Joke of the Day

The parents are angry because the school bus fee has been raised by $5 to $10 per month. And the School Transport Association was so apologetic for raising this amount. The only reason I can think of, and feel comforted, is that they were not run by super talents.

It is starting to happen

Two Bangladeshi workers were charged in court for the murder of a Singaporean, a security guard. Two other suspects were still at large. The security guard and his girlfriend used to rent a room to several Bangladeshi workers. This is a case that is waiting to happen. As the foreign workers get more familiar with the locals and the environment, some will get into mischiefs. And as the frequency gets higher, things will only get worst. Soon Singaporeans would live in fear of the foreigner workers living next doors. We have been living in a peaceful paradise for too long. Things are going to change, very fast. It may get to a point that we would be worried of our children and daughters walking out of the flats or coming home at night. Singaporeans must be prepared to accept such a development as they open their flats and homes to foreign workers. Not that all foreign workers are bad. Many are good and decent fellows. You only need 1% and our lives will be torned to pieces. We have 1 million foreigners living in our midst. 1% is a big number to terrorise the innocent, unprepared and unthinking locals.

Who is to protect you in your own country?

I used to make nasty remarks about Japan and south Korea being semi colonies of the US. The US personnel stationed in these two countries do not come under their jurisdiction, not under their laws. They are above the laws of these two countries. When they commit any crime, they will be taken away and protected by the Americans. The Japanese and South Koreans could do nothing about it. Such a situation used to happen in the Philippines as well until the people took to the streets to protest. The Philippines have got back their rights and kept the Americans in the right place. Philippines is not a colony of America and any Americans caught violating their laws would be dealt with under Filipino laws. That is what being an independent country is all about. We are an independent country. I just read in the paper that a Singaporean was bashed up for no reason by a drunken American sailor. Though the assailants were caught, he was quickly whisked away by the American Naval Criminal Investigation Service. The NCIS is a body to 'protect members of the US Navy and Marine Corp.' So this American who had beaten our citizen is now being protected by this agency. And our police, after arresting the suspect, 'did not arrest him because the alleged offence - voluntarily causing hurt - is not a seizable one.' And the victim had been 'advised to lodge a magistrate's complaint should he wish to pursue the case against the defendant.' Now I know why being a lawyer is so lucrative. I would advise him not to as he would not be able to afford the legal cost. How could he fight against an agency that protects Americans against us? He must count himself lucky that he did not land up in the intensive ward and having to pay for his own medical bills. Let's welcome more visitors to beat up the locals. And as long as the offence is not seizable, they can walk away after making a few statements. And the poor victims must now find the money to pay for his justice. My goodness. I am feeling very unsafe now. I will watch my front and back and stay clear from foreigners.

The New NKF Story

Gerard Ee and his team have done a miraculous job in the New NKF. They have cut cost, raised subsidies, took in more patients, and increased income for the NKF despite losing 100,000 donors. What can we say? Applause! Now they are thinking of more ways to reduce the costs to the poorer patients and spending a bit more of the $270m in reserves. Perhaps drawing down a little to help more people. That's what a charity is supposed to be instead of acting like a bank or public trust and hoard the money for as long as it can, in the process depriving some of the needy from some help. People from another school of thought may be looking at the New NKF management in horror. How could they ever think of spending the reserve? Reserves are meant to be reserves and should not be touched. Only to be used for very good reasons, maybe like engaging a professional top grade executive to raise more fund. For such an animal, they need to pay him/her market rate to match his talents. It reminds me of the Malaysian's unwillingness to sell us water and prefer to let the rain water flow into the Straits of Johore. Donation money are like rain water. It is God sent. No need to work for it. Just ask or beg and the kindness of human milk will flow. Turn it into a business enterprise, it will dry up. Be more calculative, and the donors will also be as calculative. We must not forget the original meaning of charity. It is human kindness from the heart. Those without a heart should not meddle with charity and charitable organisations. Gerard Ee and his team have done a miraculous job in the New NKF. They have cut cost, raised subsidies, took in more patients, and increased income for the NKF despite losing 100,000 donors. What can we say? Applause! Now they are thinking of more ways to reduce the costs to the poorer patients and spending a bit more of the $270m in reserves. Perhaps drawing down a little to help more people. That's what a charity is supposed to be instead of acting like a bank or public trust and hoard the money for as long as it can, in the process depriving some of the needy from some help. People from another school of thought may be looking at the New NKF management in horror. How could they ever think of spending the reserve? Reserves are meant to be reserves and should not be touched. Only to be used for very good reasons, maybe like engaging a professional top grade executive to raise more fund. For such an animal, they need to pay him/her market rate to match his talents. It reminds me of the Malaysian's unwillingness to sell us water and prefer to let the rain water flow into the Straits of Johore. Donation money are like rain water. It is God sent. No need to work for it. Just ask or beg and the kindness of human milk will flow. Turn it into a business enterprise, it will dry up. Be more calculative, and the donors will also be as calculative. We must not forget the original meaning of charity. It is human kindness from the heart. Those without a heart should not meddle with charity and charitable organisations.

Minister's pay hike

The huge 21% increase in minister's pay has received the expected criticism and condemption from many quarters, spoken and unspoken. It is very tempting for anyone to join the bandwagon and add in a few more vibes at the issue. Not many will be pleased about this earth shattering event except for the privilege few who can afford to retire after one year's of such income. Look at the bright side. I am sure all the good men and all their goodness will surely think that getting 21% pay hike on top a million dollar income is no small thing. And surely they too will want this goodness to be spread down to as many people as possible. And they will know that the people will go down on their knees and worship them if they could give everyone a 21% pay hike as well. It does not matter if one is getting only $210 pm increase on a $1000 income(or x15 = $3150 for a whole year) or a $210,000 increase on a $1m income. It will still look fair and just as the common factor is 21%. The people must have faith and look forward to a 21% increase coming their way as it is the only decent thing to do and expect. Just give it some time for the policy makers to get it done. The easiest and first people to receive such an increase, in my view, will be those on $290 pm public assistance scheme. It will not amount to more than another $60 increase or $720 a year. Let's wait for our Christmas present, maybe next year. It takes time to deliver.