Providing the people a good life

It is very difficult to define what is a good life for a Singaporean. There are the intangible, religious or immaterial aspects of living that some people will find more important than others. I know that this is very controversial but from the perspective of a govt, maybe a simpler definition base on material comfort could be a useful guide as a national objective. Spiritual or religious wellbeing is something that is beyond the govt. In my opinion, a govt that can provide the average Singaporean with an affordable 4 rm flat and a small car(OPC also ok) and live comfortably without having to make ends meet every month would have been very successful. A supervisor or executive is a good reference point to take as they form the base of the population, and it is not unreasonable to expect them to live at a decent standard of living. If at this level they can say that they have a good life, the higher income Singaporeans would have nothing to complain about and the lower income would not be too badly off except for the extreme end. If the govt can focus on such a standard of living for its people and design all the policies and cost around it, then Singaporeans can look forward to a better future, and more good years. If there is no such reference point, and cost is allowed to run away, and the bulk of the population falls to a level where everyone is struggling to make ends meet, then the govt has failed despite all the beautiful infrastructures and all the wealth accumulated by the nation. The 4 roomers are the average Singaporeans. Their well being is an indication of the well being of the country, of whether the govt is doing its job and implementing its policies correctly. Why did I feel that a simple objective like this has been forgotten and govt agencies, private or public, only think of how much money to make from the people instead of how well they are living?

From subsidy to market subsidy to market price

The word subsidy in the context of HDB flats were hammered for many years until it takes the form of market subsidy today. It was called subsidy at the very beginning until a lot of digging revealed that it was not subsidy as people knew or expected but a kind of subsidy off the market price. When I looked into HDB website, I found that the prices of Pinnacle flats were priced at resale market price or at best a $2k subsidy using the average prices provided in the site. Until HDB explains where is the subsidy and how they got to price the second batch of Pinnacles at a subsidy or discount from market price, this is what it is. Market subsidy is near to market price or at market price.

Terrorists were foreign talents

The terrorists were foreign talents and it was reported that some were hiding in Taj Mahal Hotel as trainee chefs! Wonder how many of them were hiding in other establishments that were kind enough to offer them employments and suffered the deadly attacks. Anymore in hiding and waiting to hit the second wave or third wave? They should have scrutinised their foreign talents more thoroughly. But on second thought, it is difficult for an open economy that welcomes foreign talents to do so. They could even forged their certificates and country of orgins. Malaysia connection? Just a ruse.

Instant counter strike force

The speed in which the terrorists struck and the killings that followed demands the response of an instant strike force to be always ready to counter attack in 10 minutes or less. Once the terrorists are in and open fire, the only thing to do is to take them down as quickly as possible with a ready trained force. Any delay will only cause more lives and destruction. The privilege of intelligence gathering and border checks, coast guards etc is only a first line of defence. Once broken, it is all decided on the ground, the battle field. Do we have the capability of mounting special counter strike forces at the press of a button and be at the scene in less than 10 minutes?

Relentless attacks on Tan Kin Lian

There is increasing momemtum in cyberspace to run down Tan Kin Lian. The attacks and biased questioning of his intent and his integrity appear to be quite coordinated. It is relentless and will get wilder if no one is putting a stop to it. I do not know Tan Kin Lian nor have met in socially. But from what I have seen and heard, he is no better and no worst than the best politician we have today. Just like in hollywood, Richard Gere, George Clooney, and who else, are the perfect screen idols that the media is churning out. Do you know the other side of the story? Everyone has many facets in their lives, the good and the not so good, and the warts. Let the one who has not sinned be the first to cast the stone. Human beans shall not pretend to be as white as gods, no blemishes. And small people shall not be used to go around tarnishing other good men with small blemishes. Your gods may have warts the size of a mountain. At this stage of our political development we need more able and good men to stand out to serve the people. The last thing we want to do is to run everyone down just because he is not one of us. A little graciousness is the order of the day. Those who are ungracious shall not talk about graciousness. Let the thugs be thugs and good men be good men.