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Punggol East By-Election Later News Update
- Thread starter sengkang
- Start date
Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap, MP for Aljunied GRC, speaks at the Punggol East By-Election Rally on 22 Jan 2013.
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Ms Sylvia Lim, MP for Aljunied GRC & Chairman of the Workers' Party, speaks at the Punggol East By-Election Rally on 22 Jan 2013.
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Mr Low Thia Khiang, MP for Aljunied GRC & Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, speaks at the Punggol East By-Election Rally on 22 Jan 2013.(English)
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Mr Low Thia Khiang, MP for Aljunied GRC & Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, speaks at the Punggol East By-Election Rally on 22 Jan 2013 in Mandarin
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"The body slows down, but the mind speeds up." -- Anthony Dowell, former principal dancer and artistic director of the Royal Ballet, on the ageing process.
This evening at the WP rally for #punggoleast #byelection rally, I spoke about our older workers. You know, being an older worker is a lot like attending the rally. You have your reasons for being there. You know there's just a few more hours to go till it ends. But, with the traffic, the crowd, the standing in the rain, and the m&d... They sure don't make it easy for you.
Singapore has an international reputation for being an economic success story. We should remember that earlier generations of Singaporeans laid the foundations for our economic success. What we enjoy today we owe in large part to them, whether they were factory workers, civil servants, business people or others.
Now, many of them are entering the later stages of their lives. It is not easy. Many are worried about their jobs. Surveys show that many workers believe that age discrimination is strong in the workplace. Older workers are retrenched at a higher rate than average, and also find it harder to get re-employed. Competition from foreign workers does not make things easier.
That's why the Workers' Party believes that helping older Singaporeans stay employed must be a priority. We simply cannot afford to lose our most experienced workers when our future workforce is already expected to shrink. The number of Singaporeans aged above 65 will triple to 900,000 in 20 years.
The Government calls our ageing society a ‘silver tsunami’. A ‘silver tsunami’!? As if we are going to be drowned in a sea of old people! But the Workers' Party believes that among other things it is an opportunity.
An opportunity to invest in our people now for future gain.
We owe it to our older workers to continue investing in them today. We owe it to our children to make that investment now, so that they may better cope with their work when they too grow old. Society will benefit from not just the economic payoffs, but from the wider social and cultural contributions that a healthy, engaged group of older workers will be able to make.
First, we should help older workers who can and wish to work to stay in employment. That is why the Workers' Party has consistently called for the rights and dignity of older workers to be respected and promoted. In Parliament, we advocated changing the Retirement and Re-employment Act to provide stronger protection for older workers.
Next, we believe that there could be more efforts to help employers restructure the workplace to help Singapore’s ageing workforce.
Look, older workers are not like younger workers, we know that. The government has suggested that older workers may take the place of some foreign workers. The question is, can we do more to bring out the best in older workers as older workers.
The German car maker BMW did just that. It consulted its older workers and laid new factory floors, outfitted workers with special shoes, installed adjustable height benches and movable computer screens with larger type and magnifying glass, let the workers sit instead of stand, and piped in more daylight. They also employed physiotherapists on the factory floor to help workers stay limber on the assembly line, and have the workers change tasks after two hours within each shift so that workers could keep their focus by regularly switching jobs.
And what's the result? According to BMW, "the older workers' assembly line became as productive as the younger ones, and the quality was higher."
All these, I believe, are ultimately driven by a motivation to keep their workforce. We should be similarly motivated, because our people should be valued.
How best to retain our older workers?
Instead of just asking our older workers to accept lower wages for current jobs, our government could, through means such as productivity-related incentives tied specifically to older workers, encourage our businesses to redesign jobs and workplaces so that our older workers can contribute just as much as younger ones.
As I said in Parliament, let us start now and engage in long-term sustainable investment in our people.
That is what Lilian will champion -- an issue close to her heart is the welfare of the elderly.
Vote Workers' Party, vote for Lee Li Lian!
The Workers' PartyDear Supporters & Residents of Punggol East, we are looking forward to seeing you at our third and final rally tonight.
You are strongly encouraged to take public transport to the rally site. You can take the Sengkang East Loop LRT (Green Line) from Sengkang Station and alight at Rumbia LRT Station (SE2).
Please remember to bring an umbrella in case it rains. The Police has also recently installed wooden planks on the field for your safety and cleanliness.
In the meantime, please 'like' Lee Li Lian's Facebook Fan Page to find out more about her!
See you tonight!
Lee Li Lian （李丽连）Lee Li Lian 李丽连 Age: 34 Education: • Diploma In Business Studies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic • Bachelor Commerce (Marketing), Curtin University of Technology, Australia Occupation: Financial Instituition Trainer Marital Status: Married with no children Lilian is the eldest in the family with two y...Page: 5,503 like this
Young families are trapped in a delicate situation. They are paying for their houses and supporting their elderly parents, and at the same time think about having children or worry about rising costs.
In my first rally speech I pointed out that fees of childcare centres have gone up 34% in 5 years.
These are real concerns, and only one of many that are making couples think twice about having a child.
In my first rally speech I pointed out that fees of childcare centres have gone up 34% in 5 years.
These are real concerns, and only one of many that are making couples think twice about having a child.
[h=5]Pritam Singh[/h]
"This phenomenon baffles many political observers. WP is attracting such a massive crowd even for a mere SMC by-election. Old, young, male, female, individual, family, English speaking, Chinese speaking, dialect speaking, Chinese, Malay, Indian. Yes, almost every Singaporean....They have succeeded in redefining Singapore politics. They have shown that they are responsible and credible."
YOUR VIEW: Workers’ Party has redefined Singapore politics
sg.news.yahoo.com
There are only six Workers’ Party elected Members of Parliament. Any practical person would surmise that there is nothing much you can
'WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF CHANGE
'WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF CHANGE'
The people of my generation and those that are even far younger are not afraid of change. They want change, they are not like the older generation of the baby boomers that are willing to sit back and be told what to do.
Why has WP been such an influence on Singaporeans? Why are Singaporeans from all areas attending their rally even if they are to standing in the rain and without free gift? Why is WP gaining even bigger attention rather than the rest of the opposition parties beside individuals like Nicole Seah and Mr Chiam See Tong?
How can we say the WP are not doing their part when Chen Show Mao quit his job and flew back to Singapore to be part of the election team for GE 2011. How can we say the WP is not doing what they have promised when they have fought hard for the Hougang residents for the past 20 years?
Steven Cheong, 29
Sales executive
'WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF CHANGE'
The people of my generation and those that are even far younger are not afraid of change. They want change, they are not like the older generation of the baby boomers that are willing to sit back and be told what to do.
Why has WP been such an influence on Singaporeans? Why are Singaporeans from all areas attending their rally even if they are to standing in the rain and without free gift? Why is WP gaining even bigger attention rather than the rest of the opposition parties beside individuals like Nicole Seah and Mr Chiam See Tong?
How can we say the WP are not doing their part when Chen Show Mao quit his job and flew back to Singapore to be part of the election team for GE 2011. How can we say the WP is not doing what they have promised when they have fought hard for the Hougang residents for the past 20 years?
Steven Cheong, 29
Sales executive
[h=1]WP up the stakes, take aim at AIM saga in second rally[/h]
<cite class="byline vcard">By Satish Cheney | Yahoo! Newsroom – <abbr title="2013-01-22T14:59:34Z">17 hours ago
</abbr></cite>
The Workers' Party fired fiery salvo after salvo against the ruling People’s Action Party at its second by-election rally at Punggol East on Tuesday night.
Referring to the controversial sale of management software by PAP town councils to Action Information Management (AIM), which is owned by the ruling party, party chairman Sylvia Lim said that even though the software was created using taxpayers' money, it was sold to an entity belonging to PAP.
She said after the party won the contest at Aljunied GRC in 2011, they were able to “dig into documents” pertaining to the running of town councils.
“There were aspects which showed how political, town management had become,” she said to an estimated crowd of about 7,000 people at an open field in Rivervale.
“For instance, I have come across a few contracts signed by town councils, carrying a clause allowing for termination of services if there should be a change in the composition of town council management, in other words, change of political management”.
The party chairman questioned the intention of such a clause, and asked if the ruling party was so determined to “trip” incoming opposition, even though such an arrangement may not be in the public interest.
She said it was akin to sending soldiers to war, but taking away their ammunition in the field.
PM Lee has since called for a review by the Ministry of National Development over the saga and Lim said her party will await its findings.
Explaining why WP did not broach the subject earlier in 2011, Lim said the party was “obsessed” with taking over the town council quickly and effectively, and pointed out that if the WP was not elected into Aljunied GRC, the issue would not have come to light.
While some of the directors of AIM have defended the sale, Lim said clarifications were still far from satisfactory.
The recent AIM controversy, Lim said, showed the importance of political competition in safeguarding the public’s interest.
WP chief Low Thia Khiang and other members also hit back at PM Lee's weekend comments that the party has not been a strong voice in parliament and lacked alternative proposals.
Low then listed out what each of the elected MPs and NCMPs have brought up in parliament since the last general election in 2011, ranging issues from healthcare, education and transport.
“We invite the public to search the parliamentary reports or visit the WP website,” he said.
“Perhaps, he (PM Lee) has not been paying attention to what the WP has been raising. Is this because we only have six MPs in parliament and our voice is not loud enough?” he asked.
Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh also took issue with the PM's comments, saying that he wasn’t commenting as a Prime Minister when he accused the WP of not coming up with alternatives, but rather as the PAP’s secretary-general.
Vote WP and get two for one
Hougang MP Png Eng Huat also took to the stage, telling the crowd that PAP candidate Dr Koh was wrong in telling the media that it’s a fallacy to believe that by voting for WP, residents will get two people looking at their needs.
“I have bad news for Dr Koh. This is a fact. You will have two MPs serving you when you vote for the WP, because this has been the case in Hougang for 20 years. PAP has designed a system which will make its candidates look good no matter what the outcome of the election is.
“If they lose, they just become grassroots advisers. If you go around Hougang today, you may think that the 2012 Hougang by-election was won by the PAP. You can see the defeated PAP candidate’s photos on posters and banners greeting residents all year round – because he is the grassroots adviser,“ said Png.
Grassroots advisers get resource support from the People’s Association, said Png and so, claimed that by voting for his party, Punggol East residents will be getting a two-for-one deal.
Pushing hard on issues
The WP candidate Lee Li Lian said she will push for issues that matter to the residents if elected to Parliament and brought up the transport woes in the area.
She questioned why bus fares went up considering profits from bus operators had been high.
As for the lack of amenities, she said the lack of eateries and wet markets causing higher expenditure for
the families in the ward.
“I was asked this question during my walkabout: Li Lian, if I vote for you, will the renovations (at Rivervale Plaza) be delayed again? My answer was, (me being elected as your MP) will not and should not be the excuse for any further delays. The needs and interests of the residents must come first beyond any partisan disagreements,” she told the crowd.
“Let us not forget the renovation was stalled under a PAP MP,” she said.
WP will hold a third and final rally on Wednesday and are expected to lead the crowd in their traditional final-rally pledge taking.
</abbr></cite>
- WP chairman Sylvia Lim takes aim at the AIM saga during her speech. (Yahoo! photo)
The Workers' Party fired fiery salvo after salvo against the ruling People’s Action Party at its second by-election rally at Punggol East on Tuesday night.
Referring to the controversial sale of management software by PAP town councils to Action Information Management (AIM), which is owned by the ruling party, party chairman Sylvia Lim said that even though the software was created using taxpayers' money, it was sold to an entity belonging to PAP.
She said after the party won the contest at Aljunied GRC in 2011, they were able to “dig into documents” pertaining to the running of town councils.
“There were aspects which showed how political, town management had become,” she said to an estimated crowd of about 7,000 people at an open field in Rivervale.
“For instance, I have come across a few contracts signed by town councils, carrying a clause allowing for termination of services if there should be a change in the composition of town council management, in other words, change of political management”.
The party chairman questioned the intention of such a clause, and asked if the ruling party was so determined to “trip” incoming opposition, even though such an arrangement may not be in the public interest.
She said it was akin to sending soldiers to war, but taking away their ammunition in the field.
PM Lee has since called for a review by the Ministry of National Development over the saga and Lim said her party will await its findings.
Explaining why WP did not broach the subject earlier in 2011, Lim said the party was “obsessed” with taking over the town council quickly and effectively, and pointed out that if the WP was not elected into Aljunied GRC, the issue would not have come to light.
While some of the directors of AIM have defended the sale, Lim said clarifications were still far from satisfactory.
The recent AIM controversy, Lim said, showed the importance of political competition in safeguarding the public’s interest.
WP chief Low Thia Khiang and other members also hit back at PM Lee's weekend comments that the party has not been a strong voice in parliament and lacked alternative proposals.
Low then listed out what each of the elected MPs and NCMPs have brought up in parliament since the last general election in 2011, ranging issues from healthcare, education and transport.
“We invite the public to search the parliamentary reports or visit the WP website,” he said.
“Perhaps, he (PM Lee) has not been paying attention to what the WP has been raising. Is this because we only have six MPs in parliament and our voice is not loud enough?” he asked.
Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh also took issue with the PM's comments, saying that he wasn’t commenting as a Prime Minister when he accused the WP of not coming up with alternatives, but rather as the PAP’s secretary-general.
Vote WP and get two for one
Hougang MP Png Eng Huat also took to the stage, telling the crowd that PAP candidate Dr Koh was wrong in telling the media that it’s a fallacy to believe that by voting for WP, residents will get two people looking at their needs.
“I have bad news for Dr Koh. This is a fact. You will have two MPs serving you when you vote for the WP, because this has been the case in Hougang for 20 years. PAP has designed a system which will make its candidates look good no matter what the outcome of the election is.
“If they lose, they just become grassroots advisers. If you go around Hougang today, you may think that the 2012 Hougang by-election was won by the PAP. You can see the defeated PAP candidate’s photos on posters and banners greeting residents all year round – because he is the grassroots adviser,“ said Png.
Grassroots advisers get resource support from the People’s Association, said Png and so, claimed that by voting for his party, Punggol East residents will be getting a two-for-one deal.
Pushing hard on issues
The WP candidate Lee Li Lian said she will push for issues that matter to the residents if elected to Parliament and brought up the transport woes in the area.
She questioned why bus fares went up considering profits from bus operators had been high.
As for the lack of amenities, she said the lack of eateries and wet markets causing higher expenditure for
the families in the ward.
“I was asked this question during my walkabout: Li Lian, if I vote for you, will the renovations (at Rivervale Plaza) be delayed again? My answer was, (me being elected as your MP) will not and should not be the excuse for any further delays. The needs and interests of the residents must come first beyond any partisan disagreements,” she told the crowd.
“Let us not forget the renovation was stalled under a PAP MP,” she said.
WP will hold a third and final rally on Wednesday and are expected to lead the crowd in their traditional final-rally pledge taking.
4 outdoor sites for assembly on polling night
SINGAPORE: Candidates and their supporters can gather at four sites on polling night of the Punggol East by-election.
They are the open fields in front Block 183C Rivervale Crescent, Block 128C Punggol Field Walk, Block 113C Rivervale Drive and the field of Seng Kang Secondary School.
Each candidate can apply for one permit to an outdoor assembly centre.
They can do so on Thursday between 8.30am and 2.30pm.
If there is more than one application for the same site, a ballot will be held to decide who gets the venue.
Candidates who choose not to use an outdoor venue can book an indoor assembly centre.
They can apply for police permits on Thursday and Friday.
- CNA/al
SINGAPORE: Candidates and their supporters can gather at four sites on polling night of the Punggol East by-election.
They are the open fields in front Block 183C Rivervale Crescent, Block 128C Punggol Field Walk, Block 113C Rivervale Drive and the field of Seng Kang Secondary School.
Each candidate can apply for one permit to an outdoor assembly centre.
They can do so on Thursday between 8.30am and 2.30pm.
If there is more than one application for the same site, a ballot will be held to decide who gets the venue.
Candidates who choose not to use an outdoor venue can book an indoor assembly centre.
They can apply for police permits on Thursday and Friday.
- CNA/al
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