By Tor Ching Li
Responding to criticism that he had picked the wrong people in candidates, Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) secretary general Chiam See Tong hit out at the PAP at an SDA rally in Chua Chu Kang on Tuesday night.
Mr Chiam had been criticised on Monday by Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean for discovering the likes of Mr Cheo Chai Chen, Mr Ling How Doong and Dr Chee Soon Juan.
On Tuesday night, Mr Chiam said that the Opposition he picked had not lost any of the people's money.
"The PAP, despite their thorough and careful selection of candidates, have selected candidates who are really crooks," said the Potong Pasir Member of Parliament (MP).
Referring to the likes of former National Development Minister Tay Cheang Wan, and MP Phey Yew Kok, Mr Chiam said: "These people are carefully selected by the PAP and yet they turn out to be crooks and lost public money. How can they criticise the Opposition when they cannot select good candidates?"
He also asked why some PAP MPs only served one term if they were so good.
The veteran politician also took the opportunity to rebut Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam for dismissing Mr Chiam's suggestions on streaming.
Mr Chiam argued on Tuesday night that children were unprepared for streaming at the age of 11 as their brain was not fully developed.
He said that streaming would be better done at later ages, such as 13 or 14, when they are given a chance to become more creative.
Said Mr Chiam: "The Government may put him in ITE where the building is more expensive than Junior College, but the damage is already done. There is a scar in his mind and he will not be as confident and entrepreneurial than if he was left alone to take his own course."
The HDB flat I live in in Ang Mo Kio is so old, its been here since my grandparents moved in from their farms in Jalan Kayu.
ReplyDeleteI sure as hell don't want a lift upgrade which I have to pay for and bear with the construction process.
I hope the rebuild the estates.
Well said, Mr Chiam!
ReplyDeleteI agree about how our government has molded education system in Singapore
ReplyDeleteIt does not give everyone equal opportunity to be successful in life.
Streaming only cuts off opportunities and non-conforming students from getting a real education.
I have encountered people who are smart but like any teenage was rebellious (or among many other reasons, like their learning habits is different from those thought in school) and never made it to Junior Colleges and eventually University.
Alot of students go overseas and discover their true potential because they were given the Opportunity, one which should fall on the shoulders of our government.
For those who cannot afford it, they go schools like ITE and polytechnic.
These schools have good teachers and provide a good education. However, it is set up to "dump" all these "people" who cannot make it. For them to eventually get a degree is much much harder.
Where is the EQUAL opportunity that our government promised?
Make it a CHOICE for people to get the education they want, be it a Certificate from ITE, a Diploma from Polytechnic or a Degree from University.
Is there a way for me to send an email to Mr Chiam?
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that instead of upgrading Potong Pasir, i.e. instead of building unsightly linkways, Potong Pasir should employ the elderly to provide umbrellas when it rains. (Okay, I'm not talking about new lifts, but about upgrading the landscape.)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but we only need the linkways when it rains, right?
Somebody should do a calculation for him to see how much it costs to build linkways and then pay for all the lighting, and compare it with employing the elderly.
I'm sure all the elderly will vote for him then, and all the families of the elderly will also vote for him.
The PAP has always adopted this attitude of "Mightier than thou! Holier than thou! and Whiter than thou!". If the PM feels so strongly that his party consists of candidates full of integrity, let him reveal to all Singaporeans why Mrs Ho Geok Choo, an MP of West Coast GRC was recently forced to quietly resign from her position as Vice President Human Resource in SIA Engineering Co. by our union, SIASU over a corruption case involving hundred thousands of dollars and the case was hushed up! WE SINGAPOREANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KEPT IN THE DARK, LIKE THE NKF CASE UNTIL IT CANNOT BE CONTAINED AND MADE SUCKERS OF THEIR POLICIES! TALKING ABOUT CROOKS AND GANGSTERS, THEY ARE THE MOST INFAMOUS ONES RUNNING AROUND IN SINGAPORE!
ReplyDeleteA true student who wants to learn and who had made mistake of not studying hard during streaming will know how to climb up and prove himself/herself again
ReplyDeleteI think there is something called Private Candidate O/A level, everyone can take part, and who say you cant learn A level stuff? Hire a tutor, get textbooks, research around,
If there is a will, there is a way, PAP is the one that make you give up yourself, only you can give up yourself
You can gain more confident if you climb up from your mistakes.
What Mr Chiam is addressing students who degrade themselves and doesnt care to pursue education