Chuck Hagel farting in Shangri La

 The Americans ‘will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged’. Is this a statement of peace or a provocation for war? And Abe stressed about the rule of law. In the first place the Japanese broke all rules of law when they sneaked up to Pearl Harbour to destroy the American fleet without any declaration of war. They also attacked Russia in 1939 without declaring war. Can anyone trust the Japanese to obey the rule of law?
 
As for the Americans, as the Chinese General Wang Guanzhong pointed out, what rule of law when the Americans refused to ratified the UNCLOS? What laws was Chuck Hagel talking about, American law of the gun? At least the Chinese were a signatory to UNCLOS, a commitment to abide by the UN laws of the sea. The Americans refused to accept these laws, meaning they do not want to abide by it.
 
What laws did the Americans followed when they invaded Iraq and murdered Saddam Hussein and killed and wounded several hundred thousands of civilian and innocent Iraqis? They did not even apologize when they should be prosecuted in a tribunal for war crimes. They could repeat the same dirty trick in Asia. Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia better watch your backside.
 
And what did the Americans did in Libya when the UN forbade them to attack Libyan military positions but to maintain a no fly zone? They violated the UN resolutions, violated the trust the UN bestowed on the Americans to observe the rules of engagement. Can you trust the Americans to abide by the rules of law or fundamental principles of international order when they had violated every one of them at their own discretion?
 
The world’s number One gangster and the world’s number One rogue nation during the Second World War talking about abiding by international order and the rule of law? Or are they talking about gunboat diplomacy, the rule of threats, threatening other nations with military intervention? The American gunboats are everywhere in Asia. The Japanese are sending their gunboats to the Philippines and Vietnam. Are they for peace?
But not to worry, many Asian leaders and academics are American and Japanese apologists would believe them. They would tell you, Americans good, Japanese good. America is indispensable to keep peace in the region. And the barbaric Japanese, the murderers of hundreds of thousands of Asians, raping Asian women and making them comfort women, are the best peace keeper! My God, aren’t Asians stupid? I think they are stupid to the core.
 
PS: China should put its batteries of DF21 on Red Alert and roll out its war chest of American T bills to do battle with the White House and the Yakuzas.

Kopi Level - Green

Roy Ngerng – More than $70,000 raised in 4 days

This episode started out as a defamation suit by Hsien Loong against blogger Roy Ngerng. To Hsien Loong and his legal counsel, Davinder Singh, it was just a simple case of one person claimed to be wrong and seeking recourse in the courts of law.

Roy Ngerng knew he could not afford the hefty legal fees and sought help from the people. The ferocity and speed that Singaporeans rushed forward to stuff money into Roy’s hands to pay for his legal fees are telling a different story. It is no longer a legal tussle between the Prime Minister and a young blogger. This is looking like the Prime Minister taking on a blogger who is backed by people that did not like what was happening and what they saw. They knew that Roy would not stand a chance against Hsien Loong in this case. They knew that Roy would lose but that did not deter them from throwing their money behind Roy. They knew the money would not win Roy the case. But this is not about winning or losing in the courts of law.

This is no longer about David and Goliath. This is about social justice and more. This is about the CPF money of the people and the ever increasing minimum sums and when they are able to get their money back. It could also be about a people losing faith in the PAP Govt and its style of politics.

Hsien Loong would win the defamation suit hands down and could claim all the monetary compensation he wants. But there is a very heavy price to pay for it. The people are going to bankroll Roy and would pay for his legal fees as well as the damages demanded. There are enough people with Roy, and you can even say against the Govt. A legal victory for Hsien Loong could result in irreparable political damages to him and the PAP that would not be easily undone. It could deal a fatal blow to him and the PAP’s chances of winning the next GE. As a political observer, I think this development is very serious, like a spontaneous uprising, and would affect the fate and viability of the PAP as the next Govt. The lid of oppression has been lifted.

Can anyone feel the ground shaken, like the shift of the tectonic plate? Never in Singapore’s political history since independence had the people been so united, so committed to a cause, to close rank behind a single citizen on the wrong side of the political equation. In the past, such individuals were left to fend for themselves, all alone, and the people watched on the sideline like uninterested spectators. None of their business.

The people supporting Roy are no longer the usually meek and daft Sinkies, apathetic and disinterested, that the Govt was familiar with. There is conviction, there is purpose and there is passion, to pick up the cudgel to see it through in defence of not only a young man but for a bigger cause. Not only they want their money in the CPF back, but more.

Could Hsien Loong and the PAP see what is coming, or would they think this is just another flash in the pan incident that can be ignored? It is only a matter of good communications and everything will be back to normal! Any wrong move on the part of Hsien Loong is going to lead to a road of no return, and PAP may not regain the trust and support of the people for good. This could be PAP’s final act before the next GE. It could be an act that would seal the fate of the PAP.

Is there still time for Hsien Loong to pull back and recoup the losses, change the course and to do some damage control, and hopefully still have the majority of the voters behind him and the PAP? Or is my assessment of this episode too overly pessimistic, too dramatic and there is really nothing to it, nothing political? And there will be no harm to the PAP and to Hsien Loong’s political fortune at all.

Am I reading too much into this? What do you think?

Kopi Level - Green

Contributions to Roy Ngerng’s legal fee hits $50,000

This morning I read that the donations to the cause of Roy’s legal fee have hit $50,000 in 3 days. This shows that Singaporeans are willing to stand up to fight for a cause they believe in, in this case it is not only about defending a young man but also about the fate of their CPF money.
 
The contributions are still pouring in and are likely to go beyond the $70,000 target. This is the spirit of true blue Singaporeans, the type of Singaporeans that disappeared into Sinkies but rising and standing on their feet and putting their money where their mouth is. The Singaporeans are standing behind Roy, to support the underdog in a worthy cause.
 
That’s the way to go. For every Singaporean that contributed, there must be tens or hundreds or thousands also in support of this cause. After all it is their money they are defending. The turnout at Hong Lim this Saturday is likely to exceed those that went to support the protest against the Population White Paper.
 
It is interesting to see how many would be there to fight for their CPF savings. This could be the Kopitiam Movement that is taking shape, a spontaneous cry of the people never seen before.

Kopi Level - Yellow

The wisdom of saving for retirement

Many people worried about not saving and providing enough for their retirement. So die die must make sure they will have enough money when they are still alive at 90 or 100. Lets assume that a person needs 200 packets of chicken rice to live during his economically active and younger life. And lets say he needs another 200 packets of chicken rice during his retirement.
 
Case 1. A is wealthy and has 2000 packets of chicken rice. He sets aside 500 packets of chicken rice for retirement. Very comfortable retirement I should say and would not affect his luxuriously lifestyle in his youth.
 
Case 2. B has 400 packets of chicken rice. So setting aside 200 packets for retirement not a problem and would live happily ever after with no drop in his standard of living during retirement.
 
Case 3. C has only 300 packets of chicken rice. He can either set aside 100 packets for retirement and live normally. Conversely he can set aside 200 packets for retirement but tighten his belt a bit for an easier retirement.
 
Case 4. D has only 200 packets of chicken rice. He can set aside 100 packets for retirement and stinge a bit now. It is like living with half a stomach full now and also half a stomach full during retirement.
 
Case 5. E has only 100 packets of chicken rice but needs 200 packets to keep his stomach full. So how? Live with half full stomach and leave nothing for retirement or set aside 50 packets for retirement and live with only a quarter full stomach now and a quarter full stomach during retirement?
 
Case 6. F has only 50 packets of chicken rice to live on. Barely enough to survive. How to set off for retirement?
 
Then comes the do gooder. Everyone must save for retirement. It is compulsory. Everyone must have 200 packets of chicken rice for retirement. Case 3 and 4 must set aside 200 packets for retirement. How much they are left with is not the do gooder’s problem. Case 5 and 6 must set aside all they have, 100 packets from Case 5 and 50 packets from Case 6 for their retirement. If not who is going to feed them. And Case 5 and 6 would need to top up the balance to 200 packets when they have more incomes. Tomorrow is more important than today.
 
I remember a Buddhist teaching about today and now. Today and now are the more important and precious moment, for tomorrow and the next moment one could be dead. The philosophy of saving for tomorrow is to have a lot in the future is more important than being dead now. Always look and plan for tomorrow, even if it does not come.
 
The intention is good. And all of them will have a good retirement up to 90 years old with no worries, provide they are still alive. Those who have not enough to eat now, just too bad. They must go and find their own way to feed their hungry stomachs.
 
What happens if they die at 60 years old? Well they will leave behind a lot of chicken rice uneaten while in the case of Case 5 and 6, they were hungry while setting aside the chicken rice for retirement but never live to enjoy them. They could have filled their stomach while alive or at least half filled their stomach when they could.
 
Should they thank the do gooders for helping them to save for their retirement and suffered while in alive, while in the prime of their youth and not enjoying a single packet of the chicken rice they were forced to set aside.
 
What do you think?

Kopi Level - Green

Cash is King

‘My mother recently suffered a heart attack. She was hospitalised and a stent was inserted into her heart. The resultant hospital bill came up to about $18,400.
 
My brother and I have more than $90,000 in our Medisave accounts, but only $3,950 could be deducted from my brother’s account as this was the maximum amount allowed. We had to pay the remaining amount of more than $14,000 in cash….’
 
The above were the introductory paras of an article ‘What good is Medisave if you can’t use it when you need it?’ by a Danny Tseng posted inn TRE. Danny and his brother had to pay cash to settle the bill. It was like they only wanted cash and money in CPF/Medisave was not acceptable. Actually not. Money in the CPF is limited used money, not money that you can use freely. It is money good on paper but not when you want to use it. This accentuates the saying ‘Cash is King’. Trust the value of your cash. Other forms of money are funny money, money but when you need it, becomes elusive.
Now you understand why the govt is encouraging people to put in more cash into their CPF or their parents’ and spouses’ CPF? The Govt also believes in cash. Give me your cash and I print some numbers in your CPF statements and guarantee that the money will be there, very safe.
 
Which one is more useful? Which one is more real? And ‘sway sway kena’ a case like Danny’s mother with a huge medical bill then you cry and curse yourself for putting more money into your CPF/Medisave.
 
Be smart, keep your money in cash so that you can use it when you need it. Money in CPF/Medisave will only make you smile when the monthly statement arrives. Don’t be a daft Sinkie.

Kopi Level - Yellow

The rogue of WW2 wants to protect its former victims of barbarity

Abe has offered Japan as the peace keeper of Asia, to protect East and South East Asians from the rise of China. Japan was the barbaric invaders of Asian countries, looted their countries, colonised the people, raped their women, murder their young and old. But some Asian countries seem to have forgotten the depraved and cruel acts of the Japanese and are welcoming Japan to be their protector, or at least two countries have openly said so other than Vietnam and the Philippines.

And the gangster of the world, the USA, with its disgraceful records in the Middle East, in conducting regime change, invasion, in bullying the Arab and Islamic countries, also declared itself as the protector of Asian countries that include many Islamic countries. And these Islamic countries actually welcome the Americans to be their protector as well, against a western hyped expansionist China.

To the Americans, China is a provocateur for building structures in its islands in South China Sea. China is not supposed to do so as long as there are other countries putting up silly claims against its territories. The countries that made outrageous claims are not provocative. Countries that sent its ships to ram China’s oil rig are not provocative but peaceful. Countries that blatantly arrested Chinese fishing boats are not provocative. Countries that claimed Chinese territories as theirs and scrambled jets to intercept Chinese civilian aircraft are not provocative. Countries that sent their spy planes into an area when other countries are conducting war games are not provocative.

China has not invaded any South East Asian countries but their major trading partners is provocative and aggressive. Countries that colonised and robbed these countries are peaceful and friendly and reliable as the protector of their former victims.

How silly can South East Asian countries be? It is as good as sleeping with the murderers, robbers and rapists once again and feeling very safe. What is happening to this world? A country that had its entire naval fleet sunk without any declaration of war is kissing with the country that it dropped atomic bombs into its cities. Or put it another way, a country that suffered two atomic bomb hits is kissing with the country that dropped the atomic bombs. And both are telling the silly Asian countries that they are peace loving countries, to protect them from countries that had never invaded them.

Kopi Level - Yellow

Who’s afraid of Roy Ngerng?

I have several titles in mind for this piece, like Crowd Funding or People’s Power Singapore style. The above title is quite catchy and amusing and had my vote. The gist of this article is not about who is afraid of who but the evolving political consciousness of the Sinkies crawling their way back to become Singaporeans again. There are so many serious issues facing the Sinkies today, once timid and docile to the extent of being daft, but gradually rediscovering themselves and recognising the need to stand up to fight for their rights to live a decent life in a country overwhelmed by the presence of foreigners poised to edge them out of their comfort zones. Many have already fallen victims to this deluge of so called foreign talents or funny talents that their life style and livelihood have taken a serious setback.

The current hot issue is the life savings of the people in the CPF and this is gradually transforming into a grey area when ownership becomes a questionable issue to the detriment of their rightful owners. While the Govt continues to behave smugly and try to explain away their rights to determine and decide for the people in the use of their savings, and when and how much should be returned to them as if the money belongs to the Govt, the docile Sinkies are rising to demand to have their money back as promised. For the moment the Govt is still having the upper hand, holding the trump card of legislature to make whatever it wants to do legal. The Sinkies are not taking it quietly, not going to be pooh poohed away by superficial explanations that even children would not find them funny.

This tussle for the return of the people’s savings has indirectly led to a defamation lawsuit involving a young blogger and the Prime Minister. Roy Ngerng has crossed the line by his comparison of the trial of misappropriation of the City Harvest Church fund and the CPF money and the Prime Minister. The PM is demanding for his pound of flesh by engaging the island’s top defamation lawyer to sue Roy Ngerng.

Many people in the social media are rallying to support Roy financially and morally in his legal battle with the PM not because they agree to his allegation but more because of their unhappiness over the CPF money and also a righteouness to defend the weak against the mighty. It is like the people standing up to the govt. It is like a surge of People’s Power against the Govt. And the people are doing it the Singaporean way, through the legal system, abiding by the rule of law.

To protest or to challenge the Govt, they are not marching in the streets with their feet. They are storming into the courts of law with their money. In one day, $15,000 was raised through anonymous contributions ranging from $2 to $1,000. By end of yesterday, more than $36,600 has been received. Roy is aiming to raise $70,000 to cover his legal fees and it looks that this is not a difficult target to achieve. The  People’s Power will be determined by the sum of money raised. No violence, no street protest, no burning of police cars or rioting. It is all about money, the only language Sinkies understood.

No money no talk. No money no justice as the price for justice will not come cheap, at least $70,000 for a start. The rich and powerful can literally drown the poor and weak by unleashing the might of their war chest of money.

Would Roy get the support from the people, would the people rise in tandem like a spontaneous uprising by throwing their money behind Roy? Or would the CPF members abandon Roy to fight his own battle, just like all the pathetic Sinkies? From the donations received so far, there are enough Singaporeans who are willing to put their money behind Roy.

Kopi Level - Yellow

Obama the comedian and the Yakuza

There is a report in the media about Obama reviewing American policies and ‘vows to act against aggression’ a few days back. Obviously Obama did not know or is unaware that the Americans are the biggest aggressor in the world, or pretending not to know.  The Americans have been conducting aggression in many countries for decades unceasingly, engulfed in wars of aggression but hidden under the guise of defending the democracy and human rights. I can’t help calling him a joker.

Oh, actually Obama was talking about regional aggression and regional aggressor that needs to be checked, like China. International aggression and international aggressor like the Americans have no checkers and no one to check them. It is the right of the Americans to be an international aggressor and they can do it with impunity. Who can check the American aggression?

Obama also cautioned against the use of force. American aggression did not involve the use of force. They were always peaceful in nature, without destruction and loss of lives. When Obama cautioned against the use of force, he was referring to other aggressor countries. The Americans never use force in their aggressions against other countries. America always led by examples, and American influence is always stronger by such examples of not using force, like in Iraq, Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, in Vietnam, in Korea.

Obama let the cat out of the back when he said America ‘is moving away from direct military actions.’ So there you have it, the Americans have been involved with direct military actions all the while, use of force. All the talks about not using military force were lies.

Obama is a great comedian in the making. He can start a second career in Hollywood when his term as the President ends, as a comedian of course.

Yesterday, ‘Hagel said the United States took no position on the merits of rival territorial claims in the region, but added: "We firmly oppose any nation's use of intimidation, coercion, or the threat of force to assert these claims."  Hagel then threw his weight in support of greater military role for Japan in regional affairs. Japan is now unleashed as the top war dog of the American pivot and the Americans are expecting the East and South East Asian countries to join this invader of their countries against China. Some of these countries have forgotten what Japan did to them in WW2 and that their fate as colonies of Imperial Japan. The Japanese are reviving their imperial and military ambition to be the military power in the region. Asian countries that failed to learn from the evils of the Japanese past would have to pay dearly one day should they be ruled by the Japanese again.

Amy Khor the way to go

I can see where Amy Khor was coming from when she told Foo Mee Har that foreigners first in employment was a bad policy. She is a living example of how good it is to place foreigners first ahead of Sinkies when the foreigners are super talents. If we don’t have this policy we would not have the privilege and benefits of having her as a minister in Parliament. We would surely lose her to our competitor country and would therefore be disadvantaged. And the other foreigner turned Sinkie ministers and MPs are all living proofs of how good this policy is.

 Let’s take this policy a step further. In this competitive world, not having enough foreign talents is unacceptable as the foreign talents that we rejected would go to our neighbouring countries to compete against us. We have no choice. Then look at the good side, if all the world’s talents are here, even replacing most of the Sinkies that are less talented, Singapore will definitely benefit from their contributions to our economy and prosper.

Sinkies who have been displaced by these foreigners need not worry as there will be other jobs created for them. The finest choice is to be their own boss, as the infamous Sinkie taxi drivers. The rich and talented foreigners would be their customers to give them good tips for good services. And they can be very nice to their foreigner customers to show to the world that Sinkies are not xenophobic.

For those Sinkies that still could not find a decent job, they can look forward to workfare handouts by the govt. And for those who are more entrepreneurial, they can emigrate, sell their HDB flats and take out their CPF savings and live like a king in Batam, Bintang or JB. Johore is looking more attractive with the gargantuan Iskandar project. Sinkies can live there and work there. But with the withdrawal of their CPF and the selling of their flats, they don’t really need to work at all. They can retire there and no need to come back anymore.

Singapore will prosper with all the talented foreigners flooding into the island. Sinkies can go elsewhere if they are not good enough, not competitive enough, not talented enough. That is life. For the losers, what can you expect? You have to look after yourself or blame yourself. You have to be responsible to your own life. For the survival of Singapore as a prosperous city state, only the best are needed. If Sinkies are second best and cannot find a place here, just too bad. Singapore must be the best place to live for the best people in this world.

Sinkies that are not the best, please do not begrudge this practical policy of foreign talents first. Singapore must prosper as the best city for the rich and talented.

Kopi Level - Green

Matilah Singapura says CPF is a form of tax

Chuan Jin said CPF is your money. Matilah Singapura, one of my loudmouth extremely opinionated fans in mysingaporenews disagreed, and for many years had been scolding everyone for thinking or believing that the CPF money is their money and not a tax. So, who is right, the minister or Matilah Singapura?

If I believe in authority, I must agree that a minister must be right. How can a minister be wrong or be telling lies? And I must naturally disagree with an opinionated foul mouth blogger that he is wrong. A blogger simply has no credibility when put beside a minister.

Another way of deciding who is right is to draw up a list of criteria to give one an objective way of comparison. When the money is your money, the criteria to support such a conclusion are very straight forward. You can take the money anytime you like and put it into your pocket. You can buy anything you like, anytime you like without having to ask anyone for permission. Another simple test, you can hold the money in your hand to touch and enjoy the smell of money. This is definitely different from looking at a piece of paper saying you have so much money but cannot touch or see the money.

Let’s look at the money in the CPF that Chuan Jin is your money.

Can you take back your money anytime you like when you feel like it?

Can you spend on anything you like at your fancy?

Or can the person holding your money for safekeeping be allowed to spend your money without your consent or even force you to spend your money because he said so?

Can the person keeping your money decide when and how much to return to you?

KNN, looks like this foulmouth blogger called Matilah Singapura is right leh. The money is not your money when you can’t spend it as you like. But is it a tax like what Matilah Singapura called it? This one is a bit technical. Must ask a legally trained professional to explain. But such professionals are likely to say yes and no subject to this and that and you end up not knowing what they are saying. And so far none of them want to say anything. Maybe no one ask them or no one pays them to say something. Mahathir once said, fishing in Malaysia very easy. In Singapore, very difficult as the fish would not open their mouths.

So, is CPF your money?

Kopi Level - Green

Roy Ngerng needs your help

Hello everyone, thank you for your support and well-wishes. It has been an arduous two weeks. I am doing well so far.
 
Last Sunday, the Singapore prime minister issued a letter of demand to me for defamation. I have thus far acceded to the requests of the prime minister to remove several of the articles that I had written and a video that I made. I have also offered the Prime Minister my apology…
 
Raising Funds
 
My lawyer, M Ravi, will be leading a team in preparation for the hearing. As most of you know, he champions many Human Rights causes, most of which he undertakes without charge. However, he only has a small practice with finite resources. In view of the magnitude of the matter, the amount of resources required and the likelihood that it will last almost a year, I need to raise the legal fees required.
 
I expect the legal fees would amount to at least $70,000 and this would include:
• Filing fees
• Research
• Lawyer’s fees
 
If you would like to help me with this, you can make a deposit to the following accounts:
 
• POSB Savings Account Number: 130-23068-7 Name: Ngerng Yi Ling
 
Any amount will be much appreciated.
 
The actual amount of damages, which is separate from the legal fees I am trying to raise, will only be known after the court case is over.
 
Redbean: Roy needs your help, however small does not matter. It is a show of your moral support. And don’t forget to made a date with him at Hong Lim Park, 7 Jun at 4pm to hear him and Han Hui Hui speaking for your CPF savings.

MH370 – Time to press criminal charges

The Australians have wrapped up their search for the black boxes in the south India Ocean. After weeks of submarine mapping they have concluded that the black boxes were not there. The Americans too announced that the MH370 could not be there and added that the pings that misled all the countries that the aircraft could be in the Indian Ocean was hoax, man made sound that had nothing to do with the aircraft equipment. What about the other pings that all the expert analysis and commentaries about handshakes between the aircraft and the Immarsat satellite? Were they also man made?

How could so many govts and experts be made to believe that the aircraft crashed into the Indian Ocean and so much effort and valuable time and resources were wasted in a wild goose chase fabricated by someone or parties who deliberately produced or created fake evidences to point to that direction? Let’s revisit the sequence of events that led to this farcical and cruel theatrical event.

From the very beginning, someone had been trying very hard to direct the search parties towards the Indian Ocean by all means and all kinds of ruse. Mad pilot, suicidal pilot, terrorist pilot, dead pilot, all had one common destination, to fly the aircraft to the Indian Ocean. No one smelt a fish? These mad and unbelieveable fictions could be exposed quite easily by any inquisitive mind if not for a few other conjured findings and confirmations.

First we had the Immarsat satellite company coming up with their ‘pings’ recording and their ‘clever never been used’ Doppler Theory deduction to prove that the aircraft crashed in the Indian Ocean. Other than the Immarsat, no other agencies could offer more technical information on the MH370. The findings of the Immarsat company were endorsed by the Australian PM Abbott who confidently told Najib that that was where the aircraft was. And he was so convincing, as if he had inside information, that Najib believed his story wholly to even declaring the search was over and the passengers were as good as dead.

Now we have this revelation that everyone was being deceived. The aircraft was not there and could not be there and the pings were fabricated to lie. After nearly 3 months of the aircraft’s disappearance, there is no need to keep on with the pretence. Someone decided to tell the truth.

So, what’s next? It is about time that an inquiry be conducted to determine who started the hoax, were the Immarsat ping data also fabricated, who fixed the analysis of the ping data to lie that the aircraft was in the Indian Ocean, and who told Abbott of the location of the crash site? It is time to start arresting some of these evil bastards and burn them on the stake. The conspiracy to deceive the search effort is pretty obvious by now. And it looks like there is a big party of people or nations involved in this wicked scam. If found guilty, they must be punished severely as 274 lives were at stake.

Kopi Level - Green

Has Inderjit Singh submitted his resignation letter?

The lengthy letter by Inderjit on what he felt had gone wrong with the PAP and its policies was like him submitting his resignation letter to Hsien Loong. It was as good as saying ‘I disagree and you can do anything you want with me’.
 
Many readers are applauding the things highlighted in Inderjit’s letter and could feel that it was written from his heart. He just had it too much and could not hold back anymore. Yes, this is the first time an incumbent PAP MP is kpkb while still with the Govt, while still in Parliament. This is a clear break from the past when elites or ex PAP stalwarts would only talk after they have left the corridor of power.
 
How many PAP MPs or ministers out there are sharing the angst of Inderjit Singh and would want to do the same, or have the guts to say it while still an active member of the house? Would anyone feel excited enough, invigorated enough and encouraged by this act of Inderjit to say, ‘I agree with Inderjit and here is my resignation letter?’
 
For any MP or minister to take such a stand, it would demand a lot of courage and conviction to do the right thing, to go with the heart, to go against the head, or like Ngaim Dong Dow had said, go against the money.
 
Are we seeing the first breakaway? Are we seeing the first sign of rebellion in Fortress PAP? What Inderjit had done is unprecedented. It is like a public dress down. Anyone wanting to read what he said can go to this link, http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/05/27/mp-inderjit-singhs-critical-analysis-of-pap-govt/.

Kopi Level - Green

Low Thia Khiang turned into a tiger in a cul de sac

The whole weight of the PAP and the Prime Minister bore down on Low Thia Khiang in Parliament. Hsien Loong gave him a lashing in the most ‘constructive’ way after this term was made famous by Tony Tan in his Presidential Address. Hsien Loong could not make it any more constructive than what he did to Low Thia Khiang. This shaken Low’s confidence for a brief moment but he recomposed himself and stood there bravely to rebut everything Hsien Loong threw at him. He would not let any unwarranted remarks go unanswered and he took his time to rebut every one of them, not missing any.
 
Low Thia Khiang has shown his mettle expected of an opposition leader. He was not going to buckle under the spotlight. He held his ground and even Hsien Loong had to turn on a little smile on and off from his lecturing posture. Mind you, you had a Cambridge trained scholar speaking in his ‘mother tongue’ Queens English that he was most comfortable with and with a full vocabulary of choiced words in his finger tips. On the other side of the bench was a Chinese educated Nantah graduate, born and bred in Teochew and Mandarin but retorting in English, a language that was as good as alien to him. Low Thia Khiang not only spoke well and in good grammatically correct English, he fought back like a tiger. Imagine if the debate were to be conducted in Mandarin, the result would be quite different even though Hsien Loong is also a Mandarin speaker. Maybe next time Low Thia Khiang shall speak in Mandarin when taking on Hsien Loong (or anyone in Parliament) and let Hsien Loong have the choice to reply in English or Mandarin.
 
I think many who have glued to the TV to watch the drama would have stood up and gave him a standing ovation. Despite all the handicaps, underrepresented, 7 against 80, despite having to struggle with an alien language, despite having only limited resources, and in the face of a hostile and cynical dominant party whose candidates have occupied Parliament like their familiar living room, Low Thia Khiang stood tall, alone to face them. He did himself proud, did his party proud. And I am sure many of the PAP MPs must be quietly admiringly the way Low ‘articulated’ his positions without any fumble.
 
Many who watched the debate are giving Low Thia Khiang the nod as a worthy opposition leader in Parliament. His performance was a good example for his MPs to emulate and must have shown them that that’s the way to stand up against the hostile stares of intimidating opponents without having to give an inch, like a tiger. At least that was the impression Hsien Loong had of the WP leaders, turning into tigers and heroes. When your worthy opponents like the mighty PAP acknowledged your worthiness, you deserved it.

Kopi Level - Green

US PLANING PROXY WARS AGAINST CHINA

US , the Evil Empire planning proxy wars against China.

US, The Evil Empire in collusion with the Japs, Vietnam and the Pinoys are goading and luring China to war.
Why are all wars happening in Asia now. Why are there so many endless problems occuring in Asia . Who create these wars and these problems. Can the Asians think. Can they stop smoking opium and taking heroin and wake up from their drug

induced slumber. Can they see and realise why there are no wars in Europe and America. Europe and America are mainly white caucasians and they give each other mutual protection. Other than sporadic local squabbles they will not have big wars

happening at their doorsteps. Look at Ukrane and Crimea. The European countries and America try to ply away Ukrane from Russia. Their dirty plot backfired and when Russia took the upper hand and wrenched Crimea away from Ukrane what did the

Evil Empire and the European countries do. They watched with folded arms and made some useless noise. They didn;t want to be embroiled in a long drawn out war with Russia, a big country as powerful as America, In other words they fear the might

of Russia and they would rather sacrifice Ukrane than to have a war happening in Europe.

But Asia is different and it is non-European and non caucasian. Asia is big and endowed with vast resources like oil, gas and other minerals as well as rich agricultural resources. The Western powers have been exploiting these Asian countries for

centuries and have been milking away these rich Asian resources for free. To be able to continue to exploit Asia the western powers headed by US are resorting to evil means and other nefarious activities. Their most criminal act is to create suspicion

and distrust among Asian countries and finally leading them to war so that they can enrich themselves by selling and supplying the various warring factions with military arms. In the midst of these wars the Western powers would eventually take over

these countries and with that the endless rich resources.. Look at how the Evil Empire is having a monopoly of all the oil in the Middle-East. America is paying cheap for Arab oil but selling it to the world at many multiple times what it pays for the Arab

oil.

For about four hundred years Western colonial and imperial powers enjoyed unimpeded and uninteruppted hayday of aggression and conquest. Usually these aggressions and conquests were foloowed by mass killings and genocide of native

population.Thereafter they would have a free hand in imperial control of the colonies and in exploiting and extracting all their resources .After the Second World War the Western powers except US were forced to give independence to their

colonies.However before giving independence to these colonies they planted seeds of future suspicion , dissension and contention among the colonies with the intention of holding some form of ultimate influence over these ex-colonies. This can be

seen in the Arab Middle-East , India and Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, North and South Korea, China and Taiwan.

The Western powers headed by US, The Evil Empire is instigating and fomenting troubles all over Asia . Four hundred years ago when Europeans headed by England, France, Spain , Holland and Portugal set foot on America, they claimed they were

special and that their God had meant to reserve the rich lands in the New World for white men and their God had given them the heavenly right to genocide all the infidels, the natives of America. Now US , the Evil Empire claims exceptionalism and

arrogantly insists that no other country or countries should be allowed to rise up and be as rich and powerful as US , not to say trying to surpass in wealth and power over the Evil Empire. Further the Evil Empire arrogates to itself the right to determine

the destiny of all other countries. Thus with this insidious assumption US for the last seventy years since the end of the Secon World War has been interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, creating and fomenting troubles and wars all over

the world , mainly third world countries in Asia.

US, the Evil Empire by its own greed and endless wanton aggression through its creation of perpetual wars as a means to hold hegemony over all other countries has as a result bring financial catastrophy and bankruptcy to itself. However it is trying to

keep itself afloat through many evil and nefarious schemes to cheat and swindle not only their own people but also many countries throughout the world. It owes China and many other Asian countries huge debts to the tune of several trillion dollars.

US is now operating a fake economy and its money the 'dollar' is not back by gold or any resources. It has resorted to printing billions and billions of fiduciary notes as well as resorting to currency and financial manipulation including insidiously

manipulating and rigging both the American and the world stock markets. Their bankers work hand in gloves with their evil politicians and stock brokers to cheat and swindle the whole world

Now with such a huge debt of several trillions owing to China, the Evil Empire is trying to abscond with these debts through wars by using unsuspecting silly Asian countries to fight its proxy wars against China. It is encouraging , instigating and

supporting the vietnamese rats, the Pinoy vermins and the subhuman Japs to illegally lay claims on Chinese islands, shoals and seas. The Chinese have yet to settle their score against the Japs for their wanton atrocities committed against Chinese

people both in China and in South East Asia during the Second World War.

The Evil Empire has already created the preamble to a war with China and for that a preamble to Third World War has already been kindled. China and the Chinese people must realise that during the last one hundred fifty years the Western countries

and the Japs were able to attack and steal Chinese territories as well as humiliating the Chinese because the Chinese were weak militarily, financially and economically and also there was absolutely no unity among the Chinese. Having realised that

China must expedite building up a strong and powerful military which is second to none in both the army, navy , airforce and rocket and missile units . It must also build and sustain a rich and powerful economy both in the commercial and the military

domain.Thus a strong united and well armed China should have no fear in taking on the US, the Evil Empire, the Japs. the Vietnamese rats and the Pinoy vermins either singly or in their collusion. When a war is started and imposed against the Chinese,

it is the sacred  and paramount duty of all Chinese people wheerever they may be to rise up and support the mother country and to seek out and kill all Japs . Japan which had brutally killled and murdered more than a hundred million Chinese from 1885

to 1940s should be totally destroyed. Likewise the shameless Americans which is goading and luring China into war and is supporting the Japs , the Vietmins and the Pinoys to fight its proxy wars against China should also be annihilated too.

My family had suffered greatly from the Japs and I am hoping and longing for the day when I too can take revenge against the Japs.

SOUTHERNGLORY  1

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Table thumping constructive politics in Parliament

After watching the TV clip on the exchange between Hsien Loong and Low Thia Khiang last night I have so many things to write about. My problem now is how to write them constructively and not destructively. My bigger problem is trying to decipher what is being constructive and what is being destructive as I am quite blur after the exchange. Maybe after a few rounds of meditation my mind will be clearer. Or maybe I need not have to be bothered on those terms as they are meant for politicians in Parliament.
 
Let me touch on the less important aspects of the exchange instead of the serious stuff for the moment. Serious stuff involving policy matters must spend more time and effort on them. Rushing in to take pot shots or to make comments like bull arse flies may end up flip flopping, or is it shifting or changing of position, can’t figure out which is a more appropriate and right word to choose.
 
One thing to note is not to be too cynical or breathtakingly cynical. Matilah Singapura said my posts are corrosively cynical. Which is more powderful? I think Matilah was saying it as a form of compliment. Not sure if Hsien Loong was complimenting Low Thia Khiang for his cynicism in Parliament.
 
I think writing in blogs is not like in parliament and to be cynical is good in its own way. And no one would expect any blogger to follow up with recommendations and suggestions on policy changes. Not only bloggers did not have the resources, neither do they have the data and complete information on an issue. Without knowing the full details of a problem and without the resources available, surely cannot expect too much from bloggers right? What about opposition MPs, are they in a position to provide real solutions giving their limitations on resources as well? Are govt policies so simple that anyone can just offer solutions with their little knowledge on the issues or their own limitations in ability?
 
Oh, cynicism is a way of suggestions, can also be constructive too. As an example, would it be enough to say that the water in the longkang is deep enough for swimming, or ponding for the people paid to do the job to get rid of the problem? Or must one also tell the people paid to do the job how to clear the longkangs to be constructive? Often the solutions are obvious and one needs only to point out the problem, or to make a little cynical comment. And big problems often need big cynicism to achieve the same effect. And bigger problems may need breathtaking cynicism to jolt people from their sleep. And at times you may need corrosive cynicism when all else fails and the problem just get biggerer.
 
I am going to do more meditation to sort out the deep and challenging thoughts from the exchanges in Parliament. I am also going to meditate on what Hri Kumar said, ‘Singapore politics still free from cynicism.’ Obviously he has not heard of ‘breathtaking cynicism’. Matilah may whisper to him about corrosive cynicism.

Kopi Level - Green

Japan escalating tension in South China Sea

Japan has decided to send military patrol boats to join the Philippines and Vietnamese boats in their confrontation with China. This Japanese act is hostile as far as China is concerned, almost a declaration of war. It is Japan telling China that they would intervene and fight on the sides of the Pinoys and Vietnamese when they faced off with China at sea.

In such a scenario, with the Japanese sending their military boats into disputed waters that have nothing to do with them, China would be forced to lash out at the Japanese boats. The Japanese have no reason to be in the dispute and their presence is an act of war against China should they join the fray.

The Chinese leaders would have taken this Japanese offensive move in their calculation and the decision would have to be firm and decisive and military in nature.

Who says war is not imminent in the South China Sea? Once the Japanese patrol boats are in the South China, it is as good as war has started between Japan and China. Anyone going to say Japan is not provoking China?

Kopi Level - Green

Civil Society statement on racism and xenophobia

‘We, the undersigned, are alarmed by the recent surge of racism and xenophobia in Singapore. They threaten the human rights of all (especially migrants) and the health of our political conversation….We see the widespread use of racist, aggressive and militarised rhetoric on social media, as well as a trend of blaming foreigners for social ills. Ordinary people have been threatened in public spaces with nationalist and/or anti-foreigner language. …’

The above paragraphs were extracted from a statement by a group of non govt organistions and individuals on the growing intolerance of foreigners in Singapore. The organisations involved are: Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), Beyond the Border, Behind the Men, Function 8, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME), LeftWrite Center, MARUAH, Project X, Sayoni, Singapore, Anti-Death Penalty Campaign, Think Centre, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2),Workfair.

The individuals that put signed on this statement are: Fikri Alkhatib, Damien Chng, Ian Chong, Jean Chong, Chong Si Min, Kirsten Han, Farhan M. Idris, Godwin Koay, Lynn Lee, Siew Kum Hong, Constance Singam, Alvin Tan Cheong Kheng, Jolene Tan, Teng Qian Xi, Shelley Thio, Teo Soh Lung, Vincent Wijeysingha, Mark Wong De Yi, Wong Pei Chi, June Yang Yajun, Yap Ching Wi, Rachel Zeng.

These are high profile organisations and individuals coming together to put up a case against their perceived growing racism and xenophobia of Singaporeans. This comes shortly after a series of condemnation from the govt sectors, including politicians who branded Singaporeans as xenophobes for expressing their anger and unhappiness at foreigners, particularly the rich PMETs who have acted disparagingly and disgustingly against Singaporeans. There were little, almost negligible, anti foreign sentiments against the foreign workers whom Singaporeans acknowledged and welcomed to be here to do jobs that Sinkies have shunned, mostly manual and construction jobs.

The Singaporeans felt outraged, offended at this unfair branding of them as xenophobes as many did not see themselves that way. Their unfriendly comments against the foreigners were not xenophobic and never meant to be anti foreigners or racist but at the culprits that violated the sanctity of Singaporeans in Singapore. Some counter argued that the govt was trying to deflect the real issues of foreigners in the country and pass the buck to them, to brand them as racist, making them the focus of attention. Singaporeans were more angry with the govt’s policies to let in so many foreigners to swarm the island and making their lives not only uncomfortable but losing out competing for jobs, space and facilities and crowding in the trains. Do the Singaporeans have a right to air their anger and frustrations on the huge presence of foreigners? Has any Singaporeans went out of his way to confront foreigners, to beat or attack them like what had happened in xenophobic countries?

In fact, the rise in tension and anger in Singaporeans was more a reaction to the abuses, provocations, discriminations and taunting by the foreigners themselves. The foreigners brought it upon themselves. The rioting by foreign workers, attacking Singaporeans and the police, burning police cars, were taken in their strike by the Singaporeans without much acrimony. Singaporeans took it as a once off event due to a traffic accident. There was a total absence of outrage by the Singaporeans against the rioters and no Singaporeans went out to hammer or beat up any of the rioters as a result.

How can any Sinkie be so foolish to point the fingers at other Singaporeans for being xenophobic? Where is the xenophobia? The only sound or noise was in social media where some hot blooded young Singaporeans used as an outlet to air their frustration. Do these Sinkies who are accusing other Singaporeans of xenophobia know what xenophobia is all about?

Many Singaporeans have travelled widely and have lived abroad. Many have first hand experience of xenophobia themselves, personally, when they were attacked, abused, spitted at, called names, even beaten, just because of the colour of their skins. Have such things happened here in this paradise? Yes, absolutely! But the victims were mostly Sinkies and the xenophobes were the foreigners taking physical liberty at the daft Sinkies. Ask the taxi drivers how many have been beaten by foreigners? Remember who is Anton Casey? Remember the few angmoh cyclists threatening Sinkie drivers in the middle of the road like this is their grandfather’s country and the roads their grandfather’s roads? Or must Singaporeans apologised the Anton Casey who cursing and swearing at him for his bad racist behaviour? Or must Singaporeans apologise to the angmoh cyclists for blocking their ways?

Are those organisations and individuals signing the statements chastising Singaporeans as xenophobic and racists real? I think they are out of their mind.

More than 50% of the population in the island are foreigners. How many foreigners have been abused, insulted or attacked by Singaporeans for the colour of their skin or because they were foreigners? If there were any physical brawls involving foreigners and Singaporeans, the reason often than not were anything but xenophobia. The huge number of foreigners here and enjoying themselves is the best testimony that Singaporeans are insanely tolerant of foreigners. What are a few kpkb incidents by a few Singaporeans amount to but a hiccup or a yawn. Xenophobic and racist Singaporeans because of them? How foolish?

Sinkies are called daft not for no reason. And this joint statement about Singaporeans being anti foreigners and racists is a very good reason for it. Many Sinkies were booted or sacked from their jobs by foreigners so that the foreigners could replace the Sinkies with their own kind. No? Fiction, fabrication? These are true acts of racism and xenophobia against Singaporeans, not Singaporeans against foreigners.

Are these people crazy? I suggest they should admit themselves to Woodbridge and have their heads checked. Singaporeans are victims of xenophobia and racism in their own country.

Kopi Level - Green

Singaporeans First or Foreigners First

When Jee Say and his comrades announced the birth of a new party I was a bit uneasy. We don’t need more opposition parties but for opposition candidates to gel together as a united front. My misgivings were kind of softened when the name of the party was announced. It is called Singaporeans First Party. And I was quite agreeable with his manifesto that puts Singaporeans First. At least we have a political party that values and wants to protect the interests of Singaporeans.
 
Yesterday in Parliament when Foo Mee Har called for Singaporeans First in employment opportunities she was shot down by Amy Khor. Amy’s position is the same as the PAP/Govt. Cannot put Singaporeans first and lost out on foreign talents. If there are better foreign talents, just too bad if Singaporeans were passed over. It is a competitive world and we must fight for the best foreign talents. This is the same as ST’s Fernandez position, regardless of nationalities as long as they are talents. This position also presumes that the foreign talents hired are really better talents than Sinkies and not otherwise, not because they are of the same kind or clan.
 
Foo Mee Har ended having to qualify her position that all things being equal, or something like that, Singaporeans must be given first right of refusal. I like that.
 
Is Amy Khor’s foreign talents preference against Singaporeans First the policy position of PAP? If this is the case, then we will have two parties with two different priorities with respect to jobs for Singaporeans. Singaporeans First Party would put the hiring of Singaporeans First as a major policy. PAP will be talents regardless of nationalities. Am I right to make this conclusion?
 
Would the PAP care to clarify its position on this new development in Parliament? Was Amy Khor spelling out PAP’s policy on the hiring of talents?

Kopi Level - Green

Constructive Politics in Parliament

Last night’s news on Parliament was dominated by a new find in Puthucheary. He came across as the smartest MP in the house. He was on his feet many times, even his speech on healthcare was allowed extra time to expound on his wisdom. The ministers were in awe, mesmerized by his grasp on the issues facing healthcare. He seemed to have all the answers especially on what Gerald Giam had to say. And Gerald Giam was as good as saying nothing but sound bites.
 
Gerald Giam made two points which I thought were very pertinent and should be seriously considered by the MOH instead of being brushed off lightly by some wise cracks. The first point was the American private healthcare system. Gerald told the house that the American govt made it a law for excessive profits from health insurance to be ploughed back to reduce the premiums paid by the insured.
 
This point was hastily dismissed by Puthucheary with no second thought. It was a private insurance scheme and should not be used in our discussion on a public healthcare scheme. Why not? Be it private or public healthcare scheme, excessive profits must be moderated and best returned to the insured. Otherwise the insurance agencies would be raising higher and higher premiums to make more and more profits. I think this is a very important point for our govt and private insurers to take note of and to prevent premiums from running away.
 
The second point by Gerald, actually related to the first, is that the claims made in our public health insurance scheme came to 63% of premiums collected, ie giving a huge surplus of 37% to the insurers. The American private health insurance’s claim was 82% and the American govt was already finding the profit too high.
 
This point was again pooh-poohed by Puthucheary. What is wrong with collecting more premiums and more surplus? What? Who said that? Nothing wrong with collecting unnecessary higher premiums from the masses? Puthucheary’s logic was that there were too many unthinkables and contingencies that could happen and could raise the claims unexpectedly. It was good to have a big cushion of excess premiums. Ya, I know that too, let’s add another 20% to the premium.
 
This kind of thinking I can agree if I am prepared to worry about when the sun would not shine again or when the next epidemic will hit. We must have a lot of extras, a lot of fats, just in case. No wonder the CPF minimum sums keeps going higher and higher. No wonder the nation’s reserves for a rainy day must keep increasing, even if we have 20 trillions will not be enough. No wonder some ministers are saying their salaries are not enough.
 
It is okay to collect more premiums. It is okay to increase the minimum sums to $1m. Who can dispute against such logic? But who is paying? Whose pocket will be hurt?
What is wrong with collecting more money from the people?
 
I am worried when we have so clever people in the govt who wants to worry about everything under heaven, every unknown, and wanting to provide for them and make the people pay for their concerns. I know their hearts are good and in the right place.
Who is indulging in constructive politics and who is indulging in destructive politics?

Kopi Level - Green