Mah Boh Tan said it again, govt will not serve opp wards
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How bold and impudent for Minister Mah to make this kind of statement threatening to withhold service of citizens in opposition wards while using their taxes for citizens who voted for his party for his own narrow political agenda?
Did we elect Minister Mah only to serve part of the country and collect only taxes from constituencies who voted him. -
Seriously, they should separate the agendas of Government and PAP clearly.
Tax payers money belong to all Singaporeans while being in charge by the Government. It should be used to serve all Singaporeans, regardless of the wards.
This money does NOT belong to PAP. It is really wrong to say Government will not serve opp wards. Do residents in opp wards pay taxes? Yes they do! Then why are they deny their rights?
Once again, those 'elite' ministers must get it clear. Government is government, PAP is PAP.
The job of the government is to SERVE ALL SINGAPOREANS. -
Gov = PAP. Sad but true.
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so what can you ppl do? if you can't vote him out, live with it
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PAP getting more and more bold.
They feel secure in parliament as they have the hegemonic status, pushing all sorts of unpopular policies in the same year.
I will never support the PAP ruling clique. -
mabok tongue.. looks like he's still not grown out of being the guy who delivers the terrible news for the MIW
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Is that true ????Originally posted by royston_ang:Gov = PAP. Sad but true.
I am uneducated like some. I also like to conform by asking does PAP , a political party, with their members equate to the gubberment of sg?
Does any of you highly educated singaporeans got the answer? sure have wan right?? -
That is a very sad sad statement...
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At least he's honest.
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something i would like to ask tho'
truthfully... if places were reversed, would those who stand in opposition now do exactly the same thing the MIW is doing?
i wonder because mostly, politicians are cut from the same rancid piece of cloth... -
erm robert, what did MBT actually say ?
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Nov 6, 2007
Opposition MPs, PAP rivals team up for estate upgrading
Hougang and Potong Pasir will use funds to go barrier-free
By Peh Shing Huei
FOR the first time, Singapore's two opposition MPs and their opponents from the People Action Party (PAP) have come together to work on a project to improve their estates.
After years of barbs and battles, the long-time rivals in Hougang and Potong Pasir are teaming up to create a barrier-free environment for the elderly and the disabled.
The money for the projects will come from the Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) fund, the source of much frustration for the two opposition MPs who have not been able to dip into the kitty on their own previously.
The CIPC, which reports directly to the Minister of National Development, disburses funds for minor improvements to estates.
However, access to the money is possible only through a constituency's Citizens' Consultative Committee, a grassroots organisation whose adviser is always a PAP representative.
As a result, the two opposition MPs - Mr Low Thia Khiang in Hougang and Mr Chiam See Tong in Potong Pasir - have long complained that the CIPC discriminates against them, denying them money for improving their estates.
But in this instance, Mr Eric Low in Hougang and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin in Potong Pasir - the PAP men who had the funds - made the first move in approaching the MPs, who run the town councils.
They did so as the nationwide move to make Singapore elderly- and handicapped-friendly would require the building of ramps and handrails in public places, which come under the purview of a town council.
This tie-up is a break from the past, when Mr Sitoh, for example, had avoided the town council by leasing state land from the Government to build solar lamps and a playground in Potong Pasir.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told The Straits Times last night the teaming up was a Government decision, prompted by the tight deadline to make Singapore estates barrier-free by 2011.
'We have been encouraging them to work together. Both of them have been responding,' he said, referring to the opposition MPs.
Mr Mah stressed that this project is unlike the Lift Upgrading Project (LUP), which all constituencies will get, but Hougang and Potong Pasir are at the end of the queue as they are opposition territory.
Under the LUP, almost all HDB blocks will have lifts that stop on every floor by 2014.
On whether the cooperation was a sign of things to come with more projects undertaken jointly, Mr Mah said: 'If it is a project that benefits the residents, then I think both the advisers and the town councils should work together.'
Mr Eric Low said the Workers' Party leader has accepted his offer of $100,000 for the project.
The PAP man said: 'I asked him to give me the plans on where to install the ramps and handrails and he has done so.
'I should be able to approve it within the next two weeks.'
Mr Low Thia Khiang confirmed with The Straits Times that he had handed over a plan but declined to elaborate.
Mr Sitoh also said he is working with Potong Pasir's town council and added: 'This project is for the good of the residents.'
Mr Chiam welcomed the move last night, saying it is a 'very sensible thing'.
'I have met residents who are in wheelchairs and they need to have barrier-free places,' said the Singapore Democratic Alliance chairman.
Mr Eric Low said the upgrading will be done across the estate where over one-quarter of the residents are approaching their 60s or older.
'Just as Mr Low said that he does not oppose for the sake of opposing, I also do not oppose for the sake of opposing,' he added.
'And don't forget that I'm the opposition in Hougang.'
Hougang residents like retiree Chew Hiang Tiak are delighted. Said the 69-year-old: 'It's good the politicians put aside their differences to work for the residents. There are lots of old people here, so these changes will make our lives easier.'
Mr Eric Low and Mr Sitoh ran against the incumbents in the 2001 and 2006 General Elections, and lost both times.
Following their failure last year, the PAP suspended its weekly Meet-the-People sessions indefinitely in both wards. -
For years they the elites with high education have read our feedbacks and should know it is legally, socially and morally wrong to divide the country into for-PAP and againt-PAP in this manner the very moment the election is over but it is so sad that none of them the ministers worth million-dollar salaries in the eye of MM Lee are heeding the voice of conscience and are still behaving in this childish manner.Originally posted by Spartans:Seriously, they should separate the agendas of Government and PAP clearly.
Tax payers money belong to all Singaporeans while being in charge by the Government. It should be used to serve all Singaporeans, regardless of the wards.
This money does NOT belong to PAP. It is really wrong to say Government will not serve opp wards. Do residents in opp wards pay taxes? Yes they do! Then why are they deny their rights?
Once again, those 'elite' ministers must get it clear. Government is government, PAP is PAP.
The job of the government is to SERVE ALL SINGAPOREANS.
What can we as people do? Exercise your votes accordingly whenever you can. Better still go out of the way and take an interest in politics and persuade those known to us to have some ability not necessarily the scholars to stand up to such challenge.
It is only then we can see change. -
This is absurd..Though i do not live there, but this news will boil the residents there.
'i pay tax, and this is what i get in return?'
well, too bad gahmen is lopsided to force the opposition party to give up.
they deserve the donations more than the donate to CSJ thread.
At least they are putting words into actions but was delayed...
sad enough -
There must be a certain balance of power in parliament.
If PAP's rule is not secure and their hegemony is broken, they will need to capture more votes and will not dare to make such arrogant statements.
It is for this reason, that I will support the entire opposition movement in Singapore. -
are you guys refering to this:
"National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told The Straits Times last night the teaming up was a Government decision, prompted by the tight deadline to make Singapore estates barrier-free by 2011.
'We have been encouraging them to work together. Both of them have been responding,' he said, referring to the opposition MPs.
Mr Mah stressed that this project is unlike the Lift Upgrading Project (LUP), which all constituencies will get, but Hougang and Potong Pasir are at the end of the queue as they are opposition territory.
Under the LUP, almost all HDB blocks will have lifts that stop on every floor by 2014." -
Those from opposition wards are not Singaporean?
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Well they are going to make all estates barrier free and by 2014, lift upgrading for all estates, just that Hougang and Potong Pasir are last in line. You can argue that the government places opposition wards last in line for lift upgrading but i think its unfair to say that "Mah Bow Tan said it again, govt will not serve opp wards"
That statement is misleading and look at all the replies echoing TS views without looking into what MBT actually said. -
The problem as I see it is human nature.Originally posted by the Bear:mabok tongue.. looks like he's still not grown out of being the guy who delivers the terrible news for the MIW
Some ministers sure could read the mind of the autocrat very well based on all the leadership utterances and would deliberately snuggle up to the supremo as willing work horses to carry out all wishes spoken or assumed without bidding.
No wonder our autocracy being loaded with such career-minded self-seekers is no longer working for the people but rather for the governing elites's own personal advancement.
By the look of it it is impossible now to change. So far there is no true talent to do the right thing by telling the emperor he is naked. -
Originally posted by kramnave:
Isn't this statement clear enough that Minister Mah has drawn a line between opposition and PAP wards and strongly or more than strongly hinted that those who do not vote for PAP may be served last?
are you guys refering to this:
[b]"National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told The Straits Times last night the teaming up was a Government decision, prompted by the tight deadline to make Singapore estates barrier-free by 2011.
'We have been encouraging them to work together. Both of them have been responding,' he said, referring to the opposition MPs.
Mr Mah stressed that this project is unlike the Lift Upgrading Project (LUP), which all constituencies will get, but Hougang and Potong Pasir are at the end of the queue as they are opposition territory.
Under the LUP, almost all HDB blocks will have lifts that stop on every floor by 2014."
[/b] -
That isn't the gist of the article. Anyway his intention may be to draw the line between opposition and PAP wards. Opposition wards may be served last but it is significantly different from "Mah Boh Tan said it again, govt will not serve opp wards" and "Did we elect Minister Mah only to serve part of the country and collect only taxes from constituencies who voted him". All wards will be served, its just a matter of priority.Originally posted by robertteh:Isn't this statement clear enough that Minister Mah has drawn a line between opposition and PAP wards and strongly or more than strongly hinted that those who do not vote for PAP may be served last? -
Originally posted by kramnave:
What you cannot see perhaps may be more critical and important to the citizens now with so much partitioned politics dividing the country.
That isn't the gist of the article. Anyway his intention may be to draw the line between opposition and PAP wards. Opposition wards may be served last but it is significantly different from [b]"Mah Boh Tan said it again, govt will not serve opp wards" and "Did we elect Minister Mah only to serve part of the country and collect only taxes from constituencies who voted him". All wards will be served, its just a matter of priority.[/b]
A government minister simply cannot be or appear to be partitioned or biased to any group of citizens whether the citizens come from PAP wards or Opposition Wards. -
What i can see is the significant difference between what he said and what you insinuated.Originally posted by robertteh:What you cannot see perhaps may be more critical and important to the citizens now with so much partitioned politics dividing the country.
A government minister simply cannot appear to be partitioned or biased to any group of citizens whether the citizens come from PAP wards or Opposition Wards.
Whether or not a government minister appears to be biased to PAP wards or opposition wards and whether it's justified is a different argument altogether. -
It never ceases to amaze me when, despite the perpetual shananigans of reports like those cited here, imbeciles could still make a case for the state and the party being separate entities in dictatorships...
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where ? who ?Originally posted by walesa:It never ceases to amaze me when, despite the perpetual shananigans of reports like those cited here, imbeciles could still make a case for the state and the party being separate entities in dictatorships...