Tag: opposition

Opposition Parties Optimistic Issues Will Be Resolved By Thursday

Opposition parties said they made progress in avoiding three-cornered fights at a meeting on Monday night (Aug 3). They are optimistic that outstanding issues will be resolved at the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday.

Monday’s meeting lasted almost three hours and described by party representatives as one that was amicable and cooperative. They also said most of the issues involving the Single-Member and Group-Representation Constituencies have been resolved.

But some sticking points remain, and it is understood that Marine Parade GRC is one of them. It is the stomping ground of the National Solidarity Party – which contested there in 2011 – and the party is keen to return.

But the Workers’ Party (WP) has indicated interest – especially now that Joo Chiat SMC will be absorbed into Marine Parade GRC in the next General Election.

In the 2011 General Election, the WP’s Yee Jenn Jong lost the seat in Joo Chiat to the ruling People’s Action Party’s Charles Chong by just 388 votes.

Whether either party will budge on their decision to contest in that constituency is anyone’s guess for now. A consensus might not even reached at Thursday’s meeting. A source told Channel NewsAsia several more private meetings between various parties might be needed to iron things out. Even so, political analysts say such meetings indicate a maturity in the way opposition parties interact with one another.

Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies said: “You have the Workers’ Party making a big breakthrough in 2011, so it’s really the leading Opposition party, and it probably feels the obligation to carry on, and go bigger and better. But then you’ve seen many little new parties bubbling up, and old parties being revived.”

“And so, the general landscape of the Opposition party space in Singapore is becoming more complex, and just becoming more interesting and really more mature. Getting together, meeting, and discussing whether they’ll be able to avoid three-cornered fights is actually a very mature process of negotiation and engagement. It’s a far more complex landscape than we faced say, in 2006 – when we only had two opposition MPs,” she added.

But another expert said it remains to be seen whether this amicability among the opposition could play out.

Dr Alan Chong, coordinator of the International Relations Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said: “They realise that in order to gain the same level of prominence and success as WP, the rest of them are still very small fish. So for their electoral survivability, they have to form some kind of alliance. Then again, you never know if they are going to descend into petty bickering the moment Nomination Day is announced.”

Dr Chong said that while it may seem hopeful that the Opposition Parties can sort out their differences, all bets could be off come Nomination Day.

Source: www.channlnewsasia.com

August 5, 2015
Are The Opposition In Politics For The People Or For Personal Gain?

Dear Political Aspirant(s),

It is not enough to say that you want to champion transport issues without offering any alternatives. The current government is aware that transportation is a cause of concern and is addressing it through various ways such as buying more buses and experimenting with distributing the peak hour load by offering free services up to a certain time in the morning. One must understand the intricacies of the public transport system and policy here in Singapore and offer alternatives to that model instead of just recognising it as an issue and expect the government to resolve it independently.

It is not enough to say that you do not agree to the population increase and yet do not offer alternatives on how Singapore is to sustain itself as the population is ageing drastically. What plans do you have for Singapore to sustain its growth and ensure that Singaporeans are competitive as compared to citizens of other nations? In regards to foreign workers and talents, what is your stand on it? Should it be stopped completely or should it be left open as before? If you opine that it should be somewhere in the middle, then it’s no different from the government’s stance which seeks to calibrate the influx of foreign workers and talents so as not to upset the economy, especially the SMEs, and ensure that Singaporeans continues to have a job with the presence of the multi-national companies here.

If we want an alternative view in the Parliament, it must credible. In my opinion, that alternative view can come from within the ruling party and not necessarily just opposing for the sake of doing so. Above all, politics is not a game nor a competition. It is a calling – a high and noble one. One must not go into politics with the intention to just overthrow an existing government. What happen nexts? What are your plans? At the heart of politics, it must be about serving the people and if you do not have the people in mind, then your intentions are baseless.

I fear the day that Singapore politics would go down the gutters and end up with a parliament that does not enact new laws but is too absorbed with internal squabbling and fighting amongst parliamentarians. But if that is what Singaporean wants, then there is nothing much we can do but to pray that such a day would not come in our life time.

Thank you.

Source: Adam Hudzaifah Al-Yaman

August 5, 2015
A Look At Ng Chee Meng And His Powerful Family

Ng Chee Meng is touted as a potential candidate for the People’s Action Party (PAP). He and his brothers hold key positions in government. Take a look at where they are.

Ng Chee Meng has just resigned as the Chief of Defence Force. Before he was the Chief of Defence Force, he was also the Chief of Air Force.

This is a position he succeeded from his older brother, Ng Chee Khern, who was also the Chief of Air Force. Later, Chee Khern became the Director of the Security and Intelligence Division, and is now the Permanent Secretary of Defence Development.

Their younger brother, Ng Chee Peng was the Chief of Navy. He is now the CEO of the CPF Board.

Together, all three Ng brothers were the Chief of Defence Force, Chief of Air Force and Chief of Navy – they controlled military positions over the land, air and sea.

Older brother Chee Khern is now a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence. Younger brother Chee Peng is now the CEO of the CPF Board. Our defence and CPF are in their hands.

Chee Meng is expected to run for the PAP and would be the highest-ranking military officer to run for election. He could even potentially become a prime minister. This means that he could head the government.

If so, the Ng family would control the government, the military and our CPF.

This is the Ng Family.

Source: Temasek Review

August 3, 2015
Sitoh Yih Pin Unveils Lift Upgrading Program For Potong Pasir

Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin yesterday had good news for residents of eight low-rise blocks of flats which previously did not qualify for lift upgrading as there were too few units to share the cost.

The Housing Board has given in-principle approval to select their blocks for the national programme, he said in letters to 32 households that will get lift access, which he delivered in the evening.

Mr Sitoh told reporters that he “had been working very hard” to get the blocks included and hopes construction work can begin in the first six months of next year.

He also hoped residents would continue to give him a mandate to do more for them.

“I went to take a look at our manifesto in 2011,” he said. “We can put a tick to every box, we have fulfilled all the promises we have made.”

Lift upgrading was a key platform of Mr Sitoh’s campaign to spruce up the ageing ward in the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) bid to wrest the seat from veteran opposition politician Chiam See Tong.

Mr Sitoh won the seat on his third attempt in the 2011 General Election, when Mr Chiam left the ward he held since 1984 to contest neighbouring Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

Mr Sitoh had a majority of just 114 votes against Mr Chiam’s wife – Mrs Lina Chiam of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) – who intends to contest again in the next general election.

Yesterday, Mr Sitoh ran into Mr and Mrs Chiam and over 20 SPP activists at a coffee shop during their respective walkabouts, and they met up like old friends over peanut pancakes and coffee.

Mr Sitoh said he respected Mr Chiam enormously, and disclosed that for many neighbourhood renewal projects that were being carried out, he had given instructions to retain plaques that bear Mr Chiam’s name beside the facilities.

“As much as possible, even if we are to open a new amenity, at best our plaque will be side-by-side with his. His 27 years of legacy in Potong Pasir are intact,” he added.

Mr Sitoh has expanded the neighbourhood’s community club and brought in FairPrice and a POSB outlet to Potong Pasir in the four years since he took over as MP.

Yesterday, he asked residents for a chance to embark on “the next chapter” of his 10-year plan, which includes a project to cover up all the drains and install more surveillance cameras in the estate.

“We know exactly what we need to do, and our manifesto is ready. We will unveil it when the hustings come,” he said.

Yesterday, Mr Chiam was fondly greeted by Potong Pasir residents. Mrs Chiam told reporters later that she and the SPP will speak up on issues such as rising medical costs, housing and transport if elected, and try to “bring the kampung spirit back” to Potong Pasir, “of course with modern facilities”.

“The needs of the residents come first, not the facade of a constituency,” she added before visiting Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Mountbatten where SPP also plans to contest.

Also working the ground in Potong Pasir yesterday was former National Solidarity Party (NSP) secretary-general Tan Lam Siong, who handed out rations to residents a day after he said he would contest there as an independent.

The Democratic Progressive Party is also interested in the ward .

Asked about such a contest, Mr Sitoh said: “That’s interesting, isn’t it? (But) our attention and our focus must be on the residents here.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 3, 2015
Walid J. Abdullah: If I Were A Politician…

As a political science major, I get the following question whenever i tell people what i study: ‘so you want to be a politician?’ I don’t. But if i was one, this is how my first press conference would sound like.

Walid: Hello everyone (while carrying a random baby of some resident). I am Walid, a son of simei (‪#‎sonofsimei‬, since every politician needs a hashtag). I have stayed here for the most part of my life and know the place very well.

Reporter: So what is your plan for Simei?

Walid: I intend to build a mega mall here! This will serve the needs of the residents here, young and old.

Reporter: Erm, but residents of Simei do not need another mall. They already have Eastpoint.

Walid: Good leadership is not about doing what the people want; it is about doing what is right. I am
not a populist.

Reporter: How much would it cost?

Walid: Around $100 million. But the eventual expenses may even triple and be in the range of $300 million.

Reporter: What???? In any other job, a person who exceeds the budget three times over would be sacked!

Walid: You must not look at the tangibles only. Look at the intangibles.

Reporter: Erm, ok. So what is your stance on political participation?

Walid: I am a firm believer in freedom of expression. Everyone should be able to state their opinions on anything. There are no sacred cows.

Reporter: How would you respond to some claims of racial discrimination by some residents?

Walid: That is a provocative question that can disrupt our social harmony. If you want to ask such questions, please drop your pen and paper, and join politics to contest against us.

Reporter: But you just said we must be free to express ourselves.

Walid: Not unconditionally. These Western notions of freedom are not applicable to societies like ours. And you journalists have a part to play; don’t just write everything. Make sure Singaporeans read the ‘right’ thing.

Reporter: What are some of the concerns that have been raised by residents?

Walid: We understand that the residents have many concerns. We will continue to seek ways to address them. Meanwhile, we will continue to have dialogues with the relevant stakeholders.

Reporter: Are there mistakes that your predecessors have made?

Walid: Let us not harp on the past. Let us move on.

Reporter: Final question Walid, as a son of Simei, will you be contesting here?

Walid: It does not really matter where I contest. Let us look at the bigger picture.

#sonofsimei

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

August 3, 2015