Tag: Singapore

Polling Day: DOs And DON’Ts

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, the Old and the Young, the Retired and the Unemployed, Virgins and Veterans (voters), Smart and Stupid people, alike…

The Singapore General Elections is upon us.

***

Earlier we released a friendly-seriously reminder about Nomination Day Behaviour. Now we present you a seriously-friendly list on Polling Day Etiquette.

Trust us, in this social-media-trigger-happy day and age, some of you are going to need some pointers.

Here are some Dos and Don’ts for 11 SEPTEMBER 2015

SELFIES

We don’t think it’s been banned (yet) but it is discouraged – inside the polling station.

WHY?

It’s not just that your vote is sacred, and the ballot is a secret, yada yada, that we should collectively help to maintain that. It is also illegal to reveal how someone else has voted; a sloppy selfie might lead to that. Plus there are voters and volunteers identity we need to respect… Basically, there’s a potential breach of the law written on the wall, regardless of your intentions. and since this is a seriously friendly list, we just want to do our civic duty and join in the discouragement of SELFIES (and yes, that includes, wefies, and groupies, etc.

Do: If you must, take pics / tweet / be on your smart device outside the polling station before or after you vote.

Don’t: Take pics / tweet / be on your smart device in the Polling Centre.

SOCIAL-MEDIA-ING

Same as above. Keep all these real-time updates and LIVE-blogging you’re bursting to document, to yourself, at least until you’re outside the polling station.

In most countries, it is considered a criminal act to communicate information about the way someone has voted or is about to vote, and specifically to “directly or indirectly induce a voter to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has or has not voted”.

Don’t anyhow post

Do post responsibly

CHOICE OF CLOTHING

WHY?

Cos it’s not a red carpet and you’re not Bard Pitt, agree? Not only that, voters in inappropriate clothing, like shirts carrying political slogans / tag-lines for example, may be considered intimidating, and disallowed.Voters in hoodies, hats, sunglasses, and capes, headphones, (what, you don’t wear a cape from time to time?)please reconsider. Polling officers need to be able to see your face. This prevents cases of fraud, impersonation, etc.Voters in high-heels, and other uncomfortable footwear,we have two words: your problem. note there might be walking across the school lawns, etc.Voters planning to go topless, send us an image and let’s reassess if the public needs to see that.Don’t: Dress Inappropriately- – you might get stomped! 🙂Do: Dress normally and comfortably – you might get stomped! 🙂

KIDS & FUR-KIDS

First, let’s altogether say: “Awww”

WHY?

Let’s agree, we should not let our kids or pets disrupt the voting process. (folks with guide-dogs please obviously take them.)

If you have a wee-one that needs attention:

Do make arrangements. Perhaps take turns with your spouse, or arrange for a babysitter, instead of getting to the Polling station altogether, only to realise there is a queue, and you have to stand in the sun perhaps, and other unforeseen logistical nightmares that can mess with your voting Zen.

While there may be no other regulations on other animals such as your pet iguana, fish, or your favourite stuffed toy, decisions will be at the discretion of presiding officers, who are likely volunteers and cannot be assumed to be experienced babysitters or animal-lovers, let alone non-allergic, so best not try your luck.

Of course, some of you might want to bring your kids along, to show them how it is done. We hope they are generally welcome, but that will be down to the discretion / prevailing laws. – In any case, if that is the case, by all means go ahead, but please don’t let your child mark the X- it’s your vote after all.

SPECULATION

Do read up on your candidates, constituency beforehand, and form a decision.

Don’t expect a show (or worse, put up one) say start or engage in discussion the merits of different candidates or parties – as it may unsettle other voters.

Don’t ask someone about where there vote is going as this will break the secrecy of the poll.

Don’t distribute party leaflets or other literature in the polling station.

If you want a friendly discussion / debate, do so outside the polling station

OTHERS

Do remind, prepare, inform, and make arrangements to help e.g. the disabled, the aged, those who might be overseas (and have problem getting time-zones right)

LASTLY…

Do vote wisely

Source: https://forsingapore.wordpress.com

September 8, 2015
The PAP Is Chicken Rice

So election season has rolled around again.

Our four-yearly chance to effect change and hold the undivided attention of our political masters as they seek to appease and please us is finally here. Actually campaigning has dawned on us rather suddenly, buried under the catharsis of the passing of our iconic long-time leader and the euphoric celebrations marking 50 years of national survival and growth.

The banners and broadcasts promising us different versions of a brighter future seem to have sprung up from nowhere – with about two weeks of campaigning following the announcement.

It’s an exceptionally short lead time by global standards and the chance to determine our national destiny feels like a rushed after-thought tacked on at the tail end of a momentous year. Two weeks of campaigning give the contender little time to build up a platform and take their message to the people.

So, to help everyone make their choice next Friday I’ve put together a simple guide to Singapore’s political options using analogies from a world every Singaporean understands z — food.

PAP: The chicken rice of the island’s political landscape. Steamed, not roasted — because it has to be white mah. Tried and tested, iconic. Not an exciting choice but when well-executed — it is delicious.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) carried by supporters after filing his candidacy documents on Sept 1 ahead of the country’s general election. — Picture by AFPIt has served us well as a staple for many years but now it’s beginning to seem that the people want a little more variety in their meals. And without checks and balances, keep in mind that this subtle recipe for success can go wrong easily.

WP: Bak chor mee. It’s delicious, deeply Singaporean and much-loved. Its aficionados are crazy for the dish. It’s got all the elements you need for success but somehow has never made the big time.

Popular but not a national icon — it’s just no chicken rice. Destined eternally to be second best or perhaps now is the time to take the limelight?

SDP: Hai bee hiam aglio olio — this is a Singaporean twist on a Western classic much like the SDP’s liberal and progressive democratic values in our Asian heartlands. However exciting the dish might be, will Singaporeans really give up their tried and tested favourites for something new? Does party leader Chee Soon Juan — with his elegant accent and international media appeal — have mass appeal too?

Singaporeans First: Chilli crab. An unmistakable Singaporean dish for a party that is purporting to be 100 per cent Singaporean – but mostly inspired by the trademark side-step of the tasty crustacea, the Singaporeans First party is helmed by the firecracker Tan Jee Say best known for his bid at presidency in 2011 including a tense confrontation with PAP candidate Tony Tan. Beware the hint of xenophobia in the party name is something that can cause indigestion.

Singapore People’s Party: Katong laksa, a fiery blend of heritage and punch with strong local appeal. Secretary General Chiam See Tong is a veteran opposition activist and his wife Lina Chiam a proven campaigner.

Potong Pasir has been an SDP stronghold for over a decade but can they break out of their home ground? This time they will be contesting the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and two more SMCs as well but can they convert residents of those areas to their distinct flavour?

Reform Party: Nasi goreng. A campur of political legacies, notorious lawyers and social media headliners, this party has a little of everyone all tossed into one mix. Okay, fine, I confess I chose this dish mainly for the mata lembu (fried egg) on top which resembles a sun and is this party’s logo. Led by Kenneth Jeyaratnam (son of the legendary JBJ), this party will be an interesting one to watch.

People’s Power Party: Milo Godzilla – they took a classic Milo Dinosaur and went a step too far. Does anyone really order this? Do you really need chocolate sprinkles on top of the ice-cream scoop on your Milo powder filled iced-Milo? Democracy is a good concept, having a diverse array of parties is obviously a good thing — but is the PPP one party too many?

NSP: chee cheong fun. From its heyday of pretty Peranakan candidates giving former prime ministers a run for their money — the National Solidarity Party is a dish that is almost there. It has all the basics in place but somehow just lacks the oomph — a lot like chee cheong fun without the sweet sauce. No fun.

Singapore Democratic Alliance: Rojak. After all, the SDA started as an alliance between the Singapore People’s Party (SPP), the National Solidarity Party(NSP), the Singapore Justice Party (SJP) and the Singapore Malay National Organization (PKMS) but now without some of its key ingredients, can it hold its own?

As for the independents, let’s just say that’s like a box of kueh-kueh: you never know what you’re going to get.

So there they are — one big political menu. There are definitely some indigestible elements in the mix. And while a short deadline and massive resource disparity will count against the more experimental choices, at least there is a choice.

For the first time in our post-independence history. there will be a choice for all of the seats. In past elections, the electoral dominance of the incumbent has been such that some seats and constituencies went uncontested — you got chicken rice or nothing.

This time though, it is different, we all have a choice and, of course, where there’s choice — there’s always a chance and we’ll only know for sure on September 12.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

September 8, 2015
Police Making Enquiries On Reports Of GE2015 Candidates At 7th Month Festival Event

Police are making enquiries on reports of election candidates’ activities at Chinese Seventh Month Festival events, including interviews with several of these organisers.

Last month, before the Writ of Election was issued, the police had cautioned that election campaigning activities are prohibited at such events. Speeches intended to canvass support for election candidates and/or political parties also cannot be made at these venues.

The seventh month of the lunar calendar, during which the Seventh Month Festival (also called the Hungry Ghost Festival) takes place, will end on Sept 12 this year. Getai performances, including singing, are commonly held across Singapore during the festival.

Over the past few days, questions were raised after several candidates were spotted attending separate Seventh Month Festival events.

In a statement responding to media queries today (Sept 7), police said it has reminded such event organisers that there should be no election campaigning activities at their venues.

“Action will be taken against event organisers found to have breached these conditions,” the police added.

Source: www.todayonline.com

September 8, 2015
Malaysian Manicurist Earns Accountant’s Wage Thanks To Ringgit’s Plunge

There was no way she could have secured a job that would pay her RM5,000 ($1,681) if she had remained in Sarawak.

“Impossible,” said manicurist Betty Sii, 25.

“My highest education is PMR (Malaysia’s version of the GCE O Levels). Nobody will offer that kind of money there,” she added.

The impossible, however, became possible when the exchange rate slumped to a low of RM3.03 to the Singapore dollar last Tuesday.

“I was definitely happy (about the exchange rate) when I saw the news,” she said.

“It means that I am earning about RM6,000 now. That wouldn’t have been possible at home.”

According to the latest salary guide by recruitment company Kelly Services, RM6,000 is the monthly pay of an accountant with a degree and three years of work experience.

“If I were in Sarawak, I could only dream of a pay cheque like that,” she added.

With her $2,000 salary, Miss Sii is able to pay her $600 room rent here and give her mother – who lives in her hometown of Miri in Sarawak – a monthly allowance of RM1,000.

Meanwhile, the attractive exchange rate has pushed Miss Sii to seriously consider a bigger financial commitment – buying a three-bedroom house back home.

She claims to have been contemplating the idea for quite some time.

“The property that I’m looking at would cost me about RM200,000 but I should be able to afford it with my current salary,” she said.

“If I get a house for myself now, it would be good for me in the future.

“Anything can happen, so at least if I start now, then I’ll have something waiting for me if I had to move back,” she added.

MEASLY PAY

Before she moved to Singapore in April 2013, Miss Sii tried working in Malaysia for about five months, taking up a job as a salesgirl in a retail store.

“My basic pay was RM800. There was commission too but the most I ever got for it was RM200,” she said.

Earning a measly pay cheque made life feel completely different to what it is like now.

She said: “It was tough to live with that kind of pay.

“Even if things are cheaper there, it’s really hard to live on RM1,000.”

While the exchange rate makes it cheaper for Miss Sii to support her mother, she is worried about how the bad economy will affect prices back home.

She said: “It’s a good thing for me but this also means that things over there could start getting more expensive and that’s my only worry.

“If it does start getting expensive, then eventually, the increased exchange rate will not mean as much to Malaysians working here.”

Miss Sii’s 36-year-old sister is also based in Singapore. Her sister works as a facial therapist.

“My brother is working in a publishing house in Sarawak while my sister and I are living and working here in Singapore.”

Being able to travel back home only twice a year is tough on Miss Sii but the bigger picture is more important to her than anything else.

“I get homesick and I miss my family but I always try my best to focus on why being here is good.

“Me being homesick is not as important as my mum being able to live comfortably back home.

“And that is reason enough for me to look past everything else.”

Weak ringgit huge burden on his family

His aunt is the sole breadwinner making RM5,000 a month.

That, in Singapore dollars, is now a mere $1,680, but she is paying for his expenses while he studies in a university in Singapore.

Malaysian student Lee Song En comes from a single-parent household and his mother is a housewife.

The sinking ringgit, he said, has “dampened (his) spirits” in the weeks before he started his course at Singapore Management University.

“It made me panic a little,” he said of the all-time-low exchange rate.

The straight-As student, who starts his third week of university today, said: “There’s immediately a huge impact on my family’s financial burden.”

While the 19-year-old Business and Economics student is on the Lee Kong Chian scholarship, which covers his annual $11,300 school fees, his other expenses are an ongoing battle for his family.

“I’m now very conscious about my spending,” he said.

“Besides cutting back on the daily things, I have to stay out of certain academic or enrichment opportunities like study trips and excursions.”

His degree will take him four years to complete.

“It’s quite insane. If I spend about $1,100 every month, it will cost me about $52,800 by the time I finish”.

“And that is assuming there isn’t anything extra I need to pay for. And if I wanted to get involved in anything else, that number would probably increase quite significantly.”

Mr Lee first came to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur at the age of 13 on an Asean scholarship and attended Xinmin Secondary School before moving on to Anglo-Chinese Junior College.

That scholarship, which ceased after JC, covered school fees and provided an extra $5,800 annually for expenses.

Under the university scholarship, his spending is all on him.

He started working as a private tutor in April, teaching a JC student Economics and makes about $400 a month from that.

EXPENSES

He hopes to partly fund his living expenses himself now.

“My total monthly expenditure, including my hostel rent, is about $1,100 a month,”

His rent alone is about $600.

“I’m looking for more students to tutor but even if I have just this one, it is a burden I can help relieve my family of, even if it is just a little bit.

“Every dollar that I can earn counts,” he said.

“When I came back in March to prepare for university, my mum had to change RM13,500 to give me about $5,000 to start with so I can cover the cost of books, food and rent,” he said.

It is time for him to get the next lump sum and Mr Lee is feeling helpless.

“While I need (the money), I don’t want to ask (my family) for it now because the rate is ridiculously high.

“It’s not easy to stomach the fact that another lump sum of $5,000 is almost my aunt’s entire three months’ salary.

“What’s worse is this is just the beginning.”

“It’s quite insane. If I spend about $1,100 every month, it will cost me about $52,800 by the time I finish.”

— Malaysian student Lee Song En on the sum he will need for expenses during his four-year degree course. It was to come from his family, whose sole breadwinner earns in ringgit.

Source: www.tnp.sg

September 7, 2015
Reform Party Unveils 12-Page Manifesto

The Reform Party on Monday (Sep 7) unveiled its party manifesto in Boon Lay Place, as the election period crosses the halfway mark.

The 12-page document outlines the objectives of the party and covers a wide range of issues from healthcare and defense spending to economic policy.

According to its manifesto, possible policy proposals include introducing a minimum wage, capping the number of foreign workers, reduce National Service (NS) to one year with a view of progressing to a professional army and introducing an old-age monthly pension of S$500 for all seniors above 65.

On the timing of the release, Reform Party Secretary-General, Kenneth Jeyaretnam said: “We’ve had a manifesto since 2009, and an election manifesto in 2011. So we are relaunching it and bringing it up to date. Our flyers already incorporate our seven main pledges.”

He also elaborated on the party’s NS proposal, saying it “imposes a heavy burden on male Singaporeans, particularly in comparison with foreign workers”.

“The Government spends S$400 million on scholarships for foreigners who are then able to work here upon graduation without doing NS. This is grossly inequitable,” Mr Jeyaretnam said.

“So what we want to do is reduce the burden on male Singaporeans and cut NS term to one year and expand a professional army. Now with modern technology, drones, robots, you don’t need so many boots on the ground.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

September 7, 2015