Punggol East welcomes MP Koh Poh Koon

In the event of a 3-corner or 5-corner fight, the outcome needs no guessing. For an opposition party to win in a multi corner contest is like a one in a millionth chance. Though the result is as good as a foregone conclusion, the possibility of an upset is still there no matter how slim. Taking the rational and objective view, the PAP should win hands down just with its core 40% support, or even 35% at worst. It is as good as a walkover with the opposition parties thinking and believing that they were really in the race. Koh Poh Koon is as good as the new MP for Punggol East.

The interesting thing is if there is an upset. If against all odds, the WP wins, I am ruling out the rest as they are in no position to do better than the WP based on their track records, what will be the implications? For one, it will propel WP to the status as the party to win the next GE. To win in a multi corner fight against the PAP is no mean feat. It will also be a message to the other parties that they were just a bunch of jokers and may no longer be taken seriously in the GE. It will also send a loud message to the PAP that its days are numbered. I don’t believe SDP is serious to want to negotiate with WP to give way or go into a multi corner race. It will completely destroy the SDP for good, especially Chee Soon Juan. It will also send a loud signal to the professionals waiting on the sideline that the WP is the party to be with. It will also send a signal to those still wanting to join the PAP bandwagon to rethink, should they join a sinking ship.

This is going to be the kind of thinking should the WP win a multi corner contest. The whole political landscape will change in favour of the WP. It will be the dragon slayer and the party in waiting to govern the country.

What if, after all the hustling, it ends up with a straight fight and WP wins? This scenario is less dramatic as the outcome could be expected. At most it will be a small dent to the PAP’s armour and another pawn for the WP. In the bigger picture, it will show a PAP that is losing its ground and is likely to lose more ground in the next GE. As for the rest of the political parties, they will look pretty good as serious contenders that would not mess their chances when offered, not reckless but disciplined enough to make compromises and bid their turns. They will likely to gain more goodwill and a better image from the voters. They will be taken more seriously for acting responsibly.

How this game of political chess is being played is still anyone’s guess. Is it a well planned and orchestrated game being engineered by a Zhuge Liang or just an ordinary game of wild chances is still unknown. It can be either. The people will not just be watching the PAP but all the opposition parties as well, to measure them up. The opposition parties were seen as reasonable and respectable parties in the Hougang by election. Would they confirm this impression, or would they show hand to tell the voters that they are just a bunch of bankrupt jokers and cannot be depended on to run the country?

Japanese rightwingers a threat.

Japanese rightwingers a threat
Updated: 2013-01-09 08:07
( China Daily)


Comment on "Japan still haunted by the idea of militarism" (China Daily, Dec 20)

I agree with everything the author, Tom Clifford, has said in his article. There is no doubt that "there are disturbing similarities" between the rise of Japanese militarism in the 1930s and recent developments. The world knows full well the disastrous consequences of Japan's militarism for China, Asia and the rest of the world, including Japan itself.

But there are three major differences between now and the 1930s, which the Japanese should reflect on.

First, China is no longer the weak, divided and virtually rudderless country it was in the 1930s. China today is a united and confident country that has overtaken Japan to become the second largest economy in the world.

Second, neither is the rest of Asia a collection of backward countries controlled by Western colonial powers. Instead, it is, generally speaking, a group of economically dynamic and mostly politically stable states.

Finally, Japan is no longer a politically dynamic society. Rather it is a country with the largest aging population in Asia that has failed to educate its youth on the tragedy Japanese militarists brought down on their own country in their bid to conquer the rest of Asia through war and torture. As the old English saying goes, those who fail to understand the lessons of their own history are destined to repeat them.

Ross Grainger,


    Southernglory1    2013-01-09 21:48
     Chinese people not only in China but also in other parts of Asia especially in South East Asia had suffered enough of Japanese atrocities in the past. The Chinese people must not allow the Japanese militants to rise up again. The bankrupt Americans are playing with fire in a dangerous manner in supporting the right wing Japanese militarists to confront China as its proxy. China should be highly and fully prepared for an all out total war against the Japs and the sinful and desperate American warmongers. China must be prepared to destroy all the Japanese and American cities and military stations wherever they may be with atomic and hydrogen bombs. It is time to let the Japs and the Americans know that we Chinese have suffered enough from their aggressions and we will retaliate against them without mercy. If they want to destroy the world, let it be.

The Evil Empire, USA rearming Japan as its proxy against China

Japanese rightwingers a threat
Updated: 2013-01-09 08:07
( China Daily)


Comment on "Japan still haunted by the idea of militarism" (China Daily, Dec 20)

I agree with everything the author, Tom Clifford, has said in his article. There is no doubt that "there are disturbing similarities" between the rise of Japanese militarism in the 1930s and recent developments. The world knows full well the disastrous consequences of Japan's militarism for China, Asia and the rest of the world, including Japan itself.

But there are three major differences between now and the 1930s, which the Japanese should reflect on.

First, China is no longer the weak, divided and virtually rudderless country it was in the 1930s. China today is a united and confident country that has overtaken Japan to become the second largest economy in the world.

Second, neither is the rest of Asia a collection of backward countries controlled by Western colonial powers. Instead, it is, generally speaking, a group of economically dynamic and mostly politically stable states.

Finally, Japan is no longer a politically dynamic society. Rather it is a country with the largest aging population in Asia that has failed to educate its youth on the tragedy Japanese militarists brought down on their own country in their bid to conquer the rest of Asia through war and torture. As the old English saying goes, those who fail to understand the lessons of their own history are destined to repeat them.

Ross Grainger,


    Southernglory1    2013-01-09 21:48
     Chinese people not only in China but also in other parts of Asia especially in South East Asia had suffered enough of Japanese atrocities in the past. The Chinese people must not allow the Japanese militants to rise up again. The bankrupt Americans are playing with fire in a dangerous manner in supporting the right wing Japanese militarists to confront China as its proxy. China should be highly and fully prepared for an all out total war against the Japs and the sinful and desperate American warmongers. China must be prepared to destroy all the Japanese and American cities and military stations wherever they may be with atomic and hydrogen bombs. It is time to let the Japs and the Americans know that we Chinese have suffered enough from their aggressions and we will retaliate against them without mercy. If they want to destroy the world, let it be.

SGX to report daily short-selling volumes

Move will alert investors and help pricing efficiency as bourse gets more transparent
By Kenneth Lim

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will report daily short sales volumes for every counter beginning in March as it aggressively pursues leadership status in the field of risk management and transparency, the bourse announced yesterday.

In short-selling, traders borrow shares and sell them in the hope of buying them back cheaper in the future, thus profiting from a drop in the share price. With the rule, traders will have to tag as a short sale any trade in which the seller does not own the shares. SGX said it will publish daily reports on the total value and volume of short sales for each counter…quoted from the BT Premium online.

Personally I feel that allowing shorting to distort the market or value of stocks is unhealthy, undesirable and can be abused by the big boys to cheat the small traders. There must be a limit to how much stocks can be shorted to avoid market manipulation. Let there be genuine buyers and sellers and not naked shortists. It is just not right or good for the market when big boys have all the muscles to shake a market up or down.

Disclosing short selling positions is good. But this information is completely useless if the shortists could cover up their short positions by script borrowing. Scrip borrowing is a silly thing and must not be allowed except for trading errors, or if desirable, only a small limited number of short positions be allowed. Allowing shorting is already bad, naked short even badder, but nothing beats scrip lending to the shortists to destroy the value of good stocks and even the whole market with their unruly action.

If shorting is allowed, then let it be, let it be reported, and let the shortists cover their positions from the open market. Remove the scrip lending facilities. This facility should be used only for trading errors.

Punggol East by election has to be one on one

This is a truism that everyone knows. Anything other than this is a waste of time for the opposition parties. Are the opposition parties really going to go for a 5 corner fight or 3 corner fight?

I believe they are sensible people and will not let selfish interest, pride or ego get in the way and make a fool out of every one of them. And the joke will be on them if they do so. The other theory is that the moles will appear to do the most damage possible as this by election is going to be another big step for the opposition should they take another seat from the PAP.

How would it end up on nomination day? All the posturing and chest thumping could be just that and sanity would rule and a proper and real contest will be set up on polling day. That is what everyone wish to see, everyone who wants to see a good fight.

We will have to wait and see.