Singapore Democrats To campaign against the PAP's rapacious policies, the SDP is launching its Campaign Against Repression and Exploitation of Singaporeans 2008, or CARES '08. CARES '08 will focus on:
1. Price hikes. The Government must reduce prices and curb runaway inflation which has hit a 26-year high. Prices of basic food items have been increasing at a frightening pace, leaving many people in financial dire straits. Petrol prices and transportation costs have also risen dramatically. All this is worsened by the Government's increase of the GST by 2 percent last year to 7 percent, allowing it to rake in $6 billion in revenue last year.
2. CPF savings. The Government must return to the people their CPF savings. The PAP has devised several ways to retain the hard-earned money of Singaporeans through ploys like high HDB-flat prices, the Minimum Sum Scheme, Medisave, and now the compulsory annuity plan. Singaporeans are on record as being the highest savers in the world but they end up with one of the lowest retirement savings. The mismanagement and exploitation of CPF funds must stop.
3. Ministers' salaries. The Ministers' greed must be stopped. Currently, the Prime Minister earns $3.7 million dollars a year or $300,000 a month (more than six times what the US president earns). Ministers earn $3 million a year. And they still say that this is not enough!
4. Singaporeans first. The indiscriminate taking in of foreign workers to suppress wages have inflicted tremendous financial hardship on Singaporeans. Foreigners are welcome to work and live Singapore. But they brought in by the PAP Government to undercut the wages of Singaporeans so that Singapore can remain economically "competitive". This policy is flawed and must be rectified. Minimum wage must be introduced to reduce poverty and eradicate exploitation of our working and elderly poor.
The Singapore Democrats will conduct a series of activities in CARES '08 starting with the Tak Boleh Tahan! protest rally on 15 Mar 08 outside Parliament House.
Future events will be announced as they are organised. These activities will involve you, the people, and we hope that you will actively take part in CARES '08.
Because if you don't care, no one else will.
The "Uniquely Singapore" poster series...
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us.
can you tell me more about what the SDP has actually DONE for poor people?
curious
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Wed, 04 Jun 2008 5:51 am
to add on to the previous comment, may i also inquire, out of curiosity, what are the exact plans SDP proposes for immigration policies and the minimum wage policy? which industries/segments of the labor force will be targeted or is it a blanket policy? how much is the proposed minimum wage? has the adverse response from companies/MNCs been taken into consideration?
because frankly, these high-sounding rhetoric's assuring quality is fading with time. since eons ago, SDP and all the opposition have been declaring and demanding are very attractive, populist and tempting policies and proclamations ("SINGAPOREANS FIRST!!!" wow, what an inspired statements which will surely appeal to the voters) without the appropriate or adequate substantiation. my interest is waning in these noisy, loud proclamations which, upon closer scrutiny, are really empty at their core.
spend some intellectual capital and produce some sort of comprehensive proposal, if you are willing and able to engage a segment of the society which is dying to hear more than and beyond your morally courageous headlines. any political party worth its salt must surely be able to pass such a test of competence and willingness to follow through loud, bold demands for populist policy changes.
curious
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Mon, 09 Jun 2008 5:18 pm
still awaiting my reply :) could this delay in response be due to the imprisonment of csj and csc? if so, it is indeed regrettable that the sdp machinery is bankrupted intellectually once the two headlines-grabbing and heroic siblings are not functional. what personalized and not institutionalized dynamics we are witnessing at the supposed "credible alternative government!". i am appalled.
husrin
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to curious. think before talking
Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:51 pm
The SDP is being oppressed. How do you even expect them to do anything? Don't be an idiot you PAP stooge. Go and support your elitist party and stop hanging around here expecting instant results. In a country like this, it's good enough that the SDP is making YOU aware of all the crap YOUR elitist party is making. Chee bai. Think first. Asshole. Don't just look on the surface. Is that how the bunch of elitists at the PAP has taught you? To look at the Opposition in a disparaging manner? Tsk. I'm not surprised. Go bury your head in LKY's arse. And f*ck yourself being appalled la bitch. Singapore doesn't need people like you. Heh. Singapore might crumble with people like you around. Stupidity. In a country like this, you expect the SDP to be able to achieve something!? You f*cking elitist! No patience even F*ck off lah! Just scram.
God bless the both of you in prison. Many have made disparaging remarks about you both. But I see it in a different way. Gandhi spent almost 25 years behind bars for what he believed in. I know you will never stop believing in what you are fighting for. And neither shall I.
curious
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Wed, 11 Jun 2008 3:43 pm
husrin, your reply is typical of the brand of politics sdp embodifies. that of confrontation, agitation and vulgarity. and you alienate large bulk of the electorate by behaving this way.
i mean, sure, we stand on quite obviously contrasting points on the political spectrum. but your reaction which is to tell me to scram off and all the baser suggestions are failing in the ultimate aim of sdp, that is to effectively reach out and engage people of all walks of life, "the young and old, rich and poor" as stated in the party's manifesto.
it is not the business of the majority of voters to come around by some works of nature to understand the sdp's point of view or beliefs. it is rather the business of the sdp to reach out to them, whatever the effective means are. i am pretty sure the party leaders will not very much endorse your unwarranted type of reply.
and it speaks volumes about the kind of politics you advocate: contentious, divisive and aggressive.
"In a country like this, you expect the SDP to be able to achieve something!?". for the record, yes. i desire to see sdp get their act together and pose a credible opposition threat to the establishment for the purpose of upholding democracy.
but in the current state of things, i must say i am largely disappointed. and if you really expect SDP to be not able to achieve anything, than what is the business of this whole enterprise? must well pack up and leave. it is the for very reason that i, and I am SDP itself, believe that something CAN be done that this is all unfolding before our eyes. your fatalistic view is unnecessary and destructive, rather than constructive.
having said all, i stand to be robustly corrected as someone with an contrary point of view often do in this website.
Singaporean
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Mon, 07 Jul 2008 9:22 am
Curious, well said. What you said have very well reflected what I feel regarding the opposition in Singapore. I am not against any political parties. In fact, I am simply pro-Singapore, as a country where I was born.
I am surprised CSJ and CSC did not reply to this thread which was last updated 1 month ago, especially on the immatured and crude reply by husrin. In the 1st place, does SDP really endorse such replies given by their supporters? What kind of impression do you think is given to the general public?
Appalled
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Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:47 pm
Nice one, husrin. The exact embodiment of politics that we will NEVER ever want.
Similarly to Singaporean, I am pro-Singapore, a non-supporter of politics. I will give my vote to anyone who can bring Singapore higher up, and currently, it is still the PAP.
I am not saying that SDP is incapable, but as a Singaporean, I want to see things done first before I will put my trust on them.
So, SDP, do something! Show us what you are capable of! (Less the protests and stuff please, substantial works please!!)
Sien
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Agree Curious
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 4:19 am
Great Arguements both sides.
SDP is maturing.
Let's see what happens after JBJ's death.
Hopefully some important lessons that SDP will learn.
Not to subvert a government that is functioning and doing what it is good.
Our role is not to shame. Our role is to put the benefits of this country first.
In fact give credit where it is due. It shows graciousness and maturity. No opposition has done that. I'm wondering why actually.
Support the good causes and slam the bad ones. Slam them hard. But don't withhold praises. That way there is consistency.
You don't become like this person who likes to exaggerate all the bad points.
Keep quiet on the good ones and attack out of tangent on the bad ones.
Practice complementary politics. Not Subversive politics.
We are not trying to topple a good government. We are just trying to curb their excesses. If there is any.
From a strategic view point and a social cause view point. That is a more palatable approach.
We are also not trying to destroy the leaders so We can be in Power. But we are better because We Really are. Our policies show it. And Our viewpoints show it.
Its maturity. Not lack there of.
(Point in note.
Nobody is fully "matured" in the political sense. {In fact any sense}
Its just who is more. And it shows. People who don't. Normally fight to prove it.)
We could go down JBJ's track. But be prepared to lose everything you have and don't expect your reward this life.
And there's a high chance, you often lose track of what you are fighting for. Whether is it personal integrity or People's rights. And don't expect to get appreciated. Its not they are unkind. That's just life. Be thankful, Politics reveals all that.
CSJ and CSC have sacrificed. And I think SDP is maturing. Hopefully. I hope they learn to make meaningful sacrifices.
The pain again is not ill gotten. Its God's way of teaching us there's a better way of doing things. For the same rightful purpose.
Let's not hate our detractors. They are there to make sure our fight is worth it. And to gear us towards a more positive direction for the benefit of the people.
If anything we learn from JBJ.
Its not what is so hyped. His tenacity His ability to come back. His dogged personality. His fiery speeches.
That is just what we see. And if you crave all that. Or hope for all that. You've actually quite missed the point.
He lost everything.
I believed he really would have given up.
I don't think his family really supported him. Though now it seems they do.
I don't think he got any credit.
And even six feet under. He would never know all this talk about him that is going on.
It was not Him that was fighting.
It was beyond him. He was not fighting from a standpoint of a man. To gain back everything he should have, would have and could have.
Because if it was, it would have shown.
People normally cringe if its gets anything beyond physical or the explainable (humanly). And they steer clear. Its understandable. Being brought up in an industrial age. And where 90% of recognized professions stems from some analytical or scientific based background. And I'm not just talking about engineering and science.
But it is God.
I'm not saying He was the only one. In fact I believe LKY also had to be moved by God. Or a higher calling. To have allowed Singapore to have advanced so far.
His only problem. He's hanging on to what is not his. With all his known strength.
He forgot. It wasn't his cleverness that got him there. It was his ability to do the things others didn't have the FAITH to do. Which was given by.
Anyway, back to level talk.
JBJ role was to balance the system. It was his mission. His problems came, if at all, because the lines of personal interests and people's interest just got blurred.
Its human. Nothing to his discredit.
If we were to get the mandate. It is not our decision. I believe in all my heart.
At any point of time, JBJ could have been in power. And I mean like overtake PAP.
One would point down to strategy. People's support and Control policy of PAP.
But honestly. I just think Someone just didn't want that to happen. And JBJ didn't convince him that he could do it.
Lead this nation.
If we think people.
Think again.
Often times. Its answering that calling that really gets us the open doors. And finally the people who support us.
Not the other way around. Somehow I feel its kinda reversed here.
We are trying to please the people to get that mandate.
Well, thumb of life.
People don't vote the person that wins the political debate.
People vote for the person that they TRUST can lead this country to a good future and can GIVE them a home they can feel SAFE and LOVED.
Its not about the money. That's where both SDP & PAP are misguided.
One thinks that pple are swayed by that. The other thinks they can hold on banking on that.
We all know it just doesn't feel right. But do we know why and how come?
Transient things will not hold fast. Principles do.
How you apply that principle is the key. And the method differs.
How you do it determines your how far you go and how effective you are in winning the people. But have you grasped the principles? Or is it actually unclear and you are still finding out.
If that is so. Be prepared to eat more hardship.
No that is not a ridicule. It is a fact. That is the price to pay for education. Real education.
Doors of understanding don't open till it does.
Key of happiness never existed. Its a open door. You just walk through it.
(Most people just end up knocking in the walls beside it)
When you know something. You know something.
And you know that you know it when you can express it anyway you want. Be challenged anyway you want. Twist it like nobody's business. And still know what you are talking about.
Because Laws don't change.
I think JBJ grasped that principle at the end of his life.
He was not fighting for himself.
He had a reason to fight.
And if he didn't answer that reason. His life would have been as wasted as it never begun.
He would rather obey God than fear.
Himself. The people in power. (Who could put him where he really hated) The people that criticize him behind him and before him.
That might never ever give him credit.
Like they are doing so openly right now.
(If he was alive I think he would be saying to himself. "Why didn't you say so earlier? when I was alive."
But that's life.)
And the countless other fear issues. That you could simply put as. Man.
Backup plans are a invention of a excellent administration. One our dear LKY clearly lauds.
But there is where is his failure lies as well.
Faith equals miracles.
Planning equals results.
Good planning equals Better results.
But you will never see the two equations overlap.
They are running collateral to each other. Parallel running planes.
One is a separate realm of another. They don't cross.
And the former. Always above.
Why faith has not proved true. Than take this explanation.
Good faith produces miracles. Better miracles produces Better miracles.
Its a plane. You only get better if you continue in the right direction. Not staying on the same spot.
You think your faith is not working. Because your expectation has run ahead of your faith level. Not that faith isn't working.
What is true in the natural is true in the spiritual. Or as some scientist would say. Metaphysical.
You get better planning. You get better efficiency. But there's a glass celing you can reach.
You've gotta move on a higher plane.
I don't think LKY grasps that. And I don't think he ever will. He's approaching the end of his candle.
For his sake, I really hope he does. And hopefully his son Hsien Loong does too. He's showing some signs.
LKY really got where he is not because of his cleverness or manipulation of things; people. Scientists would say that. He got there because he had the FAITH to do what most people won't dare to do. And he TRUSTED.
Calculated risks is a PR way of saying I'm done my homework. And I'm leaving the rest to God.
In fact that's the way the plane of faith should be heading. That's why its always above, never on its own.
Counting on his Adminstrative prowess and "homework" is what is doing him in. He is trying to hold on to what is not his. By his strength.
We all know that. We just can't pin point the true mechanics of this whole observation.
Truth:
LKY isn't the best. He's just better.
Than the rest. Of us.
And he's defintely not God.
In finality, I have gone off track.
I do not wish to show off. I just want to share. I am no better.
If at all, someone gets something out of this. That's sufficient sake.
If not, in the very apt words of a "on a first impression" insensitive unappreciative verbal diarrhoea-ter... but now.... maybe forgivable friend and associate.....
I stand rebuffed. Too.
Not just here but in the international and global realm.
Who will by any chance read this long and sufferable monologue.
And seriously its ok. Just try to measure your insults.
I'm still tender.
Heck, just fire.
Regards.
Yawn.
Lee Chee Wai
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Wed, 08 Oct 2008 7:02 am
I feel that curious is right. I read the article "SDP CARES '08" with the expectation (especially with the image of a poor old and possibly homeless woman) that I might read something about what the SDP is doing about this problem, or at least some details about the problem itself (i.e. how prevalent, what the authorities are or are not doing about it etc).
Instead, I read about SDP's criticism of various PAP government policies without details or links to details about the alternatives that the SDP intends to pursue and the expectations of success for those alternatives. The closest thing I can guess at is the SDP intends to reverse those policies. In that case, could the SDP please substantiate and give reasons and statistics on the benefits of reversing those policies?
I do understand how the SDP is being suppressed and I sympathize. I also sympathize with CSJ's fight against an imbalanced political system where dissenting voices are treated unfairly. However, when challenging policies, one has to be objective and provide to people specific alternative plans. Or at the very least, say that you feel things are bad, but that you do not have sufficient information, would like to seek appropriate information in order to fully elucidate such a plan.
This is one reason I have often been disappointed by Singapore opposition politics as expressed by "Singaporean". I do not like the PAP's high-handed approach, but they have certainly be correct more than 50% of the time. I would like to see the remaining times when they are wrong challenged effectively by the opposition (and while we're at it, the media, who need to grow a pair).
Stop opposing for the sake of opposing and start doing something effective please.
Somebody
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Mon, 20 Oct 2008 5:08 pm
I feel that for political maturity to grow in Singapore, there must be a focus on discussong the issues at hand. Alot of times, it just degenerates into name calling and prejudiced comments either way.
I totally agree with Lee Chee Wai....
"Stop opposing for the sake of opposing ..."
Singaporean
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Sun, 14 Dec 2008 3:31 pm
It has been months, and still no reply to many of the queries posted here. Still no updates on what the SDP plans to do specifically with regards to CARE '08, and 2008 is coming to an end. Maybe a CARE '09?
At least immatured antics from supporters like Husrin has stopped, but this spot seems to have been deserted by the SDP altogether.
If CARE '08 still exist, it certainly is growing dust.
If the old people depicted in those photos are waiting for some actions by the SDP to alleviate their sufferings, they would already have starved to death.
Lets not talk about action, because there is not even a plan to begin with.
