PM Lee to honor American author of book “In Praise of Nepotism”

Mr. Adam Bellow, author of the esteemed book “In Praise of Nepotism: A Natural History”, first published in 2003, is scheduled to arrive in Singapore later this week to accept a plaque and gift basket from PM Lee.  It is also rumoured that Mr. Bellow will be given honorary citizenship by President S.R. Nathan for his substantial efforts over the years in promoting Singapore’s image internationally. In a press release from the Prime Minister’s office, the award has “nothing to do with the book, but rather Mr. Bellow’s renowned accomplishments in promoting Singapore in general.”  Mr. Lee further personally remarked that any journalist, particularly those from the Financial Times, who mentions the book in connection with Singapore or its unique political situation, risk lawsuit and financial ruin.  “Mr. Bellow has done so much for Singapore, especially his efforts at convincing Westerners that Singapore is the first world country that it is, and it is time we repay our gratitude.”

Singapore, Malaysia fight over rock at International Court of Justice

The sovereignty of a rock, known as Pulau Batu Putih in Malaysia and Pedra Branca in Singapore, has been called into question. The rock, physically closer to Malaysia and located east of Singapore, is home to many seagulls. Singapore insists that the birds are Singaporeans, while Malaysia insists that they are just birds. Singapore has dispatched a high-level delegation to the International Court of Justice in The Hague and has taken one of the birds along as proof. The Deputy Prime Minister’s strategy is to hold the bird up in front of the judges and ask them to compare the bird with a picture of MM Lee in his youth. If they think that they bear a resemblance, then the bird must be Singaporean and the rock that they live on must be part of Singapore.

The rock itself, while only the size of a football field, is of prime strategic importance to Singapore. This is because many Singaporean birds like to congregate there and ponder migration, and migration is a big problem in Singapore today. Malaysia, on the other hand, thinks that the birds should be free to migrate whenever they choose, and the rock is closer to Malaysia in any case. “Any sick birds will be promptly taken to a Malaysian hospital,” said Prime Minister Badawi of Malaysia.