how to kill the SJER?

Even before the ink dries, there are all kinds of distracting voices that could derail an aggressive and promising strategy to turn Johore into a metropolis. The Sultan is saying that foreigners are dirty. How is this going to be helpful to the SJER? Cut the causeway! Another ambivalent if not counter productive statement. Would investors and Singaporeans think that they will really be welcomed in Johore? But the most destructive statement on the SJER is to claim that Singapore will stand to benefit from it. And worst if someone claims that Singapore will gain more in the cooperation than Johore or Malaysia. The thought that Singapore will benefit from any project is like the tolling of the death bell. Whether it is real or imagery, once the Malaysians or some Malaysians heard that Singapore will benefit, susah lah, how can the deal go through? The easiest way to kill the SJER is just to crow how much Singapore will benefit from it. So whoever want to kill this project, just make sure that the Malaysians heard it loud and clear that Singapore is going to benefit from it. And to hasten its demise, just claim that Singapore will benefit more than the Malaysians.

the haze is back?

The haze got worse last night. This morning it appears to be getting bad. It seems that the Asean Ministerial Meeting is not bearing any fruit. Or is it that the ransom asked was not paid and the haze will not go away? Looks like the Asean neighbours would have to buy the Indonesians a satellite and build all the dams they want for the haze to go away.

we are not finished!

We are not finished! In many organisations, private or public, the young punks have taken over the reign. Many are in their 30s and 40s. Intelligent, dynamic and impatient to make their marks. Invariably the sight of the oldies are not so pleasant and grudgingly tolerated. The common comment is that they should be at home looking after their grandchildren and should not be in the office. And in the drawing boards, all kinds of plans are being crafted and to be put in place to get rid of the oldies. Some of the oldies are still as strong and healthy and have many good years to go. No matter. Once they pass the 50 mark, they are considered finished products. Time to disappear for their own good. While scheming to get rid of the oldies, they forgot that it is only a matter of time that they too fall into the same unpleasant category to be got rid off. Age is fair to all. Everyone must go through the ages. All the Papas must teach their young upstarts to show a bit of deferrence to the older specimens of human kind. And a great example to follow is Hsien Loong. He has kept two oldies as bouncing boards and as his resources, to provide the gaps that need to be filled in his thoughts and thinking process. The days of the oldies are not over. With better medical care, the oldies are going to be hopping around for another 20 or 30 years more. And if the oldies can master the computer and internet technology, they can make themselves very useful as these requires only their finger muscles and a lot of the knowledge that they have accumulated and stored over the years. The danger of a nation being run by kindergarten kids has been demonstrated over the last few weeks. In their little raw brilliance, they could destroy everything, their families and themselves.

myth 88

'Singapore has no talent for international acquisition' The names like Quek Leng Beng, Ooi Hong Leong, (this one think is a pr, or maybe citizen already), Ong Beng Seng, the late Khoo Teck Puat, Wee Cho Yaw, (he has a famous surname), the Royal brothers, Koh Boon Hui, Sim Wong Hoo etc, have been acquiring businesses all over the world, and some of them for many years. They may made some mistakes here and there but nothing earth shaking to raise any eyebrow. These are the seasoned and real mavericks who learned the ropes of doing business deals the hard way without the notes and textbook advises from an Ivy League University. And their records have proven that they are better international deal makers. They are consumate deal makers and will not end up in any rotten deals or paying a ransom for rubbish. The gratifying thing is that they are local talents. Why the need for foreign talents who came with a big basket to scoop and retire in their little paradise somewhere on earth?

no need passport

No need passport Singaporeans will be allowed to enter two selected areas in JB without the need for passports and can stay as long as they want. This is the latest announcement coming from Malaysia, and a very bold initiative that takes the competition right to the competitor’s doorstep. The Malaysians are serious to make SJER a success, and they mean business by pulling every plug possible. Such an act will be unheard off during the Mahathir govt when economics was playing second fiddle to politics. Now they are brave, aggressive, creative and business like, like Singaporeans in many ways. It would be interesting to see how Singapore reacts to this Malaysian announcement. It is like a bolt of lightning. It poses a lot of challenges and also offers a lot of opportunities. It is not only about economic cooperation and competition, it is also about the twinning or intertwining of social and economic relations between the two states. If things kick off with a good start when both sides see the benefits of closer cooperations, there will be tremendous improvement in inter state relations instead of biting rivalry. Other Malaysian states will soon follow with their own initiatives to develop economic links and cooperation with Singapore. And Johore, being a more convenient location relative to Batam and Bintang, will be a big draw for Singapore companies and Singaporeans. Even foreigners and foreign companies will stand to benefit with such a move. What if Singapore does not see this as a positive proposal and reacted with another ¾ thing or something cute but regressive? Any negative thoughts or rulings will be like slapping its own face. It will not only be bad for long term bilateral relations, it will destroy whatever goodwill that we have built for so long. And the Malaysians will gain all the initiative and support to lash out at Singapore for not walking the talk. We shall all hope that this Malaysian initiative will be the harbinger for better relations and cooperation. It is the kind of competitive strategy that Singapore should welcome and encourage, aggressive but rational business strategies devoid of politicking, emotions and sentiments.