They can still kill you

While many who supported the abolishing of the death penalty are celebrating their victory that many in the gallows would be saved, there is this article in Singapore News Alternative screaming, ‘They can still kill you.’ For a moment I thought the criminals or murderers could still kill their victims. But no, I was mistaken. The author was saying that despite the changes in the death penalty laws, the murderers and criminals can still be hanged. It was a kind of being short changed, that the death penalty is still in force, not abolished.

So some criminals and murderers would still have to meet death for killings and murders. And this is sad and bad. And in the view of Matilah and his very intelligent friends, it is only right that criminals and murderers be given the opportunity to make a decent defense before they are hung. That is only fair.

The next Huang Na or female jogger being dragged into the bush, raped and killed would only see their murderers at most serve a life sentence as the intention was only to rape them and their deaths would be treated as incidental. No intention to commit murder.

The next question is whether the rapist murderers gave their victims a chance to defend themselves, a chance to plea for their lives before they were killed, with or without intention? Why should murderers or killers be given so many chances to save their own lives and their victims were not given the same chances in their hands before being killed? Did any one hear the cries and pleas of the next Huang Na or female joggle, please, please, don’t, please stop it, please don’t kill me, while the rapists/killers totally ignore them just for a little lust?

Did any of the drug peddlers give their drug addicts a chance to say no? Did the drug addicts, in a state of grave deprivation, go robbing and killing just to get the dole to buy more drugs, and in the process kill their victims. Did they give their victims a chance to live?

While society and do gooders are so kind to the killers/murderers, can they spare a thought for the victims of the killers/murderers who were innocent and have lives to live for but ended prematurely and cruelly in their hands?

Yes, they can still kill you, I mean the killers/murderers can still kill the innocent and helpless victims. Where were the kind and compassionate do gooders, when the victims were being killed in the most frightening and nightmarish way, when they were in fear, alone, helpless, begging and pleading for mercy, and for a chance to live? They have not done wrong or harm to the killers and murderers.

Thank God there are so many kind and compassionate people around to help and save the killers and murderers, to share their pains and griefs, to make this world a better world, for the killers and murderers. And perhaps some may walk out of prison, to live again, and to kill again.

Gambling – It is for your own good

‘Singaporeans and permanent residents who visit casinos more than five times a month may need to show proof they are not in financial distress or face restrictions, acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing told the Straits Times newspaper.’

Checking their finances and bank accounts is a good thing as it will force them to reveal all their monies kept in Sinkie banks and overseas, or with their mistresses, to show that they are financially sound. Make sure they attend an interview and tell the truth. It will definitely help the Tax dept to collect some taxes as well. And those who are trying to catch money laundering can also tap into this revelation or confession.

I think this is a wise and good thing to do. But to make it more effective, Sinkies who frequent the casinos more than 5 times a month should also produce a certificate from the psychiatrists that they are mentally sound and able to control their gambling habits. I am sure the shrinks will love to share their problems.

With the change in mandatory penalties to protect the criminals, and now to protect gamblers, the govt is showing how caring it is in taking care of its people. We protect orang utans in our zoo, we protect exotic plants in our latest high tech sci fi botanic gardens, next on the list will be wild boars.

It is for the good of the citizens and the animals that these measures should be taken before these silly Sinkies and animals/plants destroy themselves. Sinkies should call the govt papa.

Death penalty – buckling under pressure

Under pressure from the protector of criminals group, the govt of Sinkieland has given way to moderate its tough position on the death penalty. Putting on a brave front by staying the penalty, the knees are wobbling. Judges are now given more discretion to spare the lives of serious criminals in this tough weak stand.

The onus and responsibility, and conscience, have now been passed to the poor judge who will now be hounded by his values, religion, by the public pressure on him to be a nice guy instead of the cool disinterested party that is there to see that the law is executed. It is no longer the politician’s problem.

Criminals will now breathe easier and more desperadoes will take the gamble, knowing that death is not a certainty. The drug lords will game the system and carefully choose the pathetic and pitiful cases to be their runners knowing that the kind judges with the kinder tough laws could give way with a few sob stories. The poor ah mah and ah kong or the little boys and girls could just do the trick as the perfect runner.

While more criminals will be spared the gallows, would it also lead to more victims of drug abuses? If it does, then society will become fairer and more inclusive in a way, with drug criminals enjoying more kindness and fairplay while drug abusers finding it easier to get their drugs. The drug pushers, the drug addicts and the drug criminal protectors will be happier. The govt too will be more comfortable without the criminal protectors breathing down their necks. It is a win win for all parties.

Another way to pardon those that deserved the death sentence would be to make them confess and to reveal their handler, get the latter convicted and exchange a life for a life. The main task of the enforcers must be the bigger drug lords up the chain of command. Pardoning the low down courier should be a good exchange for someone higher up. Anyone down the line could have his life spare if they could assist in the hanging of someone above them, hopefully all the way to the top.

Just like the loan shark curse, all the time the people being caught are the little runners. What is the point of catching the runners when the real problem is at the top of the chain? The system should be tweaked only to facilitate the arrest of the biggies. Then the softening of the death sentence against the runners can be justified. Otherwise a weak stance is a weak stance and would compromise the effectiveness of using death penalty as a deterrent. When a deterrent is no longer a deterrent, might as well do the popular thing and do away with it altogether.

Burn Arab countries, burn…

This is about what the Americans and the Western powers have decided for the Arab world. One by one, the Arab countries were encouraged to do regime change with their help, and turn the countries into turmoil, with Arabs killing Arabs and the country bogged down in civil wars and conflicts that would bring them back at least 30 years in economic development and destruction of the country and people.



This is a great recipe for the growth of American and Western powers and continuous domination and rule over the pathetic and bickering Arabs. The Arabs would need to pray more than 5 times daily and Allah to save themselves from these Western angels.



At the recent conference of the willing, Clinton wanted the dumb Arabs and the willing nations to go to war with China and Russia. And I quote,



‘US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged world powers on Friday to show Russia and China they would pay a price for impeding progress toward a democratic transition in Syria.

"It is frankly not enough just to come to the Friends of the Syrian People (meeting) because I will tell you very frankly, I don't think Russia and China believe they are paying any price at all - nothing at all - for standing up on behalf of the Assad regime," Clinton said at a gathering of countries seeking to speed the departure of Syrian President Bashar Assad.’



The Americans are setting the agenda and calling the shot, to start more wars and upheavals among countries to impoverise them and to exert their control over them.

Property prices will soon be halved

Sinkies can look forward to lower property prices if the reasoning of some quarters can be implemented into govt policies. They have started with commercial properties by halving the length of the lease. And those needing to buy or rent such properties will now be so happy as the properties will now be so affordable, at half price. Sure what, 60 years to 30 year lease, everything goes half.

There are several ways to make property prices even cheaper substantially. One way of course is the size. If Sinkies are content to live in a 350 sq ft flat instead of a 700 sq ft flat, the price can be halved. Very affordable and within the reach of many not so rich Sinkies.

Another way to half the price is to half the lease. Instead of 99 years, make it 49 years. Sinkies will be in glee, and screaming, cheap, cheap, cheap. They will go crazy if the lease is shortened to 30 years and the price be reduced to 1/3. The Sinkies will be shocked into disbelief. What, a 5 rm flat now cost $200k instead of $600k? Unbelieveable, but good, good, very good. Cool man.

I think if the govt does this change, the Sinkies will be so grateful and will definitely re elect them in 2016. This is a new version of Ah Q mentality. It is Sinkie mentality and thinking process, thinking and seeing not further than the tip of the nose. They cannot count, cannot know the real difference. They only see the final figure and will be convinced that they are getting a good deal.

Actually if a 5 rm flat is shrunk from 1000 sq ft to 500 sq ft and the lease shortened to 30 years, it can even be sold at $100k. (600k/2 and divide by 1/3). Wow, so affordable! So good, so cheap. Govt so good. At such prices I think you can even build nursing homes or hospices beside them and they could move off the shelf before the hand is removed.

The world should learn from Sinkieland

Two gripping news today, rate cheating by Barclay’s on LIBOR and China’s curb on property speculation. In Barclay’s case, it was trying to offer better interbank rates against a fixed rate determined by a formula. The British authorities and European govts are against variable rates. They are going to frame criminal charges against the violators. They want all banks to work on a fixed and determine rate. Isn’t this against a free market?

Rates should be freed up so that every bank can compete freely to offer the best rates to their customers. This will bring down the cost of financing and must be good. And the Americans are the champions of such deregulations and free competition. Sinkieland is the next freest place in terms of free competition. A good case is commission rates. Several industries are encouraged or made to operate on a free rate basis, ie, everyone can offer any rate to their customers, even doing it for free, while they make from other businesses. Technically, some big financial institutions would be able to offer cut throat rates to win market share and make their profits from elsewhere. It will only encourage a lot of trading and business activities when commissions can be reduced to practically zero. Must be good for business. And cutting rates, offering better rate, is not a crime, it is free competition.

It is inconceiveable that the Europeans could not see the merits of free rates against fixed rates. They should allow the banks to compete freely with each other and those that are not competitive should be allowed to fold up. Free market mechanism should be allowed, with free play, to bring down the rates to the lowest possible.

In China’s case, they did not want property prices to go up, even after several years of curbing regulation, they would not want to see a rebound of property prices. China would encourage first time buyers but not speculation that would drive up prices and great profits for the rich. This is against free market practices and free market forces. By doing so, the prices of properties will be artificially depressed which is not good for the economy. The economy would not grow, just like North Korea, when a landed property cost $10k compares to a lousy 2 rm flats here that could fetch $100k. The North Korean economy will definitely be shrunk and small in size. Economy growth numbers will be small and slow to grow. No wonder China is so badly managed and at the brink of a collapse, according to free wheeling western economists and analysts.

If the North Koreans would to allow market forces to determine their property prices, all the landed property will be worth a few hundred thousand dollars instantly. China’s economy too will get a big boost with free market forces driving their property prices.

These countries should learn from Sinkieland and drive down the cost of doing business with low interest rate and let property prices shoot to the sky so that all property owners feel they are instant millionaires. Never mind if they are struggling to pay the mortgages and have nothing left for other things. When property prices are high, when speculation is a past time, the economy will boom and everyone will few really rich.

The Sinkie example is the best for high growth and high property prices, and for the making of instant millionaires without working for it. It must not be a crime to offer cheaper and more competitive rates, even no commission or doing things for free. It is not a crime to sell property at ever higher prices. It is good for the economy. People who cannot afford to buy just buy what they can afford, or rent. No one is forced to buy property at high prices. Free market at work.

Village girl

A piece of rar art. More can be viewed from www.artofrar.blogspot.com

The big man made garden

Some of you may remember the big fake volcano in Sentosa. Our latest grand attraction is in all counts another big artificiality in the vein of Hollywood, bright lights and humanly designed waterfalls, designer buildings and all the jazz. And the people lap it all up as the latest craze in town. It has outdone the cosplay event in town, where ordinary people could dress up as superheros or their favourite anime characters to live a few moments of fantasy.

In the new fantasy garden, many interesting programmes have been lined up for the visitors from food to education, and participation in all the botany related activities, understanding or getting close to nature in a souped up environment.

In an instant, one is transported into another wonderland of what humans think are desirable, to please the emptiness of dull city folks with plenty of money and nowhere to go, or not knowing what to do. It is a smaller version of the tranquil island of Sentosa, once a verdant little tropical jungle where one could enjoy nature, serenity, sand and sea for free. Like Sentosa, the new garden fantasy doesn’t come cheap for each visit.

What happens to the genuine century old Botanic Garden that is cultivated through time and by the hands of nature? What happens to the Wetland Reserves where a family could have a real taste of nature, practically for free? What is it like to enjoy a few hours sitting silently in the reserve, feeling nature, listening to nature and be a part of nature?

How much does it need to create this great nature disneyland that needs not be or could be created at lesser cost, lesser consumption of resources and expenses while preserving or destroying nature in the process? Could a more natural habitat living to the name of a tropical paradise, a little tropical jungle in the city be created in much lesser cost and much more nature friendly than this mammoth of human creation and achievement? How much more will it cost to run the attraction though the bills will be partially paid by the visitors?

What’s next? An interconnecting sky garden across the island like the hanging garden of Babylon, in much grander scale? Avatar was about the return to nature and its mystic, protecting nature and nature’s way of life. In the creation of our own Avatar, are we protecting nature or destroying nature in the process? The hidden costs and destruction to nature to bring about this wonder are not small in wonder. The continuous maintenance and creation of consumer demand and consumption in the whole process are the price to pay for this new gracious lifestyle, a visit to the Garden.

Do we need such a garden? Plenty of jobs are created which is good for the economy and economic growth. Do we need more of such jobs? Do we need more food and restaurants, more shopping centres and shops, build more expensive properties for sale to foreigners? Do we need to put up more containers to collect tin cans, plastics and papers to save the environment and mother earth?

Selling snake oil ok?

The world’s financial system is in a mess in many ways. Primarily the root of the problem is that it is run, operated, managed and regulated by crooks and robbers in designer suits and Ivy League degrees. The tragic result of this combination is best seen in the 1990s world financial crisis originating from Wall Street and London. The world’s financial system was taken down to its knees and the govts were helpless as the organisations were too big to fail and the people managing and regulating them were too prominent and important to be put behind bars. Only one or two were made the scapegoats of the whole fiasco.

The whole mess was revived without a button missing after govts poured in billions and trillions to avoid the failure of the financial system and the big financial organisations. Practically every crook is still in his job with every regulator as their accomplice smiling, and all laughing to the banks again.

There are three levels of financial crimes in the whole picture. At the lowest level are the snake oil sellers and the snake oils they are peddling. Many regulators took the cursory approach of going after these small guys, the snake oil sellers, as they are the most vulnerable, without the financial muscles and connections to protect them. And they can be easily shoved and pushed into the drains. And regulators are seen to be zealously doing something, chasing the snake oil sellers, putting all the blames on them. They are the problem, helpless punks and easy meat to bully and to be taken to task for the smallest indiscretion. It is so convenient.

The next level, more difficult to touch or untouchables in their own ways, are the top management authorising selling the snake oils. They are too high up there, with halos over their heads, presumed to be, in the Sinkie parlance, immortals and infallible human beans. They will not err and will not be accomplices to the low down crimes of the snake oil peddlers. How could they be blamed for their indiscretion and bad practices? Just keep clear of them or they will counter sue if prosecuted.

At this same level, other than allowing the juniors to peddle snake oil, they may even indulged in deceit and trickery like the Barclay case. And when caught with their pants down, no worry, they just walked away from the jobs and expected to be paid a ransom for doing so. That is how corrupt and disgusting the financial industry has become. Criminals or abetting crimes would not be prosecuted but handsomely rewarded. Only the snake oil peddlers under their charge are at fault and will be charged.

At the next higher level will be the casino operators. When normal health supplements are not bringing in the loot, anything else goes. Snake oils or poisons will be okay as long as the revenue is good and business is seen to be thriving and flourishing. Just don’t call them snake oils or poisons. Give them some sophisticated jargons that no one will understand. What if the casino operators are engaged in facilitating institutions to push snake oils and poisons into the system at the detriment of the consumers? Would there be anyone to regulate them, to check on the snake oils and poisons in sugar coated forms?

Or would everyone act dumb, pretending that snake oils and poisons are health food and supplements, or simply look the other way? And there are plenty of works that can be done and to look good chasing the snake oil peddlers who are so helpless and waiting to be put behind bars? In short, who is there to check and regulate the regulators?

Welcome to the entertainment hub

Looks like the circus is in town with so many hilarious happenings in Sinkieland. Everything is happening in this little piece to rock to keep the citizens and netizens laughing. One can even expect the merlion to laugh until its jaw drops. Nothing is unimaginable or unexpected nowadays.

When things are so comical, the citizens will have no time to watch Channel 8 for more comedies.

Dumb Americans

With the world’s best brains in research and technology, and military experts, they spent US$5b on a lemon uniform only to scrap it in less than 10 years. Despite all the tests and trials they only found out that it did not work after 7 years in service. Now they would have to spend another US$5b to replace that lemon.

On the other hand, Singapore used the uniform, tested by our experts, probably redesigned and improved on it and found it almost perfect to our needs. We even designed and created an uniform for desert warfare in Afghanistan, as reported in the papers today. Now our soldiers would feel safer fighting in the desert.

And the Americans are reintroducing a new design to replace the pixelised uniform. The new design is nothing much cutting edge really, likely to be a bit of change here and there of the older design that was replaced by the pixelised version.

Singapore should have offered our proven and tested version to the Americans at probably half the cost of their new design. It will be a win win situation. And Singapore would earn a new feather on its cap as a military uniform designer, better than the Americans.

But knowing the Americans, they would not accept anything from anyone. Singapore could actually buy over the rejected pixelised stocks from the Americans for a song since they have no use for them. It will help the dumb Americans to dispose of their unwanted uniforms. Otherwise they will likely burn them, or maybe bury in the desert. Maybe they will donate to Hollywood for another mega war movie with the rejected uniform to be worn by the losers.

Consider Mercedes or BMWs for staff cars

During the early days of Mindef, most staff cars are Minis, Fords, a few Japanese makes and a few Mercedes for the top brass. But those days cost was important as the country was not that rich. Today we have billions and billions in our reserve and maybe it is timely that Mindef or the other ministries should go for quality since money is no longer a problem.

And going for quality is not extravagant really. Buying cheap cars is like penny wise pound foolish. A Mercedes or BMW is made to last for 20 years unlike the other cheaper makes that would last no more than 10 years. And the ride is so much better and comfortable. And there is the safety aspect to care for. Mercedes and BMWs are built with many safety features which will make them so much safer for the passengers, our NS men. Oh, include in the specs to have 4 airbags, two in front, two behind, plus side protection bars and anti roll bars. Safety is of paramount importance and cannot be compromised.

Buy quality is not wasting money. Mercedes and BMWs must give me a commission for this brilliant suggestion. And with two of them submitting for the tenders, there is a price comparison and competition, and the contract can be given to the lowest bid. Can throw in Audi if three bids are needed.

Remember, quality comes with a price. Can cheaper, better and faster mean quality also? If that can be so, then no one will want to buy expensive goods. Start by changing all the chairs and office furnitures.

Do not underestimate the Malaysians

Malaysia just launched one of the world’s largest IPO in IHH Healthcare at $2.6b. The company will be listed in the SGX and Bursa Malaysia. What is amazing about this launch is the list of hospitals in its stable. Among the big names are Mt Elizabeth Orchard, Mt Elizabeth Novena, Gleneagles and Parkway Hospitals. If the names sound familiar, yes, they are all the top hospitals in Singapore.

Malaysia has not only bought over this strategic group of hospitals, it also owns one of our power stations, it has bought into two of our brokerages, and I am sure it is also into many other acquisitions of good Sinkie companies. With their oil money, it is quite foreseeable that it could buy up many good assets and companies here.

I see this as a brilliant strategic move. They have turned the table and thrown away their village mindset of always on the losing end when dealing with Sinkieland. They are on the offensive. When everything is for sale in Sinkieland, it is only a right thing to do for Malaysia to buy them up. And don’t forget, it is exchanging Malaysian ringgits for Sing dollar. In the long run, should the ringgit depreciated against the Sing dollar, Sinkieland will end up with much less value ringgits while Malaysia will be sitting on highly valued and well appreciated Sinkie assets.

For those who are worrying about the fate of Sinkieland remerging with Malaysia, not to worry. It need not be. It will be bought over in a matter of time. Don’t underestimate the strategic minds of the street smart Malaysians. Our book scholars will be no match to them as they only think of buying and selling for immediate and short term gains. The long term strategic thinking is somehow absent. And with so many Malaysians here as PRs or citizens, the merging or takeover will be smooth and easy.

And the Malaysians know how to buy good stuff. They don’t go around the world to buy junks or out of luck companies.

What is $57,200?

When $600,000 was dismissed off as peanuts, why are netizens screaming over $57,200? The amount was spent on 26 foldable Brompton bikes that NParks had purchased. Many felt that it was excessive and unnecessary when a $500 bike is already a damn good one and a $1,000 bike is a luxury. A $2,000 bike is just inexplicable for a govt organization to splurge using public money. And poor Khaw Boon Wan now had came out to defend this purchase as reasonable. And this is going to cause more ire among the bikers who knew the value and quality of bikes. Best advice is not to explain.

But spending $57,200 is really nothing, not even a drop in the ocean. Not even half a month’s pay to many. Why the who ha? Personally, as a low wage worker, $500 for a bike is definitely too much for me to pay. Then it is all relative isn’t it? What is a lot to the losers is, yes, nothing to those who are used to spend millions and hundreds of millions.

The netizens are also complaining why a tender for 26 bikes only attracted one bid. Is it that the tender contract was too small, no supplier was interested, no one could meet the stringent specifications, or no one knew about the tender except for one? Many questions are being raised on this peculiar incident, just like the designer chairs for, was it MOM or NTU? Such small matters and small amount of money could not register in the memory of most people, not even my elephant memory. Of course dementia is starting to gnaw throw the thick skull.

My conclusion, the amount is just too small, too petty for any suppliers of foldable bikes to be bothered to submit their tenders. So it ended up with only one hungry tender, and according to civil service procedures, since there was only one tender, it was proper to accept the tender. Case closed. Let’s move on.

For those suppliers who were sleeping and did not know that there was such a tender, it is their fault. Then again, it must be the small sum that kept them away. In an exceedingly rich country when every mention of money is in the millions, when people conveniently asked, ‘What is $10m?’, what is $57,200? No case lah. Such a small matter is like making a mountain out of a mole hill. There are more important things to worry about.

God’s money

The believers donated happily, willingly, though painfully, to God, with the hope of 30 fold, 60 fold and 100 fold returns. What is wrong with that? Nothing really! It is willing giver willing taker. It is caveat emptor. Why the big fuss? The only thing that I cannot fathom is the round tripping. Maybe this one got some accounting peculiarities that offended the law.

Putting this aside, money willingly given to God must be God’s money. There is no compulsion, like taxes or CPF. There is no law against anyone giving money to God. Calling it charity is also wrong. God does not need charity. Who the heck called these as donation to charity?

Anyway, once the money if for God, how the money is used by God’s servants to serve God is no one else business. If the servants think that singing and cutting albums in the US is to serve God, then let it be so. If the intent is good, good for the contributors, what is the problem? Even if it is pornography or insurance schemes or whatever schemes, if it is for the good of God, that is good enough.

It is also reported that 40 companies were set up by CHC or the pastors and the senior pastors. If the monies are theirs, it is personal and private matter. If the money is God’s money, then one needs to ask what is the purpose of these investments. If the investment is to grow God’s money to serve God, it is perfectly legal and logical. Sovereign funds were also set up in same kind of reasoning, investing the funds to serve god’s interests. Oops, I meant the sovereign’s interests.

See, all can be explained. It is the intention that counts. If the intention is not to cheat, which no one will admit or own up, and if it is explicitly said that it is to invest for the long term for God’s sake, it cannot be faulted. Or can it?

Bankers Fleeing Europe Crisis Head to Singapore

The Europeans have started to take them down, one by one. The crooks and robbers in high places, wearing designer suits and an air of superiority, in the financial industry of the west, will hit the dust as their ill doings are being exposed. More will see their light being snuffed out as the financial industry with its unregulated mischievious products and practices revealed themselves as purely toxic and worthless waste. After wrecking the world economy in the late 1990s, nothing seems to change as they continue to revive and indulge in their old ways, and aggrandizing themselves with more dirty money from their ‘sophisticated’ but daft high net worth clients.

As the curtain is coming down, many are scrambling to the ignorant and naïve Asian countries that would open their doors and arms to embrace these financial rogues and their scam practices thinking that they were the god sent angels to boost up their financial systems and profits. If only they think a little and ask if these were really so talented, if their practices were so supreme, they would not be running away from the western paradise. And the top crooks and robbers would not be taken down, the big banks and financial institutions would not be in ruins.

But never mind, the Asians are always willing suckers to the west. Below is a compressed post on the great talents and their exodus to Asia. Sinkieland will be waiting in glee for these great talents. The first financial centre in Asia that will be in ruins will be Sinkieland if it blindly allowed all the rogues and their rotten products and systems into the island. Just watch the stock market and the signs of its demise.

Posted By: Rajeshni Naidu-Ghelani
Assistant Producer, CNBC

29 Jun 2012

A 37-year-old Paris-based French investment banker, who’s worked in London and New York, has been looking for a job in one of Asia's financial hubs, Singapore, for the past six months.

A director at an asset management firm owned by one of France’s big banks, she asked to stay anonymous, but told CNBC that even her husband, a portfolio manager, was on the lookout for work in Singapore. She added that they would move to the city-state with their two children as soon as one of them lands a job….

The French investment banker is one among a growing number of bankers looking to leave Europe as deteriorating economic conditions together with tougher regulations have slowed business and led to job cuts…. “It’s very, very slow here [in Europe]. On top of that, there are a lot of regulations adding up on each other, so it makes things a bit difficult,” she said.

Several global recruitment firms have told CNBC they’ve seen a significant increase recently in the number of European bankers wanting to relocate to the Southeast Asian city-state….The slowness in European and U.S. markets is also leading to more Asian-born bankers returning home to work, according to Norton….Malaysian-born Wai Keng Kwok, 33, is one Asian-born banker looking to make a fresh start in Singapore. Kwok moved to the island-nation in February,

after working for Morgan Stanley in New York for five years, to take up the role of chief operating officer at a local hedge fund started by a friend.

Another white mice story

58 year old taxi driver got punched by 47 year old airline pilot twice his size. Taxi driver’s story, airline pilot ‘walked towards him in an aggressive manner and accused him of being a gangster…then punched him and his dentures fell out of his mouth.’ Airline pilot claimed taxi driver who was in a coffee shop, drunk, lost balance, hit his cheek on the shoulder of a friend seated in the same table.

It was reported that there was bad blood between the two neighbours over the taxi driver burning joss sticks outside his door. The pilot was fined $1000. Obviously the judge did not believe that the taxi driver was drunk and lost his balance.

Is this a case of a foreign talent or new talent unable to integrate to the local way of life and incensed by the incense being burnt by his neighbour? The little 58 year old man was easy meat to this burly pilot to take on. One is so small and so old, the older so big and so young.

Anyway, the taxi driver should know his station in life and should not have antagonized the airline pilot. He should burn the joss sticks when the pilot is not at home. Then there will be no problem and he would not have got drunk, fell and his dentures fell out of his mouth.

Learning to eat shit blindly

One of the most outstanding characteristics of Sinkieland is learning to eat American shit without thinking. When they said big is good, we went ahead blindly to force merge our local banks into three, with the intent to probably end up with only two, only for the Americans to curse the too big to fail syndrome. The financial crisis brought not only the too big to fail banks to their knees, it also meant that the poor tax payers would have to pay for the crooked ways of the big bank robbers.

Then we went in blindly to sell toxic notes and bonds without knowing that they were more than snake oil, but poison. And the blame was on the ignorant and innocent investors for not doing their homework. Wonder if NTUC sold some poisoned foodstuff and the blame would be put to the people or the AVA?

And the bigger Lehman bond is going to blow in the face of all investors and the finance industry when the stock market goes into a limp when the Viagra used to boost trading activities turns out to be fake, Made in USA. Many investors have lost a fortune and many people in the industry will be losing their jobs and their ability to service the big home mortgages.

The latest, the auntie pattern army uniforms, was copied from the Americans. Whatever the Americans do, we copied. Now, even before every soldier is issued with the uniforms, the US realized their stupidity and is abandoning the pixelised uniforms for a more relevant pattern, which is another farce really. It is not very much different from the one that was replaced earlier. The victims will be the taxpayers for the billions of dollars spent to switch and switch. But that can be expected from the Americans as it is big business interests involved.

Now we will end up with this stupidity and trying to justify that it is the right thing. To me it looks sissy, and nothing like the jungle. It may fit into the wet market or the new botanic garden. And changing it will cost another bomb and another big logistic nightmare.

Failed spamming attacks

I have received reports that my site has been under heavy spamming attacks recently, apparently from 'foreign sources'. I did not know why the foreigners would be so interested to attack a little Sinkie blog so persistently, or is there any reason for them to do so.

Anyway, the attacks failed miserably and all their effort was wasted as none of the spams came through except for one one two occasionally.

Bloggers have a very effective screening process to keep these pests out of their system.

I shall say try harder. They need to be better or need to pay for more talented spammers to do damage to bloggers' firewall.

My two ups to them.

Same challenges different responses

Leong Chun Ying has taken over as the new head of Hongkong. His maiden speech was about tackling the immediate challenges facing the island, high property prices, high income gap and social harmony. These are exactly the same problems that Sinkies are facing. And the Today paper has frontpaged the thoughts of Chan Chun Sing on the same issues yesterday.

The problems are recognized but how the govt is dealing with them can be filtered from Chan Chun Sing’s comments. Taking care of the low income and making sure they have enough to get by is relatively an easier issue to resolve. Raising productivity and increasing social transfers to ensure a basic standard of living for low wage earners will do the trick, and they will have enough to buy milk powder and other basic necessities. It is the aspirations of the highly educated Sinkies that are difficult to deal with. To the latter, it is how much more to have, I think, that is worrying. They need to own assets worth several millions before they are satisfied. For the lower income, they have little or no aspirations. Really?

Let me summarise, helping the rich getting richer is difficult, ie, no answers. Helping the poor with their basic needs is easy. Just make sure they have enough to eat and money to buy milk powder. They will survive. Some are doing very well with $2000 a month income. Why should those earning $5000 be complaining? So $2000 should be enough, afterall $1000 can already buy HDB flats. $2000 must be a luxury.

Now I understand why the income gap will not be narrowed. It is relative and matter of perception and lifestyle. Many can live on $2000. So what is the problem? In Hongkong, Leong is going to listen seriously to the voices and complaints of the people. Here, the income gap can simply be explained away as part of progress and nothing can be done. So is housing prices. Now what is the Hongkie govt going to do to narrow the income gap and high property prices? I don’t think they are going to say the same thing, or the problem is too difficult to resolve.

I think the Hongkie govt will have serious problems trying to solve these if the super talents here could not. The Hongkies did not claim to be super talents and are not drawing super talented pay and can be excused for being not so clever.