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Official Results of GE 2011 Yahoo! Newsroom – Sun, May 8, 2011 The PAP has taken 81 out of 87 seats in Parliament in this year's General Election, while the Workers' Party has picked up the balance of six seats, their best showing ever. Here are the latest official results of Singapore's 2011 General Election so far: Bukit Panjang SMC PAP's Teo Ho Pin - 20,349 votes (winner) SDP's Alec Tok - 10,362 votes Hong Kah North SMC PAP's Amy Khor Lean Suan - 18,149 (winner) SPP's Sin Kek Tong - 7,553 Hougang SMC WP's Yaw Shin Leong - 14,833 (winner) PAP's Desmond Choo Pey Ching - 8,053 Joo Chiat SMC PAP's Charles Chong You Fook - 9,630 (winner) WP's Yee Jenn Jong - 9,248 Mountbatten SMC PAP's Lim Biow Chuan - 11,965 (winner) NSP's Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss - 8,436 Pioneer SMC PAP's Cedric Foo Chee Keng - 14,581 (winner) NSP's Steve Chia - 9,430 Potong Pasir SMC PAP's Sitoh Yih Pin - 7,973 (winner) SPP's Lina Loh Woon Lee - 7,859 Punggol East SMC PAP's Michael Palmer - 16,969 (winner) WP's Lee Li Lian - 12,765 SDA's Desmond Lim Bak Chuan - 1,386 Radin Mas SMC PAP's Sam Tan Chin Siong - 18,591 (winner) NSP's Yip Yew Weng - 9,110 Sengkang West SMC PAP's Lam Pin Min - 14,667 (winner) WP's Koh Choong Yong - 10,585 Whampoa SMC PAP's Heng Chee How - 13,015 (winner) NSP's Ken Sun - 6,672 Yuhua SMC PAP's Grace Fu Hai Yien - 14,081 (winner) SDP's Teo Soh Lung - 6,977 Aljunied GRC (5 seats) WP's Chen Show Mao, Sylvia Lim, Low Thia Khiang, Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap, Pritam Singh - 72,165 (winners) PAP's Lim Hwee Hua, Ong Ye Kung, Cynthia Phua, George Yong-Boon Yeo, Zainul Abidin Rasheed - 59,732 Ang Mo Kio GRC (6 seats) PAP's Ang Hin Kee, Inderjit Singh, Intan Azura Binte Mokhtar, Lee Hsien Loong, Seng Han Thong, Yeo Guat Kwang - 112,544 (winners) RP's Lim Tung Hee Arthero, Lim Zirui, Mohamed Mansor Bin Abdul Rahman, Osman Bin Sulaiman, Tan Zhi Xiang - 49,779 Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC (5 seats) PAP's Hri Kumar Nair, Ng Eng Hen, Josephine Teo, Wong Kan Seng, Zainudin Nordin - 62,282 (winners) SPP's Chiam See Tong, Lee Yeong Wee, Wilfred Leung, Mohamad Hamim Aliyas, Benjamin Pwee - 47,092 Chua Chu Kang GRC PAP's Gan Kim Yong, Low Yen Ling, Alex Yam Ziming, Yeo Khirn Hai Alvin, Zaqy Bin Mohamad - 89,605 (winners) NSP's Jeisilan Sivalingam, Nor Lella Mardiiah Bte Mohamed, Hazel Poa Koon Koon, Tony Tan Lay Thiam, Sebastian Teo Kway Huang - 56,817 East Coast GRC (5 seats) PAP's Lee Yi Shyan, Lim Siang Keat Raymond, Lim Swee Say, Mohd Maliki Bin Osman, Tan Soon Neo Jessica - 59,895 (winners) WP's Gerald Giam Yean Song, Glenda Han Su May, Mohamed Fazli Bin Talip, Png Eng Huat, Eric Tan Heng Chong - 49342 Holland-Bukit Timah (4 seats) PAP's Christopher James de Souza, Liang Eng Hwa, Sim Ann, Vivian Balakrishnan - 48,682 (winners) SDP's Ang Yong Guan, Michelle Lee Juen, Tan Jee Say, Vincent Rene Wijeysingha - 32,322 Jurong (5 seats) PAP's Ang Wei Neng, Halimah Binte Yacob, Desmond Lee Ti-Seng, ong Kim Huat, Tharman Shanmugaratnam - 76,489 (winners) NSP's Abdul Rasheed, Christopher Neo Ting Wei, Noraini Yunus, Ong Beng Soon Elvin, ong Hock Siong - 37,734 Marine Parade GRC (5 seats) PAP's Fatimah Binte Abdul Lateef, Goh Chok Tong, Seah Kian Peng, Tan Chuan-Jin, Tin Pei Ling - 78,182 (winners) NSP's Abdul Salim Bin Harun, Cheo Chai Chen, Ng Chung Hon, Nicole Rebecca Seah Xue Ling, yeo Tiong Boon - 59,833 Moulmein-Kallang GRC (4 seats) PAP's Yaacob Bin Ibrahim, Lui Tuck Yew, Denise Phua Lay Peng, Edwin Tong Chun Fai - 44,828 (winners) WP's Mohd Rahizan Bin Ya'acob, Toh Hong Boon, L Somasundaram, Frieda Chan Sio Phing - 31,721 Nee Soon GRC (5 seats) PAP's K Shanmugam, Lee Bee Wah, Lim Wee Kiak, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Patrick Tay Teck Guan - 80,659 (winners) WP's Chong Cham Weng, Angela Oon Kheng Faye, Poh Lee Guan, Sajeev S/O Kunju Raman Kamalasanan, Yam Poh Nam - 57,482 Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC PAP's Gan Thiam Poh, Janil Arusha puthucheary, Penny Low, Teo Chee Hean, Teo Ser Luck, Zainal Bin Sapari - 100,382 (winnesr) SDA's Harminder Pal Singh, lee Song Juan, Jeffrey Lim, Mohd Shafni, Sidney Soon, Tan Keng Hong - 54,546 Sembawang GRC (5 seats) PAP's Hawazi Daipi, Khaw Boon Wan, Ellen Lee Geck Hoon, Ong Teng Koon, Vikram Nair - 84,185 (winners) SDP's James Gomez, Luo Jie Jarrod, Mohd Isa, Sadasivam V, John Tan Liang Joo - 47,578 Tampines GRC (5 seats) PAP's Baey Yam Keng, Heng Swee Keat, Mah Bow Tan, Masagos Zulkifli BMM, Irene Ng Phek Hoong - 72,664 (winner) NSP's Fong Chin Leong, Goh Keow Wah, Goh Meng Seng, Raymond Lim Peng Ann, Syafarin Bin Sarif - 54,337 Tanjong Pagar (5 seats) PAP's Chan Chun sing, Chia Shi-lu, Indranee Thurai Rajah, Lee Kuan Yew, Lily Tirtasana Neo - uncontested (winners) West Coast (5 seats) PAP's Arthur Fong, Foo Mee Har, Lim Hng Kiang, S Iswaran, Lawrence Wong - 72,465 (winners) RP's Ho Soak Harn, Kenneth Andrew Jeyaretnam, Kumar S/O Appavoo, Low Chiak Huan, Zhu Laicheng - 36,395

COMMENT from Disappointed 13 hours ago Dear SM, TPL is a factor and so are you and your party! I felt embarassed for you that you have one of the lowest percentile win, even though you are a SM. Compared to how you bought your party to a restounding 75% win in 2001, you have really sink so low since then. Your speeches and your wife's peanut comment had bought down your good image! I had always respected you more than any of the Lee PM yet time and time again, you said and done things which diluted my respect and support more. I had always thought you to be a man with your own thinking and not just a puppet to your party. But alas, I guess your good self must have been badly influence by your peanut wife and TPL. I don't really blame you since both of them do not have the capacity to think as well as most of us Singaporean. Your comment now only seek to discredit you more. We the citizen always trust in the govt because we knew the govt do not use incompetent people. Yet recent events had shown that the govt can make mistakes (we have PM apologising for it twice) Thus if the govt knew that they had make a mistake, then I trusted that with your intelligence and foresight, you should had known even before accepting TPL into your team that she had no substance and whatsoever to be a MP. I can only come out with 3 reasons: 1) The PAP could not find better candidates because all the good calibre candidates who can think for themselves and who do not want to be just a puppet, but to be an alternative voice for the people do not want to join the PAP because they understood that there is absolutely something wrong with the PAP; and that they are not persuaded by greed to join PAP, unlike certain MPs. 2) You are been used as a scapegoat. Maybe it is the PM who want to let TPL inside the Parliament because he wanted to "reward" his most "loyal" sidekick aka TPL hubby. And he pushed her to you because he knew that having TPL into his team will pulled down his votes and as a PM, especially with that arrogant attitude of his, he did not want to lose face by having win by a low margin, just as you had polled. 3) PAP always want puppets so TPL is a PERFECT puppet. I stayed in MP GRC and casted a spoilt vote because out of respect for you, I did not want you to lose to the opposition but I do want more alternative voice in the Parliament and NSP is a good opposition thus I was really in a dilemma. Yet now I wonder whether I will regret my not voting for the opposition (though i doubt one vote can make any diifference) So I hope PAP can heed the people's cries and make changes as PM and many of the MP had promised. And one of the thing to do first is to get rid of TPL and bring back George Yeo. Get rid of the GRC system and be brave enough to fight fair and just. You govt also called us citizen Kiasu, Kiasi, kiawhatever, as I remembered a speech by our PM. Yet have you wonder why we are like that? Because we learned from you, the govt! Get rid of those useless minister, or wives of MP/PM/SM who had done nothing for the country except to lose money for the GLC, lose a dangerous terrorist, lose money for the Town councils, losing count of the budget for YOG, losing respects from your people with their insensitive and callous comments ( How can you ask us to send our aged parents to JB?! This is unfilial! And the govt wanted such person to work for them? It spoke much of the person's characters! Imagine you the SM, PM who bring KBW to this state, yet one day, when you lost the respect of the people and to save his own grace, he vote to have you replace? What would you think?) The list go on and on ... I sincerely hope that you can redeem yourself. Faithfully, MP GRC RESIDENT

TIN PEI LING ‘a factor’ for WEAK Results: SM GOH By Ion Danker | SingaporeScene – Mon, May 9, 2011 Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has admitted the negative publicity surrounding Tin Pei Ling was a factor to the People's Action Party's (PAP) weaker performance at Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC). Speaking after his team's victory parade around Marine Parade GRC on Sunday morning, SM Goh said that she has been given that negative image from the very start and added that her youth was also a factor. "I mean, she was a factor. Nicole Seah was also a factor. She communicated very well. She spoke quite persuasively to the younger people as well as some older people. "So, I could sense that quite a few people supported her. So both were factors," he said. However, SM Goh added that Tin is not at fault in wanting to be an MP. "They thought it's all Tin Pei Ling's fault. It's not," he said. "The PAP wanted to have a representative slate. She came in on that basis by the PAP. We knew that she was young but we know that she will grow. I think that's the key. "We wanted her. If there's anything, we knew that she would be young and inexperienced but we are quite happy. "And the main thing is she has got through. And that's the reason why people are unhappy that such a young and inexperienced person has got through," he added. "We have five years. If after five years, Tin Pei Ling remains what she is, then of course, she would still be a factor at the next election. "But at this stage, looking at her action, in three years time, she would be a different Tin Pei Ling." SM Goh also acknowledged the "sea of change in the political landscape" and that the "tide was very strong". SM Goh's Marine Parade GRC team successfully fended off a challenge by the National Solidarity Party team to defend their ward, but their winning percentage of votes was only 56.6 per cent, much lower than the party's national average of 60.1 per cent. "I was expecting, to be frank, a slightly better result, but we were prepared for this kind of result. Because for us, it's a new situation. There is a sea of change in the political landscape," said SM Goh. Touching on the loss of Foreign Minister George Yeo as an MP, SM Goh said, "It's very painful that we lost him, very painful indeed. And the pain for the country will also be felt... It's a loss, he is a good personal friend." Despite a growing backlash by netizens to remove her an an MP-elect, Tin said she's looking forward to helping MacPherson residents. "I would like to start small, from within MacPherson, because now I am an elected MP for MacPherson, so that would still be my priority for now," she said. "I hope that through my action, my work in MacPherson, that can be used as a start for me to prove myself and to gain the trust of Singapore," said the 27-year-old business consultant.

CAR brings down part of CHIJMES’ Roof By Ewen Boey | SingaporeScene – 2 hours 13 minutes ago Part of the roof of the CHIJMES historical building complex collapsed when a car smashed into one of its pillar on Sunday morning. Police said they received a call at about 11.15am about the accident at the junction of Bras Basah Road and Victoria Street involving a Malaysian-registered car and a taxi. The taxi driver was sent to a hospital in a conscious state. No other injuries were reported. The driver of the smashed car, who wanted to be known only as Madam N. Tan, was visibly distraught when she told The Straits Times that she "somehow lost control of the steering wheel" because of a punctured tyre. "Before I knew it, I felt the collision with the taxi and my car smashed into the building," said the 34-year-old sales executive from Malacca in Mandarin. Tan, who was staying at the Bayview Hotel in Bencoolen Street, had arrived in Singapore on Saturday for a seminar. She was on her way to visit a relative with two of her children, also in the car, when the accident happened. According to Low Kaili, 28, manager of the Japanese restaurant Gyu-Kaku located right next to the crash scene, a part of the restaurant's ceiling seemed to have cracked. "We closed for lunch hour and had to transfer two large group reservations to our other branches," said Ms Low. "Now we are waiting for the authorities to check our restaurant and give us the green light to resume business." Meanwhile, Chijmes is getting its surveyors to review the extent of damage. Said its senior property executive Suhaimi Mohd, 41, "We are getting our people down to put on supports so that the roof won't collapse further when the car is removed." "I think a good part of the roof structure, the pillar, would have to be replaced. We will also look at the wiring of our power circuits." CHIJMES, which once housed a Catholic convent school, is more than 130 years old. Now gazetted as a national monument, it has been restored for commercial purposes such as shopping, dining and entertainment.

ASEAN Leaders surprised, saddened by GEORGE YEOs DEFEAT By Ion Danker | SingaporeScene Mon, May 9, 2011 Senior Minister S. Jayakumar says ASEAN ministers and leaders were saddened and surprised by George Yeo's defeat in Saturday's polls. SM Jayakumar, who is representing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the ASEAN summit in Jakarta, said: "Nearly everyone I spoke to - ministers and the leaders - were saddened and disappointed, and surprised to know that Foreign Minister George Yeo has lost." Mr Yeo's team lost the battle in Aljunied GRC to the Workers' Party (WP) 'A-star' team, led by former Hougang MP Low Thia Kiang, top lawyer Chen Show Mao, party chairman Sylvia Lim, Pritam Singh and Abdul Faisal Manap. The WP won the key GRC hotseat, beating the People's Action Party team by a surprisingly clear margin of 54 percent to 45 percent of votes. Aljunied GRC comprised over 143,000 voters. The loss by the PAP team means the Cabinet will lose two Ministers in George Yeo and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua. Lim is also a Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for Transport. "Why were they saddened? Because to them, George Yeo has been a very articulate, able spokesman for Singapore. "But not only that. They consider him as one of the most ardent advocates for the cause of ASEAN. Highly articulate; a champion of ASEAN in representing ASEAN to the rest of the world," said SM Jayakumar, who will be retiring from politics. He also described Mr Yeo as having immense talent and did not discount the possibility of him being given another role. Turning his attention to the election outcome, which saw WP creating history by capturing the first GRC for the opposition, SM Jayakumar said it was a major step in the evolution of Singapore's parliamentary and political system. "Things will change, and with every change we need to ensure that it is for the positive and not negative," he said. "All the criticisms that have been made about us and our system that it stifles the opposition, that the GRCs perpetuate the ruling party. Well, it has been proven wrong, because the system works."

Why it's time to end the GRC By Alan Soon | Yahoo! Newsroom – Sun, May 8, 2011 COMMENTARY This is the result of Singapore's controversial group representation constituency (GRC) system: the loss of a strong, highly visible foreign minister and of a veteran opposition leader, and the addition of a foot-stomping 27-year-old rookie. In one fell swoop, three office holders of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) -- Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua and Senior Minister of State Zainul Abidin Rasheed are out. Was that the intent of Aljunied voters? One angry Twitter user @energywen blamed the voters in the GRC, "You guys probably don't know that the stakes of your votes are not just your local MP, but the country's foreign minister as well. Thanks for screwing Singapore." On the other side of the fence, veteran opposition leader Chiam See Tong lost his seat -- a voice that now needs to be filled in Parliament. Blogger @mrbrown wrote on Twitter, "Chiam See Tong, you fought the good fight. No one can say you didn't. I salute you."Again, was the removal of a respected political leader the real intent of voters? In sad irony, one of the real winners in all this is Tin Pei Ling. At 27, she is the youngest in the PAP's lineup this election. Compare that with Chiam See Tong, who has been in service to the nation for the same 27 years. Talk about a freak election. This is the stark reality of our political system -- an all-or-nothing bet that, at best, raises a new generation of leaders. At its worst, it compromises the very thing that we all seek as citizens: a responsive, credible and respectable government. Politicians are not born -- they are groomed. But the use of the GRC ticket as a fast-track path to politics is irresponsible and dangerous for nationhood. What we've done on election day was to swap experience with youth. But at what price? Is that the intent of voters? Experiments with the GRC system must end. It's time to abolish the GRC before we further undermine our democracy.

Heavy LOSS to my Cabinet: PM LEE Yahoo! Newsroom – Sun, May 8, 2011 PM Lee Hsien Loong says losing Aljunied GRC is "a heavy loss to my Cabinet." Speaking at a People's Action Party (PAP) press conference after GE results were announced on early Sunday morning, PM Lee said the losing PAP team led by Foreign Minister George Yeo was made up of "five good men and women". Besides Mr Yeo, the team that lost to the Workers' Party team included two ministers -- Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua -- as well as Cynthia Phua and promising new candidate Ong Ye Kung. PM Lee, who is the PAP's secretary-general, said, "Aljunied put up a strong fight, but we were disappointed that the PAP lost not just over the last nine days, but for the last five years and even longer. We were disappointed but respect the voters’ decision." He said he had spoken to Minister Yeo over the phone and that "he has accepted the voters' decision." Although the PAP won 81 out of 87 seats in Parliament , the ruling party were returned to power with the lowest overall margin of victory -- 60.1 per cent of votes -- since 1963. Acknowledging the strong signal that sent to his team, PM Lee promised the PAP would engage in "soul-searching" and "analyse results, improve ourselves and serve you better." Flanked by DPMs Teo Chee Hean and Wong Kan Seng, a solemn PM Lee said, "We hear all your voices... It is a different world and a very different Singapore". He added many Singaporeans wanted to see "a different style and approach in government, with a new generation who want to see more opposition." "It has been intense and emotional. We have heard you on issues like the cost of living, housing, about our political system and values. There has been ventilation on the frustration of aspirations in person and on the Internet," said the PM, who successfully defended his own seat in Ang Mo Kio GRC. Recognising the role of new media played in these elections, PM Lee added the electorate of today is "different, with many young voters with different educational qualifications". With the WP also successfully defending their seat in Hougang SMC, they will have six elected Members of Parliament. Two from the Workers Party, from Joo Chiat and East Coast, and Lina Chiam, who narrowly lost in Potong Pasir, are expected to form the nine Opposition voices in Parliament. PM Lee said he was looking forward to them "presenting, arguing, offering alternatives, to debating in a constructive manner. We encourage them to carry out their duties with diligence and dedication." With the Elections over, PM Lee said it is now time for the Singaporeans to "close ranks" and move forward as one. "There are no easy choices, and we need to find better answers and workable solutions… But the GE was yesterday. Today is already the day after... It is a time for healing...let us close ranks to secure our future together."

WP’s Low calls for smooth Aljunied Handover By Liyana Low | SingaporeScene – Sun, May 8, 2011 Newly minted Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament-elect Low Thia Khiang has called for a smooth transition of the ward into Workers' Party hands. The secretary-general of the WP said while he's happy an opposition team has clinched a GRC -- a first in Singapore political history -- he's cautious about "what will be the response of the government to the loss of a GRC." This after the WP team beat the People's Action Party team led by George Yeo by a majority of 54 percent to 45 percent of votes in the hotly contested ward. Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning, Low said that one of the things he's concerned about is the handover of town council management and that he hopes there isn't "any sabotage." He said when he was first elected in 1991 in Hougang SMC, the managing agent told him he had to find a new office within 45 days to run his town council because the PAP didn't allow him to use the current office space. While he managed to build himself an office within the stipulated 45-day period, he said the opposition MPs of then-Nee Soon Central and Bukit Batok SMCs in 1991 actually ran their town council in a container office. He claimed it was the PAP's way of "punishing" residents for voting them into Parliament. "I would like to know if I need to do the same thing again when taking over the Aljunied town council. I want to know if there's a difference in the Singapore 20 years ago and now," he said. On why the PAP team lost Aljunied GRC, Low said, "So far including an apology from the Prime Minister, I think they have done all the right things, but Singaporeans know they need a credible opposition." He said, "This election shows that this is the kind opposition that Singaporeans want: rational and responsible. We do not oppose for the sake of opposition, we will only confront when necessary." First-time Member of Parliament-elect Chen Show Mao, considered the "star catch" of the WP, said, "This is a great responsibility, just looking at the number of people who have given me this trust without the benefit of a track record, we don't want to give them cause to regret their decision." Although he felt there wasn't enough campaigning time, Chen is looking forward to serving the residents and said, "We have to walk more and talk to people more understand their situations and their needs." When asked how does it feel to be a day-old MP-elect, he said, "It hasn't sunk in yet." Meanwhile the Aljunied team's youngest team member Pritam Singh said, "The euphoria died down much more quickly than I expected it to because we've got a lot of work ahead of us." On why he thought WP won the hearts of Aljunied residents, the 34-year-old post-graduate law student said, "Singaporeans recognised that we put a good team together. They saw beyond the material concerns and saw the need for a good opposition in parliament." Of the voters, Low also said, "I think Singaporeans have become mature. We have first-world citizens and so we hope to move towards a first world parliament." Before he set off for his victory lap around Aljunied, he especially thanked Hougang residents for understanding why he needed to move out of the SMC and run for Aljunied GRC. "It is beyond words that I can express my gratitude to them," he said.

‘I will continue to fight for POTONG PASIR’ By Faris Mokhtar and Jeanette Tan | SingaporeScene – Mon, May 9, 2011 Although she may have lost, Singapore People's Party (SPP) candidate for Potong Pasir Lina Chiam says she's determined to win back the constituency in the next election. Addressing a crowd of about 100 supporters and residents who had gathered at Potong Pasir before setting off on "thank you" parade with SPP candidates on Sunday afternoon, Lina attributed the presence of new citizens as one of the reasons for her narrow loss in the polls, where her PAP rival Sitoh Yi Pin won by a mere 114 votes. "This election is a very close fight and we had to do recounting; I believe that my loss is not because of you all not voting for me," said the wife of opposition stalwart Chiam See Tong. "I think it's because of the new citizens and also because of the upgrading of the flat which some of these old folks are afraid of and they were told they might not get their upgrading," she added. She said the building of new condominiums in the constituency is also a sign of changing demographics in her ward. But unperturbed, she stressed she will continue to "fight" for Potong Pasir. "I will not give up and will continue fighting for Potong Pasir, and my team will help me to make it better for Potong Pasir, intellectually and municipally. We shall be back; I shall return," she said. Her husband, Chiam, was also positive in defeat, saying that his team contesting in the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC managed to secure a commendable number of votes against the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) team led by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng. Considering that he had only assembled the team one month ahead of the general election. he said, "Although we have lost, we have won 43 per cent of the votes, so it is right that we thank all those people who have voted for us. Although we have not gained any seats in parliament, we've done quite well." He also declined to discuss whether his wife will take up the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat, however, saying that it depends on her and the decision by the party's central executive committee. Losing candidates with the highest numbers of percentage votes are eligible to take up the nine available NCMP seats in parliament, albeit with limited voting rights. As for himself, Chiam -- who for the first time in 27 years will not have a seat in Parliament -- said he will "never surrender" and will participate in the next election if his health permits. "Next time we will do better. We shall never surrender. In the end, we shall win the battle, we shall conquer. Thank you everybody for coming," he told a gathering crowd who had come to say goodbye to him. While supporters of the SPP have gone as far as to start a petition calling for a by-election, Chiam dismissed the validity of the petition, saying it has no grounds. "I am a lawyer and I should know the law. There's no provision inside the case for a by-election, so I don't know how they are going to do it," he said of the petition which has about 2,000 signatures. As the Chiams and their party members travelled from Potong Pasir to Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, they were given a heroes' welcome. Residents swarmed around the truck carrying the SPP team, some offering their condolences for the loss of Potong Pasir. Others simply came forward to shake hands with the man they hailed an "inspiration". One of them was Potong Pasir resident Maz Ahmad. While expressing support for the Chiams, tears welled up in her eyes. "I feel sad (about the SPP's loss). I waited for the results until 3am. We need somebody who can voice out issues concerning Singaporeans, like the increasing number of foreigners," she said. Maz, who said she has been a faithful supporter of Chiam, however, said his team still has to work harder. "They can do better; they just have to work harder. They lost Bishan maybe because the residents are not familiar with some members of the team," she added. 34-year-old B. Venkatesh Sathish, who has lived in Potong Pasir for the past 27 years, told told Yahoo! Singapore he felt particularly emotional at the news of Chiam's departure because he had grown up in the ward under Chiam's care. "He is an outstanding guy, who serves without complaint," he said. Shedding tears, he added, "He's like a father to me... I'm here to say goodbye to him, and to thank him for the last 27 years." For supporter Adeline Sin, 35, who stays in Chua Chu Kang, she thought nothing of the distance travelled as long as she got to meet her "inspiration". "I first watched him at a rally many years back. I felt he did a lot of things for us in Singapore," said Sin, who works as a purchaser. "He inspired me a lot, a great man," she added. "I am very sad, they lost only by 114 votes, I don't understand. But I am unable to judge because I don't live in the constituency." Another resident, 36-year-old Gene Lim, also expressed shock over the defeats suffered by the Chiams, adding that residents in Potong Pasir have always been unfazed by the HDB upgrading "carrots" dangled by the PAP. "We didn't expect the Chiams to lose, it's not the matter whether it's Lina or Chiam contesting in Potong Pasir. We expected Lina to win, even if by a small margin," he said.

CHIAMs LOSS marks End of an ERA By Jeanette Tan | SingaporeScene Sun, May 8, 2011 It was a risky gamble that was expected by some to pay off, but didn't. Singapore People's Party secretary-general Chiam See Tong, who chose to leave his stronghold ward Potong Pasir single member constituency (SMC) to lead a five-member team to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, lost to the People's Action Party team led by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng in the General Election on Saturday. The defeat marked not only the failure of the SPP to capture a GRC, but also the end to Chiam's 27-year-era as a member of parliament (MP). He was first elected into parliament in 1984 through his first win at Potong Pasir, and he subsequently stood for and won five consecutive General Elections, demonstrating time and time again that he had the strong support and loyalty of residents in the single ward. His supporters' faith in him, however, could not be extended effectively towards his wife, Lina Chiam, who stood in Potong Pasir in his place after his decision to try "to spread love and compassion" to the Bishan-Toa Payoh community. When Chiam took his first steps out of Deyi Secondary School, the principal counting centre for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC where he and his team were awaiting the result of the election, he was particularly hesitant in his answers. After not saying anything for more than a minute, Chiam addressed Bishan-Toa Payoh residents, thanking the 43 percent of the voters there who picked him and his party. Sources close to him said, however, that he felt "shattered" and "miserable" from the loss, and SPP supporters present teared and cried upon witnessing his long pauses between answers. He told Yahoo! Singapore, "Thank you, residents of Bishan-Toa Payoh, for voting for us... Getting 43 percent is very good." His wife sat through a very tight vote count. Potong Pasir was the last constituency to have its result announced early on Sunday morning, and Mrs Chiam eventually lost to Sitoh Yih Pin by just 114 votes, pending another 62 overseas votes that have not arrived. "I take it in my stride," she told reporters after she and the rest of the SPP candidates returned together to a coffee shop in Potong Pasir, where her supporters and residents were waiting. "It was a tough fight, and I think I did very well, considering it is my first time entering politics," she added. "The supporters waited all the way til 4 am just to greet, support and console me, and to ask me to come and fight again... I still feel like a winner." Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC candidate Benjamin Pwee said winning 43 per cent of votes "is a good showing, considering what we've achieved in one short month... it's amazing, really." "I congratulate Mr Wong and his team for having won, and I respect the decision of voters, but I am thankful for the 43 percent of residents who did vote for us, and five years later, we will come again," he added. Pwee also saw the loss as an opportunity to develop deeper relationships with Bishan-Toa Payoh residents, and said that in spite of losing, he and his team will continue to work the ground towards this. SADNESS, ANGER Ardent supporters of SPP candidates in both Bishan-Toa Payoh and Potong Pasir were left reeling in a mixture of shock, anger and disappointment after the official result was announced. A woman from Bishan-Toa Payoh who had turned up at Deyi Secondary School to hear the result announced first-hand broke down at the news. Her husband, Joseph De Bruin, 38, said, "I was really shocked. My wife and I had a good feeling that the SPP would win... but it didn't turn out that way." "He will always be in our hearts," he added. Another resident, Ivy Qieu, 26, said that her whole family had voted for the SPP in Bishan-Toa Payoh and she expressed her disappointment at the result. "I really was hoping they would win... so many young people came up to me telling me they wanted to vote for him but couldn't because they were not of age -- I find it so unfair," she said. Back at Potong Pasir, residents and supporters who had assembled at a previously-agreed-upon coffee shop exploded into loud, angry calls for recounts, re-votes, and shouts of "Kelong!" as well as cheers of Mr and Mrs Chiam's names, upon the announcement of the official final count of the vote that revealed Sitoh Yih Pin as the winner. Many residents shared with Yahoo! Singapore that they felt very angry for him and very sad for Mrs Chiam, and that their enthusiastic mood had all but fizzled out. Said Potong Pasir resident Jed Senthil, 25, a tutor, "She (Mrs Chiam) has put on a good fight, and she's just started -- I hope she'll come back again." Another resident, Daniel Tay, 31, said he was bit upset about the outcome of the election, but felt that Sitoh Yih Pin did well. "He had the courage to try again, and was rewarded," he said. "I hope that our voices will still be heard in parliament, and that upgrading will actually happen," administrative officer Stella Tay, 24, added. On the victorious Sitoh, Senthil said, "I hope he will fulfill his promises to us. Our main purpose was to vote in a town councillor, so I hope he will take care of us."

Singapore OPPOSITION makes Election Breakthrough By Philip Lim | AFP News Sun, May 8, 2011 Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) was returned to power on Sunday with a huge majority but suffered a drop in popularity and lost a key district to a resurgent opposition. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 59, acknowledged that Saturday's parliamentary election marked a "distinct shift" in the political landscape of the city-state, which has been ruled by the PAP for the past 52 years. The opposition's win in six seats may be modest by international standards but is their best performance since Singapore became independent from the Malaysian federation in 1965. The PAP won 81 of the 87 parliament seats, down slightly from its victory in 82 out of 84 seats when Singapore last voted in 2006, and its share of all votes cast fell to 60 percent from 67 percent in the same period. "This is a watershed general election. It is taking place after five very eventful years. This is a very different world in 2011 as compared to 2006, and a very different Singapore," Lee said in a televised post-election address. He said the PAP will undergo "soul searching" and expressed willingness to work with lawmakers from the opposition, which won a record six seats and gave the PAP a tough fight across the island. Four days before the election, Lee apologised in public for the government's shortcomings after voters slammed the PAP for the rising cost of living, competition from immigrants and foreign workers, and other grievances. Compulsory voting ensured a high turnout on Saturday, with close to 2.06 million people -- 93 percent of the electorate -- casting ballots. In the most intensely fought contest, Foreign Minister George Yeo and four other PAP candidates lost to the Workers' Party in a group constituency, forcing him out of the cabinet. A single-seat ward also voted for the Workers' Party, a pro-poor group of lawyers and professionals. The opposition's previous best result was four seats in 1991. Bridget Welsh, a political science professor at the Singapore Management University, stressed the significance of the opposition's first ever win in a group representation constituency (GRC), a setup widely seen as favouring the ruling party but now shown to be vulnerable. "The GRCs have been a cornerstone of one-party dominance in the Singapore state, and the breaking of its GRCs is really allowing a diversity of political views in the country," Welsh said. Six opposition parties took part in the election with the modest goal of winning more seats from the PAP -- resigned to the dominance of the party that led Singapore to political independence and economic prosperity. They divided electoral districts among themselves to fight the PAP on several fronts. "The opposition has come together in terms of not contesting against each other. When push came to shove, they put aside personal differences for the larger cause of opening up political space," Welsh said. The PAP was co-founded by the prime minister's father Lee Kuan Yew, who governed Singapore for 31 years and was re-elected to parliament unopposed on Saturday at the age of 87. Tens of thousands of supporters attended opposition rallies held over the past week, far greater than the PAP's crowds. The opposition also relied heavily on the Internet, particularly social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, because the mainstream local media are widely regarded as PAP mouthpieces. The PAP has long touted its economic record to convince Singaporeans to return it to power and kept the opposition in check by imposing curbs on political activity except during elections. The economy grew a record 14.5 percent in 2010 and per capita gross domestic product stood at Sg$59,813 ($48,271), according to the statistics department, making Singaporeans the second wealthiest Asians after the Japanese. But the prosperity has not been spread evenly, and inflation this year is forecast at 3.0-4.0 percent, high by Singapore standards.

'NEW CHAPTER in SINGAPORE HISTORY' By Alicia Wong | Yahoo! Newsroom – Sun, May 8, 2011 With the loss of the first group representation constituency to the Opposition, a new chapter has opened in Singapore's history, said Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo on Sunday early morning. Speaking to an emotional crowd at Bedok Stadium, a sombre Mr Yeo said, " A new chapter has opened in Singapore's history. It's a tide which we were not able to overcome but that's life." The People's Action Party's Aljunied team led by Mr Yeo garnered 45 per cent of the votes, while the Workers' Party 'A team' led by WP chief Low Thia Khiang won by a surprising margin of over 9 percentage points, with 54 per cent of the votes. (Rest of results here.) Aljunied GRC, comprising of over 143,000 voters, was the most hotly contested ward in this General Election. As PAP supporters continued to cheer for him and his team, Mr Yeo was gracious in defeat and congratulated the WP victors. "It was a great campaign, we fought hard, we have no regrets," he said, thanking residents for their support, affection and friendship. "We respect the decision of the people of Aljunied." "I hope Mr Low Thia Khiang and his colleagues will look after the people of Aljunied well and we wish them every success," said Mr Yeo. The other members of his team -- Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Minister Lim Hwee Hua, Cynthia Phua and new candidate Ong Ye Kung (who was tipped to be an office-holder) -- then stepped forward to give their thanks to supporters and residents. Ms Lim, Singapore's first woman minister, said the team respected voters' decision and thanked them for the privilege of having served them for the last 15 years. Mr Zainul said, the results bring about "a new path for Aljunied" and "a new challenge" for him, but added that he will "always be of service" to Singapore. As the Aljunied team left the stage, supporters fell into a stunned silence -- their first of the night. This was until the volume for the Channel NewsAsia broadcast, shown on two big screens next to the stage, was turned up, showing WP's Low giving his thank you speech, prompting one supporter to shout "Shut up!". Mr Yeo left the stadium without speaking to the media, while some other members of the team stayed back to speak to their supporters. One supporter Eunice, 30, said the PAP had performed well overall, but it was "a pity for Aljunied". "George Yeo and his team have worked very hard. Many residents will be disappointed," she said, appearing to be holding back her tears. She had nothing but praise for Mr Yeo whom she worked with during her time as a grassroots volunteer in Aljunied GRC. Another supporter Vincent Low said, "I'm very sad for George Yeo. He did so much for Singapore." The 59-year-old had gone to Bedok Stadium just to support Mr Yeo, "It was a very big shock tonight. (I would like) to ask him not to give up and come back again at the next election. He must be a fighter," he said. MIXED REACTION Some residents Yahoo! Singapore spoke to were saddened to see a good minister leave Parliament but were also glad to see an Opposition team breakthrough in a GRC. Aljunied voter Nuraini Malik, 22, a Nanyang Technological University student said, "I'm sad that George is no longer a minister, because he was a very good one." "But then again, I'm still very happy because this WP team has been really outstanding with their speeches and manifesto. I feel that change is in the air. Now hopefully they can deliver!" Said Aljunied voter Irwin Tan, 23, "Given George Yeo's track record in Aljunied, we have lost a very good MP, but I'm okay with any party that can continue to take care of the ward. I hope that the WP can make good on their pre-election promises." Undergraduate Brendan Mok, 23, added, "It's sad that he has to go, but I'm really happy that WP won because it shows that Singaporeans are not as apathetic to politics as they seem. I'm heartened that the electorate has voted for the opposition and that they are happy to do so." However, to business development manager Aaron Tiong, who lives in Aljunied GRC, said no matter who won in Aljunied, "Singapore lost". "Both sides in Aljunied had good candidates, but because of the way it was structured it was a waste," he said, referring to the GRC system. Reaction from users of micro-blogging platform Twitter also lamented the fact that Minister Yeo lost. User @limxingzhijoel tweeted, "Oh my god. George Yeo and Cynthia Phua lost. Aljunied what have you done?" while @A_myyy tweeted," Why must we lose George Yeo? He is such a good minister!" @energywen blamed Aljunied voters, saying, "You guys probably don't know that the stakes of your votes are not just ur local MP but the country's foreign minister as well. Thanks for screwing Singapore." Others blamed the GRC system for the Minister being dropped from Parliament. User @heysihui tweeted, "For those complaining about George Yeo going out: Abolish the damned GRC system."

FIFA investigates Match-Fixing Claims AFP News – Fri, May 6, 2011 Football's ruling body FIFA is investigating claims that over 300 matches on three continents were influenced by match-fixers, according to The Daily Telegraph. FIFA suspects match officials were paid as little as $10,000 to help engineer specific results in international friendly matches and European club games, netting fixers hundreds of millions of dollars on Asian betting markets. "The threat from match-fixing to the integrity of the global game is significant," Chris Eaton, FIFA's head of security, confirmed to the British newspaper. "Interviews with those involved have told us that fixers can spend upwards of $300,000 to stage a friendly international and they do that with the expectation of a significant profit margin," the former Interpol official added. Eaton told the Telegraph he believed fixers had made "tens of millions of dollars" in profit. Employees from at least six different national football associations are under suspicion of assisting the criminal network, which is thought to work out of Singapore and Malaysia. FIFA fear the upcoming under-17 and under-20 World Championships are at risk. "We have admissions from those we are focusing on that they have been planning to target younger players at the under-17 and under-20 level," Eaton told the broadsheet. "That is enough to make me concerned that we need to put preventative measures in place," he added. Matches under suspicion include club games in Germany and Finland, Europa League fixtures and friendly internationals involving Kuwait, Jordan, Bolivia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Malaysia and Zimbabwe. A friendly game between Bahrain and Togo came to the world's attention after the African country denied sending a team, and were instead represented by amateurs who struggled to last the full game. During the match, which is under investigation, Bahrain scored eight goals, five of which were ruled out, resulting in a 3-0 scoreline.

Singapore's Top Satirist thrives in Election Season On Friday 29 April 2011, 10:29 SGT As Singapore heads towards general elections on May 7, one of the most avidly followed individuals during the campaign is not even running for public office. He is a blogger known as Mr Brown. Singapore's most popular satirist -- Lee Kin Mun in real life -- pokes fun at public figures in the economically developed but politically conservative city-state ruled by the same party for 52 years. "This has been a very lucrative time for me for fodder," said Lee of the campaign which officially kicked off Wednesday but has been going on informally for weeks. "I think if you don't make fun of it, it will be a waste," said the 41-year-old who produces videos and other multimedia content for corporate and government clients in his day job. Lee, who describes himself as "L'infantile terrible of Singapore," is the founder of blogsite www.mrbrown.com which since 1997 has been making fun of many things Singaporean, especially politicians of all stripes. He said the site -- labelled after his childhood nickname -- draws 6,000 to 10,000 visitors daily, with at least 20,000 downloads for each podcast which include tongue-in-cheek commentaries and politicised spoofs of pop songs. But during election periods, the numbers spike sharply, and the Mr Brown Twitter account boasted 23,378 followers as of April 27. Lee's irreverence is unusual in Singapore, where criticism of the government is rare. Foreign publications and opposition politicians have had to pay fortunes in damages to government leaders who sued them for defamation. The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) held all but two of the 84 seats in the previous parliament but is now facing a spirited challenge from smaller parties, making it one of Singapore's most keenly contested polls in decades. Lee insists he is a non-partisan figure and argues that the PAP's overwhelming dominance simply makes it a "big fat target" for satire. "They're going to get more of the nonsense from me because they permeate our lives more, so there's more opportunity for humor there," he told AFP. Recent postings at mrbrown.com include a photograph of four beaming PAP politicians who appeared at first glance to be dressed in the party's trademark all-white shirts and slacks. "Never wash your Party whites with the pink underwear," a headline reads as an arrow points to the light pink shirt worn by one male politician. He has also posted mock movie posters of opposition candidates depicted as superheroes or movie characters, gathered from Singapore's growing ranks of "netizens" who are shut out of the mainstream media. Lee's humour has been tolerated by the authorities for the most part. "Obviously they don't see me as a threat, I'm just the guy with a big mouth, the class clown at the back of the class, so I'm not worried," he said. However, Lee had a regular column in a local newspaper yanked in 2006 after he penned a tongue-in-cheek piece entitled "S'poreans are fed, up with progress!" which bemoaned the rising cost of living. But Lee remains sanguine about his notoriety, saying his writings are "not political commentary, it's just comedy really." Social media and political party websites have become important campaign platforms in the current election campaign because the country's mainstream newspapers and broadcasters are all closely identified with the PAP. Lee says political parties still have a long way to go. "You haven't seen them for the last five years online and suddenly they pop up and they're tweeting and they vomit all over your Facebook page! And on top of this, they are not used to the response," he exclaimed. Lee believes the polls will be the "most exciting" since Singapore became a republic in 1965 because most seats will be contested. "Once the hustings begin, every day someone will say something really stupid," he said.

FOREX TRADING: A Beginner's Guide Selwyn Gishen, On Friday 6 May 2011, 3:24 SGT Forex is short for foreign exchange, but the actual asset class we are referring to is currencies. Foreign exchange is the act of changing one country's currency into another country's currency for a variety of reasons, usually for tourism or commerce. Due to the fact that business is global there is a need to transact with most other countries in their own particular currency. After the accord at Bretton Woods in 1971, when currencies were allowed to float freely against one another, the values of individual currencies have varied, which has given rise to the need for foreign exchange services. This service has been taken up by the commercial and investment banks on behalf of their clients, but has simultaneously provided a speculative environment for trading one currency against another using the internet. Forex as a Hedge Commercial enterprises doing business in foreign countries are at risk, due to fluctuation in the currency value, when they have to buy goods or services from or sell goods or services to another country. Hence, the foreign exchange markets provide a way to hedge the risk by fixing a rate at which the transaction will be concluded at some time in the future. To accomplish this, a trader can buy or sell currencies in the forward or swap markets, at which time the bank will lock in a rate, so that the trader knows exactly what the exchange rate will be and thus mitigate his or her company's risk. To some extent, the futures market can also offer a means to hedge a currency risk depending on the size of the trade and the actual currency involved. The futures market is conducted in a centralized exchange and is less liquid than the forward markets, which are decentralized and exist within the interbank system throughout the world. Forex as a Speculation Since there is constant fluctuation between the currency values of the various countries due to varying supply and demand factors, such as: interest rates, trade flows, tourism, economic strength, geo political risk and so on, an opportunity exists to bet against these changing values by buying or selling one currency against another in the hopes that the currency you buy will gain in strength, or the currency that you sell, will weaken against its counterpart. Currency as an Asset Class There are two distinct features to this class: •You can earn the interest rate differential between two currencies •You can gain value in the exchange rate Why We Can Trade Currencies Until the advent of the internet, currency trading was really limited to interbank activity on behalf of their clients. Gradually, the banks themselves set up proprietary desks to trade for their own accounts, and this was followed by large multi national corporations, hedge funds and high net worth individuals. With the proliferation of the internet, a retail market aimed at individual traders has sprung up that provides easy access to the foreign exchange markets, either through the banks themselves or brokers making a secondary market. Forex Risk Confusion exists about the risks involved in trading currencies. Much has been said about the interbank market being unregulated and therefore very risky due to a lack of oversight. This perception is not entirely true, though. A better approach to the discussion of risk would be to understand the differences between a decentralized market versus a centralized market and then determine where regulation would be appropriate. The interbank market is made up of many banks trading with each other around the world. The banks themselves have to determine and accept sovereign risk and credit risk and for this they have much internal auditing processes to keep them as safe as possible. The regulations are industry-imposed for the sake and protection of each participating bank. Since the market is made by each of the participating banks providing offers and bids for a particular currency, the market pricing mechanism is arrived at through supply and demand. Due to the huge flows within the system it is almost impossible for any one rogue trader to influence the price of a currency and indeed in today's high volume market, with between two and three trillion dollars being traded per day, even the central banks cannot move the market for any length of time without full coordination and cooperation of other central banks. Attempts are being made to create an ECN (Electronic Communication Network) to bring buyers and sellers into a centralized exchange so that pricing can be more transparent. This is a positive move for retail traders who will gain a benefit by seeing more competitive pricing and centralized liquidity. Banks of course do not have this issue and can, therefore, remain decentralized. Traders with direct access to the forex banks are also less exposed than those retail traders who deal with relatively small and unregulated forex brokers, who can and sometimes do re-quote prices and even trade against their own customers. It seems that the discussion of regulation has arisen because of the need to protect the unsophisticated retail trader who has been led to believe that trading forex is a surefire profit-making scheme. For the serious and somewhat educated retail trader, there is now the opportunity to open accounts at many of the major banks or the larger more liquid brokers. As with any financial investment, it pays to remember the caveat emptor rule - "buyer beware!" Pros and Cons of Trading Forex If you intend to trade currencies, and regard the previous comments regarding broker risk, the pros and cons of trading forex are laid out as follows: 1. The forex markets are the largest in terms of volume traded in the world and therefore offer the most liquidity, thus making it easy to enter and exit a position in any of the major currencies within a fraction of a second. 2. As a result of the liquidity and ease with which a trader can enter or exit a trade, banks and or brokers offer large leverage, which means that a trader can control quite large positions with relatively little money of their own. Leverage in the range of 100:1 is not uncommon. Of course, a trader must understand the use of leverage and the risks that leverage can impose on an account. Leverage has to be used judiciously and cautiously if it is to provide any benefits. A lack of understanding or wisdom in this regard can easily wipe out a trader's account. 3. Another advantage of the forex markets is the fact that they trade 24 hours around the clock, starting each day in Australia and ending in New York. The major centers being Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Paris, London and New York. 4. Trading currencies is a "macroeconomic" endeavor. A currency trader needs to have a big picture understanding of the economies of the various countries and their inter connectedness in order to grasp the fundamentals that drive currency values. For some, it is easier to focus on economic activity to make trading decisions than to understand the nuances and often closed environments that exist in the stock and futures markets where micro economic activities need to be understood. Questions about a company's management skills, financial strengths, market opportunities and industry specific knowledge is not necessary in forex trading. Two Ways to Approach the Forex Markets For most investors or traders with stock market experience, there has to be ashift in attitude to transition into or to add currencies as a further opportunity for diversification. 1. Currency trading has been promoted as an "active trader's" opportunity. This suits the brokers because it means they earn more spread when the trader is more active. 2. Currency trading is also promoted as leveraged trading and, therefore, it is easier for a trader to open an account with a small amount of money than is necessary for stock market trading. Besides trading for a profit or yield, currency trading can be used to hedge a stock portfolio. If, for example, one builds a stock portfolio in a country where there is potential for the stock to increase value but there's downside risk in terms of the currency, for example in the U.S. in recent history, then a trader could own the stock portfolio and sell short the dollar against the Swiss franc or euro. In this way the portfolio value will increase and the negative effect of the declining dollar will be offset. This is true for those investors outside the U.S. who will eventually repatriate profits back to their own currencies. With this profile in mind, opening a forex account and day trading or swing trading is most common. Traders can attempt to make extra cash utilizing the methods and approaches elucidated in many of the articles found elsewhere on this site and at brokers or banks websites. A second approach to trading currencies is to understand the fundamentals and the longer term benefits, when a currency is trending in a specific direction and is offering a positive interest differential that provides a return on the investment plus an appreciation in currency value. This type of trade is known as a "carry trade." For example, a trader can buy the Australian dollar against the Japanese yen. Since the Japanese interest rate is .05 % and the Australian interest rate last reported is 4.75%, a trader can earn 4% on his trade. However, such a positive interest needs to be seen in the context of the actual exchange rate of the AUD/JPY before an interest decision can be made. If the Australian dollar is strengthening against the yen then it is appropriate to buy the AUD/JPY and to hold it in order to gain in both the currency appreciation and the interest yield. Bottom Line For most traders, especially those with limited funds, day trading or swing trading for a few days at a time can be a good way to play the forex markets. For those with longer-term horizons and larger fund pools, a carry trade can be an appropriate alternative. In both cases, the trader must know how to use charts for timing their trades, since good timing is the essence of profitable trading. And in both cases, and in all other trading activities, the trader must know his or her own personality traits well enough so that he or she does not violate good trading habits with bad and impulsive behavior patterns. Let logic and good common sense prevail. Remember the old French proverb, "Fortune favors the well prepared mind!"

Is Spore facing BUBBLE Trouble ??? CNBC.COM, On Sunday 1 May 2011, 23:43 SGT Fed chief Ben Bernanke's pledge to keep interest rates low for an extended period may have cheered the stock markets but one economist cautions it may be fueling a property bubble in Singapore. Singapore property prices rose 17 percent last year after a 25 percent decline during the recession in 2009. Analysts are growing increasingly worried about property prices and the government has tried repeatedly to cool the sector. "For now, the party is on, everybody is enjoying it, it's only when the party is over (that) you have a hangover tomorrow morning," Jimmy Koh, executive director and head of research at UOB told CNBC on Thursday. Koh pointed to the relatively low debt-servicing ratio in Singapore as an indicator he is watching. The ratio currently stands at 20 to 30 percent of household income, compared to the 60 to 90 percent levels seen in 1996, when UOB's data series began. The low debt ratio was largely due to low interest rates, according to Koh. Mortgage rates in Singapore stand at less than 1.5 percent currently, far lower than the 6 to 8 percent rates in the late nineties. "When (the) interest rate environment does change, that indicator will change and that will determine whether we are in a bubblish mode," Koh said, highlighting that for every 1 percentage point rise in interest rates, debt servicing would go up by 3.5 percentage points. While he does not see mortgage rates in Singapore heading back to the 6 percentage range seen in 1996, Koh thinks people will start getting a lot more cautious when interest rates hit 2 or 3 percent. Markets are expecting the U.S. Federal Reserve to begin raising interest rates in the early part of 2012. That would have a direct impact on interest rates in Singapore, since the benchmark Singapore interbank overnight rate (SIBOR) tracks rates in the U.S. Another factor UOB's Koh said he was watching was the lagging supply of property projects. By 2013, a substantial supply would come onstream. That, coupled with potentially higher borrowing costs in 2012, could prove to be a double whammy for the property market in the city-state.

Cooling Measures impact Singaporeans’ Home-Buying By iProperty.com | Property Blog – Fri, May 6, 2011 By Tracy Chua A quick online poll by iProperty.com shows that more than half of 104 respondents in Singapore favoured a housing policy that would involve lowering prices for new flats and a re-evaluation of asset enhancement policies. 29 percent supported the idea that permanent residents should be required a longer minimum occupation period of eight years in order to give more priority to Singaporeans. 19 percent, however, believed that Singapore homes are within means and of good quality in comparison to cost. The poll was conducted over a one-week period from 28 April 2011 to gauge public response to the government's measures to cool the nation's property market. Also, iProperty.com's Consumer Property Sentiments Survey 2011 had the following results: 1. 59.2 percent of survey respondents say that they are affected by the cooling measures, and are either modifying their property buying/selling/renting decisions accordingly, or are halting plans to buy/sell their properties at this current moment. 2. 58.4 percent of survey respondents either do not think or are undecided whether the measures will succeed in cooling Singapore's red-hot property market. 3. 58.7 percent of survey respondents do not think that these measures are sufficient to stabilise public housing prices and stated their hopes for more to be done to improve the situation. Over 470 respondents comprising Singaporeans, permanent residents and expatriates took part in the online survey from 27 Dec 2010 to 25 February 2011. The majority of survey respondents fell between the age group of 25 to 54 years, with 71.5 percent earning an annual household income of S$140,000 and below.Most of them are currently living in HDB flats, private apartments and landed property, of which more than half currently have plans to purchase/rent their next property. Shaun Di Gregorio, chief executive officer of The iProperty.com Group, said of the results of the survey, "Housing policies and other property-related issues are arguably one of the key buzz topics of the upcoming General Elections. From this survey, there are indications that Singapore home buyers are looking forward to additional measures to bring about significant changes in the policies governing the local property market so as to further cement their decision-making process."

SINGAPORE On Track to Overtake VEGAS as Second-Largest Gaming Center CNBC.com | 03 May 2011 | 09:24 PM ET By: Ansuya Harjani Twelve months into business and Singapore’s first two casino resorts Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa have already won the jackpot for the island country. The two generated gross gaming revenue of $5.1 billion dollars in 2010. This year Royal Bank of Scotland forecasts revenue is set to rise by 25 percent to $6.4 billion, placing Singapore on track to overtake the Las Vegas Strip, which is forecast to earn $6.2 billion. That would make the island nation, the world's second biggest gaming center behind Macau. Analysts say the voracious appetite for gambling among Asians and their growing wealth will drive momentum in Singapore's casino sector for years to come. This is a stark contrast from the Strip, which has seen a slump in revenues for four consecutive months. The 2,561-room luxury hotel Marina Bay Sands, which has a 200-meter-tall, boat-shaped SkyPark and a lavish casino equipped with 500 gaming tables, attracted more than 11 million visitors over the past year — 885,000 guests walked through its doors over just four days of the Chinese New Year holiday in February. Marina Bay Sands reported net revenue of $560 million in the three months to December, $457 million of this amount was generated by the casino alone. “Our recent financial results show that Marina Bay Sands is on track on all fronts, even surpassing our original expectations,” commented Mr. Leven, President and COO of parent company Las Vegas Sands . The success of the casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson’s Singapore venture has helped put Las Vegas Sands back on track after a bankruptcy scare three years ago. Its rival, Resorts World Sentosa, has seen measurable success welcoming 15 million visitors last year. The family focused casino-resort generated revenue of $623 million in the fourth quarter, over 80 percent came from gaming alone. While the success of Resorts World Sentosa has been positive for Malaysian-based parent company Genting Group, it has stolen the limelight from the corporation’s own Resorts World Genting, located outside Kuala Lumpur, which was one of the first casinos to open in the Southeast Asian market. Resorts World Genting saw a notable fall in foreign visitors last year, causing its net profit to decline by 3.6 percent in 2010. Gaming analyst Jonathan Galaviz of Galaviz & Company believes that Singapore’s reputation as a safe and corruption-free global city has been key in boosting its competitive advantage in Asia’s casino industry. The blazing performance of the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa is also in large part due to the patronage of local Singaporeans, who made up about 60 percent of the casino customers last year, despite a S$100 ($79) entrance fee imposed by the government to act as a deterrent. “I don’t mind the $100 fee because I just go in and win it back,” says 24-year old Singaporean civil servant who frequents the casino once or twice a week. While the large domestic customer base is seen as positive for the casinos in the short-term, it could pose a threat to the growth potential of the sector in the long-term as the novelty surrounding the gaming complexes wear off. Galaviz says over time, the integrated resorts’ non-casino offerings, for example, Resorts World Sentosa’s Universal Studios theme park and Marina Bay Sand’s Grand Theater will become more important. Another risk to the sector, according to Aaron Fischer of CLSA, could be a possible intervention by the government to limit gambling by locals. “The government will monitor the actions of the casino operators closely to ensure there are no breaches in law and spirit of law,” he said. For example, last September the government along with the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) asked the integrated resorts to discontinue the free shuttle bus services between the city’s suburbs and its casinos. Additionally, since late last year, a few legislators and youth groups have requested that the government increase the casino entry levy to clamp down on local residents gambling at the resorts. Frank Hung, research associate, Asian Conglomerates and Gaming Research at RBS adds that any further delays in the approval of junket licenses by the CRA could also hamper the growth of the overall market. There has been speculation junkets may be prohibited from operating in Singapore by the enforcement of strict licensing requirements aimed at preventing money laundering. The VIP gaming market depends largely on the presence of junket operators, a third party that offers credit and brings high roller gamblers to a casino in return for commission. In the absence of junkets, the casinos' gaming revenues could be constrained as they are unable to hand out infinite credit. However, both Fischer and Hung believe that junkets will eventually get licensed given the very significant business opportunity. “We estimate Singapore gaming revenues of $8.1 billion next year — we see up to 50 percent upside to these estimates should a number of high quality junkets operate in Singapore,” Fischer concluded. While there may be minor policy risks surrounding the sector, industry experts are confident that the favorable competitive dynamics of Singapore's gaming space and the robust economic climate in Asia will allow Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa to surpass the Vegas Strip as early as this year. © 2011 CNBC.com

Singapore’s Fast Growth Creating Rich-Poor Divide? Jenny Chan Vheng Yern, On Thursday 5 May 2011, 10:05 SGT Liyana Dhamirah, 24, says she and her husband Fazli bin Mohd Jailani, 31, and their three young children lived in a tent on the beach in Singapore for four months in 2009 when their Housing Development Board flat was repossessed as they were unable to service their mortgage loan. The Singapore government provides subsidized housing via the Board to its citizens. Liyana and Fazli now share a rented flat with another family. "It's unfair. I'm a Singaporean, yet I'm not benefiting at all from how rich Singapore has become." Liyana and Fazli say they earn a combined S$800 ($652) a month but have been unable to make ends meet. "Sometimes I can't even afford a S$1 ($0.80) ice cream cone for my kids," says Fazli, a former mechanic apprentice, who is now unemployed and depends on the income from his wife's online handmade trinkets business. Singapore goes to the polls on Saturday and income inequalities have become a major political issue,with the opposition highlighting the rising cost of living and the increase in foreign workers. Those rising costs have come during an economic boom, with the country reporting a 23.5 percent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) quarter on quarter and 8.5 percent over the previous year. This was on the back of GDP growth of 15 percent in 2010. But not everyone in this island nation of 5 million people is celebrating. Irvin Seah, an economist at Singapore bank DBS says, "Plainly, not everyone has benefited equally from the economic growth that has occurred over the past decade." Median household incomes have grown only 21 percent in the past decade, compared to real GDP growth of 72 percent in the same period, according to government statistics. In 2010 when GDP expanded by 14.5 percent, household incomes rose on average just 0.3 percent after adjusting for inflation. Take the case of Rokiah Ahmad, 46, a librarian at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). She says her salary was S$1,500 ($1,222) per month 10 years ago, and after a decade of small increments, it's now S$1,700 ($1,385) a month. "It's not enough to raise three daughters and one son. We have financial difficulties." Chow Penn Nee, an economist at United Overseas Bank says, "Wage growth is clearly not keeping up with GDP growth and the divide between the rich and the poor is getting bigger." Asked for the government's response, Singapore's Minister for Manpower, Gan Kim Yong said income growth cannot be equated with GDP growth, "as the former is also influenced by other demand and supply factors." The opposition Workers' Party candidate, Chen Show Mao, who was a corporate lawyer before he joined the largest opposition party in Singapore, said during the party's election rally that the benefit of Singapore's economic growth "went to corporate profits and the wages of top earners". Government data showed that last year the bottom 10 percent of the population had a household monthly income of S$1,400 ($1,141) compared with S$23,684 ($19,308) for households in the top 10 percent. Singapore has the highest concentration of millionaires in the world. According to the Boston Consulting Group's Global Wealth 2010 Report, 11.4 percent of Singapore's population is millionaires. And it has the second highest income gap among 42 nations "with very high human development," according to the United Nations. Singapore's Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality where zero is complete equality and one maximum inequality, was 0.472 in 2010. CIMB-GK Research economist Song Seng Wun believes that growth itself partly explains the widening income gap. "In any capitalist society where profit maximization is key, this gap will widen unless we get heavy government intervention." According to Leif Eskesen, HSBC's chief economist for India & ASEAN, some inequality is integral to the effective functioning of a market economy, "but too much inequality could also hurt growth." When contacted by CNBC, Singapore's Ministry of Finance cited the recent budget in which the government promised to raise the productivity of Singaporeans via training and other benefits. In its budget in February, the government handed out one-time benefits valued at S$3.2 billion ($2.6 billion) targeting lower-income citizens. The ruling People's Action Party has also promised larger bursaries and grants in its manifesto. OSK-DMG economist Enrico Tanuwidjaja says these handouts can only cushion the impact of inflation temporarily since they are one-offs. "Purchasing power actually stays the same." Liyana and Fazli say since 90 percent of their wages are used to pay bills, the extra money Singapore's Ministry of Manpower says the government aims to raise incomes by 30 percent in the next 10 years by improving productivity. The ministry also says it has committed S$5.5 billion ($4.47 billion) for this purpose over the next five years. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has promised in his party's political broadcasts that the PAP, which is widely expected to win the elections, will ensure that low-wage workers are not left behind. On Tuesday, the Straits Times reported the Prime Minister apologized for not moving fast enough to address some of the shortfalls in housing and transport. "We're trying our best on your behalf. And if we didn't quite get it right, I'm sorry but we will try and do better the next time," the newspaper quoted him as saying. 71-year-old cleaner Mr Tan, who only wanted to be identified by his last name, has been earning just S$4.00 ($3.20) an hour for the past 5 years. He says he's not convinced. "They don't care about us. The profits all go to the bosses and government ministers. And when we speak up, we're considered as complaining." Correction: The article previously stated that Rokia Ahmed was a librarian at the Department of Statistics, but she is in fact a librarian at the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

A GUIDE to the POLLS on 7 MAY By Alicia Wong | SingaporeScene Thu, May 5, 2011 For many of you, Saturday will be your first time to vote in a national election. Your vote is, without a doubt, of utmost importance and we at Yahoo! Singapore want to help ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Here is a short guide to the polls that we hope will come in handy! Poll Card By now, you should have gotten your poll card via mail from the Elections Department. The card will tell you where your designated Polling Station is. If you have not received your poll card, please call the election hotline (1800-818-0088), email the Elections Department or go to a Community Centre/Club to get another card. On Polling Day 1) Bring your identification documents and Poll Card to the designated polling station. You are not allowed to vote elsewhere. Only your NRIC, Singapore passport and identity cards issued by the Ministry of Defence, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force will be accepted. Photocopies will not be allowed. The polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm. The waiting time tends to be the longest in the morning, but do not go too late too as ballot papers will not be issued to voters who are still in the queues when polling closes. Walking or taking public transport is strongly advised as parking spaces will be limited. 2) Once there, present your identification and poll card to an election official, who will direct you to the right queue. 3) Polling officials will issue you an official ballot paper. You may be asked to make a declaration of proof of identity and sign the declaration first. 4) Proceed to the polling booth, where you should mark your choice clearly with an 'X' in the box on the right side of the ballot paper, opposite the name and symbol of the candidate. DO NOT put a tick or any other symbol, otherwise your vote will not be counted. DO NOT sign or make any marks on the ballot paper that could identify you. DO NOT show your ballot paper to anyone else. 5) After putting a cross in the box to indicate your choice, fold the ballot paper and drop it into the ballot box. 6) Leave the polling station. Please remember 1) Voting is compulsory. If you do not vote, your name will be removed from the certified register of electors of the constituency you belong to. You will not be able to vote in any subsequent election until you apply to the Registration Officer with an explanation as to why you did not vote. If the reason is not valid, you will have to pay $50 to restore your name to the register of electors. 2) Do not bring your pets and/or children to the polling station as they will not be granted access to the polling area. Your bag may also be subject to a security check. 3) Do not bring any item or wear any attire that shows a political party's or candidate's symbol. The law prohibits canvassing and all forms of election activity, except for voting, on Polling Day. 4) You are not allowed to use your mobile phone or cameras in the polling station. Remember: YOUR VOTE IS SECRET. For more information, visit the Elections website here or call the Election Hotline at 1800-818-0088 (local) or (+65) 6818 0088 (overseas).

SINGAPORE, it’s over to YOU !!! By Jeffrey Oon | SingaporeScene – Thu, May 5, 2011 COMMENT In less than 48 hours, slightly over 2.3 million of you will begin casting your vote at ballot boxes across Singapore. For many, me included, it will be our first walk to the ballot box, and for that we must be thankful. It has not always been so. In 2006, slightly over half of Singapore got to vote. In 2001, it was even less than that. We have to go back to 1972 when a majority 87 per cent of parliamentary seats were contested. This time, it's over 94 per cent. Come Saturday, you have the ability to chart the country's destiny for the next five years and beyond. My sincere hope is that you do not take this lightly. I am hopeful because over the last week, I have witnessed active citizenry at its best. At each of the four rallies I have been to in the past week, I was heartened to see Singaporeans from all walks of life show up in the thousands and, for some rallies, tens of thousands. There is something gratifying about seeing your fellow citizens -- Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians of all ages, of all backgrounds -- coming to attend these rallies in their own time, of their own free will. Some come alone, some with friends, many with families. But all come because of one thing: You care. It is no small sacrifice. Some skip dinners and go on hungry stomachs to hear what the candidates have to say. Others travel across the island, spending precious time and money just to listen. Snarling jams, pouring rain and muddy fields didn't deter you and, for that, I salute you. In the last few days, many concerned citizens have also taken to cyberspace to pen their innermost thoughts. Their appeals are insightful and heart-wrenching to read. Elections talk has also dominated coffeeshops and conversations across the island and I cannot help but smile when I overhear such heated, fervent discussion of national issues. This is what it means to be Singaporean. This is what it means to take a stake in your country. I am most heartened to see the Gen-Y generation, who some have called apathetic, attend the rallies in great numbers. I have received many emails from this group, telling me they have gone out of their way to educate themselves about what the respective parties stand for ahead of Saturday's decision day. They are our future and, guess what, they care too. At this important point in Singapore's fledgling nationhood, it gives me great comfort and a deep sense of pride to know we are all together in this. To know that regardless of events around the world, come Saturday, we have the choice to decide our own fate -- a future for Singapore, by Singaporeans. Whether it will truly be a watershed moment come the early hours of Sunday, I cannot tell. But whatever the results, I am already gratified because I know you care. Come what may on 7 May, let us not forget to come together as one, regardless of which box you crossed. I will end by saying that over the last few weeks, but especially in the last nine days, I humbly hope you'll agree my team has delivered, bringing you reports from the rallies of all the parties involved. We have done our best to bring you their ideas and platforms and what they represent. As the intense war of words of the hustings campaign die down and Cooling Off Day kicks in, it is now time for you to calm your minds, cool your hearts and consult with friends and family. But most of all, you must consult yourself. Decide what is best for you. And decide you must because it is your chance to say, I made a choice. Your vote is your own and it is indeed secret. It is up to you now. It is your TIME, your VOTE.

Man United advance to Barca Champions League FINAL By Rob Woollard | AFP News Thu, May 5, 2011 Sir Alex Ferguson said Manchester United could not afford to fear Barcelona after setting up a Champions League final showdown with the Spanish giants. United on Wednesday romped into the May 28 showpiece at Wembley after overwhelming Bundesliga outfit Schalke 4-1 at Old Trafford with a virtual reserve team, completing a crushing 6-1 aggregate victory. Two goals from Anderson plus one apiece from Antonio Valencia and Darron Gibson fired United into their third Champions League final in four years and a rematch with the team who beat them 2-0 in the 2009 final in Rome. Barcelona's scintillating form in recent seasons have prompted some commentators to hail Pep Guardiola's team as the greatest club side ever. But while a fervent admirer of the Catalan club, Ferguson insists his team will not be overawed when they meet in the final. "I don't think we should be going to Wembley lacking in confidence," Ferguson said. "I think Barcelona's form has been very good this season. We're playing a fantastic team. But we can't be frightened out of (our) skins because of that. "Their form is there for everyone to see -- our job is to find a solution." Nevertheless Ferguson admitted that he had been anxious for United to avoid Barcelona throughout this season's Champions League and revealed he would have been happy to be playing another club in the final. "I wish it was Brechin City or somebody like that to be honest with you," he joked. "No disrespect to Brechin City -- I love that wee club. "But I think at the start of the season you say 'Stay clear of Barcelona'. Because their form is there for everyone to see. "We've done our job well now that our away form has been terrific. We've found a good way of playing away from home. Wembley's not an away game, it's a neutral ground. But I think we'll be quite well prepared." Ferguson also declined invitations to characterise the final as an opportunity for his players to avenge their defeat in Rome two years ago, when they were comprehensively outplayed by Guardiola's pass masters. "Revenge doesn't come into it," Ferguson said. "What does come into is that this is another opportunity for Manchester United to win a European trophy. "I've always said that other clubs have done better than us, and we should have done better in Europe. "You have to admire the way Barcelona play, they play with great style, they've got fantastic players. But we've got a job to do and we'll find a solution. Ferguson also admitted he would seek advice from Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho as he attempts to plot Barca's downfall. "I speak to him quite a lot and I spoke to him last week. Real Madrid are a different team from us. I think we'll depend on our own knowledge of Barcelona -- it's not as if we've never seen them before," Ferguson said. "But the experience that Real Madrid have and from Jose's angle -- you always take information from that because he's very helpful that way." Ferguson steered clear of empathising with Mourinho's suggestions that Barcelona were beneficiaries of a sinister conspiracy to fix European competitions in their favour. "At this moment in time I don't think that's an issue with us. I think a final at Wembley should represent the qualities and histories and traditions of both clubs," he said. "It's a different set of conditions between Real Madrid and Barcelona because of the tribalism of both clubs in Spain. They've always been the two biggest clubs in Spain and therefore the rivalry is intense. "Many things happened in both games of the semi-final that you say to yourself 'Well I hope that doesn't happen at Wembley'. But we think it should be a good final."

NSP Candidate Nicole Seah breaks down during Rally By Jeanette Tan | SingaporeScene – 2 hours 19 minutes ago On the final day of the hustings, she just couldn't hold it in anymore. National Solidarity Party candidate Nicole Seah broke down during a rally at a field in Chinese Garden on Thursday night, after recalling a meeting she had with a poor female resident in MacPherson earlier in the day. The 24-year-old, who is contesting the Marine Parade GRC, said the resident told her how she could not afford an $80 deposit that was required over and above the rent for her flat. Worse, when she sought help from grassroots leaders, she was chided for the small amount. Pausing to compose herself, Seah told the estimated 10,000-strong crowd, "This is the kind of problem we have. We need a government who has a heart for Singaporeans." It was the second time in a day that the advertising executive broke down. While speaking to the same resident earlier, she had also cried after listening to the mother's desperate situation. An emotionally-charged Seah then told the audience at the rally that it was time for change. She said, "They (the PAP) do not have the mandate of heaven but the consent of the people... We must move towards the next phase of nation building to build a future that comes in more colours than white." After the rally, which was the final chance for NSP candidates to address voters, members in the crowd told Yahoo! Singapore that Seah had left a deep impression on them. Ting Lee Yiaw, 48, banker, a Jurong GRC resident, said, "What she said resonated with me. She's very down-to-earth and very real. I can see that she is truly compassionate and really stands for the NSP." Nelson Tong, 36, civil servant, also a Jurong resident, said, "It is very encouraging to see someone like her. I can really see that she is feeling it like a true Singaporean. We feel it together with her and that's what being Singaporean is all about." Undergraduate Brandon Chen, 26, added, "We need an MP like her to give the alternative voice. Age doesn't matter, as long as people can feel that she is real." A total of 12 other NSP candidates spoke during the rally. They will be contesting the Marine Parade, Jurong, Chua Chu Kang and Tampines GRCs as well as the Radin Mas, Pioneer and Mountbatten SMCs.

We have put the PAP on the DEFENSIVE: SDPs James Gomez By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene Thu, May 5, 2011 The Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP's) proposed policies for helping Singaporeans cope with rising costs have put the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on a "defensive" position, said Dr James Gomez, the opposition party's candidate for the Sembawang group representation constituency (GRC). Speaking at a lunch-time rally crowd in Boat Quay next to UOB Plaza, Gomez, 46, said that the SDP has presented alternative economic and health plans, but that "(PM) Lee Hsien Loong and company have not put up policy proposals". The SDP has unveiled a shadow health plan which aims to help Singaporeans cope with rising medical costs. One of the party's recommendations is to revamp the funding model for the healthcare system. It also proposed the People's Plan and the Re-generation Plan which seek to rejuvenate Sembawang GRC through the creation of a Woodlands regional centre and a mini tourism hub Calling it a "watershed" election, Gomez added that there could also be a "vote-swing" due to the people's frustrations at the PAP's policies. "This election is a watershed, there is no doubt about it. There is going to be a vote swing against the PAP. This expected swing against the PAP is a result of our accumulated frustration with the PAP policies over the last so many years," said Gomez. He also claimed that the PAP team has no policy alternatives to help Singaporeans overcome rising costs and the influx of foreign workers which has led to depressed wages. Gomez also took a swipe at the ruling party, saying that it has a "poor track record" at keeping promises. He was referring to PAP's assurance that the goods and services tax or GST would not be raised in the next five years. "They promised you no increase in GST in five years. They have promised you a review of HDB prices downwards in the months ahead. Don't believe them. Their track record is poor in keeping promises," he said. The party also took a jab at PM Lee's apology which was made at a lunch-time rally on Tuesday. Gomez said that the ruling party has "no confidence" and thus had to resort to apologies and emotional appeals. "They have scraped the bottom of the barrel in public relations. The apology is the last bullet. PM Lee, I ask you and you colleagues, do the honourable thing, bite the bullet now," said Gomez. Former army colonel and candidate for the four-member Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Dr Ang Yong Guan, 56, said that the apology came "too little too late", bringing a smile to the audience's faces by referring to the song "Apologise" by One Republic. Meanwhile, the party also reiterated its proposals laid out in the previous rallies. Among others, they called for a minimum wage, reducing reliance on the country's manufacturing sector and and abolishing GST for basic essential goods. Contesting under the SDP ticket, candidate Michelle Lee Juen, 35, also touched on issues such as education and alternative plans to increase the country's low fertility rate. While she acknowledged that the PAP is "right" by implementing policies such as the baby bonus and childcare subsidies, she said it failed to solve the root of the problem, which is the cost of bringing up a family. To address this issue, the SDP, she said advocates cash grants, waiver of school fees up to university levels and free medical benefits for mothers' and children. "It is time to prioritise our families, not GDP growth," she said, adding that the proposals aim to put the families back at the centre of policy making. "Our aim is to make lives better for ordinary Singaporeans. Our lives are more that just about running an infinite treadmill, working every harder to make more just to maintain the status quo." The last speaker for the day and "star" candidate, Dr Vincent Wijeysingha, 41, cited the example of philanthropist Lee Kong Chian who recognised the need to contribute back to society through the donation of his wealth. Saying that the contributions made by the Lee Foundation -- which was founded in 1952 -- as "incalculable", he added that it has played a key role in providing funding for the arts and scholarships for needy students. "His way, not only being the way of wealth creation is also the way of community, the way of investing in our future, the way in assisting human beings to develop and reap their full potential," he said. "You the people of Singapore have the powerful opportunity to carry that tradition of Mr Lee into the future. Let us a send a strong and creative check and balance into Parliament and let us then move confidently into the future with no one left behind."

SURE man...Y.O.G. !!! 'It’s not about the PAP, it’s about YOU’ By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene – 1 hour 16 minutes ago Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan says that the upcoming general election is not about voting for the People's Action Party (PAP) but rather about making the right choices for the future. Speaking at the party's rally for the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC on Thursday evening, he called on residents to analyse the plans laid out by the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) which could bring negative consequences to Singaporeans. Highlighting the SDP's calls for minimum wage to increase workers' salaries as an example, the minister said that workers could end up losing their jobs instead. He gave the example of a 52-year-old woman he met recently who works as a secretary and was currently earning S$1200. She said her employer owned a small start-up company and could not afford to pay her a higher wage, adding that "she does not know what her future is". When asked by Dr Balakrishnan what the SDP could do, she said minimum wage. However, he explained during the rally that if the minimum wage was to be implemented, the woman could instead lose her job. "Why, because her boss in a small company cannot afford to pay more. And if you insist, the boss will say, well, 'I can't run the company, good luck to you'." "So you see, when people are afraid about the future, it is very easy to sell 'koyok'. But actually you take away her job and you make her future worse," he said. On the other hand, the minister said that the PAP's Workfare policy could provide her with assistance. In addition, under the Workfare scheme, he said that the woman could go for training and upgrade her skills which in return could lead her to better job prospects. "We can give her a better life but we have to convince her to give us a chance. To vote for us so that we can give her better life and not make a mistake to vote a party which is actually going to take away her job," said Dr Balakrishnan. Describing the PAP as an "honest" party which offers pragmatic and sensible plans, Dr Balakrishnan said the party will continue to grow the economy to increase the number and value of jobs to ensure that Singaporeans manage to obtain higher salaries. He also took a swipe at the SDP's shadow healthcare plan — which aims to lower the costs of medical services — saying that, "In all the other developed countries where the healthcare is apparently cheap, you wait long, long and you die before you get healthcare." "In Singapore, every single one of you can get to a hospital. Even if you have no money, and you go into the C-class, we will look after you." Dr Balakrishnan added that with schemes such as the Medisave, Medishield and Medifund, the healthcare system will be able to support the medical needs of the lower-income and provide the best services at an affordable rate.