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Over the past 2 days (28 and 29 Aug), opposition party Singaporeans First (SingFirst) introduced 10 candidates for the coming general election (GE). SingFirst is slated to contest 2 GRCs: Jurong GRC and Tanjong Pagar GRC.
It also took the opportunity to announce its slogan for this GE – “Restore our nation”.
On Friday (28 Aug), SingFirst introduced its first 5 candidates:
Tan Jee Say – Party Secretary-General and former Presidential candidate, 61
Fahmi Rais – broadcast veteran from Malay television, 48
Melvin Chew Weng Hoe – sales executive in an MNC, 36
Chirag Desai – market risk manager at international banks, 38
Wong Chee Wai Gregory – IT consultant, 44
SingFirst will announce where its candidates contest on Nomination Day itself.
(L-R) Chirag Desai, Wong Chee Wai, Tan Jee Say, Fahmi Rais, Melvin Chew
Foreign talent issue is still there
Secretary-General Tan Jee Say explained that the party slogan stems from the need to “take back our country from the government that has given it away to foreigners”. He said:
All the pies, all the sweet pies have been taken by foreigners, foreign-born workers. And the Prime Minister says he doesn’t care about the Gini coefficient as long as he can get 10 billionaires to stay in Singapore.
The influx of foreigners, which has led to strains on the public transport system and stiffer competition for jobs, is a hot-button issue at this GE. Said Mr Tan:
This country has been divided by the government’s policy on immigration, that has pitted our citizens against employers, and foreigners. They have taken away our jobs, not just our jobs. They have also taken our places in schools, and in businesses as well – these foreign companies coming in.
Mr Tan also noted that there have been many abuses in getting work passes for foreign workers:
How can you allow a PhD (holder) to come under S pass? That’s because their salaries are $2,400 to $2,500. There must be a proper skill level. S level passes are for semi-skilled. Do you call PhDs semi-skilled? This is an abuse of the system.
Political analysts agree that the “foreign talent” issue has not gone away despite assurances from the PAP government. NUS political scientist Reuben Wong remarked:
The foreign talent issue is still there, especially for PMETs who want to see a greater reduction (in the level of foreign labour here). They will probably also have to deal with the whole debate about the transport infrastructure here… I’m sure the opposition will raise that at their rallies.
Many, like Mr Robin Tan, 33, hope issues relating to transport and cost of living will be raised during the GE. “I’d like to see how the Government will ease transportation woes, such as the breakdowns and congestion in the trains,” said the IT manager.
A huge influx of foreign workers into Singapore in recent years has overstretched Singapore’s mass rapid transport system, resulting in frequent breakdowns. The latest major breakdown happened during evening rush hour on 7 July 2015. Train services on the North-South and East-West Lines were disrupted for at least 3.5 hours, leaving some 250,000 commuters stranded as they jostled for free bus services. Needless to say, many were hopping mad.
‘No point getting a (FT) misfit who cannot fit into society’
Yesterday (29 Aug), SingFirst unveiled 5 more candidates:
Dr Ang Yong Guan – Party Chairman, psychiatrist, 60
Tan Peng Ann – Party Vice-Chairman, social entrepreneur, 67
Dr Foo Ming Jin David – chemist and logistics professional, 51
Sukdeu Singh – retired police officer, 64
Wong Soon Hong – chemical sales director, 57
(L-R) Tan Peng Ann, Wong Soon Hong, Dr Ang Yong Guan, Dr David Foo, Sukdeu Singh
Dr Ang said that Singapore’s first 40 years was smooth-sailing until policies in the past decade “affected Singaporeans’ self-esteem” and sense of security in their future. He said the slate of candidates presented by SingFirst have a wealth of experience in public and private sectors to scrutinise policies affecting society, adding:
We want a new narrative, we want a new vision that puts Singaporeans at the heart of the nation… This is the way forward for Singapore: Thinking with our heart.
He also said the party aims to champion “responsible immigration” to ensure foreign talent can fit into Singapore’s culture:
(There is) no point getting a misfit who cannot fit into society; fitting a person into the environment is very important. We welcome foreigners but everything being equal, Singaporeans should come first.
Indeed, in the past, the PAP government has welcomed all sorts of foreigners who can’t fit into Singapore society. A prime example is Yang Yin, who somehow was given PR status. His PR application was supported by PAP MP Dr Intan. In fact, he was on his way to applying for Singaporean citizenship. He is now in remand facing hundreds of charges for fraud.
It’s not known how many more Yang Yins have been given PR and Singaporean citizenship by the PAP government over the last decade.
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/30/singfirst-wants-to-restore-our-nation/
It also took the opportunity to announce its slogan for this GE – “Restore our nation”.
On Friday (28 Aug), SingFirst introduced its first 5 candidates:
Tan Jee Say – Party Secretary-General and former Presidential candidate, 61
Fahmi Rais – broadcast veteran from Malay television, 48
Melvin Chew Weng Hoe – sales executive in an MNC, 36
Chirag Desai – market risk manager at international banks, 38
Wong Chee Wai Gregory – IT consultant, 44
SingFirst will announce where its candidates contest on Nomination Day itself.
(L-R) Chirag Desai, Wong Chee Wai, Tan Jee Say, Fahmi Rais, Melvin Chew
Foreign talent issue is still there
Secretary-General Tan Jee Say explained that the party slogan stems from the need to “take back our country from the government that has given it away to foreigners”. He said:
All the pies, all the sweet pies have been taken by foreigners, foreign-born workers. And the Prime Minister says he doesn’t care about the Gini coefficient as long as he can get 10 billionaires to stay in Singapore.
The influx of foreigners, which has led to strains on the public transport system and stiffer competition for jobs, is a hot-button issue at this GE. Said Mr Tan:
This country has been divided by the government’s policy on immigration, that has pitted our citizens against employers, and foreigners. They have taken away our jobs, not just our jobs. They have also taken our places in schools, and in businesses as well – these foreign companies coming in.
Mr Tan also noted that there have been many abuses in getting work passes for foreign workers:
How can you allow a PhD (holder) to come under S pass? That’s because their salaries are $2,400 to $2,500. There must be a proper skill level. S level passes are for semi-skilled. Do you call PhDs semi-skilled? This is an abuse of the system.
Political analysts agree that the “foreign talent” issue has not gone away despite assurances from the PAP government. NUS political scientist Reuben Wong remarked:
The foreign talent issue is still there, especially for PMETs who want to see a greater reduction (in the level of foreign labour here). They will probably also have to deal with the whole debate about the transport infrastructure here… I’m sure the opposition will raise that at their rallies.
Many, like Mr Robin Tan, 33, hope issues relating to transport and cost of living will be raised during the GE. “I’d like to see how the Government will ease transportation woes, such as the breakdowns and congestion in the trains,” said the IT manager.
A huge influx of foreign workers into Singapore in recent years has overstretched Singapore’s mass rapid transport system, resulting in frequent breakdowns. The latest major breakdown happened during evening rush hour on 7 July 2015. Train services on the North-South and East-West Lines were disrupted for at least 3.5 hours, leaving some 250,000 commuters stranded as they jostled for free bus services. Needless to say, many were hopping mad.
‘No point getting a (FT) misfit who cannot fit into society’
Yesterday (29 Aug), SingFirst unveiled 5 more candidates:
Dr Ang Yong Guan – Party Chairman, psychiatrist, 60
Tan Peng Ann – Party Vice-Chairman, social entrepreneur, 67
Dr Foo Ming Jin David – chemist and logistics professional, 51
Sukdeu Singh – retired police officer, 64
Wong Soon Hong – chemical sales director, 57
(L-R) Tan Peng Ann, Wong Soon Hong, Dr Ang Yong Guan, Dr David Foo, Sukdeu Singh
Dr Ang said that Singapore’s first 40 years was smooth-sailing until policies in the past decade “affected Singaporeans’ self-esteem” and sense of security in their future. He said the slate of candidates presented by SingFirst have a wealth of experience in public and private sectors to scrutinise policies affecting society, adding:
We want a new narrative, we want a new vision that puts Singaporeans at the heart of the nation… This is the way forward for Singapore: Thinking with our heart.
He also said the party aims to champion “responsible immigration” to ensure foreign talent can fit into Singapore’s culture:
(There is) no point getting a misfit who cannot fit into society; fitting a person into the environment is very important. We welcome foreigners but everything being equal, Singaporeans should come first.
Indeed, in the past, the PAP government has welcomed all sorts of foreigners who can’t fit into Singapore society. A prime example is Yang Yin, who somehow was given PR status. His PR application was supported by PAP MP Dr Intan. In fact, he was on his way to applying for Singaporean citizenship. He is now in remand facing hundreds of charges for fraud.
It’s not known how many more Yang Yins have been given PR and Singaporean citizenship by the PAP government over the last decade.
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/30/singfirst-wants-to-restore-our-nation/
