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There is more at stake than we think

Published

13 years ago

on

Callan Tham /

I haven’t been able to spend as much time writing as I would like, but I have held off writing this for far too long. Thus far, it has been an electric elections season in Singapore. We are witnessing contests for 82 out of 87 parliamentary seats, the most since Singapore’s independence.

As usual for Singaporeans, known to be a “pragmatic” lot, the keenly argued issues revolve around tangibles — rising cost of living and inflation, stagnant real median wage growth, spiking prices of public housing, seemingly uncontrolled immigration, and that perennial PAP carrot: estate upgrading.

All of which are, I admit, issues that demand earnest discussion and analysis. All of them affect Singaporeans, some more so than others, but none of them are trivial. I have lots of ideas on how to tackle them, but that is not what this post is about, so indulge me while I recount an incident.

On April 19th, I was invited to a dinner with Jeremy Hillman, BBC News’ Editor of Economics and Business Centre, who was here to launch the Asia Business Index. It was an enjoyable evening at One Fullerton, just catching up and exchanging views with folks like Jeremy and Francesca Unsworth, Head of BBC Newsgathering, and my fellow bloggers Kirsten Han, Darryl Kang and Donaldson Tan. Hell, even Tan Kin Lian showed up.

As we sat down for dinner, Kirsten and I had plopped ourselves directly opposite Francesca at the table and when she asked us how we felt about Singapore, my response was “We don’t have a soul.”

I explained we have excellent infrastructure, a rather efficient tax code, and (at Fullerton anyway) clean streets. It all looks so clinical, so Eden-esque, that everything on the surface looks perfect. And we all know it isn’t.

So what is at stake, when Singaporeans go to the polls this Saturday, is the soul of this country. Or at least, the direction that Singapore will move towards. On the one hand, we have the mighty PAP, who has achieved their political dominance through no lack of cunning or heavy-handed smack downs. On the other, the alternative parties, who have pledged to serve not only as the loyal opposition, but also as the voice of the Singaporean people, and have also fielded their strongest slate of candidates for the longest time.

There has never been a time where internationally, respected lawyers like WP’s Chen Show Mao willingly joined the cause of an opposition party. Or former establishment men and civil servants like Dr Ang Yong Guan and Tan Jee Say campaigning as part of the SDP. And then there are names like Vincent Wijeysingha, whom I’m proud to call a friend, Gerald Giam, Michelle Lee, Nicole Seah, Tony Tan and Hazel Poa; bright and young capable minds that the PAP would’ve had no problems attracting to its ranks previously, are now proudly wearing the badges of alternative parties.

And more importantly, the proposals the alternative parties have come up with are not only cogent, coherent, and convincing to me, they also have one common thread running through all of them: that the Singapore they want to build is a country that prizes not only economic success, but also one that does not leave Singaporeans behind.

It is difficult for me not to think of my 8-month-old son as May 7th approaches, and I decide what kind of Singapore I want him to inherit. And my choice is clear as day. Because I don’t want Ayrton to grow up in a society that defines success as a mad dash for cash, status and material satisfaction.

I don’t want him to grow up in a country where you don’t stand up to bullies and allow yourself to be browbeaten into submission.

Nor in a country where ideas cannot be robustly debated or deconstructed, or one where he cannot challenge or question presumptions.

Nor a country where accountability and responsibility is non-existent.

Nor one where you apologise not because you are sorry, but when you need to gain sympathy.

Nor one where character assassination is an acceptable part of progression.

Nor one where the price for looking the other way is a fresh coat of paint for your block of flats.

Nor one where his freedom to choose his path in life will be compromised in any shape, way or form.

Nor one where we chose to forget to care for our elderly, the weak, the helpless, the poor, the homeless, and leaving them be is far easier than doing the right thing.

Nor one where we mistake servitude as gratitude, and where integrity is only a buzzword and not a principle to live by.

Nor one that allows our humanity to be sucked out of us and replacing it with the Singapore dollar.

Nor one where fear shackles and restraints our every move and decision.

Nor one where arrogance is not only accepted, but richly rewarded financially.

If I allow that to happen, I would have failed in my duties as a father and a Singaporean.

Make no mistake, my friends. There is more at stake than we think. We are not only voting for political parties, we are voting for the direction and soul of Singapore. Your vote will decide if you want Singapore to be more humane instead of staying money-oriented; to reach out and help fellow Singaporeans who have been cruelly left behind or reach for more profits; and a future that we are proud to tell our children about, a principled, compassionate existence, or merely one where telling your neighbours about your promotion or showing off your new sports car is the order of the day.

It is for these reasons that I ask you, on May 7th, vote for change. We, the Singaporean people, need it.

Visit TOC’s General Election website for more GE news.

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Current Affairs

Hotel Properties Limited suspends trading ahead of Ong Beng Seng’s court hearing

Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), co-founded by Mr Ong Beng Seng, has halted trading ahead of his court appearance today (4 October). The announcement was made by HPL’s company secretary at about 7.45am, citing a pending release of an announcement. Mr Ong faces one charge of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and another charge of obstruction of justice. He is due in court at 2.30pm.

Published

1 day ago

on

4 October 2024

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SINGAPORE: Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), the property and hotel developer co-founded by Mr Ong Beng Seng, has requested a trading halt ahead of the Singapore tycoon’s scheduled court appearance today (4 October) afternoon.

This announcement was made by HPL’s company secretary at approximately 7.45am, stating that the halt was due to a pending release of an announcement.

Mr Ong, who serves as HPL’s managing director and controlling shareholder, faces one charge under Section 165, accused of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts, as well as one charge of obstruction of justice.

He is set to appear in court at 2.30pm on 4 October.

Ong’s charges stem from his involvement in a high-profile corruption case linked to former Singaporean transport minister S Iswaran.

The 80-year-old businessman was named in Iswaran’s initial graft charges earlier this year.

These charges alleged that Iswaran had corruptly received valuable gifts from Ong, including tickets to the 2022 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, flights, and a hotel stay in Doha.

These gifts were allegedly provided to advance Ong’s business interests, particularly in securing contracts with the Singapore Tourism Board for the Singapore GP and the ABBA Voyage virtual concert.

Although Iswaran no longer faces the original corruption charges, the prosecution amended them to lesser charges under Section 165.

Iswaran pleaded guilty on 24 September, 2024, to four counts under this section, which covered over S$400,000 worth of gifts, including flight tickets, sports event access, and luxury items like whisky and wines.

Additionally, he faced one count of obstructing justice for repaying Ong for a Doha-Singapore flight shortly before the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) became involved.

On 3 October, Iswaran was sentenced to one year in jail by presiding judge Justice Vincent Hoong.

The prosecution had sought a sentence of six to seven months for all charges, while the defence had asked for a significantly reduced sentence of no more than eight weeks.

Ong, a Malaysian national based in Singapore, was arrested by CPIB in July 2023 and released on bail shortly thereafter. Although no charges were initially filed against him, Ong’s involvement in the case intensified following Iswaran’s guilty plea.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had earlier indicated that it would soon make a decision regarding Ong’s legal standing, which has now led to the current charges.

According to the statement of facts read during Iswaran’s conviction, Ong’s case came to light as part of a broader investigation into his associates, which revealed Iswaran’s use of Ong’s private jet for a flight from Singapore to Doha in December 2022.

CPIB investigators uncovered the flight manifest and seized the document.

Upon learning that the flight records had been obtained, Ong contacted Iswaran, advising him to arrange for Singapore GP to bill him for the flight.

Iswaran subsequently paid Singapore GP S$5,700 for the Doha-Singapore business class flight in May 2023, forming the basis of his obstruction of justice charge.

Mr Ong is recognised as the figure who brought Formula One to Singapore in 2008, marking the first night race in the sport’s history.

He holds the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix. Iswaran was the chairman of the F1 steering committee and acted as the chief negotiator with Singapore GP on business matters concerning the race.

 

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Current Affairs

Chee Soon Juan questions Shanmugam’s $88 million property sale amid silence from Mainstream Media

Dr Chee Soon Juan of the SDP raised concerns about the S$88 million sale of Mr K Shanmugam’s Good Class Bungalow at Astrid Hill, questioning transparency and the lack of mainstream media coverage. He called for clarity on the buyer, valuation, and potential conflicts of interest.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

23 September 2024

By

On Sunday (22 Sep), Dr Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), issued a public statement on Facebook, expressing concerns regarding the sale of Minister for Home Affairs and Law, Mr K Shanmugam’s Good Class Bungalow (GCB) at Astrid Hill.

Dr Chee questioned the transparency of the S$88 million transaction and the absence of mainstream media coverage despite widespread discussion online.

According to multiple reports cited by Dr Chee, Mr Shanmugam’s property was transferred in August 2023 to UBS Trustees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, which holds the property in trust under the Jasmine Villa Settlement.

Dr Chee’s statement focused on two primary concerns: the lack of response from Mr Shanmugam regarding the transaction and the silence of major media outlets, including Singapore Press Holdings and Mediacorp.

He argued that, given the ongoing public discourse and the relevance of property prices in Singapore, the sale of a high-value asset by a public official warranted further scrutiny.

In his Facebook post, Dr Chee posed several questions directed at Mr Shanmugam and the government:

  1. Who purchased the property, and is the buyer a Singaporean citizen?
  2. Who owns Jasmine Villa Settlement?
  3. Were former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and current Prime Minister Lawrence Wong informed of the transaction, and what were their responses?
  4. How was it ensured that the funds were not linked to money laundering?
  5. How was the property’s valuation determined, and by whom?

The Astrid Hill property, originally purchased by Mr Shanmugam in 2003 for S$7.95 million, saw a significant increase in value, aligning with the high-end status of District 10, where it is located. The 3,170.7 square-meter property was sold for S$88 million in August 2023.

Dr Chee highlighted that, despite Mr Shanmugam’s detailed responses regarding the Ridout Road property, no such transparency had been offered in relation to the Astrid Hill sale.

He argued that the lack of mainstream media coverage was particularly concerning, as public interest in the sale is high. Dr Chee emphasized that property prices and housing affordability are critical issues in Singapore, and transparency from public officials is essential to maintain trust.

Dr Chee emphasized that the Ministerial Code of Conduct unambiguously states: “A Minister must scrupulously avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest between his office and his private financial interests.”

He concluded his statement by reiterating the need for Mr Shanmugam to address the questions raised, as the matter involves not only the Minister himself but also the integrity of the government and its responsibility to the public.

The supposed sale of Mr Shamugam’s Astrid Hill property took place just a month after Mr Shanmugam spoke in Parliament over his rental of a state-owned bungalow at Ridout Road via a ministerial statement addressing potential conflicts of interest.

At that time, Mr Shanmugam explained that his decision to sell his home was due to concerns about over-investment in a single asset, noting that his financial planning prompted him to sell the property and move into rental accommodation.

The Ridout Road saga last year centred on concerns about Mr Shanmugam’s rental of a sprawling black-and-white colonial bungalow, occupying a massive plot of land, managed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), which he oversees in his capacity as Minister for Law. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, also rented a similarly expansive property nearby.

Mr Shanmugam is said to have recused himself from the decision-making process, and a subsequent investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) found no wrongdoing while Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean confirmed in Parliament that Mr Shanmugam had removed himself from any decisions involving the property.

As of now, Mr Shanmugam has not commented publicly on the sale of his Astrid Hill property.

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