nkf story - another outrage?

Huang Shoou Chyuan wrote a letter to the Today paper saying that the public is justified in being disappointed at how a high profile person like former NKF chairman Richard Yong could have escape the grasp of justice. Am I sensing another outrage by how events are turning out? S hould the people responsible be responsible? I think not. This kind of things don't happen everyday and it is only human to err. Just like the case of Cityspring, we are very new to such games. Even if Durai did not return will be a non issue. Never mind, let's move on. Super talents and super pay and making little slips are not related. There are more important things to do and take care of.

To each his own

Singapore Incorporation is slowly disintegrating. I can sense that there is a lack of concern, anxiety, taking ownership or appreciation of how one arsehole can bring the downfall of the whole incorporation. The impression I get is that everyone is only concerned about his own arsehole being stuff with gold and not being screwed. As long as that is taken care off, no one will bother about the big picture. The fumbling and crumbling of the education industry is a case in point. Is there another urgency and anxiety to make sure that the Education Hub goal is not compromised by all the fly by night operators? One by one is crashing down. And can anyone believe that all these problems will not affect the Education Hub? It will not affect the Education Hub, but more. The image of Singapore as a squeaky clean and efficient place, that everything works, will be compromised as well. This is the same kind of mentality like we often heard from one organisation to another. It is affordable. 2c here, 20c there, $2 elsewhere, all affordable on its own. But the aggregate of all these, the big picture, is that it burns a big hole to those who cannot afford them. Maybe we can still afford to have a few private schools closing down and a few hundred students crying on the streets. And caveat emptor hor. What happens to Singapore Incorporation when every bit is intertwined to bake a bigger pie?

A Malaysian diaspora speaks up....

I am a female Chinese Malaysian, living in the Washington DC area in the United States . I have read many of the letters that often talk about foreign countries when the writers have no real knowledge of actually living in those countries. Many draw conclusions about what those countries are like after hearing it from someone else or by reading and hearing about them in the media or after four years in a college town in those countries. I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St George's Girls School in Penang .. Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my Malay friends were getting offers to go overseas. Even those with 2As got into university. I was so depressed. I was my parents last hope for getting the family out of poverty and at 18, I thought I had failed my parents. Today, I understand it was the Malaysian Government that had failed me and my family because of its discriminatory policies. Fortunately, I did not give up and immediately did research at the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE) to find a university in the US that would accept me and provide all the finances. My family and friends thought I was crazy, being the youngest of nine children of a very poor carpenter. Anything that required a fee was out of our reach. Based on merit and my extracurricular activities of community service in secondary school, I received full tuition scholarship, work study, and grants to cover the four years at a highly competitive US university. Often, I took 21 credits each semester, 15 credits each term while working 20 hours each week and maintaining a 3.5 CGPA. A couple of semesters, I also received division scholarships and worked as a TA (teaching assistan t) on top of everything else. For the work study, I worked as a custodian (yes, cleaning toilets), carpet layer, computer lab assistant, grounds keeping, librarian, painter, tour guide, etc. If you understand the US credit system, you will understand this is a heavy load. Why did I do it? This is because I learnt as a young child from my parents that hard work is an opportunity, to give my best in everything, and to take pride in the work I do. I walked away with a double major and a minor with honours but most of all a great lesson in humility and a great respect for those who are forced to labour in so-called `blue collar' positions. Those of you who think you know all about Australia , US, or the West, think again. Unless you have really lived in these countries, i.e. paid a mortgage, paid taxes, taken part in elections, you do not understand the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be successful in thes e countries, not just for immigrants but for people who have lived here for generations. These people are where they are today because of hard work. (Of course, I am not saying everyone in the US is hardworking. There is always the lazy lot which lives off of someone else's hard work. Fortunately, they are the minority.) Every single person, anywhere, should have the opportunity to succeed if they want to put in the effort and be accountable for their own actions. In the end, they should be able to reap what they sow. It is bearable that opportunities are limited depending on how well-off financially one's family is but when higher education opportunities are race-based, like it is in Malaysia ; it is downright cruel for those who see education as the only way out of poverty. If you want to say discrimination is here in the US , yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn't happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia , you don't have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law! Here in the US , my children have the same opportunity to go to school and learn just like their black, white, and immigrant friends. At school, they eat the same food, play the same games, are taught the same classes and when they are 18, they will still have the same opportunities. Why would I want to bring my children back to Malaysia ? So they can suffer the state-sanctioned discrimination as the non-malays have for over 30 years? As for being a slave in the foreign country, I am a happy 'slave' earning a good income as an IT project manager. I work five days a week; can talk bad about the president when I want to; argue about politics, race and religion openly; gather with more than 50 friends an d family when I want (no permit needed) and I don't worry about the police pulling me over because they say I ran the light when I didn't. I feel so sorry for her and all Malaysians in the same fate.

Time to sell piggy banks

With Nets increasing its levy, those who do not want to pay through Nets can pay by cash. And with interest rate at the lowest, and having to pay to keep money in the banks for people with little money, maybe more people will keep more cash at home. I am thinking of importing more piggy banks to sell at pasar malam.

Children unable to perceive cruelties

Generally, children are less perceptible about what is cruelty and what is fun. The younger the age, the less able will be their faculty to reason goodness from badness, right from wrong. There is a letter in the Today paper complaining about children catching guppies in ponds for fun and in the process caused the unnecessary death of many of the fishes. This is indeed regrettable. Some education in schools and by parents is sorely needed in this area. Fishing for fun is very different from fishing for food. Children may not understand. But adults should, or do they? Many adults still spent millions of dollars going for that fishing trip for fun. It is fun and thrilling to hook up a live fish and see the poor bugger struggling to break free. And in the process, the fish is likely to tear off its throat or cheek. How much pain is there? One joker told me that fish have no pain cells and cannot feel pain. What an idiot. Generally, human has this cruel instinct in them. And as long as cruelty is done to others, it is fun, acceptable. This animalistic instinct is often displayed by the maid abusers. It is waiting to surface everyday.

Education hub or leper's island

This one is accredited by MYCS and MOE and CaseTrusted. Froebel Academy has not only owed salaries to its teachers, it is not issuing certificates to its students after completing their courses. Some did not get their certificates since December last year. After the camped out, they promised that the certificates will be issued this Friday. The certificates were supposed to have two chops, one from an East China University and another from the Academy as endorsements or credibility of the certificates. Over the news it was reported that the chop from the University would cost the students another $7,500. This was denied by the Academy. The net effect is that the students were very unhappy for their plight. And the Academy told the students it is closing down. How many of such fiascos can the Singapore Education Hub takes before it earns itself the reputation of an education leper's island? It is high time that the ministry persecute these operators for the damage that they are doing to the Singapore brand. Another few of these incidents will turn the Singapore brand upside down. It will become a brand of ill repute. We should not tolerate such violations and quickly put our house in order before more damages are done. We are losing our credibility and reputation very fast.

Nets is doing what is right

Nets is a commercial enterprise and must have profits to survive. It is not a charity organisation. The raising of its levy is part and parcel of its business. It will raise the level until the consumers find it unbearable and refuse to use it. Hey, that is basic. As long as they price it competitively, it is really a business decision. It is doing something not different from public transport or other service providers. And it is better to 'increase in small amounts rather than to raise a big lump sum after several years.' If public transport companies and other monopolistic service providers can do it this way, while reaping huge profits, what is wrong with Nets doing it? What about credit card companies charging 2% interest rate per month and compounded if the consumers did not pay the debt promptly? How many per cent is that a year? Compare that with the loan sharks. Oh it is international practice and no one can do anything about it.

"My name is Naomi Lourdesamy":

hi. my name is rachel. ingatius lourdesamy is my uncle and therefore, unfortunately, naomi is my cousin. sad, i know. don't worry about her or her silly threat. she's a kid and the only thing she could probably do is either scream or cry your ear off. speaking from experience, it isn't something you really wanna endure, but it's by no means something that'll affect you permanently. on my cousin's behalf, i'm really sorry for any trouble or worry she's caused you. (p/s not all lourdesamys are like this) I have copied this post from rachel which she had posted in one of the threads lost in time. It was several moons back and it will be very tedious to search through the blog to get to it. So I posted it here. And don't worry about naomi. I was only teasing her. Singapore is not a place where anyone can go around threatening another person for the slightest thing. Unless the person doing it is a very exceptional person. I believe you have read the many postings here and know that we do not purposely hang anyone for no reasons. And I hope you and naomi can visit the blog more often and share your views here. Cheers.

Case taking on Nets

It is good that case is taking on Nets for the impending increases in its levy. And I support Yeo Guat Kwang's reasoning. 'They have been given this monopolistic mode of operation because we see this as a basic infrastructure, to provide a basic mode of payment for all Singaporeans. So, they can't just come out and tell Singaporeans now "I see this as...a commercial decision."' Well said and well reasoned. I hope Case will use the same logic and take on other monopolistics infrastructure businesses and stop them from squeezing the people. Infrastructure and essential services were given monopolistic businesses as a service to the country and people. They must not be allowed to hijack them and keep raising their fees using commercial decision as an excuse. Lets see which monopolistic infrastructure organisation is next on Case's list. Keep up the good work, Case.

NKF story - A big sham!

The Straits Times Editor is angry. How could Richard Yong ran away so easily. It is just unbelievable in our squeaky efficient system that Richard Yong could sell off all his properties, got all his money and disappear into thin air leaving everyone mouth open wide wide. Lan lan so they said. An no one got any hint of all these happenings, that it was clear that he was going to scoot off! In the ST editorial, I quote: To say this is an unsatisfactory end to a scandalous episode in a matter of public trust is an understatement. Singaporeans who have ever gien money to charities big and small, no questions asked, have never been more incensed....This is not an academic question. Substantial amounts in damages could be involved. It is conceivable cases of breach of a public duty to care can crop up from time to time. What more can I say?

infidelity in language

Ang Mo professor says Singlish good leh Is this another form of infidelity? Should we take the Ang Mo professor's comment as a compliment, an encouragement to go on and develop our version of Singlish? Quite nice actually. Then lin peh can speak Singlish to the Filipinos and they can reply in Tagalog English and our Malaysian and Indonesian English all together. Shiok, Singapore will be so colourful. Si peh ho. This is another sign of progress.

Is it naive or stupidity or something else?

I heard over the news on the IPO listing of CitySpring and how the fund managers were paid more than $60 mil in about four months on a scheme based on the stock's performance in the market. And the amount was almost double the whole years profit of the company! The payment was due to a contractual agreement and formula and perfectly transparent and aboveboard. So no hanky panky stuff. The comments I heard was that we were a young economy, can't believe that, so we are ignorant or naive or immature, and signed an open ended performance formula. Stupid is a word that was not used. Being conned was not said. So it is excusable for a first world country, with so many talents, local and foreign, to get into such an agreement. Would the CitySpring owners feel good about it? Any average middle manager will know that one cannot have an open ended formula for performance bonus, bonuses for staff or senior management. There must be a cap, a French cap will be quite appropriate, to prevent exorbitant payouts. It is so elementary and after so many years of progress, it still happened. What a joke!

Dwindling purchasing power

At the rate the prices of things are shooting up, whatever subsidies will quickly be eroded away. Those lower income earners, including all under $5k household income, will feel the squeeze. The purchasing power of their dollar is getting smaller by the day. The only people who can cushion against a lost of income from a dwindling dollar will be those who can command a 20% or 30% salary increment. I have yet to read in the media how much has it cost the people with all the increases taking place, the 2% gst, housing, food, medical fees, transportation, etc etc. How much of the dollar has already been wiped away without the people spending the money?

The pragmatic and professional leaders

In Malaysia, we have seen a new approach towards inter state relations and a pragmatic approach towards economic development under the leadership of Abdullah Badawi. He has single handedly changed the whole mindset of his cabinet, from one of bickering, politiking to one of getting work done in a rational and professional manner. In Indonesia, under the leadership of Yudyoyono and the likes of its Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, the picture is very similar. The professional men are in charge and wanted to do so much for their countries. Unfortunately both are facing the same problems of tribal chiefs at the peripheral doing their best to undermine their authority at the central. What the central govt tries to do, the local chieftains will try to destroy. The arrest of Singaporean barges and Singaporeans in the Karimun case was nothing but piracy. And the tone and acrimony against the Extradition Treaty and DCA were just polemics with little substance. And in Malaysia, the opposition to the IDR were in the same vein. They would be lucky if Singapore participates and make the IDR a success. For the IDR can be the most competitive region vis a vis Singapore and can take away a lot of businessess from us. Once it has established itself as a reliable and credible economic zone, it will simply be irresistible for investors not to be there. It has so many comparative advantages if the tribal chiefs could be gagged and prevented from spilling or over turning the pot. The two countries are being held at ransom by the retards of their countries, the 'chiat liow bee' politicians.

Trees are attacking Singaporeans

The trees are striking at Singaporeans, killing 3 in a row. And so is our water. Wild water and safe water, they are still life threatening. It is time to cut down all the trees and warn Singaporeans not to go near them or the water. The building of dykes would come in handy to keep the water away. And all pools should be covered up to be used only as water containers. What have we done to the trees and water that they are picking on us? Is there any infidelity on our part to deserve the wrath of nature? It is very strange for trees to attack people. And swimming pool incidents should not have happened again and again. We are now so experience in picking dead children bodies from the pools. Do we want to continue to do so?

myth 141

Peasants are inept to understand This is a glaring fact and is proven everyday. The latest call by Lim Hwee Hua to raise taxi surcharge is the most effective and practical solutions to get taxis running on the road again. Peasants just cannot appreciate the real meaning behind the proposal. How so? The current rate is too low, so too many calls and all the taxi drivers have no problem taking one call and follow by another in quick succession. So why should they be so stupid to drive around and burning petrol dollars? The surcharge should be raised to $50. Then only those few who can afford to pay for the surcharge will call. Bet you, the calls will drop to 1%. And all the taxi drivers who think that they will can get continuous calls will think twice. For they may not even get one call a day. tan ku ku. And when the calls are not coming, and when they have to pay the rentals, oh yes, the rentals must go up also, they got no choice but kuai kuai ply the roads and rush for passengers. Then they cannot afford not to drive the taxis and wait at home for calls. It will create a real buzz on the roads with taxis zigzaging every where for passengers. I support the $50 per call surcharge.

MSM in 2015

Could it happen, that comes 2015, the msm will be renamed The Money Times? And the style and vocabulary used will be distinctively monetised. For example, $10 million visited the US and was greeted by $2 million. And $10 million, being thicker in the pocket, and definitely thicker also in the head, gave a pat on the back of $2 million for doing a good job. And before leaving the US, $10 million said he approved of how $2 million was handling the terrorists crisis around the world. And he left some good advices for $2 million to ponder over. Back home, $10 million was welcomed back at the $500 million airport by hundreds of $100,000 and $200,000. And lining the roads were thousands of $10,000 and $20,000 cheering and waving when the motorcade of $10 million drove by. Names are more difficult to remember huh? Digitising is much easier for the computers to recognise.

The best govt

We have the best and a world class govt that the world admires. Citizens of our neighbouring countries and far and wide all had a Christmas wish, that they could have a govt like ours. And the govt has pledged to the people that it will look after the people, no man will be left behind, all the policies are for the good of the people. Now the paradox. Increasingly the mood is that the govt is no longer the govt for the people. It may be just a perception. It may not be true. It may be a false reading by the ignorant and not so talented citizens who are not up to it to understand what the govt is doing for them. But it is their perception, like it or not. When the people think otherwise, does it matter?

Means testing already in practice?

Is this true? Mrs Yeun Yik Kwong wrote to the ST forum page on her personal encounter with means testing at a polyclinic. All we have been hearing is that means testing is still an option in govt hospitals. OK, polyclinic may technically not be a hospital, it is a clinic. So has means testing been introduced into polyclinics and not in hospitals? Whether it is introduced in polyclinics or hospitals, would it make a difference that means testing is already in practice? What is the truth? Administratively it is brilliant, worthy of the high pay for talented minds. If a referral from a polyclinic is the first door to a hospital admission, and if this door is closed, no further need for means testing in hospitals. Now is this true or false? Simply brilliant.

market economy, consumer choice

When the market was booming and demand for condominiums was high, many developers, including HDB, responded by building more condos. When the market was weak, HDB changed policies to build more 3 rm flats. This is not only being responsive to the needs of the people, it makes simple commonsense. Provide what the people want and can afford to pay. Read in the papers today that C class hospital wards are in demand. This simply says that people cannot afford better class wards or do not want them. And this is expected. According to the distribution of incomes, only 10% are at the top and another 20% are reasonably comfortable. The bulk of the populations are just struggling and trying to make ends meet. C class wards would be appropriate for their pockets. Hospitals should provide the different classes of wards according to the income of the people. The number of A and B1 wards must reflect proportionately the income distribution of the population. A responsive govt that thinks for the people should provide goods and services according to the needs of the people. So, are we going to see more C class wards being provided by the hospitals? Or are we going to see means testing being introduced to cut down on people opting for C class wards? Or the charges of C class wards will go up to cut down the high demands for them. Whatever, those who have to be hospitalised must quickly get themselves admitted and take advantage of the current situation.