TR EMERITUS

Over the years, Singaporeans have clamored for a United Opposition to take on the ruling People’s Action Party. These calls have magnified in recent years given the deteriorating conditions of life Singaporeans find themselves in. Whether it is the excruciating cost of living, unaffordable property prices or job insecurity, amongst many other grievances, Singaporeans realise that the ruling PAP is no longer up to the task of moving our country forward. Since January 2023, Peoples Voice, Reform Party, People’s Power Party and the Democratic Progressive Party have been engaged in discussions to form an alliance. Past attempts to forge an alliance of the opposition parties, most recently in 2018, when 7 parties came together for talks, unfortunately went nowhere. We have heeded the calls of Singaporeans and decided that the time for talking about opposition unity without the formation of an alliance, is long past. Today, we are pleased to inform Singapore that our four parties have agreed to form an alliance and that we are taking steps to register our Alliance with the Registry of Societies. We intend for our four parties to contest the next General Election under the banner of The Alliance. We are agreed on the most critical issues affecting the prosperity of our people and country in the coming decades. We have a ready manifesto to take to the country for the General Election. The Alliance will contest in all the seats which the respective parties contested in for GE 2020 and more, for the coming General Election. The Alliance is called People’s Alliance. It means an alliance of the People of Singapore coming together to protect and further their interest as a community of citizens. We hope that The Alliance will form meaningful alliances with other parties for the benefit of our country, so that finally, Singaporeans’ long held dream of a united opposition will be fulfilled. We have agreed that the first Central Executive Committee of Peoples Alliance shall consist of the following office bearers:- i. Kenneth Jeyaretnam - Chairman ii. Peter Soh - Vice-Chairman iii. Lim Tean - Secretary-General iv. Yasmine Valentina - Assistant Secretary-General v. Mohamad Hamim Bin Aliyas - Treasurer vi. Michael Fang - Assistant Treasurer vii. Goh Meng Seng - Organising Secretary viii. Juliana Binte Juwahir - Assistant Organising Secretary ix. Abdul Malik Bin Rahmat - Member x. Lim Lian Chin - Member xi. Chiu Shin Kong - Member xii. Mahaboob Batcha s/o Abdul Rasheed - Member After the registration has been approved, we shall hold a Press Conference and official launch for People’s Alliance. Dated 1st June 2023. KENNETH JEYARETNAM - SECRETARY-GENERAL REFORM PARTY LIM TEAN - LEADER PEOPLES VOICE GOH MENG SENG - SECRETARY-GENERAL PEOPLE’S POWER PARTY MOHAMAD HAMIM BIN ALIYAS SECRETARY - GENERAL DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY      Read More →

This has to take the cake for stating an unfavourable fact favourably. The Straits Times reported that Singapore residents (citizens and PRs) bought 99% of units sold at the Reserve Residences. Of the remaining 1%, “three are foreigners from the United States, who are subject to the same additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) rate as Singapore residents under a free trade agreement (FTA)”. Did you catch the sleight of hand? The phrase should have been: “Unlike other foreigners, US citizens do not need to pay foreign ABSD”, rather than, “being subject to the same ABSD rate as Singapore residents” – Same same, but different. Many readers, being too busy making a living and therefore not on top of current affairs, will get the impression that US residents being subjected to the same treatment as Singapore residents, as cleverly phrased by the reporter, as being fair, until they remember or realize that foreigners are subject to a 60% ABSD to put a lid on them chasing up property prices. Of all the countries with whom we have signed Free Trade Agreements, and we have signed 27 to date, only the US-Singapore FTA (USSFTA) and the European FTA (as distinct from the EU-Singapore FTA), exempts it’s residents from paying ABSD. Thus residents from the US, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will thus continue to chase up property prices here. Just US alone will have enough rich residents to nullify our efforts to rein in foreign speculation. All it needs is a shrewd marketeer to trumpet the 60% exemption that few foreigners enjoy, to have a piece of real estate in growth-at-all-cost-tiny-and-safe Singapore. In fact, the number of Americans buying property here has been creeping up the ranks. It was way down the list before the signing of the USSFTA in 2003, but has crept up as ABSD was introduced, and subsequently increased, since they are not subject to it, and thus, perversely, enjoys a huge discount. It is now in 4th place behind China, Malaysia and India. The fact is that the clause in the two FTAs exempting the payment of ABSD diminishes our sovereignty, among other clauses, which the ST is trying to gloss over. They put us at a disadvantage and are unfair to the majority of Singaporeans, and once signed, are extremely difficult to extricate.   Foong Swee Fong      Read More →

What Kuik wrote is HALF TRUTH. For 26 & 31 Ridout, swimming pools were added together with covered carparks. Trees were cut and guard houses were built as well. Yes, if you are just ordinary person, you will be subjected to most of the restrictions but when you are a PAP Minister, that's when the privileges come into play! The truth is, the differential in treatments actually made people fume. Common people could still apply to install aircon and I bet every penny I have, 26 and 31 Ridout definitely have Aircon installed! These 2 GCB are not just any other B&W bungalows managed by SLA. The author is gaslighting everyone. For example, the iconic black wooden staircase in 31 Ridout was featured as one of the great historical antiques built in B&W bungalows. These two are Crown Jewels of all the B&W BUNGALOWS managed by SLA. The author has actually contradicted himself without knowing. First he said most people who rented these B&W bungalows will stay in them for a long number of years and there will be little out for rent. It means there is definitely high demand for these bungalows especially those in town area or District 9, 10 & 11! Furthermore, in contrary to what he has written, due to the fact that the Ministers were given Privileges to cut down trees, add sheltered carpark plus big swimming pools the rental of these Crown Jewels should be enhanced greatly! Thus, the fundamental question to ask, why were they left vacant when there were high demand? Why were the trees cut, covered carpark installed and swimming pools added or revamped when the Ministers rented them?   Goh Meng Seng      Read More →