Category: Politik

Give Singaporeans A Chance, Don’t Compromise Safety And Security By Hiring Foreign APOs

Singapore security and safety should be taken care by Singaporeans or at least SPR. No ..No to foreigners! Auxillary police companies should redesign the work of auxillaey police officers so that they will attract more Singaporeans into the workforce.

They should emulate the Singapore Police Force or better than SPF. Offer better worklife balance and higher remuneration due to the high risk and high demand of work.

I am sure out of thousands Singaporean retrenched workers in 2016 , ord NSmen and young school leavers and graduates could be attracted if they are given better worklife balance and emplyment package.

There are something wrong with the HR departments in these large companies. There are many potential Singapore candidates who have applied and never even shortlisted for interviews. Why they making difficult for Singaporeans to work in their companies.

They don’t even give opportunities to many of the Singaporean applicants who were rejected. They set high requirements for Singaporean applicants and substandard requirements for foreign applicants. We can see that in the transport and service industries where majority foreign workers can’t even speak English being employed against Singaporeans who can speak English.

Govt should scrutinise the HR practices of these companies….mabye the management aren’t Singaporeans and building their foreign based of workers here.

Source: Baharudin Nordin

December 31, 2016
Exposing Half-Truths Behind Certis Cisco’s Taiwanese Recruitment

I refer to “Certis Cisco recruiting officers from Taiwan”. There’s more than meets the eye.

Certis Cisco (CC), a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, was supposed to have advertised, but probably did not, on the Jobs Bank.

Temasek Holdings, which owns or is the major shareholder of government-linked companies, employs hundreds of thousands of cheaper (sometimes not) foreigners. So long as PAP continues to run Singapore as a corporation, Singaporeans should not expect our FT policy to be discarded.

Our FT policy also generates revenue for the government, as in the case of CC’s Taiwanese recruitment.

CC’s actual total cost – including the cost of levy and accommodation – of employing a Taiwanese officer with a degree is about $4000. Why CC is willing to pay so much to hire a foreigner is because part of its costs, eg S-Pass is in fact revenue to the government. Should CC employ a local, PAP earns nothing.

CC is likely to house its foreigner workforce at accommodations managed by EM Services or other GLCs. Through PAP’s FT policy, the government, GLCs and Temasek are clearly the winners at Singaporeans’ expense.

CC is willing to pay:
– A monthly salary of $2675
– Free accommodation (estimated cost $500)
– Total bonus of $4000 upon completion of 2-year contract
– $650 for S-Pass

* $4000/24 months

From the table above, it will cost CC at least $3991 per month to employ a Taiwanese. This excludes other miscellaneous costs such as return air ticket, additional overseas recruitment costs,etc.

Hiring foreigners come with social costs and CC should actually offer a premium when hiring Singaporeans.

CC spokesman was therefore telling an outright half truth when she said “The manpower shortage is a perennial situation in Singapore, and we have been working with the authorities to recruit from suitable alternative sources”.

CC did not offer to hire Singaporeans based on the total higher amount it was willing to pay a foreigner, ie costs of levy and accommodation amounting to more than $1000 were excluded.

A foreigner with a monthly levy of, say, $500 adds up to $6000 in yearly government revenue. Multiply this by 500,000 foreigners, PAP earns $3 billion yearly without generating any economic activity and at the stroke of a pen. Who really needs scholars to run Singapore when money drops from the sky?

Monthly levy collection: $500
Yearly levy collecion: $6000
X 500,000 foreign workers: $3 billion
X 1,000,000 foreign workers: $6 billion

From the above, one should be able to understand clearly why Lau Goh’s FT policy will be here for good.

For jobless and retrenched Singaporeans, you-die-your-own-business policy has always applied. But don’t say the PAP has no compassion – it has schemes such as WIS in place. So long as one is willing to accept any low-wage job and forego one’s dignity, the WIS recipient will receive a regular peanuts cash and CPF contribution.

PAP must continue hiring foreigners to increase headcount because an increased population density supports increasing property prices. PAP’s economic growth model has always relied on foreigner population – not productivity – growth.

Minister Shanmugam has also recently said that only Singaporeans, Singapore PRs and Malaysians are eligible to apply. Is CC, under Temasek CEO Ho Ching, able to suka suka override the Law Minister? Why were Taiwanese suddenly included in the hiring pool with no debate in Parliament?

CC has obviously not advertised in Malaysian states as the response would have been overwhelming. From the same table above, the salary and bonus alone amounted to a monthly salary $2841 – equivalent to about 8700 Malaysian ringgit.

Since lodging is provided, a Malaysian recruit can easily save $2000 every month, or about RM6000. CC wants to take Singaporeans for idiots – not a single Malaysian wanted the job and it has to recruit 120 officers from Taiwan.

PAP’s FT policy generates revenue for the government through levy collection, eg S-Pass, increases revenue/profit for government-linked companies by lowering costs and ultimately increases Temasek’s profits. This is done at the expense of Singaporeans.

It should therefore not have surprised anyone when a GLC like Certis Cisco engages in half truths to recruit foreigners living 3000 km away.

Source: https://likedatosocanmeh.wordpress.com/

December 31, 2016
Kelantan’s Non-Muslims Happy With PAS Rule, But Worried About Slow Economy, Hudud

Malaysia’s opposition Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) has won the support of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) to strengthen the country’s Syariah Courts, in what looks like the start of cooperation between the traditional rivals ahead of the next general election, due in 2018. What is life like under a PAS-led, or at least PAS-influenced, government? TODAY spent three days talking to non-Muslim residents of Kota Bharu, Kelantan — where PAS has been in power for over 20 years — on living under the Islamist party and what possible changes in the Syariah law means for them.

KOTA BHARU — A steady stream of Muslim men converge on the Muhammadi Mosque built almost 150 years ago. Some are seen performing the ablution in the mosque compound, while those unable to get a spot in the hall lay out prayer mats on the pavement outside. One feels like one is in a city in the Middle East, and that feeling extends beyond the mosques. There are no cinemas in Kelantan. In supermarkets, men, women and families have to line up at the cashiers in three separate queues.

Yet despite the outward appearance of Kelantan as a state governed strictly by an Islamist party, the non-Muslims here say they are generally happy with life under PAS rule and enjoy harmonious ties with those from other races and religions.

The east coast state is home to 1.8 million people. Malays make up 95 per cent of the population, with the minority made up of Chinese, Indians and Thais. The main religion is Islam, but there are also many Chinese and Thai Buddhist temples.

Kelantan has been under the rule of opposition Islamist party PAS for more than 20 years despite the state having one of the slowest economic growth rates in the country. PAS won Kelantan comfortably in the last general election in 2013, winning 32 seats out of 45 seats contested in the state legislative assembly. It did even better in the 2008 contest, sweeping 38 seats out of 45.

PAS has also long made it a goal to introduce the Islamic criminal code in the state, and last month, party president Abdul Hadi Awang filed a controversial private member’s Bill in Parliament to strengthen the powers of Syariah courts.

The Bill proposes to increase Syariah punishment caps to a maximum of 30 years’ jail, a RM100,000 (S$32,400) fine and 100 strokes of the cane. (The maximum penalties now are a jail term of three years, a fine of RM5,000 or six strokes of the cane.) Mr Hadi’s motion has been deferred to the next parliamentary sitting due in March 2017.

The Bill has been supported by the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno), prompting an uproar from non-Muslims and politicians from minority parties. These include the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), an ally of Umno in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Both Umno and PAS leaders have stressed that the Bill does not apply to non-Muslims and has nothing to do with Islamic criminal law, or hudud.

Despite this, Kelantan residents interviewed by TODAY said they are concerned about how the proposed law might affect their daily lives.

“If it applies only to the Muslims, then I will be less worried. But there is also fear in us that things may take a different route,” said Mr Gan Yeong Shuoh, 30, a hotel manager.

Another resident, Ms Lin Mei Li, 44, said the state government should explain more about the Bill and its position on hudud.

“Most of them (local people) do not understand the Bill or its implementation even though they know that it is related to Islamic laws. Personally, I feel that our nation is developing to be a progressive nation. I am not willing to see the Islamic penal code being implemented, even though it is limited to the Muslims only,” she added.

Punishment under hudud law includes the cutting off of one’s hands for theft, as well as stoning to death for extramarital sex.

There is also concern among some Malaysians that Mr Hadi’s Bill will create a two-tiered legal system.

“How will punishments be carried out if it involves a Muslim and non-Muslim?” said Mr Wee Pock Sun, president of The Federation of Hokkien Associations of Malaysia, raising a common concern of non-Muslims in the country.

Mr Wee, 55, said that the Kelantan government should focus more on measures to develop people’s livelihoods instead.

“They need to look at problems that involve the people. Find measures to tackle social ills and uplift the Kelantanese people. We have problems such as school dropouts and our education standard is still low. These are the problems that they need to address.”

Mr Yap Cher Leong, 62, a businessman dealing with hardware and construction materials, agrees and said that two areas the PAS government can focus on are ecotourism and agrotourism.

“Half-a-million Kelantanese are living in other cities because of employment. This itself speaks of the economic situation in the state,” he added.

Kelantan recorded economic growth of 3.5 per cent last year, lower than the 5 per cent nationally. It was the third-slowest-growing state in the country, doing better only than Terengganu (3.3 per cent) and Perlis (2.3 per cent).

It is reliant on services and agriculture. The services sector in Kelantan is driven mainly by the public sector, wholesale and retail, food and beverages, as well as hotel and accommodation. Agricultural products include paddy, palm oil, and fruit and vegetables.

Kelantan MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau representative Ong Han Xian, 56, said that while relations between the various races and religions in the state have been good, investments have been hard to come by.

“There is no economic development and investment from companies. Investors are afraid because of the negative perception they have of Islamic rules. Instead of focussing on religion only, PAS must think of ways to develop Kelantan,” Mr Ong said.

He hopes that the upcoming East Coast Rail Link — a RM55 billion railway project that will span four states on the east coast and ends in Kelantan — will give a boost to the state’s economy when it is completed in 2022.

Despite slower economic growth and uncertainties over hudud, Kelantan presents a picture of multiracial harmony for now.

It is common to see Chinese and Malays dining together in halal Chinese-owned coffee shops.

At the Pokok Pinang market in Kota Bharu, rows of open air stalls sell pork alongside businesses run by Malays.

Residents say that when the state was under BN rule, pork sellers were constantly harassed and the trade was hidden from public view. The Chinese were also not allowed to purchase houses built on Malay reserve lands.

However, when PAS took over, all these changed — Chinese markets were improved, and 30 per cent of houses built on Malay reserve land were allocated for sale to the Chinese community.

Local businessman Michael Ong, 58, said that he feels proud of being Kelantanese and that relations between Muslims and non-Muslims are good because of mutual respect.

He added that, as a non-Muslim, he does not feel restricted living under a PAS government even though there are some restrictions when it comes to entertainment.

“We are used to leading a simple life and our entertainment is in the form of interactions with our neighbours and friends. For example, attending dinners or joining various associations — these keep us occupied,” Mr Ong said.

Residents say another key factor in the good communal ties in Kelantan is a common local dialect known as “Bahasa Kelate” (Bahasa Melayu Kelantan). Everyone in the state, regardless of their race, is able to converse fluently in it.

Mr Oie Poh Choon, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Kelantan, said that people who have not visited Kelantan may have a somewhat distorted view of life under a PAS government.

“Once you have experienced and visited Kelantan, you will know that it is different from what has been reported (in the media). The PAS government has taken good care of all the races living in the state,” said Mr Oie, 57.

Another reason for the strong support for PAS is the huge respect the non-Muslims have for the late chief minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat, fondly known as “Tok Guru” (Grandmaster). Despite his conservative outlook, the humble lifestyle of the PAS spiritual leader — often dressed in a simple turban and white robe — won the hearts and minds of Kelantanese.

Mr Michael Ong, the local businessman, said: “Tok Guru took care of everyone under his governance. He used Islamic values to care for the well-being of the people.”

Politically, PAS has also practised mutual tolerance, said Kota Bharu Islamic City Municipal Council councillor Lim Guan Seng. “During muktamar (the PAS annual general assembly) the leadership would never voice out their dislike for the non-Muslims or play the race card,” he said.

“Tolerance for other races came from the teachings of the late Tok Guru. The government has truly administered the state with true Islamic values.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

December 30, 2016
Compulsory Asatizah Recognition Scheme-Accreditation For Asatizahs To Begin From 1 Jan

With the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) to be made compulsory on Sunday (Jan 1), religious teachers, or asatizah, who are not registered under the scheme would have a three-month grace period to do so, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said on Thursday (Dec 29).

Announcing details to ease religious teachers and organisations into the scheme, Muis said that a grace period of up to three years would also be granted to those who do not meet the academic qualification requirement now.

In the interim, these teachers could be granted provisional recognition under the scheme that allows them to teach basic subjects such as Quranic literacy and basic Islamic rituals.

Islamic education centres and providers will have to register with Muis and employ only asatizah recognised under the scheme. Those that do not meet the requirements will be given a one-year grace period to make the necessary adjustments, including hiring new asatizah under the scheme, or acquire provisional ARS licences for asatizah not registered with it, or tweaking their curriculum. Islamic education centres and providers refer to those who provide religious instruction to non-family members regularly on their own premises or otherwise. These include running classes at mosques, private Islamic education centres, and residences.

The move towards mandatory ARS — first announced on the sidelines of this year’s National Day Rally by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim — comes at a time when there is “growing religious consciousness” among the Muslim community here, Muis said.

Mr Abdul Razak Hassan Maricar, chief executive officer of Muis, said that the scheme has particular importance in today’s context. “There is a need to present contextualised teaching and guard against extreme and exclusive teachings, and of course, problematic teachers.”

“It gives some assurance to the community that they will get reliable and appropriate religious guidance, only from recognised asatizah,” he added.

The ARS is voluntary for now, with 2,500 asatizah — or the majority of all Islamic teachers in the Islamic education sector.

The scheme, which started in 2005, is administered by Muis and the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas). It recognises teachers and scholars who meet the minimum standards of qualification to preach and teach Islamic religious knowledge.

Under these standards — split into two tiers, one for asatizah and another for Quranic teachers — asatizah will need to undergo at least 30 credit hours of continuous professional education (CPE) modules in three years. These include skills-based courses such as counselling, as well as content-based modules such as sociology of religion. Quranic teachers will need to undergo at least 10 credit hours of CPE over the same period of time.

The ARS also contains a code of ethics, for registered asatizah to follow. These include what not to teach — advocating political ideas that may encourage extremism, for example — as well as a code of conduct.

Any asatizah and/or Islamic education centres and providers flouting the rules may have their recognition status suspended or cancelled by Muis. Nevertheless, the council stressed that remedial measures, including counselling, will be the first resort.

On the matter of enforcing the scheme, particularly on home-based teachers, Mr Abdul Razak said that “residents and neighbours are encouraged to approach their mosques to find out which are the asatizah approved to teach”.

He added: “We do think that those who are teaching at home are (mostly) under the scheme.”

ARS will not apply to foreign religious speakers as they are regulated under the Manpower Ministry’s Miscellaneous Work Pass scheme. Singapore sponsors of these speakers have to ensure that the speakers possess formal religious training before applying for the work pass.

Muis said: “We have to ensure that the standards we apply to local teachers also have to apply to foreign teachers, just by a different mechanism.”

At the National Day Rally this year, Dr Yaacob told reporters that some 20 per cent of asatizah in Singapore are not under the ARS. Since that announcement, Muis has said that “more than 100” asatizah not under the scheme have registered with it.

Source: www.todayonline.com

December 30, 2016
Former Army General Teach Teachers How To Teach Students

Former Chief of Defence Force-turned-Education Minister Ng Chee Meng talked down on more than 500 principals and teachers at the Appointment and Appreciation Ceremony for Principals today (Dec 29).

The former army general who has never been a teacher a day in his 25 years-long career in the military, told educators that they should not “intervene too early” and that students should be allowed to learn from their mistakes:

“Students need to learn to be resilient and self-reliant, as well as learn from their mistakes. Are we, out of the best intentions, preventing our students from going through setbacks and failures and in the process, learn and build resilience? Perhaps we need to let our students learn from their own mistakes, find their own solutions, and put in the necessary hard work or corrective action to eventually succeed. School leaders, teachers and parents alike, may need to learn how to selectively stand back and be an observer rather than intervene too early.”

Education Minister Ng Chee Meng shares half the education ministry portfolio with Minister Ong Ye Kung, despite having workload not as strenuous as the Transport Ministry or Foreign Affairs Ministry – both which saw major hiccups in recent years.

Minister Ng Chee Meng continued his lecture-speech on the principals and teachers:

“The importance of cultivating in students an attitude of lifelong learning, one that comes from a joy of learning, and of the need to prepare students for an increasingly connected and high-tech workplace to reduce the growing skills gap between what we learn in schools and the jobs (graduates) are applying for. The schools’ Applied Learning Programmes can help prepare our students for the future workplace as they can learn innovation, and nurture an entrepreneurial attitude in their learning.”

Minister Ng Chee Meng was brought in to Parliament through the GRC election system and was fast-tracked to a full ministerial position without any merit. He currently draws S$1.1 million a year alongside another inexperienced Education Minister, with both ministers double taxing the Education Ministry’s ministerial salaries budget. Under the two Education Ministers, two students have committed suicide due to academic stress in 2016. There is also no significant changes in the education system either.

Source: http://statestimesreview.com

December 30, 2016