Tag: PAP

What’s The Hype Over Chief Of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng?

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had announced Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng’s (LG Ng) retirement from the Singapore Armed Forces.

The latter will be stepping down as Chief of Defence Force on 18 August, a move that prompted speculation that the 47-year-old might be running in the upcoming General Election.

Dr Ng commented that “Inevitably, there will be questions asked about LG Ng’s future plans, particularly, if he is entering politics. Given his tested leadership and proven capabilities, I would not at all be surprised, if indeed he is.”

“But I have advised LG Ng, not to be distracted or entertain these queries but to instead focus on important national events ahead, particularly the National Day Parade. There will be a more appropriate time to address interests in his future plans.”

Dr Ng has indirectly hinted LG Ng capability to be a potential candidate for the upcoming General Election, and also mentioned that interest in LG Ng’s future plans will most likely be “addressed” in the near future after the important national events.

One thing I find ironic though is the fact that even though our Defence Minister had advised LG Ng “to not be distracted or entertained these queries but..focus on important national events ahead”, the announcement of LG Ng stepping down, in addition to Dr Ng’s very much publicised comments, grabbed local news headlines on 31 July and 1 August – be it through online, print or televised platform. (The Straits Times, TODAYOnline, AsiaOne).

By placing all the mainstream media glare on LG Ng stepping down, isn’t the government ironically garnering attention and opening more probes to his possible foray into politics?

The cameras were also angled to include LG Ng in the frame at opportunities that arose during the televised National Day Parade, though I cannot deny the fact his presence was required during those time.

This left me thinking, why even mention his possible entry into the political scene? Or create so much buzz – put him in the top headlines, show his face repeatedly on TV when Dr Ng mention that he does not want LG Ng to be distracted by queries on his future plans? Since his retirement was on 18 August, the announcement could have also been made easily after the National Day.

Placing him in the media limelight on the first day of the month which usually signifies a fresh beginning, linking him to the National Day Parade which is a happy event, hinting public interest in him, and briefly mentioning his leadership skills, etc. – Was this all a smart strategic move in advertising to sensationalize and evoke a sense of mystery around LG Ng?

This suggests the usage of “Classical Conditioning” to associate a positive connotation to LG Ng, so that Singaporeans can put into memory his face and name through the many headlines and his National Day Parade involvement, and to leave an atmosphere of suspense to ponder what lies ahead for him.

Is all these mainstream media publicity meant to hype up his possible presence and entrance into the general election?

We shall just play along with the game of “let’s wait and see.” We’ll welcome more new candidates with green… oops, open arms, I mean!

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

August 13, 2015
Saktiandi Supaat Ingin Terus Sumbang Kepada Negara

Encik Saktiandi Supaat menyandang dua jawatan di Maybank sebagai naib presiden eksekutif dan ketua kajian mata wang asing.

Sebelum itu beliau bertugas sebagai ahli perbendaharaan ekonomi kanan di United Overseas Bank (UOB) dan ahli ekonomi Penguasa Kewangan Singapura (MAS).

Sejak 2004 beliau giat dalam sayap belia Angkatan Karyawan Islam (AMP) dan mengetuai sayap itu pada 2010 hingga 2013.

Selanjutnya, beliau berkhidmat sebagai anggota Lembaga AMP.

Beliau juga pengerusi jawatankuasa memandu Skim Dana Kepimpinan dan Kemajuan (Labs), Forum Pemimpin Masyarakat (CLF) yang menawarkan dana kepada projek keusahawanan sosial yang dikendalikan golongan belia.

Berikut sedutan wawancara bersama beliau:

Apakah isu Melayu/Islam yang bakal menjadi tumpuan anda?

Pertama, dari segi pekerjaan terutama dalam kalangan anak muda, umpamanya daripada aliran Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE) dan diploma.

Adakah mereka boleh dapat pekerjaan selepas tamat sekolah? Jika boleh, bagaimana pula hendak pertingkat keupayaan mereka dengan lebih lanjut? Ada perkembangan dalam bahagian ini… dan cabarannya adalah sama ada keadaan boleh diperkasa sementara mengekalkan teras warga Singapura dalam pekerjaan.

Kedua, mungkin dari segi keluarga. Saya lihat dalam kalangan keluarga rentan, yang mempunyai sumber pencarian tunggal dan perlu menyara hidup anak-anak muda.

Golongan ibu tunggal dengan anak-anak muda juga mencetus keprihatinan, terutama dari segi pendidikan anak-anak mereka, supaya tidak ketinggalan di masa depan.

Isu ini tidak begitu berbeza daripada isu di peringkat nasional.

Mengapakah anda memilih menceburi politik?

Saya telah menceburi kerja kemasyarakatan sejak 2004. Saya mula berkhidmat dengan pertubuhan bantu diri daripada peringkat belia ke usaha sosial dan bagi masyarakat Melayu/Islam menerusi Mendaki dan Labs CLF, sebelum berkhidmat di peringkat nasional menerusi Spring dan Kolej Perkhidmatan Awam.

Menerusi khidmat saya, saya menemui golongan yang terlepas menerima bantuan dan saya yakin dapat menyumbang lebih lanjut dengan melibatkan diri dalam dasar bagi isu-isu tertentu.

Penglibatan saya dalam politik bukan satu peralihan semula jadi, tetapi saya mulai sedar (menerusi penglibatan di peringkat akar umbi) bahawa ada warga yang menghadapi isu harian dan memerlukan bantuan.

Bagaimana pengalaman anda dalam sektor swasta boleh membantu dalam arena politik?

Saya pernah bertugas sebagai ahli ekonomi dan boleh berkongsi perspektif swasta bagi perkembangan global. Saya kerap ke luar negara dan memahami persaingan yang diwakili rakan serantau dan beberapa isu yang dihadapi Singapura dalam usaha melangkah ke hadapan. Antara lain, saya berharap dapat menggunakan sedikit kemahiran yang ada bagi mencorak beberapa isu dasar awam.

Adakah anda bersedia mengimbangi masa antara tuntutan kerjaya dengan tanggungjawab kepada warga sebagai seorang anggota parlimen (jika dipilih)?

Sebenarnya, saya sedang menguruskan masa dari segi kerjaya dan kerja di peringkat akar umbi. Jumlah kerja yang telah saya laksanakan dalam tempoh dua tahun ini adalah penting dan sejauh ini saya mampu mengimbangi tuntutan ini.

Apakah mesej anda kepada warga Melayu/Islam Singapura

Kemajuan yang ditunjukkan masyarakat Melayu/Islam setempat amat ketara dalam tempoh 50 tahun yang lalu.

Selanjutnya, sebagai sebuah masyarakat, kita perlu memberi tumpuan memberi sumbangan kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi Singapura bagi tempoh 50 tahun mendatang.

Saya rasa amat positif masyarakat Melayu/Islam setempat mampu memberi sumbangan yang amat besar kepada Singapura pada masa akan datang, dari segi pendidikan, pekerjaan, sumbangan sukarelawan… itu amat ketara.

SAKTIANDI SUPAAT

Nama: Saktiandi Supaat

Usia: 41 tahun

Tempat lahir: Singapura

Keluarga: Sudah berumah tangga dan mempunyai tiga anak berusia lima, lapan dan 12 tahun

Agama: Islam

Hobi: Fotografi, membaca dan ragbi

Pendidikan: Sarjana Muda (Kepujian) Perdagangan, Universiti Melbourne (1998), dan Sarjana Pentadbiran Perniagaan (MBA), Universiti Cambridge (2007-2008)

Pekerjaan: Naib Presiden Eksekutif, Ketua FX Research, Maybank

“Sesiapa sahaja yang dicalonkan oleh Parti Tindakan Rakyat (PAP) adalah mereka yang telah ‘dicuba’ (diuji) untuk melihat kebolehan mereka di lapangan dan juga bagi menunjukkan kebolehan mereka – daripada apa yang mereka dapat sumbang kepada masyarakat dan juga kepada negara. Jadi yang penting bukan siapa yang dicalonkan tapi apa yang dibawa oleh mereka (yang dicalonkan) yang menjadi harapan rakyat semua dan juga masyarakat kita.”

– Menteri Kedua Ehwal Luar merangkap Dalam Negeri, Encik Masagos Zulkifli Masagos Mohamad.

Encik Saktiandi, yang lebih selesa dengan panggilan ‘Andi’, berkata jika diberi peluang berkhidmat, beliau mahu menumpukan perhatian pada keperluan harian penduduk, termasuk golongan warga emas, yang membentuk lebih separuh penduduk di sana.

Menyentuh tentang khidmat kepada masyarakat Melayu/Islam, beliau berkata isu pekerjaan bagi lulusan diploma dan Institut Pendidikan Teknikal (ITE) antara perkara yang menjadi tumpuannya.

Beliau, yang pernah tinggal di Kampong Tempeh dekat Sixth Avenue di Bukit Timah, juga bangga dengan pencapaian negara ini daripada negara Dunia Ketiga kepada negara maju dalam tempoh singkat.

“Saya menyaksikan sendiri Singapura berkembang daripada kampung dan sehingga kami berpindah ke HDB. Perkembangan Singapura, dalam memberi saya pendidikan baik, pelantaran baik bagi membina hidup keluarga baik, sesuatu yang saya hargai.

“Saya ingin terus memberi sumbangan kepada perkembangan Singapura selanjutnya, supaya generasi masa depan, termasuk anak-anak saya, dapat menyaksikan kemajuan dan perkembangan Singapura dalam tempoh 50 tahun mendatang,” kata beliau.

Encik Saktiandi mendapat pendidikan di Raffles Institution dan Maktab Rendah Catholic.

Beliau berkelulusan sarjana muda perdagangan dari Universiti Melbourne di Australia dan Sarjana Pentadbiran Perniagaan (MBA) dari Universiti Cambridge di Britain.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

August 13, 2015
Low Thia Khiang: Lui Tuck Yew A Loss, Questions If Lui Lacked Support From Cabinet

Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang on Wednesday expressed disappointment that Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew was leaving politics, saying the timing of the decision by the “hardworking minister” has raised questions about his reasons for doing so.

Mr Low added that Mr Lui had done a good job, pointing out that he “goes to the ground to try his best to resolve transport issues”.

He said: “It’s a loss to the Cabinet.”

He also said that the unexpected announcement of Mr Lui’s impending departure from politics has raised speculation about the internal workings of the Cabinet and the Government’s handling of a public transport system beset by breakdowns in recent years.

“Was it because of the recent incident of the MRT big breakdown…or is it because he feels he has not been supported by his Cabinet colleagues who is supposed to work as a team to give him enough confidence to stay on and solve the issues?” Mr Low told reporters before he attended his weekly Meet-the-People session.

About 250,000 people were affected when both the North-South as well as the East-West MRT lines broke down in July during the evening peak hours.

He also said he would be “very disappointed” with the People’s Action Party (PAP) if it allows a minister to resign in order to take the heat off public transport issues.

Mr Low noted that Mr Lui’s predecessor, Mr Raymond Lim, also left the Cabinet after a stint as Transport Minister and questioned whether the Government needed to fundamentally rethink Singapore’s transport model.

“Was it because philosophically I think how they treat transport is not correct and not convincing to the Minister for Transport?” he wondered aloud.

He also suggested that perhaps Mr Lui’s morale had been affected after his ward in the soon-to-be-defunct Moulmein-Kallang GRC was “chopped off into pieces and redistributed” into other constituencies.

Mr Low acknowledged that public transport was “a long-term problem” that would “take some time to solve” as the network is heavily used daily.

He was also asked a series of questions on the coming general election, such as whether he feels the PAP is trying to ride the wave of national unity generated by Singapore celebrating 50 years of independence and Singaporeans celebrating the life of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, after his death in March.

He declined to comment, saying: “It is better for members of the public (and) the younger generation of Singaporeans to look at what (the PAP) is doing and make their own judgement.”

On what he thought of recent comments PAP ministers have made about integrity and town council management, he said: “If they really want to launch an attack,we will respond to them.”

Meanwhile, said Mr Low, his party plans to engage younger voters through a younger slate of candidates who will be more savvy on social media, which he admitted to knowing little about.

“I’m not on Facebook,” he said, adding that he is not planning to start a Facebook page.

He also said the WP will introduce its candidates soon and that they were “already on the ground”.

He said his party would probably not depart from its past practice of revealing only on Nomination Day where its candidates will stand.

He, however, hinted that his party’s Aljunied MPs will disclose if they were staying to defend the GRC on Sunday during the sale of the WP’s newsletter.

Mr Low was also asked to evaluate the performance of his fellow MPs in the House in the past four years. Recently, various websites have tabulated the attendance of MPs in Parliament.

He said he would leave it to Singaporeans to evaluate them, but added that the role of an MP is not confined to attending Parliament. An MP is also involved in running town councils and serving constituents.

However, he added, MPs should prioritise attending Parliament over other activities.

“That’s why you offer yourself to be elected. Parliament is your destination, where you represent the people. So even if you are not slated to speak, at least you (have to be there) to know what happened.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 13, 2015
Zainudin Nordin Steps Down To Spend Time With Family

Citing the desire to spend more time with their loved ones, two People’s Action Party (PAP) backbenchers from the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency — including one who is known for not shying away from controversial topics — will be stepping down.

Speaking at a press conference to unveil the PAP candidates for the coming General Election, Mr Zainudin Nordin, 52, who entered politics in 2001, and Mr Hri Kumar Nair, 49, who had served two terms in office, said they will be making way for new blood.

Mr Hri Kumar said that he had to relook his priorities after his wife was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012 and underwent chemotherapy.

While she is “doing well” currently, Mr Hri Kumar noted that the condition is something that would not go away. “(Her illness) has sort of propelled me to rethink how I would spend my time and what my priorities are,” he said.

He also hopes to have more time with his eight-year-old daughter. “She’s a great little girl, I’m looking forward to spending more time at home annoying her, that’s what she accuses me again all the time,” he joked.

Recounting his time in office, he said he was glad to have had the opportunity to raise issues in Parliament. “I’ve never held back, I think the ministers don’t always agree with me, but they have always respected my right to speak up and to say what I want to say, I think that’s important,” he added.

Mr Hri Kumar, who is currently the chairman of Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council, also heads the Government Parliamentary Committees for law and home affairs.

Speaking to TODAY, Mr Hri Kumar said he was proud that during his tenure as an MP, he did not shun from speaking about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, for instance, and voicing his disagreement with the National Library Board’s decision to pulp three children’s books deemed to contravene pro-family values.

Among other things, he had also suggested the idea of a National Defence tax on permanent residents and foreigners, and abolishing the Primary School Leaving Examination.

“But I’m not afraid of saying these things and asking people to debate and consider them,” he said.

For Mr Zainudin, who will also be stepping down as the president of the Football Association of Singapore later this year, the “time is right” for him to focus on his family, he said.

The former Mayor of the Central Community Development Council added that as an MP, there would always be a desire to do more. Nevertheless, he felt he has contributed by speaking up for low-wage workers. He also recalled that in his maiden Parliamentary speech, he spoke about the need for the Government to do more in early childhood education.

At the municipal level, Mr Zainudin said his proudest project was setting up the Bishan Active Park which has since become “one of the most iconic community parks in Singapore”.

On what he would miss about being a politician, he cited meeting residents and helping them.

“Helping people has never been an easy journey. We always try our best … the fond memories are about the difficult things you do,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 13, 2015
Saktiandi Supaat Diperkenalkan Sebagai Calon Baru PAP

Parti Tindakan Rakyat (PAP) mula memperkenalkan calon-calon barunya yang bakal bertanding dalam Pilihan Raya Umum (GE) akan datang.

Mereka adalah Ketua Kajian Matawang Asing Maybank, Encik Saktiandi Supaat, 42 tahun; Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif OUE Hospitality REIT Management Pte Ltd, Encik Chong Kee Hiong, 49 tahun; dan mantan Setiausaha Tetap Kedua (Perdagangan dan Perusahaan) Encik Chee Hong Tat (gambar bawah).

Kesemua mereka diperkenalkan kepada media dalam satu persidangan yang diadakan di sebuah kedai kopi di Blok 177, Toa Payoh Central, pagi tadi.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

August 12, 2015