Foreigners can to the same jobs cheaper

‘Tan Chuan Jin: Manila graduates can do Singaporeans’ jobs for a quarter of their pay

In an interview with Rappler Talk, Minister of Social and Family Development Tan Chuan Jin said that because of globalization, graduates in Manila could do a Singaporean’s job for a fraction of the pay:

“But the competition today is so real. We have companies, jobs, departments being outsourced and completely relocating to Manila because graduates in Manila could do their job for a fraction of the pay.

That’s globalization. And that has resulted in the pulling out of jobs in many developed countries, those jobs are not going back.”’

The above is quoted from an article in the statestimesreview.com. Technically this is true. But to take this as a justification to run down on Singaporeans for wanting to do the same job for more is not very clever.  Look at the full picture and compares apple with apple. How much does it cost for a Singaporean to get his degree and how much does it cost a Pinoy to get his degree, presumably both degrees are of equivalent standard. If this is the case, our universities are underproductive, producing the same standard of graduates but at a much higher cost.

The other point, how much does it cost for a graduate to survive here and a graduate to survive in the Philippines? What is the comparative cost of living?  Just on these two points alone you know that the comparison is out of context, spurious. And to use it freely is, ok I won’t say it is stupid, but bizarre!

How can anyone use these two examples to make a logical and sensible case for comparison? Why don’t we say the govt of USA and UK or for that matter in all the developed countries are able to do their jobs at a much cheaper cost, a fraction of what Singapore pays to its politicians? Should we then farm out our political offices to the Americans or Europeans or to China? Xi Jinping’s annual salary is less than one day of Hsien Loong’s pay. You think Xi Jinping or Obama or Cameroon is doing a lousy job?  We can save a lot of money by outsourcing our whole cabinet right? Before that we should outsource all our PMETs and CEO jobs to the cheaper countries. We should even move our banks and airlines and whatever to operate in Manila or Mumbai or Jakarta.

Can I have a more sensible argument please.

A mismatch between honesty and reality

“We have proven that together, we are greater than the sum of our parts,” he said. “Most of all let us celebrate how we journeyed from Third World to First, as one united people, leaving no one behind.”

Mr Lee reminded all that every Singaporean has benefited from Singapore’s progress.

“We are a nation of home owners,” he said. “Everyone has opportunities to improve themselves. Everyone can look forward to a brighter future.”

The above is the gist of Hsien Loong’s National Day Message to the people. I would expect many Singaporeans would be very pleased and grateful to him and his govt for taking the country so far and bringing wealth and well being to the people of Singapore. 

A post in TRE under the title ‘PM: We will always have a bright future ahead of us’ drew many flakes and many negative responses. Let me just quote a few comments here.

• PWP architect:

August 8, 2015 at 9:21 pm  PWP architect(Quote)

There is no future for the people if you continue to wield absolute power !

Unlike your father who while harsh, will never think of subjecting our lives and livelihoods to the mercies of millions of 3rd world migrants.

You cannot be trusted to have the blank cheque anymore.

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Rating: +225 (from 237 votes)

• Pui pui pui:

August 8, 2015 at 9:28 pm  Pui pui pui(Quote)

You have become public enemy number 1 the day we knew of your PWP.

Instead of protecting our lives and livelihoods, your PWP has, and is exposing us to dangers and unacceptable risks.

Do you realize what you are doing to this once beautiful country your father and his patriotic founding members have worked so hard to achieve?

Do you realize that the people are not that daft to know that your PWP is a policy to fix the people – to fix them for giving you lesser and lesser votes?

Do you know why you are being despised by almost half the population, if not more?

You have destroyed our motherland … sad that you chose to treat us with contempt.

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Rating: +144 (from 146 votes)

• Traitor lee get lost:

August 8, 2015 at 11:23 pm  Traitor lee get lost(Quote)

The old guards and the pioneers build this nation.
You betray the people and sold the country to feed yr ego and greed.
You are the main cause of the declining population with overpriced public housing, crumbling crowding transport, insufficient public housing, insufficient child care and support, insufficient healthcare and support.
What is your solution?
Pea brain import and replace your own countrymen.
You are a bloody traitor. Get lost before the people kick you out.

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Rating: +41 (from 41 votes)

The above are just 3 of 128 comments posted with very strong words against Hsien Loong and his policies. How could these people be so negative about what is happening in Singapore? The recent National Day Parade to celebrate SG50 was all pomp and pageantry, something that made Singaporeans proud for what we have achieved over the last 50 years. Or could the commentators in TRE be just a very small minority who did not benefit from the success and growth of the country? Were they biased or simply blind and not able to see the great happenings and goodness in the country arising from all the good policies of the govt? Why so negative? Why couldn’t they see the bright future going forward painted by Hsien Loong and his team? Don’t they believe anything Hsien Loong said?

Is there any element of truth in these negativities expressed by the commentators? They did not seem to be nuts or ignorant people. They did not seem to be from IMH. Why is there such a mismatch in the perception of the future of Singapore?

What is the truth? Or is this a case of the big divide, where some are getting richer and richer while some are getting poorer and poorer? Maybe the answer will come from the result of the GE. If the majority of the people are benefiting from Hsien Loong’s govt and policies, he should go on to win this GE with a comfortable majority. Otherwise his majority will be reduced and he may find himself with a bigger opposition in Parliament, or worse.

We have perhaps a month to find out the truth.

Another National Day Celebration

One day after National Day the people were greeted by the news that NSP had withdrawn from Marine Parade GRC and MacPherson SMC to pave the way for a straight fight between PAP and the WP. NSP would now concentrate its fire power in Tampines and Sembawang GRC and Pioneer SMC. The most dreaded 3 corner fights in MP and MacPherson have been avoided by this announcement. SingFirst had also announced that it would pull out of Ang Mo Kio to let Reform Party take on the PAP in a straight fight. Reform Party must put up a good and strong team to stand in Ang Mo Kio and not to disappoint the voters with this privilege. Any half past six team would be unforgiveable given that SingFirst is likely to put up a serious team.

The dark clouds have disappeared and the sky is brightening up in the political horizon. The battle ground has more or less defined and all parties are ready to go for D Day.

The most heart warming development in the pre GE tussle is the sense of urgency and purpose, unity and the generosity shown by all the opposition parties. There is now a higher level of maturity, sensibility and cooperation to give confidence to the people that they are not there to contest for the sake of contesting and to be spoilers in multi corner fights. There is reason to hope that they would cooperate more closely and improve their respective chances of making inroads into Parliament.

The flutter of a butterfly set in motion a series of event that could lead to a storm. SDP made the first move by withdrawing from Sembawang. This allowed NSP to secure a firm GRC to contest and made it easier to withdraw from Marine Parade without sacrificing too much ground. If SDP would to stand firm in Sembawang, NSP would have to wrestle with two uncertainties. It is now a case of one bird in hand better than two in the bush. SingFirst must have seen light in generosity to give way to Reform Party in Ang Mo Kio and the goodwill that follows NSP’s move.

With this latest development, all the opposition parties could now concentrate on how to fight their biggest opponent in the PAP instead of fighting among themselves. And it is good that their differences could be settled so quickly and early and with magnanimity. There is a sense of déjà vu in cyberspace with critics closing ranks to support all the opposition parties and praising them for their sensibilities. Kind words were spoken for Hazel’s leadership in NSP as well as Chee Soon Juan and Jee Say.

There is a discreet understanding and common mission to do battle in a way never seen or felt before. Opposition unity is found at last and most likely none will have to lose their deposits except for a few wild horses in the SMCs. Sylvia Lim has thanked NSP for its generosity. There is so much goodwill going around in the opposition camp and among opposition supporters.

This is indeed something to celebrate for in this National Day. The days of bungling and naïve opposition parties running in circus fighting a losing battle before the start of a GE is over. They are appearing more credible just by virtue of this ability to agree and to reach a consensus in a common united front that they were never able to do so before. And with several parties showing promises of rolling out good men and women to pose a serious contest, this is a GE worth watching and waiting for.

A confluence of factors is taking shape.

Lui Tuck Yew resigned

Latest news, Transport Minister LuiTuck Yew has resigned and would not stand for election in the GE. He has served two terms and in the hot seat of public transport with frequent failures and stoppages of the MRT. Though not entirely his fault, he was the minister in charge and cannot escape from being blamed for it.

His resignation was not due to his performance as the Transport Minister and Hsien Loong has revealed that they tried to ask him to stay on. He resigned for personal reasons.

PM Low Thia Khiang

Many would find it strange and uncomfortable hearing or reading this, Prime Minister Low Thia Khiang or Prime Minister Sylvia Lim. There seems to be something missing, not the right mold, doesn’t sound right. Singaporeans have been so use to a PM from the PAP that anyone from anywhere would not be comfortable. PM Chee Soon Juan, PM Tan Jee Say anyone?

There is fear of a big change for the worst. The question is whether Singapore has reached a point that we are already at the worst. Many would not agree when we are celebrating SG50 with plomp and plenty. Look ahead, with the population size and growing, with so many foreigners that would change our identity and demography, our way of life, with so many of our locals being sidelined from the main stream of activities, discriminated by foreigners in job opportunities, with the high cost of living and housing, with your CPF being turned into another form of taxation, with university places going to foreigners instead of Singaporeans, top jobs going to foreigners with funny degrees from funny universities despite our top students graduating from the best universities in the West, what is the future for Singaporeans? No problem, the foreigners will be Singaporeans overnight by issuing them pink ICs!

Today we are starting to hear the Govt acknowledging that the population is too big to handle, but still many are talking of 10m and more. And knowing that there is no other formula for growth except population growth, you are not too far wrong to expect the population to keep increasing at an intolerable rate after the GE. We are also hearing the lost of a Singapore identity and Singaporean core? Did these things happen yesterday? Who caused them? Nobody knows, I bet you, nobody knows how and when did they happened, just like nobody knows that we are marching towards the cliff. Everyone will swear they did not know.

Can a new party in power with a new PM be worse than the direction we are going? At least there is hope in a new party and a new PM to change course, knowing that the cliff is just ahead. And why should a PM Low Thia Khiang or PM Sylvia Lim or PM Chee Soon Juan, or PM Tan Jee Say be a problem? They will inherit a system with some of the best men we have in the govt service, in all the services. These bright men and women will still be there to serve the new govt and PM. What is needed is a new direction with new emphasis on Singapore and the well beings of Singaporeans.

With a new govt and a new PM, the script will be rewritten. The population growth with be halted, the number of foreigners in high places will be monitored and reduced, Singaporeans will be favoured and in charge, not discriminated brazenly. The new govt will run the country for Singaporeans. And the formula, instead of going all around the world to hunt for foreigners when a problem pops up, the new govt will rely on our own top talents to deal with the problems. The new PMs will get the best men and women to assist him in the execution of his pro Singaporean policies.

Is this different from what the present govt is doing? Got problem, set up a committee, pay for expertise. Go to the whole world to find the experts to solve our problems. Our million dollar employees only need to manage and know how to find foreigner talents to solve their problems. The new PM can do the same, but with the heart in the right place, to think Singaporean first. We are Singaporeans, we are good enough to solve our own problems, especially problems that we created for ourselves.

What is the point of having so many top talents from the best universities of the world for? To collect money and not to solve problem, cannot solve problems and needing foreigners paid a fraction of their pay to solve problems for them? I believe we have the best talents to look after our own problems, to solve our own problems like we used to do to build this great city and home before it is turn into another 3^rd World slum, run down by 3^rd World talents and 3^rd World mentality. Lee Kuan Yew said we must have the confidence to look after ourselves, not everyday looking for foreigners to help us solve our problems.

Singaporeans better get used to PM Low Thia Khiang or Sylvia Lim, or Chee Soon Juan or Tan Jee Say and look forward to a better future for themselves and their children. The people in the eastern part of the island have seen the light and know what they want and are voting for their future in a new hope. Going forward is a treacherous affair if things are not going to change for the good of Singaporeans but for the good of foreigners.

Raffles Revealed – A lesson in history

Raffles Revealed is currently being run on Channel News Asia on the man himself and his role as an Imperialist serving the British Empire. It touched on Raffles ambition to wrestle Indonesia from the Dutch and French and bring it under the ambit of the Empire. The Dutch and French were fully in control of Indonesia operating from Batavia, present day Jakarta. Raffles was in Calcutta, the HQ of the British East India Company or front of the British Empire.

His strategy was to sow discord among the native tribal chiefs to rise against the Dutch. The natives were eager beavers, seeing the potential of an external power to assist them to overthrow the Dutch colonialists. But they did not realise that the British were doing it for their own convenience and their objective was to replace the Dutch as the colonial master and the native chiefs would still remain under another colonial power. Or the native chiefs might just play along, to get the British to fight the Dutch. They did negotiate with the British for their independence but was turned down. The British eventually attacked them as well and seized control of Indonesia for themselves.

The situation and the tactics used by the British then were similar to the situation in South China Sea. The Americans are here, sowing discord among the Asean countries against China. The difference is that China is not colonising any of the Asean states but with counter claims to the some of the islands in the South China Sea. But the Asean states are behaving like the native chiefs, thinking that they could invite the bigger devil to deal with a smaller devil, and thinking that at the end of the day the bigger devil will allow them to take control of the disputed islands.

The Americans today share the same strategic interests of the British in Raffles’ times. They are here for their own interests and carving out areas of influence and control. And the Asean countries are behaving like the native chiefs, thinking that they are wiser and could play the big powers against one another. The Americans seized the moment and the opportunity to agitate the Asean countries to rise against China.

In the narrative of Raffles Revealed, it was all about power and domination. There were no issues or concerns about human rights, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.  The Americans are here simply to guard their own interests and manipulating the Asean states to do their bidding but would be the ultimate winner and ruler of the region.

Eventually the use of force and power would rule the day. The Asean states, like the native chiefs of Indonesia, were just pawns in a bigger chess board. They are only to be used and to be controlled or dominated by either of the two super powers. Their silly dreams of taking advantage of big power conflicts to serve their interests would be like the dreams of the native chiefs, eventually still be conquered and ruled by the British Empire, now the American Empire.

Anything changed? History is a good teacher provided the students are not daft and willing to learn from it.

National Day – Food for thought

Watching the National Day Parade and reflecting on how far we have come gives one a sense of pride, a sense of achievement against all odds, and a sense of doubt of how long can we party before it is over? It took us 50 years to build this country by sheer drive and determination. Everything was so daunting, so defeating when we started. It was dark clouds all over, every endeavour was a challenge, a step into virgin territory. Everything was a new experiment, we had not done it before. With perseverance and dedication, and a big of luck, we built what we have today. The pioneer generation grew the trees, the children of today enjoy the shade and the fruits of their labour. 

It is so sickening to hear the Johnny come lately telling true blue Singaporeans that they are here to help us build this country. Who spun this silly myth? It is the greatest insult to our pioneers who sweat, cried and bore the burden on their backs with measly pay, to set the foundation and putting in all the right stones for the later generations to keep climbing higher, standing on the shoulders of the pioneer generation.

Some of the foreigners who are new citizens today even claimed they built this country. And no joker dares to dispute this kind of silly statements to put the newcomers in their right place. How to emigrate and take over a country without firing a bullet?

Many of the pioneer generations would shed tears of joy and contentment to see what Singapore is today. Many have benefited and left behind the early days of struggling to build a country and a nation. There is contentment to see the young enjoying all the good things in life of a prosperous city. Let’s celebrate more good years, let’s party. There is nothing wrong with that. It is our privilege to celebrate the good life. We worked for it. Our parents and forefathers sweated for it. I am sure the young are thankful to the early builders of our country.

Why worry? What is there to worry? Relax, and go and have a good time.  When everyone is in such a happy mood, that all is well and going forward everything will be better, tomorrow will be a brighter day, it is time to worry.  It is moments like this, when the guards are down, that things will start to go wrong. Too cautious, too paranoid?  We did not get here without being paranoid.

We used to have a govt that was paranoid over our survival as a city state. Has anything changed? Is it time to change, no need to worry anymore. Things can only be better. Sometimes one wonders why the head of a family is always frowning, with a perpetual unhappy and doubtful look on his face. The head of a family is always worried about the well being of the family and how to provide them with continuous wealth, security and well being.  He is the last one to party.

The tanks rolled yesterday to show our might. The fly boys and their sophisticated mean machine screamed through the sky to say they meant business. This is our country and we will do everything to protect it for our people, the Singaporeans, the children of the pioneering generations.

Would this country with its wealth, be given away to foreigners one day? Would it be taken over by foreigners one day, taken from the children of our pioneer generation? Or it has already been taken over by foreigners, or on the way of being taken over by foreigners? The foreigners are here, living among us, taking our jobs, our homes, our space, enjoying the fruits of the labour of our forefathers. Would they turn ambitious and vicious and want everything for themselves? We are very kind to the foreigners. Would they be kind to our children to reciprocate our generosity and hospitality?

Would our young let their guards down and lose the country without knowing what happened? Would our tanks and mean machine be taken over by foreigners and turn the guns at our own people instead of defending them? The foreigners are here, in hoards. There are more foreigners here than true blue Singaporeans today. Is that a comfortable and safe equation? Don’t ask the fools please.

Why worry, be happy. Today our govt does not need to be paranoid about our security like the first generation leaders. We cannot see any danger and know no danger. Beware of the gift bearing Greeks! The Trojans celebrated and got themselves drunk while the Greeks were in their city preparing to take over. The rest of the story can be found in history books.

Have we done enough to give our homes and country away without knowing it?

Gardens By The Bay - Architectural Structure

I have never been to this famous and one of the most expensive artificial gardens in the world. While I was at the Marina Barrage shooting the Black Knights, I took some time wondering around admiring at the beautiful structural features of the two domes housing temperate plants from other parts of the world. The plants are enjoying some of the finest facilities and climate controlled environment that the average citizens could only envy. If not because of the prohibitive construction and maintenance cost, the Gardens would be better received by the more cost conscious people. The maintenance cost comes to tens of millions annually, if I can recollect the sums quoted, that the critics are still very unforgiving in their views on the money spent . The only great value of the Gardens so far are the miracles that are happening inside the domes that led people jumping for joy.

Below are some of the photos that I took with a bridge camera, an old favourite of mine.

Roy Ngerng – Son of Chai Tau Kuay versus natural aristocracy

Can you believe it, it is happening. Earlier I made a post about this election turning into a contest between the ordinary average Singaporeans against the nobles and aristocrats, now we have a Chai Tau Kuay hawker’s son taking on the son of the aristocracy.

Roy Ngerng has announced that he is joining Kenneth’s Reform Party and he is going to contest in Ang Mo Kio GRC. He is bringing his fight to Hsien Loong’s home base, the unshakable fortress of PAP, the seed and source of PAP’s power as my gemancer friend told me. To shaken, loosen or to remove Hsien Loong from Ang Mo Kio will be a deafening blow to the story of the PAP. 

The issue now is what kind of team would Roy be able to garner to fight along his side to take on Hsien Loong’s team that are likely to be the best Hsien Loong could get. Oops, Ang Mo Kio is for once going to face a serious challenge and it is no longer a safe ward anymore. Light weights would not be allowed as they would weigh down on the sampan. Everyone in the team must now be able to carry his own weight. No more home run free.

And how would the battle be fought between one that has nothing to lose and one that has everything to lose? For sure, Hsien Loong would have his hands full and would not have the privilege to grace the rallies of weaker PAP teams. He is going to fight for his life, to be elected and to remain the PM. Losing Ang Mo Kio is unthinkable. It would likely be the turn for many ministers to take time off to speak in Ang Mo Kio’s rally to give him a helping hand.

And the issue will be Roy’s favourite topic, your CPF money. This will be the most uncomfortable and difficult topic for Hsien Loong to defend, if it is defendable. It hurts the people’s pocket, really painful. And the power logic used to lock up people’s life savings, to be spent on the miraculous Medisave Life, would be put to the severest test. Can power logic holds against the simple logic of my money, my pocket hurts? Power logic loses its power during an election campaign. It is a time of ‘boh cheng hu’ or no govt, no power. The logic of persuasion will be the logic that the voters will be listening to and to believe. No more, I think it is right so I just do it. It is time for the people to think if it is right and to vote accordingly.

The voters will also exercise this same logic, I think it is right so I vote for it. I vote what I think is right, not what you think is right. And many will vote with their pockets.

Just this issue itself will make many voters think very carefully, even emotionally, and illogically. Who doesn’t want to have his own money back, in his own pocket to do as he likes, to go to Batam, to find mei meis or good company, or to start a new biz? Seriously, many would know what they want to do with their life savings.

The GE will be the time for Roy to persuade them to vote for the return of their money and Hsien Loong would have to convince the people who badly need their money not to vote for their money, to vote to let the govt keep their money.

Which argument will be more persuasive? The Chai Tau Kuay son may not be of noble birth, but he has a simple argument, a simple logic that is hard to beat. The ordinary people will understand his simple logic and be on his side. Who does not want to have his own money back in his pocket? The nobility and noble logic of leaving the money in the CPF for the future, forever, will not have the kind of appeal to the people hard on cash.

This will be an uneven contest and will have an unusual ending.

PS. SingFirst and Reform Party are negotiating to contest this GRC. My guess, a combined team is very likely.

SDP at Marsiling Yew Tee

I delivered some Red Bean Soup to a few friends and bumped into the SDP Team preparing for their evening home visit to the residents of Marsiling Yew Tee. They were organised and enthusiastic in volunteering their time to the party, no free transport, no free chicken rice. The mode was optimism, joyful and all for a good cause.

Black Knights SG50 at Marina Barrage

Oh yes, the main performance was the logo of Sing First up in the sky, a big heart drawn by the Black Knights. What an omen of things to come.

MH370 – Grasping at straws from a man made straw man

The confirmation of the flaperon found in Reunion Island does not come as a surprise to anyone. It is just as good to confirm that the plane is gone and the passengers as well. What is funny and definitely uncomplimentary is the ongoings to confirm a farce that was a farce from the very beginning.

Let me quote a few paragraph from a Bloomberg report dated 6 Aug.

‘The absence of debris from the crash has confounded investigators. Previous crashes in water have almost always left floating debris, the bureau said in a briefing note on its website on Wednesday.

Much of that debris could have sunk by the time the surface search began in that area nine days after the plane disappeared.  

"By this time much of any debris left floating after the crash would likely have either sunk or have been dispersed," the bureau wrote. "The opportunity to locate and recover debris from the sea surface diminishes rapidly over the first few weeks from the time of a crash."

Investigators scanned 4.6 million square kilometres of ocean surface, with 29 aircraft carrying out 334 flights and 14 ships on the sea as part of the operation, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said at a press conference in May.  

The search "initially, briefly, targeted the correct area," the bureau said on Wednesday, adding that this was the best chance investigators had to recover material….’

The search parties searched 4.6m square km of ocean but could not find a single debris and they said they targeted the correct area? Oops, they qualified by saying initially. For such a huge aircraft to crash into the sea, there must be plenty of debris floating around. When they could not locate a single piece it obviously said they were looking at the wrong area. And they even tried to convince the world that they did simulation of current to confirm that the wreckage originated from where they were searching!

When would they admit that someone had told a white lie and conned everyone to search in the wrong place? And Australia would stand up again to tell the world that they knew everything.

The appearance of these few pieces of debris is just as mysterious as the disappearance of the aircraft. Nothing fishy? No one smells anything amiss? Or was it concocted, just as planned and executed like the disappearance of MH370  to throw everyone into disarray for another year?

GE2015 – Order in disorder

This GE is going to be a very different GE from the past. Many things have changed, many variables have been taken out from the equation. There used to be disorder in the opposition camp and they would end up fight among themselves to see who would keep the deposit and who would claim to have done well for keeping their deposits. Winning was not in their minds other than participating in a general election for the sake of participation. Losing was a certainty and they kept going at losing by indulging in multi corner fights.

The fear of the same thing happening seems to be over after the second meeting of the opposition camp. They have more or less carved out the electoral map and decided who would contest in which GRC and single wards. Other than a three, 1 single ward and two GRCs, the rest of the field have been settled. Even then, the likelihood of an amicable solution is quite likely as can be seen by SPP and DPP closing rank to take Bishan Toa Payoh together. SingFirst and Reform Party may adopt the same formula to field a combined team in Ang Mo Kio. Such an option would see the two parties putting up their strongest candidates for the contest instead of the nothing to lose suicide squad in the past.

Yes, the opposition parties would be fielding their best candidates in this GE without over stretching themselves and putting up weak candidates for the sake of standing for an election. Without going for broke or trying to prove how many candidates they could field like the in past, they are saving their best ammunition for a real crack at the seats available. Every party will be choosing their candidates very carefully to make every man counts.

One positive outcome is that Ang Mo Kio will have a real contest if the Reform Party and SingFirst were to join forces and put up their best candidates for the job. This time Hsien Loong is not going to have it easy as before when only the unknowns were put up more like sacrificial lamb. In this GE, the sacrificial lambs or suicide squads, the no hoppers or nothing to lose candidates, would likely come from the PAP in WP held wards.

Every opposition party would put up their best for this election as they consolidated their strength to avoid 3 corner fights. This has turned out to be a good thing, with the opposition parties finally wised up to the challenge. They would still be a handful of wild cards who would think they can win in a 3 corner fights in single wards. What is their real motivation is anyone’s guesses but they will be seen as the spoilers to the party. Thankfully this will not be the norm and the main contest to be in Parliament will be as serious as it can be.

Let’s hope there will not be any nasty surprises during Nomination Day and no kelongs. It would be very painful to see parties given a GRC to contest but put up a dud team to compete, as good as giving a walkover to the ruling party.

The politics of AHPETC

AHPETC has been dragged into court not because a crime has been committed but over procedural matters and unacceptable management practices. And the court seems to be questioning itself why they are involved in this case. Shouldn’t it be a matter that the Minister of National Development could deal with it summarily?

The ding dongs in the courts of law mean that the judges would be kept very busy trying to judge something that they are not sure if they should be judging. It means the courts time would be taken up instead of allowing other criminal cases to be heard. It also means that the AHPETC would have to engage lawyers for its defence and to spend money on it. Would the money come from the WP or AHPETC? And the WP politicians involved would be kept busy trying to absolve themselves from blame.

The same question I would like to put forth, why are politicians elected to run town councils and be directly responsible for the administrative matters of a town council? Shouldn’t this be the jobs of full time civil servants or statutory boards? Politicians are the least appropriate to run a permanent organization that is supposed to run continuously no matter which political party is in power. The daily operating function of a town council is an administrative function, not a political function or responsibility.

Why burden politicians to be the administrator of a statutory organization running essential services? And why compromise the proper and smooth functioning of town councils and the efficiency of running an estate with politicians and depriving them from performing their roles as law maker? Running town councils should not be subject to the unpredictability of the election processes. There must be continuity and permanence of tenure and the expertise and dedication of permanent staff.

Politicians should be free from the responsibility of running a town council. It is not what they are supposed to do. It is not what they are elected to do. Their primary duty is law making and making sure all the service providers provide decent and efficient service to the people in their respective constituency. Their role should be like the Transport Minister overseeing the functions and operations of the train and bus services or other ministers overseeing other essential services. If the Ministers are not satisfied, they can express their unhappiness and demand the operators to buck up without themselves being asked to buck up and be nailed.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Japan’s just desert

As the Japanese grief over the fate of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the lives lost when two Atom bombs fell on the two cities, many are still wondering whether the events to commemorate the dead and destruction of the two cities meant anything to the Japanese?

Kwok Kian Woon wrote a piece in the ST on 6 Aug titled, ‘A letter to Japanese friends on Hiroshima Day’ in the most friendly way possible to share Japan’s grief and politely asked the Japanese about the same question I asked above. Kwok Kian Woon quoted Kuo Pao Kun saying, ‘I think that of all peoples the Japanese have in their living memory the most profound understanding of the war because the Japanese were at the same time a very cruel aggressor and a victim of the cruelest experience of war….What is there in the Japanese psyche, what is there in the Japanese culture, that stops a people capable of deep, profound thinking coming out strongly as a people, not just a few individuals but as a people, to reflect openly and deeply about the war?

What did Kuo Pao Kun and Kwok Kian Woon wanted the Japanese to reflect about? The pain and destruction from Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not insignificant. But compared to the pain and suffering wrought by the Japanese on the millions of Asians from Korea, China in the North all the way down to South East Asia, to Indonesia, the Philippines and Burma, what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were chicken feat. The pain and suffering and the lost of lives and destruction brought about by the invading barbaric forces of the Imperial Japanese Army were abominable. Can Japan and the Japanese people understand that? Can Japan and the Japanese people understand the thousands of Americans that were bombed and killed in Pearl Harbour without knowing what hit them? Can the Japanese understand the hundreds of thousands of American and Allies soldiers that died and maimed to fight them and to drive them back to the Japanese shores, all because Japan started an invasion to conquer and colonise other people?

Despite the polite words of Kwok Kian Woon and Kuo Pao Kun, the Japanese did not understand and did not learn anything about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan under Abe and his militant cabinet is remilitarizing to be the same militant Japanese of pre defeated Japan. They are legitimizing themselves to go to war again. They want the right to go to war, to fight, destroy and kill again. They have burnt their pacifist constitution.

The Japanese did not learn anything from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They do not mind Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be repeated again. Or they do understand what Hiroshima and Nagasaki meant and want to do another Hiroshima and Nagasaki on others, to avenge their defeat and their pain and suffering.

Let me quote Kuo Pao Kun again, ‘What is there in the Japanese psyche, what is there in the Japanese culture, that stops a people capable of deep, profound thinking coming out strongly as a people,….’ What is there for the Japanese people to know that they should not try or attempt to repeat what they did to the rest of Asia and to the Americans, and to live in peace instead of harbouring the ambition to go to war again, as a war mongering nation?

Japan must be warned not to allow Hiroshima and Nagasaki to happen again. They brought it upon themselves. Do they want history to repeat itself by flexing its military might and cherishing for war again?

GE2015 – The Ace in PAP’s deck

I wrote about Hsien Loong having a hand without an ace to play in this GE recently. Knowing PAP’s ingenuity and creativity to come up with surprises, they will find an ace somewhere. Yes, Hsien Loong does not have an ace in hand. Would he find an ace from the tea party interviews? So far, from those faces that have been paraded, the would be’s and could be’s, there is nothing unusual, the same DNA from the military and civil service. There could be a couple of grassroot leaders showing up, but nothing flattering, anything but an ace?

We may have to wait until the whole new cohort is announced to have a taste of what’s cooking. Would there be the likes of Prof Paul Tambyah of the SDP? Or would there be a Nicole Seah to make the difference and cause a big sensation?

But wait, in case many have missed it, the star politician of the PAP camp has already started campaigning and rooting for the PAP. We have done it, our track records are there to show and to prove it. We are the best and we delivered.

Heard of the cardboard policeman? No, this one is not a cardboard politician. He was from the past, and is campaigning every night on your TV screen. The consummate politician of all time of Singapore is back. Yes, you see him. Yes, he is campaigning for the PAP. He is the Ace that would not go away. He is back!

PAP has rolled out its only ace to fight the 2015 GE. He is asking for your vote for the PAP. He is all PAP has and had to win this election and more elections in the future. Would it work again?  Would his magic work again to bring PAP to another election victory?

Another miracle in the making in the history of Singapore! The man from the past, travelled through time to fight an election campaign today. Time travel is possible in a uniquely Singapore way. Do not underestimate the resourcefulness of the PAP.

He may even appear during the election rallies on stage.

GE2015 – The opposition camp shaping up

There was a peace pipe meeting by the Indian Chiefs of the opposition camp to settle some ground rules to avoid a 3 corner fight in the coming GE. This is positive news to know that they would not be so reckless and be party spoilers by trying to fight to see who would not lose his deposit and trying to make every contest counts. Opposition parties that go into an election for the sake of being in an election, in 3 or 4 corner fights when their chances of winning or keeping their deposits are so slim reflects a mentality of stupidity that can be expected of no brainers. Or they could be the rumoured moles participating just to split the votes. You fight an election to win not for some personal ego or spurious reasons.

The NSP called for the pow wow, and hopefully everyone attended the meeting with a sincere heart, and did not go there wearing a mask to hide their real intent. Party spoilers and moles there will be, and they will appear at the right place and right time to prove their worth. And there is nothing the voters can do except to exercise their intelligence to vote them out, take them out of the equation like in the Punggol East by election. It is not easy in a GE as the party spoilers and moles would not wear a badge to be identified.

Yesterday the media highlighted the possibility of more 3 corner fights as more opposition parties are staking their claims in hotly contested GRCs. Marine Parade, Tanjong Pagar, Jurong, West Coast, Holland Bukit Timah were the few mentioned. It was also reported that WP would be contesting in 5 GRCs, SingFirst in 4 and  Reform Party 2. SDP is likely to put up 3 or 4 GRCs, NSP maybe 2 or 3, and SPP, DPP and the rest 1 or 2 each.

With 16 GRCs available, it would mean that every GRC would be contested this time and with more to spare or to be muddled in 3 corner fights. The SMCs would all be contested and there will be no walkovers. What these mean is that statistically there will be enough opposition candidates to cause an upset and a change of govt. With all the seats contested, and if there is a major ground shift, a coalition govt is a possible reality.

What is really important is that the three major parties that could put up a serious challenge with equally good candidates, ie WP, SDP and SingFirst, already could cause an upset by contesting 12 or 13 of the 16 GRCs. 9 GRCs will be enough to form a coalition govt if the SMCs are evenly split.

Would there be a new govt on Sept 13? Time to start thinking. The ball is round this time. Despite the odds, all the planning and scheming and gerrymandering, if George Yeo could be taken down, if Ah Lian and Ah Huat could send the top talents packing, anything can happen now. And who knows, Roy Ngerng could end up the dragon slayer. And if And Mo Kio and Tanjong Pagar go to the opposition, it will be all over.

This GE is going to be more unpredictable. One thing for sure, there will be more GRCs going and more ministers would be out of jobs by the sunrise on Sep 13.

Questions for Hsien Loong and the voters

Hsien Loong said these in his conversation with Heng Chee.

“It is our job to think of these issues and to make the best decisions which we can, in our judgment, on your behalf and to account to you, and say to the best of my ability this is what I have decided I have to do,” he said.

“And you may agree with it, you may not agree with it, but I can tell you in complete honesty that I am trying my best to do this on your behalf. And I cannot avoid doing this because otherwise I think I will be letting you down.”

In the above comments it gives the impression that his govt is given unlimited and unrestrained power to decide everything he thinks is right for Singaporeans. It does not matter if Singaporeans agree with him or not.  Heard of the deaf frog ideology?

Does Hsien Loong think he can change the demographic profile of Singapore by flooding the country with foreigners resulting in a changed polity with a different Singaporean identity without the consent of the Singaporeans? Does any elected govt have this authority to do so without going back to the people, going for a referendum? Does anyone really think that anyone who is a PM has a logic  and mind that is so superior to the masses that his thinking is so supreme, that what he thinks is right must be right or so what, I think so and I did it for people, no need to consult the people, happy or not is not important? This kind of thinking is understandable in a monarchy or dictatorship, but in a democracy?

Does his govt has the right to do what it wants with the people’s savings in the CPF just because he thinks it is the right thing to do? Does the govt respect the right of the people to their money?

Does his govt have the right to spend billions to provide thousands of foreigners with scholarships and living allowances without the Singaporeans agreeing to it while Singaporeans have to pay with their own money and many struggling to pay for it?

These decisions have very serious implications on the life and welfare of Singaporeans that are beyond an individual even if he is the PM of the country. How is he to account to the Singaporeans for the harm the policies and decisions could cause them? Would a, ‘I am sorry, let’s move on’ be enough?  We are talking about the lives and well beings of the 3 million odd Singaporean citizens and their children that will come after them.

How is he to account to the Singaporeans when the Singaporeans are telling him ‘No’ to these policies? The consequences of these policies would affect generations of Singaporeans to come when his mandate is only for 5 years and to be renewed again? Or is he saying, if Singaporeans do not like his policies, vote him out? Or is he saying that the majority of the Singaporeans agree to his policies that is why they continue to vote him to form the govt. So it is ok?

I can agree with the last point. If Singaporeans were to vote his party to form the govt again in the next GE, it is an endorsement of his policies and those Singaporeans who disagree, the minority, should just shut up for good. It is the mandate that the Singaporeans gave to him to do as he likes, and approved of them.

The GE is to decide if you approve of the govt’s policies or to stop the govt from continuing with policies that you disagree with and you think are harmful to you and your children’s future. Vote for the PAP if you want more of the same policies. Vote for the opposition if you have had enough of these policies. It is a Yes or No issue, no buts or to regret later and to kpkb and to be ignored after the GE.

The deadly curse of the Medishield Life

How many of you could afford to pay premium to the Medishield Life when you are 70? How many of you could still pay premium when you are 80? How many of you still got money to pay the premium when you are 90, 100, 110?

How many of you could lose your jobs at 55, 60, 65 and could not find a job or retires permanently? Or if you are lucky, find a job as a cleaner and earning enough for 3 meals and think you still got money to pay for the premium?

If you have a lot of money in your CPF and minimum sums account to pay, good for you. If you have children to pay for you, good for you, but sorry for your children.

How many Singaporeans working overseas for years and still must pay for this Medishield Life premium when they are also paying for the medical insurance in their country of residence? Would all the PRs in Australia, NZ, Malaysia, UK and US and other countries, still holding Singapore passport, be expected to pay for this premium?

How many of you think this is fair and equitable for the oldies and Singaporeans working and residing overseas to pay for this premium? Why should they be paying when they are not consuming and using the medical facilities here and still have to pay premium in two countries? What is the difference between this and extortion? This govt does not see this as something wrong and unacceptable. They only think in terms of power logic. They think they are right or what they think is right and they will do it because you elected them to be the govt. And it is done for the good of your interest. They think Singaporeans are stupid and helpless and cannot do anything about it. They must be taking the GE for granted or just a formality. Sure elected to form the next govt and to do the ‘right’ thing for the Singaporeans.

Why are jobless retirees with no income, the ah kongs and the ah mahs, be forced to pay for Medishield Life premium for life? What can a govt or country with so much reserves do to help this group of people?

Some kong cums think it is right and ok for the oldies to keep paying and paying when they have no income and when the premium will keep going higher and higher as they grow older.

Pure hearts, hearts of gold, caring and compassionate? My foot!

There is an urgent need to review this scheme. It must not be a profit making scheme. Any surpluses must be ploughed back to reduce the premium. There must be transparency in the computation of operating cost and fees.

The premium for the oldies should be borne by the govt. A committee should review this and stop forcing the oldies to keep paying and paying. Alternatively the oldies should be allowed to opt out of the scheme. If not, many oldies would not be able to pay and would end up in jail with whatever savings in their CPF emptied. Heard of robbing the grandpas and grandmas?

Singaporeans overseas who are paying for their respective medical insurance schemes need not have to be forced to pay premium for Medishield Life here. Why pay for double coverage?

PS. Would Singaporeans who are PRs overseas and still have CPF accounts be made to contribute to the Medishield Life, especially those quitters coming back to scrounge for free meals? : )

The Doctrine of Discovery – Not knowing history, not knowing you are a fool

Professor Robert J Miller wrote the following paragraphs in the Seattle Post –the Intelligencer with the title ‘Lewis & Clark, The Doctrine of Discovery and American Indians’. 

‘Meriwether Lewis and William Clark sit high in the pantheon of American folk heroes. Even today, Lewis and Clark are viewed as brave adventurers who went where no one had gone before, exploring and conquering the wilderness for the betterment of America.

There is another way to view Lewis and Clark, however, which is nearer to the truth. Lewis and Clark were military officers serving American empire and manifest destiny and they were the vanguard of American policies that ultimately robbed the indigenous peoples of nearly everything they possessed.’

Many of the celebrated American pioneers like Davy Crockett and many more, were transformed in American legends as heroes but were in fact Indian killers and Indian land grabbers.  The brutal and systematic execution and termination of the American Indians were stories that western media did not like to brag about or did not have the stomach to write about.

I will just quote a few paragraphs from The Doctrine of Discovery and US Expansion to enlighten those who think they are enlightened on early American history and European conquest of the world.

The Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution in 1787,

‘The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians, their land and property shall never be taken without their consent, and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed.’

In 1794, ‘the US government sent a regiment led by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne to conquer a confederation of American Indian tribes attempting to keep hold of their lands. At the Battle of Fallen Timbers, a band of 800 Native Americans was slaughtered and 5,000 acres of crops were destroyed. ‘

In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed, ‘which authorized the President to remove the remaining Eastern Indians to lands west of the Mississippi. Between 1938 and 1939, under President Andrew Jackson, 15,000 Cherokee Indians were forcibly taken from their land, herded into makeshift forts, and made to march some in chains – a thousand miles to present day Oklahoma. Over 4,000 Cherokee died from hunger, disease and exhaustion on what they called Nunna dual Tsuny or the Trail of Tears.’

The rape of the Native Indians and their lands started in 1095 when ‘Pope Urban II issued an edict – the Papal Bull Terra Nullius (meaning empty land). It gave the kings and princes of Europe the right to “discover” or claim land in non Christian areas….These edicts treated non Christians as uncivilized and subhuman, and therefore without rights to any land or nation. Christian leaders claimed a God-given right to take control of all lands and used this idea to justify war, colonization, and even slavery…. In 1823, the Doctrine of Discovery was written into US law as a way to deny land right to the Native Americans in the Supreme Court… ‘

And in 1845, John O’Sullivan gave the Doctrine of Discovery another twist, calling it Manifest Destiny …’the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty…’

The Doctrine of Discovery, sounding so innocent, was the seed of European conquest of the world and the colonization of non Christian people, including butchery and massacres of natives and the robbing of their land. Liberty and freedom were only for the European Christians, not for the non Christians, not for the American Natives, not for the Blacks and not for Africans and Asians.

Know your history and absolve yourself from being made a fool of by the western powers and media.