NUS ranks the top 4th in the world

This is posted in the statestimesreview, ‘Singapore’s government university, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has been ranked by Times Higher Education at fourth position for having the most international presence in the world. Ranked by anonymous “international scholars”, the survey ranked NUS by the number of international students it accepts, international staffs it hires and international publications made. It is understood that NUS’s rule of reserving a minimum of 20% of its places for foreigners as a major factor behind the survey’s strong standing.’

Is this something to be excited about, something to be proud of, something silly to be craving for? More foreign students means lesser places for our children and more parents have to empty their saving banks or sell their homes to send their children overseas. More foreign staff means lesser Singaporeans are employed and in the long run the emptying of Singaporeans in the academia. Are these good for Singapore and Singaporeans?

Why is the govt spending so much money on foreign students, many on scholarship and big money to pay the foreign academic staff? Is public money being applied responsibly and in the best and efficient way to benefit Singaporeans? Is Singapore turning itself into a Santa Claus to foreign students and foreign academic staff?

What is more important, educating our own students, ensuring that Singaporeans become eminent academics or feeding the foreigners and educating the foreigners?

In a modern cosmopolitan city in the 21st Century when transportation and communication are so convenient, is there a need to have so many foreigners here just to expose our students to foreigners as if they are living in little remote villages and never seen or knew a foreigner before? So there is this compulsion to bring foreigners here to integrate will our hillbillies or kampong kids or they will become ignorant of foreigners and their cultures and thinking?

What should be the priority for spending taxpayers’ money?

Trump living up to my expectations

Trump is exactly what he is, a disruptive cock in the Year of the Cock. And his performance so far is meeting all my expectations, and my confidence in him is growing a few more notches. In his American First policy, Trump is roughing up  allies and breaking ties with everyone, friends or foes. The staunchest American ally, the European Union, is now as much an enemy as China and Mexico. Trump even abused Nato as a useless, out of date and dysfunctional organization.

The European countries are in a state of shock. They could not believe in what Trump is saying and doing. The confidence in Trump’s America is taking a big knock. Britain’s PM May’s visit only served to confirm that Britain is not an ally unless it serves the interest of America First. Britain and Europe are now scurrying for new trading partners. They are seeing the impending breaking down of the existing world order and free trade system. They are looking for someone to take the lead as the new leader to protect the existing world order.

The irony of it all is that Communist China is presenting itself as the leader of choice given the challenge posed by the Americans to dismantle what the Western countries have built since WW2. And Xi Jinping is looking like a good candidate to fill the vacuum. There is no doubt that European countries would want to keep the free trade system and world order as it is. There is no doubt that China is benefiting from the same system and world order and Xi Jinping’s call for globalization and free trade are genuine, for the good of China and countries of the world. European countries are now looking towards China as a new friend and new leadership.

Trump’s attack on the Arab and Muslim world is going see a backlash that is more than what he could expect. The Arab/Muslim world is turning against Trump and his America.  They would not sit idle and let Trump slap them left and right. They could and would retaliate, unless they are so daft and dumb. The fear of terrorism and the war against terrorism could see America taking the ISIS and related Muslim terrorist organizations alone.

Trump is all out to make Mexico another enemy of America with his Great Wall of Trump and finding all ways to tax the Mexicans to pay for it, including sounding out an intention to raise import tariffs by 20% across the board with no exceptions to allies and non allied countries. What this means to the Europeans is less trade but at the same time demanding that the European countries pay for American military protection. The combination is rattling the minds of EU and Nato countries. Unbelieveable, but they got to believe it. This is Donald Trump, the man or American dictator in the making that would do what he thinks is right.

Peter Goodman in a Reuter report filed this, ‘Some allies are shifting focus to other potential partners for new sources of trade and investment, relationships that could influence political, diplomatic and military ties. Many are looking to China, which has adroitly capitalized on a leadership vacuum in world affairs by offering itself — ironies notwithstanding — as a champion for global engagement.

“We’ve always said that America is our best friend,” Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the Eurogroup — comprising finance ministers from countries sharing the euro currency — said in an interview with The New York Times …“If that’s no longer the case, if that’s what we need to understand from Donald Trump, then of course Europe will look for new friends.”

“China is a very strong candidate for that,” he added. “The Chinese involvement in Europe in terms of investment is already very high and expanding. If you push away your friends, you mustn’t be surprised if the friends start looking for new friends.”

Trump’s ban good for Asean and Singapore

Air Asia boss Tony Fernandez is reported to have said the ban on Arabs/Muslims to USA is good news to Asean. It would be good to lure all those banned from the USA to visit the region and boost trade and tourism. Why go to the USA when you are not welcomed when Asean is opening its arms widely, and Singapore openly its legs widely welcoming them here. This is the time to cash in, a lot of money to be made.

Singapore must not miss this golden opportunity to bring in all the rejects from the USA. Trump may not want them Singapore wants them. Singapore must quickly put up advertisements in those banned countries telling them to come here. Singapore has places for a few millions migrants, depending on whether it is using the 6.9m or 10m numbers as reference. It would definitely help in Singapore’s economic growth, to boost its economic growth Singapore needs more people here.

They can come not only as tourists but also come looking for jobs. Jobs Singapore has plenty and Singapore is restructuring and need all the talents that it can find overseas. Any one with a pair of legs and is a foreigner will be welcome as talents. Better still with good degrees, even from degree mills, as long as the degrees are genuine and of good quality, from good quality degree mills would be ok.

Singapore would get its 6.9m population fast this way and this would be translated to higher GDP numbers. Singapore can max up to a new level easily.

Trump behaving like a disruptive cock

Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates for betrayal. Yates had issued an order to ‘government lawyers not to defend his executive order banning entry to the United States for people from seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world’. Yates claimed in a memo that she was not convinced that Trump’s executive order was lawful.

There was division and chaos within the Trump camp over the decision to ban Muslims from entering the US. Many were not informed of the executive order formulated in secrecy. The rest of the Republican lawmakers were just as unhappy. Trump is behaving like a disruptive cock, like a dictator in the world’s most powerful democracy.

The world is witnessing how true democracy is working, when righteous individuals would throw away their career to challenge unlawful orders from the executive. They would defy the President of the USA when they believed that something is not right. They believe in the rule of law and in principles. No one is beholden to the President and no one would be bullied by the President. No one would be held in ransom for fear of losing their jobs and their salary.

Trump is furious and standing firm, like a dictator, and yes, be with me or out you go. That is the message coming out from his radical camp in Washington. This is not democracy that the Americans were used to. More to come from this biggest Cock of the Year, sit tight.

There is an air of rebellion in the capital city. The Americans are not going to follow Trump’s order blindly without question. The Americans are saying no to Trump, but Trump thought he has a blank cheque after being elected and could do as he pleased. The whole of the American institutions of govt is likely to stand up to this cock. A rough and tough battle is in the making.

Taxi driving, the last bastion for Singaporeans gone to foreigners

Jehangir Ibrahim wrote an article in the TRE on the lost of this exclusive vocation that used to be the preserve of Singaporeans. It used to be the choice of last resort for PMETs being replaced by foreigners.  Only Singaporeans were allowed to be taxi drivers. This is no more. Any foreigner can become a taxi driver.  The PMETs will now have to compete with foreigners again and are likely to lose out. There will be no more jobs for them if they lose this last vocation for self employment. This is what Jahangir wrote:

‘It was announced in Parliament yesterday that Uber, Grab or other transport app drivers will be regulated soon. Like taxi drivers, they will need to get a taxi vocational licence and be subjected to the various LTA taxi regulations.

There is no minimum age as long as the drivers held a Class 3/3A driving licence for at least two years.

But the biggest caveat is, both PRs and work permit holders can now apply….

Previously, only Singaporeans can drive taxi as can be seen in LTA website.. Only Singaporeans above 30 years old can drive one: It was announced in Parliament yesterday that Uber, Grab or other transport app drivers will be

• You must be at least 30 years old;
• You must be a Singapore Citizen holding a pink NRIC;
• You must have a valid Class 3/3A Singapore driving licence for a continuous period of at least one year at the point of application; and
• You must be able to speak and read basic English.’

I would not be too worried about the ex PMETs getting more competition from the foreigners. They are capable of looking after themselves, and hopefully bringing enough food to put on the table. I hope.

I have this aching concern for our women folks especially the young girls. How can any govt be so thoughtless to allow foreigners, with nothing to hold on them, with nothing to lose, with no records of their character and past, to drive our women folks around, and our young children, boys and girls? Getting into a taxi is like walking into a trap and become the prey and victim of the taxi drivers that harbor ill intent. Our women folks will be at the mercy of these foreigners. Are the well being of our women folks, our children, so cheap?

Singaporeans have been so accustomed to security and safety and take these for granted. How is this foreign element, foreigners allowed to drive taxis, to drive our women folks and children around change their lives? Very safe, nothing will happen to them? Not to worry?

My goodness, I thought only the masses are daft. I cannot expect those making such decisions and policies are more daft, putting our women folks and young children to unnecessary and unacceptable risk.

For those who think is kpkb, is unwarranted, so be it.  Any crime against our women folks and children due to this policy is the work of those who allowed it and those who condoned it.

I am just saying my peace as a concerned grandparent. I disagree with putting our women folks and children to unnecessary and unacceptable risk to their personal safety, at the mercy of unknown foreigners.

Stupidity has no cure.