Category: Politik

Should Dr Chee Give Up His Candidacy Just To Prove to PAP That The GRC System Is Flawed?

It is amusing to see supporters of the ruling party start campaigning for their party before the actual candidate does so. As expected, they have brought up the bogeyman of a poorly-run town council if Dr Chee Soon Juan becomes the Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok. Of course, these claims do not have to be rational, but they are spouted anyway. The assumption that a ward would suddenly become a slum – especially a Single Member Constituency, which is much easier to manage than a GRC – when an opposition member takes over is, to be honest, quite laughable. Moreover, they (purposely) ignore other factors that could, if not should, be considered by voters: such as alternative representation in Parliament, having more checks against the ruling party, quality of candidate (which can be measured in many ways), and so on.

But i digress.

SDP has said that Dr Chee will be contesting in the by-election. Many observers have said that they would rather see A/Prof Paul Tambyah as the candidate instead, and i have to agree. For a very simple reason: the party has always opposed the GRC, and this is an opportunity to show that the GRC system is not needed, as minority candidates would be elected regardless (i do not necessarily subscribe to this view though).

I remember watching a video of a debate between Mr Chiam See Tong and Encik Jufrie Mahmood, against senior PAP members including former Prime Ministers Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Goh Chok Tong, on the GRC. Encik Jufrie basically asserted that the system is not necessary, and that the ruling party should have the prerogative to place minority candidates in SMCs. Opposition parties would then have to field minority candidates in those wards as well. This obviously does not have to be entrenched in law, but could take the form of some sort of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between the ruling and opposition parties.

Now that PAP has announced it will field an Indian candidate, to bolster SDP’s calls for the abolition of the GRC system, i think it is only right that they too field a minority candidate. This would show that the party indeed believes in minority representation, without the aid of a GRC. Whatever the results of the by-election, the party could then truly boast that it was true to its democratic principles of both electoral fairness and representation. Otherwise, its calls would ring hollow, and the party would actually demonstrate that it just as opportunistic as any other political entity.

The way i see it, the ball is really in SDP’s court.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

March 28, 2016
Almakhazin: Did MUIS really want to praise LKY during khutbah Jumaat?

Last year, after Lee Kuan Yew’s death on 23rd March, a lot of Muslims in Singapura were shocked and disgusted by MUIS.

Prior to his death, we saw how mass grieving was “encouraged” by the government and the media.

Muslims spoke of making doa for him and referred to him as their father or grandpa.

When he died, some Muslims prayed that he would be placed with the solihin.

Muslim organisations fell over themselves singing his praises and declaring their sadness.

And MUIS, as the authority for the Muslim community, led the way. They used the khutbah Jumaat to praise Lee Kuan Yew:

“Saudara-saudara sidang Jumaah yang dirahmati Allah,

Pemergian Perdana Menteri Pertama, mendiang Encik Lee Kuan Yew, telah menyentuh setiap rakyat Singapura, termasuk kita para anggota masyarakat Islam. Amat besar sekali kesan yang beliau tinggalkan kepada kehidupan berbilang agama dan bangsa negara ini. Di peringkat antarabangsa, beliau telah memimpin sebuah pemerintah yang membangunkan Singapura menjadi negara maju yang dikagumi dan dicemburui dunia. Ini tercapai, antaranya melalui kesungguhan beliau memastikan keharmonian hubungan antara kaum, kemajuan ekonomi dan kecemerlangan pendidikan.

Marilah kita merenung dan mengambil iktibar daripada kehidupannya. Beliau telah pergi meninggalkan warisannya.”

A lot of Muslims felt that for MUIS to use the masjid, the mimbar to praise someone who has discriminated and oppressed Muslims for decades was not only in poor taste, but an abuse of their management powers.

Especially when they do not show such love and admiration when our ulama passed away.

But after the khutbah, some information came to light.

According to sources inside MUIS, the khutbah praising Lee Kuan Yew was not part of their plan.

Instead, they were told to say it. And we believe that this situation will happen happen again whether this year or in the coming years.

From the information we received, MUIS was told to do three things for Kuan Yew during solat Jumaat:

1. A minute silence during khutbah to honour his death

2. Make a congregational doa for Lee Kuan Yew

3. Praise him during the khutbah.

MUIS tried to reject the demands but was not able to. They needed to show their loyalty to the government.

But the first two demands were too much. They compromised and agreed to praise him during khutbah Jumaat.

These are the information that were relayed to us and we welcome MUIS clarifying it.

If these information are true, then it shows that while there are a lot of systemic problems in MUIS, the abuse of the mimbar, of the masjid to praise Lee Kuan Yew may not be due to them.

They were powerless to reject the demand.

But that they are powerless is also the very problem we need to resolve.

They are powerless because MUIS staff, their leaders, are government servants.

They are compelled to support government policies and demands, even when it goes against Islam.

Whether it is the denial of hijab, the destruction of masjid, the taking of wakaf land or the use of khutbah to praise a politician, MUIS is unable to stand up against the government.

Because they have to listen and follow government demands, they not only affect their organisation…

But also how we practice our religion.

Source: Almakhazin SG

March 25, 2016
Why is There a Refusal To have An Honest Discussion About Terrorism and Extremism?

As expected, the condemnation machinery that went missing during the Ankara and Istanbul attacks reappeared, expressing vociferous condemnation and massive grief for Brussels.

Yet people still ask me why i am skeptical towards politicians.

And again, the refusal to have an honest discussion about terrorism and extremism is stark.

Let’s not kid ourselves, one’s (selective) condemnation of terrorism will not reduce terrorism. But a critical appraisal of the issues surrounding it, might. So when one engages in the former but not the latter, then ultimately, we know one’s interest is not in getting to the heart of the matter.

And when it is all said and done, let us not forget the role of Tony Blair in all of these: the man who basically sold the Iraq War to the world, the devastating war, the ramifications of which we still feel today. Yes, Bush started it, but Bush could barely pronounce ‘Iraq War’, let alone sell it. History must eventually be honest about the role of Blair and Bush in destabilizing Iraq and the entire Middle East, creating a vacuum in which Daesh and other terrorists have thrived.

Let us be honest, and not be selective in our condemnations, our analyses of the causes of terror, and our reading of history.

Source: Walid J Abdullah

March 24, 2016
Dr Chee Soon Juan And Family Can Be Proud Of Themselves

To : Mei, thank you for being with Dr. Chee for so long, regardless of the hardship and sometime the loneliness when Dr. Chee is not around, you are a wonderful woman and mother.

To: The 3 children, you have an amazing father, he is brave, smart and filled with with so much passion that any real Singaporean will be proud of.

To: Dr Chee, Life is not too fair for you for a long time, but I believe that your handwork, determination, passion and a never say die attitude will make the differences to Singapore and Singaporean. Singapore will be better with you around. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Together, we are Singaporean, see you in parliament. ‪#‎csjforbukitbatok‬

Source: Dougles Chan

March 22, 2016
Cheat Claimed To Be Brother Of Wong Kan Seng

You could argue the man in the dock looked a little like former Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng. But Wong Kok Keong, 63, is not related to the former DPM.

Yet in 2007, Wong, who was then believed to be a freelance broker, told business acquaintances he was the then DPM’s brother.

Three directors and shareholders of Manor Construction were then duped into giving him $420,000 over two non-existent business deals.

Wong, who was represented by lawyer Edmond Pereira, was found guilty yesterday of two counts of cheating.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hon Yi said Wong’s victims thought he had the right connections.

FIRST DEAL

In September 2007, he concocted an investment deal involving land at 8, Yung Ho Road in Jurong.

He told his victims – Mr Lim Swee Guan, 55, Mr Chan Jee Khin, 42, and Mr Heng Choon Leng, 45 – he had acquired the rights to build a commercial building on the land.

He then invited them to invest in the project and told them the Option to Purchase (OTP) for the land was valued at $900,000.

The victims were required to pay 20 per cent of it, which came up to $180,000. After receiving a cheque for the amount from them on Sept 27, 2007, Wong immediately cashed it.

His investors later asked him on a few occasions to furnish them with the OTP documents.

Wong provided none and in April 2008, told the victims he would return the $180,000 as the investment had been unsuccessful.

DPP Hon said: “There was no such OTP that the accused claimed to have access to, and he was not the brother of then-DPM Wong.”

Similarly, Wong’s other investment dealturned out to be a sham.

Wong had told Mr Lim he could acquire “preferential shares” of Advance Modules at $0.15 per share, which would rise to $0.50 per share.

The trio wrote him cheques worth a total of $240,000 in October 2007.

Wong did not fulfil his promise.

Yesterday, Mr Pereira confirmed in court that Wong had made restitutions of around $200,000.

Wong is expected to be sentenced in April. He is an undischarged bankrupt.

Source: www.tnp.sg

March 22, 2016