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Gerald Giam: I Will Continue To Serve Residents On The Ground In East Coast GRC

Last night, the Workers’ Party’s CEC (Central Executive Council) met to decide on which candidates would accept the Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) positions, following the results of General Election 2015. The press release on our decisions is here.

Before a vote was taken on the nominee from the East Coast GRC team, I asked the CEC to consider nominating Leon Perera and, if Parliament decides to open up the vacated seat left by Lee Li Lian, for Daniel Goh to fill it.

I am happy that the CEC unanimously agreed to this proposal. The East Coast team had earlier discussed this matter amongst ourselves and we agreed that Leon and Daniel would be the most suitable candidates as NCMPs. They have both taken leading roles in policy work within our Party, and I am confident they will be able to make very positive contributions to Parliamentary debates and speak up for not just residents of East Coast GRC, but all Singaporeans.

I am grateful to have had the privilege and opportunity to serve as an NCMP in the 12th Parliament of Singapore. It was a very fulfilling four years. I learned so much from the debates, the policy research that we did, and from my fellow MPs, volunteers, residents and the subject matter experts I consulted.

I am very thankful to all those who helped me fulfil my NCMP role, including the WP volunteers who gave up so much time to help me in policy work and ground outreach. Special thanks go to my wife and parents who stood by me through all the trying times, as well as my two young kids who were always understanding when I told them I couldn’t spend time with them because I was going out to a certain “Party”.

While I will no longer be an NCMP, I intend to continue serving residents on the ground in East Coast GRC and through my Party in the areas of policy research and media. I would like to thank all the residents of East Coast GRC who have supported me and WP in the past two elections which I contested, and I look forward to greater interactions with you over the next five years. For those who did not vote for us, I especially look forward to an opportunity to understand your concerns, hopes and dreams, and to be able to serve you better in the future.

Source: http://geraldgiam.sg

September 17, 2015
Workers’ Party: Daniel Goh Will Take Up NCMP Position Vacated By Lee Li Lian

The Workers’ Party’s Central Executive Council (CEC) met on 15 September 2015 to discuss the Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats offered to our candidates for General Election 2015.

As six Workers’ Party candidates have been elected to Parliament in General Election 2015, the law allows for the three candidates who received the highest votes amongst the unelected candidates from Opposition political parties to be declared elected as NCMPs. These three candidates are Ms Lee Li Lian who contested in Punggol East SMC, Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong who contested in Fengshan SMC, and one candidate from the team which contested in East Coast GRC.

The CEC concurred with Ms Lee Li Lian’s decision not to accept the NCMP position and with Mr Dennis Tan’s decision to accept the NCMP position.

The CEC decided to nominate Mr Leon Perera from the East Coast GRC team to take up the NCMP position and, should Parliament resolve to fill the vacated NCMP seat left by Ms Lee, that Associate Professor Daniel Goh Pei Siong would fill that seat.

THE WORKERS’ PARTY
16 September 2015

Source: http://www.wp.sg

September 17, 2015
Elections Department: Lee Li Lian, Dennis Tan And Leon Perera Elected As NCMPs

Ms Lee Li Lian, Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong and Mr Leon Perera from the Workers’ Party have been elected as Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP), the Elections Department (ELD) announced on Wednesday (Sep 16).

In a statement, ELD said three candidates who received the highest votes among the unelected candidates from Opposition parties will be declared elected as NCMPs, as six opposition MPs were elected to Parliament in the Sep 11 General Election.

Ms Lee, who contested in Punggol East SMC and Mr Dennis Tan, who contested in Fengshan SMC, received the two highest percentages of votes among unelected opposition candidates.

Ms Lee received 48.23 per cent of the vote against the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Charles Chong, while Mr Tan garnered 42.50 per cent of vote against PAP’s Cheryl Chan.

WP’s East Coast GRC team – comprising former NCMP Gerald Giam, Mr Daniel Goh, Mr Mohamed Fairoz and Mr Leon Perera – who ran against PAP’s team anchored by Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, gained 39.27 per cent of the votes. The group informed the Returning Officer on Wednesday of their decision to nominate Mr Leon Perera as NCMP, said ELD.

DANIEL GOH TO TAKE PLACE OF MS LEE AS NCMP IF PARLIAMENT RESOLVES TO FILL SEAT: WP

Ms Lee, who was elected MP for Punggol East following a by-election in 2013, had told the media after the results were announced that she is not inclined to take up a NCMP seat in Parliament if offered.

In a statement released shortly after the ELD announcement, the Workers’ Party said its Central Executive Council (CEC) concurred with Ms Lee’s decision not to accept the NCMP position.

The CEC said should Parliament resolve to fill the vacated NCMP seat left by Ms Lee, that Associate Professor Daniel Goh would fill that seat.

PARLIAMENT NOT OBLIGED TO DECLARE THAT SEAT BE FILLED

According to the law, if an eligible NCMP decides not to take up the position, the seat may not automatically be transferred to the next eligible opposition candidate.

In response to media queries, Parliament is not obliged to declare that seat be filled by the next succeeding candidate.
The ELD said: “The Attorney General is of the view that if any NCMP declared to be elected under Section 52 of the Parliamentary Elections Act fails to take and subscribe before Parliament the Oath of Allegiance under Article 61 of the Constitution at the first or second sitting of Parliament during its first session after the General Election, then Parliament may at its discretion declare that seat vacant. Parliament is not thereafter obliged to declare that seat be filled by the next succeeding candidate.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

September 17, 2015
Police Officer Fined $10,000 For Illegal Search On Computer System

A senior staff sergeant inspector who used the police computer system to do an unauthorised search for his brother-in-law’s girlfriend was sentenced to the maximum fine of $10,000 on Wednesday .

Kang Wei Chian, 40, had pleaded guilty to two of seven charges of computer misuse at Police Cantonment Complex in May last year.

The policeman with 22 years’ of good service had logged into the Frontline Officers’ Computerised System (Focus) to search for a unit in Tanglin Halt Road which his brother-in-law and his girlfriend wanted to buy.

They suspected that the unit might have been subjected to harassment from an unlicensed moneylender.

After doing a search and determining that there were no hits against the unit, Kang informed the girlfriend of his brother-in-law, that it was safe to buy.

Focus, which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, allows police officers to lodge reports and carry out online searches for details of reports lodged by members of the public.

It also contains, among other things, personal information of complainants, victims and witnesses.

All police officers know that the system can be used only for official purposes.

Kang’s offences came to light in July last year after a supervisory audit check on Focus revealed several unauthorised screenings done by Kang.

The prosecution had sought four weeks’ jail for Kang, but his lawyer Daniel Atticus Xu had urged the court to impose a high fine or a short detention order.

District Judge John Ng said on Wednesday he was satisfied that what Kang had done was a “foolish act” rather than abuse of his power for nefarious activities.

“So I am satisfied that a custodial sentence is not necessary in this case,” he said.

The judge noted that there have been similar cases in the past where a non-jail sentence was imposed but a heavy fine.

“I am sure other police officers will be warned by what has happened today…what has happened to you. Unfortunately, you tried to help your wife.. and now your wife has abandoned you,” he said.

Kang, who has been suspended from duty, is undergoing divorce proceedings.

He could have been fined up to $5,000 and jailed for up to two years on each charge.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

September 16, 2015
Stupid Youngsters These Days Really Naive And Lack Trust

I spoke with some students today and really blood boil. What is wrong with youngsters these days, don’t know how to think?

They really believe all of the government’s bullsh*t! This is what I managed to pick out from my conversations with them:

Me: “absolute power corrupts absolutely”
A: “don’t worry PAPs track record is flawless, they won’t do anything wrong one.I put my trust in them”

Me: “why are the opposition bad?”
B: ” look at their track record? Look at ahptc? If they cannot prove themselves how to win?”

Me : ” what do you think of the 2 sides?”
Students ” PAP= very good. Opposition will ruin the country made up of useless people destroy the stability ”

Really is naive and myopic. Wait until they grow up and see people go through bread and butter issues as a result of gov policy then they will know the pain.

xing221
A.S.S. Reader

Source: www.allsingaporestuf.com

September 16, 2015