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Boon Tat Street, right in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District, is named after Ong Boon Tat (1888-1941) - a well-known, wealthy, Peranakan businessman who also served as Municipal Commissioner and Justice of Peace.

Boon Tat Street is parallel to Cross Street and runs from Amoy Street and intersecting with Telok Ayer Street, Robinson Road, Shenton Way and Raffles Quay. Interesting landmarks on Boon Tat Street include the SGX Centre (Singapore Exchange), the iconic neo-classical Ogilvy Centre, and the distinctive Octagon and historic landmark, Lau Pa Sat. And most importantly for many of us, part of Boon Tat Street is closed to traffic in the evenings to make way for dining at the row of Satay stalls just outside Lau Pa Sat.

In November last year, the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW) snubbed social worker, Mr Jolovan Wham, by withdrawing the “Outstanding Social Worker of the Year Award” and replacing it with the “Promising Social Worker Award” instead. (See our earlier report here.)

The association, after protests from Singaporeans, explained that the mistake was due to an “administrative oversight” and thus it would be "more appropriate" to present Mr Wham with the “Most Promising Social Worker Award”. The association added that this is “because he has only about seven years of relevant experience.” (Asia One.)

However, there is no such minimum period of service requirement for the award under the association’s own rules for qualification.

Mr Wham eventually declined the award.

Sabahan Yong Vui Kong, 23, is on death row in Singapore for drug trafficking. Malaysiakini is publishing Yong's final letters to Yetian, a member of the Save Vui Kong Campaign, as he faces death.

"Before I begin, I would like to thank everyone for reading this 12th letter. Time passes so quickly that this will be my last letter.

I hope that when you finished reading this letter, despite whatever that is going to happen to me, you will continue to support 'We Believe in Second Chances' campaign.

For my final letter, I would like to write about how I feel about facing death.

This is the second in a special series of stories which publichouse.sg will feature as a lead-up to Christmas on 25 December. It is our hope that as you read these accounts, you too will be inspired to do your part for those in need, however small that effort that may be.

He sat down directly in front of me at the café where we had arranged to meet and when I enquired if he wanted a drink, he simply asked for a glass of water.

Simplicity. That word pretty much sums up the philosophy that Richard Lim has about charity and the work he does at The Breadline Group, a non-profit organization that is now in its 36th year of operations. Its mission? To give financial assistance to the destitute, providing food provisions and cash to supplement whatever public assistance they may be receiving.