"Do not worry. Chan Chun Sing is on it. I promise you. You won't have to eat combat rations."

 

Repeal of 377A, the definition of marriage and family, education, etc

 

Once again, the PAP Government shows that it does not flinch from its reponsibility.

377A had seen 4 challenges in the Supreme Court. At the 4th challenge this year, CJ Sundaresh Menon said that it was 'unenforceable in its entirety'.

What happens to a law that cannot be enforced? It will get struck down eventually, right?

If 377A is struck down in court, things are going to become very ugly as marriage gets challenged in court on the same ground as 377A, and along with it, many other policies.

This you need to understand, folks who are unhappy with the repeal. You don't want all these ugliness. You don't want these challenges in court. Imagine if a challenge against marriage is successful, same sex marriage will be recognised - not because of a law passed by Parliament but because the Court rules it so.

There are accusations that the PAP Government is doing this for votes. How can it be? There are more votes to lose than to gain by doing this.

It is politically expedient not to do anything but as Law Minister Shanmugam said, Parliament is not doing its job if it does not act because of fear or a lack of will.

Such issues, as PM Lee pointed out, are political issues to be decided by Parliament, not left to the Court. Lawyers and judges interpret and apply the law. That's what they are trained to do: what does the law say, how does the law apply in this instance, etc.

The PAP is finding a way forward for Singapore without the mess that you see in other countries.

The PAP Government has said that they will maintain the prevailing family structure and values. There will be no change.

If you want same sex marriage, you have to change the government first.

As long as the PAP is in government, there will be no change to prevailing family structure and values, and therefore no change to policies (housing, education, advertising standards, film classification) that take reference from this structure.

Any group or political party that wants to push for same-sex marriage will have to put that in their manifesto, win elections first and then change the definition of marriage, says Law Minister Shanmugam.

Education policies will be anchored on prevailing values on family and marriage.

MOE said in a press statement:

1. Our schools and institutions of higher learning must remain safe spaces for the pursuit of knowledge, and not become places for advocacy or contestation on socially divisive issues.

Singapore's family and social norms must continue to be determined by Singaporeans. Foreign institutions and foreigners should respect these norms, and not use our educational institutions as platforms for their own agendas.

3. Sexuality education taught in our educational institutions will remain secular, based on traditional values, and sensitive to the multiracial and multireligious make-up of our society.

4. All students will learn and practice values such as mutual understanding, respect, and empathy for everyone.

Bullying and cancel culture must not take root in our educational institutions and society. Our educational institutions will continue to partner parents to guide our children, and provide counselling and socio-emotional support to all students according to their needs.

MCI affirms the Government's position that the repeal of s377A will not change the tone of society. LGBT media content will continue to warrant higher age rating.

Gerald Giam attempts to stir with mischievous post on the former president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa

WP Gerald Giam asked on 1 August whether the former Sri Lankan President was accorded any privileges, immunities and hospitality in Singapore following his resignation.

MFA responded that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not accorded any privileges, immunity or hospitality.

More than 2 weeks later, he posted MFA's reply along with a detailed account of Rajapaksa's convoy upon his arrival in Singapore. Yet he also noted that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was STILL president at the time when he arrived in Singapore, not a FORMER president.

Which makes you wonder at his intention.

Is there anything strange about the president of a country using the VIP complex or terminal? Rajapaksa was still president. He hadn't resigned yet.

Is it unthinkable that the Sri Lanka High Commission here would have made security arrangement for their president including engaging Certis Cisco riders?

So what was Gerald's intention when he posted the details irrelevant to his question on a FORMER president? To cast doubt on the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to his question?

If he has any further questions, the right thing for him to do is to follow up with another, very specific question to the minister.

To do a Facebook post instead, such as he did (where details irrelevant to his question are placed side by side with his question) shows a lack of integrity and an intention.

We are not an ally to the US: Lawrence Wong

Some Singaporeans may not be aware that Singapore is actually part of the Non-Aligned Movement or NAM. The Non-Aligned Movement is an alliance of states of currently 120 countries from almost all regions worldwide.

We do not choose sides and we conduct our foreign policy based on our own core interests in a principled manner.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen says PSP Leong Mun Wai has all the characteristics of a misinformant

PSP Leong Mun Wai has a total disregard for the rules of engagement in Parliament, a total disregardfor other MPs who also want to speak, a total disregard for the answers given to him, treats Parliamentary debates like coffee shop talk and expect rules to be bent for him.

Since 2000, on average, 3,400 new citizens are registered each year to serve their NS duties.

New citizens are not exempted from NS, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said.

New male citizens who stayed in Singapore when young and enjoyed economic and social benefits are enlisted when they reach 18 years of age or older. They number on average 3,400 each year, which constitute about half of all new male citizens registered each year.

Males who receive citizenship as mature adults, typically in their 30s and 40s, are not enlisted as they are not suitable for full-time NS at that age and did not enjoy any benefits prior to their citizenship.

Someone asks: what benefits did he enjoy growing up in Singapore?

Here's the answer: You enjoy formal education that is almost free. Primary school fee is $0, Sec school fee is $5 per month, pre-univeristy school fee is $6 per month. That's just one benefit. We haven't talked about healthcare yet or the subsidised childhood vaccination programme and others.

PSP Leong Mun Wai knows very well the average number of new citizens each year by age and by gender. The information were given to him in Parliament.

Yet, he will continue to mislead Singaporeans with his questions. He is exactly how Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen described - a misinformant who gives half-truths and misleading statements. In short, a dishonest politician.

 How many new citizens are enlisted each year on average? Look at the second paragraph. How many new citizens are exempted from NS? Look at the second paragraph.

A less stable, less predictable world: Chan Chun Sing

The world we live in.

At the 9th Singapore Economic Review Conference on 1 August, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said:

"We should not assume that the next 50 years will be underpinned by the rule of law in a stable international security order.

Neither should we assume that any single global power will be overwhelmingly dominant; willing or able to underwrite the load and responsibilities of maintaining such a global security order.

In addition, we should also not assume that there will be a global trade and economic order founded on clear rules, predictable system of dispute settlement mechanism, or decisions largely premised on economic logic." Speech by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education at the 9th Singapore Economic Review Conference | MOE