The value of HDB flats

Do not be envious of the guy owning a million dollar HDB flat. You could be richer than that guy even if you are living in a $300k HDB flat. The real value of the flat is not what it is quoted. It is the real market value and the market value of HDB flat is what the market is willing to pay for it. After 50 years, the real value would take a plunge and the dive will get steeper with each passing year.
 
Why is the guy owning a $300k HDB flat richer than the guy in a $1m HDB flat? The value is time, the number of years left in the lease. As an example, the $300k flat could have a 90 year lease left but the $1m flat could be left with 50 years. So in 50 years time the guy will consume all the remainder of the lease and be left with nothing. The $300k guy would still have 40 years of lease or value.
 
In the Singapore context, many would be left eating up the remaining lease if they are not able to sell off the flat in time. For those who bought direct from HDB, they are luckier as they would not outlive their lease. For those who bought in the open market, resale, especially the younger buyers and buying flats with shorter leases, they could outlive the lease and ended up surrendering their zero value flat before they mati, and become homeless.
 
Remember, the value of your flat is measured mainly in time, the remaining lease available and the market value will fall drastically as the lease nears its expiry.
Be warned when you are considering a resale flat. Watch the years left in the lease. You could buy yourself a time bomb that would blow up in your face before you realise your folly.
 
The fake balloon of an ever appreciating HDB flat is about to be pricked. Conned? No, you choose to believe the con man. It is your fault for not thinking. In the game of musical chair, don’t be the one holding the can when the music stops.
 
Would someone in Parliament one day blurb out that the HDB is not yours just like your CPF money is not yours, but a longer rental, like the cars with a longer COE.

The evil Empire and its wicked allies will not leave Syria

They lost the war in Syria and their monster ISIS is about to be terminated for good. What can they do to keep the flame of ISIS burning and to keep Syria and the Arab/Muslim world in perpetual disorder, in unending turmoil?
 
The latest plan, threw a few chemical bombs at the Syrian civilians, get the western media to blow it up, then accused Assad and the Syrians for using chemical weapons at their own people. Keep shouting, keep beating the drum, get all the wicked and evil European powers to shout the same tune. This would make the unthinking believe that it was Assad and the Russians that used chemical weapons. And this is the perfect excuse, just like WMD, to start a new war in Syria. This time it would be the combined forces of the evil American Empire and their die hard rogue European powers to invade Syria and to attack Assad.
 
The AFP reported, “The US, backed by Britain and France, has said it is ready to act with or without support from the United Nations, where the Security Council was to vote on rival US and Russian proposals to probe chemical attacks in Syria.” Trump said the missiles would be flying into Syria. Such blatant act of war is received by the meek in the world as the right of the evil Empire and their equally bad European countries. The evil Empire and its rogue allies would not want to take any chances to prove that they were the real culprits that used chemical weapons on Syrians. They wanted to do a fait accompli, to attack Syria first before anyone could stop them. Their only agenda is to keep Syria burning and the troops from the evil Empire in Syrian soil.
 
The loudmouth school girl representing the US in the UN said, “History will record this as the moment when the Security Council either discharged its duty or demonstrated its utter and complete failure to protect the people of Syria.” Who was she referring to, the evil Empires and the rogue European powers planning to invade Syria and kill Syrians and turned their country into another dysfunctional state like Libya and Iraq? Would the UN have the guts to say No to the evil Empire and stop them from invading Syria?
 
Unlikely, as the evil Empire is above international law and above the UN. They would invade Syria come what may. The UN is hopeless, hapless. The only man that can stop this evil Empire and the rogue nations from invading Syria and killing the Syrians is Putin. Would Putin stand up to face the evil Empire and the rogue nations of the world? This would be a severe test for Putin and Russia’s influence in the region and their ability to protect and defend their allies. His credibility already dented with the Israeli attack on the airbase and not doing anything. Should the evil Americans and the rogue European nations attack again and Russia not reacting, then it would be the end of Russia in the Middle East. They have fought so bravely to protect Assad so far but their effort would be wasted.
 
The world is now treated to another huge White Lie, that Assad would use chemical weapons on his own people and to give the evil Empire the very excuse to invade and kill him. How many more White Lies from the evil Empire and the rogue nations would the nations of world have to live with before calling a spade a spade, that all the troubles and wars are created and started by the evil Empire and the rogue nations in Europe?
The main agenda of the evil Empire and the rogue European powers is to keep the Arab and Muslim nations in a state of flux and turmoil and unable to rebuild their countries and their lives.
 
When would the evil Empire and the rogue European nations be punished and pay for the crimes against human rights, against the Arabs and Muslim nations, against humanity? Putin alone cannot do the job. The pack of wolves would eat him up. This is their standard op, joined forces to attack countries one at a time. They are going to attack Venezeula, the Russians in Europe, Iran, North Korea and China in the South China Sea. These countries must wise up and united to fight them. If they don’t they would be screwed real bad when their turn comes.

When HDB millionaires become ‘million airs’

Goh Meng Seng wrote a piece titled ‘The greatest fake news is from the PAP’ in the TRE to belabour the point that the value of HDB flat will come to zero as the lease expires. This is the stark reality facing many HDB flat owners. The dream of retiring rich, with a big nest egg is going to turn into a nightmare for some. The mirage of asset enhancement has yet to hit many and many are still hoping that it would not hit them. 

Hold on to your HDB flats, the value will only go up. Many took this advice, some out of no choice. Those whose flats are hitting the 50 year lease are finding it difficult to sell them in the market. There is no buyer except for those due for en bloc scheme.
 
As each day or year passes by, the more difficult it will be to sell these flats. They could only sit helplessly watching the value of their flats disappearing into thin air. The millions they thought they owned are simply a make belief. For those who are still holding onto their million dollar flats and with the lease nearing 50 years, either they sell quickly or seeing the asset value vanishing. Who would be buying a depreciating asset that is falling in price unless the offer price is like fire sale?
 
This state of affair is going to be more real with each passing year and many would be wise to let go of their HDB flats fast, if they could, and still could find a place to stay. Otherwise, it would be just a case of cannot do anything and staring at the value going to zero. Would there be a mad rush to sell, would there be panic selling?
 
The other option to fall back on is the buy back scheme, provided the value is holding. Remember, it would be based on market price. The earlier one opts in the better. Who knows, when they is a flood of people wanting to cash in on this scheme, there may not be enough cash for them and the scheme would quickly be tweaked.
 
The story of HDB millionaires turning into ‘million airs’ is still unfolding and will gather steam in another two or three decades and going forward. There are more than a million HDB millionaires in the queue to be ‘million airs’.

Below are some of the comments in Goh Meng Seng’s article.
 
“The biggest, greatest Falsehood that was cooked up by PAP Government is the Asset Enhancement Scheme and HDB for retirement financing....
 
They have messed up the HDB system so badly that there is no way of reversing the bad scam without causing Huge pain to a few generations of Singaporeans. In the end, Singaporeans were told that not all of their HDB will enjoy enbloc. In fact, the majority (96%) will have the values of their HDB flats turn to zero value when their lease is up. Did they tell Singaporeans about this critical information back in 1990s when they keep harping on Asset Enhancement Scheme? A half-truth is selective falsehood....”

All the fake news – from official sources

The Trump Administration launched a trade war against China, raising tariffs after tariffs. China responded in kind with its own tariffs. The Americans then said it is not in a trade war and both sides are talking. Trump then said China would bring down its trade barriers, would open up. All this looked so real.
 
China has replied. China has not been talking to the Americans for months, and definitely not since trump started this trade war. And China is not going to talk to the Americans until the Americans back down from its wild allegations and threats of sanctions and tariffs.
 
See the fake news and the source of the fake news?
 
The Assad govt is using chemical weapons against the rebels and the Syrians. Russia used the most deadly gas against its ex spy, Skripal and daughter in England. The gas is 10 times more deadly than VX used on Kim Jong Nam. Kim died, but Skripal and daughter are alive and well.
 
The western govts are ganging up like a pack of wolves to accuse Russia and Syria for using chemical weapons. And all the western media, the MSM, are pointing the fingers at the Russians and the Syrians. Trump called Assad animal. But who is the biggest and most evil animal? No need to guess.
 
Who is spreading fake news? Who are the evil ones using chemicals and putting the blame of the Russians and the Assad govt? No need to guess. It is fake news galore in the western media. Who is going to punish the originator and spreader of fake news?

Singapore’s talent scouts should head to India

India is producing all the talents that Singapore needs to bring it to the future, from IT, banking, academia, medical, entrepreneurs, public speakers, journalists and politicians. Now there is another profession that Singapore could look forward to in India.
 
The Chinese table tennis players in the Singapore Team have lost to India in the finals in the Commonwealth Games. This is the first time that the Singapore Team lost. The last time they met in 2010, Singapore Team beat them by 3-0. This time it is 3-1 in favour of India. What the results said is that India is on the rise and China fading away, at least in table tennis.
 
The future of Singapore’s table tennis glory is in India. Those MPs that have nothing better to do must think of leading a team to visit the India villages to handpick future table tennis players for the Singapore Team. Yes, headhunt them when they are young and not yet star material. Singapore’s talent is in headhunting and spotting young talents, especially in table tennis. We have many experience MPs who are very good in this skill. If they don’t do it, there will be nothing more to cheer about in table tennis to galvanise the people together in nationhood. This is serious matter.
 
There is hope that our table tennis team will continue to shine with new talents from budding India table tennis players. Make haste while the sun shines. Don’t wait or other country’s talent scouts would beat us to it. This type of thing cannot wait or else next Commonwealth Games Singapore will have no gold medals for table tennis.
 
Now what else should they hunt while in India? More Indian chiefs. India is very good at producing Indian chiefs that Singapore is lacking.

Dr. Mahatir Mohamed back in Malaysia's politics

Dr. Mahatir has returned from retirement to fight in politics again. His mission is to right the wrongs which he thinks PM Najib is committing  He has been accusing Najib for corruption . He conveniently forgets that Najib was his perfect loyal student who learns all the tricks from him .

In his twenty-two years rule Mahatir had played with the country and the people's welfare. Who benefitted from Mallaysia's fiasco in its lost of billions of dollars in Malaysia's investment in the sick British pound. Well, of course Soros the Jewish elite made billions from it. Other than Soros who else benefitted? That is a big question mark.

What happened to Malaysia Airways ? Who benefitted from its lost of billions of dollars?  What about the lack lustre development of Port Klang , another multi billion dollar project?  Where had all the money gone?  Who was the transport and communication minister there and then.

How do some of the scions of Malaysia's prominent politicians become multi millionaires or billionaires overnight?

Dr. Mahatir brought disharmony to the country by practising ill conceived religion and narrow racialistic politics to benefit his party's agenda. So don't be a hypocrite and accuse PM Najib just to suit his own agenda. 

His unbecoming or sour talk about Najib's China's capital and investment in Malaysia smacks a nuance of his being now an American mouthpiece . Since when has he decided to become an American poodle to speak ill of China. Under the Evil US Imperial Empire's influence he illicitly and shamefully claims some of the Chinese islands in the South China Sea. He seems to forget there was no country call Malaya or Malaysia until the British chose to leave in 1957 and 1965 when it found that British colonialism was untenable in the face of history. Even then England never claim the Chinese islands in the South China Sea. In fact England and all the West including US and Japan have always recognized the Paracels and the chain of Spratly Islands as Chinese territories. In fact all the islands in the South China Sea have since time immemorial been Chinese territories as far back as the Chin or Han Dynasty over two thousand years ago 

In  1986 the West and US floated the UNCLOS - United Nations Convention of the Laws of the Sea. China had asserted that UNCLOS should not and must not encroach or supercede China's historical ownership of her South China Sea's territories before it signed the agreement in later years. However USA itself refused to sign the agreement fearing a lot of legal suits would be filed against US unlawful occupation of other peoples or countries islands and territories. In short USA will not subject itself to international laws it helped to formulate.

Dr Mahatir by his action and stupid assertion that Malaysia has claims to some of the Chinese islands in the South China Sea is thus incongruent with Malaysia's history. Has Mahatir been smoking too much of  American pipe and has suddenly come under US's sinister influence. 

Those who sleep with the Evil Empire will always end up in big serious trouble and eventually lost their countries' sovereignty. There are too many cases to enumerate. But just to mention a few recent ones like Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Iran when it was under the Shah.

Southernglory1

Monday , 09th April. 2018

Would Singapore invite China into CPTPP?

The anti China TPP, conceived with one specific purpose, to isolate China, went ahead without the Americans and formed a half past six grouping under a modified name called CPTPP.  The non participation of America in such a trade grouping would have effectively rendered it a no go proposition. What is there left without the American market?

Under normal conditions, the remaining participants would go around hunting for an equivalent big economy to replace the Americans. The obvious choice was China. But the obvious choice was that China was the main enemy and should not be the choice. Grudgingly they went ahead, on a limb, to sign a trade pact that is as good as a non pact. The persistence of some members in the grouping not wanting to give up is understandable. Without China is the key agenda and going ahead without China is still like half a bird in the bush is better than none. China was excluded and they have achieved what they set out to do.

Hsien Loong is in China to attend the Boao Forum and would follow up with a working visit to China to meet Wang Yi and to discuss areas of cooperation. The test balloon floated, oops, oops, wrong choice of word, the main agenda is to invite China to join the lame duck CPTPP.  At least this what I perceived from the statements he made in the media. 

In Channel News Asia it was reported that "Mr Lee highlighted the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was renamed after the withdrawal of the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is a proposed FTA spearheaded by the ten ASEAN member states and involving six major trading partners, including China....that these two agreements will boost economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and promote a seamless flow of goods, services and business that will benefit all countries.

“The CPTPP, which was recently signed, is an open and inclusive agreement. We welcome China, and others, to join the CPTPP when they are ready,” Mr Lee said....

Singapore will continue to support China’s constructive participation in the regional architecture as well as the international system,” Mr Lee said."

The last two sentences are as good as Singapore taking an initiative to invite China into the CPTPP.  anyone reading it as otherwise? This trip to China could be ground breaking in Singapore China relationship. In a way the term test balloon could be quite appropriate in the sense that Japan would never agree to have China in the CPTPP. Did Hsien Loong speak to Abe and had his concurrence to brood this matter with China? If not, the suggestion is as good as cheap talk. Japan would definitely throw its weight down to oppose China's entry. China is not just a historical enemy of Japan, its admission into CPTPP would mean that Japan would no longer be the undisputed leader to call the shot and to drive the CPTPP against China's interests.

Not only that, there is the big bad wolf lurking in the dark corner, not in the CPTPP does not mean that the Americans have no say in China's entry into the CPTPP. The Americans would use their veto card to stop China and all the American cronies and little USAs would not be able to say no.

Would Singapore take a lead against the interests of Japan and the USA to invite China into the CPTPP? Does Singapore have the heft and influence to make this happen? Or would it be a case that Singapore has done its best but were blocked by other interested parties to keep China out of the grouping?

Let's see what comes out of this China trip.

In today's news, it was reported that Hsien Loong has inked a couple of MOUs with Li Keqiang on the BRI and to promote  cross cultural cooperation. There was some mention of the RCEP but nothing about the CPTPP. Perhaps my reservations on Japan not going to agree to China's entry and the USA, though no longer a party, would also not permit China to be admitted to the CPTPP. The vacuum cannot be filled by China. Any other country will do but not China. So looks like Singapore is not going to be able to do a thing on this.