Sg Truth

Singapore Property Set New Record Despite Looming Recession

2011-08-30T01:16:00.001-07:00

A 3,003 square ft four-bedroom apartment off Orchard Road has been sold to an overseas buyer for S$19mn (US$15.7mn), setting a new record in property prices.

According to The Straits Times, the Marq on Paterson Hill already held the record of highest price per square foot at S$5,842 (US$4,847) when it was launched in 2007. With the newest sale, the price per square foot jumped to S$6,400 (US$5,310).

The Marq is a freehold condominium comprising 66 units ranging in sizes from around 3000 square ft to 15,000 square ft in two 24-storey buildings, one of which features private pools for all units.

The four-bedroom sale is believed not to include a private pool.

Despite a few high end sales, the luxury home market in Singapore is declining. According to real estate services firm, CB Richard Ellis, Singapore luxury home prices declined by 1.7 per cent in April-June from the preceding quarter. Average rents fell by 1.9 per cent as completed units came onto the market.

“Tightened mortgage lending and rising interest rates continued to impact on buyer demand in most Asian markets in the second quarter of 2011,” noted CBRE.

PAP Got Kicked in Presidential Election

2011-08-28T00:58:00.000-07:00

PRESIDENTIAL elections in Singapore rarely set pulses racing. The job is that of a well-paid but largely ceremonial head of state, who is not allowed to represent any particular party. The poll on August 27th was the fourth time the post has been directly elected, but the first time there has been any doubt at all about the outcome. Four candidates competed, all surnamed Tan. One, Tony Tan Keng Yam, was seen as the representative of the government and the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has ruled Singapore ever since it withdrew from the Malaysian Federation in 1965. As expected, he won. But he barely scraped home, with a shade over 35% of vaild votes cast, and just 7,000 more than his nearest challenger, Tan Cheng Bock, a former PAP MP, who campaigned against his former party colleague. Tan Jee Say, a former senior civil servant and banker who was an opposition candidate in the general election in May, won 25%, and the fourth candidate, Tan Kin Lian, just 5%. Voting is compulsory but nearly 2% of voters spoiled their ballots—more than 37,000, it was judged.

The PAP never endorsed Tony Tan formally. But he has held a number of cabinet jobs, and the prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, enthusiastically endorsed his candidacy. He also enjoyed the backing of party activists, trade unions, chambers of commerce and community groups. So, that he won not much more than a third of the vote is a remarkable slap in the face for the government. All the same PAP diehards protested that, since two former PAP MPs had garnered 70% of the vote, this was an endorsement for the party.

This follows the general election in May when the PAP did worse than in any election since 1965. It still won 60% of the vote, which left it, in Singapore’s first-past-the-post system, with 81 out of 87 elected seats in parliament. But the party acknowledged it as a setback, and Mr Lee promised to do some “soul-searching”. Voters seem to feel, however, that the government has still not got the message. The presidential election turned into a relatively low-risk chance to teach it a lesson.

A constitutional change in 1991 accorded the president some limited powers—including a veto over the government’s use of past financial reserves, and over senior appointments. The idea was to install a check over a putative future government that was spendthrift and populist, and stacked the civil service with its cronies. The eligibility criteria for presidential candidates are strict, ensuring that only pillars of the establishment need apply.

Until this year, only the first direct presidential election in 1993 had more than one candidate—in that case a virtual unknown who barely campaigned, but who still, in a foretaste of this year’s shock, won more than 40% of the votes.

In general elections opposition parties, which are small and fragmented, are at a disadvantage. Most parliamentary seats are in big “group” constituencies, where they struggle to field slates of credible candidates, and whose boundaries, they claim, are manipulated in the PAP’s favour. The presidential poll is the only one that is island-wide and not affected by these considerations. It gave voters the opportunity to install a different sort of check into the political system. The result is sobering for the PAP. As the country's biggest newspaper, the pro-government Straits Times, put it in reporting the result: "the voting patterns show a society more politically divided than ever before.”

They reflect a widespread sense that the government, blinded by Singapore’s astonishing economic progress, has lost touch with the grievances of ordinary citizens. This sense is in part about particular issues, such as the cost of housing or immigration, which some blame for depressing local wages. But it is as much a question of style—a resentment at what is seen as the government’s paternalistic belief that it knows best.

They also reflect the breakdown, thanks to the internet, and especially social-networking sites, of the government’s virtual monopoly over the media. In both general and presidential elections, the government’s opponents were able to change the terms of the debate by taking it online. For example, when one of the newly elected opposition MPs complained on his Facebook page that he was not allowed to attend constituency functions on a public-housing estate, the issue soon became a national one about the perception of a pro-PAP bias in public bodies.

The realisation that more than 60% of Singaporeans voted against the government’s favoured candidate will presumably provoke more soul-searching within the PAP. Some will take it as proof that the party must move further and faster in opening up to adjust to the “new normal” of a political system with a sizeable opposition. Others, however, may take the opposite view: that too much liberalisation has led to a fading of the fear of the unpleasant repercussions that used to deter critical commentary and opposition activism. In short, that Singaporeans are forgetting who knows best what's good for them. - The economist
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BBC UK
Singapore's former deputy prime minister Tony Tan has won the country's presidential election by a narrow margin.

The result was announced after a recount between Tony Tan and fellow front-runner Tan Cheng Bock.

Tony Tan, 71, was seen as the preferred candidate of the governing People's Action Party, which has run Singapore since independence.

Singapore's presidency is a largely ceremonial position.

The election was the first of its kind for 18 years.

Election officials said Tony Tan won by just 7,269 votes out of just over two million valid votes cast in Saturday's four-way race.

The Elections Department ordered a recount after the first tally showed the two front-runners were less than two percentage points apart.

The four candidates all shared the same surname, Tan.

Tony Tan's slim margin is seen as a blow for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who had backed him in the run-up to the election.

In a general election three months ago, the People's Action Party won all but six seats, but the opposition made significant gains.

Voters expressed their anger over immigration, living costs and high government salaries.

Singapore - a former British colony with a Westminster-style parliamentary system - instituted the position of president in 1965 when it became a republic.

Presidential candidates run as individuals because Singapore's head of state is supposed to be non-partisan.
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A change to Singapore's political landscape
By LIM MUN FAH
Translated by Soong Phui Jee
Sin Chew Daily

Voices questioning the competence of the newly-elected Singapore president could be heard within the society right after the results of the country's presidential election was announced.

After a fierce contest, former Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan won a narrow victory by receiving 744,397 votes, or 35.19% of about 2.1 million votes.

Former member of parliament Tan Cheng Bock received 737,128 votes, or 34.85% and Tony defeated Cheng Bock by a narrow margin of 7,269, or 0.34%!

Tan Jee Say, seen as the biggest rival of Tony Tan before the election, earned 529,732 votes, or 25.04% while Tan Kin Lian got 103,931 votes, or 4.91%.

Some posted online after the result announcement that if Jee Say and Kin Lian did not contest this time, Tony would be the second George Yeo. Also, some "congratulated" Tony for being elected the President of Singapore by 737,128 voters out of the total population of about 5 million people, implying that Tony won because of votes from "immigrants".

Even though Tony was openly supported by dozens of unions and associations, as well as being secretly "blessed" by the People's Action Party (PAP), he was able to only won a narrow margin by less than 1%. It was indeed an embarrassing victory. It has not only set a blow to the personal prestige of "the people's President", but as well brought another shock after the general election in May.

The general election in May has been described as an important watershed for Singapore's political history as the PAP won only 60% of votes while losing a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) for the first time. Nevertheless, public opinion still believes that the PAP holds at least 40% of iron votes.

However, the presidential election results showed that the iron votes of the PAP might be only 35%. It is undoubtedly another political defeat for the PAP, but a great encouragement for the opposition.

In addition, there were as many as 37, 826 invalid votes, which were five times more than the 7,269 majority votes of Tony! This has further made the election of Tony less convincing. Why did so many Singaporeans give up the chance to create a history in Singapore this time? This is in fact another issue to be studied.

Although the Singapore government has deliberately kept a distance from the presidential election, the fierce election has apparently led to many surprising political changes. Among the most significant changes is that voters have become more strong-minded. They now dare to challenge the strongman's political authority, as well as oppose to the conservative political system.

These changes have led to the emergence of a new political landscape in Singapore, as well as a more competitive new era with more possibilities!
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First-past-the-post system no longer viable for Singapore?
Letter from Kannan Balakrishnan 04:46 AM Aug 30, 2011

THE Presidential Election brought forth many debates over the powers of the office but, following the close results, perhaps the debate should now centre on the viability of the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system.

It is undeniable that under this system, Dr Tony Tan garnered the most votes and won. But 64.8 percent of the electorate also did not vote for him.

The FPTP system has provided for strong governments and clear winners in past General Elections (GE) and Presidential Elections here.

However, given that Dr Tan himself has described the political post-GE climate as a "new normal", perhaps it is time to reconsider the system for something that can accommodate a larger pool of candidates, without diluting the votes that each can garner.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock, in conceding defeat, said: "Even though I lost by only 0.34 per cent ... we have to follow our British system, first past the post."

However, the British, who have been the proponents of this electoral system for years, have themselves considered change.

Recently, a referendum was held in the United Kingdom for a change in the electoral system, and although the results seemed to show that the electorate was against a change, there was a low voter turnout of 42.2 per cent.

More importantly, counting districts such as those in London, Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Central, cities comparable to Singapore, recorded "Yes" votes above 50 per cent.

There are several alternative electoral systems out there under the system of preferential voting, a type of ballot structure in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference.

These include the single transferable vote and the instant runoff voting, which are used in America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Take for example the instant runoff voting, where voters' ballots are first counted as one vote for their first-choice candidate. If a candidate secures a majority of votes cast, he/she wins.

Otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and a new round of counting takes place, with the second choice from each ballot for the eliminated candidate counted as one vote for the remaining candidates.

This process continues until a candidate receives a majority of the vote against the remaining candidates.

If such a system had been used for the recently concluded Presidential Elections, it would have resulted in a winner with a larger majority of the votes.
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Why Tan Jee Say Did Not Win
By Benita Aw Yeong and Zul Othman

The 40 per cent opposition vote in the May General Election (GE) did not translate into support for losing presidential candidate Tan Jee Say yesterday.

He got 25.04 per cent of the votes, coming in third.

The winner, Dr Tony Tan got 35.19 per cent. Dr Tan Cheng Bock who came in second got 34.85 per cent. MrTan Kin Lian came in last with 4.91 per cent.

Speaking to reporters at Bedok Stadium around 1.30am today before the results were announced, MrTan Jee Say, a former senior civil servant, said that if there was to be a winner other than him, he preferred Dr Tan Cheng Bock.

Mr Tan said it had been a "good fight" and that the trust gained from his supporters will "never be misplaced".

He also believed that his seemingly confrontational image had indeed cost him votes.

Mr Tan added he wished he had three months to campaign for his presidential bid.

"You can scrutinise candidates better. I am not confrontational. That's an image that has been created. I had not gone on the streets to throw stones."

People who voted for the Opposition in the GE would not simply vote for a former opposition man in the Presidential Election (PE), said Dr Reuben Wong, an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore.

"With the media blitz and debates that have been taking place, Singaporeans have been made to think more about the role of the Elected President," Dr Wong said.

Sensible voters

"Singaporeans know that you don't vote for a president for the purpose of performing checks on the Government, which was a platform Tan Jee Say campaigned very much upon," Dr Wong said.

Associate Professor Cherian George at the Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information said Mr Tan's candidacy probably worked to rival Dr Tan Cheng Bock's advantage.

"Mr Tan Jee Say might have directed votes which did not favour Dr Tony Tan towards Dr Tan Cheng Bock, because he came across as too confrontational or too young," said Dr George.

Dr Wong added that Mr Tan also lost because of his inability to convince voters that he was above party politics.

The 57-year-old stressed throughout his campaign that he did not have "emotional ties" to the People's Action Party (PAP), having never been a member of it.

But this might not have worked to his advantage, Dr Wong asserted.

"In addition to the enduring image that he is confrontational, he couldn't convincingly answer to the charge that presidents should not be partisan and be above party politics.

"In my opinion, he wasn't able to assure voters that he would not discriminate against the PAP," he said.

But Dr George said Singaporeans should not forget who Mr Tan was up against.

"Dr Tony Tan is a household name, and Dr Tan Cheng Bock relatively well-known.

"To even get a single percentage point away from these candidates is something that is extremely difficult," he said.

The father of four had been optimistic about his chances throughout Polling Day.

Earlier, after casting his vote at St Stephen's School at Siglap View, Mr Tan felt that his views had "resonated with the people".

The intermittent downpour yesterday did little to dampen the spirits of Mr Tan, who commented that he saw the showers as a blessing.

He added that his wife was his lucky charm.

The Oxford University graduate studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics on a government scholarship before joining the civil service for 11 years.

He later joined the private finance sector, and is currently an investment advisor. He stood in this year's GE as a candidate with the opposition Singapore Democratic Party. So will we see him in the next election?

Said Mr Tan: "I will have to talk to my supporters and see what role I can play."

Tan Jee Say told the press last night on what he believes are four factors that contributed to his loss in the Presidential Election.

Tan won 25.04% of the votes on Polling Day, or 529,732 of the valid votes. He said that he is satisfied with the results of the election but expressed that there is room for improvement.

He attributes his loss to four factors.

Insufficient time for his campaign

Tan feels that a longer campaign period of three months would have let him connect better with the electorate. There will be more time to communicate his ideas and allow the voters to know him better.

Lack of political background

Tan states that his political career is far shorter than the other candidates. He has never been a member of parliament nor a deputy prime minister. He is not well known to many Singaporeans and lacks a political track record.

Lack of contact with the elderly

Tan said that he connected with younger voters through the internet and this has won him many votes. But he did not get through to the older generation of Singaporeans as they do not get on the internet as much.

A perceived confrontational attitude

Tan emphasised that many misunderstand and thinks that he will be confrontational towards the government. This has lost him some votes.
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A Bruising Presidential Election
By Santha Oorjitham

KUALA LUMPUR - Voter discontent and a contest that was too close to call were the hallmarks of Singapore's presidential election last weekend -- much like the general election in May.

Former deputy prime minister Dr Tony Tan won 35.2 per cent of the 2.1 million votes on Saturday, closely followed by former People's Action Party (PAP) member of parliament Dr Tan Cheng Bock with 34.8 per cent.

In the May 7 polls, the opposition Workers' Party (WP) team had wrested the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency from the PAP team with a 9.4 per cent majority.

"Coming so close after the general election, the presidential election was a continuation of the voters' reaction -- to deliver a more concrete message that they are still not satisfied," said a former grassroots leader.

After the general election, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reshuffled his cabinet, set up a committee to review ministerial salaries and began to tackle concerns about the cost of housing and the impact of the large number of foreigners on public infrastructure.

"Addressing housing and transport will take time," said former administrative officer Donald Low.

A more structural issue, he noted, was the question of fairness, "which was made very salient by the WP dispute with the People's Association over the use of community facilities".

Back in June, WP chairman Sylvia Lim said the Housing Development Board had informed the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (combining the two constituencies that WP won in the general election) in an email that it had leased 26 public sites that the council had managed to the People's Association, a statutory board administering a network of grassroots organisations.

On Aug 15, Lim said, the People's Association informed the party that "booking by WP will not be allowed".

The sites -- mainly fields and hard courts often used for community events -- were "strategically located and convenient to residents", she said, adding that the move would prevent the party's MPs from organising activities and curtail their "ground presence".

Desmond Choo, the PAP candidate who lost to WP's Yaw Shing Leong in May, is now Hougang's grassroots adviser. He responded in a media statement that grassroots activities had been curtailed by town councils run by the WP.

During the presidential campaign period, Tan called for an investigation into the dispute.

"It is important that justice and fairness should be done, and not only that; the public should see that justice and fairness have been done," he told reporters during a walkabout.

"But grassroots organisations under the People's Association umbrella serve the PAP-appointed adviser, whether or not he or she is the elected MP," Low pointed out.

Although he had hoped for political and institutional reform after the May polls, he wrote, "As the Aljunied debacle shows, things are depressingly similar."

Election observers agree that Tan, the PAP's preferred candidate, drew his support from the party's traditional vote bank. But they're divided on how to interpret the rest of the votes.

"The combined votes of Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan Cheng Bock are actually the PAP voters," said the former grassroots leader. "The people decided the two candidates who talked about keeping to the constitutional and institutional role of the president got 70 per cent of the votes."

Assoc Prof Dr Alan Chong of the Nanyang Technological University's School of International Studies, disagreed.

"Tan Cheng Bock made it clear his supporters were an amalgamation of opposition and ruling party supporters," he argued. "He was the ultimate centrist candidate, with the tendencies and independent streak of an opposition member."

For Chong, the presidential election continued a healthy trend.

"The spirit of democratic competition has come back, beginning with the general election.

"Now the supposedly tranquil presidential election has turned into something far feistier. Singaporean democracy is definitely alive and well. The PAP can no longer take Singaporean votes for granted, as they have done in the past."
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Analysis of Vote Counts by Regions
Voting patterns in different areas

Although the Elections Department did not release the breakdown of votes by electoral divisions, unofficial indications obtained from various sources showed a disparity in voting patterns.

In a report in The Straits Times, the final tally showed that support was spread unevenly across the island.

Although Dr Tony Tan won by a slight margin of 0.34 percentage point, the gap in favour was much larger in many areas.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock had a clear lead in certain parts - he won handsomely in large parts of the west like Ayer Rajah, Jurong and Choa Chu Kang.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock was MP for Ayer Rajah for 25 years and runs a clinic in Jurong West.

He also won a large number of votes in north-eastern new towns like Punggol and Sengkang.

As for Dr Tony Tan, who was MP for Sembawang for 27 years, won consistently in areas in the north, centre and east like Sembawang, Nee Soon and East Coast.

In many of these areas, the front-runner was often a clear three to six percentage points ahead of the second- placed candidate, according to sources.

The Straits Times reported that sources on both sides attribute the geographic disparity to the fact that both Dr Tans have established good reputations in the area. They also have local grassroots workers there.

There could also be an element of demographic reasons for the differences across the island.

In areas such as Punggol and Sengkang where there is a dispportionate number of young residents, Dr Tan Cheng Bock was seen to have led the count there and in parts of Hougang new town and Hougang single-member constituency (SMC).

In Aljunied GRC, both Dr Tans are said to have obtained around 30 per cent of valid votes, similar to that obtained by Mr Tan Jee Say there.

As for Dr Tony Tan, he did well in older estates like Bedok and Pasir Ris - estates that have traditionally been supportive of the People's Action Party (PAP).

However, he had a greater lead in areas like East Coast GRC's Siglap ward and Joo Chiat SMC, where 85 per cent and 99 per cent of voters respectively live in private housing.

Dr Tony Tan received 30 per cent of the vote in Siglap and 41 per cent in Joo Chiat.

It also seems that Dr Tony Tan's strong financial and economics background have likely drawn the more upper-middle-class residents to back him.

He also led by several percentage points in many landed housing areas such as Tanglin in Tanjong Pagar GRC.

It also happened that the votes separating the two Dr Tans at many counting centres were in the double or triple digits, one way or the other.

In response to the vote margin, Dr Tan Cheng Bock's response early Sunday morning was: "It is fewer than the number of votes in the smallest SMC. But it made all the difference in deciding who gets the keys to the Istana."

$918k for a HDB apartment in Pasir Ris?

2011-07-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

$100k-plus cash premiums offered for Tampines flat
By property_guru

Following our breaking story on the asking price of $900,000 for an executive apartment in Pasir Ris, PropertyGuru received an exclusive tip-off from a property agent representing Knight Frank.

The agent, who only wants to be identified as Ravin, said he sold an executive mansionette flat at Block 151 Tampines Street 12 in March this year for $772,500.
According to the valuation report, the flat had a market value of $625,000 in December last year.

It was sold above valuation at $147,500 in March this year. "We were marketing this property over two Sundays and had about 50 plus buyers come for the viewing. Almost half were able to offer COV of more than $100,000," said Ravin.

According to Ravin, the profiles of the potential buyers were Singaporeans in their late 30s to late 50s.

About five were able to offer a COV of more than $125,000.

"These buyers had the cash as most had sold off their landed property, private apartments, or HDB flats with good profits. Most were business owners," said Ravin.
Record COV?

Despite the high COV the mansionette achieved, it will soon be overshadowed by the executive apartment in Pasir Ris should it be able to command the asking price of $900,000, which had shot up to $918,000 after the story broke.

Taking recent transactions as a benchmark valuation price in Pasir Ris, executive apartments in the area are about $600,000.

The new asking price of $918,000 will translate to a record COV of $318,000.
COVs unlikely to go down

Despite the cooling measures, experts say COVs are unlikely to go down.
"The average COV now is about $30,000 to about $40,000 (or) to $50,000 in better and prime locations. I believe that's because of the demand in the market, which comes from newlyweds as well as new PRs and new immigrants coming to Singapore. Although there's a lot of BTO coming up, COV unfortunately will still be going up in the near future," Mark Teo, senior group division director at ERA was reported as saying to Channel NewsAsia.

Others say the new Build-to-Order announcement will ease pressure from the resale market.

"COV prices are bottoming out at around $21,000 and many first-time buyers will still be priced out of the resale market for this reason. Hence, they will definitely find great relief in this bumper crop of BTO flats," said Adam Tan, PropNex corporate communications manager.

New BTO flats eases pressure from resale market
The new HDB flats wil comprise seven BTO projects spread across five estates, namely Sengkang, Tampines, Jurong West, Bukit Panjang and Yishun.
Most of the flats on offer are four and five-room units priced at $217,000 and $274,000 respectively.

According to HDB, it is on track to deliver 25,000 BTO flats in 2011.
The supply of new flats is expected to ease pressure from the resale market which could see their prices falling in the next six months.

This is partly due to economists' recent revision of weaker economic growth in the second quarter and a 25 percent drop in private property transactions in June.
The Resale Price Index (RPI) was 179.9 points in the second quarter, an increase of 2.9 percent over the first quarter.
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Priciest flat in Pasir Ris goes on sale for S$900000

Following Sim Lian Group’s highly controversial Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) project in Tampines, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) is once again under fire after an eye-popping listing was posted on PropertyGuru.

The listing shows a 1,528 sq ft HDB executive flat in Block 780, Pasir Ris Street 71, with a selling price of S$900,000.

The unit’s asking price is higher than the average selling price in the area, considering that it is a public housing project situated in a non-prime area and has no facilities.

It is also not within walking distance to White Sands mall or Pasir Ris MRT station.

Roza Sure Bagus, Managing Director of Sure Bagus (Asia) Pte Ltd, said, “The asking price of S$900,000 is definitely way beyond the market price. It is certainly a one-off case which if the agent is able to get, it will be a record price for Pasir Ris.”

Roza sold a flat in Pasir Ris recently for S$696,000, which is S$96,000 above valuation.

“The S$96,000 (in) above valuation is still okay, provided the house has a good view, high floor and good interior. Nevertheless, if they are buying at S$96,000 above valuation, the buyer’s taste in the décor may not be the same. They may renovate everything.”

Caveat data reveals that the average psf pricing of similar properties sold in the area this year is between S$400 psf and S$500 psf.

The asking price for the executive flat translates to S$589.01 psf, which is well above the market price.

However, Roza believes there might still be a willing buyer.

“For a person who buys such a flat, he might buy it for sentimental value. Perhaps, it has a breathtaking view which he may not be able to get elsewhere.”

“The buyers are likely to be from the private property market who have already sold their properties or who were en bloc owners who made a huge profit. It is unlikely they will take any loan. They would buy this unit in cash, full settlement,” said Roza.

Elderly Singaporeans dying away from home

2011-07-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

By Andrew Loh | SingaporeScene – Sun, Jul 17, 2011

It doesn't hit home until you're standing there, eyes fixed on the old man of 87-years old. He is no longer cognisant of his surroundings, I am told. His ability to register familiar faces and places is no longer as keen as before. He can barely recognise his own son who is standing beside me at the side of his bed on the day we paid him a visit.

First a boat-builder — during the Japanese occupation — and later a plumber, his hands were the only means by which he made a living and raised a family. Now, with children all grown up with families of their own, he is bedridden, immobile and has to be cared for in a nursing home. Alzheimer's has set in, along with Parkinson's and coronary heart problems.

His son and daughters, in their 30s and 40s, try their best to provide the care he needs. They had him at home in the beginning but as his needs grew, they had no choice but to put him in a nursing home. It was no longer viable or practical for the siblings to provide the special care he required.
The costs of caring for the elderly

So in 2007, they decided to seek the services of a nursing home.
Several months ago, they were told that their father had had a fall in the home. On further probing they realised that the home had not been totally truthful about how this had happened. They were initially told that the incident took place at about 6 or 7pm. The family was informed at 8pm. However, they later discovered that it had actually happened at 2pm. They were upset that it took the home 6 hours to inform them.

In the meantime, the family was having problems paying for their father's stay in the home. It came to more than S$2,000 a month. Further enquiries with other homes revealed that they were all fully booked. In any case, they were not much cheaper either. In addition, the siblings too had to provide care for their mother who is wheelchair-bound and suffers from various ailments as well. The family was at its wits' end.

They finally had to consider the one thing they never thought they would have to — to place their father in a nursing home abroad as it would relieve the financial burden in caring for both parents.

After a search of the Internet for nursing homes in Johor Baru (JB) in Malaysia, they shortlisted several and finally decided on one. The siblings paid a visit to the home earlier this year and made the decision to place their father there.
It would cut their financial obligations by some 60 percent, not an insignificant amount for the siblings who aren't financially well-off.
Children have to make a hard choice
"No one wants to have their father in a nursing home abroad," the son tells me, his voice quivering. "But we have no choice. The costs in Singapore are just too much for us."
The consolation he and his sisters take from this is that the home is set in a quiet neighbourhood, in landed properties which are converted to homes, giving a certain familial warmth to the elderly residents. It is located about 40 minutes by taxi from central JB. The staff there too are friendly and compassionate.

When the son enquired about making bank transfers so that payments could be made on time, the person in charge, Ms Suraya (not her real name), of the home repeatedly tells him not to worry. "It doesn't mean that you have to pay on the date we agreed on. It is okay if you are one or two weeks late. It is okay," she tells him. Such compassion gives the family some peace of mind.

We were told that in recent months, more Singaporeans have made enquiries with the home. "The main reason is the cost," Ms Suraya says. "But also the recent case of abuse in a nursing home in Singapore has raised concerns among Singaporeans." She was referring to the Nightingale nursing home at Braddell Road where the staff were discovered mistreating a resident there. The JB home currently has 20 Singaporean residents. Demand has been so strong that it is planning to open a new center in the coming months.

As we took our leave of the home, another elderly resident waves at us. "Young people like you, good," he said, pointing his finger at us. "Old people like us, no good anymore." It was something he keeps repeating during the next few minutes we conversed with him.

On the next bed beside his was a Malaysian, who is no older than 55. "I am Malaysian but I had been working many years in Singapore," he said. "My children all were born in Singapore and are still there." He recently had an accident which broke several of his hip bones. When we asked why he was there and not with his children in Singapore, he said they could not afford the cost of putting him in a nursing home in Singapore.
The government should help ease the burden

As we left them and the home, I wonder how many Singaporeans — after having served and contributed to the country — would end up in homes such as this one abroad simply because they would not be able to afford to stay in nursing homes in their own country.

It is just not right that our elderly, in what should be their golden years, are subjected to this indignity, to be cast aside or forced out of the land they were born in, grew up in and worked for and contributed to, through no fault of their own or their families' — with the prospect of returning home only when they have breathed their last.

With almost a million Singaporeans projected to be above 65-years old in 2030, it is incumbent upon the government to seriously look into this matter and not let our elderly be subject to such unconscionable indignity when they are no longer "economically active."

There is a responsibility for a government to care for those who no longer can, and to extend help to families who are burdened in such circumstances.
Our elderly should not have to seek shelter in a foreign land.

They are as much a part of us as those who are rich, economically active or young. Our country should not and must not abandon them to another country. It is our responsibility and we must not shirk this.

Philip Yeo - LKY's failed genetic monster

2011-07-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

Egomaniac and full of crap:
Philip Yeo is the biggest egomaniac (full of himself) in Singapore. He does not want to be called a “civil servant” even though he has been in the public sector for decades.

PY was the one who started shaming “bond breakers” (about 70% of Government scholars break their bond) but made sure his own son (also a scholar) got special treatment.He was allowed to “serve” his bond in the US. What a hypocrite!

PY’s business acumen is similar to Ho Ching – almost nil.When he became Chairman of Sembawang Corporation he used the company’s surplus cash to acquire Delifrance from its French owner for over $400m.It turned out a disaster and had to be sold to PAMA for only $70m, a loss of over $300m. Sembcorp also almost went bust and had to be merged into the Singapore Technologies Group. PY was also Chairman of some companies in the Singapore Technology that made large losses. After Ho Ching he must the the second biggest loser of taxpayers’ money.

The only reason PY is still around is because LKY (another egomaniac) likes him. This guy is full of crap.
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Philip Yeo: My greatest fear now is that the Government is terrified of the people

The late former US President Thomas Jefferson once said: “When the people are afraid of the government, there is tyranny. When the government is afraid of the people, there is democracy.” However, former EDB Chairman and Special Adviser for Economic Development in the Prime Minister’s Office Philip Yeo is afraid that the PAP regime will become ‘terrified’ of the people after losing a GRC in the recent general election.

In an interview with the state media, Mr Yeo said:

“After the last elections, the ruling People’s Action Party realises that it’s no longer infallible. My greatest fear now is that the Government is terrified of the people. You cannot have a system where the people are pampered.”

He added that the repressive regime has run Singapore ‘very rationally’ for the last 45 years though it has imposed draconian laws along the way to suppress the civil rights of Singaporeans and to entrench its political hegemony:

‘The intentions have always been good but we forget that some people were hurt along the way. We need to work with our heads and our hearts. The key is not to swing totally the other way.’

Mr Yeo also reiterate his earlier stance to name and shame Singaporean bond-breakers:

“That’s why I say bond-breakers squander the people’s money. You break your bond, you break the future of someone else who was on the reserve list.”

However he was quick to give scholarships to foreigners and admit readily that a ‘good percentage’ of his EDB and A*Star scholars and staff were from Malaysia, China, India and Vietnam.

“Many were given secondary scholarships at age 15. They grew up here. Many became new Singaporeans. They have become indistinguishable from his Singaporean scholars.”

The number of foreign scholars who break their bonds and leave Singapore for good yearly is not revealed to this very day.
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Wiki-Leak on Philip Yeo:
Philip Yeo
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia.
Philip Yeo, or Mr. Invincible, has a vision for the future of Singapore that is highly reliant upon gratuitous amounts of Cheez-Whiz and the world's largest traffic pylon.

Philip Yeo (born 1950) is one of the first Singaporean superhumans as well as the current chairman of the A*Star programme, whose aim is to create an elite force of super soldiers for the purposes of homeland security. Although he currently goes by the moniker of "Mr. Invincible", he is affectionally known to his critics as being an "A*Star douchebag".

Yeo was born in Singapore in 1950 to a poor family. The oldest of thirty-six children and the only boy among his siblings, he was constantly a victim of bullying and domination by his significantly stronger and more intelligent sisters. Due to his family's lack of funds, Yeo was forced to study the basics by himself, discovering in himself a love of the pseudosciences, especially phrenology.

In 1968, Philip Yeo enlisted under the newly enacted National Slavery act, approved by former Uber Minister Lee Kwan Yew just two years prior to Yeo's entry. Yeo proved to be a strong, capable, diligent, and intelligent soldier, and was watched carefully by government officials for this very reason.

Philip Yeo NEVER enlist under the National Slavery Act.

Philip Yeo, as Captain Singapore, goes into Super Saiyan mode in order to defeat Dr. Madhatter.

Unknown to Yeo and, in fact, to most Singaporeans, Lee Kuan Yew had been working on a secret project that was known only as A*Star. In 1963, Lee jumpstarted the A*Star programme with the intent of creating super soldiers for the sake of defending Singapore in case of any attacks from enemies that sought to end the island city's pitiable existence. Impressed by the Swiss guard of the Vatican City, Lee sought to create a similar programme through selecting the most "genetically superior" Singaporeans and enhancing them through artificial means. Although Lee has no access to Catholic-related Power Ups, he believed in the scientific prowess of his wise men and believed he could create a strong defensive force of just a few superpowered soldiers.

However, five years later, the A*Star programme had made frustratingly little progress, and the bizarre deaths of several high-profile volunteers made the programme increasingly unpopular. Although disappointed, Lee Kwan Yew did not close the programme completely, but introduced National Slavery instead as a means of pumping up Singapore's hypothetical military might.

Keen to give the programme one final shot, several of Lee's top aides recommended that Philip Yeo be drafted into the A*Star programme, confident that his DNA was harmonic with the enhancements that had failed on every previous volunteer. Yeo, eager to serve his country and lured with the added promise of a bounty of scholarship funds, agreed to undergo testing, which was successful. His physiology enhanced far beyond that of normal humans, Yeo was given the codename Captain Singapore, and was charged with leading the Singapore Armed Forces both strategically and as a rallying icon.

From 1969 to 1998, Captain Singapore fought dozens of foreign superhumans including The Sultan and even the dreaded Captain Cambodia, who, at one point, was considered to be one of the strongest Asian superhumans in existence. Eventually, Philip Yeo gave up the title of Captain Singapore to other aspiring young products of the A*Star programme, choosing the name "Mr. Invincible" instead.

In 1999, Philip Yeo took over the leadership of the A*Star programme, promising an army of 300 Singaporean superhumans by 2020. The A*Star programme has since been successful in churning out Singaporean superhumans, including Mr. Kiasu, Whizz-Kid, Ah Tan the Destroyer, and Smogger. In 2002, the United States and Singapore jointly worked on a superhuman known to the world as Captain Obvious. Philip Yeo and A*Star were also partly responsible for the construction of Lee Hsien Loong.
Edit Controversy sectionEdit Controversy

For the religious among us who choose to believe lies, the self-proclaimed experts at Wikipedia have an article about Philip Yeo.

Since Philip Yeo's ascension as chairman of A*Star, murmurs of what actually goes on behind the closed doors of the genetic enhancement programme frequently pop up from time to time. Most famously, A*Star was accused by the Far Eastern Economic Review of producing foot soldiers for the League of Evil, a claim that Yeo has personally denied multiple times. He was once questioned for calling his own slaves "wimps", and also ordered a few bloggers shot to silence those who questioned him.

Subjects for the A*Star programme are frequently taken from servicemen partaking in National Slavery, often against their will and without the knowledge of their families. Although Yeo asserts that all test subjects are "willing volunteers", the ratio of successes to failures is still much too high for the public to feel comfortable with.

Recently, Johns Hopkins University cut funding to the A*Star programme to the tune of several million dollars, citing creative disagreements and referring to Philip Yeo as a "fairy". Philip Yeo responded by referring to the American superhuman team, the Revengers, as "a group of overweight assholes with terrible style".

Philip Yeo's physiology has been artificially enhanced through the A*Star programme. A product of breakthrough bioengineering, Yeo is a master of martial arts and possesses superhuman strength, invulnerability, and the powers of flight. In Super Saiyan mode, Yeo is able to generate radioactive fields and cause explosions by manipulating matter at the sub-atomic level. Additionally, Yeo has genius-level intellect and is a master tactician. A little know fact, his 'trouser snake' is so stong and powerful it is reported that he fought chuck norris' 'trouser snake' and only just lost shooting 'venum' 300m compared to chuck norris' 500m
From: http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Philip_Yeo

Tan Jee Say vs Tan Kin Lian vs Tan Cheng Bok vs Tan Tony

2011-07-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Yet another Tan wants to be the President. Now we have 4 Tan's who want to vie for just one President post. Certainly making things very interesting for this coming Presidential election. Once thought to be useless and time-wasting, now the President position is going to become a symbol of the opposition making dramatic in-road into PAP's financial stronghold?

Tan Kin Lian on Tan Jee Say's Presidential bid
I like to wish Tan Jee Say all the best in getting the Certificate of Eligibility and in contesting the Presidential Election. With more candidates entering the contest, the voters of Singapore will have a wider choice of selecting the next President of Singapore. A larger pool of candidates should help to make more citizens aware of the importance of this position and educate more people on the need to make a wise choice.

I will not change my campaign, as set out in my campaign website: www.tkl2011.com.

I offer to the voters to serve the country in the following areas:

-Be a voice of the people to carry their views, concerns and aspirations to the Government.

-Be independent of the PAP government but to work with the government to find solutions that are best for the people.

-Apply my knowledge and expertise to safeguard their CPF savings and the reserves of Singapore.

I also pledge to donate at least half of the President's salary towards charity and other causes.
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TiTANic Presidential Elections ahead?
SINGAPORE: Another candidate has stepped forward ahead of the Presidential Election, which is due by August 31.

Tan Jee Say, who was last in the public eye during this year's General Election for the opposition SDP, picked up the Certificate of Eligibility forms at the Elections Department on Friday morning.

He said on his blog that he wants to be "the conscience of the nation".

"I am applying for a Certificate of Eligibility to contest the election of the
President of Singapore under the special clause that allows a person to do so," he said in a statement released before appearing at the Elections Department.

"The specific position I held that satisfies the condition (special clause), is that of chief executive officer with the title of regional managing director of John Govett (Asia) Private Limited and its successor company AIB Govett (Asia) Private Limited," the statment went on to add.

As for Dr Tan Cheng Bock who was one of the first to signal his intention to run for the post of elected president, he said in a Friday entry on Facebook, "I will be submitting my COE application next week with friends and supporters."

Netizens are now buzzing over the four Presidential hopefuls who share the surname Tan.

In addition to Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Jee Say, there's also former deputy prime minister Dr Tony Tan and former CEO of NTUC Income Mr Tan Kin Lian, both of whom submitted their applications for a Certificate of Eligibility on July 7.

Apart from the four, former JTC Corporation group chief financial officer Andrew Kuan who was disqualified in 2005 from running for the presidency, told MediaCorp recently that he is keen to throw his hat into the ring again.

70-year-old Mr Ooi Boon Ewe, who failed in his bid to contest the recent General Election as an independent candidate, has also collected forms for the Presidential Election.

In early June, 50-year-old Mohamed Raffi Bashir Ahmed also turned up at the Elections Department to collect forms to contest the Presidential Election.
-------------------------------------------------------------
“I have not been asked by any party to come out and contest” – Presidential hopeful Tan Jee Say
Posted by theonlinecitizen
Joshua Chiang

Mr Tan showed up at the Elections Department at 10.15am with his wife Patricia

Even though Mr Tan Jee Say has contested Holland-Bukit Timah GRC under the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) banner in the recent General Elections, he is confident that the public will not see him as partisan if he were elected President as he had only been with the SDP for 3 months.

On the other hand, the three other presidential hopefuls – Dr Tony Tan, Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Kin Lian had been with the People’s Action Party for 10 to 20 years.

“The PAP DNA is still very strong in them,” the former principal private secretary to then DPM Goh Chok Tong told the press outside the Elections Department when he went to collect the forms for the presidential eligibility certificate on Friday morning.

In his press release, Mr Tan wrote that many Singaporeans want a non-PAP President whose independence of the PAP is clear, obvious and cannot be in doubt: “Only such a person can have the moral authority to fulfill the mission of Elected President which is to provide checks and balances on the PAP Government.”

Mr Tan formally resigned from the SDP this morning. He told the press that Sec Gen Dr Chee Soon Juan was ‘supportive’ of his decision but clarified that he had not been asked by any party to come out and contest the Presidential Elections.

“I just made the decision in the quietness of my bedroom in my house, and with my wife of course, “ he said. Mr Tan further revealed that he only arrived at the decision on Thursday night.

Among the handful of supporters who turned up, two – Ms Michelle Lee and Mr Fazlur Yusof were members of SDP. Another, Mr Bentley Tan was the Master of Ceremony for the SDP rallies during the General Elections.

President the ‘moral conscience of the nation’

On what he would do as President if elected, Mr Tan said that he would want to know how much there are in the reserves and if they had been put to good use, and if more money is needed to invest in the people, to use the second key to open up the reserves.

“I have a national regeneration plan that required 60 billion dollars – 12 billion every year for five years – so if they (the government) wants to invest in it, why not?”

He also stressed that he won’t make the Presidency is not another centre of power, instead, it will be the ‘moral conscience of the nation’. If elected, he will work with the government because he has to honor the wishes of the people who elected the government, but at the same time, the government cannot be right all the time. Mr Tan mentioned the building of the two casinos as an example where the government got it wrong.

“Why do you compromise your morals just to create jobs and then cry over it?” he asked rhetorically.

As such, even though it is up to the government to decide on which policies to implement at the end of the day, the President can nonetheless speak up on those issues.

“They will be moral pressure,” he emphasized.
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President must act independently: Dr Tony Tan
Singapore's president has to be above politics, needs to work with all government parties and must also act independently, said presidential hopeful Dr Tony Tan.

Dr Tan, 71, was addressing questions on his affiliation with the People's Action Party (PAP) and whether it would help or hurt his chances in the upcoming Presidential Election, which will be held before August 31.

Earlier today, former civil servant and opposition politician Tan Jee Say showed his interest in running for President and said in a press statement that he believed many Singaporeans wanted "a non-PAP President whose independence of the PAP is clear, obvious and cannot be in doubt".

Dr Tan, who was a member of PAP since 1979 before retiring from politics in 2006, reiterated that "whoever he is, (the President) has a distinct role as set out in the Constitution".

"I think we have to be quite clear about this. He is not a separate power centre in Singapore; there can only be one - the government," said Dr Tan to reporters while speaking at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series held at Ritz Carlton Hotel today.

He continued to explain that the President has very limited executive authority, but has an important role in representing Singapore overseas, as "people judge the country by the calibre of the President".

"You need somebody in the Presidency who is steady, experienced, who knows the issues and limits of what the President can do and most importantly, he has to be fair and neutral.

"He has to be above politics and needs to work with all government parties, civic and social organisations, and he cannot take a partisan view," reiterated the former chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, or GIC.

Dr Tan concluded that the President must act independently, make up his own mind and exercise authority accordingly.

Recent GE a 'win-win-win result'

Dr Tan also gave his personal opinion on the recent General Election that was held in May, and described it as giving rise to a 'win-win-win result'.

He gave three reasons as to why he called it a triple win situation.

First, it was a strong mandate for the PAP to frame policies and continue Singapore's progress and improve the life of Singaporeans.

Second, the oppposition now has a base to build on, further their credibility and possibly gain more votes in the next election, and finally, it demonstrated another stage of the country's political development.

Dr Tan explained: "The situation where you have one overwhelming party which has almost all the seats, with little effective opposition - and I stress this is my personal view - is a matter of the past.

"There could be a new normal in Singapore politics now, which is a strong party in government that frames policies and implements them, and is matched by an effective opposition in Parliament, which will debate these policies, with different perspectives and views, and suggest alternatives.

"Through the process of debate, discussion and challege, we will end up with better results and progress for Singapore," said Dr Tan.

President S.R. Nathan Announced His Own Retirement

2011-07-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

IT'S age - the main reason President S.R. Nathan is not seeking a third term. Two days before his 87th birthday, President Nathan announced that he would step down when his second term runs out on Aug 31.

"At this stage of my life, I do not believe that I can undertake indefinitely the heavy responsibilities and physical demands of the position of Head of State," he said in a statement on July 1.

His 12 years in office make him the longest-serving President in Singapore's history. Those years cap a 55-year career in public service, which saw him take on roles such as ambassador to the United States and permanent secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He also served as director of Singapore's external intelligence arm, the Security and Intelligence Division of the Defence Ministry.

In his statement, the President acknowledged both the Singaporeans who had criticised him and those who had shown him "affection and kindness".

During his years in office, he had given his best in the performance of all his duties, whether constitutional, ceremonial or community-related, he said.

Observers have paid tribute to the President for his contributions in diplomacy and charity work, and for his personal touch and closeness to the people.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said: "He always had a special place in his heart for people who are vulnerable, for children, for the disabled."

Tony Tan's Relation With Lee Kuan Yew

2011-07-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

A bunch of relatives and lackies
PAP is one of most corrupt party in the world. One sees many elected officers of PAP as well as top civil servant are relative of one another.

Family of Shylock
Kwa Siew Tee is Lee Kuan Yew's father-in-law. Lee Kuan Yew's mother-in-law, Wee Yew Neo and Bankster Tan Chin Tuan 's wife, Helen Wee are sisters. So Tan Chin Tuan is LKY's uncle-in-law. Tony Tan is Tan Chin Tuan's nephew.

Both Kwa Siew Tee and Tan Chin Tuan were top banksters of OCBC. The financialization of Singapore's economy whereby banksters parasite feed on the productive citizen can easily be understood -- if one is aware how deeply Lee Kuan Yew is connected with shylock.

Tony Tan the best actor
In public, Tony Tan shows himself as a humble and wise man. Unfortunately nothing is further from truth. Nothing good can be expected from scion of bankster. While Singaporean focus on Ho Ching and her Temasek fiasco, few people knew that GIC under the charge of Tony Tan has lost its pants in 2008 crisis.

In short, Tony Tan has blown up Singapore's pension aka the corrupt CPF. He is responsible for condemning Singaporean to work till death because CPF is effectively being wipe out in real terms. (PAP is going to stealth default CPF)
=========================================================

The patriarch: Kwa Geok Choo's father

Year 1932, GROUP PHOTOGRAPH OF FOUNDING OF OCBC SHOWING:
FRONT ROW: KHOO SOO HONG (SECOND FROM LEFT), TAN CHIN TUAN (FOURTH FROM LEFT), YEO THIAN SIEW (FIFTH FROM LEFT), TAN ENG KIAM (SIXTH FROM LEFT), ONG PIAH TENG (SEVENTH FROM LEFT).
BACK ROW: YAP PENG GEK (LEFT), KWA SIEW TEE (THIRD FROM LEFT), CHEW HOCK LEONG (SIXTH LEFT) AND MR TEO (RIGHT)

Powerful and Influencial Figure
Little known Kwa Siew Tee (柯守智), Kwa Geok Choo's (LKY wife) father was immensely rich and one of the most powerful man in Singapore. He had been appointed the Municipal Commissioner in 1947, and Public Service Commissioner in 1953. Both are extremely powerful position and in theory, held the power to appoint and dismiss top civil servants.

Forex Trader
Kwa was a senior bankster in OCBC doing things related to forex trading. Banksters do not produce anything, they simply feed on productive host economy. Wonder PAP's perpetual policy to increase asset price screwing the working class, is due to all these bankster relative.

Inter-marriage between powerful families
Kwa Siew Tee's wife Wee Yew Neo, is daughter of Wee Theam Seng, a senior OCBC Bankster.

Kwa Siew Tee's brother-in-law is Tan Chin Tuan, who married Helen Wee, another daughter of Wee Theam Seng.

[BBC definition: banker+gangster = bankster]
OCBC Alumni
OCBC influences on Singapore are comparable to Goldman Sachs on USA. A large disproportional number of powerful office holders are connected to OCBC. To name a few below.

Lee Kuan Yew PM
- father-in-law OCBC senior bankster

Yong Pung How Chief Justice
- 1976-1982 work in OCBC

Teo Chee Hean Deputy PM
- father Teo Cheng Guan OCBC chairman 1989-1991

Tony Tan Deputy PM
- family is one of OCBC founders

2nd Generation Kwa, many illustrious figures
2 out of 3 survivng sons of Kwa Siew Tee hold perm sec position and many of important appointments. One of the son-in-law was made minister in LKY's cabinet. The 3rd generation are less prominent in public office but do not under-estimate their hidden wealth and influences.

Sons
Kwa Soon Hock 柯顺福
-Died Young

Kwa Soon Lock 柯顺禄
-Killed by Japanese

柯顺寿
- no info

Kwa Soon Chuan 柯顺全
-Perm Sec and many other top appointments

Kwa Soon Bee 柯顺美
-Perm Sec and many other top appointments

Daughter
Kwa Geok Neo 柯玉娘
- no info (found almost no data, need help to confirm the existence of this person)

Kwa Geok Lan 柯玉兰
- married Yong Nyuk Lin 杨玉麟 who later became minister of various ministries

Kwa Geok Choo 柯玉芝
- married LKY, PM of Singapore

Kwa Geok Lian 柯玉莲
- married Earnest Lau, a school principal

Kwa Geok Eng 柯玉英
- no info

Kwa's family and LKY road to power
Without the Kwa family network of powerful families, it is questionable whether LKY can emerge as the leader of PAP in 1950s given then, there are many other extremely capable and charismatic leaders in the party. The nexus of Kwa family probably also helped LKY to win the trust of British, which handed over to him the control of security apparatus. That is the key LKY is able arrest his political opponents.
Acknowledgement: Articles above were copied from http://veritas-lux.blogspot.com/ for ease of referencing.

Developer Sim Lian's link to the PAP

2011-07-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

Documented from CNA forum:
Blk16A wrote:
Sim Lian majority owned by Kuik Family - Fact
Diana Kuik is the wife of Ong Ye Kung - Fact

Diana Kuik is the ED of Sim Lian - ?
Who can verify whether is fact or rumour?

sibehsianz wrote:
Also fact. Go to simlian website look investment relation-> for board of directors-> Kuik Sin leng(aka Diana Kuik):

http://www.simlian.com.sg/

Btw Sim Lian independence director Asst Prof Sim Loo Lee is a member of HDB Audit Committee. Wow, what kind of independency we expect during contract awarding????

Blk16A wrote:
Only says Kuik Sin Leng. It doesn't say Diana Kuik.

Wow this is your first post.

sibehsianz wrote:
IR Contact: Kuik Sin Leng, Diana
|diana.kuik@simlian.com.sg | +65-6303-6200
http://research.sgx.com/reports/rpt_view.pl?id=6519

I gana banned some month ago arguing with pap dogs here lah.

pisspisspiss wrote:
GNN eh, the most obvious something is very wrong is that a director of Sim Lian, Sim Loo Lee can be part of HDB audit committee ??!! As a auditor, Sim will have in procession of all tenders specs, past minimun quotes etc wouldn't he? This will obviously favour Sim Lian during tender for DBSS isn't it?

Even say Mah has great firewall to prevent this auditor seeing tender process it is against civil service standard for a bidder to sit on its highest level comittee who will then can wield great influence on those deciding who to award the bid to isn't it, especially when million of dollars are at stake ?

justrade wrote:
You think all these LHL don't know ?
Just wonder if PAP dare to ask their MPs to declare their association - family & spouses business.

Btw - Ng Eng Heng is nephew of Far East Organisation - FEO go round snapping sg land; now one of the biggest landlord in sg
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Quoted from facebook comment page of toc...(names changed to protect freedom of speech)

"AmyL: VTan, apparently Ong Ye Kung, the Secretary-General of PAP and the highly touted ministerial material in the PAP Aljunied Team, is married to the ED of Sim Lian Mdm Kuik. So the next question is, what made Sim Lian so confident to bid for the site some years ago? Ong Ye Kung was the PPS to PMO in 2002/2004."

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73% jump of prices from first DBSS project

In 2005, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) launched the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS), which allowed the private sector to design, build, and sell HDB flats.

By 2006, it had introduced the first public housing project developed and sold by a private developer. Developed by the Sim Lian Group, The Premiere@Tampines had air-conditioning units installed, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, and teak parquet flooring. Kitchens had cabinets and Italian hobs, while bathrooms had glass shower screens and fancy shower heads. It was launched in 2009, with the biggest 5-room flat costing $450,000.

Now, fast forward to six years later, and Sim Lian Group is again the developer for the eighth DBSS site, Centrale 8 located in Tampines.

The developer announced the 'indicative prices' of the newest flats last Thursday, causing much uproar, as Singaporeans reacted to what was widely seen as grossly expensive HDB flats. It said then that the biggest 5-room flats for the units in Tampines could cost as much as $880,000.

It has since slashed down the prices by $102,000, with the maximum price for the biggest flats costing $$778,000 instead.

This shows a 73 per cent jump from The Premiere's 2009 price.

We take a look at the other DBSS projects, and how much they cost.

http://www.asiaone.com/Business/My+Money/Property/Story/A1Story20110622-285458.html
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Tin Pei Ling shares views on DBSS saga

Tin Pei Ling, Member of Parliament for Marine Parade -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

MEMBER of Parliament for Marine Parade Tin Pei Ling shared her thoughts on Facebook on Friday morning about the recent news regarding the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) project in Tampines.

The flats at the 708-unit Centrale 8 raised an uproar last week over the $880,000 price tag for its largest units, as the price was nearly that of executive condominiums.

Project developer Sim Lian later said quoted price ranges were only 'indicative', before releasing a 'confirmed price range' for the flats, which showed a $100,000 price drop to $778,000 for the top-end units. Ms Tin posted this note on her Facebook account at 9.50am on Friday, titled 'Short note on housing 3: HDB land - a matter of principle'.

She wrote (as is carried here): 'The recent high profile sale of DBSS flats at Centrale 8 stunned many Singaporeans, including myself. Questions were raised by many members of the public. Some asked why HDB flats built on HDB lands and eventually to be managed by the Town Councils (i.e. like normal HDB flats) should be priced by private developers. I understand and sympathise with these views.

'Allowing private developers who had successfully acquired HDB lands to independently price DBSS units may be in line with 'free market' principles, but it also means HDB losing control over precious lands that could be better utilized for BTO flats or community facilities.

'DBSS was meant to offer an additional housing option to Singaporeans - premium but less expensive than private condominiums. It is right to offer tiered options to address the different aspirations of Singaporeans. But the 'devil is in the details', and what might have been a useful housing option in 2005 may no longer be as suitable today.'

'Some have pointed out that Singaporeans can choose not to purchase over-priced DBSS flats. But I think the issue is one of principle - given the land scarcity in Singapore, HDB land should be reserved for building affordable public housing, and not apartments that HDB has little influence over. As part of MND's overall review of housing policies, perhaps it should either let HDB take back the right to price DBSS units, or include a clause to compel price negotiations between HDB and the private developers.'
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ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH DBSS FLAT - NOT THERE NOR HERE
Not-so-premium flat
Letter from Michele Goh
04:47 AM Jun 24, 2011
I PURCHASED a Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat in 2009 despite the high premium compared to a Build-to-Order (BTO) flat, based on the assumption that its management by an established private developer would result in intelligent, functional design and professional workmanship. In addition, the well-finished product would likely require little or no renovation, thus justifying the high price tag.

However when I received my flat keys in March this year, I found out otherwise. While the estate's façade appears condominium-worthy, the workmanship at my flat was worse compared to a BTO flat at Sengkang which costs almost half as much.

Defects were only patched over. Design flaws included insufficient clearance above the safety window grilles to install a roller blind and the lack of a TV point (required for StarHub broadband connectivity) or OpenNet point in the study room.

The showroom on which I based my half-a-million-dollar public housing purchase differed from the actual product in some ways, such as the implied location of TV points and type of tile finishes in the bathrooms. It is interesting to note that all final decisions regarding electrical wiring and finishes are at the sole discretion of the architect, according to a clause in the sales brochure.

Given that DBSS projects have been and presumably will continue to be well-received for their perceived premium quality in design and workmanship, I am concerned for current and future buyers.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) protects consumers of retail products. Who protects consumers of products from our public housing agency, in a project managed by a private developer?

DBSS projects are sought after by young couples buying their first home due to their location in mature estates where their parents live. The HDB currently does not inspect DBSS flats and flat owners are told to seek redress with the developers instead.

This clearly disadvantages first-timers who are likely to be less savvy in surveying the quality and workmanship of a new flat.

The recent prices sought by private developers for DBSS flats clearly highlights the disparate goals of private developers and Singapore's public housing authority in this scheme. I urge the HDB to revisit its aim to "ensure that cost-effectiveness and quality standards are maintained and continually improved upon" in public housing towns.

Since DBSS flats are indeed HDB flats, I urge the HDB to exercise its authority in imposing strict regulations on pricing and quality of flats upon private developers seeking involvement in DBSS projects, so as to preserve its founding aims.

I also hope that, while the HDB and private developers iron out regulations to make the scheme fairer for future buyers, residents of current projects will not be left to fend for themselves.

Had I known all this earlier, I might not have decided to pay premium prices for a flat that turned out to be not-so-premium.
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Sim Lian tops bid for Tampiness DBSS site
HDB received a total of five bids yesterday for the 227,460 sqft DBSS site in Tampines at the junction of Tampines Ave 5 and Tampines Central 8, right beside Tampines Premier.

Sim Lian came out tops in their bid for the site at the junction of Tampines Ave 10 and Ave 1 in March, and have done it again.

The contenders for the DBSS site are:

Sim Lian Pte Ltd- $178 million
Qingdao Construction (Singapore) - $145 million
Hoi Hup Realty Pte Ltd And Sunway Developments Pte Ltd - $139 million
Realty Consortium Pte. Ltd. -$137 million
Ho Lee Group Pte Ltd- $110 million

The obvious winner here should be Sim Lian, yes? HDB will announce the final tender results within the next two weeks.

PAP Need To Change Mindset Towards Marriage

2011-06-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

PAP Need To Change Mindset Towards Marriage and giving birth, before they lose another GRC in the next election.

publeak:
Its a question of what the government should not have done rather what
it could do, the current education system puts a lot of stress on the
children and the parents. Housing prices are too high and the cost of
living is ever increasing. The government should first remove the
forced learning of a 2nd language making it a optional subject
many parents will be happy not teaching their children a alien
language which they dont use it themselves.
The cost of living should be brought under control through real
government subsidy in health care and housing.
What we really need is the government to change its mindset.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
S'poreans need to change mindset towards marriage: Chan Chun Sing

SINGAPORE: A change in mindset may be needed in the attitude of
Singaporeans towards marriage, said Acting Minister for Community
Development, Youth and Sports Major General (NS) Chan Chun Sing.

He added that while the government can drive a pro-family environment,
it is up to the people to believe in the "intangible ideals" of
marriage.

He was speaking at the Family Day Out Carnival on Saturday at this
year's National Family Celebrations, which saw more youth
participation.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who was also at the event, said
employers should also play a part by putting in place pro-family
policies at the workplace. He also highlighted the role of community
and commercial providers in offering family support services.

Lim Soon Hock, Co-Chairperson of the National Family Celebrations
organising committee, said: "We are seeing a lot of youths
participating in this family day out. And they're here with their
families, with their grandparents. Some of them are even with their
younger siblings.

"So I think in terms of getting our youth engaged in the family scene
and as key stakeholders for future families, I'm particularly
delighted."

It is a sign of hope amidst a recent gloomy statistic that fewer
people are getting married. While the government promises to play its
part in helping more Singaporeans settle down, it also boils down to
attitudes.

MG Chan said: "There are some other things that are less tangible that
we have to encourage - the attitude that we look at families,
children, what are the conditions required for us to start a family,
so on and so forth.

"Personally, I would say that when I got married, it wasn't like all
the stars, moon and sun were aligned and then, 'This is the day we get
married'. It's a commitment between me and my wife to say, regardless
of what happens in the future, we want to work things through
together."

As the month-long celebrations draw to a close, the National Family
Celebrations organising committee hopes the younger generation will
continue to recognise the roles they play in their families

PRC Got Bashed by S'porean Chinese for Beating a Malay

2011-06-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

It’s Singaporean vs others

By Seah Chiang Nee
THE current wave of migrant workers from China and India has had an unintended side benefit for Singapore, blurring differences between local Chinese and Malays.

The new competition they introduced into the workforce has helped to get these once quarrelling races to put aside old discords and jointly face the common challenge.

In the 60s and 70s, ethnic conflicts were a daily story in Singapore generally over who should get a bigger piece of the economic pie. Every issue seemed to revolve around race.

The impact of globalisation and the mass inflow of foreigners are helping the Chinese and Malays achieve commonality faster than anything else.

It has promoted a common bond – as well as a sense of nationalism – which would have been a lot slower without the 2,000,000 foreigners.

In the latest example, Singapore’s Chinese majority rallied to condemn a Chinese migrant worker after he roughed up a Malay citizen and boasted about it online.

Zhou Hou, a 24-year-old delivery worker, bragged in Facebook how he knocked down a Singaporean “because he saw me coming and did not give way” and calling Singa-poreans “retards”.

It probably showed his cocky dislike for Singaporeans in general, rather than any particular race.

Zhou has since deleted the post (with his photo) and made several apologies to Singaporeans, claiming it was done on the spur of his “frustrations”.

With a history of ethnic riots, racial harmony has always been Singapore’s priority objective, something that not many new migrants from China and India are aware of.

“Those retards who want to act ‘garang’ step forward. I come here not to be bullied or insulted – from a true noble Chinese with 5,000 years of cultural baptism,” Zhou wrote, with a tinge of ethnic superiority.

If he thought he would be supported by the Chinese here he was wrong. Several Singaporeans immediately filed police reports against his remarks. Police are now investigating the case.

Since independence, a new generation of Singaporeans – especially Chi-nese and Malays – have grown up and had gone to schools, lived and served national service together.

The integration has stabilised things but race differences have never completely disappeared.

In the early days, it was normal to see Chinese Singaporeans cheering football teams from China when they played here against Singapore which comprised mostly of Malay players.

Once as a teenager, I watched some 8,000 local Indians rooting for a visiting Indian team against our state side. Singapore was then far from being a nation despite military service and years of National Day Parades.

To the Malays, Chinese and Indians were taking their jobs away – and vice versa. Language, social norms and even food became contentious issues.

But as foreigners flocked to our shores, Malays along with other races gradually became more preoccupied with the “foreign threat” to their jobs and earnings.

Instead of viewing each other with suspicion as their parents once did, the Chinese and Malays have become more concerned about losing out to the foreigners.

The Government had apparently opened the doors to so many mainland Chinese and Indians because it believed that they would be more culturally acceptable to the locals.

The major question was whether the minority Malays would object to the inflow from India and China.

As history turned out, the racial dimension to the immigration did not materialise because the policy was widely opposed by the vast majority of Singaporeans.

When the Malays saw their fellow Singaporeans – particularly Chinese – were staunch critics, they were somewhat reassured that it was not a racial issue, said a polytechnic lecturer.

“A race conflict could have happened had the local Chinese rooted for more immigrants from China and Singaporean Indians wanted more mainland Indians,” the academician said. But that never occured.

On the contrary, the angriest condemnation of the influx of Chinese and Indian workers were the local Chinese and Indians respectively.

It removed a potential racial sting when the minority Malays and In-dians found that they were not opposing the policy by themselves.

I had noticed over the years that Singaporean Chinese were more vo-cal in condemning the policy than the Malays. The same applies to the local Indians against the inflow of job-seeking professionals from India.

The Zhou Hou incident, sensitive because it touched on race, has shown how well Singaporeans have integrated.

An online discussion on whether the Chinese here would help a Malay if he was assaulted by a Chinese mainlander produced a largely “yes” answer and the following sample comments.

> “I feel closer to my Malay and Indian Singaporean brothers whom I grew up with, whom I served national service (NS) with, than some mainland Chinese.”

> “I am a Singaporean Chinese. Any Chinese foreigner who dares to assault my Malay Singaporean bro-ther will have to answer to my fist. We Singaporean Chinese and Malays did NS together. Chinese or not Chinese, the fact is we are Singa-poreans.”

> “I am not a racist but I am most certainly a nationalist. In the event of a dispute between a foreigner and a Singaporean, whether he is Chinese, Malay, Indian or Eurasian, I will take the side of the Singaporean 99% of the time.”

> “It is heartening to see so many brothers standing up for our local ‘Mats’ (Malays) against bullying foreigners including from China and India. Life with our local ‘Mats’ went a long way from kampung days.”

At one stage the minorities were fearful that immigration could turn Singapore into a “province of China”. Nevertheless, Singaporeans seem to say: “No way – not now, not ever.” – The Star

Tony Tan vs Tan Cheng Bok vs Tan Kin Lian

2011-06-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Kin Lian question Tony Tan's independence
Dr Tony Tan's likely opponents in coming election point out his links to PAP, GIC
by Satish Cheney Updated 06:11 PM Jun 24, 2011
SINGAPORE - Dr Tony Tan's two likely opponents in the coming Presidential Election have questioned the former Deputy Prime Minister's independence.

Yesterday, former PAP Member of Parliament Tan Cheng Bock wrote on his Facebook page that he welcomed Dr Tony Tan's decision to put himself forward. He wrote: "Now Singaporeans have a chance to vote. Whoever gets voted must have the full confidence of Singaporeans in terms of integrity, fairplay and unquestionable independence."

When contacted, he told Today: "When you talk about safeguarding reserves, you must have an independent mind ... (Dr Tony Tan) is currently the vice-chairman and executive director of GIC, surely you put two-and-two together ... how independent can he be?"

Adding that Singaporeans are "smart voters", he said: "They want to make sure things are in proper order ... any evidence there is a big question mark on the independence of that individual, they would carefully examine that individual, be it Tony or whoever. They want fairness."

Ex-NTUC Income CEO Tan Kin Lian noted that Dr Tony Tan "has been closely connected with the PAP Government for about 20 years".

He said: "He had served as a Cabinet Minister in many ministries during his illustrious political career and had been closely associated with many of the policies that were implemented by the Government. He would represent a good choice for Singaporeans who prefer to see stability and continuity in the past and current policies of the Government."

The candidacies of all three presidential hopefuls are subject to the approval of the Presidential Elections Committee.

Mr Tan Kin Lian reiterated that his participation in the election offers "a different choice to the people". He said: "I have never served as a Member of Parliament or a Cabinet Minister in the Government. Over the past years, I have expressed my views on many occasions in the media and through other channels on issues concerning the livelihood and welfare of the people."

Attempting to frame the coming contest, Mr Tan Kin Lian told Channel NewsAsia: "This will be the contest: Whether you want someone to continue the policies of the establishment or if you want someone who brings ... a new view, reflecting the aspirations of large numbers of Singaporeans."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Tan resigns from GIC, SPH
Reuters
Thu, Jun 23, 2011
Former deputy prime minister Tony Tan, 71, executive director at Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, said on Thursday he has resigned and will run for president in an election that must be held before end-August.

Dr Tan has also resigned as chairman of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

"There is no legal requirement for me to resign from GIC or SPH. However, to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest, I have decided to resign from GIC with effect from July 1," Dr Tan said in a statement.

"I will also resign from SPH with effect from July 1 to remove any doubts about SPH's media independence," he added.

Although mostly ceremonial, Singapore's president has powers to veto senior appointments to the civil service and government-linked firms such as GIC, which manages around $309 billion, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.

The election comes after the People's Action Party (PAP) swept back to power in May general elections but with a reduced percentage of votes.

Dr Tan will likely face former ruling party parliamentarian Tan Cheng Bock, 71, who is also chairman of Chuan Hup Holdings.

Mr Tan Kin Lian, 63, the former chief executive of NTUC Income has also announced his candidacy.

Mr Tan has been endorsed by members of Singapore's opposition. The PAP has yet to back any particular candidate.

Dr Tan said at a news conference: "I've made it clear that I'm not seeking the backing of any political party but obviously as a candidate I welcome support from all quarters."

Singapore's president is directly elected but the post has only been contested once - the first time it became an elected post in 1993 - mainly because potential candidates must meet several tough requirements.

For example, prospective candidates must either be a former minister or top government servant. If the person comes from the private sector, he or she must have been chairman or CEO of a Singapore-based firm with a minimum paid-up capital of $100 million.

All candidates are then screened by a government committee before the election is held.

Incumbent president SR Nathan, 86, a former senior civil servant, has been in office for two six-year terms and was elected unopposed both times. He has not announced if he would retire or run for another term.

Teo Chee Hean and Tony Tan - Related?

2011-06-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, DPM Teo Chee Hean made the following hard hitting statements about the Elected President.

The statements appear again to target Mr Tan Kin Lian who is running on the platform of a People’s President who will speak up for ALL Singaporeans.

The statements by themselves are not very spectacular coming from a senior PAP leader. I however found it uncomfortable that DPM Teo chose to make the statements. This is because of his family’s relationship with one of the potential Presidential candidates Dr Tony Tan.

To understand the relationship, it is useful to look at the following article published by Sunday Times in January 22 2006.

The article is about Mr Tan Chin Tuan, one of the banking pioneers who founded OCBC. In the article, then Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean pays tribute to Mr Tan’s achievements. In the article Minister Teo says

‘I remember him because he was very kind to my father (Teo Cheng Guan). After the war, he gave my father a job at OCBC and my father worked with him for many years. He was always very kind to our family,’ he added.

If you do a Google Search, you will find that DPM Teo was being modest when he said Mr Tan was kind to his family. His father Teo Cheng Guan rose all the way to the top and was Chairman of OCBC from 1989 to 1991.

In the article, it is also revealed that Dr Tony Tan is the nephew of Mr Tan Chin Tuan. After leaving Cabinet in 1991, Dr Tan returned to OCBC. He took over from DPM Teo’s father and served as Chairman of OCBC from 1992 to 1995.

Given his position as Deputy Prime Minister and his family’s relationship with Dr Tony Tan, it seems inappropriate for DPM Teo to make comments which appear to try and influence the way Singaporeans would vote for their President.

courtesy of TRE.

Lim Chin Siong vs Lee Kuan Yew: The true and shocking history

2011-06-21T05:28:00.000-07:00

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: Lim Chin Siong vs Lee Kuan Yew: true and shocking history
Lim Chin Siong vs Lee Kuan Yew: The true and shocking history
Sunday, 08 July 2007

It will forever change how you see Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP

Schools teach our children that Lee Kuan Yew heroically delivered Singapore from the evil clutches of the communists and gave us what we have today.

Whether such an assertion is historically accurate or not, the Government seems intent to seal this version in the annals of Singapore. When filmmaker, Mr Martyn See, released Zahari's 17 Years in which Mr Said Zahari talked about his 17-year detention, the Government promptly banned it.

It, it stated, "will not allow people who had posed a security threat to the country in the past to exploit the use of films to purvey a false and distorted portrayal of their past actions and detention by the government."

Top-secret documents held by the British Government, now declassified, reveal some jaw-dropping facts about Lee Kuan Yew and how he came to power.

When Lim Chin Siong, another of Lee Kuan Yew's prisoners, died in 1996, the PAP was equally anxious to make sure that Lim's portrayal as a revolutionary communist remained etched in the minds of the people.

In response to a tribute that the SDP had written about Lim, the PAP through then MP Dr Ow Chin Hock, said that the Barisan Sosialis (Socilaist Front), of which Lim was its leader, fought the Government in 1966 "on the streets, according to the teachings of Mao Zedong in the Cultural Revolution."

It was a bald-faced lie. Lim was already in prison under ISA detention in 1966 and could not have led his party in anything.

This, it seems, was not the only untruth that the PAP has been telling us.

For example, Dr Ow pointed out that Lim was not fighting for a democratic Singapore (the cheek) but a communist one. Lim would have turned Singapore into "Mao's China or Ho Chi Minh's Vietnam", the PAP insisted.

Besides, it was the Internal Security Council (ISC) under the command of the British and not the PAP Government, who ordered the arrest and detention of Lim and colleagues.

This was because there were only three PAP representatives on the ISC and they were "outnumbered" by the other four members on the Council, three British and one Malaysian.

Nothing could be more untrue.

Top-secret documents held by the British Government, now declassified, reveal some jaw-dropping facts about Lee Kuan Yew and how he came to power.

Two history scholars studied these papers and presented their findings in the book Comet In Our Sky (available at Select Books at the Tanglin Shopping Centre).

The first is Tim Harper who teaches Southeast Asian history and the history of the British empire at the University of Cambridge in London.

The second is Greg Poulgrain, a professor at Griffiths University in Australia who has been researching Southeast Asian history for more than 20 years.

This SDP feature presents a summary of Dr Harper's and Dr Poulgrain's chapters. It contains some shocking archival material.

It also attempts to answer questions like who were people like Lim Chin Siong and Said Zahari? Did they really pose a security threat to the country? Were they communists hell-bent on undermining constitutional/democratic means of governance in Singapore? Was it really the ISC that was responsible for their arrest and imprisonment? Most important, is the PAP's version of history based on fact?

Remember, this narration is not the SDP's rendition of events past. It is a collective summary of the research done by two historians.

To ensure that this present essay remains faithful to Professors Harper's and Poulgrain's works, quotes from the historians' chapters are used liberally.

Still, don't take our word for it. Get a copy of Comet In Our Sky and read for yourself the real history of the PAP and Barisan Sosialis.

Why bother?

But why is this important? Why should Lim Chin Siong, a man who died more than ten years ago and who led a party which is now defunct, be relevant to the world in which we now live?

Hard, historical facts are the greatest antidote to fear mongering by the state and to the use of national security as a bogey to suppress freedom and democracy.

Lim Chin Siong (right) and Lee Kuan Yew
First, because those events are part of our history, and history defines who we are as a people and, more important, shapes the way we plan our future.

The textbooks that the Ministry of Education writes for our kids are not history but rather fables, starring Mr Lee Kuan Yew. We have a duty to teach our youths the truth.

Also, what happened in the 1950s and 60s continue to be relevant because many of Lim's colleagues are still alive and the sacrifices they made for the independence of Singapore have been all but erased. Their stories must be told and their honour restored.

Third, and perhaps most important, not only is the PAP's cloroxed account used to mentally condition (brainwash, if you prefer) our children, it continues to be used as a weapon to intimidate and silence voices of dissent.

If Lee Kuan Yew can manipulate the security apparatus for his own political ends in the 1950s and 60 as you will note from Dr Harper's and Dr Poulgrain's revelations, what does that say about the present use of the ISD to detain other Singaporeans?

More ominously, what if the PAP feels sufficiently threatened politically and resorts to concocting another conspiracy to detain without trial more Singaporeans and opposition politicians like it did to a group of professionals in 1987?

Hard, historical facts are the greatest antidote to fear mongering by the state and to the use of national security as a bogey to suppress freedom and democracy.

Knowledgeable citizens with a keen sense of history are the best protection against acts of repression in the future.

Goh Keng Swee's Grandson Ken-Yi Sex Scandal

2011-06-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

State-controlled media Channel News Asia carried a story yesterday about former PAP minister and co-founder Goh Keng Swee’s grandson – Goh Ken-Yi being embroiled in a scandalous affair with his former teacher for 20 years which had caused her husband to filed for divorce at a Family Court yesterday.

For some strange reasons, Mr Goh’s name was deleted from the same CNA article today with a different title – “After her twenty year affair, hubby now wants divorce”

According to court papers filed by the husband, the woman who is now 52 allegedly began the relationship in 1988 with Mr Goh Ken-Yi who is only 15 years old then. Mr Goh, 38, is now working as a banker and married with children.

The husband, a businessman in his 40s, said he found credit card statements in 1997, seven years into their marriage, showing shopping and dining expenses. He added that his wife later admitted to meeting her former student. He also discovered emails between his wife and her former student, which allegedly showed “much flirting and sexual innuendo being tossed back and forth between the two”.

The husband later told the court of an email correspondence of an alleged “unofficial school trip” that his wife and her former student made – when the latter was still schooling – where both slept in the same hotel room and “watched each other sleep”. It is not revealed if they had sexual intercourse with each other and if Mr Goh was below 16 years of age then, the legal age for consensual sex in Singapore.

Mr Goh Keng Swee who passed away last year was a co-founder of the PAP and a former Deputy Prime Minister. He was credited with his economic policies responsible Singapore’s impressive economic growth in the 1970s and 1980s.

In his later years, Mr Goh divorced his wife and married a younger woman, a move which was reportedly frowned upon by his puritanical colleague Lee Kuan Yew.

CNA’s last-minute move to censor itself is not surprising. Such scandals involving PAP ministers and their relatives are often censored by the PAP-controlled media to prevent the party’s ‘whiter than white’ and ‘holier than thou’ image from being tarnished.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
After her 20-year affair, now hubby wants divorce
by Ng Jing Yng 04:47 AM Jun 15, 2011

SINGAPORE - She was a teacher in his secondary school and he was a 16-year-old student when the alleged affair began.

Two decades later, after teacher and student married separately and had their own families, the husband of the woman is now filing for divorce.

In a Family Court yesterday, the man accused his wife of "unreasonable behaviour" and of engaging in an "improper association" that has allegedly continued since 1988.

His court papers stated that his wife, now in her 50s and teaching in an all-girls school, has been carrying on an "inappropriate romantic and intimate relationship" with her former student, now 38.

The divorcing couple cannot be named, as it could lead to the identification of their two adolescent children.

But the claims and counterclaims of the couple were laid bare as the hearing began yesterday for a divorce that was filed in August 2009.

According to the court documents, the husband had met his wife when the latter was his private tutor.

The husband, a businessman in his 40s, said he found credit card statements in 1997, seven years into their marriage, showing shopping and dining expenses. He added that his wife later admitted to meeting her former student.

But she allegedly did not cease contact with her former student as promised, even after a year, which was when her husband hit her. She filed a police report.

The couple tried to save their marriage but in 2008, the husband discovered emails between his wife and her former student, which allegedly showed "much flirting and sexual innuendo being tossed back and forth between the two".

This, after the couple had not been having sex for 10 odd years due to the husband's impotence, caused by chronic health problems, according to court papers.

In her defence, the wife denied the claims, including the alleged affair. She said she had actively cared for her family and that her husband had constantly placed a tight rein on her.

Represented by lawyer Koh Tien Hua of Harry Elias Partnership, she counterclaimed that she was often scolded and beaten due to her husband's violent temper and accused him of having an affair, instead, with their former maid.

In subsequent papers filed with the court, she said she had a "purely platonic" relationship with her former student.

The husband, who is represented by lawyer Kevin Lim of Wee Swee Teoh & Co, is denying her claims and is rebutting that his probes were justified due to the ongoing alleged relationship between her and her former student. The man also denied any abuse and said his relationship with their former maid was "entirely platonic".

The court hearing started after about two hours of closed-door hearings, as the couple could not come to a financial agreement.

The husband later told the court of an email correspondence of an alleged "unofficial school trip" that his wife and her former student made - when the latter was still schooling - where both slept in the same hotel room and "watched each other sleep".

During cross-examination, the husband also said the alleged ongoing affair had resulted in his wife treating the family poorly.

The court has adjourned the matter to a later date, when witnesses including the wife's former student and the couple's children are expected to take the stand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wife had affair with ex-student, claims man

She denies this and tells divorce hearing that he physically abused her
By Kimberly Spykerman

A MAN who is divorcing his teacher wife has alleged that she had an improper relationship with a 16-year-old student back in 1988, and that this continued on and off until 2008, when both she and the student were married and had children.

She denies the allegation, and alleges instead that he was having an affair with the family's Filipino maid, and was physically and verbally abusive to her.

The divorce hearing began in the Family Court yesterday, and was adjourned to a later date to be fixed.

The woman, 54, is currently a teacher at a well-known girl's school, while her husband, 47, is the managing director of a company that deals in scientific equipment.

The court has ordered that the couple not be named, to protect the identities of their two sons, aged 20 and 17.

The husband is filing for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, citing his wife's 'improper associations' with the former student, who is now 38 and works in a bank.

Nightingale nursing home - a reason for going to JB when you grow old

2011-06-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

Slapping (below) and Dumping on bed (above)

From: Masturbating Myself
Subject: Nightingale nursing home - a reason for going to JB when you grow old
by Evelyn Lam Li Ting

SINGAPORE - The Nightingale nursing home along Braddell Road has been
stopped from admitting new patients, after staff were found to have
mistreated a resident there.

The incident came to light after MediaCorp alerted the Health Ministry
to a video - taken with a hidden camera at the patient's bedside -
which a relative of the resident had sent.

The video showed an elderly woman sitting next to the bed without any
clothes, while the ceiling fan was going at full blast.

After a while, a worker lifted the patient and threw her onto the bed.
They even slapped the woman after she moaned in pain.

The woman has been a resident of the home for the past four years.

The nursing home, which is privately run, has disciplined the staff
member involved, and put in place additional measures such as getting
senior staff to visit the wards and check staff conduct, and holding
regular meetings with patients and their family members.

The suspension, which MediaCorp learnt about on Wednesday, has been in
effect since April 12.

In a reply to MediaCorp, the Health Ministry said: "There were
significant lapses in the care standards provided to the patient in
question. This should not have happened. There should have been
tighter supervision of staff rendering care to vulnerable patients.
Patient's dignity and respect must be upheld at all times."

A member of the patient's family told MediaCorp: "Of course we are
unhappy with the incident. We sent her there for the nurses to take
care of her, we're disappointed with what happened. We hope by
bringing this matter up, it will help to improve things at the home."

The family has since moved the woman to another nursing home.

The Health Ministry said it will closely monitor the nursing home to
ensure that all additional measures imposed are implemented properly.

It will subsequently ascertain if the suspension imposed on the home
should be reviewed or if further sanctions should be imposed. "Our
inspectors regularly check that all nursing homes are properly
maintained, keep their patient records in order and institute
effective infection control measures," said the ministry.

Nursing home operators are also required to maintain care standards on
medication administration, fall prevention and housekeeping.

Those that do not meet the required standards or which require closer
monitoring for any other reason will be subject to more regular
audits. The ministry will also guide them on how to improve their
performance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two nursing aides from Nightingale Nursing Home along Braddell Road was caught on a spy camera abusing a resident, sparking a massive outroar among Singaporeans.

The video clip was taken by a hidden camera put on a patient’s bedside by his son who suspected that the staff were abusing her mother.

It showed two nursing aides lifting the patient up and throwing her onto a bed. As the elderly woman groaned in pain, one of them was shown slapping her on her mouth:

The showing incident came to light after the Ministry of Health was alerted to the video. It has since suspended Nightingale Nursing Home from accepting new patients.

According to a reader who had a relative staying at the home, most of its staff are from the Philipines and Myanmar.
source: TRE

Who Wants To Be The President?

2011-06-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

truth
From: "truth"
Subject: Tan Kin Lian confirmed he will run for elected Presidency

truth comment: this is indeed very good news for singaporeans. mr tan has
started off very well by suggesting that the presidential office issue an
annual report on the reserves. this is a fantastic idea which all sensible
singaporeans should welcome wholeheartedly.

SINGAPORE: Former NTUC Income Chief Tan Kin Lian has confirmed that he will
be running in the Presidential Election, which must be held by August 31.

On his blog, Mr Tan wrote that he will contest if given the certificate of
eligibility.

He also shared his thoughts on the key role of safeguarding the reserves
that the elected President has to play.

Calling it "holding the second key", he said former President Ong Teng
Cheong had expressed difficulty in performing this role.

Mr Tan said there are two main concerns Singaporeans had shared through
Internet postings on the reserves.

One was the safety of the Central Provident Fund and if the government has
enough money to make payouts to Singaporeans at their respective withdrawal
dates.

The other concern was whether there are reserves to protect Singapore's
economic security in the challenging global financial environment.

Mr Tan said these concerns were worsened by the decline in trust in the
government in recent years and a lack of transparency on the reserves.

He said as the constitution required the elected President to give approval
of past reserves or "reserves accumulated by previous governments", an
understanding was needed of what is defined as "reserves", and what is
considered "past reserves" and "current reserves".

Mr Tan said he will be studying a White Paper, published after former
President Ong Teng Cheong completed his term in 1999, on the principles of
the role to understand if it helped the President to discharge his duties in
an effective manner.

He also elaborated on the approach he would take if elected President.

Mr Tan said it's important to educate Singaporeans so that there is a clear
understanding of the issue and a broad based agreement on how to deal with
the issue.

He said that the Office of the elected President should produce an annual
report showing the reserves of Singapore with financial assets of the
relevant bodies stated at both the book value and market value.

This report, he said, should also show the obligation of the government and
should include the balances held by the people held in the Central Provident
Fund and also the bonds and guarantees issued by the government.

Mr Tan said some may worry that it will be a challenge to produce this
Annual Report.

However, he pointed out that it's what multi-national corporations have to
do now and the accounting profession could produce this type of consolidated
report for the President.

Mr Tan believes the publication of the report would improve transparency and
assure Singaporeans of their financial security.

He also touched on the investment policy adopted in the investments of
Singapore's financial assets.

He asked if the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and Temasek
Holdings should adopt an active investment approach to increase the return
on assets or adopt a conservative approach such as by avoiding speculation
on market timing and asset selection.

Mr Tan said his personal preference is to adopt a conservative approach in
the investment of Singapore's assets and to use the influence of the
President's office to achieve this goal.

He recognised that there may be limitations in the power of the President on
this matter and welcomed feedback from people who have better knowledge of
this issue.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "WanChonRen"

Subject: Re: Tan Kin Lian confirmed he will run for elected Presidency

If Mr. George Yeo decided to run for presidency, it is a matter of whether
the PAP government want to let him be or not. Electing him and rest will be
just a publicity show.

Will French Open Champion Li Na be a Singaporean?

2011-06-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

Video of Li Na winning the French Open at Roland Garros...

China savors Li Na's French Open win
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN

Li Na of China holds the trophy after defeating Francesca Schiavone of Italy in two sets 6-4, 7-6, in the women's final of the French Open tennis tournament in Roland
Li Na's landmark French Open win Saturday drew a massive outpouring of support in China, captivating a nation where tennis' popularity has been growing rapidly.

"People now can feel it, that Chinese tennis is just too tough. This has left a really deep impression on the world," announcer Tong Kexin said on state broadcaster CCTV. "Li Na truly deserves to be called a great champion."

CCTV added the banner "We love you Li Na," to their gushing post-match coverage after Li became China's first Grand Slam champion by beating Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the women's final.

The official Xinhua News Agency sent out a news flash shortly after Li's victory.

"In such a great final, Li Na deserved the win," Xinhua wrote.

Excitement was all over the faces of fans who gathered at the Green Bank Tennis Club on Beijing's northern edge to eat barbecue, drink beer and see China's long wait for a Grand Slam champion finally come to an end. Watching the award ceremony on a big-screen TV set up on the court, they cheered, jumped the net and waved Chinese flags.

"Throughout China's history people knew nothing of tennis. Now we're standing on the summit of the world game," said Zhang Yueming, the club's general manager.

Chen Jiaojiao, who said she hails from Li's home province of Hubei, called the win "a huge boost of confidence for Chinese tennis."

"She's brought the country so much glory. She's really incredible," Chen said.

China is experiencing the second wave of Li fever this year following her runner-up finish at the Australian Open that saw her dubbed "the pride of China" by the mainstream media.

Chinese tennis federation head Sun Jinfang was widely quoted at the time as comparing Li to Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Olympic hurdle champion Liu Xiang, until now China's best known international professional athletes.

Still, the celebrations on Saturday might have been bigger under different circumstances. Li clinched the victory shortly after 11:00 p.m. local time on a holiday weekend when many Chinese had left the cities to visit family. Tennis is considered an elite sport in China and while the numbers of players are growing quickly, it still runs far behind basketball, soccer, table tennis and other sports in numbers of participants.

Li's victory is expected to change that, a prospect she addressed in her post-match remarks to CCTV.

"I hope that lots of kids see my performance and in their hearts feel that one day they can do even better than me," she said.

Tennis fan Shi Xinli predicted the win's effect on Chinese tennis would be "like a mighty storm."

"I don't know how many kids are going to be taking it up, how many parents are going to be paying for lessons," said Shi, a stock investor.

Three Children Died In Mount Elizabeth

2011-06-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

3 Saudi children die in a week at Singapore hospital
FAHD AL-DHIYABI

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health has stopped all treatment of Saudis at a Singapore hospital after three Saudi children died there in one week. The children had been referred there for bone-marrow transplants.
The ministry said it will provide patients with treatment in other advanced countries.

Two girls, Rawabi Al-Hazmi and Darin Al-Areeni, died on May 14 and May 19 respectively.

A boy, Muhammad Abu Zinadah, died before Friday prayers on May 20.
Another boy, Ibrahim Al-Shar’aan, died on March 26.

The causes of death, according to the hospital’s reports, ranged from rejection of transplanted organs to viral infections, officials said.

The children’s guardians lodged official complaints against officials from the Ministry of Health and the Kingdom’s Embassy in Singapore, who referred them to the hospital.

They said they were lured into accepting treatment for their children at the hospital, which presented them with false reports about its high percentage of successful operations, according to officials.

The families of the dead children expressed astonishment at the Ministry of Health’s decision to refer the children for treatment at the hospital despite knowing that a Saudi patient had died there previously.

Okaz/Saudi Gazette was unable to reach Dr. Khalid Al-Hussein, chairman of the Medical Commission for the Treatment of Saudis Abroad to discuss the matter. His office staff said he would return on Saturday.
– Okaz/Saudi Gazette

---------------------------------------------------------

by Dinesh Chandra Gaur on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 12:19 Health TNM Singapore
The Singapore medical tourism is expected to be badly hit this year, following the death of three Saudi Arabian children at Mount Elizabeth hospital. Confirming the news, Mr. Borhan Saini, Chief Executive of Wellcare Holdings International, claimed that five expected medical tourists, to be reached next month, have canceled their appointment with Singapore’s hospitals.

As per sources, the questioned patients, Rawabi Al-Hazmi, 9, Darin Al-Areeni, 5 and the boy, Muhammad Abu Zinadah, were reported to have died on May 14, May 19 and last Friday, respectively, after the failure of bone marrow transplants.

With 5% of Middle Eastern’s clientele at stake, Mr. Borhan is of the view that the cancellation from the clients has come at the time, when Mount Elizabeth is being questioned over its medical services, following the death of three children.

Moreover, Mr. Syed Munir Iqbal, Executive Director of Medi-Connect Singapore, has also sided with Borhan’s view and reinforced the belief that the recent case at Mount Elizabeth has played a crucial role in reducing the number of enquiries from Saudis.

Though Mount Elizabeth defended their treatment, Singapore's Ministry of Health has apparently has not received any complaint from the Saudi government and the families of the dead children
--------------------------------------------------------
Defend by Mt E....
Three Saudi children who died at Mount Elizabeth were 'critically ill'
by Neo Chai Chin
SINGAPORE - Three Saudi Arabian children died within a week of each other earlier this month at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, prompting the Saudi Health Ministry to order a stop to all medical treatment of its citizens at the private hospital here.

The Saudi Gazette newspaper reported that two girls and a boy died between May 14 and 20. The children, who are believed to be between one and three years old, had been referred to the hospital for bone marrow transplants. However, Mount Elizabeth Hospital chief executive officer Kelvin Loh told MediaCorp yesterday they were complex cases and "critically ill when admitted to our care, with some limited chance for survival".

He added: "It's most unfortunate the mortality rates for these patients were higher than what we would have desired, as a result of ... pre-existing complex medical conditions."

Elaborating on the complexity of the cases, Dr Loh said one child had advanced cancer of the blood with brain involvement and had suffered a relapse after intensive treatment in Saudi Arabia. The boy also had multiple complications arising from infections and was brought to Singapore by his parents to attempt a bone marrow transplant.

"The high risks were explained to his parents, who agreed to proceed, as the child would surely perish without treatment. Despite our efforts ... he continued to suffer from disease recurrence and multiple complications, and subsequently passed away," said Dr Loh, who added that the medical team "was very disappointed with the outcome and share the grief of the family". The hospital is working with Saudi Embassy officials and its government and is in close contact with the patients' families, he said. The embassy here did not reply to queries by press time.

Dr Loh did not say who the lead physician was in the children's cases. But the hospital said that its bone marrow transplant team has performed over 150 transplants since 2005, with a 77-per-cent success rate.

Bone marrow transplant is a high-risk procedure and most commonly used to treat high-risk cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma, in some form of remission, according to Dr Tan Poh Lin of the National University Hospital (NUH).

The risks involved are patient-specific and depend on factors such as type of disease, status of disease at the time of transplant and type of donor, said Dr Tan, senior consultant in NUH's University Children's Medical Institute.

The deaths highlight the risks inherent in medical procedures, said a private surgeon who noted that, with improving medical infrastructure in the Middle East in recent years, the patients who come here are increasingly the complicated, high-intensity cases.

"You come over for a complicated job that no one else in the region can do, it's a different starting point," he said.

A March news report cited the Middle East, along with Indonesia and Malaysia, as the top medical tourism markets for Singapore, and the surgeon thinks a dent in the number of patients from the Middle East is possible, as "any adverse publicity will have an effect, especially in a foreign country".

But the key question, said another surgeon in private practice, is whether the children who died would really have benefited from the treatment they received.

"It comes back to your own experience. Let's say out of 10 patients that people tell you would have died, you managed to save one or two persons - so instead of 100-per-cent deaths, you now have 20 per cent who survive. Some patients and their families may accept that. It's very important to establish the track record for such patients of the people who are doing this," he said. He added that a review could be useful, given the three deaths in one week.
--------------------------------------------------------
SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Health has revealed to MediaCorp that it "has initiated an investigation" after the deaths of three Saudi children at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

This latest development comes after "the families of the patients" wrote to the Singapore Embassy in Riyadh, said the ministry yesterday.

Revealing this in response to queries from MediaCorp, the ministry added: "However, we are unable to reveal more due to patient confidentiality."

The authorities did not reply yesterday when asked when and how many families had written to the Singapore Embassy, what - if any - allegations had been made or what sort of investigation the ministry has initiated.

Last week, when contacted after the story first broke in today, the MOH had said it was "gathering facts" into the deaths of the children, aged between four and nine, who had come here for bone marrow transplants.

Mount Elizabeth Hospital chief executive Dr Kelvin Loh had explained previously that the three children's cases were complex. They were critically ill when admitted, with some limited chance for survival, but the hospital's medical team had striven for the best outcome possible, he said.

The children had died within a span of a week, one of them after returning to Saudi Arabia. Another child had died in March.

While the Saudi Health Ministry had ordered a halt to all medical treatment of its citizens at the hospital following the deaths, the MOH said last week it had not received any complaints yet. Attempts to reach the Saudi embassy here for comment have been unsuccessful.

However, it is believed that the parent of a child who survived an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant at Mount Elizabeth wrote last Saturday to the MOH to provide names of Saudi children who were due to undergo or had undergone transplants at the hospital. The ministry has responded to say it was looking into the matter.

Singapore Has Highest Proportion of Millionaires

2011-06-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

As World Millionaires Multiply, Singapore Holds Its Lead
by Venessa Wong
Friday, June 3, 2011

Overall, global wealth grew fastest in the Asia Pacific region last year. North America came in second.

Singapore seems modest by some measures: Median income among working households was only about S$5,700 (about US$4,500) in 2010, according to the Singapore Department of Statistics. Yet in this small island nation of only 5 million, known for extravagant shopping, high-end restaurants, and draconian chewing-gum laws, nearly one in every six households has more than $1 million in assets, making it the densest population of wealthy households in the world, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group.

As the financial markets improved last year, global wealth grew in nearly every region in the world. The fastest, at 17.1 percent, came in the Asia Pacific region (excluding Japan), followed by North America at 10.2 percent. "Global wealth is at an all-time high," says BCG Senior Partner Monish Kumar.

According to BCG's study, global assets under management grew 8 percent, to $121.8 trillion, about $20 trillion above the level during the depths of the global financial crisis. The number of millionaire households grew 12.2 percent, to 12.5 million, and although they represented only 0.9 percent of all households, they held 39 percent of global wealth.

Only Liquid Assets

BCG looked at 62 markets covering more than 98 percent of global GDP and measured assets that included cash deposits, money market funds, listed securities held directly or indirectly through managed investments, and onshore and offshore assets — but not wealth attributed to investors' own businesses, residences, or luxury goods.

Wealth in North America, the world's richest region, had the largest dollar-value gain: $3.6 trillion. The U.S. remains home to the most millionaire households — 5,220,000 (up 10.7 percent from 4,715,0000 households in 2009) — although the share was only 4.5 percent of all households, BCG data show.

While China and India are driving wealth creation in Asia, Singapore also grew at a fast pace. The number of millionaire households in Singapore jumped about 38.6 percent in 2010, to 170,000, from nearly 123,000 in 2009, according to BCG data. The country has had the largest proportion of millionaire households for several years, and the share continues to grow: Singapore's millionaire households increased to 15.5 percent of total households in 2010 from 11.4 percent in 2009.

The rise is due to Singapore's expanding economy, which has grown mainly on such exports as consumer electronics and pharmaceuticals, as well as financial services. Real GDP growth averaged 7.1 percent per year from 2004 to 2007, according to the CIA World Factbook and reached nearly 14.7 percent in 2010—faster than China's 10.3 percent growth rate.

Not Just Tycoons

Among Singapore's well-known billionaires are Wee Cho Yaw, chairman of United Overseas Bank Group (Singapore: UOB - News), as well as the families of the late real estate mogul Ng Teng Fong and financier and hotelier Kho Teck Phuat. Still, many of the country's wealthy are not tycoons but entrepreneurs and affluent immigrants, says Tjun Tang, partner and managing director of BCG in Hong Kong. Other billionaires include philanthropist Richard Chandler in New Zealand and real estate developer Zhong Sheng Jian in China.

City-states such as Singapore, along with other small countries and administrative regions with a high density of millionaire households, such as Switzerland, Qatar, and Hong Kong, tend to be hubs of commerce and finance and have greater economic generation within a smaller population, says Tang.

Another factor driving wealth: Singapore's investor scheme, which grants permanent residence to certain investors, says Tang. According to the website of Janus Corporate Solutions, people can "invest [their] way to Singapore permanent residence" by investing more than a certain minimum in a new business startup or Global Investor Program-approved fund or in expanding an existing business in Singapore.

More Money, But Higher Costs

With this wealthy population comes a relatively high cost of living. In a 2010 cost-of-living survey of 214 cities by consulting firm Mercer, Singapore is the 11th most expensive city in the world for expatriates, on a par with Oslo and more expensive than New York City.

Mercer also gave Singapore high scores in its 2010 quality-of-life study of 221 cities: It was the top-scoring Asian city, followed by Tokyo.

The economic trends remain a concern around the world, yet BCG expects that with strong capital markets, GDP growth, and increased savings, global wealth will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.9 percent through 2015. Singapore has already led with the highest proportion of millionaire households for several years. With the Asia-Pacific region's share of global wealth expected to increase to 23 percent in 2015, from 18 percent in 2010, Tang says, "the trends seem to be in Singapore's favor."

Here are the countries with the highest proportion of millionaires:

No. 1: Singapore
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 15.5%
Number of millionaire households: 170,000
2009 ranking: 1

Singapore is home to the world's greatest concentration of millionaire households. Deloitte expects that by 2015, it may surpass Switzerland in per capita wealth among millionaire households. Singapore is Asia's eighth-most-expensive location, according to ECA International.

No. 2: Switzerland
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 9.9%
Number of millionaire households: 330,000
2009 ranking: 3

With nearly one in 10 households in Switzerland a millionaire household, the country is one of the world's most expensive. Residents of Geneva and Zurich pay about 20 percent more on average for products, services, and accommodation than do people in other Western European cities, according to a UBS study. Food prices in particular are high — about 45 percent above levels in the rest of Western Europe.

No. 3: Qatar
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 8.9%
Number of millionaire households: 30,000
2009 ranking: 2

Qatar is the world's fastest-growing economy, as well as one of the richest: Annual GDP growth is estimated at 19.4 percent in 2010, with per capita GDP at $145,300, according to the CIA's World Factbook. The country has the world's third-largest reserves of natural gas, with oil and gas accounting for more than half of GDP, 85 percent of export earnings, and 70 percent of government revenues.

No. 4: Hong Kong
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 8.6%
Number of millionaire households: 200,000
2009 ranking: 4

In the past decade, Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to mainland China and its service industry grew to more than 90 percent of GDP. While Hong Kong's GDP fell in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, recovery began in the third quarter of 2009 and in 2010 the economy grew by nearly 6.8 percent, according to the CIA's World Factbook. The housing market also continues to grow tremendously: In 2010 Q4, home prices were up 20.1 percent year-on-year, according to Knight Frank.

No. 5: Kuwait
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 8.5%
Number of millionaire households: 40,000
2009 ranking: 5

Petroleum accounts for nearly half Kuwait's GDP, 95 percent of export revenues, and 95 percent of government income, according to the CIA's World Factbook. The rise in global oil prices has boosted government budget revenue and revived government consumption and economic growth.

No. 6: United Arab Emirates
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 5%
Number of millionaire households: 50,000
2009 ranking: 6

Since oil was discovered in the U.A.E. more than 30 years ago, the country has transformed itself from an impoverished region to a modern state with a high standard of living, high per capita income, and a sizable annual trade surplus, according to the CIA's World Factbook. Oil and gas output represents about 25 percent of GDP.

No. 7: United States
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 4.5%
Number of millionaire households: 5,220,000
2009 ranking: 7

After declining in 2008, the U.S. millionaire population grew in 2009 and continued to rebound in 2010, according to BCG. While the economy has shown only slight improvement, the U.S. still has by far the most millionaire households of any country, as well as the largest number of ultra-high-net-worth households (those with more than $100 million in assets under management).

No. 8: Taiwan
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 3.6%
Number of millionaire households: 280,000
2009 ranking: 8

Taiwan has a widening wealth gap: In 2009, the top quintile of income earners made 6.34 times as much as the bottom quintile, up from 5.5 times 10 years ago, according to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics. The government recently considered passing a luxury tax on: non-owner occupied homes sold within two years of purchase; automobiles, yachts, helicopters, and airplanes that cost more than TWD3 million (about $104,700); and ivory, coral, furs, and furniture worth more than TWD500,000 (about $17,400), reported the Christian Science Monitor.

No. 9: Israel
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 3.4%
Number of millionaire households: 80,000
2009 ranking: 10

The share of millionaire households remains high in Israel, which has shown signs of economic recovery. Following growth of 4 percent in 2008, Israel's GDP slipped by 0.2 percent in 2009, then rose by 3.4 percent in 2010 as exports rebounded, according to the CIA's World Factbook. Home prices in Israel were up year-on-year during each quarter in 2010, show data from Knight Frank.

No. 10: Belgium
Millionaire households as a share of country's total households: 3.1%
Number of millionaire households: 140,000
2009 ranking: 9

Belgium has the greatest concentration of millionaires among EU member countries. Residents do not pay a wealth tax, but are subject to personal income tax, as well as withholding tax, social security, inheritance and gift tax, and communal taxes, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Next Prime Minister Will Be An Indian?

2011-05-29T07:53:00.001-07:00

killnotthesnake:
May 29, 2011 at 10:53 am killnotthesnake(Quote)
Yes. These Indian really gets the best of both worlds. Even after they became singapore citizens, they, their children and grand children are still considered as Overseas Indian Citizens(OIC) back home. Basically, they are almost like any Indian citizen, only without voting rights. They can buy houses, work and live freely like a citizen. And if they choose to, they can become an Indian citizen again anytime! This was told to me by an Indian acquaintance who was showing off the options he has. How loyal can these people be to their host country?

http://www.immihelp.com/nri/overseascitizenshipindia/oci-benefits.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: soc.culture.singapore, soc.culture.indian, soc.culture.malaysia, soc.culture.hongkong, soc.culture.taiwan, soc.culture.asean
From: "AleXX"

Subject: In no time, The skyline of Singapore will be march darker and half filled by these people

Just like what one of the ex-MP had said:
One evening, I drove to Little India and it was in complete darkness but not
because there was no light, but because there were too many Indians around."

More Kekling MP in parliament and if there will be another kekling kia
prata-man President, the situation will be even darker :)

With 3 of the top Ministers, including Finance & Law, (not to mention the President is already Indian), there is a very strong likelihood that the next Prime Minister is going to be an Indian for the first time. PM Lee is admittedly more open and less racist than his dad, so my bet is for them Indian to take the limelight from now on.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Singapore-based magazine, Pardesi Pulse (http://www.pardesipulse.com) has published an article on the Indian expatriate community in Singapore. Pardesi’s main focus is on the Indian Diaspora. It is distributed free on charge in various locations in Singapore. The article is published in the April/May 2011 issue and written by Aprajita Anil. The title is “Expat Indians living the best of both worlds”.

The main points are follows:

* There are about 400 000 expat Indians and the figure is rising.
* Some had been here more than 10 years while others had been here for a fairly shorter period of time.
* One unconfirmed figure states 2500 expat Indians have taken up Singapore citizenship for the “past one year”.
* Dr Ashutosh Prakash of Tan Tock Seng Hospital has been living in Singapore for 3 years. He says it is quite easy for the expat Indians to adjust as Indians had been an integral part of Singapore society.
* He uses the example of the major Indian festival Diwali is a national holiday. In addition, there is the wide availability of Indian culture ranging from food to films.
* He also mentions that if he needs to go back home, it is just a 5 hour flight. He feels he is experiencing the best of both worlds.
* Mr Ajay Sundar, manager of a multinational firm, is 7 years old in Singapore. He feels the perception of how locals react to foreigners is critical.
* Ms Divya Bhardwaj, a home-maker. According to her 4.5 years’ local experience, older local Indians are friendlier towards their expat counterparts.
* Neethiya Sadagopal, communications manager of a multinational corporation (MNC) speaks from a local’s perspective. Some expat Indians think of themselves as the original “desi” (subcontinent Indians) while local Indians have lost their “originality”.
* While the expats try to show off a superior attitude, locals become cold and unfriendly towards the expats.
* The expat Indians interviewed for this article seem to be holding regular PMET (professional, managerial, executive and technician) positions. There is no example of anyone holding a highly-specialized position.
* There is no mention of positions which are said to be experiencing a so-called shortage of suitable locals as claimed by the ruling PAP (People’s Action Party) regime.
* There is also no suggestion of whether the expat Indian influx is due to the India-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

Chan Chun Sing Wants Code-of-Conduct For Internet Flamers

2011-05-28T02:47:00.000-07:00

Chan Chun Sing wrote this in his Facebook page:
Looking for ideas to promote responsible code of conduct for internet usage. Should new media be subject to same standards as conventional media? Is it possible to execute even? If not, how can we preserve the sanctity of new media as a trusted platform for collaboration/sharing?
-------------------------------------------------
Some interesting responses from various sources:

Jason Tan: The first forum to be REMOVED is Hardware Zone forums. It is the birth of FLAMERS. If they can't get it moderated, it is high time the forum be SHUT DOWN permanently to stop the breeding of more younger flamers.

Michael Tan: Allow me, ladies, gentlemen and Mr. Chan, to make an assumption. I assume that Mr. Chan is wondering how information on the internet from the other political parties can be curbed and regulated so that it results in presenting the PAP in a better light and subsequently win them more supporters over. As this is only an assumption. I wait for Mr. Chan to state his true intent so that we know whether this assumption can be consigned to the dustbin of history or kept on a life support system.

Kai Herng Loh: This is a horrible idea. In the first place, the "standards" conventional media are subjected to is a disgrace to Singapore, placing us near countries like Afghanistan in terms of press freedom. If this is to be opened as a topic for discussion, what should be discuss is how to ensure greater diversity in the mainstream media and increased press freedom, instead of trying to clamp down on online activity. Singaporeans have high expectations for you as a Minister for State in MICA, and we hope you live up to them.

Winston Yean: New media can be a trusted platform for the community because it is relatively uncensored and free for all. Responsibility in new media has to stem from the wisdom and passion of its participants, not by an external regulator. The extremism of new media today is partly because gov't has not engaged it in a meaningful way (Reach and fb pages alone don't count), so radical views get more than their fair share of airtime without being balanced by institutional views. And frankly. you can't engage without getting your hands dirty and taking some spills along the way. So develop a thick skin, don a flameproof jacket and wade in! Oh, and keep your sense of humour - it helps.

Emeritus Robox: Dear Winston, you say, "The extremism of new media today is partly because gov't has not engaged it in a meaningful way."

I would say that the extremism of GOVERNMENT has got everything to do with them not engaging their critics in any meaningful way. Don't you think?

decoy: what is cheebye kia paper general talking about? am i manipulating
anybody? maybe he has lots of retarded children who will believe
absolutely everything they read online or offline. nah. children
should be taught (very important, their survival may depend on it)
that just because somebody or even a political leader or a fucked-up
paper general says something, that does not mean it is true and fair
and good for them. they should be taught to analyse information,
verify information, exercise caution and good judgement. hey, paper
general, i worry about the way your bring up children. just because
the world out there is a big and dangerous place for gullible, half-
wit little monkeys, you can't just go out and shoot everybody, you
wacko, bloodthirsty, shit-head bastard. neither can you gag everybody
or try to frighten them and make them shut up. do you have any common
sense, paper general, whatever your fuckin' name is? if not, come on
over and suck my prick in a bottle of formalin and get some
nourishment for your little monkey brain. / ask your children to read
this to you and see if they don't laugh. (if they don't laugh, take
them to a psychiatrist - you've damaged their minds.)

truth wrote:
I am disapointed with this pap "high flyer".
Who are the people who manipulated Singaporeans ?

Ask any ordinary Singaporeans, and the vast majority will tell u it is the
papist Leegime and the state controlled media who manipulated Singaporeans.
The chief pap manipulator is non other than Lee Kuan Yew.

Second, he is implying that young Singaporeans are so gullible that they can
be easily manipulated. Always remember the internet is free for all and so
for anyone who try to manipulated and spread lies, there are others who will
correct it. So it is up to the individual himself to decide.
In the main stream media, only one side of the story is told.

Kichew Chan better wise up and start over again. If he continue to pursue
the path he is on he will meet with disaster.

asdf asdf :
On May 29, 5:43 am, invis wrote:
> Chan Chun Sing thinks that the internet is for PAP to play masak
> masak.
> Could someone please have mercy on this nincompoop and tell him that
> the internet is a gift from God to mankind to destroy despots and evil
> men like Lee Kuan and his family. It's God's gift to level the playing
> field. Too many innocent Singaporeans and their loved ones have
> suffered utmost pain and degradation just because their opinions
> differ from the motherfucker Lee Kuan Yew and his late wife.
> If Chan Chun Sing can't stand the heat in the hell-hole (Singapore)
> created by Lee Kuan Yew in the first place, please pack up and fuck
> off and no one will miss him.
> P.S. Who thinks Chan Chun Sing can control the internet, kee chiu? LOL

Responsible code of conduct for internet usage?
What about responsible and accountable leaders? Like promising Swiss
living standard, but not delivering it. Transparency in how money is
collected and used?

PM Lee 's 36 Rules for PAP Member of Parliament

2011-05-27T02:29:00.000-07:00

wiseguy wrote:
May 28, 11:32 pm
LOL!!! In another sign of post-election 'repentance', Ah Loong has
released to the public, a letter written by him to those lightning
party Members of Pariahment who managed to survive thru the recently-
concluded GE.

Basically, it tells them to behave themselves or else, the party will
suffer another backlash from us peasants The letter is 7 pages long
and very wordy...so some of these elite-scholar MPs may still not get
the message, like dat clown who said ministers must be paid millions
of dollars juz so they can talk to non-peasant types like, taukehs,
taipans & tycoons.

So I have come up with some examples below to help Ah Loong's case:
One example, if floods are to strike S'pore again, take action
immediately. Dont wait 1 week later, when you cannot drive out of your
landed property becoz of the floods, then you start to 'kaupeh-
kaupoo'. That may looked like abuse of position by us peasants.

2nd example, buying kate spade bags is one thing if you can afford it.
But pse dont tell your hard luck story that u have yet to bring your
parents to Universal Studios. That's not a hard luck story. For us
peasants, a hard luck story is when a father had to throw himself in
front of a moving MRT train becoz the $10 in his pocket is all he had
left in this world to feed his family.

3rd example. If a case like... the father who threw himself in front
of a moving MRT train becoz the $10 in his pocket is all he had left
to feed his family...happened to fall on you, pse dun say stupid
things like the poor dad should have come to you for help. YOU. Yes,
you...should take the initiative to go out and look for these hard
luck cases first rather than wait for these hard-luck cases to come to
you. In fact, we heard of instances where these hard-luck cases did
come to you, but were told to 'get out of their elite faces'.
If you can think of some more examples, please feel free to
contribute....

The Prime Minister's Office issued on Friday a letter laying down the rules on how the People's Action Party's (PAP's) Members of Parliament should behave.

In the seven-page letter released to media, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pointed out that the PAP's reputation for clean, incorruptible government was one of the party's most precious assets, and that every MP of the party "must uphold the rigorous standards that we have set for ourselves, and do nothing to compromise them".

He also noted that the recently-concluded General Election has shown that voters have concerns which need to be addressed, and that the government will have to significantly improve outreach to the voters.

He urged the MPs to "listen hard to voter concerns, help them to tackle pressing needs, reflect their worries and aspirations to the Government and persuade them to support policies which are in their own long term benefit."

The Prime Minister also emphasised that the MPs must separate their public political positions from their private business or professional interests, including their responsibilities as directors of a board of private or publicly-listed companies.
In general, he said that the MPs "must always uphold the high standards of the Party and not have lifestyles or personal conduct which will embarrass themselves and the Party."

"Any slackening of standards, or show of arrogance or indifference by any MP will erode confidence in him, and ultimately in the Party and Government," he added.
The PM's letter is re-posted in full below. What do you think of these dos and don'ts for PAP MPs? What do you think of PM Lee for issuing these rules?

RULES OF PRUDENCE
1. Our Party has won 81 out of 87 seats in the just concluded General Election. The opposition contested 82 seats, of which the PAP won 76, with 60.1% of the votes.

SERVING IN A NEW ERA
2. The people have given us a clear mandate to carry out our programmes. We must fulfil what we have promised to do in our manifesto. We must never break faith with the people, but always carry out our duties to them responsibly, address their worries and advance their interests.

3. The elections have shown that voters have concerns which need to be addressed. The Government will have to significantly improve our outreach to voters, our approach to formulating policies, and our policies themselves. As MPs, you play key roles in all these areas. You have to listen hard to voter concerns, help them to tackle pressing needs, reflect their worries and aspirations to the Government and persuade them to support policies which are in their own long term benefit.

4. Singapore is in a new phase of its political development. The PAP government has to operate and govern in a different way than before. But two things should not change. First, we must always hold fast to the spirit of service to the people, and work hard on their behalf. Second, we must never compromise the high standards of honesty and integrity, which have enabled the PAP to keep trust with the people all these decades.

UPHOLDING OUR REPUTATION AND INTEGRITY
5. The PAP's reputation for clean, incorruptible government is one of our most precious assets. As PAP MPs, your standing in society reflects this high standing of the Party as a whole. I cannot stress strongly enough that every MP must uphold the rigorous standards that we have set for ourselves, and do nothing to compromise them. Never give cause for accusations that you are misusing your position, especially your access to Ministers. This would discredit both you and the Party.

6. As MPs, you will come across many different sorts of people. Some will be altruistic, public spirited people who will help you without wanting anything in return, spending their time and money to get community projects going and to serve your residents. But a few will cultivate you in order to obtain benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and statutory boards to make decisions in their favour. Gift hampers on festive occasions, entertainment, and personal favours big and small are just a few of countless social lubricants which such people use to ingratiate themselves to MPs and make you obligated to them.

7. You must be able to distinguish between these two groups of people, and be shrewd in assessing the motives of those who seek to get close to you. At all times you must be seen to be beyond the influence of gifts or favours.

8. You should be scrupulously proper in your contacts with government departments or public officers. Do not lobby any ministry or statutory board on behalf of anyone who is not your constituent or grassroots activist. Do not raise matters with public officers on behalf of friends, clients, contractors, employers, or financiers to advance their business interests. To be above board, conduct business with public officers in writing and avoid making telephone requests. If you have to speak, follow up in writing to put your requests on record.

9. MPs are often approached by friends, grassroots leaders or proprietors of shops and businessmen to officiate at the openings of their new shops or other business events. They usually offer a gesture, such as a donation to a charity or constituency welfare fund. Though you may find it awkward to refuse such requests, once you accept one, you will be hard-pressed to draw a line. As a rule, you should decline invitations to such business events unless you have obtained prior approval from the Whip. The Whip will grant approval only if the business is one that will add much value to the economy.

SEPARATING BUSINESS AND POLITICS
10. You must separate your public political position from your private business or professional interests. MPs who are in business, who occupy senior management positions in companies, or who sit on company boards should be especially vigilant. You must not exploit your public position as Government MPs, your close contacts with the Ministers, or your access to government departments and civil servants, for your personal business interest or the benefit of your employers. Your conduct must always be above board.

11. MPs who are employed by companies or industry associations may at times have to make public statements on behalf of their company or industry association. If you have to do so, make it clear that you are not speaking as an MP, but in your private, professional or business capacity.

12. When you raise questions in Parliament related to your own businesses, you should first declare your pecuniary interest in the issue. Do not use Parliamentary questions as a means to lobby the Government on behalf of your businesses.
13. You may, however, speak freely to Cabinet Ministers, who are your Parliamentary colleagues. Ministers will listen carefully to arguments on principles, especially when they relate to the general policy of their Ministries. But Ministers will not change individual acts of discretion, unless they have very good reasons which they can justify publicly. Parliamentary Secretaries and Ministers of State who intervene in their Ministries to reverse or alter decisions should promptly report the matter to their Ministers to protect themselves against possible accusations of misconduct. The Government must always base decisions on the merits of the issues, and cannot yield to pressure from interested parties.

DIRECTORSHIPS
14. MPs are often invited to serve on the Boards of private and publicly listed companies. This is a sign that private sector values PAP MPs' integrity and service, and reflects the high standing of the Party and of PAP MPs in general. The Party permits MPs to serve as directors, provided you keep your private and public responsibilities rigorously separate.

15. The public will closely scrutinise your involvement in companies, because you are a PAP MP. You should conduct your business activities so as to bring credit to yourself and to the Party. Adverse publicity on your performance as a director, or lapses in the companies you are associated with, will tarnish your reputation as an MP and lower the public's regard for the Party.

16. You should not solicit for Directorships in any companies, lest you appear to be exploiting your political position to benefit yourself.

17. You should not accept directorships where the company just wants to dress up the board with a PAP MP or two, in order to look more respectable.

18. Some grassroots leaders are businessmen who own or manage companies. You should not sit on any boards of companies owned or chaired by grassroots leaders appointed by you, so as to avoid the perception that you are obligated to them or advancing their business interests.

19. If you are offered a Directorship, you have to decide for yourself whether to accept. The Party is not in a position to vet or approve such decisions.

20. Before accepting, consider the possible impact of the Directorship on your political life. Ensure that the company understands that you are doing so strictly in your private capacity, and will not use your public position to champion the interests of the company, or lobby the government on its behalf.

21. Make every effort to familiarise yourself with the business, track record and background of the key promoters of the company. Satisfy yourself that the company is reputable, and that you are able to make a meaningful contribution. Specifically, just like anyone else contemplating a Directorship, you should ask yourself:

a. How well do you know the company, its business strategy, financial status, shareholding structure and the underlying industry?

b. Do you know your fellow directors, the way the Board and its committees fulfil their responsibilities, the reporting structure between Board and Management and the relationship between shareholders and the company?

c. Do you have sufficient industry, financial or professional expertise to fulfil your expected role and responsibilities as a Director? Do you understand your obligations under the law and the Code of Corporate Governance? Will you be able to discharge your fiduciary duties properly and without fear or favour?

d. Will you face any conflicts of interest, and if so can you manage them?
If you are in any doubt, you should decline.

22. Once you have decided to accept an offer of a Directorship, please inform the Whip. Detailed reporting requirements can be found in the Annex.

PARLIAMENT
23. MPs are expected to attend all sittings of Parliament. If you have to be absent from any sitting, seek the prior permission of the Government Whip. Please inform the Whip if you have to leave the Parliament premises while a sitting is on.

24. If you travel abroad, or need to be absent from Parliament for any reason, you must apply to the Speaker for leave, with copies to the Leader of the House and the Government Whip. You should also inform the Whip where you can be reached while away from Singapore.

25. I will ask the Speaker to give all MPs, particularly new MPs, ample opportunity and latitude to speak in Parliament. Your first opportunity will be during the debate following the President's Address at the opening of Parliament. At the Budget Debate, all MPs should speak up. Script your speeches or put your key points in note form to organise your ideas, and help the media.

26. The public expects PAP MPs to express their views frankly, whether for or against Government policies. In debates, speak freely and with conviction.Press your points vigorously, and do not shy away from robust debate. However, please exercise judgement when putting your points across.

27. Bring out grapevine talk for the Government to rebut, but do not unwittingly lend credence to baseless gossip. By doing so, you help ministers to put across the facts, explain the reasons for policies and decisions, and hence maintain public confidence in the openness and integrity of our actions.

28. Your honest, informed views are an important political input which Ministers will consider in formulating and calibrating policies. Ministers will accept valid, constructive suggestions, but they have to correct inaccurate or mistaken impressions. Over time, the public will see that PAP backbenchers are as effective as opposition MPs, if not better, at holding ministers to account, debating issues fully, and influencing policies for the better.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC OCCASIONS
29. On certain occasions, like the National Day Parade and the Investiture Ceremony for National Day Awards, the whole Establishment, i.e. the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, will be there. Those who cannot attend must have very good reasons. Those who have accepted the invitation must attend, otherwise they leave empty seats, which does no credit to them or to the Party.

30. At all public functions and constituency events, punctuality is of paramount importance.

GIFTS
31. You should not accept gifts which might place you under an obligation which conflicts with your public duties. If you receive any gifts other than from close personal friends or relatives, you must declare them to the Clerk of Parliament who will have the gifts valued. If you wish to keep the gifts, you must pay the Government for them at the valuation price.

FUND-RAISING
32. Party Branches should not raise funds on their own without permission, for example by soliciting advertisements for a souvenir magazine or a carnival. If you intend to raise funds, please clear it beforehand with the Organising Secretary. When your branch embarks on a collective fund-raising activity, e.g. a Family Day or Walk-A-Jog, you must follow the rules strictly.

FINANCIAL PRUDENCE
33. As MPs, you should manage your personal financial affairs prudently. Do not over-extend yourself, or become financially embarrassed. This would be not only a potential source of personal embarrassment, but also a weakness which may expose you to pressure or blackmail.

34. In particular, you should not make major financial commitments assuming that you will continue to receive your MP's allowance. While MPs typically serve several terms, you cannot assume that you will automatically be fielded in future General Elections, or that if fielded you will definitely be re-elected. There is no tenure or job security in politics.

DECLARATION OF INCOME
35. For your own protection, every MP should disclose to me, in confidence, your business and professional interests, your present employment and monthly pay, all retainers and fees that you are receiving, and whether your job requires you to get in touch with officers of Government Ministries or statutory boards on behalf of employers or clients. Office holders need not do so because you will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Code of Conduct for ministers. This should be done by 30 June 2011.

GENERAL BEHAVIOUR
36. We have held our position in successive elections because our integrity has never been in doubt, and because we are sensitive to the views and attitudes of the people we represent. MPs must always uphold the high standards of the Party and not have lifestyles or personal conduct which will embarrass themselves and the Party. Any slackening of standards, or show of arrogance or indifference by any MP will erode confidence in him, and ultimately in the Party and Government. New MPs can pick up the dos and don'ts from older MPs, so that they conduct themselves always with modesty, decorum and dignity. You must win respect, not popularity, to stay the course.

MEDIA PUBLICITY
37. I am releasing a copy of this letter to the media so that the public knows the high standards we demand of our MPs.

DIRECTORSHIP DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS TO THE WHIP
1. Please inform the Whip of all the Directorships that you hold, and of the director's fees or benefits in kind e.g. stock options, which you receive. Include the name of the company, the position(s) held, the date of first appointment and the current Chairman of the Board (if he is someone other than yourself) by end January for the preceding calendar year, using the Schedule attached

2. There is no need to report Directorships of subsidiary companies that you hold by virtue of your employment in the main or holding company.

3. Please update the Whip whenever you have relinquished a Directorship or accepted a new appointment, within two weeks.

Did someone paid Ke Xin Ying to smear Nicole Seah?

2011-05-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

Newsgroups: soc.culture.singapore
From: rushid
Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 04:53:42 +0800
Local: Mon, May 23 2011 4:53 am
Subject: Someone paid Ke Xin Ying to smear Nicole Seah

Someone paid Ke Xin Ying to smear Nicole Seah.

According to reliable sources, that "someone" is none other than Tin
Pei Ling. When we tried to contact Tin Pei Ling at her office to give
her a chance to confirm or refute this, she was not available and she
did not return any of our calls. Our calls to her condo were also
unsuccessful.

Our sources added that the amount paid to Ke Xin Ying was $7,500 which
was quite substantial.

We're now checking with some legal experts to see whether civil or
criminal action against Tin Pei Ling is the best recourse for
concerned citizens who want to see that corrupt people like Tin Pei
Ling cannot use their ill-gotten wealth to bully fellow Singaporeans.

Chan Chun Sing - Nephew of Lee Kuan Yew?

2011-05-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

From theonlinecitizen:
The rumor that Chan Chun Sing is a distant relative of Lee Kuan Yew appears to be untrue based on this newsclipping from 1988.

Newspapers - Thanks, Mum
newspapers.nl.sg
Thanks, Mum Chan Chun Sing, 19, one of four top scorers from Raffles Junior College, who had six distinctions, a distinction for the Mathematics S-Paper and a merit for the Economics S-Paper: "My mother is a machine-operator. I do not stay with my father became my parents are divorced."

If we do not ask question, and live in fear all the time, we will never find out the truth.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chan seen here with members of the family at Mrs Lee's funeral...

Zanzibar wrote: May 21, 10:31 am
On May 20, 10:21 pm, adam <> wrote:
> Chan Chun Sing is the bloody nephew of the chief crook Lee Kuan Yew.
> That's why Chan Chun Sing was placed in Tanjong Pagar GRC to get
> back-door entry into 2011 parliament.
> The thing is the crooked Lee family hid the blood ties and hope the
> daft Singaporeans will never know about another blatant case of
> nepotism.
> But the Lee bastards forgot that the internet will expose all their
> shit very fast. The Lee bastards have nowhere to hide now. Thank God
> for the internet.

Saw that picture of him standing behind the Pm family which seemed to
show clearly that he was related to the PM by blood as the seats there
were for them of close family of the Lees.

Seriously, as Chan chun sing is minister; he is of public interest
now, and thus the Pm should be honest to explain it to the public
about his and family relationship with him .

Given that Chan chun sing's direct entry to appointments as minster
with only a acting minister post temporay to camouflage him to his
post, there should be explaination of his relationshions with the PM
on what interest he has with Chan and his family

And given that he was a direct backdoor entry candidate to get to the
public money of 2 million dollar minsterial pay per year job with
potential of 9 months bonus, the PM should explain his relationship to
the people on how his family was related with him..

And so, if Pm is honest and transparent and is true to himself to the
people of Singapore, he should come forward to explain publicly as to
who he is.

THe Pm should explain who is he related to him or family blood, and
why this man was chosen than of others equally qualified others
available in,the inside and outside of the pulbic sector and any
Singaporeans, etc

Is Major General Ki Chew (Chan Chun Sing) related to Lee Kuan Yew?

Over the Vesak Day holidays, an intriguing picture of MG Ki Chew has emerged ( http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/849/unledaic.png ). At the recent funeral of Mrs Lee, he was seen standing at a place normally reserved for close family members (cousins, uncles, nephews etc).

Scroll down to 1/3 of the page and you will see Chan Chun Sing among the
close family of Lee Kuan Yew mourning behind the coffin of Mrs. Lee Kuan
Yew:
http://singstatistician.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html

So who exactly is MG Ki Chew? Could he be the next Prime Minister of Singapore?

Shortly after I published this posting, the Cabinet line up was released. MG Ki Chew is off to a flying start. He is the new Acting Minister for MCYS. In getting this position, he bypassed at least 2 PAP hopefuls who were eyeing the seat.

PM Lee Sacked Wong Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan, Raymond Lim?

2011-05-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

Did Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong altogether sacked five ministers following the ruling party’s smallest margin of victory at this month’s general election?

In the new cabinet announced by him today, K. Shanmugam will be minister for foreign affairs, succeeding George Yeo who was defeated in the May 7 polls, according to a statement today. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who will retain his position as finance minister, is also deputy prime minister and manpower minister. Teo Chee Hean remains as deputy prime minister.

Wong Kan Seng, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Transport Minister Raymond Lim were probably sacked from the cabinet for their incompetence in dealing with the electorate and talking down on them, instead of appeasing them. Monkey and Frog storyteller, Lim Swee Say, also lost his Manpower Ministry mandate though he still keeps his Minister in the PMO (without Portfolio) post.

The new lineup is a “fresh slate after a watershed election,” said Lee at a press conference today. The government will “review existing policies and approaches” and “engage a new generation of Singaporeans,” he said. Shanmugaratnam, who has been Minister of Finance since December 2007, is a former education minister.

The announcement comes after Singapore’s former prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong announced May 14 they will resign from the cabinet to make way for younger leaders. Lee Kuan Yew will be made senior adviser to sovereign wealth fund Government of Singapore Investment Corp., while Goh is senior adviser to the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The new cabinet will be sworn in on May 21.

“The most important decisions are still made in the cabinet at a collective leadership level, so you can expect a great degree of policy continuity despite the changes,” said Ng Soon Nam, Singapore-based chief investment officer at Nikko Asset Management, which oversees about $126 billion. “It’s good that they are refreshing the cabinet.”

Prime Minister Lee’s ruling People’s Action Party won the general election with the smallest margin of popular votes since independence. He pledged his party will change the way it rules after the opposition won a record number of seats in elections that must be held every five years.

The party that has ruled Singapore for more than five decades won 81 out of 87 parliamentary seats and 60.1 percent of the popular vote. Lim Hwee Hua, Singapore’s first woman minister and who helps oversee the finance and transport ministries, also lost this month. A parliamentary seat is a requirement to hold a ministerial post in the cabinet.

Lee Kuan Yew, the father of the current premier, was Singapore’s prime minister when it gained independence in 1965 and handed over to Goh in 1990. The younger Lee took over from Goh in 2004, who stayed in the cabinet as the senior minister.

Singapore’s ministers are among the world’s highest paid, earning millions of dollars annually as the government benchmarks their wages against salaries of chief executive officers and other top earners in the country. The government says such earnings prevent corruption and help attract and retain talent.

Opposition parties in this month’s elections decried the amount of ministerial compensation and compared their wages to those of ordinary Singaporeans who are facing a rising cost of living and depressed wages as a result of an influx of foreign workers.

Negative Growth of Singaporeans' Real Income

2011-05-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

From: "AleXX"

The 2011 elections in Singapore has been an education for me. It
demonstrates the power of the democratic process and importance of checks
and balances in any kind of organization. Power corrupts and absolute power
corrupts absolutely.

Singapore is like a Hollywood movie; it looks perfect. 9% GDP growth, 1.9%
unemployment, 11% of households are millionaires, highest home ownership,
etc, etc. However everyone feels that something is not right. There is a
growing discontent among the citizens. Are we irrational, are we just cry
babies who likes to complain? The problem with statistic is how you choose
to look at the numbers. On the flip side another set of numbers paint a
very different picture.

9% GDP growth, but real median household income grew at only 0.3% for
residents (citizens and PR). That same number becomes 2,8% when you include
the foreigners. If you take the average instead of the median number, the
household income growth quickly reaches 3.8%. To put it in simple terms,
all of the growth is benefitting the foreigners and the richer people. Look
who is getting the raw end of the deal. Of course only some data are
publicly available. When you triangulate and make intelligent guesses,
probably more than 50% of the citizen household here are experiencing
negative real growth in household income despite the robust growth in GDP.

1.9% total unemployment doesn't tell you that 2.7% of residents are
unemployed. With intelligent guess, citizen unemployment is probably close
to 4% in these wonderful times. 11% of households are millionaires; no
wonder the GINI coefficient in Singapore is 0.48%, higher than most
developed countries in the world. (GINI coefficient measures income
disparity in a country).

This is just a very simple analysis based on public data by a common
citizen. In the wise words of Austin Powers; it smells like shit, by god it
is shit. It is not surprising that people on the street is unhappy and
feels that something is not right despite all the hoopla. As I have just
demonstrated, looking at the numbers closely tells a very different story.

This has shown through in the polls. 60% is not a strong mandate and it
will get worst unless the PAP start acknowledging the problems and deal with
it. The first step to deal with the problem is to stop denying that there
is a problem.

WP has shown us that if you put out strong candidates, you can win the
election. I am sure that more credible candidates will look to WP with
confidence and I am sure more will come forward in the next election. I
totally disagree with PM when he said that we do not have enough talent in
Singapore to form 2 parties. That is utter nonsense. The persecution of
opposition in the past has driven out many credible leaders. That is the
real problem.

The credibility of WP and that strong challenge during this election has
shown us that checks and balance are important in politics. It has forced
PAP to deal with the issues and even apologize. This would be unthinkable
just a few days ago, when MM still regarded the PAP as a sacred religion
where repentance is the only way to salvation.

This brings me to the GRC. The intention was to ensure minority
representation, but this is a thinly veil excuse to carry a bunch of MPs who
are not up to scratch. The reality is that PAP cannot find enough talent to
win every seat hence the "buddy" system of averaging the good with the bad.
There are many other ways to solve the issue of minority representation.
The GRC is not the way. When the GRC was introduced there was no
referendum. This is a major change to the constitution. Since we have a
one party government, there was no checks and balance to this fundamental
change in our constitutional rights.

This election witnessed the tragedy of the GRC. Like most things in life it's
a double edge sword. We lost a great minister in George Yeo. Both parties
played a gambit and unfortunately he was sacrificed for the greater good of
the system. George Yeo would have won any SMC hands down, but he was
sacrificed. On the other hand we have many candidates who would have never
won on their own ticket, instead getting a free ride into parliament through
the GRC. Where is the justice in this system.

Now it is 5 more years of analyzing the results and redrawing the electorial
boundaries. Instead, the PAP should refocus on addressing the issues head
on and remember who is their boss. It is certainly not the foreigners.

Lee Kuan Yew for President ?

2011-05-16T02:14:00.000-07:00

From: wiseguy
Subject: Re: Oh, No, Lee Kuan Yew, the President!!!
On May 15, 4:35 pm, beni wrote:
> Just heard from the grape vine that Lee Kuan Yew will fix the coming
> Presidential Election in such a way that he will be elected as the
> President.

> Oh, Shit! Worst nightmare. Singaporeans are fucked for good this time.
> From the frying pan into the fire.

LOL!!! At 88 years old, and SEEN to be in need of physical assistance,
the old man may turned out tol be our 3rd President to die in office.
His Presidency may even be the shortest, who knows?

In the meantime, his crown prince will face another backlash from the
peasants, in the form of another 8% percentage drop in votes in 2016.
------------------------------------------------------

From: Superbee
Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 02:08:00 -0700 (PDT)

Actually, this is the best solution.

When he becomes the President, he will hold the second key to the
reserves. Then he will bring it along to his grave for safe keeping.
That way, no one will be able to touch the reserves and it will be
safe.

This fulfills his pledge that even when he dies, he will "rise up" to
defend what he had built up over the years. PM Lee is so right to say
that MM is MM, he will never change.

SHOCKING REVELATION BY A TOP MINISTER

2011-05-15T03:46:00.000-07:00

Ministers collect pensions at age 55 even in office – DPM Teo
In a desperate attempt to explain the PAP’s pension scheme for its retired ministers which has been making waves in cyberspace, DPM Teo Chee Hean unwittingly revealed the shocking fact that PAP ministers start collect their multi-million dollar pension at the age of 55, even if they still remain in office.

Under the Parliamentary Pensions Act (PPA), political office-holders ranging from parliamentary secretaries to the Prime Minister, including the Speaker of Parliament, are eligible to receive pensions from the state, as long as they have served for a minimum of eight years and are at least aged 50 when they step down.

For every completed year of service, the annual pension amount is raised by 1/27 of the ‘pensionable component’ of his salary. The final ratio, however, must not exceed two-thirds. This means that after 18 years of service, the final ratio used to compute a minister’s pension stops increasing, the Straits Times reported.

Before 1982, office-holders had to step down before they could begin receiving pensions. However, for some strange reasons, it was amended that year to allow office-holders to begin collecting at 55, even if they were still holding office.

This means that there are at least 7 PAP ministers who are still receiving pensions from the state on top of their annual multi-million dollar pay package – MM Lee Kuan Yew, SM Goh Chok Tong, PM Lee Hsien Loong, DPM Wong Kan Seng, Minister in PMO Lim Swee Say and DPM Teo Chee Hean himself.

Former Foreign Minister George Yeo, who is 57 year old this year, has been receiving pension for the last 2 years and for the rest of his life.

The state pension scheme applies only to PAP ministers and senior office-holders and has long been scrapped for the ordinary rank-and-file civil servants.
--------------------------------------------------
DPM Teo dispels ‘seven-digit’ pension rumours
By Alicia Wong

DPM Teo Chee Hean explains why the PMO has decided to clarify pension rumours. (Yahoo! Photo/ Faris Mokhtar).

The Prime Minister's Office has dispelled rumours of seven-figured pension payouts paid to retired ministers annually.

In a letter to the mainstream media on Friday, the PMO said that retired ministers who serve 18 years or more receive a maximum annual pension payout of about one-tenth of their annual salary.

According to the Public Service Division figures for 2009, an entry-grade minister received an annual salary of $1.57 million while a Prime Minister's salary was $3.04 million.

On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean told The Straits Times the PMO saw the need to clarify the situation because of "misinformation" that has been circulating on the Internet after the General Election.

Rumours being spread online said Foreign Minister George Yeo would continue to receive a seven-digit pension sum every year, even after stepping down as a Minister.
DPM Teo said, "I'm not surprised that it (the misinformation) causes some consternation. So it's best to just state what the actual position is and the actual position is quite different from the misinformation that has been going around."
To qualify for a pension, ministers have to serve at least eight years as a political office-holder and be at least 50 when they step down.

Their pension is determined based on the pensionable component of the monthly salary, which has been frozen since 1994, the PMO said in the letter signed by Tan Kee Yong, secretary to the Prime Minister.

A minister qualifies for the maximum pension of two-thirds of this pensionable component of his monthly salary after having served as an office-holder for 18 years. The pension is less if he has served for a shorter period.

The letter said Members of Parliament elected after January 1995 are not eligible for MP pensions, but ministers appointed after 1995 are eligible for ministerial pensions.

Civil servants from the elite Administrative Service and intelligence service officers also receive pensions after a certain number of years in service.
Explained DPM Teo, "There's a very specific reason for a small group of officers to still be on pensions because there is a premium in this case for long-term service in order to provide consistency of policy and implementation.

"But in any case, the value of the pension is fully taken into account as part of a minister's total pay package when we make comparisons with the private sector benchmarks."

The PMO also revealed that the Parliamentary Pensions Act, amended in 1982, for an eligible office-holder to receive a pension at 55 while he holds office is being reviewed.

DPM Teo said, "We are looking at that again because employment and re-employment terms have been changing over the years."

"The retirement and re-employment situation has been under review for quite some time and there have been some changes in the practice, so we want to make sure that this is appropriate still."

Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong - confirmed to retire from Cabinet

2011-05-14T04:15:00.001-07:00

MT3 wrote:
They have completely destroyed our trust in them. What took them so long to realise that their policies only stratify society. Only two classes exists ... the haves and the have nots.

This inevitably leads to the "politics of envy" which MM mentioned decades ago that Singapore must avoid. If this prevails, then chaos will result. This is the price we pay for their "arrogance" and refusal to listen.

The resentment is across many levels of society and may get entrenched deeper. This is the turn of events, if nothing is done.

Evolving out of this will be a transformation and renewal of the way the incumbents go about their business, which cannot be "business as usual". The era of the one party state is slowly dying and there is now, a new beginning.

The resolve to work towards a "two party system" and a first world parliament, will only get stronger and as of now, is not a sure conclusion.

There must be continued vigilance and there must be alternative voices in parliament.

A slower GDP growth will result and whats wrong with that, if there is stability, no civil disobedience and mutual respect.

All the brothers and sisters here, who helped in the dissemination of information can now pat themselves on their back.

This is round one.
================================================
An End To A Major Source of Moral Corruption.

This will at least prevent them from helping the Workers Party to win more seats with their racist comments and silly remarks on Ting Pei Ling, in the next election.

These two oldies are not only a burden to the PAP, they are also a symbol of the moral corruption currently being practised in the cabinet. They are collecting pensions like pensioners, but are also receiving salaries and allowances in whatever names they may choose call it.

And I have not mentioned the exorbitant salaries of all the ministers yet. All of them earning 3 to 5 times the salary of an over-worked and over-stressed American President, who is the next highest paid head of state outside of Singapore.

By the way, even if they are not in the cabinet, it doesn't mean they have no influence over the decision-making process. It just become less transparent, that's all.
---------------------------------------------------
Quote:
SINGAPORE : Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Saturday said they have decided to leave the Cabinet for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his team to have a fresh clean slate.

In a joint statement, they said: "We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future. We have made our contributions to the development of Singapore. The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation.

"The Prime Minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate. A younger generation, besides having a non-corrupt and meritocratic government and a high standard of living, wants to be more engaged in the decisions which affect them.

"After a watershed General Election, we have decided to leave the Cabinet and have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of our Singapore.

"But the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation. This generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well-looked after."
---------------------------------------------
Quote:
SINGAPORE's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said he has not yet decided whether to accept Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's resignations from the Cabinet.

But it is likely he will give his answer by Monday, local media reported. MM Lee and SM Goh announced their decision to retire on Saturday.

PM Lee said the move was initiated by the two leaders themselves but he had already known about it. He said the decision by the two former Prime Ministers to retire was a "major event" for Singapore which would affect his new Cabinet line-up.

Speaking after a post-election victory parade on Saturday, PM Lee said the decision to retire "shows that they are thinking of Singapore and for the future of Singapore."

He added, "The basic consideration is what is the best approach for forming a team which would be most effective in solving problems and establishing rapport and trust with the people going forward for the next five years."
---------------------------------------------------
THE SACKING OF GOH CHOK TONG

Joblessjoe wrote:
On May 15, 3:06 pm, beni wrote:
> Many people in Marine Parade blame Goh Chok Tong for not telling them
> that he was going to leave the cabinet and become an ordinary MP so
> soon after being elected.
> Frankly, I don't think Goh Chok Tong expected the old bastard Lee Kuan
> Yew to act so fast against him. Goh must be thinking that he had at
> least a few months to gather all his gang, including George Yeo, and
> some other veterans and plot the overthrow of the pondan Lee Hsien
> Loong.
> Lee Kuan Yew, on the hand, knows that his days are numbered and he has
> to destroy Lee Hsien Loong's enemies fast. If not, these enemies will
> pounce on pondon Lee Hsien Loong and tear him into a million pieces
> the moment Lee Kuan Yew up lorry.

There is no doubt that LHL sacked GCT with the blessing of the old
fox. Probably even with the wily old fox's instruction. In order to
look good to the public, the old fox also "step down". Who is going to
stop the fox from ruling in proxy?

Whatever happens, Singaporeans is not going to buy this wayang. It is
taken as an insult to all Singaporeans.

The writing is already on the wall.... the PAP is in its Death throes.

Tin Pei Ling Promotion and Resignation - Sylvia Lim Resigns From Polytechnic

2011-05-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

Max:
June 2, 2011 at 7:08 pm Max(Quote)
Ernst & Young is embarrassed, PAP is embarrassed, Singapore has been embarrassed, and now I’m certain her husband would be embarrassed since she declared herself to the media that she is impregnable..............
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ask anyone in Ernst & Young Consultancy and she did not resign because she wanted to serve the residents of Macpherson who are elderly and poor (by the way first I am hearing a PAP MP acknowledging there are poor in Singapore). Things have became very uncomfortable to a number of parties including her and her husband.

She worked for Dylis Boey who is Hri Kumar’s wife until her resignation. She got the job thru her PAP work and nothing to do with merit. This is someone who thrives on networking and contacts. She also found her husband in a similar way. She is no expert in business and her brief does not include providing consultancy of any substance. Colleagues of E&Y are not familiar with having provided any consultancy to any kopi tiam which I understand that Ms Tin is comfortable with. The fact that she gave a false declaration does not put her in an organisation of that outlook in a comfortable position.

Her antics and the videos have seriously embarrassed the firm. Consultancy firms such as those depend heavily on perception and image and more than a fair share of appearing professional like. She has become a liability.

To the PAP, they need to rebuild her image from the ground up. Gaining employment thru PAP contacts does not augur well with the population especially when PAP keeps telling the world that they seek out the best.

Many of us know of kids from well known families, born with the silver spoon that went out in the world and did not wish to use their family name to seek employment.

I understand that Ms Boey is particularly embarrassed. I am sure her well brother who is well known fashion icon Daniel Boey must have been horrified by the Ah Lian hat and outfit that made the video the most popular for a long while.

This resignation to her minders is the first step towards re-building her image. I don’t think that she will succeed and surprisingly I her minders are in a similar frame of mind.
Scroobal
Source: Sam’s Alfresco Heaven
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tin Pei Ling has resigned from Ernst & Young
SINGAPORE: Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Tin Pei Ling has resigned from Ernst & Young.

The firm confimred with Channel NewsAsia that this was the case.

Ms Tin revealed her resignation on her Facebook page, through a post made on early Wednesday.

One part of her post read: "After long and careful deliberation, I decided to resign from the firm to focus on my responsibilities in MacPherson and Marine Parade GRC".

That Facebook post drew more than 300 comments, ranging from support to cynicism.

Ms Tin's parliamentary colleagues said they support her resignation.

MP for Marine Parade GRC Seah Kian Peng said: "The residents at MacPherson would be the ones who, in a sense, would see a difference, before and after.

MP for Marine Parade GRC Tan Chuan-Jin said Ms Tin can now focus more on her constituency duties.

Ms Tin's Facebook post said she is considering longer-term career plans, but fulfilling her duties to MacPherson residents is her first and utmost priority.

When contacted, Ms Tin said she would evaluate her career plans a few months or a year down the road, and did not rule out getting another job.

For now, she said she hopes for space to determine priorities in her MacPherson ward.

On her Facebook page, Ms Tin wrote that MacPherson has a large number of elderly and poorer households.

She added that they require and deserve more help and attention.

Ms Tin has been with Ernst & Young for four years.

Her last held position there was senior consultant.
--------------------------------------------------------------

tong wrote:
Just heard that Tin Pei Ling was promoted to a Director in Ernst &
Young. According to Ernst & Young this multiple jump in job grades for
Tin Pei Ling is to reward her for being an elected MP.

What has her being elected got to do with her job in Ernst & Young?
Again according to Ernst & Young spokesperson, Tin Pei Ling will bring
lots of business to the firm.

Is that not a form of corruption especially for an audit firm where
integrity is of utmost importance?

The spokesperson replied, "This sort of you-rub-my- back and
I-rub-yours kind of dealings have been going on in PAP, government
agencies and hundreds of business entities in Singapore. Why should
Ernst & Young be singled out as being corrupt."

Unlike Tin Pei Ling, WP's Sylvia Lim did the honorable thing of resigning from her job in the Polytechnic so as to concentrate fully on her role as MP for her students and for the people of Aljunied.
-------------------------------------------------------
RESIGNATION FROM TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC
AFTER more than 12 years of teaching, Aljunied MP Sylvia Lim has tendered her resignation from her position as a lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic.

Her resignation was in anticipation of an increased workload as an MP, she said in a statement released to the meda.

The Workers' Party (WP) chairman added that it would not be fair to the polytechnic's management, colleagues and students to continue in her teaching capacity while at the same time serving as an elected MP.

She said in her last five years as an NCMP, she has already spent working hours on Parliamentary activities such as sittings and the occasional overseas trip.

And even though the polytechnic's management had been supportive, the years ahead would be even more demanding, she added.

Ms Lim will be in charge of the Serangoon ward, taking over from Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua.

Below is Ms Sylvia Lim's statement in its entirety:

RESIGNATION FROM TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC

This is to confirm that I have, on 13 May 2011, tendered my resignation from my position at Temasek Polytechnic, after more than twelve years of service.

The move is prompted by what I anticipate to be an increased workload after being elected as part of the Workers' Party team for Aljunied GRC in General Elections 2011.

My role at the Polytechnic included teaching full-time and part-time students, as well as co-ordinating continuing education initiatives for adult learners undertaken by the Polytechnic's School of Business. To fulfill these responsibilities well would require sufficient time, focus and dedication.

Already in the last 5 years as Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, working hours have been spent on Parliamentary activities such as sittings and the occasional overseas trip. While the Polytechnic management has supported these national platforms, I foresee that the years ahead as an elected Member will be even more demanding.

After due consideration, I have concluded that it would not be fair to the Polytechnic management, colleagues and students for me to continue in my post at Temasek Polytechnic as an elected MP. I will henceforth explore other career options.

This decision to leave Temasek Polytechnic was arrived at with decidedly mixed feelings, as I have enjoyed my work and colleagues there tremendously. I would like to record my sincere thanks to the Polytechnic management and colleagues for their kind understanding and friendship all these years
----------------------------------------------------
TIN PALIN - BROKE THE COOLING-OFF DAY RULE
From: Zanzibar
Subject: Re: Tin Pei Ling Must Be Disqualified
On May 16, 12:22 pm, Lubin wrote:

> Why is Lee Hsien Loong allowing a criminal to be sitting as an MP in
> Singapore's parliament?

> Is Lee Hsien Loong so daft that we have to remind him that Tin Pei
> Ling broke the Cooling-off Day rules which ironically were imposed by
> PAP in th every first place?

> Don't tell us that the Cooling-off Day rules ONLY apply to Opposition
> candidates and that PAP bitches like Tin Pei Ling are exempted?

Seriously there should be integrity in the election department to come
out to the public in explaining how their decision is or was on this
problem.

Integrity is the key institution incorporated in the election
department in this country of singapore.

The country of Singaporeans knew of this problem in the news and yet
the election department kept mumed of it showed that there is a
integrity problem with them on this matter of public interest.

Is it that the election reports to the Pm office and thus cannot
reveal of their decisions when the problem was arisen from their own
party?

If this was the case, the election department should be removed away
from the PM offce and be reported to an independent body perhaps to
the United Nation?

Lim Hwee Hua blames PAP's Arrogance and Indifference for Defeat

2011-05-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

"Because they (Singaporeans) are not being listened to sufficiently...the party continues to make policies, and using its own intellect and reasoning and sometimes does not seem to listen and occasionally seems to be arrogant and not wanting to listen even when views are offered," Lim Hwee Hua said.

The PAP habit of forcing everything they think is right, down the throats of Singaporeans, is now paying the price in the ballot box. Expect more seats to go opposition's way, since old habits die hard.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lim Hwee Hua quits politics
By Joanne Chan | Posted: 11 May 2011 1214 hrs

PAP's transformation must be in substance, not just words, says Lim Hwee Hua

SINGAPORE: Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, said she will not contest the next General Election in 2016.

She said she will leave it to someone younger as she will be 57 years old.

Speaking at a media conference Wednesday morning, Mrs Lim, who is also the Second Minister for Finance and Transport, said she has served almost 15 years and that's a "reasonable" stretch.

Mrs Lim said she was also surprised by the depth of resentment felt by citizens towards the government, which surfaced during the campaign.

And while the PAP team was expecting a close fight in Aljunied GRC, Mrs Lim said she was still surprised by the outcome. But she said the team respects the decision of the voters.

"There will always be gaps in the way we serve residents that can be addressed. But it's quite clear to us that the outcome was not because of that. It might have changed the results marginally. I think the Workers' Party said as much, that it's a national battle. They have decided on Aljunied as the target, and voters were forced to make a national decision," said Mrs Lim.

She also told the media that the transformation of the ruling People's Action Party must not just be in words but in substance as well.

Mrs Lim said Singaporeans now feel that the PAP is not listening to their opinions and is making policies without their considerations in mind.

"Because they are not being listened to sufficiently...the party continues to make policies, and using its own intellect and reasoning and sometimes does not seem to listen and occasionally seems to be arrogant and not wanting to listen even when views are offered," she said.

Going forward, Mrs Lim said she believes "the party has to make sure it has a response to each of these source of unhappiness.

"I say it should be the origin of transformation," she added.

On how the PAP might try to win back Aljunied at the next election, she said there are a lot of unknown factors. This includes how well the Workers' Party manages Aljunied and the quality of the PAP team that will contest in 2016.

On a personal note, Mrs Lim said she plans to take a break over the next few months. She also doesn't rule out the possibility of returning to the finance sector.

When asked if she may return to Temasek Holdings where she was former a Managing Director, Mrs Lim said she won't rule anything out.

On Tuesday, fellow Aljunied GRC team member, Mr George Yeo also announced his exit from politics.

In the contest for Aljunied GRC in the 2011 General Election, the opposition Workers' Party won 54.71 per cent of the votes, leaving the People's Action Party (PAP) with 45.29 per cent.

Zainul Abidin (PAP MP) blamed LKY for losing the GRC in Aljunied

2011-05-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

oldson sin wrote:
Ex-MP for Aljunied GRC, Zainul Abidin Rasheed told reporters: "You
need only ask the Malays and Muslims in Singapore - many were hurt by
those remarks(by LKY) and remain so".

" No Singaporean must ever feel alienated, or worse, marginialised."
Zainal felt that as a Malay, he has been alienated and marginalized
and remain so.

If this was how he felt as a Malay Singaporean, other Muslims must
have similar feelings. It is no wonder that Malays had voted against
PAP.

Is LKY to be blamed for PAP loss in Aljunied?

From my conversation with the Malays in Aljunied, I gathered, MP
Zainul Abidin had NOT visited them(those living outside his designated
zone) even once in 5 years.

To the Malays in Aljunied, the opposition MPs will be able to speak
more effectively on their behalf in Parliament without the control of
the PAP whip.
--------------------------------------------------------
SINGAPORE - While Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew felt that his remarks about Malays, Muslims and integration did not affect the Malay vote for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed said yesterday: "You need only ask the Malays and Muslims in Singapore - many were hurt by those remarks and remain so".

Mr Zainul, who was a member of the PAP Aljunied GRC team which lost the General Election (GE), made this point to "show how easily the knots of racial harmony in our community can unravel".

"Integration does not only mean living in harmony. There must be equally opportunities for all ... No Singaporean must ever feel alienated, or worse, marginialised," he told reporters yesterday.

Asked about the timing of Mr Lee's remarks, which were published in the book Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going, Mr Zainul pointed out the remarks had been made two years ago but as the book was only published earlier this year, he acknowledged: "So in that sense, (the) timing was bad for the GE."

Published by Singapore Press Holdings, the book is based on 16 interviews with MM Lee done by journalists from The Straits Times. It was launched about three months before the General Election.

However, Mr Zainul admitted that there "is no such thing as good timing or bad timing" to discuss potentially sensitive issues "because it sometimes touches on the raw nerves and this is where we have to manage the way we discuss such potentially sensitive issues, and issues that could also be divisive".

He also pointed out that some "very sensitive issues" pertaining to the Malay-Muslim community - such as National Service, tertiary fees and quotas in public housing - had been previously discussed behind closed doors and in public.

"I think it's the combination of the approaches we have taken that has brought the community to a level of maturity and be able to face these issues squarely, and then move forward," he added.

Unlike his PAP team mates, Cabinet Ministers George Yeo and Lim Hwee Hua, who had announced their retirement from politics earlier this week, Mr Zainul, stopped short of saying as much.

"I will always be involved in community work and I can never say, 'never', in life or in politics," the 63-year-old said. "But given my age ... I think it is unlikely for me to stand in the next election."

TRANSFORMATION AN ONGOING PROCESS
While various PAP leaders have spoken about the need for reform from within the ruling party, Mr Zainul noted the transformation "is an ongoing process".

He also recounted some of the changes which he had witnessed within the PAP.

As an editor with the Singapore Press Holdings between 1976 and 1996, Mr Zainul remembered Mr Lee - then Prime Minister - would consult many editors before important decisions and speeches.

"We found that if we do our homework and we were sincere in giving our feedback, in fact, Minister Mentor was even willing to change decisions which they had already made," Mr Zainul said.

When Mr Goh Chok Tong took over as Prime Minister, Mr Zainul pointed out the PAP Government tried to make the political process "more consultative" and "open".

Similarly, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is "more engaging and prepared to listen", Mr Zainul felt.

But he pointed out: "We have leaders among ourselves, or even in the civil service, people who have strong views themselves, who have their own opinions, and it's a matter of how do we actually blend the opinions, positions and feedback, and how do we bring them a policy that is acceptable to all."

While the Government "cannot please everyone", Mr Zainul felt it could do better in managing the communicating policies, managing feedback of people that may disagree with the Government and the communication process. "This is something which I think the party has started doing it, and I think we can only go deeper and do more," he added.

PAP Sacrificed George Yeo Intentionally - leaked info

2011-05-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

Khairy wrote:

So, you think the PAP are morons??? Think again..
May 9th, 2011 | Author: Online Press
Please everybody; cool down.. Saw this recent article somewhere: Heard
this from a reliable source amongst the highest echelons of the PAP.
The PAP was well aware that Aljunied is a risky proposition for them.
This was clear even in 2006 and G—- just scraped through.

The PAP also knew that this time LTK is going to contest the Aljunied
GRC, especially after the electoral boundaries were redrawn. They had
factored that in and they knew that Aljunied is a goner in that case.
There was apparently considerable thinking to move G—- to East Coast
GRC so that his success is guaranteed. This was mooted by GCT. It
carried through the day and apparently G—- was also sure that he would
be moved to East Coast. Suddenly for no apparent reason, Lim Swee Say
was moved to East Coast GRC and G—- was retained at Aljunied.
Apparently the decision was taken by LHL, TCH and WKS. No one knows
the rationale for that decision. There are 2 theories going around:
One, they didn’t want to sacrifice Lim Swee Say and wanted a safe seat
for him. Second, some sections in the PAP believed that G—- was
gaining international stature (much more than the PM himself) and
wanted to cut down his size. He was also considered to be GCT’s man
and LHL wanted him out respectably. One should also note that it is
only GCT who is making statements supporting G—-. LHL is conspicuous
by his silence on GCT. LKY’s threat to Aljunied residents (leaving
residents confused as per G—-, while causing more Aljunied residents
to be frustrated & vote for Workers’ Party) is actually sounding the
death knell for G—- (and do S’poreans still think that LKY is old &
senile?). So, PAP wants G—- to lose. LTK has questioned the rally
attendees that if G—- is so important to the PAP team, why doesn’t G—-
be removed from Aljunied GRC. If this has even some truth to it, one
can easily speculate that there’s enough dissent even within PAP ranks
and one just has to wait for Mentor Lee to exit for the dissent to
come out in the open. They have given up on Aljunied and Hougang.

So, you think the PAP are morons??? Think again..
PAP is using Tin Pei Ling as test-water (as a young candidate). In
GE2016, the most exciting moment is the arrival of Li ShengWu (elder
son of Lee Hsien Yang), LKY grandson and he should be 28 years old by
then to continue the process of dynasty building…
Other possible candidates in 2016:

1. Li HonYi (elder son of LHL/Ho Ching)
Li was apparently being groomed for a future leadership role after
being awarded a government scholarship to study economics at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (in 2008). The Singapore
military has served as a training ground for political leaders and
executives in state companies.

2. Teo Eng Siang (son of Teo Chee Hean)
Singapore pays S$280,825 for tuition for Teo’s son –
Teo Eng Siang was awarded a Public Service Commission Scholarship in a
public ceremony by his own daddy, Singapore Admiral and Minister Teo
Chee Hean. Young Teo now(2008) heads for the United States where he
will be attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown
University is a fashionable Ivy Leage school and has a huge annual
tuition of US$42,303, or US$169,202 (S$280,825) for the full four
years. Don’t you think there are needier students in Singapore?

3.Warren Mah
Warren Mah, son of Mah Bow Tan, Singapore’s Minister for National
Development, is living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He is on a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania from the
Monetary Authority of Singapore.

This is Politics (Singapore Politics i should think), its not as
simple as we ordinary folks out there to comprehend precisely. The PAP
do have contingency and far-sight plans ahead.

Ng Wan Ching - proPAP journalist under investigation promoted

2011-05-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

AleXX wrote:
Former TNP journalist Ng Wan Ching has been promoted to deputy editor of
the Straits Times with a hefty pay hike, despite the fact that she is still
under police investigation.

A Malaysian who became a Singapore citizen only recently, Ms Ng graduated
from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor in Arts and Social
Sciences in 1987.

She shot to fame last year by writing a series of misleading and untrue
articles to smear Temasek Review in an attempt to destroy it
(unsuccessfully) including resorting to publishing un-substantiated and
baseless pornographic materials from a notorious porn site.

The Temasek Review learnt that at least two police reports have been filed
against Ms Ng for revealing classified information from a police
investigation, including but not limited to a formal complaint filed with
the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs and the Attorney General's Chambers
but the police has been sitting on the 'textbook' case, for months.

Despite technically still under police investigation pending the outcome, Ms
Ng was transferred from TNP to the SPH main English paper Straits Times with
a promotion. It is indeed deplorable that the Straits Times is now having a
journalist who is still under police investigation as its deputy editor.

The editor of Ms Ng at that time is the infamous Melvin Singh who was
responsible for smearing some SDP and NSP candidates in the run-up to the
election last Saturday causing them to lose crucial votes.
Melvin Singh concocted an non-existent 'march' by Dr Chee Soon Juan after a
rally at Jurong East and then put words in the mouth of SDP candidate
Michelle Lee to sow discord within the party.

Like Ms Ng, Melvin Singh is likely to be given a hefty 'performance' bonus
and promoted at the end of the year for his 'expertise' in smearing the
opposition to serve the partisan interests of his PAP masters.
Apparently, the criteria for promotion consideration at SPH seems to be
based on who can cook and lie to the best of his/her abilities regardless of
the means.

On the same note, it is reasonable to assume that the only avenue for
release of classified information to Ms Ng could have come from someone
within the police force and the 'sitting on it' stance adopted by the police
seems to suggest that it is unwilling to investigate 'one of its own' or is
under instructions not to.

Just last year, Minister for Home Affairs and Law had promised that everyone
regardless of rank and position will be taken to task for breach of the
Official Secrets Act and related offence but apparently, he had inadvertedly
forgotten to qualify that he was referring to 'lesser mortals' and not
persons related or in the 'family'.

Glorious and Sexy Opposition Women Speakers

2011-05-08T06:07:00.000-07:00

A key feature of this GE2011 election is the emergence of powerful female opposition speakers. They outperformed their male counterparts and drew big crowds with their sharp rhetorics and sincerity. This video revealed some of these women and their sensational performances never documented before in previous General Elections.

Their contributions to the final outcome of the General Election is immeasurable.

General Election 2011 - Final Verdict

2011-05-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

From: Observer
Subject: At a Glance - General Election 2011

Share of valid votes:
PAP: 60.14%
WP: 12.82%
NSP: 12.04%
SDP: 4.83%
RP: 4.28%
SPP: 3.11%
SDA: 2.78%

Comments:

If you look at the share of valid votes, the opposition parties, WP
did well (12.82%) and NSP also did well (12.04%) . The rest of the
opposition parties are in another group below 5%.

PAP won 81 seats but with a lower over percentage of 60.14%. So voters
have sent the right messages and want PAP to make the necessary
improvements.

The result speaks of a responsible and mature electorate, supporting
the incumbent party, reminding it of areas for improvements, and
welcoming good opposition candidates.
---------------------------------------------------
Watershed Election:-

1. Most number of seats contested by the oppositions since independence.

2. Lowest percentage of votes won by the ruling party since independence.

3. First time an opposition party won the biased GRC, conceived by the PAP.

4. Most number of members from one opposition party elected into Parliament, since independence.

5. First time - 3 ministers of various ranked voted out of Parliament.

6. First time - a nominated Speaker of Parliament got voted out before taking office.

7. First time - a full-fledged Minister (of Foreign Affair) got booted out during a General Election.

8. The PAP won Potong Pasir seat by the narrowest margin since independence - 114 votes.

9. Chiam See Tong, the longest-serving opposition MP in parliament, got booted out after changing constituency for this GE.
The picture is now history of a Heartland Matyr.
---------------------------------------------------
From: wiseguy

Ah Loong says he will now listen to the peasants...If he has
really repent, it may happen. His father may not be around in 5 years
time. Or, if the old man has still not kicked the bucket by then, he
should be advised to step down gracefully. Aljunied proved that more
and more people are no longer intimidated by that most eminent senior
citizen...

Oso, he needs to revamp his entire Cabinet. People like Wong Cant
Sing, Viviene ManaKiriKanan, Mabok Tan, $$$ Tuck Yew, Yakult Ibrahim,
Raymond Lampah, and Lim Swee Sway, must go. It's people who really
cared for the people who should be promoted to Cabinet posts.

Unfortunately, I could only think of one right now (which speaks
volumes about the absence of people skills in the PAP leadership) - Dr
Lily Neo for Minister of Community, Youth & Sports. For filling the
other Cabinet posts, Ah Loong needs to look at those younger
candidates who were introduced in 2001 and 2006 elections and have
since built themselves a good reputation for local grassroots work.

Ah Loong has 1 to 2 years to do the above. After that, what policies
he introduced, how these policies are going to be formulated and
implemented will determine the outcome of the 2016 elections.

Of course, having said that, Ah Loong can still choosed to go back
acting bizness as usual. Promising Opposition members, churned by this
election could be hounded into bankruptcy, And the old man may turn up
for the 2016 hustings on a wheelchair and a portable life support
support system in tow...

Oso, more gerrymandering may be on the way: Mountbatten and Joo Chiat
SMCs in the south may moved north to Sembawang GRC. Marine Parade &
East Coast GRCs may move west and merged with Jurong GRC. Looks like the next 5 years may get to be very interesting to see.

If Ah Loong turns out to be the proverbial leopard who cannot
change its spots, I oso dont mind lah....I want to see how far he can
stay on.

Lightning party's bad performance last night did not happen over a
course of 9 days, but over a period of 4-5 years starting from the
2006 elections. Barely months after that election, Ah Loong raised GST
to 7% and gave salary increases for himself and his kaki nang.

Then, in the name of creating thousands of toliet-cleaning jobs
serving foreigners, he opened the floodgates to them, and they in turn
sapu all the better jobs, health facilities, school places, and nice
homes even MRT standing space, at the expense of the locals.

His next big mistake was to write a cheque for 100 billion peanuts of
taxpayers' money, to Temashit, Govermin Investment Caput, & Town
Councils, to play tikam-tikam during the sub-prime crisis.

When people tried to show him the error of his ways, he dont want to
listen. Now having lost 2 Cabinet ministers, 1 future minister, 1
might-have-been Pariahment Speaker, & 1 for-show only MP, Ah Loong
says he has repented, he has seen the light, he will listen, he will
serve the people.

If Ah Loong's mea culpa turns out to be juz wayang, history will
repeat itself again in 2016. Of course, to avoid that, Ah Loong can
resort to gerrymandeering all the constituencies into 1 super-GRC or
give citizenships to 6 million more foreigners. We shall see.

---------------------------------------------------
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

Have you seen the faces of the PAP MPs and ministers in their post-election interviews with the press? They looked shocked and were uncertain on what to say and how they should face the public. They were worried they would look arrogant, and that they could use the wrong words during the interview, that would be twisted by the twitter and facebook to mean they erred again. In short, they are rattled!

In past elections, the PAP made full use of the media to gag the oppositions. One can only hear the opposition speaks when one visit one of those rallies. And opposition candidates were painted by PAP as poor quality candidates, lacking in speaking skills and brains.

But in this GE the PAP realised that they could not gag the oppositions anymore with the advent of the social media sites and the growing ability to access information via mobile devices at lightning speed, and free video sites like Youtube. So they loosened the media grip, which they will now live to regret, though it is inevitable.

Suddenly, the politically apathetic Singapore public, were exposed to scores of speeches by opposition candidates, screaming and shouting their messages in such clarity and eloquence into their consciousness, never before allowed in the past, raising questions that they have been asking themselves in their sub-conscience.

The interest generated was immense, and opposition rallies saw such huge crowds, not just for the Workers Party but all the rest. And all of a sudden we have super heroes and heroines to worship. All of a sudden, long time opposition candidates like Sylvia Lim became a national messiah of some sort. Her past speeches which were curbed previously, but now available in Youtube, became a cult and a revelation.

In a short span of 9 days, Singaporeans were made to realize that Singapore actually do have very talented political figures, and all that lies about not enough people joining politics, and the need to pay high salary to get talent to join politics were thrown out of the window. It is just that these talented people are not following the wishes of the Lee family.

In that short span of time, a young girl called Nicole Seah burst into the scene and mesmerized the whole of Singapore like a Goddess from heaven. Her Facebook "likes" overtook that of the most popular man in Singapore, the legendary Lee Kuan Yew, causing the PAP to call up their members to boost up Mr Lee "likes" overnight to prevent the legend from falling off its altar.

The passive and fearful public was stunned into admiration by this 24-year-old, who dares to openly scold the Prime Minister and his cohorts for all their shortcomings.

And for once, the almighty men-in-white, looked very human indeed, with all their flaws exposed to the core. The way they behaved and responded after the elections, they look like wounded chickens that had lost their feathers as well.

The "May Revolution" has begun in Singapore, and these young talents we had will surely be a force to be reckon with in the next few elections. The Lee Dynasty is in danger of crumbling into oblivion if it does not reform itself quickly enough.

---------------------------------------------------
PAP returns to power with reduced mandate
May 8th, 2011 | Author: Your Correspondent
As expected, the PAP won the 2011 general election though with a reduced mandate.

Though the PAP swept 81 out of 87 seats, its share of the popular vote slipped to 60.14 percent from 66.6 percent at the last election in 2006, its worst result since independence.

It also lost a GRC, and along with it 3 ministers, for the first time since the system was introduced in 1988.

The Workers’ Party emerges as the strongest opposition party in Singapore, winning Aljunied GRC by a comfortable margin and increasing its percentage of votes in Hougang SMC.

The three NCMP seats are likely to go to Ms Lina Chiam (SPP), Mr Yee Jenn Jong (WP) and one candidate from WP’s losing team in East Coast GRC.

The biggest loser appears to be the Singapore People’s Party which lost all its contested seats, including Potong Pasir SMC and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

The Singapore Democratic Party saw its percentage of votes improve, but was unable to win Holland-Bukit Timah GRC with its ‘A’ team polling a respectable 39.9 percent of the votes.

In spite fielding the largest slate of candidates among opposition parties, the National Solidarity Party lost all of them including Tampines GRC which was helmed by the unpopular PAP Housing Minister Mah Bow Tan.

The other parties all performed dismally including the newly formed Reform Party which was plagued by bitter in-fighting a few weeks before the election.

Despite optimism among netizens that a political tsunami may arrived, the PAP continues to maintain a stranglehold on power, retaining its two-third majority which will enable it to pass any bills and laws as and when it wishes.

The results of the election show that parties do have an impact on voters’ choices. The Workers’ Party managed to win at least 40 percent of the votes in all the seats it contested even with weak teams as compared to the other opposition parties.

As predicted earlier, the impact of the new media is limited though it may rise in future elections. Though the PAP has won the election, it has clearly weakened and the loss of a GRC may pave the way for more changes to come in Singapore’s new political landscape.

George Yeo Got Screwed by PAP's GRC System

2011-05-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

From: Wakalukong
Subject: Stinging rebuke
PAP's loss of Aljunied (as well as Hougang by an increased margin) and
the near loss (retaining by only 50-odd percent) of a number of others
(including Marine Parade) is a stinging rebuke to the party.

A number of people are sad for George Yeo; they prefer some other
characters, such as WKS, to fall. But it's something that must be
done. If you feel sorry for George Yeo, blame LKY's GRC strategy,
which is his way of depriving the peasants of a voice Now the GRC
strategy is in a shamble.

It will be very difficult for the PAP to regain Aljunied because they
can't afford to risk a minister to challenge the WP in the next
election. At most they can put up George Yeo again, together with
some ministers who are due for retirement and can be sacrificed (eg.
GCT & WKS). But George Yeo & other retiring ministers may not want to
look like fools, so the PAP will have a huge problem trying to regain
Aljumied. Serves them right.

The NCMP (best 3 losers) could be WP's Yee Jenn Jong & Eric Tan and
SPP's Lina Chiam. Unfortunately, Nicole Seah is 4th best loser.

The day has come for LKY to repent. It' the beginning of the end for
him and he's too old and feeble to do anything about it.
--------------------------------------------------------
TIME TO STOP THE GRC - Tampering with the democratic process by PAP

This is the result of Singapore's controversial group representation constituency (GRC) system: the loss of a strong, highly visible foreign minister and of a veteran opposition leader, and the addition of a foot-stomping 27-year-old rookie.

In one fell swoop, three office holders of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) -- Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua and Senior Minister of State Zainul Abidin Rasheed are out. Was that the intent of Aljunied voters?

On the other side of the fence, veteran opposition leader Chiam See Tong lost his seat -- a voice that now needs to be filled in Parliament. Blogger @mrbrown wrote on Twitter, "Chiam See Tong, you fought the good fight. No one can say you didn't. I salute you."Again, was the removal of a respected political leader the real intent of voters?

In sad irony, one of the real winners in all this is Tin Pei Ling. At 27, she is the youngest in the PAP's lineup this election. Compare that with Chiam See Tong, who has been in service to the nation for the same 27 years. Talk about a freak election.

The GRC screwed up Singapore and screwed up PAP themselves. The GRC is now proven to be a double-edged sword that can cut both ways, and in this GE, the PAP had come off worst.

This is the stark reality of our political system -- an all-or-nothing bet that, at best, raises a new generation of leaders. At its worst, it compromises the very thing that we all seek as citizens: a responsive, credible and respectable government.

Politicians are not born -- they are groomed. But the use of the GRC ticket as a fast-track path to politics is irresponsible and dangerous for nationhood. What we've done on election day was to swap experience with youth. But at what price? Is that the intent of voters?

Experiments with the GRC system must end. It's time to abolish the GRC before we further undermine our democracy.

-Alan Soon

PAP Ministers - Stunned and Shocked?

2011-05-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

Singaporeans go to polls today after a period of campaigning quite unlike any other the island republic has seen in the past.

TODAY, Singaporeans go to the polls. Nothing strange about that, they do this every fifth year or so.

And given the dominance of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), its impressive track record of building the island state into a powerful economy, its control over the apparatus of state, its pre-emptive nature especially where elections are concerned, polling in Singapore tends to be rather boring and deplete of surprises.

But this year is different.

At a superficial level, one could say that major campaigning issues included skyrocketing prices, the terrorist suspect Mas Selamat escaping, huge overspending on the Youth Olympic Games, and the flooding on Orchard Road.

No doubt, the fact that the PAP government presupposes that its ministers and its way of doing things are close to perfect turns any mismanagement, no matter how minor, into a lightning pole for criticisms of the system.

To be sure, election campaigns held once every four or five years, is the only time when critical voices can be publicly raised in Singapore.

But this does not explain why in the middle of the campaign period, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong felt compelled to make a public apology, not only for his father Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's warning to voters in Aljuneid constituency that they would have five years to “repent” if they kicked out the PAP, but for the government's mistakes in general.

Given the remarkable rebound growth rate of 14.8% for 2010, one would have thought PAP parliamentarians would get a smooth ride back into power.

But that has not turned out to be the case.

The opposition challenged the PAP for all seats except for Kuan Yew's Group Representation Constituency (GRC), and has embarrassed PAP leaders more effectively than any Singaporean had thought possible throughout the week.

What is causing the change, and why now?

The underlying sociological changes can be seen in the fact that as many as 46% of voters and voting is compulsory in Singapore where there is no walkover were born after 1965, when the country became independent of Malaysia.

Indeed, every fourth voter is younger than 36 years old.

This means, half of those casting their votes today came of age in a Singapore constructed meticulously by the PAP.

But unlike their parents, they do not seem easily susceptible to intimidation and threats about the impending doom of the country.

Informed through new information technologies, and thus not reliant on the PAP-controlled mainstream media such as The Straits Times, their perspectives are not only framed differently and not influenced by repeated arguments from the PAP ad nauseam, they are developed in retaliation to those arguments.

This breaking out is what is new, and it caught the overconfident PAP unawares.

Now, while the PAP has always prided itself as an adaptable and pragmatic party, the disconnect between its style of handling the public and the bold and new ways, through which the opposition managed to articulate public concerns, was painfully obvious in the beginning of the campaign period .

In calling PAP ministers arrogant, the opposition managed to act as a conduit for broad public unhappiness over being excluded from policy making, and over the widening income gap made more obvious by the huge jump in GDP last year.

The growing influx of foreigners has also become a big worry for the working class.

The final day of the campaign was fascinating for what PAP leaders declared in closing, and for what, this perhaps to their credit, says about their ability to grasp the problem at hand when forced to do so.

Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, whose weak performance over the previous 10 days may have damaged his otherwise high public standing, advised Premier Lee to handle the young well in coming years:

“They want to be engaged and involved. They want to be talked to, not talked down to.

“Very importantly, they want to see fair play and accountability.”

By making a public apology mid-week, Lee tried to show a willingness for the PAP to change, which did help control the damage the party had done to itself earlier in the week.

Playing on the popularity of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, ended his campaign by pleading with voters not to burden Lee further by voting out any of his ministers.

Paradoxically, the minister most in danger of losing his seat is the popular Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo.

His GRC of Aljunied is the one the WP had been doing everything it could to win.

It is nevertheless a stunning surprise though, that Yeo chose to end his campaign by promising voters that he would in practice turn subversive, and if re-elected would work from within the PAP to transform it!

The need for these PAP leaders to conclude in such a conciliatory fashion under pressure interestingly validates the opposition's position that the Singapore parliament needs a strong non-PAP faction in order for the government to stay grounded and accountable.

The star of the election is undoubtedly Nicole Seah of the National Solidarity Party.

Overnight, the eager 24-year-old became one of the most popular politicians in Singapore, and has in a flash become the face and the voice of her party.

Her message happily received by the crowds was the need for Singapore to become a compassionate society.

Another new star is Pritam Singh, a member of the WP's “Team A” challenging Yeo.

This relatively newcomer proved to be so impressive a public speaker, that the party let him lead the crowd in reciting its “National Pledge” to end the campaigning.

Today, a record 94.1% of Singapore's voters will make their choice.

Most analysts are hesitant about predicting the outcome.

In Singapore, enormous turnouts at opposition rallies are notoriously unreflective of what the final results will be.

But what everyone is waiting to know is; will a GRC actually fall to the opposition?

Just as importantly, will the popular vote for the PAP actually fall below 60%?

Whatever the outcome, Singapore has changed. And Singapore politics will never be the same again.

Will PAP be the Major Casualty?

2011-05-07T01:03:00.000-07:00

Huge gathering: A massive crowd turning up for a Workers’ Party rally in Hougang on Thursday night. —The Straits Times / Asia News NetworkFrom: "truth"
Subject: Earth shattering GE2011 major casualty will be the pap

GE2011 will be historic. It will be earth shattering for Singaporeans. It
will usher in a new era for Singaporeans. The pap will be the major casualty
which will eventually lead to the demise if not in this election then the
next one. They can save themselves if they chuck aside the harsh and extreme
capitalist system of LKY. The pap must change. It must change drastically in
order to stay in power. The opposition may not snatch power in this election
but they will in the next unless the pap change drastically. The major
changes in GE2011 are:

1. The pap has decided to slightly level the playing field. That is why the
media gave the oppositions a fair amount of coverage. The pap was forced into this position after the major revolutions in the Middle East which literally
overthrow overnite dictatorial regime. Had the pap continue with their blatant
cheating ways, they may continue to dominate parliament but there will be blood on the streets of Singapore. Gen Y is brave. Gen Y is restless. Gen Y wants fairness. Gen Y wants accountability. Gen Y wants a better life for all.

2. The much improve Oppositions. Not only are the oppositions much bigger,
there are now some really quality people within the opposition ranks. There
are enough talented opposition candidates to form a government to run
Singapore.

3. pap resources stretched to the limit. With 82 of the 87 seats contested
the pap machineries have never been tested like this time. So mistakes were
all over the places. The pap campaign started with a disaster and ended with
a bigger disaster.

4. Singaporeans have lost their fear for LKY and his pap. This fear factor
is real and helps to maintain the pap in power for so long.

5. The social networks like FB are major tools for change and revolution.
Its' impact on GE2011 will be huge.

6. The election of President Obama on a simple message of Change has
inspired many in Singapore.

The net result is the pap will lose big. All the political pundits in
Singapore will be wrong. It will shock the pap rank and file. Even though
the pap top dogs have resigned to some losses, they too will be shocked by
the extent of the damage to the pap.I will reveal my assessment of the full
extent of the damage to the pap this evening towards the close of polling.
The relationship between Singaporeans and the pap will never be the same
again. The pap has not only failed to deliver their end of the bargain, they
ended up punishing Singoreans for putting so much trust in the pap. For that
Singaporeans are extracting a very heavy price from the pap. This is long
overdue.
--------------------------------------------------------------
PAP banking on track record
THE themes of this general election began emerging on Day 1 of the campaign, as the first rally speeches rang out in five housing estates across the island.

Thousands turned up on Thursday night to listen to what the contending parties had to offer.

The first rallies by the Workers' Party (WP) and the People's Action Party (PAP) took place just 1.5km apart, at fields in Hougang SMC and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, respectively.

Their messages, however, could not have been further apart.

The ruling party sought to focus voters' attention on the tangible and the immediate namely, the concrete improvements that its government and its candidates have made to people's daily lives, at both the national and local levels.

On the cost of living, which has emerged as a top concern among voters, the PAP's key message is that its “Grow and Share” package of rebates, growth dividends and top-ups, paid out directly to individual Singaporeans, is the best way to help all groups, especially the poor and the elderly.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean made the point in his rally speech in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong did so in his party political broadcast.

Lee said: “We are dealing with immediate issues like the cost of living. Food and oil prices are rising around the world, affecting Singaporeans' concerns. The government shares your concerns and is helping you to cope in direct, tangible ways.”

Most lower-income families have each received between S$3,000 (RM7,200) and S$4,000 (RM9,600) this year to help them cope with cost of living increases, both PAP leaders said.

The candidates of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC highlighted local improvements in the wards they represent parks, playgrounds, childcare centres, senior citizens' corners, transport links and covered walkways.

That has also been the message of other PAP GRC teams in their GRC manifestos, and during their walkabouts and press conferences.

In their rally speeches, PAP candidates Michael Palmer, Zainal Sapari and Gan Thiam Poh also attacked their opposition challengers for their lack of plans to improve voters' lives.

Just down the road, the speeches at the WP rally, at a field next to Hougang MRT station, sought to shift the focus of this election to a far less tangible ideal the First-World Parliament that the party has made its election slogan.

Its leaders exhorted Singaporeans to vote more opposition members into Parliament, especially “more hammers”, the party's symbol.

WP chief Low Thia Khiang said Singapore needs a stronger opposition force in Parliament to be a co-driver and to ensure the man behind the wheel namely the ruling party stays alert. - The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Is Khaw Boon Wan a Liar and a Cheat?

2011-05-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

truth wrote:
May 6, 6:49 pm
This is the only pap minister I respect. Now I hate him. He has lied and
cheated Singaporeans over health issues. He paid only $8 for his heart
bypass while an ordinary hard working Singaporeans have to lose their homes
and all their savings when someone in their family falls ill.

Khaw Boon Wan is a good example of how a good man can turn evil serving the devil - evil Lee Empire.

Khaw Boon Wan did encourage Singaporeans to go over to JB for medical
treatment. He did encouraged Singaporeans to send their parents to cheaper
nursing homes in JB. He visited on set up by a Singaporean. Sometime back Mr
Khaw did suggested that Singaporeans who cannot afford the high cost of
living in Singapore, can moved to the surrounding region like Batam which is
cheaper.

Khaw Boon Wan should just own up to his comment rather than tried to wriggle
out. This is unbecoming of a Buddhist. For sure in his thoughts and hearts
he meant well to make that suggestions to poor Singaporeans.

Khaw Boon Wan was the point man working for Goh Chok Tong to restructure the Public Hospitals when GCT was the Health Minister. What Khaw Boon Wan and GCT did amounts to cheating Singaporeans. Before the restructuring, hospitalisation was almost free. Only a nominal sum was paid. I know because both my parents were hospitalised before the restructuring. The stayed for a few weeks in the hospital and the bills were only a few hundred $.

The whole purpose of the restructuring was to transfer the cost of running
the hospital onto the shoulders of ordinary Singaporeans. We see the
results now. An illness in the family can bankrupt the whole family. The
papist Leegime spending on health care is even lower than those of third
world countries. In Singapore the papist Leegime spend about 3% of the
government expenditure on health care compare to 5% in most third world
countries. When u compared to the advanced first world the differences is
even more frightening. Most first world countries spend about 11%.

So this is another stealth robbery by the papist leegime executed by Khaw
Boon Wan and Goh Chok Tong.

Tin Pei Ling Insults Nicole Seah's Parliament Tears during cooling off

2011-05-06T05:15:00.000-07:00

This comment purportedly made by Tin Pei Ling in Facebook, was quickly removed by her subsequently. It is a slip of the tongue, I believe, and of course a slip of her mind, her childishness and her ambition. With SM Goh's backing and blessing, it will be interesting to know who in the PAP juggernaut this little girl is related to. It takes a crony to back another one. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your MP for Marine Parade, Miss Tin Pei Ling. Tin Palin for President!

Wakalukong
May 6, 11:16 am
Okay, we've heard the candidates and we vote tomorrow. So what must
we bear in mind? Keep in mind the following:

1) Singapore is at present structured such that you only have one
chance in about 5 years to make the govt hear you. LKY, WKS and the
whole lot of ministers have repeatedly said that the once-in-5-years
election is the only time for people to approve or disapprove of govt
policies. It doesn't have to be this way. You can change this by
voting in a critical number of opposition MPs to give you a voice.

2) The PAP has brainwashed the peasants into believing that only the
PAP knows best about everything, and if there's any opposition MP who
could even make a squeak in Parliament, we'd all be in trouble. Look
at the calibre of opposition candidates. I'd say Low Thia Khiang,
Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao & Pritam Singh, just to name a few, are good
enough to replace some of our ministers. They're certainly good
enough to replace WKS, whom the PAP thinks is good enough to be DPM!

3) The PAP works only for the ruling elite. As for the peasants, they
can have the crumbs on the table. That's why the PAP can keep raising
their own salaries to astronomical heights, while telling the
peasants, "You die, your business; you must compete with third world
labour." They actualy believe this is fair, everyone getting what
they deserved. They take care of themselves and their cronies, even
if it's a barefaced insult to the peasants. The latest example of
this is having WKS contest again and nominating Tin "I don't know what
to say" Palin.

4) The PAP govt is the most elitist in the world. When LKY attended
Goh Kheng Swee's wake, he said GKS was a late developer. What was his
basis for saying this? He said GKS was 2nd in ACS for the then
equivalent of 'O' Levels! Imagine, 2nd in ACS means no bloody good.
So you see, outside of the ruling elite, everyone is no bloody good
for him and are just peasants who deserve only crumbs.

5) Every time the peasants cry out that HDB prices are not affordable,
LKY and his ministers would brush the peasants aside and insist on
asset enhancement. But now that they're in trouble, they immediately
stop saying asset enhancement and switch to saying they'll build more
flats. How long do you want them to bullshit you?

6) You pay PAP ministers millions, and they spend their time working
out schemes so as not to pay you back your CPF money. One sheme
they've devised is high HDB prices for first-time buyers, so that
little or nothing will be left in the buyers' CPF accounts.

7) How come our GDP is so high, but the peasants feel so poor? It's
becasue our GDP comprised largely corporate revenue. The peasants
(that's everyone outside the small circle of ruling elite) are not
rich.

8) Why does the govt want to grow our population from 3 million to 6.5
million? Just look at one item -- food. If we double Singapore's
population, food comsumption would also double. Therefore, the food
industry's contribution to GDP would also double! In other words,
simply by doubling our population our GDP would also double! This way
of increasing our GDP is like an athlete cheating with steroids.
There's no real creativity and productivity involved --it's just
pumping numbers.

And most important at this stage, remember that nothing great can be
had without some pain and sacrifice -- and some courage. The PAP
keeps threatening you that if you vote for the opoosition, some
minister would fall. Well, even if you think George Yeo is a nice and
capable chap, you must still have the courage to take some pain and
make the necessary sacrifice. Nothing good can come from the easy
way.

TIN PALIN apologised for her staff and said it is an "honest mistake".
Tin Pei Ling clarifies Facebook posting...
SINGAPORE: The People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Tin Pei Ling said she had not posted anything on her Facebook page on Cooling-off Day.

All candidates who are contesting in the General Election are not allowed to campaign on Cooling-off Day, a day before Polling Day.

Ms Tin said on Thursday May 5, her Facebook page carried a "clarification" on reports that a MacPherson resident had been refused help for her child's tuition fees.

The resident had asked for a refund.

The MacPherson Zone B Residents' Committee said the deposit of S$80 cannot be refunded.

But netizens circulated on Friday a screen capture that showed a comment posted on Ms Tin's Facebook.

The comment said: "OooOoooOooh so that's what REALLY happened? Wow. I think tears in Parliament is worse than ANYTHING ELSE!"

The comment was however removed within 20 minutes.

When contacted, Ms Tin told Channel NewsAsia she was alerted to the comment when some of her friends called her shortly after it was posted.

Ms Tin said she found out it was one of her administrators, Ms Denise He, who had mistakenly made the post.

"She wanted to post the comment in her personal capacity, and she was using her mobile phone. But she didn't realise that she had inadvertently posted as my profile rather than her own ... It was an honest mistake," Ms Tin said.

Ms Tin asked her administrator to remove the comment immediately.

She added that she had earlier given strict instructions to her team of administrators not to make any postings on Cooling-off Day.

Her administrators help her to upload photos of her walkabouts on her Facebook page.

Nicole Seah's Tears of Love for the People

2011-05-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

NATIONAL Solidarity Party candidate Nicole Seah cried during a rally on Thursday night, while recalling a meeting she had with a poor family in MacPherson.

The 24-year-old, who is contesting in Marine Parade GRC, said she was saddened when the mother said she could not get help to fund her son's $80 tuition fees. Worse, when the mother sought help, she was chided for the small amount.

Pausing to compose herself, she then told the crowd at an open field next to Chinese Garden Lake: 'This is the kind of problem we have. We need a government who has a heart for Singaporeans.'

Jasper wrote:
More options May 6, 12:02 pm
If not for Nicole Seah and all other Opposition members who have
worked their guts out in the last few weeks, tearing down the fortress
of the PAP crooks and thieves, you think Lee Hsien Loong and his
thieves would have apologized, albeit insincerely.
No way.

The only way we can show our genuine appreciation to people like
Nicole Seah and all the other brave Opposition members is to vote them
into the new 2011 Parliament.

Please remember that when Nicole Seah and the other brave Opposition
members were campaigning for your votes, their reputation, their
livelihood, and their futures were all at risk -- every moment of it.
Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Kuan Yew could have sent their dogs to arrest
or threaten those brave souls. So far so good but there's still a
possibility that those nasty PAP bastards may do their utmost evil
again soon.

Those PAP bastards have shown us that they are capable of evil in
previous elections.

NGIAM TONG DOW SPEAKS OUT

2011-05-05T02:54:00.000-07:00

One of a handful of men who helped Lee Kuan Yew build today's Singapore, the retired bureaucrat feels perturbed enough to speak his mind publicly. By Seah Chiang Nee
------------------------------------------------
It was an unprecedented, frank interview (with The Sunday Times) that shook up many Singaporeans.

The interviewee was Ngiam Tong Dow one of Singapore's most accomplished civil servants (for 40 years) - and the subjects covered included (excerpts):

Politics

Singapore will survive SM Lee (Kuan Yew) but provided he leaves the right legacy.

What sort of legacy he wants to leave is for him to say, but I, a blooming upstart, dare to suggest to him that we should open up politically and allow talent to be spread throughout our society so that an alternative leadership can emerge.

So far, the People's Action Party's tactic is to put all the scholars into the civil service because it believes the way to retain political power forever is to have a monopoly on talent. But in my view, that's a very short-term view.

It is the law of nature that all things must atrophy. Unless SM allows serious political challenges to emerge from the alternative elite out there, the incumbent elite will just coast along.

At the first sign of a grassroots revolt, they will probably collapse just like the incumbent Progressive Party to the left-wing PAP onslaught in the late 1950s.

I think our leaders have to accept that Singapore is larger than the PAP.

Government scholars

For Singapore to survive, we should release half our talent - our President and Overseas Merit scholars - to the private sector.

When ten scholars come home, five should turn to the right and join the public sector or the civil service; the other five should turn to the left and join the private sector.

These scholars should serve their bond to Singapore - not to the Government - by working in or for Singapore overseas. As matters stand, those who wish to strike out have to break their bonds, pay a financial penalty and worse, be condemned as quitters.

Economics

Take our industrial policy. At the beginning, it was the right thing for us to attract multinationals to Singapore.

For some years now, I've been trying to tell everybody: 'Look, for God's sake, grow our own timber.' If we really want knowledge to be rooted in Singaporeans and based in Singapore, we have to support our SMEs.

I'm not a supporter of SMEs just for the sake of more SMEs but we must grow our own roots. Creative Technology's Sim Wong Hoo is one and Hyflux's Olivia Lum is another but that's too few.

We have been flying on auto-pilot for too long. The MNCs have contributed a lot to Singapore but they are totally unsentimental people. The moment you're uncompetitive, they just relocate.

Q. Why has this come about?
A. I suspect we have started to believe our own propaganda.

Civil Servants
There is also a particular brand of Singapore elite arrogance creeping in. Some civil servants behave like they have a mandate from the emperor. We think we are little Lee Kuan Yews.

SM Lee has earned his spurs, with his fine intellect and international standing. But even Lee Kuan Yew sometimes doesn't behave like Lee Kuan Yew.

Littlespeck comment:-
Mr. Ngiam Tong Dow, 66, who retired from the civil service in 1999, is among a handful of permanent secretaries who had helped Mr. Lee shape today's Singapore.

The others include JYM Pillai, Sim Kee Boon, Howe Yoon Chong and Philip Yeo.

His frank, straight-talk interview with The Sunday Times came as a surprise to most Singaporeans, young and old. It caused a ripple among readers who read it.

Apparently many had missed it, skipping it as just another establishment figure talking of his past life and former colleagues in passive, polite tones.

A lawyer and a former journalist now in public relations totally missed it and are now frantically seeking a copy of the report on Sept 28.

Currently chairman of HDB Corp, a privatised company, Chiam had been known to people in the civil service and old journalists as a quiet doer, rather than a high-profile public articulator of policies.

That was, of course, when he was in the civil service from 1959. In 1970 he came Singapore's youngest permanent secretary.

Ngiam had shown his brilliance to people who worked with him - and of course to his political bosses. In public he had always maintained a silent profile.

That he has spoken out in this manner points to of several things.

Firstly, he must be perturbed enough by what is happening in Singapore, especially in the civil service, that he felt compelled to speak out.

Secondly, what he said confirms a freer political atmosphere in Singapore in which the authorities are encouraging people to speak out, even critically, as long as it is in Singapore's interests.

A third point is his frank reference to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew as still the overriding authority in Singapore. All his suggestions are addressed to him, not Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Few Singaporeans possess his countrywide, historical perception of Singapore straggling three generations now mired in one of its worse economic crises.

It set off some discussions in the Internet chat-sites with some people wondering whether the government will take action against him.

Asked why was Singapore on auto-pilot for so long, Ngiam replied: "I suspect we have started to believe our own propaganda."

What he said about government scholars, a freer political environment and allow some of the brightest to be used outside the government - and if necessary, serve as an alternative elite leadership was a total surprise.

Ngiam's call to cut (by half) the number of scholars in the bureaucratic or political leadership, elitism in government and intellectual arrogance reflect what some critics have privately said.

But Ngiam, being an insider with longtime access to the policy-making process, is the first to have articulated his thoughts clearly.

As a lifelong civil servant, he is not allowed by law to join the ruling People's Action Party, all these years the line separating them is hardly visible.

His most telling suggestion is for Lee to leave behind a "free politics" legacy by allowing talent to be spread throughout Singapore so that an alternative leadership can emerge.

Singapore is in the midst of a "remaking" exercise that will include restructuring its economy and loosening its political and social environment.

For a whole generation, thousands of parents are pushing their children towards scoring "A's" in their O- and A-level exams to win a prestigious government scholarship.

(Some 1,400 "A" level students score distinctions in all four subjects, so commonplace a phenomenon that "A's" in the tougher Special Papers are needed to qualify for overseas scholarships.)

This virtually guarantees them a top-level, high-paying bureaucratic job. The road is long, tense and arduous. Some parents dedicate their lives to help their children achieve it.

I know of someone whose son is in the gifted programme. The father, with a Master degree in Mathematics, takes leave from work whenever his son, in his lower primary classes, faces a year-end exam.

Asked why, he said he wanted him to gain a top political or civil service post through the scholarship trail. For him and his wife, it is a 20-year plan for the 7-year-old.

It is one in which many take but few succeed. Once there, there is no fear of being retrenched unlike thousands of other mortals when profits plunge.

By Seah Chiang Nee Oct 3, 2003

NTUC Employees Forced to Attend Rallies

2011-05-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

From: Joblessjoe
Subject: PAP FORCING NTUC EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND RALLIES!

Not content with bribing jobless aunties/uncles with a packet of
chicken rice to attend their rallies, the PAP is so desperate it
requires all NTUC Heads. of Department/Managers to force all employess
to go to the rallies. No excuse is accepted unless one has a Medicla
Certificate!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Singaporeans pls push on
Singaporeans have won the first half of the match against the mighty empire
of the pap.This mighty pap empire was stolen from Singaporeans. In 1959
Singaporeans voted LKY and the pap into power and the old guards did good
works for the benefits of Singaporeans. But over the last 20 years with the
old guards kick out by LKY, things have deteriorated. LKY started to treat
Singapore like he and the pap own Singapore. They run Singapore like a
family own corporation. They treated Singaporeans like slaves and they the
masters. Good, honest, law abiding and hardworking Singaporeans have to
struggle daily. Despite studying hard, working hard, obeying the pap Leegime
all the time and yet still find life a huge struggle.

Now the people with the help of the brave young Singaporeans have awakened.
They want to change the system of master and slave. They want to take back
their power so that they are again the master of their own country. They
know that the only way is to VOTE OPPOSITION. So GE2011 becomes Singaporeans vs pap.

The pap has now said sorry for some of the wrongs they inflicted on
Singaporeans. This is just sweet words to weaken your resolve to take back
your power. So be vigilant. Don't succumb to the pap cheap talks. Keep on
the fight. U r winning. U have the pap by the balls. Squeeze hard and
victory will be yours on May 7.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are PAP Ministers Crying???

On May 4, 8:28 pm, "truth" wrote:
> This is pathetic. Such softies should never have been up there. Crying to
> win public sympathy for your own personal experiences is pathetic.
> Lim Boon Heng, Lim Swee Say and now Khaw Boon Wan are behaving like babies.
> They don't deserve your votes.

They don't cry when people lose their job, they don't cry when people
were at their wits end and had commit suicide, they don't cry when
parents have no money for their children medical fees......

They are crying for themselves.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "truth"
Subject: pap can promote others to take over those minister who are ousted

This pap top dogs talk about losing a few pap ministers will weaken the team
is absolute rubbish.
1. It is not difficult to run Singapore. Singapore is smaller than London
which is only managed by a Mayor.
2. There are now so many excess pap ministers. Just look at those in the
PM's office without portfolio - 7.
3. There are pap mps who can step up to take over just like Shame-mugam
taking over from WKS at the Home team. Infact GCT himself suggested that
minsters be limited to 2 terms. This implied that there are sufficient mps
who can step up to take over should the ministers lose in this election.

Why PM Lee's "Sorry" Is Insincere

2011-05-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

But Daddy said, those who apologised, should move out of politics.....

From: Zanzibar
Subject: He says they will take responsbility . but he did not say they will take accountability

Why he says take "responsibility" but no accountability.

Why did he not include the saying of "accountability". Does he menat
they will not have accountabiilty in their jobs?.

Accountability should be said in order to take ownership of the
mistake and problems caused and to enable the stepdown or sacking to
take place.

This was why there was a big difference between them of their mulit-
million dollar pay whichtye compares with those of the CEO pays in the
private sectors

The CEOs in MNC are paid high because their company is big and their
job includes not only responsiiblity but also accountabitity.

MNC CEO tenure is short - usually starting with 2 to 3 years with
renewal to a maximum 5 years term.

They have to take responsibility but also accountability. They have to
account for their mistake by preparing to taking of immediate stepdown
or to be sacked immediately.

However, in contrast, these were not the case for the MIWs. They want
their comparisons of high pay with the private CEOs differently

The MIWs want the high pays of big company CEO's responsibility but
not of their accountabilities.

The MIWs do not want to be like them to take immediate sacking or
stepdown to account for their mistakes.

The MIWs want full term tenure of 5 years employment, but...no
accountability, no sacking, no stepdown, no mid-way resignation, no
mid-way sacking, no mid-way stepdown, no deduction of bonuses, no
deduction of salary, no deduction of personal allowances, pay cut, no
demotion.

In short, they want everything that a private CEO has but not of the
accountability.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/pm-lee-didn-t-m-sorry-1...

"We made a mistake when we let Mas Selamat run away. We made a mistake
when Orchard Road got flooded," he said.

"No government is perfect… we will make mistakes. But when it happens
we should acknowledge it, we should apologise, take responsibility,
put things right. If we are to discipline somebody, we will do that,
and we must learn from the lessons and never make the same mistake
again," said PM Lee.

Chee Soon Juan's Confession in Hokkien

2011-05-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

This is not a confession of his sins, more like a confession of the problems the people are facing. Sounded sincere and straight from the heart. I hate this guy in the past, but he is beginning to look like a useful and thoughtful guy.

Meanwhile, The pap has screwed up. They have now screwed up big time in their election campaign with so many indian chiefs pulling in different directions.
The pap domination is coming to an end. They will lose their 2/3 majority.
Singaporeans will finally get what they wanted - CHANGE.

Nicole Seah - In A Class of Her Own

2011-05-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

Newsgroups: soc.culture.singapore
From: "truth"
Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 23:46:43 +0800
Local: Sun, May 1 2011 11:46 pm
Subject: Soon LKY will be overthrown as the most popular Singapore politician

People's Representative in the fight against evil pap, Nicole Seah FaceBook count is now over 51,000 and I have no doubt that it will not be long before she exceed LKY's 56,000.

Singaporeans have reasons to cheer that LKY will be overthrown soon. This is a clear indication of the mood of Singaporeans. It is a precurser of things to come.

Singaporeans have awakened. Singaporeans are no longer afraid of LKY and his pap. Singaporeans keenly wanted more Oppositions in parliament and they will get it.

People's Representative in the fight against evil pap, Nicole Seah FB is now over 51,000 and I have no doubt that it will not be long before she exceed LKY FB 56,000.

Singaporeans have reasons to cheer that LKY will be overthrown soon. This is a clear indication of the mood of Singaporeans. It is a precurser of things to come.

Singaporeans have awakened. Singaporeans are no longer afraid of LKY and his pap. Singaporeans keenly wanted more Oppositions in parliament and they will get it.

Can any PAP candidates speak as well as this?

2011-05-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

Pritam Singh certainly looked like a born politician. An amazing talent on showcase, let's hope the PAP is not out to kill this true blue Singapore tiger, like they have done to so many in the past, and they probably hope to replace him with an foreign talent.

"Banned" Video from the Parliament

2011-05-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

This video on legalizing of corruption in Singapore, was never aired or mentioned in the mainstream media completely......

What is amazing about this speech is that despite all the talents, we have in the ruling party, with their million of dollars salaries, not a single Minister came up to rebut any of her points made. The points made are so legitimate, they are unrebuttable.

Beauties and Brains - Do we need foreign talents?

2011-04-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Glenda Han Su Yin and Angela Oon gives stunning performances in their respective rally speeches. Particularly impressive was Angela's performance given that this is her maiden election rally speech in front of a huge crowd at Yishun Stadium.

Nicole Seah vs. Pei Ling

2011-04-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

From: NotMyProblem
Subject: Re: Nicole Seah is Impressive
Nicole is a brave young lady, full of confidence and know what she's
talking, unlike Tin Pei Ling having to say only what the PAP master
wants her to say.

Maybe Nicole has no idea of what one ruthless 88 years old man can do to
her.

Good luck to her and hope she and her team win.

---------------------------------------------------
From: Wakalukong
Subject: Re: Nicole Seah is Impressive

Nicole Seah look and speak with maturity, and her speech was packed
with substance (and she didn't get up to stomp her feet). She's so
young, yet threw herself into the fight as an underdog. That's no joke
when you're going against the PAP -- the ISD could open a file on her
and the Income Tax Dept would be scrutinising all her returns.

President Nathan's Pay increased to 4.2million

2011-04-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

From: "AleXX"
Subject: This should make you puke.........

If the President's salary is $4.2million, what about the PM's, MM's,SM's and
other ministers' pay? Well, we suppose as good planners, they must pre-empt
and quickly increase their salary before the next recession caused by th
spike in oil price on account of the turmoil in the Middle East.

The report should make you puke:

March 11th, 2011 | Author: Online Press

While the whole wide world braces for the impact of price increases in oil,
food and commodities, Parliament has quietly moved to increase the
"selected" president's salary to a year sum of $4,267,500; a hefty 20.8%
quantum jump of $890,700. That's double the precentage increase of the
finanial assistance package for the poor, which was recently adjusted from
$360 to $400 per month.

If you haven't spewed your morning coffee yet, listen to this. Minister
Tharman proposed the change for "recruitment of an additional staff officer
to support the work of the Council of Presidential Advisers and a butler
manager to meet increased demand for butler services; and the high variable
payments on account of a strong economic growth". We know from Tom Plate's
account that Lee Kuan Yew has two staff just to provide hot towels for his
aching bones, but are there so many butlers there in the Istana that they
need a "butler manager" to supervise the servants? It's bad enough to read
of "higher variable payments"; Tharman also uses the term "ad hoc spending".
Does the national budget also have a YOG styled "other costs" accounting
entry?

Tharman tried to downplay the gross abuse of public funds by saying that the
total expenditure for the "Civil List for the President of the Republic of
Singapore" will be the same as the revised 2010 figure of $11,605,000. What
he did not say to the public is that the original 2010 figure was
$10,354,700. Why and when was the number "revised" by $1,250,300 to
$11,605,000? Just in time for the 2011 budget?

By the way, while sky rocketing COEs are threatening the affordability of
cars for those who need to drive for work purposes, these guys have also
decided that the president needs a new office car. Are we even on the same
planet?
---------------------------------------------------

From: "AleXX"
Subject: PAP ministerial salaries.......
As reported:

The amounts given below are correct before yesterday's blatant announcement
of an increase in President Nathan's salary.

Top 30 Highest Paid Politicians in the World (Information obtained from the
internet)
Clean sweep by tiny Singapore to be in the Guiness Book of Records!
Top 30 highest paid politicians in the world; and they are all from
Singapore.
(All amounts exclude bonuses)

Yearly salaries:

1. "Elected" or "Selected" President SR Nathan - S$3.9 million.
2. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong - S$3.8 million.
3. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew - S$3.5 million.
4. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong - S$3.5 million.
5. Senior Minister Prof. Jayakumar - S$3.2 million.
6. DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng - S$2.9 million.
7. DPM & Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean - S$2.9 million.
8. Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo - S$2.8 million.
9. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan - S$2.7 million.
10. PMO Minister Lim Boon Heng - S$2.7 million.
11. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang - S$2.7 million.
12. PMO Minister Lim Swee Say - S$2.6 million.
13. Environment Minister & Muslim Affairs Minister Dr. Yaccob Ibrahim -
S$2.6 million.
14. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan - S$2.6 million.
15. Finance Minister S. Tharman - S$2.6 million.
16. Education & 2nd Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Heng - S$2.6 million.
17. Community Development Youth and Sports Minister - Dr. Vivian
Balakrishnan - S$2.5 million.
18. Transport & 2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim Siang Kiat -
S$2.5 million.
19. Law & 2nd Minister for Home Affairs K. Shammugam S$2.4 million.
20. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong - S$2.2 million.
21. PMO Minister Lim Hwee Hwa - S$2.2 million.
22. Acting ICA Minister Lui Tuck Yew - S$2 million.

The next 8 from Senior Ministers to Minister of State - each getting between
S$1.8 million to S$1.5 million.

As compared to other countries' Leaders:

1. Donald Tsang Yum-Kuen - Hong Kong (S$716K)
2. Barack Obama - United States of America (S$555K)
3. Nicolas Sarkozy - France (S$441K)
4. Angela Merkel - Germany (S$420K)
5. Gordon Brown - UK (S$387K)
6. Tarso Aso - Japan (S337K)

Total up the above six leaders: Only S$2.856 million.

In other words, even a Singapore DPM has higher salary than all of the above
leaders combined !!
Could it mean that these PAP's DPMs are more capable than all the leaders
from the 6 biggest world economies combined?
Singapore must be thankful to have such talent !!!!

===================================================
From: "AleXX"
Subject: After more than 50 years of PAP rules...see what they had given to Singaporeans

1. Singaporeans work the most number of hours per week in the world.

2. Most Singaporeans will never own a car because COEs (Certificates of
Entitlement) are way too expensive and limieted.

3. The average home size of the Singaporean has fallen from 1660 sq. feet to
about 1000 sq. feet in the past decade.

4. Fertility rate in Singapore has fallen to below that of Japan - among the
lowest in the world because the government makes it very expensive for
couples to have children and also the cost of living is very high.

5. Only less than half the Singaporeans can meet the minimum sum for their
CPF retirement accounts. Meaning many will never get to retire.

6. 17% of Singaporeans do not have medical insurance - the highest in the
developed world ~ plus and minus a few percentage point when compared to
USA.

7. Singapore has the fastest growing foreigner population per capita in the
world. Within a decade, the majority of people in Singapore will be foreign
born.

8. Singapore has the highest paid politial leaders in the world...

9. Singapore has the highest income gap of all developed countries.

10. More than one person kills himself/herself every day.

11. Singaporeans have the highest savings rate in the world due to CPF; but
many will not get to use them until they are more than 62 and gradually to
65 years old; provided they still have some money left after paying and
deducding for their purchase of very expensive "subsidized" public housing
(HDB flats).

12. The Singapore parliament has the least opposition in terms of percentage
of seats in the world amoung countries that claim to be democratic.

13. Singapore bans chewing gum but legalizes casinos. Casinos are legalized
in only 2 of the 50 American states.

14. Singapore hangs the most people per capita in the world. Even more than
China.

15. Singapore cars are the most expensive in the world.

16. Singaporeans have the lowest purchasing power among all developed
countries according to UBS.... even Malaysians in KL have higher purchasing
power.

17. The Singapore government has the highest sovereign wealth fund per
capita... and among the top few in absolute terms.

18. Singapore spends more on defence than Malaysia and Indonesia combined -
so we guess we do not need too much diplomacy and or diplomats; and can
afford to badmouth them according to Wikileaks.

19. Singapore has a class 1 civil service in the world according to Minister
Lim Swee Say. We also want to add that the people working in those class 1
civil service are paid exorbitant salaries and may bonuses equal to 9 times
their monthly salaries; referred to as "performance bonuses".

20. Singapore has only one newspaper company called SPH that produces horads
of quality and propaganda news of the government; such as Straits Times, Sin
Min and other reading delights. We have 5 newspaper companies decades ago;
but it all becomes one as the population grows.

21. Singaporeans serve NS (National Service) for 2 to 2.5 years; this is the
longest in the world after Israel. We do it because we can afford the time;
as many Singaporeans work their whole life without retirement; and so what
is the difference of putting aside 2 years?

22. Singapore has the world's oldest politicians. His name is Lee Kuan Yew.
As long as he is around, the relentless iron fisted rules will persist. He
will make very sure of that.

23. The present Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loogn is "coincidently" the eldest
son of Lee Kuan Yew.

24. Singapore has the most expensive public housing in the world; although
they were "heavily" subsidized by the PAP government. But according to
Minister Mah, it is still affordable base on their own ministerial salaries
of several millions of dollars per year. What is $400,000 to $500,000 for a
4-room HDB flat?

Some Profanities thrown at PAP in the net

2011-04-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

From: "truth"
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:30:16 +0800
Subject: papist nincompoops self sympathy cries

The way LHL speaks betrayed his mentality. In his mind, he already assumed
that Singaporeans will vote the pap into power again. For sure he is taking
Singaporeans for granted. The election is not even held yet and he is
talking about composition of the cabinet. This is an insult to Singaporeans.
Singaproeans pls punish the pap for such arrogance.

Lately a few of the papist multi$million nincompoops have been crying
publicly over non issues. Pure self sympathy. Just show how self centred
these papist assholes are. Did they cry over the old couples who live by
candle light in their dark one room pigeon hole ? Did they even utter a word
of sympathy or support for the family who has to sell their homes to pay for
their late daughter's medical bill ? Fucking selfish and greedy bastards.

LKY has admitted that Democracy enable a peaceful change of government.
History has shown that no government last forever. The important thing is
when there is a change in government is it peaceful or violent. Histroy is
full of violent changes of government resulting in death and sufferings to
the ordinary citizens. Democracy has proven its' ability in providing the
context for a peaceful change in government.

So don't get suck in by the those 3rd rate pap multi$million nincompoops
that u have to give strong support to the pap for an effective government.
If the pap is unable to govern with a simple majority then it don't deserve
to government at all. Simple as that. Why do we have to give it absolute
total power. This is very dangerous. If the pap fails with total absolute
power, Singaporeans end up being the major loser. There will be no
alternative to fall back on. Give yourself an free insurance by voting
opposition.
-------------------------------------------------

The pap used to have an "A" team in the past. Those were the days of a
dynamic LKY with a caring Dr Goh Keng Swee, Hon Swee Sen, Toh Chin Chye, Ong
Pang Boon, S Rajaratnam, E W Barker and Devan Nair. This "A" really improve
the lives of ordinary Singaporeans. Then LKY wanted all the glory to
himself. So in the name of "self-renewal" LKY removed the solid old guards
one by one. He replaced them with technocrates who in the words of E W
Barker were so silent in Cabinet meetings. So we have people like GCT, OTC,
Dana, Tony Tan executing the orders of LKY. Without the other old guards
around LKY imposed his extreme rightwing ideology on the party. His ideology
of ultra capitalism was slowly but surely weaved into the fabric of
everyday lives of Singaporeans. Everything is watered down to $, cents and
profits. Singaporeans ended up paying full market prices for everything in
their lives. Market prices as determined by a monopolistic government. So
water was priced at cost + profit + security insurance. A major illness can
bankrupt a family. Cars become the most expensive in the world. U not only
have to pay a few hundred % tax on the car but must bid for a limited supply
of the right to buy a car - a world first. Pigeon holes are priced at full
market price of land + construction cost. The papist leegime confused
Singaporeans by telling them that their pigeon holes are subsidised thru a
simple sleigh of the hands. Land forceably acquired at dirt cheap prices
(e.g land in Punggol at 17 cents a sq ft) were repriced in the $hundreds to
sell to Singaporeans. Government services are charged at cost + profit. In
short LKY decided to run Singapore like a corporations. The net result is
the government became very rich while the people poor.

LKY and his pap continued to recruit only those who share their ultra
capitalistic doctrine. So while ordinary Singaporeans were suffering under
the full blast of the free market forces, LKY rewarded themselves with
$millions. Induce by so much $, they enjoy their luxurious lives. They
became complacent and lost touch with reality on the ground. So when the
govenment made a mistake, ordinary Singaporeans got the blame and were
threatened. The pap Leegime began to genuinely feel that Singaporeans owe
the pap government a living. LKY warned that if not for the pap govenment
Singaporeans will end up as maids in foreign land. To drive the economy,
Singaporeans were whipped like slaves. Foreigners were brought in by the
million. Singaporeans ended working harder for less $ as the cost of living
sky rocketed. Singaporeans now have the unique distinction of working the
longest hours on earth.

So it is clear the cause of ordinary Singaporean problems is the pap
Leegime.

Singaporeans are not concerned over jobs. There are plenty of jobs but not
the right kind for Singaporeans. Singaporeans are more concerned over
competition for the right kind of jobs by the influx of million of
foreigners. The sales manager who lost his job can easily get another job as
a dishwasher at a fraction of his former pay. That we imported so many
foreigners proved that there are a surplus of jobs. But not the right kind.
So Singapore should focus on getting the right kind of jobs for Singaporeans
rather than creating more jobs which go to the foreigners. For a start,
reduce the availability of foreigners and companies will be forced to hire
Singaporeans. Wages will rise and older Singaporeans will return to the
workforce. The economy may slow which is not a bad thing with the economy
now in overdrive. Some companies may suffer which is not a bad thing either.
Resources of land are scarce and if these companies cannot afford the higher
wages, then they don't deserve to be in Singapore. Net result is ordinary
Singaporeans benefit from higher wages.
----------------------------------------------
A senior citizen's musings...

SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong acknowledged that the prevailing high cost
of living in Singapore would be a likely issue in the coming general
election ("Rising costs a likely issue: SM"; Tuesday).

He asked the people to decide who they thought would have a better
solution to such problems.

I appreciate his forthrightness and am thankful for his timely reminder on
this matter. But his comments have evoked mixed feelings for me.

Every time we are assured that things are still affordable, we find prices
rising higher. Now we are cautioned to choose the right team to provide the
solution.

The ruling party has had ample opportunity to resolve these issues, but
the problems still plague us. I may now be an economically unproductive
senior citizen, but I still love my country.

Fu Jiat Joon
I'll add some perspective.

Right now, the cost of living is rising in many countries, not just
Singapore. One cause is the US monetary policy - as they print more and more
dollars to tackle their economic woes, the excess money supply feeds into
the global system and leads to inflation worldwide. In addition, food prices
are escalating around the world, for a complex host of different reasons
that the experts are still debating.

Nevertheless, the rising cost of living in Singapore cannot be solely
attributed to external factors. In fact, the average citizen's difficulty in
coping with the rising cost of living is very closely linked to an
intrinsic, uniquely local factor. That factor is the PAP government's policy
on immigration and foreigners. I'll explain.

A rise in the cost of living is not a problem, if it is matched with a rise
in average wages. Unfortunately, over the past five years, Singaporeans have
NOT been able to earn more money. Singaporeans are working as hard as ever
(and in fact, hold the current world record for working the longest hours),
but their incomes have been stagnating. If you don't believe me, read this.

To put it simply, while Singapore's economic growth has arguably been
decent, this simply hasn't translated into a better life for the average
Singaporean in the street. Our reserves may have grown; our government
ministers may be drawing bigger and bigger salaries; the Bangladeshi workers
and the Filipino waitresses may be feeling satisfied - but the average
Singaporean just isn't getting any benefits out of the nation's success.

Why is this so? Well, wages are related to productivity. To earn more money,
the Singaporean has to raise his productivity by learning new skills and
gaining more knowledge in value-added areas. Companies have a role to play
in this too. They have to innovate, become more efficient, invest in new
technology, and in training their employees. That's how productivity can
increase, together with sustainable wage growth.

But this isn't happening in Singapore. On the contrary, our labor
productivity has fallen to shockingly low levels. In 2009, for instance,
labor productivity growth was worse than zero. It was negative (-14.9%). And
why has labour productivity fallen so badly in Singapore? It's because the
PAP government's policy on foreign workers actually discourages
productivity. Instead of getting Singaporeans to increase productivity by
learning new skills and knowledge, the focus has instead very much been on
importing more and more cheap foreign labour to do the job. To quote the
Wall Street Journal:

By some estimates, a third or more of Singapore's 6.8% average annual
growth from 2003 to 2008 came from the expansion of its labor force,
primarily expatriates, allowing Singapore to post growth more commonly
associated with poor developing nations.

At the same time, though, foreign workers have driven up real estate and
other prices and made the city-state's roads and subways more congested.
Their arrival has kept local blue-collar wages lower than they would be
otherwise, exacerbating Singapore's gap between rich and poor.

Some economists say the most damaging effect of the immigration is that
the influx appears to be putting a lid on productivity gains, as
manufacturers rely on cheap imported labor instead of making their
businesses more efficient. Labor productivity, or output per employee, fell
7.8% in 2008 and 0.8% in 2007ï¿½a phenomenon that could eventually translate
into lower standards of living.

Lee Ah Lee, a 58-year-old who makes 850 Singapore dollars a month (about
US$600) clearing tables in a cafeteria, says the flood of immigrants has
made it hard to make ends meet by pushing down blue-collar pay in Singapore,
which has no legal minimum wage. Sitting nearby in a drab apartment block
built by Singapore's Housing Development Board, a state-owned body that
constructs and sells subsidized housing, 79-year-old Lee Kwang Joo says
low-skilled foreign workers are often housed in corporate dormitories,
meaning they have no housing costs and can survive on lower pay.
So I hope that the direness of the situation we face, as a nation, has
become clear. Obviously, we cannot completely shut the door on foreigners,
especially not on foreign talent. But there is a balance that should be
kept. When labor productivity falls to -14.9% and Singaporeans' wages
stagnate year after year after year despite the fact that the economy is
actually growing, you know that the balance has not been kept.

Goh Chok Tong talked about the rising cost of living and posed this question
to Singaporeans - "Which party do you think can solve this problem?". But
here are the better questions to ask yourself. In the first place, which
party caused the problem? Which party IS the problem?

If you are an intelligent person, you know the answer. Vote wisely.
Posted by Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wang
The choice is clear - Vote Opposition for a better life and future.
----------------------------------------------

On 23/04/2011 11:26, truth wrote:
I appeal to all good Singaporeans to step forward to help the Oppositions in
their fight in this GE. This is a massive undertaking and every help is
needed. Do this for a better life as well as for the future of your children
and grandchildren. This your last chance to save the nation from the
destructive path of the evil pap. Come next GE native Singaporeans will be
in the minority as more and more foreigners take up citizenships. The pap is
selling out Singapore to the Foreigners. Stop it before it is too late.
Step forward to help the Oppositions fight the evil pap.

"Kick-ass King" wrote in message
WE THE PEOPLE are selling out Singapore to the Foreigners.

we can stop employing maids (but don't want to).

we can start packing up our utensilts at foodcourts (but don't want to).

our poly students can stardy harder instead of playing computer games
(but don't want to).

we can boycott products services by companies dhat employ apuneh (e.g.
International Big Moufh, ShittyBank), but don't want to.

we can work in the hot sun as construction worker (but don't want to).

our uni students and professors can work/think harder to research on
robert to do construction work (but don't want to).

WE THE PEOPLE convenienly voted the PAP so as to have scapegoat to
blame!!! we nid the PAP to continue to blame them instead of
ourselves!!! if kick out PAP, dhen we may not able do anymore "blaming
others game" -- our favorite passtime.
-------------------------------------------
From: "truth"
Subject: Tinny will drag GCT down.
GCT sensed that and he is indeed worried. Tinny (Tin Pei Ling)
is a major liability. LHL
did it on purpose to destablilse GCT n his faction within the pap.
GCT is striking back in other ways outside the pap. First he let it out what
most of us already knew - pap internal polling pointing to a disaster in the
making. This is a signal to his buddies outside the pap to whack LHL. This
election is as much a fight between the oppositions and the pap as it is a
proxy fight between the two camps in the pap. Very interesting. The major
casualty will be the pap.

From: Joblessjoe
Subject: PAP CHEATED YOUR FATHER AND GRAND FATHER

If your grand father sits all day in the coffee shop nursing one kopi
O and your father got to struggle through a 12 hour Security Guard job
just to keep him alive, you know the PAP have CHEATED on both of them!

If the PAP has been a good and caring government, your grand father
should have a decent pension to get him by and your father, need not
have to struggle for survival in this manner. His previous job was
probably taken away by the PAP anf given to a "Foreign Talent".

What can YOU do now?

YOU must vote OUT the PAP and also tell all your friends to do so. If
YOU don't do this, you may one day find yourself having to support not
only your wife and children, but also your parents and grand parents.
Many have already fallen into this PAP crack. Many have committed
suicide because they no longer can to live under the PAP system. This
is the PAP system of passing the buck!

So, save yourself and your family by voting OUT the PAP. If there is
no OPPO in your area, just vote any DOG in your area. DOGS don't make
your life any harder than the PAP!

-------------------------------------------------
From: baldeagle

Subject: GST....FM Tharman said GST will be raised....only after 5 years. Is GST a good thing ?

FM Tharman said: "GST will not be raised for at least another five
years." Is this good news ?

NO. It means...GST will be raised on the 6th year. It is bad.

GST is bad for the poor people.

Tharman reveal that Singapore is strong financially... No need to
raise GST. In fact, Singapore do not need to have GST...it has enough
if Singapore doesn't pay the ministers and top civil servants millions
and millions every year.

GST is bad for the poor people...why collect GST from them....to pay
the super wealthy Ministers and top civil servants.

GST has caused hardships to the poor people in Singapore. It should be
abolished or suspended.

For the sake of the suffering poor Singapore,....FM Tharman....please
abolish GST.

Lim Boon Heng was surprise to be dropped

2011-04-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

From: aioe

Subject: Re: Lim Boon Heng did not expected to be dropped
The reality is LBH is more a liability than assest for PAP.

Firstly, the GRC concept was concieved by LBH and now it seems PAP is
rolling back the whole GRC concept and reverting back to SMC.

Second, when LBH was with NTUC he did not help workers much at all. In
fact, retrenchment and job loss were all time high. The economy was
poor when he was around. He don't even know what productivity means.

Thirdly, he took credit for workfare which he had done absolutely
nothing. The truth is the original concept for workfare was to
supplement income of old age workers earning very low salaries. The PAP
government and NTUC only decided to implement it after raising GST to
7%. Studies showed raising GST to 7% was totally unnecessary and PAP
used the extra revenue to raise their own salaries.

Forth, he was quite ineffective when given the job of raising Singapore
fertility rate.

Fifth he was quite clueless about old age issues in Singapore.

truth wrote:
> Lim Boon Heng was surprised that he has been dropped when LHL told him. Just
> two days before his surprised announcement that he is retiring, he not only
> did not show any sign of retiring but even hinted that he could be used as
> an ACE card to counter any serious challenge from the oppositions.
> So Lim Boon Heng was axed as a reprisal for GCT's talk of restricting
> ministers to two terms which was first rebuffed by WKS ( a Lee loyalist) and
> then subsequently confirmed by LHL himself. All is not well in the pap camp.
> LHL is trying hard to stamp his authority on the party. It is a signal to
> the liberals to stay in line. Lately the liberals and hardliners are giving
> a mixed and confusing signals. LHL is taking the opportunity to weed out Goh
> loyalists and line the party with Lee loyalists.
> The pap is heading for a major defeat. They can easily lose their 2/3
> majority. Singaporeans have wakened up and are no longer afraid of the LKY
> and his pap gangsters.