Black Day for Netizens

Just when the internet news is getting more readership, and with George Yeo and a few ministers feeling more comfortable about communicating with netizens, today I heard that Temasek Review will be closing down in July. As of today, though TR is still young, so is cyberspace and internet news, TR is one of a few group based internet forums devoted to Singapore and Singaporeans. It is a waste to see it go. And with the GE around the corner, netizens will have on choice less to read on what is happening here. It is a sad thing to happen when alternative voices are now sought after by news hungry citizens who want to hear what others have to say other than the stereo typed main media version of news. One RIP memorial for internet news.

The people crunchers

One train broke down in the morning peak hour and 17,500 commuters were stranded. In the same time many were enjoying an orgy or a sauna bath in the packed trains. These will be the things to come as we happily plod along mindlessly to allow the population to grow irresponsibly. We are 5 m and going to 6m and more. Heh heh. And it will not stop and cannot be stopped as any attempt to do so will slow down our economic growth. The numbers will keep going up and the rock will become more vibrant. And everyone can look forward to 10% or 15% economic growth and big bonuses. One man will be extremely happy. The trains and buses will eventually turn into people crunchers as we continue to progress down the road. It will be a happy adventure to all the rich citizens, travelling in style and comfort, with a sauna or orgy thrown in every now and then. We are progressing nicely to the future of graceful living and lifestyle.

Whorehouse for sale

Someone told me the story of a prostitute who wanted to go big time. Her plan was to marry someone big time. And her method was simple, just pay a big dowry. But who would want to marry a prostitute just for the money? The prostitute was not worried, as long as she put the money on the table, someone would come along. She tried very hard. But it was obvious that no decent fella would want to marry a prostitute. Then someone suggested to the prostitute to sell the whorehouse since business was still good. The better price, without having to pay a ransom for dowry, would mean that the owners could get a bigger return and may be happier, at least, instead of being sold out for the interest of the prostitute. I think it makes good business sense. A prostitute is in for the money. So why not just sell the whole whorehouse if the owners cannot object? And I am sure the prostitute will still get the lion’s share. As for the owners of the whorehouse, that is all they got. What’s next is their problem. They can never acquire another whorehouse with the pittance they will be getting. So what? It makes business sense, right? And the whorehouse can continue operating under different owners and making money as usual.

Pharoah's rites

A procession in ancient Egypt.

Understudy MPs

The concept of MPs understudying senior MPs has its merits. Not many are born to be instant MPs or instant ministers. Of course there are exceptional talents that are born and instantly can become good MPs and good ministers without any need for tuition or under study. Training is unheard off and no need for retraining of any nature when one is born to be a knows all. Only has been PMETs need to go for retraining. Having agreed to this concept, I think there are needs for some modifications to the current electoral systems. Firstly, paying $14k or $15k to any rookie MP to understudy anyone may be a bit too much. Agree or not? Ok, it may be nothing compares to a peanut, but still a lot of money to pay to anyone to learn on the job. As an ex HR practitioner, I have never come across anyone being paid so much to understudy a job. What I would like to suggest is to have a secondary election for understudy MPs, for MPs that are not ready to do the real job of an MP. And those elected to as understudy MPs can be paid an allowance of say $3k. I think this will be more acceptable and palatable to those who are vehemently against the big sum of money being paid to a trainee MP. And when the trainee MP is ready, then he can stand for election for the real stuff. Or we can have a mandatory course for would be MPs to pass before they can stand for election. Anyone think this is a good idea? I am just floating it like flying a kite. If the objection is too great, just take it as a joke ok. Don’t get mad at me huh.

The first crack appearing

I am seeing the first sign of a crack in the great wall. Could it develop further and cause a breakthrough in the form of a new Barisan Socialist breakaway? One side believes staunchly that the great wall is solid and homogenous, will never break, no breaks will be allowed. Could that be the truth, or furthest from the truth? If there is an open break, would the memories of Cold Storage be relived? Can our system or the people live with another mass cold storage exercise? And what could be the reason for the people to accept without any question? There is no demon today to hang, nor would the people believe in demons. It will be interesting to see who will defect and join a new barisan and who is the new leader. Can't call them communist, racist, religious fanatics nor terrorists. Everyone is a respectable and honourable man/woman who have served the country well. I am putting the stethoscope on the ground to feel the tremor. It is grumbling and growing in strength. My God, an earthquake in Sin!

The Water Margin

Koh Choon Hwee wrote an article in Kent Ridge Common lamenting about the lack or dearth of comments from local political commentators and observers. In advertently the burden fell on the shoulder of Assoc Professor Eugene Tan of SMU. Any reporter who needs a view or comment will come knocking at the door of Eugene Tan. The fact that Eugene has a string of spectacular degrees and appointments helps too for the choice. Koh Choon Hwee was suggesting that perhaps more views should be sort from other political observers like Catherine Lim and some other luminaries. And he asked why not, why always from a few established names? The immediate thought that comes to mine is that there is a world of difference between seeking views by main stream reporters form officially safe personalities and those from the mountain of Liang Shan as in the novel Water Margin. Who needs the views of the outlaws? And outlaws too may not have a string of qualifications to carry the kind of weight that they wanted. Would they be comfortable with views from Wally, Patriot or Matilah? You guys, can you please attach your titles to your name when you post. Maybe they will come around looking for your view too. I am going to announce mine right here, Dr Redbean, political analyst, PhD from LSE. Oh, I have just bought my PhD from Lembaga School of Economics. Ok, I am waiting. I will check my email everyday for reporters seeking my views or comments on local issues. Incidentally my email is available at my CV. Hope they would not mind the association with the heroes of the Water Margin.

Property price will come down?

'People who chase after the property market will ultimately pay the price when our property market nosedive. The property prices will have to fall after a certain peak and that is when thiings can go very awry.' Gilbert Goh The above is quoted from Gilbert's article in his blog with a title calling for the ban on PRs buying HDB flats. I think Gilbert is grossly wrong in his prediction that property prices will fall. This is one item in Singapore that will defy gravity. Several people in the know already said it clearly, that property prices will be manged to go up. It has to be as more than 80% of the population are living in HDB flats and they will suffer financial losses if the price will to go down. Up it must be. And the market forces will make sure that the demand will always exceed supply. If not, the market forces will be made to increase the demand or lower the supply. So Gilbert, sorry you are wrong. The gods will make sure that you are wrong.

Let’s poison the Oceans

Japan is pouring thousands of tons of radioactive water into the ocean. And the world looks on with mouth wide open, speechless, or because it is Japan, or because the Americans did not protest, so the world cannot do anything. No, not that. The Japanese said the radioactive water is safe, no danger to human lives at all. The livestocks in the ocean will not be affected. Sashimi and sushi will be still as fresh as before, from the Sea of Japan, the Pacific Ocean to the Artic and Antartica. There is no cause for alarm. Where is GreenPeace? The good things are about to happen. The next generation of Japanese will become Ultra boys. The fishes in the oceans will turn up as Gigantors. There will be no more food shortages. Each Gigantor can feed more than what 10 whales could. Oh I forgot, the Japanese have natural lightings in the dark. They will all glow beautifully. And so will the rest of the world in times to come. PS. Just imagine what the western media will write if it was China or North Korea doing the dumping. just imagine....

Talking football in Sin

The aspiration to be in the 2010 World Cup withered away in a limp. An embarrassing suggestion that was best described as a naïve dream of school boys. I think by now no one who wants to be taken seriously will ever talk about the World Cup dream. Singapore’s football is not only third class, but fourth or fifth class today. The pathetic condition of this game is really amazing given the amount of financial and govt support for the game, and the infusion of foreign talents. Football in general is no longer the football of the past. It has been privatized into a business making concern. Its main interest is making money. The players are international, can be bought and sold, with no attachment or loyalty to any team. Even the whole team can change name if the price is right. The manager of a national team can also be a foreign talent. What is bad about football is that it is a game of kelong and match fixing with no qualms about morality. Anything goes as long as it makes money. The goal keeper can score its own goals when he is paid right by another team. So can the other team players, or even the captain. And sometimes, in order to lose a game, all the good players will get themselves a red card or fall sick, not attend training. Then the reserves or newbies will be field to throw away a game. Football is not the same as before. Who wants to be associated with football, be called a goal keeper or a sweeper, or the last man, in a game of kelong and game fixing?

What’s happening?

Chok Tong made an announcement that in future ministers can only serve two terms to make way for new talents. The only exception is that PMs may be allowed to stay longer. To me this is funny indeed. Many countries would want to limit the Number One executive’s term to two terms for obvious reasons. Here, uniquely Singapore, the Number One executive can go on and on while the minister’s terms are limited. This funny thing does not stop here. When asked about Chok Tong’s remark, Kan Seng said, ‘That’s his opinion and we’ll leave it at that.’ You see how funny this latter remark is? Was Chok Tong giving a hint of the party’s position on self renewal or was he making a personal remark that has not been approved by the party? What was Kan Seng trying to say, or what was Chok Tong trying to say?

Are we ready to move from third world to first world?

No, I did not make a false statement. In politics we are still in the third world, with third word antics and third world mentality. A one party dominant political system cannot be first world. Ya? so what should a first world political system be, bi party or multi party? Believers of a one party dominant state will definitely disagree with my statement. The one party system, a dictatorship of a party, is good, effective and has served us well. No need to change when it is not broken, just carry on. What about the drawbacks and the danger when it turns bad? I say when and not if. It is the nature of things that all things will turn bad. Sometimes it could already be bad but because of incremental decay, it may not be apparent. A manufacturer of nuclear plants, or an advocate of nuclear plants, will swear that nuclear energy is safe and the way to go. They know the danger and what will be the consequence of a mishap. Their only solution is that they will do everything possible to prevent it but knowing deep down that a mishap can and will happen. This same argument is applicable to those who flaunt the virtues of a one party system and not telling how bad it could be when the time comes. And they will assure you that they will do all they can to prevent it from happening. Can the words of man be trusted? Just wait till their vital interests are at risk, and the bestest of man will turn to a mean beast. There is no need for a mature polity to be controlled by an absolute majority with few or no alternate voices. A 60% or 70% majority is more than sufficient for a ruling govt to run its agenda and policies smoothly. This is the same as a $1m or $2m salary is more than enough to live very comfortably. What is important, in the long run, is the nurturing of an alternative party to be there, speaking for the people and to moderate the extreme policies of the ruling party. Not everything the ruling party did is right or good for the people. It will be good at times and for some people at times. Some people will be adversely affected by any policy. In the absence of an alternative voice for the people, things can be slippery. NCMP, NMP or alternative voice in the ruling party? Stop dreaming.

Kathakali Cultural Dance

A Kathakali dancer with a woman devotee kneeling in front of him and making an offering.

A sad accident

Foreign student fainted and fell into the MRT tracks and both her legs were run over by the train. She has been here only a few weeks and wanted to learn English. Now she is going to live her life without her legs. Some are angry why there are no dividing screens to prevent people falling into the tracks. I ask, why can’t the trains slow down as they approach the station to a more reasonable speed to allow the driver to slam on his brakes in an emergency? Why didn’t the driver stop in time? I have seen many crazy drivers coming to a screeching halt at traffic junctions even when they knew that the lights are red from a distance. Is it such a big hustle to slow down the trains? If they can go down to a speed enough for emergency brakes, you don’t even need the expensive dividing screens. Oh ya, the whole system will slow down and people will kpkb. As I have suggested, the trains can go on a higher speed in between stations to catch up for lost time. Ok, I am ignorant of how the train operates. Maybe it cannot be done and need a $6 billion system to improve it. It may be difficult to stop in time when someone intends on suicide and time it at such that the train is near enough before taking the plunge. In normal accidents, there could be some time interval to see the impending accident. Anyway, the best solution is to stop operating the trains. _________________

Only 20% wants to emigrate

A survey by the Institute of Policy Studies found that only 1 in 5 of the Gen Y wants to emigrate from their home country, called Singapore. Only 20%, why so little? My God, if 20% of China or India’s population would want to emigrate, that would be more than 200m from each country. And won’t it be surprising that a world class country has so many of its future leaders wanting to quit? The biggest communist country and the biggest third world democracy may not have so many citizens wanting to quit. How’s that for comparison? And one of the reasons quoted for living is stifling? Mentally or physically? Wait till we have 6m or 10m population then we will know what stifling means. But by then the state would have convinced the people that stifling is progress and the only way for growth. And the people will get use to it and probably adjust their waistline to be trimmer, so that there will be more space when travelling in public transport. Don’t worry, 20% only, too little. If one member in every household wants to emigrate and they said only, it cannot be serious lah.

A little reflection

After the initial shake out, with defections, break aways and a big doubt on where the opposition was heading, I thought the next GE will be more of the same. The bunch of opposition parties will just strangle themselves and their chances to be elected. How not when they could not even keep their own houses in order and show that the only thing they could do well was quibbling over their little differences when they could not even think of winning more than two seats? For those who are hoping for change and a brighter future, it was depressing to say the least, and bleak. Since the initial hiccups, two changes have taken place. First, the PAP’s announcement of new candidates is rubbing the people the wrong way. They thought they could throw anything they want at the people and all will be accepted, as there were no better choices from the opposition camp. Newly minted citizens to replace and rule over Singaporeans at a time when the pain of having too many foreigners here just did not go down well to the true blue Singaporeans. And to train bright and chirpy newbies at public expenses, it is no longer cheap to pay for an MP today, is also not well received. The next big development is the coming forward of better and better candidates from the opposition camp. After so many years of longing for better candidates from the opposition, this dream is coming true. We are seeing many good candidates, some excellent, standing up to be counted. This is an opportunity that the people have been waiting for and they better not waste this chance to do what is necessary for the good of their children and the future of Singapore. Squandering this chance will send the wrong message to more good people volunteering to serve the people and country. These are brave and able men, coming forward willingly, not waiting for an invitation. The people need to return the favour and tell these men and women that they are most welcomed. And hopefully, several more will step forward at nomination day. These will be the things that will cheer up the disillusioned and helpless Singaporeans, to have an alternative instead of more of no other choices. I am feeling a little better now, and in higher spirit looking at the forces that have been lined up. The opposition may not defeat the ruling party in this GE. But it looks good that several GRCs and SMCs will be there for the taking. And we shall have a more balance Parliament with more balanced views for the good of the people.

It was April Fool!

I know the GE is around the corner and everyone is getting quite uptight. But when a good April Fool joke is started, can’t the people just take it as it is, and have a little laughter? Pei Ling traumatised and was counselled by Dr Fatimah. Nice one. Who says PAP politicians are all deadpan and can’t joke? And Chok Tong is good at surprising people with his jokes, and on April Fool Day is quite an appropriate timing to put people at ease. Unfortunately no one is in the mood for jokes. No one remembers April Fool anymore. Must be the inflation or the housing prices, or the foreign worker bugging them. Chok Tong getting his dementia, or should he use his dementia joke as an excuse to get out of this since people are not appreciative of him? This is likely to be the last joke before things get serious and all the knives are out as the GE approaches. Enjoy it while it lasts.

The Great Singapore Debate that wasn’t

Touted as a must watch political show on earth, oops, I mean in Sin. The PAP sent in its best speaker of Parliament, the opposition sent in, supposedly their best. Ok, a mismatch as far as class and oratorical skills, and ability to deal with the issues were concerned. But the whole show was a disappointment. It was a show about time keeping. Yes Sir, your turn now. Sorry Sir, time out. Next, you there. Sorry you got only 30 sec. OK, next one. Quick, quick, oops, your time running out. Dong! Was it a debate? What was more important, the issues in discussion or keeping time? Oops, sorry, I got to go now. No time to write some more. See you next time. Bye.

Who is calling the shot in the stock market industry?

SGX is still fighting tooth and nail to get married to ASX. It has offered the highest dowry it could pay and may even have to go on its knees to ask for the hands of the bride. According to some financial analyst, this marriage is like a life and death situation. Without the copulation, there would not be any future down the road. Both parties, on its own, without being hooked together, will be left on the lurch. The stock market industry has changed. The big funds are now calling the shot and dictating how the stock markets should operate. Big funds will eat into the market share of officially corporatized stock markets around the world by playing foul. No, not really. They just hook their super computers into the stock market system to take advantage of their high speed and technology to clean up the small players, with approval from the stock exchanges. This is now legal. Stock markets now do not have to ensure a level playing field. For if they do so, the big funds will not want to play ball with them. They are now held at ransom by the big funds and have to take orders from the big funds. And the big funds simply say, I want to take advantage of the system with my technology. To hell with the small traders. It is us or them. The next great fear is Dark Pools. The Dark Pool operators make transactions in the dark, unknown to the rest of the investors. They could also trade outside the stock market system. The need for transparency to ensure that all traders are privy to the same information, and level playing field, no longer apply to the Dark Pool operators. As long as the stock exchanges know, or the Dark Pools informed the stock exchanges, that is good enough. The rest of the traders need not know who buys what and in what volume. The same reasons go. The Dark Pools are going to eat up the market shares of existing legal stock exchanges and the stock exchanges cannot do anything about it. The stock exchanges must compete under the same rules and operating styles of the big funds and Dark Pool operators, or else they will go the way of the Dodo bird. The govt controlled stock exchanges around the world are threatened by the big funds and their big machines and the Dark Pools. You have to believe this logic. It is the new testament, the new commandments. The rogues are telling the govt constituted stock exchanges how the game should be played, under their terms and conditions! In the name of fair play, transparency, level playing field, could not the govt make such unfair practices illegal? Why are the govts across the world not stopping such nonsense from going on? The big funds and Dark Pools are cheating and robbing the investors with unfair advantages and practices. Is there such thing as right or wrong today? Is there such thing as legal or illegal? When the rogues and gangsters run the show, where will it lead to? You may wonder why the big funds and Dark Pool operators did not go to the casino to do the same thing. The answer is obvious. The losers will be the casino operators. In the case of stock exchanges, the losers will not be the exchange but the disadvantaged investors.

The Cow

There are two cows and a chicken in this photo painting.