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Chitchat Why Jamus Lim join Workers' Party ?
- Thread starter batman1
- Start date
Jamus attended a Christmas event. 
Last Saturday, we had the kind invitation from the residents of Rivercove, one of the condominiums located in #Anchorvale, to their Christmas event. It was a wonderful evening of food, fellowship, and festive giving, with a sprinkling of seasonal caroling and sharing of stories. Unlike our residents staying in the various HDB clusters, #TeamSengkang can unfortunately only visit condos on invitation. We always make the time, however, to visit whenever we receive such invites, so do let me (and ideally your condo board) know if you’d like us to swing by! #SengkangGRC
Jamus Lim
5 d ·Last Saturday, we had the kind invitation from the residents of Rivercove, one of the condominiums located in #Anchorvale, to their Christmas event. It was a wonderful evening of food, fellowship, and festive giving, with a sprinkling of seasonal caroling and sharing of stories. Unlike our residents staying in the various HDB clusters, #TeamSengkang can unfortunately only visit condos on invitation. We always make the time, however, to visit whenever we receive such invites, so do let me (and ideally your condo board) know if you’d like us to swing by! #SengkangGRC
Jamus recalls his childhood.
Some of my fondest childhood memories were not born out of fancy vacations or expensive toys (like most middle-class households in Singapore in the 1970s and 80s, the furthest we went as a family when I was a child was to Malaysia and Riau, and the priciest “toy” we got was the living-room piano). Rather, they were simpler treats: an occasional visit to Chatterbox for chicken rice when it was payday, or barbecues at East Coast beach, or free-n-easy drives in our Volkswagen Beetle.
One such drive was to enjoy annual Christmas lightup along Orchard Road. During that time, it was often Centrepoint that gave other malls a run for their money, with elaborate displays that often won them awards for the seasonal decorations. Regardless of the winner, I think most will agree that the display does help get everyone into a festive, year-end mood; we even waved to a Muslim family driving alongside, revealing the very Singaporean trait of celebrating alongside different ethnicities and cultures. This harmony is something we should never take for granted, even as we enjoy the simpler but profoundly important things—like family and friends—that make life worth living, and celebrating. #merrychristmas #happyholidays
Jamus Lim
6 h ·Some of my fondest childhood memories were not born out of fancy vacations or expensive toys (like most middle-class households in Singapore in the 1970s and 80s, the furthest we went as a family when I was a child was to Malaysia and Riau, and the priciest “toy” we got was the living-room piano). Rather, they were simpler treats: an occasional visit to Chatterbox for chicken rice when it was payday, or barbecues at East Coast beach, or free-n-easy drives in our Volkswagen Beetle.
One such drive was to enjoy annual Christmas lightup along Orchard Road. During that time, it was often Centrepoint that gave other malls a run for their money, with elaborate displays that often won them awards for the seasonal decorations. Regardless of the winner, I think most will agree that the display does help get everyone into a festive, year-end mood; we even waved to a Muslim family driving alongside, revealing the very Singaporean trait of celebrating alongside different ethnicities and cultures. This harmony is something we should never take for granted, even as we enjoy the simpler but profoundly important things—like family and friends—that make life worth living, and celebrating. #merrychristmas #happyholidays
Jamus distributes goodies to kids.
Over the past weekend, #TeamSengkang went ahead with our annual #Anchorvale back-to-school distribution for kids in less fortunate households. As usual, we handed out book-cum-stationery vouchers and a school bag. This year, we also had a little Christmas freebee: towel “cupcakes,” lovingly made by a group of visually-handicapped folks who do little items such as these to support themselves (the gifts were in turn paid for by a sponsor). Thanks to the usual generosity of our sponsors for all items distributed! #SengkangGRC
Jamus Lim
19 December at 08:59 ·Over the past weekend, #TeamSengkang went ahead with our annual #Anchorvale back-to-school distribution for kids in less fortunate households. As usual, we handed out book-cum-stationery vouchers and a school bag. This year, we also had a little Christmas freebee: towel “cupcakes,” lovingly made by a group of visually-handicapped folks who do little items such as these to support themselves (the gifts were in turn paid for by a sponsor). Thanks to the usual generosity of our sponsors for all items distributed! #SengkangGRC
Jamus continues house visits. 
Over the past few weeks, #TeamSengkang house visits took us through 290B #Compassvale, and allowed us to not wrap up 305B, 305D, and 307A #Anchorvale (we also managed to get a start on 308C). The cooler year-end weather has enabled us to have more lingering conversations.
One resident shared about how it was nice to be able to connect with their member of parliament, even if it was just for a brief chat. This made the MP seem like a real person, not just a face they see on TV when during broadcasts parliamentary proceedings. I assured him that we were, indeed, very regular folks, and if anything, it is the engagements we have with residents that feed us with the issues and concerns that we subsequently raise in parliament.
Another resident shared with us that he appreciated such efforts to speak up. He felt that all good governments need good opposition. We agree, and it is in this spirit that we position all our parliamentary interventions; not to muckrake and find fault, but to provide constructive feedback, because it is through responding to such critique that ideas get refined and improved, and molded to become the sort of policies we wish to see in society. #SengkangGRC
Jamus Lim
22 December at 07:19 ·Over the past few weeks, #TeamSengkang house visits took us through 290B #Compassvale, and allowed us to not wrap up 305B, 305D, and 307A #Anchorvale (we also managed to get a start on 308C). The cooler year-end weather has enabled us to have more lingering conversations.
One resident shared about how it was nice to be able to connect with their member of parliament, even if it was just for a brief chat. This made the MP seem like a real person, not just a face they see on TV when during broadcasts parliamentary proceedings. I assured him that we were, indeed, very regular folks, and if anything, it is the engagements we have with residents that feed us with the issues and concerns that we subsequently raise in parliament.
Another resident shared with us that he appreciated such efforts to speak up. He felt that all good governments need good opposition. We agree, and it is in this spirit that we position all our parliamentary interventions; not to muckrake and find fault, but to provide constructive feedback, because it is through responding to such critique that ideas get refined and improved, and molded to become the sort of policies we wish to see in society. #SengkangGRC
Jamus had a slipped disc and then caught covid. 
However, he has recovered and is able to go running.
For many, the year-end period is usually one where many go on holiday, and engage in R&R (which, in common usage, typically refers to “rest and relaxation”). Our family had out-of-town visitors, and so we had instead planned a little staycation at Sentosa, and use the remainder of the time to enjoy each others’ company, and recharge without the need to travel.
As it turns out, fate had something else planned, and my R&R turned out to be more one of recovery and recuperation. A few days before Christmas, I somehow managed to throw my back out, ending up with a slipped disc. And to add insult to injury (literally and figuratively), I somehow managed to catch COVID a few days after that, which kept me in quarantine all the way through to New Year’s.
To be fair, there is a silver lining to all this. I had been behind in reviewing page proofs for a textbook that I am working on, and so the imposed isolation afforded the time to get a deadly boring (but necessary) task done. I had been backlogged on emails and prepping for next week’s Parliamentary sitting, and so managed to get up to speed on those. And ultimately, it seemed like the body just needed to not be running around doing things, but instead just take a hiatus and reset for the year.
All that to say that, while it’s been a little quiet on my end, it was a much-needed break. The good news is, I’m pretty much back to my usual routine, albeit still taking it a little easier. It’s the first Saturday of the month, so we’ll have our usual #SengkangGRC #RiverRun, but it’ll be a little more laid back on my end, with the post-COVID breathlessness and residual back soreness. But hopefully I’ll catch folks around nonetheless, for a more leisurely jaunt down the river.
However, he has recovered and is able to go running.
Jamus Lim
11 h ·For many, the year-end period is usually one where many go on holiday, and engage in R&R (which, in common usage, typically refers to “rest and relaxation”). Our family had out-of-town visitors, and so we had instead planned a little staycation at Sentosa, and use the remainder of the time to enjoy each others’ company, and recharge without the need to travel.
As it turns out, fate had something else planned, and my R&R turned out to be more one of recovery and recuperation. A few days before Christmas, I somehow managed to throw my back out, ending up with a slipped disc. And to add insult to injury (literally and figuratively), I somehow managed to catch COVID a few days after that, which kept me in quarantine all the way through to New Year’s.
To be fair, there is a silver lining to all this. I had been behind in reviewing page proofs for a textbook that I am working on, and so the imposed isolation afforded the time to get a deadly boring (but necessary) task done. I had been backlogged on emails and prepping for next week’s Parliamentary sitting, and so managed to get up to speed on those. And ultimately, it seemed like the body just needed to not be running around doing things, but instead just take a hiatus and reset for the year.
All that to say that, while it’s been a little quiet on my end, it was a much-needed break. The good news is, I’m pretty much back to my usual routine, albeit still taking it a little easier. It’s the first Saturday of the month, so we’ll have our usual #SengkangGRC #RiverRun, but it’ll be a little more laid back on my end, with the post-COVID breathlessness and residual back soreness. But hopefully I’ll catch folks around nonetheless, for a more leisurely jaunt down the river.
Jamus ran at a leisurely pace. 
Rehabbing is never fun, but it’s made a little bit easier when taken slow, and done with the support of people who care (like so many things in life). Our #RiverRun last evening was my slow easing back into a healthier new year. We went for about six-and-a-half kilometers, at a very leisurely pace, in blessedly cool weather. Thanks to all who came out, and hope to see you again next month!
Jamus Lim
6 h ·Rehabbing is never fun, but it’s made a little bit easier when taken slow, and done with the support of people who care (like so many things in life). Our #RiverRun last evening was my slow easing back into a healthier new year. We went for about six-and-a-half kilometers, at a very leisurely pace, in blessedly cool weather. Thanks to all who came out, and hope to see you again next month!
Jamus went on house visits and estate walks.
Our recent #TeamSengkang house visits and estate walks took us through 308C #Anchorvale, along with the 338 Parkview and 329 Harvest coffee shops. While many such interactions typically revolve around issues closer to home (read: estate matters), recent conversations dwelled on rising prices.
Indeed, prices appear to have received an unwelcome jolt at the turn of the year, into this one. Many of those we spoke to mentioned hikes that went far beyond the one percent GST increase (jumps seem to range in the tens of cents, rather than single digits, as might be implied by a 1 percent rise), as merchants took the opportunity to revise prices more generally, across the board.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. Prices tend to be sticky, both psychologically (humans tend to anchor to prevailing prices), as well as practically (it’s a hassle to update price schedules, even if computerized, and printed prices on menus and signboards need to be physically changed; economists literally call these “menu costs”). But when there’s sufficient justification for overcoming inertia to alter prices—impetus such as a nationwide GST increase—then we shouldn’t be shocked that prices move up, often disproportionately, as a result.
Thankfully, there has been some relief. Many large retailers have decided to absorb the GST increase for essentials, such as fresh food and personal care products. This was essentially an argument that He Ting Ru 何廷儒 and I made in Parliament, but the idea was pooh-poohed as infeasible. Well, the fact that chains like Giant, Changi Airport, and even Fairprice have chosen to do so is demonstrable proof that it is not only possible, but something consumers want. The decision by the government to sidestep this commonsensical idea is, in my view, an abdication of leadership on the economy.
Jamus Lim
11 h ·Our recent #TeamSengkang house visits and estate walks took us through 308C #Anchorvale, along with the 338 Parkview and 329 Harvest coffee shops. While many such interactions typically revolve around issues closer to home (read: estate matters), recent conversations dwelled on rising prices.
Indeed, prices appear to have received an unwelcome jolt at the turn of the year, into this one. Many of those we spoke to mentioned hikes that went far beyond the one percent GST increase (jumps seem to range in the tens of cents, rather than single digits, as might be implied by a 1 percent rise), as merchants took the opportunity to revise prices more generally, across the board.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. Prices tend to be sticky, both psychologically (humans tend to anchor to prevailing prices), as well as practically (it’s a hassle to update price schedules, even if computerized, and printed prices on menus and signboards need to be physically changed; economists literally call these “menu costs”). But when there’s sufficient justification for overcoming inertia to alter prices—impetus such as a nationwide GST increase—then we shouldn’t be shocked that prices move up, often disproportionately, as a result.
Thankfully, there has been some relief. Many large retailers have decided to absorb the GST increase for essentials, such as fresh food and personal care products. This was essentially an argument that He Ting Ru 何廷儒 and I made in Parliament, but the idea was pooh-poohed as infeasible. Well, the fact that chains like Giant, Changi Airport, and even Fairprice have chosen to do so is demonstrable proof that it is not only possible, but something consumers want. The decision by the government to sidestep this commonsensical idea is, in my view, an abdication of leadership on the economy.
Jamus will be hosting CNY party on his birthday. 
Hot on the heels of the year-end seasonal celebrations, we are already seeing the bright red of Lunar New Year decorations hung up and dongdongchiang music being piped into mall sound systems. #SengkangGRC is following this cue and hosting our Chinese New Year party a little earlier this year, on January 20 (incidentally, my birthday), at 258 #Compassvale.
As in prior years, we’ll have the usual range of festive activities, including the mandatory lion dance performance, DIY calligraphy, various games stations, and a mass lo hei. In the spirit of giving and sharing, we will also collect 5kg packs of rice and 2l bottles of oil, which #TeamSengkang will distribute to the less-fortunate families in our midst. 欢迎盛港的居民们来和我们一起过个早年，迎接龙年的到来！
Jamus Lim
1 d ·Hot on the heels of the year-end seasonal celebrations, we are already seeing the bright red of Lunar New Year decorations hung up and dongdongchiang music being piped into mall sound systems. #SengkangGRC is following this cue and hosting our Chinese New Year party a little earlier this year, on January 20 (incidentally, my birthday), at 258 #Compassvale.
As in prior years, we’ll have the usual range of festive activities, including the mandatory lion dance performance, DIY calligraphy, various games stations, and a mass lo hei. In the spirit of giving and sharing, we will also collect 5kg packs of rice and 2l bottles of oil, which #TeamSengkang will distribute to the less-fortunate families in our midst. 欢迎盛港的居民们来和我们一起过个早年，迎接龙年的到来！
Jamus Lim
2 d ·The Workers' Party
2 d ·In his speech on the proposed amendments to the Stillbirths and Births Bill, MP Jamus Lim spoke about how the ability to register a name for stillborn children confers enormous dignity to these individuals. He also spoke more generally about how the advocacy of Mandy Too and Aidan Hoy exemplify how change in a democratic society happens when ordinary people have the courage to act on their convictions.
#makeyourvotecount ##wpsg
Jamus believes that raising GST at a time of generalized inflation is foolhardy.
It’s worth making a subtle point about the incidence of taxes that will help explain why the #workersparty adopted the position that GST exemptions on essential items will make things easier for those in the middle class.
Those who have taken an introductory economics course will be aware that, when a tax is introduced, it doesn’t matter whether the tax is charged to the firm or the consumer. What matters is the relative responsiveness of demand and supply (what is called the elasticity) that determines the burden borne by each party. The bottom line is that, inasmuch as the effort to get merchants to absorb the GST increase may be appreciated, it is largely irrelevant, from the point of view of policy. As long as a GST is being charged, the party that can less afford to alter their behavior—this would generally be the consumer, since these items are, after all, essentials—will feel the pinch of the increase.
That’s why an exemption at the level of the government makes sense. If there is no GST being charged, then there is no GST burden to be borne by any party, directly or indirectly. There’s no need to putz around with rebates, which the middle classes and above don’t enjoy, anyhow. And since these are essentials that everyone buys, there’s a simple moral case for why everyone should enjoy the relief.
That said, the critique embedded in my earlier post was actually simpler: that the argument that it is impractical to exempt essential items because of the difficulty in defining necessities (a claim that, incidentally, remains on the MOF website; see here: https://www.mof.gov.sg/.../9-why-don't-we-exempt-basic...) was always a tenuous one.
Oh, and might the Committee Against Profiteering (CAP) be able to short-circuit this transmission of GST to higher prices? Alas, it is an almost impossible task. The scope of the CAP is limited by the ability to pin a disproportionate price rise to the GST hike, and the GST hike alone. I had asked once, in Parliament, how the CAP could be expected to distinguish between a price rise that opportunistically used the GST hike as an excuse to raise prices by more than 1 percent, versus one that was genuinely premised on increases in, say, costs due inflation. I never got a satisfactory answer, nor do I expect one (if you have a good way to identify the decomposition, let me know, we can work on a research paper together). The difficulty is why I believe that raising GST at a time of generalized inflation is foolhardy. #makingyourvotecount
(Image cribbed from Economics Online, although you’ll find a comparable chart in almost any textbook).
Jamus Lim
1 d ·It’s worth making a subtle point about the incidence of taxes that will help explain why the #workersparty adopted the position that GST exemptions on essential items will make things easier for those in the middle class.
Those who have taken an introductory economics course will be aware that, when a tax is introduced, it doesn’t matter whether the tax is charged to the firm or the consumer. What matters is the relative responsiveness of demand and supply (what is called the elasticity) that determines the burden borne by each party. The bottom line is that, inasmuch as the effort to get merchants to absorb the GST increase may be appreciated, it is largely irrelevant, from the point of view of policy. As long as a GST is being charged, the party that can less afford to alter their behavior—this would generally be the consumer, since these items are, after all, essentials—will feel the pinch of the increase.
That’s why an exemption at the level of the government makes sense. If there is no GST being charged, then there is no GST burden to be borne by any party, directly or indirectly. There’s no need to putz around with rebates, which the middle classes and above don’t enjoy, anyhow. And since these are essentials that everyone buys, there’s a simple moral case for why everyone should enjoy the relief.
That said, the critique embedded in my earlier post was actually simpler: that the argument that it is impractical to exempt essential items because of the difficulty in defining necessities (a claim that, incidentally, remains on the MOF website; see here: https://www.mof.gov.sg/.../9-why-don't-we-exempt-basic...) was always a tenuous one.
Oh, and might the Committee Against Profiteering (CAP) be able to short-circuit this transmission of GST to higher prices? Alas, it is an almost impossible task. The scope of the CAP is limited by the ability to pin a disproportionate price rise to the GST hike, and the GST hike alone. I had asked once, in Parliament, how the CAP could be expected to distinguish between a price rise that opportunistically used the GST hike as an excuse to raise prices by more than 1 percent, versus one that was genuinely premised on increases in, say, costs due inflation. I never got a satisfactory answer, nor do I expect one (if you have a good way to identify the decomposition, let me know, we can work on a research paper together). The difficulty is why I believe that raising GST at a time of generalized inflation is foolhardy. #makingyourvotecount
(Image cribbed from Economics Online, although you’ll find a comparable chart in almost any textbook).
Jamus Lim
1 d ·The Workers' Party
2 d ·In his contribution to the motion on digital safety, MP Jamus Lim spoke about how the existing apportionment of liability under the Shared Responsibility Framework remains fundamentally unfair, since it places the burden of losses largely on the weaker party, the bank's customers. This has led to a steady erosion of trust in digital transactions, one that—if not addressed expeditiously—could result in a over online payments and digital finance.
#makeyourvotecount #wpsg
