‘Leaders must be able to take criticism, acknowledge mistakes’: PM Lee - Page 29

skyleon · #**421** 09-09-2017, 09:20 AM

Reserved Presidential Election part of framework to build national identity: K Shanmugam

By Monica Kotwani @MKotwaniCNA
08 Sep 2017 10:59PM (Updated: 08 Sep 2017 11:12PM)

SINGAPORE: The upcoming reserved Presidential Election is part of Singapore's overall framework to create a strong national identity, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said.

Whether it be ethnic quotas in public housing estates, or the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system during general elections, the Government has taken an active approach to promoting racial harmony, Mr Shanmugam said at a forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on Friday (Sep 8).

Mr Shanmugam compared Singapore’s efforts to strengthen racial relations to that of countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom.

“This is my position, and I accept that people can disagree ... If you leave societies on their own and if the government does not intervene ... you will get the conclusions that (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel and (former UK Prime Minister David) Cameron put up - because the natural order is centrifugal, moving to segregated communities and not integration,” he said.

Social inclusion and an environment in which everyone gets the same opportunities does not happen automatically, but because of policies that “seek to foster and encourage it”, Mr Shanmugam said, adding that this approach has been fundamental to the thinking and the workings of Singapore's Government for the last 50 years.

He was the first to speak in a three-part session on the reserved Presidential Election, which also involved Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing and Senior Minister of State for Information and Communications Janil Puthucheary.

PRESIDENT AS UNIFYING FIGURE

Mr Shanmugam said having multiracial representation is important in the Elected Presidency, as the symbolic function of the President as a unifying figure remains core to the state.

“If the President, term after term, comes from a single race, would everyone feel that he or she symbolises the entire state, entire nation?” Mr Shanmugam asked.

Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...-build-9199346

skyleon · #**422** 09-09-2017, 09:23 AM

Govt prepared to pay political price over changes to Elected Presidency: Chan Chun Sing

By Lianne Chia
@LianneChiaCNA
08 Sep 2017 11:38PM (Updated: 08 Sep 2017 11:44PM)

SINGAPORE: It will be a “hard journey” to convince people about the need for changes to the Elected Presidency and the Government will pay a political price but it is prepared to, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing on Friday (Sep 8).

Speaking at an Institute of Policy Studies forum on the Reserved Presidential Election, Mr Chan stressed that as a young nation, Singapore had to evolve its systems to adapt to its circumstances – not just to meet the “here and now” but also to anticipate and pre-empt challenges that may arise in the future.

Mr Chan asked those at the forum to raise their hands if they thought the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) had and will pay a political price over the recent changes to the Elected Presidency, and the debate surrounding it, including the hiatus-triggered model to ensure minority representation.

Noting the agreement of many in the hall, Mr Chan said: “Why, then, did we do this?”

“If we are all good politicians, we won’t and we shouldn’t do it,” he said. “No good politician would sacrifice his political capital for a problem that may arise in future generations. Most good politicians in the world would try to preserve their political capital for themselves to manage their current problems.”

“There are many conspiracy theories out there,” he added. “But for every conspiracy theory that is out there, I have a very good answer for you.

“If it has to do with an individual, then there are many other ways,” he said. “And if it is for political gain, then surely we are not achieving it as you have rightly pointed out.”

A POLITICIAN VERSUS A POLITICAL LEADER

To explain, Mr Chan related a story about a conversation with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which he said taught him the difference between a politician and a political leader.

“We asked ourselves - PM, do we need to do this now? Because we had anticipated it would be a hard journey to convince people and we would pay the political price, at least in the short term,” said Mr Chan. “PM Lee’s answer will forever be etched in my mind, and that distinguished a politician from a political leader.

“He said 'Yes, we are likely to pay a political price. Yes, we may not have a problem here and now, but what if we have a problem 20 or 30 years from now? Will the fourth, fifth or sixth generation of leaders have the liberty, and the luxury of time and space for them to put in place a system?'” said Mr Chan.

Mr Lee, he added, had taken it upon himself to put in place a system to pre-empt potential issues from arising in the future. “Not for himself, not for his political capital, but always thinking about what this country needs,” he said. “We are prepared to pay the political price, because we think the future of our country is much more important than any political capital that we may have.”

Mr Chan stressed that it was a “very difficult decision” to make, but the Government owes it to the future generations to put in place systems to prevent issues.

Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...lected-9199326

skyleon · #**423** 09-09-2017, 09:35 AM

Hsien Loong moving young gun minister from cabinet to the speaker’s chair?

Social and family development minister Tan Chuan-Jin had been one of six contenders to take over from the Lion City’s premier when he retires

By Bhavan Jaipragas

6 Sep 2017

Singapore has inched closer to finding out who will succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, after the premier surprised the Lion City by reassigning a popular minister thought to be among six contenders for the top job.

The prime minister’s announcement on Wednesday that he was recommending the social and family development minister Tan Chuan-Jin as the city state’s next parliament speaker was “confounding and confusing”, one observer said, as the move all but snuffed out the former army brigadier general’s chances for top political leadership.

Singapore’s social and family development minister Tan Chuan-Jin. File photo

Tan will need to quit as a cabinet minister to take up his new role. He will be appointed by lawmakers when parliament next sits on Monday. The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) holds 83 out of 89 elected seats. The speaker position fell vacant in August after the incumbent Halimah Yacob resigned to stand in the country’s impending presidential election.

Lee Hsien Loong with a young Tan Chuan-Jin in 1989. Photo: Facebook

Tan, who made his political debut in 2011, was previously seen as among a group of six “fourth generation” ministers who were being primed to take over from Lee and his key lieutenants upon their expected retirement soon after the next polls due in 2021.

Lee, the son of Singapore’s late founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, took office as the country’s third prime minister in 2004.

On Wednesday, Tan dismissed talk that he had been eased out of the apex of politics, telling local reporters that there were many “different roles [and] many different pathways” in public service.

Singapore-based politics researcher Mustafa Izzuddin said the move was “confounding and confusing”.

TIPPED TO BE IN CORE TEAM

“Tan Chuan-Jin was widely tipped to be part of the core leadership team to take Singapore forward upon the stepping down of the current leadership team under Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,” said Mustafa, a fellow at the Lion City’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute think tank.

Eugene Tan, another long time Singapore politics observer, said Lee’s recommendation for Tan to be the next speaker “does suggest that he will probably not feature prominently in the overall leadership succession”.

“His exit is very unexpected as it was not apparent that he was not equal to the task of taking on bigger challenges,” said Tan, a law professor at the Singapore Management University.

The minister’s exit from cabinet “does take away some flair, diversity and the much needed contrarian approach in the fourth generation leadership,” Tan added.

continue reading here : http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politi...g-gun-minister

skyleon · #**424** 09-09-2017, 09:37 AM

Does Tan Chuan-Jin’s demotion reflect poor leadership management?

September 8, 2017

By Howard Lee

Let’s not mince words here. Tan Chuan-Jin was demoted from Minister to Speaker of Parliament. Call it a different stage of his development, or call it everyone heading the same direction to make Singapore better, nothing can hide the fact that Tan has been left unceremoniously in the People’s Action Party’s naughty corner.

The question, however, is why. It took Mothership.sg a crew of three just to line up the many questions about his departure from the 4G leadership – all with no answers in view. This move in Singapore politics is clearly baffling enough to warrant the queries, and the slew of articles since the announcement did little to provide answers.

By all counts, Tan does a reasonably good enough job. Some may balk and exclaim that, for his pay, reasonably good is really not good enough. But compared to some other Coordinating Minister who basically asked reporters to run a train system – come on, let’s have some perspective on this.

In fact, Tan’s work at the Ministry for Social and Family Development, while not necessarily all hunky-dory, has been recognised by the community and civil society MSF works with. Baring the snafu over the “consultation” attempt with the Bukit Brown activists and the “exercising carboard collectors” gaffe, Tan has made no major misstep that requires him to step down from the PAP top leadership, let alone his current portfolio.

continue reading here : http://www.theindependent.sg/does-ta...ip-management/

blackwater · #**425** 11-09-2017, 11:21 AM

This Mr Tan is just a soldier and will obey his orders from his boss .

skyleon · #**426** 11-09-2017, 04:00 PM

In full: Tan Chuan-Jin's inaugural speech as Speaker of Parliament

Published: 2:00 PM, September 11, 2017

Updated: 2:28 PM, September 11, 2017

Former Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin was formally elected as Singapore's 10th Speaker of Parliament on Monday (Sept 11). In his inaugural speech as Speaker, Mr Tan pledged to facilitate robust debate, and urged Members of Parliament to channel and reflect the voices of the people. This is his speech in full, as prepared for delivery.

Honourable members, thank you for your support, your kind words and for electing me as the 10th Speaker of Parliament since our first legislative assembly. I would also like to thank the members of the public who have expressed support for my nomination when the announcement came out just under a week ago.

Many were surprised and it sparked off some discussion about the role of the Speaker. That is not a bad thing. We do need fellow Singaporeans to be involved, and to gain a deeper understanding of not just the Speaker’s role but also that of Parliament, its proceedings and how all of us here contribute to making Singapore a better home for our people.

As Members of Parliament, whatever our stripes, we need to be accessible, relevant and to be real. We need to present the voices and needs of our individual constituents, but we need also to stand for a united Singapore, to speak with one voice in a fissiparous world.

The business of Parliament is multifarious.

In the first session of Parliament in Dec 1965, we saw the presentation of bills that ensured Singapore’s independence, as well as her first Budget, which assured her defence. It also oversaw bills on the care of orphans and widows, destitute persons as well as the incorporation of the Singapore Asian Seamen's Club Incorporation Ordinance.

continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...ker-parliament

skyleon · #**427** 11-09-2017, 05:29 PM

No contest for Singapore Presidential Election, only 1 Certificate of Eligibility issued

11 Sep 2017 05:07PM

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans will not have to vote for their new President as only one Certificate of Eligibility has been issued.

This was announced by the Elections Department on Monday (Sep 11) in a press release reproduced below:

Five individuals applied for a Certificate of Eligibility. Of these five individuals, three declared that they belonged to the Malay community and applied for Malay Community Certificates.

Decisions on Certificate of Eligibility
The PEC has decided to issue one Certificate of Eligibility.

Decisions on Community Certificates
The CC referred all three applications for a Malay Community Certificate to the Malay Community Sub-Committee (MCSC), and the MCSC has concluded that all three applicants belong to the Malay community. The CC will therefore issue three Malay Community Certificates.

As this Presidential Election is reserved for the Malay community, the CC rejected the two community declarations where the declarants did not declare themselves to be a member of the Malay community.

Individuals issued with both Certificates
One individual will be issued with both the Certificate of Eligibility and the Malay Community Certificate.

Notification to candidates
The Elections Department has notified all five individuals on the outcome of their applications. Reasons were also given to the unsuccessful applicants for a Certificate of Eligibility. The PEC and the Elections Department will not, in the first instance, publish the names of the unsuccessful applicants or the reasons given to them. This is to give effect to the recommendation of the Constitutional Commission that unsuccessful applicants should not be disclosed to the public, to reduce the prospect of potential applicants being dissuaded from stepping forward to contest the elections. An unsuccessful applicant is free to publish the reasons given to him or her.

Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...only-1-9205542

skyleon · #**428** 11-09-2017, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winphenom

Another sure landslide victory for govt candidate.

Bro you are spot on . Sure win as because it is a walkover . No need to go for voting .

winphenom · #**429** 11-09-2017, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyleon

Bro you are spot on . Sure win as because it is a walkover . No need to go for voting .

Haha....Thanks bro. But less one holiday....Haha....cheers.

bansuay · #**430** 11-09-2017, 06:38 PM

Kelong to the max

skyleon · #**431** 11-09-2017, 07:05 PM

Halimah Yacob to be S'pore's 1st woman President; sole candidate to qualify in reserved election

No election on Sept 23

By Siau Ming En

Published: 5:10 PM, September 11, 2017

Updated: 5:56 PM, September 11, 2017

SINGAPORE — Former Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob is set to be Singapore’s first Malay president in more than 47 years, after the Elections Department (ELD) said on Monday (Sept 11) that only one individual qualified for the inaugural reserved Presidential Election.

Among those who submitted application forms, only one individual received both Certificate of Eligibility and Community Certificates, said the ELD in its statement which did not name the individual.

Madam Halimah, 62, is the only candidate who automatically qualifies for the election having served as a Speaker of Parliament for more than three years.

Contacted by TODAY, the spokespersons for chairman of marine services provider Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific Farid Khan, 62, and chief executive of Second Chance Properties Mohamed Salleh Marican, 67, confirmed that their applications were rejected.

Madam Halimah will be Singapore’s eighth President and the first woman to hold the position as the country’s Head of State. The Returning Officer, Energy Market Authority chief executive Ng Wai Choong, will declare her as the elected President on Nomination Day on Wednesday.

Former President Tony Tan’s six-year term expired on Aug 31 and Mr J Y Pillay — the chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers — has been the Acting President since Sept 1. There will not be a poll and Madam Halimah will start her term as President on Thursday.

The ELD said the Community Committee issued three Malay Community Certificates while the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) decided to issue one Certificate of Eligibility.

It added: “The PEC and the Elections Department will not, in the first instance, publish the names of the unsuccessful applicants or the reasons given to them. This is to give effect to the recommendation of the Constitutional Commission that unsuccessful applicants should not be disclosed to the public, to reduce the prospect of potential applicants being dissuaded from stepping forward to contest the elections.”

But an unsuccessful applicant is free to publish the reasons given to him or her, ELD added.

In Mr Marican’s case, the PEC said it was satisfied that he held the most senior executive office in Second Chance and was principally responsible for managing and conducting its business and operations. However, his firm’s shareholders’ equity — which averaged about S$2258 million in the last three financial years — was “considerably below” the requisite minimum of S$500 million.

continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...erved-election

While she ain't my president as I did not vote for her .