tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174736882012-01-28T04:34:51.034+08:00The new Singapore skyline/Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.comBlogger59241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-42996002013871311582012-01-27T14:55:00.002+08:002012-01-27T14:55:47.293+08:00

Medical services, housing, education, public transportation, etc, are normally provided by the govt as institutions to serve the people. These organizations were set up using public funds to provide a cheaper alternative to their private counterparts. They have to be cheaper and decent enough to be of any use to benefit the people. They are the reasons why there is a govt and why people have to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-39238167529695683672012-01-27T10:48:00.001+08:002012-01-27T10:48:54.128+08:00

The two senior civil servants were reported to have been arrested and released on bail. So far most of the reports are highlighting their sexual indiscretions with the same woman and with some inkling on the awards of contracts through tenders. As far as I know, sexual misconduct is not a seizable offence. Correct me if I am wrong. It may be conduct prejudicial to the good image of an

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-56967164868120695172012-01-27T09:44:00.000+08:002012-01-27T09:44:14.610+08:00

The poll has ended and 180 participants cast their votes. 3 said yes, 173 said no and 4 were unsure. The final result is that 96% was against the salary package despite it being supported and approved by PAP. What to make out of this little survey? One thing, the participants are serious and thinking individuals and probably reflective of what the educated and informed Singaporean’s thinking.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-64348937174301007432012-01-27T08:31:00.000+08:002012-01-27T08:31:03.698+08:00

Every country is faced with the disease of corruption and finds their own ways to deal with them. The easiest and quite effective way, in case the problem is too big, is to simply behead them when caught. For a big country like China, they have yet to find a better way to deal with corruption. India, an equally big country with equally big corruption problem chose a diametrically opposite way, to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-19095409815016746172012-01-26T10:59:00.002+08:002012-01-26T10:59:33.538+08:00

George Yeo may have misread the message from Him and was in despair at his lost in Aljunid. He probably would be asking, why did He do it to him? He forgot that He may have better plans for him. By pulling him out from the bandwagon, George is now a free man, free from the taint of the gravy train. He must have found some goodness in George to lift him up from darkness and cleanse him from his

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-87380453811578107392012-01-26T09:13:00.002+08:002012-01-26T09:13:10.647+08:00

‘We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.’ Hussein Obama This is fruit for thought. Is it applicable to our city state? Is the number of people doing extremely

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-25687982752111753872012-01-26T08:42:00.002+08:002012-01-26T08:42:05.503+08:00

Over the last few days when news of the two senior civil servants were being questioned for corruption and now officially confirmed that they have been arrested and on bail, there are still many articles in the msm crowing about how incorruptible this island is and how the high pay to prevent corruption is necessary and effective. I think this is the time that everyone should just shut up about

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21605098343698079612012-01-26T08:12:00.001+08:002012-01-26T08:12:17.795+08:00

The netizens are in flame. Practically every netizen is saying, ‘see, I told you, more pay does not mean no corruption.’ Just because two senior civil servants were arrested by CPIB, it does not mean that they are guilty. It also does not mean that all the civil servants are equally bad. Two swallows do not make a summer. My view is that there is no such thing as no corruption, Only lesser. And

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-88297092657549392622012-01-25T11:49:00.002+08:002012-01-25T11:49:43.628+08:00

Who is the biggest maid employment agency? Who is the biggest employer of foreign workers? Who is the biggest reseller of cars? Who is the biggest insurance agent? Who is the biggest property developer? Who is the biggest toll collector? Who is the biggest employer of cheap labour? Who owns the biggest piggy bank? PS. One more day for the poll on Ministerial Salary on top right of page.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-29166425033039898922012-01-25T09:49:00.001+08:002012-01-25T10:08:32.346+08:00

Just because someone used the basic salary for comparison, it does not mean that everyone must use the same for comparison and analysis. One must know what is the intent of the discussion, comparison or analysis. If it is just a theoretical exercise to compare for the sake of comparing or argument, then no matter. Just compare anything, everything or nothing. It is just a comparison for

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-50506508824957462132012-01-25T08:14:00.001+08:002012-01-25T08:14:55.638+08:00

Politics and politicians have received many bad names which is unfair. Politics is a very difficult art or skill to comprehend and to practise. It takes a lot of skill and talent to practise politics and to be successful. Many fell to disgrace at the end of their careers. Compare to engineering, medicine or even law, politics is perhaps the most difficult of the lot, or any discipline. Everything

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-74776252889633435462012-01-24T12:38:00.002+08:002012-01-24T12:38:28.014+08:00

One day after the Dragon came in with a big bang, the ST today reported that the Commissioner of SCDF Peter Lim Sin Pang and Head of CNB Ng Boon Gay were both under probe by CPIB. This is really startling news to start the new lunar year with a bang. Since the big hike in salary for politicians and civil servants, corruption is more or less a thing of the past. With the kind of salary that is

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-64131021862747031702012-01-24T11:46:00.002+08:002012-01-24T11:46:13.685+08:00

Our parliament is still pretty tame compares to those in Taiwan or Japan or even India. But then again, it is always good to go fully prepared in case things get a bit rough. I have briefly listed down some items that MPs, particularly opposition MPs, should bring along as a survivor kit to Parliament. But before that, MPs must note that no firearms are allowed, not even firecrackers. No bottles

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-18354872936031679402012-01-23T09:39:00.001+08:002012-01-23T10:28:29.479+08:00

Ministerial Salary Review – Look at both sides now(Shen Guan Fa Cai means getting rich on promotion as court official) One of the key factors of the Review Committee’s recommendation is to peg minister’s salary to the top 1000 income earners, using the median with a 40% discount. Depending on the actual income, the salary could be near to the 501 of 1000 top income earners. Could it be above the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-75024661870355094602012-01-22T11:37:00.002+08:002012-01-22T11:37:32.099+08:00

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-32729097420318285362012-01-22T11:10:00.002+08:002012-01-22T11:10:52.645+08:00

I must say that we have an auspicious start for year 2012 with a more stable foundation for an agreeable year. The two political parties in Parliament have came to many common view points and policies. For a start, and the most important point to note, is that the PAP has commented and is happy that the WP has accepted the Salary Review Committee’s recommendation for ministerial salary. Though

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-64072825576738213092012-01-21T09:05:00.006+08:002012-01-21T10:04:55.415+08:00

Last night it was in the news, repeated several times to make sure that everyone heard it, that Lawrence Wong, Chairman of PAP’s Publicity and Publication Subcommittee, wrote in the PAP’s website demanding that the WP explains its change in position on the pay of ministers. And there is a half a page article in the ST today to signify how important it is and how strong the PAP attached to the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-75752986595721308502012-01-20T13:47:00.002+08:002012-01-20T15:26:42.546+08:00

"Minister of State Tan Chuan-Jin, choking over his words said: “I’m pained by the knowledge that I’ll miss the many moments when my children are growing up and time with my family. My parents are not getting any younger. Those moments missed do not return. Ever… In time I will look back and there will be gaps. But that’s life. I’m not sure how one considers it a privilege to miss these precious

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-70525194962960703162012-01-20T11:16:00.002+08:002012-01-20T11:16:04.661+08:00

The approval of the Salary Recommendation by the Review Committee also means that all the assumptions and logics are accepted as valid. The major points are, need to pay high salary to attract talent, right to peg ministerial salary to top 1000 income earners, right to pay allowances and variable bonuses based on the formula submitted. The other things that are accepted include a clean wage bill

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-2293359188642380932012-01-20T10:24:00.002+08:002012-01-20T16:39:42.934+08:00

Parliament has approved the recommendation of ministerial salary by the Review Committee. Technically, the MPs are representatives of the people and when they support the bill, it means the people also support the bill. So technically the MPs have spoken and voted on behalf of the people and voted for the new salary package. I have just created a poll on this to find out how many people support

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-69491378969296135002012-01-20T09:13:00.002+08:002012-01-20T09:13:47.700+08:00

MPs elected to parliament quickly learn that parliament is not a kopitiam to sing song and talk cock. Parliament can be a treacherous place, like a war zone or battle field and requires special skills to survive the day. Maybe that is a reason why so many MPs chose to disappear during parliament sessions. The democratic process of parliament is the culmination of a contentious way of pursuing

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-1049722987352844922012-01-20T08:10:00.002+08:002012-01-20T08:10:31.235+08:00

MPs are part time jobs as they have another job or can have another job that requires them to work full time or 8 hours a day officially. MPs that resigned from their full time jobs to go full time are the full time MPs. This is easily understood. When I say that political appointments are part time jobs, I can see many eye brows being raised. The smarter ones could see immediately where I am

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-43158120165434837392012-01-19T13:35:00.001+08:002012-01-19T13:35:29.475+08:00

The O level results have just been announced and so many students and their parents are elated with their straight A1s. Throw a stone and you will definitely hit one with at least 5 A1s and often more than that. Getting anything less is probably a rarity. I do not want to dampen their spirit as the Chinese New Year is around the corner. How many of these A1 students will make it to the top JCs,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-91881566059400905692012-01-19T09:33:00.002+08:002012-01-19T09:33:33.400+08:00

It really makes me sick to hear people whining that they are sacrificing for the country. So ‘jia lat’. The ruling govt must be damn ‘chek ark’ to turn these people into martyrs of modern Singapore. When a Sinkie is called to stand for political office, the first thought that came to his mind is ‘sacrifice’, despite the world’s highest paid salary, with many even getting more than the President

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-82096621784344344512012-01-19T08:32:00.002+08:002012-01-19T08:38:12.855+08:00

The ministerial salary recommendation was passed after three days of debate. Though there were some attempts to take issues with the recommendation on grounds of principles and methodology, eventually all was convinced that there was really nothing to discuss as it was a judgement call. And there was elation when a common number was found and a hurry to move on with no regards to how it is

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-38344357631402712362012-01-18T20:45:00.000+08:002012-01-18T20:45:24.214+08:00

Below are 7 short clips of WW2 films about the Japanese invasion of China and how this poor and unprepared nation was battered to pieces. It was only their human will and the spirit to live a life of freedom and the assistance of foreign forces from the West that helped the Chinese people defeated the overpowering and well equipped Japanese invaders. All peace loving and anti war human beans

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-39207167596972308642012-01-18T13:40:00.002+08:002012-01-18T13:40:11.254+08:00

The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 Jan 2012 Had the ASX deal gone ahead, Bocker could have comfortably hidden the far deeper downturn in equities trading experienced by his group than ASX over the past six months (although many a local stockbroker suffering loss of hair, sleep and a job might contest that view). Acquiring the ASX would also have reduced (although in some ways deepened because of

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-33612681966423070062012-01-18T12:40:00.000+08:002012-01-18T12:40:01.471+08:00

Hsien Loong is still thinking about promotion and career development of his employees. This kind of anomaly only exists in one country and no where else. No where in a democratically elected govt does a head of a political party has the privilege of career planning and development, and a salary scale for politicians as if they were employees of the state. In a normal healthy democracy every term

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-75955652667590949102012-01-18T10:19:00.002+08:002012-01-18T10:19:12.113+08:00

David Conner is retiring from OCBC after 10 years. He took over from Alex Au, the previous CEO. Alex was a Hongkie. The successor to David Conner is none other than another Hongkie, Samuel Tsien. DBS too did not have a local bred CEO for nearly two decades. The only local bank that still has a local in charge is UOB, which surprisingly is out performing the foreign run local banks if the value of

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-77941750610804948752012-01-18T08:36:00.001+08:002012-01-18T08:36:25.969+08:00

This guy was at a public tap with a big hose and filling water into a big tanker. Standing beside him was a long queue of human beans each with a pail or plastic container waiting for their turns. They have been waiting for hours but the tanker is so huge and may take several hours to fill it up. And several tankers were also waiting. Occasionally the guy at the tap would turn around and slosh a

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-20264408497622608162012-01-18T08:28:00.006+08:002012-01-19T14:04:50.465+08:00

We must see ourselves as the number one place to live for exceptional people. We must be an exceptional country and for that, the pay of our political leaders must be exceptional. We want the best and we shall pay the best salary in the world to get the best talent the world can provide. So far every suggestion and proposal for the minister’s salary is arbitrary. The logic is arbitrary logic,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-1258339477033167792012-01-17T11:48:00.000+08:002012-01-17T11:48:03.332+08:00

Be realistic and compares apple with apple. Alvin Yeo brought out an interesting point, that the political leaders of UK and US came from wealthy background and could afford to take lower salary. He quoted a few British politicians with net worth of 4 or 5 million pounds with the Cameron’s waiting to inherit a 30m pound fortune. For those with 4m or 5m pounds, actually ‘sub sub suey’ compare to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21542881998302351532012-01-17T11:02:00.000+08:002012-01-17T11:02:09.122+08:00

Heard everyone screaming for KPIs like words from the mouth of gods. KPIs are the answer to work performance and an objective way to measure performance of an employee. HR professionals would tell you that it is just a tool. And a tool is as good as the person using it. It is not something so simple to set. Does anyone know how much time and effort to write a good and reasonable KPI and how

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-25277928949559121152012-01-17T09:42:00.002+08:002012-01-17T09:42:53.675+08:00

The debate on the Ministerial Salary has started. A brief description of what I heard and read is that everything about high ministerial salary is for the good of the country and people. There is nothing about self serving. The island needs strong, good and capable leaders. And how to get them is through paying them well. The ministers and MPs are arguing for more money not for themselves, but

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-50236958355960693402012-01-17T08:24:00.001+08:002012-01-17T08:24:42.052+08:00

The obsessive attention on the politicians and their political pay package has distracted the people from the vital role the civil service plays in the running of the country. The politicians come and go, by choice or by being ousted by the people when they are no longer trusted. The civil servants are career employees who will be there to serve whichever govt that comes to power. They will only

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-28039938603405271392012-01-16T13:00:00.002+08:002012-01-16T13:00:23.526+08:00

It takes about 13 hours to be in London, or if one drives, about 5 hours to be in KL. This woman and her two teenage daughters took more than a day to walk from Yishun to Tampines. They took a break in Chai Chee at night, sleeping in the void deck, and prepared to walk another 6km to Tampines. She had recently gone through a divorce and has no place to stay. They were walking to seek help from

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-61258590514821052472012-01-16T11:25:00.002+08:002012-01-16T11:25:27.062+08:00

The ST reported several cases of Singaporeans travelling overseas and were detained for months in foreign jails and treated by criminals. And their crimes were due to some rogues in uniform and their wild imaginations. They arrested them on grounds of suspicions or when they were under some kinds of hallucination that a family could be involved in human trafficking or trying to sell the children

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-19692566165875754872012-01-16T08:25:00.001+08:002012-01-16T08:25:44.497+08:00

Monday 16 Jan 2011 could be the most significant day in the history of Singapore politics. It is a day when the grossly overpaid compensation package of the ministers, a world record that belittles all other records in the Guinness Book of Records, will be put under the microscope. It could be expected that every single dollar paid under the system will be questioned. But one thing for sure, the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-37568737983439558162012-01-16T08:18:00.000+08:002012-01-16T08:18:06.872+08:00

'Elevation map that can help fight flooding may cost up to $125m Data from such mapping can be used in a computer model to predict floods, experts say A map that can show the height of land across Singapore and help fight the flooding problem could cost up to $125 million. Users of the map, accurate to within 10cm, would have a better idea of where rainwater would flow during storms. The data,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-59518266503962255232012-01-15T10:39:00.000+08:002012-01-15T10:39:07.484+08:00

Many people are familiar with Maslow’s four levels of needs Theory. The normal progression of normal human beans is from one level to the next. After observing recent developments in our society, I will take liberty to offer a couple of variations to this great social theory. The theory states that once a person has attained all this needs for Recognition in level 3 he will proceed to level 4

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-43519073420764230792012-01-14T09:33:00.002+08:002012-01-16T09:39:29.827+08:00

Monday is a big battle day in Parliament. 25 MPs will take to the floor to discuss the recommendations of the Ministerial Salary Review Committee headed by Gerard Ee. The agenda has been set. They will be discussing about the recommendations for future salary for primarily political appointment holders. The salary for MPs is more or less accepted as reasonable and may at most received a cursory

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-86622343764440683142012-01-13T16:28:00.002+08:002012-01-13T16:28:23.959+08:00

This is really unprecedented and the US is denying that it has anything to do with bullying or intimidating Iran. USS John Stennis, USS Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln will be waltzing in the area very soon. This amassing of forces is more than the two carrier groups in the Western Pacific Ocean during the tense confrontation between China and Taiwan a few years back. All the indications are

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-24002248162778648562012-01-13T11:45:00.002+08:002012-01-13T11:45:38.599+08:00

I have abstained all this while from making reference to her directly with due respect to all parents, husbands and brothers and sisters of every young person. She is after all someone’s daughter, somebody’s wife and sister. It is not very kind to be so harsh in our comments on her. Many do not know her and made remarks based on the few things or comments they heard or read about her in the media

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-55487822332145208072012-01-13T10:06:00.003+08:002012-01-13T10:06:25.719+08:00

There is a big battle between Asian Assholes and East European Professor in Chip Bee Estate. The trouble started when the professor had parties one too often and making too much noise to irritate her Asian neighbour. So the latter reported to the police and even recorded their jokes and adulterated conversations with phrases like Asian Assholes. The professor has now made an apology for the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-43897965978269188542012-01-13T08:35:00.001+08:002012-01-13T08:35:40.626+08:00

Don’t give me that puzzled look can? I was thinking of another title, ‘The temptation of Jesus Christ’, but that may be too religious an approach. There are many reasons why Sinkies need to stand up to protect the ministers. And there are many known and good reasons to do so. We were told that they are the crème ala crème of the super talents on this piece of rock. This must be a good enough

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-72746702337174752092012-01-12T15:53:00.003+08:002012-01-12T15:54:53.525+08:00

Bloomberg By Kana Nishizawa and Marco Lui - Jan 12, 2012 Securities traders and restaurant staff will protest outside the Hong Kong stock exchange offices today over the bourse’s plan to reduce its lunchtime trading break. As many as 1,000 protesters will gather at the Statue Square in the city’s central business district at 4:45 p.m. and walk to the headquarters of Hong Kong Exchanges &

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-12285091703250702862012-01-12T12:54:00.002+08:002012-01-12T12:54:17.859+08:00

More and more cases of PRs and new citizens benefitting from the housing policies or taking advantage of them are being reported in cyberspace. And to think that they did not have to do NS and could get a public flat so easily while so many Sinkies are not even eligible for some cock reasons, singles, income too high etc etc, makes the blood boils. How can policies be formulated that put Sinkies

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-51839380674410622012012-01-12T10:07:00.003+08:002012-01-12T11:01:26.952+08:00

The recommendations of the Salary Review Committee will be debated on Monday 16 Jan in Parliament. It will be PAP versus others, between those going to vote for the recommendations and those against it. It will not be a debate on conscience, not about morality or decency, but a debate on policy. Yes, Gan Kim Yong said the whip will not be lifted. This means that the PAP MPs must toe the line,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21994917625258687042012-01-12T08:24:00.003+08:002012-01-12T08:24:54.792+08:00

I heard that some experts are recommending that SMRT provide incentives in the form of monetary rewards to commuters to take the trains outside the peak hours. I think this is a very ingenious suggestion. How come no super talent can think of such a brilliant idea? I am seriously considering doing that now and see how much money is SMRT going to incentivize me. Okay, my office starts work at 9

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-16540497369889043792012-01-12T08:18:00.001+08:002012-01-12T08:21:26.090+08:00

When they want to find a nice name for Marina Bay, they sought the expertise of foreign consultants who advised them, after collecting $400k, to call it Marina Bay. Today we have this MRT problem, a system that we have been operating for 30 years and looking like falling into pieces. And who else to look for expert advice when there is none locally? Call for foreign experts lah. Just pay only

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-56441613157140661162012-01-11T16:03:00.001+08:002012-01-11T16:03:53.423+08:00

China has woken up to its folly of investing its money in American stocks. The last decade had seen China losing billions in pouring money into American stocks while neglecting its own stock market. Instead of making money, it burnt a big hole for its blind belief and adolation of Wall Street and the great American financial con game. While doing it, it also in a way allowed the hollowing of its

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-14681067383666657222012-01-11T10:55:00.003+08:002012-01-11T11:04:11.398+08:00

You cannot run a country on greed or money. If what is good for the country is all about greed and money, then you will have to face policies that are greed or money driven. A country is about the well being of its people, not about the well being of a few rich men or women, not about the superb infrastructure, not about GDP growth, if they don’t benefit the people. To connect the performance

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-6289600032310298692012-01-11T09:06:00.001+08:002012-01-11T09:06:49.345+08:00

I am very impressed by the credentials of all the top drainage experts in town and their fanciful solutions to the ponding problems in Orchard Road. I think they will work, if not, just at a few more measures as things go along. It just costs a little more money that’s all. I am no expert in any of these stuff, drainage, catchment area, water flow, rate of flow, porous material, drain capacity,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-11417846154061002432012-01-11T08:18:00.003+08:002012-01-27T14:38:45.015+08:00

I ask how much, not what is political leadership. And I say political leadership, not administrators or civil servants. Political leadership, is priceless, I mean the good ones, the really good ones, not those gold plated stuff. Leading a country needs leaders, to motivate the people, to challenge the people, to lead the people. The reverse, to demotivate the people, to tell them there is no

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-52472432462270060982012-01-10T11:43:00.003+08:002012-01-10T12:09:54.481+08:00

How much do you want? As the salary or money issue continues to engage the daft Sinkies, I would suggest that they get real. Throw away all the fictitious and fallacious assumptions and formulas. There is no right or wrong answer. What is right to the ministers may not be right to the people and vice versa. What is right to one minister may be wrong to another. Let’s just ask them how much they

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-22865960419714997002012-01-10T09:51:00.000+08:002012-01-10T09:51:02.983+08:00

In every dark cloud there is a silver lining. And the SMRT fiasco is no exception. Many good things came out from it. Never did the authority know that there were so many faults and maintenance issues that need to be rectified and put right. Didn’t the authority know that there are so many emergency procedures that were put to a real test and found wanting. It was all a big lapse. Nevermind, it

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-33314958498253952452012-01-10T08:36:00.000+08:002012-01-10T08:36:21.044+08:00

The debate on the world’s highest ministerial salary continues. What is unfortunate is that all the nitwits are stretching their discussions to both ends of the extremes, that we should not pay our ministers out of this world salary or pay them to be paupers. When one starts to argue on the premises of extremes, the argument becomes silly and so do the nitwits. None is trying to ask the simple

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-91375334453148768762012-01-09T14:28:00.002+08:002012-01-09T14:28:15.141+08:00

I was curious when the police allowed the rally in support of Anwar at the High Court. It could be a very serious demo if Anwar was found guilty. Now that the truth is out, very likely the verdict was already known and the goodwill for approving the rally was the final touches to a happy ending to a bad saga. The opposition should appreciate this new openness and freedom they are enjoying under

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-39244118866276956582012-01-09T11:07:00.001+08:002012-01-09T11:07:00.538+08:00

How things can change overnight. Many great arguments, uncontested and unchallenged, were elevated to become the daily mantras of Sinkies. Overnight, after a heavy storm, the dull Sinkie minds seem to have brightened after the rain water flooded them. Now they are calling all the mantras high falutins. They don’t believe in any of them anymore. The first to fall is the high salary for super

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-59187174021826842722012-01-09T09:17:00.001+08:002012-01-09T09:17:43.865+08:00

Is this what is happening to Singapore? Or is it just a case of a little bad govt for the testing to remind the Sinkies not to pray pray with what they already got? For nearly 30 years, the train was running quite near to clockwork precision or as good as you can get. Any disruption was minor and not something to be expected. Over the last few weeks, train faults, delays, slow down etc etc were

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-20670920364330324942012-01-09T08:09:00.002+08:002012-01-09T08:09:47.653+08:00

Soros and his company were once the typical corporate raiders the commercial world was used to. They have been superceded by a new brand of corporate raiders that are running and ruining many corporations to bankruptcies. The new corporate raiders are the senior management of corporations, hired to run the corporations but ended up raiding the corporations. The lack of accountability and the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-34478421082350877822012-01-08T13:43:00.002+08:002012-01-08T13:43:55.182+08:00

He told the Americans that this is a tough battle. He needs money, and more money. And he has to fight Congress for it. No, he is not fighting for his own pay. If he does, I would recommend him the Singapore formula and the Singapore system. Just tell Congress that there is this wonderful model that works, and it pays the head of govt a basic of $3m with 27.5 months of variable bonuses as backup

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-47576679290466945272012-01-08T13:14:00.000+08:002012-01-08T13:14:09.283+08:00

This is a non issue for commercial enterprises selling hamburgers, shirts, mobile phones or chicken rice. Their primary preoccupation is to serve their customers, make them happy with their services and products to boost their bottom lines. And they can only boost their bottom lines if the customers are satisfied with their services. None of these enterprises can hope to compete and exist in the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-14963118315996807982012-01-07T08:56:00.000+08:002012-01-07T08:56:30.693+08:00

The events that were unfolding over the last two days must have numbed many Sinkies. After reading all the information laid out on the salaries of ministers, I am still in a state of shock. The GE was like a minor earthquake of 5 in the Richter scale followed by an after shock in the Presidential Election. This revelation is like a 7. There will be bigger after shocks, and maybe a tsunami over

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-46321729549337112882012-01-06T13:59:00.003+08:002012-01-06T15:24:26.407+08:00

I read what Grace Fu said. She came forward to serve the country with a cut in income, her career disrupted, the privacy of her life and family affected, and now this, a further cut in her salary. This is indeed too much to ask for from a fellow citizen. Lose money, lost out in career and now lose more money. I can understand her unhappiness. I will support her if she chooses to leave politics

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-12255163647648913322012-01-06T13:15:00.002+08:002012-01-06T13:34:20.655+08:00

After killing two Arab Presidents, it is now gunning for the third. At the same time it is preparing to start wars in the Korean Peninsula and South China Sea. It is forcing Iran into a corner by all kinds of sanctions possible. Under such provocations, it would be justifiable and expected for Iran to do a Pearl Harbour like what the Japs did under similar provocations and economic strangulations

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-53207338696413538912012-01-06T09:17:00.000+08:002012-01-06T09:17:00.907+08:00

This question keeps popping up in every discussion after the discovery of how much the ministers are getting under the current formula. And when this question was asked, many would want to say $200k or $300k or $500k. But all were too shy to say it. They know that these numbers would not be accepted by people used to earning millions and have millions as their base reference point. The best

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-41223291401969911292012-01-06T08:13:00.001+08:002012-01-06T08:13:00.840+08:00

Arising from the proposed ministerial salary cut, there is this comment by Eugene Tan of SMU, that ‘Often, as in the private sector, you get what you paid for.’ This linkage of monetary value to the intrinsic value that comes with a person’s service, work, or the quality of a product can be misleading. Not everyone who makes a lot of money is a super talent. Many gamblers make more money than

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-45435166242460613002012-01-05T13:36:00.003+08:002012-01-05T13:40:55.682+08:00

I read this report from a Elena Torrijos in Yahoo News, Singapore. This is her first 2 paragraphs. Updated (6.24pm) Singapore ministers, among the highest-paid in the world, should have their salaries cut by 37 per cent to S$1.1 million and their pension benefits stripped, the panel to review political pay said in a press release to the public on Wednesday. Singapore ministers are only among

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-87427965683075715232012-01-05T11:33:00.002+08:002012-01-05T11:33:59.186+08:00

The Today paper has a chart listing the amount that could be paid out to a political appointment holder under the current framework. 1. 12 mths basic salary 2. 1 mth NPAA 3. 1 mth Special Allowance 4. 2 mths Public Leadership Allowance The above are fixed or guaranteed. Thus an appointee will get 16 mths of his basic salary. Below are the variables. 5. 0-1.5 mths Annual Variable Component 6.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-89660508240534521002012-01-05T10:13:00.000+08:002012-01-05T10:13:30.907+08:00

The Americans are superb in mobilizing mass thinking to serve their own interest. They raised a few targets, gave them some names that people loved to hate, and viola, the masses of the world will be attacking the targets and forget about what is happening around them. The silly Asians are hating the Iranians, the Iraqis, the North Koreans happily and obsessively. In the army, many males Sinkies

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-79508592558240230242012-01-05T08:29:00.001+08:002012-01-05T08:29:58.008+08:00

We have heard it and everyone is talking about it. Great formulas and reasons given to support the recommendations, but it is still not right. The principles and concepts are all wrong, and as such the recommendations are still stuck in the mud, with basically the same old ideas with a little cosmetic changes here and there. There is nothing innovative or new about the recommendations. The big

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-76909226213451728322012-01-04T14:23:00.002+08:002012-01-04T14:23:48.782+08:00

Now you people got to go and sayang the ministers. Sakit lah. I hope this cut will not affect the political system of recruiting the best to stand for election. The good guys who still want to serve should still step forward despite the lower salary. And the concern of corruption if pay not enough, may it not happen to prove that the old belief is right. Someone please tell them their dignity

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-55444159910057513612012-01-04T13:26:00.001+08:002012-01-04T13:26:27.620+08:00

This is not confirmed but came out from the wire. The recommendations could see a 28% cut for Hsien Loong, 31% cut for junior ministers and 51% cut for the President. MPs will get a 3% cut. And this will be back dated to 21 May 2011.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-6707249164285174482012-01-04T10:33:00.002+08:002012-01-04T10:33:49.377+08:00

After reading the article on Piyush Gupta, I have to take back my words on foreign talents running local enterprises. He went in and found a rotten apple that still looked good from the outside. ‘He was aghast that a bank of the standing of DBS lacked the very basic and fundamental processes required of it.’ And DBS head hunted some of the best finance talents across the world to be in such a

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-70923614691499274242012-01-04T09:44:00.001+08:002012-01-04T09:44:12.502+08:00

The recent tightening of regulations on trading high risk instruments and products through the SGX is ruffling some feathers, of the investors and brokerages. It is quite a complicated exercise to safeguard the interests of naïve and ignorant investors in sophisticated, highly geared derivatives and foreign shares. The new regulations have made monitoring, administration and its execution quite a

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-81175981370112324472012-01-04T08:36:00.000+08:002012-01-04T08:36:23.083+08:00

I have to pick this issue up regularly to remind the Sinkies that the CPF savings are their money. No buts, not even legislation is allowed to take them away from you. I have read in many blogs and feel very embarrassed and shameful that Singaporeans are resigned to the fate that their CPF money is as good as gone, forever. Some meekly took the position that it is another form of tax. Please, do

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-87517482325206456472012-01-03T13:10:00.000+08:002012-01-03T13:10:31.367+08:00

An enlightening long article, full of information that the author laid bare for all to see. Many knew but pretended not to know or have good reasons not to talk about it. It is mafiadom at the highest level practised by the most unscrupulous crooks of all time. Spend the time to read it slowly and get informed of the real world of big time crooks and wicked men. Here's the article. As

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-67049122444085165032012-01-03T10:12:00.001+08:002012-01-03T10:12:02.837+08:00

The PM has acknowledged the bigger role played by the bloggers in giving feedback to the govt, or the govt listening to their grouses and acting on them. Outside of the establishment set ups, outside of the political system and intrique, there are a few more prominent voices in cyberspace that are gaining a bigger follower for their unrestraint and non party views, views that are personal,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-1888114342473744872012-01-03T09:19:00.002+08:002012-01-03T09:19:56.159+08:00

Malaysia - Senior citizens can look forward to a healthy start to the new year - they can seek outpatient treatment at government hospitals and clinics without having to fork out a single sen. Effective yesterday, the Government abolished the token RM1 (S$40 cents) payment senior citizens needed to pay each time they sought such treatment. The Health Ministry announced in its latest circular

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-31708573157838329372012-01-03T08:22:00.000+08:002012-01-03T08:22:11.212+08:00

Many Singaporeans may be unhappy with him and his arrogant housing policies and how it affected their lives and their income. Because of that, many have forgotten to look at the good side and achievements of this man. He was handed a $2b problem, more than 10,000 units of unsold HDB flats. There was initial panic when so much money was tied up in unsold properties. Then he did a miraculous feat

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-89522765410716428752012-01-02T08:19:00.002+08:002012-01-02T08:19:42.022+08:00

Many ordinary people will understand this give and take phrase to mean you take some, you give some, or you give some and you take some. It is so simple as that, or is it? Different people have different takes when comes to give and take. Some say those who have been taking should stop taking and those who have been giving should stop giving, and the role be reversed. The takers should start to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-30157098087072821952012-01-01T09:10:00.004+08:002012-01-01T09:24:40.477+08:00

2011 set the stage for change in a new world with new players. The Americans tried very hard to retain its number One super power status and to contain the challenge coming from an emerging China. Much as it tried, American power is dwindling in the midst of economic failures and a mountain of debt. America continues in its pursuit of military power and control, getting itself embroiled in wars,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-1069129201239676722011-12-31T09:13:00.002+08:002011-12-31T09:13:54.576+08:00

When the concept of super talents in politics was first proclaimed in an edict, the people quietly accepted it as there was nothing to dispute the fact that the country has been very well managed, from the Third World to the First World. Albeit a little flaws here and there, overall the country was in the pink of health and the people were rich and happy. With this edict out of the way, it was

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-2008570324320984402011-12-31T08:15:00.002+08:002011-12-31T08:15:48.164+08:00

KARACHI: Fed up with mounting losses at its only major investment in Pakistan, the Singapore-based Temasek Holdings is selling off its stake in NIB Bank and is reportedly in talks with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, sources told The Express Tribune. Senior management officials at NIB Bank were so tight-lipped about the transaction that, not only did they refuse to discuss the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-19534540391996412162011-12-30T10:24:00.002+08:002011-12-30T10:24:47.257+08:00

This will be the big one. No peace in the Middle East with the Empire threatening to impose sanctions on Iran to cripple its economy. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour when the West and the US tried to strangle its economic development and curtailing its access to oil and natural resources. Iran is not going to stand still and allow the Americans to hurt its economy. It is threatening to close

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-36969534491129274022011-12-30T09:04:00.002+08:002011-12-30T09:04:59.584+08:00

Where have all the retail investors gone? Why is it that so few are interested in the stock markets? Despite all the efforts to woo them, systems and designs tweaked for their benefits, the best stock market in the world, the fastest high speed computers to hand millions of trades in a few seconds, where are the traders? Is it that Singaporeans are allergic to trading stocks? No body knows why,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-86960516234660106232011-12-30T08:33:00.000+08:002011-12-30T08:33:34.505+08:00

Many people tend to write about social political developments in Southeast Asia as if these countries were there from time immemorial. The truth is that many of these countries we see today and took for granted were never countries in the normal sense. Many were colonies or disorganized states of a different nature, and some have not even reached statehood in whatever counts. Singaporeans used

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-56708933598413512962011-12-29T10:03:00.002+08:002011-12-29T10:03:22.046+08:00

Members of a family who repeatedly tortured a 10-year-old relative over two years and left him permanently disfigured were yesterday sentenced to jail. The boy - who started living with his grandaunt and her family when he was four, after his mother went to prison - was beaten repeatedly, burned and had his fingers cut. … The court heard the boy was hit last year on his mouth with a hammer,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-57754694142475980132011-12-29T09:19:00.002+08:002011-12-29T09:19:39.179+08:00

The developers are worried that the recent property curbs may dampen the property market and lead to a recession. I think they are unduly worried and the fear is misplaced. Singapore is the choice estate for the rich to park their money, good or bad money, as long as they can get them in. The attractiveness of Singapore is a stable and good govt and a system of rule of law. Once the money is in

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-35497405536485563282011-12-29T09:10:00.000+08:002011-12-29T09:10:04.581+08:00

The ageing SMRT train system is looking like a goner. Instead of high speed it has to operate on slower speed. And instead of a smooth free ride, getting train disruptions and delays are going to be a daily affair. So what else needs to be done to improve the system of mass rapid transportation? I am including the words ‘mass’ and ‘rapid’ in case people think it is meant to be otherwise. First

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-71648802152359248052011-12-28T14:11:00.000+08:002011-12-28T14:11:05.145+08:00

Pakistan is poised for a big explosion, a military coup. The Army Chief came out to deny that a coup was in the making. What is worrisome is the discovery of a note from a Pakistani leader asking the US to intervene to prevent a coup from happening. What a recipe for disaster! Now, who sent that note out for help? Or was there really a Pakistani leader that sent out such a note inviting a foreign

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-8083701222341730392011-12-28T09:22:00.002+08:002011-12-28T09:22:24.432+08:00

Casinos started in a small way, and all illegal. They gambled with match sticks, cards, dice, beans, and some even have their manual roulette tables. Things changed when the sophisticated mafias started to engage engineers and technology experts to create new and more interesting games. For their huge investments to be profitable, they must find willing casino operators to use their machines.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-17862066002189460762011-12-28T08:17:00.001+08:002011-12-28T08:17:14.023+08:00

This episode does not seem to want to fade away. And the developments make the issue more confusing with some red faces in some quarters. Luckily SMRT was safe as there were records to prove what the PR executive said. Seng Han Thong had apologized and nobody is demanding an explanation, which means apologies accepted but no need to explain further. This should have been the closure. Then

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-38692799037368389172011-12-28T08:08:00.002+08:002011-12-28T08:08:41.877+08:00

Reading from the media and the unceasing pressure put on residents by Ah Longs and his guerilla painters and fire starters, it is obvious that Ah Longs have won the war. They are getting more outrageous and destructive in their attacks on innocent flat dwellers. Their coercive methods include taunting and terrorizing the whole neighbourhood and residents are living in fear. Shall I congratulate

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-4313759470871775182011-12-27T13:08:00.001+08:002011-12-27T16:51:46.095+08:00

Many people still believe that the sinking of the Choenan was committed by the North Koreans, except the South Koreans. I am not preview to the full facts, and so are many people. But from afar, one can still make some logical assessments based on the facts available and the actions of the parties concerned. It may not be right but at least it must be logical and not just some blind belief based

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-20714074040254938752011-12-27T11:05:00.002+08:002011-12-27T11:05:27.924+08:00

Saddam had to go when he schemed to replace the US dollar for trading oil. This was a dangerous move that would jeopardize the already weak dollar. When countries have no need to use the dollar to buy/sell oil, the demand for US dollar is going to go down the sewage. This was the logical reason put forth by many economists that explained why the hoax of WMD was shafted down the dead brains of

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-12532931148750045092011-12-27T09:55:00.001+08:002011-12-27T09:58:42.755+08:00

The MRT trains have been running fairly smoothly for more than 20 years. Recently so many incidents and faults occurred in a span of a few weeks. And despite doing a complete check, faults are popping up frequently like the popping of champagne bottles. The regular disruption is now becoming the new normal and commuters better live with it, just like ponding in Orchard Road. Should the whole

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-25949521121969859752011-12-27T08:57:00.001+08:002011-12-27T08:57:08.968+08:00

The death of Kim Jong Il has brought out some of the ugliest traits in some human beans across the world. In Taiwan, a news reader had the rude audacity to imitate the sorrows and grief in the way the North Korean news reader broadcast his death. And the Taiwanese thought it was fun. And some thought it was justifiable to win viewerships by such a poor taste act of disgraceful conduct. The

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-12574070382716116482011-12-27T08:13:00.001+08:002011-12-27T08:13:07.597+08:00

Living in a multi racial and multi religious society is getting more complicated and even demanding of everyone to be extra sensitive to the needs and taboos of everyone. The special needs could now extend to people with medical or psychological conditions as well. I will just confine to one specific factor of food and inviting people to a pig out or makan event, or a party, religious, cultural

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12