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Tag: Lee Hsien Loong

  • Lim Swee Say To Contest In East Coast GRC

    Lim Swee Say To Contest In East Coast GRC

    Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say has confirmed he will continue to contest East Coast GRC in the coming elections. Mr Lim was speaking to reporters on Saturday (Aug 1) at the sidelines of a PassionArts event, organised by the People’s Association.

    The event, held at Bedok Reservoir in the opposition Aljunied GRC, initially raised questions that he might be fielded there. After all, during the 2011 election, Mr Lim had been deployed at the last minute to East Coast GRC, from his Buona Vista ward in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

    But Mr Lim dismissed the speculation, saying he was there simply to lend support to the event, which is part of Singapore’s 50th anniversary celebrations. He added that he has secured Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong’s agreement to remain in his current ward of Bedok in East Coast GRC.

    Said Mr Lim: “I appealed to PM to please let me continue serving the residents in East Coast. PM has agreed, so therefore I will be surprised if, in the coming GE,  I am not deployed to contest in East Coast.”

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Inderjit Singh Says He Is Still PAP Member

    Inderjit Singh Says He Is Still PAP Member

    Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Inderjit Singh has taken to social media to affirm that he is still a member of the People’s Action Party. He also said he will still be assisting PM Lee Hsien Loong in his election campaign in Ang Mo Kio.

    His latest post on Tuesday came after he announced his retirement from politics at the next election. His announcement about his retirement on Facebook came shortly after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee released its report on boundary changes.

    Online talk by netizens and news websites was set abuzz with speculation that Mr Inderjit was quitting the party.

    Some websites and commentators reposted his old speeches on the White Paper that was made in Parliament, and a social media post in response to the President’s address.

    Reacting to the online buzz, Mr Inderjit said on his Facebook page: “I read with amusement that some people have taken my old speeches and reposted them with a headline that I have left the PAP. The white paper speech was made in early 2013 and the one on the response to the president address was posted in May 2014.

    “I requested to PM to allow me to step down as an MP on 2nd January 2013 as I have contributed almost 20 years as an MP and wanted to spend time on my work and family.”

    I read with amusement that some people have taken my old speeches and reposted them with a headline that I have left the…

    Posted by Inderjit Singh on Tuesday, July 28, 2015

    On Sunday, Singapore’s Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen told the media in an interview: “We want to handle the retirement of our MPs more smoothly and I would prefer a more deliberate and a dignified manner,” he said. “You can post your retirement on Facebook, but I think as an MP who has served 15, 20, even 30 years – that’s not the best way to do it.”

    Many online took it to understand that Mr Inderjit was retiring from the party, as there were no other MPs who have announced their retirement.

    When asked to comment, The Straits Times reported that Mr Singh replied: “If there was infighting, would I be helping PM Lee with his campaign?”

    Dr Ng also told The Straits Times separately: “When I read that Inderjit was retiring, two thoughts came into my mind. First, that at 55, he had many more years to contribute, and was big-hearted to retire now, so that younger candidates could stand in his place.

    “I have great respect for Inderjit and learnt from his many good speeches in Parliament. He has a heart for the daily struggles of Singaporeans and could put it across in heartfelt and effective ways. When he spoke, Ministers took note, and followed up. He was a people’s MP.

    “Second, I thought we should do better than just Facebook postings for retiring MPs. After many years of service, the party should try to find a more dignified and deliberate way to announce their retirement. So when we announce new candidates, whenever possible, we will do it together with their retiring MPs, that they are taking over. I hope this approach will do justice to the many years of contribution that MPs like Inderjit have given to serve their residents.”

     

    Source: http://news.asiaone.com

  • Rich People Problems – Just Because They Stay In Private Properties Doesn’t Mean They Are Rich

    Rich People Problems – Just Because They Stay In Private Properties Doesn’t Mean They Are Rich

    Call it the power of mrbrown: The popular blogger’s tweet about a private property owner’s gripe is circulating online, provoking indignation and endless mockery.

    In a profile of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Ang Mo Kio GRC by The Straits Times, father of three Chew B.W. was one of the constituents interviewed. His complaint: Not enough is being done for those living in private estates.

    Mr Chew noted the rising cost of living, such as the cost of a year’s tuition at The Learning Lab ($4,000) and a fencing costume for one of his children ($600). He added: “It doesn’t mean we are rich just because we live here. The Government should also help people like us – we pay the most taxes.”

    According to the Manpower Ministry’s website, the median gross monthly income in June 2014 was $3,770. The cost of a semi-detached house typically runs into seven figures.

    Mr Chew’s sentiments got short shrift from netizens on social media. The tweet has been retweeted almost 570 times. Here are some of the choicer comments on Twitter:

     
    Over on Facebook, user Callan Tham said: “Here, let me play the world’s smallest violin for them.” Kwan Tuck Soon also remarked: “The gahmen should help them upgrade to a mansion with a fencing room.”

    But it was Reddit user xavierkoh who had perhaps the most reasoned response: “Perhaps what we really need to cultivate as a community is a sense of empathy for the less privileged instead of always focusing on our own problems which might be more trivial in nature as compared to others. Without that, our society will further fragment into distinct social classes who only care about themselves.”

     

    Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

  • Incredible That Lee Hsien Loong Kept Appointment Of Electoral Boundaries Review Committee A Secret

    Incredible That Lee Hsien Loong Kept Appointment Of Electoral Boundaries Review Committee A Secret

    It is shocking that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong chose not to announce the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee when he appointed it two months ago.

    He revealed the formation of the EBRC only in Parliament today. Such a non-transparent approach to elections continues to tilt the playing field heavily in the PAP’s favour.

    Add to this the secretive way the constituencies are formulated and we have the perfect example of an undemocratic ruling party out to ensure victory at all cost and with little regard for the views of the people.

    The SDP calls on Mr Lee to ensure that at least two months are given from the time of the announcement of the new boundaries to the dissolution of Parliament.

    There should also be ample time of at least three weeks for official campaigning which is in keeping with international democratic norms.

    Any less than these time frames will signal that the PAP is unrepentant of its former ways – despite the apologies and tears in the last general elections – and therefore nervous about a fair competition for votes.

    The PAP may continue with its tactic of announcing the boundaries at the last possible moment and give the least amount of time for official campaigning.

    This will benefit the PAP at the expense of Singaporeans for the results will not be a true reflection of the will of the people. In the long-run, it will be Singapore that suffers.

     

    Source: http://yoursdp.org

  • Singaporeans Shoud Stop Complaining And Spare A Thought For SMRT Workers And Their Families!

    Singaporeans Shoud Stop Complaining And Spare A Thought For SMRT Workers And Their Families!

    We were having family dinner when my dad received notification that he is activated. Without further ado, he put down his dinner and report within 30 minutes to the assigned station. He did not grumble about how he had to work again. The previous time when he was activated, he came back to us and shared with us how he could understand the feelings of the passengers who were shouting and pushing him and his coworkers. He stood and said sorry at least 100 times to everyone who was trapped. He is just a maintenance guy in SMRT.

    But, there was no negativity in him despite being shouted at, at the efficiency of the company, at the long standing hours or at anything. He came back to announce that he was glad that it’s settled.

    So, before we throw our frustrations and ill mannerism to any of the ground staff, please remember that they are just doing their best to get lives moving. They apologized on behalf of SMRT, not themselves. And most importantly, they have families waiting for them back home, or the unfinished dinner to eat too. A little empathy goes a long way to consider the various stakeholders invoked in this whole process. And I am sure we can do this!

    And for now, my family and I are waiting for my dad to come home safely.

     

    Source: Iris Lee