Roy Ngerng – In the cauldron of fire

It was a bit sad to read Roy’s confession that he was feeling the stress and strains fighting the CPF battle alone and facing charges in court for defamation and a public nuisance. I must say that it is no mean feat for a young man, and Hui Hui included, to face such pressure at such a tender age. It is like the whole world closing up on them, no jobs and no prospect but with an axe over their heads.

There are not many people, young and old, who could take this kind of heat like JBJ and Chee Soon Juan. And no one is resolute and tough enough to give up a good life like Poh Soo Kai and Chia Thye Poh. These people too went into the political cauldron of fire and survived, becoming bigger men but financial paupers.

Roy Ngerng is starting to go through the same regime, to be melted down in the cauldron of fire, to be turned into pig iron or steel. Could he continue to take the heat? Women are described as made of porcelain and would get harder and stronger in extreme heat. Men will melt like iron. But at the end of it, they would still be iron or strong as steel.

Is it worth it to sacrifice once life for a cause, for the good of a nameless mass who may or may not appreciate what Roy and Hui Hui are doing? It is not only a thankless task. Some would even ridicule them for being silly and nothing better to do. This separates the ordinary from the extraordinary, the men from the boys, from people who lived for an idea or cause and people who just live simply and die in a life of non events.

I can’t tell Roy and Hui Hui what they should or should not do. If the heat is unbearable, they might want to call it a day and take a breather. It is all a matter of a calling, to answer to their hearts, to do what their hearts want them to do, not the reasoning of their heads. Rational thinking would say, why waste time on a losing cause and worse, when the people whom they are standing up for just do not care.

It is your call Roy, and Hui Hui. Yes it is a very lonely journey, a battle against a huge machine with many buttons to press to hurt, to persecute and to humiliate. How many of you out there appreciate what these two young persons are doing and are going through? When they need you most, would you be there to stand by their sides?

The only positive thing is that the end is near. Roy and Hui Hui did not come along for no reasons. Together they have scored three goals, the CPF issue that awoken the sleepy masses, raising the consciousness of the people to act in the crowd funding when he was charged for defamation, and making things looked ugly and silly, the biggest goal, when the machinery came down hard on them but with very little to go on. Many ended up with red faces and many would have to face their desserts for what they had done to Roy and Hui Hui.

Even if Roy and Hui Hui would to call it quits now, these three goals would be the legacy that could be very telling in the next GE. 

Kopi Level - Green

LKY – Two articles drew more than 200 comments in TRE

Two articles, “Disrespectful to say LKY doesn’t deserve to be an MP” and “Ungrateful to criticise LKY” have attracted 131 and 97 comments so far. The gist of the discussion is about the amount of money paid to LKY as an MP. Some were not happy that LKY was only paid $16k as an MP and there were criticisms that he should not even be paid that amount, two different and opposing schools of thoughts.
 
Is respect to a person all about money? And how much should LKY or other ministers be paid to be respectful? It would be nice to look at the full picture instead of just talking about the last drawn basic pay. To really appreciate what is going on, perhaps someone could collate the gross sum of money paid to the top 10 ministers over their full career as politicians and ministers.
 
The final sum should include everything that is legitimate and legally paid to them as politician/ministers, ie basic salary, bonuses, allowances, and other legitimate and official appointments associated with their political office. This would take some time and a lot of effort but definitely would not take 56 man years.
 
Leong Sze Hian and company have a job cut out for them to settle this issue for the people who are showing respect and disrespect to the top ministers. At least the people would know how many millions have been paid to each of them and whether these are respectful relative to their contributions to the country. Blindly screaming paying LKY $16k a month is uttering rubbish and totally out of context. And to make judgments based on this miserable $16k pm as a measure of respect or disrespect is for the simple minded.
 
What do you think?

Kopi Level - Green

The history behind the current state of politics in Hongkong

U.S. funded NGOs
 
Below is part of a write up by Sara Flounders.
The full article on American and foreign meddling in Hongkong is at http://www.4thmedia.org/2014/10/hong-kong-protests-why-imperialists-support-democracy-movement/

Fearful of democratic change coming from the working class as soon as the British signed the agreement in 1984, the ruling class began to violate it, putting in place new political parties and organizations to operate after the return of the territory to China. After 145 years of appointed government, they pompously called for
democratic change.

Three years before the 1997 handover of sovereignty, the British changed the constitution and set up district boards, urban and regional councils, and a legislative council. These top-down reforms were strongly opposed by the Chinese government as a violation of the agreement and a tactic to subvert its political system.

But more insidious than the official changes was the vast expansion of U.S. “soft power” in Hong Kong. Today more than 30,000 NGOs are registered in Hong Kong. They cover every aspect of life. (Social Indicators of Hong Kong)

The U.S. funds NGOs for political subversion through the U.S. State Department’s U.S. Agency for International Development, which makes grants to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), National Democratic Institute (NDI), National Republican Institute, Ford Foundation, Carter Center, Asia Foundation, Freedom House, Soros’s Open Society and Human Rights Watch, among others.

All these groups and many more fund projects that claim to be supporting and promoting human rights, democracy, a free press and electoral reform. This funding of social networks operates for the same purposes in Latin America and the Caribbean, throughout the Middle East and Africa, and in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics.

U.S. imperialism has not established democracy in any of its hundreds of interventions, wars, drone attacks, coups or global surveillance. But “promoting democracy” has become a cover for attacks on the sovereignty of countries all around the world.
Of course, religious groups and other states, especially those in the European Union, also fund political associations and social networks in Hong Kong and everywhere across the globe.

A few of these groups may genuinely operate independently and provide aid to immigrant workers, help low-paid workers organize, or address housing and health needs of the most unrepresented in Hong Kong. But for the most part, the NGOs are a network of “civil society” organizations controlled by and for U.S. corporate power.

A growing number of articles in the Chinese press have connected the dots of the leaders of Occupy Central and the U.S.-funded NGOs. According to China.org.cn, “Each and every ‘Occupy Central’ leader is either directly linked to the U.S. State Department, NED, and NDI, or involved in one of NDI’s many schemes.” (Oct. 6)

Occupy Central’s self-proclaimed leader, Benny Tai, is a law professor who has received NDI and NED grants and was on the board of the NDI-funded Center for Comparative and Public Law. He attended many NDI-funded conferences. This is also true for another prominent Occupy Central figure, Audrey Eu.

Also, according to China.org.cn, “Martin Lee, founding chairman of Hong Kong’s Democrat Party, is another prominent figure who has come out in support of Occupy Central. Just this year, Lee was in Washington meeting directly with Vice President Joseph Biden and Rep.

Nancy Pelosi and even took part in an NED talk hosted specifically for him and his agenda of “democracy” in Hong Kong. Lee even has a NED page dedicated to him after he was awarded NED’s Democracy Award in 1997. With him in Washington was Anson Chan, another prominent figure currently supporting the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong’s streets.”

A number of publications in the West are picking up on these exposés, including Counterpunch in “Hong Kong and the Democracy Question”; Global Research in “U.S. Now Admits It Is Funding Occupy Central in Hong Kong”; and InfoWars.com in “Is the U.S. Secretly Egging on Hong Kong Protesters?”….

U.S. and British imperialism hope to use Hong Kong as they did 150 years ago as a stronghold for pushing deeper politically into China. Today, however, they are not facing a backward feudal dynasty.
As U.S. corporate dominance in production and finance slips, the Asia pivot of the Obama administration means that the U.S. ruling class and its military apparatus has made the decision to become more confrontational toward Russia and China.
Opponents of U.S. wars and organizations defending workers’ interests in the U.S. can play an important role by refusing to align with U.S. schemes aimed at overturning pro-socialist norms inside China and undermining Chinese sovereignty. 




Kopi Level - Green

By Sara Flounders, Workers
http://www.4thmedia.org/2014/10/hong-kong-protests-why-imperialists-support-democracy-movement/

GE, the Silver Brigade fighting back

It is quite a surprise, quite shocking, to see the Pioneer Generation, PG, fighting back against daft govt policies. The PG has always been the staunchest supporters of the PAP. They were the backbone of the PAP and the building of this modern Singapore. They fought and slogged with the PAP/Govt for the last 50 years and are synonymous with the PAP/Govt. They have always given their votes to the Govt and the PAP always counted on them for their votes. And they are feeling betrayed.
 
There is an article in TRE by a PG calling all PGs to stand up to fight for the future of our children and grandchildren. The call, it is not too late to fight, and probably the last battle before this country is lost to foreigners, to aliens. The title of the article ‘Elderly SG: Why I’m worried about population growth!’ was prompted by a rude and callous remark, very likely by a silly IB, called @ Why you worry?:

November 12, 2014 at 10:45 am (Quote)
“At 70 you are 4/5 of your legs in the coffin why are you so worry about population growth? You yourself have seen the benefit of population growth since WWII and why you so worry? You better worry about yourself!”
 
This insulting remark from a young and unthinking man has drawn all the PGs together in defence of their position and the future of Singapore. The attack was uncalled for and expected from shallow young people misled by a false mission that everything is fine and any critics of govt policies and the direction the country is taking must be attacked and thumped down.
 
In a way, these silly Internet Brigades are doing more harm to whoever are behind them. They really came out as empty heads and blindly charging at anyone in their way. One such asshole came to my blog to threaten my life, thinking that he had all the power behind him to harm anyone with impunity.
 
It is good that the Silver Brigade of the Pioneer Generation picks up the cudgel to do battle for their children and grand children. They should rightfully take the lead. With the years of wisdom behind them and their perspective of history, where we were and where we are going, the Silver Brigade is a voice of wisdom. Their voice will be heard. Their concerns for the future of Singapore and the children and grand children must not be ignored. They may not be book smart but they are street wise and are very clear in their vision.
 
To the Internet Brigade, the Silver Brigade is sending you a warning. They are going to take you head on and whack the daylight out of your numbskull. They are going to hantam you until you wake up and think of the future of this country, your own future and the future of your children.
 
The agenda and mission are very simple. We are the owners of this island. We must take back this island. We must stop the reckless influx of foreigners. We must take back the good jobs for ourselves. We must take back the university places for our children. We must take back our CPF. We must take back our dignity and not be called daft, treated as daft and to be replaced by fakes and the real daft from the 3rd World. We must take back our dignity not to work till we died in old age but to be the owners of our country, to put our heads high with pride. We must not allow politicians to gag us and think they have the right to do so. We must take back our freedom to be who we are, our freedom of speech, to elect our representatives to represent us and our interests in Parliament. We must not elect unthinking parrots to Parliament.
 
Let the Silver Brigade show the way, shine the light to a brighter future for our children and grand children. Here is your destiny. The Silver Brigade is not washed out silly old men and women, like dried prunes. They are still strong and healthy and must be treated with respect. They will show the way to the young and the blind on what is installed for us and our future generations.
 
The Silver Brigade has spoken and has stood up.

Kopi Level - Green

Unethical business practices are still legal

‘Mr Iswaran said that he agreed that the sales tactics employed (by rogue merchants) are unfair to buyers and that "we must not let such unethical practices tarnish Singapore's hard-earned reputation". He said that he was glad that many have spoken up against such behaviours, and that some have even come forward to help the victim, referring to a crowdfunding effort initiated by Mr Gabriel Kang to buy the Vietnamese tourist an iPhone 6.
 
However, Mr Iswaran went on to say that "some have gone too far", revealing that the police are looking into reports regarding the alleged cheating case as well as "a related report on harassment".
 
Mr Iswaran urged the people to "exercise restraint and do not take matters into your own hands". "Let due process take its course," he wrote.’
 
Above is copied from AsiaOne Singapore. 9 Nov 14.
 
So, is Iswaran going after the rogue merchants like Jover Chew or after netizen vigilantes who shamed him? Who is the rogue that the police would deal with and who should be protected? This Jover Chew seems to be very important or may have good connections that his acts are touted as legal and clever and instead of punishing him, the netizens are warned not to go too far.
 
Law Minister K. Shanmugam was reported by The Straits Times to have said that Chew's actions were "completely unacceptable", and that "bad conduct should be dealt with strictly". He said: "My own view is that there are laws which can deal with that kind of conduct. I know the police are looking into it, and I know AGC (Attorney General's Chambers) is working with the police."
 
This must be a very complicated case that the police and the law are scratching their heads on how to deal with it. It must have just happened after 50 years of independence, something new and no one knows how to handle it.
 
May I suggest try heckling. If it doesn’t work, try harassment. If it still doesn’t work, try public nuisance. I think the last one sure to work.
 
What do you think? Can or not?

Kopi Level - Green

Disrespectful to think LKY does not deserve to be an MP?

There have been many critics of LKY with some making derogatory remarks about him in the social media. These have drawn out this letter from a PAP Supporter expressing his disgust at the ungrateful Sinkies. A few paragraphs of his post in TRE are attached below.
 
‘I refer to the article: “WHY ARE WE PAYING $16K TO AN MP WHO CAN’T EVEN STAND AND ATTEND MEET-THE-PEOPLE SESSION?”
Despite his health conditions, I personally think this man deserves more than a measly $16k a month. Considering what he has done for our country. Thats worth more than money. No amount of money can equate his contribution to singapore!
How would you feel if you are already in the nineties and you still can’t rest? Give the man a break! The contribution that he has given to sg is immeasurable. I applaud him and hope that he can live out his remaining life in peace.
You’re a little petty aren’t you. Seriously, at this age do you think LKY is still working for money or trying to be “giam siap” to earn “easy money” as you insinuate. Just think.’
 
I must say that I agree with this PAP Supporter. LKY deserves more than to be an MP. An MP is a very demeaning position for one of the living founders of modern Singapore. LKY deserves more than to be just an MP. Even Chok Tong is given the title ESM. LKY should be given a proper title if he is to remain in political office. By calling him an MP and putting him up on a high pedestal in breach of protocol only makes LKY looked bad.
 
The govt has failed in its act to accord LKY a proper title and role in the govt. If the govt wants to keep him in politics, for goodness sake, accord him a proper title. It draws many smug remarks and sneers for an MP to sit in the front row in Parliament. It makes people make unsavoury comments for an MP not doing the job of an MP. And there are those questioning why he should be in the Istana when he is only an MP. It looks bad on him and on the govt.
 
The PAP is not short of talent to come up with a good title or position to give credit and credibility to LKY as a senior politician in the govt. If they are unable to assign him a rightful place in the govt then don’t keep him in politics. He should be given some big title as honorary elder statesman or whatever to befit his stature and importance in the govt.
 
I think it is very inappropriate to call him an MP and to expect him to work like an MP, to contribute like an MP. Making LKY an MP makes him look funny and attracts funny comments. That is more disrespectful to him. Hear people said, MP come already and ministers must stand up.
 
For those who are in support of paying him a big sum of money instead of an MP’s miserable allowance of $16k, it would be better to give him an honorarium of whatever amount, accompanied by a respectable title for protocol purposes, definitely not an MP. (Note: He is being paid a life long pension that is based on his last highest pay) The MP title is a misfit in every sense of the word.
 
Appoint a world class consultancy to come up with a title that would accord LKY what is due to him. And make sure the consultancy did not come back with the title MP after paying them a huge sum of money.
 
Now who is being disrespectful? Want to show respect also dunno how to and anyhow kpkb. Really boh liao, no talent.

Kopi Level - Green

Talking Point – A new comedy TV serial

Was watching the topic on Rogue Shoppers in Sim Lim Square on Talking Point last night and couldn’t help thinking that it was a comedy programme. No fault of Steve Chia. He handled the discussion well and the topic was current and of great interest to the public. For this particular episode I was kind of wanting to laugh but it was so painful to laugh at the jokes and the jokers. This episode is highly recommended. Please watch the replay and get some enlightenment as to why this city state is turning into such a God forsaken place. You will find all the reasons to clear your doubts that things could only get worse and who were contributing to the black comedy. Pay attention to spot the jokers.

Some of the things highlighted would keep your eyes popping out in disbelief. The statistics on the cheatings and scamming of shoppers were hopelessly spastic when the truth is out. It was all under statements, under reporting and unreal. The rogue shop keepers simply changed the name of the shops when they were getting too many complaints to start all over again on a clean slate. Many complaints were simply unreported especially when the cheated customers were tourists.

And the law, you would wonder what law is there to curb such rogue behaviours. And mind you, unethical doesn’t mean it is a crime. All the cheatings are never regarded as crimes. The law only go after the shops and not the workers or salespersons. So the rogues could keep on doing the same scams and immuned from the law. And the rogue shop owners were happily changing the names of the shops every six months. And the regulators were not really concerned. CASE’s main concern was not to deprive the rogue shoppers of their livelihood. This is very important consideration and you would know why after watching the comedy.

And don’t ever believe anyone who is telling you there were only a few cases and the cheatings only happened yesterday, and the Vietnamese case was only one such case and did not justify changing the law for a one case incident.

One thing was clear, the problems need to be addressed and it is so difficult to do so. No one knew how to solve this complicated and sophisticated problem of rogue traders cheating unwary customers. So Gabriel Kang, in all sincerity, perhaps the most rational guy other than the expert speaking from the TV screen, suggested bringing in some bright guys and locked them up in a hack-a-thon to brainstorm for a solution. Another suggested forming a committee or BOI, the most clever problem solving method of the super talents, to try to find an answer. Give them a little more time and they would likely suggest bringing in a foreign talent as the locals were too daft to find an answer.

I said it was a comedy. But I must warn you that it would be so painful to laugh. Luckily no one utter the phrase, ‘the customer is king’. In Sim Lim Square and a few of the notorious shopping centres, the rogue shop keepers are the king. And shoppers must be prepared to go down on their knees to beg for mercy.

After viewing the programme, I bet nothing concrete or useful will come out of it. It was all a bad joke, but highly recommended to watch and get sick in the stomach. Get a sick bag handy just in case.

Kopi Level - Green

A taxi uncle from Curtin University

Below is an extract of an article posted by a taxi uncle in TRE. If daft Sinkies still want to remain daft their fate will be no better than this taxi uncle. Look around the local banks and financial institutions and find out how many ‘chapalan’ university graduates from God knows where are employed, even in top management positions.

The next GE is likely to be the last chance for daft Sinkies to change their fate for the better. If they still blindly cast their votes against their interests, more foreigners, from ‘chapalan’ universities and fakes will come in to take over their jobs. And no, they will not become taxi drivers or security guards. Those are luxurious jobs compare to the alternative. In one or two generations they will end up as dalits. So will their children if they did not stop this foreign madness. The bright Sinkies will end up like daft and got not proper jobs while all the shitty foreigners will be employed in good jobs that rightfully should be going to the citizens.

As an ex HR practitioner, I make it a point to scrutinise the qualifications of the top management staff of GLCs and it is very shocking from what I have seen. Yes many came from ‘chapalan’ universities that are unheard of, would not be recognised by the PSC, and compared to Curtin, my goodness, I cannot believe those people could be better than Curtin graduates. I have known of kids whose academic results were all red but came back with straight As as graduates from ‘chapalan’ universities.

All I can say is good luck when you cast your vote in the next GE. Please read the full article in TRE. You will be like this taxi uncle in a matter of time when you are past 40, if you are young and employed today. The smug IBs are thinking that their fate will be different. Just you wait. The retribution will hit you sooner than you think. If you cannot empathise with the fate of taxi uncle, no one will cry for you when your turn comes. Think for your children and what kind of life they will be leading, what kind of jobs they will be doing.

Below is the letter.

‘When I went abroad to study in 1990. I had to go to the British Council to check whether my university I applied for (Curtin University in Perth) was an accredited one with the Commonwealth Accreditation System.
After graduation, I tried applying for any kind of finance or Banking job but couldn’t even get a single interview. My NS colleague was the HR Mgr in a foreign bank and saw my job application. He privately told me in confidence then in the job interview that my Curtin degree was not that “recognised” and that was why I couldn’t get any banking job whatsoever.
What an irony. Nowadays I think u got any college or diploma qualifications from any rotten universities, whether genuine or dubious or not, from India, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam or Timbuktu also now suddenly “recognised”.
As long u are foreign, any employer, Bank or MNC will take you and MOM will approve or EP or SP within 3 days. Also, its got nothing to do with age. My pinoy friend with college qualifications as me is also above 50 and had his SP approved within 3 days. He has a desk job paying him well over $3K.
For me, I could even get a look-in applying for 1.5k salary jobs, even as a theme park operator or car park valet with MBS and RWS. In the end, only available jobs for me is to drive taxi or work as security guard.’ By taxi uncle.

Kopi Level - Green

PAP has never been so vulnerable

What is left of the PAP after 50 years in power? Superficially there is still a little fading glory of the past to hang on for a while. There is still some historical evidence to claim it has done good for the people. What else is left of the mighty political machine that could devour any opposition in its path effortlessly at its prime? The confidence, the war cry and the fake jeering of expecting and wanting stronger and more worthy opponents, the walkovers and the lame wishes to win an election the respectable way to enter Parliament were long gone.
 
Today, PAP is going to fight for its survival. Yes it is going to fight for its life or death in the next election not another 10 or 15 years There are so many very serious issues that it could not solve and could not sweep under the carpet. The people are demanding for answers that were not forth coming. The problems will not go away, the people will continue to demand for answers till the very last day of the GE, or else.
 
The team of politicians in PAP’s stable is like a list of has beens or understudies. The olds are too feeble to do anything. The young are too young to make any impact, all lightweights that could be blown away by a gust. The senior ministers that were dependable to carry their own weights have discredited themselves to beyond redemption. Some were just waiting to be shown the exit.
 
Where is the strength of the PAP today? Where or who are the leaders that could call the shot and carry the day? Is there anyone out there of such illuminating stature that could captain the team to victory? As for the run of the mill MPs, what the heck are they doing? Finding little silly faults with the opposition? Is that clever, a wise thing to do when living in a big glass house, wholly transparent and with all the problems waiting to shatter the glass to pieces? The more these MPs try to diminish the opposition for the slightest flaw, the more ridiculous they looked. And the more they remind the people of the hypocrisies, of the big issues not mentioned, the white elephants everywhere.
 
PAP is like a headless mammoth machine going nowhere. Where are the brilliant policies to give hopes to the people of a better future other than more shopping malls, more ‘affordabl’ housings, more food courts and more foreigners to bloat the already over populated city state? What kind of good life is there for the people other than higher and higher cost of living and lower and lower income? What aspirations are they when people are being prodded to ride bicycles, to become taxi drivers and security guards, not to pursue tertiary educations, and being replaced by foreigners from God forsaken places and from universities with names like Apapa and Amama? The better ones would produce certificates from the like Unversities of Calipornia, Harward, Cambrick, and more infamous brands.
 
There is also this dark force in the social media messing around with netizens. Unfortunately the quality of these insurgents and internet brigades (giving a false impression of who they are) are doing a great disservice to whoever is behind them. If they are what they portrayed to be, their hooligan and gangster behaviors and aggressive tactics are doing more harm than good.
 
With only a handful of safe candidates, the rest are touch and go with many more on the side of go. And for bragging about how they would fight for every inch, somehow it is not convincing and more like putting up a bad pretension. The next GE will find every PAP candidate fighting for survival on their own right with little room for comfort. Never has this state of affair happened in the PAP’s dominance record except for the early years when they were fighting the Barisan Socialis for their dear life.
 
History has come full circle. It is back to the days of fighting a life and death battle this time round. Can the PAP win the hearts and minds of the people again?

Kopi level - Green

Tanjong Pagar – The fengshui of PAP

Anyone wonders why PAP has enjoyed so many years of good fortune? Has any one ask the geomancers or the monks in Kong Meng San why? Someone said Tanjong Pagar is the seat of PAP’s power and good fortune. And that is why LKY has been sitting there for the last few decades, guarding the sacred ground for PAP.
 
Tanjong Pagar is so important that even at his advanced age LKY will not let go. Die die must take Tanjong Pagar to ensure PAP’s prosperity and good fortune. Of course Ang Mo Kio is another good fengshui site and naturally Hsien Loong is sitting there.
 
Now Tan Jee Say is mounting a challenge to the most important PAP fengshui site, Tanjong Pagar GRC. You can bet that the PAP will go all out to secure Tanjong Pagar to protect its continued good fortune. But someone said fengshui could change over the years and there are some signs that Tanjong Pagar’s good fengshui may have shifted.
 
This could explain why Chan Chun Sing has to vacate Tanjong Pagar. But this is yet to be confirmed by any fengshui master. Just watch, if another big gun is stationed in Tanjong Pagar in the next GE, it would mean that Tanjong Pagar is still the key to PAP’s longetivity. And it could also mean that PAP is not confident that Chan Chun Sing could hold on to this hot and very important seat. A stronger candidate must take over from LKY to secure Tanjong Pagar. Losing this seat would bring an end to PAP’s rule. The only misgiving is that there are only a couple of strong candidates left. Who is strong enough to hold on to Tanjong Pagar?
 
The Singaporean First’s foray into Tanjong Pagar is strategic. It is an attack on the most important ‘xue mai’ 穴脉 of PAP. Hsien Loong is likely to guard the other important ‘xue mai’ at Ang Mo Kio. It is inconceiveable for the PAP to lose these two vital positions. It will be the end of PAP if it happens. It would be scary if Singaporean First would to launch a simultaneous assault on the two GRCs. Winning both would assure Singaporean First’s political fortune to outshine that of the WP from the fengshui point of view.
It looks like Tan Jee Say has consulted his feng shui master and knows what should be done and where to go after. Secure the most important fengshui point and the rest will follow smoothly.

Kopi Level - Blue. Thank you

Jover Chew – Board of Inquiry

There is this rumour, or gossip, in the kopitiam that Jover Chew’s company is conducting an independent investigation on the recent sales tactics in Sim Lim Square. The Board of Inquiry will comprise independent directors of the company. Experts in the business and witnesses from Sim Lim Square will also be called to make sure the inquiry will be transparent and above board. Justice will not only be done but also seen to be done.
 
Some people are still unhappy with the board of inquiry. Why not follow the Little India Riot precedence and an independent committee be appointed to sit in the Board of Inquiry? Would it be really independent when the Board of Inquiry consists of members of the same company?
 
Is it not a bit funny to have the directors of the same company investigating the company’s wrong doing? Would they want to wash their own dirty linen in public? Or would they find in more important to cover their own ass and turn it into another wayang for public consumption?
 
I am sure if this rumour is true the happiest person would be Jover Chew. If I were to give my 2 cents worth, at least I would want the investigation to be conducted by the management committee, a slightly more neutral part. And if really want to be independent and neutral, it would be good for the Tourist Board to investigate as it is its mission to protect shoppers and the reputation of Singapore as a shoppers’ paradise.
 
Having an internal party to hold an investigation is at best a show. No matter what, the public would not be convinced that the BOI would be forthcoming when evidence did not reflect too well on the organization.
 
What say you?

Kopi Level - Blue. Thank you.

APEC Without Japan is Better for Regional Stability & Security

By MIKOspace

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2014 gathers this week in Beijing, China, against the backdrop of deep tensions between host China and neighboring Japan over the Diaoyo Islands and Japan’s continual honouring of her war-time war criminals at a Shinto Shrine. Oft-times over the recent decades, Chinese unhappiness at Japanese recalcitrance have raised unnecessary concerns of military confrontations between the emergent largest and the 3^rd largest economies. Japan has never apologized for its initiating role in World War 2 in the Asia Pacific and for her brutalities and war-time atrocities, including Chinese genocides, in the countries she conquered.   

Thinking the Possible – APEC Without Japan

APEC is important to Japan.  Japan is the 3rd largest economy and the eighth most populated nation in the world. Its role in the international community is also considerable as a major aid donor and a source of global capital and credit.

In a Joint Statement release last Friday, Japan continued to deny Chinese sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, and merely “acknowledging differing views” over Diaoyu status.

According to Japan's state minister of defence Akira Sato: "The Senkaku islands are an inherent part of Japan". Never mind that it was on Chinese Maritime Charts in early 13th century; but conspicuously absent on both the 1783 Japanese Maritime Charts & 1876 Official Imperial Japan Map. Japan occupied Diaoyu in 1895 after the 1st Sino-Japanese War, making it part of Okinawa, and renamed it Senkaku in 1900. So HOW is Diaoyu (Senkaku) an "inherent" part of Japan?

Tensions also remained strained from the regular annual visits by Japanese top politicians, including its Prime Minister, to Tokyo Yasukuni Shinto shrine honoring Japan's war dead, including executed war criminals. Such actions are evidence of Japan’s lingering expansionist militaristic tendencies as well as demonstrate Japanese insensitivity to China’s, the US’ and the APEC Countries’ suffering during the Pacific War started by the Japanese.

The continual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese Leaders also insults the memory of the 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and marines killed on the USS Arizona during the Japanese cowardly surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. 

It is clear that Japanese persistent recalcitrance over Diaoyu Islands would merely postpone the Day of Confrontation between her and China. This does NOT augur well for APEC as a zone of peace and stability for economic growth and prosperity.

It is difficult to foresee any credible role for Japan in APEC, or in the whole world, unless her impugned integrity and shameless injustice over Diaoyu is reversed together with her militaristic mindset regarding her neighbours. Japan can of course continue to play bilateral roles outside APEC with individual APEC countries.

Kopi Level - Blue. Thank you.

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APEC Without Japan is Better for Regional Stability and Security

TPP versus FTAAP

The Americans from across the Pacific Ocean is pushing for the Trans Pacific Partnership. China is pushing for the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific from the Asia side of the continent. The latter is of course Asia centric. The TPP is Pacific or American centric. It does not even mentioned Asia and trying to exclude Asia’s largest economy from the pact. It is an American and Pacific power wrangling to have a foothold in Asia with a token of Asian countries in the pact. It is more political and strategic in geo political terms than an economic trade pact.
 
The Asian countries are giving the TPP a cold shoulder, knowing what it is. There is already several economic pacts in Asia. There is the APTA which is open to all members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. There is also the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) for the 10 states of Asean and the Asean Economic Community coming into force soon.
 
These are all Asian initatives primarily for the interests of Asian states and led by Asian countries. Why is there a need for the Americans to be on this side of the Pacific Ocean telling the Asian countries what is good for the Americans is good for Asians? Why should Asian states be always under the control and domination of the Americans and expected to kneel to the Americans as the warlord, the Emperor with Asian states as members of the Empire?
 
It is about time that Asian states break free from the clutches of the American Empire and take hold of their own destinies and decide what is best for themselves, and not what Americans say is best for them. Asian countries should not allow themselves to be semi colonies of the US like South Korea and Japan. Why are Asians so eager to be led and controlled by the Americans?
 
Asia is for Asians like Singapore is for Singaporeans, not Asia for Americans and Singapore for foreigners.
The Americans just simply announced that they are going to pivot to Asia and automatically assume the role of big brother, the Emperor of Asia. Remember how they were warmly received by the Red Indians and see what happened to the Red Indians? Look at the fate of South Korea and Japan, unable to remove the military bases on their land. Philippines were lucky to be another independent and respectable country without the presence of permanent American bases in the country. The colonial mindset of some Asian countries is still fertile and alive and wanting and longing to be colonies of the West again.

Kopi Level - Red

Playboy boss – Singapore can benefit form playboy shows

‘Countries with declining birth rates such as Singapore and China could benefit from pornographic TV programmes designed for couples to watch together, the Asia boss of Playboy has said.
 
In an interview with Mumbrella, Lanny Huang, the general manager of Playboy Plus said that there was an “important role” for channels such as Playboy’s Desire TV, which to date is only broadcasting in New Zealand.’
 
Copy the above from an article posted in TRE. I think the Playboy boss did make some sense. In a country that is run like brothel, oops, typing error, I mean like a monastery or nunnery, a little loosening up is good for fertility and the declining birth rate. Then there is no need to bring in so many foreigners using falling birth rate as an excuse.
 
Then again, one must remove the blinkers when making such a comment. This cit is not what it used to be. There are more than half a million single men here, away from their families and can easily get horny. Having Playboy programmes on the TV and easily available could create a very serious problems with these single men around. Our female folks could be put to high risk.
 
No, it is a good idea but will become a very serious problem if implemented. Our female folks will have no where to run and no where to hide when the foreigners are all horny and unrestrained. Take it as a wet dream for the Playboy boss...Unless you don't mind the new concoction without your input.

Kopi Level - Red

You are what you are, from the friends you keep

Han Fook Kwang continued with the discussion on the future of the PAP in his Sunday morning discourse. He said he had spoken to some people and the feedback, ‘there is a sizable group of Singaporeans who say they supported the PAP in the early years but now feel it isn’t the party they knew’. The Party thinks they are still the same party, wearing white and still with the same mission and fire in the belly as the Party in 1954.

Refreshing on what Ho Kwon Ping said last week, the people he talked to all did not want a change of govt, but would want to vote opposition. I too spoke to some people and the feedback was that many would rather vote the opposition. It is clear that the answer will depend on who you talk to or who are your friends.

The three different scenarios clearly show that it is who you are mixing with, the kind of people you keep as friends or acquaintance that will tell you the kind of things you want to hear. It is also a reflection of who you are comfortable with, what is inside your head. Sure, birds of the same feathers flocked together.

For people who are just crystal ball gazing, who are just observers of the political scene, there is nothing much to it to keep the companies they kept and sharing the same stories and political jokes. They would have their fun jabbing at one another and feeling good about what they said and their views.

For people who are making decisions based on things they heard from the friends or people that are feeding them the information, it is a very serious matter. For each group of people will tell a different set of stories. The doomsayers will tell them the end is near. The bootlickers will say more better years ahead, the ground is sweeter. But none will tell the whole truth, but what they believed or what they want to tell, or what they think the listener would want to hear. The important thing is to make the master happy with their anticipation of good news flowing freely and pleasing to the ears. George found out too late. At least he found out, the hard way.

You are what you are, from the company you keep. You are what you are, from what you hear and what and how you react to the whisperers.

One can also say a political party is the company it keeps. Woe behold the political party that is infested with fortune seekers and those that go with the flow. But the delusion, they believe they have the most righteous and morally upright people with them, selfless and not self serving, all eagerly and desperately wanting to serve the people.

Kopi Level - Red

What to do when shopping in Singapore? Caveat emptor!

Singapore built its name as a shopper’s paradise over several decades. This reputation is going into the gutters with the spade of abusive and ugly incidents involving tourists became cheated in Sim Lim Square. Case and the Tourist Board are stepping into the picture to warn tourists or anyone visiting the shopping centre to be careful when making purchases.

Apart from posting warning posters in the shopping centre, this is what Case executive director Seah Choon Seng said, “We hope that consumers will be able to stand firm and say ‘no’ to pressure sales tactics. The money is in their wallet, and they can choose not to sing the sales agreement and pay the money.”

In addition, the Mypaper reporter Cheryl Faith Wee added more precautionary measures needed to be taken as advised by Seah. These include checking the receipts for details like formulas, symbols, etc and how the price is presented, cancelling out empty spaces, asking questions if not sure, and getting the shop keeper to sign to show agreement on the receipt.

Seah also said, “Consumers should exercise their rights to ensure that all the costs are broken down before accepting the transaction . If you do not have the invoice, it is your word against the rtailiers and it is very difficult for organizations like Case to arbitrate.”

The Singapore Tourism Board also advised ‘consumers to do what is necessary to protect their interests, such as researching products, checking return policies and coverage of warranties before agreeing to purchases.’

I think someone should conduct a course on how to shop safely in Singapore to protect from being fleeced and cheated by unscrupulous merchants. Shopping in Singapore’s shoppers’ paradise is going to be very demanding today. The best advice is not to shop here if one is not prepared to take all the above precautions.

As rightly pointed out by an engineer, Ng Jian Min, “Singapore should be a safe environment for everyone to shop in. I find it quite ridiculous that I should have to check my receipts so closely.  There must be more severe laws to punish these shops.” What say you CASE, STB?

Personally I will not shop there, and if I do I will bring my lawyers along, and better still, bring two burly bodyguards to make sure that I am safe from being harassed.

I didn’t know that shopping in Singapore’s shoppers paradise has become so dangerous.

I read an article in the Sunday Times this morning on Jover Chew.  He was praised sky high as a very clever man and knew the law. The best part, he has not broken the law. What he did was legal. Eeeeeeeeee....mummy, Jover never committed any crime or done anything illegal! I think there is no case against him and he cannot be prosecuted. He has the law on his side, he is not outside the law. He is inside the law. Got shadow or not(this phrase should be read in Hokien).

I thought of changing the title of this post to , 'What Jover Chew did is legal'. And to nail  Jover, there must change the law. And Rip Van Winkles are talking about it now.

Kopi Level - Yellow

Will Singaporeans be fighting for life and death in the next GE?

In the 60^th birthday of PAP celebration Hsien Loong said, “We have won the trust of the voters and the mandate to serve Singapore in every successive general election since then… and we will win the next one, too.” This could be true, and it would be a good thing if it is true. Hsien Loong must not forget that the victory is conditional, that the PAP must win the trust of the voters and the mandate to rule again. I like to change the word ‘serve’ to ‘rule’ as things have changed, and the PAP has changed, from serving to ruling the country and people. I would like to agree with him and wish him and the Party well, and win the next election. It would mean that the Party has returned to its roots, to its original goals in 1954, of serving the people and winning the mandate to serve. If it does not, then winning will be a shattered dream.

During the pre independence days, ‘It was a fight to decide Singapore's future - "a fight for life and death"… "Many people thought the Communist tide was unstoppable. It took brave people with fire in their bellies to stand up to them. Fortunately, the non-Communists in the PAP had that fire in their bellies and they stood and they fought, not only fought the Communists, but also fought to win the hearts and minds of the people."

Would the PAP live up to the ethos of the founding fathers of the PAP, fighting to serve the people? Has the ground shift with the shifting policies and interests of the PAP and leadership? My view is that the Party today and the leadership are highly different from pre independence days. Some would agree with me, but those in the PAP would not. It is for the people to decide as the people are the one that would benefit or suffer under the PAP leadership. If the people lose faith in the PAP and choose to give the mandate to a new party, the above quotes could read like this:

‘It was a fight to decide Singapore's future - "a fight for life and death" … "Many people thought the PAP tide was unstoppable. It took brave people with fire in their bellies to stand up to them. Fortunately, the new leaders and people had that fire in their bellies and they stood and they fought, not only fought the PAP, but also fought to win the hearts and minds of the people." And they triumphed and the new PM spoke to the people in the new National Stadium on its first anniversary as the ruling party,

“We have won the trust of the voters and the mandate to serve Singapore in the last general election … and we will win the next one, too.”

The political scenario could change, would change, if the PAP loses the trust of the people and a new party will take over to serve the people. The PAP has only a few more months to convince the people and to improve its chances and its right to serve the people, by serving the people and looking after their interests.  The PAP thinks it is serving the people, but are the people thinking so? Would it be that way, would it continue to rule the people in the way it thinks best and would the people go along, appreciate being ruled this way, and continue to trust the PAP and give it the mandate again in the next general election?

Or would the next general election be a life and death fight by the Singaporeans to free themselves from the rule of the PAP?

‘Today is the time to re-dedicate ourselves to the party and to Singapore….The PAP will always be on Singapore and Singaporeans’ side. Hsien Loong said this at the Victoria Concert Hall.  ‘Re dedicate’ is very meaningful, the party comes first, Singapore comes second. At least he still remembers the Singaporeans.  Would the Singaporeans still remember him and the PAP in the next GE?

What do you think?

Kopi Level - Yellow

Yang Yin – How to escape from Sin City

Yang Yin is out on $150k bail. It was reported that $10m of Ms Chung’s asset were missing and $500k had been transferred to Yang Yin’s parent. By absconding, running away and forfeiting $150k seems to be sup sup suey, and worth every cent spent, that is if he can disappear from Sin City and escaped serving 10 years behind bar. His passport has been impounded but that does not mean that he cannot escape. Many criminals in the past had their passport impounded too, but also disappeared like David Copperfield’s disappearing act.

Assuming that Yang Yin would want to do the same, what is the best way or how would he do so? With our highly reinforced checkpoints and our efficient ICA officers, it is nearly impossible for a fly to fly through the checkpoints without being detected. His photographs must be hanging in the immigration office next to the President’s for easy and ready recognition.

Not sure where he is staying, but presumably he will be closely watched. He may be tagged with an electronic device to track him. Assuming he could dismantle the tag, it is unlikely that he would walk out of his residence by the main door. Very likely, I think, he will climb out of the toilet window. Anyone watching him should pay special attention that there is no toilet rolls outside his toilet window. When the toilet rolls appeared, it would be the most obvious sign that he is making his move.

Assuming the person guarding his movement fell asleep and Yang Yin managed to slip out of the window and disappeared, the best place to search for him is the Straits of Johore. No need to waste time searching the reservoirs or Labrador Park or any other Parks. Skip Outram Park, Bishan Park, Kranji Park, Hong Lim Park and East Coast Park, and don’t bother about car parks. Just wait for him along the northern coast of the island.

And while waiting for him, it is important to clear the coast of plastic bottles in case he collects them and tie them to his body as floats. The best is to set him up by leaving a small sampan there with a string attached to haul him back once he is on board. A little help from our Malaysian Police on this would definitely be appreciated.

I think with all the experience we have learnt since the Mas Selamat escape, this Yang Yin would be like a bird in a cage, no where to run. Oops, did Mas Selamat escaped from a cage too?

I think there is really no chance for Yang Yin to do a Mas Selamat or a Tan Wah Piow. He would be safe in the island until his trial is over.

Wanna bet?

Kopi Level - Green

Why need so much in CPF Minimum Sum Schemes?

Below is quoted in a post in TRE on Gerald Giam’s question on the CPF Scheme in Parliament and a reply by Tan Chuan Jin.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Most seniors have various sources of financial support in retirement. Based on the findings of the latest Household Expenditure Survey, a retiree household in 2012/2013 received $1,740 of non-work income on average a month. The sources of income include monthly payouts from CPF, contributions from family members, rental income and investment income. Results from the National Survey of Senior Citizens 2011 also indicated that about two-thirds of senior citizens received income transfers from their children.

Many of our seniors today also have savings in their housing assets which have appreciated significantly. A typical retiree household who owns a three-room or a four-room flat has $300,000 or $400,000 worth of net equity in the flat respectively. The Government has introduced schemes such as the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) to provide Singaporeans with additional options for unlocking the savings in their flats to supplement their retirement income if they wish to do so. Seniors who have other forms of financial support might not see the need to take up LBS, or they may choose to move to a small flat or rent out rooms in their flats instead.

Exactly, most seniors have other forms of income and financial support. The CPF savings is only one of these supports. Why is there a need to compel all the seniors to keep so much money in the CPF like ‘dalit’ money, untouchables? From the huge numbers, the statisticians must have used the premise that this is all the money needed for a senior to live on. This is false, a great flaw in assumptions. Many seniors not only do not need to depend on their CPF savings, many have more to spare and did not have to rely on their CPF savings. Ask the rich, the elites, and the ex ministers and political appointment holders.

There is no need to imprison the money of all the seniors in the CPF. I quote, ‘Most seniors have various sources of financial support in retirement.’ So, what is happening? Head I win tail you lose argument? When is the govt going to review the CPF Schemes and return the money to their rightful owners?

Listen to the insurers, everyone must have more than $1m in savings when they retired. How many people have $100k in savings when they retired? Are they going to starve to death? When don’t they say everyone must have $10m to live like a king?

Return Our CPF.

Kopi Level - Green

Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in NTU Governance

by MIKOspace

Reflections on Purported Forensic Investigations by the major public accounting firm Ernst&Young into possible financial improprieties and misconduct at the highest levels of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Good Governance is not natural or automatic. The promotion and maintenance of good governance is not easy.  Powerful financial forces act to corrupt power and trust to erode and succumb feeble-minds to the temptation of greed and corruption.  An unspoken “social contract” exists between public officials and the Singapore people whereby we “The People” can expect public institutions to put the interests of the many over those of a few, including themselves, as they exercise wise judgment in decision-making in accordance with the inherent principle of Trusteeship when advancing the economic, social and moral needs of an ethical and caring society.

Whither therefore the truth and nature of purported forensic investigations by the major public accounting firm Ernst&Young into possible financial improprieties and misconduct at the highest levels of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)? Would the Report, if available, be made public like the one concerning the National Kidney Foundation some years ago? 

Of greater importance and public interest is whether public integrity watchdogs and enforcement agencies like the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau (CPIB) would follow up on the Report, if any, to evaluate whether any laws were breached and whether anyone should be charged for corruption or other heinous breach-of-trust offences, or they had abused their entrusted power for private profit.

If the purported Ernst&Young Report indeed revealed breaches of laws, it would not be surprising.  On several occasions, it had been mysteriously bizarre as to why NTU Senior Management chose to ignore relevant legal boundaries with such impunity even after these have been pointed out them. {Read More}

Would the purported Ernst&Young Report on NTU uncover other instances of corporate misconduct or breaches of established corporate governance rules?  Hopefully, no.  I shudder to think of the shameful publicity and ramifications that would result from such scandals on the fine reputation of NTU.

We must guard the integrity of public institutions jealously. Corruption takes over when we allow our national institutions to be subverted by unprincipled public officials or public employees determined to abuse their power, position and prestige for personal profit and gain. 

Kopi Level - Green

  

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NTU Governance - Integrity, Transparency & Accountability

Laws Broken for Top Universities Rankings