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]]>In another development, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) unveiled plans for the expansion of the Woodlands Checkpoint. The project, set to commence in 2025, will see the checkpoint’s size multiplied by five.
The initial phase, focusing on extensions at the Old Woodlands Town Centre and Bukit Timah Expressway, is slated for progressive completion starting from 2028. The expansion project is expected to span over 10 to 15 years.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) made headlines with the dismissal of national football head coach Takayuki Nishigaya from his position following a series of disappointing results.
This decision has sparked discussions within the online community regarding the need for broader accountability and reform within the FAS team management.
The Lions previously occupied the bottom spot in their World Cup qualifying group after losing to Thailand and South Korea.
Former sports journalist Jose Raymond emphasized that Mr Nishigaya was appointed as the Lions’ head coach by FAS, despite lacking any prior international experience.
He asserted that blame for the failure should not be placed on Nishigaya but rather on the individuals responsible for his appointment within the FAS.
On 1 February, FAS announced the appointment of Tsutomu Ogura as the new Director for both Singapore’s senior and Under-22 men’s teams.
Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, critiques the constitutional changes proposed in the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No.3) Bill, voicing concerns regarding backdating laws.
He argues that when it comes to laws involving backdating, a more rigorous evaluation should be applied, expressing his view that constitutional changes permitting the president and ministers to privately assume roles in international institutions fall short of meeting this elevated standard.
Singaporean human rights lawyer Ravi Madasamy expressed disappointment with the Ministry of Law of Singapore over the terms under which he was honored with the International Bar Association (IBA) 2023 Human Rights Award.
Additionally, he criticized the Singapore High Court’s decision to deny representation by foreign counsels for four death row inmates.
Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Chairman of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), has not ruled out the possibility of contesting in the upcoming General Election (GE), amidst growing speculation.
Netizens are rallying behind the sentiment expressed by a National University of Singapore (NUS) business professor and payments expert, emphasizing that ‘systems should serve people – not the other way around.’
This response came after LTA’s announcement of the reversal of its decision to phase out adult EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards in favor of the SimplyGo platform for public transport.
Moreover, an attempt by Associate Professor Walter Theseira, head of the urban transportation program at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP), to elucidate the reasons behind the discontent with SimplyGo sparked outrage among netizens, who perceived it as ‘condescending.’
In the 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), using a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) to rate perceived levels of corruption sees Singapore scoring 83, ranking 5th, while Denmark tops the rank with a score of 90.
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) reported significant investment commitments in its year review, with S$12.7 billion in Fixed Asset Investment (FAI) and S$8.9 billion in Total Business Expenditure (TBE) per annum.
These figures are expected to create approximately 20,045 jobs and contribute S$26.7 billion in Value-Added per annum (VA) to the economy.
A report from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for the Labour Market Advance Release Fourth Quarter 2023 shows the number of retrenchments in Singapore rising to 14,320, up from 6,440 in the preceding year.
Meanwhile, in the annual Labour Force report, MOM reported a 2.2% drop in the real median income of Singapore, driven by a slowdown in nominal income growth.
This week, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad revealed that Singapore’s workplace fatality rate fell below 1 per 100,000 workers in 2023, marking the first time it dropped below that threshold since 2020.
The workplace fatality rate in 2022 reached 1.3 per 100,000 workers, the highest since 2015 and 2016. In 2016, there was also a record high workplace death, with 66 fatalities.
He disclosed these statistics during a speech at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) U Safe Forum and Awards 2024.
To combat this concerning trend, MOM implemented a heightened safety period from September 2022 to May 2023.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SCPA) in Singapore has reported a 79% increase in cases of animal cruelty and welfare concerns in 2023 compared to the previous year, marking the highest number of reports received in over a decade.
According to its Animal Cruelty and Welfare Report 2023, the SPCA revealed that reported cases soared from 511 in 2022 to 915 in 2023.
Among these, 285 were instances of abandoned animals, and 30 cases involved hoarding, encompassing a total of 480 animals.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board reveal S$13.3M lost to scams in December 2023.
Among these incidents, there were three cases involving about S$488,000 in CPF withdrawals that were made from November to December 2023. Fraudsters posed as officials, tricking victims into divulging info or transferring funds
In an effort to curb gambling-like behavior, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the value of prizes obtainable through games at amusement centers and fun fairs will be restricted to a maximum of S$100 starting from 1 March.
Additionally, two additional rules will be enforced simultaneously: amusement centers and fun fair operators are barred from providing cash, cash equivalents, credit, merchant vouchers, or coupons as prizes.
Furthermore, returning prizes to operators for resale will be forbidden.
Community
Dugong Pilipino SG, a migrant worker group in Singapore, successfully organized a blood donation event at the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) Outram Park Blood Bank.
The group hosted the event voluntarily to help address the critical shortage of Group O blood in Singapore.
Love Aid Singapore, led by Gilbert Goh, recently sent two trucks to Rafah, reaching Palestinians in Gaza on 31 January. The first truck arrived in Rafah on Sunday (28 Jan), followed by the second truck on Monday (29 Jan).
As of 1 February, Goh noted that over 100,000 Palestinians are stranded, and Love Aid Singapore’s food kitchen is believed to be the only one currently operating since many others closed down when the war started four months ago. Additionally, Love Aid Singapore operates another food kitchen in Rafah, benefiting 1000 Palestinians.
To continue providing daily meals for the hungry Palestinians affected by the ongoing war in Gaza, Love Aid Singapore has donated US$40,000 for the two kitchens.
Goh emphasized the organization’s commitment to keeping the kitchens running for as long as possible, planning to allocate funds collected specifically for this feeding initiative.
International
Funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), vital for Gaza’s population, has been critically paused following allegations of staff involvement in the Hamas-led attacks.
This has heightened concerns about worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In France, protesters in Paris targeted the iconic “Mona Lisa” painting, throwing soup at it in an act of vandalism to highlight food insecurity in the nation.
Norway’s mammoth sovereign wealth fund, the Government Pension Fund Global, reported a historic profit of 2.22 trillion kroner (approximately S$213 billion) for the year 2023.
This marks the fund’s highest-ever return in its native currency. The achievement is particularly noteworthy as it follows a substantial loss of 1.64 trillion kroner in 2022.
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]]>This arrangement comes just in time for the Chinese New Year holidays, facilitating seamless travel between the two nations. It’s a fantastic opportunity for cultural exchange and exploration.
However, keep in mind that staying exceeding 30 days will necessitate a visa.
In another exciting development for the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities, Marina Baywaterfront will be illuminated with the ‘Legend Of The Dragon Gate’ drone show.
Running from 6 to 18 February, this show features a display of 1,500-drone dragon, highlighting the value of family, perseverance, and prosperity.
In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Total Defence in 2024, Singapore will conduct its first islandwide Total Defence exercise to enhance its citizens’ readiness to handle crises and disruption from 15 to 29 February.
In tech news, there’s been a significant development at Vizzio Technologies as AI scientist Lee Kai-Fu steps down from the board following revelations about the founder’s credentials.
After public backlash, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat apologized this week for delays commuters faced in converting their EZ-link cards, and announced the cancellation of the original plan to transition to SimplyGo.
As of now, holders of older EZ-Link cards not on SimplyGo will no longer be required to update their cards by 1 June for public transport payments.
Nets FlashPay cards will also continue to be accepted for adult fare payments, with no need to exchange them for a Nets Prepaid card by 1 June.
Minister Chee also announced an additional investment of S$40 million meant for hardware replacement and system maintenance to enable commuters to continue using EZ-Link and Nets FlashPay cards.
Following LTA’s U-turn on SimplyGo transition and Minister Chee’s apology, Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), has commended him for addressing the shortcomings.
The online community is now urging PSP NCMPs to seek justification from the Minister for the additional S$40 million investment, while also defending the use of old payment system.
Additionally, Mr Leong revealed this week that he and Hazel Poa, both NCMPs from PSP, had filed a motion to question the Government’s budget and reserve accumulation policies.
The motion will be debated at the next parliamentary sitting on 5 February.
Nevertheless, not all are on board with the decision of LTA shelving the SimplyGo plan.
Calvin Cheng, a businessman and former Nominated Member of Parliament, argued that the decision to retain the old system was made to appease those who still prefer it, suggesting that the public advocating for the old system should bear the cost of maintaining it instead.
On another note, data released by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) indicates that Singapore’s core inflation increased to 3.3% in December 2023, slightly up from November’s 3.2%.
This rise was primarily fueled by an uptick in services inflation.
Community
Gilbert Goh, the founder of Love Aid Singapore and a prominent activist in Singapore, reported that they have successfully collected S$300,000 in donations during the third week of their Gaza Aid humanitarian work, with S$130,000 already utilized.
A Singaporean couple, whose newborn baby suffers from a congenital heart defect known as pulmonary atresia had also recently succeeded in raising S$70,000 to cover their newborn baby’s medical procedures.
On 25 January, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced that Singapore is facing a critical shortage of Group O blood stocks, with the country’s reserves dipping below a six-day supply.
International
A Japanese court has delivered a landmark verdict in the tragic Kyoto Animation Studio arson case, sentencing 45-year-old Shinji Aoba to death for an attack in 2019 that claimed 36 lives and injured dozens.
Previously, Aoba, who admitted to the crime, had his defense seek a more lenient sentence, arguing mental incompetence.
However, the court dismissed this argument, finding Aoba fully aware and responsible for his actions.
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]]>While updates usually bring excitement, this wasn’t the case for SimplyGo, as a surge of complaints followed the recent changes.
Due to public discontent, its app received low ratings and negative reviews on the Google and Apple app stores. Yikes!
Netizens pointed out that the app often glitches and crashes upon use, as well as its inability to provide transaction details to commuters on buses or the MRT.
Most questioned why the previous system offered this feature and express concerns about LTA’s lack of initiatives to address and improve the situation before removing the existing system.
If you’re wondering what the LTA has to say about the issue, you can read it here.
One Polish blogger a.k.a Critical Spectator, for instance, remarked that “LTA’s SimplyGo is like a Tesla and it needs fixing to prevent a bigger PR disaster.”
Now, it seems he’s not too far off with his statement, as the post was even backed up by Madam Ho Ching, the former Temasek Holdings CEO and wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. She shared the post of the Polish blogger on her Facebook page, addressing the upcoming transition to the new SimplyGo-powered cards.
Interestingly, Bae Yam Keng, then-Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, stated five years ago that SimplyGo is not meant to replace existing payment methods such as EZ-Link cards.
But the recent changes seem contradictory to what has been said. Thus, it begs the question: Did the Singapore government break its 2019 promise by replacing older payment methods with SimplyGo?
In the realm of politics, former Transport Minister S Iswaran has been charged in the State Courts with 27 offences, including corruption, receiving gratification as a public servant, and obstructing justice, following the completion of an investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) that began in July last year.
However, he pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges linked to his interactions with property tycoon Ong Beng Seng.
On 16th January, Iswaran tendered his resignation from Parliament and the People’s Action Party (PAP), and from the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Coast GRC, pledging to return all salary and allowances received since the start of the CPIB’s investigations.
He is currently released on S$800,000 bail, with the pre-trial conference for his graft case scheduled for 1st March.
Following Iswaran’s resignation, Chee Hong Tat, who previously served as the Acting Transport Minister, will be elevated to full minister. Additionally, he will also assume the role of Second Minister for Finance.
The changes also involve Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu, who will now concurrently hold the position of Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, taking over Iswaran’s other portfolio.
Despite Iswaran’s case, the Ministry of Trade and Industry stated that they see no evidence of F1 or other contracts disadvantaging the Government, assuring that all preparations for this year’s Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix are proceeding as planned.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also spoke about the corruption case and how it affects the People’s Action Party (PAP), emphasizing that the leadership transition within the party will proceed as planned.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) stated on 18th January that they are set to decide on the investigations involving billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng once the case against former Transport Minister S Iswaran concludes.
Additionally, Lim Tean, the leader of the alternative party Peoples Voice (PV), has criticized prosecutors, deeming their decision to drop nine charges against Iswaran as “the height of absurdity.” Initially, Iswaran could have faced 36 charges, not 27.
The online community is currently dealing with a decline in trust regarding the perceived integrity of well-compensated Ministers in Singapore—a group conventionally assigned the responsibility of preventing corruption. This sentiment is evident in comments across various Singaporean social media platforms.
Calls for a thorough review of the existing high ministerial salaries have gained traction within these discussions.
Community
About 2 million Singaporeans are set to benefit from the Assurance Package in February. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced that around 850,000 Singaporean citizens aged 55 and above, with lower incomes, will receive the Assurance Package Seniors’ Bonus ranging from S$200 to S$300 (approximately US$225).
The bonus will be granted to seniors residing in properties with an annual value of up to S$25,000, a threshold raised from 1st January, 2024. It will be distributed over three years, from 2023 to 2025, offering lower-income seniors cash payments ranging from S$600 to S$900.
Furthermore, Singaporeans aged 20 and below or 55 and above will receive the Assurance Package MediSave bonus of S$150 in their CPF MediSave account. All Singaporean children and seniors will receive the Assurance Package MediSave top-ups totaling S$450 from 2023 to 2025.
In a proud moment for Singapore, LoveAidSingapore with Gilbert Goh, has successfully dispatched their first truck full of aid to Rafah amidst the ongoing war in Gaza.
It was one of the two trucks they had queued up to prepare for the journey to Gaza, delivering much-needed aid to the Palestinians trapped in the war-torn strip.
International
Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secures historic third presidential win, easing global market tensions. Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s current vice president, emerged triumphant in the elections, easing worries among international investors who were cautious about his perceived assertive stance and the potential pursuit of formal independence for Taiwan.
Singapore had extended its congratulations to Lai Ching-te.
The DPP’s historic third consecutive win highlights the strength and stability of Taiwan’s democratic system and institutions.
Despite external pressures and warnings from China, Taiwanese voters have expressed confidence in the leadership of the DPP, preferring to maintain the existing state of affairs.
In other news, OpenAI, the US-based AI research and deployment company, addresses concerns about the potential misuse of its technology in elections.
In a blog post released on 15th January, the company aims to reassure the public about the responsible use of its AI products, especially with over a third of the world preparing for polls this year.
The unease revolves around OpenAI’s development of two groundbreaking products, ChatGPT and DALL-E.
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]]>During the Christmas period, he contracted COVID-19, leading to a quarantine that extended through New Year’s, all while experiencing a slipped disc just a few days before Christmas.
As 2024 begins, Dr Lee Wei Ling, a neurologist and the daughter of the late Lee Kuan Yew, celebrates her 69th birthday on 7 January.
Lee Hsien Yang, Dr Lee’s brother, extended warm wishes to his sister, sharing a cherished childhood photo capturing moments between them on Facebook.
This week, on 9 and 10 January, 2024, Singapore also witnessed its first Parliament sitting for the year.
During the debate, the Singapore Government has announced a deferral in the review of political salaries that was due in 2023.
This decision was relayed by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who also holds the portfolio of Minister in charge of Public Services.
Representing the Prime Minister, he stated that the decision was due to global economics and the ‘global geopolitical situation,’ particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine.
In the same session, Mr Saktiandi Supaat, MP for Bishan Toa Payoh GRC, raised concerns regarding the regulatory supervision of the Singapore Palestine Film Festival scheduled from 12 to 21 January, 2024.
His questions to the Minister for Home Affairs focused on regulatory oversight, permissible limits for discussing the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the balance between understanding and preserving Singapore’s racial and religious harmony.
In response, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, Mr K Shanmugam, stated that films for the festival have been assessed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), confirming they do not promote violence or enmity.
However, permits will not be given for events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict due to safety and security concerns.
Minister of State (MOS) for Social and Family Development (MSF) Sun Xueling addressed a disturbing case during the Parliament session, where a teenager was sexually abused by a kith caregiver.
She clarified that, although the adopter and his wife had expressed the desire to adopt the child, they had not taken any steps to initiate the adoption process.
When responding to Parliamentary questions filed by Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, PAP MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, and Ms He Ting Ru, WP MP for Sengkang GRC, she stated that the offender’s firm was not working with the MSF but directly with the children’s home.
In light of the country’s rampant scam cases, Sylvia Lim, the chairman of WP, highlighted the crisis of confidence among the public regarding the digital sphere during a Parliamentary motion debate.
She pointed out that even previously trusted savings avenues, such as CPF funds and fixed deposits, are now vulnerable to scams and malware, contributing to this crisis of trust.
This is leading to a shift in thinking about digital transactions, she noted.
It’s important to note that victims in Singapore faced the highest average losses in scams (US$4,031) between August 2022 and August 2023, according to a joint study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and ScamAdvisor.
In an effort to mitigate scam issue, Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam revealed that the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has been collaborating with social media giants like Meta and Google to combat phishing scams related to compromised WhatsApp accounts.
He detailed the SPF’s strategies for countering these fraudulent activities in a written reply to two parliamentary questions on phishing scams on 9 January.
In a written response to Ms Sylvia Lim’s parliamentary question on 10 January, Mr K Shanmugam also disclosed that Singapore is contemplating the recruitment of Auxiliary Police Forces (APFs) from other Asian nations like China, India, the Philippines, and Myanmar due to difficulties faced with current recruitment sources.
Additionally, case of corruption scandals resurfaced following National Development Minister Desmond Lee acknowledging that the corruption probe carried out by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) against PAP Transport Minister S. Iswaran has had a ‘big impact’ on the West Coast GRC under the PAP team.
In an interview, he expressed concern about the CPIB’s investigation into the Minister, labeling it as a ‘very worrying development’ without elaborating further on what it entails.
On 9 January, CPIB of Singapore has finalized the investigation. The case now has been referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for further action.
Earlier this week, Red Dot United (RDU) issued a statement on their website in response to the large-scale layoffs at Lazada.
The party has strongly advocated for the government to support workers and maintain fair labor practices amid the retrenchment.
Community
Love Aid Singapore, led by Gilbert Goh, saw a tremendous support in donations from Singaporeans for their humanitarian initiative to help Gaza amidst an ongoing conflict.
In an Instagram post, he highlighted the generous contributions that allowed Love Aid Singapore to commit two truckloads of aid, totaling US$60,000 or approximately S$80,000, all achieved within just two days.
Currently, they have exceeded their initial S$100,000 donation milestone, surpassing S$145,000.
Love Aid Singapore is currently getting ready for their third truck of aid.
Donations can be made through PayNow to 87745281.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) declared that starting from 1 June, 2024, they would no longer be accepting older EZ-Link cards without the SimplyGo logo, as well as Nets FlashPay cards.
Passengers were advised to transition to SimplyGo EZ-Link cards, contactless bank cards, or mobile wallet-linked payment cards, excluding concession card users.
However, this decision faced criticism from some individuals who expressed dissatisfaction through negative comments on social media posts.
International
At the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 11 January, South Africa had formally accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
During the session, South Africa called for an immediate suspension of Israel’s intense military campaign in the Palestinian enclave.
Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, representing South Africa at the ICJ, depicted the situation in Gaza as grave and asserted that Israel’s operation is a calculated attempt to annihilate the population, allegedly sanctioned at the highest levels of the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In response, Israel vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and accusing South Africa of echoing the voice of Hamas.
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]]>Despite expectations that TKL would win the opposition votes, voters from both camps showed a preference for Tharman's charisma and perceived competency.
As Singapore reflects on the outcome, questions arise about the election's fairness and the real implications of Tharman's dominant win.
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]]>The final result, announced by the returning officer shortly after midnight on Saturday (Sep 2), placed Mr Ng Kok Song (NKS) in second place with 15.72 per cent, followed by Mr Tan Kin Lian (TKL), who received 13.88 per cent.
There were 50,152 rejected votes, representing 1.98 per cent of the total votes cast.
Many expressed shock over the landslide results, including President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam. On Saturday (2 Sep), he expressed his surprise at the margin of victory, remarking that he “hadn’t expected such remarkable unity.”
Many observers believed that TKL would absorb votes from the opposition and middle-ground voters, as PE2011 demonstrated. In that election, former president Tony Tan received just over 35 per cent of votes, with the remainder split between Dr Tan Cheng Bock (TCB), Tan Jee Say, and TKL.
The former Senior Minister, who served for 22 years with the People’s Action Party, commented that the results indicate voters don’t believe a Cabinet background diminishes one’s ability to be non-partisan.
While Mr Tharman attributed his win to his non-partisan stance, online comments and feedback from a non-partisan group covering polling day revealed different insights.
On top of hard-core PAP supporters, commenters online, such as on Facebook and Reddit, shared that the support of opposition figures intensified fears that TKL might win due to a “freak election” outcome.
Consequently, some opposition supporters, initially considering spoiling their vote, decided to back Tharman, whom they saw as a charismatic figure, to prevent such an outcome.
As for those resistant to voting for a PAP minister, especially young voters, NKS became their preferred choice given how much exposure he had over the past couple of days on social media.
Over the course of less than two weeks, NKS’ newly created Instagram page has grown from zero to over 140k followers through a well-run digital campaign with influencers and social media advertising.
TKL’s perceived unelectability became evident as his campaign suffered.
He attributed controversial Facebook posts about “pretty girls” to a smear campaign rather than owning up to them.
This, combined with further questionable actions, such as preventing his wife from speaking to the media, didn’t sit well with many voters. Although TKL did eventually apologize, for many, the damage was irreversible.
Besides his actions and antics, some aspects of his campaign were also poorly conceived. For instance, he used his personal blog as his campaign website, which contained his questionable past rants.
Additionally, he chose a logo so intricate that it’s hard to identify—was it a flower, a ball? In contrast, Tharman’s straightforward fruit logo was easy for people to associate with.
For example, Tharman’s supporters would simply say, “Vote for the pineapple,” while TKL’s supporters might struggle to find an apt descriptor, and resorting to “Vote for Tan Kin Lian,” with some possibly not recognizing the face on the ballot paper.
Even NKS’ logo, which depicted a heart in a hand, was easy to articulate and recognize.
Some staunch opposition supporters criticized Singaporean voters over the results, but the election results underscored the priorities of the populace: they value competency and appropriate representation over mere partisanship and checks and balances on the ruling government.
Furthermore, the government has consistently stated that the President’s role isn’t executive. Many voters felt TKL didn’t understand this, especially during the debate among the three candidates on Monday, where the moderator chimed in to remind voters that what TKL said he wanted to do is not within the powers of the President.
While some conspiracy theorists hinted at vote tampering, the non-partisan group monitoring the election found no substantial evidence to support these claims. Notably, some polling agents observed that some senior voters seemed confused about the nature of the election, mistakenly believing they were voting for the PAP or asking to vote for the PAP’s candidate.
Although some might argue that endorsements from opposition figures, such as TCB and Dr Chee Soon Juan, hurt TKL’s chances, it’s more likely that their support prevented him from losing his deposit, as he did in PE2011. TKL’s result was just 1.38% above the minimum 12.5% required to avoid forfeiting the deposit.
Comparing voter turnout, PE2023 (93.41%) saw a slight dip from PE2011 (94.80%) and GE2020 (95.81%), which might suggest a larger number of voters were disillusioned with the presidential election.
One might speculate that even if TKL had not contested, the outcome wouldn’t have changed significantly. There might have been more rejected votes, but Tharman’s victory was almost a given.
In summary, instead of Tharman being more popular than expected as the results suggest, it was TKL’s participation in the election that likely boosted Tharman’s votes higher than anticipated.
It is also apparent that NKS, who refrained from using campaign materials and did not field any polling or counting agents, ran merely to legitimize Tharman’s presidency and avoid a repeat of the embarrassing uncontested win of Madam Halimah Yacob in the reserved race election of 2017.
Post-election, NKS is likely to return to run his investment fund company in which Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, invested S$4 billion.
Under the current stringent criteria for private sector Presidential candidates, it’s challenging to envision anyone seriously rivalling Tharman to partake in the presidential election, other than rich-entitled old men like what we see in this time round.
The way Singapore conducts its presidential election seems to mock the concept of a fair election. The criteria restrict participation to a select few, often favoring the establishment, giving the impression that voters are merely participating in a charade instead of genuinely selecting the best candidate for the job from the entire country.
Perhaps, as the Workers’ Party has consistently advocated in Parliament, we should consider reverting to an appointed ceremonial presidency where the government chooses the best person to represent the country. This system could be on a rotational basis for different races, as intended by the reserved race elections.
Nevertheless, what we must acknowledge from the election results is that there’s a unified opinion among Singaporeans: Tharman is best suited to represent Singapore on the international stage. In a way, Tharman is correct in stating that he is a unifying figure.
The implications of Tharman’s landslide win are manifold. We can identify three key takeaways:
Only time will determine if Tharman will align closely with the PAP, as his predecessors did, or if he will emulate the late Ong Teng Cheong, who was widely admired for standing his ground for the betterment of Singaporeans because he had a job to do.
This post was first published on Gutzy.Asia
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]]>We invite committed individuals to join us as Polling and Counting Agents, standing together for a transparent, fair, and just election.
This vote counting exercise, organized by members of civil society, is not specifically in support of Mr Tan Kin Lian, a candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election. It's an exercise in active citizenry.
Nonetheless, Mr Tan endorses this initiative, which hinges on his candidacy, championing transparency, and has given permission for the results to be shared publicly.
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]]>We invite committed individuals to join us as Polling and Counting Agents, standing together for a transparent, fair, and just election.
Polling agents will be entrusted with overseeing the voting procedure at specified polling stations. Simultaneously, counting agents will be responsible for recording the station results, guaranteeing that our electoral process upholds its integrity and transparency.
Why is this important?
With 1,264 polling stations to oversee, your participation is crucial!
It’s entirely acceptable not to support any of the candidates in this Presidential election.
This vote-counting exercise, organized by members of civil society, is not specifically in support of Mr Tan Kin Lian, a candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election. It’s an exercise in active citizenry.
Nonetheless, Mr Tan endorses this initiative, which hinges on his candidacy, championing transparency, and has given permission for the results to be shared publicly.
Detailed Roles & Responsibilities:
Polling Agent:
Counting Agent:
Volunteer Requirements:
Why Join?
Register your interest via this Google Form. For inquiries, contact us at [email protected].
Be part of history and help shape Singapore’s democratic future.
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]]>One can’t but leave the Institute of Policy Studies Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th birth anniversary event feeling turbo charged-up and optimistic about the country’s future.
I rushed back from Sydney on Sunday after visiting my daughter and made my way to Sands Convention Centre the next day for the much-anticipated bicentennial event.
The patriarchal leader who passed away eight years ago left behind a legacy of massive international success and global recognition.
Speaker after speaker spoke of the leader’s achievements though it’s surprising that you don’t see any photos of him flashed across the massive hall.
LKY has passed on strict orders not to remember him by way of any monument or celebrations and I am glad that so far his wishes were respected in yesterday’s event.
The high-key anniversary event brought forth a host of world-class speakers like former Australian Prime Minister Dr Kelvin Rudd, Ms Jessica Tan Group Executive Director Ping Ann, Professor Wu Weiping Professor of Urban Planning at Columbia University and of course Mr Piyush Gupta Group CEO DBS Bank.
The main event must be the CNN host Dr Fareed Zakaria interview of DPM Lawrence Wong which will be aired over the American network channel.
One key take-away of the event while we are still basking in the aftermath glory of LKY’s success is that we must not rest on our laurels.
Nation comes and nation goes so the city state must not think that it has made it and stop making progress through well-intentioned changes however incremental it is.
A participant probably field the most relevant pointed question for the day during Q & A by asking what are some of LKY’s sacred cows that need to be slained.
As we are still struggling to come to terms with the recent scandals that engulfed the country, we are wise to ask ourselves as Singaporeans whether a change in leadership is necessary to enable us to forge further ahead.
More than 20% of our local workforce still earns S$2000/month and below and there is no minimum wage legislation to protect the vulnerable ones.
We may also have the world’s oldest workforce as the high cost of life compels those in their 70s and 80s to continue working in low-paying menial jobs.
This was first published on Gilbert Goh’s instagram post and reproduced with permission
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]]>Highlighting Mr Tan Kin Lian's unique credentials and genuine concern for the wellbeing of Singaporeans, the Peoples Voice leader emphasized the pressing challenges of rising living costs and job insecurities faced by the public.
Mr Lim depicted Mr Tan Kin Lian as a beacon of hope for the nation, advocating for a leader who genuinely understands and represents the people’s aspirations.
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]]>I am very pleased and honoured to be the seconder for the candidacy of Tan Kin Lian to be the President of Singapore.
I first heard of Mr Tan’s name in the mid-90s. A loved one who was the Board Secretary of POSB, before it merged with DBS, told me about an unusual board member who had very innovative and progressive ideas on how to improve the services of POSB for its customers.
That board member was Tan Kin Lian. Every Singaporean has at some time in their lives a POSB account.
Since knowing Mr Tan, I have myself experienced the creativity and innovative ideas which emanate from him. Whether he was speaking at Hong Lim Park on a matter of public interest or in private or public discussions, his overriding objective was always to improve the lives of his fellow Singaporeans.
I was one of those who strongly urged Mr Tan to put himself forward to contest the Presidential Election this year.
I know that many Singaporeans are disillusioned by the too many Presidential Election walkovers in the past. It is a misnomer to call a President an elected President when there is no contest.
In the 30 year history of the Elected Presidency, there have only been 2 elections for President-one in 1993 when Ong Teng Cheong was elected and the other in 2011 which elected Tony Tan. Many Singaporeans also crave for a truly Independent President, one with no links to the PAP or government linked entities. Every President since the inception of the Elected Presidency, has been linked to the government in one way or another.
These continuous links between the government and the Presidents as well as the many walkovers have tarnished the institution of the elected Presidency in the eyes of many Singaporeans.
Together with the spate of scandals which have plagued the government recently, it is no wonder that the cry from ordinary Singaporeans for a real Presidential contest this year and for an Independent President is overwhelming.
The candidacy of a truly independent candidate such as Mr Tan, with absolutely no links to the government or government linked entities, and who meets the qualification criteria for President, will help Singaporeans regain the trust in their public institutions.
In a larger sense, a President must give the Nation and her people a certain idea of who we are. It is not only about the ability of the person.
It is also whether that person embodies our values and is representative of us as a people. And in this, I am absolutely confident that Tan Kin Lian’s empathy and concern for the wellbeing of his fellow countrymen will make him the People’s President.
Mr Tan has spoken of his vision to leverage the office of the President to improve the lives of Singaporeans. His vision comes as a ray of hope to the many thousands of Singaporeans who are struggling under the yoke of the astronomical cost of living, sky-high property prices and job insecurity.
Many young Singaporeans are angry that they are unable to afford a home so as to start a family. This is a far cry from the future which their parents enjoyed. Our TFR is at a disastrous 1.05, a historical low. The continuous influx of immigrants threatens our social fabric and has rightly resulted in much unease amongst Singaporeans.
Singaporean anger over the rising prices of goods and everyday necessities and also the hike in GST is increasing by the day. So are their concerns that too many good jobs are going to foreigners instead of locals.
Singaporean anger is compounded by unjust policies such as the one which mandates that new citizens above 30 years of age do not have National Service obligations when local Singaporeans have reservist obligations until they are 40 years old.
All that the critics can offer is that Mr Tan does not understand the limited powers of the Presidency and that the President has no executive powers.
But these critics fail to understand the broader constitutional duty of the President to look after the welfare of Singaporeans. His duty to Singaporeans is not confined to only guarding the reserves or ensuring the integrity of public service appointments, important though they are.
The President may not have executive powers, but he is able to leverage on the mandate he has received from the people, and the prestige of his office to advise the government of his views on government policies and how they are affecting the well-being of Singaporeans.
Singapore inherited the Westminster model of Government from Britain. In Britain, the Monarch shares the same constitutional position as our President. The Queen or the King as the constitutional monarch has no executive powers but that has never stopped them from giving advice to the Prime Minister in their weekly meetings on how they viewed the effects of government policies.
I think Singaporeans would rather have a person such as Mr Tan Kin Lian as President, someone who would not hesitate to give his advice to the government on matters concerning their welfare, than a doormat who would simply do the bidding of the government.
In conclusion, I endorse Mr Tan Kin Lian wholeheartedly for President of Singapore
Also read the speeches of
Mr Tan Kin Lian: Rekindling unity and charting a vigorous future for Singapore
Mr Tan Jee Say: A courageous, genuine, and humble choice for Singapore
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]]>The post Tan Jee Say endorses Tan Kin Lian for President: A courageous, genuine, and humble choice for Singapore appeared first on The Online Citizen.
]]>I support Mr Tan Kin Lian as candidate for President. He will make a good president, a
courageous, genuine, and humble one.
Courageous, Genuine and Humble
For someone who lost his deposit in the 2011 presidential election 12 years ago, it definitely takes a lot of courage to place himself at the mercy of the voters to contest again. No matter what, I think we can all admit – that courage is commendable. Kin Lian has also asked me to be his proposer in the event that he goes ahead with his nomination.
As you all know, I was one of his opponents in the 2011 Presidential Election – for him to ask me to be his proposer, I think that in itself speaks volumes about his humility. I believe that if elected, Kin Lian will bring this humble and courageous attitude to listen to all sides and genuinely serve the people of Singapore.
Contest Assured
Secondly, Kin Lian clearly meets all the qualifying criteria to be a candidate. As CEO of NTUC Income from 1977 to 2007, he was the most senior executive within the organisation that had at least $500 million shareholder equity during the last three years and was profitable during the period of 30 years when he was in charge. He does not need any waivers for him to qualify.
At the moment, there is some doubt on whether there will even be an election.
So with his entry, there will be no walkover and there will be a contest, something I believe Singaporeans want to see.
On a lighter note as well, an additional public holiday is always nice. Independent
Thirdly, Kin Lian is clearly independent of the government. He left party- and government-linked organizations more than 15 years ago. He also manages his own money, not any government funds.
This independence of the government is the most important quality in a President if he is to truthfully perform his twin roles of upholding the integrity of the public service and safeguarding the reserves.
Trust
Recent public scandals have eroded the people’s trust in the government. We need to bring
back this lost trust. Continuous governance by the same political party for as long as most of us can remember, 64 years, has unfortunately resulted in the distinction between the
political and the civil service leadership being blurred.
As a result, both parties have become less careful in dealing with and respecting each other
as independent entities. The purpose of the civil service is to serve the people, regardless of political leadership.
That means there should be clear guidelines on how elected officials should approach civil servants for information, on whom to ask and on how civil servants should respond to requests for information for personal use and not for public interest. An independent President would be the most appropriate party to initiate and moderate such an exercise in setting clear guidelines. Only then can we bring back trust in the government, to best serve the people of Singapore.
Reserves
With regard to the President’s role of safeguarding reserves, we must guard against
overstating the need for huge reserves to defend the Singapore dollar.
Putting aside too much of our savings for this purpose, may restrain our economic growth and hold up the government’s efforts to help the people of Singapore in managing the rising cost of living, to ensure the provision of affordable housing and to create diverse and rewarding job opportunities for our people – many of whom now feel helpless and without hope in a challenging world economy. An independent President can take a fresh look at the requirements.
Mr Ng Kok Song told us that when Dr Goh Keng Swee asked him years ago at MAS to defend the Singapore dollar against speculative attacks, he used very little of the reserves to do so.
Mr Tan Kin Lian has spoken about our reserves at a Hong Lim Park rally some time ago and I am sure that if elected President, he will do a fresh and thorough review with MAS officials and guide them on the appropriate level of reserves to put aside to defend the Singapore dollar and for other emergency uses.
If we do not need too much to do so, the President will give us hope that he will not stand in the way of the government if it decides to use more of the reserves to help the people. This would be a proper and legitimate use of our reserves and should not be misconstrued as a raid on our reserves.
People’s President
In essence – for a humble, genuine and courageous People’s President, for proper democracy, and for effective independence, I support Mr. Tan Kin Lian’s 2023 Presidential Election bid. I commend Singaporeans to support him. If elected, President Tan Kin Lian will bring back trust and give us hope.
Also read the speeches of
Mr Tan Kin Lian: Rekindling unity and charting a vigorous future for Singapore
Mr Lim Tean: A visionary leader for Singapore’s Presidency
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]]>The post Tan Kin Lian’s pledge: Rekindling unity and charting a vigorous future for Singapore appeared first on The Online Citizen.
]]>I am participating in the upcoming election to give the people of Singapore a chance to vote for a President that is independent of the ruling government.
The President has to perform two key duties, as set out in the constitution. They are to safeguard our past reserves and to protect the integrity of our public service.
If elected, I intend to perform these two key duties diligently, honestly, and to the best of my abilities.
I will now state how I intend to carry out these two key duties, if I were elected as President.
I deal with the first duty. Our past reserves comprise of a large sum that probably runs into several hundreds of billion dollars, maybe more. It is vitally important that the reserves are invested soundly to produce a good rate of return over the long term, covering five years or longer, and is not be exposed to high risk.
I will highlight this overall investment strategy to the professional investment managers so that they can carry out their work in the best possible way to achieve the desired results.
Many people have expressed concern about the large investment losses, amounting to several tens of billion dollars, incurred by our sovereign funds during the past year.
We should accept that the market values of the investments will fluctuate from year to year, according to the underlying conditions of the global economy. Also, we should not judge the performance of the past year with the benefit of hindsight and with inadequate knowledge of the actual conditions that influenced the investment decisions.
However, there are valuable lessons that can be learned from our recent experience. I intend to ensure that these lessons are properly identified and learned, so that we can make better policy and operating decisions in the future.
The actual monitoring will be the duty of the board of directors, but they will receive my advice and guidance on the approach to be taken.
Apart from ensuring that the past reserves are invested prudently, I intend to work with the government to ensure that the past reserves are used wisely for the benefit of our current and future generations.
I now deal with the second duty. It is also vitally important that we have the right people at the top levels of our public service.
While we should continue to value the contribution of our scholars who have excellent thinking skills, we should also value the knowledge and experience of people who have spent many years on the job and know the ground well.
We need different types of people, those with talents and those with practical experience, to form a good team. I wish to see that the people who have gained knowledge and practical experience from many years of dedicated service are given the opportunity to advance to positions of leadership.
I will be influenced by these factors in approving the recommendations of the people to be appointed into the top levels of our public service.
I intend to play an active role in dealing with these two key duties of the president. I believe that the active involvement of the president and a new direction are necessary to give a new vigor to our governance.
With the knowledge and experience from 30 years as the chief executive officer of NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative, I am confident that I will be able to perform these two key duties well. I intend to do so for the benefit of the people of Singapore.
Beyond these constitutional duties, I have a vision – to use the president’s office to influence policies that will make a better life for the people of Singapore.
I will focus on three fundamental areas, crucial to the well-being of our citizens: bringing down the cost of living, ensuring affordable housing for all, and securing jobs that provide a sense of stability and a path to progress.
Now, I must clarify that I don’t intend to be an adversary to the elected government. On the contrary, I hope to work in collaboration with the government to achieve the goals stated above.
My vision is to build a nation where the people are united and live in harmony. I believe that the people will be united when they feel financially secure and are able to look beyond their immediate concerns and think about the greater good of our society.
This was the spirit of unity and pride that Singaporeans felt 50 years ago. We need to rekindle that spirit.
I come from a humble background. Throughout my entire life, which spans 75 years as of now, I have been in close touch with the ordinary people. I know of their hardship and aspirations.
If I am elected into the high office of the President, I intend to remain in close
touch with the ordinary people. I believe that I can perform my duty best, if am in touch with the pulse and heartbeat of the people.
I ask for the support of the people to give me a strong mandate so that I can provide an independent perspective and act in collaboration with the ruling government, to deal with the challenges of the future.
Also read the speeches of
Mr Tan Jee Say: A courageous, genuine, and humble choice for Singapore
Mr Lim Tean: A visionary leader for Singapore’s Presidency
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