Evelyn Tan, who just acted in her first Mediacorp drama in 24 years, reveals which of her kids wants to join showbusiness
Evely n’s husband, Darren, who worked with the executive producer on a previous show, recommended her for the role in Moments.
” My name was mentioned, and he suggested that I might be suited for the role, and it might be a good idea for me because the audience has n’t seen me in a while.” Most importantly, it was n’t going to be a big role, and that was what caught my attention: That it was n’t going to take too much time away from my family”, explained Evelyn.
She continued:” In the past, when it came to acting, I often found it so hard to weep on demand. However, I’m happy to report that despite not having been honed my speaking abilities, I still felt like I could relate to the part I was playing, perhaps as a result of my life experiences.
” And after becoming a grandmother, I’ve experienced a wider range of emotions. I let those emotions lead me, and (tears ) came very naturally. People on set were telling me they could actually feel my thoughts when I was in character, and grief were flowing.
Despite being satisfied with her performance, Evelyn” ca n’t say for sure “if she’s returning to acting for good. Otherwise, she describes it as more of a” opportunity”.
We all know that hollywood is all about new faces, and functions for older artists may be more limited, so I dare not ask for like roles any longer. There’s this feeling of realization, but so what? Will I receive all the prospects I sought in the past? Even no,” she explained.
” I’m being very practical here and I do n’t think there’s anything wrong admitting that. In this area, the possibilities are there for fresh artistes. It was a pleasure for me to take part in this generation, but I’m also trying to manage my own objectives. If there are opportunities that come down, then that’s nice,” said Evelyn.
She also told us that her family was very supportive, particularly her daughter, Kristen, who is also looking to pursue a job in showbusiness.
” My kids were like’ Definitely! ‘. I believe they did not grow up watching me on television because I was with them the entire day, so they were very excited. It was n’t only father, now it’s mum when also,” she chuckled.
Pocky, Pretz and Osaka’s ‘Running Man’: We went behind the scenes at Glico’s factory in Japan
OVER POCKY AND PRETZ TO MOND MILK
With its abundant record spanning over a decade, nostalgia has quite an important factor in Glico’s success.
” If we provide a great event for our customer, that would become a good recollection”, said Nagahisa. A positive recollection may also stimulate purchasing Pocky.
But as they’ve shown through the years, the company is n’t one to rest on its laurels. Pocky, for instance, first started with only dessert. Then you’ve got a wide range of taste, from fruit, green tea, fruit, and yet sakura, to name a few.
When he was younger, Mr. Nagahisa mentioned that he even had pleas from his friends:” Some of my friends would ask for unique flavors like fruit or fruit.”
Additionally, they’ve been known to react to the various businesses they serve outside of Japan. He cited the Ya Kun kung toast as being a recent example of Singapore-exclusive food that people have been requesting they bring up.
It has n’t only been a matter of taste. ” The younger generation … worry about conservation. They furthermore want healthier items and actual real materials”, he added.
One of the reasons they changed the Pocky solution three years ago was because of this. ” Today, inside the keep, there is whole corn, and even fabric. Not only is it healthier, it is also more crispy”, said Nagahisa, who revealed their plans to launch more flavours in Singapore such as” Almond Crush” and” Crushed Fruit” Pocky, which will be coated with real nuts and fruit. But before that, they’ve even released a restricted- version baked cheesecake flavour.
The fact that Pocky and Pretz is a company that many people do n’t know well is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Singaporean brand.
If you believed orange milk to be something fresh, reconsider. Since 2014, Glico has been trading Almond Koka, but it’s only just starting to expand in the Thai market in 2022. It really came out in May in the Philippines, and it will be accessible by the end of the year in Singapore and Malaysia.
Chinese woman feared kidnapped found at Bangkok mall
PUBLISHED: 9 Jun 2024 at 07: 34
A 27-year-old Chinese girl who was allegedly kidnapped for a 25-million-baht payment was discovered at a shopping plaza in Bang Na area on Saturday night.
According to media reports, officers found Lu Xinlei at HomePro Bangna. She was taken to the Phra Khanong police station where she was met by her mother and older girl, who had just arrived from China following suspicions of violence.
According to reports, the Chinese lady worked for a Chinese property company and received a call-scam call from a claiming to be Chinese authorities, telling her she had broken an anti-money-laundering law.
She was told to move 17 million yen to them for examination, left for either Thailand or Singapore, and not to talk to her parents in Shanghai.
The Chinese girl arrived in Thailand last week on Wednesday. She was required to frequently switch out of her SIM cards and relocate to various resorts.
A man called her parents in China on Friday last week to tell them that their daughter had been abducted and that they must pay a ransom of 5 million yuan ( approximately 25 million baht ) for her safe release. Later on Friday, a Chinese-language speaker forwarded the kids ‘ objection to the police.
Authorities believed that Ms. Lu and her relatives had been duped by a call-scam group through a chat program, without that there had actually been any actual abduction.
Missing Chinese woman found at a shopping mall
PUBLISHED: 9 Jun 2024 at 07: 34
A 27-year-old Chinese girl who was allegedly kidnapped for a 25-million-baht ransom was ultimately discovered at a shopping plaza in Bang Na area on Saturday night.
According to press reports, authorities found Lu Xinlei at HomePro Bangna. She was taken to the Phra Khanong police place where she met her mother and older girl, who had just come from China, after being informed of the information of the suspected violence.
A call-scam crew claiming to get Chinese authorities informed the Chinese woman that she had broken the anti-money-laundering law.
She was told to send them 17 million yen for an examination, have them keep for Thailand or Singapore, and never communicate with her kids in Shanghai.
The Chinese lady arrived in Thailand last week on Wednesday. She was required to frequently switch out of her SIM cards and relocate to various resorts.
A person called her relatives in China on Friday last week to tell them that she had been abducted and that they may pay a ransom of 5 million yuan or roughly 25 million baht for their daughter’s flexibility. Later on Friday, a Chinese-language speaker forwarded the kids ‘ complaint to the police.
Police believed that Ms. Lu and her parents were victims of a call-scam group that had fabricated their identities using chat apps.
Zambia cybercrime: Chinese nationals jailed for online scams
22 Chinese nationals and a Cameroonian gentleman have been sentenced to long prison sentences in Zambia for cyber-related offenses.
The gang’s only female convict, Gu Tianjiao, reportedly cried “papa, papa” as her seven-year sentenced was announced in the Lusaka Magistrates Court on Friday.
Some members of the gang, including Li Xianlin, its architect, received up to 11 years in prison.
The group’s members were also fined between$ 1, 500 and$ 3, 000 ( £1, 180 and £2, 360 ) each.
Patients as far afield as Singapore, Peru and the United Arab Emirates fell victim to their website schemes, say Tanzanian government.
After a trial lasting several weeks, the perpetrators pleaded guilty on three charges – computer-related misrepresentation, identity-related crimes, and illegally operating a network or service.
The Drug Enforcement Commission ( DEC ) announced in April that more and more Zambians are losing money from their mobile and bank accounts as a result of money-laundering schemes that cover other foreign nations.
During the prosecutions, the DEC claimed that dozens of young Zambians had been reportedly hired as call-center agents for website and online scams.
The 22 individuals who were found guilty on Friday in Lusaka held various positions in the Chinese-run Golden Top Support Services, the business at the heart of the attack.
The organization, located in Roma, an upscale suburb of Lusaka, is yet to post on the claims.
In order to assist the government with their investigations, the Zimbabwean citizens were charged in April and released on bail.
Officials claimed that the Zambians involved in the scripted dialogues were tasked with “interrupting in false conversations with innocent mobile users across different platforms like as WhatsApp, Telegram, chatrooms, and others.”
Equipment seized included dozens of Sim tickets, as well as devices that allow visitors to disguise their locations.
11 Sim boxes, which allow calls to be routed across legitimate mobile networks, were discovered during the attack.
More than 13, 000 Sim accounts, both local and foreign, were likewise confiscated, demonstrating” the amount of the firm’s reach”, according to the DEC.
During the attack, a Chinese national connected to the business even confiscated two firearms and 78 rounds of ammunition.
Who owns the Moon? A new space race means it could be up for grabs
Getty ImagesWe’re in the midst of a Moon hurry. In a culture for resources and space supremacy, a growing number of nations and businesses are aiming for the lunar surface. But are we ready for this new age of solar exploration?
This year, images were beamed back to Earth of China’s symbol unfurled on the Moon. It’s the government’s third landing there- and the first previously mission to gain samples from the Moon’s even side. In the past 12 months, India and Japan have even set down aircraft on the lunar area. Intuitive Machines, a US company, became the first secret company to launch a lander on the Moon in February, and many more are on the way.
However, Nasa wants to send people back to the Moon, with its Artemis explorers aiming for a 2026 getting. By 2030, China claims to have sent people to the Moon. And instead of brief visits, the strategy is to build continuous bases.
However, this new space race may result in conflicts being exported to the moon’s surface in a time of renewed great-power elections.
Our relation with the Moon will ultimately change very soon, warns Justin Holcomb, a geologist from the University of Kansas. He claims that the speed of space exploration is then “outpacing our norms.”
No country can individual the Moon, according to a 1967 UN deal. Otherwise, the amazing Outer Space Treaty asserts that any investigation must be conducted for the good of all people and in the interests of all countries.
Although it sounds quite calm and close-knit and collaborative, it is true that the driving power behind the Space Treaty was not assistance but the Cold War politics.
The fear that place had become a military fight increased as tensions between the US and the Soviet Union after World War Two, so the treaty stipulated that no nuclear arms could be sent into place. More than 100 countries signed up.
However, this new place age appears to be different from the one from that time.
Getty ImagesOne significant change is that contemporary sun operations are not just the creations of individual countries; they are also the creations of competing companies.
In January, a US commercial goal called Peregrine announced it was taking human remains, DNA tests and a sports drink, full with brand, to the Moon. It never made it there because of a gas leak, which led to debate over how delivering this varied inventory complied with the treaty’s tenet that exploration if benefit everyone.
” We’re starting to really take things that just because we can.” There’s no sort of rhyme or reason again”, says Michelle Hanlon, a space attorney and creator of For All Moonkind, an institution that seeks to guard the Apollo getting websites. Our Moon is within our power, she claims, and we are starting to misuse it.
State says also finally remain the key gamers in all this, even if solar private sector is on the rise. Any business must remain authorised to enter room by a state, according to Sa’id Mostehsar, chairman of the London Institute of Space Policy and Law, which will be governed by international agreements.
Joining the prestigious club of Moonlanders also offers a great deal of fame. India and Japan could very well claim to be international area players after their powerful missions.
And a country with a strong place business may stimulate the economy by creating jobs and creating new ones.
But the Moon competition offers an even bigger reward: its assets.
While the solar terrain looks quite lifeless, it contains minerals, including unique earths, metals like iron and titanium- and helium also, which is used in everything from superconductors to health equipment.
Estimates for the value of all this vary wildly, from billions to quadrillions. So it becomes obvious why some people view the Moon as a lucrative source of income. However, it’s also important to keep in mind that this would be a very long-term investment, and that the technology needed to extract and return these lunar resources may not be fully developed.
No state or organization could assert ownership of the resources there in a 1979 international treaty. Only 17 countries are parties to it, which excludes any nations that have visited the moon, including the US, and it was n’t popular.
In fact, the US passed a law in 2015 allowing its citizens and industries to extract, use and sell any space material.
Michelle Hanlon told me,” This caused the international community to be very consternated. ” But slowly, others followed suit with similar national laws”. These included Luxembourg, the UAE, Japan and India.
Water is the resource that is most in demand, which is surprising.
“When the first Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo astronauts were analysed, they were thought to be completely dry,” explains Sara Russell, professor of planetary sciences at the Natural History Museum.
” But then, about ten years ago, we discovered that they contain little water that is trapped in phosphate crystals.”
ReutersAnd at the Moon’s poles, she says, there’s even more- reserves of water ice are frozen inside permanently shadowed craters.
Future visitors could drink the water, it could be used to make oxygen, and astronauts could even split it up into hydrogen and oxygen, allowing them to travel from the Moon to Mars and beyond.
The US is now making an effort to establish new guiding principles for lunar exploration and exploitation. Although it claims some new regulations may be required, the so-called Artemis Accords recommend that using and extracting resources from the Moon should be done in accordance with the Treaty for Outer Space.
China is notably absent from the list of more than 40 nations that have so far signed up to these non-binding agreements. Some people also contend that a new country’s authority should n’t be able to oversee lunar exploration.
Sa’id Moshetar tells me,” This really should be done through the United Nations because it affects all countries.”
However, resources could also lead to a conflict.
While there is plenty of room on the Moon, the best real estate on the planet is located close to ice-filled craters. What happens if everyone wants the same location for their base of call? And once a nation has established one, what’s to stop another from getting a little too close to establish their base?
” I think there’s an interesting analogy to the Antarctic”, says Jill Stuart, a space policy and law researcher at the London School of Economics. ” We’ll probably see research centers being set up on the Moon like they’re on the continent,” says one researcher.
However, who gets there first may make important decisions about a new lunar base, such as whether it covers a few square kilometers or a few hundred.
” There will definitely be a first- mover advantage”, Jill Stuart says.
” So if you can go there first and establish camp, then you can determine the size of your zone of exclusion. It does n’t mean you own that land, but you can sit on that space”.
The US or China are currently most likely to be the first settlers, adding a new layer of rivalry to an already tense relationship. And they are likely to establish the standard; whoever prevails may end up with the rules that will eventually apply.
Some of the space experts I spoke with believe there is unlikely to be another significant international space treaty if everything comes off as a bit ad hoc. The pros and cons of exploring the moon are more likely to be figured out through memorandums of understanding or updated codes of conduct.
There’s a lot at stake. The Moon is our constant companion as we observe how it changes throughout its various phases as it brightens in the sky.
However, as this new space race begins, we must begin to consider where we want to be and whether it runs the risk of creating very Earthly conflict.
BBC InDepth is the new home on the website and app for the best analysis and expertise from our top journalists. Under a distinctive new brand, we’ll bring you fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions, and deep reporting on the biggest issues to help you make sense of a complex world. And we’ll be showcasing thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. We’re starting small but thinking big, and we want to know what you think – you can send us your feedback by clicking on the button below.
Narendra Modi: Will coalition turn him into a humbler leader?
31 days before
Getty ImagesIndia is no man to coalition governments.
Some of the nation’s largest partnerships, comprising between six and a few parties, have been formed in the world’s most populous democracy.
From 1989 to 2004, six common votes produced no individual- group lot. Some of these partnerships have been specially chaotic: between 1989 and 1999, eight were formed and some fast collapsed.
However, some of India’s most significant economic reforms and highest growth rates have resulted from coalition governments led by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP).
Then, for the first time since 2014, India may possess a coalition government, with no individual- party majority.
Narendra Modi of the BJP, set for a third term as prime minister, has seen his majority reduced by a resurgent opposition, and now primarily relies on two allies in his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for a parliamentary majority.
But did Mr Modi, who usually ruled with a lot as chief minister of Gujarat position and as India’s prime minister, and dominated elections for a century, be able to manage a partnership?
Does he abandon his overbearing style and lead a number of local allies? Did he halt a growing personality cult that his party and the media are encouraging to choose a more modest, accepting image?
N Chandrababu Naidu/TwitterSome people think Mr. Modi’s transition to a partnership is unlikely to be easy sailing.
Two regional parties, the Janata Dal ( United ) and the Telugu Desam Party ( TDP ), are the two allies that Mr. Modi is most reliant on. They have 28 votes between them. Both are led by experienced, astute leaders, N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, both of whom have recently led BJP-led national coalition governments before quitting over disagreements with the ruling party, particularly over Mr. Modi.
In 2019, while serving as Andhra Pradesh chief minister, Mr Naidu labeled Mr Modi, then his political rival, a “terrorist”.
Politicians are odd bedfellows, and India is no man to that point.
If even one of its allies withdraws support, coalition governments that depend on only two or three friends are particularly susceptible to collapse.
Some think a Modi-led coalition government could improve politics. They say it may reduce the prime minister’s supremacy, decentralise management, increase checks and balances, embolden the criticism, and make organisations like the bureaucracy, judiciary and media more independent.
Atal Behari Vajpayee, one of the BJP’s stalwarts, ran a successful multi- party coalition government from 1998 to 2004. The avuncular leader privatised state- owned firms, facilitated foreign investment, built expressways, relaxed trade barriers, and even ignited an IT revolution.
He eased tensions with Pakistan, a decades-old moratorium on nuclear weapons, and forged closer ties with the US.
Much of this had to do with Mr Vajpayee’s consensual style.
However, Mr. Modi’s coalition is radically different from the one in the past.
Despite securing only 240 seats, well below the 272 needed for a majority government, the BJP remains one of India’s most influential and dominant coalition leaders.
Congress also ran a successful minority government with 232 seats in 1991- and even with just 145 and 206 seats in 2004 and 2009.
Furthermore, Mr Modi leads an aggressive and revamped BJP. Amit Shah, his closest confidant, embodies a redefined top leadership that Congress leader Shashi Tharoor characterises as a “my way or the highway” approach to governance.
In order to accommodate the needs of their allies, BJP-led coalitions have historically put the party’s most important ideological and polarizing issues on hold.
Much of the party’s agenda – revoking the autonomy of Kashmir, building the Ram temple – has already been achieved under Mr Modi’s leadership. Will his allies now urge him to tone down his divisive rhetoric, particularly against Muslims, which he used freely during the election campaign?
N Chandrababu Naidu/TwitterEffective coalition politics requires coercive action to operate as a bloc and provide checks and balances. What are the key issues that the coalition partners and the BJP can agree on right now?
Mr Modi’s party has been pushing for a controversial plan to hold simultaneous federal and state elections, something India gave up in 1967.
His party has also promised an Uniform Civil Code or UCC, a single personal law for all citizens, irrespective of religion, sex, gender and sexual orientation. This has been resisted in the past by both the country’s majority Hindus and minority Muslims.
Then there’s the delicate issue of redrawing of parliamentary boundaries, due after 2026. The wealthier, less populated southern states fear that Mr Modi will expand parliament, with the seat count favouring the poorer, more populous Hindi heartland states- a traditional BJP stronghold.
Mr. Modi will also have to take into account the allies ‘ regional and state-specific demands and accommodate their leaders ‘ aspirations. Both the TDP and JD ( U) have demanded more federal funding because their states have special status. The allies, according to media reports, are also eyeing influential ministries.
Getty ImagesMr. Modi needs to create more jobs and raise incomes for the poor and middle class despite the government’s support for a recovering economy. India’s economy requires many structural reforms in agriculture, land and labour. To accomplish any of this, Mr. Modi may require a consultative approach with allies.
For a man used to basking in the spotlight, consensual politics may not come easily to Mr Modi, many believe.
” He has suddenly been asked to enact a role that he has never done before in his life”, says Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a biographer of the prime minister.
But successful politicians master the art of reinvention. Will India now have a more benevolent, tolerant, and understanding Mr. Modi?
” We will have to wait and see”, says Sandeep Shastri, a political analyst. ” We have to view this through the lens of current circumstances, not past alliances”. Watch this space.
BBC InDepth is the new home on the website and app for the best analysis and expertise from our top journalists. Under a distinctive new brand, we’ll bring you fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions, and deep reporting on the biggest issues to help you make sense of a complex world. And we’ll be showcasing thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. We’re starting small but thinking big, and we want to know what you think – you can send us your feedback by clicking on the button below.
Poll off to wobbly start
Issues that the new electoral system does not provide the Upper House that contract authors hoped will be the result of the Senate race’s start on Sunday in 928 towns across the country.
HOW IT WORKS
According to the 2017 law, the novel Senate to achieve the coup- appointed chamber may include 200 members selected from 20 expert groups, with 10 seats available for each group.
Candidates will choose among themselves candidates from the same group and from various professional groups at the district, provincial, and national levels during the three-phase process that the Election Commission (EC ) has organized.
At the city level, there will be an intra-group vote in which five candidates with the most votes in each team will advance to an inter-group election. In the between- group surveys, three candidates with the highest number of votes may get shortlisted per party, or 60 across 20 groups.
The shortlisted candidates are elected in a provincial election, a process that is repeated. The winning candidates then take part in the final round of the contest, where the top 10 senators from each of the 20 groups are chosen.
The new Senate should be a chamber of impartial experts in their fields, according to the charter drafters, who introduced the complicated method of intra-group and inter-group voting to stop attempts to rigg the process.
At least 100, 000 candidates must be running for office for the new system to work, and each of the 20 groups must have a sizable number of candidates to put up a big challenge against one another. However, the Senate race has attracted 48, 117 candidates.
PROBLEMS ANTICIPATED
The lack of applicant turnout has reportedly exposed the flaw of the new system, with charter drafters and academics anticipating difficulties during the election process.
Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, a former senator and charter writer, claimed that the absence of candidates in some professional organizations or some districts is not as concerning as the lower-than-expected number of candidates is.
Based on media reports, in some districts, only one professional group is taking part in the election, instead of 20 professional groups.
This would mean that a candidate from each group wo n’t receive any votes during the cross-group voting, making them ineligible for the provincial-level contest.
What will the polling place do in this regard? Will these candidates be disqualified”? he asked.
When there are n’t as many applicants as there should be, according to Mr. Kamnoon, it’s difficult to say whether the new Senate will succeed in appointing members who will fulfill their duties as the charter drafters intended.
He claimed that the new Senate is intended to be different from the previous ones, which were mostly made up of legal experts to review legislation.
But this Senate election, he said, would generate only 10 senators from the legal and justice administration field.
THE RIGHT START MATTERS
However, Mr. Kamnoon claimed that this should not be taken as a hindrance in the new Senate’s ability to carry out their legislative responsibilities.
The senators who make up for this with their expertise can use the Senate’s secretariat for the necessary assistance, he added.
He said it is the first time the new system is implemented, so problems are anticipated. He continued, those who are unhappy with the system may begin a petition to amend the charter and the Senate election law.
Kamnoon: New Senate to be different
Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University in Chon Buri province, said the low applicant turnout has posed a challenge to this new, complicated system.
Mr. Olarn stated that it is still to be seen what steps the Election Commission will take to address the issues brought on by the low number of candidates.
The provincial and national stages are destined to be flawed if the district level election is flawed, too. Today’s election is the most important.
It will be unfair to these candidates and it will undermine the purpose of this system, which seeks for the Senate to represent people in 20 fields, he said.
Olarn: Low turnout complicates poll
Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, said the complications related to the low turnout are not enough to justify postponing or cancelling the election.
However, the polling place must make sure that all election officials in the country follow the same set of guidelines when dealing with complications to prevent further legal disputes, he said.
Mr. Stithorn expressed concern for potential manipulation of the election results, which will become easier when the candidate pool is n’t large enough. The entire system could be harmed by this.
The analyst’s concerns echo those of caretaker senator Somchai Swangkarn, who last week raised concerns that collusion might be a factor in the Senate election.
He claimed that 149 senatorial candidates had been designated as winners at the district and provincial levels, and that many more candidates might be a part of a campaign to rig the outcome.
Stithorn: Cannot justify cancelling election
ROOTING FOR NEWCOMERS
The district-level election is the most important stage of the race, according to Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a lecturer from the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ), and the EC must screen out candidates who are hired to participate.
He stated that it is possible for parties to try to ingrain on the election at the national level, but it might not be worthwhile because the new Senate’s function is constrained and unlikely to serve their interests.
The new Upper House, with the exception of the right to co-select a prime minister, has the same authority and obligations as its predecessor. It will screen the nominations for public independent organisations, review legislation and examine the government.
Because senators are required to participate in the charter amendment process, Mr. Phichai said the new Senate’s position on charter rewrite is the most fascinating to watch.
As for other tasks, the previous senates, whether they were elected or appointed, tended to support those in power. The new chamber is unlikely to be any different, he said.
Phichai: Parties may try to interfere
Chaithawat Tulathon, the leader of the Move Forward Party ( MPP ), expressed concern about the possibility that the election’s outcome would be postponed or even invalid.
The process could be stalled if there are a lot of complaints because the Senate election law does not specify the deadline for the Election Commission to endorse or announce the results.
Additionally, if the Senate election law conflicts with the charter, the Constitutional Court is also set to rule.
Mr. Chaithawat criticized the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO ) and the charter writers for the legal dispute involving the Senate election law.
Chaithawat: Results could be invalidated
Senate election off to wobbly start
Issues that the new electoral system does not provide the Upper House that contract authors hoped will be the result of the Senate race’s start on Sunday in 928 towns across the country.
HOW IT WORKS
According to the 2017 law, the fresh Senate to achieve the coup- appointed chamber may include 200 members selected from 20 expert groups, with 10 seats available for each group.
Candidates will choose among themselves candidates from the same group and from various professional organizations at the district, provincial, and national levels through the three-phase process that the Election Commission (EC ) organizes.
A district-level election will take place where five prospects with the most votes will advance to an intra-group vote. In the between- group surveys, three candidates with the highest number of votes may get shortlisted per party, or 60 across 20 groups.
The chosen candidates go to statewide elections, where a similar procedure occurs again. The top 10 applicants from each of the 20 teams are chosen as lawmakers after the successful individuals ‘ final round of voting.
The new Senate should be a room of independent experts in their fields, according to the contract drafters, who introduced the complicated method of intra-group and inter-group voting to stop attempts to rigg the process.
At least 100, 000 individuals may be running for office for the new method to work, and each of the 20 organizations must have a sizable number of candidates to put up a big challenge against one another. But, the Senate race has attracted 48, 117 individuals.
PROBLEMS ANTICIPATED
Charter framers and academics anticipate complications during the election process due to the low applicant participation, according to the new state’s flaw.
Previous senator and contract writer Kamnoon Sidhisamarn claimed that the lack of candidates in some professional organizations or districts is not as concerning as the low turnout of candidates.
Based on press reviews, in some districts, only one expert team is taking part in the vote, instead of 20 expert groups.
This would mean that this particular group would not receive any votes during the cross-group voting, which would mean that candidates from various groups would vote for each other, and thus not be eligible for the provincial-level contest.
What will be done in this regard by the polling place? Will these candidates be disqualified”? he asked.
When there are n’t as many applicants as there should be, according to Mr. Kamnoon, it’s difficult to say whether the new Senate will succeed in appointing members who will fulfill their duties as the charter drafters intended.
He claimed that the new Senate is intended to be different from the previous ones, which were mostly made up of legal experts to review legislation.
But this Senate election, he said, would generate only 10 senators from the legal and justice administration field.
THE RIGHT START MATTERS
However, Mr. Kamnoon claimed that this should not be taken as a hindrance in the new Senate’s ability to carry out their legislative responsibilities.
The senators who make up for this with their expertise can use the Senate’s secretariat for the necessary assistance, he added.
He said it is the first time the new system is implemented, so problems are anticipated. He continued that those who are unhappy with the system could start working to amend the Senate election law and charter.
Kamnoon: New Senate to be different
Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University in Chon Buri province, said the low applicant turnout has posed a challenge to this new, complicated system.
The Election Commission’s plans to address the difficulties brought on by the low number of candidates are still a mystery, according to Mr. Olarn.
The provincial and national stages are destined to be flawed if the district level election is flawed, too. Today’s election is the most important.
It will be unfair to these candidates if they are cut from the race due to low turnout, he said, and it could undermine the purpose of the Senate, which seeks to represent people in 20 fields.
Olarn: Low turnout complicates poll
Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, said the complications related to the low turnout are not enough to justify postponing or cancelling the election.
However, the polling place must make sure that all election officials in the country follow the same set of guidelines when dealing with complications to prevent further legal disputes, he said.
Mr. Stithorn expressed concern for potential manipulation of the election results, which will become easier when the candidate pool is n’t large enough. This might completely undermine the system.
The analyst’s concerns echo those of caretaker senator Somchai Swangkarn, who last week raised concerns that collusion might be a factor in the Senate election.
He claimed that 149 senatorial candidates had been designated as winners at the district and provincial levels, and that many more candidates might be a part of a campaign to rig the outcome.
Stithorn: Cannot justify cancelling election
ROOTING FOR NEWCOMERS
The district-level election is the most important stage of the race, according to Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a lecturer from the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ), and the EC must screen out candidates who are hired to participate.
He noted that parties may attempt to obstruct the election at the national level, but it might not be worthwhile because the new Senate’s function is constrained and unlikely to serve their interests.
The new Upper House, with the exception of the right to co-select a prime minister, has the same authority and responsibilities as its predecessor. It will screen the nominations for public independent organisations, review legislation and examine the government.
Because senators are required to participate in the charter amendment process, Mr. Phichai said the new Senate’s position on charter rewrite is the most fascinating to watch.
As for other tasks, the previous senates, whether they were elected or appointed, tended to support those in power. The new chamber is unlikely to be any different, he said.
Phichai: Parties may try to interfere
Chaithawat Tulathon, the leader of the Move Forward Party ( MPP ), expressed concern about the possibility that the outcome of the Senate election would be postponed or even invalid.
The process could be stalled if there are many complaints because the Senate election law does not specify when the Election Commission will announce the results.
Additionally, if the Senate election law conflicts with the charter, the Constitutional Court will also be able to rule.
In response to the legal controversies surrounding the Senate election law, Mr. Chaithawat criticized the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO ) and the drafters of the charter.
Chaithawat: Results could be invalidated
Commentary: Turf City public housing will make for a more inclusive Bukit Timah
MORE VERSE HOUSING MIX
Places near to Bukit Timah Turf City, quite as Watten Estate, Sixth Avenue, Namly Drive, and Coronation Road, are home to a large number of wealthy Singaporean people. These lands were previously protected by top restrictions on brand-new homes.
In contrast, substantial- density, high- increase personal condominiums such as Maplewood, the Tessarina, the Nexus and the Cascadia are found along the stretch of Bukit Timah Road between Sixth Avenue and Jalan Anak Bukit.
Some parents relocate to Bukit Timah to increase the chances of their children getting accepted into well-known major colleges. But, new launches have been limited in the area, which considerably drives up home prices. Great Ten, launched in 2021 by Pacific Enterprises Development, has sold at over S$ 3, 600 per square foot, while Watten House, launched in 2023 by UOL, has sold at over S$ 3, 200 per square foot.
Many families had, therefore, been priced out of living in Bukit Timah. If they are unable to afford to own or lease home close to the common schools in the area and if they are unable to secure a place for their children through distance-based prioritization in the Primary 1 membership training.
Developers may improve the offer and lower the cost of new houses in Bukit Timah with more area set aside for fresh private residential developments in Turf City.
New BTO flats and moderately priced private enclosure will expand the area’s housing mix, reducing in the future the concentration of high-income families. The 20 000 brand-new, affordable housing options for Bukit Timah and its well-known colleges may reduce segregation and promote inclusion.
Sing Tien Foo is the Provost’s Chair Professor at the Department of Real Estate, NUS Business School, National University of Singapore. Opinions are those of the publisher and do not reflect those of NUS and its members.