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The Workers' Party

swissbank

Alfrescian
Loyal
from TR Emeritius

Roy is the Touchstone for MP:
October 17, 2014 at 10:20 pm (Quote)


Oppies NCMP who whacked HHH:
Actually there is one politician from the WP, NCMP Yee Jenn Jong who instead of CHECKING the true facts whether the protest movement did heckled the special need children or not, he just blindly in the first instant, joined the PAPees in whacking HHH, Roy & the protest movement. He had conveniently forgotten that many of these protesters have supported him in his last GE. Till today he still has not apologize for his mistake. This showed that he is as ungrateful as the PAPees.
Roy is the new Standard expected of MPs especially Opposition MPs.
Roy single-handedly tore the CPF policy APART exposing its flaws.
WP has so many MP in parliament that they did not come close to exposing the PAP.
Its fully understandable why Bernie boy attacked Roy from behind, metaphorically speaking.
This episode of Bernie’s sneaky attack gave us a glimpse of WP’s character. Instead of criticizing PAP being opposition, he criticized those who criticized PAP.
Opposition MP must now show us they have the Roy standard in terms of QUESTIONING and having the guts to point out the heart truths and not be a Politically Correct opposition.
Else, WP must be retrenched and reversed into a small political party or join PAP.
 
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sengkang

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
The Workers' Party Youth Wing (WPYW)

A fitting conclusion to Youth Hammer! Thank you all for coming by!

10484984_10152744364178972_2981192568603399_n.jpg


[h=5]Daniel PS Goh[/h]
Our young members walked the Dhoby Ghaut area last night talking to fellow young people about the issues of the day while selling the latest issue of the Hammer. Couldn't be with them, but was eagerly following the Instagram feed. Feeling proud :smile:



A fitting conclusion to Youth Hammer! Thank you all for coming by!
 

swissbank

Alfrescian
Loyal
from TR Emeritius

Roy is the Touchstone for MP:
October 17, 2014 at 10:20 pm (Quote)


Oppies NCMP who whacked HHH:
Actually there is one politician from the WP, NCMP Yee Jenn Jong who instead of CHECKING the true facts whether the protest movement did heckled the special need children or not, he just blindly in the first instant, joined the PAPees in whacking HHH, Roy & the protest movement. He had conveniently forgotten that many of these protesters have supported him in his last GE. Till today he still has not apologize for his mistake. This showed that he is as ungrateful as the PAPees.
Roy is the new Standard expected of MPs especially Opposition MPs.
Roy single-handedly tore the CPF policy APART exposing its flaws.
WP has so many MP in parliament that they did not come close to exposing the PAP.
Its fully understandable why Bernie boy attacked Roy from behind, metaphorically speaking.
This episode of Bernie’s sneaky attack gave us a glimpse of WP’s character. Instead of criticizing PAP being opposition, he criticized those who criticized PAP.
Opposition MP must now show us they have the Roy standard in terms of QUESTIONING and having the guts to point out the heart truths and not be a Politically Correct opposition.
Else, WP must be retrenched and reversed into a small political party or join PAP.
 

swissbank

Alfrescian
Loyal
from TR Emeritius

Realist:
October 9, 2014 at 10:14 am (Quote)

With the $15,000 monthly paycheck I would also gladly keep silent. Good money who don’t want.
Like I said, WP is the classic PAP B team


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handi:
October 9, 2014 at 10:37 am (Quote)

This senior citizen have a dammaged brain who blindly worship his WP without sense.
While you are talking about accoutable in the capacity of politicians, what integrity have your WP when they publicly condemned Roy, HHH and protesters at hLP and many negative support like PAP’s return our CPF on 65,
LTK and SL as secretary and chairman of WP have failed as politicians to provide essential constructive policies to improve lives of citizens but remain silent, siting pretty comfort with their 16K MP allowances.
But Roy was sued while voicing out every citizen’s concern and rights on the return of their CPF at 55. Don’t WP feel ashamed as politicians?



================================================== ==========

TrustNoPig:
October 9, 2014 at 11:34 am (Quote)

What LTK and WP promise, they better blardy hell deliver.
Otherwise, they are no different from PAP.
So don’t spout nonsense about WP strategy. WP did promise to slap the DRIVER hard if they are caught sleeping.
We want politicians with higher level of integrity and deliver what they promise. Otherwise, why campaign in the first place 挂羊头卖狗肉?
Can’t WP deliver something as simple as their commitment?
So WP supporters, please consider and choose other oppositions (sad to say, my family votes help send WP Aljunied team into parliament). Send clear message to WP and all other opposition parties that if they do not perform and deliver as per their campaign, we will pull them now without qualms.
This is the only way we civilians can do to put politicians on their toes, including PAP (look at LHL wearing HIGH HEELS now that he lost Aljunied).


================================================== ===========

PAP B Team:
October 9, 2014 at 12:54 pm (Quote)

I agree with the writer. in 2016 vote in more WP MPs into parliament so that they can remain quiet for the next 5 years. if opposition MPs make a lot noises in parliament, LHL will have to spend all his time to fix them, by keeping quiet allows PM Lee to concentrate on state matters. Opposition MPs should emulate theWP MPS, be the PAP Team B, allow all policies to pass unopposed and do not criticize the ruling party , support the 7million PWP, join the PAP MPs to criticize the behaviours of 3H and Roy on the HLP/ YMCA saga!


================================================== ==========
Easter:
October 9, 2014 at 3:13 pm (Quote)

While it is always good to bide one’s time, the Opposition Does need to respond to issues, to raise questions, like the overcharging by Alvin Yeo’s law firm which has seen no response from the Spore Law Soc; like the ease with which a foreign man who is totally unrelated to a very elderly Sporean not only got Lasting Power of Attorney but also got PR through the appeal of a PAP MP.
 

Wanderer

Alfrescian
Loyal
No speech no nothing? Just one liner? At least a paragraph of something, no? Why am I not surprise? The right camp such as the ruling party PAP, the Opposition party WP, don't give a shit about cutlure and tradition. Everything is bread and butter issue, tao-keh's (boss) bread and butter issue that is.
 

sengkang

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset

Of $1000 fines and incomplete forms




By Ariffin Sha


It’s just a $1000 fine, why don’t AHPETC just pay it and get it over and done with? It’s just two blanks on the form, why don’t NSP’s CEC Members just fill it and continue selling North Star?

“Isn’t it easier to just comply instead of making a mountain out of a molehill?” This is a common question which has been raised over two different incidents which had happened recently – AHPETC’s Court Case and NSP’s appeal to the President.

Of course it is. It has almost always been easier to comply than to resist.


All the more so over something which may seem ‘petty’ in the eyes of many, like a fine of $1000 or the disclosure of one’s financial capacity.


But upon closer inspection, there may be more to what meets the eye. In the case of the AHPETC case, the circumstance in which the words ‘town council’ were removed from the form was unclear. Also, the need for CCC’s support letter was questionable too. Especially in relation to the powers bestowed upon the CCCs when they are comprised of unelected members. Terry Xu has written a good piece which explores this in detail.


Many may not be acquainted with the facts of the case and the relevant issues, but they sure are quick to comment when it comes to AHPETC being represented by Peter Low and Terence Tan and how the possible costs of hiring their legal services (assuming they aren’t doing it pro-bono) might be even more than the fine of $1000.


But $1000 pales in comparison to the arbitrary and discretionary powers conferred upon unelected members to restrict the actions of Town Councils.


More recently, the National Solidarity Party (NSP) appealed to President Tony Tan persuant Section 21(8) of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, Cap. 206 (“the NPPA”), which states: “Any person dissatisfied with any decision of the Minister or with any condition imposed by the Minister under this section may appeal to the President whose decision shall be final.”

As this appeal is less than 12 hours old and there isn’t much information out there besides NSP’s Press Release and Andrew Loh’s piece, I would like to shed some light on this appeal.


The contentious issue the rationale here are the need for all members of the Governing Body of a Political Association to disclose their monthly income and disposable capital, as seen in the form above, to renew their newspaper permit. In this case, the members of NSP’s CEC did not disclose their monthly income and disposable capital as not only felt that it was irrelevant but it was also an intrusion of privacy.


When NSP asked RON why was there a need for them to disclose their monthly income and disposable capital, they took no less than a whooping 39 days to reply. Yes, you read that right, 39 days.


ron-reply.png

Here is the context of what Mr Ong Pang Boon said –

nsp-letter.png

When viewed in it’s context, RON’s justification is flawed on at least three grounds.


1) Mr Ong was talking about the Printing Presses Ordinance, which was passed in 1919 and not the Newspapers and not Printing Presses Act (NPPA) which was enacted in 1975. Mr Ong was commenting on the policy for an obsolete statue in the now defunct Legislative Assembly. Hence, his statement was irrelevant.


2) Even if it can be argued that his statement was relevant, Mr Ong referred to the “financial position” of the applicant as being one of the several factors to be “taken into consideration.” However, he certainly did not elevate the factor of “financial position” to that of a condition precedent.


3) Finally and fundamentally, Ministerial Policies have to bow to Constitutional Rights. In Singapore, the Constitution is supreme. No ministerial policy can infringe a a constitutional right. In other words, Mr Ong’s words, if it could amount to authority for Ministerial Policy, cannot infringe the rights guaranteed by Article 14 of our Constitution which only may be restricted by Parliament under the conditions set out in 14(2)(a).


This is just a fraction of NSP’s argument. The full appeal letter lists out many other good points and incoherency in RON’s justifications. You can read the appeal letter in full here.


There is a lot more to it than just two blank spaces on a form.


I saw a comment on NSP’s thread which read, “This is politics. When you are in power you make the rules.”
To that I replied, “And when your rules go unopposed, you make even more such rules. But if people ‘make noise’ about those rules and more people become aware, you might think twice before making such rules. That is politics too”
“The devil is in the details” may be an overused cliché but it certainly has some truth to it. When people in power find that the people are not resisting to small forms of repression, it gives them confidence to continue and even expand that repressive state. The NLB Saga and To Singapore With Love are two good recent examples.


People tend to forget that the nationwide Civil Rights Movement all started because Rosa Parks, a black lady, refused to give up her seat on the bus. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not calling for a Civil Rights Movement. But rather, I’m illustrating two things. Firstly, this shows that just because ‘that’s the way things are done around here’ and everyone else is willingly oppressed or giving in, it doesn’t bind you. Secondly, even the smallest of actions can help raise awareness.
If it wasn’t for the Worker’s Party going to Court, most of us wouldn’t have known about the forms and the powers conferred on the CCCs. If it wasn’t for NSP appealing to the President, we wouldn’t know that they are being forced to disclose private information for arbitrary reasons. It has certainly raised awareness about how the state exercises repression and possibly abuses its power, even in the smallest ways.


And I thank NSP and AHPETC for that. They might have sacrificed some things in the process, but we as members of the public did learn quite a bit because of the light they shed. I certainly do not agree that they are making a mountain out of a molehill. Rather, I believe that they have shown us the dangers of leaving powers unchecked and blind obedience.


This article was first published on Ariffin’s blog.

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/10/of-1000-fines-and-incomplete-forms/
 

swissbank

Alfrescian
Loyal
from TR Emeritius

Toast Bread:
October 22, 2014 at 11:29 am (Quote)


On my radar screen:>>
1. Judgment on Roy’s defamation suite by LHL out anytime soon
2. AHPETC illegal mini event/fair will be out in Nov 2014
3. Investigation into HHH & Roy’s & other organisers will be prolonged to deny protestors to gather at HLP Return Our CPF Protest
4. Alvin Yeo’s over charging of $1.33 million is still simmering hot in cyber space
5. Dr. Intan/LHL recommendation for Yang Yin’s PR
6. Police Commissioner Ng Joo Hee’s transfer to PUB to ensure our water supply
7. LKY about to up the lorry & GE is impending
8. The trial trial date of Yang Yin for swindling Mdm Chung of $40 million will be decided anytime soon.
9. The PAP KFC PRESIDENT made several taxpayers’ sponsored all-expenses trips to UK & Europe within the past three months to escape the heat
10. The deep hatred for LHL & the PAP has reached a crescendo that is now an everyday coffee shop talk.
What do you think?
 

Wanderer

Alfrescian
Loyal
http://yoursdp.org/news/freedom_of_expression_important_now_more_than_ever/2014-10-22-5895

Freedom of expression important now more than ever

Added on: Wednesday Today

Singapore Democrats

Many Singaporeans have, in years past, questioned the SDP's fight for political freedom for our people. They say that these ideas have little to do with their everyday lives. Fortunately, such thinking is on the wane.

It must be reiterated that without such freedoms, especially the freedom of expression, citizens cannot hold the government accountable and make it serve the people instead of themselves.

For example, our retirees' hopes to have their CPF savings returned to them, the younger generation's aspirations to be able to afford HDB flats, the people's desire to live in a city not crammed beyond its limit and so on all necessitate the public's ability to voice out its concerns.

This is the reason why the PAP, once it assumed power in 1959, moved hand over fist to ensure that it closed down the various avenues where the people could exercise that right. Newspapers were brought under the management of the state, journalists were detained without trial, public political meetings were outlawed, strikes were prohibited and the Law Society was gagged.

It is for our own sakes that we work to claim back our rights to freedom of expression.

There is another reason why democratic freedoms are important. In order for Singapore to gain preeminence in international law and become a First World country, we need to adopt full democratic practices.

The rule of law, including widening the rules on freedom of expression, is an essential ingredient in our bid to be a modern legal centre in Asia and the world. Unfortunately, the PAP's continued clamp down on Singaporeans' democratic rights runs counter to this endeavour.

This is the subject of Dr Chee Soon Juan's address at the International Bar Association's (IBA) conference taking place in Tokyo this week. The SDP leader will make the case that the PAP Government has to make significant progress in the democratisation of Singapore in order for the country to be part of the international legal framework.

Unfortunately, the Government seems bent on preventing this. An opportunity came in 2007 when the IBA held its conference in Singapore. Instead of demonstrating leadership by committing to the rule of law, the PAP tried to prevent the symposium from being opened to the public. It failed.

This allowed Dr Chee to attend the event in which then Minister for Law, Mr S Jayakumar, was a speaker. Mr Jayakumar insisted that the rule of law needed to be “contextualised” to suit the needs of different cultures – an argument widely discredited by the international community.

Dr Chee rose to challenge Mr Jayakumar's point, citing the case of Mr Chia Thye Poh who was imprisoned without trial for 32 years. The session chair then intervened and tried to stop Dr Chee from saying more.

“The Government has had its say. Now I'm sure the audience would like to hear the other side of the story,” Dr Chee said, turning to the audience which broke out into a loud and sustained applause. He informed those present of the use of defamation laws and criminal prosecution to silence dissent.

Mr Jayakumar responded by evading Dr Chee's questions and resorted to personally attacking him. When the minister finished, no one applauded.

Read also Jayakumar evades Chee's questions

It seems that the situation has come full circle. Dr Chee will be speaking on the same platform that Mr Jayakumar did in 2007. But instead defending anti-democratic practices, the SDP secretary-general will be calling for the political rights of Singaporeans to be respected
 
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