WP speaks on hijab, RP leader may go bankrupt

[tanwahp]

There you have it, today's political news.

WP calls for public dialogue on hijab issue

By Andrea Ong

The Workers’ Party (WP) has called for public dialogue to achieve a “workable consensus” on the issue of uniformed public officers wearing the hijab or Muslim headscarf, adding that these discussions should also involve the heads of the uniformed professions.

In a statement on Wednesday, Aljunied GRC MP Muhammad Faisal Abdul Manap said the WP believes the current debate on the hijab should not be politicised and a workable consensus was best achieved through public dialogue within the Muslim community. among the various communities and with the elected government.

“The discussions should be carried on with an open mind, and include the input of the heads of uniformed professions on the feasibility of accommodating the wearing of the hijab in their organisations, subject to considerations such as operational exigencies,” said Mr Faisal in the party’s first comment on the debate over the hijab.

The statement came a day after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met the People’s Action Party’s Malay-Muslim MPs to discuss the Government’s response to recent calls to let nurses don the tudung.

Mr Faisal said the WP recognises the “genuine desire and aspirations of Muslim Singaporeans who seek a change in government policy to allow the wearing of the hijab in the public sector’s uniformed professions”. The party has observed that Singaporeans have grown accustomed to working Muslim women who choose to don the hijab in various capacities such as in government offices, nurses in some private hospitals, teachers and National Day Parade participants.
“We recognise that good relations exist among our communities in Singapore, and believe that this will decide how far each group can practice their religion in an environment of tolerance and mutual respect,” he added.

The WP also praised the Muslim community’s “overwhelmingly rational response” on the issue so far, saying it augurs well for positive discussions between the community, government and uniformed services going forward.

 

[tanwahp]

Apex court dismisses Jeyaretnam's appeal

By Goh Chin Lian

The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court's dismissal of an opposition politician's application to stop the Government from giving a US$4 billion (S$5 billion) loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In its grounds of decision, the apex court dismissed Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam's appeal with costs.

In April last year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said it would make a loan commitment of US$4 billion. Mr Jeyaretnam tried to block it through court action in July. He argued that the loan commitment, made without the approval of Parliament or the President, contravened Article 144 of the Constitution.

The Article states that "no guarantee or loan shall be given or raised by the Government except under the authority of any resolution of Parliament with which the President concurs".

But in October last year, Justice Tan Lee Meng ruled that the Government does not need such approval to give a loan. In court documents released on Oct31, Justice Chao Hick Tin said he agreed with the High Court judge's interpretation of Article 144. It was "abundantly clear" that Article 144 referred only to the giving of guarantees and raising of loans, and not the giving of loans, he added.

He observed that Mr Jeyaretnam was "clutching at any argument in order to bring the matter within Article 144", such as trying to draw a connection between the word "guarantee" and the loan commitment.

The Appeals Court also found that Mr Jeyaretnam did not have the standing to challenge Article 144, because he did not have any public or private rights to protect, and he had failed to show that the Government had in any way breached its duties under Article 144.

 

[kezgtree]

Government does not need such approval to give a loan....hmm and also CPF investment and...