The woman that climbed over the barrier to pluck at the décor for the
Kinetic Rain installation at Changi Terminal One was arrested and sent
for psychiatric observation. The puzzling and unsettling part of this
bizarre episode was that the woman could fall through the netting and kill herself, and that it went on for quite a while. It must have
taken a few minutes for her to climb over, gingerly walking to the pick
the décor, a bundle of them and one at a time, and gingerly walking back
and climbed back to safety.
Where were the guards? Where were the securities?
I remembered an experience in the underground passage of the train
subway in Seoul many years back. As a tourist and full of curiosity, and
a camera at my hip, I innocently took it out and shot a couple of
pictures. We didn’t have our subway then. Before I could fire a third
shot I was surrounded by civilian police and escorted to the side. They
appeared so fast that I didn’t notice where they came from. Such
efficiency and alertness in security!
Fortunately my pink passport won the day. They politely told me no
pictures were allowed in the subway. I smiled and apologized. They took
the roll of film with them and everything was back to normal. They went
their way I went mine.
With the constant threat of terrorist attack, it was strange and
uncomfortable to know that the woman could do so many things without
being stopped from the moment she attempted to climb over the barrier.
Were there any security personnel around watching? Not very assuring,
not very good to see this kind of things happening.
11/04/2013
Yong Tau Hoo stall wants to hire FT
The Yong Tau Hoo stall in Queenstown called up a recruitment agency to
help them find a foreign talent. What do you want a foreign talent for?
Competition lah, I need to compete against the Yong Tau Hoo stall in
East Coast. I need the talent of a foreign talent to give me clever
ideas to compete lah. But you can get a Sinkie as your market is local
and your customers are locals. No, no, cannot. Sinkie no talent. And
they got reservist training, very ‘lay chay’. If I don’t hire foreign
talent, he hire foreign talent, then I lose to him. Also if I don’t hire
the foreign talent the talent can go to join him. Like that also no
good for my business.
Who makes you think so stupid, oops, I mean strategic? I read in the newspapers lah. They reported that the talents are all over the world, global talents. If I don’t hire them my competitors in East Coast, Sengkang and Toa Payoh would take them to fight me. OK, don’t talk too much, get me one FT, angmoh the best. If no angmoh, an India Indian also can. I teach them how to make Yong Tau Hoo. Then I can feel good and sleep good, with a FT in my pocket.
You know how many global talents are out there? You recruit one there are still a hundred millions floating around you know. No mind lah. I got FT can oredy. Feeling so shiok. When angmoh come eat my Yong Tau Hoo, my angmoh FT can show face, look nice and got world class image. Swee swee.
Who makes you think so stupid, oops, I mean strategic? I read in the newspapers lah. They reported that the talents are all over the world, global talents. If I don’t hire them my competitors in East Coast, Sengkang and Toa Payoh would take them to fight me. OK, don’t talk too much, get me one FT, angmoh the best. If no angmoh, an India Indian also can. I teach them how to make Yong Tau Hoo. Then I can feel good and sleep good, with a FT in my pocket.
You know how many global talents are out there? You recruit one there are still a hundred millions floating around you know. No mind lah. I got FT can oredy. Feeling so shiok. When angmoh come eat my Yong Tau Hoo, my angmoh FT can show face, look nice and got world class image. Swee swee.
Would Singapore lose its unique identity?
In an article titled, ‘Get ready for a formidable, rising China’ by Han
Fook Kwang, in the Sunday Times, he laid out a possible scenario of what
Singapore could become in the wake of a rising China. Han Fook Kwang
talked about the three phases of China’s development as an economic and
world power. The first phase is about economic expansion through trade
and development. Unless Asean and the world could produce goods that are
cheaper and value for money than the Chinese, their products will be
sought after by everyone wanting value and utility. This will be
followed by a second phase of soft power in culture through movies and
the arts.
The third phase would be the use of Mandarin for communication. This is seen as a natural development when economic and social interactions with China are so widespread and pervasive that people, including Sinkies, would just use the language as a convenient and necessary tool. Then there will be no need for Speak Mandarin Campaign. Singapore will ‘lose its unique identity and become more like another Chinese city, not much different from the many cities in the mainland.’
Han Fook Kwan hoped that it would not happen but this cannot be ruled out. His theory is based on external forces and the rise of a new economic power that has such an overpowering presence to change the world and the Singapore’s identity. I have another theory based on internal forces that could change Singapore’s identity into another form.
The govt has put in place, top priority policies, to fill the islands with foreigners in the name of lower birth rate, ageing population and economic growth, and in the process, instead of replacement, to increase the population to 6.9m. We are seeing the influx of foreigners in great numbers over the last decade or so and will gain momentum in the coming years.
The foreigners are coming, the westerners, the Chinese, the Indians and those from Asean countries. The westerners are unlikely to make any impact. The three biggest groups are likely to be the Chinese, the Indians and the Pinoys. The Pinoys have grown to several hundred thousands from a handful overnight. But with the tightening of employment passes, their numbers are going to slow down a bit. The large bulk of the Pinoy maids would not turn them into stayers and changing of our demography less of a problem.
As for the Chinese, many would return to China like the Hongkies when their home country is growing in riches and opportunities. Singapore is not really their cup of tea except for a small group that are very wealthy and have reasons to want to stay away from China. The rest will return to China when they find making money there easier than here. China will draw them back.
The next biggest group of migrants is the Indians. They see Singapore as a paradise, a land of opportunities, many times better than India. They are coming here in swarms, especially the rich and the PMETs. They brought their families to stay, buying up properties in large numbers. And there is this Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, CECA, which provides a legal framework for the mass migration of Indians into the island. Their numbers have already outnumbered the local Indians and growing rapidly. The attraction of India for the near future is not looking that much attractive than Singapore for them to return. Singapore is the idea place to live and do business.
With both govts abiding closely to the CECA terms, the influx of Indians will become a dominant factor that will change the social economic fabric and the demography of the island. When the Indians become a majority in the island, Singapore is likely to take on a more Indian outlook and English will remain the dominant language for social and business activities. Mandarin would then become of lesser importance despite the growing presence of China in the international scene.
Would the external forces of a rising China over shadow the influx of Indians into the island provided by CECA, or would the latter be so domineering that it will change the demography of the island and prevent Singapore from becoming just another Chinese city? Anyway, both scenarios would definitely change the unique identity of the island, one becoming more Chinese and the other becoming more Indian. The probability of external factors to alter the identity of a country is less likely to happen than an internal factor that is a govt initiative and supported by two govts with an official agreement to see it through.
The third phase would be the use of Mandarin for communication. This is seen as a natural development when economic and social interactions with China are so widespread and pervasive that people, including Sinkies, would just use the language as a convenient and necessary tool. Then there will be no need for Speak Mandarin Campaign. Singapore will ‘lose its unique identity and become more like another Chinese city, not much different from the many cities in the mainland.’
Han Fook Kwan hoped that it would not happen but this cannot be ruled out. His theory is based on external forces and the rise of a new economic power that has such an overpowering presence to change the world and the Singapore’s identity. I have another theory based on internal forces that could change Singapore’s identity into another form.
The govt has put in place, top priority policies, to fill the islands with foreigners in the name of lower birth rate, ageing population and economic growth, and in the process, instead of replacement, to increase the population to 6.9m. We are seeing the influx of foreigners in great numbers over the last decade or so and will gain momentum in the coming years.
The foreigners are coming, the westerners, the Chinese, the Indians and those from Asean countries. The westerners are unlikely to make any impact. The three biggest groups are likely to be the Chinese, the Indians and the Pinoys. The Pinoys have grown to several hundred thousands from a handful overnight. But with the tightening of employment passes, their numbers are going to slow down a bit. The large bulk of the Pinoy maids would not turn them into stayers and changing of our demography less of a problem.
As for the Chinese, many would return to China like the Hongkies when their home country is growing in riches and opportunities. Singapore is not really their cup of tea except for a small group that are very wealthy and have reasons to want to stay away from China. The rest will return to China when they find making money there easier than here. China will draw them back.
The next biggest group of migrants is the Indians. They see Singapore as a paradise, a land of opportunities, many times better than India. They are coming here in swarms, especially the rich and the PMETs. They brought their families to stay, buying up properties in large numbers. And there is this Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, CECA, which provides a legal framework for the mass migration of Indians into the island. Their numbers have already outnumbered the local Indians and growing rapidly. The attraction of India for the near future is not looking that much attractive than Singapore for them to return. Singapore is the idea place to live and do business.
With both govts abiding closely to the CECA terms, the influx of Indians will become a dominant factor that will change the social economic fabric and the demography of the island. When the Indians become a majority in the island, Singapore is likely to take on a more Indian outlook and English will remain the dominant language for social and business activities. Mandarin would then become of lesser importance despite the growing presence of China in the international scene.
Would the external forces of a rising China over shadow the influx of Indians into the island provided by CECA, or would the latter be so domineering that it will change the demography of the island and prevent Singapore from becoming just another Chinese city? Anyway, both scenarios would definitely change the unique identity of the island, one becoming more Chinese and the other becoming more Indian. The probability of external factors to alter the identity of a country is less likely to happen than an internal factor that is a govt initiative and supported by two govts with an official agreement to see it through.
11/03/2013
A dynamic and vibrant chicken coop
The farmer stared blindly at the expanse of his chicken coop, every chicken was fat and cheery, the male chicken too. Then it struck his mind, why are the chicken not running around and cackling? Something is missing, lazy, lack of motivation, life too good? There is no life, a lack of vibrancy. They all seemed so contented, fat and contented.
After a few sleepless nights he came out with an idea to make
his chicken coop more vibrant and his chicken behaving more like chicken. He
sent a few orders overseas and a plane load of cocks arrived, red ones, brown
ones, yellow ones, white ones and black ones. The farmer was very impressed
with the athletic built of his new cocks. Some may be a bit skinny, but with
their hungry look he knew they would perform.
He let loose his new foreign cocks among the local chickens.
Sure enough the hens went wild like crazy, being chased around by the foreign
cocks. And the local cocks were left out completely, unable to compete with the
hungrier foreign cocks and their sharper talons. The whole chicken coop was
wild with a new found vibrancy, and the cackling went on through the nights.
A few months later the noise in the chicken coop started to
lower. The hens did not run around as often and started to put on weight again.
The foreign cocks had grown a bit tired after having too much fun and too much
of a good life.
He thought of another new idea to increase the productivity
of the hens. This time the farmer brought in the big guns. No need too many,
just a few foxes to chase the hens and the cocks around. This will make them
healthier and increase their libido, and healthier eggs would be produced. The
cackling was even louder than before and with intense vibrancy and with more
shits all over the place.
After a while the noise went quieter again. The farmer could
hear it from his ivory tower at a distance. Without putting his head out of the
window, he decided to do something to get the vibrancy back again. The hens
need to be productive to lay the golden eggs.
He did not know that the foxes not only screwed the hens and
the cocks, they had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well. The lack of
sound and activities were apparent but ignored, a few laggards managed to
survive the ordeal. The farmer thought he still had a whole chicken coop with
hens, cocks and the foxes.
He wanted more actions and brought in a few wolves into his
chicken coop hoping to improve his chicken egg business. Sure, he heard the
noise and the running around of the last few chickens and their cackling that
were really dying calls for help. But the farmer was still sleeping, thinking
all was well. With the wolves after the chickens, even the foxes would not
stand a chance. They had high speed and high frequency appetite and could eat
more. The wolves finally act up all the chickens in the chicken coop.
When the farmer woke up and found the chicken coop empty, he
asked, ‘What happened?
JP Morgan hiring local talents
‘The US authorities are believed to be scrutinising the hiring practices of banking giant J P Morgan Chase in India, South Korea and Singapore following a probe into its activities in China regarding hiring children of powerful officials to win lucrative business deals.
A report in the New York Time said that the federal investigation into the
hiring practices of JPMorgan Chase appears to be expanding beyond China
into other Asian markets.
In a filing with Securities and Exchange Commission, the bank disclosed that the federal regulator and the Justice Department were now looking into "its business relationships with certain related clients in the Asia Pacific region and its engagement of consultants in the Asia Pacific region."’ Quoted from Business Today dated 2 Nov 13.’
In a filing with Securities and Exchange Commission, the bank disclosed that the federal regulator and the Justice Department were now looking into "its business relationships with certain related clients in the Asia Pacific region and its engagement of consultants in the Asia Pacific region."’ Quoted from Business Today dated 2 Nov 13.’
Why would they want to check on their Singapore
office? Singapore
is one of the most highly regulated cities in the world and such things would
not have happened here. We are not only famous for being a city that runs by
the rule of law but also on meritocracy. Everyone is appointed to where he is
based on merit. Period. This is the unquestionable truth in the city state.
What is interesting in JP Morgan’s hiring practice is to
hire local talents in the country of operation. When in India
they hired Indians, in China
they hired Chinese, in Singapore
they hired Singaporeans in top management, not in the backroom or for show. JP
Morgan is a big MNC and finds it proper and wise to hire local talents with
local knowledge to run their local businesses. This is only practical, logical,
pragmatic and showing respect to the countries and people they are doing
business with and making money from.
11/02/2013
Happy Deepavali
I was so busy socialising today that I almost forgot to wish our Indians happy Deepavali, or has it been changed to Tiwali. Anyway, I am still more comfortable with Deepavali, having grown up with this term for more than 60 years.
Cheers
Cheers
The rich knows no bound
Come
November 4 ERP gantries will have their fees raised from $5 to $6 a pass. That
is two bowls of noodles or two plates of char kway teow. To the rich, it is
cheap cheap cheap. To the not so rich, it is arrrgggh. Every pass is so painful.
But
this is necessary as these roads are now clogged, like the drains and canals
during a flash flood. You want progress, this is what you should expect and be
paying. How high will the fees go up when we have 6.9m people here?
Did
you ask for it, do you have a choice? No the choice has been made for you. You
should be grateful that such tough decisions are made for you. It must have
hurt those people deeply for having to make this decision. They must have
sleepless nights and nightmares after voting for it in Parliament.
But
they will feel good and their conscience is clear. They are doing it for the
good of the people, yes, for the good of you and me.
Please
say thank you. And thank God that it is not $10 a pass already. This is
progress. Only with progress, with a growing GDP can the motorists pay this
kind of gantry fees. Count your blessing that we can afford it and the charges
are so affordable.
Strategy versus strategy – China versus India
Two Asian powers expanding their reach and influence into Southeast Asia. On the East there is China claiming the little rocks in the South China Sea with potential for oil. Just potential, but still quite good chances of striking some black gold. From the West there is India setting its eyes on the Jewel of Southeast Asia, a thriving and very rich little city with added strategic values militarily and economically.
While
China is being challenged by
several of the Asean countries, with the USA hiding behind them, India is in Singapore, welcomed and
unchallenged. With CECA in her bag, India could literally transfer
and transport whole cities of its industries and businesses and people into the
island, legally. And with the agreement, it could even sue the City’s govt for
trying to obstruct or delay the transmigration of its people and businesses
into the City. There is no competition and no USA hiding behind to throw
obstacles along the way.
As
of today, unofficially, there are probably more Indian nationals in the City
than the Indian citizens of the City. Combined they could be the second largest
ethnic group in the City, overtaking the Malays. If there is no slowing down to
the migration of Indian nationals, it is only a matter of time that ethnic
Indians will be competing with the Chinese citizens as the biggest racial group
in the island City.
The
acquisition of this City will come along with all its riches, a thriving city
state with all its assets, national reserves in the trillions, institutions and
a well educated population. And most important of all, controlling a choke
point in the sea route between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Controlling this
strategic City is controlling the gate to the region and passage through the
region. It is a master stroke, a master strategy many times more superior to
controlling some little uninhabited islands in the South China Seas and risking wars with the
littoral states and the USA.
Taking
over the city state could be just a formality, if the islanders are happy with
the arrangement or sleeping and without knowing what is happening until the
rice is cooked. It would be a fait accompli, or a de facto ownership of the
island, with the consent of the Sinkies of course. Quietly and stealthily, one
business park at a time, one housing estate at a time, the acquisition is real
and expanding.
The
two Asian giants, each one setting eyes on expanding their control and
influence into the region but aiming for different assets. Controlling and
taking over the city state would be many times more valuable and strategic than
the rocks in the South China Seas.
11/01/2013
Why Anonymous Collective hacked into ST Online site?
The Anonymous Collective, better known as The Messiah, has hacked into
the ST Online site early yesterday morning. They gave the reason for the
hacking as a reaction to a reporter by the name of Irene Tham for
putting up a misleading article on them. This is what the Anonymous
Collective said.
'Greetings Irene Tham & Straitstimes.com,
I am The Messiah from the Anonymous Collective. We are a decentralized non-violent resistance movement, which seeks to restore the rule of law and fight back against the organized criminal class. We oppose any form of internet censorship among other things.
Allow me to explain our intrusion.
Earlier today upon discovering the existence of a Youtube video of ours (click here), a straitstimes correspondent by the name of Irene Tham chose to publicize an article distorting our words and intentions (click here). She chose to conveniently modify the sentence “war against the Singapore Government” into “war against Singapore”.
That in our opinion can be very misleading and unfortunately we suspect that must have been her intentions. Look what she made us do!
Irene Tham, since you had the ignorant nerve of invading our world (the internet) to speak blasphemous lies, then we took it upon ourselves to invade your tiny little space to voice our issues over a few matter. We sincerely hope you wont mind…. '
We can see the switch in the objective from opposing internet censorship to this reporter. The point here is that the ST reporter is being accused to misleading the public by changing the words and thus the content and intent of Anonymous Collective. The AC said that their actions were targeted at the Singapore govt while the reporter changed it attacking Singapore. The difference is quite significant.
Did the reporter misinterpret what the AC wrote or was the change intentional? Did the paper double check to make sure what the reported was factually correct? I leave this to the readers to make their own judgment. What follows is that the AC is demanding an apology from the reporter to the citizens of Singapore within 48 hours, failing which she has to resign from ST ‘…for trying to mislead them with her hate.’ The AC added, ‘in the event our demands are not met in the next 48 hours, we will place you in our “to do” list and next time you wont be let off this easy.’
I am not sure what is this ‘to do’ list but it sounds like a KIV until a next time something like this happens again. What is interesting to note is that you have a virtual body making threats and warnings of actions against an institution like the ST and of course the govt of Singapore. This is the first of its kind to happen. The audacity is stunning. It is a case of I can hit you but you can’t do anything to me. Sound familiar?
It is interesting to see how ST reacts to this warning and challenge. Would ST simply ignore it as something from the wilderness? Or would it take this threat seriously and Irene Tham would make an apology or be dismissed? How would this go? Would a virtual body from virtual space have the clout to do this to an established big organization like the ST? This is a big change in the nature of things, the natural order of things.
'Greetings Irene Tham & Straitstimes.com,
I am The Messiah from the Anonymous Collective. We are a decentralized non-violent resistance movement, which seeks to restore the rule of law and fight back against the organized criminal class. We oppose any form of internet censorship among other things.
Allow me to explain our intrusion.
Earlier today upon discovering the existence of a Youtube video of ours (click here), a straitstimes correspondent by the name of Irene Tham chose to publicize an article distorting our words and intentions (click here). She chose to conveniently modify the sentence “war against the Singapore Government” into “war against Singapore”.
That in our opinion can be very misleading and unfortunately we suspect that must have been her intentions. Look what she made us do!
Irene Tham, since you had the ignorant nerve of invading our world (the internet) to speak blasphemous lies, then we took it upon ourselves to invade your tiny little space to voice our issues over a few matter. We sincerely hope you wont mind…. '
We can see the switch in the objective from opposing internet censorship to this reporter. The point here is that the ST reporter is being accused to misleading the public by changing the words and thus the content and intent of Anonymous Collective. The AC said that their actions were targeted at the Singapore govt while the reporter changed it attacking Singapore. The difference is quite significant.
Did the reporter misinterpret what the AC wrote or was the change intentional? Did the paper double check to make sure what the reported was factually correct? I leave this to the readers to make their own judgment. What follows is that the AC is demanding an apology from the reporter to the citizens of Singapore within 48 hours, failing which she has to resign from ST ‘…for trying to mislead them with her hate.’ The AC added, ‘in the event our demands are not met in the next 48 hours, we will place you in our “to do” list and next time you wont be let off this easy.’
I am not sure what is this ‘to do’ list but it sounds like a KIV until a next time something like this happens again. What is interesting to note is that you have a virtual body making threats and warnings of actions against an institution like the ST and of course the govt of Singapore. This is the first of its kind to happen. The audacity is stunning. It is a case of I can hit you but you can’t do anything to me. Sound familiar?
It is interesting to see how ST reacts to this warning and challenge. Would ST simply ignore it as something from the wilderness? Or would it take this threat seriously and Irene Tham would make an apology or be dismissed? How would this go? Would a virtual body from virtual space have the clout to do this to an established big organization like the ST? This is a big change in the nature of things, the natural order of things.
How to run a stock market to the ground?
Stock markets around the world have been profitable institutions for
centuries. As a collector of commissions and fees for listing and
trading, it is like an evergreen ATM, always making money. The Great
Depression could have temporarily halted the trading activities of a
stock market, but they still picked up and ran again. It is quite near
impossible to run a stock market to the ground. It would take tremendous
ingenuity or stupidity to be able to do so.
After twenty years in the industry I have discovered how a stock market can actually be run to ground zero by a special recipe. Let me try to put this into simple steps for anyone who has the chance to do it, like how to assemble 炸蛋, fried egg, DIY online.
1. Invite all the big funds to play in the market.
2. Consult them on how to fix a system so that they can take full advantage of their high speed computers to make profits from the small investors.
3. First thing, allow them to hook their computers into the exchange system so that they would know what other traders/investors are buying or selling. Don’t tell people this is unfair. Better still don’t tell anyone if possible. Don’t talk about it is the best.
4. Reduce the commission to as low as possible, even free if can, so the big funds can trade in very big volumes without cost or with minimum charges. Then they can play big big and pay more fees to the exchange while making a killing at the same time. The small investors are there to be cannon fodder and dispensable.
5. No lunch break so the computers can keep on running throughout the whole session. Having lunch break is very disruptive to the computers and troublesome for the operators. Then bluff the broking houses no lunch break increases trading volumes, continuous trading means more time to do business.
6. Create a system to allow the funds to borrow scrips just in case they oversold some positions and need to cover for a short while. So the funds can long or short to make money either way. The trick is to protect the big funds while they eat up the small traders.
7. Deregulate, have as little rules as possible. No rules better still. If got rules, pretend to have dementia. Some say one eye open one eye close.
8. If the funds violate trading rules like churning, buying and selling without change of ownership, cornering the market, creating a false market, just ignore. Pretend not to know, not to see. Pretend nothing is wrong. The big funds must be given the fullest support to generate volume and liquidity in the market and of course to make money.
9. Make the small traders pay higher commission rate so they cannot get out quickly without losing or cannot make profit unless the price has moved several bids. This will allow the big funds to hold them captive and take advantage of small changes to make money, like push up one bid, push down two bids.
10. There is no need to provide a fair and level playing field. Bring in the HFT to make profits by skimming the differences that the small investors cannot see and not chance to see. It is a given that the HFT is sure to make profits like the big funds. No need to care where or who pay for their profits. Zero sum game? Sure.
These ten simple steps will definitely run a stock exchange to the ground in double quick time. All the small traders will be scooped up and hung to dry without knowing what has happened. And when there are no more small traders to slaughter, move on.
After twenty years in the industry I have discovered how a stock market can actually be run to ground zero by a special recipe. Let me try to put this into simple steps for anyone who has the chance to do it, like how to assemble 炸蛋, fried egg, DIY online.
1. Invite all the big funds to play in the market.
2. Consult them on how to fix a system so that they can take full advantage of their high speed computers to make profits from the small investors.
3. First thing, allow them to hook their computers into the exchange system so that they would know what other traders/investors are buying or selling. Don’t tell people this is unfair. Better still don’t tell anyone if possible. Don’t talk about it is the best.
4. Reduce the commission to as low as possible, even free if can, so the big funds can trade in very big volumes without cost or with minimum charges. Then they can play big big and pay more fees to the exchange while making a killing at the same time. The small investors are there to be cannon fodder and dispensable.
5. No lunch break so the computers can keep on running throughout the whole session. Having lunch break is very disruptive to the computers and troublesome for the operators. Then bluff the broking houses no lunch break increases trading volumes, continuous trading means more time to do business.
6. Create a system to allow the funds to borrow scrips just in case they oversold some positions and need to cover for a short while. So the funds can long or short to make money either way. The trick is to protect the big funds while they eat up the small traders.
7. Deregulate, have as little rules as possible. No rules better still. If got rules, pretend to have dementia. Some say one eye open one eye close.
8. If the funds violate trading rules like churning, buying and selling without change of ownership, cornering the market, creating a false market, just ignore. Pretend not to know, not to see. Pretend nothing is wrong. The big funds must be given the fullest support to generate volume and liquidity in the market and of course to make money.
9. Make the small traders pay higher commission rate so they cannot get out quickly without losing or cannot make profit unless the price has moved several bids. This will allow the big funds to hold them captive and take advantage of small changes to make money, like push up one bid, push down two bids.
10. There is no need to provide a fair and level playing field. Bring in the HFT to make profits by skimming the differences that the small investors cannot see and not chance to see. It is a given that the HFT is sure to make profits like the big funds. No need to care where or who pay for their profits. Zero sum game? Sure.
These ten simple steps will definitely run a stock exchange to the ground in double quick time. All the small traders will be scooped up and hung to dry without knowing what has happened. And when there are no more small traders to slaughter, move on.
A simple matter of defence
The issue of women serving NS is gaining currency but has been put down
by Eng Hen, quoting Finland and Switzerland as role models. They don’t
conscript women, so we can safely say we don’t need it too. Logical
reasoning. While women should not be called up as NSwomen, they can
still perform some roles in defence as volunteers. And so too can first
generation PRs.
Everytime someone brings this topic up, suggesting that PRs be called up for military service, I cringed. Though there is the reason of equity to demand that PRs contribute to the country like NSmen instead of taking a free ride, getting PRs in uniform needs to be carefully considered. It is like the same silly reason that if one is a PR for some years, he better be a citizen. Again, the foolish and simple minded just do not know what citizenship meant and how valuable is a citizenship that it should not be given away so freely. There are many implications and serious consequences for granting citizenship so freely to foreigners. And there are serious security implications for allowing PRs to be in uniform.
The security of a nation cannot be simply entrusted to foreigners just because that person is a PR. Similarly, the security of immigration cannot be simply entrusted to foreigners as another job to be done and anyone willing can do.
A NSman or a soldier is trained to use firearms, be given firearms to handle, to be trusted to use the firearms wisely for the defence of the country and the citizens. A soldier is also trained and privy to military information and doctrines, they called them military secrets. A soldier is entrusted with all the military knowledge of the organizations and sensitive information that need to be guarded and not to be shared with people not supposed to know. A PR, if enlisted to serve in the military service, has be treated as one of us and be given access to military information and equipment etc etc. He has to be trusted to uphold all the things he is trained and expected to do.
Are PRs so easily trusted, or should they be entrusted with the nation’s security and defence? OK, with the presence of mercenaries in the form of Gurkhas, one can justify that it is ok. Why can’t we trust PRs when we can trust Gurkhas who are really foreigners? Putting aside the Gurkha issue that has historical precedents, what about the PRs? The PR issue gets more complicated with their origins as they can come from any corner of the globe and could be from countries that we have very special sensitivity to.
While everyone is in heat and cheering to go and make every PR a citizen or every PR a soldier, should this be thought out carefully on how far this should go? Can we trust Ah Meng as an NSman if he becomes a PR also?
Or are we now so desensitized, insensitive, that nothing matters anymore as long as we manage to haul another fish in the net. Or for political expediency, to appease the anger of the masses, why not? I still remember the early days when even tree planting was highly classified and everyone is carefully scrutinized for security reasons.
Maybe things can be more relax in a country that is also a hotel for the whole world.
Everytime someone brings this topic up, suggesting that PRs be called up for military service, I cringed. Though there is the reason of equity to demand that PRs contribute to the country like NSmen instead of taking a free ride, getting PRs in uniform needs to be carefully considered. It is like the same silly reason that if one is a PR for some years, he better be a citizen. Again, the foolish and simple minded just do not know what citizenship meant and how valuable is a citizenship that it should not be given away so freely. There are many implications and serious consequences for granting citizenship so freely to foreigners. And there are serious security implications for allowing PRs to be in uniform.
The security of a nation cannot be simply entrusted to foreigners just because that person is a PR. Similarly, the security of immigration cannot be simply entrusted to foreigners as another job to be done and anyone willing can do.
A NSman or a soldier is trained to use firearms, be given firearms to handle, to be trusted to use the firearms wisely for the defence of the country and the citizens. A soldier is also trained and privy to military information and doctrines, they called them military secrets. A soldier is entrusted with all the military knowledge of the organizations and sensitive information that need to be guarded and not to be shared with people not supposed to know. A PR, if enlisted to serve in the military service, has be treated as one of us and be given access to military information and equipment etc etc. He has to be trusted to uphold all the things he is trained and expected to do.
Are PRs so easily trusted, or should they be entrusted with the nation’s security and defence? OK, with the presence of mercenaries in the form of Gurkhas, one can justify that it is ok. Why can’t we trust PRs when we can trust Gurkhas who are really foreigners? Putting aside the Gurkha issue that has historical precedents, what about the PRs? The PR issue gets more complicated with their origins as they can come from any corner of the globe and could be from countries that we have very special sensitivity to.
While everyone is in heat and cheering to go and make every PR a citizen or every PR a soldier, should this be thought out carefully on how far this should go? Can we trust Ah Meng as an NSman if he becomes a PR also?
Or are we now so desensitized, insensitive, that nothing matters anymore as long as we manage to haul another fish in the net. Or for political expediency, to appease the anger of the masses, why not? I still remember the early days when even tree planting was highly classified and everyone is carefully scrutinized for security reasons.
Maybe things can be more relax in a country that is also a hotel for the whole world.
10/31/2013
Breaking News from TRS
**BREAKING NEWS***
TRS has just received a private video made by Anonymous declaring 'war' against the Singapore government.
In the video it says that The Messiah is just a single hacker and many more hackers will infiltrate the Singapore government websites and databases if their demands are not met.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=656364671075370&comment_id=6755136&...
Below is the message attached with the video:
{Twitter} The Messiah @ twitter.com/Th3M3551A
Greetings Government of Singapore,
We are Anonymous and we believe that we have your undivided attention.
We also believe that you have had the pleasure of meeting our comrade The Messiah, who demonstrated what a single Anon could do to your so call technologically advanced island.
Now allow us to explain the objective of our recent invasions.
The secondary objective was to welcome you to the new rule where ignoring the issues of your citizens will not go ignored by Anonymous. We advise you to stop feigning ignorance and serve the people.
Any form of arrogant and ignorant statement from a person of position towards the people will not go ignored by Anonymous.
Have you forgotten who you work for? Traditionally the workers respect the boss. Let us stick to tradition.
But the primary objective of our invasion was to protest the implementation of the internet licensing framework by giving you a sneak peak of the state of your cyberspace if the ridiculous, communistic, oppressive and offensive framework gets implemented.
Did i mention the previous hacks was executed by a single Anonymous member?
Now close your eyes and imagine a legion of Anonymous unleashed upon your tiny little island and infrastructures. It will be like dipping yourselves into a pool of piranhas.
We have faced much larger and more secured corporations such as the F.B.I & the NSA.
Do you think the I.D.A will be a problem for us?
After all, security is just an illusion against time and temporary ignorance.
So mark our words when we say that we Anonymous stand firm on our belief that no Government has the right to deprive their citizens the freedom of information.
No one has the right to tell an individual what he can or cannot read or write.
This is a basic fundamental of democracy and we will use everything in our resources to protect it at all cost.
We demand you reconsider the regulations of your framework or we will be forced to go to war with you. For every single time you deprive a citizen his right to information, we will cost you financial loss by aggressive cyber intrusion. An intrusion your $130 million cyber security will not be able to stop.
After all how do you stop an idea?
You may be ambitious enough to try and stop us but remember, the people you are after are the people you depend on:
we cook your meals, we haul your trash, we teach your children, we pay your high salaries, we feed your families, we guard you while you sleep!
It is not wise to piss us off.
And finally we call upon our fellow Singaporean brothers and sisters to join our protest by dressing fully in black & red on the 5th of November to paint your streets with the colors that represent the current Singaporeans emotion.
We urge you to black out your FB profile picture for a day along with the status message:
I am a Singaporean and i had enough of being oppressed! I want my freedom back!!
Anonymous will be making a virtual protest by your side.
Let us demonstrate our frustrations in organized unseen unity that may live a thousand years. This action might not make a political change but it is the first step towards the mental conditioning needed to achieve our goals.
Remember, remember. The fifth of November.
We are anonymous, we are legion.
We do not forgive, we do not forget.
Expect Us!
PS. I copied the above from TRS.
TRS has just received a private video made by Anonymous declaring 'war' against the Singapore government.
In the video it says that The Messiah is just a single hacker and many more hackers will infiltrate the Singapore government websites and databases if their demands are not met.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=656364671075370&comment_id=6755136&...
Below is the message attached with the video:
{Twitter} The Messiah @ twitter.com/Th3M3551A
Greetings Government of Singapore,
We are Anonymous and we believe that we have your undivided attention.
We also believe that you have had the pleasure of meeting our comrade The Messiah, who demonstrated what a single Anon could do to your so call technologically advanced island.
Now allow us to explain the objective of our recent invasions.
The secondary objective was to welcome you to the new rule where ignoring the issues of your citizens will not go ignored by Anonymous. We advise you to stop feigning ignorance and serve the people.
Any form of arrogant and ignorant statement from a person of position towards the people will not go ignored by Anonymous.
Have you forgotten who you work for? Traditionally the workers respect the boss. Let us stick to tradition.
But the primary objective of our invasion was to protest the implementation of the internet licensing framework by giving you a sneak peak of the state of your cyberspace if the ridiculous, communistic, oppressive and offensive framework gets implemented.
Did i mention the previous hacks was executed by a single Anonymous member?
Now close your eyes and imagine a legion of Anonymous unleashed upon your tiny little island and infrastructures. It will be like dipping yourselves into a pool of piranhas.
We have faced much larger and more secured corporations such as the F.B.I & the NSA.
Do you think the I.D.A will be a problem for us?
After all, security is just an illusion against time and temporary ignorance.
So mark our words when we say that we Anonymous stand firm on our belief that no Government has the right to deprive their citizens the freedom of information.
No one has the right to tell an individual what he can or cannot read or write.
This is a basic fundamental of democracy and we will use everything in our resources to protect it at all cost.
We demand you reconsider the regulations of your framework or we will be forced to go to war with you. For every single time you deprive a citizen his right to information, we will cost you financial loss by aggressive cyber intrusion. An intrusion your $130 million cyber security will not be able to stop.
After all how do you stop an idea?
You may be ambitious enough to try and stop us but remember, the people you are after are the people you depend on:
we cook your meals, we haul your trash, we teach your children, we pay your high salaries, we feed your families, we guard you while you sleep!
It is not wise to piss us off.
And finally we call upon our fellow Singaporean brothers and sisters to join our protest by dressing fully in black & red on the 5th of November to paint your streets with the colors that represent the current Singaporeans emotion.
We urge you to black out your FB profile picture for a day along with the status message:
I am a Singaporean and i had enough of being oppressed! I want my freedom back!!
Anonymous will be making a virtual protest by your side.
Let us demonstrate our frustrations in organized unseen unity that may live a thousand years. This action might not make a political change but it is the first step towards the mental conditioning needed to achieve our goals.
Remember, remember. The fifth of November.
We are anonymous, we are legion.
We do not forgive, we do not forget.
Expect Us!
PS. I copied the above from TRS.
From sampan to cruise ship to sampan
Koh Buck Song said Singapore is like a cruise ship. Hsien Loong
corrected him by saying that we are in an upgraded sampan. Now who is
right or whose version is the reality? Buck Song explained that in a
cruise ship, the elite would be partying in the top deck while the
masses would be rowing the ship at the bottom deck, with oars. All in
the same boat.
Hsien Loong was more self deprecating, and with a great sense of humility. We are all in the same boat, in an upgraded sampan. This is like saying we are living life the same way, having the same gruel and sleeping on the same wooden planks. And we move ahead together or sink together, in the same sampan. No one is partying in the top deck.
This is a good political statement, saying the right thing for the people to hear. No one will be left behind. We even scooped up foreigners in the high seas to sail with us. We accommodate them and we don’t mind the squeeze, together in the same sampan. We can hug everyone while yo-yoing in the high seas, foreigners, locals all same same.
Now, did I get the picture right?
Hsien Loong was more self deprecating, and with a great sense of humility. We are all in the same boat, in an upgraded sampan. This is like saying we are living life the same way, having the same gruel and sleeping on the same wooden planks. And we move ahead together or sink together, in the same sampan. No one is partying in the top deck.
This is a good political statement, saying the right thing for the people to hear. No one will be left behind. We even scooped up foreigners in the high seas to sail with us. We accommodate them and we don’t mind the squeeze, together in the same sampan. We can hug everyone while yo-yoing in the high seas, foreigners, locals all same same.
Now, did I get the picture right?
India may take Singapore to WTO for violation of CECA
The new measures taken by Singapore to control the influx of foreigners
working in Singapore ‘has irked India as the new law does not give India
a preferential treatment incorporated in the Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CECA) between the two countries, operational
since 2005. This stance by the Singapore Government is expected to
affect Indians working as middle-level managers, executives and
technicians.
Speculations are rife that India might take up the issue with World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement body. However, according to Singapore such a decision was imperative in the interest of the natives as the share of the foreign workforce is rising very rapidly.
“… I do not think we have contravened our commitments in the WTO or the CECA. Moreover, this is not specifically targeted to any one country. We remain very open to foreign talent,” a senior Singapore government official told Business Standard…. According to Indian officials involved in the negotiations, this is a violation of the services trade agreement under CECA. This will also adversely affect Indians who are working there as it might lead to job losses, especially for the middle level workers.
India has submitted a request to Singapore for addressing the matter but has not received a formal communication yet.
Currently, there are about 200,000 non-resident Indians in Singapore working in ITES, financial services and scientific research sectors among others, according to one estimate.’ - Business Standard 29 Oct. http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-decries-ceca-violation-by-singapore-113021700123_1.html
Did Singapore sign an agreement with India or any other country that allows that country unlimited entry of its people into the island? Can this really be the case? Imagine a little island of 760 sq km signing such an agreement with countries that have more than a billion people and they can send any number of people they want here? I don’t think Singapore officials are that stupid right? There must be some misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the agreements in this case by India. No silly govt in the world will open their country to any country with no restrictions. It is like inviting an invasion and a takeover of the country.
What is happening? I have faith that our super talents with foresight and great intelligence would not sell out the country blindly with such agreements. How can it be?
Speculations are rife that India might take up the issue with World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement body. However, according to Singapore such a decision was imperative in the interest of the natives as the share of the foreign workforce is rising very rapidly.
“… I do not think we have contravened our commitments in the WTO or the CECA. Moreover, this is not specifically targeted to any one country. We remain very open to foreign talent,” a senior Singapore government official told Business Standard…. According to Indian officials involved in the negotiations, this is a violation of the services trade agreement under CECA. This will also adversely affect Indians who are working there as it might lead to job losses, especially for the middle level workers.
India has submitted a request to Singapore for addressing the matter but has not received a formal communication yet.
Currently, there are about 200,000 non-resident Indians in Singapore working in ITES, financial services and scientific research sectors among others, according to one estimate.’ - Business Standard 29 Oct. http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-decries-ceca-violation-by-singapore-113021700123_1.html
Did Singapore sign an agreement with India or any other country that allows that country unlimited entry of its people into the island? Can this really be the case? Imagine a little island of 760 sq km signing such an agreement with countries that have more than a billion people and they can send any number of people they want here? I don’t think Singapore officials are that stupid right? There must be some misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the agreements in this case by India. No silly govt in the world will open their country to any country with no restrictions. It is like inviting an invasion and a takeover of the country.
What is happening? I have faith that our super talents with foresight and great intelligence would not sell out the country blindly with such agreements. How can it be?
A poser, what can be worse?
Heard of the saying, the blind leading the blind? This statement has
often been quoted to denote a bad situation, a lost cause when nobody
knows what is happening, and the blind is being led by an equally blind
towards the cliff. Actually it is not that bad as the blind has no bad
intention and if luck is on his side, he could lead them to paradise of
plenty, by accident.
Then there is another situation where the blind are led by the crooks. This is about sums up the situation in the USA. The whole banking and finance industry, including the stock exchange, are led by the crooks. The bankers are selling fraudulent and gambling chits as sophisticated financial products to their clients. The stock exchange has been redesigned and turned into a gambling den, with trading system that is worse than a computer game or a real casino. At least computer games and casino have rules to regulate some level of fair play with the odds known. The stock exchange is designed to cheat the innocent investors by using computers to trade against them.
Here the blind congressmen and women could do nothing as they did not know enough of the game to press the right button. And for those who knew, they were simply bought over. So they have very little regulations under the guise that deregulation and little regulation are good for the market and the finance industry. So the crooks rule the day and run the industry and stock market the way they want it.
The third situation is slightly different. Here we have a bunch of very clever and self serving talents running the show, leading the blind by telling them that they are there to serve them. Instead the super talents are serving themselves and laughing to the banks and the blind did not know what is happening. Can’t blame them as they are blind. So the blind are happy and the super talents are happier.
The three scenarios are just generalization. They are not applicable to Singapore. We have a fourth version where the super talented are leading an intelligent population, not blind. The super talented are there to serve the intelligent and highly educated populace. They are honest, upright, incorruptible and selfless, only thinking of serving the people whom they have acknowledged as their masters. Just look at how well regulated is our banking and finance system and the stock exchange, unshakable and in the pink of health. No gambling chits being sold and the exchange is running a system that is fair, and a level playing field for all investors. Soon other govts will be sending their delegates here to learn from us, world best banking and finance system and world best stock exchange. And rightly our Finance Minister is voted the best finance minister in the world. Just a bit puzzling is the rating for our MAS boss. How could they give him a B rating, worse than the USA and Malaysia and many other countries.
The USA and the rest of the world would be in better shape if they have adopted our banking and finance system or have a situation where their leaders are selfless serving servants of the people, and very talented as well.
Then there is another situation where the blind are led by the crooks. This is about sums up the situation in the USA. The whole banking and finance industry, including the stock exchange, are led by the crooks. The bankers are selling fraudulent and gambling chits as sophisticated financial products to their clients. The stock exchange has been redesigned and turned into a gambling den, with trading system that is worse than a computer game or a real casino. At least computer games and casino have rules to regulate some level of fair play with the odds known. The stock exchange is designed to cheat the innocent investors by using computers to trade against them.
Here the blind congressmen and women could do nothing as they did not know enough of the game to press the right button. And for those who knew, they were simply bought over. So they have very little regulations under the guise that deregulation and little regulation are good for the market and the finance industry. So the crooks rule the day and run the industry and stock market the way they want it.
The third situation is slightly different. Here we have a bunch of very clever and self serving talents running the show, leading the blind by telling them that they are there to serve them. Instead the super talents are serving themselves and laughing to the banks and the blind did not know what is happening. Can’t blame them as they are blind. So the blind are happy and the super talents are happier.
The three scenarios are just generalization. They are not applicable to Singapore. We have a fourth version where the super talented are leading an intelligent population, not blind. The super talented are there to serve the intelligent and highly educated populace. They are honest, upright, incorruptible and selfless, only thinking of serving the people whom they have acknowledged as their masters. Just look at how well regulated is our banking and finance system and the stock exchange, unshakable and in the pink of health. No gambling chits being sold and the exchange is running a system that is fair, and a level playing field for all investors. Soon other govts will be sending their delegates here to learn from us, world best banking and finance system and world best stock exchange. And rightly our Finance Minister is voted the best finance minister in the world. Just a bit puzzling is the rating for our MAS boss. How could they give him a B rating, worse than the USA and Malaysia and many other countries.
The USA and the rest of the world would be in better shape if they have adopted our banking and finance system or have a situation where their leaders are selfless serving servants of the people, and very talented as well.
10/30/2013
How the American govt wasted their taxpayers’ money
Edward Snowden’s report has revealed more than 35 countries were
subject to American spying, including phone communications of their
leaders, many of them were friends of the USA. Millions of ordinary
citizens’ phones were tapped. In Spain alone, 60.5m phones were tracked
in a single month. Multiply this by the number of months and the number
of countries, the number is mind boggling. Asian and African countries
are up in arms against this rude intrusion into the lives of their
leaders and citizens. And they are welcoming the American pivot.
How much would all this cost? The listening stations and the equipment and the staff deployed to maintain the equipment and do the listening? The number of staff to translate and record the conversations, to analyse them and the equipment they used must have cost a lot of money to the American taxpayers.
And the money is being spent for years without the American public knowing. The best part, many of the American ordinary citizens are also subject to the same surveillance in home soil, including senators and congressmen.
American people, this is how your govt spent your money. This is the way of the Empire.
How much would all this cost? The listening stations and the equipment and the staff deployed to maintain the equipment and do the listening? The number of staff to translate and record the conversations, to analyse them and the equipment they used must have cost a lot of money to the American taxpayers.
And the money is being spent for years without the American public knowing. The best part, many of the American ordinary citizens are also subject to the same surveillance in home soil, including senators and congressmen.
American people, this is how your govt spent your money. This is the way of the Empire.
Brokerages restricting trading on stocks
More broking houses are starting to enforce restricted trading on more
and more penny stocks. AmFrasers is reported to have put 11 stocks in
their restricted list while UOB Kay Hian has a list of 56 stocks. Such
stocks can only be traded under conditions set by the broking houses
like cash out front, limited volumes to buy per investor or for the
whole house to limit the risk exposure, etc etc.
What would happen if the number of stocks on the restricted list increases into the hundreds? What are the implications,… that these stocks are dangerous, not fit to be listed in the exchange, not suitable for trading by normal investors? If these stocks are so dangerous, should not they be put into a separate list and investors be made to sign an indemnity form to declare they know the risk when they trade these stocks? We do not want them to complain that they did not know these stocks are so dangerous when they lose big sums of money, right?
Hopefully these stocks are not in the same category as Lehman Bonds or toxic notes, high risk and should not be touched with a ten foot pole. For these stocks to be listed in the main board they must be worth something or at least have some respectability and soundness, or have been vetted to be ok.
Let’s hope the restricted lists do not grow longer and the few stocks there are an anomaly, exceptions than the rule.
What would happen if the number of stocks on the restricted list increases into the hundreds? What are the implications,… that these stocks are dangerous, not fit to be listed in the exchange, not suitable for trading by normal investors? If these stocks are so dangerous, should not they be put into a separate list and investors be made to sign an indemnity form to declare they know the risk when they trade these stocks? We do not want them to complain that they did not know these stocks are so dangerous when they lose big sums of money, right?
Hopefully these stocks are not in the same category as Lehman Bonds or toxic notes, high risk and should not be touched with a ten foot pole. For these stocks to be listed in the main board they must be worth something or at least have some respectability and soundness, or have been vetted to be ok.
Let’s hope the restricted lists do not grow longer and the few stocks there are an anomaly, exceptions than the rule.
The fake qualification problem has stabilized
A few months back about 20 foreigners were caught for submitting fake
qualifications when applying for employment passes. Some were fined and
some were sent home. Since then no more new cases have been reported.
In the case of dengue fever, 500 cases were reported a few days back, saying that the dengue problem is still not resolved or very alive. Can we then take comfort that of the more than a million foreigners working here, all is in order. Their qualifications are genuine and authentic. And this is the reason why no more new cases have been reported since.
We are so blessed that all the foreigners among us are so honest and well qualified, with real qualifications. The hooha recently that there were many foreigners with fake qualifications getting good jobs here must be unfounded, based on unjustified rumours. The fact says all is well.
In the case of dengue fever, 500 cases were reported a few days back, saying that the dengue problem is still not resolved or very alive. Can we then take comfort that of the more than a million foreigners working here, all is in order. Their qualifications are genuine and authentic. And this is the reason why no more new cases have been reported since.
We are so blessed that all the foreigners among us are so honest and well qualified, with real qualifications. The hooha recently that there were many foreigners with fake qualifications getting good jobs here must be unfounded, based on unjustified rumours. The fact says all is well.
Hearing the good stuff or saying the right stuff
I thought I was dreaming and I had to slap myself a couple of times to
confirm that it was 8 am in the morning, bright and clear. I read the
news again, the speeches made by Hsien Loong and Tharman, and wow, what
were they saying? Let me start by looking at the comments by Hsien Loong
first.
In the front page of Today, this is the headline, ‘Immigration policies must be managed in sustainable way: PM’. Have we been doing it in an unsustainable way? This is followed by the first paragraph, ‘Singapore has to manage its immigration policies in a sustainable way, taking into account the political, demographic and economic objectives the country has for the long term, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a gathering of business leaders yesterday. While new immigrants have to be integrated into Singapore society and not dilute its values, the country must remain open to talents so as to lift the low birth rate and make Singapore a vibrant economic hub.’ He added that in order to improve the lives of Singaporeans, ‘We don’t think we can do this just by expansion, but we do believe we must do this through economic growth, and upgrading and transforming our economy.’ He justified the need to get talented people from all over the world by saying, ‘Because we’ll need that range of skills and experiences and talents which no society can generate on its own.’
The first thing that came to my mind is the 2 million foreigners in our midst that were brought in during the last ten to fifteen years. Is this number sustainable, can they be integrated into our system without social and political consequences? Would they not dilute our Singaporean core and our core values, culture, work ethics and social norms?
We don’t think we can do this just by expansion? What is the 6.9m all about? And we already have more than 2m foreigners here. Do their talents fit the range of skills and experiences that our society cannot generate on our own? I think we know the answers.
Now what did Tharman said that was so earth shattering? ‘Singapore has to ensure it has a thriving and competitive economy by always looking for opportunities to bring high quality new investments that can create better jobs and ways to take advantage of the rising middle class in Asia.’ Now, how many of the businesses in Changi Business Park are high quality investments and create better jobs for Singaporeans. Really, I don’t know. But I believe everyone who knows knew better. And hardly any of the jobs, good or low paying jobs, went to Singaporeans. We have been taken advantage of instead, providing all the superb infrastructures for low wage businesses employing foreigners instead of Singaporeans.
Where are the quality and productivity growth that benefit Singaporeans ‘especially the average workers and the lower income workers’? All we heard of is Singaporeans having to go for retraining to downgrade their job expectations and be underemployed, sacrificing and wasting their qualifications and experience. Tharman added that Singapore must remain an inclusive society through social policies, not only via economic policies, and we are in it together. The realities on the ground is that Singaporeans have been feeling neglected, alienated, not good enough ship out, or it is their fault, go for more training. Why are the voices of anger and unhappiness growing louder? Why are the Singaporeans feeling like they are strangers in their own homes, in their own countries?
What have all the economic and social policies been doing? Oops, sorry, it was all economic policies before. Going forward we will have more social policies to integrate the Singaporeans with foreigners and new citizens, to improve our Singaporean core. We will have more quality investments providing more quality jobs for Singaporeans and improving productivity. These are the good stuff that I read this morning and I could hardly believe my eyes.
In the front page of Today, this is the headline, ‘Immigration policies must be managed in sustainable way: PM’. Have we been doing it in an unsustainable way? This is followed by the first paragraph, ‘Singapore has to manage its immigration policies in a sustainable way, taking into account the political, demographic and economic objectives the country has for the long term, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a gathering of business leaders yesterday. While new immigrants have to be integrated into Singapore society and not dilute its values, the country must remain open to talents so as to lift the low birth rate and make Singapore a vibrant economic hub.’ He added that in order to improve the lives of Singaporeans, ‘We don’t think we can do this just by expansion, but we do believe we must do this through economic growth, and upgrading and transforming our economy.’ He justified the need to get talented people from all over the world by saying, ‘Because we’ll need that range of skills and experiences and talents which no society can generate on its own.’
The first thing that came to my mind is the 2 million foreigners in our midst that were brought in during the last ten to fifteen years. Is this number sustainable, can they be integrated into our system without social and political consequences? Would they not dilute our Singaporean core and our core values, culture, work ethics and social norms?
We don’t think we can do this just by expansion? What is the 6.9m all about? And we already have more than 2m foreigners here. Do their talents fit the range of skills and experiences that our society cannot generate on our own? I think we know the answers.
Now what did Tharman said that was so earth shattering? ‘Singapore has to ensure it has a thriving and competitive economy by always looking for opportunities to bring high quality new investments that can create better jobs and ways to take advantage of the rising middle class in Asia.’ Now, how many of the businesses in Changi Business Park are high quality investments and create better jobs for Singaporeans. Really, I don’t know. But I believe everyone who knows knew better. And hardly any of the jobs, good or low paying jobs, went to Singaporeans. We have been taken advantage of instead, providing all the superb infrastructures for low wage businesses employing foreigners instead of Singaporeans.
Where are the quality and productivity growth that benefit Singaporeans ‘especially the average workers and the lower income workers’? All we heard of is Singaporeans having to go for retraining to downgrade their job expectations and be underemployed, sacrificing and wasting their qualifications and experience. Tharman added that Singapore must remain an inclusive society through social policies, not only via economic policies, and we are in it together. The realities on the ground is that Singaporeans have been feeling neglected, alienated, not good enough ship out, or it is their fault, go for more training. Why are the voices of anger and unhappiness growing louder? Why are the Singaporeans feeling like they are strangers in their own homes, in their own countries?
What have all the economic and social policies been doing? Oops, sorry, it was all economic policies before. Going forward we will have more social policies to integrate the Singaporeans with foreigners and new citizens, to improve our Singaporean core. We will have more quality investments providing more quality jobs for Singaporeans and improving productivity. These are the good stuff that I read this morning and I could hardly believe my eyes.
10/29/2013
China unveils nuke submarine fleet
China unveils nuke submarine fleet
| Global Times | 2013-10-29 1:33:01 By Yang Jingjie |
Photo: CCTV, news.cn/mil
The world has been given a rare glimpse into China's nuclear-powered submarine fleet, with State-owned media carrying extensive coverage of the previously mysterious strategic deterrence force.
The unprecedented revealing of the underwater fleet is a demonstration of China's confidence in its sea-based nuclear strike capability and serves as a deterrent to any attempted provocation amid the changing geopolitical situation, said military observers.
Starting on Sunday, China Central Television carried serial coverage two days in a row on the submarine force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Beihai fleet in its flagship news program Xinwen Lianbo.
The People's Daily, the PLA Daily and the China Youth Daily on Monday all carried front-page stories, features and commentaries on the submarine force, applauding its achievements since the launch of China's first nuclear-powered submarine in December 1970.
According to the reports, the idea of building a nuclear submarine was initiated by Chairman Mao Zedong in the late 1950s to break the global military powers' "nuclear blackmailing and monopoly."
In September 1988, China launched a carrier rocket from a nuclear submarine, becoming the fifth country in the world to have the capability of sea-based nuclear strike.
While striving to improve its strike capability, the submarine force has also maintained a good safety record, with no single nuclear accident reported during the past four decades, said the reports.
The People's Daily on Monday hailed the submarine force as "a shield preserving world peace and stability" and "a cornerstone to safeguard state sovereignty, security and development interests."
Du Wenlong, a military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the latest publicity shows the maturity in the submarine force's sea-based nuclear strike capability, and implies progress in the development of China's new generation of submarines.
According to military observers, the submarines shown in the CCTV report and newspaper photos are the old models, which were put into service in the 1980s. It is reported that the navy is replacing them with Jin-class submarines, and a newer model, the Tang-class, is reportedly in development.
Du said in comparison to foreign submarines, China occupies a seat within the leading group but lags behind the US and Russia in terms of the submarine's noise output and the number of missiles it can carry.
Li Jie, another military expert, shared similar views, noting Chinese submarines still fall behind US and Russian ones, but have better prospects than French and British ones.
The growing capability of the Chinese submarine force is in line with the global emphasis on sea-based nuclear strike capability.
Sea-based nuclear deterrence is more covert, so it gives the countries the capability to launch a counterstrike after their main nuclear bases are destroyed, Li explained, noting its development requires strong comprehensive scientific and technological capabilities.
In addition to the demonstration of more transparency in the military, Li said the revealing of the force is also a deterrent to foreign provocation.
According to reports, during the submarine force's drills, it has repeatedly been tailed and interrupted by foreign ships and aircraft, including one time in international waters in the West Pacific.
"The changing international situation has caused containment to China's growth. The US-Japan alliance and US pivot to the Asia-Pacific both apparently target China. The publicity of the submarine force is a warning to any country that attempts to provoke China, telling them whoever makes the first strike should think about the consequences," Li said.
CCTV commentary said the submarine force has equipped China with a more covert and reliable nuclear counterstrike capability in addition to its intercontinental ballistic missile and strategic bomber, which would make China's rivals abandon their war attempts for fears of the unbearable price they might have to pay.
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