NSP – The fallout of Hazel Poa

Hazel Poa, the acting Secretary General of NSP, resigned from the Party last night when the CEC reversed its earlier decision not to contest MacPherson SMC. Steve Chia, the Treasurer, will be the likely candidate to stand for NSP in the first confirmed 3 corner fight in this GE. Hazel said she opposed strongly the decision to be involved in a 3 corner fight that the opposition parties had agreed not to do so earlier. For NSP to breach this agreement and to start a brawl in the opposition camp would not speak well of the party. The foxes are showing their tails.

This development has taken the voters by surprise, an unpleasant one as no one would thing NSP would stand a wee bit of a chance to win MacPherson. The question is why throwing good money and to negate an undertaking that would raise doubts about the credibility of the Party? The happiest person would naturally be Tin Pei Ling and you could see it written all over her face. She welcomed more contestants, the more the merrier, to MacPherson. Someone must have found MacPherson likely to go to the WP and something must be done to avoid this fate.

This move by NSP has thrown the opposition camp in a little disarray. The unity that was forged earlier and celebrated is now in question and cast a dark cloud on the opposition. Would it now be free for all, a state that would be very welcomed by the ruling party. The opposition camp needs to tread carefully and not be distracted by the NSP to go for each other’s throat. It is best that they stick to what they have agreed earlier and let the foxes unmasked themselves.

With NSP now hanging by a big question mark, there must be thoughts of counting NSP out from the agreement and opening up Sembawang and Tampines for 3 corner fights as well. The four major parties may want to close rank and not be ruffled by this event, to maintain course, and be wary of the foxes. More nasty surprises are likely to come as GE approaches.

Political manipulation of the unthinking mind

How to raise property prices? So simple, don’t build or don’t build enough. Then blame the people. Blame those who earn a bit more, not million dollar salary type, for competing with the lower income to buy public flats. Yes, blame the higher income earners. And the lower income will be stupid enough to believe you and also blame the higher income earners for not getting their flats.

Ok, daft sinkies, you see the logic and the moral of the story? Con the stupid, they are very easy to be conned and to do the fighting. See how angry they are when the higher earners, not million dollar salary type, who try to be prudent to save for retirement wanted to buy public flats? They get cursed and cursed when the people that should be cursed should be the people that refused to build more flats. So simple, can understand or not? If not, blame your own stupidity for being misled.

How to force people to use expensive hospital wards like A and B1 wards? Don’t build C Class wards or build only a few for show. Then make it difficult for those who want to go to C wards to wait long long. Tell them queue very long, not enough C Class beds. Let them wait in the corridors.

If this is not enough, do mean testing so that the ‘gian png’ type, got a bit more money, but not million dollar salary type, would be forced to use B1 or A Class wards and pay more. And let those lower income unthinking people to scold them and blame them for wanting to stay in C Class wards. And when they spent too much on higher medical bills in A or B1 wards and not enough for retirement, blame them again for spending beyond their means. Tell them must be prudent!

See, so simple. Don’t build C Class wards and blame those higher incomes, not million dollar salary type, for creating demands to deprive the lower income from their C Class beds. The problem is passed to the higher income, not million dollar income group type, to bear the brunt of the anger of the unthinking lower income group. Just say not enough C Class beds and point the finger to the higher income, not million dollar income type, for taking away C Class wards.

Does the lower income group understand who caused the problem for shortage of C Class beds? Can understand the logic of supply and demand or not? What is the moral of the story?

Think, think, think. Don’t be deceived and conned into believing that the higher income, not he million dollar income type, is the problem. Can see who is creating the problem?

It is so simple!

PS. I used the term stupid not because I think the people are stupid. They are made to look stupid, not by me, to blame the higher income, not million dollar income type, for all their woes.

Pasir Ris GRC – The biggest upset

Many voices are heard in the social media about Desmond Lim and his SDA. Some even accusing him of being a mole but no one knows. What is this Desmond Lim may become irrelevant for many reasons. It could be the biggest victory for the PAP in this election in Pasir Ris. The voters, from reading the social media, are now one head two big, not knowing what to do. Some were saying they did not want to vote for both.

In desperation, some anti PAP activists are calling voters to vote for anything except PAP. Even if they have doubts about Desmond Lim and his SDA, they are encouraging people to vote for him and SDA just to vote out the incumbent party and Chee Hian.

What would be the contest in Pasir Ris be like assuming that it is status quo with no opposition party willing to step in to put up a 3 corner fight? Would it be opposition versus PAP or as some were rumouring, PAP Team A versus Team D?

There were comments that it is better to have a mole party than the PAP in Parliament and the voters should just blindly vote for Desmond Lim and the SDA.

Another angle to look at this battle will be to vote SDA in and to knock out Chee Hian and his team which may have office bearers or potential ministers in them. So, would the battle cry for Pasir Ris voters be to vote out Chee Hian and his team. This is equally a very significant loss to the PAP and would cost a very big upset in Hsien Loong’s cabinet. It would be unbelieveable but a very strong message that it is all over for the PAP. Actually if this were to happen, it is likely to be the same across the island with PAP suffering a serious defeat.

Chee Hian is a DPM and said what you like he is still a big chess piece in the PAP camp. And facing him is a no hoper party led by Desmond who managed only a few hundred votes in Punggol East by election and lost his deposit as well. This team is about the weakest the PAP can hope to face short of a walkover.

Losing Pasir Ris is as good as losing the whole game. Would there be so much discontent and cross over in Pasir Ris to deliver such a heavy blow to the PAP? Could a perceived D Team beat an A Team?

The Evil American Empire continues to provoke the North Koreans

It was reported that the Americans and South Koreans were conducting a large scale military exercise, the Ulchi Freedom, along the North Korean borders simulating an invasion of North Korea. The number of troops involved, 50,000 South Korean soldiers and 30,000 US soldiers. A military exercise of such a scale is hostile on all counts and the North Koreans had condemned it as ‘Such large scale joint military exercises…are little short of a declaration of a war.’ And the North Koreans are threatening to strike back.

And the silly pro American allies and nations would condemn the North Koreans for reacting and shaking their fists. How biased are the Americans and their allies not to condemn the American provocations but put the blame on the North Koreans as the hostile party? Such exercises are held regularly, several times a year, and are claimed to be peaceful, for defensive purposes.

Imagine if a neighbouring country is conducting such a big scale exercise against another country, with the target country be Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore or the USA, would it be acceptable?

The Evil Empire are doing it with impunity today. Their turn will come when they will be on the receiving end one day. What you throw out will come around. It always happened, only a matter of time.

The world must condemn the real provocateur of aggression, the Evil Empire, for provoking the North Koreans and other countries all over the world. The American people must rise to oppose their evil regime from starting wars every where. If they continue to do so, war will come to America, in American soil, to give the Americans a taste of their own medicine.

GE2015 – The abnormalities of the GE

Has anyone noticed something queer about this GE? Actually it did not happen only now but has happened since the last GE or earlier but getting more  conspicuous now.

The PAP is offering a slate of generals and police commissioners to serve the people. And this is on top of the nobilities and aristocracy that are already serving the people. Singaporeans are really so lucky. Do they know that nobles and aristocrats are brought up in an environment where they are being served from young by an army of servants, from ‘Ah Ma chays’ to drivers in tow? These are the natural aristocrats who came forward to serve the ordinary people, to take good care of the ordinary people, and have to smile and smile when meeting the people. Imagine the sacrifices, the humbling effect and the humility?

Now we have generals and police commissioners, the army and police chiefs coming forward to serve the ordinary people. Those NSmen must know what it is like in the army and the police, the life of an army general or a police commissioner. If you are a soldier or a police constable, you would be serving the generals and the commissioners. Now they are going to serve you, the NSmen, the soldiers and policemen who have to ‘tabeh’ and stand attention in their presence. The generals and commissioners are going to the markets, the hawker centres, they are going to knock at your doors to tell you they are going to serve you, with a big perpetual smiles on their faces. They cannot pull ranks now.

The soldiers and police constables will now be served by the generals and commissioners and the nobles and aristocrats. Singaporeans are really lucky and exceptionally blessed.

And the naughty soldiers and police constables could now act tough to the generals and the commissioners. Sir, you want my vote huh? Tell me why I should vote for you? Or drop 10 first then we talk.

Is this real? Is this a dream? Or would the soldiers and policemen have to stand attention and salute first at the Meet the People’s session when seeking assistance? Or would they be making unreasonable requests and making life difficult for the generals and commissioners?

Good intention, not dishonesty, only lapses

A little bird told me that AHPETC case was all good intention, no dishonesty, only lapses. And with the transparency, they have accepted all the auditor’s recommendations and the house is not collapsing. On the other hand, many organization’s houses are collapsing due to lack of transparency and bad intention and of course dishonesty. I thought this news sounds about right.

Then I read the media and found out that little bird was wrong. It was the other way. Does it mean that AHPETC does not have good intention and the lapses were not lapses? Or is it fair to throw wild allegations that maybe some money was lost? I said I trust all politicians and political parties. In this case I trust that the WP has not been dishonest and they have good intention to serve the people of Aljunied and Hougang. If they have been dishonesty or if they have committed any wrongs, I dare tell you they would have long been charged in court and be behind bars.

So I dare say that they are honest people and there is no dishonesty, maybe some lapses in the procedures due to being new to the job. And this is going to happen to any new party winning an election and would have to start anew to learn how to run town councils. Is this not a big flaw in the system, when such essential services are subject to lapses but with good intention after every GE? I think the idea of having MPs running town councils is very unsound. Tiok or not? As for the intention you judge yourself.

And to make matter worse, when a new town council takes over, all the surplus funds must be transferred to the reserves, which means they have to start with an empty cash box. So how to transfer to the Sinking Fund should there be a slight shortfall while other existing town councils could fall back on their accumulated surpluses to do so?

Is this one of the reasons why AHPETC is caught having problems transferring funds to the Sinking Fund? And to make things more difficult, their entitled govt grants also kena tangkat. How to transfer?

Fair or not?

GE2015 – The bitching over Tuck Yew

In an article in TRE titled, Low to DPM, be more civilized in political engagement, I quote,

‘Yesterday (16 Aug), WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang responded to DPM Teo Chee Hean’s accusations that he was shedding “crocodile tears” over the departure of Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew from the Cabinet.

Mr Low replied, “With due respect, if DPM wants to comment that way, let Singaporeans judge and see this is the standard of the PAP in politics.”….Do we want to be more civilized in our political engagement?

Still, yesterday, Mr Low put up a few good words for Mr Lui. Mr Low said, “I’ve known him for a number of years in Parliament. He’s down-to-earth and answers questions matter-of-factly and in detail, and it shows he’s hands-on … (and) prepared to work the ground. Neither does he attack or bully or intimidate the Opposition. I find him responsible and accountable. I appreciate that.”

Low Thia Khiang was responding to Chee Hian’s crocodile tears remark which he felt offended. I can understand why and why he said some kind words about Tuck Yew. In my blog, some commentators were also lashing out at Tuck Yew for the problems of the MRT and I had to intercede to prevent it from going out of hand.

Saying some kind things about Tuck Yew’s resignation is like many have said, an eulogy without the flowers. It is just not nice to make unkind remarks in a eulogy about the dead even if the dead deserved it. When someone is dead, it is only gracious to look at the good things of the man and ignore the bad stuff unless the man is really an incorrigible and evil man.

In the case of Tuck Yew, I too said something good about him without dwelling into this work or his failures in the MRT system. I think Low Thia Khiang too was in the same frame of mind, when someone is down, no need to rub it in or give him a kick.

I too am puzzled why Chee Hian would turn this into a political issue to score brownie points.  I taught everyone should take such kind comments in the right perspective unless Tuck Yew really is beyond redemption and saying good things about him is as good as ridiculing him. In that case, then the comments may not be well received. And rightly Low Thia Khiang felt offended and must reply to Chee Hian’s crocodile tears remark that I also find unnecessary.

Would this uncalled for bitching between the two men ends here or would it be raised to a higher level, at the political rallies? And poor Tuck Yew would be the centre of the bitching and the people be reminded of the MRT frequent breakdowns and his resignation. Talking about political football?

Enough or more to come?

Medical care when we were Third World

We are in the First World with an equally advanced medical care industry to match. We have the best medical professionals and the best medical facilities to take care of the sick. We could even extend lives by the quality of our medical professionals.

How far we have come from the days when we were in the Third World, when our medical services and facilities were a far cry from what we have today. But are we better off today than when we were in the past? I will just relate some personal experience to highlight the great differences between then and now for comparison.

In the 50s and 60s, medical care for the citizens was as good as free. Though they were not of the same quality as what we have today, there were good relative to the countries in the region and around the world. I was fortunate to be the recipient of generous dental care provided by the Institute of Health and without having to pay a cent for it, for fillings, extractions and dentures. Every week without failed, a gleaming coach would arrive at the primary school to fetch all the little children who needed dental treatment. A nurse would go from class to class to round up the children and bring them safely to the Institute of Health, not even have to pay for transportation. And the dental surgeons would be there waiting for us, to serve us.

The dental surgeons would plan our next appointments according to our dental needs, at their own initiative, happily without the children paying a cent. If they did not bother, none of the children would bother with the condition of their teeth and would not step near a dental clinic. The govt were the caring parents to the children, meticulously pandering to their dental needs with no concern about cost, about whether the children could afford to pay for them. The govt paid for everything. They did not plan for a long series of treatments for a syndicate to prowl on the poor patients like vultures on a wounded and hapless prey.

The people took care of their small illnesses and cough and colds. The public hospitals provided free medical services as well. Unbelieveable! For those who could afford to pay $15 or $20, a medical doctor would be on call and would drive himself to the homes of the sick, making house calls. If no injection is needed, the medical fee could be lesser, with medicine included.

The people were not underpaying the medical doctors then. With the $15 or $20 collected per patient, to cover medicine, consultation and transportation, the doctors still could live very well. Practically every one of them could afford to live in landed properties and making home visits in their Mercedes Benzes.

When my missus was conceiving our first child, I was then a young officer in the Air Force, I was entitled to A Class Ward in govt hospitals. And for pre natal consultations we had the services of the top gynaecologist in Senior Consultant Christopher Chen, plus delivery. And you would not believe this, everything was free then. I did not have to pay a cent for the regular monthly consultations and delivery of the baby, including meals in the hospitals.

And there was no need to make appointments months or years in advance. There were enough doctors and specialists for everyone. That was the kind of medical services we had then, when we were Third World. No need to buy medical insurance, no need to have medisave account, no need to have Medishield Life, no need to go bankrupt because of medical bills.

I am grateful to the kind of medical benefits that citizens enjoyed then, even as a junior officer in a ministry. Could not have asked for more, could not expect a more caring govt. There was no worry about medical care and affordability and no fear of falling sick. There was no mean testing. There was no one year or two year appointments in govt hospitals. The hospitals were there to serve the people, to make sure the people were healthy, the children were delivered at no cost or little cost for private patients to their happy parents. Come to think of it, those were the good old days, now gone forever.

Are we better off today?

GE2015 – A time to watch who is the devil and who is the saint

Funny to hear that every quarter or party in this coming election is calling for a level playing field, to contest the election in a gentlemanly way, no personal attacks, no hitting below the belt, no abuse of power or unfair advantage by virtue of position, no negative politics. Would we really see this happening?

The only thing that the people can do is to watch what the politicians are doing and saying and to call a spade a spade. The devils must be unmasked to show who they really are and not to allow them to deceive the innocent masses.

In this regard netizens can play a bigger role to expose them. When they talk nonsense, telling lies, distorting facts, etc etc, put a spotlight on them and show their hypocrisies. The social media is there to tell the truth and let the voters judge for themselves.

Silly politicians, opportunists, hypocrites and the wolves in sheepskin will be plenty and the netizens must seize the moment to hantam them.

This is the least netizens can do to help to balance the equation and make the election a fairer election for all parties.

Politicians must not think that the voters are stupid. Doing so will only make a mockery of themselves, to lose the hearts and minds of the people.

Do you trust the PAP?

Yes, yes, I trust the PAP. I also trust all politicians and all the political parties. But I will only vote for the PAP if the following changes are made.

1. Revoke CECA
2. Stop the high influx of foreigners, cap the population at 5.5m allowing organic growth from Singaporean births.
3. Return the Singaporean core and stop foreigners coming in to replace Singaporeans unless no Singaporean can do the job. Do not insult the abilities of Singaporeans and really believe Singaporeans are daft, not better than fakes and cheats.
4. Return my CPF at 55 and allow leaving money in the CPF after 55 on a voluntary basis.
5. The Medishield Life must not be a profit making scheme. Senior citizens should not be made to pay premiums after 65. The scheme should be modified to provide basic healthcare. Better provisions with higher premiums should be voluntary.
6. Stop spending billions or millions on foreign scholarships.
7. Stop destroying the Singaporean core in the university staff and in all industries.
8. Every Singaporean should be allowed to buy HDB flats with priorities given to NSmen.
9. Bring down the cost of living, housing, medical, transport etc
10. Half the ministerial pay.

Ok, no need to add more. 10 items of change will be enough for me to trust the PAP and vote for the PAP.  To trust anyone or party, it must come with positive actions not words and empty promises.

This is just my view. No need to agree with me.

GE2015 – Feeling cheated

Some residents of Pasir Ris GRC are complaining. They are not happy with the SDA contesting in their GRC against the PAP. During the hassling to avoid a 3 corner fight, the opposition parties had agreed to leave Pasir Ris GRC to the SDA led by Desmond Lim. They are angry because they would prefer a stronger party than the SDA. They would prefer SingFirst to stand in Pasir Ris instead. The performance of Desmond Lim in the Punggol East by election was dismal and has affected the image of the Party.  Some of the voters are really very unhappy to have to vote either for PAP or SDA. They are crying for a change, for a better opposition party to contest in Pasir Ris. They felt let down given the choice of voting for the two parties they both rejected.

How serious is this sentiment? By performance and record, SDA under Desmond Lim is indeed the weakest of all the opposition parties. To make matter worse, some are accusing Desmond Lim and SDA as a mole of the PAP. Of course this is not proven. Whether it is true or just an imagination, the unhappiness is there.

There is a cry to be better represented. The people of Pasir Ris want a better opposition party to represent them. Would the party chiefs of the opposition camp heed their plea and call for a review on the Pasir Ris GRC? Would ignoring the cries of the people of Pasir Ris lead to other negative consequences?

The leaders of the opposition parties may want to take a look at this unique development that the voters are rejecting both parties before an election. They may want to walk the ground and gauge the true feelings of the voters there. If there is a case for a change, they may want to do something when there is still time for it. They could put up a join team to replace the SDA or even allow the SingFirst to contest Pasir Ris and talk Desmond Lim and his SDA out of it, or even to ignore the SDA and go for a 3 corner fight.

How appealing is Desmond Lim and his SDA to the voters in Pasir Ris? Is this already a lost cause even before the election has started? How serious is the problem of fielding SDA in Pasir Ris? If it is indeed a gone case for SDA, the big chiefs in the opposition camp may want to do something to show to the people that the opposition camp will not let them down and would not let a good opportunity slips away by default.

Should anything be done about Pasir Ris GRC? Would Desmond Lim and his SDA talk to the people now and have a good feel of the ground and if it is indeed unfavourable, they may want to volunteer to stay out of the GE? Or would SDA put up a really strong team to convince the voters they are serious in representing them?

This is a very unusual development in a GE. There is a perception problem. And if it is that serious, it must not be ignored and let the Pasir Ris voters feel that they had been the sacrificial lamb for opposition unity.

What do you think?

Reform Party’s Dream Team for Ang Mo Kio

I saw a photo of M Ravi canvassing with Roy Ngerng and Kenneth at a hawker centre. And it was reported that Amos Yee was there as well. And so was Han Hui Hui. Kenneth has yet to announce his team but by it would be interesting if Roy and Ravi are  in the short list.

As I was rooting earlier for a combined team with SingFirst, the addition of Jee Say and Ang Yong Guan would make the team quite formidable. Now Reform Party is going to fight it all alone and for Jee Say to back out from the contest, I suspect Kenneth must have given him a peep into his cards and that could have impressed Jee Say to let Reform Party have a crack at Hsien Loong’s steamboat.

Other than Kenneth, Roy and Ravi, who would Kenneth field to strengthen his team? Would the controversial maverick in Amos Yee be added to make it more dramatic? Amos and Roy have their own pulls as victims of the system and could draw a lot of sympathy votes. Ravi as a human rights lawyer has a strong appeal among the young. Kenneth of course has been gaining more credibility with his outspoken pieces on the social ills.

Would the financial expertise of Leong Sze Hian give the team more ballast and weight? Or would Kenneth come up with another big catch to surprise everyone? A team comprising Kenneth, M Ravi, Roy, Leong Sze Hian, Amos Yee and probably Han Hui Hui or another big wig, would be a serious proposition for Ang Mo Kio GRC.  Controversial though, the mix is not a push over and has a lot of appeal to the voters .

Ang Mo Kio GRC is going to be closely watched and full of drama and surprises in this GE. The result is going to be very unpredictable. The sad part is that M Ravi has announced that he would not be using his $1m war chest as he would not be running. Leong is still very mum and not saying anything. And in the case of Amos, he is still underage and would not qualify to stand. There will be no Dream Team.

What is Kenneth’s game plan? He better comes up with a good team after Jee Say had graciously gave way to his Reform Party. If he is unable to present a good and credible choice to the voters, this would be his last call and no one would take him seriously anymore. He is given a chance to take Ang Mo Kio. If he can’t do a good job, the voters would be very disappointed with him and his Party. He would be blamed for spoiling the chance of SingFirst to put up a good fight. This is the least expected from Kenneth and not rising up to the challenge is inexcusable.

The ball is now in Kenneth’s court. Any opposition party that is given a chance to fight a straight battle but not putting up a decent team and expect the voters to blindly vote for them is a sign of naiveity and incompetence, and the voters are going to be very suspicious of their intent. They will not have a chance to be back in the next GE. They will be dumped for good. 

When the people are desperately looking for change, do not be a spoiler. You will not be forgiven.

Napoleon threw a birthday party

Napoleon led a revolution and chased away the angmoh farmer from his farm. He and his fellow animals took over the farm as theirs. Napoleon told his animal peers that they were the new owners and they should work hard as the fruits of their labour would go rightfully back to them. The cows, horses, goats, sheeps, chicken, ducks and the dogs were all excited by this new dream, as co owners of the farm. They worked day in and day out to improve the productivity of the farm. And the farm prospered. There was plenty of everything for everyone. And everyone was happy that they were working for themselves and for their own good.

That was many years ago. Napoleon had taken over the role of managing the farm with his fellow pigs. They were in charge. And they told the rest of the animals that they needed to work doubly hard to produce more, the farm was their farm, and they would share the fruits of their labour.

Napoleon celebrated his 50^th birthday. He threw a big party for all the animals in the farm. It was like Christmas time. Everything on the table was on the house, paid for by the farm’s income. And every animal was so happy and helped themselves with the food and drinks.

In the midst of the party the old horse looked around and asked, ‘Where are the turkeys?’ Their turkey friends were missing. Then someone whispered, ‘Look, look at the table….’ Before he could finish his sentence Napoleon voice was heard roaring from the stage. ‘Welcome everybody to my birthday party. I am so happy that you are all here. I can see you are all enjoying yourself and having a good time.’

The animals roared and clapped in approval and shouted, ‘Long live Napoleon. Long live our great leader.’

‘Ladies and gentlemen, allowed me the pleasure to introduce my relatives and their friends who have travelled far to be here to join me in this party.’ The animals clapped again. Only then that they realised that there were many pigs present that were not really the same as Napoleon. They looked different, but never mind since they were Napoleon’s friends and relatives.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, I am embarrassed. My friends and relatives are complaining to me that there were not enough turkeys to eat.’ The animals stared at the Napoleon and all the turkeys were gone. And they looked again at Napoleon’s friends and relatives and saw them struggling with pieces of turkeys in their mouths.

Napoleon continued. ‘My fellow citizens of the farm, we have run out of turkeys for my friends and relatives and they are not very happy. Can someone suggest what we should put on the table to make them feel welcomed? They like our farm very much and wanted to make it their home. We need to make them happy, we need to integrate them and make them one of us.’

‘Horse meat, horse meat,’ someone shouted. Another shouted ‘Dog meat, dog meat.’

Napoleon raised his hands. ‘No, my fellow citizens of the farm, we cannot have horse meat. They have worked very hard for the farm. They deserved to be retired and enjoy their sunset. As for dog meat, this is also a no, no. The dogs are very loyal and deserve better. They protect us and our farm.’

The animals nodded their heads in agreement. Napoleon was always so wise and had thought about everything and had always been looking ahead, about their future.

‘Fellow citizens of the farm, to make my friends and relatives feel good and welcomcd, and hopefully they will stay here with us to share our prosperity, I would like to suggest that we serve them with roast beef and lamp chops.’

‘What about roast pigs?’ Someone shouted from the back.

Napoleon shouted back in an angry voice, ‘Who said that?’ There was silence. ‘I warn you not to say that again. In this farm there will be no serving of roast pigs or anything related to pigs.’

The rest of the animals bowed their heads in silence. Their great leader had spoken. The cows, the sheep and the goats went back in tears. The turkeys did not enjoy the party. Their party was also coming to an end. And they could hear the dogs barking away in the distance of the night.

They dreaded when would be Napoleon’s next big party.

Chok Tong decides to stand for MP again

Chok Tong has announced that he would contest this election one more time for old time’s sake. He said he had a long discussion with Hsien Loong and Hsien Loong said he is needed for his experience. Hsien Loong’s assessment of Chok Tong is quite different from his father. Chok Tong is an asset to Hsien Loong, to provide the shade of a big banyan tree now that LKY is no longer around. The senior statesman fits the role like a glove. Maybe he would be promoted to MM after the election and moved in to the Istana to hold court for visiting dignitaries looking for the Oracle. Singapore would have another Eastern wise man residing in the Istana.

There was another view that in the long chat with Hsien Loong, they were negotiating whether he should or should not stand. Apparently Chok Tong came up on top with his wise arguments that he must be around to be the goalkeeper.  Chok Tong seems to be still very influential and thus his service is indispensable or Marine Parade could go to the WP. No matter what, after nearly 40 years in Marine Parade, he must have many admirers and fans that would vote for him. Asking him to stand down would mean these votes, mainly the dialect speaking oldies, could be won over by Ah Hia and vote for WP.

So, as much as Hsien Loong would like to have a new team of people younger than him, he could find no good reason to retire Chok Tong. Chok Tong’s star is still shining and would be given another chance to see his promise of a Swiss standard of living for the people coming true. As the most senior minister, he would have a lot of weight to want his passion to materialise just like his India Dream.

It is all green for Chok Tong now. It is now left to the voters to make his dream come true, maybe to out serve LKY as the longest serving politician in modern Singapore. He is only 74 and he could add another 16 years to his record.

If he is successful, historian could call it the Chok Tong era instead of post LKY era.

MOM telling Singaporeans it is working for Singaporeans

38 firms have been place on MOM’s watch list for not employing Singaporeans. Oops, the exact word is locals, which means PRs and Singaporeans.  What if they employed PRs that are not Singaporeans, ok right, treated as employing locals so no need to bother them. According to Swee Say, his ministry is talking to another 100 companies on the need to employ Singaporeans and application for Employment Passes will be closely monitored.

I hope this is not pre GE rhetoric and gerrymandering and more serious effort would be applied to enforce the need to employ Singaporeans first after the GE. Hope it would not turn into another nightmare after the GE when the current effort is reversed and everything back to normal, more foreigners, more EPs and more Singaporeans being replaced.

What is the point of allowing foreign companies to operate here to benefit from our good infrastructure, our system and to employ foreigners? Shouldn’t these companies be asked to go somewhere else if they are not providing jobs to Singaporeans.

And what is the purpose of employing foreign talents here to do local businesses with local clients? I can understand if the companies are operating and competing for businesses in the international environment and in foreign land. Didn’t some local HR Directors claimed that Singaporeans have better advantage in understanding the local market and business environment? Why is there a need to employ expensive foreigners to operate and function in the local environment?

MOM must start with govt linked companies, ask them to explain why they need to employ so many foreigners even in middle and lower management levels. If the GLCs did not see it a national duty to provide jobs to Singaporeans and think it is their duty to provide jobs for foreigners, then foreign MNCs will conveniently do the same.

I will like to see if Swee Say and the govt mean business and go after GLCs that are turning their organizations into foreign companies. The govt cannot be so blind not to see and not to know what is happening. It is anti Singaporean policies. Take the cue from Hsien Loong, who said he did not owe any responsibilities to the world to employ their citizens. His responsibility and his govt’s responsibility it to Singaporeans first. Not locals! Would this be a top priority govt policy or is this going to be just mere pre GE talks?

Show some sincerity and kick the butts of CEOs who think it is very clever and use it as an excuse to employ their country men to replace Singaporeans.

Swee Say, Singaporeans are all watching. GE is around the corner. Do something to show the Singaporeans that the govt is for Singaporeans, at least before the GE. Does Swee Say or the MOM believe the middle and lower middle management jobs cannot be filled by Singaporeans? Take a walk in Raffles Place and MBFC and get a real feel on the ground. Or make a trip to Changi Business Park. And open your eyes when you are there. The tolerance of Singaporeans is at breaking point.

What? Singaporean core? What is that? What about that CECA.

Japan – Is it so difficult to apologise?

The Japanese are retracting on their apologies for their invasion, colonization and war atrocities to the countries that fell victims and the millions killed and maimed by them. They are asking how many times they must say sorry for their hideous crimes against the people of Asia and the destruction of their countries that set them back for many decades in development.

The answer, for as long as the Japanese remember their war dead in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for as long as they find it important to visit Yasukuni Shrine to honour their dead soldiers that committed the crimes of invasion. These were criminals of wars, invading countries, bombing, burning, looting, killing, raping and committed all kinds of cruelties against other people. If the Japanese do not think it necessary to stop worshipping them and honouring them, why should they not continue to apologise to the countries and people that were victims of these criminals and the destruction and death they brought to them?

If Japan can honour the war criminals annually, if Japan can remember their dead due to the Atomic Bombs, why is it so difficult to apologise for their crimes against humanity? For how long should Japan apologise?

For as long as the people of these countries could feel the pain and humiliation caused by the Japanese. For as long as the Japanese continue to honour the criminals of these acts. For as long as the Japanese start to forget their evil deeds and cruelties against their neighbouring countries. For as long as it needs to remind the Japanese not to think it is acceptable to go to war again.

GE2015 – Vote what you think is right

Hsien Loong made a passionate plea that he did everything that is right for the good of Singaporeans. Singaporeans may disagree with his policies but he did it in all honesty, for the good of all Singaporeans.  The people may continue to disagree, continue to be angry with his govt’s policies, but what can the people expect of the govt? How can they expect the govt to reverse course, to do things they, as the govt, think is wrong, not right? The govt, in all honesty, can only do things that the govt thinks is right. Tiok bo?

I just cannot imagine the govt starting to do things the people want and knowing that what the people want is wrong. It cannot be. So, what would the govt do after the GE? Would it continue with all the right policies, like more foreigners, more scholarships for foreigners, more good jobs for foreigners, more CPF locked up, more Medishield Life, more affordable housing, more public transport and less car ownership, higher ministerial pay, signing of CECA and more FTAs….? These are the right policies, and must be the right policies, and the govt honestly and sincerely believe are the right things to do.

It is just like people believing in their religions and their Gods. Every believer sincerely and honestly believes in his God and religion as the truth, the right thing to believe. But being a democratic and multi religious country, we also believe that everyone has the right to believe in his God and religion. The believers may disagree with other believers but never mind, you follow what you want to believe and what you think is right.

The people cannot expect the govt to believe in what the people believe is right. The people can believe in their own rights and choose to vote the people and parties that share the kind of right things they believe in. The govt does not force you to believe in what it thinks are the right things to do. In a democratic system, if you don’t agree, just vote them out. But if you vote the current govt back to power, the govt will continue to do what it thinks is right. That must be the case.

So, what should the people do? There is no need to get angry just because what the govt thinks is right is not what you think is right. You can vote people or parties that agree with what you think is right. It is unimaginable for any political party to do the wrong things, to do things they think are wrong. The people must be reasonable and logical. The voters should go to the polling station and calmly vote for the party that shares their belief and their God, sharing what they think is right and what they think is not right. The people cannot force a govt thinking it is doing the right thing to do the wrong thing.

Vote for what you think is right. The govt is right to do what it thinks is right. You don’t have to agree. No need to be angry. Vote with your heart and your head, vote honestly for your own good, not what other people think is good for you, unless you think you are stupid and other people are smarter than you and know what is right and good for you.

Think very carefully in this GE. It is like its now or never.

Petition to revoke CECA

Revoke CECA  Click here to the Petition

I have just signed the petition. Every Singaporean must put his signature to this petition to revoke it. It is extremely harmful to Singaporeans and our future existence as a people and country.


Key highlights of the CECA:

ARTICLE 9.3: GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR GRANT OF TEMPORARY ENTRY

Movement of Natural Persons

Neither Party shall require labour market testing, economic needs testing or other procedures of similar effects as a condition for temporary entry in respect of natural persons upon whom the benefits of this Chapter are conferred.

The CECA enables Indian national PMETs no quota restriction on 127 highly skilled professions in Singapore and even granted spouses or dependants of these Indian nationals to work freely in Singapore.

The above two articles have very serious implications to Singaporean's competitiveness and employability and also to Singapore as a country.

And they are going to expand the CECA. Read more about it in TRE. Here is another quote from the same article,

News 2: More actions taken to enlarge CECA in 2015

Link: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-07-25/news/64850381_1_ceca-trade-potential-comprehensive-economic-co-operation-agreement

Negotiations on to upgrade CECA with India: Singapore

PTI Jul 25, 2015, 09.46PM IST
Singapore is keen to upgrade its existing Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement (CECA) as the East Asian country wants to be a ‘partner’ in economic development here.

“We want to be a partner in India’s economic growth. We want a strategic partnership to deepen bilateral economic and people to people relations,” K Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law of Singapore, said here today.


For your sake, for your children and grandchildren's sake, this is something you must do.

Redbean

Transport Ministry a high stress job

A former, Ho Kong Loon, wrote in Today paper saying that the Transport Minister worked tirelessly and deserves respite. I agree, seeing three Transport Ministers being bungled out of the job, this must be a very difficult job among all the ministries. And I don’t think any minister would dare to volunteer for this job. Would Boon Wan, the PAP magician and problem solver try to take this on? Or who would be the next poor minister to be assigned to this ministry after Lui?

Given that this is a difficult and troublesome job, I would like to offer a couple of suggestions to make this job more palatable. How about doubling the pay of this job? If this is not enough, raise it to the pay of the PM. That should make it worth while to risk career and reputable taking on this hazardous job.

You mean, raising the dignity not enough? How about raising the status with a fanciful job title like Emeritus Transport Minister? Or whoever given this job would concurrently hold the position of Dep PM? It is only fair that if a job is so difficult, it must deserve a just reward and recognition.

Come to the worst, rotate the job among the ministers. Everyone will sit on this hot seat for one year, then no one can hide in their cushy ministry and see the poor Transport Minister being hammered for doing a poor job that is not caused by him or for not working hard enough. This may be what they called work smart.

Ok, OK, my suggestions may be naïve, mediocre. As some clever people have suggested, split the jobs to smaller jobs to share around, to make the job easier. How can everyone be paid millions and some got easy jobs and some got to take on so difficult job? Not fair right?

What do you think?

Branding to win an election

Associate Professor Ang Swee Hoon wrote a piece in the Today paper on 12 Aug 15 titled ‘Of branding and relationship building’ with a subheading, ‘What marketing can teach political parties about winning votes’. Branding is important, and rightly PAP is the brand, the most recognizable and highest rated brand for the last few decades. WP is coming up and looking very good and credible.

PAP has been priming the brand to win votes for as many GE as there is to be counted in the island’s history. They had done well. The question today is whether the brand can continue to shine and to attract the votes it used to do or has it started to jade?

The other big question is that a brand is just a brand. If there is no substance, a brand can only hold on for that long. Nokia was the brand but no more. IBM and HP used to be the brand but no more. The PAP was the brand and delivered in the past. The barrage of yesterday’s news on TV is testament to the power and glory of PAP’s past achievements. Could the past glories of PAP be a factor to persuade the voters of today that PAP is a party for today and for the future?

In its heydays, putting a PAP badge on a dog would also get the dog elected. Has this changed?  In cyberspace, it is looking the other extreme. If that is true, the PAP brand is in for a beating in this GE.

What is the standing of the PAP brand today?  Has it lived up to its past records of uplifting the lives of the people and as Hsien Loong said, everyone is better off today under the PAP?  If PAP is still the brand, it will have no problem returning to power after the next GE. Or is it a brand on the wane, a brand of yesterday?