Last night’s Channel News Asia talk programme on whether the govt has
alienated the PRs with the recent housing curbs and other measures drew
out one important and very basic issue, ie, a roof over the heads of PRs
and citizens. Having a roof over the head is so basic that it should be
provided by any responsible and thinking govt. There is no need to be a
super talent to even think of this. All the participants, locals and
foreigners, agreed that a roof is a basic need.
And they also agreed on another point. How could the govt brought in so
many people without thinking of the basic infrastructure, especially
housing? In whatever forms, housing is a must. And they too agreed it
was due to the inept policy of not building. And now we have this very
serious problem of housing prices that is going to be a curse to all
those with a big housing loan.
In today’s Today paper, the writer, Ku Swee Yong, was talking about
buyers taking up $500k loan for a 5 rm resale HDB flat or a $1.3m loan
for an EC as if it is a monopoly game. A $1.3m loan over 30 years will
come to at least $2m in total payment, just for a few pieces of mortars
around a small space. How much do the bricks and cement, some wirings
and fittings cost?
This is a general curse on the Sinkies who were made to buy public
housing at such prices and to pay using a big chunk of their income, and
praying that they would be earning that income for 30 years with both
not losing their jobs.
The biggest group that is cursed is those Singaporeans that were barred
from buying public housing through all the spurious reasoning. With
private properties at more than a million, how could they force citizens
to buy private properties and not be allowed to buy public housing that
are also not cheap? And why should citizens be made to buy from resale
market like PRs and pay another few hundred thousands more for the same
flat? Any Singaporean that is not allowed to buy public housing is as
good as being cursed when foreigners turned new citizens could do so.
The govt owes every Singaporean a right, yes the right to buy a public
housing flat. The govt has a case to answer to these Singaporeans who
are disallowed to buy public housing as the problem is caused by under
building and nothing else.
9/05/2013
Alienation of the oldies
Many of our parents and grandparents were ostracized or sidelined when
dialect was banned from SBC, from radio or TV broadcast. Their world
just closed down on them and they would have to go around finding people
who could talk to them in dialects. The grandchildren would be distant
aliens as they too did not speak dialects but English and Mandarin. The
Malays, Indians and Eurasians faced smaller problems than the Chinese.
With the stroke of a pen, a whole generation of oldies became foreigners
in their own country and in their homes.
It was a ruthless policy that was not phased in over a period of time. It just cut into their lives overnight. They were not prepared for the change, they were not integrated into the community but simply ex communicado, as simple as that. Who cared how they would cope or able to cope with the change? Were they provided with any alternative sources of information and entertainments over the air?
Soon we are going to see another batch of oldies going ex communicado. The Mediacorp is terminating the teletext services. No more information on TV for stocks, for airport arrival and departure schedules and no more what not that the oldies have become dependent on. The oldies are old dogs that managed to learn the trick of operating the remote controller to view the teletext. This could be the last trick they are capable to learn without straining the grey matter as many are computer illiterate or have not access to a computer.
The rationale for the withdrawal of the teletext services is that the advancement of technology has made such information available in many places and from service providers. The teletext is obsolete and need not provide such a service anymore. Those who need to read the teletext should be able to get their information from other sources. This is the biggest assumption which may not be valid.
Many of the oldiest could not handle the computer or smartphones or ipad. So, how are they going to get their information? Are they obsolete too and their interests no longer important? I bet many of the oldies and aunties are punting the stock market and are relying heavily on the teletext for stock quotes. Sure, they can always call their brokers for quotes. Telephone calls are free right? Wrong?
The brokers should be happy to hear their phone ringing when these oldies have to start calling them again. Only slight problem, many would feel pai seh calling their brokers every now and then without making any trades. With the teletext they could flip to their hearts’ content without disturbing anyone.
Now, would these old dogs want and can learn any trick, like operating the computers? If not, another piece of their world will be cut off from them. Who cares.
It was a ruthless policy that was not phased in over a period of time. It just cut into their lives overnight. They were not prepared for the change, they were not integrated into the community but simply ex communicado, as simple as that. Who cared how they would cope or able to cope with the change? Were they provided with any alternative sources of information and entertainments over the air?
Soon we are going to see another batch of oldies going ex communicado. The Mediacorp is terminating the teletext services. No more information on TV for stocks, for airport arrival and departure schedules and no more what not that the oldies have become dependent on. The oldies are old dogs that managed to learn the trick of operating the remote controller to view the teletext. This could be the last trick they are capable to learn without straining the grey matter as many are computer illiterate or have not access to a computer.
The rationale for the withdrawal of the teletext services is that the advancement of technology has made such information available in many places and from service providers. The teletext is obsolete and need not provide such a service anymore. Those who need to read the teletext should be able to get their information from other sources. This is the biggest assumption which may not be valid.
Many of the oldiest could not handle the computer or smartphones or ipad. So, how are they going to get their information? Are they obsolete too and their interests no longer important? I bet many of the oldies and aunties are punting the stock market and are relying heavily on the teletext for stock quotes. Sure, they can always call their brokers for quotes. Telephone calls are free right? Wrong?
The brokers should be happy to hear their phone ringing when these oldies have to start calling them again. Only slight problem, many would feel pai seh calling their brokers every now and then without making any trades. With the teletext they could flip to their hearts’ content without disturbing anyone.
Now, would these old dogs want and can learn any trick, like operating the computers? If not, another piece of their world will be cut off from them. Who cares.
9/04/2013
The West headed by America exploit the religious divide of the Middle-East countries.
The West headed by the Evil Empire exploit to the full endlessly the religious divide of the Middle -East countries.
Religion is only a belief and every individual should be free to believe in any religion he chooses and not be forced to believe in a religion dictated by the state or religious body. Religious leaders since time immemorial always make use of religion to
further their own end to grab political power and not because they sincerely and strongly believe in the God of their religion. With the people beguiled into a common faith or religion the evil political cum religious leaders will then exploit to maximum
psychological effect that the people and the leaders share the same destiny in their common identity and fate. Having grabbed both political and religious leadership these evil leaders will proceed to grab economic and financial power. and once this is
achieved they will thus have complete total authoritarian power and with that they can dictate or do any thing good or evil according to their whims and fancies.
Are the Middle-East countries cursed by their own Gods? It shouldn't be since they are bestowed by nature with abundant natural resources especially oil. Then why are they so divided and their history is one of tumultuous twist and turns especially
in this modern scientific era of great technological advances. It has got to do with their religious cum political leaders greed and creed. Aren't they all muslims following the teaching of the great founder. of their religion? They may belong to different
sects of Islam but still they are muslims and that's the important point. Then why are they so divided. It has got to do with what I have already pointed out . It is personal greed for power both religious, political cum economic and financial power. Thus
because of their own internal religious strive it lends itself to handy evil exploitation by the Western countries headed by the Evil Empire - USA. The West has been exploiting the Middle - East to the full for total control of its mineral resources
especially , oil. USA is able to do this because it sinisterly psycho one Middle-East country against another and in the end all the Middle-East countries are on each other's throats. The greatest traitor to the Middle -East cause is the King cum religious
leader of Saudi Arabia. The king of Saudi Arabia is so beholden to USA that he has no qualms in destroying his other Islamic or brethern Arab countries under the aegis of the Evil Empire.I can never understand why Saudi Arabia allows itself to be used
by the Christian West headed by America to create choas, distability and wars of destruction among the Middle-East Islamic countries . Instead Saudi Arabia should work cohesively with Egypt, Iran, Syria, Turkey and other Middle East countries
against the Western countries and drive these westerners forever out of the Middle-East. Turkey a more pseudo European country than islamic should be destroyed too.
Southernglory1
How many casinos are there in Sin City?
Wrong, none of you would have guessed it. And I am discounting all the
back lane and illegal gambling dens. Two is absolutely wrong. I heard
this at a drinking hole and of course it is beer talk after some heavy
drinking. But not to worry, all were drunk but not drunk to the extent
of becoming incoherent. They were marbok but their mental faculties were
still clear.
One shouted, three, the stock market is the third casino. Everyone is punting with no regards to the fundamentals of the stocks. And it is not only the aunties and uncles, but the remisiers, the house dealers and the big funds, all engaging in pure gambling, a game of chance. Roll the ball and see where it lands, something like the roulette.
Not three but four, said another. How so, and he explained. Go to HDB and ballot for a new flat. $20 or was it $10 for a bet. If lady luck smiles, you get your flat and you are richer by a couple of hundred bucks at least in five years time. Many new citizens are doing it and hitting it rich.
Five, said another. Getting a COE is also like gambling. Sometimes you pay more, sometimes you pay even more. And sometimes, pay very little. Just hope for the best.
Six, I say six. This guy seemed to have just awakened from his drowsiness. Going to see a doctor is like playing monopoly. You pay and pay along the way. Sometimes pay more, sometimes pay even more. Sometimes pay when really no need to pay. Sometimes you pay to check if you are sick when you are not sick and you feel better after losing your money.
Then this motherly auntie raised her hand, seven, she said. The seventh casino is getting a place for your child in a top school. The chances are so small and sometimes people played dirty, or tilt the table in their favour.
It just seems like everything is gambling in this City. Ahem, one more, the General Election. After voting for your favourite party, you are not sure if you have placed the winning bet or the losing bet. You thought you have won when your favourite party won without knowing that you may lose your pants, or your money in your CPF.
Looks like every Sinkie is a gambler of no choice, from the children to the grandmother. And there is no need for exclusion orders. There is no escape. Wait till Medishield Life comes about. All losers.
One shouted, three, the stock market is the third casino. Everyone is punting with no regards to the fundamentals of the stocks. And it is not only the aunties and uncles, but the remisiers, the house dealers and the big funds, all engaging in pure gambling, a game of chance. Roll the ball and see where it lands, something like the roulette.
Not three but four, said another. How so, and he explained. Go to HDB and ballot for a new flat. $20 or was it $10 for a bet. If lady luck smiles, you get your flat and you are richer by a couple of hundred bucks at least in five years time. Many new citizens are doing it and hitting it rich.
Five, said another. Getting a COE is also like gambling. Sometimes you pay more, sometimes you pay even more. And sometimes, pay very little. Just hope for the best.
Six, I say six. This guy seemed to have just awakened from his drowsiness. Going to see a doctor is like playing monopoly. You pay and pay along the way. Sometimes pay more, sometimes pay even more. Sometimes pay when really no need to pay. Sometimes you pay to check if you are sick when you are not sick and you feel better after losing your money.
Then this motherly auntie raised her hand, seven, she said. The seventh casino is getting a place for your child in a top school. The chances are so small and sometimes people played dirty, or tilt the table in their favour.
It just seems like everything is gambling in this City. Ahem, one more, the General Election. After voting for your favourite party, you are not sure if you have placed the winning bet or the losing bet. You thought you have won when your favourite party won without knowing that you may lose your pants, or your money in your CPF.
Looks like every Sinkie is a gambler of no choice, from the children to the grandmother. And there is no need for exclusion orders. There is no escape. Wait till Medishield Life comes about. All losers.
Defamation defined - Law Minister Shanmugam
In his dialogue with Law Faculty students this was what Shanmugam said of defamation law.
‘Defamation laws, he said, are not there to stop people from criticising the Government, but exist to protect personal reputations.
"If you make a personal allegation of fact, if you say I took money, I am corrupt, I will then sue you and ask you to prove it. But if you say I am a stupid fool who doesn't know what I'm talking about, and the Government comprises ministers who don't know what they're talking about and you criticise every policy of the Government, no one can sue you," he said.
By all means challenge my competence, by all means challenge my policies, by all means put forward alternate policies. By all means argue it, no problem. That’s not defamation.’ ST 3 Sep 13
This is about the clearest definition on the govt’s stand on defamation laws here. This is also the opening up of a govt that used to be suffering from a hang up that no one should criticize the govt, no big no small, no respect for authority.
I fully agree with Shanmugam’s position on defamation and personal attacks on ministers or anyone. It is fair criticism on govt policies. I would not go so far as to call a minister a stupid fool. A little decorum will go a long way.
And as citizens, it is of utmost importance that they should be interested in the affairs of the state and should air their views on policies or decisions that they are not happy or disagree with. We need participatory citizenry for the good of the country. We can’t have a nations of droids, with no views or do not care a hoot what is going on in the country and to the people. The outcry against the influx of immigrants is a good sign that the citizens are taking ownership of their country and would not be push overs.
This explanation by Shanmugam is a welcome move, to clarify an invisible and moving OB lines. The people and those responsible for enforcing defamation laws would now be in a better position to know what is fair comment or what is defamatory, and to stay away from the law. The eyes will still be watching and defamation or no defamation critics should be careful for you do not know what could hit you next.
There is no need to get too personal for all parties when having a discourse on the affairs of the state. Isn’t this what the Govt has been clamouring for, wanting the people to stand for, to come forward to take a more active role in the affairs of the country?
‘Defamation laws, he said, are not there to stop people from criticising the Government, but exist to protect personal reputations.
"If you make a personal allegation of fact, if you say I took money, I am corrupt, I will then sue you and ask you to prove it. But if you say I am a stupid fool who doesn't know what I'm talking about, and the Government comprises ministers who don't know what they're talking about and you criticise every policy of the Government, no one can sue you," he said.
By all means challenge my competence, by all means challenge my policies, by all means put forward alternate policies. By all means argue it, no problem. That’s not defamation.’ ST 3 Sep 13
This is about the clearest definition on the govt’s stand on defamation laws here. This is also the opening up of a govt that used to be suffering from a hang up that no one should criticize the govt, no big no small, no respect for authority.
I fully agree with Shanmugam’s position on defamation and personal attacks on ministers or anyone. It is fair criticism on govt policies. I would not go so far as to call a minister a stupid fool. A little decorum will go a long way.
And as citizens, it is of utmost importance that they should be interested in the affairs of the state and should air their views on policies or decisions that they are not happy or disagree with. We need participatory citizenry for the good of the country. We can’t have a nations of droids, with no views or do not care a hoot what is going on in the country and to the people. The outcry against the influx of immigrants is a good sign that the citizens are taking ownership of their country and would not be push overs.
This explanation by Shanmugam is a welcome move, to clarify an invisible and moving OB lines. The people and those responsible for enforcing defamation laws would now be in a better position to know what is fair comment or what is defamatory, and to stay away from the law. The eyes will still be watching and defamation or no defamation critics should be careful for you do not know what could hit you next.
There is no need to get too personal for all parties when having a discourse on the affairs of the state. Isn’t this what the Govt has been clamouring for, wanting the people to stand for, to come forward to take a more active role in the affairs of the country?
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