In the Press: S’pore dialogues ‘have influenced policymaking’

In the Press: S’pore dialogues ‘have influenced policymaking’
From The Straits Times 24 Mar 2013-
Rachel Chang.
To those who dismiss the Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) exercise as a wayang, a talkshop or a sideshow, the minister guiding it, Mr Heng Swee Keat, points to the recently passed Budget as evidence that it is already having an impact on policymaking.

Carrot Olympics, Singapore re-writes record for most money paid per medal.

Singapore tops world in Olympic gold medal cash payout
By Elizabeth Soh | Fit To Post Sports – Sun, Aug 5, 2012 7:46 PM SGT
Feng's bronze medal will earn her S$250,000 under the MAP scheme. (Reuters photo)
If there's a medal for the highest cash payout for winning an Olympic gold, Singapore would top the charts.
According to a story by broadcaster CNBC, it said Italy was the most generous with a S$225,000 (USD 182,400) payout for gold, followed by Russia with S$167,000.
France rounded up the top 3 with an S$80,000 payout.
In contrast, US gold medal winners only pocket $31,000 for gold, S$18,000 for silver and S$12,000 for bronze.

HOLDING EXTERNAL AUDITORS ACCOUNTABLE (2 letters)

The Straits Times; Published on Jul 23, 2012
HOLDING EXTERNAL AUDITORS ACCOUNTABLE
Action will be taken if...
MR YEOW Hwee Ming asked if external auditors are taken to task in investigations into fraud or financial malfeasance ('Fraud: Hold external auditors accountable'; last Thursday).

Finance Ministry can borrow S$170b more

Finance Ministry can borrow S$170b more
by CHANNEL NEWSASIA
04:46 AM Apr 10, 2012
Parliament has authorised the Ministry of Finance to borrow a further S$170 billion, raising the ceiling for issuing government securities to S$490 billion.

Rules of prudence: Serving in a new era

Rules of prudence: Serving in a new era
04:47 AM May 28, 2011
THIS letter by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was circulated to all People's Action Party MPs and released to the media yesterday.

Our Party has won 81 out of 87 seats in the just concluded General Election. The opposition contested 82 seats, of which the PAP won 76, with 60.1 per cent of the votes.

Waxing lyrical online

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 21, 2011
Waxing lyrical online
WEBSITES are now full of bards waxing eloquent about Singapore's great divide. The thrust of these websites are that the ruling party should be voted out because of its pro-wealth and anti-poor policies.
Really? What should we believe... that Singapore should be ruled by a pro-poor and anti-rich political leadership?

How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain

How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain

Source: http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/10/how-pap-uses-taxpayer-funded-grassroots-for-political-gain/

By Gerald Giam
10 October 2009

Last week, Mr Eric Low and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, the PAP MP-aspirants who lost to Workers’ Party’s Low Thia Khiang and SDA’s Chiam See Tong respectively in the last election, grabbed the limelight for themselves by announcing HDB’s decision to upgrade lifts in Potong Pasir and Hougang.

Citizens have key role to be a check on bureaucrats

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 5, 2011
Citizens have key role to be a check on bureaucrats
DR VINCENT Tan states that the People's Action Party should take care of its own renewal, implying that this is also an issue other parties should face on their own as it is not the problem of the public, which simply casts its votes ("Govts better off with checks and balances"; yesterday).

Team walkovers

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 9, 2011
Team walkovers
'MPs must face the baptism of fire at some point in their political journey.'
MR GOH KEE CHUAN: 'Retiring Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee deserves recognition and respect for his patriotic contribution over 20 years to defence policies and service to the constituents

Cynicism will hurt GRC system

April 6, 2011.
Cynicism will hurt GRC system
GRCs work for S'pore, but furore over PAP new face is worrying
By Alan John, Deputy Editor ST
WHEN Mr Chiam See Tong, at age 75, says he is ready to leave his Potong Pasir seat to contest a group representation constituency (GRC), it is one more sign of how much things have changed in just over two decades.
Back in 1988, he was against the idea of GRCs when the concept of 'team MPs' was put before Parliament.

A strong opposition will draw talent

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Apr 8, 2011
A strong opposition will draw talent
I RESPECTFULLY disagree with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ("2-party system not workable here: PM"; Wednesday).

Revert to 3-member GRCs for credibility

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 9, 2011
Revert to 3-member GRCs for credibility
WHAT has happened to the group representation constituency (GRC) system represents a deviation from its originally noble intention ('Cynicism will hurt GRC system', commentary by deputy editor Alan John; Wednesday).

A single party can't represent all views

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 8, 2011
A single party can't represent all views
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong's argument that 'if the PAP can't assemble a second team, I don't think the opposition will find it easier' shows a misunderstanding of multi-party democracy ('Not enough talent for two A teams'; yesterday).

Don't equate interests of party with that of nation

The Straits Times; Published on Apr 8, 2011
Don't equate interests of party with that of nation
Mr Ang Kok Thiam states his concern about opposition figures Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Khiang leaving their single-member constituencies (SMCs) to contest in a group representation constituency ("Chiam, Low should stay put"; April 2).

NSP duo 'want to normalise Opposition politics'

NSP duo 'want to normalise Opposition politics'
04:55 PM Apr 05, 2011
by Ansley Ng
SINGAPORE - Owing to their status as former civil service high flyers, Opposition candidates Tony Tan and Hazel Poa (picture) have found themselves in the public spotlight on one too many occasions - including the time when they were part of a group who quit the Reform Party (RP) abruptly.

10/09: Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP

Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP

 October 29th, 2009 |  Author: Your Correspondent

OPINION

In a letter published in the Straits Times Forum on 27 October 2009, Press Secretary to the Ministry of National Development Lim Yuin Chien wrote that there is a difference between the roles of a MP and an adviser [link].

Wrong to let young candidate sneak in

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
Apr 5, 2011
GEN Y IN GE 2011
Wrong to let young candidate sneak in
WHILE I fully support the self-renewal concept of the People's Action Party (PAP), I was taken aback by some of the candidates it is fielding for the upcoming general election.

Maid for Our Army: Manhunt now on for individuals in the SAF Maid story

Original Source:

http://kementah.blogspot.com/2011/04...ow-on-for.html

Tackle agents seeking dual rental commissions

ST Forum:
Mar 16, 2011
Tackle agents seeking dual rental commissions
THE article by Ms Jessica Cheam last Saturday was timely ("When your agent does not act in your interest").
Although the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has banned dual representation, where the same agent cannot represent both buyer and seller, in a sales and purchase agreement, it has said nothing about a rental agreement.
Recently, I purchased a property with tenancy. There was no formal rental agreement between the previous owner and the tenants. When I asked the agent representing the previous owner if he could draft a rental agreement for me and the existing tenants, he boldly asked the tenants for a commission.

Chiam calls attention to upkeep of state land

3/10/2011: Home Parliament: Chiam calls attention to upkeep of state land [The Straits Times]
OPPOSITION MP Chiam See Tong yesterday called on the Government to put up signs on state land to indicate which government agency is in charge of its maintenance. The Potong Pasir MP noted that when residents in his ward saw dirty or poorly maintained areas, they assumed it was because the town council, which he heads, “did not pay enough attention".