The golden year era is history

In the 80s and 90s, the mood of the citizens was jubilant and full of optimism. Everyone was thinking of upgrading from smaller flats to bigger flats, to private properties. And you don’t need a degree or even a diploma to do that. The homes for the average workers were 4 rm and 5 rm flats and many could afford better.
 
Playing golf and buying golf and country club memberships were a happy past time. It was a time to play and to have fun, for very ordinary Sinkies. Today it is no longer the same. The courses are dirt cheap but not many takers. With the govt taking back some of the land and a new pegged to market price of the land, many would not be able to be golf club members anymore.
 
The flat owners are buying smaller and smaller public flats despite their tertiary qualifications. And now they are begging the govt to bring down the prices by shortening the lease from 99 years to 60 years, and to 30 years. Lowering of expectations. This is an island of rich millionaires begging for handouts and assistance from the govt.
 
The oldies that have bought landed properties are in the process to downgrade, to sell and cash out to have some cash for their retirement. Not bad for these oldies. Would this be the same for the young of today when they turned oldies?
 
During the golden years the young had no problem getting a good job. The PMEs were gainfully employed and with very good income. Now both groups are not so fortunate. The PMEs are badly hurt and many are unemployed, unemployable or jobless. So do the young.
 
Car ownership is now a fleeting dream to many average Sinkies when it was a norm to own a car that cost $10k or $20k and no ERP to pay. Now the new normal is to take public transport and some returning to leg power not out of choice but necessity when affordability is a real problem.
 
And there was a time when everyone wanted to be admitted to A class wards in govt hospitals. Today they wanted to go to C or B2 wards for fear of being bankrupt by the medical bills. And the hospitals have to come out with a mean thing to prevent the patients from downgrading to lower class wards. They would like patients to stay at more expensive wards. Strangely today hospitals are trying their best to discharge patients as early as they could to make way for new patients. Must be business so good that they cannot cope.
 
Bye bye golden years. When shall we meet again? Oh, don’t be mistaken, the golden years are still here, for the foreigners and the super rich. To many Sinkies it is all about down grading and lowering expectations. Some are having their last fling by selling their once proud homes. And many of the young who would be inheriting a little fortune or good property from their parents would not be able to repeat what their parents had done and would also be going through their last lap of luxury before downgrading like some of the oldies.

China should forgive Japan like it has forgiven the Manchus?

In an article in the ST on 14 Feb, ‘China can take a leaf out of Manchu issue by ST journalist Jason Ou, the writer implied that there is no difference between the Manchus and the Japanese in their atrocities committed against the Chinese people. And China is not letting it go and continuously berating against the Japanese and even went ballistic when Shinzo Abe visited the Yasukuni Shrine to show respect to the war criminals that invaded China and murdering so many Chinese.

Jason Ou claimed that Chinese leaders needed the Japanese bogeyman for their legitimacy and to remain in power. Really, after 60 years of communist rule and a people rising from the ashes of extreme poverty to be the next superpower, economically and militarily to challenge the American’s position as the Number One super power, China needs a perennial threat like Japan to stay in power? Does he know that China could even risk the charges of betraying its communist root in adopting capitalist economic models of development with no threats to the party’s creditability? Does he know that apart from a small minority, it happens in all countries, the Chinese people have never been prouder and more confident of themselves as a people and nation? It is all about a nation and people become rich and prosperous than the quibbling over ideologies and petty and unproductive issues.

His second point that China could not relent in the face of repeated Japanese provocation and revisionism to erase their brutal past and claiming that Diaoyu Islands belong to Japan is valid. This is one of the major differences between forgiving the Manchus and not the Japanese.

The Manchus were brutal in the suppression of Han resistance after conquering China. The fact that they ruled China for more than 300 years gave them a chance to integrate their tribe into the Chinese civilisation. The Manchus were assimilated culturally into the main stream Chinese culture. Their land became a part of China and they became Chinese.

Perhaps if Japan had been successful in conquering China and ruled China for as long as the Manchus, and be assimilated as part of a bigger Chinese culture, things could be different. The fact that Japan remained a distinct culture, race and nation, it could not be seen as one of them by the Chinese. And the insistence of claiming a piece of Chinese territory as theirs only adds to the distrust and animosity between the two nations. Japan is not a part of China but a different state with hostile intent, historical aggression and still hanging on to a piece of Chinese territory.

Could China forgive the Japanese like they have forgiven the Manchus? The very least the Japanese must do is to return the islands of Diaoyu to China if a lasting relationship of peace and stability in the region is to evolve. The ball is in the Japanese court. The red herring of a powerful and confident China needing to create a Japanese enemy for the vested interest of its leaders is bull. Japan is a different animal altogether and a very unrepentant and obnoxious country.

Kopi level - Yellow

Affordable homes in Malaysia

Malaysia has the good fortune of a super efficient govt in Singapore to clear the path for growth and development. It can simply emulate our highly successful economic models in developing its country. In today’s ST, Malaysia is also introducing ‘affordable’ public housing for its low income citizens and using very familiar terms like housing subsidies, rising prices of properties, and even the formula for people who are qualified for such housing, first time home buyers.

Malaysia has set aside RM300 million to build at least 10,000 low cost housing and will subsidise RM30,000 to the home buyers. And the computation works this way. If the cost of building a flat is RM70,000 the govt will subsidise RM30,000. The buyer only needs to pay RM40,000. The subsidy quantum is fixed from the start. So if the construction cost is RM50,000, the buyer needs only pay RM20,000 or higher if it goes the other way. And to qualify, the buyer must have a monthly income of less than RM3,000.

The scheme is quire similar to what Singapore is doing but still not as good in several areas. Firstly, RM3,000 pm income is too high. In Singapore, a monthly income of $1,000 which is equivalent to RM2,600 is enough to buy a public housing flat. And the subsidy is not based on the actual cost of building the flat. Singapore’s formula is based on market subsidy which is greater in value. I think this has been modified and should be based on building cost or something like. It is a bit difficult to figure out as construction cost is a state secret and no one is supposed to talk about it. The only thing the people can do is to guess.

Malaysia is doing very well in taking care of its local’s housing needs. One point I am not sure but can only presume that their public housing is also based on a 99 year lease. Can anyone confirm on this?

And Malaysia will become better if it continues to copy more of our successful formula. They can also change their public medical subsidy scheme to be like Singapore’s, with the 3 Ms and now Medishield Life. Then it will be just perfect.

GE in the air

When the buffet train is here, you can expect something else will follow suit. We are having parties for anything conceiveable. 50 year Anniversary, celebrations with other countries for good inter state relations, and a lot of goodies being thrown at the people like it is Christmas in Spring. We even have minimum wage for cleaners, and now raising CPF for the oldies.

For those who thought the Medishield Life was a goodie, now we have Pioneering Package. Now what’s next? More national bonuses from a good GDP in the budget?

On the negative side pressure is mounting on the worker’s Party. Internet Brigades are getting more vocal, even sounding silly, but persistently appeared to be slammed. And some perceived that there is a drumming up of nationalism in the naming of the naval ship by Indonesia with the risk of being backfired if it gets out of control and causing a real crisis.

Would the effort lead to a change in the people voting for more of the same, for stability, for more govt, more obsessions in control by the state? Would the Pioneer Generation Package take away the sting from the feared Medishield Life? The oldies may get some reprieve with the PKP, but those missing it are getting uneasy and feeling the pressure of what would come when Medishield Life is implemented.

 
We are looking like a very rich country with plenty of money to make the people very happy, and can afford to party everyday. Life is good, time for more celebration. We have a good, effective and pro people govt that is doing a damn very good job and the people are elated. Let’s bring the GE forward for more good years.

When the Red Dot kpkb

There are several articles on Konfrontasi and the MacDonald House bombing in the ST today. Winston Choo also chipped in with a long article about ‘Hard won relations, so quickly forgotten’, and reminded Sinkies of the vulnerability of being militarily weak. He did not discuss the threat of a country with nearly 50% of foreigners invited to work and also living in the homes of our people. This is another issue that a strong military will be meaningless against a totally different kind of threat aka The Trojan Horse.
 
Let me quote Winston, ‘A small country like ours will face situations where others do not take us into account when they make decisions. If we do not have a strong and capable SAF, we leave ourselves open to being cowed, intimidated and vulnerable to pressures from larger states.’ This motherhood statement is valid in most cases but must be taken in right spirit, with the right perspective and the state of relations between states at a moment in time.
 
So we have kpkb about the naming of the Indonesian ship, then what? Have we changed anything? I think we have handled this very abrasively and in the most inappropriate way and if we don’t stop kpkb now, we are going to be hit by brickbats. Kpkb is only effective up to a point, and only necessary when other more amicable means failed.
 
For states to use the loud hailers against each other like the Koreans is not the best instrument for diplomacy when relations are good. If restraint is not imposed it can quickly degenerate into a mess with each side upping the ante. Unless there is a bigger agenda and kpkb is only a little introduction of more unpleasantness to follow, then we can just sit back and watch the story unfolds to its natural ending and finale.
 
Are we behaving like an arrogant spoilt brat?

The banks are crumbling one by one

Barclays was reported to be cutting 12,000 jobs world wide. HSBC is being sued by high net worth clients for giving wrong trading advices. And several of the top world banks are paying compensations in the billions for the frauds they had committed. The game of fraudulent banking practices is coming to an end. They cannot keep on going and cooking their books of the billions of profits they are making. Very likely many banks are broke, bankrupt and waiting for another opportunity to beg for bail out. I hope Singapore is not going to say the Americans/West are doing it so it must be ok even when it is fraudulent or criminal, just like their scam stock market system.
 
Since the last financial meltdown, the banks are back where they were and even trading more aggressively to pay themselves crazy. Traditional banking businesses will not be able to chalk up that kind of obscene profits to pay obscene salaries and bonuses. Now that most of their high net worth clients are either bankrupt or lost too much money and losing faith in the banks and their gambling chits, the banks would have lesser sucker clients to cheat and would have to scale down their scam operations.
 
The suckers have no more money to be sucked by the bankers. The cooking of books with big profits would be exposed in due course. Those that are in really bad shape like Barclay would have to own up fast and cut their losses. Many banks are still putting on a front of making big money to justify paying big money to their top executives.
 
Who is there to check their accounts and the frauds they are hiding? Auditors? Hahahaha. Have faith and all will be fine. How could banks be making billions as they are claiming from interest rates? Where is the big money coming from? Selling gambling chits to sophisticated (meaning stupid) high net worth clients or trading against clients or selling lemons?
 
Wait for more retrenchments and for more bank busts and banks begging to be rescued.

Singapore’s Painful Chapter

CNA aired a half hour documentary on Konfrontasi and the bombing of MacDonald House last night with the above title. Among those who were interviewed were Shanmugam, Barry Desker and Bilveer Singh and the family members of the victims of the bombing.

The main points that came out from all of them were that Indonesia must be sensitive to its neighbours, meaning us, and our feelings in whatever it does or did in this case, the naming of the frigate after Usman and Harun. It was all about us and our sensitivities and after a while one got quite embarrassed by the repetition of these few points in isolation, one incident perspective. It was all about us, and never about them, the Indonesians. The Indonesians must take note of how it would affect us as if we were angels.

When I mentioned the word angels, many of you would know what I mean without further elaboration. I would advise CNA not to repeat airing the episode if we don’t come out as arrogant, ignorant and insensitive to Indonesia and demanding sensitivity to be a one way traffic.

Good neighbourly relations must be based on mutual respect and reciprocity. We are standing on very weak grounds to harp about this single episode to rub in a point. It shows how naive we are in a complex and tricky relationship with Indonesia, how daft we are and how we failed to look at things from the Indonesian perspective. We are actually begging to be slapped real hard by the Indonesians and without knowing why. Can you believe it?

There are so many things that are best left unspoken and to let this chapter come to a quick closure, the faster the better. We must not come across as aloof, full of ourselves and thinking that we can do no wrong to our neighbours and this is a great opportunity to show how righteous and honourable we are, with a halo over our head.

Kopi level - Green

Terrorists in Spanish courts

A Spanish judge deemed that he was an authority to judge international affairs/citizens outside of Spain. When Spain was a colonial power, they could think that they owned the world or were masters of the world just like the Americans today. This piece of archaic law allowing Spanish courts to hear international affairs were abused by some dissidents and the Spanish judge arrogantly and mischievously thought it was within its powers to hear the charges. The Spanish govt is now trying to remove this piece of history from their laws after complaints by China.
 
What happened was that some Tibetans went to a Spanish court to sue China for quelling unrest in the state of Tibet, its autonomous region. And the judge got the audacity to find China guilty of its internal affairs and had issued a warrant of arrest for its former President Jiang Zemin.
 
China has protested to the Spanish govt for this silly scam. What China could do is to declare the judge and the prosecutor as terrorists intending to kidnap their former President and issue an arrest warrant on the terrorist judge and prosecutor, wanted dead or alive. China could also offer a bounty for their arrest and handover to China. This kind of terrorist activities must not be allowed to get away under the cover of a country’s judicial system.
 
Can’t imagine Indonesia or another country prosecute our ministers in their courts of law and then issue an arrest warrant. Only silly Spaniards could think it is ok in this 21st Century. It is a terrorist act against the leaders of another country.

CPF, a simple effective schemeinto a complicated failed scheme

When the CPF was first introduced it was a simple savings scheme for retirement. You put some money aside and when you retired you take everything out at 55. Simple and neat. Under that system and at one time at 25% + 25%, if I am not wrong, the savings grew rapidly, helped by 6% or 7% interest rate. Everything was fine, really. There were great trust and faith in that system.
 
When the savings got too big, people started to get clever ideas, just like the foreigners queuing outside our PM and DPM Finance’s offices asking for financial help. The foreigners know that we have a lot of money to give if they know how and what to say. We have been very generous when they rubbed us the right way.
 
Now where am I? Oh, the people have a lot of money in their CPF accounts. There is no need to sell HDB flats so cheaply right? The people were rich and could afford to pay more for their flats. Along the way some got carried away and HDB flats were priced to suit the savings of the people. Very affordable indeed! The more the people saved, the higher the HDB prices. The people could afford to pay until nothing left in this affordability game.
 
This should be a good thing if the people had paid all their savings for the flats, no need to pay them interest or return to them. And even better still, if they sell their flats, they have to pay back to CPF with interest some more, lagi shiok. Then some people had smarter ideas. So much money laid idle in the CPF. Should invest them wisely and get higher returns and profit the balance. Who can disagree with this kind of logic and game plan. Hire the best brains money can buy, sure make money one, if not in the short run, sure make in the long run. Historical data showed that over 20 or 30 years, the returned could be 20 or 30%. Bao chiat one. How to lose money, or how can lose money?
 
The CPF savers should feel very secure. At least they are reporting profits of 7% or more, like 14% or 17%? Then why suddenly a new legislation was passed to reduce the interest rate to 2.5% in Ordinary Account and 4% in Special or Retirement Account, and no guarantee some more? No one smelt a rat. And another legislation was passed to provide for a liquidation of the CPF if it does not have enough money to pay the savers. Correct me if I am wrong, but I remembered it was put up by Gan Kim Yong, I think. No one smelt a rat either. A sure win investment plan, every year registering high profit, then interest rates paid to CPF holders getting lower and lower and even made provision for the CPF to go bust, then no need to pay back. What is going on? No one asked the right question or no one wanted to ask the right questions.
 
Then more sub accounts were invented within the CPF. Special Account and Retirement Account. Wait a minute, isn’t the whole CPF savings a savings account for retirement? Why now got Retirement Account some more? Then Minimum Sum for Retirement Account or is it Ordinary Account, I am lost on this. Then minimum sum for Medisave. First they created Medisave Account, then Medisave Account also got Minimum Sum? What’s that? And the minimum sum gets bigger and bigger every year, for the good of the savers. Must be lah. Oh, all these accounts are to ensure that the money would always be there till the savers koyak.
 
When the withdrawal age was pushed back from 55 to 62, no one complained or no one objected. No one smelt any rat. Now it is to 65 or maybe older. Still no one complains. If there were any complaints, it seemed that no one heard or got the message.
 
The gradual incremental changes of the CPF Scheme were made without much resistance except the very first attempt by then Finance Minister Howe Yoon Choong. The Union objected strongly and it was dropped for a few years. The rest is history. We now have a CPF savings scheme that is unrecognizable from its original form.
 
With the impending Medishield Life, the money would be stuck in the CPF for good or would be spent without the savers touching it. Oh I forgot. How come when home owners sold their flats, the interests accrued over the years must be returned to the CPF for safe keeping when they should be returned to the owners who had retired or passed 55 years of age?
 
Today we have a very complicated CPF Scheme that would end up with very little money left after deducting for housing and medical and a few other approved schemes compares to the earlier simple scheme when the savers would have quite a big chunk of money to withdraw at 55. Now at 55, very likely you get $5K.
 
Isn’t the CPF meant for retirement? Why when a person retires, he can only get $5K and the rest transferred to another Retirement Account? Why must a person still pledge his home to a Minimum Sum when he has already retired? Or why can’t he use the money transferred to his Retirement Account to pay for his housing when he now needs the money more desperately?
If these terms were made known in the beginning, no one would want to join the scheme. Of course they can make it compulsory, just like the Medishield Life. Now it is looking so beautiful and glowing. Think what they can do to the CPF Scheme and what they can also do to the Medishield Life and the Medishield Minimum Sum in your CPF savings ten or twenty years down the road. You would not recognize them.
The CPF scheme that was once the envy of other countries is turning into another big screw up. Now it has become a scheme when one can only smile at the numbers printed on it. Those who spent their whole life working and savings and thinking that when they retired they could become a king for a moment had their dreams shattered facing a stone wall. Many would get $5k if they are lucky.

When people are too smart or think they are too smart

Singapore is blessed with so many smart people, they called them talents or super talents. And often these people become too smart for their own good and for the good of the masses. Oops, maybe I shall not call this a blessing. When people think they are too smart and can get away with anything they want, thinking that the masses are plain daft, you will have a very serious problem. The smarter they think they are the more serious will be the problem.
 
Now what am I getting at? Wrong. I am referring to the City Harvest case in court. I have not been following and I must confess that I only have a very skimpy idea of the truth and what the case is all about. The truth shall set you free. From the headlines in the media I could gather that some people are very smart and believing that they are very smart, and could get away with anything they desired, with the help of God. They said, when God is willing, everything goes. Who is there to challenge the Almighty?
 
For the believers of God, God is supreme and infallible. The moral of the story is that if it is fallible, then one is praying to the wrong God. Human beans, no matter how smart are fallible. A false God is also fallible. Putting the two together, it only double confirms the theory that what is fallible will fall doubly fast and doubly hard. Amen.
 
Verily verily I said unto you. Whoever believes in me shalt have everlasting life.

Big brother India is watching over us

According to liveMint.com, ‘New Delhi: India is in touch with authorities in Singapore to ensure that an Indian national found guilty of rioting in the city-state’s Little India district in December receives legal assistance and that the due process of law is followed, an Indian official said on Tuesday.
 
“We are in contact with the Singapore side to ensure that the facts of the case are fully investigated and due action is taken. A senior Indian diplomat (secretary, East) Anil Wadhwa will be travelling to Singapore shortly to discuss bilateral issues including matters relating to the riots,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.’
 
What is India implying? We are a 3rd World country running a kangaroo court and would not give its citizen a fair trial? And it is sending a senior diplomat (already here) to watch over our court proceedings? Is he going to insist a retrial, that the bus driver must be found guilty? Hey, someone might have stupidly signed the CECA but that does not make us a colony of India ya. You don’t trust our world best legal system? A lot of international cases, including those from India are being heard in our version of an international arbitration court. If you don’t believe or don’t trust us, please ask Shanmugam.
 
KNN, a 3rd World country trying to tell us we are not good enough? Or is India hoping to get something out of the incident or wanting to twist our arms? And this is the country we want to celebrate 150 years of good relations and they don’t even trust our legal processes and insulting our system by sending someone to check on us.
I say, cancel the bilateral celebrations and save the money to give to the pioneer generation.
 
What do you think? This is definitely more unfriendly than the naming of Indonesian naval craft with no malice intended. India not happy when the court found the driver innocent from causing a drunk’s death? What is India expecting from us, want to go for a tit for tat like it did to the USA? We are more powderful than the USA if India does not know.

Kopi level - Green, nearly Blue

The Western myth of China threat

The West has assumed their supremacy over the rest of the world for the last 500 years. From Portugal, Spain, France, Holland, Germany and Britain to the US, they have taken turns to rule the world. Today, American supremacy, arrogance, assertiveness and war mongering are an accepted way of life in international politics. The Americans can bully any country it likes, attack or conduct wars, declared or undeclared, behave like gangsters trampling or violating the sovereignty of countries in international waters or in the targeted countries with impunity. No one would utter a word, or no western media would condemn the Americans and said it was wrong. That is the mindset of all western and westernized reporters, journalists, researchers, analysts or academics and politicians.
 
Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defence of the USA is in town and harping about the rise of China and growing assertiveness of China. Yes, this is new and news. China has been under the domination of the West for more than 150 years, it is unacceptable for China to be assertive. This assertiveness is a threat to the American Empire and its self arrogated role of exceptional assertiveness. It is okay for the Americans or any western powers to be assertive but not China. The rest of the world is warned and chided to get together to stop this Chinese assertiveness but not the assertiveness of the Americans.
 
In an article in the news.com.au, Australia’s biggest threat is China, it talked about the need for Australia to work with the Indians to counter the Chinese. No westerners in his right mind would ever talk about the rest of the world forming an alliance to counter the assertiveness and threat of aggression by the Americans. These are acceptable norms of American behavior that the world must abide by.
 
What kind of threat is China posing to the world? China going to start a war with the rest of the world, to conquer the world? Not that it is impossible, it is not necessary. China is prospering without having to conquer or go to war with any country. Look at the following statistics reported in the same news.com.au.
 
‘China is the leading trade partner for 124 countries, compared to 76 for the US and its stock of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) has risen to $US832 billion.
 
It has the largest foreign exchange reserve of $US3.7 trillion followed by Japan with $US1.3 trillion.
 
Growing threat ... members of the Chinese Navy, a division of the PLA. Source: News Limited
 
China had 122 billionaires in 2013 compared to 422 in the US, 110 in Russia, 39 in Hong Kong and 26 in Taiwan.
 
It is the world’s largest manufacturing nation and in 2012 China built 19.27 million vehicles up from just 2.1 million in the year 2000.
 
That year the US built 10.5 million vehicles, Japan 9.9 million, Germany 5.6 million Korea 4.6 million.
 
China also accounts for 28.8 per cent of global sales for Volkswagen, 28.9 for General Motors, 20.9 for Nissan, 19.5 for Hyundai, 17.7 for Kia, 17.1 for Honda, 14.8 for Peugeot, 13.8 for Mazda, 8.4 for Ford, 8.0 for BMW and 7.6 per cent for Toyota.
 
It also produces 75 per cent of global output of mobile phones, 87 per cent of personal computers and 52 per cent of colour televisions.’
 
Why would China want to risk all the above to go to war with any country or to give the Americans a reason to incite the world to go against China? This is a number game and China is a number game. It is winning in every hand it is holding. Any war would destroy everything the Chinese have today and going to win more at the rate they are doing.
 
What is all this western hype about a China threat when war is the last thing that China wants or needs? The longer there is peace in the world, the more prosperous and powerful will China be, economically and militarily. A war will end all of these.
 
What is your problem Frank Kendall? What is your problem America and Australia? Why is China a threat to you? Or is it you a threat to China and world peace?

Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) is not charity

The ST editorial today also wrote about the suggestion by some to mean test the seniors before giving them the PGP. The basis is that the rich should get less and the poorer seniors should get more, just like handouts in a charity. Come, show me how poor and pathetic you are and beg for a little mercy.
 
Please, the PGP is not just to acknowledge the contributions of the seniors but to pay back what they had lost for their contributions in the early years to build this nation to what it is today, to pay the young punks millions to live an extremely good life. Your good life is built on the backs of the pioneers, on their blood, sweat and tears. They planted the trees to give you shade and fruits and a lift to prosperity and for foreigners to come here and get paid by the millions and claiming credit for it, that they are so talented and so deserving, that they built the institutions that are paying them millions.
 
Do not treat the pioneers as beggars like you are doing them a big favour, throwing some crumbs to those who are hungry and needed financial help. You created this financial burden for them by allowing medical cost to escalate to this point when it is better to die than to be sick.
 
You are just a bunch of ingrates to ever think of mean testing the seniors. See my middle finger?

Kopi level - Yellow

Managed Meritocracy is the way to go

Just like the phrase Guided Democracy, what Singapore needs is Managed Meritocracy and not Meritocrazy as it is being practised. The whole basis of Managed Meritocracy is about country and citizens. The country and citizens must be the main priorities in the practice of meritocracy. It cannot be a blind meritocracy. It cannot be a colourless meritocracy, irrespective of nationalities. It must be a meritocracy with nationality, Singaporeans, sitting on top of the agenda.

An idiotic and mindless meritocrazy that sells out the citizens in favour of foreigners is unacceptable and a betrayal of the citizenry. This point must be foremost in the minds of the leaders. The citizens are the masters of this island and own this place. No one can give their birthrights and privileges to have a good life here to foreigners at their expense.

Any politician that threatens to replace the citizens with foreigners on the ground that the foreigner is ‘better’ than the citizens is standing on weak sand. It cannot be and must not be and must not be allowed to continue. If this kind of argument is the new truth, then it is a matter of time that the whole citizen population would be replaced by foreigners.

What we need is Managed Meritocracy. This is a Meritocracy that places the interest of Singaporeans ahead of foreigners. All things being equal, the Singaporeans must be considered first. Even when things are not equal, especially in top jobs or good jobs, the Singaporeans must still be considered first unless the having of a foreigner is a no choice option, unless the foreigner is going to bring the moon and the stars to put on the table. We know that many foreigners are not able to do so and what they are doing are nothing better than what a citizen can do in their places but still given the jobs. In many cases there is nothing spectacular that the foreigners can do that the Singaporeans cannot do except they looked like our colonial masters or some 3rd world novelties.

For the good of people and nation, Meritocracy must be managed or else it is at best just a dangerous kind of Meritocrazy.

Wisdom in a tricky situation

The blow up on the naming of the Indonesian naval ship was, like many commented, a storm in a tea cup. Was it a tricky situation? I don’t think so. It was unnecessary and a throwing of tantrum at the wrong time for the wrong reasons. We are in a time when relations with our neighbours are extremely good and things can be sorted out over a cup of tea. To raise all the ruckus over this issue is bad judgement. Things have to dealt with wisely, from the right perspective, the right context and the right timing. Beating the drums and thumping the chest are not always the right thing to do.
 
Indonesia is blessed with several wise leaders in Yudhoyono and in Marty Natalegawa. They spoke wisdom. They could behave like young punks and responded with more tantrums as well and the situation could have blown out of proportion with both sides unable to fall back to a conciliatory mood. We benefitted from wise leaders, and this particular incident shows how valuable wise leaders to their countries and how they could affect their neighbours as well.
 
Yudhoyono cautioned against the slippery step of destroying a relationship built over the years without hinting at any signs of retaliation. Marty spoke calmly, like a wise man many times his age on the issue, without ruffling any feathers. That was not his intention. He explained that the naming of the ship was done without malice or ill intent. He needed not have to explain and neither does any other Indonesian leaders. And it would be even more embarrassing for our leaders if they did not back up their aggressive response with another level of provocations. Now Marty has given them an excuse to back down with some dignity. Let’s hope no one is trying another one upmanship to raise the temperature.
 
Thank you Marty. Indonesia and the region are blessed to have wise leaders like you and Yudhoyono in charge. Let’s hope the next president and his team will be as equally wise as your team today. The three candidates of Wiranto, Subianto and Wibowo are technocrats and highly educated and looking in the same mould as Yudhoyono. Indonesia and Asean have benefitted from Yudhoyono’s wise leadership and hopefully this will continue when the baton is passed to another wise leader.

Small minded and mean people aplenty

The Medishield Life Scheme and the Pioneering Generation Package would be in everyone’s lips for a while. Some will be so happy that they have been included in the package, some a disappointed. Some are talking about introducing mean testing like they did in the hospitals. I must say only mean people can think of such a sickening thing. A friend of mine was trying to renew his CHAS card and was subject to a grueling regiment of questions that were as good as stripping him of all dignity as a person, to the extent of wanting to know how many pubic hair is left beneath his underwear. Only people who are wealthy beyond recognition will think it is fun to subject people to mean testing. They said such people have bad hearts.
 
I have a very simple solution to those shit heads. Just let the rich to voluntarily donate their package to charity if they do not need it. It is a very simple unobtrusive and generous gesture, showing a big heart instead of a small and narrow one. If the pioneering generation package is to recognize the contribution of the pioneers, why is this nonsensical objection against the rich? I know many of the rich pioneers are extremely rich and would not need the money. Let them decide what they want to do with the money. It is their prerogative.
 
By the way, do not be happy. The pioneering package is just there to keep the pioneers from being made to pay for the Medishield Life. The money will be credited and then debited, LPPL. They are just being spared from emptying their little savings if they have any. It is not a windfall, not striking lottery and can go to Batam for a fling. Just count yourself lucky for not being put in a very embarrassing financial fix, no money to pay for the hefty premiums when you don’t have an income.
 
Should they be grateful for the kindness and mercy shown? Even before they are on dry ground and some mean people are thinking of dragging a few into deep waters. God bless the mean and mighty. Mercy. These are very kind and good people with very good intention, to commit murders in the name of goodness.

Usman Harun – A call for wise leadership

Chan Chun Sing said that this issue required the presence of wise leadership, for more dialogue to prevent the fanning of a flame, to prevent creating an external issue to divert domestic problems. And Yudhoyono cautioned against over reacting and dragging a good relationship developed over the years back to the past.
 
Both statements are words of caution to warn the young turks from behaving like they are, hot behind the ears. The Indonesians had done something that we cannot agree on and we are reacting. As far as the Indonesians are concerned, this is their domestic matters and who are we to interfere and tell them what to do and what not to do. Now, who is fanning a flame, creating an external problem to divert from domestic issues or over reacting and dragging a good relationship into the past?
 
How significant is the naming of a naval ship after the two terrorists, yes they were terrorists to us but heroes to the Indonesians, compares to the hundreds of thousands killed by the Japanese during their invasion of the island?
 
The laying of the wreath at the two terrorists’ grave by LKY, their equivalent of a hero burial site, our Kranji War Memorial, must have closed the chapter and their act forgiven. Why the big outcry that would lead to nothing but hostility when quiet diplomacy would have been more appropriate in this case? If we can forgive the Japanese, allowed their PM to honour war criminals that they regarded as national heroes without a whimper of protest, what is so different with the naming of a naval craft?
 
Yes, we need wisdom. Where is the wisdom coming from? Are we still searching and waiting for wisdom to appear over the horizon?

Singapore welcomes Japan’s military role?

At the Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Fullerton Forum held on 13 Jan 14, Singapore’s Minister Ng Eng Hen told the Japanese to ‘assure her neighbours as it beefs up military’. Japan is rearming, the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has visited the Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism, and sending out a message that Japan is proud of its militant past and aggression against East and Southeast Asian countries. The Japanese PM is paying homage and honouring the Japanese soldiers and war criminals who committed brutal and barbaric aggression against Japan’s neighbours in WW2, including colonizing Singapore and brutalizing its population with hundreds of thousands murdered in broad daylight.
 
Only China and the two Koreans were fuming at this act of defiance and treachery by the Japanese PM. The other Asian countries have not breathed a word. Many must have forgotten or forgiven the Japanese for their invasion, looting and bombing and atrocities against their countries.
 
Now Japan is rearming, just like it was before it invaded Asia and SE Asia. Japan’s military strength is second only to China and could easily do a repeat of WW2. No one is protesting except of course China and the Koreas. The rest of the Asian and SE Asian countries do not believe that they would be invaded by Japan again and in a way supported, or tacitly supported the rise of a new militant Japan.
 
Does Singapore also forget what the Japanese did to its people, ruling the island by force and coercion? Does Singapore also support a strong militant Japan that could do another Syonanto? The memories of the vicious Japanese hordes here and the pain they inflicted, the lives they murdered in broad daylight are still vivid to many who are still alive. Many may want to forgive the barbarity of the Japanese, but would we want to encourage another militant Japan?
 
Should the world stop the rearmament of Japan? With the new geopolitical forces in play, with the Americans needing the Japanese to fight a proxy war to contain China, no one, not even the Americans that suffered a Pearl Harbour would mind having a strong military Japan.
 
The forces and factors that could lead to a WW3 are in the making with the tacit approval of all the victims of past Japanese aggression. Japan has dropped its pledge on not going to war. The Pacifist Constitution is being annulled and revamped to allow Japan to conduct wars. Thanks to their American minders who are so happy to have Japan as their top fighting dog. If there is retribution, let’s hope Japan will nuke the USA one day.
 
PS. Why are we reacting so strongly to the Indonesians naming a naval ship after two terrorists who killed 3 people and wound 33 while condoning Japan’s remilitarization and the honouring of war criminals by their Prime Minister in Yasukuni?

Foreign talent and the suicide of nation states

‘Switzerland voted in favor of new immigration curbs, risking a backlash from the European Union and thwarting the ability of companies to hire top talent abroad.’
 
European nations are waking up to the hole they dug for themselves with an open border and freedom of immigration under the guise of foreign talents. And every asshole is talking about the goodness of hiring foreign talents at the expense of the well being of their own citizens. Smaller nation states like Switzerland would be the first to feel the pain and is now taking actions to stop this idiocy. More European states would do so in times to come.
 
When one is talking about talents, countries that have a big pool of trained talents would have the benefits of exporting their talents overseas when there are silly political leaders willing to sell their countries freely. China and India would eventually fill the whole world with their talents. In smaller states, the top jobs could easily be replaced by these talents when their pool is so huge, more than 2 billion people to choose from among them. It is a simple number game.
 
When would the idiots realize that this game cannot be played under laissez faire terms when it is as good as no rules? When this is the case, small states could be taken over by states with big populations. It is as good as selling out the whole country to foreigners.
 
Is this the new world order? Is this something that citizens desired at their own peril? No, it is not the new world order. It is small nations courting their own demise, willingly, voluntarily, and stupidly. The big powers would be there to grab these silly nations who are willing to lose their sovereignty in the name of ‘meritocrazy’ and thinking that they could get a free ride from foreign talents. They would get a lift for sure, from a stick shafted into their arse.

Kopi level - Green

Sonic Gear Ear Pump Studio Pro

I have never really promoted any products before. And I am going to promote this ear phone voluntarily, not being paid for it. I happened to be browsing around at Challenger and came across this beautiful headphone. I had seen many expensive ones but this one was really striking, if you like the awesome size of the ear piece which is in vogue. It looked so good, attractively designed and well made.
 
After looking at it for a while I returned it to the shelf. But I kept walking back to take a second and third look. I had no intention to buy anything. It was a very appealing piece of headphone. And the most appealing part was the price tag. It was likely to be the top model for Sonic Gear. I have used a pair of Sonic Gear table top for my computers and never regretted. It was great value for money.
 
Now this headphone was beckoning to me. Then I told myself, what the hell, it was only $39.90 before discount for members of Challenger. I must say I have several headphones and in ears and I absolutely do not need this piece of equipment.
 
I paid for it anyway, just to test out what it was going to be like compare to my Sony Studio Monitor which was a very good piece of headphone. And I don’t expect this less than $40 piece to be close to it in performance. Even if it is a few notches down, how to complain? It cost only a fraction of what I paid for my Sony.
 
I could not believe my ears when I plugged it into my system. It came very very close to my Sony. Unbelieveable! The sound quality is good enough for listening. The clarity, spatial and transparency. The bass was reasonable when the volume was pushed up. For $40, this is a great piece of headphone, and damn good looking too.
 
The headphone may not produce as good a sound on the mobile phone or a small pocket player. But once plug into a reasonably good system it comes to live.
 
It is worth many times the $40 I paid for. I thought I was just having fun throwing away $40 for a piece of toy. It was a pleasant surprise, and a headphone to keep and listen to. If you do not want to spend $300 or $400 for a branded phone, this is an excellent alternative.

I am a big time property developer

My unsold properties are seeing their values stagnated and not rising. My profits are not growing. This is bad. How can the govt do this to me? Nevermind if I have made millions and billions in the last decades and laughing to the banks, having an extremely good life from the profits that I have made. Now I am not happy as my properties are not making the kind of profits that they should be making. My gosh, the price actually came down by 1%! Horror, I am having nightmares, cannot sleep. Please don’t remind me that the prices have appreciated by 100% or 200% over the last decade. That is my good fortune. I am very clever and talented. I have foresight to go into property development and took the RISK. Yes I took the risk to make millions and billions. I am sooooo talented.
 
Hey govt, you must tweak your policies on curbing property speculations. I have invested so much money in building these properties, how can I make a loss? Didn’t you say that the value of properties can only go up, only in smaller percentages? You have to tweak your curbs so that I can make my profits.
 
Oh, I am only selling to foreigners and making profits from foreigners. This is good right? And if you give me the chance, I will buy up the whole island, develop them into good class properties and sell them to the foreigners. What, selling the whole island? That is not my problem. My only interest is to make money as a developer. Selling the whole island is not my problem.
 
Quick, quick, tweak your policies so that I can make more money then I will buy more land from you and sell the properties to foreigners. You happy, I happy.

American’s rule of law and justice

The Americans are chiding the Chinese for not conforming to international law in claiming the islands in the South China Sea. China has retorted that it is abiding by the international law of the day and historical records to support their claims.
 
Let’s see how the Americans abided by international law in its claim of the north American continent compares to what China is doing. When China claimed the South China Sea islands, it was during a time when the rule of law was finders keeper. This is still valid when an island, a no man’s land is unclaimed by any country. When China made their claims, the islands were all no man’s land. And they have made their claims several centuries back. The littoral states that are claiming these islands don’t even know that the islands existed until recently and are contesting China’s claim. China could simply show them the middle finger.
 
When the Europeans claimed north America, the continent was NOT no man’s land. It was populated by millions of north American natives. It was their land. The Europeans simply took the land, murdered the natives, historically the worst genocide in terms of numbers. American historians have recorded the death toll to range from 70 million conservatively to more than 100 million.
 
What kind of law were the European Americans talking about? What kind of natural justice were they standing on today to comment about the claims made by China? The Americans are the last people to talk about international law that they have been violating for centuries and still doing it everyday. The Americans should be the last people to talk of human rights and killing of the innocence when they have done that for centuries and still doing it daily.
 
What kind of rubbish are the Americans talking about? What audacity and a distortion of the rule of law and natural justice that the Americans think they are on moral and legal high ground to comment about China?

Pioneering Generation recognized

The announcement of the package for the pioneering generation is welcomed particularly on the subsidies towards the Medishield Life that could deal a heavy blow financially to all the oldies. They were caught in an era of low income, relatively speaking, and now faced with high inflation that had eaten up whatever little savings they have. And the medical bills they are going to face are daunting, just the premiums alone could make many of them bankrupt out right the moment it is announced.
 
The pioneering package would have taken away this fear to a great extent. But those that were cut off from receiving this package would better be financially comfortable to face the full impact of the Medishield Life. Some who missed the package marginally would naturally not be too happy. But as in all such cases, a line has to be drawn and some would be painfully cut off to lick their wounds.
 
To make things more painful is the line drawn for ‘new’ citizens when the cut off is up to the year 1987. Anyone converted to a citizen before 1987 would be eligible for the package. That could make many of these new citizens who would be younger than the 65 years cut off point. How so?
 
What is the logic to this that in a way favours the new citizens against the natural citizens? From our independence in 1965 to 1987 there is a difference of 22 years. Is the govt being too generous to the new citizens again? What is the purpose or rationale for doing this to upset the citizens?
 
If I can recollect, in mid 70s the govt gave an ultimatum to those Malaysians working here, in the uniformed services, to convert their citizenship. Some converted and some went back to Malaysia. This could be a reason to recognize the tough choice that this group of people had to make. But most of them would have converted before 1980. Why is there a need to stretch the cut off point to 1987 to include many more relatively new citizens?
 
Like it or not, this is going to be a sore point to the citizens that missed out and who would thing rightlyfully that they are more deserving than the new citizens converted after 1975 or 1980, let not 1987.
 
What do you think?

Kopi level - Green

MAS and SGX propose measures to strengthen the securities market

‘The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) today released a joint consultation paper setting out proposals to strengthen the securities market in Singapore.
 
The proposals follow an extensive review by MAS and SGX of the securities market in Singapore. The review concluded that while the securities market remains sound, there were three areas for improvement:
• promoting orderly trading and responsible investing;
• improving the transparency of market intervention measures; and
• strengthening the process for admitting new listings and enforcing against listing rule breaches.’
 
It is timely that MAS and SGX finally find a need to take a look at the health of the stock exchange and are inviting feedbacks on what needs to be done to make the stock market a more resilient and sustainable institution for the long haul. The objectives of this exercise are posted above, copied from SGX.
 
For all intent and purpose, this is a move in the right direction, a sign that things are not doing well and to take a serious look at the problems before it falls apart. On the other hand, this exercise tells another depressing story. The proposed changes and the need to ask the layman public on such serious and technical issues that require the technical knowledge of experts and thinking people in the industry says that MAS and SGX do not know what is wrong with the stock market. It is doing fine, just a little cosmetic changes and it will look pretty again.
 
Or, it may be that they know what is wrong but are turning the other way, not wanting to face the uncomfortable truth and wishing that everything is fine. There is no elephant in the classroom.
 
The public, even the stakeholders, if they are not willing to put on their thinking caps to look seriously into the problems that led to the current pathetic state of the stock broking industry would at best scratch the surface of a systemic problem and would make a few cursory or casual remarks and suggestions and thinking the problems will go away. From my experience, many are still totally ignorant of what is happening and the real causes of the failing market.
 
The stock market is in the critically ill stage and needs immediate resuscitation if it is not to collapse into a coma. And the proposals made by MAS and SGX are not encouraging. It is like a patient dying of syphilis and the doctors are recommending treatments for measles, for acne, and for insect bites. Unless MAS and SGX are serious to want to save the stock market from its certain demise, this exercise would be a waste of effort and time.
 
To be able to come up with effective measures to save the stock market, it is paramount that they know what is wrong with the market. What are the causes that are contributing to a market in distress. If they are chasing after the shadows, what good would come out of it? If they don’t even know what is wrong with the market, what is there to do to right the wrongs?
 
Another very important factor that can make this exercise real, if real solutions and tough measures are to be taken to revive the market, is professional expertise. You need people who know what they are saying, to know what is wrong and what needs to be done, and most of all, have the credentials and authority to tell the SGX that these things must change. Recommendations made by the public, or the stakeholders, could simply be ‘pooh pooh’ away by the SGX for obvious reasons and by the authority vested in them as the incumbent officials. They would flash their badge of professionalism and expertise and simply claimed that they know best and what they are doing are the best, and nothing meaningful will be accepted. Who is in a better position to go against the gods?
 
What can the other stakeholders do when authority and power are vested in the office bearers at SGX to make them change a flawed system?
The MAS should engage foreign experts that have the knowledge and authority to tell the SGX what needs to be done to save the industry. Here we are talking about real talents, people like Paul Volcker and the critics of the NYSE, of how the NYSE has been turned into a scam, a casino instead of a stock exchange. The western model stock markets, including SGX, are no longer stock markets for investment but for pure gambling, not even for speculations.
 
Now who is saying that we should not encourage a gambling mentality in the stock market when the stock market has been redesigned into a casino? There is no elephant in the classroom if one does not want to look at it.
 
This is just my general comments on this exercise. I will submit my views on what is wrong and what needs to change, and I will submit it to MAS and SGX even knowing that it would likely end up in the thrash bin. No one, not even the broking houses, would be in any position to make serious and important changes to the right the wrongs in the stock market if the authority in MAS and SGX do not want to see the wrongs and do not want to make changes to a system they think is doing fine.
 
For real changes to be effected, you need the pros that could speak to the MAS and SGX on equal terms and have the clout and confidence to make them do the right changes against their objections. The govt must spend this money if they do not want to see the worse from happening.
 
The few proposals put up by MAS/SGX would have little impact on the general health of the stock market, and some would actually hasten its demise if implemented. It just shows the level of thinking and understanding of what is happening to the stock market. They are refusing to remove the blinkers and are trapped in an old mindset programmed by the so called experts, to see and say the right things that are really frivolous.

Les Miserables – A Singapore musical

 

The latest talk in town is about the two musicals commissioned to write about the life of LKY in time for the 50 year celebration next year. This has created a buzz unseen and unheard of in the arts scene for a long time. Even the winning of several awards by Anthony Chen with his Ilo Ilo movie pales in comparison. I just feel like dabbling and smoking about this new fuzz, oops, I mean buzz, and Sunday morning is about the best moment for such an intellectual or artistic pursuit or whatever you call it.

No, I don’t think I am up to it to write a musical. It is Greek to me and you need to be very talented individuals to do such a piece of work. Maybe Anthony or Jack Neo can have a go at it. Wait a minute, Jack Neo is Channel 8, so will be out of contention for sure unless the musical is to cater for the Chinese educated audience. That would put Ivan Heng a top contender for such a luminous project for his Channel 5 viewers.

The plots for the two musicals may have already been scripted by now. There must be plenty of plots and sub plots in the life of LKY to interest the audience. His life is the history of modern Singapore. Let’s hope the producers are not going to write about the founding of Singapore like they have done in every National Day or about the multi racial society. Have something new and novel. They are after all a musical and some fictions and dramatisation would be acceptable.

I think a musical in the likes of Les Miserables, Singapore version, on how LKY fought to liberate the people from poverty would be a nice one. We can see him taking to the streets fighting alongside the Hock Lee bus drivers or the port workers and with a finale showing how the lives of the workers have improved and become millionaires. And we can have Fish humming his favourite tune, ‘Do you hear the people sing’, with gusto in the background.

Did I hear ‘No’, I can feel so many people shaking their heads and giving me a dirty look. Why is that so? Ok, ok, let me try another title, ‘Showdown at the Cul de sac’. How about this, LKY taking his opponents one by one and coming out triumphant every time. We can bring in Donnie Yen or Sammo Hung to choreograph the fight scenes. The pinoy pacman would be in awe to see how the opponents were taken down and KO for good, while some simply fled the scene.

What? No good?  Too much violence? I thought violence sells. You people are hard to please. Or you prefer more mushy stuff like how he courted his wife and the never ending romance?

Ok, let me attempt another title, Fist fights in Parliament? This one would have historical values and history students would have a chance to see all the parliamentarians battling out in Parliament House. We can add some pepper and salt by introducing some fictional scenes of brawls and chairs throwing ala Taiwan style. Our celebrity MPs and ministers could also chip in, like Zorro with his whip or sword. Won’t that be dramatic and with a little comical distractions and reliefs?

Oh, the objections for this one is not so violent. Looks like I am getting somewhere. I hope the musicals would not make LKY look too wussy or less macho. Talking about this, I am sure the crying scene would be a must have. How to weave this into the plots? Should be no problem if the time frame goes back to the days of Malaysia. Can even include the singing of Negara Ku since musicals must have a lot of songs.

The possibilities and the amount of material available are so immense that two musicals would not do justice to this great leader. This reminds me of another possible title, ‘Dear Leader’. Ouch! Don’t you people have any sense of humour? Musicals can have many themes, sad, joyous, comedy, satirical, romance, corruption, injustice, oppression, historical or simply a musical with a lot of good music and theme songs. As long as the moral of the musical is good and a good ending. Better still if it can draw out the emotions of the people, with some having their hankies wet from tears, laughing or crying.

I can still hear Fish singing, ‘Do you hear the people sing, singing a song of angry men. It is the music of a people, who would not be slaves again…’ How nice if LKY and Fish could sing this song together in the musical before the curtain falls and sing again for the encore.

Kopi level - Yellow

The flawed concepts and designs of the F35

Anyone who wants a clear understanding on why the F35 is a conceptually flawed and very expensive piece of junk can listen to the opinions of experts aired this clip attached. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mxDSiwqM2nw

Basically it is all about the same concept that someone was pushing a few decades ago, multi tasking and ended with everyone becoming jack of all trades and master of none. The assumption behind this concept is that everyone is a super talent so can be taught to be an expert in many tasks and roles. In reality multi super talent is a rarity.

The F35 is supposed to do everything, close air support for the infantry, carries a lot of payloads/bombs, a good interceptor fighter, and a stealth aircraft. It is like trying to put a Bentley, a Ferrari, a Landrover and maybe a motorcycle into one machine. The result is obvious, and that is what the F35 is all about, rojak.

Not only that, you would expect to have pilots that can perform like a super robocop in the cockpit to operate the aircraft to its maximum capability it was designed for. You need a machine to fly that machine.

Another silly problem is that instead of paying the same money for 10 specialised aircraft that are good in their respective tasks, one will be buying one such compromised aircraft for the price of 10 and can be used in one theatre of operations at a time when 10 aircraft can be deployed in many areas. The presumed saving is that you need to train one super robocop instead of 10 different specialisation pilots.

The flaws of the F35 are infamous and known to all the players in the industry. It is really very funny, maybe not funny anymore, that we are so adamant to buy this aircraft as a must have. All the experts in the world are finding this aircraft a lemon except our experts. They said the difference between a genius and insanity is only a fine thin line.

We shall wait patiently to see if this aircraft is bought to be our top of the range multi purpose multi tasking fighter/bomber/GD aircraft.

Happy viewing the video clip.

Kopi level - Yellow

Tan Cheng Bock - I invite, I disinvite

There are many ways to look at this comedy. I like to call it so and I am going to drum about it. What I am saying is pure drumming as there is no element of truth in it. Just for a little giggle.

Think that this invite could be real, intentional, carefully choreographed. I invite you to this grand party. I know you like to be there as it is the right place to be at this time of the year. Then I disinvite you. This is like telling the guest, see, you could be there. All I need is to send you the invitation. But you must know which side is your bread buttered. Now I am letting you know that you could be there but I decided not to let you be there.

The above of course is based on the assumption that there is no mistake in the invite. But it could be a simple mistake. It could happen in several ways. One way is that the junior executive that sent out the invite was just doing a routine job. Get the list compiled which is an annual exercise and sent it out with the clearance of the immediate boss. They have been doing this every year. It is like second nature.

Then the bigger boss read the list and decided that something is amiss and decided that some must be dropped. And the order came down and someone has to do the job of telling the unpleasant truth of the disinvite.

Or it could be a genuine mistake like the CIA using an outdated map to bomb the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. It was a genuine mistake that the loser must squeeze his balls and accept the explanation as genuine and it came with a sincere apology.

The stature of Cheng Bock has risen since he came so close to be the President of the country. Many believe that he is the President but somehow was robbed of the post by many funny reasons. And many believe strongly that he would definitely be the President if there is a reelection.

For being such a near miss President, would it not be nice and respectful to invite him to the Istana that could be his, or he could be the host for the party? Would his presence make people feel uneasy and be confused as to which one is the real people’s president?  Thus it is better to do the disinvite to avoid any red faces even knowing that Cheng Bock would not be there to claim that he could be the party host that night.

What do you think?

Medishield Life – No need to pay one, it is free

‘'Mr Gan said that working adults should not need to fork out any extra cash to pay for the new MediShield Life. That is because the Govt intends the individuals to pay the higher premium entirely from his Medisave.

He said that the individual’s annual Medisave contributions should be enough to pay for it.’

The above is everything you want to know about the Medishield Life Scheme. It is everything but nothing but your savings in your Medisave saving accounts, in the minimum sum. No matter how much you have, it will be just enough to feed this scheme. And it will be painless because you don’t see it and don’t feel it. They just quietly drain the money in your Medisave Account for you to pay for this Medishielf Life scheme whether you like it or not, whether you need it or not.

I remember in the past many people used to say, it is free, when they bought HDB flats or stay in the hospitals, all because the payment comes from their CPF savings. I think this will be a better promotional catchphrase, ‘Medishield Life is Free, no need to pay’. No cash needed to be paid up front. Everything will be just on papers, like what is being printed in your CPF statements. There is a lot of money there and there will be a lot of money being transferred compulsorily from your account when Medishield Life is enforced.

And every daft Sinkie can go around happily saying that Medishield Life is so good, or the govt is so good. It is free. No need to pay one.

Our retirement saving scheme in the form of CPF is so unique that despite setting aside so much for our retirement, many will end up without any money left or not enough for retirement. The trick is that the public housing scheme and the impending Medishield Life Insurance scheme will have first charge to draw down from the CPF, all designed to draw as much as they could without drawing blood and causing immediate pain. The way the CPF savings are spent is so ingenious that the daft Sinkies don’t even know what is happening to their savings. Simply brilliant and deserving to be paid in the millions! It does not hurt your pocket, only what is put into your CPF, your life time savings.

So, is it free or not free?

Singapore’s political scene – We have a situation

Judging by the volume of anti govt diatribes in the social media, if it is true and reflects the sentiment of the majority of the citizens, the ruling govt’s days are numbered. It appears that they have outlived their welcome and usefulness. Their one trick economic policy of growing the GDP based on population increase and selling land and properties has reached a point of no return. Any curbs on population growth will lead to a collapse of the property market on top of other international factors, and will bring the majority of the people on their knees.

The cry of VTO or Vote Them Out is deafening. It is the cry for change. Is it real or just a few lunatics in the fringe beating their drums? Who is wiser? Assuming that it is real, that the next GE will bundle the PAP out, lock, stock and barrel, there will be a vacuum of leadership that badly needs to be filled. The country cannot go on without a team of able leadership on stand by to take over in such an eventuality.

We have a situation!

The various opposition parties are too small, weak and fragmented to assume political leadership on their own steam or even as a coalition. There is an urgent need for the opposition to come together, to be led by an able leader. At the moment there is unfortunately no one to fill this shoe. One of the activists and potential leaders, or available leaders, Low Thia Kiang, Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Chee Soon Juan, Tambiah, Kenneth Jeyaratnam, Chiam See Tong, Jeanette etc etc would have to stand up to be the ONE to lead the country in the event of a dramatic PAP KO. On the sideline there are Tan Jee Say, Tan Kin Lian or maybe Tan Cheng Bock or perhaps a few breakaways from the PAP that may rise to the occasion. Could he be the Chan Chun Sing, Tharman, or the return of Goh Chok Tong? Chok Tong is still young and has many years to go before he hits 100. Would any one of these politicians be able to rally the rest and the people behind him to form the new govt?

There is a crisis of leadership if the PAP falls in 2016. The possibility may be remote but not really impossible. It could happen. Maybe in time of crisis, some unknowns or dark horses could surface, just like destiny, to bring together the loose and disconnected political forces into a new force to lead the country. History often throws up true leaders or new champions as if a natural order of things. Singapore would be lucky if it happens quick and fast or it would be thrown into turmoil for lack of a leader.

We have seen such situations in the histories of nations. We are seeing a similar situation happening now in Thailand, when there is no anointed one to rise above the dusts to be acknowledged as the ONE to lead.

We have a situation and how would this be overcome? Who would be the ONE to lead Singapore into the next leg? So far no one is in horizon and this is bad.

PS, after reading the disinvite of Tan Cheng Bock, maybe he can be a good candidate to provide the glue for the opposition parties. We not only did not have an Anwar Ibrahim, we don’t have leaders who would take a step back for a bigger common good even if we can find an Anwar Ibrahim.

A time to face reality, we are just a red dot

“There’s no need to change [the ship’s name],” he told The Jakarta Post.
 
“The Indonesian government has its own rules, procedures and assessment criteria for determining whether to honor a person as a hero. This cannot involve any intervention from other countries.” 

The Today paper quoting Indonesian Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, Djoko Suyanto on the naming of an Indonesia frigate about two terrorists for bombing MacDonald House in 1965.
 
Our ministers have registered the govt’s concerns and respectfully told the Indonesians of the feelings of the victims’s families and ‘to consider the implications and consequences of the move.’ What are these implications and consequences? Obviously the Indonesians are not bothered with them. So?
 
What would be Singapore’s next move, or would there be any next move, or would the case be closed?
 
In a situation like this when our govt finds it necessary to put forth our objections, the reactions of the other party and our follow up actions will show what we are made of. Are we just a little red dot to be brushed aside or are we able to punch above our weight? If we can’t punch above our weight, it is best not to blow up matters that would not be beneficial to our interests.
 
We are in a little sticky situation now, aren’t we?

Shawn Tan - A man of 3 seasons

I would like to repeat this story of a man, full of himself, that visited Confucius to have an intellectual discourse with him. During his visit Confucius was having his meditation and could not see him immediately. So he engaged Confucius’ disciple on his theory of 3 seasons. He told the disciple confidently that there were only 3 seasons and not 4. They had a furious discussion and both could not agree obviously. To this man, there were only 3 seasons, but 4 to Confucius’ disciple.
 
When Confucius came to the room, his disciple explained to him what the commotion was about. Confucius nodded and agreed with the man to the astonishment of his disciple. How could that be when everyone knew that there were four seasons? After the man left, the unconvinced disciple confronted his master. Confucius explained that the man was like a kind of insect that lived only till autumn and would die before winter. In the insect’s lifespan it was good for only 3 reasons and would never know what winter was all about. And he was right.
 
My post on the interest rate for Medisave Minimum Sum received some ridicules from this Shawn Tan in TheRealSingapore site. Shawn Tan was confidently sure that I was talking nonsense on two points. There is a Medisave Account and no Medisave Minimum Sum Account. He was also very sure that the Medisave Account pays 4% interest rate and I got my facts wrong and posting rubbish without getting my facts right.
 
I just sent a reply to the CPF telling them that based on my statement in the CPF online record, the sum paid to me for my Medisave Minimum Sum was 1.92%. I got the numbers using a calculator. The amount of interest paid to my Retirement Account was 5.1%. Both numbers are facts, not guessing and have been sent to the CPF. Shawn Tan may choose to believe that I was talking rubbish still, with no facts or wrong facts. He is entitled to his belief.
 
In his post, he confidently said that there was only a Medisave Account and no such things as Medisave Minimum Sum Account. Let me quote from the CPF site on this.
 
‘What is Medisave Minimum Sum (MMS)?
 
The Medisave Minimum Sum (MMS) is the amount you need to retain in your Medisave Account (MA) for your healthcare needs. You may withdraw any excess Medisave savings on or after 55 subject to the applicable withdrawal rules after meeting the CPF MS requirement.
 
If you have set aside the CPF MS but are unable to meet the MMS requirement when you make a CPF withdrawal, you would need to top up your MA with all or part of the balances from your Special Account and Ordinary Account to meet the MMS prevailing at the time of withdrawal.
 
Since 1 July 2013, the MMS is $40,500.’
 
The MMS is only known to those who reached retirement age, or those who are in the know when what is left in the Medisave Account will be the MMS. For the young and not in the know, they will only know that there is a Medisave Account but no MMS. The quote from CPF site above explained clearly what MMS is. Let’s hope Shawn will understand that there is a MMS when he reaches retirement age. For the time being he can be confident that he is right, that there is no MMS.
 
A man of 3 seasons.