1/16/2013

Punggol East, 4 corner or 2 corner fight?


It is now confirmed that four candidates have submitted their nomination papers and accepted for the by election. Koh Poh Koon(PAP), Lee Li Lian(WP), Kenneth Jeyaretnam(RP), and Desmond Lim(SDA) will be standing for their respective party. Somehow I still look at this as a straight fight between PAP and WP. As for the other two, very likely both will lose their deposits, $16k!
This looks set for an exciting battle with the individual candidate’s credentials being less of an issue as they are all reasonably qualified professionals. The main issue is really more of a battle against the PAP and the side issues will be what had happened recently in the constituency and of course AIM. The latter will be high on the list of the opposition camp to take a good dig at the ruling party.

I am wondering whether there will be any turnout or how small the turnouts will be for the rallies of RP and SDA when the main contestants will be slogging it out in centre court.

How many dirty linens will be aired this time?

Punggol East – A straight fight



By now everyone would have known that the SDP has withdrawn from the by election. This is the best news yet for people who want a straight fight between the PAP and the WP. And yes, it will be a straight fight. No? You mean there are two other possible parties like the SDA and the Reform Party standing as well? Are you sure they are political parties and are you sure they will make any difference? I am quite sure both will lose their deposits if they dare to stay on to fight. Anyway, they are inconsequential, just some side shows that no one needs to pay any attention to.

The SDP could pull in some serious number of votes that will weaken the chance of the WP. That is what the SDP could do if they contest the by election. But it would not be like winning a battle to lose a war. SDP will not win this battle and their participation will cause them the war in 2016 as well. It is better to save the money for the war that is coming. The decision to withdraw will put the SDP in a better state comes the GE. Thanks to their Central Committee, they have saved themselves from a major disaster that would have finished their chances in 2016.

While the whole picture of the by election has changed, the biggest winner is the cyber citizens. They have put enough pressure on the SDP to withdraw. And this is through a concerted effort of reasons and logic that convinced the SDP that going against them would be a great folly. Internet has never been such a powerful and persuasive tool in any general election. In this instance, the persistence of netizens and their forceful logic have forced the SDP to do the rightful. The internet is real and the voice of the internet is immediate, and to be ignored at their own peril. Without the internet, such vital feedback would not come about. The SDP took heed to save an otherwise embarrassing and costly by election.

The other internet brigade has also been very active trying to throw reasons into disarray and advocating a multi corner fight, appealing to the egos of individuals in political parties to try their luck. If this disinformation prevails, a multi corner fight would be inevitable. It seems that the people could not be easily swayed and those trying to support a multi corner fight had lost. Though there were a lot of contradicting views, the stronger view of reasons emerged to rule the day.

What the internet could do, the power of the internet, is much more superior to the main media. The internet penetration is much wider than the main media in a political situation like this. The main media would not be able to do what the internet could do, fresh and constant news or views straight out of the oven. The internet is now a game changer and no amount of internet brigades could distort the picture and the views of an enlightened population of netizens.

Should the WP win this by election, it has the internet to thank for. At least a multi corner fight has been avoided. No need to waste time on the jokers that are willing to throw away $16,000. The voters are smart enough to dismiss them as rubbish. Maybe by the end of the day, both could also withdraw.

1/15/2013

Chee Soon Juan the new Zhuge Liang



Chee Soon Juan said he knew that his proposal would be rebuffed by the WP. And he sent his proposals to the WP three times and was rebuffed three times. This was similar to Liu Bei visiting Zhuge Liang three times in order to show his sincerity. Liu Bei’s sincerity was accepted and Zhuge Liang went on to serve him. In Chee’s case, the WP did not accept him.

The brilliance of Chee is shown in this instance in that he knew well in advance that he would be rebuffed. I think not many people are so talented to know of the future, of an act and its consequences. ‘We knew all along…’ So why would he go on and on to send the proposals to WP? To show his sincerity not to the WP but to the voters that he had tried and was sincere to want to negotiate with the WP in a win-win-win situation? One thing for sure, to the WP, his proposal was a lose-lose-lose all the way. I think this part Chee did not know.

Now maybe Chee could tell us if he knows what would be the result should the SDP contest this by election. He must know too, I think. And since he is going to send in the SDP candidate, very likely he would have known that the SDP would win. Otherwise there is no point wasting so much time and effort, and maybe even losing the deposit.

Is the SDP’s plan to contest this election a win-win-win-win-win for all the candidates?

Should GST be removed from medical bills?



The GST is a very insensitive and blunt tool to collect taxes for the govt. But this does not necessarily mean that it has to be blunt and crude and all inclusive. The GST can be fine tuned in many ways to be more humane, compassionate and merciful in its application. Those who choose to support a one size fits all GST are just not willing to be flexible and can even be very mean or even wicked to take this kind of position.

One very glaring example of the inhumane application of GST is medical bills. The taxpayers are already sick, some very sick, some dying, and the Govt thinks it is alright to charge them GST. And the more serious is the illness, the more expensive is the medical bill, the greater will the sick have to pay for GST. A $1m medical bill will fetch a $70k GST or a half a million dollar bill will be $35k in GST. Is this the proper and morally right thing to do, to feast on the sick and the very sick?

Then the taxes on essential items like food and essential services. Maybe using more electricity or water would not make people squirm when they have to pay GST on them. What about food, like rice, sugar and salt? What about milk powder for the babies and baby food, when babies are so precious and so costly to bring up? Baby food is by no means cheap and the added GST is no small sum. The Govt’s explanation is that it could redistribute the GST collected to the needies. What a big bull. The amount collected could be the same tax the needies paid as GST. Or many could have fallen through the net and did not get any rebates from the Govt. Some would not qualify because of the stringent criteria when they really need it. The returning of GST to benefit the poor is a very grey area and the efficiency of seeing those who need the handouts is often found wanting.

There are many specific goods and services that GST could be refined and targeted. The rich that are willing to splurge on their elaborate funeral expenses needless to say would not mind paying GST for them. But why are the small people who just want to pay for the last rite with their little money or borrowed money made to pay GST? May be the service providers are GST exempt and we do not know.

There is no excuse to treat GST like a big wet blanket. It must be trimmed to fit some clear cut cases like medical and essential goods and services. Super talented millionaire ministers and civil servants would have no problems coming up with an acceptable and equitable and flexible GST policy on what need not be taxed.

1/14/2013

Lee Li Lian to represent WP in Punggol East


Lee Li Lian was the candidate for Punggol East in the last GE and garnered 41% against Michael Palmer. She is now standing again to take on Koh Poh Koon in the by election. It must be a tough decision for WP but a very sensible one. She had walked the ground and is not new to the voters. She only needs a 5% swing to win this race.

And this is a very critical by election for both the WP and PAP. It will signal where the wind will blow in the next GE.

Punggol East – The battle of internet



Two more days to nomination day and internet is in a flurry of activities. The Opposition camp, particularly those that wanted a multi corner fight to undermine WP’s chances are getting a bollocking from the netizens. Nothing much heard in the main media on this matter. And now with straw poll an offence, no one is going to know what is the true ground feel.

Then there is the internet brigade in full force charging around everywhere trying to support a multi corner fight. Some specifically support one or another opposition party to compete against the WP. This gives the impression that having a multi corner fight is perfectly ok. It could also be read by the shallow minded opposition candidates that the ground is really rooting for them to come forward. And it looks like they are taking the bait, that they have supporters urging them on.

So it is likely that there will be at least a 3 corner fight. Luckily the thinking one like Benjamin Pwee has withdrawn, knowing what the odds are and the real situation on the ground. We need more sensible opposition leaders like Benjamin and those in NSP and SPP to hold the fort with the WP to launch a serious assault on the invincible fortress.

The voters must also read the mess of information and misinformation in the internet carefully and not be misled.

Another gang rape in India



While the sensational brutal rape and murder trial is still going on, another 6 men gang rapists were caught in the act. And this is definitely not the only case as many were not reported. How many of these women have fallen victims to such heinous crime by animals walking on two legs whose animal lust cannot be restrained?

What were more disgusting were the comments by religious leaders and politicians that it was all the fault of the women. They were blaming the women for their dressing, short skirts, and their flirtation with the men. The women were bringing rape upon themselves. It seemed that it was perfectly alright for the men to rape the women, to release their lust on them. This is only natural if one is to know that a few hundred politicians have been charged for similar offences and still being voted into parliament.

The sexual urge is not limited to the poor and hungry but also to the rich and powerful. India needs a revolution to rid such medieval thinking and primate instinct. But it is easier said than done. The men will keep on lusting after the women as objects of desire, to be taken and even beaten to death.

Would this kind of thinking take root in Sin City with so many foreigners here? I know that this is a touchy subject.

PS: The mother of the dead victim wanted all the rapist to be hanged.

1/13/2013

Mass opposition rally in Kuala Lumpur





Hundreds of thousands of supporters turned out at the rally organised by Pakatan Rakyat alliance led by Anwar Ibrahim. It was the biggest political rally in recent time by an opposition party and approved by the police or UMNO led govt. Najib can take credit for this liberalisation of the political scene.

What was equally remarkable was that it was a very peaceful rally without violence. Credit must also go to Anwar and his supporters. Now the big question, why was there no violence? Why was there always violence when the police were around? Get the picture? Could it be a possibility that the cause of violence in mass rally is actually the police? Or could it be that the violence was initiated by outside forces that wanted to make the rally promoters and supporters look bad, as the cause of violence?

Who are the real provocateurs that caused violence in mass rallies? The truth is best explained why yesterday’s rally was all calm. The provocateurs were reigned in and not allowed to cause violence to give the police a chance to attack the peaceful demonstrators. This is a possible theory.

Punggol East, a case of wild ambition and rash men





The by election in Punggol East was meant to be a serious and well considered affair. The residents will have to decide to elect a representative to parliament. There was a certain understanding based on past practices and agreements of the opposition camp that it would be a WP contest against the PAP. Everyone has that kind of expectation. What has happened is something that is shocking beyond belief, that it is like a mad movie from some third world country, with every bum thinking that it is party time, and everyone wants to be invited.

We would expect the potential candidates, those aspiring to be national leaders, to be calm, cool and calculative, men of depth, of wisdom, to think about this matter seriously before they make any move or statement to contest the election. Other than SPP and NSP, two parties that are looking sensible and looking more sensible than before when other parties are looking not only foolish but moronic. We have heard of the two bizarre proposals by SDP and Reform Party to WP that they want a piece of the cake, with heads I win tail you lose terms. And they seriously believed that it is a fair and good deal.

What are these two parties thinking in the first place? Do they really think they are so important, so relevant and have the support of the people that they could dictate their wills on the most credible opposition party, making one sided demands as being fair to all?  This thinking is at party level. The comments by the potential candidates from these parties are equally clueless. They are all ready to charge over the cliff. Do they really think they have any ounce of chances to win against the ruling party in a multi corner fight? And these are supposed to be sensible and intelligent men, to lead the people and to represent the people’s interests. Can the people support such men when they are coming across as reckless and mindless individuals with only wild ambition in between their ears? They are just there to tikam tikam, even knowing that their chances of success are as good as zero. They simply don’t care. Can such men be reliable and dependable to make reasonable and logical decisions when needed to when voted into parliament? Or would they also adopt the same tikam tikam mentality on national issues?

The frightening part is that these men could not see their own folly, and they are strutting around like gladiators, so proud and happy that they are the best to offer to the voters. Can they be taken seriously? The people of Punggol East, and the people of this country deserve better and more sensible men to represent them in parliament and as national leaders. If what is happening is going to turn to reality, that wild and reckless men with little brains are going to be elected to parliament, then the people really deserve to be screwed. But this need not be the case as the voters today are not as daft as the pretentious politicians to be. Just because fools and idiots joined a political party and have the money to lose, it does not mean that the people will be as foolish as them.

It is really an eye opener to see the true persons behind the hustling and the quality of their thinking. I should say the lack of quality in their thoughts. Even before the real hustling has started, it is looking so disappointing. Every one is nothing but a joke.

1/12/2013

Punggol East and the lunatic fringe





The three letters sent by SDP and its contents are out in the media. The SDP called it a win win win proposal. They believe it in. They believe that it is a brilliant proposal. I think only lunatics will believe so. It is right that the WP ignored this madness completely and not to waste time on something that bothers on pomposity and self delusion. It is simply rash thinking bordering on hallucination. I could add a few more silly comments about this proposal. It is frightening that the SDP think it is their best shot, a work of genius. With this proposal I think SDP has written itself into history. I don’t anyone will take this party seriously any more. SDP has nothing to prove anymore.

In the last GE there was a certain understanding, a common purpose, to get more opposition party candidates into parliament. And they worked at their very best to prevent a three corner fight. The opposition parties were praised for doing just that.

In the Punggol East by election, it is now about helping the PAP to get its candidate into parliament. The opposition parties are trying their level best to prevent the WP candidate from getting into parliament.

In an article written by Kor Kian Beng, a News Analyst from ST yesterday, he floated the idea that the opposition parties are wary that the WP will be getting too popular and strong for their own good. They need to bring down WP or hold it back so that they too would stand a better chance in the GE. Now they fear the WP more than the PAP.

This I think is a tongue in cheek comment. The opposition parties, other than the WP, could not even get themselves elected. What is there to fear the WP? They need to make themselves credible and elected first before thinking of undermining other opposition parties. Maybe Kor Kian Beng is right. The mentality of the opposition parties is just so shallow that they could not see anything further than the tip of their noses. So, in this by election, the target is the WP. Bring down WP at all cost.

What a hilarious bunch of clowns!

Property curbs to prevent a balloon





We all heard it last night. The Govt is introducing its seventh cooling measures to curb a runaway property market that is getting out of control. The details are in the media and I would not want to repeat them here. What was astonishing is that it took six cooling measures and nothing seemed to work. If the six measures were ideas from some third world half baked govts, I can understand. But there were carefully crafted by super talents that are being paid in the millions and they did not work, failed to work! And now the seventh measures touted as the harshest. Really? Is it going to work?

The best part is that the Govt still think that there is no bubble yet. And these measures are still timely to prevent a bubble from forming. According the Tharman, the prices are running ahead of fundamentals. This must be a great revelation.

Both Tharman and Boon Wan appeared together to meet the Press. It used to be just Boon Wan alone and he was always full of confidence, the man in charge, the problem solver. He volunteered to take over this office from Mah Bow Tan.

Last night Boon Wan was a shadow of himself, looking haggard and depressed. What did that tell? Was Boon Wan finding that he had ran out of ideas or was it that he thought nothing needed to be done as his six cooling measures were good enough. And he was depressed because the DPM had told him off, and the DPM was taking charge of the problem, to deal with the problem in a targeted and more effective way. There was no doubt that the property prices are now in high heavens and intoxicating. The prices are at very dangerous level now and a collapse is not only imminent, natural and very painful, but will hurt many people. And since Boon Wan is unable to deal with it, Tharman had to come in to show some leadership and mean business.

My feeling is that Boon Wan has let the prices gone too wild and it is beyond his control, and serious damage has been done. A lot of money has been sucked into properties and pray that there is no crash or many would have to jump off their million or multi million dollar apartments when that day comes.

Tharman is now in charge. Let’s see if he could do better, or is it too late as the ginny has bolted out of the bottle.

COE and population growth




The number of cars allowed on our roads is reaching its limits. The capacity of our trains is also reaching its limits and showing increasing signs of breaking down.  No? How much more can be built to cater to public transport infrastructure without bursting the national purse or causing the commuters an arm or a leg? Private transport is now like a highway robber demanding a hundred thousand just for a pass. And the Govt claims there is no other way. The roads are congested, there is just not enough land to build more roads. Oh, can build one more level of roads over existing roads. Sure, how much and where is the money coming from?

There is no need to engage a foreign consultant or even a professor from the universities to confirm that there is just no more elbow room to move around. And LTA is shrinking the number of COEs available by the days. It has to, a necessary and tough decision. Of course if we have not flooded the city with so many people and build up every little nooks and corners, we may not be in the current fix.

What about another 700,000 in the pipeline waiting to join us? How is this going to affect our infrastructure, housing and roads? Is it a good thing, and is it avoidable or do we have to face more stringent measures once they are here and what are the reasons, got no choice? The choice is now, to stop more people coming in. I will touch on the property bubble in another post.

1/11/2013

Terra Nullius and the South China Sea



The concept of terra nullius was quite a natural law in the days of yore and the world was sparsely inhabited. The original man just moved around and lived wherever they set foot on. They behaved like the animals, marked their territories they were able to control by might. This concept took a big change when the Western Empires set out to claim the world. Stamford Raffles founded Singapore. Columbus founded North America and so on and on. The Europeans totally ignored what terra nullius was all about. The natives were transparent. And if they put up a fight, they would be terminated. Anyone heard of what happened to the North American natives? They used to call them Red Indians. And Africa was there to grab, the natives were not recognized as the finders. And the European started to invent their laws, interpret their laws to their advantage. The land, terra nullius, was applicable as long as the natives could not define statehood in the European context. They took both north and south America, Africa, India, South East Asia and Australia and New Zealand and many islands far and wide in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Now, what is so outrageous or ambitious about China claiming a little piece of the South China Sea in the name of terra nullius when the Europeans had claimed the whole world? And finder’s keepers was the first right of mankind. The islands were found by China centuries back when the South East Asian countries were only rowing in sampans and little craft that would not float when a few kilometers out in the South China Seas. Only the fleet of China ships could sail and visit these little islands in the South China Seas and thus claiming ownerships on the ground of terra nullius. Pedra Branca too was a case of terra nullius. Imagine these little rocks were only a few kilometers out in the sea and the natives did not even know of their existence. How would they know of the existences of the rocks and little islands in the middle of the South China Seas? Not only they did not know, when China was marking these islands and landing in them, the natives in South East Asia were not even recognizable states in the European context. When did they become independent nation states? 1940s, 1950s? Hey many of us are even older than these South East Asian states.

China has to claim them and hold on to them before the Americans and now the Indians move in for the spoils. Any weakness in China and reluctance to wield the big stick will see the islands going to the next most powerful military state. So, what should China do? Allow everyone to claim a piece of its islands like the European powers claiming a part of China in the 19th Century?

Punggol East welcomes MP Koh Poh Koon



In the event of a 3-corner or 5-corner fight, the outcome needs no guessing. For an opposition party to win in a multi corner contest is like a one in a millionth chance. Though the result is as good as a foregone conclusion, the possibility of an upset is still there no matter how slim. Taking the rational and objective view, the PAP should win hands down just with its core 40% support, or even 35% at worst. It is as good as a walkover with the opposition parties thinking and believing that they were really in the race. Koh Poh Koon is as good as the new MP for Punggol East.

The interesting thing is if there is an upset. If against all odds, the WP wins, I am ruling out the rest as they are in no position to do better than the WP based on their track records, what will be the implications? For one, it will propel WP to the status as the party to win the next GE. To win in a multi corner fight against the PAP is no mean feat. It will also be a message to the other parties that they were just a bunch of jokers and may no longer be taken seriously in the GE. It will also send a loud message to the PAP that its days are numbered. I don’t believe SDP is serious to want to negotiate with WP to give way or go into a multi corner race. It will completely destroy the SDP for good, especially Chee Soon Juan. It will also send a loud signal to the professionals waiting on the sideline that the WP is the party to be with. It will also send a signal to those still wanting to join the PAP bandwagon to rethink, should they join a sinking ship.

This is going to be the kind of thinking should the WP win a multi corner contest. The whole political landscape will change in favour of the WP. It will be the dragon slayer and the party in waiting to govern the country.

What if, after all the hustling, it ends up with a straight fight and WP wins? This scenario is less dramatic as the outcome could be expected. At most it will be a small dent to the PAP’s armour and another pawn for the WP. In the bigger picture, it will show a PAP that is losing its ground and is likely to lose more ground in the next GE. As for the rest of the political parties, they will look pretty good as serious contenders that would not mess their chances when offered, not reckless but disciplined enough to make compromises and bid their turns. They will likely to gain more goodwill and a better image from the voters. They will be taken more seriously for acting responsibly.

How this game of political chess is being played is still anyone’s guess. Is it a well planned and orchestrated game being engineered by a Zhuge Liang or just an ordinary game of wild chances is still unknown. It can be either. The people will not just be watching the PAP but all the opposition parties as well, to measure them up. The opposition parties were seen as reasonable and respectable parties in the Hougang by election. Would they confirm this impression, or would they show hand to tell the voters that they are just a bunch of bankrupt jokers and cannot be depended on to run the country?

1/10/2013

Japanese rightwingers a threat.



Japanese rightwingers a threat
Updated: 2013-01-09 08:07
( China Daily)


Comment on "Japan still haunted by the idea of militarism" (China Daily, Dec 20)

I agree with everything the author, Tom Clifford, has said in his article. There is no doubt that "there are disturbing similarities" between the rise of Japanese militarism in the 1930s and recent developments. The world knows full well the disastrous consequences of Japan's militarism for China, Asia and the rest of the world, including Japan itself.

But there are three major differences between now and the 1930s, which the Japanese should reflect on.

First, China is no longer the weak, divided and virtually rudderless country it was in the 1930s. China today is a united and confident country that has overtaken Japan to become the second largest economy in the world.

Second, neither is the rest of Asia a collection of backward countries controlled by Western colonial powers. Instead, it is, generally speaking, a group of economically dynamic and mostly politically stable states.

Finally, Japan is no longer a politically dynamic society. Rather it is a country with the largest aging population in Asia that has failed to educate its youth on the tragedy Japanese militarists brought down on their own country in their bid to conquer the rest of Asia through war and torture. As the old English saying goes, those who fail to understand the lessons of their own history are destined to repeat them.

Ross Grainger,


    Southernglory1    2013-01-09 21:48
     Chinese people not only in China but also in other parts of Asia especially in South East Asia had suffered enough of Japanese atrocities in the past. The Chinese people must not allow the Japanese militants to rise up again. The bankrupt Americans are playing with fire in a dangerous manner in supporting the right wing Japanese militarists to confront China as its proxy. China should be highly and fully prepared for an all out total war against the Japs and the sinful and desperate American warmongers. China must be prepared to destroy all the Japanese and American cities and military stations wherever they may be with atomic and hydrogen bombs. It is time to let the Japs and the Americans know that we Chinese have suffered enough from their aggressions and we will retaliate against them without mercy. If they want to destroy the world, let it be.

The Evil Empire, USA rearming Japan as its proxy against China



Japanese rightwingers a threat
Updated: 2013-01-09 08:07
( China Daily)


Comment on "Japan still haunted by the idea of militarism" (China Daily, Dec 20)

I agree with everything the author, Tom Clifford, has said in his article. There is no doubt that "there are disturbing similarities" between the rise of Japanese militarism in the 1930s and recent developments. The world knows full well the disastrous consequences of Japan's militarism for China, Asia and the rest of the world, including Japan itself.

But there are three major differences between now and the 1930s, which the Japanese should reflect on.

First, China is no longer the weak, divided and virtually rudderless country it was in the 1930s. China today is a united and confident country that has overtaken Japan to become the second largest economy in the world.

Second, neither is the rest of Asia a collection of backward countries controlled by Western colonial powers. Instead, it is, generally speaking, a group of economically dynamic and mostly politically stable states.

Finally, Japan is no longer a politically dynamic society. Rather it is a country with the largest aging population in Asia that has failed to educate its youth on the tragedy Japanese militarists brought down on their own country in their bid to conquer the rest of Asia through war and torture. As the old English saying goes, those who fail to understand the lessons of their own history are destined to repeat them.

Ross Grainger,


    Southernglory1    2013-01-09 21:48
     Chinese people not only in China but also in other parts of Asia especially in South East Asia had suffered enough of Japanese atrocities in the past. The Chinese people must not allow the Japanese militants to rise up again. The bankrupt Americans are playing with fire in a dangerous manner in supporting the right wing Japanese militarists to confront China as its proxy. China should be highly and fully prepared for an all out total war against the Japs and the sinful and desperate American warmongers. China must be prepared to destroy all the Japanese and American cities and military stations wherever they may be with atomic and hydrogen bombs. It is time to let the Japs and the Americans know that we Chinese have suffered enough from their aggressions and we will retaliate against them without mercy. If they want to destroy the world, let it be.

SGX to report daily short-selling volumes



Move will alert investors and help pricing efficiency as bourse gets more transparent
By Kenneth Lim

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will report daily short sales volumes for every counter beginning in March as it aggressively pursues leadership status in the field of risk management and transparency, the bourse announced yesterday.

In short-selling, traders borrow shares and sell them in the hope of buying them back cheaper in the future, thus profiting from a drop in the share price. With the rule, traders will have to tag as a short sale any trade in which the seller does not own the shares. SGX said it will publish daily reports on the total value and volume of short sales for each counter…quoted from the BT Premium online.

Personally I feel that allowing shorting to distort the market or value of stocks is unhealthy, undesirable and can be abused by the big boys to cheat the small traders. There must be a limit to how much stocks can be shorted to avoid market manipulation. Let there be genuine buyers and sellers and not naked shortists. It is just not right or good for the market when big boys have all the muscles to shake a market up or down.

Disclosing short selling positions is good. But this information is completely useless if the shortists could cover up their short positions by script borrowing. Scrip borrowing is a silly thing and must not be allowed except for trading errors, or if desirable, only a small limited number of short positions be allowed. Allowing shorting is already bad, naked short even badder, but nothing beats scrip lending to the shortists to destroy the value of good stocks and even the whole market with their unruly action.

If shorting is allowed, then let it be, let it be reported, and let the shortists cover their positions from the open market. Remove the scrip lending facilities. This facility should be used only for trading errors.

Punggol East by election has to be one on one



This is a truism that everyone knows. Anything other than this is a waste of time for the opposition parties. Are the opposition parties really going to go for a 5 corner fight or 3 corner fight?

I believe they are sensible people and will not let selfish interest, pride or ego get in the way and make a fool out of every one of them. And the joke will be on them if they do so. The other theory is that the moles will appear to do the most damage possible as this by election is going to be another big step for the opposition should they take another seat from the PAP.

How would it end up on nomination day? All the posturing and chest thumping could be just that and sanity would rule and a proper and real contest will be set up on polling day. That is what everyone wish to see, everyone who wants to see a good fight.

We will have to wait and see.

AIM – It is all WP’s fault



I have read several comments in TRE concerning the AIM issue and it seems that the fault lies with the WP. It is all because the WP was given a red card and it is not turning the table around. Some even accused the WP for taking so long to bring up this problem. The WP should have known when they took over the TC that something is not right. Why take more than a year to bring the matter up? Why wait until given red card that want to fight back? WP must be sleeping! I quote a comment by a ‘bravo’ in TRE for saying this. ‘If it is a matter of urgent public importance, why didn’t WP revealed it 19 months ago?’ See, this must not be important or WP would have raised it so long ago.

And worst, WP knowing that it is wrong, also thinking of outsourcing or developing their own management system. And dunno what kind of open system WP will use. Would it be as top notch and proper as the TC system? When WP does call a tender, many doubts will be raised.

And now WP even wants to raise the issue in Parliament. How can? Many people are claimed to be unhappy that WP is raising this issue in Parliament. There is really no issue here. At worst it may be an error of judgement. People do make mistakes. And this is a small mistake. And the whole arrangement was for the good of the people. The TCs saved a lot of money. And there is no profit going into anyone’s pocket. Everything was done legally to benefit the people.

WP must be prepared to be laughed at when the issue is being discussed in Parliament. They will be bombarbed by the most articulate MPs and ministers for bringing the issue up to Parliament when the PM has already called for an investigation. WP could also be faulted for not developing an alternative system fast enough. They will likely be jeered at, sneered at and stared at. WP sure kenna jia lat, jia lat.

This session in Parliament sure fully attended by everyone and will be shown live on TV. No censorship, no cuts, in full. It will be a Special Report that will draw the most viewers, even better than soap dramas from Taiwan and Korea.

WP, it is all your fault, right? What do you think?

1/09/2013

Hypocrisy and War Crimes: The Western Imperium.


Video

Hypocrisy and War Crimes: The Western Imperium

The U.S. has a long history of unleashing chemical and biological warfare against civilians both abroad and at home, primarily as an experiment but also to get rid of outdated stockpiles while inventing a villain to crucify. Canadian author Robert Rodvik rips into Barack Obama for hypocritically warning Syria against its alleged use of chemical weapons and lambastes his own country which, from a potential U.S. target, turned into a U.S. accomplice in the chemical warfare waged against the Vietnamese people.