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!

What Transparency?

Here is a good article covered by Yawning Bread on Singapore's apparent lack of transparency.

Parliament sessions have started and PAPpy dogs are saying we should not fall into Europe's welfare system and see what is happening there now. Occupy Wall Street movement had a goal, to let governments know that Capitalists should not be the ones controlling the Government, their policies and the finance market. They resulted in losses which now is spreading across Countries with fingers pointed everywhere but themselves. Back are the huge bonuses and pay packages for these corporate jackasses, but more mortals are moving into the poverty line. Governments to blame or bankers? They are of the same breed.

PAPpy MPs are now defending policies but not reflecting on the failed investments made by our SWFs. As this turmoil unfolds, get ready to observe more of our Sillyporeans hard earned $$$ go up in smoke as China and India unfolds. Without transparencies, how can we be sure our own internal governance is doing work?

Time will tell. Let's just hope that when our time to retire, there is still CPF monies left.

I stand corrected

The feeling of being wrong is terrible. It's worse when it brings about fear in others. No one can be 100% cock sure about everything, not even if you have an IQ of 180 or have so far possess a 100% track record. Is that possible? Even our well-esteemed Minister Mentor God stands corrected for statements made in his latest book - Hard Truths.

There is this analogy about how if one fell into an open sea and if there are possible sharks lurking around, one should stop moving and remain calm. The open seas akin to our political world and the oppositions are like sharks sensing fear in the water and once the blood is spilled, an entire army will follow. Confidence is everything even if we are wrong, just deny everything.

That explains why we never have statements like I am sorry I was wrong about floods which come only once in every 50 years or I apologise for losing billions of our taxpayers monies. But instead we have, I stand corrected or it was an honest mistake, let's move on.

There has to be a reasonable explanation into why some decisions are made and ended up badly. But should we then have to explain everything? Would it be hard to make any decisions at all; or would it end up worse once confidence in others have been shook? This appearance of being strong possibly came about when one has been living in an ivory tower or has been in power for far too long.

If we acknowledge the fact that noone is perfect and we all are allowed to make wrong decisions, it might be easier to swallow and let live. Some national policies or even a house purchase might fall short of perfect. One can never know of the timing, one can never be cock sure about everything. That is how fallible mere mortals are. We are not Gods, and even Gods make mistakes. There is why we have to acknowledge why it is necessary to have a 2-party rule. Democracy is necessary in our government, and even more so in our daily lives. Perhaps sometimes, we have been happily living in our own ivory tower by ourselves for far too long; sometimes we forget that someone of equal or even higher calibre exists and comes along. We have to learn to consult, to draw an optimal between too much or too little consulting so as to make reasonable quick decisions on important issues akin to government decisions being made on a national level in Singapore compared to let's say USA which has too many layers of approvals needed. Obama has to fight through the Senate, the Congress, the House of Representatives; Supreme Courts, Federal Courts etc... It might take years just to implement policies to tackle social reforms which is much needed now.

Democracy doesn’t only have to be about big things, it can be about small things too. And I acknowledge Team A doesn't know everything and I welcome Team B into my life..the beginning of a beautiful albeit a possible tumultuous journey. I stand corrected.

Don't watch

Watching these videos just wished you could do more for them. Where is our government?
S$389mil spent on some Youth Olympics where 80-90% of the world doesn't give a fark. Even if 100% of the world watches, so what? For what glory are we trying to achieve? I'd spend my last taxpayers' dollar making sure all Singaporeans are indeed as you claim. I seldom spit, but for your statement...I would hold you for it.

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said:

“If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place where you will have a roof over your head, where you will have food on the table. Even if you can’t afford it, we will have meals delivered to you.”

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.

Sad

This is really sad when your supposedly revered leader is now on Google's suggestive death wish list. I am not sure how it works but my Android gives me predictive text based on the most commonly typed search. Sometimes it's best to retire and enjoy life. Stop writing books that pisses people off,or incur other races' wrath which somehow threads thinly on an ISA offence. But then again, he is god in Sillypore; and perhaps why many are wondering when will.... ;)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

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? "

Step Up or F Off

Seriously...just to end this saga which I have blogged a couple of times about. Here and here. I just hope everybody can see, why it is utmost importance our country has accountability and transparency...and fark say no to paying millions to idiots, it is like a double slap to your face (Screwing up and not apologising yet legit looting off millions in salaries). Enough said, since they now steal from you...LTA/PTC screwed up allowing Public Transport operators to rip S$300k off commuters.

Let me focus my rant on this Mas Selamat Saga. We all now know how he escaped, but now will heads roll for the stupidity and mistakes made? You have the biggest manhunt in history and this terrorist is hiding in his brother's home.

We have this damn "intelligent" question asked in Parliament by an NMP.

Nominated Member of Parliament, Viswa Sadasivan asked, was: “On the day of the escape, shouldn’t it have been standard operating procedure for the security forces to actually go down to the homes of the immediate family members?”

This is your..yes YOUR million dollar reply.

Shanmugam’s reply: “[The Member] will remember that I have said taking into account his family members, which numbered more than a hundred, and with contacts they number many more. I don’t want to go into details on what surveillance was done because they are really operational security matters …”

Fark me.

All good things come in pairs..Here's the double slap.

And then Shanmugam added: “[It] is not in the interest of our country for us to disclose these matters. However, Member can be assured that what was done has been reviewed and I’m satisfied that all the necessary steps were taken.”

Seriously...fark me..this new guy is not just going to fill the shoes of the idiot..incumbent. He is just so right for it. As I love to say..my late grandmother can protect Singapore better than you.

Here we go again, more BS to come.

Not an accountant but I think

...we should all put some heart into reading what is presented often in the papers.

Just some points to ponder as I did some additional reading over the weekend, quite a bedtime sleepy companion - The Department of Statistics’ Singapore Yearbook of Statistics 2010.
According to the yawning...book, the amount of CPF contributions from Singaporeans/PR has grown by almost 90%, from S$88 billion to S$167 billion in 10 years (1999 to 2009). Around the same period of the last decade, our public domestic debt has grew by 132% from S$126 billion to S$292 billion. Something to think/worry about?

Other interesting stat is that English newspaper circulation has been dropping aggressively with a 24% drop since 2004 (1.038 mil to 790k), other languages have seen an increase since 2004. So is it because the English readers have all gone online or are we experiencing a change in population racial mix? It would be unwise to think that they are becoming like me, sick of the BS we read in the papers and cancelled it. We only have weekend papers for the adverts...haha

If I had more time and apathy, it will be interesting to study the foreign investments of countries like Myanmar and Cambodia. But I got pissed off just enough to see corporate income tax went down as personal income tax grew; and our Govt operating expenditure especially in the Govt administration portion - it grew a whopping 55% in the last decade (S$689 mil to S$1.071 BILLION). FYI, we spent about that amount on environment and water resources (S$661 mil) and transport (S$372 mil) combined.

Do you know you have been "Smoked"?

Like this article over at Temasek Review which compiles and compare stats given out by our Shitty State Times, and actually give the true account of the painted numbers we read.
Nice quote to end the article -

“There are lies, damned lies and statistics” - Mark Twain.

Work both ways?

Wondering if I can pay the government S$9,000 to stop bothering me for Reservist and IPPT every year?
I don't mind paying foreign workers or talents to do my Reservist and not risk my employers from firing me and hiring one with no 40-days liability instead.

So sick of all this easily thought out $olutions. If money really can fix all issues like work and life commitments, I guess we don't really need a world class- talented government.

Go Figure

I am all for sports development in Singapore but looking at the numbers on amount spent vs other social budget, does make one wonder...if Youth Olympics is really worth all the money spent - being over budget by over 300%. How does one justify or quantify tourism numbers, media exposure? It's your word against theirs. Perhaps the needy should have a marketing guru to help out in getting some much needed public funding.

S$387 million for YOG.
S$92.39 million for the needy.
S$83.02 million for families and VWOs.

Source.

Another thought, who control the purses here? Dr Vivian Balakrishna - Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports?
Wondering how the Minister reports about YOG overspending to the people, or in our case - the patriarch head.

Viv: "Sorry I overspend by S$200,000,000++..."
Old Man: "What to do, what's done is done...it's an honest mistake, let's move on. I only pay you S$ X000,000 for your cool medical background,I can't possibly expect you to be an auditor/accountant too"

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was elected MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, which was also one of the Town Councils which lost a lot of zeros in minibonds.
Wondering somehow if our Ministers are shielded from accountability and spared the rod,from losing S$8 million to overspending by S$200 million..I seriously do hope he doesn't join Temasek/GIC boards.

Blame it on the Rain

The rain has been going non-stop since early morning. Just wondering if Orchard and Bukit Timah will flood again, all I know it's getting really bad and just outside Thomson Road, it is reported to be flooded - I am not walking out there to take a picture! So perhaps more lame excuses from our overpaid civil servants in the news later, as pictures and reports come in. As I wipe off the overflowing rain into my balcony and blame the once in "50yrs" downpour, I thought maybe these over-indulgent elites should break into a song and humour us instead.

I agree elsewhere in the world is flooded and people are actually drowning unlike ours with merely wet underwears, but let's not forget they have REAL BIG ASS rivers to deal with and not little canals and drains like ours...and they are paid peanuts.

Remember why you are paid millions for, to think ahead; out-of-the-box; think 50 years ahead...why else are we taking shit that you are the most expensive politicians in the WORLD. I for one, won't be sitting on my ass...taking $ to fly around having cooking classes in France. Only in Singapore..uniquely Singapore.

Perhaps just perhaps

I have been reading lots of online articles as well as in the newspapers and perhaps just perhaps we were all so wrong about our benevolent godly Minister Mentor. It is all a matter of perspectives.

Learn to shut up

Found a blog entry which reflects somewhat ground views, but it isn't exactly something I am advocating. As I have many foreigner friends and I do support foreign talent scheme by our government - so for my foreigner friends who are trying to settle down here in Singapore, sometimes try to understand from a local perspective and curtail your criticisms...as it is REALLY reserved for us Singaporeans who lived here and undergone the school curriculum; having to purchase out of reach public housing; having to serve 2.5 yrs of army and up to 40 days of yearly reservist training till we are 40 or 50 years of age depending on rank... You see, we are proud of this red dot, but there is much more to be done...and you do not see what we see or hear, so respect us as we have respected you being here. Do learn when to shut up and spare us your disingenuous criticisms. Yes our forefathers were foreigners as well, but they contributed to the nation building through blood and sweat and fought the Japanese invasion on this soil; as am I with my annual army duties, but more often to protect foreign investments more than "real" enemies up north and around. Poor arguments do not justify the fact Singaporeans love to complain...blogging is an avenue for release as studies have shown it helps mentally and emotionally by sharing...so now everyone has to take it like a man and stop bitching about realistic concerns? Have you taken a walk lately in the alleys of Sungei Road or Chinatown? Or are you just another elitist, Wee Shu Min devoid of compassion and  understanding?

A quote from Albert Einstein - "The world is evil, not because of the evil doers but those who see evil being done and do nothing."

In case the entry mysteriously disappears, I read this forum letter sent to ST as well, over the weekend in state newspapers.

ST Nov 7, 2009

Be prouder of this great little red dot

I REFER to Thursday's report, 'Singapore a top choice for migrants'. I am a new permanent resident, and this report not only makes me proud, but also affirms my fundamental belief that Singapore is destined to be a global centre from a financial standpoint and a cultural and social perspective.

After living most of my life in Sydney, Paris and Tokyo, I have embraced Singapore as my home - I never felt so intimate with the other cities.

My only beef with Singapore is that its citizens do not necessarily share my passion for this country. From personal observations, I have noticed that Singaporeans are both competitive and in a constant pursuit to improve their daily lives, whether economically or in some other sphere.

In this challenging environment, it is natural that one loses perspective of the overall big picture, which is that Singapore, a country of about 700 sq km, has come a long way from a backwater trading post to establishing itself as arguably the financial and technological hub of Asia.

Perhaps Singaporeans should be prouder of their country. Cab drivers complain about everything and university graduates I come across talk of saving up and moving to Spain or Italy.

Perhaps it is time citizens took a step back from the frantic demands of everyday life to reflect a little on what their country has to offer - a safe, ecologically aware and technologically advanced metropolis with excellent public transport and infrastructure, a thriving arts scene and a welcoming multicultural local population.

If foreigners from all over the world can see this and are coming to Singapore, why can't Singaporeans?

Sam Ahmed

I guess  this blog will be void of local criticisms when I decided and successfully migrated and go on to blog about new adventures and issues face. But I for one will not be writing to local newspapers of my new country and telling the locals how to live it and stop bitching!

Ignorance is bliss and I have no country

Weekly worthy reads - Singapore is a city and that's the truth. As the years go on, the occupants of this island should wake up to reality that we are merely renting a hotel on the island. This is not a country, since the bulk of us can't vote anyway, we just need to be obedient and dutifully work and enjoy live basketball games, with self-paid nanny millionaires governing the state without you needing to worry. Just make sure you pay your taxes on time and enjoy peace.

And of course, to be part of these millionaires, you must love to be ignorant despite many years of quality education.

“Our approach has therefore to [sic] been to ignore the criticisms which make no sense (to us).”
Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law & Second Minister for Home Affairs
26^th October 2009

Nice approach, takes the pressure off needing to be accountable and answerable. And seriously, criticisms? Humbug..like I f*%#ing care what you 200 nitwits lawyers from the New York State Bar Association International Section think. Our drone-repressed citizens enjoying being plugged into the City Matrix and enjoying the fabulous ride.

Pretty screwed scrawling seen at a traffic crossing somewhere near Ang Mo Kio MRT

Ooh hoo..did I mentioned I need to do NS in the City Matrix? Upcoming March, wondering if a new software upgrade with PRs or FWs doing my NS since this is not a country anyway? Hope I can still keep my job, as my US boss was unaware of my 40-day NS liabilities as I was headhunted from Hong Kong. Ding!

Can I opt out?

Just a scenario which somehow points my tiny dot island to a socialist/communist plus capitalist type of an economy but is this something we really want?

Capitalism - Where free market dictates the economy, and anyone can get rich leaving to economic forces. Where democracy is based on the principles of consent and political equality. Freedom of choice in everything from playboy magazines to choosing a minority as a Head of State, but you pay your own house, take care of your own medical bills etc.
Communism aka State Capitalism - Social welfare where everybody shares everything. Government takes care of its people, provides housing, jobs, healthcare, education, burial plots etc. But in the downside Government controls your life, your thoughts, your love life etc.

Interesting observations on housing in Singapore

With the recent 20-40% rise in property prices following gains in stock market. There are a few interesting observations which seems to highlight possible money generating schemes. An estimate 100% profit is being suggested here.

Increase in housing prices, especially in public housing with higher COVs and HDB's new estimated land prices. Who will stand to gain from the increase?

1) Stamp fee will be payable to Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). For properties above S$360,000, stamp fee payable will be 3% of the purchase price minus S$5,400.).
2) Bank loan, with higher loan, longer period and possible increase in SIBOR rates - more interests to be paid out as local banks can collectively raise their rates.
3) Legal fees - conveyancing transactions, disbursements, solicitors' fees (sometimes peg to % depending on law firms); Lawyers and law firms make $, and pay respective taxes.
4) Higher annual property tax from increased valuations from IRAS.

I bet the budget next year will be showing signs of overspilling coffers. Despite the $20 billion estimate spending in the recession, I guess as usual our effective government will find ways to make it back (from old studies of for-the-poor GST, to ERPs, COEs etc).

I do think we are in the verge of an absolute recovery...that is if this is actually sustainable. A newly met acquaintance broke it down for me how it might actually be possible. Newly weds have parents with life-savings to loan or give cash for deposits or partial payment of the houses (so if you think about it, their old parents' $90k cheap HDB is effectively used to pay for their children's' current purchases as well). Apparently a couple wanted to purchase a flat from their parents at the cost price which is $190k below valuation, HDB disapproved it. Since there are laws preventing hand-me-downs, effectively the couple has to purchase at valuation with the above mentioned four observations of gains. Also with the recent rise in equities have resulted in 100-200% reap in profit for many who have bought into this incredible run since March 2009 which will pay easily for 10-20% of the housing price. Let's just pray all this is sustainable, otherwise many might end up in great debt.

It is just numbers

Singapore's population grew 5.5% last year to reach 4.84 million, due largely to the influx of foreigners. The number of residents (Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PR)), rose 1.7% to 3.64 million in June last year, said a report released by the National Population Secretariat (NPS) recently. There were 79,167 new PRs in 2008 - up 15,540 from 63,627 the previous year and 20,513 new citizens, an increase of 3,179 from 17,334 over the same period.

What worries me is that the governments pursuit for such numbers is perhaps meant to beef up our replacement numbers. Singapore's total feritility rate of 1.28 in 2008 remained below the replacement level of 2.1. Besides, China and India, I believe the bulk of the developed countries such as Korea and Japan are also facing such problems. But unlike Singapore, they do not lower their criteria to allow immigrant entries.

My first thoughts on this is, can our resources (prosperity) support the intended 6 million population target? Will the new citizens/PRs be here to stay? Let's call them CPRs.

Quite often I heard of friends and aquiantanaces making plans to leave Singapore. In search of the greener pastures. Even housing agents have bought bungalows in Johor in hope of a better lifestyle in Malaysia in time to come. Will the CPRs be also making plans to leave Singapore for greener pastures in the future? What the existing citizens observe now, is most likely to observe in time to come. The push factors causing people to leave, if left untouched, will still be the reason 10-20 years down the road. The CPRs left their motherland with ease, and came into Singapore with ease as well. What is to say they will stay 10-20 years down the road? A bond? We paid for their education, provided them with subsidies and jobs etc, is gratitude suppose to be the anchor? I hope the thought process of our HR retention scheme in our Singapore Inc company is thorough enough.

Too often I have heard of many foreign scholars using Singapore as launch pads to go to Australia, US, etc. What makes those places so attractive? Should we be looking into the pull factors instead? For one, I know the migrant policies in Australian and Canada make it hard for entry as compared to Singapore's.

I believe the focus is to listen to the people and stop the mass exodus of the true blue existing Singaporeans; and also raise their migrant entry policies and ensure the new CPRs become stayers. But we all know why the government choose to please the new CPRs more than the current whiny lot. Jet Li and Gong Li being Singaporeans does not mean anything but a number. Yes, they can afford 20 million bungalows here, just as easy as they can purchase one in Malibu or Hawaii.

I think the government should stop looking at figures and numbers and seriously listen with their heart. The disastrous outlook if the new immigrants like the existing whiny-fed-up citizens all choose to treat Singapore like a hotel, where there is only money to be earned and nothing to belong to. What is to stop them from leaving? Certainly a third causeway will not.