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Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.
- Thread starter LaoTze
- Start date
Lawrence Wong
22 h ·Do take a look this article by my colleague SMS Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达 summarising the key differences in fiscal policy between the PAP and WP during the recent GST debate in Parliament
https://www.facebook.com/hongtat.ch...PwV5IhTCorCuA4Tt2lR0UDRP8ORVI&__tn__=<<,P-y-R
Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达
1 d ·I invite you to read my article on Petir.sg. It explains the fundamental differences between PAP and WP when it comes to fiscal policy.
https://petir.sg/.../the-gst-debate-reveals-fundamental.../
-- Hong Tat
PETIR.SG
The GST debate reveals fundamental differences between the PAP & the WP
By Senior Minister of State for Finance Chee Hong Tat The GST Bill was debated vigorously in Parliament. Both the PAP and the WP presented impassioned arguments for and against the GST increase. The differences in political values and attitudes towards fiscal discipline between the two parties...
Lawrence was glad to join the SIIA team for dinner. 
Over the past six decades, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs has helped to be a bridge between the government and society, on international affairs.
Glad to join the SIIA team for your 60th anniversary dinner, and chat with you about how everyone can continue to work together for a brighter future, even amidst global challenges.
As we enter a new era in geopolitics, I'm confident SIIA will continue to play a key part - to help Singaporeans to understand our national interests, and why it matters for us to stand up for our core fundamental principles.
(
: MCI Photos by Kai Yan)
Lawrence Wong
22 h ·Over the past six decades, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs has helped to be a bridge between the government and society, on international affairs.
Glad to join the SIIA team for your 60th anniversary dinner, and chat with you about how everyone can continue to work together for a brighter future, even amidst global challenges.
As we enter a new era in geopolitics, I'm confident SIIA will continue to play a key part - to help Singaporeans to understand our national interests, and why it matters for us to stand up for our core fundamental principles.
(
Lawrence congratulates P6 students. 
Congratulations to this year’s batch of P6 students on completing the PSLE! Whatever the results may be, you should be proud of yourselves for reaching this milestone.
Always remember that your grades do not fully define you. Your learning journey lasts throughout your life. So do take time to explore your interests and passions, and pursue your own path of excellence.
Kudos too to our educators and parents, for supporting and nurturing all our students.
Lawrence Wong
1 d ·Congratulations to this year’s batch of P6 students on completing the PSLE! Whatever the results may be, you should be proud of yourselves for reaching this milestone.
Always remember that your grades do not fully define you. Your learning journey lasts throughout your life. So do take time to explore your interests and passions, and pursue your own path of excellence.
Kudos too to our educators and parents, for supporting and nurturing all our students.
Lawrence speaks to youths.
Housing
Cost of living
Mental health
Sustainability
Skills and jobs
The future of Singapore
These topics strike a chord with Singaporeans in many of our #ForwardSG conversations.
What are you concerned about, and what do you love about Singapore? What can we do better — when working with each other? What initiatives do you want to start? Find out what your friends have to say in the CNA Youth Forum Everyone can play a role to shape a better Singapore. Find out more at Our SG – Home of Forward SG.
(
: MCI Photo by Ngau Kai Yan)
Lawrence Wong
1 h ·
These topics strike a chord with Singaporeans in many of our #ForwardSG conversations.
What are you concerned about, and what do you love about Singapore? What can we do better — when working with each other? What initiatives do you want to start? Find out what your friends have to say in the CNA Youth Forum Everyone can play a role to shape a better Singapore. Find out more at Our SG – Home of Forward SG.
(
Lawrence attended the gala show of Gentarasa last week. 
Attended the gala show of Gentarasa last week.
Organised by People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA), Gentarasa is a musical showcasing the rich heritage and culture of our Malay community. It also creates opportunities to deepen cross-cultural understanding in our society through song and dance.
Congratulations to our 14 recipients of the Gentarasa Study Grant — hope you continue to pursue your own path of excellence, and promote cultural awareness and appreciation.
(
: Photos from Gentarasa 2022)
Lawrence Wong
9 h ·Attended the gala show of Gentarasa last week.
Organised by People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA), Gentarasa is a musical showcasing the rich heritage and culture of our Malay community. It also creates opportunities to deepen cross-cultural understanding in our society through song and dance.
Congratulations to our 14 recipients of the Gentarasa Study Grant — hope you continue to pursue your own path of excellence, and promote cultural awareness and appreciation.
(
Lawrence looks forward to working hard. 
Much work lies ahead for all of us in the PAP team as we strive to do well, not just in government but also in politics. Look forward to walking this journey together with our comrades and partners - to serve our fellow Singaporeans to the best of our abilities, and to build an ever more fair, ever more just, ever brighter Singapore for many more years to come.
Lawrence Wong
1 d · Instagram ·Much work lies ahead for all of us in the PAP team as we strive to do well, not just in government but also in politics. Look forward to walking this journey together with our comrades and partners - to serve our fellow Singaporeans to the best of our abilities, and to build an ever more fair, ever more just, ever brighter Singapore for many more years to come.
from straitstimes.com:
DPM Lawrence Wong speaking at the PAP Conference and Awards 2022 held at Resorts World Convention Centre on Sunday. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent
PUBLISHED
6 NOV 2022, 11:15 AM SGT
FacebookTwitter
SINGAPORE - There is no guarantee that the People’s Action Party (PAP) will win the next general election, nor is it inevitable that he will become the next prime minister, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday.
This is why the ruling party will work “doubly hard, triply hard” to regain the seats it has lost and will go all out to earn the support of Singaporeans to secure a strong mandate to govern, said Mr Wong.
He was speaking at the People’s Action Party Conference and Awards 2022 held at Resorts World Convention Centre on Sunday. It was Mr Wong’s maiden speech at a party conference.
The event, attended by more than 3,000 PAP members, will also see the party hold its biennial election for its central executive committee, where 12 members will be directly elected by party cadres. The committee is the party’s top decision-making body.
Mr Wong said he had no doubt that political contestation in Singapore will intensify with time, and called on party members to brace and strengthen themselves for tougher and more uncertain elections.
The Workers’ Party (WP), for one, is now an established political force that holds two group representation constituencies and one single-member constituency.
Mr Wong noted that the WP contested six constituencies in the last election, and that the sum of the votes it received across the six contests was slightly more than the votes for the PAP.
“What if the WP had contested more seats? Would the PAP still have won 61 per cent of the votes nationwide? Would we still have returned to power?” he asked.
As a political party, the PAP has to be clear-eyed and confront its political challenges and challengers head-on, he added.
Noting that the PAP has governed Singapore continuously since 1959, Mr Wong said many here have become accustomed to it forming the government and assume that it will automatically continue to govern the country no matter who they vote for.
But there is no such guarantee, he emphasised.
“Every election from now on will be about which party forms the government,” he said.
The PAP’s internal review after the 2020 General Election indicated that a stronger desire for checks and balances and diversity in Parliament is here to stay, and the PAP must recognise and respect Singaporeans’ desire for this.
Mr Wong called on party activists to continue meeting Singaporeans where they are, including online, and to have the conviction to represent the PAP, stand up for its values and explain the party’s beliefs and policies.
The experience of other countries is that political parties that seek short-term advantage will not hesitate to tap peoples’ fears and frustrations, offering simplistic proposals to score political points and get more support.
“These proposals are often cleverly packaged to sound as attractive as possible, but the remedies are really snake oil that do not solve any problem,” he said. “Indeed, they just make things worse, and in the end it is the people who suffer.”
This is why PAP activists have to step up efforts to address residents’ concerns, connect with them and consolidate support on the ground.
“We must have the courage to correct misperceptions and untruths, and tell people what this party and this Government have done, and what we will continue to do as long as we have their mandate,” said Mr Wong.
He added that during his visits to the party branches, the two most popular questions he gets asked are when the next election will be and when he will be taking over as prime minister.
He said: “We know the election must take place by 2025. Whether it happens before or in 2025, we already know that it will be a tough battle.
“So the real questions to ask are not when the succession or when the election will take place, but how we can prepare ourselves to put up the strongest fight; how we can win the confidence and trust of Singaporeans; how we can secure a clear mandate.”
To do that, the party must do well in both government and politics, said Mr Wong.
Since he was chosen to lead the fourth-generation (4G) leadership team in April, Mr Wong said, he had gone around to visit the party branches and collect feedback.
He is a member of the PAP’s central executive committee, having been elected into the body in 2020 after having been co-opted back in 2018.
Several Malay activists he spoke to encouraged him to speak more in Malay, he added.
Switching to Malay, he said that he is hard at work studying the language and will speak more of it in the future. With more time and practice, he will become better, he added.
“I still have to work on my magic cup,” he said in English, a reference to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s ability to speak in a different language each time he took a sip while at the lectern.
Mr Wong also said he had felt the support from party members during the visits.
“It is a great privilege to be able to serve, and to give back to our party and our country. I do not take the trust invested in me lightly,” he said.
“I make this solemn commitment: I will give the full measure of my strength in service of my party, my people and my country.”
Mr Wong said Singapore is entering a more dangerous world where war cannot be ruled out and growth is slowing, even as the city state’s needs continue to grow, its population is ageing and climate change remains an existential crisis.
The country is entering a sustained period of higher prices, seeing the emergence of a new Cold War between the United States and China and experiencing the effects of climate change.
Apart from the fraught external environment, domestically, the economy is maturing, the population is ageing and the needs of the people are continuing to grow, he noted.
All these challenges will ultimately affect social cohesion, said Mr Wong. If Singapore is to succeed, it cannot wish away these challenges but must confront them head-on, bravely and wisely, he added.
When there are diminishing opportunities for progress, tensions between people of different races, religions or places of birth are bound to flare up, he added.
No country is immune to such forces tearing apart its social fabric, much less a young and tiny country like Singapore. This is why the Republic cannot wish away these challenges but must confront them head-on, bravely and wisely, said Mr Wong.
He highlighted the need to maintain the “precious solidarity and trust that we have in Singapore”, which was why his first priority after taking on the role of deputy prime minister in June was to launch the nationwide Forward Singapore engagement exercise.
The objective of the exercise is to help Singaporeans of all backgrounds realise their full potential and share in the country’s success, while strengthening social protections for them in a more uncertain and volatile world. Another aim is to build a stronger sense of solidarity and responsibility in society, he added.
Noting that Singapore and the 4G team have emerged from the Covid-19 crisis stronger and with a deepened reservoir of trust, Mr Wong said he is confident that by working together, the PAP will overcome the challenges and prevail.
“We must show through our words and actions that the PAP is the only party with the ability and determination to take Singapore forward.”
PAP will work ‘doubly hard, triply hard’ to regain lost seats at next GE: Lawrence Wong
DPM Lawrence Wong speaking at the PAP Conference and Awards 2022 held at Resorts World Convention Centre on Sunday. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent
PUBLISHED
6 NOV 2022, 11:15 AM SGT
FacebookTwitter
SINGAPORE - There is no guarantee that the People’s Action Party (PAP) will win the next general election, nor is it inevitable that he will become the next prime minister, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday.
This is why the ruling party will work “doubly hard, triply hard” to regain the seats it has lost and will go all out to earn the support of Singaporeans to secure a strong mandate to govern, said Mr Wong.
He was speaking at the People’s Action Party Conference and Awards 2022 held at Resorts World Convention Centre on Sunday. It was Mr Wong’s maiden speech at a party conference.
The event, attended by more than 3,000 PAP members, will also see the party hold its biennial election for its central executive committee, where 12 members will be directly elected by party cadres. The committee is the party’s top decision-making body.
Mr Wong said he had no doubt that political contestation in Singapore will intensify with time, and called on party members to brace and strengthen themselves for tougher and more uncertain elections.
The Workers’ Party (WP), for one, is now an established political force that holds two group representation constituencies and one single-member constituency.
Mr Wong noted that the WP contested six constituencies in the last election, and that the sum of the votes it received across the six contests was slightly more than the votes for the PAP.
“What if the WP had contested more seats? Would the PAP still have won 61 per cent of the votes nationwide? Would we still have returned to power?” he asked.
As a political party, the PAP has to be clear-eyed and confront its political challenges and challengers head-on, he added.
Noting that the PAP has governed Singapore continuously since 1959, Mr Wong said many here have become accustomed to it forming the government and assume that it will automatically continue to govern the country no matter who they vote for.
But there is no such guarantee, he emphasised.
“Every election from now on will be about which party forms the government,” he said.
The PAP’s internal review after the 2020 General Election indicated that a stronger desire for checks and balances and diversity in Parliament is here to stay, and the PAP must recognise and respect Singaporeans’ desire for this.
Mr Wong called on party activists to continue meeting Singaporeans where they are, including online, and to have the conviction to represent the PAP, stand up for its values and explain the party’s beliefs and policies.
The experience of other countries is that political parties that seek short-term advantage will not hesitate to tap peoples’ fears and frustrations, offering simplistic proposals to score political points and get more support.
“These proposals are often cleverly packaged to sound as attractive as possible, but the remedies are really snake oil that do not solve any problem,” he said. “Indeed, they just make things worse, and in the end it is the people who suffer.”
This is why PAP activists have to step up efforts to address residents’ concerns, connect with them and consolidate support on the ground.
“We must have the courage to correct misperceptions and untruths, and tell people what this party and this Government have done, and what we will continue to do as long as we have their mandate,” said Mr Wong.
He added that during his visits to the party branches, the two most popular questions he gets asked are when the next election will be and when he will be taking over as prime minister.
He said: “We know the election must take place by 2025. Whether it happens before or in 2025, we already know that it will be a tough battle.
“So the real questions to ask are not when the succession or when the election will take place, but how we can prepare ourselves to put up the strongest fight; how we can win the confidence and trust of Singaporeans; how we can secure a clear mandate.”
To do that, the party must do well in both government and politics, said Mr Wong.
Since he was chosen to lead the fourth-generation (4G) leadership team in April, Mr Wong said, he had gone around to visit the party branches and collect feedback.
He is a member of the PAP’s central executive committee, having been elected into the body in 2020 after having been co-opted back in 2018.
Several Malay activists he spoke to encouraged him to speak more in Malay, he added.
Switching to Malay, he said that he is hard at work studying the language and will speak more of it in the future. With more time and practice, he will become better, he added.
“I still have to work on my magic cup,” he said in English, a reference to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s ability to speak in a different language each time he took a sip while at the lectern.
Mr Wong also said he had felt the support from party members during the visits.
“It is a great privilege to be able to serve, and to give back to our party and our country. I do not take the trust invested in me lightly,” he said.
“I make this solemn commitment: I will give the full measure of my strength in service of my party, my people and my country.”
Mr Wong said Singapore is entering a more dangerous world where war cannot be ruled out and growth is slowing, even as the city state’s needs continue to grow, its population is ageing and climate change remains an existential crisis.
The country is entering a sustained period of higher prices, seeing the emergence of a new Cold War between the United States and China and experiencing the effects of climate change.
Apart from the fraught external environment, domestically, the economy is maturing, the population is ageing and the needs of the people are continuing to grow, he noted.
All these challenges will ultimately affect social cohesion, said Mr Wong. If Singapore is to succeed, it cannot wish away these challenges but must confront them head-on, bravely and wisely, he added.
When there are diminishing opportunities for progress, tensions between people of different races, religions or places of birth are bound to flare up, he added.
No country is immune to such forces tearing apart its social fabric, much less a young and tiny country like Singapore. This is why the Republic cannot wish away these challenges but must confront them head-on, bravely and wisely, said Mr Wong.
He highlighted the need to maintain the “precious solidarity and trust that we have in Singapore”, which was why his first priority after taking on the role of deputy prime minister in June was to launch the nationwide Forward Singapore engagement exercise.
The objective of the exercise is to help Singaporeans of all backgrounds realise their full potential and share in the country’s success, while strengthening social protections for them in a more uncertain and volatile world. Another aim is to build a stronger sense of solidarity and responsibility in society, he added.
Noting that Singapore and the 4G team have emerged from the Covid-19 crisis stronger and with a deepened reservoir of trust, Mr Wong said he is confident that by working together, the PAP will overcome the challenges and prevail.
“We must show through our words and actions that the PAP is the only party with the ability and determination to take Singapore forward.”
Lawrence was happy to see so many young people.
Hope our Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC residents enjoyed our first-ever music festival over the weekend - MYBeatsMusicFest!
We thought it would be good to have a platform to showcase our home-grown bands and musicians, especially after the last three years of Covid restrictions. Great to see many young people at the event, as well as many families spending time together, soaking in the music and festive atmosphere. Enjoy the holidays everyone!
Lawrence Wong
7 h ·Hope our Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC residents enjoyed our first-ever music festival over the weekend - MYBeatsMusicFest!
We thought it would be good to have a platform to showcase our home-grown bands and musicians, especially after the last three years of Covid restrictions. Great to see many young people at the event, as well as many families spending time together, soaking in the music and festive atmosphere. Enjoy the holidays everyone!
Lawrence congratulates all recipients who received their National Day awards from President Halimah Yacob.
Congratulations to all recipients who received their National Day awards from President Halimah Yacob yesterday!
Big shout-out to Mr Ng Poh Wah, Chairman of Our Limbang CCC and Mr Lim Han Li, Vice-Chairman of Limbang CCMC, on receiving the awards. Many thanks also to ITE College Central and the student ambassadors for the excellent arrangements for the event.
To all the award recipients, thank you for your great work in serving our fellow Singaporeans and our country.
(
2 & 3: MCI Photos by Lim Sin Thai)
Lawrence Wong
3 h ·Congratulations to all recipients who received their National Day awards from President Halimah Yacob yesterday!
Big shout-out to Mr Ng Poh Wah, Chairman of Our Limbang CCC and Mr Lim Han Li, Vice-Chairman of Limbang CCMC, on receiving the awards. Many thanks also to ITE College Central and the student ambassadors for the excellent arrangements for the event.
To all the award recipients, thank you for your great work in serving our fellow Singaporeans and our country.
(
Lawrence Wong
4 h ·Congratulations to Mr Ng Poh Wah, Chairman of Limbang CCC and Mr Lim Han Li, Vice-Chairman of Limbang CCMC, on receiving the awards!
from straitstimes.com:
DPM Lawrence Wong also has said that spillovers from the collapse of FTX to Singapore’s broader financial system and economy “will be very limited”. PHOTO: REUTERS
Hairianto Diman
Multimedia Correspondent
PUBLISHED
3 HOURS AGO
FacebookTwitter
Catch the latest news reports on The Big Story, The Straits Times’ weekday online news programme.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also has said that spillovers from the collapse of FTX to Singapore’s broader financial system and economy “will be very limited”.
Replying to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, he added that Temasek and sovereign wealth fund GIC have some investments in the digital asset space, but do not have direct exposure to cryptocurrencies.
Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, also said Temasek’s US$275 million (S$377 million) investment loss in FTX will not affect the stream of income from the reserves available for the Government’s Budget, or the Net Investment Returns Contribution.
The Big Story: Temasek’s FTX write-off will not affect contribution to Singapore’s reserves, says Lawrence Wong
DPM Lawrence Wong also has said that spillovers from the collapse of FTX to Singapore’s broader financial system and economy “will be very limited”. PHOTO: REUTERS
Hairianto Diman
Multimedia Correspondent
PUBLISHED
3 HOURS AGO
FacebookTwitter
Catch the latest news reports on The Big Story, The Straits Times’ weekday online news programme.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also has said that spillovers from the collapse of FTX to Singapore’s broader financial system and economy “will be very limited”.
Replying to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, he added that Temasek and sovereign wealth fund GIC have some investments in the digital asset space, but do not have direct exposure to cryptocurrencies.
Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, also said Temasek’s US$275 million (S$377 million) investment loss in FTX will not affect the stream of income from the reserves available for the Government’s Budget, or the Net Investment Returns Contribution.
Lawrence wants to build a more inclusive society.
We have just wrapped up the last Parliament Sitting for this year.
Many have closely followed these proceedings. One of the key debates was on the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code, and the Constitutional Amendment to protect the current definition of marriage.
These moves strike a careful and considered balance.
Everyone has different perspectives on such a sensitive matter. That is why it is important for these topics to be debated in a national forum like Parliament of Singapore.
While Parliament has voted on the legislative changes, there is still much work ahead of us - to engage one another, expand our common ground, and strengthen our unity. Working together, we can build a more inclusive society, now and for the future.
Lawrence Wong
23 h ·We have just wrapped up the last Parliament Sitting for this year.
Many have closely followed these proceedings. One of the key debates was on the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code, and the Constitutional Amendment to protect the current definition of marriage.
These moves strike a careful and considered balance.
Everyone has different perspectives on such a sensitive matter. That is why it is important for these topics to be debated in a national forum like Parliament of Singapore.
While Parliament has voted on the legislative changes, there is still much work ahead of us - to engage one another, expand our common ground, and strengthen our unity. Working together, we can build a more inclusive society, now and for the future.
Lawrence launched the Public Defender's Office (PDO). 
Launched the Public Defender's Office (PDO) this morning. This marks a major update to our criminal justice system. And it ensures the most vulnerable amongst us will have access to legal representation if they face criminal charges.
Many thanks to our pioneer batch of Public Defenders for stepping forward and responding to the call to serve. We have amongst them a mix of fresh graduates and mid-careers. They all have many options in the legal field, but have decided to join the PDO because of their passion to serve.
The PDO will work closely with Pro Bono SG and the Criminal Legal Assistance Scheme (CLAS) to provide legal representation to vulnerable persons. So ours will be a hybrid model of criminal legal aid, similar to other jurisdictions like the UK and Australia.
Let's work together - the Government, the legal fraternity, and community partners - to make Singapore a fairer and more inclusive society.
K Shanmugam Sc Edwin Tong Rahayu Mahzam Ministry of Law, Singapore
(
: MCI Photos by Terence Tan)
Lawrence Wong
3 h ·Launched the Public Defender's Office (PDO) this morning. This marks a major update to our criminal justice system. And it ensures the most vulnerable amongst us will have access to legal representation if they face criminal charges.
Many thanks to our pioneer batch of Public Defenders for stepping forward and responding to the call to serve. We have amongst them a mix of fresh graduates and mid-careers. They all have many options in the legal field, but have decided to join the PDO because of their passion to serve.
The PDO will work closely with Pro Bono SG and the Criminal Legal Assistance Scheme (CLAS) to provide legal representation to vulnerable persons. So ours will be a hybrid model of criminal legal aid, similar to other jurisdictions like the UK and Australia.
Let's work together - the Government, the legal fraternity, and community partners - to make Singapore a fairer and more inclusive society.
K Shanmugam Sc Edwin Tong Rahayu Mahzam Ministry of Law, Singapore
(
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