The Workers' Party

[sengkang]

[h=1]

WP statement on bus drivers’ strike: SMRT must address workers’ grievances better[/h]
The Workers’ Party has been following with great concern the unfolding events surrounding the strike by SMRT bus drivers on 26-27 November 2012. As a result of the strike, some bus services were disrupted and commuters suffered inconveniences on our already-crowded public transport network.


This is the first strike in Singapore in more than 25 years. We are disappointed that it took a strike to bring to the forefront the bus drivers’ grievances about their pay and living conditions. We believe that workers’ rights to engage in industrial action (including strikes) must only be done within the bounds of the law. Strikes should be – and usually are – a measure of last resort by workers who have exhausted all other avenues to persuade management to address their concerns.


This strike signals a failure in the labour dispute settlement process within SMRT. By its own admission, the SMRT management needs to improve the way it engages its bus drivers. While much attention this week has focused on the grievances of the bus drivers from China, SMRT must address legitimate concerns that have been raised by all its bus drivers since the recent revision of salaries and work hours. We urge SMRT to keep its commitment to improve working conditions for all its workers and ensure channels of communication between workers and management remain open.


It is in Singapore’s interests, and in line with our nation’s values, that all workers are treated fairly, so that they are motivated to perform their jobs with excellence. This is especially so for workers providing essential public services as it affects not just the local public but also Singapore’s international reputation.
As the cases of four SMRT bus drivers who have been charged with instigating the illegal strike are now before the courts, it would not be appropriate to comment on these specific cases. Our MPs will be asking the Government questions on this issue during the next sitting of Parliament.



THE WORKERS’ PARTY
30 November 2012

 

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WP to continue serving Aljunied residents "to the fullest"





SINGAPORE: MP for Aljunied GRC, Muhd Faisal Abdul Manap said his main priority is to serve residents of Aljunied who have given him their trust "to the fullest".

He was responding to comments by PAP Secretary-General Lee Hsien Loong that the party was re-grouping in Aljunied and will give the ward's current MPs a tough fight at the next general election.

In a statement to Channel NewsAsia, Mr Faisal said whether there is any "enhancement" or not from the PAP, his efforts will still continue.

Mr Faisal is one of five MPs for Aljunied, from the opposition Workers' Party.

The rest are Low Thia Kiang, Sylvia Lim, Pritam Singh and Chen Show Mao.

The Workers' Party gained control of Aljunied GRC with about 55% of valid votes, at the last elections.

- CNA/fa

 

[sengkang]

[h=5]The Workers' Party shared a link via Hougang SMC.[/h]<a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.facebook.com/workersparty/posts/123810284445187"><abbr title="Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 12:25am" data-utime="1354638314" class="timestamp livetimestamp">7 hours ago</abbr>


Asked if it is tough toggling between the nitty-gritty aspects of running the estate and big-picture policy issues, Mr Png said: “You must have a balance. If it's all big things and you don't know the ground, it's not very healthy.”

While he has had to turn down requests like building power sockets at a void deck, he said he appreciates “when they come to me even with the smallest problem”.

He added: “At least I get to know the situation. I may not see the problem as you see it, but if you come to me and make me see your problem, that's wonderful, at least I can understand you better.”










6 months after the Hougang by-election
[url]www.singapolitics.sg
We catch up with Worker's Party MP Png Eng Huat and PAP's Desmond Choo half a year after they went head-to-head in a by-election



[/URL]

 

[sengkang]

Dear Residents and Supporters,
'Bricks in Blue' is a show like no other. We are breaking new ground in our tribute to our supporters in Hougang, Aljunied and all over Singapore. Come see our members and volunteers unmask their artistic tale

Let Yee Jenn Jong mesmerize you with magic and Gerald Giam serenade you with a classic from 1946. Be blown away by Png Eng Huat and our band. Reflect on Chen Show Mao's poetry recital. Be transported back to the 1970s with our Eunos dancers. Fathom Sylvia Lim's makeover. Discover that Muhamad Faisal and family rock... And much more!

So keep a date with us on 6 January 2013!

Tickets on sale at all our MPs' Meet-the-People Sessions or order your tickets via [email protected] now!

 

[sengkang]

Put public's interests first in transport fare review: WP





SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party (WP) has urged the government and public transport operators to put the interests of the public first before shareholders' interests.

It said that with Singapore facing a slowing economy, coupled with inflation, any hike in bus fares will only add to the hardship of many middle- and low-income Singaporeans.

It also asked the government to fund more generous public transport concessions for senior citizens and introduce fare concessions for people with disabilities.

The party said this in a statement on Sunday, in response to a signal from Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on December 6 that bus fares may be increased to improve the pay of bus drivers in Singapore.

WP said it is unfortunate that Mr Lui made this suggestion so soon after the SMRT bus drivers' strike over pay and living conditions on November 26 and 27.

It said any decisions on fare increases should be made only after a period of review and adequate debate.

The party said it recognises that bus drivers need to be paid more and that bus companies need to attract more Singaporeans.

However, it said, the government should not assume nor suggest that this cost increase must automatically be borne by commuters.

WP pointed out that the two public transport operators remain very profitable.

It added that commuters should not be expected to pay higher fares, especially when service standards remain unsatisfactory.

- CNA/xq

 

[scroobal]

Excellent reply. Measured and to the points that concern Singaporeans. Ask Lui to give 10% of his salary to the PRC drivers. I am sure it will easily pay for their night meals.

 

[kukubird58]

Ask Lui to give 10% of his salary to the PRC drivers. I am sure it will easily pay for their night meals.

hahaha....shows that my idol really don't know what he is talking or he got F9 for his maths.....lol.
in case i am being accused of doing 1-liner, my point is don't always go for personal attack...
critisize constructively on issue....i am sure all reasonable people can accept such argument 1% of the annual profit would be enough to cover the costs of night meal allowance for all the bus drivers.

 

[sengkang]

[h=1]Public interest must always come first: Workers’ Party[/h]
The Workers’ Party is concerned about the Transport Minister’s suggestion on 6 December 2012 that bus fares may increase so as to improve the pay of bus drivers in Singapore. It is unfortunate that the Minister has made this statement so soon after the SMRT bus drivers’ strike over pay issues. Any decisions on fare increases should be made only after a period of review and adequate debate, which take into consideration the public interest and the fact that public transport is an essential public good.


We recognise that bus drivers need to be paid more and we need to attract more Singaporeans to take up this profession. However, the Government should not assume nor suggest that this cost increase must automatically be borne by commuters. The two public transport operators (PTOs) remain very profitable. SMRT and SBS Transit turned a profit of $119.9 million and $36.7 million respectively in the last financial year, while providing shareholders a return on equity (ROE) of 15.1% and 11.3% respectively over the same period. In contrast, the median ROE for Singapore Exchange-listed companies over the past year was 7.8%.


The Government recently gave the two operators a massive subsidy of $1.1 billion through the Bus Services Enhancement Fund (BSEF). Despite these glowing profits and huge subsidies, bus fares have increased eight times since 2000 and seem likely to increase once again next year. It appears taxpayers and the commuting public have been bearing the brunt of rising costs to help maintain the shareholder return of these listed companies.


Commuters should not be expected to pay higher fares, especially when service standards remain unsatisfactory, as they have been since the last fare hike. The Government and PTOs must put the public interest before shareholders’ interests. If PTOs are unable to do so because of their obligations to shareholders, public transport should be taken out of private hands and run by a not-for-profit corporation which focuses on providing efficient and quality public transport, instead of generating shareholder returns.


With Singapore facing a slowing economy coupled with persistently high inflation, a price hike will only add to the hardship faced by many middle and low income Singaporeans. We repeat our call for the Government to fund more generous public transport concessions for senior citizens and introduce fare concessions for people with disabilities.


THE WORKERS’ PARTY
9 December 2012

 

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[TABLE="class: infobox vcard, width: 22"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="bgcolor: lavender, colspan: 2, align: center"]1st Chief Minister of Singapore[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2, align: center"]In office
April 6, 1955 – June 7, 1956[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Governor[/TH]
[TD]Sir John Fearns Nicoll (1952–55)
Sir William Goode (1955)
Sir Robert Brown Black (1955–57)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Preceded by[/TH]
[TD]Newly Created[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Succeeded by[/TH]
[TD]Lim Yew Hock[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="bgcolor: lavender, colspan: 2, align: center"]Personal details[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Born[/TH]
[TD]March 12, 1908
Singapore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Died[/TH]
[TD]December 12, 1995 (aged 87)
Singapore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Nationality[/TH]
[TD]Singaporean[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Political party[/TH]
[TD]Workers' Party of Singapore (1959–95)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Alma mater[/TH]
[TD]University of London[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Profession[/TH]
[TD]Politician and Diplomat[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"]Religion[/TH]
[TD]Judaism[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

David Marshall, wearing his political uniform of white bush-jacket and grey trousers, with a hammer


David Saul Marshall (12 March 1908 – 12 December 1995) was a politician and lawyer from Singapore who served as Singapore's first Chief Minister from 1955 to 1956.

 

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[h=1]Political Life in Singapore: Mr. J. B. Jeyaretnam (1926 ~ 2008)[/h]
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uTFx7atnMV4?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

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The Workers' Party


[h=1]Our History[/h]
5 Decades of Service to the People [h=3]The Long and Winding Road of Providing Voters With a Credible Choice[/h] Survival
The survival of Workers’ Party for the last 5 decades, since the Party was set up by David Marshall in 1957, had been no small feat. In the early days, the fortunes of the Party swayed from a 4-seat victory in 21st December 1957 City Council Elections followed by the resignation of elected member Chang Yuen Tong in 1957, and then that of the founder himself in 1963. A courageous effort was made by Chiang Seok Keong and other grassroots leaders to hold the fort and contest elections from 1963 to 1968 under the very trying and tumultuous political climate of the day. Two top party leaders, Sum Chong Meng and Chua Chin Kiat had been arrested, and the merger and separation of Singapore from Malaysia during that period was another ground-shaking event that threatened the survival of the Workers’ Party.
1981: Anson
1971 saw the entry of lawyer J. B. Jeyaretnam, who as Secretary-General steered the Party on an unwavering constitutional course. Jeyaretnam contested every election, increasing his vote each time until the 50% mark was breached in the Anson by-election of 1981. He became the first opposition Member of Parliament since 1965, after a gap of 16 years.
It was the Secretary-General’s resolute commitment to Parliamentary democracy which inspired him to contest all seven elections from 1972 to 1984. He was duly elected Member of Parliament of Anson in 1981 and 1984, after which he was disqualified from contesting the 1988 and 1991 elections.
1988: Triple Whammy
By the election year of 1988, the Party had been hit by the triple whammy of disqualification of Secretary-General J. B. Jeyaretnam in 1986, the arrest of 22 “Marxists” in 1987 and introduction of Group Representation Constituencies or GRCs in 1988. But the Party did not flinch from its mission. The results of the 1988 general elections showed an improvement in the percentage of votes garnered by the Party, compared with the 1963 general elections when, after the resignation of David Marshall and the arrest of party leaders, votes had plummeted to 7.48%. The infusion of new candidates coupled with good public support for the Party resulted in a high vote count at the polls. In the 1988 general elections, the highest vote count was 49.11% recorded by the Workers’ Party team comprising Francis Seow, Dr Lee Siew Choh and Mohd Khalit Mohd Baboo in the largest GRC, Eunos GRC. They had been a whisker from victory.
1991: Hougang
1991 saw the election of Low Thia Khiang as Member of Parliament for Hougang. Low was returned to the same seat in the 1997 general elections with an increase in votes. J. B. Jeyaretnam contested the 1997 general elections in Cheng San GRC with team mates Huang Seow Kwang, Abdul Rahim Osman, Dr Tan Bin Seng and Tang Liang Hong and won 45.2% of the votes. The team and the Party decided that Jeyaretnam should take up the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat.
On 26th May 1997, when the new session of Parliament commenced, the Party returned two members, Low Thia Khiang, the elected Member of Parliament for Hougang and J. B. Jeyaretnam as a NCMP.
2001: Leadership Renewal
May 2001 saw the Party’s Secretary-Generalship transferred from J. B. Jeyaretnam to Low Thia Khiang. General Elections were held in November that same year, with the Party returning 1 member, Low Thia Khiang, to Parliament as the elected member for Hougang.
Since the leadership transfer, the Party underwent a leadership renewal seen via the injection of new blood into the Executive Council in the likes of training consultant Dr Poh Lee Guan, researcher James Gomez, post-graduate student Yaw Shin Leong, financial controller Tan Wui Hua and law lecturer Sylvia Lim. Just as we are “Remaking Singapore”, Workers’ Party has also been actively reorganising, restructuring and rebuilding its team, so as to offer fellow Singaporeans a credible opposition that will help to drive the country forward in progress by offering constructive and responsible alternative voices in Parliament.
2006 : Party’s Renewal
The General Elections in May 2006 saw Workers Party sending in a total of 20 candidates with 2 of them winning a seat respectively in the parliament. Low Thia Khiang was returned to his seat as the elected MP for Hougang with 62.74% of votes whilst Sylvia Lim went on to take on the seat of an NCMP.
Although no other seats were won, the candidates garnered a respectable number of votes in their respective contested constituencies. 43.91% of votes were won in Aljunied GRC, where Sylvia Lim Swee Lian, James Gomez, Tan Wui Hua, Goh Meng Seng, Mohammed Rahizan Bin Yaacob contested; 33.86% in Ang Mo Kio GRC, where candidates Yaw Shin Leong, Glenda Han Su May, Lee Wai Leng, Gopal Krishnan, Melvin Tan Kian Hwee and Abdul Salim Bin Harun contested and 36.14% in East Coast GRC where Eric Tan Heng Chong, Abdul Rahim Adbul Rahman, Perry Tong Tzee Kwang, Brandon Siow Wei-Min and Chia Tik Lik contested.
Candidates contesting in the various SMCs include, Dr Poh Lee Guan who garnered 31.28% of the votes in Nee Soon East SMC, Dr Tan Bing Seng with 34.99% in Joo Chiat SMC and Lian Chin Way with a 34.63% in Nee Soon Central SMC.
Keeping up with changes in society, Workers’ Party has again, since after 2001, undergone another important phase. With more post-65ers joining the party and participating actively, the party is rejuvenated with new ideas and renewed energy.
After the GE 2006, the WP Executive Council saw the entry of 8 new executive council members whilst the Youth Wing also went through a revamp with most of its executive council members being elected for the first time. Reaching its 50th anniversary, Workers’ Party has progressed steadily over the years and would continue to serve the people of Singapore to its best.
Serving the People of Singapore to the Best of its Ability
In the years of its history, the Party has done its utmost in every general election and 5 by-elections to provide the voters of Singapore with the choice of voting for candidates with a different political philosophy from that of candidates put up by the ruling PAP. To choose your rulers by a free vote in a Parliamentary
election is the fundamental right of every citizen. But without men and women of courage and conviction who are able and willing to stand as election candidates against the ruling party, there may be no contest, or at most, only a feeble contest because of the poor alternative choice.
The right to vote would then be but an illusion. In effect, the people would have been deprived of their power to choose who should govern them, and their fundamental right to decide how national policies are made – policies which affect them and their livelihood. However, to provide such a choice and to institutionalize a functional and active political party to offer credible choices to voters during elections is no easy task.
Without the strong will of the Party grassroots and its leaders to continue the Party’s mission and to move on even under very difficult circumstances, the Party would not have survived until today and would not have been able to continue contributing to the well-being and progress of the nation as a modern multi-racial city-state and a vibrant “Asian democracy.” And Singaporeans would have lost a vital opportunity – the opportunity to be represented and to be heard in Parliament.
The March Forward
Today, after 5 decades, Workers’ Party’s members, supporters, well-wishers, voters who have been supporting the Party, as well as many others who have played a part in contributing to the survival of the Party, are all proud that they have helped to preserve a vital part of Singapore’s political culture and to have kept the the Party alive today for the benefit of all Singaporeans.
But even with 5 decades behind the back of the Party, it is not the end of the road. There is an even longer road ahead. There is work to be done - to build a home and future that belong to all of us.

 

[sengkang]

WP ready to offer a choice to voters of Punggol East SMC


The Workers’ Party has noted the announcement today that the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Michael Palmer, has resigned from the People’s Action Party.
By virtue of Article 46 of the Constitution, Mr Palmer’s Parliamentary seat for Punggol East Single Member Constituency (SMC) has become vacant.
In order that the residents of Punggol East SMC are properly represented, the Workers’ Party urges the Prime Minister to call a by-election in the constituency as soon as possible.
In the last General Election, the Workers’ Party contested Punggol East SMC. The Workers’ Party is ready to offer a choice to the voters of Punggol East SMC again in the by-election.

http://wp.sg/2012/12/wp-ready-to-offer-a-choice-to-voters-of-punggol-east-smc/



THE WORKERS’ PARTY
12 December 2012

 

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Yee Jenn Jong, JJ (余振忠) shared The Workers' Party's status.


In order that the residents of Punggol East SMC are properly represented, the Workers' Party urges the Prime Minister to call a by-election in the constituency as soon as possible.

In the last General Election, the Workers' Party contested Punggol East SMC. The Workers' Party is ready to offer a choice to the voters of Punggol East SMC again in the by-election.

 

[sengkang]

[h=1]For People. For Nation. For Future[/h]
Uploaded on Apr 22, 2011
http://wp.sg
http://facebook.com/workersparty


<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5uGrX86R2vM?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

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The Workers' Party


"Michael Palmer has been a well-balanced speaker. He has managed parliamentary affairs very well and very efficiently. He is well-balanced, giving both front and back benches sufficient time to debate and he also has given members of the opposition sufficient time to engage the front bench. So personally, I quite like him as a speaker. It is unfortunate that he has resigned...

We urge the PM to hold a by-election in PE so that the constituents in Punggol East can be properly represented in Parliament."


Published on Dec 12, 2012
Low Thia Khiang, the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, answered journalists questions regarding the resignation of Parliamentary Speaker and MP Michael Palmer http://www.todayonline.com
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DCb4u2mQDhU?feature=player_detailpage" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DCb4u2mQDhU

 

[sengkang]

[h=2]Aljunied-Hougang Town Council Statement on Town Council Management Review
[/h]
by Aljunied GRC on Friday, December 14, 2012 at 9:56pm ·

The Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) has noted the findings of the Town Council Management Review published on 14 Dec 2012.

We are pleased that MND has rated the AHTC comparably with the other Town Councils in the areas of cleanliness, maintenance and lift breakdown. This is a recognition of the efforts put in by the new management team in our first year, to ensure continuity of services to residents since the handover in August 2011.

MND has indicated, however, that AHTC has not completed its submission on Corporate Governance and was banded ‘Red’ for arrears management. We welcome the opportunity to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding these matters.

Corporate Governance – Pending

MND uses the independent auditor’s report and management letter submitted by the TC to assess the TC’s corporate governance indicator in the Town Council Management Report (TCMR).

The auditor for AHTC was appointed in May 2012 and commenced work in early June 2012. The audit took longer than expected to complete and the audited report was submitted to MND in late November 2012. We are in the midst of finalizing the Management Letter with the appointed auditor. We expect this to be a one-off incident. The following are some pertinent facts which have led to the longer-than-expected audit process.

After the General Election in May 2011, the Town Council was served with a notice that the Town Council’s Computer and Financial Systems will be terminated with effect from 1 August 2011 due to material changes to the membership of the Town Council. This Computer and Financial Systems had been developed jointly by the 14 PAP Town Councils over a period of more than 15 months but was in January 2011 sold to and leased back from M/s Action Information Management Pte Ltd, a company which was dormant. This effectively meant that the AHTC had to develop its own equivalent systems, in particular the Financial System, within a 2 months’ timeframe. Given this near impossible task, the AHTC had to prioritize the development of its Financial System into phases with the front-end receipting system being fully operational by 1 August 2011 for collection of S&CC. The AHTC then moved on to upscale and develop the Financial System which was in use at the Hougang SMC while concurrently being fully operational. This recent audit thus required a reconciliation of books maintained under 2 different Financial Systems and a lot of time was spent with the auditors identifying and re-classifying accounting items in order to gel them for the audit.

In addition, due to the General Election 2011, MND required the period before 1 August 2011 to be separately audited for the handover. This audit firm was not the same audit firm appointed by AHTC to audit FY11/12. The incumbent auditor also spent much time going through and verifying the work done by the former auditors and attempting to obtain supporting documents.

Notwithstanding that there are still some items which need to be reconciled in the coming financial year, the auditors have nonetheless opinioned in the Audited Report for FY 11/12 that for August 2011 to March 2012 :-

a) the receipts, expenditure, investment of moneys and the acquisition and disposal of assets by the Town Council are, in all material aspects, in accordance with the provisions of the Act;
b) proper accounting and other records have been kept, including records of all aspects of the Town Council, whether purchased, donated or otherwise; and
c) the accounting and other records required by the Act to be kept by the Town Council have been properly kept in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

There is still work to be done in this Financial year to reconcile some of the items arising from the takeover and the initial setting up. However, we wish to assure residents and the public that with most of the setting-up issues out of the way, we will now look into enhancing our financial management processes.


S & CC Arrears

The AHTC has been vigilantly monitoring its arrears position and are aware of the need to manage the arrears to ensure healthy cash flow.

During our first year of operations, things needed to be prioritized to ensure residents’ welfare was not compromised. The circumstances concerning the need to replicate a new computing and financial system have already been explained above. Apart from giving priority to developing the new Financial System, we had to ensure that the daily services to residents were not disrupted. We are pleased that the TCMR findings confirm that we have substantially achieved this.

Moving forward, we have already put in place a Finance Committee to closely monitor the situation and have established a stringent arrears management process. Residents would be aware that AHTC has been following up with those in arrears to facilitate payment and to understand residents’ circumstances, being new to the area. The S&CC arrears will be our next priority in 2013.

SYLVIA LIM
CHAIRMAN
ALJUNIED-HOUGANG TOWN COUNCIL
14 December 2012

This statement was first published on the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council website:
http://www.ahtc.org.sg/ahtc/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/TCMR-Media-Release.pdf

 

[sengkang]

"It's also important to try to understand our residents' circumstances. Why is it that some of them have not been making payments promptly? And in fact, the MPs and the town council have been spending quite a lot of time looking into the reasons." - Chairman of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, Sylvia Lim's response to receiving a "red" status for its management of Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) Arrears.






channelnewsasia.com - Videos
[url]www.channelnewsasia.com
Town councils graded on corporate governance in new report card



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