2/03/2007

counter insurgency in cyberspace!

PAP moves to counter criticism of party, govt in cyberspace. This is the headline in the Straits Times today. Now, cyberspace is shaping up and is shaping ideas and viewpoints. And PAP is taking it very seriously. The ST said, 'The PAP is mounting a quiet counter insurgency against its online critics.' Wow, counter insurgency, the choice of words could send jitters throughout cyberspace. Insurgency is the new dread word replacing Communism. Communists were sent to jail. Insurgents are dangerous especially of the terrorist kind. Would cyberspace critics and commentators, bloggers and forumers, be treated as insurgents? Then the paper added that the PAP has sent members to forums and blogs to rebut anti establishment views and putting up posting anonymously. I have a few anonymous bloggers in my blog, www.mysingaporenews.blogspot.com, displaying some characteristics that I am getting suspicious. But then again it must be my imagination or ego to think that my little blog will invite such interest. Further, they were there not to rebut but to post cynicism without any justifications, and personal attacks. So I shall rule them out as little brats. Definitely they don't deserve to be members of such a distinguished outfit for they don't rebut intelligently and came through as mindless little boys. Rebuttal by PAP in cyberspace is healthy and a move in the right direction. They need to explain their actions and to dispel any false accusations or allegations. Otherwise, falsehoods, if repeated too often, may be taken as truths, or at least to the gullibles or casual readers. But certainly they need to start out first by cleaning up YPAP forum. That is the most humiliating piece of advertisement paid and run by the PAP to discredit itself. It is the most nonsensical thing to do.

nkf story - affairs of the duds

Affairs of the Duds Excerpts from NKF Vice Chairman Alwyn Lim's emails were anything but flattering. On Richard Yong, Chairman of NKF 'He was able to bluff his way into some of his previous jobs but had not been successful in any.' 'Mr Durai decided to have a salaries review committee - a useless committee as it would be Richard Yong, Loo Say San...the usual rubber stampers.' 'Richard Yong on most occasions served no useful purpose beyond being a travelling mate for T.T.' On Loo Say San, Treasurer, 'Loo is a nice person, but naive as they come. They don't come any more naive than he!!!' 'I had written him confidential email which he forwarded to T.T. without permission. I had done that knowing that he would be stupid enough to forward the mail.' On Durai, CEO and the real Boss of NKF, 'I have questioned T.T. about the folly of having directors who are compliant and about a board which accepts his reports without questioning. He had answered he 'likes it that way'.' On the former board members 'I have no problems with T.T's honesty. I have my reservations about the competence and integrity of some of the members.' After all that he said, the whole board is like a board of duds. And there is absolutely no need to have any reservation about their competence and integrity. Why bother with duds? And Durai still stands out as an honest man. At least he is honest enough to admit that he likes to be surrounded by duds. And he knew that they were all duds to be kept in the board to serve him and his plans. Question is why would such a bunch of handsome and well acclaimed talents of this great island of talents allowed themselves to be duds? Or they may not know that they were duds in the eyes of Durai. It seems that the only thinker other than Durai is Alwyn whose perception of the whole play and plots and actors and actresses is precise beyond belief.

2/02/2007

malaysia car toll hike

Singaporeans are responding negatively towards the impending toll hikes for Singapore cars going into Malaysia. From a personal and individual point of view this can be expected. It burns the pocket. The bargains will not be bargains anymore. The JB merchants too are unhappy as their businesses will definitely be affected. They too have their vested interest to look after. And they would like more free spending Singaporeans to go over and spend their money. From the Federal govt's point of view, it all makes economic sense. There is money to make. And quite substantial sum of money to collect after knocking off the cost of the collection system. The Federal govt has all the rights and reasons to impose tolls or whatever fees it thinks is good for them. And surely they will study the demand and supply curve to work out what is a reasonable amount to charge or whether they should even charge a toll. There are considerations of tourism and investment in the Johore industrial park, tourists coming into Malaysia, attracting people to visit the country for all the good reasons. Presumably all these have been in the computation and the 20 ringgits will bring in more ringgits than losing them. Good for the Federal govt even if it will cost more for the travellers and workers.

nkf story - tragedies begin

The tragedies beginning Once the shining knights that were paraded in front of the media, on screen and in the MSM, in the companies of dignitaries, feasted by the highest office, receiving heaps of praises from all corners, now one by one is falling down like straw men. After being put on the witness box, one by one crumbled and shrank. As each day passes, they retreated deeper into themselves. Scheming, conspiring, unethical, brainless, opinionless, lost, empty heads, concealing information, distorting information, fabricating lies etc could not describe enough of the characters of this show. The only one that is still standing like a hero is Durai. He still comes across as a great organiser, a leader of men and women. Maybe it is easier when men and women were easily cowed or led. And he was even praised as a visionary by senior govt officials. Greatness cannot be easily tarnished. Our society really appreciates talents. What is unbecoming is that so far none of them has shown any sense of shame, or that they have done something seriously wrong. They are all still holding their heads high, and smilingly away. Not a single sense of guilt. Maybe this is just a civil suit and no guilt is involved or implicated. It is just individuals claiming against another individual. When will the heads be held down? When will the silly smiles be wiped off their faces? When will anyone of them feel that they have done wrong? Is this a fault of our education system? Or is it the fault of the wrong values that our society have nurtured? Or is it just personal values of individuals?

2/01/2007

why so difficult?

The NTUC is struggling with how to juggle CPF and Medisave contributions for the lower income and grandpas and grandmas. The solution is so simple. No CPF and Medisave contributions for them after 55. Any contribution should be voluntary. There are so many advantages for doing away with compulsory CPF and Medisave contributions for the oldies. Why so difficult?