TR EMERITUS

Earlier today, we were queried by the media about our thoughts on the alleged delay in the release of the report by the Election Boundaries Review Committee ("EBRC"). In our perspective, there is little value in speculating the timing of the EBRC’s report or the reasons for the same. Instead, we have been focusing on our ground work and community building for the past three years now to prepare for the GE, whenever it may be held. Instead of focusing on things like the time of the elections, which is out of our control, we will continue focus on things well within our control – like working the ground, connecting with residents and advocating for the people. This way, no matter when the elections are called, we will not be caught off guard. Further, we cannot allege that there had been a delay as such an assertion presumes that there was a fixed date. To resolve this issue, we advocate for the introduction of a Fixed Terms of Parliaments Act to be passed in Singapore. Essentially, it will provide for the date of elections to be set in stone and remove the Prime Minister's discretion in that regard. Under the proposed legislation, only a 75% majority of Parliament can allow for the date mandated by statute to not be adhered to. Finally, we would like to put on record our appreciation to The Workers' Party for raising the question in Parliament.   Ariffin Sha Assistant Secretary-General Singapore People’s Party      Read More →

The Singapore govt encouraged home ownership during the past decades. It is time to review this policy. Home ownership was promoted with the following policy goals: a) Encourage citizens to have a stake in Singapore b) Give the citizens a chance to own an appreciating asset c) It make social more stable when the citizens do not have to worry about being chased out of a rented home. While the policy has produced real benefits in the past, it has now become questionable. Here are the reasons: a) The high cost of property has now become a burden for the citizens b) Home ownership forces the citizen to the tied to a specific property and discourages the owner to move to a new home closer to the place of work. c) The heavy cost of the down payment delays the marriage of young people by a few years, while they accumulate sufficient savings to meet the down payment. d) The appreciating value of the homes allowed the citizens to cash out their profits and migrate to countries with lower cost of living e) The home owners now realize that the properties will decrease in values as the lease becomes shorter. This is known as lease decay. It is no longer an appreciating asset. It is now important for the govt to review its policy on home ownership to take into account the negative effects, which has been observed in recent decades. What is the solution? I propose the following: a) Give an option for young people to rent HDB flats from the govt and enjoy the same subsidy given to home ownership. b) If a young person rent the flat, he can be exempted from contributing to the CPF, so that the money can be used to pay rental. This approach will reduce the financial burden for young people and allow them to get married at a younger age. It also gives them the flexibility to change jobs and to move to a new home that is closer to their place of work.   Tan Kin Lian        Read More →

The SDP has filed an Originating Summons against Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo in the High Court. The legal action follows the rejection by Ms Teo of the SDP's application for her to cancel the Correction Directions she issued under POFMA for three of our posts. The court has set 16 January 2020, Thursday, for the hearing starting at 10 am. The SDP will not be engaging counsel but will, instead, argue the matter ourselves. The SDP had set out its case in a detailed submission to the Minister, including statistical analyses of the MOM's own data, explaining why she is wrong to issue the orders. We also indicated that MOM had cited different sets of data as well as accused us of making statement that we did not make in order to support its case. Ms Teo arrogantly dismissed our application saying that it "does not provide sufficient grounds for the cancellation of the CDs" and refused, or was unable, to back-up her allegations in her rejection of the our submissions. We are therefore left with no choice but to pursue the matter in the High Court. We look forward to Ms Teo explaining her decision on the witness stand. Another important reason for the SDP's legal action is that Ms Teo's order is an abuse of the law. If her POFMA order succeeds, then the last holdout where important national issues are openly and robustly debated on the Internet in Singapore would be irreparably closed. The employment of Ministerial decree to accuse the opposition of stating falsehoods when the statements are in fact true cannot be condoned. In a political debate, the application of facts and logical reason to persuade the public must not be sacrificed for the whims and opinions of Ministers. By her action, Ms Teo has plunged a dagger into the heart Singapore's political system already plagued by anti-democratic rules that keep the PAP entrenched in power. The PAP must not be allowed to be the accuser, prosecutor and judge on any political matter, let alone one like the foreign-worker issue which has been the source of much frustration and anger among Singaporeans. If the ruling party gets away with using POFMA in such a slipshod and partisan manner, then every critic will be at its mercy. The SDP would rather focus on the coming election campaign. But we have deliberated the matter at length and we undertake this legal action because, as difficult as it may be, we must stand up for our fellow Singaporeans and fight for what little space we have left in Singapore to uphold our democratic freedoms. While the court of public opinion is on our side, we must nevertheless attempt to also succeed in the court of law. This is not just the fight of the SDP but of every opposition party, every organisation and, indeed, every Singaporean who values our Pledge "to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality."   Singapore Democrats      Read More →