Phillip Ang – Stand up against PAP’s flawed housing policy

Phillip Ang wrote an article calling for the singles, divorcees and single parents to stand up against the PAP’s flawed housing policies in the TRE. The small issue that I would disagree with Phillip Ang is that Sinkies have this daft habit of being swayed by shifting goal posts. Today someone sells them something for $10, tomorrow the same thing for $100, and the day after for $1,000, the Sinkies will then think $1,000 is acceptable and used it as the new reference point.
 
The good PAP of the past took the road to the dark side when they changed the housing policy from providing cheap and affordable housing for the people, to give the people a roof over their head, a stake in the country, to paying a ransom for a leased flat that in all counts is owned by the govt. Several unfavourable policies followed suit when the mission was changed.
 
From affordable housing to market priced housing, to asset enhancement, to not building enough to meet the needs of the people. And now everyone is paying for a hot potato that they believed would only go up in price when the truth is that it would end up worthless at the end of the lease.
 
And they still did not know why all their life savings are gone? Do I really have to put down the numbers, 1,2 and 3 to show them that all their money that should be sitting in their CPF accounts for retirement has been transferred out because of this change in housing policy?
 
It is not only the singles, divorcess and the single mothers that should be standing up to this flawed housing policy. Everyone should be standing up to it, for paying for something at so called market prices that made them feel rich when it is just an illusion, a transient thing, with a zero bottom line and the depletion of their life savings.
 
Can see this or not?

Medishield Life panacea, now CPF panacea

Or is it Medishield Life panadol, CPF panadol? Another panacea in the making? The committee members are so happy. Hsien Loong is also so happy that he even said the CPF is a good scheme getting gooder, not his exact words. But it is a scheme that is getting betterer and betterer. I can hear champagne bottles popping and corks flying everywhere. A great scheme and a job well done.
 
Singaporeans are really fortunate to have so many super talents helping to govern the country and to rule them. I am sure the average politicians in the world would not have thought of such great schemes to better the lives of their citizens. The rest of the world must be very envious of Singaporeans and how well their lives are gonna be.
 
There are so many things to talk and praise about these two great panaceas. I am so excited that I lost the cork of my champagne bottle. It must have flown out of the window. ‘Now where is the cork?’ Just a glimpse of the great stuff in the new approved proposals. How many of you have your salary adjusted for inflation every year? Some may get more with promotions and increments. Only very few did not get any increments. Is there anyone out there where the company gives you a raise to compensate for inflation?
 
In this proposal, the CPF account holders will have the privilege of their savings being adjusted for inflation so that its value will not be badly affected. There will be a 3% adjustment to the retirement sum, I take this as the minimum sum, to account for inflation and rising household expenditure. Like that it means their income from the CPF when they are eligible to withdraw will always be enough. Whether an account holder gets a raise, no raise, or jobless, he will still have to make up for this 3% adjustment with his CPF savings.
 
Employers that did not compute an adjustment to the salaries of their employees to account for inflation and rising household expenditure should be put to shame. Maybe this will be the next step the govt will be taking to make it compulsory for employers to do so. What do you think?
 
I just do not know where to start on this CPF panacea. Let me just touch on those things that were not said, not recommended, but spoken loud and clear by this proposal. One, you are not going to get back your CPF money at 55 that CPF account holders are expecting. And when you get back some, the large portion of your CPF savings would still be stuck in your CPF account. Two, the govt still retains the right to decide how, when and how much of your money you can use. You Do Not have the right to decide on your life savings. Three, many of you may die young, before 55 or 65, sorry, you would not have the pleasure to enjoy your life savings. Four, many of you will leave behind quite a sum of money after you pass on in life in your CPF accounts. And for this, make sure you sign the right form to allow the balance to be taken out in cash by your beneficiaries and not transfer to their CPF accounts unless you so decided. Five, the minimum sums would go up and up, oops, I mean the Medisave Minimum Sum. Six, there will probably be more committees set up to make the CPF even betterer in the future if there is another Roy in Hong Lim.
 
I am lost for words for the moment. Let me recollect myself and my thoughts before talking about the details and the fine prints. Very tired, really. Am I happy with this new proposal? Or are you happy with this proposal?

Where is my gold?

Ah Gong struck Toto and a $3m windfall. His problem started when news of his good fortune spread to all his relatives. He did not trust the banks. He decided to buy $2m worth of gold bullion, and his first problem of safe storage began. He could not possibly keep them under his bed in his HDB flat. Then came his rich First uncle who offered to put the gold bullion in his company’s big safe. Who could be safer if not his uncle, and also very rich.
 
For many years Ah gong was pleased with his gold bullion in the safe of his First uncle. He could sleep in peace, with a perpetual smile printed on his face. He started to become suspicious when he told his First uncle what he intended to do with his gold when he retired. What he did not know was that his First Uncle had lost heavily in the casinos. He still looked very rich, throwing his money around like he got plenty of it.
 
Things took a bad turn when his First uncle told him his office was broken in and his gold bullion was gone. His life savings for retirement and all the beautiful plans vanished in thin air. Ah Gong was lost and in despair. Then came a little hope. The robbers offered to return his gold for $2m. Ah Gong’s gold was worth more with the prices of gold crossing the $1,000 mark. He bought it much lower.
 
Ah Gong was not very clever, just an average citizen and could easily be conned by the clever robbers. His First uncle brought with him his smarter 3rd uncle, a professor. He told Ah Gong this 3rd uncle could negotiate with the robbers for a lower sum and the return of his gold. Ah Gong was so grateful. Don’t ask me why the robbers were willing to trade $5m worth of gold bullion for less.
 
Anyway, the story had a happy ending. The clever 3rd uncle came back with a very good deal. Ah Gong could have his gold back for $1m, a 50% discount. And the rich First uncle volunteered to pay first since Ah Gong did not have the cash. See how helpful First uncle was and how grateful Ah Gong would be for the return of his gold, only had to pay $1m and saving $1m. Happy like fart.
 
The moral of the story is that Ah Gong was very happy and grateful with the new deal. Didn’t know if he was conned. The First uncle was very happy for obvious reasons. The 3rd uncle just shared some goodwill and be greatly appreciated for his talent and negotiating skills. Now he walked around looking even smarter. And Ah Gong continued to put his gold bullion in the safe of his First uncle. The uncle assured him that the gold would be safe as he had installed a new security system. The money would be very safe with him. Who else to trust than ‘kaki lang’, and very rich some more? Ah Gong had a good deal.
 
I rather have my gold under my bed.

From City of Garbage to a City of Drunkards

Sorry drinkers, you have been had not because you misbehaved while a bit high. The problem of drunkards and their litter all over the island and the threat of safety for our womenfolk are not something to be trifled with. Before the descent of these foreign hoards of drunkards, we have no problem with the Singaporeans drinking anywhere as they like. There were some problems once a while but not a national problem. Though there is no statistics to show the number of crimes related to uncontrolled drinking all over the island, I believe the govt must have enough grounds to impose this ban. It must be serious enough for this to happen.
 
This is a city that was the pride of anyone living here, locals and foreigners, to bring up children. I think a line has been broken, when crime related to unrestricted drinking in every neighbourhood must be intolerable for the govt to act against their darlings, the very nice foreigners. They clamped down on Little India and they started drinking everywhere. Think for the safety of your loved ones, the mothers, wives and daughters, coming home alone and walking pass a bunch of drunkards all high and losing their senses and restraints.
 
I don’t think this new drinking ban is against the locals. Our Singaporeans have been drinking for centuries, before and after independence, and there was no need for such a ban. What is the solution if not this ban? There are 2m of them out there and saying that they are prone to misbehave when drunk is an understatement. Ask the taxi drivers for first hand encounters.
 
For those who are advocating free drinking in my neighbourhood or backyard, please think carefully before you speak. Who are those who would drink all over the place, even in the parks, in the beaches or at barbeque corners? We have a problem, and a very serious one for this ban by the govt. Don’t wait for something nasty to happen to your loved ones before you regret arguing against this ban, unless you have a better solution.
 
It is about safety and security. It is not about the unsightly garbage and the smell of filth. Those drinkers in the authorized kopitiam and bars would not be affected I think. Those who have to drink all over the place are the target of this law. You want statistics to prove why it is necessary?

天变 – The Mavericks are appearing

A thunderbolt struck yesterday. In the calm morning of this tropical paradise turned Garbage City, there was a blinding flash that shook everyone from their idle and mindless pursuit of money to get richer or to make ends meet. M Ravi, the ‘tainted’ human rights lawyer made his announcement to contest in the next GE in the AMK GRC held by the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. And there was a roar of approval in the social media. It was something so unexpected, and coming from the popular Ravi, is going to send shock waves all over the island. And his team this time is no small fries, but mainly lawyers that cannot be brushed aside as unworthy. This must be one of the more credible teams to stake a claim for a GRC in the next GE.
 
And there was silence from the ruling party. It is something they never expect and it unravels the whole plan they are making. How to handle somehow like M Ravi, a totally unpredictable lawyer with his own following for his pro bono cases and taking up cases where angels would flee.
 
Sin City will be seeing more Mavericks appearing on the political front. Chee Soon Juan was too early in his time. But he must be happy to be joined by the newcomers, the Chen Show Mao, Tan Jee Say, Paul Tambiah, Ang Yong Guan, Roy Ngerng, Tan Cheng Bock with everyone rooting for him to come forward, Leong Sze Hian, Han Hui Hui, and many others in this little crowd. They are coming forward.
 
M Ravi is looking like a catalyst that could prompt more able Singaporeans on the sideline to make a bid for it. Many must be pondering on a political role to do something for the people of their beloved country. Many must be very unhappy with the state of affair and the direction the country is heading and wanted to step forward. And this could be the moment. This is real. The political scene has never been so fragile and begging for a change. If anyone out there wanted to do something for the people of this country, this must be the moment they are waiting for. Everything is working towards change. And change is waiting to happen and beckoning them forward to make the change.
 
It is now for history to make the defining moment and waiting for the Mavericks to come forward. As the clock ticks, one by one will appear, like a calling, a duty to do something good for the people and the country.
 
Hear ye all. This is your calling, this is your moment. No more hesitation. The dam has collapsed.