PAP MP Halimah Yacob praised by netizens for engaging them in cyberspace
January 4th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC and PAP MP Madam Halimah Yacob was praised by netizens for engaging them in cyberspace.
Madam Yacob had written a letter to The Temasek Review which was published in full without editing on its site in response to an earlier article about her views on underemployment in Singapore.
In her letter, Madam Halimah explained that underemployment is unavoidable in Singapore due to the poor economic situation which resulted in less job opportunities for Singapore workers.
She urged Singaporeans to remain “focused and in solidarity so that each and everyone of us can do our part to provide support and understanding to all who need our help.”
Madam Halimah’s letter brought a deluge of comments from netizens with many lauding her for taking the time and effort to draft a well-written reply to The Temasek Review.
Zero wrote:
“I note that this is the first time a PAP leader of her stature had humbled down to speak to mortals like the rest of us here, and I salute her honesty. We would like to see more of her views, if Madame is kindly enough to avail herself of the opportunity to explain some numerous things which make many Singaporeans agitated, bloggers would be most delighted.”
Toratoratora concurred:
“We ought to give Hamilah Yacob our due respects for clarifying her stand via writing to Temasek Review. How many MPs will bother to do that? I hope she is not in the list of 25. Stay on, Hamilah. We want you maintain this channel of engagement with us.”
southchinasea wanted to see more such online interactions with PAP MPs:
“TR should truely write a thank you letter to Halimah Yacob and encourage her to participate more and also invite her to ask her fellow PAP MPs to engage comments, views and opinions in TR positively like her. didn’t she talk about solidarity in difficult times.”
Sinkapore even said he would cast a vote for her based on her “gesture”:
“Having said that, here we see one ‘responsible leader’ who is willing to engage and correct, which is a good sign, as opposed to the ‘other bunch’ of arrogant so-called elites…….Disregarding bias blogs elsewhere, the ruling elites should seriously consider engaging Sinkaporeans on TR, where what you see is what you get. I have never in my life voted for ANY PAPies candidate but if I have a choice to vote, here’s one MP I would gladly TICK just based on this little but milestone gesture of hers.”
While is it unavoidable that some netizens have hurled brickbats at Madam Halimah’s reply and dismissed it as another “empty talk” from the PAP, it is nevertheless a positive development in Singapore’s new media landscape.
In Malaysia, the ministers and MPs take questions from netizens and answer them directly either on their own blogs on in popular news sites. Even China’s Premier Wen Jiabao held a free-for-all “question and answer” session for netizens without demanding they shed their cloak of anonymity.
At the present moment, the PAP is contented using only government portal REACH to engage netizens which will miss the majority of the online community in Singapore.
Furthermore, REACH provides only a one-way communication to the government and suffers from public perception that most, if not all of the “feedback” given will end up in a “black hole”.
PAP ministers and MPs need to get out of their comfort zone and engage netizens directly on their own turfs instead of waiting for them to express their views on feedback on government sites.
With more and more young IT-savvy Singaporeans becoming eligible voters each year, it is pertinent that the government stays engaged and not lose touch with them.
As the example of Madam Halimah has shown, a simple gesture like writing a reply will go a long way towards winning the hearts and minds of netizens, many of whom are peeved at the ruling party for not listening to them and addressing their genuine concerns.
Despite numerous attempts from some quarters to bring down Temasek Review, our traffic has doubled in the last few weeks alone. Our weekly traffic is now more than three times our nearest rival, 65 times that of REACH and only one quarter of the Straits Times.
Articles published here are often disseminated throughout the internet forums in Singapore and quoted by external news agencies as well.
Though our articles may appear to be slanted against the ruling party, we shall strive to remain neutral politically. PAP MPs and members need not be afraid of using our site to engage the online community.
We have received numerous complaints from PAP members and supporters that our articles are “anti-PAP” whose intention is to make the party “look bad”, but we are never a mouthpiece of the PAP in the first place and so why should we care about its public image?
PAP MPs, members and supporters are most welcomed to post their comments on our site or write in to us like what Madam Halimah did.
If you don’t bother to rebuke what is posted here or engage our readers directly, then you can’t blame us for not giving you the opportunity to do so.
To borrow a quote from Voltaire:
“We may disapprove of what you say, but we will defend to the death your right to say it.”
You can rest assured that other some other blog, we will respect your right of reply as well as privacy. We will allow you to refute anything which is published on our site without any editing or moderation and we will never publish your correspondences with us unless you give us explicit permission to do so.
Posted in Editorial
“Articles published here are often disseminated throughout the internet forums in Singapore and quoted by external news agencies as well”.
Well done, TR ! I like to read your articles.
The Temasek Review need to be engaged as main media for all singaporeans.
It is reporting statement unedited unlike other media that select and amend what they want to report and kept the truth from the people.
Well Done THE TEMASEK REVIEW !!!
Well Done THE TEMASEK REVIEW !!!
Well Done THE TEMASEK REVIEW !!!
Thank You Very Much !
Best Regards,
Kudos to TR for total neutrality. Being a regular commenter at TR, posted numerous comments, sometime stupid as it may be, TR had always published the comment faithfully in full without editing. Once I had even sent a critical comment against TR, thinking they will not dare to publish it as it is but they did. That is an unusual gesture but it can really makes someone happy.
What really impressed me is ; all the parties have the right of reply all the way, instead of just one party being given the last right of reply! Well done, T.R. and 7 Stars for you!
Wonder how Charlie Chaplin will view this?
How can a Demi-God start responding to lesser mortals wont this be considered as an insult?
REACH is a government feedback agency???
Strange indeed, as lately, they have been ‘STONE-WALLING’ public queries. see below link -
http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/YourSay/YourDiscussionCorner/tabid/117/ptid/414/page/2147483647/threadid/2848/forumtype/posts/Default.aspx
[Case of Handicap man in Clementi Ave 5 stuck at home, despite LUP. LUP done with half landing tt requires residents to walk/up stairs to get to the lift. HOWEVER similar design blocks at Jurong East, AMK, Bedok and Aljunied can have LUP with lift landing at all floors.]
HDB stupid reply to the above at below link.
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC091126-0000059/Direct-lift-access-not-always-possible–HDB
——————
MADAM Halimah Yacob
Another appeal to you to help the residents at Clementi Ave 5
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/01/02/halimah-yacob-writes-in-to-tr-to-clarify-her-stance-on-underemployment-in-singapore/
Been almost 2 months and their MP n HDB still acting blurr.
■Buckaroo on Sun, 3rd Jan 2010 12:08 pm
…………..Madam Halimah,
Ma’am,
Do help Ryman Lim and other residents at Clementi Ave 5.
[see postings @12.17pm and @3.38pm].
.
.
.
“NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.”
http://news.asiaone.com/News/NDP+Rally+2007/NDP+Rally+2007.html
“Singaporeans Come First For Govt.” [FIRST To Be Left Behind]
“Despite numerous attempts from some quarters to bring down Temasek Review, our traffic has doubled in the last few weeks alone. Our weekly traffic is now more than three times our nearest rival, 65 times that of REACH and only one quarter of the Straits Times.”
You should not give that fellow so much credit. He is really inconsequential. You have your market share and they have theirs and it is very clear after this DDOS episode, a line has already drawn on the sand.
So be happy that you are doing well and reaching out. We should not fight anymore, it is unnecessary for TR to claim so group is trying to bring them down. That is not possible anymore than it is possible for you to bring down the brotherhood and their network in the gaming field, blogofield is so big, we can all go to one corner and do our own thing without kicking up a fuss.
A very clear line has already drawn.
Even if the dissenting voice is weak,disadvantaged or irrational or even abusive, we must let him/her have their say, else how could we know what problem they face?without knowing their problem, how could we come up with solutions that address the causes and not the symptoms?
I urge PAP to listen more to netizens and engage them not to just to preach but also to soothe the tensions by putting yourself in other’s shoes. Else, ppl have no choice but to let their vote do the walking.
I m unimpreesed cos it is all talk, and frankly nothing is going to change.
The change has to come from votes to overhaul and be rid of this dictatorship disguised as decomractic or whatever they label it.
In any country – a one-party system will eventually resort to untruths and lies to stay in power. What checks and balances are there? Who is checking?
Also escalations in prices of … or policy changes/legislations made are always as they want it to be.
With a two-party or multi-party system things, life for singaporeans may get better. Don’t spoil the chance lar
@peacemaker, readers here may not know the brotherhood nor have any interest in the brotherhood or the games they play. There is no war against them or anyone that I see TR is taking, so why bother to mention and post something thats totally irrelevant?
Readers are here for the articles and comments, it has again, got nothing to do with playing games on the brotherhood’s network or whatever.
Having said that, like I said, a little gesture means a lot but may NOT have solved the problem as it would take someone with higher clearance than just a labour MP that writes letter.
However, the fact that someone is willing to ‘listen’ at least confirms that the PAPies acknowledge the existance of problems faced by Sinkaporeans.
@ Fugazzi
If we don’t talk and discuss, how to go about changing the political system?
We have to start somewhere, somehow, even if it’s a small step! Of-course we don’t expect to change the political landccape overnight. That’s quite impossible!But by word of mouth and introducing our friends,relatives and colleagues
to view and read TR and eventually to engage in the discussion, goes a long way towards the path of CHANGE!
TR started small, but it has grown from strength to strength, because the citizens believe this will lead to change and change for the better!!
So TR keep up the good work & may the FORCES be with you!!!
Concerned Citizen
Thanks for ur insight(s) and i cannot but agree with u.
However, when i mentioned that it all ‘talk’ i meant the reply from Madam Halimah. If she was concerned or whatever a stance was – it would have come sooner and know justification n rationalization would suffice.
PS : I strongly feel that the unchecked influx of allowing foreigners is and was an unwise move. The reasons given for foreigners PR/citizenship allowed here rings resoundingly hollow. Excepting a few the rest are migratory birds.
It is a ploy to garner votes during elections. The incumbent party knows that they are losing support of Singaporeans. Why must Singaporeans still be supportive of such a stance. Why must locals compete with foreigners for schools (places) or work. It is a shame. Utter shame!
Yes, independent or dissenting views of whatever hue ought to be expressed and debated, argued but sadly with the incument it is not going to happen lar.
They are so alienated and all they know is dictate, talk down and decide what is ‘good’ for us. A mature politician is one who is open to criticism, accepts mistakes, corrects and wins over the public and it presupposes he/she is ethical, principled, honest and genuinely wants to serve the people.
In all honesty, i doubt so and is it really happening?
The local media is utterly useless especially when it comes to economics and political issues that directly affect Singaporeans.
Lastly, in my opinion, these state of affairs would always persist as long as we are mired with politicians who only hear and don’t listen and secondly and of more importance to note is this lar – a one-party system is inherently flawed. I need not elaborate – the mess is aplenty!
Madam Yacob still has 5 years worth of unanswered questions to fill up, enough to write a book on. One reply is like a drop in the ocean.
Aye, no need to mention anything nobody’s interested to know. Everyone just want to do their own stuffs.
As for our MP friend, she’s trying, and I appreciate the effort. If she could just get the people she works with to try harder too.
We need MPs who not only hear us, but also listen to us! Sure, she may not have the solution but at least we know that she’s aware of TR, aware of the concerns of lesser mortals like us.
LKY, the other 82 MPs, LTK & CST too, as well as elite-wannabes such as Eric How & Sear Hock Rong, watch & learn!
this incident shows the fairness of TR and what it stands for?
keep it up and hope more “halimahs” come on board.
i salute this melayu woman,where are on the “men”-in-white?
Praise for responding to an article?? TR Admin, don’t you think thats too easily earned?
How about her job? Can anyone tell me one good thing she has done for Singaporeans in her role in NTUC and as a MP over the past 5 years? Any praises so far?
Madam Yacob is also board of Directors of SMRT.
check out!
http://www.smrt.com.sg/investors/shareholders_information.asp
I hope Halimah do not stop by just telling us similar rhetoric frequented by PAP. She should elaborate what solutions and concrete plan they will implement to bring down the jobless rate and also stand by the side of Singaporeans union and Singaporean labour instead of harping that foreigners are necessary (which may not always be the case). Engaging citizens are the jobs of MPs who were voted (or not). As such, I do not see the reason why we need to get too excited about MP replying and yet our situations in Singapore remain dark and gloomy.
dont be gullible…i rather be a doubting thomas…leopard never changes its spots!
Its certainly unfamilar grounds for MIW. I think it’ll take them a long time before they engage anyone in TR.
MIW needs the script to be written and the conclusion to be made before they get involved in any discussions.
Any bills tabled in parliament has already been discussed within themselves to death and the exact information being released is defined and how the debate will be conducted. Afterall, this is very necessary as someone has so accurately identified that their policies has a grain of truth but a ton of lies. They will need to highlight the grain of truth and not let the ton of lies to be discussed.
In TR, there is no such assurances. The ton of lies will be highlighted and there’s no containment for this. So, as much as I hope our current government listens, its quite out of character for them unless there is a huge shock for them. Much like someone who tried to give up smoking but fails but easily succeed once he has a health scare.
So, if we break the 2/3 majority, I certainly think it will be the “health scare” that MIW needs. It will be good for singapore and believe it or not, for MIWs too.
PAP MPs – ‘ENGAGE YOUR RESIDENTS AT TEMASEK REVIEW.
REACH website is a waste of time.
See how REACH ’stone-wall handicap citizen queries n request for help at below website.
http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/YourSay/YourDiscussionCorner/tabid/117/ptid/414/page/2147483647/threadid/2848/forumtype/posts/Default.aspx
=========================
TODAY Newspaper 6 Jan 20
NETIZENS HAIL HALIMAH
SINGAPORE – She felt she had been misquoted, and wrote to the editor of a local website for a correction.
But that simple request by NTUC deputy secretary-general Halimah Yacob to The Temasek Review has sparked off a buzz among netizens, with some viewing her move as a positive one in engaging the alternative media.
In an interview with MediaCorp last week, Mdm Halimah had noted that some middle-aged degree holders lost their jobs and ended up driving taxis because of the downturn. Under-employment, she said, was unavoidable because of limited job opportunities from slow economic growth.
However, in its article on Dec 31, Temasek Review wrote that Mdm Halimah had said it was unavoidable that middle-aged degree holders end up driving taxis.
In a letter to the editor of the website, Mdm Halimah said the article “did not accurately reflect the essence” of what she had said and asked for a correction. The website has since amended its article and also posted her letter online.
Many lauded Mdm Halimah’s move on the website.
“TR (Temasek Review) should truly write a thank-you letter to Halimah Yacob and encourage her to participate more and also invite her to ask her fellow PAP MPs to engage comments, views and opinions in TR positively like her,” wrote netizen southchinasea.
“It’s a good sign that a very senior PAP/MP like Mdm Halimah to respond (sic), let’s likewise return the respect rationally without the usual rhetorics (sic),” wrote PeterL.
Calling it a “significant” step for alternative media, Mr Tan Tarn How, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, noted that other MPs before Mdm Halimah had engaged netizens, but in a different manner. “In the past, the government has addressed issues brought up without necessarily making a link with specific websites. For instance, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew addressed concerns expressed online, but did so via the mainstream media than by engaging directly with individual websites,” he said.
Last year, Mr Lui had spoken against netizens who posted unkind comments about MP Seng Han Thong after the latter was set on fire by a disgruntled constituent.
Singapore Management University assistant professor Eugene Tan noted: “On when to seek clarifications, the priority would be to seek corrections from the more prominent websites, blogs or portals.
“The inaccuracy in question, even if perceived to be minor by some, is deemed to be significant and important enough for Mdm Halimah to clarify her position.”
When contacted, Mdm Halimah told MediaCorp she saw the article while surfing the Web over the holidays. “It is useful to engage when it is incorrect,” she said. “There was an inaccuracy and I wanted it corrected. Judging from the reaction, people do appreciate that point.”[/QUOTE]
Obviously, the netizens are imaginary figures created by the propaganda team again!
PAP MPs – ‘ENGAGE’ YOUR CITIZENS AT TEMASEK REVIEW.
DON’T ‘STONE-WALL’ THEM.
REACH website is a waste of time.
See how REACH , MP and SENIOR PUBLIC SERVANTS ’stone-wall handicap citizen and public queries n request for help at REACH and other websites FOR NEARLY 2 MONTHS.
http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/YourSay/YourDiscussionCorner/tabid/117/ptid/414/page/2147483647/threadid/2848/forumtype/posts/Default.aspx
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2579980
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC091126-0000059/Direct-lift-access-not-always-possible–HDB
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC091105-0000052/?Not-wheelchair-friendly-at-all
=========================
TODAY Newspaper 6 Jan 2010
NETIZENS HAIL HALIMAH
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/pdf/20100106/0601HNL005.pdf