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Tag: Ang Mo KIo GRC

  • From TV To Politics, PAP Candidate Darryl David Relishes Chance To Serve

    From TV To Politics, PAP Candidate Darryl David Relishes Chance To Serve

    Most Singaporeans would remember him as the host of popular television game show “The Pyramid Game”, and Mr Darryl David, 45, believes the skills which he had picked up as a media personality would be useful in serving residents should he be elected as part of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team.

    In all, Mr David spent 22 years in the media and communications industry, and the experience of working as a team under pressure would stand him in good stead in the political arena, he said. So, too, would the interpersonal skills that he had acquired, he added.

    Mr David was among the new candidates introduced by Mr Lee today (Aug 15) at a press conference. “I have spent time understanding (residents), trying to understand the issues they’re dealing with… working with grassroots leaders. And I believe that through what I’ve learnt… I have built up a series of experiences that will allow me to help and contribute to the community and society at large,” he said.

    The formal introduction of Mr David as a People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate makes him the first well-known ex-media personality here to enter the political fray. Nevertheless, he was also quick to point out his experience as deputy director at the School of Design in Temasek Polytechnic, and his involvement in grassroots activities and several national committees.

    Mr David started community work as a district councillor with the North-East Community Development Council in 2009. Over the past two and a half years, he has been active in Sengkang West, Kebun Bahru and Ang Mo Kio-Hougang. He will be succeeding Mr Yeo Guat Kwang in the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang division. Mr Yeo will be redeployed to another GRC.

    Apart from English, Mr David is able to converse in Mandarin and Hokkien as well. This has helped him establish rapport with residents, especially the elderly, and understand the issues they are facing, he said. “As an educator, I’ve learnt that it’s only through patience and empathy that you’re able to realise the potential of the student because every student learns differently. So likewise when you deal with residents and their problems, you have to appreciate that every problem is unique to every resident,” he added.

    If elected, Mr David, the father or two children aged four and seven, said he would champion issues related to childcare and the ageing population. Adding that he has seen first-hand the quality and calibre of polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students, described himself as a “big supporter” for skills-based education – and this was something that he hoped to push for at the national level, he said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Inderjit Singh Says He Is Still PAP Member

    Inderjit Singh Says He Is Still PAP Member

    Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Inderjit Singh has taken to social media to affirm that he is still a member of the People’s Action Party. He also said he will still be assisting PM Lee Hsien Loong in his election campaign in Ang Mo Kio.

    His latest post on Tuesday came after he announced his retirement from politics at the next election. His announcement about his retirement on Facebook came shortly after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee released its report on boundary changes.

    Online talk by netizens and news websites was set abuzz with speculation that Mr Inderjit was quitting the party.

    Some websites and commentators reposted his old speeches on the White Paper that was made in Parliament, and a social media post in response to the President’s address.

    Reacting to the online buzz, Mr Inderjit said on his Facebook page: “I read with amusement that some people have taken my old speeches and reposted them with a headline that I have left the PAP. The white paper speech was made in early 2013 and the one on the response to the president address was posted in May 2014.

    “I requested to PM to allow me to step down as an MP on 2nd January 2013 as I have contributed almost 20 years as an MP and wanted to spend time on my work and family.”

    I read with amusement that some people have taken my old speeches and reposted them with a headline that I have left the…

    Posted by Inderjit Singh on Tuesday, July 28, 2015

    On Sunday, Singapore’s Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen told the media in an interview: “We want to handle the retirement of our MPs more smoothly and I would prefer a more deliberate and a dignified manner,” he said. “You can post your retirement on Facebook, but I think as an MP who has served 15, 20, even 30 years – that’s not the best way to do it.”

    Many online took it to understand that Mr Inderjit was retiring from the party, as there were no other MPs who have announced their retirement.

    When asked to comment, The Straits Times reported that Mr Singh replied: “If there was infighting, would I be helping PM Lee with his campaign?”

    Dr Ng also told The Straits Times separately: “When I read that Inderjit was retiring, two thoughts came into my mind. First, that at 55, he had many more years to contribute, and was big-hearted to retire now, so that younger candidates could stand in his place.

    “I have great respect for Inderjit and learnt from his many good speeches in Parliament. He has a heart for the daily struggles of Singaporeans and could put it across in heartfelt and effective ways. When he spoke, Ministers took note, and followed up. He was a people’s MP.

    “Second, I thought we should do better than just Facebook postings for retiring MPs. After many years of service, the party should try to find a more dignified and deliberate way to announce their retirement. So when we announce new candidates, whenever possible, we will do it together with their retiring MPs, that they are taking over. I hope this approach will do justice to the many years of contribution that MPs like Inderjit have given to serve their residents.”

     

    Source: http://news.asiaone.com

  • Rich People Problems – Just Because They Stay In Private Properties Doesn’t Mean They Are Rich

    Rich People Problems – Just Because They Stay In Private Properties Doesn’t Mean They Are Rich

    Call it the power of mrbrown: The popular blogger’s tweet about a private property owner’s gripe is circulating online, provoking indignation and endless mockery.

    In a profile of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Ang Mo Kio GRC by The Straits Times, father of three Chew B.W. was one of the constituents interviewed. His complaint: Not enough is being done for those living in private estates.

    Mr Chew noted the rising cost of living, such as the cost of a year’s tuition at The Learning Lab ($4,000) and a fencing costume for one of his children ($600). He added: “It doesn’t mean we are rich just because we live here. The Government should also help people like us – we pay the most taxes.”

    According to the Manpower Ministry’s website, the median gross monthly income in June 2014 was $3,770. The cost of a semi-detached house typically runs into seven figures.

    Mr Chew’s sentiments got short shrift from netizens on social media. The tweet has been retweeted almost 570 times. Here are some of the choicer comments on Twitter:

     
    Over on Facebook, user Callan Tham said: “Here, let me play the world’s smallest violin for them.” Kwan Tuck Soon also remarked: “The gahmen should help them upgrade to a mansion with a fencing room.”

    But it was Reddit user xavierkoh who had perhaps the most reasoned response: “Perhaps what we really need to cultivate as a community is a sense of empathy for the less privileged instead of always focusing on our own problems which might be more trivial in nature as compared to others. Without that, our society will further fragment into distinct social classes who only care about themselves.”

     

    Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com