31/08/2023

Blue Moon 2023

Update 29 Sep 2023: Final supermoon of 2023 illuminates Singapore sky on Mid-Autumn Festival
The Harvest Moon sighted at Woodlands Avenue 5 on Sep 29, 2023. (Photo: A Kannan)

Those celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival were in for a treat as the last supermoon of 2023 was seen over Singapore on Friday (Sep 29) night. Coinciding with the festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, the fourth supermoon began rising at 7pm from the east.

As the full moon occurs closest to the September equinox every year, with corn harvested around the same time, this full moon is also referred to as the Harvest Moon or Corn Moon, according to Facebook group Stargazing Singapore on Thursday. Despite cloudy conditions during moonrise, CNA reader A Kannan managed to capture photos of the Harvest Moon from Woodlands. He said that the moon became "'clearly visible" at about 8pm, with the "occasional passing clouds shrouding the moon". Mr Kannan also had the chance to see Jupiter above the moon at about 6am on Friday.

He noted the moon was about 361,800km away from Earth when the photos were taken, adding that it was "closer, brighter and bigger than the normal moon we see during other months". The moon, which is expected to set on Saturday morning at about 7.20am, will appear "reddish", said Mr Kannan.


2 Supermoons Will Rise On 1 & 31 Aug 2023 Including First Blue Moon Since 2020

Earlier this month, the supermoon on 3 July, also known as the Buck Moon, dazzled Singaporeans with its gorgeous golden hue.

If you were one of those who missed it, fret not as August will have not just one, but two supermoons you can look forward to. Happening first would be the Sturgeon Moon, which will rise on Tuesday (1 Aug). It will reach its optimal height in Singapore at 9pm.

The second supermoon in August is a Blue Moon which will rise on Thursday (31 Aug) and be at its peak at 9pm as well. Notably, this is the first Blue Moon in about two years.


Supermoon On 3 July Dazzles S’poreans Despite Cloud Cover
The supermoon finally rewarded photographers' persistence by emerging from the clouds after 8pm


First Supermoon Of 2023 Lights Up Night Sky On 3 July, Though Partially Obscured By Clouds.

After a gap of about 11 months, a supermoon finally returned to Singapore’s skies on Monday (3 July). Its return caused much excitement among photographers, who strived to capture it in all its glory.

Though the supermoon was partially obscured by cloud cover, Singaporeans were dazzled by its size and brightness. Some even quipped that the supermoon was “shy”.


WHAT IS A BLUE MOON?

The modern day definition of a Blue Moon is when there are 2 Full Moons in one Month. A Full Moon occurs roughly every 29.5 days and on the rare occasions when the Full Moon falls at the very beginning of a month there is a good chance a Blue Moon will occur at the end of the month. According to this definition the next Blue Moon will occur on January 31, 2018.

ORIGINAL BLUE MOON DEFINITION:
  • The modern definition of a Blue Moon was derived from an earlier idea of what a Blue Moon was. This earlier definition says a Blue Moon is when there are 4 Full Moons in a season rather than the usual 3. The Blue moon is the 3rd Full Moon out of the 4. This definition gets a bit complicated and it's origins are murky. One school of thought has to do with the naming of the Full Moons. Many cultures named the Full Moons each month to reflected the times for planting, harvesting or seasonal conditions. When an extra Full Moon was thrown in it was referred to as a Blue Moon to keep the Full Moon names constant throughout the year.
  • Another origin could be from the Christian ecclesiastical calendar. This one gets even more tricky but basically has to do with the idea that there are usually 12 Full Moons in a year. The Full Moons on this calendar were important markers for determining curtain dates such as Easter. When a 13th Full moon was thrown into the year it made things messy so giving it a name allowed the calendar to stay on track.
  • The idea of a Blue Moon being the extra full moon in a season (or when there were 13 in a year) was widely used in 19th and early 20th center Farmers Almanacs and the more modern version seems to have come from an article written in the 1930's that misinterpreted the Farmers Almanac definition. The article was names "Once in a Blue Moon" and from that point on the term became part of popular culture.

IS THE MOON EVER THE COLOR BLUE?
  • This is a very rare event but it does happen. There are a few recorded events when forest fires or ash volcanic eruptions have given the moon a bluish color. The moon can also has a blueish color on very cold winter nights when ice crystals in the air form a ring around the moon. Of course the idea of the moon being blue is very subjective and left up to ones own interpretation.
  • An interesting twist to the idea of a Blue Moon is the idea of Dark Moon. Sometimes the reference of a Dark Moon is given when there are 2 new moons is a calendar month, the opposite of a Blue Moon. Other definitions say it is when there is no Full moon is a calendar month. Neither of these definitions or the term Dark Moon is used very often. Neither has any scientific bases and is more a part of popular culture.

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30/08/2023

Zhōngyuán Jié 中元节 Hungry Ghost Festival 2023

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Zhong Yuan Jie

Zhong Yuan Jie (中元节) takes place on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the Lunar calendar. It is mostly observed by Chinese Buddhists and Taoists who believe that during this time, colloquially known as “seventh month” or 七月 (“seventh month” in Chinese), the gates of Hell are opened, releasing spirits who roam the earth.

The period is also commonly referred to as “Hungry Ghost Festival”, with reference to the belief that spirits are hungry because they do not have descendants to make offerings to them. However, it is not just mischievous spirits who roam the earth during the seventh month – it is also believed that dead ancestors may come back to observe the living. Hence, there are various practices associated with entertaining and appeasing these spirits. For instance, believers will burn joss sticks, paper offerings and make food offerings. There will also be large-scale performances called getai (歌台）which provide entertainment to both the spirits and the living.

Zhong Yuan Jie is practised in Asian countries and communities with a large Chinese, Buddhist or Taoist population, including in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. In Singapore, individuals may conduct their own rituals of worship in their own homes, at temples, or in the neighbourhood. Believers living in different parts of Singapore may gather to engage in collective burning of offerings using big stainless steel containers provided by the Town Council. Getai shows are typically performed outdoors in temporary tent and stage setups, such as at empty fields in in the public housing estates. In Singapore, the festival is mostly observed by Chinese Buddhists and Taoists. Certain temples conduct specific rituals such as prayers and burning of offerings. Temples may also have believers sponsor a separate batch of food items, which are distributed to the needy.

Hungry Ghost Festival
Image result for #sghungryghostfestival
Hungry Ghost Festival takes place on fifteenth day of the seventh month in the Lunar Calendar

The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of the best times of the year to soak in the local culture and observe traditional rites in hyper-modern Singapore.

Just as the Americans have Halloween, the Chinese have the Hungry Ghost Festival (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie in Chinese), when the souls of the dead are believed to roam the earth. According to custom, these ghosts can get up to mischief if ignored so all sorts of offerings are made during this period, which is the seventh month in the lunar calendar.

Making offerings:
  • Notice those metal bins scattered around residential areas and housing estates?
  • They are specifically provided to contain the stacks of hell money and paper offerings, such as cars, watches and jewellery, that are burned by relatives to appease their deceased family members – taking care of their material needs even in the afterlife.
  • Do watch your step in case you trample on food left out in the open. Although many place their food offerings (oranges, rice or even suckling pig) and joss sticks on proper altars, others tuck them at the side of footpaths or even alongside trees.
Boisterous shows:
  • And as if satisfying the ghosts’ appetites for money and food wasn’t enough, taking care of their entertainment is also important.
  • Large tents are set up in open fields to host raucous dinners and auctions in heartland estates like Ang Mo Kio and Yishun. There are performances too, such as Chinese operas and 'getai' (literally ‘song stage’ in Chinese, or live stage performances), which feature tales of gods and goddesses, bawdy stand-up comedy, as well as song and dance numbers.
  • Everyone is welcome – so sit back and enjoy the show. Just remember not to sit in the front row, unless you want to rub shoulders with the ‘special guests’.
Times they are a-changing:
  • A mainstay of the festival is the 'getai' performance, thrown as a popular mode of entertainment for the wandering spirits. But 'getai' today is a very different animal – jazzed up with snazzy LED panel lit stages. Young, sexy perfomers sing not just traditional songs in dialect but thumping techno versions of English and Mandarin pop ditties. It appears that even the tastes of the spiritual world are moving with the times.

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29/08/2023

30 Greatest Man-Made Wonders of the World

The Top Man-Made Wonders of the World
Top Natural Wonder of the World
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28/08/2023

Return to Nominated Presidency from Elected Presidency?

Presidential Election 2023: Red Dot United proposes abolishing Elected Presidency and exploring various mechanisms to protect the reserves

While Singaporeans prepare to head to the polls to elect their ninth president on Sept 1, opposition party Red Dot United has taken a bold stance by advocating for the abolition of the Elected Presidency and the restoration of its ceremonial role. With the proposal to abolish the elected presidency, Red Dot United is calling for the establishment of a constitutional commission. This commission would conduct a comprehensive study on creating an independent mechanism to effectively protect the nation’s reserves.

President Wee Kim Wee served as the final president appointed by parliament from 1985 to 1993. However, following a constitutional amendment in 1991, Singapore held its first presidential election two years later. Former Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong emerged as the winner with 58.69% of the popular vote against Chua Kim Yeow to become Singapore’s first elected president. “Recognising the evolving dynamics surrounding the Elected Presidency, Red Dot United acknowledges the importance of preserving the President’s historical role as the chief diplomat of the Republic and as a unifying figure for all Singaporeans while also addressing the custodial responsibility of protecting Singapore’s reserves,” shared Red Dot United.

To achieve this, the party is suggesting a two-pronged approach:
  • RDU advocates for returning to the original vision of the Presidency as a symbolic and unifying figurehead. By refraining from political involvement and policy initiation, the President can focus on representing the nation domestically and internationally, fostering national unity, and promoting Singapore’s interests on the global stage.
  • Studying a separate, independent mechanism: RDU proposes the establishment of a dedicated mechanism to safeguard the reserves, which are currently entrusted to the Office of the Elected President. This mechanism should operate independently, ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudent decision-making. RDU emphasises the need for a comprehensive study by a Constitutional Commission, mandated by appropriate Terms of Reference, to explore various proposals and learn from best practices in other jurisdictions.

Abolish Elected Presidency, Take Measures to Safeguard Reserves

Today, we officially made the call to abolish the Elected Presidency and revert the Office of the President to a ceremonial role. We also called for the convening of a Constitutional Commission to thoroughly study the establishment of an independent mechanism aimed at ensuring the safeguarding of the nation's reserves.

Recognising the evolving dynamics surrounding the Elected Presidency, Red Dot United (RDU_ acknowledges the importance of preserving the President's historical role as the chief diplomat of the Republic and as a unifying figure for all Singaporeans while also addressing the custodial responsibility of protecting Singapore's reserves.

To achieve this, RDU suggests the following course of action:
  • Reverting to the Ceremonial Presidency: RDU advocates for returning to the original vision of the Presidency as a symbolic and unifying figurehead. By refraining from political involvement and policy initiation, the President can focus on representing the nation domestically and internationally, fostering national unity, and promoting Singapore's interests on the global stage.
  • Studying a Separate, Independent Mechanism: RDU proposes the establishment of a dedicated mechanism to safeguard the reserves, which are currently entrusted to the Office of the Elected President. This mechanism should operate independently, ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudent decision-making. RDU emphasises the need for a comprehensive study by a Constitutional Commission, mandated by appropriate Terms of Reference, to explore various proposals and learn from best practices in other jurisdictions.
By reverting the Office of the President to a ceremonial role and setting up a Constitutional Commission to study the implementation of a separate and independent mechanism to protect the assets of the nation, RDU aims to strike a balance between preserving the President's historical role as a unifying figure for all Singaporeans and effectively safeguarding Singapore's reserves.


Singapore should return to having Parliament appoint president: Tan Kin Lian
Mr Tan Kin Lian said perhaps it was best to return to the system where the president is appointed by Parliament. PHOTO: TAN KIN LIAN/FACEBOOK

Singapore would be better off with the old system where the president is appointed by Parliament, said presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian.

No point having an elected president if his hands are tied on issues, he added. “I got a lot of notices about what are the things I cannot do, so I think it is quite an unproductive exercise,” he said at a members-only event organised by the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) on Saturday afternoon. “I think we should change.”

He was taking questions in the Meet Our Presidential Candidates series held at the NUSS Kent Ridge Guild House, which was moderated by NUSS second vice-president Nakoorsha A.K., and attended by more than 90 participants. It was live-streamed on Mr Tan’s Facebook page.
Workers’ Party Says Presidential Candidate Criteria Skewed Towards PAP-Approved People

Workers’ Party asserted that it does not endorse any presidential candidate because it thinks current system should be abolished. In a media advisory on Wednesday (30 Aug), the WP announced that it has received queries from various mainstream media outlets on this matter.

The party stated that the current qualifying criteria for presidential candidates is “skewed towards PAP-approved candidates”. WP noted that the elected presidency in its current form undermines parliamentary democracy. The advisory reads:
“It also serves as an unnecessary source of gridlock – one that could potentially cripple a non-PAP government within its first term – and is an alternative power centre that could lead to political impasses.”
WP then went on to highlight that it has consistently voiced its objection to the elected presidency. In fact, the party has believed for over 30 years that Singapore should abolish it and revert to a ceremonial presidency.



The Workers' Party 4 d

𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲

We refer to queries from various mainstream media outlets.

The Workers’ Party’s views on the office of the Elected President (EP) and the role of the President of Singapore, are set out in the Party manifesto, as well as in a 2016 submission to a Constitutional Commission on the Elected Presidency. The Party’s position has also been set out in the course of parliamentary debates over the years.

The Workers’ Party believes that the current qualifying criteria for presidential candidates is skewed towards PAP-approved candidates and the EP in its current form undermines parliamentary democracy. It also serves as an unnecessary source of gridlock - one that could potentially cripple a non-PAP government within its first term - and is an alternative power centre that could lead to political impasses. The Workers’ Party has consistently voiced its objection to and called for the abolishment of the EP, and to revert to a ceremonial presidency, which has been the Party’s position for over three decades. 

“How can a President be for the people if it’s limited to narrow elites?”
Singaporeans on PE2023 showcases different opinions in street interview

A street interview of Singaporeans sharing their insights on the 2023 Presidential Elections has garnered attention online. When asked to share their two cents on the matter, Singaporeans who participated in a video by RICE Media had these things to say:
  • The idea is that the president is supposed to be for the people. For me, S$500 million shareholders’ equity [as a qualifying criterion] is a bit too much. How can that someone be for the people if it’s limited to such a narrow elite?
  • “To quote my friend, ‘The president is there to cut ribbons and go NDP,’ said one, while another admitted, “I’m not really sure what the president does.”
The video host reported that the nation will be heading to the polls to elect its next president. “Who will Singaporeans vote in as their president and how much do they genuinely care about this pivotal public role?” she asked.
Return to nominated presidency a key call at final hearing

In the final public hearing conducted by the Constitutional Commission to review the Office of the President, impassioned calls were made to abolish the Elected Presidency and return to the previous system of nomination by the Government, even as the commission doubted the feasibility of doing so in today’s political climate.

Among the four parties who presented their submissions yesterday, former Nominated Member of Parliament Loo Choon Yong and constitutional law expert Kevin Tan argued for the President to be elected by Parliament as was the case before 1991.

The four public hearings, which began last month, saw 19 individuals and groups attend. The key issues raised include ensuring minority representation and revising the qualifying criteria for presidential candidates. Some felt that engineering a system to ensure minority representation would go against the principle of meritocracy. On setting a higher bar for those seeking to become candidates for the presidency, some were concerned it would drastically reduce the pool of those eligible, and further affect the chances of minority representation in the process.


Return to nominated presidency a key call at final hearing

NUS second year law students Ms Grace Teo, Ms Carina Kam, Ms Amelia Chew and Mr Russell Wong, were among those who presented their proposals to the Commission at the final public hearing conducted by the Constitutional Commission to review the Office of the President.

They suggested broadening the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates to include individuals holding key management posts, and also spoke against introducing provisions to ensure minority representation.


Singapore's 8th and first female President
The move gives minority ethnic groups an assurance that their place in society will always be safeguarded, he said, just like how the group representation constituency system - which guarantees at least one candidate per constituency is from a minority race - ensures there will always be MPs from minority races in Parliament

The PAP secretary-general was referring to public unhappiness over the Constitutional amendments passed in November 2016, to reserve the elected presidency for candidates of a particular racial group if there had not been a president from the group for the five most recent presidential terms.

Critics said the decision went against Singapore's meritocratic values, and hundreds protested in Hong Lim Park days after the first election, reserved for Malays, saw Madam Halimah Yacob sworn in as President on Sept 14, 2017.

Mr Lee cited the issue as an example of how Singapore is proactively strengthening the institutions that support its multiracial and multi-religious society.

2023 Singapore Presidential Election

According to the ELD, there were 6,649 registered overseas voters, of which 3,432 registered to vote by post. This was the first time postal voting was used in an election.

Of those who registered to vote by post, 2,997 downloaded the postal ballots and 1,345 of them were received by the deadline of Sep 11 and accepted for counting, said ELD. Another 2,454 Singaporeans cast their votes at the 10 overseas polling stations. The overseas polling stations are in Beijing, Canberra, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington.

Adding to the ballots cast in Singapore on Sep 1, the total number of votes cast at the Presidential Election 2023 was 2,534,711, of which 50,230 were rejected votes. About 93.55 per cent of the 2,709,407 registered electors voted in the 2023 Presidential Election.


A look back at the 5 times Singapore Presidential Election was previously held
The four elected Presidents of Singapore: (from left) Ong Teng Cheong, S R Nathan, Tony Tan and Halimah Yacob. (FILE PHOTOS: Reuters)

Before presidential elections in Singapore were introduced following a constitution amendment in 1991, the city-state's Parliament was in charge of electing and appointing the country's head of state.

Four presidents were appointed in that manner: Yusof Ishak (1965 to 1970), Benjamin Sheares (1971 to 1981), Devan Nair (1981 to 1985) and Wee Kim Wee (1985 to 1993).

Following the constitutional amendment to allow the president to be elected via popular vote for a six-year term, Singapore has held five presidential elections prior to this year. Of those five elections, only two were contested, while the other three saw a presidential candidate being elected unopposed. Here's how the five previous presidential elections transpired:
  • 1993 Election - Candidates who applied for certificates of eligibility: Ong Teng Cheong, Chua Kim Yeow, JB Jeyaretnam, Tan Soo Phuan. Eligible candidates (percentage of valid votes): Ong Teng Cheong (58.69 per cent), Chua Kim Yeow (41.31 per cent). Candidate elected: Ong Teng Cheong.
  • 1999 Election - Candidates who applied for certificates of eligibility: S R Nathan, Ooi Boon Ewe, Tan Soo Phuan. Eligible/elected candidate: S R Nathan (unopposed)
  • 2005 Election - Candidates who applied for certificates of eligibility: S R Nathan, Andrew Kuan, Ooi Boon Ewe, Ramachandran Govindasamy Naidu. Eligible/elected candidate: S R Nathan (unopposed)
  • 2011 Election - Candidates who applied for certificates of eligibility: Tony Tan, Tan Cheng Bock, Tan Jee Say, Tan Kin Lian, Andrew Kuan, Ooi Boon Ewe. Eligible candidates (percentage of valid votes): Tony Tan (35.2 per cent), Tan Cheng Bock (34.85 per cent), Tan Jee Say (25.04 per cent), Tan Kin Lian (4.91 per cent). Candidate elected: Tony Tan.
  • 2017 Election - Candidates who applied for certificates of eligibility: Halimah Yacob, Mohamed Salleh Marican, Farid Khan, Shirwin Eu, Ooi Boon Ewe. Eligible/elected candidate: Halimah Yacob (unopposed)


2011 Singapore Presidential Election

Presidential elections were held in Singapore on 27 August 2011 after S.R. Nathan's term ended. Four eligible candidates were issued certificates of eligibility by the Presidential Elections Committee and were nominated on Nomination Day. The result was a victory for Tony Tan, who received 35.20% of the vote. Tan was sworn in as the seventh President of Singapore on 1 September 2011.

Results of the 2011 Presidential elections:
  • At 8.00 pm, polling stations closed and ballot boxes were then sealed, and delivered to counting centres. The first candidate to concede defeat was Tan Kin Lian at about 10.30 pm local time, around two and a half hours after polls closed. He added he might not get his deposit of S$48,000 back but the experience of running the race has been useful. He said he was somewhat disappointed, but he believed he had put up a good fight and expected to do much better. He made a hint of the result by saying it "will be a tough fight between the top two candidates". When asked who the top two candidates were, Tan declined to comment.
  • At 1.19 am on 28 August, it was announced by the Elections Department that a recount of ballots would begin, as the top two candidates, Tony Tan and Tan Cheng Bock's votes had a difference of less than 2 percent. The Returning Officer "allowed the recounting of all votes cast" after the first tally showed they were less than two percent apart, per the statement.
  • At 4.23 am SST, the results were released by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee at the Elections Department at Prinsep Street.
  • Result for the presidential election 2011. Tan Cheng Bock, 737,128 votes (34.85%). Tan Jee Say, 529,732 votes (25.04%). Tony Tan Keng Yam, 744,397 votes (35.19%). Tan Kin Lian, 103,931 votes (4.91%). Rejected votes, 37,826. Total votes cast, 2,153,014. The local votes counted are conclusive of the results. Pursuant to Section 32, Subsection 8D, Paragraph A of the Presidential Elections Act, I declare Tony Tan Keng Yam as the candidate elected as the President of Singapore.
  • Tony Tan was declared president-elect with 35.19% of the votes, leading by a 0.34% margin ahead of Tan Cheng Bock, or 7,269 votes. Tan Kin Lian, who polled under 5% of the 2,115,188 valid votes cast, had his election deposit of S$48,000 forfeited.


1993 Singapore Presidential Election

Presidential elections were held in Singapore on 28 August 1993. The writ of election was issued on 4 August 1993, with the Nomination Day and Polling Day adjourned on 18 and 28 August 1993, respectively. Two candidates have their application for the Certificate of Eligibility Accepted.

The first candidate was a former member of the governing People's Action Party, Ong Teng Cheong was the Chairman of the People's Action Party and served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Labour and was the Member of Parliament (MP) of Toa Payoh GRC between 1988 to 1993 and Kim Keat SMC between 1972 to 1988. He had resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and his role from the PAP before submitting his presidential eligibility forms. The second was Chua Kim Yeow who became the first Singaporean to be appointed accountant-general of Singapore succeeding a British accountant in 1961. He was a reluctant candidate and had to be persuaded by the Singapore Government to stand for the presidential election. The result was a victory for Ong Teng Cheong, who received 58.7% of the vote. Ong was sworn in as the fifth President of Singapore on 1 September 1993.

In January 1991, the Constitution of Singapore was amended to provide for the popular election of the President. The creation of the elected presidency was a major constitutional and political change in Singapore's history as, under the revision, the president is empowered to veto the use of government reserves and appointments to key Civil Service appointments. He or she can also examine the administration's enforcement of the Internal Security Act and Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and look into investigations of corruption. By virtue of transitional provisions in the Constitution of Singapore, Ong's predecessor Wee Kim Wee exercised, performed and discharged all the functions, powers and duties of an elected president as if he had been elected to the office of President by the citizens of Singapore.


QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
Presidential Election Results

Public sector service requirement

The public sector service requirement is that the person has:
a.  held office for three or more years as Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament, Attorney-General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Auditor-General, Accountant-General or Permanent Secretary;
b.  served for three years or more as the chief executive of an entity specified in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution;
c.  served for three or more years in an office in the public sector for which the PEC must be satisfied, having regard to the nature of the office and the person’s performance, that he has the experience and ability comparable to a person who satisfies public sector service requirement (a) or (b). The PEC must also be satisfied that he has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President; or
d.  held office or served for two periods of at least one year each in any of the above-mentioned offices, and the two periods add up to three or more years in total.
Private sector service requirement

The private sector service requirement is that the person has:
a.  served as the chief executive of a company and the following four criteria are met:
i.  the person’s most recent period of service as the chief executive of that company, ignoring any period of service less than a year, must be three or more years in length;
ii.  the company must have, on average, at least $500m shareholders’ equity during the person’s most recent three-year period of service as chief executive;
iii.  the company must have, on average, made profit after tax for the entire period during which the person served as the chief executive; and
iv.  if the person has ceased to be the chief executive of the company before the date of the Writ of Election, the company must not have been subject to any insolvency event within three years of the person’s last day of service as the chief executive, or until the date of the Writ of Election, whichever is earlier;
b.  served for three or more years in an office in a private sector organisation and the PEC must be satisfied (having regard to the nature of the office, the size and complexity of the private sector organisation and the person’s performance in the office) that the person has the experience and ability comparable to a person who satisfies the criteria laid out in private sector service requirement (a). The PEC must also be satisfied that he has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President; or

c.  served for two periods of at least one year each in any of the above-mentioned offices, and the two periods add up to three or more years in total.

EXPLANATORY MATERIAL ON THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

The President is the Head of State and hold office for a term of 6 years.

The President has two important roles - first, as a symbol and unifier of a diverse and multi-racial Singapore; and second, as a custodian of our nation's past reserves and the integrity of our public service.

The first Presidential Election was held on 28 August 1993.


SINGAPORE PRESIDENTS

Yusof Ishak (Appointed) Term of Office: 9 Aug 1965 - 23 Nov 1970
Benjamin Sheares (Appointed) Term of Office (3 Terms): 2 Jan 1971 - 12 May 1981
Devan Nair (Appointed) Term of Office: 23 Oct 1981 - 28 March 1985
Wee Kim Wee (Appointed) Term of Office: 2 Sep 1985 - 1 Sep 1993
Ong Teng Cheong (Elected) Term of Office: 1 Sept 1993 - 1 Sep 1999
S R Nathan (Elected Unopposed) Term of Office (2 Terms): 1 Sept 1999 - 1 Sep 2011
Tony Tan Keng Yam (Elected) Term of Office: 1 Sep 2011 - 31 Aug 2017
Halimah Yacob (Elected Unopposed) Term of Office: 14 Sep 2017 - 13 Sep 2023
Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Elected) Term of Office: 14 Sep 2023 - 13 Sep 2029

Presidential Election Results
Cast your vote to .........

It looks like Ah Song is giving out many surprises. Firstly his & his GF's ages kena 4D 1st Prize. Now he has his own Ah Huat White Coffee. What's next???

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Public Forum on Elected Presidency cancelled due to poor response
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Spore push for minority President but not ready for non-Chinese PM
Changes to the Elected Presidency Scheme
Order of Succession And Baton Passing
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27/08/2023

Cathay Cineplexes @ mm2 Asia

Cathay Cineplexes 2 d

We wish to inform you that Cathay Cineplex Parkway Parade will be closing its doors this August.

All other Cathay Cineplexes remain open as usual.

Thank you for choosing Cathay Cineplexes as your go-to venue for movie magic! We look forward to continuing to serve you at our other locations across Singapore. See you soon!


mm2 Asia to shut Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade from Aug 27
Customers at Parkway Parade shopping centre on 15 March 2022. PHOTO: BT FILE

MAINBOARD-listed media company mm2 Asia, which acquired 100 per cent stake in Cathay Cineplexes in 2017, is shutting a third cinema complex under the brand in less than a year – this time, the one at Parkway Parade.

In a Facebook post on Monday (Aug 21), Cathay Cineplexes announced that Aug 27 will be the last day of operations for the branch in the major suburban mall in Marine Parade, while assuring that all other of its cineplexes will remain open as usual. This comes after the company ceased operations at the iconic The Cathay building on Handy Road on Jun 26, 2022, and Cathay Cineleisure Orchard on Grange Road on Jun 30, 2023.

Once its Parkway Parade branch closes, the cinemas operated under the Cathay brand will whittle down to five: Causeway Point in Woodlands, AMK Hub in Ang Mo Kio, Downtown East in Pasir Ris, West Mall in Bukit Batok, and Jem in Jurong East. Cathay is however set to open a new six-screen cinema complex at Century Square later this year. Its April announcement noted that the outlet will open by the fourth quarter of 2023 and another at *Scape, which is next to Orchard Cineleisure in 2024. News of the latest closure came after the embattled mm2 Asia reported a net loss of S$122.5 million for its full financial year ended Mar 31, 2023, extending losses of S$42.1 million from FY 2022.


'Reel' tough times? Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to cease operations Aug 27
The cineplex began operations in 2017, and is located on the seventh floor of the mall. PHOTO: Cathay Cineplexes

Entertainment company mm2 Asia, which operates the Cathay brand of cinemas in Singapore, will be shutting yet another cinema complex — its third closure in just over a year. Its cineplex in the Parkway Parade shopping centre in Marine Parade will cease operations on Aug 27, the company said on social media on Monday (Aug 21).

The cineplex began operations in 2017 and is located on the seventh floor of the mall. Its seven halls can accommodate over 800 moviegoers in total. All other Cathay Cineplexes will remain open, according to posts on the Cathay Cineplexes Facebook and Instagram accounts.

This latest closure comes barely a year after the mainboard-listed company ceased operations at two major locations — The Cathay on Handy Road as well as in Orchard Cineleisure. This will leave just 5 Cathay cinema outlets in operation here. The company had announced the closure of its outlet at The Cathay on June 19, 2022, and at Orchard Cineleisure on June 13 this year. Both closed shortly after the announcements. On the other hand, it will open two new locations, one at Century Square later this year, and another at *Scape in 2024. The announcement of the latest cinema closure comes after mm2 Asia reported a loss before income taxes of $22.7m in the financial year which ended March 31.


Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to shut down, last day of operations on Aug 27
The corridor leading to cinema halls at a Cathay Cineplex

Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade mall will be closing down, with the last day of operations on Aug 27, making it the third such closure by the operator in the last 14 months.

“We'll remember the good times we've had with you at Cathay Cineplex Parkway Parade,” Cathay Cineplexes announced on Facebook and Instagram on Monday (Aug 21). “Thank you for your patronage and support! We look forward to welcoming you at our other locations.” Opened in August 2017, the cineplex is located on the seventh floor of the popular mall in Marine Parade and can accommodate more than 800 movie-goers across seven halls. The five remaining outlets are at Causeway Point in Woodlands, AMK Hub in Ang Mo Kio, Downtown East in Pasir Ris, West Mall in Bukit Batok and Jem in Jurong East.

On Cathay Cineplexes’ website, it is stated that another outlet at Century Square mall in Tampines is slated to open in 2024 and another at *Scape, which is next to Orchard Cineleisure in 2024. The closure of the Parkway Parade cinemas follows the closure of two other Cathay cineplexes in the Orchard Road area, one on Handy Road in June 2022 and another at Cineleisure mall in June this year. Cathay Cineplexes is operated by Singaporean film and distribution company mm2 Asia. The listed firm bought it over from Cathay Organisation for S$230 million in 2017.
Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to cease operations after Aug 27
The cineplex began operations in 2017, and is located on the seventh floor of the mall. PHOTO: CATHAY CINEPLEXES

Entertainment company mm2 Asia, which operates the Cathay brand of cinemas in Singapore, will be shutting yet another cinema complex – its third closure in just over a year. Its cineplex at Parkway Parade shopping centre in Marine Parade will operate until Sunday, the company said on social media on Monday afternoon.

The cineplex began operations in 2017 and is located on the seventh floor of the mall. Its seven halls can accommodate over 800 moviegoers in total. The other five Cathay cineplexes will remain open, according to posts on the Cathay Cineplexes Facebook and Instagram accounts. This latest closure comes after the mainboard-listed company ceased operations at two major locations – The Cathay in Handy Road and Orchard Cineleisure.

The company had announced the closure of its outlet at The Cathay on June 19, 2022 and at Orchard Cineleisure on June 13 this year. Both closed shortly after the announcements. The five remaining outlets are at Causeway Point in Woodlands, AMK Hub in Ang Mo Kio, Downtown East in Pasir Ris, West Mall in Bukit Batok, and Jem in Jurong East. The cinema chain will open two new locations, one at Century Square later in 2023, and another at *Scape, which is next to Orchard Cineleisure, in 2024.


Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to close on 27 August 2023
Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to close on 27 August 2023

The Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade shopping mall will be closing down this Sunday (27 August), marking the operator's third closure in just over a year. The company had previously revealed the impending closure of its outlet at The Cathay on June 19 last year, followed by Orchard Cineleisure on 13 June this year. Both outlets have already closed.

Five outlets currently remain: Causeway Point in Woodlands, AMK Hub in Ang Mo Kio, Downtown East in Pasir Ris, West Mall in Bukit Batok, and Jem in Jurong East. The cinema chain will also be opening two new locations, one at Century Square later this year, and another at *SCAPE (which is beside Orchard Cineleisure), in 2024.

The cinema at Parkway Parade first opened its doors in September 2017, and was is eighth outlet in the cinema chain. Located on the seventh floor of the mall, the cinema features seven halls, accommodating up to 880 cinema goers. It was also the first outlet to introduce an Assistive Listening Device system for hearing and visually impaired individuals.


Cathay Cineplexes Opening At Century Square In Oct, Will Have 6 Screens
Tampines residents will have 2 cinemas to choose from again

Since Filmgarde Cineplexes shut down in early 2022, Century Square has been without a cinema. This will soon change when Cathay Cineplexes opens a new outlet at the mall in Tampines in October this year. It will have six screens and occupy Filmgarde’s former premises.

In a press release sent to MS News, Cathay announced the forthcoming opening of their eighth cinema in Singapore later this year. They said that it would be ready in the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2023. However, in a Facebook post on Friday (14 Apr), Century Square gave a more exact time period: October 2023.

In their post, Century Square also revealed that the new Cathay cinema will be on the fifth floor — specifically, #05-11. That would mean that it’s taking over Filmgarde’s former premises, which also had that unit number, according to the mall’s post in 2021.

The Projector & Golden Village to replace Cathay at Cineleisure Orchard

Cathay Cineplexes will be holding its last day of screening at Cineleisure Orchard on Jun. 30.

In its place, a new cinema jointly run by local independent cinema operator, The Projector, and Golden Village will be established, according to a press release by Asia PR Werkz for Cineleisure.

New GVxTP cinema will host both blockbusters and alternative content Called Golden Village x The Projector at Cineleisure (GVxTP), this new cinema is expected to begin screenings by the end of 2023.
Cathay Cineplexes 13 June

Dear Guests, after years of serving as a go-to venue for entertainment and favourite after-school hangout place for many of you, Cathay Cineplex Cineleisure will be closing its doors this June.

All other Cathay Cineplexes remain open as usual.

Thank you for choosing Cathay Cineplexes to enjoy the magic of cinema! We look forward to continuing to serve you at our other locations across Singapore. See you soon! 
The Cathay Cineplex in Handy Road, one of Singapore's oldest cinemas, to close after June 26
The Cathay Cineplex has been in operation since 1939 and many Singaporeans have fond memories of watching movies there. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

The Cathay Cineplex in Handy Road, one of Singapore’s oldest cinemas, will cease operations from June 27 and taking over the space is a pop-up by independent cinema operator The Projector.

In a statement, media company mm2 Asia, which runs the Cathay Cineplexes chain in Singapore, said the closure of the iconic cinema, close to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, is “part of the cost rationalisation process for its cinema operations”.

Mr Chang Long Jong, group chief executive for mm2 Asia, said: "The cinema's closure was a business decision. Over the years, retail traffic demographics have changed. We have had to evaluate the commercial viability of operating two cinemas in the Orchard shopping belt within 1.5km of each other and within 300m of another multiplex."



Cathay Cineplexes 17 June 2022

Dear Guests, after a significant number of years and many unforgettable memories, Cathay Cineplexes will be closing the doors of its Handy Road outlet. All other Cathay Cineplexes remain open as usual.

Mr. Chang Long Jong, Group CEO for mm2 Asia stated "The cinema’s closure was a business decision. Over the years, retail traffic demographics have changed. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our cinema patrons, studio partners and suppliers for their continued support."

We look forward to continuing to serve you at Cathay Cineplexes locations across Singapore. See you soon!


Cathay Cineplexes

Cathay Cineplexes is one of the most popular Singapore cinema operators with eight cinemas located across Singapore.

Opening its first movie theatre in 1939, Cathay Cineplexes boasts the largest number of screens in Singapore's west by a single operator, and remains a choice destination among moviegoers in Singapore, presenting quality films complete with state-of-the-art digital projection technology to deliver a consistently high quality movie experience.

Since 2011, Cathay Cineplexes has expanded its movie viewing experience with the first THX cinema hall, exclusive Elite Club, Ultima and Dolby Atmos seats, as well as with Platinum Movie Suites, its premium offering with luxurious facilities and services beyond commercial halls. In 2017, Cathay Cineplexes was acquired by mm2 Asia Ltd.
Cathay Cineplexes

Cathay Cineplexes Singapore manages Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, The Cathay, Cathay Cineplex Causeway Point, Cathay Cineplex AMK Hub, Cathay Cineplex Downtown East, Cathay Cineplex West Mall, Cathay Cineplex Jem and Cathay Cineplex Parkway Parade.

Cathay Cineplexes is not part of the Cinematograph Film Exhibitors Association. On 26 June 2022, The Cathay Cineplex ceased operations, followed by its Cineleisure branch on 30 June 2023. Cathay Cineplex at Parkway Parade to shut down, last day of operations on Aug 27.

On 24 November 2017, Cathay Cineplexes was acquired by mm2 Asia Ltd

Cathay Cineplexes

Head Office: 1002 Jalan Bukit Merah #07- 08 Singapore 159456

Our office operates from Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm, excluding Public Holidays. Your request will be sent to our Customer Care team, who will be in touch with you shortly.

For corporate/group bookings of tickets, cinema halls, vouchers and special arrangements (e.g. proposals or birthdays), please refer to here for more details or email bookings@cathaycineplexes.com.sg.

Iconic Cathay Cineplex to close after Jun 26 2022 after 83 Years
The Cathay Cineplex in Handy Road, one of Singapore’s oldest cinemas, will cease operations from June 27 and taking over the space is a pop-up by independent cinema operator The Projector.

In a statement, media company mm2 Asia, which runs the Cathay Cineplexes chain in Singapore, said the closure of the iconic cinema, close to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, is “part of the cost rationalisation process for its cinema operations”.

Mr Chang Long Jong, group chief executive for mm2 Asia, said: "The cinema's closure was a business decision. Over the years, retail traffic demographics have changed. We have had to evaluate the commercial viability of operating two cinemas in the Orchard shopping belt within 1.5km of each other and within 300m of another multiplex."



The Iconic Cathay Building
The Cathay at Handy Road. (PHOTO: Source: National Archives of Singapore)

The Cathay, one of Singapore's most iconic buildings, will be closed for redevelopment works in August for about one and a half years. The building, located at one end of the Orchard Road shopping district, targets to reopen in late 2024, ahead of the Christmas period. All tenants of the Cathay mall have been informed of the temporary closure, and will be moving out by 18 August. Residents of The Cathay will be unaffected and the residences remain accessible via the private main entrance on Mount Sophia.

For this current revamp, The Cathay's management has commissioned DP Architects, one of the largest architecture firms in the world, to reimagine the building. “The revamp is aligned to the planned facelift of Dhoby Ghaut and the vicinity, as The Cathay continues to create long term value and be at the forefront of Singapore’s changing landscape," a spokesperson for The Cathay said in a media release on Friday (17 February). "The Cathay will also remain a convenient link for residents living in Mount Sophia.”

The latest redevelopment is The Cathay’s first major revamp since 2003. The building, which housed Singapore's first air-conditioned cinema when it first opened in 1939, was demolished for that revamp, save for the front facade of the theatre - which was gazetted as a national monument for conservation. The current version of The Cathay was opened in 2006, and housed a shopping mall as well as an eight-screen cineplex. While the mall and cineplex enjoyed large crowds during its heyday in the 2000s, they have been hit hard by COVID-19, as the cinemas were closed for months in the early days of the pandemic. With many of The Cathay's retail units closing their shutters in the recent years, the Cathay Cineplex also ceased operations on 26 June last year, and was taken over by independent film operator The Projector as a pop-up outlet.

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