Blog

Lawrence Wong And Halimah Yacob To Co-Anchor Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC

The new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC will be anchored by two MPs – Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong and Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob.

This was announced by Mr Wong during a visit to the constituency on Thursday with Madam Halimah.

The minister, who is a first term MP, and Madam Halimah are slated to move from West Coast GRC and Jurong GRC respectively to the new constituency for the upcoming general election.

Mr Wong said he had asked Madam Halimah to join him in leading the new GRC because of her strong track record as an MP. “So I know how effective she is and I’ve much to learn from her,” he added.

Madam Halimah said they would be able to complement each other, adding that Mr Wong would bring with him his strengths and capabilities.

Although Mr Wong said the full line-up of MPs that the People’s Action Party (PAP) will be fielding in the four-member Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC will only be revealed later, he hinted that it will likely comprise Madam Halimah and himself, as well as MPs Alex Yam and Ong Teng Koon.

“So the only new faces are Madam Halimah and myself,” he said. “And there are two existing incumbent MPs, Alex Yam and Ong Teng Koon, so we hope this is likely to be the team for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.”

Both Mr Yam and Mr Ong have expressed interest in continuing to serve in their respective wards which have since been redrawn into the new GRC.

Over the past weeks, Mr Wong and Madam Halimah have been walking the ground, attending constituency events and making house visits in the area.

Madam Halimah said she has done “a fair amount of groundwork in Marsiling”, having visited about 20 blocks of flats.

The PAP team, added Mr Wong, will build on the work done by the incumbent MPs in their wards, which are currently part of Sembawang GRC and Chua Chu Kang GRC. “We will put forward our manifesto when it’s ready,” he said.

The GRC is now made up of three divisions – Marsiling, Yew Tee and Woodgrove – but it will have four MPs. This is because wards in the GRC have grown over the years, “so a fourth MP will help better serve residents there,” added Madam Halimah.

Resident Philip Ong welcomed the two new MPs to the constituency. “It looks like a good mix,” said the 48-year-old technician. “Madam Halimah can bring her wisdom and experience to help and Mr Wong is a minister who is in charge of youth issues.”

Housewife Normah Ahmad, 50, said: “It’s nice to see a Malay woman in the role of a leader too.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 14, 2015
Yusof Ishak Chose To Stay, Thereby Convincing Other Malays

Post-Separation in August 1965, Mr Yusof Ishak’s steadfast loyalty to Singapore convinced many other Malays to stay instead of migrating across the Causeway where they would be part of the majority community.

As this fledgling nation’s first president, Mr Yusof, who was born in Malaysia, strived to build up people’s faith in Singapore as a multiracial nation.

The man and his ideals are the focus of a new 120-page monograph titled Yusof Ishak: Singapore’s First President by Iseas fellow Norshahril Saat.

“Had he left for Malaysia, like many other Malay elites at that time, many other Malays would have followed suit on seeing that their Yang di-Pertuan Negara no longer trusted the Singapore system,” wrote Dr Norshahril.

In the book, he also seeks to debunk the myth that Mr Yusof, who started Malay newspaper Utusan Melayu, was a “Malay chauvinist”.

Dr Norshahril explained that Mr Yusof “was not struggling for Malays because he was a Malay”. “He just wanted equality.”

Former president S R Nathan, who wrote the foreward, said he suggested the book be written so that young Singaporeans could learn more about their country’s history and its pioneers.

The monograph is not for sale as of now, but there are plans to distribute it to schools here.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who was interviewed for the book, told reporters yesterday that it could help younger generations understand how pioneers like Mr Yusof struggled to build a nation.

Second Minister for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said Mr Yusof was “the first among many significant Malay leaders who conveyed the message that this country is a country that belongs to everyone”.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 13, 2015
Two Hit-And-Run Drivers Arrested

A 30-year-old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of driving an Audi car that spun out of control in Simei Avenue on Tuesday morning – crashing into seven other vehicles and causing a 1½-hour jam along the three-lane road.

The driver, who has not been named, was seen running away from the scene after the 9.15am pile-up near the Institute of Technical Education College East campus.

A 65-year-old woman, a passenger in another car involved, suffered pain in her stomach and back after the accident and was warded at Changi General Hospital.

Police said yesterday that the accident “occurred when the driver of a silver saloon car failed to exercise proper control of his vehicle”.

The Traffic Police established his identity through “intensive investigations” and he was arrested in the vicinity of the National University Hospital. His driving licence will be suspended and police are continuing their investigations.

Witnesses said the driver had been speeding and was overtaking when his car collided with other vehicles and swerved towards the road divider. Mr Rajan Shirodkhar, 48, a vice-president of technology at OCBC Bank, said he was driving to work when the silver Audi hit the rear wheel and side of his car.

“His act yesterday (Tuesday) did not look like what any normal person would have done,” he said. “A fair trial should be held to see how we can be compensated fairly.”

Meanwhile, the police have arrested a 29-year-old man on Tuesday who was believed to have also fled on foot after causing an accident in Jurong Town Hall Road two weeks ago.

He had allegedly been driving a white Honda multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the afternoon of July 31, when it collided with a motorcyclist, causing him to be flung onto the road.

The MPV then crashed into the rear of another car, causing it to jerk forward, hitting the rear of a van.

The motorcylist had to be taken to hospital.

“It was established subsequently that the MPV that caused the accident was affixed with a false number plate,” the police said.

The Traffic Police managed to identify the driver and arrested him in the vicinity of Hougang Street 21 for both traffic and drug offences, in a joint operation with the Central Narcotics Bureau.

Under the law, motorists involved in an accident in which a person or animal is injured, or where another vehicle or structure is damaged, have to stop their vehicles. They must also render the necessary assistance.

If the vehicle owner is not present at the scene, the motorist should take reasonable steps to inform him of the accident, such as by leaving a note on the damaged vehicle’s windscreen.

The motorist should also lodge a police report as soon as it is practical to do so and within 24 hours, unless he is able to establish contact with the vehicle owner.

The penalty for hit-and-run accidents is a fine of up to $3,000 or up to 12 months’ jail. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $5,000 or up to two years’ jail.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 13, 2015
What’s The Hype Over Chief Of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng?

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had announced Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng’s (LG Ng) retirement from the Singapore Armed Forces.

The latter will be stepping down as Chief of Defence Force on 18 August, a move that prompted speculation that the 47-year-old might be running in the upcoming General Election.

Dr Ng commented that “Inevitably, there will be questions asked about LG Ng’s future plans, particularly, if he is entering politics. Given his tested leadership and proven capabilities, I would not at all be surprised, if indeed he is.”

“But I have advised LG Ng, not to be distracted or entertain these queries but to instead focus on important national events ahead, particularly the National Day Parade. There will be a more appropriate time to address interests in his future plans.”

Dr Ng has indirectly hinted LG Ng capability to be a potential candidate for the upcoming General Election, and also mentioned that interest in LG Ng’s future plans will most likely be “addressed” in the near future after the important national events.

One thing I find ironic though is the fact that even though our Defence Minister had advised LG Ng “to not be distracted or entertained these queries but..focus on important national events ahead”, the announcement of LG Ng stepping down, in addition to Dr Ng’s very much publicised comments, grabbed local news headlines on 31 July and 1 August – be it through online, print or televised platform. (The Straits Times, TODAYOnline, AsiaOne).

By placing all the mainstream media glare on LG Ng stepping down, isn’t the government ironically garnering attention and opening more probes to his possible foray into politics?

The cameras were also angled to include LG Ng in the frame at opportunities that arose during the televised National Day Parade, though I cannot deny the fact his presence was required during those time.

This left me thinking, why even mention his possible entry into the political scene? Or create so much buzz – put him in the top headlines, show his face repeatedly on TV when Dr Ng mention that he does not want LG Ng to be distracted by queries on his future plans? Since his retirement was on 18 August, the announcement could have also been made easily after the National Day.

Placing him in the media limelight on the first day of the month which usually signifies a fresh beginning, linking him to the National Day Parade which is a happy event, hinting public interest in him, and briefly mentioning his leadership skills, etc. – Was this all a smart strategic move in advertising to sensationalize and evoke a sense of mystery around LG Ng?

This suggests the usage of “Classical Conditioning” to associate a positive connotation to LG Ng, so that Singaporeans can put into memory his face and name through the many headlines and his National Day Parade involvement, and to leave an atmosphere of suspense to ponder what lies ahead for him.

Is all these mainstream media publicity meant to hype up his possible presence and entrance into the general election?

We shall just play along with the game of “let’s wait and see.” We’ll welcome more new candidates with green… oops, open arms, I mean!

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

August 13, 2015
Mat Saleh FT: I Apologise For Insulting Singaporean Lady, Pls Stop Harassing My Bosses

To Whom It May Concern,

I have made a mistake of commenting on an article that a lady called Cherry Pie had published on the 11th August at 9:02am. The article name is Foreign Workers Lack of Civic-Maindedness Towards Children & Elderly S’poreans on MRT.

I need to remove my comments on that article and also if you can remove all my bosses business information from the article posted 12th August at 10:15pm named Ang Moh Foreign Talent Blasts S’porean For Complaining About MRT Reserved Seat, as they are now getting threats from left right and centre over my mistake.

I do take full responsibility for what I said and did, it was stupid of me to take my frustration out on the lady mentioned above. I do apologize for everything, I did not mean for it to get blow out of proportion like it has as I truly didn’t mean it about Singapore only towards the ladies artile.

I am worried for my bosses lives over this as the information posted bout their companies on the article has all their personal emails and phone numbers, work addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, etc., and I do not want them to pay for my mistake.

Your help will be much appreciated as I do not want people to suffer for what I said and I do not want to hurt anymore peoples feelings with my stupid remarks.

Your Sincerely,
Sara Angela Moore

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

August 13, 2015