Jeremy Lim

Locals and Asian migrants gather to celebrate World Migrants Day. The Church plays an important role in providing services to foreign workers.

Relics arrived in the city-state yesterday and went on display overnight in Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Hundreds of people came to see them, bringing along loved ones who are ill.

A group of volunteers provides the service. Songs, readings, the Gospel and homily are available in sign language. Launched 20 years ago, the initiative allows up to 80 hearing-impaired faithful, especially children, to follow the Sunday Mass.

They arrived in the worst period for the region occupied by the Japanese on the eve of World War II. Their commitment has remained unchanged for over 75 years. A book and a musical to celebrate not only a congregation, but the whole Church in Singapore and Malaysia.

At the annual meeting of the Catholic organisation, focus is on the difference between justice and charity. The former cannot “be offered as a gift” since it is inherent in the human condition.

New structure is set to provide water and electrical power to the capital of the Malaysian state at the cost of US$ 900 million. Residents protest but the government claims “the project benefits the people”.

50 thousand US dollars, 800 water filters; 10 000 blankets to the flood victims of Pakistan. Being the "Good Samaritan".

The Malaysian government does not intend to adopt Indonesia’s proposal for a "minimum wage” for domestic workers in the country. At least 300 thousand foreign workers in Malaysia, subjected to violence and discrimination.

In the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Catholics are nearly 10% of the population. Many churches increase the number of Masses to cope with the influx of the faithful. Islam is spreading at a faster speed, especially due to social pressure: non-Muslims are considered inferior.

The organising committee set up a multi-faith where participants can pray, but for liturgical services, athletes must leave the Village. Games begins on Sunday and Catholics “must be welcoming as a community to anybody who comes” into their midst.

Alan Shaddrake was jailed on July 18. Pending trial, he has been freed on a bail of 10 thousand dollars. He is accused of defaming the Singapore judiciary. Deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch: "Freed speech is an endangered species in Singapore."

Singapore does little to prevent prostitution and labour exploitation. The U.S. State Department report on human trafficking puts the city-state alongside Afghanistan, Iraq, China and India. Singapore rejects the allegations and calls the U.S. to examine data more carefully.