Mysingaporenews is a Singaporean blog

I couldn’t believe that I have posted some 7,000 articles in this blog over the years. When I started I wanted this blog to be a very provocative blog, teasing and tearing at the conventional thinking process, challenging the readers to look at things from different perspectives. I hope I have not failed in doing this. I just got screwed by several bloggers in TRE in my latest post on ‘Not owning a car is better quality living.’ What is apparent is that the readers read everything I said at face value, even with so many hints that it was not meant to be what it appeared to be. Only a few who have got used to my style and the innuendoes were able to see the subtle meanings and cynicisms from under the table. : )

The other major line of thought in this blog is that it is all about Singaporeans, about the interests of Singaporeans and the well being of this island. There is a Singaporean Spirit in us, among us, a string that weaved through the hearts of all Singaporeans as one people. It is there and still there, but flickering and may go off if we are not careful. I am not sure if the underlying mesage gets through, that readers can feel a greater sense of being Singaporeans, and feel responsible for this island and wanted to be and to do something no matter how small for this country.

As for the non Singaporeans, this blog may give them an idea of what being Singaporeans is all about, and the story of Singaporeans and how this island state is evolving, a continuous work in progress, or in regress.

The idea of national interest, country and people, have been in my vein, probably imbibed through the years when I was in uniform and then as a civil servant in Mindef. I was at one time even lecturing in the National Education Course. So this blog is kind of a continuation of what I was doing officially then and unofficially now, in educating Singaporeans about their country and what is happening to their country. Don’t let the Singaporean Spirit die. Don’t let anyone kill it. This is a constant banging at the consciousness and the subconscious, to kick the morose mind to a state of awareness and to take cognizance of what is happening. It is only when Singaporeans become more aware and politicised and understood what is happening around them would they stand up to play a more active role in the making of their country.

The affairs of the state, the well being of the country and its people, are not just the responsibility of a chosen few, the elected few. It is a matter that concerns every Singaporean, it is not just an economic matter, material well being, but a matter of the heart. Every Singaporean, a civilian, a civil servant, men and women in green or in blue or in civee, must always have the interests of the state and people uppermost in their minds, guiding their actions for the good of the nation and people. Only then can the people as citizens of this country continue to exist as one people and one nation. Anyone who loses this moral compass and strays, and compromises these principles for the wrong reasons would have to answer to his conscience and his children and grand children in times to come.

After writing so many articles over so many years, there is a big risk of going astray and walk down the wrong road like all human beans do. Every now and then it is nice to take stock and realign the compass to stay on the course. If our country ends up in the hands of foreigners and not our children, we are to be blamed.

I used to work in the little zoo in Tanglin and often have tea with the bird keepers in the bird park down the road. Those were quite some time back, Most of the bird keepers have retired, and so were the zoo keepers. I hope this blog will be able to bring more Singaporeans together to think and be like Singaporeans and not let the flame of nationhood be extinguished by the presence of too many foreigners and new citizens that may have different dreams from us.

Keep the Singaporean Spirit alive in each and every one of us.

$600,000 lifetime payouts cum benefits for Singapore citizens

This is the number that is being paraded as the amount a young Sinkie couple with two children will receive from the Govt. In many countries, such an amount is equivalent to a very rich man. But in Sin City it is nothing, and the amount is only subsidies or handouts from the Govt. I am sure many people from across the world will be salivating on this news. Singapore is indeed a very rich country and the Govt is giving away money, plenty of money, to its citizens.

Why would anyone not be rushing to be a citizen here? And why would a Sinkie be unhappy with the new citizens who are likely to receive a fair amount of this $600,000. You get paid generously to be a Singapore Citizen. Why would a Govt give away so much money to new citizens who barely live in the island, pay the taxes or contribute much to the country?

Hear already angry liao. Our Govt so generous with giving away our money to new citizens. Now you know why the true blue citizens are angry. It is not just citizenship and the rights to the normal privileges of citizenship but big money in the forms of big subsidies plus outright cash.

Shouldn’t the Gov’t be more discriminating in who to take in and how much to give to them taking into consideration their contributions and length of residency? And with this type of money the Govt is giving, it should advertise it in the international media and there will be a very long queue of foreigners wanting to come here. Then the Govt can pick and choose only the deserving ones, plus stating all the conditions out front, like NS and if abscond, must return the subsidies and benefits. Can’t be giving all the money away for nothing right? There is no free lunch and no charity to Sinkies, why to foreigners who turn new citizens?

Singapore for Singaporeans!

Sorry ah, I just feel like shouting this empty slogan for one last time before it is being buried for good. Yes, the Sinkies have built this country from a swamp to a first world city. But looks like the Sinkies are not being able to do better going forward.

What is needed now are the foreign talents to come and help the Sinkies to move forward to improve their lot and turn this into a better country for Sinkies.

Sinkies must be grateful that these talented foreigners are here to help built this island. They could all remain in their home country and build their countries into first world, better than Sin City. You see the big sacrifice? Now they have forsaken their own countries, letting their homeland to rot, some still stuck in third world status, only to come here to help us. I am sure their countries will miss their great talents and contributions and their own people will be calling them traitors or ingrates.

Be thankful Sinkies. Singapore for Singaporean slogan should, yes, rightly be an empty forgotten slogan. Let’s utter the new one, Singapore for FTs. They rightly deserve it aren’t they, quitting their countries for our sake? Perhaps someone should hold a rally for this new slogan at Hong Lim to honour the FTs. Singaporeans are history, I mean true blue, born and bred Sinkies.

What do you think?

What is a true blue Singaporean?

I think many would like to know what this term means. The true blue Singaporeans will definitely know without having to scratch his head. You can see a true blue Singaporeans here and overseas by his mannerism, his lingo and his interests. There will be no mistaken identity. The new citizens, many will not be able to pass off as a Singaporean here or overseas. Our Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasians are a unique kind, different from their counterparts from whatever countries. Only those that are not, or those who refuse to acknowledge the true blue will pretend that they don’t know or very difficult to define. Let me attempt a definition and I don’t expect everyone to agree.

First, all those who were here in 1965 and were citizens or subsequently made citizens is a true blue Singaporean. All born and bred and served NS is another. All those new citizens who have served NS is also another. This latter category is to accept new citizens who are willing to serve the nation like all NSmen.

For the ladies or those who are not eligible to do NS, a 10 year citizenship should be a reasonable time to qualify one as a true blue Singaporean. This condition is used so as not to disqualify the newcomers/citizens or to alienate them. We welcome our new citizens as one of ours after some time. The 10 year is arbitrary of course.

Then there are true blue Singaporeans who ran away because of NS or other reasons, economic, education etc and still very Singaporean. They are still true blue except that they have run foul of the NS law. They could return and be one of us, after paying their dues.

All the children of true blue Singaporeans are true blue Singaporeans. No question about this.

Now, would my definition be inclusive enough? I think these terms would at least draw some lines as to who is or who is not. There will be exceptions outside these parameters and could be treated differently on a case by case basis. Not that difficult isn’t it. No need to scratch the head for another ten years with scholars to come up with these simple criteria.

Any disagree? Go ahead, no problem.

Not owning a car is better quality living

One of the measures introduced in the 2013 Budget that will come down hard on the people is the control of car ownership. It hits the people in two ways, higher ARF, lower loan allowed and lesser time to repay. On face value many Sinkies aspiring to own a car as a convenient mode of transport will have red faces and veins protruding from their necks. Those that really need a car for business, for ferrying little ones or ancient ones, or physically difficult ones, will be less forgiving. I am expecting a public outcry on this alone.

But putting the anger and disappointment aside, not buying a car is really a good thing. Really, trust me. Look, this is a depreciating asset that will run out of value in 10 years. It runs out faster than the 99 year HDB flats. Why pay so much for it? Further, public transportation is so cheap, convenient and efficient. There is no need for a private car.

And with the prices of cars getting only more expensive, taxi fares, even if they go up, will still be so much cheaper. There are plenty of rooms to raise taxi fares as there is a big gap between the fares here and the big cities. So enjoy the cheap taxi fares when you can before someone claims so hard to get a cab.

Actually the Govt is doing the people a big favour by discouraging those that cannot afford to buy cars not to buy one. Too expensive lah. But if you can afford it, can pay for higher ARF and put up bigger cash payments, ok lah, go for it.

Many people will be saving a lot of money for not buying cars. It is like people saving money by not going to eat in restaurant. It would be different if people don’t eat or can’t afford to eat in order to save some money. Eat they must, just like some people cannot move without cars. For such desperate cases, just too bad. Sure the Govt will empathise with them, hand over heart. No, cannot say if cannot afford cars take public transport lah. This is a cruel thing to say. Politically incorrect. By the way, with another 1.6m talented foreigners coming in, they too will need cars. Let them pay the COEs and ARF and the Govt can redistribute to the needy citizens. Good huh.

The quality of life sure will not be affected, just like living in smaller flats will not affect the quality of life as well. Think quality of life will be better as promise in the White Paper.