Recently an angmoh was fined $4000 for beating up a taxi driver after
his drinking spree. Yesterday another angmoh was charged for beating up
an Asian local who subsequently died, and was sentenced to 18 months
jail. Oh he also had to pay a hefty $32,000 as compensation to the dead
man’s mother for medical expenses. $32,000 must be a very generous
compensation for the low life here, and 18 months jail was meant to be a
very serious and deterrence sentence for beating a local ending in
death. Another silly angmoh cyclist violated traffic rules, taunted a
local woman driver in the middle of the road, and nothing happened to
him. Maybe someone went to beg him to be nice to the locals.
The price of justice or the cost of justice is pretty affordable in this
Sin City. I may want to caution that this price is only applicable to
angmohs. I am not sure if the price would be heavier for the locals, or
for the citizens? And I could even expect the price to be extremely high
if a local were to beat up an angmoh, and worse if it ends up with a
dead angmoh. The compensation could be in the millions, taking into
account the potential income of the angmoh over a life time.
This is after all an ex angmoh colony and the angmoh tua ki mentality is
still prevalent among the ex subjects of the empire. It is in their
blood, in their DNA. They would employ angmoh first even for local
companies doing local businesses. If I were an angmoh, I would make this
place my play ground, to make money, have fun beating up the locals and
enjoying the hospitality of the local women who are more than willing
to oblige. Many would literally flip over when they see an angmoh, the
prize possession of a low thinking local woman.
You really cannot blame them when supposedly high thinking elite also
flip when they see an angmoh. Angmoh is best, in everything. How could
anyone accuse the daft locals of being xenophobic when they idolize and
worship at the sight of angmohs?
11/22/2013
My son earns $10,000 (一万)
Many years back while doing my ICT in Taiwan I had time to take the
train and be amongst the Taiwanese along the Taipei Chiayi line. The
Taiwanese spoke mainly minnan dialect or Hokien as we are used to. These
two women were chatting away like our aunties in the market, one
probably not literate and another looked better off. The illiterate,
very like some of those we met at the wet market spoke in the usual loud
pitch for all to hear.
‘My son ‘tan’ 一万 lah.’ (One million in Chinese numerals but ten thousand in our terms)
The other woman nodded her head politely. I was impressed, initially not knowing what currency she was referring to. After a few more exchanges I heard that the son was an odd job worker. My first impression took on a new reality. At that time the exchange rate was something like S$1 to TW$15. A $10,000 pm is hardly anything, an equivalent of a few hundred Sing$.
Today, if one is watching the HongKong TV serial, often the pay are in HK$20k or HK$30k, and sounding quite astronomical for an office worker. After conversion there are like S$4k to $5K. Still very good but less startling.
Today in Sin City, many aunties are loudly announcing that their children are university graduates in pride. Many of the older aunties were at best O level, with many lesser or unschooled. During their time, a graduate was a very prestigious thing as there were very few around. Today around you a train cabin, likely 2 out of 3 are graduates, including the white collar foreigners.
What has happened is that inflation has caught up not only in the incomes of the people but in educational level. And a $10k income today is not much better than a $1k income in the 60s/70s. A graduate today is no better than an O level graduate in that era in terms of job opportunities and potential income.
Also in grades, today, straight As are the norm and you would need more to be above the average. Today, Crescent and Fairfield are the top schools. But in those days there were the average schools. Or are they really the top schools today when many of the top schools are not spoken of in the sense that they don’t participate in the O level exam? And many PSLE school leavers could not even apply to these unmentionable top schools as they have pre selected their intakes through the through train schemes. Please do not apply. If you are good we will contact you.
In housing, every average worker could aspire to own a 5 room flat or better in the 70s/80s. Today such flats are unattainable to many, even graduates as their first property. In those days, many office workers could buy a second hand car after one year of working. Any young police or army officer could buy a brand new small capacity car after a couple of years of working. Today most of them can forget about such luxuries. Take public transport is the norm.
Have we progressed? Are our lives getting better, from living in bigger homes to smaller homes, from car ownership to taking public transport? From just an O level and bringing up a family quite comfortably to a university graduate and still struggling to make ends meet.
Shall we celebrate that we have arrived in the first world with Swiss standard of living? Is the quality of life getting better?
‘My son ‘tan’ 一万 lah.’ (One million in Chinese numerals but ten thousand in our terms)
The other woman nodded her head politely. I was impressed, initially not knowing what currency she was referring to. After a few more exchanges I heard that the son was an odd job worker. My first impression took on a new reality. At that time the exchange rate was something like S$1 to TW$15. A $10,000 pm is hardly anything, an equivalent of a few hundred Sing$.
Today, if one is watching the HongKong TV serial, often the pay are in HK$20k or HK$30k, and sounding quite astronomical for an office worker. After conversion there are like S$4k to $5K. Still very good but less startling.
Today in Sin City, many aunties are loudly announcing that their children are university graduates in pride. Many of the older aunties were at best O level, with many lesser or unschooled. During their time, a graduate was a very prestigious thing as there were very few around. Today around you a train cabin, likely 2 out of 3 are graduates, including the white collar foreigners.
What has happened is that inflation has caught up not only in the incomes of the people but in educational level. And a $10k income today is not much better than a $1k income in the 60s/70s. A graduate today is no better than an O level graduate in that era in terms of job opportunities and potential income.
Also in grades, today, straight As are the norm and you would need more to be above the average. Today, Crescent and Fairfield are the top schools. But in those days there were the average schools. Or are they really the top schools today when many of the top schools are not spoken of in the sense that they don’t participate in the O level exam? And many PSLE school leavers could not even apply to these unmentionable top schools as they have pre selected their intakes through the through train schemes. Please do not apply. If you are good we will contact you.
In housing, every average worker could aspire to own a 5 room flat or better in the 70s/80s. Today such flats are unattainable to many, even graduates as their first property. In those days, many office workers could buy a second hand car after one year of working. Any young police or army officer could buy a brand new small capacity car after a couple of years of working. Today most of them can forget about such luxuries. Take public transport is the norm.
Have we progressed? Are our lives getting better, from living in bigger homes to smaller homes, from car ownership to taking public transport? From just an O level and bringing up a family quite comfortably to a university graduate and still struggling to make ends meet.
Shall we celebrate that we have arrived in the first world with Swiss standard of living? Is the quality of life getting better?
Print media’s doom exaggerated
This is what Patrick Daniel said in his article in the ST a few days’
back. I must say I agree with his assessment but for different reasons.
Digital and social media have carved out a big chunk of the pie and
readership from print media and this is a fact. The younger generations
are more comfortable with digital media and will keep fleeing the ground
with a balance that will tip in favour of digital media in the long
run.
On the other hand, print media has its own turf that is cut out for it. In fact both have their own audience and it is only a matter of who gets a bigger slice of the pie. The development of the two media is diverging into one that is reporting on facts and events, thanks to the political leadership, and another into more opinionated discourses and very interactive in nature. Digital and social media are going to be very personal, very emotional and with a very high rate of participation by the readers. It is a two way affair while print media is just reporting. The readers just read what the reporters reported. The reporting role is still necessary for the full time reporters to go around gathering news to report on and being paid for it.
The ST and its stable of lesser news media are doing well. According to Patrick Daniel, it is all about a commanding brand. I wonder if the brand would still be that commanding when other brands are allowed to print and sell their news. Why are there no neutral or alternative brands? Search me? In a monopolistic environment, it is elementary to gain the biggest share if not all the share of the readership and can crow about it. Where are the competitors? What would be the fate of the ST media if there are competitors? Would ST be doomed?
The print media’s shelf life has been extended. It will continue to exist for a longer time. This is a truism as digital and social media have their own limitations. When the latter becomes full fledge media with their own professional reporters, the balance would be tipped further to favour digital media. For the time being, the ST stable of news media shall rule the waves as the only media available. Just like the other monopolistic services, not making money and maintaining the market share is simply idiotic.
On the other hand, print media has its own turf that is cut out for it. In fact both have their own audience and it is only a matter of who gets a bigger slice of the pie. The development of the two media is diverging into one that is reporting on facts and events, thanks to the political leadership, and another into more opinionated discourses and very interactive in nature. Digital and social media are going to be very personal, very emotional and with a very high rate of participation by the readers. It is a two way affair while print media is just reporting. The readers just read what the reporters reported. The reporting role is still necessary for the full time reporters to go around gathering news to report on and being paid for it.
The ST and its stable of lesser news media are doing well. According to Patrick Daniel, it is all about a commanding brand. I wonder if the brand would still be that commanding when other brands are allowed to print and sell their news. Why are there no neutral or alternative brands? Search me? In a monopolistic environment, it is elementary to gain the biggest share if not all the share of the readership and can crow about it. Where are the competitors? What would be the fate of the ST media if there are competitors? Would ST be doomed?
The print media’s shelf life has been extended. It will continue to exist for a longer time. This is a truism as digital and social media have their own limitations. When the latter becomes full fledge media with their own professional reporters, the balance would be tipped further to favour digital media. For the time being, the ST stable of news media shall rule the waves as the only media available. Just like the other monopolistic services, not making money and maintaining the market share is simply idiotic.
11/21/2013
The silly Spaniards still think they are an empire
A Spanish court had heard complaints by a Tibetan group of alleged
genocide by the Chinese soldiers in Tibet and even issued a court’s
order to arrest Chinese leaders like Jiang Zemin and Li Peng. China has
issued a strong protest and called the act despicable.
Actually China should simply issue an order for the arrest of the judge who presided in this farcical and mischievous court case and all the court officials involved for terrorism and for slandering the Chinese leaders. Who did they think they are to go around arresting other country’s leaders? There is no need to protest against the silly Spaniards. Just make sure that those involved do not set foot in Hongkong or Chinese soils. Put up an arrest on sight warrant with ‘wanted’ posters for the judge or judges and court officials.
China could impose a trade sanctions against Spain until the Spanish govt makes an apology for the silly act.
China can also remind the Spanish of their genocides in Latin America and the Philippines, not forgetting the Spanish Inquisition. They killed tens of millions of South Americans in the name of the God when they invaded these countries. The British did the same to the North American natives and more than a hundred millions were brutally shot in cold blood. How to exterminate a continent of people? Ask the British and the Spanish, they did it.
Who committed genocides?
Actually China should simply issue an order for the arrest of the judge who presided in this farcical and mischievous court case and all the court officials involved for terrorism and for slandering the Chinese leaders. Who did they think they are to go around arresting other country’s leaders? There is no need to protest against the silly Spaniards. Just make sure that those involved do not set foot in Hongkong or Chinese soils. Put up an arrest on sight warrant with ‘wanted’ posters for the judge or judges and court officials.
China could impose a trade sanctions against Spain until the Spanish govt makes an apology for the silly act.
China can also remind the Spanish of their genocides in Latin America and the Philippines, not forgetting the Spanish Inquisition. They killed tens of millions of South Americans in the name of the God when they invaded these countries. The British did the same to the North American natives and more than a hundred millions were brutally shot in cold blood. How to exterminate a continent of people? Ask the British and the Spanish, they did it.
Who committed genocides?
NYT’s harsh criticism of the Philippine military
There is a scathing attack of the Philippine military by the New York
Times today. Basically it said that the Philippine military is outdated
and lost, no equipment and no leadership, and doing so little in the
aftermath of the Haiyan disaster. While the eastern islands of the
country was devastated, the Philippine military were waiting for things
to happen, waiting for equipment, waiting for orders that never came
because their useless mobile phones didn’t work.
On the other hand the Americans were running the whole rescue operations with their latest military equipment, warships and airplanes doing the donkey work. The best the Philippine military could do was sentry duties to guard against looting. Let me quote, ‘The destructive fury of Typhoon Haiyan quickly laid bare the limitations of the Philippine govt’s disaster preparation and relief capabilities,…it is also focusing an unflattering spotlight on the nation’s military – an overstretched, poorly funded force that has been criticized for its late arrival to the disaster zone….even when several thousand soldiers were finally able to fan out across the devastated islands…their work was, and continues to be, hampered by a lack of provisions including food, heavy equipment and communications technology needed when cellphone service is down.’
My view is that the criticism is overly harsh as the Philippine military was not designed and equipped for disaster relief work. You should see how efficient they were in chasing foreign fishing boats in the South China Seas. They have so many ammunitions to fire at the unarmed fishing boats and even killing its captain. They even have a new warship with courtesy from the Americans. And they are ever ready to take on China head on should a war erupt. NYT should not under estimate the military prowess of the Philippine military.
The govt has also budgeted $2.15b to buy more war equipment to modernize its military. Only hitch is that the equipment is still on the way. Once the equipment arrives, it will be a military force to be reckoned with. It is unfair to expect them to be good at disaster work. NYT is expecting too much.
Singapore just spent $4.3b on a 5km road tunnel. This is exactly double the amount the Philippines are spending to modernize its military. For a small military set up like Singapore, this sum of money could double modernize the Singapore military surely. We may even have a new military force if $2.15b can modernize a huge military like the Philippines to take on China.
On the other hand the Americans were running the whole rescue operations with their latest military equipment, warships and airplanes doing the donkey work. The best the Philippine military could do was sentry duties to guard against looting. Let me quote, ‘The destructive fury of Typhoon Haiyan quickly laid bare the limitations of the Philippine govt’s disaster preparation and relief capabilities,…it is also focusing an unflattering spotlight on the nation’s military – an overstretched, poorly funded force that has been criticized for its late arrival to the disaster zone….even when several thousand soldiers were finally able to fan out across the devastated islands…their work was, and continues to be, hampered by a lack of provisions including food, heavy equipment and communications technology needed when cellphone service is down.’
My view is that the criticism is overly harsh as the Philippine military was not designed and equipped for disaster relief work. You should see how efficient they were in chasing foreign fishing boats in the South China Seas. They have so many ammunitions to fire at the unarmed fishing boats and even killing its captain. They even have a new warship with courtesy from the Americans. And they are ever ready to take on China head on should a war erupt. NYT should not under estimate the military prowess of the Philippine military.
The govt has also budgeted $2.15b to buy more war equipment to modernize its military. Only hitch is that the equipment is still on the way. Once the equipment arrives, it will be a military force to be reckoned with. It is unfair to expect them to be good at disaster work. NYT is expecting too much.
Singapore just spent $4.3b on a 5km road tunnel. This is exactly double the amount the Philippines are spending to modernize its military. For a small military set up like Singapore, this sum of money could double modernize the Singapore military surely. We may even have a new military force if $2.15b can modernize a huge military like the Philippines to take on China.
New Master Plan for 500,000 new homes
This new Master Plan is called a draft Master Plan. Well, it is the new
Master Plan for the next 10 to 15 years, or between 2023 to 2028.
Would it make any difference if it is a draft or not a draft plan? At 4
persons per new homes, this plan can comfortably accommodate another 2
million residents.
The PWP of 6.9m is for year 2030 and for an increase in population from 5.3m, or an increase of 1.6m in 17 years time. So the two plans seem to be complementary to each other. Some may want to quibble why 7.4m (5.4m +2m) in 2028 and not 6.9m in 2030? Let’s not split hair (or split cables) over such a small discrepancy.
Many Sinkies must be salivating at this prospect, looking forward to such great places to live and play. And being public housing, they will definitely be sold at a discount from market prices, or with a generous dose of subsidies. The future is surely looking so rosy. Boon Wan is planning well ahead.
Let me make a guesstimate of the prices of HDB flats in Holland V in year 2023. If the price is going to double in ten years, each unit of a 4rm flat should easily be around $1.2m at least, conservatively. But not to worry, the income of Sinkies should also be double or triple by then, so these flats would definitely be affordable, or the govt will make them affordable.
I can only dream, for by then I dunno where would I be. The fortunate young Sinkies would be the future proud owners of these dream homes and living a great life, gracious living among 7m people.
The PWP of 6.9m is for year 2030 and for an increase in population from 5.3m, or an increase of 1.6m in 17 years time. So the two plans seem to be complementary to each other. Some may want to quibble why 7.4m (5.4m +2m) in 2028 and not 6.9m in 2030? Let’s not split hair (or split cables) over such a small discrepancy.
Many Sinkies must be salivating at this prospect, looking forward to such great places to live and play. And being public housing, they will definitely be sold at a discount from market prices, or with a generous dose of subsidies. The future is surely looking so rosy. Boon Wan is planning well ahead.
Let me make a guesstimate of the prices of HDB flats in Holland V in year 2023. If the price is going to double in ten years, each unit of a 4rm flat should easily be around $1.2m at least, conservatively. But not to worry, the income of Sinkies should also be double or triple by then, so these flats would definitely be affordable, or the govt will make them affordable.
I can only dream, for by then I dunno where would I be. The fortunate young Sinkies would be the future proud owners of these dream homes and living a great life, gracious living among 7m people.
SMRT wanting to raise fare?
What is the purpose of this fare raising exercise? To increase profits,
to buy equipment, to buy trains, to increase salaries or bonuses?
There could be some justifications to increase salaries as part of the annual increments and to off set some inflationary cost. This cost could easily be absorbed by the profits from its operations. As for bonuses, the workers could still deserve the usual but for top management, how many think they should deserve more than the normal? Working extra to solve all the problems they created cannot be justifications for more bonuses for working so hard. Management cannot be rewarded for self inflicted injury.
How much is needed and to be raised from the fare increases for capital expenditure? $100m enough? Or is it $200m?
Didn’t the govt already give a cash injection of $1.1b for capex? This is equivalent to 5 or 10 times the expected funds to be raised, assuming its target is between $100m to $200m. Even if the fare hike is to raise $1.1b, this is already given. Or is the SMRT thinking of raising more after the $1.1b windfall?
This is a private company with the public as shareholders. The shareholders are as good as being given a cash top up of $1.1b and they shouldn’t be complaining. In fact the public non shareholders should be asking why the SMRT/shareholders should be rewarded with the public’s money for failing to provide a satisfactory service in recent years. The shareholders have been amply rewarded and SMRT can’t be thinking of raising more funds to account to them and reward them with more dividends.
A $1.1b windfall still not enough? Even if it has to go into the red this year, it should accept it for their less than satisfactory service compares to past years. Oh, the $1.1b not counted. This is equivalent to how many years of profts? This sum has saved SMRT from diverting a big sum of money for its capital expenditure. The rest of the expenditure are chicken feat, aren’t they
There could be some justifications to increase salaries as part of the annual increments and to off set some inflationary cost. This cost could easily be absorbed by the profits from its operations. As for bonuses, the workers could still deserve the usual but for top management, how many think they should deserve more than the normal? Working extra to solve all the problems they created cannot be justifications for more bonuses for working so hard. Management cannot be rewarded for self inflicted injury.
How much is needed and to be raised from the fare increases for capital expenditure? $100m enough? Or is it $200m?
Didn’t the govt already give a cash injection of $1.1b for capex? This is equivalent to 5 or 10 times the expected funds to be raised, assuming its target is between $100m to $200m. Even if the fare hike is to raise $1.1b, this is already given. Or is the SMRT thinking of raising more after the $1.1b windfall?
This is a private company with the public as shareholders. The shareholders are as good as being given a cash top up of $1.1b and they shouldn’t be complaining. In fact the public non shareholders should be asking why the SMRT/shareholders should be rewarded with the public’s money for failing to provide a satisfactory service in recent years. The shareholders have been amply rewarded and SMRT can’t be thinking of raising more funds to account to them and reward them with more dividends.
A $1.1b windfall still not enough? Even if it has to go into the red this year, it should accept it for their less than satisfactory service compares to past years. Oh, the $1.1b not counted. This is equivalent to how many years of profts? This sum has saved SMRT from diverting a big sum of money for its capital expenditure. The rest of the expenditure are chicken feat, aren’t they
11/20/2013
TRE finding a formula for self destruct?
I am unable to gain access to TRE this morning. From what I have
gathered, you need to pay to get in. I hope I am wrong. If this is the
formula that TRE has chosen to finance its operation, I think it will
meet a premature death soon.
The game plan in cyberspace is quite different. Many great sites are all free access to viewers. They have to find other sources of revenue, mainly advertisers or selling some products. The monetary contribution is always voluntary. TRE may want to set up a team to canvas for advertisements or seek the experts on how to generate some income.
Even in a blog like mine that is quite well received, I would not dare to ask for contributions. Even lifting the fingers to exercise, to buy me kopi (OPM some more) is often difficult and too much an inconvenience, or simply too easy to forget.
TRE should leave the monetary contributions to those who are willing. There will be some who will contribute quite generously but many would not for some other reasons. There are many students or non working adults and retirees reading the articles and may not be able to contribute. Turning them off would reduce a big chunk of the readership and that is very bad.
TRE, are you reading this? I hope I am wrong and you are not doing so. Richard, what saying you? Or you have a mole telling you this is the best way to raise fund? Remember WTSAWTD? The mole will not tell you that TRE will be obsolete, will be history. You are not the only site in cyberspace doing the same thing.
The game plan in cyberspace is quite different. Many great sites are all free access to viewers. They have to find other sources of revenue, mainly advertisers or selling some products. The monetary contribution is always voluntary. TRE may want to set up a team to canvas for advertisements or seek the experts on how to generate some income.
Even in a blog like mine that is quite well received, I would not dare to ask for contributions. Even lifting the fingers to exercise, to buy me kopi (OPM some more) is often difficult and too much an inconvenience, or simply too easy to forget.
TRE should leave the monetary contributions to those who are willing. There will be some who will contribute quite generously but many would not for some other reasons. There are many students or non working adults and retirees reading the articles and may not be able to contribute. Turning them off would reduce a big chunk of the readership and that is very bad.
TRE, are you reading this? I hope I am wrong and you are not doing so. Richard, what saying you? Or you have a mole telling you this is the best way to raise fund? Remember WTSAWTD? The mole will not tell you that TRE will be obsolete, will be history. You are not the only site in cyberspace doing the same thing.
WTSAWTD
This is a slight variation from WYSIWYG. WTSAWTD means What They Said
And What They Don’t. A couple of years back, we were told that big funds
would be invited to trade in the stock market, to provide liquidity so
that the market will be active and investors can buy or sell easier.
Trading activities would increase and good business for everyone. Bid
sizes were also reduced for the same purpose. Expensive stocks would be
split to make it easier for the small traders to buy one or two units at
lower capital outlay, ie more business also. Computer tradings would be
introduced and facilitated to improve liquidity and volumes. Everything
was done for the good of the market and small investors. Then lunch
breaks were even removed and the carrot, more trading hours mean more
business, at least another ten per cent increase in business.
Derivatives are good, sophisticated instruments for the sophisticated
fools. With all these changes, the stock market would fly to the moon.
All this has come to past. The volumes get thinner and thinner. The small traders were wiped out, sent to the cleaners. Who made the money was obvious. The stock market is a zero sum game. One makes another must lose.
Many good things were said and many not good things were not said. No one talks about how dangerous the big funds and their computers were to the small traders. No one says anything about redesigning the trading system to facilitate the computer traders to clean up the small traders. No one says anything about the unfair advantages of the computer traders and the trading system against the small traders. No one says that no lunch break was to allow the computers to keep trading without having to square and reopen their positions. No one says smaller bid size allows the computers to trade at lower cost and can move faster or can manipulate the stocks more efficiently against the small traders. No one says the losers were the small and big traders not using computers. No one says anything about who are the absolute winners in the market. No one says the number of genuine traders in the market has drastically been reduced and that if the computers stop trading, the market will come to a stand still or turn into a grave yard.
No one is going to say that the market is dying. And they are still saying the market is doing very well, in the pink of health. And to make it looks pinker, bring in the makeup artist for the dead, HFT will be introduced to increase volume and liquidity again. Now, what are they saying about HFT and are they not saying about HFT this time?
All this has come to past. The volumes get thinner and thinner. The small traders were wiped out, sent to the cleaners. Who made the money was obvious. The stock market is a zero sum game. One makes another must lose.
Many good things were said and many not good things were not said. No one talks about how dangerous the big funds and their computers were to the small traders. No one says anything about redesigning the trading system to facilitate the computer traders to clean up the small traders. No one says anything about the unfair advantages of the computer traders and the trading system against the small traders. No one says that no lunch break was to allow the computers to keep trading without having to square and reopen their positions. No one says smaller bid size allows the computers to trade at lower cost and can move faster or can manipulate the stocks more efficiently against the small traders. No one says the losers were the small and big traders not using computers. No one says anything about who are the absolute winners in the market. No one says the number of genuine traders in the market has drastically been reduced and that if the computers stop trading, the market will come to a stand still or turn into a grave yard.
No one is going to say that the market is dying. And they are still saying the market is doing very well, in the pink of health. And to make it looks pinker, bring in the makeup artist for the dead, HFT will be introduced to increase volume and liquidity again. Now, what are they saying about HFT and are they not saying about HFT this time?
Health of citizens is health of nation
We need more babies. Our TFR is falling and this is bad. Why is it bad
and why do we need more babies? It is to replace the ageing population
and to keep the GDP growing, period. Can we not let the population fall
naturally and let the GDP shrink proportionally? Cannot, must have more
babies to provide the workforce to keep the economy healthy. Babies are
important to the economy. Then why should bringing up babies be the
responsibility of their parents, to pay for their growing up, medical
and social expenses, including education? If the govt or country needs
the babies, why shouldn’t the govt pay a portion of their upbringing,
including healthcare?
There is a 20 to 25 years of cost to grow a baby into a productive worker to feed the economy. No babies, no workers, no economy. The babies are important and so are their growing and productive years. The only time they are less productive, not useless to the economy, is when they are in their retirement years. But not working does not mean not contributing to the economy. They consume goods and services and have to pay for them. They are still contributing to the economy.
If the people are so important to the govt and the economy why shouldn’t the govt take care of their health and well being? Without a healthy population, there is no healthy economy. Actually, like it or not, ultimately the people pay for their health and well being. There is no other way, but only a matter of nuances. Either the people pay directly or the govt pays from the taxes collected. The taxes are public money, not someone’s money, not OPM but TPM, The People’s Money.
To put things simply, the govt needs the people to be healthy to contribute to the economy, to produce goods and services, to consume goods and services, to pay taxes and to pay the thing called the govt. Why should the people pay for their good health to feed the economy and to pay the govt to be the govt? It is the govt and the system that needs the people, not the other way round.
The prevalent thinking now is to make the people pay for their healthcare directly. Can other ways be found? The govt will claim that it has no money to pay except to increase taxes. That unfortunately is true. So how? Ask the people who are being paid millions for the solution lah. So simple also dunno. Pay them millions for what? Heheh, they will tell you the best solution is for you to pay. Problem solved.
Gambling income for healthcare
We don’t have the two casinos before. Can the taxes from the casinos be applied to provide healthcare for the people? Why should this new and additional income be spread to other uses? Why not devote this source of income to care for the people’s medical well being? Why cannot? And if not enough, why can’t we take some from the Tote Board? The health of the people is key to the health of the economy and to generate revenue to pay the people called the govt.
Self Insured to take away insurance cost
The other point is to self insure at the national level. No need to pay to a huge organization and staff to manage an insurance scheme. No need to worry about paying for the middle men and profits for the shareholders and fat bonuses to the top management. This should do away with the unnecessary insurance cost.
National Healthcare must be basic and limited
A national health scheme must be limited in nature, nothing extravagant. Such a scheme must be limited to C class equivalent of services and care. Anyone who wants better services must pay for it. And it should all be about healthcare and not cosmetic care or frivolous medical treatments. The medical professionals can list out what to be excluded from the scheme. The medicine and equipment can also be generic if available. Anything better should be over and above and be paid by the patients that demanded for them.
Lower cost to those who need healthcare/Pay for use
The operating cost of a national healthcare scheme should avoid the costly frills of extravagance. The people can then be at ease of being assured of a basic healthcare plan and they need only to pay a small fee, at outpatient poly clinics or when hospitalized. There is No need to pay upfront whether they need or do not need through insurance premiums or minimum sums in the Medisave. Free the people’s savings for more immediate needs. A national healthcare scheme should not be entirely free to avoid waste, but not so prohibitive and costly. With the bulk of the cost coming from the casinos, the amount to be paid by the patients on needs basis can be greatly reduced.
Option to pay for more
The people would also have the choice of paying for higher level of services and the frills that come with the higher fees. What should come under the national health scheme and what should not can be worked out by the professionals.
Recompute healthcare costing/No ransom from the sick
Another area to review is the computation of cost. As a national health system, items like land cost need not be included or at least not marked to market. Without a profit motive, the cost should be more of consumption, recurring operating cost and cost of replacement. No market forces or mechanism nonsense.
These are just some general thoughts for input into a national healthcare scheme. The health of the people is the concern and interest of the state and not just the individuals. The details can be worked out by the people who are paid to do the job. At the moment the minds seem fixated to a particular model already. Can the authorities explore the unbeaten path, to take a plunge into uncharted waters? No insurance premiums to be paid up front, (paid by gambling revenues) free the people from their worries of huge medical bills without ripping their pockets by all kinds of funny schemes that boils down to the same thing…make the people pay?
Give people the choice
Give the people the CHOICE to pay, not the choice on how much and when to pay or compulsory to pay with eyes fixed on the money in the Medisave of citizens? A basic national healthcare system supported by gambling revenue and without having to tax on everyone who may not need to use it must be the way going forward. The people cannot be held captive by insurance and insurance and insurance and nothing else. The people cannot be forced to pay and pay and pay, compulsory some more with no option to opt out.
What is the point of paying out of this world salary if they cannot come out with out of this world solution? Is it too much for the people to expect or even demand out of this world solution? Some of the features mentioned above are not even out of this world, just plain commonsense and better utilization/allocation of funds with no wasteful payments into a nation wide insurance scheme when every daft Sinkie is made to pay like Santa Claus. Paying insurance is like making everyone pay for a few who are in need. We need a scheme where the sick need not be bankrupt by hefty hospital bills and the healthy need not have to pay. Are we so bankrupt of ideas? Shall we send a few teams overseas to learn from those that are not so talented than our top talents?
See, no need to make everyone pay insurance premiums, no need to lock people’s savings in the Medisave Minimum Sum scheme, no need to waste manpower to have a big organization to collect and manage the money. Unless of the course the whole objective is to take more money from the people, another devious taxation under a ‘for your own good’ scheme, then no need to waste time on feedbacks or CONversation with the people. Just make Medishield Life COMPULSORY. PERIOD.
There is a 20 to 25 years of cost to grow a baby into a productive worker to feed the economy. No babies, no workers, no economy. The babies are important and so are their growing and productive years. The only time they are less productive, not useless to the economy, is when they are in their retirement years. But not working does not mean not contributing to the economy. They consume goods and services and have to pay for them. They are still contributing to the economy.
If the people are so important to the govt and the economy why shouldn’t the govt take care of their health and well being? Without a healthy population, there is no healthy economy. Actually, like it or not, ultimately the people pay for their health and well being. There is no other way, but only a matter of nuances. Either the people pay directly or the govt pays from the taxes collected. The taxes are public money, not someone’s money, not OPM but TPM, The People’s Money.
To put things simply, the govt needs the people to be healthy to contribute to the economy, to produce goods and services, to consume goods and services, to pay taxes and to pay the thing called the govt. Why should the people pay for their good health to feed the economy and to pay the govt to be the govt? It is the govt and the system that needs the people, not the other way round.
The prevalent thinking now is to make the people pay for their healthcare directly. Can other ways be found? The govt will claim that it has no money to pay except to increase taxes. That unfortunately is true. So how? Ask the people who are being paid millions for the solution lah. So simple also dunno. Pay them millions for what? Heheh, they will tell you the best solution is for you to pay. Problem solved.
Gambling income for healthcare
We don’t have the two casinos before. Can the taxes from the casinos be applied to provide healthcare for the people? Why should this new and additional income be spread to other uses? Why not devote this source of income to care for the people’s medical well being? Why cannot? And if not enough, why can’t we take some from the Tote Board? The health of the people is key to the health of the economy and to generate revenue to pay the people called the govt.
Self Insured to take away insurance cost
The other point is to self insure at the national level. No need to pay to a huge organization and staff to manage an insurance scheme. No need to worry about paying for the middle men and profits for the shareholders and fat bonuses to the top management. This should do away with the unnecessary insurance cost.
National Healthcare must be basic and limited
A national health scheme must be limited in nature, nothing extravagant. Such a scheme must be limited to C class equivalent of services and care. Anyone who wants better services must pay for it. And it should all be about healthcare and not cosmetic care or frivolous medical treatments. The medical professionals can list out what to be excluded from the scheme. The medicine and equipment can also be generic if available. Anything better should be over and above and be paid by the patients that demanded for them.
Lower cost to those who need healthcare/Pay for use
The operating cost of a national healthcare scheme should avoid the costly frills of extravagance. The people can then be at ease of being assured of a basic healthcare plan and they need only to pay a small fee, at outpatient poly clinics or when hospitalized. There is No need to pay upfront whether they need or do not need through insurance premiums or minimum sums in the Medisave. Free the people’s savings for more immediate needs. A national healthcare scheme should not be entirely free to avoid waste, but not so prohibitive and costly. With the bulk of the cost coming from the casinos, the amount to be paid by the patients on needs basis can be greatly reduced.
Option to pay for more
The people would also have the choice of paying for higher level of services and the frills that come with the higher fees. What should come under the national health scheme and what should not can be worked out by the professionals.
Recompute healthcare costing/No ransom from the sick
Another area to review is the computation of cost. As a national health system, items like land cost need not be included or at least not marked to market. Without a profit motive, the cost should be more of consumption, recurring operating cost and cost of replacement. No market forces or mechanism nonsense.
These are just some general thoughts for input into a national healthcare scheme. The health of the people is the concern and interest of the state and not just the individuals. The details can be worked out by the people who are paid to do the job. At the moment the minds seem fixated to a particular model already. Can the authorities explore the unbeaten path, to take a plunge into uncharted waters? No insurance premiums to be paid up front, (paid by gambling revenues) free the people from their worries of huge medical bills without ripping their pockets by all kinds of funny schemes that boils down to the same thing…make the people pay?
Give people the choice
Give the people the CHOICE to pay, not the choice on how much and when to pay or compulsory to pay with eyes fixed on the money in the Medisave of citizens? A basic national healthcare system supported by gambling revenue and without having to tax on everyone who may not need to use it must be the way going forward. The people cannot be held captive by insurance and insurance and insurance and nothing else. The people cannot be forced to pay and pay and pay, compulsory some more with no option to opt out.
What is the point of paying out of this world salary if they cannot come out with out of this world solution? Is it too much for the people to expect or even demand out of this world solution? Some of the features mentioned above are not even out of this world, just plain commonsense and better utilization/allocation of funds with no wasteful payments into a nation wide insurance scheme when every daft Sinkie is made to pay like Santa Claus. Paying insurance is like making everyone pay for a few who are in need. We need a scheme where the sick need not be bankrupt by hefty hospital bills and the healthy need not have to pay. Are we so bankrupt of ideas? Shall we send a few teams overseas to learn from those that are not so talented than our top talents?
See, no need to make everyone pay insurance premiums, no need to lock people’s savings in the Medisave Minimum Sum scheme, no need to waste manpower to have a big organization to collect and manage the money. Unless of the course the whole objective is to take more money from the people, another devious taxation under a ‘for your own good’ scheme, then no need to waste time on feedbacks or CONversation with the people. Just make Medishield Life COMPULSORY. PERIOD.
11/19/2013
DBS doing National Service
‘Thousands of HDB homeowners are turning to DBS Bank for a mortgage product that guarantees savings.
Those who took up a POSB HDB loan when it was launched in April could be looking at savings of as much as $1,600 by next month, calculations from DBS showed.…
The first POSB HDB loan pilot launch – where homebuyers enjoyed a floating-rate loan with interest capped below the HDB concessionary rate for 10 years – was fully sold.
The bank is now into its second offering, which charges the same rate but for eight years, said Ms Lui.
The current POSB HDB loan charges for the first eight years the three-month Sibor (Singapore interbank offered rate) plus 1.38 per cent, capped at the CPF Ordinary Account rate. The current CPF Ordinary Account rate is 2.50 per cent.
Thereafter, the loan charges three-month Sibor plus 1.48 per cent. The September three-month Sibor is 0.374 per cent.
The HDB concessionary loan now charges 2.60 per cent, which consists of 0.10 per cent plus the CPF Ordinary Account rate of 2.50 per cent. Based on the three-month Sibor of 0.38 per cent, borrowers who switch from the HDB concessionary loan will pay a lower interest rate of 1.75 per cent.
For a homebuyer refinancing from the HDB in April, based on a loan of $400,000 and 25-year tenor, the potential savings over six months amount to $1,684.
And should interest rates rise over the next eight years, DBS guarantees that it will be capped at the CPF Ordinary Account rate of 2.50 per cent or 0.10 per cent below the HDB concessionary rate….’
The above is posted by Thoughts of a Cynical Investor in his blog. What is obnoxious is that bank housing loan rates have been below the rates charged by HDB for years and why is HDB is charging 2.6%? Making money from daft citizens is so easy as long as they don’t complain.
Those who took up a POSB HDB loan when it was launched in April could be looking at savings of as much as $1,600 by next month, calculations from DBS showed.…
The first POSB HDB loan pilot launch – where homebuyers enjoyed a floating-rate loan with interest capped below the HDB concessionary rate for 10 years – was fully sold.
The bank is now into its second offering, which charges the same rate but for eight years, said Ms Lui.
The current POSB HDB loan charges for the first eight years the three-month Sibor (Singapore interbank offered rate) plus 1.38 per cent, capped at the CPF Ordinary Account rate. The current CPF Ordinary Account rate is 2.50 per cent.
Thereafter, the loan charges three-month Sibor plus 1.48 per cent. The September three-month Sibor is 0.374 per cent.
The HDB concessionary loan now charges 2.60 per cent, which consists of 0.10 per cent plus the CPF Ordinary Account rate of 2.50 per cent. Based on the three-month Sibor of 0.38 per cent, borrowers who switch from the HDB concessionary loan will pay a lower interest rate of 1.75 per cent.
For a homebuyer refinancing from the HDB in April, based on a loan of $400,000 and 25-year tenor, the potential savings over six months amount to $1,684.
And should interest rates rise over the next eight years, DBS guarantees that it will be capped at the CPF Ordinary Account rate of 2.50 per cent or 0.10 per cent below the HDB concessionary rate….’
The above is posted by Thoughts of a Cynical Investor in his blog. What is obnoxious is that bank housing loan rates have been below the rates charged by HDB for years and why is HDB is charging 2.6%? Making money from daft citizens is so easy as long as they don’t complain.
WP’s frightening silence
The Workers Party has skipped many controversial social and political
issues with a stony silence. Many critics have accused the WP for opting
out, for losing its balls, and choosing the easy way out by keeping
silence. This non committal strategy is frowned upon by those who expect
the biggest opposition party to take the ruling party on important
issues, at the very least. And many have expressed disappointment with
the WP, some even claiming that it has been bought over by the ruling
party.
Within a matter of days, two outspoken MPs from the ruling party have lashed out at the WP for their reticence on the hijab issue. They accused the WP for sitting on the fence by not taking sides and leaving the PAP to make a stand that is not well received by the Muslim community. It will cost the PAP dearly in votes from the community. This has made the PAP fuming mad as it cannot win on this issue.
WP’s silence is the best strategy for the moment. Let the PAP confront the Muslim community alone and take the blow. WP only stands to gain by being neutral. The strategy works if it can extract strong reactions from the PAP. And judging from the frustrating comments by Indranee and Hri Kumar, the WP is not only scoring without lifting a finger, it puts the PAP in a very defensive and uncomfortable position and feeling the full weight bearing on them. The attack also proves that WP has not been bought over or has sold out on its political mission.
The strategist in Low Thia Khiang is showing itself again. The PAP has been rattled and could not do anything about it except to provoke the WP to stand up and be shot at. You can bet the WP would stay even lower and let PAP face the wrath of the Malay community all alone.
Who says a political party must always kpkb to be effective? WP’s silence is not only effective, but also very unnerving.
Within a matter of days, two outspoken MPs from the ruling party have lashed out at the WP for their reticence on the hijab issue. They accused the WP for sitting on the fence by not taking sides and leaving the PAP to make a stand that is not well received by the Muslim community. It will cost the PAP dearly in votes from the community. This has made the PAP fuming mad as it cannot win on this issue.
WP’s silence is the best strategy for the moment. Let the PAP confront the Muslim community alone and take the blow. WP only stands to gain by being neutral. The strategy works if it can extract strong reactions from the PAP. And judging from the frustrating comments by Indranee and Hri Kumar, the WP is not only scoring without lifting a finger, it puts the PAP in a very defensive and uncomfortable position and feeling the full weight bearing on them. The attack also proves that WP has not been bought over or has sold out on its political mission.
The strategist in Low Thia Khiang is showing itself again. The PAP has been rattled and could not do anything about it except to provoke the WP to stand up and be shot at. You can bet the WP would stay even lower and let PAP face the wrath of the Malay community all alone.
Who says a political party must always kpkb to be effective? WP’s silence is not only effective, but also very unnerving.
11/18/2013
There was a time – Jean Yeo
This is a six part series produced by Jean and Pedro and shown on Channel 5 at 9 pm every Monday. Tonight was the first half of the 1964 racial riot in Singapore. The next half will be shown on ncxt Monday. I am not sure how many of you have seen this episode and the other episodes of early Singapore.
I was in Secondary Two then. Still a bit young to really
understand what was going on but could not miss the fear and tension of those
days. My memory was still vivid on that night, in a coolie keng in Borneo
Road. This was a row of double storey prewar
houses with 9 units attached together and an open verandah on the upper floor.
One unit was occupied by a lone Malay family, two by Indians, one of which was
an Indian coolie keng. The rest were Chinese families. Though only nine units,
there were many Chinese families as each family occupied just one room with the
exception of three units. There were several rows of shophouses along the
adjacent Nelson Road. The
nearest cluster of Malay residents was in a govt quarters at Miri
Road about 50 metres away. It was a mixture of
Malays, Indians and a few Chinese families.
I was sitting there with more than ten Chinese coolies, all
male singles from China
in their 40s and 50s. Remembered them looking at me, an excited little boy in
their midst. They did not say anything to me. They were very calm and did not
seem to want to do anything or were bothered by the news of the racial riots in
Geylang. No weapons were prepared, but as coolies there were many wooden poles
under the long beds if needed. There were no talks of going after the nearest
Malay kampong in Radin Mas a km away.
Outside there were movements of people. The gangsters had a
job cut out for them. They became the much needed guardians of the
neighbourhood. Over the few days of curfew, nothing really happened in the
neighbourhood. Not a single incident. The Malay family were not disturbed at
all. But one could imagine their fear living in a Chinese neighbourhood.
I think this was the normal state of affairs in many areas
when the non Malays were the majority. The clashes were in Malay majority areas
in Kampong Glam, Geylang and Eunos areas. This could explain that the riots
were likely to be incited by foreigners.
The only event that came pretty close was the death of a
woman that I happened to know. I used to call on them to collect night soil
removal fees, the bucket system that we provided as a side income to some of
the households in kampong Radin Mas. It was weeks later that news of her
killing reached us. That dreadful night her family members heard her scream
just a little distance from their attap hut. It was not the right thing to be
brave to rush out. They collected her body the next morning on a path leading
to their home. By then we had stopped providing the service and I no longer run
all over the kampong to collect the monthly fees.
The tragic event of 1964 was called a racial riot in Singapore.
The non Malays clashed with the rioters and fought for their lives. And there
were the presence of impartial law enforcers to keep everything in control.
Though we were in Malaysia,
the patrols were conducted by teams of mixed racial origins officers to ensure
that every incident was evenly handled. Within the local communities there were
really no bad blood or deep rooted baggages to allow the riots to be blown out
of proportion.
The riots in neighbouring Malaysia
and Indonesia
were misnomers. They were killing the Chinese in those days, with the partial
law on the side of the killers. Many Chinese were brutally killed in both
countries that the Chinese media termed the events as ‘pai hua’ or killing of
Chinese. They were not racial riots but highly racist mobs out to kill the
Chinese.
This dark part of our history came and gone and hopefully
would not be repeated again. The HDB policy of allocating flats to different
ethnic groups to prevent any concentration of a particular race had its origin
from this tragic past. We must not take the small discomfort and inconvenience
of such policies lightly and think it is ok to remove them without taking heed
to our history. What happened in 1964 was nothing compares to the events in Malaysia
and Indonesia
that were best not spoken. The wounds have healed but the ugly scars are still
there.
It is worth watching the second part of the 1964 riots next
Monday and to hear the personal encounters of the people who are still living
with us. We must learn from our past, our history and our mistakes and not to
let it ever be repeated. We must not be complacent to what can go wrong once
again. Never take racial harmony for granted.
Daft Sinkies will lose their country
The Malays in Malaysia will never lose their country. They are fully
conscious and politically aware that they are the owners of their land.
The daft Chinese almost lost China when the country was ruled by a
minority tribe, the Manchus, who cared more of their tribe’s interest
than the interest of the bigger country China, chose to protect their
own interest. As long as they could preserve their dynasty, even just
the forbidden city, the rest of China can go to the foreigners. When the
Chinese people did not believe in themselves, lost confidence and
faith, did not believe that they own the country, they just give up.
Foreigners were everywhere in China, with more rights than the citizens.
China was lucky that a new elite emerged to gather the lost Chinese together, to politicize them again, to renew their faith and patriotic love in their country, to take back their country. The rest is history.
Singapore is at a juncture when the lost sheep is led by blind shepherds that only believe in selling the wool to make more money. They would sell the sheep and the pen if the money is good. No one cares about the country and the people. It is laissez faire, and money can buy anything. The rich are intoxicated with the money they have made, and everyone is trying to make more money, selling land and properties and whatever they have, for more money.
Sinkies no longer think about country. Sinkies no longer believe that they own this country. Sinkies were told to share this country with any Tom, Dick and Harry. It is like lelong, come all and take all, come and feast. Whoever can and willing, can take and have everything. There is no ownership, no country, just a hotel.
While the rich Sinkies are merrymaking and laughing to the banks, the average Sinkies are lost, without a leader to lead. They simply give up, not fighting anymore. Don’t know how to fight or what to fight for. If Sinkies do not think they own this piece of land and allow others to take it away from them by default, they deserve to lose their country.
While they remain apathetic and disinterested, others are not. There are many waiting and scheming to take this island from the daft and pathetic Sinkies. And the good part, the daft Sinkies don’t even know that it is happening. The world is so innocent and beautiful to the daft Sinkies. They could not see the sinister hand of the real world at work. Their island home is slowly slipping away from their limp fingers. Their country is being taken away right before their eyes, wide shut.
Sinkies better wake up before it is too late. This is their only home, their country. Lose it and you will become boat people. The rich will fly away to be rich in other countries. Those left behind will not go on to live a life like what they have today, if they lose their country. And they will lose it, under a rogue govt of bad leaders that think of nothing but their self interest.
Do not adopt a tiada apa attitude and let this country become a hotel.
China was lucky that a new elite emerged to gather the lost Chinese together, to politicize them again, to renew their faith and patriotic love in their country, to take back their country. The rest is history.
Singapore is at a juncture when the lost sheep is led by blind shepherds that only believe in selling the wool to make more money. They would sell the sheep and the pen if the money is good. No one cares about the country and the people. It is laissez faire, and money can buy anything. The rich are intoxicated with the money they have made, and everyone is trying to make more money, selling land and properties and whatever they have, for more money.
Sinkies no longer think about country. Sinkies no longer believe that they own this country. Sinkies were told to share this country with any Tom, Dick and Harry. It is like lelong, come all and take all, come and feast. Whoever can and willing, can take and have everything. There is no ownership, no country, just a hotel.
While the rich Sinkies are merrymaking and laughing to the banks, the average Sinkies are lost, without a leader to lead. They simply give up, not fighting anymore. Don’t know how to fight or what to fight for. If Sinkies do not think they own this piece of land and allow others to take it away from them by default, they deserve to lose their country.
While they remain apathetic and disinterested, others are not. There are many waiting and scheming to take this island from the daft and pathetic Sinkies. And the good part, the daft Sinkies don’t even know that it is happening. The world is so innocent and beautiful to the daft Sinkies. They could not see the sinister hand of the real world at work. Their island home is slowly slipping away from their limp fingers. Their country is being taken away right before their eyes, wide shut.
Sinkies better wake up before it is too late. This is their only home, their country. Lose it and you will become boat people. The rich will fly away to be rich in other countries. Those left behind will not go on to live a life like what they have today, if they lose their country. And they will lose it, under a rogue govt of bad leaders that think of nothing but their self interest.
Do not adopt a tiada apa attitude and let this country become a hotel.
The insanity of the rich Singaporeans
Yes, Sinkies are rich, high income and high spending. Many are worth
half a million or more just be housing alone. But one thing the Sinkies
did not bargain for or fail to realise, the money in their pockets,
savings and bank accounts flies away faster than the money of their
peers in the neighbouring countries. Our money cannot be kept for too
long and keep flowing out and many would have serious problems on
retirements, selling houses and flats to get by.
Our neighbours may not have big incomes, but the money they have somehow stay with them much longer. And when they look forward to retirement, they have no fear of losing their homes, the homes they bought and lived for their whole lives, just to have some money to get by.
Be careful with your money. They are here today, gone today. One can have hundreds of thousands wiped out without knowing what is happening. This is going to be the shocking reality that rich Sinkies would have to come to terms with. The bulk of the ‘rich’ sinkies, notably the average living in public housing, will realise that the equation will come to nought when they reach the end of their life journey. In a way it is a zero sum game, every cent planned to be used for just this life time. Nothing left in their CPF or savings, not even their HDB flat when it is game over.
The ability to plan to such details to perfection is really an amazing art of ‘gum gum ho’. The precision is an engineering feat unmatched anywhere in the world.
Our neighbours may not have big incomes, but the money they have somehow stay with them much longer. And when they look forward to retirement, they have no fear of losing their homes, the homes they bought and lived for their whole lives, just to have some money to get by.
Be careful with your money. They are here today, gone today. One can have hundreds of thousands wiped out without knowing what is happening. This is going to be the shocking reality that rich Sinkies would have to come to terms with. The bulk of the ‘rich’ sinkies, notably the average living in public housing, will realise that the equation will come to nought when they reach the end of their life journey. In a way it is a zero sum game, every cent planned to be used for just this life time. Nothing left in their CPF or savings, not even their HDB flat when it is game over.
The ability to plan to such details to perfection is really an amazing art of ‘gum gum ho’. The precision is an engineering feat unmatched anywhere in the world.
The New Heroes – A New Chapter
The most unlikely new hero in this queer little city state is an
anonymous masked man infamously called The Messiah. He hacked into the
websites of public institutions, including the PMO and the Istana. And
some people clapped and called him the Robin Hood of the oppressed. He
has been unmasked as James Raj, a drug addict on the run, and the hacker
that threatened the govt. This revelation still did not arouse a
barrage of attacks and criticisms for what he had done which everyone
would admit was not a proper thing to do.
The myth and mystery of the mask have been removed. In the eyes of the law, he is a criminal waiting trial and may serve terms behind bars. He is on the wrong side of the law. Then out of the blue came this ‘Support James Raj, victim of the Singapore Govt’. This is an article appearing in TRS and authored by Andy Xian Wong. Wow! This is another challenge to the govt, no longer anonymous. This is a very brave act indeed, literally condoning a wrongful act.
Nevermind, my discourse is about the making of New Heroes in this uncertain time. A hacker attacking and threatening the govt is received by quite a number of people as a hero. And he is not the only one. Many that were tarred and feathered are now seen as heroes in the eyes of some quarters of the population.
M Ravi, the famous and one and only human rights lawyer in this city is also worshipped as another new hero. He has taken up many high profile and politically tainted cases for the underdogs, motivated not by money but by a sense of justice and fair play. He has been victorious so far. Despite the saga when he was almost bundled into the Institute of Mental Health and not seeing daylight. Some learned people had claimed that he was mad or suffering from mental illness that made him unfit to be a lawyer, he is now standing taller than before. He is definitely not mad and every inch a lawyer, and a righteous one.
The victims of the Marxist Conspiracy and Operation Cold Store have written their stories and are seen with a different light. Dr Poh Soo Kai is quietly acknowledged as another hero in the hearts of many Singaporeans, and so were his comrades.
And there is Chee Soon Juan and his SDP. Charged in court several times, faced bankruptcy, branded, dishonest for claiming a few dollars more on taxi fares and using university postage instead of paying for himself, he is being revived, and gaining more popularity and support from the people. His party is growing and he is becoming more credible and a political force to be reckoned with in the next GE.
And of course there was the famous JBJ. His name will be forever etched in the history books of this city as the most tenacious politician that would not fall. He took all the body blows and stood up again and again. He fought a political career and lost everything, but gained everything in respect from the people. He is an icon of sort.
A new chapter is being written with New Heroes in the making. Salted fish resurrected. Many salted fish will be resurrected as the new heros of this queer city. They need not be scholars or eminent doctors or lawyers with a string of degrees. They are the ordinary citizens, the ordinary Singaporeans who care for this country and its citizens, the Singaporeans. They are standing up to take on an onerous and arduous task of reclaiming and reconstructing the country and the lives of its citizens, to write a new chapter of its history.
The myth and mystery of the mask have been removed. In the eyes of the law, he is a criminal waiting trial and may serve terms behind bars. He is on the wrong side of the law. Then out of the blue came this ‘Support James Raj, victim of the Singapore Govt’. This is an article appearing in TRS and authored by Andy Xian Wong. Wow! This is another challenge to the govt, no longer anonymous. This is a very brave act indeed, literally condoning a wrongful act.
Nevermind, my discourse is about the making of New Heroes in this uncertain time. A hacker attacking and threatening the govt is received by quite a number of people as a hero. And he is not the only one. Many that were tarred and feathered are now seen as heroes in the eyes of some quarters of the population.
M Ravi, the famous and one and only human rights lawyer in this city is also worshipped as another new hero. He has taken up many high profile and politically tainted cases for the underdogs, motivated not by money but by a sense of justice and fair play. He has been victorious so far. Despite the saga when he was almost bundled into the Institute of Mental Health and not seeing daylight. Some learned people had claimed that he was mad or suffering from mental illness that made him unfit to be a lawyer, he is now standing taller than before. He is definitely not mad and every inch a lawyer, and a righteous one.
The victims of the Marxist Conspiracy and Operation Cold Store have written their stories and are seen with a different light. Dr Poh Soo Kai is quietly acknowledged as another hero in the hearts of many Singaporeans, and so were his comrades.
And there is Chee Soon Juan and his SDP. Charged in court several times, faced bankruptcy, branded, dishonest for claiming a few dollars more on taxi fares and using university postage instead of paying for himself, he is being revived, and gaining more popularity and support from the people. His party is growing and he is becoming more credible and a political force to be reckoned with in the next GE.
And of course there was the famous JBJ. His name will be forever etched in the history books of this city as the most tenacious politician that would not fall. He took all the body blows and stood up again and again. He fought a political career and lost everything, but gained everything in respect from the people. He is an icon of sort.
A new chapter is being written with New Heroes in the making. Salted fish resurrected. Many salted fish will be resurrected as the new heros of this queer city. They need not be scholars or eminent doctors or lawyers with a string of degrees. They are the ordinary citizens, the ordinary Singaporeans who care for this country and its citizens, the Singaporeans. They are standing up to take on an onerous and arduous task of reclaiming and reconstructing the country and the lives of its citizens, to write a new chapter of its history.
11/17/2013
Do you know why Malaysia refused to introduce National Service?
I think we all know the answer. No country will train and
arm people who are suspects or potential enemies of the state. The Japanese had
an immaculate and ambitious long term plan to conquer the world by sending
their people as migrants overseas, to China
and Southeast Asia and as far as the USA.
They took several decades before they called on these Japanese in their new countries
to rise to serve their Empire against their host nations.
I dunno whether we are too smart to the verge to becoming
stupid, or too gullible and trusting to foreigners that we welcomed so many
with our legs wide open and waiting for something to shaft into the hole.
Foreigners are given citizenships so easily and so happy to make them serve in
our armed forces. We lost two of our brightest boys in Sydney
in the hands of a new citizen.
The latest, we want foreigners, PRs, to serve in our
volunteer army, to be trained to handle weapons and taught the art of war,
believing that they would not turn against us. They could be many sleepers now
in the armed forces, all appearing so loyal and obedient, perfect new citizens.
Some may even be in positions of high commands.
We are truly unique in our psychic, so naïve and gullible of
foreigners, the unknown elements, like the daft citizens welcoming strangers
into their homes to look after their young and old. So many families have met
with tragic ends. Is the risk worth taking, so foolishly? We do not believe is
guarding against strangers. We want to integrate them to be one of us. I think
training and taming the tigers would be a safer bet.
Rich communists
This is a recent photo of some Chinese villagers in the Northeastern
part of China. (Picture credit to China Daily). They were teachers and students standing in front of a school. China is hit by falling admission of students in the village
schools as the young migrated to the big cities. What is nice to note is
the clothing they are wearing, the warm clothings and shoes. The school building is also quite new. This is
2013.
In the 50s and 60s, and even 70s, looking at their photos was like looking into poverty. I still have some black and white photos of my relatives in the 70s, in their best for photo taking. The children were barefooted and the adults, at best, were wearing slippers or sandals. The shirts and dresses were worse than the cheap sales in our pasar malam.
Those were the days that we even had to send food and western medicine to them. They have come a very long way, from abject poverty, without pride or dignity, to become the second largest economy in the world and challenging the Americans with the number of billionaires and millionaires. This is the new China, a very rich communist country.
What can $4.3b buy?
Last few days we were all marvelling at the new $4.3b
wonders in Marina South. There were some comparisons as to what $4.3b could buy
other than a 5km stretch of roads albeit underground and under the sea. This
kind of thing is something daft Sinkies have heard of for the first time. It
was touted as a great engineering feat, maybe can rival the pyramids. The
tourists will soon be landing on this city to ogle at this 8th
Wonders of the World.
$4.3b can buy something like 43,000 of the latest buses for
public transport, or 10,000 units of 5 rm HDB flats. This morning I was
enlightened by a better idea on what $4.3b can buy. India
has taken delivery of its latest aircraft carrier, an old Russian refit, at a
cost of $2.9b. This ship can carry 30 fighter aircraft on board and a crew of
2,000. With a bit more we can have the whole complements of aircraft as well.
And if we buy a few junk banks or junk stocks less, we could easily buy 3 or 4
or these aircraft carriers. Then we need not spend so much money stationing our
fly boys and their families and aircraft overseas.
Someone in Mindef may want to do a bit of paper shuffling to
evaluate the cost of buying a few of these aircraft carriers versus stationing
our hardware and soldiers in the other half of the globe. The aircraft carrier
group can be floating nearby in the South
China Seas.
Think it would be cheap and more effective, closer to home and can take up its
combat duties immediately when needed, just a few minutes away.
At $2.9b a piece, it is cheap. Throwing $10b we can have 3
to form a carrier battle group that would dwarf those owned by any Asian
powers. Wow, the most powerful military state in Asia,
for $10b or two underground roads. This must be worth considering. It is a
bargain.
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