Category: Politik

Remember Wee Kim Wee? We Won’t Get A President Like Him Again If PAP Has Their Way

Of all our presidents, I remember Wee Kim Wee the fondest. Maybe that is because he looked a little like my late father.

In my mind, Wee Kim Wee was a great president. I remember seeing him on tv and thinking, “What a gentle soul.” Always with a smile, and as I recall, he lent his presence and name to many charitable works during his 8 years as head of state.

And the fact that he chose to be buried among the common people at the Mandai Crematorium, says it all.

A president is more than a CEO, more than someone who can handle $100 million, or even $1 billion. He is more than just another run-of-the-mill elite, picked from an exclusive group.

For me, a president is someone who is able to stand above everyone and everything else, especially petty politics of the politicians and the political parties.

President Wee was such a person.

It is thus a shame that even if we ever have another Wee Kim Wee, he will never be deemed qualified to be our president, under current laws and under the expected changes to the law.

It is a shame because it seems we have lost sight of what really the president is, and what the presidency means.

He has become nothing more than a watchdog, relegated to guarding at the threshold, like an outpost looking out for trouble, and expected to bark when trouble comes.

It is such a shame how we have stripped the presidency of all nobility.

We do not need another aristocrat picked from among the elite.

We need another humble, inspiring man like Wee Kim Wee. And such a man can come from anywhere, even among the ordinary.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that only someone with some nebulous “financial expertise” or knowledge is qualified to be president.

In fact, it is precisely such illusions which is now threatening to destroy all that the presidency is supposed to be.

Source: Andrew Loh

September 10, 2016
Ismail L.A. : Polemik, Jenaka Dan Mati Pucok Presiden Pilihan

?? ALMARHUM YUSOFF ISHAK & SINGAPURA

Semasa saya kecil saya selalu terdengar dan suka memerhatikan perbualan orang2 tua dengan arwah bapa saya berborak2 perihal politik Singapura dan selalu nama Presiden Singapura yang pertama iaitu Almarhum Yusoff Bin Ishak disebut.

Waktu itu saya kurang mengerti soal politik semasa tetapi saya selalu dengar mereka menyebut Almarhum sebagai patung bernyawa, Presiden tidak guna, batang pisang dan lain2 lagi yang kurang enak, tidak pernah ada pujian dari lidah mereka.

Sekarang baharu saya faham dan mengerti situasi pada masa itu dan apa yang selalu Pemerintah war-warkan sikap Almarhum sebagai Presiden yang berjiwa raayat sebenarnya banyak juga raayat yang tidak menyukai, mempersenda diri dan jawatan nya.

Suatu tugas yang besar yang tidak mungkin dapat menyenangkan hati kepada semua lapisan masyarakat Singapura pada waktu itu.

Jika polemik pemilihan Presiden untuk dibahaskan tahun ini supaya orang Melayu kita dapat sekali lagi menjawat jawatan itu dengan ehsan Pemerintah maka saya ingat kerendahan Presiden dimata masyarakat akan lebih lagi, bukan sahaja dikalangan Melayu sendiri malahan daripada masyarakat yang lain2 juga.

Ini kerana hampir semua orang Melayu sedar yang Pemerintah hanya menpergunakan diri mereka dengan permainan politik kerana takut menerima kenyataan dimana Presiden pemilihan Pemerintah dalam pilihanraya Presiden kali ini akan kalah.

Jika Pemerintah benar2 ikhlas mahukan bangsa minoriti Melayu memegang jawatan yang tertinggi itu kenapa Pemerintah menukar skim pemilihan langsung oleh konsensus Parlimen kepada pengundian raayat dimana umum semua tahu yang masyarakat kita belum lagi setara dengan kebolehan masyarakat bangsa2 lain.

Hairan Pemerintah hanya mulai sedar bila mereka tersepit dan kini segala alasan tidak akan dapat memenangi lagi hati nurani masyarakat Melayu walaupun dihadiahkan jawatan Presiden itu.

Presiden Melayu kita kali ini jika ianya terpilih akan dipersendakan dan kali ini akan lebih gelak dan memalukan lagi daripada yang dahulu dan puisi ‘Mati Pucok’ dari saudara Damanhuri Bin Abas politikus dari SDP sangat jelas kebenaran nya.

Poetry by Mr Damanhuri Abas

Mati Pucuk – Sempena Bulan Bahasa

Maruah bangsa tidak berharga.
Bila pemimpin dipilih sesuka.
Mati pucuk pimpinan bangsa.
Tinggal boneka bahan jenaka.

Diangkat mahkota dibilang Raja.
Mulut terbuka tanpa suara.
Disuruh senyum Raja gembira.
Kuasa konon ditipu bangsa.

Dimata semua pembodek Kuasa.
Melayu layu tidak semua.
Akan ku tuntut Maha Kuasa
Biar ku papa Maruahku Ada.

Mati pucuk pimpinan bangsa.

✏️ Ismail L. A.

Source: Mohamed Ismail Ismail

September 9, 2016
SDP: Elected Presidency Reforms A Distraction From Real Democratic Reforms

In 1993 when the government introduced the Elected Presidency (EP) bill, it gave a grand vision of how system was evolving into a more democratic one where there would be greater checks and balance.

Then prime minister Goh Chok Tong even said that “In introducing this Bill, the present Government, is in fact, clipping its own wings. Once the constitutional amendment is effected, this Government will have some of its powers checked.”

The truth was not quite as noble. Instead, many saw the move as Mr Lee Kuan Yew ensuring that Mr Goh, as the new prime minister, would not run off with the horse, so to speak. Following the introduction of the scheme, the late Ong Teng Cheong then became Singapore’s president from 1993-1999.

Mr Ong actually believed Mr Goh that the EP was formulated to clip the Government’s wings. During his tenure, President Ong famously asked for the state’s accounts to be made known to him, to which he was told that the information would take 52 man-years to compile. Towards the end of his term, Mr Ong publicly complained of his “long list of problems” with the Government. He also announced that he would not seek a second term.

Which was just as well because PM Goh revealed that although Mr Ong had sought a second term, the Government could not support his bid. Mr S R Nathan was chosen instead.

Before he left office, however, Mr Ong told the public that some cabinet ministers and civil servants had treated his office as a “nuisance” and that the government had indicated that it did not need his approval in using the reserves to fight the Asian financial crisis that occurred in 1997.

The very public spat prompted Mr Lee Kuan Yew to step in, upbraiding everyone for harbouring illusions about the powers of the presidency. He slapped down Mr Goh’s statement about the government clipping its own wings: “No, if you’ve to clip the wings, then you are in for trouble, you cannot govern…I cannot remember it but I would not have used that phrase because the executive powers of the Government should not be clipped.”

Then in 2004, Mr Lee Hsien Loong introduced legislation to bypass the president when it came to the transfer of reserves to GLCs and statutory boards (see here), making the EP even more meaningless.

The government is in the midst of reviewing the Constitution to pave the way for a president from the minority race. Only the very naive will fail to see the move for what it is – to ensure that the PAP’s candidate ascends to the office. The EP scheme degenerates into a deeper and bigger political farce.

It is clear that the PAP has absolutely no intention of allowing its powers to be scrutinised and checked by anyone. Together with schemes like the Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) and the Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP), the Elected Presidency serves only to create the illusion of democracy in Singapore.

What we need is a genuine democratic system where all political parties can openly and fairly contest for seats in elections overseen by an independent elections commission, where the mass media is not monopolised by the PAP, and where the civil liberties of the people are not curtailed.

Only then can we hope to check the government and truly protect our reserves.

Source: http://yoursdp.org

September 9, 2016
What Happened To Entry Fee For Singapore Vehicles? Johor Residents Ask

Malaysia’s government must explain repeated delays to the introduction of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and if it still intends to implement the charge, said Johor residents. The New Straits Times quoted several of them as saying that there have been no updates on the system, leading them to suspect the move has been secretly scrapped.

“I wonder what seems to be taking the government years to decide on this entry fee charge.

“I hope this is not just talk and no action as I recall this VEP plan was mooted a couple of years ago,” 44 year-old Tiew Hui Ping told the newspaper.

Ms Tiew said the collection from the VEP could be used to fund projects and fix the roads in Johor.

Another Johor resident, Saravanan Batumalai, said he hoped the government will resolve the issue quickly.

“The VEP charge should also be imposed on Singaporean motorcyclists entering as right now, Malaysian motorcyclists have to pay up to S$4 (RM12.05) everytime they cross over to Singapore,” the 24 year-old said.

Ms Salimah Muhari from Kangkar Pulai said the government should have started implementing the VEP charge when the Singaporean government revised their toll rates at the checkpoints and increased its VEP fees to S$35 per day.

“The RM20 fee proposed for the VEP charge is reasonable and I don’t think it will burden the Singaporeans,” the 24 year-old said.

Back in July, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that the government has no plan to scrap the implementation of the VEP and said it will be resumed once the system is ready to go.

The VEP, which was first proposed back in 2006, was supposed to start with a charge of RM20 for foreign vehicles entering Johor on July 16, but was postponed for the fourth time.

Source: TODAY Online

September 9, 2016
Ravi Philemon: Only Political Decision Will Disqualify Dr Tan Cheng Bock From Presidential Race

The Report by the Constitutional Commission to review the Elected Presidency was released by the Government earlier today. By all accounts, it is a very comprehensive report which had considered the submissions and views of several different people and organisations.

After reading the Report, what stood out for me was the Commission’s determination to clearly demarcate Constitutional and Political ambits of the Elected Presidency.

For example, the Commission reported that “one pair of contributors submitted that after the experience of the last 25 years, the Elected Presidency should be abolished and Singapore should return to a system where the President is appointed by Parliament.” The Commission noted that this submission is “a matter that falls clearly beyond the Terms of Reference (of the Commission). The choice of constitutional design and arrangements to achieve particular ends are quintessentially political questions. They should be left to the Legislature or, in extreme circumstances, the electorate voting in a referendum.”

Throughout the Report there are several such references which clearly specify that the Office of the Elected President is as much a political construct, as it is a constitutional one.

The Report, for instance, referred to some contributors suggestion to defer “the implementation of any proposed changes to the qualification criteria so as to prevent candidates who might previously have qualified to contest the Presidential office from being excluded from contesting the 2017 Presidential elections.” I was one of the contributors who made that submission.

The Commission said that “the question of whether and when any amendments should be introduced is a political matter for Parliament to determine.”

If the Constitutional Commission’s Report are accepted and passed as legislation by Parliament, it will mean that Dr Tan Cheng Bock who had previously qualified for the Presidential Election will now not qualify for several reasons.

For one, the commission recommended increasing the S$100 million paid-up capital threshold to S$500 million in shareholders’ equity, in absolute terms. According to Law Prof Eugene Tan, Dr Tan Cheng Bock fulfilled the elected presidency criteria in 2011 because he was the Chairman of Chuan Hup Holdings for 20 years. Prof Tan calculated that the paid-up capital of Chuan Hup was about $177 million when Dr Tan retired in 2011, exceeding the $100 million minimum.

Another reason why Dr Tan could be disqualified is because of the Commission’s proposal that “when a member from any racial group has not occupied the President’s office for 5 continuous terms, the next Presidential elections should be reserved for candidates from that group.”

Singapore has not had a Malay President for six terms, since Yusof Ishak. And has not had one from the Eurasian community since President Benjamin Sheares.

Some contributors like me had suggested to the Commission that in the event the Commission decides on changing the existing criteria of qualifications for the Elected President, it should include a ‘grandfather clause’ in the changes which would allow the candidates who qualified to contest in the 2011 Presidential Election to do so in the next Presidential Election.

The Commission has decided that such a decision should be a political one for Parliament to determine. And the People’s Action Party has a super-majority in the House to advance its political agenda.

Read the full report here: http://bit.ly/2cs9O1a.

Source: www.raviphilemon.net

September 8, 2016