Category: Politik

Lam Pin Min: I’ve No Intention To Mislead Residents

Three years ago in 2012, in a blog post, MP Sengkang West Lam Pin Min happily announced that a new big-time commercial mall to be built by SPH, was coming to his constituency.

The big mall, which was later named Seletar Mall, is situated next to Fernvale Point, a small neighbourhood shopping centre managed by HDB.

Dr Lam wrote on his blog (‘New Commercial Complex @ Fernvale – Coming soon‘):

HDB launched the tender of a commercial site at Sengkang West Avenue/Fernvale Road, next to Fernvale Point and Fernvale LRT station. The land parcel has a site area of 8,790.3 sq m and has a maximum allowable gross floor area of 26,370.9 sq m.

The tender exercise for this commercial plot attracted a total of 12 bids, with Earth Holdings, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), offering the highest bid of S$328 million…

Immediately after his announcement, a resident asked him if Fernvale Point would be demolished with the launch of Seletar Mall, as he was working at Fernvale Point and he wouldn’t want to be unemployed:

Dr Lam replied confidently that Fernvale Point will not be demolished as it “still gas (has) many years to go”:

This was in 2012.

Fernvale Point closed in April 2015

Last month (22 Apr), the media suddenly reported that Fernvale Point would be closed by end April. It reported that without the wet market and neighbourhood shops, residents are complaining. Fernvale Point, managed by HDB, had a wet market, NTUC FairPrice, coffee shops and neighbourhood shops:

The closing of Fernvale Point came 5 months after the opening of SPH’s Seletar Mall in November last year. ST even wrote an article to hype up the launch of Seletar Mall (‘Fernvale all abuzz over arrival of new Seletar Mall‘):

“The opening of the gleaming new Seletar Mall on Nov 28 looks set to transform this corner in the north-west of Sengkang. Sited next to Fernvale LRT station, the new complex will offer more than 130 brands over four storeys and two basement levels.

Anchor tenants include supermarket FairPrice Finest, Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, department store BHG and Shaw Theatres, which will be opening Sengkang’s first cinema.”

Fernvale Point provided cheap shopping

Note that when NTUC FairPrice moved from Fernvale Point to Seletar Mall, it has turned its supermarket to FairPrice Finest, catering to the upper end of the market. In other words, grocery will be more expensive there than before.

Indeed, many residents are not happy with Fernvale Point being demolished because it provided them with cheap shopping, especially the ability to buy food from the wet market. Many Singaporeans are already trying their best to cope with the rising marketing expenses, partly attributed to the high rentals incurred by shopkeepers and stall owners. Many wanted their wet market back and do not wish to see another condominium built on the vacated Fernvale Point:

Govt already reserves site for high-rise residential development

Some enterprising netizens managed to dig out the Govt’s plan for the vacated Fernvale Point site together with the open space next to Fernvale Point.

Apparently, the Govt has already reserved these 2 sites for “future high-rise residential development”:

A netizen wrote that many Sengkang residents don’t wish to see yet another condominium built at the sites. He also revealed that Dr Lam has been deleting postings on his Facebook page mentioning about the sites reserved for high-rise residential development (‘MP Lam deletes FB queries on Fernvale Point‘):

“A condominium is what most residents do not want because of the noise produced by the construction, and because it does not meet their needs. Fernvale is a small town that has already been squeezed with lots of high-rise apartments and scarce facilities to meet the needs of the young couples who have moved in. One resident voiced out that she did not want to see her town become a concrete jungle with no kampong spirit.

Why couldn’t Dr Lam tell them straight that the current development plan for that plot of land is to build yet another high-rise residential development. I do not believe that as the MP he is unaware of the intended use for that parcel of land. Why let them continue to have false hopes that they would get their market, childcare centre or community centre?

Furthermore, attempts by netizens to post the current development plan on Dr Lam’s wall have failed because comments that reveal the use of land for condominium building have been swiftly deleted.“

Dr Lam says he did not mislead residents

In any case, he posted a message on his Facebook page recently saying that he has no intentions to mislead the residents:

So, what do you think? From promising that Fernvale Point “still gas (has) many years to go” to deleting Facebook postings which revealed Govt’s plan to develop high-rise residential units at the sites, has Dr Lam misled Sengkang residents?

Do tell us your views.

Source: www.tremeritus.com

May 26, 2015
Gilbert Goh: Join The Income Inequality Forum on 30th May At Bras Basah Complex!

Come and support our Income Inequality forum this coming Saturday 30 May from 230pm to 5pm at 04-41 Bras Basah Complex.

We face a crisis situation now whereby our income growth lags behind that of inflation for the past decade. Our cost of living is also at the world’s highest this year.

More than 200,000 Singaporeans still earn $1000 and below a month putting them very close to the poverty line.

Yet, we have the highest number of millionaires in the world exaceberating the income gap we have between the have’s and the have not’s.

A high income gap not only inhibits social mobility but also encourages social class division and strife.

Come and hear our four keynote speakers Mr Osman Sulaiman, Ms Fatimah Akhtar, Mr Roy Ngerng Yi Ling and Mr Goh Meng Seng expound on the topic with some PMETs giving short accounts of what they face in the job market.

Email [email protected] for a seat.

Singaporeans supporting Singaporeans.

Source: Gilbert Goh

May 26, 2015
SDA Makes House Visits At Elias Road

SDA House Visit on 16 May 2015 at Elias Road

The SDA outreach walkabout for this morning was anchored by Mr. Desmond Lim himself, conducted at Block 610 Elias Road. The session kick-started at 10.00am sharp.

As per standard protocol, the members and shadow town councillors started from level 18 and slowly made their way down, interacting with all the residents staying in this block.

It was another fruitful session today; many residents were at home this morning to the members’ pleasant surprise, allowing them to have quality interaction and communication.

Leaflets were being distributed and discussed as the members explained its contents to the dwellers in this block. There were questions being asked by the residents, who were curious to know what SDA’s next step would be.

After engaging the residents in further conversation, the general consensus was that many of them harboured concerns over companies (and now even governmental organisations) employing foreign talents with fake degrees.

“Let’s not talk about fake degrees alone,” quipped one *Mr. Wong (name changed to protect privacy). “I feel strongly that it doesn’t matter whether the foreign applicant has an excellent or mediocre degree – priority for a job should be given to Singaporeans first!”

Another young resident, one *Mr. Abdul (name changed to protect privacy) brought up another very good point. “I feel that many Singaporeans seem to confuse ‘foreign talents’ with ‘foreign workers’ – they constantly mention that we need ‘foreign talents’ to sweep floors and work in construction sites!” He laughed in irony. “Is it the picture being painted, that blurs the true meaning between a ‘worker’ and a ‘talent’?

There were a couple of residents who feedback that the amenities in this area were inadequate, such as eateries. *Mdm Teng (name changed to protect privacy) expressed concern that the plans to build MRT station at Elias area would only be completed in around 2030. “I don’t even know if I would live to be able to see it by then.”

A *Mrs. Ratna expressed concern that there is limitation to what one dares to voice out in Singapore. She pointed out that she has her thoughts and views, but is afraid to address them for fear that they may be deemed unsuitable and she might get into trouble with the Law.

Other than that, the residents agreed that opposition parties are needed in parliament to keep the ruling parties in check. The opposition parties should also introduce new policies and strategies for the citizens – policies that are outside the scope of what is currently being implemented.

It was yet another meaningful session today, refreshing the residents on SDA’s ever-present concern for them, as well as gaining understanding on what the people need. The graceful residents thanked the members for taking time to do these house visits and listen to them, become their voices. SDA in turn appreciate the candid feedback from the people.

Source: Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura – PKMS

May 25, 2015
SDP In Retreat

No, don’t get all excited, PAP. We’re just taking the opportunity to get away and spend some time re-charging our batteries, getting ready to make the big push for the coming GE.

Retreat 2015 was held over this weekend in Desaru in Johor and participants got into the swing of things as we headed outdoors and enjoyed some of the sea, surf and sun.

It’s a great way for the SDP family to come together and get to know one another better. More than 60 delegates attended this year’s event. It is the first time since 2007 that the retreat is held away from Singapore.

Team-building (see photo as participants built a human pyramid) took centre stage. It is only when members work together as a single unit that success is possible.

The day saw a volleyball match that pitted our Women Democrats against their male counterparts. For the record, the women won.

There was also a belly flop contest in the pool – the identity of the winner will not be revealed.

The retreat was also an occasion for us to sharpen our plans for the elections. Discussion sessions were held to identify weaknesses in our operations and processes drawn up to address these areas of deficit.

One major point that emerged from the discussion was the plan to expand and deepen our grassroots campaign.

The coming weeks and months will see the party reach out even more to Singaporeans and involve them more in our push for victory.

It is the passion of our members and volunteers that enable the various units to operate effectively and bring our message home to the electorate. This commitment will only intensify in the lead up to the GE.

But for this weekend, it was a time to relax and re-charge. It was a great weekend made better great comradeship.

GE 2015, here we come!

Source: http://yoursdp.org

May 25, 2015
Ng Kok Lim: Don’t Give Thanks To Lee Kuan Yew

MC First wrote:

To me, the thing is simple. No ah gong means no today’s Singapore.

Hong Kong progressed just as well without Lee Kuan Yew but with British governors. Is MC First going to say no British governor means no today’s Hong Kong? Then we can turn things around and say without Lee Kuan Yew, we would still have today’s Singapore because a British governed Singapore would have turned out just as well.

MC First wrote:

This is something that we can never take away from him and it is a legacy he has left behind. Ah gong is like our parents, a lot of times they dish out very good advice, but we just don’t want to listen.

There is no legacy to take away from Lee Kuan Yew because the legacy of Singapore is not Lee Kuan Yew’s but that of past British governors and generations of Singaporeans past and present.

Lee Kuan Yew’s advice was always about highlighting the 10 cents of good for you leaving you to figure out for yourself the $100 of good for him and his party.

MC First wrote:

Without a single doubt, ah gong was a man of integrity.

Without a doubt, Lee Kuan Yew wasn’t a man of integrity. As an opposition MP in the 1950s, he championed for press freedom only to turn his back on it once he cemented his power. Back in 1965, he pointed to the people as the ultimate determinant of the nation’s success. Many decades down the road, he pointed to his own party as behind Singapore’s success.

MC First wrote:

He ate and breathed Singapore.

LKY consumed the soul of Singapore to such an extent that more than half are left with either no balls or no brains.

MC First wrote:

YES, he was utterly ruthless against opposing politicians. But which politician is ever benevolent?! Politics is a dirty, dirty game. For instance, even the supposed enlightened Tang Emperor Li Shi Ming. He too had to kill his own brothers in order to become the Emperor. What you and me – people on the street, should really be concerned about is whether the power taken has been used to do GOOD or do EVIL?

There is a big difference between Lee Kuan Yew and Li Shi Ming. Lee Kuan Yew continued to do evil even after he has won power whereas Li Shi Ming did not. Why did Lee Kuan Yew have to detain Dr Chia Thye Poh and Dr Lim Hock Siew for 32 years and 19 years respectively? Surely the struggle to survive had long passed after 32 years and 19 years respectively?

MC First wrote:

From kampong to metropolis in less than FIFTY years, you think this is an easy feat?

Bullshit. Lee Kuan Yew himself boasted to businessmen in Chicago that Singapore was already a metropolis back in 1968. There’s no way Singapore could have transformed from kampong to metropolis in three years. Singapore was already a metropolis or nearly so by the time Lee Kuan Yew took power.

MC First wrote:

Just go across the Causeway and take a look at JB, and you can easily tell the difference.

But that difference had already existed long before Lee Kuan Yew took power. Singapore was already much better developed than JB during colonial times as one of three Straits Settlements and as a British Crown Colony.

MC First wrote:

In a land that is surrounded all over by Muslims, we are effectively a mini-Israel, but who has ever dared to challenge our sovereignty?

Our law minister Shanmugam has made it clear that that is largely due to US military presence in the region, not due to Lee Kuan Yew.

MC First wrote:

The SINGAPORE passport today is one of the few passports that allows you to travel uninhibited to any part of the world. Ah gong’s international diplomacy is the result for this convenience.

That’s nothing to boast about. Malaysian passport is not far behind with a Visa Restrictions Index of 163 compared to Singapore’s 167 (Straits Times, “Which passports are most accepted around the world?”, 18 Apr 2014).

By comparing Singapore’s score of 167 with Malaysia’s score of 163, MC First can at most say that Lee Kuan Yew diplomacy resulted in a measly 4 extra points compared to Malaysia’s 163 points or 2.5% extra convenience only.

MC First wrote:

My dad was a taxi-driver and my mum a housewife, yet they managed to buy a flat for $8,000 so that my family could have a roof over our head. All these were made possible by ah gong and his generation of pioneers!

You look at the advertisements all over MRT trains asking people to sell their flats back to the government for retirement funds. Hopefully, MC First can see that having a roof for two, three decades only to sell the roof back to the government means no roof at the end of the day. So at the end of the day, that was what Lee Kuan Yew gave many of the pioneer generation, the illusion of a roof over their heads.

MC First wrote:

They had integrity and were SELFLESS!!

If Lee Kuan Yew had integrity, how come he never admitted to his mistake of killing Singapore’s birth rate? If he had been selfless, how come he didn’t volunteer to fight the Japanese like Lim Bo Seng did?

That’s why ah gong deserved a grand send-off.

For all those reasons, Lee Kuan Yew did not deserve a grand send off.

So, we must give credit when it is due.

If credit due must be given, then credit must be given to Dr Albert Winsemius, not to Lee Kuan Yew as it was Dr Winsemius who masterminded our industrialization, not Lee Kuan Yew.

Ah gong did his very best to shape Singapore and we must ALWAYS be grateful for that.

Lee Kuan Yew did his best to consolidate his power. Instead, it was Dr Winsemius who gave us the plan and the ideas to shape Singapore’s post independence economy. MC First must not forget that Lee Kuan Yew himself said that both he and Singapore are indebted to Dr Winsemius. Thus, MC First should listen to his Ah gong Lee Kuan Yew and be grateful to Dr Winsemius instead.

Thank you

Ng Kok Lim

* Ng Kok Lim is a regular TRE contributor who specialises in rebuttal.

Source: www.tremeritus.com

May 25, 2015