Think For Me, Singapore

Crazy, Stupid, Love. No, not the movie...

2011-08-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

but the Crazy, Stupid, Love the PA has for the PAP.

Why opposition MPs can't be advisers to grassroots bodies

WE REFER to Mr Muhammad Yusuf Osman's letter yesterday ('Advisers to grassroots bodies should be elected MPs').

The mission of the People's Association (PA) and its grassroots organisations (GROs) is to bond the community and connect people with the Government. PA and its GROs serve all residents regardless of their political affiliations in fulfilling their role.

Grassroots advisers are appointed by PA, a statutory board. Besides connecting people to people, grassroots advisers are required to help the Government connect with people and help promote government policies and programmes such as anti-dengue and active ageing.

Hence, the Government has to appoint grassroots advisers who support its programmes and can play this role well. Opposition MPs cannot be expected to do this and thus cannot become advisers to GROs.

Ooi Hui Mei (Ms)

Director

Corporate and Marketing Communications

For Chief Executive Director

People's Association

1) The love SPH has for the PAP is so deep it publishes this letter from the PA.
2) The love PA has for the PAP is so deep, it is unfathomable.
3) This is a extremely subjective, very baseless letter that never should have been written, let alone published.

My takeaways from this letter are that:
a) PA and GROs will "serve residents regardless of their political affiliations" but those SERVING, MUST be from the SAME political affiliation.
- Did it ever occur to you that those serving might be from a different political affiliation because those being serve DO NOT WANT to be served (or slaved, however you want to look at it) by the other political affiliation?

b) Elected opposition MPs do not support anti-dengue and active aging programs.
- Really? Please do name me ONE person who really does not care about dying from Dengue Fever. DENGUE FEVER IS TRULY ABOVE POLITICS.
- What has the opposition MPs done to make that accusation that they do not support anti-dengue and active aging programs?
- Are members of the ruling party, defeated ones, more capable than elected ones to support an anti-dengue program?

c) "Opposition MPs cannot be expected to do this..."
- How would you know?
- Have you given them a chance and they have failed?
- In what capacity to you make such subjective statements?

PA is a statutory board. That means that the salaries of the employees are paid with taxpayers monies. Unless PA has recently started a school for the mentally retarded, as a tax paying Singaporean, I would like to demand that my money be put to better use on a better person(s).
I would like to demand the resignation or termination of:
(1) The Director of Corporate and Marketing Communications
(2) The Chief Executive Director

Presidential Elections and other ramblings...

2011-08-11T23:58:00.000-07:00

I have pretty much given up on posting.
It's not like anyone's listening.
BUT, for me, it's more of a form of therapy. I just ramble on online and hopefully, someone, someday, will see the light.

Singapore's 46th birthday just passed. Unfortunately, unlike when I was a kid, this year (and the previous few years too), just seemed more like a Sunday. OR, a public holiday with nothing to celebrate. I no longer feel the belonging. I no longer feel any pride. It feels like the leaders of this country care more about economic growth and themselves rather than the citizens. It feels like the leaders of this country care more about the foreigners who can provide economic growth, than the citizens who got us to where we are today. It's heartbreaking.

Singapore is now very torn. There is a huge online community that has sprouted up that is constantly rocking the boat (myself included), because, that's the best we can do without getting arrested under the ISA. But, this community will only serve to divide the country. In the most recent days, it almost seems like its the us (Singaporeans) against them (foreigners) war.

There was that PRC Wang guy who created an uproar.
Then came the curry incident.
Then came the National Heart Centre Pinay employee's comment incident, which came about as a result of the Penny Low National Day Parade incident.

Heartbreaking... absolutely heartbreaking... seeing what how the policies of our leaders have started to tear the country apart...

There may possibly be more but I seldom read the local news these days. Like I said, I don't feel a sense of belonging anymore and I rather read international news and sports rather than follow anything local.

With that said, let's me give my two cents worth on the Presidential Elections.
Let me get to the root of the problem. It's not the $4m we pay the President...

WHY DO WE EVEN NEED A PRESIDENT?????

Years and years ago, 46 years to be exact, maybe, to follow the commonwealth system, which had a King and Queen, we instituted the role of the President. I don't even know the real reason, I am just speculating. But that was just a figure head position. We could have left it as a figure head position. Who's bright idea was to make it become an elected position?
Now that it has become an elected position, it's just like the other elections we have, the one they call the General Elections, it's just another joke. The only thing democratic about any of our elections is that it is one-man-one-vote. Otherwise, all our elections are so orchestrated, we make a mockery of elections.
The President of Singapore is a ceremonial position. The President does nothing in the form of policy making. The President has some veto powers but I believe they can be counted on one hand. The President is NOT worth $4m per year!! We are a tiny country with just too many leaders who make themselves rich off of taxpayers money, the Presidential position included. If the President has less power and control than the Prime Minister, why on earth is the President being paid more than the Prime Minister? This makes no sense at all. We find ourselves complaining about the pay of the President, the powers of the President, the selection of the candidates for President... WHY? Why don't we just get rid of the most redundant position in the country (next to the Minister without Portfolio, or whatever the hell name they call it these days)?? Without this position, which is the root of the entire problem, we will not be complaining about his salary, his power, his selection, etc, etc, etc. Stop wasting the taxpayers monies.
But like I said, no one's listening... so, there will be a Elected President... and here's my take on the candidates.

First off, I have either one question or request for clarification for each of them:

T Tan - Please explain in exact detail the reasoning why your son was treated differently than any other male performing national service. His lengthy deferment. His not so NS vocation. In exact detail please.

Tan CB - Why do you feel the need to stand up now for the citizens of Singapore and not while you were running as a PAP candidate in these and past elections? Give me, preferably more than one, example where you have stood up against the party whip.

Tan KL - Please explain what NTUC really is? Is it really a union? Or is it just a conglomerate business?

Tan SJ - Please explain how contributing as a President is going to be different than contributing as a elected Member of Parliament? As stated earlier, the President pretty much has no policy making powers, how is that going to help in contributing to the citizens of Singapore?

I would beg anyone who is going to host any presidential debate (and I doubt there would really be one) to ask these questions of the candidates. I know my decision is far from made. However, that being said, this is how I stand right now.

T Tan - Unless something profound comes up about the explanation of his sons NS saga, he is last on my list. He is just another PAP dog who is going to make himself even richer than he already is. He has run two of the biggest scams this country has to offer... GIC (where our money goes and never seems to come back) and SPH (the monopolistic media whore of this country).
FOURTH CHOICE.

Tan CB - I'm not sure he is not a plant. Some say he is outspoken and dares to speak up. But, at the end of the day, he is but still a ex-PAP MP. I don't trust them all.
THIRD CHOICE.

Tan KL - I know he is no longer CEO of NTUC Income. But, the link with that organization just leaves a foul taste in my mouth. NTUC is also another big scam. A union that sells grocery, insurance, pharmaceuticals, runs a taxicab company, runs playschools with the wrong spelling... pretty much does anything and everything to kill the livelihood of the small mom and pop stores just doesn't sit well with me. BUT, the fact that he said he is going to donate half his Presidential salary actually puts him neck and neck with...

Tan SJ - I heard him speak during the GE. I witnessed the exchange he had with his former boss (the last holder of another redundant position, the senior minister position). He is truly from the opposition and I am pretty much convinced he is not someone the PAP wants as the President. BUT, what puts him neck and neck with Tan KL is that, I am afraid he is not going to be constructive, instead, divisive. I am not convinced he does not have revenge on his mind and as much as I do not approve of the government we have, it's completely wrong to have someone trying to divide us with every step the government takes.

All said, I still do not think that the president's position is necessary and have half a mind to do nothing constructive come Aug 27.

An open letter to Mr Lee Hsien Loong

2011-05-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

*** UPDATE: The writer of this letter has decided to turn this into a petition. Please click here to go to the petition.***

Dear Mr Lee,

On the May 3, 2011, you said "if we didn't get it right, I'm sorry. But we will try better the next time".
Well, "the next time" has arrived.
Next, the citizens of Singapore are aware you are sorry, but, many of the mistakes were not committed by you. Are the people who have committed those mistakes sorry too?
And lastly, let me assure you, you didn't get it right.

I speak in my own capacity, but I'm sure somewhere along the way, I speak for many whom most of the PAP candidates, in their acceptance speeches, have said they will listen to. I do not have any political affiliations.
I am an ordinary Singaporean. As you will see from my suggestions, I do not have anything personal to gain from this, at least not monetarily, except that it will make Singapore a better place to live. In fact, in all honesty, you have more to gain from this than me, should you be able to achieve and implement my suggestions. I am not a trained writer. I am not a trained politician. So, please excuse any mistakes I may have made in my writing.

I, for one, am going to hold you to your apology and the fact that in the late evening of May 7 and early morning of May 8, everyone from the PAP was suddenly willing to listen to the voters.

I am also aware that not everything is an easy or immediate fix. However, some are and I will start with those.

(1) Eliminate the Senior Minister and Minister Mentor positions

These positions are absolutely redundant. Unless, of course, you are saying that you are incapable of running the country yourself. I personally think you are more than capable of doing this job yourself without the need of 2 other people acting as your advisors. You received, what I would consider to be a strong mandate at the polls. I think others are also confident of your abilities. There is no other developed country in the world who have similar positions and we definitely don't want to continue being the first to require three people to lead the country. I am sure that if you ever needed advice on any difficult issues, these two respected gentlemen would be more than willing to do so on a personal capacity.

(2) Eliminate Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) and redraw electoral boundary lines with immediate effect

The fact that BG George Yeo is no longer going to be part of the next cabinet and Tin Pei Ling (more about her later) is going to be a Member of Parliament are good enough reasons.
The reasons for enacting GRCs MAY have been valid 20 years ago. Given the constant reassurance that Singapore is a harmonious multi-racial, multi-religious country, I am sure most people will not vote along racial and religious lines. I am Chinese, if Mr Pritam Singh stood in my ward, I would vote for him any day of the week. My friend in Tampines, who is Malay, tells me that the only reason she voted for the PAP is because of Ms Irene Ng. I believe the citizens are sophisticated enough to vote for the person who can sell and present the best ideas, the most realistic plans and show they do really care. The GRC system has worked to the PAP's favor prior to these elections. On May 7, it took it's first casualty. I'm positive, in 2016, it will take more casualties.
If, as many in the government have claimed, this society is based on meritocracy, then let the person represent himself/herself based on their own merits and not on the merits of others.
If, as the government claims, the elections are fair, then level the playing field and let the members of other parties start campaigning on the Monday after elections. What harm could this possibly to do society? It will only enable more people to work and speak up for the voices that can't be heard, those that "fall through the cracks". It can only improve the country we live in.

(3) Mr Wong Kan Seng

Mr Wong, if he really chooses to SERVE, should not have a cabinet appointment, and definitely not in the capacity of Co-ordinator of National Security. The number of "sorry"s you say will not undo the fact that Mr Wong was the person who should have taken full responsibility for Mas Selamat's escape. The fact that he still holds a cabinet position, the fact that he thinks 57% is a strong mandate only proofs how out of touch the government is with the people. Mr Wong, if he honestly feels he wants to serve his constituents, should continue to do so in the capacity of a Member of Parliament for this electoral term.

(4) Good and Services Tax (GST)

GST should not be imposed on daily necessities, in particular, food (raw food, not cooked food). The business environment has made it hard for small convenient stores to stay in business. There are not as many as there used to be. Most Singaporeans resort to purchasing their food to prepare for meals at the NTUCs, Shop n Save's, etc. This is because heartlands are designed in that manner. I'm aware that purchasing the same food products at a wet market and/or a smaller convenient store will not incur a GST charge, but how many people have the luxury of going to the wet market in the morning or traveling the extra 10 minutes to a nearby convenience store instead of going directly to a supermarket. Many people buy what they need on the way home from work. We are no longer the Singapore of the 70s where our mothers used to go marketing in the mornings or on weekends. GST on daily necessities only serves to take away more from the segment that already cannot afford it.

(5) Labor Laws

(i) Introduce an act whereby companies can only hire a foreigner if no more qualified local candidate can fill that position.
(ii) Impose a quota on the number of work permits handed out each year and put a term limit (like 3, 4 or 5 years) on each work permit.
(iii) Foreigners who are here as tourists (no work visa or any other visa) cannot apply for a job, regardless of whether the position can or cannot be filled by a local. The only exceptions to this may be the spouses of foreigners already here on certain specific visas.

(6) Members of Parliament

This should be a full time job. If one has to represent a minimum of slightly more than 17,000 people (using Potong Pasir as an example), how can we expect the person to do that on a part time basis?

(7) Financial Statements

With all due respect, I believe, we the citizens of Singapore pay your salary. Which means, you, the elected officials, work for us. As someone who contributes to your salary, I would like to see the full financial statements for Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and Temasek Holdings. In addition, I would also like to be able to understand why the Youth Olympic Games budget was overshot by almost 300%.

(8) Internal Security Act (ISA)

Abolish the ISA. Singapore is no longer in its growth stage. We have matured. The ISA, may have been necessary in our earlier years. It is no longer necessary. If you are able to detain someone, you should be able to charge him/her with a crime. Otherwise, why detain them? It is extremely subjective to detain someone based on the fact that you think that person is about to do something. Lives of many innocent people have been destroyed due to the ISA and no one, not even these people, have ever heard an apology. This is an extremely subjective act that allows the government to rule by fear. I think the message at these last elections are very clear. Singaporeans are sick and tired of living in a society governed by fear.

(9) Government salaries and bonus compensations

Let me state unequivocally that I do not grudge your salaries. My problem is that with the amount you are compensated, you don't seem to be doing enough to justify that amount. Please remember, we pay you, we are your employers.
With the amount you are compensated, is it really necessary for a bonus, let alone an eight month bonus?
Is it justified that your bonuses are tied to GDP performance? Like pointed out many times during these elections, GDP growth does not benefit anyone if there is also no income appreciation. But, with both GDP growth and income appreciation comes inflation. Is this really the direction Singapore wants to take?
My proposal is that any salary adjustments and/or bonuses have to be approved by referendum.
Honestly, the government has created its own monster it now doesn't know how to control. With your high salaries, it is inevitable that a lot is expected out of you. Unfortunately, I don't think everyone is in agreement that you are performing to their expectations.

And lastly,

10) Tin Pei Ling

Say you are sorry, it was an honest mistake, get her to resign or otherwise fire her, and let's move on.

During the elections, the PAP kept campaigning on the fact that the opposition has no track record? What track record does Ms Tin have? She appears to be as ordinary as me.
Also, during the elections, the PAP kept asking if the opposition candidates were able to hit the ground running. Is Ms Tin able to hit the ground running? Mr Goh has already suggested a "buddy system" which suggests to me that she is not quite ready.
Ms Tin is supposed to represent Gen Y. If the PAP is truly in touch with the ground, ask Gen Y. I think the Gen Y people are more opposed to her than the rest of the population.
Ms Tin is definitely a poor reflecton (not just an image issue) of the quality of a PAP candidate we have grown to expect. She does not represent herself well. She appears to be too immature to represent her constituents. She was a selection process mistake. I believe we all accept that people make mistakes. The PAP has rarely made mistakes in their selection of new candidates. I am sure the public will accept this gracefully. This is no longer a joke for the PAP. If not fixed immediately, it will turn out to be a PAP credibility issue.

With deepest sincerity,
A hopeful Singaporean

Singapore General Elections 2011 - T minus 5

2011-05-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

Bryna Sim is a tool. Singaporeans who are angered by her irresponsible reporting should boycott The New Paper.

Those are the signs of changing times and how much the playing field has been leveled by the use of the internet.

But that's not what I want to talk about today.

Today, I want to discuss the psychology of GANGS (you may also know them as TRIADS, SECRET SOCIETIES, MAFIA and many other different names I might not have listed).

Gangs exist, primarily for a few reasons.

They provide a false sense of support (either emotionally or physically) for a gang-member.

They provide financial security through activities that the gang partakes in.

They control their gang-members as well as the residents in the areas they operate in by instilling fear.

They (at least the successful ones) have other operatives, like the police and other government officials, working on their side. These people are usually compensated with an addition to their normal income.

They tend to control all activities in the region they operate in.

And last but not least, they don't really care if the residents in the area they operate in like them or not. They rule the area.

Hmmm, did I just describe a gang?

It sounds awfully close to the description of the PAP, doesn't it?

Well, the truth is, at the 2011 General Elections, if you decide to vote in the PAP, you are voting in nothing more than a gang. Not a thug like (which some may choose to disagree with) gang that supports violence, but just a more sophisticated version of a traditional gang.

Here are some examples.

1) Lim Swee Say says he wants to retire. LHL says not unless he says it is okay.

Like in many gangs, you can join but you can't leave.

2) Ministerial salaries.

There is almost no difference in those salaries and the income a gang receives. It is through their activities. Many gang-members sell drugs, women and any other product you can think of because of the income they can potentially receive. Singapore PAP members sell ideas of upgrades, beautiful parks, casinos also for the income they can potentially receive.

3) FEAR.

How is the PAP different from a street gang here? At the Singapore Democratic Party rally on May 2, 2011, one of their speakers was a Vincent Cheng. The Vincent Cheng story is representative of how the PAP is not unlike any other street gang anywhere in the world. Because murdering is a crime, they don't murder you physically. But by throwing you in a cell in some detention center without a trial, they WILL MURDER you emotionally. Slowly but surely.

4) Police and government officials

If you walk around any of the alternative party rallies. You will realize the police presence. What you can't see is the undercover police presence. The number of policemen and women and other government officials present is most likely upward of 200. These are the people the PAP gang uses to intimidate the voters. They are already paid off (either in cash or thru brainwashing) by the PAP gang. If you feel that my statement is untrue, attend a PAP gang rally. The police presence is hardly felt unless they are the bodyguards of the ministers.

5) Lastly, they act like they care, because like a regular street gang, they NEED the residents. But, they really don't. You are just a number. And if the use for you is exhausted, they eliminate you, just like a street gang would. The street gang promises you protection from other gangs that may destroy your community. The PAP gang does the same. But, when you question the gang that controls your street, they kill you. The PAP gang is a little better. They allow you to come meet with them ONCE A WEEK, FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, air your complains. When you leave, they shut the door and then it's business as usual... selling their wares of economy and GDP growth so that they can be better compensated. But once in every 5 years, unlike a street gang, which does not have this platform, they will lie to you that they are listening to you and that they care for you. And that you count. They forgot to add... you are just a number.

Therefore, my dear voters, just like you have kept Singapore safe by not allowing gangs to flourish. It is time to do your part by not allowing the PAP gang to flourish ANYMORE either. With street gangs, unfortunately, you do not have a say in eliminating them. With the PAP gang, it's different. Come May 7th, 2011, you have a chance to keep them in check.

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE THEM, BUT YOU CAN KEEP THEM IN CHECK BY KEEPING THEIR NUMBER OF GANG MEMBERS DOWN.

VOTE WISELY. VOTE WITHOUT FEAR. YOUR VOTE IS SECRET.

Singapore General Elections 2011 - T minus 6

2011-05-02T02:55:00.000-07:00

The PAP government cares!

Every year, for as long as a close friend of mine who is a teacher remembers, mid year exams are held around the first and second weeks of May.

I met up for lunch with her today. She was extremely bitchy today.

PMS, I was thinking.

Apparently not. It's school, she said.

Exam period always causes additional stress to students, teachers and parents.

I was thinking, well, no different this year.

Not really. A big difference.

The problem was that, due to the elections, exam schedules had to be juggled around. This has caused widespread planning and logistic problems for EVERYONE who is mildly connected to a student (from Primary 1 all the way to JC 2). The teachers of schools (which are pretty much almost every single school) that are being used as polling centres have to abandon normal duties by noon on Friday and prepare the school for conversion into a polling station. Examinations had to be pushed forward to accommodate for the early day on Friday and the day off on Monday (day off given to the schooling system). Private tutors are scrambling to reschedule students to prepare them for the exams.

AND, but last but not least, THE STUDENTS. Gen Y kids in Singapore are very ill-prepared to react to last minute changes.

I digress.

Several weeks and months ago, before the government was dissolved. Many felt that the General Elections would be held in late May/early June 2011.

Why late May/early June?

That's because of the extent that schools are often affected when they are polling stations and nomination centres. Many, if not all, school teachers can vouch for that. Late May/early June poses the least disruption to the schooling semester as examinations are completed and school might actually not be in session anymore.

However, with the heat of the elections being unnaturally high. With the GRC advantage (for some GRCs) diminished. With the high cost of living in an uncontrollable upward spin. With the bonus carrot already distributed. With pretty much every sneaky advantage the ruling PAP has ever used becoming less of a factor. The last advantage they could squeeze out was a 2-3 week ahead of schedule elections.

All this, my fellow citizens, at the expense of an event (the mid year examinations) in the education system that has been in place for more than 20 years.

Just to protect the continuity of the ruling party's existence, they sacrifice the children and the teachers.

Just to protect their million dollar compensations, they trample on those who contribute more to society but with an income 100x less.

Just to have an edge over the most competent slate the opposition has had to offer, they screw up the lives of many others.

This, is the PAP that cares for you.

This, is the PAP that is saying YOU come first.

This, is the PAP that says they are grounded and listens to your voice.

The events of the last couple of days of campaigning have left me extremely disillusioned with the PAP. I once had some respect for some of the PAP candidates. I have lost every single ounce of respect for the team that does everything (nothing is below them) to ensure the opposition, however credible, does not become part of their checks and balances. They stoop to new lows, with the help of the media, the union (which is really not one), the statutory boards, to ensure they can continue to govern with no accountability.

This HAS to stop. We need change.

A call to the alternative parties... this is a segment of the population that is extremely frustrated at this moment. Reach out to them. THIS, may be the push needed to break the authoritarian rule of the PAP.

Singapore General Elections 2011 - T minus 7

2011-05-01T01:09:00.000-07:00

As I reviewed my own writing, I realized that I had become worse than the MSM. I was very one sided, leaning on the side of the alternate parties.

So, for the first time today, I am going to pick one good point for the PAP.

But since I am already worse than the MSM... I am going to leave it till the very end.

1) LKY

I had about maybe 30% of believe that he could still give a good fight despite his age.

I was right.

I had about maybe 80% of believe that he was not as mentally alert anymore.

I was right.

"Well, it's their choice. And I'd say they have five years to live and repent."

Need I say more?

Who died and made him God?

I believe I am a sensible person but this judgement (I apologize for the religious undertones) passed out on the residents of Aljunied GRC could be misconstrued to be mixing politics with religion.

I understand that its a threat. But really? Repent?

He does really need to be silent as I think his mental capabilities are far from what they used to be.

2) GCT

"He was an able, hardworking PPS, but I did not think he would make it as a Permanent Secretary."

"Mr Zainul's presence - together with a Chinese Prime Minister and an Indian President - gives Singapore a "politically balance, beautiful picture." (ST, May 1, 2011)

GCT has stooped to new lows. One week ago, he was calling for a clean fight on ISSUES. I seriously doubt the below belt attack on Tan Jee Say was on ISSUES. It's nice to see that he is a man of his words, guiding (in the redundant position of Senior Minister) the Prime Minister, earning millions of dollars.

And the "beautiful picture" statement... what is this? An art competition?

In my honest opinion, the "beautiful picture" you have painted represents the marginalization of the 2 other minority races. In fact, it marginalizes the Malay race completely.

I have refrained from racial discussions on this very sensitive topic because I strongly believe Singaporeans live in "racial harmony" only because it is against the law to do otherwise. Once again, FEAR. However, while some of us actually do have friends from other races, many Singaporeans still keep to their own race, AND, they hardly understand (nor make an effort to) the other races and their practices and cultures.

That being said, GCT really put institutional racism on the map for these elections with his statement. What is he trying to say when he goes onto say that that if Zainul is not elected, they may have to look for someone who is not a Malay MP.

- Why not a Malay Prime Minister?

- Is GCT trying to instill fear with the Malay community that they will not be represented?

- What happened to "meritocracy"? Shouldn't the next "Speaker of the Parliament" be THE NEXT MOST QUALIFIED PERSON?

3) One point to the ruling party.

Lim Hng Kiang's comment that the "Reform Party (is) out of step with the rest of opposition." Now, that was a great line.

It is very valid.

It does not hit under the belt.

It makes people think if the opposition is indeed credible.

But since I am worse than the MSM, that's all I'm going to say about that.

Singapore General Elections 2011 - T minus 8

2011-04-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

Election terminology that should stop because it is senseless.

TRACK RECORD - PAP candidates should stop asking the alternate party candidates about their track records. Except for Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Khiang, obviously the rest of the candidates have none. They have never sat in parliament before, why should they have track records??? How about the PAP producing the track records of the likes of Chia Shi-Lu and Chan Chun Seng? And no, what they have done in their previous lives as a surgeon and the former chief of staff does not exactly count.

FREAK RESULTS - There is no such thing, unless the opponent just suddenly appears out from nowhere and wins. Both sides have already know each other for 3 days (on the conservative side) or more. If either side wins... it's just RESULTS.

"freak - a sudden and apparently causeless change or turn of events,the mind. (dictionary.com)"

There is nothing sudden or apparently causeless when an alternate party wins some seats in these elections.

Now back to the scheduled programming.

1) MSM

- "strange bedfellows" - National Wages Council and PAP. Front page news of MORE MONEY.

- Page A4 headlines (actually a continuation of the above article) - "Govt accepts call for higher pay increase". HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE???? There is NO government. The government was dissolved 2 weeks ago!!

- "stranger bedfellows" - The Straits Times and PAP. First 3 pages, with pictures, to the PAP.

2) LKY

(disclaimer: I respect the man for what he HAS done for this country.)

But he should stop.

Here's where the problem lies.

20 years and more ago. LKY could come out and threaten the electorate that they would be doomed if they did not vote the PAP back into power... and he would succeed because the rest of his candidates had the testicular fortitude to back up his threat during the campaigning period. I am not saying that that was the right thing to do. I am just saying his threats are now mere "feeble attempts" at being his old self because firstly, his age, secondly, his tenacity and lastly, the lack of capable staff who have the same ruthlessness as he.

It doesn't work anymore.

Threats only serve to annoy the multitudes you are supposed to be bowing down to to earn their votes.

Stop! It's annoying.

3) Twist and turn (and I'm not talking about Chubby Checker)

a) Co-driver analogy

I am sure when Low Thia Khiang used his co-driver analogy, he was not thinking about a car with 2 steering wheels. As TS as question, how many of us has ever seen a car with 2 steering wheels (except maybe for Learner vehicles).

So, why does TS and most recently LHL say there can't be 2 drivers. A co-driver is the person assisting the driver and maybe when the driver is tired, takes over. There is still only ONE steering wheel, just more people to take over when the person doing the driving needs to be replaced.

If you cannot discuss the issues, please do not cloud the issues. It's a very unsportsman like way of dealing with the fear of defeat.

b) $60 billion small change

Again clouding the issue. First, TJS, in his paper, does not say that $60 billion to be spent, all in one sitting. It's $12 billion a year for 5 years. And as TJS has stated, only if we, the citizens of Singapore, know how much is in our reserves, how would we know if $60 billion is indeed, small change.

Again, discuss the issues, stop clouding them.

Singapore General Elections 2011 - T minus 9

2011-04-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

1) Georgie and Aljunied GRC

With "dark clouds in the horizon" and fast approaching Aljunied, GY has suffered a mental block in his reasoning skills.

In a news clip earlier and in the ST, GY said: "I have mixed feelings about calling voters secret weapons to be used, to be fired with as cannon fodder. I mean, voters are what gives us our right to be in Parliament. I think their needs, their wishes, their primacy, must come first. I would not use them as though they are instruments to be chosen or discarded."

Just wonderful!! Once in every 4 or 5 years, I am glad the PAP recognizes that WE give you the right to be in Parliament. Once in every 4 or 5 years, you remember that OUR needs, OUR wishes come first. It's completely alright that for the other portions of the 4 or 5 years, YOU forget that we even exist.

By the way, the WP did not use the words "secret weapons" in that context.

He also accuses the WP or creating an "emotional dilemma" and says that he "find(s) that it's against the spirit of democracy".

WHAT?

Because we have now have the best choice in 45 years of whether we want lift upgradings and plant pruning versus a voice in parliament that could be the check and balance towards more accountability, it is against the spirit of democracy?

In the "spirit of democracy", every legal voter would have the right to make a CHOICE, something that the citizens of Singapore have long been deprived of. Many citizens have long been made to choose between a package similar to the "Grow and Share" package and lures of "neighborhood renewal" right before an election. With the quality of the opposition candidates being below expectations (because of the FEAR of joining opposition politics), the choices were simple. Let me get my money, however meager, my covered walkway and newly painted walls and the PAP can continue to control my life, spend my CPF money, build casinos, unchecked.

Well, today, the opposition (though hardly opposed to good policies of the incumbent government) presents the voters with the most qualified slate in 45 years. People who could possibly to as much, if not more, than some of their present Members of Parliament. These same people CAN also voters the same "neighborhood renewals", the same "GROW and SHARE" packages.

HOW IS THAT AGAINST THE "SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY"?

HOW IS THAT AN "EMOTIONAL DILEMMA"?

GY also says that the WP is "using Aljunied GRC as a platform to launch its ambition of becoming a "major party" in Parliament - "to block any constitutional changes so they can prepare to take over."

- I would be concerned if the WP did not have a dream of becoming a major party. Their vision would be extremely short sighted.

- After being labeled and suffering as "opposition party" candidates for YEARS, I would find it very hard to believe that they were going to Parliament with a goal of disrupting any and every constitutional change.

I ask GY... does your GRC team have a qualified counselor for you to visit with? You might need it.

2) Charlie and Joo Chiat SMC

CC decided he was going to join his lesser mortals on a bus ride yesterday. Possibly the first (and last) bus ride he took in YEARS.

From the ST: "Unlike his Workers' Party opponent Yee Jenn Jong, 46. Mr Chong is not a Joo Chiat resident. But he insists he is aware of the issues unique to the area, where around 99 per cent of families live in private housing, with many in landed property."

Does he really?

If he really thinks that bus services, narrow roads and lack of parking spaces are the primary concern of the residents of Joo Chiat, he is WRONG.

I wrote about the problems of Joo Chiat in an earlier post. I have a extremely reliable source who lives there and has never had a visit from a PAP candidate in years.

3) Mikey and Pasir Ris - Punggol GRC/Punggol East SMC

MP said that the opposition only appears during GE time.

It is most likely true.

Most of them do not even have a regular job paying $15,000/mth, let alone a part time job paying $15,000/mth.

Most of them do not know if the places they visit are going to be in the same GRC it was in during the last election, or carved out to be part of another GRC or maybe even an SMC.

Most of them are not as privileged as the PAP candidates who get to set the rules (and break them), change the rules, change the playing field to work in their favor every time a General Elections come around.

I challenge the new government to:

- Do away with GRCs right after these elections. Settle on ALL SMC boundary lines.

- Set the date for the next elections

- And either cut the MP's pay by half or make it a full time job.

Singapore General Elections 2011 - T minus 10

2011-04-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

The events that occurred yesterday, Nomination Day, have been lingering on my mind for the last 24 hours. 3 substantial events occurred. These events COULD HAVE (I stress on COULD HAVE. I am not saying it WOULD HAVE) altered the election scenario.

1) Holland-Bukit Timah GRC - As I had stated in an earlier post, an objection was raised regarding Sim Ann's occupation listed as "unemployed". I also understand that both, the extremely impartial Civil Service Department and herself have stated she had resigned on Mar 18. As an individual, I would have accepted those answers. But, as a Singapore Citizen, I am not too sure if I would accept those answers as the plain truth. I have 2 reasons.

- Double standards. If we were to flip flop the 2 players involved and it was the PAP who had accused their opponents of the same thing. Does any of us for one second think that the results would have been the same? I have a strong feeling, the person's resignation records and whatever else related to his/her resignation (not least, the compensation records for not fulfilling the resignation term) would have been requested, dug up, churned around a million times for verification. So, why should Sim Ann not be accorded the same graces? After all, these elections are pretty much a job interview to SERVE us, the citizens.

As a citizen, I demand the right to know. Otherwise, why should I be paying you?

- "The Elections Department said it was not “apparent” from the nomination paper that Ms Sim Ann was still in the civil service. Hence, the objection was disallowed."

This definitely has to rank up there with WKS's I-have-to-say-something-but-I-don't-have-anything-intelligent-to-say "Mas Selamat is either in Singapore or outside Singapore." statement.

Absolutely ridiculous!

If, Sim Ann records are not truly in place and she had not resigned as of Mar 18 (On Mar 23, Straits Times reported she has still not tendered her resignation), then, the PAP would have been disqualified and for the first time ever, a GRC would have been won by the SDP. There would be several "firsts" here. First time PAP team disqualified. First time GRC won by opposition party. First time SDP wins GRC. First openly gay candidate in parliament, possibly in cabinet.

2) Tanjong Pagar GRC - Likewise, in an earlier post, it was reported that the opposing candidates to the PAP for this ward were NOT LATE. The nomination center's inadequacies and lack of coordination cannot and should not be used to deprive the candidates the chance to contest for an election and more importantly, the citizens the right to vote.

This ward would most likely not have gone to the opposition but at least residents of the many-times-gerrymandered Tanjong Pagar GRC would have had the chance to vote. And possibly show LKY that he is not as well liked as he thinks he is.

I am posting this video again... the truth has to be told and LKY's arrogance that it was a "feeble attempt" to contest against him has to be dispelled.

3) Steve Tan - It doesn't matter why Steve Tan decided not to contest these elections. Steve Tan himself stated that it was a personal decision made the night before Nomination Day but Lim Boon Heng states that it is all part of party strategy and tactics. Great. You decide.

What matters is that Dr Chia Shi Lu got a free ride to a $15,000 per month salary.

Even worse than Tin Pei Ling. At least she has to undergo public scrutiny.

Why could there not be a one-for-one swap with Dr Chia standing in Tampines? Oh yes, MBT is on shaky ground in Tampines. So, let's add a more seasoned candidate to shore up MBT's chances of going back to screwing the citizens of their affordable housing.

Tampines GRC is, in my opinion, a toss up right now. But, adding Dr Chia would have kind of made the team slightly more disadvantaged. Possibly swinging the votes a few more percentage points downward. And possibly another GRC to the opposition.

What concerned me the most in the last 24 hours were not just these events but rather, HOW MANY OF SUCH EVENTS MAY HAVE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED IN PAST ELECTIONS BUT WERE NEVER, EVER REPORTED.

With new media/social media playing a role in these elections, we were not pigeon-holed into listening/reading/watching the objective reporting (check today's, April 28, 2011 ST and you will see that number (1) issue got about half a page but mainly stressing on the fact that Sim Ann was indeed "unemployed". Number (2) issue got barely one eighth of a page near the bottom and number (3) issue also about one sixth but reporting irrelevant stuff about the "boyish looking bachelor") of the state-run media.

We are not only voting for CHANGE.

We are voting for more ACCOUNTABILITY.

We are voting for more TRANSPARENCY.

We are voting for people to SERVE the CITIZENS.

The way the current government has this country set up, everything is so intertwined, it is hard for most people to differentiate. Government, Civil Service, Ministries, MAS, Town Councils. It is a business' way of "entrenching" a customer. It's time to undo that knot.

Has she or has she not resigned?

2011-04-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

Report in ST Mar 23, 2011.

"It is understood that Ms Sim has not tendered her resignation yet. When she does, she will typically have to serve at least one month's notice, or make restitution in lieu of not serving notice."

"feeble attempt" - the real truth

2011-04-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

Why Holland-Bukit Timah GRC needs to go to the opposition...

2011-04-25T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have 400 million great reasons...

1) YOG

2) YOG

3) YOG...

399,999,997) YOG

399,999,998) YOG

399,999,999) YOG

400,000,000) YOG

You get the picture?

That's $400m+ of tax payers money (YOUR money and MY money). BUT, it's not the spending of the money that is of concern to me and many other soon-to-be voters. It's the fact that the then Minister DOES NOT want to account for each and every single dollar spent and why the budget was blown.

ACCOUNTABILITY - it does not exist with the recently dissolved government.

I spend more than 50% of my time outside of Singapore due to my work. I have lived in several countries other than Singapore during my lifetime, Australia, Germany, US, Hong Kong, just to name a few.

Late last year, I decided to ask some of my "international" friends and acquaintances (53 to be exact) about the YOG.

(Disclaimer: This is not a scientific poll. My friends may be ignorant and naive. But here are some of their profiles. More than 50% of them are avid football fans, mostly following the English, Italian or other European nations football leagues. 2 of them from down under are rugby coaches, one at club level, one at high school level. One of my friends in Germany is a gymnastics coach. Six of my friends in Europe are football coaches ranging from little kids to club level.)

NONE. NONE of them had heard of the YOG.

Contrary to what our previous government and their mouthpieces of the media would have us believe that the YOG was the next big thing after the Olympic Games itself. It is not. Leading up to and during the YOG, either online or on paper print, I tried looking up for info on the YOG and... it was hard to find.

Here's my point, $400 million (overspent budget by 3 times the allocated amount) spent on an event the government hyped as a huge global event. That's what you will be getting if Holland-Bukit Timah GRC does not go to the opposition.

400,000,001) The same person responsible for above is a sneaky little bastard.

The video.

Great, hint at a video on youtube and let everyone wonder what you are talking about and let them dig all the dirt out.

Didn't a certain someone from the same party just urge for a "clean fight"? Whatever happened to that?

"Strange bedfellows". That was low. That also has the implications of mixing politics with religion. That was downright sneaky.

Does anyone really believe Vincent Wijeysingha did not expect this issue to come up. So what if he is gay? Does ones sexual orientation diminish ones ability to lead? Does it diminish ones ability to care for the electorate? Does it diminish ones commitment to serve? Personally, I think MONEY does all those things, not sexual orientation.

So what if one of VW's priorities is to abolish Section 377A? How does that hurt those who don't practice "sex between men"? This law doesn't even remotely affect straight heterosexual people. It may be against religious teachings, but... that's mixing politics and religion.

Community Development, Youth and Sports. Wonderful! I'm sure part of community development involves discrimination. AND, teaching the youth how to pit two people against each other by being deceitful and cunning.

Politics and religion

2011-04-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

I know, that should not mix.

What about this?

$500m makeover for Sembawang GRC.

The PAP is not the HDB. Or is it?

I ask again. WHY is the PAP campaigning on what the HDB is going to do? If the HDB is not PAP, shouldn't the Alternate Party campaigning in Sembawang also get a chance to share what the HDB will do for the GRC residents WHOMEVER they vote it?

Or how about this?

$600m town renewal boost in new Nee Soon GRC.

This town renewal boost is coming right? Over the next five years, right?

No? Not if Nee Soon GRC does not vote the PAP back into power there?

Why not?

I think, by now, you should all be getting the picture.

No? Not getting the picture yet?

Hong Kah to get$452m upgrading.

BUT, the HDB, which is NOT the PAP, will not do it unless you vote in the PAP, all covered thoroughly and OBJECTIVELY by The Straits Times.

Strange bedfellows?

HDB and PAP are strange bedfellows.

Vincent Wijeysingha, Tan Jee Say, Dr Ang Yong Guan and Michelle Lee Juen are nothing when talking about strange bedfellows compared to the PAP/HDB relationship.

Let's level the playing field once and for all.

ABOVE THE LAW

2011-04-24T00:42:00.000-07:00

I would really love for the people from the Alternate Parties to read this.

Why is anyone not doing anything about how the PAP are hanging their flags all over the place.

Isn't that a violation of election laws?

I am disappointed that our Alternate Parties, even with the best field of candidates for these coming elections are still allowing the PAP to work ABOVE THE LAW.

Flags, Facebook banners, Facebook flyers in HDB notice boards, in HDB lifts.

If there are no laws governing these items, then why have the Alternate Parties not put up their own?? Please correct me on that if I have been misinformed.

Why Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC needs to go to the opposition...

2011-04-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

"I had apologized, taken responsibility and fully accounted for Mas Selamat's escape." - Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister (Straits Times 24 April 2011)

1) That, technically, needs to be the one and only reason.

Firstly, "fully accounted" does not equal "being accountable for".

Next, "apologized"?

In 2008, when the global financial crisis hit its peak, many CEOs "apologized, took responsibility and fully accounted for" their respective company's predicament. And they were either forced to resign or fired.

We are not talking about a petty thief here. We are talking about someone labeled as Singapore's MOST WANTED TERRORIST.

But WKS will continue to be protected by his ruling party cronies as long as he is around.

"Mas Selamat is either in Singapore or outside Singapore." - Wong Kan Seng, Minister for Home Affairs (Straits Times 9 May 2009)

2) That should solidify why Bishan - Toa Payoh needs to be taken away from the ex-ruling party.

Several days ago, I went to a birthday party for a 4 year old. When I asked the 4 year old where his father was. The 4 year old replied: "If Daddy is not in the house, then he is outside the house."

That, my friends, is an intelligent answer for a 4 year old. When you are paid millions a year to represent Singaporeans in Home Affairs... that's a whole different story.

3) Dr "Teach less learn more" - Here's YOUR report card.

In the 3 years since you made the "Teach less learn more" speech, the number of supplementary classes kids have to go to seems to have increased. If there is not enough time in one academic year to cover all the topics, maybe, just maybe, the amount you are trying to squeeze into one academic year by way of supplementary classes is just too much??? Possibility?

You obviously are not as in touch as you (and the rest of the ruling party) claim to be with the ground. From a highly reliable source, apparently, grades are "adjustable" in the tertiary system here (my source is not able to comment on the primary and secondary schools so I will not assume) to protect the top students in each course... all that for what? So that the people leading those courses can use those students to represent the success of the course. I believe it is also a measure of performance and therefore linked to bonuses.

And last but not least.

4) Chiam See Tong - He has tamed quite a bit. He was never as ferocious as the late JBJ. But he has slogged, suffered and endured being one of the familiar faces of the opposition. His perseverance is admirable. His determination, understated.

I have a strong feeling Chiam See Tong has a few more tricks left up his sleeve. And I think we will be witnessing one of them come nomination day.

Why ANY GRC or SMC should go to the opposition...

2011-04-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

if TEO SOH LUNG is contesting there.

As another writer stated. The "ghost from the past" is back. And this ghost is no ordinary ghost.

In case you are too young to know (and as it has been pointed out to me, Singaporean kids DO NOT learn about these things in their history classes) or in case you may have forgotten.

Either google "Teo Soh Lung" or "Operation Spectrum".

One of the darkest days in Singapore's history.

Teo Soh Lung and the other 21 detainees in Operation Spectrum are the reasons why there MUST be an alternative voice in parliament.

For 46 years, the ruling party has been running amok because there are no checks and balances in place. They are their own checks and balances and the result is what you see today. All the problems are because when one tries to be the voice of checks and balances, they are immediately hushed and if not so lucky, detained. Detained under the wonderful ISA (Internal Security Act). An act that detains someone in a supposedly democratic society with no trial for as long as the people in charge see fit (or in their terms, till rehabilitated). Thus 46 years of rule.

Teo Soh Lung and the other 21 detainees were active in the social work scene when they were arrested and detained. They were accused of plotting to overthrow the then government and replacing the government with a Marxist style government. Really?

22 professionals going to overthrow the government? With what? Bare fists?

Just like today, the government back then has/had neglected the bottom 20%. They have left that task to the different social network groups (mostly religious based) to look after that segment. Many of the 22 were doing just that, looking out for the interests of the less privileged. But that exposes the failings of the government.

I believe that politics and religion should not mix. But, there are some issues, that intertwine. The 22 "Marxist Conspiracy" detainees were not mixing religion and politics. For that matter, they were not even mixing political ideologies. They were simply the voice for the less privileged people who, were supposed to represented, but were not.

Voting for Teo Soh Lung in these upcoming elections is not supporting Marxism.

It is supporting DEMOCRACY.

It is supporting CHECKS AND BALANCES.

It is supporting PREVENTING THE INCUMBENTS FROM BEING COMPLACENT AND GREEDY.

It is supporting CHANGE.

It is supporting a BETTER SINGAPORE, which our current leaders seem to only give lip service to.

This is a video with Teo Soh Lung speaking out against the ISA and discussing her detention.

Why Potong Pasir SMC needs to go BACK to the opposition...

2011-04-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

The constituents of Potong Pasir have suffered for 17 years due to the discrimination by the ruling party. They have shown resilience and have voted Chiam See Tong in time and time again. Personally, I think that is the model constituency. No threats and no pre-election "gifts" have swayed them. Yes, it's hard on them to be outcasted like that, but it's commendable.

I really don't know who Lina Chiam is. I really don't think it matters very much though.

She is commendable too.

I don't think it is easy living in Singapore as the wife of an opposition member. But, there she is, ready to thrust herself into the mix of things. Voting Lina Chiam in is almost like a "buy 1 get 1 free" offer. Everyone has to know that in getting Lina Chiam elected, they also get Chiam See Tong. What is the downside?

I would bet that if the ruling party knew for sure that CST was not going to be running in Potong Pasir, they would have gerrymandered Potong Pasir into a GRC. But, CST did not confirm his intentions and so, Potong Pasir, as the longest standing opposition ward should return to the opposition on polling day... and hopefully, they might have company this time round.

Why Marine Parade GRC needs to go to the opposition...

2011-04-22T02:49:00.000-07:00

Fatimah Lateef. Who?

Seah Kian Peng. Who?

Tan Chuan Jin. Who?

Except for GCT and the recently made famous TPL, who are the rest of the team?

We don't know.

1) Therefore, the #1 reason why the ruling party needs to be voted out of Marine Parade GRC is because Marine Parade has not been contested since 1992. A whopping 19 years!!! That also means, that based on a certain someone's comments, these people were not voted in based on meritocracy. They were uncontested, untested and just like the lovely bimbo-ish 27 year old, rode in on the coat-tails of more established politicians.

2) GCT. When you vote him in, together comes a $3.5 million salary (which by the way has all the possibility of being increased).

What is this SM position anyway?

LHL talked about an "A" Team a few days ago. Does the leader of the self proclaimed "A" Team need hand holding?

USA - Barack Obama - no Senior President, no President Mentor. Population: 308 million

UK -David Cameron - no Senior Minister, no Minister Mentor. Population: 62 million

Japan - Naoto Kan - no Senior Minister, no Minister Mentor. Population: 128 million

France - Francois Fillon - no Senior Minister, no Minister Mentor. Population: 66 million

Germany - Angela Merkel - no Senior Chancellor, no Chancellor Mentor. Population: 82 million

Italy - Silvio Berlusconi - no Senior Minister, no Minister Mentor. Population: 61 million

Canada - Stephen Harper - no Senior Minister, no Minister Mentor. Population: 34 million

Singapore, with a population of 5.5 million people, has a Prime Minister that has not one, but TWO people holding his hand. He, who leads the "A" Team needs his father and the seat warmer to hold his hand. Is something wrong with the "A" Team? If so, maybe we should be getting rid of the ENTIRE "A" Team.

GCT is in a completely useless and redundant position. All he is doing is wasting taxpayer's money in the sum in excess of $3.5 million a year. That money could be easily spread around to the poor lesser mortals. It could make up for the severely raided resources if HDB should decide to re-peg it's prices. It could pretty much do 3.5 million things.

He has enjoyed enough of the taxpayers money since he was done warming the seat for LHL. It is time for him to go look for his own job. Move on.

3) And then there is the TPL saga. There is really no need to elaborate more on that. Here's a video for you personal enjoyment of who you would be voting in if you casted your vote for the ruling party... shallow, no substance, like I mentioned earlier... bimbo-ish.

Why Tampines GRC needs to go to the opposition...

2011-04-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

So that no one gets confused, these pictures were taken on Friday, April 22, 2011. 5 days till Nomination Day.

Block 140, Tampines Ave 2. 3 lanes each way.

View from Block 140. These flags are placed at a very busy intersection. From the vantage point, there is a market across the street.

Behind Block 140, in the parking lot.

Next to Block 140, NEXT TO THE PLAYGROUND!!

1) Simply put, the ruling party just needs to be disqualified.

In a track meet, if you cross the start line before the starter's gun is fired, after (is it 1 or 2?) resets, the contestant is disqualified.

The ruling party has been in this contest just way too many times to plead ignorance. So, there should not be a reset, there should not be any "false start" chances given. They should just be disqualified from contesting in this GRC (and the others where they have done the same).

Just imagine if one of the other opposition parties had done the same... don't you think they would have been disqualified??

2) Used to be the most important reason but because of (1), fell to second spot.

MBT

Yes, MBT, what have you done for me lately? Besides talking crap about why HDB prices are the way they are?

Honestly, to see the way you are working, Lim Kim San might be turning in his grave.

MBT, do you know that LKS worked 3 years for free? ABSOLUTELY NO PAY when he first started the then version of HDB. Now, that's what I call GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

MBT, do you know that HDB was developed as a GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED housing project? When did it become a MARKET SUBSIDIZED housing project? Could it be when you and the rest of the ruling party cronies decided they needed to pad their incomes???

Since you want to play the game that HDB is now "privatized". Then let's play this game.

- 85% of Singaporeans "buy" their HDB flats on land that are ONLY leased to them for 99 years and yet have to pay property tax to the government. That's the Uniquely Singapore way. We must be the FIRST and only country in the world to pay taxes on something we lease and not own.

- As a private institution, why then do HDB flats in opposition wards get neglected? Should they really care who the HDB dweller voted for? Does Isetan give discounts to people who vote for the ruling party and the opposition party voters pay full price? Do you need to proof to MacDonald's that you voted for the ruling party to get a value meal?

- Why are upgrading announcements significantly more leading up to General Elections? There are usually 4-5 years between elections, but nothing is done in that time? And why does the ruling party candidate make these announcements? Why doesn't the candidate also come out and say that voters will get a new KFC or a new Gap store if they get voted in. Why doesn't the candidate announce that CDL is building a new condo in their constituency to? Could it be that these REALLY PRIVATELY OWNED companies DO NOT HAVE any links with the ruling party and could not give a rats @ss who gets voted in?

I really do not need to give anymore reasons. MBT IS and the ministry he runs IS one of the main reasons inflation is now at 4-5% annually. HDB is no longer affordable to the average income person. And, if you let him stay, it's another 4-5 years of ruling party rhetoric.

Why Joo Chiat SMC should go to the opposition

2011-04-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

Why not? It's the dumps anyway.

Alright, I will try to be logical here.

I am saying Joo Chiat SMC should go to the opposition regardless of who stands against Charles Chong.

And the PRIMARY and MOST IMPORTANT reason...

Charles Chong should feel the wrath of the LESSER MORTAL.

Less some of you have forgotten, CC belittled the electorate.

Several days ago, LHL "reminded" his party members that they were in it to serve. I guess this was a revelation as when CC term us "lesser mortals", he was above us all.

Just that alone would get him voted out in most democracies.

But since some of us might be wavering, here is a gentle reminder and then some...

Joo Chiat is the playground of the foreign talent from Vietnam.

If you don't believe me, take a walk along Joo Chiat Road from the Changi Road side to Dunman Road. Don't bring your kids because you might find yourself having to lie to them.

Every night, these Vietnamese foreign talents flood the streets, the KTVs and the coffee shops along Joo Chiat Road. More than 5 years ago, I remember someone (don't remember if it was CC) saying that one of the government agencies was going to clean up the place. That the KTVs were not going to get their licenses renewed. 5 years later, no change. In fact, I recently observed a grand opening. As usual, broken promises, empty promises.

Maybe you should ignore my suggestion to go take a walk there. Why? In case you run into someone you know, an uncle, a friend's husband or worse, one's own husband. Aside from the numerous foreign talent, many local men hang out outside the KTVs and at the coffee shops. To be fair, they may all be single and therefore, I won't be the one to judge their actions. But if I was a betting person, I would say more than half of them have families waiting at home for them while they wine (or rather, beer-ed) and dine (on chye png) our most prestigious foreign talents from Vietnam.

Now for the wayang. I estimate about twice a year, the field just outside of Haig Girls Primary (I think) School (on the corner of Tembeling Road and Koon Seng Road) plays host to some ruling party dinner. The National Day dinner comes to mind. About 3-4 weeks before the dinner, 2-3 (maybe more) teams of 4 policemen (no, not just cisco's fake police, but real policemen that carry revolvers) with neon yellow(or is it green) vests ply the stretch that I suggested you walk earlier. Our foreign talent friends disappear and the streets appear like any other street in singapore (ok, maybe not Geylang, where more foreign talent hang out). I am not sure where the foreign talent disappears to, maybe they take their annual leave during that period. On the day of the dinner, because parking is scarce in that area, you will notice many well dressed people parking along the main street of Joo Chiat Road and all the smaller streets along that area and walk to the dinner. It's a pleasant stroll. The day after the dinner, the policemen are no longer to be seen... till the next event. And like clockwork, our foreign talent return.

More foreign talent. In the back alleys where the NON PRESERVATION homes are located, many homes and apartments house not only the foreign talent from Vietnam, but truck loads of foreign talent from Bangladesh, China and wherever else. Around 7-9pm on most weekday nights, seriously, trucks drop off these foreign talent. They live 15-25 people per house and surprisingly, no one regulates this. I learnt about this situation about 5 years ago and it still exists today. And I thought workers dorms required permits.

So, LHL talked about the "report card". In my opinion, this report card has a "F" grade.

For the use of "LESSER MORTAL" - EQ = F

For the lack of control of our Vietnamese foreign talent - F

For the lack of control of homes being used as workers dorms - F

TCH said: “You mean compared to the opposition’s? Which manifesto have you been reading? They put down a long laundry list of things, which they imagine can be done. But the reality is not the same. And even if you put down the same item, the PAP has shown it can deliver (on) implementation, execution. They put down the same item, the question is, can the other guy deliver?”

Well, your guy has not delivered either and if the other guy can just perform one grade better, at an "E", that's improvement. And we won't know till we allow him/her to try. So, what the heck... we might as well give him/her a shot, right?

Why this elections won't...

2011-04-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

be any different from past elections... the results, that is.

The ruling party has succeeded.

No, not with respect to it's policies.

No, not with respect to it's compensation practices.

No, not with respect to pretty much of it's "report card" since the last elections.

It has succeeded in:

(1) FEAR MONGERING

The threats that this country will retreat back to the days when we lived in kampongs and every other person held a blue collar job. The threats of the economy collapsing and businesses being run to the ground. The threats of riots, chaos and unrest on the streets.

Their "A" Team doesn't need to turn in 100% of the votes, in fact, they don't even need to turn in 66% of the votes. They just need a pass grade... 50.1%. And if fear mongering will succeed in achieving that, then that's where they are headed.

46 years of one party rule definitely works in their favor. In that time, the ruling party has frequently used fear to rule. FINES, PENALTIES, DEATH SENTENCES, BANKRUPTCIES... create fear in the citizens and purport that you (the ruling party)are the saviour. The knight on the white horse coming to rescue the damsel in distress.

And now, when they speak of "freak" election results, they "caution" the voters by using fear once again.

Let's review thoroughly...

- Should a person with average common sense believe that the reason the likes of the late JB Jeyeratnam, Chiam See Tong and the numerous other people who will stand for the next elections under the opposition flag actually want to run the country to the ground?

- If 43 opposition candidates get voted in, does the former ruling party still not hold the majority? And if it's policies have actually worked, do we not think that the new opposition candidates would rather not reinvent the wheel?

- With all the threats, possibility of hardship and bankruptcy and the intense scrutiny, do we really think that the opposition candidates are in this because it's fun? Or maybe these opposition candidates just have a false sense of their own strengths?

(2) UNLEVEL PLAYING FIELD

- Mainstream Media - Over the next few days, you will hear/see the mouthpieces of the ex-ruling party (since government has already been dissolved) sing tons and tons of praises for their candidates. Why? Because most of the top management also have dreams of one day being invited to draw those lucrative salaries. You will start seeing pro ruling party letters in the forum. The coverage will be unfairly tilted in favor of the ex-ruling party, only to be broken if there is sensational news of an opposition candidate being a rapist, deserter, wife beater, child abuser, drug user, alcoholic or having a mistress in timbuktu.

- New Media - Today, I saw a friend post a photo on Facebook. It was a photo of a photocopy of a screen shot on becoming the ex-MPs fan on Facebook taken in the elevator of a HDB block. So, there is to be no advertising. But, it is ok for the person, who by the way is NO LONGER the MP since parliament has been dissolved, to be treated differently by HDB and allowed to "advertise" to add fans on Facebook. I guess the excuse is that she is just lonely. There are tons of loopholes when it comes to new media and I am sure if the opposition thought of this first, they would have been severely punished and criticized for their actions. But, since it's the brains behind the ruling party new media machine who thought about it first, it is now first mover's advantage. And there's probably some rule in the HDB rule book disallowing TWO such flyers.

- Free gifts for votes - I'll leave you to close your eyes for just one moment and imagine any opposition party doing this.

(3) IT'S THE CITIZENS' FAULT

The citizens forgive and forget just too easily. Is it a bad trait? You ask yourself.

Between elections, citizens have gotten furious about:

i) Mas Selamat

ii) High notes and minibonds meltdown

iii) Tan Yong Soon

iv) Lee Bee Wah and the Singapore Table Tennis Association saga

v) The great Singapore FLOODS

vi) YOG

Just to name a few more major episodes. But come polling day, all will be forgotten.

The citizens are just too comfortable. They bitch and whine at coffee shops and in the company of friends and family but when it comes time to make a change, put pen to paper and make their one vote count, they think of the comforts they have had and... the rest is history. Literally and figuratively.

The time is NOW.

In 46 years, there has never been so many qualified candidates fielded against the ruling party.

Yes we can.

Make a difference and ensure there are checks and balances going forward. That accountability be brought back to the officials that SERVE the electorate.

Change. The time has come.

Why I won't vote for the ruling party

2011-04-19T03:51:00.000-07:00

As polling day draws close, there can be MANY reasons why I won't vote for the ruling party candidate, but there is no reason greater than the one I am about to discuss.

Standard of living... debatable.

Influx of foreigners (and I refuse to use the word talent because many of them don't have that)... debatable.

Two children, one child, many children policies... all debatable.

Mother tongue (which is by the way NOT Mandarin) policy... debatable.

GST, COE and ERP (and include any other money sucking acronym you wish here)... debatable.

HDB prices... debatable.

GRCs... debatable.

Education system... debatable.

National Service... debatable.

Every single one of those items (and more I have not listed) have 2 sides to the coin.

But the next item does not.

When speaking with several 12 and 13 year olds, it seemed that the general consensus for me to become rich was to enter into politics.

That alone is a flaw this ruling party government has created.

I decided to expand my target group to slightly older and possibly more informed individuals and so I spoke to 16-19 year olds.

Sadly, the general consensus was pretty much the same.

I have to admit, this is not a scientific poll and therefore, I do not have margin of errors and what not for you. But, it was pretty much just one question to start the ball rolling to an estimated 250-300 kids from the above stated age groups: "What job in Singapore would I have to do to become really rich?

In my previous post, I had already stated what I thought a person SERVING in the government sector should be doing. Obviously, I don't agree that someone serving their electorate should be raping them of their hard earned income just so that it could go into his/her pockets.

But what is most disheartening, is that this absolutely unacceptable compensation policy has already set in to a young teenagers mind as norm, so much so that not one of the kids I spoke with said: "Be a doctor."

The generation of "future leaders" have completely lost the idea of "helping people" and "serving people". And I believe this is perpetrated by this governments irresponsible, greedy, money grubbing policies and behavior.

What's even more disheartening was the reply to the follow up question. When asked why they thought being in the government was such a high paying job. Almost 90% of them replied to the effect of... "because you get to CONTROL people".

For those of you with kids, kids say the strangest things. It's strange because it's honest, not carefully thought out, and at times, just plain naive. But, it's usually the simple truth.

This ruling party government has created a generation that think going into politics is for the wealth and power. Contradictory to everything that a government should represent. Contradictory to what every bone in my body tells me why someone should be representing me with my vote. Contradictory to every thought I have ever had of joining the government because I wanted to help, because I wanted to make a difference.

The opposition party member may be going into politics for the same reason, wealth and power, however, if you know even an ounce of this country's political climate, you know these opposition candidates are pretty much all prepared to have a long hard life ahead of them and possibly, as a bankrupt. So, my gut feeling is that they are not in it for the same reasons as our ruling party candidates.

With that in mind, it doesn't even matter that the opposition party candidate may not be of the same caliber as the ruling party candidate, it's time to bring "servant" back to the word "government servant".

For the love of money... oops, I meant politics

2011-04-06T02:34:00.000-07:00

People enter into politics for many different reasons.
Some enter for the fame. Some, for the glory. Others, for the power.
All of the above, for the wrong reasons.

In a perfect world (which I am well aware this is not), entering into politics means that one wants to SERVE the people. When elected, they now become a civil servant, a public servant.

Servant - a person in the service of another (dictionary.com)

Many people do actually enter into politics with the intention of serving and representing the people that elected them. Sometimes, in all the chaos of the political world, their aims and intentions get lost.
Rarely, in the rest of the world, do we see people go into politics for the money. In fact, serving the people is such a thankless job that pays so poorly, some say it is a calling, much like priests, nuns and monks being called to do the duty of their religious masters.

However, only in uniquely Singapore, most seem to enter politics for the money.

In 2003, Mr Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, ran for the the position of Governor of California. In his campaign, he reportedly spent over USD7 million of his own money to secure his win. After winning the Governor's seat, for the next 2 years, he donated his ENTIRE USD205,000/annum salary to charity.

I am in no way suggesting the politicians in Singapore do that.

However, back during the 2008 financial crisis, while many CEOs were taking pay cuts or taking no pay at all, none of the extremely highly paid politicians in Singapore attempted even to perform a fraction of such actions. And I do believe the sovereign funds lost money at that time too... OUR TAX PAYERS HARD EARNED MONEY.

So, it is fine that the government tags its compensation to the private sector, supposedly to attract the best talent but when it comes to giving up their compensation, just like the private sector did, it does not happen?

The average household income in Singapore is just about SGD5,000/month

The average Member of Parliament's wages are SGD15,000/month (SGD180,000/year).

The average Member of Parliament income is almost that of the Governor of California.

The average Member of Parliament receives this income as a supplement to the primary job they hold.

So, the average Member of Parliament gets paid SGD15,000/month for a part time job and represents, on average, about 8,000 - 15,000 people.

The Governor of California receives his income as his full time job and represents roughly 37,000,000 people in the State of California.

Tell me, what is wrong with this picture.

The lure of this super lucrative job is so great, everyone wants to me an MP in Singapore.

While the income gap in Singapore is constantly widening, the government is constantly paying themselves handsome bonuses and salary increases.

The system that was set up years and years ago is severely flawed.

It may have worked back then. It doesn't work anymore today.

So, this is my proposal.

1) Get rid of GRCs

No democratic country in this world has any kind of voting system remotely close to the GRC system. And save politically corrupt countries (which I am not too sure this is not), no democratic country in this world adjusts it political boundaries at EVERY elections.

If the MIW believe their salaries are hiring the best people for the job. Let them stand on their own and prove their worth to the electorate.

There is absolutely no room for grooming once elected. When elected, one is expected to hit the ground running and start performing. Grooming should have taken place while the incumbent was in office and not when elected.

Get rid of GRCs and carry your own weight. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Stop hiding behind your mother's skirts.

2) Government spending

Like most other democratic societies, if the government is going to use money paid by tax payers, it should be put on a ballot and put to vote.

The 2 sovereign funds should not be allowed to go around investing hard earned tax payer's monies in however way they wish.

Salary increases should be voted on since the government is being paid by us.

Just like the corporate world (by which you claim to be modeling your compensation against), a CEO can't just give himself and his direct reports a salary increase when he/she feels like it. It has to be approved by the Board of Directors and at times, shareholders. If I am not wrong, as a tax payer, I am a shareholder in the stake of this country.

I call that true transparency.

3) Get rid of the Senior Minister and Minister Mentor positions.

It is a joke. The Prime Minister of a country of 5 million people needs to other people to hold his hands. If we had hired the best and paid him a base salary of over SGD3,000,000/annum, I would very much assume he could hold his own and not have his hand held.

Do you see the CEOs of Google, JPMorgan Chase, PWC having Senior CEO and CEO Mentors for them. If he is fit enough to be the Prime Minister, he should be fit enough to make his own decisions and not have to be aided by his father (or anyone else).

4) Transparency.

Explain and show where money from the following collections come and go.

i) ERP

ii) GST

iii) COE

iv) Casino Entry fee

Explain and show how money from the 2 government sovereign funds are spent.

I think you owe it to us.

Last but not least,

5) HDB

Bring back the days when a HDB flat was truly government housing.

Cut the crap about "market subsidized".

HDB when formed was never "market subsidized".

HDB was SUBSIDIZED housing, with a small percentage added to the costs of building to pay overheads. WHY ON EARTH does HDB need to be a profit making organization if the mission is to provide subsidized housing for the CITIZENS. I stress on the word "citizens" because that's a whole different issue which I will not consider right now.

The system is flawed.

MIW politicians enter the fray of politics only because its a secure, very handsomely compensated position.

It is wrong.

If you do not have the calling to serve... leave.

Serve.

Singapore is in such a sad political state, if given a choice, I would opt out. And so would many I know.

Driven by money... the root of all evil.

letter from a friend (re: H1N1)

2009-06-24T14:24:00.001-07:00

Below is something a friend wanted me to post. I have only knowledge on what I read. So, I have no real opinion on this issue.

Please post this on your blog as soon as you get a chance.

I just returned from a short holiday overseas. Unfortunately, I visited a country that is termed SCT. SCT is Sustained Community Transmission. I guess these are countries that have "exported" the H1N1 flu. As you know (but this is info for the rest), I am a teacher. And Ministry of Education's directives are that all student and staff returning from countries that are listed as SCT must voluntarily home quarantine themselves for 7 days.

Here are my problems with this:

1) This is just a flu, albeit a new strain, but still, just a flu. It's mortality rate is nothing any different from our regular strains of flu. We are not observing the same kind of panic in other countries, why is Singapore making such a big deal out of it?

2) On my flight back to Singapore, at least half of the plane were tourists. I am sure Singapore is not going to quarantine these tourists for 7 days. Heck, their whole stay might only be 7 days or less. So, while some of us on the plane are being home quarantine, others are walking Orchard Road and visiting the zoo. I am very sure Singapore is NEVER going to quarantine the tourists as that would hurt our largest industry. Why such double standards????

3) H1N1, as I was educated when the outbreak first occurred in May has as many as 1/3 of victims being asymptomatic. How then are you going to effectively identify who the carriers of this virus may be?

These so called "precautions" by home quarantining citizens returning from SCT countries is absolutely absurd. If there is not a strict and standard operative structure to PREVENT the spread, then, let's not do it at all. Don't do it for the sake of PRETENDING to worry about the welfare and health of the citizens but on the other hand treat the tourists differently. It is hypocritical. It is just plain wrong.

MY THOUGHTS:

I spoke to my friend who had sent this e-mail.

Singapore... is Singapore.

Lip service and wayang are it's best assets.

I like to point especially to point number 2. Singapore is NEVER going to quarantine tourists. It probably doesn't even have any warnings out to tourists that they may be quarantined should they arrive in Singapore with a temperature. Tourism is Singapore's largest industry and if that industry is hurt, especially in this recession, many businesses will be hurt very badly. So, while students and staff of schools, probably most government agencies sit at home and quarantine themselves, for sure, tourists are still visiting our tourist attractions, possibly carriers of the H1N1 virus. But that how the double standards work here.

One more thing, in my conversation with the above friend. Her mother has decided not to visit her till after her home quarantine period. However, her mother, through an invitation from a friend visited the Singapore Flyer. She said that her mother's car/cabin had about 15 people and at least 10 of them were tourists. Wouldn't that be a real irony if her mother contacted H1N1 from the tourists on the Singapore Flyer and not from my friend herself???

The STTA saga

2009-05-24T00:19:00.000-07:00

I almost didn't want to blog about this as I feel it's a waste of time. However, I have been getting more and more frustrated and decided that this would be the best therapy to get rid of my frustration...

Singapore's former table tennis coach Liu Guodong was not nominated for Coach of the Year because STTA President Lee Bee Wah felt that he lacked "professionalism, integrity and respect of the players".

First, unless Liu had done something illegal or immoral, what he should have been judged for is his performance as a coach. His performance as a coach helped Singapore achieve it's first Olympic medal in 48 years. And that alone is definitely an AWARD WINNING PERFORMANCE.

If he lacked professionalism, it doesn't matter. He is not being nominated for that.

If he lacked integrity, did he do something immoral? What is this integrity he is lacking all about? Again, if it is nothing illegal or immoral, why is he being judged on that for his nomination?

And "respect of the players"? What the hell is that about? Who cares if the players respect him? They obviously respected him enough for him to take them to the silver medal. Isn't that respect enough? Who cares if they don't respect him enough to hang out and be friends with him after practice? We are not voting for "Friend of the Year" here.

So, now, with all that being said. I think the onus lies on LBW to justify her comments.

If she is unwilling to to justify her comments, then, at least STTA should.

LBW has made comments about Coach Liu that could be detrimental to his future as a table tennis coach. Shouldn't she feel the need to let one and all understand why she made those comments? And if those comments are untrue, isn't it time she either retracts those comments or apologizes for dragging Coach Liu's name in the mud?

Here's where I have my biggest problem. Just imagine if you went to Hong Lim Park and stood there and said: "I am not voting for (fill in any PAP name here) at the next GE because he/she lacks "professionalism, integrity and respect of the citizens". The next thing you will be expecting is a lawsuit from the MIW. No statement like such can even be uttered unless you have a huge bank account and don't mind donating it to the pockets of the MIW OR if you live outside of this little red dot and don't plan on ever returning.

So, why is it that someone from the ranks of the MIW can come out and make such statements, not justify why those comments were made, still continues to hide and even attempts to cover-up the situation??

What have the supposed leaders of this country become?

Is the state of this country really so bad that if you are in power, you are really untouchable and unaccountable for anything you say or do?

From the examples they are setting, is this really what our leaders want from the next generation?

How difficult is it to say "I'm sorry"?

Have the MIW reached such a powerful status that a simple apology is that difficult to get out of them?

I understand (to a certain extent)Ministers not wanting to come out and say that policies that they have implemented have not achieved their targets and are/were wrong. This has to deal with public policy and might erode the confidence of the population.

However, this is just a stupid story of a ping pong coach. Have the ivory towers become so high that even when dealing with simple situations such as this, it has become so difficult?

What, seriously, have we become?

I blog because there are ideologies that the MIW oppress and suppress the citizens of Singapore with that I don't agree with. I blog because I like to have a say in some of the degenerative policies of this country. I blog because I have an opinion. I blog because one day, hopefully, there will be change... but mostly in how the government does things.

Today, I blog because...

LBW, YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE HUMAN RACE. FORGET THAT YOU ARE A PAP MP THAT RODE THE COAT-TAILS OF A GERRYMANDERED GRC TO YOUR POSITION. I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO CONSIDER THAT. YOU ARE JUST A POOR EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING. IF YOU HAVE PERSONAL DIFFERENCES WITH SOMEONE, YOU DON'T LET THAT CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENTS PROFESSIONALLY. AND YOU DEFINITELY DON'T COMMIT SLANDER AND LIBEL THAT MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD. AND IF THERE IS REALLY A BASIS FOR YOUR COMMENTS, THEN STOP HIDING AND COME OUT AND SAY WHAT THOSE COMMENTS WERE BASED ON. OTHERWISE, RETRACT THOSE COMMENTS AND APOLOGIZE. YOU HAVE ALMOST REACHED A POINT WHERE EVEN RETRACTING AND APOLOGIZING IS NOT SUFFICIENT. STOP BEING A COWARDLY BITCH. STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR HANDLERS. STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR POSITION. BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IRRESPONSIBILITY!!!

Please resign!!

2009-05-09T00:19:00.000-07:00

It was announced yesterday that famed alleged terrorist MSK was captured. It was, as expected, a relief to many of our ivory tower living immortals. According to the MSM, WKS "allowed himself a slight show of emotion yesterday when he recounted how his friends congratulated him...". WKS also said: "I also met friends at my club this morning; they congratulated me."

It's really nice you can go to your CLUB and spend the morning there while everyone else has got to go make their ends meet.

I am renewing my call for WKS to resign. He needs to hold HIMSELF accountable for one of the biggest screw ups in this nation's history. Personally, I expect to see his resignation letter on the PM's table by Monday morning.

Yesterday, it was also reported that the Director of the White House Military Office had resigned. And all he did was be unaware of plans to fly Air Force One near the New York City area for a photo shoot. Because he was insensitive to the feelings of New Yorkers (because of 9/11), he had to be ACCOUNTABLE for that screw up and thus, resigned. Unlike WKS, he DID NOT allow an alleged top terrorist to escape. He may have hurt some people, their emotions and feelings, but that was it. That's called ACCOUNTABILITY.

FAVORITE QUOTES OF THE DAY (courtesy of the capture of MSK):

From the ST:

"MSK escaped from Singapore by swimming across the Johor Strait with the help of an "improvised flotation device", DPM WLS told reporters yesterday.

The fugitive (MSK) fled from Singapore to Johor "soon after" his escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year...

The devices could be as simples as plastic bags filled with air and tied together, rubber tyres, plastic tubes tied together or biscuit tins tied together, he said."

Well done WKS!! We are not too sure what "soon after" means.

Could it be the 4 hours between the time he escaped and the time the public was informed? Then I think you should shoulder the blame for not breaking the news earlier so that WE, THE PUBLIC, COULD HAVE BEEN MORE VIGILANT.

Or was it after those 4 hours? Oh wait, but after those 4 hours, weren't we supposed to be on high alert? Oh, but he SWAM the JOHOR STRAIT. For those of you who are unaware, the Johor Strait has very strong currents. For MSK, with a bumped leg and all, to swim the Johor Strait with a "improvised flotation device" would still take at least an hour, if not more. Please remember, he is a fugitive, he is not just going from immigration checkpoint to immigration checkpoint. He needs to flee to safety, so, he couldn't have taken the shortest route which was obviously being watched (or was it?). He was most likely in the water for more than an hour UNDETECTED? For that WKS, I think you should also hold yourself accountable for the lapse and RESIGN.

Courtesy of Ms Clara Loy, taken from ST:

"His arrest will bring closure for those who were responsible for inadvertently letting him escape last year. I hope they will feel better, and not blame themselves so much now."

Ms Clara, you have a big heart. You are also probably part of the 66%. But, you are mistaken. I don't think any of them ever blamed themselves. In case you have forgotten, the blame was on YOU. YOU and the the rest of us citizens had gotten complacent. We were not vigilant. And that's why MSK escaped. So, hopefully YOU will feel better now and not blame yourself too much.

"His capture has restored faith in Singapore's security system... Constant vigilance needs to be made part of our psyche."

MP Indranee Rajah

That's really just too funny. Singapore's security system LET HIM GO. Singapore's security system DID NOT CAPTURE HIM. It is still unclear (and probably will remain that way forever) who's intelligence information helped with MSK's capture. However, even if it was our intelligence info that did help to capture MSK, the fact is, HE ESCAPED UNDER OUR WATCH. I do not see how intelligence information can restore the faith in our security system. He not only escaped from Whitley Detention Centre, he escaped the country. That's more like TWO escapes.

AND THE MOTHER OF ALL QUOTES:

WKS as quoted in the ST: " But today's Whitley Road is a very different detention centre from the one he fled. We have now made it very difficult for anyone to escape from there."

And that's why you should resign. Without saying so, you have just told the entire country, on the front page of the ST, that, THE OLD WHITLEY DETENTION CENTRE WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO ESCAPE FROM. With that being the case, shouldn't you be responsible for MSK's escape then? Why were we holding Singapore's alleged top terrorist in a place where it was NOT DIFFICULT to escape from?

We pay a bunch of clowns millions and millions of dollars every year for them to put on a comedy act for us. I am sure many of you are aware, for comedy of such standards, we can actually pay less, right? I think it is time we start saving our money on these clowns. Let's start with you WKS, step down. Do us all a big favor, get the hell out... you are not worth a single cent of my hard earned money. RESIGN NOW.

A lesson in...

2009-05-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

how to screw yourself with your own f**ked up policies.

For the first time in 42 years, there will be no Sportsman of the Year in Singapore in 2009.

Why? You may ask. And so am I.

With all the backlash from different camps, on the internet and in real life, for "buying" the silver medal in last year's Beijing Olympics, Singapore is now shying away from giving one of the "bought" athletes this year's award. That is my guess. And with an election right round the corner, the powers-that-be cannot afford more controversy and cannot afford to piss off their loyal voters any more than they already have.

Look at the past Sportsmen of the Year.

In 2006, the award was given to Goh Qiu Bin. In that year, he won a bronze medal at the Asian Games. But, it's still just the Asian Games only.

In 2004, James Wong won the award, but, it was not for anything he had done that year, instead, it was "a tribute to a long career that began by chance when he was a teenager".

Through the years, many have won the award for achievements (or tributes) but on a smaller stage, the SEA Games, the Asian Games or the Commonwealth Games. We have many male participants in the Beijing Olympics, the mother of all sporting events. But are we sending out the wrong message, that if you don't win, you are not deserving of the Sportsman of the Year award? I don't believe winning is everything. However, some of the more deserving athletes from the Olympics are "bought" athletes and some, even though they may have won previously, giving them an award at such an awkward time might anger the REAL population. So, for the first time in 42 years, there is no one deserving of the award. Serious bullshit.

Then there is the Coach of the Year award. A bigger joke. Just because there was a fallout between Liu Guodong and the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA), so, they did not nominate him. There are 2 things in this situation. First, it shows the stupid pettiness of the STTA. If he is deserving of the award, just because there was a fallout, DOES NOT mean he is less deserving. After all, he did coach the "bought" women's table tennis team to a silver medal. And the fact that the Singapore National Olympic Council can just shrug their shoulders and say oh well, STTA did not nominate him, INSTEAD of doing something about it... more bullshit.

Second, they probably didn't do anything about it because... he is also "bought" and would piss off the population.

Let's go out and buy more athletes and maybe when things brighten up a little, we can nominate them for these sporting awards.

Serious stupid bullshit.

follow up to 2 previous posts

2009-05-03T00:33:00.000-07:00

1) Regarding AWARE. BEWARE of the smokescreen.

It won't be long before the powers that be will come out speaking of the AWARE incident and how "democracy" has ruled the day.

As in my previous post regarding AWARE, I really didn't care about the real AWARE. I was more concerned about the hijacking by a Christian Fundamentalist group. But because they were not directly threatening our multi-million dollar income powers that be, very little was said. However, now that the saga is pretty much over, and the outcome can be used to their advantage as to how "democratic" this country is... it will be taken advantage of, if not by the MIW personally, then, definitely by the mouthpieces (ie MSM).

2) On Thursday, a 32 yr old young man not associated with the MIW was jailed nine months and banned for driving for 10 years. He was convicted and found guilty of drink-driving and failing to maintain control of his car, resulting in the death of a 29-year-old.

The penalty for a first time offender of drink-driving is $1,000-$5,000 OR 6 months imprisonment. That can be found on the SPF website and does not state a 10 year ban on driving.

Except (and I am not making light of it) for this young man being drunk, NOTHING ELSE is different from that of Ms Lim (of Shin Min News fame). So, by simple addition and subtraction (being very simplistic) from the 32 year old's conviction, let's say he got the max sentence for his drink-driving, which is 6 months, therefore, for causing death, he got THREE months.

I (and many others out there) would still like to know why Shin Min News editors get a "get out of jail" pass while others don't???

Be your own judge

2009-04-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Threatening to hurt an MP - 6 months imprisonment.

NO ONE WAS INJURED.

statutory rape
n. Sexual relations with a person who has not reached the statutory age of consent.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

Sex with underage girl - $3,000 fine.

Underage girl may not have been physically injured but MAY BE emotionally scarred. I don't know the girl, I am not her psychologist, so, I am not making any diagnosis.

"causing death by dangerous driving" which technically amounts to vehicular manslaughter - ONE DAY IMPRISONMENT.

SOMEONE DIED. But, just because this person is part of the familee's mouthpiece, all she gets is ONE FREAKING MISERLY DAY in jail??

And we really think we have a wonderful, impartial judicial system?

I know there are more cases than this to quote. But just look at how completely messed up we are with just these 3 examples.

Am I AWARE of what is happening?

2009-04-26T02:36:00.000-07:00

Actually, I am. Initially, I really didn't give two hoots. AWARE is but a 200 member group. Its name states Association of Women for Action and Research. I am not sure what the title means except that it is an association for women.

Action? In Singapore? What action?

Research? eeerrrr, do you mean scientific research? biomedical research?

I seriously don't know what their name means. And, honestly, I really DIDN'T care.

I am not pro-feminist. I am not anti-feminist. I am not pro LGBT, neither am I anti LGBT. I honestly don't care what category you fall into. It's YOUR life, not mine.

However, the reports that have come up in the last few days are rather disturbing.

AWARE's mission statement states that they are here to provide "gender equality" (which by the way is not really apparent in their name, especially the "research" part). But their current messages are NOT providing gender equality. It says it was to protect womens' rights. But the messages they are sending are NOT protecting womens' rights.

When you restrict CHOICE, you are restricting RIGHTS.

We should know all about that in our little red dot.

If one does not get to choose, but instead, is DICTATED on how to lead one's life, then one no longer has rights. One becomes a follower. It really doesn't matter if this is with regard to homosexuality or politics, it's the same. So, how is AWARE protecting womens' rights by strongly advocating against homosexuality. In fact, how are they protecting womens' rights by voicing out:

"I don't want my children to say that oh, it's all right to go and experiment with homosexuality, to experiment with anal sex, to experiment with virginity or the pill or even pre-marital sex. I'm concerned. I'm a parent. It's shocking. How can this be done in our Singapore society?" (Maureen Ong, honorary treasurer, AWARE)

Isn't that the right of a woman they are trying to protect?

Isn't that what this group is SUPPOSEDLY set up to do? To protect the woman's right to CHOICE?

As a parent, if she feels strongly against homosexuality, shouldn't she then be PRIVATELY EDUCATING her children HER values? If she wants control over her children, that's her business. If their church wants control over their own congregation, that's their business. But when you use an ADVOCACY group to force your values, which are CONTRARY to the vision and mission of the group, then, there is a problem and it's no longer your own private issue.

Just by the existence of this blog, it is enough to proof I don't like being told what I can or cannot do. I don't like people or organizations making decisions for me. I don't care how big or small those decisions are. I would like to make my own decisions and I will willingly sleep in the bed I make. I will be ACCOUNTABLE for my own decisions.

The new exco of AWARE is NOT allowing that. And that is sad. Because, by doing so, you have failed to live to your vision and mission statements. By doing so, you have just become an extension of the suppressive nation we live in. And how do you expect to advocate for womens' rights?

I have my own take about religion in this matter but I will not be very objective presenting my point of view on that, so, I will refrain from that. I will just leave my thoughts on AWARE as such.

I think AWARE is a joke. It is a distraction for Singaporeans. The old AWARE was to make Singaporean women feel they have rights. We, be it women or men, in Singapore have no rights. That's why we blog. The second distraction is to take us away from all the current screw-ups that the government have committed right before our eyes. In my conspiracy theory world, I think this AWARE issue was laid out right before us as a distraction... and then a knight in white armor will come along, present some solutions and save the day. All part of the familee master plan.

The price tag for loyalty

2009-04-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

$8,000,000.

EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS, if you tow the party line.

EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS is what 2 adult and 1 unborn child's lives are worth.

EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS is the lifeline you get to save yourself from the current mess and act like your newest idea/scheme is going to bring about great change in your country.

EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS is what the familee provided Y Ibrahim to save his political career.

Not only did he not have to accept any responsibility, he got EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS to distract us.

With what?

With more lip service on the cause of "going green".

Seriously, "going green" is a major attitude change that $8M cannot buy. BUT, if we disguise everything correctly, at least YI can breathe more easily for the near future.

A friend of mine in a western country is involved in a "going green" project of similar scope, a waste sorting system. The seed money for this project is $250M.

EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS? What a joke.

But to buy back someone's political career after 3 lives lost.

A VERY CHEAP PRICE TO PAY. LOYALTY HAS IT PERKS.

Don't borrow money!!

2009-04-19T04:33:00.000-07:00

WKS suggests that "the ministry will also consider making borrowing from loansharks an offence."

Funny how fuzzy logic works so very well for the PAP.

Because there have been nearly 4,000 complaints of harassment from loansharks for the first 3 months of this year, we should now make borrowing from loansharks illegal.

Why? Too much work for the police who do absolutely nothing about these complaints anyway.

My Uncle and Aunt who are in their 70s just moved into a new flat (no, not brand new building, just a new flat for them) discovered that the previous owner had owed a loanshark some money and the loanshark was harassing my Uncle and Aunt. When they filed their first complaint by phone, INSTEAD of the police coming over to witness the "crime scene", they told my Uncle and Aunt that there was nothing they could do, and that should take some pictures and file a complaint at the nearest police post.

So, there you go, I have proof they do absolutely nothing. In fact, this is the second incident on my blog. The first was posted last month. So, if they do absolutely nothing, what is the problem with 4,000 complaints? OR for that matter, 40,000 complaints? There is no difference, they are DOING NOTHING.

Next, if this are too many complaints, hire more policemen. We are going through a recession and Singapore loves creating it's own bubble, just hire more people to help the unemployment rate... you don't really need able bodied men to fill this role of WRITING UP A COMPLAINT. My 70+ year old Uncle even suggested he could do it!!

Lastly, this story is so reminiscent of my school days. Back when I was in school and when walkmans were the listening device of choice, students used to bring walkmans to school, mainly to kill the boredom of the journey to and from school. We started having a problem in school with walkman theft and the school, unable to catch the thieves, decided to ban walkmans. By doing so, if you are one of the unlucky ones to have your walkman stolen, you couldn't report the theft, because you would be punished for "bringing your walkman to school". How ingenious!!!

So, because the police are so ineffective and cannot catch the loansharks nor the people who harass the defaulters, let's just outlaw borrowing from loansharks. Now, the people who are being harassed can just SHUT THE HELL UP and put up with the harassment. All because the police are probably out catching groups of more than ONE plotting to overthrow the government... while loansharks and their henchmen RUN WILD.

Why don't we just ban banks too... so, no one will have any complaints about the products they sell through deception?

I really don't know. What kind of society are we becoming?

Lessons in...

2009-04-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

ACCOUNTABILITY!!!

A word the Singapore PAP government does not know the meaning of.

First there was the MS incident and where was the accountability? A country's most wanted terrorist escapes and no one's head is left on the chopping block. In fact, the citizens are blamed for being over confident and not vigilant enough.

In contrast, over in Britain, all that happened was some official happened to be photographed with his documents facing the wrong way. Yes, the "action could have compromised a major counterterrorism operation", but "the police had not identified a threat to any particular target". So, basically NOTHING happened, but someone was still accountable for a lapse in the person's actions.

ACCOUNTABILITY.

Then there was last week's food poisoning issue. With TWO lives lost, no one but the hawkers are the ones responsible.

When Mumbai was hit by terrorists late last year at the Taj Hotel, almost immediately, someone took responsibility for the loss of lives.

ACCOUNTABILITY.

Then there was the whole minibonds and jubilee notes issue. Again, the body that was supposedly in charge of ENFORCEMENT and MONITORING was sleeping at the wheel, but again, no one in that body claimed any responsibility nor were they held accountable for the failures in governing.

In contrast, when the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme came to light, and this was a SCAM (meaning, there was already intent to deceive and cheat and therefore there was a lot of cover ups involved to avoid being caught) from the very beginning, SOMEONE was held accountable. These schemes are difficult to uncover, but nonetheless... ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY?

Too late?

2009-04-10T22:07:00.001-07:00

Why do we have to wait till it's too late before anything is done?

Yesterday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) announced that they were "stepping up their enforcement regime at hawker centers to ensure there are no more lapses in hygiene standards...". Yaacob Ibrahim says that it "can never be compromised".

Well, Mr Ibrahim, the word "never" cannot be used here. It HAS ALREADY been compromised. In fact, it has been compromised at the expense of 2 precious lives, of which you nor anyone from the NEA nor from the PAP can ever replace. All because YOU did nothing previously. All because the NEA did nothing previously.

Rats do not grow to this size (as seen in photos here and here, there are better pictures on Friday's ST) overnight. AND, the Geylang Serai TEMPORARY market is not an old location. If I am not wrong, it is barely a year old. Can we conclude we have been negligent, sitting on our asses doing nothing?

Within the last 18 months, several people I know have written to the NEA informing them about rodent infestation problems at food stalls and hawker centers. According to them, it doesn't seem like anything has been done about it. The venues concerned were mostly in the eastern side of Singapore, one is the Marine Parade Hawker Center, the one near Parkway Parade, the other is a hawker center in Bedok South (not sure which one) and the third location is in the Joo Chiat area, both the Dunman Road Hawker Center and the coffee shops in that vicinity, particularly A&J Cafeteria which is a steamboat store where one of the writers to NEA observed a mouse running across the floor of the store. In addition, while I was walking from the Commonwealth MRT station to the food locations across from the station, I noticed that there were rats in the bushes by the bus stop. I was not the only one who noticed the rats because I heard a lady telling her kid that it must be dirty here because there are rats in the bushes.

I have 2 points to make from this "Indian rojak" incident.

(1) Not just regarding NEA, most employees in enforcement agencies are just sitting on their asses waiting for a salary. The police (see this post) do absolutely nothing. The NEA sends out a bunch of gutless people who only summon harmless old men littering during the day (if they really wanted to PREVENT LITTERING, why don't these NEA people visit the coffee shops in Geylang and Joo Chiat in the evenings? Is the crowd too rough?). Everyone in enforcement agencies are learning from their role models. Let's just sit around and wait for the end of the month to draw a salary. I think the only people who are actually doing any enforcement are the meter maids.

(2) Part of the problem with this rodent infestation has also got to do with the horrible conditions our beloved foreign talent live in. These foreign workers don't care, maybe because they don't know any better, maybe because they really just don't care. In the Geyland Serai/Joo Chiat area, there are many residences occupied by these foreign workers. They frequent grassy areas in the evenings to drink and eat. They litter those areas and then they go to bed. The next day is the same exact scenario. Their litter attracts rodents too.

NO ONE is doing ANYTHING about them residing in residential areas (go check out Joo Chiat Road). NO ONE is enforcing any anti-littering measures with this group of people.

There are bigger issues than 2 deaths from food poisoning at a hawker center. However, no one in this over-inflated PAP government will ever admit to that. At the end of the day, the Indian rojak food stall owner will be the scapegoat. All will be normal next week and in 6-8 weeks, the "increased enforcement regime" will be back to sitting on their asses doing nothing again.

So, till the next death, I end here.

Why are bonuses given out?

2009-04-09T02:57:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure, in all my working life, bonuses have been given out to reward good performance. In some companies, bonuses are given out due to the fact the company pays out lower wages. All said, bonuses IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR are either paid when a company does well (ie makes a profit) OR when somehow it was weaved into a contract (regardless of how the company has fared, as in the case with AIG).

BUT THAT IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

In the PUBLIC SECTOR, bonuses should also come as a reward for a job well done. However, bonuses should not be in an unbelievable amount, because it is the PUBLIC SECTOR. If one has chosen to serve in the PUBLIC SECTOR, one should not be expecting to get rich off of it. I repeat the word I have stated so many times in my blogs... SERVE!!!

But, Singapore has chosen to go in a different direction. SERVING in the public sector has become so lucrative, that that's the dream job of every middle (and below) class citizen. The government created the demand by giving the excuse that to attract the best talent, they had to compensate like the private sector. That's all fine and dandy till you include the fact that there is completely no downside (take the pay, the bonuses, the position), unlike the private sector.

Singapore is a master planned country. It has always been. When the old man first held the reigns, that was good for the country. She needed some direction in her first years. Everything was planned (some would choose the word dictated). Almost 44 years later, everything is still master planned in Singapore; from what language to speak to what gum to chew; from how many cars on the street, if you can afford it, to how many taxis on the street, if the supposedly private taxicab companies can afford it; from where you live (because one can only afford certain "districts") to how many of "where you live" to build; from who to build where you live to how many of those "who to build" come from foreign countries; from how much of your salary you can keep to how much of YOUR salary the government can spend (albeit without consequences). EVERYTHING IS MASTER PLANNED.

Beginning of this week, Lim Boon Heng, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (whatever the hell that means, you would think that the highest paid head of state in the world would not need more hand holding) gave a speech defending bonuses. In his speech, he said: "Nowadays, the word 'bonus' is almost a dirty word". What's more interesting is that he used AIG as an example. Why? AIG is not a Singapore company and if you polled the citizens of Singapore, I don't think you would get more than 5% (if even that many) who even give a damn about AIG and their bonus pay-outs. That was strange. But it is not, it is telling us citizens that it is alright if people get bonuses, like AIG, don't grudge them. But, let's not utter the word CDC less we forgetful and forgiving citizens remember about the 8 months bonus and get all upset with it again.

BUT, the people who received bonuses in the CDC are but just government servants of a master planned country.

WHAT ON EARTH COULD THEY HAVE POSSIBLY DONE TO DESERVE 8 MONTHS WORTH OF BONUS???

Lift upgrading? That's in the master plan (a little quicker in completion pre elections).

Cleaner and greener surroundings around your master planned home? That's also in the master plan.

How much to money to collect in conservancy charges so that those in charge can legally support their gambling habit? That's also definitely in the master plan (otherwise, why is no one accountable for those loses?).

How many foreigners to employ? That's a sub part of the master plan. It's in the part of the master plan for the contractor.

So, really, what did they do to deserve all that bonus. They really have not done anything extraordinary. But wait, could it have been in their contracts? I don't know. I would love to know though, because their 8 months bonuses technically does come from the taxpayers pockets. I don't expect an answer, that's fine.

In these times, when more job losses are expected, when the construction sector is expected to face a crunch, when newly opened malls are reducing rent, when the PM is warning us that the GDP is going to be revised downward YET again (all this news within 3-4 days of LBH's speech), how can another PAP cronie, who has a job that suggests he is in charge of nothing, actually come out and defend bonuses?? How is "bonus" not considered a dirty word if there is nothing positive going on right now?

In the private sector, not only would these people (and others whom we do not know about) not have received bonuses, their jobs would probably have also been at risk of being eliminated or possibly eliminated (considering they are just pawns in the master plan).

Is LBH preparing the citizens that even in a down year, they (the PAP government) not only fattened the PM's office, they have also refused to take pay cuts (unlike the PRIVATE SECTOR which they have imitated), but POSSIBLY, they are going to see a bonus at year's end??

World's Strangest Laws

2009-04-08T04:56:00.001-07:00

That is what the article is titled. You can find it here.

When our laws are posted in an article on Yahoo!, you know we have made it together with the big boys. Go Singapore!!

When you are who you are...

2009-04-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

you can write absolute garbage and get away with it...

I can't find (or rather, have no access to it) the real article from ST online, so, here's the article from someone else's blog... Dr Lee Wei Ling - Why I choose to remain single.

An expert from the article:

"I am now 54 years old and happily single. In addition to my nuclear family, I have a close circle of friends. Most of my friends are men. But my reputation is such that their female partners would never consider me a threat."

I am really sorry I have to be this mean but when I was heard this line yesterday over the phone, I really fell off my chair laughing. I was laughing hysterically for a long, long time and as I am writing this, I am STILL laughing...

DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE?

I am going to stop there.

G20

2009-04-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

This article was titled "The 10 highest paid politicians in the world", but I think they meant "The 10 highest paid heads of states in the world" but couldn't quite print that because Donald Tsang is not exactly a "head of state". Whatever the case, take a look at the article. With no surprise, LHL is number one (the way this little red dot loves it) on the list.

So, my question is: Did the G20 forget to invite Singapore to their meeting?

OR Was the invitation lost in the mail?

OR Did LHL not get the memo from one of his 9 ministers in his office about the meeting?

Oh, Singapore was NOT invited because it is not one of the top 19 (minus the EU) largest economies in the world.

BUT, Singapore's head of state (and the rest of his cronies too) is compensated MORE than the heads of states COMBINED from number 3 to 10 (No. 2 Hong Kong excluded, No. 4 Ireland also excluded for this purpose as they are not in the G20) who are all in the G20.

How does that make any sense whatsoever?

READ THIS AGAIN: THE PM OF THIS LITTLE RED DOT MAKES MORE THAN THE LEADERS OF 7 OTHER COUNTRIES COMBINED (WHO ARE IN THE G20), ON THE HIGHEST PAID POLITICIAN LIST.

For that matter, on the one to one basis, most of Singapore's politician's have a higher pay than the leaders on this list. All this in the name of SERVING the country. What a wonderful little red dot!!

By the way, Obama also has less "ministers" (MM, SM, DPM) to run a country the population almost 100 times more than the little red dot. I think he is being short changed.

More power to you...

2009-03-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

who you? definitely NOT the citizens... so, it has to be you, the overpaid, I-don't-know, do nothing immortals... right?

In a span of less than a week, you managed to give more power to the police ( ST article here) AND yourselves while taking power away from us. All this, while the police continue to do jack shit under normal circumstances and do stupid shit.

Let's talk about the stupid shit first.

I was wondering... the next time someone utters knnb (short form of hokkien curse phrase) to me, can I possibly report this as a threat to rape my mother? It's a non-seizable offence if I understand the law correctly, but the police should be investigating it?? I think we should ALL do that (our new form of civil disobedience). Every single time you hear those words spoken, call the police to report a rape threat to your mothers.

Is the above suggestion stupid? Yes it is. It is absolutely dumb. But, it's exactly what has occurred in the rag-and-bone man case. We are resorting to arresting and charging people for their display of their frustration BUT they can't tow away an illegally parked car blocking 2 other cars... And the minister who let the most wanted terrorist in Singapore's history escape now wants more power... to do what? The terrorist is already long gone.

YOU are scared. YOU are scared shitless because you bunch of overpaid clowns are constantly FUCKING UP. All of you don't deserve the lofty compensations you receive. But, you will continue to receive them if you can continually succeed in thumbing down any kind of opposition. Good luck to your suppressive ways, but stop wondering about the brain drain.

I am tired of talking. But it acts as an outlet for me to vent. Hopefully, one day, enough people realize their mistakes and put a stop to them. Hopefully, that one day comes real soon... like in the next elections. Good luck Singapore.

Why is he still employed?

2009-03-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Will it also prevent terrorists from escaping?

More on overpaid underachievers

2009-03-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

More $1 or $0 salary stories

With the entire world still in recession, many CEOs are taking the lead with salary cuts.

Obviously, there are also those AIG stories.

What's super amazing is that our FIRST CLASS immortals rather follow in the footsteps of the AIG folk rather than the more honorable "heroes" (as quoted in above article).

I am too lazy to look for all the defending they had done when they had decided to pay themselves more. I am sure you know what I am talking about though. Like many out in cyberworld, I am beginning to just annoy myself by repeating the same old bullshit day in and day out. But, the more print there is, I guess, hopefully, one day, it might get better...

Peg their salaries when times were good. Why don't they also peg their salaries to the same people when times are bad. In fact, just get rid of the same number of people these "industry leaders" are getting rid off. Get rid of yourselves.... ALL OF YOU!!!

Same old discussion

2009-03-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

We are back to the same old discussion about salaries.

Very recently, allegedly, some staff at the Northwest CDC were compensated with a bonus of 8 months salary.

Immortals who are APPOINTED to this entity claim they don't know. And no one is talking.

Today, Lim Boon Heng said there has to be "Flexibility in rewarding staff".

Which brings us back to the same discussion we have had about ministerial salaries and top government servant salaries.

Singapore's government has long forgotten that their job is to SERVE the people they represent, regardless of whether the people voted for them OR NOT. As long as they REPRESENT that ward, they SERVE those people. Being in the government is now more about making good money. Some moons ago, someone created this monster because they wanted to attract the best talent from the private sector to govern. The intentions may have been pure back then. But once you sit on a pot of gold, you are unlikely to give it up and that's where we are today. Don't our ministers feel tired trying to defend their salaries time and time again? I guess not when it's such a huge amount.

The government has also long forgotten that WE are paying their salaries. Oh! But not to worry, if there is not enough, let's just dig into the reserves.

The Singapore government has since time in memorial always likened their compensation to the private sector. They operate like the private sector, meaning, they act like a business who's existence depends on making a profit. For many years, while the economy was flourishing, there were critics, but they were usually silenced by the stable economy.

Well, dear government, when we have to dig into our reserves, like a private sector company, you are now operating in the red. In these times, many of the private sector companies are cutting back. No salary increases, no bonuses. Many CEOs have come out to say they will only be collecting one dollar salaries and no bonuses till their companies become profitable again. And let's not forget, these are businesses that exist ONLY to make money, lots of it. The new US government has taken a pay freeze even though they inherited this recession. And what has the Singapore government done? Absolutely nothing. They have since become quiet (except for Lim Boon Heng today) about salaries and how they are very much like the private sector. Not one government official has offered to take a one dollar salary till the economy improves. Not one government official has declared no more bonuses till the economy improves. Instead, allegedly, one or more persons have taken a EIGHT month bonus.

The people who should be leading by example have forgotten how to serve. The greed, power and money has blinded them. They will gladly accept their salaries and bonuses while the people they represent have difficulty to put food on the table and then defend their french cuisine, caviar eating habits.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I pray the GE comes soon.

letter from a friend (re: Singapore Police Force)

2009-03-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

What has the Singapore Police Force been reduced to?

My recent experience makes me wonder if the SPF are now just order takers, or are they lazy people not wanting to do work.

(Disclaimer: the following events I am describing will not have names, locations or any identifying factors as I am not entirely positive I will not be made a target following the description of these incidents. I DO live in fear of higher authorities, and I absolutely WILL NOT trust that this country is democratic enough for me to speak my mind.)

Friday, Mar 13, 2009.

I had gone with a couple of colleagues to lunch at a food center. The parking situation at this food center was terrible. There was no parking available and there were quite a few vehicles that were illegally parked. Fortunately for us, we managed to find a spot.

As we were having our lunch, it started raining, very heavily. It was still coming down rather hard when we were done. Walking back to the car, we noticed that our car was blocked by a vehicle that was illegally parked in front of the car. The illegally parked vehicle had blocked my car and the car to my left in. It was partially (very little) blocking the car to my right. It had it's hazard lights on. Noting the fact that is was raining and that the car park was still very packed, we decided to give this vehicle an opportunity, in case the owner just needed to run a quick errand. I did get out of my car to see if the driver had by any chance either left their keys in the vehicle or maybe left the vehicle unlocked. Nothing of that sort. So, we patiently waited. During our wait, the occupants of the car to my left, which was also blocked in, came back to their car. You couldn't have found two more patient motorists in all of Singapore. We honked a few times, but nothing excessive.

10 minutes passed and we decided to call the police.

We tried the number of the police post that was nearest to our location.

The person who answered the phone was at best, uninterested. He did say he would send someone over. Since this was not a major crime scene, I did not even anticipate any sense of urgency. One of my colleagues suggesting calling a different police post, just to try to inject some sense of urgency. We actually did have to return to a meeting and so, we were not doing it because of impatience. My colleague's call to a different police post was received with luke warm response. Again, the answer we received was that they would send someone over.

15 minutes had passed before a police car show up. 2 policemen hopped out of their car. They went straight to the offending vehicle and did what I had previously done, checked if the doors were unlocked. They also looked through the windows, probably (that's my best guess, I really don't know) to see if there was any identifying signs of this person working/living around the area. The policemen did not acknowledge the presence of the occupants of neither car that was blocked in. After their quick perusal of the offending vehicle, still not acknowledging us, BUT, walking between our 2 vehicles, the policemen proceeded to the shop-homes behind us (again presumably to locate the owner of this vehicle).

They return after about 5 minutes.

It is still raining and instead of stepping out of my car, as one of the policemen walk by my window, I wind down my window and politely ask him if there is a possibility of towing away the offending vehicle.

His reply was no.

I asked why.

He answer was: "The vehicle is not stolen."

Puzzled, I continued my line of questioning saying that the vehicle was illegally parked and THAT is an offence.

But he repeated that it was not stolen.

So, I asked him what he had the power to do.

And he said, rather rudely, that he was helping locate the owner of the vehicle.

Even more puzzled, I replied with a fictional situation of what if the vehicle was going to be there the entire day. Then what would I have to do to leave.

And he said that I would have to call HDB as this is their parking lot.

I don't know if the occupants of the other car had heard this conversation, but all the 3 occupants of my car (myself included) heard his responses. It completely baffled us.

It had been 50 minutes since we first got into my car. Obviously, the owner of this illegally parked vehicle was not a quick errand and run person. But we were still not getting anywhere, literally and figuratively.

Fortunately for us, the owner of the vehicle on my right decided to move his car. He had actually been standing in the back of a shop behind us all that time but his response (and no, I am not mad with him for his response) was that he was waiting for the offending vehicle to get a summon/ticket. Since that did not happen, he moved his car to allow me a 12 point turn to get out of my spot. We were all already late for our meeting. I don't know if the offending vehicle was eventually given a ticket because we had already left. I would hope so. Not because I am mean, but because he/she was absolutely inconsiderate.

Now, to the matter of the policemen.

I have this impression that the police have overall authority over everything. I guess I MAY BE wrong.

There are only 2 things I can believe given my situation.

The policemen didn't want to do additional work by having to tow the vehicle. That meant paperwork for towing and impounding and whatever other inconvenience it might have caused them.

The SPF and other government related entities have become so silo-ed, they operate independently of each other. Meaning that the SPF cannot encroach onto HDBs territory.

The latter actually scares me. To think that my understanding of the role of the police in society has shifted so drastically that they went from (excuse my analogy) playing "police and thieves" to playing "hide and seek". So, what if a murder had taken place in that HDB parking lot? Does HDB have to deal with it first before the police can? I am really confused.

The answer the policeman gave me was completely ridiculous. That he couldn't do anything because the car was not stolen is simply unacceptable. That I have to contact HDB for a car that is blocking me in when the police are already at the scene seems irrational. But, I really don't expect any answers to my experience. I just needed to vent about the absurdity of a situation so simple yet made so complicated by either the laziness of the policemen at the scene OR the inefficiencies of the system. Which is which? Your guess is probably as good as mine.

Expensive City

2009-03-14T01:10:00.000-07:00

EIU's survey of Most Expensive Cities

Singapore was listed as the 10th costliest city in the world in a recent report (link above).

The most significant part of the findings of this survey is:

In the rest of the list, the other cities listed are true cities. And how this is significant is that if the people in those cities cannot afford to live in those cities, they can MOVE. The question is not about their intent, on whether to move or stay. It is about CHOICE. If they really cannot survive the high cost of living in any one of those cities, they can always move WITHIN the same country to another city with a lower cost of living.

WHERE THE HELL ARE SINGAPOREANS WHO CAN'T DEAL WITH THE HIGH COST OF LIVING GOING TO GO? WHERE? PLEASE TELL US...

We are constantly told our utilities, food, every damn thing are competitive prices. Many lesser mortals believe. Well, here's evidence they are not. They are EXPENSIVE. Way toooooo expensive. We not like many of the cities listed on this list. We have a very big portion of "workers" who are in the middle class or below that level. How are they supposed to be living in the 10th most expensive city in the world? Only because the government here is so strict, that's why we do not have slumps. Otherwise, we would. Well, let me correct myself, we have modern day slumps - areas where 4-8 people live in one room, but it's in areas that many Singaporeans do not frequent and they are kept in secret. Yes, they are built up slumps, not like those you may have witnessed in your travels or when you watched "Slumdog"... but, like I said, they are modern day slumps... another first!!

Yes, go ahead, be proud we are the 10th most expensive city in the world. Try for number one there too!

MSM

2009-03-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

More MSM bullcrap...

NTU suicide

Was this article really necessary? I mean, yes, it is to show that NTU was not really to blame. Someone died and someone got injured. At this point, do those 3 letters mean anything? It honestly doesn't alleviate NTU's responsibility. Why? Because they did not follow up on those letters. Those letters were warning letters... shape out or ship out letters. Their responsibility should have been to follow up and figure out why there had been no change of attitude, especially after the 2nd and 3rd letters. They did not. Again, no accountability, but let's just let the media tell the public that this kid and his family had been "warned". So, it's not the institution's fault, they did their part. Wonderful. May the blood of this young man be on your hands forever.

Why Ho Ching quit

This article, another masterpiece by the MSM, is... LAUGHABLE...

She quit because "she thinks it was time".

Well, it's not necessarily just the MSM's fault. They are just being the mouthpiece.

But, when you are the MSM, tell me something I don't know. Report NEWS.

I go to the restroom because "it was time".

I eat because "it was time".

I go to work because "it was time".

I leave work because "it was time".

I go to bed because "it was time".

And some believe... I die because "it was time".

WHY WAS IT TIME???

Goodyear was hired because "there was nobody inside Temasek equal to the job".

Well, I would hope so. Isn't that what hiring for a job (well I guess if you are the Singapore government, you would REALLY need to clarify this point) does? Hiring the best person for the job. Or... nevermind.

"A proven record, and we feel he was a better man than what we had within the system"... saying the same damn thing again (in the latter part of sentence), just in a different sentence form. What proven record?

"Somebody exposed to world markets"... great, I have a friend (Singaporean) who lives in China and sells ball bearings to every continent on the face of this earth. I should have asked him to apply for the Temasek position. He is really exposed to world markets.

So, since the MSM did nothing to bring NEWS to us. Let me digress.

Who is Chip Goodyear? Why is he the best man for the Temasek Holdings position?

I know who Chip Goodyear is but I still don't know why he is the best man for the position.

And I say he is NOT the best person for the job.

(1) Who's money?

Temasek Holdings is hiring someone who has absolutely NO stake in the outcome of OUR money. Even if at the end of his first month, he has lost every single cent in the coffer, he just gets fired and walks away. He is NOT Singaporean. He will most likely never be. He has never paid a cent to CPF and probably wouldn't care about CPF even when he starts having to contribute being a 4th Generation Goodyear. What's in it for him besides being a high profile position and a high salary? Nothing. Absolutely NOTHING!! For discussions sake, let's say (LMAO) that Ho Ching was not the right person for the job, at least she is Singaporean and at least we hope (again LMAO), she had the citizens of this country's interest at heart. I really cannot say I feel the same way about Chip Goodyear.

(2) Experience

Chip Goodyear runs the largest mining company in the world. Last time I checked, we had no natural resources on this island. So, what has one got to do with the other? Temasek acts more like a hedge fund. Shouldn't we have gotten somebody with hedge fund experience or maybe a money manager? So, maybe, just maybe, Temasek is hiring Chip so that Temasek can diversify (if they haven't already) into mining and commodities... then what about the LONG TERM assets that Temasek currently holds? Does Chip know what to do with them? Or are they that long term they will outlast his tenure (btw, this is a loaded statement)? Why is he the best person for this job given his experience? I think we ought to be told because, after all, less Temasek has forgotten, it is OUR money.

Lucky Dutchman

2009-02-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's ST...

Heroism costs him $90

What are you expecting? Free health care? You could have requested the ambulance to take you to JB... if you didn't want to pay so much. That's where we Singaporeans go (or are told to go)!

simple lies

2009-02-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

Daily, when I read a whole hosts of blogs, I hear the same theme... the mainstream media here sucks. They print/broadcast what we are supposed to see/hear. They are a tool the government uses. Well today, let me state one confusion I have about the mainstream media and if they can even tell us something as simple as this, and it's not true, then what about the rest of what they tell us. In addition, let me state one big positive of the mainstream media being state run.

First, the confusion.

Last week, I happened to be at a friend's house and the TV was on channel 5. I saw a trailer for the upcoming Survivor series and at the end of the trailer, as most trailers would, there were the broadcast times of the new season. It started yesterday, Friday, Feb 13. Channel 5 was going to be broadcasting this twice, once at 3pm and then again at 11pm. The 3pm broadcast was advertised as "LIVE". As far as I know, Survivor is still a prime time series in the US. And if a 3pm Singapore time broadcast was "LIVE", then it would be showing in the US at 2am on the East Coast OR 11pm on the West Coast. Neither of those times are considered PRIME TIME to me. As far as I know, Survivor is and has always been a Thursday evening broadcast in the US and usually on at 8pm (Singapore time 9am or 12noon) on both coasts. The west coast doesn't even advertise their broadcast as "LIVE". So what is the truth? Is it really "LIVE"? Or are we lesser mortals that uninformed that the mainstream media can say "LIVE" and we believe it is "LIVE"?? To do some research for this post, I went to the channel 5 website and on the website, Survivor is not advertised as "LIVE", but instead, "DIRECT OFF SATELLITE". What is "DIRECT OFF SATELLITE" supposed to mean? In my lesser educated world, I am taking it to mean that it is a concurrent showing as the US. Obviously I am wrong, because it is not. So, what is it? The Grammys are broadcast live in Singapore, that's why it airs at like 7am or 8am in the morning. That's "LIVE". If it is for PRIME TIME broadcast in the US, but broadcast here in Singapore anytime after the noon hour, it's most likely not "LIVE". So why lie to us? It's only a tv program. Do they really feel such a need to advertise falsely? If they can lie for something as worthless as a tv program, what else will they lie about?

Now, to my next point about the advantage of being a state run media. I have recently noticed that when watching tv in Singapore, we hardly get any commercials. Well, we do get commercial breaks but during those breaks, the advertisement that is broadcast is mostly "within the family". Advertisement of upcoming shows on either the same channel or within the family of channels. As far as my professional life has taught me, tv and radio stations survive mainly from revenue from commercials. So, if the broadcast arm of our mainstream media does not really have commercials, how are they surviving? The answer is pretty clear and I am not going to beat a dead horse. The advantage of being state run.

And since point 2 (advantage of being state run) is so clear, point 1 will therefore never be fixed. So, to those who are unclear of time zone differences, the US East Coast is at the moment 13 hours behind Singapore and will become 12 hours behind us somewhere in March/April and the US West Coast is currently 16 hours behind Singapore and will become 15 hrs behind us, again, somewhere in March/April. If you ever see "LIVE", ask yourself if it is really possible.

GREAT JOB MAINSTREAM MEDIA!!

Some things I learnt this week

2009-02-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

Let me start with the most important thing I learnt this week... we have idiots, who supposedly represent us, in parliament. Well, I actually did not just learn this fact just this week. I have known it for quite some time, but they have just been crawling out of the wood work so many at a time these past few weeks... that I had to state it again.

So, let's start with Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

"This is not a wayang..."

When you have a job, regardless of what it is, you are but just an actor.

The difference between many of our jobs and the real actors is that we are trying to please different people. Actors have to please their directors and producers. Their secondary audience are the people who watch their shows/movies. The characters in Disneyland have to please their supervisors and the park's visitors. These people all don a costume to go to work. That's the difference between them and us. We don our work clothes and go to work but every morning when you step into the office, you are but going into your role as an actor, just for a different audience.

Yes, it is wayang. Every job is wayang. You people that stand in parliament are "wayang-ing". But that's just the surface.

Your wayang is just like a movie script. Just like a movie script, you only tell your audience what you want them to hear. And the wonderful cameramen, just show your audience, what you want them to see. Just like a movie script, there is absolutely no transparency to your performance and everything is kept at secret as possible. The most public (meaning transparent) thing in any country should be the government but you do a lot of your negotiation (maybe because we are lesser mortals and we might not understand) behind closed doors and we are only told and shown the "finished" product. How is that not wayang? Every parliamentary episode is just like a tv series. We, as citizens, do not know who was told to say what, we do not know who was told to rebut. We do not know anything except for all you decide to feed us, through the mouth pieces you call media. How is that not wayang? Until everything becomes more transparent and this government actually starts acting (no pun intended) like a real government... it is but WAYANG.

Next, Lui Tuck Yew.

Obviously, LTY does not understand the internet and all its functions.

The internet IS self regulated. I regulated MYSELF based on MY standards.

The beauty of the internet and all its functions is that it gave people POWER. POWER they never previously had. When people are given POWER, some abuse it, some respect it. But, ultimately, it creates the freedom of expression that the REAL democratic world believes in.

What is the government so afraid of?

That people can finally express their thoughts and feelings?

That people harbor a sense of hatred towards the government? (Maybe you should ask yourselves why in your closed door meetings we are not privy to)

That people are getting increasingly violent in their thoughts?

That the government no longer has the control they previously thrived on?

What?

The people that demonstrated joy and glee in Seng Han Thong's burning are but a handfew. And even if they had not posted on the internet, they would have been in some coffee shop doing the same. What is the difference? That they did not turn their words into actions should be something the government should see as a positive. The ability to air one's displeasure for the most part relieves the pressure and that party usually doesn't go on to do something more stupid. The government should see the internet as a good outlet for people to vent. BUT NO, the government's narrow mindedness and it's constant want to be in complete control allows for absurd statements by it's members in parliament.

A few months ago, a friend told me about this incident. She said that she had imposed a dress code for her students whom she felt were coming to school more and more inappropriately dressed. Several days after this dress code ruling, it was drawn to her attention that her students were very displeased and many of them were showing their displeasure in their blogs, some calling her a bitch and several other unpleasant descriptions. And there was nothing she could do about it because the students' blogs are their own blogs, not a property of the school.

Dear government, I think you should be more concerned about that then the handful of bloggers who commented on SHT's burning.

As in sgpolitics.net blog on this issue, you have completely missed the forest, the trees and everything in between.

And by the way, I never blogged about SHT's burning. So, does that lump me into the group of bloggers that were voicing pleasure over his burning? I honestly had no opinion on the issue, but LTY's statement, being such a "generalization" statement swept into the same "group" as these bloggers and I do not appreciate that. I am my own voice.

And then there's Loo Choon Yong.

What an idiotic statement!!

Goodness gracious... how in the world can a 5 or 6 day work week be tied to reproduction? And he has a Dr title?

So, from LCY's statements, I can also assume a few more things.

(1) Those who are single should work 6 or 7 day work week since they are absolutely not contributing whatsoever. And let's just make it 7 day work week so they will not have the time to indulge in premarital activity which is absolutely immoral.

(2) That reproductive activities only take place on the weekends. So, from Monday to Friday, Singapore is a completely sex-less country.

and

(3) That we should treat reproduction like we treat contract manufacturing. Let's turn in on when the government says so. And turn it off when we predict over-crowding.

BULLSHIT!!!

Firstly, has it ever occurred to LCY when he opened his mouth, that reproduction, from it's origination (regardless of religious beliefs) is supposed to be an ACT of LOVE and should never be dictated by anyone (or in this case any government) except for the parties involved? Or has our government really crossed the line so far that they see themselves as GOD???

Secondly, has it ever occurred to LCY that maybe the weekends are spent recovering from the over hectic weekdays spent trying to make ends meet?? Not everyone has the luxury of a 5,6 or 7 figure monthly income and they have to put in even more work than the 40+ hours required on the weekdays just for a meager barely 4 figure monthly income.

And lastly, has it ever occurred to LCY that maybe our reproduction numbers are low because people actually feel financially unable to raise a child? I have friends who after getting married, choose to use contraception BECAUSE of this last reason. They say that if they can barely get by, how are they supposed to manage with a child and why should they bring a child into this world somewhat underprivileged. I am aware there are other points of view to this issue, but the main reason I am bringing this up is to make my point that LCY spewed garbage just like the rest of the wayang crew. It's not just about having sex on weekends!!

Seriously, I think these people should think before they speak. Because there is no accountability and their elitist status, the absurd statements coming out the mouths of these idiots are getting increasingly frequent. STFU!! You don't have to say anything to enjoy your multimillion dollar incomes. Don't make us feel even more strongly than we already do about how undeserving you are of your compensation.

More fodder

2009-01-30T02:55:00.000-08:00

As if there was already not enough fodder for the online community, another idiotic moron decides to write something to fuel the fire that has not even come close to being put out.

I really don't know what world Eugene Wee lives in but he obviously should join Charles Chow and maybe the two of them, for a different aroma, can stick their heads into each others asses.

(1) Why we remain anonymous.

In America, where there is TRUE freedom of expression, I can wear a T-shirt saying "Obama is a fucking idiot" and stand outside the White House. All this even if I just hate the way Obama looks.

In Singapore, where there is SUPPOSED freedom of expression, you can't even wear T-shirts with hopping creatures without being arrested.

(2) Why in the instance of Tan Yong Soon and Charles Chow, this is not character assassination.

Well, maybe it is.

However, in your flawed journalism, you neglected to mention that "reputation managers" are used when the character assassination is done on people who don't deserve it. They were innocent victims of some one/people with an axe to grind but with no true cause.

There is no need for "reputation managers" here. Charles Chow assassinated his own character in parliament. We just helped finish him off.

(3) Why we remain anonymous.

Because while somewhere in the world, a new president has preached "HOPE over FEAR"

In this tiny red dot, for as long as we have existed, we know FEAR over HOPE.

(4) Sources.

What is there to verify about us? We are NOT a source. We are NOT reporting. We are stating our opinions and views. For most of us lesser mortals, our sources are up in our head... for you and Charles Chow, trying looking for what we call brains when you sit/stoop to take a dump.

(5) Why we remain anonymous.

Because the PM is going to spend time "fixing" the opposition and with the state of this economy, we wouldn't want him spending too much time on other things. If we are faceless and anonymous, then he can can just continue fixing what needs to be fixed... like our "fixed" economy.

(6) Bacteria.

"They are like the bacteria that cause diseases in plants and animals, making them sick or even killing them. One bacterium caused the bubonic plague or the Black Death (so named because of the colour of the victim's face after death)." TNP, Jan 26, 2009.

I only wish we were like bacteria and could make those we talk about sick or even die. But alas, Eugene, you have too much faith in us... we are but lesser mortals, not mighty bacteria.

(7) Punchy letters.

Don't compare online bloggers to your so called punchy letters in the newspapers. When I see my stuff online, I know I wrote it. We do not know how many more punchy letters actually got tossed out and the authenticity of those supposedly punchy letters... and I'm not saying they are not authentic. I am just saying we do not know.

(8)

"If you won're not brave enough to put your name or face to strong views, others are unlikely to take them seriously." TNP Jan 26, 2009.

That is hilarious. If you believe that line (and by the way, the line is copied and pasted, including the typo or maybe a flaw in writer's speech), then why even bother writing that whole entire article?? If we are not to be taken seriously, then there is really nothing to worry about... is there?

All the newspapers in Singapore should just be combined into one larg(er) newsletter and not 3, 4, 5... or however many there are out there. We are just creating jobs. But we don't have enough talent to fill these jobs. And the quality is definitely wanting. Plus we are wasting paper. Stop trying to deceive the citizens about "choices". There are NO choices, they are but all own by the same mother...

I'm really not as angry about Eugene Wee's article as I was with Charles Chow's comments. Eugene Wee is just a peon. In his world, he needs to exercise his muscles by carrying the round hairy things of his employers, otherwise, he will forever be a peon. He probably strives to be like Tan Yong Soon some day and in the process, he needs to pick on a party to attack. And so he did. Just that he really did not put his work together quite effectively.

We, the lesser mortals, still rule. Otherwise, there wouldn't even have been such an article.

I chose to continue to be an irresponsible blogger... because I can. In my own little world, I am KING of this domain. So... FUCK OFF EUGENE.

"Lesser Mortals" (Part 3)

2009-01-22T23:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have calmed down a little, even though I am still the same "lesser mortal" I was 3 days ago. So, I will refrain from profanities today.

Interestingly enough, after 3 days of many netizens and bloggers jumping on the "lesser mortal" bandwagon, I still get the feeling not all of us are on the same page.

I will summarize my issues one more time:

(1) TYS can choose to spend his money however he likes. (Other comments I may have made regarding this were just to illustrate how grossly overpaid our CIVIL SERVANTS and GOVERNMENT SERVANTS are.)

(2) TYS can write about how he spends his money as he pleases.

IMPORTANT POINT

(3) ST should NOT have run this article in such trying times. It showed much insensitivity to the challenges many citizens are facing at this point. Of course, as a FREE PRESS, ST can print anything they want to. However, as the ST we know it to be, they definitely did not consult the powers that be... or maybe they did and the powers that be are just plain out of touch.

(4) TCH and PH tried to make amends for TYS's article. Trying to paint some sensitivity back to the picture. I had no problem with that. Like I have previously said, as out of touch our elitist government is to the ground, at least try to pretend otherwise, since they are supposedly also representing our interest.

(5) CC opens his mouth and instantly undoes everything that TCH and PH had tried to fix. CC once again shows the insensitivity of the people "chosen" to represent us. In that one statement, CC showed us that not only do the people that represent us NOT understand us, they actually look down on us.

Points (3) and (5) are my main grievances.

We have government officials and civil servants that are indecently paid. That's a losing battle we are fighting. But at least, for the salary you are receiving from our tax dollars, try putting on a good show for us. The arrogance of these people have come to a stage where they won't even bother putting on a show anymore. Making outright statements denigrating the people they represent only serves to widen the gap, but it doesn't seem bothersome to them. These people who are the powers that be, have gotten too comfortable and thus believe they no longer need to perform a song and dance to earn their votes. They say what they want, when they want and eventually, they still return to their outrageous salaries and jobs. It's about time we wake up.

If I have not gotten my point through. Too bad. The next time another one of these fools stepon you and kick you, don't complain... if you do not do the necessary thing when you next have a chance.

Just one more point to add.

On his first day on the job as the new President of the United States, Barack Obama put a freeze on the salaries of his top officials. He has not worked a full day yet and has already started to take ownership of the problems he has been left in charge of... remember, these are not problems he had created. He inherited them.

On that very same day, the Singapore budget for 2009 was revealed and in it was some goodies for the citizens. I am sure an additional $4,000+ per year to the poorest people in our land does make a small difference. But, it's $4,000+ more only, WHILE the people that put together the budget still continue to be compensated at salary levels they had pegged themselves to, when times were good.

To the powers that be, have some testicular fortitude, show us some commitment to the recovery of the economy. Do as some of the CEOs of major companies have done, take $1 salaries till the economy recovers OR do what Obama has done, freeze all wages till recovery of the economy has been achieved or at least till it is in sight.

I will absolutely bet that the chase for the money god is just too great for our leaders to have the testicular fortitude to do any of the two things I have listed above. So much for having gutsy leaders.

Proof me wrong.

Proof to us lesser mortals that you are really greater immortals, not just because you earn more and are materially more fortunate than us, but because you dare put your money where your mouth is. I will be the first to take back everything I have said here (and maybe even add some positive comments), if you dare except this challenge.

I am done with this idiot and hopefully, he is done too.

“All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today.” Ralph Ransom

"Lesser Mortals" (Part 2)

2009-01-21T05:08:00.000-08:00

I am not done, Charles Chong.

Today is no different from yesterday, you are still a fucking idiot.

And guess what, today I have some statistics to show that you still are a fucking idiot.

Yesterday, the Department of Statistics released some numbers.

In particular, the number I am looking at, is the MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

Yes, it rose... big fucking deal. I am not quite sure why they used "MEDIAN". However, if my quality Singapore education serves me well, MEDIAN is just that number right in the middle. Meaning, there is half of households that earn less and half that earn more. So, let me just use that number even though I don't think it is very representative of anything.

The MEDIAN MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME in 2008 was $4,950.

Therefore, the ANNUAL figure would be $59,400. But that's the HOUSEHOLD INCOME, meaning, possibly more than one income earner.

Charles Chong, listen up. At least HALF (and I know the number is definitely more than half) of working households in Singapore barely make enough ANNUALLY (he blew all that cash over 2 weeks) to pay for Tan Yong Soon's French cooking class for 3 (valued at $46,500). That still does not include accommodations and travel charges to bring those 3 people to France. These people below the median probably couldn't even pay for a cooking class at the CC.

Does that make sense to you now?

How can us "LESSER MORTALS" NOT be envious?

How can we "LESSER MORTALS" NOT be envious that CIVIL SERVANTS/GOVERNMENT SERVANTS, people whom we put our faith in to lead us and SERVE THE NATION, are raking in so much cash they can blow it all in one sitting what some don't even earn in a year?

Like I said previously, YOU and the other fucking morons who act arrogantly have drawn more attention to that. Tan Yong Soon should have just gone to France and kept his mouth shut. You, should have just sat your ass down in parliament and closed your crap hole.

BUT NO, you felt obliged to defend one of your other fellow elite government servants.

You are now going to feel the wrath of the internet world... and hopefully, maybe some of your other elitist "friends", for the sake of protecting their multi-million dollar incomes are going to throw you under the bus and you will not be around for the next elections.

YOU ARE NOT FIT TO BE A GOVERNMENT SERVANT. IN FACT, YOU ARE NOT FIT TO BE A HUMAN BEING. YOU LACK THE BRAINS AND CAPABILITY TO EVEN PRETEND TO BE SENSITIVE... SO, PLEASE... SHUT THE FUCK UP. NO, PLEASE JUST FUCK OFF.

"Lesser Mortals"

2009-01-20T02:50:00.000-08:00

(DISCLAIMER: If this piece of news was reported incorrectly and the words reported were never used, in advance, I apologize. I usually try to refrain from profanities in my blogs but this piece of news just completely made my blood pressure rise and therefore, I apologize in advance to those of you who find the language in this piece inappropriate.)

Charles Chong is a complete fucking stupid idiotic moron with shit for brains and his brains stuck up his ass.

Did you not get the point? Or were the messages by Teo Chee Hean and Peter Ho spoken in a different fucking language that Charles Chong could not understand? Or seriously, are you just plain fucking stupid.

The message was about... SENSITIVITY... in case you are also blind... SENSI-FUCKING-TIVITY and what do you next? You call a good majority of the citizens LESSER MORTALS.

YES, WE LESSER MORTALS ARE FUCKING ENVIOUS THAT A GOVERNMENT SERVANT CAN:

(1) AFFORD TO BLOW WHAT AMOUNTS TO MORE THAN AN AVERAGE SINGAPOREAN'S ANNUAL SALARY FOR A FUCKING COOKING CLASS.

(2) TAKE FIVE FUCKING WEEKS OR EVEN LONGER OFF.

I blogged about this a few days ago when this report first surfaced. Honestly, what anybody does with their time and money is entirely their business. Aside from the fact that we already know that some government servants (and I stress on the word SERVANTS, because theirs is to SERVE, not rape the citizens) are absurdly paid, we also now know that, they are actually being absurdly paid for absolutely NOTHING, since they won't be missed if they were gone for 5 or more weeks. BUT, this is all a different topic altogether.

What is bothersome, Charles Chong, is that we are paying stupid fucking idiots like you when you just do not get it. SENSITIVITY.

I did not vote for you. Rest assured, I will never vote for you if you were somehow standing for elections in my constituency.

You have showed that you not only do not understand us the citizens, in fact, you look down on us lesser mortals. How can you possibly represent a people you do not see any value in? How can you possibly even be a public servant?

Just to answer your question, it really didn't matter whether Tan Yong Soon or his wife paid for the trip. In a period where people are losing their jobs, where children are possibly not able to continue their education due to the lack of ability to pay for fees, where families will be scraping to make ends meet, IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER WHO PAID FOR THIS TRIP. WHAT MATTERS IS... FOR THE MONEY YOU GET, SHUT THE FUCK UP OR IF YOU DECIDE TO OPEN YOUR MOUTHS, MAKE SURE CRAP DOES NOT SPEW FROM IT... AND, PRETEND YOU CARE, EVEN IF SOME OF US KNOW YOU REALLY DON'T GIVE A FUCK.

Yes We Can

2009-01-19T06:47:00.000-08:00

1) build the world's largest FIRST (can't forget to add that word) white elephant... the thing that is supposed to fly (as it's name suggests) but can't even crawl.

Too bad Christmas is over, otherwise, you multi-millionaires could possibly have re-gifted it at your white elephant gift Christmas parties.

2) start arresting people when they have not committed any crimes yet. Possibly another first. MS escapes but the blame falls on us citizens. Our citizens protest peacefully and that's considered a terrorist threat and should be stopped before they can start, less they are suicide bombers BUT, letting Singapore's most famous terrorist escape from detention is a "shortcoming".

Maybe WKS should be arrested because he is responsible for MS's escape and before MS can commit a crime, let's just arrest WKS first.

Oh and by the way... great answer to the question on where MS is. He's either here or he's not. My 2 year old nephew could have told me that too. Are we really paying this fool a $2 million salary to give us such a stupid answer. There is only one other possibility he didn't mention. MS might be dead. Other than that, isn't it absolutely obvious that he is either in Singapore or not? Doesn't that apply to all of us too??? What a complete idiot.

3) continue to maintain the racial divide BUT pretending not to. Why is Singapore not ready for a minority PM? It is a racist statement in disguise. So, we have minority members of parliament and ministers but we are not ready for a minority PM. Could it be because they don't have the 3 letter surname? Or could it be just because they are not chinese? I don't know, but it shows that "racial harmony" is but just another created idea. To reinforce the idea, whenever PSLE, 'O' Level and 'A' Level results are announced, we also have to announce who the top Malay and Indian students are. Is that really necessary? Don't you think that if one of the top students of these other races faired much worse than the overall top student, it will actually be cause for others to look inferiorly (if there's such a word) at that race?

Stop that practice, it is extremely patronizing.

4) stimulate the economy by hiring teachers in Raffles Place from the job discontinued bankers. But, it's ok that in 3-5 years when the economy picks back up, these same bankers will leave for better paying jobs. And that their only interest is a salary to tie them through the current down time. And that their hidden agendas will not short change the students learning. All for the sake of ARTIFICIALLY stimulating the economy. Wise. But of course, it is scholars making those decisions.

5) continue to build housing for foreign workers when as far as I can tell, we really do not need anymore. Everyday you hear of foreign workers being brought into this country but there are no jobs for them.

They strain our resources. But they are cheap.

They cause inconvenience, especially since we don't need them. But they are cheap.

They attract unwanted behaviours such as prostitution. But they are cheap.

We act as the support system for crooked agents but somehow this escapes our government's eyes. We are the conduit for foreign worker pimps (not only in prostitution but in all other fields of work too). But they are cheap.

YES WE CAN! While in less than 24 hours, America will be celebrating a historic moment, our little red dot continues to defy odds by making it less and less tolerable to live here. YES WE CAN!

Does ST have any quality control?

2009-01-10T22:59:00.000-08:00

In the Sunday Times, there is an article entitled "Celebrate first, save later".

I spent 90 cents that I wouldn't normally not spend on the PAP newsletter today just to read this article. Unfortunately, I am unable to share it with you online as it costs to get that same article online.

So, in a nutshell, the article is about Singaporeans who were interviewed and many saying that they would "spend a little bit more during Chinese New Year". So as not to be accused of misquoting. Here is the exact paragraph from the ST.

"Since I don't really celebrate Christmas, we can afford to spend a little more during Chinese New Year," she tells Lifestyle. Her children are aged between 15 and 21.

Her sentiments echo those of many of the 50 people that Lifestyle spoke to. Most say they will not cut their budgets for hong-bao. (The Sunday Times, Jan 11, 2009)

Just like the article by Perm Sec Mr Tan Yong Soon, what is the real purpose of this article?

In the world of research, this would have been a failed research. Interviewing 50 out of 3 million (just assuming Singapore Citizens only and just a round up/down to 3 million) is representative of 0.0017% of the population. No, you are not reading that number wrongly. There are TWO zeros after the decimal point. So, in essence, it is not even 1% of the population.

Next, since the demographics of the interviewees were not specifically provided, it does seem like most of the interviewees HAVE A JOB. Again, this is not necessarily the reflection of the population at the moment.

Like the contributor from my previous post and many of the netizens who have commented on other posts on PS Tan's French experience, I do not have a problem with how people spend their own hard (questionable when you can take 5 weeks leave and not be missed) earned money, rather, the problem is... DO WE HAVE ENOUGH WORK FOR OUR JOURNALISTS?

I don't see the real purpose of this article.

So, 50 families in Singapore can afford to celebrate Chinese New Year. I could have told you that. In fact, I could have told you that a minimum of 84 families in Singapore, due to their salary range, job security and no accountability can afford to have a lavish Chinese New Year celebration... SO WHAT?

Proof me wrong. Give me the demographics of the interviewees to show that this is a proper representation of Singapore. Otherwise, I am left to assume many things... all of which point to the pointlessness of this article.

Later in the article:

"Reunion dinners in restaurants seem to be one luxury that will not be sacrificed.

An earlier Straits Times report had said that of the 40 restaurants surveyed, more than half were 80 per cent booked on the eve of Chinese New Year." (The Sunday Times, Jan 11, 2009)

How on earth is the first line supported by the second line???

With only 40 out of more than 3,000 restaurants (1.3%) in Singapore surveyed, and "more than half" (50.1% is more than half and so is 99.9%, great statement positioning!!) reporting 80% booked, how did the ST come to the conclusion that "reunion dinners... will not be sacrificed"? There was no relative comparison. There was no baseline. There was absolutely NOTHING in the second line that supported the first line. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

So again I ask... what is the point of this whole article?

That the those who can afford it will still be celebrating CNY like they previously were? I could have told you that and we all probably already know it without anyone telling us.

That the country is doing ok and we will still be celebrating CNY like we previously were? I think not and the article does nothing to proof otherwise.

That we have a bunch of journalists who have really nothing else better to do than to write pointless articles while they undergo training to be the next testicular-bearer (see CLH) and also so that the unemployment rate does not go up?

I really don't know. What I do know is that this will be the last time in a LOOOONG time I will be spending another 90 cents on this bunch of crap.

Shameless flaunting!!

2009-01-08T06:14:00.000-08:00

The following is a contribution from a friend. It is not written by me... but does it really matter?

I saw an article in the ST a few days ago. Initially, I thought it was such a wonderful article.

It was about Mr Tan Yong Soon, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. In a nutshell, the article was about his whole family (himself, his wife and son) going on a vacation to France to learn cooking. Such perfect family bonding.

Today, as I was looking for the article online, I couldn't find it. However, I found it at a different website and here it is.

Today, the article however took on a different meaning when I received an e-mail at work.

Today, the "perfect family bonding" outing seemed extremely selfish and extravagant.

Why?

The e-mail I received was to talk about a bursary being awarded to students who were in financial need. The bursary was for $800, however, to qualify for this $800, the household income was not to exceed $1,200 per month.

Straying away from the Tan Yong Soon article for a moment, I found a few problems with this bursary award e-mail.

First, $800 was not even enough to cover 1/4 of the student's school fees for the year.

Second, if the household income is less than $1,200 per month, I should think the family would qualify for entirely free education and not a bursary that would only cover less than 1/4 of his/her school fees.

Lastly, based on the above 2 points, how is the student going to pay for the rest of their fees and what happens to those families with household incomes of $1,200 to let's say $3,000 per month? How are they going to support their kids through school?

Now back to my original point. I understand that Mr Tan Yong Soon's trip to France was earned through his (and his wife's) blood and sweat. And I do not want to take that away from his family. They earned it. I think and hope. What I have an issue with is more on the ST publishing an article like this in times when our less fortunate citizens are struggling to put their kids through school. The article actually RUBS IT IN a little more by telling us that Mr Tan's son is going to an Ivy League University (Brown University) which probably costs in the region of S$50,000-60,000 per year (maybe more). Again, it is hopefully with his hard earned money that his son is going to Brown and I am not grudging him for that. But the insensitivity of the article leaves much to be desired from the ST.

I hope the ST will stop treating the citizens like ignorant peasants. Telling us how some of the more fortunate amongst us spend their money in times when the economy doesn't look very promising. It was bad enough the ST treated us like idiots by telling us that the ministers and senior government servants were taking a pay cut when there was not actually a pay cut. And now they rub salt to the wound by telling us that their super inflated salaries are buying them 2 week cooking classes at $15,500 per person. Honestly, that $15,500 could see 3 kids through one year of school. Whilst most of the citizens in this country are trying to cope with keeping their jobs and managing their finances just to scrape by, the ST just advertised that Mr Tan and family blew (yes BLEW!!) $46,500 in almost next to useless cooking classes.

Who do we hire to write these stupid insensitive articles? Was there nothing else to write about? Come talk to me. I will give you names of kids who are perilously close to having to forego the rest of their education because of the lack of funds... and I don't work in an Ivy League University that costs $50,000 per year. Do we still wonder about the media's 144th ranking?

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

Bye Bye 2008!!

For 2009, here are my resolutions (in no particular order):

(1) Have GE. 2009 is going to be bad, but we won't tell the citizens how bad it's going to be. We will just tell them it's going to get worse and if you are not on our ship, the other ship you get on is going to sink.

(2) Find MS. So that WKS can go golfing again (while drawing his million dollar salary) without the ungrateful citizens calling for him to resign.

(3) Continue to pretend like we care:

(i) Tell our citizens that we will lay off foreigners first, but still continue to bring in more, they won't know the difference. We will just highlight some of the cases through our newsletter (The ST).

(ii) Keep highlighting that we are helping Uncle and Auntie during this economic downturn by providing them $300/mth. $10/day is A LOT.

(iii) Continue telling the citizens that GST and ERP are for their benefit. Remember to hand out "hong bao" at CNY and "incentive" before GE. They will believe. Really.

(iv) Ensure that the citizens get distracted from the economic crisis by creating new jobs. Don't worry about the few detractors that are calling this a false economy. As long as the rest believe we are helping them, we are good.

(4) Continue to talk more nonsense. It will serve to confuse most of the people (66.6%)

(i) Remind LSS he is doing a good job. Speak in public like he is one of them. Have to remind him that there is no CPF statement though.

(ii) Remind RL he is also doing good job. Continue to tell people why transportation prices are this way because it is not directly related to oil prices. Actually, should give him a bonus because SBS, SMRT, Comfort are all going to make profits.

(iii) Remind THP and KBW to continue to be silent. The $2B we have in TCs cannot diminish otherwise we might not have enough to pay our salaries. Just tell them to keep the lifts cleaner. The residents see more people working, they will think their S&C charges are going to good work.

(5) Save DBS. Hopefully there are no lawsuits. Should ask the newsletter to highlight some cases where DBS pays back the investor. This one is a headache, hope it boils over.

(6) Save Sands. Remember to talk to TH and GIC. Maybe they will have to save Sands. Cannot lose face. When economy recovers, IR will make us good money. Maybe then we can raise our salaries again. We can earn on both sides. IR will make money and then the counseling for the addicts will also make money plus create jobs.

(7) We are already in drugs (tax on cigarettes), alcohol (tax on liquor), gambling (SP and IR). Have to explore how we can also tap the sex industry. Too many foreign prostitutes are coming in but we are not getting our cut. Have to find a way to make a cut in this business. Cannot always depend on transportation, energy and utilities, real estate, and banking to make up our salary.

(8) Remember to tell the newsletter they are doing a fantastic job. Tell them to keep up the good work of brainwashing the citizens on how good this government is. Have to remember to tell them that their ranking of 141 is not good enough. They have to go even lower.

(9) Raise salary after GE. If not possible, maybe around June.

(10) Raise salary. Really important.

Some things I learnt this week

2008-12-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

1) A$$ backwards? Horse before the cart?

Whatever you wish to call it... we do things backwards... and that's why we are digressing as a country.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_311339.html

After years and years of supposedly watching over the HDB Dwellers' money, we are finally drawing up a report card NEXT YEAR? We finally want to audit and monitor? After losing SGD16 million? Where were the checks and balances?

Oh, I forgot... my apologies, when you work for the father, son and holey goh, there is no need for checks and balances.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_311339.html

And then there was this back in November. And I thought we were a developed nation with all the various checks and balances in place.

2) I wrote about electricity a few posts ago and now I'm going to write about gas/petrol.

The PAP newsletter so proudly states that "pump prices are at 2006 levels". But crude oil is at a 5 year low.

So, just like the pegging of our electricity prices to something we only use 20% out of the whole of, and the fact that we are using a forward price that is some 60% more than spot prices. We should be glad that pump prices are back to 2006 levels and not 2003 levels... hmmmm...

I KNOW... blame in on the oil companies. The same companies that APPARENTLY do not price fix in Singapore... the only country in the world (where there is no price fixing) where pump prices are the same regardless of which station you choose.

3) We define modern day slavery.

MOM and the PAP newsletter speak of it as if it is a new occurrence. If it was a new thing, there would not have been so many Serangoon Gardens residents all up in arms. Overcrowding and living in extremely unlivable conditions is a thing of the norm for many of these workers. But they really don't have much of a choice. They can hardly complain... as described by Yawning Bread and definitely illustrated by the white tiger incident. So, they just continue to bear intolerable conditions.

Don't believe me? I invite you to take a walk along Joo Chiat Road/Tembeling Road. As you are walking, take a look UP at the walk-up shophouses (provided the tons of Vietnamese hookers don't distract you first). You may be able to see the overcrowding that occurs. OR, wait on the corner of Joo Chiat Road and Dunman Road around 8:30pm and a truck will come along and about 50-60 workers will disembark. The un-natural occurrence here is not that so many of them get off the truck... it is that many of them disappear up one or two staircases. There is no way those homes can hold that many people. Unfortunately, inspectors come and go and today is still the same as yesterday which is still the same as 6 months ago... CHANGE? Nah, we are not ready for it... as long as it doesn't affect Districts 9 and 10.

We are the modern day slave owners. Bring more in, we have found 10 more new sites for these slaves!!!

Oh and the Vietnamese hookers. It's ok. Joo Chiat Road is their hang out and as long as they don't venture out of this area, we will let them continue prostituting themselves there. And a little birdie told me, there was an inspection this past weekend but guess what? Some of the houses that these hookers live in, they were cleared out before the inspectors got there. Hmmm, I wonder who watches these hookers? I know, it's people who can see into the future... oh, and I am not in any way hinting that there is corruption in this land... how can there be when we pay good salaries...

4) More on slavery.

LSS is performing again. If, the PM hints that the foreign workers were put in place to buffer Singaporeans from a downturn (ie looking after the citizens),

He responded by saying that while foreign workers help Singapore's economy, most of the jobs lost in the 2001 recession were held by foreign workers and this is likely to happen again. CNA

then why does LSS have to come out an "remind" companies to lay off the foreigners first? Are the performers not in sync? OR, are they so in sync that the performance is just for us, the not so bright ones... I wonder...

5) And then there was our $3Million man talking about Singapore's Houdini....

"We made a mistake. He's a very determined man and he was more alert. He outwitted us and outsmarted us... But the game is not over, and one day we will catch him," he said.

errrr, he climbed through a window when he was allowed to go take a piss... how is that outwitting and outsmarting? He makes it sound like MS was on Survivor, "outwit" and "outsmart". He should have just added "outplay". Oh, but it is just a GAME... right. Why? Why? Why? Why doesn't anybody feel the need to be accountable for this and many other incidents? Isn't that what your $3million is for?? To accept responsibility?

I'm tired.

Rote Learning... good or bad?

2008-12-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

I noticed that Molly did See Nao a favor by posting his article on her blog. I don't know why. Doesn't See Nao have his own blog?

Nevermind, that is not important.

If I ever get the honor of Molly reading my blog. I just wanted to tell her that I always enjoy reading her postings. And if she were not a cat, I would ask her to marry me... LOL!! But cat flirting aside...

I had a very interesting experience that substantiates See Nao's article.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to witness an institution organized debate. It was an "activity" put together for the students of this institution (more like a pastime) and therefore did not have the "perfectionism" of the debates one gets to watch on TV. However, with that being said, I THOUGHT it was a very skillful debate.

The motion favored the opposition heavily. The motion had something to do with teachers should have to wear uniforms. Based solely and strictly on the motion, the proposition would have lost even if they had argued their hearts out.

They did lose.

But listening to them, I thought they should have won. (But maybe that's why I should be marrying Molly, 'cos I am the dark haired male version of a Bimbo)

The reason that I thought they should have won was that they redefined the word "uniforms". They redefined "uniforms" to mean "dress code" and I thought that was an ingenious move. They also stressed on the word "should" having to mean "recommended but not necessary". And all speakers worked on those 2 points throughout the debate. In addition to their ingenuity, I felt they should have won because the opposition never once took issue with the their redefinition of the word "uniforms". The opposition just continued down their own track telling us why teachers should not be wearing uniforms.

So, in my own scoring system, I had a +1 for the proposition and a -1 for the opposition. Oh, and the proposition speakers were clearly more poised.

When the results were announced, I can safely say I was shocked, to say the least. The opposition had won and the best speaker actually came from the opposition too.

Here's the part you all have been waiting for:

When consulting with a friend who is a faculty member, she told me that the proposition had lost because they had not stuck to the point. In fact, by redefining "uniform", they had actually gone off-point and therefore were probably heavily penalized for that. In response to the opposition not attacking the proposition for not being on-point, she said that was no reason to. If the proposition had gone off point, that would have been the easiest debate because all the opposition had to do is just stick to their point.

And here's the killer statement: " The opposition was aware of the marking criteria and the proposition was not."

And, me being the dumb a$$ went: "Marking criteria?"

And she said: "Yes, the opposition knew what the judges were looking for."

And then this, coming from an educator...

"We coached them on what the judges were looking out for."

And, ladies and gentlemen of the audience, most honorable judges and most worthy opponents... "with that, Mr See Nao, you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT and I rest my case."

Keep believing...

2008-12-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

Today, I went to my favorite chicken rice store to buy dinner. When Ah Lung was done chopping up the chicken and packing up my food, he said, $3. I paid him the $3 and just as I was about to step away, he said: "Mister, I have a special for you. You can buy your chicken rice from Jan to Mar next year at $6 per pack if you prepay now."

Huh?

I don't know about you, but that's exactly what I hear our government/EMA/whoever the hell runs/stinks up this place is telling us.

Electricity Bills to fall 25%.

So let's take a look at this from a logical point of view.

Since our electricity is pegged to forward fuel oil prices and forward fuel oil prices is apparently $92.99 (which I am too lazy to look up at 12 midnight), then the decrease (in percentage) is: (155.14-92.99)/155.14 *100 = 40%

But our electricity bills will only fall by 25%.

So which big bad wolf has the other 15% savings?

Forward fuel oil prices are at $92.99.

But crude oil prices closed below USD46 (SGD69, assuming USD1=SGD1.5).

So the EMA is being charged almost 26% more on a forward market.

Or rather, WE are being charged almost 26% MORE because our electricity is PEGGED (also read as, we are not really buying it, it is a guide) to the forward market rate of $92.99.

In all my years in the finance industry, this is the first time I have heard of an entity entering into a forward contract, as a buyer, where the forward price is higher than the spot price. The purpose of a forward contract is HEDGING. I don't need to be a scholar to tell anyone that.

BUT, they DID NOT enter into a forward contract. Phew!

No, instead, they are just pegging our electricity to those prices. Phew!

But our electricity is only 20% oil... HUH?

So, I asked Ah Lung, why are you charging me $6 for the same chicken rice in the next quarter. And his reply was: "Oh, mister, the price of duck is going to $6 from January to March next year."

And by the way, the 25% decrease in what we are going to pay the next quarter amounts to a adjusted rate of about 8% after you factor in the 21% increase that just happened this quarter. And oil prices had actually actually fallen 40% at the point of the 21% increase.

I don't know about you, but something is just not right with all the numbers. Or it may just be me trying to process this information at 12 midnight.

Some things I learnt this week

2008-11-30T02:49:00.000-08:00

First off, condolences to the family of Lo Hwei Yen and also to the families of all the other victims of another mindless attack. May your souls rest in peace. To the casual bystander reading this blog, if you have plans to go to Mumbai, don't change them. If you alter your plans and forsake the city of Mumbai, the terrorists have won.

Since Sept 11, 2001, I have gotten on a plane 4 times on that exact date. 2 were for domestic US flights and 2 for international flights. The terrorists should not alter your daily course of life because that is the very thing they want and you would be giving in to them and allowing them to take over. It's easier said than done and I understand that, but give it a try.

Now, back to what I have learnt this week, part of which comes from the tragic happenings in Mumbai.

1) We are not ready for change.

Sad to say, the PM was right. We are not ready for change. He meant it in the context of a non-Chinese being PM, but I will expand it to say that we are not ready for change for everything.

Some nights ago, I had dinner with some friends. They are all doing relatively well (financially) and like most conversations going on in Singapore these days, it came to the topic of ministerial pay. So, I asked them if they were upset about it. And all 5 of them said yes. Then I asked if they would vote non-PAP at the next elections and all of them said no.

I kind of half expected that answer. And the reason is two fold.

First, the PAP has definitely succeeded in instilling fear. No one knows for sure if their ballot is secret. No one knows for sure if any other party can actually make a difference. No one knows if by going against the PAP, will it actually affect their livelihood and this last reason leads to the second reason for the answer. It is our selfishness. Those of us who are living comfortably cannot/will not feel the plight of those making $800/month or living on government assistance of $330/week.

Change always comes with challenges. And for a good majority (how about 62%) of the population, these challenges are just not worth it. And therefore, in my opinion, we will stick with what we have had for 40 over years, "not rock the boat" (in my friend's words), and forsake change for the selfishness of OUR own stability.

The PM knows this and so does his party members and therefore, they will continue shoving sh*t down our throats because we will not be doing anything about it.

The PM doesn't THINK we are stupid. He knows we are not. He also knows what he can get away with it... and will continue to do so till we put a stop to it.

2) Wong Kan Seng should resign.

Or maybe he is waiting till something the magnitude of Mumbai to occur to OFFER HIS RESIGNATION.

As much as I hate to use what just happened in Mumbai to bring this up, unfortunately, I will have to.

Many have forgotten 9/11. Everything that happened (unless you know someone or knows someone who knows someone that was actually in the World Trade Center that morning) is but a distant memory. And it takes something the magnitude of Mumbai to jog that memory back to life. How unfortunate, but the complexity of the lifes we live just does not allow us to dwell on things like that. We have to move on.

Some months back, Singapore lost our most wanted terrorist. But as usual, there was no accountability, instead, we, the citizens, were told we were complacent and the message delivered was as though it was just another occurrence, lets move on.

All I have is one question.

WHO is going to tell the families of victims "I am sorry" should Mas Selamat come back one day and execute a plot the magnitude of Mumbai???

Or will it be blamed on our complacency as citizens again? Is the same level of accountability (or lack of) going to be presented to the citizens when such a tragedy takes place? From the bottom of my heart, I hope that day will never come. But I will leave this topic with this point.

How can NO ONE have been held accountable for the escape of what the country claims to be their number one prisoner and in my opinion, someone who can lead an attack similar to the attack in Mumbai??

Which leads me to my next topic...

3) Ministerial pay

I am tired of talking about this but I am left with no choice.

The government wants to peg it's pay to the average of the top 8 earners of 6 different sectors. Doesn't make sense because they are not a business but that's what they want to do.

However, they don't take on the risk of the top 8 earners of the 6 different sectors. How is that justifiable? You take on the reward but not the risk.

i) If a private security firm was running Whitley Detention Center when Mas Selamat escaped, do you really think their CEO would still be around?

ii) In this current economy:

- Chuck Prince (Citi) was replaced;

- before the collapse of Bear Sterns, when they had to write down US$850 million of assets, Richard Marin, who was responsible for 2 of the Hedge Funds that bore the losses on these assets, was replaced

- Bob Willumstad (AIG) was replaced when the US government bailed out AIG with their US$85B loan. (One point to note about this replacement. Bob Willumstad "refused his US$22M severance package" for his 3 months work at AIG because he was never able to enact the strategy he set out to do. And by the way, the person that succeeded Willumstad, Edward Liddy will only be drawing a salary of US$1.)

The point I am trying to make here is:

Where there is REWARD, there is also RISK.

RISK of losing one's position.

RISK of not being compensated when they company is not doing as well.

RISK of the company going out of business or being acquired by another company and thus back to the losing one's position risk.

When there is REWARD, there is also ACCOUNTABILITY.

IN A ONE PARTY RULE (since we are not ready for anything else but that), THOSE RISKS ARE NOT PRESENT.

IN FACT, IN A ONE PARTY RULE, (SEE POINT NUMBER 2), THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY RISKS AT ALL AND NEITHER IS THERE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY. Interestingly enough, accountability to the CITIZENS who VOTE for you seems to be less than that of the top 8 earners when it should be completely the other way round.

SO HOW CAN COMPENSATION BE JUSTIFIED WHEN THE RISKS TO REWARDS ARE NOT COMPARABLE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

4) Rise in cost of living

I have no idea how the EMA is justifying the rise in electricity prices. I came across this person's explanation of what EMA is doing, so, I won't repeat. Read it. I am still waiting for the logic to happen. Oil prices have fallen to the point where the Prince of Saudi Arabia feels compelled to say what it should be at. Why has my electricity prices not gone down? I actually expect electricity prices to go down not just by 21% but by another 21% in addition to the raise being taken away. We are back to oil prices of 5 years ago... so should our electricity prices.

Was Obama speaking to the Singapore government?

2008-11-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

I read this article on CNN 2 minutes ago and was wondering if he was speaking to our government... hmmmm, seems like what we have been saying these last few days. Except that it now comes from a person who:

(1) unlike our PM, wants to unite his country.

(2) unlike our ministers and MPs, is taking on the true meaning of SERVING THE PEOPLE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

(3) unlike our government, even before he takes office, is already taking responsibility and making himself ACCOUNTABLE to the people for fixing this financial mess the US and the rest of the world is in.

(4) unlike the PAP, is about to appoint an OPPOSITION (Defense Secretary Robert Gates) member into his cabinet and not sue his butt into eternity...

All while drawing a salary 4-5 times less than the PM of our tiny country.

Best line I have heard in a long time:

"If you are already worth tens of millions of dollars, and you are having to lay off workers, the least you can do is say, 'I'm willing to make some sacrifice as well,' because I recognize that there are people who are a lot less well off, who are going through some pretty tough times," Obama told ABC News.

Salary for the best talent... new formula within!!

2008-11-25T04:48:00.000-08:00

Today, it was reported that the government and top civil servants will be taking pay cuts. Actually, read and listen carefully.

THEY ARE NOT TAKING A PAY CUT.

They are just NOT getting variable compensations and salary increases.

So, there is really NO pay cut. They will be taking home less NEXT YEAR (because we are still not quite in a recession yet this year) than they would be this year because of the decrease in variable compensation and the DEFERMENT of their planned salary increase in Jan 2009.

Yippee effin yea!!!

BIG EFFIN DEAL!!!

And then I'm told by the news that "Singaporeans welcome the move by Civil Service to cut pay".

Really? Last time I checked, I am a Singaporean and yet I don't remember being asked if I welcomed this move? I actually asked my colleagues, family and some friends, altogether, maybe about 35 people, and none of them were asked whether they welcomed this move... hmmm, I am wondering if I can sue someone, anyone, for putting words in my/our mouth(s)??

What a sweeping statement when I can almost immediately find 36 people who disagree.

Anyway, I know we have all been through this many times, but let me just do this again.

These are some statistics from the G7 countries.

United States

Population: 305,738,000 (3rd)

Area: 9,826,630 sq km (3rd)

President's compensation: USD400,000 + USD150,000 in various expense accounts

United Kingdom

Population: 60,975,000 (22nd)

Area: 244,820 sq km (79th)

Prime Minister's compensation: GBP200,000

Canada

Population: 33,438,000 (36th)

Area: 9,984,670 sq km (2nd)

Prime Minister's compensation: CAD300,000

Italy

Population: 59,715,627 (23rd)

Area: 301,338 sq km (71st)

Prime Minister's compensation: unknown

France

Population: 64,473,140 (20th)

Area: 674,843 sq km (40th)

President's compensation: EUR240,000

Germany

Population: 82,217,800 (14th)

Area: 357,021 sq km (63rd)

Chancellor's compensation: EUR220,000 + EUR22,000 bonus

Japan

Population: 127,433,494 (10th)

Area: 377,873 sq km (62nd)

Prime Minister's compensation: USD300,000

Drum roll please....

Singapore

Population: 4,839,400 (114th)

Area: 707.1 sq km (190th)

Prime Minister's compensation: SGD3,040,000

So, let's put this into perspective.

Singapore's PM gets paid about 4 times MORE than the highest paid head of state (US)in the G7.

BUT,

Singapore's population is almost 10 times LESS than the country with the smallest population (Canada) in the G7 and;

Singapore's land size is almost 356 times SMALLER than the country with the smallest land size (UK) in the G7.

What is wrong with this picture?

EVERYTHING.

(1) Singapore is a country, not a corporation (well, some might argue that it is a familee run business). And thus, we should not be acting like a corporation and compensating our government like a corporation.

Wool has been pulled over our eyes.

"THE BENCHMARK IS SET AT TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEDIAN PAY OF THE TOP EIGHT EARNERS IN EACH OF THE SIX SECTORS: MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, LAWYERS, BANKERS, ACCOUNTANTS, LOCAL MANUFACTURERS AND ENGINEERS."

The benchmark is not comparing apples to apples.

MY SUGGESTION:

Why don't you take 100% (yes, I repeat ONE HUNDRED PERCENT) of the median of the TOP EIGHT HEAD OF STATE'S (and thereafter, all other government positions) in the G20??

Or just take the median of the governmental pay in the G7?

They are the 7 most industrialised countries in the world, aren't they?

That's the kind of GROWTH we are striving for, aren't we?

Then shouldn't we be more like them?

We are not a MNC. We are not a law firm. We are not a bank. We are not local manufacturers. (well, again, I can see some of you asking if I am sure the government is NOT any of the above, but that's not my point. The government is NOT MEANT TO BE any one of those things).

Why compare against them??

Tell you what, YOU ARE THE BEST GOVERNMENT, so, just for you, forget about medians. Why doesn't our top notch government, just take an additional 10% of the top pay in the G7. Because it's hard to retain staff, take 120%. Do that.

(2) Government service.

When one goes into government service, they are termed a government servant. That is not without a reason. You are now here to SERVE.

Being an elected official is an HONOUR. NOT A RIGHT (well, in some familees, it is).

When one gets elected, YOUR HONOUR IS TO SERVE.

Therefore, compensation is not what you are looking for when you put yourself up for elections. Your reward is the service to your country. This is the case with most countries.

People who want to be well compensated stay out of government service and stay in the private sector. THEY DON'T WANT TO SERVE.

Here in Singapore, they want everything. They want the honour, which has now become a right. And they want to be compensated for the honour of being an elected official. They have forgotten why/who they are serving.

And that's why, Singapore, the 114th country by population and the 190th country by size, has a government that is paid the salary that ranks us number one.

I know I am wasting my time. Nothing is going to change. The government and it's mouthpieces are going to continue reminding us that they took a pay cut and they are suffering just like the rest of us.

It's time for change.

We can and we will... if you make a conscious choice at the next ballot.

Some things I learnt this week

2008-11-22T18:42:00.000-08:00

(1) Town Councils are "for profit" entities.

If non-profit charities are subject to auditing, why should TCs not be subject to the same?

Why should a TC not be contented with a 1-3% rate of return on the funds that it holds?

Why do they need sooooo much in their sinking funds?

Why do they not pay more for upgrading projects but instead make the home owners pay a bulk of it?

What seriously is this excess money for? Our children?

(2) It's seriously pointless to go to Hong Lim Park.

No one is taking those who go to Hong Lim Park seriously.

The PAP is allowing you to go to Hong Lim Park to vent. The more off your chest, the lighter the burden on you (and them)... and in the end, we are all going to forget that the government was not there for the people yet again (and vote them right back in at the next elections).

You who have lost $500 million or more, the fact that there is news that TCs had lost $16 million and they are NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, is the sign that you are not going to get sh*t but instead, you are going to get sh*t on.

(3) MM Lee and his "I'm going (maybe already there) senile" comments.

- PSLE results were released this past week. I know 2 kids who are going to the "not so NORMAL" stream and they are kids of (1) 2 parents with Masters and (2) 1 parent has a Masters and another has a degree.

- On the other hand, I know of 4 kids who have at least one parent who is not a degree holder. In fact, one of the kids, her mother is a cleaner with Primary 6 education. These 4 kids all went to the "express" stream with one of them 5th in her school.

Can I politely request that all of you just stop talking? It embarrasses you.

(4) The state-run news agencies are getting worse.

Why do we even bother to buy the overpriced newspapers?

All that is in the papers are more of what the government wants us to hear/see.

Saturday's papers on "Young Dragons".

Why?

To tell us that foreign talent is good?

For every one of those examples in Saturday's papers, there are at least 50 chinese nationals (maybe more) who don't speak a word of english and are choking the country with their ill-mannered ways, their road hogging bicycling and expect first class treatment because they feel they are better than the local chinese. So how is that a good example. But of course we don't talk about them (the second lot) because they are good for growth. Oh, not to mention that some are prostitutes (the chinese nationals, not the people who work for the best judicial system).

Also in Saturday's papers. Front page news.

"Where workers come first"... again more propaganda.

While we are re-training 64,500 workers (and who knows how many of them are foreigners), we are still bringing in thousands of foreigners by the boat load to add to the half million we already have here.

But the article doesn't mention the second part of my statement above, it is just to continue brain-washing the citizens that YOU come first before the foreigners... and the state-run newspapers carries that as headline front page news.

It's a joke. Go online and read news from other news agencies. Stop paying for the damn PAP newsletter (ie The Straits Times) and definitely don't subscribe to them online either.

(5) Going Green and other policies.

I wrote something on Going Green yesterday. I have more to add.

It is kinda double edged.

Initially, the COE and gantries were developed to discourage car ownership and also ease traffic. I am not sure how many years into these plans we have gone but it doesn't seem to be working. Car ownership has increased, and will continue to increase with $10,000 cars available to consumers and $2 COEs.

More cars on the road DOES NOT help the REAL Going Green initiative.

BUT, more cars on the road does help the PAP Going Gr$$n initiative. COEs are but money to the government. Plus the tax on cars, (as the movie title goes) mo money, mo money. And then there are the gantries... (let's just see how many times we can squeeze money out of one product)

Here's an idea for our 7 figured degree holding (which is supposed to mean intelligent) government.

Why not let's go back to the old idea of car pooling? If your car does not have 4 people, then pay then INCREASED gantry fee.

Or even better, but will never be implemented. Instead of sucking the citizens money on COEs, make car ownership on a quota/ballot basis. But it will never work because the 7 figure earning minister will be subject to ballot, and not be able to flash his/her 7 figure salary by owning a high series BMW or Mercedes. So, scrap the last idea.

In fact, let's scrap both ideas because not only will the ministers be subject to a ballot and possibly not be able to own a car, it also means less money to their coffers. Stupid ideas.

Let's just not change things so it can help the environment and not help you.

(6) We are talking to ourselves.

The netizens are not making any changes in this country because there is only a small portion of this entire population that read what we have to say.

2 reasons. One, the reach is not far-reaching enough. Two, there are just too many more chinese inclined net users who will not bother to read these english blogs.

I don't know how to counter the second issue

As for the first issue. I read several blogs frequently. I think singaporedaily.net does a good job in "collecting" blogs written on Singapore. My suggestion would be to forward that website to all of ones friends and acquaintances like you would a chain e-mail.

Send out 10 a day for one month.

(7) Thank you Mr Majad, for reminding us that YOU ALL have done what YOU ALL FEEL is BEST FOR US all along and only now (when sh*t hits the fan), "going forward" will you be "listening to what residents prefer". And I thought YOU ALL were voted in to REPRESENT (please do me a favour and look up the meaning of this word) US in the first place.

Going Green?

2008-11-22T17:44:00.000-08:00

Is this more lip service by our beloved government and propaganda from our state run news agencies?

I think so.

Going Green (as in recycling, etc) is expensive for the government and it does not fulfill their idea of Going Green (as in making more greenbacks) and so, they just spew the message out as if it was free but do nothing else in terms of education of why we need to go green and how to do it, and they do not provide nor encourage the platforms on which we can go green.

(1) Last Thursday night, I had dinner with a friend who is an employee in one of the Polys here. He wanted me to take a look at a test paper that he had set and to vet it. I was obliging. But as I was looking through the paper, I had these questions for him:

- how many students do you have?

- how many times a year do you have these tests?

- why are your tests not online?

The government speaks to us like we are the village idiots and therefore, my explanation will be at the village idiot level.

My friend says he has 107 students, let's just call it 100.

The test was 11 pages, and I asked him if that was normal and he said it is usually between 10-20, depending on if it was a class test or like a mid-year or final exam. So, let's just use 15 as an average.

These tests are conducted anywhere between 2-4 times per semester and there are 2 semesters per schooling year. So, there are between 4-8 times per schooling year, so, let's just use 5.

From my calculations 100 (students) x 15 (pages) x 5 (no. of tests) = 7,500 (PIECES OF PAPER)

Then I asked him how many subjects there were. He said that every diploma would have around 12-20 subjects. So, let's take 15 again.

How many diplomas were there? He said anywhere between 5-15 per school. Let's just use 8.

And how many schools were there? He was not sure but he said between 6-12. So, let's just use 8 again.

And there are 5 Polys in Singapore.

So, here we go...

7,500 x 15 (subjects) x 8 (diplomas) x 8 (schools) x 5 (polys) = 36,000,000

So, just the poly system alone uses 36,000,000 pieces of paper solely for testing purposes... I have not even taken primary schools, secondary schools and universities into consideration...

HOW IS THAT GOING GREEN??

I have had the privilege of experiencing the US and Australian education systems and as far back as 10 years ago, I already remember taking computerized tests to avoid paper wastage.

(2) On Saturday, I accompanied a friend who had just moved back to Singapore after spending many years away to POSB to open some accounts. He wanted to open a current/checking account and was told he would also have to open a savings account with it (I don't understand why, but I think it is just to add their account opening stats). He was ok with it except that, POSB, DOES NOT offer savings accounts that do not come with a passbook. Seriously, a passbook? So, for every savings account POSB opens, they give a passbook? I don't know how many they open, but there, most wastage of paper.

And during the account opening process, he must have signed and been given at least 15-18 pieces of paper.

With all the technology available, is that really necessary?

About a year ago, I accompanied a friend to open a business account for his business in San Francisco, we filled NOTHING out on paper and we signed NOTHING on paper. EVERYTHING was on touchscreens or handheld devices.

Is our ASIAN TIGER, DEVELOPED COUNTRY, that far behind our other developed country brothers?

(3) My parents live in an HDB estate (I'm not saying where because I don't need them to move to Whitley Holiday Resort, but I think so of my family members are already halfway there without my assistance). HDB provides recycling containers for HDB dwellers. However, they are so far away that my Dad just says: "Too far, waste my time". It is a little inconvenient. And without the education on why recycling is necessary... it becomes a waste of time. Also, if the government is serious about it, why don't we make it more convenient?

The recycling bin they provide, I use it as my home does not have ANY recycling options. However, it is not emptied very often and everything is just left by the side. I don't even believe it is emptied every week because I do recall going 2 sundays in a row and noticing that my stuff from the previous sunday was still sitting by the recycling containers.

AND, people, without education on recycling, just leave the rest of their junk and other non-recyclable rubbish at the recycling bin.

How serious are we?

(4) In 2 separate instances, driving behind 2 cabs, I see that their emission standards are starting to choke me through my air-con. I believe, and I can't quite recall now and couldn't write while I was driving, that one of them was a SMRT cab, license plate SHC3551. Not 100% sure. These are quasi government companies that run these cabs. If you don't care, why should others bother?

Why will we not GO GREEN? Because it is a capital intensive initiative. It is NOT MONEY MAKING, at least not for the near term. I once had the opportunity to review a business plan of a recycling company to assess the viability of banking them (not in Singapore). They not only had over US$150 million in capital funding, they were not going to be profitable (by their projections) for the first 8 years. Our government does not have enough money to be not profitable for the first 8 years. GOING GREEN also means changing people's attitudes and that's something they would rather leave intact.

And by the time the government and the familee are gone, who cares if this country rots? They have made their millions and that's all that matters.

In case you didn't notice...

2008-11-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

the circus was in town last night...

the Parnum And Pailey Circus...

a nice big audience of 1,500 turned up for the show...

And the Ringmaster and his clowns put up a great show for the audience...

and the Ringmaster... he became a "fortune teller" during the show...

he foretold that there cannot be 2 shows in the same town...

I remember my Mother once told me:"If you don't try, how would you know it won't work?"

Maybe his mother never told him that... that's too bad.

But I guess he doesn't need his mother to tell him what my Mother told me. That's evident by how much he is compensated compared to how much I am compensated. Maybe my Mother was wrong. My Mother never brought me to the circus... and I blame her for that (or maybe not). But then again, I am not a fortune teller, the Ringmaster is.

But the Ringmaster, he is awfully versatile. He told quite a few jokes. I think he might have been a clown before he became the Ringmaster. But once a clown, always a clown.

The circus had an encore performance this morning at the Parliament house.

The clowns were back in action again.

And they did not fail to disappoint once again...

They performed more skits and told more jokes.

And boy were they funny and entertaining.

But one of the "skits", I think it should have been performed a long time ago. But then again, I don't run the circus, so, who am I to say when these performances should take place. Especially since the circus is so profitable. It must be doing something right.

I hope you get to catch the circus and it's clowns the next time they are in town. I am sure it's a show we can't AFFORD to keep missing.

Some things I learnt this week

2008-11-16T01:30:00.000-08:00

1) Sands and Singapore are a marriage made in heaven.

When Las Vegas Sands Corp. won their bid to develop Marina Bay Sands, they would never have envisioned the way the world is today (ie neck deep in shit, otherwise known as a financial crisis). LV Sands Corp just recently announced that it was temporarily stopping some of it's projects in other parts of the world BUT NOT in Singapore. Because... whatever happens, the Singapore government... no, the government linked companies... no, sorry, two COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES (yes, that's the term) will be there to BAILOUT... no, to RESCUE Sands from not completing the development of Marina Bay Sands. This will be Singapore's version of the US bailout for financial institutions. Except that Sands would NEVER have been bailed out in the US should the company have run into any trouble. But, to safe themselves some embarrassment, Sands will pull through because of their very smart selection into Singapore. Good for you Sands!

2) Another 30 more days and all will be forgotten.

Singaporeans are a very forgiving people. Today, you hear less and less about the minibonds/high notes/etc issue. In another 30 days, all will be forgotten. And in 3 months, this will be but just a thing of the past. Even if elections were to be held today, you would still vote the PAP in because... we are a very forgiving people... and THAT is a virtue. It was OUR fault that we bought these stinky products. It was OUR fault that we believed everything the salespeople had to tell us. It was OUR fault that we have lost... I don't remember how much we have lost, but everything is fine. May we all go to a better place when we eventually leave this world because we are just so forgiving.

3) There is only a "technical recession".

And that's why while people are losing jobs left and right, some civil servants just received a 6% pay increase and some other perks. It's great to BELONG to the government. If you are in the private sector, everyday is a new day of worrying if you still have your job. But because we are not in a real recession but only in a "technical recession" and if you sell your soul to the familee, you get a pay increment. Oh yes, I hear that civil servants are also going to get at least a months bonus because we are not in a recession. It's great to belong!!

4) The effectiveness of eviction

My friend whom I shared a little about in one of my previous postings would like for you all to know that: to his happiness, the foreign workers living below him have all moved out. He would also like to share with all of you his happiness of 16-20 Vietnamese hookers moving in. He thinks the government... no, the URA (please don't mistake them for one and the same) has done a wonderful job of enforcement and have replaced the thorns with roses. Go URA!!

And lastly.

5) Some parking advice.

A few nights ago, a friend and I, as we were walking towards her car noticed a meter maid ticketing a car nearby. We were not anxious as we had more than ample coupons. And, the meter maid had not come by her car yet. As the meter maid approached her car, I asked him why he was not giving tickets to those cars parked illegally on the roadside (double yellow line, fire hydrant, street corner, you name it, it was there) and his reply was :"It is not my job. I only give summon to those in the parking lot." I thought that was just wonderful advice. There are plenty of meter maids out there these days. So, if you don't want to get a ticket, forget about even parking in a legal lot and just park illegally. The place I was having dinner at, one friend told me he has been parking illegally there for almost 5 years and has never gotten a ticket but the meter maid comes by about every 2-3 hours.

I wanted to just praise the meter maid for his wonderful working attitude and also praise whoevers responsible for issuing tickets to illegally parked cars for their lack of enthusiasm that provides us with close to another extra 40-50 lots. I'm not going to say where this place is but I think this applies everywhere.

I'm confused!!

2008-11-13T05:55:00.001-08:00

Foreigners can't tell the PAP how to run this country;

BUT, SM can tell Obama how to run the US.

I call that double standards.

Also in that above article:

Mr Goh said: "We have a system of scouring the whole country for good leaders and we know more or less who are the leaders of each community. So we don't quite see one coming, but it is an open system and it is possible one day to have an outstanding person to become the Prime Minister of Singapore, whatever his race is."

So today we don't have an outstanding person as Prime Minister of Singapore?? Well... let me keep my thoughts to myself on that.

So, if you don't quite see one coming, does it mean that if the PM dies, the country will be run by a not too competent person? Or does it just mean that it will be run by a Chinese?

Regarding the casinos, oops, I meant IRs, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry had this to say yesterday.

"Government-linked companies are commercial enterprises. They have to make their own decisions on whether an investment makes sense for them or not. It's not for the government to tell them what to do,"

Really?

What would a commercial enterprise be doing with my CPF money? or the country's reserves?

Can my business get some of the CPF money too? Is there a memo I missed on a scheme where a commercial enterprise can use the country's reserves??

WTF are all you people talking about?

If it is not about defending the need for more foreign workers because of our need for growth, it is about how the government should not be involved in DBS and other financial institutions cheating their customers.

If it is not about defending why a gambling den is good for US, it is about who we should be marrying.

Do yourselves some good... my mother once told me, if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything. Or as the hokkien saying goes... lu bo gong wei, bo lang gong lu ay kow.

NEW ELECTION RESULTS

2008-11-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

If the familee were to run the US, this is what the election results would look like... well, kind of.

First, I have to assume that Obama would have made it to the polls, hopefully... and not before being sued off his butt into the world of bankruptcy.

So, humor me for a moment and allow me that assumption.

Second, we have to assume that Obama would not have been given 21 months to travel round the country to campaign, but instead, he would have been allowed 21 days to campaign.

But that's ok, because in the familee run US, he wouldn't have to go to all 50 states as some of them would have been GRSs (Group Representation State).

GRS 1 : California, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Alabama

Familee 13,302,881 Obama 13,299,430

Obama loses GRC 1 and thus loses California (55 electoral votes), a traditional Democrat stronghold!!

GRS 2: Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee

Familee 8,162,454 Obama 7,601,486

Obama loses GRC 2 and with it, Florida's 27 electoral votes.

GRS 3: Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Nebraska, N Dakota, S Dakota

Familee 7,156,354 Obama 6,903,678

Obama loses GRC 3, says bye bye to Indiana (11 electoral votes) and Ohio (20 electoral votes)

GRS 4: Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho

Familee 3,895,560 Obama 3,726,594

Obama loses GRC 4, Washington (11 electoral votes) and Nevada (5 electoral votes) go to the familee.

Familee wins US elections with 292 electoral votes. They needed only 270.

The African American does not get to become President of the US because like the son of the Familee had said: "I don't think so, you have to win votes." And Obama did not win votes.

The significance of Obama's win

2008-11-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

I am not going to create a link for this blog I stumbled across. I am going to post the url (and you can cut and paste it) but I don't really want it to be linked back to me... 'cos it's unfair to be so harsh to a 17 yr old (but I still had to 'cos I am an a-hole).

But I thought it would be an interesting read.

Please excuse his English. It is just plain horrible and there is no excuse for his English to be that bad considering that he is taking his 'A' Levels and 'A' Level students are supposedly the top 30-40% of that level. However, he does have some good points though, as much as he misses some of the main points.

Who's to blame him? He is the product of our awesome government's subliminal messages.

http://white-analyst.blogspot.com/2008/11/change-ur-head-lah.html

This kid is not the only blog I have read in the last few days to defend Singapore and it's attitude towards people of other races and racism in general.

Brainwashed Singaporeans (much like this kid) are saying that this is not a racist country, and that Singapore is way ahead of the US because we have "minority" ministers and members of parliament. Generally, the people of Singapore are most likely not racist. Of course, with every race, with every country, with every people, there are bound to be the outliers, but, in my opinion, generally, most people are not racist.

However, my take on this is that they are not comparing apples to apples. In fact, they are so far off, they are not even comparing fruit to fruit, it's more like comparing fruit to meat. Y'all dig what I'm saying so far? It's not the same.

And those defending Singapore (or if you look at it from the cup half full point of view, protecting (the name of) Singapore) are just not getting the point of the critics.

But let's start with the very surface level stuff:

FACT: America has finally, for the first time ever, voted an African American person into the highest office in the land. AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

FACT: Singapore has NEVER had a non-chinese person hold the highest office in the land. NO NON-CHINESE PRIME MINISTER.

(Singapore's Prime Minister = US President. Well, actually not. What I meant to say is the seat of the Prime Minister in Singapore = the seat of the President in the US. They are not equal because the US President is getting short changed. He is getting 1/10th the salary to lead almost 80 times more people.)

FACT: Singapore has non-chinese ministers and members of parliament(MP).

FACT: So does the US. Outgoing Bush Administration has Condee (African American) as Secretary of State, Carlos Gutierrez (Hispanic) as Secretary of Commerce and Elaine Chao (Asian American) as Secretary of Labor.

My thoughts:

So, Singapore is still behind the US in that sense. Singapore is NOT ahead of the US till it elects a non-chinese Prime Minister. In fact, it is behind a lot of nations till it elects a "minority" (be it race or gender) to the highest post. Besides the US now electing Obama, India had Indira Gandhi from 1966 and then again in 1980, UK had Margaret Thatcher in 1979, Philippines had Corazon Aquino in 1986, just to name a few.

Can a non-chinese or a female EVER hold the highest office in the land?

Till then, quoting the number of ministers and MPs of different races voted in or are appointment holders is just not comparing apples to apples.

It DOES NOT PROOF anything positive, as far as race is concerned.

In fact, with the words of the PM, I think we are much farther off then I had actually believed.

As long as the father, son and holey goh exist, the DEVIL (Don't Ever Vision Indian Leading) will never have a chance. We are extremely protected.

(Ours is a different battle. We have voted in the "minorities". Our obstacles are with the familee controlling the show. And that's for an entirely different discussion at a different time)

There is this one very important thing many comparing the election of Obama to electing a non-chinese PM in Singapore have failed to take into consideration.

This is probably THE fact that makes the 2 situations non-comparable (ie not apples to apples). African Americans have a long history in the US (over 200 years) and it all began with Africans being sold into the country as slaves. The importance of Obama being elected as President is that this event is unofficially the "liberation" of the African American from their days as slaves. There is a much larger significance than there will ever be, should a Malay or Indian be elected as Prime Minister of Singapore. I don't really believe any pure born and bred Singaporean can claim they truly understand slavery and thereby, the freedom from it.

I don't really wish to go into the history of African Americans and slavery and the rest of the related stuff (and you are more than welcome to go research it for yourself), but even past 1963 when MLK made his "I have a dream" speech, while slavery had been legally abolished, African Americans were still being prosecuted and persecuted because of their skin color. MLK was supposed to have brought about some change to the black man's plight. On March 1991 (there were other incidents and points in between that I am not bringing up so as to make this long story shorter), the Rodney King incident just proved that America still had work to do regarding race issues. And on Nov 4, 2008, even though Obama broke another racial barrier, everyone knows the work continues. That IS the significance.

As Colin Powell said after the Obama victory, "Obama did not put himself forward as an African American President. He put himself forward as AN AMERICAN, WHO HAPPENED TO BE AFRICAN AMERICAN..." It was the quality of the candidate, not the race of the person... and the PEOPLE decided that.

Again, the people of Singapore are not necessarily the racist ones. We know who the racist ones are.

The untold story of "growth" (Part 2)

2008-11-08T01:38:00.000-08:00

Shortly after I wrote The untold story of "growth", I received an e-mail from the same friend whose earlier e-mail I had previously shared on yet a different posting.

This is her second e-mail to me.

"Dear xxxxxx

I like your recent posting about "growth". I have been wondering about this myself for some time. I don't go very much to the Geylang area but some of the Geylang activity also occurs here around my place. So, to a lesser extent, I know what you are talking about. It's disgusting.

However, let me give you a different angle to your story on "growth".

As you know, my Mother spends part of her time with me. So, when she stays with me, we get visitors (mostly relatives). They usually come by on weekday nights or during the weekends. Those are usually the busiest times around this area (in the form of "girl" activity).

I have a 3 year old nephew and a 6 year old niece and I would like to share with you a conversation I had the opportunity to be a part of.

Let's call my nephew Alex and my niece Sam.

Alex: Why are there so many girls living together (referring to the 2nd floor unit)? Do they all go to the same school?

Me: No Alex, they don't go to the same school, they are not students anymore. They may work together or maybe they are just friends.

Alex: But why so many people?

Me: I don't know Alex, maybe they are trying to save money.

Sam: Aiyah, Alex, they are not friends.

Alex: How do you know?

(I was thinking the same thing when Alex answered)

Sam: They are bad people.

Me: Why do you say that Sam? You don't know them, why do you say they are bad?

(completely not expecting that I had opened Pandora's Box...)

Sam: When we went for dinner the other night at Lorong xx, Auntie xxxxx said they are bad people.

Me (now proceeding a little more cautiously): Did something happen for Auntie xxxxxx to say they are bad people?

Sam: Yes, she said they are bad and that's why she had to kick Uncle xxxxxx out of the house.

Me: Oh...

(at this point, I thought that the conversation should end in front of the 3 year old and I would speak to the 6 year old separately, but.... )

Sam: Auntie xxxxxx said that this girls are there for men. And then she said that all men are terrible and will love these girls. Alex, she said everyone, you too, will one day fall in love with these girls and leave your wife and children.

Me (sensing that I was way deep in trouble): Sam, no, that is not true. Auntie xxxxxx is still very angry with Uncle xxxxxx and that's why she talks like this.

Alex: I will do what?

Me: Nothing Alex, why don't you run up to ask Grandma what she wants for dinner?

(trying my very best to protect the innocence of a 3 yr old)

Alex: Ok... (and he runs off)

This is a true conversation with my niece and nephew. The words that came out of my niece's mouth completely caught me off-guard.

The points I wanted to make from this conversation is:

- I understand your point that these females are in Singapore to satisfy the needs of the many of millions of male workers we bring in in the name of growth. But, they are all over the place. IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS, not just in some workers dorm down the street. They are right in our midst.

- They are going to affect the morals of our younger generation. It possibly has already affected the morals of our older generation, but the older generation are adults and they SHOULD be able to think for themselves... and suffer the consequences of bad decisions. The younger generation, in my opinion, should not be subjected to these environments.

- I don't recall anyone having to explain to me what a prostitute was when I was that young. I don't recall ever seeing one till I was probably in my mid to late teens. Why and how should I explain who these "bad people" are to the younger ones when all I wanted to do is just have dinner with them? How can I explain to a young one why Uncle xxxxx got kicked out of the house? You cannot avoid them in the general areas of Geylang/Joo Chiat. In fact, according to other accounts, there are other areas when they appear too, especially in food centres. Do we run and hide? If yes, where?

Your earlier post on "growth" does not mention this: The degeneration of the future. I'm very sad our government is willing to make such a big sacrifice in the name of "growth".

Yours sincerely,

xxxx xxxxxx"