Mahathir trying to influence Duterte against influx of foreigners

Mahathir went to the Philippines to teach Duterte to such eggs, warning ‘the Philippines against letting in foreigners who could “disturb” the country’s domestic political stability’ in view of the influx of Chinese workers.  During an interview this is what Mahathir said, ‘Foreign direct investment should not involve brining huge numbers of foreigners to live in the country, because that might disturb the political equations in the country,…If huge numbers of any foreigners (come) to live and stay in the country…you have to do some rethinking as to whether it is good or bad, of the limits that you have to impose on them.’

Duterte has different considerations based on the Philippines own situation. Last month Duterte said that ‘Chinese workers should be allowed to continue staying in the country as Beijing also hosted hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.’ This kind of reciprocity is not in the thinking of Mahathir. To Mahathir it is one way, can only benefit Malaysia and not the other party, like China pouring money into Malaysia but must be according to Malaysia’s term and interest and China must be the Santa Claus. Duterte sees it differently, win win for both parties.

Why doesn’t Mahathir share his warning with the Singapore govt but only to the Philippines? Singapore would likely show him the middle finger, other than telling him to mind his own business, not to influence Singapore's policy making, Singapore would tell him that the more foreigners the better, and Singapore woud be most happy to give citizenships to foreigners, not just staying and working here. Mahathir probably did not know that Singapore is now not a country but a hotel for everyone who wants to be here. Everyone can come here and own Singapore, no problem. A hotel is not a country and has no misgivings about losing a country to foreigners. Singapore is happy to share this piece of rock with anyone that comes here to work. Citizens are now called locals, just like the foreigners living here as PRs, NOT citizens. In fact citizen is a bad word, 'local' is the new favoured word for those living in the island.

This is a new model of state corporation, not nationhood, except that it has not been officially spoken in this way. All the sensitivities and things like disturbing the political equations in the country are none issues here. Singapore does not see any problem with changing the political equation or demography of the country.  There is no race issue here, everyone is Singaporean. Any race can become the majority and become the Prime Minister or President. Singapore can be taken over by any race, no problem. 

This is better than the theory of black cat or white cat as long as it can catch mice it is a good cat. I am waiting for our political leaders to utter this great catch phrase as the new Singapore slogan to the locals. Singapore simply loves to have foreigners, the more the merrier, wildlife also can.

Wildlife attacked 77 year old man in nursing home

A 77 year old man with dementia was punched up several times by a wildlife, Bernardo JR Perdido Ramos, 36, when the latter knocked into his bed accidentally. The older man sat up from his bed and asked who had disturbed him. It was reported in the ST that Ramos replied, ‘Why? Me!’ ‘The older man responded by hitting Ramos once on his chest and Ramos retaliated by punching the man ‘four or fives times on the face’.’ After another nursing assistant intervened, Ramos hit the old man at least one more time as reported.
 
Oops, I used the wrong phrase again. It should be foreign talent attacked 77 year old man in nursing home. These wildlife aka foreign talents are very nice people, really. It is so surprising that this one was so fierce, not hiding his wild character and hitting a 77 year old man to show off his brutality.
 
The court gave this wildlife 12 weeks of jail sentence for hitting ‘a vulnerable victim with severe dementia and Ramos had abused the trust placed him as a nurse’. I am just wondering whether the sentence is too harsh for such a nice wild animal that discredited the good name and profession of nursing. I am also wondering how many such nice wildlife are hiding in nursing homes and yet to shower their basic animal instinct on the patients. Come to think of it, if there are such wildlife in nursing homes, nursing homes can be a very dangerous place for their patients.
 
Would they do more screening, with more cameras to monitor the wildlife in the name of safety for the patients? Just because a person puts on a uniform be it a nursing uniform or a security guard, it is not automatic that that person is a changed person, becoming a nurse or a security guard as expected of the uniform. We must also accept the fact that it is very difficult to verify the character and nature of the wildlife as they came from places that made verification difficult. It is something that we have to live with if we want to welcome more wildlife here as if they are indispensable to our life and economic well being. Suffer a bit at the hands of the wildlife is tolerable, bearable. Let it be, never mind, we need more wildlife to help us. No need rethinking.

MD said he did not need remisiers to trade

Waleed A Hanafi, a MD of Aleviatec, wrote to Business Times that he needed to contribute a rebuttal to an article in Hock Lock Siew praying that DBS would be third time lucky to get it right in its disruptive model in share trading. He claimed that he did not need the services of a remisier to trade as he could do it himself simply and happily.
 
I also cannot tahan him and must also contribute my rebuttal to his rebuttal. If only every employee has a title like MD of a company or equivalent, he can trade for all he wants in his office, using office time and computers and watching the share movement without a care. No one would be there to tell the MD that he cannot use office time to monitor and trade in shares. I am not sure how he would view his employees doing the same during office hours. Would he be giving them the marching order out of his office?
 
Incidentally, how many employees are so fortunate to have a boss, a MD that would not mind if they switch on their computers to monitor and trade shares in the office, during office hours? Or how many employees would have to look over their shoulders if they want to take a peep at the share market or make a trade, or be sneaking around to a dark corner, or to do it in the toilet, not to be seen?
 
There is a place for online trading without the need for the service of a remisier. There is also a place for the service of remisiers for traders that are in a different position. My big traders would not have the time to waste to switch on a computer just to make a trade or the time to monitor the market. And some of them are busy travelling and doing business all over the world. They find the services of a remisier very useful and convenient to their lifestyle and busy schedule.
 
Oh, for the retirees or those in the jobless statistics and have all the time in the world staying at home and sitting in front of their computers, I fully agree that online trading is the most appropriate past time for them. Save a lot of commission and can trade at their own sweet time. For those who did not have the pleasure of staying at home or holding the position of MDs or CEOs, let me be very diplomatic, they would know best whether they need or do not need a remisier that is only a phone call away, to check on their stocks and to execute a trade, without the bosses breathing down their necks, and not having to sneak around to find a safe place to switch on their mobile or PC to peep at the share market.
 
Not everyone is a MD for sure, who could do as he pleases in his own office, not only trading stocks, even practicing putting or having a really good time as and when he likes it. It is the privilege of the position.
 
Oh, I have a personal question to this Waleed. Is this Aleviatec your own company or your father’s company? I would not be wrong to say that you are not an employed MD. If it is, you would not be bragging in public about trading shares during office hours. Your Chairman and board of directors and shareholders would be speaking to you in the next board meeting or AGM.
 
My friendly advice to those that do not hold the title of a MD not to do what a MD do in the office, like trading stocks. In this case, do not follow the leader if you want your job.
 
As for those who could not trade online during office hours, you would be like calling a Call Centre to make a trade. And the party on the line, you would not know who or whether it is a robot or human bean, would be asking you about the name of your mother or girlfriend to authenticate that you are who you are before taking your order. They would not entertain you with stock prices or stock news like a remisier.
 
By the way, how many people would be comfortable placing a $50k or $100k order to a stranger like ordering a pizza on the phone? And would you be comfortable and confident that the trade is done even after the stranger told you so? That would be the new model of trading by phone, calling a Call Centre to trade unlike calling someone you know and trusted on the phone to execute a trade.

A Singaporean genius in our midst

Brochez was just an unfortunate scapegoat among the millions that have come to our shore to test their intelligence against the daft Singaporeans and was caught. With every Brochez there are hundreds of thousands out there that are still happily employed by the daft to work here and be paid handsomely to do jobs they are not qualified to do. But never mind, in Singapore’s new culture encouraged by the top leaders, no need qualifications, can do the job would be good enough to be employed. Fakes, fake certificates, well, not really an issue as long as you are clever enough to fake it real good. Even if you are caught, they would find excuses to excuse you for cheating.
 
Singapore knows that this is the Achilles Heel but is willing to live with it. If not they would have taken serious measures to stop the big gap, like the gap between two outstretched legs. This is the new normal in Singapore, all foreigners that claimed themselves to be talented and can cheat, and lie and fake would be welcomed with open arms with good jobs to replace the daft Singaporeans aka PMETs. Cheating with fake certificates and credentials are par on course for foreigners here.
 
The geniuses, aka the cheats and fakes, used to be foreigners. Today we have a Singaporean, yes a Singaporean that had got away with engineering jobs in 38 firms with forged engineering certificates when his highest standard passed is PSLE. If this is not a genius, what else is? And think of all the daft armed with degrees from world best universities could be conned by a PSLE graduate cum laude, is something that Singapore can crow about and be proud of. Obviously this Singaporean genius passed with flying colours during the numerous interviews with our highly qualified engineers, proving that he was indeed a civil engineer with wide experience for the jobs. Oh, I nearly forget, he claimed to have a certificate for First Class Civil Engineering from NUS! I think it is this certificate, first class and from NUS that must have really impressed the interviewers.
 
Now that he is caught and charged, all he got was 2 years 11 months jail. Maybe the heavy jail sentence was because he is a Singaporean. What message would the 2 years 11 months be sending out? This must be most encouraging news for the fakes and cheats of the world to come here to try their luck to outwit the daft Singaporeans. Cheating, faking certificates or forging certificates are not serious crimes. And the trade off for this little risk are free food and lodging and free medical care in the biggest landed property in Changi instead of good jobs that could pay $9,000 pm. This is what this genius Chin Ming Lik was paid by some of the 38 companies he worked in.
 
This guy is so brilliant, must respect him for impressing the daft and highly qualified graduates and employers. His name must be engraved in the Hall of Fame of the Cheats, Fakes and Liars. Going forward he should apply for engineering jobs but declared that he has no qualification but can do the job of civil engineers. And with his record of working in 38 companies, that would be enough proof that without an engineering degree he is just as good as any engineer. Get it?

Singaporean core

Strong core of Singaporean academics needed to ask ‘critical questions’: NMP
 
“Singaporeans must be in charge of asking the critical questions about who we are, what the problems in society are, and how to solve them. We have always said that no one owes us a living. But no one owes us an answer either, about the key questions of our society and economy," said Associate Professor Walter Theseira. Today paper
 
What did Walter Theseira mean by this? Singaporeans must be in charge and asking critical questions about who we are, what the problems in our society and how to solve them?
 
Look around you will know that many foreigners are in charge in the govt and in govt linked companies. And when they asked critical questions or tried to solve our problems would they be thinking about the interest of Singaporeans or about their comrades in their homeland, especially for the new citizens? How many of these foreigners turned new citizens are using the power given to them to hire more and more of their former countrymen to replace Singaporeans? Are they solving Singapore’s problems or the problems of their former countries?
 
What about asking critical questions? Look at the editorial pages, the supposedly important pages that dealt with serious issues, domestic and foreign news, and who were the writers, Singaporeans or foreigners with their biased and mischievous agenda and thoughts that may be actually undermining the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans. Yes, they are foreign agents trying to influence our minds and policies and paid knowingly or unknowingly by Singapore to influence Singaporeans and even govt policies.
 
Why must the serious pages of our main media be written by foreigners with their agenda that may not be to our national interests? No one owes us a living, would these foreigners think they owe it to us to think in our interest? We don’t owe these foreigners a living to pay them to write and think for us. And looking at their biased views, and often western tainted views or propaganda, it is money wasted that could be put to better use paying our Singaporeans to write and think for us. Though many Singaporean writers may still be young and lack the depth, if we don’t give them the opportunity, how are they going to earn their spurs?
 
This is like the banking industries, if we don’t give Singaporeans the chance to be CEOs and keep on giving such chances to foreigners, how are Singaporeans to be CEOs of our local banks? Give foreigners Singapore citizens to call them Singaporeans is a farce, a sell out of Singaporean interests.
 
Theseira has a very serious point to make. Singaporeans must think for ourselves and not allow foreigners to think for us. Singaporeans must be in charge, not fake Singaporeans, not instant Singaporeans whose loyalty is questionable.

Moon landing - A picture does not lie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCwEfBMiXJY

Watch this video of the first interview of the 3 astronauts that supposedly landed on the moon in June 1969. The commentary then was that they saw something strange on the moon, speculated that they saw aliens. Thus they were still in a state of shock, and did not know what to say and were not

in a state of excitement or jubilation that they had done something so great and important in their lives and for mankind. During the interview they looked so lost, uncertain, afraid of saying the wrong things, afraid of telling lies. Their facial expressions were that of 3 grown men made to tell lies in front of the camera and they were obviously very uncomfortable. According to the commentator, they were solemn, depressed and disturbed. Why?

This was what Aldrin said. 'what this country set out to do was something going to be done sooner or later...' What did he meant by going to be done sooner or later? He was vague and trying not to be specific.

Collins said this was the first time that man had the option of walking on this planet or other planet. Another diversionary statement from landing on the moon.

And Armstrong, he was not sure what to say and hesitantly said, 'It was...the beginning of... a new age...' Just look at his expression and the expression of all 3 astronauts and put them into context, that they did not go to the moon and was put in front of the camera to tell the nation and the world that they were really on the moon. That was more likely the truth than seeing aliens and that they were so disturbed and no longer felt that they had achieved a great feat for mankind. They did not look so like men who had achieved something great. The 'truth' or lie was all over their faces. They were ashamed of themselves having to tell lies in front of the camera.

Compare to the expression of someone who won an Oscar, or won the American Got Talent or a big race, these were faces of losers, of men made to tell lies. Their conscience were written all over their faces. They looked so sad and unhappy with what was going on. Anyone who did something wonderful, won a race etc etc would be full of joy, pride and jubilation written all over their faces. Not these 3 men 'that just returned from the moon'. There was no pride in them.

Go look carefully at the 3 minute video clip again and ask yourself what were written on their faces, what were in their minds? Why were they looking so sheepish and awkward?

And after the Americans claimed to be on the moon 7 or 8 times, there was no announcement of the Russians going to the moon successfully. But the Americans created another hoax, that they found a Russian moon capsule on the moon and a cosmonauts was found dead outside the capsule in a crater. And for some reason, the cosmonaut had removed his protective headgear that was found a distance away from his dead body. Why would the cosmonaut removed his headgear that would kill him instantly. And the best part, the Russians did not know or reported of this space landing.

The best the Russians did was a space walk and setting up the International Space Station. The Russians were ahead of the Americans in everything about space exploration, but lost out because they never landed on the moon. They even built space station and helped the Americans who claimed to have landed on the moon many times but have no functional and safe rockets to take Americans to the International Space Station.  Nothing odd about this?  

How many of you still believe in the American moon landing? Last year the Russians were trying to send a probe to the moon to verify if the Americans were really there. But this experiment has yet to be conducted.

PS.
In a 2015 article published in the Russian newspaper Izvestia, a spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin, called for an international probe into the disappearance of film footage from the famous 1969 event, while querying the whereabouts of lunar rock samples collected by NASA up until 1972.

"We are not contending that they did not fly [to the Moon], and simply made a film about it," Markin wrote.

"But all of these scientific – or perhaps cultural – artefacts are part of the legacy of humanity, and their disappearance without a trace is our common loss. An investigation will reveal what happened."

Quote from Science Alert.

Budget debate or talking for the sake of talking?

The Budget debate in Parliament just came to a close. As usual, some millionaires that were pricked by theirconscience tried to speak out for the poorer Singaporeans, asking the govt to spend more to make their lives a bit more bearable. But on the other side, some rich millionaires would parrot the perpetual position, cannot anyhow draw down on the reserves, wait reserves not enough big big trouble. Must protect the reserves to make sure got enough, and must keep on building more reserves.

Anyone see anything wrong with such statements by the cockeyed cocks in Parliament? It is easy to crow about these motherhood statements. Whatweis the point when the cocks are blind? Do the cocks know what they were crowing about? Do they know how much is the reserves? How many of you think the cocks know how much is in the reserves, or maybe they know the reserves is quite empty or nearly empty?

Does anyone know how much money is there in the reserves? Does the President know how much is in the reserves? I think we all know that President Ong Teng Cheong did not know. Does President Halimah know? As for her predecessors, did they bother to want to know?

Now, if the President is unlikely to know, do the ministers or cock MPs know? I bet they did not know. How many agree or disagree with me on this?

Ok, if one does not know how much is in the reserves, how could one be talking about drawing down too much or whether there is enough or not enough in the reserves? Maybe the reserves is already empty. Or maybe the reserves is so huge that it could last forever! The point I am making is that if one does not know, it is better to shut up and stop talking cock.

By the way, how much of our reserves is needed for it to be enough? Is there a definition or a formula. or is it just gasak butak, don't need to know what is enough, just keep adding and adding and adding, never enough? Just what is wrong with collecting more money, what is wrong with keep on adding more to the reserves? Saying this cannot be wrong, like holding the people's CPF on the allegation that they would spent all on Batam trips.

Listen already cannot tahan. Like shadow boxing. How much is really there in he reserves, how much is enough?

SpaceX testing module to carry man to space

This is big news in the USA, and NASA is celebrating and hoping that this would be successful. And if so, the Americans could send man to space again, oops not again but for the first time. The SpaceX company, a private company, has successfully launched a rocket to space with a capsule containing a rubber man inside to test if it can carry man safely to space. NASA has given up all hopes of developing a  rocket that can send man to space safely without blowing up in mid air.

Wait a minute,  were we not told that the Americans went to the moon many time 50 or 60 years ago using their rockets? Why are they hoping that a private company can do it successfully for them today? Did they do it, done it before? Or they did not, they bluffed the whole wide world that they did it? Oh, they lost their technology and the notes and now dunno how to do it any more. Really ah?

For the last 4 or  5 decades the Americans have sheepishly been hitching a ride on Russian rockets to the International Space Station when they could not do so on their own. And these selfish and devious Americans even told the Russians not to allow the Chinese to go to the ISS. And quietly, after so many decades of inability, lack of ability, no talent, degenerating intelligence, they finally accepted the fate that they could not develop the know how of a safe rocket to space, they even closed down NASA without fanfare.

Now private companies are trying to do what the Americans, NASA could not do and they are praying that these private companies could be successful and allow them the bragging rights to shout, 'China stealing our technology', and of course, for the first time, to send men to space in their own rockets and come back alive,

The hard truth is finally out. The Americans did not have workable rocket and space technology to send men to space, how could they ever reach the moon and back? The moon landings were all hoaxes. What more do you need to call a hoax a hoax?

The Americans can no longer bluff about how superior is their space technology. The probes to Mars and the pictures from Mars could be hoaxes as well. Can't even go to the moon, can go to Mars?

CPF - The ire and fury of the people

• old man:

  February 1, 2019 at 9:43 am  (Quote)

  We remember thees PAP MPs and don’t vote them in including all other PAP MPs. Time for us to fight back with our votes.

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• Please read::

  February 1, 2019 at 9:46 am  (Quote)

  Something i found on ‘the independentsingapore’site.
  Totally opposite is happening with this present gov.
  http://theindependent.sg/lee-kuan-yew-wrote-the-only-answer-against-a-bad-government-that-refuses-to-be-voted-out-of-office-is-armed-revolution-in-1969-letter-to-veteran-architect/

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• oxygen:

  February 1, 2019 at 10:15 am  (Quote)

  MANY PAST THE AGE OF 70 are physically incapacitated to varying degrees – what is the use of returning their money to them past that age by installment under false pretense of nanny-look-after-the-kid hypocrisy that they would splurge all in Batam? So ladies cougar go to Bali and buy toy-boy for sex too?
  I HAVE COMPELLING APPREHENSION THAT THE PUBLIC MINDS quite justifiably, THINK CPF SCHEME IS A FRAUD. And this is not far from law and reality. Both in statutory and common law applications, there is NO SUCH A THING AS TRUSTEESHIP TO MORTALITY. You might as well tells us that your money is confiscated for undisclosed needs elsewhere (a secret of national interest confidentiality again or it is not in our interest to tell you???) bullsh*t.
  If the contrary is true, then fund management is the most lucrative business. Anyone with a licence to operate investment banking can solicit for public money, and once in the receipt of possession, then change the rule that investors CANNOT SELL OUT AND WITHDRAW THEIR MONEY until mortality hits. The offending investment bank as a legal entity exists in perpetuity – IT THEREFORE INHERITS PUBLIC MONEY SOLICITED AND OBTAINED IN CIRCUMSTANCES OF DECEIT AND LEGALISED FRAUD and keeps it as its own.
  IS THAT LAW OR INVESTMENT BANKING OR BOTH – if it is allowed to incubate to this degree of absurdity?
  
  
  

  Bastards Need To Be Cursed:

  February 1, 2019 at 12:08 pm  (Quote)

  These three bastards need to be cursed by all the other CPF members, especially those who want their money back from the Ah Long as early as possible.

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  We not suipid:

  February 1, 2019 at 12:14 pm  (Quote)

  Pap MPs may not get million dollars as politicians, but most of them hold well paying jobs or very profitable businesses. Their combined remuneration would be in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Impossible for them to understand and empathize with the common man who needs his CPF to live because his earning power has diminished with age.
  
  
  

  LIONS:

  February 1, 2019 at 10:38 pm  (Quote)

  . it is therefore .. rather automatic drawdown at 65 .. let old folk has a choice sounds logical .. afterall, many older folks believe they could live till 90 and beyond ..
  ==========================================================================
  90 N BEYOND?
  MEDICAL COSTS WILL KILL YOU BEFORE YOU REACH 80?
  ANYWAYS,by which time,they cannot enjoy themselves in ‘BATAM’?
  Most will be POPPING MEDICINE/PILLS instead of chewing a great steak?
  dont be fooled by the uncaring gahmen who care only for themselves???
  
  
  

  Biggest scam in SG:

  February 1, 2019 at 9:58 pm  (Quote)

  Dear Simon,
  We trublus are all equally fuming with anger.
  Like many have imagined and voiced out , i too feel something bad had gone wrong with the reserves…
  ..and President HY cant talk…already billued n silenced by her boss and mil$ salary.
  She forgotten she took an oath.

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  LIONS:

  February 1, 2019 at 10:02 pm  (Quote)

  do the gahmen really care about ensuring our CPF is safe for our retirement?
  i say bullshits!
  they just want to ensure that older sgs n others are able to PAY THEM as and when due so like THE RUNAWAY MEDICAL FEES AT GOVT HOSPITALS?
  THIS GOVT IS TOTAL CRAP.
  it is only worried about its gang-member$ and that is clear to all.
  
  
  
  
  

  CPF is kosong already:

  February 1, 2019 at 6:15 pm  (Quote)

  those pap MPs are not in clown pap inner circle so for them to talk as if they know the truth is nothing but fake news.
  even our esteemed Mr Ong TC did not know how much is pap kitty even though he was the President.
  from normal human behaviour, as long as someone delays in repaying us our OWN money, it is not wrong to say that someone has already spent our money and is in difficult to repay us so come out with all manner of lies BS fake news to delay returning to us our OWN money.
  it is not wrong to say our OWN money has been squandered by the pap fools in gic temasick. these pap fools are proven to be spending dollars reaping cents. no need Cambridge economics degree also know CPF is kosong already.
  
  
  The above are comments in a post titled, 'The betrayer of CPF members', posted in the TRE by Simon Lim.
  
  As more and more seniors reached the ripe age of 65 and beyond, more would realise that every day is a bonus and it is pure stupidity to think that they could live for many more years and to deny them their hard earned life savings is a very cruel thing to do, and UNACCEPTABLE.
  
  They are very angry and would throw their votes for the opposition. From the sample comments above you can feel their anger in their bones.
  
  Temperature rising, Dad's Army furious and want their CPF money back! This is like the charge of the White Hair Brigade.  Stop scheming, when they scheme you scream.

Retrenchment of DBS remisiers – The Story continues

The pitch for DBS remisiers to join other broking houses has gone up another level. Red carpets, refreshment, wines and generous hospitality came with offers to bring every DBS remisiers into their folds are a great contrast to the way DBS so casually wanted to retrench all its remisiers, offering

those that they found suitable, with good job fits, subject to market practices on retirement age, jobs they have not done for the past 20 or 30 years. Remisiers being offered new jobs would likely be treated like fresh graduates entering the job market. DBS has circulated a list of job vacancies and many remisiers found themselves out of circulation due to the qualifications needed. Needless to say, the older remisiers would be out of contention because of age. Some of the offers by the broking houses are just too good to resist and made the remisiers feel so wanted.

The remisiers have been with DBS for a very long time and DBS is home. Many have grown very fond of DBS and would not want to move to another broking house. Many would want to be with DBS till they are no longer contributing positively to the DBS bottom line when they have to part company with DBS unwillingly.

The remisiers are asking for a meeting with Piyush Gupta to discuss whether this restructuring could be modified and the remisiers could still stay with the DBS family and continue with their trade. The objective of the meeting is to seek an amiable settlement with both sides looking good, comfortable and honourable, with little acrimony after the retrenchment exercise. 

If this is not possible and does not fit into DBS’s plans for the future, maybe, in recognition of their long service and their contribution to DBS’s revenue in the past and present, and also for taking over their client base and the business developed over the years, DBS may think it is appropriate and fair to want to consider offering some kind of compensation to them.

The contribution of remisiers may be small today relative to DBS’s huge profits of billions every quarter, but still substantial. On the average, each remisier could have contributed at least a million or more to DBS revenue, easily more than $400m in total in the last 20 or 30 years. And this is all without taking a single cent from DBS as salary, no staff benefits, no annual leave, no staff insurance, welfare etc etc.

The client base and business conscientiously and tirelessly developed by the remisiers over the years cannot be worthless, unappreciated and NOT compensated. There is value in the client base and business. All the broking houses are eyeing DBS remisiers with great anticipation. Is it fair banking practice for DBS not to compensate the remisiers when taking over their client base and their business?

Would DBS live up to its reputation as a good employer, the best employer, a caring employer, and in all fairness, offer a compensation package to the remisiers due to this unilateral decision by the bank in the interest of the bank?

At the moment, other than the offer of trying to find employment for some younger remisiers, subject to job fit, DBS is not talking about any other form of compensation, just bye bye to the remisiers and wish them all the best in a new journey to nowhere. Some of the remisiers may have to call it a day. Some, if not able to find alternative employment or offers from other broking houses, may face joblessness, premature retirement, and even financial difficulties if they have families and children to look after.

The ball is now in the DBS’s court. Would DBS be so cold, heartless, mean and calculative to retrench all the remisiers that have contributed so much and for so many years to DBS with nothing but fresh air?  Did DBS remember that during hard times, when they needed remisiers, they paid remisiers to join DBS? DBS even paid the big remisiers just to retain them and not to join other broking houses. Now that the stock trading business is not desirable by DBS, is it fair for DBS to wipe its hands clean and tell the remisiers to go under the excuse of restructuring?

On another note, this retrenchment exercise would contribute to the unemployment statistics of PMEs when it is totally unnecessary but because DBS has a new business model that it claims does not need remisiers.

Is DBS a good employer, caring employer, the best employer? Is DBS a fair and honourable business partner? These questions would be answered by how DBS treats the remisiers that are in the process of being retrenched.

Would there be an amicable settlement with DBS and with the remisiers parting company with good feelings for DBS and goodwill, and with DBS living up to its reputation as a great and responsible company, a good business partner and a good  employer?

To be continued.

Why need two ministers in one ministry?

'Singapore has a strange system. PM Lee appoints two minister to run one ministry and one minister to run two ministries.
For example, Josephine Teo is minister for manpower and second minister of home affairs. Lawrence Wong is minister for national development and second minister for finance.
Why is there a need to have this system?'

Tan Kin Lian posted an article in TRE with the above comments and asking why the need for such a system. Singapore being such a small country, the obvious observation is that the job is too small for a minister, not two plus ministers of states and parliamentary secretaries to make it full house.

Let me try to answer Tan Kin Lian so that he can sleep in peace.

One possible reason, contrary to what I said above, the job is soooo BIG, so naturally you would need two ministers to handle it. On the contrary, the job of a minister may be so senang, so got a lot of spare time to take on more jobs, like minister of another ministry.

Another reason, the ministers are incompetent, so need two to do the job of one to help each other out.

Third possible reason, too many people need to be paid in the millions, so must become ministers and to make it like they work really hard, have appointments in two ministries, to justify the millions being paid. Maybe on this they should emphasis that instead of working 8 hours they worked 16 hours or double of what a minister normally does because now they have two jobs, two minister's jobs, not ordinary jobs.

Another possible reason, it makes going on leave easier since there is another one around to cover the duty.

Maybe they are being prudent, in case, just in case. Being a minister is a high risk job, can fall down during walkabout and get hurt. Or they are just playing it safe in case one cannot perform then the second minister can take over.

Apologies, that is all I could think of. I do not know why they need to have two ministers in a ministry.

What do you think?

The death and rebirth of UMNO

UMNO suffered a shocking and humiliating defeat in the 2018 GE for its decades of extremist policies against the minority races, basking on the agenda of Malay superiority and self indulgence in the wealth of the country with corruption of every kind to benefit the UMNO leaders. It is a credit to UMNO to have ruled Malaysia in such an abusive way for so long without being challenged until 2018. Even on the eve of the GE, they continued to believe in their racist cards to rule Malaysia with the support of the Malays. This turned very ugly when the results were out. UMNO was badly defeated.

The death bell of UMNO is vibrating throughout Malaysia. UMNO leaders too seen this as the end and many switched camp or turned away from UMNO. It was the end. The bankrupt political ideas of UMNO's racist policies could not go on forever. There is no way for UMNO but to become history.

Who would expect UMNO to return to power again? At best it would remain a strong but irrelevant and antiquated opposition party with no new ideas to make Malaysia a better and richer nation. But the latest development in Malaysia is giving hope for a new UMNO in different guise, but still every inch UMNO.

The key player of UMNO, for having been in power for so long is none other than Mahathir. Mahathir returned to power by winning only 13 seats in his newly formed Bersatu Party. It is unbelieveable and near possible to ride on such a small party to power, to become PM once again. He did. How is this related to the death and revival of UMNO?

The lost sheep of UMNO has no where else to go but flocked to the old shepherd that once led them, in Mahathir. 7 UMNO members have just joined the fold of Bersatu in Pakatan Harapan. This is the opening of the flood gate. Other UMNO members may quickly join the flow and there are about 70 of them still kicking and walking and waiting to come in. If 40 or more of the UMNO furniture decided to join Mahathir, his Bersatu would have more than 60 MPs against PKR's 47 and DAP's 42. All it needs is for a few of PKR's to switch camp and a new majority UMNO would be reborn in the name of Bersatu, the same personalities, the same policies, the same thinking, the same agenda as the dysfunctional UMNO.

When this happens, UMNO will rise again to be the ruling party of Malaysia, and history will restart a new cycle from square one. Nothing will change except in name. Mahathir still in charge, his old thinking and mindset and policies, and the whole jin gang from UMNO tagging along.

UMNO died and revives.

Long live UMNO aka Bersatu. Long live Bumiputras. Long live Ketuanan Melayu.

KOREAN PEACE DIVIDENDS PAYOUT NOW

Harvesting Korean Peace Dividends

Vietnamese Lessons for the US and Korean Peninsula

Ever since the era of peace arrived at the Korean Peninsula in 2018, the world has waited patiently with abated breath ready to reap and harvest the expectant abundant windfall of the Korean peace dividends.  Economic growth and trade benefits are the best guarantee for a lasting and sustainable Korean peace.   The US in fact holds the major key to unlock and unleash unto the world the tremendous prosperity from the Korean Peninsula. 

The 2019 DPRK-USA Vietnam Summit will see US President Donald Trump meeting DPRK Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam from 27-28 February 2019.  This is their 2^nd meeting.

The significance of Vietnam as the venue for the 2^nd Trump-Kim Summit has both symbolic and voluminous importance regarding President Trump’s indelible place in history for a major watershed landmark foreign policy achievement within less than 2 years of his Presidency.  

Historically, Vietnam shares much similarity and familiarity with Korea.  From traditional dynastic empires to occupation and involuntary colonisation by foreign powers and followed by a long war with the US over whom they had also prevailed.    

The Indochina Peninsula was forcibly colonised by the French in the mid-19^th century after centuries of flourishing imperial dynasties.  Japanese occupation came in 1940 following World War II.  After the Japanese defeat in 1945, Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh declared independence and a 9-years war ensued with the French colonial power that they finally defeated in 1954.  The country was divided into a communist North Vietnam (or Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam supported by the US.  The conflicts (called the “American War” by the Vietnamese and “Vietnam War” by the American) lasted from 1965-1973, ultimately ended decisively with the North Vietnamese victory in 1975.

Within a period of just 30 years from 1945-1975, Vietnam had defeated 2 global superpowers namely, France and the US, in her fight for independence and freedom.  Her aspirations for independence and freedom should be well-understood and appreciated by similar bloody struggles in US history. 

Arguably, Vietnam is the only country ever to defeat the might of the American military through sheer perseverance, courage, strategy and political will.  And as the US retreated in defeat from Vietnam in 1975, it also imposed such crippling sanctions and trade embargoes so as to hinder the legitimate aspirations and efforts of the Vietnamese people in economic growth and national development.

On 3 Feb 1994, President Bill Clinton partially lifted the 19-year-old trade embargo on the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.  He also announced the formal normalization of diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam on 11 July 1995.

On 23 May 2016, President Obama officially lifted the historical 50-year US trade embargo on Vietnam in a major policy shift in global trade.  This removed all the long-standing US sanctions and trade embargoes imposed on Vietnam in 1975 in the aftermath of her defeat in the Vietnam War.

Quite obviously, the Vietnamese peace dividends, albeit delayed by 20-50 years are simply astounding and staggering.  US-Vietnam bilateral trade grew from just over US$200 million in 1994 to more than US$50 billion in 2019.  In 2018, Vietnam ranked as the 17^th US trading partner in total trade value by November 2018 of US$54.3 billion, with US$8.88 billion exports and imports of US$45.42 billion (a deficit of $36.55 billion).

Like Vietnam, the Korean Empire was forcibly annexed by Japan in 1910. Koreans were subjected to a period of brutal suppression and unimaginable atrocities until the Japanese defeat in 1945.  From 1945, Korea was partitioned at the 38^th Parallel with the Communist “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” (DPRK) in the North, supported by China and Russia, and the “Republic of Korea” (ROK) in the South supported by the US and Western European nations.

In 1950, DPRK Leader Kim Il-sung launched the Korean War in an attempt to reunify Korea, meeting fierce and vigorous resistance from the US and Western European nations supporting ROK.  The conflicts ended in a ceasefire “Armistice Treaty” in 1953.  In 1991, DPRK and ROK were accepted into the United Nations.

Both the Korean and Vietnam Wars were fought for the same reasons to secure independence and freedom, albeit under different political systems.  Their respective national leaders refused to accept the division and partition of their countries by foreign powers.

In 2018, 65 year later, DPRK and the US agreed to work towards a final settlement to formally end the Korean War between the US and DPRK.

As for DPRK and ROK, DPRK Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea President Moon Jae-In also signed on 19 September 2018 the Pyongyang Declaration which affirmed their earlier April 2018 Historic Panmunjeom Declaration. Together, they declared to the world to abide thoroughly by and faithfully implement the 2 Agreements, essentially constituting the Korean North-South Peace Treaty, and to take practical measures to transform the Korean Peninsula into a land of permanent peace.  Before 80 million Korean people and the whole world, they solemnly renounced war on the Korean Peninsula to begin an era of peace.

The Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula was adopted between DPRK Leader Kim Jong-un and ROK President Moon Jae-in on 27 April 2018 during the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit on the South Korean side of the Peace House in the Joint Security Area.

According to the declaration, the governments of DPRK and ROK agreed to cooperate on officially ending the Korean War to begin a new era of peace and sharing commitments in ending divisions and confrontation by approaching a new era of national reconciliation, peace and prosperity and improvements to inter-Korean communication and relations.

In a culturally significant symbolic act, they stood with their spouses on Mount Paektu, the spiritual ancestral mountains of the Koreans to pay homage to their common ancestors and to proclaim that the North-South brothers are no longer estranged and divided, and to vow “never again” to war with one another, and to develop mutual relations for national reconciliation and cooperation for real peace and co-prosperity so as to realise the common aspiration and hope of all Koreans for cultural, social and eventual political unity. 

As the sun rose that fine autumn day, the dawn of Korean peace had begun.  I was then in DPRK for a different reason.

The Korean North-South Peace treaty ended the Korean War. The 1853 Armistice signed on 27 July 1953 was designed to "ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved”. The Agreement implementing the Panmunjom Declaration in essence and fact represents that “final peace settlement”.  Following the Peace Treaty, military exercises were cancelled, border posts removed and the number of border guards substantially reduced, among other confidence building measures to enhance peace building efforts.

With their terms and conditions fulfilled, the United Nations Command (UNC) established by UN Security Council Resolutions 83 and 84 are therefore rendered obsolete.  The dissolution of the UNC also has widespread implications and consequences for many countries who benefited from the Korean conflict.  These include up to 7 UNC Bases in Japan, nearly 30,000 US soldiers in ROK as well as other US assets and resources deployed in the Far East.    

In their 1st Singapore Summit last year on 12 June 2018, US President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 

Even as they meet in Hanoi, Vietnam for their 2^nd meeting, much focus has been on the DPRK denuclearization process in progress.  The US has yet to unveil its framework proposal for DPRK security guarantees as promised.  US security guarantees for DPRK is the major key to fully unlock Korean denuclearization.  In the meantime, crippling trade and economic sanctions on the DPRK should be eased or lifted to turn on the flow of Korean peace dividends so as to embolden and empower the ongoing North-South peace process.  

As they embarked on their 2^nd meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, President Trump and DPRK Leader Kim should be mindful of the advice of President Clinton and President Obama:

“The history we leave behind is painful and hard. We must not forget it, but we must not be controlled by it” (President Clinton, 18 Nov 2000).

[… an opportunity to end a] “lingering vestige of the Cold War (and) to complete what has been a lengthy process of moving towards normalization with Vietnam” (President Obama, 23 May 2016).

The multiplier benefits to the global economy from immediate Korean peace dividends would be even more tremendously enriching when compared to Vietnam.  They must begin to be unlocked and turned on now, today.

  

Government looks beyond disinformation in targeting foreign influence in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Speaking in Parliament on Feb 12, Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong opened a second front on Singapore’s war on foreign influence.

With legislation already on the cards for deliberate online falsehoods (DOFs), the Government’s attention has shifted in parallel to specific foreign and state actors, intent on interfering in Singapore’s domestic politics via other means.



Quite apart from dealing with lies and disinformation campaigns, which were well documented via hearings of the Select Committee on DOFs last year, Mr Tong stressed that “in the physical world, foreign actors may also interfere in our domestic politics through the use of proxies, by funding or donating to politically-involved individuals and organisations, or by taking on key leadership roles in their organisations”.

Substantiating his point, Mr Tong used the examples of foreign interference in the politics of Australia and New Zealand, channelled through political donations.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/deliberate-online-falsehoods-legislation-singapore-fake-news-11263036

The obsession to control the media, main and social media, is likely the real reason to start a Singapore version of McCarthyism here.  The social media is so great a threat, main media is not as it is well controlled and regulated, so new laws are needed and the hype of foreign influence through social media must look like a real and present danger.

Now the next phase, threats from foreign actors trying to influence the country's policies. I can only see the USA as a country that continuously hyped on threats to its national interest as it needs to protect its empire and its dominance in the world. Now Singapore is like copying the American hype of threats and threats relentlessly, but for what? Singapore does not have an empire to protect, neither does it have to protect its dominance in the world?

The real threat to Singapore's security is the presence of millions of foreigners from one or two countries that would change the demographic pattern of the population where political power is based. The huge concentration of any particular nationality is a grave concern and this is not even talked about or taken so lightly. The foreigners are so nice, so peaceful, so obedient, would not even commit crimes. When the day the foreigners turn against us, it would be too late as too many are already here and many in high places, even in the govt holding key positions.

We have brought in a Trojan Horse with a few million foreigners inside and waiting to explode.

This is not a threat to our national security? We are afraid of a few individuals trying to influence our policies and not afraid of the millions of foreigners on our soil, inside our country? The quoting of foreign influence in Australia and New Zealand is uncalled for as it is an indirect interference and meddling the affairs of other countries and would only incur the wrath of affected countries.

When you do not want others to interfere in your internal affairs, it is best not to interfere with the affairs of others. Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you. Remember the South China Sea island dispute between China and the Philippines? Now the Philippines are an ally of China, not even bother to mention about the fake and scandalous court rulings.

With so many foreigners with dubious intention in the island, we are waiting for a major crisis of grave proportion to destroy the peace and stability in this island. Does anyone care?

The foreigners are taking over our island with our eyes wide open but not seeing.

DBS Vickers Securities - Restructuring or Retrenchment

'The equities trading business is critical to DBS and we have no plans to shut it down...exploring different models with a view to delivering a stronger customer proposition with minimal employee impact.' This is a quote from Business Times when DBS was asked about the rumour that it was closing down its equity business.

In the townhall meeting, DBS told the remisiers that they would not be doing equity business anymore and the Company would speak to everyone of them to try to fit them into another job in DBS according to their experience and qualifications subject to its policy on employing employees after retirement age and market practices.

The above two paragraphs when read superficially brought a little hope to the remisiers that all is not lost and maybe they could still be reemployed in some capacity in DBS. The devil is in the details, so they said and I would like to look into the statements and see how meaningful or how meaningless they are to the remisiers, told to look forward to a new journey. By the way, the person that crafted these clever replies would be highly sought after as a potential politician.

In the townhall meeting, DBS spokesman said DBS Vickers Securities would not be closed down. But all the remisiers will no longer be engaged in equity trading but redeployed into other areas if found suitable. The equity business would be taken over by the bank. This simply means that remisiers cannot trade in equities anymore despite their years of experience in this trade, ie made redundant.  And the business they built over several decades would be taken over by DBS.

There will be minimal impact on employees, remisiers are not. Most of the employees, ie support staff in equity trading are likely to be absorbed by the banks to continue what they were doing. The remisiers would be like a clean sheet of paper, newbies, as their wealth of experience would no longer be relevant as they would not be doing what they were doing in the last 20 or 30 years. What do you think they can do in DBS when their only experience is equity trading? Would there be comparable jobs that pay them the same as what they were as remisiers when they have no relevant experience? What would be the likely jobs for them, customer guides in the banking hall, security guards, cleaners?

Another critical factor is age. Remember, retirement age is 62 in DBS though MOM specifically said that this is only the Minimum Retirement Age. Many of the remisiers are in the 60s, 70s and even 80s. How many would be found useful enough to be offered reemployment in DBS and if found suitable, likely to be on a one year contract, maybe renewable. Without this restructuring, the remisiers are looking to a lifelong employment in equity trading as long as they could churn up enough business to justify their existence. Very likely the majority of those above 62 would face unemployment, unsuitable and too old to be working. Those in the late 50s or early 60s could see a similar fate as 62 is around the corner.

In reality, this restructuring exercise would see many remisiers being jobless, not only the oldies but also those below 60s, if they could not find a job that fit their experience and qualifications unless they are willing to take anything that DBS is offering.

There will be minimal impact on employees of DBS Vickers Securities but maximum impact on the pool of remisiers. This is a retrenchment exercise in a different guise. Many of the remisiers will join the statistics of the unemployed PMETs. DBS could look very generous by offering a one year contract to a few remisiers to show how caring DBS is as an employer, but for how long and what kind of jobs and what kind of remuneration?

Let me summarise. DBS is telling the remisiers that they cannot practise their trade and all their clients and business would be taken over by the bank. Period. Many remisiers would be made jobless and a few could be offered jobs that are not comparable to what they were doing and not paying what they were getting as remisiers. They too would lose their jobs in a matter of time.

See the small prints or what is in between the lines? With the GE around the corner, this could be an issue for the opposition to kick around and DBS would be on the lips of everyone.

Another insensitive and stupidity has no cure event in NTU

The Nanyang Technological University‘s (NTU) Japanese Appreciation Club has drawn flak for hosting a Japanese Cultural Festival, which was touted to be the student club’s biggest event, on 18 Feb – the same date that saw the horrific Sook Ching massacre unfold, 77 years ago.

The Sook Ching massacre was a systematic purge of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore by the Japanese military during the Japanese occupation of Singapore and Malaya. The operation was overseen by the Imperial Japanese Army’s Kempeitai secret police.

The devastating genocide, which took place from 18 February to 4 March 1942 at various places in the region, occurred a mere three days after the British colony surrendered on 15 February 1942 following the Battle of Singapore.

Thousands of Singaporeans died in the purge. While Japan officially said that fewer than 5,000 deaths occurred, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew has said that “verifiable numbers would be about 70,000”.

In 1966, Japan agreed to pay US$50 million in compensation, half of which was a grant and the rest as a loan. They did not make an official apology....

The above is posted in theindependent.sg. Shaking my head. What is the root of NTU? Singaporeans must know their history, the good and the bad, to know how far they have come. Do not forget your past.

Life after 60 - Chan Meng Hui ran 101 marathons passed away at 89.

https://youtu.be/dwTMlQy8Ihc

The above is a clip produced by Channel News Asia on Chan Meng Hui. He did his 100th marathon at 85. He started running in his 50s. He is an inspiration for the seniors not to give up on your physical body. Keep running and keep it healthy and functioning.

The South East Asia Masters is coming to Singapore on 3-5 May. This is the first time it is being held together with Singapore Open Masters. Venue is likely to be Bishan Stadium. Start training and join the fun. It has all the events like a school sports day, track and field events. It is not about winning but about getting down on the track, in the stadium with all the seniors reliving a time when we were young, like school boys and girls again.

If your timing beats the qualifying time for the Asian Masters in December in Kuching, Malaysia, you would be eligible for a fully paid air ticket and 50% subsidy for accommodation to represent Singapore in the Meet.

If you want to peep at the qualifying times, send me an email. It is in Excel and I am unable to post it here. Below are a few samples of the qualifying times.

Men Age/Time in seconds

100m   55/14.08   60/15.02   65/16.05   70/17.02   75/18.58
200m   55/28.76   60/30.25   65/32.28   70/38.27   75/40.25
400m   55/84        60/95        65/104      70/110      75/140

Women Age/Time

100m   55/17.34   60/18.24   65/18.95   70/19.28   75/20.15
200m   55/28.25   60/29.31   65/30.15   70/31.03   75/31.95
400m   55/95   60/102     65/120      70/170      75/179

PS. I will be running in the 100m for age group 65-69 in the SE Asia Meet and will be in the 70-74 age group in the Asian Masters in Dec. I am doing about 15 sec and hoping to go below 15 sec.