I was having my lunch in a kopitiam when this Chinese national came calling me uncle and asking for permission to share the table. I did not push him away, scold him or nudge him from behind. I said ok and we had a little conversation. I did most of the listening as there was so much to learn from someone who was willing to share.
He said Xi Jinping has stopped all educational trips of Chinese officials coming to Singapore to learn the Singapore way. China had learnt a lot in the early days and now found that the current Singapore way is not what China needs or wants.
He spoke on many issues but most important of which is how China treats its oldies. China also has their version of CPF system whereby an employee would contribute 2% of his income and the employer 19%. Then the province, county and town or village would contribute the balance 79% to the fund. And at age 60, the oldies would be paid an allowance for life. He mentioned something like 4,000 rmb, not sure it was a month or a year. He added that the oldies are the happiest people in China, and the richest, that is why they are indulging in all kinds of leisure pastimes and travelling. And their children love them as they are not burdens to them, when the state is looking after them.
The oldies need not worry about pawning their homes to keep themselves alive. It is the duty of the state to look after them. The longer they live the more they enjoy the state pension. How’s that compare to our CPF, used to be a model formula for others to emulate but now turning foul. Got money but cannot touch, your own money but now some said not your money.
And how’s that compare to our oldies having to collect cardboard and pushing trolleys, or spending time in kopitiams to clean tables and wash plates to past their times? Some said to exercise while the Chinese oldies are doing line dancing in the parks?
This guy came from Xian in 2003 and was earning about $3k to $4k as a lorry driver. Now he said things are not so good and he is getting slightly more than $2k. Oh, he said in Xian, public transport is 1rmb per trip regardless of how long is the journey. How’s that? And they need not kpkb every now and them to raise fare to improve quality of service.
This is China practicing its socialist ideas, that the country or govt’s primary duty is to take care of the people’s welfare and well being. As China gets richer, more will be distributed to the people for them to live better and to live well. Not to be distributed to their leaders to make them millionaires. Xi Jinping said, if you want to get rich, don't join politics.
The happy Singaporeans would say Singapore is better. Singaporean oldies have pride and love to work until they die, to be independent and can exercise some more. And happy Singaporeans would continue to vote for their efficient and caring govt to look after them the way the govt knows best, especially their CPF savings, always there even after they died. For the money can only could not be used except for compulsory schemes. Singaporeans would not want the way China is looking after their oldies and their lifelong savings.
Tiok boh?
5/10/2017
The Days After Death
By mikospace
May Day 2017. The night before, Father passed on from this
life. Death consumed him quietly after a full dinner as he rested; shutting
down his lungs, his breathing ceased and finally his heart stopped. At a full
life of 90-years old, Father was ready; and has been ready for quite a while
since Mother succumbed to her stroke which paralysed her for over a year some
17 years ago. Their blissful life was
survived by 6 children, 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren! What a
blessed life indeed!
Death is personal
and customised for each one of us. It
accompanies us like a personal shadow, growing as we grow, and at time looming
larger or taller depending on the role it chooses as our alternate self. Death’s
only story is the story of our life. It has no separate meaning other than whatever
we have made with our life. We are death’s
only friend; that’s why it is often confusing as we hear its voice beckoned so
welcoming when our time cometh as we then struggle to prolong our earthly time
by grasping at the straw of a diminishing life.
The
fear of death is
quite exaggerated, and unfounded, when to die is actually perfectly
normal. All natural living things die. It is such an important part of
the natural
process. Death is many things to
different people who prefer not to talk or think about it. Like it or
not, though most of us do not like
it, it is more like we do not like its often uncertain timing. If only
we can choose when to die, wouldn’t
that be great!
The main problem is
that most people are not ready to die. Yet, most would live their life as if
death would not occur. We know life is
short, and yet we rush through it without spending quality time to appreciate
the beauty of nature or create meaningful moments with our loved ones. Many eat the wrong diets that shorten our
short life-span; others repeatedly poison their bodies with tobacco and nicotine;
or regularly drown their stomach, livers and kidneys in alcoholic beverages;
and millions others are addicted to consume strange chemicals in the forms of
vitamin-substitutes, health “supplements” and man-made medicines. Ironically,
death probably never works harder to prevent the onset of massive and pandemic
premature human deaths that should otherwise occur as a natural consequence of
mankind suicidal life-styles!
Death is also romanticised
by a spiritual interpretation. Many man-made
religions teach death as the separation of the imagined human “soul” from the
physical body, and which goes on living somewhere forever … to “heaven” if one
has been “good”, to “hell” if he/she has been “bad” or to a “holding” location
to be determined by some “gods” or divine beings. Some religious beliefs would “recycle” the
dead back to this world to provide another opportunity for them to live a “better”
life … why not send them back to a better version of this world, I wonder?! Who indeed would want to come back to this wretched
broken world again …!
There is no evidence
that the probabilistic existence of “heaven” and “hell”, or “recycling” for a
better life, has any effect on criminal behavior or better civic treatment of
fellow human beings or more socially responsible behavior in the community. My take is that everyone knew that no one is
really “good” enough to go to heaven … everyone irrespective of our jobs or
station in life is guilty of insufficient “good” deeds to qualify for that
hallowed “heaven” place. We are all condemned
by the good that we failed to do! That would leave “hell” as the common final
destination for the human souls; this is really comforting since many friends,
buddies, and enemies, would therefore be re-united after death.
The notion of the “afterlife”
is a denial of death being the end of life. People are just not ready to leave their loved
ones, or to stop enjoying their daily golf games or to cease having their party
fun. Others are really happy growing their businesses, increasing personal
wealth and prosperity way beyond their need to fuel a greater sense of security
and enhance their happiness assets. To
many, the “afterlife” is necessary in order to be truly human. For them, life
is a path that must lead somewhere, anywhere … as long as it does not just end!....
This is a truncated version. For the full version click mikospace above.
5/09/2017
Cheng Bok takes the govt to court
Tan Cheng Bock finally filed his case to the court for a legal interpretation on the Elected President yesterday. His main point is to seek a court ruling on how the counting of President Wee Kim Wee as the first elected president is deemed legal and proper to justify an EP election this year.
We will now have to wait to hear what the court has to say and whether the ruling is constitutional. The AG's office would have to explain come they come about with their recommendation to the PM.
This is probably the first constitutional challenge in this island since independence.
We will now have to wait to hear what the court has to say and whether the ruling is constitutional. The AG's office would have to explain come they come about with their recommendation to the PM.
This is probably the first constitutional challenge in this island since independence.
South China Sea – Return of peace and calm when the devil is away
The Americans have stopped their agitation in the SC Sea and moving north to the Korean Peninsula to raise tension there. With their departure, peace and calm have returned to the region. Now who is the trouble maker that caused all the tension in the SC Sea and now causing tension in the Korean Peninsula? It does not need any thinking to know the answer. But some fools would forever be fools and would not be able to see that the devil has left to create trouble in the Northeast Asia.
The American Pacific Command under the Japanese Commander still wanted to stir trouble in the SC Sea and requesting approval from Washington to violate Chinese territorial integrity. Trump has turned them down, or Trump’s team in Washington has said no. Permission not granted. China is now helping Trump to deal with the problem of North Korea and so cannot create trouble for China.
The main theater for war is now in the Korean Peninsula and let there be peace in the SC Sea. But would the sneaky little USAs feel uncomfortable, backside itchy because there is no trouble in the SC Sea and would want to drag the Americans back into the region to create tension all over again? What would the little USAs gain if the region goes up in smokes?
Why would the little USAs want to create trouble in the region when they could have peace and live peacefully with everyone? Anyone wants to invite the trouble maker back into the SC Sea?
China is continuing on its mission to build a new infrastructure for trade with the OBOR project. China is going everywhere to build ports, cities, rails and road and trade. On the other hand the Americans are going everywhere to sign military pacts to conduct military exercises, to threaten regime change. The Americans are conducting military exercises with the Japanese, with the South Koreans, with the Philippines, with Jordan, with India, with Nato countries, all in the name of peace and is regarded by many fools as a peace loving country. China is all about trade, about economic development, about building infrastructure, about building international banks, but many fools chose to call these as hostile acts with aggressive intents. How long would the fools wake up from their stupidity? Oops, stupidity cannot be cured.
The American Pacific Command under the Japanese Commander still wanted to stir trouble in the SC Sea and requesting approval from Washington to violate Chinese territorial integrity. Trump has turned them down, or Trump’s team in Washington has said no. Permission not granted. China is now helping Trump to deal with the problem of North Korea and so cannot create trouble for China.
The main theater for war is now in the Korean Peninsula and let there be peace in the SC Sea. But would the sneaky little USAs feel uncomfortable, backside itchy because there is no trouble in the SC Sea and would want to drag the Americans back into the region to create tension all over again? What would the little USAs gain if the region goes up in smokes?
Why would the little USAs want to create trouble in the region when they could have peace and live peacefully with everyone? Anyone wants to invite the trouble maker back into the SC Sea?
China is continuing on its mission to build a new infrastructure for trade with the OBOR project. China is going everywhere to build ports, cities, rails and road and trade. On the other hand the Americans are going everywhere to sign military pacts to conduct military exercises, to threaten regime change. The Americans are conducting military exercises with the Japanese, with the South Koreans, with the Philippines, with Jordan, with India, with Nato countries, all in the name of peace and is regarded by many fools as a peace loving country. China is all about trade, about economic development, about building infrastructure, about building international banks, but many fools chose to call these as hostile acts with aggressive intents. How long would the fools wake up from their stupidity? Oops, stupidity cannot be cured.
5/08/2017
Time to review NS laws to be fair to Singaporeans
Jason Wong wrote an article on a Singaporean who returned home after spending 30 years overseas only to be jailed for 33 months! The article is in TRE and here is a quote,
‘The PAP has managed to instill fear even in its judges to hand out ridiculous jail sentences. Let’s take the case of 44 year-old Ang Lee Thye. This gentleman left Singapore at age 14 for the United States. Lived in the states presumably all this time, and then at age 41 decided that he missed Singapore enough to risk a jail sentence. He actually surrendered to authorities when he returned to Singapore. Boy did the PAP high court judges give it to him good. The lower court judge low-balled by giving Mr. Ang a 24 months sentence, but these “more” intelligent judges upped his jail time from 24 to 33 months!’
The law is the law. Yes who does not know that? But when the law is unfair, difficult to enforce equitably, and worst, puts Singaporeans at a huge disadvantage, should not the law be reviewed, should not the people that are paid millions by the Singaporeans, put their heads together to come out with a more equitable law to be fair to Singaporeans, to do justice to Singaporeans, the people that are paying them their million dollar salaries but become their victims with their laws? I am talking about the laws on National Service.
Yes, superficially the law is fair to all Singaporeans. I am not going to split hair on this and pick up exceptions. Generally this law is applicable to all Singaporeans, the rich and the poor, the dark horses and the white horses. Ok, take it as that. The law when applied to all Singaporeans is fair. The point is that Singapore is now flooded by foreigners that come and go, to steal the jobs of Singaporeans, steal their girlfriends and wives, while they are serving NS or doing reservist training to protect the country and people.
These foreigners are having the best of everything, with advantages in getting jobs, even getting free education paid by Singaporeans without having to serve NS or NS liabilities. And they got promoted to be the bosses of Singaporeans, to have Singaporeans working under them even if they are younger and have questionable qualifications and experience. Even if they become Singaporeans, or children of PRs, they could easily tear away the citizenship, give up their PRs and return to their home countries, skip doing NS and sell their flats at a profit to daft Singaporeans, and the daft Singaporeans were none the wiser. They are benefitting from all the things being NOT Singaporeans without any responsibility and liability while the poor Singaporeans will be jailed should they misstep and cross the line on this NS law.
It is high time, overdue, to revise this NS law to make it fairer to Singaporeans, not against Singaporeans and putting the foreigners, the PRs and the temporary new Singaporean at a huge advantage. Something must be done to change the situation for Singaporeans to come home again instead of staying away like convicts. Singapore is home to Singaporeans. Home has a special meaning to all Singaporeans. Don’t we want our Singaporeans to come home freely and happily? Do we have a heart to feel for our Singaporeans brothers and sisters, that they are one of us? Or we rather give their places to the foreigners that contributed nothing but sponging on our system, stealing our jobs and making Singaporeans looking really stupid?
What do you think? Are the NS laws fair to our fellow citizens?
I dunno want to laugh or cry for this Ang Lee Thye?
‘The PAP has managed to instill fear even in its judges to hand out ridiculous jail sentences. Let’s take the case of 44 year-old Ang Lee Thye. This gentleman left Singapore at age 14 for the United States. Lived in the states presumably all this time, and then at age 41 decided that he missed Singapore enough to risk a jail sentence. He actually surrendered to authorities when he returned to Singapore. Boy did the PAP high court judges give it to him good. The lower court judge low-balled by giving Mr. Ang a 24 months sentence, but these “more” intelligent judges upped his jail time from 24 to 33 months!’
The law is the law. Yes who does not know that? But when the law is unfair, difficult to enforce equitably, and worst, puts Singaporeans at a huge disadvantage, should not the law be reviewed, should not the people that are paid millions by the Singaporeans, put their heads together to come out with a more equitable law to be fair to Singaporeans, to do justice to Singaporeans, the people that are paying them their million dollar salaries but become their victims with their laws? I am talking about the laws on National Service.
Yes, superficially the law is fair to all Singaporeans. I am not going to split hair on this and pick up exceptions. Generally this law is applicable to all Singaporeans, the rich and the poor, the dark horses and the white horses. Ok, take it as that. The law when applied to all Singaporeans is fair. The point is that Singapore is now flooded by foreigners that come and go, to steal the jobs of Singaporeans, steal their girlfriends and wives, while they are serving NS or doing reservist training to protect the country and people.
These foreigners are having the best of everything, with advantages in getting jobs, even getting free education paid by Singaporeans without having to serve NS or NS liabilities. And they got promoted to be the bosses of Singaporeans, to have Singaporeans working under them even if they are younger and have questionable qualifications and experience. Even if they become Singaporeans, or children of PRs, they could easily tear away the citizenship, give up their PRs and return to their home countries, skip doing NS and sell their flats at a profit to daft Singaporeans, and the daft Singaporeans were none the wiser. They are benefitting from all the things being NOT Singaporeans without any responsibility and liability while the poor Singaporeans will be jailed should they misstep and cross the line on this NS law.
It is high time, overdue, to revise this NS law to make it fairer to Singaporeans, not against Singaporeans and putting the foreigners, the PRs and the temporary new Singaporean at a huge advantage. Something must be done to change the situation for Singaporeans to come home again instead of staying away like convicts. Singapore is home to Singaporeans. Home has a special meaning to all Singaporeans. Don’t we want our Singaporeans to come home freely and happily? Do we have a heart to feel for our Singaporeans brothers and sisters, that they are one of us? Or we rather give their places to the foreigners that contributed nothing but sponging on our system, stealing our jobs and making Singaporeans looking really stupid?
What do you think? Are the NS laws fair to our fellow citizens?
I dunno want to laugh or cry for this Ang Lee Thye?
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