Tag: low thia kiang

WP’s Low Thia Khiang Hits Back At Teo Chee Hean, Calls For ‘Civilised’ Political Engagement

Workers’ Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang yesterday (Aug 16) shot back at Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s recent withering attack on the opposition party and its leaders, by asking the public to judge the politics that the People’s Action Party (PAP) practises.

“With all due respect, (Mr Teo) wanted to comment in that way, let Singaporeans judge and see this is the kind of standard of the PAP in politics. Is this the kind of politics we want in future?” said Mr Low. “What do we want the future of Singapore to be? Do we want to be more civilised in our political engagement? We are not a Third World country.”

In a media interview last Friday, Mr Teo ripped into the WP for its handling of the financial lapses at its Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC), and criticised Mr Low for shedding “crocodile tears” over the stepping down of Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew.

“It’s very in character for Mr Low to squeeze the most political mileage out of anything. The reasons that Tuck Yew decided to step down are known to everyone,” Mr Teo had said.

Mr Low had earlier said that he was disappointed and could not understand why Mr Lui had chosen to leave politics at this point in time.

Yesterday, he reiterated that his views on Mr Lui, whom he has known for several years from their interactions in Parliament, were authentic and “heartfelt”. Using a Chinese idiom, Mr Low said his comments on Mr Lui were grating to the PAP as “good and honest advice is unpleasant to the ears”.

Describing Mr Lui as a “hardworking” minister, Mr Low said his departure from politics would be a loss to the Cabinet as he was accountable to Members of Parliament (MPs).

Speaking to reporters at Chong Pang Market — where party supporters and members were greeting residents and selling its newspaper — Mr Low said: “He (Mr Lui) can even cite you details of very technical matters…(and) he doesn’t try to score political points in answering questions, neither does he try to find a way to try to attack or bully the Opposition.”

WP chairman Sylvia Lim, who was part of the party entourage, said that the opposition party was “surprised” by Mr Lui’s decision to step down. She added that the WP was looking at the issue of collective responsibility of the Cabinet.

Responding to Mr Teo’s criticism of the WP’s handling of the AHPETC saga, Ms Lim said it is for residents to decide if they have been taken care of.

Hougang MP Png Eng Huat, who chairs the town council’s audit committee, said that the town council is seeking to close its financial year 2014/2015 accounts by August 31 – the deadline for all town councils. Any discussion on the town council’s financial position will be “more meaningful after that”, he said.

Last Friday, Mr Teo pointed out that the Constitution guarantees there will at least be nine Opposition members in Parliament. He also said that the Opposition in Parliament had no bearing on the many policies introduced or refined by the PAP government since the 2011 General Election, as the foundation for these plans had been laid even earlier – a point that was echoed by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a separate event.

In response, Ms Lim noted that Singaporeans have already shown a desire for elected Opposition.

“On the opposition front, we have to make sure that we continue to give Singaporeans a credible choice. It is up to Singaporeans to decide whether they are satisfied with constitutionally-guaranteed Non-Constituency MPs or whether they would like to have elected MPs governing their constituencies,” she said, adding that it is for voters to judge whether having Opposition MPs made the PAP more sensitive to their needs.

Mr Teo also took a jibe at WP chairman Sylvia Lim who on Wednesday posted on Instagram a picture of herself eating at Fengshan Hawker Centre with the caption, “The taste of Fengshan — heavenly!”, and the hashtag #reasonstowin. On Thursday, Ms Lim posted a blank picture with the caption, “how to avoid speculation”, along with the hashtag #electionseason. Mr Teo said: “What’s going to happen? You’re going to swallow up Fengshan for what purpose? To serve the residents of Fengshan? Or is Fengshan delicious because you want to add it into the pot to help the town council with the deficit?”

Ms Lim said: “I think it is a pity that (Mr Teo) doesn’t’ seem to have a sense of humour.” Yesterday, she put up another picture — of her with three other WP members in Chong Pang, which is the ward of Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam — with the caption, “In the den of my ‘favourite’ Minister… Better move in groups.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 17, 2015
WP Faisal Abdul Manap Apologized in Parliament After Making Allegation Against HDB

Credit: Asiaone

There was a sharp exchange yesterday between Minister of State (National Development) Maliki Osman and Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, which even saw Parliament Speaker Halimah Yacob stepping in to remind MPs of the importance of providing details when they cite incidents involving government agencies and public servants.

During the debate on the Family Justice Bill, Mr Faisal had alleged that when he was a counsellor, he came across a couple who were having housing issues and advised to file for a divorce by the Housing and Development Board — so that the wife would be eligible to buy a house under the Singles Scheme and she could subsequently remarry her husband. Mr Faisal, however, could not provide the details. Here are excerpts of the exchange:

Dr Maliki (left): It is very important for Members of the House to understand that if we highlight cases in this House, we have to be prepared to disclose all information … Because I don’t think allegations of such a nature can be allowed to go past without verification. I hope Mr Faisal will be able to get back to the (client) and ask … for permission for us to clarify this situation. If not, I hope the case that was highlighted here should not be considered seriously in this Chamber.

Mr Faisal (right): I don’t have (the) contacts since I am no longer a counsellor. But again, I used that as one example of many cases I have encountered of such difficulties … I don’t have the details of my client.

Mdm Halimah: It is quite different to say that HDB rejected the appeal (compared) to saying that it is because of the advice of the HDB officer that the couple should divorce … So since you cited the person and you said you got her approval to raise the issue, the question asked by the Minister of State is whether you can provide particulars so he can verify and prevent (the situation) from repeating if (it) is indeed … as you have said.

Dr Maliki: These are very serious statements that are being made against our civil servants … If such allegations are made, we must give them a chance to clarify …

Mr Faisal: I have no intention of disregarding the good work that has been done by civil servants in our public services. I just wanted to feedback the experiences that I had encountered …

Dr Maliki: It is very important for us to uphold the integrity of this Chamber and … that of our Civil Service. The Member highlighted a case and made very serious allegations that a HDB officer actually asked the couple to divorce … For such allegations to be made in this Chamber, it is very serious.

Mdm Halimah: Although Members are covered by parliamentary privilege, it is important when incidents are cited, particularly involving government agencies and public servants, the particulars can be provided … to verify … the facts. That will really help to improve the debate in the House, it adds credibility to the whole process … as well.

(After Law and Foreign Minister K Shanmugam had wrapped up the debate)

Mr Faisal: It is not my intention to give a negative impression of any of the public services or government offices. I will be more careful in future and I apologise.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/faisal-apologises-after-making-allegation-against-hdb

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August 5, 2014
Low Thia Kiang – Lee Hsien Loong Frontal Assaults in Parliament

Mr Low: Madam, I wish to clarify a few points. First of all, the reason why I decided to focus my speech on constructive politics, because I thought that was an important issue that we should look at. As what I say in my speech, Singapore is becoming more diversified, there will be different views. And moving forward, how the Government will deal and accommodate different views and different perspective of Singaporeans is important for us to move forward together as one united people. And the other MPs from the Workers’ Party will be talking about different issues. They will cover, I mean ranging from social issues, social safety net to foreign affairs, national security. They will cover the full range of areas, and thereby we split our job, I will focus on constructive politics. I thought it was an important issue and of course it’s important to also understand what is the perspective of the PAP in terms of constructive politics. And from what the Prime Minister has said, it seems to me that it is more constructive dictated on the term of the PAP, rather than constructive politics in terms of the society that is moving forward. And I have affirmed my endorsement to what the President has said that we should look at the outcome of constructive politics – that is, that we should be able to move forward together despite the differences. Next, he’s talking about the Workers’ Party flip-flopping on foreign workers issue. I said again I don’t think we have flip-flopped. I have explained in this House of some misunderstanding of the speeches I have made. And in any case I also noted that when the PAP have to make a policy U-turn, they called it policy shift. I don’t know whether that is a shift or is a flip-flop.

Mr Lee: I think the record will speak for itself. When we make a shift, we acknowledge the shift. When the Workers’ Party changes position, they pretend they haven’t. That is the difference. Now, as for delegating responsibility for different parts of the Budget speech to different MPs, that’s entirely within Mr Low Khia Thiang’s prerogative. It’s not for me to suggest how he should conduct his affairs in the Workers’ Party. But as a leader, you do have a responsibility to state where does the party stand on the big issue. Somebody can look after health care. Somebody can take care of transport. Somebody can spend all his time marking Minister Heng Swee Keat on education. But where do you stand on what the Government is doing? Is the Government doing right, is it doing wrong, do you agree with the Government, do you have a better view or do you abstain or do you abstain from abstaining?

Mr Low: Well, I think opposition is quite clear on many of these issues. If the Prime Minister wanted my view on what the Government has been doing and whether he has done well, I’ll say, well, he has solved some of the problems, what the Prime Minister has mentioned, and the Workers Party MPs also acknowledged it in their speech but also pointed out there are things that is still work in progress and the Government will have to focus on and to make it better and to improve. So that is the position and I don’t see the need for me to totally sum up, I think the MPs should be able to do in their own view and to give their view and their assessment and at the same time, wherever possible, offer certain views and alternative suggestions to improve the policies.

Mr Lee: Madam Speaker, I’m very grateful for the extremely reasonable explanation from the member. I hope he takes an equally reasonable approach when he comes to election rallies because the Workers’ Party approach has been to be extremely reasonable, indeed low profile in Parliament but come election time to turn into tigers and heroes.

Mr Low: Madam Speaker, I thank the prime minister for praising the Workers Party’s ability to fight in the elections. We have no intention to hide ourselves in Parliament. We seek the mandate for people to come to Parliament to check against the Government and we have done it honestly and sincerely, we have not turned this place into a theatre, that shows we are responsible and we will behave continuously as a rational and responsible party and members should, I believe members will agree that the Workers Party has been rational. We have not come here with some wild policies or wild suggestions. We debate the policies, we came out with some suggestions but these are not bankrupting the Government coffers or suggesting to use the reserves. Election – I think we are also rational, we don’t accuse the PAP of something that we cannot substantiate or I know we’ll get sued. So I think we are fair. And elections is elections and I think the prime minister for noting that we can fight elections. I’m sure the PAP can too. You are the Government and you have been the governing party for 50 years and you’ve got more, much people, talented people than the Workers’ Party! How can you say that we are tigers and we are something else in Parliament? I’m sure the PAP can equally be tigers or lions.

Mr Lee: It’s an eloquent explanation for why the Workers Party has been inarticulate about many things. In a serious Parliament, the Government presents its policies, the opposition presents its alternatives, the Workers Party may not have alternatives on every issue, you may not have a full range of all the complexities of designing an HDB scheme or a MediShield scheme, you do have a responsibility to say which direction are we going and that direction has to be set clearly, not to explain to the PAP but to explain to Singaporeans what you stand for. And what you stand for cannot be what the PAP is doing and a little better. That means you have no stand. Whatever the PAP’s standing, ask them to do better. That’s easy, I can do that too. But where do you stand? Where are we totally wrong? Where do you think this is a completely different way to do things better? Where do you think in principle we do not want Singapore to be like this? These are big issues which deserve to be debated and not elided over and avoided in the House. And that is what a First World Parliament should be about.

Mr Low: Madam Speaker, again, I’ll like to say that the Prime Minister is reasonable to say that the Workers Party may not have come out, able to come with all the alternative policies, that’s true, but to say that the Workers Party has no position on major issues, that is not true. I think we did state our position in Parliament, we debated major policies vigorously, we don’t oppose all the policies but where we think that there is a need for us to oppose and be concerned of the future of Singapore like the Population White paper, we did so. So we state our position on important issues and we didn’t oppose for things that we think are doing right. Is that not enough?

Mr Lee: I think it probably is useful to bring it down to something very specific. Let’s come back to the Population White Paper. During the debate the position taken by the Workers Party is that enough is enough, zero growth. We have continued to grow, I have not heard the Workers Party demand zero growth today. Do you still demand that or do you now think that we should allow SMEs to survive in Singapore?

Mr Low: We have made a calculation at the point in time of debating the Population White Paper and that if you continue to allow the foreign workers to grow, it will be untenable in the future generation, future population growth and thereby we decided that we need to keep the population number in check and one way of doing it, of course, is to freeze the foreign workers growth in number. Our calculation was that probably within that existing number of the foreign workers, you can still move around with some sectors there will be no need so much of foreign workers and thereby you can still get by with zero foreign workers growth. We understand perfectly the possibility and the trade-off, that is our position at that point in time. We had not objected subsequently or grilled the Government for why we are not doing it because that’s our view that it should have zero population growth but the Government decided otherwise, there’s a way of doing it, we have said our piece but we have to respect the decision of the Government to move on but our message has got across. We cannot sustain continuously the kind of population growth plan the Government is planning. And I’m glad to hear today that, you know, Prime Minister saying that the Government is taking a very serious view of tightening and watching the growth of population.

Mr Lee: Madam Speaker, after all this complicated explanation, I don’t know whether Mr Low Thia Khiang still stands by what we said in Parliament in the White Paper debate last year because if he really does after all the explanation, he should say: We have too many foreign workers now, send home 70,000, then we will know where he stands. But after telling me that you can massage this and some people can do less and others can do, and will need more, that’s easy to say. Who’s going to do the massaging? Of course the Government. And that is the mark of a substandard opposition.

Mr Low: Madam Speaker, I disagree. This is not the mark of a substandard opposition, this is the mark of a responsible opposition not to jam up the Government, allowing the Government after giving our view, debating it, allowing the Government to move forward, not to jam up the Government, so it is a mark of responsible government and a mark of First World Parliament.

Mr Lee: Madam Speaker, we have to call a spade a spade. If you have changed the position and your previous position was wrong, say so. If you hold by your position, have your guts to reaffirm it and take the consequences. But to weasel away, play with words, avoid the issue and then claim to be responsible, that is what we fear can drive Singapore’s politics into the same place where many other countries have gone.

Source: http://www.singapolitics.sg/news/pm-lee-wps-low-spar-over-constructive-politics

May 29, 2014
Ketelusan Serta Aplikasi Konsep Kebebasan Bersuara

Credit: Google Images

EKSKLUSIF DARI MEJA EDITOR RILEK1CORNER

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.

BACA ARTIKEL TENTANG WORKERS’ PARTY

BACA TENTANG SKIM CEPAT KAYA GALAXY TRIO & ULTRASONIC SINGAPORE

May 9, 2014