Singapore - The Singapore government has explained its decision not to renew the work permit of two Myanmar nationals, saying they had gone beyond the law allowed in staging political protests.

The case involves two Myanmar nationals, Moe Kyaw Thu and Win Kyaw, who were part of a group that held a protest march against their country's ruling junta during the 2007 Asean summit held in Singapore, according to a Tuesday report in Straits Times citing an online posting of one of the Singapore protestor.

Singapore - A 70-year-old man faced a court Monday, charged with grievously harming a Singapore legislator by pouring paint thinner over him and setting it alight during a Sunday afternoon community club event.

Ong Kah Chua, a former taxi driver, was remanded in the custody of the Institute of Mental Health and is to reappear in court on January 23, Channel News Asia reported. He is accused of attacking Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong at the club, causing burns to 10 to 15 per cent of his body.

Also injured during the incident was the 69-year-old chairman of a Chinese temple, Aw Chui Seng.

News reports said Seng, 59, had undergone skin grafts at a local hospital after suffering severe burns to his face, arms and upper body.

Singapore  - The Singapore government is prosecuting a local company for not paying its foreign workers on time and providing them with inadequate accommodation, a news report said on Monday.

The Manpower Ministry said it would be prosecuting marine barge builder Tipper Corporation for irregularities involving the salaries of 421 foreign workers, mostly Bangladeshis.

Four other companies are facing similar charges relating to foreign workers' wages, proper accommodations and medical care.

Singapore  - Singapore police have arrested 15 foreign women in an operation against five unlicensed massage parlours this week, according to a news report on Friday.

The women were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday for allegedly working on invalid visas.

Their nationalities were not disclosed by police.

Police are also investigating the operators of the parlours.

Singapore - Selling pressure push

Singapore - A delegation from Abu Dhabi is studying Singapore's approach and experiences in tackling many of the challenges of a city state including the threat of terrorism and developing new niches for economic growth, a news report said Wednesday.

Twenty-one delegates are attending a forum where Singapore officials explain the city state's best practices and how it has prepared to tackle terrorism and the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).