Cannot afford to pay electricity bills

Cannot afford to pay electricity bills 13,700 families cannot afford to pay their electricity bills. And 35% of these are living in 4 and 5 rm flats, each costing a few hundred thousand dollars. The better 5 rm flats may fetch near to a million dollars, almost a millionair in assets. Dear me, cannot afford to pay for electricity bills! In many countries, these are rich people. But in paradise, these are poor, the poor rich. I think many people will want to be in paradise to be poor. Anyway, tell them not to worry about not being able to pay their bills. Help is on the way. How about raising electricity tariff to help them?

A script written in heaven

Malaysia and Malaysians were seeing themselves heading into the longkang. With so much wealth but a country going nowhere. Political leaders were just there to look after their own personal interests but unable to carve a new direction to take the people and country forward. Sometimes one wonders what is going on in Malaysia. The stone the builder cast aside shall now be the corner stone to build a new nation. Anwar has returned from the wilderness, cast away by the dark forces to contemplate in solitude, in a jail, to find a new path forward. Anwar could have succeeded Mahathir in the conventional way, and inherited lock, stock and barrel of what UMNO was all about. He could have been misled to believe that that was the way. Or he may not have the choice but become a victim of the system, to play along and finish the song. He could just be another Mahathir, bullying all the component parties in his ruthless way, become as corrupt as anyone of them. It was not meant to be. Heaven has greater plans for him and for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians. Anwar must be cut off from all the wrong doings he was stuck with. He must be cleansed, through the baptism of fire, to suffer all the injustice and inequalities. Then to discover there is another way, a better way to lead Malaysia forward. The current way is the surest way to self destruction. Anwar must be humbled and brought down on his knees and reborn into a new man. Anwar had seen the worst. Having tasted how bad life could be, and even worst, he is then led by the force to return from the mountain, like Musa, to lead his people under a new covenant from heaven. It has to be this way. It is Anwar's destiny and the destiny of Malaysia. Inshaallah.

What are the roles of MPs?

The electorates vote their MPs to look after them and their interests. Looking after the constituencies, looking after the people and estate, meeting the people, organising activities for the people etc etc are what the people can expect of their MPs. Why are MPs sitting in all kinds of committees that have no direct bearings on their electorates? Is it necessary for MPs to sit as heads of sports clubs or clan associations, religious or cultural associations that are outside their constituencies? When a person becomes an MP, regardless of his or her background, he/she becomes an immediate expert in everything and are appointed as advisors to all kinds of organisations to provide guidance and advice. Some even become instant business people, sitting in board of directors of companies or even as chairman when they have never even work in a business organisations. This instant metamorphosis is truly amazing. Unbelieveable that an ordinary person can be transformed overnight into a knows-all. And more unbelieveable is that he or she is able to cope with so many roles within the same 24 hours, including being husband/wife, father, mother, and children as well. I don't think it is an easy job to be an MP. One must be really talented and have 25 hours a day to live with. The unfortunate thing is that some may find themselves out of depth in these associations or organisations and found wanting. It is a disservice to them and to expect so much from a MP who is afterall another Ah Beng or Ah Huay at one time.

Singaporeans are simply brand conscious

The high class shops in Orchard Road say it all. Brand is important. Not only that they buy branded products, now they must buy branded products from branded shopping centres. Paragon! Ooooh, walking around Paragon is also an experience. Only the smartest and most well heeled walked inside Paragon. Fake Rolex watches are also selling better than other brands. The brand is good enough. Inside all cheap plastic doesn't matter. Still a Rolex. Political parties are aware of this and they make sure that their brands are marketable. Once you got a marketable brand, proven and tested, you can put anything behind the brand it would not make any difference. The people will just blindly vote for the brand. Maybe that is our political culture. We have developed a people that can hardly think politically, or just do not bother to do so. They go to the polling station and look for a recognisable brand and simply tick. Politicians need not waste time campaigning so hard trying to explain or convince the people of their worth. The people are too dull for that. Sorry guys, when you are voted, it is not to your credit. When you are voted out is also not due to your lack of talent. It is just your brand. The way it goes, we can simplify our election process by simply voting for the parties.

Anwar sworn in

Anwar Ibrahim has been sworn in this morning as the official Opposition Leader without any ugly incidents. The Malaysins should appreciate Abdullah Badawi for allowing democracy to flourish the way it should be. Good for Malaysia.

Notable quote by Redbean

'Good govt needn't fear a by election' Redbean There is no need for a by election at Bukit Batok. The people would not want it. They would prefer the govt to spend time working on the economy and more handouts to help them in such difficult times. I spoke to so many people, all 3 of them said no need for by election.

Legally speaking

The Election Law states that no by election needs to be called in a GRC unless all the MPs in the GRC vacate their seats. This means that in a 5,6 or next time 10 member GRC, if only 1 member is still around, no need to call for by election. Does anyone think that this is not acceptable, that such a law is heavily flawed? No, not many think that this is not right. This is good in fact. One MP can serve a GRC of 5 or 6 MPs! If Singaporeans cannot find anything wrong with this law, that nothing can be wrong anymore.

Notable quote by Chok Tong

'Good govt needn't fear demos' Goh Chok Tong This is the quote I read in the ST today. I must agree. When you have good govt, there is no need for demos. See, Singapore got no demos. But after the opening up of Hong Lim Park, maybe got demos. But that does not mean we have bad govt. We allow or ask them to demo. See the difference. In Thailand it was spontaneous demonstration or orchestrated demonstration.

Why we need GRCs?

Does anyone know why we need GRCs? Just give a guess even if you don't know. Don't be shy. Ok, you. Yes? GRCs were introduced so that we have several MPs serving the citizens. More MPs serving the citizens means better service. Good. Next. Mmmm...I think more MPs in one GRC means economy of scale. Resources can be pooled and can do bigger things together, like producing records for the Guinness Book of Records. Good answer. Yes? GRC means you vote only for the party. No need to worry about the quality of the candidates. The party is the brand that guarantees quality. Nice answer. Oh yes, you at the back. GRC means if one candidate dies or cannot serve the people, no need to worry. Got many other MPs to help to stand in. Service to the people is guaranteed. OK, sounds logical. Wait, wait, I think GRC also means no need by election if one MP is not around. Save money and save time. No need to trouble the citizens to go and vote. What about you? My answer is all the above. Excellent. I give you a F grade. It's ok if you people do not know the answer. Most of you probably were not born yet when GRC was introduced. Some of the older ones may have dementia and forgot why too. Never mind, I will conduct a refresher course on the Development of the Singapore Political System and the importance of GRCs. Course fee is $500.

There is no stopping Anwar

The Anwar machine is steamrolling at full speed ahead. Nothing can stop him now, except of course you know what could. What the Malaysians could expect tomorrow after the swearing in of Anwar will be a political avalanche starting in East Malaysia. All the BN component parties there will just abandon ship and switch allegiance to Anwar. This will be followed swiftly by a mass exodus of MPs in West Malaysia. MPs from UMNO, MCA, MIC and Gerakan will simply walk across the benches in Parliament House to join Anwar. It will be open rebellion and the BN will crumble to dust. That I think will be the scenario on Thur and Friday when Anwar attends his first Parliament sitting. And he could immediately declare that he is forming the next govt. If it does not happen, then it must be just a fairy tale. Hidup Malaysia.

Raise public transport fare to help commuters

Now this must sound familiar to many of us. When was this magic formula uttered? I am sure with the higher transport fares, the commuters will be happier. At least they know that it was done to help them. Please don't help us, please. Just keep your kindness inside your heart. We know you are all very kind. And god knows too.

No need for world class lawyers

Why are we clamouring for world class lawyers to practise here? Even if they are for commercial and international arbitration, there is really no need for them. We are like starting an arms race here and in the region. Aren't our lawyers the best in the region? All we need is a lawyer that is better than the other lawyer to win a case. Put two Class D lawyers in the court room, one will win. Put two Class A lawyers in a court room, only one will win. The only good thing coming out from having world class lawyers is for the people to pay world class legal fees. Having Class C or D lawyers are not that bad actually. Even if they think they are legal aces, they will still charge local prices. If one party starts to engage world class lawyers, the other party too will do the same. How many of our losers here can afford world class legal fees? This is the same logic as the drive for world class medical facilities, world class public transport etc etc. Our losers will have to pay for them. And all our losers are crying for help for money no enough. There is no need to put piranhas into a small local pool of tilapias. The story will have a sad ending with many more hungry piranhas. This is what is happening to the stockbroking industry. Too many piranhas, and all the longkang fishes have been eaten up. All limping and lambeh lambeh. Take this story as a bad learning experience.

The return of Anwar

He has won back his seat in Permatang Pauh with a bigger margin than Azizah. It only shows that his people are strongly behind him. What is more important is that the sodomy case is dumped by the voters. Not important or seen as a mere political ploy. Anwar is marching back to Parliament with a long list of agenda to reform the country. Would he be given the chance? Would the MPs in BN break ranks and join him? His star is shining and he looks every inch like the next PM. He has suffered so much injustice done to him and tested in the caudron of fire. He could be the real man for a new and revitalised Malaysia. Now the question is whether the govt will get to him first and lock him up before he gets to Parliament. If the former, it is likely for law and order to break down in Malaysia. It is now a dangerous move after Anwar has proven that the ground swell is behind him. What a race and what a result.

Protect lawyers from foreign competition

A bill was passed to allow foreign lawyers to practise in Singapore. This will encourage more competition and raise the standard of local lawyers. But some lawyers and MPs were against this even if foreign lawyers were limited to commercial and international arbitration. Domestic legal matters will still be protected from foreign competitors. My reaction is that why should our legal profession be protected when other professions are not? Liberalisation and allowing better talented foreigners to practise here will be good for everyone. The standard of legal practice and the legal profession will have everything to gain. This is a laudable move. The next phase of our liberalisation should be allowing foreigners to stand for election to Parliament. This must be good for the country and people too as better foreign talents would be able to serve the people better. I fully support such liberalisation. Before we go ahead with all these great liberalisations, I would like to propose selling the whole country to the highest bidder. Then the money be shared equally by all Singapore citizens. Subsequently these ex Singaporeans can choose to stay or leave this island since it is no longer their country. Yes we are moving into a borderless world and country, nation or citizenship has no meaning and no relevance anymore. There is no need to protect the interest of citizens. This is a boring and tedious thing for any govt to do. By selling this island, everyone will have to take care of himself and be self reliance. It is meritocracy at its best. Survival of the fittest. The weak and poor will no longer be a burden to anyone or the govt. Just give them a fair share of the sale and everyone can do anything they want. Would that be nice?

Unbecoming to mean test lawyers

A bill was tabled in Parliament to put lawyers to a medical test to determine their mental soundness. This iss necessary as some may be quite advanced in age or may be having psychiatric problems that may render them unfit to handle legal matters anymore. Ellen Lee spoke against this motion on the ground that it would put undue pressure on these lawyers and also embarrass them. There will also be a stigma against them and very difficult for them to face the world again. I think I can support this as learned lawyers should be treated with due respect and should not be put under the microscope. It is very humiliating. Mean testing the ordinary people should be ok. They have lesser feelings, lesser pride and will not be embarrassed, and neither will they protest. And definitely no social stigma. And they would not have MPs to speak for them in Parliament. It is regrettable that the bill was passed and the dignified lawyers will be subject to such humiliating test. Shanmugam argued that the interest of the clients that must be protected from medically or mentally unsound lawyers. I can also agree with this.

New business - making effigies

With the opening up of HongLim Speakers Corner for demonstration and effigy burning, those people in the trade making paper cars and houses will have a new business niche, making effigies of political figures for burning. They can have a push cart stall at HongLimg peddling effigies for burning. Should be good business. I think this is not prohibited.

Learning from Hongkong?

There are many things we can learn from Hongkong. But there is one thing which I think we have done far better than Hongkong and should be proud of this achievement. Don't look at me like that can? I am talking about public housing. I heard that we are sending a team to study how Hongkong manage their public housing problems. We used to have the best public housing programme. But with all the tweakings, we are sliding down. Maybe a few years more, we can learn from Hongkong as we forget the main objectives of public housing. The other perplexing thing is that with the quality of our supertalents, at least that is what we claimed, couldn't we work out our problems ourselves? Anyway, anything happening here is unique to us, Uniquely Singaporean. What is happening in Hongkong or Japan is peculiar to them. A better alternative is to pay for some international consultants to study our system and tell us our problems. Just hand them our watch and let them read the time for us. That will be simpler. If we do not know our own problems, cannot understand our own problems, something is amiss.

30%, 40% or 50%?

How much do you want to cover, 30%, 40% or 50%? This was the response from Foo Yee Shoon when Lily Neo when the later asked for more assistance for the poor. This reminds me of the same kind of response in the last Parliament sitting. You want to eat in hawker centre, foodcourt or restaurant. And both reponses came from the MCYS. That must be their style of discussions. Lily Neo was right to reply that that was not what she was asking. And I think she deserves a more appropriate reply than a challenge to her request for more help for those who need it. What she did not expect was a retort when all she did was to ask for more help. But some people may disagree with me that the response was a challenge or a retort. Fair enough. It is all a matter of interpretation.

Ah Kong's child

The love child, the accidental child, the no priority child, now we have Ah Kong's child. In the 70s, the third child, sometimes by accident and also known as accidental child, is frown upon. He/she will face life with a lot of handicaps. No priority in many things. Always last in queue even for schooling. Ah Kong has changed his mind. Ah Kong is getting in age and wants more children. Today, 3rd, 4th, 5th or more, will become Ah Kong's child. Ah Kong wants them and will pay for them. The mother is simply a surrogate mother, producing the babies for Ah Kong in return for some cash or compensation. Will these Ah Kong's children be getting any priority in life? Not very likely. Will Ah Kong change his mind one day? Or will Ah Kong suffers from dementia and claimed that he is not responsible for their being born into this world? Will their surrogate mothers bring them here out of love or out of money? And if the later, what happens when money runs out?

Not innocence after acquittal

Our legal system is built on the foundation that a man is innocence until proven guilty. Now we are hearing in Parliament that a person having been acquitted in court can still be presumed to be guilty or not innocence. On this ground, an acquitted person cannot claim compensation from the state. It is too high a burden on the state, but not too high on the acquitted accused. This issue was raised in Parliament to compensate people who were charged by the govt and acquitted in court. Shanmugam, the Law Minister, dismissed this and was reported over the news that Singaporeans would not agree to it. I don't know what Singaporean he was referring to? The Singaporeans he spoke to, the 66.6% or the 33.3%? I for sure will agree that acquitted Singaporeans should be compensated. Today, going to court is no masak masak. The charge must be serious enough and the accused must definitely want to fight for his innocence. And how much will it cost to prove his innocence? Many will be backrupted for life. It is thus important that wrongfully charged and acquitted Singaporeans must be compensated. If not, it will be another case of guilty for not being able to afford legal fees to defend. We all know how expensive fighting a legal battle here. And we have seen how the rich people threatened people in court and the poor buggers, though innocent, ended having to pay to get out of the legal tangle just to save some money. Engaging a legal counsel to fight for the truth would be too costly for many average Singaporeans. I think our system will be more just if people are not handicapped or disadvantaged by the exorbitant legal fees and ended up being wronged for money not enough. The other alternative is for the govt to provide a defence counsel and the fee be waived on acquittal. How else can the poor losers find justice when they got no money? After rejecting the provision of compensation, Shanmugam added that 'if one can prove that prosecution was "malicious or vexatious", there are provisions in our laws for compensation.' That will incur more legal fees to prove maliciousness or vexation. Who got that kind of money to pay for legal fees to get himself acquitted and then pay for more legal fees to prove such things to get compensated? If the charge was an honest mistake, just too bad. Singaporeans will just have to accept this system as it is.