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Tag: GE2015

  • Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss: Give Me A Fair Chance To Win Your Votes

    Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss: Give Me A Fair Chance To Win Your Votes

    ENCOUNTER WITH A GRASSROOT LEADER

    (Yesterday morning, 22 Aug at Blk 17 Old Airport Road Food Centre)

    Smiling broadly and holding up my J4M flyer, I approached a man aged about 40 sitting alone.

    He glared at me and motioned that he did not wish me to approach him.

    Thinking he might not be local, I asked in English “Are you a Singaporean?”

    Staring at me for a couple of seconds (to the point that I thought he might indeed be a non-Singaporean), he then answered in a stern tone, “Yes, I am a Singaporean and I have already decided who to vote for.”

    Astounded, I said “But how can you have decided when elections have not even began yet?”

    Him (with hostility): “I am a grassroot leader.”

    Me (thinking that grassroot leaders are community-minded): “Oh may I know your name?”

    Him: “No.”

    Me (realising that my thinking could be wrong): “Why would being a grassroot leader mean that you already decided who to vote? Does it mean that all grassroot leaders are …..”

    Him (sensing where I was going, cut me off in mid sentence): “I know who you are. You are a lawyer and so am I. You are engaging me the wrong way. I am here to have my breakfast. You are engaging me the wrong way.” He clearly wanted me to go away, so I went away.

    I am really puzzled by the man’s response. Many Singaporeans join the grassroots to serve the community, and not to serve politicians or the political ambitions of the ruling party. This grassroot leader had made up his mind who to give his vote to. He was not interested to meet me or to even hear me out. He made it very clear to me that I have zero chance to win his support.

    Well, can’t say I didn’t try. If you’re reading this, I want you to know, no hard feelings. To everyone else who is reading this, I’m going to keep trying to work for your support, regardless of affiliation.

    All I ask is for you to judge me on my merits and give me a fair chance to win your support.

     

    Source: Jeanette For Mounbatten

  • Benjamin Pwee: No Rifts Between DPP And SPP

    Benjamin Pwee: No Rifts Between DPP And SPP

    There have been no disagreements between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Singapore People’s Party (SPP) as they decide on members of a joint team to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC) together, said DPP chief Benjamin Pwee.

    “Everything is hunky-dory. We’re all happy,” Mr Pwee told reporters before the start of a DPP-SPP walkabout at Toa Payoh Lorong 7 on Sunday morning (Aug 23).

    SPP’s Bryan Long added that there is a “positive working relationship” between the two parties and that “DPP brings a good bunch of people to the table”.

    Both Opposition parties had agreed to jointly contest the five-member GRC under the SPP banner and have been conducting walkabouts together. However a week ago, Mr Pwee had said his party was prepared to fight for Bishan-Toa Payoh on its own if it could not get agreement with SPP on the five joint-team candidates. SPP chairman Lina Chiam had indicated that her party would like to take three slots in the joint team and in turn, Mr Pwee asked that SPP be “open to discussing who will stand on both sides and not insist on a certain number”.

    On Sunday, Mr Pwee said both parties’ central executive committees have narrowed down their picks. “We will reveal the best five on Nomination Day. Every person here is a potential candidate,” he said.

    Accompanying Mr Pwee and Mr Long were DPP members Ms Juliana Juwahir, Mr Mohamad Hamim Aliyas, Mr Abdul Malik Rahmat, Ms Nadine Yap, and Mr Robin Low, as well as SPP members Mr Abdillah Zamzuri, Mr Law Kim Hwee and Mr Eman Lim.

     DPP secretary-general Benjamin Pwee greeting residents at a coffee shop in Toa Payoh during a walkabout on Aug 23. (Photo: Gayathiri Chandramohan)

    SPP member Bryan Long and DPP’s Benjamin Pwee and Nadine Yap speaking to patrons at a Toa Payoh coffee shop on Aug 23. (Photo: Gayathiri Chandramohan)

    Both parties have said they will put out a joint manifesto for Bishan-Toa Payoh. Mr Pwee, an ex-SPP member, pointed out that the core team in DPP came from the SPP and that they had similar concerns on “larger, national issues”. “When we took over DPP, we basically brought across a lot of the same shared concerns,” he said.

    The DPP-SPP team will go up against the People’s Action Party’s team for Bishan Toa-Payoh made up of incumbent MPs Ng Eng Hen and Josephine Teo and new faces Mr Chee Hong Tat, Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Mr Saktiandi Supaat.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • More Support For New Parents A Welcome Move Says Observers

    More Support For New Parents A Welcome Move Says Observers

    The enhanced support for having a child in the form of a bigger Baby Bonus, additional paternity leave and a bigger Medisave Grant for babies was welcomed by parents and parents-to-be, while sociologists said the measures could help nudge society into becoming more supportive of families with children.

    Mr Marcus Lai, whose wife will give birth to their first child next year, said the added support would ease some of his worries. “My wife and I have been discussing how much we should put aside for our child, and how to manage our finances … These (initiatives) would definitely make things easier for us,” said the 31-year-old manager of Winefield’s Auctioneers Asia.

    Housewife Josephine Low, 36, welcomed the doubling of paternity leave to two weeks, but was sceptical on whether companies would offer it voluntarily. “If the company doesn’t allow us, then we might have to use our annual leave, which means that we are at the losing end,” said the mother of four, who felt it should be mandated by the Government.

    SHIFTING ATTITUDES

    A study released by the Institute of Policy Studies early last month showed the enhanced Marriage and Parenthood Package announced in 2013 was less conducive in nudging Singaporeans to marry and have more children, compared with the previous package.

    Dr Kang Soon-Hock, head of the Social Science Core at SIM University, felt the enhancements, while appearing “purely financial” on the surface, play the bigger role of shifting attitudes. Referring to the extended paternity leave, he said: “Parenthood isn’t about mothers, but about fatherhood, too. It’s a gentle nudge for fathers to rethink their role, and see it in a different light.”

    Asked if he felt the enhancement would boost birth rates in the long run, National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser said raising children is a long-term commitment. “My view is that they are helpful, and may raise TFR to 1.3, slightly above the current 1.2 or 1.25, but not much more, unless more is done. Whatever the case maybe, such policies also serve a symbolic value. They reflect the priority the Government assigns to fertility and children,” he said.

    NUS sociologist Paulin Straughan said the policies also ride on the Golden Jubilee wave. “I think birth rates are on the rise … and (these policies) are geared towards catching this feeling of optimism of Singaporeans towards their country.”

    Commenting on the additional Government-funded paternity leave, Singapore National Employers Federation executive director Koh Juan Kiat said companies would likely need to restructure leave benefits to provide the additional days for fathers. “Hopefully, the incentive can be applied to flexible paternity leave, taken over say one year … this will encourage SMEs to consider the initiative,” he said.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Good Ministers Can Advanced Singapore’s Interest Abroad

    Good Ministers Can Advanced Singapore’s Interest Abroad

    Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan and Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say were singled out by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as examples of how good ministers can advance Singapore’s interests abroad.

    At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December last year, Dr Balakrishnan not only represented Singapore, but took on the role of an “honest broker” to bridge gaps among different countries to put together a deal agreeable to all, said Mr Lee.

    On top of Dr Balakrishnan’s competence, his effectiveness in excelling at the role was aided by the support from a strong and cohesive team of officials from different ministries. And Team Singapore helped the conference reach a successful outcome and advanced the Republic’s interests in the process, Mr Lee said.

    He also recounted how Mr Lim turned around the “miserable mood” during a dinner discussion among labour ministers at the International Labour Organisation Conference (ILO) in Geneva this year. In a manner that “only Swee Say knew how”, Mr Lee said — in reference to Mr Lim’s inimitable style — the Manpower Minister first acknowledged the common challenges faced by various countries, then talked about the kinds of opportunities that all countries wanted. Mr Lim then seized on the opportunity to share about the importance of strong tripartite relationships in achieving the desired solutions, based on Singapore’s unique approach.

    “When Swee Say had finished, the mood in the room had lifted. Everyone was discussing solutions and not moping. The (ILO) director general … proposed ‘Three cheers for Singapore’.”

    Both ministers, he said, demonstrate the quality of leadership the Republic must maintain as it strengthens the economy and defence so Singapore can hold its own on the global stage.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Housing Moves To Benefit HDB Sector, Hit Private Market

    Housing Moves To Benefit HDB Sector, Hit Private Market

    The increases in income ceilings for households buying new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and Executive Condominiums (ECs), and the Proximity Housing Grant will drive more buyers to the public-housing market and hit the private residential sector, said analysts on Sunday (Aug 23).

    In his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the raising of the income ceilings for new HDB flats and ECs by S$2,000 each, to S$12,000 and S$14,000 respectively — the first increase since August 2011.

    “This ceiling change probably enlarges the choices for homeowners. Some demand from the private market may be drawn away to the public housing market. The impact seen would most likely be on mass-market condominiums,” said Mr Eugene Lim, key executive officer at property agency ERA.

    Associate Professor Sing Tien Foo from the Department of Real Estate at the National University of Singapore said: “It is a good move as it would allow more people to buy an HDB flat. The scheme would now cover up to 90 per cent of the population. There is a lot of pent-up demand and the sandwiched class in between the pricing tier is the group that will benefit the most from the price revisions.

    “Mass-market condominium developers may need to evaluate their pricing strategies as their properties are closest in comparison to ECs,” he added.

    PROXIMITY HOUSING SCHEME

    To help couples live closer to their parents, the Government will introduce a Proximity Housing Grant for all Singaporeans, Mr Lee announced on Sunday. The grant will be given to those who buy a resale flat with or near their parents, or to parents who buy a resale flat near their married children.

    “Due to the grant, we may actually see an increase in demand for resale flats in the coming weeks,” said Mr Nicholas Mak, executive director of research and consultancy at property firm SLP International.

    “This is beneficial for families as a lot of children want to live near their parents. It solves a practical issue as parents are usually in the older estates, while their children live in newer estates,” said Mr Lim.

    “With this proximity housing scheme giving (couples) more grants so they can buy resale flats nearer their parents, I think it will be helpful in solving practical problems residents face,” said Nee Soon GRC MP Lee Bee Wah, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development and Environment.

    Mr Lee also said the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) would be extended to cover more households, by raising the income ceiling to S$8,500 from S$6,500. The maximum grant amount of S$20,000 will also be doubled to S$40,000.

    “The SHG is largely meant to help people own a flat. The grant will most likely benefit first-time owners buying Build-to-Order flats the most,” said Mr Lim.

    HELPING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

    The Fresh Start Housing Scheme announced by Mr Lee is aimed at helping former homeowners, who are currently living in rental flats, own a two-room unit. These flats will come with shorter leases and stricter resale conditions so they will be more affordable.

    Moulmein-Kallang GRC Member of Parliament, Ms Denise Phua, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Social and Family Development, said the scheme is part of a broad approach to help these low-income households.

    “For those at risk of being left behind, housing is not one of the key issues. Housing is one of the outcomes of several things. They could be born disadvantaged. They could be disadvantaged due to circumstances,” said Ms Phua.

    “If you really want to help people out of the poverty spiral, then I think it’s important to look at things holistically, not just in terms of material, physical or economic items,” she said.

    The education and social-services sectors have to play their part, while the community needs to come in to provide all-rounded support, she added.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com