Rilek1Corner

Tag: meritocracy

  • Chee Soon Juan: PAP Running Scared, Doesn’t Want Genuine Political Contest

    Chee Soon Juan: PAP Running Scared, Doesn’t Want Genuine Political Contest

    I have often pointed out that the PAP is never sincere in ensuring that there is genuine political contestation, it always raises the bar just when its opponents come close to beating it at its own game (think GRC, Cooling-off Day, Public Order Act, etc).

    The most recent example is the tweaking of the EP. Ostensibly, it is to ensure minority representation in the presidency. The reality is that alarm bells went off when Dr Tony Tan won by just 0.34%-point over Dr Tan Cheng Bock.

    As usual, the government goes through the exercise of conducting a “study” of the issue. “Expert” views are then sought to substantiate the recommendations in the study. http://www.todayonline.com/…/mixed-race-teams-presidential-…

    The process goes like this. Step 1: Frame the issue, set the parameters. Step 2: Gin up debate in the local media and through various panels (within prescribed parameters, of course). Step 3: Legislate it.

    Much time, effort and money is expended to legitimise a course of action on which the PAP has already decided. Remember the discussions about whether to have 9 or 12 NCMP seats or 3- or 6-member GRCs or which race Singaporeans prefer their presidents?

    As Noam Chomsky points out: “The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.”

    What is troubling in this instance is that at a time when our country faces complex and enormous challenges – challenges where open and intelligent debate is so desperately needed – the PAP devices yet another scheme to further control the political process.

    There is a price, a steep one, to pay for all this.

     

    Source: Chee Soon Juan 徐顺全

  • Osman Sulaiman: PAP Must Stop Using Malay Community As Political Pawn, Cease Affirmative Actions

    Osman Sulaiman: PAP Must Stop Using Malay Community As Political Pawn, Cease Affirmative Actions

    If the PAP thinks that a Malay president is important periodically, and has always been confident of its party’s credibility and branding, then it should support a Malay candidate to contest in the coming presidential election as how it supported Tony Tan in the last election.

    Often times, the ones who made the Malays feel that they are of sub-par quality is the PAP itself. Creating GRCs and justifying it that without GRCs, a Malay candidate cannot stand on its own worthiness.

    GRCs were introduced in 1988. It was the last election that a Malay candidate stands in an SMC under the PAP banner. Mr Abdullah Tarmugi contested in Siglap SMC and garnered 73.7% of the popular votes. One of the highest achievers among the slates of candidates being fielded by PAP. It definitely showed no signs that a non-Chinese candidate cannot stand on its own merits.

    After the 1988 general election, no other PAP Malay candidates contested in an SMC. Between then and now, the PAP continues with its narrative that a Malay candidate cannot win an election in a Chinese majority electorate.

    I remembered when Masagos was promoted to a ministerial position, the PAP highlighted that the promotion reflected the progress of the Malays. It simply meant that the promotion was given on account that the community now deserves to have a minister while previously it didn’t as we are considered second best as compared to the non-Malays.

    Today, the PAP again uses the Malay community as a pawn for its political agenda. Knowing how close the results of the last presidential election between its endorsed candidate and the independent candidate Dr Tan Cheng Bock (TCB), the PAP is playing the racial cards again by tugging at the heart strings of the Malay community.

    It seems that it now wants a Malay figurehead to counter the possibility of Dr TCB winning the presidential election. And rules have to be tweaked to accommodate this.

    I will be elated if ever we were to have a Malay president again after Yusof Ishak. But there will be no honour in winning a contest when the favours are heavily tilted for a certain individual/race to win it. And when indeed a Malay president is elected under those conditions, then it will further affirm the unfounded theory that the Malay community cannot stand on its own calibre.

    I would rather we secure the presidential role fair and square. The PAP will need to walk the talk rather than just paying lip service. If it values the contribution of the Malay community and treats everyone as equal, show it by supporting a Malay candidate without tinkering with the system. The Malay community doesn’t need charity of this kind.

    The principle that all citizens are equal, regardless of race or religion, means we have to do away with affirmative actions.

     

    Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

  • Dr Tan Cheng Bock: By-Election Result Is Victory For Multiculturalism

    Dr Tan Cheng Bock: By-Election Result Is Victory For Multiculturalism

    A victory for Multiracialism.

    The results of the Bukit Batok by-election clearly show that a minority candidate can win an election on his own.

    This win by Murali is significant because he won his seat as a member of a minority race in a predominantly (75%) Chinese constituency. And the win is even more telling because it was won in a by-election. Recent past by-election results have not been in favour of the ruling party eg Ponggol East by-election.

    Apart from the many other factors that contributed to his win, an important observation was that, race did not affect his performance of 62%. It is a victory for multiracialism and a sign that voters are more discerning and colour blind.

    The fear that a minority candidate cannot win on his own, resulted in the creation of Group Representation Constituency (GRC) after GE1988. The setting up of this GRC was to address this early concern that minority races may not be represented in Parliament if Singaporeans vote along racial lines.

    This victory by Murali has put paid to this fear and should pave the way for the removal of any race-based politics in future.

     

    Source: Dr Tan Cheng Bock

  • PrimaDeli Owns Up, Says “Serious Disciplinary Action” Taken Against Racist Employee

    PrimaDeli Owns Up, Says “Serious Disciplinary Action” Taken Against Racist Employee

    It has been brought to our attention that a staff member has made discriminatory remarks to a potential candidate during a job interview. We have since made personal contact to offer our sincere apologies.

    We would also like to apologise to the wider community with regards to the circumstances. We take a very serious view and have zero tolerance for such behaviour hence, serious disciplinary action has been imposed on the said employee after an immediate investigation was conducted.

    At PrimaDeli we believe in fair and equal rights for all at our company; We assess performance and suitability based on merit and achievements.

    Yours sincerely;
    The Management at PrimaDeli

     

    Source: PrimaDeli

  • Perwakilan Kaum Minoriti Isu Utama Perbincangan Awam Bagi Presiden Dipilih

    Perwakilan Kaum Minoriti Isu Utama Perbincangan Awam Bagi Presiden Dipilih

    Melindungi hak perwakilan minoriti dalam sistem Presiden Singapura Dipilih tanpa menggadaikan merit menjadi topik utama perbincangan awam pertama Suruhanjaya Perlembagaan.

    Sesi hari ini adalah yang pertama dalam satu siri perbincangan yang bakal diadakan, di mana ia akan menyaksikan 19 individu serta kumpulan memberikan maklum balas tentang perubahan-perubahan yang disarankan kepada sistem Presiden Singapura Dipilih.

    Suruhanjaya Perlembagaan sembilan anggota ini merupakan yang kedua sejak kemerdekaan Singapura, ditugaskan mengkaji aspek-aspek penting sistem Presiden Singapura Dipilih.

    Salah satu aspek adalah melindungi perwakilan kaum minoriti.

    Dalam membahaskannya, profesor undang-undang Eugene Tan berkata sistem tersebut tidak seharusnya menjuruskan para pengundi untuk mengundi kaum minoriti hanya kerana ia seharusnya begitu.

    Tetapi ia patut meneliti siapa yang paling layak untuk jawatan tersebut.

    Selain aspek merit, penyelidik kanan Matthew Matthews mencadangkan agar satu pilihan raya bagi calon minoriti diadakan jika Singapura tidak mempunyai Presiden dari kaum minoriti selama empat hingga lima penggal.

    Satu lagi isu adalah berkenaan perubahan kepada kriteria kelayakan.

    Namun Suruhanjaya melahirkan keprihatinan tentang melonggarkan kriteria tersebut kerana jawatan Presiden sepatutnya seorang yang berkaliber dan mampu menjalankan tugas Presiden dengan baik.

    Encik Tan juga menyarankan agar perubahan pada sistem tersebut dilaksanakan pada 2023, tahun di mana pilihan raya presiden keenam dijangka akan diadakan, dan bukan semasa pilihan raya tahun depan.

    Ini kata Encik Tan akan mengelakkan pilihan raya tersebut daripada tidak semena-menanya dikaitkan dengan politik.

    Namun Profesor Chan Heng Chee berkata, jika begitu, saranan sedemikian hanya boleh dilaksanakan setengah dekad kemudian.

    Dan menurutnya, ia “terlalu lama”.

    Sesi perbincangan awam seterusnya akan diadakan Jumaat ini.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg