- COUNTING THE COST OF LOOMING TAX HIKES
- the Oxleygate affair . The whole matter blew up in the open when the younger Lee siblings took to social media and voice their greviances against their elder bro and his wife . We also learn that the Singapore PM is not a trustee of his father’s estate. We all know what his father wants to do to the Oxley house . The situation became so bad that the current Singapore PM took to parliament to defend himself . Till date the Lee sibilings are not talking to each other .
- Presidential election .
- Mrt disruptions
Singapore is getting even tougher on free speech and curtailing debate, says Human Rights Watch
‘People in a country that calls itself a democracy shouldn’t be afraid to criticise the government’
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 13 December, 2017, 3:01pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 13 December, 2017, 10:56pm
Agence France-Presse
Singapore is increasingly using harsh laws to severely restrict freedom of speech and assembly, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday, urging authorities to let people publicly debate matters of national interest.
A report from the New York-based rights group said that while the financial hub was an economic success, it was time to relax tough regulations which are not in line with international human rights standards.
“Singapore promotes itself as a modern nation and a good place to do business, but people in a country that calls itself a democracy shouldn’t be afraid to criticise the government or speak out about political issues,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The city state has long been accused of using tough laws to stifle dissent but Robertson said its use of them had been stepped up in recent times.
Last month prominent human rights activist Jolovan Wham was charged with organising public protests without a permit over three small demonstrations staged in the last year.
Singapore does not allow protests without approval from police, except in one corner of a downtown park.
In August, the government launched legal action against Li Shengwu, the grandson of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, over a Facebook post linked to a feud in the ruling family.
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New volunteer gardening initiative to make Istana grounds more accessible
By Cynthia Choo
Published13 December, 2017
Updated 14 December, 2017
SINGAPORE – Gardening enthusiasts will now get a chance to help shape the gardens at the Istana under a new Volunteer
[email protected]
programme.
Launched by President Halimah Yacob on Thursday (Dec 14), the programme will provide opportunities for the gardening community in Singapore to come together to maintain the greenery and landscape of the Istana.
Madam Halimah said: “The purpose (of the programme) is basically to encourage Singaporeans who are interested in community gardening to come and contribute their ideas and experiences, and also help to shape the gardens at the Istana.”
“The whole idea is also to engage and reach out to Singaporeans so that they feel that there is a part they can play in the Istanta garden,” she added.
She also said that this programme was a chance for volunteers to “develop collective memories” of the Istana.
Madam Halimah had previously said she wants to make the Istana more accessible to ordinary Singaporeans. The Volunter
[email protected]
programme is the second of such initiatives, with the first being the
[email protected]
programme — which will see four picnics held a year — launched in November.
So far, about 50 people - from as young as 9 to 79-years-old - have signed up as volunteer gardeners, with the majority being in their 50s.
continue reading here :
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...ore-accessible
Very clever of her to come up with idea to get free labour to do the gardening at Istana House.
Was the elected President’s car booked for illegal parking?
December 20, 2017
A photo of an enforcement officer investigating a car with a special number plate is going viral online, especially since the car appears to be part of elected President Halimah Yacob’s convoy.
The image circulating online clearly shows that the vehicle has the number plate ‘SEP1’. ‘SEP’ is widely believed to be an acronym that stands for for Singapore Elected President. Interestingly, the state car that was used to ferry Singapore’s last President Tony Tan also sported the ‘SEP’ license plate.
The photo was posted by netizen Richie Tsui on Facebook group, SG Road Vigilante just about three hours ago and has already garnered over 600 likes and almost 2,500 shares.
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No summons for President’s car, but security convoys urged to obey traffic rules
A Land Transport Authority enforcement officer was conducting his routine patrol along Prinsep Street when he noticed two vehicles belonging to President Halimah Yacob’s convoy parked along double yellow lines.
PUBLISHEDDEC 22, 2017, 9:45 PM SGT
Toh Wen Li
SINGAPORE - Officers who provide security protection to the president and other senior political leaders have been reminded to make sure their security convoys comply with traffic rules, without compromising the safety and security of the VIPs they are escorting.
A joint statement to clarify this was issued to The Straits Times on Friday (Dec 22) by the Land Transport Authority and police after an image was widely shared on Wednesday of a uniformed LTA officer apparently enforcing traffic rules on transport for President Halimah Yacob.
The car in the image was part of the Police Security Command (SecCom) detail for the President, which got netizens speculating if it had been ticketed for an infringement.
No summons was issued, according to the LTA statement, which also elaborated on what had happened in the incident.
It said an LTA enforcement officer was conducting a routine patrol along Prinsep Street at 4.15pm on Wednesday when he spotted two vehicles waiting along a stretch marked with double yellow lines.
The offence of parking a vehicle where there are unbroken double yellow lines can draw a fine beginning at $70.
The LTA officer approached one of the vehicles to ask the driver to move his vehicle, in line with LTA’s approach to enforcing this regulation, said the statement.
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Traffic summon excused because offender is President
December 22, 2017
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued a press release yesterday (Dec 22) acknowledging that a S$70 traffic summon was not issued despite confirming a parking offense because the offender is President Halimah Yacob. In a photo taken by a member of the public, the driver of the latest model of Mercedez S-class sedan was seen confronted by a LTA officer for parking at a double yellow line along Prinsep Street.
LTA legalised the corruption saying:
“No summons was issued, A LTA enforcement officer was conducting a routine patrol along Prinsep Street at 4.15pm on Wednesday when he spotted two vehicles waiting along a stretch marked with double yellow lines. The LTA officer approached one of the vehicles to ask the driver to move his vehicle, in line with LTA’s approach to enforcing this regulation, The driver told the officer he was there to pick up the President. During the course of their conversation, she arrived and was driven away without a summons being issued.”
However, the same law does not apply for everyone else. The instance one parks at a double yellow line will amount to an infringement and a ticket will be given by a LTA officer without reasoning. One will have to contest the summon in a court or pay the fine.
LTA, along with the Singapore Police, then claimed that parking at the double yellow line is now legal, so long as the offender is President:
“As part of the security protection operations, the vehicle convoy is to be positioned close to the event location in compliance with traffic rules, to facilitate swift evacuation during contingencies… The police have reviewed this incident with LTA. SecCom officers have been reminded to park the convoy in compliance with traffic rules, without compromising their mission to ensure the safety and security of those they are escorting.”
continue reading here :
http://statestimesreview.com/2017/12...-is-president/
If other road users sure kenna summon .
Singaporeans may find out who the nation’s next Prime Minister will be during the cabinet reshuffle in 2018
December 27, 2017
According to several political pundits, Singaporeans may find out who will succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to become the nation’s fourth head of government early next year, with a major Cabinet reshuffle looming ahead.
Both former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and PM Lee were appointed Deputy Prime Minister before they each became the head of government. Analysts at TODAY have opined that the individual or one of the individuals appointed as Deputy Prime Minister during the next Cabinet reshuffle, that is expected to take place in February or March 2018, will rise to the hot seat especially since the reshuffle is expected to hand over more reins to the younger ruling party cohort.
Analysts have also narrowed the list of potential successors to three Ministers: Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing, and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.
Speaking to a local daily, former ruling party parliamentarian Inderjit Singh asserted that the Prime Minister has already left it late in giving the people an indication of who will succeed him: “The future Prime Minister (should have) started taking key duties by now… It is already too late.”
Singh added that the next PM should have ideally served at least two terms as a deputy and be given more duties to do with major policies “before he or she can confidently take on the job.”
According to an associate lecturer with SIM Global Education, Dr Felix Tan, there is an urgency in leadership renewal: “There is a need for the new crop of leaders to try and test out their roles, and get familiar with the different portfolios in order to ensure that they are prepared to take over the helm of certain ministries.”
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/singapo...uffle-in-2018/
So who do you think will be the next Singapore PM ? Another selected one .
Former PAP MP Inderjit Singh: Too late for new Prime Minister
December 27, 2017
Former PAP MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Inderjit Singh yesterday (Dec 26) criticised Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for dilly dallying on his decision for a successor, saying that it is already too late to choose one now. The ex-PAP member said the successor should have at least 10 years of experience as a Deputy Prime Minister as preparation before taking up the PM role, like as was the case for Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsien Loong:
“The next PM should ideally have served for two terms as a deputy and be given the exposure and responsibility on major policies before he or she can confidently take on the job. The future Prime Minister should have started taking key duties by now… It is already too late.”
Other ruling party elites also expressed similar concerns for PM Lee’s indecisiveness, urging the dictator PM to select a new leader and step down. At 65, Lee Hsien Loong is currently on track to be the oldest Prime Minister in Singapore, exceeding his predecessor Goh Chok Tong’s 63 and and Lee Kuan Yew’s 67. The son of Lee Kuan Yew once said that he will likely retire in less than five years time at no later than 70 years old. Ruling party elites and cronies are exceptionally anxious as they do not know which “boat to board” to further their political and business interests.
Former PAP NMP Eugene Tan told state media Today that he is worried that the new PAP administration have no time to be ready for governance:
“For a government that has always emphasised renewal and succession, this raises legitimate questions about the readiness of the fourth generation leadership, if not about the much vaunted process. By the time PM Lee steps down, he (could) be the oldest of our Prime Ministers.”
There are currently two front runners for the PM race – former army general Minister Chan Chun Sing and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat. The army general however lack etiquette and depth to lead due to his numerous gaffes. Minister Heng Swee Keat may be more thoughtful and measured his words and actions, but his health was a major concern after he suffered a stroke during a Cabinet meeting in 2016. At 56, Finance Minister is also too old to be PM, while Chan Chun Sing’s 48 age is just right.
Unofficially, the next PM is also a seat warmer for the next 15 year to prepare for the premiership handover to the son of Lee Hsien Loong, Li Hongyi. The 30-year-old son of Lee Hsien Loong is currently a director of the propaganda ministry, Ministry of Communications and Information. Lee Hsien Loong’s siblings, Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang, revealed their PM brother’s plot to pass the premiership to his son. The Prime Minister also sent his nephew Li Shengwu into self-exile in US, worried that the Harvard University professor would compete with his son Li Hongyi for the PM post.
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Five political hot potatoes of 2017
PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO
Joanna Seow
Public debate over government spending was stirred last month after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong signalled an impending tax hike.
Speaking at the People’s Action Party annual convention, he had noted that investments and social spending are costly, and forewarned that “raising taxes is not a matter of whether, but a matter of when”.
While there are no details yet as to which tax may be raised, or by how much, some analysts have suggested that the goods and services tax (GST), which is now 7 per cent, could be raised to 8 to 10 per cent.
There has also been speculation that while the announcement for the hike may be made by the next Budget, it may take effect only later, such as after the next general election, which is due by 2021.
At a dialogue earlier this month organised by government feedback arm Reach and the Finance Ministry to discuss the upcoming Budget, Reach chairman and Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan said that the Government does not take decisions on tax increases lightly, because such hikes come with a very high political cost.
“But if we have to raise it, that is because the reason is stronger than the political cost,” he said.
Political observers tell Insight the ruling party has a degree of latitude as to when to introduce the increases, since the next election is not due yet - and revenues are sufficient for this term of government.
But people may call on the Government to be more transparent about how much money is exactly needed to prevent a deficit in future Budgets.
Full-time investor Vincent Tay, for example, says it is hard to argue against the logic of raising taxes, “but we don’t know the full picture”.
The 35-year-old father of three, with another child on the way, says he will have to bite the bullet and try to make more money to cope with the higher costs.
Looking ahead, Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore says he expects the cost of living to be a major political issue next year, due to the uneven distribution of wealth and economic uncertainties.
While the Government has managed the cost of living issue through packages to help the lower-income group, the middle class is feeling squeezed - and this is a key group politically, he notes.
“Anywhere in the world, once you lose this group - and it is usually through economic policies and costs of basic essentials - then the political price will have to be paid,” he says.
Deciding on the quantum of the tax hike will also involve treading a fine balance.
Increasing GST by 1 percentage point, for instance, may not be worth the political effort, notes Dr Lam Peng Er, a senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute.
Nominated MP Randolph Tan, an economist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, adds that people may question the need for a tax hike when a major economy like the United States can appear to afford to do the opposite.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
stardawn
As the year draws a close . One can look back at 2017 and realise that Singapore is indeed an exciting place to live in . Why is that so ?
2 ) Water price increase .
The impending water price hike caused a lot of anger and resentment among the Singaporeans . But despite that the water price increase still go ahead.
For the first time in Singapore presidential history a woman was selected to be the Singapore’s first Malay President . However the process of the selecting is highly flawed as it certainly benefits her . Surprising the other 2 presidential candidates were better qualified than her were disqualified .
There is an undeniable fact that the mrt disruption seemed to increase under the honourable Mr khaw tenure . The worse one was the tunnel flooding , train collision at Joo Koon resulting 38 passengers injured ; and of course the lightning strike . First time after the tunnel flooding we saw Mr khaw and SMRT chairman apologising to the public and they vowed they will improve the services of the mrt .
Looks like somebody is reading your post .
Police have to exercise discretion, make exceptions on occasion: SPF on double yellow line issue
The authorities were responding to a letter about the lack of summons issued for cars belonging to President Halimah Yacob’s convoy that were waiting along double yellow lines earlier this month.
31 Dec 2017 03:22PM (Updated: 31 Dec 2017 03:55PM)
SINGAPORE: Police officers will seek to observe traffic rules and regulations but there will be occasions when they may have to exercise their discretion and make exceptions, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Saturday (Dec 30).
This was in response to a letter published in Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao about the lack of summons issued for cars belonging to President Halimah Yacob’s convoy that were waiting along double yellow lines earlier this month.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SPF had earlier said in a joint statement that an LTA enforcement officer was conducting his routine patrol along Prinsep Street on Dec 20 when he noticed two vehicles waiting along a stretch marked with double yellow lines.
The officer approached the vehicle to ask the driver to drive off, and the driver informed the LTA enforcement officer that he was there to pick up the President who was leaving the place. In the midst of the conversation, the President arrived and the driver drove off. No summons were issued, the authorities said.
The author of the letter in Lianhe Zaobao, Long Jidong, wrote that the officers did not abide by traffic regulations and said they should have been punished.
“It is against the law to park double yellow lines to obstruct traffic. Drivers of public sector vehicles should set an example by not stopping on the double yellow line,” he wrote in the letter, which was published on Thursday.
In their response on Saturday, SPF said official vehicles may need to be in close proximity to the event location for security reasons and to facilitate quick evacuation.
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