A by election for regime change

There are many angles to look at this by election. At the very basic level will be a fight of personality and acceptance between the two candidates. At the next level will be a contest between the ruling party and the opposition, represented by the WP. It is very encouraging to see the opposition parties closing ranks on this issue, to stand together and not to be a spoilt brat by being the third party. But don’t worry, a third party will appear if things are as predictable as before. There will be clowns standing up for all the wrong reasons to mess up the fight.

Another big issue is the agenda for regime change. The vibes in cyberspace have been loud and clear, that a regime change is what they want. They are fed up of the ruling party for being what it is, refusing to change its attitude of talking down to the people and thinking it knows best. What it wants to do, it will do regardless of how painful it is to the people and regardless of how the people scream and shout.

The population explosion and all its unpleasant consequences of high inflation, high cost of living, congestion, high property and car prices, foreigners taking over the plum jobs of locals, are very painful to the citizens. Given foreigners a pink IC does not make that person a Singaporean, albeit legally. If that be the case, the whole govt can be foreigners or new citizens tomorrow. This disturbing policy has risen to a level that is seeing xenophobia starting to raise its ugly head. It has never been like that before. Singaporeans are proud of its migrant history and always welcome foreigners here. But when too many foreigners are getting on their nerves, it becomes anger.

How would this translate into an election issue? To quote a financial adviser, Tan Kay Kerng, ‘We need to have an official representative of the people and not to have a caretaker group of people who are looking after us.’ This statement sums up the attitude and mindset of the PAP. It wants to rule the people, be the master of the people, think for the people, telling the people what to do and what cannot do, and they will call the shot. Whether the people like it or not, they will do it. More immigrants needed. Period. Don’t bug me. We have decided. We will not change course. We are master. We know best.

Would the Hougang residents elect an MP to tell them that it is govt policy and they will have to live with it, vote for all govt policies and not against any? Or would they vote for a representative, their representative, to represent them, their views, their unhappiness, what they want done, in parliament? Do they want a govt that will decide everything for them in a ‘we know better’ and ‘it is good for you’. Or would they want a govt that will listen and make policies that the people want? Do they want to elect a master or a servant to serve them in parliament?

Hougang by election on 26 May

Nomination Day will be 16 of May. This is an interesting event to watch from all corners. How would the opposition parties react? Would there be a mad scramble to be in the arena, like fools rush in? Or would they be united and give deference to the Worker's Party to fight a one to one battle without any spoilers?

On the PAP side, the result is going to be closely watched and it could foretell its fortune in the next GE. The people of Hougang will set the tone for what lies ahead. It may be a simple by election. But it has far reaching consequences for everyone.

The art of making Asians lick everything

The Titanic, the Unsinkable cruise liner, the biggest of its time, the biggest technological achievement of Britain, the biggest flop, the biggest tragedy!

If the sinking of the Titanic were to happen to any Asian or African country, it would be a national shame, like the failure of the satellite launch by the North Koreans. The western media will have a field day laughing their guts out. Daft Koreans could not even build a rocket to launch a satellite. What would it be if the Titanic was built by the North Koreans or the Russians or the Chinese? The West would be giggling themselves crazy and laughing on their stomachs.

100 years on, the British and their silly former colonies are celebrating the sinking of this mammoth ship that took thousands of lives of the British and European elite class, the aristocracy, the royalties and the gentries. Yes, they are celebrating the ill fated maiden voyage of a ship they called the Unsinkable that sunk on its very first voyage. Instead of shame and agony, it is time for celebration and a big PR blitz complete with memorabilia and keepsakes of the romantic times.

It was not a failure of technology. It was human error. Everyone was celebrating and allowed the ship to kiss an iceberg. It is all about how to reframe a story. We should learn a bit from this media blitz and celebrate the daily breakdowns of our MRT system, the jewel of achievement of a first world country known for flawless efficiency. Maybe it is too early to make such a celebration when there is a BOI. Maybe at least to wait till the BOI is over. Maybe we can wait for another 100 years to make it real big and after all the angst and cursing is over, and a future generation that just want to have a good time, no matter what reasons or occasions.

Clever ideas for COEs

The frustration faced by car owners and potential car owners is raising temperature by the look of the numerous appeals to the authority to revise the system. Many see the systems as totally flawed and have offered many clever ideas to make it more reasonable.

These well intended proposals by the public are nothing new, nothing difficult to figure out and nothing extraordinary. The super talents would have even much better ideas to improve the system. They are not duds. They know exactly what they are doing and why they are doing and why they refused to see from the perspective of the frustrated car owners. Do not underestimate their talents.

What the public failed to see is that the COE is the biggest cash cow to the govt next to the CPF and HDB. And it is even more efficient as a source of revenue with practically zero cost and zero effort. Printing a piece of paper is all it takes to collect a $100k. Why should the govt want to change this ATM and cut its revenue? And with the foreign talents with bigger pockets coming ashore, it is even better to make sure that the COE goes even higher. And for those who are earning tens of thousands a month, the convenience of a car and lesser cars on the road are things that they would not mind paying for. They only need to make sure their income and salary increases are ahead of the COE prices.

The unhappy public need not waste their time and talent with their clever suggestions. The deaf frogs would not listen as they know very well how flawed this system is to the car owners who cannot afford to pay higher COEs. It is a biased system in favour of the rich and you know who.

Miserables don’t rebel

I posted an article yesterday with the title ‘Miserables rebelling’. Actually it is not a true reflection of the situation. The miserables are very happy, contented with the warmth inside a boiling kettle, like the frogs. They are oblivious to what is going to happen except fearing that outside could be very cold.

The people who are speaking up are far from being miserables. Ngiam Tong Dow, Lim Chong Yah, Tommy Koh etc etc are very well endowed financially. They are the elite and are having a great life. Why are they speaking up? It must be a matter of conscience, of a sense of justice. They are very secured people that need not step out to brave the storm. They could remain in the comfort of their cocoons, shielded from all the noises, all the inequalities, and live very comfortably in their own world. They did not have to put up with small flats do not affect the quality of life stupidity. They did not have to squeeze for a standing place in a crammed train or bus. They need not be irritated by the unwashed and smelly workers. They need not worry that a COE is $100k.

The fact that they are speaking out is a sign that they did not like what they see. The injustice and inequalities in the society must have become too stark and unbearable. In our kind of political system, it takes not only a man of conscience and passion to want to right a wrong for the good of people and country. It takes a very brave man to do that. In the case of Lim Chong Yah, he is will to have his salary frozen for the next three years. He and all his high earning relatives and friends would have to do so if his recommendation is implemented. Yes, putting the money where the mouth is, and lead by example. “If I don’t go down to Hades, who should go instead?’