‘The Malaysian government may impose a one-house-per-individual restriction, according to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Minister of Domestic Trade Cooperatives and Consumerism.
He said that any individual who wants to acquire a second home must sell his /her first house and that the government is studying the possibility of approving only 10 percent rental increases for houses once a contract expires.’
Ahh, the immediate reaction from the smart sinkies is that this must be the stupidest thing to do. They have so much land and the only thing that needs to be done is to build and build and build, like what Singapore is doing. Just increase the supply and there will be no problem at all. Oops, I think to build and increase supply to prevent a housing bubble is only discovered by the smart sinkies recently.
Now, what is the issue? Malaysia has plenty of land, more than adequate to build a house for every citizen. And they are worried of the housing problem. In our little piece of rock when we are not careful and slipped, we may fall into the sea, and we are building and building and selling and selling as if land is unlimited. I think the Malaysians should come over and learn from our geniuses here. They can keep pulling out houses from a small hat like rabbits. It is simply magical.
Personally I am not sneering at the Malaysians. There is some wisdom to the crazy city folks thinking of selling everything when there is profit to be made. The housing game is going out of control, particularly when land is so limited. Everyone needs a home in the first place. And to turn homes into casino chips to be gambled on the casino table is reckless and irresponsible beyond words.
Not only Malaysia is worried about the housing gambling game. Australia and many other bigger countries are concerned about the wanton selling of land and properties to foreigners for speculation, which some called affectionately as investment.
There is a Chinese saying, die also dunno how to write. Housing and property investment are taking on a new shape and no longer the same any more. We may have something to learn from the Malaysians after all.
9/15/2011
Two legs good, one leg best – Redbean
We have the best political system in the world. We are not bragging, the results are out there for all to see. In a short span of 46 years, we have created a first world city state with affluence as a way of life. Everyone is rich in his own way. Poverty is an exception. Practically every child is well fed, housed and in school.
All these we have to thank our one party political system. We can get it so far because of a one party dominant political system. If we have a two party system or multi party political system, we will be in a quagmire like many third world countries. But we persevered in a non communist, non dictatorial, non autocratic one party democratic system. And it works.
And this one party system must go on. Anyone talking about a two party or multi party system is talking about ruining the good things and the good life here. The alternative parties have made advances in the last GE. And it is likely to gain more seats in future GEs. But can they really help and make our country better? Will they be competitive and yet cooperative with the ruling party? Will they be asking embarrassing questions that they should not be asking to make the ruling party look bad in the eyes of the people?
Definitely not. There are too many things that happened over the last few decades that need answers. The people are fed up and wanted to know what is happening, the truths that have yet to be told. Just by asking these questions would put the opposition MPs in a bad light, that they are destructive, trying to score political points. And when the questions get to a stage of being more than just an irritation, would the ruling party say that it is part of the political process, that all the questions were belated and should have been asked long ago and the answers given? Or would the ruling party ride the high horse of rough shod over the opposition party MPs and harden its position?
The latter is likely to be the case. A two party system just cannot work, at least until the carpet is lifted, the cupboard of skeletons aired before things can settle down to a new normal. Only then can a multi party system go ahead in a truly democratic way.
This looks unlikely and a one party system is still the only way, the best way to go forward. But a one party system must not be of another political hue. It must be the same ruling party. A one party system that can work is a one party belonging to the same ruling party, not just any one party. Two parties are good, one party best.
All these we have to thank our one party political system. We can get it so far because of a one party dominant political system. If we have a two party system or multi party political system, we will be in a quagmire like many third world countries. But we persevered in a non communist, non dictatorial, non autocratic one party democratic system. And it works.
And this one party system must go on. Anyone talking about a two party or multi party system is talking about ruining the good things and the good life here. The alternative parties have made advances in the last GE. And it is likely to gain more seats in future GEs. But can they really help and make our country better? Will they be competitive and yet cooperative with the ruling party? Will they be asking embarrassing questions that they should not be asking to make the ruling party look bad in the eyes of the people?
Definitely not. There are too many things that happened over the last few decades that need answers. The people are fed up and wanted to know what is happening, the truths that have yet to be told. Just by asking these questions would put the opposition MPs in a bad light, that they are destructive, trying to score political points. And when the questions get to a stage of being more than just an irritation, would the ruling party say that it is part of the political process, that all the questions were belated and should have been asked long ago and the answers given? Or would the ruling party ride the high horse of rough shod over the opposition party MPs and harden its position?
The latter is likely to be the case. A two party system just cannot work, at least until the carpet is lifted, the cupboard of skeletons aired before things can settle down to a new normal. Only then can a multi party system go ahead in a truly democratic way.
This looks unlikely and a one party system is still the only way, the best way to go forward. But a one party system must not be of another political hue. It must be the same ruling party. A one party system that can work is a one party belonging to the same ruling party, not just any one party. Two parties are good, one party best.
9/14/2011
China helping the ingrates!
The US and its European partners have been challenging and questioning China's sincerity as a responsible superpower. Bloomberg has just reported that China will be extending a helping hand to Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal and also investment bank Morgan Stanley to overcome their financial crises. China was also instrumental in helping the US tied over their own financial crisis in 2008. And who caused all the crises?
The question is whether these ingrates would turnaround to bite China after they have been nursed to health by China's financial assistance. While the US is running around farting, and only offer words, the Chinese are going to unload its cash hoards to these crippled nations.
So, who is really the irresponsible one?
The question is whether these ingrates would turnaround to bite China after they have been nursed to health by China's financial assistance. While the US is running around farting, and only offer words, the Chinese are going to unload its cash hoards to these crippled nations.
So, who is really the irresponsible one?
Notable Quotes by Zaqy Mohamad
‘Mr Zaqy Mohamad, MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC and member of the PAP New Media Sub-Committee, said he's also seeing more Singaporeans "frustrated" by what they deem as "misinformation" online.’
I think the safest place for readers who want to read only the truth instead of misinformation will be the main media. These are official and professional news media whose articles are written by professionals who took great pride and integrity in their work and would double and triple check their work for accuracy and truth before publishing them.
All thinking people who are hungry for the truth and cannot figure out what is truth, untruth, misinformation, propaganda, half truths etc should just read the main media for their own safety. And for the unthinking, where else is the safest place to read the truth without having to think?
PS. Now that I am telling the official truth, I hope my blog will be classified as safe for reading and those who want to read only the truth and not misinformation will come visiting: )
I think the safest place for readers who want to read only the truth instead of misinformation will be the main media. These are official and professional news media whose articles are written by professionals who took great pride and integrity in their work and would double and triple check their work for accuracy and truth before publishing them.
All thinking people who are hungry for the truth and cannot figure out what is truth, untruth, misinformation, propaganda, half truths etc should just read the main media for their own safety. And for the unthinking, where else is the safest place to read the truth without having to think?
PS. Now that I am telling the official truth, I hope my blog will be classified as safe for reading and those who want to read only the truth and not misinformation will come visiting: )
Property prices to drop by 10%
The writing is on the wall. With the cooling measures in place, and the ramping up of supply, property sales are going down. So is my hope for my $1m HDB flat. The developers are worried. Some are calling Boon Wan to free up all the cooling measures to allow property prices to go up again.
The frenzy of the last few years, the high profits of the developers and speculators may now see some earning lesser than before. This is no good.
We must not violate the principles and virtues of running businesses for profits. The cooling measures are bad in preventing smart people from making a rip off from the property market. The developers will be discouraged to bid higher prices for land and may not want to develop more properties. Our GDP will suffer. Foreigners with their container loads of cash will not be pouring their money here and all of us will be poorer.
I support the developer’s call for the removing of all the artificial measures to curb property prices. The market forces must be allowed to dictate the prices of properties. And knowing how limited our land is, property prices can only go up in a free market system. The speculators and investors know the number game. All Singaporeans will be enormously rich if the land is free for sale.
Before the property market is let loose again, I have one caveat. The profits from the sale of all properties must be equally share by the Singaporeans. And a census be taken immediately and the profits will only go to Singaporeans who have been Singaporeans for at least 10 years. New Singaporeans shall not reap the profit of this selling Singapore exercise.
When this is done, there is no more need to curb property prices or any prices. Let the market do the talking. And no need to restrain influx of foreigners. The more they come the better it is as they will contribute to the higher demand. My HDB flat may not be $1m. It could be $2m or more.
When all the land has been sold, a tally should be conducted and all the profits share by the Singaporeans. And they can have the choice of staying here or migrating to bigger countries where land is aplenty. Singaporeans will have choices from the profits of a free economy and the freest country in the world. Everything is market price. Everyone has choices, to stay or to go, after collecting their windfall.
No need for any emotional attachment to this island. It can go to the highest bidder, as long as the money is spread to all Singaporeans. We can grow the population to 20m or 30m. It could be the most sophisticated and most modern city state. No need to restrict car ownership too. Just pay when one drives at a rate determined by the market and congestion on the road.
Singapore will be a truly vibrant, prosperous and international city of the world.
The frenzy of the last few years, the high profits of the developers and speculators may now see some earning lesser than before. This is no good.
We must not violate the principles and virtues of running businesses for profits. The cooling measures are bad in preventing smart people from making a rip off from the property market. The developers will be discouraged to bid higher prices for land and may not want to develop more properties. Our GDP will suffer. Foreigners with their container loads of cash will not be pouring their money here and all of us will be poorer.
I support the developer’s call for the removing of all the artificial measures to curb property prices. The market forces must be allowed to dictate the prices of properties. And knowing how limited our land is, property prices can only go up in a free market system. The speculators and investors know the number game. All Singaporeans will be enormously rich if the land is free for sale.
Before the property market is let loose again, I have one caveat. The profits from the sale of all properties must be equally share by the Singaporeans. And a census be taken immediately and the profits will only go to Singaporeans who have been Singaporeans for at least 10 years. New Singaporeans shall not reap the profit of this selling Singapore exercise.
When this is done, there is no more need to curb property prices or any prices. Let the market do the talking. And no need to restrain influx of foreigners. The more they come the better it is as they will contribute to the higher demand. My HDB flat may not be $1m. It could be $2m or more.
When all the land has been sold, a tally should be conducted and all the profits share by the Singaporeans. And they can have the choice of staying here or migrating to bigger countries where land is aplenty. Singaporeans will have choices from the profits of a free economy and the freest country in the world. Everything is market price. Everyone has choices, to stay or to go, after collecting their windfall.
No need for any emotional attachment to this island. It can go to the highest bidder, as long as the money is spread to all Singaporeans. We can grow the population to 20m or 30m. It could be the most sophisticated and most modern city state. No need to restrict car ownership too. Just pay when one drives at a rate determined by the market and congestion on the road.
Singapore will be a truly vibrant, prosperous and international city of the world.
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