Politics

Transport Minister and Henry Thia look-a-like, Khaw Boon Wan, has apparently fractured his arm in a fall last week, and will be out of action for several weeks. This was revealed by Permanent Secretary Loh Ngai Seng on Monday morning. Khaw is currently in hospital, and he will undergo an operation later this week on his fractured arm.

It was further revealed that he will only resume his duties several weeks from now when he is fit again to do so. During his absence, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will take over as Acting Transport Minister. Perfect fit, some might say, as his foreign minister portfolio might help in resolving transport issues with Malaysia are well coordinated, as he will be the Minister in Charge for both Transport and Foreign Affairs. 

No statement had been release on how Khaw suffered the fall, or which arm he actually fractured. 

Old habits die hard. For Malaysia's new old PM, Mahathir Mohamed, the water price agreement between Malaysia and Singapore is his favourite topic, and he will not stop talking about this. Ever. He has steadfastly claimed that Singapore got the better side of the deal with Malaysia in terms of the agreement signed in 1961 and 1962.

This time around, Mahathir said in an event on Sunday 17th Feb in Malaysia, that the price of raw water will be up for negotiations, again. He said that Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, will lead a group of Malaysians officials for talks with their Singapore counterparts, although no dates were mentioned. Singapore currently purchases raw water from Johor for 3 sen for 1,000 gallons of water, and resell treated water back to Johor for 50sen for every 1,000 gallons. 

Mahathir commented that the agreement was based on prices of raw water in 1926, and he noted that this cannot goon until the year 3000. What he failed to note that one agreement had already ended, while the second agreement will expire in 2061. So, the price will definitely have to be renegotiated by then, and not in year 3000. Probably 2061 still too long, for Mahathir would not be around for renegotiations by then. How can he miss his pet subject when they are up for new agreement?  

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong really likes to act coy. In a Facebook post yesterday, he said that he met former PAP politician George Yeo at a Chap Gor Mei dinner and did not forget to add: "George Yeo is back with the Aljunied team! He is fighting fit." 

Yeo was an MP and represented the PAP in Aljunied GRC from 1988 until 2011 when he lost to the Workers' Party. He has since retired from politics. 

What did Lau Goh mean when he said that George Yeo is back? Was he hinting at something or deliberately playing coy? Could George Yeo be coming back to politics or was he simply back in Aljunied for old time's sake? 

Some netizens wondered the same and felt that it was a pity he left politics. Pro-PAP or not, many believe that he would have been a better leader than those elites we see today.

It will be fun if he is really back but who knows, the rest of the PAP team may not be deserving of him at all. 

Dr Tan Cheng Bock has reiterated in a recent speech that his reasons for wanting to re-enter parliament, and as an opposition politician this time, was to seek accountability and transparency over the Reserves and the CPF. Both are actually jobs the President can do but of course not done, being a puppet and all.

In his speech, Dr Tan said "I go in because I want accountability. I want transparency. What's happening to our Reserves? Are our Reserves all gone? Don't know. What happened to our CPF? Now these things, we can all shout until the cows come home, no use, if you are not in the House" 

Dr Tan was possibly speaking to a group in what looks to be a formal dinner setting. 

Benjamin Pwee has quit the Democratic Progressive Party after leading it for 6 years. He left the political party for a "much more longstanding, recognisable and credible senior leader". 

Although he did not reveal much, Pwee said that the party he is joining is a key leader in the coalition. People are speculating that he could be joining hands with Tan Cheng Bock, who recently announced his application for a new political party called Progress Singapore Party. 

Pwee decided to leave because he knew that a small party like DPP will not have enough effectiveness. Around 5 other DPP members will also resign and join him. 

Given this reorganisation and SDP's campaign kick-off, is it safe to say that the General Elections is around the corner? Will more capable opposition politicians join in the coalition to fight for Singaporeans? 

Nothing is for sure but something is brewing and it may well be some good news.

In a sign that Tan Cheng Bock has transcended the Singapore political scene from a PAP Minister, to a presidential candidate that went against PAP's choice, to a favourite political persona amongst many Singaporean and now to a fully pledged opposition leader that is looked up to by others, during his CNY open house, hordes of opposition leaders and the who's who of the oppositions flocked to his house. 

It does seem now that Dr Tan is seen as a darling of the opposition, and has become the figure that opposition members are clamouring to be seen around with. This was indeed obvious in the recent CNY festivities, as many well known opposition names not only visited his open house, but made sure that they took photos with him and uploaded it on their own social media accounts. 

Amongst those seen with Dr Tan were Paul Tambyah, Dr Chee Soon Juan, WP's Member of Parliament Pritam Singh, Lim Tean, Goh Meng Seng, Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, Desmond Lim, and Ravi Philemon. Is this a sign that the opposition are finally united by one figurehead and bringing the fight to the PAP?