Transforming Vision to Action
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WE ARE A NEW BOUNDARIES CHARITY BEGINS BIG FAMILY OF NEE SOON GRC AT HOME Find out which constituency Discover how Jamie Get to know our staff you're in and what amenities helps families in Project and cleaners are nearby Nee Soon Cares Page 9 Page 10 Page 15 The 义顺情缘 Rangkaian Nee Soon Nee Soon Link Published by Nee Soon Town Council | MCI (P) 020/08/2015 | Issue No 10 2016 Transforming Vision to Action he 13th Parliament sworn in on 15 remains stable and our neighbours 2. Second, we will renew our economy; January 2016 witnessed three firsts prosper, we too will prosper. But if ASEAN which would go down in the history is fraught with tension or our neighbours 3. Third, we will foster a more caring T society; of Singapore. Firstly, a watershed epoch stumble, we too will suffer. has begun, for it marked the absence of our 3. We are a nation with limited land and 4. Fourth, we will transform our urban founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew. labour. To sustain economic growth amid landscape; and Secondly, the first female full minster to global competition, we must upgrade 5. Fifth, we will engage and partner with helm a ministry has emerged. Ms Grace Fu is the economy. This implies restructuring, Singaporeans in nation building. now the Minister of Culture, Community and meaning that our people and businesses Youth (MCCY). Thirdly, she is also the Leader will need to continually adapt and change. President Dr Tony Tan highlighted the of the House, the first woman to be given the importance of leadership renewal in ensuring appointment. 4. Our population is ageing. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or our politics work for the long-term good of President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam in his opening older. There will be only two working-age Singapore. “First, we must continue to have a address commented that while Singapore has citizens for every senior citizen, down capable and honest political leadership. This advanced rapidly from Third World to First, from five today. will not happen by chance. Every generation he cautioned that “we cannot expect an easy 5. Our interests and perspectives are becoming of leaders must develop the next generation journey ahead.” The fundamental realities of more diverse. Forging a cohesive society consciously and systematically. Every our existence have not changed. We must be will be a constant challenge. successive Government must take leadership mindful that To ensure that Singapore is still a shining red renewal seriously. And every new generation 1. We remain a small country with no natural dot for the next fifty years, President Dr Tony of leaders must win anew the people’s trust, resources apart from our people. Tan proposed five motions for the right to leadership is not transferable 2. Our economy has become more integrated from one generation to the next.” 1. First, we will keep Singapore safe and with the ASEAN Community. If ASEAN secure; 2 The Nee Soon Link The ensuing parliamentary debate from 25 to 29 January 2016 was Renewing Our Economy a robust and fruitful one. 19 new Members of Parliament (MPs) and two new Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) delivered their maiden speeches. The Finance Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat around us intimately — traditions, topics addressed the full spectrum of recounted that the late Prime Minister customs, taste, language, habits and defence, economic, social, housing, Mr Lee Kuan Yew liked to ask, “So psychology. We used to encourage transport, healthcare and national what does this mean for Singapore Singaporeans to anchor in Singapore. identity. Here are excerpts of the MPs’ and Singaporeans? So, what must we With a strong anchor planted, it is opinions on each motion. do differently to ensure the success now necessary to seek our fortunes in of Singapore and Singaporeans?” The the region. The learning curve will be answer, said Mr Heng is, “We need to steep. President Tan has warned that continue creating value for the world, “we cannot expect an easy journey and for ourselves. We can continue to ahead”. That is why institutes of higher do this by staying open, innovative and education are encouraging overseas adaptive to change.” internships for their students. We must be able to understand, bridge, In his speech titled ‘Faster Legs, and operate across different cultures. stronger hearts, wiser minds’, Acting We must have depth in know-how Minister for Education (Higher and skills, so that wherever we go, our Education and Skills), Mr Ong Ye Kung expertise is valued.” Keeping explained, “Many Asian economies are facing headwinds not just because “To make the next generation of Singapore there is slower growth in China, but Singapore's workers future-ready, more because a new division of labour Singaporeans should teach their Safe and Secure is emerging, and each economy is children to do what computers and still finding its footing in the new machines cannot do — and to be configuration.” masters of machines, ” said MP Henry Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Kwek from Nee Soon GRC. Home Affairs, Mr Amrin Amin said, He further elaborated, “For Singapore, “We have to involve every single I think we must know the markets one of us, our people, in our efforts to better protect ourselves from a terrorist attack and its aftermath. Keeping Singapore safe is our shared Foster a More Caring Society responsibility. Should the unthinkable happen and a terrorist attack happens, we have to make absolutely sure that the terrorists’ agenda to create chaos and sow discord does not prevail. Not ever! Brick and mortar can be repaired and rebuilt easily. Fractures in our community cannot be fixed so A slew of proposed changes to our Similarly, tweaks to the Women’s readily.” Central Provident Fund (CPF) open Charter underscore the government’s up more retirement options. These commitment to protect the vulnerable Senior Minister of State for Defence include group in our society. Among them are and Foreign Affairs, Dr Maliki Osman remarked “Muslims can help by 1. Allowing CPF members to choose 1. Voiding a marriage of convenience, rejecting any form of violence in the their CPF Life plan only when they which is an immigration offence. name of Islam, while non-Muslims want to start receiving their payouts 2. Allowing women to provide for can correct misconceptions or from the national annuity scheme, their current or ex-husband if he stereotypical remarks.” at age 65. becomes incapacitated and cannot “All travellers coming into Singapore 2. Giving members more flexibility work. by land, air or sea from June will have to withdraw savings from their 3. Making parents going through their fingerprints taken,” said Senior CPF retirement accounts without a divorce attend a mandatory Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr having to pledge their properties. parenting programme to reduce Desmond Lee. The fingerprint scans 3. Enhancements to two CPF insurance the impact of the divorce on their will allow the immigration authorities schemes — the Dependants' children. to "verify the traveller's identity before Protection Scheme and the Home he is allowed entry into Singapore and Protection Scheme. will facilitate automated self-clearance during his departure,” said Mr Lee. The Nee Soon Link 3 The pioneer generation was not left behind. The Pioneer Generation Fund (Amendment) Bill, which proposes that the income or means of a pioneer generation individual — most of whom are aged 67 and above this year — be disregarded when benefits are determined. They include subsidies to healthcare costs. The Finance Ministry said that benefits given to the pioneer generation are meant to ‘honour their contributions and therefore do not vary based on income or means’. Classrooms in schools under the Ministry of Education (MOE) will be equipped with air purifiers by July 2016 in an effort to deal with the severe haze that could hit Singapore again this year. About 25,000 air purifiers will be installed in classrooms in primary, secondary and special education schools, and in the 15 kindergartens that MOE runs. This will "further enhance the well-being of our students and staff during a haze situation", Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng said in a written reply. Transforming Engage and Partner Good Politics Our Urban with Singaporeans and Leadership Landscape in Nation Building Senior Minister of State for Transport, Mr Ong Ye Kung said, “With a stronger Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong Ms Josephine Teo announced that the heart, we will develop a more distinct emphasised the five core principles in government is considering speed limits for national identity, and strengthen governing a country, namely ensuring cycling in parks and park connectors, and the Singapore soul. That will be our high-quality government, keeping our a report on this is expected in the second monument for the next 50 years. But politics open and contestable, maintaining quarter of this year. The report, to be our identity is not derived merely by accountability for the Government, released by the Active Mobility Advisory a legal fiat that pronounced everyone upholding a multiracial society, and Panel led by Parliamentary Secretary ‘Singaporean’. There is richness in the instituting suitable stabilisers and checks Assoc. Professor Muhammad Faishal identity, drawn from our diverse ancestry and balances in the system. He added, Ibrahim, will also include rules and safety and cultural origins.” “It is not possible for any political system guidelines for users of personal mobility to guarantee a country political stability devices. Member of Parliament Ms Joan Pereira and prosperity forever. But we can make commented that more can be done to such a happy outcome more likely if we The Minister for Communications and strengthen social harmony through design our system carefully and correctly Information, Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim community bonding, against the around the core principles.” outlined the role of the new Government backdrop of global extremism, and Technology Organisation (GTO) and Info- suggested activities for inter-racial Mr Ong Ye Kung gave his take on communications Media Development bonding.