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Tag: Chee Soon Juan

  • SDP Working The Ground In Sembawang GRC

    SDP Working The Ground In Sembawang GRC

    “I thought Lee Kuan Yew said nothing is free?” an elderly resident pointed out when we visited the Sembawang GRC on Sunday. “Then why Lee Hsien Loong giving out this and that? Like he’s very scared like that.”

    He was referring to the recent announcements of goodies that the Government made.

    “Yes,” we agreed, “the Government is obviously feeling the pressure. But it’s important to remember that it is the opposition that is constantly speaking up that the PAP feels it has to react.”

    It is certain, however, that after the elections the PAP will find ways and means to collect back what it gave out before the elections.

    The only way to stop this is to ensure that the next Parliament has SDP MPs in it. We will ensure that the Government genuinely takes care of the people rather than employ such cynical and unworthy ploys.

    The SDP will be vigilant and push for policies that will make life for the people less stressful and enhance the quality of life in Singapore.

    The PAP must not continue to squeeze Singaporeans just so that it can boast that we have huge reserves and then pay its ministers million-dollar salaries.

    The greater the strength of the SDP, the less the PAP will bully the people.

    On the matter of the MPs in the GRC, a few residents told us that they hardly see their MP Mr Ong Teng Koon. “He’s not very involved with us,” one commented.

    On the other hand, residents’ reactions to our work and presence has been encouraging.

    This is because the SDP has been visiting these constituencies consistently in our walkabouts, house-visits and kopi sessions since the last elections in 2011.

    The exciting news is that we will increase our tempo in 2015 as the next GE draws nearer. We will be announcing our plans soon.

     

    Source: http://yoursdp.org

  • Chee Soon Juan: Policy Alternatives in Parliament Only Possible With The Presence of Opposition Parties

    Chee Soon Juan: Policy Alternatives in Parliament Only Possible With The Presence of Opposition Parties

    Minister Lawrence Wong has called on Singaporeans to be active in seeking solutions to improve Singapore. This seems a curious statement given that many have been suggesting ways only to be met by a deaf ear.

    The SDP, for example, has been coming up with alternative policies. And whenever we launch them, we invite the relevant ministers and their officials to attend (for example, see here, here and here).

    They have consistently declined to attend. And now the Government pretends that there has not been alternative voices coming up with concrete proposals on how we can better manage Singapore’s affairs.

    In addition, following the launch of the papers we sent the documents to the ministers. We even sent our healthcare paper to the Medishield Life Review Committee, saying that the SDP “look[ed] forward to contributing to the review of our healthcare system.”

    In fact, the SDP has drawn up comprehensive policies in key areas:

    Healthcare. The SDP National Healthcare Plan: Caring For All Singaporeans

    Housing. Housing A Nation: Holistic Policies For Affordable Homes

    Population. Building A People: Sound Policies For A Secure Future

    Education. Educating For Creativity and Equality: An Agenda For Transformation

    Ministerial salaries. Ethical Salaries For A Public-Centred Government

    Malay community. A Singapore For All Singaporeans: Addressing The Concerns Of The Malay Community.

    (We will be launching our policy on the economy in the near future.)

    In fact, the Government has been adopting some of the measures that the SDP has proposed. (Read PAP should acknowledge SDP’s contribution)

    Singaporeans should note that even though the Government knew that the SDP had drawn up our policies, it refused to invite us to attend the National Conversation even as it extended the invitation to other opposition parties.

    In the past, the Government accused the opposition of not coming with better ideas to run the country. Now that the SDP has drawn up our alternative policies, it tries to hush them up and continue to paint the opposition as not being constructive.

    This is why Singaporeans despair at the type of politics that the PAP plays.

    In a recent Parliamentary sitting on the debate on constructive politics, PM Lee Hsien Loong said: “In a serious parliament, the Government presents its policies. The Opposition presents its alternatives.”

    Let’s give PM Lee what he wants and get the SDP into Parliament.

     

    Source: http://yoursdp.org

  • SDP Wants Public To Accept Apology From CPF Protesters

    SDP Wants Public To Accept Apology From CPF Protesters

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    Roy has asked to meet with the children and parents to apologise to them. This is the right thing to do.

    I met Roy several weeks ago. He is a thoughtful individual and no one should believe that he intentionally targeted his or the group’s actions at the children who were performing that afternoon.

    It is important, nevertheless, that both he and Hui Hui offer an apology to the children.

    The danger is that those who are angered by the episode but who, otherwise, would support the Return Our CPF campaign, unwittingly reinforce a culture intolerant of mistakes.

    Throwing labels like “immature”, “inexcusable”, “attention seekers” at the protesters is unhelpful. For even the most experienced activists spend a lifetime making errors and learning from them. Gandhi, himself not immune to mistakes, acknowledged: “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

    In this vein, let us re-affirm our faith in Roy and Hui Hui as well as in ourselves, who, with all our imperfections and weaknesses, continue to learn and grow in our journey to make our Republic a better place.

    Authored by: Chee Soon Juan