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Tag: GE2015

  • Goh Meng Seng: Singaporeans Are Self-Centred, Fairness And Social Justice Unimportant To Them

    Goh Meng Seng: Singaporeans Are Self-Centred, Fairness And Social Justice Unimportant To Them

    I have met quite a number of Singaporean friends in Hong Kong recently and we naturally talked about the results of last GE2015.

    Part of the observations made are as follows:

    Most Singaporeans don’t put much emphasis on fairness and justice. Most of the time they know with PAP as Government, there are gross injustice and unfair happenings but to them, these are non-issue to them as long as they are not affected by it.

    They would continue to vote PAP even though they know PAP is not exactly a party that uphold fair play and even justice in every sense, as long as they continue to enjoy their own good life. It would be even better if they are given handouts directly, care less about fair or not unfair.

    Most Singaporeans are more self centred and only concerned about their own self interests. Social issues, balance and justice are basically non of their business.

    Even when they chose to swing against PAP is Purely because they are unhappy that their pockets are hurt or interests have been overlooked.

    That is why not many people attend any protests that raise social issues or even important issues but have DISTANT IMPLICATIONS on their self interests.

    What do you think?

     

    Source: Goh Meng Seng

  • Damanhuri Abas: Friends Must Learn To Put Friendship Above Political Partisanship

    Damanhuri Abas: Friends Must Learn To Put Friendship Above Political Partisanship

    Entering politics has changed my life.

    Since i made the decision to join politics and run in the recent elections, relations with individuals and institutions (both govt and non-govt) has changed. Friends suddenly prefers to distance themselves from associating with me as it could mean a potential risk of being misconstrued as supporting opposition.

    Instead of having a non-partizan position, they somehow behaves otherwise strangely uncritical of how hypocritical they are, when they accord all the civilities and cordialities when it comes to someone from the persons of the PAP government. Yet, i was somehow accused of politicizing during the hustings eventhough rightly that is what i now do.

    A step forward to move democracy forward is these individuals that are my friends taking the bold step to challenge this unhealthy mode of biasness and partizanship towards the incumbant. They can do so simply by remaining normal in their relationship with me and be seen with me in public.

    Lets hope this happens.

     

    Source: Damahuri Abas

  • Charles Chong: Handover of Punggol East Accounts From WP ‘On Track’

    Charles Chong: Handover of Punggol East Accounts From WP ‘On Track’

    The handover of Punggol East Single-Member Constituency’s accounts from the Workers’ Party (WP)-run Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) to Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council has been progressing, and both parties are eager to “move on”, said Punggol East Member of Parliament Charles Chong on Wednesday (Oct 7).

    The handover is on track to be completed before Dec 1, which is the Ministry of National Development’s (MND) deadline, he said.

    By then, Punggol East will be managed by the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council.

    “I think both sides are aiming for a good settlement so that we can move on. I don’t think it is in their interest — neither is it in ours — to drag this on. And it’s definitely not in the interest of the residents,” said Mr Chong, adding that he will request for the MND to restore its grants after getting a “clean set of accounts”.

    The MND has withheld two years of Government grants, totaling about S$14 million, from the former Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council, saying it has no guarantee the money would be used properly.

    During the General Election campaigning, the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the WP had disputed the estate’s financial position following the 2013 by-election, with the PAP claiming there was a surplus when Punggol East was handed over to WP, while WP claimed there was a deficit.

    To facilitate the handover, the AHTC has engaged an external auditor to audit Punggol East’s accounts from Apr 1. “Too many figures were thrown back and forth during the election,” said Mr Chong, who hopes the experts can reach an amiable conclusion promptly.

    “Everybody gave different snapshots of the same account. Everybody can more or less justify what they say, depending on the point in time when the thing happened. I suppose during election everybody sort of tries to use it to their advantage, (the) result of which causes more confusion than clarity.

    “Now that election is over … let the experts work it out, and see how it goes,” he said. “What happened in the past, I’m really not interested. I am just interested in what is due back to us.”

    Parties will meet later this week for an update. In the General Election last month, Mr Chong defeated the WP’s candidate and incumbent Lee Li Lian to win Punggol East back for the People’s Action Party.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • The Singapore Government By The Numbers

    The Singapore Government By The Numbers

    Which school in Singapore has produced the most number of office-holders in the 2015 Singapore Cabinet? How many doctors and lawyers are there in the mix? How many made the jump from military service to political office? Who is the youngest and who is the oldest person in Government?

    On Monday (Sept 28), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed his new Cabinet following the Sept 11 election, in which the ruling People’s Action Party won a 69.9 per cent of the votes.

    He introduced a new Coordinating Minister role which will be undertaken by his two deputies – Mr Teo Chee Hean (National Security) and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Economic and Social Policies) – as well as veteran minister Khaw Boon Wan, who will be Transport minister as well as co-ordinate issues related to Infrastructure.

    Mr Lee also put younger faces in key posts, including first-time MPs Ng Chee Meng and Ong Ye Kung who will both be Acting Minister in the Education portfolio.

    Among them are several former principal private secretaries (PPS):

    • Mr  Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Transport and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, was PPS to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (1992 to 1995).
    • Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance, was PPS to then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew (1997 to 2000).
    • Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, was PPS to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (2005 to 2008).
    • Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State for Communications and Information and Health, was PPS to Mr Lee Kuan Yew (2008 to 2011).
    • Mr Ong Ye Kung, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence, was PPS to PM Lee Hsien Loong (2002 to 2005).

    There are also several former military men:

    • PM Lee was a Brigadier-General in the army.
    • Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, was the Chief of Navy.
    • Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office and Government Whip, was the Chief of Army.
    • Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development, was a Brigadier-General in the army.
    • Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister of Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Transport, was Chief of Defence Force.

    Here is a look at the Singapore Government by the numbers.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Zulfikar Shariff: Malays Who Voted For PAP Weakened Community’s Bargaining Power

    Zulfikar Shariff: Malays Who Voted For PAP Weakened Community’s Bargaining Power

    Shortly after the last general elections, I discussed voting decisions with some Muslims who voted for the PAP.

    Interestingly, these Muslims justified their vote for the party as though it would benefit Muslims.

    Their arguments were based on:

    1. Yes, the PAP has discriminated against the community.

    2. But we do not know if the opposition will be better if they are in power.

    3. So it is better to support the PAP.

    Basically, they argue that it is better to support the devil you know. And since this devil may perform better in other areas (such as economic development), then we should support them.

    These Muslims admit that the PAP discriminates against the community and yet continue to support them.

    One of the problems they face is the inability to see voting and political engagement outside of a binary outcome: either PAP or opposition in power.

    I agree that the opposition has not proven to be better for Muslims. In fact, I do not believe that they are.

    But PAP or opposition in power are not our only options.

    What we should look at is…what strengthens our negotiating ability?

    We know that the PAP would be in power anyway. But what will force them to listen more?

    At 60% popular vote, the PAP did not really care. Yes, the drop from the previous election hurt them and they became more responsive (which should have shown these Muslims what they should do).

    But they still had a 10% cushion. And they can continue to discriminate against Muslims knowing we could not do much to affect their power.

    Dropping their popular vote to the mid or low 50s (I suggested 53%) would have a much bigger effect. The PAP would then realise their situation is precarious.

    They cannot take our votes for granted.

    They will have to respond.

    Our negotiating stand would have become stronger insha Allah.

    But now at 70%, the PAP’s position is stronger than ever.

    They do not need to listen or engage.

    We cannot be a swing vote anymore.

    What swing vote? At 70%, even if the community as a whole say we will not support them, they will still be in power.

    We have lost our ability to negotiate from strength.

    To those Muslims who voted for the PAP, good job.

    You have strengthened a party that discriminated against your brothers and sisters.

    And weakened your community.

    Forget negotiating.

    Pray that they do not take more of your rights.

    You have given them the power to not need you.

     

    Source: Zulfikar Shariff