Quality journalists

By Ong Sor Fern I HAVE never, nor will I ever, read blogs. Yes, I am an information snob. I prefer my writing to come in published formats: newspapers, magazines and books. As someone who grew up on a hearty diet of old media, I trust these established systems of delivering information simply because there is quality control. When I read a newspaper, I can be assured that the journalist is subject to a code of ethics, his work has been audited by editors and his sources verified. Ditto a magazine and a book. Blogs, however, are a Wild West frontier, a welter of undifferentiated information that blends fact with opinion with merry disregard for consequences. No doubt there are intelligent bloggers out there. But trying to find them is akin to looking for a single brainy needle in an exceedingly large and, mostly dumb, haystack.... ________________ I must say that she is very logical and objective. And all her articles are not opinions but well researched, well edited and well verified.

Myth 160 - Explaining away a myth

Explaining away a myth Temasek is in London to explain away the myth. What myth? That it is a 100% govt owned fund or that it is going to buy up other countries' national assets? There is this New Zealander by the name of Simon Israel, probably an employee of Temasek, probably a New Zealander, wondering how the Israel part comes in, saying that 'The idea that Temasek is an instrument of the Singaporean Govt could not be further from the truth.' 'All investment decisions have been made by Temasek's board, Mr Israel maintained. The Govt receives a 7 percent dividend, and gets an annual update on performance - and that is it, he said.' So Temasek is a separate entity, nothing to do with the Govt. Period. Or we can borrow the style of our northern neighbour by saying, 'Temasek is neither a Govt owned or non Govt owned organisation.'

Black September - A day of reckoning

Sep 8 can be just like any other day. But it can also be a day where the people grow up and say we are no more third world coolies and farmers. It is a day for the people to say that they are ready to say no to policies that affect them negatively without resorting to violent protest. The wear black call is not a challenge to the govt by another political party. It is simply a statement by the people that they do not want the govt to tell them what to do with their money. It is a statement that no one shall mess around with their life savings. Now the issue is whether the people have finally shed their sheeple image and willing to stand up and be heard. It could be another day of disappointment when the sheepdogs appear to herd them into a corner. Or worst, no one appear in black. On the other hand, will the govt still take the stance that they are the self righteous priests speaking the words of wisdom and must be obeyed? Or will the govt matures as well and say they are willing to listen to the people and would not unleash the sheepdogs at the sheep, allowing more space for the sheep to express themselves? If that be the case, then we are really moving ourselves towards the direction of a developed nation with sensible people talking and govt listening. Or it will prove that we are still like Myanmar as far as political expression is concerned. Where will we stand on Black September Day? Or is it another dream?

Pau tau, pau buay, pau kah tsng

This is what Singaporeans are becoming. We cover our head, our tail(figuratively) and our backside. In no time we will be mummified. Pau ka liow. How many times must Singaporeans cover themselves and plan for their retirement? These are some of the things that Singaporeans, the sensible ones, are doing. Forget about the reckless ones. Nothing can help them. Even you make everything compulsory, they have nothing to be held as ransom. Their CPF will likely be empty. Ok, first they would have a little savings. Then they will have a little flat. And a little family just in case. And some will have a little insurance policy. And many will continue to work till they die. And they will have some compulsory money in Medisave. Ok this one cannot touch unless they are sick. No food, hungry, just too bad. Then there is the minimum sum. Now, all these not enough? Really not enough? How much more must Singaporeans do to plan for their retirement? Now compulsory annuity is being proposed. Sudah lah. Might as well give up all their money and live on plain water and fresh air, then wait for 85 years to collect annuity to live forever. Is this ridiculous? I think it is insanity! Shit, they forget to set aside a sum for their coffin and funeral expenses!

We need laws to protect our CPF savings

As our CPF saving is becoming an everlasting dream, getting stretching further and further into the uncertain future, the people better stand up and ask for some kind of protection that this will not become an impossible dream. It is our money and we must have a say in it and have it back as promise. Not rubber time. If we do not agree with all the recent proposal, we must say it now. Many have spoken in the media and in cyberspace. Some are going to say it this Sat, Black September Day. It will be interesting to see how many will stand up to speak for their own pockets. The govt knows that when it hits the people in the pocket they will wake up. Will they wake up this time round? The choice of black is an ingenious decision as it is a fashionable colour of the ladies. Ladies in black are every where. Many will be caught and probably didn't know what hits them when their innocent walk in Orchard Road is rudely disrupted. And this will apply to the young and the tai tais whose only interest is in fashion black and nothing else. Will be humorous this Saturday.

In the long run, we will all be dead

The new proposal to peg the CPF interest rate to bonds assumes that in the long run bond rates will perform better and CPF interest will be higher than the current guaranteed 4%. Who is the wise guy who claims that this made in heaven assumption must be true? Obviously must be some wet behind the ears talents who are still living in their dreams. Haven't we learnt that in the long run we will all be dead? Haven't we learnt that the same logic and assumption had been flouted to the people many years back and many times over, and all proven disastrously wrong? Remember COWEC scheme, a company employee welfare scheme that guaranteed a return higher than the CPF by investing this fund in stocks. The assumption was that in the long run the stocks would outperform all kinds of investments and the returns would be much higher. The fact that the scheme was buried and forgotten spoke loudly of this assumption. At one time, some analysts put up many charts and papers saying that over a 30 year period, investments in stocks would give a return of 30%. That let to the opening of the floodgate and CPF savings were poured into the stock market. There was an euphoria. But not for long. Many lost their life savings in the stock market before the long term return could run its proper course. It was a terribly big mistake and many CPF account holders were bled dry. Then this mad rush and faith in the stock market were quickly shelved and restrictions were placed to curb using CPF money in stock investment. The rest is history. Do not believe in the long run. The only certainty is uncertainty and death.

Black September Day

I have been reading about this Black September Day when Singaporeans are told to be at Centrepoint Shopping Centre and wear black to protest against the compulsory annuity proposal. It is plannd for 8 September at 4 pm I think. For Singaporeans thinking of attending this protest they must think very carefully. Will they live till 85 and beyond? If they do and they want to have some money to live by, they better not attend. Otherwise they will suffer when they do not have anything to live on. The compulsory annuity is their only guarantee for a life without worry. It is good for them. I don't think I will live till 85. And if I do, I know that I am comfortably provided. Not by this annuity for sure.

solutions to ease traffic jam

Another letter in the media suggesting how to ease traffic jams without resorting to higher ERP charges. He suggested that a few lanes be reversed to allow traffic on the jammed side to drive through as done in Melbourne. Actually all these are temporary solutions. The best and most effective solution is for the population to hit 6.5 million. By then the moment you drive out fo the car park you will hit the jam. That will deter anyone from driving. Then the obvious solution is to raise the ERP charges to $10 per pass and there will be passes at every turn. A drive out of the car park to work or shopping will easily cost $100. Would there be any jams any more? And HDB car parking fees can be raised to $300 a month as the cars will be parked permanently in the car park. And car park owners can decorate their own carparks to their own fancy as many will spend a lot of time keeping their cars company in the car parks than be on the road.

We are truly the best

Everyday when I read in the news of the resignation of Abe's ministers, all tainted with corruption and infringement of the law, I tell myself, 'How lucky we are.' We hardly have any cases of such nature among our law makers. All scandal free and upright. And the importance of having righteous men in govt, and finding them to be placed in govt becomes even more crucial when we compare ourselves to another developed country. No point comparing with developing countries. Japan's case proved that good and honest men are hard to fight, a very rare breed especially among the successful. Somehow, many gained their wealth and positions through some less than clean ways. And in this modern world when information technology makes it so easy to expose those who have done wrong, it is very difficult to hide a pair of dirty hands. Indeed we are blessed.

Who will protect our children?

Thomas Koshy wrote an article in Today asking for protection for our children and the ignorant or poor parents againsts the bulldozer of threats from copyright owners. Children are defenceless, many have not reach the maturity of knowing the consequences of their acts. And the poor and ignorant parents would simply tremble in the face of a threat of prosecution. Should our legal system protect these disadvantaged group of people given the case of Odex? So far, no one from the legal profession, both from the govt and the private practitioners, have said anything. It is thus left to the individual to live under the rule of the jungle. Oops, I mean rule of the law. Thomas Koshy suggested that 'Threatening criminal prosecution unless some form of compensation is paid could very well be illegal in itself.' If only this is the case and the poor and ignorant have someone to take up their case against spurious accusations and charges of the rich and powerful, the old NKF case would not have gone the way it did. What about the threats against the fragile minds of the young? Many could wet their pants on receiving such a threat. Some may go bonkers and need psychiatric help. The ruthless and thoughtless copyright pursuers must be held accountable for the abuses of the young and naive. Cruelty against children. At the moment they have the law and the money to threaten anyone. It is high time that something be done to prevent such ruthless and inhuman pursuit of copyright infringement without any thoughts of the consequences on the young. There is no need to unleash a rottweiler against children for crossing the fence.

One stop wellness centre

This is another good thing in our midst. Centres to help the oldies get well and be well. I was looking at this pic of several oldies in the Straits Times. They all looked at least 70s or 80s. They looked well for their age and that is about all. I am not looking for happiness or contentment in their faces. All I was looking for is a little peacefulness and tranquility, and a little life to show that they are living their lives. All the faces looked lost. Anyone still looking forward to living in their 80s and 90s, better think twice, thrice. Up to a point, living, being alive, can be meaningless. Sad to say, they all looked like zombies. Do not pray to have long lives. Live a good life at whatever age and depart when nature calls.

Compulsory contribution to Public Legal Fund

As the legal and court fees get beyond the reach of the masses, it is timely to have a Public Legal Fund for the people to fall back on in cases like this where it is quite clear that they have a right to fight for some justice. I will like to propose that all the CPF holders contribute $1 a month to this fund so that the public can gain access to legal assistance to protect themselves. It would also prevent the rich and mighty from resorting to the court as a kind of blackmail. They will have to think very carefully before attempting to sue anyone. It is only $1 a month. Very affordable and definitely very necessary in a rule of the law country. It is good for the people, especially the not so well off. Legal protection for $1. The public can pool their limited resources to help themselves.

The right of might

I wrote about Odex or Odium and whether it will take the same path as NKF and the map provider, winning the first battle but losing the war. Odex has no legal right to sue or ask for compensation. Now what are they going to do with the compensation collected? Likely some would have been paid for legal fees. Now if there is a counter claim, looks like they are going to pay very well, compensation plus compensation plus legal fees. This saga also reflects and confirm the sickness of our society. If you have the money to engage legal assistance, you can threaten those without the means to fight back. And it is cheaper for the poor to pay than to break their bank accounts to fight for justice. What have we become? This is how we have developed into a first world cuntry.

Any change in retirement age and pension payout

With all the changes to withdraw CPF savings tied to retirement age, will there be any changes to the retirement age in the civil service and the commencement in the payout of pension? Would the payout of pension to politicians still starts at 55? Still waiting to hear something on this.

Odex not the licence holder

The court has ruled that Odex is not the licence holder and thus has no right to sue those downloaders, or something to this effect. Does it mean that Odex must now refund those money it claimed and collected from the parents of those children?

Annuity scheme not enough

Come to think of it, like they said, send the buddha to the West, all the way. At 85, these people need more than just three meals a day. Many will need nursing care or be kept in nursing homes. Many will need hospitalisation, wheelchairs, cataract operations, heart bypass, or a maid to push them around and to feed them. Conservatively, maybe $1,500 pm will be needed on top of the annuity. Working the number to 10 years, assuming that by 95, they will call it a day, they will need $180k. Would any of you think it is prudent and good that the oldies should have $180k at 85 to start with? The $120k minumum sum should be retained and only be allowed to be withdrawn at 85. It will fit in nicely to make life very comfortable for the oldies. Any good measure and with good intention must be done properly. No half measures. Want to do it, do it all the way.

It is getting bad

Just came back from lunch. My plate of vegetarian rice used to be $3. The stall owner apologised for having to charge me $4. He said everything is up. Bo bian. The other day I wrote about a Malaysian pastry that was $2.20 and now $4. And a duck rice stall that used to have 8-10 pieces of duck meat. It still gives the same number of pieces at the same price. But the meat used to be 5 mm thick. Now each slice is 2-3 mm thick. And this is only the beginning. No, absolutely no inflation. Just a bit more expensive only.

Losing the people's trust

The PAP brand has been built over the last 40 years of delivering a better life for the people. Despite the occasionally discontentment and anger voiced by the people, there is this long term trust between the people and PAP. This bond that is built over so many years is seeing signs of cracks. Once broken, it is going to be difficult to mend. The constant pushing back of the CPF withdrawal age and now this thing called compulsory annuity, is going to tear away at this trust. The people are having doubts. The people are unhappy that their money is no longer their money to spend the way they want. The trust is eroding away. Do not lose this trust or it will be tough to get it back again. We are now witnessing the slide down the slippery road. No matter how good is the intention, unfortunately not many believe in these new changes, never meddle with the people's life saving. Never!

Two visitors came a calling

Two came knocking over the weekend. They said they were social workers and asked me if the world was a peaceful place. I told them my neighbourhood was very peaceful. They gave me the funny look. They wanted to talk to me about how to make the world a better place. So I asked them whether they were going to send a mission to Afghanistan. They wanted me to waste my precious Sunday morning time with them. After so many thousand years, if such fools can save the world, the world would have been saved long ago.

A simple illustration of Thinkall's article

What Thinkall said is very simple. If money has to be paid out but delay to a later date, there is a huge carrying cost. The CPF was supposed to pay a depositor all his savings at 55. Now it is 62/63 or 67. There is a delay of 7 years or more. An another portion is delay to 85. A much longer delay. Example. if there are 20,000 people hitting 55 annually, and each expecting $100k withdrawal, that is $2 billion. Now with the minimum sum, only a small sum will be withdrawn. The rest will be kept with compound interest at 4%. Seven years delay means at least 30% more to pay out. In the mean time the money is reinvested. Hopely the return is higher than the 4% when the delayed withdrawal is due. Otherwise it will be trouble. At the moment there is hope that the super talents and fund managers will do their jobs. If they do, fine. If they don't, not only we don't make the 4%, there is a high carrying cost to pay these super fund managers. And they don't come cheap. The Americans are in some way doing the same thing. Delay payment to the future generations. And they do it by issuing bonds year after year. Still someone must pay some time in the future. We are delaying our CPF payout to be paid in a much larger sum some time in the future. So life can go on. Who is going to inherit the problem in the future if our investments turn sour? Of course the investments can turn into a golden goose. But before the goose turns golden, all the fund managers are going to get their bite first. And there are sharks and all kinds of events trying to turn those investments to ashes. While time has been bought to pay later, the time must be used urgently to generate more funds for the payout. Could this be the reason why all the fees are pushed up, selling assets, privatisation to raise fund? If we are so rich, there should not be such a pressing need to up everything and incur the ire of the people and more hardship for the lower income group.

Yellow ribbon on the big oak tree

There was a big campaign to educate people on the need to help those that went astray to return to the main stream of life. Many have spent time behind bars for all sorts of reasons. Some petty crimes, some drugs, and some fairly serious. Everyone deserves a second chance. Chance must be given to those who are willing and want to return to normal life. It is not an easy path, and must be approached with caution as not all will want to or are able to return to live normally. Then there is this one that forged his degree to get a job here and was found out. He had proven that he was a good worker and had won the confidence and trust of his employer. His case deserves some special attention from his track records. His employer paid his legal fees and fines and wanted to fight for him to be given a second chance. this is a heart warming fight by Ivy. On an individual case, people may be warmed to the worker and may want to help him as best they could. But how would this affect the bigger picture? Would every potential offender find our laws so compassionate that it is ok to repeat the same offence? We can afford to deal with a handful of cases. But where should it stop? It is bad to think that just because Hsien Loong mentioned of a case that could deserve a different treatment, probably tongue in cheek, it should not be used as a justification that committing an offence here is pardonable. No sweat. As long as one can contribute in some way to the economy, we can close one eye and be compassionate and human to such offenders. These are social problems of the poor. When people are poor, they resort to petty theft and crime to get by. Some of the crimes committed are so petty and pathetic. It is not easy to past judgement on such cases. To make an exception or to apply the law will have its advocators and detractors.

How to help Singapore Nation

I have copied an article written by Thinkall, which he posted in sammyboy, in redbeanforum in the tread 'How to help Singapore Nation.' I strongly recommend that all of you read it as the article is very well written, well argued and will give you a clear picture of the problems facing CPF now and in the future. The article deserves to be printed in the local media to enlighten the masses.

When are they going to stop?

Before they stop and you stop, you have lost by default. And all Singaporeans have been losing all these years by default to the extent that the govt thinks that it is its right to plan the people's life using the people's hard earned money. This is the most serious implication of all this compulsory annuity schemes and using legislation to keep the people from their life time savings. The people must say no to this kind of mentality. The govt can self help itself with the public coffer but not the pockets of the people. Singaporeans have given up this right to their own money. And if they don't do something, this right will be forever enshrined in all the legislations that they no longer have any say to their money. If this is not ridiculous, what else can be, in the city of possibilities? My message is simply, don't mess around with my money. I want my money back. I decide what and how I want to do with my money. And don't give me that crap that I will come crawling to the govt for charity. I am prepared to sign an undertaking if needed be that I will not ask for public assistance, not even for $290. Would that be enough? There is an online petition on this and Singaporeans should say no by signing on it.

HDB lease buy back scheme

This is perhaps the best option that the govt has proposed recently. With this scheme, oldies can at least live their last years with some financial certainty and a roof over their heads. They will be independent even if their children abandon them. And with this scheme, there is no need for annuity. The people need to be suspicious if any joker still insists on an annuity on top of such a scheme. And for anyone who can provide proof of his assets that are better than those 3 roomers who opted for this scheme definitely do not need annuity. They have much much more to provide for themselves and are capable of providing for themselves.

Celebrating Singaporeans: Ho Ching

The East is getting redder. That's what Mao said in his heydays. Yes the world is changing and changing so rapidly. Of the 3 women that were voted the most powerful or influential in the world by Forbes, two were from Asia. Wu Yi, a deputy premier of China is ranked number 2. And Ho Ching, a private business excutive, CEO of Temasek, is number 3. Wu Yi is from the world's most populous nation, and moving fast to become an economic power. And Ho Ching, from a little red dot, one of the tiniest nation. She even out ranked Condolezza Rice and woman Presidents and Prime Ministers. Her achievements even outshine LKY and Hsien Loong in being ranked in the top three by Forbes. LKY and Hsien Loong have never been in the top ten. She is not only a giant in a little red dot but in the international community. Wow!

Korean hostages - Not end of story

Now that the hostages have all returned to S Korea, it is time to settle scores and talk cock. One corner are the bravados, the never negotiate with the enemy heroes. They are now screaming at the S Korean govt for giving in and undermining their position. This will encourage more hostages to be taken. How they wish the S Koreans were killed as martyrs. Then they can called for more attacks against the kidnappers. The S Korean govt is a big let down. Whimps. Another corner are the evangelists. They should be screaming 'Praise the Lord' for answering their prayers and returning the hostages safely. God has answered. And time to plan for more missions to save the Afghans. Their belief in the Almighty must have been strengthened. Some interviewed have expressed that the S Koreans were there to do a good deed and would likely be encouraged to do more good deeds. And the S Korean govt is going to settle the scores for the foolishness of those involved in the mission. All will have to pay, at least financially, for the ruckus. It was humiliating for the govt to have to negotiate with the Talibans and to be blame for any failure to bring the hostages home safely. Will the story be repeated again, by some other countries?

The Singaporean Dream

In his first National Day Rally speech after the general election Hsien Loong painted a big dream for Singaporeans, a first world lifestyle with the two IRs. In his second rally he painted a renewed Singapore with Punggol 21 as an example of how things will be. These will be the dreams of the new generations. The older generations used to dream of reaching 55 and getting their CPF to go Batam. Now they have two more dreams. One to start collecting their minimum sum at 62(may 67 next time) and a second dream to collect their annuity forever when they hit 85. The 55 dream used to be the biggest dream of all. A time to reap their life time reward that they have saved all their working years. Now this will only be a fleeting dreams to many as not all will have much money to withdraw when the day comes. And for those who are below 57, the 62 dream will progressively be pushed further to the future. It will become the 63 dream, 64 dream and 67 dream. Who knows, it can become the 70 dream one day. Likewise, the 85 dream is still a dream and may become a 90 dream. It is good to have so many dreams. Carry on dreaming, Singaporeans.

Geylang is an example of the future to come

Geylang is now full of buzz. It has a new life of its own, exciting, hot, cosmopolitan, a corner that comes to life at night. More exciting than Clark Quay. Along the two sides of the main roads you have restaurants buzzling with customers. Go to the side roads you have hawkers and customers of a different kind. The customers are Singaporeans and foreigners. More foreigners than locals. The service providers, operators, including the restaurant owners, are mainly foreigners. The only thing local is the landlords. A large number of the business units have been rented out to foreign operators. And the landlords are very happy with the arrangement. They are reaping good returns for their properties without having to sweat. Is this what Singapore will become eventually on an island wide scale where Singaporeans are paid as landlords, the property owners, and the foreigners run the business, pay the rentals and make the profits? It is quite a life for the gentry and property owning class, no longer have to work but to enjoy the good life. If this be the case, it must surely be the first sign of decadence when the productive juice is no longer being pumped. Soon the properties will also be bought by the foreigners.

Annuity Scheme: A case of...

The Annuity scheme is a case of too little too late. The people who really need the annuity scheme are those lonely, jobless, no CPF and homeless in their 60s, 70s and 80s now. Introducing the scheme will not benefit even those in their 60s as many are unemployed. Having the schemes for those in their 50s and below may lead to the question of how many will need them. There is a big group of Singaporeans, those at least having a 4 rm flat, or even 3 rm flat, that will have family support, CPF, life insurance, savings, and probably work till they die. How relevant is the annuity scheme to these people? The annuity scheme is a scheme that punishes the responsible and those who have planned and saved for their retirements. The annuity scheme is one that punishes the majority because of a few irresponsible or unfortunate minorities. The annuity scheme is a redundant and irrelevant scheme to those who have properties, savings and dependents. The annuity scheme is a compulsory scheme that is neither here nor there, good for some but unnessary for others. The annuity scheme is a wasteful scheme to those that die young. Given a population of 3 million, how many percent will live pass 85, how many will live pass 90? And how many of these will need the annuity scheme to live on? If the annuity scheme gets through, it will be a bad precedent for any smart alec to dream of any feel good schemes to be made compulsory. I can easily think of a dozen that may even be more useful and meaningful than the annuity schemes to be made compulsory.

Can good intention justify murder?

Many well intended and well meaning people welcome the compulsory annuity proposal as a good scheme. I also think so. But what is wrong or why so many people are against it? I will spare the effort on the goodness of the scheme as these are apparent and already made known. The gist of the scheme is that it is compulsory and taking people's money from their pockets against their will. This is first degree violation of a person's right to his property. Some may call it in stronger terms. The next objection is that not many people will need it. Not many. So why compel all the people when it is so good and no takers? It is like telling people heaven is a good place. And to ensure that everyone will go to heaven, all the people must donate a sum of their wealth for this cause. It is compulsory. The people cannot decide whether they want to go to heaven or somewhere else. Can people get it? It is compulsion. It is the people's money. If it comes from the pocket of the do gooders, well, everyone will be for it. Just because someone dreams of doing something good, he has the blank cheque to force everyone to go along with him? Can we accept that? I want to build a paradise. Can I demand everyone to put aside 10% of their income as prerequisite for entry to my paradise? Life insurance is a very good thing. Can it be made compulsory?

The Odex saga

What this saga revealed is how frightening Singapore has become after all the years of unthinking pursuit of money and materialism. We have turned ourselves from warm feeling humans to cold calculative and unfeeling machines. And we don't even know or wonder why or how. In the Odex case or in some other cases of violation of the law, Singaporeans are proud and aloof and quick to pronounce that the law is the law. We are a country that runs on the rule of law. So anyone who crosses the line got nicked. Period. Our law is blind. When humans refused to think, refused to use their humaness to differentiate, and apply the law blindly, we are not longer humans. We become part of the matrix. We exist and thinking that that is our real purpose in life. Now Odex. Many of those who infringed on the law on intellectual properties by downloading anime pics are children. They are wrong. Absolutely. But do we need to apply the law blindly on everyone of them? When life were simpler, people were more simple, and people were paid a few dollars to pass their days, applying the law simply might be acceptable. They were not paid to think too much. The money did not justify the tediousity of it all. But today, when the whole system of living is so complicated, and people are paid very generously for what they are doing, we must expect people to think more carefully to justify what they are being paid. We don't have terms like child, children, kids for nothing. They are simply at a stage of life where they are learning to reason, to know right and wrong and to grow up to accept the norms of society. That is why the courts have exceptions for children in many areas. Is it reasonable and healthy to slam children with the whole weight of the law? Threatening and frightening children with the law! Is it a responsible act to demand from children whose pocket money could be only $10 a month, to pay $3000 or $5000 for their childish innocence? Teaching them to learn the hard way? Oh, the parents can afford to pay. What kind of society and values are we evolving into? Do we think anymore? Do we really care anymore? Do we really have compassion? Or everything is just lip service. Or are we programmed to repeat such phrases without feeling for them or with no intention to mean it? Just saying without meaning.

Myth 159 Stay healthy no hospital bills

Stay healthy no hospital bills This is what Singaporeans believe or were told to believe. Stay healthy, lead a healthy life style and cut down on medical or hospitalisation bill. Now take a deep breath and think about this carefully. You imagine that you are healthy, have a clean bill of health. So you don't spend anything on medication or medical bills. You save on hospital bills. Is that what you believe in? You are dead wrong. The reality is that Singaporeans are paying their hospital bills in advance. How much? It depends on how much you have in your Medisave. That is money you have paid in advance. Many have paid $30k without being sick or being admitted to a hospital. Advance Medical Directives? This is advanced payment of medical bills, in a way. For you cannot touch the money unless you pay it out. Otherwise, if you have dependents they will hopefully inherit them after your death. There is no fixed date for withdrawal unlike the minimum sum or annuity. And if you have no dependents, tough.

Teaching the soldiers to think

The Army is going to teach the soldiers to think, according to the Chief of Army Maj Gen Neo kian Hong. The Army needs thinking soldiers. It is about time that we teach our boys to think. Looks like our world class schools did not include this in their syllabus. Any organisation that needs thinking workers must start a course to teach them how to think. And for those who have not been taught to think, especially those in the 50s, 60s and 70s, maybe it is time to teach them to think also. Then the govt will not have to worry about them squandering their retirement money away. It will save the govt a lot of work and trouble trying to manage their lives, and all the agonising that these people cannot look after themselves.

Oh, Talibans are not savage after all

Yes the Talibans have released the S Korean hostages. They are not blood thirsty savages after all. There is hope that they can be saved. And now that they are not going to kill hostages, maybe more missionary groups can be organised to save them huh? One good thing coming out from this is that countries that were coerced to join the coalition of the willing by the US can use this method to withdraw from the conflict. Just send a mission there, get them arrested by the Talibans, negotiate and pledge to withdraw all their troops and activities there and promise not to set foot there anymore. And all their boys can go home. And they can tell the Americans, look, we have a deal with the Talibans. And what the heck. The Americans will not do anything if their people are taken as hostages.

Too much of goodness and TLC

Singaporeans are the most fortunate people in this world. It has a world best govt that is providing them with so much goodness and tender loving care. Singaporeans are living in a country with first world infrastructure, world class homes, and living in a resort environment, world class entertainment, schools and medical services. And the govt does not stop at that. It continues to plan for their retirement and their final days in this world to ensure that all the Singaporeans will be amply provided for without a single day of care and worry in their golden years. All the Singaporeans are expected to live to a ripe old age, maybe 90 or 100, with a lot of money in their savings. It is truly a paradise on earth. Now isn't that a beautiful dream? Why should Singaporeans, or some Singaporeans, be crying for mercy? Why are some pleading to the govt not to be so good and so kind to them? Why are these Singaporeans begging the govt to let them be, let them live their lives the way they want, let them make the mistakes in life so that they can learn, let them fall and pick themselves up, let them have some freedom in how to use their pocket money to have a few wild weekends out to do the things they want to do? All these Singaporeans are asking is for the govt to loosen the apron string, and allow them to grow up and look after themselves. Is that too much to ask for? Every child will grow up and want to grow up. And when they start to work and earn a salary, they would want to manage their own finances, spent a little, indulge a little and mess up a little. And they only ask the govt to have faith in them that even if occasionally they become naughty, pain the town red, they will manage their money carefully. After all they have been given a world class education and should know how to be sensible. Please can we have our money back? Please don't ration my pocket money. Please let me grow up. I am now 80.

When paternalism becomes suffocation

Where to draw the line between paternalism and coercion? The word paternalism always connotes something positive even if a little highhanded, like a father taking out the rod to whack a child. Still it is seen as acceptable as long as it does not borders on cruelty, no tearing of flesh or blood dripping everywhere. Thus people happily used the cover of paternalism to commit crimes against their children, and even get away with it. To be paternalistic sounded so good, so righteous and so good hearted. When does paternalism ends and evil or wickedness takes over? When can a parent be sued for cruelty for stuffing a child with too much food? Or when does paternalism becomes over protective and takes the form of forced imprisonment of a child in a house? When can a parent be seen as robbing his children of their money by keeping it against their will and decide when and how much to return to them at his own mercy? Is there a limit to paternalism before it is called something else?

Not secular nor theocratic but Negara Islam

Abdullah Badawi in a written reply to Lim Kit Siang wrote that Malaysia is Negara Islam. Lim Kit Siang said after receiving the reply, 'We had hoped he would exercise restraint on Islamisation, but all those hopes have now been dashed.' He told The Straits Times, 'There is a general sense of unease and concern over this,..."

Trouble at Pasir Gudang?

Heard this rumour this morning Some riotings in Pasir Gudang and the soldiers were called in. Anyone hear anything about this?

A new ministry needed

Between having a minister just to look after the ageing population, I think it is more urgent and important to have a minister to look into the rising cost of living. His job is how to lower the rising cost of living and not just to monitor for fun and ended saying nothing can be done. BSE not accepted. It will be cost effective and money well spent to spend another few millions on a minister who can arrest the runaway cost of living and help the lower income group in general. If he can't do that, fire him and replace with another until one who can do the job comes a long. And the report card must be handed out annually, not wait for 10 years to see the result.

Mother's wisdom

Siew Kum Hong wrote a thesis on why and how the use and misuse of the CPF are draining the retirement fund of the ageing population. He lamented that the govt should not use the CPF as a tool to manage the economy and the contribution rate should be restored to 40%. All the reasonings are sound and rational. It is a rational plea. But isn't a saving of 40% of one's income very high? How many countries in the world has this kind of savings? Would 20 or 30% be already a very generous sum? Why is it that other countries with much less savings than us, I mean the developed countries, do not face such a serious crisis? Where is the catch? I remember my mother's wisdom, told to me when I was a kid. She said it is not how much you earn (or have), but how much you spend. This simple truth is still as relevant as today. People live with what they have. Who is the clown that insist that people must have $120k or more to retire? Didn't he know that people can live on $260 pm with totally no other sources of income? Just because there are a lot of people who go around saying 'What is $10 million?' does not mean that everyone is expecting to live that kind of lifestyle. The govt cannot and should not dictate how much people shall have to live their lives. The govt may, in it's honest and good intention, legislate for a minimum sum for basic living. Those who want to save more, good. It must be voluntary. It is ridiculous to demand that people, and for that matter, everyone, the haves and the have nots, to have at least $120k in their CPF savings. It is not how much you have. It is how much you are spending. Idiots. And if govt policies is to price everything according to affordability, the $120k will definitely be not enough. It will become nothing with the rapidly rising cost of living.

Millions of visitors

This is the seventh moon and I am getting terribly paranoid. Both Redbeanforum and mysingaporenews appear to be infested by millions of visitors that it is extremely difficult for me to log on or to post. The waiting time and interruption are frustrating. I can visit any site quite easily except these two. I hope my forumers and bloggers are not having the same frustrating experience as I. Please log in and let me know if you have the same problem. Maybe things will get to normal after this month is over. Maybe all the good brothers will go away. Maybe.

Singapore 2037

Singapore is a beautiful place. Take a walk at Orchard Road or Raffles Place and you know what I mean. No, not the beautiful shops and shrubs. Beautiful faces everywhere. Young, healthy and vibrant. This is the star attraction of our city. A young city of young and beautiful people. Fast forward 30 years. All those who are still around will probably be still around. Thanks to our world class health care system and the medisave. And the employment for the oldies would have been in full swing. Then take a walk at Orchard Road and Raffles Place. Eeeeeeeeeee....!!!!! Horrors of all horrors. Where are the beautiful young people? Why are there so many ancients and zombies walking around. And many on wheelchairs! What happen? Why aren't we remain a young and beautiful city any more? Quick quick, do something. Get rid of the ancient monsters. They look so horrendous, so out of place in our beautiful Orchard Road and Raffles Place. Will you be one of them? 30 years from now.... : )

When the next economic crisis hit

Our cost of living is up. Inflation is up. Housing is up, rentals up, everything up. But all affordable. Salary up also. Where got problem? An average Singaporean is strapped with all kinds of hire purchases and mortgage loans. Their lives depend on that monthly income. What happens if he loses his job? When the next economic crisis comes, cannot run, cannot hide. Singaporeans will face the same bad loan crisis in the US. People who lose their jobs will all become defaulters in a matter of months. And we will have our subprime loan, or triple AAA loan crisis. Don't bet on it. With the high cost of living, no one can afford to lose his job and survive. Without that income, he will be debt ridden within months. Worst than the third world countries. They are poor but debt free, actually. They live within their means. We are living beyond our means with everything under mortgage or HP or credit.

The world is getting smaller

The frequent flyers will say so. The world is getting smaller. Every corner of the world is only a few hours away. Be here in the morning and Perth in the afternoon and Auckland in the evening. Technology has broken the barrier of distance. Not to those who cannot afford to pay for the fare. The world is getting smaller to the oldies. Their world is how far the legs can take them. Some may not be able to afford the fares of public transport and thus confine their activities to within walking distance. That is how small their world has become. Now that must be joking. How can this be? People cannot afford public transport? How much is lunch or kopi and how many of such lunches and kopi they have to forgo to take a trip? Sorry I think this is a myth. I am moving in the circle of friends that only mutter, 'What is $10 milllion?' Where got people stinging on taking public transport? Seow!

The right hand left hand wayang

Promoting healthy family life was once given some exposure as a core tenet of our society. We need to organise the workplace and the country to promote healthy lifestyle and quality family life. There were even talks of setting up nurseries in workplace for parents to be near their children. The latest change in ERP hours have stirred the parents' nest. They are angry with the way they have been chased around to beat the ERP charges. From 7.30 am to 7am, how much difference could that mean to all these hard pressed parents ferrrying their school going children or rushing them to foster or grandparents before they leave for work? And it is not only the money. The toll of rushing in the wee hours of the morning, and the poor children were not spared either. They too must be woken in even earlier hours. How would all these affect quality family life? Didn't the left hand knows what the right hand is doing? Come on, this kind of patronising thought is best left to the kopitiams. All the pros and cons have been carefully thrashed out. The super talents must have done their homework and due diligence. Everything has been considered. And the solution is the best that is possible. Now what is all these complainings about early morning rush hours? Get use to it parents and little children. That is what living is a great first world city is all about. Say thank you for the privilege. This is a city that does not sleep.

Quotes by Hsien Loong

"I don't want to have anybody who is 85 years old or 90 years old and say ‘my CPF finished, I have no insurance, and now I need to live. And I have nobody to look after me… then what happens?" PM Lee Hsien Loong Now how to make sure that everyone will have money at those queer ages? Take their money first and keep them till they reach 85. Its elementary. The people must provide for themselves. There is no charity. Problem solved.

They still didn't get it!

I read this caption below a pic in the Today paper. 'Stand by Lee: Director Ang Lee is flanked by lead actor of his latest film, Wang Lee Hom and Tang Wei.' Then the story below begins like this: 'American censors have slapped Lee Ang's follow up to Brokeback Mountain....' Is this Mr Lee or Mr Ang? The news was from Agencies. Still no excuse as it is reproduced in a local paper. Mr Lee or Mr Yew may not think this is funny.

Questioning the sanity of ERP hikes

Two letters in Today by a James Teo and a Loke Yue Chong questioned how the decision to raise ERP charges came about. Both could not believe that there were no better solutions available and James Teo even came out with several options. I think both, or if not many Singaporeans, still think that they can offer better solutions than our supertalents. Now that is bad. How would ordinary citizens think that they can think better? We must not doubt that many hours of serious thinking and effort were put in to come out with such a brilliant solution. It is patronising to think that our super talents were not working or unable to think of alternatives that ordinary citizens could think of. And if the people think that these solutions are still not good enough, pay more. Pay more and get more talented people to come out with better solutions. This is the best solutions at this current price.

The worst is Now!

The oldies of today that are in a desperate position are those in the 60s and above. I called this the lost generation for many do not have a proper education to live a reasonable life and have no savings. Many are illiterate and penniless and homeless. The older ones may have migrated here and slogged through their lives as coolies or odd job labourers. With them around, maybe another 10 or 20 years, their problems will be most felt by the society. We will see glimpses of them trying to manage their old age, trying out anything that people suggested, sometime doing foolish things. Or they would just sit by the void decks or anywhere watching the days that go by. The interesting thing is that the problem is not critical. The situation is bearable. Where is the need for panic? And it is also too late for this group to start saving. After this lost generation have departed, the next batch is the baby boomers. Many are very well off. And many would have some education and a flat, and CPF. The situation of this group is much better than the lost generation. At least they know how to take care of themselves. There will be exceptions. A certain group will still fall into the category of destitute. If the lost generation did not pose such a big problem, why should we panic for this generation and the next few generations that are very much better off? What is the statistics to prove that all these useless oldies will be a burden to themselves and to the state? And the state is growing richer and richer and would not have serious financial problems to take care of a small minority of oldies that have no where to turn to. Don't tell the people that the state cannot afford to look after a small group of remnants that needed help at their last few years of life? What is the number? There may be 200k of oldies above 80. But how many will need charity?

A story Of love and poverty

An aged husband pushing his wheel-chaired wife 3km to meet an MP. By aidil. Aug 25, 2007 A Meet-the-people's session (MPS) on Aug 1 was perhaps the saddest one I have attended thus far. Sure, I have come across people who are stateless and seeking citizenship, HIV-positive persons, persons in really bad financial state and so on, but the special case that came before me today broke my heart. This is a story of an elderly Malay couple alone in this world. My heart raced as I had to interview the elderly Malay couple who looked like beggars, scruffy and tired. The wife, 69 years old, was plump and wheelchair-bound. The husband, 75 years old, was pudgy, walked with a limp due to arthritis and wore loosely fitted shoes. They live in a fully paid 3-room flat, which they bought many years ago. They only had one child. "Had" being the operative word. She/he died 2 years ago. They live about 3km away from the MPS that I am stationed. The husband, with his bad knees, undertook, as a gesture of love, to always push his wife around in her wheelchair. They don't take public transport because they cannot afford to and even if they did, they don't know how. Not knowing the whereabouts of an MPS, they set off at 6pm today in search for the first one they could find. They walked from location to location, asking people where an MPS is located. They finally ended up at my table - 3km from their house - at 8+pm. Not having any money to take a taxi or a bus, the husband pushed the sick wife all the way with his bad knees. The husband, being ill and old, is unable to find work. The wife, makes the best of her wheelchair bound state to sell packets of tissue paper. She brings in S$10 max a day. With S$10/day, they have to pay for meals, basic necessities and electrical/water bills. But this has over time become unbearable. They needed help and thus they walked 3km to my interview table. My heart broke when they retold their story of hardship. Copied from www.littlespeck.com. I am glad that the story is told. And I am glad that those who read are responding positively and rushing to do what they can for the couple. Go to littlespeck.com for more details.

The new deja vu

We need to restructure to meet the new challenges. Companies must be lean and fit. All the oldies, above 50, must be retrenched. Retrenchment is good. And we cannot have too many self employed, especially middle men, those that called themselves agents or people who are unproductive but add to the cost of doing business. And yes, we need to harness the power of technology, especially online and internet technology. These will save many unnecessary manpower. Anything that can go online, or any business that can go online must go online. Get rid of the extra fat to pay the unproductive parasites. Organisations will be more profitable with lesser jobs and heads to pay. Fire if possible. And the savings on manpower cost can add to more profits and bigger bonuses. These were the mantras 10 years ago. What are the new mantras today? Create jobs, more jobs, any fxxking jobs will do. Just create jobs for the people. And yes, jobs for the old hags, even the 70s and 80s. And pay them well. What retrenchment? What cut cost? Who dares to breathe these obscene words? Shall we hang those CEOs who are still trying to get rid of jobs and old hags?

The rich but poor Singaporeans

What is the financial profile of an average heartlander living in a 4 or 5 rm flat? When these people reach their 60s or 70s, it is very likely that they will still have a flat that has 70 years of lease left and may worth $500k or more, and likely to be fully paid up. In addition, each may have a piece of life insurance worth $100k. And in the CPF they will have $30k worth of Medisave and $120k in their minimum sum. Maybe the present generation may not have the full amount but at least half. And if both were working, this amount is doubled. Then there could be the little savings as an extra bonus. All these without taking into considerations the new measures that are going to be implemented. What about the few good and rich children that can afford to hand them some pocket money? What is the net worth of a couple of average heartlanders then? Easily $600k or more. In anywhere, in any circumstances, these people are rich beyond anyone's imaginations. And they only have themselves to take care of. No more burden of raising the young. But not in Singapore. Here is the bad news. For in the future, with all the cost of livings going up, these people need help or they will have nothing for their old age. They will become a burden to themselves and the govt. And that is why the govt is very concerned. And that is why more of their little savings must be kept till they are well into the 80s and 90s. Should the average Singaporeans celebrate their wealth or it is only a mirage? Excluding the top 20% of the population, this group of average Singaporeans could easily form 50% of the population. Actually, really, no bluff, why should this 70% of the population be seen as potential destitute and need to live on charity? Beats me really.

When all the gantries are in place

When the highways are too costly, motorists will switch to smaller roads that may take a little longer. And when these smaller roads are also gantryrised, then they either go back to the highway to meet the toll collectors, or they just have to take public transport. Our dream of a world class Tokyo public transport system when every commuters would have to be squeezed into the train by a mob of paid pushers will soon be a reality. And when that happens, the transport companies will know just what they have to do. Someone may suggest that to cut the number of people taking public transport they will have to raise the fare. Or maybe a smarter suggestion will be to have two trains out of six to be reserved for higher fare paying passengers. Call it first class train. The fares will be double or triple. That will be a profitable business and the shareholders will be pleased.

Lim Keng Yaik has spoken

After Tan Chee khoon, Gerakan has not been as vocal as before in articulating political views, or may not be as effective as before. Lim Keng Yaik has spoken out and is well known for speaking out. And he said he would not keep quiet even after he quits politics. He is the second Minister to speak out on the deteriorating racial relations in the country. He told the guilty party that racial issues must not be used to bully the minorities. The sad thing is that this has been going on for the last 30 odd years. But it is better said later than not at all. And it is better said now then eventually having no place and no right to say them if things are allowed to go the way it is. What happens to those sellout ministers and politicians who are representing the minorities? Are they still content to keep quiet as long as their private interests are not disturbed? What are they waiting for after being slapped and slapped ands slapped for all these years and still have the face to face their people? Sometimes I wonder whether politicians are in politics to serve the people or to serve themselves.

William Pesek's page

William Pesek has a one page column in the Straits Times to write all he wants about Asian political happenings. This is a very powerful instrument accorded to anyone in this little red dot, and much more to a foreign writer. William must have earned his right to such a great honour and privilege not bestowed to any local underlings. Such a situation can only happened in an Asian country where there is a dearth of local talent or a foreigner is so damn good that his contributions and views are very superior and useful to inform the locals. William is definitely very good. And he deserves to be given space to write. The pathetic thing is that the dearth of intelligent writers is not a joke but a reality. We can't find any to write as good or half as good as William. So by default, we need to give a foreign talent a whole full page to fill. And we have world class or among the top of the world class tertiary institutions and supertalents in our midst. Where are our local talents? Or they all have no views or no interest in watching Asian political events. All busily trying to make money in property speculations or figuring out how to make a fortune in the coming IR?

Make profit is no crime

"Dr Wong Chiang Yin, the hospital's chief operating officer, said: 'When foreigners walk into a hospital, it can be a little forbidding, so we hope the new centre will meet their needs.'.... As the hospital is located near Changi Airport, it sees transit passengers needing medical attention, and this adds to its influx of foreign patients. The hospital also actively recommends its services to potential foreign patients - through its network of 11 medical associates stationed in Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India. But Dr Wong said that providing additional services like these was not an indication that the hospital was going all out to court foreign patients. 'It's not about making money,' he added. " Can someone talk some sense into this guy? There is no shame in making profits, especially from foreigners. Make as much as you can from foreigners and use the surplus to subsidise the locals. That should be the way to go. Restructured hospitals are profit driven. If they are not going to make profits from foreigners, are they going to make profits from locals? All restructured hospitals must be encouraged to compete for foreign patients and use the higher profits to defray the cost of local patients, or to raise the income of the medical professionals. Just make sure that locals are not turn away because they have no time or for lack of facilities. Increase the capacity if need be. Don't they know how to do business?

Sad for would be pensioners

If the retirement age is raised to 62, the would be pensioners would only be able to collect their pension at 62. If it is raise to 65 or 67, then it can be expected that their pension will only start at the respective age. This may be cheaper to the employer as the expected lifespan after that could be much shorter than starting from 55. Some may not enjoy seeing their pension at all. Big savings.

More ERPs

Come 1 Nov, 4 more ERPs will be up and another 5 on standby to be activated when traffic get congested. Also operation hours will be extended. Can't be helped. No other better ways. This is the most efficient way as it hurts the pocket. No need to pay super talents to manage with such brilliant solutions. Pay any Ah Beng $5k a month and he will come out with a solution as excellent as this.

Sin of wasteful ways

While we are all worry about having not enough money for retirement, applicable to the hardlanders only, we are still caught up in this wasteful cycle of spending our hard earned money thoughtlessly. And at times this wasteful spending is even a compulsion. We waste thoughtlessly on scrapping cars in good working condition in less than 10 years. We waste tearing down sound buildings just to increase the value of the next development. We waste by making HDB flats affordable depending on how much is the savings in the CPF. Those who have certain incomes must pay for bigger flats even if they do not want to. And we even waste by insisting that people who are more financially well off must spend more in paying for more expensive wards in hospitals. They cannot opt for cheaper C wards! MEAN testing. At the other end, the income level of these hardlanders are not increasing exponentially but at a snail pace while cost of living is galloping away. How to expect these people to save enough when the system demands that they spend according to affordability? Why is thrift not encourage but a lip service? Why do we sometimes hear the statement that thrift is good and that people should spend within their means but the system is against this? If we truly believe in savings, then we must not spend extravagantly, unnecessarily, and thoughtlessly. We need a change of mindset and encourage people not to spend if there is no need to spend. And our system should be redesigned to help people to save than to spend. Then there will be more money left. Why people have so little savings for old age when we are one of the highest savers in the world? Is it so difficult to figure out why?

What can possibly be the fuss?

Some were screaming fouls while some say that it is a good thing. For those who think they will live to 100 and have no other means of supporting themselves, having an annuity scheme to see to their last years is a comforting thought. Then why the cries of unhappiness? The official reasons for the compulsory annuity scheme is that the paternalistic govt has serious thought over the problems of ageing and seriously plans for these future oldies. The intent is absolutely noble, genuine and caring. Now who can fault a govt trying to do so much for the people, spending their expensive brain juice for the unthinking and irresponsible masses? And many of the thinking and unthinking masses are truly grateful for such a forward looking and benevolent govt. On the other hand there is a corner who thinks that it is all about no money or not enough money in the CPF to pay out when due. Now this is a serious accusation and a serious problem. And to this group, the annuity scheme, the minimum sum scheme, including the Medisave, are all designed to keep the CPF money away from their rightful owners. And they believe that the govt is trying to play a delaying tactic. If this is true, then the intention is less than innocent. While people can understand that the problem of no money needs to be resovled, by not taking the bull by the horns, and trying all kinds of devious ways to pretend that the problem is not there, and trying funny ways to tackle the issue will only compound the problems. If the problem is not enough money, then it is better to face it and not spending money unwisely on frills and fringes. If the govt can afford to spend on these, then this thought of not enough money must be a wild imagination of this group of people. The third possible reason, just speculating, is that someone thinks that this source of cheap fund should be tapped fully for reinvestment and churning profits for the nation. It is a clever thought. But if this the case, it is ethically wrong and wicked for people to exploit the hard earned money of the people and deprived them of using it. Many will die without enjoying the fruit of their labour and toil. It is a very cruel thing to do. But this is only a wild guess. With so many virtuous people and morally very righteous in charge, the people can rest assured that people with such evil thought will not get their way. Even if they do, retribution will catch up with them one day. So what is the real fuss behind the buzz? There is an official position that sounds so logical and caring. Then some people do not believe so and are cringing with wild imaginations of their own. Who is right and who is wrong? What is the tooth?

What is all the fuss?

The National Rally was delivered with so many goodies. Something for everyone. New futuristic estates, estate upgrading, more interest for CPF, closing the income gap, employment for the old and taking care of all Singaporeans until they are buried. No, the Singaporeans did not ask to be nannied. It is a voluntary self appointed role or right to nanny the Singaporeans, a world class citizenship that cannot look after themselves and their own money. It will be a very sorry state if we have to look after our people from cradle to grave. But indeed we are, helpless Singaporeans or sheeples, unable to think for themselves and needed the good paternalistic govt to think and plan their lives. Is there any hope for Singaporeans? Now that every corner of the island is buzzing about the goodies, and also about their CPF savings, some may be asking, where is my money? When can I have my money back? Amidst all the noise and commotion, what is the real issue behind the din? Is there any real problem that no one knows or want to talk about? Or is everything so bright and rosy? No problem at all?

Are we in a sorry state now?

‘We can’t have a situation where we protect you even from yourself. If the entire population needs to be protected from their own choices, then we will be in a very, very sorry state in the future. “My own sense of it is Singapore is now a much more mature society and, generally, the vast majority of Singaporeans can be trusted to make up their own minds, exercise their choices and act responsibly. “The fundamental question is, are we ready as a society to let people make choices of their own, take responsibility for their actions and face the consequences?” Minister for Community, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan during the debate on the casino issue. Obviously many in the cabinet did not agree with Vivian that Singaporeans are mature enough to take care of themselves. That is why their CPF money must be kept for as long as possible, with some left behind after they are dead, for safe measures. Just in case, just in case. Now are we in a sorry state now?

Annuity and char kway teow logic

What is annuity? It is like taking a big sum of money to give to someone to invest for you and promise to pay you a small sum till you die. So Ah Pek will take his $100k to an insurer to manage and invest for him with a promise. In the meantime Ah Pek must hope that the insurer will not go bust or run away. And also the insurer is smart enough to make more money than he can afford to pay his management fee and Ah Pek. If the insurer lost money in his investment, then trouble starts. Buying annuity requires a lot of faith and hope. Is it really worth it? And how much does it cost the govt to look after some of the oldies who are above 85 years old? Not every oldie will need govt charity. Only some. What does the statistics of today's oldies above 85 say? How many are dependent on charity or have their own means of living? I think one plate of char kway teow will be enough to provide for all the oldies that are destitutes and without any dependent to fall back on.

Singapore Malaysia Relations

The problem is not with Singapore but Malaysia. This is the view expressed by Anwar Ibrahim at a seminor at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies yesterday. Some may not agree with him, but reading his comments carefully, there is a lot of truth in what he said. We are two closely knit neighbours and we could benefit a lot by working closely together. He admitted that Singapore can be very tough in negotiation. But that is negotiation and should not affect the relations between the two states. Malaysia can also be tough when negotiating with Singapore but both can find common ground instead of inciting racial hatred between Malays and Chinese. And this racial element is not only affecting relations between the two states but also the internal politics of Malaysia. Malaysia has a lot to gain by working closely with their Chinese and the Singapore Chinese instead of silly bickering for political mileage.

Howe Yoon Chong - His own man

'One of the lessons which he impressed on me was to be true to yourself, to say what you believe in, even if it means being disagreeable.' Vivian Balakrishnan. The above was what Vivian commented on Howe Yoon Chong. And from the other comments of personal experiences by other politicians, Howe Yoon Chong was indeed his own man. He did not minced words and he said what he meant. And for that, he naturally would find being a politicians difficult. And for that it is an admirable quality of a man who was true to himself all the time. No hypocrisy, no double talk. Just stuck to his principles and what he believed in, come what may. How many politicians can live to be like Howe Yoon Chong and be their true self? If we cannot respect such a man, what else can we respect?

Annuity - Nagging questions

How many people will live more than 85 years? How many of them will be destitutes and need charity? Can the govt afford to pay $300 pm to these octogenarians? Why go to all the trouble to implement a scheme that is unpopular and will only benefit a very small number of people? Please don't give the crap that all these old people will be dependent on welfare. The bulk of the lost generations, the uneducated, penniless, homeless and unemployable will be over in 10 or 20 years. The generations after them are not so desperate. Most would have something to fall back on. Those who still have to depend on charity will be those that have nothing in their CPF for the govt of hold back and neither would they have any HDB flats. These will be the new dropouts of society, the drug addicts, the loafers, etc, a small minority. And people are working longer from now on. Why are we doing all these? The problem so serious?

Quick, raise the lawyers' salary

Another lawyer has disappeared with client's money. Now, when are they going to learn? This is another vindication that the pay them well policy is the solution to prevent such problems. Quick, quick, increase their salaries....

Celebrating Singaporean - Howe Yoon Chong

He was not suave, charismatic, nor did he look like a TV star. Maybe more like Deng Xiao Ping. He was the unglamorous man that got things done. This is another pioneering leader that helped to build what Singapore is today. Would anyone put up a statue of him beside the foreign worker to honour his contribution? He was famous in Mindef. Heard stories that when he called up officers into his office, they trembled in their pants. And when he was scolding them, you could hear his voice at the other end of the corridor. Did I get my stories right? He was something like Goh Keng Swee, a doer that got things done with no nonsense. I did not know him as a man of humour. But he did joke. 'My hobby is getting some rest.'

Laws of Nature

When the old NKF were suing people in court, they were laughing to the bank. Easy money when the other party could not pay the legal fees and gave up the fight. The rest is history. Then Virtual Map also sued many users who copied their maps without persmission and were laughing to the bank with the high compensation claims. Virtual Map has been sued by Singapore Land Authority and lost. They are appealing. For the moment Odex is in a way repeating history, claiming compensations from illegal downloaders. Will history be repeated?

Annuity Plan gets clearer

Annuity Plan gets clearer As the picture unfolds, we are getting glimpses of what this plan will look like. For one, I like the idea that it is to provide a 'subsistence level' of income until death. Not like the $120k minimum sum, a value that probably 70% of the people will never dream of having. And while the govt has been quite generous in giving an additional dollar to those under govt assistance scheme, lets hope the govt will not be overly generous when using the people's money to provide for themselves. Hey, let me remind the govt again that it is the people's money. Not the govt's. I think this message has not gotten across. They are not going to take the risk of allowing the people to squander their money away. Why can't the people squander away their own money? The next point that I like is that the govt will now have to 'sell' the scheme to Singaporeans. Do they need to? It is a compulsory scheme for the good of the people. Or does it matter if the people don't buy it? Actually, anything that has to become compulsory is a failure of a sort. It means that it is not something that people see a need for it. Now the small amount to be paid to the annuity? Would it be $30 or $300?

Time to stop the Crab

This nonsense about a minimum sum to be retained in the CPF or a compulsory annunity should be stopped once for all. Not everyone is an idiot or dependent on such a scheme to live their lives. Give people the option to withdraw everything at 55 and manage their own lives. If need be, let them sign a form to refuse any state assistance should they become destitute in the future. Anyone signing the form will be held solely responsible for his own life and finances. They cannot turn back to the state and if they do the state can throw back the signed document to them. Anyway this country does not believe in welfare and everyone is expected to provide for themselves. Why should the people be deprived of their hard earned money by some legislation?

No need for annuities and CPF minimum sum scheme

I say it again, there is no need for annuities and CPF minimum sum scheme for the oldies. Not everyone needs them. And I am not referring to the millionaires or those with family support. I am referring to those with a 3 rm or 4 rm HDB flat. They should be independent and and can expect to retire without the need for minimum sum in the CPF. For those with bigger flats, better still. The alternative and the best solution to this group of people is the newly created HDB leasebuy back scheme. With this scheme the income generated should be able to see them through their golden years. The scheme needs not be restricted to those with only one bite of the cherry. Why should it be if we can unlocked the value of the property for them? But I read in the Straits Times of some comments that the return will not be enough. How so? One commented that a 3 rm HDB flat worth $160k today will be worth only $50k when the remainder lease is 40 years after the buyback. Another commented that the return will only be $400 a month. Really? The experts said so, so must be true. Bull! I totally disagree. Depending on the location, a 3 rm HDB flat can be rented out, say in Redhill or Queenstown area, easily for $1200 to $1500. Maybe more, regardless of the lease life as long as they meet the tenant's tenancy. And very likely to be more in the future with inflation and the rising rentals in these areas. And that will be much more than what the minimum sum or annunity can provide. The rental value or power of these flats must be taken into consideration to ascertain the real worth of these flats. Please do not shortchange the flat owners just because they can't count.

The Grand Plan

Loh Chee Kong wrote in Today about the grand plan and massive strategy to narrow the income gap and said that 'experts have hailed it as a "well crafted" plan.' Did I hear someone shouting about apple polishing? There were so many things said about closing the income gap on Sunday. In order for us to know how successful this will be in 5 years or 500 years, no one knows the target, it is necessary for us to know how wide is the gap now. Show us some statistics and set the target as to how close will the gap be and when will it be achieved. That will be more meaningful and objective. Show us the milestones. Otherwise how will we know whether the income gap has been narrowed and how much it has been narrowed. Or actually nothing happens or no difference. Just say say only.

Sharing that Dream

Hsien Loong has shared with all Singaporeans his dream. We will have the best in housing and facilities for the people. Punggol 21 is indeed a world class township with landscape and facilities that will make many in the first world countries turn envious. It can become the model for all other towns. These may not come in cheap though. Good things must have a price. But fear not. We know you by your name. Singaporeans will be prepared to make this dream a reality. There will be more educational opportunities at tertiary level to raise their income so that all these best homes and facilities will be affordable. We will really be a first world nation if all the average Singaporeans can afford to live this dream, and not just an elusive dream. The Govt has promised that the hardware, the buildings and facilities will be there. Now it is up to the Singaporeans to work for it. There is one thing that the Govt may want to think about. The software of the people. Start with the cleaners in the kopitiams and hawker centres, and also foodcourts. Make sure that they are also first world cleaners. Learn from the Filipinos. Educate the cleaners with more courses on personal hygiene, cleaning methods and technology, good manners and a little courtesy, and pay them well. The upgrading courses will increase the value of the ah pek and ah mah cleaners. We cannot have a first world city with smelly cleaners that chuck all their dirty plates and leftovers beside you while you are eating. We cannot have cleaners who swipe all the things/leftover at people who are eating. We cannot have cleaners that bang around with their trolleys and giving everyone that hostile stare if one happens to be in the way. Upgrading of the cleaners and the toilet cleaners must be the first step towards a world class city. Hey, thought I heard about toilet trained cleaners sometimes ago? Live that dream or miss the boat.

Hishamuddin Hussein Onn, Jekyll or Hyde?

'We cannot afford tension or conflict between the races. If diversity is to remain our strength, communities must be brought together, not driven apart by unscrupulous politiking.' Hishamuddin Hussein Onn And he remembers the legacy of his father, Tun Hussein Onn, peace and racial harmony for development. I hope this is the real Hishamuddin. Which is real, the kris kissing, butt kicking, and threatening blood will flow, or this sensible speech? Who wrote his speech?

Hsien Loong's National Day Rally

What the speech will strike people, other than the enormous memory and command of the language of Hsien Loong, is that it is a rich govt's rally speech. Only a rich govt can afford all the plans that he revealed and the promise of delivering them. It contains a lot of things for the people at various levels. It has taken his last speech on the vision of a new Singapore a step further with more for the masses and the lower income. In all fairness, no country or govt, I think, could make such a generous offer to the people. But then, there are still areas that need to be looked at it more intensely. Ok, we are not building bridges and roads to collect more tolls. But many of the things that the govt is going to build will be paid by the people. They are not freebies. Even looking after the aged is how to plan their savings to last longer. Ok, 1% more for $60k. That is a plus. But shouldn't this be paid in the past as the compulsory savings should be managed and invested to generate higher returns all these while? And there were signs of fine tuning the CPF savings to fit the needs of different groups of people. But still not enough. The minimum sum was untouched. This sum is so meaningless to so many people. The attempt to close the gap between the rich and poor is barking up the wrong tree. Agreed that the govt should not hold back the rich from getting richer. Let them get richer. And also there is no way that the income of the lower income group can be artificially inflated at no cost. They will pay themselves out of the competition. It is a double aged sword. It is a futile exercise. What Hsien Loong completely missed out is the runaway cost of living. If this area can be arrested, then the people, especially the lower income group, will be richer and their money can be stretched a little longer. So will the savings of the retirees. The only way to hold back rising cost is to return public and essential services back to the nation and run at cost plus and not just for profit and the interest of the shareholders, or to line the pockets of top management. The concept of profit for profit sake must be relooked at. Even GLCs must not forget that they have a national duty to look after the people, eg in the area of job creation and employment. It is irresponsible to use public money simply to generate profit. Profit for who and for what if the people are being squeezed or retrenched just to improve the bottom line? Without reining in the cost of living, not only the lower income group will suffer. It will undermine our competitiveness as an operating base for foreign corporations in a matter of time.

No French cap in Paradise

The beautiful thing about living in Paradise is that there is no need for a cap. Everything will just go up, no need for any cap. Get what I mean? In our paradise, we can defy gravity forever. But that is our unspoken tooth or truth. Where got gravity in paradise? So we can expect everything to go up, all the prices must go up. All the cost of living must go up. But have no fear, all our salaries will also go up. We can be paid more and more everyday, so that we can afford to pay for all the GST, ERP, and all the fees needed to live and get around. No country can be so blessed as us. But we are in paradise. We do not need to conform to the any economic or natural rules, principles or laws. We decide our own operational parameters. Affordability is never an issue. We will make sure that everything is affordable to everyone. The prices will be raised, and the income will also be raised to catch up with the prices. Why is it that a TV set, or a PC, or fridge, or a camera, no matter how many improvements added into it, will still be sold at about the same price in the world market, including paradise? Are these affected by globalisation, by competition from around the world? The quality and power of these instruments have increased by 100s of folds, but the prices remain fairly the same. Is it because of affordability? Should these manufacturers raise their prices to atmospheric level since their products are of super quality? They should as their products are definitely of super quality and created by their super talents. If they do not price their products to world class prices, how are they to feed their super talents? Or are they under paying their super talents? Aren't they afraid that their super talents would quit, go elsewhere to get more money? Do we see all the super talents coming to paradise? Or we are seeing only the third or fourth rate talents here? And they too must be happy to know that there is no cap here and may one day shoot to the sky. At the rate we are going, our workers can expect to be paid in tens of thousands in a matter of time.

Feeling tired?

How many of you out there have been working for 30 or 40 years and feeling tired? Or how many of you are looking at your ageing parents, still working, and looking tired? An average Singaporean will spend about 15 to 20 years of his life in the confines of a school, from nursery onwards, cramming life sustaining information. And then he is expected to keep working for the next 50 years or so. Is that what our life should be? Why is it that our poor parents and grandparents were able to retire and slow down, and still live on and why, we are much better educated, and richer, cannot afford to retire? It is a strange development indeed? The richer we get, the worst we become and the more we need to slog to keep ourselves alive. There used to be a pension scheme that is life sustaining. There used to be a CPF scheme that worked. What happens? Now the pension scheme is as good as gone or eaten up by inflation. And the CPF is never enough. So we need to work and work and work. When I say 'we' I mean those who need to work to keep themselves alive. Not those who do not need to work but who work for fun and pleasure, for ego or some personal reasons, or a very profitable way of passing time, but really do not need to work. When a person has to work to live, and seeing that his work is getting more meaningless, his income is dwindling, and he cannot stop work, it can be very tiring and depressing. It is no fun to work in this way. Anyone looking forward to live to a ripe old age? It is a tiring thought. It is a new rat race, a never ending rat race. Like walking in the middle of a conveying belt and going no where. Have we screw up our life?

Been there, done that, will do it again

Billions of dollars were wiped out of the stock market in recent weeks by the sub prime loan collapse in the US. Though far away, we were not spared. What then is this sub prime loan and can we learn anything from it? The gist of this mess is 'clever' financing and refinancing. Lending to high risk debtors to buy properties and repackaged the high risk loans into something else thinking that the risk will go away. This is the American version of loan shark financing, except more glitzy and sophisticated. But when interest rate soared and the bad debtors defaulted or cannot afford to pay, the house of cards collapsed. It all started by not only selling properties. The housing agents, property developers and their collaborators, all joined in to paint a glory picture of a property boom. Prices were raised higher and higher or chased up. Analysts and reporters, maybe even paid, wrote about the euphoria as if it will never end. And during a time of low interest rate, buyers were roped into the mad rush as if they would miss out if they did not buy then. There was the fear of missing out, the greed of making money in a property boom, the selfish manipulation of property developers and their accomplices, the media, helped to shore up the whole industry. Sounds familiar? Were the regulators involved as well? The funny thing about this is that we have been through it and beaten very badly only 10 years ago. And we are going through the whole process again, driving up property prices, writing about how high the prices will go and how big is the liquidity that will absorb all the properties, that it is a sellers market. And we add in the foreign buyers into the pot, plus the en bloc phenomenon, all add in to the fury of a property boom and bubble. Why are we allowing this bubble to grow only to see it go bust? Why are we so irresponsible? There are really two kinds of property buyers. The very rich, including the speculators, buying and selling for profit. The next is the genuine property owners, the Singaporeans who need a roof over their heads. This group can only afford what their income dictates. Property prices that shot beyond their income will always be out of reach to them. And if those who have vested interest in high property prices continue to fan and allow the prices to shoot to the sky, the genuine buyers will be the one to lose out. Because of the limited income of the lower income group, maybe 70 or 80% of the population, they just cannot participate in the private property market. This sector can only be supported by the rich and foreign money. Maybe we should bring more foreigners to buy up all the private properties. Will we be digging our own grave?

Asian affairs, western perspective

I just read 'The week in Review' in the Straits Times this morning. There was this whole page touching on issues in Thailand, Japan, Sino Russian relations and the Asian market downturn. Only the first article had the author's name under it. So it is clear who wrote the article. The other 3 articles did not specifically said who wrote them. But at the top of the page was the photo of Jonathan Eyal of the Straits Times Foreign Desk. So presumably they must be contributed by Jonathan. There is no doubt that Jonathan is a prolific writer and an expert in Asian and world affairs. And I enjoy reading his articles. But the approach of his writings is very similar to writers like William Pesek and Tom Plates, a western view, tinted, to reflect western interest, obsession and agenda. And this is the kind of material that readers are fed with practically everyday. And eventually they will used these material subconsciously to form their opinions and viewpoints of things, especially the negative perspective and agenda of the west on Asian countries. It would be more balance if national papers of Asian countries publish more of the views of their local writers on Asian affairs and give them an Asian favour. Maybe the Asian countries truly are lack of Asian talents to write about issues and matters concerning Asian interests. This must be the greatest failure of all their institutions of higher learnings. Can't even produce writers and commentators on their own affairs. It is a pathetic state of affair that today, we are still looking at ourselves through western glasses. When will this change?

Capitulation of Opposition Parties

All the opposition parties are silent and dare not breathe a word on the issue of whether Malaysia is an Islamic state. They were told to shut up and they shut up. I thought this happens only in the red dot. Only an East Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's office, Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, dares to speak out on the issue. To him the minorities cannot live in a state of denial when things are obviously wrong. To him, if the people's representatives, the leaders representing minority races, refuse to speak up, then they must give up their positions as leaders of their people. The MCA and MIC have sold out their people in the past and are doing so in this issue. So are the other minority parties. Do they still believe that they have the right and moral authority to represent their people? As Malaysia progresses, certain issues must be discussed in the open, intellectually and rationally. Not by the threat of the kris and blood letting. If it is too much to debate in public, at least it should be debated in parliament among civilised men. Can this be taken for granted? And it needs not be telecast live to the people. Keeping mum and not talking about it is a betrayal of the people they represent. The Malaysian politics have been held at ransom by the ultras under threat of violence for too long. It is time Malaysia changes its course in the political development of the country and works towards a more progressive and mutually tolerant society among the various races.

Parameters for retirement CPF

Today we are not dealing with chief clerks that only had a primary education to work out policies and decisions for us. We are paying top dollars for top talents and we must demand for serious and meticulous computations and for the best solutions money can buy. No more straight jacket one solution fits all occasions decision with no regards to how it can adversely affect many. We need to tailor make policies and decisions that are meaningful and appropriate and logical to the diverse population. The present one minimum sum for all and one medisave for all are unacceptable. If the govt still think that these kinds of solutions are good enough, then they don't deserve the million dollar price tag. The $120k minimum sum is too much for many and too little to many. How can this sum be shafted down the throat of all Singaporeans? You don't need a super talent to make this kind of decisions. An average university grad, pay him $3k a month will be able to come up with a better alternative. The parameters to revise and compute the minimum sum and medisave portion should include the following: 1. The income of the individual, which means what he is used to live on, or his lifestyle. It is not easy and simple. That is why the people are paid top dollars. When you get top dollars, you must serve out top dollar decisions. 2. The average life expectancy. Male and female life expectancies are different. Don't simply lump them together. 3. The assets of the individual. 4. The educational level. 5. Occupation. 6. Family support. 7. Health at 55, to determine the medisave quantum. And if someone is already served a notice that he has a limited days or years to go, he should be allowed to take back all his money. 8. There must be several options and variations for the people to choose from. Do not force people to accept simple and unpractical solutions by making them compulsory. This is the 21st century. We not only have super talents, we also have super computers, science and technology to come up with a sophisticated systems that can be tailor made to individuals or at least classes of individuals. Maybe class is a bad term. Called it social or income groups. The policy makers must start cracking their super brains for a super solution for the unthinking masses. The people are waiting, and watching. Any slipshod solutions must be criticised. The people must not allowed slipshod solution to get by without questioning and poking at them. Only then will we get a deserving and sound solution. The people must raise their level of expectation and push the govt to its limits. Only then can we get progress. The unreasonable man changes the world to suit his needs. We can have aircon in the middle of the desert and a heated room in the centre of the arctic. These are unreasonable things that are against nature. Man has conquered nature by being unreasonable.

New laws needed to protect the weak and innocent.

The Odex case is revealing in the sense that the weak can be subject to extortion by the rich and powerful. People can be dragged to court or pay a ransom for the slightest infringement of the law. Then there is this guy who wrote to the press begging that something be done to restrain his neighbours 5 rottweilers from attacking any passerbys. After highlighting the fear and the possibility of a child being tear to pieces by the dogs, he pleaded sheepishly on what recourse he would have from the barking of the dogs. There must be laws to protect the innocents from people who live dangerously and exposed others to potential harm and destruction of lives. No recourse is going to make any difference to a child or an oldie who is badly mauled by ferocious animals. What the hell is happening? Are we waiting for disasters to happen just to make a few idiots happy with their wild animals? Tame? Animals are only tame when they don't attack. You just can't be too sure how the animal minds work and when it is going to be provoked or go berserk. Please, get rid of those beasts. Or at least have a law to cane the owners if their beasts attack anyone. Monetary compensation is useless to the victims. Make caning of the owners mandatory when an attack takes place.

CPF minimum sum should be $300,000

James Chi Han Hsuan in a letter to Today suggested that the minimum sum in the CPF should be raised to $300k. His justification is that he has many friends who have more than $200k in their savings accounts and they are squandering their money buying all kinds of luxury goods. I can't agree more with James. All these rich people with so much money and do not know what to do must be made to save more. I have also many friends who have millions in their bank accounts. I would want to suggest that the minimum sum be raised to $1 mil so that these people cannot squander away their money. 'Pssst, what about me, I don't have any money in my savings account?' Ah Pek asked.

Natural for citizens to criticise, as well as praise Govt.

'It is natural that citizens should criticise the Govt. It is also natural that citizens should praise the Govt for doing good. This is how a healthy relation is established between the individual and the collective.' George Yeo I could have copied the whole article in the Today paper by Nazry Bahrawi. The expression by George, perhaps the most down to earth minister with a halo over his head, shows a different kind of maturity and security in a person. He does not see every criticism as an attack and a need to respond with a sledgehammer. He sees a healthy relationship with the people that may not see eye to eye with the govt in some issues. And he accepts that it is the right of the citizens to criticise if needed be. 'But for a country to work, an active citizenry is crucial.' This is a comment by Nazry in his article.

The Royalties - A new dynamics

Amidst the throes of heightened tension in a country that has lost its direction, when parochialism and kampong politics were elevated to the national stage, a calming voice is emerging from an erstwhile quiet corner. The crown prince of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, a Harvard PHD holder in Political Economy and Govt, is steadily making his voice of reasons heard. The diminshing presence of the Malaysian Royalties, once seen as not contributing much to the development of the country, is emerging from its past shadow. A Harvard PHD, and a rational and sensible approach to nation building, is a far cry from the wild minds of what UMNO now represents. UMNO is no longer the vehicle of modernity and progress, but regression. UMNO is all about money and how to enrich one another by sucking the wealth of the country without any positive contribution. It is about sharing without contributing. A similar position that the royalties were once in. Straits Times has an article on Raja Nazrin Shah and his views of Malaysian politics. It is refreshing, and more impressive to have come from a Malaysia prince. This is the kind of leaders that Malaysia needs, well educated, progressive, confident and insightful. Not the yelling, chest thumping and kris kissing type. Those are kampong politicians, not statesmen. Malaysia needs more of such leaders to be in office to lead the country forward, not backward. As Badawi has said, Malaysia shall not be what the football team is today, regressive, backward and nothing to prove or show except being more bumiputras. Yes the Malaysian football team is a good example of what Malaysia is today. Study the football team carefully to understand why it fails and why Malaysia will also fail.

Odex or Odium?

The hefty fines that children are made to pay for downloading anime from the net is just. A crime is a crime. So age is a non issue. You download you infringe on people's copyright and intellectual properties. You must pay. I also believe that the law looks at children differently. Children cannot be jailed or caned, or hanged. But we are a nation that operates under the rule of law. We must accept the law with no exceptions. Reminds me of the school girl without a student pass. Just administer the law. And also of the streetdirectory provider. You download a few pages, the damages will come to tens of thousands. That is justice in a rule of law country.

America has started a war with China

Human rights, yuan revaluation, now poison paint, micro magnets etc are but the tools of an economic warfare. The Americans have fired the first shot and China is hurt. The damages are in hundreds of millions and bad publicity, lost of confidence and market etc China will have to react. China will need US$ to pay for all the losses. China will start to dump US bonds to pay for the losses. And the war will escalate. This is another front, other than the Middle East and Afghanistan that the Americans are opening. Fight on America. The righteous shall win. God will bless America.