Tag: PAP

  • 19 Year Old Student: Why I Will Vote Opposition

    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

  • Tharman Shanmugaratnam: Nothing Is Free

    Tharman Shanmugaratnam: Nothing Is Free

    Free healthcare and education? Not without heavily taxing the middle income, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday.

    DPM Tharman, who was a guest speaker at the People’s Action Party (PAP) rally at Petir Road, said that providing free, or close-to-free, social services would pass a huge burden to the middle-class citizens as their taxes would have to be raised to finance such a policy.

    Earlier, the Singapore Democratic Party had said that it would also push for a “fair universal health insurance scheme” by raising the Government’s portion of the country’s healthcare expenditure from 30 per cent to 70 per cent.

    DPM Tharman said: “When you think of free healthcare or close-to-free… social services that we all like the idea of, you must realise it is not free. The average citizen is paying, and paying for it big time,” he said.

    The same outcome would arise if the Government were to give out cash benefits – a proposal that some opposition parties have suggested, he added.

    “There is no way, no way of giving something to everyone, whether it is everyone getting $300 when they get older or every child getting $300.

    “There is no way of achieving it without raising taxes on the middle income group. I’ve been studying this for years (from)… countries around the world,” he said.

    The Reform Party had promised to give every Singaporean below 16 a $300 monthly child benefit and to introduce a $3 billion a year pension scheme that will give $500 a month to seniors older than 65.

    Singaporeans First also proposed a monthly $300 allowance for children and the elderly, and subsidised healthcare, transport and childcare fees.

    Finally, DPM Tharman said the PAP, if re-elected as the Government, would not look to raise taxes after the general election.

    He said such scaremongering tactics from the opposition were “just cheap”.

    “We have been upfront and I said it in this year’s budget very clearly: We have raised the revenues we need for the next five years.”

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Halimah Yacob Tekankan Kepentingan Pilih Pucuk Pimpinan Tepat

    Halimah Yacob Tekankan Kepentingan Pilih Pucuk Pimpinan Tepat

    Speaker Parlimen, Halimah Yacob menekankan soal pentingnya para pengundi memilih pucuk pimpinan yang tepat dalam Pilihan Raya Umum pada Jumaat ini (11 September).

    Cik Halimah, calon Parti Tindakan Rakyat (PAP) bagi GRC yang baru dibentuk, Marsiling-Yew Tee, berkata demikian di sidang media PAP yang turut dihadiri Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong, hari ini.

    Cik Halimah menyebut tiga perkara yang perlu diberi pertimbangan oleh para pengundi, iaitu pucuk pimpinan yang bertanggungjawab, dan yang dapat melaksanakan dasar-dasar yang telah dilakarkan dengan baik, serta kepimpinan yang dapat menerajui Singapura dalam tahun-tahun ke hadapan.

    “Ia bukan sesuatu yang saya katakan, tiga perkara ini – tetapi adalah perkara yang dikatakan oleh ramai penduduk di Marsiling, kawasan Marsiling semasa saya bertemu mereka.

    “Ramai yang mengatakan bahawa mereka telah lihat apakah sumbangan pemerintah yang ada, dan mereka yakin kerana mereka mahu melihat masa depan yang lebih baik bagi anak-anak mereka, cucu-cucu mereka,” ujar Cik Halimah.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Yaacob Ibrahim Jelas Isu Tudung, Serta Perincian Usaha Dan Tugas AP Melayu

    Yaacob Ibrahim Jelas Isu Tudung, Serta Perincian Usaha Dan Tugas AP Melayu

    Para Anggota Parlimen Melayu PAP sudah “lebih daripada setakat memainkan peranan mereka” dalam mengutarakan isu-isu kepada Pemerintah – di Parlimen mahupun secara tertutup.

    Demikian ditegaskan Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim dalam satu wawancara dengan media, semasa beliau berkempen menemui pengundi pagi tadi (5 September).

    Malah, para Anggota Parlimen (AP) Melayu PAP, kata beliau, “membangkitkan lebih banyak isu nasional” berbanding pembangkang.

    Dr Yaacob menambah, para AP Melayu PAP juga sentiasa mengimbangi kepentingan masyarakat Melayu/Islam dengan perspektif nasional.

    Sebagai contoh, beliau menarik perhatian, para AP Melayu/Islam terus-menerus mendekati pemerintah dalam soal pemakaian tudung di tempat kerja. Dr Yaacob berkata, beliau “terus berharap bahawa dasar itu akan berubah” nanti.

    ISU PEMAKAIAN TUDUNG

    Mengulas isu memakai tudung di tempat kerja yang dibangkitkan beberapa calon pembangkang Melayu, Dr Yaacob berkata: “Kami bersimpati dengan nasib pekerja muslimah di sebahagian tempat kerja, dan kami berharap beberapa kelonggaran akan ditunjukkan kelak. Pada masa yang sama, kami perlu mengambil kumpulan yang lebih besar ke dalam konteks ini.”

    Calon Parti Demokratik Singapura (SDP) Damanhuri Abas, misalnya, berucap secara panjang lebar tentang isu pemakaian tudung dalam rapat pilihan raya parti itu kelmarin.

    Beliau antara lain berhujah supaya jururawat wanita Islam dibenarkan memakai tudung di tempat kerja.

    Dr Yaacob, calon PAP bagi GRC Jalan Besar, berkata ini adalah satu isu yang sudah lama berlegar dan beliau serta rakan-rakan PAP beliau sudah utarakan sebelum ini.

    Menyedari bahawa ini adalah sebuah masyarakat sekular dan pemerintah perlu berlaku adil, beliau berkata sebarang perubahan dasar perlu dikaji bagi mengetahui “kesannya yang diinginkan dan tidak diinginkan”.

    Namun, beliau juga menegaskan bahawa dasar itu “bukanlah muktamad “, dan beliau serta rakan-rakannya akan terus berdialog dengan pemerintah untuk mencari cara-cara di mana “kita boleh lebih fleksibel di tempat kerja” sambil mengiktiraf “bahawa kita hidup dalam masyarakat yang menganut pelbagai kepercayaan”.

    Jika masyarakat berbeza mahu meluaskan ruang mereka masing-masing, “kita mungkin mengurangkan ruang bersama” kata Dr Yaacob.

    PRESTASI AP MELAYU DI PARLIMEN

    Bercakap tentang para AP Melayu dari PAP, Dr Yaacob berkata, mereka “lebih daripada setakat memainkan peranan mereka (dan) bukan sahaja menyokong dasar-dasar pemerintah, tetapi juga membangkitkan persoalan-persoalan yang sangat, sangat sukar bagi pemerintah fikirkan.”

    “Saya rasa jika saya meneliti kebertanggungjawaban AP PAP, kami satu tangga di atas dari segi prestasi dan anda boleh melihatnya. Malah bagi kesemua AP Melayu dalam Dewan, saya sudah melakukan analisis. Ramai AP Melayu PAP sudah menimbulkan lebih banyak isu-isu nasional berbanding pihak pembangkang,” ujar Dr Yaacob lagi.

    “Kami tidak menghadkan diri kami kepada isu-isu masyarakat Melayu, kita juga bercakap tentang pengangkutan, jagaan kesihatan, segala-galanya,” kata Menteri Perhubungan dan Penerangan itu.

    Beliau juga menambah para AP Melayu PAP mencapai lebih daripada yang diperlukan dari segi prestasi, sambil menyebut nama-nama Encik Zainal Sapari, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Encik Zaqy Mohamad, Dr Fatimah Lateef, Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, dan Encik Zainudin Nordin.

    Namun demikian, AP Melayu PAP “terus membincangkan cara-cara bagaimana kita boleh memajukan keperluan masyarakat (Melayu) dengan keperluan negara,” kata Dr Yaacob.

    “Kami mengambil pendekatan nasional tetapi kami juga mempunyai kepentingan masyarakat di hati. Itulah tugas kita. Kita perlu mengimbangi kedua-duanya. Begitulah Singapura dikendalikan.”

    KENDALIKAN ISU-ISU SENSITIF DI BALIK TABIR

    Dr Yaacob berkata para AP Melayu membincangkan “banyak isu sensitif”dengan pemerintah di balik tabir.

    Selepas pilihan raya 2011, beliau berkata, “kami bertemu PM dan membentangkan kertas kerja untuk membincangkan beberapa isu yang dihadapi masyarakat Melayu”.

    Menurut beliau, ada di antaranya sudah dilaksanakan, termasuk Edusave untuk pelajar Madrasah, dan bantuan yang diumumkan baru-baru ini untuk mengukuhkan pengajaran mata pelajaran sekular di Madrasah. Ia diumumkan Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong semasa Rapat Hari Kebangsaan.

    “Ada perkara yang kita lakukan secara tertutup. Kami tidak menghebahkannya di rapat-rapat (pilihan raya) dan melaungkannya. Kami melakukannya secara senyap-senyap, dan apabila ia diumumkan di Parlimen atau di Rapat Hari Kebangsaan, kami berdiri dan menyokongnya – itulah cara kita melakukan kerja-kerja kami,” jelas beliau dengan panjang lebar.

    Dr Yaacob yang sudah menjadi AP sejak tahun 1997, berkongsi bahawa para AP Melayu/islam juga mendekati pemimpin masyarakat Melayu.

    “Pada akhirnya, kita perlu mencari keseimbangan kerana kita hidup dalam sebuah masyarakat sekular dengan masyarakat yang berbeza-beza. Mustahil bagi kita untuk mengajukan agenda kita sahaja tanpa mengambil kira masyarakat lain.

    “Jika kita berbuat demikian, maka kita menjadi seperti negara-negara lain – orang hanya berminat dengan agenda mereka sendiri, dan saya fikir kita akan mengganggu keharmonian sosial yang telah dibangunkan sejak 50 tahun lalu,” katanya.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Don’t Have To Stoop Low To Disagree With Policies, Only Allah Can Judge

    Don’t Have To Stoop Low To Disagree With Policies, Only Allah Can Judge

    By all means, we will have our diagreements with a certain group of Muslim politicians from a certain political party, but that doesn’t mean that we can freely label them as the ‘enemy of Islam’ or involve their family members in this fracas, or even question their Islam-hood.

    Diagree with their policies, but don’t hate the person. Don’t criticise their family members. Because Islam made you mature, Islam made you better.

    How better are you then if you start to badmouth our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters publicly online?

    If you really have to disagree with the policies, then vote wisely. Every vote counts.

    No human is above another, and Allah is above all humans.

    Wallahu’alam.

     

    Source: Fizar Zainal

deneme bonusu