your biggest worries?

over language comment

Minister says he was quoted out of context on using

foreign language instruction methods to teach Malay

Pat want Singh

patwant@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

Saying he had been quoted out of context, Dr Yaacob said yesterday on the sidelines of a community event: “The clarification by Mendaki ... I hope will clarify the matter as much as possible, what I actually said about the Malay language.

“There are certain elements that continue to stoke the language issue for whatever gains and motives that they might have in mind.

But I am confident that our community is stronger than that and they can see through all of these things.

“Rest assured that our support for the Malay language will continue and, at the end of the day, we want the language to remain relevant and vibrant not only for the current generation, but for generations to come.”

Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, was referring to remarks he had made last Tuesday at a dialogue session with 200 Malay-Muslim pre-university students.

In reply to a question on the use of formal Malay and colloquial Malay, he had suggested that methods used in teaching foreign languages could be explored, to find out if these offer more ideas in teaching Malay to children who do not use Malay as a primary language at home.

He had noted that as the use of English at home becomes more prevalent, more creative ways must be found to keep Malay vibrant and relevant. Singapore, he said, was unlike the rural northern states of Malaysia where Malay is the predominant language, in contrast to the more urbanised cities like Kuala Lumpur or Johor Baru where English usage is also rising.

He had also cited the use of the movies of the late Malay icon P Ramlee, Malay adventure stories and Malay classical literature, to teach Malay contextually and creatively to the young.

Some had interpreted his remarks as meaning that Malay could be taught as a foreign language.

In its letter, Mendaki had elaborated on what was actually said at the dialogue session, noting:

“Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who replied, clearly shared a common concern in improving and evolving the teaching of Malay to maintain its functionality.”

Dr Yaacob’s latest comments yesterday, in response to a media query, came at the unveiling of the upgrading plans for Geylang West Community Club. Joining Dr Yaacob at the event at Kallang Heights was Dr Lee Boon Yang, adviser to the Jalan Besar Grassroots Organisations, who is retiring from politics.

Also present were Minister Lui Tuck Yew, Member of Parliament Denise Phua and new PAP candidate Edwin Tong. The proposed upgraded community centre will have new facilities and be Wifi-enabled.— Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said he is not worried, but disappointed, by the negative reactions to his earlier remarks on the teaching of the Malay language.

parliamentary records, please

Letter from Tan Eng Keong

I REFER to recent reports in which Minister Lui Tuck Yew is quoted as saying the Government has put up a lot of information on its websites. However, it is odd that key pieces of information are not easily found online.

The first is the Hansard or Parliamentary Record. Only reports from Nov 2, 2006 are accessible on the Parliament website.

The public has no online access to any reports prior to 2006. As a comparison, the UK Hansard from the year 1803 is freely available online.

The second is the Subsidiary Legislation of Singapore. While the main Statutes are freely available on the Attorney-General Chambers’ website, the subsidiary legislation are not. There may be subsidiary legislation posted on the websites of individual government ministries or agencies, but these are piecemeal in nature.

The electronic gazette, which includes the Subsidiary Legislation, is only available free for public viewing for five days.

Why is it difficult for the public to fully access the laws of Singapore or the Parliamentary Record, when these are surely of public interest?

The Hansard is of greater interest now due to the upcoming elections, as citizens would want to know which MPs have spoken up on which issues in the past.

or listening to their complaints?

SINGAPORE

Dissatisfied with the estimated compensation terms offered by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) under the Selective

Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), some flat owners at the three affected blocks on Clementi Avenue 5 had met at the void decks to collate accounts of their specific circumstances, to be submitted to the HDB at a later date, if necessary, said a resident, Mr Jason Tan.

Some residents felt the prices of their replacement flats were too high and some elderly flat owners worried that they would not be able to obtain a long-term loan to finance their new homes.

RP members, including its secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam, were at the gathering to speak to residents — some of whom were caught off guard by the presence of RP members and the media attention — and hand out party flyers. The RP was informed of the meeting by a netizen and it, in turn, notified the media.

Mr Jeyaretnam told reporters that the RP would push the HDB for more compensation for the residents’ flatsgreater transparency in the HDB’s plans for the land which these blocks of flats sit on.. He also called for

The HDB announced in February that the three 34-year-old blocks — consisting of 374 units — would come under SERS. In return, 500 units of new two- to five-room flats will be built next to Clementi Town Centre to house the flat owners.

Residents have received estimated compensation ranges from the HDB based on prevailing market value.

A group of residents approached their Member of Parliament (MP) Arthur Fong, who then wrote to the HDB. Mr Fong has conveyed their concerns, including over resale levies, and requests for larger discounts for allotted new flats to the HDB. The HDB is looking into the matter, the incumbent MP told

Mr Fong said the majority of residents supported SERS and that the HDB usually ensures a net gain for residents who do an “apple-to-apple” switch of flats. There are also packages offered by the HDB that reduce renovation that residents need to undertake for their new flats, making it “as painless for older folk as possible”.

When asked if the RP was capitalising on the issue — as the Polling Day approaches — Mr Jeyaretnam said his party was “showing ... we can listen to the residents, hear their complaints and come up with better policies”.

Mr Fong did not think this issue would change the dynamics at the coming election.

“I’ve represented (the residents). It’s HDB policy and they’re looking at and finding ways to make it palatable for residents. I’ll continue to work hard for residents, as I have for 10 years,” he said.

— What was supposed to be a low-key gathering yesterday of some Clementi residents turned out anything but, as Reform Party (RP) members and journalists turned up at the meeting.Today.Neo Chai Chin

NSP says PAP team’s ‘buddy system’ shows lack of confidence

Ansley Ng

ansley@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

Speaking to MediaCorp yesterday during a walkabout at Serangoon Central, the NSP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng questioned Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s proposal:

“Does he mean that his new candidates cannot stand on their own?”

NSP member Hazel Poa added: “That seems to be an indication of a lack of confidence in individual candidates so we are very encouraged by this development because it actually shows that they are taking  the Opposition more seriously.”

Ms Poa added that the proposal also highlights “one of the weaknesses of the GRC system where weaker members can ride on the coat tails of the stronger ones”.— The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has criticised the People’s Action Party (PAP) Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team’s proposed “buddy system” of two Members of Parliament serving two wards in the constituency, with the Opposition party questioning whether this meant a lack of confidence in the new PAP candidates.

SM Goh: I am accountable for what I did when I was PM

IMELDA SAAD

imelda@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

Mr Goh, who was Prime Minister between 1990 and 2004, was responding to the NSP’s comments last Thursday during the unveiling of its manifesto and its team for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC). NSP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng had said that his party will take on the Senior Minister over policies implemented under his tenure as Prime Minister, including the Electronic Road Pricing scheme and the Goods and Services Tax.

Speaking after a visit to Chai Chee Market with new People’s Action Party candidate Tan Chuan Jin, Mr Goh told reporters:

“Of course, I think as Prime Minister, as Senior Minister, I will be accountable for what I did surely, so I’ll be very happy to hear what they have got to say.”

Mr Goh reiterated that his Marine Parade GRC team has “very good people”. Said Mr Goh: “We are very confident we can sell whatever policies that the Government wants to implement and of course provide better services to the whole GRC.

Brigadier-General (NS) Tan said that among the immediate issues he intends to focus on are a renewal project for the Chai Chee ward’s marketplace and getting communities involved in helping the elderly and poor.

Noting that the efforts to improve the residents’ lives are ongoing, BG (NS) Tan said: “Ultimately people have to decide what they feel is best for them and who is best able to look after them and to deliver the services that they need ... not just the lower-income group but for all the different segments of society.”— Picking up the gauntlet thrown down by the National Solidarity Party (NSP), Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said yesterday he is accountable for the policies put in place at the time when he was Prime Minister.

I will divorce you’

Christopher Toh

christophertoh@mediacorp.com.sg

Watson Chong cries while recounting family’s reaction to his decision to join the Workers’ Party

And I don’t think our ministers are out of touch with the ground.

Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education

Grace Fu

GE: It’s not playing a game

GE: It’s not playing a game

 

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has reminded Singaporeans of what is at stake for the country in the coming General Election.

He said there are arguments from both sides during the hustings and that is natural. But polls are not about who wins the argument. They are about who can look after the future of Singaporeans and turn Singapore into a place of opportunities.

Mr Lee was speaking at the 30th anniversary event at Chong Boon Market in Ang Mo Kio GRC.

He said: " There are a lot of arguments and debates, firing on both sides every time there is an election and that is in the nature of contests. But it is worthwhile remembering this is not over who wins the argument.

" This is over who can do better for Singapore and Singaporeans, who can look after the future better and make this a place which will be with more opportunities, more secure lives, with more prosperous economy and stable society for you and your children, and that is what is at stake when you go to the polls and that is what you have to decide.

" It’s not playing a game, it’s not trying to do something a little bit clever here and a little bit clever there and trying to send complicated signals that this way maybe we can have our cake and eat it. It is a matter of choosing and choosing wisely and having chosen, working with the leaders you have chosen and make this work for Singapore."

Mr Ang Hin Kee, a candidate for the PAP in Ang Mo Kio GRC, said: " Come June this year, the safety screen doors will be erected ahead of schedule and it will be a safer and better place for us to take the MRT in Ang Mo Kio" .