Kong Hee pleads to God to ‘protect’ him

Disgraced founder of City Harvest Church (CHC) Kong Hee has called on God to ‘protect’ him in the face of his legal troubles.

Kong Hee was charged along with four other board members of CHC for misusing up to S$50 million dollars of the church’s funds to further the music career of his singer wife Ho Yeow Sun, a charge which he has strenuously denied.

In a post on his Facebook, Kong Hee pleaded to God to ‘protect’ him:

His call was answered by many fellow CHC members who prayed for him:

“Amen! Because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy.. who give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.. Amen! Keep believing and trusting in Him, Pastor Kong!” – Karen Kwan

“Amen! God will hide you under the shadow of His wings and bring to nought all your adversaries…” – Constance Wong

Kong will return to court again on 25 July. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.

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Related articles:

CHC member challenges detractors to join City Harvest Church for a year

Kong Hee reaches out to supporters on Facebook

A Christian defends Kong Hee: Let us not be quick to make a judgement

Analysis into the wealth of City Harvest Church (Part 2)

Churches ask followers not to blog about City Harvest Church saga

A Christian speaks out against defensive behavior of Kong Hee and CHC

Concerned parents attend City Harvest Church with their children

Kong Hee receives standing ovation from CHC members

Kong Hee speaks out against charges: I maintain my integrity

U.S. Pastor defends Kong Hee

‘Celebrity culture’ at CHC does not fit into biblical principles

SPH hits back at CHC

PAP MP Sam Tan: It is ‘understandable’ for CHC to support its leaders

City Harvest Church issues warning to media

My unpleasant experience at City Harvest Church

City Harvest Church stands by Pastor Kong Hee

CHC blogger defends Kong Hee

Pastor Lawrence Khong urges fellow pastors to pray for Kong Hee

Kong Hee’s family upgraded from 5-room HDB flat to Sentosa Cove Penthouse

An Analysis into the wealth of City Harvest Church

Defiant Kohg Hee places his faith in God

Ex-CHC member: I donated more than $10,000 to the church in the last five years

Overwhelming support for Pastor Kong Hee by CHC members

Kong Hee charged for misuse of funds at City Harvest Church

23 million dollars of CHC funds used to finance Ho Yeow San’s music career

Pastor Kong Hee arrested for criminal breach of trust

NUS Campus Crusade for Christ suspended while under police investigations

Controversial NUS student group the Campus Crusade for Christ has been suspended following investigations over posters that were deemed “insensitive and disrespectful”.

The posters, which were distributed on the campus to promote a mission trip to Thailand, described the country as ‘a place of little true job’ because few Thais believe in Jesus Christ and only “about one hundred Thais accept Christ each year’:

A similar gaffe was made on its NUS website where it promoted a mission trip to Turkey, saying that the country needed ‘much prayer and work’ because ‘much of the population is M’, referring to Muslims.

In a written reply to Parliament, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said police investigations into the NUS Campus Crusade for Christ are ongoing.

“This incident reminds all of us not to take racial and religious harmony for granted, and that we must be sensitive and vigilant on matters of race and religion,” he said.

No arrests have been made so far.

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Related articles:

MHA probes Campus Crusade for Christ

NUS Campus Crusade for Christ ordered to cease campus activities by NUS

NUS Campus Crusade for Christ apologizes for insensitive posters

PM Lee: We must continue to attract ‘foreign talents’ to come to Singapore

Despite promising Singaporeans last year that the government will ‘slow down’ the inflow of immigrants, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong continues to remind them that Singapore needs to remain ‘open’ to foreigners to attract ‘talents’ to ‘contribute’ to the nation.

Speaking at a forum on China yesterday, PM Lee said:

“We must expect that people will go and, at the same time, we must attract people who can make a contribution to Singapore to come to Singapore.”

PM Lee added that Singapore is an ‘attractive’ choice to foreigners because there are opportunities here and it is an exciting and good place to live:

“We try to make it such that if you come (to Singapore) and make a contribution, you can do well and fulfil your potential. I think we have to be like that if Singapore is to prosper.”

The recent wave of immigration has changed Singapore’s demographics to beyond recognition which shocked even the earlier immigrants.

According to a blog post by a PRC teacher who has been teaching in a secondary school in Singapore for the last five years, she was astounded at the increase in PRC Chinese population in recent years:

“At first I thought there is something wrong with my memory, but after asking around, everybody agrees there are more PRC Chinese in Singapore in recent years.”

(一开始我以为是我记忆出差错了，但问了好多人大家都说这几年坡岛中国人更多了！)

Read more here

HDB reduces flat subletting approved period for PRs to a year with immediate effect

In an effort to control rampant subletting of HDB flats by Singapore PRs to make a quick buck, HDB has cut the flat subletting approved period for Permanent Residents (PR) from the current three years to just one year with immediate effect.

When the one-year period expires, the application to extend the approval will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The total period of subletting during the flat owners’ entire duration of the flat ownership is capped at five years.

Singapore PR flat owners are allowed to sublet their flat only after meeting the minimum occupation period (MOP), and if they have not sublet the flat before.

In the past, it is a common practice for some Singapore PRs to sublet their HDB flats while living in condominiums or across the Causeway in Malaysia thereby enabling them to make a hefty profit.

Unlike other countries, Singapore allows PRs to buy public housing which has led to sky-rocketing HDB flat prices in recent years.

It is time HDB considers imposing a capital tax gain on PRs selling their HDB flats after returning to their homeland to prevent them from profiteering from the sales.

 

Expert suggests raising CPF rates to 4 to 5 percent to ensure adequate retirement incomes

Despite slogging hard day in and out like a dog for their entire life, most Singaporeans will not have sufficient savings for their retirement, according to a report on retirement attitudes and trends published by US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies and Prudential

Workers here are not saving “nearly enough to maintain an adequate standard of living in retirement” although Singapore had the highest rate of receipt from a national pension system at 78 per cent, it had the lowest replacement rate of about 25 per cent.

Speaking to queries from the media, one of its author Dr Richard Jackson said:

“Singapore raise the return on worker contributions to the Central Provident Fund, which “historically has been well beneath the market rate”, to about 4 to 5 per cent to ensure adequate retirement incomes.”

Dr Jackson added that Singaporeans should not count too much on family support in the future because of plummeting birth rates and shrinking family size.

About 8,000 people aged between 20 and 60 and above were involved in the study, including 931 from Singapore.

Unlike other First World countries, Singapore does not have a comprehensive social safety net to care for its elderly who are expected to work for as long as possible till they drop dead and die so that they do not become a financial burden to the state.

 

Singapore family considering selling their HDB flat because of noisy pinoy neighbors

A Singaporean family is considering selling their HDB flat and move elsewhere because of their noisy and inconsiderate pinoy neighbors!

True blue native Singaporean Benson Tan who served National Service may be forced to move because of the inability of PAP MP Sam Tan and the Singapore police to help him.

“I had been asking my MP Mr Sam Tan for help..After few meet up with the RC members,CCC chairman of radin mas.they cant help me with my problem also.I had been asking my MP to refer this matter over to the police.I had received an email from Mr Sam Tan. He said he and his RC members are at the and of his wits to help.”

Though Benson tried to ask the police to conduct a ‘mediation’ session with his neighbors, the police did not turn up in the end.:

“Drums & guitar is already small cases..They will come to ur doorstep to shout and even stamp their feet at home..The child can shout whole day…MP also dunwan care liao what can I do???I request for police to conduct a mediation from the RC side..The RC officer at first said he will arrange but in the also no police came for the mediation…Its really damn noisy to disturb pple everyday..Now yet we got force to move…They proposely do it everyday.”

Benson is very frustrated and disappointed that his PAP MP and the Singapore police is unable to help his family:

“I’m still saying here but I dun wish to move..My father is considering to sell the flat away because of the child..Btw we are force to move by them if we dun find a way to resolve this problem..All I want is the MP conduct a mediation with him and the police around..But they said they are at the end of their wits.And the police had rejected helping too…I dont know what I can do..”

Benson’s case resembles the ‘pinoy drummer’ saga where one ‘special needs’ pinoy boy disturbed the entire neighborhood in Choa Chu Kang with his daily incessant drumming.

With more foreigners coming to Singapore and living in the HDB heartland, native Singaporeans will need to put up with such trivial disturbances and inconveniences in order to make them feel welcomed, happy and blessed living in Singapore.

During a ceremony last Saturday to present citizenship certificates to 200 foreigners, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong implored Singaporeans yet again to do their part to reach out to the newcomers on a personal level and at work. Perhaps moving houses is now an option for Singaporeans to do more to please their new ‘comrades’ from China, India, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, and all over the world.

If you are interested to help Benson Tay, you can contact him directly on his Facebook here

‘DiarySG’ Youtube channel closed down after Kong Hee filed copyright claims against it

Popular Youtube channel ‘DiarySG’ which is well known for its hilarious parodies about Singapore politics and social affairs was officially shut down on 10 July 2012 following a number of copyright claims allegedly filed by City Harvest Church founder pastor Kong Hee.

All 800+ videos, 2 years of non-profit artwork, fanwork, parodies, satire, humourous insights, documentaries, interviews, Opposition Rallies, General Elections 2011 behind-the-scenes and comedies were removed in an instance.

DiarySG has earlier claimed to receive an official warning from Kong Hee to stop making parodies about him on Youtube on Monday:

“WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL MESSAGE (or WARNING) FROM KONG HEE to stop making parodies about Kong Hee on Youtube!?! Yes, the same man in that Singapore’s Biggest Charity Scandal from City Harvest Church. Reason given is: ”Copyright claim by Kong Hee”!?! Wow, that video is a obviously a homemade video, self-editted video & it is obviously a parody & you claim copyright???”

A day later, the channel was shut down because of copyright claims filed to Youtube and its parent company Google.

A statement from ‘DiarySG’ on its Facebook reads:

Kong Hee was charged among four other members of City Harvest Church for misusing up to S$50 million dollars of the church’s funds to further the music career of his singer wife Ho Yeow Sun.

City Harvest Church has stood firmly behind Kong Hee and had earlier issued a statement threatening to ‘deal’ with the media in due course over the negative publicity received.

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Related articles:

CHC member challenges detractors to join City Harvest Church

Kong Hee reaches out to supporters on Facebook

A Christian defends Kong Hee: Let us not be quick to make a judgement

Analysis into the wealth of City Harvest Church (Part 2)

Churches ask followers not to blog about City Harvest Church saga

A Christian speaks out against defensive behavior of Kong Hee and CHC

Concerned parents attend City Harvest Church with their children

Kong Hee receives standing ovation from CHC members

Kong Hee speaks out against charges: I maintain my integrity

U.S. Pastor defends Kong Hee

‘Celebrity culture’ at CHC does not fit into biblical principles

SPH hits back at CHC

PAP MP Sam Tan: It is ‘understandable’ for CHC to support its leaders

City Harvest Church issues warning to media

My unpleasant experience at City Harvest Church

City Harvest Church stands by Pastor Kong Hee

CHC blogger defends Kong Hee

Pastor Lawrence Khong urges fellow pastors to pray for Kong Hee

Kong Hee’s family upgraded from 5-room HDB flat to Sentosa Cove Penthouse

An Analysis into the wealth of City Harvest Church

Defiant Kohg Hee places his faith in God

Ex-CHC member: I donated more than $10,000 to the church in the last five years

Overwhelming support for Pastor Kong Hee by CHC members

Kong Hee charged for misuse of funds at City Harvest Church

23 million dollars of CHC funds used to finance Ho Yeow San’s music career

Pastor Kong Hee arrested for criminal breach of trust

PM Lee: ‘Completely understandable’ that Singaporeans are uncomfortable with influx of PRC immigrants

The relentless influx of Chinese immigrants from mainland China has changed the demographics of Singapore beyond recognition that even the earlier PRC immigrants staying here are astounded!

Despite rising public disgruntlement and anger at the government’s immigration policies, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong appears confident that the government is managing the issue well.

Speaking at the closing dialogue of the FutureChina Global Forum, Mr Lee said Singapore deals with this issue by managing the inflow of immigrants and getting them to adapt to the local way of life.

“It was “completely understandable” that Singaporeans may feel uncomfortable with the recent influx of mainland Chinese immigrants, who may look the same as Singaporean Chinese but sound and behave differently,” he told the audience.

PM Lee said the Government will continue to “manage” the social impact of immigration and urged newcomers to play their part.

“We have to encourage the non-Singaporeans who are living here to adapt to the circumstances in Singapore and understand that this is a different society with different values and cultures, and (a society that is) multi-racial and religious,” he added.

PM Lee had earlier urged native Singaporeans to do their part by ‘reaching out’ to the new citizens on a personal level and at work during a citizenship ceremony last Saturday.

In an interview with the National Geographic magazine in 2009, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew declared that it is a ‘good thing’ that Singapore is welcoming so many Chinese immigrants from China as they are ‘harder-striving’ and ‘harder-driving’ than locals.

Malay Singaporean to PM Lee: I do not feel part of Singapura anymore

Honestly I feel so sad because I don’t feel like being a part of Singapura anymore as more foreigners are welcomed by the government, hence should there be a chance for me to migrate I will.

Nowadays I believe that the pinoy population are much higher than the local muslim. I am so shy myself to admit that im a singaporean whenever I visit other countries as they know Singapore been invaded by so many foreigner mostly come from low class country and tarnished the image here yet they foreigners act more than Singaporeans here without realizing who they are.

Sometimes as humans we must never ever forget who we are and where we stand and who giving us a support to make Singapore stand proudly by not harbouring more foreigners.

Too bad Singapore now is not a home to me.sorry ya…

AZLI SUHAILA

*The above was first posted as a comment on PM Lee’s Facebook.

Iswaran: Lapse in allowing foreigners to abscond in Suntec brawl due to ‘individual error’

The shocking lapse which allows foreigners involved in a brawl at Suntec City to abscond from Singapore without facing charges is due to an ‘individual error’ rather that a systemic shortcoming, declared Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran in Parliament on Tuesday.

The case made the headlines and caused a massive outcry among Singaporeans as the foreigners absconded after posting bail without facing justice, prompting the police to conduct an internal inquiry to establish if there were any lapses or negligence in how the case was handled.

The inquiry revealed that the Investigation Officer in charge of the case has been negligent and he has been charged with neglect of duty.

When asked by PAP MP Tin Pei Ling if the impounding of passports should be made a standard operating procedure in such cases.

“Impounding their passports would not restrict their movement or freedom of movement in Singapore, but would ensure that when the courts need them or when the judgement is made, they are in Singapore to receive the judgement,” she said.

However, Mr Iswaran felt the decision to impound passports should be left solely to the discretion of the court.

“I think most importantly and fundamentally, we have to strike that balance between his or her right to freedom to move before he or she is judged or found to be guilty,” he added.