5/26/2021

Criticisms of Government’s Rules In Travel are NOT Confused With Obligations Under CECA

 


The majority of us, Singaporeans, are not confused. Only a few are confused with obligations under CECA.

Those who are naively confused or deliberately confused are those who tell others not to be confused.

It is very clear that some of the government rules, regulations, instructions, directions and policies are closely linked to or in consideration of the CECA, or deliberately avoided/excluded the CECA, e.g. the Fair Consideration Framework for hiring and firing.

Please take note that the Supreme and Ultimate OBLIGATION in any country's government is to its own citizens, especially their livelihood and survival. This is to be First and Foremost. No deviation. No question asked. No doubt whatsoever.

The government's primary responsibility is to ensure that citizens are gainfully and decently employed, with dignity, and fairly-well paid according to the standard and cost of living in that country!

The second-most Supreme and Unquestionable OBLIGATION of any government is to ensure that foreigners do not come into the country to deprive its citizens of their jobs, by replacing them entirely or partially, or by displacing them to lower jobs, or to other organisations! Foreign talents must support, supplement or complement the local citizens' jobs and responsibility. Not to replace or displace them. It is the same as a foreign power coming in to replace or displace the government. Either instance, the government is weak and incompetent.

Moreover, there is no such a thing as "absolute" obligations that have to be obediently obeyed like a soldier taking orders from his general.

Singapore is a sovereign and independent country. She is not an appendage or a colony of India. Her government is not obliged to OBEY any trade agreement strictly to the letter. An agreement is not an order. Therefore, the government is naturally, constitutionally, legally and politically expected to exercise good and independent judgement for the benefit of its citizens without fear, favour or ill-will. Being afraid to offend the other party of the agreement, for whatever reasons, is showing fear. If the government is showing fear to a foreign power, than it is a very weak and incompetent government.

In addition, there is a clause at the very end of the CECA documents that it can be terminated by simply giving a six months notice. No additional clause with tiny letters added. That means any obligation that is not in favour of, or not in good faith with, the interests of any group of our citizens, or our livelihoods, can be terminated, or changed, by giving six months notice.

India, on the other hand, through and via the legally-weaponised CECA stealthy long-range missile, is precisely taking responsibility and exercising her supreme and ultimate OBLIGATION TO HER CITIZENS - to ensure that her nationals are gainfully and decently employed, with dignity and well-paying jobs that they cannot get in their own country!

In conclusion, when talking about OBLIGATIONS to any trade agreement, or any other agreement with a foreign power, the government's primary, supreme, unquestionable, ultimate OBLIGATION IS TO ITS CITIZENS FIRST and FOREMOST!

Think again.


LIPS.

24 comments:

Humanity said...

I keen to find out if CECA ‘disallows’ Singapore to ban ALL passengers from India during this period of time? I thought Singapore did it to China and Malaysia last year when the virus is not variant yet?

CECA is 成事不足 败事有余;赔了夫人又折兵。

I pray every now and then the employment clauses in the CECA could be withdrawn.

I am very keen to know how much haven been invested in India? What is the investment returns?

Did India ever use CECA to blackmail or threaten Singapore?

Anonymous said...

In 2013

Govt decries CECA violation by Singapore

The country has imposed restrictions on inflow of foreign workers, which is going to affect Indians working there

The step has irked India as the new law does not give India a preferential treatment incorporated in the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CECA) between the two countries, operational since 2005. This stance by the Singapore Government is expected to affect Indians working as middle-level managers, executives and technicians.

Speculations are rife that India might take up the issue with World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement body. However, according to Singapore such a decision was imperative in the interest of the natives as the share of the foreign workforce is rising very rapidly.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-decries-ceca-violation-by-singapore-113021700123_1.html

Anonymous said...

In 2019, Singtel's Indian associate, Bharti Airtel, has allocated 2.9 billion rupees (SG$5.5 billion) for payments, which has translated to Singtel's earnings as a SG$1.93 billion pre-tax hit, and SG$1.4 billion post-tax.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/airtel-once-again-pinned-for-dragging-down-singtel-earnings/

Anonymous said...

Singapore top source of FDI in FY20 with investments worth USD 14.67 bn


Singapore was the top source of foreign direct investment into India for the second consecutive financial year, accounting for about 30 per cent of FDI inflows in 2019-20.

In the past two financial years, FDI from Singapore has surpassed that from Mauritius.

In the last financial year, India attracted USD 14.67 billion in FDI from Singapore, whereas it was USD 8.24 billion from Mauritius, according to the data of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/singapore-top-source-of-fdi-in-fy20-with-investments-worth-usd-14-67-bn/articleshow/76090696.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Anonymous said...

Singapore sting: Temasek's game plan for India investments

Temasek, a global investment firm owned by the Singapore government, has deployed US$11 billion in India in 15 years, moving from the emerging markets theme to internet-enabled companies. Health care and warehousing are also on the cards

The global investment company owned by the government of Singapore—it functions independently, though—has been deploying capital in India for 15 years now. The investor with a global portfolio worth S$313 billion (till March 31) has pumped nearly US$11 billion into India through direct and indirect investments since 2004 (one S$ equates to 0.73 US$ and roughly ₹51).

It has been one of the most active global funds in the country and has tapped almost every sector. It has invested US$1 billion every year for the last five years in India and has a 5 percent exposure to the country; its largest exposures are to its home country and China (26 percent each) followed by North America (15 percent) and Europe (10 percent).

https://www.forbesindia.com/article/boardroom/singapore-sting-temaseks-game-plan-for-india-investments/56081/1

Anonymous said...

Buoyed by bulls, Singapore's GIC plans to float a $3 billion India-focused public market fund

GIC is the world's sixth-largest sovereign wealth fund (SWF) with $440 billion in assets under management. The fund, which had set up its India office in 2011, has deployed about $10 billion in Indian stocks and a total of about $20 billion in infrastructure, private equity and public equity. Along with Agarwal, a team of four-five executives will also be formed for the new fund, said one of the persons cited above.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/buoyed-by-bulls-singapores-gic-plans-to-float-a-3-billion-india-focused-public-market-fund/articleshow/79438002.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Anonymous said...

How does the GIC's and Temasek Holdings' investments in India benefit Singaporeans in Singapore?

How much profits or loses have GIC and Temasek Holdings made since 2011?

If profits were made, what have happened to them?

If losses were made, who are answerable, and to who are they answerable?

Why can't the same amount of money invested in India be invested within Singapore instead?

What level of confidence has the Chiefs of both GIC and Temasek Holdings have in short, middle and long terms investments in India.

What are the chances of success vs the chances of failure?

Who will be the ultimate Authority to answer to the people if huge loses are made?

Anonymous said...

Will they ever answer to the people???

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

In 2019, Singtel's Indian associate, Bharti Airtel, has allocated 2.9 billion rupees (SG$5.5 billion) for payments, which has translated to Singtel's earnings as a SG$1.93 billion pre-tax hit, and SG$1.4 billion post-tax.

Where are you from? Are you Indian? 1 rupee = S$2?

You drink too much cow urine?

Maybe those fools who poured in billions of Singapore's reserves into India also think 1 rupee = S$2.

Anonymous said...

GIC and Temasek only reports performance on a Total Portfolio basis. i.e. How their entire book of Investments have done.

GIC Singapore's Annualised Real Returns Drops to 2.7%: 4 Key Takeaways From the 2019/20 GIC Report

https://blog.seedly.sg/gic-report-2020/
https://report.gic.com.sg/investment-report.html

What Singaporeans Need to Know About Temasek’s Portfolio Performance 2020

https://blog.seedly.sg/what-singaporeans-need-to-know-about-temaseks-preliminary-portfolio-performance-2020/

Both GIC and Temasek are private companies owned by the Ministry of Finance. MAS is a statutory board on its own with its own regulatory and monetary functions.

GIC's mandate is to invest the government's reserves. Temasek was intended to be a holding company for the government's assets, like its stakes in GLCs such as Singtel. This is why GIC does not own local companies and Temasek does.

Mandates and intentions aside, more recently their strategies have started to overlap. A growing part of Temasek's portfolio is diversified overseas. GIC still does not invest in local companies, but it is becoming more adventurous and risk-taking overseas too.

Anonymous said...

If you look at Temasek structure, it is answerable only to the Minister of Finance

Who is Temasek's shareholder?

Temasek's sole shareholder is the Singapore Minister for Finance1.

Footnotes:

1Under the Singapore Minister for Finance (Incorporation) Act (Chapter 183), the Minister for Finance is a body corporate.

https://www.temasek.com.sg/en/faqs#who-is-temasek-shareholder

For GIC, it answerable to the board of Directors which majority are associated with the ruling party.......

The GIC Board assumes ultimate responsibility for asset allocation and performance for the total portfolio. Management executes investment strategies and regularly discusses overall portfolio performance with the GIC Board.

https://www.gic.com.sg/who-we-are/board-of-directors/

Anonymous said...

From recent deals, it seems both GIC and Temasek are going big in India.....

GIC, Temasek buy shares in India's Bandhan Bank amid holder's 106b rupee stock sale
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/banking-finance/gic-temasek-buy-shares-in-indias-bandhan-bank-amid-holders-106b-rupee-stock-sale

Temasek invests US$120m in India's UpGrad
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/garage/temasek-invests-us120m-in-indias-upgrad

Singapore’s state investment arm Temasek Holdings has invested $62 million ( ₹456 crore) in foodtech startup Zomato, company filings showed.
https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/zomato-closes-62-million-funding-from-temasek-11599043753647.html

Temasek India Chief very bullish
https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/growth-not-a-concern-india-fits-well-in-our-long-term-plan-temasek-india-head/story/420079.html

A-Non-Yes-Mouse said...

National Assets Must Be Owned By The Citizens Collectively, Not By An Individual Public or Private Entity, Legally Or Not

From whatever information gathered, the painted pictures about the ownership, responsibility, reporting, accountability and transparency of GIC and TH are very troublesome and worrisome.

Troublesome in that it is very difficult and problematic for any concerned member of the public to secure reliable detailed information and important reports from the two entities for a close and thorough scrutiny.

Worrisome because national and public assets have been transferred and privatised, and therefore the public has lost ownership, control and say over the national and public assets held by the two entities.

It seems to look like the legality of the two entities have been specially curved out to avoid and prevent scrutiny by and from the real stakeholders of state assets, i.e. the citizens.

My gut feelings tell me that something is not right.

If Singapore is taken over by a rogue government, or a foreign government by proxies, then all our National Reserves and National Assets will be in serious dangers and jeopardy.

The laws governing these two entities must be changed to give back power to the People instead of to an individual heading a ministry, such as the Minister for Finance, or exclusively to a small group of individuals, such as a board of directors with personalities solely affiliated or associated with a specific political grouping.

As I envisage, the present arrangements can be easily sabotaged or manipulated if the individual and group concerned have hidden agendas and are determined to pursue them in their own selfish interests, whatever they may be.

Think deeper.


LIPS

Anonymous said...

mmmm......Lau Wong sits on the Board of GIC and is accountable to himself?

Govt does not interfere in salary decisions for top brass at GIC, Temasek: Lawrence Wong

The Government maintains an “arms-length relationship” with GIC and Temasek Holdings and does not interfere in their operational decisions, Second Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said, declining to reveal the salaries of top management at the two firms.

Instead, the Government holds their boards accountable for their performances, he added

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/govt-does-not-interfere-salary-decisions-top-brass-gic-temasek-lawrence-wong

Anonymous said...

That is a clear indication that the Government is behaving like an ostrich. This is against logic and against legal responsibility enshrined in the Constition. It is very unnatural and uncanny to say the least.

Anonymous said...

There is a very common saying:

"One can bluff some people all the time. One can also bluff all the people sometimes. But one can never bluff all the people all the time."

(Unless, maybe, they belong to the 61% of Daft Sinkies?)

It is just like the little sherpard boy who cried "Wolf".

One fateful day, everyone will not trust you anymore and you will be left alone facing the music.

Anonymous said...

Another article simply taken from Western Propaganda Media to demonise China:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-bars-us-evangelical-in-response-to-sanctioning-of-chinese-official

Queen of Hearts said...

New Bird Flu Outbreak In 46 Countries Already

Scientists are warning the world that while we are immersed in our individual and collective efforts to tackle the furious spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, there exists concurrently an explosion in another deadly disease that could pose a threat to public health globally.

The H5N8, a subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), has been discovered many years ago, but during 2020 a series of emerging and ongoing H5N8 outbreaks in avian populations across dozens of countries have led to the death and slaughter of millions of birds worldwide.

The affected geographic regions have been expanding continuously, and at least 46 countries have reported highly pathogenic H5N8 AIV outbreaks already.

If leaders ignore this worrisome trend, and do not monitor and contain the spread of this new H5N8 avian flu virus, the World may have a double health pandemic at hand.

While the most vulnerable animals to H5N8 virus are birds, humans have also been infected by this virus recently.

An outbreak of the avian flu in Russia in December 2020 jumped to poultry workers in a farm in southern Russia – representing the first time the H5N8 virus has been found in humans.

While that was a first for H5N8, it certainly wasn't a first for clades and subclades related to H5N8, nor for avian flu viruses in general.

There is now a total of 862 confirmed cases of human infection with the Avian flu, including 455 deaths. These cases are from 17 countries, spreading across Europe, Eurasia, Middle-East, Africa, America, Asia and elsewhere.

Point to note, 76% of the H5N8 cases are from Egypt and Indonesia.

In most of the recent outbreaks, a clade of H5N8 called 2.3.4 has become the dominant infector worldwide.

This shows that the H5N8 virus has a propensity for rapid global spread in migratory birds.

At the same time, this virus also display evidence of constant evolution, genetically re-assorting themselves with parts of other Avian viruses.

Though the Covid-19 Pandemic has seen a big reduction in the Type A and Type B common flu, however, in over the same time frame, a number of highly pathogenic H5Ny AIVs, including H5N1, H5N2, H5N5, and H5N8 subtypes, have been spreading across the whole world.

These viruses show particular cell-binding adaptations that could pose greater risks for human transmission, including potentially human-to-human transmissibility.

Therefore, it is imperative that we must be now take responsibility, instead of taking umbrage, to keep a very close watch on this H5N8 Variant and ensure that they do not spread among our community.


Chua Chin Leng蔡镇龍 aka redbean said...

LIPS said...

National Assets Must Be Owned By The Citizens Collectively, Not By An Individual Public or Private Entity, Legally Or Not


Will put this article up tomorrow.

Humanity said...

I wonder why the Straits Times did not sanitise it. Pro US/West or too lazy to edit it. With so much smearing from US and west, we know the western media has lost its credibility. The baseless, irresponsible wild accusations is credible.

Humanity said...

Siao Liao the Indian chief will pour more money into India. Gupta of DBS poured huge last year and this year. Amazing Singapore ranked higher than the economy superpowers and G7 in investments in India.

Anonymous said...

No need to nationalize, just treat our stakes as an ATM......

In another blow for Singapore companies doing business in India, telecommunications titan Singtel posted a quarterly loss of S$668 million.

Bharti Airtel, a telecommunications company headquartered in New Delhi, India, posted an exceptional provision of S$5.49 billion, according to the Business Times on Nov. 15.

As Singtel is the largest shareholder in Bharti Airtel, with an effective stake of 35 per cent, according to The Straits Times (ST), it was forced to shoulder a share of S$1.93 billion before tax.

https://mothership.sg/2019/11/singapore-india-business-setback/

Anonymous said...

as well as roping in help courtesy of our national reserves......

“Singtel and Airtel’s major shareholders, Bharti Group and Bharti Telecom, intend to subscribe to their full entitlement except for a renunciation by Bharti Telecom in favour of GIC Singapore, which will commit approximately $700 million,” said Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel), the company’s largest stakeholder, in a release. “GIC has confirmed to subscribe to this renounced entitlement on behalf of the Singapore government and Monetary Authority of Singapore,” Bharti Airtel said. GIC is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Singapore government and will get a 4% stake in Bharti Airtel after the issue.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/gic-to-pick-up-4-stake-in-bharti-airtel-for-rs-5000-crore/articleshow/68312383.cms?from=mdr

Anonymous said...

Bharti Airtel, a telecommunications company headquartered in New Delhi, India, posted an exceptional provision of S$5.49 billion, according to the Business Times on Nov. 15.

As Singtel is the largest shareholder in Bharti Airtel, with an effective stake of 35 per cent, according to The Straits Times (ST), it was forced to shoulder a share of S$1.93 billion before tax.


This is the easiest way to squeeze money from Singtel. Just keep milking until dry. There is no where to run, the Singapore ATM will keep coughing out money without knowing why and thinking it is a damn good deal.

Stupidity has no cure. Carrying bags of money to India to be fleeced.