Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Nicole Seah apologises for MM’s Malay integration comments
National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidate Nicole Seah delivered a surprise apology to the Singapore Muslim community when she apologised for the comments made by Minister Mentor (MM) Lee Kuan Yew in his book, Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going.
In her rally speech to an estimated crowd of 15,000 at Mountbatten on Monday evening, the 24-year-old said, "On behalf of the Chinese Singaporeans, I would like to apologise to the Muslim community for the comments that MM Lee made."
In his recently published book, MM Lee suggested that Singaporean Muslims should be less strict in their Islamic observances in order to integrate better into the society. However, he later issued a statement and said that he stands corrected on how well-integrated Malay-Muslims are in Singapore.
Seah, who is part of the NSP team contesting in Marine Parade GRC, also addressed the crowd in Bahasa Melayu, touching on the concerns of the Malays.
"I would like you to know that my hopes are for us to progress as one Singaporean regardless of race or religion. I would like to build a community where no one gets left behind."
Seah's words had one of her Facebook followers, Alfian Sa'at, posting a thank you note on her page.
He wrote: "As Malay voter, I wanted to thank you for apologising for MM's remarks although it's not something you have to do. I keep telling my Malay friends that throughout Parliamentary history, the ones who really spoke up for the Malay minority were opposition MPs such as Chiam See Tong."
Seah also touched on the general anger at foreigners in Singapore, saying it may have been "misdirected". She said that the influx of foreigners should not be blamed for Singaporeans' stagnant wages, packed MRT trains and ballooning housing prices.
"No my friends, the real target of our anger is the PAP government," she said, to a thunderous round of applause. Seah criticised the government's policies for allowing foreigners into Singapore which led to a variety of problems.
The advertising executive also shared the policies she champion when elected. She intends to review industries on a case-by-case basis and will continue to allow work permits for foreigners in industries that are unpopular among Singaporeans. She also plans to review the foreign worker levy to encourage businesses to hire Singaporeans.
On a lighter note in her speech, Seah joked that supporters in orange were forbidden from using the toilets at the nearby Mountbatten Community Club. Taking a jibe at the People's Action Party, she said, "I wonder if it was a PAP rally, would they have let us in."
However, there was some drama near the rally when a car with an NSP flag was found vandalised with white paint. Photos of the car has gone viral, with netizens speculating that the culprit could have been supporters from the "other" party.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Worker Party at Moulmein-Kallang GRC rally, 2 May
Give the PAP a wake-up call: WP’s Sylvia Lim
By Jeanette Tan | SingaporeScene – Tue, May 3, 2011 9:37 AM SGTShareretweetEmailPrint
WP chairman Sylvia Lim takes to the stage at Moulmein-Kallang rally. (Reuters photo)
Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim has called on voters to give the ruling People's Action Party a "wake-up call" in this General Elections.
Referring to the aftermath of the 1991 GE, when the PAP was "stunned" after losing four seats in Parliament, she said, "What happened after 1991... showed that the PAP takes election results very seriously. Poor election results... improve your life."
Speaking before an estimated 12,000 people at a rally in Moulmein-Kallang GRC rally on Monday night, she added, "If you vote for the opposition, the PAP will wake up and take concrete steps to address your concerns."
Besides the four seats lost in 1991, the PAP's overall share majority dropped to 61 per cent -- its worst electoral showing since independence.
The results led to the PAP to form a cost review committee to study concerns about the rising cost of living, Lim said.
Lim, who is part of WP's "A team" that's contesting the hotseat of Aljunied GRC, went on to say, "If you vote for the PAP and give them a high mandate, the PAP will take you for granted and ignore your concerns."
Video (Sylvia Lim) :
At the same rally, WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang also called for a change in the Constitution so that all male election candidates would have to serve National Service first before being eligible for election.
Without naming any names, Low said the PAP should not field a candidate "who just became a new citizen without serving National Service."
It's been reported that PAP new face Janil Puthucheary, 38, only became a citizen in 2008 and has not gone through NS.
Low said even his party's star candidate, Taiwan-born Chen Show Mao, had served NS before taking up citizenship in 1986.
He said, "This is only fair to us. We have all done national service, including myself, including Chen Show Mao!" to loud cheers and applause from the crowd.
Low also picked up on his argument that the PAP government was abusing its power by employing public organisations such as HDB residents' committees (RCs) and the People's Association to assist them in their election activities.
He shared an example of an Aljunied resident who told him that his RC chairperson had contacted him to inform him of the details of a PAP rally to be held that evening. He asked the crowd, "Why is the RC promoting the PAP rally?" to shouts of "Kelong!" from the audience.
Low also shared that he had posed a question about the opposition's inability to build branch offices in parliament, asking why he had to sit at an HDB void deck to conduct Meet the People Sessions for the past 20 years.
Video(Low Thia Khiang):
WP's trump card Chen Show Mao launches an attack on the incumbent party who also took to the stage to rousing cheers, questioned the discrepancy between the growth in Singapores' economy over the past year (14.5%) and the rise in median income (3%), asking why average income was only half of GDP per capita, and where the other half had gone.
Chen also criticised the rising retirement age, citing Minister in the Prime Minister's office Lim Boon Heng's comment that it may rise to 68 soon.
Saying "man cannot live by GDP alone", the top corporate lawyer pointed out that while inflation for the year is nearing 5%, interest rates in CPF accounts remains at 2.5%, asking the crowd if it was a rate that provided good returns that were sufficient for retiring at age 62.
Touching on the issue of foreign talent in Singapore, he said, "It's tough for the rest of us," he said. "The goal post keeps getting moved back, and we have to keep dribbling past young foreign players trying to take the ball away."
Referring to Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang's earlier comment that keeping foreigners to one-third of the population is "a severe limitation", Mao asked the crowd: "Did he ask you if one-third is the right number? Why not one-quarter? One fifth?"
To the crowd's loud bellows of "NO!", he said: "Perhaps we should send someone to parliament to ask him."
Video (Chen Show Mao) :
Video(Glenda Han) :
Video (Mohd Rahizan Yaacob):
Video(L Somasundaram):
Many in the audience felt WP's rally speeches resonated with them.
Ms Tay, a Bishan resident in her 40s, told Yahoo! Singapore, “I agree that CPF is an issue, as is housing, and it’s very true -- where did the other 11.5% go? I just came to listen to them speak. Sylvia Lim is very good and relevant, and so is Chen Show Mao.”
Married couple Michael, 34, scheduler and Lina Chan, 33, an oil and gas buyer, also travelled down from their home in Woodlands to listen to what WP had to say.
Their verdict?
“Most of the proposals tabled are very feasible in the near future,' said Michael.
"The atmosphere was very good, very exciting. We wanted to come to listen to them talk, to hear another perspective, because we’re both used to thinking that the PAP is the one we should vote. I now think otherwise,” said Lina.
Chimed in Catherine Yeo, 42, an East Coast GRC resident who arrived at the rally two hour early to stake out a front-row seat, "The topics that the WP candidates touch on are Singaporean voices. They are real and I support them.”
By Jeanette Tan | SingaporeScene – Tue, May 3, 2011 9:37 AM SGTShareretweetEmailPrint
WP chairman Sylvia Lim takes to the stage at Moulmein-Kallang rally. (Reuters photo)
Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim has called on voters to give the ruling People's Action Party a "wake-up call" in this General Elections.
Referring to the aftermath of the 1991 GE, when the PAP was "stunned" after losing four seats in Parliament, she said, "What happened after 1991... showed that the PAP takes election results very seriously. Poor election results... improve your life."
Speaking before an estimated 12,000 people at a rally in Moulmein-Kallang GRC rally on Monday night, she added, "If you vote for the opposition, the PAP will wake up and take concrete steps to address your concerns."
Besides the four seats lost in 1991, the PAP's overall share majority dropped to 61 per cent -- its worst electoral showing since independence.
The results led to the PAP to form a cost review committee to study concerns about the rising cost of living, Lim said.
Lim, who is part of WP's "A team" that's contesting the hotseat of Aljunied GRC, went on to say, "If you vote for the PAP and give them a high mandate, the PAP will take you for granted and ignore your concerns."
Video (Sylvia Lim) :
At the same rally, WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang also called for a change in the Constitution so that all male election candidates would have to serve National Service first before being eligible for election.
Without naming any names, Low said the PAP should not field a candidate "who just became a new citizen without serving National Service."
It's been reported that PAP new face Janil Puthucheary, 38, only became a citizen in 2008 and has not gone through NS.
Low said even his party's star candidate, Taiwan-born Chen Show Mao, had served NS before taking up citizenship in 1986.
He said, "This is only fair to us. We have all done national service, including myself, including Chen Show Mao!" to loud cheers and applause from the crowd.
Low also picked up on his argument that the PAP government was abusing its power by employing public organisations such as HDB residents' committees (RCs) and the People's Association to assist them in their election activities.
He shared an example of an Aljunied resident who told him that his RC chairperson had contacted him to inform him of the details of a PAP rally to be held that evening. He asked the crowd, "Why is the RC promoting the PAP rally?" to shouts of "Kelong!" from the audience.
Low also shared that he had posed a question about the opposition's inability to build branch offices in parliament, asking why he had to sit at an HDB void deck to conduct Meet the People Sessions for the past 20 years.
Video(Low Thia Khiang):
WP's trump card Chen Show Mao launches an attack on the incumbent party who also took to the stage to rousing cheers, questioned the discrepancy between the growth in Singapores' economy over the past year (14.5%) and the rise in median income (3%), asking why average income was only half of GDP per capita, and where the other half had gone.
Chen also criticised the rising retirement age, citing Minister in the Prime Minister's office Lim Boon Heng's comment that it may rise to 68 soon.
Saying "man cannot live by GDP alone", the top corporate lawyer pointed out that while inflation for the year is nearing 5%, interest rates in CPF accounts remains at 2.5%, asking the crowd if it was a rate that provided good returns that were sufficient for retiring at age 62.
Touching on the issue of foreign talent in Singapore, he said, "It's tough for the rest of us," he said. "The goal post keeps getting moved back, and we have to keep dribbling past young foreign players trying to take the ball away."
Referring to Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang's earlier comment that keeping foreigners to one-third of the population is "a severe limitation", Mao asked the crowd: "Did he ask you if one-third is the right number? Why not one-quarter? One fifth?"
To the crowd's loud bellows of "NO!", he said: "Perhaps we should send someone to parliament to ask him."
Video (Chen Show Mao) :
Video(Glenda Han) :
Video (Mohd Rahizan Yaacob):
Video(L Somasundaram):
Many in the audience felt WP's rally speeches resonated with them.
Ms Tay, a Bishan resident in her 40s, told Yahoo! Singapore, “I agree that CPF is an issue, as is housing, and it’s very true -- where did the other 11.5% go? I just came to listen to them speak. Sylvia Lim is very good and relevant, and so is Chen Show Mao.”
Married couple Michael, 34, scheduler and Lina Chan, 33, an oil and gas buyer, also travelled down from their home in Woodlands to listen to what WP had to say.
Their verdict?
“Most of the proposals tabled are very feasible in the near future,' said Michael.
"The atmosphere was very good, very exciting. We wanted to come to listen to them talk, to hear another perspective, because we’re both used to thinking that the PAP is the one we should vote. I now think otherwise,” said Lina.
Chimed in Catherine Yeo, 42, an East Coast GRC resident who arrived at the rally two hour early to stake out a front-row seat, "The topics that the WP candidates touch on are Singaporean voices. They are real and I support them.”
Sunday, May 1, 2011
GE2011 : 3rd day rally ~ SPP at Potong Pasir SMC rally, April 30
Potong Pasir residents rally behind Chiam
Chiam See Tong and Potong Pasir are united as one.
Or so it appeared, based on the proceedings of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) rally held at Potong Pasir on Saturday evening.
Potong Pasir residents were in full force as they cheered loudly and rushed to catch a glimpse of him when he arrived and left the rally, much like the adoring fans of a superstar celebrity.
Despite being physically frail after suffering two strokes, Chiam is determined to carry out his wish for better opposition representation in Parliament, hence his decision to leave Potong Pasir to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC was a difficult one.
The soon-to-be former Potong Pasir incumbent was explaining his reason for leaving the SMC in his speech, saying, "Some of you don't understand why I am leaving Potong Pasir for Bishan-Toa Payoh." But a section of the crowd interjected, screaming, "We understand Mr Chiam, we understand!"
"In order to have a fair and just government, the opposition needs to be better represented in Parliament," he said.
Acknowledging the cheers and support from the crowd, the 71-year-old said, "Together we can make history in Bishan-Toa Payoh!"
Chiam also admitted that it is a dangerous move on his part to go into Bishan-Toa Payoh, and risking his chances of retaining his seat in Parliament, as residents there do not know him that well.
But his Potong Pasir 'fans' were nevertheless supportive.
"Your dream will come true, don't worry Mr Chiam," added another section of the estimated 3,000-strong crowd.
Video (Chiam See Tong):
Benjamin Pwee, a member of Chiam's Bishan-Toa Payoh team, said, "Chiam did not walk out of Potong Pasir, it is the spirit of Potong Pasir that walked into Bishan-Toa Payoh."
Such is the respect and support Potong Pasir residents have for Chiam, who has been at the helm of the single-seat ward for the past 27 years.
"I have to really applaud Mr Chiam. He has been ever present to this neighbourhood the past 20 over years, and even with his health so poor, he still wants to serve the people of Singapore and Potong Pasir. He has my utmost respect,"32-year-old accountant Joshua Teo told Yahoo! Singapore.
"I feel sad that Potong Pasir is losing such a great leader, but I wish Chiam See Tong well and hope that he can succeed in Bishan-Toa Payoh," added 41-year-old businessman Peter Lee.
However, with Chiam leaving Potong Pasir, the task of contesting the seat has fallen to his wife, Lina.
She quashed talk of nepotism when Chiam decided to pass the baton of leading Potong Pasir to her, but said, "My husband did not choose me because I'm his wife. He chose me because I have been helping him for more than 20 years in Potong Pasir."
On the note of being unknown to residents in the area, she added that her conservative nature as a wife led to her doing more of the background work, and leaving the spotlight on her husband.
Seemingly having the support of the Chiam faithful, who were loudly chanting her name, some people Yahoo! Singapore spoke to said she will still have to prove herself to residents.
Madam Tan, 52, an administrative assistant who has been living in Potong Pasir for 19 years, said, "I've seen her (Lina) once in a while, but never really spoken to her at all.
"Chiam See Tong has been a very dedicated MP here, that's why I came tonight to support him and also to hear what Mrs Chiam has to say. Honestly, I am not sure who I will vote for this time," she added.
With their huge loyalty to Chiam See Tong on one hand, and a relatively unproven successor on the other, will the people of Potong Pasir stick with the Chiam name, or will People's Action Party's Sitoh Yi Pin finally get his break and be third-time lucky?
We will know, come 7 May.
Video (Lina Chiam):
~Part 1
~Part 2
Chiam See Tong and Potong Pasir are united as one.
Or so it appeared, based on the proceedings of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) rally held at Potong Pasir on Saturday evening.
Potong Pasir residents were in full force as they cheered loudly and rushed to catch a glimpse of him when he arrived and left the rally, much like the adoring fans of a superstar celebrity.
Despite being physically frail after suffering two strokes, Chiam is determined to carry out his wish for better opposition representation in Parliament, hence his decision to leave Potong Pasir to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC was a difficult one.
The soon-to-be former Potong Pasir incumbent was explaining his reason for leaving the SMC in his speech, saying, "Some of you don't understand why I am leaving Potong Pasir for Bishan-Toa Payoh." But a section of the crowd interjected, screaming, "We understand Mr Chiam, we understand!"
"In order to have a fair and just government, the opposition needs to be better represented in Parliament," he said.
Acknowledging the cheers and support from the crowd, the 71-year-old said, "Together we can make history in Bishan-Toa Payoh!"
Chiam also admitted that it is a dangerous move on his part to go into Bishan-Toa Payoh, and risking his chances of retaining his seat in Parliament, as residents there do not know him that well.
But his Potong Pasir 'fans' were nevertheless supportive.
"Your dream will come true, don't worry Mr Chiam," added another section of the estimated 3,000-strong crowd.
Video (Chiam See Tong):
Benjamin Pwee, a member of Chiam's Bishan-Toa Payoh team, said, "Chiam did not walk out of Potong Pasir, it is the spirit of Potong Pasir that walked into Bishan-Toa Payoh."
Such is the respect and support Potong Pasir residents have for Chiam, who has been at the helm of the single-seat ward for the past 27 years.
"I have to really applaud Mr Chiam. He has been ever present to this neighbourhood the past 20 over years, and even with his health so poor, he still wants to serve the people of Singapore and Potong Pasir. He has my utmost respect,"32-year-old accountant Joshua Teo told Yahoo! Singapore.
"I feel sad that Potong Pasir is losing such a great leader, but I wish Chiam See Tong well and hope that he can succeed in Bishan-Toa Payoh," added 41-year-old businessman Peter Lee.
However, with Chiam leaving Potong Pasir, the task of contesting the seat has fallen to his wife, Lina.
She quashed talk of nepotism when Chiam decided to pass the baton of leading Potong Pasir to her, but said, "My husband did not choose me because I'm his wife. He chose me because I have been helping him for more than 20 years in Potong Pasir."
On the note of being unknown to residents in the area, she added that her conservative nature as a wife led to her doing more of the background work, and leaving the spotlight on her husband.
Seemingly having the support of the Chiam faithful, who were loudly chanting her name, some people Yahoo! Singapore spoke to said she will still have to prove herself to residents.
Madam Tan, 52, an administrative assistant who has been living in Potong Pasir for 19 years, said, "I've seen her (Lina) once in a while, but never really spoken to her at all.
"Chiam See Tong has been a very dedicated MP here, that's why I came tonight to support him and also to hear what Mrs Chiam has to say. Honestly, I am not sure who I will vote for this time," she added.
With their huge loyalty to Chiam See Tong on one hand, and a relatively unproven successor on the other, will the people of Potong Pasir stick with the Chiam name, or will People's Action Party's Sitoh Yi Pin finally get his break and be third-time lucky?
We will know, come 7 May.
Video (Lina Chiam):
~Part 1
~Part 2
GE2011 - 3rd day of Rally ~ Worker Party @ East Coast GRC (30/4/2011)
~ Workers' Party East Coast GRC
Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang says the PAP has given the opposition an uneven playing field by making it "impossible" for the opposition to have a grassroots foothold in PAP constituencies.
During the party's rally in Bedok stadium on Saturday, the leader of the team that will contest the Aljunied GRC explained that WP's applications to the town council for permits to hold dialogue sessions under the void deck in other constituencies were rejected.
In addition, he said the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) schools, already running on cheap rent from the HDB, sublet their space to the PAP, which is why it is common to find PAP branches next to the PCF pre-schools.
In comparison, to set up a WP branch in a PAP constituency, the party has to tender from the open market, with rentals at much higher prices.
"Even as an elected Member of Parliament, I have to sit at the void deck to conduct the Meet-the-People sessions, while the PAP conducts them in air-con rooms," he said.
Low added, "It is like when we play football with them, they use a goal post smaller the ball. This is how our first-world government treats us."
Video (Low Thia Khiang) :
In response to an earlier comment from Sengkang West SMC's Dr Lam Pin Min that the opposition disappears for five years and only comes out during the election period, Low said, "With Sengkang West and Punggol East only carved out recently, how are we going to appear in a previously non-existent ward?"
Besides touching on the unfair treatment of the opposition, Low's Aljunied GRC team-mate Sylvia Lim also told the audience that what a Minister makes in 5 hours is equivalent to what an average Singaporean makes in a month.
The WP party chairman said, "They ask the stallholders to keep their food prices down, so can the PAP ministers keep their pay down as well?"
With the recent Grow and Share packages being given out in recent days by the government, East Coast GRC's WP candidate L. Somasundaram cautioned voters about the dividends, saying, "They give you the fruit but they take back the fruit tree."
Video(Sylvia Lim):
His teammate Glenda Han got the crowds' cheers after she was introduced as the "uncle-killer." The 35-year-old was part of the "suicide squad" that went up against Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's team at Ang Mo Kio GRC in the 2006 election.
She talked about how despite the increase in public transport and housing costs have the affected basic standards of living.
"We are not talking about an increase in the price of a Rolex watch, or a Kate Spade bag," she said.
~ Glenda Han's nieces
Video(Glenda Han) :
Joo Chiat's first-time candidate Yee Jen Jong explained how the PAP was like an old horse, who has won many races, but is gradually deteriorating.
He asked, "Would you bet on an old horse that is slowing down or a young horse that is charging strongly ahead?"
Video (Png Eng Huat):
Video credit : TODAYdigital
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