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Tag: EP

  • Cherian George: Elected Presidency Missed Opportunity For Multiculturalism, Halimah Yaacob Would’ve Won With No Help

    Cherian George: Elected Presidency Missed Opportunity For Multiculturalism, Halimah Yaacob Would’ve Won With No Help

    What do you make of the proposed changes to Singapore’s elected presidency?

    The impression I get is that it has been framed as a debate between the need for minority representation and an open system that would allow Tan Cheng Bock to possibly become President. And people are lined up on either side. But I do want to see a minority President. I think it is a very important symbol. But, precisely because I understand the importance of having a minority president, I’m disappointed in the way the government has gone about it.

    The assumption seems to be that we don’t now have a minority candidate on the radar capable of winning the presidency in open competition. I think that is wrong. Halimah Yacob can win with no help or handicap. If they picked Halimah Yacob as a candidate, I don’t think they need to block Chinese candidates against her. She is enormously respected, she has extremely strong trade union labour credentials. She is respected by Malays as well as Chinese. This is one of those cases where the PAP as well as some other Singaporeans have a very dim view of Singaporeans, and that view is unrealistically dim. Yes, there might be some prejudice against Halimah on account of her gender, religion and race. But this prejudice probably does not amount to some kind of total trump card that will ensure her defeat. Those backing her might have to fight a little harder. But whatever kind of handicap she carries would just quantitatively amount to a tiny disadvantage. And I don’t see how that can compromise her track record. And I also cannot believe that the PAP with all its machinery and the union movement as well as many Singaporeans wouldn’t go all out to bat for her. After all, how wonderful would it be for Singapore to have a female, Malay, Muslim president?

    I have total faith that there are enough male, Chinese, non-Muslim Singaporeans who will campaign for her. Unfortunately, many others do not have such faith. And I see it as a huge moment of opportunity for Singapore’s multiracialism. This is an opportunity to signal to the world, and ourselves, that after fifty years of nation building, we are ready to embrace a President who is not from the conventional mainstream.

    Instead, what are we heading for? We’re heading for a situation where the PAP has decided to give a Malay candidate a walkover, which will taint the presidency forever. Whoever becomes the president next year will be a token president. Why taint it with the label of tokenism? It’s so unnecessary. I believe that if it were a straight fight between Halimah Yacob and Tan Cheng Bock, Halimah would win hands down.
    Source: www.mackerel.life

     

  • Damanhuri Abas: Malay Community Don’t Want PAP’s ‘Useless Malay President’

    Damanhuri Abas: Malay Community Don’t Want PAP’s ‘Useless Malay President’

    There is no pride for any person to be offered a token position to be a puppet to sing the tune of his or her master. To then use race as a justification when we all know it is a mere excuse to look magnanimous when in reality it is a disgusting use of racial sentiments to further political interest of a Party in power worried that someone else will open up the books.

    For God sake, discrimination exists for the last 50 years in their own institutions justified by strange ancient suspicion of an entire race that discounts the malays as untrustworthy for so-called ‘sensitive position’ in the SAF. Solve that misnomer first and be more honest to us as equal citizens of this country. Malays have sacrificed their lives in the hundreds on Bukit Chandu fighting the Japanese. If that is not enough to trust our loyalty to this land than tell us what will, instead of lying to the entire race?

    We don’t want your useless Malay president.

     

    Source: Damanhuri Abas

  • Former Journalist Ismail Kassim: PAP Should Nominate Strong Minority Candidate For Upcoming Presidential Elections, Not Amend Constitution To Stifle Competition

    Former Journalist Ismail Kassim: PAP Should Nominate Strong Minority Candidate For Upcoming Presidential Elections, Not Amend Constitution To Stifle Competition

    A note to PM

    Dear Prime Minister

    By now you ought to know how divisive your proposal to amend the EP system has become. I cannot think of any issue in the last three decades that has caused such a wide and deep division within the electorate.

    The tragedy is that your aim to ensure that members from minority communities too have a chance at becoming an EP is commendable, and has its merits.

    Unfortunately, the way and timing of your move have also prompted considerable misgivings over your real motive:

    Is it really to ensure minority representation or is it to prevent an independent-minded citizen from being elected EP in 2017?

    Because of suspicions and emotions aroused over motive, it has become very difficult, even for those in the middle ground, to look at the proposed changes in a calm and objective manner.

    And any rush to implement a system that is deemed unfair may have adverse repercussions on the EP itself.

    Reserving the post for a particular minority is fundamentally flawed and goes against the grain of multiracialism and meritocracy. Likewise, the obsession with higher qualifications without giving due weight to strength of character and integrity is both elitist and undemocratic.

    Will any good arise from foisting a minority candidate in a closed race open only to members from that community on the nation; in all likelihood too, it is likely to become a farce, reminiscent of a past EP election, when a businessman was forced to compete to give the semblance of a democratic race.

    Such an EP is unlikely to command wide respect, and in all probability will be regarded as a ‘kayu’ (wood) by significant sections of the people, including members from his own community.

    There is still time for you to salvage the situation; just make sure that whatever changes that will be adopted will not come into effect in the 2017 presidential election.

    In this way, your protestations that they are not aimed against any individual will instantly become more credible.

    The minority community that has not yet produced an EP for the last 47 years will not mind waiting a little longer.

    As far as I know, they have grumbled over a lot of things such as continuing discrimination in the military and national service for their males and the unfair banning of their tudung-clad females from becoming nurses and policewomen.

    But over the EP, there is none.

    The PAP, notwithstanding its faults, is a great party with a sterling record.

    If you feel strongly, you should nominate a minority for the coming EP and use all the powers at your disposal to get him elected.

    If you think it is too risky, you can always field a stronger candidate. There is someone with impeccable credentials from your ranks who cannot become PM because of his ethnic origins. I think he will be unbeatable in any contest.

    These are the heroic options, which a party with a solid reputation to protect, should choose.

    Do not stoop so low now as to amend the Constitution out of fear, just to exclude opponents and independent-minded citizens.

    So Mr Prime Minister, I hope you will reconsider all your options, and choose one that will unite the people, and not divide them further.

    Ismail Kassim
    14th November 2016

     

    Source: Ismail Kassim

  • Pinoy: Why MOM Keeps Rejecting My Employment Pass Applications

    Pinoy: Why MOM Keeps Rejecting My Employment Pass Applications

    Editor’s Note: A.S.S. receives plenty of odd requests from our readers. Readers have asked for advice on divorces, relationships, courting and clubbing, best makan places and even job recommendations. Although we do not publish all our readers’ requests, we felt you guys might be interested to read this message from a desperate Filipino, who asked us to help him secure an employment pass to work in Singapore. 
    For the record, A.S.S. does not have any power to influence S/E pass applications with the Ministry of Manpower. If we did, there would probably be more jobless foreigners going back to their countries. LOL!
    hello admin..
    i think this message is a desperate move for me to notice a M.O.M..because before i work insingapore at pasta mania for two years as EPASS and then after i finished my contract in pasta mania last year on april i hire in hanwoori a korean resto in singapore garden way and they have a enough qouta for SPASS during that time but M.O.M rejected my application..
    my boss is appeal my application for spass and then after almost 2 months of waiting they rejected me again so i have no choice but to go back in Philippines last june 2014 and then after 4 months of staying here in Philippines my boss contacted me that they have quota again for me as spass but the M.O.M is rejecting me again..and last May my boss call me that they want to apply again my application for spass but again the M.O.M is rejected again my pass…
    i just want to ask your opinion of what my boss need to do and what should i do for me to get another spass or epass so i can work legally again in singapore…and thank you in advance i hope you see my message because i really really love to go back in singapore and to work again
     
    Aris Pedutem
    A.S.S. Contributor

    Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com
  • MOM: 38 Firms Identified For Closer Inspection Of EP Applications

    MOM: 38 Firms Identified For Closer Inspection Of EP Applications

    There are 38 companies identified for closer scrutiny and about 100 more firms for “further engagement”, said Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say in an update on the Fair Consideration Framework introduced last year.

    In a blogpost on Thursday (Aug 13), Mr Lim said the 38 are from the 150 firms the ministry has engaged with over the past year.

    “MOM is committed to scrutinise the applications for Employment Pass (EP) by what I call ‘Double Weak’ firms: Weak in Singaporean Core and weak in commitment to fair consideration in hiring and developing Singaporeans,” Mr Lim wrote.

    The Fair Consideration Framework was introduced last year to ensure that Singaporeans are considered fairly for job openings before firms apply to employ foreign PMEs.

    On top of the 150, another 100 companies were identified for further engagement and these are considered “outliers” in their respective industries such as such as Admin and Support, Construction, Infocomm, Finance and Insurance, Professional Services, Transport and Storage and Wholesale Trade, the minister said.

    “Being placed on the watchlist means that MOM will scrutinise their EP applications more closely. They will be asked to provide additional details, such as the number of Singaporeans who applied and were interviewed for the posts, and whether their existing Singaporean employees have been considered,” said Mr Lim.

    He added his ministry will engage the firms to up their efforts in the training, development and upgrading of local Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs).

    “In the event that we have a shortage of qualified Singaporeans in some specific areas, we will encourage them to transfer know-how from the foreign PMEs to their Singaporean staff so that, over time, more Singaporeans will be qualified to take on these opportunities and challenges,” Mr Lim wrote.

    “Should there be Double Weak firms that are unresponsive or uncooperative, they will have their EP privileges curtailed,” he added.

    That said, the minister believes “a majority” of the Double Weak firms will respond constructively to its call to strengthen their Singapore core. “I also believe that many of our local PMEs are willing to up-skill and re-skill, and are open to try out some of these jobs and careers we are creating for them,” he said.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com