1. "Electoral Boundaries Review Committee convened, PM Lee tells Parliament - CNA 13 July 2015
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has asked the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) to have smaller Group Representation Constituencies, and to have at least 12 Single Member Constituencies.
The committee was formed two months ago, the Prime Minister told Parliament on Monday (Jul 13).
Mr Lee said he asked the committee to consider the population shifts and housing developments since the last boundary delineation exercise. He also asked the committee to have smaller GRCs, "so as to reduce the average size of the GRCs below five", and to have at least 12 SMCs.
"As per past practice, the committee is chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister. It is now in the midst of its deliberations and will make its recommendations to me when ready," he said.
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Yee Jenn Jong of the Workers' Party said: "It has been as short as one day from the report to the calling of elections in the past," said Mr Yee. "A longer period will allow residents who have been moved out from their constituencies to be able to adjust to the changes."
Mr Lee said: "But I don't think it is possible to say that we promise a certain minimum period such as six months, because it depends very much on the exigencies on the situation and on when elections become necessary."
On the composition of the EBRC: "It has for many years comprised civil servants who have domain knowledge which enables them to make considered decisions on how to divide up the constituencies - taking into account, as I have said, population shifts, housing developments, and also how to do this in a practical sort of way, so that we do not have complete upheaval each time there is redemarcation," said the Prime Minister.
Leading up to the last elections in 2011, Mr Lee had given similar terms of reference to the EBRC. He wanted fewer six-member GRCs, and at least 12 SMCs.
Today, there are only two six-member GRCs. They are two of the largest constituencies in Singapore - Pasir Ris-Punggol with over 200,000 registered voters and Ang Mo Kio, with about 180,000 electors.
One observer said such a move paves the way for greater political participation. She said with smaller GRCs and more single-member seats, there are likely to be more changes in electoral boundaries for the upcoming election, compared to GE2011."
So, it is FINALLY going to happen in 2015? Sooner rather than later?
The most pleasant thing about this coming GE is that we don't have to deal with issues like those reported in item 2 and 3 below about 'terrorists attacks' and 'bailout of a nation's economy'!
Lessons for me are:
a. it is STILL advantageous to the incumbent party helming the government even though supposedly the 'secretary to PM' is a civil servant with a clear brief on how to carve out the electoral boundaries! Somehow it is not easy to think that a servant can be totally objective in carrying out an independent task that the master may want to see it tilts in one way or the other, legitimately;
b. interesting to see the asking for smaller GRCs and more SMCs. The old joke from some China officials is that 'Singapore has many more MPs than even the great economically developed secondary cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, not to mention Shanghai and Guangzhou! So, maybe having more GRCs and SMCs are non-issue in that context?;
c. how will this contest develop and what does it mean for Singapore political life? Will voters be still focused on 'bread and butter' or 'looking at the fuzzy thing called: culture and values that anchored human behaviours on a sustained basis! e.g. truly 'responsible freedom of speech', 'education is about learning and not drilling tuitions! etc. How will the AHPETC saga play? The double down of SMRT recently for the 1st time? Treatment of Amos, the out-of-control young person with an acid pen? etc.
A watershed GE that change for the better!! Or the annihilation of the Opposite parties by PAP?
2. "French special forces evacuate 18 from mall after gunmen attack - AFP 13 July 2015
French special forces evacuated 18 people who had been hiding in a mall near Paris on Monday (Jul 13) after gunmen attacked a Primark store inside the centre, police said."
This is tiresome! When will it ever end?? Cowards attacking defenceless people going about their normal daily lives!!
3. "Relief - and much anger - in Greece as Tsipras clinches deal - Reuters 13 July 2015
Greeks greeted news of a deal with creditors on Monday with a measure of relief mixed with much anger, particularly at Germany, after it became clear Greece will have to swallow more austerity that could fracture the government and spark a backlash."
If it goes into the circle again, it is just another TRAGEDY. Only people are NOT directly KILL by these 'bailouts' as in item 1 above. Still no less messy and tragic!!
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has asked the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) to have smaller Group Representation Constituencies, and to have at least 12 Single Member Constituencies.
The committee was formed two months ago, the Prime Minister told Parliament on Monday (Jul 13).
Mr Lee said he asked the committee to consider the population shifts and housing developments since the last boundary delineation exercise. He also asked the committee to have smaller GRCs, "so as to reduce the average size of the GRCs below five", and to have at least 12 SMCs.
"As per past practice, the committee is chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister. It is now in the midst of its deliberations and will make its recommendations to me when ready," he said.
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Yee Jenn Jong of the Workers' Party said: "It has been as short as one day from the report to the calling of elections in the past," said Mr Yee. "A longer period will allow residents who have been moved out from their constituencies to be able to adjust to the changes."
Mr Lee said: "But I don't think it is possible to say that we promise a certain minimum period such as six months, because it depends very much on the exigencies on the situation and on when elections become necessary."
On the composition of the EBRC: "It has for many years comprised civil servants who have domain knowledge which enables them to make considered decisions on how to divide up the constituencies - taking into account, as I have said, population shifts, housing developments, and also how to do this in a practical sort of way, so that we do not have complete upheaval each time there is redemarcation," said the Prime Minister.
Leading up to the last elections in 2011, Mr Lee had given similar terms of reference to the EBRC. He wanted fewer six-member GRCs, and at least 12 SMCs.
Today, there are only two six-member GRCs. They are two of the largest constituencies in Singapore - Pasir Ris-Punggol with over 200,000 registered voters and Ang Mo Kio, with about 180,000 electors.
One observer said such a move paves the way for greater political participation. She said with smaller GRCs and more single-member seats, there are likely to be more changes in electoral boundaries for the upcoming election, compared to GE2011."
So, it is FINALLY going to happen in 2015? Sooner rather than later?
The most pleasant thing about this coming GE is that we don't have to deal with issues like those reported in item 2 and 3 below about 'terrorists attacks' and 'bailout of a nation's economy'!
Lessons for me are:
a. it is STILL advantageous to the incumbent party helming the government even though supposedly the 'secretary to PM' is a civil servant with a clear brief on how to carve out the electoral boundaries! Somehow it is not easy to think that a servant can be totally objective in carrying out an independent task that the master may want to see it tilts in one way or the other, legitimately;
b. interesting to see the asking for smaller GRCs and more SMCs. The old joke from some China officials is that 'Singapore has many more MPs than even the great economically developed secondary cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, not to mention Shanghai and Guangzhou! So, maybe having more GRCs and SMCs are non-issue in that context?;
c. how will this contest develop and what does it mean for Singapore political life? Will voters be still focused on 'bread and butter' or 'looking at the fuzzy thing called: culture and values that anchored human behaviours on a sustained basis! e.g. truly 'responsible freedom of speech', 'education is about learning and not drilling tuitions! etc. How will the AHPETC saga play? The double down of SMRT recently for the 1st time? Treatment of Amos, the out-of-control young person with an acid pen? etc.
A watershed GE that change for the better!! Or the annihilation of the Opposite parties by PAP?
2. "French special forces evacuate 18 from mall after gunmen attack - AFP 13 July 2015
French special forces evacuated 18 people who had been hiding in a mall near Paris on Monday (Jul 13) after gunmen attacked a Primark store inside the centre, police said."
This is tiresome! When will it ever end?? Cowards attacking defenceless people going about their normal daily lives!!
3. "Relief - and much anger - in Greece as Tsipras clinches deal - Reuters 13 July 2015
Greeks greeted news of a deal with creditors on Monday with a measure of relief mixed with much anger, particularly at Germany, after it became clear Greece will have to swallow more austerity that could fracture the government and spark a backlash."
If it goes into the circle again, it is just another TRAGEDY. Only people are NOT directly KILL by these 'bailouts' as in item 1 above. Still no less messy and tragic!!
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