The Workers' Party

[sengkang]

[h=2]Gerald Giam[/h]Joining MP Lee Li Lian at her first Deepavali Night celebration at Punggol East

 

[sengkang]

Daniel PS Goh

Light painting. It was a simple name given to an activity that we thought appropriate for celebrating the Festival of Lights kampung-style in Punggol East. JB, one of our volunteers, adapted the concept from the Singapore Night Festival for the Deepavali Night event.

We set up the easel with a camera and TV at the open field directly facing the stage. This way the dance performances by Rivervale Primary School, MINDS, and Temple of Fine Arts and the expressions of the residents-turned-light-artists would speak to each other.

We armed residents with coloured torches and JB took shots of light artists drawing their favourite shapes on the canvas of Punggol East at night. A smiling audience watched, helping themselves to henna painting, kachang puteh, sarsi-flavoured drink, and sweets and chocolates (sponsored by ChocolateXcellence) from the kampung stalls.

Here's my favourite light painting by volunteers of the PE Constituency Committee, but I am biased

 

[sengkang]

 

[sengkang]

Daniel PS Goh

And capping my 2013 Deepavali season, Lord Krishna (in lovely blue) and Satyabama at Aljunied's Celebrations, Mann Vasannae ("village")

 

[sengkang]

Daniel PS Goh

The DPM's remarks have always made a lot of sense to me, but this time his "social culture" anchor concept confounded me (and I am a sociologist studying culture). Never hear before! Why didn't he use "social capital"? (Because the speech would be very different)

He said,

"Social culture - the values and norms, and especially the willingness of individuals to take responsibility for themselves and their families, and to support others - this social culture matters in building the good society."

Smells like the good ol' Asian values. Except this time it is not pitched against the evils of Western individualism, but the new threat of the culture of entitlement, that is, entitlement to state welfare support.

The trouble with Asian values and, now, social culture is that they distract us from the underlying cause - unbridled capitalism - of the problems of individualism and inequality, and place the blame wholly on individual psychology.

Despite my ambivalence, I think the speech is worth reading. For one, it fascinates me how state culture mutates in the ecology of market and society.

http://news.asiaone.com/news/singap...undermine-personal-responsibility-dpm-tharman


Social policy must not undermine personal responsibility: DPM Tharman
news.asiaone.com
SINGAPORE - Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighted on Monday the important role of culture in building a good society, in a speech to more than 600 foreign service officers and members of the diplomatic corps at the annual S Rajaratnam Lecture.

 

[sengkang]

[h=5]Pritam Singh[/h]
I believe there would be broad agreement about new laws that seek to prevent child pornography, although I doubt this is the central objective of these new laws the Law Minister speaks of. I am extremely skeptical about laws that cover "harassment", "cyber-bullying" and "putting out falsehoods". We need to know what the first two legally mean and who we seek to protect. As for the last, we have laws that can address such acts already.

If this were a country where there was a competitive mainstream media where different views and ideas were aired freely and former PAP members were not Chairmen of the Singapore Press Holdings, amongst others oddities, I can understand and respect the views of those who prefer netizens to state their identities.

But in the Singapore context and for the longest time, the PAP government has a rich history in clamping down on the proliferation of independent thought through the enactment of the Newspapers and Printing Presses Act. In my view, the advent of anonymity is largely the result of a one-party dominant state and how it has defined the role of the media. Mainstream media control is a central PAP governing philosophy.

It goes without saying that the advent of the internet has eroded the PAP's ability to dominate and determine the national discourse. This is a real problem for the PAP. Ultimately, I am of the opinion it is trying to find a way to regain the upperhand.

For the record, even opposition politicians get harangued by anonymous netizens. And I don't see a problem. That's life. Opposition politicians have banned netizens who cross the line as established by the rules on their facebook pages. Many people host facebook pages and even PAP politicos ban netizens who cross the lines they draw. It is plainly evident that Singaporeans are more than capable of self-regulation.

My deeper concern lies with what the introduction of the law the Minister speaks of, is what it actually means for us as a people.

I am of the view that responses to cyber-bullying and harassment (I assume the group we really want to protect are children) are best dealt with in our schools through education and by parents at home. The real world is not always a pleasant place. People sometimes say hurtful things and have negative or less than honest intentions. Instead of pretending that the world is something different, lets arm our children with a skill set that allows them to respond to such harassment and bullying, not just for the online world, but the real world, and for life. Lets put responsibility back in the hands of our parents and teachers, instead of fobbing it off to the PAP, who have repeatedly said that the Government should do less going forward, and the people should step up more. So lets walk the talk.

I will speak more about this when the Government's intentions become clearer, if and when the Bill is debated in Parliament, and after consultation with my Party colleagues. But for now, my view is that in the medium to long run, we have more to lose as a people and as a society if such a law comes to pass. It will tell the PAP that they can continue to make personal decisions for us. Thanks but no thanks.


Laws needed in online sphere for accountability, says Shanmugam
[url]www.todayonline.com
SINGAPORE — The Government is not attempting to curtail freedom of expression, but believes people should be held accountable for what they post online, said Law and Foreign Minister K Shanmugam


[/URL]

 

[sengkang]

Pritam Singh

Food for thought! Any more tips?

1.Be a morning person
2. Don't give up the day job
3. Take lots of walks
4. Stick to a schedule
5. Practise strategic substance abuse (!) Fret not....its coffee, mostly.
6. Learn to work anywhere

Rise and shine: the daily routines of history's most creative minds
[url]www.theguardian.com
Benjamin Franklin spent his mornings naked. Patricia Highsmith ate only bacon and eggs. The path to greatness is paved with a thousand tiny rituals (and a fair bit of substance abuse) – but six key rules emerge, says Oliver Burkeman




[/URL]

 

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong, JJ (余振忠)

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
- Nelson Mandela

In a world where it is so common to return an eye for an eye, hate for hate, evil with evil, Nelson Mandela has shown that the world can be a much better place with forgiveness and reconciliation. RIP.






Former South African leader Nelson Mandela dies

[url]www.todayonline.com
JOHANNESBURG - Nelson Mandela was a master of forgiveness. South Africa's first black president spent nearly one-third of his life as a prisoner of apartheid, the system of white racist rule that he described as evil, yet he sought to win over its defeated guardians in a relatively peaceful



[/URL]

 

[sengkang]

Pritam Singh

"In South Africa, for decades, American presidents backed apartheid in the name of anti-communism. Indeed, the language of the Cold War proved so morally corrupting that in 1981, Reagan, without irony, called South Africa’s monstrous regime 'essential to the free world'....American power and human freedom are two very different things. Sometimes they intersect; sometimes they do not. Walking in Nelson Mandela’s footsteps requires being able to tell the difference. "

Don’t Sanitize Nelson Mandela: He’s Honored Now, But Was Hated Then
www.thedailybeast.com


Photo by ReutersfacebooktweetpostNelson MandelaDon’t Sanitize Nelson Mandela: He’s Honored Now, But Was Hated ThenBy Peter BeinartDecember 5th 20137:40 pmfollowMore Stories by Peter BeinartIf we turn the late South African leader into a nonthreatening moral icon,

 

[sengkang]

Gerald Giam

Rest in peace to one of my heroes of democracy and reconciliation

South Africa's Nelson Mandela dies
[url]www.bbc.co.uk
South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa's president Jacob Zuma announces.


[/URL]

 

[sengkang]

[h=5]The Workers' Party

[h=1]WP Statement on the Little India Riot[/h]

The Workers’ Party wishes a speedy recovery to the Home Team officers and other victims who were injured during the riot in Little India on Sunday 8 December 2013, and we extend our condolences to the family of the deceased traffic accident victim, Mr Sakthivel Kumaravelu.


We believe that the Police will carry out a thorough investigation to apprehend those responsible for the riot to face the law. We urge members of the public to refrain from speculation and unnecessary accusations while the Police is investigating the matter.


We note that a Committee of Inquiry (COI) has been convened to look into this riot. The COI should study the underlying causes of the riot so that the Government can address them and prevent future recurrences.


GERALD GIAM
Chair, Media Team
The Workers’ Party

[/h]

 

[LowLifeBoyKopiUncle]

@ sengkang posting almost everyday the SAME OLD SHIT STORY. So BORING !

 

[sengkang]

Daniel PS Goh

"We note that a Committee of Inquiry (COI) has been convened to look into this riot. The COI should study the underlying causes of the riot so that the Government can address them and prevent future recurrences."


WP Statement on the Little India Riot
wp.sg
The Workers’ Party wishes a speedy recovery to the Home Team officers and other victims who were injured during the riot in Little India on Sunday 8 December

 

[sengkang]

Pritam Singh

Following the events of this evening at Little India thanks to updates and posts from SGAG, Mrbrown and theonlinecitizen. My generation is completely unused to such things, so its important that we react calmly and thoughtfully when we post comments online on this episode or speak in daily conversation on matters concerning race in particular. Referring to Bangladeshi workers (or any foreign workers of an ethnic group) as "ah neh" etc., is not helpful and show how far we have to go in building an inclusive society. Full support to our Police and SCDF personnel in responding to this incident and I hope none of them have been injured.

 

[sengkang]

[h=1]13.11.30 - AJCC Deepavali Celebration[/h]Updated <abbr title="Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 2:00am" data-utime="1386612037" class="timestamp">on Monday</abbr> · Taken at Serangoon North Avenue 1




Photo Credit: Wong Twee Liang

 

[sengkang]

[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:18pm" data-utime="1387081119" class="timestamp">2 hours ago

</abbr>


With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon

 

[sengkang]

[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 2:18pm" data-utime="1387088293" class="timestamp">about an hour ago</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon

 

[sengkang]

[h=1]13.12.15 Paya Lebar Division Rice Distribution[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 11:29pm" data-utime="1387121377" class="timestamp">20 hours ago

</abbr>


MP Chen Show Mao and volunteers were on hand today to distribute rice and stationery to some of the residents of Paya Lebar. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Photo Credit : Adrian Sim

 

[sengkang]

A Christmas present from a WP supporter

 

[melzp]

WP deserved a plastic hammer; ie. the one played by babies with sound.
They are too comfortable and contended; too timid, sad to say that.
Its just a puppet opposition.... No aspiration/desire to be the next Govt.
Only want to co-drive the luxury car with the PAP. Dare not ROCK the sampan.

prove me wrong, will you.... WP?