Would Asean still talk like the asshole of the USA?

The two recent and very provocative acts committed by Vietnam and the Philippines have been greeted with muted silence by the western media and also by Asean. Both did not mention any word of condemnation for such reckless and unprovoked escalation of tension in the region. The Vietnamese sent 35 ships in its attempt to ram the oil rig of China within Chinese territory and at Chinese ships in the area. It followed with killing of Chinese workers in Vietnam and the burning of Chinese factories, including those of HongKong, Taiwan and even Singapore. China is demanding protection and compensation from the Vietnamese Govt for loss of lives, injuries and loss of properties.

The Pinoys ignored China’s protest and proceeded to charge Chinese fishermen they seized in disputed territories in Pinoy court. China is demanding that the charges be dropped and the fishermen be returned safely to China.

The western media are not briefing a word of condemnation on the actions by these two countries. Asean too has been silent as well. But some Asian media think it their responsibility to look at the issues from western perspective, that it was the Chinese that were provocative and Asean must response robustly. The actions of Vietnam and the Philippines were in way, to these bananas, seen as normal and deserving. But such provocations are only to draw reciprocal actions from China. China is not going to sit back and let the two countries do as they please against its people and interest. China is going to hit back. It is expected and has to be. If the attacks were against the USA or India, Vietnam and the Philippines would be licking their wounds now.

And what would the western media say? Obvious, they would cry foul, that China is bullying the two smaller countries and behaving aggressively. The Americans would stand up to warn China against retaliation. The truth is that Vietnam and the Philippines have coordinated their offensive provocations against China. They are the provocateurs, the bullies. Their actions were hostile and verging on an act of war. To the anglophiles, they see them as only responding to the Chinese activities in the region. To these anglophiles, the American pivot into the region to muscle around is a natural right of the Americans, of the West. They would also agree to the Monroe Doctrine that South America and the Caribbeans are the spheres of influence of the USA and no other powers should think of pivoting into the region.

Would Asean utter the same thing as the western media and act like the asshole of the Americans, saying the right thing the Americans wanted to hear? Or would Asean be strong enough to take the stand of a neutral regional organisation and acknowledge that China is the victim of Vietnamese and Pinoy attacks and condemn their actions? After agitating for a peaceful solution to the territorial dispute, would Asean be bound by its own stand against militarising the dispute as have been done by the Vietnamese and the Pinoys? Or would Asean continue to blindly accuse China as the bully, as the provocative one, as the aggressive party, and ignore what Vietnam and the Philippines have done? Some asses are pushing Asean to take a united stand against China.

What is Asean, a neutral group of countries working to better their own common interest or a party meddling in the conflict of big powers and taking sides with no mind of its own? Is Asean the asshole of the American Empire, only farting what the Americans wanting it to do? Is Asean turning into another SEATO?

PS. I may consider writing a piece with a western viewpoint if I am paid handsomely for it. But I would not write such skewed views like I am a westerner and seeing the conflict from the westerner’s point of view for free. Could there be such silly Asians acting like the perfect bananas and thinking like westerners?

Kopi Level - Green

Roy Ngerng being sued by Hsien Loong

Just got an email saying that Roy has received a letter from Davinder Singh of Drew and Napier, acting on behalf of Hsien Loong, suing him for defamation. The offending article is posted at Roy’s blog The Hard Truth and titled ‘Where your CPF money is going: Learning from the City Harvest Trial.’

Bloggers are advised to avoid being too direct in their articles or comments which could be seen as alleging some wrong doings and inviting lawsuits to themselves. Writing comments, being critical or cynical or humorous is one thing, to allege something criminal or illegal or defamatory is not advisable.

Some comments that are very personal and vicious are unnecessary. Let’s keep ourselves within the limits of decency. Well, unless you are banging with Matilah, then it is no holds bar. For other public personalities or private individuals, better not to cross the line.

Cheers.

IN TRYING TO CONTAIN CHINA , US WILL MEET ITS ARMAGEDDON

America the ever Evil Empire is raising its ugly head a few notches higher than before. It is behaving like a mad dog, a ferocious hungry lion or a wild insatiable hungry hyena that goes romping wild attacking in all directions to save its own skin.

America is bankrupt and it has to create perpetual wars to feed its war industries to create jobs for its otherwise angry masses of jobless workers. But America does not want to fight direct wars itself. It always makes use of others which it calls allies to fight its proxy wars.



American hegemony is the curse of mankind. Since its independence form its forebears Imperial Britain it has never stopped its path of aggression and conquest.  It is already a well known fact that the white Americans which originated from Europe had

genocided 98 per cent of native Americans or about neinty million of the natives.  In the course of time it attacked Mexico and annexed about one million , six hundred and sixty -five thousand square miles of Mexican lands . It then proceeded to attack

and occupy HAWAII and Guam and othe Pacific island kingdoms.

The present American pivot to Asia is an extension and continuation of its historiacal aggression . It is using the bogey of its sham democracy and human rights as a vehicle and smokescreen for it heinous and nefarious activities . It is taking advantage

of Asian countries' problems and making use of them to sow further misunderstanding and dissension among the Asian countries and thus pretentiously and psychologically take in some unsuspecting Asian countries as its allies .America is using

these Asian allies or its juniour gang members to go against China. It is stirring and stoking fire all over Asia especially in East Asia and the South China Sea.

Before the American pivot  to Asia there was calm and peace . Under the Cairo Treaty and Podsdam Treaty the Chinese islands of Diaoyu Tao was to be returned to China . After the Second World War the UNITED NATIONS temporarily placed it under

American trusteeship.. However for its own selfich political expediency the treacherous Americans handed the Diaoyu islands to the Japs in 1974. It is a well known historical fact that the Paracel Islands, the Spratley Islands and all the shoals and reefs

dotting the South China Sea belong to China and were recognised as such by America and most European powers  since time immemorial . However with the eventual discovery of large reserves of oil and gas below the sea in the 1970's, the treacherous

Western Powers headed by US - THE  EVIL EMPIRE began to look  at the scenario with askew eyes of evil intent. They wanted a share of the treasure below the South China Sea and so behind the scene they obscenely and unashamely encouraged the

littoral states to challenge China's sovereignty of these islands and the surrounding seas and to lay some illogical and nefarious claims to some of these Chinese islands. With the US pledge as an ally and forthcoming help some blind and greedy littoral

states like Vietnam and the Philippines began to lay illogical claim to some of the islands. And with further encouragement from the Evil Empire the Vietnamese rats and the Philippine vermins were emboldened to step on China's toes when they dared to

ram on Chinese boats, arrest Chinese fishermen and occupy some Chinese islands. The silly and greedy Pinoys and Vietnamese choose not to realise that they are being made use of as pawns by US for its own wicked objective of containing China.

America must realise that there is nothing grand OR glorious in preserving its number one position through perpetual wars and wicked ways and means to contain other countries' rise. If America persists on carrying on its wrong path of evil aggression

it will soon meet its doomsday.  China will not be contained and together with more enlightened countries it will see that US meets its Armageddon  sooner than later.

Helping Sinkies to fulfil their dreams

I may not be able to help the Sinkies to be millionaires before they can finish saying the word Singaporeans. I know many people can do that, to help people to become instant millionaires in months or within a year. But I can help Sinkies to fulfil their dreams that are less demanding.

One thing I can help Sinkies is to be their own boss, have all the freedom to work without having a boss to boss over them. I can help Sinkies to fulfil their dreams to be taxi drivers. I can also help Sinkies to become hawkers.

I can also help Sinkies to work with dignity until they die, if they are not choosey. I will create a lot of jobs like cleaners, dish washers and security guards to let them work and work and be happy and dignified.

I can help Sinkies to be proud owners of bicycles. I can even redesign pathways for cyclists to make them safe while cycling around for leisure or for work. But I can’t help them to be car owners.

And I can make them proud owners of public housing, $1,000 pm income will be enough to own one.

I will allow freedom of expression so that everyone can express and speak freely in a park or in my website. For speaking in the park, one must register and fill up the forms with all the information required. For posting in my website, just register your full name and particulars and you can speak as freely like in Hong Lim Park

And I can make every Sinkie die very rich, with a smile in their face even lying down in the coffin. I can help them save and save a lot of money in their CPF if only they don’t demand to take their money back.

I will create opportunities for good jobs for everyone regardless of race, language or religion or nationality. Everyone will have equal opportunities to rise to the top, to be the best they can be, even if they are foreigners , based on meritocracy.

I can also help the Sinkies in not wanting a population of 6.9m. I will make it 8m.

The above is a list of things someone suggested to me to help Sinkies fulfil the dreams of their lives.

Kopi Level - Red

Master servant relationship

There is a lot to learn from the relationship between an employer of a maid and how the rulers relate to the people. The relationship between an employer and maid is a contractual one, for a fixed duration to perform certain duties for a remuneration. In many unfortunate cases, the atrocious employer turned that contractual agreement into a master and slave relationship where the employer could abuse the maid to the extent of physical harm and deprivation of human needs and dignity.
 
The employer maid relationship often starts tentatively with the employer showing some respect and decency to the maid. There could even be some semblance of kindness and compassion. Once familiarity sets in, the relationship takes a new form and the employer takes on a new personality. Even the children of the employer feel entitled to treat the maid like slave instead of just a servant. The employer will take the maid for granted and only thinks of his own interest.
 
The maid no longer just provides a service but more. The maid is expected to do everything and not just a service, or like Shanmugam wrote in his facebook, ‘it is sad some parents are not conscious of their own role as transmitters of the value system….They are more focused on their children achieving results rather than on the softer skills.’ It is a case of once a master/servant relationship is crystallized, the master forgets that the servant is also a human bean with human needs, aspiration, desires and expectation. And the servant needs not be servant for life. 

The servant is now expected to be a piece of cog in the economic machinery, to get the machine turning non stop, at the lowest pay possible, and to work till they drop dead. The thought of a retirement and golden year is non existent, not relevant and to be dismissed. And the servant must not only work for life to service the master’s extravagant needs, but must also produce children to continue to be servants to the masters. It is the servant’s duty to produce babies to prolong the luxurious existence of the master.
 
Does a master ever reflect on the correct relationship, to treat the servant with more kindness and compassion, to know that there is a contractual relation and obligation, and the relationship can be ended? Does the master ever think of what the servant really wants, what are the needs of the servant, that the servant wants a better life too, and not to live and work for an existence without much meaning in life? But of course the master will think that he has been thinking and thinking for the good of the servant, by giving the servant meaning work to live with dignity but without the time to enjoy the dignity.

Kopi Level - Red

Non violence is a virtue of daft Sinkies

We have read so many instances of Sinkies being bullied and beaten by foreigners and all they could do is to kpkb in the social media, like Ah Q. I would do this and that to the bully, but nothing really happened. The end result, the daft Sinkies either got insulted, beaten and ended with bruises all over or worse. Who could he turn to? Don’t ask me.

There is this report on a Norwegian tourist facing five criminal charges in court. Now what had he done to suffer this fate? He was drunk, budged into a hotel room of two female guests and causing annoyance and trespassing into their privacy. Then he slapped a female hotel employee, then he punched her male colleague in the chest, then he kicked him on the side of his body. The hotel employees practised the Singapore virtue of non violence and allowed the Norwegian to whack them at will without retaliating. If they hit back, it is likely that they will be hauled up for hitting back. Hitting someone is a serious offence for Sinkies.

The Norwegian did not stop at that. He was found to behave in a disorderly manner, gesticulating and shouting outside Beach Centre in Beach Road.  That was ok as no one was hurt. Then he kicked a reservist inspector in the leg in the carpark of SGH. Again, as expected, the Sinkie inspector practised the virtue of non violence and did not hit back.

Now this rogue is in court. Would the court do justice to the daft Sinkies for turning themselves into punching bags for the tourist while practising the Sinkie virtue of non violence? Or would the tourist be slapped on the wrist like it used to be?

I am wondering when did this non violence virtue take root in the daft Sinkie mindset, that they should not hit back when beaten? Is there a story to this development, that getting beaten and not hitting back is a virtue, a first world social grace?

Kopi Level - Yellow

CPF improvements on the cards as Parliament reopens

The above is the title of an article by reporter Neo Chai Chin in the Today paper on 17 May and this is his first paragraph, ‘SINGAPORE — The savings and annuity schemes under the Central Provident Fund (CPF) system will be improved to ensure Singaporeans, who are living longer, have enough for their financial needs in their golden years, President Tony Tan said yesterday as he reopened the 12th Parliament after its mid-term break.’

There is so much hope and optimism in Neo Chai Chin’s article. But always remember, when the Govt voluntarily offers to help, you better beg them to leave you alone and say thank you. The Govt has been so proactive in trying to help Sinkies in managing their CPF savings and we know what is the end result. After every help, the Sinkies find the pot of gold, their CPF savings, placed further and further away from their reach.

So, Tony is talking about the CPF savings, about annuity scheme, about CPF Life scheme, in fact about all the schemes in the CPF set up. So far, how is it? Is it better for the CPF members? From my understanding, all the schemes and the things intended to help the CPF members, is all about using the money of the CPF members to help themselves and ended with the money stuck deeper and deeper in the quicksand.

What would come out from the CPF after Tony’s comments is anyone’s guess. I am not a single bit hopeful but more of fear that the pot of gold will be kicked further down the road, all for the good of the CPF members.

Anyone disagree with me?

Kopi Level - Yellow

Tony Tan’s presidential address in Parliament

Tony Tan said many things in Parliament in his opening address and there will be many follow up comments on what he said. He wanted the govt to do many things. What he has laid out are the bones, a broad framework and the govt would need to flesh them out with the details. That is the frightening part and I already have seen one, flashed in the media like Santa Claus in coming to town six month early. All I can see is nothing good. I will write about it subsequently in another post.

What Tony said in brief is that the Govt has screwed up big time and need to reflect on the failed policies and to rework on them. And he has laid them out, the areas that the Govt must redeem itself, to address the ills it has created in recent years. Ouch, no one sees it this way, and all were thinking that everything was fine and Tony was just reading a brief written for him and means nothing.

Another thing Tony made it very clear is that it is all about Singaporeans. In his speech, he has never mentioned a single word, the most offensive word in today’s context, about ‘locals’. Tony has made it doubly and triply clear, that it is about Singaporeans and those jokers that have been sputtering the word ‘locals’ better take heed. I hope Tony really meant what he said and the Govt takes note of this and erase the word ‘locals’ from their vocabulary and reports.

What else did Tony said? Oh, he touched on the political debate that is going on, where else but in TRE and cyberspace. He acknowledges that it was good and healthy for a constructive debate to improve the lives of Singaporeans. Destructive and crude attacks are not the right thing to do as they would distract the readers from the real issues. When people start to attack other people personally and viciously instead of addressing an issue, the debate ends there. The other party will just ignore what is being said and walk away. For a constructive debate to carry one to a fruitful ending, both sides must feel comfortable to engage. Confrontation politics is bad and must be discouraged.

Now this last sentence is a tricky one. Some opposition politicians have stood up to defend themselves. And some ruling party politicians have spoken smugly and derisively about opposition politics as if Tony was telling the opposition politicians off. Wait a minute. Is Tony addressing this confrontational politicking at the opposition? Who are the real culprits that have been indulging in confrontational politics? Who have been hitting below the belt, using all means and power to attack viciously at their opponents? Don’t look at me. Read Tony’s comments and ask yourself, are you the guilty one? Don’t always presume that it is always the other party that is at fault. Historical evidences and facts pointed to one direction, when politics were confrontational, vicious and destructive, you know who came up on top and who were the victims. Like that also cannot see, or still so thick, thinking that only other people must be at fault, and self is always an angel.

Tiok boh? Or did I read Tony wrongly?

Kopi Level - Yellow

Trust the Hongkies to do the right thing

Pardon me for calling them Hongkies, but it is done with no bad intention just like I called myself Sinkie. The Hong Kong govt is not going to let the top management of companies or organizations to get away with mismanagement and irresponsible conduct. They are going to make the senior management of Hong Kong’s MTR to suffer pay cuts for serious service disruptions. This is real business.

The western practice is for top management to share big bonuses when a company makes good profit but nothing happens to the pay of top management if the company flops. At the worst, they will not get their big bonuses but still some bonuses.  It is either 6 months or 24 months! The top management cannot lose or be held responsible for mismanagement. And if they are caught for major failures like the big banks, the banks will pay the fine on behalf of the top management. And the top management can continue to indulge in illegal or criminal activities with impunity. Making losses or mismanagement is a non issue or minor issue that would not hurt their pockets or their appointments.

That is how good life is in the private sector for the top management, privatise profits and socialize losses. Their compensation package is one way, how much they will get no matter how the company performed or how they mismanaged the companies. Familiar? Now the Hongkies are showing how the formula should be redesigned to make top management pay for mismanagement and failures. A word of caution. This cannot be applied in Sin City or all the top talents will run away to other bigger and better companies paying them bigger pay packages.

Compare the two approaches, which is more equitable is obvious. The crooks in top management have had it so good. They keep taking, no responsibility except how much to take, can even violate the law, and mismanagement is nothing to worry about.

This kind of approach to make top management accountable with cuts in their pay is unlikely to be put to practice here. How can?

Kopi Level - Yellow

The American TPP must be a damn good piece of trade pact

The Americans initiated this TPP but many Americans, including the lawmakers, did not really know what it is, and are opposing it. It is so unbelieveable that the Americans started something like this pact and the Americans don’t believe in it and are against it.
 
It is even more ridiculous that a country like Singapore would send its Foreign Ministers to America to convince the Americans how good this TPP is to the Americans. This is what Shanmugam said at the American Jewish Committee Global Forum, ‘If the US does not have the TPP, it will be a big loss to the US…’
 
Without knowing anything about the TPP, and I think many Sinkies too did not have a clue of how this TPP will affect them, we must still believe that Shanmugam must have gone through the details, like the ministers who signed the CECA, and know that it must be very good to Singapore. We shall believe that Shanmugam is an intelligent man, like all super talents here, and we shall all go along with him. His confidence in trying to convince the Americans is enough to prove to me that this TPP is a good thing. I don’t even have to know what it is.
 
And I believe the American leaders too will be converted by Shanmugam. He is rising to the plate as the successor to the Oracle, the One whom the Americans would sought advice from for his wisdom and to tap his deep thinking. The TPP, like the CECA, is so good that there is no need to even tell the people what it is all about. Just have faith in the govt to do the right thing.
 
With the TPP Singapore’s economy is going to soar. So will the economy of the Americans. Are Singapore and the Americans the only two winners in this pact? The TPP is like being tailor made by the Americans for the good of Singapore. And we are now the flag bearer of this pact, the pipe piper.

Kopi Level - Yellow

Chinese police to patrol Paris streets

This is a rather interesting and unfamiliar piece of news. The French govt is going to bring in Chinese policemen to help their police to patrol the streets of Paris, to protect Chinese tourists from being robbed or beaten up. Chinese tourists are now the second largest group of visitors in France but the biggest spenders and the tourist dollars are important in a French economy that is in deficit. And to attract more Chinese tourists, to give them more confidence and feel safer, after several cases of robbery and adductions targeting at Chinese tourists, the French govt is doing the right thing, a token of Chinese police presence in Paris. This is any time better than hiring Chinese or foreigners into the French Police Force.
 
Our SPF is considering hiring more foreigners to join the force. Maybe this is an option they can consider. We have so many foreigners here, from PRC, India, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia and Vietnam! How about inviting their police to walk the streets with our police to show them how welcoming we are for their presence, to make them feel safe in our streets, to make them feel like this is home, like their country? Imagine, having foreign policemen in our soils? Not much difference from hiring them and letting them wear our police uniform right, and carrying weapons to rule over the Sinkies.
 
Now what am I suggesting? Ok, ok, I know it is a silly idea. Just thinking out loud only lah. But I am sure some people will think this is hell of a great idea. Well, having more than 2m foreigners here is not an issue, they may think what’s wrong with foreigners walking our streets as policemen and checking and arresting Sinkies, should be quite normal and acceptable tiok boh?
 
I am not sure whether this kind of thinking should be classified as Uniquely Singapore or Silly Sinkie mentality, a mentality of no nation and no country?

Good idea? No? But the France is doing it already so cannot be wrong what? Got western country doing it so we can do also right?

Kopi Level - Green

Recreational centres for foreign workers

‘Singapore plans to build more recreation centres in the suburbs to draw migrant labourers away from the city after a rare riot in the congested Little India district last year, a report said Monday.
 
The multi-million dollar centres are the latest in a series of government measures to better manage areas where foreign workers congregate after the rampage by South Asian labourers on December 8 injured 39 people and saw 25 vehicles destroyed….’ TRE
 
It is something that has to be done. We have more than 2m foreigners working and living here. The rich foreigners have already bought their homes in the private estates, some renting out HDB flats and many living in the dormitories. 50% of the population here are foreigners and it is lucky that they did not take up 50% of the space and facilities here. It is simple arithmatic. You have so many people you need to provide them the living space unless they can be canned away after used.
 
Oh, while they are finding new and cheap land for the foreign workers, I hope they would be able to find some cheap land to build more nursing homes for our oldies instead of sending them to JB, Batam or Bintan. If we can find space for foreigners, we should have the decency to find space for our old and forgotten citizens.
 
Funny no one is trying to talk about appreciating their contributions in building this city. And no one is sending them encouraging letters to show how we value them. But many are writing such loving letters to the foreign workers here today. And no one is trying to socialize with them, to make them feel wanted, to make them feel not so lonely or neglected.
 
Really funny right if you can remember all great things the people are suggesting to make the foreign workers feel at home here. Our oldies can go to Bintan, Batam and JB, who cares?

Kopi Level - Green

The Devil is in town

Obama swiped through Asia recently and in the process told his hosts that America would be here to fight with them. It was as good as telling his subjects to go ahead to provoke and even attack China, and if China retaliates, the Americans will come out in full force to back them up. With this kind of blank cheque to start wars, the Pinoys and the Vietnamese wasted no time to try their luck. Vietnam sent their ships to ram Chinese ships and oil rigs. Now they are burning Chinese factories and killing Chinese, including Hongkies and Taiwanese in Vietnam. The Pinoys started to arrest Chinese fishing boats again. Tension has gone up several notches. The Japanese are talking tough with Abe eager to try his luck with China as well.
 
And the Americans are hollering at the Chinese for reacting. China is provocative, China is escalating the tension and bullying its neigbhours. Really? Who is bullying who? The Vietnamese are ramming Chinese ships and oil rigs and killing the Chinese in Vietnam. What have the Chinese done? The Pinoys are arresting Chinese fishing boats. The Americans are descending from heaven like angels, not the devils, and the American pivot into Asia is for peace. But since their arrival, tension is rising and their cronies are acting like mad cowboys, provoking and attacking China and daring China to react.
 
Vietnam and the Philippines are trying to rope in Asean to challenge China as a united front. Some Asean countries are also eager to act as the good boys of the Americans and are also thumping their chests. The devil must be happy. China is now having trouble with little pesky countries that think they can wallop China.
 
It is about time that China kicks butts and to flush out the devil behind all the tensions. There is no other peaceful ways to deal with provocative and aggressive little pests and the evil Empire. All they need is a big stick behind their backs to put them in their places.
 
The seed of war has been planted by the devil. And the Americans are shouting that China is aggressive and provocative. How many Asean countries would go along with the devil to start a war in the region? The devil is setting the agenda for Asean countries. Either you are with the devil or against the devil. There is no neutrality. I must say Obama has done well. For flirting with a few Asian countries and a few days’ work he has started a fire that will burn down the Asian countries and stop them in their peaceful path for economic growth. Asia has had peace since the Americans were booted out of Vietnam. Now they are back and war is around the corner. And this time the Devil has done better by having pesky countries to do the fighting themselves.

Kopi Level - Green

Howard Zinn – Food for thought

"We were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts appeared before us, startled us, and then caused us to question beliefs that were strongly fixed in our consciousness – embedded there by years of family prejudices, orthodox schooling, imbibing of newspapers, radio, and television. This would seem to lead to a simple conclusion: that we all have an enormous responsibility to bring to the attention of others information they do not have, which has the potential of causing them to rethink long-held ideas."
 
Howard Zinn, 2005 , Political Science Professor

Minimum sums schemes for ministers

I am very concern for our ministers. They are so used to their high income and high living. If they did not save enough they will not be able to live the same lifestyle when they reach 80 or 90. The CPF minimum sums will not be enough for them to spend in a year. The CPF must do something to help them when they retire. We as citizens must reciprocate the kindness and compassion and care shown to us by the minister and in turn do something good for them.
 
I would like to recommend that the CPF designs a special scheme for the ministers like putting $1 mil every year into their retirement fund. Their minimum sum should be at least $5 mil so that they will have a generous payout when they are retired and start to draw down on their savings. Wait a minute, $5 mil minimum sum may be insufficient. An average Sinkie with an annual income of $50k needs a combined minimum sum(MA and RA) of nearly $200k to ensure a similar or decent lifestyle, so the CPF said. How much should be the combined minimum sum for a minister earning $2 mil pa? Simple arithmatics, $2mil versus $50k, works out to be 40 times. So what is sufficient for the average Sinkie at $200k would mean a minister need $8 mil to be set aside in his minimum sums to be able to live well like he is now. No downgrading of the quality of life.
 
It takes a lot of money to service the mansions they owned, the big cars and the servants to look after the properties. $8 mil minimum sum is just about right. And the Medisave Minimum Sum must be enough should they be warded in private hospitals.
CPF, Please don't fall asleep. You need to take care of the ministers when they retire, you need to plan ahead for them. Make sure they don't squander their monies on mei meis, the expensive ones. Make sure they have enough minimum sums in their MA and RAs to live well into the 80s and 90s. You do not want them to suffer a drop in their standard of living would you? CPF must take good care of the ministers as well. They deserve to be very well taken care of, and the CPF is the right body to look after their interest, plan on how much they should set aside, plan on how to best use their life savings. They deserve better for taking so good care of the citizens by ensuring the citizens have a lot of money in their CPF to retire. The citizens must be grateful and do something for them too.
 
What do you think?

Kopi Level - Green

Are Sinkies crazy, stupid or what, too clever?

There are more than 700k Work Permit holders working here. Last night’s Talking Point’s topic was about whether to integrate these foreign workers or to leave them alone. The general view was that Sinkies must take the initiative to reach out to these transient workers, to get to know them, to organise activities for them or to participate in their activities. One went further to suggest that the foreign workers should be involved in our grass root activities, even patrolling to keep the place safe. My eyes are rolling. I could go on to elaborate more of the things the panellists would want to do to make these workers feel appreciated, to tell him how grateful we are for them to build our homes, roads and infrastructure and to help to grow out economy. I would like to add that we should invite them to our homes on their festivals or holidays, and likewise when we are celebrating ours. We should also celebrate their birthdays and show them how caring and gracious we are.

It keeps me thinking. How much time does an average Sinkie has to socialise and integrate with the foreign workers? Does an average Sinkie has time for his/her parents, siblings, Sinkie friends and neighbours? Or are they so tired after work and would like to have some moments of peace and rest for themselves? There is this presumption that the Sinkies have a lot of free time and a lot of energy and money to spend time with the foreign workers. Their well being is our responsibility, the responsibility of all Sinkies.

There were some sensible views expressed, like these are workers here to make a living. Give them a decent place to live, to rest and to play. Give them decent working environment, take care of them and make sure they are paid. Don’t cheat on them. These are the responsibilities of the average Sinkies? What about their employers and recruitment agents who benefited from their labour and fees? What about the govt that collects fees from the workers to be here? Shouldn’t it be their responsibilities to take good care of them?

Do we need to integrate them to our way of life or we integrate into their way of life? Are they citizens that are going to be part of us? Are they PRs that are here on a long term basis to live with us and try to be one of us?

There is one very serious issue that ‘seow’ Sinkies are taking for granted. These are very nice people, like the rioters in Little India. I have to be fair here when making this comment. In every community or group of people, the majority are nice or decent people. These include the Sinkies. But in every group, including Sinkies, there is always that 5% or 10% that could turn bad when given the opportunity or temptation. You want to take the risk with them? You know which one is going to be bad? You want our innocent young girls to go and socialise and play with them?

One source of trouble with people is familiarity. When people get to know someone too well, they get to know the weaknesses and vulnerability of that person. When people are invited to your homes, they get too familiar and could have naughty and dangerous ideas. Think of the stranger you brought home and trusted to take care of your old parents and children. There are that 5% to 10% that could bring harm to you while you try to be very nice, very gracious, very caring and very clever.

My view, very subjective, is that the foreign workers should be left alone to live their lives as long as we don’t mistreat them, don’t exploit them, don’t abuse them. There is no need to want to be too clever or too nice. But there will also be the 5% to 10% of Sinkies that would want to be very nice to them. Go ahead and be nice.

Do not force it upon the average Sinkies to go and socialise and integrate with strangers they have nothing to do with in their lives. Do not ask for trouble when there is no need to. Do not create the familiarity and the temptation to bring harm to oneself or family members when there is no need to. They live their lives and the Sinkies that choose to live their own lives should stay that way.

Sinkies don’t ‘kee seow’ and ask for trouble that you would curse yourself later on. Many will be lucky and have good experiences and stories to tell. Better to treat each other at arms length, unless one has good reasons to be connected out of necessity or work, and be cautiously and tentatively respectful and safe. Often kindness does not beget kindness but harm and pain. That is the hard truth in life. But of course, for those who have so much time and love for the foreign workers, do not be affected by my cautionary comments. Go and do what makes you happy and make the foreign workers happy.

Kopi Level - Green

IBs divide and rule in the net

With the GE around the corner, the activities of the IBs are growing in intensity. And their main objective is to divide the bloggers, drive a wedge between them and let them go scratching at each other and forget the important issues facing the people and country. Gullible netizens are easily goaded to attack other netizens on the flimsiest excuse at the provocations of the IBs. Netizens must be aware of such divide and rule tactics, to break the netizens into different groups and better still, to get them attacking one another.
 
The other major objective is to get the opposition parties and their supporters to go attacking each other and the parties. When the opposition parties and their supporters start to do that, what is there to do but to ride the waves to victory while the oppositions are rattled, scattered and battered by trying to kill each other. They will be kept so busy without knowing why.
 
Beware of the IBs. Some may post as anti govt and spewed a few angry words, but the intent is to sow discords and create division. This is the time for opposition parties and their supporters, and netizens/bloggers to stay united, and to avoid tearing at each other. There is a bigger goal to achieve, a better Singapore for the true blue citizens of this island. Beware of fakes and saboteurs and provocateurs.Watch what they are doing.

Kopi Level - Yellow

American treachery and treason against Asians

Below is an article by JOHN TIFFANY which reveals the American treachery and treason in setting A Class Japanese war criminals free in exchange for thousands of tons of gold that Japan looted from China and other countries.

By John Tiffany

During World War II, Japan conquered a large swathe of the globe, including most of the Pacific islands and all of eastern Asia. Emperor Hirohito, portrayed as an innocent “marine biologist,” in reality directed the looting of the national treasures found throughout this large chunk of the world. These include the wealth of Britain, Netherlands and France, which had moved their gold to Asia “for safety’s sake,” and the national treasures of 13 Asian nations invaded by Japan.

Why they call it Yamashita’s gold is anyone’s guess. In reality, it was the treasure of Hirohito. Yamashita merely worked for Hirohito.

The royal family was put in charge of supervising the whole process, and as much booty as possible was taken to Japan. Many treasure ships were scuttled in Tokyo Bay, with an eye to salvaging the loot when the war was over.

Some of the treasure was first taken to the Philippines. But the Americans began sinking Japanese ships left and right, so the emperor and his family decided to hide much of the treasure in caves in the Philippines, expecting and hoping that the islands would remain in Japanese hands at the end of the war and the loot could then be recovered.

The routine was to select a good cave, fill it with treasure, and then blowup the entrance to the cave, with the workers sealed inside where they would soon die.

After the war, many secret deals were made by the United States government to let Japanese war criminals, especially the top criminal, the emperor, and the royal family, off the hook. In exchange, much of the stolen gold, silver, gems, antiquities etc was secretly taken by U.S. government insiders, particularly the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)/Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and various generals in the military. This is where the secret agency got its first big financing—under the table of course. This secret dealing was itself one of the greatest crimes of the 20th century.

Noted historians and respected investigative journalists Sterling and Peggy Seagrave, in their book Gold Warriors: America’s Secret Recovery of Yamashita’s Gold, documented the  multibillion dollar World War II loot, valued at perhaps over 120 billion 1945 dollars.

In December 1937, Japan declared war on China and surrounded the capital city, which at that time was Nanking. Prince Chichibu, younger brother of Hirohito, had been chosen to direct the ultra-secret treasure-looting team. This team was given a code name of “the Golden Lily” after a poem the emperor had written, and 6,600 tons of gold were recovered from Nanking alone, plus silver and precious stones. That was just the beginning of the emperor’s loot-the-world operation....

Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu of Japan’s royal family, in Singapore, was very pleased when his men found the treasures of Britain stored in Asian banks. Another pleasant surprise experienced by Prince Chichibu was the discovery that the Dutch had moved their treasures to the East Indies. Not only did Japan have the wealth of the Asian continent, but they were now rewarded with much of the European treasures as well.

Collection of wealth throughout the conquered lands continued. With over 5,000 years of Asia’s antiquity to pillage, the amounts collected were astronomical. With Shanghai in their hands, the Golden Lily team found themselves stretched to the limit keeping up with the collection and melting down of precious metals....

By mid-1942 Prince Chichibu was faced with the challenge of where and how to hide the treasures so that they could not be discovered after the war. He decided the loot would have to be hidden in caves and tunnel systems.

As the Seagraves explain, a pivotal event in the recovery of the Golden Lily caches was the torture of General Yamashita’s driver, who eventually confessed the whereabouts of some of the repositories.

After the war, much of the hidden gold and treasure was gathered up by Severino Diaz Garcia Santa Romana, an OSS and CIA agent, known as Santy. Santy worked with U.S. General Edward Lansdale and other corrupt U.S. generals and politicians, to secrete the gold in foreign bank accounts. The stolen loot was utilized for a variety of purposes, in particular the financing of U.S. cloak-and-dagger operations.

The booty was combined with more treasure stolen from the Nazis to create a vast slush fund called the Black Eagle Trust, which ultimately became a source of enormous corruption, luring many individuals into temptation and, sometimes, death.

This bloody gold gave the Truman administration access to virtually limitless unvouchered funds for secret, and usually unconstitutional, operations.

It also provided an asset base that was used by Washington to beef up the treasuries of its allies, to bribe politicians and to manipulate elections.

It is a vast story and in this space we can only point out some highlights. But the purpose of Gold Warriors, by the Seagraves, is to reveal why so  little is known of the massive Japanese looting of the world, and the devious and unconstitutional role Washington politicians and bureaucrats played in the taking over of much of this booty and glossing over horrible Japanese atrocities, especially by the emperor and royal family, and the cover-up of all of this, which continues to this day. They have backed up their book with extensive research, and it is a very important contribution to the field of authentic, Revisionist history....

John Tiffany is assistant editor of THE BARNES REVIEW magazine of revisionist history and nationalist thought and has been interested in diverse ethnic groups and ancient history around the world. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Michigan and is the copy editor for AMERICAN FREE PRESS.

- See more at: http://americanfreepress.net/?p=3281edwin#sthash.NyOloxKP.dpuf

Manila testing Beijing's patience

By Liu Qiang (China Daily) Updated: 2014-05-12 07:41
Comments Print Mail Large Medium Small
Manila testing Beijing's patience
By Liu Qiang (China Daily) Updated: 2014-05-12 07:41
Comments Print Mail Large Medium Small

Manila testing Beijing's patience

On May 6, the Philippines again created trouble in the South China Sea by illegally detaining 11 Chinese fishermen and seizing a boat in the waters off China's Half Moon Shoal in the Nansha Islands. On the same day, the Philippine military announced a so-called South China Sea defense plan, saying that to protect the Philippines' "national interest", it will resist "China's increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea".

The Philippines has recently been creating trouble in the South China Sea. It has sent a supply ship to the Ren'ai Reef off China's Nansha Islands, held joint military exercises with the United States, illegally detained Chinese fishermen and boats, and announced a South China Sea "defense plan", highlighting its increasingly aggressive stance on the the South China Sea issue.

China has long been advocating the use of peaceful means to resolve international disputes and remains committed to resolving the South China Sea issue on the basis of universally accepted maritime laws, for which it has even put forward the idea of "shelving disputes and carrying out common development".

Some countries involved in the South China Sea disputes, including the Philippines, have taken China's tolerance as cowardice and are acting aggressively. The Philippines' provocative actions challenge China's ability to safeguard its national sovereignty. Since the Philippines does not measure up to China either in economic or military strength, why does it dare to repeatedly create trouble in the South China Sea?

The answer lies in the US-Philippine alliance. Before US President Barack Obama paid a state visit to the Philippines, the two countries signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, reinforcing the US-Philippine military alliance. The agreement gives American forces temporary access to selected military bases and allows them to preposition fighter jets and ships. Also, it allows US forces to train Philippine troops to strengthen their maritime defense, and improve their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities. Reassured by Washington's security commitment, an emboldened Manila is now trying to act tough over the South China Sea dispute.

The Philippines is not alone in thinking that it will become invincible because of its alliance with the US; some other Asian countries, too, think so. And the US is taking advantage of these countries to implement its strategic rebalancing to Asia to weave a new Asia-Pacific security pattern.

The US' strategic rebalancing has given the Philippines an opportunity to fish in troubled waters. The US believes that China's rapid rise has broken the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, so it has to implement its "pivot to Asia" strategy.

Manila believes the main goal of Washington's rebalancing strategy is to prevent China from replacing the US as the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific. Encouraged by this assumption, the Philippines is using the US muscle to "legitimize" its illegal occupation of China's islands and reefs. The fact is, the US' rebalancing strategy has failed to restore peace and stability in the region. On the contrary, it has disrupted the relatively stable strategic situation and raised the risk of conflicts and clashes. Given such a situation, the US should persuade its allies not to create trouble in the South China Sea.

Besides, the collusion among some countries locked in disputes with China over the South China Sea has also prompted the Philippines to take provocative actions against China. The Philippines and Vietnam illegally occupy many of China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Therefore, the two countries usually act in collusion over the South China Sea issue.

Just a day after Manila detained 11 Chinese fishermen, Vietnamese vessels intentionally collided with Chinese vessels in order to disrupt normal drilling operations by the China side in its waters. The incident reflected that Hanoi and Manila have joined hands to hype up the South China Sea issue to illegally seize China's islands and reefs. What Manila doesn't realize is that, its provocative actions are like the proverbial rock, which it has lifted only to drop it on its feet.

The overwhelming global trend is of peace, development and cooperation. So, the Philippines will be opposed by countries that are eager to maintain peace and stability in the region. And ultimately, the Philippine people will protest against the US' strengthened military presence in their country because of the painful memories of American colonial rule in the Philippines.

Moreover, given the progress of a "new type of major-power relationship" between China and the US, Washington might eventually disappoint its Asian allies when it comes to their disputes with Beijing. After all, US foreign policy has always given priority to its own interests. Also, it is doubtful whether the US will enter into full confrontation with China and seriously damage its interests just to humor its allies.

Above all, the Philippines should stop creating trouble in the South China Sea and testing Beijing's patience, because even with US help it cannot win an all-out confrontation with China. It's time the Philippines realized that the countries occupying Chinese territory will end up paying heavy price.

Furthermore, the South China Sea disputes are between China and some Southeast Asian countries. So, the involvement of other parties will only complicate the matter further. China has always advocated friendly negotiations with disputing countries to resolve the disputes, because it believes that they can properly handle the issue to maintain peace and stability in the region. If the Philippines (and other disputing countries) share this belief, it must release the Chinese fishermen as soon as possible, instead of complicating the matter further.

The author is a professor and director of International Security Research Center, affiliated to PLA International Relations University.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manila testing Beijing's patience

On May 6, the Philippines again created trouble in the South China Sea by illegally detaining 11 Chinese fishermen and seizing a boat in the waters off China's Half Moon Shoal in the Nansha Islands. On the same day, the Philippine military announced a so-called South China Sea defense plan, saying that to protect the Philippines' "national interest", it will resist "China's increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea".

The Philippines has recently been creating trouble in the South China Sea. It has sent a supply ship to the Ren'ai Reef off China's Nansha Islands, held joint military exercises with the United States, illegally detained Chinese fishermen and boats, and announced a South China Sea "defense plan", highlighting its increasingly aggressive stance on the the South China Sea issue.

China has long been advocating the use of peaceful means to resolve international disputes and remains committed to resolving the South China Sea issue on the basis of universally accepted maritime laws, for which it has even put forward the idea of "shelving disputes and carrying out common development".

Some countries involved in the South China Sea disputes, including the Philippines, have taken China's tolerance as cowardice and are acting aggressively. The Philippines' provocative actions challenge China's ability to safeguard its national sovereignty. Since the Philippines does not measure up to China either in economic or military strength, why does it dare to repeatedly create trouble in the South China Sea?

The answer lies in the US-Philippine alliance. Before US President Barack Obama paid a state visit to the Philippines, the two countries signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, reinforcing the US-Philippine military alliance. The agreement gives American forces temporary access to selected military bases and allows them to preposition fighter jets and ships. Also, it allows US forces to train Philippine troops to strengthen their maritime defense, and improve their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities. Reassured by Washington's security commitment, an emboldened Manila is now trying to act tough over the South China Sea dispute.

The Philippines is not alone in thinking that it will become invincible because of its alliance with the US; some other Asian countries, too, think so. And the US is taking advantage of these countries to implement its strategic rebalancing to Asia to weave a new Asia-Pacific security pattern.

The US' strategic rebalancing has given the Philippines an opportunity to fish in troubled waters. The US believes that China's rapid rise has broken the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, so it has to implement its "pivot to Asia" strategy.

Manila believes the main goal of Washington's rebalancing strategy is to prevent China from replacing the US as the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific. Encouraged by this assumption, the Philippines is using the US muscle to "legitimize" its illegal occupation of China's islands and reefs. The fact is, the US' rebalancing strategy has failed to restore peace and stability in the region. On the contrary, it has disrupted the relatively stable strategic situation and raised the risk of conflicts and clashes. Given such a situation, the US should persuade its allies not to create trouble in the South China Sea.

Besides, the collusion among some countries locked in disputes with China over the South China Sea has also prompted the Philippines to take provocative actions against China. The Philippines and Vietnam illegally occupy many of China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Therefore, the two countries usually act in collusion over the South China Sea issue.

Just a day after Manila detained 11 Chinese fishermen, Vietnamese vessels intentionally collided with Chinese vessels in order to disrupt normal drilling operations by the China side in its waters. The incident reflected that Hanoi and Manila have joined hands to hype up the South China Sea issue to illegally seize China's islands and reefs. What Manila doesn't realize is that, its provocative actions are like the proverbial rock, which it has lifted only to drop it on its feet.

The overwhelming global trend is of peace, development and cooperation. So, the Philippines will be opposed by countries that are eager to maintain peace and stability in the region. And ultimately, the Philippine people will protest against the US' strengthened military presence in their country because of the painful memories of American colonial rule in the Philippines.

Moreover, given the progress of a "new type of major-power relationship" between China and the US, Washington might eventually disappoint its Asian allies when it comes to their disputes with Beijing. After all, US foreign policy has always given priority to its own interests. Also, it is doubtful whether the US will enter into full confrontation with China and seriously damage its interests just to humor its allies.

Above all, the Philippines should stop creating trouble in the South China Sea and testing Beijing's patience, because even with US help it cannot win an all-out confrontation with China. It's time the Philippines realized that the countries occupying Chinese territory will end up paying heavy price.

Furthermore, the South China Sea disputes are between China and some Southeast Asian countries. So, the involvement of other parties will only complicate the matter further. China has always advocated friendly negotiations with disputing countries to resolve the disputes, because it believes that they can properly handle the issue to maintain peace and stability in the region. If the Philippines
Manila testing Beijing's patience
By Liu Qiang (China Daily) Updated: 2014-05-12 07:41
Comments Print Mail Large Medium Small

Manila testing Beijing's patience

On May 6, the Philippines again created trouble in the South China Sea by illegally detaining 11 Chinese fishermen and seizing a boat in the waters off China's Half Moon Shoal in the Nansha Islands. On the same day, the Philippine military announced a so-called South China Sea defense plan, saying that to protect the Philippines' "national interest", it will resist "China's increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea".

The Philippines has recently been creating trouble in the South China Sea. It has sent a supply ship to the Ren'ai Reef off China's Nansha Islands, held joint military exercises with the United States, illegally detained Chinese fishermen and boats, and announced a South China Sea "defense plan", highlighting its increasingly aggressive stance on the the South China Sea issue.

China has long been advocating the use of peaceful means to resolve international disputes and remains committed to resolving the South China Sea issue on the basis of universally accepted maritime laws, for which it has even put forward the idea of "shelving disputes and carrying out common development".

Some countries involved in the South China Sea disputes, including the Philippines, have taken China's tolerance as cowardice and are acting aggressively. The Philippines' provocative actions challenge China's ability to safeguard its national sovereignty. Since the Philippines does not measure up to China either in economic or military strength, why does it dare to repeatedly create trouble in the South China Sea?

The answer lies in the US-Philippine alliance. Before US President Barack Obama paid a state visit to the Philippines, the two countries signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, reinforcing the US-Philippine military alliance. The agreement gives American forces temporary access to selected military bases and allows them to preposition fighter jets and ships. Also, it allows US forces to train Philippine troops to strengthen their maritime defense, and improve their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities. Reassured by Washington's security commitment, an emboldened Manila is now trying to act tough over the South China Sea dispute.

The Philippines is not alone in thinking that it will become invincible because of its alliance with the US; some other Asian countries, too, think so. And the US is taking advantage of these countries to implement its strategic rebalancing to Asia to weave a new Asia-Pacific security pattern.

The US' strategic rebalancing has given the Philippines an opportunity to fish in troubled waters. The US believes that China's rapid rise has broken the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, so it has to implement its "pivot to Asia" strategy.

Manila believes the main goal of Washington's rebalancing strategy is to prevent China from replacing the US as the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific. Encouraged by this assumption, the Philippines is using the US muscle to "legitimize" its illegal occupation of China's islands and reefs. The fact is, the US' rebalancing strategy has failed to restore peace and stability in the region. On the contrary, it has disrupted the relatively stable strategic situation and raised the risk of conflicts and clashes. Given such a situation, the US should persuade its allies not to create trouble in the South China Sea.

Besides, the collusion among some countries locked in disputes with China over the South China Sea has also prompted the Philippines to take provocative actions against China. The Philippines and Vietnam illegally occupy many of China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Therefore, the two countries usually act in collusion over the South China Sea issue.

Just a day after Manila detained 11 Chinese fishermen, Vietnamese vessels intentionally collided with Chinese vessels in order to disrupt normal drilling operations by the China side in its waters. The incident reflected that Hanoi and Manila have joined hands to hype up the South China Sea issue to illegally seize China's islands and reefs. What Manila doesn't realize is that, its provocative actions are like the proverbial rock, which it has lifted only to drop it on its feet.

The overwhelming global trend is of peace, development and cooperation. So, the Philippines will be opposed by countries that are eager to maintain peace and stability in the region. And ultimately, the Philippine people will protest against the US' strengthened military presence in their country because of the painful memories of American colonial rule in the Philippines.

Moreover, given the progress of a "new type of major-power relationship" between China and the US, Washington might eventually disappoint its Asian allies when it comes to their disputes with Beijing. After all, US foreign policy has always given priority to its own interests. Also, it is doubtful whether the US will enter into full confrontation with China and seriously damage its interests just to humor its allies.

Above all, the Philippines should stop creating trouble in the South China Sea and testing Beijing's patience, because even with US help it cannot win an all-out confrontation with China. It's time the Philippines realized that the countries occupying Chinese territory will end up paying heavy price.

Furthermore, the South China Sea disputes are between China and some Southeast Asian countries. So, the involvement of other parties will only complicate the matter further. China has always advocated friendly negotiations with disputing countries to resolve the disputes, because it believes that they can properly handle the issue to maintain peace and stability in the region. If the Philippines (and other disputing countries) share this belief, it must release the Chinese fishermen as soon as possible, instead of complicating the matter further.

The author is a professor and director of International Security Research Center, affiliated to PLA International Relations University.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(and other disputing countries) share this belief, it must release the Chinese fishermen as soon as possible, instead of complicating the matter further.

The author is a professor and director of International Security Research Center, affiliated to PLA International Relations University.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How much is CPF collecting from the workforce

The current CPF contribution rate is 16% from employer and 20% from the employee making a total of 36% of the monthly income. Using an average salary of $3,000 and 2 million employees (for simplicity in calculation) contributing to the CPF, just ball park, the monthly contributions work out to be (36% x 3000 x 2m) $2.16b or $25.92b a year. Now that is an awfully big sum of money going into the CPF.

To those who are prudent and responsible, this is not simply a lot of money to play with but a lot to money to return with interest. They will be very careful not to touch this money but to manage it with extreme care while under their safe keeping. It is other people’s money, the CPF members’ money that must be returned.

But if you have a bunch of crooks, like in a rogue govt, they will be easily tempted to spend it, to act clever, to think of getting bigger returns without knowing that the bigger the returns the higher the risk of losing it. Some will capriciously be thinking of behaving like rich men and go flashing the money to everyone and even wanting to flaunt the wealth by throwing some around. It is such a nice feeling to have so much money to play with. And if not enough, no worry, the tap is flowing and every month there will be another $2b flowing in, unlimited supply of money.

It is so easy to go shopping or to act like philanthropists and give whenever someone comes asking. It is really a very nice feeling, spending OPM. Spend first, don’t worry about tomorrow and how to pay back. This is the risk of this country when there is so much money freely available and the high living low thinking will just do that, help themselves to live well. Who cares what comes tomorrow. Tomorrow is someone else’s problem. It is OPM!

Any govt in power has to be very careful to guard against rogues who think of nothing about spending such easy money. It is so easy to spend, so easy to give away. But don’t forget, the time to pay back will come and will come sooner than they think. Singapore really has a very happy problem with money. No wonder everyone is feeling so rich, pay and pay, give and give. Who needs money, come, come to Sin City. Just ask and will be given.

Ultimately where does the money come from? Ultimately whose money ended up given away? The CPF is the people’s money and must be returned. Not returning is not an option, not under any pretence or any funny schemes. You can’t cheat an honest man.

PS. Actually you can cheat an honest man in Sin City when an honest man is a daft Sinkie.

Kopi Level - Yellow