6/05/2014
CPF Protest Rally – 2 days to go
Roy Ngerng has made a difference. With several million CPF members with their money held back by moving goal posts and ingenious new schemes and totally hapless about it, Roy Ngerng has come along to take up their case with the Govt. In the course of doing so, Roy is now facing a defamation charge connected to this cause and may face bankruptcy and an obliteration of his career choices here. And Roy is only 33 years old.
Many Singaporeans have come forward to put money into Roy’s hands to defend his lawsuit. Many Singaporeans felt that they owed it to Roy to make a stand, to back him up financially, to protect him from bankruptcy. Many will be at Hong Lim Park this Saturday with their Ovaltine and biscuit tins of money to hand over to Roy. They knew that the damages can be prohibitive and more money is needed to help him ride over this rough chapter of his life.
On record, about 1,200 people have contributed to Roy’s legal fund. That is a small drop compared to the millions of CPF members affected by the changing rules of CPF to their dissatisfaction and detriment. Would these Singaporeans step forward to show Roy that they appreciate what he is doing by attending the protest rally this Saturday? Or would they be the pathetic Sinkies, none of my business, let someone else fight for them and pay the heavy price by being on the wrong side of the political equations?
Professor Christopher Balding, a foreigner, acknowledged that he was writing from the safety of being afar. Roy is here challenging the Govt and will risk facing whatever the Govt can throw at him. There is no shelter or protection. The only thing that can protect Roy is the people, the people that Roy is trying to speak on their behalf. The saddest thing to happen is for the people to leave Roy in the lurch, it is Roy’s battle with the Govt. Nobody asks him to do so.
How many people would be obligated to Roy to want to go to Hong Lim this Saturday? How many would just ignore Roy and go about life as if it does not concern them? Would the people, the CPF members, close rank with Roy? Or would they abandon Roy when he needs their support and confirmation that he is doing the right thing and they appreciate it? It will be a sad day and a big disappointment if the grounds of Hong Lim were half empty this Saturday afternoon.
Would the Singaporeans help Roy to make a difference to their CPF savings? I am not sure how many CPF members will be there. But the international media would be there for sure.
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Would our children blame us one day by telling us, 'Where were you when you could make a difference to our CPF?'
Seen from the continuing trend of the ruling party and their dwindling support, which their votes keep dropping, there could be the dawn of an new era for Singapore?
2016 might see the election, as surprised many like the PE by elect?
As usual after every elections and the 2011 election, thing began to rises and more expensive, all the stimulus measures they given in 2011 like profit sharing and other incentives to entice the voters, got to take back and possibly double what it give?
Now the new citizens in Punggol East know?
The opposition had wise up, to reveal their candidates only at the polling station to polling station to prevent the MSM from running them down.
Vote one opposition to get two to work for you?
Increasing unity and help each other out?
Visiting every family especially the older and less educated, where they got difficulties access to the mobile internet?
Visit every new citizens to explain to them the danger of one party system?
Then come the Hougang by elect, which saw the YSL saga, even with these disadvantage, the ruling party all out effort and trying to increase it votes at no much avail, with the new comer Ah Huat, the ruling party make not much headway, only get back a few ten of votes?
Then come the Presidential Election, with all out effort to help the endorsed candidate Tony Tan can only get 34 percent of the votes, the rest went to the opposing voices of TCB, TJS & TKL etc.
As better quality candidate keep coming to the opposition by the days?
Then come the the Punggol East by elect 2013 the MP saga, even as another opposition party that divide the opposition vote, which the people became wiser and more discerning, unexpectedly WP turnaround a 10 percet lost to a win of 10 percent, from mobile internet, with many new citizens?
If these trend continue with more people access to the mobile internet instead of the main stream medias, these could he a major shift in Singapore politics?
The new party Singapore First Party, which borrow some of the ideas of the north europe of empowering the local in contrast to the ruling party outmoded idea of over relying on foreign investments and cheap labour, which lead to today various social problems?
The S'pore First Party could pump a recordbreaking amount of reserve to restructure Singapore economy and reduce various expense the the ministers pay and other indirect taxes that cost the bulk of the business cost, if they run the govt?
With heavy competition from the opposition the cost of running the govt and expense will reduce alot?
A massive fund is likely to develop Singapore economy to an advanced countries that depend of research and development, the breakthrough of new and international best seller products?
S'pore presently heavily rely on a recordbreaking tourists arrival from a average of 8 million to a staggering 14 millions tourists
Rather then compete with the lower end of the third economy where CHina had huge population advantage at lower cost?
S'pore can't continue to live on the past success, where it compete with lower end before the opening up of China?
Late 90s and beginning of 2000 the hollow up of investments to China?
The massive fund of reserve built over the years, will empower the local to build better high end premium products through innovations, inventions and designing, as in some small countries that produce highly successful individuals and multi national companies?
Singapore can't afford to use the outmoded method of the past, these is internet era, things viral around the world in seconds?
The new party ideas like to pump a record amount of funds to free education, stimulate birthrate and improve standard of living of the lower and middle class?
Recordbreaking fund is likely to help Small and Medium Companies to develop highly innovative products, to sell to the world and getting more help from international experts?
Many people still did not know of this rally. No reports in the MSM?
The government appears to expect Singapore citiznes, the CPF money owners to acquiesce to its control over the CPF cash money as they roll out the so called pioneer package. Even Temasek is distancing itself from the cpf money.
CPF saga could cause the ruling party a massive lost of votes in 2016, due to the trust of returning of people money and promise at 55, the delay and and locked up of people fund who seriously affect people confident?
Roy is my hero, fighting for the good of all Singaporeans. He is the David challenging the Goliath.
He should continue to write about how he feels, I hope he doesn't give up.
Unfortunately I am not free to support him in Hong Lim Park. I will give him my moral support.
@RB:
>> Would the Singaporeans help Roy to make a difference to their CPF savings?
IMO, neither Roy nor the rally itself will make any difference to the CPF policies.
However, I always look for a bigger cause, something more enduring than the "flavour-of-the-moment" issue.
Even if you disagree with the people who support the rally and its cause, you should make the effort - and yes, it can be a pain in the ass on a Saturday -- to attend. Democracy is a dialogue -- it requires dissenting views as well as agreement on whatever is to be implemented.
For decades, the average citizen couldn't speak up. Now you can, and therefore you should make the effort to do so-- especially if you disagree.
Free expression and speech are not yet institutions in Singapore, much like they are in other cuntrees. At the moment, too many people are remain reticent -- for whatever reason.
In one respect, 100% concur with the PAP. Singaporeans, as a society are still too fucking childish to be able to handle democracy. For e.g. If you agree with a govt policy, you are a govt lackey. If you disagree, you are an opposition lackey. The list goes on. Bertha Henson wrote about this on her blog.
Another roadblock to the institutionalisation of free speech in Singapore, is the propensity of Singaporeans to take offense at the slightest insult or criticism. Woe behold you if you happen to be a foreigner who happens to get caught calling Singaporeans "assholes" or cracking some joke on Facebook about people on public transport being the stinky unwashed poor.
People lose their shit, and the whole "small matter" becomes a fracas of name calling. WTF?
If you can't take a joke, or allow an inappropriate or rude insult to slide, or brush it off with laughter...then sorry, you are definitely not ready for democracy, and that is why the PAP have a policy of "guided democracy", because they know you better than you know yourselves -- I'm referring to Singaporeans as a group; a collective, not the statistical outliers who are more "enlightened" aka "mature" in their thinking, speech and behaviour.
Disagree with the issue? Great. Discuss it. Disagree with the dissent on the issue. Also great. Listen to what the other side has to say, and refute it.
Make free speech an institution. It doesn't matter which party is governing Singapore. This one is all up to us -- aka "We The People".
Correction:
In one respect, 100% concur with the PAP
Change to:
"In one respect, I concur 100% with the PAP"
If a GLC company like capitalland and NOL were to issue corporate bonds, the Ministry of Finance usually will buy these bonds as reported in the papers. As Finance ministry also have billions of CPF cash as deposits, from the CPF board, it is really puzzling that Temasek is denying outright its link with our CPF money.
Would someone kindly clarify their earlier press statement please? Technically it is still CPF they are dealing with despite via the ministry of FINnance. The question we would ask is, if Temasek is playing with words here ?
Opposition coalition party, if they form the govt, will return people CPF at 55 as promised to regain trust of the people, around 70 percent at 55 and the rest at 60?
Is the PAP government so worried about our CPF money that they are fighting with Singaporeans over the right to look after our money.
- even to the extent of suing Roy
But what about our elderly parents?
- Why don’t you see a PAP government fighting with us to look after our elderly parents?
- Do you see PM Lee suing Roy for the right to look after Roy’s parents?
The PAP government does not see the issue of the CPF (government) looking after our money as “subsidy mentality”.
- But when it comes to looking after our elderly parents
- Ah! This one is subsidy mentality
- This one the Singaporeans must do (or they will prosecute us for not looking after our parents)
Is this yet another example of PAP hypocrisy?
- An example of PAP loving our money BUT hating Singaporeans?
- Is this a fair comment?
What do you think?
"Would the Singaporeans help Roy to make a difference to their CPF savings?"
RB
Not at all, and regardless of how much $$ they donated to Roy. Only a change of govt can, and this is decided only by majority voters in a GE.
I look at it this way. If the turnout is so big, with traffic jams all over Hong Lim, the govt must get the message that they need to go back to the drawing board fast and return the money to the people.
The message would be simple and clear, the people don't buy the Govt's 'reasonings' for keeping the CPF money any day longer.
Of course the Govt can ignore the people altogether and treat the protest as a gathering of lunatics.
Then they would have to face the lunatics in the next GE. By then saying sorry and shedding a few tears would not work anymore.
If the Govt got the message, it would be its final chance to do things right short of a change of govt.
Come 2016 could see the major shift in political ground to the opposition parties?
With mobile internet and price improvement in 2016?
Many were unhappy with their CPF been locked up, as they had saved many years, which they hope to get it back in 55 as a back up and other uses, as promised? Where trust is the most important factor in business dealings?
Many would be unhappy that their they hard earn money will be to delay again and locked up forever?
So they vote protest votes hope that the opposition parties coalition can give them back their money when they reach 55 as promised?
So it likely around 18 percents votes swing to the opposition parties, the ruling parties votes could drop as much to 40 percents and the opposition vote could increase to 60 percents?
As more and more people hope to get back their money in case of urgent need of these savings as a back up?
The way the Main Stream Medias should use to educated the people, if they want take out their money how to budget their money and get the higher return, if their money were to be retun by 55 as promised?
Hold various courses for people to maximise their money after the took and how to budget them?
/// If the Govt got the message, it would be its final chance to do things right short of a change of govt. ///
redbean @ June 05, 2014 1:43 pm
That's why hor.
If it's a small crowd, I dun mind.
Then PAP will think Singaporeans don't care about their CPF.
Why interrupt our enemy when they are making a mistake in reading the grassroots situation?
Big crowd, small crowd, the writing is on the wall. The blind could see, but those who have sight may not.
During previous GEs, there were big crowds at opposition rallies. But WP is the only opposition party to win and at best only won 7% of the seats in last GE.
Will this also apply to big crowds at Hong Lim Park rally? Meaning PAP will still win the next election with more than 90% seats?
So what is the writing on the wall for PAP if this happens?
First they came for Tang Liang Hong, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not an "anti-christian chinese chauvinist".
Then they came for J B Jeyaretnam, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a "mangy dog" politician forced to "crawl on his bended knees, and beg for mercy.”.
Then they came for Roy Ngern, and I did not speak out—
Because I was "daft" and "part of the herd".
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Hope to see one million people attending and putting the entire cbd area in a standstill.
Anon 3,26
You have hit the nail on the head. This is the Singaporean mentality. Singaporeans are a selfish lot. Singaporeans care only for themselves and those closed to them. The bochap attitude is so entrenched in the Singaporeans. That is one of the main reason Singaporeans are in this situation. See no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil. Wake up Singaporeans, be a little more courageous. Speak out if you feel short changed by your government. However from past history I fear that Hong Lim will not be well attended. mOst will either be too frightened or bochap to attend. I cannot imagine living in a society where I fear what the government will do to me if I feel short changed by the government. The government is there to work for me. It is people like us who put them in power to act for us, not the other way round. I am an outsider and I pity the Singaporeans who are afraid of the government. Just so different from other first world countries.
Singaporeans are to blame for they are choosing one who is deemed to get the hands of Singaporeans tied.
The CPF policy had been a good policy but it has now become an instrument by the agency to nail everyone down..
Sad!
Hello b, in your dreams. If you hope to see 1 million at Hong Lim Park on Saturday, you will be sadly disappointed. My guess is, there will be a few hundred, maybe a thousand at the most. Singaporeans with their bocharp attitude will not bother. Let someone else be up front and if they succeed I will also benefit. If they kena tekan then I am safe. I say this because Singaporeans are basically very very very selfish.
That's the point it's in you self interest to attend this gathering. Call it selfish if you like but it's your hard earned savings for a decent retirement life, unless you enjoy selling tissues and scavenging for cardboard.
You just cannot change the mindset of the whole nation overnight. We can hope for a great turnout on Saturday 7th, but we must not hold our breath. People are afraid and self interest plays a great part. Self preservation and being afraid are strong deterrents. Just imagine you have a growing family at home and you are looking forward to that promotion at the government job. You are hoping with promotion would come a salary increase and a big bonus. Would you sacrifice that to show your face at Hong Lim? If by bad luck you get noticed and your chances of that promotion goes out of the window. How then will you pay for the tuitions for your children and the ballet/violin/piano lessons for your children? My guess is that those with government employment will not dare show their faces at Hong Lim. Remember, do not hold your breath.
We have to be realistic. This Rally at Hong Lim will not change how CPF is handled. You need a 2/3 majority win in the GE by the Opp to change the ruling in Parliament.
IMO this rally is to tell the Govt not to muck around with private citizen right to free speech or peaceful protest at Govt
and institution, within litigation limit of course, on social media or any other form without endangering anyone.
Whether a big crowd turn out will dissuade the PAP ruling on CPF is left to be seen. They will be the only one who can do the shift now unless some upset come in the next GE happen?
I want to see which PAP Minister will kena sai and get the job of winning back Aljunied GRC.
It's a gamble for Pinky because there is no guarantee a PAP minister will win.
methinks PAP will lose 2 additional GRCs. making a total of 3 GRCs in Opposition hands.
The government should avoid making Roy an international celebrity and he moves overseas and continue his campaigns from afar.
The West is a home to many a political refugee and several Singaporeans are also overseas already doing the same.
It is best to debate the issues and find a suitable common ground. At least hear out the arguments.
It is easy to have a narrow interpretation and dive into big defamatory lawsuits. No winner ins such cases...only mud being spread around.
I plan to go there and hear the speeches and also see what is the atmosphere like.
Looks like several well-known figures will also be there.
Many years ago, the CPF issue was also the cause of an Election upset.
Will history be repeated in 2016?
PAP losing two, three GRCs big deal?
Sinkies are just hopelessly optimistic. Many wish that their leaders will ALL become conscientious overnight. Some wish that some parliamentarians will work to change from inside. And yet some thinks that winning a few more seats by Alternative Parties will be ultimate consolation. It is exactly such thinkings that impeded any change that was needed.
Fear of rocking the boat is a major factor that resulted in PAP having won EVERY G ELECTION. It is ALSO WHY SINKIES DARE NOT SPEAK AGAINST POLICIES AS WELL AS ATTEND EVENTS AT HONG LIM PARK.
THE PEOPLE OF SIN ARE EVIDENTLY THE CAUSE OF THE SITUATION THEY ARE LIVING IN. MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ENJOYING LIVING IN PARADISE.
Right,
The Sinkies are fuccking themselves.
"Fear of rocking the boat is a major factor that resulted in PAP having won EVERY G ELECTION."
Anon 10:09 pm
Tiok. I think this one PAP also knows.
That's why I think PAP is not scared of Sinkies vote them out one. They know 60% Sinkies better than anybody. But I think Hainan Ah Ko don't know. Or else he would not have set up a new party in tiny Sinkieland already crowded with opposition parties, and with 93% chance destined to lose.
"Know yourself, know your enemies, 100 battles 00 victories."
Sun Tzu Art of War, more than 200o years ago.
To hav a complete overhaul of the system, sinkies cannot afford to depend on wish n hope.
THEEY GOT TO SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY REPLACE THE FAULTY AND TROUBLESOME PAP.
They have turned the CPF together with other associate mediums like Medisave, Medishield and Elder Shield into schemes to retain or suck in the hard earn cash of the people. In other words the ordinary workers have become the financial slaves of the authorities.
Clever but no wisdom
Eagles Eyes
Below you can see how absurd CPF has become.
Any one who had used part of his or her CPF to pay for buying a house will have to hand over to CPF the Minimum Sum when he or she eventually sells the property even though the property had been fully paid up and the owner has long been retired.
This type of policy is most unfair and exceedingly unsound and illogical and it should be rescinded.
Eagles Eyes
Last time I thought the CPF used to buy house can be counted as part of minimum sum.
Now cannot. 100% of the minimum sum must be money still left in the CPF after buying house, etc.
Tio bo, or salah?
Do Wake up, you did not actually buy or own your house which is actually a flat - you lease it from the Housing Development Board, a government body. No need to ask Tio Boh lah.
"Fear of rocking the boat is a major factor that resulted in PAP having won EVERY G ELECTION."
That was pre 2011 GE elective.
10% who is afraid of rocking the boat is now feeling the sinking feeling at present and if you include the first time young voters it may be sizable.
The more good years are only for the few. A country cannot move forward if 50% of its population is left behind by the policy its created.
Is a person suffering from cognitive dissonance fit to make decisions affecting a country?
There have been many protests on several national issues organised by various entities and individuals in the past years. By far, the most attended protest on national issues was the Feb 2013 PWP HLP protest. Based on many reliable estimates, the number of people who attended the event exceeded 5,000. Arguably the PWP controversy cut through the entire cross-section of the population and found significant spontaneous response from people of all walks both young and old. The upcoming CPF HLP protest seems equally broad based in terms of impact on the people concerned. Potentially, any citizen is affected and not just the working adults but students and retirees alike. How would the likely turnout at this upcoming CPF HLP protest be and what would be its significance?
The most probable scenario is a potential turnout of 5,000 to 10,000 people and likely to reach the upper limit. CPF is a close to the heart issue to many Singaporeans especially those retirees and those in their forties, fifties and sixties. With the CPF minimum sum been raised to S$155,000 this coming July which is less than 30 days away and not forgetting the medisave account minimum sum mandated at more than S$40,000 at current rate, the total amount is easily in excess of S$200,000 for Singaporeans reaching 55 years of age and will be "locked up" till 65 before pittance of few hundred dollars release bit by bit to the CPF holders when living cost is going through the roof.
Typically, an undergraduate student's living expenses already exceeded a few hundred dollars a month excluding university fees, exam fees, lodging, books, utilities fees, home meals and annual holiday breaks and seasonal festival expenses. For retirees to subsist on a few hundred dollars a month what rightfully was their life time hard earned savings and doled out at drips and pieces is certainly not a golden retirement prospect many people who have slogged a life time in a pressure cooker society look forward to. Despite the statistics, not many people can live till a ripe old age of 80+ or 90+ years old.
Not being able to access their retirement funds even at age 65 and only given bits and pieces here that can barely defray living expenses not mentioning medical fees is something that is found wanting by people generally. Even in much lower living standard nations in Asia such as China, anecdotal evidence showed that their retirees are provided with much, much better retirement benefits and monthly allowance in recent years. How the Singapore authority intends to address and tackle this issue satisfactorily, reasonably and fairly in the eyes of the people remains to be seen.
Some people brought out that the weather might deter the eventual turnout. Alas, for such "critical issues", not mentioning raindrops that essentially can be easily resolved using a good raincoat or umbrella, even if it was to "rain knives", a good "metallic flexible umbrella" would provide sufficient shelter relative to the issue on hand. For such "life and death" issue, small inconveniences such as rain is unlikely to deter people's turnout. A good anecdotal example is the countless past election rallies. People were totally drenched, shoes muddied yet turnout numbered as many as 50,000 to in excess of 100,000. Thus, it is possible that the upcoming turnout can be massive.
The possibility and probability of 300 to 500 hundred people turnout is likely to be as unlikely as a person living to 200 years old. Barring any unforeseen natural or man made calamity such as earthquake, inaccessible traffic that deter people from reaching the legally sanctioned protest venue and event by the authority, such scenario is highly unlikely and the probability of it happening might be close to striking 4D lottery.
The next possible scenario is a turnout of 500 to 5,000 people. Given the extent that this CPF issue affects the people universally, it is highly unusual if it happens that people would not even bother to turn up and show face. This is not a political event per se but one that affects people's future livelihood and retirement, healthcare expenses etc. If people bother to get up to work or school since young for the past 60 years from 3 years old to 65 when they retire, why should they not go for an event 4pm in the afternoon on a Saturday which affects many decades of life savings and future retirement livelihood and medical needs?
Lastly, a potential crowd exceeding 10,000. This is possible but given the tiny size of a protest site, the crowd would be spilling to nearby sidewalks etc. If it happens, people will be clamouring for a much larger protest site in the future such as the padang or national stadium or even the entire orchard rd for an adequate venue in the future.
The final verdict shall be known soon by evening 7 Jun 2014. Regardless of the turnout, this CPF issue is unlikely to die down any time soon and might turn "messy" in the future if no satisfactory answer is given to the people when the "means and money" is still there. Anyway, according to recent official stand, the CPF money is acknowledged as the "people's own money anyway". It is a matter of how it is going to be returned to the people upon retirement, when and how much? Imagine when one put in a deposit into a bank for 40 years looking forward to a deserved retirement after a life time of hard work and the money is attached with all kinds of restrictions and conditions for withdrawals and continuously changing with moving goal posts? Who on earth with rational mind would accept such outcome?
PSS is very passionate about this CPF issue. Thanks for the posts.
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