• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

ST Forumer praises Halimah for suggesting to hold cohesiveness conference more often

by Correspondent
10/07/2019
in Comments
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

ST Forumer, Tara Hasnain, praised President Halimah in a forum letter today (9 Jul) for suggesting to hold the cohesiveness conference more often. Halimah mentioned this at a recently held international conference on cohesive societies.
“What a positive initiative!” said Ms Hasnain.
“Singapore, with its strong cohesion in the political, social, cultural and many other spheres, is certainly a good place to live in, and it works tirelessly to foster peace and coexistence despite its multicultural and multi-religious makeup, touting such diversity as a strength.”
“Kudos to President Halimah Yacob for seeing the increased peace and happiness this can bring. I hope this Singapore initiative gives the world a new paradigm to measure not just national stability but also the social resilience and contentment of those who live here, and promotes a strong sense of becoming a more caring and compassionate nation,” she added.
Ms Hasnain noted that a cohesive society can inspire residents to share more of their lives with those they don’t know, and to work towards a greater sense of neighbourliness, “embodying the famous kampung spirit of Singapore”.
She concluded her letter by quoting Halimah: “Only a cohesive society built upon mutual trust can harness the strength of its diversity, so that its people can build a better future. And this trust has to begin with a discourse anchored on cohesion, not division; on unity, not discord; on respect, not distrust; and on building bridges and common spaces, not walls and watchtowers.”
Ironically, Halimah’s own presidency has brought difference in opinions within the Singapore society.
Those who supported the establishment like many of the grassroots and business people cheered Halimah who became the President of Singapore through a change in the constitution and through a walkover.
“This has been a divisive run-up to the (presidential) nomination”
On 13 Sep 2017, Halimah was declared the winner via a walkover at the People’s Association headquarters in Jalan Besar.
“I am a President for everyone, regardless of race, language, religion or creed. I represent everyone. Although there is no election, my commitment to serve you remains the same,” she said in a victory speech.
Many business and grassroots community groups sent their congratulations to Halimah on that day.
For example, the Singapore Business Federation wished her a “fruitful term” in office, and said it looked forward to working with her and her office to benefit businesses and the community while the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations said the breadth and depth of her experience would be an advantage in building “social capital” for Singapore’s development.
“The Chinese community is confident that under Madam Halimah’s capable leadership, Singapore will continue to prosper and progress as one united nation,” it said.
But Mr Salleh Marican, one of the 2 people who wanted to run for the presidency but were disqualified for not having met the revised criteria for applicants, noted that the Presidential Election 2017 was fraught with divisiveness in the society.
He said, “This has been a divisive run-up to the nomination. I hope she (Halimah) will heal the wounds.”
Many Singaporeans have criticised the government for changing the constitution to enable Halimah to run for president. Halimah’s father was an Indian by race. Following amendments to the Constitution, the election was the first to be “reserved” for a particular racial group under a hiatus-triggered model. The 2017 election was reserved for candidates from the minority Malay community, who had not held the presidential office since 1970.
The Elections Department declared Halimah to be the only eligible presidential candidate on 11 Sep 2017 and was consequently declared president-elect on 13 Sep. She was inaugurated the following day.
Constitutional changes
According to the changes to the Constitution:

19B.—(1) An election for the office of President is reserved for a community if no person belonging to that community has held the office of President for any of the 5 most recent terms of office of the President.

And:

“community” means —
(a) the Chinese community;
(b) the Malay community; or
(c) the Indian or other minority communities;
“person belonging to the Malay community” means any person, whether of the Malay race or otherwise, who considers himself to be a member of the Malay community and who is generally accepted as a member of the Malay community by that community;

Even though Halimah is not a Malay by race, she considers herself to be a member of the Malay community and is, supposedly, “generally accepted as a member of the Malay community” by the Malay community members.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city
AFP

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

01/02/2023
Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok
AFP

Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

01/02/2023
AFP

6.0-magnitude quake rocks southern Philippines: USGS

01/02/2023
Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary
AFP

Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

01/02/2023
MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income
Labour

MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

01/02/2023
Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent
Politics

Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

01/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

Singapore detains student for planning attacks on city

01/02/2023
Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

01/02/2023

6.0-magnitude quake rocks southern Philippines: USGS

01/02/2023
Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

Myanmar streets empty in protest on coup anniversary

01/02/2023
MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

MOM says labour market for 2022 improved, but many occupations see decrease in real income

01/02/2023
Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

Sengkang Town Council is now directly-managed without a Managing Agent

01/02/2023
高庭驳回迪哥达索取警方录供的刑事动议

CEO of D1 Racing sues a woman to claim S$3 million for “emotional trauma” suffered from being friend-zoned

01/02/2023
Thai police chief apologises for Taiwanese celebrity’s alleged extortion case by police officers

Thai police chief apologises for Taiwanese celebrity’s alleged extortion case by police officers

01/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
19

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
68

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
59

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

July 2019
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Jun   Aug »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz