Singapore

CABINET

2011-05-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister's Office
Mr Lee Hsien Loong Mr Heng Chee How +
(Prime Minister) (Senior Minister of State)
Mr Teo Chee Hean *@
(Deputy Prime Minister &
Coordinating Minister for National
Security &
Minister for Home Affairs)
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam *+@
(Deputy Prime Minister &
Minister for Finance &
Minister for Manpower)
Mr Lim Swee Say @
Mr S Iswaran *+
(Second Minister for Home Affairs &
Second Minister for Trade &
Industry)

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SECURITY AND DEFENCE
Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen
Mr Lawrence Wong *^ Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman *
(Minister of State) (Senior Parliamentary Secretary)
Foreign Affairs Mr K Shanmugam *
Mr Lui Tuck Yew*
(Second Minister)
Mr Masagos Zulkifli *
(Minister of State)
Mr Sam Tan *
(Senior Parliamentary Secretary)
Home Affairs Mr Teo Chee Hean *@ Mr Masagos Zulkifli *
(Deputy Prime Minister) (Minister of State)
Mr S Iswaran *+
(Second Minister)
Law Mr K Shanmugam * Ms Sim Ann *^
(Senior Parliamentary Secretary)

ECONOMICS
Trade and Industry Mr Lim Hng Kiang
Mr Lee Yi Shyan *
(Minister of State)
Mr S Iswaran *+ Mr Teo Ser Luck *+
(Second Minister) (Minister of State)
Finance Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam *+@ Ms Josephine Teo *^
(Deputy Prime Minister) (Minister of State)
Transport Mr Lui Tuck Yew * Ms Josephine Teo *^
(Minister of State)
Manpower Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam *+@ BG(NS) Tan Chuan-Jin *^ Mr Hawazi Daipi *
(Deputy Prime Minister) (Minister of State) (Senior Parliamentary Secretary)
Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim@ Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien *
Communications and (Senior Minister of State)
the Arts
MG(NS) Chan Chun Sing

(Minister of State)

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENT
National Development Mr Khaw Boon Wan
Mr Lee Yi Shyan * Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman *
(Minister of State) (Senior Parliamentary Secretary)
BG(NS) Tan Chuan-Jin *^
(Minister of State)
The Environment and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien *
Water Resources (Senior Minister of State)
Health Mr Gan Kim Yong @ Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan
(Minister of State)
Education Mr Heng Swee Keat ^ Mr Lawrence Wong *^ Mr Hawazi Daipi *
(Minister of State) (Senior Parliamentary Secretary)
Ms Sim Ann *^
(Senior Parliamentary Secretary)
Community MG(NS) Chan Chun Sing *^ Mdm Halimah Yacob ^ Mr Sam Tan *
Development, Youth &
Sports
(Ag Minister and Minister of State) (Minister of State) (Senior Parliamentary Secretary)

Mr Teo Chee Hean – Public Service Division, National Security Coordination Secretariat, National Population and Talent Division and
National Climate Change Secretariat
Mr Lim Swee Say – People’s Association
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim – Muslim Affairs
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam – Monetary Authority of Singapore
Mr Gan Kim Yong – Ageing Issue

Singapore present phase

2011-05-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/110514/singapore-politics-lee-kuan-yew-founding-father-resigns

"time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation.”

a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation.

The Result....

2011-05-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

Singapore enter into a more mature democracy, and want a more responsible, inclusive, transparent, accountable government, the Low Thia Khiang era.....and end of Chiam See Tong era...

a new candidate for Singapore President emerged or PAP chairman to reform PAP....

What George Yeo's loss means for Singapore

www.todayonline.com

One of the most significant outcomes of May 7 has been the defeat of Foreign Minister George Yeo...

The Issues

2011-04-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

Helping S'poreans cope with cost of living

Grow and Share Bonus, Workfare and utilities rebates.

The primary role of GRCs is to ensure minority representation. Criticisms that the GRC system allows untested candidates to ride on the coat-tails of Ministers.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, his role is to weigh in, provide the benefit of experience and speak about the consequences should citizens vote against a good team.

Younger generation of voters a footloose generation that simply wants to try their luck.

First Rate Government vs First World Parliament

First Rate Government must improve the lives of the people, and unite them regardless of race and religion, it should be clean and honest.

the attributes of a First Rate Government.

Firstly, improves the livelihood of the people on a sustained basis - meaning not just one or two years of good growth but 40 to 50 years of providing good jobs, good education, good healthcare, good housing, and good living environment to improve people's lives.

Secondly, it unites the people, regardless of race, religion or language,

Thirdly, it provides a safe and secure home, low crime rate and defend singapore against external threats and terrorism.

Fourth, it must have an effective and efficient civil service, and a high quality legal framework -- this means the rule of law.

Fifth it must have a clean, honest, and incorrupt government.

Lastly, he said a First Rate Government was one that inspires investors' confidence through political stability and good governance.

The importance of having a more compassionate government. Important for the government to focus on housing Singaporeans and addressing income inequality, instead of worrying about growing its reserves.

sources

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews

study on housing prices and pledged to push for HDB statistics and information such as land and building costs to be made public.

Public housing prices should be de-linked from the private housing market and a good balance between affordable housing and reserves building.

Commission a study on the effects of public housing on the open market.

Push the government to make public housing statistics and information available.

De-link public housing prices from private housing market prices.

Push for a balance between affordable housing and reserve building.

Assert that the income gap can be mitigated through public housing program, though not at current prices.

more subsidies for childcare and healthcare for the elderly, with emphasis on early detection of diseases.

the lack of government accountability and transparency, as well as ministerial salaries and unchecked influx of foreigners.

to promote democracy in Singapore

source: http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/05/spp-%E2%80%9Cthe-people-shall-not-be-bullied-any-more-%E2%80%9D/

Reform Party candidates

2011-04-20T21:26:00.000-07:00

West Coast GRC candidates for the Reform Party are:

Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam

29-year-old Ho Soak Harn, who has a Masters degree in Economics from Northern Illinois University.

29-year-old Andy Zhu, who is currently the party's chairman.

43-year-old Kumar Appavoo, who is director of a trading and construction business. His father, Pakire Appavoo, stood under the party banner of the Singapore Alliance in 1963, on the invitation of the then Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

51-year-old Frankie Low, who according to Mr Jeyaretnam, is on loan to the Reform Party from the Singapore People's Party.

National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidates

2011-04-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1123969/1/.html; http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110425-275444.html

Among five new candidates that the National Solidarity Party (NSP) is introducing to contest at Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), go head-to-head with the People's Action Party team that will be led by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at Marine Parade GRC.

24-year-old Nicole Rebecca Seah Xue Ling, an executive with advertising agency Starcom MediaVest Group, will also be the youngest candidate so far.

Ms Seah, who graduated from the National University of Singapore under the University Scholars' Programme, said she will be addressing cost of living issues.

Ms Seah assert her political convictions: She wants to represent the middle class. "The middle class has really borne the brunt of recent policies," she said with regard to rising house prices and the cost of living. Rising cost of living that is straining the middle and lower classes

Budget Debate, Ms Seah pointed out that issues pertaining to the public, such as health care and the development of infrastructure, remain stagnant.

"First of all, we have to look at how to reallocate these resources to ensure that more of it goes towards Singaporeans," she said.

Ms Seah's family - father Leonard Seah, 54; mother Pat Lim, 48; and one of her two younger brothers, Mr Ryan Seah, 19 - were present to provide support during her first walkabout.

more at http://www.facebook.com/nicoleseahnsp

As for Marine Parade GRC, she said: "There are patches in the GRC that are actually full of low-income people...and we cannot leave them behind in our pursuit of economic development and success."

Her team members include 60-year-old Cheo Chai Chen, 63-year-old Ivan Yeo Tiong Boon, 29-year-old Abdul Salim Harun, and 31-year-old Spencer Ng Chung Hon.

Mr Cheo Chai Chen, who joined NSP in 2006, made his first foray into politics in 1988 with the Singapore Democratic Party. He was elected to Parliament as the Member of Parliament for Nee Soon Central Single Member Constituency (SMC) in 1991.

He is currently in the publishing business.

Another candidate, Mr Ivan Yeo is the Managing Director of an investment company. He has been a member of the Central Executive Committee of NSP since 1994.

A warehouse assistant at a logistics company, Mr Abdul Salim Harun, aspires to represent the working class, especially blue-collar workers. He was with the Workers' Party in 2005, and was the youngest candidate in the 2006 General Election at the age of 24.

The fifth candidate is Mr Spencer Ng Chung Hon, the founder of an events company. He served in the Education Ministry from June 2003 to June 2006.

WP party's manifesto

2011-04-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110414-273692.html

The manifesto, called "Towards A First World Parliament", contains over 220 proposals.

It contains 15 points covering national issues such as economic growth, the electoral process, public housing and the judiciary.

WP election slogan, "Vote for Workers' Party, towards a first world parliament'.

see details at http://www.scribd.com/doc/52644250/Workers-Party-Manifesto-2011

WP candidates

2011-04-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110421-274781.html ; http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-25/davis-polk-partner-challenges-singapore-ruling-party-in-election.html

The WP candidates introduced were fund manager Eric Tan, 55; senior information-technology consultant Gerald Giam, 33; counsellor Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, 35; and sales trainer Lee Li Lian, 32.

The candidate-selection criteria of the WP would need to have credibility, capability, character, passion and public spiritedness said the party's secretary-general, Mr Low Thia Khiang.

Low Thia Khiang (Traditional Chinese: 劉程強, Simplified Chinese: 刘程强, Pinyin: Liú Chéngqiáng; born 1956) is a politician andbusinessman from Singapore. He is currently the leader of the opposition Workers' Party, and since 1991 has been a Member of Parliament(MP) representing the constituency of Hougang.

Low is currently one of only two elected opposition MPs in Singapore's Parliament.

Low was educated at Lik Teck Primary School and Chung Cheng High School (Main), before going on to study at Nanyang University where he majored in Chinese Language & Literature, and Government & Public Administration. In 1981, he completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours)degree in Chinese Studies at the National University of Singapore. In 1982, he completed a Diploma in Education. He worked as a teacher for a few years, before starting his own business.^[1]

Current posts

Secretary-General, Workers' Party of Singapore
Chairman, Hougang Constituency Committee (HGCC)
Chairman, Hougang Town Council (HGTC)

more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Thia_Khiang

Sylvia Lim Swee Lian (simplified Chinese: 林瑞莲; pinyin: Lín Ruì Lián; born 28 March 1965) is a politician, lawyer and academic from Singapore. She is currently the Chairman of theopposition Workers' Party and a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP).

Having previously practiced law and served in the Singapore Police Force, Lim currently works as a lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic.

more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Lim

Gerald Giam has been a member of the Workers’ Party since January 2009 and he is involved in the party’s policy analysis and research work to formulate alternative proposals on national issues.

Gerald is a prolific writer about issues concerning Singapore. He is the author of the book, Singapore version 2.0: Alternative proposals for a better Singapore. His personal blog, geraldgiam.sg, is one of the most recognisable socio-political blogs in Singapore.

Gerald graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He is currently a Senior Consultant at Avanade, a multinational joint-venture of Microsoft and Accenture. He previously served as a Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which provided him important insights into the complexities of policymaking.

Gerald has been active in community service. He was a member of the Youth Functional Committee at South West Community Development Council for over seven years, where he organised youth engagement programmes. He recently completed two terms as a member of the Films Appeal Committee at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

He was attracted to join the Workers’ Party because of its rational and responsible approach to politics, and the integrity of its leaders.

Gerald believes that it is the duty of the government to protect the weaker members of society. He sees an urgent need for greater social and educational assistance to be provided for low-income Singaporeans to help them keep pace with the rest of society.

source: http://wp.sg/wpge/candidates/gerald-giam-yean-song/

Chen Show-Mao, the head of Wall Street law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP’s Beijing office, said he will seek election to Singapore’s parliament as a candidate for the opposition Workers’ Party.

Chen has advised on the record initial public offering of $22.1 billion by Agricultural Bank of China in July and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd.’s $21 billion initial share sale. ICBC, based in Beijing, is the world’s largest lender by market value.

Chen, who came to Singapore from Taiwan when he was 11 in 1972, according to a July 1986 Straits Times report, was educated at Harvard University, the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and Stanford Law School. He joined Davis Polk, which has 750 lawyers in nine offices, in its New York head office in 1992 and set up the firm’s Beijing office in 2007.

more details at

http://wp.sg/wpge/candidates/chen-show-mao/

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap

Posts in WP:

• Central Executive Committee Member

• North Eastern Area Committee Member

Faisal joined the Workers’ Party in 2006 and was an Election Agent for the WP Aljunied team led by the Chairman, Ms Sylvia Lim, in the 2006 General Elections. A member of the North Eastern Area Committee, he is actively involved with WP ground work and activities in that area.

He realises that empowering an individual or family requires a holistic approach and that humanistic government policies are needed to create a conducive environment for this enhancement process. Hence, Faisal decided to join Workers’ Party to work towards a more compassionate and empowered society.

Through this close engagement, he observed that some of the socio-political policies in Australia provide a more conducive environment for a balanced family life and civil society.

His job scope included helping needy and dysfunctional families and counselling Muslim couples under the Syariah Court’s Marriage Counselling Programme (MCP). As a certified MCYS (Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports) ‘Bersama Mu’ Marriage Educator, he conducts marriage preparation courses for Muslim couples. He is also a certified trainer for ‘Nur Kasih’, a family empowerment program initiated by the Community Leadership Forum (CLF) targeted at the Malay community. Currently he is the Proprietor of Ihsan Family Consultancy which focuses on family, marriage and pre-marriage counselling.

more details at

http://wp.sg/wpge/candidates/muhamad-faisal-bin-abdul-manap/

Rahizan believes that politics should be seen as a means to pursue the development of socio-economic justice and social equality for the country.

Rahizan was born into a politically conscious family. His grandfather, Ahmad Shah, was a community leader during the British colonial times and consistently attended to the needs of the people. Rahizan’s father, Yaacob Shah, was a politician who struggled for Singapore’s independence from the British colonialists.

Rahizan was inspired to carry on their footsteps and got involved in politics since 1984. He feels that the PAP government’s policies, such as the past discriminative policies against non-graduate mothers, are not in the interests of the people; he is also concerned about the high cost of living in Singapore.

more at http://wp.sg/wpge/candidates/mohd-rahizan-bin-yaacob/

Somasundaram wants to do his part to realise a Singapore in which Singaporeans come first and receive better treatment than foreigners, and where there is freedom of speech for all citizens. He would like to see a return to single-seat constituencies, so that there is a level playing field for all political parties in Singapore.

He decided to join WP as he was impressed by the determination and courage of the young party members who stood against the PAP.

more at

http://wp.sg/wpge/candidates/l-somasundaram/

others:

Candidates
Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap
Gerald Giam Yean Song
Eric Tan Heng Chong
Lee Li Lian
Yaw Shin Leong
Dr Yam Poh Nam, John
Oon Kheng Faye, Angela
L. Somasundaram
Dr Poh Lee Guan
Koh Choong Yong
Mohd Rahizan bin Yaacob
Toh Hong Boon

Singapore's 14th General Election (GE) May 7 2011

2011-04-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

source: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110420-274580.html

Polling Day of Singapore's 14th General Election (GE), to be held on May 7.

President S R Nathan proclaimed the dissolution of Singapore's 11th Parliament yesterday afternoon.

The dissolution was made on the advice of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Nomination Day has been set for next Wednesday.

A statement from the Singapore Government said that Mr Lee had appointed Mr Yam Ah Mee, chief executive director of the People's Association, as the Returning Officer, who declared May 7 as Polling Day.

The date, which falls on a Saturday, has been declared a public holiday.

Nine nomination centres, to be housed in various primary and secondary schools as well as a junior college, will be set up islandwide - the same number as in the previous GE.

All candidates standing for election are to submit their nomination papers between 11am and noon on Nomination Day.

The election deposit for each candidate is $16,000, an increase over the $13,500 required in the previous election.

The new sum is 8 per cent of the total allowances payable to a Member of Parliament in the preceding year, rounded to the nearest $500.

Some 2.35 million voters are eligible to vote on Polling Day. This is an increase from the 2.1 million at the last election.

More than one in four voters are aged 21 to 34. Of these, an estimated 200,000 are first-time voters.

Twenty-seven constituencies have been carved out following changes to electoral boundaries in this GE - 12 single-member constituencies (SMCs) and 15 group representation constituencies (GRCs) - with a total of 87 seats to be contested.

April 27: Nomination Day

Political candidates will be allowed to address their supporters at the nomination centre without having to make an application for approval.

Speeches will be delivered at a designated area outside a nomination centre. A GRC team has up to three minutes in total to speak while candidates in SMCs have one minute.

There will be nine nomination centres which include primary and secondary schools as well as one junior college - Jurong Junior College.

Campaigning

This normally goes on for nine days and new-media tools such as Facebook and Twitter can now be used by all political parties to garner support.

Candidates need to declare the new media they intend to use. All activities at the Speakers' Corner require a permit from the police.

May 7: Polling Day

According to the Elections Department, it is compulsory for eligible citizens to vote in presidential elections, or parliamentary elections, if their constituencies are contested.

There are 2.35 million citizens eligible to vote.

A registration officer will remove the names of those who do not show up on Polling Day from the certified register of electors of the constituencies they belong to.

Those struck off the list cannot vote at any subsequent presidential or parliamentary election.

If they want to be put back on the list , they must approach the registration officer with a valid explanation.

If no valid reason is given, the Elections Department will impose a $50 fine, which needs to be paid before the voter can be reinstated for the following elections.

A voter cannot submit an application to be reinstated once a Writ of Election has been issued for his constituency.

Nomination Day will be on Wednesday, 27 April 2011.

The Nomination Centres and electoral divisions are as follows:

Admiralty Secondary School Woodlands Crescent Singapore 737916	Nee Soon Sembawang
Bedok View Secondary School Bedok South Avenue 3 Singapore 469293	East Coast Pasir Ris-Punggol Punggol East
Deyi Secondary School Ang Mo Kio Street 42 Singapore 569277	Ang Mo Kio Aljunied Bishan-Toa Payoh Sengkang West
Dunman Secondary School Tampines Street 45 Singapore 529093	Hougang Tampines
Greenridge Secondary School Bukit Panjang Ring Road Singapore 679938	Bukit Panjang Holland-Bukit Timah
Jurong Junior College Corporation Road Singapore 649809	Jurong Pioneer West Coast Yuhua
Singapore Chinese Girls' School Dunearn Road Singapore 309437	Moulmein-Kallang Radin Mas Tanjong Pagar Whampoa
South View Primary School Choa Chu Kang Central Singapore 689762	Chua Chu Kang Hong Kah North
Tao Nan School Marine Crescent Singapore 449761	Joo Chiat Marine Parade Mountbatten Potong Pasir

source: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110419-274511.html

PAP manifesto

2011-04-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.todayonline.com/SingaporeVotes/EDC110418-0000309/PAP-manifesto-a-call-to-secure-future-together

PAP's election manifesto which sets out the ruling party's vision and mission for the coming GE, aims to create opportunities for higher incomes for all, improve the lives of low-income Singaporeans and bring out the best in every child.

It also seeks to develop a vibrant city, help seniors stay active and involve all Singaporeans in shaping the nation's future.

Unveiling the PAP's election slogan, "Securing our Future Together", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong framed the coming polls as about supporting the PAP's vision, endorsing its policies and ensuring leadership renewal for the country.

The party plans to grow a "dynamic and diversified" economy, and create better paying jobs. Innovation, raising productivity and investing in workers' re-training are some key strategies.

To help low-income families, the ruling party also plans to enhance Workfare. Children from these families will also be supported with larger bursaries and grants from pre-school through to tertiary education.

In terms of education, the PAP pledged to "create one of the best education systems in the world". More teachers will be provided in every school so that by 2015, there will be one teacher for every 16 pupils, compared to 19 pupils last year.

Over the next five years over 350,000 households will benefit from the Home Improvement Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. Comprehensive care services for the elderly will also be developed and the PAP will help older Singaporeans stay employed.

The ruling party also pledged to "keep evolving and improving our democracy". It will "encourage our youth to pursue causes they believe in and take the initiative to build a green and sustainable society".

Your Choice For
A Better Future

You can count on the PAP to do
the best for Singaporeans from all
walks of life, and to keep us united
through good times and bad.
Together, we will make Singapore
a vibrant and inclusive society, with
opportunities for a better life for
each and every citizen. We will be
a city for the young and old.
To achieve this vision, we seek your
mandate to:
• Create opportunities for
higher incomes for all
• Improve the lives of
lower-income Singaporeans
• Bring out the best in every child
• Develop a vibrant city
and an endearing home
• Help our seniors stay active,
healthy and engaged
• Involve all Singaporeans
in shaping our future

source: http://www.wongkanseng.sg/downloads/PAP%20Manifesto%202011.pdf

Good for Singapore to have a strong government and opposition

2011-04-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

a two-party system can provide the necessary checks and balance.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that such a system could never work for Singapore because it is tough assembling an A-team, it is a challenge to attract talents from the private sector.

15 candidates unveiled so far by the ruling People's Action Party, two-thirds are from the public sector and labour movement. Only five are from the private sector.

Political observer Zulkifli Baharudin said,

Maybe it's easier for those coming from the public sector to take up positions in government by joining the PAP, for example, and that I think is because you can see that as part of a promotion! That's quite a vertical movement for them.

Having a diverse group of talents in government is important. Private sector individuals, they said, bring their own set of expertise.

Government needs people who understand economy at large, understand the people and how they should be governed. So you need to have a good cross-section of people in government. I think most people in the private sector are fully aware of how the market economy operates and quite a few of them would have travelled a lot.

A lot of our ministers do themselves take the effort to travel and learn for themselves how things work. If not for that, it's going to be very difficult for them to keep pace of what's going on.

"The private sector person would be in a better position to appreciate this and be equipped with experiences on what's going on in this world and how things work or he would have a strong networking with people around the world of that level and that would be very important for a small country like ours."

We have to be careful here. As far as we are concerned now, we have almost a one-party system that has delivered. I do not think a very adversarial system works well for Singapore. However, it does not mean that we do not want to have an opposition.

Young PAP chairman Teo Ser Luck said it "takes a while to convince" potential candidates to step up to the plate. Most of the potentials, who I thought would make a good MP, expressed their concerns about sacrificing family time. They put that as first because it would take a toll not only on them but their family as well. They all know the mission of trying to serve the community, but trying to find that balance is going to be difficult. So to take that leap of faith, for them, they have to think through very carefully and it would take some time for them to accept that they are ready.

New PAP candidate Gan Thiam Poh, senior vice-president at DBS Bank, said his decision to go into politics was a natural progression from his over 10 years of grassroots work.

It is necessary for the government to constitute people from both the private and public sectors because there must be diversity of views. Therefore, I believe that a disproportionate representation from either the public or private sector will not be healthy."

And for opposition parties, candidates said even more is at stake.

Yee Jenn Jong, potential candidate, Workers' Party, said: "I know the uphill battle that an opposition MP would face and if I do get elected then I would seriously go full-time and put my business on the back-end. Mr Yee currently runs his own education technology company.

"It's a particular challenge because the lack of resources on the opposition side means a lot of things you have to do it yourself. And if you have to serve the residents well, you have to make that decision, so I'm prepared to do that."

It's always about building the team and the reason why I joined (Workers' Party) is because I felt that the team has been credible so far and it has been building up to a certain momentum, such that it is ready for more people to come in and to really take the step so that we are ready to form the next government, at some point in time.

"Now, how fast we will take, really depends on whether people will give us the chance. If after all the talents come in and we do not get into Parliament, then Singapore is not quite ready for it yet, but I hope in this election, there will be some breakthrough."

source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1121092/1/.html

PAP new candidates

2011-04-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1117879/1/.html

Singapore's new Parliament will have 87 wards, up from the current 84.

PAP's Second Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said that in total, the PAP intends to introduce more than 20 new candidates from diverse backgrounds. Most of them are under 40 years old.

DPM Teo said: "There may be some people who may be a little more left and some people a little more right. But it's a broad range of views and we are quite willing to consider any ideas, suggestions, proposals, provided they work and stand the test of whether or not they bring better lives for Singaporeans. We are not ideological, we are logical. We are focused on what will benefit the people and how that benefit will extend to the long term."

Mr Teo also said that for every General Election, the party tries to have a combination of experienced as well as new candidates who are more youthful and have more energy.

"The other key reason why we bring in young candidates is because we need to make sure we renew parliament and we renew the leadership of the country. And for parliament, we want to have a fresh slate of candidates, and for the government, we want to make sure that we put in place the core team of the fourth generation," he said.

In each General Election, the PAP introduces about 24 new faces and political watchers say a similar number is expected this time round too.

The three new candidates introduced on Monday are Mr Desmond Choo, Dr Janil Puthucheary and Mr Ong Ye Kung.

42-year-old Ong Ye Kung is an assistant secretary-general at NTUC. He is also the chairman of Employment and Employability Institute, executive secretary of National Transport Workers Union and of Singapore Manual Mercantile Workers' Union.

He oversees workers' upgrading and job placement projects in NTUC, and champions the welfare of workers in the unions under his purview.

Mr Ong was also the former CEO of the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and was involved in the negotiations of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

Mr Ong said: "That was very hard work but I keep thinking to myself, we are a little red dot, they are a world superpower, why do they want to negotiate something like that with us? But at the end of the day we managed to seal a deal, a good deal to secure the economic future for Singapore for many years.

"We, as a small dot must always be fighting for international space, even the seemingly impossible, negotiating with a superpower with grit and determination, working together as a team, making sure we are capable, the impossible can be achieved."

Mr Ong is currently working with Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo and his team at the Aljunied GRC, which saw the most-keenly fought battle in the 2006 General Election.

39-year-old Dr Janil Puthucheary is a senior consultant in the Children's Intensive Care Unit at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

He is also the medical director for faculty development and an assistant professor at the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School.

Since January 2009, Dr Puthucheary has been helping at the Meet-the-People Sessions as well as several other grassroots activities in Radin Mas, Bedok and now Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC.

A former Malaysian, he became a Singapore citizen in 2008.

"Apart from our families, there are many other reasons why we chose to make Singapore our home. Major factors were the multi-culturalism and meritocracy. I am very grateful for what we have here; it is very rare and very precious and I am very excited to be involved in it," said Dr Puthucheary.

33-year-old Desmond Choo is a deputy director with the NTUC Youth Development Unit. He is also the executive secretary of the Union of Security Employees and serves with the Singapore Port Workers Union.

Before his appointment as the second adviser to Hougang Grassroots Organisations in February this year, he had worked extensively in the Marsiling and Tampines East constituencies.

Mr Choo has started programmes to help needy residents in Hougang. He said: "I have plans to help the underprivileged, especially those who stay in units that are fairly run down. I have seen a lot of old folks still using squatting toilets when they are 80 years old. That, I've got to change....put in place the schemes, as long as I will be there to see through those stuff.

"Till today what has gotten me through this process is that no one should be left behind, regardless of their financial situation; no one kid should be denied a good education because his family has no financial needs. And we must always be prepared to look out for people who may be plunged into sudden financial difficulties. There will always be cracks in the system; no one policy is perfect."

Mr Choo is widely tipped to face incumbent opposition MP Low Thia Khiang in Hougang in the coming election.

For Dr Puthucheary and Mr Ong, both their fathers were in the opposition in Singapore's political history. But that did not stop the PAP from courting them.

source: http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4746923

The ruling People's Action Party or PAP's latest batch of new candidates comprises two lawyers and a unionist.

They were introduced by Education and 2nd Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen who's Organising Secretary, Special Duties of the PAP.

Dr Ng said the party started its search for candidates six months after the last election in May 2006.

The unionist, Ang Hin Kee, is the chief executive officer of the Employment & Employability Institutes (e2i).

The 46-year-old has been actively involved in grassroots activities since last year.

He also helps out the MPs at the Ang Mo Kio GRC with meet-the-people sessions.

One of the two lawyers introduced was 33-year-old Vikram Nair.

The international arbitration specialist with Norton Rose, has been helping out in the Chong Pang ward for three years, and wasappointed to the Young PAP executive committee last month.

He said his grassroots experience showed him that Meet-the-People sessions make a difference in people's lives.

The other lawyer is 42-year-old Edwin Tong Chun Fai, a partner with Allen & Gledhill.

Mr Tong started getting involved with grassroots activities in 2008 as a volunteer with Dr Lee Boon Yang at Jalan Besar GRC.

source: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110407-272316.html

Intan Azura Mokhtar, (Dr), 35

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar is an Assistant Professor in Policy and Leadership Studies in the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

She became active in grassroots work in January 2011 and is currently the Jalan Kayu PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Chairman, and Jalan Kayu Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) Vice-Chairman.

Intan graduated with a Physics degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS), and went on to do a Postgraduate Diploma in Education in NIE, NTU for secondary school teaching.

She taught in a secondary school for four years. She then obtained a Master of Science and Ph.D in Information Studies from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WSCI) in NTU. She was also conferred a Master in Public Administration (MPA) by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS

David Ong Kim Huat, 50

Mr David Ong Kim Huat is the Managing Director of RedDot Publishing Inc., which specializes in providing media solutions for the Singapore's tourism industry.

Since 1999, David has served as a grassroots leader in the Kreta Ayer- Kim Seng Constituency. He was the Chairman of its Citizens' Consultative Committee from October 2005.

Since 2003, David has also chaired the Chinatown Festival's Committee that organized the two major festivals - Chinese New Year Celebrations and the Mid Autumn Festival.

David graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1986.

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai, 39

Mr Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai was the Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority (EMA) prior to his resignation from the Administrative Service.

He obtained his undergraduate and masters degrees in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

He also has a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University.

source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_650504.html

Ms Tin Pei Ling

Age: 27

Occupation: Senior associate at Ernst & Young Advisory, a business and management consultancy, where her work includes strategic thinking and planning, change management and performance management

Marital status: Married with no children to Mr Ng How Yue, 40, principal private secretary to PM Lee Hsien Loong

Highest educational qualification: Bachelor of Social Sciences in psychology from the National University of Singapore

Languages: English, Mandarin

Likely to be fielded in:MacPherson ward in Marine Parade GRC

MS TIN Pei Ling's path to politics began in a Ghim Moh coffee shop owned by her father, where she helped serve tea and coffee as a junior college student.
She soon began accompanying her Chinese-educated father, who is also a grassroots leader, on market visits and to community events.
'He had problems communicating in English, so I became the impromptu translator or interpreter,' she said.
Late one night, when she was an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, Ms Tin dropped by the coffee shop and came across a group of Ulu Pandan grassroots volunteers. They were having supper after their weekly Meet-the-People sessions. The group included the then MP, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
'My father introduced me to the volunteers, and to Dr Vivian. They said, why don't you join us at the Meet-the-People sessions?
'It sounded interesting. I thought I would give it a shot. I've been at those sessions since then.'
After seven years of volunteering, Ms Tin, at the age of 27, on Monday became the youngest woman candidate to be unveiled by the People's Action Party in recent history, and the youngest candidate since former PAP MP Ng Kah Ting was fielded in 1963 at the age of 23.

source: http://www.todayonline.com/SingaporeVotes/EDC110405-0000325/Diversity-in-PAPs-line-up--Wong-Kan-Seng

nine of the 15 candidates unveiled are from the public sector or labour movement. A number have been active in community work and in the party, while many come from humble backgrounds

A brigadier-general, a unionist and a former civil servant. These three new People's Action Party (PAP) candidates were introduced.

The three candidates unveiled yesterday - Brigadier-General (NS) Tan Chuan Jin, 42, trade unionist Patrick Tay Teck Guan, 40, and Ms Low Yen Ling, 37, a former director of the Economic Development Board.

Ms Low said her experience working in both the private and public sectors help her to represent both sectors, while Mr Tay expressed hope that union leaders in Parliament can represent workers' concerns.

BG (NS) Tan said diversity can come in many ways: While some of the PAP's candidates have similar employment background, "each of us has different areas of convictions".

BG (NS) Tan, who has been tipped as a future office-holder, was asked what he thought were the qualities of a Prime Minister. In response, he stressed that his "preoccupation is to get elected as Member of Parliament". He said the same qualities that make one a good MP - for instance, sincerity, compassion and love for country - are probably the same as those for a good Prime Minister.

He added: "If anyone puts the country above self, then I think you can't go that far wrong."

source: http://www.onlineusanews.com/low-yen-ling-edb-paps-third-new-woman-candidate-13851.php

Ms Low Yen Ling, the third female candidate unveiled by the People’s Action Party (PAP) yesterday at its headquarters. Until last week, she was a director with the Economic Development Board, where she worked to promote entrepreneurship and pioneered the development of a unit to attract global mid-sized companies to invest in Singapore.

A mother of two young boys, Ms Low was herself brought up by her maternal grandmother until the age of five, while her mother helped run her father’s tailoring business.

If elected as a Member of Parliament, she wants to champion these causes: Create an environment that supports all mothers who need to juggle various roles; ensure that all kids have a shot at pre-school education; and provide better care for the elderly, not just financially but emotionally as well.

Currently, less than 1 per cent of all children do not get to attend pre-school, said Ms Low, but she wants to ensure that no child is left behind.

When asked how those goals could be achieved, Ms Low, who has been volunteering at the Meet The People sessions at Hong Kah GRC for the past two months, shared how her career background could help propel her ideas into fruition.

For instance, a “mums-in- business” platform, with lower barriers to entry, could help stay-at-home mums with a flair for business to network and share business expertise, she said.

When asked for one single policy that she wanted to improve, Ms Low answered almost without hesitation: Infant care and childcare subsidy for both stay-at-home and working mothers.

“The amount of childcare subsidy a stay-at-home mum can receive ranges from 50 to 70 per cent of that of a working mum… In today’s context, there may be a case to review the discrepancy in the subsidy,” she said.

Ms Low said: “Once you’re genuine and sincere about service, actions will speak louder than words.”

Edwin Tong Chun Fai

'We have a responsibility to preserve the core values on which Singapore's success has been built, and ensure that every Singaporean shares in that success.'

Age: 42
Occupation: Partner at Allen & Gledhill
Marital status: Married with three children
Highest educational qualification: Honours in law at National University of Singapore
Languages spoken: English, Chinese
Likely to be fielded in: Moulmein-Kallang GRC.

Vikram Nair

'I enjoy the company of grassroots leaders and volunteers. We have diverse backgrounds and each of us helps in the community in our own little way.'

Age: 33
Occupation: Lawyer at Norton Rose, specialising in international arbitration
Marital status: Not married
Highest educational qualification: Law at Trinity College, University of Cambridge
Languages spoken: English, Tamil, Malayalam
Likely to be fielded in: Sembawang GRC.

Ang Hin Kee

'At the end of the day, I want to see individuals with different needs and abilities being given more options and different pathways to have a better life.'

Age: 46
Occupation: Chief executive of Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
Marital status: Married for over 12 years
Highest educational qualification: Bachelor of arts (honours), National University of Singapore
Languages spoken: English, Chinese
Likely to be fielded in: Ang Mo Kio GRC

source: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110331-270980.html

Ong Ye Kung 王乙康

42, Assistant Secretary General of NTUC, Chairman

of Employment and Employability Institute,

Executive Secretary of National Transport Workers

Union and of Singapore Manual Mercantile

Workers’ Union.

Oversees all workers upgrading and job

placement projects in NTUC, and champions the welfare of workers in

the Unions under his purview.

Board member of SMRT Corporation, SPRING Singapore, Jurong Town

Corporation; Council Member of Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Work Accomplishments

As CEO of Workforce Development Agency (2005-2008), built up the

national adult working training system, championed skills upgrading

and ensured that workers who missed out on former schooling receive

proper skills certification to secure good jobs.

Served as Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (2002-2004).

Served in the Ministry of Trade & Industry (2000-2003) as Director of

Trade and Deputy Chief Negotiator of US-Singapore Free Trade

Agreement; successfully concluded the Agreement and secured

Singapore’s position in the US market.

Served as Director/Deputy Director, Minstry of Communications (1993-

1999); developed Land Transport White Paper and part of the team

that established the Land Transport Authority.

Education

MBA IMD, Switzerland, 1999

BSC Economics, London School of Economics, 1991

Raffles Junior College, 1987

Maris Stella High School, 1985

source: http://www.pap.org.sg/uploads/ap/7972/documents/ong_ye_kung_cv.pdf

Together Singaporeans Can Make A Difference

2011-04-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

source:http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110324-269930.html

Professor Jayakumar, 71, together with Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, 66, will be retiring from politics after 31 and 26 years respectively.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi will be retiring from politics after 26 years of service.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi

The 66 year-old reportedly told reporters during a Press Conference at his Siglap branch of his intention.

He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1984 starting out at Siglap constituency and later Bedok Group Representation Constituency (GRC) from 1991 to 1996.

Before becoming Speaker on 25 March 2002, Abdullah was the Minister-in-charge for Muslim Affairs, Minister for Community Development, Minister for Community Development and Sports from 1996 to 2000 and 2000 to 2002 respectively.

He was also the Deputy Speaker of Parliament from 1989 to 1993 and was appointed the Speaker of the Parliament in 2002.

He is presently a Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC.

source:http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/03/26/speaker-of-parliament-mr-abdullah-tarmugi-to-retire/

Mr Lim Swee Say (Minister, Prime Minister's Office & Government Whip) will lead the East Coast GRC team in the coming GE.

He will be joined by Sembawang GRC MP Maliki Osman, Transport Minister Raymond Lim, Minister of State Lee Yi Shyan and MP Jessica Tan.

Labour chief Lim Swee Say, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, is covering new ground in East Coast GRC.

He will lead the five-member PAP Team in the constituency for the next General Election.

Also new to East Coast GRC is Dr Maliki Osman, who is currently MP for Sembawang GRC.

source:http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1119111/1/.html

source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1120425/1/.html

Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang has welcomed comments by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam that a strong opposition is good for the People's Action Party (PAP) and Singapore. Mr Low said this is a good sign for Singapore. He said: "Someone like the Minister for Finance in the PAP has realised that a strong opposition is good for Singapore. I think that shows quite a shift in the PAP's mindset, that they now see that a strong opposition is positive and good for the future of Singapore. I welcome that."

He also noted another positive sign - the coverage of opposition parties by the Singapore media. Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang noted that there has been increased coverage of the opposition so far, compared with elections in the past. Mr Low, who is MP for Hougang, said: "We have made good progress in terms of the behaviour of the media. In terms of media reporting, we have better coverage...and I would expect we should be able to get across the message more effectively this time through the help of the media."

He said: "We want to deepen the leadership role and the leadership core so that Singaporeans will have more confidence in the Workers' Party as a party.

"The Workers' Party is not just a one-man party, neither is it Low Thia Khiang's and Sylvia Lim's party. The Workers' Party is a party with a certain leadership depth which can offer to safeguard the future of Singapore."

Opposition parties are ramping up their outreach efforts across the island in the run-up to the General Election.

party's potential star candidate, Chen Show Mao, who has degrees from Oxford, Harvard and Stanford universities.

Two new faces - Yee Jenn Jong, a 46-year-old entrepreneur; and Angela Oon, a 32-year-old researcher.

The National Solidarity Party made its rounds in the newly-carved out Mountbatten SMC, while Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong and his wife Lina led the Singapore People's Party in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, which has never been contested by the opposition.

On the western part of the island, the Reform Party has been busy working the ground in markets and coffeeshops in Hong Kah and Chua Chu Kang. Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam said his team has been out in force and the party has gained more members from the recent recruitment drive.

source: http://ge2011.theonlinecitizen.com/2011/04/spp-singapore-people%E2%80%99s-party-or-strictly-potong-pasir/

The SPP left the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA).

Singapore People’s Party (SPP), Secretary-General Chiam See Tong and his wife Lina, contesting Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representative Constituency (GRC) and Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency (SMC) respectively.

Mr Chiam first contested in Potong Pasir in the 1979 by-election. He lost to the PAP’s Howe Yoon Chong, and lost again in the 1980 General Election. The third time was the charm, though: he was elected in 1984 and has held on to his post since.

Mr Chiam is currently the only other elected opposition Member of Parliament, besides the Workers’ Party’s Mr Low Thia Khiang.

Mr Chiam is banking on his reputation in Potong Pasir spilling over to Bishan-Toa Payoh.

Mrs Chiam is the de facto shadow Potong Pasir Member of Parliament. Since 1976, she has been helping Mr Chiam in his political duties. She has helped to address residents’ concerns, served on the Potong Pasir Town Council, and helped Mr Chiam in his political campaigns and preparations for parliamentary sessions. Over the past 35 years, Mrs Chiam has apparently developed her own brand of politics – “motherly” and “approachable”, in her own words – based on Mr Chiam’s strategy of establishing personal rapport with residents. Mrs Chiam raised certain issues, such as Singapore’s open immigration policy and care for the elderly.

source: http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/04/05/sm-goh-sitoh-is-true-servant-of-potong-pasir/

Mr Sitoh lost to the incumbent MP Mr Chiam See Tong in the last two General Elections (GE). He wants to stay in Potong Pasir. He loves PP. Will give it one more try.

source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1121087/1/.html

possible 4-way fight at Radin Mas

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Sam Tan, Mr Alec Tok from the Reform Party, Mr Yip Yew Weng from the National Solidarity Party and Mr Nazem Suki from the Singapore Democratic Alliance.

source: http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_652767.html

Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, his potential successor in Marine Parade GRC - a strong candidate who can form the core team of Singapore's fourth-generation leadership.

Brigadier-General (NS) Tan Chuan Jin (right), 42, Tipped as a future office-holder, the former commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command will understudy SM Goh.
SM Goh confirmed that BG (NS) Tan is, in his opinion, a 'member of the people whom the Prime Minister is testing out'.

The Sandhurst-trained general led Singapore's humanitarian effort in Meulaboh, Aceh, after the 2004 tsunami.

source: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/nsp-unveils-five-new-candidates-for-general-election.html

The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has announced five new candidates who will be contesting in the upcoming General Election.

Four out of the five are former Reform Party members. They are Mr Tony Tan, CEO of a private school, his wife Ms Hazel Poa, process manager Mr Jeisilan Sivalingham, all aged 41, and 48-year-old lawyer Ms Jeannette Chong.

Business consultant Ms Nor Lella Mardiiiah Mohamed, 37, is the fifth new candidate.

NSP said that Mr Tan, Ms Poa, Mr Jeisilan and Ms Nor Lella Mardiiiah will contest Moulmein-KallangGRC (group representation constituency), which is the smallest of the 15 GRCs on the new electoral map.

NSP added that Ms Chong may be contesting for Mountbatten single-member constituency (SMC). The Mountbatten SMC was previously from Marine Parade GRC. The SMC will now be contested by MP Lim Biow Chuan from the People’s Action Party (PAP).

ion Singapore

2010-08-05T23:31:00.000-07:00

Downtown Singapore

2010-08-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

Refurbish of old shoplot in Singapore

2010-08-05T23:29:00.000-07:00

Highest Resident in Singapore

2010-08-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Universal Studio, Resort World Singapore

2010-07-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

M Hotal, Anson Rd

2010-07-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

Fifa 2010 fever at Resort World

2010-07-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

Resort World Sentosa, Singapore

2010-07-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Sand Singapore

2010-07-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

High rise Residents

2010-07-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Construction in Singapore

2010-07-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Marina Barrage

2010-07-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Keppel Harbour

2010-07-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

Downtown Singapore, Anson Rd

2010-07-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

The Story of the Image

2009-08-06T02:39:00.000-07:00

see http://www.storyoftheimage.org/index.php/en/home

and http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/nms/nms_html/nms_content_6c.asp?content_template=4&content_id=23&tab_id=23&cine_id=1646&fest_id=0

National Museum of Singapore

Venue	Exhibition Galleries 1 & 2
Date	FRI 14 AUG 2009 – SUN 4 OCT 2009 10:00am – 6:00pm

A Story of the Image: Old & New Masters From Antwerp is an ambitious exhibition which surveys historical and contemporary works of art to look at the evolution of the image and its commercialisation.

This exhibition of 150 works features 13 paintings by old Flemish masters from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (KMSKA), 25 prints from the Museum of Plantin-Moretus/Printroom and 112 contemporary Flemish artworks from the Museum of Contemporary Art (MuHKA). Rare masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) will be shown in Singapore for the first time. Works by top contemporary art moghuls such as Luc Tuymans, David Claerbout, Francis Alys, Marlene Dumas and Berlinde de Bruyckere will also add to this unique exhibition experience.

The Story of the Image is an exhibition initiated by the non-profit organization SingAnt (SingaporeAntwerp) and curated by the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) and theMuseum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (MuHKA), which have also lent the works of art together with the Museum Plantin-Moretus/Print room Antwerp. The logistic organization was provided by the City of Antwerp, together with the Shanghai Art Museum and the National Museum of Singapore. This project could be realized thanks to the support of many sponsors.
After an initial run at MuHKA in 2007, the exhibition will be on display at the Shanghai Art Museumfrom May 1 through June 21, 2009, and at the National Museum of Singapore from August 14through October 4, 2009.

How to turn Singapore to be a more diversify, plural and democratic society

2009-07-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

First of all the premiership and president portfolio should be restricted to two terms, and let Mr Lee Kuan Yew be the President at least a term to fulfill his long delayed wish.

As in Malaysia, former premier, and cabinet members can be just member of parliament, and in this way created more experience premier, and let all capable member of parliament had a hand on experience as a minister or premier.

PAP as the dominant party can be divided to two or more according to geographic area, including the grassroot before they spread to others area, and compete with each other.

The Sand Intergrated Resort, Singapore

2009-03-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Changi Airport Terminal 3

2009-03-15T17:20:00.001-07:00

Changi Airport

2008-12-14T02:07:00.000-08:00

Chamgi Airport Terminal II

2008-12-14T02:05:00.000-08:00

Suntec City

2008-06-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

rear of Merlion

2008-03-02T01:03:00.000-08:00

Sentosa

2008-03-01T17:46:00.000-08:00

Dragon path.

Sentosa Cove

2008-03-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

flyover

2008-03-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

increasing Singapore road space to reduce deadlock in traffic.

port

2008-03-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

another Singapore's backbone.

Offshore Chemical Industries

2008-03-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

one of Singapore's backbone.

another view of at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULLwE1o_np8

power plants in Jurong Island

2008-03-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

supporting chemical industries in Singapore Jurong Island.

yatching and surfing

2008-03-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

see more at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB0mu6F7rc0

Yatch Club at West Coast

2008-03-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

see the container port behind.

west coast

2008-03-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

West Coast Condo

2008-03-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

nice view.

Singapore Christmas Lighting

2008-02-28T22:34:00.000-08:00

India Temple

2008-02-09T06:04:00.000-08:00

in contrast to the surrounding.

Buddha tooth relic temple

2008-02-09T05:16:00.000-08:00

see more pictures here http://buddharelictemple.blogspot.com/

ricksaw centre

2008-02-09T05:14:00.000-08:00

Chinatown Fashion

2008-02-09T05:13:00.000-08:00

People Park

2008-02-09T05:12:00.000-08:00

see more at http://sgchinatown.blogspot.com/

Chinatown Heritage Centre

2008-02-09T05:11:00.000-08:00

China Point

2008-02-09T05:05:00.000-08:00

Lunar New Year

Haw Par Villa

2008-02-09T05:02:00.000-08:00

another look, presently under heavy renovation.

Changi Airport Terminal 3

2007-11-26T02:08:00.000-08:00

The virtual tour:

http://www.changiairport.com/t3/

or see f.or yourself at the actual site

Singapore Zoo

2007-11-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

a place in singapore ??

2007-11-11T16:57:00.000-08:00

Marsiling

2007-11-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

New HDB's Estate

durian stall

2007-11-11T16:42:00.001-08:00

coastal defence line

2007-11-11T16:42:00.000-08:00

the breakwater in the south

downtown

2007-11-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

after refurbishment

Esplanade Drive

2007-11-01T02:25:00.000-07:00

singapore library

2007-11-01T02:01:00.000-07:00

singapore river

2007-11-01T01:48:00.000-07:00

Down Town East

2007-11-01T01:37:00.000-07:00

fromer ntuc club house.

Drive around singapore

2007-11-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

see my clips in singapore

at night during one christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqYPqJaR9J8&feature=PlayList&p=0E7667E67B2CE585&index=0&playnext=1

daytime during lunar new year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd16uWeQ18M&feature=PlayList&p=1796CADD4B9534F6&index=0

St Joseph's Church

2007-11-01T00:55:00.001-07:00

singapore???

Sentosa

2007-11-01T00:10:00.000-07:00

Monorail from Singapore vivo city to Sentosa Island

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZltZzUM-zH0

view of sentosa island
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7RsUmpLlhM

Laser Show @ Sentosa Songs Of The Sea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjlPfRY7mCo

Airbus 380

2007-10-29T16:52:00.000-07:00

Finally the arrival, see more on

http://www.a380delivery.com/

Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE)

2007-10-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

The 12-km Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) will stretch from the East Coast Parkway (ECP) in the south to the Tampines Expressway (TPE) in the North East. Built at an estimated cost of S$1.7 billion, the expressway includes about 9 km of tunnel, which is the longest underground expressway in South East Asia at this moment.

read more on

http://www.lta.gov.sg/projects/proj_road_kpe.htm

Raffles Places

2007-10-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

Singapore financial centre

Singapore river

2007-10-08T00:28:00.000-07:00

view from UOB Plaza

Bugis Junction, Singapore

2007-09-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

shopping mall, hotel, offices in downtown Singapore, beside the library building

Republic Plaza

2007-09-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

one of the tallest office building in Singapore.

click on the photo for more pictures

Bukit Merah, Singapore

2007-09-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

a view around bukit merah

Singapore

2007-02-10T00:26:00.001-08:00

First take a look at some photo I posted on Singapore.

The homepages are :

http://www.worldisround.com/home/ngengjin/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/about_singapore/