I am pleased to announce that SINGAPOREANS FIRST has been successfully registered as a society by the Registry of Societies. Following the registration, we submitted our proposed party symbol for approval. We expect the process to take a few weeks. Until it is approved, we cannot make use of the party logo.
We can now conduct activities of an approved political party. We need members to help us. If you share our beliefs and values (as stated in our Manifesto here), please join us by filling up this SINGAPOREANS FIRST MEMBERSHIP FORM.
In the months ahead, we will be planning a series of activities leading up to the next General Election. We welcome ideas from all Singaporeans. You can approach any of the members of the protem committee listed below :
Chairman : Dr Ang Yong Guan,
Vice chairman : Tan Peng Ann,
Secretary-General : Tan Jee Say,
Assistant-Secretary General : Loke Pak Hoe,
Treasurer : Dr David Foo Ming Jin,
Assistant Treasurer : Fatimah Akhtar,
Members : Michael Chia, Fahmi Rais, Winston Lim, David Tan.
I received many comments to my post last week, and many messages from Singaporeans, both personally as well as online. Although I disagreed with some policies which I highlighted, some seem to think that I was rejecting all the PAP Government’s policies which is not the case.
In my post, I touched on a number of issues in the way some policies have been implemented which I felt should have been better done. But I also acknowledged that the government has been resolving many of the problems, like transport and housing, and setting a new direction for the future especially in our social policies. For example, I pointed out that the icing on the cake was the Pioneer Generation Package, which is a good example of an inclusive policy showing compassion.
I am sure the government will continue to focus on solving the problems I mentioned and it will be good to also focus on how to have better policy formulation and implementation so that we have more effective policies in the future. I am confident the government will be doing this. Using the OSC approach for major policies will be one good way to have more ground up inputs for better policies.
The government has also put in place many social safety nets in the last three years and this has generally been helpful, but as I mentioned in my post, what will be useful is for the government to help Singaporeans through higher incomes instead of hand-outs. Compulsory progressive wages for cleaners and security officers is a good start, which I have been calling on the Government to do for many years. I would like to see this expanded so that we can see more Singaporeans earning a decent living wage.
While many Singaporeans wrote to me to express their appreciation for my post, some who wrote to me said I made some factual errors especially when I mentioned that cost increases had outpaced wage increases. Let me share what they highlighted to me. They pointed to government statistics that showed that net wages for Singaporeans have generally risen even after taking into account inflation.
One Singaporean currently studying in the UK wrote to me highlighting that the National Talent and Population Division, a government organization, has been keeping in touch with students studying in the UK and overseas.
A couple of grassroots leaders told me they felt that the asset enhancement policy did benefit them with real wealth and they are happy with it. Nevertheless, I was glad the PM said that we are looking more carefully at retirement adequacy such as by improving CPF-LIFE and that MND is further improving policies to help elderly Singaporeans unlock the savings in their flats so that they can look forward to a comfortable retirement without having to worry about their finances. It is important we continue to address these issues so that Singaporeans feel life has become better.
Some have asked me what prompted me to express my views and if they would lead to concrete changes. As an MP elected by the people, it is my duty to make an assessment of the issues which concern Singaporeans based on the feedback I get and reflect them as accurately as possible so that the government can improve upon them. As to whether the government will listen, I can tell you that the reason I voice these concerns so confidently, is because I know they do not fall on deaf ears and that some action will be taken on them. I have seen this for the past 18 years in Parliament and that spurs me on to keep on doing my best as an MP. So the PAP government can and will solve problems and we all must continue to voice our concerns and feedback.
The debate in Parliament last week was a robust one. I am particularly heartened to see our Prime Minister reiterating what the PAP promised at the last GE2011 – to “Secure Our Future Together”. Many of my fellow MPs also spoke about how we can achieve this and we are on the right track. With this as a governing objective, we should achieve our desired outcome so that all Singaporeans feel their personal and family’s future remains comfortable and secure while the country prospers.
There is one thing we all need to do together as Singaporeans. We need to rally behind this single cause making Singapore a place where our children, and their children, can live comfortably, be proud of and can call home.
We like the idea of speaking up and sharing your opinion if you find something is not right and worth correcting simply by saying what you truly feel about it. That is the beauty of discourse and honesty. There will always be a fruitful outcome at the end of it all.
I found a comment which is a follow up on Tan Kin Lian’s article Loss of Foreign Minister, which appears to give us an insight to what happened that caused Aljunied GRC to fall.
If what the writer claims is true (ie he has been working on the ground with the WP), this gives us an opportunity to see what were the goings on of WP’s plan, which was not seen by the public before.
Here is his comment.
I happened to be one of those who’re familiar with WP Hougang and Aljunied groundworks and feedback. The decision to contest Aljunied was a foregone conclusion, it was just a matter of who joined Sylvia there. The boundary map was so drawn that Hougang is an island within Aljunied that incorporates about a third of old dismantled Cheng San. Hence PAP made Aljunied a must-contest for WP and believed George Yeo popular enough to defend it. However LHL compromised laymen perception of his foreign affairs competency by having LKY and GCT handling almost all the heavyweight foreign affair issues. As for grassroot groundworks and popularity of WP in Aljunied, PAP complacently forgot that Hougang is in Aljunied containing a huge chunk of Cheng San. The gerrymandering backfired this time. The LTK effect wouldn’t have been of this magnitude in another GRC where he’s not so well known. In any case, it was LKY himself who challenged LTK that if he’s a good leader, stop hiding in SMC, come out and contest GRC. And it was also LKY himself who pre-declared that by-election shall be held to save any minister lost.
Very interesting insight. For those who can’t recall, Cheng San was contested by the WP, headed by Tang Liang Hong in 1997. Tang Liang Hong was smeared by PAP as a Chinese Chauvinist. His team was the highest scoring losing team.
I agree that George Yeo’s position was highly compromised as foreign minister. One of the most difficult issues we had and still have is our relations with Indonesia.
We harbour Indonesian criminals which Indonesia wants extradited, as well as billions of ill-gotten funds that rightfully belongs to them. An extradition treaty that was to be signed between Indonesia and ourselves have been shelved and that is causing a lot of strained ties. I have discussed that in detail here – Our Bad Foreign Relations with Indonesia
It looks like WP had weighed carefully the options they had and decided to go for a calculated gamble. It paid off.
Supporters of Jafri Basron can help make his dream come true by giving him a small donation and also moral support. Not an easy task to be an independent candidate. Rilek1Corner wishes Jafri all the best and may you succeed in GE2016.
[UPDATE on Sunday, 25 May, 11.00am: Adding details of party’s name, logo, manifesto and founding members]
Former presidential candidate Tan Jee Say unveiled Singapore’s newest political party, Singaporeans First, on Sunday.
The party’s manifesto — “Fair Society, Strong Families and Esteemed People” — was announced along with a list of 11 founding members, which include 60-year-old Tan himself as well as members of the medical profession, architects and company directors.
They include Dr Ang Yong Guan, psychiatrist and former grassroots leader, who along with Tan ran under the Singapore Democratic Party banner at the 2011 elections; Michael Chia, retired engineer and volunteer social worker; Fahmi Rais, communications professional and former Young PAP member; Fatimah Akhtar, architect; Dr David Foo Ming Jin, chemist and former Young PAP member; Jamie Lee Swee Yan, IT professional; Winston Lim, architect; Loke Pak Hoe, company director; and Tan Peng Ann, retired army colonel and former PAP grassroots leader.
Speaking at the party’s unveiling on Sunday at a media conference, Tan said discussions about forming a new party first began last year, and that joining a current opposition party instead of starting a new one was the “easy way out”.
When asked if his new Singaporeans First party would dilute opposition votes further, Tan said it would depend on how the opposition would work together, adding that he was also open to forming coalitions. The next General Election is due to be held by 2016.
On what the new party stood for, Tan said it aimed to remove the Goods and Services Tax, because it was especially unfair to lower and middle class Singaporeans. Another key policy it was aiming for was free education as it wanted to increase the fertility rate by making it affordable to raise children in Singapore. It also proposed unemployment insurance, old age pension and affordable healthcare.
Tan added the party would begin walkabouts and preparing policy papers for public consultation after formally registering the party, which he estimated would take two months.
A financial adviser and fund manager, party leader Tan was formerly the principal private secretary to then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He and Dr Ang had previously ran for 2011 elections together under the SDP banner in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.
Tan left the political party before announcing his candidacy for the 2011 presidential election. He garnered 25% of popular votes, losing out to Tan Cheng Bock and eventual President Tony Tan Keng Yam.
After the elections, Tan had leased a three-storey building along Orchard Road to host weekly policy discussions. The venue, known as “Heart Beat”, had to be closed down following tenancy issues. The space was reportedly approved for restaurant and office use only.
Congratulations to Fahmi Rais and Fatimah Akhtar for embarking in their new challenging journeys – politics. Developing and exercising power require having both will and skill. It is the will that often seems to be missing for most people, and we hope it will not happen to any of our Malay and Muslim leaders. The Malay & Muslim community, and Rilek1Corner family are very happy and extremely proud to learn about their involvement. We wish the new leaders the best in this new political dispensation. We need a nation that will be filled with remarkable development. Towards a better future in Singapore.
Setelah lima bulan beroperasi, kami di Rilek1Corner sangat terharu dengan sambutan meriah daripada para pembaca yang banyak memberikan kami semangat memperkembangkan media alternatif kami ini, baik untuk pembaca yang berbangsa Melayu mahupun mereka yang beragama Islam.
Kami juga menganggap segala kritikan dan sokongan sebagai satu rangsangan dan dorongan untuk terus memajukan hak kebebasan bersuara di Singapura.
Tanpa sokongan anda, siapalah kami di Rilek1Corner.
Namun, sejak beberapa minggu kebelakangan ini, anggota Rilek1Corner telah menerima ancaman dan ugutan daripada beberapa pihak yang berasa tidak puas hati dengan berita dan surat-surat pembaca yang diterbitkan dengan segera di lelaman kami.
Walaupun segala berita dan informasi yang telah dipublikasikan terdiri daripada media cetak dan juga surat-surat kiriman pembaca yang setia, ada segelintir pihak tertentu berasa kurang senang kerana publikasi-publikasi tersebut mendapat kritikan daripada masyarakat umum.
Ada dua insiden yang boleh dijadikan ikhtibar.
Pertama, ada sekumpulan orang Melayu yang beragama Islam di Singapura telah memperkenalkan diri mereka sebagai ahli kewangan dan pengendali bisnes-bisnes skim cepat kaya. Setelah dimaki-hamun dan dicaci, mereka menuduh para pembaca, anggota Rilek1Corner, dan wartawan-wartawan akhbar Berita Harian Singapura sebagai pengecut, jahil dan iri hati dengan kejayaan mereka meraih duit lumayan dengan senang.
Seperti tidak cukup dengan kata-kata kesat, pihak tersebut juga telah membuat ancaman dan ugutan kepada para pembaca dan juga anggota Rilek1Corner. Ancaman dan ugutan yang dimaksudkan mempunyai unsur-unsur kekerasan fisikal dengan niat mencederakan mereka yang tidak berdosa.
Ugutan dan ancaman kekerasan ini berlaku setelah beberapa surat pembaca, beserta keratan akhbar daripada Berita Harian Singapura, dan juga gambar-gambar pihak yang terlibat telah dimuat-naikkan di Rilek1Corner, hasil perkongsian maklumat dari para pembaca. Siasatan kami mendapati bahawa gambar-gambar tersebut senang diperolehi secara terbuka di Facebook (tanpa sebarang sekatan privasi) untuk menarik anggota-anggota baru menyertai skim cepat kaya tersebut.
Ada juga diantara para pembaca yang telah menjadi mangsa skim cepat kaya yang diperkatakan, dan bersungguh-sungguh ingin berkongsi pengalaman mereka supaya masyarakat umum dapat mengelakkan diri daripada mengalami nasib yang serupa.
Kami di Rilek1Corner juga akur tentang kewajipan moral ini.
Jika betul bisnes, produk atau servis yang diberikan itu bermutu tinggi, seratus-peratus dijamin halal, dan juga sahih dari segi undang-undang, apakah perlu membuat ugutan sehingga ingin mencederakan semata-mata orang lain mempunyai pendapat yang berbeza atau memberi kritikan yang berasas?
Insiden kedua pula mengenai seseorang yang bakal menerajui satu jawatan yang mencabar sebagai pemimpin masa hadapan Islam Singapura yang berkaliber dan berwibawa. Dua minggu yang lepas, beliau telah diumumkan oleh pihak media setempat sebagai salah satu calon parti pembangkang untuk Pilihan Raya Umum yang akan datang.
Rilek1Corner telah berkongsi keratan akhbar dari sebuah media setempat dan memuat-naikkan butir-butir kelayakan beliau yang diberikan oleh seorang penyokong kuat parti pembangkang tersebut. Menurut pembaca itu, butir-butir kelayakan calon pembangkang tersebut senang diperolehi secara terbuka. Siasatan kami juga mendapati segala informasi yang diberikan senang diperolehi di Internet (tiada sekatan privasi). Namun, kerana rasa tidak puas hati, calon pembangkang tersebut membuat beberapa ugutan kepada Rilek1Corner, dan malangnya ugutan beliau itu mendapat tindak balas yang tidak disangkakan.
Rilek1Corner tidak tahu-menahu tentang apa yang telah dilakukan oleh ahli politik tersebut dan hanya dimaklumkan tentang kejadian tersebut semalam. Dengan jujur, anggota Rilek1Corner sangat kecewa dengan apa yang telah dilakukan walaupun kami telah memberi sokongan padu kepada beliau.
Kalau betul tiada apa yang ingin disembunyikan, apakah perlu berahsia? Sudah lumrah hidup orang politik. Segala hal peribadi akan tersebar buat santapan umum baik publisiti positif ataupun yang buruk, terutama sekali dalam zaman media sosial ini. Mulut tempayan boleh ditutup, mulut manusia bagaimana menutupnya.
Soalan-soalan yang bermain di fikiran kami ialah: Apakah yang maksudkan dengan media alternatif dan hak kebebasan bersuara dalam konteks demokrasi kita di Singapura yang selama ini menjadi idaman kalbu? Adakah masyarakat Melayu dan juga Islam setempat sudah benar-benar bersedia untuk menerima konsep kebebasan bersuara ini, atau ianya hanya manis dimulut sahaja? Apakah tiada toleransi terhadap pendapat orang lain yang bercanggah dengan pendapat kita? Apakah mereka yang dianggap sebagai ‘public figure’ sudah benar-benar bersedia menerima hakikat bahawa mereka bukan sahaja mendapat sokongan positif, malah akan juga menerima kritikan hebat daripada orang-orang yang tidak mempunyai matlamat yang sama atau visi yang sehaluan.
Kebebasan Bersuara
Kebebasan bersuara ialah kebebasan menyatakan pandangan mahupun fikrah tanpa batas atau penapisan tentang apa yang ingin diperkatakan. Semua masyarakat mempunyai hak kebebasan bersuara tanpa mengira kaum atau pangkat.
Kebebasan bersuara juga merangkumi aspek seperti kebebasan bersuara secara percakapan verbal, tindakan mencari, menerima dan menyebarkan maklumat atau idea, dengan tidak mengira medium yang digunakan. Kebebasan bersuara juga mempunyai etika dimana cara penyampaiannya beradab dan sopan, tanpa sebarang bahasa kesat.
Jika seseorang manusia itu mempunyai hak berfikir untuk dirinya sendiri dan kebebasan menggunakan mindanya semahunya, maka dia juga haruslah mempunyai hak untuk mengekspresikan dan meluahkan buah fikirannya dan idea-idea dalam bentuk yang konkrit, sama ada dalam bentuk penulisan ataupun lisan.
Tiada sesiapun boleh memaksa kita dirasakan sesuatu perkara itu benar atau salah melainkan kita melihat sendiri kebenarannya. Tiada jumlah paksaan yang akan mampu mengubah persepsi sesiapapun terhadap sesuatu individu, subjek atau benda.
Kebebasan bersuara juga memainkan peranan yang sangat penting dalam melindungi individu-individu yang mempunyai pendapat berbeza. Apabila pendapat segelintir orang tersilap, ianya adalah menjadi kewajipan bagi sekelompok minoriti untuk menyuarakan kebenaran.
Peranan Media Sosial Dalam Menyemarakkan Kebebasan Bersuara
Kewujudan media sosial yang bersifat terbuka, pelbagai dan bebas dari tapisan dan sekatan adalah antara asas penting bagi pembentukan masyarakat demokratik kerana ia menyumbang ke arah kemudahan pengaliran maklumat, idea secara bebas, dan menjamin ketelusan serta kebertanggungjawaban.
Persoalannya ialah, sejauh manakah kebebasan bersuara dalam media sosial ini benar-benar bebas? Apakah hubungan di antara media sosial dan kebebasan bersuara?
Media sosial adalah salah satu cabang atau bentuk ekspresi yang ada di dalam sistem sosial manusia yang luas. Malah kehadiran media sosial itu sebenarnya melengkapi dua lagi gelombang teknologi komunikasi sebelumnya – cetak dan gelombang udara sebagai wahana untuk manusia – baik secara individu atau berkelompok – untuk mengkomunikasikan maklumat, bertukar-tukar idea, pandangan, dan pendapat.
Sebagai satu konsep liberal dan ‘batu asas’ kepada demokrasi barat, kebebasan bersuara bertujuan untuk melindungi ekspresi rakyat jelata dan penyebaran maklumat ke pentas awam daripada campur tangan pihak kerajaan atau sesiapapun.
Jangan kita simpan mentaliti paranoia dan perbuatan melulu yang melampau.
Ugutan, Ancaman Diambil Serius
Rilek1Corner memandang serius terhadap segala ancaman baik terhadap diri kami mahupun ugutan terhadap para pembaca yang hanya ingin menyuarakan pandangan mereka.
Yang lebih membimbangkan ialah perkembangan media sosial yang ingin disekat dan ditapis semata-mata pandangan yang berbeza, walaupun pada hakikatnya segala pendapat telah ditulis atas nama hak kebebasan bersuara dengan cara yang beradap dan sopan.
Peliknya, pihak-pihak yang telah membuat ancaman dan ugutan terhadap kami dan juga pembaca-pembaca budiman, juga merupakan orang-orang yang pernah menegakkan hak kebebasan bersuara dan hak kemanusiaan dengan lantangnya.
Bak kata pepatah, rambut sama hitam hati lain-lain.
