Another amazingly pro people and pro business budget

The budget is out and it is goodies time for all. Alright some will still sieve through it with a comb and nit pick at why no this and why no that. Overall, it is another angpow budget of at least $10b for the people. So, want to complain again? Where on earth is there a govt that always give angpows to the citizens? My only little concern is where is the money coming from? Our reserves or surplus profits from GIC and Temasek? After announcing mega billion losses and adding on another few hundred millions more recently, I think I can safely conclude that surplus from our investments can be KIV for a long long time to come. But money cannot come from nowhere. Can we expect to have another round of raising taxes, more ERPs, raising GST to help the people(in this case help first and raise later), more expensive public flats, more savings from our CPFs being set aside to fulfil the 'tan ku ku' fantasy? Unfortunately the answers are still over the horizon, maybe after the next general election. And the answers no need to 'tan ku ku'. Mesti akan datang.

High property prices no good!

Today I feel quite 'tulan'. Only on Sat I posted an article saying that high property prices good. This morning I read Mah Bow Tan saying high property prices no good. How can he disagree with me? And he said that he has some more things planned to curb property speculation and high prices. But there are good news for those who could not afford to buy HDB flats because of high prices. So far, no bubble has formed, despite the fact that anyone buying a property from HDB ten years ago will now see the same property appreciated by 200%, there is no bubble still. Well, good then, as this is due to normal price appreciation in a good economy, low interest rate and a confluence of other factors. But HDB is not going to go to sleep. It is doing a review to see what it should do to prevent speculation and bubble building. Hsien Loong has joined in the discussion by saying that HDB flats are not for speculation but a long term investment and for the buyers to live in, even to hand down to their children. Is this a policy statement? If it is, it will signal a major change in where public housing is heading. But he must get this message to the HDB first. Then hopefully, things will change and people will really be able to afford affordable HDB flats. I always cringe when I mention the word affordable. Probably developing a phobia for it. It sounds so cheap. By the way, the General Election is around the corner and maybe we have some real policy changes for the good of the people. And no changes after that.

Singaporeans are getting richer

I was reading Goh Meng Seng's latest post in which he quoted an official statistics that reads like this, 'The average household income from work had also risen from $4,238 in 2003 to $5,680 in 2008, reflecting the growing affluence of HDB households.' Isn't this good news, that the average household income was $5.680. Today, two years later, it should be more than $6,000. Singaporeans no need to go to the casino to shout 'huat ah!' They can now do it at home. My friend's household income in $9,000! Lagi huat. 6 pay checks, average about $1,500 each, and two more paychecks akan datang. That would put his household income to more than $10,000 when the youngest two children start working. Goh Meng Seng argued that the household income surge is due to children unable to buy HDB flats and are forced to stay with their parents, thus boosting household income higher. Tiok boh? With $9,000 or $10,000 household income, can start to buy private property liao. How come ah? Still staying in HDB flat.

The Wooden apology

Shall I call it the Wooden apology or the Tiger apology? After all it is all about the media and fancy news of the celebrities and a world of make beliefs. I did not watch the telecast and did not bother at all. It was after all his personal affair. It is big news alright for those who were his big fans and his sponsors. I was an admirer of Tiger Woods, the number one golfer, the world champion. What went wrong or what was wrong with Tiger Woods when what he did was quite normal actually, for someone in his shoes. And he is not alone. His indiscretion somehow came up quite shocking and disappointing to his fans. I think his main problem was that he lived under an image of a flawless man. He was just like a priest or more, godly, and perfect. It was too big an image for any man to take on. When he turned out to be just like another ordinary guy in his personal life, it was too much to bear. The truth hurts badly. It would be a different story if he had lived a life less pristine, less godly. No one seems to bother much about Mike Tyson or Bill Clinton or what some of the royalties did. As long as they don't pretend to be flawless, they are accepted as who they are. The disappoint comes when the flawless was found to be flawed. When you are white, a little spot or speck of dust is enough to damage the image. Tiger should best discard his wholesome boy next door image. Just be himself and live life. If his appetite cannot be satisfied, he is going to create more problems to himself if he tries to be otherwise. Donald Trump has the best advice for him. Just go play golf and be a world champion. Forget about living like a priest. He is very talented. His sponsors have a part to play in his spotlessly clean image. Don't they know that he wasn't?

High property prices good.

It is high only because our economy is doing well, an indicator of prosperity and also high wages. Why are there sudden measures to curb high property prices? We are receiving plenty of confusing and conflicting signals nowadays. One day good one day something else. Plenty of supply, no panic but panic building. Why are people, especially the young, still complaining when their salaries are also shooting to the stars? The only problem I can see is that while their salaries are heading for the stars, the prices of properties are reaching to another dimension, and they are continuously chasing and not getting near. Then again it is their fault because they are not talented enough to earn faster and more. The developers and speculators are always delirious when property prices are soaring. They have no responsibility to anyone except their own greed and profits. They will do anything to double or triple their profits at all cost. Who cares about the well being of the people in general. The bulk of the people just want a decent place to stay, a roof over their head that is affordable. I want to print this word in very small prints, 4 or 6 points. Cannot say it too loud. Otherwise people will scream that it is definitely AFFORDABLE. The govt has a very big responsibility for the well being of the majority of the average citizens. The rich and able will look after themselves and speculate in properties and all things to get richer. The small people in the middle are not so fortunate and could only depend on their Very High Salaries but not high enough to pay for the affordable flats and to get by. They cannot afford to chase the property prices dictated by the speculators and developers or the blameless, market forces. These innocent, and losers, will end up as bigger losers. The govt has a responsibility to take care of them by correct policies. Mindless market policies will definitely lead to disillusion among the masses and will alienate them to vote for a party that will look after their welfare. Govt has the choice of looking after whichever sector of the people they want to. They can choose to continue to feed the fat cows and they can choose to care for the lean goats. High property prices are good. Keep raising. Don't stop. Don't build and strangle the supply and let the price rises. 80% or 90% of the people will be very happy and grateful.

Our public housing are affordable

Who is complaining that our public housing prices are high and not affordable? The higher prices are due to our higher incomes and increased prosperity. And for those who are complaining, be advised that nothing is expensive. It is only a matter of whether you can afford to pay for it. So don't complain if you can't pay for it. To those who can, it is simply affordable.

Singaporeans to thank the foreign workers for...

Singaporeans should thank the foreign workers for the two casinos on our shore. Without the foreign workers coming here we would not have the casinos. This is how great their contributions to our economy and growth. Thank you. Please come all your gift bearing foreigners. What else are you bringing for us?

The Master Skill

It is the time of the year to call for more training and skills upgrading. We need to raise our skills, go for more training to improve productivity, and then to increase our income. I fall nicely into the group of 45 to 65 that needs more training and better skills. I need them, for I have another 20 or 30 years to go. Like I said earlier, enough time to start another family or to build a new career. The future suddenly brightens up. So much to look forward to. In the past I was only looking for whatever little money left in the CPF. Now got chance to start a new career, go for job interviews and asking the organisation about promotional prospects. Feeling like a new person again. Got to search for my certificates and testimonials and dust away the dusts, and make photocopies of them. Now, how to write an application letter? Forgotten how, too long ago. Training first. Come to think of it, if I could have gone for the right training and learn a master skill, then there is no need to go for more training at this young age of 60. Is there such a master skill that one can acquire and become a knows all for good? There must be one that allows one to be so skilled that one can switch industries and jobs like changing clothes and still continue to enjoy high pay, high perks and high bonuses year after year, unending. And the best part, no more training needed. And one's value and talent and skill get better everyday. Can anyone advise me on where to learn this master skill? Or is there such a master skill?

Time to stop the £$%&* $100 levy

I have so many flowery superlatives to describe this casino entry levy, but again, better to keep it to myself. By now many will know what this levy is all about in the most negative ways. It is anti Singaporeans, anti PRs, anti business, and makes the casino operation and business look so awkward. It keeps away the people that should be in the casino and flood the place with undesirable and unwelcome visitors like foreign workers. And it creates so many unnecessary trivial issues and a lot of work. Best, more Singaporeans will be caught trying to sneak in without paying. The two casino operators are serious business people who have put up billions of dollars upfront. The least that we could do is not to make it difficult and tedious for them to run a proper business. They are prepared to play ball, accept every rule that we impose on them, no matter how inconvenience and nonsensical. They are willing to cooperate with the govt completely, not to trangress or violate any of our sensitivities. We need to give them a break and make the profits they deserved. And in return they are going to provide many jobs and spawn many supporting businesses which are good for our economy and our people. What I would recommend is to scrap the levy for all Singaporeans and PRs except for those that have been excluded for crime and self exclusion orders, and whoever that were excluded for good reasons. We cannot discriminate against our own citizens in our own home. The reason to prevent people from gambling with the levy is plain naïve. How can we open a casino and prevent people from gambling? The people who want to gamble will find places to gamble, away from the two casinos, in Batam or Genting or underground casinos. The levy is nonsense towards this intent. The levy should be applied to foreigners instead, especially those that are not going to be beneficial to the business. This will help to recover some of the revenue loss from Singaporeans and PRs. But not all foreigners need to pay entry levy. The high rollers should be exempted for obvious reasons. For ease of implementation, make use of the credit cards. Foreigners who carry gold or platinum cards should be exempted. A small token of say $30 or $50 should be imposed on those with other credit cards. No credit cards, no entry. Let the ownership of credit cards be the controlling factor for admission. And credit card companies should be warned not to abuse this requirement and issue cards recklessly as credit cards will now be in demand by foreigners. This is good for credit card business too. Whatever revenue loss in levy could be recouped from more patronage and gamblers allowed into the casinos. The revenue for the govt could be more. Applying the levy on foreigners will also allow the current system and equipment for collection of levy to remain in use and not a white elephant to be put away. We have come so far down this road to allow casinos in our shores. Let’s be serious and let the business thrives and grows. This is big business incurring big investments and cannot afford to fail both for the operators and for our economy. The levy requirement is just not conducive for the business. And I am claiming intellectual property rights to these outrageous recommendations that are bound to raise a lot of eyebrows and ruffle feathers. But make no mistake about these, the recommendations are serious, practical and pro business. The levy on Singaporeans is simply dysfunctional and would anger many Singaporeans and PRs. How could we introduced apartheid against our own citizens and think that it is fair and good? 5 already got caught on the first two days of operation. I hope my suggestions will be accepted and the two casino operators should consider paying me a handsome consultation fee for it. And the govt should also pay me a sum double that the casino operators are willing to pay me for telling them to do something they dare not do, that is necessary for the good of the business and to create more employments. Would there be a minister tough enough to admit that my audacious recommendations are what that needs to be done, and to tell the administrators that this is the way to go, and of course to pay me my rightful dues. Of course no one needs to pay me anything as no one is under any contractual agreement to do so.

Why India will always be number 2 to China

The two civilisations have many things in common. Put an Indian and a Chinese together to compete, they will give each other a good run for his money. There is little to choose between the two. Why then will India always be number 2 to China? Many observers have noted the systems, customs, culture and language as the main baggages that will slow down India. This has been proven in history over the last 60 years. India gained its independence in 1947 and inherited a country with all the systems and infrastructure in tact. There were little disruption and the country continued to build up from that point in time with no major upheavals. The CCP gained control of a devastated China in 1949 and went about to destroy whatever that was old and irrelevant. China went through a crisis stage of revolution and destruction in all fields, culminating in the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. Communist China was built on the ruins of a fallen dynasty and decadent customs and belief system. It started again on a relatively new slate in 1978 when it embarked on its four modernisations and opening up to the West. Today China has leapfrogged ahead of India and running in full steam with all engines firing. India is still taking a stroll, and making progress too, but at different pace. But these are not the main factors that is holding back India. India is targetting to overtake China to be the number 1 Asian power. It tries to compete and outdo China in every field. In areas that it is not competitive it just cry out loud that China should keep away from its sphere of influence. China on the other hand is trying to overtake the USA in all fields. What ever America is doing, China is trying to catch up. And China is catching up very fast. And this is the main reason why India will never catch up with China. It is focussing on a wrong target. The barrier that China intends to cross is way up in the sky. India is looking only at China and is already gasping for air and panting. Unless India sets its sight to overtake America, it will only be chasing China and be in China's shadow.

Uncle Yap's productivity prognosis

I happened to read Uncle Yap's comment on how to raise productivity in Singapore. And he said it should start right from the very top. Right. He recommended that Hsien Loong chopped half of his cabinet to show the way. I was musing over it the whole night and concluded that he was half right and half wrong. He was right in his diagnosis but wrong in his prescription. Right in the sense that any major policy must be top down with the leaders taking the lead and showing the way. But I don't agree with his recommendations to axe the top talents at the very top of the pecking order. These are the rare talants and in very limited supply and should not be anyhow wished away. Instead, I will counter suggest that in order to make them more productive, they should be given more jobs to do. Appoint them as Chairmans and directors or advisors to more institutions and organisations so that their talents and expertises are out to good use. Each one can easily take on 3 more Chairmanships or 10 directorship or 20 advisorships at least. My suggestions are definitely more positive and effective and agreeable for implementation, and definitely will raise productivity at the highest level. Making suggestions that cannot be implemented or will be rejected is, yes, unproductive.

New playground for foreign workers

Singaporeans and PRs have to pay $100 for entry to the Resort World casino. Foreign workers could enter free. What a great ruling. Now all the foreign workers will be making the casino their dining hall and playground. Free food and drink for the whole day at a cost of $3 for transport. And free aircon and comfort in a brand new resort. Ooh la la. Now we will see how the casino operator going to handle this kind of situation. The casual Singaporeans who could go in and spend a couple of hundred bucks would not find it worth their while to pay $100 to enter the casino. Instead, the casino will have to put up with a mob of hungry foreign workers who may put in ten bucks into the jackpot machine, and many may not and will just be there for the free food, comfort and entertainment. Interesting rulings and interesting situation.

Notable quote by Pauline Hanson

'Our govts lack enough people with the fortitude to speak up without fear or favour. Over regulation, increasing taxes and lack of true representation are affecting our way of life. I feel very much for the young ones. Once, it was common for them to won their own homes. Not now. It's a harder place.' Pauline Hanson Pauline Hanson is leaving Australia and returning to England to her fish and chip root. She must have been very disappointed over the immigration policy in Australia and wanted to go back to a place that is much fairer. She is in for a nasty surprise. There are more coloured immigrants in England today than the England she thought she knew. Her quote above is very familiar. At first I thought it was from a Singaporean or about Singapore. The only part I agree with her is her concern for the young. But it is not so that the young in Singapore are not able to buy their affordable homes here. Our young are in a very admirable position with the govt guaranteeing that more affordable homes will be built for them. Australia should learn from Singapore in building homes for their young.

The Awakening

Until 20 or 30 years ago, being Chinese is very uncool, very embarrassing and even shameful. It is a race that has been condemned by the West and bullied by little Afro and Asian countries. It was a poor ancient civilisation that has nothing going on for it, militarily weak, impoverised, inferior in science and technology, even in agriculture. It was struggling to be a nation, a very huge developing country of the hungry third world. Its citizens still trying all ways to escape to any foreign land, away from a harsh communist govt. Its Chinese diaspora quietly and humbly minding its own business and trying its best to earn a living through trade and business. No high ambitions as keeping a high profile will only attract unpleasant attentions. The Chinese were best described by the Westerners as non descript, inscrutable businessmen, lacking in character and talent. They all look alike. They were the natural target to be ripped off, to suffer discrimination, oppression and extortion at all levels of society they happened to reside. The best way to survive was to lie low, find a strong political leader as a godfather to protect their interest, and pay him well. Many Chinese were ashamed to be associated with anything Chinese. They discarded their language, culture and customs and willingly embraced Western culture to look respectable, and claimed to be international citizens of the world. Unfortunately they were only bluffing themselves. No one believe that they were anything else except Chinese. They could not believe that they have Chinese written on their faces even if they speak perfect English or American, and wear branded clothes. They were repeated victims of racial discrimination and violence. In a short span of 30 years, China is now the second most powerful country in the world though it still insists that it is a developing country. The Chinese who were running away are returning home to contribute to the rebuilding of their country. There is not only new found wealth, but new found pride and confidence in being Chinese. The returnees were not down and out failures but successful entrepreneurs and technocrats, scientists, doctors, academics, etc. armed with the latest knowledge and skills they have acquired to do their share for their homeland. China too is confident enough to open its door wide, and Chinese citizens are free to come and go. Not only the Chinese were returning, the Chinese diaspora who have left the country decades and centuries ago are also returning, rediscovering that there is nothing wrong being Chinese. They too are awakening to a new world where Chinese is no longer the shameful and inferior people of the world, fit only to be coolies, cooks and laundrymen. They are rediscovering their roots and their history and culture. The Westerners are also starting to learn Chinese to understand and do business with the Chinese. Chinese has become an increasingly important international language. While the West has just begun to learn Chinese, the Chinese are learning English in a big way. English is a very important must know language in China. In no time, the mainland Chinese are going to be proficient in both Chinese and English and will be well placed to benefit from the advances of science and technology. What have changed or contributed to this dramatic transformation of the world’s political and demographic map? Were the new Chinese aliens or just the same as their poor peasant predecessors? Where were they during the 300 years of dark ages in China? There were no talents then! Now everyone is saying that China is full of talents. Put simply, the Chinese were victims of minority rule during the Ching Dynasty. The Manchus were just a hunting tribe, like the Mongols, and ruled China with their muscles and swords. Culturally they were inferior to the Han Chinese but chose to oppress the Han Chinese for their political interests. The drive and enterprise of the Han Chinese diminished and many were impoverised when the dynasty collapsed. Those who escaped had to eke out a living in foreign land and subject to all kinds of harrassments and obstacles put in their ways. They were shackled people, and had no one to fight for their rights. They were suppressed, exploited and degraded in all fields. The Manchus were bankrupted, weak and helpless. And when the communists took power, the overseas Chinese were natural victims of the Cold War and continued to be marginalised in their new countries. The Chinese of today are no longer oppressed in their homeland and everyone is free to live their dreams and their high aspirations, at least constitutionally. Internationally, the victimisation and discrimination have lessen and they were able to break through in many fields of endeavours. The Chinese today no longer feel ashame or fear to be known as Chinese. And with a world that is freer and with racial discrimination and prejudices breaking down, there is little to hold back the individual Chinese to live their dreams and be treated more fairly everywhere they go. Relatively speaking, things are getting much better for the average Chinese and the diaspora in their new countries. Still there are many countries that would want to continue to suppress and oppress the Chinese and their drive, and to rob them if they could, or to commit racial genocide at the slightest excuse. But there is a new hope and a new awakening.

The goodness of derivatives

I have been against derivatives in the stock markets and the financial systems for its high leverage and extremely high risks. The US subprime loan crisis was a result of the same instrument being packaged as very attractive long term cheap loans but sold several times over on a single diluted asset. In an article in the ST today, it was revealed that Goldman Sach was instrumental in saving Greece from its huge debt and still able to keep on spending more. Ingenious is the word. The process is very simple, offered a loan and lengthen the repayment period for as long as possible, and make repayment looks very affordable, maybe over 30 years or 60 years or even 100 years. And the loan was not recognised or recorded as debt in the accounts books. So no debt or debt free, while actually being weighed down by a mountain of debt. Such instruments of deferred payment to the unknown future, maybe the next generation to repay, will come in very handy in any country that thrives and encourages forward spending, or taking huge loans. It is the basic principle of spending now and pay latter. And borrowers were convinced that the future is always brighter and tomorrow will be better. So go spend now, with future money. Our high mortgages in our affordable housing ballon is built under the same premises. Young people are encouraged to take huge housing loans in the millions under the belief that their future income will see them through. At 30% of two incomes repayable over 30 years, it is actually 60% in debt. As employees earning a salary, no matter how capable they are, the chances of losing their jobs or incomes is always hanging over their heads like a swinging axe. But now they should not worry if they can rely on derivatives or swap instruments for help. Financial institutions should design more of such instruments in preparation of a surge in demands in the future should the economy take a dip and unemployment rises. Under the principle of future income, looking into 50 or 60 years ahead, they can design instruments along such lines. And the borrowers can happily go ahead and spend more, and borrow more. Derivatives and swap instruments will be the saviour of the day. Greece is saved for the day. Ooops.

The exodus has begun

Over the last couple of weeks, probably 100m Chinese from the Chinese cities and overseas have made a beeline home to their little villages and towns to be with their families during the Lunar New Year. Several hundred thousands of Malaysian Chinese too will make the same pilgrimage home to be near to their loved ones, to renew that familial ties, to stay and keep in touch with papa and mama, grandpa and grandma, brothers and sisters, and all the aunties, uncles and nephews and nieces. Isn't that cool? No, it is not cool according to some of our young Singaporeans. What is cool is Christmas at Orchard Road and parties in Mohammed Sultan and Clark Quay. Chinese New Year or other religious festivities like Deepavali and Hari Raya are uncool, so commercialised. There is no party spirit to talk about, just some ancient cultural practices that are irrelevant to the sophisticated and westernised Singaporeans. The opening of Universal Studio in Singapore must have been their lives complete. Indeed cultural festivals and holidays have gone too much the way of commercialisation. The ST also helped to publish the going rate for wedding angpows and Chinese New Year angpows. It is $20 for children or $8 for friends. I have 30 nephews and nieces and grand nephews and nieces, how much would that cost me. I will need another income to fill up the red packets. What $20? I have heard of $1000 per angpow and anything less than $100 is embarrassing to pass to the young ones. Now I am feeling embarrassed as well. I believe the Singaporeans are now waiting for the govt to come out with some rules and guidelines on how much to put inside the angpows. Or maybe the Chinese Chambers of Commerce or some big and reputable Chinese Associations could help to lay down the ground rules become angpows become too commercialised that those who cannot afford to stuff in a small fortune will be too embarrassed to offer them to the young. Come to think of it, it will be better to celebrate Chinese New Year without the angpows, just party and have a good time in the clubs or at Orchard Road.

So is New York and London

We live in a multi racial and multi religious city. So is New York, London, Paris and many other big cities around the world. Why are we being hit by regular inter ethnic and cross religious intolerance and irritations? Or why are the residents here getting so intolerant and unbearable of people of different colours and beliefs? Three young men were arrested for posting insensitive racial remarks over the net and one religious leader were hauled up by the ISD to drink kopi. And we believe everything is normal though the tension is simmering beneath the surface of a false smile. We have 45 years of continuous effort in nation building to gel the people into Singaporeans, to think, act, live and behave like Singaporeans. Have we succeeded? I thought we have, or at least up to a decade or two ago. We have invested in a lot of time and effort to break down racial and religious barriers among our citizens and were quite successful until the recent influx of foreigners. The huge numbers of new residents and their unfamiliar ways of life and behaviour would definitely rub the wrong side of some citizens who are a bit more sensitive. And the new residents too would find us strange and perhaps unfriendly towards them. We want them to be like us, and accept our ways of life. They want us to be more tolerant of their ways of life and even see things the way they want it. There will be such forces pulling and pushing against each other. We even have new residents questioning why Lunar New Year or Christmas is celebrated in such big scale while other holidays were not. Soon they will want things their ways and demand more from the already accepted norms and ways of life here. The equilibrium will be changed, or will be tested and challenged. Will the natives accept such challenges meekly or will they be so pissed off with the new residents or citizens and come to a face off? We started to have this dangerous broth of multi racialism and multi religion under the British rule. They were not concerned about the consequences except their economic and political interests. And they also have the gun to deal with any dissident or trouble maker the colonial ways. Also the poor immigrants were ignorant and have little rights to talk about. They accepted their fate, live peacefully to avoid trouble and keep clear of the laws. Today we consciously decided to add more mixes in the broth. Today they talk about rights and privileges. We have new residents that are educated and know the laws and demand more rights or they will not come. They are seeing themselves as our saviours, not coolies, and will not care how the natives feel. They even feel slighted and unhappy because our walkways were not designed for their prams and convenience. And they will tell you right in the face. We will have to live with the consequences of all the new faces and residents and their demands on the meek natives. The meek shall not inherit paradise. Maybe we shall learn from New York and London on how they keep their foreigners quiet and not to cause trouble to the locals. They must know the way or else they will be plagued by all the spurious demands of the immigrants in their midst. Have we solve our foreigners versus natives problems, or they are just waiting for an opportunity to blow up? Shall we invite more foreigners to have more buzz in our lives? Don't worry, they have already brought in the buzz.

My Money My Vote

Come the next General Election the people should think carefully on what they want and who to vote to represent them. I will be voting for my money. Who ever is protecting my money will have my vote. I will not be voting for people who want my money and also my vote. The people must wake up to the fact that the money in their CPF/Medisave is their money and no one shall have designs on this money. For too long, people have been quite callous in thinking that the money is there for them to take. In the name of, for the people’s good, thinking and planning for the people’s good, they just go to Parliament and legislate away the people’s savings, to keep the people away from their savings. The next election is the time to put a stop to such haughty ideas and attitude. Let them know whose money it is. And let them know that they should piss off and stay away from the people’s money. Watch Parliament and see which MP is still entertaining such ideas. You vote for MPs to represent your interest and protect your money, not to take away your money, no matter how good is the proclaimed intention. Please do not plan the people’s lives with the people’s money. The people will be very grateful if the plans are with public money.

When Singaporeans stop complaining

No one likes to hear complaints. No one likes to be the object of complaints. In cybespace, we have complaints everywhere and on many issues by Singaporeans. Complaints against the high cost of living and high property prices are rampant. Is it good or bad? I think it is good. For when Singaporeans stop complaining, it means that they have given up, they no longer see anything here that is worthy of belonging, that they no longer belong or want to have anything to do with this place. In short, they are opting out. When Singaporeans no longer care about their country and its well being, no longer care about how it is turning into, that will be the sign that it is coming to an end. Such a state of affair was best described in the last few years of Hongkong before 1997. Everyone gave up and prepare to run with whatever they could grab. They had forsaken Hongkong and abandoning ship. Just listen to the complaints. When it is silence....

High demand for HDB flats due to immigrants

The most authoritative political writer of the ST has given her take on the high demand and high prices of HDB flats. Chua Mui Hoong has concluded that it was due to high demand, particularly from the immigrants. She quoted figures to support her conclusion. 25,000 couples marry each year. Over 7,000 couples file for divorce annually and some may need a new home. In 2008, nearly 80,000 granted PRs and 20,000 given citizenships.The number of resale transactions in 2009 was 37,205, a 31% increase over 2008. Were her figures convincing? I think so. And she must have got them from official sources, not from the gossip circles. HDB has replied a few days ago that the cries of demands were misplaced as demands were not high and they have enough supplies to cater for them. Everyone who applies will get a flat in 3 years! And inspite of saying that, HDB is ramming up the building of more flats. I think if the demand is not there, the high building programme will end up with over supply. But then again no. Only those who have registered are considered demands and when there are enough demands then only HDB will build. Somehow HDB is missing something. Chua Mui Hoong should present her statistics to HDB to let them have a better look at the overall picture of population growth. But it may be of no use as the numbers may not be translated into genuine demands if the immigrants did not apply to HDB. So, who is wiser?