- We may see a shifting of gears for leadership renewal
- Public transport issues may well become PAP’s Achilles heel
Chan Chun Sing says teamwork is more important than personality & style of 4G leader
How he responded to questions at an event with foreign correspondents were perhaps as interesting as what he said.
By Chan Cheow Pong | 30 mins
When Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing was asked about his political ambition in a Chinese TV interview last March, he replied with a Chinese idiom, which can be loosely translated as:
“Man proposes, God disposes”.(谋事在人;成事在天)
That cryptic answer reflected one thing that Chan had to grapple with, since he was identified to be the one of the core members among our fourth generation of leaders: Being caught in an awkward position when faced with questions about his political ambition and potential career progression.
If he said he had zero political ambitions, he would have sounded weak and disingenuous, but if he expressed his desire for leadership, he would be at risk of sounding presumptuous and full of himself.
“Rare comments” reported by Reuters raises eyebrows
Hence naturally eyebrows were raised when Reuters reported that he made “rare comments” about succession at a Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore briefing on Monday (Oct. 30), saying he had an obligation to be ready to take on the job of PM if called upon.
So what did Chan actually say when he was asked point-blank if he would like to take on the job as the next Prime Minister?
Based on the transcript Mothership.sg obtained from Chan’s office, his somewhat meandering response was actually remarkably consistent with his personal style — marked by a disinclination bordering on aversion to talk about himself and the constant references to “we” as a team — when it comes to answering questions like these.
This was what transpired during that exchange:
Sharanjit Leyl (BBC): “Would you like the job?”
Chan Chun Sing: “All of us have to be prepared to do the job when called upon. And I will just repeat what Minister Khaw Boon Wan shared with us – In Singapore, leadership is a responsibility to be borne, not a position to be sought. You might think we sound very cliché, but I think I can speak for my fellow colleagues, that we all believe in this. We are where we are because of what the Singapore system has given us. We own this dream that we want to be called Singaporeans forever more. We know that it is an uphill task for a small nation to defy the odds of history, to survive without a hinterland. But we are also confident that with the advent of new technologies, that we can make it transcend our innate geographical and resource limitations. We are confident but we are never complacent.But all of us know that when called upon, we must not shirk from the responsibility.” (emphasis ours)
You can say he avoided answering the question directly, but he did manage to make an indirect point that in Singapore politics, it’s most probably best not to talk about personal ambitions.
continue reading here :
https://mothership.sg/2017/10/chan-c...-of-4g-leader/
Seriously I wonder what he has contributed to the Singapore society ? An ex-army general with no grassroots experience .
Quote:
Originally Posted by
yobyella
Saga? Bro you serve NS? All this are smoke, camouflage.
What smoke ? What camouflage ?
AGC is reportedly going ahead with contempt of court proceedings against Li Shengwu
November 6, 2017
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is reportedly moving ahead with contempt of court proceedings against founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s grandson, Li Shengwu, according to Yahoo News sources.
Sources also appear to have revealed that a pre-trial conference has been set for one week from now, on 13 Nov.
Shengwu attracted the attention of the AGC on 15 July after posting a private “friends-only” Facebook post, criticising Singapore’s government and judiciary.
Linking a Wall Street Journal article that offered a thorough analysis of the public Oxley Rd feud, Shengwu had said in his own words: “Keep in mind, of course that the Singapore government is very litigious and has a pliant court system. This constrains what the international media can usually report.”
He then linked a New York Times article on censorship and the use of defamation laws by both Lee Kuan Yew and Lee Hsien Loong to censor the foreign press.
In responding to media queries about Shengwu’s private post, an AGC spokesperson had said then, “AGC is aware of the post and is looking into the matter.”
Shengwu’s post followed the explosive Oxley Road dispute, in which his father Lee Hsien Yang and paternal aunt Dr Lee Wei Ling had been embroiled in a public feud against their elder brother, Singapore’s current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The PM’s younger siblings alleged that the PM was abusing his power to preserve their family home against their father’s willed desire to demolish the house, in June and July this year.
They also accused the PM of convened a secret committee to make a decision on the house and claimed that state organs were being used against them.
PM Lee addressed the allegations against him in a Parliamentary debate where he declared that he has been cleared of all charges. He added that he does not intend to sue his siblings.
Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang reinforced their allegations, following this, but offered a ceasefire on releasing further evidence in favor of settling the matter in private, on the condition that they nor their father’s will be attacked or misrepresented.
continue reading here :
Dr Chee Soon Juan: Who holds them accountable?
Published on 2017-11-08 by Neyla Zannia
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Secretary-General Dr Chee Soon Juan has written an article questioning the behaviour of the Government in pointing their fingers towards others, instead of admitting to the mistakes committed.
He gave the example of Minister of Transport Khaw Boon Wan, who, in a parliamentary speech on 7 November, laid blame on the SMRT maintenance crew when a train tunnel flooded after a perfunctory downpour.
Dr Chee wrote, “Not every minister’s head should roll every time something goes awry on this island. But when major incidents occur, especially ones that endanger public safety, ministers cannot be permitted to stage a kabuki and scapegoat their subordinates.”
He stated that such impoverished leadership has a corrosive effect on the morale of the ministries and agencies they lead.
“With time, they lead to ‘deep-seated cultural issues’,” he added.
Here is what he wrote in full:
“SOMETHING MUST HAPPEN to the staff,” Mr Khaw Boon Wan hissed as he laid blame on the SMRT maintenance crew when a train tunnel flooded after a perfunctory downpour.
They “failed us”, the Transport Minister added as he drove the knife further in. Just as quickly, the management announced that the unit members would see their bonuses decapitated. Three weeks later, the company declared that six of those responsible would face disciplinary action.
Mr Khaw’s anger may have been appropriately directed. The question is: Why stop there?
SMRT’s CEO Desmond Kuek, in a rare display of candour, admitted that the incident was also the result of company’s “deep-seated cultural issues”. The confession signals a wider malaise which usually involves workers’ morale and attitude.
If anyone is to shoulder any blame, shouldn’t it be the CEO whose job description, after all, includes constructing an organisational culture – including changing personnel root and branch if necessary – that optimises productivity and efficiency? Yet, having been with the company for five years now, this is the first time that Mr Kuek has raised the issue.
Expectedly, his boss pounced. “If there is poor work culture, the CEO is responsible,” Mr Khaw told Parliament yesterday.
But it would also be disingenuous of the Minister to stop at Mr Kuek because this is not the first big incident to happen at SMRT. In 2016, two maintenance staff were killed when they were run over by a train at the Pasir Ris station.
As before, Mr Khaw was quick on the draw promising that “those responsible will be held to account.” Those were two junior staff, including a train driver, who were blamed and sacked.
Investigations found that SMRT had “failed to ensure that procedures practised by employees on the ground were duly audited, documented and disseminated. This resulted in an unsafe workplace that eventually led to the death of two of its employees.”
But get this: the probe found that the negligence spanned a period of 14 years! That’s way before Mr Kuek joined the company. In that time, four transport ministers – Messrs Yeo Cheow Tong, Raymond Lim, Lui Tuck Yew and Khaw Boon Wan – had oversight of the train system but none paid attention to the lax safety standards.
Then there was the suspected terrorist, Mr Mas Selamat, who escaped detention and went walkabout all the way to Johor. He got out of prison by climbing through a toilet window, landing on a heap of toilet rolls, and scaling a parapet – all while surveillance cameras were not operational.
This was Singapore’s Keystone-cops moment. As a consequence, eight officers were sacked or demoted. Yet, the problem clearly that went beyond just negligence on the part of a bunch of careless officers; it involved a facility-wide systems breakdown for which the Home Minister cannot evade responsibility.
Then consider this: It took 49 seconds for Mr Selamat to escape, 11 minutes for the staff to realise it – and a whole four hours for then Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng to sound the public alert. Another week lapsed before the Minister told us what the escapee was wearing and that he had a “distinct limp” when he ran. By that time, the prisoner could have already been in the Bahamas sipping on apiña colada.
But in his Parliamentary statement, Mr Wong pointed the finger at everyone and everything except himself. It was self-exoneration elevated to an art form.
A similar meltdown in our security system occurred in 2013 when a riot broke out in Little India where more than half-a-million dollars of property was damaged, several emergency vehicles wrecked, and scores of police officers injured.
The Committee of Inquiry hearing threw up some disturbing observations: there were insufficient number of officers available at the outset, they were not properly equipped, radio airwaves jammed at the crucial moment, the commanding officer did not have any idea how many men he had at his disposal, and officers on the scene admitted that they were not trained to handle a full-scale riot. And when the riot police finally arrived at the scene, it did not have the numbers to fully contain the mob.
The COI remarked that “a lot of things were wrong” and the police response was “not acceptable”. Surely, some of these “wrong things” were well within the purview of the Home Minister, Mr Teo Chee Hean. But like much of everything else that goes wrong in Singapore, PAP Ministers are shielded – or rather, they shield themselves – from blame.
Ditto the Health Minister in 2015. Just after the general elections in September, news broke that there was an outbreak of the hepatitis C virus at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The first case was detected in April that year, but it wasn’t until October that the Ministry of Health (MOH) informed the public. The delay affected 25 patients of which eight died.
Two issues are pertinent here. The first is that the SGH and MOH personnel messed up, a transgression which resulted in 16 employees either fined or reprimanded. (Mr Gan raised eyebrows – and not little ire – when he refused to name those responsible and the penalties meted out. Excuse? He did not want to develop a “blame culture”.)
The second issue relates to the delay in the public disclosure of the incident which worsened an already dire situation. This was the Minister’s responsibility and no one else’s. Even if his claim that the MOH was not informed of the outbreak until late August, why did it take another two months before the public was alerted?
Mr Gan was, of course, not in the habit of holding himself accountable even though the incident had caused several deaths.
continue reading here :
AGC proceeds on contempt of court case against Li Shengwu
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO UPDATED2 HOURS AGO
Elgin Toh Insight Editor
SINGAPORE - The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has proceeded on its contempt of court case against Mr Li Shengwu, with the first pre-trial conference taking place at the Supreme Court on Monday (Nov 13).
The Straits Times understands that Mr Li, who is the nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the eldest son of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, was earlier served court papers in the United States, where he is a junior fellow at Harvard University.
He has since appointed lawyer Abraham Vergis of Providence Law to act on his behalf.
Mr Li is not being charged with a crime. The AGC has instead taken up an originating summons, typically used in civil cases.
But because the court can impose a jail sentence in contempt of court cases, such cases are sometimes considered “quasi-criminal” cases.
The suit centres on a Facebook post by Mr Li on July 15, where he wrote that “the Singapore government is very litigious and has a pliant court system”.
The post was related to the dispute between his father and aunt Lee Wei Ling on one side, and his uncle on the other, over their late father’s home at 38, Oxley Road.
The AGC wrote to Mr Li asking him to apologise. Mr Li declined, noting that his post had been a private one, and at the same time amending parts of the post. He also contended that the post, when read in context, did not constitute contempt of court.
The AGC called the post an “egregious and baseless attack” on the judiciary. It applied for and was granted the court’s permission to initiate contempt of court proceedings in August.
continue reading here :
Court hearing for Marsiling-Yew Tee by-election fixed for Jan 2018; SDP withdraws from the action
13 Nov 2017 05:52PM (Updated: 13 Nov 2017 06:00PM)
SINGAPORE: The hearing for the legal action on the Government’s decision not to hold a by-election in Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) has been set for January 2018, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said in a statement on its website on Monday (Nov 13).
This was decided at a pre-trial conference held on Monday morning, said the SDP, adding that it was also decided that the SDP “will not be a party in the matter”.
The party had filed a lawsuit in the High Court earlier this year challenging the decision not to hold a by-election after a seat in the four-member GRC fell vacant when President Halimah Yacob resigned as a Member of Parliament to run for President.
According to the SDP, the Attorney-General had objected to the party being part of the action because, according to him, the party had no standing in the issue.
“In order not to complicate the proceedings and hold up the process, the SDP has agreed to withdraw from the action,” the party said in its statement.
This leaves Dr Wong Souk Yee, a resident in the GRC and the SDP’s assistant treasurer, as the sole plaintiff in the action, it said.
“The withdrawal does not change the essence of the legal action,” the SDP added. “Our position is that the PAP must abide by the constitution and the spirit of democracy by ensuring that an MP who vacates his/her seat be replaced by another MP through a by-election.
“As such, the SDP will support Dr Wong in her action,” it added.
Dr Wong had filed an affidavit in September stating that with Mdm Halimah’s resignation, the constituency would not be fully represented in Parliament until the next general election if a by-election is not called.
In addition, it added that this meant the GRC would also be left without an elected minority MP to represent minority constituents.
Read more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...or-jan-9401974
The residents of Marsiling deserves to have an elected MP to represent their interest in Parliament and an advisor . I wonder why PAP do not want to hold a by-election ?
PM Lee has to Speak and Act Now
November 16, 20175665
by Augustine Low/
Minister K Shanmugam is putting it mildly when he says that the SMRT issues “have sorely tested the public mood.” It has hit home that the litany of woes – now even extending to breach of safety – will drag on for sometime, more in terms of years rather than weeks and months.
The mood of the public is no more in a test mode – when people’s lives are affected almost on a daily basis, they run out of patience and evolve into anger and exasperation.
What will all this translate into? There is a precedent of sorts. In the few years leading up to the 2011 General Election, there was widespread unhappiness over housing woes and strained infrastructure like overcrowding on public transport, and yes, even then there were MRT breakdowns but not with the regularity of today.
The 2011 GE result came as a rude shock to the PAP – it was their worst performance since independence, with the Workers’ Party winning six seats. Almost immediately after the GE, Raymond Lim (Transport Minister) and Mah Bow Tan (National Development Minister) were retired from the cabinet, along with Wong Kan Seng (Home Affairs Minister) who many saw as culpable for the Mas Selamat escape.
So it took the electorate to force the hand of PM Lee Hsien Loong because prior to the GE, he was reluctant to do anything to any of those three Ministers – not even a reprimand, let alone a sacking. Is he now also leaving it to the electorate to force his hand? What does his silence mean? What’s on his mind? What is his message, his assurance to Singaporeans?
continue reading here :
As Singapore’s spending needs grow, raising taxes is inevitable: PM Lee
While Singapore has enough revenue for this term of Government, spending has been going up, and will rise further, said Mr Lee, who was speaking to about 2,000 activists at the PAP convention on Sunday.
Singapore’s investments for the economy and infrastructure, as well as spending on social services and safety nets are all necessary, and a vote of confidence in Singapore’s future, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the PAP Awards and Convention.
By Lianne Chia @LianneChiaCNA
19 Nov 2017 11:51AM (Updated: 20 Nov 2017 12:14AM)
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s investments for the economy and infrastructure, as well as spending on social services and safety nets are all necessary, and a vote of confidence in Singapore’s future, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Nov 19).
But investments and social spending are costly, and the Government must make sure it can afford them, he said.
Speaking to about 2,000 activists at the PAP convention, Mr Lee said that while Singapore has enough revenue for this term of Government, spending has been going up and must rise further.
And as Singapore’s spending needs grow, he stressed that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat was right when he said that raising taxes is not a matter of whether, but when.
“Well before the time comes, we have to plan ahead, explain to Singaporeans what the money is needed for, and show how it will benefit everyone, young and old,” he said.
Mr Lee added that Parliament will take a mid-term break after next year’s Budget.
Mr Lee noted that on the economic front, strategies and work plans are in place, citing examples like the Industry Transformation Maps. He stressed that unions and employers need to work hand in hand with the Government.
“Restructuring is already in progress, and we will press on,” he said. “This is a long-term effort that will continue beyond this term.”
Read more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...itable-9420086
Well done PAP now your voters will have less disposable income . Lesser spending power . Salary never increase . Still want to vote for PAP ?
PM Lee spoke about many things at the PAP convention. Here are 5 ways to think about it.
Some thoughts to chew on after the big speech.
By Chan Cheow Pong | November 20, 2017
The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) held its annual convention on Sunday, Nov. 19.
Party secretary-general, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke at length about key domestic issues and international developments, as he prepares the party to enter the second half of the government’s term in office.
Here are some interesting ways to think about the speech.
PM Lee had announced that Parliament will take a mid-term break or prorogation next year after the Budget.
The prorogue will not only give the government a chance to map out a fresh legislative agenda, it will also be an opportunity for PM Lee to shift gears in terms of leadership renewal, and also tee up for the next GE, which is due by early 2021.
During the last prorogue between April 15 to May 16 in 2014, PM Lee announced a round of Cabinet and political appointment changes, which included promoting Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong to full ministers.
If PM Lee follows the same playbook, all eyes will be on a potential Cabinet reshuffle in April or May next year.
Will we see some of the 3G old guards, such as Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang and Communications & Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim retiring to the backbenches?
Will we see a major reshuffle of portfolios or further promotions among the emerging 4G leaders or even a 4G Deputy Prime Minister?
That’s something that Singaporeans will certainly look out for.
PM Lee also addressed the recent MRT incidents for the first time on Sunday.
He showed his empathy for commuters and demonstrated the government’s resolve to solve the problems.
continue reading here :
Incensed netizens condemn high ministerial salaries as PM Lee confirms impending tax hike
November 20, 2017
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s confirmation that higher taxes are inevitable to counter increased spending has earned the ire of netizens who are calling on the head of government to cut high ministerial salaries before resorting to a tax hike.
PM Lee confirmed the tax hike while speaking at the PAP Convention 2017 yesterday morning, where he stressed that it is a matter of when and not whether taxes will be increased.
Interestingly, when claims that the government would raise taxes erupted in 2015, a month before that year’s General Election, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) was quick to refute the claims, saying that they had no basis.
Posting a statement on the matter online, MOF reiterated Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s earlier assertion that increased spending planned for the rest of the decade is sufficiently provided for by measures that the Government had already taken.
Speaking at the party conference, PM Lee said that as spending rises, the government must “stretch our dollars, and make every dollar count.”
Asserting that there is enough revenue for this current term of government, the PM indicated that the government and the people must bear the cost of increased spending for the sake of the next generation.
Netizens weren’t swayed by the PM’s reasons explaining the tax hike and called on him to slash the high salaries ministers draw, instead of pushing the financial burden of increased spending to the people:
Besides spending on infrastructure, economy and healthcare, one of the major projects the government is expected to spend heavily on is the MRT network expansion project. More than $20 billion dollars will be plugged into this project which will take about 5 years to complete.
The new Terminal 5 at Changi Airport which also cost “tens of billions of dollars,” according to an earlier statement by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/incense...ding-tax-hike/
Certainly very greedy .