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Kahar Hassan Pulled Out Of Kaki Bukit, May Be Redeployed

Dear Friends & Residents of Kaki Bukit,

It is with a heavy heart that I have to bid you farewell as today will be my last day in Kaki Bukit. The Party leaders have made the decision last Saturday, for me to step down as Chairman of PAP Kaki Bukit Branch.

I am indeed blessed to have so many residents who appreciated my presence and efforts in Kaki Bukit for the past 16 months. You have showered me with so much warmth, love (and hugs!), I feel like you are family to me now. It is you, who have given me a rare and memorable experience to this tight-knitted Kampung Spirit of Kaki Bukit!

In addition, I would also like to thank our grassroots leaders and community organisations for their kind support these past months. It has been enriching working alongside all of you.

I will also miss all my Kaki Bukit PCF principals and teachers who have displayed such deep dedication and passion for the children under their care. Children of PCF Kaki Bukit, I know I have promised you that I will see you at the Sports Day and your Graduation Concert, but it looks like I can no longer fulfill that promise anymore. I hope that you can continue to grow up healthy and strong, and one day achieve all the dreams that you have shared with me.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team of dedicated Branch activists who have spent so much time with me in helping the residents here. Without you, my efforts would be limited. I was a lone stranger when I came into our PAP Branch on the first day. It is very sad to have to leave you after forging such tight camaraderie.

To everyone in Kaki Bukit, thank you for the great memories!!

I will miss you!

May our paths cross again in future.

Source: Kahar Hassan

August 1, 2015
Singapore Watching Developments In Malaysia Closely

The Republic is watching political developments in Malaysia closely, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who expressed his hope that the country remains stable.

“When something happens which could cause either a political upset or social or security worries, I think we have to watch very carefully,” said Mr Lee today (July 31). He was interviewed by Ambassador-at-large Chan Heng Chee for A Conversation with the PM: Our Future, Our People, which is airing on Channel NewsAsia and Channel 5 on Sunday (Aug 2).

Professor Chan, who is also chairman of Lee Kuan Yew Centre For Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, had asked Mr Lee whether the political developments in Malaysia would affect Singapore, and how.

Mr Lee noted that Malaysia is Singapore’s closest neighbour, not just geographically, but also linked by “very big trading ties and investments”.

“We have a lot of people who live and work in Malaysia, a lot of Malaysians work in Singapore…and so when something happens in Malaysia, we watch very carefully and are very concerned how it affects us,” he said.

Malaysia has been in a state of political turmoil of late, with Prime Minister Najib Razak under fire over some US$700 million allegedly funnelled from companies linked to state-owned firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) into his personal bank accounts. Earlier this week, he sacked his deputy Muhyiddin Yassi — who had called on Mr Najib to explain the scandal engulfing 1MDB — as well as four other ministers, and replaced the Attorney-General.

Mr Lee reiterated that Singapore has very good relations with Malaysia. “I personally have very good relations with Prime Minister Najib, so we hope that Malaysia will remain stable, that we will be able to have a Government there which we can do business with and cooperate with, as we have been doing the last few years,” he said.

Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, who was separately responding to media queries on Malaysia’s recent developments, said when any two countries are as close as Malaysia and Singapore, they will want stability in each other.

“Malaysia and Singapore are linked by an umbilical cord…The total trade between Singapore and Malaysia is S$111 billion and we are amongst each other’s top trading partners and top investors,” said Mr Shanmugam, who reiterated that Singapore is following developments very closely.

He said: “Any instability in Malaysia will also deeply affect Singapore, both economically and in other ways. We depend on Malaysia for water everyday, protected by a treaty. You really don’t want any instability. We hope that there will be stability that is good for Malaysia and good for us.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 1, 2015
Election On 12 Sep? Last Day Of Hungry Ghost Month

FENGSHUI MASTERS: BAD LUCK?

The chatter on everyone’s lips seems to be: Will the General Election be held on Sept 12?

While nothing has been announced so far, “The Date” has been widely suggested and discussed in text messages and social media.

Even veteran MP Inderjit Singh agreed that Sept 12 looks likely in a Straits Times report earlier this month.

The date is the last Saturday of the week-long school holidays, which frees schools to be used as polling stations and teachers to be tapped to man these stations.

It is also the last day of the Hungry Ghost month.

For those who are superstitious or who believe in fengshui, the date may not be a good day to hold an election.

Master David Tong, 40, told The New Paper: “Sept 12, according to the Tong Shu (the Chinese almanac), is a bad day. It’s a Month Breaker day. Hence, it is a bad day to carry out any important activities.”

A Month Breaker day is a day where the energies of that day are in conflict with the energies of the month.

DIFFICULT TIME

Master Kevin Foong held a similar view.

He said: “If election is truly in the September period, the energy suggested by the planetary movement (based on astrology) or Chinese metaphysics based on the lunar calendar both suggest it is going to be a difficult time for the Government to fully convince the voters in their favour.

“The Government has a high chance of retaining control, but may have certain districts having unexpected results.”

Understandably, those who are superstitious may not want to plan important activities during the Hungry Ghost month and risk upsetting the souls of the dead, who are said to roam the earth during this time.

But one fengshui master told TNP that there is nothing to worry about.

Master Goh Guan Leong said: “The rumoured date of Sept 12 is very interesting. It is basically a day of Metal and Wood elements, with the strength of Metal being overwhelmingly strong and in favour of the incumbent party.”

In past general elections which coincided with the Hungry Ghost month – 1972, 1988, 1991 – the People’s Action Party (PAP) performed fairly well.

In 1972, PAP won all 65 seats. In 1988, it gained 80 out of 81 seats while in 1991, PAP won 77 of the 81 seats.

Sept 12, according to the Tong Shu (the Chinese almanac), is a bad day. It’s a Month Breaker day. Hence, it is a bad day to carry out any important activities.

– Fengshui master David Tong, 40,

POLITICAL OBSERVERS: Good mood?

Judging ground sentiment is more important when calling for a general election, said political observers.

Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said it was natural for the ruling party to want to learn the extent to which government policy has made the “ground sweet”.

She said: “In a way, the public may not care what the policy is called. They care that their lives are better.

“The politicians will also want to see if the social mood is a positive one.”

Associate law professor Eugene Tan of the Singapore Management University agreed.

Aside from judging ground sentiment, being able “to show a good report card” to the electorate is also important, he said.

Other considerations include whether the party calling the date has its people, talent and manpower ready.

Said Dr Koh: “So it won’t just be about the mood of the voters. It’s also about the mood of the rank and file of the party. The candidates themselves have to be ready as well.”

Nevertheless, despite the hype about Sept 12, Prof Tan does not think that the General Election will fall in September.

He said there may be “competition for the use of open fields” if campaigning clashes with getai events.

Candidates would also be busy at getai events as special guests.

The former nominated MP suggested November or December as better months.

“This would then give the longest lead-up time. So any accusations of unfairness and lack of time would be severely diluted,” he said.

Source: www.tnp.sg

August 1, 2015
Neighbour In Abuse Case Faces Two More Charges

The neighbour of a woman, allegedly made to eat faeces and drink urine, faced two additional charges on Friday (July 31).

Darwinder Singh Sukhdev Singh, 39, who is unemployed, is now accused of abetting the victim’s husband, Mr Khamis Abas, to voluntarily cause hurt to his wife, Madam Kamisah Burel, 58, by feeding her human faeces and urine.

Singh allegedly committed the offence at Block 48 Lower Delta Road in April.

A video clip of Madam Kamisah being slapped, allegedly by her daughter, had gone viral.

Singh is also accused of slapping Mr Khamis on his face once at the block of flats sometime last year. He was first charged in court last week.

His earlier charge stated he had allegedly abetted the couple’s daughter, Ms Siti Nur Redha Khamis, 25, to voluntarily cause hurt to her mother by feeding the elderly woman human faeces and urine.

He is accused of committing this offence at the same block at around 10.30pm on July 1.

Singh is now remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for a psychiatric evaluation and will be back in court on Aug 14.

Source: www.tnp.sg

July 31, 2015
Jover Chew Faces New Charges, 28 Now In Total

Two fresh charges have been brought against Jover Chew, the former owner of Sim Lim Square electronics shop Mobile Air, bringing the total number of charges he faces to 28.

These charges were read during a pre-trial conference today (July 30). Chew, 33, allegedly exhibited insulting behaviour and caused distress to a customer, Ms Zou Jing Tong, in October last year.

Ms Zou had to pick up small change amounting to S$547 after Chew had scattered it on the floor of his shop. The amount owed to Ms Zou was part of a Small Claims Tribunal order. For this, he could be fined up to S$5,000.

The second charge sees Chew accused of abetment by conspiracy to cheat walk-in customers between December 2013 and Sept 24 last year with Kam Kok Keong, an ex-employee.

On Sept 24 last year, Kam allegedly tricked Ms Zou into believing that she could buy an iPhone 6 Plus for S$1,600 — a fact that Kam knew to be false. For this, Kam, 31, faces the same charge as Chew, bringing the total number of charges brought against Kam to nine.

If convicted of abetment by conspiracy to cheat, Chew and Kam could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.

Mobile Air became notorious after a video of a tourist, Pham Van Thoai, going on his knees to beg for a refund at the shop went viral. The Vietnamese had paid S$950 for an iPhone 6, but was told he had to add S$1,500 in warranty fees.

Three other employees — Koh Guan Seng, 38, Lim Hong Ching, 33, and Lim Zhi Wei Kelvin, 32 — have also been charged. They face one to 15 charges each of abetment by conspiracy to commit cheating.

All five men are out on bail. A pre-trial conference for them will be held on Aug 27.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 31, 2015