‘Talk to rich people nicely, you’re a poor girl’ – 2 women fined $3k each for verbally abusing auxiliary police officer

SINGAPORE - The victim was merely doing her job but had to suffer insults such as "talk to rich people nicely, you're a poor girl". These words came from two women after an auxiliary police officer approached them for smoking outside a designated area. Koh Lee Yen, 50, and Chee Kam Fah, 49, were each fined $3,000 on Wednesday (Sept 8). They pleaded guilty each to one count of using insulting words against a public service worker. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority records show that Koh and Chee are shareholders and directors of jewellery retailer Gold Star Resources. They also hold shares in other companies while Chee is a director in various firms. The court heard that the incident occurred on Sept 21 last year, outside shopping mall Lucky Plaza in Orchard Road. Ms Asyikah Suri Kamsari was on duty with her colleague in the area. She was authorised under the National Environment Agency to carry out enforcement action against public health offenders. She spotted Koh and Chee smoking outside the designated area and approached them for their personal particulars, so that she could issue a summons to them. The duo started verbally abusing her as she was recording Koh's detai...

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Chee Hong Tat to replace Koh Poh Koon as NTUC deputy secretary-general on May 15

SINGAPORE - Senior Minister of State for Transport and Foreign Affairs Chee Hong Tat will join the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on May 15 and become its deputy secretary-general, replacing Dr Koh Poh Koon, who is Senior Minister of State for Health. In a statement on Thursday (May 6), NTUC said Mr Chee - who is relinquishing his appointment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Cabinet changes announced last month - will be co-opted into its central committee. The 47-year-old will also take on the role of group director of NTUC's training and transformation group. In addition, he has been appointed as a cadre member of the Union of Power and Gas Employees (Upage) and an executive secretary in the United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI). As part of the Cabinet reshuffle, which will take effect on May 15, Dr Koh will take on a new appointment in the Manpower Ministry as Senior Minister of State, in addition to his role in the Ministry of Health (MOH). The 49-year-old will be relinquishing his positions in the labour movement. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had written to NTUC president Mary Liew on April 21 to request that Dr Koh return fu...

Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat, Perm Sec Aubeck Kam to receive May Day honours

SINGAPORE - Senior Minister of State for Transport and Foreign Affairs Chee Hong Tat and Permanent Secretary for Manpower Aubeck Kam will receive the Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest accolades in this year's May Day Awards. Mr Chee has been a strong advocate for the protection of healthcare and public transport workers against abuse, while Mr Kam has made significant contributions towards improving the wages and work prospects of workers. The Distinguished Service Award is conferred by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on those who are still active and continue to make significant contributions for three years or more after receiving the Meritorious Service award. Mr Chee and Mr Kam are among the 143 individuals and organisations who will receive awards next Wednesday (April 28). Other recipients include union leaders, government officials and firms advancing workers' interests amid an uncertain economic outlook brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as workers who are role models at their workplaces. The recipient of the Medal of Honour - the top May Day accolade - will be announced next Tuesday, a day before the awards ceremony. It is given to indi...