- Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) – opposition politicians who did not win a seat during an election but have the next highest percentage of votes – will be increased from six to nine. This means at least a-tenth of the 84 directly-elected Members of Parliament with constituencies, may be made of the opposition.
- Singapore got its first full woman minister when Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, 50, was promoted to Minister in the Prime Minster’s Office in April. Mrs Lim was also designated as second Minister for Finance and second Minister for Transport.
- State-owned investment company, Temasek Holdings, came under scrutiny after it sold its 3 per cent holding in the Bank of America. It explained its decision a week later after calls for transparency were made. Members of Parliament have asked for a comprehensive review of the management of Singapore’s reserves.
“This is our way of getting to know the younger leaders. We don’t just sit in the office to talk, but have a meal at the coffee shop.”
– Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew while at lunch with his Singaporean and Malaysian counterparts in Perak when a Singapore delegation of ministers held a ‘Nasi Kandar diplomacy’ session. Nasi Kandar is a Penang speciality of rice, curries and various dishes.
“The change in composition of Parliament will affect the dynamics in the House between the government and the opposition parties. Government MPs have to become sharper at defending their positions.”
– Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the moves to increase the number of opposition voices in Parliament.
“Leadership is by and large gender-neutral and [has to do with one being] competent and dynamic enough to inspire and lead a group of people.”
– Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, 50, Singapore’s first full woman minister
“Is it appropriate to allow GIC and Temasek to continue investing the way they have done in recent years, make somewhat speculative investments, like the way private wealth is shown to have been managed?”
– MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Inderjit Singh, calling for a review of the manner in which Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation handle Singapore reserves.
“Something I hope the review commission keeps in mind is whether censorship and filtration is practical in the age of the Internet. I hope they take into consideration the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media’s request that the symbolic ban on the 100 websites be abolished.”
– Choo Zheng Xi, editor at online newspaper The Online Citizen, responding to the upcoming Censorship Review Committee evaluation of media in Singapore.
“We simply believe that these special restrictions for travel, which is the visa, is not conducive to resolve or to prevent this virus from spreading and as always happens, these kind of measures have unintended negative effects that we wish to avoid.”
– Mexican Ambassador to Singapore Juan Jose Gomez objecting to Singapore’s imposition of temporary visa requirements on its nationals as well as the move to automatically quarantine visitors who have been to Mexico. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was a “sanitary precautionary measure”. The visa restrictions were lifted on 12 May.
“In this era, maintenance should be on the basis of need and not of sex.”
– Dr Kanwaljit Soin, social activist, floating the idea that less welloff men should have the right to claim maintenance from their ex-wives; under the Women’s Charter, men do not enjoy this right in Singapore
“Common sense dictates that religious fervour to spread the faith, in our society, must be constrained by sensitivity, tolerance and mutual respect for another’s faith and religious beliefs.”
– Judge Roy Neighbour, in his written judgement against a Christian couple for distributing and possessing anti-Muslim and anti-Catholic tracts; the pair were jailed for eight weeks in the fi rst trial under the Sedition Act here in June.
“The next spouse at least will know what sort of man she’s marrying. She’ll know whether he has discharged his responsibilities and realise that men don’t change their spots, and make an informed decision before they proceed.”
– Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on a proposed ‘matrimonial credit bureau’ to keep records on those who fail to pay maintenance to their ex-wives. The Singapore Council of Women’s rganisations has also proposed for a state agency to administer the collection and distribution of maintenance money.
