Tuesday, July 14, 2020







GE2020: PSP will 'respect' WP's Pritam Singh as Leader of the Opposition - Tan Cheng Bock




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Progress Singapore Party's Tan Cheng Bock and Workers' Party's Pritam Singh. (PHOTOS: Dhany Osman/Yahoo News Singapore)
SINGAPORE — Progress Singapore Party (PSP) will “go along with” Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh since he was appointed the Leader of the Opposition after the 2020 General Election (GE), said PSP’s secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock on Tuesday (14 July).
“WP was given the leader for opposition (role) and I think ...since he (Pritam) is the leader there, my two friends here will respect him as leader and will go along with him,” said Dr Tan at a PSP press conference.
He was referring to his two party members Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai, who were unveiled as the PSP’s Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP) at the conference.
Both Poa and Leong were part of PSP’s West Coast group representation constituency (GRC) team at the GE on 10 July. The PSP lost narrowly to the People’s Action Party (PAP) in the GRC, with a margin of 48.31 per cent of the vote share against the PAP’s 51.69 per cent.



View photos


Progress Singapore Party announced on 14 July 2020 that its members Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai will be the NCMPs at the next Parliament. (PHOTO: Koh Wan Ting/Yahoo News Singapore)

Under the NCMP scheme, up to 12 seats are offered to the opposition, depending on the outcome of a GE. As the Workers’ Party had won 10 elected seats, the PSP was offered two NCMP positions as the “best loser”.
WP’s performance at the polls - with wins in Sengkang GRC, Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC - prompted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to name WP’s Singh as the Leader of the Opposition.
Dr Tan noted the position and said his party would follow the WP’s lead, noting his personal relationship with the WP secretary-general and its chairman Sylvia Lim.
“Historically, I’ve been quite close to Pritam and Sylvia, we’ve always been very good friends, and we share many many common things, ideals and policies also... we are now going like a team. WP will take the lead, we will help them,” said Dr Tan.
Leong said that the policies of PSP and WP on tackling problems faced by Singaporeans were “more or less aligned” so that there was “room to cooperate” on that front.
Asked if the PSP plans to collaborate with WP outside of Parliament, Poa said that it was “premature” to talk about the issue as her party had just made its decision to take up the NCMP seats.
“We have not yet had an opportunity to discuss this further with WP. So maybe at a later stage, we'll be able to answer that question better,” said Poa.
At a virtual press conference on Sunday, Lim said the WP was ready to work with whichever party that planned to take up the NCMP seats, in order to play the role of a rational and constructive opposition in Parliament.
Follow Yahoo News Singapore’s GE2020 coverage here.
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ricky
36 viewing
  • ricky l
    2 seconds ago
    (1) Oppositions confer with the "Leader of the Opposition" - must demonstrate that they can form shadow cabinet and provide alternative policies to govern.

    (2) Demonstrating "alternative voice" and "check and balance" - will no longer make voters happy.

    (3) Voters will be assessing the opposition capabilities - whether they have the substance to govern Singapore and how they fare against the PAP.

    (4) A higher standard of appraisal will be accorded to the Oppositions on how they perform in the Parliament by the voters.

    (5) Now the ball is on the Oppositions court.
20 seconds ago
(1) The same benchmark to assess the PAP governance - will be applied to the Oppositions.

(2) Oppositions must demonstrate that they are on par in governance with PAP - in Parliament.

(3) If Oppositions cannot prove that they can provide alternative policies to run Singapore that are comparable to the PAP - then voters will make their voice known comes the next General Election.

(4) In Parliament, there are no "free ride" - whether to Oppositions or incumbent.

1 second ago
(1) Politics is about dealing with our lives, livelihood, our Economy and our futures.

(2) We will not take the politics lightly.

(3) Oppositions must demonstrate they are of the same caliber and status of the PAP - to be able to govern Singapore and solve Singapore's problem.

(4) If Oppositions fail to demonstrate such capabilities - then voters will make their votes count come next General Election.

REACH - 114. PM urge Unity in covid-19 (SK)
14 July 2020 (3pm - 7pm)

REACH
[3:14 pm, 14/07/2020] +: Dear contributors,
Welcome back! 😊
⏰ We will be opening chats till 7pm today. ⏰
Please be reminded to be respectful and considerate to others in this WhatsApp chat group. 🙏🏼

REACH
[3:15 pm, 14/07/2020] +: 📢 Topic 📢
Tackling COVID-19
In his Facebook post (13 July), Prime Minister Lee Hsien reminded everyone to remain vigilant and united in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MOH provides the list of locations and the times that infectious COVID-19 patients have visited for at least 30 minutes. Those who were at these places at the specific periods should monitor their health closely for two weeks from the date of visit.
MOH added that close contacts would already have been notified and that there is no need to avoid these places as they would have been cleaned if needed.
👉 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3434214376641244&id=125845680811480
👉 https://str.sg/Jsu6
Remember to stay safe everyone!
--

[5:07 pm, 14/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Topic :- How to remain united in the face of covid.

(1) The covid has posed a tremendous threat to people's live, jobs and the Economy.
This has tremendously sour the mood of the people which impact unity.
If not for the 4 consecutive budgets that help to cushion the finance of many Singaporeans --- the outcome could be worst.

(2)  What are the factos the cause the souring of the mood that impact unity :-
i. Job lost - many young graduates have problem finding jobs. (Some are lucky to find internships, temp jobs, traineeship. But some who try on their own - cannot find jobs after graduate for a year or more).

Mid career PMETs and workers - who lose jobs (even before the covid hit) - and have trouble finding jobs.

Job insecurity (that affect young graduates or those graduating) - as well as those mid-career PMETs and workers (who got retrenched - but have difficulties to secure a new jobs) ----- is the major factor that turn the mood sour.

ii. Business loss - many business have close shops despite helps from the Government with 4 Budgets and some businesses barely survive.
This is also one of the factors that make business owners and employee feel insecure and sour the mood.

iii. Covid-19 threat - that people feel their lives are threatened as well as social distancing measures the inconvenience people (though these are needed to save lives).

As a result, younger people who feel uncomfortable, anxious and depressed are clamouring for :-

iv. Want alternative voice
v. Want check and balance

-----

[5:26 pm, 14/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
-----

In the period of abundance, when Singapore Economy is at the developing stage :-

Jobs are very easy to come by. Write half a page or 1 page resume.
Interview also not nasty got the job already.
---

Based on conversations with some young graduates as well as some mid-career PMETs :-
Now send 100 over resume also got no interview.

That's why people got frustrated especially young voters and mid career people.

To turn around the ground from sour mood to sweet mood - government must revive the scenarios of the past.

Then voters will not want alternative voices or check and balance - as long as people can easily get good pay jobs and easy to do business.

Nor will people pin the blame of too many foreigners taking away local jobs.

Singapore unlike previously is at growing stage of economic development, jobs come easily and job chase after people.

Now Singapore economic growth is at maturity where high pay jobs are lesser than people looking for jobs especially young graduates and mid career PMETs.

Thus can see people are more anxious and dissatisfied - and these are translated into sour mood to register the frustration.

---
The attempt to win over the young generation - to forge unity :-
Feel good factor, opportunities of abundance like in the early stage of our economic development - must be revived and created.

Especially in creating good jobs for the young and make them feel that they have a stake in the future.

The same scenario like our generation where economy and job flourish are the only way to make young support the Government and ensure unity.

Job insecurity, mid career job insecurity will make the young frustrated and make the mood sour.

No one will want to rock the boat - if people have job security, land of abundance and land full of opportunities.
--

Saturday, July 11, 2020


GE2020: PAP loses most seats to opposition since independence, vote share falls to 61.24%

People's Action Party Secretary-General and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong waves as he leaves a polling centre during the general election on 10 July 2020 in Singapore. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
ricky l

2 seconds ago
I feel why in 2020 GE, more votes have swing to the oppositions:-
1. Job lost - young graduates & mid career PMETs
2. Business loss
3. Covid-19 threat
4. Want alternative voice
5. Want check and balance

- are the reasons why PAP experience a swing from 69.9% to 61.24% in overall votes and lose a GRC in sengkang GRC with many young voters.

-----
[3:50 pm, 11/07/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: .
[4:00 pm, 11/07/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: Last time jobs very easy to come by. Write half a page or 1 page resume.
Interview also not nasty got the job already.

Now send 100 over resume also got no interview.

That's why people got frustrated especially young voters and mid career voters.

To turn around the slide in popular votes and win back opposition GRCs - government must revive the scenarios of the past.

Then voters will not want alternative voices or check and balance - as long as people can easily get good pay jobs and easy to do business.

Nor will voters pin the blame of too many foreigners taking away local jobs.

Singapore unlike previously is at growing stage of economic development, jobs come easily and job chase after people.

Now Singapore economic growth is at maturity where high pay jobs are lesser than people looking for jobs especially young graduates and mid career PMETs.

Thus can see people are more anxious and dissatisfied - and these are translated into oppositions votes to register the frustration.
----

PAP must attempt to win over the young generation.

Especially in creating good jobs for the young and make them feel that they have a stake in the future.

The same scenario like our generation where economy and job flourish are the only way to make young support PAP.

Job insecurity, mid career job insecurity will make the young frustrated and throw the votes to oppositions.
--

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

COMMENT: GE2020 — Why Singapore may lose, whatever the final score


ricky l

5 seconds ago
[4:34 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations

What should Singapore do to emerge stronger?

(Note :- This is nothing to do with the election campaign that is currently going on.
The above message is what Singapore should do to make Singapore come Togther as One Unity so that we can overcome a major crisis to come our Stronger.

(i) Singapore, albeit the World are experience once a lifetime crisis - that threaten human lives (with virus pandemic) that trigger a Worldwide deep Economic Recession that will threaten our lives, our jobs, our Economy, our supply chain and our future.

(ii) The current broadening and widening of geopolitical tension between 2 Superpowers that will threaten our Economy, political affiliation, our supply lines, our trade, our investment and our lives.

(iv) Then what should we do to ensure how Singapore can come together to emerge stronger?

(1) Strong Leadership will be required to chart the direction for us to navigate rough sea, tidal wave - to emerge safe and sound into calmer water.

(2) Strong Leadership to be able to find our niche and position in the geopolitical tussle - to stand neutral and yet able to hold our own to survive and thrive in the increasingly tense global world.

(3) Strong Leadership to be able to forge bilateral trade, multi-lateral trade, attract business, investment, finance to come to Singapore so that high-value added jobs can be created for Singapore.

(4) Strong Leadership and not splinter, fractitious groups that make us weak (by crippling bright and brilliant decision-makers) -- pulling in all different directions -- but not able to help us to converge into a common directions and common goals - to help us to tackle the deep Economic crisis and geopolitical tension.

(5) Strong Leadership that will help us to R&D, find vaccines, treatment, test kits, medicine manufacturing capability, hospital facilites etc to ensure that Singaporeans and residents have the best medical care to be able to keep the covid-19 threat at bay and when vaccines and treatment come - Singaporeans and residents have the best medical protection to curb and stop the covid-19 once and for all.

(6) Strong Leadership that will help to create jobs, keep business alive and thrive and keep our Economy survive, thrive and vibrant.

To conclude, the above message is nothing to do with the Election campaign nor to prop up any parties in the Election --- but the necessary ingredients that Singapore need to make Singapore Together possible to unite us and help us to emerge Stronger from the virus and economic crisis.

[4:51 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Singapore has no natural resources.

Singapore only has strong human talents in the form of :-

1. Good Leadership
2. Talented work force.

To emerge stronger, the 2 ingredients must bond and work together.

Failing which, to exploit our most precious ingredients of success, Singapore will fail.

[5:32 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
What will be the greatest threat to Singapore - that will cause Singapore to fail?

(1) We fail to exploit our greatest treasure - by crippling our very own human talents :-
a. We crippled our Leadership, our leadership are fractitious, splinter with diverse goals, mission and objectives --- always involve in bickerings instead of working together, 1 step forward 2 step backwards, rise one day fall another day, need to scramble to form "multi-coalition" with all size, forms and shape --- to the detriment of leading Singapore forward.

A fractitious leadership will fail to unite and mobilise our talented workforce in a constructive way to bring us out from troubled water - eg. to curb and tackle the current virus pandemic, to emerge and tackle the economic recession effectively and to make ourselves viable and feasible in the growing hostile geopolitical situation.

We can see all these happenings around us, around the World - and if such scenarios ever happen to Singapore - Singapore will not emerge stronger and will fail - because we don't have strategic depth, natural resources and large hinterland.

Once our direction is wrong - we will fall headlong --- and it will be very difficult for us to recover and come back to where we are --- in a moment of folly.

This has nothing to do with the election campaign - this is an inherent truth, a conventional wisdom.

Even a big Superpower will plummet if the above scenario happen.
What will anyone think whether Singapore can survive such internal crisis --- never mind the big external crisis that hit us - virus that threaten our lives, economic crisis that threaten our jobs.

It will be a triple whammy for Singapore - if the above scenario happen.
REACH - 113. Polling Day - how we emerge stronger (SK)
08 July 2020 (3pm - 10pm)


REACH
[2:41 pm, 08/07/2020] : Dear Contributors,
Welcome back!
We will be opening the chat from 3 pm to 10 pm today.

Before we begin especially during this period, we would like to highlight the following from our TOUs:
You shall not upload, post, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that can reasonably be regarded as intended
- to promote or procure the electoral success at any election for one or more identifiable political parties, candidates or groups of candidates; or
- to otherwise enhance the standing of any such political parties, candidates or groups of candidates with the electorate in connection with any election
Please note that REACH reserves the right to remove anyone from this chat group if they are found to have flouted the TOUs.
Full set of Terms of Use:
- https://go.gov.sg/reach-whatsapp-terms

REACH
[2:55 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Dear contributors,
Welcome back! 😊
⏰ We will be opening chats till 10pm today. ⏰
Please be reminded to be respectful and considerate to others in this WhatsApp chat group. 🙏🏼

REACH
[3:00 pm, 08/07/2020] +: 📢 Topic 📢
Polling Day on 10 July
This Friday (10 July), about 2.65 million Singaporeans are expected to vote.
As this General Election is held amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Election Department (ELD) will be implementing safety measures during Polling Day. These measures include dedicated time-bands for seniors to vote, setting up more polling stations and having voters wear gloves before entering polling booths.
Before setting off to vote, voters can also check the queue situation using the http://VoteQ.gowhere.gov.sg website.
👉 For more information, read: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-safety-measures-polling-day-general-election-12815876

REACH
[3:50 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations – Now Open for Early Registration.
What are your aspirations, as we forge ahead in our recovery and rebuilding journey? Share your views in the series of Emerging Stronger Conversations – now open for early registration!
👉 https://go.gov.sg/ESconversations
You can also share your reflections and experiences of finding hope, resilience, and kindness amid the challenges faced during COVID-19 here: 👉 https://www.singaporetogether.gov.sg/reflect/.
[3:56 pm, 08/07/2020] +: [Sent by Gov.sg – 8 Jul]

----

[4:34 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations

What should Singapore do to emerge stronger?

(Note :- This is nothing to do with the election campaign that is currently going on.
The above message is what Singapore should do to make Singapore come Togther as One Unity so that we can overcome a major crisis to come our Stronger.

(i) Singapore, albeit the World are experience once a lifetime crisis - that threaten human lives (with virus pandemic) that trigger a Worldwide deep Economic Recession that will threaten our lives, our jobs, our Economy, our supply chain and our future.

(ii) The current broadening and widening of geopolitical tension between 2 Superpowers that will threaten our Economy, political affiliation, our supply lines, our trade, our investment and our lives.

(iv) Then what should we do to ensure how Singapore can come together to emerge stronger?

(1) Strong Leadership will be required to chart the direction for us to navigate rough sea, tidal wave - to emerge safe and sound into calmer water.

(2) Strong Leadership to be able to find our niche and position in the geopolitical tussle - to stand neutral and yet able to hold our own to survive and thrive in the increasingly tense global world.

(3) Strong Leadership to be able to forge bilateral trade, multi-lateral trade, attract business, investment, finance to come to Singapore so that high-value added jobs can be created for Singapore.

(4) Strong Leadership and not splinter, fractitious groups that make us weak (by crippling bright and brilliant decision-makers) -- pulling in all different directions -- but not able to help us to converge into a common directions and common goals - to help us to tackle the deep Economic crisis and geopolitical tension.

(5) Strong Leadership that will help us to R&D, find vaccines, treatment, test kits, medicine manufacturing capability, hospital facilites etc to ensure that Singaporeans and residents have the best medical care to be able to keep the covid-19 threat at bay and when vaccines and treatment come - Singaporeans and residents have the best medical protection to curb and stop the covid-19 once and for all.

(6) Strong Leadership that will help to create jobs, keep business alive and thrive and keep our Economy survive, thrive and vibrant.

To conclude, the above message is nothing to do with the Election campaign nor to prop up any parties in the Election --- but the necessary ingredients that Singapore need to make Singapore Together possible to unite us and help us to emerge Stronger from the virus and economic crisis.

Blue and White Flag Guy
[4:35 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Aiya you want talk then just register lah aiyo

[4:51 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Singapore has no natural resources.

Singapore only has strong human talents in the form of :-

1. Good Leadership
2. Talented work force.

To emerge stronger, the 2 ingredients must bond and work together.

Failing which, to exploit our most precious ingredients of success, Singapore will fail.

Droll
[4:53 pm, 08/07/2020] +: It is interesting that you point out #1 and #2. In behavioural profiling, Singapore tends to be heavily biased towards people followers rather than leaders. It could be a result of our upbringing, culture, and education.
[4:53 pm, 08/07/2020] +: I mean Singaporean typically end up with a behaviour profile of that type of person.

[5:32 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
What will be the greatest threat to Singapore - that will cause Singapore to fail?

(1) We fail to exploit our greatest treasure - by crippling our very own human talents :-
a. We crippled our Leadership, our leadership are fractitious, splinter with diverse goals, mission and objectives --- always involve in bickerings instead of working together, 1 step forward 2 step backwards, rise one day fall another day, need to scramble to form "multi-coalition" with all size, forms and shape --- to the detriment of leading Singapore forward.

A fractitious leadership will fail to unite and mobilise our talented workforce in a constructive way to bring us out from troubled water - eg. to curb and tackle the current virus pandemic, to emerge and tackle the economic recession effectively and to make ourselves viable and feasible in the growing hostile geopolitical situation.

We can see all these happenings around us, around the World - and if such scenarios ever happen to Singapore - Singapore will not emerge stronger and will fail - because we don't have strategic depth, natural resources and large hinterland.

Once our direction is wrong - we will fall headlong --- and it will be very difficult for us to recover and come back to where we are --- in a moment of folly.

This has nothing to do with the election campaign - this is an inherent truth, a conventional wisdom.

Even a big Superpower will plummet if the above scenario happen.
What will anyone think whether Singapore can survive such internal crisis --- never mind the big external crisis that hit us - virus that threaten our lives, economic crisis that threaten our jobs.

It will be a triple whammy for Singapore - if the above scenario happen.

====

[7:31 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
'At war time speed', China leads COVID-19 vaccine race
Sangmi Cha and Miyoung Kim
https://sg.yahoo.com/news/war-time-speed-china-leads-121755065.html

Rama
[7:33 pm, 08/07/2020] +: For which strain!?

[7:37 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Don't know?
But China, UAE, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico are on trial.

Rama
[7:50 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Wishing all god's speed!

[7:53 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
If global politics are throw out of the window, vaccines development can be much faster.
Vaccines can have trial in more countries.
Unfortunately there are no global leadership and global wisdom.

Rama
[7:54 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Agree

CQ
[7:59 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Agree. WHO was supposed to be playing the role of global leadership in pandemic control strategies and carrying the whip to penalise those countries which are not compliant. Unfortunately they're not doing their jobs, so I don't entirely blame the US for pulling out of WHO, although I don't agree with their reasons and timing for doing so.

Blue and White Flag Guy
[8:01 pm, 08/07/2020] +: WHO thinks the world will be here in 5 more years? Keechiu! 😂

[8:03 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
When I refer to global leadership and global wisdom - I refer not only to WHO but also political leaders - that lack collaboration, cooperation --- where i only see finger-pointing, blaming, extracting political benefits out of the crisis.

CQ
[8:06 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Agree, but every country's leaders will be hardpressed to advocate for their own people's welfare first. It takes a neutral body like WHO to be the central body coordinating all research and vaccine development efforts, and to smack those world leaders who try to be selfish and jeopardise everyone else.

[8:11 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
WHO can't smack any political leaders who refused to cooperate because WHO fundings come from each Country's contribution.

If one is the paymaster and lack global perspective and global wisdom to lead from the front or at least set the environment for collaboration and cooperation, world bodies will malfunction.

Eg UN have 5 permanent members.
If the 5 members leadership fail to cooperate, UN will fail.

[8:18 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
In fact, all global initiatives fall apart - WHO, WTO, IMF, Paris Climate Agreement, Iran nuclear deal, TPP, Middle East Peace Initiative etc --- any World Bodies and Initiatives or Agreement succeeded in the last 4 years?

The lack of Global Leadership and global wisdom are sorely missing - and global cooperation fall waywards.

And this happen in the midst of Global virus pandemic threat, Global trade war, Disruption of Global Supply Chain and now Global recession ----- multiple whammy of crisis in an unprecedented proportion.

Hopefully, we don't have to deal with a self-induced internal crisis in the midst of such external global challenges.

CQ
[8:19 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Whether it's UN or WHO, these international organisations are established by treaties which means the participating countries are contractually bound to observe the terms. As with all contracts, if 1 party unilaterally acts to the detriment of the other members, there has to be consequences. The only question is whether there are relevant terms allowing whether the relevant international organisation or for a collective number of members to enforce against the errant member country.

[8:20 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Well can try that to a superpower.
It doesn't work isn't it?

CQ
[8:30 pm, 08/07/2020] +: IMHO, a superpower is a status built on the regard and respect that other member countries accord to this country. If a country has been conducting itself in a manner where no respect can continue to be accorded, it can't be that they continue to enjoy that special respect, have the last word in everything, and bulldoze their way through. There is strength in numbers. Even if that one superpower can unilaterally impose economic sanctions, what good are those sanctions if half the world falls into that list?

[8:33 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Well, right to say.
Difficult to do.

CQ
[8:36 pm, 08/07/2020] +: I know... That's why I can only muse here. 🙂

[8:46 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Human Heart initiate.
Human mind makes the World work.
If Human Heart is not at the right place - nothing works.
大地万法唯心照。
有因缘生,有因缘灭。

Anne
[8:47 pm, 08/07/2020] +: Hmm... so, to solve global issues we need a New World Order huh? A global government with all national governments subject to it.

[8:51 pm, 08/07/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:
Before we solve the global issues, we have to solve our internal issues first.
This is something that we can control.


----