TR EMERITUS

I refer to The CNA’s News, “GE2025: More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote” (Mar 25). As Singapore’s General Election is due to be held within this year, the following factors will more or less influence the election situation this year: A)The general mentality of voters Voters are generally busy with their work, career and studies (those still studying at a tertiary institution at the age of 21), so they don't have much time to pay attention to domestic and foreign politics and political trends. On the other hand, because Singapore has always been an international metropolis with business and trade as its main business, people have always worked hard and strived to pursue success, satisfaction and happiness in material life, and therefore they are indifferent to external politics. B)The hidden impact or curse of rapidly rising housing prices and the costs of living The stubbornly high resale prices of HDB flats, BTO flats and rampantly flying costs of living will keep the majority of young and middle-aged voters busy and brewing resentment, which will have a negative impact on the ruling party. C)The subtle influence of the PAP’s past glorious achievements The glorious achievements of founding leader Lee Kuan Yew and his first generation leadership team are deeply rooted in the hearts of two or three generations of Singaporeans. Therefore, even if the next and subsequent political leaders and their policies are inferior to the first generation, voters will still stick to them. This is the preconceived psychological reaction of the coattail effect, and it definitely benefits the ruling party. D)Why Gerrymandering of electoral boundaries is adopted? This is not surprising, because politics is cruel and dirty. Sun Tzu's Art of War clearly points out that "Deception is always justified in a war". Therefore, it is definitely beneficial for the ruling party to redraw the electoral districts or reshuffle before each general election and justify its decision with various reasons. Although it is known that general election is nothing more than a way of using troops/resort to arms. Sun Tzu's Art of War emphasizes that the use of troops is a treacherous way and must be well prepared. E)The opposition camp needs to demonstrate unity, dispel prejudices, and share of resources, information and support than before in order to win the vast majority of electoral hearts. Anyway, a fragmented opposition will only leave a bad impression, and shaken the trust and confidence of all the voters.   Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)    Read More →

I would have retired politically if it's not for this Medical Tyranny that PAP Gov is pushing. This is against human rights but none of the human rights activists are fighting against it. As far as we are concerned, we are really fighting for our life and death. We do not want to be forced to take any vaccine against our will, especially after witnessing the impact of COVID 19 mRna vaccines has imposed on so many people. It will no longer be No Jab No Job but Jab or Jail! I am urging everyone here to help us fight against this medical tyranny. Come forward and be counted. Help us as volunteers in this coming GE, as polling agents and counting agents. We are also short of funds and I am appealing for funds. Help us by buying our merchandise or simply donate to our contest. I have hardly solicit any funds openly for my political campaigns in the past 25 years but now, I have no choice because this is about your life and my life. A lot of Singaporeans are ignorant of this draconian law which they have added through amendment. We need to get the message out and get into Parliament as the first line defense against the implementation of such law. I call upon everyone who shares our concerns to come forward. Fund us. Help us. Time is running out. We will not sit and do nothing. We should not be so.   Goh Meng Seng    Read More →

Time to De-Politicise Town Councils: Let MND and HDB Take Over for Singapore’s Benefit The town council system in Singapore was established with the intention of giving elected Members of Parliament (MPs) direct responsibility over the management and maintenance of public housing estates. While this model once served a purpose, the time has come to re-examine its relevance. The benefits of de-politicising town councils and allowing the Ministry of National Development (MND) or the Housing & Development Board (HDB) to oversee estate management island-wide would be substantial and long-lasting. First, economies of scale can be achieved on a national level. Instead of fragmented procurement and service contracts by individual town councils, centralised management will allow bulk purchasing, standardised contracts, and stronger negotiation power, resulting in significantly lowered costs. These savings can, and should, be passed on to Singaporeans. Second, with MND/HDB taking the lead, Singaporeans will enjoy standardised procedures, maintenance practices, and service standards across all estates — whether they live in mature estates or newer towns. Residents will no longer be subject to inconsistencies based on who manages their estate. A national estate management framework would also enable faster adoption of innovations and sustainability initiatives across all estates simultaneously. Third, there will be zero disruption in estate management regardless of election outcomes. No more political wrangling, contract termination issues, or transitional uncertainty when a constituency changes political hands. Continuity and professionalism would be assured, as estate management becomes a matter of public service rather than politics. Most importantly, freeing MPs from estate management duties will allow them to focus on what truly matters: shaping better national policies and engaging residents more meaningfully on issues such as social mobility, healthcare, education, and cost of living. MPs should be lawmakers and advocates — not estate managers. In conclusion, estate management is fundamentally a technical and operational function that should be overseen by a professional, impartial body like MND or HDB. De-politicising town councils will strengthen Singapore’s governance framework, lower costs for residents, ensure uniform service quality, and allow MPs to focus on nation-building. For a forward-looking, first-world city-state, this is the logical next step.   CWC-AI    Read More →