Tag: opposition

Polling Day: DOs And DON’Ts

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, the Old and the Young, the Retired and the Unemployed, Virgins and Veterans (voters), Smart and Stupid people, alike…

The Singapore General Elections is upon us.

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Earlier we released a friendly-seriously reminder about Nomination Day Behaviour. Now we present you a seriously-friendly list on Polling Day Etiquette.

Trust us, in this social-media-trigger-happy day and age, some of you are going to need some pointers.

Here are some Dos and Don’ts for 11 SEPTEMBER 2015

SELFIES

We don’t think it’s been banned (yet) but it is discouraged – inside the polling station.

WHY?

It’s not just that your vote is sacred, and the ballot is a secret, yada yada, that we should collectively help to maintain that. It is also illegal to reveal how someone else has voted; a sloppy selfie might lead to that. Plus there are voters and volunteers identity we need to respect… Basically, there’s a potential breach of the law written on the wall, regardless of your intentions. and since this is a seriously friendly list, we just want to do our civic duty and join in the discouragement of SELFIES (and yes, that includes, wefies, and groupies, etc.

Do: If you must, take pics / tweet / be on your smart device outside the polling station before or after you vote.

Don’t: Take pics / tweet / be on your smart device in the Polling Centre.

SOCIAL-MEDIA-ING

Same as above. Keep all these real-time updates and LIVE-blogging you’re bursting to document, to yourself, at least until you’re outside the polling station.

In most countries, it is considered a criminal act to communicate information about the way someone has voted or is about to vote, and specifically to “directly or indirectly induce a voter to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has or has not voted”.

Don’t anyhow post

Do post responsibly

CHOICE OF CLOTHING

WHY?

Cos it’s not a red carpet and you’re not Bard Pitt, agree? Not only that, voters in inappropriate clothing, like shirts carrying political slogans / tag-lines for example, may be considered intimidating, and disallowed.Voters in hoodies, hats, sunglasses, and capes, headphones, (what, you don’t wear a cape from time to time?)please reconsider. Polling officers need to be able to see your face. This prevents cases of fraud, impersonation, etc.Voters in high-heels, and other uncomfortable footwear,we have two words: your problem. note there might be walking across the school lawns, etc.Voters planning to go topless, send us an image and let’s reassess if the public needs to see that.Don’t: Dress Inappropriately- – you might get stomped! 🙂Do: Dress normally and comfortably – you might get stomped! 🙂

KIDS & FUR-KIDS

First, let’s altogether say: “Awww”

WHY?

Let’s agree, we should not let our kids or pets disrupt the voting process. (folks with guide-dogs please obviously take them.)

If you have a wee-one that needs attention:

Do make arrangements. Perhaps take turns with your spouse, or arrange for a babysitter, instead of getting to the Polling station altogether, only to realise there is a queue, and you have to stand in the sun perhaps, and other unforeseen logistical nightmares that can mess with your voting Zen.

While there may be no other regulations on other animals such as your pet iguana, fish, or your favourite stuffed toy, decisions will be at the discretion of presiding officers, who are likely volunteers and cannot be assumed to be experienced babysitters or animal-lovers, let alone non-allergic, so best not try your luck.

Of course, some of you might want to bring your kids along, to show them how it is done. We hope they are generally welcome, but that will be down to the discretion / prevailing laws. – In any case, if that is the case, by all means go ahead, but please don’t let your child mark the X- it’s your vote after all.

SPECULATION

Do read up on your candidates, constituency beforehand, and form a decision.

Don’t expect a show (or worse, put up one) say start or engage in discussion the merits of different candidates or parties – as it may unsettle other voters.

Don’t ask someone about where there vote is going as this will break the secrecy of the poll.

Don’t distribute party leaflets or other literature in the polling station.

If you want a friendly discussion / debate, do so outside the polling station

OTHERS

Do remind, prepare, inform, and make arrangements to help e.g. the disabled, the aged, those who might be overseas (and have problem getting time-zones right)

LASTLY…

Do vote wisely

Source: https://forsingapore.wordpress.com

September 8, 2015
Vote Wisely – PAP Is The Boring Dutiful Wife While Opposition Is The Sexy Vixen

At a local coffeeshop, I heard a most interesting analogy. The uncle compared the relationship between the PAP and the Opposition Parties as that of the dutiful wife and the vixen. Here goes:

The PAP is akin to a middle aged wife of a self-made wealthy businessman. She toiled tirelessly, washing clothes, cooking, teaching the kids… Basically caring for household.

Regardless of how well she runs the household, she would never have gotten the praises and adoration of her husband and children. When something goes wrong, it will usually be her fault… Too strict… Incompetent…u name it.

But why would she be naggish and strict? Because the wife is there to walk life’s journey with the husband and she has a responsibility. She scolds because she is worried, she nags because her heart aches.

The opposition is like the vixen who is prancing and waiting to replace the wife. All she needs to do, is to dress up, speak nice sweet things and gain the liking of people. Nothing more.

Once the vixen gains her position, she has his money to spend. She doesn’t care if the kids or the family has a future! After all, she didn’t walk the journey from the start with the family, the kids are not hers!

Why would this vixen be seemingly sweet and considerate? Because she has no responsibilities, and she doesn’t and wouldn’t appreciate how difficult and arduous the journey has been from rags to riches.

To pick on bones and speak badly of the wife, is easy, who can’t? All that’s needed is to speak against, act prominently and go against the flow of logic…

Choose wisely.

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

September 7, 2015
Walid J. Abdullah: This Is Politics

‘This is Politics’:

When a 19 year old says things that you agree with, ‘this kid is really wise beyond his years’.

When a 19 year old questions your policies, ‘i was once young, idealistic and naive like you.’

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When you talk about race, it is called ‘minority representation’.

When your opponent talks about race, it is called ‘communal politics’.

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When election is near, you mention on stage ‘I received an email from resident A, thanking me.’

When it is not election time, never mind seeing your face, even emails are ignored.

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When your opponent raises an important issue, ‘oh we have raised this before’.

When someone points out that you have not raised it before, ‘oh we raise it behind closed doors’.

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When your opponent makes a mistake, ‘you must commit harakiri’.

When your colleague makes a mistake, ‘let us move on’.

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When your opponent offers money for Singaporeans, ‘this is pork-barrel politics’.

When you offer multi-million projects – if and only if elected -, ‘it is only right that those who vote for us get these benefits’.

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When your opponent allegedly indulges in unacceptable behaviour, ‘this is a question of integrity!’

When your own allegedly indulges in unacceptable behaviour, ‘the mistake was made in good faith’.

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When your opponents speak up a lot in ‘they didn’t speak enough’.

When you speak up just once, ‘it was one too many’.

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When you speak rationally, ‘we need to have the GRCs to ensure minority representation’.

When you are in la la land, ‘there are no minorities in Singapore: every Singaporean belongs to the majority.’

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When your opponent changes constituencies, ‘these people are nomads’.

When son of punggol becomes son-in-law of AMK, son of Hougang is nowhere to be seen, son of Joo Chiat migrates to Punggol, and daughter of Jurong moves to Marsiling, ‘this is strategy’.

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When comparisons with other countries do not work in your favour, ‘Singapore is a city-state. We cannot compare with other countries. We are unique.’

When comparisons seemingly work in your favour, ‘Heng ahhhhh!’

Unfortunately, this is politics.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

September 7, 2015
19 Year Old Student: Why I Will Vote Opposition

Dear fellow Singaporean,

I am just a student who is 19 this year, hence I am not able to vote for this upcoming General Election. I come from a very average family and my parents do not have any diploma certificates but just O’ level certificates which you can roughly estimate how much they earn. My dad works from 6am to 6pm daily just for the family. Have got to admit that I am not political type of person and I am not well with my language too, however I do want to stand up for my friends, my families and myself. The government says that we are the future of Singapore but as a student now, I am already being stressed up with my academic and as well as my future and yet the PAP says that they care for everyone in Singapore but in truth, do they really put themselves in the shoes of a teenager as well? As a 19 year old boy, I calculate my daily expenses which is just food and on average, I spend at LEAST $15 in school every day due to 8am – 5pm class. So how much do you think I can save now? The government urge Singaporeans to have more babies to increase the population of Singapore, however, how are supposed to have babies when starting a family would be a problem for most of the average income families now? Also, we still have to at least have a degree certificate in order to survive in this society right now. With all these calculations which includes National Service, how old would we be in order to have a baby which we are capable of raising him/her up?

My family does not own any cars but whenever I meet up with relatives, they would complain over cars expenses, work, studies etc. The government came up with policies for cars such as COE and ERP now, raising a car (for 10 years only) is near to the price of having half a HDB flat and according to the government, the reason they gave was limited area within Singapore. A place to stay is very important but transportation to destination is also important as punctuality, efficiency is affected. From what I can see, instead of making full use of the whole Singapore, I can only see houses being built everywhere every day, but traffic jam still remains everyday on my way to school. Some days on my way to and fro the interchange, I would see cars being jammed along the small road and the reason of the car jam is because of the barrier of the car gantries not able to function well at times. Sometimes, I could even see broken barriers at the side of the road, cars horning most of the time and sometimes I would even see people quarrelling just because of the gantry. (Is this your so called understanding of Singaporean?) Is the barrier of the gantries to collect money or the harmony of Singaporeans more important?

Alcohol and Cigarettes are really bad for health, (no offends to alcoholics or smokers) but with the high taxes of it does the amount of Singaporeans stop drinking or smoking? I know E-cigarettes are harmful to health and banned in Singapore, but honestly speaking would E-cigarettes be more healthier for the surrounding people of the smoker or the normal cigaratte and does that mean that normal cigarettes is not harmful to health? (this is the point which I don’t understand as a Singaporean though I am not a smoker) Medical expenses is another problem, with the weather in Singapore, even the yearly haze and not having sufficient rest due to work, stress just leads to illness. The government came up with policies which help the pioneer generation but teenagers like us would spend an average of $40 just for an MC and a couple of types of medication in a clinic. Are the pioneer generation the only Singaporeans?

Do you think the recent policies would help the future generation? Honestly speaking, as a student now, I myself would find that these policies does help but doesn’t remove the root of high expenses still in Singapore. I have watched these few days rally shows on television and made me realized that the PAP likes to dig out the past of opposition parties unpleasant past, as a leader of Singapore, I think winning with glory is needed. The Opposition parties pinpoint problems in Singapore, not problem with your opponents past. How do even trust our votes to you when what you doing is for Singapore, the country itself, not the Singaporeans living in Singapore.

I am really very worry of my future and as well as the future of Singapore because this is the country which I am going to spend for the rest of my life. I had managed to convince my parents to vote for Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) for my area, I really hope that many of us would vote for the opposition party as I really think that our future generation is at stake if our expenses continues to go up.

Opposition Seah
A.S.S. Reader

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

September 6, 2015
Real Estate Agents Feature Prominently Among Opposition Candidates

Has the tepid property market created a new impetus for real estate agents to enter politics?

Property agents have emerged as a noticeable group among the candidates this general election, and all are on opposition party tickets.

At least seven agents and one legal counsel of a real estate agency are contesting, with four hailing from one single agency, PropNex.

Two are contesting Sembawang group representation constituency (GRC), going up against National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, the very person in charge of housing and the property sector.

But these agents, who have mostly been inactive in closing sales in the past year, told The Business Times that issues other than housing have been on their minds as well, such as income inequality, the use of Central Provident Fund (CPF) money and the influx of foreign talent.

Mr Andy Zhu, 32, an agent from Vestor Realty who is standing in West Coast GRC under the Reform Party, said he hopes to focus on the elderly and healthcare. He also believes that CPF money should be returned to Singaporeans at the age of 55, without the need for the minimum sum.

Mr Eugene Yeo, 39, associate director at Real Estate Alliance, said it is “purely coincidental” that this many property agents are standing for election – not because property transactions have come down.

Still, the National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidate hopes to flag housing issues in Parliament if he is elected.

He said: “Being in the election is not a cheap affair, it is pretty costly. It is not because the property market is bad that agents want to have an MP’s (Member of Parliament) salary.”

Mr Yadzeth Hairis, who is also standing on the NSP ticket in Sembawang GRC, told BT that though he is a registered agent with Dennis Wee Realty, he has been focusing on his development business in Indonesia under PT Cass Villa.

Another NSP candidate, Mr Choong Hon Heng, 45, who runs a one-man agency, DCA Management, is contesting Tampines GRC.

FLIP-FLOP POLICIES

The People’s Power Party candidate in Chua Chu Kang GRC, Mr Augustine Lee, 42, said he has a beef with what he sees as policy flip-flopping.

Said the property agent with PropNex: “At one time, they loosen up the policies to make property prices so high. Now, they use cooling measures to revise it back. That’s very bad planning and quite disruptive.

“Property can be a mother of all problems because it affects everyone. You have to buy or rent – everyone needs the physical space, so that is a cost to everyone and these costs translate into prices in goods and services.”

He added that he hopes the Government will look further into reducing land prices and review HDB’s role as a developer.

Two of his PropNex colleagues – head of legal Gurmit Singh and property agent Ron Tan – are Workers’ Party (WP) candidates in Nee Soon GRC. The WP did not respond to BT’s questions.

PropNex agent Darren Soh, 46, who is also a taxi driver, is standing in West Coast GRC with Mr Zhu under the Reform Party. He could not be reached for a comment.

PropNex key executive officer Lim Yong Hock, when asked to comment on his staff and agents’ involvement in politics, pointed out that besides those standing for election with opposition parties, there are others active in the People’s Action Party.

The agency has made its position clear to full-time staff and commissioned agents, he said.

“The fact that our agents or staff are standing for election doesn’t mean that the company supports the party they stand for,” he said.

“We support them as long as they do not bring disrepute to the industry.”

He noted that the three PropNex agents have not closed a single deal this year, but that in the industry generally, one in three agents is inactive.

Mr Lee said that real estate agents bring to the table a sharpened ability to connect with the ground, having themselves come from all walks of life and having to be “creative and communicative” to close deals.

“Good agents will always think for the best of their clients. They are quite independent in thinking and because of that, they tend to have different opinions,” he said.

Take the trend of condominium units getting smaller and smaller, for instance. “We feel sad for ourselves and our clients.”

The full version of this story first appeared in The Business Times’ weekend edition on Sept 5.

FROM PROPNEX: Mr Ron Tan (above) is contesting Nee Soon GRC for Workers’ Party

FROM PROPNEX: Mr Gurmit Singh (above) is contesting Nee Soon GRC for Workers’ Party

FROM PROPNEX: Mr Darren Soh (above) is standing in West Coast GRC under Reform Party.

FROM PROPNEX: Mr Augustine Lee (above) is contesting Chua Chu Kang GRC under People’s Power Party.

FROM VESTOR REALTY: Mr Andy Zhu is standing in West Coast GRC under Reform Party.

FROM REAL ESTATE ALLIANCE: Mr Eugene Yeo is contesting Sembawang GRC under National Solidarity Party

FROM DCA MANAGEMENT: Mr Choong Hon Heng is contesting Tampines GRC under National Solidarity Party.

FROM DENNIS WEE REALTY: Mr Yadzeth Hairis is standing in Sembawang GRC under National Solidarity Party

Source: www.tnp.sg

September 6, 2015