Opinions

Admin,

For the past week or so the focus in the media has been on our dispute with Malaysia. Unfortunately for me, it has overshadowed a rather important piece of information on how we treat our maids or domestic workers (FDWs). According to the MOM, there have been an increase in the number of complaints by FDWs regarding inadequate provision of food by their employers.

We pride ourselves in being a first world city that is on the cutting edge of innovations and new discoveries. It saddens me to know that while we have advanced so far, our treatment of our FDWs is far from world class.

It is bad enough that MOM has to set a guideline on what constitutes adequate food. You would think that providing adequate food for their FDWs is a basic need that need not any further emphasis. The reality is scary. 

Why can't our fellow Singaporeans treat their FDWs like a fellow human beings? Never mind that, it is just basic human decency to treat any other people, regardless of their class, race, religion, or background, as human beings. Stop looking at these FDWs as commodities.

Providing them inadequate slices of bread, canned, stale, or leftover food is not sustainable. What kind of relationship are you building? It breeds mistrust and discontent and you rob someone of their integrity.

How are you educating your children to behave with the FDWs? If they become self-absorbed, self-entitled individuals, who do you blame when you do not lead by example? We are instilling the future generations with the wrong values.

We need to grow up and be more humans. As long as we continue to see foreign workers such as the FDWs as mere commodities and not as our fellow human beings, I cannot be totally proud of our country.

Shidah

Khaw Boon Wan informed Singaporeans of progress made in the ongoing dispute between Singapore and Malaysia and the steps taken to de-escalate the dispute. While Malaysia had three vessels in Singapore territorial waters last Friday, there is now only one vessel left behind. Ideally, that vessel will also leave to reduce the potential of accidents but this is progress nonetheless

In relation to Malaysia's protest on the use of the Instrument Landing System (ILS), there appears to be different interpretations or understanding  on what the use of the equipment entails. These different understanding can be ironed out in due time. Most importantly, we have to ensure that whatever aircraft that is flying into Singapore can do so with a greater piece of mind due to the enhanced safety.

As we await the outcome of talks and negotiations, PAP also needs to do likewise and de-escalate tensions.

It was heartening to say the display of patriotism and loyalty to the country; traits that some argue that Singaporeans are missing. This period has shown that Singaporeans can be counted upon in times of adversity. The apathy Singaporeans show in routine, every day life in Singapore is merely an expression of discontent with an out of touch government.

The government, especially the PAP ministers, must now look forward and not continue with the jingoistic calls to rally Singaporeans. The propaganda can be overbearing and if overdone, will be seen as a threat by Malaysia.

In times like this, we need cool heads to see through the fog and the noise. So guys, its time to chill man.

The writer, Kelvin, loves to chillax when he's not writing.

So after all the brouhaha, both Malaysia and Singapore are looking forward towards meetings in January 2019 to discuss the different issues. In the meantime, the wayang and noise continues by both governments and their supporters. There was even a story of how one pioneer grandfather requested to be called up in the event of war. Semangat!

Which brings us to this very question - are Singaporeans ready for war? The PAP millionaire ministers and their internet brigade are loud and vocal about standing up for Singapore and heeding the call. They have attempted to rally Singaporeans behind the country while the Malaysians have done likewise in with their own citizens.

However, are you ready for war? Are your friends ready for war? Is your family ready for war? What is war?

It is not just a simple case of I shoot you first, you give up, we forget anything happened, and then resume as usual. Two days and the war is over. 

War is long drawn. War will involve civilian casualties. War will change relationships decades into the future. There will be bloodshed. When blood is spilled, there will be vengeance. There will be revenge.

What if schools are destroyed? What if hospitals are bombed?

Who wins in the end?

Nobody. It is easy to get too caught up in the drama and feel like you can take on whole battalion on your own. You're not Captain America. 

We must be loyal and we must resolutely protect the sovereignty of our country. If we don't stand up for our own independence and sovereignty, who will? That does not mean that war is the solution for everything. In many instances, war only brings up more questions, and results in more divisions.

As good and responsible citizens of Singapore, we must be calm and be level-headed. We must urge caution and guard against complacency and fanning the flames of conflict. We are neighbours. Disagreements happen. The best way forward is for representatives from both governments to come together for face-to-face talks.

Cool heads must prevail.

The writer, Faith, keeps the faith.

Malaysian Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, is fast becoming a popular figure in Malaysia. Since taking over the transport portfolio in May 2018, Loke has been responsible for overseeing several policy re-evaluation with regard to its air, land and sea arrangements with Singapore, stoking nationalistic fervour among our neighbours.  Recently, PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang remarked that non-Malays should be grateful that they have been allowed to stay on in Malaysia. Maybe now Malaysian-Malays may be thankful to have a Chinese Transport Minister like Anthony Loke who has stood up to his Singaporean counterparts. In this Malay-dominated world, Loke is proving himself a very capable man. Even the Malaysian Defence Minister, Mat Sabu, a Malay, has been reticent on the issues.

Who is Anthony Loke?

Loke was born on 28 April 1977 in Negeri Sembilan. He is an alumni of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), having graduated from the university in 2000 with a degree in Development Science. He entered politics through the Democratic Action Party (DAP). He won his first state legislative seat in 2004 and made further progress at the federal level thereafter. During his time as an opposition, Loke was critical of the then Barisan National (BN) coalition government led by UMNO.

Relationship with Mahathir Mohamad

Loke has had a lot to prove since entering the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. It was seen as a relationship of convenience, different parties coming together with the aim of ousting the incumbent, Najib Razak. Loke and Mahathir did not always see eye-to-eye on domestic political issues in Malaysia but have now placed their differences aside for the country. Loke's electoral competitor from MCA had argued that the DAP would lose their Chinese votes precisely because they are working with a "dictator" like Mahathir to oust Najib and his BN coalition. Bringing Mahathir back to power was deemed as an ultimate betrayal by DAP. 

Loke himself had to apologise to Mahathir as they had to cover over 40 billboard that used Mahathir's, following a directive from the Malaysian Elections Commission. As PH was not formally registered as a coalition, they were not allowed to use the images of politicians from another party.

Despite the setbacks and criticisms, Loke has demonstrated his utmost loyalty to the PH coalition, and to Mahathir.

Domestic Challenges as Transport Minister

In his short tenure as the Minister of Transport, Loke has had to deal with several challenges from the ground. These challenges stemmed mainly from the more protectionist taxi community who are wary of the entry of players like Grab and Uber. There was also resistance to Loke's ideas such as having Singapore-type limited-time certificate of entitlements for cars.

There was a protest by more than a 100 taxi drivers on 17th October in relation to proposals by the government (Finance and Transport Ministries) to work with Grab to provide services at MRT stations that would complement existing feeder bus services. Another peaceful gathering by taxi drivers about a week later also called for Loke to step down as Transport Minister. The main taxi NGO in Malaysia felt that Loke was the main reason why the issues between taxi drivers and Grab have not been resolved. They believed that Loke's ineptitude had opened them (the taxi drivers) up to criticisms from public transport users. There was also a petition on change.org similarly calling for Loke to resign.

 Singapore as Whipping Boy

These domestic challenges aside, Loke has worked hard to gain favour with the Malaysian public by focusing its transportation policies concerning Singapore. Even before the issues of taking the airspace over Southern Johor and extending its maritime port limit off Tuas, Loke, along with his other cabinet members, oversaw the disruption to the High-Speed Rail (HSR) link project. The HSR was a pet project of the previous Najib-led government and did not stand a chance of surviving when PH took over.

Malaysia is facing economic challenges due to external conditions and internal fiscal indiscipline attributed to the previous government. The postponement of the HSR project was seen a much-needed attempt to shore up Malaysia's fiscal position. The two governments finally agreed to postpone the project without subjecting Malaysia to the full penalties under the initial agreement. This was out of character for Singapore that has always adhered to black-and-white agreements. Nonetheless, the concurrence was given in the interest of good neighbourliness but showed, that maybe, the new generation of Singapore leaders, do not have the same backbone and character of their pioneers.

For Loke, this was a win-win proposition. Not only could Malaysia focus on its economic issues, it allowed PH to gain more political mileage from its supporters who saw the HSR as a waste of money. He also knows that the resolve of his Singaporean counterparts could be tested, for his own benefit.

Loke came into cabinet with a lot to prove especially considering his race, and the historical animosity between DAP and Mahathir's previous party, UMNO. He has yet to win over everyone and faces some challenges under his portfolio. Turning to focus on Singapore was his best move yet. 

The writer, Faith, has faith that she will still be able to eat chendol in Malacca in the future.

A hawker auntie, operating from Blk 133 Ang Mo Kio Street 12, have been selling her delicious carrot cakes for just $2 a plate, and $3 if eggs were added, so that old folks can still enjoying her food without worrying over high prices. 

A Facebook post from Daniel Young in which he shared his conversation with this hawker auntie have gone viral. In the post, he asked the auntie why she sells her carrot cake at such low prices. The auntie replied back that the area where she is selling is full of elderly folks, so she keeps the cost low so that they can afford to enjoy her carrot cake. When asked if she can make enough money, the auntie said she makes just enough is good enough for her.

Like in Malaysia, the politicians in Singapore are also taking this opportunity to show off their wayang skills and to prove to Singapore that they have memorised the Lee Kuan Yew playbook on how to handle relations with Malaysia. The latest to air his views is non-other than PM-in-waiting, Heng Swee Keat. He called the incursions by Malaysian vessels into our territorial waters a direct "violation of Singapore's sovereignty and international law" and that Singapore will "take firm action to protect its sovereignty and territory".

Like his other PAP colleagues, Heng is demonstrating that he has learned important lessons from Lee Kuan Yew. It's not a surprise because he did serve as Personal Private Secretary to LKY. Heng has showed that when push comes to shove, one must demonstrate that one has big balls.

Is all this really necessary though? LKY will rise from his grave and say yes.

You know who else will do likewise? Donald Trump. PAP politicians will echo the same approach. They are starting to sound like a broken record. Come on lah, are we that insecure and helpless?

Our sovereignty is very important to us. If it is challenged and we do not respond firmly, then we will be bullied. Our people will continue to be at the mercy of our bigger neighbours.

However, there are many different ways a firm message can be sent. There are different ways of to skin an animal. At other times, a softer approach may yield better results. 

The very act of showing that we are not threatened and that we have trust in the Malaysians to do the right thing could be more powerful than reacting to every incursions with the same message. That way, they know that they cannot rattle us by using these repeated incursions. It is how we responded to the repeated threats to cutting off water supply. What did we do? We searched for solutions to make us less-dependent on water from Malaysia. We became more secure in ourselves.

But because we have chosen to react like this, you know that the Malaysians will do it again. And other countries will also learn from the Malaysians.

The writer, Kelvin, pleads for politicians on both sides to don't waste their people's times.