I enjoy watching CSI. The original CSI.
You know the part where they present incriminating evidence to suspects in the interrogation room?
Yes that's where most suspects start to "lawyer up".
The ancient city of Homs is one of Syria's biggest industrial cities. There is significant Opposition presence and Bashar Assad's has opted to mercilessly lay seige upon anyone and everyone who lives there in a bid to quell political dissidents and maintain grip on power. This at the expense of thousands of innocent lives and the ire of most of the international community.
China has allegedly unleashed violence on dissenting Tibet. There are unconfirmed reports that civlians and even religious have been beaten and imprisoned. The want-away Xinjaing province is apparently also subject to similar actions.
Adolf Hitler consolidated power by absolutely crushing political dissent. Those who were against party ideology were sent to concentration camps or executed. The rest is history. Nazi Germany was totally devastated in a gruelling six year war that left many dead.
But the PAP has refined the art of suppressing alternative voices without resorting to violence. And it's called "lawyering up"!
At the first sighting of one of the founders of the increasingly popular political website TR Emeritus, who up until then (much to PAP's chagrin) were annonymous, PM Lee Hsien Loong immediately served a lawyer letter demanding the removal of a certain posting. The letter "alleged that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong secured or was instrumental in securing the appointment of his wife, Mdm Ho Ching, as the chief executive officer of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited...."
In the days following local media (or government mouth piece) field day with Yaw Shin Leong's fall from grace, there was online buzz that some of PAP's own were also involved in marital indiscretions. This prompted Law Minister K. Shanmugam to immediately threaten legal action.
When Chee Soon Juan was taken to court by MM Lee, yes lawyering up indeed, for allegedly defaming the latter, it was reported (actually not reported by Mainstream media) that even the incomparable statesman had to rely on his counsel to defend cross examination from Dr. Chee. And we all know how the verdict went.
The late Opposition icon JB Jeyaretnam shocked the then impenetrable PAP by winning a seat in the Anson ward and then subsequently getting re-elected. But he was subject to so much legal pressure by PAP leaders that he was eventually bankrupted and expelled from Parliament.
I guess the point is if there is nothing to hide, why the need to stand behind legal representatives?
What happened to good old fashioned debates and then letting citizens decide for themselves?
In the case of Yaw Shin Leong, the right thing to do is to hold the by-election immediately. Let the people of Hougang judge the Workers' Party, not PAP. If anything, WP did the right (and accountable) thing to expel Yaw. Would PAP have done the same to an office holder in similar circumstances?
It is the PAP who would have let voters down if a by-election is not called asap.
Or maybe they are waiting to "find" more dirt and unleash the ultimate weapon... lawyers!
Showing posts with label PM Lee Hsien Loong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PM Lee Hsien Loong. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Monday, 12 September 2011
Reinvention
As the PAP's soul searching continues 4 months after the party's most disastrous poll performance, PM Lee Hsien Loong is urging his careers first, country second, politicians to "reinvent" themselves.
The word "reinvention" normally has a positive spin to it. The Internet reinvented the way people connected and. Apple reinvented the cell-phone into a lifestyle accessory. Lady Gaga reinvented fashion...just kidding.
Then he continues "to anticipate and counter attempts to score political points by those who do not want us to succeed; and to gain recognition for the good work of the Government."
Two things can be inferred here
1) That people voted opposition because they don't want PAP to succeed
2) PM Lee still feels this current government has done good work
Firstly, people voted opposition because they want Singapore to succeed. This is another example of how PAP politics puts party above country. Remember numerous party members chanting "Majullah PAP" during elections?
Secondly, as long as the current generation of leaders continue to live in fantasy world and believe they have been performing well, there will be no reinvention.
There will only be repetition. Repetition of the same old party serving policies.
Case in point, the PAP is now using research carried out by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) to justify the need for this relentless influx of foreigners. The paper made Nobel prize-worthy discovery that our population will decline without migration. It somehow also generated a mind-boggling 48 different population scenarios, far more elaborate than Paris Hilton's social life.
Oh by the way, the IPS is chaired by the venerable Lee Kuan Yew himself.
Falling birth rates is common in many developed nations. Western European countries are no different.
Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway have managed to raise their birth rates close to 2. (2.1 is the universally accepted rate for a population to replace itself). Some of the common features of their success include:
Contrast with PAP run Singapore:
Like a gambler going for broke, the government then imports inordinate amounts of foreigners to boost population growth. This turns the rat race into a sprint so most Singaporean couples just don't want the burden of raising kids.
Further, who does rising population growth really benefit?
Singaporeans?
Unless you call these benefits:
1) Stagnant wages
2) No job security
3) Rip off housing prices
4) Expensive healthcare
5) Elusive CPF savings
6) Overcrowded public transport and spaces
7) etc
Population growth benefits the PAP.
Let's take a look at the commonly used equation for GDP.
GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government spending + (exports − imports)
GDP is the holy grail for our ministers. It not only determines their bonuses, it also masks the real story behind the country's standard of living so long as GDP keeps growing.
As you can see, the more people there are on this island, the more private consumption increases.
When the Indian national eats at a food court, that contributes to private consumption.
When the PRC masseuse buys a bar of soap, that contributes to private consumption.
So you can see why the government will never accept falling demographics.
Still, there is one reinvention that is more powerful than the rest.
The reinvention of our political landscape is the key to how Singapore survives the next 50 years.
40% of the populace have reinvented themselves and given us these.
Reinvention is cool.
The word "reinvention" normally has a positive spin to it. The Internet reinvented the way people connected and. Apple reinvented the cell-phone into a lifestyle accessory. Lady Gaga reinvented fashion...just kidding.
Then he continues "to anticipate and counter attempts to score political points by those who do not want us to succeed; and to gain recognition for the good work of the Government."
Two things can be inferred here
1) That people voted opposition because they don't want PAP to succeed
2) PM Lee still feels this current government has done good work
Firstly, people voted opposition because they want Singapore to succeed. This is another example of how PAP politics puts party above country. Remember numerous party members chanting "Majullah PAP" during elections?
Secondly, as long as the current generation of leaders continue to live in fantasy world and believe they have been performing well, there will be no reinvention.
There will only be repetition. Repetition of the same old party serving policies.
Case in point, the PAP is now using research carried out by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) to justify the need for this relentless influx of foreigners. The paper made Nobel prize-worthy discovery that our population will decline without migration. It somehow also generated a mind-boggling 48 different population scenarios, far more elaborate than Paris Hilton's social life.
Oh by the way, the IPS is chaired by the venerable Lee Kuan Yew himself.
Falling birth rates is common in many developed nations. Western European countries are no different.
Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway have managed to raise their birth rates close to 2. (2.1 is the universally accepted rate for a population to replace itself). Some of the common features of their success include:
- About 12 months of paid leave for working mothers
- Weeks or months of paternity leave, in some cases mandatory
- Generous if not full subsidies for state run child care
- Flexible work schedules
Contrast with PAP run Singapore:
- Mothers get max 4 months paid leave
- Fathers get a total of 6 days childcare leave, subject to time spent at current employment
- Average subsidies in place but mothers must work for at least 56 hours per month. Close to none for non-working mothers
- Flexi hours exist in Singapore???
Like a gambler going for broke, the government then imports inordinate amounts of foreigners to boost population growth. This turns the rat race into a sprint so most Singaporean couples just don't want the burden of raising kids.
Further, who does rising population growth really benefit?
Singaporeans?
Unless you call these benefits:
1) Stagnant wages
2) No job security
3) Rip off housing prices
4) Expensive healthcare
5) Elusive CPF savings
6) Overcrowded public transport and spaces
7) etc
Population growth benefits the PAP.
Let's take a look at the commonly used equation for GDP.
GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government spending + (exports − imports)
GDP is the holy grail for our ministers. It not only determines their bonuses, it also masks the real story behind the country's standard of living so long as GDP keeps growing.
As you can see, the more people there are on this island, the more private consumption increases.
When the Indian national eats at a food court, that contributes to private consumption.
When the PRC masseuse buys a bar of soap, that contributes to private consumption.
So you can see why the government will never accept falling demographics.
Still, there is one reinvention that is more powerful than the rest.
The reinvention of our political landscape is the key to how Singapore survives the next 50 years.
40% of the populace have reinvented themselves and given us these.
Reinvention is cool.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Unimpressed with the National Day Rally
The State Media is in full force today extolling PM Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Musings on integration, Temasek and Goal 2010
PM Lee urged Singaporeans to be inclusive.
For awhile, I was excited that this could signal a paradigm shift in PAP policy towards native Singaporeans. That was until and read on.
He was referring to foreigners and new citizens and went so far as to ask the local Indian grassroots to integrate Indians from other parts of India (North).
I've come across many North Indians working here saying rather unpleasant things about our native Indians who hail mainly from the South. Can't elaborate further for fear of being hauled up for questioning. I'm not PRC so the law won't be so lenient towards me.
So do new Indians want to integrate with our local Indians or just prefer to hang out with their own?
I'd wager that most North Indians are forming their own foreign cliques and circle of friends.
Why then should local Indian grassroots spend tax-payers' money planning programmes to integrate these foreigners?
In any case, the onus is on foreigners, Indians or not, to humbly integrate themselves into the Singaporean society. After all, they came here on their own volition.
Further, it begs me to question (continuously) if there's a real need for so many foreigners in Singapore.
How talented are these foreigners that step into our shores? Are we actually getting people of the highest calibre?
An interesting article from Temasek Review pulled out global rankings for universities around the world.
The top Indian university is a shocking 113 places below NTU and even further behind NUS. I'd also documented previously that India (and many developing nations) are notorious for fake degrees. More proof here.
If you search LinkedIn for office holders at Temasek Holdings, you'd realise that many of them are from India. That's our national sovereign fund for crying out loud!
It's little wonder that its latest FY performance is nothing to crow about.
Unlike Kuwait Investment Authority, who sold their stake in Citigroup in 2009, landing a $1 billion profit, Temasek befuddled the investment community by selling off its entire stake in Bank of America, making a whopping $2 billion loss in the process.
Remember that both investments were made around the same time during the global financial crisis in 2008.
The fund also managed to get embroiled in regulatory issues with both the Indonesian and Thai governments over their botched investment attempts.
It's mind-boggling how Temasek can't get a proper due diligence team in place when they spent $31 billion on expenses in FY08.
Then again, we can't put the blame on its foreign staff. Maybe they just weren't integrated.
Singaporeans should be held accountable for this.
On a related note, they aren't going to allow Tan Jee Say to run for President. This fella will spend all his time trying to pry open GIC and Temasek's books.
That will leave little time for more pressing issues like soliciting feedback for Major General (NS) Chan Chun Sing's sports masterplan.
Can't we at least be more original with the name- Vision 2030.
This just has Mah Bow Tan's Goal 2010 written all over it....
For awhile, I was excited that this could signal a paradigm shift in PAP policy towards native Singaporeans. That was until and read on.
He was referring to foreigners and new citizens and went so far as to ask the local Indian grassroots to integrate Indians from other parts of India (North).
I've come across many North Indians working here saying rather unpleasant things about our native Indians who hail mainly from the South. Can't elaborate further for fear of being hauled up for questioning. I'm not PRC so the law won't be so lenient towards me.
So do new Indians want to integrate with our local Indians or just prefer to hang out with their own?
I'd wager that most North Indians are forming their own foreign cliques and circle of friends.
Why then should local Indian grassroots spend tax-payers' money planning programmes to integrate these foreigners?
In any case, the onus is on foreigners, Indians or not, to humbly integrate themselves into the Singaporean society. After all, they came here on their own volition.
Further, it begs me to question (continuously) if there's a real need for so many foreigners in Singapore.
How talented are these foreigners that step into our shores? Are we actually getting people of the highest calibre?
An interesting article from Temasek Review pulled out global rankings for universities around the world.
The top Indian university is a shocking 113 places below NTU and even further behind NUS. I'd also documented previously that India (and many developing nations) are notorious for fake degrees. More proof here.
If you search LinkedIn for office holders at Temasek Holdings, you'd realise that many of them are from India. That's our national sovereign fund for crying out loud!
It's little wonder that its latest FY performance is nothing to crow about.
Unlike Kuwait Investment Authority, who sold their stake in Citigroup in 2009, landing a $1 billion profit, Temasek befuddled the investment community by selling off its entire stake in Bank of America, making a whopping $2 billion loss in the process.
Remember that both investments were made around the same time during the global financial crisis in 2008.
The fund also managed to get embroiled in regulatory issues with both the Indonesian and Thai governments over their botched investment attempts.
It's mind-boggling how Temasek can't get a proper due diligence team in place when they spent $31 billion on expenses in FY08.
Then again, we can't put the blame on its foreign staff. Maybe they just weren't integrated.
Singaporeans should be held accountable for this.
On a related note, they aren't going to allow Tan Jee Say to run for President. This fella will spend all his time trying to pry open GIC and Temasek's books.
That will leave little time for more pressing issues like soliciting feedback for Major General (NS) Chan Chun Sing's sports masterplan.
Can't we at least be more original with the name- Vision 2030.
This just has Mah Bow Tan's Goal 2010 written all over it....
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