Sunday, July 19, 2020

PAP must share info if WP is to craft credible policy alternatives: Pritam Singh

Yahoo News SingaporeJuly 19, 2020

1 second ago

(1) In a mature democracy like US, UK, Australia, there are full-throated ruling and opposition party (essentially a 2-party system) - whereby 1 party is capable of replacing another party as the ruling government.
eg.
a. US has - Republicans vs Democrats
UK has - Conservative vs Labor
Australia has - Labor vs Liberal

(2) Now WP in Singapore has 10 MPs elected and WP is now confer the role of "Leader of Oppositions" ---- then WP must formulate an alternative policies that potentially can govern Singapore.

(3) WP call for "alternative voice" or "check and balance" --- can no longer satisfy the voters that have voted WP into Parliament as opposition MPs.
In other words, there are no more "free ride".

(4) WP MPs in Parliament - must be subjected to the same yardstick as that of PAP MPs ---- notably, WP must formulate a comprehensive plans and policies in Parliament -- how WP intend to govern Singapore ---- and subject to robust debate in the Parliament.

(5) This will allow public and voters to assess whether WP plans and policies can stand water - and indeed can be an alternative party to govern Singapore.

(6) By doing so, comes next General Election, voters will be better inform --- on whether they can entrust the votes to WP as MPs or the Party to be able to run Singapore.

(7) For a start, WP talk about :-
a. Minimum wages
b. Retrenchment insurance

(8) Will like WP to bring the above recommendation into Parliament for debate to see whether they are workable --- or what inherent negative consequences if the above 2 proposal are implemented.

(9) Will be happy to jump in to debate on the 2 proposals if WP brought this into Parliament - to see whether they are good for Singaporeans or make Singapore less competitive economically as well as what are the positive and negative impact to the workforce and business - if implemented.

24 seconds ago

Comments from my close friend :-

(1) Honeymoon period is over.

(2) Show that you are credible not just take PAP s policy and sugar coat it.

15 minutes ago

you just step on the trap set up by the emperor and his eunuchs.

7 minutes ago

before anything even begins, wp kena arrow already.

16 minutes ago

You have probably assume too much. How to formulate policy to present to the People if you are unable to know how much owe to the people inside the CPF, how much is our overall Reserves, how much is Temasek worth, how much are all the Executives paid, what are the actual building costs our of HDB units, etc. etc. ?? Be careful of being made a laughing stork which will bring all Oppies down to the abyss. Must get their promises that all doors and windows would be open by the asking first.
1 second ago

@OhPehSom -

When LKY started as Opposition Leader - he did not ask for any in the Parliament.

And yet he and his fellow MPs can formulate broad based policies to bring Singapore to what it is today.

You mean WP has no such quality?

7 minutes ago

Care to publish the Profit and Loss statement of all the GICS, GLCS and Temasek Holdings ? You mean Singaporeans have no right to know ? please lah
1 second ago

@My Opininon -

WP just list out your plans and policies - and let voters assess them.

It is nonsense to talk about P&L for the sovereign funds - unless WP want to swindle all the reserves away.

Is that what WP intend to do?

If yes - state your intent and let Singaporeans know.

1 second ago

@My Opininon -

Or simply WP can't formulate good plans and policies -- but just use the above as excuses -- so that WP don't have to share their plans and policies --- and hope to get away from it ---- so that voters cannot assess their capabilities --- and become a "free rider" for another term.

Singaporean voters are not fool --- and continue to be fool by the Oppositions continuously.

10 minutes ago

@ricky l what policies were formulated by PAP during their opposition term that "bring Singapore to what it is today"?
1 second ago

@Breeke -
Check LKY's memoirs.

1 second ago

@Breeke -
What is WP's policies and plans - to govern Singapore?

2 seconds ago

Honestly, I have checked WP websites and its manifesto.

It is all about spending, spending and spending money.

But nothing is mention about how to keep our Economy growing, create jobs for Singaporeans and many things to keep our Country afloat.

Broad based strategic vision is conspicuously missing.

15 minutes ago

@ricky l i hv no recollection of LKY making that statement in person or in his memiors. Do u hv any basis? I hope u were not putting words into LKY's mouth? Which memior u saw that assertion by LKY?

4 minutes ago

@Breeke -
Then go buy LKY memoir.
If not go to Hansard and read.

Not to suppose to spoon feed you right?

1 minute ago

@Breeke -

But those are history.

WP is now the "Leader of Opposition".

All Singaporeans voters are interested in what WP is offering now - not history.

Singaporean voters are going to vote in 2025 - not the past.

Don't give excuse for WP.

Historical records - go and read all the past Parliament record.

If you are too lazy to read his memoir and hansard and all the historical record about LKY.

You can read online information about LKY - and what he did as Leader of Opposition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew

Lee Kuan Yew GCMG CH SPMJ (born Harry Lee Kuan Yew; 16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015), often referred to by his initials LKY, was a Singaporean politician and lawyer who served as the first Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. As one of th

en.wikipedia.org

8 minutes ago

@ricky l where in the link did u see LKY said what u said?
9 minutes ago

@ricky l

So Mr Ricky, if you want the Workers Party to formulate GOOD ALTERNATIVE policies THEN MAKE SURE your beloved PAP is FORTHCOMING WITH REAL DATAS AND INFORMATIONS.

PAP can’t even be transparent with Singaporeans, you want to talk about ACCOUNTABILITY?! LOL 😂😂

1 second ago

Aiyah, WP cannot swim means cannot swim lah.

Cannot swim say so lah.

Don't have to give all sort of excuses lah :-
- say no information lah
- need spoon feeding lah

Never mind, all Singaporean take note -- and we will see the WP performance in times to come.

2 seconds ago

Excuses WP is giving - as they can't formulate alternative policies.

How to expect voters to put trust in WP to govern Singapore?

Oppositions in mature democracy such as US, UK and Australia don't have the benefit of civil service providing information to them but yet can formulate alternative policies to take over the government if they win election.

WP are giving excuses that they cannot - show the lack of depth and talents within the party to be able to run a government.

This must be make known loud and clear to Singaporean voters come next General Election.

2 seconds ago

Many people I talk to share the sentiments that WP cannot govern Singapore.

They are in Parliament because some dissatisfied voters want to put them in Parliament to make noise only.

And it is very clear that WP as a party - lack talents, depth and experience to run a Government.

Just looking at the proposal they put across in their websites - it has no comprehensive alternative policies to run the Government - only ask questions, sugar-coat Government policies, find fault here and there.

26 seconds ago

Singaporean voters must be very careful and mindful of the fact that - if a freak result occur ---- Singapore will go into a panic mode if WP and Oppositions win the election through a freak election.

Everyone's lives are place on the Oppositions with no experience, no depth and no talents to run the Country --- only experience in making noise in Parliament and ask questions only.

Oppositions cannot run the Country --- and will bring ruin to Singapore.

Everyone must be mindful that - your lives, your jobs, your business, your wealth, your future ----- are place with someone that will ruin you if a wrong political parties and oppositions are voted into Parliament.

Just look at what happen to :-
US - an inept President voted in -- that cause so much miseries in US.

Brexit - a policy failure - that cause so much economic difficulties to UK voters.

Malaysia - splinter, fragmented "za balan" parties - without a strong government - and changing government by changing clothes.

If Singaporean voters are not careful ---- we will go the way as the above examples --- and heading to ruin.

2 seconds ago

WP say - don't issue a "blank cheque" to PAP.

Likewise, smart mature Singaporean voters ---- don't issue a "blank cheque" to WP and other Oppositions.

They must prove they are of calibers to run Singapore.

Asking questions in Parliament, make noise, find fault here and there, sugar-coat Government policies are not good enough.

Because they are dealing with our lives, our jobs, our Economy, our wealth, our business, our future.

Not playing "masak masak" --- "ra-ra show" in Parliament.

1 second ago

(1) WP is systematically elevated to Party of Equal - and is expected to perform the role of Leader of Opposition.

(2) This role come with political obligation - to be able to formulate alternative policies that can replace the current policies if they win the next General Election.

(3) As Leader of Opposition, a series of robust tests must be put in place - to determine whether the Opposition possess the mettle to govern - as part of a 2-party system befitting that of a mature democracy.

(4) The alternative policies must be put forth into the Parliament by the Opposition - to undergo robust debate between the ruling party and the opposition - to test the veracity of the alternative policies.

(5) The debate should be broadcast or make available to public - so that the public can view, rate and assess the performance of the opposition and determine whether the alternative policies put forth by the opposition can stand water or not.

(6) This should be the characterisitics of a mature democracy - whereby 2 party can offer policies to be able to govern the Country.

(7) Come next General Election, voters will be more informed to determine the viability of the oppositions' strength and viability before casting our votes - to determine whether we can entrust the oppositions to run the Government or not.

(8) This will ensure that no freak election result will surface to shock Singapore - especially if the Oppositions are not ready to run Singapore.

(9) Meanwhile, ruling party must also solve all the ground problem and difficulties face by the voters - so that there will be less frustrated voters to vote the oppositions out of frustration.

18 seconds ago

Need civil service to give you information --- to make such strategic move or not?

Can swim means can swim.

Cannot swim make all kind of excuses - also cannot swim.

8 minutes ago

"This will ensure that no freak election result will surface to shock Singapore"
--------------------

@Rick
LOL... its funny you are CONTRADICTING youself. Lol

On the one hand, you use matured democracies as yardstick in your comment.

Then you claim -- "FREAK result" -- when OPPOSITION wins MORE seats in future GE that ends PAP's super-majority or even simple majority.

Errr... in those matured democracies you allude to, a SINGLE political party which wins consecutive supermajority control of Parliament, over 50-60 years, would be deemed as "FREAK".

A ONE-Party parliament is clearly "FREAK", because in a group of millions of People,
it is NOT possible that all (or super-duper majority) of citizens have the SAME political-economic-social thoughts;
unless the society we are dealing with, is manifestly a COMMUNISTIC society.
LOL

Statiscally, in a normal democratic society,
to have (more or less) balanced parliament with a pluralism of different political parties -- (reflecting the different political leanings of citizens of that society) --
would be a "NORM".

So which is which??
You CANNOT simply switch at random, your measuring yardstick /benchmark as you please, just to fit your arguments in favor of the Party (PAP) you clearly support. LOL
1 second ago

@XYZ -

No need to talk so much and find excuses.

Voters are waiting for WP to provide a comprehensive plan and policies for Singapore.

If up to next GE, WP unable to furnish one --- then voters will vote wisely.

All sorts of excuses are irrelevant - just show Singaporeans can run Singapore --- no need to find excuses and talk irrelevant things.

25 minutes ago

i think he not aggressive enough, he can't handle well, jamus maybe
36 minutes ago

After LW, who else in line to throw lightning at the Leader of the Opposition?
38 minutes ago

WP cannot make it la... only ask ask ask.... question question question... we want solutions. not talk talk talk.... ask ask ask... lol. no substance lah WP.
2 hours ago

The result is an indication of the people feel about the 4G leaders bringing us forward, not so much of wanting more opposition.

6 minutes ago

@Rick,
so have you decided which yardstick /benchmark you would use?

WHY is a "NORM" election result in ALL other matured democracy, deemed by you, as a "FREAK" outcome,
IF & WHEN a similar outcome happens in Spore?

You cannot have it both ways.. LOL
11 minutes ago

@ricky l
Wah... you can talk "so much" whereas I cannot talk as much har??
LOL
12 minutes ago

Simple question of analogy.
Can the CEO (and the rest of the senior Executives)
of a corporarion wilfully hides information from some "not friendly" members of the Board of Director??

2 minutes ago

@Rick
why no reply?
Tongue tied?

Still cannot decide which is "NORM" and which is "FREAK" , due to a basic logic violation in your arguments?? LOL
9 minutes ago

@ricky l,

Did you suggest that for every item that you listed.

Multiply that with S$100M budget for WP to IMPLEMENT.

Also for every Successful Implementation that P@P Minister will have his/her salary reduce by half.

Other wise Your talk is just all AIR.

However I LIKE your Suggestion on item (5),

BUT

Your P@Pies' Minister have NO balls to do that.

LOL....
2 minutes ago

Voters will assess WP.

Now, let us see whether WP got anything to produce or not.

Based on the 2 news report --- WP cannot.

Like Trump, shift blame, cry foul, ask for help, say not fair --- very familiar sounding.

No class.

Saturday, July 18, 2020

6 seconds ago

In fact I am getting more sceptical whether democratic system is it really a beneficial system for governance - as there is a possibility to vote in incompetent politicians or a political parties like trump, Brexit, coalition parties like Malaysia that keep changing govt like changing clothes.

20 seconds ago

(1) Trump is the greatest failure outcome of democracy - a total inept President voted in by voters.

(2) Brexit is the greatest policy failure - voted in by British voters.

(3) Malaysian coalition formation and breakage, changing of government like changing clothes - is the result of fail democracy.

-- Now US, UK and Malaysia - become weaker as a result of the negative outcomes of democracy ---- are voters the best decision-makers that make a Country successful?

16 seconds ago

(1) Now in US - American voters have become the greatest loser - many death, economic doldrums, losing global leadership and influence.

(2) In UK - UK voters become the greatest Brexit losers, economic uncertainty.

(3) In Malaysia - Malaysian voters become the greatest losers that vote for change - as malaysian politics is now unstable, volatile without a strong government.

42 minutes ago

you are right, Winston Churchill put this best, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voters ", you will know when democracy will fail by looking at the news, when you found that the news are more interesting than shows on TV, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM

23 minutes ago

Perhaps you’d be happier in a country with an autocratic system of governance. I hear North Korea is lovely this time of year. Bon voyage!

1 second ago

(1) Democracy is the not best political system to choose a Government.

(2) Neither is Communism the best political system to choose a Government.

Straits Times

GE2020 results a ‘clear mandate’ although 61.2 per cent vote share lower than 65 per cent PAP hoped for: Lawrence Wong

18 July 2020

The PAP will also have to address the “real economic pain” that a substantial segment of *people in their 40s and 50s* are feeling, he added.

This sandwiched group, who are looking after elderly parents and also caring for young children, *was facing difficulties even before the Covid-19 crisis*, he said.

---

[5:07 pm, 14/07/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:

Topic :- How to remain united in the face of covid.

(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.

===

Straits Times

GE2020 results a ‘clear mandate’ although 61.2 per cent vote share lower than 65 per cent PAP hoped for: Lawrence Wong

18 July 2020

Mr Wong said the *election outcome could also have been worse*, especially given the difficulties that people were facing on the ground.

---

[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*.

====

Straits Times
GE2020 results a ‘clear mandate’ although 61.2 per cent vote share lower than 65 per cent PAP hoped for: Lawrence Wong
18 July 2020
"In particular, there was a fall in support amongst those in their 40s and 50s, and perhaps even those in their early 60s."
This group of older voters swung against the PAP due to economic hardship, Mr Wong said. They included people who had suffered income or job losses, had their *businesses disrupted*, or been forced to downsize to lower-paying occupations.
---
[5:07 pm, 14/07/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Topic :- How to remain united in the face of covid.
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).
====

My post mortem and analysis immediately after GE2020 - is in synch with Government analysis of why some votes swing away from PAP

====

Thursday, July 16, 2020

COMMENT: Dear PAP, here's how to win back the youth vote

7 seconds ago

(1) There must be consequences for those who vote those MPs that represent them.

(2) Only then democracy will work.

(3) In US, state governor attract their investor, provide jobs in their state and implement policies they believe in --- different from the national or federal policy.
Those states who are run well, voters will stay, else they will move out of the states they stay in or vote out their state governor.

(4) So assume sengkang grc vote for WP - should let the voters in grc run by WP - eg. WP advocate draw out CPF by 55 years, set minimum wages, people lose their jobs in their wards --- then WP should create jobs for their voters in their wards.

(5) Overtime, let the voters decide whether WP can govern or not. The voters in the Oppie wards should live with the consequences - based on what they vote for.

(6) Only then democracy will work - when consequences are tie to what they vote.

(7) Singapore has no strategic depth - so by letting voters live with the consequences - people will vote wisely.

50 seconds ago

“Sigh….” — Ho Ching’s response to Jamus Lim’s clarification on minimum wage
Professor now says burden is borne mostly by higher prices consumers pay and in part by firms

Photos: AFP, YT screencapture
AUTHOR
Jewel Stolarchuk
DATE
July 16, 2020
CATEGORY

Featured NewsHome NewsSingapore PoliticsSocio-Political

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Singapore — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife, Ms Ho Ching, has expressed what appears to be concern over Workers’ Party MP-elect Jamus Lim’s position on a minimum wage.

Professor Lim, an economist, shot to fame when he took part in a televised pre-election debate on July 1 with the People’s Action Party’s Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Singapore Democratic Party’s Dr Chee Soon Juan and the Progress Singapore Party’s Mr Francis Yuen.

Those who saw the debate felt that Prof Lim was able to hold his own against Dr Balakrishnan and came off as eloquent and level-headed.

During the debate, they had clashed over who will bear the fiscal burden of the policies featured in the WP’s manifesto and Prof Lim had asserted that the WP’s manifesto promises are “budget-neutral”.

- Advertisement -

Days later, on July 10, Prof Lim was elected to Parliament when the WP won Sengkang GRC.

On Tuesday afternoon (July 14), Prof Lim addressed concerns about the WP’s minimum wage proposal and indicated that the fiscal burden of minimum wage would be borne mostly by consumers who buy products or services with higher prices and, in part, by firms. He wrote:

“Who pays for the minimum wage? Some people think this would cost the government. Actually, most min wage models have no fiscal impact, and the burden is borne mostly by higher prices consumers pay (3/4), and in part by firms (1/4).

“I see this as a feature, not a bug. The point is to redistribute some bargaining power from capital to labour, and I think we can afford to chip in a little to take care of the least well-off in society. With many more buyers than min wage workers, the price effect will be small.”

He added that the Government’s Progressive Wage Model (PWM) is not equivalent to a minimum wage model and that it does not work for the 100,000 workers the WP estimates earn below the minimum wage.

In the hours after Prof Lim’s clarification was published, a Facebook post began circulating suggesting that his latest statement is at odds with his statement in the debate that WP’s manifesto is budget-neutral.

The page that made the post, Singapore Matters, wrote:

“Minimum wage is not manna from heaven. Someone’s got to pay for it. The burden is on businesses and YOU. You will pay for it through higher prices. And this means a higher cost of living.

“When prices go up, it is the low wage workers who will be more hurt. It surely does not warm the cockles of your heart to learn that you bear 3/4 of the burden of a minimum wage.”

Ms Ho was one of the first few people to agree with the Singapore Matters post. Ms Ho, who also serves as CEO of Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings, shared the post about 15 minutes after it was published with the caption: “Sigh….”

Her post sharing the Singapore Matters picture is trending on social media. More than 300 people reacted to her post, which has accumulated over 200 comments and nearly 100 shares:

1 second ago

Eg.

(1) US have to live with Trump for 4 years.

(2) Malaysia will have to live with changing of government like changing clothes.

(3) UK got to live with Brexit.

(4) These are the consequences that the voters will have to live with - when they vote in the wrong politicians --- and the voters will have to bear with the consequences - for what they vote for.

(5) There must be consequences for those who vote for opposition wards.

(6) Democracy will only work - if there are consequences.

(7) Else voters anyhow vote - thinking that "Ah Gong" will bail them out - if the opposition MPs "tak jalan".

Babe Blog - Insights on News Events

Sunday, July 19, 2020

PAP must share info if WP is to craft credible policy alternatives: Pritam Singh

Saturday, July 18, 2020

COVID-19: Election Night crowds will potentially have 'consequence', says Lawrence Wong

Thursday, July 16, 2020

COMMENT: Dear PAP, here's how to win back the youth vote