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Showing posts with label Lee Hsien Loong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lee Hsien Loong. Show all posts
PM Lee: Govt doesn’t plan to curb inflow of foreign labour as they help create good jobs for Singaporeans
The Malay Mail Online, 4 Oct 2014
Singapore probably won’t need more measures to restrain the inflow of foreign workers as a further tightening could deter overseas companies from setting up business in the city, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
The pace of increase for foreign workers has slowed and the country’s economic restructuring is under way, Lee said in a speech yesterday. A drop in investment by overseas companies may also hurt job opportunities for the city’s citizens, Lee said.
The latest “numbers do show that the foreign worker growth has slowed to a more sustainable level, and is about where we want it to be,” Lee said. “I do not expect any further measures to tighten foreign worker numbers further.” Full story
OPINION: Suing blogger Roy Ngerng is ‘a PR disaster of their own making’ for Singapore government - Calvin Soh
Legal action taken against Singapore blogger Roy Ngerng by the country’s Prime Minister is a PR disaster of the government’s own making, a prominent former ad man has said.
Calvin Soh, the former vice chairman of Publicis Asia Pacific, wrote on his Facebook blog Future Singapore that “Whoever is advising the PAP [Singapore's ruling political party] needs to get their heads out of their own crevice.”
Calvin Soh commented: “Whoever is advising the pap needs to get their heads out of their own crevice. It is a PR disaster of their own making. What if Roy raises $500,000? It’s not just the sum; crowdfunding shows you market size. What if people don’t support Roy, but want this to go to court so the issue of CPF will be brought up?”
“What if you [Singapore's government] have turned Roy into a symbol of the ordinary guy being bullied because you’ve pushed too hard?,” Soh said. Full story
OPINION: Singapore leader flounder in the face of online criticism
Political leaders in Southeast Asia are spooked by escalating online dissent and have no clue what to do except implement draconian legislation or file lawsuits, according to analysts.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's lawyer says the blogger, 33-year-old Roy Ngerng, had made statements accusing Lee of "criminal misappropriation" of the Central Provident Fund (CPF), the state pension fund.
Described as a David vs Goliath case, the lawsuit in Singapore is grabbing headlines. It is the first time a Singaporean leader has hauled a blogger to court for defamatory online comments.
Critics say Lee, the highest paid prime minister in the world, is acting like a bully, while others say it is important for Lee to sue the blogger to ensure slander and libel does not become rife.
"This situation may be unfortunate for Lee, since he has consciously been trying to cultivate a more approachable image for himself and his People's Action Party since coming to office, as seen in his efforts to get on Facebook, wear pink shirts, take selfies and so on," said political scientist Dr Chong Ja Lan, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore.
"It is conceivable that people may begin to wonder about his inclinations." Full story
Bloomberg: Singapore Blogger Tops Funding Goal to Defend Against Lee’s Suit
Bloomberg, 3 Jun 2014
A Singapore blogger who faces a defamation lawsuit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he raised more than S$70,000 ($55,700) in four days through crowdfunding to pay for his legal costs.
Donations climbed to S$72,043.91 as of yesterday, exceeding his target of S$70,000, Roy Ngerng said in a blog post. Lee sued Ngerng over a May 15 article, and the blogger said his apology and offer of S$5,000 for damages were declined. Chang Li Lin, Lee’s press secretary, declined to comment about Ngerng’s funding efforts when contacted by phone.
Ngerng’s case comes as the government grapples with how to regulate comments made online, with plans including the introduction of anti-harassment laws to curb cyber-bullying. More than a thousand people contributed to Ngerng’s appeal for funds for the first lawsuit of its kind by a Singapore politician against a blogger, according to his lawyer M. Ravi. Full story
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World's highest paid but clueless Singapore leader wants to learn from other cities on how to improve his country
The Malay Mail Online, 2 Jun 2014As Singaporeans’ expectations of the country rise, the Republic will draw on lessons from other cities to make Singapore a better home by providing affordable housing and reliable public transport, adding green spaces and strengthening social capital, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (June 1).
The country will do this by studying other cities carefully to learn from their experience, such as looking at London’s public transport system and Copenhagen’s downtown parks.
Mr Lee made those remarks in a speech at the opening ceremony of the World Cities Summit, Singapore International Water Week and Cleanenviro Summit Singapore. Full story
Founder of Delphin brags that PM Lee Hsien Loong has helped to get her PR approved in just a few short months
I came across this blog of a Singapore New Citizen, Runzi Zhang, who is originally from China. She admits openly on her blog that she received "special help" from Lee Hsien Loong to obtain her Singapore PR and subsequently her citizenship.
She also talks about how Lee Kuan Yew helped her to get the Singapore media to interview her about her business and as a result, her company turnover doubled in a year and quadrupled in 2 years.
"I was born in Shanghai and came to Singapore in 1990. Currently, I am living with my husband and 3 kids in Singapore around Hillview. In April 1991, during Mr. Lee Hsien Loong first official visit to China, I am honoured to meet him at Shanghai JC Mandarin Hotel. With his help, within a few months, I obtained my PR status. 3 years later, I became a Singapore Citizen.Full story
"On April 2009, during a new immigrant conference, I was honoured to receive compliments from Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, and under his recommendation, various media interviewed me. This gave me a lot of encouragement. My company’s turnover grew from SGD$4 million in 2008; to SGD$8 million in 2009; and to SGD$16 million in 2010; and eventually to SGD$20 million in 2011.
PM Lee admits simultaneous release of public construction projects are fuelling the need for more foreign construction workers
Question: Lack of foresight?
Yahoo! News Singapore, 29 May 2014
Singapore said Wednesday it would defer about Sg$2 billion ($1.6 billion) worth of government infrastructure projects to slow the intake of migrant labourers amid public concern over immigration in the city-state.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told parliament the move was part of measures to limit the inflow of foreign workers to "a level which is sustainable and which we can physically accommodate in Singapore in the long term".
"The private sector, they make their decisions," Lee said.
But "the government, we are a significant part of the construction business, and we ask ourselves which government projects need to be built (and) which projects can be deferred," he said. Full story
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PM Lee admits govt lacked foresight - Hardwarezone Forum
Yahoo! News Singapore, 29 May 2014
Singapore said Wednesday it would defer about Sg$2 billion ($1.6 billion) worth of government infrastructure projects to slow the intake of migrant labourers amid public concern over immigration in the city-state.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told parliament the move was part of measures to limit the inflow of foreign workers to "a level which is sustainable and which we can physically accommodate in Singapore in the long term".
"The private sector, they make their decisions," Lee said.
But "the government, we are a significant part of the construction business, and we ask ourselves which government projects need to be built (and) which projects can be deferred," he said. Full story
Related:
PM Lee admits govt lacked foresight - Hardwarezone Forum
PM Lee Hsien Loong publicly declares Singapore belongs to all foreigners in the city-state
Zee News, 4 May 2014
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the city state belongs to all those living here that includes permanent residents and employment pass holders and was a special place to celebrate annual festivities amidst diverse groups.
Addressing a community celebration of the Indian New Year last night, Lee said: "Singaporeans, new arrivals, people who are on permanent residence here, people who are on employment pass here, all participating in one big Singapore family... So that we feel that this is a place which is special, which belongs to all of us and where we all celebrate one another's festivals and happy events together."
Dressed in red Kurta, Lee joined 600 residents at a community club of his constituency, tried his hand at a Thanjavur painting which was on cultural display and watched performances by classical Indian dancers. Full story
Related:
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed demands Singapore's PM and President end housing discrimination against Indian - Merinews.com
PM Lee Hsien Loong hits back at Singapore social media for "pack behaviour" towards Anton Casey
TMCnet.com, 29 Jan 2014Internet rules are necessary to restrain "pack behaviour" in social media and ensure civility between users, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in remarks released Wednesday.
Speaking at a university forum late Tuesday, Lee said social media raised the risk of an overreaction from the public when contentious incidents occur in the ethnically diverse city-state, with "unrestrained, anonymous viciousness".
Lee, who has nearly 260,000 Facebook followers, referred to several local incidents that have sparked off unbridled web outrage, including derogatory comments against Singaporeans posted on social media by British expatriate Anton Casey last week. Full story
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Singapore PM slams online 'pack behaviour' - news24.com
PM Lee warned Singaporeans against having "lynch mob mentality" on foreign talents like Anton Casey and Amy Cheong
SINGAPORE, Jan 29 — Citing the recent episode involving Briton Anton Casey, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday cautioned Singaporeans against having a lynch mob mentality, as he noted how social media has complicated society’s fault lines.
Mr Lee also mentioned the incidents where former National Trades Union Congress employee Amy Cheong and a fictitious Facebook character “Heather Chua” were condemned by Singaporeans online for posting racist comments.
“Yes, somebody has done something wrong, repudiate it, condemn it, but do not lower ourselves to that same level to behave in a way which really makes us all so ashamed of ourselves to become abusive, hateful mobs, especially online and anonymously,” said Mr Lee.
“You scold, you swear, you curse — all the wrong instincts get fed and in a group, there are certain group dynamics and it is like a pack of hounds hunting, which is bad,” Mr Lee said.
“We risk having an over-reaction, we risk having unrestrained, anonymous viciousness on the Internet,” he added..... Full story
PM Lee says the PAP government wants to gradually and cautiously "evolve" it's position on tudung issue
Yahoo! News Singapore, 27 Jan 2014
Singapore's position on Muslim women being allowed to wear tudungs with uniforms and for front-line government jobs will evolve “gradually and carefully”, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In a Facebook post after a dialogue he had on Saturday evening with ministers, members of parliament, community and religious leaders, PM Lee said he “fully appreciate(s) their desire” for Muslim women in uniform to be able to wear a tudung (Muslim head scarf, also known as a hijab).
“But a larger issue is at stake: the sort of society we aspire to be,” he wrote. “I am also mindful how crucial it is for us to strengthen our cohesion, and maintain the relaxed confidence and trust that benefits us all, especially the minorities.” Full story
Public questions Mdm Ho Ching's presence in Prime Minister's meeting with the police on Little India riot - report
TR Emeritus, 8 Jan 2013
Ssingaporeans are highly critical of the fact that PM Lee brought his wife Ho Ching along to the meeting. The riot was a very grave matter, so grave it required a COI to be convened. It shocked not just Singaporeans but the whole world. PM Lee should have understood the gravity of the situation and not lugged his wife to the meeting like it was some picnic, netizens felt. Full story
Ssingaporeans are highly critical of the fact that PM Lee brought his wife Ho Ching along to the meeting. The riot was a very grave matter, so grave it required a COI to be convened. It shocked not just Singaporeans but the whole world. PM Lee should have understood the gravity of the situation and not lugged his wife to the meeting like it was some picnic, netizens felt. Full story
PM Lee vows to take better care of foreign workers after they rioted on 8 Dec
Question: Why do we need a riot for PAP government to act?
Saharasamay.com, 15 Dec 2013
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has vowed to ensure the safety of nearly a million low-paid foreign workers in Singapore, saying they should be treated fairly and paid properly on time, days after outbreak of worst riots in over 40 years for which 33 Indians have been charged.
"We believe that foreign workers in Singapore ought to be treated fairly and properly. We do not stand for ill treatment or unfair treatment of foreign workers," Lee said.
"We have to make sure they (foreign workers) are well treated, they are paid properly on time, their safety is taken care of, their living conditions are up to standard, and they are given full protection of the law," he said in Tokyo, where he is on a visit. Full story
Saharasamay.com, 15 Dec 2013Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has vowed to ensure the safety of nearly a million low-paid foreign workers in Singapore, saying they should be treated fairly and paid properly on time, days after outbreak of worst riots in over 40 years for which 33 Indians have been charged.
"We believe that foreign workers in Singapore ought to be treated fairly and properly. We do not stand for ill treatment or unfair treatment of foreign workers," Lee said.
"We have to make sure they (foreign workers) are well treated, they are paid properly on time, their safety is taken care of, their living conditions are up to standard, and they are given full protection of the law," he said in Tokyo, where he is on a visit. Full story
PM Lee Hsien Loong denies foreign workers suffer hardship and injustice from their employers in Singapore
Manorama Online, 15 Dec 2013
Singapore: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that last Sunday's riot in the city state was spontaneous and there is no reason to believe that it was due to unhappiness among foreign workers.
"The migrant workers involved were employed by a variety of companies and lived in different places," Lee said in Tokyo.
Lee added, "We have not seen any evidence of that. There is no tension, there is no sense of grievances or hardship or injustice."
"We believe that foreign workers in Singapore ought to be treated fairly and properly. We do not stand for ill treatment or unfair treatment of foreign workers. We have to make sure they are well treated, they are paid properly on time, their safety is taken care of, their living conditions are up to standard, and they are given full protection of the law," he said. Full story
PM Lee Hsien Loong warns Singaporeans not to tarnish the image of "law-abiding" Indian foreign workers in the country
London, Dec. 10 (ANI): Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged Singaporeans to not 'tarnish' their view of migrants.
The comments from Loong came after protests broke out in Singapore following death of an Indian national in an accident.
Loong also said that the 'the vast majority of foreign workers' in Singapore were law-abiding.
He added that people should not tarnish their views of workers here following one incident. Full story
OPINION: Another verbal stumble by PM Lee Hsien Loong
Singapore Notes, 25 Nov 2013While lecturing citizens about what not to say online, Lee Hsien Loong had to finish off with: "My recent post about a barn owl which flew into the Istana garnered 500,000 views within a day!" You would think that with the battalions of minions at his beck and call, someone would bother to inform the boss man that a daylight visitation from the nocturnal owl is an ominous harbinger of bad tidings and doom.
The hooting sound of an owl sounds like “digging” in the Chinese language (搰: hu). It is considered major bad luck if an owl visits a house wherein lives a gravely ill or wounded person. When it makes the hu sounds, it's as good as telling the family to dig a grave-hole as preparation for a burial. Full story
PM Lee tells CHIJ St Nicholas students: You may succeed because you are lucky enough to live in Singapore
Brunei Direct, 20 Nov 2012
Speaking at the 80th anniversary celebration of CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Mr Lee described Singapore society as one that cheers those who succeed and does not try to cut them down.
He added: “You may have succeeded through talent and hard work. But remember it is also because you have been lucky enough to live in Singapore, to be born here and to be in this good school system, where you get rewarded for your abilities and develop to your full potential. That’s what we try to do when we talked about meritocracy.” Full story
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