Western media bias

‘Reactions to Russian View. Our last Readers’ Post page carried a view by the Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Singapore, Mr Dmitry Ryakhovskiy, who criticized the media for publishing biased accounts by Western news agencies about the ongoing crisis in the Ukraine. Below are the reactions via email, the ST Readers’ Post where the article was posted online, and in ST Facebook, to the Russian view.

Louis Tan: Unfortunately many have been indoctrinated by the American and Western brainwashing or simply just do not read or question what is being reported which is why Western press still holds sway.  It is time to turn back the tide and remove the stigma America and the West have painted of Russia as the ‘bad’ guy when they are far from ‘holy’. So, yes. More (such) reports should be presented in The Straits Times.’ ST

I sported the above in the ST on 12 May. It was like an advertorial or a paid advertisement. What was interesting were the views of some bloggers that the ST had been selling views of the Americans and the West, slanted in their favour particularly against the Russians, China and the Muslim world.

I have personally felt that many international articles published in reputable media around the world were actually as good as propaganda, very biased and unintellectual, more like the works of insurgents. And they were published in the main media and very likely the media even paid for the right to publish them. I hope I am wrong on this and it is the other way, that such propagandistic articles would only be printed with the author or source paying for the right to be given a space in the main media. The fee should be more than commercial advertisements as these are highly biased and distorted articles to serve a political agenda. The media could make a pile publishing such articles if they don’t mind the distortions and untruths as a source of income.

I often asked myself whether the media staff are so dull to be publishing other people’s poison laced political statements in the guise of journalistic or academic works when in reality they are politically motivated propaganda with a hidden and dangerous agenda? The source of such articles would be most willing to pay handsomely to be allowed to be published in reputable media. And the media staff are so eager and willing to even pay the source with good money to carry them in their reputable papers and undermining the credibility and reputation of their media.

It is quite ridiculous and stupid really if reputable media have to pay for the right to publish other people’s politically motivated articles, views or ‘news’.  So pathetic.

Kopi Level - Green

Return our CPF Petition by Roy Ngerng

Roy Ngerng has started a petition at https://www.change.org/petitions/the-singapore-government-return-our-cpf-2. He will also be holding a rally at Hong Lim on 7 June at 4 pm to call on the Govt to return the CPF to its rightful owners at 55 and higher interest rates for the CPF savings among other things.

The CPF is an issue that touches the pockets of every Sinkie and will affect those who have hit 55 recently, and those younger that will come along through the years. Millions of Sinkies will fall victims to the CPF Schemes with their life savings locked away by strangers who claimed to be doing it for their good. And not only will these strangers decide when and how much to return to the Sinkies, they could even decide how to spend it by their audacious compulsory schemes. Reminds me of the days of warlordism in China.

I hope Roy will monitor the progress of his petition. I have noticed that he is using a different platform from that used by William Lim calling for the PM to resign. That petition is so heavily rigged that it is going no where. If it is allowed to run normally, my estimate is that it could hit at least 20,000 or 30,000 signatures conservatively. It is still hovering around 2,000 signatories. Would this petition of Roy go the same way, to oblivion, through rigging and neglect?

I have yet to hear William Lim making any comment on the state of his petition. Maybe he has other reasons not to say anything. Maybe it was a spur of the moment to start that petition and it is as good as to let it die a natural death. Nothing serious, not meant to be serious.

How many Sinkies will sign Roy’s petition? How many Sinkies will think it important enough to attend the rally at Hong Lim? When times are good, when the people do not have to fall back on their CPF savings, when they have other sources of fund, they may be reluctant or lack the motivation to want to make their voices and grievances heard. This is bad as people in charge may say, see, no complain, no protest, only 200, so the people are happy and they can go on with more schemes in the future.

When times are bad, when the people are desperate to lay their hands on their CPF savings, the temperature would be different. They may tear down the walls of CPF to get hold of their money. Just hope that the people are not desperate enough. Just hope that the younger generations are as easy to manipulate and docile enough not to do anything when their money are locked away against their wishes, like the older generations.

Would the people rise and march to Hong Lim on 7 June to demand for the return of their CPF savings?

Kopi Level - Green

Littlespeck downs his pen - Seah Chiang Nee

‘A generation of Malaysians and readers around the world have grown up with Seah Chiang Nee’s columns on Singapore. Illness, however, has forced him to ease up and he has decided to stop being a columnist in The Star. In this farewell interview with Soo Ewe Jin, Seah gives his readers an insight into his illustrious career as a journalist.
FOR the past 28 years, readers of this newspaper have been given a weekly analysis of the goings-on in Singapore through the column of veteran journalist Seah Chiang Nee, Insight Down South.
 
Seah began his career in 1960 as a Reuters correspondent based in Singapore. During that 10-year stint, he was in (then south) Vietnam for 40 months to cover the war.
He joined the Singapore Herald in 1970, as Malaysia bureau chief and later as news editor, before it was forced to close after a run-in with the Singapore Government.
From 1972 to 1973, he worked for The Asian, the world’s first regional weekly newspaper, based in Bangkok, to cover Thailand and Indochina – Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
 
He then moved on to be news editor of the Hong Kong Standard before returning to Singapore in 1974 to serve as foreign editor with The Straits Times.
 
From 1982 to 1985, he served as editor of the Singapore Monitor. And in 1986, he started writing for The Star. Seah also became the first South-East Asian to undergo a heart transplant at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital back in 1985.
And he already belongs to that rare club of those who have lived for more than 20 years as a heart transplant patient.
 
Because of age and health reasons, Seah will no longer be writing his column. In an email interview, he reflects on this journey with The Star….’
 
The above is a piece in the Star Online written by Soo Ewe Jin in honour of this senior gentleman of the media. He lived through it, through the tumultuous period of Singapore as a young new nation, its flirtation with Malaysia and then independence as a new nation, prospered and be what it is today. Whether Chiang Nee would have the privilege of seeing the next change to this prosperous nation, or for how long more, only God knows.
 
For those who are unfamiliar, Chiang Nee is the first heart transplant patient and the longest surviving one, alive. May he enjoy his retirement and get a good rest watching from the safety on the sideline and also have the pleasure of time to reflect on the days gone by.
 
Best wishes, Chiang Nee, the grand old man of the media.

CPF becoming a hot potato issue

With the latest increases in the Minimum Sum to be retained in the CPF and Medisave Accounts, the CPF savings scheme is now a hot potato issue among the account holders. Many felt cheated while some felt glad that the govt is raising the minimum sum to provide for their retirement needs. Below are two comments from bloggers in the TRE on this topic.

1. Sperm:
Likely PAP squandered away all our CPF money , we become a country of bankrupts ?
 
2. Im a layman.
I dont concur because I ask myself a few questions first.
Did the CPF ever default since its inception in 1955?
The ruling party has a non nonsense reputation when it comes to credibility & integrity in finance.
It has fed this donkey (cpf) with a higher than bank savings rate since inception so that the people will have a bigger nest egg.
Which member upon reaching 55 and minusing the prescribed asset hasnt been paid back the balance?
 
Commentator Sperm belongs to one camp that is being troubled by this obsession and funny logic to keep raising the minimum sum. They are suspicious and worried that the CPF has not enough money to pay them and has to resort to locking away their savings by all kinds of schemes and means for as long as it can. How valid are their concerns and suspicions? At best it is only a gut feel as nobody really knows and the govt is not coming up with official statistics except statements to assure the people that their money is safe.
 
In the case of commentator ‘I m a layman’, he is a happy man. He is very confident that all the money is there and there is nothing to worry about. He even commented that until now, the govt has not defaulted in any payments to the account holders when they reached the retirement age of 55. And he is right. Those who had reached the age of 55 earlier had happily received their CPF savings in cash. Those that reached 55 in the last few years also had received some of their money in cash but with some of their savings lock up in Minimum Sums Schemes and Medisave. But they are not complaining much as they still got to receive a fairly substantial sum at 55.
 
Now this is a thing of the past. The new 55 can only withdrawal the amount after setting aside the minimum sums in the RA and MA, nearly $200k or $5k as many did not have enough to cover the minimum sums. The govt is not renegating on the payout at 55. The govt sure pay out if one has the money to be paid out. Just make sure your balances are more than the two minimum sums and you will receive your money.
 
Now who is accusing the govt for not being able to meet their obligations and not paying out the money when it is due? Not true right. So commentator ‘I m a layman’ is right. Do not underestimate the intelligence of a layman. He is clever like hell. You cannot cheat a layman unless he volunteers to be cheated, willingly, happily and gratefully.

Kopi Level - Yellow

Cherian George joining HK university

I just have to write about Cherian George. You know how difficult it is and how much resources are needed to produce a professor in this city? Do you know how much more difficult it is to produce a good professor that is worth his title? Cherian George is one of the rarity, an ex journalist who has earned his stripes and good enough to be ‘promoted to associate professor in 2009, the same year he won a teaching excellence award from the university (NTU)’. And he received his doctorate not from some funny university but from Stanford University. Stanford, my friend, is no funny university but among the best in the USA and in the world.

NTU did not seem to be flattered by his qualifications and his teaching excellence. Maybe it is a kind of policy to send our talents overseas and replace them with foreign talents from overseas to create the right kind of buzz and the right kind of vibrancy that local talents cannot offer. Maybe George will have a better chance if he takes up a foreign citizenship and return as a FT.

Cherian George is going to Hong Kong’s Baptist University’s School of Communication. I am wondering if this exchange is good for the grooming and nurturing of local talents. Or is it that instant trees are still the way to go, instant foreign talents are the best.

Best wishes to Cherian George. Hong Kong has gained a talent that we rejected. We should send more recruitment teams overseas to recruit Sinkie talents to come back home. Cherian, just wait, in a few years time there may be a Sinkie team going to Hong Kong to beg you to come back and tell you how good this city state is and how valuable you are and how much they missed you.

Kopi Level - Yellow

Food for thought – No security breach

When the bank manager arrived at the bank on Monday morning, everything was normal. The security guards were at their post. The security cameras were working normally. The doors were locked as usual and he had to unlock it with his bunch of keys.

He opened the vault to check everything was fine. Yes, everything was fine. The vault was all in order, nothing missing, except the money in the vault.

He called a press conference. During the briefing he told the media, there was no breach of security. All the locks and security apparatus were not tempered with and working fine. We have the best security system guarding the bank.

Only the money was missing.

Have a good Sunday.

Graffiti vandals – are they NSmen?

Many people are wondering if the 5 young men are NSmen given their newly shaven heads. The fact that they are 17 said no. But they could be preparing for their enlistment as 18 is just around the corner. Some said their heads were shaven after being arrested. This I find it difficult to believe. I remember clearly that the rioters I the Little India case were not shaven at all. Can anyone confirm this? I may have dementia you know. I am sure the police have SOP about when and how to shave the heads of people under their care. Innocent until proven guilty. The young men, or actually children as legally defined since they are below 18, have not been found guilty by the courts yet. Is there a procedure to shave their heads?

I am very sure that army boys when enlisted will have their heads shaven on the first day. I am very sure all convicted prisoners will also have their heads shaven on the first day in prison. The boys are not convicted prisoners yet. Who ordered their heads to be shaven and is it the proper thing to do? But we are presuming, the boys could have shaven their own heads to prepare themselves to be NSmen to serve the country.

Choo Zheng Xi, a lawyer, has quoted some legal provisions that protect the rights of minors or children under the age of 18. He also felt that the AGC should intervene to protect the interest of these boys from all the excessive publicity in this case, names and faces prominently flashed across the media. Not only that the law provides legal protection to the young, morally, the society too would want to protect the young, and the adults should have some decency to want to protect the vulnerable and still young in the head children.

These are our children. They are mischievous, outrageous, defiance, unruly or whatever, just like children. They are definitely nicer than the rioters in Little India. They did not pelt stones to hurt anyone or the police. They did not burn police cars. They are in a way playful and not knowing the consequences and the severity of the law.

Should they be dealt with just like any criminals? Shall they be whipped or shall they be made an example of to deter other youths from doing the same? Shall the adults behave like responsible adults and look at them as children growing up, in search of an identity, and identity crisis, a part of the growing up process?

It is so easy to throw the book at them and whack them as hard as provided under the law. Poor thing. Did I say poor thing? Or shall one blindfold oneself and say it without any passion, a crime is a crime? Compassion, kindness movement, forgiveness and acting like responsible adults, do these words mean anything?

Kopi Level - Green

Singapore’s education conundrum

The SDP has launched a paper titled ‘Educating for Creativity and Equality: An Agenda for Transformation’ on 17 May 2014. They have also invited the Education Minister Heng Swee Kiat to join in the discussion. It is unlikely that Heng Swee Kiat will attend as it is always seen as ‘us against them’ kind of relationship and at worst, the opposition parties are enemies. So the SDP is likely to have their own conversation while PAP would have their own conversation without inviting the other camp. The twains shall never meet.

Our education system and policies are kind of a mystery. On paper it is the best in the world or nearly there with praises from all over the world, and with some countries copying some of our teaching methodology. But we also have been scouring around the world to want to find the best, believing that we are not really that good. This is good as we are not resting on our laurels. The bad thing is to look at the wrong place or the worst place that produced shit and for us to think they are gold.

How good is our education system must be in the eating of the pudding. All the strings of straight As would have meant nothing if the graduates ended up unusable in the industry. The graduates will be nothing but paper collectors, exam smart kids but are unable to perform in the real world. Apparently this is true. The top scholars are only good to stay in the govt service, GLCs or as politicians. Outside these sectors, hardly anyone is seen to be performing. The private sectors are even resorting to employ funny talents from funny universities from funny parts of the 3^rd World to replace the graduates of our education system. And it is real, all the funny talents from the funny universities and funny places are outshining our local talents from our top notch universities because they looked and spoke like Hollywood actors ala George Bush Junior and Obama.

They have started to replace the scholars in GLCs with these Hollywood actors and will soon also replace the scholars in govt service once these ministries are open to them. They could easily replace the politicians as well. We can have Richard Gere and George Clooney or Hilary Clinton too.

The proof is in the pudding and the proof is saying our education system stinks. Not only that they are not producing good quality graduates but they are causing undue strains to our children with many having mental and psychiatric problems going through the process. Our children are growing up very unhealthy and later, uncompetitive in the adult world. If this is not the result of our education system then what is the cause?

Over the years we have several top notched talents helming the Education Ministry. Among the top names were Tony Tan, Lee Yock Suan, Tharman, Ng Eng Hen, Teo Chee Hean and Heng Swee Kiat. Every one of them is a top scholar or top talent in their fields. We have 3 finance honchos and two engineers by training, and three top scholars. The only thing absent in them is the background on education and pedagogy. None is trained professionally in education. But they became experts in education overnight and found themselves competent enough over a short span in the ministry to introduce wide ranging changes to the policies and teaching methodology during their watches. Let me try to recall the famous mantras of the day, teach less, learn more, less hard sciences, more humanities, holistic teaching, teach characters, all round training, including sports and arts, appreciation of arts and music, wholesome education, critical thinking, innovative hinking until none can think or is innovative. Teaching students life skills like doing small business and investment, etc etc. Did they know that to do all this you not only need the students to be genius, exceptionally talented and also have all the time in the world to learn them?

We should be having the best education system and the best education products. The whole world should be descending on us to learn from us. Our graduates should be the best in the world and be in high demand everywhere. Unfortunately they are not even in demand in their home country here except to drive taxis. And their next best aspiration is to become hawkers.

Need I have to say anything more?

Kopi Level - Green

5 youths arrested for Toa Payoh graffiti

BREAKING NEWS: 5 Youths Arrested for Vandalism at Blk 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh #sgpolicearrest

Police have arrested five 17-year old youths for suspected involvement in a case of vandalism that had occurred at Blk 85A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh.

The above is quoted from the Police Force website. The youths will be charged in court today, 10 May, for vandalism. Case solved. Better than FBI.

More details on IB organisation and modus operandi

OPINION: Inside the World of PAP Internet Brigade (PAP IB)

Singapore Hall of Shame, 11 Nov 2012

There are 4 “My Compass” administrators whom co-ordinate communication strategies for 260 members. Access to this by invitation-only group, is via recommendations of existing trusted members.

Upon receiving instructions by the administrators, unquestioning members spring into action to counter unfavourable chatter forming against PAP members or its linked entities. They operate in large numbers with the primary objective of drowning out negative comments and derailing the discussions on the internet.

In addition, they also monitor Facebook activities of opposition parties, and call for reinforcements to help counter statements that are critical of the ruling party. On mundane days, typical actions including like-ing the FB pages of the PAP MPs to boast the popularity of MPs. Some of their communications and actions are captured below:

PAP Internet Brigade gives an artificial impression that PAP members (especially MPs) are well-liked, and that PAP policies are well-loved by its citizens. More importantly, their actions are counter-productive to efforts by netizens to critically engage policy makers, and present an inaccurate picture of policy reception….

The above is part of an article posted by Singapore Hall of Shame in the Singapore Alternative News. I am not sure how true and accurate is the information mentioned. If it is true, a few questions need to be asked.

Is this a legitimate organisation funded by the govt? I would not think so as such acts are hideous and morally improper and I don’t think the govt would dare to use public fund to support such an unethical group of people.

The second question to ask, who are these people? Are they honest, decent and respectable individuals, professionals or even civil servants? Would honourable people indulge in such low base activities? The things they are doing are slippery and shameful.

Third question, would anyone think such activities are healthy and decent, or amounting to criminal acts of harassment, drumming, misleading the public, creating disinformation?

Fourth question, would any govt official or politician dare to approve such activities and endorse them? Who approves the setting up and financing of such an organisation?

Fifth question, where is the fund coming from for such thuggish activities?

Kopi Level - Red

R(60) – A new restricted category

If I am not mistaken we have restricted categories to protect people of different ages from watching harmful movies or TV programmes. I can recalled seeing R(13), R(16), R(18), R(A) and things like parental guidance advised or PG.

The above categories are needed as children are either too innocent, too young, too immature, impressionable, gullible and may not be able to handle sexual, violence or adult teams in the movies. Children are vulnerable and need protection from the wise adults. It is for their own good.

Now, when the adults grow older, they will gradually lose their ability to think rationally too. Some will start to lose control of themselves and their mental faculty. And some will be easily lured, tempted by sex and money. Many would not be able to handle their money wisely. But when you ask them and they would not think so. They will fiercely defend their independence, their maturity and wisdom, eating more salt than you ate rice, and claimed to know what they are doing.

What is wrong if they find a beautiful young nymph that is so attractive that they would want to give all their money to, to live with her for a few days or a few months or forever, something to die for? What is wrong if he wants to give away his money happily. You know, when a person is happy, deeply in love or infatuated, money is not important. They will tell you it is good to die standing, to die happy, to live and die for the moment. Can you fault that?

And this is applicable to the feline sex as well. They too want to spend their money when it is worth spending, when the heart feels so good. They too want to have their one night stand or their fling as long as money is the only thing that matters. Can anyone say no if they want to spend their money the way they choose to?

The only time or condition that someone can say no to people spending their money, with the audacity, is to pronounce another person of unsound mind or mentally incapable to protect himself, to make sound decisions concerning his money. The person is retard and needs his protection. And many immortals believe this is so and they are the audacious ones, the chosen ones to just do that. Many or most adults are simply incapable of protecting or looking after their money once they reached 55 or above when they qualify to withdraw their life time savings from the CPF. This is the precise moment when these people are ruled as retards. These people must be protected from abusing themselves, from amusing themselves by exploiting their new found wealth from their life savings, money. They must be protected from the money they have saved and rightfully belong to them to do harm to themselves. They must be pronounced to be of unsound mind when money is concerned.

Let’s invent a new category called R(60) to protect these folks. They must not be allowed to watch movies or programmes that encouraged hedonism, freedom of choice, freedom to do what they want, freedom to spend their money.  They could still be allowed to watch movies under R(A) as long as they are kept from touching their money. They can ogle and imagine and fantasise, but not allowed to do the real thing with the money they have, like going on long holidays or having great meals or drinking sessions with their loved ones or friends, or pampering themselves.

R(60) category will be very useful to protect these retarded old folks from their life savings. These are people that cannot be trusted with their own money. They can will their wealth to their loved ones or nominees when they die. The more I think of this R(60) the more useful I think it can be.

Kopi Level - Red

Reconstruction after Haiyan in the Philippines

The devastation left behind by Typhoon Haiyan 6 months’ ago is still laid bare out there in the provinces of the Philippines. 41 provinces in all were affected with many totally wiped out. 9.7m Pinoys were left without homes or have their lives shattered. Relief and reconstruction efforts are in full swing by international agencies at the moment and will be a work in progress for the next 10 years or more.
 
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, FAO, projected to continue with their relief work for another 3 years to help the affected Pinoys up on their feet, building homes, fishing boats, schools, infrastructure etc etc. The Singapore Red Cross is doing its part and expected to continue to be committed in the Philippines for 10 years. First priority will be to get the children to schools, power, clean water, etc etc. Millions will be spent trying to help the victims of Haiyan to rebuild their homes and lives.
 
What is the Philippines Govt doing? No plans yet. They are busy conducting war games with the Americans and buying warships and weapons to want to fight with China. They have just arrested a Chinese fishing boat on charges of smuggling wild life. They have no time and money to reconstruct and rebuild the flattened cities and villages of the Pinoys. They have more urgent matters to deal with, fighting China. 

And the Pinoys in Singapore will be celebrating their Independence Day in a big way in Ngee Ann City.

Kopi Level - Green

CPF Minimum Sum raised to $155k effective 1 Jul

‘The CPF Minimum Sum will be raised to S$155,000, up from S$148,000, from 1 July.
This will apply to CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015, the Central Provident Board (CPF) and the Manpower Ministry said in a joint statement....
 
The Medisave Minimum Sum will be raised to S$43,500 from S$40,500 from 1 July.
A member will need to have this amount in his Medisave Account and also meet the CPF Minimum Sum before excess funds can be withdrawn.

The Medisave Contribution Ceiling will be increased correspondingly to S$48,500 from S$45,500’ CNA
 
The govt is so proactive and caring. They know that your money will be eaten away by inflation. So they will constantly monitor how much you have in your CPF savings and if they think you would not have enough they will top it up for you, by using your own money. What am I saying? Oh, it means more of your savings cannot be touched when you want to withdraw them at the moving withdrawal age of 55/62 or maybe 65/72 in the future.
 
I would believe that if this is a govt pension scheme, if there is a govt pension scheme, the amount of pension will also be increased proportionally so that the pensioners will be getting the real monetary value they were supposed to get when they retired. So those old civil servants and ex teachers should be getting adjustment to their pension payouts. Got or not? Any pensioners reading this can confirm or not? With inflations running away in the loose, your few hundred dollars of pension would worth only a fraction of their real value in the past.
 
And for those who are drawing half a million or quarter of a million dollar pension, think they will be adjusted for inflation or not?
 
This govt really deserves to be paid out of this world salary for being so meticulous and forward looking and caring towards its citizens. All the citizens will not have a care when they retired at 80 or 90. There will be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow waiting for them, due to the good planning and grace of the govt. Say a word of thanks to the ministry managing this CPF Minimum Sum Scheme. If the saying that people with good heart, good intent, a heart of gold, will go to heaven, these people definitely will go to heaven. St Peter will be at the Golden Gate to receive them personally.
 
What is the point of having so much money when one is about to die? What is the point of saving and saving when one is supposed to work till one drops dead?

Kopi Level - Green

CPF Nomination


Date of Nomination : 05-Jul-1982
Your nominee(s) details are as follows:
No. Identification No. Name Share% Type* Mode^
---- ------------------ ------------------------------- ------- -------- ------
1 Sxxxxxxxx XXX XXXX  100.00 C
* Type:
C - Cash Nomination Scheme
E - Enhanced Nomination Scheme
S - Special Needs Savings Scheme
^ Mode:
1 - Nominee to receive moneys in his/their Special Account (SA) or Retirement Account (RA) first, subject to the prevailing Minimum Sum limit, and thereafter into Medisave Account (MA) subject to the prevailing Medisave Contribution Ceiling
2 - Nominee to receive moneys in his/their Medisave Account (MA) first, subject to the prevailing Medisave Contribution Ceiling, and thereafter into Special Account or Retirement Account, subject to the prevailing Minimum Sum



Hi all,

The above is what CPF sent to me when I requested to know the details of my nominations. In my case my nominee will receive 100% of my CPF savings in CASH.

The other schemes available are Enhanced Nomination Scheme and a Special Needs Savings Scheme. We already have a fair idea of what ENS is all about. I am not sure what SNSS is. Those who want to know would have to check with CPF.

Please note the mode of payments 1 and 2. In Mode 1, likely to be for ENS, the nominee will receive moneys in SA and RA, subject to the prevailing Minimums Sum limit and thereafter into Medisave Account…. I think what these meant is that if Minimum Sum and MA of the nominees are insufficient, they will be topped up first. Not sure if my reading is right. So the moneys could go to SA, RA, MS and MA, the latter two probably the deceased has no intent or no idea how much as they are subject to the balances in those accounts of the nominee.

Mode 2 is likely to be for SNSS and money will be paid to the MA subject to the other conditions, ie SA or RA.

To me, as long as my nominee is getting everything I left behind in cash that would be good enough. I do not want to bother with the rest.

Civil disobedience up a notch

There is an ongoing online petition calling for the PM to resign initiated by a graduate taxi driver called William Lim. And now we have graffiti on the roof top of a flat at Toa Payoh, at Block 85A in Lorong 4 yesterday morning. The message, ‘Fuck the PAP’, ‘Wake Up’ and a sign of anarchy were painted on the side of the water tank, big enough for people on the streets to have a clear view of what it was.
 
The graffiti was discovered early in the morning and by none it was erased leaving only some traces of redness on the wall. This is an affront to the govt and never been seen and done so boldly before. How did the person got himself to the roof top when the entrance was locked is still puzzling.
 
How widespread is this sense of disobedience and what is the root cause to this trend? How much has it got to do with the displeasure on the govt’s policies on the huge influx of foreigners here, or is it just an odd case of an individual of unsound mind?
 
The men in blue will be busy trying to find the culprit behind this graffiti.

Kopi Level - Green

First sign of a blow up in the South China Sea

One week after Obama made his hostile visit to Asia, signing defence pact with the Philippines and warning China it would go to war to defend Japan, tension has gone up several notches today. Vietnam has challenged China for drilling in the South China and provoking China to fire water cannon at its sea guard vessels sent to the Chinese rig. And the Pinoys have resorted to what they knew and had done best in the past by arresting Chinese fishing boats. It has been crying as if it was the victim of Chinese assertiveness but has gone back to its wild and wayward behaviour with the full support of the Americans. It is openly challenging China. The Pinoys had killed a Taiwanese fishing boat captain and have in many occasions arrested ships from Taiwan and China. This time with the American navy fleet engaged in a major exercise in the area, it found it opportune and embolden to arrest a Chinese fishing boat and its crew. The Taiwanese and Chinese have never done such a thing to the Pinoys.

There is no doubt that China would take these provocations lying down. All its diplomacy and attempts to avoid a confrontation with the Americans were in vain. The Americans have made it in no uncertain terms that it is going into open military conflict with China. China is now forced into a corner and must hit back. Running away from the Vietnamese and the Pinoys is not an option. It is going to be hard knocks and the Americans are going to show their allies that they would back them up militarily, force with force.

With the Americans wanting to show they are still the big time gangsters that called the shot, with the Chinese refusing to take the blows, the situation is all set for a full blown naval and aerial showdown. Both sides would be rushing their military hardware into the region to bolster their forces. China would have to made careful assessment if it is able to take on the Americans at this stage of its military build up.

Obama does not come for peace. The USA has never been for peace but about the use of force. Both parties, China and the USA, are not going to back down this time. The Americans have been working for this day and China has been preparing for this day knowing that it will come, sooner or later. They would hope it will come later, but it is not going to be one day late. It would start with the Vietnamese and the Pinoys attacking Chinese ships only to lure the Chinese to retaliate and the Evil Empire will say, ‘I told you, China is aggressive and will use force to deal with its neighbours.’ And here is Uncle Sam to the rescue. Uncle Sam is for peace. The use of force is not acceptable. Uncle Sam will observe International Laws to resolve dispute by the use of force. But Uncle Sam was the one behind all these tensions and inciting and provoking wars.

Now who is the evil one? Would China be up to it militarily to take on the Americans, or would China play its economic clout and exert pressure on the Americans in other areas?

Kopi Level - Green

Petition rigged?

William Lim’s online petition asking the PM to resign and hoping to reach 100,000 signatures is likely to be a failure. I think the counter is rigged. I remember that this happened to my online survey in mysingaporenews. The first few surveys worked well. Then it happened. Whenever the response hit a certain level it will fall back to a lower level. It kept repeating and would not hit anywhere above this ‘blocked’ level.
 
Yesterday when I read about the petition I went to the site to take a look. The number of signatures was 1329. I know as I have the number typed into the draft of a post that I was preparing. One hour later I went back to the site and the number was 1296. How could it be? A few hours later I checked again and it was creeping up. So I thought it must be a glitch but things are normal.
 
This morning the number was higher but nothing to crow about. It was inching up. In the afternoon I went in to take a peep. The counter stood at 1879 while 3 new names appeared indicating 3 more signatures. But the counters did not move. I waited for a few minutes and nothing happened. So I did a refresh and the number changed. From 1879, the new number was 1835. Can you believe it?
 
Then, after 15 minutes, it was 1841. Something is just not right. And I suspect there are more things that are not going right. Something fishy is going on.
 
Good luck to William Lim and his petition if he can get any satisfactory numbers.

Sewol Sinking – Unbelieveable video clip!

It was on Channel News Asia, a video clip showing the arrival of South Korean coastguards in their powered dinghies to save passengers in the sinking Sewol. The ferry was listing very badly, on its side, and the ferry’s crew, including the captain, slid down the side of the ferry into the recue boat. Other than these few people, there were no signs of other passengers floating around or crawling around the ferry waiting to be rescued. It was like a sinking oil tanker with only a few members of the crew to be rescued.
 
What happened to the 300+ passengers, teachers and children? They were still waiting inside their cabins as instructed by the crew, waiting to be rescued. It was so unbelieveable. The captain and the crew should be organizing the evacuation of the ferry but instead were disembarking without doing anything. And the passengers in the sinking ferry, inside their cabins waiting for their orders to evacuate. It was a non event.
 
There was so much time available for a full evacuation but nothing was done. No one thought it right or opportune to get all the passengers out of their cabin into the deck. What were in the minds of the captain and his crew, that the passengers in the sinking ferry were safe and no need to evacuate while they left the ship leaving them sinking with the ferry?
 
And the coast guards were equally lost as they could not find anyone to save. Didn’t the captain and his crew told them of the 300+ passengers trapped in the ferry? There was no urgency to do anything as if there were no passengers in the ferry? It was so unreal!
 
This could be Sampan Version 3.0

Kopi Level - Green

A Petition asking Hsien Loong to resign

A William Lim wrote that he was interviewed by a German media on Hsien Loong’s comment at an India New Year celebration. The controversial statement to those present is here, “Singaporeans, new arrivals, people who are on permanent residence here, people who are on employment pass here, all participating in one big family…So that we feel that this is a place which is special, which belongs to all of us and where we all celebrate one another’s festivals and happy events together.”
 
William Lim is a 37 year old taxi driver with a Bachelor in Business and Finance. He graduated in 2001 but with no ‘experience working in the finance industry he tried applying for a job, ‘I was asking a gross salary of only SGD$2000 per month, willing to learn from the seniors, willing to work long hours and willing to travel if necessary.’ He didn’t get even an interview. So he is now happily self employed as his own boss, as a taxi driver, a job that some people said is an occupation of choice, a preferred job for experienced and highly qualified Sinkie PMETs that no one wants to employ.
 
Below are two of the several questions asked on the PAP govt and its immigration policies.
 
‘1) What was your reaction to Lee Hsien Loong's comment about Singapore belonging to everyone who lives here?
Ans: Disappointed, a leader of a country shouldn't be making this kind of statement. What kind of message is he sending to the citizen of Singapore?
 
Foreigners coming to Singapore to work or tourist, we Singaporean should show them the hospitality as they are our guests in our country. To tell us that Singapore belong to them too, It's telling us foreigners own a part of Singapore too! It's the most absurd statement that I have came across.
 
Being a male citizen of Singapore, we are required serve my national service in the form of joining the Army, Police or Civil Defence Force. We serve the nation is to protect our country, our family. If Singapore do not being to Singaporean only, why should male citizens serve to protect the country while foreigner owning a part of Singapore do not need to protect Singapore as well? What kind of logic is this?
 
2) Why did you decide to start the petition?
Ans: A leader making this kind of statement is not fit to be a Prime Minister of Singapore! Together with a number of miscalculated policies like the 6.9M Population White Paper, the opening of floodgate for foreigners to come to work in Singapore etc.’
 
One blogger by the nick ‘theonion’ in mysingaporenews.blogspot.sg commented that it was an over reaction, that netizens are making a mountain out of a molehill. His explanation, it was just a feeling, and he said one must read the whole sentence in full, ‘we feel that this is a place which is special, which belongs to all of us’. So according to him, Hsien Loong was expressing a feeling and the part about ‘belongs to all of us’ should be read as ‘feel this island belongs to all of us’ and nothing more to it.
 
I think a grammar teacher could cut and split the sentence to make different meanings and interpretations out of it. My reply to him is not so much as what Hsien Loong said, or what theonion chose to interpret, but how the people, the general public read it or interpreted it. Apparently many people chose to read it differently and felt offended by it, rightly or wrongly. And now there is this petition in the air.
 
So how, theonion, what are you going to do about it? Your interpretation may be right, perfectly right to you, but other people don’t care a damn how you read it or explained it. Now, would Hsien Loong or his press secretary issue an explanation to clarify what he said? Or is all the hooha just making a mountain out of a molehill and there is nothing to bother?
 
In politics it is the perception of the people that matters and not what you said or what you think you said. Would this be a flash in the pan? Inadvertently this has become a controversy out of the blue, another unnecessary storm in the teacup perhaps.
For a while I thought this petition thing is so unreal. Could be a hoax?. So I went to this link, https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Singapore_Prime_Minister_Lee_Resign_from_Office, and sure enough there is a petition. The last count, 1658 have signed the petition.

Kopi Level - Green

CPF – Where would the deceased money go to?

In my earlier posts I raised several questions as to how the balance of a deceased member be paid out. It was always in cash to the beneficiary. Then someone said he received a sum of $40k in his Medisave Minimum Sum Account from his deceased wife. He was startled and angry. He spent a fortune on his wife’s medical fee prior to her death. The $40k could come in handy to settle some of his expenditure but now almost untouchable, stuck in his Medisave Minimum Sum Account.
 
How did this come about? I have checked with the CPF and they have confirmed that those who opted under the previous scheme would receive a cash cheque. But for those who have opted for the Enhanced Nomination Scheme, the beneficiary could receive the payment in different ways, into their CPF accounts like Special Account, Retirement Account or Medisave Account. In the ENS case, the money will still be in the CPF but in the beneficiary’s account. This is the enhanced part of the new CPF scheme.
 
So, when you make your nomination, be very careful and sure that you make the right nomination under the old scheme or under the ENS. If you are not sure, please check with the CPF. You can change your nomination anytime you wish. It is your choice to leave the money as cash to your beneficiaries or to their CPF accounts.