Tuesday, August 18, 2015

One Nation, Two Standards

The Speaker of the House is an important appointment, the second most powerful after the prime minister. Halimah Jacob has no excuse not to know the rules and regulations. Although she outranks the President, that doesn't mean she can start campaigning for votes before a writ of election addressed to the returning officer has been issued:
Candidates can only mount election campaigns from after the close of nomination up to the day before the eve of polling day. No campaigning is permitted on the eve of polling day itself, which is known as "cooling-off day".

The packet of rice she's caught handling out to residents in rental flats at Marsiling Road may not be haram, but pork barrel politics definitely is. With or without a SG50 sticker.

Problem is, the tudung clad member tends to make her own rules. Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Eugene Tan thought he was just doing his job when he pointed out to the Speaker in the nick of time that quorum was not met when two bills were about to be passed in parliament. Leader of the House Ng Eng Hen managed to save the day by asking for an adjournment instead of summoning the MPs back into the Chamber.

Tan had made it well known - online, offline and maybe kopi-tiam circuit - that he was seeking another term as NMP. He was not chosen. Chairman of the Special Select Committee of Parliament Halimah Yacob explained:
"We looked for eligible candidates who had distinguished themselves through their contributions to society or to their respective field, and who could bring their specialised knowledge to add to the depth and breadth of debates in Parliament."

Future generation leader hopeful Lawrence Wong is not about to distinguish himself by saying anything to make her look "malu" (Malay for saving her half covered face). In the immortal words of Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam", "This will not look good on my resume."

36 comments:

  1. How does this compare with all the recent announcements of upgrading, new hawker centres, amenities, etc.? Buying of votes whether with packets of rice or otherwise is surely unethical if not illegal.

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  2. Even the Khaw blatantly breaks rules:

    In a blog post on Saturday, Mr Philemon questioned why SWAMI Home had hosted the PAP press conference, which saw the introduction of the party’s slate for Sembawang GRC in the coming General Election by party chairman Khaw Boon Wan.

    The PAP’s Sembawang GRC team - led by Mr Khaw, who is also National Development Minister - said in a statement that it had rented the home “partly to support this VWO and partly because we felt it was an accessible place and had sufficient space to accommodate reporters”.

    “We had not checked the VWO’s constitution. However, we have nothing but the highest regard for the work done by this VWO and will continue to support it in any way we can,” they said.

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    1. I am sure it is all also with good intentions that they flouted the rules, be it knowingly or unknowingly.

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    2. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

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    3. Beware of well-intentioned people. They are the most dangerous. They often talk like a self-appointed arbiter of morals.

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  3. I ask yet again:
    PAP’s “well qualified” candidates.
    “Well qualified” to do what?
    - well qualified to serve Singaporeans?
    - well qualified to serve Aliens?
    - well qualified to serve PAP?
    - well qualified to serve themselves and their cronies?

    Think first before you blindly vote for a “well qualified” PAP candidate.

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  4. But then S’poreans are like the victim in a long-term relationship with an abusive partner. A bit less abuse, a bit of tender loving care and the victim is ready to accept more abuse in future.

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  5. So is the House safe if the Speaker of the House doesn't even know the rules of the games? Can she be expected to represent or call out inconsistent standards or bad arguments from either sides of the bench fairly? Is like going into a worldcup match just to have a kayu referee !

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  6. Asked how the Government could tell when it will be ready to allow Malay-Muslim women to wear the tudung in public service frontline roles, Mr Lee reiterated that the change needs to be evolved: "You never arrive." Double standards indeed.

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  7. It's not one country, two systems lah. It’s ok if you do wrong, if you have good intentions. I would have thought MP Intan Mokhtar would have been given the boot for her Yang Yin affair. But then presumably she supported his PR application with good intentions. The one that takes the cake is with the PA adverse AGO report. It's not dishonesty, according to Mr Toothpick, because "Grassroots leaders’ good intentions the root cause of financial lapses". If it were not so sad, I would have laughed until I cried.

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    1. What did LSS based on when he says he is confident that there is no irregularities in the system?

      Afterall, AGO has only done a 30% random checks on PAs and its entities. For an organization that handles up to $1 billion funded money, it is a very large sum for a very large groups nationwide. So compared that to a $6-10m of governance issues on town council, which one is more critical to look into?

      Not saying the $6-10m is any less important. But if Noble Group can claim to be have such impeccable balance sheet or healthy cash-flow, why do you think outside independent research house will openly short their stocks and call their bluff, causing stock price to drop? I also recall SMRT had repeatedly boasted its stellar Best Corporate Governance Award during the train fiasco under Ms Saw Pek Hua. Clearly they made good sets of financial accounts and reaping profits etc..but how was that relevant to train performance and maintenance issues for the commuters down the value line?

      I bet Pastor Kong Hee and Sun Ho were also doing their round-tripping with the good intentions to save more souls too. What could be more noble than that?

      For a Party stalwart who has a 30-40 years headstart on governance across the board, how could this re-lapses (at least these minor ones that we could see when the curtains are drawn) still be happening?

      So if Tonic Oh as a co-chairman who sits on Finance Committee can make good intentioned mistakes (to urgently help needy residents), so pray-tell, how does MND Mr Khaw explained that $20m project without tender? Do rare speices of plants or gardens urgently needed to be bailed?

      So easy to slap others for their lapses.
      But easier to clap for your own relapses.



      Delete
  8. Chinatown is flooded with PRC foreign talents and workers. So is Little India is flooded with Indian foreign talents and workers. Even Orchard Road is flooded with Filipino talents on Sundays.

    Maybe some Malay citizen should question Halimah why Geylang Serai is not flooded with Muslim immigrants ? Maybe they equate Tagalog with our Malay official religion ?

    If PAP wants to be fair to all races, one can't simply expand at the expense of one particular minority race isn't it ? What if someone with a radical mind decide to be an hero ? Can PAP afford to bear any consequences ?

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    Replies
    1. Chinatown, especially People parks complex food center is the dirtiest place I've ever been to of late. 1/3 of its stalls are already rented out to chinese Sichuan-Mala cuisines, which will soon become a regular singlish dish in no time. Not to mention you see similar stalls into the heartlands like redhill and lau pa sat etc. Pinoy or Thai food have also slowly crept into the mainstay. Welcome our new citizens and their national dishes. That explains why PM Lee is not in a hurry to define Singaporean identity lah..the rojak is still rojaking lah.

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    2. Anonymous 3:10 pm - if you think we Malay Muslims are worried about the lack of Muslim migrants to Singapore, you're sadly wrong. As a matter of fact it is your assumption that some of us would be upset by it and thus do something which should be done which is dangerous. How can you - as a fellow citizen - think of us that way ? We Malay Muslims are confident as ever because no matter the numbers, Singapore will always be OUR country first.

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  9. The qualities of every succeeding batch of "白骨精" are getting worse. Even white termites, themselves horrible parasites, might be too ashamed of being associated with "白骨精". When gangsters are even ashamed of being associated with certain thugs, the end is probably near. Meanwhile, one "quality or prowess" of the shameless "白骨精" appears to be getting "better" - that of the ability to "suck blood" and extract every last drop like "over juiced canes" from their "unwitting victims". In the "Journey to the West" by the Ming Dynasty author: " 吴承恩 ", all the good for nothing but evil-doing, parasitic "白骨精" ( "blood suckling white demons" ) were "exterminated" and those beyond redemption, unrepentant and unremorseful lot all cast into eternal hell (阿鼻地狱, the lowest level of the 18 Levels of Hell). Looks like eternal hell could be getting more crowded down the road ......

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  10. // The Speaker of the House is an important appointment, the second most powerful after the prime minister. //

    Since 2011, it may have " become the most jinxed appointment"! One was "sacked" by voters in a GRC in 2011 and the other helming a SMC "sacked" the voters by "resignation" but his supposed successor and "self-anointed Son of Punggol", an arse surgeon got "sacked" by voters in 2013 ( abt 2 years later after the 1st "sacking" ) even before he got the post. Now in 2015, about another 2 years after the "2nd sacking" will it be "3rd time lucky" or rather more precisely "3rd time unlucky" in a row and get "sacked" again by voters?

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  11. So can our 154th media explain why, unlike UK Speaker of the House of Commons, that our Singapore's first world nation does not have a truly independent Speak of the House?

    Upon being elected to the role, the Speaker of the House of Commons must “resign from their political party” and even continue to be apolitical in their retirement.

    British election law thus provides for the Speaker to run at elections as “Speaker” rather than as a candidate with a party affiliation.

    Crucially, the Speaker’s political fortunes thus become divorced from the political fortunes of the party of which the Speaker was once a member. The Speaker speaks for parliament, not for the government.

    Or is "the Singapore's way" some democratic symbols and appurtenances only for the outside world, but without giving up much of the substance of power?

    I mean, can we really see a scenario where the Speaker can put any MP in their right place like here without fear and favor? One can only "dream" ?

    https://youtu.be/Vbbr0fWkIx8

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  12. What is the basis to hold sinkies and others to high, stringent standards when those upholding such rules cannot practise what they preached? Coming "appraisals" should be about several KPIs, one of which is accountability. If the "(once in a ) blue moon servants" cannot explain and account for the repeated ( and thus unforgivable ) lapses, is it not by the principle of natural justice that they be given the marching order ( sacking )? Should they not be subjected to ( and have a taste of ) their own prescriptions ( and medicine )? High pay, low or no standards ( and double standards)? Time to prepare many pink slips ( and sack some dead wood) )? No?

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  13. >>> Although she outranks the President, that doesn't mean she can start campaigning for votes before a writ of election addressed to the returning officer has been issued:
    Candidates can only mount election campaigns from after the close of nomination up to the day before the eve of polling day. No campaigning is permitted on the eve of polling day itself, which is known as "cooling-off day".

    The packet of rice she's caught handling out to residents in rental flats at Marsiling Road may not be haram, but pork barrel politics definitely is. With or without a SG50 sticker. <<<


    "上梁不正下梁歪"

    Literal translation: "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go aslant."

    Firewood vendor's version: "A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow"

    Experienced Fisherman's version: "Fish begins to stink at the head."

    Nursery's 3 YO's version: "If a leader sets a bad example, it will be followed by his subordinates."

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  14. What is so good about a political party or leaders if they doesn't even fell shameful in exploiting the death of a past leader to the maximum ?

    Everyday in the Shit Times without fail one can still find glorified reports being made about the horrible old man. Come on son, can you at least grow up to be a man in your own right instead of being in the shadow of your father ? How can you be so shameless in exploiting everything without the least conscience ?

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  15. @ 10.00pm #$€£¥₩How can you be so shameless in exploiting everything without the least conscience ?#$€£¥₩

    Globally, elections often if not always are about the contests of the ugly.

    Voters in order to exercise their ( democratic ) rights have to unfortunately hold their noses tight when entering the ( voting ) booth.

    Such are the realities ( and horrendous ordeals ) voters may have to endure.

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  16. @ Anonymous 8/18/2015 11:16 PM
    "It does not look like PAP's very expensive F-35 new jet fighter is operationally sound.
    Is this another PAP white elephant project?"

    One of the better Speakers of Parliament sinkies ever had was arguably Tan Soo Khoon.

    After he finally relinquished this role in 2001, in some of his subsequent speeches before his eventual retirement as an MP in 2006, he often drawed (first) "blood" by "lampooning and lambasting" lau goa's administration for many ministries' extravagant spendings in the 1990s and early 2000s such as the many "modern wonders" built ..... Where did all these monies come from?

    For the sake of "swollen heads and inflated egos", sinkies have suffered immeasurably under such benighted and shallow leadership. This latest ( gargantuan ) big ticket splurge ( and squander ) on ( the experimental stage ) F35 is yet the latest example of "打肿脸充胖子". Perhaps recommended by ( yet another ) incoming ( big boasting and inflated kepala ) "one shot one kill" ( only good for face palms ) paper general. Looks like the miseries for sinkies are not going to end anytime soon. The ( continuing nightmarish ) fiascoes playing out in NOL and SMRT by 3-star paper generals are "legendary" and "unequal".

    The financial quagmire in NOL has led to the selling and pawning of arguably everything ( worth selling and pawning ) in the NOL group built up since independence including their most profitable logistics arm in recent years ( all thanks to a Kim Jong Un lookalike managing NOL via War Games model in his NOL "command centre" ....... how many gazillion face palms, YEW decide! )

    ( The on-going mess by ) The other 3-star LG paper general ( at SMRT ) may have cost his boss (MOT) to sack himself ( by resigning ) and even the "dare-devil" Mr "Hara-Kiri" quipped, when asked by reporters whether he intended to "volunteer again" for the MOT job, that "he will then have to camp permanently at the Sembawang Park". Mr "Hara-Kiri" revealed that apparently he has been taking a walk at Sembawang Park whenever the job stress at MND become unbearable after he volunteered for it in 2011.

    Hopefully the incoming "one shot one kill" paper LG will not be put in charge of critical ministry like MOF. Otherwise it may not be Mr "Hara-Kiri" camping permanently at Sembawang Park but many, many, many sinkies camping permanently at parks and beaches ( if going by the business track record of the North Korea great leader's lookalike paper LG currently profusely sweating it out in his NOL command centre, playing his typical style War Games in the real world shipping industry. Meanwhile, his NOL competitor - MAERSK is reporting as yet another bonanza profit while NOL is hemorrhaging unstoppably under life support in the ICU ).

    Anon 11.1pm, if YEW are worried and the F35 spending ( another white elephant? ) is keeping YEW awake at night, YEW ain't seen anything yet. ( Wait till the incoming LG takes up a cabinet post? If YEW think the carnages by the other 2 paper LGs helming the GLCs are already more horrifying than the most horrible horror shows?)

    Hopefully sinkies and YEW will be proven wrong this time ( and not every paper 3-star LG is as "horrifying" as the other 2 LGs in terms of their track records as CEOs ).

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    Replies
    1. sotong, are u sure there are 2 LGs who are CEOs? Name them pse leh!

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    2. Besides the two earlier species of hear nothing deaf frogs and see nothing head in sand ostriches, seems that there is a third specie - act blur dunno anything sotongs ...... what other animals are residing in the farm?

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  17. A leopard never change its spots.

    Once a leopard ( a paper general ), always a leopard ( a paper general ).

    Old man said if sinkieland ever has a dose of bad government, it can never put humpty dumpty back again in one piece. How true! When the dust (whipped up by paper generals ) finally settled, probably "神仙" also cannot put humpty dumpty back again. Old man's words have been prophetic so far except that they are probably ignored, going by current anecdotal signs.

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  18. // In the immortal words of Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam", "This will not look good on my resume." //

    Did the 2013 Little India's Riot look good on the incumbent's resume for the past four years?

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  19. //In the immortal words of Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam", "This will not look good on my resume."//

    Did the 2012 PRC bus drivers' strike look good on the resume?

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  20. //In the immortal words of Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam", "This will not look good on my resume."//

    Did the Dec 2012 resignation of the Speaker of Parliament due to his ema with one Laura look good on the resume?

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  21. //In the immortal words of Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam", "This will not look good on my resume."//


    Did the sending of underaged 12 YOs PSLE students for extreme mountaineering scaling steep, bare cliff mountains Via Ferrata way and Walk the Torq 10,000 ft above ground level look good on the resume?

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  22. Sinkies' Song dedicated to all the precious, innocent, cute little ones who needlessly perished on 5 June 2015 along the Via Ferrata route, Mt KK.

    月伴小噎屈
    仍然倚在悲伤里 望着孩子书包
    仍然听見风凉话 讽刺自辩再挑逗
    为何只剩一阴影 留在我的天空
    2015Jun4晚以後音訊隔絕

    孩子变成明月 永不可擁有
    回意已成过去 无可挽救再分別
    為何只是伤痛 填密我的空虛
    這晚沒孩子笑声

    仍在說PSLE 想不到是最后
    從未意会永别离
    但我的心每分每刻仍被孩子佔有
    她似這月兒仍然是不開口
    心灵深处如刀割 明月伴倚亲情
    我的思念 我的绝望 直至永远


    The 7 twelve YOs young boys and gals are supposed to take their PSLE next month but will never be ........ Who caused their premature demise? Who sabo them to become weak, defenceless, easy to be bullied wondering spirits trapped in the mountainous region for a long time to come? Who is going to pray to them regularly every year and help liberate them from their torments in the rugged Mt KK terrains? Anybody volunteering to go Mt KK to pray for them and give them some.offerings during the current ghost month and also next year, 2017, 2018 ........

    Was it not a big lapse yet again?

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    Replies
    1. Like the Little ones who obeyed their Leeders at Mount Kinabalu.
      Is this our fate if we obey our Leeders and vote for Yew know who again?

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  23. Sinkies' Fate
    Shall not be sealed if the
    Voters wise up to sack the Pappies
    IN THE LAST AND FINAL CHANCE TO
    LIBERATE THEMSELVES.

    OTHERWISE, THE PIGS IN ANIMAL FARM SHALL BE LOADING OVER EACH AND EVERY ONE.

    EVEN KIDS WILL NOT ESCAPE FROM THEIR(PAPPIES) MANIPULATIOB AND
    EXPLOITATION.

    BEWARE

    BEWARE AND

    BEWARE.

    patriot

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    Replies
    1. 'LOADING' TO BE
      CORRECTED TO
      'LORDING' IN MY
      ABOVE POST.

      My Apology.

      patriot

      Delete
  24. 自古英雄出少年,
    意气风发浪花劲,
    顶天立地无怨悔,
    助善除恶今生命,
    除暴安良君子心,
    奉献一生不为名,
    地震传来噩耗讯,
    七位娃娃魂飞冥,
    心如刀割泪满襟,
    江水滚滚英雄泪,
    河水滔滔流不尽,
    泣不成声痛欲绝,
    天若作孽犹可违,
    人自作孽不可活,
    天若有情天亦老,
    人间正道是沧桑。

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  25. Just a few days ago, Sylvia Lim had raised her hand during the Parliamentary session to clarify AHPETC’s Sinking Funds, but somehow the Speaker of Parliament did not notice her. How come huh???????

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  26. Of course Eugene Tan will not be selected because he had said that immigration is the 'mother of all issues' in Singapore!

    He is as good as giving crazy Looney a tight slap on his face for his comment as Looney had shaft the 6.9 million population Toilet Paper down our throat!

    ReplyDelete