Another 100k Foreign Talents Needed in Next Few Months : PM Lee

He is informing us that he will increase the number of foreign talents. His growth at all cost theory is coming back. The disapproval signal is clear but he choose to ignore because he knew that he will definately win the election.

He is not concerned about people, many office workers like me are now working 10 over hours for an 8hrs salary. Some even work 7 days a week because there is just too much work, as this monster drive his productivity programs into our lives. There is no life in Singapore anymore. This is absolutely because of him.
------------------------------------------------
Towkay wrote:
Singaporeans who believe that the government will regulate the import of cheap foreign workers have absolutely no idea how Singapore works.

Let me, the Towkay give you the basics:

1. Profiting Elites and Towkays is the only priority.

2. Cheaper foreign workers can do the job, so why hire Singaporeans? Why? Why? Why? Nobody has given me a good answer to this because they know there is no reason to hire more expensive Singaporeans.

3. Singaporeans only matter when we need you to work for free i.e. free security quards (NSmen), free volunteers for YOG, etc. Again refer to point 1, we earn more if we can get Singaporeans to work for free.
--------------------------------------------
15% economic growth does not benefit me at all.

I am a civil servant, and my pay will not rise by 10% because of the boom. I don't expect 5 months bonus or even a GDP-related bonus. That's strictly reserved for the top of the top, the best of the best, and not for mere mortals like us.

Cost of living is increasing. The cost of food in our office canteen has increased by 20%. Rent is up, so is cost of food.

Big freaking deal about having the best economic growth when none of us get to share in it.

I also hate it when Filipinoes (or Burmese or PRC or M'sian) become HR personnel. Instead of hiring Singaporeans or the best candidate for the job, they almost always end up hiring the best Filipino for the job.
----------------------------------------------
The best thing for the PAP about all this is that the opposition still remains weak and divided, with 50% walkovers by PAP at the next elections still a high possibility, let alone forming forming the next govt.

And somehow they can always managed to make 60% or more happy, whatever the circumstance.

And the minority who are not happy do not dare to openly protest, except through blogs.

And don't forget, those who criticise PAP strongly on the Internet may not necessarily be unhappy, but do for the fun of it. Just like the massive crowds at past opposition rallies compared to PAP ones doesn't mean they support the oppositions as the final results had shown and which is what really mattered.

Indian-FT Turned Citizen - Called Singaporeans "Dogs"

Want to make money? Follow the example of a Indian-turned-new-citizen-
turned PAP activist.

Mr Sinha Shekhar, who works as an occupational therapist at Thye Hua
Kwan Hospital, wrote that he paid “really high” for a resale HDB flat
and the rent he is collecting is not enough to pay for the bank
instalments.

Mr Sinha also revealed that he owns a private property, implying that
he bought the resale HDB flat NOT for staying but for renting and
making money.

This is yet another example of immigrants jacking up prices of HDB
flats by their entry into the resale market and then profiteering from
it by renting them out, a common practice in Singapore.

Some PRs are known to buy a few resale flats for rental before selling
them at a profit after they leave Singapore.

Due to a limited supply of new flats in the face of rising demand
fueled by the relentless influx of immigrants, the prices of HDB flats
have sky-rocketed in recent years, pricing young Singaporeans out of
the market.

Many of these PRs and new citizens are already established
professionals like Mr Sinha Shekhar when they arrived in Singapore and
therefore it is not surprising that they can afford to buy resale
flats which are unaffordable to most Singapore graduates fresh out of
school.

The Straits Times reported last year of an Indonesian PR who paid an
eye-popping $653,000 for a 4-room resale flat in Queenstown though he
could well afford to buy a condominium.

Despite the evidence on the ground showing otherwise, PAP Minister for
National Development Mah Bow Tan is adamant that HDB flats remain
“affordable” in Singapore and ticked Singaporeans off for being
“fussy”.

Mr Sinha Shekhar is notorious in Singapore blogosphere for his
description of PAP critics as “dogs” on the YPAP Facebook. Ironically,
he was later given an “Outstanding Contributors’ award” by Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong for the regularity of his contributions on
the PAP REACH Forum and Facebook.


This is an extract from Temasek Review.

Swiss Foreign Talent Vandalised MRT Trains

Yet another highly educated foreigner in our helm caught practising his twisted talents in the wrong place.
--------------------------------------------
SINGAPORE (AFP) - – A Swiss business consultant was charged in court Saturday with breaking into a Singapore metro depot and spray-painting graffiti on a train, offences punishable by jail and caning.

SINGAPORE - He pleaded guilty but asked, through his lawyer, not to be given a "punitive custodial sentence". He claimed that he was "cajoled" into committing the offences of breaking into the SMRT Changi Deport and vandalising two train carriages.

But Swiss IT consultant Oliver Fricker (picture) - whom the court heard went on a three-day holiday with his alleged accomplice, Dane Alexander Lloyd, after committing the offences - failed to convince District Judge See Kee Oon that a deterrent sentence was not in order.

Finding that Fricker, 32, had displayed a "calculated criminal conduct", Judge See sentenced him to five months' jail and three strokes of the cane.

The sentence was handed down about six hours after Fricker pleaded guilty, around noon, to charges of vandalism and entering a protected place. A third charge stating that he had committed an act of vandalism by cutting the fence of the depot was taken into consideration.

Judge See agreed with Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharon Lim who said Fricker had committed "a very serious offence" - and that the whole incident had "alarmed the general public" and "shaken their confidence in the security of protected places".

DPP Lim told the court that Lloyd - who remains at large - used a wire cutter to cut a hole in a fence surrounding the depot.

He and Fricker then slipped into the protected area, each carrying a bag of spray paint. Fricker spray-painted the word "McKoy" on the left side of the train, while Lloyd spray-painted the word "Banos" next to it. McKoy Banos is believed to be the names of two persons who have vandalised trains elsewhere.

Lloyd then took photographs of the vandalised train carriages and both of them left the depot through the hole in the fence.

They flagged a taxi and went to Boat Quay before ending up at Fricker's apartment at Sail@Marina Bay. Lloyd showed Fricker the photographs he had taken, before they went to sleep.

The next day, the pair left for Hong Kong for a holiday, the court heard. Fricker returned three days later, while Lloyd, 29, decided to stay on in Hong Kong.

Fricker was arrested on May 25. Singapore police have issued a warrant for Lloyd's arrest.

On Friday, as the sentence was being read out, Fricker, brows furrowed, stood straight in the dock and looked at the judge, his expression unchanged throughout the proceedings.

In mitigation, Fricker's lawyer, Mr Derek Kang, told Judge See that there was no need for a punitive custodial sentence, and that Fricker was "cajoled" by Lloyd into committing the offence.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Mr Kang said both he and Fricker felt the sentence was too "high" and would be appealing.

For vandalism, Fricker could have been sentenced to three years' jail, fined a maximum of $2,000 and given at least three strokes of the cane.

And for entering a protected place, he could have been sentenced to a maximum of two years' jail and fined up to $1,000.

Singaporeans interviewed by Media-Corp gave mixed reactions to Fricker's sentencing. Of the 10 people interviewed, about half felt that the sentence was too harsh, while the others felt it was appropriate.

Boutique assistant Joseph Wee, 25, who felt the sentence was fair, said: "This is Singapore, we must keep our reputation as a country which is clean and safe to live in."

However, bank officer Mark Sim thought a jail term and a fine would have been more appropriate.

Mr Christoph Oggenfuss, head of marketing and communications at Swiss company Comit AG, where Fricker is employed, noted that this is a "private matter", and "Mr Fricker will stay suspended until he returns to Switzerland".

In the Swiss city of Zurich, several people interviewed by Weekend Today felt that Fricker's sentence was harsh but agreed that one has to abide by the laws of a country one is in.

Economist Felix Kaufmann described caning as being "unusual" in Switzerland. "I think the punishment as a whole - the caning and imprisonment - is unacceptable," said Mr Kaufmann, 38.

While student Christina Frick, 21, believes that the punishment "is not correct", she added that Fricker knew "vandalism is against the law".

Teacher Mrs Verena Dutzi, 52, said: "If you go to another country, you have to be informed of the rules and accept the rules and customs of the country." Additional reporting by Venessa Lee in Zurich
----------------------------------------------
Oliver Fricker, 32, was charged with committing trespass and vandalism in mid-May, and a district judge who described him as a flight risk set bail at 100,000 Singapore dollars (71,000 US). His passport was also impounded.

A worried-looking Fricker told the judge he needed a lawyer and asked that his bail be lowered to 40,000 dollars.

But the judge cut him short and rejected the bail request, stressing the seriousness of the offence.

The official charge sheet said Fricker, who was arrested on May 25, was with a Briton identified as Lloyd Dane Alexander when he broke into the suburban depot, a restricted zone surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire.

It was unclear why Alexander was not charged along with Fricker, and police had no immediate information on the Briton's whereabouts.

The charge sheet said Fricker and Alexander vandalised public property when they cut through a fence and spray-painted two carriages.

A police spokesman described Fricker as a company consultant.

A man by that name is listed in the business networking website Xing as a senior consultant in Singapore in the information-technology field.

Vandalism is punishable by up to three years' jail or a maximum fine of 2,000 Singapore dollars (1,424 US), plus three to eight strokes of a wooden cane, a punishment dating from British colonial rule in Singapore.

An American teenager, Michael Fay, garnered global headlines in 1994 when he was jailed and caned in Singapore after he was found guilty of vandalising several cars. Fay was caned despite a US appeal for clemency.

Prosecutors, arguing for the high bail amount, said Fricker had been due to leave for Switzerland two days after his arrest.

The Swiss embassy is providing consular support to Fricker but says it will not interfere in the trial.

The break-in, believed to have taken place before dawn on May 17, was not immediately detected and the train plied its route in full view of commuters, one of whom filmed it and posted a clip on video-sharing site Youtube.

The train has been scrubbed clean but the clip can still be viewed online.
-----------------------------------------------
What if it is not just Graffiti, but Bombs???
The MRT graffiti saga which rocked the entire nation took another twist yesterday when it was revealed that SMRT took more than 48 hours to lodge a police report.

A Swiss FT was hauled up to Court yesterday for trepassing into a MRT depot at Changi and vandalizing one of the trains by spraying graffiti on one side of the carriage.

It also transpired that he had an accomplice with him Briton McKoy Banos who has since left Singapore.

The security breach allegedly took place on 16 May 2010, but a police report was made only on 19 May 2010 which contradicts an official statement by SMRT that it “reported the breach to the police immediately when it was discovered.”

When queried by the Straits Times, SMRT Head of Security Mr Choy Kin Chong declined to comment on the time lapse, saying that “more security staff had been deployed to increase patrol at its depots.”

Singapore’s biggest security lapse since the dramatic escape of famed terrorist Mas Selamat Kasteri two years ago drew widespread concerns from both law-makers and Singaporeans who wondered what the consequences might be had the vandals been terrorists instead.

GPC chairman for Home Affairs and Law, Mr Alvin Yeo was quick to jump to the defence of the Swiss FT:

“MRT trains are potential soft targets. I dare say that the suspects probably did it in the spirit of fun and adventure and not for something more sinister. But this could have been something more harmful than just graffiti,” he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times.

Netizens were equally flabbergasted at how SMRT could allow the security breach to go unnoticed for so long.

Eddie Chin commented:

“This is a real security concern. If someone can sneak into an MRT depot and spend a sizeable amount of time spraying the graffiti, he would have enough time to plant bombs on many different trains. I wonder what our Minister for Home Affairs going to say about this, that he’s doing a harmless prank so it’s ok?”

Salihin added:

“Worse of all is that SMRT actually deployed the vandalized train with the huge graffiti. Let’s not ask how they actually secure their depots when their staff cant even notice a huge graffiti on their train.”

There are no immediate comments from the Home Affairs Ministry or its Minister Wong Kan Seng yet.

Maybe they are keeping a distance as far as possible from the incident out of fears of re-igniting Singaporeans’ memories of Mas Selamat.
--------------------------------------------

Swiss national charged with vandalising SMRT train
By Lynda Hong
SINGAPORE: A 33-year-old Swiss national has been charged with trespassing into an MRT depot and vandalising a SMRT train.

Oliver Fricker appeared in Court Saturday morning to face the charges.

He is accused of trespassing into Changi depot on late night of May 16 and early hours of May 17 this year.

He also faces two charges on vandalising an MRT train by spraying paint, and damaging public property by cutting a wired fence belonging to LTA.

Fricker has been offered a bail of $100,000.

He said in Court that he cannot afford the amount and asked it to be lowered to $40,000. But the judge said that his is a serious offence, and therefore kept the $100,000 bail.

His case will be heard again in two weeks' time on June 21.

Another man, a Brit named Lloyd Dane Alexander, is also allegedly involved in the offence. It is not known if he is still in Singapore. Police are still investigating.

Foreign Talents Committing Heinous Crimes all over Singapore

Michael Garing

There are of course numerous petty crimes gone unreported. The once peaceful and safe haven called Singapore is going, going and gone. Less people will be walking on the streets alone from now on.

A Malaysian man from Sarawak was charged Tuesday with the murder of a construction worker in Singapore while two others were accused of gang robbery.

No plea was taken from Michael Garing, 22, a general worker who allegedly committed the murder of Indian national Shanmuganathan Dillidurai, 41, with three others at an open field along Kallang Road on Sunday.

In the same court, Sylvester Barogok, 26, and Shahman Milak, 21, both also from Sarawak, were charged with committing gang robbery of a mobile phone, cash of $32, a work permit card and an ez-link card from Raja Kana Kazi under an overhead bridge Friday evening.

The duo were allegedly with Micheal, Hairee Landak, 19, Tony Imba, 31, and Donny Meluda, 19, one or more of whom were armed with a parang.

All three were remanded at Singapore's central police division lock-up for further investigation.

If convicted of murder, Micheal faces the death penalty. The maximum punishment for gang robbery is a jail term of five to 20 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane.
---------------------------------------------
Beware! More foreign criminal elements are coming to Singapore!
Newsgroups: soc.culture.singapore
From: Zanzibar
Subject: Re: Foreigners making Singapore unsafe ?

> This is strange...

> When the PAP govt are telling Singaporean to accept more foreigners for
> "the good of Singapore", foreigners seems to be committing more crime
> lately.

> Several months ago, I laughed when an article written by one ST writer
> claiming the perception of foreigners making Singapore "unsafe" is not
> true. So, how can one explain the recent spate of crime committed by
> foreigners lately ?

That writer seems out of experience with the reality of life. when
Singapore was viewed by foreigners as a safe city, it creates the
opportunity for them to produce unsafe activities from businesses to
robbing, and violence attacks. (as seen lately in the news)

THe spate of these kinds of crime by them became the cornerstones for
the foreigners to move to Singapore.

A few years, a visitor from India wrote in the forum page saying that
during his few visits to Singapore, he was curious when he was walking
in Singapore that he saw no policemen around in sight.

Although this was no exactly what he said, he was referring that no
police patrol was in sight on most times he moved and saw around of
Singapore.

I believe this might have seemed obvious to him that our policemen is
only available "on-a-on-call-basis" only when crimes had already been
commited.

He said this was far in contrast and comparison with India, which he
came from, that there are lots of policemen around looking at you,
manning street corners - all in the name of preventing crimes.

It seemed to me he was referring that in India there are lots of
"loitering" policemen around, who were to get up each morning and then
walk these street corners to "see and be seen" and to "watch and be
watched" in order to impress or create a safe environment.

His revelation of Singapore in the forum page may have been well
published and may even repeatedly recirculated by other foreign
newspapers and Tv media in India and other third world countries.

That probably had manifested many foreigners, mainly from third world
countries, to come to Singapore for their thrist of crimes and for
their sprees of crimes. This was indeed the fault of our beloved
leaders for their crimes of it.

Why not let foreign talents defend S'pore too?

From: "hwseck"
Subject: Re: Alamak. Why not let foreign talents defend S'pore too?

Fair enough if the engagement of foreign talent is in areas where no
Singaporeans have those expertise. But if a local talent whose experience
and knowledge matches that of a foreign talent, then I see no reason for
engaging a foreign talent apart from the question of emoluments which some
foreign talent may be so foolish enough to accept a more meagre sum than any
Singaporeans would.

But this is usually not the case. Foreign talents are paid far more than
most Singaporeans for similar work.

wrote
> Alamak. Talk so much on needing foreign talents. Say how
> S'pore needs foreign talents da survive and how goodda they
> help S'pore.

> I believe that only if foreign talents are paid for by PAP
> ta do ma work while I still get paid for doing nuting.
> Otherwise, it's foreign talents and I slogging for da
> same bowl of rice in Singapore. Not any better contribution.

> Hey! Wait a minute, ain't that's whatsa happening now? Ain't
> foreign talents paid for by POSB aka people's money while
> people lika Dhanabalan gets paid for playing golf...
> Wadda wonderful life, man.

> Then how come foreign talents no need to defend S'pore
> in times of trouble? Why not juz get foreign talents to
> defend S'pore side by side another S'porean?

> Foreign talent is definitely a better classed citizen in
> S'pore than locals. Suka suka can go home when trouble
> comes.

Companies which deprived Singaporeans of jobs

truth
Subject: Co which deprived Singaporeans of jobs

European company ST Microelectronics is conducting a massive recruitment
exercise in Penang on 6 February 2010 to seek Malaysians for various
positions in Singapore:

The positions on offer include process engineers, industrial engineers and
production managers.

These are positions which are highly sought after among Singapore
engineering graduates.

Singapore produce more than 1,000 engineers yearly from both NUS and NTU.
There should be ample local applicants for these vacancies.

Why is ST Microelectronics incurring extra expenses to go all the way up
north to Penang to recruit Malaysian engineers? Are they more qualified than
Singapore engineers?

Leaders from the ruling party have been claiming that foreign workers are
needed in sectors shunned by Singaporeans.

The mainstream media has been selling the story to Singaporeans that local
companies have no choice but to turn to foreigners because few Singaporeans
wish to take up the jobs on offer.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his New Year Day's message that
Singaporeans will remain a "priority" for his administration.

Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong signaled a "shift" in the ruling party's
pro-foreigner policies by emphasizing the need for Singapore to reduce its
heavy dependence on foreigners and to boost labor productivity.

Even the strongest advocate for foreign workers, MM Lee Kuan Yew had
backtracked lately.

In a speech made at HDB's 50th anniversary, Lee was reported to say:

"The next five years, we have decided we will tier down our need for foreign
workers. We will pay for help to educate people, continuing education and
training, which means a lot of money, probably co-payment with the employer
to send him,"

[Straits Times, 28 January 2010]

Since the government has already expressed its intentions explicitly, why
are companies like ST Microelectronics still employing foreigners at the
expense of Singaporeans?

It is not as if Malaysian engineers are more highly qualified than
Singaporean engineers. If this is so, then Singaporeans should be flocking
across the Causeway to study in Malaysian universities instead of the other
way round.

How does the ruling party explain the discrepancy between their words and
actions taken on the ground by major MNCs like ST Microelectronics which
should be heeding its exhortations to employ more locals and upgrade their
skills!

A job gained by a Malaysian is one lost for a Singaporean.

There are many Singapore engineering graduates who will jump at the chance
of working for ST Microelectronics.

In other developed countries, such jobs are usually reserved for their own
citizens. Only in Singapore where Singaporeans are so openly discriminated
as evident by the numerous job ads put up on the internet seeking foreigners
to fill vacancies which should otherwise belong to them.

It appears that the situation on the ground will not improve by much with
the cosmetic changes introduced by the ruling party to placate angry voters.

Singaporeans will have to make their voices heard through the ballot box to
ensure that their interests are taken care of now and they will not be
relegated to becoming "second class citizens" in their own country.

Don't blame FT for taking your jobs: Law Minister

From: Tanki <5191 ...="" gmail.com="">
Subject: Don't blame FT for taking your jobs: Law Minister

nasi
subject: Law Minister :dont blame FW for getting your low paying
jobs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------­-----

in today ST, home section, Law Minister says dont blame FW for getting
your low paying jobs which Singaporeans shun.. quote text below:

"People come to me and they ask for jobs. I can get them jobs as
cleaners, I can get them jobs in canteens......

If the foreign worker gets $800, we'll try to get the Singaporean
$1300, But you have to work on weekends. The Singaporeans says
no...."

Shanmugam: Foreign talent vital to success

Mick

Singaporeans leh... not vital to success meh...
pay millions for FTs to lean English... Singaporeans leh...
pay money to welcome FTs... Singaporeans leh...

'Our immigration policies must ensure that Singapore and Singaporeans
benefit.' -- so what are the plans...

Quote:
AsiaOne.com
shanmugam: Foreign talent vital to success
By TEH SHI NING

STAYING open to talent inflow is vital to Singapore's continued
success, Law Minister K Shanmugam said at the Harvard Club of
Singapore's annual dinner last night.

'If we are not open to talent, we will quickly lose out
internationally,' he said. 'Businesses invest in Singapore because
they know they will be able to bring in the talent they need.'

He pointed to the financial services sector, which employs several
thousand Singaporeans and many foreigners. 'If we told our financial
institutions they cannot bring in foreign employees, then we put the
jobs of Singaporeans at risk as well,' said Mr Shanmugam, who is also
Second Minister for Home Affairs.

A liberalised legal sector has brought benefits too, he said. Six
qualifying foreign law practice (QFLP) licences were given out last
year to allow foreign firms to practise Singapore law - a move that he
said has led them to expand their practices here, having been given
'buy-in within the Singapore legal scene'.

Seeing these changes, other non-QFLP foreign law firms have invested
more in their Singapore practices too, Mr Shanmugam said.

This opening up has increased the technical quality of and
opportunities for local lawyers, in line with Singapore's aim to be a
'top international legal hub'. The arbitration sector too, has
benefited from talent inflow. 'If Singapore wants to be an
international arbitration centre, we cannot take a parochial
approach,' Mr Shanmugam said.

But while attracting talent is crucial, this system of openness must
not abused, he said. 'Our immigration policies must ensure that
Singapore and Singaporeans benefit.'

Mr Shanmugam made the comments during a wide-ranging speech, in which
he also discussed how the need for good governance could require a
political system specifically designed to deliver that governance
well.

Singapore's need for high quality governance, and therefore an
'activist government', should be seen in the context of its external
challenges of regional security and political instability, and issues
arising from US's and China's growing interests in this region, he
said.

Too many China PRC in Singapore

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:47:16 -0800 (PST)
Local: Sun, Dec 13 2009 9:47 am
Subject: Re: Too many China PRC in Singapore

many Chinese in China are buying Singapore ' s passports .

Singapore will be just another Chinese province of China in
ASEAN .

the whole of ASEAN shall become New South China ,.remember
South China now was originally called Yue Territory .

ASEAN shall be a New South China just like New South Wales
in Australia .

Dec 12, 5:19 pm, FairToAll <27w ...="" gmail.com=""> wrote:

> another group of PRC move into my block recently , really uneducated
> and uncivilised farmers.

> they should just stay in Geylang where they work as you know what .

> like that also can be 'foreign talents' ?

> hdb many of them
> what will happen to the civil locals?
> their home common corridors usually used as their store room.
> stacks of used items
> normal in china

> RCT

> good what.... like that u dun need to go geylang already...
> GoodNoGood

> i already give them $10 million , just to learn

> so talented .

Foreign workers the cause of productivity decline

From: "truth"
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:37:36 GMT
Local: Thurs, Dec 10 2009 12:37 pm
Subject: Re: Foreign workers the cause of productivity decline

When their pay and bonus is tied to economic growth and
those at the top, this is what they do. Self interests.
Low Thia Kiang's idea to tie the pay to the bottom 20% is
a very good one.

"bear" wrote in message

news:d5e47c82-5dba-479e-9095-7e0f8aeb6223@g22g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

Not surprising at all. Growth in the last few years come from low
value added positions.

Masses of asses should not be the economic model.

On Dec 10, 11:59 am, "truth" wrote:

> http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/
> Thursday, December 10, 2009
> Falling productivity : Need to wean off Foreign Labor...

> Productivity has fallen by 6 straight quarters from the last quarter of
> 2007. In the 1st quarter of 2009, it fell a whopping 14.7 percent.

> "One is the slowdown in investment in innovation and productivity
> measures.
> When the economy grows very rapidly, companies have alot of opportunities
> to
> benefit from the growth and the expansion of the economy. So the focus on
> productivity may be lacking behind. So it is important to refocus
> attention
> of companies on productivity growth. There are many measures we can put in
> place to encourage enterprises to invest in innovation, to invest in
> research, to invest in benchmarking so that we can raise the overall
> productivity effort in our economy."- Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong[Link]
> .
> Minister Gan blames it on the economic growth and worker's training. But
> our
> productivity has been falling during the economic slump while that of
> other
> developed countries like US has been rising[Link]. In manufacturing and
> hotels and restaurants in particular, productivity has been on the decline
> since 2006. This is about the same time foreign workers started entering
> Singapore in larger numbers[Link].

> "One reason for the lower productivity may be the large influx of foreign
> workers in recent years. With more workers available, each worker doesn't
> have to work as hard."
> -Singapore Economist

> Businesses want foreign workers mainly because they are cheaper. You can
> higher 1.5-2 foreign workers instead of a Singaporean. It is easier for
> managers to get more workers to do the same job rather than train and
> motivate fewer workers to work more efficiently. Business will always
> clamor
> for cheaper labor rather than invest in training, automation and
> innovation.
> There will always be sources of cheap labor because the cost of living is
> so
> much lower in developing countries. This a vicious cycle as import more
> foreign workers, these businesses depend on cheap labor will profit, grow
> and want more foreign workers. These business compete for limited
> resources
> like office and industrial space with business with higher levels of
> automation that hire highly skilled (hence highly paid) labor. The more
> foreign workers we import to generate growth in these industries, the more
> foreign workers we will need to bring in the future to maintain our GDP.
> In
> 2000, there were about 600,000 foreign workers in Singapore, constituting
> 27% of the total work force. Today it is 36% of the workforce or 1
> million.
> But the demand for foreign workers keeps increasing [See report below].
> The
> PAP govt took the easy way to expand the economy aiming for high GDP
> growth
> by expanding the workforce. In the past they allowed only "foreign
> talents"
> with selected skill sets to work here. These days it is anyone from the
> coffeeshop help to the IT support guy. Falling productivity means a large
> segment of Singaporeans will their income falling - and an unlucky few
> will
> form the ultra-underclass in Singapore....and this race to the bottom has
> not ended yet. Like the PAP 2-child policy, the PAP govt will keep going
> even as the problems become apparent to everyone else. By the time they
> stop, the damage is done and permanent - but nothing ever happens to the
> PAP
> for such bad policies, given our political system, the blame, pain and
> burden can always be passed on to ordinary Singaporeans...
> ---------------------
> Foreign workers in demand
> Almost half in SCCCI poll say business growth hit by quota on such workers
> By Cassandra Chew Contractors and manufacturers, companies that rely on
> foreign workers, want the Government to allow them to hire more of
> them. --

> COMPANIES that rely on foreign workers want the Government to let them
> hire
> more of them, according to a survey. The call is particularly intense from
> contractors and manufacturers, who feel the quota should be adjusted for
> specific sectors. Foreign workers form up to 70 per cent of the workforce
> in
> these two sectors. Overall, almost half of the businesses surveyed are
> unhappy with the foreign worker quota policy. They want it raised in order
> for them to meet orders, which have been increasing in the past few months
> as Singapore's economy claws its way out of the red.But such a move could
> hurt Singapore's competitive edge, said economics professor Davin Chor
> from
> Singapore Management University. 'Long-run growth depends on the capacity
> of
> our economy to consistently improve on our productivity and the way we tap
> into cutting-edge technologies,' he said.
> cassc...@sph.com.sg

> posted by LuckySingaporean

Sentosa conquered by Foreign Talents

From: "icon"
Subject: Re: Sentosa island becomes an influx foreigner workers land

They will pay rent for the whole island for billions of dollars every year,
for exclusive use.

"truth" wrote in message
> The vast majority of those who bought property on Sentosa are
> rich foreigners.
> In time to come Sentosa will be the playground for the rich and
> famous of the world. When that time comes, Singaporeans may
> be barred from entering Sentosa for security reason.

> "Rainbow ?" wrote in message
> news:db3669b4-9a3e-4e5f-9867-05192a43ec57@u18g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>>I went to Sentosa today, to my very surprised, more than 60% of the
>> the people in Sentosa are foreign workers who jammed up the beach near
>> the Beach station. I saw many Singaporean family could not even find a
>> peaceful place on the beach to enjoy their day, because you could see
>> constant streams of groups of foreign workers walking pass the beaches
>> non-stop. Many of these workers even stopped by to take picture of
>> ladies wearing in bikini. Singaporean can't even enjoined their
>> peaceful relaxing moment in the beach.

>> To make it worse, these groups of foreign workers are littering our
>> environment, they spitted, throwing dirts and left all the after meals
>> rubbish on the beach wherever they used.

>> It is time for Sentosa to charge higher fee, and giving discount to
>> Singaporeans for such compensation. Or else, it is a matter of times,
>> Sentosa will lost its status of tourist spot and become a gathering
>> ground for foreign workers

Singapore court more lenient to foreigner

From: Rainbow 虹

Subject: Re: Singapore court more lenient to foreigner

This is not the first time. Remembered one Ang Moh was killed at the
traffic light and was awarded 1 million compensation. After this, you
can see many Ang Moh simply run over the traffic light without fear.
Thanks to the Singapore Judge.

On Nov 27, 10:03 pm, "truth" wrote:

> Two similar cases of appeal was heard by High Court judge Justice Lee Seiu
> Kin yesterday with two different results.

> While a Japanese national was successful in his appeal against imprisonment
> for assaulting a cabby, a Singaporean was jailed a month for kicking a bus
> driver.

> Mr Taniguchi Mitsuru, 47, a Japanese construction site manager was initially
> sentenced to six weeks' jail in September for using an umbrella to assault a
> cabby on the forehead and thigh.

> He had hailed Mr Lim Hing Soon's cab along Orchard Road in the early hours
> of Sept 2 last year after a night out with a friend at a pub. Mr Lim then
> pursued Mr Mitsuru to collect his taxi fare but was pushed to the ground by
> Mr Mitsuru.

> When Mr Lim returned to his taxi to retrieve an umbrella, Mr Taniguchi tried
> to grab it away from him and both fell to the ground during the tussle.

> The scuffle for control of the umbrella continued which resulted in the
> victim having a 7cm-long cut over the forehead, a left upper thigh wound and
> chest pain.

> Mr Mitsuru's lawyer argued that his actions were in "self-defence" and he
> stopped when he saw the taxi driver bleed. Justice Lee substituted Mr
> Mitsuru's jail sentence with a $2,000 fine.

> In another case, Singaporean Balbir Singh was sentenced to one month's
> imprisonment for kicking a bus driver on his leg after being reminded the
> second time to pay his fare.

> Justice Lee dismissed his appeal on the grounds that the act was committed
> in "a spur of the moment" and that he was "in a hurry".

> He said a deterrent message needed to be sent out that attacks against bus
> drivers would not be tolerated.

Foreign Talents Become Loan Sharks

From: "icon"
Subject: Re: Foreigners moving into loan sharking in Singapore

These already happened in Australia, does not mean the same to Singapore.

"truth" wrote in message

> Well well, with so many foreigners in Singapore, this must
> happened.
> Foreigners are moving into the laon sharking and other
> illegal business like smuggling of contraband cigarett.

Singaporeans are squeezed out in their own country

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:01:08 GMT
Local: Fri, Nov 20 2009 12:01 pm
Subject: Singaporeans are squeezed out in their own country

http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/
Friday, November 20, 2009
Some Singaporeans become a minority in Singapore......

"When I go for a function and I see only expat Indians and no Singaporean
Indians, I feel uncomfortable - like the future is being taken over by
expats. What will happen in 15 or 20 years' time, when my children start
work?' -Mr K. Varatharaju.

Straits Times [Link]

Actually Mr. Varatharaju does not need to wait until his children start
work. It is already happening.

An increasing number of companies in Singapore now do not even want
applications from Singaporeans let alone older Singaporeans:
I don't blame these companies or foreign individuals at all for the current
situation. Companies want foreign workers for various reasons - no in-camp
disruptions, can easily hire and fire, bigger pool of younger workers,
sometimes lower wages etc. Companies are profit seeking entities, they do
not exist to maximise the social or economic benefits for Singaporeans.
Someone else was suppose to take care of that equation. You cannot blame
foreigners because they are here to seek a better life for themselves just
as we do for ourselves. Once there is a large pool of, say, mainland
Chinese, in the company it makes less sense to hire Singaporeans because the
cultural and language differences will make management difficult. There is
no shortage of almost any kind of skill you can get from China and India so
you can guess what will happen to the Singaporean worker in the long run if
the PAP keeps its policies.

posted by LuckySingaporean

Why we need immigrants - Goh Chok Tong

Bangkok kid

Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Nov 7, 2009

SINGAPORE will go the way of the dinosaurs, without the influx of permanent residents and new citizens, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong warned on Saturday night.

Making a compelling case for the need to take in more new immigrants, he trotted out various sets of figures to drive home the stark reality Singapore is facing: 'In the last 10 years, the number of people aged 65 and above has grown by about 100,000 while the number of children aged below 15 had shrunk by about 50,000.'

And despite all the efforts to encourage marriage and procreation, the total fertility rate climbed only marginally from 1.26 in 2004 to 1.28 last year - far short of the 2.1 needed to replace father and mother. In absolute terms, Singapore needs about 60,000 babies per year, but last year only 32,400 citizen babies were added.

Calling this an 'unsustainable demographic structure,' SM Goh told residents and grassroots leaders at a Deepa Thirunal event at the Braddell Heights Community Club: 'If we do not take in any more new immigrants, our population will begin to shrink in 2020. That is only 11 years away!

'To sustain our present standard of living, we need to top up our population with immigrants, particularly those with skills, entrepreneurial drive and talent. Without them... our growth rate would be easily 1 to 2 percentage points lower.

'Without the foreign workforce, our flats and MRT will not be built, our buses will come to a standstill, our healthcare services will degrade, and many investors, including Singaporean ones, will uproot and go where talent is abundant. Instead of sacrificing just 1-2 percentage points of growth, our economy will shrink, and our quality of life decline.'

Beyond just sustaining the quality of life here, immigrants enrich the society, said Mr Goh, adding:' Immigrants inject a certain vitality and diversity to our society, adding vibrancy to our economy, and broadening our horizons in other fields like the arts, music, sports, and philanthropy.'

LKY joke that singaporean unable to reproduce so FT needed

漂亮宝贝嫩乳
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject:
---------------------------------------------------------

how to reproduce? have u calculate
1) doctor fees 700 - 1500
2) hospital fees 1500 excluding medisave
3) baby items $1500
4) pei yue aunty $2000
5) milk $150 per months
6) baby regular check up $300 per month
7) toys to simulate babies $200
Equipment for babies $2000
9) no mother, u will need a nanny $1500 per month

ask MM how average singaporean can reproduce in blood sucking singapore???
MM relaxing in his $200 million worth Oxley bungalow talks "feng liang hua"

S'reans pls don't take your frustrations and angers at foreigners

From: "truth"
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:20:29 GMT
Local: Tues, Oct 13 2009 11:20 am
Subject: Singaporeans pls don't take your frustrations and angers at foreigners

Singapore now has a huge proportion of foreigners. These people
come to Singapore because of the papist leegime policies encouraging
them to come to Singapore. If the papist leegime had not pursue
policies which welcome foreigners with open arms and legs, then
these people will not be in Singapore.

Yes foreingers are causing plenty of hardships to Singaporeans by
way of forcing them to compete for everything. So naturally Singaporeans
are frustrated and angry when their pleas to the papist leegime to
slow down were met with even more policies to attract foreigners. Warning
that such polices are hurting and end in disaster have gone unheeded.
Now Singaporeans are taking out their frustrations and angers on
foreigners.

I urge Singaporeans not to take out on these foreigners. It is not their
fault.

Singaporeans should concentrate their angers and frustrations on the papist
leegime. The papist leegime is the root cause of their miseries. Take your
revenge on the papist leegime in the next GE which I forsee in 2010.

CSO / Admin (PRC Chinese Only) - Aljunied $1.5k /5 days

From: seawater
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:28:13 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Sat, Oct 10 2009 11:28 pm
Subject: Job reserve for ft in sg

Local are being discriminated in sg. Local have to do something as its getting out of hand

MPs jumped to defend PR foreigners

From: "truth"
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:42:29 GMT
Local: Tues, Oct 6 2009 10:42 am
Subject: pap mps more eager to defend foreingers than Singaporeans

PAP MPs jumped to the defence of Singapore "quitter PR" Zhang Yuanyuan
October 6, 2009 From our Correspondent

Three PAP MPs have spontaneously jumped to the defence of Singapore PR Zhang
Yuanyuan, who stirred a storm in cyberspace by proclaiming her allegiance to
China publicly on Chinese TV channel CCTV!

When interviewed by the state media, the PAP MPs urged netizens not to
"extreme" in their reactions as Zhang did nothing wrong from an objective
point of view since she is only a Singapore PR.

Dr Lim Wee Kiat, Sembawang GRC:

"Singapore netizens need not be too appalled because Zhang Yuanyuan is only
a Singapore PR and she still retains her China passport. Hence, her
motherland is still China. As a matter of fact, some Singaporeans are also
PRs of other countries and they frequently return to Singapore, so are they
going to be condemned by these countries too?"

Josephine Teo, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC:

"I can understand the sentiments who are worried that foreigners may use
Singapore as a 'jumping board'. However, in this instance, Zhang Yuanyuan is
actually 'jumping' back to her homeland and the possible reason is that she
may have little feeling to Singapore after staying here all these years. As
Singapore is an "open" city, such examples will happen from time to time.
Perhaps we should work harder on this aspect to encourage foreigners to
integrate into our society."

Baey Yam Keng, Tanjong Pagar GRC:

"As Zhang Yuanyuan grew up in China, she may miss her family and friends
back home. Similarly, there are many Singaporeans living overseas who still
regard Singapore as their homeland and will return eventually."

It appears that the three PAP MPs still do not realize the crux of the
issue: that netizens are not really angry with Zhang Yuanyuan for regarding
China as her motherland but peeved with the Singapore government for its
liberal open-door immigration policy.


Zhang Yuanyuan is not the only foreigner or PR who has turned her back on
Singapore. There are many others who come here on government scholarships or
grants and leave after earning a quick buck or worse, by making a hefty
profit from sale of HDB flats.

It is disappointing that the MPs, who are supposedly close to the
grassroots, are unable to grasp the real concerns of Singaporeans and make
no comments on the government's immigration policy.

Are we importing too many foreigners at too fast a rate that we cannot
integrate them into our society without causing social tension? Are we
getting the real first world talents or the second class leftovers who
cannot make it in their native countries? Most importantly, is the economic
pie big enough to be shared among the citizens and the newcomers?

It is understandable that the PAP MPs are reticent on the matter out of fear
of jeopardizing their political careers, but what about the three opposition
MPs?

Zhang Yuanyuan is definitely not an isolated case. Mass importing foreigners
without providing them with a conducive environment to settle down will not
solve the problem. Neither will throwing away taxpayers' monies to help them
"integrate" help much.

Foreigners and PRs need only take a look at how Singaporeans are being
treated as second class citizens by the ruling party to realize that they
are better off in their homeland.

Wanted: Preferably Non-Singaporean

By Seah Cheang Nee

Sat, Oct 03, 2009
The Star/Asia News Network
AN ELECTRONICS firm that advertised last week for a 'preferably non-Singaporean' engineer has added fuel to a worsening controversy in this migrant city.

It particularly stipulated that 'permanent residents are welcome' to apply for this 'mid-career job (salary negotiable)'.

A copy of the advertisement found its way onto the web.

Applicants should have a diploma or a relevant trade certificate, with 3-5 years' work experience, and 'preferably non-Singaporean (PR welcome),' it added.

This provoked strong reactions from Singaporeans who are already upset at the large number of foreigners allowed to work here.

One asked if such discrimination is legal. 'This sort of ad would have landed this company in heavy trouble in most developed states,' he added.

Another writer said: 'Now we know where we stand. The policy has downgraded Singaporeans to below foreigners.'

Archilles said: 'I feel left out by my own government, which is desperately trying to attract foreign talent (and) overlooking our own 'local talent'. It's sad, very sad!'

A similar storm broke some years ago when another company told a fresh Singaporean graduate during a job interview that his chances were slim if he had to report for annual reservist duty.

'We prefer a foreigner who has no such obligations,' the executive had added. Besides, they are much less costly to hire.

The reservist withdrew his application in disgust.

This is not just another act of public whining. The fact is many Singaporeans are no longer sure about their own role or entitlement in society.

In recent years, the rate of entry has increased sharply as the economy flourished. Every year some 100,000 foreigners have been arriving, putting pressure on what was already one of the most competitive and over-crowded cities in Asia.

The controversy couldn't have come at a worse time when the country is emerging from a severe downturn and the people's uppermost concern is getting ' or retaining ' their jobs.

Last month Seagate (worldwide: 10,000 workers) moved out its manufacturing capacity, retrenching some 2,000 workers. 'It is difficult to imagine the impact of Seagate's loss on our economy,' said commentator Harrison Goh.

Its departure, he added, may have marked the end point of Singapore's involvement in the global manufacturing market.

'It spells a deepening crisis that most Singaporeans may not yet fathom, thinking that the PAP government has a ready solution.'

It is within this context that the unpopularity of the open door policy becomes apparent.

Political leaders are now working hard to reassure embittered Singaporeans that their interests would always come first.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced last week that his government would reduce the inflow of foreign workers to maintain the 'tone' of society. He gave no numbers.

At the same time, his Community, Youth and Sports Minister assured polytechnic students: 'You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive.'

The other side of the coin is equally stark.

With 1.28 babies per couple, Singapore's birth-rate is one of the lowest in the world and threatens its long-term survival.

Singaporeans are also ageing rapidly, which may require young people to pay higher taxes to look after them.

Both defects are already being felt in a manpower-short economy, which requires immigrants to correct, according to officials.

'Companies have been coming to us to ask 'where are the workers, we can't get them',' a government official said.

Singaporeans, being descendants of immigrants themselves, have never been antagonistic to the presence of foreigners here ' until now.

What they resent is not their coming, but the overwhelming numbers, which they feel are threatening their jobs and education opportunities.

They are also angry with uneven policies that benefit foreigners more than locals, especially national service (compulsory two years) and the subsequent annual reservist call-ups, a burden not borne by foreigners.

Permanent residents are exempted, but their children are not.

Not having to meet reservist call-ups and cheaper wages are powerful attractions for employers to hire foreigners, particularly in a weak economy.

Complaints have increasingly come from older or mid-career Singaporeans who have been replaced by lower-cost younger workers from China or India.

The foreigners, hungrier and without family responsibility here, generally work longer hours for less pay ' something that married Singaporeans with a home mortgage to pay cannot possibly match.

A small industry has risen to recruit them in large numbers ' as indicated by a recruitment agency, with this advertisement: 'Do you find it difficult and expensive to hire local staff' Why not consider hiring foreign talents''

Claiming it was licensed by the Manpower Ministry, the agency said that it had recruited thousands of workers from China, India, Vietnam and Malaysia for Singapore firms in the past five years.

Every time such an ad appears, it cuts into the popularity of the government, which won 66.6% of the popular votes in the 2006 election.

Several months ago, the government ordered its election machinery to prepare for a snap election in case one is called.

With the improvement of the economy, it is widely expected that it will take place next year, instead of 2011 as scheduled. The public discontent against massive immigration promises to be one of the hottest campaign issues if it happens.

This intensity of public feeling has been too sensitive to be reflected in the traditional media, which has toned down the coverage.

On the Internet, however, where Singaporeans can air their grievances, the mood is more sombre. It probably requires more than mere government assurances to placate.

Ppls said LDP rule more than 50++ will never change.

Now the red sun raise Democratic Party of Japan.

Singaporean need not be upsad or angry.....Time will come....change is here

Every vote count ....1 vote,1 dream Wink

The rise and fall of Lee Dynasty