Workers’ Party chief to quiz Temasek-Goodyear saga On the 18 August 2009 sitting of Parliament, Workers’ Party Secretary-General Mr Low Thia Khiang will be asking the Finance Ministry what exactly were the “strategic differences” between the Board of Temasek Holdings and Mr Charles Goodyear that led to the latter’s premature resignation as CEO-designate. Mr Low, who is also Member of Parliament for Hougang, [...] New Hammersphere Hammersphere is now at http://hammersphere.sg/ Visit us today! Posted in Categories WP Organising Secretary will “look before leaping” and not be “little angry man” Translated from OMY news report dated 19 April 2009 He used to clash with Mr Low Thia Khiang over conflicting views but Workers’ Party Organising Secretary said that after 9 years of political molding, he is no longer the “small angry man” he used to be. Assigned by the WP as team leader of the “suicide squad” [...] “It will come when it’s time” Low Thia Khiang:　I won’t speculate snap polls Translated from OMY news report dated 26 February 2009 On whether the PAP Government will call for snap polls this year, Workers’ Party Secretary-General and Hougang MP Low Thia Khiang had this to say: “It will come when it’s time. I won’t participate in any guessing game.” Top decision-makers likely monitoring the situation Yesterday evening, during an interview [...] “It will come if it comes” Translated from OMY news report dated 26 February 2009 Low Thia Khiang:　I won’t speculate about any snap polls On whether the PAP Government will call for snap polls this year, Workers’ Party Secretary-General and Hougang MP Low Thia Khiang had this to say: “It will come if it comes. I won’t participate in any guessing game.” Top decision-makers [...] Overcoming the deafening silence The Enquirer by Justin Zhuang January 19th, 2009 For someone who is critical of the government for being deaf to its citizen’s opinions, especially in the past, the leader of Singapore’s largest opposition political party, The Workers’ Party (WP), is ironically half-deaf himself. As Mr Low Thia Khiang puts on his hearing aids at the start of the interview, [...] One month after escape – questions still unanswered By Shaun Lee February 27, 2008 – the day that the Number One suspected JI terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari escaped, it is said, while on a toilet break. It has thus been one month – and the authorities are still looking for him. While they do so, perhaps the rest of us should consider and ponder on the [...] Manifesto II: WP’s housing agenda In this second of a 5-part series on the Workers’ Party’s 2006 General Election Manifesto, The Hammersphere invokes the essential “roof-over-head” agenda of the WP. This recall is timely in the aftermath of National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan’s comments in a Straits Times article last month (18 February 2008) that “HDB flats still remain very [...] Noblesse oblige: Meeting David Marshall in 1994 Adapted from Think Happiness David Marshall introduced this concept of Noblesse oblige to all Singaporeans when he first served in 1955. Noblesse olige literally means nobility is an obligation. It is defined as: 1. Benevolent, honorable behavior considered to be the responsibility of persons of high birth or rank. 2. the obligation of those of high rank to be [...] Noblesse oblige: Meeting David Marshall in 1994 Adapted from Think Happiness David Marshall introduced this concept of Noblesse oblige to all Singaporeans when he first served in 1955. Noblesse olige literally means nobility is an obligation. It is defined as: 1. Benevolent, honorable behavior considered to be the responsibility of persons of high birth or rank. 2. the obligation of those of high rank to be [...] WP press release on Mas Selamat Press Release: Escape of Mas Selamat Two weeks have elapsed since the escape of Mas Selamat Kastari from the Whitley Road Centre.Since the occurrence, the immediate priority has rightly been placed on his recapture. Our security forces have been hard at work in an island-wide manhunt, and Singaporeans too have put up with various inconveniences at [...] WP members visit Penang and DAP From 2 to 4 March 2008, members of the Workers’ Party of Singapore visited Pulau Pinang to observe Malaysia for their 2008 General Election hustings. Organised by WP Youth Wing members Melvin Tan and Shaun Lee, the trip took them to the Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Penang office at Jalan Talipon in Georgetown, as well as [...] On a five-time-walkover minister in six elections Several netizens have called on Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng to resign after Mas Selamat Kastari, an Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee suspected of being part of a terrorist movement escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre where he was placed under preventive detention. Apparently, this call would make clear reference to his cabinet post, [...] 我们对经济成长的期待 陈家喜 居住在新加坡的你，对政府在2007 年所推行的政策还满意吗？ 在新的一年里你又有什么期待呢？ 我认为每个居住在新加坡的公民都希望： （一）有一份稳定的工作，可以减轻家中的经济负担； （二）享有低廉，高素质的医疗护理； （三）社会与居住环境安全稳定，各个族群能和谐相处； （四）每一个学生不管家境如何都能享有世界级水平的教育； （五）在步入晚年时，能有经济保障。 不多不少，就这五项简单与平凡的期待！ 可是，在环球化趋势的影响下，人们的收入差距逐渐扩大，生活费用也持续上升。因此，以上的种种希望对于许多受薪阶层可说是越来越可望而不可及了。 我想我们每一个公民都知道事事都得靠自己， 不能过度依赖政府的援助。我们不该把政府的援助看成是灵丹妙药， 政府只能尽其所能， 并不能完全解决一个社会中存在的所有问题。 这种说法看似合情合理。可是，政府就能坐视不理， 把所有的问题都归咎于市场那只所谓“看不见的手”吗？ 在国际原油价格持续上涨的趋势下，大小型企业都纷纷调高产品的物价， 导致“涨价”这个词汇成为新加坡老百姓最大的担忧。我想知道的是，原油的持续上涨是导致商家不得不调高物价的唯一原因吗？还是，这只是商家们常用的借口呢？ 物价持续上涨的趋势已定，只是看上涨的幅度如何。虽然涨价风也许是市场这只“看不见的手”所造成的，而在一涨一跌之间，财富却也悄悄地不公平的转移了。 我们不能单抱怨市场的残酷无情，我认为政府应该多以宏观的经济政策调控那只“看不见的手”以确保市井小民以上那五项简单与平凡的期待不会在目前的失望中完全破灭。 李显龙总理在2008 年元旦献辞中宣布新加坡经济在今年会有不断扩大的空间。但是，经济发展真的就能解决人民的担忧吗？我们看到的是新加坡经济虽然蓬勃发展， 但人民的口袋却在逐渐“缩水”。这不是我们对经济蓬勃发展的期待，也不应该是经济发展给一个社会所带来的成果。 陈家喜今年22 岁，就读于淡马锡理工学院，现任工人党青年团执委。   我们对经济成长的期待 • 陈家喜 居住在新加坡的你，对政府在2007年所推行的政策还满意吗？ 在新的一年里你又有什么期待呢？ 我认为每个居住在新加坡的公民都希望： （一） 有一份稳定的工作，可以减轻家中的经济负担； （二） 享有低廉，高素质的医疗护理； （三） 社会与居住环境安全稳定，各个族群能和谐相处； （四） 每一个学生不管家境如何都能享有世界级水平的教育； （五） 在步入晚年时，能有经济保障。 不多不少，就这五项简单与平凡的期待！ 可是，在环球化趋势的影响下，人们的收入差距逐渐扩大，生活费用也持续上升。因此，以上的种种希望对于许多受薪阶层可说是越来越可望而不可及了。 我想我们每一个公民都知道事事都得靠自己，不能过度依赖政府的援助。我们不该把政府的援助看成是灵丹妙药，政府只能尽其所能，并不能完全解决一个社会中存在的所有问题。 这种说法看似合情合理。可是，政府就能坐视不理，把所有的问题都归咎于市场那只所谓“看不见的手”吗？ 在国际原油价格持续上涨的趋势下，大小型企业都纷纷调高产品的物价，导致“涨价”这个词汇成为新加坡老百姓最大的担忧。我想知道的是，原油的持续上涨是导致商家不得不调高物价的唯一原因吗？还是，这只是商家们常用的借口呢？ 物价持续上涨的趋势已定，只是看上涨的幅度如何。虽然涨价风也许是市场这只“看不见的手”所造成的，而在一涨一跌之间，财富却也悄悄地不公平的转移了。 我们不能单抱怨市场的残酷无情，我认为政府应该多以宏观的经济政策调控那只“看不见的手”以确保市井小民以上那五项简单与平凡的期待不会在目前的失望中完全破灭。 李显龙总理在2008年元旦献辞中宣布新加坡经济在今年会有不断扩大的空间。但是，经济发展真的就能解决人民的担忧吗？我们看到的是新加坡经济虽然蓬勃发展，但人民的口袋却在逐渐“缩水”。这不是我们对经济蓬勃发展的期待，也不应该是经济发展给一个社会所带来的成果。 陈家喜今年22岁，就读于淡马锡理工学院，现任工人党青年团执委。 Staying Together, Moving Ahead: The Great Affective Divide By Andrew Loh “No need to buy branded bread. Bread is bread, rice is rice.” - PM Lee, The Straits Times, Feb 4 2008 In the run-up to the General Elections in 2006, Channel NewsAsia reported SM Goh as saying: “The central theme of the People’s Action Party’s manifesto for the next general election is likely to be “Grow [...] Staying Together, Moving Ahead: The Great Affective Divide By Andrew Loh “No need to buy branded bread. Bread is bread, rice is rice.” - PM Lee, Straits Times, Feb 4 2008 In the run-up to the General Elections in 2006, Channel NewsAsia reported SM Goh as saying: “The central theme of the People’s Action Party’s manifesto for [...] Sylvia Lim’s Parliamentary speech - Jan 21, 2008 The Workers’ Party chairman and Non-Constituency MP, Sylvia Lim, raised questions on the Workmen’s Compensation Bill amendments in Parliament. Below is the video of her speech. Sylvia’s Parliamentary Speech - Jan 21st The Workers’ Party chairman and NCMP, Sylvia Lim, raised questions on the Workmen’s Compensation Bill amendments in Parliament. Below is her speech. Sylvia’s Parliamentary Speech - Jan 21 The Workers’ Party chairman and NCMP, Sylvia Lim, raised questions on the Workmen’s Compensation Bill amendments in Parliament. Below is her speech. Sylvia’s questions in Parliament - Jan 21 Parliament sits on the 21st of January 2008. Here is a list of the questions which The Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim has tabled. Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether his Ministry will review or refine the classification of voluntarily causing hurt as a non-seizable crime, especially [...] Sylvia Lim’s questions in Parliament - Jan 21, 2008 Parliament sits on the 21st of January 2008. Here is a list of the questions which The Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim has tabled. Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether his Ministry will review or refine the classification of voluntarily causing hurt as a non-seizable crime, especially [...] In Eulogy of the Manifesto I: WP’s electoral reform agenda The Workers’ Party released its Manifesto ahead of the 2006 General Election in January that year, becoming the first political party to do so for the GE. In the first of a 5-part series, the Hammersphere relives the contents and extracts from the 14 chapters and 52 pages of the WP Manifesto, beginning with its calls for [...] Manifesto I: WP’s electoral reform agenda The Workers’ Party released its Manifesto ahead of the 2006 General Election in January that year, becoming the first political party to do so for the GE. In the first of a 5-part series, the Hammersphere relives the contents and extracts from the 14 chapters and 52 pages of the WP Manifesto, beginning with its calls [...] The Workers’ Party in 2007: A year of constructive engagement By Andrew Loh The Workers’ Party (WP) has been busy in 2007, despite what critics may say. In Parliament, in HDB heartlands and within the party itself, much was done. A look at the activities of the party in 2007 proves this. Chairman Sylvia Lim and Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang brought up a whole slew of issues in [...] Black: Perfect colour of dissent Citizens who wish to express their objections against any government policy may find the colour black a pertinent fitting. The reason? The People’s Action Party (PAP), which has been in government for a long time, dons all white. Black is the reverse of white. And black will be what a gathering of netizens will put on when they come [...] WP’s most “revealed” In this four-part “mini-memoirs” feature, “A Certain Type For Singapore”, Workers’ Party Organising Secretary Yaw Shin Leong in his blog (http://yawshinleong.blogspot.com/) shares, among others, the internal workings of WP. An eye-opening read for netizens who wish to find out more about the dynamics within WP. Part I (7 Dec 07) Part II (8 Dec 07) Part III (9 Dec [...] To conquer a conqueror Melvin Tan The Hongkong-produced drama “The Conqueror’s Story”, which ended its run on local TV yesterday, is based on the Chu-Han contention in China from 206 to 202 BC. This was the era of a showdown between Liu Bang (right), the first Han Dynasty emperor and Xiang Yu (left), the Chu King dubbed as the “Western Conqueror”, [...] Redevelopment: Erasing the bonds of community Andrew Loh & Shaun Lee In a fast-changing Singapore landscape, it is perhaps hard to find bonds of friendship, camaraderie and community among residents of HDB flats. The pace of “progress”, development and redevelopment affects more than the physical landscape. It affects personal relationships as well – especially between elderly residents. The fragility of bonds built up [...] Has the PAP gone AWOL? Bernard Chen Did the WP Aljunied GRC team go AWOL? In the first place, the team consisting of Sylvia Lim, Mohammed Rahizan Yaacob, Tan Wui Hua, James Gomez and Goh Meng Seng has no official capacity as representatives of the electorate in Aljunied GRC. If any of them wishes to organise an outdoor grassroots activity in Aljunied [...]