The Fukushima nuclear meltdown is still on going. The heat will take a long time to cool down. Singapore too is facing an intense heat that is refusing to cool down as well. The massive anger and dissatisfaction over a once the pride of the nation housing programme is still generating heat at an ever higher temperature. Under the thick concrete covering of a nuclear plant silo, the heat is well kept within in the deep. The housing problems too was well wrapped up in papers and looked as if everything was fine, till one fine day when the wrappers were removed.
The DBSS is now like a piece of rotten shit, smelly and filthy and likely to be thrown away. Next in line will be the Executive Condominium while the BTO is likely to go as well. It is really disgusting, really, for something so good that could turn so wrong. And no one has a clue about it. How could they know when there were reassurances after reassurances that all was well. No need to ask how it came about. The truth is all out there. Only those with eyes wide shut will say that there is no problem, that it is a blooming success, and the administrator deserved a gold medal for all the great work. They did give one to Lim Kim San then, the Magsaysay Award, for solving the housing problem.
I am figuring what kind of award shall be given for creating a housing problem that is so deep seated that after so many cooling measures the heat is still simmering, hot. And the new MND Minister is having sleepless night. Poor bugger. Don’t stress the small stuff huh, or it will be bad for the heart.
When or how long will Boon Wan be able to douse the heat and bring temperature to normal? It took great ingenuity and determination and great effort to solve the housing problem of old Singapore. And it took great effort and ingenuity to create this mountain of problem for a new man to solve. And he is complaining. Can’t blame him, as the problem is in such a knot that it will take at least 52 man years to solve. Take care, Boon Wan.
And I read a recommendation to the losers that if they cannot buy a flat, don't buy. So what's next, look for a rental flat? If also cannot afford or no rental flat how? Pitch a tent at the beach? If the authority comes and arrests you how? Never mind, can get free lodging then, maybe somewhere comfortable in Changi.
7/05/2011
7/04/2011
Talking down at the people
This is a political culture for several decades here. The dafts need to be treated as such. Father knows best and shall deliver. There is no need to listen, just be a deaf frog and do what is right. And if needed be, give them a public lecture on how lucky they were to have such talented leadership, and cheap too. They ought to be grateful for all the good things happening around them.
After the last GE, things took a dramatic change. Hsien Loong took the lead to apologise to the people for the govt’s mistakes and pledged to listen more to the people. Yes, the deaf frog is also listening I supposed. While those who have been talking down to the people were either whisked away or remain dumb, those who are still talking are now more polite and pleading with the people to give them time to do their jobs.
One or two tried some gimmicky comments and were taken to task immediately. Some are still learning and still talking down to the people. That is the advantage of being young. Young men tended to be a bit more cocky, a natural trait. The older and wiser ones are taking a different mode in engaging the people in the internet.
Would the younger leaders learn to be more engaging, more listening, or would they still think it is their right to talk down to the people? Ask lesser of the govt. Why don’t they ask lesser, take lesser, and do more instead? The people have got used to a very expensive govt that is asking more and more in terms of salary. And the people are reciprocating by asking more and more of the govt in return. You want to take more, show the people that you can do more, but not talk more. Talking is good when you can deliver. But before delivering, it is better to talk less and do more. Show the people what you can do. But don’t insist that you have done damn well when in fact you have messed up the show.
But as they said, it is good to be young. It is the privilege of the young to be a bit arrogant, a bit abrasive, and also the right to make some mistakes along the way. That is how older people gain their wisdom.
After the last GE, things took a dramatic change. Hsien Loong took the lead to apologise to the people for the govt’s mistakes and pledged to listen more to the people. Yes, the deaf frog is also listening I supposed. While those who have been talking down to the people were either whisked away or remain dumb, those who are still talking are now more polite and pleading with the people to give them time to do their jobs.
One or two tried some gimmicky comments and were taken to task immediately. Some are still learning and still talking down to the people. That is the advantage of being young. Young men tended to be a bit more cocky, a natural trait. The older and wiser ones are taking a different mode in engaging the people in the internet.
Would the younger leaders learn to be more engaging, more listening, or would they still think it is their right to talk down to the people? Ask lesser of the govt. Why don’t they ask lesser, take lesser, and do more instead? The people have got used to a very expensive govt that is asking more and more in terms of salary. And the people are reciprocating by asking more and more of the govt in return. You want to take more, show the people that you can do more, but not talk more. Talking is good when you can deliver. But before delivering, it is better to talk less and do more. Show the people what you can do. But don’t insist that you have done damn well when in fact you have messed up the show.
But as they said, it is good to be young. It is the privilege of the young to be a bit arrogant, a bit abrasive, and also the right to make some mistakes along the way. That is how older people gain their wisdom.
A few simple questions for the presidential candidates
With the three Tans, all ex PAP candidates, in the fray for the most highly paid president job in the whole wide world, for that matter, no president comes even near or half of what these president hopefuls will be getting, I just want to ask them individually, a few simple questions.
1. What would he think are the reasons/justifications for the EP to be paid $4m, plus whatever performance bonuses and growth bonuses if applicable?
2. Can any one of them confirm that the $4m is all the EP is getting and nothing more, excluding all the costs for the maintenance of the office?
3. Do the candidates believe that the remuneration for the EP is reasonable, or too much or too little?
4. If given a choice, how much does he think would be a reasonable sum for the EP?
5. If elected, will he take the full salary as what is deserving of the office, or would he think that it is too much and he would like to donate some to charity, and how much would he donate?
Answering the above questions will definitely help the voters to decide who they will elect. These are now the real issues that the voters are asking. Not how independent they are from the PAP. Never mind if they are sponsored by the PAP or not. Never mind the custodial duty or ceremonial duties. We all know what those duties are.
The people know that all the candidates are independent from the PAP. The people also know that they are not sponsored by the PAP. The people also know what each thinks his role is as the EP.
Just tell us how much you need to be the EP will do.
1. What would he think are the reasons/justifications for the EP to be paid $4m, plus whatever performance bonuses and growth bonuses if applicable?
2. Can any one of them confirm that the $4m is all the EP is getting and nothing more, excluding all the costs for the maintenance of the office?
3. Do the candidates believe that the remuneration for the EP is reasonable, or too much or too little?
4. If given a choice, how much does he think would be a reasonable sum for the EP?
5. If elected, will he take the full salary as what is deserving of the office, or would he think that it is too much and he would like to donate some to charity, and how much would he donate?
Answering the above questions will definitely help the voters to decide who they will elect. These are now the real issues that the voters are asking. Not how independent they are from the PAP. Never mind if they are sponsored by the PAP or not. Never mind the custodial duty or ceremonial duties. We all know what those duties are.
The people know that all the candidates are independent from the PAP. The people also know that they are not sponsored by the PAP. The people also know what each thinks his role is as the EP.
Just tell us how much you need to be the EP will do.
How much to serve the people?
Someone asked how much was needed to serve the people. The answer, $15k a month should be enough. What, that’s impossible! How to live a dignified lifestyle with that kind of pittance? This is what Chen Show Mao and Sylvia Lim needs to be a MP full time. They have both quitted their full time jobs. For Chen Show Mao, who was used to earning many times more, he would have a lot of adjusting to do. He may even have to take public transport or buy a HDB flat, downgrade his lifestyle to suit his smaller pay check. Another important question pops up? Would he be tempted to be corrupt if he is not being paid in the millions?
Chen Show Mao’s presence in the home political scene has disturbed the status quo of high paying sacrifices in politics. Do I make sense in this statement? Nevermind, it is not meant to make sense anyway. But you will get what I mean.
When Chen Show Mao returned to stand for the GE, some questioned his motives and sincerity as if he was a wolf in sheepskin. The doubts cast on him were full of skepticism and ill intent. They raised questions about his family, his children, why he spent so many years out of the country, even his accent.
Today, we heard that he had resigned from a high profile and very high paying job, to be an ordinary MP, to serve the people in the tropical heat of a void deck. No more designer suits, no more air conditioned comfort, no more fine dinings with the sikit atas and nice people, but plenty of kopitiam talks and shoulder rubbing with the losers.
Again, the skeptics and those with private agenda would be wagging their tongues about this new kid in the block. What is he up to? Is he up to any no good? Or is he of unsound mind? Such chivalry and sacrifice for a cause, a higher calling, is just too idealistic and can only be found in children’s fairy tales story books. Is he serious in what he is doing and would he quit after one term?
By the way, Chen Show Mao has never used the word ‘sacrifice’ in the all the things he is doing. He just came in from the cold and doing what many would demand a fortune to do. He is a man with a mission, a man of the moment, dispelling all the myths that we have all made to believe in. Would Times Magazine want to put his face on their front page?
Please pour more cold water on my head. This kind of things cannot be true. It is just not practical, not real. Or is he a freak, an alien? What is his belief? What kind of odd upbringings did he receive to do such things that normal people will scorn upon? Shall he be praised or shall he be shunned, to upset the impeccable window dressings in the expensive Orchard Road department stores?
Oh, time will tell, so they said.
Chen Show Mao’s presence in the home political scene has disturbed the status quo of high paying sacrifices in politics. Do I make sense in this statement? Nevermind, it is not meant to make sense anyway. But you will get what I mean.
When Chen Show Mao returned to stand for the GE, some questioned his motives and sincerity as if he was a wolf in sheepskin. The doubts cast on him were full of skepticism and ill intent. They raised questions about his family, his children, why he spent so many years out of the country, even his accent.
Today, we heard that he had resigned from a high profile and very high paying job, to be an ordinary MP, to serve the people in the tropical heat of a void deck. No more designer suits, no more air conditioned comfort, no more fine dinings with the sikit atas and nice people, but plenty of kopitiam talks and shoulder rubbing with the losers.
Again, the skeptics and those with private agenda would be wagging their tongues about this new kid in the block. What is he up to? Is he up to any no good? Or is he of unsound mind? Such chivalry and sacrifice for a cause, a higher calling, is just too idealistic and can only be found in children’s fairy tales story books. Is he serious in what he is doing and would he quit after one term?
By the way, Chen Show Mao has never used the word ‘sacrifice’ in the all the things he is doing. He just came in from the cold and doing what many would demand a fortune to do. He is a man with a mission, a man of the moment, dispelling all the myths that we have all made to believe in. Would Times Magazine want to put his face on their front page?
Please pour more cold water on my head. This kind of things cannot be true. It is just not practical, not real. Or is he a freak, an alien? What is his belief? What kind of odd upbringings did he receive to do such things that normal people will scorn upon? Shall he be praised or shall he be shunned, to upset the impeccable window dressings in the expensive Orchard Road department stores?
Oh, time will tell, so they said.
7/03/2011
When Boon Wan is doing the kpkb
Things are getting interesting when Boon Wan is doing the kpkb himself. Kpkb is going to take on a very special meaning now. He is infuriated with the BT report on the obscene profit that Sim Lian was supposed to make from Centrale 8. ‘I am working my guts out to try to calm the market, for the good of all Singaporeans. But I can’t do it alone. I need all to help.’
And Boon Wan has only been on the job for 5 weeks and found himself having sleepless night trying to solve an enormous problem that was non existence before he took office. His predecessor was having a cake walk then. Everything was going on smoothly according to plans, and Singaporeans got to be thankful for his skilled management of the housing problems. Oops, cannot call it a problem as there was no problem at all.
Perhaps Boon Wan may want to have tea with his predecessor and get a few good advices on how to manage a problem that was not a problem in the first place. Then he can have an easier life. Imagine him rushing out all the BTOs and pushing all the contractors to build in double quick time, cannot sleep, and the prices still uncontrollable. And he needs everyone to help him when all he needed is Mah Bow Tan to show him the ropes.
Or could it be that all the so called problems were imaginary. Look at the riotings in Hongkong. They have a real problem, and one of which is soaring property prices. The people are really getting hit and are walking the streets. Here, where got problem? I can’t see any problem. You can’t find more than 200 angry people at Hong Lim and you called it a problem?
And Centrale 8 is still very well received by the people. Many young people are finding the location and facilities excellent and willing to pay the asking price. You cannot call that a problem. The people are just too happy to pay. Stop imagining? The answer is very simple. Just tell yourself that there is no problem and the problem will disappear. If people come to kpkb about problems, tell them it is they themselves that are the problems. Other people, in fact at least 60% of the population, are very happy people. Or adopt the deaf frog approach, just believe that what you are doing is right and the best way to go. Your conscience will then be clear and you will be at peace with yourself, and the million dollar salary.
Now, how can the media help Boon Wan? To report that there were profiteering and that the prices were too high? Or to report that the prices are reasonable with very little profit? I think, just the personal opinion of a simple layman, if the buyers are told that developer’s costs are so high and the pricing is just right with minimum profit, then they can never expect the price to come any lower. You cannot expect the developer to build at a lost. So I think the buyers will buy up the whole Centrale 8 at the asking price. If the price is excessively high as reported, would it not put fear to the buyers and to pressure other developers to bring the price down?
On the one hand it was worrying that the price was too high. Now it is claimed that it is reasonable, with little profit? Which view will create more problems?
Maybe the media shall not report on those rich interviewees who said the prices are affordable or reasonable. And then report on those who are complaining that the prices are too high, cannot afford them? There is a choice in reporting, really. The Hongkong demonstration was reported to have 200,000 participants by the organisers and only 50,000 by the police. And the readers also have a choice to read what they want to believe in the media.
So, is the price of Centrale 8 high or low? Is there a housing problem here? Now who is to say that a $1m Ferrari is expensive? It all depends on whether you can afford it. To some it is cheap, cheap, cheap.
By the way, what is the hooha about? The market forces will set the property prices. Those who can afford, buy, those who cannot, downgrade their expectations. Problem solved already.
And Boon Wan has only been on the job for 5 weeks and found himself having sleepless night trying to solve an enormous problem that was non existence before he took office. His predecessor was having a cake walk then. Everything was going on smoothly according to plans, and Singaporeans got to be thankful for his skilled management of the housing problems. Oops, cannot call it a problem as there was no problem at all.
Perhaps Boon Wan may want to have tea with his predecessor and get a few good advices on how to manage a problem that was not a problem in the first place. Then he can have an easier life. Imagine him rushing out all the BTOs and pushing all the contractors to build in double quick time, cannot sleep, and the prices still uncontrollable. And he needs everyone to help him when all he needed is Mah Bow Tan to show him the ropes.
Or could it be that all the so called problems were imaginary. Look at the riotings in Hongkong. They have a real problem, and one of which is soaring property prices. The people are really getting hit and are walking the streets. Here, where got problem? I can’t see any problem. You can’t find more than 200 angry people at Hong Lim and you called it a problem?
And Centrale 8 is still very well received by the people. Many young people are finding the location and facilities excellent and willing to pay the asking price. You cannot call that a problem. The people are just too happy to pay. Stop imagining? The answer is very simple. Just tell yourself that there is no problem and the problem will disappear. If people come to kpkb about problems, tell them it is they themselves that are the problems. Other people, in fact at least 60% of the population, are very happy people. Or adopt the deaf frog approach, just believe that what you are doing is right and the best way to go. Your conscience will then be clear and you will be at peace with yourself, and the million dollar salary.
Now, how can the media help Boon Wan? To report that there were profiteering and that the prices were too high? Or to report that the prices are reasonable with very little profit? I think, just the personal opinion of a simple layman, if the buyers are told that developer’s costs are so high and the pricing is just right with minimum profit, then they can never expect the price to come any lower. You cannot expect the developer to build at a lost. So I think the buyers will buy up the whole Centrale 8 at the asking price. If the price is excessively high as reported, would it not put fear to the buyers and to pressure other developers to bring the price down?
On the one hand it was worrying that the price was too high. Now it is claimed that it is reasonable, with little profit? Which view will create more problems?
Maybe the media shall not report on those rich interviewees who said the prices are affordable or reasonable. And then report on those who are complaining that the prices are too high, cannot afford them? There is a choice in reporting, really. The Hongkong demonstration was reported to have 200,000 participants by the organisers and only 50,000 by the police. And the readers also have a choice to read what they want to believe in the media.
So, is the price of Centrale 8 high or low? Is there a housing problem here? Now who is to say that a $1m Ferrari is expensive? It all depends on whether you can afford it. To some it is cheap, cheap, cheap.
By the way, what is the hooha about? The market forces will set the property prices. Those who can afford, buy, those who cannot, downgrade their expectations. Problem solved already.
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