While there were teeny weeny steps for the greater good of native Singaporeans, I can't help but feel the proposed policy changes are as cosmetic as the make-up on some flight attendants.
And he did not address the needs of the sandwiched or middle class. Singapore purportedly has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world so you would expect a large segment of society to fit into this category.
Notwithstanding, any compassionate government will take measures to improve the lives of all citizens regardless of strata.
Before the May Elections, the man himself spoke about how the PAP will ease burden on the middle class.
60% of votes and four months later, nothing much is done.
Let's talk about cost of housing.
Raising qualifying income ceiling does not really help because the real concern is flat prices. This move has no impact on flat prices and they continue to trend higher.
In any case, couples with higher than average income can always choose from the private market. If a family can afford private housing, why wouldn't they? (24 hr security, private amenities, cleanliness etc)
I'm interested to know which feedback channel the HDB has been using,
What may work is for the government to implement disincentives for speculative buying and restrictions on foreign ownership of property.
I repeat, raising the qualifying income ceiling does not tackle the problem of housing inflation!
Even more laughable is his take on "tightening" foreign worker policies. Many of us will know by now that there are far too many foreigners, who apparently do not possess unique skill sets (I don't mean juggling five cola bottles at the same time.), taking away our PMET jobs.
You don't need a whole lot of unique technical skills to be an accounts executive, marketing assistant or business developer do you?
These are jobs that should be readily filled by our ITE, Poly and fresh uni grads.
On Sunday, retiree Lee Kuan Yew again championed the need for immigrants claiming that Singapore will lose vitality and drive without immigrants.
So what has this vitality and drive brought to the majority of native citizens?
Unnecessary competition for jobs and school places, depressed wages, overcrowded public spaces and ridicule from these new residents.
Maybe we should send these foreigners packing, accept lower economic growth, slower pace of life and just be happy.
Is Mr. Lee also suggesting that the loss of "vitality" is reason to seek alternatives? So what is his advice to marriages that have lost "vitality"? Perhaps that is the reason for Singapore's high divorce rates.
As usual, he cited the country's pathetic birth rates as justification for opening the floodgates.
Has he paused for a moment to reflect the consequence of his ingenious "Stop at Two" policy?
Despite repeated warnings by experts that it is the stress of living that contributes most to low birth rates, the PAP government continues to apply stop gap measures like dangling monetary incentives and running dating schemes instead of addressing the root of the problem.
The attempt at making outpatient care more affordable is quite frankly a weak one at best.
While raising the qualifying income to $1,500 is in the right direction, the fact that only 20% of private clinics participate in the scheme makes this all rather redundant.
In Malaysia, it costs 30 Singapore CENTS to see a government outpatient clinic and $2 for a specialist clinic.
A visit to the Polyclinic here would set the average patient back by S$15-20 and 120 minutes of waiting.
Delivery fees in private hospitals are nearly 4 times more expensive in Singapore than Malaysia.
So dear Singaporeans, the healthcare measures announced by PM Lee are not nearly as signficant as what State Media makes them out to be.
Oh yes, back to foreign workers. Anyone in HR will know that companies can easily circumvent the "rules" because of MOM's lax controls. Moreover, the $200 increase in qualifying salary for fresh foreign grads is a lot cheaper than the mandatory employer CPF contribution to Singaporean grads.
The outcome- we will continue to be flooded by fake talents from third world countries.
There is no doubt that a sprinkling of foreign talent is healthy for the economy.
But what Singapore needs is a transparent point system employed by most developed countries from Australia to Hong Kong. This will go a long way in ensuring that we get capable and respectful foreigners that will together raise the standard of living of all citizens.
Not the ones that complain about the smell of curry from their neighbour. You don't go to China and start telling people to stop burning joss sticks do you?
My friends, this is not an isolated incident. Whether or not the mediating decision to cook curry only on Sundays was agreed by both parties as K Shanmugam claimed, it sends the wrong message to foreigners that they have the right to change Singaporean habits and culture.
Foreigners must respect our traditions or f&#k off! The Community Mediation Centre should be ashamed for not affirming the Singaporean identity. Or is it run by foreigners too?
I feel there is genuine simmering discontent among Singaporeans and the breaking point could arrive sooner than later.
This is why we need a President who can empathise with Singaporeans and preside over "government expenditure of financial reserves and appointments to key public offices". In other words, serve as an independent and impartial moral authority to a morally corrupt regime.
While the four Tans vying for the position all had prior PAP connections- one Tan shines as the Lee family's chosen one- Dr Tony Tan. Seriously Singaporeans, do you want another head of state drawing 18 million in the six year term to be another rubber stamp? That's 18 million we are paying through GST, income tax, ERP and what not.
Unfortunately, State Media has been in overdrive to promote Tony Tan. Suddenly, Unions that we never knew existed are coming out to make their support public.
This is the former Minister who refused to protect Singaporean jobs and university places from foreigners.
Can someone with wavering loyalty to his own people be worthy of the highest constitutional authority in this country?
With polling day imminent, let's take a moment to remember a President who truly cared for the people and made Lee Kuan Yew angry along the way.
Rally speech is the same every year. full of hot air! Oh and Tony Tan isn't getting my vote
ReplyDeleteRally speech contents included some good stuffs. But those were things that a sensible, listening, in touch with people government would do. So nothing to shout about. Many improvements are just long overdue, advised by citizens over the past 5-8 yrs and fallen on deaf ears. As PAP knows best. PM should have done these things given these improvements long ago! PAP sleeping. Thanks to the 40% voters that wake them up. Pathetic PAP.
ReplyDeleteI heard they're re-opening the floodgates again... And I agree with you that we should sacrifice "high economic growth" for a slower pace of life and maybe even less salary. Ironic thing is that we, as a nation continues to keep up with the Joneses, which in turn leads to inflation, high cost of living etc...
ReplyDeleteWhy can't the government make our life simpler?
Yes I think what we want to see is economic growth trickling down to Singaporeans. What we want to see is the government doing alot more to raise the quality of life.
ReplyDelete