3/19/2020

Can Singapore afford a 10m problem when 5m problem is threatening to tear it apart?

Yeoh Lam Keong Singapore’s preeminent economist was quoted in the Nikkei article explaining the PAP ideology as it applies to HDB pricing policy in the following terms:
“The roots of Singapore’s current problems, Yeoh believes, were planted in the 1990s, when its politics lurched rightward. In line with the prevailing neoliberal thinking, the government moved toward a more market-based approach to the pricing and ownership of HDB flats.”
What we have is a systemic failure and we need to recalibrate the balance between unbridled capitalism and the welfare state or socialism; between profits and people.
Our policy frameworks transfers control of economic factors from the private sector and individuals to the public sector creating the imbalance that need to be fixed.
The PAP Government is a prisoner of its own failed policies and unless we vote for a more compassionate Government in place instead of the PAP Government, things will get from bad to worse for the ordinary citizen.

Khush Chopra

The above is a quote from Khush Chopra's article in the TRE. I have highlighted a few points in bold for discussion here. There is a systemic failure and PAP govt is a prisoner of its own failed policies. The key factors in PAP's economic policy is growing the GDP at all cost so that more and more people can be paid in the millions with many doing sweet fuck all and do not deserve the millions being paid to them. It is not easy to justify paying someone in the private sector a million dollar, and it is very dangerous to use public money to pay millions to politicians and civil servants and people working in GLCs. What are the values and contributions of the recipients to make them deserving of a million dollar pay? There are several thousand people being paid a million or more in govt, ministries, stats boards and GLCs. This million dollar pay policy is a big burden on the tax payers, on the budget and finance of the country. The money must come from somewhere and the amount is ballooning annually with more and more million dollar recipients being created.

This leads to the dogged policy of growing the economy at all cost and when all things failed, just pump in more headcounts, more levies and taxes and consumption from foreigners. The 6.9m is only a red herring, 10m is also another red herring. The truth is that this growing the GDP at all cost means that the population must keep growing, keep blowing the balloon, it cannot be stopped or the whole economy and system of million dollar salary will collapse.

The Covid19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of Singapore in having a huge population. There is a big issue of food, water, the basic needs that must be provided to a huge population. We can see how treacherous things can be even with 5.6m population. If this Covid19 problem drags on for 6 months or more,  we could be facing serious difficulties to keep the people fed and without jobs, especially the foreigners. All would have to be asked to go home.

For the moment we can count ourselves lucky as the foreigners are not Singapore citizens and could be asked to leave, though the problem is not so simple if they refuse to do so. We would not have the luxury of asking them to leave if they are converted to citizens when we have 6.9m, 10m or more people here.

Can Singapore afford a 10m or 6.9m problem? In a major international crisis, we are not going to get the food we need, the water we need to feed so many mouths. Yes, this is a systemic failure, failed economic policy based on unrestrained growth. No growth means the bursting of the bubble. Continue to push for growth at all cost only kick the can down the road a little further but for how long before the inevitable big bang?

Would there be a rethink on this failed economic policy? Would the PAP govt be able to extricate itself from being the prisoner of this high growth, million dollar salary formula before it is too late?

Singapore needs to seriously relook at the premises and assumption for a sustainable population without risking a total collapse in the future. There will be many problems ahead that would be far more serious than what we are seeing today, a small piece of rock without natural resources and trying to live beyond its severe physical limitations. It is like a case of going for brokes.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...


Hi good morning everyone.

My answer is very VERY VERY very very very very very simple...NO!

You know the reasons!

I love ❤️ SINGAPOREANs!

I love ❤️ SINGAPOREANs!

Hahaha.....

Virgo 49 said...

A Capitalist is One that said to you that your share belongs to him.

A Socialist will said My Share I share with you.

That's the difference.

Group I - WSG and his capitalists hygenas. Including Matilah. NOT forgetting the PAP.

Group II- Xi the President of China.

I will tried my level best to uplift the standards of your Proverty without any terms of Rewards.

This is my calling in this lifetime to do this for you, my Country men.

We all LOVED our Motherland and had been scorned and bullied for too long.

One Nation and No one will will do this again to bully you as long as I am alive.

Now Putin also wants to amend his NATION's constitution that he may be in charge as long as Xi.

The Americunts are screaming Foul that they must follow their damn Stupid Democracy. Only Two Terms.

What's the Hell others must follow their smelly shits?

And the daft Philippines and Taiwanese are following their shits.

Sinkieland capitalists must made as much as possible so that they can have hundreds of containers of joss papers to burn for them.

Oops, forgetting that most are Helljualah.

Anonymous said...

The problems arise because the PAP elites always want to punch above their small weight . . .

IB Hunter said...

You have projected and propagated your goodself as an idiot by repeating the same words multiple times, all the time.

Perhaps, you think it is funny. It is not! It is sickening and to say the least, irritating and wasting RB's blog space, and everybody's time.

Perhaps, you wish to make it your trademark for your IB Handler to identify your works - for purpose of remuneration from the PA? If so, then it reflects how shallow, and devoid of better ideas, you are!

Your IB Handler should sack you because it also reflects upon his poor taste and bad selection of people to do a good job in a proper way.

Perhaps, PA has reached its bottom? SHIA SUAY being led by a SHIA SUAY General?

IB Hunter

Anonymous said...

The problems arise because 70% of the Singaporean dumbfucks vote PAP because they think they are high class like PAP.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ ALL

How can you allow a tiny virus, and a one-time event to scare the shit out of you.

Sorry YLK, old friend, I have to disagree with you on this.

6.9 million is definitely "do-able". Let's not get scared-scared here. Mai kiasu leh!🤓

OK, 10 million, I agree. That needs a re-think.

In the meantime, lockdown and carry on. When this has come to pass, as it SURELY will...RESTART THE AWESOME PARTY! 👍👍👯‍♀️

Anonymous said...

The Future Of Singaporeans

PAP started well because in the early years, we have good people - both leaders and commoners, with a good civil service.

PAP, along the way, especially started from GCT, owing to euphoria in past success of the Old Guards, has lost its way. (Ironically, GCT is quick to point his finger at Dr Tan Cheng Bock for losing his way. But the facts speak for themselves as to who has really lost their way.)

Today, PAP has TOTALLY LOST its way. Gone off-tangent and has thrown itself out of orbit. Through its unpopular, unthinking, unrestrained and miscalculated policies, guided by its obsessive and stubborn desire to "GROW The GDP At ALL COSTS", PAP has nailed itself to the wall, unable to remedy the blunders and disasters it has created for the future of Singapore and Singaporeans.

If the citizenry is wise enough to see it long-term, instead of continuing to stay in the bandwagon to amass selfish short-term gains, and wake up in time, NOW, there is still hope.

Howver, the hope cannot and must not be pinned to the PAP. The hope must lie in the hands of NEW BLOOD, not corrupted by excessive unfettered power, not sullied by over-valued self-worth, not afraid of change and not hesitant to change.

The future cannot be depended upon the failed miserably outfit and misfit of the PAP.

The future MUST be depended upon a NEW POLITICAL PARTY!

Even the old political opposition parties have been part, played a part, in this Systemic Failure created, generated and sank-in by the PAP. They too cannot and must not be depended upon.

This NEW POLITICAL PARTY must draw in those who still have the heart to ensure the COMMONERS COME FIRST. In other words, elitist mentality should be excluded and shun upon., because the Systemic Failure has been largely contributed by the elites and the elitists, whose inculcated selfish individual interests have clearly outweighed and overwhelmed the national interests and the commoners' interests, even to the extent of threatening their survival.

If the relentless and persistent importing of foreigners to convert them to new citizens is not stopped entirely, before it is too late, the present 3 million Singaporeans will surely be overwhelmed and trampled upon by the new citizens. They will then become a minority and a collector's item - good to look at, funny but of no practical value. They will become modern slaves in their own land!

Singapore is now at the Corona-virus Mercy (as well as at the PAP's mercy). Singapore is now at the Cross Road.

Singaporeans, your own future and your children's future are of paramount importance.

Your future is in YOUR HANDS!

Hold up that pencil and "Mark that Cross in The Box of Your Future!"

FOG - 19 March 2020

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ FOG

Your "Availability Heuristic" is showing lah.

This time next year we'd be looking back and laughing.

Cheer up. Because it's going to WORSEN. Then get better.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Availability_heuristic?wprov=sfla1

Virgo 49 said...

Matilah got Safe Heavens elsewhere.

Here's just a Hotel.

That's why he sang this tune.

You daft sinkies believe him as you believed the Papies and their Whites, you are DOOMED

Virgo 49 said...

Well said Mr.Frog.

Bravo!

Virgo 49 said...

Right you are bro 10.26

Just out from the gym. Now school holidays.

Wow, have quite a few Evil Serpents teachers with free time also at the gym.

Noticed their snobbishness. Won't even acknowledge our greetings as thought we oldies bo tak chek.

Only talked with thr Pinoys and others. Must be the ex-Mats Chinkees who are ingrained in Sinkieland and showing off their egotism and elitism that they have made it.

Now scorned sinkies and the nation builders.

Observed that ex-Mats Chinkees are more friendly to other races other than Chinkees Sinkies.

Must be thinking you suckers are now under our thumbs.

One glance at Sinkies Parliament, you can see the arrogrant faces of ex Malaysian beggars who now made good in Singapore and showing off their colours.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. Matilah.

Anonymous said...

SG eternal dependency on MY for essential supplies n labour will NOT change regardless of which political party running the show.

Anonymous said...

Contact tracing, testing, coming out with test kits, quarantine.. Korea Taiwan Japan all doing this no rocket science. MY lockdown already.

Are we taking a gamble with the our kids resuming schools with Heightened Measures?

Anonymous said...

They Who Laugh Best Laugh Last And Less

While China has reported that there is no more new local cases (only imported cases) of corona-virus infection, Italy has reported the highest death toll on a single day (476), Singapore has also reported it's highest new cases in a single day (14 local and 33 imported) making a total of 313 to date, and so are many Asian, European and American countries facing a new wave of cases (both local and imported) from various countries outside China.

The tide has turned. Now, it looks like those who laughed first at China will have China laughing and giggling softly back at them?

Anonymous said...

Coronavirus - MOE's Stupidity Has No Cure!

The Minister for Education is obviously taking a calculated risk (gambling) with the health and life of our children, Singapore's future leaders!

Why is he so stubbornly stupid?

Simply close the schools for 14 days now! Is such a decision so difficult to make? Just give the order!

Why gamble with a VIRUS, that is invisible, stealthy and asymptomatic? It is not like SARS! Wake up!

Taking temperatures and seating the children at arms' length (exam seating) are not the appropriate and sufficient precautions.

As long as there is a probability that one of the children can be infected by their parents or care-givers, there is a corresponding probability that he/she will spread the virus in the class, school toilets, canteen, library, playground, garden, staircases or lifts. Even infecting the teachers directly.

And once the teachers are infected and quarantined, who will run the classes? Staff from MOE seating exclusively safe in the Ivory Towers at MOE come down from Heaven to teach the children how to wash their hands frequently?

Even the government's 2-meter social distancing is not a suitable precaution because the COVID-19 pneumonia-causing virus is able to:

1. Float in the air for 4.5 meters!

2. Survive on any surface for at least 30 minutes!

3. A cough's infected droplets can travel for 4 to 5 meters.

4. A sneeze's droplets can travel for 6-7 meters, and up to 10 meters if carried by wind in the same direction

5. Most importantly, once our lungs have been DAMAGED by pneumonia, the damage is done! It stays with us throughout our life. Even if we have recovered fully from the COVID-19 infection, our weakened lungs may one day succumb to another similar virus easily. There is no immunity.

WHY GAMBLE WITH OUR FUTURE LEADERS' HEALTH AND LIFE!?

Over-confidence is the worst enemy of a highly intelligent and highly educated, high-flying superman!

FOR GOODNESS SAKE, SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOLS FOR 14 DAYS NOW!

(Think of it as a mid-term break. The 14 days can be utilized either as home-learning or project assignment, or be made good by the June or Nov School Holidays.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ FOG

The real need is to shut the airports.. No one in or out. No ferries to/ from Batam or Johor. Total isolation. Try for 2 weeks lah, not forever.

Notice: every time people come into Singapore, new cases arise.

Schools shut? Aren't the schools on holiday now anyway?

Australian island-continent now totally isolated. No one in or out.

The western "freedom" thing (on-going entertainment!)

The "stable" western cuntries love their freedom. However, the basic idea of "Individual freedom comes with Individual RESPONSIBILITY" has been lost on some.

1. More than 4,000 people have been arrested for breaking quarantine rules in Italy, which now has a death rate greater than Wuhan's worst. Italians throughout history are very stubborn and expressive people. That's why they have a Mafia.

2. Many Americans have indicated on Twitter (and other platforms) that "Hell no, I'm not going to obey the government and lockdown. I am a free American!! I don't live in China!!"...remember, all these fuckers who are "asserting their rights" have multiple firearms. america was born an founded on the idea of The People rising up against a tyrannical government. Plus white people, in general, love DRAMA especially if it has a historical base. Get the beer and a comfortable chair, with lots of finger food folks, his is going to be better than the cinema! 🤡

3. In Germany they are still holding "Coronvirus Parties". The government had to tell them to stop. You think they will listen? 😂

4. Australia too...Get the hot tub happening, invite some close friends, prepare champagne and finger food...then CLOTHES OFF and into the hot tub! Social distancing? Fuck off lah! ☠️🤧🤣

Don't get me wrong. I love the western idea of individual FREEDOM, and for nearly 45 years have enjoyed it to the maximum, and am very grateful for that. But it seems some people are IMPATIENT. Oh well, comedy lah...😛

Anonymous said...

NOT JUST MULTI-MILLION SIN DOLLAR REMUNERATION, THEIR SELF-REWARDED BONUSES ARE JUST AS SINFULLY HUGE.
But,
Sinkies are generous to their Leeders.

Virgo 49 said...

Have a video of 4000 medical workers all over from China leaving Wuhan as they had only reported One Imported Case today.

Let the West and their stubborn counterparts like the Moselms have their Freedom defying LOCK downs.

Let them die at their own leisure and wishes.

Dotard Trump with his Americunts dying still cursing its the Virus from China.

Pan Dora said...

25,000 devotees went against the Bangladeshi government's order to assemble at an open area to have a holly and jolly good time praying marathon to seek their "God's" help to stop the coronavirus entering Bangladesh.

Anonymous said...

Dear Millionaire Ministers,

We know your white-horse children are safe! But our peasant and farmer children are not.

Schools across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are to close on Friday because of the coronavirus epidemic. They will not be opened until September. That is a duration of about five months or 150 days!

Why can't our schools be closed for just 14 days? Will that affect your milion-dollars salary or the country's economy badly?

What is the paramount consideration in your precious brains that make you clever people decide not to close the schools and allow all our peasant and farmer children be exposed to a well-known potential risk of infection?

The World Health Organization has already declared the COVID-19 disease a PANDEMIC! And yet YOU highly educated dignitaries (many of you trained and educated in the UK) prefer to behave like lowly educated and uneducated nincompoop?

Anonymous said...

Hello Loan Shark, at capitallendingfince.blogspot.com

It is illegal to pedal your wear in the streets of cyberspace.

And 2-3 days is 2-3 days too long to compete with others who offer on-the-same day loans. That means you are only a third-party or 4th party commission sales person.

Other loan sharks' interest rates are clearly stated out front. You are hiding your interest rates under the word "convenient". Therefore you are a dubious character who must not be trusted.

imho said...

They should allow dual citizenship.
Some old ones especially politicians can retire elsewhere e.g WA
Some can live elsewhere when times are bad
Its important to free up space in small island when deadly virus arises.