Indian-origin MPs in Singapore to expand social work via Parliament
Two Indian-origin Singaporeans, named among nine nominated members of Parliament, aim to expand their social, labor work during their tenure in the House. While 29-year-old Abbas Ali Mohamed Irshad hopes to encourage the youth to get involved in politics, 50-year-old Unionist Arasu Duraisamy advocates re-skilling workers. Notably, the nine were selected from 48 members nominated by the public because of their community services.
"We cannot take peace, prosperity and progress for granted"
Irshad, who has been involved in social activities since his student days, wants the youth to honor the values and efforts of Singapore's leaders. "Our founding fathers have put in a lot of effort building what we have. We cannot take peace, prosperity and progress for granted," said the Tamil-speaking leader who feels political apathy is an issue facing the youth of Singapore.
Irshad wants to address issues like job mismatch, rising living-costs
Irshad, a Singapore Management University graduate, wants to address issues like job mismatch and rising costs of living. He will represent various communities youth, Indians, Muslims, Tamils and Singaporeans at large - in Parliament, reported Tabla!, a Friday weekly on the Indian society in Singapore.
Tripartism at sectoral and middle-management levels can be valuable: Duraisamy
Meanwhile, Duraisamy, who has served the union for 25 years, plans to gather feedback from sections of labor movement in Singapore. "I fully understand the need for our workers to be trained [to] keep up with the changes," said the Singapore Port Workers' Union general-secretary, adding "We can do more to educate about how tripartism at the sectoral and middle-management levels can be valuable."
The nine nominated members will be sworn-in next week
President Halimah Yacob presented the instruments of appointment to the nine nominated members, whose names were submitted to an eight-member Special Select Parliament Committee for consideration, during a ceremony yesterday. The members, to be sworn-in next week, will serve half of the parliament's five-year term.