Singaporeans must be interested and concerned with what is happening to Singapore ...or be 'bo chap'

 It is very comforting to note that Singaporeans are showing great interest and concerns in the financial status of SIA, our national airline. SIA's investment in Air India and the losses it was made to pay have made many SIA shareholders fuming at the AGMs. Many have found their dividends and share prices being greatly affected or even forgone because of the losses in Air India that ended up with SIA making losses.  The shareholders have been questioning SIA management about this hole in SIA's pocket with some demanding that SIA should cut losses and get out of Air India.

Singaporeans in general have been following this drama and rightfully be equally upset. This is not just SIA's problem, it will in a way affect the nation's reserves and Singapore as a whole.  Many Singaporeans are beneficiaries of the govt's assistance in offering vouchers, subsidies and discounts in this difficult time of high inflation and cost of living. And they know that the govt handouts are closely tied to the soundness and performance of the nation's reserves and how these are being deployed and invested. 

To many concerned Singaporeans, the SIA dilemma is not a once off affair and can keep on draining the revenue of SIA.  Everyone would have his views on how to deal with this losing investment in Air India. Everyone would also have his subjective interpretation of the issues. No one can claim objectivity when looking at this unpleasant situation. No one can fault Singaporeans for having their own views on the issue. No one can blame Singaporeans for wanting to question how the funds are being invested as the fund managers are also human and have their own biases and blind spot and can also make wrong decisions. Similarly, decision makers are not God and are always right. If that is the case, all the investment decisions will not go wrong.

What is unsettling and making people unhappy is the way some Singaporeans are expressing themselves and often stepped into sensitive areas. Unfortunately not all Singaporeans are highly educated and sikit atas people and can think and behave rationally and objectively. There will be many Ah Bengs, Ahmads and Muthus among the hoi polloi, and some may utter things that should not be said at all. Some could be kids under 18 years old and needed protection from the social media themselves. It would be good if the wiser Singaporeans speak up on this matter instead of leaving it to the less enlightened masses. Caveat, the supposedly more well educated and sophisticated Singaporeans also have their biases and prejudices.

The authority is understandingly upset and has issued warnings about taking actions. Hope they will not be treated as terrorists or like the unfortunate mother trying to game the school admission system and ended in jail. Singaporeans should have the right to discuss national affairs and things that are of concern to them, but are advised to be more restrained and circumspect when speaking out.

The SIA issue will not go away and may not an isolated incident. There can be more of such incidents in the future.  Singaporeans should be encouraged to speak out, to complain about things they think are not right, If not, some may say, since there is no complaint, then everything is ok, Singaporeans are happy about it. Do the political leaders want Singaporeans to be mum about what is happening in Singapore? For sure many Singaporeans are very unhappy about SIA's investment in Air India and are watching how SIA is managing it, and may even want the govt to intervene if necessary. Singaporeans are speaking up and this is a good thing. Just be objective and rational. Speaking up is feedback for the govt.

Saudi Arabia is still going ahead with building the Jeddah Tower

Saudi Arabia is still going ahead with building the Jeddah Tower, having seen the logistical problem now facing the Burj Khalifa. I just wonder what benefit is going to be derived from being able to boast about the tallest building in the world. I guess it is a question of having so much money and nowhere to throw. But all that myth about unlimited oil wealth is ending for the Gulf countries.

Just 17 years or so into its lifespan, huge problems are surfacing for not just the Burj Khalifa alone, but Dubai as a whole. The desert heat is causing massive problems with the structure, the cooling system of the building is facing upgrading problems, the lack of a sewage system is monumental for a building of that size, and the structural integrity of the whole building is causing sleepless nights for residents and occupants. They may have tried to shield the steel embedded in concrete from corrosion during construction, but that is falling apart as well. Cleaning the exterior of the building is a logistical nightmare, with the very top beyond reach.

The higher a building goes, the more problems with its maintenance as it ages. Pumping water up to the top against gravity is a huge problem. Dubai depends entirely on desalination for its water and any hiccup in its water purification system means no water for that kind of building and others for a long stretch.

The USA should not try to target Iran's water resources, or else Dubai will be targeted in retaliation and suffer massive collateral damage That is a certainty and Iran knows where to inflict the most damage to hurt.


Anonymous

Virgo's morning bread...the changing prices of HDB flats

Our time no such nonsense as what's land sales and priced you must pay!

Three roomed from 9800 to 13500 for newer better built ones, Four rooms just at 24500, five rooms at 30,500 to 46000 for those bigger better ones

Why got land costs... under Dr Goh Keng Swee and Lim Lim San

The scholars started to "keng " and said hello collect land costs lah as one just promoted Sub Minister said for future generations! What's future generations?

They will say Private ones paid 20 to 30K for per sq metres and you lucky only 8000 to 10,000 for HDB. So they priced their pigeon holes at hundreds over thousands even for the smallest ones. One hand SLA collected the monies and then said HDB lost monies. At one time became unbearable so they said no worry we gave you so-called subsidies

They realised that the BTOs are out of reach of many Singaporeans but they cannot just simply start to reduce the prices as many had already paid an arm and limb to get them. Also if they do so there be an outcry and they have to pack their bags and pat their back sides the next erections as they would be screwed by the populace.The Papies shall lose their elections straightway. So no choice they have to keep raising the prices and now what's nonsense based in the resale selling prices of their estates that they are going to built

Now on just their construction costs ok ok plus some profits. They shall promised you no worry your assets shall rise and rise in the future. Sinkies conned by them. Wait later I shall tell you why.

So never never-ending high rise prices. That's why Sinkies how also must try to get one before out of hand and also thought later can make profits of millions later

Now we come to the point of SERs. Previously those sites that they wanted to redevelop are potential value to make also make their billions in future and or are for national infrastructures to build and they have no choice but to relocate you and they willing to compensate those so called lucky lottery winners owner's another new flat of 99 years leasehold plus monetary benefits

When these SERs owner's after five years MOP started selling their flats and gained hundreds of thousands they became red eyed and then started to "keng " again. So many old old flats that Sinkies thought their promise shall comes their turns for SERs and all awaiting for the jackpots payout!

Fat hope even for those previously chosen for SERS these are the potential ones that they neeed with prospects. You think hello they want your Jalan Kayu Ones for SERS! Not all be chosen for SERS even though they will still carry on the old policy

So now they came up with VERs! Aha that's the most brilliant one! Okay, we shall redevelop your old estate as really getting too old and not advisable to keep maintaining them. Here's the catch. Don't be too happy hoh! We shall relocate you to a new one but hello sad to say hoh your old flat lease only left 20 odd years.

So in order that you shift to a new one, here are the conditions:
1) If you wanted your new flat of a lease hold of another 99 or so where about years, simply lah we shall calculate how much you have to top up the lease for the 99 years ones

Not much lah, same time same mantra we shall subsides you! Not really much depending on.your flats sizes. Just a few hundred thousands more the market value lah for your new flats.

2)Alternatively, if you don't want then simple, just shift to the new flat and stay out your old lease until expired!

Ok,?.Good isn't it!

Next we come.to what's previously urban suburban and new towns with prices differentials. Last time under GKS and LKS all estates bored the same prices whether you loved to stay here or there. Then started their monopolised businesses. Pay more for so-called Urban lesser for Suburban and less for NewTowns. Oh because of what's nonsense better facilities.

Later, they found that all these socalled classifications prices are getting blurred as many paid more for the estates they wanted to live be it Urban, Suburban or NewTowns

The prices are now so close that they now implement this. Then they come up with Prime Plus and Standard. Whoa chia bey liao again into the Treasury

No eye's see

Virgo49

American terrorists terrorising Pattaya after failing to kill Iranians

 

10 min clip, 5,000 American terrorists let loose in Pattaya. They will be given first class service treatment, travel in nice air con coaches to paint the town red. Thai hospitality at the best. This is part of the supply chain of the war business. After all the killing and savagery, they are being rewarded with women, wine and song.

Caveat, while the American terrorists are rolling into Pattaya town in their sleek air con coaches with great expectation, the Thai govt is rounding up all the girls and taking them away. The American terrorists will find Pattaya with a lot of beer and food, but no girls.

Iran suffering under new American terrorist economic sanctions? Stop the bullshitting!

DUBAI: A US campaign to throttle Iran's economy by blockading its oil exports and stopping sanctions evasion is growing increasingly difficult to withstand, three senior Iranian sources said.

Washington has in recent weeks sought to ratchet up the economic pressure on Tehran, in an effort to extract concessions in any future negotiation that six months of conflict have so far failed to secure.

Although Iran's clerical rulers managed to bypass sanctions for decades, the latest US moves have left them in a far more sensitive position, with few remaining channels to secure foreign currency or buy goods, the sources said.

In particular, the effort to stop Iran from accessing international financing networks in other countries it has long used to keep its economy functioning poses a real and urgent threat, the sources said.  Reuters

The evil American terrorists continue to want to run down Iran, from Operation Kill Iranians to choking off Iran economically, and they are singing the song that Iran is collapsing under these sanctions from the clown regime in Washington.

This cruel and evil tactic to isolate and strangle whole populations eg Cuba, North Korea and many other Latin American countries worked in the past but no more. North Korea and Cuba are still kicking and alive. And the latest mother of all sanctions against Russia only hurts the Americans and Europeans. 

The Americans no longer hold all the cards. There are rising powers and alternative institutions, networks and supply chains to make sure Iran will continue to thrive and nullify all the stupid American effort. China, Russia and friends of Iran will not let Iran down. China alone can provide Iran with everything it wants, just like providing and supporting Russia and North Korea. With BRICS and SCO, everything is out of the control of the American terrorists, out of their sight. The American terrorists would not have a clue what is going on between Iran and BRICS and SCO members.

The American terrorists can make use of all western media and media of American cronies to run down Iran. But these silly media have lost all credibility after spreading lies after lies about how successful the American clowns are. Clown Trump will run down the evil American Empire long before anything can hit Iran. All the American industries are collapsing except for the fantasies that are happening in Wall Street and the fake demand for American AI, chips and data centres. Who needs such expensive and American controlled data centres and willing to pay an arm or a leg when they can have them for a song?

Iran has the full support of BRICS and SCO countries to keep its economy going and its military strong to take on the American terrorists.

PS. Anyone facing posting comments problem?