Is Health Care Really Unsustainable Hard Choice?

Right after an uneventful Budget Speech, the hopeless PM is now preparing the cows for milking, this time from Health Care.

It seems Health Care is unsustainable and hard choices will be made, presumably more taxes, Health COE, and whatever it takes to push the buck back to the people.

What is not said is that, he will continue to accumulate billions in Budget surpluses to be channeled to external investments via Temasek and GIC that don't benefit the people in general.

If resources are not managed properly and prudently, nothing is sustainable.

For example, the billions spent on defence. How is it sustainable and is for what? While necessary, but why the huge part of our budget? It can't even deter the Malaysian govt boats encroaching into our water.

And of course what is really unsustainable by any world standard, is the huge cost of our Cabinet and the astronomical ministers' pay, in particular white elephants like Senior Ministers and ESMs. If we are a Meritocracy, then where or what is the merit for their existence?

SINGAPORE: Hard choices will have to be made as the Government considers ways to fund future healthcare spending, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (Mar 23). 

Healthcare expenditure currently exceeds S$9 billion and is set to rise even further. 

Eventually, this will be unsustainable, Mr Lee said. “In the medium term, we have to find new ways to fund this healthcare spending. 

But at the same time, we have to think hard about what we must spend on, and which drugs and procedures are cost-effective,” he added. “Hard choices weill need to be made, and I hope we will have the support of Singaporeans in making them.” Mr Lee was speaking at the opening ceremony of Sengkang General Hospital and Sengkang Community Hospital. 

PAP Achievements Over Past 5 Years

Came across this interesting pic on the government's achievements over the preceding 5 years, in WhatsApp.

A good snapshot of what happened but it also highlights the kind of problems we are facing these days with this government.

While data hacking and data security issues will take time to resolve or reduce, the uncovering of new issues every few months means that there could be many hidden skeletons in the closet.

Action plans on PMETs seems like more talks than actions, and the usual blame on external factors beyond our celebrity ministers' control.

Corruption cases, my opinion on this is the same as some PAP supporters, that corruption can never be eradicated totally, especially in a country with almost absolute power, they can even rename corruption to something else, like donations, gifts or salaries, for examples.

The water issue is generating a long term windfall for the govt, thanks to Mahathir. You can expect the price of water to trend upward, with PAP giving the same excuses (so that we won't be threatened) while continue to pay cost of only 3 sen to Malaysia for a long time to come. So head or tail, Ah Loong wins.

They squeeze the public with the fear factor that always works. Singapore is never in fear of having no water. They have already built enough safeguards over the past 20 years to prevent that from happening. This, they will never tell you.

As for most expensive city, regardless, they will continue to raise the GST and hold your money in the Reserves for investment, as their Sovereign Fund, and accumulation of the Reserves for the illusive "rainy" day which will never come in yours or my or your kids' lifetime, as they continue to accumulate billion$ at your expense.

What is rainy and what is not rainy is also decided by the absolute power that be. The only rainy day that can happen to Singapore is when we discovered we have nothing left in our Reserves, when a new government took over.

Sloppy Response to NS Men's Deaths by the Prime Minister

PM Lee finally Speaks Up About Aloysius Pang’s Passing 3 weeks after Aloysius Pang’s death, not verbally but in Facebook post, which is unacceptable given that he sat through the whole Parliament proceedings that discussed about all 4 deaths over the last 17 months.

He showed no urgency to even stand up and say a few words of condolences to those who lost their lives prematurely, during that Parliamentary session.

In fact, during that 17 months, there were 9 NS men deaths. But they discounted those deaths from suicide and exhaustion, focusing on only training accident.

This lack of response, or procrastination by the prime minister is a Hallmark of his PMship, mainly out of fear or shame, and most likely out of indecisiveness.

You will never see the take-the-lead attitude of Theresa May, or unwavering decisiveness of Donald Trump, from this mediocre personality. But he's paying himself millions, many times more than Trump and May, for his sloppy work and lacklustre character.

When Malaysian boats intruded, we heard nothing from the PM in Parliament either. He left it to his lackeys to do talking.

It was on 31st December during the New Year speech that he mentioned about problems with Malaysia and other countries. About two months after the first intrusion.

Many angry Singaporeans are taking to social media to voice their unhappiness.

Like this forum topic:

So Many NSmen died, Defense Minister should resign.
https://sgtalk.org/mybb/Thread-So-Many-NSmen-Died-Defence-Minister-Should-Resign

And this Youtube video:

–--------------------------------------+++++++-----
Here is some details from Mustsharenews.com on his Facebook's response to Aloysius Pang's death.

PM Lee gave his take on the recent Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training-related deaths that have caused distress among many Singaporeans.

 In his Facebook post, PM Lee assures Singaporeans that the SAF treats safety very seriously, and repeated Minister Ng Eng Hen’s promise to strive for 0 training fatalities. Here’s his post in full, we also break it down for you after the jump. Incidents are “very painful”.

Mr Lee started his post by touching on the recent training incidents that have caused “precious lives” to be lost, and how this has affected all Singaporeans.
Describing these incidents as “very painful”, he notes how “heartbreaking” these must have been to Singaporeans, especially for the families involved.

 He also acknowledged that when this occurs to a public figure like Mr Pang, the “emotional impact is greater, and the loss is even harder to take”. SAF places “enormous emphasis” on training safety Despite recent incidents, PM Lee wrote in his post that the SAF places “enormous emphasis” on training safety.

 According to PM Lee, after every fatal accident, the SAF carries out investigations to identify the cause of the incident. And when causes are identified, the SAF takes steps to improve its processes to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Even though having 0 fatalities sounds like it might be impossible, PM Lee hopes that the SAF will strive towards it, because “every life is precious”. PM Lee draws on his personal experience as a commander in the SAF.

 PM Lee then went on to speak about his personal experience. During his early days as a unit commander, he was responsible for his men’s training, safety and welfare. This, to him, was similar to “standing in” for his servicemen’s parents. Then, when he served on the General Staff, PM Lee was directly involved in the aftermath of SAF training incidents.

 In his words, some of his responsibilities included:

• Deciding what needed to be fixed 
• Deciding if anyone should be punished  
• What the SAF should continue doing and what it should stop. 
• How to account to the bereaved families 
• How to keep servicemen safe while fulfilling the SAF’s mission. 

 Now as Singapore’s PM, he believes that he’s staffed the Ministry of Defence with competent leaders capable of answering to the Singaporean public whenever an accident occurs. This, in his opinion, is important for the SAF to maintain public confidence and support. In his words, I can therefore assure you that i and the SAF leadership take safety with utmost seriousness. It was so when I was there, and I am confident it is even more so today. “We cannot outsource our security and defence“

 Moving on, PM Lee once again reiteratedthe importance of having a capable defence force. Despite the tragic incidents of late, the SAF must continue training and realising its operational obligations. That’s because We cannot outsource our security and defence to anyone else.

 According to him, we have a “strong and well-trained” defence force to thank for the peace, security, and good international ties that we enjoy today. PM Lee hopes S’poreans can see things in perspective.

 In conclusion, PM Lee took the opportunity to thank Singaporeans for their support towards the SAF, and in particular our national service. He hopes that Singaporeans will be able to see things in perspective the next time “something goes wrong”.

 Even though we shouldn’t ignore the SAF’s imperfections, we should not forget the SAF’s progress over the years, and the vital part it plays in keeping our country safe.

So Is The PAP Bribing the People with $300?

In his own words, PAP leader Chan Chun Sing claimed that giving $300 to Singaporeans is tantamount to giving bribes.

That is exactly what his govt is doing now in the latest annual budget day announcement by Heng Swee Keat, the so-called Finance Minister.

Chan repeatedly put words in the mouths of Singaporeans by insisting that Singaporeans are not so easily bribed. So much for the legalization of corruption here.

Not surprisingly, he mentioned nothing about the massive bribes he is getting in the form of exorbitant salary payment never seen before in world history.

Had Your MP Ever Spoken For You in Parliament?

The title of the above video is, VOTE THEM OUT: PAP MP's Do Not Speaks For You in Parliament.

This is really a no-brainer title as we know these MPs are mediocre Yes-men. They were specially selected and approved by the failing dictator himself. They owe him a lifetime of success. He is their God of Fortune.

Why would they want to speak for a bunch of hopeless people called Singaporeans, unless asked by their God of Fortune to do so? How and what can these people benefit the MP if he speak for them? Nothing.

But the people have their all important "votes"? You may ask.

Wrong! Their votes don't matter at all. Read why your vote doesn't matter  anymore, 5 articles below.

Why is PM Lee elevating Leong Sze Hian to oppie Sainthood?

From obscurity to fame and possibly a key opposition figure in the coming general election, thanks to the redundant PM Lee effort in reading every blog post that criticized him, probably with the help of some Pap lackeys.

Blogger Leong became a star overnight by the unwitting action of a sickly and failing Prime Minister.

 Singaporean blogger Leong, is fighting back after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sued him for defamation for sharing an article on Facebook linking the leader to a corruption scandal.

Observers say the government is increasingly targeting online criticism – the case against blogger Leong Sze Hian comes the same month the editor of a news portal was charged with defamation.

 The prime minister lodged the defamation suit against Leong earlier in December for posting on his Facebook page a link to an article alleging that Lee was the target of an investigation in neighbouring Malaysia over the scandal at sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

 Lee said the article, originally published by a Malaysian news portal, was false and without basis and that Leong had reposted the link to smear his reputation.

 The article, titled “Breaking News: Singapore Lee Hsien Loong Becomes 1MDB’s Key Investigation Target — Najib Signed Several Unfair Agreements with Hsien Loong In Exchange for Money Laundering”, was sourced from another blog, States Times Review.

 States Times Review describes itself as “formerly a Singapore news media based in Australia” and now “a personal blog in response to Singapore's latest censorship laws”.

Singapore was the first country to legally act on the 1MDB saga. It has fined eight banks and convicted four people linked to the Malaysian fund since its investigations began in 2015.

In September, a Singapore court also ordered the return of some S$15.3 million (RM46.3 million) misappropriated from 1MDB to Malaysia. Malaysia’s former leader Najib Razak and his cronies are accused of having stolen billions of dollars from 1MDB in an audacious fraud that spanned the globe. Najib has been charged but denies wrongdoing.     

Leong, a regular critic of government policies, has now lodged a countersuit against Lee for alleged abuse of the court system. “The predominant purpose of the claim is the use of the legal process to chill freedom of expression in Singapore,” said Leong in his suit, which was posted on Facebook on Wednesday along with details of his defence.   

He said all he had done was to make the article available on his Facebook page “without embellishment or comment” for less than three days. Leong launched a crowdfunding campaign earlier this week aimed at raising S$10,000 (US$7,280) towards his legal fees – a fund to which Lee Hsien Yang, the prime minister’s younger brother, said he had donated a “meaningful sum”, according to local news website Today. 

When asked why he had donated, Lee Hsien Yang reportedly replied: “surely it needs no explanation?” 

Singapore’s Prime Minister and his two siblings, the children of the city state’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, have quarrelled bitterly over the fate of their parents’ bungalow. 

The Prime Minister’s siblings claim their father always wanted his house to be torn down after his death, but a ministerial committee has been studying future options for the house, including preserving it partially or completely. 

Ruling People’s Action Party, co-founded by Lee, held key meetings in the basement of the property in the 1950s.   

Amid the feud, Lee Hsien Yang’s son, Harvard academic Li Shengwu, made a Facebook post that resulted in the Attorney General’s Chambers in Singapore launching contempt of court proceedings against him last year. 

  Earlier this month, Terry Xu, editor of Singapore news site The Online Citizen, was charged with defamation for publishing a letter that alleged corruption among the city state’s leaders.   

Singapore is regularly ranked among the world’s least corrupt countries and its leaders are sensitive to accusations of corruption. With Singapore’s media scene dominated by pro-government publications, criticism of the authorities is mostly expressed online. 
Phil Robertson, Asia's deputy director   of Human Rights Watch, which has been critical of Singapore's laws limiting critical speech and peaceful assembly, said the Singapore government was engaged in bullying tactics against STR.

"If a story is inaccurate, Singapore should refute it with facts, not shoot the messenger. Actions like these show that when it comes to media freedom, Singapore is no better than repressive regimes like Vietnam or Laos," Robertson said. 

Why is Singapore the Richest Country in Asia?

You can watch this angmo video with a critical mind, taking notes of the truths and the lies.

Otherwise, you may just treat it as a holiday treat if you have nothing else to do during this Chinese New year holiday period.

Best Speech Ever Made at Hong Lim Park

This speech by Brad Bowyer is the best I have heard at Hong Lim Park

He touched on the following topics:

1. The unacceptable level of income inequality in Singapore.

2. Tweaking the Rule of Law to advance govt agenda.

3. Making Singaporeans relevant and not simply replacing them with foreign talents.

4. Freedom of Speech.

5. Destruction of local Talents.

Don't Anyhow Say Things

Chance upon this very interesting video while watching a YouTube video on Trump's govt shutdown.

Quite a well created piece of work. I don't have anything to do with the party who created this, but the facts are real and some are seriously true.

And some blatant lies were exposed.

Enjoy, if you have not seen it.

Does Your Vote Really Matter?

No, Your Vote Doesn't Matter

Unlike what the govt would like you to believe, the reality is, your vote doesn't really matter. Your vote absolutely counts, but it doesn’t matter. Yes, you’ll change the total number of people who voted for one party, but you won’t change the outcome.

If everyone thought that way, then a fluke election result could happen - many in power would say, to frighten you. But the reality is everyone doesn't think that way. And even if you start thinking that way, your closest family member won't automatically follow you.

I have all past 12 general elections (GE) results to back me up on this. None of the 12 GEs came up with fluke results, not even close to one. The lowest that the PAP polled was in 2011, but still won 60.1 per cent of the total votes.

So the truth  is you can just go out to the election booth and cast for the opposition or damage the vote, it doesn't really matter. Even if you have damaged your vote or refused to vote, they still need another vote to break any tie, not just your vote.

The chances of your vote becoming the decisive vote of which party to rule Singapore is 1 in 2.3 million (depending on total number of voters), as difficult as winning Toto lottery. It may take thousands of elections for any fluke results to happen, assuming no gerrymandering and tweaking of the election rules by the ruling party. 

The argument that it is a duty of every citizen to vote, and exercise your sacred rights to decide the government, again doesn't hold water. The assumption here is that when you vote you will always vote the right people or party to best manage the country and it's resources. But we have seen how many MPs that the people voted, turn out to be scandalous individuals who needed to be replaced through by-elections. Their choice turned out to be hurting the voters themselves through bad policies and corrupt practises by those elected.

There is no guarantee that the PAP will take care of voters' needs and expectations, just as nobody can tell for sure, if the opposition could actually do a better job than the current government over time.



WHY PAP KNOWS YOUR VOTE DOESN'T MATTER

Over a period of about 20 years under the ironclad rule of Lee Kuan Yew, there was no opposition MP in the Parliament. It was embarrassing that every Parliamentary session was like a corporate meeting of PAP Incorporated, especially if one decides to telecast it on national TV.

So they started the Nominated MP scheme, now called Non-Constituency MP, where a few specially selected professionals or businessmen could ask some questions in Parliament, so as to provide some homework for the PAP Ministers and MPs to do, to justify their existence.

But this scheme, as long as it is still there, is a measurement of how confident the PAP is, of winning the next and future General Elections. As long as the number of opposition MPs is very low (say less than 20), the NCMP scheme will always be there.

In their best showing in 2011, the oppositions have 6 elected MPs in Parliament winning 6 out of the then 87 contested seats. That is less than 7% of the total number of seats, despite winning nearly 40% of the total votes in the General Election. This mismatch is so wide, it is unbelievable.

The voice of 40% of voters were represented by only 7% of the MPs in  Parliament.

Gerrymandering of boundary, redesignating of Constituencies, the undemocratic GRC system, plus other constraints placed on the opposition helped made this happened. And it is why the NCMP scheme is still needed to make Parliament look less like a HQ of PAP.

So even if the opposition were to win say, 55% of the total votes, they will just have another 5 to 10 additional MPs in Parliament.

See? Your vote doesn't matter at all. PAP will still have around 80% of the MPs in Parliament despite losing the majority of total votes.

PAP would then have enough time to tweak the rules and Constitution to ensure the party stays in power in the following GE, if they decides to have one.

Remember, they also have the power to suspend GE in the name of national security, but at the moment, they have enough of mechanism to ensure they do not need to resort to this trump card.

Now you know why PM Lee was always smiling when talking about General Election. It is a non-event to him, probably like a Circus coming to town that he needs to perform in once every few years. The power given  to PAP over the last 53 years had allowed them to change the rules of the game so much in their favour that it really is making a mockery of the democratic process of having elections.

They have enough safety nets to entrenched themselves permanently as the govt of Singapore and what LKY once said is now a fact (see photo below). The PAP, with no apology, is the permanent government of Singapore. And with no apology, your vote doesn't really matter to them.