First and foremost, my name is Nadya Binte Md Sidek. The reason I decided to create this blog is to address the issue of “Can I deflect?” that has been going around. For some reason, people are very worked up about this.
I am his daughter and no one else knows him better than I do, apart from my immediate family members. I will now address the issue and whether you can accept what I say or not, that is up to you because no one can force you to agree with me. Only you can read what I say, and think for yourself. While reading this post, forget all the negativity you’ve heard from others. Only focus on what you feel.
My dad had not planned on running for the General Elections (GE). As such, he is not seasoned like most other politicians. His decision to run for the GE was very sudden and rushed. It isn’t because he was forced into the matter but because he felt like he could do it. The party believed in him as well.
Many of you are saying how he is a Malay, but he can’t even converse in that language. How sure are you that he cannot converse in the Malay language? You’re judging and assuming because he had a mental block during his press conference? Have you ever had a mental block? You know how you prepare yourself for 4 years to take your GCE N/O Level Oral Examinations and once you sit in front of the examiners, you have a sudden mental block and only recover after you have walked away from them? Think of it that way.
In a short period of time, my dad tried to prepare himself as much as possible. My parents return home late – as late as 1am sometimes. He could have avoided all of these. He could have just turned his back on those who needs help and continued living a comfortable life, without involving himself with the issues of people he doesn’t even know. Instead, he stepped up. Why? Because he wants to help. He’s trying to reach out to those who needs help. But why do you kick him to the ground and spit on his face?
What makes you think that just because he couldn’t answer the question to your liking, he isn’t meant for the job? What makes you think that he cannot get the job done? What’s the point of being well versed in Bahasa Melayu, but not being able to aid the ones in need? You have someone – someone not perfect, but willing to speak up for the minorities.
All of you, especially the Malays, what have you done to help the Malay community? Instead of making fun of him, using foul words on him, giving him the negativity, why don’t you try to find out who he really is? Isn’t it ironic how you hate to be judged, hate how people say nasty things about you and yet you’re doing this to someone else? I can’t seem to fathom your thoughts.
If he thought he couldn’t do it and if the party thought he couldn’t do it, do you think he would have purposely gone for a press conference just to humiliate himself in front of the whole nation? Who in their right mind would do that?
It is very saddening to see the amount of Malays with so much negativity towards someone who wants to help the community. Does it matter what race or religion or what language the person speaks when he wants to help? Do you turn to a certain kind of person when in need of help? Is this what the majority of the Malay community made of? Spitting on those who want to help you but expecting help?
Trust me, in time to come my dad will be able to speak good Malay. Get to know the man before assuming he isn’t the man for the job. If you feel like you or as some of you would say your grandmothers can do better, then go for it. If you feel like you could have done better, but you aren’t actually doing anything but condemning those who are trying, then shame on you.
I rest my case here, but if any of you have anything to say, this is my e-mail address: [email protected]
In other words, the Business Development Director with an engineering company was a prospective PAP candidate for its “suicide squad” in Aljunied until last month. His stepping down certainly raised some eyebrows among politicians and political observers because Kahar had been working on the ground for 16 months.
Former PAP Minister Lim Boon Heng, who announced current PAP candidate Shamsul Kamar’s “take-over” of Kaki Bukit to the grassroots leaders, told the media on Aug 1 that the decision to replace Kahar was “not because he’s done anything criminal or there’s a scandal”. (Thanks for putting this negative thought in our minds, Minister!)
After the sharing of Kahar’s Facebook post on July 31, it has been difficult to connect with him. We suspect it is probably an effort by Kahar to remain low profile for the time being. In fact, he told me that he preferred not to accept any media interviews during the GE campaigning period.
With a sighting of him at a Workers’ Party (WP) event and murmurs that Kahar was “hardworking” but perhaps did not build up rapport with his Kaki Bukit residents, Kahar finally relented and decided to share his side of the story and life after stepping down as a PAP chairman.
Mothership.sg met Kahar last weekend to talk about his previous role as the Chairman of PAP Kaki Bukit Branch, his strategy to reach out to the residents in the Opposition ward and why he is a “Teochew porridge”.
1. Tell us about your previous role as Chairman of PAP Kaki Bukit Branch.
Photo courtesy of Kahar Hassan
As a PAP Branch Chairman in an opposition ward, I do not have the luxury of learning the ropes from an incumbent PAP MP. I was immediately thrown into the deep end of the pool having to make decisions for the Branch and the activists. I have to also raise funds for both my Branch and the PCF to ensure its sustenance.
My priority when I first came to Kaki Bukit, was to increase residents’ awareness of PAP’s presence in an opposition ward. I found out that a good way for me to embark on this, is through organising exercise groups, overseas tours, local outings and events to engage our residents and make PAP’s presence felt.
I also conducted house-to-house visits in my capacity as a PAP Branch Chairman and helped explain government policies and programs such as the PGP, Silver Support Scheme, Medishield Life etc to our residents.
Being a deep advocate of Design Thinking (an innovation process), the key step to innovation is empathy. With empathy, one will naturally be sincere, be willing to listen and be able to come up with the right solutions to solve a problem, or in this case, help the residents.
I restarted the weekly Meet-the-People Session (MPS) on 5 May 2014 at Blk 519 PCF Kaki Bukit to help residents, and was attending to 5 to 7 cases every Monday. In less than 4 months, our MPS cases increased. During my tenure as Branch Chairman, I attended to approximately 30 to 35 MPS cases every week.
I have also launched the “Milk & Diapers Program” to help needy families. From my daily house-to-house visits, I met needy families with elderly or bedridden members, many of whom could not afford consumables such as powdered milk and diapers. Similarly, these consumables are also a huge financial burden on underprivileged families with toddlers and newborns. The program thus helped reduced these families financial burdens and ensured that no one is deprived of such necessities.
Nonetheless, in the midst of showcasing PAP’s presence, I have not forgotten that Kaki Bukit is an opposition ward. Therefore, I also made sure that I gave due respect to the elected MP, Mr Faisal Manap, who has been given the mandate to run the ward by the residents.
17 months ago, when I was told to go to Kaki Bukit, I thought about how I could appeal to the hearts and minds of the residents. I believe “it’s not about doing different things but doing things differently”. I know I would not be able to expect a different result if I were to replicate the same modus-operandi as when Kaki Bukit was still a PAP incumbent ward.
I asked myself 2 questions, “How did WP win Aljunied GRC in GE2011?” and “What is Mdm Halimah Yacob’s winning formula which makes her a household name among many Singaporeans?”.
With that in mind, I approached Mdm Halimah (Speaker of Parliament) to be my mentor which she graciously agreed. I followed Mdm Halimah on her block visits and learnt how she manages her ward in Bukit Batok East. I am not shy to say that I emulated what Mdm Halimah has done as her methods have proven to be successful. Occasionally, I would seek her advice and opinions on certain issues.
Photo courtesy of Kahar Hassan.
Back in Kaki Bukit, I told myself, my aim is to get to know every single resident. As such, after finishing my day job at 5pm, I conducted house-to-house visits 2 times a day (5.30pm-7pm & 8pm-9.30pm) every Monday to Friday. On weekends or public holidays, I would have market or coffeeshop visits in the morning, followed by 1 session of house-to-house visit in the afternoon or evening. These visits are not hi-and-bye sessions. I took time to listen to each resident’s concerns and offered them advice on-the-spot. For issues which cannot be resolved immediately, I would invite them to our Meet-the-People Session (MPS) so that we could explore other ways to assist them.
I have since completed 2 rounds of house-to-house visits within Kaki Bukit and was about to commence on my 3rd round prior to being asked to step down.
I intentionally conduct these house and market visits in my capacity as PAP Branch Chairman with only 2 or 3 Branch activists so that I could have deeper interaction with the residents at their doors and also to encourage the residents to approach me freely at the market to share any issues or concerns which they might have. I do not fancy having a big entourage with me at the coffeeshop or market, as that only creates unnecessary congestion and inconvenienced the business owners and diners.
I also make it a point to attend all wakes in Kaki Bukit to extend my condolences and assistance to the bereaved families. It is very sad to learn that some of these residents who have passed on, are residents whom I have met and spoken to during my earlier house visits.
Besides house-to-house visits, I attend community events and functions to interact and mingle with residents. The residents have grown so accustomed to my presence at these events that they have started asking my former activists why they no longer see me around in Kaki Bukit now.
I must say these outreach and establishment of relationship and rapport with residents cannot be achieved overnight. Most importantly, it requires long-term commitment and it is not something that you can try to outsource.
3. In your Facebook posting message on Jul 31, you mentioned that “the Party leaders have made the decision last Saturday, for me to step down as Chairman of PAP Kaki Bukit Branch”. Did they explain to you the reasons behind their decision?
No reasons given. I was told to step down to make way for Shamsul Kamar (PAP candidate for Kaki Bukit in Aljunied GRC).
4. How was the ground sentiment when residents found out about your departure from Kaki Bukit?
I was told several elderly residents at Blk 509B cried and many residents were very upset that I could no longer be around for them. Residents have posted messages on my Facebook page (both private and public), encouraging me, thanking me for my contributions and telling me that they missed me. Some mentioned that they have written to the Prime Minister.
Many residents who are not internet-savvy have also approached my former Kaki Bukit activists, asking them to help convey to me how much they missed me, with some asking if I could still go on organised tours with them?
I must say I am really blessed to have been posted to Kaki Bukit and get to know such warm and loving residents.
5. Former Minister Lim Boon Heng told the press on Aug 1 about replacing you with Shamsul. He explained that the PAP will deploy who it believes would be able to deliver the “best possible performance” on the ground, and that you could be “placed in a better role somewhere else”. Did he contact you about the role?
No.
6. Have you been tasked to remain and help the current team in this upcoming election?
No.
7. At the press conference of the unveiling of the PAP Aljunied slate, Lim said that PAP “felt that it needed a change, even though Mr Kahar had been a “very hardworking person”. He thanked you for your work at Kaki Bukit and for letting residents know that the party has “not forgotten about them”. We were at the press conference and we didn’t see you. Did the party forget to invite you to the PAP Aljunied press conference or did you forget to attend?
I was not informed about this Press Conference.
8. Did PAP forget to invite you for the launch of the PAP’s manifesto last Saturday?
I was not informed about the launch of PAP’s manifesto.
9. PAP’s campaign slogan is “”With you, for you, for Singapore”. Are you still with PAP, for PAP, for Singapore?
Yes, I have been a PAP member for almost 20 years, and I am proud to be a Singaporean.
10. Anway, it seems like you haven’t been invited to PAP-related events since Aug 1! When was the last time you were invited to a WP event?
I was invited to WP’s Hari Raya event which was held in Kaki Bukit on Aug 2 2015.
11. This event took place 2 days after you announced your stepping down as PAP Branch Chairman, why did you still turn up for the event?
This invitation was extended to me by the MP of Kaki Bukit ward, Mr Faisal Manap, and I had accepted his invitation a few weeks before I was told to step down.
Because this event was held in Kaki Bukit, and also as a form of respect to the MP elected by the residents of Kaki Bukit, I thought it would be rude not to turn up merely because I had stepped down.
There is a Malay saying, “Rezeki jangan ditolak, Musuh jangan dicari” (loosely translated to mean, don’t push away goodwill and create animosity).
As Muslims, we are discouraged from rejecting invitations extended to us. In any case, I sat amongst our Kaki Bukit residents at the event for only 20 minutes, as I had to rush to another event.
12. We ask this question to every person we’re interviewing for this GE — if you were a Singapore hawker food dish, which would you be and why?
Teochew Porridge. I eat this at home all the time as it is one of my favourite foods.
It is a comfort food; plain and simple, and goes so well with any dishes, be it steamed fish, tofu, salted egg, braised meats or fried vegetables. (I have yet to find a halal version of this at hawker centres).
Teochew Porridge reflects my simple personality and people feel comfortable talking to me, as I can relate to just about anyone; whether they are young children, old folks or young adults who have just embarked on their careers.
Over 120,000 signatures have been collected for a petition to help two sisters from India who were sentenced to be gang raped by their village elders.
The sentence was handed down by a council of men in the village of Sankrot in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, on July 30 after the girls’ brother eloped with a married woman from a higher caste.
According to The Telegraph, the man’s family is said to be from the “Dalit” caste, known as the “untouchables”, while the woman is from the “Jat caste”.
Meenakshi Kumari, 23, and her 15-year-old sister, who has not been named, had been sentenced to be raped and paraded naked with their faces blackened, for their brother’s crime, reportedTime.com.
They ran away to the capital and submitted a petition for protection to the Supreme Court, but face arrest if they return home, said Mail Online.
A petition to demand justice for the sisters was started by human rights group Amnesty International.
On its site, the group said: “Nothing could justify this abhorrent punishment. It’s not fair. It’s not right. And it’s against the law. Demand that the local authorities intervene immediately.”
A 29-year-old man drowned on Sunday afternoon at the Sungei Api Api canal near Pasir Ris Park.
He is believed to have gone into the canal to untangle a fishing line that had gotten caught.
One eyewitness said the deceased, whom relatives later identified as Mr Syed Shafiq Syed Peer, had struggled in the water before he went under.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call about the incident at around 3.20pm, and deployed amphibious vehicles as well as divers from its Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) in response.
DART divers later recovered the man’s body at 5.50pm, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have classified the case as an unnatural death, and are investigating.
For more than two decades, foreigners infected with HIV have not been allowed to set foot in Singapore. However, the ban on those entering on short-term visit passes was lifted on April 1, The Straits Times has found out.
The ban remains for long-term visitors, such as those looking to work in Singapore or those who want to accompany a child studying here, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed.
“The policy on the repatriation and permanent blacklisting of HIV-positive foreigners was recommended in the late 1980s when the disease was new, fatal and no effective treatment was available,” a spokesman said.
But the ban was lifted “given the current context with more than 5,000 Singapore residents living with HIV and the availability of effective treatment for the disease”.
The human immunodeficiency virus causes Aids, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
The Straits Times understands that foreigners here – excluding permanent residents or spouses of Singaporeans – found to be HIV- positive will be deported and put on a permanent blacklist.
The MOH spokesman added: “Lifting the short-term travel restrictions… poses very low additional risk of HIV transmission to the local population.
“However, the public health risk posed by long-stayers is not insignificant, hence the restriction on long-term visits has been retained.”
The rule is similar to immigration laws found in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, he added.
HIV attacks the body’s immune system and is transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse, although it can spread in other ways, such as by sharing contaminated needles.
A spokesman for advocacy group Action for Aids said it welcomed the change, but restrictions should also be lifted for long-term visitors.
“People living with HIV or Aids are not criminals and should not be banned from entering the country,” he said. “(They) can and should be able to have fulfilling and rewarding lives, with loving relationships and be integrated as part of the community. Unfortunately, discrimination is still prevalent.”
Professor Roy Chan, who is on the governing council of the International Aids Society and is also the president of Action for Aids, added: “People living with HIV infection who are on antiretroviral therapy and are successfully virally suppressed are not infectious to other people.”
Antiretroviral therapy can reduce the virus to undetectable levels in the blood, enabling the immune system to recover and function almost normally.
A 56-year-old who is HIV-positive and declined to give his name said: “Some of my friends who are HIV-positive are worried about how to pack their medication and if they will be barred when they travel. We hope to be allowed into other countries, so we would want to accord the same treatment for people who enter our country.”
