Category: Politik

Cabaran Di Sebalik Hubungan Baik Dengan Indonesia

Indonesia negara yang penting bagi Singapura kerana sebagai negara besar ia menentukan “nada” bagi rantau ini.

Justeru, apabila Indonesia mantap, semua negara jirannya akan meraih faedah.

Tetapi jika Indonesia berada dalam keadaan yang tidak menentu, Asia Tenggara boleh terjejas, seperti yang berlaku semasa Konfrontasi, ujar Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong.

Menurut beliau, Singapura menikmati hubungan yang baik dengan Indonesia buat bertahun-tahun lamanya.

Ini termasuk dengan Presiden Suharto sejak 1970-an dan kemudian dengan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pada dekad yang lalu.

“Saya mengalu-alukan dapat meneruskan hubungan yang baik ini dengan Presiden Jokowi (Joko Widodo),” ujar Encik Lee.

Namun, beliau mengingatkan bahawa Indonesia negara yang besar dan kompleks dan terdapat banyak pandangan dalam negara itu sendiri berhubung dengan negara jiran mereka.

Satu pandangan biasa warga Indonesia mengenai Singapura, katanya, ialah Singapura negara kecil yang menikmati kejayaan yang tidak sepatutnya.

Semasa Hari Kebangsaan Singapura, sebuah akhbar Indonesia menerbitkan rumusan hubungan antara Singapura dengan Indonesia.

Laporan itu menukil seorang ahli politik kanan di sana mengenai jerebu.

“Saya akan hanya menimbangkan meminta maaf (bagi jerebu) jika Singapura dan Malaysia berterima kasih dengan oksigen yang dinikmati (daripada hutan Indonesia) bagi selama 11 bulan (setiap tahun).”

Encik Lee berkata walaupun pandangan tersebut tidak mencerminkan pandangan pemerintah Indonesia, Singapura harus memberi perhatian.

“Ia satu set minda yang sudah berdarah daging – satu titik merah yang kecil ini harus tahu tempatnya di dunia ini – dan pandangan ini tidak akan lesap bagi masa yang lama,” tambah beliau.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

August 24, 2015
Government To Help Strengthen Teaching Of Secular Subjects In Madrasah

Multiculturalism, equality and unity were the key messages of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech in Malay for the National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23).

Mr Lee opened his speech emphasising what Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew promised in 1965: That all Singaporeans will have equal chances to progress. He then shared an anecdote that involved Mr Lee and a Malay journalist when Singapore gained independence.

“Two days later, Mr Lee held a press conference with Malay journalists. Before asking his first question, a journalist addressed Mr Lee as ‘Tuan Perdana Menteri’. Mr Lee immediately replied: ‘Please do not address me as Tuan Perdana Menteri, but just as usual, Saudara Lee. It is not necessary. I am not a Syed like Syed Jaafar Albar. I am a common man, a small man.’

“Mr Lee’s remark set the tone for our society in Singapore; That we will be equal, egalitarian, That we will work side by side, That we will build Singapore together,” said PM Lee.

Mr Lee said that promise is achieved today, citing two Malay airforce pilots – Captain Muhammad Azlan and Captain Muhammad Iskandar Dzulfadhli Abdul Rahman – as examples of successful Malays.

The Prime Minister also spoke about how madrasahs play an important role in nurturing religious scholars and teachers, and that he is happy to see that madrasah standards have gone up especially with the Joint Madrasah System.

He added that the Government would like to help madrasahs improve further, especially in providing financial support to strengthen the teaching and learning of secular subjects.

“We will leave religious education to MUIS and the community, but the Government can help in secular subjects like Mathematics and Science. It is important for our religious scholars and leaders to have a good grounding in non-religious subjects. It prepares them to guide Singapore Muslims to live in a modern, technological society,” he said.

“We will work with MUIS to strengthen the teaching of secular subjects in madrasahs. We will provide financial support to upgrade teachers of secular subjects and fund awards for students who do well in secular subjects.”

In a statement, MUIS said it welcomes the move and that it would work with Government agencies on the details. Said MUIS senior director of madrasahs Razak Lazim: “Recent news reports of successful students in fields like medicine are also testament that our madrasahs produce students with a strong grounding in secular subjects, and who are ready to step forward to contribute to the modern economy.”

Mr Lee also said that the Malay-Muslim community is an integral part of Singapore, and it can be proud of its achievements, especially its contributions to building a more cohesive multiracial society.

“50 years on, I am touched and proud to see many Malays especially the young expressing heartfelt love for Singapore openly. They appreciate and uphold our multi-racial society.”

Moving forward, Mr Lee urged the community to continue strengthening those multi-racial ties for the betterment of Singapore.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

August 24, 2015
Fresh Start Housing Scheme To Help Rental Dwellers Own Homes

The Republic’s housing programme has helped more than 90 per cent of HDB dwellers own their flats, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that a small group still live in rental units.

In his speech in Malay for the National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23), Mr Lee said that within this group, the Malay community is over-represented and many are young families with marital and financial problems – including those who may have bought a flat before, but have since gotten divorced and now live in rental flats.

Elaborating on the issue in his English-language speech, Mr Lee said the Government cannot give these households another grant to buy another flat, as they had already received subsidies on their first flat.

“So they will find it difficult to afford another flat. I am very concerned about the future of this group. Without help, a flat of their own may be permanently out of reach. They will be trapped in poverty and their children will be affected. And you perpetuate the problem into the next generation,” Mr Lee said.

FRESH START HOUSING SCHEME: A new scheme that will aim to help second-timer rental households own a two-room flat. PM Lee Hsien Loong explains the details at #NDRsg. http://bit.ly/1Ed1XR7

Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Sunday, 23 August 2015

To help such second-timer households own a two-room flat, a Fresh Start Housing Scheme will be introduced. The flats will come with shorter leases and stricter conditions on resale so that they will be more affordable. Support in the form of counselling will also be provided to help the families solve their problems holistically.

But Mr Lee said the families will have to play their part, “show that they are putting their lives in order, determined to get back on their feet, committed to putting their children through school”. If they show that, the Government can justify providing the grant to help them pay for the flat.

It is a major initiative that will take time to work out, he said. Details of the scheme will be announced later.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

August 24, 2015
Kemajuan Besar Masyarakat Melayu/Islam Dialu-Alukan, Namun Isu Sosial Harus Diberi Perhatian

Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong berkata masyarakat Melayu/Islam mencatat kemajuan yang sangat besar dan amat memberangsangkan.

Hari ini, menurut beliau, masyarakat Melayu diwakili dalam setiap lapisan masyarakat. Encik Lee berkata demikian semasa menyampaikan ucapan dalam Bahasa Melayu di Rapat Umum Hari Kebangsaan petang ini.

Encik Lee berkata kini beliau dan rakan-rakan kabinetnya mempunyai banyak pilihan mencari bakal calon-calon pilihan raya Melayu/Islam dari pelbagai sektor – seperti peguam, pegawai bank, pendidik, jurutera dan pegawai Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura (SAF).

Parti Tindakan Rakyat (PAP) baru-baru ini memperkenalkan tiga calon baru Melayu/Islam bagi Pilihan Raya Umum tahun ini – Encik Saktiandi Supaat, 42 tahun, Ketua Kajian Pertukaran Asing di Maybank; Encik Amrin Amin, 36 tahun, peguam korporat di Joseph Tan Jude Benny, dan Cik Rahayu Mahzam, 35 tahun, mantan timbalan pendaftar Mahkamah Syariah.

Amrin Amin (Gambar: Facebook/Amrin Amin)

Rahayu Mahzam. (Gambar: Shushan Lam)

Beliau juga mengambil contoh dua juruterbang muda anak Melayu/Islam di Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura (RSAF), iaitu Kapten Muhammad Azlan Abdul Latiff, juruterbang helikopter Super Puma, dan Kapten Muhammad Iskandar Dzulfadhli Abdul Rahman, juruterbang jet pejuang F5.

Menteri Negara Mohd Maliki Osman bersama juruterbang RSAF, Kapten Muhammad Azlan Abdul Latiff (kiri) dan Kapten Muhammad Iskandar Dzulfadhli Abdul Rahman. (Gambar: MINDEF)

KEJAYAAN MELAYU/ISLAM DICAPAI MENERUSI BUDAYA BERDIKARI

Encik Lee berkata kejayaan masyarakat Melayu/Islam ini dicapai menerusi budaya berdikari, semangat gotong royong dan juga sokongan pemerintah.

“Saudara saudari, masyarakat Melayu/Islam gigih memupuk budaya berdikari tetapi mengekalkan semangat gotong-royong anda.

“Ini dapat dilihat dalam usaha anda membina institusi bantu diri yang penting seperti Yayasan Mendaki dan AMP (Angkatan Karyawan Islam).

“Pemerintah menyokong kuat kemajuan masyarakat Melayu/Islam dengan menyediakan sumber-sumber, nasihat serta kepimpinan oleh para menteri dan Anggota Parlimen Melayu pemerintah.

“Orang Melayu juga mendapat faedah daripada dasar untuk semua kaum secara sama rata seperti perumahan, pendidikan dan penjagaan kesihatan,” ujarnya.

SEBAHAGIAN BESAR YANG TINGGAL DI FLAT SEWA ADALAH MELAYU

Namun Encik Lee berkata di sebalik kemajuan besar itu, masyarakat Melayu/Islam perlu terus memberi perhatian kepada isu-isu sosial yang mencabar, seperti masalah keluarga-keluarga Melayu/Islam yang masih tinggal di flat-flat sewa.

Menurut Encik Lee, program pemilikan rumah Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan (HDB) berjaya membantu lebih 90 peratus penghuni HDB memiliki flat sendiri.

Namun, segolongan kecil masih tinggal di flat sewa, dan sebahagian besar di antara mereka adalah keluarga Melayu, kata beliau.

PM LEE: HARUS BANTU MEREKA MILIKI FLAT SENDIRI

Ramai merupakan keluarga muda dengan masalah rumahtangga dan kewangan – contohnya, mereka mungkin pernah membeli flat sebelum ini, namun selepas bercerai, mereka terpaksa menjual flat dan tinggal di flat sewa.

“Saya sangat bimbang tentang masa depan keluarga-keluarga ini, khususnya anak-anak mereka. Kemungkinan besar mereka akan terus terjerat dalam kemiskinan sepanjang hayat.

“Kita harus membantu mereka memulakan hidup baru, jika mereka bersungguh-sungguh mahu memperbaiki kehidupan mereka dengan menstabilkan keluarga, mendapatkan pekerjaan tetap dan memastikan anak-anak kekal di sekolah.

“Kita mesti membantu mereka memiliki flat sendiri sekali lagi supaya mereka dapat menyediakan sekitaran yang lebih mantap bagi anak-anak mereka,” ujar Encik Lee.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

August 24, 2015
11 Announcements From National Day Rally 2015

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech on Sunday was a wide-ranging one that was in equal parts a look back and a look forward.

He also announced policy changes that drew cheers from many in the audience. Here’s a recap of the 11 key ones.

HOUSING

1. The income ceiling of buyers of Build-to-Order (BTO) flats will be raised from $10,000 to $12,000, and that for executive condominiums (ECs) from $12,000 to $14,000. This means more Singaporeans at the higher end of households will be eligible for subsidised housing.

2. To make flats more affordable, the income ceiling for the existing Special Housing Grant (SHG) will be raised from $6,500 to $8,500. The maximum grant amount will also be doubled to $40,000.

With these changes, even those who earn below $1,000, but hold a stable job and contribute to CPF regularly will be able to afford a two-room flat, PM Lee said

3. Parents and married children who want to live near each other will get more help under the new Proximity Housing Grant. Children who buy a resale flat with or near their parents, or those who buy one near their married children, will get the grant. It applies to every Singaporean household, whether first-time buyers or not.

4. A new scheme will be launched called the Fresh Start Housing Scheme. It is targeted at people who have sold their HDB flats and are now living in rental units. These families will get more affordable two-room flats, but they will come with shorter leases and restrictions on resale. To help this group resolve their problems, the Government will also provide “holistic” support for these families through counselling.

FAMILIES AND BABIES

5. The Baby Bonus scheme, which helps parents defray child-raising costs, will be extended to every child instead of just the first four children. The bonus amount will also be increased, PM Lee announced without giving a specific figure.

6. Newborns will get more grants in their Medisave amount so that it’s enough to cover the new MediShield Life premiums for the child till he or she reaches 21. Currently, each newborn receives a $3,000 grant deposited in two trenches.

7. Fathers will get more paternity leave. It will be increased to two weeks from the current one. The Government will pay for the extra week. This will be implemented on a voluntary basis for now, but with the public service launching it “straightaway”.

The enhanced Baby Bonus, Medisave Grant and paternity leave changes will apply retroactively with effect from Jan 1, 2015.

EDUCATION

8. The Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore’s fifth university, will have its campus in Punggol. It currently runs courses at satellite campuses in the five polytechnics. It will be next to a new creative industry cluster that JTC will build. These will be integrated with Punggol Downtown and HDB’s upcoming Northshore District.

9. The Government will work with Muis to strengthen the teaching of secular subjects like mathematics and science in madrasahs, or Islamic religious schools.

LABOUR

10. The re-employment age will be raised from 65 to 67 . This will be implemented by 2017. Currently, firms are required by the Retirement and Re-employment Act to offer re-employment to eligible workers when they turn 62, up to the age of 65.

ELECTION

11. PM Lee said he will call for a general election “soon”, but stopped short of giving a specific date.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 24, 2015