Greed has no Shame

As we march down the road towards greed, as we celebrated the virtues and benefits of greed, it is time that we discard all the hypocrisies about goodness, generosity and a caring society. We should boldly embrace the positive aspects of greed and how it drives every man and woman to his best in chasing after more money. It is time to stop all the hypocritical acts of unproductive idealism. Singaporeans must be taught to cherish the culture of greed. That is how we can progress at an ever faster pace, financially and economically. We will have the best of everything money can buy. Anything that were claimed as virtues and money cannot buy were false virtues, mirages, the opium of the poor. There are ample proof and evidence that greed is the driving force in our growth. And everyone who is plainly displaying this by clinging onto whatever they have, title, position, influence and money, to get to more money for themselves, without shame. Singaporeans must be brave to tell the world that this is our culture and our formula for success.

38% return per annum since 2002

Who can match such a sterling performance by Temasek? Wealth added is $23 bil and net value of portfolio from $129 bil to $164 bil or $35 bil added. Thus the 38% return should be somewhere between $23b and $35b. Is it reasonable to say that for the last 5 years, 2002-7, the average return from investment is about $25b times 5 or $125b? Now this number may look too big. How about a ballpark figure of $100b? And this would mean that in 2002, the net portfolio was only $64b. Reasonable? Just guessing. Not going to crack my head on this.

Non Muslim Minister speaking up

Bernard Dompok, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Dept has spoken up against the Islamic State remark. Obviously Bumi Ministers have totally disregard the existence of many non muslims in East Malaysia and have taken their existence for granted. If Malaysia is an Islamic State, then East Malaysia too will come under Islamic principles. The natives and many East Malaysians are not muslims. Bernard Dompok said many people he knew would be very unhappy and they would 'have to contend with the issue for now.' Did he meant to contend the issue or to be contented with the issue for now? If they are to take on the issue now and fight it then there is hope that Malaysia will not become an Islamic State. If they are to be contented with the situation now, then it is as good as Malaysian becoming an Islamic State quitely and surely.

Lin Xue Ling interviewed Ngiam Tong Dow

Thank god, it was not Xue Ling Lin interviewed Tong Dow Ngiam. At least CNA got it right. Otherwise it would be Ms Xue interviewed Mr Tong. Lately all the Ah Beng Lims and Ah Lian Tans seems to have disappeared for a while, or taking cover. Or there will be a new surname, Mr Ah, to take note of. The gist of the interview where Ngiam Tong Dow was so fortunate to serve under two great pioneering leaders, Goh Keng Swee and Hon Sui Sen, was his comment on compassion. He said that in any system, there would be the 5% that would have problems and not making it and needed help. And the govt must have a little compassion to help these people. Yes, these are the lazy, useless people to some. To the kinder ones, these are the people that are less endowed, less gifted, handicapped or under privileged that have too many chains around them to run forward. Though it is the brutal truth that the able should be amply rewarded and be given the biggest share, such thoughts are very ungenerous. Coming from private individuals is ok. But from people in public offices is bad. Anyone in public service and thinks about how many more millions he should be getting and constantly trying ways to make sure that he will not be short changed should not be in public service. The public sector cannot have room for money minded individuals who have little compassion for the less able. Being in public service, they are expected to look at the whole picture and their policies, thinking and decisions must be inclusive of everyone in the country. They should not be thinking only of themselves and their great and clever friends. Compassion in our society today is showbiz. It is only for display over the big screen, to be seen but does not mean anything.

What is the US doing to help the S Koreans?

Are the US helping or doing the contrary, telling the Afghan govt to stand firm, stay the course and not give in to the Taleban demands? Are South Korean lives unimportant to the Americans? Aren't the South Koreans part of the Coalition of the Willing and deserve to some help from the Americans? If there is another death due to lack of American initiative to free the hostages, this will be like the Americans burning their bridge with the South Korean govt. And they will be kicked out of South Korea. There could be a mass outcry and uprising to kick the Americans out. The Americans better do something fast or be seen as abandoning their closest ally in the war.

The profit motive

When everything is about profit, nobility, idealism, selflessness, charity etc are no longer meaningful concepts. As we move towards a new century of selfish interest and wealth accumulation for the sake of wealth accumulation, we much stop teaching our children about charity, about noble deeds and acts of love, compassion or charity to fellow beans. We should not be hypocritical. These are only useful occasionally to give the public a false impression that one is generous, just a PR exercise. The professions of teaching, of healing the sick, when transform into money making machines, will lose their intrinsic meaning and nobility. Teachers will only teach more and put in more effort if the parents are willing to pay more. Medical professionals will only heal the sick and dying if they are willing to pay, and pay at a ransom. There is no qualms when making money is the only reason to do an act. And no one needs to apologise for it. It is the culture and mentality of the 21st Century. Sorry, can you afford to pay?

Prime Car Rental and Taxi Services

What is this Ginny comes lately trying to do? To spoil the market and make other companies look ridiculous? They are going to charge lower fare, by lower ing flag down rate. And any cost savings will be passed to drivers with lower rentals and flag down rates when they go into compressed natural gas which is cheaper and more efficient. But I don't mind. I will only flag for their taxis in the future. That's the way to go Prime.

Numbers to justify higher fares

SBS Transit quoted $67.4 mil needed for cost increases and rolling out of 100 new buses. SMRT quoted $9.6 mil increases in electricity and fuel and another $11 mil in GST and CPF contributions. The reported quarterly profits of the two companies were $16.4 mil and $32.4 mil respectively. These can be translated to an annual profit of $65.6 mil and $129.6 mil or thereabout. In the case of the SBS, the cost for the 100 buses can be spread over a few years and the profit would still put them in very good shape. In the case of SMRT, wow, $129.6 mil still not enough. Maybe they are right, without this privatisation for profit, they will remain inefficient and the services will be bad. Now with the emphasis on profit everything is good and bright, high profit, high efficiency and on the way towards a world class transport service organisation. If Singaporeans want good quality world class services, they must be prepared to pay more for it. And what is 1 to 3c? Surely these are nothing. And the increases are for their own good. It would be better if the increases are more, then the quality of the services will be better. They may get pipe in music, cold face towel, and pretty hostesses to say 'good morning sir', 'have a good day sir', in the future. And there will be no rushing or pushing or squeezing. Everyone will have a comfortable place to sit and read the papers, or maybe have a cup of tea also. Now that will be nice to pay for a little more.

Orchard Road ERP rates up

Effective 6 Aug, 10 gantries around the Orchard Road area will go up by 50c. So affordable. And for motorcycles, even less, only 25c. And buses and goods vehicles will only go up by 75c and $1. And good news, all other gantries will have no hikes. Singaporeans are so lucky that the rates are going up by so affordable amount during such good times. Now I will totally avoid Orchard Rd and spend more time polishing my car in the car park. Cars are meant to be parked in the car park. See my new hobby, car polishing car admiring.

Another Korean shot and more to come

So, the politicians are still riding on their high horses to let the balance 21 to be shot? Pity the mothers of these idiots. Mothers should not bear children that are as stupid as these Koreans. And anyone who thinks he is full of compassion and wants to lead any bunch of stupid people to a war torn country must first be shot.

SMRT's god damn right to raise fees

SMRT's god damn right to raise fees Despite the huge profits year after year, SMRT is going to ask for a fee hike, another affordable 1 to 3c. It is as if it is SMRT's god damn right to raise fee and make profit by just raising fees, without competition of course. There are many reasons why SMRT must not be allowed to think this way and get away with it. First, it is an essential service. Two, the infrastructure was laid using public money. Three, it is a monopoly. Four, It is pushing the cost of living higher for the lower income people. Five, the people just been hit by a 2% GST and the escalatiing of prices of basic necessities. Six, transportation is the like the blood flow of a person. It the flow is clogged up by higher cost, less people will be moving around and less social and economic activities will be the outcome. Lets see if there is any MP who will stand up to oppose this mentality of ever increasing fees. Let's see if there is any organisation, or labour movement to fight against this monopolistic business for the well being of the workers. Let's see if there is a public outcry. Let's see if someone will take the initiative to start another petition to register the public's disgust over the impending increase. Only a monopolistic business, and especially an essential service, can keep raising its fees to increase its profits.

Tough leaders and tough decisions

While the leaders of Afghanistan and South Korea are acting tough, and they are expected to live up to that image as strong leaders, that they will not yield under pressure, the fate of the 22 hostages hangs in a limbo. Heard that one more was shot last night. So 21 left. And at the rate it is going, the leaders can act tough for another 21 days before the ordeal is over. Great men think alike and behave alike. They will be remembered as strong and tough leaders. Stupid people need to be shot to learn a lesson in life. And they can be remembered, either as martyrs or fools.

Citizen journalism

It is reported that NowPublic, a citizen website in Vancouver, now has 120,000 contributing 'reporters' in more than 140 countries. Though the figure is definitely exaggerated, but even a 10% active contributors will mean a figure of 12,000. Thats very good. Redbeanforum and Mysingaporenews have quite a lot of readers and some contributors. It will be nice if everyone do a little reporting and contribution and we can grow a bit bigger. Everyone is a citizen journalist. It is not just reporting, but expressing a different view point on things and events. The age of citizen journalism is here. Technology has make it so convenient and efficient for anyone who has something to say to say it, without having to be vetted or edited to suit someone else agenda. Citizens must exploit this new tool to the fullest for personal development, satisfaction or to better the life of the people or the cities or countries they are living in. Gagging of public voices is a thing of the past.

Better quality public transport

So we are going to see better quality public transport and a transformation of the quality of life of the commuters. Travelling in public buses is now going sci fi with life information of bus arrival time. That's not all. Information will also tell whether the bus is wheelchair able. And since we are having such a sophisticated system, as a commuter, I would like to see more information provided. How about displaying how many empty seats available, the aircon temperature in the bus, the type of bus and the type of seats, cushion or plastic? Some may not be able to sit on hard plastic because of medical or physical conditions. We can add on more quality services later on. And with so many things to read on the screen, bus stops must be upgraded so that commuters can spend more time to enjoy the facility in comfort, eg air condition and pipe in music, to read books. Another thing that they must upgrade is the quality of the drivers. Oops, sorry, captains. Lets have something like airline captain standards, with nice manners and at least clean and nicely pressed uniforms, and with a captain's peak cap to go with the new image. And must send them for personal grooming courses so that they appear more like a captain. We will look quite futuristic as a city. Clean, green, sophisticated, hi tech, sci fi, and well groomed. Talking about making use of satellite technology to the fullest. It was reported that the first proposal cost $100 mil and the second was $40 mil. Both were scrapped because of cost and now this one is cheaper. But no figures given.

Retirement village in oil palm plantation

I was discussing with some investors on the viability of setting up retirement villages in Johore, inside oil palm plantations. The return would surely be much better than what oil palm can give, and faster. With low land and labour cost, it is an attractive proposition. The only hitch is security. How to keep the place safe and really safe that safety and security would never even be an issue, that safety and security can be taken as a given? For retirement villages, the residents may be rich, but old and feeble. They are very vulnerable and safety and security will be the number one concern. This is a comparative advantage that has yet to be exploited for financial gains.

Malaysia's comparative advantage

Najib is saying it again to reassure foreign, esp Singaporean investors, that the IDR is a long term investment and there will be no flip flops of policies again. I think the Malaysian govt knows very well the problems and issues and is trying to alleviate the fears of investors. But talk is one thing. It is actions and concrete rules and regulations that the investors are waiting. And Najib also understand the huge comparative advantage which Johore has vis a vis Singapore in terms of land and labour cost. The Malaysian govt should exploit this fully as the ridiculous land and property prices and rentals in Singapore would make Malaysia extremely attractive. Why are the Malaysians waiting? This is the time to compete aggressively with Singapore and wrestle as many investments as they can to Johore. And it is so easy if they can ruin in the parochial and kampong mentality of the local politicians and keep them at bay. A rich and prosperous Johore is good for everyone. And Johore stands to gain to become the most developed and industrialised and modern state of Malaysia. Only if they have the political will to grab the bull by the horns.

The beast of Cyberspace 5 govt agencies are going online to tap the power of the internet. They want to participate in feedbacks and two way communications with their customers. They must have seen the goodness and the evolving role of cyberspace and do not want to be missed out. The importance of cyberspace and internet as a communication tool are growing by the days. But the fear is always there. How to manage and control feedbacks and information, how to censor the undesirable, how to not hear the bad news? Political observer, Viswa Sadasivan said, '... a good starting ground could be sectors that are less "risky" and where the citizenry-government rules of engagement are 'less rigid", such as sports, the environment and tourism.' This fear of the cyber beast is frightening. Any wrong move will see them being devour to pieces by the beast. Got to tread gently. So frightening.

The changing and unchanging political dynamics

For more than 40 years, the political dynamics and the way politics are played out have hardly changed here. Like it or not, it is a system based on a powerful personality dominating all political decisions and policies. Once decided, there it goes. Right or wrong, good or bad, let's move on. It looks so simple and easy to run this place. The same pattern of a domineering leader at the top was also the case for Malaysia and Indonesia. There were Mahathir and Suharto, all very powerful personalities that do not allow anyone to mess around with them. And between these three key players, many things could be done, deals struck, just by their own wheelings and dealings. Between LKY and Suharto, they have reached a certain understanding and would honour their agreements. In the case of Mahathir, though he had all the power to make deals, at the later stage of his political life he came out as one that would break deals or interpret them in whatever ways he wanted or to his benefit. There is nothing that is cast in stone. Everything is changeable. That was the political scene then. The same pattern and style of politics still exist in the little island but no more in Malaysia and Indonesia. They have changed with the passing of Mahathir and Suharto. More pressure groups are getting stronger and getting heard. More demands are made on their leaders that prevent them from exercising their power as PM or President. They no longer have the absolute powers of their predecessors. This is frustrating to Singapore. Making deals are no longer between two personalities, a four eye meeting to solve all issues. Things are going to be dragged on and on and nothing done. This is the new dynamics of the region. We have remained quite the same in the way we do things. The rest have changed. How to make deals anymore?

The Seniors Game

LKY is roaming the streets of Jakarta. And we see a smiling Suharto meeting his old friends as if nothing has changed. Time stood still. It was yesterday once more. It will be fun if Mahathir was there too. The reappearance of the seniors give one a very strange feeling. When they are not around, the yudhoyono, Sudarsono and the who dunno, and their counterparts here all look so real, big men, national leaders. But in the presence of the seniors, they appear so young, so youthful, so fresh, like freshmen. The faces of the seniors are too domineering and too overwhelming for the young leaders. They have a presence that cannot be matched by the new leaders.

Sunday morning is to think about impossibilities

What would be best for Malaysia in the future? Or what could become of Malaysia? The thinkings or aspirations are quite diverse. The country at the moment is dominated by the views and interests of a minority of religious fundamentalists. And if they are to have a free hand to do what they like, Malaysia is likely to become another Iran or Iraq or at best a Saudi Arabia. Anything else will be full of contradictions and tension. How would this affect the rest of the population, those who would want a more secular and modern Malaysia, travelling in the comfort of the best limousines as opposed to those who would prefer to ride on a heavily carpetted camel back? The modernistic group would include the progressive bumis as well as many who have been accustomed to the good life of western technical and scientific societies. And the other racial minorities are not that small a group that can simply disappeared. Then there are the East Malaysian states living in the backwaters of Malaysian economic and political strifes. They have very little affinity to be Malaysians even to these days. They are different and would want to run their own lives and create their own future. Or maybe my reading is wrong and they too would want an Islamic state and live under Islamic principles and fundamentals. They have not made any noises with regards to the comments that Malaysia is an Islamic state. Or they have and not reported. There are thus three distinct groups with totally irreconcilable interests and outlooks for the future of Malaysia and there is no accommodation if or middle path. It is only a matter of time for these groups to gravitate further and further apart from each other and each will have their distinct characteristics and values. Provided no force is used to coerce any of the group to become like another group. What we may see is a federation of the north eastern states of Kedah, Kelantan Trengganu and Pahang plus the four southern states of Thailand, Narathiwat, Pattani, Suratthani and Songkla, breaking away to form their own Islamic state. And the East Malaysian states will break away to become a new independent country. The rest of the western and southern Malaysian states may choose to become more secular and moderate from the religious point of view and developed along the lines of western countries. Then some will use the slogan that Allah has moved northeast and the religious will move in that direction. If there is an agreement that the three new entities should leave each other to chart their own destinies and do not meddle in each other's internal affair, we could see the emergence of three new countries that are more coherent and with their people having more similar dreams and more likely to sleep more at peace. Just a Sunday morning indulgence in fantasy.