March 2013

March 24, 2013
The number of sentences I speak to my family per week can be counted with my fingers, yet why do I end up torn, tattered, weary, and bloody?

March 28, 2013
5 mins after my mother stepped into my house and I'm already having a headache. Now, it starts with a capital 'H'.

March 29, 2013
Into Day 2, and I am suffocated, breathless, and never this desperate to tell the whole world how much I would prefer to be in a Home.

All I wish is for another's voice to be in unison with mine.

Singapore OK... or Not? Episode 7: 4th Election in 2 years

9 January 2013's Report from Channel News Asia states that the by-election for Punggol East SMC will be held on 26 January 2013 with nominations to be in on 16 January 2013, about a week from the report.

There are some comparisons to be made here with the Hougang by-election 2012.

First, the immediacy of calling the by-election. According to TODAY on 13 December 2012,

The Hougang by-election was called about three months after former MP Yaw Shin Leong was expelled from the Workers' Party for "indiscretions in personal life"

In contrast, it took "less than a month" (TODAY, 10 January 2013) for the Punggol East by-election to be called.

Moreover, look at this Channel News Asia report on 12 December 2012.

In a statement to the media on Wednesday, Mr Lee also assured Singaporeans that he will make his decision based on what he said, "is best for the constituents of Punggol East and the country." 
Mr Lee pointed out that Singapore is currently focused on several national issues. 
He cited the 'Our Singapore Conversation', which he said is making good progress. 
Mr Lee added the White Paper on Population will be debated in Parliament in January. 
Separately, the government is also preparing for Budget 2013. 
Mr Lee said his first priority is to ensure that the residents of Punggol East continue to be well taken care of. 
"We have appointed Mr Teo Ser Luck to oversee Punggol East constituency, and Mr Zainal Sapari to chair the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council. DPM Teo Chee Hean, who himself is in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, will also take a personal interest in the welfare of Punggol East residents," said Mr Lee. 
The Constitution does not require the prime minister to call a by-election within any fixed time frame.

PM Lee seems really reluctant to call a by-election soon. However, TODAY's report on 10 January 2013 seems to show otherwise.

Noting the "busy national agenda this year", Mr Lee said: "The White Paper on Population will soon be debated in Parliament. Budget 2013 is around the corner. The Our Singapore Conversation is translating the views of citizens into programmes to improve our lives. ..."

The 3 highlighted reasons are used to both support his idea of pushing it to a later date and to call it immediately. Isn't this hypocritical? Either way, this will happen and the Opposition parties will be extremely busy and scrambling everywhere just to meet the short dateline.