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Halimah was one of four MPs elected to represent her and her fellow residents in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC area of Singapore. Now that she’s gone, the residents are left with three instead of their rightful four.
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Halimah happens to be the only candidate of non-Chinese ethnicity — i.e. she was the only minority member of the group representing the residents there. Now that she’s gone, the citizens of minority ethnicities (i.e. non-Chinese) living in the area now theoretically no longer have representation.
Lee Hsien Loong: I can track a person anywhere through the telcos
April 5, 2018
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed in his response to a student’s question on the government’s collection of individual’s data, that he is able to track a person anywhere in Singapore through the telecommunication companies like Singtel, Starhub and M1:
“Telcos in Singapore know where the concentrations of people are and where they are going. Can we make use of that without tracing this person, with this name … I saw him at this place with this other person …?”
The dictator PM told the students to trust his government to be “ethical” when using the data and that he knows “what he want to do”:
“I think we know what we want to do. How to do it in a way which people find okay, and in a way which is safe … I think we have to feel our way forward… We want to make full use of the information we have in order to improve people’s lives, improve the way our society works, to make it a safer environment for everybody. At the same time, you do not want to do it in a way which is overbearing, intrusive, which is unethical.”
Lee Hsien Loong also revealed that he has been setting up CCTVs in every corner of Singapore to know if there has been a protest in Singapore:
“The Government has placed CCTVs in many public places like void decks, lift lobbies and HDB blocks. We need to know what’s happening in public places, in case there’s a riot or an emergency, we can respond straightaway.”
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SDP: PAP does not need to purposely let opposition grow, just respect consitution
Published on 2018-04-06 by The Online Citizen
by Singapore Democratic Party
PM Lee Hsien Loong says that it is not wise for the PAP to “purposely” let the opposition grow. This disingenuous statement must be called out.
To be absolutely clear, the opposition, in the form of the Barisan Sosialis (BS), was strong and had the support of Singaporeans. The PAP, with the cooperation of the British colonial government, had to place BS leaders under mass arrests and detain them without trial in order to remain in power.
Since then, the PAP has undertaken a myriad of anti-democratic measures to ensure that the opposition remains hobbled and unable to challenge it for power.
The withering punishment of news organisations and journalists, and the amendments to the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act through the years reduced a once vibrant mass media to that of officialdom’s cheerleaders. Little wonder that they are ranked 151st in the World Press Freedom Index 2017 – a position sandwiched between Ethiopia and Swaziland.
Trade unions and civil society were similarly destroyed leaving an impotent NTUC controlled by ministers. In their place, the government has politicised the People’s Association, plying it with enormous sums of money to carry water for the party.
Election laws have been repeatedly altered and the constitution amended to ensure the PAP’s continued hegemony. The introduction of the GRC system is but just one instance, allowing the PAP even greater latitude to gerrymander with impunity.
Now the government is arguing that a by-election need not be called if an MP in a GRC resigns, even if she is from the minority race.
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The Greatest Threat to Lee Kuan Yew’s Legacy
April 7, 2018
By Augustine Low
It was meant to damn Thum Ping Tjin and exonerate Lee Kuan Yew. But it achieved neither – as far as the court of public opinion is concerned. Instead the now infamous six-hour grilling of Thum by Minister K Shanmugam has raised more questions than answers.
To begin with, where does Shanmugam and the PAP draw the line? Thum was giving testimony at a Select Committee hearing, he was not being indicted in a court of law. The grilling and interrogation he was subjected to seemed spiteful at times.
Shanmugam as tormentor-in-chief went the whole hog to dubunk allegations about Operation Coldstore. But what about Operation Spectrum, where 22 people were arrested and detained without trial in 1987 for alleged involvement in a Marxist Conspiracy? That is shrouded in even greater controversy and represents a more clear-cut case of injustice, to many people.
Why didn’t Shanmugam delve into Operation Spectrum, which Thum has also deemed fake news? Because he had less ammunition? Because he ran out of time?
Next, we have the question of whether Lee Kuan Yew is above criticism and reproach. Is he a man without human frailties, a man who has done no wrong? It would appear that the PAP thinks it is so, going by how rigorously he is defended, the adulatory speeches made and the PAP-sanctioned books published.
But plough through biographies and psychological portraits of great political leaders and you will find that they are invariably complex personalities with a darker side. Consumed by ambition, they ascended to the heights by mastering and applying the necessary tools of statecraft – by turns cunning, scheming and calculating, at times devious and manipulative.
Is Lee Kuan Yew above the fray? Is he a paragon of virtue? Donning the cloak of self-righteous indignation whenever his behaviour or actions are called into question is not a magic bullet for Shanmugam and the PAP.
Another question that begs to be asked: Can the likes of Thum Ping Tjin taint the reputation and legacy of Lee Kuan Yew through their allegations?
I would submit that the greatest threat to the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew comes NOT from charlatans like Amos Yee and critics like Thum but from within, from the Lee family itself.
The ministerial committee for 38 Oxley Road has outlined three broad options for the property. This is nothing more than buying time and kicking the can down the road. It merely prolongs the saga and things could still implode anytime.
As long as there is bickering over the fate of 38 Oxley Road, as long as PM Lee Hsien Loong refuses to accept the finality of his father’s last will and testament, as long as Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern remain in self-exile, as long as Li Shengwu is unable or unwilling to return home because of contempt of court proceedings against him, as long as Lee Wei Ling simmers with discontent, we have the House of Lee in tatters. And that remains the greatest threat undermining the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew.
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An evaluation of PAP’s mid-term performance: The quality of political leaders (Part 2)
Published on 2018-04-07 by The Online Citizen
by Kwok Fangjie
Last week, I had argued that we were already mid-way into the current Parliamentary term and the People’s Action Party (PAP) did not do well in terms of bread and butter issues. This week, I will look at things from a different angle – the quality of today’s political leaders.
As Dr. Gillian Koh from the Institute of Policy Studies noted, the younger generation of political leaders will need to navigate the country in a more complex global landscape. Given so, would the younger Cabinet members be ready to take on such a challenge in steering Singapore to greater heights?
How effective has Singapore become under our highly paid 4G leaders?
The lack of planning by the government cannot be more aptly seen in the hospital bed shortage. While the number of hospital beds grew by 2500 from 1980 to 2014, the population grew by more than 3 million in the same period. The quality of healthcare has similarly declined, with 22 patients infected from a hepatitis C outbreak at Singapore General Hospital in 2015.
Although this problem has been partially alleviated with the upcoming Sengkang General Hospital, this predicament simply cannot be imagined during the era of the 1G PAP leaders? A similar situation was present in the supply of HDB flats although I will not go further into that topic.
In July 2017, transport minister Khaw Boon Wan claimed in a forum that train reliability has improved three times since he took over from Minister Lui Tuck Yew. Less than 4 months later, the worst breakdown happened due to flooding as a result of falsified maintenance.
While he chided the CEO in his ministerial speech, there was no further action taken against top management despite calls for the CEO to resign. This is again in contrast to Lee Kuan Yew’s stance that “Everything.. just has to work. If it doesn’t work, I want to know why, and if I am not satisfied, and I was often not, the chief goes and I have to find another chief. Firing the chief is very simple”
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High court dismisses application for by-election to be held in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO UPDATED 1 HOUR AGO
Yuen Sin
SINGAPORE - The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge that called for three MPs to vacate their spots in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, and for a by-election to be held.
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) assistant treasurer Wong Souk Yee had made the application to the High Court after Madam Halimah Yacob resigned as an MP from the constituency to run in the September presidential election, which she won in a walkover.
Speaking to reporters after the ruling, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah said that SDP is “very disappointed” with the ruling. The party will study the judgment and consult with Dr Wong and her lawyer Peter Low on whether to appeal against it.
In his ruling on Monday (April 9), Justice Chua Lee Ming said that there is no legal provision for the sitting MPs in a GRC to be compelled to vacate their seats in Parliament, when only one spot has been left empty in their GRC.
He also disagreed with Dr Wong’s lawyer Peter Low, who claimed there was inconsistency between the Constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Mr Low argued that if a by-election cannot be ordered, the Parliamentary Elections Act should be interpreted such that all MPs of the GRC have to leave their spots when one or more seats are left empty, or when no remaining MP is a minority candidate.
He cited Article 49(1) of the Constitution, which states that when “the seat of a Member… has become vacant for any reason other than a dissolution of Parliament, the vacancy shall be filled by election”.
Need to prove legal basis to call for Marsiling-Yew Tee by-election: AGC
But the judge, who heard the application on January 22, rejected such an interpretation of Article 49(1). The alleged inconsistency between the Constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act does not stand, said Justice Chua in his ruling, and the rest of the MPs in the GRC are not required to vacate their seats in such a situation.
He was not persuaded by Mr Low, who argued that Article 49(1) of the Constitution does not include the requirement that a by-election can only be called if all seats of the GRC fall vacant.
continue reading here :
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...ng-yew-tee-grc
See told you guys your case will surely be thrown out .
There is a law in S’pore that allows GRC MPs to quit without triggering a by-election
Just thought you should know.
By Jeanette Tan | 6 mins
It might have gone slightly under the radar on Monday, but there was a case that was thrown out of the High Court that we think you need to know about.
The lady speaking into the mic in the picture above is Wong Souk Yee. She is an author, a playwright and former Chairperson of the Singapore Democratic Party — she is still a member of the party now.
Perhaps a more relevant detail is that Wong is also a resident of Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
We’re talking about Wong because she recently took the government to court over the departure of one of her Members of Parliament from her GRC — namely this one:
And why’d she leave? Well, to become President:
Story continues below
So how like that?
As it turns out, all is dandy with this arrangement. So Wong, as a resident, wasn’t too pleased about the situation for two reasons:
Now, we do note that it was announced subsequently that Choa Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad would take over the role of adviser to Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency. He still serves his MP duties in Choa Chu Kang, though.
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Singapore’s 4G leadership not just about who will be next PM, but about a capable team: PM Lee Hsien Loong
PUBLISHED APR 12, 2018, 5:22 PM SGT UPDATED APR 12, 2018, 11:52 PM
Danson CheongChina Correspondent
SHANGHAI - The issue of who will be Singapore’s next prime minister goes beyond finding the person most suited for the post. More important is having a capable team that can work well together, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (April 12).
He noted that many qualities are needed for national leadership and to find a single candidate with the qualities and able to “do it all” would be unrealistic and impossible.
“What is important is the team. If among the team’s members they have enough of these qualities, are able to cooperate and together, drive Singapore forward, lead the country - this is the most crucial,” he said.
PM Lee, 66, who has previously made clear he intends to hand over to a successor by the time he turns 70, in 2022, added: “We have to find a competent team that can work closely together, win the confidence of the people, lead them, and meet and solve challenges together, carve out a new path, and make Singaporeans proud.”
He was speaking in Mandarin at DBS Asian Insights Conference’s Leadership Dialogue in Shanghai, moderated by Mr Robin Hu, head of Temasek’s sustainability and stewardship group.
Mr Hu had asked him what was the most important quality Singapore’s future leader needed. Mr Hu also asked whether there was now a clear choice for Singapore’s next prime minister.
PM Lee said there was continuous progress in this area, but it was still not time to go public on who this candidate was.
His comments come as a Cabinet reshuffle is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, before Parliament opens on May 7, that will give younger ministers more exposure and responsibilities.
PM Lee was in China for a five-day working visit, where he met top Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Vice-President Wang Qishan and Shanghai party secretary Li Qiang.
At an interview with Singapore reporters at the end of his visit, PM Lee pointed out that Singapore’s younger ministers were already leading the country’s engagement with China in many Chinese provinces and will do more at the national level.
He cited how bilateral engagements in provinces like Zhejiang, Guangdong and Jiangsu, as well as on the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, a government-to-government project, were being led by younger ministers.
Business councils between Singapore and the three provinces, as well as the CCI, are led respectively by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Sim Ann; Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung; Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat; and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing.
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Lee Hsien Loong: I still don’t know who can be the next PM
April 12, 2018
Speaking at a public forum organised by Temasek Holdings in Shanghai, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong admits that he is still unable to determine who can be the next Prime Minister. To worsen the matter, the Singapore dictator said he has another problem of finding the next team:
“he issue of who will be Singapore’s next prime minister goes beyond finding the person most suited for the post. More important is having a capable team that can work well together…We have to find a competent team that can work closely together, win the confidence of the people, lead them, and meet and solve challenges together, carve out a new path, and make Singaporeans proud.”
PM Lee said he is still figuring out who can be the next PM and said:
“There is continuous progress in this area, but it is still not time to go public on who this candidate was.”
At 66 years old, Lee Hsien Loong is currently the oldest Prime Minister of Singapore. There have been numerous calls from the public and even within the party for him to resign and hand over power. Lee Hsien Loong is however stuck with poor choices and pressing political issues, rendering a power transition difficult and possibly damaging to his reputation.
Only 3 candidates are shortlisted for the PM role – Minister of State Chan Chun Sing, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat. The three however each has his own critical shortcoming – Minister Chan Chun Sing, being a former army general is obedient to PM Lee, but he has no capabilities; Minister Ong Ye Kung is inexperienced and only came to politics late in 2015; Minister Heng Swee Keat is ideal but he suffered a stroke in 2016. Also, none of the three seems interested in handing power over to his son Li Hongyi.
Lee Hsien Loong is also stuck with the massive losses suffered at the two sovereign wealth fund companies – GIC and Temasek Holdings. Handing over premiership would reveal in-depth losses and possibly subject himself to corruption investigation. In Singapore, the Prime Minister has full dictatorial powers including the control of the corruption bureau.
continue reading here :
http://statestimesreview.com/2018/04...e-the-next-pm/
So what happens to the leadership renewal in PAP government ? I am sure someone is willing to volunteer to do the job .
Vehicle inspection fees increased 10%
April 10, 2018
In yet another government policy to raise taxes, vehicle inspection fees have been raised 10% from S$64.20 to S$70.62. The National Environment Agency (NEA) claimed that the increase in taxes is to cover costs for “additional tests”, but did not give a breakdown contributing to the additional S$6.42.
The tax increase was effected immediately from April 1, but according to state media Straits Times, the passing rate of the vehicles tested remains at 99%. NEA deflected criticisms that the tests are unnecessary despite glaring statistics:
“The tightened in-use emission standards came into effect on April 1. As the standards have only taken effect for a few days, we do not have sufficient data that reflects the first-time passing rate of vehicles under the tightened standards yet.”
continue reading here :
http://statestimesreview.com/2018/04...-increased-10/
Yet another price increase .
32-year-old man arrested over attack on Tan Wu Meng at Meet-the-People session
17 Apr 2018 03:26PM (Updated: 17 Apr 2018 03:30PM)
SINGAPORE: A 32-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting Member of Parliament (MP) for Jurong GRC Tan Wu Meng.
The man was arrested for criminal trespass and is also being investigated for voluntarily causing hurt to an MP, the police said in a news release on Tuesday (Apr 17).
The incident happened at around 10pm at Block 334 Clementi Avenue 2 on Monday, according to the police.
Dr Tan was at a Meet-the-People session when the man approached him and assaulted him. The incident left Dr Tan with bruises on an arm and “some abrasions” on his neck, but the MP said that these were minor injuries.
The man will be charged on Wednesday.
Anyone convicted of criminal trespass under section 447 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 may be punished with imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine of up to S$1,500 or both.
Anyone convicted of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, may be punished with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.
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