1/30/2014
Lunar New Year in Chinatown - A pictorial essay
Thailand, the strange nature of things happening
The Yingluck govt is pushing ahead with the general election on 2 Feb.
The street protest continues while a state of emergency order has been
issued in Bangkok. And ‘Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has threatened
to "close every route" to polling stations again for Sunday's election,
raising fears of further violence’. MSN.
Shouldn’t Suthep be arrested for disruption the general election? It seems that he is untouchable, like he is carrying with him an Imperial Sword, a representative of the King. And he and his Bangkok protesters are accusing the whole Yingluck govt of corruption and now incompetence. Can they be sure that a new govt will not be corrupt? And all the media reporting on the general election is saying that the result is an assured landslide victory for the Yingluck govt. Holycow, a corrupt govt assured of winning a general election with public protest on the road and with an army and a judicial that would not allow any mischief to happen during the election! (This is a bit like Sin when there are so much anger and criticism against the govt but comes a GE the govt will still be elected.)
What a complex series of contradictions. What is very clear is that there is order and strategy above the confusion. The master strategists are working real hard on both sides. On the Suthep side, he had a loud voice in Bangkok with the Bangkok media and elite on his side and a kind of certainty that he could ruin the general election and incapacitate the govt with impunity. He has the authority to do so.
On the side of the Yingluck govt, they are treating the Bangkok protesters as shadows playing their own game but inconsequential. The protesters and Suthep can continue with what they are doing, the govt will simply ignore them and go ahead to do what it deems fit.
A new govt will be announced after the general election, if it is not disrupted, with Yingluck still the PM and her cabinet still intact and the street protest still in Bangkok. Should a violent clash erupt, the law enforcing officers of both the police and army would have to step in. Then what, a military state?
Shouldn’t Suthep be arrested for disruption the general election? It seems that he is untouchable, like he is carrying with him an Imperial Sword, a representative of the King. And he and his Bangkok protesters are accusing the whole Yingluck govt of corruption and now incompetence. Can they be sure that a new govt will not be corrupt? And all the media reporting on the general election is saying that the result is an assured landslide victory for the Yingluck govt. Holycow, a corrupt govt assured of winning a general election with public protest on the road and with an army and a judicial that would not allow any mischief to happen during the election! (This is a bit like Sin when there are so much anger and criticism against the govt but comes a GE the govt will still be elected.)
What a complex series of contradictions. What is very clear is that there is order and strategy above the confusion. The master strategists are working real hard on both sides. On the Suthep side, he had a loud voice in Bangkok with the Bangkok media and elite on his side and a kind of certainty that he could ruin the general election and incapacitate the govt with impunity. He has the authority to do so.
On the side of the Yingluck govt, they are treating the Bangkok protesters as shadows playing their own game but inconsequential. The protesters and Suthep can continue with what they are doing, the govt will simply ignore them and go ahead to do what it deems fit.
A new govt will be announced after the general election, if it is not disrupted, with Yingluck still the PM and her cabinet still intact and the street protest still in Bangkok. Should a violent clash erupt, the law enforcing officers of both the police and army would have to step in. Then what, a military state?
Hsien Loong needs to speak Singlish
An editorial article in TRE titled ‘PM: You’ll be sorry too if I send
all FTs home’, a follow up to Hsien Loong’s talk to NTU students, has
drawn more than 100 comments and growing. The main point it seems is
that the netizens just could not understand or agree with what Hsien
Loong said. Not sure if the message gets across to the students,
obviously the netizens got a message that they don’t agree with and are
shooting back point by point at what Hsien Loong said.
Looks like Hsien Loong needs to speak Singlish and think like a Sinkie if he wants to communicate to Sinkies and know what are the concerns and interests of Sinkies and why Sinkies are so unhappy with his policies. If he doesn’t, then he will be like Josephine Teo, still scratching her head and wondering why the Sinkies are so angry with the govt.
Below are just three comments that I copied from the same thread in TRE to give an idea of how the netizens are reacting to Hsien Loong. Of course he can ignore the comments as noises from the lunatic fringe and go on with his policies as if nothing has been said.
• Errr!:
January 29, 2014 at 9:35 pm (Quote)
We never ask you to send all FTs home. We only want you to keep the genuinely good ones and keep the proportion low so that it would not harm our livelihood unfavourably. I really don’t understand this PM. He seems to not getting the right information from the ground. Singapore has always had its fair share our foreigners in the past and the proportion were not as big as this, and we never had any problems with foreigners until now due to the large proportions of them living and earning their living here.
• my $8 heart bypass:
January 29, 2014 at 9:56 pm (Quote)
What a fcuking load of bullshit, FTs create jobs for locals.
Lee Hsien Loong, just go and take a look at DBS and see how many Ah Nehs working there and tell me why these jobs cannot be done by locals.
Every morning you see bus loads coming in to unload these Trash at MBFC from DBS Changi office.
Go and walk around Changi airport, and see whether you are in Manila or Sinkieland.
Why do you need Pinoys to be Guest Relations officers, they speak Tagalog accented English, don’t you know ???
Singing the same fcuking tune again and again, FTs create jobs for locals.
Yes, the economy may have grown, but you and your PIGS are creating jobs for the Trash have flooded in due to your Open Legs policy.
You can bloody well wayang and bullshit all these students who are still wet behind the ears, but don’t try and bull us Sr. citizens.
And the greatest crime is spending $400M of tax payer’s money to fund these foreign students with free education at the expense of our own children.
• Reflections:
January 29, 2014 at 9:56 pm (Quote)
What he says:
“You put the wrong CEO there, the bank goes bust, thousands lose their jobs.”
What I read:
“You put the wrong PM there, the country goes bust, everyone loses their jobs.”
Looks like Hsien Loong needs to speak Singlish and think like a Sinkie if he wants to communicate to Sinkies and know what are the concerns and interests of Sinkies and why Sinkies are so unhappy with his policies. If he doesn’t, then he will be like Josephine Teo, still scratching her head and wondering why the Sinkies are so angry with the govt.
Below are just three comments that I copied from the same thread in TRE to give an idea of how the netizens are reacting to Hsien Loong. Of course he can ignore the comments as noises from the lunatic fringe and go on with his policies as if nothing has been said.
• Errr!:
January 29, 2014 at 9:35 pm (Quote)
We never ask you to send all FTs home. We only want you to keep the genuinely good ones and keep the proportion low so that it would not harm our livelihood unfavourably. I really don’t understand this PM. He seems to not getting the right information from the ground. Singapore has always had its fair share our foreigners in the past and the proportion were not as big as this, and we never had any problems with foreigners until now due to the large proportions of them living and earning their living here.
• my $8 heart bypass:
January 29, 2014 at 9:56 pm (Quote)
What a fcuking load of bullshit, FTs create jobs for locals.
Lee Hsien Loong, just go and take a look at DBS and see how many Ah Nehs working there and tell me why these jobs cannot be done by locals.
Every morning you see bus loads coming in to unload these Trash at MBFC from DBS Changi office.
Go and walk around Changi airport, and see whether you are in Manila or Sinkieland.
Why do you need Pinoys to be Guest Relations officers, they speak Tagalog accented English, don’t you know ???
Singing the same fcuking tune again and again, FTs create jobs for locals.
Yes, the economy may have grown, but you and your PIGS are creating jobs for the Trash have flooded in due to your Open Legs policy.
You can bloody well wayang and bullshit all these students who are still wet behind the ears, but don’t try and bull us Sr. citizens.
And the greatest crime is spending $400M of tax payer’s money to fund these foreign students with free education at the expense of our own children.
• Reflections:
January 29, 2014 at 9:56 pm (Quote)
What he says:
“You put the wrong CEO there, the bank goes bust, thousands lose their jobs.”
What I read:
“You put the wrong PM there, the country goes bust, everyone loses their jobs.”
The govt owes Sinkies a level playing field
We have been flooded with 2 million foreigners working here. We know of
how these foreigners and foreign companies screwed Sinkies by
discriminatory hiring practices, hiring foreigners and their own kinds.
Some blatantly refused to hire Sinkies and got away with it.
We also know that many of these foreigners came with fake qualifications and CVs. The number in very conservative estimate can be easily 20% and could go to 50% or more.
The consequences of the above, many Sinkies lost their jobs and opportunities to higher appointments to these foreigners not because they were not good, but simply cheated or discriminated. The govt owes the Sinkies, jobless, underemployed and those employed a level playing field in employment and advancement opportunities, for the jobless to be employed, for the underemployed to be gainfully employed, for those employed to be appropriately employed according to their worth.
The govt also owes all Sinkies to ensure that the professionals in all fields that Sinkies paid for their services are genuinely qualified and not quacks. The consequences of having unqualified or fake professionals in these responsible jobs are not only about jobs but about safety and lives.
The off the cuff number is simply too large for comfort. It is not only disgraceful but criminal to let these fraudulent practices to continue unabated with the foreigners laughing at our idiocy, from the top to the bottom.
There must be immediate actions taken to rid the country of these pests. The people demand a level playing field and fair opportunities, not a fake one. It is inexcusable even for a single day of delays. It does not take 56 man years to clear up the shit and get rid of the worms and maggots in the system.
Kopi level - Green
We also know that many of these foreigners came with fake qualifications and CVs. The number in very conservative estimate can be easily 20% and could go to 50% or more.
The consequences of the above, many Sinkies lost their jobs and opportunities to higher appointments to these foreigners not because they were not good, but simply cheated or discriminated. The govt owes the Sinkies, jobless, underemployed and those employed a level playing field in employment and advancement opportunities, for the jobless to be employed, for the underemployed to be gainfully employed, for those employed to be appropriately employed according to their worth.
The govt also owes all Sinkies to ensure that the professionals in all fields that Sinkies paid for their services are genuinely qualified and not quacks. The consequences of having unqualified or fake professionals in these responsible jobs are not only about jobs but about safety and lives.
The off the cuff number is simply too large for comfort. It is not only disgraceful but criminal to let these fraudulent practices to continue unabated with the foreigners laughing at our idiocy, from the top to the bottom.
There must be immediate actions taken to rid the country of these pests. The people demand a level playing field and fair opportunities, not a fake one. It is inexcusable even for a single day of delays. It does not take 56 man years to clear up the shit and get rid of the worms and maggots in the system.
Kopi level - Green
1/29/2014
Is May 13 coming to Penang?
The forbidden use of the word Allah in Penang is being challenged by the
church. It seems that the church or some churches insist on the right
to use this word in the course of its practice and communication with
its believers. This is angrily contested by the Muslim community who has
claimed its exclusive use only by their community. Both sides are not
going to compromise on this issue and now the church is being attacked
by firebombs. The offensive banner that led to the bombings read, ‘Allah
is great, Jesus is the son of Allah’.
Tension is rising very high and the threat of a May 13, which means killing the non Malays, is being used. The non Malays must take note of this and that this matter is really very serious. It is touching very sensitive nerves.
Anwar has stepped in to try to defuse the situation by allaying the fears of Muslims that Islam is not being threatened. The Malay Muslims are an absolute majority in Malaysia and are holding political, military and economic power, in fact all power in the state. There is never any risk that Islam will lose its dominant position as both sides of the political equation are led by the Malay Muslim leaders that are staunched followers of Islam.
The churches must be very careful not to push this matter too far and know when to pull away from the brink. Many innocent lives can be lost if violence breaks out. Great care must be taken and hope Anwar is able to broker an amicable settlement. The Malay Muslims will not give an inch as far as the use of Allah is concerned. The churches would have to give way unless they can call on a higher authority like the Vatican to intercede on their behalf, or God or Allah Himself.
Would Penang burn? Would the keris be drawn and blood flowed?
Tension is rising very high and the threat of a May 13, which means killing the non Malays, is being used. The non Malays must take note of this and that this matter is really very serious. It is touching very sensitive nerves.
Anwar has stepped in to try to defuse the situation by allaying the fears of Muslims that Islam is not being threatened. The Malay Muslims are an absolute majority in Malaysia and are holding political, military and economic power, in fact all power in the state. There is never any risk that Islam will lose its dominant position as both sides of the political equation are led by the Malay Muslim leaders that are staunched followers of Islam.
The churches must be very careful not to push this matter too far and know when to pull away from the brink. Many innocent lives can be lost if violence breaks out. Great care must be taken and hope Anwar is able to broker an amicable settlement. The Malay Muslims will not give an inch as far as the use of Allah is concerned. The churches would have to give way unless they can call on a higher authority like the Vatican to intercede on their behalf, or God or Allah Himself.
Would Penang burn? Would the keris be drawn and blood flowed?
Govt can communicate better
‘The Govt can do a better job of communicating to Singaporeans the value
of staying open as an economy, said Education Minister Heng Swee
Kiat…,’ at the Institute of Policy Studies. This came after Hsien Loong
spoke to the students at NTU on the challenges into the future.
A few points came through in Hsien Loong’s speech and are receiving some harsh criticism for what he said and why he said things particularly on the treatment of foreigners. For a start, the hostile spontaneous outcry against Anton Casey was not a lynch mob. The comparison is too extreme. For those who did not read American history, a lynch mob often consisted of a bunch of white supremacists, many are the average white Americans like the netizens, dragging a nigger, and hung him on a tree with a lasso around his neck. This is called mob lynching. And the crime could be more petty than what Anton did, or very serious, like running away from slavery.
Bad communication is not just about using bad examples. What is bad about lecturing to Sinkies on the need to treat foreigners well here is that it was not the fault of Sinkies but Sinkies being lectured like it was their fault. What the anger was about is that the Sinkies are expecting the govt to speak to the foreigners, nicely and politely of course, but in no uncertain terms, that this is our country and they are guests here. Be sensitive to the natives and do not insult the natives while having a good life here. I am not using locals because locals include PRs.
The people expect the govt to tell the foreigners to behave or else. The least the people expect is to get a lecture from the govt to behave. Now, what is not said but communicated to the foreigners are: Sinkies are at fault, Sinkies are rude to foreigners, over reacting and need to be told to behave. The antics of Anton, well never mind carry on, small matter. Sinkies will get use to it and will live with it after a while. Foreigners should feel good and welcome, like Anton.
Do the foreigners need to be told to reflect on their bad manners and attitude? I think this is very bad communication, sending the wrong signal and wrong message. The Sinkies are angry again for getting a scolding when they expect the scolding to be aimed at cocky and rude foreigners.
Kopi level - Yellow
A few points came through in Hsien Loong’s speech and are receiving some harsh criticism for what he said and why he said things particularly on the treatment of foreigners. For a start, the hostile spontaneous outcry against Anton Casey was not a lynch mob. The comparison is too extreme. For those who did not read American history, a lynch mob often consisted of a bunch of white supremacists, many are the average white Americans like the netizens, dragging a nigger, and hung him on a tree with a lasso around his neck. This is called mob lynching. And the crime could be more petty than what Anton did, or very serious, like running away from slavery.
Bad communication is not just about using bad examples. What is bad about lecturing to Sinkies on the need to treat foreigners well here is that it was not the fault of Sinkies but Sinkies being lectured like it was their fault. What the anger was about is that the Sinkies are expecting the govt to speak to the foreigners, nicely and politely of course, but in no uncertain terms, that this is our country and they are guests here. Be sensitive to the natives and do not insult the natives while having a good life here. I am not using locals because locals include PRs.
The people expect the govt to tell the foreigners to behave or else. The least the people expect is to get a lecture from the govt to behave. Now, what is not said but communicated to the foreigners are: Sinkies are at fault, Sinkies are rude to foreigners, over reacting and need to be told to behave. The antics of Anton, well never mind carry on, small matter. Sinkies will get use to it and will live with it after a while. Foreigners should feel good and welcome, like Anton.
Do the foreigners need to be told to reflect on their bad manners and attitude? I think this is very bad communication, sending the wrong signal and wrong message. The Sinkies are angry again for getting a scolding when they expect the scolding to be aimed at cocky and rude foreigners.
Kopi level - Yellow
Family institution dysfunctional
Do we still have this institution called family? Many of the oldies do
not seem to have such an institution that is supposed to take care of
them and their needs at old age. Ok there are exceptions for some oldies
with huge extended families. No need to know about the rich as they
will take care of themselves very well with or without the family
institution. The oldies in charity homes and those living on their own
or with friends cannot fall back on the family to support them. Some may
be too comfortable financially to prefer to live in the richness of a
retirement village minus the family institution.
Many who are seeking financial assistance from the govt have been told to seek support from their kins, their family ties. In reality this is not so simple. Not many families have millions in their savings and could spare a few dimes for their kins in distress. Many families are struggling to make ends meet and have a load of problems of their own.
One thing for sure, the aid givers or dispensers would never be able to understand why the children or siblings are so heartless to leave their kins in need to the state. It is beyond them until the day they fell into the same shoe.
The family institution is there but not there for another reason. And this will get worst with the new generations. What kind of family institution can one be talking about when there is one, or maybe two children in a family? The small nuclear family often fell victims to circumstances through many things that would break up the little family tree, natural casualty and calamity, financial hardship or simply living too far apart or emigration.
Since the days of Stop At Two, the role of family institution had been undermined and clobbered to death. But the old mindset of social workers and even politicians remains unchanged, thinking that there is this great family institution that could provide a big umbrella to protect those who need protection.
The family as an institution is about as good as it is among the Malay families when a household could have four or more children. The tragedies of broken families aside, the Malay families still could fall back on the family institution in better shape than the other communities.
It is time to take stock of the relevance of the family institution as a social support network for the people. It is there but not there. If there, many are too small to make a difference when faced with a very high cost of living. The family institution is as good as defunct, consigned to the museum as a memory of the past.
It is easy to bring up children when the cost of living is low. It is easy to look after parents too, and better still with many siblings. When the cost of living is high, extremely high, when there are no siblings to lend a helping hand, it is tough to look after the seniors. The new sandwiched class is going to face a monumental financial wall to look after their parents and children. Caveat, this does not affect the rich.
In the not too distant future people will be asking, where is the family, where is the family support, or may totally forgotten that there was such an institution.
Kopi level - Yellow
Many who are seeking financial assistance from the govt have been told to seek support from their kins, their family ties. In reality this is not so simple. Not many families have millions in their savings and could spare a few dimes for their kins in distress. Many families are struggling to make ends meet and have a load of problems of their own.
One thing for sure, the aid givers or dispensers would never be able to understand why the children or siblings are so heartless to leave their kins in need to the state. It is beyond them until the day they fell into the same shoe.
The family institution is there but not there for another reason. And this will get worst with the new generations. What kind of family institution can one be talking about when there is one, or maybe two children in a family? The small nuclear family often fell victims to circumstances through many things that would break up the little family tree, natural casualty and calamity, financial hardship or simply living too far apart or emigration.
Since the days of Stop At Two, the role of family institution had been undermined and clobbered to death. But the old mindset of social workers and even politicians remains unchanged, thinking that there is this great family institution that could provide a big umbrella to protect those who need protection.
The family as an institution is about as good as it is among the Malay families when a household could have four or more children. The tragedies of broken families aside, the Malay families still could fall back on the family institution in better shape than the other communities.
It is time to take stock of the relevance of the family institution as a social support network for the people. It is there but not there. If there, many are too small to make a difference when faced with a very high cost of living. The family institution is as good as defunct, consigned to the museum as a memory of the past.
It is easy to bring up children when the cost of living is low. It is easy to look after parents too, and better still with many siblings. When the cost of living is high, extremely high, when there are no siblings to lend a helping hand, it is tough to look after the seniors. The new sandwiched class is going to face a monumental financial wall to look after their parents and children. Caveat, this does not affect the rich.
In the not too distant future people will be asking, where is the family, where is the family support, or may totally forgotten that there was such an institution.
Kopi level - Yellow
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