Tag Archives: TAN CHUAN-JIN

Recently, Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Tan Chuan Jin released a video on the People's Action Party (PAP) Facebook page to explain why the government has chosen to implement the "Workfare" scheme as opposed to a minimum wage in Singapore. Mr Tan says: "What Workfare does is help to boost what individuals may be earning, but without imposing that burden on companies that may be worried about their bottom line. This is meant to help individuals, to make sure they remain employable.” He warns that if a minimum wage is imposed, we may face the same situation where companies unable to bear the burden of extra costs close down or ship off to other countries, causing more Singaporeans to lose their jobs instead. To many of us who have seen this happen in neighboring countries like Australia, this is a fair warning.

When was the last time a SAF general turned PAP politicians fought in a Single Member Constituency? Has this happened before? I think not. From George Yeo, to Teo Chee Hean, to Lui Tuck Yew and the more recent entrants of Chan Chun Sing and Tan Chuan Jin, our SAF warriors have been parachuted straight into GRC and swiftly swept into parliament.

In case you are unaware, an MP is supposed to be matured to begin with, reflect the problems of his/her constituency to the government and debate, shape laws and policies in chambers, not just hugging elderly and kissing babies to make up for the inefficiencies. Judging from the performance (or absence) of MPs Tin Pei Ling and Sitoh Yih Pin, I hope voters of both wards will look beyond the artificial aesthetics of their "work" and dive straight into issues that matter most to the Singaporean core.

Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong unveiled the PAP team that could contest Marine Parade GRC in the upcoming General Elections. In his Facebook update, the likely members include Mr Goh Chok Tong, MSF Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef and Mr Seah Kian Peng. MP of the soon to be dissolved Moulmein-Kallang GRC Edwin Tong is expected to replace Tin Pei Ling.

In an interview yesterday with Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan Jin, the minister revealed that the government is reviewing its policies towards unwed mothers and may extend benefits given to married mothers to this marginalized group.

The incumbents in Marine Parade are no guarantees for a win. Chok Tong, the strongest candidate due to his Premiership status is likely to be retired. Tan Chuan Jin has not much to show during his term in MOM and would not be the persuasive factor to carry Marine Parade. The rest of the team are just so so.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of Singapore's 20th social service office, Mr Tan Chuan Jin slammed netizens for conducting a "public trial" of the family members of the abused elderly woman - who attracted widespread attention on the internet after a video showing her being slapped by her own daughter went viral.

While many Singaporeans have expressed outrage at the slapping incident especially of a daughter against her own mother, MSF Minister Tan Chuan Jin however gave an ambiguous comment saying it could just be a family petty quarrel:

Adrian Chua, Divisional Director of Manpower Planning and Policy Division in MOM, replied to the reader and others in ST Forum today (18 Jul). Mr Chua began by saying that MOM “takes a serious view” of foreign PMEs using fake degrees to seek employment in Singapore. He said, “We have caught more than 5,000 such applicants with forged qualifications between 2012 and last year. They have been banned from working in Singapore for life.”

I was heartened and impressed by your sincerity when I read your Facebook post about cardboard collectors. When you described the elderly folk who collected cardboard sheets - not because they are poor - but because they wanted to exercise and keep themselves occupied, I immediately thought of my auntie. You see, my 70 year-old auntie collects cardboards with a cart to help the recycling effort, she doesn't mind if the waste company doesn't pay her for her effort, she is middle class with an environmental mission.