The Workers' Party

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong, JJ (余振忠)


Members of the press at the introduction of 4 potential candidates and also the slogan for our GE2015.

 

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong, JJ (余振忠)

First set of 4 candidates - Dylan Ng Foo Eng 黄富荣, Koh Choong Yong 许俊荣, A/Prof Daniel Goh 吴佩松 and Redzwan.
Check more from http://Wp.sg revamped website!

 

[sengkang]

[h=1]Don’t use immigration as cure for economic ailments: WP’s Daniel Goh[/h] Goh, second from right Immigration should not be used as a means to shore up the lagging economy or as a step in economic development, said Daniel Goh.


Mr Goh is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore (NUS), where he is Deputy Head of Department and Convenor of the Cultural Studies Programme.


He has written and spoken on the topic of immigration at various fora in his work.


He made the above remarks to a question by the media at the press conference on Wednesday where he was introduced as one of the Workers’ Party (WP) candidates for the general elections.


“The Workers’ Party is not an anti-immigration party, we have to be very clear on that,” Assoc Prof Goh said, reiterating the position in the party’s policy paper of 2013, which was issued in response to the Government’s Population White Paper that same year.


“WP recognises the contributions of foreigners to the economic vibrancy of our nation and the need for foreign expertise in certain fields,” the WP paper said. “However, the reason for admitting foreigners into our country should be to enhance the quality of life of Singaporeans.”


Assoc Prof Goh said the party believes that “we need to focus always on Singaporeans first.”


“To focus on the Singaporean core and build that up,” he explained. “So, we don’t want a situation where immigration is treated as a way to cure whatever ailments of society, ailments of some economic policy in the past. We would rather that the government focus firstly and mostly all their energies on boosting the Singaporean core – whether it is in terms of birth rates, whether it is in terms of employment, in terms of skills, etc etc.”


The Government’s White Paper on Population – made after the general elections of 2011 – had stated that it was adopting a “planning perimeter” of a 6.9 million population scenario by 2030.


The revelation led to intense debate among Singaporeans, with many shocked that the Government was working towards such a population size.


The unhappiness saw 5,000 people take to Hong Lim Park later that year in protest – it was the biggest protest gathering post-Independence.


The Government later explained that it was not, contrary to popular belief, working towards that population size for the country, but that it was just for planning purposes.


However, many remain sceptical – even as the government said it had tightened the inflow of foreigners and foreign workers.
Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said last week, however, that the tightening of the foreign manpower regime “was not a reaction to past mistakes, but was rather a reflection that realities had changed.”


“We are managing the growth of the foreign manpower at the pace in tandem with the growth of the local manpower,” said Mr Lim. “It’s important that we ensure that two thirds of our workforce will form a strong Singaporean core in our economy … On the whole, we want to do our best to strike this balance.”


Assoc Prof Goh said on Wednesday, “We have fought for the limiting of immigration, not to use a planning perimeter of 6.9 million people as a way to help guide policy because once you set that kind of planning perimeter, it starts to seep in and become a reality.”


“We have to be very conscious and focus instead on principle – the principle is always to focus on Singaporeans first and foremost.”
When approached by The Online Citizen (TOC) to elaborate further on what he had said during the press conference, Assoc Prof said that there is a need to prioritise limited resources in the effort to enhance Singaporeans’ lives.


“We have to seriously address the question of what do we want to focus our resources and energy on,” he explained. “Building infrastructure for 6.9 million people, as a planning perimeter, or focusing these resources on developing the skills of Singaporeans and investing in their future?”


He, however, added that this was “not an either-or question.”


“But it is a question of allocation of resources,” he explained. “We’re often said to be a small country with limited resources. So, what are we going to do with this limited resources, this finite resources? We have to focus [that]. So focus on building up the Singaporean core.”


One way to do this was to invest in enhancing Singaporeans’ skills.


He praised as “wonderful” the SkillsFuture Singapore (SFS) initiative announced by the government earlier this year.
Goh The SFS provides every Singaporean aged 25 and above with an initial S$500 of SkillsFuture Credit, which will be topped up at regular intervals and does not carry an expiry date.


The credit can be used on a range of Government-supported courses for Singaporeans to upgrade their skills.


The aim is to foster and continually renew Singaporeans with “deep skills that are critical for the next stage of Singapore’s economy”, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said when he announced the scheme during the Budget in February.
“We must become a meritocracy of skills, not a hierarchy of grades earned early in life,” Mr Tharman said.


Assoc Prof agreed with the initiative.


“Let’s focus on that – instead of thinking and using immigration as a way to shore up the lagging economy or the next step of economic development and so forth,” he said.

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...as-cure-for-economic-ailments-wps-daniel-goh/

 

[sengkang]

[h=2]Dylan Ng Foo Eng 黄富荣[/h]Public Figure

I look forward to your support to The Workers' Party as we build a robust, policy-making platform. All Singaporeans will benefit from a vibrant parliament with sufficient checks and balances

 

[sengkang]

[h=2]Terence Tan 陈励正[/h]Public Figure

Some stunning photos. Thank you Edwin Koo.

Edwin Koo

Chen Show Mao accompanies his younger party members on a walkabout along Upper Serangoon Road, part of the Marine Parade GRC the WP intends to contest.

2015/08/25. Lorong Lew Lian. Singapore. Photo © Edwin Koo/ @singaporeson #ge2015 #singaporeson #edwinkoo — in Singapore, Singapore.Like · Comment · Share · Yesterday at 3:12pm ·

 

[sengkang]

[h=2]Gerald Giam[/h]Politician

“It’s important to build confident people, confident of themselves, confident that what they are doing is right for Singapore, rather than looking to the Government and taking the cue from Government.”


“As we reach a milestone here, what do we want for the future? Do we want as a people to continue to subject ourselves to an environment of possible fear? Possible government actions? Or do we tell ourselves we are masters of the land, we should tell the Government to serve us?” said Mr Low.






What has worked in the past may not be a good model for Singapore's future, says Workers’ Party


There is no need for Government involvement in everything say party leaders as they unveil the campaign slogan “Empower your future”. The party also says it...
www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong, JJ (余振忠)

Was at my childhood playground, Opera Estate this afternoon and got invited into the home of Mr Lim and Mdm Puey, aged 94 and 88 respectively. They have lived in this house since it was built over 50 years ago! A family member told me they had voted WP for the first time last GE and will continue to support us this GE under Marine Parade. In fact they got so excited when told that GE is here again and wanted to vote immediately!
Thank you!


(Photo shared with permission)

 

[sengkang]

[h=2]theonlinecitizen[/h]News/Media Website

Response by WP chief, Low Thia Khiang, to Goh Chok Tong's attack that the WP is "arrogant".

 

[sengkang]

What has worked in the past may not be a good model for Singapore's future, says Workers’ Party

There is no need for Government involvement in everything say party leaders as they unveil the campaign slogan “Empower your future”. The party also says it has completed its audit of AHPETC’s accounts.

• POSTED: 26 Aug 2015 19:10
• UPDATED: 26 Aug 2015 19:18

• PHOTOS

(From left) Dylan Ng, Koh Choon Yong, WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang, WP chairman Sylvia Lim, Daniel Goh, Redzwan Hafidz. (Photo: Goh Chiew Tong)

SINGAPORE: Voters should consider whether it “continues to be a good model for Singapore” for political leaders to “cast a long shadow over every aspect of life, society, organisation, profession”, said Workers’ Party (WP) Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang on Wednesday (Aug 26).

Unveiling the party’s campaign slogan, “Empower your future”, Mr Low said the world today is different than it was 50 years ago. Singapore today “has many local talents compared to in the past”, he noted. “So what we have relied on to succeed in the past 50 years, may or may not be the same model and formula for us to succeed in the future.”

He was speaking at a press conference to introduce the first four of the party’s potential candidates for the General Election on Sept 11. The party has declared that it will contest 28 seats.

Mr Low asked voters to think about “whether or not you want to continue to allow the PAP decide your future, (or to) have a say in the future you want.” Noting the start made towards “a First World Parliament” - the basis of the WP’s Manifesto in 2011, when it won six seats in Parliament – he called on voters to “entrench” the process towards a Parliament with more checks and balances, to “keep the Government on its toes” and responsive to people’s needs.

Asked about Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s comment earlier in the morning – where he likened the Opposition to the rooster that “goes around claiming” that its crowing causes the sun to rise -- WP chairman Sylvia Lim said: “We leave it to Singaporeans to judge whether his Government has become more responsive since 2011.”

Noting how things are run in top-down fashion in Singapore, Ms Lim said this was “unhealthy”. She pointed to the passion that some Singaporeans have for the causes they believe in. “We should let such passion to take us to the next level, we don’t need the Government appointee to be there to steer the direction,” she said, citing areas such as sports and the arts. “It’s about people being able to run things themselves. We don't see a need for Government involvement in everything.”

FEAR IS ‘BAGGAGE OF THE PAST’
One of the four candidates announced yesterday, engineer Redzwan Hafidz Abdul Razak, said it was not an easy decision to join the opposition party as his wife was a civil servant and the fear of being politically associated with one was “real”.

Acknowledging that “there is still a spectrum in society of people worrying about repercussions from political leaders”, Mr Low said this was probably due to not enough awareness and “psychological baggage inherited from the past” that should be set aside.

He added: “It’s important to build confident people, confident of themselves, confident that what they are doing is right for Singapore, rather than looking to the Government and taking the cue from Government.”

“As we reach a milestone here, what do we want for the future? Do we want as a people to continue to subject ourselves to an environment of possible fear? Possible government actions? Or do we tell ourselves we are masters of the land, we should tell the Government to serve us?” said Mr Low.

AUDIT OF AHPETC ACCOUNTS COMPLETED
As for the financial records of the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC), Ms Lim revealed: "After working very hard, we have completed our audit for FY14/15 and in the next few days we will be filing our audited accounts.”

“We can have discussion at that point,” she said, to a question about town council management. She added that the party was ready to talk about its record of running the AHPETC at the elections - emphasising that this was about more than just about financial management, but also aspects such as maintenance and cleanliness.

As for grooming the party’s next generation of leaders, Mr Low said the WP needed time. “Depending on the result of the election, you will see the younger generation slowly move forward to play a more important role, to take centrestage. But it will be a process that will take time, and I would say that we have made good progress.”

WP'S SEPARATE PATH
Asked about working with other parties, Mr Low pointed to the diversity of the Opposition. He said: “I made it very clear at the Punggol East by-election in a speech, that we have different objectives, different leadership.”

He recounted how he was under pressure in 2001 for the WP to join the newly-formed Singapore Democratic Alliance. But he felt that building a party that offered Singaporeans a credible choice was the fundamental thing he had to do first.

“We built ourselves up and today, after 20 years, we are still talking about Opposition unity. The Workers’ Party has taken its own path, and I believe that is the path on which we can build a credible party to offer Singaporeans a credible choice. And I think we will continue with that path,” said Mr Low.

- CNA/yv

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/what-has-worked-in-the/2077430.html

 

[sengkang]

Dylan Ng Foo Eng 黄富荣

Age: 40
Education:

Bachelor of Economics, University of Western Australia (UWA)
Advanced Diploma in Private Banking, Singapore Management University (SMU)

Occupation:
Banker

Marital Status:
Married with 2 children (10 years old daughter and 6 years old son)

Background:
Dylan graduated from UWA in the year 2000, triple majors in Economics, Finance and International Trade. He worked for IBM and Citibank before moving to Research International Asia, the largest customised research firms. As a Quantitative Research Manager, he provided insights and consultancy to clients across all industries in Automobile, Banking & Telcos.

In 2004, he moved to Standard Chartered Bank to be the Research Analyst and later became of the head of the Voice of Customer (VOC) unit 6 months later where he re-structured the team, embraced new methodologies to strengthen research capability and streamlined data collection processes.

He spent the next 8 years in UOB Private Banking and Retail Banking Division in various capacities as Vice-President in Analytics & Planning, Head & Vice-President in Segmentation and Head & First Vice-President (FVP) in Business Strategy. As Head & FVP of Business Strategy, he helped to set up UOB Wealth Banking. In November 2013, he became the Head of Wealth Management & Loan Sales at the Singapore office of a Malaysia bank.

• 

 

[sengkang]

[h=3]Redzwan Hafidz Abdul Razak[/h] Age: 30


Education:
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), University of Newcastle, Australia
Master of Science in Engineering Business Management, University of Warwick, UK


Occupation:
Engineer


Marital Status:
Married


Background:
Redzwan is an Engineer. He is a member of both Engineers Australia and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK.
He attended Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Pasir Ris Secondary School and Griffiths Primary School before he went to university in Australia. As a student, Redzwan was active in various sports, cultural and uniformed organisations. He was the Vice-captain for his polytechnic’s sepak takraw team in 2004


Redzwan is the only son in the family. He has two sisters. He grew up in the east. In the past, Redzwan’s grandfather was a Senior UMNO member in Singapore, and was active in politics during the 1950s.


As a student, Redzwan had the opportunity to observe the 2007 Australian Federal Elections in which the incumbent Coalition government was defeated. He enjoyed watching the parliamentary debates. This sparked his interest further, and made him realise how democracy could work, and how the vote of the people could bring about changes to the government. Upon his return to Singapore, Redzwan saw changes in Singapore, and felt that the current policies could be improved. They include bread and butter issues such as cost of living and housing. Recalling his Australian experience, Redzwan decided to join WP after he realized that a good parliamentary system should be one which allows for healthy debate between two or more parties so that there is proper scrutiny before any bills are passed.


In 2013, Redzwan was elected as a Youth Wing Exco member. Since 2011, Redzwan has been active with the party as well as a grassroots volunteer serving residents in Aljunied GRC.

• 

• Previous
• Next

 

[sengkang]

[h=3]Koh Choong Yong 许俊荣[/h] Age: 42


Position in WP:
Vice-Chairman, Hougang Constituency Committee


Education:
Bachelor of Science (Information Systems & Computer Sciences), National University of Singapore


Occupation:
Software Engineer – Ruckus Wireless Singapore


Marital Status:
Married with 2 boys.


Background:
Choong Yong grew up in Toa Payoh where his parents ran a wet market stall. He went to school at Raffles Institution and later Raffles Junior College. His passion in the Chinese language and culture allowed him to be effectively bilingual.


Upon graduation from NUS, he worked as an IT analyst at Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture), for 2 years before joining a local dot-com-enabler, Aretae Pte Ltd.


In 2004, when Choong Yong’s first child was born, he felt that he needed to take a more active role in the raising of his son, and decided to start a venture of his own so that his time would be more flexible. He subsequently joined another local start-up YFind, as a core member of the engineering team to develop an indoor ‘locationing’ solution. YFind was later acquired by Ruckus Wireless, a NYSE-listed company. He now works as a software engineer for Ruckus Wireless Singapore.


In the run-up to GE2006, the possibility of voting for the first time in his life triggered Choong Yong’s political awareness. After GE2006, Choong Yong decided to join the Workers’ Party. He was elected as a Youth Wing Executive Committee member, and subsequently as the Youth Wing Vice President in 2007. In 2008, he was elected into the party’s Central Executive Council (CEC) and became the WP Youth Wing President in 2009.


After GE2011, Choong Yong was appointed as the Legislative Assistant to Mr Chen Show Mao in the Paya Lebar Division of Aljunied GRC. He later became the Legislative Assistant to Mr Png Eng Huat in Hougang SMC in 2014.

• 

• Previous
• Next

 

[sengkang]

[h=3]Daniel Goh Pei Siong 吴佩松[/h] Age: 42


Posts in WP:
President, WP Youth Wing


Education:
Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Master of Social Science (Sociology), National University of Singapore
Bachelor of Social Science (Sociology), National University of Singapore


Occupation:
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore


Marital status:
Married with one son.


Background:
Daniel Goh is Associate Professor lecturing at the Department of Sociology, NUS, where he is Deputy Head of Department and Convenor of the Cultural Studies Programme. He researches and publishes on political sociology, cultural and urban studies, race and multiculturalism, and religion. He was born into a Roman Catholic family and grew up attending Catholic schools. He decided to pursue a social science degree, even though he was from the science stream and loved physics. He could not shake off questions about politics, economics and society inspired by the democratic revolutions in Asia in the late 1980s.


Daniel has been a supporter of the WP since 1988 when he attended his first political rally in Eunos. His father, a worker who rose through the ranks to become a manager, taught him the virtues of labour and the rights of the labourer. His mother, a nurse,
taught him charity and kindness. He saw these ideals expressed by the WP. He started helping with WP during the 2011 General Election and had worked with MPs Chen Show Mao and Lee Li Lian. Daniel and his wife are extremely proud parents of their infant boy and they currently live in Braddell Heights HDB estate. He thinks aloud at https://www.facebook.com/danpsgoh.

• 

• Previous
• Next

 

[sengkang]

[h=2]Daniel Goh 吴佩松[/h]Public Figure

A reporter asked the introduced candidates what we thought of the PAP introducing their candidates in coffeeshops and other heartland venues while WP was doing this at the party HQ. Dylan and Choong Yong answered, but before I could, an AFP reporter abruptly interjected with a question he thought was more important, and Redzwan and I didn't answer the question.


No matter, but the question left me thinking. My answer would have been, with a bit of extra hindsight time, "So what? I live in heartland spaces every day; I get introduced as a candidate at the HQ because it is a special event. My normal reality is the heartland, the heartland is not a special event for me. My life is the heartland, the heartland is not my symbolic gesture."


So this is what I did after the press conference. Choong Yong generously gave me a lift back and went to the coffee shop across from my HDB block to work. I went back, said hello to my neighbour who was doing some DIY work in the corridor, changed to tee-shirt and berms, played a game of Zingo! with my son, and shared what happened with the wife. My mum was on her way back from work, and I know my son would want to do gardening with grandma to maintain the potted plants outside, so I took the chance to head to the bank at Nex mall to get a cashier's order for the election deposit.


Along the way at the void deck I said hello and spoke briefly to the "guardian angel" uncle who sits at the stone table in the mornings and evenings to watch the crowds. At the traffic lights, two schoolboys were playing catching around me, and I glared at one of them because he almost crashed into me with his cup of soft drink. In Nex, I politely declined promoters trying to sell me something and negotiated some kan cheong aunties at the escalators. Got my cashier's order, and while walking back through the bus interchange I saw my phone notifications had went crazy due to the buzz about my candidate introduction on social media.


But the irony is no one recognised me in the heartland, because I fade into it with my unclely tee-shirt and berms. And there is nothing special about the heartland, just the banality of everyday life which we cherish for its persistence. I rarely take selfies but I thought I should just do one to register a moment. It would have been extremely uncomfortable for me if I was introduced as a candidate at the coffeeshop or some other heartland spaces, because it would be symbolic tokenism that appropriates our living space for my own political profit.

 

[sengkang]

Blk 630 Bedok Reservoir Road Market

Madam H, a WP supporter, is more than 100 years old. Trolling the PAP since before 1915!

 

[lovesamleong]

 

[sengkang]

 

[sengkang]

[h=2]The Workers' Party[/h]Guess who we'll be introducing today?

 

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party

Introducing the second batch of our new candidates (from left) Terence Tan Li-Chern, Firuz Khan, Cheryl Denise Loh Xiu Wen, and Luke Koh Tiong Yee.

 

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party


That's all we have for today. If you'd like to find out more about them, you can like their Facebook pages here, or visit www.wp.sg
Terence Tan facebook.com/terencetanlichern
Firuz Khan facebook.com/FiruzKhan24
Cheryl Loh facebook.com/Cheryl.Denise.Loh