WP chief Pritam Singh says he has no aspirations to be Singapore prime minister
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WP chief Pritam Singh says he has no aspirations to be Singapore prime minister
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Independent Singapore
an hour ago
- Independent Singapore
Red Dot United elects new CEC
SINGAPORE: The Red Dot United (RDU) elected its new Central Executive Committee (CEC) during a party conference on Jun 27 (Friday), the opposition party announced in a statement over the weekend. Dr David Foo remains RDU's chairman, and Ravi Philemon has retained his position as secretary-general. Harish Mohanadas has replaced Liyana Dhamirah as the party's treasurer. RDU chair David Foo. Photo Credit RDU. Aside from the three office bearers mentioned above, here are RDU's nine other CEC members: Ben Puah, Eddy Tan, Emily Woo, Liyana Dhamirah, Mohamed Feroz, Pang Heng Chuan, Sharon Lin, Sharad Kumar, and Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad. Mr Philemon called this year's party conference an important one, given that it was held in the wake of the General Election on May 3. 'The results tell us that there is space for us. We are relevant to the politics of Singapore,' he noted, adding, 'So do not let anyone tell you that we are new, that we are small, or that what we do does not matter. We do not need anyone's permission to do what needs to be done. We do not need anyone's approval to work for our citizens.' RDU chair Ravi Philemon. Photo Credit RDU. 'We must challenge the system and shift it, from serving the billionaire class and big businesses to standing with everyday Singaporeans. That will be our big message. 'We must be the party that holds the ruling party accountable, and we must be the movement that pushes the opposition to be a real alternative that Singapore deserves,' he noted further. The party said in its statement that it has resolved to stand by 'this driving vision for RDU' set out by Mr Philemon. Meanwhile, Dr Foo said, 'This new CEC reflects both continuity and renewal. It includes long-serving members who know the Party's DNA and new faces who will help push us further. We are not here to be liked. We are here to fight for a fairer Singapore.' RDU's CEC Dr Foo is an entrepreneur and research chemist, while Mr Philemon is the managing partner of a boutique media business focused on health and wellness. Mr Monandas is a principal software engineer. See also Red Dot United meet many Burmese folks during outreach at Clementi As for the council members, Mr Puah is an artist and community art organizer; Mr Tan, an IT expert; Ms Woo, an educator; Ms Dhamirah, an NPO manager, entrepreneur and author; Mr Feroz, a senior business analyst; Mr Pang, an MNC director; Ms Lin, a senior IT consultant; Mr Kumar, an assistant hardware engineer; and Dr Syed, an independent researcher. /TISG Read also: RDU chief Ravi Philemon calls new Cabinet 'disappointing' as more women, youth should be given seats at the table
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
‘Indefensible': Malaysian Bar slams ‘silence' over Chief Justice's retirement or term extension on eve of her last day
PUTRAJAYA: A day before the tenure of Malaysia's Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat ends, the country's legal profession on Monday (Jun 30) voiced concern over the 'silence' on whether her term will be extended or who her successor will be. 'This level of silence and indecision on matters concerning the highest level of the judiciary is indefensible,' the 21,400-member Malaysian Bar comprising advocates and solicitors said in a strongly worded statement. 'The position of the Chief Justice is not symbolic — it is central to the integrity, independence, and functioning of the entire judicial system. Leaving the post in uncertainty so close to the retirement date reflects a failure in institutional responsibility.' It is 'not merely an administrative lapse', Malaysian Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab continued. 'A breakdown in governance risks damaging public confidence in the judiciary and opens the door to speculation and unhealthy conjecture.' The Chief Justice is appointed by the king, also known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the prime minister's advice and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. Tengku Maimun reaches the retirement age of 66 on Jul 2. Concerns surrounding her impending retirement surfaced months ago amid rumblings of possible political interference in new judicial appointments, CNA reported in February. Stakeholders said how Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration moves ahead with the replacement of Tengku Maimun, the country's first female chief justice, would be closely watched. Tengku Maimun is highly regarded by the legal fraternity and is credited with burnishing the reputation of the judiciary after what some perceive to be years of blemish. She is among nine of the 14 judges of the Federal Court, the country's apex judicial body, who are reaching the retirement age within months of each other. JUDGES' APPOINTMENT SHOULD NOT BE POLITICISED: ANWAR Amid calls by individuals such as former Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong to extend Tengku Maimun's term, Anwar also spoke up about the issue on Monday. He said he has never interfered in judicial matters including the appointment of judges. "When someone retires, their service is not automatically extended," he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly. "Some asked if this is the prime minister's decision? But if one understands the Federal Constitution, they would know the process," he said, as reported by media outlet New Straits Times (NST). "Just look at the recent appointments where they go to the King, then are presented for discussion with the Conference of Rulers. So all these procedures must be followed." Anwar said the appointment of judges should not be politicised. He said he has avoided interactions with senior judges except for Tengku Maimun and, even so, only for official purposes. "I have heard the issues that have been raised. But in all those meetings, I have never interfered in judicial matters," he said. "Whatever decision they make is entirely theirs. I have never intervened. Yet even that has been politicised." The Malaysian Bar's Mohamad Ezri said it fully supports the principle that judicial appointments must be free from lobbying or external pressure. "However, we caution against conflating legitimate institutional concern and public accountability with politicisation,' he said. 'Clear leadership and timely, decisive action' is needed at this 'critical juncture', said Mohamad Ezri. 'The Malaysian Bar calls on the authorities responsible to immediately announce the course of action — whether it be an extension or an appointment — in accordance with the Constitution and the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) process.' Malaysia established a JAC in 2009 that proposes qualified judicial candidates to the prime minister, who makes a final decision. His decision is then endorsed by the heads of the country's royal households who make up the Conference of Rulers. The JAC Act was meant to ensure that the selection process of judges would be unbiased, but lawyers told CNA previously that, in practice, new appointments often attract intense lobbying by politicians and segments in Malaysia's royal households. Anwar on Monday also commented on recent court decisions – namely, the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to former prime minister Najib Razak in a 1Malaysia Development Berhad-linked case, as well as the acquittal of Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for graft and money laundering. Anwar said there was a tendency among the public to judge judicial outcomes based on their political leanings, reported NST. "In these two cases, I noticed people have differing views,' Anwar said. "We must understand that there must be wisdom and careful consideration, and there is an independent judiciary in place. "And it is not my business. Whether I agree or not, my personal opinion is not the issue. We must respect the judges and the decisions they make," he said. He did not want a repeat of the legal persecution he faced in the past, he added. "We must remember to uphold the system, not according to political preferences, not based on group interests, and not under lobbying pressure."
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore-Britain ties shaped by shared values and complementary strengths: UK state secretary
SINGAPORE: Singapore and the United Kingdom are deepening their partnership amid global uncertainties, focusing on boosting trade and stepping up defence cooperation, said British Secretary of State Peter Kyle. His visit to Singapore came as the HMS Prince of Wales docked at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre last week – the British aircraft carrier's first formal port call in its eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment. Mr Kyle said the port call represented a symbolic moment for ties between Singapore and Britain, which have been shaped by six decades of shared values and complementary strengths. 'It is a real milestone. (These) 60 years we have communicated, built diplomatic relations, traded together," said the British secretary of state for science, innovation and technology. 'We've worked together to solve lots of challenges (and) create lots of opportunities. We've got a great history of working together diplomatically and economically.' Mr Kyle added that Singapore is a gateway to the Indo-Pacific – a region Britain is keen to increase engagement in, especially in the areas of science, technology and trade. 'The fast growing sectors of the future – we look at space, AI (artificial intelligence), automation, drone technology. All of these areas are things that Britain … Singapore and the (surrounding) area (are) very good at,' he said. 'We should be working closer together to seize the opportunities that these industries of the future present.' He also spoke about the common issues both nations are facing, including ageing populations, and said both sides will mutually benefit from knowledge exchange. 'As we look to the future, you can see some of the common threads from our societies. Both Singapore and Britain are facing an ageing population … (which) poses challenges for the way that we govern,' he said. He praised Singapore's digital transformation, saying the future lies in cooperation and collaboration 'fit for the digital age, not just the manufacturing age that we've been living in for the last 60 years.' "Singapore has really led the world when it comes to transforming the way that government is delivered to citizens using digital technology. This is something that we in Britain are really trying to learn from," he added. DEFENCE AND DIPLOMACY The HMS Prince of Wales is the flagship of a strike group involving ships, aircraft and personnel. The deployment involves 30 countries through exercises, operations and visits across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, and includes exercises with the United States, India, Singapore and Malaysia. The deployment comes at a time of geopolitical tensions and uncertainty. On the British government's position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Mr Kyle said the priority is to deescalate and return to diplomatic solutions. 'The (British) government is clear that it would be wrong for Iran to develop nuclear weapons. But we are part of a group of nations trying to deescalate the tensions in the region. We are supportive of diplomatic progress,' he said. 'Britain will continue to work with our allies, to use all the diplomatic influence we have, to deescalate and return as swiftly as possible to a long-term diplomatic solution to the many challenges faced in the region.' Mr Kyle said the strike force is a 'friendly mission of … like-minded countries' that 'demonstrates the scale of strength that is there in order to deliver the peace and stability that this region needs.' 'Peace has a purpose, and that's in that environment, we can trade, have friendly diplomatic relations and our people can explore opportunities together. Prosperity grows through having stability,' he added. He said Britain's primary interest in the region is to 'become a solid economic partner'. 'Most of the Indo-Pacific is fast growing. Britain is a consumer of goods, but also a producer of innovation and trade and goods for which we want to sell into the region,' he said. 'We want to be part of a peaceful diplomacy into the future where (when) there is conflict, we seek to deescalate; where there is opportunity for economic growth, we want to be part of that. I think that the two go hand-in-hand.'
