Low Thia Khiang on handover of Aljunied Town Council

 

Low Thia Khiang

SINGAPORE : Workers’ Party secretary—general, Low Thia Khiang, has said it may be one or two months before the handover of Aljunied Town Council is completed.

Mr Low was speaking at the start of his first meet—the—people session at his division of Bedok Reservoir—Punggol of the Aljunied GRC.

It is his first in a new constituency, after 20 years as MP of Hougang, and he promised to do his best for the residents.

When Mr Low arrived just after 7.30pm on Wednesday, a large crowd had already gathered — some just there to say hello.

The Workers’ Party will merge Aljunied and Hougang town councils, and the new entity will be chaired by party chairman Sylvia Lim.

Mr Low said existing staff will have priority if they wish to stay on, but the town council will also be hiring new staff.

He added that he will work with grassroots organisations (GROs) under the People’s Association.

Mr Low said: " I’ve worked with the GROs in Hougang, so whoever will be the advisor, whether it’s an ex—MP or potential MP, I have no issues. As long as they’re prepared to work for the benefit of residents, I’m prepared to work (with them)."

The new town councils will be gazetted on Friday, but Mr Low said it will be one or two months before the Workers’ Party MPs can take over the operations of Aljunied Town Council.

Some of the outstanding issues include completing an audit of accounts, as well as sorting out contracts with existing vendors.

— CNA/al

to urge regulation of land banking

JO-ANN HUAN G

joannhuang@mediacorp.com.sg

The disgruntled investors claim that the company has not been transparent in its dealings, with repeated queries about their land banking investments to the firm’s directors falling on deaf ears.

Profitable Plots — best known for its television commercials featuring former football stars urging viewers to buy British land — is currently under investigation here by the Commercial Affairs Department for failing to meet investors’ payments.

After a discussion yesterday with investors who have issues with Profitable Plots, SIAS president David Gerald said:

“It is an alternative investment but many investors are depending on higher returns.

“And foreigners, it seems, can just set up a business like this and take money from Singaporeans and others around the region, who have great confidence in the Singapore brand name and the fact that we are well regulated and laws are enforced strictly.”

More than 200 complaints have been filed against Profitable Plots for amounts totalling more than S$23 million and SIAS has called on the directors of the British firm to have a dialogue session with investors.

But lawyers say a regulatory framework for land banking investments will be hard to enforce. They say buying an interest in foreign undeveloped land is currently unregulated here, just like buying an overseas property.

“If it is structured as a sale-of-land interest, then in a sense it is no different from the sale of foreign properties in Singapore.

These days there are foreign developers selling bungalows and apartments in Singapore. All these are sale of interest in foreign properties, so land banking could be seen as a sale of interest in foreign undeveloped land as well,” said Mr Chia Kim Huat, partner at law firm Rajah & Tann.

Both SIAS and law firms remind investors to practise due diligence before investing in any kind of high-risk assets.SINGAPORE — The Securities Investors Association Singapore (SIAS) has called for the strict regulation of land banking investments, after hundreds of investors here filed complaints against British firm Profitable Plots.

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Television host Quan Yi Fong charged with mischief

Television host Quan Yi Fong charged with mischief

 

Photo courtesy of xinmsn.com.

SINGAPORE: Television personality Quan Yi Fong was charged in court on Wednesday with two counts of mischief and one count of using criminal force on a taxi driver.

The 37—year—old host allegedly damaged a fare meter and a receipt printer of a ComfortDelGro taxi belonging to 52—year—old Chan Swee Kong.

The incident took place along Upper East Coast Road at around 8.40am on 26 June 2010.

It’s believed Quan pushed the cabby’s chest and attempted to kick him.

She is also said to have kicked the right rear passenger door of the taxi.

Quan, who’s represented by lawyer, Subhas Anandan came dressed in a light grey top and blue jeans.

She looked calm and smiled at reporters as she made her way to the courtroom.

The pre—trial conference for her case will be held on 29 June.

If convicted of mischief, for each charge, Quan could be jailed up to a year, fined, or both.

And if found guilty of using criminal force on Mr Chan, she could be jailed up to three months, fined S$1,500 or both.

In 1996, Chuan was fined S$1,000 for getting into a fight with a bowling alley attendant.

—CNA/ck

pharoah88      ( Date: 25-May-2011 11:52) Posted: SM GOH  asked residents to let him know the top two issues or policies on their minds, excluding ministerial salaries. 1.  G S T  makes  citizens  pOOr and  causes  INFLATION. 2.  Near ZERO  Bank Saving Interest Rates  make  SAVERS  pOOr  and  lose  capacity to fIght  INFLATION pharoah88      ( Date: 25-May-2011 11:11) Posted: By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 24/05/2011 PM Lee reviewing governance issues in Singapore, says Goh Chok Tong   Emeritus SM Goh Chok Tong (file picture) SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is reviewing governance issues in Singapore, says Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Writing in his latest post on the MParader Facebook page, Mr Goh urged residents to " have a claim of his (PM Lee) mindshare" . He asked residents to let him know the top two issues or policies on their minds, excluding ministerial salaries. Mr Goh said these issues will then be collated for discussion later. — CNA/ir

New ministerial pay package " should also look at average man’s pay"

 

The three guests at MediaCorp 938Live's " Talkback" show.

SINGAPORE: It may be a while before the committee set up to review salaries for political appointment holders completes its report, but views on the subject continue to be debated.

And political watchers in a radio discussion on Tuesday emphasised that any package proposed by the committee headed by Mr Gerard Ee must take into account what the average Singaporean earns.

The " Talkback" show on MediaCorp radio station 938Live saw three guests — former Nominated MP Gautam Banerjee and political commentators Eugene Tan and PN Balji — sharing their views on the topic of ministerial pay.

Mr Eugene Tan, an Assistant Professor of Law at Singapore Management University, said: " While we accept the principle behind a fair compensation package, the idea that ministers are paid way above the average Singaporean is something many Singaporeans have difficulty accepting."

However, it’s argued that high salaries are not just a Singapore phenomenon.

Mr Gautam Banerjee, executive chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: " With globalisation and the companies getting larger, the salaries of the top individuals have increased disproportionately to the rest of the workforce. The formula has been giving these very large figures which the government has already brought down. They have never used the formula in its entirety because what the formula was throwing up was just too high a figure, just not tenable."

He added: " One of the things that people have always had with this formula is that you are always taking the highest of the high each year. You are always pegging yourself with the highest performers.

" You could do a number of things you could take a broader number of people, you could take the highest individuals, you could take a medium of the top 50 and have something which you could sell politically, because at the end of the day, in the private sector it is also under a lot of review, especially after the financial crisis."

The review committee must also look long—term in order to attract the right talent.

Mr Eugene Tan said: " The committee has to balance the need to continue to attract talent within the ministerial ranks and at the same time come up with a set of recommendations which will have the ’buy—in’ of the majority of Singaporeans.

" It is important for an issue like the ministerial salaries not to be excessively politicised. I don’t think we can completely remove the political sting but it is important that it doesn’t become an issue that takes away the moral legitimacy of the government.

" The whole process of looking at the ministerial salaries will be an important gauge of the new style of governance, reach out, engage and get Singaporeans to co—create. It will be an interesting process to watch.

" If the salary package is seen way too low, then I think it would be difficult. We must bear in mind that while serving in the Cabinet, taking part in politics is a calling, I am not so sure we should look at it as the politicians performing a public service close to volunteer service.

" It is important to recognise that the work they do serves a larger good and it is important we continue to attract good people."

Political watchers also do not rule out the possibility that in future, some top civil servants may indeed be paid more than their minister.

And they do not think the status of the president would be diminished if he is paid less than the prime minister.

Mr Gautam said: " You look at corporates, the chairman (who) is the most senior person in the organisation, is paid less than the CEO....The CEO carries a role....responsibility to perform and do more things and so the CEO’s salary is more than the chairman. But the chairman gets the gravitas, the respect.

" (In Singapore), you still pay the president a salary, which is to commensurate with the position but it doesn’t have to be the highest. And, also, the president is advised by a Council of Presidential Advisors and he has a good Council to advise him, he is not doing the job alone."

While the political watchers feel there should be public consultation on ministerial pay, they say mass feedback sessions could only lead to more noise and chatter. But they hope the review committee will be explicit with the principles it takes to arrive at its decision and also make public the final report.

— CNA/ir

PM Lee reviewing governance issues in Singapore, says Goh Chok Tong

 

Emeritus SM Goh Chok Tong (file picture)

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is reviewing governance issues in Singapore, says Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Writing in his latest post on the MParader Facebook page, Mr Goh urged residents to " have a claim of his (PM Lee) mindshare" .

He asked residents to let him know the top two issues or policies on their minds, excluding ministerial salaries.

Mr Goh said these issues will then be collated for discussion later.

— CNA/ir

Advertisement congratulating WP in Chinese daily

 

Workers' Party manifesto

SINGAPORE: A group of business owners has taken out an advertisement in a Chinese—language newspaper, congratulating the Workers’ Party on its performance in the recent General Election.

The advertisement, which appeared on Page 2 of ZB on Sunday — the Sunday edition of Lianhe Zaobao — congratulated WP’s Aljunied team of party chief Low Thia Khiang, party chairman Sylvia Lim, Mr Chen Show Mao, Mr Muhamad Faisal Manap and Mr Pritam Singh, and Hougang Member of Parliament (MP) Yaw Shin Leong, as well as new Non—Constituency MPs Yee Yenn Jong and Gerald Giam.

TODAY contacted one of those whose name appeared in the congratulatory advertisement. Declining to be quoted for this news report, he said that he contributed to the cost of the advertisement as a gesture of appreciation to the opposition party for using their services.

Others who contributed to the advertisement include a florist, several senior citizens and residents’ grassroots organisations from Hougang, and a paper products company. —

TODAY

1. An A*Star scholar jumped to his death from 9 storeys after his love was rejected by a China girl. His parents were devastated at the scene. Both the China girl and her boyfriend kneeled down in front of them to beg for forgiveness.
   
2. The A*star scholar Lin Zhi Qiang (25 yr) and his good friend both were going after the same China girl. The China girl eventually chose his friend which devastated Lin. Lin then ran to her place (blk 407, sembawang), hoping to change the girl’s mind, but was rebuffed. He then jumped down from 9th floor outside the girl’s flat. Lin died immediately.
   
3. According to Lin’s father, when he and his wife heard the news, they went to the girl’s place immediately. She and her boyfriend (Lin’s good friend) were there too. The couple were in tears with heavy heart.
   
4. When the couple saw Lin’s parents, they felt sorry and knelt down in front of the parents and apologized. However, the couple didn’t say anything about the whole incident. Mr Lin asked them what was the cause of his son’s death but the couple kept quiet.
   
5. When the reporter asked Mr Lin if he would forgive the couple, the devastated Mr Lin did not reply.
   
6. Mr Lin said that earlier, he had asked his son to let go. But it was a pity that he son did not which resulted in this tragedy.
   
7. 
   
8. Father: “Son never had a girl friend, didn’t expect him to be so stupid”
   
9. The deceased father said his son had never had a girlfriend for the past 25 years. His results were especially good and was a gifted student. The family never expect their most obedient son to break their hearts like this.
   
10. “Zhi Qiang from small till now had never fallen in love. I had never heard him spoke about any girl he liked. If not for last year’s incident in which he fainted and went into coma for 48 hours after being rejected by the China girl, we will never know he had a sweetheart and he loved her so deeply.”
    
11. Mr Lin said he doesn’t know the existence of the China girl except that her son knew her through a mutual friend when he was studying in the United States.
    
12. “From what I know, the China girl and my son’s good friend were from the same university, I didn’t expect that both good friends will end up going after the same girl.”
    
13. 
    
14. Mr Lin believed that the China girl was his son’s first love and he thought after counselling him several times, his son is able to accept the reality of him being rejected. Maybe the trauma was too big for him to bear, leading him to take the wrong step.
    
    
15. From Raffles Institution to Hwa Chong Junior College, academic results had always been excellent
    
16. The deceased is the third child in the family and is the smartest of all the 4 children. Mr Lin said his son was very smart and his academic results had always been excellent from his secondary to junior college days.
    
17. “He was the pride of my family. The two sisters were proud of him too.”
    
18. Mr Lin said his family’s cohesiveness is strong. His eldest daughter who is working as a teacher and youngest son who is studying are currently preparing for Zhi Qiang’s funeral and his second daugther who is working in the United States has already booked a return flight to Singapore to attend her brother’s funeral.
    
19. Source: Lianhe Wanbao