‘Leaders must be able to take criticism, acknowledge mistakes’: PM Lee


    Chapter #351

    Netizens stand by Sylvia Lim and urge her not to apologise

    March 7, 2018

    Responding to our report on the notice to apologise sent to Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim, many of our readers expressed on Facebook yesterday that they are standing by Ms Lim and have urged her not to apologise.

    Leader of the House, Grace Fu, asked Ms Lim to withdraw her “allegations” that the government had “floated test balloons” about the Good and Services Tax (GST) hike coming between 2021 and 2025. Ms Fu gave Ms Lim a Thursday deadline (by the end of Parliament’s sitting for the Committee of Supply debates) to withdraw her “allegations” and apologise.

    Facebook user Tay Beng Swee said: “Ms Lim, I don’t think you need to apologise as I think you have done nothing wrong. On the contrary, I think you were carrying out your duties as an elected MP to express your views in Parliament.”

    Calvin Koh: “Should someone start a “we stand by Ms Sylvia Lim” at Hong Lim?”

    Ng Alfred: “Sylvia Lim has every right to ask questions in parliament. ..the ruling party had to ask her questions…just answer…and move on. Apologise my foot…89 try to bully a brave lady.”

    Kenneth Seah: “Isn’t this like the schoolyard bully wanting an apology? ????????”

    Kevyn Ho: “If MP cannot ask questions and challenge the government, then no need for parliamentary debates… just issue each MP with a rubber stamp that says I AGREE lah”

    The comment with the most number of ‘likes’ suggested that it was Ms Fu who had to apologise.

    continue reading here :

    http://www.theindependent.sg/netizen...-to-apologise/

    Post #800
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    Chapter #352

    What can Parliament do to an MP who refuses to apologise?

    Theoretically, Parliament can fine, imprison, or expel MPs from the House.

    By Sulaiman Daud | 5 hours

    In case you missed it, Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim refused to withdraw her statement on the government floating “test balloons” about the proposed hike in the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

    On March 8, in Parliament, Lim said she believed she was doing her duty as an MP to air public concerns over the GST hike. She added:

    “I did not accuse the government of being untruthful as alleged, and neither had I intended to accuse the government of dishonesty.

    I do not accept the overcharacterisation the PAP MPs have put on my words and intentions based on their own interpretation borne out of overactive imaginations and oversensitivity.”

    In response, Leader of the House Grace Fu said:

    “Ms Lim is saying that the government is saying one thing in public but planning secretly to do another. So I am disappointed that she has failed to apologise to this House for making these false allegations.”

    Fu added that although MPs enjoyed Parliamentary privileges, they should also check their facts.

    Check your privilege but what’s that privilege?

    Normally, MPs are covered by the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act.

    Implemented in 1962, this law sets out the exemption from liability granted to MPs for things they say in the House — in certain cases. Section 6 states:

    “(1) No Member shall be liable to any civil or criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment or damages by reason of any matter or thing which he may have brought before Parliament or a committee by petition, bill, resolution, motion, or otherwise or may have said in Parliament or in committee.

    (2) No person shall be liable to any civil or criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment or damages by reason of any act done under the authority of Parliament or the Speaker and within its or his legal powers or under any warrant issued by virtue of those powers.”

    Basically, if you’re an MP, you can’t be sued for anything you say while speaking in Parliament.

    Based on the the privileges granted to the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, this allows MPs to have freedom of speech during Parliamentary debates.

    continue reading here :

    https://mothership.sg/2018/03/sylvia...ise-privilege/

    Post #801
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    Chapter #353

    Singapore government may be generating Fake News to ban independent news sites

    March 9, 2018

    Fake news have been a convenient excuse for censorship in Singapore. The Singapore government is currently drafting censorship laws to ban independent news media which they brush off as “fake news”. Fake news cause undue panic and sow discord among the communities, they say. The authorities even listed “cases” of fake news: one of a doctored photo of a roof collapse at Punggol Waterway HDB, one of a fake report claiming Minister Vivian Balakrishnan collapsed during a UN summit and another fake report of a Filipino family causing a scuffle at the Indian Thaipusam procession.

    Police reports were made in all cases. However, no one is caught. In the case of the Filipino-Thaipusam fake news, the website owners were unable to verify the identity of the source provider. Who have been fabricating these fake news? Nobody knows, but independent news sites like States Times Review must be banned, says so the Singapore government.

    Facing declining popularity, the Singapore ruling party is getting worried. In recent years, they have been ramping up on propaganda and cringe-worthy media campaigns like hiring ignorant “social media influencers” to market government policies, a PAP MP cosplaying as a cardboard collector and numerous photos of a PAP MP carrying a basket he alleged was 32kg. The ruling party PAP appears to be very well aware of brewing resentment on the ground and are ploughing money on popularity campaigns.

    Due to numerous new undemocratic “safeguards” creatively written by the dictator Prime Minister, the loss of popularity won’t necessary means losing governance. However, Lee Hsien Loong’s legacy is in danger. It is common knowledge that he is beneath his father, Lee Kuan Yew, and that there is hardly anything to celebrate about Singapore under him. In fact, even his party members and supporters are exhorting him to give up his PM seat and appoint a new successor…which of course didn’t go down very well with Lee Hsien Loong. Losing his legacy also means he will not be able to appoint his son Li Hongyi as the next Prime Minister.

    continue reading here :

    http://statestimesreview.com/2018/03...nt-news-sites/

    Post #805
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    Chapter #354

    Outpouring support for WP MP Sylvia Lim’s win over 3 Ministers

    March 9, 2018

    Outstanding.

    Singaporeans are cheering Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim’s standing up to the bullying by three heavyweight Ministers. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Law Minister K Shanmugam and Culture Minister Grace Fu almost had a stroke when they heard the Opposition MP declaring that she is not apologising or retracting her statements.

    Minister Grace Fu went on a tirade, calling her “dishonourable” and “low standards”. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat was incoherent putting up a weak defence saying “this is a serious place”. Law Minister K Shanmugam was silent and awkwardly quiet. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong did not dare to take the stand. The millionaire Ministers were clearly caught off guard by MP Sylvia Lim’s undaunted defiance and “un-PAP” behaviour.

    On the other fence, WP MP Sylvia Lim eloquently and calmly explained her position and being made to repeat that she is not apologising:

    “I will not apologise to this House because I believe I was doing my duty as an MP, in the Constitutional role that we have been elected to, to give the Government the forum to account to the people, and for that I make no apology.”

    WP MP Sylvia Lim even brought up a quote from Lee Hsien Loong during the Oxley Road debate, earning silent acknowledgements from even the other PAP MPs:

    “I begin (Lee Hsien Loong’s) quote: If MPs believe that soemthing is wrong, it is the MP’s job to pursue the facts and make these allegations in their own name. Decide whether something seems to be wrong and if you think something is wrong, even if you are not fully sure, then come to this House, confront the government, ask for explanations and answers.” This is the quote from Prime Minister Lee during the closing debate on 38 Oxley Road. So I’d like the leader (Grace Fu) to clarify: is there a difference in standard here? One standard when the PM’s name need to be cleared, and another standard when we are talking about raising taxes on the people?”

    The Opposition MP’s outspoken performance winning 3 PAP Ministers in a debate impressed Singaporeans with some even calling for her to be the next Prime Minister of Singapore.

    continue reading here :

    http://statestimesreview.com/2018/03...r-3-ministers/

    She should be the next Singapore PM .

    Post #806
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    Chapter #355

    M’sian opposition promises to abolish the GST if it wins the next general election

    GST dominates political talk on both sides of the Causeway.

    By Sulaiman Daud | 15 hours

    While Singaporeans go back and forth over the proposed hike to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for Budget 2018, the same thing is happening in Malaysia.

    The opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH or Pact of Hope) has released its manifesto for the upcoming general election, and they’ve promised to abolish the GST entirely — if they win.

    Main aims

    PH’s secretariat head Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah launched the full manifesto in Shah Alam on March 8.

    Its five main aims are:

    1. Reducing the cost of living.

    2. Reforming institutions and policies.

    3. Encouraging a sustainable economy.

    4. Giving rights to Sabahans and Sarawakians according to the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.

    5. Creating a moderate and inclusive Malaysia.

    Saifuddin rejected claims that PH’s manifesto was overly ambitious, saying:

    “Our manifesto is a practical manifesto to improve and build Malaysia and can be implemented. We are not promising the moon and the stars.”

    Shaking up the status quo

    The promise to abolish the GST is arguably one of the most eye-catching things published in the manifesto.

    Malaysia’s GST rate currently stands at six per cent. It was introduced in 2015 by current Prime Minister Najib Razak amidst a budget deficit, replacing a sales and service tax.

    continue reading here :

    https://mothership.sg/2018/03/msia-o...n-abolish-gst/

    Can our Singapore opposition parties come out with a strong vision for Singaporeans ?

    Post #807
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    Chapter #356

    Country headed downhill under incompetent ‘4G leaders’ with high salaries

    Published on 2018-03-09 by The Online Citizen

    by Kwok Fangjie

    I applaud Ms Sylvia Lim’s refusal to concede to Leader of the House, Grace Fu’s demands

    It is very shocking that Grace Fu has the audacity to demand such an apology especially since the People’s Action Party has screwed up in many areas ($880,000 bin centre, MRT breakdowns, etc) and have failed to apologise themselves. Yet, they are going all out to “fix” the opposition whose aim is to convey ground sentiments.

    In a shocking act of hypocrisy, Charles Chong himself made allegations against the Workers’ Party during the General Election 2015. Yet, he has not himself apologised for any of the allegations made despite evidence rebutting his defamatory claims.

    It seems to me that the 4G leaders chose to act as though they have the respect and stature of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

    The PAP under the 1G/2G/3G leadership had a strong mandate of the people because they serve and people feel that their lives have improved under the administration. However, the same cannot be said for the 4G leaders. In fact, life has become so much harder and costs are forever increasing under unqualified jokers.

    Li Shengwu has come out recently to say that more opposition MPs will send a message to PAP that they do not have a free hand in doing whatever they feel like. An increasing number of Singaporeans are fed-up with the PAP’s antics, not only in this incident but the reserved elections as well.

    continue reading here :

    https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...high-salaries/

    Post #808
    4 comments
    Chapter #357

    Facebook post of Indranee Rajah flooded with comments asking her to move on

    Published on 2018-03-10 by Neyla Zannia

    Yesterday (9 Mar), Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law Indranee Rajah made a renewed attack on her Facebook page against Ms Sylvia Lim with a post titled, ‘GST Hike: An Honourable Course of Conduct or not?’.

    “Ms Lim admitted that her suspicion may not have been correct,” Indranee wrote. “Yet Ms Lim refused to withdraw her allegation or to apologise.”

    She then went on to piece together the events after Ms Lim spoke last week, for readers to see.

    “Both Minister Shan and Minister Heng had stood up immediately to point out that the record disproved her suspicion, and invited her to withdraw her comment,” Indranee continued.

    “Ms Lim claimed she didn’t have the facts at hand, and promised to go back and check. Minister Heng issued a statement the very next day (Friday) reciting the facts, and invited her to withdraw and apologise.”

    She also put up a FB post on Monday setting out the government’s successive statements over a five year period, which were all consistently about having enough revenues until 2020, but needing more revenues beyond 2020.

    “On Tuesday Ms Fu, as Leader of the House, reiterated the facts and invited a withdrawal and apology.” wrote Indranee.

    “Ms Lim may originally have been under a mistaken impression. Fair enough. But after the facts have been made clear by four ministers, after it had been shown that her suspicion was wrong, after she herself admitted that she may have been wrong, and after her own leader Mr Low said it is clear now the Government had no intention to raise GST immediately, shouldn’t she have withdrawn the allegation and apologised?” she asked.

    continue reading here :

    https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...er-to-move-on/

    And so the bullying continues .

    Post #813
    0 comments
    Chapter #358

    PAP MP Chee Hong Tat continues attacks on Sylvia Lim and throws “suspicion” on WP

    Published on 2018-03-10 by Vincent Low

    Yesterday (9 Mar), Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law Indranee Rajah made a renewed attack on her Facebook page against Sylvia Lim with a post titled, ‘GST Hike: An Honourable Course of Conduct or not?’.

    She went on to piece together the events after Ms Lim had spoken last week and supported Minister Grace Fu’s accusation that Ms Lim’s conduct was not honourable.

    “After the facts have been made clear by four ministers, after it had been shown that her (Ms Lim’s) suspicion was wrong, after she herself admitted that she may have been wrong, and after her own leader Mr Low said it is clear now the Government had no intention to raise GST immediately, shouldn’t she have withdrawn the allegation and apologised?” Indranee asked.

    “Yet Ms Lim did neither. That is why the Leader of the House (Grace Fu) said this was not the honourable conduct expected of MPs.”

    Chee Hong Tat’s turn

    Today (10 Mar), it was Senior Minister of State for Health and Communications and Information Chee Hong Tat’s turn to attack Ms Lim.

    Writing to Singaporeans, Chee Hong Tat wrote on PAP’s own website, “I will address the question why Government decided to take up the matter (of wanting Ms Lim to admit her mistakes) during the Budget Debate.”

    He again went on to recap the events about Ms Lim alleging that the government had floated a “test balloon” about raising the GST.

    He reminded Singaporeans that after his PAP government had clarified the facts, Ms Lim did admit that her earlier suspicion “may have been wrong”. He also reminded Singaporeans that WP Low Thia Khiang had also acknowledged that Ms Lim’s suspicion wasn’t really correct.

    continue reading here :

    https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...spicion-on-wp/

    Really wasting time on this topic since Budget 2018 already approved.

    Post #814
    0 comments
    Chapter #359

    Further attacks on Sylvia Lim, dishonorable and shows a heavy dose of pettiness

    Published on 2018-03-10 by The Online Citizen

    Below is a comment made by Bobby Teo on Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law Indranee Rajah’s Facebook post which renewed attacks on Ms Sylvia Lim for not apologising for comments made on GST hike.

    You said Ms Sylvia’s allegation was that the government “floated a “test balloon” which was a suspicion she stated.

    You have also said Ms Lim “admitted that her suspicion may not have been correct”. This is after the government has clarified in response, primarily from the Finance Minister.

    Ms Sylvia Low has accepted her suspicion does not hold anymore – that she accepted.

    You did not mention that Silvia stated she did not say or intend to state the government is dishonest.

    So, what do you mean by “Ms Lim refused to withdraw her allegation” ?

    The allegation as you have stated was about the test balloon which Ms Lim accepted as untrue after the gov’s reply. So, what that there is left to withdraw ?

    The dis-honourable thing and impact on integrity of the government is an inferred outcome basis on Ms Lim’s initial statement on test balloons and retracted gov position. That she has accepted the suspicion does not hold anymore after the clarification means that inferred outcome does not hold.

    Please note it is an inferred position raised by the government in response to Ms Lim’s statement. There is no way to prove with every citizen whether it hurt their perception of this government and short of everyone polled and replying, no single incomplete survey or perceived impact is representative.

    If you think the government’s standing on integrity has been affected, then it does look like it is really fragile.

    All would have been fine if it ended with Ms Lim getting Minister Heng’s clarifications in parliament and Ms Lim accepting that which she did.

    However, to go further and attack that Ms Lim does not have an honourable conduct shows a heavy dose of pettiness motivated not by what should be a pure intention to seek the truth.

    Please grow up and show some maturity.

    continue reading here :

    https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...-of-pettiness/

    Post #815
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    Chapter #360

    Opinion: Sylvia Lim is a victim of bullying

    March 10, 2018

    I express my opinions as a Singapore citizen and I will be straight talking.

    I refer to the ultimatum issued by Grace Fu, leader of the House, to Sylvia Lim to apologise to the House for suggesting that this pap government has floated “test balloons” before the Budget 2018 announcement and then backed down on an immediate GST hike due to negative public reactions. Sylvia Lim is a fully elected Member of Parliament riding on the back of a mandate from her electorates. She isn’t somebody who sits in parliament courtesy of the pap government’s generosity or toying with the constitution etc.

    Being a MP, she has a sacred role to play, to be a voice for her residents, to bring their concerns, their worries and their fears etc to parliament and she has played that role exceedingly well without fear or favour.

    The announcement that GST will be increased has indeed created genuine concerns and worries among our citizens and that well paid pap ministers may not fully understand or empathise as much but the concerns and worries among our poorer citizens are real although they may not be able to articulate or express themselves too well going forward with the GST hike, the extra financial burdens imposed on the lower income earners will be heavy and permanent.

    What Sylvia Lim said in parliament about the GST test balloons etc are exactly the suspicions of many Singaporeans too, including her electorates. She merely echoed their concerns in parliament. I ask what is wrong with that? Or do her electorates prefer her to merely collect her fat MP allowances months after months and shy away from saying things that might upset the pap ministers? I support Sylvia Lim and I think that she should not apologise for being real and honest. She has brain, she has conscience and she has spine. I cannot say the same of the many today’s pap MPs. If Singaporeans can elect more MPs like Sylvia Lim into our parliament, it will be their good fortune and blessings.

    continue reading here :

    http://statestimesreview.com/2018/03...m-of-bullying/

    Do you think that Slyvia Lim was being bullied in parliament ?

    Post #816
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