Aljunied GRC MPs Outreach...

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong, JJ (余振忠)

I look forward to a day when we can have our Singapore Psy, in pop culture and in business. We need confident Singaporeans, prepared to be different.


Finding the Singapore Psy

The 17 Oct issue of TODAY featured Psy and the economics of Gangnam style. Psy (Park Jae Sang) is suddenly famous. He holds the record for the highest number of Youtube likes (now over 4 million and still rising) and over 400 million views, after officially releasing his video on Youtube only in July this year.
Psy goes against the grain of successful pop stars. He is portly and by his own admission, is not good looking. He was once told by major record labels to get a drastic image overhaul, including plastic surgery to ever be successful. He did none of these and chose to “dress classy and dance cheesy”. He is the total opposite of what had made K-pop successful in the past: stars with long legs, robotic dance moves and years of training and grooming to make more out of the same mould.



He got South Korea’s finance minister talking about him. South Korea’s top economic official cited Psy as an example of the kind of creativity and international competitiveness the country needs. It was a plea for South Koreans to let their hair down and dream a bit.


As successful as South Korea is in the competitive world of global electronics and export, the finance minister recognises that the country needs to continue to find its own groove. It needs the creative Psy in businesses to go against the grain for the country to continue to propser as innovation becomes more important for success globally.


I believe Singapore needs that too. We may have found success in our early industrial policy. We went against the nationalistic grain of what our neighbours were doing and attracted multinationals to our shores. Former Perm Sec Ngiam Tong Dow had warned of flying on auto-pilot mode, relying on past successes as a sure and safe way for future progress. He was pushing for Singapore to grow its local ‘timber’, i.e. develop our SMEs to a level that they can compete globally. To do so, we will need innovation.


Innovation needs a mindset change. It is difficult to mandate innovation. It has to start from a culture from young where we dare to be different, where we dare to go against the grain and we dare to try alternatives. Our formula for success is too predictable. Our system has put too much emphasis on measuring children from young and sorting them into cookie-cutter programmes we think are best for them. We sieve out the elites through tests and channel them onto fast tracked programmes. We have created an excessive meritocratic education system where the rewards for doing well in academic examinations are exceedingly high. We will end up breeding a next generation of policymakers fixed on doing what had been done previously because that is the safer way to carry on with things.


To have a culture of innovation, we need to cultivate such an attitude right across all areas of our society. If we want a Singapore Psy, we need to let our hair down in our creative sector, even if it causes a bit of discomfort sometimes. Once a while, over enthusiastic officials will clamp down on artistic expressions in the fringes, afraid that our population cannot discern. We will get conforming people but not the next Psy.


If we want Psy-thinking in our businesses, we need to encourage divergent thinking from young. We need to find alternative ways to educate our young and to find a different way to progress them up the education ladder. We need to incorporate into our education more areas that do not have fixed answers. We need to find a way to embrace greater ambiguity and diversity.


Our economy will also need to allow the space for SMEs to develop. We need to allow fresh spaces for them to grow, rather than stiffle them under the shades of giant GLCs and multinationals. I had spoken on this earlier in my Budget speech in parliament this year.


I look forward to a day when we can have our Singapore Psy, in pop culture and in business. We need confident Singaporeans, prepared to be different.

[sengkang]

geraldgiam.sg

Alternative proposals for a better Singapore



By Gerald Giam
13 October 2012


The changes to MediShield announced yesterday are a step in the right direction. However the enhanced coverage will come at a cost — almost all of which will be borne not by the government, but by policyholders themselves.

Among the changes announced are an increase in the lifetime claim limit from $200,000 to $300,000, upping the annual claim limit from $50,000 to $70,000, raising the maximum coverage age from 85 to 90 years, and removing the maximum entry age (currently at 75 years). Newly diagnosed patients who require inpatient psychiatric treatment will be covered at $100 per day up to 35 days per year. The decision on whether to cover babies with congenital conditions has been deferred pending the outcome of the ‘National Conversation’.

The actuaries from the Ministry of Health (MOH) have done their calculations and concluded that to fund this enhanced coverage without the need for government subsidies, policyholders will have to pay between $17 and $251 more in premiums per year. Deductibles (the out-of-pocket expense payable before receiving any benefits) will go up from the current $1,000 in C-class wards to $1,500, and from $1,500 to $2,000 for B2 wards or higher. To pay for the higher premiums, Medisave withdrawal limits for premiums will be raised from $800 to $1,200, depending on the policyholder’s age.

This change will amount to a 50% hike in deductibles for C-class ward patients, most of whom are from the lower income groups. They will have to fork out more in cash or dig into their Medisave to pay the increased deductibles and premiums. The elderly will see a bigger premium hike than the young, since MediShield is not cross-subsidised across age groups. Hence, the elderly will see a premium hike just at a time when they are approaching, or have reached, retirement age, when their income and Medisave contributions have declined.

To assuage the concerns over the higher premiums and deductibles, the government will provide a one-time top-up of $400 to Medisave, announced in Budget 2012. However, this does not even cover the $500 hike in deductible for one hospital visit, and for subsequent years, policyholders will be left to themselves to fund the increased premiums and deductibles.

I do not believe their is a need for such steep increases in costs for policyholders. Between 2001 and 2010, MediShield collected $2.11 billion in premiums and paid out $1.26 billion in claims (these figures were provided to me in Parliament by the Health Minister). This amounted to $850 million more collected than disbursed over the past decade. [Correction (17/10/12): I had earlier written "2006 to 2010". It should be "2001 to 2010".]

The MediShield scheme benefits from a huge base of policyholders (92% of Singaporeans) most of whom pay their premiums out of their forced medical savings (Medisave). It has huge economies of scale and faces little competition for customers. I believe MediShield can take on greater risks on behalf of Singaporeans, while still maintaining healthy margins to build up its reserves, if it can be operated more like a national social health insurance scheme, than a commercial, profit-oriented one.

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party







"Innovation needs a mindset change. It is difficult to mandate innovation. It has to start from a culture from young where we dare to be different, where we dare to go against the grain and we dare to try alternatives."


http://yeejj.wordpress.com/2012/10/1...singapore-psy/

[sengkang]

Chen Show Mao



I feel that Singaporeans should be able to write to any government agency in Singapore and find out
>what of our personal data has been collected by the agency,
>how it has been used and
>to whom else it has been disclosed,
unless the agency can show that there is some exemption (on account of "national interest", "emergency", "investigation or proceedings" etc.)


http://wp.sg/2012/10/speech-on-data-...chen-show-mao/

[sengkang]

Gerald Giam

The changes to MediShield are a step in the right direction. However the enhanced coverage will come at a cost — almost all of which will be borne not by the government, but by policyholders themselves.


http://geraldgiam.sg/2012/10/medishi...er-protection/

[RODYK]

hope the mp will do more

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party


NCMP Yee Jenn Jong engages university students at NUS dialogue

Updated 49 minutes ago

By Loh Peiying



On 17 October 2012, the National University of Singapore’s Political Association (NUSPA) held the Top Guns 2012 Forum and invited members of political parties to discuss the effectiveness of Government-Public Engagement post GE2011 thus far. Issues discussed revolved primarily around the value of public opinion in policy-making processes. The Top Guns forum is also an initiative to get more youths involved in political dialogues.

Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Yee Jenn Jong represented the Workers’ Party (WP) at the forum, along with James Gomez of the Singapore Democratic Party, Hazel Poa of the National Solidarity Party, Kenneth Jeyaretnam from the Reform Party, and Edwin Tong and Indranee Rajah from the People’s Action Party.

The forum was interesting and meaningful with many students coming forward to ask some insightful, and controversial questions. Issues raised included the recent government efforts at the National Conversation, the efforts to engage youths and their roles, difficulties that opposition parties face in gaining support, new immigrants affecting voting patterns, the role of grassroots organizations, as well as racial issues in light of Amy Cheong’s controversial remarks.

The Speakers agreed with each other on some points, and emphasized that the heart of all issues should always focus on the citizens of Singapore. Regarding the place of race in society, everyone agreed that it is an issue that will need constant work and more could be done to improve the multiracial landscape in Singapore.

Mr Yee clarified the WP’s position regarding the National Conversation and said that Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Png Eng Huat were invited to join a National Conversation discussion. However, they were invited on a personal capacity as citizens, and not as representatives of the WP. He stressed that the WP believes that the National Conversation was meant for citizens and should be kept strictly as that.

Mr Yee emphasised that the WP constantly strives to engage Singaporeans in discussions about national issues. He highlighted examples of how the Workers’ Party Youth Wing (WPYW) has made efforts to engage youths in discussions and organise outreach programmes with the public such as the YouthQuake forums and the annual National Day Outreach. The Party also hold weekly Open House, focus groups and other activities.

When asked whether opposition parties would ever be ready to take over power, Mr Yee said that there are no short cuts to building credible alternatives and that it is a long and tedious process. He emphasised that they only way is to work hard, and continue to attract more passionate and capable people to join the Party. Eventually, it is up to the Singaporeans to decide at the polls. He also took the opportunity to thank the people of Aljunied and Hougang for having confidence in the WP and assured them that the party will do their best to run these constituencies well.

Photo credit: Loh Peiying

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party


Hammer! Hammer for a dollar! The Workers' Party visits Moulmein Kallang GRC + Whampoa SMC this Sunday for its weekly public outreach.

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong, JJ (余振忠)


Enjoyed the interaction with residents at Bendeemer Road market this morning. Met some residents who had words of encouragements for us and even met residents from Aljunied GRC here for breakfast.

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party


Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh at the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly from 20-26 Oct 2012 in Quebec City, Canada

[sengkang]

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party


WP would like to wish Muslims in Singapore 'Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha 1433h'. And for Singaporean Muslims performing their pilgrimage, may they be granted a 'mabrur' Hajj

Parti Pekerja ingin mengucapkan 'Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha 1433h' kepada masyarakat Islam Singapura. Kepada Jemaah Haji Singapura, semoga dikurniakan Haji Mabrur

[sengkang]

The Workers' Party





There will be no Open House today because it is a Public Holiday. The Workers' Party's Open House will resume next Friday, 2 November 2012, 8pm at 216G, Syed Alwi Road, #02-03. We hope to see you there!

[sengkang]

Chen Show Mao



Salam Aidiladha! First dawn on Hari Raya Haji at the Masjid Haji Yusoff in Aljunied.

[sengkang]

Pritam Singh

Warm wishes and blessings to all Muslim Singaporeans on the occasion of Hari Raya Haji.

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong

For A Better Singapore

"MOE may say all schools are good, but as long as some schools are perceived to be much better and to be safer bets for the future success of the child, we will continue to have excessive stress at the PSLE."

http://yeejj.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/storm-over-psle/

[sengkang]

Yee Jenn Jong

For A Better Singapore


I am reminded of how as a child, adults would use a boogeyman story to get me to do things. I was told to finish my meal, or stop crying, or behave myself. If not, some boogeyman would come and catch me. At some point, I grew old enough to

know this is just scare tactics. In this day and age, we have better access to open information. I just hate it when I read of such stereotypes. They are nothing more than putting up politics boogeyman to hope to frigthen people to behave in a certain way desired by certain groups.

http://yeejj.wordpress.com/2012/10/2...ics-boogeyman/

[skponggol]

.....

The The Workers' Party Youth Wing (WPYW) is out on the field this afternoon to participate in 'SDP Football Tournament 2012'
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater


Kudos to SDP for spending their limited time, energy and money to organize such pan Opposition Outreach event which the WP has always fail to do anything despite having bigger human and financial resources than SDP.

....

[sengkang]

Aljunied GRC

MP Low joining Waterfront Waves's residents for a spooky halloween night.

[sengkang]

The Worker Party



The Workers' Party visits Aljunied GRC this Sunday for its weekly Hammer public outreach. The yellow Hammer is an integral part of the Party's identity and it symbolises the workers of Singapore and yellow represents the power of the people.