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Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
PAP appoints new heads of backbench parliamentary committees
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – A fresh slate of 12 MPs will head the PAP's backbench committees that scrutinise government policy. The People's Action Party announced the makeup of its government parliamentary committees (GPCs) for the 15th term of Parliament on its website on July 10. None of the chairpersons from the previous term continued in their roles. In 2020, three did so. Mr Alex Yam will head the Culture, Community and Youth GPC while Mr Yip Hon Weng will chair the Defence and Foreign Affairs GPC. Mr Sharael Taha will be chair for Digital Development and Information while Mr Darryl David will chair Education. Mr Saktiandi Supaat, who was formerly the chair for Transport, will now head Finance and Trade and Industry, while also serving as deputy chair for Manpower. Ms Mariam Jaafar will chair Health while Ms Yeo Wan Ling will chair Manpower. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore HDB flats less attainable in 2024 compared with 2022: Report Asia Dr Mahathir at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma Sport No pain, no gain for Singapore's water polo teams at the world championships World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Business Fresh grads should 'stay calm' in job search, uptick in hiring seen: Tan See Leng Mr Vikram Nair moves from chair of Defence and Foreign Affairs to become its deputy, while taking on chair for Home Affairs and Law. Mr Henry Kwek takes the National Development portfolio while Mr Xie Yao Quan takes Social and Family Development. Ms Poh Li San, who was deputy chair for Sustainability and the Environment, will take on the role of chair. Ms Tin Pei Ling will chair Transport, relinquishing her role for Digital Development and Information. All but Mr Nair, Mr Saktiandi and Ms Tin had never led a GPC before. The 19 rookie MPs fresh from the May 3 poll who were not appointed to political office were put into GPCs. These committees, first set up in 1987, bring together PAP backbenchers to look at government policy and serve as an additional feedback channel. They are broadly mapped to the existing ministries of the day and generally serve through a whole parliamentary term. The 15th term of Parliament, comprising MPs elected at the May 3 polls, opens on Sept 5. The announcement follows changes to the PAP backbench triggered by the general election and subsequent Cabinet reshuffle. Six of the 12 GPC chairpersons from the previous term of Parliament either retired or will take on political office. GPC chair for Culture Community and Youth Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and his counterpart for Health Dr Tan Wu Meng retired from politics. Ms Cheryl Chan, who headed the GPC for National Development and Mr Louis Ng, who did so for Sustainability and the Environment, also did not stand for election. Two will leave the backbench. Mr Desmond Choo, who chaired the GPC for Manpower, was promoted to Minister of State for Defence. Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, who chaired the GPC for Home Affairs and Law will become Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development. He was also a member of the GPC for Defence and Foreign Affairs.
Straits Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Limbang residents to get help with cost of living under North West CDC's Project Sama Sama
PM Lawrence Wong (left) and North West District Mayor Alex Yam (right) at the launch of Project Sama Sama in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC's Limbang ward on June 29. PHOTO: NORTH WEST CDC Limbang residents to get help with cost of living under North West CDC's Project Sama Sama SINGAPORE – Around 350 residents in Limbang ward in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC can now benefit from Project Sama Sama, a programme that helps less-privileged households in the North West district cope with rising costs of living. Eligible households will receive $20 in monthly credits for one year, which can be used to purchase essential household items at vending machines. Three machines at Block 537 Choa Chu Kang Street 51 stock items such as bread, beverages, newspapers, hygiene products and medical necessities, which can be purchased round the clock. This brings the number of households expected to be supported by the initiative – a collaboration between North West Community Development Council (CDC), SPH Media and technology firm Auresys – to 8,000. The project was introduced in the Zhenghua ward in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in July 2024. It was then extended to Woodgrove in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Canberra in Sembawang GRC, and Nee Soon South in Nee Soon GRC. Project Sama Sama 'is a good example of how we can come together to strengthen community networks and provide more meaningful support to those who need it most', said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the launch event at Block 537 on June 29. 'Our CDCs play a key role in rallying partners and stakeholders from all walks of life to better support residents in need,' added PM Wong, who is also the MP for Limbang ward in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. North West District Mayor Alex Yam, who is also an MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, said using digital solutions and self-service vending machines enabled a more efficient way to support residents and provide them access to necessitie s. 'Moving forward, we plan to expand the project across the North West district, to extend our reach and help more vulnerable families,' he said. North West CDC said contributions by main sponsor Singapore Pools, as well a s bread manufacturer Gardenia, and charitable group Order of Malta, allowed the initiative to be scaled up to more divisions for up to one year. 'Amid the economic uncertainty, North West CDC and its strategic partners seek and welcome the support of existing and new partners to further sponsor the project, in order to sustain the support to tide families through this period of uncertainty,' it added. Singapore Pools chief executive Lam Chee Weng noted that besides financial support, its staff volunteers also contributed by helping residents enrol in the programme. 'Through this meaningful initiative, we hope to support households to better navigate the challenges of rising living costs and build a stronger, more resilient community,' he said. Added SPH Media CEO Chan Yeng Kit: 'Through this initiative, we hope to do our part to support less privileged families by making the latest news and insights more accessible to them.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: ‘Views must be grounded in reality' – PAP's Alex Yam on opposition proposals to reduce GST
PAP candidate for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Alex Yam speaking to the media after a walkabout in Yew Tee on April 25. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI GE2025: 'Views must be grounded in reality' – PAP's Alex Yam on opposition proposals to reduce GST Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - While the opposition is free to offer counter narratives and alternative proposals to combat the rising cost of living, many parties do not address how future needs may be funded, said PAP candidate for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Alex Yam in response to calls by opposition parties to roll back the goods and services tax hike. Mr Yam was speaking to the media on April 25, after a two-hour walkabout with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in the vicinity of Yew Tee MRT station where the duo visited nearby malls and a senior care centre. At rallies on April 24, opposition parties had criticised the Government's decision to raise GST rates from 7 per cent to 9 per cent in two stages in 2023 and 2024, despite inflationary pressures. The Workers' Party, Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) had said that the tax increase has impacted cost of living, with PSP and SDP calling for a reduction in GST rates. Mr Yam said that while the Government hears a lot of demands from the opposition, they don't hear enough of how much the alternative proposals would cost. 'Very often, even when they provide some sort of alternative, it does not come with actual numbers and calculations that make sense,' said the North West District mayor. 'The Government has always been prepared to listen to other views and take them on board, but they must be grounded in reality, not made purely (made) as political statements.' Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC will see a face-off between a PAP team led by PM Wong, and a SDP team led by party organising secretary Mr Jufri Salim. The PAP team is an unchanged slate from the 2020 elections comprising Mr Yam, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad and Ms Hany Soh. The SDP line-up comprises alternative news site founder Mr Ariffin Sha, theatre director Alec Tok and former entrepreneur Gigene Wong. Mr Yam also weighed in on SDP secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan's decision to contest in Sembawang West SMC against Ms Poh Li San from the PAP, instead of Bukit Batok, where he had contested in the 2020 General Election and 2016 by-election. At the PAP rally on April 24, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said Dr Chee had not given Bukit Batok residents a good reason for why they were 'abandoned' and cautioned voters to be careful of politicians who are not honest about their intentions. Countering that, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah drew a parallel to significant slate changes made at the last minute to the PAP's Punggol and Chua Chu Kang GRC teams. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong was deployed to Punggol GRC in a surprise last-minute switch on Nomination Day, while Manpower Minister Tan See Leng was moved from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to lead the PAP team in Chua Chu Kang. In response, Mr Yam said the PAP had explained why the slate changes were made, as Punggol needed a good heavyweight minister like DPM Gan who can carry the ground there. 'The difference is that Dr Chee made a public pledge not to abandon Bukit Batok,' he said. 'Here you have an individual who made a promise, but yet changed his mind. That's the point Mr Ong (Ye Kung) was trying to make,' added Mr Yam. He was referring to Dr Chee's pledge to contest in Bukit Batok SMC in the upcoming polls, which he declared in a Facebook video in mid-February before the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee Report. It was later announced that Bukit Batok SMC would be absorbed by Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC. On the SDP's 'northern strategy' in this election, Mr Yam added that the PAP does not 'have a choice of a northern campaign, or a southern campaign or a central campaign.' 'Our responsibility is to every Singaporean. We run (for) every single seat with the hope of being able to secure representation in Parliament so we can do our best for Singaporeans.' Mr Yam also addressed an assertion by Mr Sha a smaller margin of victory for the PAP would push the ruling party to work harder. Mr Sha had said that a PAP that wins with 80 per cent of the vote is very different from a PAP that wins by 60 per cent of the vote. Mr Yam said the PAP has always worked on the basis that every vote counts. 'After the election results are out, regardless of the margin, if we have the opportunity to become the Government, we must make sure that we deliver on our promises,' said Mr Yam. Describing this election as a watershed one in light of the global climate, Mr Yam added that the PAP's Marsiling-Yew Tee team has received lot of support and encouragement from residents. 'This is, of course, a good sign but we shouldn't rest on our laurels. It does mean that we must continue to work hard to secure every vote, not just in our GRC, but across Singapore,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
