Tag: Singapore

MP Inderjit Singh Urge Singaporeans to Voice Concerns and Feedback

Credit: Inderjit Singh

I received many comments to my post last week, and many messages from Singaporeans, both personally as well as online. Although I disagreed with some policies which I highlighted, some seem to think that I was rejecting all the PAP Government’s policies which is not the case.

In my post, I touched on a number of issues in the way some policies have been implemented which I felt should have been better done. But I also acknowledged that the government has been resolving many of the problems, like transport and housing, and setting a new direction for the future especially in our social policies. For example, I pointed out that the icing on the cake was the Pioneer Generation Package, which is a good example of an inclusive policy showing compassion.

I am sure the government will continue to focus on solving the problems I mentioned and it will be good to also focus on how to have better policy formulation and implementation so that we have more effective policies in the future. I am confident the government will be doing this. Using the OSC approach for major policies will be one good way to have more ground up inputs for better policies.

The government has also put in place many social safety nets in the last three years and this has generally been helpful, but as I mentioned in my post, what will be useful is for the government to help Singaporeans through higher incomes instead of hand-outs. Compulsory progressive wages for cleaners and security officers is a good start, which I have been calling on the Government to do for many years. I would like to see this expanded so that we can see more Singaporeans earning a decent living wage.

While many Singaporeans wrote to me to express their appreciation for my post, some who wrote to me said I made some factual errors especially when I mentioned that cost increases had outpaced wage increases. Let me share what they highlighted to me. They pointed to government statistics that showed that net wages for Singaporeans have generally risen even after taking into account inflation.

One Singaporean currently studying in the UK wrote to me highlighting that the National Talent and Population Division, a government organization, has been keeping in touch with students studying in the UK and overseas.

A couple of grassroots leaders told me they felt that the asset enhancement policy did benefit them with real wealth and they are happy with it. Nevertheless, I was glad the PM said that we are looking more carefully at retirement adequacy such as by improving CPF-LIFE and that MND is further improving policies to help elderly Singaporeans unlock the savings in their flats so that they can look forward to a comfortable retirement without having to worry about their finances. It is important we continue to address these issues so that Singaporeans feel life has become better.

Some have asked me what prompted me to express my views and if they would lead to concrete changes. As an MP elected by the people, it is my duty to make an assessment of the issues which concern Singaporeans based on the feedback I get and reflect them as accurately as possible so that the government can improve upon them. As to whether the government will listen, I can tell you that the reason I voice these concerns so confidently, is because I know they do not fall on deaf ears and that some action will be taken on them. I have seen this for the past 18 years in Parliament and that spurs me on to keep on doing my best as an MP. So the PAP government can and will solve problems and we all must continue to voice our concerns and feedback.

The debate in Parliament last week was a robust one. I am particularly heartened to see our Prime Minister reiterating what the PAP promised at the last GE2011 – to “Secure Our Future Together”. Many of my fellow MPs also spoke about how we can achieve this and we are on the right track. With this as a governing objective, we should achieve our desired outcome so that all Singaporeans feel their personal and family’s future remains comfortable and secure while the country prospers.

There is one thing we all need to do together as Singaporeans. We need to rally behind this single cause making Singapore a place where our children, and their children, can live comfortably, be proud of and can call home.

Authored by MP Inderjit Singh

EDITOR’S NOTE

We like the idea of speaking up and sharing your opinion if you find something is not right and worth correcting simply by saying what you truly feel about it. That is the beauty of discourse and honesty. There will always be a fruitful outcome at the end of it all.

Let’s not argue for the sake of arguing.

June 6, 2014
Kembalikan IRK Dalam Kurikulum MOE Demi Anak-Anak Kita

Credit: Atan Flybaits

Siapa ada album kumpulan Flybaits?

Kita tidak sedar bahawa orang melayu Singapura sudah kehilangan dua elemen yang penting dalam masyarakat kita, ia itu ugama dan bahasa, kalau dulu jarang sekali kita ketemu anak melayu yang tak tahu kan ugama, tapi sekarang masaalah ini adalah perkara biasa, serupa juga dengan bahasa, maka kehilangan ini bukan lah di peringkat permulaan, ia di peringkat pertengahan – tapi jika kita berusaha mendesak pemerintah mengembali kan pelajaran IRK kepada kurikulum sekolah anak anak kita, masaalah ini akan dapat di tangani dengan meluas, maka di sini kita perlukan kerja sama para AP AP melayu Islam, tak kira sama ada dari pihak pembangkang atau pemerintah.

Bagi pihak rakrat pula, kita perlu kan suara semua lapisan rakyat, tak kira dari golongan apa pun, dari golongan cendekiawan atau peniaga atau pekerja pekerja biasa, jika kita satu kan suara kita lalu mendesak pemerintah untuk mengembalikan pelajaran IRK ke sekolah sekolah kita, hasil nya seumpama melontar sebiji batu untuk mendapat kan dua atau tiga ekor burung.

Pertama, kita dapat atasi masaalah anak anak yang tak tahu ugama, kedua , dengan ini masaalah asatizah yang sulit nak dapat kerja juga dapat di atasi dan ketiga, pelajaran ugama ini di ajarkan di dalam bahasa melayu, lalu masaalah bahasa juga dapat kita tangani, dan akan jadi lebih baik jika guru guru ugama ini juga di tugaskan mengajar bahasa melayu,lalu ini tidak akan membebankan tugas guru guru yang sedia ada.

Tapi usaha ini tidak akan Berjaya kecuali kita dapat sokongan dari bawah ke atas, maksud nya permintaan rakyat dan sokongan dari ahli ahli politik sama ada dari pihak pemerintah dan pembangkang !! tidak ada alasan bagi mereka untuk mengatakan bahwa mereka akan kehilangan undi bangsa lain, kerana, pelajaran IRK adalah menuju kearah membentuk maanusia maanusia yang baik , lalu ia akan menghakis sifat sifat buruk dari anak anak kita dan membuat negara kita sebuah negara yang lebih selamat dan sejahtera.

Sumber: Atan Flybaits

EDITOR’S NOTE

Mungkin ramai anak-anak muda sekarang tidak tahu bahawa Encik Atan ‘Flybaits’ adalah seorang penyanyi yang terkenal pada suatu masa dahulu. Lagu-lagunya masih bergemang di stesen-stesen radio tempatan dan juga di seberang tambak. Kumpulan ‘Flybaits’ merupakan kumpulan penyanyi Singapura yang terkenal dengan lagu Kenangan Lalu. Diketuai oleh penyanyi vokal, Fredo.

Kami di Rilek1Corner mengalu-alukan pendapat sesiapapun, tidak kira selebriti atau orang-orang biasa sahaja seperti kami di sini.

Nak tahu siapa gerangan Encik Atan Flybaits yang bersuara merdu ni? Tontonilah video ini 🙂

June 5, 2014
Askar Malaysia Makan Haiwan Haram Ketika Latihan Darurat di Hutan

Credit: Facebook Listen Listen Original

Sebuah laman Facebook Listen Listen Original pada 31 Mei lepas mempersoalkan beberapa keping gambar yang memaparkan beberapa anggota tentera yang dipercayai dari negara Malaysia menikmati pelbagai juadah makanan di dalam hutan.

Menurut Facebook berkenaan, anggota tentera berkenaan mungkin dari Malaysia berdasarkan pakaian seragam mereka dan dilihat menjalani latihan memakan benda ‘haram’ sebagai latihan ketika darurat.

Gambar itu dikatakan dipaparkan pada mulanya di laman web maahadsas.edu.my mengatakan bahawa para anggota itu diberi latihan kelangsungan hidup atau bagaimana cara untuk menangkap, memasak serta memakan.

Di status Facebook berkenaan turut dipaparkan persoalan apakah tujuan sebenar latihan sebegitu diadakan dan ia dirujuk pula kepada kemungkinan latihan seorang ibu yang terdesak masalah kewangan untuk menjadi pelacur.

Selepas puas memberikan soalan berbaur provokasi baru laman Facebook itu memohon pencerahan daripada Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan dalam isu gambar anggota tentera memakan haiwan yang pelik-pelik yang didakwa haram itu.

Sumber: Facebook Listen Listen Original

EDITOR’S NOTE

Isu-isu sebegini juga ada tempiasnya di Singapura dan ianya juga menimbulkan tanda tanya tentang askar-askar kita yang beragama Islam: apakah mereka boleh memakan haiwan-haiwan yang boleh dikategorikan sebagai haram atau binatang liar ketika LATIHAN DARURAT?

Mungkin ada baiknya kita renungkan bersama. Antara agama dan juga negara ketika latihan darurat seperti ini.

Semoga kita akan mendapatkan penjelasan daripada pihak yang lebih ahli supaya masyarakat umum tidak membuat simpulan sendiri yang tidak berasas dan kurang bernas.

Selama ini, isu-isu sensitif seperti ini tidak dibicarakan secara terbuka. Inilah masanya.

June 4, 2014
Jafri Basron Will Contest as Independent Candidate for GE2016

Credit: https://www.facebook.com/jafri.basron

I found a comment which is a follow up on Tan Kin Lian’s article Loss of Foreign Minister, which appears to give us an insight to what happened that caused Aljunied GRC to fall.

If what the writer claims is true (ie he has been working on the ground with the WP), this gives us an opportunity to see what were the goings on of WP’s plan, which was not seen by the public before.

Here is his comment.

I happened to be one of those who’re familiar with WP Hougang and Aljunied groundworks and feedback. The decision to contest Aljunied was a foregone conclusion, it was just a matter of who joined Sylvia there. The boundary map was so drawn that Hougang is an island within Aljunied that incorporates about a third of old dismantled Cheng San. Hence PAP made Aljunied a must-contest for WP and believed George Yeo popular enough to defend it. However LHL compromised laymen perception of his foreign affairs competency by having LKY and GCT handling almost all the heavyweight foreign affair issues. As for grassroot groundworks and popularity of WP in Aljunied, PAP complacently forgot that Hougang is in Aljunied containing a huge chunk of Cheng San. The gerrymandering backfired this time. The LTK effect wouldn’t have been of this magnitude in another GRC where he’s not so well known. In any case, it was LKY himself who challenged LTK that if he’s a good leader, stop hiding in SMC, come out and contest GRC. And it was also LKY himself who pre-declared that by-election shall be held to save any minister lost.

Very interesting insight. For those who can’t recall, Cheng San was contested by the WP, headed by Tang Liang Hong in 1997. Tang Liang Hong was smeared by PAP as a Chinese Chauvinist. His team was the highest scoring losing team.

I agree that George Yeo’s position was highly compromised as foreign minister. One of the most difficult issues we had and still have is our relations with Indonesia.

We harbour Indonesian criminals which Indonesia wants extradited, as well as billions of ill-gotten funds that rightfully belongs to them. An extradition treaty that was to be signed between Indonesia and ourselves have been shelved and that is causing a lot of strained ties. I have discussed that in detail here – Our Bad Foreign Relations with Indonesia

It looks like WP had weighed carefully the options they had and decided to go for a calculated gamble. It paid off.

Authored by Jafri Basron

EDITOR’S NOTE

Supporters of Jafri Basron can help make his dream come true by giving him a small donation and also moral support. Not an easy task to be an independent candidate. Rilek1Corner wishes Jafri all the best and may you succeed in GE2016.

June 3, 2014
Masyarakat Islam Semakin Kurang Yakin Pada MUIS?

Credit: Osman Sulaiman

Credit: Osman Sulaiman

Tempoh hari, saya telah mengadakan tinjauan kecil di sini untuk mengumpulkan data sedikit sebanyak akan sokongan masyarakat terhadap MUIS. Meskipun tinjauan ini tidak boleh digunakan sebagai kaki pengukur, rata2, kita dapat menggambarkan sentiment sebilangan rakyat terhadap MUIS.

Tinjauan ini hanya terhad kepada ahli2 SMIS, ahli yg aktif dan kepada pengguna internet sahaja. Dari itu, ia sangat berkurangan untuk dijadikan landasan sebagai mempamerkan sentiment seluruh Singapura.

Hasil tinjauannya adalah seperti berikut:
Total pengundi – 61

Tidak menyokong – 24
Memberi MUIS masa – 22
Sokongan tipis – 10
Menyokong total – 5

Kita dapat lihat bahawa sebanyak 39% sudah tidak memberi sokongannya terhadap MUIS. Dan hanya 8.2% sahaja yg masih memberi sokongan total kepada MUIS. Yg selebihnya, boleh dianggap sebagai menunggu dan mahu melihat prestasi MUIS. Prestasi MUIS akan menentukan sama ada MUIS akan terus relevant atau sebaliknya.

Jikalau MUIS tetap masih tidak menunjukkan peningkatan kepada prestasinya, saya takut tidak lama lagi, MUIS akan menjadi gajah putih dan tidak lagi mewakili masyarakat orang islam di Singapura.

June 3, 2014