But now the word "Singapore" carries for some, a less than positive connotation, after Temasek bought Shin Corp Plc.

Its name has become more thorny as it has been mocked by members of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

A PAD supporter even wrote a song that included the word "Singapore-to". We found some Singaporeans were concerned about the lyrics as they don't understand what they meant.

Now everybody seems to be avoiding using the name of the island state in public.

Somsak Chataweesak, MD of Chaitaweekij Corporation Co Ltd - the producer and distributor of Crocodile T-shirts, was among them.

When noting his firm had won support from foreigners including those from Japan and Singapore, he reportedly choked on the word Singapore.

"They did not forge equity participation," he hastily explained. "They just helped with the design stage," he said.

It will be interesting to watch how local feelings develop.

Privacy, please

There was a buzz on Sunday when many voters complained about the positioning of polling cubicles.

They wondered why the cubicles were not placed in a way to offer greater privacy, as in previous polls, where nobody could spy on what is being ticked on the ballot.

Unhappy voters spoke to Korn Chatikavanij, deputy leader of the Democrat Party. Though he did not run for the election, he was seen chatting with voters on Sathorn Road.

In the conversation, our reporter learned how some voters fixed the problem.

To stop people peeking into their ballots, an elderly male voter devised a crafty ploy.

He told Korn: "I know how to deceive them. I turned the paper upside down. When I marked the 'no-vote', they must have thought I was voting for Thai Rak Thai." He ended his story with loud laughter. Evidently, many voters also adopted this tactic.

It was odd therefore to find the Election Commission defending the poor voting arrangement. The commission said some voters were overly concerned.

If people hadn't zoomed camera lenses at voters, the EC said, they wouldn't have known what was on the ballot.

EC members should have their sight checked. Anyone with normal eyesight could tell what box was ticked from three to four metres away.

achara_d@nationgroup.com.