TR EMERITUS

According to recent rumors circulating in cyberspace, opposition politician Goh Meng Seng is selling his 4-room HDB flat in Serangoon North to raise funds for his campaign in the next general election. Mr Goh is the Secretary-General of the National Solidarity Party. He was formerly a candidate of the Workers' Party team which contested in Aljunied GRC during the 2006 election. Former NTUC CEO Mr Tan Kin Lian had checked with Mr Goh and confirmed the veracity of the information. In a written reply to Mr Tan, Mr Goh wrote that he is selling his flat to build up his war chest in preparation for the "eventual" battle. He is planning to lead a team in Tampines GRC, the stronghold of National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who has come under increasing fire lately for his failure to control sky-rocketing HDB flat prices. Despite evidence showing otherwise, Mr Mah is adamant that HDB flats remain affordable to Singaporeans and castigates home buyers for being "fussy" and having "unrealistic" expectations. PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew said recently that Singaporeans must be "daft" if they were to cast a protest vote against Mr Mah over his performance as National Development Minister. Mr Goh added that he is ready to make the necessary sacrifices to serve fellow Singaporeans: "I think the most important thing is for people to realize that politics is about public service; not just opposition politics, but it is expected of the ruling party politicians as well. Public service may mean sacrifices on both financial as well as family time." His statement appears to contradict a recent speech made by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during an interview on a U.S. Talkshow in which he emphasized the need to pay astronomical salaries to get the "best" men and women into the government. Read Mr Goh's reply to Mr Tan here.   Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans.  Read More →

The Economic Times, 18 April 2010 India will seek greater access for its professionals in Singapore in areas such as IT, health, education and finance in the upcomingFive highest-paying professions “Although we managed to get access for some of our professionals in Singapore as part of the CECA, we will try to get more in the review,” a commerce ministry official said. Commerce department is holding consultations with the industry and other ministries to finalise how much more it could offer Singapore in exchange for greater access in services. Singapore has already got a lot of concessions as part of India’s free trade agreement with the ten member Asean countries. Read rest of article here.  Read More →

PAP MP for Bukit Panjang Teo Ho Pin has rejected a proposal by the Singapore Democratic Party to stop Sheng Siong from raising the rents at Fajar market by 30 percent. A team led by SDP Chairman met Dr Teo at his Meet-the-People sessions last week to relay their intentions to him. Dr Teo reportedly dismissed their proposal and said: "The government can't interfere. Let the market forces decide whether the increased rentals by Sheng Siong were steep or not." There are no other wet markets in Bukit Panjang except the Fajar market which was acquired by Sheng Siong. Since the rental hike, some stallholders have indicated that they have no choice but to move out. Despite repeated appeals from the stallholders, Sheng Siong said it is unable to reverse its decision after considering all factors, such as long-term and short-term costs and sustainability of the business model.” It claimed that the outcome is “inevitable” and sought the “understanding” of stallholders. There are unverified rumors circulating in some internet forums that the son of one of Sheng Siong’s founder had just tied the knot with a daughter of a senior government leader. Dr Teo won Bukit Panjang with 77 percent of the valid votes in the 2006 election against SDP's Ling How Doong. Judging from Dr Teo's handling of the crisis so far, he appears to be confident of another overwhelming victory again at the next election due to be called soon.   Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans.   Related articles: >> Sheng Siong seeks "understanding" from stallholders >> SDP takes Dr Teo Ho Pin to task over Sheng Siong rental hike >> Sheng Siong increased rental by 30 per cent in the 5 wet markets it bought >> SDP calls off planned speech at Fajar after being denied a permit by police >> SDP requests for a meeting with Sheng Siong >> Teo Ho Pin replies to SDP without addressing them >> Teo Ho Pin to SDP: “You didn’t do your homework!” >> SDP stops Sheng Siong from converting wet markets into supermarkets >> SDP writes to Dr Teo Ho Pin to oppose sale of Fajar wet market  Read More →