Dark clouds over Singapore

 Climate change is affecting many countries around the world, with some experiencing extreme high temperature, some having unusually heavy rainfalls and floods. Singapore is also having climate change of sort. June and July in Singapore are about high temperatures but this time only for a few days. Now we are having rainfalls almost everyday. And the rainstorm is building up and looking very threatening, with ominous dark clouds hanging overhead. Coincidentally, CNA also featured a programme on 1 billion joules of lightnings over Singapore, lightnings and thunderbolts striking everywhere.

Politically, the dark clouds seem to be gathering in high places. Vivian Balakrishnan, the Foreign Minister and Shanmugam, the Home Affairs and Law Minister, were grilled in Parliament over their rented black and white good class bungalows in very exclusive and the choicest location in Singapore. They were drenched but otherwise none the worse for the experience. 

Just as we thought the dark clouds had passed, then Ravi Menon, MD of MAS, reported a small loss of  $30.8b that would not make much impact to our reserves and savings. Before he turned around, Dilhan Pillay, Temasek’s executive director and chief executive officer, and Rohit Sipahimalani, Temasek’s chief investment officer, appeared in a press briefing explaining how they lost $7.3b last year. All of them assured the concerned and uneasy public that all was well as they were still making billions and had many billions in their portfolios. Actually Temasek was reported to be still making money despite the loss if looked from another perspective. So there is nothing to worry about, only dark clouds and would go away soon, it would be sunny all over again when the dark clouds are gone.

The next one that hit was no dark clouds. It is a big storm brewing.  S Iswaran, Transport Minister, was called up to assist the CPIB in their investigation. Now reported that he has been arrested. He was relieved of all his duties and told to take leave of absence. This rainstorm is not likely to be blown away quickly and likely to cause some damages, with instant trees likely to be uprooted along the way.

The exception is Tharman, Senior Minister, former DPM. He is like being kicked upstairs, safe and dry from the flood and muddy water, and waiting to be permanent resident in Singapore's own White House called the Istana, not cheap black and white GCBs. This one no need to pay rent. Thank God, a silver lightning in the midst of so many dark clouds.

Hey, this is July, a very hot month in the equator. Dark clouds or tropical storms would not last forever. It may pour like dogs and cats, but the sun will be smiling before anyone knows what is happening.