TR EMERITUS – The Voice Of The Lunatic Fringe – 淡马锡评论 – formerly Temasek Review

2025大选—明确授权，变化中的政治格局

2025年大选结果无可争议，政府再次赢得了强有力的授权，稳固了其在新加坡政治格局中的主导地位。尽管选举结果并不令人意外，但胜利的过程却并非没有争议和复杂性。值得注意的是，选区划分的变化在本次选战中发挥了重要作用。陈清木医生与徐顺全医生等资深反对派人物，因选区重划而受到显著影响——传统支持基础被分割或并入他区，无疑左右了某些关键选区的最终结果。虽然选区调整在新加坡选举历史上并不罕见，但其公平性与透明度仍持续引发讨论。工人党虽稳守东北区的传统堡垒，但未能在本届大选中攻下新的选区。不过，该党仍获得两个非选区议员（Ncmp）席位，虽属安慰性质，却在象征意义上维持了国会内多元声音的存在。更值得关注的是，本届大选所处的人口背景正经历剧烈变化。新加坡人口从2000年的约300万增长至2025年的超过500万。考虑到多年来出生率持续偏低，这一增长几乎可以肯定主要归因于移民流入，尤其可能在华人群体中增长显著。这一趋势对国家的社会结构和政治生态产生了深远影响。展望2030年大选，各政党不仅要面对一如既往的选区调整与突发的全球事件，更需正视一个不断演变的社会结构。随着越来越多新移民成为国民，选民构成日益多元，政党在政策制定与信息传递上必须更具包容性与前瞻性。他们必须同时争取老一代公民与新加坡新公民的认同，回应共同关切，并跨越代际与文化差异的鸿沟。在新加坡持续向前迈进的过程中，其政治也必须与时俱进——反映日益多元的人口现实，同时坚守国家的核心价值观：团结、韧性与务实。 Cwc-Ai

Wen warns of huge challenges for China

By Josephine Ma from South China Morning Post Premier Wen Jiabao said 2010 would be the most complex year yet this century for the mainland economy, and pledged to prevent inflation and rein in skyrocketing property prices, in an online chat yesterday with internet users. He also addressed concerns over trade frictions with the US, and called for efforts to ease tensions. Wen's internet question-and-answer session came in the run-up to the annual session of the National People's Congress, where he will deliver the annual government work report. Xinhua said some 65,000 questions on subjects ranging from home prices to the homework burden for students, flooded into the central government's website and that of the news agency, the joint organisers of the session. The questions Wen answered were apparently picked to cover the major topics in his government report. "If last year was the most difficult for China's economy in the new century, this one is the most complicated," Wen said. He was determined to bring property prices under control during his tenure as premier, he said, but he admitted the government may not be able to "rein in this wild horse" this year despite a series of measures. Wen is expected to step down in 2013. He said the government would focus on building more affordable housing for low-income groups and rein in property prices through land, financial and tax policies. Soaring property prices have become a major source of grievance for the public, especially the growing urban population. Xinhua said home prices rose by 9.5 per cent in January from a year earlier. Wen reiterated the government would adopt an "appropriately loose monetary policy" to ensure stable economic development. Agricultural production would be boosted to ensure food supplies. He identified corruption and inflation as major threats. Read rest of article on SCMP Read More →

徐顺全表示民主党过去五年吸引了许多新人，党员的整体素质也比从前高了

游润恬 from Lianhe Zaobao, 28 February 2010 徐顺全，一个因官司不断而令大家似乎熟悉又很陌生的政治人物，其言行举止往往引来诸多议论。新加坡民主党昨晚庆祝成立30周年，他加入这个反对党从政也已18年，人们脑海中至今还在问他当年到底有没有逼走一手创立民主党的波东巴西区 (Potong Pasir) 议员詹时中？本报记者日前趁30年党庆，邀他作访谈，希望他能对读者的诸多疑问作出答复。民主党成立30年，巅峰时刻是什么时候？最低潮的时刻又是什么时候？徐顺全博士（48岁）的答复似乎会让人们大感意外。他说现在是它的巅峰时刻。 “我相信民主党还没有达到真正的顶峰，不过到目前为止，现阶段必然是最光辉的。” 他表示民主党过去五年吸引了许多新人，党员的整体素质也比从前高了。这些新人不但可提供新的政治视角，还懂得善用新媒体进行宣传，使民主党可以做很多以前做不成的事。五年前没有资源办25周年晚宴比方说早在五年前，他就想举行民主党25周年晚宴，却因缺乏资源，只好打消念头。今天，民主党不但能在乌节路的凯煌酒店办30周年晚宴，还能出版第一本纪念特刊，80页全彩色印刷。他认为最重要的是全体中央执行委员的团结。 “对他们来说，集体奋斗的目标，凌驾于个人理想之上。” 民主党在1991年大选时，一举把当时的秘书长詹时中（波东巴西区）、主席林孝谆（前武吉甘柏区）和蒋才正（义顺中区）三名候选人送入国会。自从詹时中在1996年离开后，民主党在国会里再也没有代表。照理说，上世纪90年代在詹时中领导下的民主党，应该已达到巅峰，徐顺全却认为那是最低潮的时刻。 “我加入民主党不到几个星期，就已感觉到党内领导人之间强烈的紧张关系。当时的民主党不是一个党，它从来就不是一支有共同理念的团队，只不过是一群同床异梦的人凑在一起。出现状况时，大家各有主张，要往不同的方向走，结果是树倒猢狲散。” 詹时中在1992年一手把当时在新加坡国立大学担任心理学讲师的徐顺全带进民主党，参加马林百列集选区补选。当时的总理吴作栋为了把现任副总理张志贤引进国会，而让马林百列集选区的议员集体辞职，以举行这次补选。徐顺全竞选失败，隔年因呈报德士车资不实等遭国大开除。詹时中原本支持他，后来却动议中委会谴责他。党内其他中委不赞成詹时中的做法，民主党于是陷入分裂。詹时中跟着辞去秘书长职务。 Read rest of article on Lianhe Zaobao Read More →

Australia’s Environment Minister Garrett demoted after scheme bungle

AAP, 26 February 2010 ENVIRONMENT Minister Peter Garrett has been demoted, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stripping him of responsibility for the troubled household insulation scheme. Mr Rudd says there had been some "serious problems" with the program's implementation, but has resisted calls to sack Mr Garrett over the bungled rebate program. The program was scrapped last week after being connected to four deaths, nearly 100 house fires and at least 1000 electrified roofs. But in Sydney today, Mr Rudd announced the establishment of a new stand-alone Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, to be headed up by Penny Wong, which has effectively sidelined Mr Garrett. Under the reshuffled portfolios, Mr Garrett will be appointed minister for environment protection, and has retained heritage and the arts. Greg Combet has been given direct responsibility for the insulation program, with Mr Rudd naming him as the minister assisting the minister for climate change and energy efficiency. Mr Rudd admitted the changes were a demotion for Mr Garrett, saying there was no point "sugar coating" his decision. "I believe it is now important for Minister Garrett to now concentrate on core responsibilities of environmental protection, and of course in heritage and the arts," Mr Rudd said. "There is no point sugar coating this. This does mean a different range and reduced range of responsibilities for Minister Garrett." The prime minister said he told Mr Garrett of his demotion this afternoon. "I indicated to him the course of action I'd be taking. He accepted my decision," Mr Rudd said. - AAP Read More →