National Solidarity Party Conduct Regular North Star Outreach at West Coast Hawker Ctn [ More... ]

谨《联合早报•交流站》于2010年2月11日刊登陈汉豹先生之“反对党应深入民间并言之有物”，我代表国民团结党作以下回应： 我党筹备淡滨尼集选区的竞选机制打从2006年大选过后就不间断的在进行着。加紧积极活动也已有一年之久，绝对不是陈先生所声称的“投机策略”。新组屋价格高涨也非一朝一夕所能形成的事。而且李总理并没有确定今年将是大选年，陈先生怎么会先入为主的认为我们此时提出竞选淡滨尼集选区，直接挑战国家发展部长马宝山先生就是“投机策略”呢？李总理有权迟至2012年才宣布举行大选。我们已经提早了两年为战役鸣鼓，何来的“投机”？ ... [ More... ]

In general, we appreciate the government’s effort in trying to deal with new economic challenges in the next decade. However we feel that ESC is trying too hard in dissecting economic issues without realizing that the model of economy is tightly linked to the social-cultural- political aspects of the Nation. These “software” of the Nation will mold the mindset of the citizens which in turn will impact on how the economy will develop in reality. We need a more holistic approach instead of formulating quick fixes for short term gains. The U-Turn on the FT policy is a classic example on how such quick fixes applied in the past may just become irrelevant and worse, creating irreversible damage to our social fabrics. [ More... ]

I have been writing a lot on HDB policies and the ills of it recently basically because I am keeping up the pressure on the Minister of National Development to do something about it. Mr. Mah Bow Tan has been very hardworking recently. I should say that he has made his utmost efforts recently to appear in Main Stream Media (MSM) to explain his HDB pricing policy is still “affordable”. According to Mr. Mah Bow Tan and his statutory board HDB, HDB flats are still “affordable”, citing the “fact” that most Singaporeans are using less than 30% of their income for their HDB mortgage payment. However, I should point out here that the Minister and his people have missed the point totally. They have based their “affordability” argument on a mortgage of 30 years. When I bought my HDB flat, I have tried to choose to go a mortgage of 15 years instead of 25 years. We settled for a 20 year mortgage instead.... [ More... ]

源自美国的金融风暴从次贷风波开始便不断升级和扩散，它让我们见证了贝尔斯登(Bear Stearns)和雷曼兄弟(Lehman Brothers)两家投资银行的先后倒闭，美国国会罕见的斥资拯救二房（房利美 - Fannie Mae和房地美 - Freddie Mac）、美国国际集团(AIG)等房地产和保险巨头。这一次的风暴不仅对美国本土的金融体系造成严重破坏，也祸延世界各国。欧洲小国：冰岛，就面对破产的危机；亚洲各国，包括新加坡，也无一幸免。 面对这场环球性的金融风暴来袭，我国政府和人民已经开始强烈感受到经济不景的压力。它将对我国经济造成多大和多久的冲击和影响，备受政府和国人所关注。从下述事实，我们不难感受到它的严重性 [ More... ]

十多年前，当笔者初次渉足政界时，由于加入的是被人们视为非主流的政党，周遭的友人多以异样的眼光看待笔者。有深厚感情基础的直接规劝我尽快脱离反对党阵营；为明哲保身的即刻和我保持距离；生怕影响仕途和生计的则视我为洪水猛兽而远离，从此不再往来。当时的我深感困惑和不解，尊重“人各有志”不也是民主精神的一种内涵吗？为何国人会害怕和反对党人士交往，甚至是排斥他们？李光耀资政在领导行动党执政之前不也曾是反对党吗？ [ More... ]

In ASEAN, the record hikes in fuel prices have resulted in social disquiet in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and the Philippines. Here at home, the inflation rate shot up through the roof, touching 7.5%, the highest in 25 years. As usual, the seemingly resilient Singaporeans choose to suffer in silence, apparently grateful to the Government for having achieved a first-world living standard or whatever that may mean! Indeed, an external observer may have difficulties in trying to understand the Singaporean psyche.... [ More... ]

NSP wishes all Hindus Community Happy Deepavali [ More... ]

就有如我在2006年大选群众大会上所预测的一样，消费税真的增长到了7%，接下来会不会“更进一步”增长到10%，我们姑且拭目以待。行动党在调高消费税时，高调喊话，调高消费税是为了“帮助穷人”, 但是新一年的预算案已经宣布了，还是不见行动党政府实行任何实质有效的福利制度来“帮助穷人”。消费税本身就是“劫贫济富”的政策，行动党说提高消费税是为了“帮助穷人”，的确是非常滑稽的言论。为什么说消费税是“劫贫济富 ”呢？贫穷的人原本不用缴税的，但是在消费税的制度下，贫穷者反而要缴税了。而且从2006年的预算案我们可以看到，消费税提高了2%，对大企业和富有者实施的所得税反而降低了2%。这不是“劫贫济富 ”吗？行动党口口声声说要“帮助穷人”，但是却又让那一些已经赚取非凡利润的公共交通公司起车费！巴士和地铁是穷人依赖的唯一交通工具，让车费起价也算是“帮助穷人”吗？ 行动党把百物飞涨归咎于石油价格的暴涨，但行动党政府绝对不能推卸由它的政策所造成雪上加霜的局面。调高消费税是其一，任由公共交通公司起车费是其二，不调低或甚至废除柴油和汽油税是其三，任由以煤气发电而非石油发电的公共发电厂起价是其四，任由组屋供应短缺而又让新组屋价格飙升到令人费解的程度是其五.... [ More... ]

In Singapore, the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) dropped by a massive 49% by the end of 2008. Over $400 Billion in the market value of stocks on the Singapore Exchange were wiped out, as the Nation entered into its 50th year of self-independence. The current economic downturn threatens to be even more serious than that of the Oil Shock in 1973, the Pan Electric-induced recession in 1985, the Asian financial crisis of 1997, and the 2001 recession during which the economy slid by 2.4%. Although, recovery is expected to get around by 2010, nothing is really for sure! With so many unforeseen circumstances and political flash-points all over the globe, no-one can predict anything with a 50% accuracy. Soothsayers' advice are a dozen a dime... [ More... ]

The National Solidarity Party (NSP) told a rally at the Speaker's Corner one day after the Budget statement, that the Jobs Credit Scheme (JCS) may be "subject to abuses" by companies and would not benefit workers directly. It suggested that the cash grant be credited directly into employees' Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts and considered as part of the employer's contribution. As larger companies tend to have more employees, the JCS would benefit all the big businesses. But with the continuing entrenchments in the GLCs in almost every aspect of the economy, the Scheme will amount to using taxpayer dollars to help many Temasek-linked companies stay afloat. Big Brother is about to gain a bit more muscle. $5.8 billion was allocated to the Special Risk-Sharing Initiative (SRI) scheme to encourage bank lending. It is interesting to note that under the new Bridging Loan Scheme, the loan quantum is raised to $5 million (from $500K), and the Government's share of the risk is raised to 80% (from 50%). The Scheme has also been extended to include foreign SMEs, defined as corporates with less than 30% local shareholding and a maximum of $15 million worth of fixed asset investment. In other words, foreign investors now can benefit from this Scheme as well. [ More... ]

Job retrenchments have become a common buzz line. A number of large private firms announced pay-cuts for their senior executives. Both Temasek and CapitaLand said that pay cuts ranging between 3% – 25% were arranged. A leading healthcare group, Parkway Holdings, announced pay-cuts upto 35%. It was thus not unexpected for the well-remunerated Government officials to follow suit. The public was anxious to see how our Government leaders take the lead to lead by example. There was much hype over the perceived leadership stance, based on its past proclamations... [ More... ]

NSP wishes all Muslims Community Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri [ More... ]

In the years to come, we may witness a large number of Singaporeans surrendering their citizenships, in response the PAP's cold logic and the lack of empathy. In the long run, there won't be many Singaporeans left in Singapore, all thanks to the PAP's manipulations. I do hope that my fellow Singaporeans could reflect on all these happenings, as a consequent to the PAP's policies over recent years. We ought to ask ourselves, whether we should allow the Government to carry on with ultra-capitalism in policy making? Walking out of Singapore is definitely an easier choice, than fighting the whole PAP machinery. Having gone through the process of fighting against its vast machinery... [ More... ]

Political Dynasty. But is this what the public want? Is this what the electorate expects of its national leaders? Is Singapore to be turned into one giant, private corporation with a steep hierarchy of control? Are we opening up, or narrowing down? What are all of us – working so damned hard – preparing for? A political dynasty? A true democratic political system, even with all its inherent difficulties, has intrinsic advantages and vibrancy for the progress and development of a sovereign nation. For example, it allows its citizen – people like you and me – the freedom of choice. The decision to choose whom we want to represent us as government leaders. The innate ability to seek out, decide and support our own choices, is one of the key liberties of a citizen. To deprive one of that fundamental right (the freedom of choice) is akin to being forced to live in a cage, deprived of our basic human rights by a dictatorial regime.... [ More... ]