Wake up Chinese – Serdarlah Cina

Apa lagi Cina mau was the headline of Utusan Malaysia after the GE. The shrinking support of UMNO/BN had led to angry cries by the ultras blaming the Chinese for not supporting BN. This attack on Chinese voters was refuted as not a Chinese tsunami but an urban shift of Malay and non Malay voters to PR. There was a lull as if the ultras have simmered down and things going back to normal.

Yesterday Utusan Malaysian again attacked the Chinese with another headline Serdarlah Cina and sanctioned by the collective voice of its editorial under Awang Selamat. The paper’s continued attack on the Chinese calling them greedy, ungrateful amounting to racist started last week. This is an indication that the moderates of UMNO and Najib are losing ground and the ultras are now calling the shot and setting the agenda, a dangerous trend for Malaysian politics. And Mahathir apparently is in charge.

Last week Mahathir wrote in his blog that the Chinese are racists for not voting for the UMNO, MCA, MIC Kongsi, the BN. Only by voting for this BN Kongsi would the Chinese be seen as not racists. He does not question whether the policies of this Kongsi is racist or non racist.

The Malaysian Chinese actually voted for another Kongsi with two Malay majority parties, the Keadilan and PAS. Why are they called racists by voting for a Kongsi that is 2/3 Malay majority? Shouldn’t they be accused of voting for a more Malay party? In this sense they are racists by voting for more Malay leaders.

In terms of policies, the PKR is in many ways more multi racial than UMNO with its Malay Ketuanan policies. So who is the real racist? This looks like a case of the racists accusing the innocents of being racists. And if Najib fails to take control of the situation, Malaysia may be heading to a road for more turmoil.

The Wake up Chinese call is quite appropriate in another way. The Chinese are political naïve and condescending, thinking that others in power will be kind and generous to them. In a way this can be seen down south when foreigners are being brought in in great numbers and thinking that foreigners are benign and will be fair when the original Singaporeans become a minority. This naivity will have serious consequences when foreigners become a majority and assume power in the future, just like what is happening to Malaysia. Serdarlah Cina!

Fundraising through indiegogo.com

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/paintings-of-gods/

I have initiated a fund raising project at indiegogo crowd funding site above. You are most welcomed to contribute to my project to promote this new mixed media art form of mine. You can do so by being a contributor, ie buying a painting through indiegogo or help to inform your friends about this fund raising project.

This project is not just about raising fund but to share the paintings of gods or Mother Nature to as many people as possible.

Many thanks.

Singapore: Towards deNationalisation

Singapore is a unique country that is not a country, a nation that is not a nation. While many countries have developed themselves into distinct nations with distinct people and culture, Singapore is in a reverse process. We seem to have abandoned the path most travelled by young and old nations, to build a country into a nation of people, proud of what they are, their distinct and unique culture.

Singapore is in a process of deNationalisation. We have gone through a 40 year process of nation building when the people were talked and educated about nationhood, about being Singaporean, about defending the country, about us as a new people of a new nation. We were progressing quite well and could be a nation today, when the citizens are proud of what and who we are, that we are a successful and rich nation with our own people, our distinct culture and way of life.

Did we fail in this process and a new philosopher has taken the people along a new ideology of no nation, no nationals, but just an economic organisation where anyone with some merits or ability is welcomed to reside in the island? Our citizenship is given away freely, our national identity prostituted and bastardised by new residents and ever changing and evolving. Our national identity is in a constant state of flux, and we do not know where we are going or what we will become, maybe a vague idea of being international citizens, or citizens of the world, but no country?

Our national mantra, or just mantra without the adjective of national, is survival of the fittest regardless of creed, colour or country of origin. We sell our citizenship, we sell our little piece of land, we sell our strategic assets, we sell our jobs and people to foreigners with no qualms of what the consequences will be when everything is sold. The next thing we will be selling our parents and children and wives, if they make economic cents. Nationalism and citizens of a nation have lost their meanings.

Singapore is pioneering a new paradigm of deNationalisation, without borders, without citizens, everyone a resident for only one reason, economic well being. No sentiments, no emotions, no roots, everyone be proud of being a migrant and be prepared to be migrants again in someone’s country when everything is sold and gone, including their rights as citizens. Citizens that cannot contribute better than foreigners are best discarded in favour of the latter. There is no need for frivolous ideas of nationalism, patriotism, loyalty or defending the country, for there is no country or nation to defend and be loyal to. Such ideas are just silly aspirations of medieval people. Clinging on them is meaningless and has little economic values.

This deNationalisation process has been gaining momentum in recent years without much fanfare or any official pronouncement of its existence. Perhaps it is just an unconscious outcome of years of pragmatism that is stretched to become another animal of different stripes and colours. Was there an originator of this trend, or it just happens, just like the population explosion over the last 10 years and the ballooning of property prices due a grave shortage in supply and an overflow of demand? No one knows a shit how it happened or had an inkling that it is happening.

Why is there a need to call ourselves Singaporeans? ‘Sinkies’ is any time more appropriate in all aspects. The bottom line of such a philosophy is all about self and self interest above all interests. And the idea of country or nation is simply superfluous, a meaningless attachment. The next thing to be sold away will be the soldiers and all the weapons and equipment of wars when there is nothing left to defend for. DeNationalisation will eventually lead to no nation, just a corporation run and own by a few elites.

More pictures from Hong Lim

Me and a couple of friends.

FreeMyInternet Protest at Hong Lim

The protest organised by TOC got on to a slow start. At 4pm when I arrived, there were about 200 to 300 people around. This was what many had expected for this event. As the clock ticked away, more and more people streamed in and to my pleasant surprise, there were around 2,000 people at the Park. And we had a bright sunny day as contrast to the earlier two protests that were wet and all umbrellas.

Amazing, and more amazing, many were of the younger set, and several of the speakers too were from the younger generation. This is most encouraging, seeing the young people showing more interests in how this country should move forward.  Below are some photos taken at Hong Lim that will give a better description of what happened there this afternoon.

PS. I left a bit early as my legs were weakening after two hours of standing and walking around. And I missed a few speakers at the end, including the one from Leong Sze Hian. Just listen to the youtube. Quite interesting.

Andrew Loh of PublicHouse, the MC for the event.

Ravi Philemon, one of the speakers

Richard Wan of TRE

Roy Ngerng from the HeartTruth

Choo Zheng Xi from TOC, a promising young lawyer

I missed out his name. Was it Rafi? He spoke in Malay and English.

Dow up 207 points

Dow was up 207 points while most European bourses rallied. And the whole of last week all the bourses, including Asian bourses were sold down to recent lows amidst fear of an economic Armageddon. Fed is cutting down on buying bonds and a financial crisis is over the horizon, all the funds are selling and getting out of equities.

In Singapore, all the gains in the last 6 months were wiped out in less than two weeks. What the hell is going on? Everything is like doomsday! Fear is everywhere.

And Dow rallied, Europe rallied yesterday as if everything is fine, the sun is shining again. The fundamentals were wrong for a week and right overnight with nothing changes. Asian bourses would follow and rally on Monday.

Who do you think is benefiting from the swing? Who is wiser or smarter?

A govt that does not need to listen to the people

There is another protest gearing up this evening at the Hong Lim Park at 4pm. This time the issue is about freedom of expression that is seen as being threatened by the new regulations on social media sites. Though the Govt in the name of two ministers have spoken to assure the netizens that there is nothing to it, that the Govt has no intent to gag the internet community, no one believes it to be so except for a few you know who. The fact that the new regulation is so loosely drafted to cover everything under the sky, the fear is there that it can always be used to clamp down on bloggers at the most critical time when needed.

So the bloggers and the internet community are up in arms, calling for a protest in Hong Lim, the safest little corner in Singapore where one can think he is safe from harassment and can speak freely, even against the Govt. Many speakers have been lined up to express their misgivings. So what? What will be the likely outcome?

From the experience of the two recent protests against the unpopular and unacceptable Population White Paper, the ending will be just the same. You can have 5,000, 10,000 or 20,000 people turning up, nothing will come out of it. You can have another 10 protests, nothing will change. When the Govt has made up its mind on what it wants to do, that is final. The fate of a 6.9m population is closed. And the fate of this new regulation is just as good as closed.

A minister, Swee Say, even proudly commented that when the Govt decided that something is right it will just do it, and they will even acted like deaf frogs. They will ignore the noises, especially from the lunatic fringe, and do what is right. And the Govt is absolutely confident that the noise will subside after a few dins. And the Govt knows for sure that it will be re elected in the next GE come what may. This is the precedent being set, the way the electorate will behave and it will not change.

This is a Govt that knows the people very well. There are many grievances and unhappiness among the people caused by Govt policies. But comes election time, it will all be the same over and over again. This Govt knows that it does not need to listen to the people and knows what is best for the people and the results will show.

The day when this Govt listens to the people will be the day it loses power. That would be the day when it no longer has all the right solutions from all the super talents in the ranks and has to accept the insane suggestions and views of the daft Singaporeans. For the time being, the Singaporeans can go protest and protest, for a little fun and letting off a little steam on the generosity of the Govt.

The awakening of a sophisticated electorate

As everyday passes by, the age of the ignorance and the illiterate, our parents and grand parents, is fading away. The literacy rate of Singaporeans is among the highest in the world and the presumption that they are still as dumb as their parents and grand parents is not going to hold anymore. The two by elections and the Presidential Election must be open the eyes of many that things are not the same as before. Thinking and treating the Singaporeans as daft will have a very high price to pay.

The AIM case must have a logical and honest closure that is seen as proper and correct. There is no running away from it by sweeping it under the carpet or by some unacceptable reasoning. No, the people will not buy it. It is best to come clean and give the people a proper answer that the people are expecting.

And the licensing of the social media is coming in swiftly in a manner that is amazingly naïve, thinking that it can still be done, presuming the people to be daft and dumb. No, the people will not accept it anymore and will take it badly.

More daft and dumb policies assuming that the electorate is daft and dumb will have very serious consequences. It only explains and confirms who is really daft and dumb, refusing to understand and accept the new reality of an intelligent and politically sensitive and discerning people. The people have upgraded their intellect and the govt must upgrade its intellect as well. What we are seeing is a mismatch, a growing divide between the growing intellect of the citizens and the declining intellect of the govt.

Believe me, this is the truth. Failing to notice this, refusing to acknowledge this new development and living in the past is not going to be a viable political option. It is a losing position to adopt. Time to face the unpleasant truth. Time to take stock of the unavoidable truth. 

The perversion of Nationhood

A state cannot exist without citizens. A state is created by the citizen as a protective umbrella for the common good of a collective citizenry. A state and its citizenry co exist in a symbiotic relationship. One cannot exist without the other. A people without a state become stateless. A country without a citizenry is waiting to be taken over, or a loose or disorganized state will soon be taken over.

The role of a govt is an intermediary between the citizens and the state. A govt in a democratic state is voted by the people as a caretaker of the state and to promote the interests of the citizens. Promoting the interests of residents or non citizens is incidental and can only be pursued by the good grace of the citizens, on the generosity of the citizens. A govt that usurped the power given to it by the people to take care of non citizens and neglect the interests and rights of the citizens has no reason to exist or be supported by the citizens.

Permanent Residents are not citizens and owe no loyalty or responsibility to the state but to themselves. They are fair weather residents and will move to greener pasture when things are not favourable to them. They have no right to vote and be represented in Parliament. They cannot enjoy the same privileges as citizens. Period.

Non residents or transient workers have even lesser rights than PRs. It is pure stupidity to allow non residents and PRs to have the same opportunities in all things, especially in employment opportunities. There could be exceptions for those who are here to contribute extraordinarily to the country and people. Such people, like the tycoons, may even get special privileges in some areas to make their stay worthwhile but not to compromise the well beings of the citizens. One glaring problem is the buying up of properties and high property prices.

Top talents in their respective fields, not joker talents dressed up as talents, can also be welcomed and bestowed with certain privileges. This group is unlikely to be more than 1 or 2% of the foreigners here. The rest are here to benefit themselves more than the state and better enjoy their time here and the hospitality of the state and people, and not to exploit the people.

Discrimination by foreigners against the citizens must be made a crime. It has no place in the country. The govt of the people, by the people must be for the people, must be there to protect the people in its own territory. Neglecting this principle cannot be tolerated. When a govt sees it its responsibility to care more for the foreigners than its citizens, it is a dereliction of duty to the citizens, a perversion of nationhood.

Tan Chuan Jin the new poster boy of PAP

It used to be Khaw Boon Wan the devout Buddhist, the one that was full of compassion and very in touch with the ordinary people. Many could identify with him as a good minister. Boon Wan was THE man to front the party on any difficult issues. People used to listen to him in his cool, slow and measured demeanour. This is all history.

PAP now needs another poster boy to carry the flag. Among the new ministers, Chan Chun Sing is obviously out. Then there are Lawrence Wong and Heng Swee Kiat left. Baey Yam Keng was noted to be the auntie killer, but could be too junior to front the party. Between Heng Swee Kiat and Lawrence Wong, the party must have found Chuan Jin has a better face. So Chuan Jin is to be, the new PAP poster boy to get the party out of difficult position.

Now this should solve the mystery of why an unpopular new media regulation needs to be explained not by anyone from MDA or the Minister of Infocomm but an acting Minister from the MOM. What relationship has the MOM got to do with this media regulation to have its minister trying to explain away the unhappiness of the netizens? Anyone got any clue? I don’t.

So it must be an issue of putting the best face forward, the best front man. If Chuan Jin can carry this through, his future is going to be bright. But with a very unforgiving and cynical internet community and a very unpopular regulation that is seen more as not only unnecessary but obstructive, a good looker is not going to look much good in such a situation. Hope Chuan Jin does not get a broken nose or jaw in the process, and keep his poster boy image clean. He could be considered as having done well if he got away with a few scratches.

After Chuan Jin, can’t see anyone else good or pretty enough, or likeable enough to be the party’s mascot, except Singa.

Social Media Blackout – What you no longer read

Yesterday was the first time social media stopped writing about Singapore news. What the people could read was only news from the main media. Does it make any difference if there is no social media around and the people continue to read only news from the main media? Not really, life will go on as normal.

So, what is the point of a social media blackout or the total obliteration of social media? The main media will continue its responsible and professional role of feeding the people with the right thing to read and all the feel good news. The negative side of the news, the other version of the news, the other truth, will not be seen or heard. The people will be safe from reading the wrong news or not right news. No one will miss anything.

Would things be just as fine? It all depends on whether the main media is doing an adequate job in reporting all the right news. It all depends on whether the people are satisfied with reading all the right news. It all depends on whether the people, having been exposed to the other side of the news think the main media is doing enough and giving them a balanced news.

More than a hundred social media blogs and sites went black yesterday. Many of the bloggers saw the need for a protest to prevent the clamping down of information flow and news about Singapore from being black out in the social media in the future. What happened yesterday was a little blackout, a temporary blackout. The new regulation with its all encompassing rules could lead to a total blackout, a permanent blackout if not stopped in its path.

Remember the incremental changes to the CPF rulings, the incremental changes to the housing policies, the incremental changes to the import of foreigners to the country. The new social media regulation has set out with a very wide net. The implementation of bringing 10 websites under the regulation is only a very small step forward. The assurance by the ministers may seem comforting to some and brought about a false sense to relief that this is all about the new regulation. But with the provisions, incremental steps could be taken along the way and one by one could come under the net. Soon, when one becomes too complacent, the net could rope in every blog and social media site before you know it.

Don’t be complacent and drop your guards. Don’t ever think this is it and everything is ok or will be ok. Be afraid.

PS: The internet gives everyone a voice, a say in what he/she wants to say. Without social media, the people's mouth is shut for good.

FREEMYINTERNET

BLACK OUT DAY BLACK OUT DAY
BLACK OUT DAY BLACK OUT DAY
BLACK OUT DAY BLACK OUT DAY

MDA’s clarification on new regulation

After Yaacob and Chuan Jin’s clarifications the MDA’s position on the new regulation has been sieved and some concerns are slightly clearer though not conclusive. Both have stated that the regulation is meant more specifically for news sites or sites that report regularly on Singapore news. Blogs are not the concerns of the new regime and bloggers are encouraged to keep on doing what they have been doing, writing commentaries about Singapore affairs.

Both are taking a kinder and conciliatory approach towards bloggers and were in a way telling the bloggers to keep commenting on local affairs and express their opinions. The Govt’s position, presumably they are expressing the real Govt’s position, is that bloggers or citizens have the right to discuss and comment on local affairs.

This is actually a new situation as it takes a more positive turn from the past when anyone commenting on local affairs was frown upon and may be visited by Sue. There was this over aching fear that something untowards could happen any time. The invisible hand of the dark side is always around the corner waiting to lash out at the most unsuspecting moment.

The lighter touch and the more accommodating posture of the Govt is noted and welcomed. Let’s hope this will stay and citizens are encouraged to participate in the affairs of the country and not seen as enemies of the Govt when they hold contrarian views or are critical of Govt policies. This departure is a little progress towards a more liberal and inclusive society.

Another point that was acknowledged by Yaacob and Chuan Jin is that the internet is not easy to regulate and a lot of works need to be done if the Govt ever intends to take on the big international news providers. So who is the Govt going after other than Yahoo Singapore? TRE and TOC have been cleared as not the target news sites, and they are not news sites at least for the time being. Both have exceeded the two criteria of reporting on Singapore news and the 50,000 IPs by more than a mile. Having confirmed the fate of two of the biggest local aggregators, these two sites would now be the barometer for other bloggers to gauge themselves if they have crossed the line vis a vis the new regime.

Some of the doubts and worries of the bloggers and internet community have been explained and the fear allayed. But more assurance is needed from the MOM to include provisions in the new regulation to exclude the bloggers if they are to sleep in peace. Would there be amendments directly on this regulation or would MOM wait till the major review of the Broadcasting Act next year as mentioned by Chuan Jin? Before the ink is dry, before anyone breathes a sigh of relief, anything can still happen. This new regulation is encompassing as cyberspace.

Abe and a militant Japan

The road that Abe and his rightist ministers is taking is leading to an intractable position and war with China over the Diaoyu Islands is inevitable. The logic and slant taken by Abe's group is that of Imperial Japan when might is right.

The accusation that only in 1971 that China made a claim on Diaoyu was proof that China did not own the island is a white lie. China was weak, had too many issues to deal with domestically, that should it try to make any claims before, it could lead probably to another military defeat by Japan or a lot of embarrassment as it could not do anything about its claims with a military more powerful Japan and a hostile US.

The Diaoyu was taken by force, as war loot signed away by the 1895 Unequal Treaty. And Abe is claiming that this was legitimate. In a way, yes it is treaty, an agreement. In order for China to take back Diaoyu, if Japan refuses to return it peacefully, will be to take it back by force with another treaty with Japan to over ride this treaty. Is that what Japan wants?

China is no longer a pushover though Japan may think it could repeat its aggressive invasion of China once again. Let's see if Japan is up to it and if China can turn the table around and invade Japan to return the favour.

Many on the side of Japan are refusing to see the historical records of Diaoyu and claimed that Japan has some grounds to claim it. The only legitimate ground is the Treaty of Shimonseki which if Japan is insisting on it, will be to abolish this treaty by the same means, war.

Abe and his hawkish ministers are taking Japan back to militarism. The pretension that it is difficult to change the pacifist constitution is simply bullshit. Many Japanese are waiting to relive their glorious Imperial Japan days. Put it to the Diet and a 2/3 majority to change the constitution is just a formality. The Japanese psychic of domination and superiority and militarism has never changed. It is reviving with greater gusto and arrogance.

The lie that Japan did not have a military force but a Self Defence Force is only unnoticeable to the blind. Japan is already a big military force and can engage in wars of aggression. Its 5 trillion yen annual budget for defence is no small feat.

And what is wrong with China expanding its military expenditure and the deceit of claiming that China has expanded it by 30 folds? China's military expenditure came from a very small base. China should be spending similar amount in defence as the US for a country of that size and for its own defence from its bad experience of being invaded when it was militarily weak.

The right of self defence is the right of every nation. China's defence expenditure is defensive in nature as against the US that is for world domination and hegemony.

Abe will lead Japan to a war with China if he is allowed to continue in this path.

MDA – Loosening the G string

I sat through the live telecast of Talking Point on the issue of new licensing of online news sites. The most unbelieveable thing to happen in the programme is that the MDA personnel was not there, not Yaacob or Koh Lin Net but the Minister of MOM, Tan Chuan Jin. Isn’t this odd? Don’t tell me the new regulation was initiated and approved by Chuan Jin and he has to kuai kuai come out to explain his stand? Quite possible isn’t it? If I were Yaacob or Lin Net, even if my name is named after internet, I would not want to explain anything so unpopular if I have nothing to do with it. Your guess why Chuan Jin has to front this show.

What came through very clearly was that the regulation was rushed out without much thought, with many blanks left unanswered. Now they are going to relook at the details and to fill in the blanks. The main purpose is to target sites that are reporting on Singapore news and not so much about the right news. But right news still came out for some discussion and by the end of the show, no one really knows what is the right news or what is the right news all about.

The other point that came out clearly is that bloggers or individual websites will not be targeted. Then why was this not spelt out in the first place? Or is this an after thought, that bloggers were originally in the scheme of things? Imagine how much venom would have been taken out from the bloggers if from the first move the MOM clearly said bloggers will not be affected by the new regulation. It is still not too late to make an amendment to make it official that bloggers will not come under this regulation. Will the MOM just do that?

The truth is that MOM was not sure how things would develop and they wanted the provision that when blogs take on the characteristics of news site, reporting on Singapore news, then they will come under the regulation. Then I must say many bloggers will eventually come under the regulation despite the denial. Don’t trust me, let me explain. What if I keep reporting on the number of crocodiles in Sungei Buloh Wetland? Is that not reporting on Singapore news? What if I keep reporting about MRT jams or breakdowns as I take the train daily? Is that not reporting on Singapore news? There is no where to run when the definition of news is everything under the Singapore sky. Would MDA want to make this ‘Singapore News’ more specific?

Bertha Henson kept asking the minister what was the real intent of the regulation. And some callers asked a very simple question, ‘Is there anything that is not covered by existing regulations that made the rushing out of this new regulation that necessary and urgent?’ Anything criminal, defamatory or inciting violence on racial and religious issues are fully covered by existing laws. Then why ah? Why in such a hurry to rush out this regulation without making sure that the G string is properly tied and in the right place. Now the G string is found to be too tight and a lot of loosening and readjusting will need to be done, exposing many embarrassing holes and parts that should not be exposed.

What is the real intent of pulling this G string?

Let’s continue to deceive the stupid Singaporeans

‘Banks lead push for local talent pool.’ This is the title of an article in the ST on how ‘serious’ the banks are in pushing for the development of a local pool of banking and finance talents. The point that they are still using the term local instead of Singaporean is a give away warning sign. And when you read the statistics, the Singaporeans and PRs are all lumped together as local talents. Fuck it, PRs are not Singaporeans, and even new citizens are Singaporeans only for a few months or a few years.

Let’s be serious and say the RIGHT thing about Singaporeans and not PRs as locals. Among the local banks that are serious in employing Singaporeans are UOB and OCBC. Period.

Citibank and Stanchart are well known for hiring more foreigners than the other banks. And they claimed to employ 80% and 90% locals respectively. Would they give a breakdown on the number of Singaporeans among the locals, and the percentage of Singaporeans in top management? I am not sure of the Number One local bank, DBS, as no numbers were given. DBS must set a good example as the employer of Singaporeans and not locals which means primarily PRs. I hope DBS will show some nice numbers about how many Singaporeans are in top management. 12 out of 19 in management committee are locals or 63%? How many are Singaporeans?

The more the banks refuse to tell the proportion of Singaporeans and kept hiding behind locals, the more wary Singaporeans should be. Singapore must be for Singaporeans first. It must be that way. Fair employment practice must still emphasise Singaporeans first as being fair. No silly govt in the world would adopt fair employment opportunities for citizens and non citizens. It cannot be fair employment opportunities when citizens are concerned, in our own country.

Ramp-up in supply of new flats not sustainable: Khaw

What? Ramp up supply of new flats not sustainable? What about not building enough, sustainable? What about ramping up the population to 6.9m, sustainable? What about having more foreigners here?

What about rising property prices? Sustainable? What about ever higher salaries for the elite, sustainable? What about car prices and COEs, sustainable? Higher minimum sums in CPF sustainable? Higher hospital fees sustainable?

What is sustainable?

Dr Ker Sin Tze - Hongkong as role model for population growth

Dr Ker, an ex PAP MP and Consul General to Hongkong wrote an article published in the ST yesterday. The gist of his argument is that what Hongkong can do we can too. And the principles can be summarised by this statement, “As the economy of a territory or nation grows and expands, more manpower is needed. Successive inflows of immigrants contribute to the growth of the economy.”

Dr Ker conveniently lumped a country’s economy and its polity together as an inseparable entity. A country is not just the economy with only economic interest and no other interests. The political interest and consideration of a country, of its people, is far more important than just the economy and economics.

Dr Ker can be right in describing a commercial organisation, a business concern. When an enterprise grows and expands, it needs more manpower and other factors of production to grow even bigger. A country is not just an enterprise but also a home. When the owner of a home gets richer, he does not fill up his home with more outsiders/guests to occupy every room and share all his wealth. A country is like a home to its citizens. The guests may be needed to work on the economy but never become part of the owners of the home. The home must never be taken over by the guests.

What Dr Ker has said reflects on his economic mindset. He is only thinking economics. And this is a dangerous premise to start with and that is where the PAP has fumbled and getting itself into bigger problem, losing its bearing and purpose, losing the confidence of the people and losing the country to foreigners. The party thinks that it is running a corporation and as such citizens, PRs, foreigners and what not, do not matter as long as they contribute to the economic pie. How dreadfully wrong can the party be? How blind can the party be that it cannot even understand that it is walking down a slippery road of building an economic enterprise but losing the core interest of its people and the country in the process?

Singaporeans will be turned into a stateless people, with no country to talk about, if this grave mistake is not dealt with immediately. Growing the economic pie is important, economic growth and well being are equally important. But blindly pursuing economic growth and losing the country is a great tragedy that only fools, economists and corporate honchos will do without a single care if there is a country and a citizen to care for. Where are the politicians, the political leaders of a nation?

And they are all so blind to this simple political consideration, the primacy of the state and its people? Unbelieveable!

When are they going to stop selling this snake oil of bigger population?

Shangrila Dialogue - China must take the initiative from the USA

For the past decades, the US has been setting the agenda and taking the initiative to attack China under the vague concept of human rights and hegemony. They have, in every opportunity, launched attacks against China on these two issues and forced China to be on the defensive. The irony is that the US is the greatest violator of human rights and hegemony. The rights of many innocent civilians are violated, maimed or killed by the Americans are mounting daily through so many wars started involving the Americans. And the Americans, as the Empire, the biggest hegemonic power of the day is accusing the Chinese of hegemonic ambition.

It is time the Chinese seize the initiative from the Americans and put the Americans on the defensive. China should announce to the world that it is against hegemony, against interference in another country’s domestic affairs, against war, against violation of human rights and killing of innocent civilians, and against deployment of military bases outside one’s territory. China should then take on the Americans every time the Americans violated these principles.

China should rally world opinions against the Americans. There are many countries that are victims of the American hegemony and will be most willing supporters of such principles. Put the Americans on the defensive instead of being defensive and submissive. China should act and behave like a responsible big power and hold the Americans to such principles and challenge the Americans on such principles. China cannot be on the defensive for all the wrong reasons when the Empire is violated every principle it claims to hold and claiming China is the violator.

The ball game must be balanced on the grounds of principles and actions. China must start to take the offensive against American rhetoric and game of misinformation. The next Shangrila Dialogue China must set the agenda.

Free My Internet Protest 8 Jun 4 pm

A group of bloggers is organising a protest against the new regulations on social media licensing and control. The event will be held this Sat 8 Jun at 4 pm at Hong Lim Park.

This protest is about defending the rights of citizens to freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution and any legislation that is against freedom of speech is against the Constitution. Singaporeans are encouraged to support this protest for their own good, to be allowed to speak freely, read freely and listen freely, not only of the RIGHT thing but all things.

Singaporeans are smart enough to know what is the RIGHT thing, wrong thing and the neither right nor wrong thing, and do not need any demi gods or immortals to tell them so.

There is an internet Blackout Day on 6 June and all bloggers supporting the protest can blackout their blogs in their own suitable manner.

There is also a petition and all supporters can visit and sign at http://www.petitions24.com/petition_for_the_immediate_withdrawal_of_the_licensing_regime