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The Fear Perpetuated By The Urban Myth About Voting In Singapore
By Jamal Ismail

At a recent dinner with some friends, I was surprised to hear a friend remark that she had no choice but to vote for the PAP because she is a teacher. On another occasion, I heard a similar remark by an office colleague who is convinced that she must vote for PAP or else her son may not get into the right school, and her application for a new HDB flat will be rejected.

Both assume that their votes are being recorded, and they will be somehow penalized if they don’t cast a vote in favour of the PAP. Surprisingly, these are highly educated people and I realized then that the fear of voting for parties other than PAP is more prevalent than I initially thought.

During the 2011 General Elections, I volunteered as an Election Agent and saw the entire campaigning and voting process from start to finish. Please allow me to share my experience and guide you through the voting system, one step at a time.

Acknowledging the issue

There is a perception among many that the Singapore Government is an all-knowing, vengeful entity. Understandably, these fears are rooted in basic survival issues, concerning their career and daily livelihood ‘bread and butter’ issues like housing, healthcare and their children’s education.

Many Government employees could even relate rumours of some people who had their career destroyed for voting in favour of the Opposition.

Rumours like these have been passed around for so long, it achieved urban myth status; where everyone has heard of them but no one has been able to prove that it exists. A crucial way to overcome the fear is to learn the facts.

Is my vote a secret?

YES, your vote is secret. The plain and simple fact is: No one knows who you voted for, unless you tell them. The proof is in the voting process, and you can read about it on the Singapore Elections Department’s webpage.

Here is the eight-step process that safeguards the secrecy of your vote.
1. The maintenance of secrecy is mandated by law under Section 56 Parliamentary Elections Act, which states that everyone manning the polling or counting centre must maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of voting and anyone who contravenes Section 56 will be guilty of a criminal offence.
1. Every voting slip has a serial number that is matched to the Electoral Roll. The purpose of a serial number to ensure that you get only one voting slip. Note that your name is NOT on the voting slip.
1. Each voter has their name and voter number called out for another official to cross out your name from the Electoral Roll, to prevent anyone from voting twice, which would be unfair.
1. Then you go into a private booth and mark the voting slip. After you mark the voting slip, you are required to fold it in half and drop it into the ballot box. As only one person can use the booth each time and your voting slip was folded, no one can see who you voted for.
1. Your voting slip goes into the ballot box along with thousands of others. At 8pm, all the ballot boxes containing the voting slips are sealed. The officials use a serial-numbered tamper-proof sticker, signed off by Opposition and PAP representatives. The sealed ballot boxes are sent to a Counting Centre, guarded by a police officer.
1. At the Counting Centre, the tamper-proof sticker serial numbers are checked by Opposition and PAP representatives. The ballot boxes are then opened and thousands of voting slips are dumped into a big pile on a table. The voting slips are counted, but their serial numbers are NOT RECORDED. This is witnessed and verified by Opposition and PAP representatives.
1. After the voting slips are counted and verified, all the voting slips and count records go back into the ballot boxes and aresealed again with another set of serial-numbered tamper-proof seals. This is again witnessed by Opposition and PAP representatives.
1. The sealed ballot boxes are then transported with police escort and locked in a high-security vault at the Supreme Court. No one can open the vault without a court order, and so far the court has never issued such an order.
1. At the end of 6 months, the same ballot boxes containing the voting slips are burnt. They are transported to the incineration plant under police escort. The Opposition and PAP representatives check and ensure that the same serial numbered tamper-proof seals remain intact, before dumping all the voting slips and records into the incinerator.
The fact remains, your vote is secret. No one can gain access to your voting slip once you have marked it.

Can someone be punished for not voting for PAP?

The plain and simple fact is that no one can be or has been punished for their votes. Who you vote for your RIGHT as a Singapore citizen, and voting is mandatory.
1. No one can force you to vote for anyone, because they would be guilty of Section 59 “Undue Influence” of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 218).
2. No one can anyone incentivize you to vote for anyone because they would be guilty of Section 60 “Bribery” of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 218).
To give you a scale of how Singaporeans voted in the last General Elections in 2011, a total of 1.9 million votes were cast. About 40% of the votes were NOT in favour of the PAP.

That means, over 761 THOUSAND people did NOT vote for the PAP.

If the Urban Myth rumours were true, almost half of the population of Singapore would be unemployed, evicted from their HDBs and their children rejected from schools.

When GE2011 ended, Opposition Party candidates and thousands of their supporters like me simply went back to our jobs and families; lead productive lives, working and conducting business as usual. I continued serving my reservist as an officer.

Although many of my friends and I are openly in support of the Opposition for many years, none of us were investigated, arrested or penalized in any way. We did walkabouts, organized and attended Opposition party meetings and rallies, and participated in the democratic process lawfully. So please be assured that you too can do the same without fear of reprisals.

Overcome the fear

Please find out more about our electoral system, read from a wide variety of sources or even participate in election rallies. Some recommended reading and video on this subject are:

Your Vote is Your Voice By Maruah (With Video)

Singapore Elections Department – Ballots Secrecy

Take the opportunity to see for yourself how the voting process is conducted by volunteering to be a Voting or Counting Agent and see for yourself the whole voting and counting process from start to finish.

Your vote is very important. It is your chance to decide on our future. You are not obliged to vote for anyone and no one can force you to choose, even if you are a PA or grassroots member or work in a Government statutory board.

This coming General Elections, please vote without fear.

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com
August 19, 2015
Goh Meng Seng: If Private Sector Can Accept Employees Wearing Tudung, Why Not The Public Sector?

I do not understand why Tudung is such a difficult issue.

I believe most Chinese like me are used to seeing our fellow Malay ladies wearing Tudung in our lives, in our working places and on the streets or neighbourhood.

It is nothing intimidating at all and it should be a proud Heritage of our multi ethnicity and culture. Local born Singaporeans do not feel uneasy with Tudung ladies because we understand and respect their dress code. This is nothing special just like seeing our fellow Sikh brothers wearing turbans.

So stop talking about difficulties or social acceptance of such. If private sectors have no problem about tudung why should the Government has any problem with that?

Source: Goh Meng Seng

August 19, 2015
Ng Chee Meng Confirms He’s Joining PAP

Outgoing Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng announced his intention to enter politics on Tuesday (Aug 18), ahead of a change of command ceremony where he hands over the reins of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to his successor, Major-General Perry Lim.

“It’s an open secret where I’m going next,” acknowledged the 47-year-old, who served the SAF for 29 years.

“And one of the things why I’ve decided, with the blessings of my family, to step forward, is really to serve the Singapore which I grew up in. For giving me all the opportunities through our meritocratic system. It’s not something that I’ve seen in many parts of the world. I’m indebted to Singapore.”

LG Ng said this comes from not just the opportunities afforded by the SAF scholarship, but also the nurturing and space to test himself and his abilities. Over the course of his career, he had been the Commander of Changi Air Base, the Commanding Officer of 144 Squadron and Chief of Air Force.

He was also the Chairman of the State Funeral Organising Committee for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and was part of the Vigil Guard at the founding Prime Minister’s lying in state.

“Even in school we have always learnt the essence of remembering your roots, and giving back to society,” said LG Ng, who hails from Chinese High School.

“It is something that I hold closely to heart. That when we have some successes, we take care of the rest to make sure that we create the same opportunities – if not better opportunities – for others to succeed. For future generations to succeed.”

He added: “It’s with mixed feelings to answer to a call of duty, a different form of duty, and leaving the SAF a few months before my time is up. Usually CDFs serve three years, to leave earlier.”

During LG Ng’s term as SAF’s chief, the organisation successfully carried out a range of international operations in Afghanistan and the Gulf of Aden, as well as a range of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations in the region. Closer to home, he was a member of the Committee to Strengthen National Service’s (CSNS) Steering Committee, and oversaw programmes to further hone the SAF’s capabilities.

Some of these have already begun to bear fruit. For example, the new Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) format has seen improvements in 2.4 kilometre run-times in 73 per cent of servicemen who participated in a three-month pilot.

But a political career is unlike a military one. He agreed that uniting Singaporeans under a strong, shared identity could be a long and difficult journey, unlike an organisation that, although large, carries the same core values.

“So one key thing to do is to consult widely, listen actively as we’ve done in the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) where we engaged over 40,000. Get different people to come on board. And always have the humility to seek out the best ideas from people,” said LG Ng.

Asked if he feels he has achieved all he set out to do as chief, LG Ng said he only played a small part in the journey of keeping the SAF strong.

“No doubt I am the CDF, but this journey of keeping the SAF strong, giving strength to the nation, is a relentless journey,” he said, adding that the work towards the SAF 2030 vision has begun. “We’re looking at fresh opportunities that technology can offer us, and at the same time scanning the horizon for the challenges that the SAF will face.

“I leave the SAF full of confidence in the next generation of commanders who will take over from me. They will carry on with the work. It was never about a single person in the SAF.”

LG Ng said he has spoken with the various formation Chiefs, and they are ready to take over. His immediate replacement as CDF is Major-General Perry Lim, whose position as Chief of Army was filled by outgoing Chief Guards Officer Melvyn Ong.

“The SAF is a strong organisation. I think they will have the strength and the vision to carry the organisation forward with or without me. In any case, I’m always with the SAF,” said LG Ng.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

August 19, 2015
Walid J. Abdullah: Politicians Should Reflect Whether They Are Serving The Needs And Interest Of People, Not Be Blindly Loyal To Party

Whenever I had the opportunity to have dialogues with Members of Parliament (especially during undergrad days), it is not uncommon to hear one or several of them say something to the effect of: ‘i remember 20 years ago, i was as enthusiastic and idealistic as you (read: naive and unrealistic), but now that i am older or now that i have access to data, my opinions on certain issues have changed.’

Despite the apparent condescension in the statement, this is of course a possibility. One must be humble enough to admit – especially the younger ones – without experience and full access to information, one may not be able to fully comprehend a situation.

At the same time, there exists other possibilities. It could also be possible that being bounded by a political party’s norms and values has changed an individual’s perspectives. The individual could then reason with himself that ‘oh it’s ok for me to sacrifice my values on this small matter, because in doing so i will generate greater good for my community’, when in fact he/she is in delusion. The ‘greater good’ consideration could just ultimately be an individual’s attempt to reconcile his/her cognitive dissonance.

Just like how ordinary people should constantly reflect on whether their opinions are fair given the specific political circumstances, politicians should consistently contemplate whether they are serving the needs and interests of the people, or whether they are just being loyal to the party – any party – at the expense of others.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

August 19, 2015
Experts Divided Over Motive For Attack, Manhunt Continues

As the Thai authorities look for those responsible for Monday’s deadly blast in Bangkok, observers and security analysts were divided as to the motivation and the possible culprits behind what Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has described as the worst act of violence in the country.

With no one claiming responsibility for the attack that has killed 22 people — including a 34-year-old Singaporean — at Erawan Shrine and left over 100 injured, Thai authorities have been careful not to point the blame in any direction.

“We’re looking at all angles. We’re not dropping off any possibilities yet,” Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn, a prominent Thai security expert and adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, told TODAY in a phone interview. “The priority is to make sure this investigation is open and very professional.”

While Dr Panitan cautioned against any speculation on the motive, he said the attack was aimed at destabilising the country and its economy. The incident is the latest in a series of explosions that have disrupted South-east Asia’s second-largest economy since the military seized power in May last year, and it was no surprise that the experts’ initial assessment was that it was linked to Thailand’s decade-long political turmoil.

The Thai authorities had blamed supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who call themselves the “red shirts”, for recent attacks in the capital, including two pipe bomb attacks on a luxury mall in February, which injured two persons, and a grenade attack at the Criminal Court a month later, which damaged the property without causing any injuries.

A suspect in the March incident had reportedly told the police that a network of red shirts had discussed a plot to bomb at least 100 places in Bangkok in a string of attacks against the ruling junta.

“I think it’s pretty obvious which element is behind this,” a Thai politician who has held senior positions in government told TODAY. “It’s the same pattern … If I’m a betting man, I would place my money on hired militants linked to the red shirts.”

However, some observers noted that Monday’s attack marked a shift from past outbreaks of political violence, as the bomb was aimed to kill and tourists were deliberately targeted along with Thais.

“Past explosions were meant more to send a political message and not to harm,” said an editor of a major newspaper in Thailand who did not want to be named. “But this time, the bomb was planted to inflict maximum damage to civilians.”

This lends weight to the theory that the attack could be linked to international terrorism, he added.

Police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang said he did not rule out any motives, including Thailand’s controversial repatriation of 109 Uighur people to China recently, which sparked an attack last month on the Thai consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

There is also speculation of the possible involvement of insurgents from Thailand’s southern provinces, where violence linked to Malay-Muslim separatists has seen over 6,000 people killed in the past decade.

But observers note that there does not seem to be any reason for the insurgents to stage an attack outside the southern provinces. Thai army chief, General Udomdej Sitabutr, has also said the latest blast “does not match” past attacks in southern Thailand.

Security experts however, agree on one thing: The high number of casualties and the way improvised explosive devices were used show that those responsible for the attack had professional training not only in bomb-making, but also bomb-radius measurements, placement and detonation.

When asked if it was easy to obtain bomb-making materials in Thailand, Dr Panitan said: “In general, we do have some problems controlling some of these materials and devices. Some can be obtained from the industry.”

Observers said it is hard to predict whether there would be more attacks.

“After several months of relative calm in the capital, the main impact on Thailand is that certain elements are willing to fund open protests, demonstrations and bombings to oppose policies that they believe are unfavourable,” said Associate Professor Antonio Rappa, head of UniSIM’s Management and Security Studies. “The greatest danger is that more innocent people may lose their lives.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 19, 2015