NTUC does not expect the WP to support them but at least be fair to NTUC, says SMS Heng Chee How in a strong and impassioned response to Gerald's attack.
Mr Heng is a fighter for the workers. ๐๐๐ช๐ช
Foreign policy means a lot to us because we are a small country that must always remain open in order to survive.
There is no foreign policy to talk about if Singaporeans are not united! This is something we must always bear in mind.
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing gives us something to ponder.
"We didn't go for a policy that erased the past and homogenised everything.
We have chosen the most difficult of paths in the middle, to say that while we may not be united by a common past, we can always be united by a common future."
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9UY5FKyJ8V/?igsh=ZTd0cGxpNTdmZDM0
PM Wong and his wife carry their own bags during PM Wong's introductory visit to Malaysia.
Our PM is there to serve Singaporeans' interests.
In Parliament, MOS Sun Xueling revealed that Meta was unreceptive to recommendations to introduce features to prevent scams..
If the President were to serve in these international bodies purely in his official capacity, then he would be limited to representing the official Singapore position in everything he says. That would not be in keeping with the requirements of these organisations. Nor would it be in the interest of Singapore for our President to be so limited, as it restricts our ability to shape global conversations and initiatives.
From Singaporeโs perspective, there is value to have the President represented on these international bodies. It enables us to be plugged into global conversations, and to understand and help shape the thinking that takes place in these important and influential international bodies. But for this to happen, the President must be able to function credibly in these international bodies, by lending his expertise to advance the agenda on broader issues of concern to these organisations.
As a small country, having voices on the international stage that can advance Singapore's interests and bring benefits to Singapore and Singaporeans is important, perhaps even more important than ever given the world we live in.
DPM Lawrence Wong explains the value of the President and ministers holding such international roles in private capacity, and hence the bill.
The Israel-Hamas conflict :
What we are seeing did not erupt overnight. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a deeply complex one. It is a longstanding feud going back at least decades, if not centuries, involving multiple state and non-state actors.
The conflict is not just between Israelis and Palestinians; or between people of different faiths. It's a political battle for territory, self-determination and identity.
What's at stake is the broader balance of power in the Middle East.
Throughout history, this land corridor between the Mediterranean coast and the vast Arabian desert has long been the battleground of ancient kingdoms and civilisations โ you can go back to the Egyptians, Babylonians and Romans; the Ottomans, British and French.
That battle for regional influence continues today, including between Iran and its Arab neighbours.
For years, Iran has been funding, training and arming Hamas, as well as other militia in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
It is certainly no coincidence that the brutal attacks by Hamas happened just after Israel normalised relations with the UAE and was in negotiations to do so with Saudi Arabia.
Hamas must have anticipated a strong Israeli response when it launched its attacks. In fact, it could well have counted on this, so as to rally people in Middle East to its cause.
But any country facing such attacks must respond.
The issue now threatens to spill over into a much larger regional conflict with major global implications.
In the end, who are the victims?
The victims are the Palestinian people themselves, who are being used as pawns and human shields, amidst this proxy fight amongst bigger and regional powers.
๐ผ๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐. ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐จ ๐ฌ
DPM Lawrence Wong said that violent threats against Singapore by regional extremist groups online have gone up since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Regional internet traffic on extremist sites has increased threefold. DPM Lawrence Wong said the authorities have also detained Singaporeans who fell for pro-Hamas narratives and wanted to take up arms overseas in recent years.
Singaporeโs security agencies are on heightened alert and have put in place additional security measures. Singaporeans must also stay vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the authorities.
โIn the end, our ability to respond to any terrorist incident depends on all of us. We must remain cohesive and united as a society, so that we can keep Singapore safe and secure,โ he said.
Academic vs Practitioner on Free Trade Zone
Thank goodness Jamus is not the minister for trade.
WP Jamus Lim tells the House the global merchandise trade has peaked, even on the decline since the global financial crisis, and for Singapore to stake its future on continued international integration (in view of 'deglobalisation') is 'risky at best and foolhardy at worst'. Focusing on trade and free trade zones as the key engine of the economy is missing the 'big picture', he said.
Watch Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat explain to Jamus that trade will remain important. There is a reconfiguration of global supply chains. Globalisation is not going to proceed the same way as before, but the world will still need to trade, cargo still needs to flow. The key for us is how we adjust our strategies and prepare ourselves to be ready to tap on this new landscape.
Basic needs vs aspirational wants.
Jamus Lim seems to consider perfume as a basic need rather than an aspirational want.
Do you agree?
Ministerial Statement by Minister Josephine Teo on the money laundering case uncovered by Singapore Police.
Suspension in general is a punishment and the cutting of pay is a CONSEQUENCE that follows suspension.
PSP Hazel Poa's motion to suspend Iswaran does not come from a place of principles. It is targeted at an individual.
The PSP wants to cut Iswaran's pay
They thus proposed that he be suspended so that his pay is cut.
Suspension, for the PSP, is the means to an end they wanted.
See the difference?
What kind of Parliament will it be when actions are not guided by principles, where Parliament acts just because it can? What will be the standard of integrity in such a House?
If Iswaran is to be suspended as an MP because he is under investigation, then what about the Leader of the Opposition and MP Faisal Manap who are both under investigation?
Lim Biow Chuan responds to Hazel Poa's proposal.
On protecting our children in preschool, MOS Sun Xueling tells Gerald Giam there is no lack of policies. We can have all the policies under the sun but what is important is how well they are executed on the ground.
The best way to protect our children as possible as possible is through multi-layered safeguards.
More in this video.
