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Changes To Town Councils Act, Prompted By AIM Saga, Could Be Delayed

More than two years after a review was announced in May 2013, changes to the Town Councils Act (TCA) could be delayed if the elections are called.

This was revealed by the Minister of National Development, Khaw Boon Wan, who made the remarks last Thursday to the media but which were only reported on Monday, 17 August.

“Previously, I was hoping we can amend the Act within this year,” Mr Khaw said.

“But market talk is the election is just around the corner and, if so, I would not be able to meet this particular KPI (key performance indicator),” he added. “We have to wait until the next term of government.”

Khaw, Minister of MND

Mr Khaw is also the chairman of the People’s Action Party (PAP).

The review, Mr Khaw told Parliament in 2013, would include the councils’ duties and responsibilities in relation to HDB; the adequacy of their sinking funds and long-term financial sustainability; and the arrangements when town councils are handed over between MPs.

The review committee is being headed by the Senior Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry, Mr Lee Yi Shyan.

The review was called after a long debate took place when the Workers’ Party (WP) revealed that the computer system used by the former PAP-run Aljunied Town Council (ATC) in Aljunied GRC had been sold to a PAP-owned company, Action Information System (AIM).

AIM, with a paid-up capital of S$2, is headed by three former PAP members of parliament as directors. It does not seem to have any other staff, or a website.

Its mailing address is the same as the PAP’s headquarters in Bedok.

The computer system, which was being used by all PAP town councils, was built at a cost of some $25 million, but later sold to AIM for $140,000.

The co-ordinating chairman of the PAP town councils, Teo Ho Pin, explained that in 2010 [the PAP] had called an open tender to which AIM submitted the sole bid though five companies had collected the tender agreement.

After the system was sold to AIM, the 14 PAP town councils then leased back the system from it.

This raised questions about the transaction, which came just months before the elections of 2011 were called.

Former PAP stalwart and presidential candidate, Tan Cheng Bock, also queried the transactions, and said that they “beg a few questions… especially when the company may not serve, ‘due to material change’, an opposition ward.

Tan

“This software is developed using public funds by town councils. Is it right for the TCs to give up ownership in this manner?” he asked.

“So did the town councils as public institutions do the right thing, selling (the system) to a company owned by a political party with its own agenda?”

AIM also withdrew its services from the then new WP town council after the WP won the Aljunied GRC in the 2011 elections.

The public outcry over the saga – which many saw as being unfair to the WP – prompted the government to call for a review of the sale of the computer system.

The task was carried out by the Ministry of National Development (MND) itself which found no impropriety with the transaction, and said that “the AIM sale complied with regulations and there was no conflict of interest.”

However, the fact that the MND was the agency which carried out the review was also criticised, since the minister of the MND was also the chairman of the PAP which owned AIM.

A Straits Times report then said:

“It gave the all-clear, but some remain unconvinced by the finding that the deal is above board, MPs and experts said.

“One point of contention is why the company, Action Information Management (AIM), would take on a loss-making venture in 2010.

“AIM had said it was to help the PAP town councils, which had no takers for a near-obsolete software programme.

“But some think “this is too good to be true”, said MP Baey Yam Keng of Tampines GRC.

“While many were not surprised by the findings, most of the 50 polled felt that having the MND do the review affected public perception of the report’s finding, even if it was wholly objective.”

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

August 17, 2015
Radin Mas Residents: Reform Party In For Tough Fight

The Reform Party (RP) seeks the support of residents in Radin Mas so its candidate can speak up on issues relating to Central Provident Fund savings in Parliament.

Its secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam went on a walkabout in the single-member constituency yesterday.

It contains the old Anson ward that his father, the late opposition leader J. B. Jeyaretnam, represented in Parliament after winning the Anson by-election in 1981.

The RP team has been walking the ground in Radin Mas since 2010 but did not contest there in 2011 to avoid a three-cornered fight with the National Solidarity Party.

Hawker Philip Tan, 58, who has been selling fishball noodles at Block 163, Bukit Merah Central, for about 35 years, felt it would be a tough fight for the RP as “the PAP is deeply rooted here”.

Mr Tan said: “The current MP Sam Tan has done a lot for the hawkers. For example, he fought for lower rental for first-generation hawkers like me.”

Resident Annie Tan, 40, said: “The issues raised by the RP concern most Singaporeans. But it is not easy for an opposition party to be elected into Parliament.”

Joining the RP on its walkabout yesterday was lawyer M. Ravi, who said he is reconsidering his decision not to run in the upcoming general election after feedback from the public.

Mr Ravi and blogger Roy Ngerng have been joining the RP’s walkabouts in recent weeks, but both were also spotted at the Singapore Democratic Party’s 35th-anniversary dinner last Saturday.

Mr Ngerng was absent yesterday. When asked about Mr Ngerng’s application to join the party, Mr Jeyaretnam replied: “It’s always difficult to make the transition from blogging to being a politician.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 17, 2015
Melvin Yong Replaces Lui Tuck Yew In PAP’s Moulmein-Kallang GRC Team

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Sunday introduced senior police officer Melvin Yong as the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate who will be contesting in his place in Moulmein at the coming general election.

This even as he bade farewell to residents after he had announced earlier this week that he was leaving politics after serving the ward – which is now under Moulmein-Kallang GRC – since 2006.

Mr Lui played on his surname and Mr Yong’s Chinese name, Yi Cai, when making the introduction. He said: “Last time, it was ‘Lui lai liao, (Hokkien for ‘Money is coming’), now it’s ‘Cai lai liao’.” Cai is Mandarin for fortune.

Mr Yong is expected to join the PAP team for Tanjong Pagar GRC, which takes in Moulmein when the electoral boundary changes kick in at the next polls.

The other members of the five-member GRC team are Labour Chief Chan Chun Sing, Senior Minister of State for Education and Law Indranee Rajah, backbencher Chia Shi-Lu and former public servant Joan Pereira – another new face.

All were at the walkabout at Pek Kio market where Mr Yong was unveiled, except Dr Chia who was at another grassroots event.

Today is the Assistant Commissioner of Police’s official last day of work in the force after he put in his papers for early retirement.

Mr Chan said Mr Yong is no stranger to Tanjong Pagar GRC because parts of constituency came under his watch when he was commander of Clementi Police Division from 2010 to 2014. The 43-year-old was also Head Investigation at the station, which is effectively the No. 2 man at the division, between 2004 and 2006.

“A formal announcement about the team will be made next week, but nonetheless we are happy that (Mr Yong) is here to join us and re-acquaint himself with Tanjong Pagar issues,” added Mr Chan at the sidelines of the walkabout on Sunday.

PAP activists later surprised Mr Lui with a cake at the walkabout to celebrate his 54th birthday. Mr Lui joked that he felt like he was 108, “because the last nine years, you got to multiply it by seven.”

Ms Indranee said she and her colleagues will miss Mr Lui, but told him: “We will build on the good work you have done.”

Despite his upcoming retirement, Mr Lui said he will continue to visit residents as a private citizen. “Every time before I go for events, I would pray that I continue to see them, that they remain in good health,” he said. “I will continue to do the same after I leave.”

Looking ahead, he said that his focus will be on helping Mr Chan and Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim – a fellow MP at Moulmein-Kallang GRC and now Jalan Besar GRC – lead their teams to victory at the next polls. And if the new candidate needs his help, “I will support him in any way,” he added.

However, longtime residents of Mr Lui’s ward like Madam Koh Kwee Soh says the former Navy Chief will be missed. “Mr Lui is the best minister and MP,” said the 85-year-old retiree. “I am very sad he is leaving, he has done so much for me.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 17, 2015
NSP Would Directly Employ Staff To Run Town Council Instead Of Engaging Subcontractor

SINGAPORE: The National Solidarity Party (NSP) would run a town council by directly employing the staff they need, instead of engaging a subcontractor, if elected, the party’s acting secretary-general Hazel Poa said on Sunday (Aug 16).

Ms Poa was speaking in response to questions about Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s criticism of the Workers’ Party (WP) over its handling of financial management lapses at Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC).

“We should be focusing on issues and things that really affect Singaporeans’ lives,” Ms Poa said to the media, after a walkabout at Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC). “We would also like to emphasise the point that electing Members of Parliament should be more than just estate management. After all it is ‘Member of Parliament’. Their primary role should be their contributions in Parliament to enact laws that affect the lives of every Singaporean.”

Ms Poa also declined to comment on the NSP’s slate of candidates, stating that the party will only reveal its 11 candidates for Tampines GRC, Sembawang GRC and Pioneer Single Member Constituency (SMC) – where it intends to contest in the upcoming General Election (GE) – at the end of the month. Nevertheless, the party could be heard introducing 39-year-old real estate agent Eugene Yeo and 35-year-old businessman Spencer Ng, who have also been participating in walkabouts in other constituencies, as potential candidates.

Possible NSP candidates Eugene Yeo (left) and Spencer Ng (right) on a walkabout in Sembawang GRC on Aug 16, 2015. (Photo: Hon Jing Yi / TODAY)

Ms Poa also commented on the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) candidates, noting that Mr Ong Ye Kung, who was a member of the PAP team that lost to WP in Aljunied GRC in the 2011 GE, has joined the ruling party’s slate for Sembawang GRC.

“We are glad to see that Ong Ye Kung is back to contest in the General Election despite the setback that he received in the last election. If you’re committed to serving Singaporeans, that’s the right spirit, although it would have been better if he had gone back to Aljunied to fight for the voters there,” Ms Poa said. “He contested there in the previous round and it was quite a close contest, so if he had gone back to Aljunied it would have better shown his commitment to serve his residents there.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

August 17, 2015
Yaacob Ibrahim: Nilai AP Melayu Pada Kemajuan Masyarakat

Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, menekankan bahawa rekod beliau dan rakan-rakan Anggota Parlimen (AP) Melayu daripada Parti Tindakan Rakyat (PAP) harus dinilai dari sudut pembangunan masyarakat Melayu setempat secara menyeluruh, meliputi kemajuan yang dicapai dalam pelbagai bidang seperti pendidikan dan sosial.

Berkata demikian kepada Berita Harian (BH) setelah memperkenalkan pasukan PAP bagi Kawasan Undi Perwakilan Kumpulan (GRC) Jalan Besar yang diterajuinya pagi semalam, Dr Yaacob berkata beliau berharap pengundi Melayu akan berfikiran luas dan tidak hanya menilai AP-AP Melayu PAP berdasarkan satu-satu isu yang belum terhurai.

“Masyarakat kita masih berdepan dengan beberapa isu, masih mempunyai cabaran, saya tidak menafikannya.

“Tapi cabaran ini sedang ditangani bukan hanya oleh badan-badan Melayu/Islam, malah dengan kerjasama agensi pemerintah,” ujar beliau yang tidak menyebut isu-isu yang dimaksudkan secara khusus.

Di peringkat nasional pula, Dr Yaacob menekankan bahawa dasar perumahan, kesihatan, pendidikan dan sosial yang diperkenalkan pemerintah turut memberi manfaat kepada masyarakat Melayu.

Inisiatif SkillsFuture, menurutnya, akan memberi manfaat besar kepada pelajar dan pekerja Melayu.

Lantaran itu Yayasan Mendaki telah pun membentuk divisyen khas bagi meneroka cara memastikan masyarakat merebut peluang penuh skim pemerintah itu.

Dalam pada itu, Dr Yaacob berkata pemerintah telah membuktikan ia sentiasa terbuka kepada kerjasama dengan masyarakat Melayu/Islam dalam memperbaiki hidup mereka dalam segala aspek.

Antaranya menerusi perubahan dasar pendidikan yang memberi manfaat kepada pelajar di madrasah.

“Jadi, saya rasa jika kita jujur dalam penilaian kita, pengundi Melayu akan melihat bahawa pemerintah hari ini prihatin dan jujur berkhidmat bagi pembangunan masyarakat.

“Dan pada masa yang sama, pemerintah ini juga memerlukan sokongan masyarakat Melayu untuk ia memimpin negara kita mengharungi tempoh mencabar pada masa-maa akan datang,” kata Dr Yaacob, yang juga Menteri Perhubungan dan Penerangan dan Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Keselamatan Siber.

Sementara itu, selain Dr Yaacob, melengkapi pasukan PAP di GRC Jalan Besar ialah Menteri Negara Kanan (Pejabat Perdana Menteri), Encik Heng Chee How; Mayor Central Singapore, Cik Denise Phua; dan AP veteran, Dr Lily Neo.

GRC Jalan Besar dibentuk semula dalam semakan sempadan kawasan undi baru-baru ini, menggantikan GRC Moulmein-Kallang.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

August 17, 2015