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Tag: politics

  • Budget 2017: Price Hikes Affect Poor More Than Rich

    Budget 2017: Price Hikes Affect Poor More Than Rich

    Water is a vital resource and a basic human right. Yet, the Government of Singapore sees it fit to use utilitarian or volume based pricing model for the provision of water.

    Such a model affects both the rich and poor and some say, the poor are more adversely affected than the rich.

    A 30% price hike will be a stretch for the poorer families while the rich has the means the ride the price hike.

    If it was the intention of the government to elicit any kind if behavioural change in the consumption of water, we’ll probably see the poor conserve a lot more.

    One spokesperson from IPS said that the 30% price hike is to create awareness. It’s a poor choice of words even for a PAP apologist on the IPS payroll. What’s he smoking?

    Call a spade a spade a price hike is not a water conservation campaign or an awareness programme.

    In an article written by Leong Hze Hian, he said that the water price in Hong Kong is priced 14 times lower. Perhaps they have better technology but whatever the reasons are, it’s definitely merits a discussion in parliament.

    The budget seems to benefit the middle class more than the underclass. The 20% tax relief capped at S$500 benefits the middle class for sure.

    Perhaps a tax on manual car wash and a closer watch on how water is used is F&B outlets when dishes are washed is much needed.

    With the advancement in smart metering technologies, it is possible to have different pricing structures for industrial versus residential users by districts, flat-types and household income.

    A different pricing structure definitely adds complexity to the pricing regime but it will definitely have the intended effect of changes in consumption patterns.

     

    Source: www.theindependent.sg

  • Goh Meng Seng: Politicians Beware – Politics Is Dirty

    Goh Meng Seng: Politicians Beware – Politics Is Dirty

    Thought of the Day – Dirty Politics

    Politics are dirty, many people say. I always reply that it is only as dirty as the politicians.

    There are numerous political assassinations in history along with persecution by means of false accusations made against political opponents in all era.

    The most recent assassination of the half-brother of North Korean paramount leader is another prime example that such ruthless dirty politics still exists.

    Some of the most common tricks in the “more civilized” way of “fixing” the political opponents involve planting incriminating “evidences” that could be used against them.

    In the 20th century, we have also witnessed outright assassination of politicians and this include the supposedly most liberal place with full democracy installed, i.e. the assassination of JFK.

    Ironically, USA’s CIA and British MI6 which come from supposedly “democratic” countries, were and still are involved in covert operations which include political assassinations as well.

    Thus, dirty politics of political assassinations aren’t exclusive to communist regimes or dictatorship.

    Although in Singapore, there is no record of bloody political assassinations, but framing political opponents and potential threats had happened and will happen still. Right from 1960s throughout 1980s, the use of detention without trial under ISA was rampant. The Power that be did not need to justify their brutal abuse of ISA in detaining their political opponents and such detention had lasted not only years but decades for some.

    Apart from that, there were also records of falsifying of evidences by the ruling party to falsely accuse potential political threats. The most prominent one is none other than Tan Wah Piow’s case which he was falsely accused of rioting with false evidences planted by the shamed Phey Yew Kok.

    Personally, I have told my dear wife, right from the very first day I stepped into Singapore’s opposition politics, I am prepared for the worse to happen to me. Whatever happens to me, I told her to stay away from Singapore and never come back.

    For many of the politician wannabe out there, be warned of the dire consequences of dirty politics. If you cannot afford the heavy price of dirty politics, please keep away from it. It would be naive to believe that there is such thing called “benevolent politicians or dictatorship”.

    One of my comrade announced to my group, “Congrats all. We are now officially on Mossad’s hit list..” after our People’s Power Party has issued our Press Statement in protest of Israel PM’s visit to Singapore. Well, this may be made in jest but there is always possibility of dirty politics everywhere, especially from those who don’t respect Human Rights. Especially so for the Zionists.

    We shall constantly remind ourselves that we must be ready to face the ultimate persecution of dirty politics, death.

    Goh Meng Seng

     

    Source: Goh Meng Seng

  • PAP: DAG-Designate, Hri Kumar, No Longer Party Member

    PAP: DAG-Designate, Hri Kumar, No Longer Party Member

    Deputy Attorney-General-designate Hri Kumar Nair is no longer a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP), the party said on Friday (Feb 17) in response to TODAY’s queries, although it declined to say when Mr Nair had resigned.

    Mr Nair’s appointment, which will take effect next month, was announced on Thursday.

    It marks the first time an ex-lawmaker will take on the State’s prosecutorial function.

    As a lawyer, Mr Nair, 50, acted in a wide range of litigation and arbitration matters.

    He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008. He became Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in 2006 and later headed the Government Parliamentary Committees for Home Affairs and Law.

    He served two terms before quitting politics just before the 2015 General Election, citing his wife’s diagnosis of lymphoma in 2012, which made him relook his priorities.

    Lawyers and legal academics dismissed concerns about partisanship as insignificant.

    However, lawyer Sylvia Lim, who is also chairman of the opposition Workers’ Party — which has been criticised by Mr Nair on several occasions, including over the financial management lapses by the WP-run Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council — called the appointment “not ideal”.

    She added: “It is critical that persons entrusted with vast prosecutorial discretion act in the public interest, and not for partisan political gain … Whether my concerns prove to be founded or otherwise — remains to be seen”.

    Mr Nair could not be reached for comments. During his term as an MP, Mr Nair spoke on several issues and had several run-ins with the WP, including over the financial management lapses by the WP-run Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Singapore’s New Malay President Will Only Be Known In September

    Singapore’s New Malay President Will Only Be Known In September

    If contested, the next Presidential Election, which has been reserved for Malay candidates, will be held in September rather than in August, which is when voting typically takes place. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Chan Chun Sing, announced this in Parliament during the second reading of the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill. The date revision does not require changes to the law. The Government is announcing changes early for transparency and so that prospective candidates can be aware of the changes.

    In his speech, Mr Chan provided the reason for the shift in timing. He said voting for a new president has typically been held in the last week of August, to ensure the process falls within the term of the sitting President, which ends on Aug 31.

    In 2011 for example, the Writ of Election was issued in the first week of August. Mr Chan said campaigning began shortly after National Day, and coincided with the month-long National Day celebrations. The revised timing would ensure the election is not held during the celebrations.

    For the upcoming election, Mr Chan said the government will issue a Writ in the later part of August, before President Tony Tan’s term expires. The shift of the election from August to September will also “reset the clock” so that future elections will take place outside the National Day period.

    Mr Chan said the Constitution allows for an acting President to assume office from the end of the incumbent President’s term until a new President assumes office.

    “If a new President is not elected by the time President Tony Tan’s term expires on Aug 31… the Constitution provides for the Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers or, if he is unavailable, the Speaker, to be the acting President. The acting President cannot exercise the functions of the President indefinitely,” he said.

    Mr Chan said current laws allow for changes to the timing of the polls to be made in time for this year’s Presidential election.

    The shift in timing will also cater to the longer time period required to assess prospective candidates as part of legislative changes.

    Under proposed changes to the Act, the deadline for prospective candidates to apply for a certificate of eligibility (COE) will be extended to five days after the Writ is issued. This is up from the current three days. This will give candidates more time to prepare their applications.

    Another change being proposed is that nomination day be held at least 10 days after the day the Writ is issued, up from the current five days.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Surbana Sackings An Example Of Weak Unions In One-Party Rule

    Surbana Sackings An Example Of Weak Unions In One-Party Rule

    I read with sadness about the Surbana’s sacking of 54 workers. As an HR practitioner for 10 years, I’ve gone through many firing exercises.

    Businesses will always place its profitability above everything else. That’s nature.

    But what is not acceptable is that when it terminate employees under the guise of poor performance.

    From news reports, we know that the terminated workers weren’t given the due process for the termination.

    I believe this happens because our labour laws are inadequate such that a company as big as Surbana has the temerity to act in such a manner.

    From this episode, I hope Singaporeans start to realise that a strong union with bite is necessary.

    We need to start looking at matters that govern our lives and not allow politicians to dictate what is best for us.

    To a certain extent, a weak Union is the result of a one party rule which is bad for any nation as opposed to what Mr Ong Ye Kung recently espouses.

     

    Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman