HELLO FRIENDS & FAMILIES & EVERYONE!

I HAVE A NEW BLOG!

AT http://gibbyisme.blogspot.com/

this blog, http://mutated-deviation.blogspot.com/ will be kept but i'll be posting in my new blog le! =)



woohoo Workers' Party is organising a one day trip to Malacca! a place rich in history and culture and of course its food!

Date: Sunday, 5th July 2009.
Departure time: 0630 hours
Assembly point : Blk 310 Hougang Ave 5 OR Blk 701 Hougang Ave 2

the sites that we are going includes:

- The Farmosa
- Fortress
- Dutch Square
- Jonker Street
- Shopping at Megamall Palawan or Mahkota Parade

Meals:
- Pernanakan Lunch @ Malacca
- Dinner at restuarant enroute back.

Price:
$57/ adult
$47/child (4yrs-12yrs)

tickets are sold at Hougang Meet-The-People's sessions this Wed 17th July 09 and next Wed 24th July 09 from 8pm onwards!

otherwise, you can contact me and i'll help! =)

oh oh and i'm gg as a bus leader! :D



i just realised the most of the time when i blog, i do it from my workplace when it's boring time. lol. and i usually blog a few posts in one day -.- wow.
 
ok this is random coz i've nth to write and i'm damn bored right now!!

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World Health Organisation announces PANDEMIC!
 
"... Swine flu is now formally a pandemic, a declaration by U.N. health officials that will speed vaccine production and spur government spending to combat the first global flu epidemic in 41 years..." taken from Yahoo! News.
 
not sure what Singapore will do next but i don't seem that worried as compared to SARS or bird flu =X hmmm
 
but anyways, take care ok!

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WOOH! SYOG2010 briefing for Sports Presenters audition is tmr, Wednesday 3rd June 2009! from 9am-12noon at SYOG Org. Comm. HQ. see you all there! =D



INCREASE NUMBER OF NCMPS

9. NCMP scheme introduced in 1984
        a. Currently, Constitution provides for up to 6 NCMPs
        b. Parliamentary Elections (PE) Act prescribes minimum of 3 opposition members in Parliament, although President can specify a higher number, up to 6, before Nomination Day
        c. So if fewer than 3 opposition candidates are returned as elected MPs, the losing opposition candidates who poll the highest percentage of votes will be declared NCMPs to bring the total to 3

10. History of NCMP scheme
        a. In 1984, one NCMP seat was offered to Mr M P D Nair of the Workers' Party in Jalan Kayu constituency
               i. The Workers' Party rejected seat on his behalf
        b. In 1988, Dr Lee Siew Choh of WP occupied the NCMP seat
        c. Followed by Mr JB Jeyaretnam of WP in 1991 (despite insisting in 1984 that he would never accept a nonconstituency seat)
        d. Then Mr Steve Chia of SDA in 2001
        e. Most recently Ms Sylvia Lim of WP in 2006

11. NCMPs have made their contribution to the national debate
        a. Expressed opposition views in Parliament
        b. Let Singaporeans compare policies and programmes of the Government and opposition
        c. And evaluate the performances of parties and MPs through the continuing debates in Parliament, not just during the short period of a GE

12. NCMP scheme has achieved its purpose and become accepted by the public
        a. However, given that there are 84 elected MPs, instead of a minimum of just 3 opposition MPs, we should increase this to a minimum of 9 opposition MPs (including NCMPs), equal to the number of NMPs

13. We will amend the Constitution to change the current maximum number of NCMPs that Parliament can legislate from 6 to 9
        a. We will also amend the PE Act to increase the minimum number of opposition MPs plus NCMPs in Parliament to 9
        b. The actual number of NCMPs will thus be 9 minus the number of opposition MPs directly elected to Parliament
        c. There will therefore be no need for the President to specify a number before Nomination Day

14. Hence whatever the election outcome, opposition members, directly elected and NCMPs, will form at least onetenth
of the directly elected members of Parliament with constituencies (presently 84)

15. Also propose to amend PE Act to set a cap of 2 NCMPs to come from any one GRC
        a. This will spread out the NCMPs more evenly
        b. Make them more representative of those who have voted for the opposition nationwide in a general election
        c. Also clearly distinguish between winning and losing teams in a GRC
        d. Should not have an outcome where the entire losing team enters Parliament as NCMPs, and enjoys almost equal status as the winners

16. e.g. if we had done this before the 2006 GE, outcome would have been (Slide):
        a. 2 opposition MPs elected (Mr Chiam See Tong and Mr Low Thia Khiang)
        b. 7 more would have come in as NCMPs
               i. 2 from Aljunied GRC (WP, Ms Sylvia Lim + 1)
               ii. 1 from Chua Chu Kang (SDA, Mr Steve Chia)
               iii. 2 from East Coast GRC (WP)
               iv. 1 from Joo Chiat (WP, Dr Tan Bin Seng)
               v. 1 from Nee Soon Central (WP, Mr Lian Chin Way).

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IMPROVE NMP SCHEME

17. NMP scheme started in 1990
        a. Constitution initially provided for up to 6 NMPs
        b. Amended in 1997 to provide for up to 9 NMPs

18. Scheme has worked well
        a. NMPs represent nonpartisan, alternative views in Parliament
        b. NMPs have made effective contributions and raised the quality of debate in Parliament

19. The NMP scheme should be a permanent part of our political system
        a. However, presently each Parliament is required to pass a motion resolving that there shall be NMPs for that term of Parliament
        b. This was a safeguard introduced when the NMP scheme was new, because we could not be certain how the scheme would work
        c. After 20 years, this is no longer an issue
        d. We will do away with the motion on the NMP scheme in each Parliament, so we will always automatically have NMPs in Parliament, as Dr Loo Choon Yong suggested
        e. This will also require amending the Constitution

20. Also propose to finetune scheme to broaden representation of various interest groups
        a. NMPs are chosen by a Special Select Committee of Parliament
        b. Committee formally invites nominations from six groups: business and industry, the professions, labour movement, social and community organisations, media, arts and sports, and tertiary education institutions
        c. Should broaden reach to invite nominations from one additional group: the people sector
               i. Could be those in environmental movement, young activists, new citizens, and community and grassroots leaders
        d. This will give civil society a voice in Parliament and encourage civil society to grow and mature further.

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SMALLER GRCS/MORE SMCS
 
21. Present electoral system to have most MPs elected in GRCs, with a limited number of SMCs, is sound.
        a. GRCs
               i. Ensure multiracial representation in Parliament
               ii. Encourage political parties to appeal to all races with moderate policies, and not to one race or other with chauvinist, extremist policies
               iii. Put a premium on parties which can field credible teams, and so demonstrate that they are fit not just to become MPs but to form the government
        b. SMCs
               i. Always have some number of SMCs to keep entry barriers low
               ii. Give adequate opportunity for smaller parties and independent candidates to contest

22. GRCs should continue to be main basis of our Parliamentary system
        a. But should refine size and number of GRCs and SMCs

23. Rules specified under the Constitution and the PE Act
        a. GRCs can have between 3 and 6 MPs
        b. There must be a minimum of 8 SMCs

24. In practice, currently
        a. There are nine GRCs with 5 members, and five 6member GRCs
        b. There are 9 SMCs

25. We should finetune the implementation of the GRC and SMC scheme, in the light of our experience
        a. No need to amend Constitution or the PE Act
               i. These specify the basic framework for the scheme
               ii. Within these limits, the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has flexibility to work out specific sizes and configurations of constituencies to match the population distribution
        b. Can effect the refinements by making them explicit in the Terms of Reference to the EBRC, when I appoint the committee

26. There are advantages to having bigger rather than smaller GRCs
        a. They enable stronger, multiracial teams, including MPs with different backgrounds and skills, to serve voters more comprehensively
               i. e.g. pooling resources to provide economies of scale to run Town Councils more efficiently
        b. They require any challenger also to field a strong team and offer a serious alternative
        c. So they encourage responsible and credible political parties to emerge

27. However, also some downsides to bigger GRCs
        a. Harder for voters to identify with whole GRC or whole team of MPs
        b. Each MP has to look after his own ward, hence not easy for him or her to get to know voters in all the other wards

28. In the light of our experience, concluded that on balance smaller (less than 6member) GRCs have the edge over large (6member) GRCs
        a. Hence we should have more smaller GRCs, and fewer 6member ones
        b. Should not rule out 6member GRCs entirely, as sometimes the configuration of constituencies makes this the most practical option

29. When the EBRC is next appointed, its Terms of Reference will state that it should create GRCs such that:
        a. There will be fewer 6member GRCs
        b. The average size of GRCs will be smaller
               i. The present average is 5.4
               ii. The new average should not exceed 5
        c. This guidance will achieve our objective of having smaller GRCs, while giving the Committee the flexibility to do its work properly

30. SMCs � useful to maintain a limited number of SMCs
        a. However, over the years the number of voters has increased
        b. The number of elected MPs has also gradually increased, and may rise further as voter numbers increase
        c. We should increase the number of SMCs to keep pace with the increase of elected MPs
        d. At present there are 9 SMCs
        e. The Terms of Reference of the EBRC will state that it should create at least 12 SMCs

31. Changes to smaller GRCs and more SMCs may or may not result in more seats being contested or more opposition MPs elected
        a. That is not their purpose
        b. Ultimately, it is up to opposition parties to field candidates to contest elections, and up to voters to decide who they want to represent them in Parliament
        c. Purpose of changes is to make the GRC scheme work better, to strengthen the link between voters and their MPs
        d. Voters have a strong incentive to vote for candidates who will do the best job of looking after their estates, representing them in Parliament, and forming a government to run the country
        e. MPs have a strong incentive to do their best in these three responsibilities, and will work hard to serve their voters well, individually and as GRC teams, and so win their support.

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='(( i lost my pencil bag. damn sad. some items inside it are from my primary school days!! =( oh wells hopefully i find it
 
*prays hard*

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President: Teo Shihui
 
Vice-President: Eugene Ong
 
Honourary Secretary: Sylvia Ng
 
Assistant Honourary Secretary: Hiu Ching
 
Honourary Treasurer: Jonathan Chong
 
Assistant Honourary Treasurer: Shihua
 
Welfare Secretary: Neo Zhaolin
 
Quartermaster: Chelsie Low
 
Project Coordinator: Keith
 
IG Coordinator: Hadi
 
IG Coordinator: Grace
 
Public Relations Manager: Johan Koe
 
External Events Executive: Chester
 
Sub-Committee Executive: Desmond
 
Sub-Committee Executive: May

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President:
Ms Yip Chen Mun, Nicolette (BUS/Yr2)

Vice-President:
Mr Lee Yi Kang, Brandon (IIT/Yr3)

Honorary General Secretary:
Ms Nur Shameela Binte Badis (BUS/Yr3)

Assistant Honorary General Secretary:
Mr Teh Shun Neng, Issac(DES/Yr3)

Finance Secretary:
Mr Lim Leong Cheng, Chris(BUS/Yr3)

Assistant Finance Secretary:
Mr Wong Jing Kai(BUS/Yr2)

Publications Secretary:
Mr Low Kay Wang, Shawn(BUS/Yr2)

Assistant Publications Secretary:
Mr Zainul Ariff Bin Zainal Abidin(BUS/Yr3)

Welfare Secretary:
Ms Tan Ying Ying, Evangelin(IIT/Yr2)

Assistant Welfare Secretary:
Ms Teo Wan Zhen, Bernita(DES/Yr2)

Social Secretary:
Mr Muhammad Farhan Bin Semin(DES/Yr3)

Assistant Social Secretary:
Mr Neo Zhihua, Benjamin(BUS/Yr2)

Quartermistress:
Ms Lai Kah Yuen(BUS/Yr3)

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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/432138/1/.html

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ELECTED PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS STUDIES CLUB AY09/10:
 
President: Teo Shihui
Vice-President: Eugene Ong
 
and CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING MAIN COMMITTEES ELECTED INTO BUSINESS STUDIES CLUB AY09/10 (not in any order):
 
Jonathan (curly)
Hadi
Sylvia Ng
Hiu Ching
Johan Koe
Chester Koh
Desmond
Grace Peh
Shihua
Keith
Chelsie Low
Neo Zhao Lin
May

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ELECTED PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF TEMASEK POLY STUDENTS' UNION AY09/10:
 
President: Nicolette Yip
Vice-President: Brandon Lee
 
and CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES ELECTED INTO TEMASEK POLY STUDENTS' UNION AY09/10 (not in any order):
 
Farhan
Issac Teh
Shawn Low
Benjamin Neo
Zainul
Shamella
Chris
Kah Yuen
Bernita Teo
Evangeline
JingKai

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i duno wad to put for my heading.

it's been 2 years. i'm in a dilemma as to let it go, or persevere all the way.

it's hard to let go but, it's getting out of control, it's getting too fake, i'm reaching the limit of my tolerance level.

hopefully everything goes fine. i don't want to lose anything or anyone.

my heart's been in stitches for a very long time, and i feel that it's going to be teared open yet again.

shld i take it as it comes, or shld i do sth abt it.

=(