The reality of standing up for my country – part 1
It has been 17 days now since the Singapore General Elections. Enough of time to put thoughts into electrons and
Category: singapore-politics
about singaporean politics
Hiding in plain sight
[photo from https://rangerrick.org/ranger_rick_jr/hiding-in-plain-sight/%5D In the Inconvenient Questions interview done by Viswa Sadasivan (recorded 3rd July 2020, and released 5th July
Curated playlist of videos
I did not realise that there are plenty of videos of events at which I spoke, interviews I gave and
Mailed in ballots
[photo above from https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2018/04/08/california-counties-testing-voting-centers-to-boost-anemic-turnout/%5D With all of the talk and tentative actions by the ruling party in trying to hold
Handwaving. No surprises.
So, the Singapore Parliament and the Ministry of Communication and Information replies to my question about the plan to track
Fa(r)cial Recognition + Parliament = Smart Parliament?
If the Singapore Parliament aspires to be a smart Parliament, it should live stream proceedings in full on the Internet with no delay (Facial recognition system to track MPs’ presence in Parliament, Nov 8). By doing that, MPs’ attendance can be tracked using software that is already available.
And Election Kakis gets underway
I am really pleased to have been able to hold the first (or many, many more) training sessions of volunteers
Majulah Singapura
I truly love how Ramli Sarip delivered the national anthem at this year’s National Day Parade. It was stupendous, visceral,
Democracy is a participatory sport, not a spectator sport!
Over eight years ago, I helped out a political party by volunteering to being their Polling Agent. It was a
Railway Records
My sons and I had a chance to attend a wonderful evening play written by my wife’s sister-in-law’s sister, Sharmila.
Electronic voting and trust
There was s series of letters published in one of the daily papers here in Singapore about the apparent anomaly
Defending my country
As a former reservist officer, I am deeply concerned with the kind of language and propaganda that is being put
Why is 10 million people the target for Singapore?
This is a number that keeps coming up every now and then. Sometime in January 2013, a white paper
The value of independence
As we approach the 53rd National Day on 9th of August 2018, Singaporeans have all reasons to be happy and
The ongoing spinning
PAP ministers and surrogates spinning the racially oriented presidential election.
No, Halimah, You Are Mistaken
I just saw this article online on one of the MSM sites. In it, the former speaker of parliament, Mdm
What if no one came?
So, there was this shop that was set up to give a chance for those who like pancakes to go
The next president and Singapore at 200
So, we are now in the silly cycle of “electing” the next president. This year’s election is very controversial. The
Some updates on “who’s my MP”
I have not received any reply from the person who is supposed to be the MP for my place on
On being an engaged and responsible citizen
I sent this to my MP on July 5 and am awaiting a reply (if there is a reply, I
As the silly season starts
By noon on September 1st, we will know who are running for the 89 seats in the parliament. As voters
He probably is indeed telling the truth! (info graphic updated on Aug 29)
It would appear that ESM Goh Chok Tong is indeed telling the truth that “checks and balances are a seductive
The need for a independent Electoral Commission
I am reading the Candidate Handbook for Parliamentary Election 2015 for the first time. I don’t have any of the
What I want for the future of Singapore starting today.
Fifty years of being an independent country and having seen how we have evolved over the years with my fellow
Here be the dragons!
I cannot believe that the MCE planners did not think things through. Of how the traffic is to flow from
Proceedings from the “The Singapore Computer Society’s Internet Regulations Workshop” – August 1996
I used to head up the Internet SIG of the Singapore Computer Society back in the 1990s. When the then
The Town Council IT System Tender
[This was originally written on March 26, 2013, but kept as a draft giving the powers that be time to
Tender for Town Council Management System – updates
Looks like the PAP-run town councils have put out a call for tender on February 4th with an advertisement in
It’s not about *taxing* anyone
By and large, Singaporeans accept the value and import of National Service. Yes, there are genuine situations where things can
Walk the Talk!
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” – Albert Einstein It is a mockery of the Parliamentary
“practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.”
I just love the heading of this post. It is from John Maynard Keynes who wrote it in his The General
And “Parliament Passes Motion …”
Before my comment, I found this picture on a walled garden site and thought I should share it here: How
Finally, a PAP MP making a considered and sane proposal
I am really glad to read the speech that PAP MP Inderjit Singh gave in Parliament about the Population White
“If there’s a war, why should we fight for Singapore?”
These two questions have been asked before and I am sure my two sons will ask them again: “Do I
In a word, wow!
I am not sure if this is a report that contains stuff taken out of context, but if its true
It was obvious to me
Congratulations to Ms Lee Li Lian in winning the Punggol East seat on January 26, 2013. With 16,038 from 29,832
The Value of Checks and Balances
The Punggol East by-elections will be on Saturday, January 26 2013. Let’s look at the choices Punggol East residents have:
They don’t get it.
The Punggol East by-elections are underway with the polling happening on Saturday January 26, 2013. Today, January 22, at the
Anonymity and Feedback
For the record, I will defend the right of anyone to engage in any discourse anonymously. Anonymity is a very
Doing the right thing and a proposal
I am glad to read the the Prime Minister has decided to probe the sale the applications (built and paid
It’s not a contest per se, it’s a Sahana-moment!
So, my 3 am post from January 3rd 2013 is now on http://www.tremeritus.com, probably not a good thing, but then this is
Why Open Standards and Open Source Matters in Government
I have offered to the powers that be (TPTB) running the various Town Councils in Singapore an opportunity for the
My Conscience Is Bugging Me
I cannot let the media statement put out by the “Coordinating Chairman of the PAP Town Councils” regarding the sale
Software for Public Sector Applications
The ongoing egg-in-the-face of the PAP over the “tender” (thanks to Alex for posting it via an anonymous source) awarded to AIM
Open Source and Government
[11:05 am Dec 26th: updated to reflect some clarifications given to me via other walled-garden social media] The recent events
Much to think about
PSLE A week ago, my younger son got his PSLE results. I must congratulate him on doing very well –
The Primary School Leaving Exam
On Thursday, September 27 2012, the Primary School Leaving Exam (PSLE in short) will commence. Over a period of 4
What a disappointment
I am deeply disappointed with the announcement that the Media Development Authority has asked Google/YouTube to block access in Singapore
A proud moment
This Hougang by-election was a foregone conclusion as far as I am concerned. I was only looking to see an
Why the vote in Hougang matters
It might look like the by-elections in Hougang is not an important event; it is after all, an election of
Who cares about the outcome of the decision of a mere 23,368 people?
On May 26th, 23,368 eligible people in the Hougang constituency, will be casting their votes for someone to represent them
What’s at stake in the Hougang by-election
Now that the by-elections for Hougang has been called, it is interesting to see how the ruling party is trying
No, LHL did not listen to me!
What a pleasant surprise to be sent an email by a friend saying: Bro, They heard you very well. Pap
What changed?
It’s just over a year and a day since the Singapore General Elections 2011. Many things have been said about
Really hard to fathom the naive logic of a PAP MP
I did not read this February 24th 2012 article written by a PAP MP, Hri Kumar Nair when it was
By-Election in Hougang Constituency
The Speaker of Parliament has declared that the seat of Hougang vacant following the explusion of the MP from his
Math 101 for Singaporean Ministers
MEDIAN is NOT the same as MEAN also known as average. Mean is the average of a set of numbers.
O Captain, my Captain!
So, the see-sawing of leadership credibility of the SMRT has reached an interchange. The CEO has quit (or euphemistically “to
Good Salary Review Report
I must confess that I was skeptical that the Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries would do a fair and good
Public consultation on proposed Data Protection
I am really glad to see that call for public consultation for the proposed Data Protection act in Singapore. The
Why bother voting for the president?
Indeed, why bother? The President of the Republic Of Singapore is 95% ceremonial and 5% custodial. Does it matter who
Presidential Elections is August 27
As we get closer to August 27, it has been evidently clear to me that this presidential election will be
I am Singaporean, humble and contented.
Tomorrow, August 9 2011, Singapore celebrates 46 years of independence. The fact that we’ve been able to have 46 years
As the hats get thrown into the ring
So, we now have three persons officially vying for the post of the President of the Republic of Singapore. Mr
The next Singapore president
With the elections for the next Singapore president due any day now, my decision making process will include the following
From 2001: A commentary by the Roundtable on the 2001 GE
I was part of the Roundtable until it was disbanded in 2004. Given what has happened in this year’s parliamentary
It keeps getting better!
On April 17th, I thanked Lee Kuan Yew for standing down. My thanks were really for him to completely step
The Singapore Cabinet is PG-rated
If the PAP leadership is serious about reforming their thinking, they need to first change the fact the the cabinet is
Regime Change – A Uniquely Singapore Project
Singapore has shown the world how to do regime change, one step at a time. The peaceful means of doing
It’s May 8th 2011 and it is a Brand New Singapore!
Good morning Singapore. Together we broke the back of the PAP with them being routed in the polls, with the
My 6 hour tour of duty as a polling agent
Note that I have signed a Secrecy Declaration that would require me to not mention who were at the polling
What ever the outcome, We are Singapore!
Polls open in about an hour. Whatever the outcome, let’s come together as Singaporeans and work to make a great
Volunteering to be an Polling Agent and a Counting Agent
I’ve signed up with the Singapore People’s Party to be their polling and counting agent for the elections on May
Please Don’t Spoil Your Vote
Every vote counts. Please do not spoil it. No matter who you vote for, what your point of view is,
My Singapore
I am very, very pleased to see such an explosion of thought, care, concern, commentary and general love for Singapore
Wear A Rubber Band On Your Right Wrist As You Go To Vote
We have four days till Polling Day. Here’s what I would like to see happen. The BIGGEST challenge with the
Minority and the GRC
As we near Polling Day, May 7th, 2011, I think a heart to heart review of the only reason proffered
Using the Osama factor and bogeyman for GE2011
I am sure that the PAP will use the Osama factor to frighten Singaporeans into voting for them this Saturday.
Being too successful
I remember a conversation one Sunday morning I had with my Dad when we were living at 260D, 109 Commonwealth
Things we should all know – that the Civil Service is independent of any political party
I got some interesting SMSes from friends about a whole lot of misconception about how the country works. First, no
What a feeling! Welcome, post-LKY Singapore!
Thank you Workers’ Party, Singapore Democratic Party, National Solidarity Party, Reform Party, Singapore People’s Party and the Singapore Democratic Alliance
It’s the night before Nomination day. What’s stirring?
By noon Singapore time April 27, 2011, we will know who is standing where and how the electoral layout of
“Freak” election outcomes?
The PAP is repeatedly used the phrase “freak election result” when referring to them losing seats in the general election. How
A tale of two women
I have a lot of respect for Mr Goh Chok Tong. He makes mistakes and shows that he is human
Way before 2016 – The Open Party
I think Singapore will be a dramatically different place come the early morning of May 8th, 2011. The tsunami of
Staking the higher ground
Now that the Singapore General Elections will be held on May 7th, the traditional political mudslinging has started in earnest.
Example of what’s rotten with the GRC system
This came in via an email. Shows that the GerrymandeRrd Constituency (GRC) scheme was rotten from day one. =========== Mr
Trust, Governance and Democracy
As Singapore prepares for the announcement of the dissolution of parliament (sometime next week I think), as a nation we
Some thoughts about NS
I was reading some rather interesting arguments against continuing National Service as we have today. While I think there are
I have a dream
I have a dream that this nation of mine will rise above mediocrity and prove that we are people of
Believing in your own BS
I spend pretty much 100% of my waking hours in the IT world. A world that changes and evolves rapidly.
True Leadership and The Open Source Way
I live in the Free and Open Source World. A lot of what the FOSS movement’s ethos and principles are
Great way to get a pension for life!
I was reminded when I read the Papsicle post about how we now will have two individuals who were apparently
We, The Citizens of Singapore
We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a
Throwing off the GerrymandeRed Constituency (GRC) yoke as independents
If you want to run for parliament you need to fulfill the following requirements (all from Parliamentary Elections Act 218):
What if it was Prime Minister David Saul Marshall?
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I was not given much of an opportunity (not that I cared then),
The Productivity Gambit
Perhaps the only useful nugget out of last night’s “Political Forum on Singapore’s Future”, was that all the participants agreed
Disappointed, but not surprised!
I watched with disappointment the “Political Forum on Singapore’s Future” on TV. I think the format was so contrived that
Tilting the playing field
I was reviewing the information at the Elections Department site on what are the terms and conditions for standing for
My Wish For Singapore (aka my manifesto-in-making)
I thought it would be useful for me to publish my wish list for Singapore. This is a first draft.