthermore, being deprived of a grassroots support base, the NCMPs will not be able to grow their strength and influence.

The Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Acts will also be changed to allow for a “cooling-off” day on the eve of polling day, where no form of campaigning is permitted for all political parties except for their political broadcasts.

The mainstream media will not be hindered by this rule and can continue to report on the election news.

This new rule will no doubt disadvantage the opposition as the Singapore media is flagrantly biased against them, being controlled indirectly by the PAP via SPH whose Chairman is a former PAP Minister Dr Tony Tan.

It is not stated explicitly if the rule will extend to cyberspace though PM Lee had said he hope that bloggers will adhere to it.

The next election will be a watershed in the political history of Singapore. With public sentiments against the PAP at an all-time high due to unhappiness over its liberal immigration, pro-foreigner and discriminatory housing policies, the opposition stands a good chance of winning more seats in Parliament.

Singaporeans should take heed from the Malaysian political tsunami in 2008 which saw the opposition denied the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition its traditional two-third majority in Parliament.

With its wings being clipped, Barisan Nasional can longer amend the Constitution at its wimps and fancies and as a result, it has to change its style of governance to listen more to the people.

Unless the PAP is denied its two-third majority in the next general election, it will continue to ride roughshod over Singaporeans who will forever be hapless “sheep” under its mercy.

Why Gopalan Nair is wrong

By Bhaskaran Kunju

A week ago I wrote an article titled, “The Iceman Cometh”. It was on the role of foreigners in Singapore’s domestic affairs. In it I discussed the merits and demerits of the involvement of foreigners in Singapore’s local politics.

On Sunday night, just like everyone else I was surprised to hear of the news of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s apparent ‘massive heart attack’.  For a report that painted a rather grim picture of the state of MM Lee, it seemed too isolated. There weren’t any other news reports of the incident and what was written was completely unsubstantiated to begin with.

In Gopalan Nair’s article, there was information of supposed uprisings and demonstrations in parts of Singapore that was mentioned with specifics, as well as other details that bordered on absurdity. But the news still spread despite the shortcomings.

In that small 24-hour window, the topic was widely discussed (with much skepticism) in several online forums and even received a significant number of Tweets across the country.

With the absence of Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong from the Parliamentary session earlier in the week, the facts seemed to correlate and it did seem that perhaps the core of the report might have been true. So the mini-frenzy that followed was only natural.

Concern, the sourcing of further information, outpouring of shock, the spreading of news – these are all observable traits of ANY newsworthy event, and the hospitalisation of an elder statesman is no different. Occurring in an authoritarian or a democratic state adds little difference to the outcome.

It wasn’t mass panic akin to a Stalinist nation keeling over upon losing its head, as Mr Nair would like to fool himself into believing. The news spread simply because it was compelling. However tainted Mr Nair’s record may be in Singapore, he still had a relatively significant voice as an opposition of the ruling government and his words carried some weight.

But in choosing to perpetrate a lie, he has simply proven himself to be a ranting sideshow jester with little to do than hurt his own credibility and that of the online news media by pulling immature pranks.

If it was attention that Mr Nair was seeking then he has most certainly received it. It’s just that it is anything but affable.

Generally it has been nothing but backlash for the self exiled lawyer. But unusually, the comments on his blog appearing after Sunday night are contrary to what everyone else thinks. Instead there are plenty of anonymous praises for his stunt.

This mystery is solved if you do try posting a negative comment about his actions on his blog. He simply doesn’t approve it. So for a man who has been championing freedom of speech, he prefers the freedom to be one way. His way.

As someone who has taken the easy way out and left the country, and taken up citizenship in the U.S., it is irresponsible of him to distress Singaporeans when he knows very well that the delusional doomsday scenario he had theorised for post-MM Lee Singapore, will not affect him in any way.

It is disappointing that he is engaging in lowbrow tactics of deceit and manipulation that causes more harm and disillusionment than the very act of suppression of opposition voices. It takes away credibility from under the feet of alternative voice as a whole.

His own thoughtless and selfish act has repercussions that extend beyond him. But ultimately it is Mr Nair who has thrown away his last shred of support together with his reputation.

Back in 2001 when James Gomes was part of Think Centre, the independent non-governmental organisation (NGO) for promoting an active civil society in Singapore, he and the organinsation were involved in a similar but relatively harmless hoax, as a stunt for April Fool’s Day.

A press release was issued by Think Centre that announced the organisation’s intent on fielding candidates, which included James Gomes, for the 2001 General Elections in the Jalan Besar GRC. The news was of course taken seriously, and even drew response from then Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who commented that the group would have had their background scrutinised.

The joke eventually found the group running into trouble with international news agency, Agence France Press (AFP), whose editor took offence at having been duped. But the damage from this simple hoax had far greater consequences and would attach itself to James Gomez who found himself under scrutiny later that year.

Just over 6 months after the hoax, Mr Gomez decided to genuinely stand for elections in the 2001 General Elections as part of the Worker’s Party GRC team in Aljunied. On Nomination Day however the group’s application was rejected on technical grounds. They had omitted the name of the constituency they were intending to contest in the application forms.

The failure to see his application through, coupled with the hoax from 6 months prior made Mr Gomez an easy target to take potshots at. Newspapers drew parallels and then Prime Minster Goh Chok Tong questioned the credibility and seriousness of Mr Gomez’s, and by affiliation his party member’s, ambitions. In an unrelated press conference he stated, “I don’t know the whole story but I found the whole team was disqualified. I don’t know if it’s another of those April Fool’s jokes.”

It was that loss of credibility that came back to haunt him in the 2006 General Elections when an issue over a missing minority-race candidate form placed him the spotlight yet again.

Needless to say such an incident should have sunk the Worker’s Party’s campaign altogether in 2006. However the fervent pursuit of the matter by the PAP in the media, which left the public disillusioned by the perceived pettiness of the issue, inadvertently saved and boosted the Worker’s Party’s campaign.

In the instance of Mr Nair’s hoax however, the fallout and the resulting criticism has fortunately stuck to him and him alone. Even though just like the case of James Gomez, it could have easily affected the credibility of those he shares his domain with – the online news media. The damage has been averted since most news sites and netizens have refused to endorse his actions.

It is heartening to note that netizens and other online news sites have distanced themselves from him and his questionable actions. For all the criticism that this medium has received for supposedly propagating extremist views, it has provided a fine rebuttal by drawing the line between responsible criticism and irresponsible dissent. Perhaps Mr Nair’s tragedy has a silver lining after all.

There are some quarters of the public who still believe that there might be some truth to Mr Nair’s claims. Especially since no official clarification or statements were released regarding the health of MM Lee.

There won’t be any official clarification because it only lends credence to such acts of rumour mongering and ultimately will only encourage more from being perpetrated. You simply don’t engage rumours or gossips because it drags you down to the depths of those who choose to indulge in it.

On his last update on his blog, Mr Nair has decided to include another faux story on MM Lee but with a disclaimer this time that it is a joke. The only running joke here however is Mr Nair himself.

 

Copyright © The Temasek Review, 2009

Other articles by Bhaskaran Kunju:

>> The Iceman cometh: The role of foreigners in Singapore

>> A rebuttal to Vikram Khanna’s article on need for foreign workers

>> How much immunity for a diplomat

>> The saga of (dethroned) beauty queen Ris Low

>> Is there room for more foreigners in Singapore?

>> Why social cohesion is at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s National Day Rally

>> Changes in political system to allow more alternative voices

>> The untimely departure of Chip Goodyear

>> Should universities be re-politicized?

About Author:

Bhaskaran Kunju is a Political Science and Communications and New Media undergraduate at the National University of Singapore. He is a regular contributor to the Straits Times Forum and TODAY Voices. He also writes for NLB and FAS and hopes to be a full-time journalist.

Foyce Le Xuan apologizes to Irene Kng and says she has forgiven Jack Neo

Written by Our Correspondent

Foyce Le Xuan, who claimed she was relentlessly courted by Singapore famous movie director Jack Neo during her stint with his entertainment company told Lianhe Wanbao that she had forgiven him.

Jack Neo allegedly tried to bed Foyce several times by asking her to share “quiet” and “private” moments with her in a hotel room. When she rejected all his advances, she found herself gradually being dropped from acting assignments and projects.

“I have forgiven him and I hope he will turn over a new leaf. I also must apologize to Mrs Neo,” Foyce was quoted as saying.

Besides Foyce, Jack was reported to have “preyed” on 10 other woman including a 16 year old girl of French descent.

Though Jack Neo’s infidelity has attracted widespread criticisms and opprobrium from Singaporeans, Foreign Minister George Yeo jumped to his defence almost immediately by calling on Singaporeans to “rally” around him.

PAP MP Baey Kam Keng: I am afraid of cockroaches since young

Written by Our Correspondent

Members of Parliament (MPs) are supposed to be serve the interests of the people and to represent them in Parliament by speaking up for them, at least in most democracies.

In purportedly first world Singapore however, MPs seem oblivious to the concerns of the people and have time to indulge in frivolous speech not only in Parliament but when speaking to the media as well.

PAP MP Baey Yam Keng who entered Parliament in the last election through the “back-door” without a contest was rapped by netizens earlier for his most inappropriate speech during the parliamentary “debates” last week.

He had earlier promised to raise the concerns brought up by his residents during a dialogue session, but ended up speaking on the need to set up a “food museum in Singapore:

“Food is an important part of our rich cultural heritage – one which has been and will always been an attraction to locals and foreigners alike……The Food Museum could delve into aspects of local cuisine, such as ‘why Hong Kong noodles did not originate from Hong Kong’, and ‘why our Hainanese chicken rice is different from that found in Hainan Island’,” the Straits Times reported him as saying.

[Source: 2 March 2010]

MP Baey obviously hasn’t been reading the internet of late about the unsavory comments posted by netizens about him.

In an interview with Shin Min Daily on 11 March 2010, he talked about his fear of cockroaches:

“Though I hate cockroaches alot, I will surely kill it if I find one at home,” he said.

He also revealed that he had tried to change his dressing style after becoming a MP to appear more “humble” in front of his residents, but stop doing so eventually after realizing that there is no need to be bothered with what others say about him.

Singaporeans are indeed “blessed” to have such “excellent” MPs talking about food museums, hairdos, extramarital affairs, bras and now cockroaches.

They are indeed worth every single cent of their monthly $13,000 MP allowance paid for kindly from the pockets of Singapore taxpayers.

Why Lee Kuan Yew is not the father of modern Singapore

Dear Mr Sam Tan (MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC),
 
I refer to your comments in parliament as reported by Straits Times on 5 Mar 2010.
 
You quoted Mr Otto Fong as saying that Lee Kuan Yew is the father of modern Singapore and that Singaporeans are his children. 

MM Lee has referred to Singaporeans as descendents of peasants and as (working animals) whose spurs are not stuck deep enough in the hide.  Contrast this with what MM has to say about his eldest son: considerable intelligence; as good as his generation of leaders. 

The stark contrast clearly shows that MM doesn’t treat us like his children, neither should we treat him as our father.  We have no such father who belittles us as though we are mere workers and slaves.
 
Throughout our formative years as a new nation, it was Goh Keng Swee who steered our economy under the guidance of Dr Albert Winsemius. 

With or without Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore would have succeeded given the strength of its people, the strong foundations laid by the British and the good steering of Dr Goh and Dr Winsemius.  It would be difficult to credit someone as our founding father for merely sitting on the throne.
 
While Otto has wisened up to the truth that his future rests with himself, there is no evidence that he has come to terms with his difficult youth and childhood. 

Particularly, does he still blame his father Mr Fong Swee Suan and MM Lee for the difficulties he had while growing up?  If so, what exactly should he blame his father and MM Lee for?
 
In the case of his father, the only thing Otto can blame is the fact that his father lost, not his father’s convictions and determination.  He needs to understand that no one should be blamed for having tried and lost, only for not trying.
 
In the case of MM Lee, Otto needs to understand that his father and countless others were arrested without trial and incarcerated for extremely long periods of time despite the lack of irrefutable proof that they were communists as MM had made them out to be. 

If there is anything Otto should blame, it would be the fundamentally wrong and grossly unfair treatment of the losers in the political battle for Singapore.
 
 
 
Thank you
 
 
Ng Kok Lim

Jack Neo sex scandal: Wendy Chong may commit suicide, mother says

Written by Our Correspondent

The mother of 22 year old model Wendy Chong who was involved in a 2 year affair with Singapore’s famous movie director Jack Neo had expressed her concerns that her daughter may commit suicide.

According to a Lianhe Wanbao report, Wendy’s mood was purportedly “very low” now and her mother had sent her to live with her relatives for a few days till the storm finally blows over.

Wendy shocked the entire nation when she leaked to the press that she had been a mistress of Jack Neo for 2 years including lurid details of her having sex with him in his car and various hotels.

“I hope the saga will end soon. Wendy’s father still need to work to support the family. We have a 80 year old mother to take care of,” Wendy’s mother was quoted as saying.

While many Singaporeans have lampooned Jack Neo for his infidelity, some also accused of Wendy of being a “willing” party and seeking instant fame.

Jack Neo has since apologized during a 3-minute conference this morning with clarifying on the current status of his relationship with Wendy.

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