Tag: Singapore

Chee Soon Juan: Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC By-Election Needed

It is bad enough that the PAP has reserved the Presidential Election and that Mdm Halimah Yacob has become the President without a contest. At the same time, Mdm Halimah has left the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC short of an MP and without a minority representative. Then the PAP says that there is no need for a by-election to fill her seat. This is an abuse of power. The PAP sees itself bigger than Singapore and continues to do as it pleases. Such unchecked control endangers the future of this nation.

This is why the SDP has initiated legal action to ask the court to rule on the matter of a by-election when an MP vacates his/her seat.
http://yoursdp.org/…/sdp_files_lawsuit_agai…/2017-09-13-6194 But such action entails financial costs and no one party has the means to shoulder such an expense by itself.

We, therefore, call on all Singaporeans to contribute to this cause. Please do your part and financially support the effort to stop the PAP from continuing its abuse of power. If everyone does a little, our load will lighten and the role of holding the PAP accountable made more effective. So please donate as well as help us spread this message far and wide. Remember, we’re all in this together. You can do so online, through bank transfers or cheques. Please click here: http://yoursdp.org/index/donate/0-12

Source: Chee Soon Juan

September 14, 2017
Khan Osman Sulaiman: Those Responsible For Using Racial Politics To Divide And Conquer Gets Away Scott-Free

I was upset when the gov disguise condescension as affirmative action. I was distraught that my community was taken as a pawn in a political manoeuvring. I was disappointed that I can’t partake in democracy when there’s a walkover.

Now that the charade has completed, I’m apprehensive about the ill effect of such disastrous policy just so that we can have a Malay President.

The feeble justification by the gov that we need a Malay President can be felt even by those supporting it. The PAP is trying to paint itself as a champion of minority but we know it is all nothing but just political.

At the top, we are always under-represented. And when they allow one to pass through, it is only because we have ‘progressed’. Not because we are equal in the first place.

It surely rings hollow that the Malay community desire to have a Malay President but other pressing issues are not met with the same vigour the PAP has, to install a Malay president.

What worries me the most is how the ill effect of this whole episode will affect the community. Especially my community.

Given that we are viewed as getting a back door promotion to hold high office and the non-Malays are denied to participate in the presidential election, it is natural that people would feel upset about it.

There are already fault lines to begin with before the reserved presidential system. With this whole saga playing out, it will only widen the fault lines further and scratch the delicate social fabric we have built on.

It infuriates me that the one responsible for creating this mess playing racial politics to divide and conquer gets away scott-free. These types of policies pit us against one another.

The people have to know that after 50 years of PAP rule, we are treated no more than a pawn in a game of chess. To be sacrificed to protect the queen falling from grace.

The sooner we realise this, the sooner we can change our situation.

Soon: Khan Osman Sulaiman

September 14, 2017
SDP member, Damanhuri Abas: “How can that be when the contest is reserved for a single race?”

Do you agree with the author?

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“The 2 most vital and fundamental role of the elected Presidency are guardian of the national reserves and ensuring top public appointments undergo due diligence and has no conflict of interest. There are logical and genuine concerns that the newly walkover President may have potential conflict in fulfilling the above function. Until only recently, she is very close to the Government and has little to no track record of internally voicing any dissent against policies before while in Government. These concerns never featured much in public mainstream media prior to nomination day and the public patiently waited for the campaigning to be given the answer.

Had there been a contest, the public would have had the opportunity to hear this critical question of independence of the potential Presidential candidates to fulfil this incredibly important safeguard. Alas, instead of ensuring in the interest of the public, for a contest thus allowing for fair comparison on competency for financial acumen to fulfil one of the 2 vital roles, it seems the committee overrides the interest of the people by disqualifying 2 of the more financially experienced candidates, when they clearly had the option of allowing for it and had done so before in the last Presidential election. Meritocracy demands the best for the job is chosen.

This is sadly now unanswered with a no contest. We are instead focusing away into other credentials of the new President such as HDB living, first woman, tudung-wearing, almost a school dropout, etc., which are commendable but of less priority for the job. The anger of the public are not over baseless sentiments driven by racial biases. How can that be when the contest is reserved for a single race? The public is genuinely concern of the ability for the new President to have the necessary financial competence and independence required. A fair expectation for a patriotic, smart, informed and educated citizenry which should be respected and not be brushed aside as petty complaint and branded as divisive. It is an honest expression of feeling short-changed as well as our love for this country that the restless voice of the public is now raised to be heard.”

Source: Damanhuri Abas

September 14, 2017
Tuan Mufti Fatris Bakaram: Agar Beliau Dikurniakan Allah Pimpinan Dan Kekuatan Untuk Jalankan Tugas Beratnya

Sedang saya memandu keluar Yishun menuju ke pejabat pagi ini, kerlingan mata saya di cermin belakang tertumpu kepada sebuah kereta Mercedes putih dengan nombor plet kereta yang lain daripada biasa. SEP 1. Betul-betul di belakang kereta saya.

Sejurus sebelum keluar ke arah CTE, saya bertukar ke lorong kiri untuk memberi laluan. Ternyata seperti yang saya sangkakan, Puan Presiden Halimah Yacob berada di dalamnya.

Kebetulan sepanjang memandu keluar Yishun itu saya sedang membaca wirid harian saya:

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

“Tiada tuhan melainkan Allah Yang Satu, tiada sekutu bagiNya, milikNya segala kerajaan, untukNya segala pujian, dan Dia Maha Berkuasa ke atas segala sesuatu”

Maka itu, untuk hari ini, saya tujukan wirid saya itu dan pengertiannya untuk Puan Presiden, sebagai mengiringi hari pertama tugas rasmi beliau. Di sebalik sentimen dan emosi yang bercampur baur di kalangan rakyat di atas perlantikan beliau, saya bermohon kepada Allah, dengan berkat dan berwasilahkan wirid saya tadi, agar beliau dikurniakan Allah pimpinan dan kekuatan untuk menjalankan tugas beratnya dengan baik. Semoga Allah memberkati setiap langkahnya, dan semoga kita semua terus dinaungi rahmat Allah dan diredhaiNya.

Source: Fatris Bakaram

September 14, 2017
Dr Tan Cheng Bock: “Walkover Troubles Singaporeans”

WALKOVER TROUBLES SINGAPOREANS

My congratulations to President-elect Mdm Halimah Yacoob. Today she returned unopposed and will occupy the most controversial presidency in the history of Singapore. I wish her well. Singaporeans are, however, unhappy with the walkover as reported in the BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41237318

I think one reason is this: when the Commission recommended scrapping the Presidential elections and reverting to an appointed Presidency, the Government White Paper rejected the idea. They explained it was important for citizens to give the Presidency their “popular” and “direct” mandate.

In PE 2011, I stood for elections because I did not want a walkover. In fact, I recall that in 1993, the Government’s preferred candidate was Ong Teng Cheong. Everyone knew he would win. But Dr Goh Keng Swee still went out of his way to persuade Mr Chua Kim Yeow to stand for elections. Why? To prevent a walkover and give citizens the dignity of expressing their choice.

But for PE 2017, the Government did not put up another Malay candidate aside from Mdm Halimah. Instead, 2 independent candidates, Salleh Marican and Farid Khan, valiantly stepped up. Everyone knew Mdm Halimah would win. Still, we looked forward to a poll to tell the Government what we thought about the elections. However, the PEC rejected the 2 men (contrast PE 2011 where the PEC permitted Tan Kin Lian and Tan Jee Say to contest via the deliberative track). As a result, we have a disappointing walkover.

People now feel muzzled and angry. Because when you take away our right to vote, you take away our political voice. You tell us that our choice does not matter. PE 2017 has been a quiet affair. But there is now a deafening silence awakening the nation. We did not get a chance to speak with our vote this round, but the time will come. And when it does, it will be thunderous. Of this I am sure.

Source: Dr. Tan Cheng Bock

September 14, 2017