Tag: GE2015

NSP President Sebastian Teo: I Have To Be Strong If I Want To Fight On

In just over a week, the National Solidarity Party (NSP) made several U-turns on its intention to contest in MacPherson SMC; had its acting secretary-general and a council member resign; and watched its reputation crumble.

The NSP’s woes first surfaced after it announced a U-turn last Wednesday of its Aug 10 decision not to engage in a three-way contest with the Workers’ Party (WP) and People’s Action Party (PAP) in MacPherson.

The announcement that it intended to send someone into MacPherson prompted acting secretary-general Hazel Poa to quit the party the same day. Central Executive Council (CEC) member Steve Chia, who indicated that he would be the likely candidate, abruptly announced in a 1am post on his Facebook on Sunday that he would not be standing there – a decision which suggested that the NSP had again decided to leave the WP to take on the PAP.

The party, which remained silent over the turn of events, was then hit on Monday with another resignation: central executive committee member Mohamed Fazli Talip, who was identified as one of 12 potential candidates for the seats it intends to contest. He said on Facebook that he was leaving because the party’s position was damaged by the decisions it made, and he wanted to “protect my own credibility”.

Through it all, the party’s leader – party president Sebastian Teo – has kept his silence.

But on Monday night, he made his first remarks on the party’s week of turmoil, telling The Straits Times about the twist and turns of the MacPherson decision, the personal attacks on him and how he considered stepping down.

Here are edited excerpts of the interview.

Q: The NSP CEC voted last Monday to contest MacPherson. On Wednesday, Hazel Poa decided to quit.

Mr Teo: I don’t blame her. From day one, she thought it was right not to have three-cornered fights. I respect her decision, though some say we shouldn’t give way.

Q: What was the result of the CEC vote?

Mr Teo: It was 70 per cent in support of the motion to contest. Over 10 CEC members turned up. Some in the party felt we should rethink the first decision, as it (that decision) didn’t go to a vote.

Q: What are the factors behind the decision?

Mr Teo: Not to be seen as giving in to the WP is a factor, though a more important reason is that we’ve been on the ground (in MacPherson) for 10 over years. It’s a bit of a pity if we had to give up a constituency that we had cultivated for so long.

Q: Who was the assigned candidate for MacPherson if the NSP were to contest it? Is it you?

Mr Teo: No, Steve (Chia) pushed for it so he would be the one to go. He was the one that initiated the motion and tried to convince some.

Q: Why did Steve Chia change his mind? Did the CEC asked him to do so?

Mr Teo: No, he did it on his own.

Q: Now that he has come out to say he is pulling out of MacPherson, is the NSP still contesting it?

Mr Teo: It’s up to the party, the motion still stands. We have not decided not to contest MacPherson. The decision is still there.

Q: How do you think these developments have affected the party’s reputation?

Mr Teo: If I say no, you may think I’m too naive. If I say yes, I think it’s yet to be proven. So I’d rather not comment. But somehow or rather, it has created some concerns.

Q: As president, do you think you could or should have done things better?

Mr Teo: The issue is that we’re running (the party) the democratic way, based on collective decision. The power is not centralised in the party head. There’s a big difference. As NSP president, I don’t have absolute power. For major things, we go through a process if we really cannot get consensus. That’s the solution. It may not be a perfect solution but there’s no other way.

Q: So is it unfair to blame it on you?

Mr Teo: The earlier Straits Times report said the NSP president only steps in to be a tie-breaker. It is true to a certain extent. I will come in and weigh which side has more logic and makes more sense.

Q: Do you think you should have asserted yourself more as president to chart the direction of the party?

Mr Teo: To a certain extent, it’s the system. If people think the system has to be revamped, so be it.

Q: Do you think there’s a need for revamp?

Mr Teo: Yes, so that the decision-making process can be faster and the head of the party can be more decisive. At the present moment, if people want to put all the blame on me, I think it’s not too fair.

Q: Have you received any negative comments from members and supporters?

Mr Teo: No. In fact, most members still want me and so there’s no way I can just leave, even if I have the intention to resign.

Q: Why not?

Mr Teo: Logically, at this moment, as the party head, I cannot abandon the party. It’s my responsibility. At the present moment, I still have very strong support from the party internally, so that’s why I think the responsibility is still there.

Q: How long did you take to decide to stay on?

Mr Teo: A few days.

Q: Did you tell yourself you should move on and let others do the job?

Mr Teo: Yes I did try, not once but many times to see if anyone can take over my role, not just in the last few days but in the past. It’s not the first time such thoughts crossed my mind. It’s not because I’m not being supported. I’ve managed the party from 2001. From 2006, we pulled out of Singapore Democratic Alliance. It’s been nine years. I don’t know if I should say I’ve made NSP better known and helped it progress. It’s been quite some time.

Q: How will the developments affect NSP’s performance at the coming polls?

Mr Teo: I can’t foresee the outcome. But generally, I can tell you that NSP will still go for the election as planned. We will make it known to the public before Nomination Day.

Q: How many seats will the party contest?

Mr Teo: So far, it is still two GRCs and two SMCs (Sembawang GRC, Tampines GRC, Pioneer SMC and MacPherson SMC), if the motion is not moved.

Q: What will you do to repair NSP’s image?

Mr Teo: We will see if the public understands the situation and still give us their support. It’s hard for us to come out with a set of improvements to the system within a short period.

Q: NSP contested 24 seats in 2011, which was the biggest opposition slate at the election and a peak for you and the party. How do you feel about its preparations this time?

Mr Teo: Before these happened, we were in a very good shape. Our fighting spirit and energy was on full charge. It really looked like we could be winning. But now, I feel sayang (It’s a pity in Malay). But things happen and you just have to do your best and put in the effort you can.

Q: A few days ago, a website surfaced with details of your previous convictions and bankruptcy. How did it affect you?

Mr Teo: Of course, the motive, the objective (of the website) is obvious, it wants me to quit the team, whichever constituency that I intend to go.

Q: Does it make you more determined to prove yourself this time?

Mr Teo: I think if I want to fight on, I’ll have to be strong.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 25, 2015
NSP Will Still Contest Macpherson SMC

The National Solidarity Party (NSP) is committed to contesting in the MacPherson single member constituency, party organising secretary Spencer Ng confirmed on Monday, stressing that Mr Steve Chia’s withdrawal did not affect their decision.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the party’s headquarters in Jalan Besar, Mr Ng said that the CEC had collectively decided to contest in MacPherson, and was standing by its choice.

The latest announcement appears to contradict a Facebook post by NSP council member Steve Chia last Sunday stating that he was withdrawing from MacPherson. He also wished the Workers’ Party well and urged it to send a good candidate.

The NSP did not comment on Mr Chia’s post until Monday night, when Mr Ng said simply: “MacPherson is still on.”

“We’ve been there for 10 years and we want to go back because many residents had requested that we do,” he added.

Mr Ng’s remarks amount to NSP seemingly reversing its decision of whether to contest in MacPherson three times within a week.

The party declared last Wednesday that it would contest in MacPherson SMC after it said earlier that it would bow out so as to prevent a three-corner fight with the People’s Action Party and the Workers’ Party. Acting secretary-general Hazel Poa quit in protest on the same day.

On Sunday, Mr Chia indicated that NSP was pulling out only for Mr Ng to contradict him a day later.

Mr Ng said that Monday’s meeting was for elections preparations, and was not about party succession. He added that the party’s election manifesto will be out “in the next few days”.

Besides Mr Ng, other NSP members in attendance were Mr Eugene Yeo, Mr Elvin Ong, Mr Nicky Tan, Mr Yadzeth Haris and party new face Kevryn Lim. Neither Mr Chia nor party president Sebastian Teo were present.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 25, 2015
$20,000 Grant To Help Extended Families Live Closer Together

Families intending to buy resale flats to live with or near their parents, or seniors who plan to do the same with their married children, are set to receive S$20,000 under the new Proximity Housing Grant (PHG).

First announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally yesterday (Aug 23), the scheme, which kicked in today, will replace the Higher-Tier CPF Housing Grant that previously gave first-timer families S$10,000 and singles S$5,000 on top of the basic S$30,000 or S$15,000 CPF Housing Grant they receive respectively.

Under the scheme, singles will receive grant of S$10,000, half of what a family gets. Recipients of the grant will need to live in their flats for at least five years after receiving the grant, as well the families they live near or with. The grant is available to Singaporean families once, regardless of their household income, any previous subsidies enjoyed or private property ownership.

Details for this scheme, as well as for a slew of other measures announced by Mr Lee, were released by the Ministry of National Development (MND) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) at a media briefing today. The other measures include raised income ceilings when buying new HDB flats and Executive Condominium units, and bigger Special CPF Housing Grants.

While more are now eligible to buy flats from the HDB, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday sought to assuaged fears that a crush of buyers could outstrip supply and drive up queue times for Build-to-Order (BTO) flats, or prices for ECs.

Emphasising that MND and HDB will monitor the market to ramp up supply if necessary, Mr Khaw said that the market would adjust itself, with buyers flowing both ways between HDB flats and EC units.

“Some EC buyers may move into BTOs, some BTO applicants may go up to ECs. At the border (between) EC and (private) condos, there will also be movement. Key point is because we have leverage over supply and we can always adjust the supply, expand and reduce as necessary,” said Mr Khaw.

On whether developers of EC would capitalise on the higher income ceilings of buyers and raise prices of units, Mr Khaw said developers should be looking at lowering prices, to balance the increased supply of EC units in a market where demand has largely been satisfied.

And dispelling notions that the measures were introduced to sweeten the ground before the upcoming General Election, Mr Khaw said it was the right time to introduce these adjustments after having cleared the queue of first-timers. Such measures could not have been introduced three or four years ago, he noted.

“When I took over four and a half years ago, we focused on specific groups where the need was greatest. And that’s how we incrementally adjusted the policies… So now that the first-timers, newly-weds problems are largely resolved, it allows me now to begin to look at other groups – middle income groups and higher income groups … and going forward… including those who are renting HDB flats,” he said.

Adding he “could not care less when GE is”, Mr Khaw said problems must be solved and schemes will be launched “once I’m confident that those are practical scheme(s)”.

He also clarified that shifting the focus towards the higher income groups does not be at the expense of the lower income groups. “Even if we expand upwards to a higher income group, we are also improving or enhancing the subsidy for the low income group. But what it means is in totality, more Singaporeans get to benefit from housing subsidy,” he said.

To that end, the September BTO and Sale of Balance Flats exercise will be slightly delayed — but still held in the same month — to ensure that the next round of buyers will be able to benefit from the changes, said Mr Khaw.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 25, 2015
Dear NSP Ignore The People’s Voices And See It Backfire In Your Face

With all respect Steve Chia and NSP CEC, you and your CEC have taken the narrow and disregarded the wide.

The narrow refers to your interests in your own party … and to an extent, your followers. The wide refers to the current political situation that Singapore and Singaporeans find themselves in today.

While every political party is looking toward correcting the wider imbalance of one party dominance, and seeking ways to correct that by weighted and considered compromises … your party is taking the opposite path to protect the narrow.

All I can say is that this will most likely backfire and set your party back to a stage where it might not be recoverable.

Please reconsider and tell us that you do feel the pulse of Singaporeans at large, and not only those of your supporters.

You do realise that in the news reported this morning, your party comes across as having the same mentality as that of the PAP.

You are only interested in serving your party supporters and has no qualm to disregard the voices of others who may not have yet supported you.

You still have time to correct your stance and to win back the confidence of Singaporeans and not just that of your supporters.

You do see that the 43% of voters who voted for the NSP in GE 2011 were Opposition supporters more than they were NSP supporters.

When push comes to shove, the party with the better parliamentary experience and trustworthiness will be preferred to take the PAP to task.

The 3 cornered fight will do NSP no good because the outcome is foreseeable …. you may not get half of your previous 43%. Why damage the good repute because of this?

Please reconsider for the larger cause and larger good of Singapore.

Thank you.

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

August 25, 2015
Vote Ravi Philemon For Hong Kah North SMC

We first met back in 30th December 2009 when my family and i was homeless. We were spending nights camping on Sembawang beach. On that very night, he and Andrew Loh was distributing biscuits to every one and i never knew who the heck they were back then. But with their help, my family and i now have a proper brick roof over our head.

And he did not stop there.

Over the years, he has contributed significantly to my social entrepreneurial endeavors. Without even asking for it, he introduced me to those in business whom i had garner knowledge, gain so much wisdom from, motivates and inspires me on my journey now. Just imagine someone who were once homeless, just a GCE ‘O’ level holder, feeling all useless and hopeless is now embarking on a journey that could provide employment and hope to others. Ravi Philemon is one of that big contributing factor to this positive change in me.

My mother ever once said in Malay, “Ravi tu bagus ar. Dia tak pernah lupakan kau dan apape, dia akan tolong.” Which translate “Ravi is good. He never forgets you and in anything, he will help.”

It’s been a few years now, acting on the various opportunities to contribute side by side with him in voluntary works. I am grateful.

Though it’s pretty new to me as it has been just sheer few days of supporting him in his walkabouts and campaigns, yesterday particularly was different. It was a wholesome new experience and i strongly believe that it was just the beginning.

Yesterday (Saturday – 22nd August 2015), Ravi Philemon was unveiled as the candidate for Hong Kah North SMC.

I am supporting him not because he is a close friend. I am supporting him not because he have once helped me. I am supporting him not because he is in an opposition party.

I am giving him my fullest support for i have witnessed how he relentlessly help in person, on the ground (using his own pocket money everytime), raise issues which other normal Singaporeans dare not raise and go all out for the benefit of others. I believe he can be an astounding leader and be a great representative for us Singaporeans.

Someone who came from such humble beginnings, gave back to the community in so many ways and are now fighting for a seat in parliament so that he may come forward to be Singaporean’s voice. Doesn’t he deserve your vote?

‪#‎RaviForHongKahNorthSMC‬

Source: Liyana Dhamirah

August 24, 2015