https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...ance-of-water/
Lee Bee Wah: Increase of water price, just to bring up the awareness of the importance of water
Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah said that the 30% increase of water price is to bring up awareness of the importance of water and that there will be families who need help for the increase in price.
She said that in her interview with Channel News Asia interview after the presentation of Budget 2017:
Happy to hear that there are more assistance given to companies, to the industries, to the SMEs and also heartened to see there is more help for those needy families, more GST, more S&CC rebates given and that there is a personal income tax rebate.
And I think on one hand, the increase of the water price, is just to bring up the awareness of the importance of water, but I am sure there will be families who need help so it is a good gesture to help.
Finance Minister, Heng Swee Keat said in the Budget 2017 speech in Parliament, “Water prices were last revised in 2000, almost 20 years ago. We need to update our water prices to reflect the latest costs of water supply,”
He noted that the price increase will go towards maintaining Singapore’s water infrastructure, and more expensive sources of water such as desalination.
Including taxes, the prices will go up by 30 per cent in two phases. The first hike will be from 1 July this year, and the second from 1 July next year.
Within the hour of posting, hundreds of comments were made on the video
Tay Chin Peng wrote, “How about reducing the MP’s salaries. It will help remind them the importance of working hard to earn money for a living.”
Albert Tiong wrote, “OK. Now I’m aware of it. Can you reduce the price back to what it used to be?”
Daddie Yowzer wrote, “You want to know who are the people who really waste water ! Those that stay in houses .. Especially GCB ! I’ve worked for them .. I know .. Everyday water plants, garden the size of HDB flat and their cars .. So just because they pay its ok .. Compare to a person staying in HDB … How much can we really use or waste ! Female version of KBW! Oh and those who say 69% voted .. True maybe .. but didn’t vote for these two clowns.”
Lau Kok Kheong wrote, “The awareness for the hawkers and restaurants to increase their food and drinks prices too~ do they aware? Or they just don’t care.”
Curtis Lee wrote, “What make you think that we are not aware? My water usage is way below National Average. You are punishing people like me who are concious about water preservation.”
Sharingan Ismadi wrote, “We have a water agreement with Malaysia that hasn’t expired. We also have a desalination plant and most likely another on the way that should be paid for? I haven’t read the article but 30% increase is kinda extreme. Its like saying our nation coffers are so dangerously low that cannot afford to build the project first and then we pay for it slowly in the long term.”
Albert Tan wrote, “We have been paying “Water Conservancy Charge” for decades, that’s supposed to create awareness for saving water, isn’t it fair that the tax subject to Service Charge and GST too? Suck thumb la!”
http://www.straitstimes.com/politics...th-water-price
Many Singaporeans disagree with water price hike, but more now express support after knowing why: Reach poll
PUBLISHEDMAR 22, 2017, 12:40 PM SGT
SINGAPORE - Singaporeans polled by government feedback unit Reach strongly supported measures in this year’s Budget to lend a hand when it comes to housing, social support and jobs, but many disagreed with the water price hike.
In a media release on Wednesday (March 22), Reach said overall, 52 per cent of the 1,111 citizens it polled were supportive of initiatives announced in the Budget, with more than two-thirds backing various measures.
But the water price hike was an initial point of concern.
Reach found that 43 per cent of those polled disagreed with the impending hike, which is meant to fund higher costs of water production and encourage water conservation. Only 32 per cent agreed, while 24 per cent indicated they were neutral.
“The results show that Singaporeans largely welcomed the social measures in Budget 2017, in particular the initiatives to assist families with the costs of raising a family,” said Reach chairman Sam Tan.
“We also hear the suggestions of some Singaporeans to improve communication on the water increase, and to do more public education so that everyone can work collectively to understand the need for water conservation,” added Mr Tan, who is Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Manpower.
The price of water will go up by 30 per cent over two years, but HDB households will also get additional rebates that will see monthly bills go up by less than $12 for most, with no rise for those in the smallest flats.
Reach said that many Singaporeans at its Listening Points - feedback booths where the public can find out more about national policies and issues and give their views - had voiced their unhappiness on the water price hike.
But, it added, after various agencies and political office holders explained the reason behind the move, more people at these booths said at the end of February and March that they supported the increase.
“They understood the rationale behind the move and accepted that water is vital to our country’s survival and that it should be priced properly,” Reach said in its statement.
Added Mr Tan: “We understand Singaporeans’ concerns.”
He said there are measures to help households cope with rising costs through extra U-Save rebates. These mean that one- and two-room HDB households will not see any increase on average, while bills for other HDB households will go up by $2 to $11 per month.
Reach conducts a telephone poll to gauge reactions to the Budget each year. This year, the exercise was conducted from Feb 22 to March 3, after the Budget was unveiled on Feb 20, and involved 1,111 randomly selected citizens aged 20 and above. The sample of citizens was weighted by gender, age and race to make it representative of the national population.
STRONG SUPPORT FOR MEASURES TO HELP FAMILIES, BUILD INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
Other initiatives announced at the Budget went down well with Singaporeans.
About eight in 10 respondents agreed that the move to enhance post-secondary education bursaries would better support lower- and middle-income households.
Meanwhile, seven in 10 believed the increase in the CPF Housing Grant for couples purchasing their first resale flat would provide young families significant support. This grant was previously capped at $30,000 but has gone up to $50,000 for first-time home buyers who are purchasing four-room or smaller flats from the resale market, and to $40,000 for those buying five-room or bigger flats.
Two-thirds of those polled also agreed that an increase in the number of infant care places will make Singapore a more conducive place to raise a family. There will be about 1,000 more infant care places by 2020 to meet rising demand.
And 72 per cent agreed that the third Enabling Masterplan, a road map for disability services from this year until 2021, will help persons with disabilities better integrate into the workforce and society.
Help on the jobs front drew strong support as well.
A total of 66 per cent of those surveyed agreed that enhancements to the Adapt and Grow initiative, which aims to help Singaporeans adapt to changing demands and grow their skills, as well as other training support under SkillsFuture would help create better employment opportunities for Singaporeans.
And 58 per cent agreed that the extension of the additional special employment credit scheme till the end of 2019 will encourage employers to continue hiring older workers. Under the scheme, employers receive wage offsets of up to 3 per cent for workers aged 55 and above and earning less than $4,000 a month.
Mr Tan said the survey results also show Singaporeans largely welcomed social measures in this year’s Budget, in particular, initiatives to help families with the cost of raising a family.
Similarly, those who gave their views on Reach’s engagement platforms supported these family measures, he said. Some felt the quality of childcare should not be compromised, even as more infant care and childcare places are added, and said that measures to support families must be in tandem with other efforts, such as encouraging work-life balance.
On the steps to help those with disabilities, contributors on Reach’s platforms also suggested that the integration process could start from the schools, to instil a cohesive mindset, said Mr Tan.
“Building an inclusive society is a continuous effort, and we should strive towards a society with no pre-conceived notions on issues such as disabilities,” he added.
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...-reach-survey/
Significant portion of population remains unconvinced that water price hike is reasonable, shows REACH survey
A significant portion of the population remains unconvinced that the 30 percent increase in water price announced in Budget 2017 is reasonable.
When asked if it was reasonable to increase water prices to fund the higher costs of water production and to encourage water conservation, 43% of respondents disagreed, 32% agreed, and 24% were neutral.
These were amongst the findings of REACH’s Post-Budget telephone poll conducted to gauge Singaporeans’ reactions to Budget 2017. REACH is the Singapore Government’s feedback unit that facilitates efforts to engage and connect with Singaporeans on national and social issues.
A total of 1,111 randomly selected Singapore citizens aged 20 and above were polled, and the sample was weighted to be demographically representative of the national population in terms of gender, age and race.
Overall, 52 percent of those polled supported the initiatives announced in the Budget. A majority agreed with initiatives that help families cope with the rising cost of living. However, that same majority did not seem to agree that measures such as one-off GST vouchers would be able to help households cope with the cost of living.
Given the stark contrast between the response to the water price hike and the other initiatives, it would be fair to deduce that the public is hardly convinced that the 30 percent increase in water price is reasonable.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Manpower and REACH Chairman, Mr Sam Tan said, “The results of the poll showed that Singaporeans largely welcomed the social measures in Budget 2017, in particular the initiatives to assist families with the costs of raising a family.”
“Similar to the poll results, Singaporeans who gave their feedback on REACH engagement platforms supported the measures to help families. On the enhanced post-Secondary education bursaries, they said it would help lighten the cost of their children’s education. Some also felt the increase in CPF Housing Grant would assist young couples who are looking to settle down and start a family. On infant care, Singaporeans gave their feedback that the quality of childcare should not be compromised when much attention is paid on increasing the number of infant care and childcare places. Some also commented that measures to support families would need to work in tandem with other efforts, such as encouraging work-life balance.”
Mr Tan added, “We have had good engagement sessions with contributors on Budget 2017, which included the increase in water prices. We understand Singaporeans’ concerns. For those who are affected by the rising costs, there are measures to help households through the increase in U-Save rebates. We also hear the suggestions of some Singaporeans to improve communication on the water (price) increase, and to do more public education so that everyone can work collectively to understand the need for water conservation.”
The estimated margin of error of the poll is 2.9% at a 95% confidence level.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bebe1069
I heard that carrying white balls can earn some pocket money
PAP IBs sitting 24/7 at CCs and RCs typing Pro-PAP messages and Anti-Opposition messages anywhere at the Internet. Funded by taxpayers money via PA.
http://singaporealternatives.blogspo...offensive.html
PAP’s Internet Offensive
Saturday February 3, 1:09 PM
S’pore’s PAP rebuts online critics anonymously–daily
SINGAPORE, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Members of Singapore’s long-ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) are posting anonymous messages in Internet forums and blogs to rebut online criticism of the party, a leading daily reported on Saturday.
The postings were an initiative driven by two sub-committees under the PAP’s “new media” committee chaired by Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen, the pro-government Straits Times said, citing unnamed sources.
A government spokeswoman contacted on Saturday declined to comment.
The two sub-committees, made up of politicians and some technology-savvy party activists, were formed after the May 2006 general election, the Straits Times said. The PAP’s share of the vote slid to 66.6 percent last year, from 75.3 percent at the previous election in 2001.
The panels had been set up to express the PAP’s views online where there were few pro-establishment voices, the newspaper said, quoting a member of parliament who heads one sub-committee.
“The identity is not important. It is the message that is important,” Baey Yam Keng was quoted as saying.
The Straits Times quoted Baey as saying that the messages were only effective if they were not “too obvious” lest they resemble “propaganda”.
A PAP activist involved in posting the anonymous messages was quoted as saying that he tracked popular blogs and forums to “see if there is anything we can clarify” on controversial issues such as the impending hike in the goods and services tax.
The PAP, which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965, has been criticised by human rights groups such as Amnesty International in the past for its curbs on freedom of expression.
Party leaders say tight regulation of public debate and the media in the city-state is necessary to maintain law and order.
The above Reuters article is derived from Straits Time article below:
Feb 3, 2007
PAP moves to counter criticism of party, Govt in cyberspace
By Li Xueying
THE People’s Action Party (PAP) is mounting a quiet counter-insurgency against its online critics.
It has members going into Internet forums and blogs to rebut anti-establishment views and putting up postings anonymously.
Sources told The Straits Times the initiative is driven by two sub-committees of the PAP’s ’new media’ committee chaired by Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen.
One sub-committee, co-headed by Minister of State (Education) Lui Tuck Yew and Hong Kah GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad, strategises the campaign.
The other is led by Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Baey Yam Keng and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Josephine Teo. Called the ’new media capabilities group’, it executes the strategies.
Both were set up after last year’s General Election. Aside from politicians, some 20 IT-savvy party activists are also involved.
When contacted, Mr Baey declined to give details of the group’s activities, but he outlined the broad principles of the initiative.
It was necessary for the PAP to have a voice in cyberspace as there were few in the online community who were pro-establishment, he said.
As such, the committees aim to ‘observe how new media is developing and see how we can use the new media as part of the overall media landscape’, he added.
‘How do we facilitate views that are pro-party and propagate them through the Internet?’
The approach reflects comments by Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui at the PAP’s party conference in December. He called on younger activists to put up views ’to moderate the vitriol and balance the skewed comments’ on the Internet.
But this can only work if activists are not ’too obvious’ about it, Mr Baey said yesterday. Otherwise it comes across as ‘propaganda’.
‘The identity is not important. It is the message that is important,’ he added.
One activist who is involved said that when posting comments on online forums and the feedback boxes of blogs, he does not identify himself as a PAP member.
He tracks popular blogs and forums to ‘see if there is anything we can clarify’ on hot-button topics such as the impending hike in the Goods and Services Tax.
But he added: ‘We don’t rebut everything. Sometimes, what is said is fair enough, and we send the feedback on to the committee.’
This latest initiative comes on top of a blog site with posts by 12 MPs born after Singapore’s Independence in 1965.
It recognises that more younger Singaporeans are relying on the new media as a main source of information.
An Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) study conducted last year found that younger and better-educated Singaporeans relied on information from the Internet when shaping their voting choices at the last GE.
Among the opposition parties, members and supporters of the Workers’ Party, in particular, post regularly on forums online.
But IPS senior research fellow Tan Tarn How wonders about the effectiveness of the PAP’s campaign.
He said Internet users who post on forums such as Sammyboy tend not to be interested in ‘intellectual debate’ and so will not be persuaded by PAP activists anyway.
As for more serious-minded bloggers, he said the views that the activists may put out are already available in the mainstream media.
[email protected]
All Singaporeans feel bitter when PAP policies screw them. Most likely PAP IBs will be very bitter when WP becomes government because their days of fleecing taxpayers money will be over.
You may want to read Mr. Wang Says So and Xeno Boy articles on this topic. There is also a good analysis on why PAP “leaks” the “secret” operations here.
I share similar sentiments with Mr. Wang on this particular report. I am very surprised that the ST article was allowed to published.
First of all, to reveal such “secret strategy” is disastrous to PAP’s internet image! Hey, c’mon, as the largest and powerful ruling party that has dominated Singapore’s political scene, its members do not dare to identify themselves as PAP members when communicating with other Singaporeans on the internet platform? Are they ashame or too afraid to be identified with PAP or what?
But on second thought, I think PAP has found out that their “secret covert operations” may be too slow and ineffective in covering the whole internet sphere, thus, to “leak” this information in a hopeful bid to create fear in bloggers and internet writers.
Personally, I am proud of my past association with WP even when it was just a political party on the development path. What are the PAP members afraid of by openly declaring their association with PAP? What’s the matter with them? Aren’t they proud of their own party which has contributed much to Singapore’s progress for the last 5 decades?
As all of you could observe from the many “anonymous” comments recorded here on my blog for the past few months, one would now really put serious doubts on whether they are really “PAP’s internet fighters”!
How many of these comments come from them, I really wonder!
I have hoped that one day, this PAP’s secret internet offensive will be revealed to the public and thus, insisted to keep the comment column open to anonymous posters. Interesting enough, after I declare my intention of capturing all those possible agents’ vicious attacks on me so that the whole world will know about it, there is a dramatic decrease in such anonymous comments!
If you read those comments in my blog, you will know why PAP wanted their internet fighters to stay anonymous. Many of the remarks are even defamatory in nature!
As a matter of fact, I have long suspected that PAP has started to carry out its “internet management” plan as far back as July 2006 when I had a meeting with a few WP members and associates. The successful application of internet by WP back in GE 2006 as well as the active engagement of WP members 2 years prior to GE 2006 has made PAP rethink about the possible impact of the new media. Prior to GE 2006, PAP has taken the view that the new media, internet, will have little impact on the political front even though that it has been dominated by anti-PAP sentiments for a almost a decade. But apparently GE 2006 has changed their mind.
The sudden increase of aggressive comments posted on my blog as well as forums right after GE 2006 is an interesting indicator of how PAP’s internet fighters work. They may be very clumsy but they may be effective in a sense that I might have possibly become one of their trophy!
Well, life still goes on in the internet sphere with or without PAP internet fighters. But I guess now most people will be more skeptical when they see “Pro-PAP” or “Anti-Opposition” postings on the net… the question will always be on our mind “Hey, is this from the PAP internet fighters?”
Goh Meng Seng
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sadfa
So??
PA is his volunteer activity.
His real full time job is to make money. Tons of money.
YANG isn’t top officer in PA la.
________
Exchange points volunteer ma
Nothing wrong with grassroots activities.
It is the principle that is the problem. If WP can pay its own bills for WP Grassroots activities, it has the right to be partisan and political.
But PAP uses taxpayers money to fund own party level activities and provide platforms for Pro-PAP Grassroots soldiers then it is wrong. Setting up a government agency as cover for its own party activities is a scandal in many countries. Else, prohibit political party members from joining PA Grassroots or PA Grassroots must work with all political parties to shown zero partisanship.
Scrapping PA and passing burden of grassroot activities back to political parties can help save billions of taxpayers money annually and maybe reduce or scrap taxes.
Michael Palmer-Laura Ong Scandal
http://sg-truth.blogspot.sg/2012/08/...g-scandal.html
Just how and why did the Michael Palmer affair come to light? Was it because the woman involved, Laura Ong, was involved in a love triangle?
The Straits Times on Friday reported that the 33-year-old former
grassroots director
was in a “serious relationship” with a logistics manager, Andy Lim, for close to two years when she began dating Palmer.
Sources told the paper that Lim, who is in his early 30s, would have been one of the few people to have had access to the SMS and email exchanges between Ong and Palmer.
These exchanges exposing their intimate relationship had been sent to The New Paper by an anonymous source on Saturday – the same day Palmer came forward and confessed to DPM Teo Chee Hean.
One SMS read, “Hello darling… I love you loads. More than I sometimes show… Sorry. Love love”.
Another exchange read, “I hope you are having a good massage. I have some mangoes for you. I love you and miss you loads.”
Other email exchanges showed the pair met up regularly on Mondays and that Palmer had given gifts to Ong, a former constituency director with the People’s Association.
Not much is known about Lim except that he is a Anglo-Chinese School and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) alumni. They reportedly met when he was a grassroots volunteer at Punggol South ward and as recently as two weeks ago posted Facebook photos, which have since been deleted, of a recent trip they made to Johor Bahru’s Legoland, reported The Straits Times.
On Wednesday, Palmer appeared alongside Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean to announce his resignation as both Speaker and Member of Parliament. DPM Teo said the party first found out about the matter on Saturday and that Palmer offered to resign on the same evening.
Late on Wednesday, the PA also confirmed Ong had resigned from her post.
“Ms Laura Ong, constituency director of Pasir Ris West Constituency Office tendered her resignation on 10 Dec 12, citing family commitments,” said the PA statement sent to the media.
When contacted by Yahoo! Singapore, several of Ong’s colleagues at Pasir Ris Elias Community Club were not aware she had resigned. Two said she was currently on leave but expected her to be coming back to work.
Photos of Ong, who is married but separated from her husband of six years, are also spreading online after they appeared on a mystery blog that was set up on Wednesday. They showed Ong and her colleagues during a People’s Association retreat in Beijing, China.
It was not immediately clear when they were taken but when contacted by Yahoo! Singapore, Pasir Ris-Punggol MP Teo Ser Luck, who was pictured in several of the photos, confirmed they were taken during a grassroots organisation overseas retreat.
Teo, who will take over Palmer’s ward in the meantime, said he knew Ong from the time he used to be the MP/Adviser for Punggol South before the 2011 general elections. Ong was then the constituency director of Punggol South.
Local media reported that Palmer, accompanied by his wife of 15 years Diane, said his goodbyes to 30 grassroots volunteers at the PAP’s Punggol East Branch Office on Wednesday evening.
-————————————————————————————-
SINGAPORE - “My friend got a super scandal about a politician having an affair. Got proof. You interested?”
TNP immediately tried to find out more about what seemed like an explosive story. For the next hour, there was silence.
Then a couple more messages arrived five minutes before noon from a source close to the woman linked to the scandal.
At noon, four e-mails with the header “Michael Palmer” were sent to TNP.
Attached to three of them were screengrabs of SMS and e-mail exchanges allegedly between the politician and the woman. Michael Palmer. Speaker of Parliament since last year. Young, dashing politician. This was a big story indeed.
The messages, which seemed to have been sent to the woman’s smartphone, suggested an intimate relationship between the two, which included regular Monday meetings.
One message reads: “Hello darling… I love you loads. More than I sometimes show… Sorry. Love love.”
Another message says: “But you can’t judge our relationship by just what happens on Monday.”
One e-mail shows a forwarded message: “Your booking at Fairmont Singapore.” The last e-mail sent by the source contained a picture of a Dior handbag that Mr Palmer purportedly gave the woman.
Shortly after, the informant said in an SMS that the issue needed to be escalated. He declined to speak to TNP and would only communicate through SMS.
“You recall Yaw Shin Leong? We need good ministers,” he wrote.
Mr Yaw, a former member of the Workers’ Party, was the MP for Hougang before news of his alleged extramarital affairs caused his sacking earlier this year.
As TNP was trying to verify the information given by the source, somewhere else in Singapore that same day, Mr Palmer was coming clean to the People’s Action Party (PAP).
He met Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and said that “he would resign his positions”, the media was told in a press conference chaired by the DPM on Wednesday.
When Mr Palmer apologised “for what he had done”, Mr Teo told him to look after his family and to do what he could “to make up for the hurt he had caused them”.
First, Mr Palmer’s personal Facebook account was deleted in the morning.
Then his Facebook page and Twitter accounts also disappeared. At 9.33am, the PAP invited the media to a press conference by DPM Teo at 1.15pm.
Reading from a written statement, he told the press he had resigned “to avoid further embarrassment to the PAP and to Parliament”.
He declined to take personal questions on his affair and how it had affected his family.
In his letter to the PM, also dated on Wednesday, he tendered his resignation as MP and as a PAP member with immediate effect.
He said he took full responsibility for his “grave mistake”.
“My conduct was improper and it was a serious error of judgment,” he wrote.
PM Lee accepted the resignation “with great sadness” yesterday.
He said: “It is necessary that all PAP MPs and advisers to grassroots organisations uphold the highest standards of personal conduct… and that the party be seen to hold its MPs and advisers to these standards.”
Mr Palmer also asked for his family to be spared the publicity.
“I humbly request that you be kind enough to respect my family’s privacy during this difficult period,” he said.
This appeal was repeated by both DPM Teo and PM Lee. DPM Teo told reporters that those involved “are suffering much hurt from this episode”.
“They need time and space for the healing to take place. I hope Singaporeans give them this time and space to do so, and that in time, they will rebuild their lives,” he said.
The PA identified the woman as Madam Laura Ong, constituency director of Pasir Ris West Constituency Office, in a press statement on Wednesday evening.
It said she had tendered her resignation on Monday, citing family commitments.
On Wednesday night, Mr Palmer and his wife met grassroots leaders and volunteers of the Punggol East ward.
In a Facebook post, DPM Teo, who was also there with Mr Teo Ser Luck, said Mr Palmer had apologised to the grassroots members.
“There were tears in many eyes as they wished Michael and his family well,” he wrote.
Mr Palmer did not respond to TNP’s requests on Wednesay to comment on the SMS and e-mail exchanges.
Coincidentally, an American novelist named Michael Palmer released his new book this week. Its title - Political Suicide.
https://alvinology.com/2016/03/13/in...thy-david-ong/
Infidelity and the PAP: Why I have no sympathy for David Ong
Posted by alvinology | Mar 13, 2016 | Featured, News, Singapore heartland, tabloid | 7 |
I just came out of the swimming pool yesterday afternoon when I heard the sudden announcement over the radio on the resignation of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Batok single member constituency (SMC) ward, David Ong due to ‘personal reasons’.
Later on, I learned that Ong had also quit as a party member of the People’s Action Party (PAP), and he apologised for his ‘personal indiscretion’ in his resignation letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the PAP and also the prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong.
Lee went on to announce that he will be calling for a by-election for Bukit Batok SMC.
By evening, Lianhe Zaobao broke the news that David Ong allegedly had an affair with a married woman, Wendy Lim, 41, who is also a member of the PAP Bukit Batok Branch Women’s Wing and ardent supporter of Ong. Ong himself is married with three kids. It is said that Lim’s husband was the one who leaked the news about the alleged extra-marital affair.
What was my immediate reaction following this chain of news?
Not another one.
First, it was Yaw Shin Leong from the Workers’ Party (WP) in early 2012 who allegedly had an extra-marital affair with a female supporter. He eventually vacated his MP seat and resulted in a by-election being called in the Hougang SMC ward. Then there was Michael Palmer from the PAP at the end of 2012, who also had an extra-marital affair. He vacated his MP seat as well and resulted in a by-election being called in the Punggol East SMC ward.
I want to sympathise with Ong, but found it impossible to do so.
Why?
This is because the PAP brought this whole issue about infidelity and the need to vacate a MP seat upon themselves.
Let me elaborate.
First off, infidelity is not a criminal offense. Nonetheless, it is MORALLY wrong in a monogamous society. A MP who committed adultery did not commit any crime and is not legally required to vacate his or her seat in parliament.
There are many politicians in other countries who committed adultery, but were excellent leaders whom voters continue to support. Some prominent names include Bill Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt, both former presidents of the United States.
If you were to ask me, it would have been better to let MPs like Yaw, Palmer and Ong run for election again and let the voters themselves decide if they can accept a MP who is morally flawed, but who is doing a very good job running and representing the respective constituency.
This is no longer possible because in 2012, the PAP chose to keep attacking the WP to account for Yaw’s infidelity. They went on and on until WP, probably in a last-ditch measure to prove they can be of a higher moral standing than the PAP, expelled Yaw from the party, vacating his parliament seat and effectively forcing a by-election.
For instance, PAP’s chairman, Khaw Boon Wan said then that WP had misled voters and urged the party, not just Yaw, to come clean about its choice of candidate in Yaw and why it took the actions it did. This statement effectively linked an individual MP’s moral grounds to also reflect that of the party he or she belongs to.
Hence when Palmer’s indiscretion surfaced, the PAP had no choice but to follow in the WP’s footsteps with regards on the actions to take thereafter – issue an apology, get the naughty MP to resign, force a by-election.
Karma is a bitch.
Then again, the PAP has a total of 86 MPs in parliament versus just 6 MPs from the WP. With all things being equal, this means that the probability of a PAP committing some ‘personal indiscretion’ is at least 16 times higher! They should have seen it coming.
By arm-twisting the WP into a corner with regards to Yaw, a precedent is set for any other MP who is going to be caught in the same situation.
An individual’s moral failing becomes the moral failing of the political party he or she belongs to. As such, there really is no other way out than to pluck out the weed to save the garden.
This is why I have no sympathy for David Ong.
He knew the consequences and has to bear it now.
With regards to the by-election, judging by the huge margins the PAP won across most of the constituencies in the last general election, the PAP will win back Bukit Batok SMC easily.
Moreover, Bukit Batok SMC is in the WEST. People in the west tend to vote more for the PAP, judging from all the past election results. Plus, the strongest opposition party in Singapore, the WP, do not usually contest in the west.
I am predicting the PAP will win back Bukit Batok SMC with 70 to 80% of all votes easily, regardless if they field a veteran or some new face.
http://www.straitstimes.com/politics...in-bukit-batok
Woman who allegedly had affair with MP David Ong is a grassroots leader in Bukit Batok
People’s Action Party (PAP) Bukit Batok MP David Ong, who resigned suddenly yesterday, is believed to have had an extramarital affair with a woman who is a grassroots leader in his ward.
From accounts of those who knew them, it seemed the reported affair started some time after the general election. The woman is understood to be Ms Wendy Lim, 41, who works in a logistics firm and has been active in the constituency for some time.
A source said Mr Ong and Ms Lim, who are both married, were spotted together at last year’s Formula One race.
Photographs on the Facebook page of Bukit Batok PAP Women’s Wing showed that she had been participating in grassroots activities in Bukit Batok and supported the party during last September’s general election campaign.
Ms Lim, who has children, had also posted photos of her and Mr Ong, taken at Keming Primary School during last year’s general election, on her own Facebook page.
Sources told The Sunday Times that Ms Lim was active in constituency events.
Mr Ong’s affair with her was also said to have gone on for several months, but came to light only recently.
After news broke yesterday of his resignation, Ms Lim made her Facebook page private, then later removed it completely.
A short profile of her on her company’s website was later also removed. She holds a management position in her company and is in charge of sales.
A short curriculum vitae that was on the site before it was removed listed her as a former flight stewardess who graduated with a degree in management from the University of London in the United Kingdom.
When The Sunday Times visited Mr Ong’s home in the east, a domestic helper said he was not in.
At Ms Lim’s condominium in the west late last night, a young girl was at the door. When asked if a Ms Wendy Lim lived there, the girl closed the door immediately.
A few minutes later, a woman came by the flat and asked to be let in. Asked if Ms Lim lived there, she paused before saying no.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kuasimi
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...ance-of-water/
Lee Bee Wah: Increase of water price, just to bring up the awareness of the importance of water
Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah said that the 30% increase of water price is to bring up awareness of the importance of water and that there will be families who need help for the increase in price.
She said that in her interview with Channel News Asia interview after the presentation of Budget 2017:
Happy to hear that there are more assistance given to companies, to the industries, to the SMEs and also heartened to see there is more help for those needy families, more GST, more S&CC rebates given and that there is a personal income tax rebate.
And I think on one hand, the increase of the water price, is just to bring up the awareness of the importance of water, but I am sure there will be families who need help so it is a good gesture to help.
Finance Minister, Heng Swee Keat said in the Budget 2017 speech in Parliament, “Water prices were last revised in 2000, almost 20 years ago. We need to update our water prices to reflect the latest costs of water supply,”
He noted that the price increase will go towards maintaining Singapore’s water infrastructure, and more expensive sources of water such as desalination.
Including taxes, the prices will go up by 30 per cent in two phases. The first hike will be from 1 July this year, and the second from 1 July next year.
Within the hour of posting, hundreds of comments were made on the video
Tay Chin Peng wrote, “How about reducing the MP’s salaries. It will help remind them the importance of working hard to earn money for a living.”
Albert Tiong wrote, “OK. Now I’m aware of it. Can you reduce the price back to what it used to be?”
Daddie Yowzer wrote, “You want to know who are the people who really waste water ! Those that stay in houses .. Especially GCB ! I’ve worked for them .. I know .. Everyday water plants, garden the size of HDB flat and their cars .. So just because they pay its ok .. Compare to a person staying in HDB … How much can we really use or waste ! Female version of KBW! Oh and those who say 69% voted .. True maybe .. but didn’t vote for these two clowns.”
Lau Kok Kheong wrote, “The awareness for the hawkers and restaurants to increase their food and drinks prices too~ do they aware? Or they just don’t care.”
Curtis Lee wrote, “What make you think that we are not aware? My water usage is way below National Average. You are punishing people like me who are concious about water preservation.”
Sharingan Ismadi wrote, “We have a water agreement with Malaysia that hasn’t expired. We also have a desalination plant and most likely another on the way that should be paid for? I haven’t read the article but 30% increase is kinda extreme. Its like saying our nation coffers are so dangerously low that cannot afford to build the project first and then we pay for it slowly in the long term.”
Albert Tan wrote, “We have been paying “Water Conservancy Charge” for decades, that’s supposed to create awareness for saving water, isn’t it fair that the tax subject to Service Charge and GST too? Suck thumb la!”
https://www.facebook.com/TAVSingapor...type=3&theater
Lee Hsien Loong has commented again on his unpopular plan to raise water tariff by 30%.
Calling it “absolutely necessary”, he now says it is because the PUB has and has to spent billions to build water infrastructure.
So well, the truth is out: he let in millions of foreigners without taking into consideration the capacity of our water supply, and now he wants us to also pay for the expansion of water infrastructure.
If he wants to hike water price just to raise revenue, just state it as it is. Why hide behind the bullshit excuses about water being an “existential issue” and there being a need to remind people that it’s a precious resource?
