Opposition MPs 'naive' to expect upgrading funds
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Now feel free to insult the "white scums"
OFFERS of upgrading in opposition wards were part of a slew of policies proposed by People's Action Party candidates during the General Election, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said yesterday.
But as voters rejected the PAP's candidates, it was 'naive' of Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir) and Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) to now expect the Government to give them the funds for upgrading, he added.
The issue of upgrading in the two wards turned into a protracted debate after Mr Chiam asked for the release of 45 per cent of the $80 million upgrading carrot promised to Potong Pasir residents by the PAP at the election.
He said that as 45 per cent of voters chose the PAP, the ward should get 45 per cent of what was promised had the PAP's Sitoh Yih Pin won.
During the hustings, Mr Sitoh offered Potong Pasir voters an $80 million upgrading plan. PAP Hougang candidate Eric Low had a $100 million plan.
They would have to get the funds for the plan if they were elected.
Mr Mah and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong - who was an adviser to the two PAP men - backed their proposals.
Yesterday, Minister of State (National Development) Grace Fu, who responded first to Mr Chiam's request, said she was puzzled by his logic of equating 45 per cent of the funds to the percentage of votes the PAP garnered there.
Going by this logic, should not Mr Chiam then share 45 per cent of his MP's allowance and his seat in Parliament with Mr Sitoh, she asked.
She also made the point - reiterated by Mr Mah - that the PAP's upgrading offer was part of a larger package of policies which the ruling party offered to voters.
'The electorate in Potong Pasir has obviously not supported that and therefore they should not stand to benefit from any surpluses that are generated from that suite of policies,' she said.
Ms Fu recalled that Mr Chiam told voters he could provide upgrading without assistance. So he should work now on fulfilling that promise.
Mr Chiam said Ms Fu was trying to 'divert' the discussion, and asked how it was that the PAP could use taxpayers' money to support its candidate: 'We are concentrating a huge sum of money in the coffers of the Government which can be released to an individual candidate. Under whose authority? Taxpayers' money is taken out of government funds, and the candidate says, 'Give it to me so I can win the elections'. This sounds very irregular,' he said.
Joining the debate, Mr Low said the surpluses that Ms Fu referred to were not generated by the PAP alone: 'Are the surpluses generated by the PAP, and the people have no part in it? Don't forget, whether people are in Potong Pasir or in Hougang, they pay taxes and GST. So your logic and justification is a selfish one (made) on a partisan basis.'
Mr Low said he applied to the National Development Ministry for $140 million for upgrading works in Hougang, but his application had been rejected.
Weighing in on the debate, Mr Mah said Mr Chiam and Mr Low had 'selective hearing'.
'What the PAP candidate said was that, 'I will approach the Government...with a certain plan, with a certain package, for my residents. And if I'm elected, I will fulfil that promise',' Mr Mah said.
Mr Chiam and Mr Low had recalled the sum involved - but forgot about the part which said 'if the PAP candidate is elected'.
'The PAP candidate was not elected, so how is he going to get that package?' he asked.
When voters opted for a PAP candidate, Mr Mah said they were also voting for other aspects of what the party offered, including prudent fiscal, tax and other policies.
It was also 'naive' of the two MPs to think they could receive funds from the Government when they did not support its other policies, he added.
Extracted from STI, Nov 15 2006 -
Politicising a municipal issue.
They are still thick in the head as usual.
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Knew it long ago.
The men in white sell fish.
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they stink..
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see what they say when they off the seats
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The statement made by the Alternative Party candidate was also about the same, in that they 'will approach the Government ....... with a certain plan, with a certain package, for my residents. And if I'm elected, I will fulfil that promise'.
'What the PAP candidate said was that, 'I will approach the Government...with a certain plan, with a certain package, for my residents. And if I'm elected, I will fulfil that promise' Mr Mah said.
The difference is only in the political party concerned.
The Government should govern the country in an inclusive manner - as was stated by the President in a speech prepared by the Government.
After a pompous speech prepared by the Government and delivered by an appointed Presidential mouth piece, the attitude from Mah clearly expose the Ruling Party to be "fraudulent and capable liars".
How will MM LKY explain for his Minister being a "liar" after he had taunted James Gomez with his well publicised name calling antics ? -
well, if the minister is called a liar, and the facts are backed up, you can see it NOT being in the papers for the editors and reporters may be called into the PMO much like those who reported LKY's incident with UK's NHS and SIA
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Another sad day for singapore, you heard it from people who make up your government.
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Totally disgusted by the unethical and ungentlemently behaviours of the MIW.
66.6%, are your happy now?? -
I think they get high on it.Originally posted by Cindyfeh:Totally disgusted by the unethical and ungentlemently behaviours of the MIW.
66.6%, are your happy now??
It's like drugs, you know it's bad for you, but you can't control your addiction. -
Last time, we wondered if the opposition was opposing for the sake of opposing. Now we wonder if the opposition are being opposed for the sake of being opposed.
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Originally posted by Cindyfeh:Totally disgusted by the unethical and ungentlemently behaviours of the MIW.
66.6%, are your happy now?? -
wrong time to ask lah.... gahemn got no more money that's why increase GST
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The part that 45% of Potong Pasir residents voted for PAP should get 45% of the 80 million is funny.
but what Mr Chiam said is also quite true ma. -
Government self centered only lar. Only give to those who support them. But too bad these 45% belong to opposition party.Originally posted by Y_Shun:The part that 45% of Potong Pasir residents voted for PAP should get 45% of the 80 million is funny.
but what Mr Chiam said is also quite true ma.
In conclusion, can we conclude that PAP are forcing the people to vote for them as they abuse their authority and control over the finance of the nation? -
Government self centered only lar. Only give to those who support them. But too bad these 45% belong to opposition party.Originally posted by Y_Shun:The part that 45% of Potong Pasir residents voted for PAP should get 45% of the 80 million is funny.
but what Mr Chiam said is also quite true ma.
In conclusion, can we conclude that PAP are forcing the people to vote for them as they abuse their authority and control over the finance of the nation? -
The real question is that aren't the people in the wards citizens of Singapore? Don't they stay in HDB flats which are supposed to be part of the government's assistance programme for affordable housing? Don't they pay taxes?
Then why aren't they allowed part of the package to give them an upgraded estate. They the same right to demand that of the goverment. -
This is an involved strategy with 'brainwashing'. As Singapore's population ages, many would be too old to think properly. Many would either still be 'living the years back then' or easily brainwashed by MIW.Originally posted by Cindyfeh:Totally disgusted by the unethical and ungentlemently behaviours of the MIW.
66.6%, are your happy now??
But the real 'loophole' in this is that they have probably forgotten that the economy is not likely to be driven by those people... May they be even be up to 80-90%... This is quite an undeniable fact.
I personally don't really see such a big deal in those 'upgrading' alone. Even if they do it for you, you'll probably have to pay back one way or another...
This is just a case where public's fund and 'trust' on them have been abused. -
PAP should just don't give them the upgrading funds.
BUt Mr Chiam should keep making noise about askign them to release.
This way.. PAP would look worse off. Got money but dun want to give.
Using upgrading as a voting issue.
What stinks more? -
i think he is trying to be funny la. cannot take too seriously on the 45% part.Originally posted by Y_Shun:The part that 45% of Potong Pasir residents voted for PAP should get 45% of the 80 million is funny.
but what Mr Chiam said is also quite true ma. -
One People One Nation. Just becuz PAP lost in hougang n potong pasir means people there are nt gonna be granted for upgrading? Just becuz that area in SINGAPORE doesnt belong to PAP? So are people in PAP trying to force people to vote for you if they want a better facilities in their area?
It sound to me that the finance part in SG is being monitored by PAP. So what if Mr Chiam is in charge of PP . Maybe he can do a much better job then Sitoh. $80 million in the hands of Sitoh and Chiam, each can make good use of it im sure. But who can make BETTER use is another thing.
PAP, stop being a loser and restrict opposition party to their plan by not releasing the money to them. NOT YOUR MONEY ANYWAY!!
Looks who whining about stuff now beside us.. -
I think he just want to suan PAP minister lah.Originally posted by Ito_^:i think he is trying to be funny la. cannot take too seriously on the 45% part.
I quote George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright, winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature.
"When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth" -
i think the people are too naive to think that the ruling idiots won't financially and politically sodomise their "subjects"
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If they don't vote for PAPs in the next election, the Ruling party members will migrate out of the country withdrawing their investments and have a swiss life.
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Lucky my hse here(under Pay and Pay) already kena upgrade liao, I believe next GE, bye bye!!