Punggol East SMC, 还我公道

The similarities in the Michael Palmer affair and that of Yaw Shin Leong were unparallel, almost identical. The Yaw Affair put the WP in a very bad light and caught Low Thia Khiang with hands tied behind his back. There was nothing that he could do except to swallow humble pie, took the slaps, left and turn the other right, meekly. What else could he do otherwise?

It was a great triumph for the PAP. They stood on high moral grounds and principles. They slammed the WP thoroughly with everything they got. Every point that could be scored was taken. The defeat was almost complete, nearly, if not for the result of the by election. That was a rude awakening to the PAP, that despite standing on high moral grounds and from a recent moral victory, they still lost the seat to the WP.

Though the WP managed to secure Hougang, they were treading on dangerous ground. They need to take a very low profile, be very careful and meticulous, not to make any mistake till the next GE. They must hold the ground tightly. Another scandal will be the end of all the good works they have done.

The PAP was waiting outside the fence, looking for holes and waiting for a clear opportunity to score a decisive goal. They needed time for the shaky ground to turn sour for the WP.

No one in the WP or the PAP could ever dream of this Palmer Affair that is going to present the WP with a penalty kick. In the last assault on the WP during the Yaw Affair, the WP must have conscientiously recorded every word the PAP and its ministers had said. Low Thia Khiang may have even etched these words on his back, never to be forgotten. Now he is being presented a chance, on a golden platter, to serve the same words to the PAP with glee. I can see him smiling.

Every PAP ministers who had spoken would now be put to test to stand by what they preached, on high moral grounds, to say the same in the Palmer Affair. Twisting and changing their stance would compromise their integrity and subject them to public scrutiny as men and women of principles and high morals. Not chastising Palmer/PAP in the same way they did to Yaw/WP is unacceptable and will call into question their honesty and sincerity as men and leaders of a just and fair society. Would they deny what they had spoken, steered away and hide in the corner to wait for the dust to settle? Unfortunately this dust will not settle until they say the same things once again, to Palmer and to clear their party of such improper conduct, to be seen as fair and consistent on acts of misconduct and behaviour. Everyone of them will have to account for the same mistake of Palmer.

It is a tough call, to swallow one’s own words. There is no where to hide. Every word they said is on record. Would it be apologies not enough?

Punggol East SMC up for grabs

Would there be a by election in Punggol East with Michael Palmers’ resignation? I think so, and many also think so. What do you think?

The opposition parties would be having a pow wow now on who should have the right to contest this seat. I couldn’t remember who fought against him the last time. If I am not mistaken it was a 3 corner fight with Lee Li Lian from WP and Desmond Lim the third candidate from SDA. These two parties should have priority or the first right of refusal to fight the seat one more time. This seems to be the guiding principle among the opposition parties and may help to defuse a power struggle and bad blood from spilling.

Punggol East is near to Low Thia Khiang’s stronghold of Hougang and Aljunied. Is it going to be another PAP versu WP fight and SDA again? Or would it be a two party fight?

Michael Palmer resigned due to grave mistake.

It is in the news. The Speaker of Parliament, Michael Palmer, has resigned due to ‘grave mistake’ of improper conduct. It was quoted that he had a relationship with a staff in the People’s Association.

Strangling the CPF golden goose

The CPF was the best thing that could happen to Sinkie workers. The high contribution rate was a bit painful for the start, but on hindsight it is actually planning for the ugly future that Sinkies would have to face. Sinkies must by now realize that their income is an income to last 3 or 4 life times.

They need the income to keep them alive during their productive years. Count this as one life time. They need an equal amount or more with inflation added, to keep them alive for another life time when they are unproductive or retired. They also need an income of an equivalent amount to bring up children. Now there are two big expense items equivalent to their life time expenses, housing and private transport if they want that comfort. And if they are unlucky, they need a much bigger sum, more than they need in a life time to pay for the days they need to be hospitalized.

A Sinkie needs to earn 5 or 6 times an income during his working years. Sinkie must divide whatever income he is getting today by 5 or 6 times. He can only afford to spend 1/5 or 1/6 of his income if he is to survive the journey. For a Sinkie earning $3000 per month, he can only spend a max of $600 if he is to survive to his retirement age. Actually the CPF was very well positioned to do the job until….

What the Sinkies did not prepare for, beyond their control, is that some wise guys got an enlightenment. They saw the huge sums of money in the Sinkies’ CPF and started to plan to use this for all kinds of things. Make public housing affordable according to how much the Sinkies can afford to pay from their CPF. They forgot that the Sinkies needed the money for a life time for many other needs. Now the CPF is practically empty or just enough for housing alone.

The CPF was the golden goose that lays the golden eggs. Now the eggs are gone or going. The goose is being made to lay more eggs but cannot keep up with losing the eggs. And when the goose is old and dry, when no more eggs can be laid, and no more eggs are left for winter, it is like a futile exercise. The golden goose is expected to lay a life time of eggs for the golden years. But the eggs have all been harvested, gone long before anyone knows what is happening.

Struck by lightning

Last evening on my way back, the sky was ominously dark. Lightning and thunder bolts were striking everywhere. It was like the gods in heaven were angry. Those under the shelter in the MRT stations should count themselves lucky not to have been in the open as the gods are blind and lightning can strike anywhere.

This morning I flipped through the papers thinking that the lightning could cause some damage to structures or even hitting people in the open. The golfers are particularly dangerous in such foul weather. Luckily there is no news of anyone being struck by lightning.

All peaceful under the heaven again. 天下太平.