Are you ready for 7 million people on tiny Singapore?
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NSP Calls for National Referendum on White Paper on Population Policy
(http://www.facebook.com/nicoleseahnsp?fref=ts)
9 February 2013
Singapore
Mr Tony Tan Keng Yam
President of Singapore
Dear President
The National Solidarity Party has written to the Prime Minister to urge that a National Referendum be called on the White Paper.
The Parliamentary Debate has now been concluded with the Population White Paper being endorsed by 77 to 13 with one abstention. However, it is clear to many that the vote does not reflect the views of Singaporeans because the PAP Members of Parliament clearly voted along Party lines.
The Population White Paper will affect Singaporeans - for better or worse - for the next 20 years and beyond. All Singaporeans have the right to decide how their future is shaped. The future of this country is something that all Singaporeans have a stake in. It is only right that they should have a say in it as well.
In announcing your intention to run in the last Presidential Election, you had said, 'I believe that the next President of Singapore may have to make very significant decisions that will affect the security and well‐being of all Singaporeans.' One very significant decision you could make with the well-being of the citizens of Singapore in mind would be to ask the Government of Singapore to hold a National Referendum on the White Paper.
We hope that the President will act in the interest of the citizens of Singapore and ask the Government of the People's Action Party to listen to the people whose lives will be irrevocably changed by the decisions that their elected leaders make on their behalf.
Thank you.
Hazel Poa
Secretary-General
National Solidarity Party
NB:
A separate letter calling for the national referendum was also sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. -
Singaporean national referendum, 1962
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singaporean_national_referendum,_1962)
The Singapore National Referendum of 1962, or also commonly referred to as the Merger Referendum of Singapore was the first and only referendum to date held in Singapore on September 1, 1962. It called for people to vote on the terms of merger with Malaysia. Some of the options ultimately had to deal with questions of national identity, and such questions would come to be cited even years after the merger, as well as after the subsequent separation.
There was no option to vote against the merger among the three options presented to the people (ironically, separation is exactly what would happen three years later):
Option A: All Singapore citizens would automatically become citizens of Malaysia, and Singapore would retain a degree of autonomy and state power, such as over labour and education. Singapore would also get to keep its language policies, such as to retain using all four major languages, English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.
Option B: Singapore would become a federal state like that of the other eleven states, with no more autonomy than the other states would, thus ceding control over issues such as labour and education policies to the federal government in Kuala Lumpur. This also meant that there would be less multilingualism - only English and Malay would be used for official purposes, and possibly education. Only those born in Singapore or descended from the Singapore-born would become citizens of Malaysia. There would also be proportionate representation in Parliament from Singapore.
Option
Singapore would enter on terms no less favourable than the Borneo territories, Sabah and Sarawak, both of whom were also discussing merger with Malaysia. This was to ensure that Malaysia would not discriminate along racial lines, as that would mean discriminating against Sabah and Sarawak, which were predominantly Bumiputra as well.
Option A received the majority of the vote at 71.1%, more than the two thirds which was required for constitutional reform. The supposedly pro-communist Barisan Sosialis were strongly against the idea of referendum, as the move was seen by them as one that would result in their suppression. The Barisan Socialis called for a boycott of the referendum, telling their supporters to submit blank votes in protest of the \"rigged\" referendum. 26% of the votes were left blank as a result. This move had been anticipated by the ruling PAP government, as seen by the insertion of a clause that stated that all blank would be counted as a vote for the option that wins the most votes.
The media campaign fielded by both sides was extremely heated, many of the leaders on both sides broadcast radio shows in several languages. The voter turnout was extensive, around 624,000 had been eligible to vote, and around 561,000 voters turned up, which yielded a turnout of 90%.
The PAP was not legally obliged to call for a referendum, but did so to secure the mandate of the people. However, the Barisan Sosialis, a left-wing socialist party consisting of former PAP members with communist sympathies alleged that the people did not support merger. Lee Kuan Yew declared the people did. The referendum did not have an option of objecting to the idea of merger because no one had legitimately raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly before then. However, the methods had been debatable. The referendum was therefore called to resolve the issue as an effort to decide objectively which option the people backed. The legitimacy of the referendum is often challenged by Singaporean left-wing supporters, due to the lack of an option to vote against the merger.
Backed by the official mandate, Singapore entered into merger with Malaya on September 16, 1963, marking the birth of Malaysia.
Option A: Flag of Singapore - 71.1%
Option B: Flag of Penang - 1.7%
Option Badges of North Borneo and Sarawak - 1.7%
Blank (treated as A) - 25.8% -
concern2:
Although the call for a National Referendum may be meant for a good intent, it should be understood that in the Singapore context a referendum can only be called in very limited circumstances. A referendum is called to answer a single question of great significance to the people such as for eg the 1962(?) referendum as to whether to join Malaysia.NSP Calls for National Referendum on White Paper on Population Policy
(http://www.facebook.com/nicoleseahnsp?fref=ts)
9 February 2013
Singapore
Mr Tony Tan Keng Yam
President of Singapore
Dear President
The National Solidarity Party has written to the Prime Minister to urge that a National Referendum be called on the White Paper.
The Parliamentary Debate has now been concluded with the Population White Paper being endorsed by 77 to 13 with one abstention. However, it is clear to many that the vote does not reflect the views of Singaporeans because the PAP Members of Parliament clearly voted along Party lines.
The Population White Paper will affect Singaporeans - for better or worse - for the next 20 years and beyond. All Singaporeans have the right to decide how their future is shaped. The future of this country is something that all Singaporeans have a stake in. It is only right that they should have a say in it as well.
In announcing your intention to run in the last Presidential Election, you had said, 'I believe that the next President of Singapore may have to make very significant decisions that will affect the security and well‐being of all Singaporeans.' One very significant decision you could make with the well-being of the citizens of Singapore in mind would be to ask the Government of Singapore to hold a National Referendum on the White Paper.
We hope that the President will act in the interest of the citizens of Singapore and ask the Government of the People's Action Party to listen to the people whose lives will be irrevocably changed by the decisions that their elected leaders make on their behalf.
Thank you.
Hazel Poa
Secretary-General
National Solidarity Party
NB:
A separate letter calling for the national referendum was also sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The White Paper sets out a road map and so a referendum is not appropriate as there are many policy issues intertwined in the White Paper. It is not a simple yes or no answer that the people are asked to give on the White Paper
You cannot simply say YES to the White Paper which contains policies to increase healthcare and transportation infrastructure and say NO to the White Paper on policies to increase the number of foreigners allowed to become PRs and citizens. A referendum does not work that way.
If a series of policy issues are intertwined then you cannot use a referndum as it will result in a situation of confusion.
For eg YES to increased baby bonus but NO to priority housing for young families; (although the policies complement each other)
YES to increase in MRT infrastructure but NO to lowering COE quotas (although the policies complement each other)
How do u formulate a sensible question on the White Paper that the electorate can answer?
If you vote NO to the White Paper are you saying no to having more doctors and nurses for an aging population? Or just NO to more foreigners coming to Singapore to live? The NO does not answer a question of fundamental importance for Singaporeans. -
Just relax:
:celebrate: Huat Ah! - Thanks for being the first to reply to my post since the start of CNY
Although the call for a National Referendum may be meant for a good intent, it should be understood that in the Singapore context a referendum can only be called in very limited circumstances. A referendum is called to answer a single question of great significance to the people such as for eg the 1962(?) referendum as to whether to join Malaysia.concern2:
NSP Calls for National Referendum on White Paper on Population Policy
(http://www.facebook.com/nicoleseahnsp?fref=ts)
9 February 2013
Singapore
Mr Tony Tan Keng Yam
President of Singapore
Dear President
The National Solidarity Party has written to the Prime Minister to urge that a National Referendum be called on the White Paper.
The Parliamentary Debate has now been concluded with the Population White Paper being endorsed by 77 to 13 with one abstention. However, it is clear to many that the vote does not reflect the views of Singaporeans because the PAP Members of Parliament clearly voted along Party lines.
The Population White Paper will affect Singaporeans - for better or worse - for the next 20 years and beyond. All Singaporeans have the right to decide how their future is shaped. The future of this country is something that all Singaporeans have a stake in. It is only right that they should have a say in it as well.
In announcing your intention to run in the last Presidential Election, you had said, 'I believe that the next President of Singapore may have to make very significant decisions that will affect the security and well‐being of all Singaporeans.' One very significant decision you could make with the well-being of the citizens of Singapore in mind would be to ask the Government of Singapore to hold a National Referendum on the White Paper.
We hope that the President will act in the interest of the citizens of Singapore and ask the Government of the People's Action Party to listen to the people whose lives will be irrevocably changed by the decisions that their elected leaders make on their behalf.
Thank you.
Hazel Poa
Secretary-General
National Solidarity Party
NB:
A separate letter calling for the national referendum was also sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The White Paper sets out a road map and so a referendum is not appropriate as there are many policy issues intertwined in the White Paper. It is not a simple yes or no answer that the people are asked to give on the White Paper
You cannot simply say YES to the White Paper which contains policies to increase healthcare and transportation infrastructure and say NO to the White Paper on policies to increase the number of foreigners allowed to become PRs and citizens. A referendum does not work that way.
If a series of policy issues are intertwined then you cannot use a referndum as it will result in a situation of confusion.
For eg YES to increased baby bonus but NO to priority housing for young families; (although the policies complement each other)
YES to increase in MRT infrastructure but NO to lowering COE quotas (although the policies complement each other)
How do u formulate a sensible question on the White Paper that the electorate can answer?
If you vote NO to the White Paper are you saying no to having more doctors and nurses for an aging population? Or just NO to more foreigners coming to Singapore to live? The NO does not answer a question of fundamental importance for Singaporeans.
With every turn of events, I learn something new!
Now.. :rubhands: Formulating the NR would be interesting and challenging.. -
To concern2
I respectfully accept your thanks and humbly offer my own :celebrate: -
Just relax:
:hi5: I like to think that for every bad news, there would always be good news too!To concern2
I respectfully accept your thanks and humbly offer my own :celebrate: Can hear lion dance outside. So nice! Hope you enjoy the festive too!
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As our 1st newly elected PM, Mr Lee said during his rally speech in June 1959
\"We have no personal future apart from your future.
Your joys and sorrows are ours.
We share the same future, be it good, indifferent or bad.
And so it is our duty to see that it is a bright and cheerful future.\"
From Singaporean's current perspective, I wonder... how many % they think is this quote applicable in today's context :siam: -
Sinkapore only expand vertically upwards or downwards to accomodate 7M population. More floodings in future, keepn on digging and spoiling the natural earth on this island.
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Just relax:
If you vote NO to the White Paper are you saying no to having more doctors and nurses for an aging population? Or just NO to more foreigners coming to Singapore to live? The NO does not answer a question of fundamental importance for Singaporeans.
If you vote NO to the White Paper, it means you are saying no to the proposed slower growth rate in the White Paper, ie. you want the same rate of growth as the last few years. :evil:
Here's wishing everybody feng sheng shui qi, bu bu gao sheng :celebrate: -
concern2:
Apart from personal political ambition, one of the reasons why Singapore NEEDED to merge with Malaysia was that we were a small country with no resources. Hence, we foresaw that we needed the land and natural resources from Malaysia to ensure our survival. However, after we were forced to separate from Malaysia, we managed to not only survive, but surpassed them in our developments in many ways.Singaporean national referendum, 1962
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singaporean_national_referendum,_1962)
The Singapore National Referendum of 1962, or also commonly referred to as the Merger Referendum of Singapore was the first and only referendum to date held in Singapore on September 1, 1962. It called for people to vote on the terms of merger with Malaysia. Some of the options ultimately had to deal with questions of national identity, and such questions would come to be cited even years after the merger, as well as after the subsequent separation.
There was no option to vote against the merger among the three options presented to the people (ironically, separation is exactly what would happen three years later)
Fast forward to the present, we foresee now that Singapore NEEDS a population of 6.9 million in future to ensure that we not only maintain our current standard of living, but can continue to thrive in this global economy. Without the 6.9 million people, will we be able to overcome the odds stacked against us?
In the 1960s, we believed we couldn’t make it without the extra land and natural resources, but we did. And now, we believe that we cannot do without the 6.9 million people in order to continue to thrive, is it really so? It seems to be so, according to the White Paper.
This is the future, I do not know. It may be possible with creative thinking and innovations. However, it seems that when it comes to the crunch, we WERE able to come out with something that in the first place, seemed impossible.
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