Benchmark

All the talk about bench-marking ministerial salaries. Here's the new bench mark for MPs. Now step down disGRACEFUl, money driven civil servants!

Thank you for the hope and awakening

Unbelievable but the tiny steps for democracy and change is finally coming. Salute to PM Lee.
I guess in some ways, our MIW should be very happy - there is now little talk of apathy in our young Singaporeans and if such videos exist - it only means Singapore has hope to go further.

Worker's Party win Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC from Repro on Vimeo.

Thanks to all opposition parties and their candidates and supporters for everything...and now for election withdrawal symptoms.

So what happened?

I was less than happy that the election results turned out that way..yay we won a GRC but now what? 7% representation for a 40% support in opposition parties? Anyway now that we have Michael Palmer, a minority winning in a single member ward, yes please let's do away with the gerrymandering GRC scheme. Yes it is a scheme, to allow people like Tin Pei Ling to be a Member of Parliament though easily 99% of the population would want her out.

So what really happened? A 6% negative swing despite 1.9mil citizens voted with almost all constituencies contested? That goes to show only 3 things...Singaporeans really like to complain, if things are really that bad why did the results turned out the way it is? Secondly, we are still afraid...the fear in civil service, the fear of asset prices collapsing..fear in every corner and crack of our society - how else can you explain why in almost every GRC or SMC, we have about 2% in spoilt votes? Some of which can change the outcome of the results. Lastly, the outreach of new medias, social media isn't entrenched enough...we are not able to enforce change unlike in the USA. Yes, we too have celebrities supporting for opposition, but we do not have independent TV news, TV networks, radio stations etc...in other words - the reach is still limited. Yes, perhaps we should self-fund radio stations, or newspapers etc and all we need is readership, listeners in numbers...but oops our radio waves are controlled, print media too is limited and let's not talk about Television..so we have only the internet to turn to. Until our parents and their parents turn into online news or YouTube for information, we are pretty much limited in our choices.

So what other factors could have come into play? New citizens? Old people who are confused on gratitude with servitude? Old man's words of repent or threats? Whatever the case, we lost the chance for change...seriously come 2016, do you think it will be better? Do you notice the branding issue here in elections? The men in blue attracted all voters from all over Singapore only to have them not listening to their own candidates, and very often you hear people saying - 'Why my area is not Worker's Party but XXX' ; or 'My candidate not so good lar, but if MyLow stood here, I will guarantee vote for him!' Do they even know the party's manifesto, what they are standing for and how about the incumbent? Some do not even know who their PAP candidate is! It has become a branding and likely a marketing issue at the elections. Well, what's done is done, I hope at the end of it all, the incumbent knows the reason for the decreased votes and popularity and try to do what's best. And I won't mind if they steal some of the oppositions' ideas and their detailed manifesto and look into it. In the end, we all want to do the best for the people - be it a million or two difference into the bank accounts. All I can say, I think some things will never change and I am reserving a few 'I told you so' to some friends of mine. I am happy though, on finding out how those closed to me have voted decisively and wisely.

And yes, thanks to all the candidates and their helpers, polling agents etc. Be it whichever party, thanks for giving us a choice and woke up some Singaporeans from their slumber.

Majulah Singapura.



This is the kind of candidates that PAP bring into Parliament based on GRC...and let' not forget Kate Spade!

This is it - May 7th

No fear...vote calmly, wisely and courageously.

Told myself to watch this just before elections...

Good night Singapore...Majulah Singapura...

Elections taking a toil

Woken up by my best friend for breakfast, I was unable to get back to sleep. The sleep that I needed, with all the unsettledness in my head, as I get more and more weary from the elections. Friends are telling me it's only an election, why get so worked up...but in my humble opinion, I feel it's not just an election this time round and perhaps I am taking it harder than I should as the opposition have given it - all or nothing. But this is about the future of my country, the future of my 'future' children's lives, shouldn't I be more concerned? So here pens my heartfelt feelings I have been having for the longest time...pardon my grammatical errors as my English language has remained in the doldrums for quite some time.

Last night I had a major quarrel with my wonderful girlfriend who was an apolitical Singaporean trying her best to make sense of it all during this General Elections. Her courage to be involved, to understand, to read up and to even generate feelings about the need to be less apathetic despite her busy schedule, seem to stem from my disgust on the prospect of her voiding her vote. This once in a blue moon phenomenon of being able to vote somehow meant to me more than many others around me. Many friends have shown disgust they have over the brutal Facebook news feed from their friends, including myself, who seemed to be caught up in the new 'coolest' activity of attending rallies and posting up political blogs biased against the incumbent ruling party. They seem to think they know better, or that they have better things to do then to bother about this once in every five years event. But that's exactly the problem we have, many have no longer felt the need to decide on things, we are all fine being spoon fed the news we all 'should' read. My one vote wouldn't and shouldn't count for anything.

Since primary school days, I was taught to read the newspapers. My parents taught me that I need to be kept abreast with the current affairs, to be aware of what's happening around us, to sing my National Day songs proudly and to take heed of our well-esteemed then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew - that is why I chose to become an engineer, taking heed of our PM's vision. My parents never taught me to seek an alternative view, never to go search for the truth, but as obedient citizens with subservient attitudes growing up studying, working hard and always to toe the line and be afraid of the big scary police man. The search for the Singapore dream was as wonderful as the American dream for many abroad in the 90s. To own a home in my country, to be prideful of our Number 1 Airport, efficient port and spanking clean subway system as well as our national service which I have dutifully done for 2.5 years and the ongoing NS reservist of up to 40 days a year. Because in my younger days I remembered my dad coming home in green fatigues and I want to be just like him, serving my nation. The sense of pride somehow seem to be eroding over the past 5-10 years.

My recent in-camp-training in Feb revealed fellow Singaporeans' unhappiness. Over the need to come back to serve while their jobs are on the line, fighting with foreigners who do not have obligations that take them away for up to 40 days a year. I am sure many of my civil service friends should have no problems with that, having 'understanding' employers. But for me, an American firm with my HR based in HK, I had a hard time trying to convince my American bosses that I am needed to defend Singapore. Yet I will finish my work as I rushed home after reservist working from dinner til 2am during my reservist period and driving back to camp at 6am the next day. It's like I was never gone from work, just 12 hours late. Oh and my leave application has to be filed under Jury duty.

The fear of losing my job to a foreigner without such obligation grows stronger as America is going through a transformation to shed expensive employees even if they are true blue US citizens, in order to meet nice Wall Street numbers to shore up the stock prices. I left my last employer, also an American company who did just that - cost cutting despite making record profits, that is the hard fact of being in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. That's the stress me and my fellow industry colleagues have to deal with, the feeling of being dispensable; and that drives us to work harder, be more efficient and knowing what our bosses wants...on the fly. I ran out of movie theatres to receive my US calls, I hid in toilets, left friends' weddings, gatherings to hold conferences which goes from 10pm - 3am. That is the hard truth of Singaporeans working harder and longer hours. Is that not enough? This Singapore dream somehow appears very different from the ideas I've conjured up when I was 21, embarking on my tertiary education. Perhaps I am in the wrong line? Perhaps...

I am not a xenophobic and even more so less of a racist. I need to get that off my chest, seriously. I recently had a big quarrel with my best Indonesian-ex Singapore PR-now Australian buddy who flew in to visit his Singaporean fiancée and for a job interview. He was calling me a racist, and it hurts. It hurts because I was only trying to help. The background is that he was trying to find a job here back in Singapore, after giving up a good job 10 years ago while he was a Singapore PR. He had to leave because the Australian government forced him to make a choice, you come back here or you lose your PR. My friend studied in Singapore for close to 10 years, he studied in Australia for less than 5. But somehow he knew the life in Australia is more appealing and PR status was harder to get. Well to cut the long story short, he is now an Australian citizen, why not a Singaporean citizen instead though he has more friends here, that decision was his. And the advice which sparked it all was that it's no longer easy to get a well paying job here in Singapore. We now need to compete globally as our government introduced many 'talents' here and the ease of getting work permits or PR is astounding and I went on to say even Singaporeans have hard time looking for decent paying jobs which can help pay off  'affordable' housing and the cost of living here. Well, he has a house mortgage back in Australia to pay off, and I believe the salary range that he seeks, might be tougher than it seems. Luckily for him, his freehold house in Australia costs less than some of our public housing HDB here in Singapore. Anyway I wish him all the best.

The stark reality is our foreign immigration policy is straining everyone, and it's making every Singaporean here, who name calls Ang Moh or Ah Tiongs, seem so racist and it's creating a bad image for Singapore. Last night I attended a WP's rally in Serangoon. I see Singaporeans of all races on the field and in the stands, I see a lone Indian man waving the WP flag as Low Thia Khiang makes his speech in Chinese, patiently waiting for some word he could understand so that he can clamour upon and wave this flag harder. I see the wave of Chinese Singaporeans quietly listening to Mohd Faisal make his speech in Malay for a good 5-10 mins and yelling in agreement when he switches to English. Singaporeans are not naturally racist, noone is. We are warm hearted people who chose to donate millions after millions in NKF funds, in Suzhou earthquake funds and even for Japan in the recent Tsunami/Earthquake disaster. Simple minded some would call us, but we are warm hearted people in general. We have all become angry not with the people but with something else. What else? I believe we all know better.

My hairdresser is a Chinese, picky as I am (I've had about 5 hairdressers in my over three decades of hair growth and I pray for at least two decades more), I am a perfectionist and this lady is considered talented in my humble opinion. I would drive 20km all the way to Bedok South just to get my $4.50 hair cut, knowing the petrol would cost more than my haircut. Usually if I am not rushing for time, I would ask her to wash my hair so I can pay her $15 to justify her 'talent' in making me look like a Korean pop star...(my girlfriend agrees). My mechanic is a Malaysian, he is humble and brilliant with my engine. Very often I would buy him green tea as he works on my difficult ride and often slip $10 into his hand as he only charges me $10 for oil change and helps me check on my other issues in that hour of servicing. I too deemed him as a talent despite him being considered as a blue collared worker. I have very good friends on and off the basketball courts, I have colleagues whom I work hand in hand with, resolving balls-cracking issues, many of whom are Malaysians, Filipinos, Swiss, Irish, Americans, Indians, Chinese, Hongkongers etc. I find each and everyone of them talented in their own ways and I thank them all for contributing to our country.

But the problem here is not them, the problem here are the policies affecting not just Singaporeans but also foreigners alike. Those who are renting here, they also face the increasing rental costs, the same kopi we drink, the same chicken rice we eat, the same squeezy MRT and buses we take. We are all affected. I have had many friends (foreigners or Singaporeans) leaving Singapore because it's just too expensive or the standard of living has somewhat degraded from the elusive/promised Swiss standards. We need our government to build enough flats, enough road capacities, enough transportation before they open the floodgates. The longer time to get to work, is affecting not just Singaporeans, it's affecting everyone else. The unnecessary frustrations are getting to everyone. Rich or poor, the jams, floods or increasing cost of living gets to everyone on this island. I have helped out in orphanages, in old folks homes and even in soup kitchens for foreign worker manned by rich tai tais and retired uncles who have the time..These volunteers even face public lashback on why we are helping these foreign workers and not fellow Singaporeans. Calls at night screaming at them...but these foreign workers are also humans who have been hurt by our government policies. I am sad and ashamed to say my life has been filled up with work and house searches, I have recently stopped going to help. But I try my best to contribute in other ways.

The policies implemented forced families to move to parks only to be forced into homes away from public scrutiny without the freedom to go out to find work or beg. The casinos have in the short period of operation, have caused broken families, gamblers to jump off buildings with their family members..etc. Yes they could have easily lost the same amount in cruise ships or a trip up to Genting Highlands or even illegal gambling houses located all over the island. But to open a casino in our backyard is standing for something else altogether. Our government policies have left many wondering what has improved for the past 5 years, why are carrots suddenly popping out all over the island except Tanjong Pagar? This gerrymandering has to be illegal in some sense? Yes I know this is how politics work, but is this how a 'first world' nation is suppose to be? Sad to say, don't be naive. Noone will roll over and die, and we cannot expect the ruling party to just get up and go, and let the opposition take over their seats. Fact of the matter is we now see how competition is necessary, how the fear of losing has got many to admit their mistakes and trying their best to please the people, how a multi party system can only work to the benefit of the people.

The stigma of being labelled opposition is terrible in Singapore, the waving of a NSP or WP flag can only happen in rallies, but once we move out of our comfort zone we get ostracised. It's like the only color that can exist in Singapore is white. Is political diversity a need or a want? Why can't we all respect each others decision and agree that we are all pro-Singaporeans? Sadly to say, we have a long way to go as a nation. And that is why I am feeling less and less proud to be a Singaporean.

To sum up, we all have our choices in life, some choose to not rock the boat, some choose to be happy campers and sit on the fence, some choose to be radicals, some choose to void their all important votes. I should stop being an ass and let everyone decide for themselves, as long as they have considered all factors. To each their own...in a crossroad, we all decide our fates. I just hate to say 'I told you so' after the election. Oh and for my supposedly 'friends', please don't call me a hypocrite just because I still empathise with people around me, or that I am doing well because I work hard for it/I am talented/I totally deserve it and I get freebies. These are two separate matters.

In the end, I agree with Mr Chen Show Mao's short but 'co-driver smacking' worthy speech last night. Take heart, have courage and use your head. Decision is all yours, just make sure it's your decision and you have made all the educated considerations.

All or nothing

Here we go...it's all on the line. Either we have change, be it a revolution or incremental baby steps - otherwise we lose it all. Somehow the pessimistic me, believe we will lose it all. Just worried about the consequences...just want my future children to no longer have the fear I see in many of my friends right now.

In 5 years time, more of those who are able would have migrated, many who gave it all from the false internet fervor might have given up. The unfortunate color of being anything else but white would have proven there are only 2 groups of intellectuals. One of whom will not give up their ultimate hold despite knowing it's for the best, one of the other who knew they gave it all..but the citizens have spoken..so at what price did they suffer? Despite all the sacrifices, the dull and apathy would never understand...all they seem to be saying is shut up..it's only election; or stop complaining, want change? Don't just whine, go do something...

Well to my less receptive friends, talking to friends face to face or posting up links on Facebook or making a stand, putting out statements and thinking about something IS doing something. So bugger off, for I am a citizen of this country and I did my part for this country; I am nothing but Pro-Singapore...and I have considered every single detail with my fullest knowledge for a long long time. I have my rights, and so have you, and I choose to make my vote count for something.

This is a great article..I will put it out in full for posterity sake:

Loving Election Period

It is only during election period we have wonderful productions from locals like Mr. Brown (MB has too many to link here, please go to his website) and fellow creative bloggers. Take this video for example... brilliant though I prefer a sweeter voice... ;P



The other interesting take during this election is that netizens seem to be bolder and ruling parties seem to be scrambling and fumbling like they have been napping far too long in parliament. They simply fail on the Social Media front. They should give up trying...it can sometimes be utterly embarrassing to us Sillyporeans and we might just end up voting calmly, and way too wisely.

I think PAP's getting embarrassed that NSP's Nicole Seah can get 20k 'Facebook Likes' in matter of a weekend so they need to resort to creating fake accounts to go about liking PAP pages...just wondering how much they pay to maintain their own little 'Facebook Likes' army?

This is going around Facebook at WP fan page - titled Angry Beople..creative lar this Singaporean. Shall not sabotage him in case ISD comes knocking on his door, though I give Mr Seah credit and I add his disclaimer. Disclaimer: This creation is solely created for Entertainment purposes. Do not sue me because I am very poor.

I repeat nothing is more important than the heart and intention

In the end, what's most important is the heart and intention, nothing else matters. Some claim execution, some claim leadership are equally important. That argument is going back to the fact we need elitist, people who are deemed talented; only the esteemed in their field should perform the job. This is civil service, we don't really need doctors, lawyers or 27-year old CONsultants to serve the people. We must understand there is an intricate system in the ministries which are already filled with scholars and lots of experienced civil servants who are doing actual work.

Let's do a case study on the Titanic, classic example of failed leadership and arrogant yet ignorant execution. Titanic's Captain Smith was on a maiden voyage on the Titanic and going to New York was his final retirement trip.  He was headed for the easy life, steering the most advanced ship in its time - indestructible; unsinkable so they say. No one is sure why he ignored seven iceberg warnings from his crew and other ships.  Responsibility can’t be ignored or delegated.  Leadership is to be responsible for everything an organization does or fails to do. If the heart and intention is in the wrong place, no matter what track record one holds or how brilliant you are in execution, the complacency will somehow fail you in ways you would never have expected. Just as in the battle between David and Goliath, they say that sometimes God chooses our battles and our ends.

If your heart is true and intended for the people, how far can one go wrong? Do not judge other countries, unless you've studied their history and culture well. The only difference I see would be Sillyporeans are obedient repressed farks who love status quo unless provoked.

Sick of all these election talk and apathetic ground, I can't wait for voting day to come and get over and done with. We all know the eventual results. I leave you with one important message and some pictures I took last year but never had the time to share.

First they came for the communists,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

 By German Pastor Martin Niemoller, who first supported Hitler's rise to power and regretted his decision, and we all know how that ended. Blind faith in a excellent leader and executor as well as executioner - responsible for all 46 million lives lost.

Let's work together, team A or B - we're Vietnamese

The road to change is long

Here's me longing for more photography - fark politics!

I just want a simple life and finally understood why ignorance is bliss.

Elections Fever

Have you been caught up in elections fever of late? Men in White seems to enjoy shooting themselves in the foot.
Be it Kate Spade or Doctors confusing National Service with saving kids' lives on a paid occupation.

I can hardly wait for more boo hoos from the Cabinet Ministers. Those days spent sleeping in parliament or out spending $50k on Paris cooking lessons is finally showing. I love how with Kate Spade young girl being introduce by the PAPys, we now have gotten more of apathetic women crowd involved.

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. ~ Abraham Lincoln.

As you can tell the Men in White no longer have monopoly over talents as we have more good men on the other side making sacrifices to bring our country on track where GRCs, estates upgrading and Boundary changes are nothing but a scam. The Gen Y and Zs are starting to peel off the blinkers and see how we all have been hoodwinked. And oh yeah...I love social media...people in White sucks at it.

Have you taken the red pill?

Wrote a super long story for a fellow blogger who seem to be feeling the heat from just being herself and supporting a just cause of voting for politicians only if they are worth it and not just for the sake of opposing. But have decided not to publish it. I rather sit down with her and her naive friend and have a friendly discussion instead if they decide to take up my offer.

Greatest Mockery of Giving

Minister in Latin comes from the word Servant - Someone who serves others.

While in Singapore, they don't actually just give/serve. They take. Literally 8 months bonuses, and mind you..this is despite the fact that we have the Worlds' most expensive civil servants...all 30 of them.

A CRITICISM by opposition MP Low Thia Khiang on the increased salary estimates of political appointment holders drew a firm response from Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.

Mr Teo reminded him that the salary structure of top public sector officials - which includes ministers and top civil servants - was debated and approved by Parliament in 2007.

Mr Low welcomed it at the time, and 'should not be surprised' now.

Source ST.

So they inflate the GDP using Foreigners then pay themselves 30% more and ask that lesser mortals wait patiently for 10 years to get our 30%. A ruse?

So perhaps 2 more election terms for them to keep earning "golden peanuts" before we have our Egypt situation?

Love DPM Teo's respond to LTK- Mr Teo reminded him that the salary structure of top public sector officials - which includes ministers and top civil servants - was debated and approved by Parliament in 2007. Mr Low welcomed it at the time, and 'should not be surprised' now.

Back in 2007 PAP held >90% majority despite only winning 66% of total votes. WTF can anyone do, seriously? Soon they can pass any laws and say the citizens welcome it and we can't do shit about it...haha the greatest mockery is a huge percentage of Sillyporeans do not see or think about this "Cheaper, betterest, productive" calls from the Labour Minister with floodgates opened to low depressed competitive wages from foreigners who do not have local kids/mortgage to feed or pay; and they claim we do not want these jobs create by them, and Sillyporeans are nothing but daft whiny choosy folks.

I love Singapore politics akin to having an anal probe without asking for it, because it's good for you and our gahmen knows best.

Playing dirty

Not sure if you guys have been catching Taiwanese drama serials these days, but it sure beats our own Singaporean productions where the standard seems to be dropping of late. Anyway, a private joke on this drama serial that I am catching right now every evening -hooked on it.
"Do you know the hottest question from auntie to auntie these days is: 今晚有没有做"爱? "

Singapore Elections coming

You know elections are coming when SPH does this.

We can even tweet about it!

Test site should be ready very soon.

Am excited about it...possibly my very first time voting as I approach mid-life crisis age!

Interesting stuff you find on Facebook about Singapore Policies

Before I begin with the interesting stuff you find on Facebook which is closely related to the policies the government has been making lately, it is good to note from the walls and comments found in social sites or other forms of new media, there are about 6 ABCDEF groups of people you will often observe.
1) The Apathy group who don't comment at all and are sitting on the fence on everything.
2) The seemingly Biased/Blind group who protest at everything or support blindly on all issues basically because they are on the same side.
3) The Complaint group who does nothing but whine without any analysis of the issues.
4) The Destructive group who engages everyone to do stupid things like spamming some MP's email.
5) The Effeminate group who I think are the worse kinds, often telling people to stop whining, what is the point of doing this or that, cannot change anyway, accept the fact that...etc - Seriously isn't it worse than whining/complaining? Because I think at the very least a complaint raises awareness.
6) The Fruitful group who will have constructive suggestions and critical analyses to take it to the next level.

This is a pretty interesting Facebook group : Dear PM Lee, please take the train with me :)
This group is asking our PM to get down from the ivory tower and take time to see how the public transport is actually performing. An interesting find on the wall inside the group :-

LKY's daughter Lee Wei Ling wrote on Sunday Times today (21st Mar):

"My brothers chose not to give their children any Western names. One nephew, when he was in school, asked his parents' permission to adopt a Western name. His mother Ho Ching told him: 'In China, only waiters and waitresses use Western names.' My father  also explained how 'Harry' became part of his name and how he tried to remove it."

So, if you who have a Western name, Ho Ching is saying you are no better than PRC waiters and waitresses... LOL!

So the PM's wife just proclaimed that me, and a hell lot of my friends including her Father-in-law is no better than waiters and waitresses!!...no offense to the service industry intended on my part, though maybe Ho Ching has. A job is a job, what makes her work more noble? Especially after losing billions and billions of dollars which can be used to help the poor instead of raising Conservancy charges, GSTs, ERPs, Polytechnics/University fees...etc, but seriously I think even if we did not lose those billions, the money wouldn't have gone to subsidise the population but into the coffers of the employees of the SWFs.

Another interesting group: VOTE FOR CHANGE, VOTE THE PAP OUT
This group's manifest or description is pretty interesting and somehow very true, tempted to join the group but fear the repercussions, that my Facebook friends will proclaim I am a biased bigot and thus lose my effectiveness to actually discuss like I am a sound-minded individual with no political affiliations (haha, which is true that I am sound-minded and somewhat educated with absolutely no inclination for whatever party but focussed more on policies made by sleeping buffoons in parliaments these days) :-

Don't confuse meritocracy with mediocracy

Don't confuse meritocracy with mediocracy (not mediocrity?). Well apparently there is such a word, and as defined shockingly.

me·di·oc·ra·cy:

–noun,plural-cies.

government or rule by a mediocre person or group.

Origin: mediocre  and -cracy

Source.
More often than not, we can get confused. The above definition seems to link "cracy" with organisations such as governments with mediocre management. Sometimes this can be led by leadership, and sometimes by force.Well, mediocracy is often dedicated to self-interest within groups or individuals with the tendencies to destroy others around them, either peers or colleagues to gain relative advantage.

So don't get confused by the 2 terms as we were clearly brought up in a society where we believe in meritocracy and we work hard for our money and succeed in life based on merits.

Just that I wonder how some "higher powers" are often able to get away with meritocracy with mediocracy. And very often the discussions would ends with "It's an honest mistake, let's move on."

You can't be too safe

Being cautious and wanting to be safe probably lengthen your existence. But the meaning of existence is to live your life. Carpe Diem!

Courage is what preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things. ~Plautus

Courage, my friends; 'tis not too late to build a better world. ~Tommy Douglas

Would you stand up for change?

New citizens of Sillypore

Interesting thoughts which I never considered about till of late, as about 1 of out every 3~4 person you meet is not a local here in sunny Sillypore.

Those under 21 cannot vote in Singapore elections. So you can hold a rifle, shoot someone and defend the country but you cannot vote.

However, new citizens who, at a high percentage, are older "deemed" foreign talents who took up citizenship in the last 2-3 years can vote. Hmm..how about those University or Poly students who have stayed and studied here for past 20 years, how do you compare their stakes in our country vs these new "of age" citizens?

They don't even need to defend our country when it comes to war, so what's their stake in our country as they stayed here less with less kinship or friendships?

How would they vote? And why are we "old" citizens giving them a chance to decide how and who manages our tiny island. This is looking even more absurd with MM Lee's suggestion to have some "classes" of citizens have 2 votes over others 1.

Suggestions since lately gahmen enjoys updating the voting registrar list:
1) Citizens between 18 and under 21 serving National Service (NS) should be allowed to vote.
2) New citizens who have stayed less than 5 years and does not have children born here and do not serve any form of volunteering or NS should not be allowed to vote.

If possible, I hope this applies to critics of either either new citizens or PRs origin, who write in to newspapers or posts online about how marginalised or wonderful Sillypore is. Contribution through economic means hardly qualify as nation building IMHO.

Rulers

I've always enjoyed reading old Chinese history stories such as Romance of Three Kingdom, Sun Tzu Art of War, as well as Emperor Kang Xi, Yong Zheng and Qian Long era of ruling. In each I slowly learned that a Kingdom's success is determined by its ruler.

I have long admired Emperors and Kings who ultimately are sort of rulers but can decide the fate of many in the name of God-believed royalty rights.

Today at work, I had a friendly discussion with a Filipino colleague who like many have echoed before to me, that life of the Philippines Under Ferdinand Marcos regime from 1965 to 1986 was actually great. And she remembered clearly those times when USD was 1:1 with the Peso currency (today is is ~ 1: 48) and of course ultimately the President's infamous wife Imelda and her shoes.

Her gripe was though there was corruption under his regime, it was isolated only to the top level. Right now, corruption was seen everywhere and things do not get done. Unlike many other nationalities living in Singapore, the Filipinos seems dead set of leaving their country and not returning and would boldly love Singapore or any other country that would take them in. Yet when a visiting Filipino basketball team or artise comes along, they show the love and support like no other nation I can think of. I know countless of Filipinos are living in the US, and even speaking Chinese in Taiwan and I believe they number in about 300 thousands in Singapore.

A quick Wikipedia search made me understand why though they love their country, they choose to leave. Though Philippines is the 2nd highest remittance recipients in East Asia & Pacific after China ($25.7 bn), Philippines ($17.0 bn) - the country is being so striken by poverty and my colleague told me many citizens are paying high taxes which is more than Singapore - why?

The economic growth that Marcos brought about was largely financed by U.S. economic aid and several loans made by the Marcos government. The country's foreign debts were less than US$1 billion when Marcos assumed the presidency in 1965, and more than US$28 billion when he left office in 1986. A sizable amount of these moneys went to Marcos family and friends in the form of behest loans. These loans were assumed by the government and still being serviced by taxpayers. Today, more than half of the country's revenues are reserved for the payments on the interests of loans alone.

So indeed economic growth might be sustained in one ruler's term but can it be preserved for generations after generations? Is paying the highest salary (in the case of Marcos whereby known corruption is overlooked) the only way out of calls for a desperate behest for proper leadership? For now it seems there is no foolproof way of selecting rulers for countries, and definitely money isn't the way to go as shown in Philippines history. Would leaders who came after Marcos be better off without those debts incurred?

They are so many questions which cannot be answered but knowing many Filipinos preferred a government like ours because though our rulers and government officials are paid a lot openly and legitimately, they do bring about efficiency and stability. But I just hope in the absence of accountability and checks, there are other ways to keep them in their place and not usurp to be Emperors, Kings or even Gods where losing billions are not trickled down to the later generations to pay for.

Senseless debating..

Seriously I do not understand how we can spend $ debating on something which is absolutely senseless. At 18, we can watch R(A) shows, go to casinos, carry an M16 and kill but we cannot vote till we are 21. But it is an even more absurd fact that more than half of our population can't vote due to many known reasons...such as smart zonings and many other restrictions/rulings.

So it seriously shouldn't matter, at my age when I should have already fathered 2 children, and attended 5-10 Reservist In Camp Trainings; I have yet to vote. And I seriously do not care if I ever get to vote before age 65 unless I move to some crappy zone where upgrading is unheard of, and lifts still open at some floors. So be it 18 or 21 or even 65..does it really matter?

Singaporeans embrace, while New Yorkers screw...

...the ERP.

As Monday came, 5 of the upcoming 16 gantries were turned on. The new ERP gantries at Upper Bukit Timah Road, Upper Boon Keng Road, Geylang Bahru, Toa Payoh and Kallang Bahru began their money collecting duties, as Singaporeans have to deal with the added woes espcially at Toa Payoh. Businesses at the heartland will have to deal with the expected drop in traffic amidst the global rising cost of commodities, and the impending credit crunch -aka recession. This is just one of nicely timed addition/plus "+" sign in our daily costs, inflation, CPI index that our government policies has chosen to add on to and expect us, the prosperous repressed citizens to embrace.

This term "prosperous repressed citizens" was introduced to me while I was reading an English translated edition of the local papers on board a Japanese airline. It was in brief summary with relation to our Singapore elections 2 terms back - maybe the translation sucked, they probably used some online translator service, actual term is probably subdued, cowed, submissive, passive, subservient, meek, docile, compliant, obedient. (Strangly, it seems easier to find alternative words for repress than suck)

Anyway, for those who do not know what is the use of these electronic road pricing (ERP) “checkpoints-aka gantries”, they are the government's "creative" efforts to keep Singapore's roads moving smoothly. This creative method is like most "whine and fine" schemes we have, they deduct a certain amount of $ as the vehicles passes through these checkpoints. It is mandatory for all vehicles in Singapore to be fitted with Identification Units (IUs).

So come November, we would have a total of 71 gantries performing their money deducting functions on pitiful road users (having to deal already with the world's 3rd priciest petrol - drivers, please check out this interesting post by Static Variable, I bet you would be fuming after reading it).

In other noteworthy news, my sister who is working in New York but unfortunately not driving, has democratic neighbors who gave a huge thumbs finger UP to the planned congestion pricing fee. The reason cited was that plan was flawed as the underfunded mass transit would not be able to cope with an increase in commuters. Well Singaporeans probably do not have to worry about the public service being underfunded! They will just simply passed on the costs to the commuters, even as we try to minimise service disruptions and suicides.