Myth 171 - Who is more talented

Today, talents are measured by the salary or income they get. So we have a $10m talent, $1m talent, a $100k so so talent and a $10k not so talent. It is very easy to spot a talent, just by the things that he can afford, his home, his cars, his accessories and his ability to afford holidays, fine dinings and the theatres. When monetary reward is the accepted means of comparing talents, our local talents will have difficulty matching up to those in the developed and rich west. How could we pay someone in our GLCs the equivalent of Citibank, Microsoft, Shell, Yahoo, or the Stock Exchange of New York? What we can afford to pay is simply peanuts to them. So they are more talented than all our talents. Even a small MNCs will be able to pay much more than our best GLCs. Or a senior executive, not even a CEO, will be paid more than our top talents, more than our ministers. So what else can we do to tell people our top talents are as good as these western talents of large international corporations? Shall we pay our top talents as high as them so that we can also be recognised as billion dollar talents? Or shall we hire billion dollar talents to boost up our pool of average million dollar talents? A top talent in public service in China will probably be earning 10% of our average talent in civil service. So our average talent must be more talented. In this way we can tell the world that our talents are the best in the whole of Asia, in monetary terms. But our best will be third or fourth best in the west. For that is likely the amount they are paying to their third or fourth rate talents. The suggested road for Singaporean talents is to go west, get a reasonably high paying jobs and come back to be better than our local talents as they will command a higher pay package. Otherwise don't come back.

Celebrating the unsung heroes

It is easy to notice the great achievers and share their successes. The fame of entrepreneurs, statesmen, professionals etc are well documented, acknowledged and published in the media. These people are generally those who have acquired fame and wealth. We spoke in awe at the doctor or lawyer who earned several hundred thousands for each case executed. The higher the fees, the more respectable they become. He is good and that is why he can charge more. Looking at another corner, there are great people who have done great things for the people by making their lives liveable at very low cost. They do not pursue high profit margin for themselves. They produce goods and services at the cheapest possible price and at reasonable quality to benefit the masses. The first name that came to my mind is the instant noodle manufacturers. At a few cents, they pack a decent meal for those who cannot afford to be lavished. Millions in the world are living on instant noodles daily, 3 or 4 meals a day, 365 days a year, and for several years. Not only the lonely and the unemployed or retirees are doing it, many students from not too well off families are doing eat, eating instant noodles to get by, saving every cent they could to get their education. For the good that these manufacturers have done and served humankind, their contributions are mostly taken for granted. Then there are the hawkers in some hawker stalls that are selling quality and excellent meals at $2 in this expensive city called Singapore. And they are continuing to do it, happily serving their grateful customers, not raising prices despite all other costs being up. How could they do it? Or why are they so stupid to continue to do it and not ripping off their customers by claiming that costs are up and they need to raise their prices? Or would people be looking down at them for not earning the millions they should be and to claim that they are also talents in their own fields? The answer, i think, is that these people are happy with what they are doing, and they are happy seeing their customers happy. They are happy with the profits they are getting and do not seek to maximise profits at all costs. Basically they are not greedy people. But we should not be too happy about this state of affair. Soon the greedy people will come into the picture to force them out of business, raise their rentals and whatever costs. Then they will have no choice but to raise prices or go out of business. Then people will all claim to be innocent and blame somebody else for the high cost of living. The BSE disease is a very good excuse to fall back on.

Cash prizes to improve govt efficiency

'Give the Govt an innovative, impactful idea to cut red tape for businesses and win $1000.' This is a new drive by the Pro Enterprise Panel(PEP), an agency to help cut unnecessary bureaucracy in regulations, to create a more pro business environment. My first suggestion, and I want to claim my $1000 prize, is to remove this agency and this award. You do not need an award like this to solicit suggestions from the ignorant and no talent public to improve govt efficiency. If the public can do that, then they should be running the govt agencies. And we are having the top talents, paying top salaries running these agencies. Why are they incapable of looking into the problem, cutting red tapes and improve their proceduces and efficiency? Who create the red tapes and inefficiency? What is happening? Million dollar talents asking the peasants to teach them to suck eggs? Let me rethink over the issue again. We pay top talents millions of dollars, in turn they are asking the no talents to teach them how to improve and willing to pay the no talents a miserable $1000 for it....

Money everywhere

With ERPs as another great source of revenue, there is money everywhere. And motorists are also 'encouraged' to use public transports, the bus companies and SMRT are going to laugh all the way to the banks. They may be crying, that they can't cope with the volume of people traffic. They would not cry because of the revenue they are collecting. Now, where are these money from the ERPs and the commuters taking public transport going to? The shareholders of transport companies must be the great beneficiaries with the govt helping to promote their services. Shouldn't some of these profits be ploughed back to the people in some ways? The increase revenue is due to govt effort and policies, not because of the effort of the transport companies. What kind of private business can get this kind of booster from the govt? Is it too much to ask for some kickbacks to benefit the commuters in reducing fares? Or are we expecting fares to go higher because of increasing demand?

Two pet projects

The two hottest pet projects today, no guessing, must be Mean Testing and Longevity Insurance. I do not know how they came about or who were the great thinkers behind them, they sure come across as two pet projects that must die die be implemented at all cost. And despite the obvious, that both are no gos, the tenacity and furiousity to get them accepted are unbelieveable. With so much effort and resources put into them, no matter, an inadequate idea is still an inadequate idea. Yes I am harping, I am belabouring my point. Take mean testing for instance. What does it hope to achieve? Peanuts. And what are the costs? Financial, manpower and political costs are high, very high. Worst, it is all about a little principle that people are whinning about? We need bigger hearts to overlook the little idiosyncracies of man, of those who choose to live frugally and save every cent they can. These are not sinful or criminal ways and need not be hit so hard with the full machinery of a state. Then the longevity scheme. It is a good scheme like any insurance scheme. But how useful is it? How many will need it that the whole population will now have to bear the cost of someone's pet idea? Which god is so sure that 50% of the people will live past 85 years? And how many of these will need monetary help? You mean all these people who live till these ages could not think for themselves to make some kinds of provision for their old age? The joke is that many of those who can afford to live past that age are people who can afford to live on and on, even hooking on to expensive machines. Those who cannot are happier to let nature takes its course. There is no reason to prolong life in misery when the people cannot afford to even feed or house themselves. Once we accept that everyone must die, the natural way, let it be and the problem will solve itself. There is very little need to have longevity insurance. But for those who want it and can afford it, by all means. The little remnants that survive to those ages and could not feed themselves do not cost a bomb to the govt unless the govt wants to treat them like little Suhartos, hooked to machines and attended by an army of medical professionals. The scheme is but a red herring at best. LKY has publicly said that the 6.5m population, another pet idea, may not be what he is comfortable with. I am sure the planners will be scrambling for cover now. Do we need LKY to raise some doubts about these two pet projects before they are abandoned? Maybe it is too late. The rice isw almost cooked. Maybe LKY also agrees to it.

Smelling problems

One of the fine secrets of our success is smelling for problems or predicting problems. In management term it is called proactive. Every time when a problem is found and anticipated, you can smell money. We are being proactive in the ageing problems. Ha, money everywhere. We are anticipating water shortage and higher prices, more to collect money! We are planning to reduce jams on our roads, more money again. Increase our population, even more money. Lack of talent in govt, more money also. Medical care, housing shortage, ahhh, money akan datang. Every problem is actually a happy problem as more money will be in play.

Longevity Insurance - So what's new?

It was called National Longevity Insurance Scheme. Now it is called National Lifelong Income Scheme. A high power team has done its work and the scheme has been revised, repackaged and ready for the ears. The scheme met with a lot of unhappiness when first announced. Presumably everyone will be celebrating and very happy when the revised scheme is heard. Heard that instead of withdrawing at 85, now can withdraw at 80. Great, fantastic! And money need not go to someone else but back to the families. Another great improvement. And there are options. Great ideas. Never heard of options before. So, is it still compulsory? Have they addressed the issue that many do not need such insurance as they are well covered or have made plans for themselves? What ever, if 50% as believed will live past 85, maybe to 86 or 120 years, the other 50% will not reach this age. The error is 50%. I woke up this morning and a saw a bright light. And I realised that everyone must die. I challenge anyone to dispute this truth with me. I am 100% right! Not 50%. So I am going to recommend that life insurance be made compulsory for everyone since all must die. Brilliant isn't it?

Near full employment

Unemployment rate at 2.1% is as good as full employment. And according to a UOB economist Ho Wei Chean, '...most locals who want a job are able to do so. There is competition but it is not creating a lot of unemployment among locals.' This is good news and as good as tooth, I mean truth. I only hope that our university graduates and professionals are happy driving their taxis. Ok, their income has risen with the taxi fare hike and they should not be complaining. 236,000 jobs were created last year and 61% or 144,000 went to foreigners. 39% went to locals or a new group called 'indigenious workforce.' I call this term ingenious for it does not tell whether they are citizens or non citizens. Anyway full employment is better than unemployment. Parents should still spend hundreds of thousands to send their children to university and they can be assured that if all else fails, their children can still drive taxis and enjoy a mobile office.

Singapore govt smarter than Malaysian govt

While the Malaysian govt can only think of building bridges to collect tolls, Singapore only needs to erect ERP gantries to do that. In the former, building bridges will take a long time and a lot of money upfront. In the later, the roads are all there and erection of gantries will cost next to nothing. And the money collection is instant. See how fast we generate revenue. And gantries can be added anywhere. In a bridge, you can't have more than one collection gate.

Take Public Transport Month

In view of the traffic congestion, Singaporeans should drive less. We should support Raymond's initiative by taking public transport to work or play. Let's make February 2008 a 'Take Public Transport Month.' For the month of February, everyone should leave their cars at home and try taking public transport for a month. If we can do that, we may change our habit of travel and free the roads for the rich car owners. Hopefully, when the public start to take public transport, the transport companies will not find the excuse that they cannot cope and thus have to raise fares to stop people from taking public transport. Can the Raymond promise that this will not be the case?

Comprehensive changes to improve transportation

It is a major overhaul of the road system and the changes are very well thought of and should make our roads freer not from no need to use but unable to afford to use. For those who still need to use the car, they will just have to pay more. For the casual drivers, they can jolly well park their cars at home. For those who really need to drive for some reasons but cannot afford to pay, just too bad. This point may hit hard on essential driving and casual driving for those who can afford to pay. Got money can travel, even for the fun of driving everywhere. Maybe the Raymond may want to consider allowing a $10 upfront free usage for all motorists as a kind of gesture for those who may need to drive on some important or urgent matters. A second point that raised my eyebrows is the provision of electronic info for carparks 400 metres away. This is a sheer waste of public fund and technology. When use in a car park it makes sense. Putting such information on the road at quite a distance is, to put it kindly, rubbish. How would it help when 20 cars see the info and rush for a parking lot? One development from all these changes is that many will have to park their cars at home. That will provide a new opportunity for car parking business. HDB car parks can be spruced up, carpet the carpark, cameras to allow owners to view their cars in their homes, car washing facilities in every floor, private lots for owners to print their names on the floor etc etc. Aircon the carpark so that owners can read books sitting besides their $100k cars. These additional services will allow owners to happily park their cars at home. And a small circuit can be provided for the owners to drive their cars in circles to warm up the engine. Otherwise there will be starting problem from lack of use. Car parking business will be changed dramatically.

I thought I have enough savings to retire

Then one smart ass said I need more money to live on before I die. They said I need more money to live on woah! Then they started to take my little savings and put them aside and said it is for my own good. And just like that! I have no say whatever with my own money. I count count and still think it is enough because I no drink, no smoke, no need go out, eat maggie mee so shiok... why do I need so much money for? Pay hospital bills? I no need leh. I sick I die, hahish. No happy no unhappy. Pssst, can I have my money back? This god no answer.

ERP needed in MRT stations

While there is this push to get the richer Singaporeans to take public transport, the people who are so used to the comfort and privacy of driving their own cars, more thoughts are needed to make sure that travelling in MRT and buses are up to their expectations. At the moment taking public transport is a filthy, smelly and unhealthy experience. The trains and buses are clean, but not the commuters. Despite all efforts to make the facilities world class, spick and span, the commuters will stride in in their dirty and smelly working clothes and to rub them against your clean while shirt or expensive blouses. They take great pleasure in doing that. Then the smelly ones. You have to exchange your Colgate Mint breath or your expensive mouth spray breath with their smelly breath. You breathe out, they breathe in. They breathe out, you breathe in, at close quarters, exchanging breath. And of course the sick, those with flu or whatever, sharing everything they have with everyone in the confined space of a train or bus. How would the richer Singaporeans tolerate such stuff when they are used to some personal hygiene and cleaner air and better smell? Maybe the first one or two train carriages should be cordoned off with ERP gates and commuters having to pay extra to get in. This will provide some separation for those who wants a little space and comfort. Such segregation is not new. The airlines, trains, hospitals, express buses etc are doing it. But just don't call it first class or any snobbish name. Maybe call it express trains or ERP, Express Room Passengers! It is unthoughtful to force the richer Singaporeans to take public transport but failing to provide a higher level of service to them. It is unthoughtful to provide a world class service standard to all commuters knowing that now all can or would want to pay for it. Have a standard service and a better service for those who want to pay more. Huh, paying more sure rings a bell.

Notable quotes - George Bush

'The Govt must trust the people with their own money.' George Bush Although I don't agree with Bush in many of his international policies, this is the most agreeable statement that came out from him. It is time that the gods and saints stop bullying and ridiculing the people by telling them that they are incapable of managing their own money. It is time that they return the money to their rightful owners.

Why so many complaints about MRT?

It is unbelieveable that there are so many complaints in the msm today on the MRT. Too crowded, overcrowding, smelling people's body odour, people breathing down your neck, etc etc. How can there be so many complaints about our world class transport system? And they had just collected several years of fare hikes to improve the system. I think all these complaints are unjustified. Our trains, compare to some other countries, are so comfortable. At least not as crowded as in Tokyo or having to hang outside the train or sit on the roof. And we have been told that the trains are only 80% capacity. We can squeeze in 20% more people. Singaporean commuters are too much. Can't they appreciate that standing close to each other will be a great opportunity to strike up a conversation and get to know the other person. Perhaps they can make more friends as well. It is great for socialising. For the ingenius salespeople, it will be a good occasion to sell more deodorant. And the services must have improved tremendously after all the fare hikes. Imagine if not of the fare hikes what will be the condition of travelling in the train. Singaporeans just do not know how good this paradise is.

Things are getting brighter

This morning I work up with an urge, to take a law degree. With Singaporeans all getting richer and smarter, their reputation will also grow in stature. And they will have to protect their big reputation at all cost. Any slight will be enough reason to start a liber suit against another party. With this kind of development, litigation lawyers are going to have a ball. And it is an honourable profession, protecting the honour of all the rich and respectable Singaporeans. I will look forward to the day when the rich beggars will hire a lawyer to defend their reputation should anyone say anything bad about beggars. But let me register myself to the law school first. I am going to start practising at the age of 85, as a lawyer.

Complaint Choir

What kind of performance is this? Complaints, complaints, complaints! Why don't they sing praises? Do they think that just because we are opening up, getting looser, foreigners can come here and sing about complaints? Complaints about Singapore are only for Singaporeans. Foreigners can sing or joke about our complaints outside of Singapore. Then we can shut our ears to them and we will be alright, and they will be alright too. The complaint Choir can only perform by Singaporeans only. I think this is something understood by all. Sometimes people also not happy if I make negative comments about Singaporeans and they tell me to shut up or shift out too. We are really uptight aren't we? We cannot joke about ourselves or complaint about things that we are not happy about. For doing so is just like telling lies. We need to sing more hymns and praises and everyone will be happier. Can't we just hear the good stuff?

Discussion is good - Tony Tan

Tony Tan said this in response to concerns raised regarding GIC's investments overseas. His position is that if the concerns raised were not discussed and allowed to build up, they may lead to some form of financial protectionism. Would Tony's comment that discussion is good applies to other fields, especially domestic issues? And would discussion is good also applies to cyberspace or only to some select groups? Is discussion good or no good on some issues?

We will improve our services

Sorry guys/gals. I was on a short retreat and no posting for a couple of days. Back late last night, glanced through the papers and saw a small piece of good news. The bus and MRT companies have announced that they will improve their services in the face of an opening up of the industries by Raymond Lim. This is the first positive contribution from Raymond in his tranportation reform. Before anything is even being done, the transport companies are already sitting up. What is most amazing this time is that they did not say anything about more fare hikes in order to improve their services. Am I dreaming? How could they improve their services without any fare hike? Does anyone notice any difference or improvement in their services after the last few fare hikes? I hope more concrete and substantive improvements can be felt by the users.

Whither Singapore?

We are entering a watershed in our history. We have gone past the days of nation building and are looking at new goals and heights to scale. The days of the founding fathers are about over. It is time to ponder where we are heading? The earlier days are simpler. Economic growth and filling the stomach and a roof over our heads. Now economic growth is not everything. There are more choices, right choices and wrong choices. Oops, let me backtrack a bit. Economic growth or more money in the pocket is still very important. Yes we have plenty of choices that money can buy. We are now in the phase of looking for the good life. What is the good life? All the glitters, all the wine, women and song. This is like the prime years of the Tang Dynasty.

Some Taxi drivers still complaining

When an average taxi driver is getting more than what he got previously, why are some still complaining? There are bound to have some who earn more and some lesser. But as the average income is more, than generally more will get more. For those who are getting less, either they are taking too much kopi breaks or not working hard enough. Drive a few rounds more and their income will rise. They are not saying that the numbers given are a lie. Several taxi operators have also support the better numbers.

I got this good news

Heard over the news that our taxi problem is more or less resolved. Taxi passengers are happier as the waiting time has been halved. And taxi drivers' income is also better than before. Now we have happy passengers, happy drivers and happy taxi operators.

Can we afford 6.5m?

In many respects we can. But in the area of transportation, I doubt we can keep pushing further. Under the present 4.5m, we are greatly stressed. We are at the verge of erecting ERPs at every junction. What if we have 6.5m? Cannot imagine the congestion. Now our car population is about 500,000. Add another 2m people, we can expect another 200,000 cars on the road. Then what? Build another network of roads? The expressways, if we double it, may still look ok. It is the smaller roads that will choke up and get blocked out. There is no way one can drive out of the car park with 700,000 cars unless we are going to pay through our nose to get the car moving. We have MRT! Even now, if we add another 10% to the commuters, the MRT will be struggling. Forget about buses on the roads. 6.5m! Still pushing it?

Passing of an era

The golden years are slipping away. We are seeing the passing of the last leader of an era. LKY had just given a lecture in Saudi Arabia to share his wisdom, and for the intelligentsia to tap his knowledge. He is the last leader who thrives in adversity and transformed this island to a city state of distinction. Sadly, we are not seeing another man to fit that role. We have many leaders but none come close. None will be invited by an international audience to share his intellect. None has achieved the stature and distinction that LKY has achieved. He was and still is the leader of this city state. Our administrator type of leaders are good and excellent civil servants, making outstanding employees. Probably a product of a system that hinders the production of leaders. Men, no matter how able, who wait to be called, are not leaders. Leaders, especially of a nation, must stand out and lead on his own. We don't have that kind of leadership for the last 20 years. The golden years will still glow and glitter for a few more years before they fade away. Unless we have another shining leader to assume the kind of leadership to lead the people, not administer the people the way we are doing. Not telling the people, and not compelling the people by legislation to get going.

No Petrol Day

Got the below article from an email. Hi folks,.......... Lets give it a try! Lets fight the high cost of PETROL. Lets HELP OURSELVES against the PETROL COMPANIES!! If we all cooperate, it should give a SHOCK to the petrol industry! Lets give it a try. Got NOTHING to lose !!! See message below>>>>>> IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF PETROL FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES. AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES. THEREFORE '24th JANUARY ' HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED 'STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND 'DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF PETROL THAT DAY. THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT. WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO? REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF PETROL GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH AFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING SUPPLIES MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE DO! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE 24 JANUARY A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS SAY 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH'. We forward so many junk email to many of our friends, now let us do it for some useful cause to cut down the price of the petrol........ REMEMBER: JANUARY 24, 2008.... NO Petrol Day...!

$290 definitely enough

The ministry is reviewing the need to revise the $290 for the Public Assistance Scheme and understandably it will take time, maybe a year, as it is tax payers money that is being given out, and got to be very careful in spending such money. In the meantime let me make a guesstimate on how much would such folks need to get by. Say $2 for breakfast, $3 for lunch and dinner. That's $8 a day or $240 pm. Another $50 for rental and PUB bills. Just nice. And at year end give them a little angpow of $50 to buy a few pieces of new clothing. That should do. For such a sum, the frugal and thrifty may even have some savings if they rely on instant noodles, add an egg, a few pieces of vegetables or tauhu or ikan bilis. Great and healthy meal and got money to spare too. If Boon Wan would to review the sum, I think he will err on the side of generosity and may round it up to $300. That will be nice. As for me, I must also plan for my retirement. I am looking for a job that will pay me $5k pm on retirement when I do practically nothing. That will be very nice. And if I spend $8 a day on food, I will have plenty of money to live like a king on weekends in Batam. Wow, getting $5k pm on retirement and doing sweet nothing. Anyone got such a lobang please let me know.

Housing is affordable

I must agree with Mah Bow Tan that housing is affordable. Singaporeans have a wide option to choose from, from the exclusive condos to the rental flats. So if one cannot afford a 4 rm flat, go for 3 rm. If that also cannot, go for rental. Everyone should live within his means and opt for the appropriate housing type. Everyone has a choice. But in the case of hospitalisation, hey it is a different matter when you cannot choose which expensive wards you want to be warded. Ok, ok, you can choose even C wards but you have to pay a little more. If people are given a choice to opt for things at a lower price, then it is affordable.

Time to return to sanity

The conflict of interest between serving the people and profit maximisation does not need further elaboration. Public services, medical, education, essential services, transportations should serve the interest of the people more than to serve the interest of a few shareholders. In Raymond Lim's reform of the public transport service, nothing significant will come out of it if the interest of the people to move around, for work and leisure, is not addressed. And if these interests are curtailed just to serve a few shareholders, then we are going to incapacitate the movement of our people. When people stop moving, when vehicles stop moving, we are no better than the jams in Bangkok or Jakarta. There the traffic are stopped from moving by bad planning. Here our traffic are stopped from moving by too much planning. What's the difference? Time to return to sanity. Time to serve the people.

Help, Help, Help!

Young people buying HDB flats need help. People needing medical treatment need help. The retirees and aged and the poor need help. But everything is affordable! Why would all these people need help when everything is affordable? HDB prices are still selling above market rate. Can't this be managed so that the prices are really affordable without help? Medical fees, out of control? Nothing can be done? The poor and aged, why are they being left behind by the high cost of living? If we seriously managed the cost of essential goods and services, including HDB flats, the people should be able to manage their lives without govt help. Helping them is a reflection of policies going wrong. But we have the whole world to blame despite all the super talents and their super pay. Why can't they solve these problems? Maybe that's the best they can do.

Profile of Singaporeans

My guesstimate is that 5% of Singaporeans are truly world class and 20% belong to the rich class. The next category, the above average Singaporeans would probably take up 30%. These three classes are quite comfortable in life. The next 30% will be the survival class, surviving everyday. And the rest will be the struggling class, maybe 15%. With the above demography, it is going to be very tough to plan our policies by simply pushing everything to be world class. The govt hospitals have been adapting to this reality, that not everyone is first class and have 5 classes of wards to cater for the different level of needs. Public policies must not forget this reality. By dumping world class services to the underclass is cruelty. Have mercy on those who cannot afford world class services. But if you ask the masses if they want world class facilities and services, it is like asking them if they want to strike Toto. The reply is obvious. Let us be kind by providing good and decent services to the appropriate consumers and world class services to those who can pay. Keep your brutal truth at home.

Why is cyberspace more powerful?

Other than those wild postings, internet blogs and forums have certain distinct advantages over msm. It can be very real, the feelings. And the truth can also be very real, minus the misinformation which is also present in msm. We can be as objective as msm and as bias as msm. The blogs and forums are instant news and information on a topic that is of interest to the bloggers. Not somebody else interest. We set the agenda and decide what is important to us to talk about. And we can keep it current and stay there for as long as we want. No one is able to say, it's over, let's move on. Here we decide when it is over and when to move on. Our hot issues need not be msm's hot issues. And we can harp and harp over an issue to our heart's content. We talk about issues that msm will not dare to touch or touch it gingerly. Cyberspace is here to stay to provide the views that msm could not provide or will not provide. Keep posting guys and gals.

Myth 170 - Improvement

Improvement in the commercial sense in the provision of goods and services means an increase in value of the service or goods provided. It could come in more quantity, better quality, better service or lower price. Using a chicken rice stall as an example. A stall may be selling a plate at $3 with 5 pieces of chicken. His next competitor may offer 6 pieces at the same price or add in a bowl of soup. Another may improve the quality of rice or chicken. A more aggressive competitor will sell the same thing for $2! Now this is real competition and real improvement in the value of the product or service. In a cartel or monopolistic condition, or in a make belief competitive environment, the best you get in terms of competition is hogwash. If every additional piece of chicken means another dollar, it is not improvement. There is no betterment in value. In fact it is more expensive. What about hotel selling chicken rice for $15 a plate? They provide a totally different experience in quality, quantity and service. Aircon, waitresses serving, better quality crockery, better quantity etc. And the customers are not complaining and going for more. The difference is that they have a very selected customer base. The people who are rich and can afford to pay for quality. They would not mind paying 3 or 10 times the price an average customer will pay. In the provision of exclusive goods and services, this kind of differentiation is acceptable and make business sense. But when the service is to the masses, to the ordinary people in the street, the Ah Pek and Ah Mahs and the poor foreign workers, we need to think twice about providing world class services. These people have no choices, and don't have the money to pay. On the other hand if we really want to provide world class services and price it at world class prices, it is a conscious decision. Then we can do away with the poor buggers who cannot afford the service. Tell them the brutal truth. Can't afford find alternative means. Walk or cycle. Public service and public administration is not serving the elite class.

Myth 169 - World Class

As we relentless pursue being world class in every thing, we forgot that our people's income is not world class. Oops, I apologise for this mistake. Some are. What are the implications? World class means world class price tag. Period. If everything is world class, everything must be paid in world class dollars. Good things don't come cheap. The word 'world class' is becoming very disturbing to many Singaporeans. Many are getting nightmares hearing it. Singaporeans are not rejoicing that everything around them is world class. Shit, my mistake again. Some Singaporeans are frightened but many are looking forward to world class facilities and services. They can afford them. For those who cannot afford world class stuff, please snuff out. The most frightening development coming our way is World Class Transport System and you can expect world class fares.

Perfect solutions to our transport problem

1. Too many cars, increase taxes, ARF, PARF, Road Tax, Petrol Tax etc etc. 2. Too many cars on expressways, increase fees of expressways. 3. Too many cars in other roads, erect more ERPs. 4. If all these ended with too many cars in car parks, increase parking fees. 5. Too many people using bus and MRTs, increase fares. It only took me 1 minute for these remedies. Brilliant!

Born, age, sick and die

These changes the life of Gotama Buddha, the prince. Suharto’s images on TV is a grim reminder to everyone that this is their fate, especially in this paradise. It would not happen to many elsewhere. But here, everything is possible, especially when you have a lot of money to spend in your dying days. It is not cheap to have all the tubes hooked on you and running out of your nostrils and mouth and whatever part of the body they deemed fit to attach them.

If I have a choice, I would not allow it to happen. I rather have my $30k in my Medisave be locked away and then pass on to my children. Not much money though. Unlike Suharto with his millions and billions and everyone waiting to snatch it back for one reason or another. Looking at him in his helpless and pathetic state, who knows what will happen to his children’s wealth.

Matilah would say let the show go on and for everyone to enjoy it. It may be a tragedy waiting to happen.

Why we need FTs

FTs are needed here, definitely. We need the really good ones at the top, in top management especially. My years in the corporate world have exposed me to the presence of many non performers in top management, being there for all the wrong reasons. Their only interest is self preservation, and the classic strategy is not to rock the boat. Just hope and pray that everything is normal, no changes, no trouble, so that they can live through their golden years in peace and collect all the gold and bonuses along the way. I have seen bunches that just go through the routine everyday, or carrying out instructions and implementing them like robots, right or wrong, ethical or unethical, morally devious also no matter. Just do as was being told. They were practically a post box. And better still, doing it quietly, especially the unethical or unprincipled ones, and hoping that no one will come to know about them, like ostriches with their heads in the ground. How could such foul policies or regulations go unnoticed when they affect the staff concerned? Often the staff only knew about them too late when they hit them in the face. They will ask, when did these come about, why no one thinks it is necessary to tell them? The management would simply keep quiet. Don’t say anything is the smartest thing to do. If anything to open their golden mouths, stuffed with gold, it is for some routine and insignificant or irritating stuff. And this is still going on in many organisations. There are management like no management. Management is actually transparent or appears only to threaten the junior staff with their positional power. Yes we need FTs to replace such good for nothing management.

Salma Khalik chastising some mean Singaporeans

While Boon Wan was trying to be as generous and not mean, some Singaporeans are urging the minister to be less generous and more mean. This has made Salma to write a piece to question the generosity and compassion of these Singaporeans for their less well off neighbours. Now, Salma has gone soft. And this is bad. Those Singaporeans who cannot afford to pay for the medical bills do not deserve to be warded in the first place. With ample opportunities in Singapore for everyone to make millions and live a life of plenty, and if these people are still stretching their hands out for subsidies, then they should be told off. Face the brutal truth. If they cannot afford it, just too bad. How can they keep asking for charity and welfare? Now this tone of mine should please the two paid bloggers in my blog.

Overhaul of bus system - back to basics

Raymond Lim is another hard working minister working very hard to overhaul our efficient transport system that has been made more efficient by privatisation and the merging of several providers to gain from the economy of scales. Why is it still inefficient really bugs me? The key changes to Raymond's reform of the system are: 1. transport system to serve commuters' interest and not to make more money. This is the most radical change I think. 2. Central control and planning by the govt and not by the providers. Ooh, are the privatised management more capable, efficient and commercially wise? 3. More providers to generate competition for better service? What, what's that? 4. This may not be a major issue, but hey, finally season pass is coming. What the above changes boil down to is that the transport system should be taken back by the govt and be made a public service to serve the commuters. The concept that these privatised transport providers would want to be efficient and provide the best service without making profit is a big flaw in the assumption. And don't ever forget the argument, the famed argument, that they have to answer to their shareholders. Then how? This contradition cannot be resolved without making transport providers as an essential govt service. I will strongly recommend that the bus and MRT systems be returned to the govt as a stats board. Then we can talk about providing a service for the people without making profit as a key objective. And if this 'stats board' is still inefficient in spite of the super talents with super pay managing them, fire the whole bunch and get a new team. Privatisation is not a cure all for inefficiency and incompetence. The concept is as tooth as the tooth. I have personally seen many private organisations managed by clowns just to protect their own jobs and pay without any concern of where the organisation is heading. I will write about this tomorrow.

We have done well

I need to post something positive and encouraging to appease the couple of paid bloggers in my blog, mysingaporenews.blogspot.com. Otherwise they will keep smearing me for pointing out the less positive things around us. Like Lily Neo said, the attacks and bullying in cyberspace is not one to one but they come in wolf packs. So let me make them happier a bit. We have done very well as a country. No one is going to dispute this fact except the sour grapes. We are the pearl in muddy water, and we sparkle while others fade away. The best indicators to watch how far we have progressed and how well we are doing will be the issues raised in Parliament. We no longer talk about serious problems that will mess up the economy or the people's lives. We are talking about building dreams and bigger dreams and moving closer towards a paradise on earth. We live well, well educated, well fed, and travel around to see the world not on a shoe string budget. Singaporeans are very comfortable as a people. And now in Parliament we can talk about issues like husband and wife in bed, we talk about little girls' exploits in the internet, and we will probably talk about hip hops, about movies, importing foreign sports talents to win medals for us, about saving the world and going green, or about anything that don't really concerns us at all. Oh I forgot, we can also talk about achieving world records in the Guinness Book of Records. See, this is how far we have progressed. These are the luxuries of a well managed and prosperous country when all the real problems have been solved. Now we can even afford to set up a defacto Ministry for the Elders to look after their welfare. I could not put it better in any other ways. Yes we are doing very well.

Boon Wan's new initiative

Compulsory disclosure of hospital bills from private hospitals. This is another big step forward towards greater transparency and will benefit the patients and the industry. Don't be shy, tell us how much you charge. It is an honourable profession with honourable professionals and this should not be a problem. Actually I am not too concern with private hospitals as these are places for those who can afford and voluntarily choose to go there. They would not mind paying and they have an option not to go there. What I think will be more important will be the bills of other industries where customers have no where else to go. The first one that comes to my mind is the legal industry where people really have no choice but to go to the lawyers when they are in legal trouble. This profession is also run by professionals, honourable and learned counsels and asking them to disclose their bills will be most welcome.

School bullying in Parliament

Lily Neo has had enough. The bullying is so serious that she is taking it to parliament. Actually I would rather she continue to raise the issue of medical cost and the proposed and already decided mean testing again. Such issues cannot be raised once and put to rest, spoken and forgotten. I hope other MPs will raise issues like the freedom of choice to decide how the people should spend their money and to stop the compulsory taking of the people's money for whatever good reasons. The question of the people's money as sacred and untouchable right, should be raised. This right must be returned to the people. Otherwise, we will continuously hear of compulsory this or that but basically taking away money from the people. The people no longer can determine what to do with their money. The people's money is as good as not their money. Well, would there be any daring MPs who will take up more interesting and substantive things to parliament?

Million dollar dilemma

What's that? Not me. I have not struck Toto yet. So no million dollar to worry about. But many people are facing the million dollar dilemma. Many have accepted the branding that they are real super talents. This is no longer kopitiam talk anymore. They have accepted the real monetary packet that comes with the title. They are now walking around wearing a million dollar price tag. The brand is better than Gucci or Prada or Prata or whatever there are in the market. What does this means to the million dollar specie? The ignorant or act dumb type will go on as usual as if nothing has changed except that money is being poured into their pockets. Life is just a bliss. Who cares as long as they can continue with their wine parties and karaoke every night. Then the sensible and those with a higher sense of conscience would start to worry. What am I going to do to justify the million dollar I am getting? Do I do something worthwhile, worthy to deserve that kind of money? The people that I am shaking hands with are going to ask, how much is this handshake cost? This group of talents will be stimulated to do something more. They need to come out with brilliant ideas, decisions and policies to let people know that they are not just a tooth. They are real stuff. They can't be walking around talking nonsense and doing nonsensical things. Their time are very expensive. So we can expect brilliant policies and ideas coming from such talents. Definitely not stupid ideas that Ah Beng and Ahmad can think of. Then they will be no difference. The people must all be waiting eagerly to see some great ideas coming through. Still waiting, I supposed.

Silver Hair Biz

With Singaporeans greying rapidly, and all very rich, at least with a big chunk of money in their Medisave, and maybe in annuities, the best business to look at is to provide life support machines to them. Many would be needing them if they are longing to live to 100 years old. The service is very simple, just plug them into the machines when they are no longer conscious, like in Matrix, and let them hibernate for as long as there is money left in their savings. When the money dries up then it is time to switch off the machine. Added service will be in the form of highly qualified medical professionals to do their rounds and make sure hibernators and machines are working beautifully. This will be additional cost of course. Looking at it, a room can easily hook up 6 to 10 bodies on triple deckers. We can call this expensive network of machines as the Sago Lane Matrix.

What's happening?

Liang Dingzi wrote about this guy who has past the age of 62 and wanted to continue to contribute to the Supplementary Retirement Scheme but were rejected by the MOF. I would think the govt that is so concerned about retirees having no savings and wanted to introduce compulsory annuity schemes would be happy that they are willing to keep more money in the CPF. Maybe Eng Hen should have a word with MOF on this. If people are willing to save more voluntarily, then there is no need to compel them to do. What's happening?

Two most caring and hardworking ministers

Boon Wan and Eng Hen are the two most outstanding ministers working very hard to improve the life of Singaporeans. Boon Wan is cranking every ounce of his brain juice to bring down medical cost and improve the quality of B2 and C wards. Eng Hen is trying to make sure that all Singaporeans who live past 85 will still have money to spend. I was thinking of putting up a scroll for Singaporeans to sign and show their appreciation for the hard work they have put in, and to thank them. The Singaporeans felt it in their heart that all these works are good for them. But what I would like to suggest to them is not to work so hard. Take a break and go for on holiday. Let the Singaporeans take care of themselves and their lives. I think Singaporeans will greatly appreciate them for it. In the case of hospitals, no need to further improve the quality of B2 and C class wards. The present quality is very good, excellent. The wards are more comfortable than the homes of many Singaporeans using these wards. So no need to agonise over richer Singaporeans wanting to stay in these wards when they are made better. Better spend effort to improve the B1 and A wards so that the richer Singaporeans will choose them as a matter of choice. As for Compulsory Annuities, no need lah. Those who can afford to pay for them, don't need them. And they will probably say, don't waste time. Those who need them would not be able to afford them. And making it compulsory will make their lives more miserable and their pockets more empty. They will end up cursing and swearing. Those in between will say the amount will not be enough and be quite meaningless. So my best suggestion is not to do anything. Take note that the people appreciate their good intention. Go for holiday and make everyone happy.

Taiwan healthcare more affordable

Liu I Chun wrote an article in the Today paper on the Taiwan Healthcare system. He said that the Taiwanese system is not only more affordable than Singapore's, its waiting time to see a specialist is also shorter. He gave an example of an eye specialist bill of $44, complete with diagnostic tests and consultations. And this is half the cost in Singapore. 'And one can see a specialist (no referrals needed) on the day itself if there are last minute appointment cancellations.' What is interesting is the World Bank Report he quoted on healthcare expenditure as a porportion of GDP, 4.6% for low income nations, 6% for middle income nations and 11.2% for high income nations. And Taiwan as a high income nation, spends only 6.2% Better still, Singapore, another high income nation, spends only 4% of its GDP on healthcare. I take this as a compliment for being efficient, providing a good healthcare system at a lower cost vis a vis the GDP. What Liu suggested, and I wholely agree, is that Singapore can afford to spend a little more to subsidise the health cost for its people.

All for nothing

Lately we are seeing many queer things happening around us and affecting our lives. So much effort and resources, expensive brain juices were made to flow, all for nothing but principles and beliefs. People believe that something is right on principles, people believe that something will happen, and they went about insisting that things must be done to fit their principles and beliefs, even at the stake of stirring up more emotions and unhappiness. Guess what I am talking about? In management science there is this concept called Pareto Principles. You do not waste too much effort on little returns. You spend effort in areas where you can get the most returns. Stop wasting time beating a dead horse.

Money Not Enough

We used to sneer at the poorer Singaporeans for their endless complaints that money is not enough. We sneered at people with $250 and asking for $50 more, the taxi drivers earning $3000 and wanting $9000 or the doctor who earns a million and wanting $5m. This is a negative way of looking at people and their drive to improve themselves. It is this drive, the greed to want more that keep these people asking for more and striving to improve themselves. We all know that greed has two sides. On the positive side it is a very powerful motivator, a great stimuli to keep people going. The news reported that Suharto has a strong will to live because of his army training. This is bull shit. It is greed. The greed to see his wealth and enjoy his wealth. The greed to live longer to protect that wealth. Greed or money not enough is in our blood. We are what we are today because of greed. If I were to form a political party, I will name it MNE Party or Money Not Enough Party. The party will then be assured of attracting the best brains to serve. The reward is real. It is truth and not tooth. Talented people will all volunteer to join the party. Nothing to hide, nothing to pretend. They will openly say they are in for the money. The good thing about a MNE Party is that there will be no hypocrisy. You get what you see and be proud of it. Alternatively can call it GIG Party, or Greed Is Good Party.

Notable quotes - Khaw Boon Wan

'Test will err on side of generosity' Khaw Boon Wan Boon Wan said this during his dialogue sessions attended by more than 900 people on his plans to introduce mean testing. He promised that 'Means Testing will neither be mean nor demeaning.' The abattoir claimed to kill the pigs in the most humane and painless way. That is what we were told. But this is a bad analogy. Boon Wan was telling the people that he will be as kind and generous as possible. He tried his best to persuade the people of his good intention and that the Mean Testing is to help the poor. Reminds me of the 2% increase in GST. We shall all bear witness to his assurance published in the msm. Let's see when it is eventually introduced and whether desperate people will have the book thrown into their faces. You are not qualified. Next please. You are not qualified. This is the rule. Next please.... We will only know after the rice is cooked.

Taiwanese voters wised up

The heady days of blindly following Ah Bian are over. The Taiwanese voters have decided to take the future of Taiwan into their own hands. They decided to vote for the best man to lead them into the future. They paid no concern to party loyalty or whether Taiwan is independent or being a part of China. What the Taiwanese want is a better future for themselves and their children. Can Singaporean voters emulate the new ethos of the Taiwanese and vote for good men to lead them into the future instead of voting blindly? This is a test of the maturity of the electorate.