myth 10

'Staying Together, Moving Ahead' Today's announcement of the lift upgrading programme tells all. After casting the vote for the opposition, you belong to the opposition and deserve to be left behind.

staying together, moving ahead?

After reading the Sunday Times this morning I must say that it is confirmed beyond any doubt that too much power will lead to arrogance and delusion. The issue of upgrading has been thrashed out during the election rally and why the people is so pissed off with the unfair application of tax payers money to serve partial politics was obvious. I thought the message has sunk in. And if not, the slogan, 'Staying together, Moving Ahead' would be a reminder of what remaining united as a nation and people means after the politiking is over. Even Hsien Loong called for a closing of ranks and be one people again. The announcement that upgrading will still be preferential and favoured constituencies that voted for the PAP is totally against staying together as one people. It is divisive politics and petty. It smacks of hypocrisy to ask the people to set aside political differences and work together as a people. What is important, and short sighted people failing to see, is that the split in voters for and against the ruling party is about 60:40. This means that in constituencies that voted for the PAP, 40% voted against. On the contrary, in opposition constituencies, there were 40% PAP supporters. This upgrading policy actually benefitted the 40% of opposition supporters in PAP wards and victimised the 40% PAP supporters in opposition wards. At a national level, when opposition only occupied two small single wards, the benefits of this policy to people who voted for the opposition is much greater as a population. And 60% of two opposition wards is insignificant. Would such a mindset bring more votes for the PAP in the next election or bring more anger and be seen as distasteful, thus causing more votes? Is the policy arrived at to win the hearts and minds of the people or a tit for tat boyish tactics, you don't vote for me, no sweet for you?

language: more leeways in spelling

We have problems with Singlish. Some got quite uptight with SMS messages. But language is alive and will evolve to suit the needs of the moment. Different adaptations and corruption of languages may happened, intentionallee or unintentionallee, in different circumstances or in glee. In the internet forum, a new kind of spelling has appeared inadvertentlee, initiallee for a leettle fun and subsequentlee people start to use it funnilee. Whether subtlelee or boldlee, it may take root quite easilee as users find more leeways to apply the new spelling cheekilee. The sun has risen and shining brightlee on a Sunday morning, and it is quite relaxing writing casuallee and easilee. I am posting onlee as a non native speaker and this is not meant to be taken seriouslee.

myth 9

'Making money is difficult in Singapore.' This has been the painful claim by many Signaporeans, that doing business and making a living here is tough. But statistics have proven otherwise. The number of Singaporeans becoming millionaire is getting more every year. And many people are calling this place a land of opportunities. And this is definitely true. I have heard from this guy telling his wife that every now and then he is happily shocked to see tens or hundreds of thousands deposited into his bank accounts. He has many bank accounts for good reasons. And he has lost track of where and why are so much money are going into his accounts. He has forgotten about all the directorship he is holding and all the directorship fees he is collecting. Too many that he cannot keep track with. Isn't that a happy problem? For those Singaporeans who are still whinning, they should approach the millionaires and ask them how they made the money so easily.

nkf and corporate governance

The latest twist in the NKF saga is like the tale of the 3 musketeers. One for all and all for one. Why should only 3 directors be name and be held responsible for all the problems created? Every member of the board of directors is equally responsible for the conduct and actions/decisions of the board unless he has put in his objection. Perhaps this is the most correct thing for the accused to do, to drag along all their peers to face the music. This is what corporate governance is all about in Singapore and found wanting. Being a director of a corporation is not just collecting directorship fees and drinking tea and having a party. There are responsibilities and accountabilities. Otherwise every donkey will be so happy to grab as many directorship as possible and laughing all the way to the bank. And when some failings appear, quickly resign and disappear from the scene. Not seen, not heard, and forgotten only to reappear in another board of directors. It is good that the Stock Exchange is tightening on the rules and regulations governing corporate governance to make a point that work and responsibilities come first before directorship fees. Directorship is not free lunch.