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Lack Of Credible, Capable Candidates In Presidential Race A Worrying Sign

The Malay community in Singapore should stop bickering about the “Malayness” of the three potential candidates for September’s presidential election.

What is of greater concern is that despite the election being reserved for Malay candidates, only two – Salleh Marican and Farid Khan – have stepped forward to announce their intentions to run. The third, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, has only hinted that she is looking to run for the nation’s highest office.

The fact that only two individuals from the private sector have announced their intentions is indeed worrying for the Malay community. Could this be seen as the Malay community being incapable of producing enough potential leaders to serve our country?

To be fair, the requirement for private-sector candidates to have been heads of companies with paid-up capitals of $500 million in shareholders’ equity on average over three years immediately disqualifies most Singaporeans, regardless of their race.

This issue aside, I have been talking to community leaders to better understand if there really is a dearth in potential Malay leaders here. Most of them pointed out that there are successful individuals who are more than capable of performing the duties of a president.

Names such as Shafie Shamsuddin, CEO of PT Trans Retail, which operates the Carrefour supermarket in Indonesia, and Bahren Shaari, CEO of the Bank of Singapore, were brought up. Former Members of Parliament such as Zainul Abidin Rasheed and Abdullah Tarmugi were also mentioned.

To date, however, none of these individuals has stepped forward to announce an interest to contest the election.

Community showing signs of progress

But are they the only Malay candidates capable of competing in the election?

The Malay community has made tremendous progress since independence. There are more Malays now holding important roles in the Singapore Armed Forces. We have successful Malay businessmen and scientists. The number of Malay graduates has been increasing throughout the years. We even have two full ministers in the Cabinet heading important ministries.

But despite all these achievements, I think it is a shame that, thus far, only two members of the community have stepped forward to throw their hats into the ring.

It is like looking for a top striker to play in our national football team. Despite all the efforts made, the team have been unable to find someone capable of filling Fandi Ahmad’s boots.

I have heard of complaints from the community that Singapore should have a Malay president again.

“It is time. I think a Malay president should be elected as it is a symbol of our community’s success throughout the years,” said a friend of mine a few years ago.

She pointed out that it is only fair that a Malay is given a chance to head the republic, pointing out that since the country’s first president Yusof Ishak, there have been three Chinese, two Indians and an Eurasian holding the post.

Then again, do we elect a candidate into the Istana just because he or she is Malay? Or are voters going to choose the best person for the job?

Potential Malay leaders out there but…

I recently had a discussion with a community leader on Malay leadership in Singapore. He pointed out that there are potential leaders out there who have been identified for future roles in shaping the country.

However, he also noted that these people may be contented with their jobs and are therefore reluctant to step forward to serve the nation.

“There are Malays out there who can (do the job as president) but they are unwilling to do so. They have their reasons. Privacy is one of them and you have to understand this is not any job. This is the presidency we are talking about,” he said.

Another veteran community leader whom I met said that the times have changed and that the younger generation of Malays are driven more by personal success in the private sector. Hence, there is a lack of interest in community service or public service at the highest levels among them, he added.

“Do you think that they have time to give back to the community? I don’t think so!” he said.

He has a point. Personally, I have friends who have successful careers in the private sector and are unwilling to give back to the community.

“I contribute to Mendaki every month. That should be enough,” is the common answer I get whenever I ask them about serving the community.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

July 25, 2017
Local Celebrity Complains Singaporeans Not Taking Enough Pride In Their Work

Local multi-hyphenate Michelle Chong took to Facebook on Jul 22 to rant about Singaporeans who do not take enough pride in their work.

Frustrated with people she has come across in the course of her work who just “don’t care about what they do”, Michelle expressed that Singapore has the potential to be a better place if people just made an effort to do a good job.

She wrote:

“They don’t check their work, don’t care about how it turns out, don’t take that extra step to value-add or think about how to make it better, don’t want to improve etc. It’s a “why should I bother? It’s not like I’m getting paid very much for this job” or “please lah it’s just a job right?” or “do extra for what? I’m still getting the same salary right?” attitude. I’m not saying we don’t or can’t make mistakes, but maybe just have a little more pride in what we do?”

The post sparked a debate among netizens online garnering over 7,000 reactions, 2,160 shares and 390 comments.

Some netizens agreed with Michelle and one Facebook user, Shaun Lee gave an example from a photographer’s point of view.

Providing an analogy about using film cameras instead of digital ones, he wrote about how taking pride in one’s work will save you money and time.

Ban Yong Ang echoed: “Money can pay your bills but won’t give you the same kind of satisfaction.”

Beng Kit Lee wrote: “A positive mind brings about a positive life. A positive life leads to a happy mind!”

However, there were those who countered Michelle’s views saying that not everyone has the luxury or luck to do what they love and that for practical reasons, they settle for a job they may not enjoy in order to have financial security.

Lare Nherd wrote, “Were we meant to enjoy our jobs, it would not be called jobs” and added that as a celebrity, Michelle cannot fully relate to the “common people” in Singapore.

Others talked about how some industries just end up leaving them jaded like John Fortissimo Blanc who said that he started off with pride and passion for nursing but the harsh reality and demands of the job soon stripped that away.

There are also those resigned to the belief that no matter how much effort or pride they put in their work, they can never overcome the hurdles that exist such as elitism and meritocracy, where those who come from privileged backgrounds and know the “right people” can get further in their careers without working as hard.

The post definitely succeeded in sparking a debate and providing a platform for people to express their opinions on the work culture in Singapore.

Source: http://stomp.straitstimes.com

July 25, 2017
PRC Woman Cannot Get Over Own Stupidity On Boarding Pass And Credit Card Rules, Gets Jailed For Hurting SIA Staff

A woman from China threw a signage at a Singapore Airlines (SIA) ticketing staff member after she failed to get a boarding pass at Changi Airport for a flight bought through a family member’s credit card.

The 25cm by 6cm signage hit the victim’s face and she suffered an open wound at the nose and left eyebrow, respectively.

Yesterday, Chang Lihui, 33, was given 24 days’ jail for hurting Ms Sharin Chan Suet Gek, 30, by doing an act so rashly as to endanger her personal safety on June 11.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Teo Lu Jia said Chang had gone to Changi Airport that evening to collect her SIA ticket after she had used a family member’s credit card to book it.

Ms Chan checked and confirmed that Chang had an air ticket booked under her name.

But she found the details on the passport did not match the credit card details.

When asked, Chang replied that the credit card belonged to a family member in Beijing. She could not verify who the person was nor whether the owner had consented to the purchase.

Chang asked for the boarding pass, saying that she had called the airline earlier to book the ticket.

But Ms Chan said she was unable to issue the boarding pass as Chang could not verify who owned the credit card.

Ms Chan advised her to inform the owner to contact the SIA office in China to confirm that the owner had consented to the purchase.

Chang said she did not have a mobile phone with her and that she was unable to reach the credit card owner. She shouted and used abusive words against Ms Chan, said DPP Teo.

Ms Chan then sought the help of her male colleague, who told Chang that the airline could not accede to her request.

Chang refused to listen and scolded him. He then left the victim alone with Chang.

Chang asked for a refund, but Ms Chan said that it would take two to three weeks to process her request.

Chang became angrier and pointed a finger at Ms Chan, scolding her at the same time.

Ms Chan moved backwards and told her supervisor over the phone about the situation.

Chang then picked up a “Counter Closed” sign and forcefully threw it towards Ms Chan. It hit her face and she screamed in pain, bleeding from cuts on her left eyebrow and nose bridge.

Chang was arrested at her hotel the next day.

An Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist said she has schizophrenia, but was not of unsound mind at the time of the offence.

DPP Teo had asked for a sentence of at least three weeks’ jail, given the extent and severity of the victim’s injuries, potential serious harm and targeting of a vulnerable spot.

Source: www.tnp.sg

July 25, 2017
Tampines Pork-Throwing Neighbour Still Terrorising Widow Despite Court Action

Marliah Jonet, a 62 year-old widow, has faced daily harassment from a neighbor, 63 year-old Lee Dji Lin, however there appears to be nothing the authorities can do about the belligerent neighbor, who was diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.

According to Marliah, she has called the police to her flat over 6 times this month alone at Block 247, Tampines Street 21, but the situation has not improved. Even a district judge’s 2 year mandatory treatment order has not helped. Lee had been sentenced to mandatory treatment in June by a District Judge after Lee had been caught for throwing pork at another Malay neighbor in Tampines. Lee, who lives directly below Marliah’s unit, was charged for wounding the religious and racial feelings of her neighbor and harassment.

Now that the court case is over, Lee has returned to her usual abusive ways. She shouts out insults in a mixture of English, Malay and Hokkien several times a day at Marliah. She has even hit hard at Marliah’s own personal tragedy, calling Marliah “a Satan who ate her husband and duaghter”. Marliah lost her daughter to a virus in 2006 while her husband died of a heart attack in 2012.

Lee has also shouted insults claiming that Marliah is “bored and whoever wants to have fun (with Marliah) can do it for free”.

Reporters who staked out at Marliah’s house have attested that Lee would suddenly start shouting the insults intermittently throughout the time they were there. When reporters approached Lee’s gate, the woman refused to come out and speak with them.

Marliah is not Lee’s only victim. A Chinese family who used to live in the unit opposite of Lee moved out after she destroyed their altar and threw a chopper at the corridor outside their unit a few years ago.

“She took a broomstick and hit their altar until it was destroyed. They were my friends (for a long time)…we were among the first to move into this block. But because of her, they had to move away,” one neighbor lamented.

Another neighbour, who is a property agent, said, “She fought with the (Chinese) neighbour almost everyday. She also once took a chopper and threw it outside the neighbour’s place.” The agent spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of facing trouble from Lee.

“She also threw urine and water from her kitchen, and no one dared to hang out their clothes. When she was away in the IMH (Institute of Mental Health), everyone dared to hang out their clothes.”

Another neighbor, who said she enjoyed an amicable relationship with Lee’s family in the past, said that Lee turned nasty when their family was seen speaking to the police, who were interviewing neighbors over the pork throwing incident. Since then, Lee has been pouring dirty water at their doorstep and shouting at her children. Lee has even made a false report to the residents’ committee that the family were illegal tenants.

Complaints made by all the neighbors affected by Lee to the Housing & Development Board and the police have fallen on deaf ears.

“This is harassment and I’ve suffered for seven long years. How can anyone take this? It hurts a lot when she brings up my husband and my second daughter. It took me three years of crying to get over her,” Marliah told police officers who arrived to settle yet another disturbance from Lee in the presence of reporters. She burst into tears as she spoke.

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

July 25, 2017
Bagi Leftenan Alfian Aman, Biasiswa SAF Bantu Beliau Lakar Kerjaya Dalam Bidang Dasar Awam

Bagi Leftenan Muhammad Alfian Aman, Biasiswa Merit Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura (SAF) membantunya meringankan beban kewangan keluarganya.

Bapanya, yang merupakan satu-satunya pencari nafkah dalam keluarganya, didiagnosis dengan barah usus beberapa tahun yang lalu, dan bil perubatannya semakin menggunung.

“Kadang kala, bil-bil perubatannya agak mahal, namun kami berupaya mengusahakannya.” kata LTA Alfian, 20 tahun dengan tabah.

“Dengan biasiswa ini, ia membantu membiayai pengajian saya, ia benar-benar meringankan beban kewangan ibu bapa saya.”

Beliau akan melanjutkan pengajiannya ke sarjana muda dalam bidang pentadbiran perniagaan dan kemudian sarjana dasar awam di Universiti Nasional Singapura (NUS).

Di Istana semalam, LTA Alfian merupakan antara 15 penerima Biasiswa Merit SAF di majlis penyampaian Anugerah Biasiswa Pertahanan yang diberikan buat julung-julung kalinya.

Beliau percaya dengan mempelajari bidang dasar awam, ia akan menjadi sesuatu yang beliau ingin lakukan pada masa hadapan, iaitu untuk melakar dasar-dasar bagi memperbaiki kehidupan anggota perkhidmatan negara.

“Satu contoh yang saya fikirkan sekarang ialah bagaimana untuk mempermudahkan proses Ujian Kecekapan Jasmani Individu (IPPT),” katanya.

Pengalamannya berkhidmat dalam tentera membuatkannya berfikir tentang cara-cara untuk memperbaiki pengalaman komander platun yang dilantik unit 1BMT pada Januari tahun ini, yang merupakan salah satu tugas LTA Alfian untuk mendampingi rekrut-rekrutnya.

“Salah satu daripada cabaran saya ialah untuk mendampingi setiap rekrut….dan untuk meyakinkan mereka supaya bekerjasama sebagai sebuah platun,” katanya.

“Maka saya percaya bahawa peluang ini membolehkan saya untuk bertemu dengan mereka yang datang daripada pelbagai latar belakang dan ia juga membolehkan saya untuk mempelajari lebih banyak lagi tentang isu-isu dan membuat perubahan di peringkat asas.”

Selepas menamatkan pengajiannya kelak, LTA Alfian berminat menjadi seorang pegawai pemerintah dan beliau juga merancang untuk menyertai kursus taktik bagi mempersiapkan diri. Berkhidmat kepada negara mengalir dalam darah saya. “Saya berharap dapat terus berkhidmat dalam bidang tentera sehingga saya bersara kelak,” kata beliau lagi.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

July 25, 2017