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https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/public-servants-receive-notification-election-duties-and-online-training-1868266 Notification / trainings issued!🤣 Beat metal while it is hot!😁 Covid well done???🥳🥳

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/general-election-delay-unconstitutional-covid19-teo-chee-hean-12574796 It is extremely disturbing to read such comments from our Government. Can they freaking focus on the issue at hand? "When you are sailing into a storm, you want to be certain who your captain is and that he will not be changed halfway. You want to make sure that he is there - together with you, working with you, guiding you through the storm," he added. Minister Teo, if you haven't noticed, we are ALREADY in the MIDDLE of the STORM. And now you are considering asking for a change of captain which is what an election is? If an election is called, I know who to vote for

https://au.news.yahoo.com/australians-are-dumb-commentators-slam-coalitions-election-victory-011135657.html?soc_src=community&soc_trk=wa Looks like the new way of getting a win is quite easy. As long as it appeals to the wider population, you get to Win. Its carrying out the deliverables that's the killer. I believe the Silver hair population taxes were sacrifices

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/world/asia/maldives-elections.html NEW DELHI — The Maldives, the isolated scattering of islands caught in a geopolitical struggle between China, India and the West, were thrust into more uncertainty Sunday when voters appeared to have ousted the country’s autocratic president. With votes still being tallied, local news organizations reported that Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the opposition candidate, had beaten President Abdulla Yameen. Mr. Solih won 58 percent of the vote with about 97 percent of ballots counted, according to the independent news websitemihaaru.com. Transparency Maldives, an election watchdog, said he had won “by a decisive margin.” As Mr. Solih declared victory and his supporters danced in the street, observers held their breath as they waited to see what Mr. Yameen would do next. His campaign had yet to concede by early Monday morning, and a spokesman for the Maldives’ Election Commission said official results would not be announced for a week, according to Reuters. “This is a moment of happiness, this is a moment of hope, this is a moment of history,” Mr. Solih said at a news conference at midnight. He said, “I would like to call upon Yameen and ask him to respect the will of the people and to immediately begin the smooth transition of power as per the Constitution and the law.” With Mr. Yameen hoping to solidify his hold on power with a second term, the opposition had warned that the Maldives’ nascent democracy was at stake in the election. Accusations of fraud have plagued both sides. As polling stations opened on Sunday, lines of voters snaked down streets in the Maldives and in countries with large Maldivian communities, like Sri Lanka, suggesting a high turnout. Lying southwest of India, and stretching across maritime routes that are crucial to China, the Maldives has been caught up in recent years in Beijing’s growing global ambitions, which the United States and its allies have struggled to contain. China has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure projects in the Maldives, which critics, including the political opposition, warn amount to “debt-trap diplomacy” that weighs down the recipient country with loans in order to secure a naval base as repayment. The governments of both countries reject that assessment. Even before the elections on Sunday, Mr. Yameen had been accused of rigging them, forcing employees of state-owned companies to vote for his party, stacking the election commission with loyalists, locking up opposition leaders and canceling voter registrations. On Saturday night, the police raided the opposition’s office in the capital, Malé, citing evidence of vote-buying. This month, the police said they had unraveled a plot to “create the false impression that the election will not be free and fair,” which Western diplomats warned could be used to annul the elections if the governing party does not win. The United States said this month that it would impose sanctions on Maldivian officials if the elections are not free and fair. But both the European Union and United States declined to send teams to monitor the voting, wary of appearing to condone them. The election pitted Mr. Yameen’s governing Progressive Party against a unified opposition led by Mr. Solih, a senior lawmaker from the Maldivian Democratic Party. The Maldives became a democracy in 2008, when it held its first vote to elect a president directly. Mr. Yameen came to power in 2013, after elections monitored by more than 100 international observers. Since then, he has jailed his political opponents, including his half brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who led the country for 30 years until opening it up in 2008, and Muhammed Nasheed, the first democratically elected president. The opposition rallied behind Mr. Solih after many opposition leaders, including Mr. Nasheed, fled into exile. Many observers had said the opposition would win if there were a level playing field. For the first time in three years, it was permitted this month to hold a rally, after the government came under pressure for not issuing permits in the past. Around 10,000 people attended, about twice as many as at the governing party’s rallies, though in the past the government has used force to stifle protests and dismissed dissenters as terrorists. “There is a huge popular groundswell in favor of change,” said Mr. Solih’s campaign manager, Mariya Ahmed Did. “President Yameen was not given a mandate to trample all over Maldivian democracy and our Constitution, but that is what he has done these past five years.” She said, “The Maldives risks becoming just another banana republic.” Mr. Yameen’s campaign manager, Adhlee Ismail, denied in a brief telephone interview that the elections had been rigged. The Chinese government has been a consistent supporter of Mr. Yameen despite his crackdown on dissent. In February, Beijing sent a naval force to linger off the coast of Malé after Mr. Yameen sent troops to burst into the Supreme Court and jailed two of its justices after they overturned the convictions of opposition politicians. Mr. Yameen then declared a state of emergency and prevented Parliament from meeting for a while. Even if Mr. Yameen were to lose, China’s influence would not simply be rolled back, some observers say. The United States and India are unwilling or unable to match the billions of dollars Beijing has invested in cash-starved regions of South Asia as part of its “One Belt, One Road” initiative. China is spending about $62 billion in Pakistan alone as part of the program, tilting another American ally further into its axis. “If President Yameen loses, China will be able to work with the next leader, as it has shown in the case of Sri Lanka after the 2015 election,” said Nilanthi Samaranayake, a South Asia analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, a think tank based in Arlington, Va. For small nations in the region, China’s appeal as a source of money for development “transcends domestic politics,” she said. Many in the Maldives and elsewhere are wary of China’s increasing military interests. Despite assurances to the contrary, Beijing has steadily bolstered its presence on a collection of disputed reefs in the South China Sea, eventually building bases there. The Maldives, which is included in China’s One Belt, One Road plans, has received about $2 billion in Chinese loans that critics say will be difficult to repay. The Chinese initiative has been likened to the United States’ ambitious Marshall Plan in Europe after World War II, but the Marshall Plan was mostly composed of grants rather than onerous loans, critics argue, and went toward economically viable projects. Mr. Yameen has been racked by accusations of corruption, including reports that he plans to sell some of the 1,200 islands that make up the Republic of Maldives for his personal gain, a charge he has denied. Although the Maldivian government said international journalists were welcome to report on elections, many — including from The New York Times — were unable to secure visas to enter the country.

post all here

Ha! NSP chut the xmm card again! I am getting my popcorn ready! Hope have straight up 1v1 fight but I wonder if PAP will allow.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/general-election-alan-mak-holds-havant-for-tories-1-6732424 http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/europe/story/britains-election-first-ethnic-chinese-mp-elected-parliament-20150508 "first ethnic Chinese person to be elected to the House of Commons" congrats Alan lol... portsmouth of all places... i dont remember many chinese there...

Hmm... this looks interesting.... a 1 year temporary position, with mention of election administration and work extended hours during election period..... Does it mean that GE will come earlier than 2016? I am sure one of the key objectives of PAP is to recapture the GRC lost, so maybe they will try to call for the next GE before the issues clouding AHPTC can be settled. Maybe that is also why we are going to have more COEs soon? anyway, just plain speculation :p http://careers-gov-jobs.jobstreet.com.sg/jobs/jobdesc.asp?aid=1&jid=91068774 Position Training Facilitator (Temporary for 1 year) Organisation Elections Department Date Posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 Application Deadline Saturday, May 17, 2014 Location 11 Prinsep Link,Singapore 187949 No. of Vacancies 2 Elections Department is a department under the Prime Minister’s Office. We are a professional election administrator committed to preparing and organising the public service to efficiently conduct free and fair elections in Singapore. Our vision is to be a dynamic and innovative organisation which values its people, always striving for quality and accountability in delivering electoral services and in promoting and sustaining our citizens’ trust and confidence in Singapore’s democratic process. Responsibilities You will be part of the team that facilitates training of public officials to prepare them for their roles as election officials. The training may be in the form of breakout sessions, lectures, hands-on simulated exercises and briefings. In addition to the training facilitation, you will be responsible for training administration, preparation of logistical requirements and premises for each training session as well as overseeing the maintenance of the training premises/facilities. You will also consolidate feedback from training participants and prepare training feedback report to management. During the election periods, you may be involved in other election administration work. Requirements • Good communication and interpersonal skills. • Ability to work independently and through others. • Have training / teaching experience • Must be prepared to work extended hours under pressure during the election period • Singapore Citizenship • Candidates with prior election working experience will be an advantage

Newly elected independent Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (centre) joining hands with his relatives after winning the Taipei Mayoral elections in Taipei on Nov 29, 2014. Taiwan's premier resigned after his Beijing-friendly ruling party suffered a landslide defeat at the island's biggest-ever local elections. Historic defeat for ruling KMT in Taiwan local polls leads to Premier's resignation In a stunning indictment of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, Taiwanese voters sent its candidates packing in elections, handing five of six key cities, including the capital of Taipei, to its rivals. It is a historic defeat for the mainland-friendly KMT, and on Saturday night, Premier Jiang Yi-huah resigned to accept responsibility. Also taking the fall was KMT secretary-general Tseng Yung-chuan. Despite calls from some quarters for him to step down as party chairman as well, a grim-faced President Ma Ying-jeou made no mention of this possibility. Instead, he said at a press conference - where he bowed once in apology to supporters - that he had "heard the message from voters" and that he will be embarking on "reforms". He did not specify what these would be. In the course of a day, when 13 million people, about 70 per cent of registered voters, went to the polls, the map of Taiwan turned overwhelming green - the colour of the pro-independence coalition. Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/historic-defeat-ruling-kmt-taiwan-local-polls-leads-premiers-resignation-2

extracted from another website....well written.. pls read on... Savantrainmaker wrote: Was recently back in Singapore after being based overseas for many years. Chanced upon and subscribed to the EDMW forum when I was abroad and read many rants about the Government's 'Foreign Talent' policies. Felt then that people were complaining for the sake of complaining. Could not reconcile with all the anger and frustration until I landed back in my beloved Singapore. The online scenario painted by many an exasperated netizens held much truth. Everywhere on the island is now much more crowded than before. Uncouth and anti-social behaviours by foreigners are more evident. The general level of cleanliness around the city has also dropped. General service standard and productivity have also dropped noticeably. Beyond the physical deterioration, I have also observed a disturbing trend emerging. Singaporeans are being pushed out of the labour market by unfair practices across all job-levels. Blue-collared workers have their wages depressed and in some cases, even employment denied because the foreigner foreman chose his own countrymen over a deserving Singaporean worker. Entry and mid-level white-collared workers are denied deserving job-promotions and career-advancement opportunities because of unfair advantages that their foreigners colleagues enjoyed. Even top level executive-positions are not spared as foreigner bosses/HRs/CEOs choose to bring in their own kind and/or network instead of hiring/promoting a deserving and in many instances, better-qualified Singaporeans. Heard plenty of stories from friends and head-hunters. A large oil & gas firm bringing in foreigners to fill regional management positions that capable local Singaporean managers could and would want to do. A Swiss bank parachuting executives from Zurich and Geneva into Singapore to fill management roles yearned by the local employees because the market in Europe is depressing now. A French company choosing a 60-year old French citizen with a mediocre track-record ahead of a top-performing Singaporean in his mid-40s to be the regional CEO. Having lived and worked in different global cities, I have seen my fair share of discrimination in the labour market. American banks and financial institutions on TARP not allowed to employ non-Americans, companies in Europe are incentivised to only employ EU citizens, international banks in Japan only employs Japanese natives and even fluent-Japanese speakers are denied the opportunity to interview, only native-Spanish speakers will ever be employed in Latin America etc. These discriminatory labour practices that favour the natives are not unexpected. Afterall, it's their country and their rules. But, seeing deserving Singaporeans being discriminated in his/her own country is really shocking to say the least. Singapore has always made meritocracy as one of our main pillars for nation-building and progress. It's a real shame that this value is being eroded by the relentless influx of foreigners, who valued kinship and people of their own skin-colour more. The Government, with its liberal foreign employment policies, knowingly or otherwise, become the perfect accomplice. This even despite the massive outcry from the populace during the GE2011, that prompted the Prime Minister to apologize on national television no less. Alas, words are not backed up by actions. Worse, hard figures published recently showed the contrary as more foreigners are allowed to work in Singapore in the past year since GE2011. In Leadership 101, what is worse than incompetency is insincerity and betrayal. It's no wonder that this current Government is losing its credibility and whatever residual goodwill that 60.1% of the populace has decided to give it a last-chance to redeem itself. So herein, I lay down the challenge to all EDMWers. To stop being a keyboard warrior. Instead of ranting and complaining only online, take one step further to let fellow Singaporeans see the real challenges that the country is facing. Ask fellow Singaporeans constructive questions to trigger their logical thought process: - Government has always emphasized that we need more foreigners for the country to stay competitive and achieve higher GDP growth. Yes, the Singaporean economy has stayed very competitive globally and our GDP at US$56,532 per capita is the highest in the world, (US$5,300 more than second-placed Norway!) according The Wealth Report 2012. Several questions to ask. How have you personally benefitted from all these economic progress? And is this US$56,532 the median income for Singaporeans? If not, why is the Singaporean's median income at US$29,500 so much lesser than the mean GDP figure? - Economic progress and high GDP growth have a very low correlation with the quality of life of the populace. So why does the Government keep on insisting on maintaining high GDP growth? Is the Government's raison d'être (reason for existence) to improve the people's quality of life or to achieve high GDP growth? Which is the mean and which is the end? So really who benefits from the high GDP growth? - Government keeps on emphasizing that foreigners are needed to safekeep jobs for Singaporeans. Then why is that the case that 7 out of 10 jobs created in 2011 goes to a foreigner? - Government keeps on saying that Singaporeans do not possess the necessary skill-sets for certain jobs that MNCs in Singapore need, so foreigners need to be imported. Ask the critical question that if we keep on importing foreigners, then how can Singaporeans ever be trained to have these skill-sets? And this argument become circular the next time round in the future. Since the MNCs do not take in and train local Singaporeans in these skill-sets, it'll forever use the lack of necessary skill-sets excuse to keep on demanding for the Government to allow more foreigners in. - The official unemployment figure is 2%. How is this figure calculated? What is the under-employment figure for Singaporeans? What is the real cost to the nation of educating Singaporeans to such high international standards and have him/her under-employed because of unfair labour practice promulgated by foreigner bossess/HRs/CEOs? - Why did the Government allowed in an addition of 1.5 million foreigners without adequate preparation of the transport and housing infrastructure? Complacency or incompetency? What's is the real cost to the country with such high housing cost? If people are spending a high proportion of their income on housing, the amount of disposable income left for other consumption and retirement planning would suffer. So what's the ultimate cost to the country in the long-term? And why is S$1.1 billion Singaporean tax-dollars used to increase the nation's bus capacity, subsidizing the 40% non-Singaporeans in the process? - And the million dollar question (no puns intended). Have your life become better or worse off since the last GE? There's an estimated 20,000 EDMWer (forumers) and 200 weeks more to GE2016. If everyone of us were to share with a different fellow Singaporean these perspectives every week till the next election is called, we could in all reach out to 4,000,000 Singaporeans (not physically possible because there are only 3.285 million Singaporean). Given that there will be overlaps and that there will be Singaporeans who will not be convinced and/or converted; it will sure make a difference in shifting the 60.1% majority that the current Government scored in the last election. So make the difference today. Take action, ask constructive questions, make your fellow Singaporeans think and be aware. Finally, I would like to state for the record: I am not xenophobic, I just love Singapore and Singaporeans more.

OK.... who also promise "more good years ahead" and "Swiss Standard of Living" ........ CNA: Don't turn elections into auction of "goodies" says Minister Khaw Boon Wan SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Monday (June 2) warned against turning elections into an auction between political parties promising voters as much "goodies" as they can, with as low taxes as possible. He made this point during a dialogue at the joint World Cities Summit, Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit. The topic of financing rapid urbanisation came up. Mr Angel Gurria, the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development had raised that a common way of financing urban growth is through taxes such as consumption tax, property taxes, or green taxes. Mr Khaw said it is natural for people to want more, but not want to pay higher taxes for it. He said political parties should not take advantage of this. "In all honesty, we must acknowledge most of our people would always want more, but would never want to pay more in taxes, and it's incumbent upon our part to be honest with our voters, because if every election is a mere auction between political parties to give as much goodies as they can with as little taxes they need to pay, I think democracy of that manner must lead to insolvency and eventually, political cynicism." Mr Khaw added there is no shortage of money to finance the development of infrastructure - the problem is a lack of sustainable good ideas which will benefit all sectors in a country. He said, as long as projects are bankable, there will be no shortage of funding. However, it is inevitable that governments may need to help finance some projects in order to help the poorer segments of the population. Mr Khaw also shared with delegates some lessons that Singapore has learnt. One is the importance of keeping the economy open. He stressed that protectionism has no place in Singapore. This is because in the case of Singapore, its domestic market is too small. Still, some observers say being small may have its advantages. Said CEO of Suez Environment Company, Mr Jean-Louis Chaussade: “Small cities are much easier to manage than very big cities where the problems are really complex due to the size. It's less in terms of technology; it's easier in terms of human resources, and human cooperation." However, Singapore faces additional challenges because it is a city-state. "Because the state consists of only one city, if the city fails, the country fails. So, for example, Detroit may be bankrupt but there are many other American cities can continue to prosper and America remains a major global power," explained Mr Khaw. Mr Khaw added that as a small city state without a natural hinterland, Singapore will feel the impact of globalisation more acutely. - CNA/xk link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/don-t-turn-elections-into/1133560.html hmmmm........... no shortage of money to finance the development of infrastructure. But WHY keep extending CPF minimum sum and retirement age ?

Finally after a long drag...

Breaking News PM Lee to call for Hougang by-elections; timing of polls not decided yet

Breaking news: The Presidential Elections Committee issues four Certificates of Eligibility to - Dr Tony Tan; Tan Kin Lian; Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Jee Say.

Since the PM & his cabinet colleagues have been emphasing that they will listen more to the ground just before & after the recent GE, I will like to seek my fellow MCFers' opinion on this. For me, I think it will be mandatory that the ED be completely independent from the executive, legislative or judiciary branches. Ideally the people there should be appointed from both public & private sectors maybe 1 year before the next GE. This is remove some concerns from people of the nagging feeling of the conflict of interest element which may influence how electoral boundaries are drawn before each GE so far. Even though I am not from Aljunied GRC, I certainly do not want it to be broken up in different wards come GE 2016. Your views?

This writer did... though I am not sure if she herself understands it. http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNew...510-277950.html My son teaches me how to vote My son summed up for me what it means to be a voter: to use your head, as well as your heart. -myp Tue, May 10, 2011 my paper By Clara Cho IT'S not easy explaining politics to a kid. This, I found out, during the recently concluded General Election season, which marked my five-year-old son's political awakening. "Mummy, why are there so many signs around our block with the same picture that is on my school uniform?" Julian asked me one day, pointing to the lightning bolt on his PE T-shirt. Trying to think of a simple way to explain the electoral system, I said: "There's going to be a big competition, in which everyone in Singapore is going to help choose a winner." I added: "The people competing are from groups called political parties." Julian then asked, referring to a story from the Thomas the Tank Engine series: "Is it like the competition that Gordon joined, on who was the best dressed?" I replied: "Um... yes, sort of. And the contestants are like Gordon, Percy and all the other engines in Tidmouth Sheds." Over a long dinner, the Supportive Spouse and I explained to Julian how political parties worked. In Politics 101 for kids, we introduced him to "the Government", which was made up of "people we chose to take care of Singapore, making sure we have homes to live in, jobs and workers to keep the roads clean and tidy". Putting things so simply tested my understanding of the system. But it also demonstrated that the principle of it was logically sound, so that even a kid could grasp it. We told Julian that Singaporeans were going to choose people for the government, from a pool of people who wanted to represent various parts of Singapore in the competition. And we told him that the Government, since independence, has been made up of People's Action Party members, and they have set up towns, hospitals and schools - such as the kindergarten he attends. We told him about opposition parties, and how they wanted to be voted into Parliament, so as to provide a different way of doing things. Different parties believe in different things, we said, and have different things they want to do for the country. The boy wanted to know more. And more. Rather than give him black-and-white answers, we felt it was important to explain things so that he could make up his own mind. We told him about how political parties would try to get voters to choose them, by promising them things. And the key was in deciding for yourself if the promises are what you want, and if the promising party is capable of delivering on them. "If two people ask you to vote for them as your parents, and promise that they'll buy toys for you and not scold you, would you choose them?" I finally asked my son. Julian shook his head: "No. I want you and Papa to be my parents. Because I love you." And, just like that, my son summed up for me what it means to be a voter: to use your head, as well as your heart. For more my paper stories click here.

[laugh]

...PICNIC06..pls control your maid...u no give enough ah http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sg...ut_on_date.html Maid kisses and hugs BF, neglects elderly woman in her careEnraged64%Shiok!20%LOL!7%So sad2%Sure or not?1%Bochup6%This domestic worker apparently brought a wheelchair-bound woman in her care to her date with her boyfriend. STOMPer Rina is furious that they started getting intimate, right in front of the elderly woman. The STOMPer described: "A maid was spotted 'romancing' a foreign worker behind Kembangan MRT station on May 2 at 6pm while a wheelchair-bound elderly helplessly looked on. "The maid was so heartless and disrespectful that she couldn't care less about her elderly employer who kept looking away while the maid had a jolly time with her lover. "Shortly, the maid turned the wheelchair around and left the pitiful employer guessing what was going on behind. "Such behaviour is absolutely appalling and I really feel for the aged employer who was unwillingly made to sit through such torture, unable to react to it and voice out. "I hope this is not your maid!"

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1123544/1/.html And to ensure that I win the Marine Parade GRC, so that two new candidates can be in parliament." So here it is from Woody's mouth.... he also believes the 2 candidates CANNOT MAKE IT on their own... so they need to hide under his skirt to get into parliament. DISGUSTING!

I am sure there are ministers or MPs who are "retired" and/or disagree with PAP. What is stopping them from resigning from the party (if they are still in it) and joining opposition this time round to continue their work? If retired, why not join opposition? I mean it is not like they will lose their pensions. As for those who disagree but still in the government but frustrated but under GRC, can they like resign end of this term and begin the next term by campaigning for what they truely believe in? Is there any reason why they cannot? Please do not say that they are afraid of their rice bowl or something. I refer to those who really want to serve (and not motivated by money) but are intimidated by the party whip or those who are "retired" but they have their pensions

Since 2006, many changes have been made in the political scene round the world. We have Malaysia where the ruling party since independence has suffered severe losses to the opposition while in libya and egypt, once thought presidents for life have been overthrown (or at least in the process of being over thrown) by the general public (note, not a coup). So it is not impossible for something to happen in this election to the ruling party. What say you?

Seems that a slew of new changes have been approved for the forthcoming general elections... should make it more interesting from both sides of the coin - for the incumbent as well as the opposition. some of the new changes : 1. "Promotional items such as T-shirts, soft toys, pennants and hats bearing the logos and campaign messages of political parties and their candidates" such campaign material will now be exempted from the regulations governing election advertising. The exemption list had previously comprised only buttons, pens, pencils and balloons. 2. Posters and banners can be displayed on vehicles approved for election campaigning. 3. Candidates may also get an additional opportunity to address supporters. The returning officer overseeing the elections can now allow all candidates to do so on Nomination Day, once proceedings at the centres end. Previously, this discretion was extended only to candidates who were given a walkover. 4. Flexibility will be given in another area: In the setting up and dismantling of stages and tents at rally sites, and for the display of election posters and banners. These can now be carried out by work pass holders and permanent residents contracted by candidates and their election agents. (Ah.. maybe this is the real reason why so many FT allowed into Singapore ) Previously, the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) had prohibited non-citizens from taking part in election activity. 5. Election agents have two new forms to fill in when consolidating the expenses of candidates within a Group Representation Constituency. Form 19A details expenditure such as advertising and printing of promotional materials, while Form 20A is a declaration of accuracy. 6. Campaigning via podcasts, videocasts, blogs, Twitter, MMS, Flickr, Facebook and mobile applications. Candidates must declare the platforms they intend to use

I think this is just an empty threat to prevent MIW from shuffling unpopular ministers to walkover districts

Brilliant! So far the frankest and most direct admission from a cabinet minister: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC10...ays-Mah-Bow-Tan Shorter waiting time and larger supply of flats, says Mah Bow Tan by Ong Dai Lin 05:55 AM Aug 31, 2010 SINGAPORE - Three years - already a higher standard than in other cities - was the benchmark to beat. Yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan made a new commitment: First-time home buyers will get the keys to their flats in two-and-a-half years. To get this done for projects launched from the middle of next year onwards, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) will streamline internal processes, for instance, by awarding the tender sooner and speeding up the Build-to-Order (BTO) selection exercises, Mr Mah said. The shorter waiting period and a record number of units next year for executive condominiums and the Design, Build and Sell Scheme, in addition to BTO flats, were among the key announcements on housing policies set out by Mr Mah. These moves, analysts said, would have the widest bearing on the current supply-and-demand imbalance in public housing that Mr Mah had previously described. HDB resale flat prices could fall from their current record high, they said. Asked if the new housing measures were a response to ground sentiment that housing will be a hot topic in an upcoming election, Mr Mah said: "If you ask me whether it has got anything to do with the elections, the answer is yes. Everything has got to do with the elections." The waiting period is being shortened even though the selection exercise for BTOs is a "very time consuming process". Mr Mah explained that the HDB would check on the eligibility of every applicant. Demand will also be met through 4,000 DBSS flats and 4,000 ECs, to be located across the island, including in Tampines, Yishun and Jurong West. This is on top of the 22,000 BTO flats HDB will offer next year and the 16,000 BTO flats this year. Calling the numbers substantial, Mr Mah gave this analogy: "In two years, we're going to build, if the demand is there, a new Toa Payoh." Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had flagged off the changes at the National Day Rally on Sunday, when he said the income ceiling for DBSS flats would be increased to $10,000 from $8,000 for the "sandwiched" group. Analysts told MediaCorp the upgrading dreams of homeowners would be restored to some extent. They noted that a consequence of a rising price market would be the dampening of Singaporeans' "upgrading aspirations", as an analyst put it. Some prospective home buyers welcomed the moves but suggested the HDB go further. Freelance trailer producer Shen Wenyuan, 27, said: "The measures are good, but I hope the Government can release the sites for balloting periodically, like the Sale of Balance Flats exercise, so that people can choose their flats earlier instead of waiting to ballot each month." Mr Chris Koh, director of property firm Dennis Wee Group, said that despite the increased flat supply, there are groups of people, such as the growing number of singles, who are ineligible for new flats and have to buy in the resale market. Ms Lee Bee Wah, the deputy chairperson of the Government Parliamentary Committee (National Development), welcomed the measures. She said she had about six complaints every week for the past two months at her Meet-the-People sessions about the difficulty of getting a new flat. She said she never had such numbers before. When asked whether the completion time can be further reduced, Ms Lee said: "We do it step by step and need to monitor the quality of the flats. We don't want to speed up the construction and deal with quality issues downstream."

tonight who watching? like how the opposition trying to prepare the ground. already sda and rp want to form alliance but it failed cos kenneth jayaratnam's proposal to essentially take over sda and replace chiam was rejected by sda. rp is young and untested, only the jbj brand name to keep it going. sda is tested but declining as chiam lao liao. wp is the only one slow and steady. sdp, that one no need say no hope and i dont want to see them in parliament.