Town Council Management – What is really at stake

16 May 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TOWN COUNCIL MANAGEMENT – WHAT IS REALLY AT STAKE During the debate in Parliament on Town Councils on 13 May 2013, Parliament discussed the controversial sale of the Town Council Management System (TCMS) to Action Information Management Pte Ltd (AIM), a company wholly-owned by the PAP, allowing AIM to terminate the TCMS with one month’s notice should there... [Read more]

Clarifications by WP MPs on FMSS during Town Councils debate in Parliament

During the debate in Parliament on Town Councils on 13 May 2013, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan made several remarks about the Workers’ Party (WP), Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) and AHPETC’s managing agent (MA), FM Solutions and Services Pte Ltd (FMSS). Ms Sylvia Lim (Chairman of the WP and AHPETC, MP for Aljunied GRC) and Mr Pritam Singh (Vice-chairman of AHPETC,... [Read more]

Safeguarding the Public Interest in Town Council Management – Sylvia Lim

by Sylvia Lim, MP for Aljunied GRC and Chairman of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council [Delivered in Parliament on 13 May 2013] This debate has been triggered by the controversy surrounding the sale of town council management software (TCMS) by 14 Town Councils managed by the People’s Action Party (PAP) to Action Information Management Pte Ltd (AIM) in 2011 prior to the General Elections.... [Read more]

The AIM Transaction: Business or Political – Png Eng Huat

By MP for Hougang SMC, Png Eng Huat [Delivered in Parliament on 13 May 2013] The MND Town Council Review has left many questions unanswered despite providing a lot of background information on the AIM transaction. While the report has concluded that the sale of the Town Council Management System (TCMS) to a PAP-owned company was nothing more than a business deal, the intentions behind the AIM transaction... [Read more]

Lessons from the AIM affair: Depoliticising the relationship between the Government and Town Councils – Pritam Singh

By MP for Aljunied GRC, Pritam Singh [Delivered in Parliament on 13 May 2013] The Town Councils Act of 1989 was passed with reference to Singapore politics of the 1980s, when non-People’s Action Party (PAP) Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected to check the government, ending the one-party rule of the PAP in parliament. Whatever the stated intent and objectives of the Act, government entities... [Read more]

The Workers’ Party Labour Day Message 2013

Every year, Labour Day serves to remind us that the economic progress we have achieved as a nation would not have been possible without our workers’ immense contributions and sacrifices. Today, we pay a special tribute to our Singaporean workers, who are well-regarded around the world for their hard work, responsibility, knowledge and skills. For over five decades, the Workers’ Party has given... [Read more]

Speech on Child Development Co-Savings Bill – NCMP Gerald Giam

By Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam [Delivered in Parliament on 8 April 2013] Madam Speaker, This Bill seeks to amend the existing Child Development Co-Savings Act to implement some of the measures in the Marriage and Parenthood Package that were announced earlier this year. I welcome the amendments and I am glad to see the introduction of paternity leave. This was something I appealed for during last... [Read more]

Speech on Fire Safety (Amendment) Bill – MP Sylvia Lim

by MP for Aljunied GRC, Sylvia Lim [Delivered in Parliament on 8 April 2013] I am in general support of the rationale for the Bill. However, I wish to seek some clarifications on Clauses 17 and 18 which require designated buildings to provide emergency response plans and to have Company Emergency Response Teams. Specifically, I wish to ask what role SCDF will play to collaborate or partner with building... [Read more]

COS 2013 Debates: MCCY – Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (MP Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap)

By MP for Aljunied GRC, Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] Puan saya ingin mengutarakan 2 cadangan mengenai TTFS. Yang pertama Puan, Menteri Yacob dalam menjawab soalan parlimen saya mengatakan bahawa jumlah dana TTFS yang tidak diagih disalurkan kepada Dana Pendidikan Mendaki (EDF) dimana dana ini digunakan untuk skim bantuan pendidikan dan program... [Read more]

COS 2013 Debates: MOM – Family Care Leave (MP Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap)

By MP for Aljunied GRC, Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] Mdm, many pro-family policies and workplace initiatives have been rolled out over the last two years towards the strengthening of family ties and fostering a more conducive environment for the family. This includes paternity leave and the extended childcare leave introduced by this government... [Read more]

COS 2013 Debate: MOM – Use of CPF for Home Financing (MP Low Thia Khiang)

By MP for Aljunied GRC, Low Thia Khiang [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] Currently CPF members are allowed to use their Ordinary Accounts (OA) to service their housing mortgage loans up to Valuation Limit (VL) of the property. CPF members below age 55, who have reached the VL in using the CPF OA, must set aside half of the prevailing Minimum Sum in their OA and Special Account (SA)... [Read more]

COS 2013 Debate: MOM – CPF Minimum Sum (MP Low Thia Khiang)

By MP for Aljunied GRC, Low Thia Khiang [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] The Minimum Sum amount was set at $80,000[1] in 2003 and targeted to reach $120,000 by 2015. In order to maintain the Minimum Sum amount value in 2003 dollars, the sum is adjusted yearly for inflation. In 2012, due to higher movement in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the increase in 2013 was supposed to be... [Read more]

COS 2013 Debate: MOM – Fair Employment for Low-Wage Workers (MP Png Eng Huat)

By MP for Hougang SMC, Png Eng Huat [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] Low wage workers especially those with little education or qualifications need help beyond government funded top ups, training, and re-training.  They need to know their basic rights as contract, hourly-rated, or part-time workers. And more importantly, they need government intervention to ensure they have a fair... [Read more]

COS 2013 Debate: MOM – CPF Retirement Account (MP Lee Li Lian)

By MP for Punggol East SMC, Lee Li Lian [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] CPF Members who have reached 55 years old, will see a portion of their Ordinary Account and Special Account savings transferred to their Retirement Account to meet the Minimum Sum.  Funds from the Retirement Account can only be used to pay for these individuals’ housing mortgages after setting aside their... [Read more]

COS 2013 Debate: MOM – Tracking Continuing Education & Training (CET) wastages (MP Sylvia Lim)

By MP for Aljunied GRC, Sylvia Lim [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] The Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework aims to professionalise industry sectors and improve labour mobility into and within these sectors. WSQ is also meant to be “a powerful business tool for employers to access and maintain a skilled workforce.” Given these highly industry-centric goals, it is... [Read more]