Tag: GE2015

Amy Khor To Defend Hong Kah North SMC For PAP

The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Amy Khor will defend her Hong Kah North seat in the coming General Election (GE).

Dr Khor, 57, served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency (GRC) from 2001. For the last GE in 2011, her ward was hived off as a Single Member Constituency (SMC).

Dr Khor is the Senior Minister of State for Health and for Manpower. She also serves as the Deputy Government Whip. Prior to entering politics, Dr Khor was a lecturer at the National University of Singapore from 1989 to 1999.

At the last GE, she defeated Singapore People’s Party (SPP) candidate Sin Kek Tong with 70.61 per cent of the vote. This time, the SPP has declared it will contest the Hong Kah North seat once again.

The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) secretary-general Benjamin Pwee has earlier said the “best candidate” from his party’s partnership with the SPP will be fielded, but SPP later clarified that its alliance with DPP does not extend beyond a joint team for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

August 21, 2015
SDA Establishes Alternative Association For Taxi Drivers

Members of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) have registered a new Singapore Cabbies Association (SCA), aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of taxi drivers here.

The SCA will serve as an “alternative” to the National Taxi Association (NTA), said founding adviser and SDA chairman Desmond Lim, by fighting for stronger regulation of third-party applications such as Uber, enhancing training for taxi drivers and public education.

For example, it wants the authorities to push for Uber drivers to undergo formal training and comply with the same regulations as taxi drivers, and ensure Uber drivers have up-to-date Medisave contributions to renew their vocational licences.

Added founding president and SCA assistant treasurer William Lim: “The NTA is only one single association. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and taxi companies are not taking into consideration their suggestions enough.”

Mr William Lim, a full-time taxi driver, said the SCA also intends to engage veteran taxi drivers and traffic police officers to provider training for new cabbies. The current training that taxi operators provide is very basic, he said.

The 200-member-strong association also plans to offer legal advice and financial education for cabbies, and educate the public on, for instance, the safe spots to flag cabs.

The SCA’s annual membership is open to taxi drivers who hold valid taxi driver vocational licences and costs S$60. Mr Desmond Lim submitted the application to the Registry of Societies yesterday.

When contacted, NTA executive adviser Ang Hin Kee told TODAY many agencies and authorities, including the LTA, Traffic Police and Central Provident Fund Board, work with the NTA because of its existing vast network and membership. “Importantly, there is an ongoing, continual effort on our part to reach out, so it is not a once-off event,” said Mr Ang, who is a Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

While Mr Ang did not directly comment on the SCA, he questioned: “What do you bring new to the scene? … I still feel it is may be more effective (if) we can channel our resources through existing networks so that (NTA) can benefit the drivers.”

Mr Ang added that the NTA is looking to leverage technology and work with companies managing third-party booking apps to facilitate better matching of cabbies and commuters.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 21, 2015
Elections Department Announces Changes To Elections-Related Processes
The Elections Department (ELD) on Thursday (Aug 20) announced a series of revisions to some elections-related processes, “as part of ongoing efforts to update and enhance election processes”.

Increase in Parliamentary Election Expenses Limit

To account for inflation, the maximum spending limit will be raised from S$3.50 to S$4.00 for every voter on the register of electors for the electoral division in which a candidate is seeking election to be a Member of Parliament, the ELD said.

“The law imposes a ceiling on a candidate’s election expenses to ensure a level playing field. Spending in excess of the maximum amount in the law is an illegal practice.”

Maximum number of posters and banners in Electoral Divisions

A maximum number of posters and banners that can be displayed is set for each candidate or group of candidates contesting in an electoral division. In past elections, candidates were provided this maximum number after the close of nomination proceedings (on Nomination Day).

“To better facilitate candidates’ planning, ELD has published on its website in advance the formulae to compute the maximum number of posters and banners for each electoral division,” the department said.

The maximum number of posters and banners allowed is:

1 poster to every 50 electors in the register (rounded to nearest 100), subject to minimum of:
- 500 per SMC,
- 2,000 per 4-MP GRC,
- 2,500 per 5-MP GRC, or
- 3,000 per 6-MP GRC.
1 banner to every 5,000 electors in the register (rounded to whole
number), subject to minimum of:
- 5 per SMC,
- 20 per 4-MP GRC,
- 25 per 5-MP GRC, or
- 30 per 6-MP GRC.
Closer placement for the display of posters and banners

Candidates are not allowed to display posters and banners within a designated radius from a polling station, to minimise undue influence on voters.

As there has been a significant increase in the number of polling stations to improve voter accessibility, the current 200-metre prohibition zone has resulted in limited areas for the legitimate display of posters and banners, especially in built-up residential estates, the ELD said.

“Hence, the radius of the prohibition zone for the display of posters and banners will be reduced from 200 to 50 metres.”

Malay Community Committee and Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee

Every group of people who wish to stand for parliamentary election in a group representation constituency (GRC) is required to have at least one candidate belonging to either the Malay community, or the Indian and other minority communities.

In addition to the nomination paper and Political Donation Certificate, the group is required to produce a Certificate of the Malay Community Committee (MCC) or a Certificate of the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee (IOMCC) to the Returning Officer on Nomination Day, the ELD said.

To be issued the certificate, the person must apply to the appropriate committees by submitting the completed forms (hardcopy) to the Elections Department.

Ballot Paper to include candidates’ photos

To make it easier for voters, especially the elderly, to identify the candidates they wish to vote for, candidates’ photos will be included in the ballot papers for the next General Election, ELD announced.

The new ballot papers will be larger to accommodate the photos.

Candidates’ photos on the ballot papers were introduced for the first time at the 2011 Presidential Election, garnering generally positive public feedback.

Other format changes to help voters mark their choices clearly include white boxes against a darkened background, and wider gaps between the boxes to mark “X” to prevent voters from marking across boxes of different rows.

Details of the format changes will be made known closer to Polling Day of the General Election.

CHANGES REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO BE VISIBLE TO VOTERS: ANALYST

Political analyst Eugene Tan, an Associate Professor at the Singapore Management University’s School of Law, said the changes would require candidates to be visible to the voters.

“That just means having to walk the ground, not just during the hustings but also in between elections. I think this will help the candidates be more recognisable, and I think that is very important because you are choosing a representative to represent you in Parliament and I think it’s important that the candidates are people who are familiar with the issues, and with the voters,” he said.

“I think having the photos on the ballot papers would also remind voters as to who precisely they are voting for. In the past, there’s been a lot of reliance on the party name, party logo – but I think with this change, it’s not just the party that matters, but also the candidates, because ultimately it’s also about putting in place people in Parliament,” he added.

When asked if the change will benefit the incumbents since their posters and banners are displayed in their constituencies, Assoc Prof Tan said the change would be benefit the People’s Action Party because “of the fact that they are represented in most constituencies”.

“But it will also benefit any other party that conscientiously walks the ground in between General Elections,” he added.

“I see the changes as an attempt to raise the standards – trying to ensure that people do not just vote for the parties, but also for the candidates. I think it is important that the two go hand in hand,” Assoc Prof Tan said.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
August 21, 2015
16 Quotes By Your Out-Of-Touch PAP MPs

I came across the following quotes in an article by Chan Joo Yee. The questions for you to ask and ponder are:

a) Do these people really understand you and your plight?

b) Does some introductions in a coffee-shop, old age home, hawker centre mean they are now ‘closer to you?’

c) Is your estate and Town Council management much more important than the national issues that will not only affect you, but your children and their children in future?

d) Are you prepared to gamble 5 more years with them in the hope that they will change overnight and abandon policies you don’t want?

Consider the following quotes by these very men and women who are urging you – to quote the PM, ‘not weaken the PAP team.’ This is what the so-called strong team you elected into power in 2011 had to say about you:

The Quotes:

1. “Singaporeans first policy would not benefit the economy in the long term.”

2.“It’s not the government’s duty to love Singaporeans.”

3.“Contrary to public perception, the White Horse classification is not to ensure that sons of influential men get preferential treatment. Instead it is to ensure that they do not get preferential treatment.”

4.“Retrenchment is good for Singapore. If there is no retrenchment, then I worry.”

5.“NSman’s service to Singapore cannot be measured in dollars and cents.”

6.“Well, everybody has a car, we have two — my wife drives one, I drive one. We are both professionals, we need to travel.”

7. “If you’re lazy and work less, you’ll have less Medisave.”

8.“Save on one hairdo and use the money for breast screening.”

9.“If the annual salary of the Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts is only $500,000, it may pose some problems when he discusses policies with media CEOs who earn millions of dollars because they need not listen to the minister’s ideas and proposals.”

10.“Some cardboard collectors treat it (collection of cardboards) as a form of exercise and activity rather than being cooped up at home.”

11.“How much do you want? Do you want 3 meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”

12.“It’s not for the money (multiple directorships) because some of the companies pay me as little as $10,000 a year.”

13.“People use democracy as a free-floating abstraction disconnected from reality. Democracy in and of itself is not necessarily good. Gang rape, after all, is democracy in action.”

14.“It would be stupid for any Singapore agency or NTU to advocate the learning of dialects, which must be at the expense of English and Mandarin.”

15.“CPF is not your money.”

16.“If chicken is expensive, eat fish.”

There’s probably a lot more, but you get the idea. This is the thinking and mind-set of the men and women you sent to Parliament the last time. They can scold, mock and try to do the opposition in – but do remember – who’s the cause of your all your problems now? Is it the opposition or the Govt you have routinely given a blank cheque to do whatever they want, when ever they want? And now they are telling you to consider ‘an enlightened self-interest when you go and vote.’ Is your self interests vis-à-vis your estate amenities, which don’t forget is what is expected of any Govt in power anywhere in the world, or is the national interests and your future as Singaporeans in your own country, more important?

You have a tough choice and decision to make – think carefully and vote wisely.

Sir Nelspruit

* The author blogs at Anyhow Hantam.

Source: www.tremeritus.com

August 20, 2015
PAP’s Leadership Renewal Not Particularly Impressive

People like myself who have suffered under PAP’s policies would like to see the time when they lose power. Given GE2015’s slate of candidates where no single alternative party is aiming to form the government, more opposition seats will allow them a platform to push for their alternative views while working hard for Singaporeans to safeguard their mandate in GE2020. Ultimately, Singaporeans benefit.

Looking at the new candidates from both sides, we are seeing some whose resumes are not particularly accomplished; People such as Daryl David and Joan Pereira have deputy-director level positions which are only equal to, or weaker than, the alternative parties’ who have managed to get full professors and associate professors. In short, the PAP has declined vis-à-vis the alternative parties.

These are new faces whose track record cannot be seen. Yet even for existing ones, does the electorate necessarily respect the new generation PAP ministers as much as they do for the first generation? For for LKY himself, there would be a day when “either because the PAP has declined in quality or the opposition has put up a team which is equal to the PAP and they say, let’s try the other side.”

New generation ministers such as Lawrence Wong has not stuck a particularly strong cord with voters. His track record of handling issues such as the rat infestation in Jurong and handling of the SEA games saga has proven him to be a far cry from the competent first-generation PAP. What about paper generals such as Chan Chun Sing who have not proven themselves in terms of policy making?

The fall of Aljunied GRC to the opposition has proven two things. First, LKY was right about PAP losing power. Second, the electorate is willing to reduce their standards for alternative parties relative to the PAP possibly as a result of their discontent. Moving forward, it would most certainly seem that GE2015 would be the true watershed elections.

By denying the PAP a two-thirds majority, we can see an improvement in our standards of living. Trust me on that.

Source: http://mythoughtsinafewparagraphs.net

August 20, 2015