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Category: Politik

  • Benjamin Pwee: No Rifts Between DPP And SPP

    Benjamin Pwee: No Rifts Between DPP And SPP

    There have been no disagreements between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Singapore People’s Party (SPP) as they decide on members of a joint team to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC) together, said DPP chief Benjamin Pwee.

    “Everything is hunky-dory. We’re all happy,” Mr Pwee told reporters before the start of a DPP-SPP walkabout at Toa Payoh Lorong 7 on Sunday morning (Aug 23).

    SPP’s Bryan Long added that there is a “positive working relationship” between the two parties and that “DPP brings a good bunch of people to the table”.

    Both Opposition parties had agreed to jointly contest the five-member GRC under the SPP banner and have been conducting walkabouts together. However a week ago, Mr Pwee had said his party was prepared to fight for Bishan-Toa Payoh on its own if it could not get agreement with SPP on the five joint-team candidates. SPP chairman Lina Chiam had indicated that her party would like to take three slots in the joint team and in turn, Mr Pwee asked that SPP be “open to discussing who will stand on both sides and not insist on a certain number”.

    On Sunday, Mr Pwee said both parties’ central executive committees have narrowed down their picks. “We will reveal the best five on Nomination Day. Every person here is a potential candidate,” he said.

    Accompanying Mr Pwee and Mr Long were DPP members Ms Juliana Juwahir, Mr Mohamad Hamim Aliyas, Mr Abdul Malik Rahmat, Ms Nadine Yap, and Mr Robin Low, as well as SPP members Mr Abdillah Zamzuri, Mr Law Kim Hwee and Mr Eman Lim.

     DPP secretary-general Benjamin Pwee greeting residents at a coffee shop in Toa Payoh during a walkabout on Aug 23. (Photo: Gayathiri Chandramohan)

    SPP member Bryan Long and DPP’s Benjamin Pwee and Nadine Yap speaking to patrons at a Toa Payoh coffee shop on Aug 23. (Photo: Gayathiri Chandramohan)

    Both parties have said they will put out a joint manifesto for Bishan-Toa Payoh. Mr Pwee, an ex-SPP member, pointed out that the core team in DPP came from the SPP and that they had similar concerns on “larger, national issues”. “When we took over DPP, we basically brought across a lot of the same shared concerns,” he said.

    The DPP-SPP team will go up against the People’s Action Party’s team for Bishan Toa-Payoh made up of incumbent MPs Ng Eng Hen and Josephine Teo and new faces Mr Chee Hong Tat, Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Mr Saktiandi Supaat.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Good Ministers Can Advanced Singapore’s Interest Abroad

    Good Ministers Can Advanced Singapore’s Interest Abroad

    Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan and Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say were singled out by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as examples of how good ministers can advance Singapore’s interests abroad.

    At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December last year, Dr Balakrishnan not only represented Singapore, but took on the role of an “honest broker” to bridge gaps among different countries to put together a deal agreeable to all, said Mr Lee.

    On top of Dr Balakrishnan’s competence, his effectiveness in excelling at the role was aided by the support from a strong and cohesive team of officials from different ministries. And Team Singapore helped the conference reach a successful outcome and advanced the Republic’s interests in the process, Mr Lee said.

    He also recounted how Mr Lim turned around the “miserable mood” during a dinner discussion among labour ministers at the International Labour Organisation Conference (ILO) in Geneva this year. In a manner that “only Swee Say knew how”, Mr Lee said — in reference to Mr Lim’s inimitable style — the Manpower Minister first acknowledged the common challenges faced by various countries, then talked about the kinds of opportunities that all countries wanted. Mr Lim then seized on the opportunity to share about the importance of strong tripartite relationships in achieving the desired solutions, based on Singapore’s unique approach.

    “When Swee Say had finished, the mood in the room had lifted. Everyone was discussing solutions and not moping. The (ILO) director general … proposed ‘Three cheers for Singapore’.”

    Both ministers, he said, demonstrate the quality of leadership the Republic must maintain as it strengthens the economy and defence so Singapore can hold its own on the global stage.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Lee Hsien Loong: Price To Pay For Every Decision Made On Foreign Worker Issue

    Lee Hsien Loong: Price To Pay For Every Decision Made On Foreign Worker Issue

    The issue of immigration and foreigners was cited by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday (Aug 23) as one of the “tough” issues that will come up from time to time, and for which the Government would need Singaporeans’ support to deal with.

    Singaporeans understandably have strong views on the issue and the Government has adjusted its policies, but there are no easy choices. Every option chosen by the Government has a cost and a downside, said Mr Lee, as he laid out the different scenarios. If Singapore closes its doors to foreign workers, firms will not have enough workers. Some will close down and Singaporeans working in these companies will lose their jobs. Foreign workers are also needed to build homes and schools here and, in the case of domestic workers, to meet Singaporeans’ daily needs.

    However, if the country lets in too many foreign workers, society will “come undone”, Mr Lee said.

    Singaporeans will be crowded out, workplaces will feel foreign, the Singapore identity will be diluted. Singapore has to find something in between but even then, there is a trade-off, he said.

    Companies will still find costs going up, and they have to pass on some of this to consumers. They will also have to pass up opportunities. Yet, because there will be some foreign workers coming in, Singaporeans will still feel that the country is changing too fast, and resent having to compete with non-Singaporeans.

    “It is my responsibility … to make this judgment. And then to act on your behalf … Having acted on your behalf, to account to you for the results and for the reasons I decided the way I did.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Masyarakat Berbilang Kaum, Budaya Berdikari Faktor Kejayaan Negara

    Masyarakat Berbilang Kaum, Budaya Berdikari Faktor Kejayaan Negara

    Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong menggariskan tiga prinsip asas yang membawa kepada kemakmuran Singapura.

    Tiga prinsip itu adalah tekad untuk menjadi masyarakat berbilang kaum, budaya yang berdikari dan sokongan antara satu sama lain serta kepercayaan antara pemerintah dengan rakyat.

    Encik Lee menggesa rakyat Singapura supaya memastikan negara ini terus kekal istimewa – dan menjadi “titik merah bersinar”- yang menerangi perjalanan masa depan.

    Berucap di Rapat Umum Hari Kebangsaan hari ini, Encik Lee berkata Perbarisan Hari Kebangsaan tahun ini bukan setakat sambutan ulang tahun kemerdekaan. Namun, ia meraikan iltizam negara ini untuk mempertahankan diri sendiri dan bertahan sepanjang lebih 50 tahun.

    “Kami bemula hanya dengan dua batalion infantri, di kejiranan yang susah. Namun para perintis kita berazam untuk mempertahankan diri mereka.

    “Kami membina SAF (Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura). Dalam masa empat tahun, beberapa unitnya menyertai Perbarisan Hari Kebangsaan 1969,” ujar Encik Lee, yang turut memberi penghormatan kepada beberapa anggota perkhidmatan perintis yang hadir di rapat umum dan menyertai Perbarisan Vintaj.

    Encik Lee berkata SG50 juga meraikan bagaimana Singapura mengubah kelemahannya menjadi satu kekuatan.

    Meskipun ekonomi Singapura mulanya lemah, Encik Lee berkata rakan-rakan kerja perikatan tiga pihak, yang terdiri daripada pemerintah, kesatuan kerja dan para majikan, bekerja keras untuk membina tenaga kerja terbaik di dunia.

    Singapura juga kian kurang bergantung kepada Malaysia untuk bekalan airnya. “Hampir kesemua bekalan air kita datang dari Johor (ketika itu). Sekali sekala, apabila ada isu-isu dengan Malaysia, ada sahaja ahli politik yang mengugut akan ‘tutup paip’. Tapi kita tidak mati kehausan.

    “Kita bersihkan sungai-sungai kita, dan membina empangan untuk menjadikannya kolam air. Kita membina Bendungan Marin, dan mengubah Marina Bay menjadi Kolam Air Marina. Seluruh pulau ini dijadikan kawasan tadahan air. Kita mencipta AirBaru. Dan pada Hari Kebangsaan 2002, kita meraikan kejayaan ini bersama,” kata beliau.

    RAIKAN SEBAGAI RAKYAT BERSATU

    Encik Lee berkata kepercayaan rakyat Singapura tentang perlunya membina masyarakat berbilang kaum, adalah satu sebab utama di sebalik kejayaan Singapura. Malah, dasar-dasar negara ini juga mempertahankan pendirian ini.

    Encik Lee menarik perhatian bahawa sambutan-sambutan SG50 melibatkan semua masyarakat di Singapura, kerana kesemuanya maju bersama negara.

    “Dalam satu acara, saya duduk semeja dengan wakil-wakil dari kesemua agama utama di negara ini. Saya memuat naik gambar ini di Facebook. Rabbi Singapura bersama dengan Mufti Negara, dan juga Encik Gurmit Singh, seorang pemimpin Sikh yang mempengerusikan Pertubuhan Antara Agama (IRO). Setiap dari mereka dihidangkan makanan menurut keperluan agama masing-masing, namun ini tidak menghambat mereka daripada makan bersama dan bersahabat antara satu sama lain,” kata Encik Lee.

    Namun, beliau memberi amaran bahawa sesetengah orang fikir keharmonian agama dan kaum bukan lagi satu masalah. Katanya, pemikiran ini salah dan menarik perhatian, isu-isu perkauman dan agama kian rumit dan sukar dikendalikan.

    Encik Lee menambah sebagai masyarakat berbilang kaum dan agama, Singapura berisiko menghadapi ketegangan, dan rakyat tidak seharusnya mengambil mudah keharmonian yang dinikmati sekarang ini.

    SIKAP BERDIKARI, SOKONGAN

    Satu lagi faktor bagi kejayaan Singapura ialah budaya berdikari dan sokongan antara satu sama lain di negara ini, kata Encik Lee.

    “Semua orang perlu menyumbang dan mempunyai peranan masing-masing. Kita tidak mampu menampung ‘penumpang percuma’ . Itulah sebabnya Encik Lee Kuan Yew kerap kali menggesa kita supaya menjadi masyarakat yang ‘lasak,’ ujarnya.

    Namun kata Encik Lee, ini tidak bermakna kita tidak membantu antara satu sama lain, dan semangat ini perlu dipupuk sejak usia muda lagi.

    Beliau memberi contoh bencana gempa bumi di Sabah yang mengorbankan tujuh pelajar Sekolah Rendah Tanjong Katong, dua guru, dan seorang malim gunung.

    “Kita meratapi pemergian mereka bersama-sama keluarga mereka. Kita juga mengadakan Hari Peringatan Negara. Ia akan mengambil masa yang lama untuk kita menerima tragedi ini. Namun, kehidupan perlu diteruskan,” ujar Encik Lee.

    KEPERCAYAAN ITU PENTING

    Faktor terakhir bagi kejayaan Singapura ialah kepercayaan antara pemerintah dan rakyatnya.

    Pemerintah, kata Encik Lee, menunaikan janji-janjinya dan memastikan politiknya jujur, termasuklah apabila ia perlu membuat pilihan-pilihan sukar.

    Pemerintah tidak mengelak hakikat yang sukar diterima, dan sebaliknya, rakyat percaya pemerintah akan menunjukkan prestasi yang baik, dan mengambil kira kepentingan mereka, dan menyokong keputusan-keputusannya.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Isu Di Malaysia Boleh Bawa Kesan Kepada Singapura

    Isu Di Malaysia Boleh Bawa Kesan Kepada Singapura

    Masyarakat dan ekonomi Singapura dan Malaysia saling bergantung rapat antara satu sama lain.

    Disebabkan pergantungan tersebut, masalah Malaysia dengan mudah boleh menjadi masalah Singapura, kata Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong.

    “Jika Malaysia mengalami masalah, tidak mantap atau berpecah-belah, ia akan menjejas ekonomi kita, masyarakat kita dan keselamatan kita juga,” jelas Encik Lee.

    Justeru, Perdana Menteri berkata Singapura memantau dengan dekat apa jua perkembangan yang berlaku di Malaysia.

    Encik Lee menggariskan beberapa masalah dan isu yang menjadi kebimbangan utama Malaysia.

    Pertama, sesetengah rakyat Malaysia menjadi radikal termasuk beberapa anggota pasukan bersenjatanya.

    Sesetengahnya telah pergi ke Timur Tengah bagi menyertai pertempuran militan Negara Islam di Iraq dan Syria (ISIS) di sana dan apabila mereka pulang, mereka akan membawa ideologi pengganasan itu bersama ke tanah air.

    Kedua, Malaysia juga bimbang tentang ketegangan kaum dan agama.

    Masyarakat boleh berpecah-belah dengan mengikut sentimen perkauman.

    Insiden rusuhan di Plaza Low Yat antara orang Cina dan Melayu misalnya boleh menegangkan isu sentimen perkauman.

    Ketiga, Malaysia juga bimbang tentang isu politik wang.

    Isu 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) menjadi bahan berita setiap hari.

    Encik Lee juga berkata Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak baru menubuhkan sebuah panel nasional bagi membangunkan undang-undang mengenai “pembiayaan politik dengan kewibawaan”.

     

    Source: http://beritaharian.sg

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