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The Workers’ Party wishes all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
WP’s Statement on MRT service disruptions
The Workers’ Party is deeply concerned about the frequency of MRT train service disruptions along the North-South and East-West (NS-EW) lines and the Circle Line, which are managed by SMRT Corporation (SMRT). We are particularly dismayed by the scale of the service disruption between Marina Bay and Braddell MRT stations on the evening of Thursday, 15th December, and how the crisis was managed. Over... [Read more]
Yaw Shin Leong’s speech on Work Injury Compensation (Amendment) Bill
Mr Speaker Sir, the Bill makes several improvements to the existing Act. The Act now covers exposure to chemical or biological agents and improves the insurance protection of the worker. This is commendable. To further safeguard the interests of our workers, I would like to suggest four changes to the Bill. Let me begin with the proposed amendment of Section 11: removal of court action as a reasonable... [Read more]
Yaw Shin Leong’s speech on CPF (Amendment) Bill
Mr Speaker Sir, while I acknowledge the intent behind the Bill, there are two areas in which I wish to seek further clarity. First, the Special Needs Savings Scheme introduced by this Billallows parents to nominate their children with special needs to draw a monthly cash payout, receive medisave transfers or a combination of the both after the parent has passed on. The statutory provisions as they... [Read more]
Low Thia Khiang’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
议长先生， 总统在宣读政府施政方针时以继续保持新加坡的独特性为总结。我认为，我们的独特性除了施政方针中所提到的，还应该包括我们的多元语文和文化。我国自独立以来就是一个多元种族的社会，各族的语言和文化也增加了我国多姿多彩的民俗景观。 然而，建国後，随着教育体系和教学媒介语的统一，各族的语言和文化都受到不同层次的冲击。华族的应用语言也在这个过程中产生了巨大的变化。从六十年代开始，短短在一代人的时间里所施行的各种政策，使方言几乎在华族社群中绝迹，取而代之的是华文、华语。如今，这个趋势又步入另一个“舍华文就英文”的状态。眼前所见的是，华族社群以英语为家庭用语的学生比例，已经超越了以华语为家庭用语的学生人数。这似乎已成定局，不可扭转。 目前，华文华语在新加坡正处于转变的关键时期。随着外在大环境的改变，中国的崛起，我们越发感受到华文华语的重要。虽然我们坚持实施双语教育多年，但在这个教育制度下成长的一般年轻人，整体的华英双语能力表现却不突出，这批介于中间地带的所谓双语双文化的年轻人或许还能流利地以华语进行人际沟通，在进行日常生活交流时并不成问题，在讲的层次上已达到中上水平。但事实是，他们却逐渐丧失了读和写的能力。他们当中有好些人已经无法阅读华文报纸及华文文学读物。 今天，摆在眼前的是，华文互联网的崛起让这批年轻双语双文化人才面临更大的全新挑战。 是的，诚如沈颖次长所言，华文的生命力的确很强，在互联网的世界里，华文绝对不会因电脑输入法而在互联网的新时代被淘汰。 华文也的确是以更生动活泼的形态在这平台上茁壮成长，网络热词的大量涌现就是例子。网络词语与现实生活词语也在这时代迅速相融合，产生了如富二代、官二代等网络词语及一些生动的现实生活词语。 不少本地年轻人在互联网上建构高素质的英文网站，他们在网络世界里讨论政治、社会、经济、文化等各种议题，但又有多少年轻人进入华文网络世界里呢？我们能听能说，但读写技能却不够水平的双语双文化人才，是否会沦为全球华文网络世界里的文盲呢？ 此外，民间看似蓬勃发展的文化活动、语文竞赛及大专学府或各校所开办的华文文化课程，参与和修选的又有多少是新加坡人呢？ 我们总是标榜双语双文化是我们在国际舞台上竞争的一大优势，... [Read more]
Pritam Singh’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker Sir, Please allow me to congratulate you on your election as Speaker of this House. In his speech to this House, the President noted, “we must find ways to use the new media constructively, to connect with the digital generation and sustain fruitful conversations on issues concerning us all.” MICA’s addendum noted that the Ministry seeks to find innovative ways to connect with citizens... [Read more]
Yee Jenn Jong’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker, Sir, before I touch on the President’s speech, I like to add to the references on Bhutan, as well as correct misconceptions that had surfaced in this House. I happen to visit Bhutan just before this year’s General Elections and am now involved in a non-profit education project for the country. Mr Cedric Foo joked that Bhutanese are happy because they have only 2 elected opposition... [Read more]
Yaw Shin Leong’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker Sir, I would like to begin with my heart-felt thanks to the voters of Hougang, for allowing me this opportunity to serve our country in Parliament. I also wish to express my gratitude towards Mr Low Thia Khiang for his guidance. I aspire to and will work diligently to meet the high bar set by my predecessor. Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today to address two main issues... [Read more]
Gerald Giam’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to make this, my maiden speech to this House. In his address to Parliament, the President gave a broad outline of this Government’s goals for the next five years. The Government says it wants “every Singaporean worker to hold a skilled, well-paid job; every family to live in an affordable, comfortable home; every young person to develop himself... [Read more]
Chen Show Mao’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker, Thank you, and congratulations. Following our two elections this year, some commentators tell us that Singaporeans’ political differences are rising to the surface. Many of our leaders have expressed their concerns about the differences. They warned of divisions and called for unity. I’d like to remind us that differences are not divisions. It is the intolerance of differences... [Read more]
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