Michael Palmer's resignation from the PAP meant that the Punggol East SMC is up for grabs. While the Prime Minister keeps Singaporeans guessing on when the by-election will be, there are already media and online speculation to who will be contesting Punggol East SMC.
People's Action Party (PAP)
The only question for PAP will be who be contesting. No names have officially been offered. Online speculation threw out some names like Ong Ye Kung and Desmond Choo.
Ong Ye Kung was part of the losing Aljunied GRC team in the last General Elections. However, his recent departure from NTUC to the private sector has threw out more cons than pros.
Desmond Choo contested recently in Hougang by-election but online gossip is saying that he should be staying put in Hougang to contest in the next General Elections.
It is also expected that PAP will throw in a heavy weight into the ring to get a confirm win. With the elections just over a year ago, it might be someone needing to come up of retirement.
Worker's Party (WP)
WP contested in Punggol East SMC in the last General Elections and garnered 41% of the votes for its candidate Ms Lee Li Lian.
Online speculation is that Ms Lee will be the candidate but some are saying that the by-election is a once in a 50 years opportunity to contest, someone more senior might be the candidate.
Punggol East SMC sits next to Aljunied GRC and a win for WP would extend their boundaries towards Pasir Ris - Punngol GRC where some are saying would be the next battleground between WP and PAP in the GE 2016.
Others
Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaretnam has told the media that he is "strongly considering" and Ben Hwee, who last contested in GE2011 under the SPP banner, has said he "intending" to contest the SMC but as a independent in the same article.
Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan, who was just recently discharged from bankruptcy thus making him available to contest this by-election, only issued a statment calling for a quick date for the by-elections and have not clearly indicated of contesting the seat.
Online speculation is that Mr Chee will not particpate in this as he recently called for unity within the opposition. Contesting will only affect his credibility in GE2016.
and The One Who Is Interested To Contest Any Electin..
No official statment yet made from this possible contender whom popular Singapore blogger, mrbrown, once highlighted that he will join simisai election, Tan Jee Say has popped up online as a possible contender.
A multi horse race at Punggol East SMC might split the votes for the opposition parties involved so a two horse race would provide a better chance for an opposition party to win.
The last by-election of parliamentary seats held by PAP was in 1992 for Marine Parade GRC. 3 opposition parties went up against the team lead by then Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, and lost miserably. Of the 3, 2 lost their election deposit of $6000 per candidate for failing to garner at 12.5% of the votes.
121212 will be the date remembered for the resignation of Singapore's Speaker of Parliament, Michael Palmer, from the PAP over an extramarital affair. This was reminisce to the sacking of then Worker's Party Yaw Shin Leong over alleged extramarital affairs too.
Mr Low Thia Khiang of the Worker's Party has responded in a gentlemanly manner to the resignation of Michael Palmer. Mr Low was quoted to say ""He's well balanced giving both front and back benchers sufficient time to debate. He also has given members of the Opposition sufficient time to engage the front bench. Personally I quite like him as a Speaker so it's unfortunate that he has resigned."
In comparison, the People's Action Party wasn't as graceful as Mr Low when Mr Low had to sack his protege over alleged affairs.
Said Mr Khaw Boon Hwa then in February, "The Workers' Party needs to come clean with the people what information have they got about Mr Yaw and in particular, what did they know about him prior to the May election. And if they know, why did they field Mr Yaw. I think it is sad that the voters have been misled by the Workers Party."
In today's media conference with Mr Michael Palmer, Deputy Prime Minster Mr Teo Chee Hean said (at the 7:30 mark), "..no selection system will be full proof. Sometimes problems will emerge even many years after the selection and appointment.."
Yes.. karma's always a bitch in politics..
Blog shows Singapore Minister of Transport where the money is
Posted by Aaron Koh Labels: Politics, Singapore, TransportsSingapore Minister of Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, had a "Show me the money" episode when he was quoted to say ""Any fare adjustment will allow the two operators to have more resources, in time to come, to make further salary adjustments to their drivers. We recognise that the drivers need to be paid more. (The) question is, where is that money coming from? "
I hope our Transport Minister do visit XuYung74's blog at http://xuyun74.blogspot.sg/2012/12/mr-lui-tuck-yew-money-is-over-here.html to go through the well-detailed research on "where to get the money" to cater to the demand to increase bus drivers' wages.
Singapore MP Gan Thiam Poh says media created "illusion" of public transport fare increase
Posted by Aaron Koh Labels: Politics, Singapore, TransportsMr Gan Thiam Poh, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, in his answer to a question posed by Mr Andrew Loh, editor-in-chief of Public House, highlighted that the Singapore media created an "illusion" that public transport fares will increase in 2013.
At the 6:25 mark, Andrew asked if the the media misreported the price increase. MP Gan replied that from the headlines he saw, the media has created an "illusion" of the price increase in 2013.
The headline from AsiaOne, one of the many online sites of Singapore Press Holdings, shouts "Bus fares may go up to help improve drivers' pay" by By Royston Sim And Maria Almenoar. In comparison, Channel NewsAsia titled "Public transport fare review to take into account bus drivers' wage increase" by Dylan Loh.
MP Gan clarified that the the Transport Minister, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, the drivers' wages component might be now considered as part of the formula for public transports fares.
On 18 May 2012, Cedric Foo, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, when asked from the media if pay rise would mean increased fares, Mr Cedric Foo was quoted to say "I don't think there's a direct correlation between drivers' wages and bus fares."
This contradiction in the relationship between wages and the public transportation formula is a replay of when then Minister of Transport, Raymond Lim, said there was "no direct link between public transports fare and oil prices" in respond to a question on why transport fares did not decrease even when oil prices dropped.
Yet, the public transport companies continued to use oil prices as a reason for the need for the fare increase. In a press release on SBS Transit Website, a press release on September 2008 wrote that "the fare adjustment, which will yield $5.9 million for a full year, will only provide partial relief for the increased cost pressures the Company faces. Fuel and electricity costs rose by 64%, or $36.0 million, to $92.5 million in the first six months of this year".
If you listen to the video in its entirety, MP Gan highlighted the word "misunderstood" five times. Does this mean that there is some form of miscommunication between the government and the public because of bad reporting from the local gatekeepers at SPH?
SMRT recently ended trials of the Mandarin announcement of MRT stations, however, the announcement drew criticism by many Singaporeans that SMRT was only focusing on mother tongue.
Wrote Yahoo Singapore,
"In a statement obtained by Yahoo! Singapore on Sunday, an SMRT spokesperson said it had started the trial after receiving considerable public feedback that the train operator should announce station names in Mandarin to assist passengers, especially older commuters, who rely on announcements during their journey."
SMRT clarified that the decision to have Mandarin announcements came only after a letter to the Straits Times Forum asked if this was done to cater to Chinese tourists.
Wrote Jeremy Chen to The Straits Times,
"Though SMRT reportedly acted on feedback to introduce Mandarin messages, such announcements do not help Chinese tourists figure out where they are. It would make better sense to announce station numbers in Mandarin."
If the idea to have Mandarin announcement to cater to the elderly, how about the non-Mandarin speaking elderly in Singapore? Have SMRT forgotten about them?
In the Singapore Census of Population 2010, of the 344,069, between the age of 65 and beyond, surveyed,
13,645 spoke Malay only and 4861 spoke Tamil only. Though the non-Chinese speaking elderly only made up 5.37% of that age group, it would still be important to assist these non-English and non-Chinese speaking elderly to find their way across the various MRT stations in Singapore.
So SMRT, how about having the announcement in Malay and Tamil to assist the non-Chinese elderly too?
Members of Chai Tow Kway Association urged to sell $10 XO version
Posted by Aaron Koh Labels: Chai Tow Kway, Satire, SingaporeThe chairman of the Chai Tow Kway (Fried Carrot Cake) Association is urging all members to sell the $10 XO sauce version to take advantage of the recent limelight given to this special carrot cake.
The Chai Tow Kway Association said that in view of the rapidly rising operating costs, especially carrot prices, the revision is "fair and timely" to help fried carrot cake hawkers to defray part of cost increases.
"Members of the Chai Tow Kway Association have been selling the black or white version for many years. We need to move with the time to meet the demands of a younger modern generation," said Mr Chai Tow, chairman of the Chai Tow Kway Association.
"Chai Tow Kway hawkers drivers have had to cope with higher costs of living as a result of inflation," added the association.
The Non-Competitive Commission of Singapore supported the announcement made by the Chai Tow Kway Association.
"By having all Chai Tow Kway members sell SGD10 XO sauce version of Chai Tow Kway, it will give all members a level playing field," said the release from Non-Competitive Commission of Singapore.
"We are also helping consumers so that they don't need to spend on additional travel expenses to get their $10 XO sauce Chai Tow Kway."
Scoot Airline to boldly go where no man as gone before, not!
Posted by Aaron Koh Labels: Satire, Scoot AirlinesScoot Airlines, the latest long distant budget airline from Singapore Air, has decided to take a page out of 29th Century Star Trek with their new uniform.
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| Scoot Airlines new uniform |
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| Star Trek Next Generation Uniforms. Source: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/gallery/stmagazine/tnguniforms1.jpg |
Scoot Airlines is also rumoured to have a tough choice between having Captain Kirk or Captain Picard as their first airline captain.
Trekies have expressed disappointment that Scoot Airlines will not be naming their first aeroplane the USS Enterprise, due to budget constrains.
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| Scoot Airlines will not be taking off from this "Starfleet HQ" in Singapore. Source: http://www.theodora.com/wfb/photos/singapore/singapore_photos_17.html |
Trekies can also rest assure that Scoot Airlines service staff will not set their phasers to stun, especially on unruly passengers, as phasers are beyond budget.
However, before Trekies can say "Beam me up, Sco(o)tty", Scoot Airlines will require passengers to walk to their aeroplane from Changi Airport as the existence of the transporter machine has also been chuck aside as a unconfirm rumour.