Category: Singapuraku

UK Academics Boycott Universities In Israel To Fight For Palestinians’ Rights

More than 300 academics from dozens of British universities have pledged to boycott Israeli academic institutions in protest at what they call intolerable human rights violations against the Palestinian people.

The declaration, by 343 professors and lecturers, is printed in a full-page advertisement carried in Tuesday’s Guardian, with the title: “A commitment by UK scholars to the rights of Palestinians.”

The pledge says the signatories, from a variety of universities in England and Wales, will not accept invitations to visit Israeli academic institutions, act as referees for them, or take part in events organised or funded by them. They will, however, still work with individual Israeli academics, it adds.

The advert says the signatories are “deeply disturbed by Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, the intolerable human rights violations that it inflicts on all sections of the Palestinian people, and its apparent determination to resist any feasible settlement”.

In a statement on behalf of the organisers of the boycott, Prof Jonathan Rosenhead, of the London School of Economics, said Israel’s universities were “at the heart of Israel’s violations of international law and oppression of the Palestinian people”.

He said: “These signatures were all collected despite the pressures that can be put on people not to criticise the state of Israel. Now that the invitation to join the commitment is in the public domain, we anticipate many more to join us.”

The initiative brought immediate criticism from the British and Israeli governments. The British ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey, said he was “deeply committed” to promoting academic and scientific ties. He added: “As David Cameron has said, the UK government will never allow those who want to boycott Israel to shut down 60 years worth of vibrant exchange and partnership that does so much to make both our countries stronger.”

The Israeli embassy in London published a scathing response to the ad, saying: “Boycott movements only aim to sow hatred and alienation between the sides, rather than promoting coexistence.

“The only path to advancing peace between Israelis and Palestinians passes through the negotiation room. Israel has called time and again for the renewal of talks immediately, without any preconditions. Those who call for a boycott against Israel during a month which saw 45 stabbing attacks – in which more than 100 Israelis were wounded, and 10 were murdered – blatantly ignore the lives of Israelis, and the conditions necessary for peace.”

The advert was also condemned by Richard Verber, senior vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. He told Jewish News: “We would ask why these academics are singling out Israel in such a discriminatory fashion. At a time of immense, often barbaric, upheaval in other parts of the Middle East, Israel remains a beacon of academic excellence and progressive thinking.

“In the complex conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, boycotting either side will lead to zero progress. Their energy would be much better spent encouraging academic dialogue and relations between like-minded Israelis and Palestinians who believe in a brighter future.”

The advert comes less than a week after a group of writers, academics, MPs and others, among them JK Rowling, Simon Schama and Zoë Wanamaker, wrote to the Guardian to criticise the idea of such boycotts. The letter followed a pledge in February by hundreds of artists and musicians to instigate a cultural boycott of Israel due to the country’s “unrelenting attack on [Palestinian] land, their livelihood, their right to political existence”.

The counter-letter called boycotts singling out Israel “divisive and discriminatory”. It said: “We will be seeking to inform and encourage dialogue about Israel and the Palestinians in the wider cultural and creative community. While we may not all share the same views on the policies of the Israeli government, we all share a desire for peaceful coexistence.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

October 28, 2015
Workers’ Party: Set Up Committee To Address Persistent Perceptions Of Racial Discrimination

The Workers’ Party welcomes the signing of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on October 19, 2015 and its expected ratification in 2017. The Workers’ Party strongly believes in the aspirations laid out in the National Pledge, and Singaporeans should continually better the realisation that we are “one united people, regardless of race, language, or religion.” Acceding to and ratifying ICERD is an important step towards our national vision.

All societies have room to improve on the treatment of racial minorities. Singapore is no different. Even as we celebrate the achievements of our multiracialism, Singaporeans should be mindful of areas where we can do more. It is important for a multiracial society like Singapore to ensure that racial minorities recognise that they can always be confident of a safe, inclusive environment where they are accorded the human dignity each and every person rightly deserves.

A specific area that Singapore can work on as a society is to examine structural factors and institutional practices that may reinforce persistent perceptions of discrimination among racial minorities in Singapore. We are mindful that conditions fuelling such perceptions might not have been purposefully established or maintained. This makes it all the more important for Singaporeans to examine what we can all do to live up to the spirit of our National Pledge and the ICERD in eliminating all forms of racial discrimination and preserving our national pillar of multiracialism.

The Suara Musyawarah Committee Report on the concerns and aspirations of Malay-Muslim Singaporeans, published in July 2013, highlighted persistent perceptions of discrimination that would be, in the long run, unhealthy for our racial harmony. In May 2014, Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap proposed the formation of a committee made up of government representatives, Members of Parliament and community leaders to address these perceptions of discrimination among Malay-Muslims.

In light of the signing of the ICERD, the Workers’ Party believes the formation and functioning of a multiracial committee is the best way forward to study and address persistent perceptions of discrimination among all minority communities. If the committee finds these perceptions to have some basis in institutional practices, then the findings will inform the Government to take the necessary action to rectify these practices. If these perceptions are found to have no basis, then the findings will allow the Government to work with affected communities to correct the perceptions. The committee will also serve as a useful national platform for inter-cultural conversations to promote mutual understanding and respect.

Singapore has made significant strides in multiracial integration and countering racial discrimination over the decades. Such steps are especially important for a highly diverse and multiracial society where physical space is limited and population density is rising. These conditions also mean that Singaporeans should constantly look to work on success in addressing racial discrimination and perceptions of discrimination, while conscientiously seeking to address shortcomings to strengthen our multiracialism.

Links:
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The Suara Musyawarah Committee’s Report
Transcript of Mr Muhamad Faisal’s speech and debate in Parliament on 26 May 2014

Dr Daniel Goh
Chair, Media Team
The Workers’ Party

27 October 2015

Source: www.wp.sg

October 28, 2015
Help Bring Back My Son Who Ran Away To Chinese Girlfriend Even Though We Did Not Have Any Misunderstanding

Dearest FB Friends,

I receive a PM this morning. A plea from a parent who are currently going through difficult moments and are at their wit ends. They seek the kind help of FB friends to locate their son. They have tried means and ways but were unable to do so. I was allowed to share their family photos. It was not easy to share something personal as such with strangers. But parents being parents they would go through hell fire and back for their children. We are all parents and emphatise the anguish of Mr Hassan Ee and his wife. Let’s pray for the safe return of their son.

QUOTE ” Hi Zarina, need your help (post on your wall) to search for my beloved Son. His name is Mohamad Aizuddin Akmal. He was born on 28 April 1995. He left home and never returned back since his last birthday @ 20th Birthday.

He never had a girlfriend before but while he was doing his NS (now ORD) he get to know an older local Chinese girl (Sarah). I & my Wife get to know the girl family too. Her parents has divorced, she’s staying with her mom (Esther) and younger brother Dylan in Chai Chee area.

My boy is a filial son; he is humble and very kind in nature. He is being loved by many in our family. Since his last birthday he was last seen on Instagram with the girl family before he blocked all communication channels with all his family and close friends who know us. We did not have any misunderstandings before he left. We constantly remind him of being respectful to woman and never take advantage of them. While he was serving NS as a Narcotic dog handler, we use to check with his unit if he is ok. But ever since he ORD, he is nowhere to be found.

I used to text his girlfriend to ask about his whereabouts but to no reply. As parents we kept trying to locate him via text message to the girl but she replied with a police report “claiming that” we harassed her. Astargfirullahalazim, we never will do such stupid thing to get our son back safely. I was then called up to Bedok Police Station for statement. I told the Police but disappointingly the IO told me that nothing that I can do to get my son back because he chooses to ran away from home. I was reprimanded not to text the girl or her family.

I know my son will not be like this because we are very closely knit and we never thought such thing will happen. It will be 6 months now that my boy did not return home. His hp number is 8XXXXXX5. Sadly, his Grandmother, Aunties and uncles, his elder handicap Sister and all her siblings and cousins cry and pray for his return. But he has blocked everyone. I knew that the girl was evil in a way that she made a false report against us to the police. If I did harass her, I would already be charged for the crime.

I need everybody help to bring back my beloved Son Mohamad Aizuddin Akmal. I attached my Son’s photo and the girl photo. Please let anyone PM me if they know his whereabouts.”

P.S – PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS POST

Source: Zarina Jaffar

October 27, 2015
Lee Hsien Loong: Singapore Must Prepare For Economic Slowdown

With the global economy facing cyclical headwinds, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned that Singapore must brace itself to handle a possible downturn.

At a dinner organised by the labour movement on Monday, he spoke of how the United States – the world’s largest economy – was soft, while Europe was in a stagnant state and China was experiencing a slowdown of its own.

Here in Singapore, exports are flat and port operator PSA is handling fewer containers, he said. Gross domestic product expanded just 1.4 per cent year on year in the three months ended September, slowing from 2 per cent growth in the June quarter.

“We have to be prepared for a slowdown, and possibly a downturn,” Mr Lee told some 1,100 unionists, business leaders and overseas guests at the opening dinner of the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) national delegates conference.

Among those in attendance at the Orchid Country Club were Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, labour chief Chan Chun Sing and visiting International Labour Organization director-general Guy Ryder.

In a 40-minute speech, the prime minister outlined two main challenges facing the world today. He cited globalisation, which brings the benefits of a worldwide division of labour but also puts workers under pressure as they have to compete with those from other countries.

Advances in technology, meanwhile, is also disrupting industries and displacing workers at all levels, be they blue-collar workers in the factories or professionals such as lawyers and doctors.

These trends are putting pressure on wages and causing them to stagnate, said Mr Lee, adding that old jobs were being lost as whole industries and companies experience changes.

“Skills become obsolete faster than before. New jobs come in but they take time, and to learn new skills takes time. For workers to change jobs and industries, fit into a new niche and become productive again, and earn the same as before but hopefully more, it’s not always so easy, especially for older workers.”

He made the point that Singapore, a developed economy, could not afford to resist globalisation or hold back the progress of technology.

“If we try to do that, our economy will stagnate, our workers will become uncompetitive, and Singapore will be left behind,” he warned.

The way forward for the Republic must be to “ride the wave” and use the power of free markets to its advantage.

Mr Lee stressed that the Singapore government had already played a major role in this effort. The state has created the basic conditions for markets to operate properly, set the rules and helped mitigate the excesses and negative effects of a market system.

He shared how Singapore had strengthened the country’s social safety nets, rolled out a progressive wage model and will be implementing new initiatives such as MediShield Life and Silver Support soon.

The government is also upgrading the economy to keep businesses and workers competitive, said Mr Lee. To drive this effort, a new committee on the future economy, led by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, will review Singapore’s economic strategies.

“We know our direction, (which is) to improve productivity so that we can sustain higher wages for all. But we need to review specific measures – how to help our domestic sectors grow, how to attract investments and help companies develop new markets, and how to make best use of the foreign workers and talent that we need in Singapore,” he said.

Overall, Singapore is in a better position than most other countries to tackle the tough challenges ahead. Mr Lee highlighted the Republic’s strengths such as a well-educated population, an ethos that is outward-looking, a tech-savvy society and competent unions.

The prime minister also spent time talking about Singapore’s unique tripartism model, a “relationship of trust” among the three parties that has been built up over decades.

“Over the last 50 years, we’ve nurtured a special model of tripartism that enabled our people to excel, our businesses to grow, and our nation to thrive. It’s been a major ingredient of our success and it comes down to having good (tripartite) leaders.”

In a changing environment, Mr Lee said, tripartism remained the right formula to take Singapore into the next phase of its development.

He urged each of the tripartite partners to update their approach. The government will develop new economic policies, and employers have to both ensure that companies remain viable and continue to seize new business opportunities.

On their part, the unions have to stay relevant to a new generation of members in a new economy, and encourage workers to continually improve themselves.

Separately, with the NTUC ready to elect a new 21-member central committee via secret ballot on Thursday, the third and final day of its national delegates conference, Mr Lee urged the unions to give a strong mandate to their new leadership to take the labour movement forward.

Chan Chun Sing became the new NTUC secretary-general in May this year, taking over from Lim Swee Say. Among those stepping down is NTUC president Diana Chia, who is moving on after nearly four years in that position.

About 800 union delegates and observers – who represent the 60 NTUC-affiliated unions and one association – are taking part in this week’s conference, which is held once every four years.

Source: www.businesstimes.com.sg

October 27, 2015
Devadas Krishnadas: Message To MOH – When Winning Can Be Losing

Message to MOH: When Winning can be Losing

This crisis in our health care system is non-trivial. People have died and several others have had their health seriously compromised. The cause is a mystery but the fact that this is an episode of the utmost seriousness is not.

MOH may think that its extreme defensive posture is championing the health care system. However in effect, it runs the risk of losing credibility as an institution and confidence of the people.

The Worker’s Party (WP) are represented in Parliament and Mr Perera sits in parliament, albeit as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP). As such the response to Mr Perera’s proposal should be treated with maturity and and on substantive grounds rather than petulance and predicated on a rather silly premise that the WP are alleging improper conduct of healthcare professionals – which it clearly does not.

This matter is going to play out over sometime. Indeed the question of time and timing is a legitimate point of concentration in the review of how this episode has been managed. The MOH response to Ms Rachel Chang, who first pointing to this in public writing, is the antecedent in temperament of their response to WP.

If the MOH thinks it is somehow winning the campaign on public relations over this episode it may find itself surprised that the result to be the opposite. What it should not be is mystified if that is so. Such a mystery would be easier solved than that concerning the origins of this tragedy.

Source: Devadas Krishnadas

October 27, 2015