Many years back while doing my ICT in Taiwan I had time to take the
train and be amongst the Taiwanese along the Taipei Chiayi line. The
Taiwanese spoke mainly minnan dialect or Hokien as we are used to. These
two women were chatting away like our aunties in the market, one
probably not literate and another looked better off. The illiterate,
very like some of those we met at the wet market spoke in the usual loud
pitch for all to hear.
‘My son ‘tan’ 一万 lah.’ (One million in Chinese numerals but ten thousand in our terms)
The other woman nodded her head politely. I was impressed, initially not
knowing what currency she was referring to. After a few more exchanges I
heard that the son was an odd job worker. My first impression took on a
new reality. At that time the exchange rate was something like S$1 to
TW$15. A $10,000 pm is hardly anything, an equivalent of a few hundred
Sing$.
Today, if one is watching the HongKong TV serial, often the pay are in
HK$20k or HK$30k, and sounding quite astronomical for an office worker.
After conversion there are like S$4k to $5K. Still very good but less
startling.
Today in Sin City, many aunties are loudly announcing that their
children are university graduates in pride. Many of the older aunties
were at best O level, with many lesser or unschooled. During their time,
a graduate was a very prestigious thing as there were very few around.
Today around you a train cabin, likely 2 out of 3 are graduates,
including the white collar foreigners.
What has happened is that inflation has caught up not only in the
incomes of the people but in educational level. And a $10k income today
is not much better than a $1k income in the 60s/70s. A graduate today is
no better than an O level graduate in that era in terms of job
opportunities and potential income.
Also in grades, today, straight As are the norm and you would need more
to be above the average. Today, Crescent and Fairfield are the top
schools. But in those days there were the average schools. Or are they
really the top schools today when many of the top schools are not spoken
of in the sense that they don’t participate in the O level exam? And
many PSLE school leavers could not even apply to these unmentionable top
schools as they have pre selected their intakes through the through
train schemes. Please do not apply. If you are good we will contact you.
In housing, every average worker could aspire to own a 5 room flat or
better in the 70s/80s. Today such flats are unattainable to many, even
graduates as their first property. In those days, many office workers
could buy a second hand car after one year of working. Any young police
or army officer could buy a brand new small capacity car after a couple
of years of working. Today most of them can forget about such luxuries.
Take public transport is the norm.
Have we progressed? Are our lives getting better, from living in bigger
homes to smaller homes, from car ownership to taking public transport?
From just an O level and bringing up a family quite comfortably to a
university graduate and still struggling to make ends meet.
Shall we celebrate that we have arrived in the first world with Swiss standard of living? Is the quality of life getting better?
11/22/2013
Print media’s doom exaggerated
This is what Patrick Daniel said in his article in the ST a few days’
back. I must say I agree with his assessment but for different reasons.
Digital and social media have carved out a big chunk of the pie and
readership from print media and this is a fact. The younger generations
are more comfortable with digital media and will keep fleeing the ground
with a balance that will tip in favour of digital media in the long
run.
On the other hand, print media has its own turf that is cut out for it. In fact both have their own audience and it is only a matter of who gets a bigger slice of the pie. The development of the two media is diverging into one that is reporting on facts and events, thanks to the political leadership, and another into more opinionated discourses and very interactive in nature. Digital and social media are going to be very personal, very emotional and with a very high rate of participation by the readers. It is a two way affair while print media is just reporting. The readers just read what the reporters reported. The reporting role is still necessary for the full time reporters to go around gathering news to report on and being paid for it.
The ST and its stable of lesser news media are doing well. According to Patrick Daniel, it is all about a commanding brand. I wonder if the brand would still be that commanding when other brands are allowed to print and sell their news. Why are there no neutral or alternative brands? Search me? In a monopolistic environment, it is elementary to gain the biggest share if not all the share of the readership and can crow about it. Where are the competitors? What would be the fate of the ST media if there are competitors? Would ST be doomed?
The print media’s shelf life has been extended. It will continue to exist for a longer time. This is a truism as digital and social media have their own limitations. When the latter becomes full fledge media with their own professional reporters, the balance would be tipped further to favour digital media. For the time being, the ST stable of news media shall rule the waves as the only media available. Just like the other monopolistic services, not making money and maintaining the market share is simply idiotic.
On the other hand, print media has its own turf that is cut out for it. In fact both have their own audience and it is only a matter of who gets a bigger slice of the pie. The development of the two media is diverging into one that is reporting on facts and events, thanks to the political leadership, and another into more opinionated discourses and very interactive in nature. Digital and social media are going to be very personal, very emotional and with a very high rate of participation by the readers. It is a two way affair while print media is just reporting. The readers just read what the reporters reported. The reporting role is still necessary for the full time reporters to go around gathering news to report on and being paid for it.
The ST and its stable of lesser news media are doing well. According to Patrick Daniel, it is all about a commanding brand. I wonder if the brand would still be that commanding when other brands are allowed to print and sell their news. Why are there no neutral or alternative brands? Search me? In a monopolistic environment, it is elementary to gain the biggest share if not all the share of the readership and can crow about it. Where are the competitors? What would be the fate of the ST media if there are competitors? Would ST be doomed?
The print media’s shelf life has been extended. It will continue to exist for a longer time. This is a truism as digital and social media have their own limitations. When the latter becomes full fledge media with their own professional reporters, the balance would be tipped further to favour digital media. For the time being, the ST stable of news media shall rule the waves as the only media available. Just like the other monopolistic services, not making money and maintaining the market share is simply idiotic.
11/21/2013
The silly Spaniards still think they are an empire
A Spanish court had heard complaints by a Tibetan group of alleged
genocide by the Chinese soldiers in Tibet and even issued a court’s
order to arrest Chinese leaders like Jiang Zemin and Li Peng. China has
issued a strong protest and called the act despicable.
Actually China should simply issue an order for the arrest of the judge who presided in this farcical and mischievous court case and all the court officials involved for terrorism and for slandering the Chinese leaders. Who did they think they are to go around arresting other country’s leaders? There is no need to protest against the silly Spaniards. Just make sure that those involved do not set foot in Hongkong or Chinese soils. Put up an arrest on sight warrant with ‘wanted’ posters for the judge or judges and court officials.
China could impose a trade sanctions against Spain until the Spanish govt makes an apology for the silly act.
China can also remind the Spanish of their genocides in Latin America and the Philippines, not forgetting the Spanish Inquisition. They killed tens of millions of South Americans in the name of the God when they invaded these countries. The British did the same to the North American natives and more than a hundred millions were brutally shot in cold blood. How to exterminate a continent of people? Ask the British and the Spanish, they did it.
Who committed genocides?
Actually China should simply issue an order for the arrest of the judge who presided in this farcical and mischievous court case and all the court officials involved for terrorism and for slandering the Chinese leaders. Who did they think they are to go around arresting other country’s leaders? There is no need to protest against the silly Spaniards. Just make sure that those involved do not set foot in Hongkong or Chinese soils. Put up an arrest on sight warrant with ‘wanted’ posters for the judge or judges and court officials.
China could impose a trade sanctions against Spain until the Spanish govt makes an apology for the silly act.
China can also remind the Spanish of their genocides in Latin America and the Philippines, not forgetting the Spanish Inquisition. They killed tens of millions of South Americans in the name of the God when they invaded these countries. The British did the same to the North American natives and more than a hundred millions were brutally shot in cold blood. How to exterminate a continent of people? Ask the British and the Spanish, they did it.
Who committed genocides?
NYT’s harsh criticism of the Philippine military
There is a scathing attack of the Philippine military by the New York
Times today. Basically it said that the Philippine military is outdated
and lost, no equipment and no leadership, and doing so little in the
aftermath of the Haiyan disaster. While the eastern islands of the
country was devastated, the Philippine military were waiting for things
to happen, waiting for equipment, waiting for orders that never came
because their useless mobile phones didn’t work.
On the other hand the Americans were running the whole rescue operations with their latest military equipment, warships and airplanes doing the donkey work. The best the Philippine military could do was sentry duties to guard against looting. Let me quote, ‘The destructive fury of Typhoon Haiyan quickly laid bare the limitations of the Philippine govt’s disaster preparation and relief capabilities,…it is also focusing an unflattering spotlight on the nation’s military – an overstretched, poorly funded force that has been criticized for its late arrival to the disaster zone….even when several thousand soldiers were finally able to fan out across the devastated islands…their work was, and continues to be, hampered by a lack of provisions including food, heavy equipment and communications technology needed when cellphone service is down.’
My view is that the criticism is overly harsh as the Philippine military was not designed and equipped for disaster relief work. You should see how efficient they were in chasing foreign fishing boats in the South China Seas. They have so many ammunitions to fire at the unarmed fishing boats and even killing its captain. They even have a new warship with courtesy from the Americans. And they are ever ready to take on China head on should a war erupt. NYT should not under estimate the military prowess of the Philippine military.
The govt has also budgeted $2.15b to buy more war equipment to modernize its military. Only hitch is that the equipment is still on the way. Once the equipment arrives, it will be a military force to be reckoned with. It is unfair to expect them to be good at disaster work. NYT is expecting too much.
Singapore just spent $4.3b on a 5km road tunnel. This is exactly double the amount the Philippines are spending to modernize its military. For a small military set up like Singapore, this sum of money could double modernize the Singapore military surely. We may even have a new military force if $2.15b can modernize a huge military like the Philippines to take on China.
On the other hand the Americans were running the whole rescue operations with their latest military equipment, warships and airplanes doing the donkey work. The best the Philippine military could do was sentry duties to guard against looting. Let me quote, ‘The destructive fury of Typhoon Haiyan quickly laid bare the limitations of the Philippine govt’s disaster preparation and relief capabilities,…it is also focusing an unflattering spotlight on the nation’s military – an overstretched, poorly funded force that has been criticized for its late arrival to the disaster zone….even when several thousand soldiers were finally able to fan out across the devastated islands…their work was, and continues to be, hampered by a lack of provisions including food, heavy equipment and communications technology needed when cellphone service is down.’
My view is that the criticism is overly harsh as the Philippine military was not designed and equipped for disaster relief work. You should see how efficient they were in chasing foreign fishing boats in the South China Seas. They have so many ammunitions to fire at the unarmed fishing boats and even killing its captain. They even have a new warship with courtesy from the Americans. And they are ever ready to take on China head on should a war erupt. NYT should not under estimate the military prowess of the Philippine military.
The govt has also budgeted $2.15b to buy more war equipment to modernize its military. Only hitch is that the equipment is still on the way. Once the equipment arrives, it will be a military force to be reckoned with. It is unfair to expect them to be good at disaster work. NYT is expecting too much.
Singapore just spent $4.3b on a 5km road tunnel. This is exactly double the amount the Philippines are spending to modernize its military. For a small military set up like Singapore, this sum of money could double modernize the Singapore military surely. We may even have a new military force if $2.15b can modernize a huge military like the Philippines to take on China.
New Master Plan for 500,000 new homes
This new Master Plan is called a draft Master Plan. Well, it is the new
Master Plan for the next 10 to 15 years, or between 2023 to 2028.
Would it make any difference if it is a draft or not a draft plan? At 4
persons per new homes, this plan can comfortably accommodate another 2
million residents.
The PWP of 6.9m is for year 2030 and for an increase in population from 5.3m, or an increase of 1.6m in 17 years time. So the two plans seem to be complementary to each other. Some may want to quibble why 7.4m (5.4m +2m) in 2028 and not 6.9m in 2030? Let’s not split hair (or split cables) over such a small discrepancy.
Many Sinkies must be salivating at this prospect, looking forward to such great places to live and play. And being public housing, they will definitely be sold at a discount from market prices, or with a generous dose of subsidies. The future is surely looking so rosy. Boon Wan is planning well ahead.
Let me make a guesstimate of the prices of HDB flats in Holland V in year 2023. If the price is going to double in ten years, each unit of a 4rm flat should easily be around $1.2m at least, conservatively. But not to worry, the income of Sinkies should also be double or triple by then, so these flats would definitely be affordable, or the govt will make them affordable.
I can only dream, for by then I dunno where would I be. The fortunate young Sinkies would be the future proud owners of these dream homes and living a great life, gracious living among 7m people.
The PWP of 6.9m is for year 2030 and for an increase in population from 5.3m, or an increase of 1.6m in 17 years time. So the two plans seem to be complementary to each other. Some may want to quibble why 7.4m (5.4m +2m) in 2028 and not 6.9m in 2030? Let’s not split hair (or split cables) over such a small discrepancy.
Many Sinkies must be salivating at this prospect, looking forward to such great places to live and play. And being public housing, they will definitely be sold at a discount from market prices, or with a generous dose of subsidies. The future is surely looking so rosy. Boon Wan is planning well ahead.
Let me make a guesstimate of the prices of HDB flats in Holland V in year 2023. If the price is going to double in ten years, each unit of a 4rm flat should easily be around $1.2m at least, conservatively. But not to worry, the income of Sinkies should also be double or triple by then, so these flats would definitely be affordable, or the govt will make them affordable.
I can only dream, for by then I dunno where would I be. The fortunate young Sinkies would be the future proud owners of these dream homes and living a great life, gracious living among 7m people.
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