expats, no obligations. it's an unwritten contract

Robyn Speed, an expat foreign talent, wrote in the Today paper asking the govt to give expats equal dues. His argument is that the expats are here to help Singapore and raise the competitive standard of Singapore and we owe them a debt to treat them equally. The argument is true in some aspects. They are here to help Singapore. They also contribute to our growth and competitiveness. We agree. And our govt have been singing this song for a very long time that even Singaporeans believe so. And definitely the expats also believe that Singapore lacks talent. The real foreign talents are here on very exclusive packages. The little cost in schools, public transport and medical will not affect them at all. Not only that they can well afford them. These cost are normally paid by their companies. Further, they don't patronise govt hospitals nor local schools. Neither would they take public transports. The expats that will be affected are the average talent expats that Singapore have plentiful. In fact they even take the jobs from Singaporeans. What this group can do, any average Singapore talent can too. If they are that good, they would have gone somewhere else. If Singapore is that bad, they too would have gone. But there will be hungrier expats the world over to fill up their places. No need to worry too much about this group. And it is misleading to say that Singapore is discriminating against them. The country has in a way been discriminating against Singaporeans in favour of expats. Now the natural order of things is just going to be restored. Actually it is the country that is going back to treat its own citizens better. No country treats its citizens worst off than foreigners except for real talents. Not the run of the mill average graduates who came telling us that they are talents and need special treatment from us. Anyone earning lest than $20k a month is not a special talent that deserves to be treated exceptionally. It is high time that this message gets through to all the 'so called' foreign talents here. You are just an average talent that we have plentiful. You are here competing with our local talents. The least the govt should do is to level the playing field in favour of local talents. And it is only right that the citizens enjoy more benefits than foreigners. And if these average talents think that they have a raw deal, please find a better country that treats them better, preferentially. All expats know their own worth and which country will pay them better. They are constantly weighing their options and will go at any moment. There is no loyalty nor obligations for an expat to any country, nor to us. They don't do us a favour but to themselves. There is an unwritten contract that they are paid their worth or else... Those who are here know that they have a good deal.

Outsourcing saves Govt $34.6m a year.

The above headline in the Today paper tells the story of how MOM outsourced its functions to Green Dot Internet Services and saved $34.6 mil a year. Now that is ingenuity and brilliant management at work. If outsourcing is the cure all of inefficiency in the civil service, imagine how much can be saved if all the ministries outsource the same function to an outside agency? 10 ministries will save $346 million a year. And better still if all the other functions are also outsourced, just leave the Perm Secs and the Ministers behind to do the thinking, or a small core of administrative officers, we could save billions from outsourcing. Actually there is another term for this. Privatisation for efficiency! If the civil service is so inefficient that only outsourcing and privatisation can be the remedy for good service, do they need to be paid that kind of salaries? I am thoroughly confused. I am thoroughly confused. I don't think this is the true picture of the whole story.

To be or not to be...a Singapore citizen.

To be or not to be...a Singapore citizen. This is going to be a hot debate after the latest speech by Hsien Loong on being Singaporean first. The line has to be drawn, a bit late, but still better than to let it continue down the road to a disintegrated country when foreigners can push over citizens and citizens feel unwanted and discriminated in their own country. The initial reactions by the foreigners, the PRs, who had it so good for so long, are quite expected. For those who have quietly enjoyed the good times at the stupidity of this country, they knew all good things must come to an end. To some who think that Singapore owe them a living, they will feel very sore. Below are some comments from those spoken to by the Today paper. 1. I think this move by the govt sets the PRs thinking. 2. I will think carefully about citizenship so that I can enjoy the same amount of benefits as everyone else. 3. Becoming a citizen is a practical thing...at heart I will always remain a Filipino. 4. It was only fair that citizens should enjoy more benefits than foreigners. And this message comes from a foreigner. (Geez, what the f... have we been thinking all these while?) 5. If I'm told to pay more, of course, I'm not happy. To be here for so long, and then to be discriminated against, is not so nice. (The citizens in Malaysia who are not Malays would not say this. Try asking them what it is like to be a citizen and be discriminated against). 6. I think they are trying to make PRs become citizens and for Singaporeans not to feel any jealousy. So what can I do? If this goes on, I don't mind being a citizen. Does anyone think that we have blundered all these years?

recognise our leaders

The Straits Times reported that there is widespread support to recognise our leaders and well known Singaporeans who have contributed to the nation and the people. Not a bad idea. We can have Goh Keng Swee Industrial Park instead of Jurong Industrial Park. The Ong Teng Cheong MRT or Ong Teng Cheong Theatre at the Bay instead of the Durians. Jurong Island can become Philip Yeo Island. Who gave the go ahead for Changi Airport? LKY? If that's the case we can call it LKY International Airport. Marine Parade can be renamed Goh Chok Tong Parade, Lee Hsien Loong Marina Resort...just some examples of new names to honour the men behind the ideas or monuments.

gst, more than what was told

Previously we heard that the 2% increase is to help the poorer Singaporeans and to make them better off, and also to close the income gap. Now it seems that the tax raised will go to many other things like paying medical bills, building facilities for the oldies, for investing for the future, and also some to be set aside in case of in case and in case… something happens. This last part is very familiar. Now where has this last part gained notoriety recently, savings and savings and savings without knowing what it is for and without knowing how much savings is enough? Was it some charity money being shiok shiok set aside and forgetting that the money was supposed to help the people’s immediate problems?