TR EMERITUS

Egalitarianism. It's a big word. But it's also an important one. It is the key word in the SDP's economic programme for Singapore which we will be launching this week through a series of posts on this website. We will put forward an alternative economic model that is fundamentally different from that practiced by the PAP. It is a programme that, as mentioned, emphasizes on egalitarianism, a philosophical concept that promotes equality and equal opportunity. Above all, it is an alternative that is both realistic and workable for our economy. Why is it even important to mention this? Because for too long Singaporeans have believed that all the brains and talent in Singapore have been vacuumed up by the PAP, leaving only the mediocre and insipid to the opposition parties. Which is also to say that it is a veritable lie that there can be no viable alternative to the current system. After all the years of propaganda by the media, Singaporeans have been led to believe that anything else other than PAP's policies is rubbish and written for its own sake. Nothing could be further from the truth. There have been many policies proposed by the SDP that the PAP has used and called them its own. For example, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last week that: "Our own population is growing slowly, and we cannot indefinitely expand our workforce by importing more and more workers from abroad. We have to extract maximum value from the resources that we have; every piece of land must be put to optimum use, activities which are no longer competitive or productive have to be gradually phased out." A full 5 years ago, however, Dr Chee Soon Juan wrote in his book A Nation Cheated: "Singapore’s labour productivity...is notoriously mediocre." He went on to cite the influx of foreign workers which "expeditiously and artificially inflate[d] GDP figures." This, he added, was problematic especially in the absence of "a concomitant increase in labour productivity." Lately, economists have echoed what Dr Chee has been saying all these years. In 2009, Citigroup economist Kit Wei Zheng pointed out that Singapore's rapid growth has, over the recent past, been mostly driven by a massive increase in the workforce and warned that it is clear that "growth powered by importing foreign labour is simply not sustainable." This is also true for another of the SDP's proposals - Minimum Wage. The Singapore Democrats campaigned on this issue as early as the 2001 general elections. Shortly thereafter, economist and NTU vice-dean Professor Hui Weng Tat repeated the call for the introduction of Minimum Wage. The problem with the SDP's economic ideas is that Singaporeans are not hearing or reading about them because of the media's censorship of our news. Hopefully, however, this will change with the growth of the internet. Singaporeans must break out of the mindset that only the PAP has the ideas that work for Singapore. We must believe that opposition parties like the SDP have solutions and alternative programmes that are not just workable for Singapore but crucial for our future economic well-being - solutions that, as we have stated, even the PAP has adopted. This coming collection of articles on the economy and the alternatives that we will be putting forth will demonstrate once and for all that the PAP does not have a monopoly of ideas for Singapore, including economic ones. Let it never again be said that the opposition only knows how to complain and throw stones at the PAP without coming up with proposals to better Singapore. With this claim, the Singapore Democrats firmly establish our credentials as a party that not only boldly speaks up for Singaporeans, but also a constructive one. For the full report, please visit: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/the-party/our-manifesto/3404-the-sdp-economic-alternative     Singapore Democratic Party  Read More →

Since we published an article on the Reform Party's 19 policy pledges in its election manifesto, we have received a deluge of feedback from our readers who expressed their support for the Reform Party with one so moved that he even cried and many pledging their votes to it in the next general election. Some of the policy pledges promised by the Reform Party includes providing cheaping housing for the lower income families, paying a basic old age pension to all Singaporeans, imposing a Minimum Wage system, reduction of National Service to a year and requiring new citizens to serve National Service. The widespread endorsement and support from the online community is a testimony of the Reform Party's rising credibility and clout among Singaporeans yearning for a credible opposition to challenge the PAP. Errol said: "Having read the RP manifesto, I am deeply moved to such a state that tears were forming in my eyes because i’ve always loved s’pore intil these last few years, where we;ve sold our soul ( the gov sold it for us) But now there’s a silver lining in the horizon, thanks to RP,you all are GOD SENT.I pray that you succeed and reclaim back s’pore for s’poreans A sincere THANK YOU and God Bless." SilenceisGolden is impressed by the Reform Party's ambition to form an alternative government in the future instead of opposing for the sake of opposing. "Kudos to a new political party with lofty ambition. The promise is great but whether they will actually deliver after being elected is two separate issues. Nonetheless it is a good starter." Voice of reason concurred: "Finally, an opposition party that wants to do more than just “opposing”! It’s time we work long term for an alternative government in Singapore. Make that one more vote for the reform party." simintemplar praised Reform Party for releasing its manifesto early. "Bravo to RP for releasing its manifesto and setting the agenda b4 elections! Next step for its candidates is to fully expound on these 19 policies and HOW it intends to achieve them. I hope it will also consider openly stating whr it intends to stand for election and give all its candidates a chance to contest." Angie is definitely voting for the Reform Party: "You have my vote. To all TR’s readers. Its time for us to do something. Let galvanised together to take our country back from the Pappies. Singapore belongs to us. Its time we start spreading the words though the word of mouth.Instead of quacking like a duck or barking like dogs which we are called, lets us then be dogs that give a good bite to Sinkhas, the nincompoop PR Citizen, and whoever who that ex-Sri Lankian who has forgotten who abondon his mother land and started to talk craps about us. Go tell your Ah kongs, Ah Mahs, Aunties, Uncles, and those who have ears that will hear vote for change. Fear not for the time is near. Let’s get moving. Anything will be better that what we are having now with the Pappies." The Reform Party is founded in 2008 by the late opposition leader Mr Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnamwho is still highly regarded by many Singaporeans. It is currently led by his elder son, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, a double honors graduate in Economics from Cambridge University. Though the Reform Party is relatively new to Singapore's political scene, it has managed to attract a few high calibre professionals into its ranks such as former government scholars Mr Tony Tan and Ms Hazel Poa. The ruling PAP has governed Singapore continuously for more than fifty years. While elections are held frequently, the opposition hardly stand a chance due to unfair election laws, rampant gerry-mandering and pork-barrel politics. The people-centric policies of the Reform Party will win widespread support from ordinary Singaporeans. Please read more about the Reform Party’s policy pledges here.   EDITORS' NOTE: We have received numerous emails from readers volunteering their services for the Reform Party. Please contact Reform Party directly at its Facebook here.   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

NTU students including foreign students are getting increasingly peeved at the inconveniences they have to put up lately due to the Youth Olympic Games. NTU is the site of the Youth Olympic Village. Over the last few days, we have received numerous complaint letters from NTU students about the disruption in their daily routine brought about by the YOG. Janet Pang, a 2nd year student from the Engineering Faculty wrote: "August is usually a slack period for us, but because of the YOG preparations, we are forced to finish our assignments and projects early. There is plenty of re-scheduling of lectures with many brought forward. Some of the lecturers are poorly prepared because of the rush to complete the lessons on schedule. Our studies have suffered as a result of the YOG. To be frank, we rather not have it." Christina Lye concurred: "Hello, because of YOG, our assignments, presentations and exams are all pushed forward and is affecting our result. Semester one is supposed to end in another month, but because of YOG, everything is being pushed forward and we are all stressed up. We lost our sleep for more than two weeks. Do we actuall deserve this?" Lau Ting Ting, a student from Hong Kong added: "All thanks to YOG, there are so many reconstruction going on and road blocks set up in NTU. NTU has literally transformed into a prison.  During this period, you cannot imagine how much inconvenience the YOG has brought to ppl working here. All internal shuttle bus has been shut down, public bus no longer comes into NTU because the Jalan Bahar exit of NTU is totally shut down!" Dan Lim, from Malaysia said: "NTU has been turned into a high-security prison! Can't imagine what will happen when the YOG officials and athletes arrive. We are just here to study. Why should we put up with so many inconveniences?" Despite the extensive publicity given to YOG by the state media, the response from Singaporeans has been lukewarm so far. In an online poll conducted by Channel News Asia, a shocking 88 percent or 5,639 respondents indicated that they are "not interested" in YOG at all. Public disaffection and disdain for the YOG continues to snowball with more than 600 Singaporeans joining the "I hate YOG" Facebook to protest against it. Unfortunately, the PAP regime is unlikely to listen to the concerns of NTU students as it is busy indulging in is self-created "vanity fair" to showcase itself to the world. In the words of PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew, Singaporeans (and maybe now foreigners) are all CHAMPION grumblers.   EDITORS' NOTE: NTU students, how has the YOG affected you? Are you happy that NTU has been chosen as the site for the Youth Olympic Village? Are you looking forward to YOG? Please share your views with us here or email us directly. You do not have to suffer in silence. Let the world knows the truth about YOG!   Related articles: >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.    Read More →