Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Taiwan to end conscription
TAIPEI - TAIWAN will phase out its decades-old military conscription policy over the next five years, the defence minister said on Monday, amid warming ties with China.
Currently all men aged over 20 are required to do one year's military service.
But Defence Minister Chen Chao-min told reporters that the structure of Taiwan's military manpower will undergo a dramatic change over the next few years.
'From 2011, the number of conscripts will be reduced by at least 10 percent each year, to be replaced by professional soldiers,' Mr Chen said.
'That is to say, eventually, conscript measures will come to an end by 2014.' Critics have argued that the island's armed forces have struggled to enhance their defence capabilities because conscripts are unable to become proficient in high-tech weaponry in their short military service.
However, the new proposals sparked concerns over whether the defence ministry would be able to recruit sufficiently qualified professional soldiers at a monthly salary of NT$35,000 (S$1,550).
The plan to phase out conscription was a campaign pledge of President Ma Ying-jeou during the 2008 election.
The number of service personnel in Taiwan stands at around 275,000, down from a peak of 600,000 during the Cold War.
Taiwan's relatively large army is a legacy of decades of tensions with China, which has regarded the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.
However, ties between Taiwan and China have improved dramatically since Mr Ma's Kuomintang party took office last May promising to boost cross-strait trade and tourism. -- AFP
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_347888.html
That must be nice. Taiwan has China, who has openly threatened to invade her and referred to her as being part of China, is going to end conscription soon. Now compare to Singapore, whose neighbours have.. hmm.. almost never done that? We still have conscription. And a longer service term too. I still say the reason for SAF is to provide cheap labour and have an excuse to pay people a lot of money to do stuff that is otherwise worthless in the real world.
Currently all men aged over 20 are required to do one year's military service.
But Defence Minister Chen Chao-min told reporters that the structure of Taiwan's military manpower will undergo a dramatic change over the next few years.
'From 2011, the number of conscripts will be reduced by at least 10 percent each year, to be replaced by professional soldiers,' Mr Chen said.
'That is to say, eventually, conscript measures will come to an end by 2014.' Critics have argued that the island's armed forces have struggled to enhance their defence capabilities because conscripts are unable to become proficient in high-tech weaponry in their short military service.
However, the new proposals sparked concerns over whether the defence ministry would be able to recruit sufficiently qualified professional soldiers at a monthly salary of NT$35,000 (S$1,550).
The plan to phase out conscription was a campaign pledge of President Ma Ying-jeou during the 2008 election.
The number of service personnel in Taiwan stands at around 275,000, down from a peak of 600,000 during the Cold War.
Taiwan's relatively large army is a legacy of decades of tensions with China, which has regarded the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.
However, ties between Taiwan and China have improved dramatically since Mr Ma's Kuomintang party took office last May promising to boost cross-strait trade and tourism. -- AFP
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_347888.html
That must be nice. Taiwan has China, who has openly threatened to invade her and referred to her as being part of China, is going to end conscription soon. Now compare to Singapore, whose neighbours have.. hmm.. almost never done that? We still have conscription. And a longer service term too. I still say the reason for SAF is to provide cheap labour and have an excuse to pay people a lot of money to do stuff that is otherwise worthless in the real world.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tastes Like Feet
Top ranking civil servants must like the taste of feet. I mean, look at the things that have transpired.
Perm Sec Tan Yong Soon writes an article on his cooking holiday with his wife and kid. Sounds normal? Except he came across as gloating and insensitive especially when doing stuff like mentioning that his wife was a senior financial consultant with a bank and that his son was going to Brown uni. Also mentioning how easy it was to take 5 weeks of leave (Perm Sec here), how he implied he was a good leader. -> First incident of feet tasting.
So the follow-up, Head of the Civil Service Teo Chee Hean reprimands? said Perm Sec and all saying it was insensitive. Perm Sec doesn't comment. (Of course, he's already tasted feet once. He's still in the process of removing it from his large intestine.)
So then come the comments from his fellow civil servants. Now they are MPs (1 rank higher) who somehow felt the need to comment on this. First one came from MP Arthur Fong
"MP Arthur Fong agreed that Mr Tan could have been more sensitive about the timing of the story.
.“It was harsh on him, but the timing wasn’t good,” said Mr Fong. “Perhaps people wouldn’t even blink if this story came out in good times.” "
Erm.. dunno if I agree with him. How is it harsh on him? He got a slap on the wrist. He's paid quite a princely sum. I'd think the pay justifies the punishment.
Now the clincher is here (Singapore's latest Champion for 2009. Last year was Wong Kan Seng)
MP Charles Chong
"“Maybe it made lesser mortals envious and they thought maybe he was a bit boastful. Would people have taken offence if his wife (a senior investment counsellor at a bank) had paid for everything ?”"
Ah.. the ultimate insert foot in mouth moment. I would like to know what was going through his mind when he even said this in public. Does he really believe that? I mean if he does.. at least he's honest about it. But, is this the kind of calibre of leader that we want leading us? People who think of themselves as a rank above the masses? How disjointed is that? Oddly enough, none of the 2 leaders quoted above actually understood why people were upset. The original article smacks of a smug attitude that is already linked to our leaders.
In honor of our Feet tasting/eating MPs, I offer you this Friends clip. Where they eat trifle.. that tastes like Feet.
Perm Sec Tan Yong Soon writes an article on his cooking holiday with his wife and kid. Sounds normal? Except he came across as gloating and insensitive especially when doing stuff like mentioning that his wife was a senior financial consultant with a bank and that his son was going to Brown uni. Also mentioning how easy it was to take 5 weeks of leave (Perm Sec here), how he implied he was a good leader. -> First incident of feet tasting.
So the follow-up, Head of the Civil Service Teo Chee Hean reprimands? said Perm Sec and all saying it was insensitive. Perm Sec doesn't comment. (Of course, he's already tasted feet once. He's still in the process of removing it from his large intestine.)
So then come the comments from his fellow civil servants. Now they are MPs (1 rank higher) who somehow felt the need to comment on this. First one came from MP Arthur Fong
"MP Arthur Fong agreed that Mr Tan could have been more sensitive about the timing of the story.
.“It was harsh on him, but the timing wasn’t good,” said Mr Fong. “Perhaps people wouldn’t even blink if this story came out in good times.” "
Erm.. dunno if I agree with him. How is it harsh on him? He got a slap on the wrist. He's paid quite a princely sum. I'd think the pay justifies the punishment.
Now the clincher is here (Singapore's latest Champion for 2009. Last year was Wong Kan Seng)
MP Charles Chong
"“Maybe it made lesser mortals envious and they thought maybe he was a bit boastful. Would people have taken offence if his wife (a senior investment counsellor at a bank) had paid for everything ?”"
Ah.. the ultimate insert foot in mouth moment. I would like to know what was going through his mind when he even said this in public. Does he really believe that? I mean if he does.. at least he's honest about it. But, is this the kind of calibre of leader that we want leading us? People who think of themselves as a rank above the masses? How disjointed is that? Oddly enough, none of the 2 leaders quoted above actually understood why people were upset. The original article smacks of a smug attitude that is already linked to our leaders.
In honor of our Feet tasting/eating MPs, I offer you this Friends clip. Where they eat trifle.. that tastes like Feet.
Warning Labels For Politicians
- "Remember - I lied to you the last time you voted for me."
- "Warning: Politicians serve their biggest contributors first."
- "Politicians - their #1 priority is sincerity - once they can fake that ..."
- "#1 sign that a politician is lying - their lips are moving."
- "Warning: If you think your choices suck, then it is YOUR responsibility to do something about it."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
MM Lee- now with 50% more prophetic abilities
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Execs Paid $1.6 Billion the Year Before Bailouts
From Time magazine:
Banks that are getting taxpayer bailouts awarded their top executives nearly $1.6 billion in salaries, bonuses, and other benefits last year, an Associated Press analysis reveals.
The rewards came even at banks where poor results last year foretold the economic crisis that sent them to Washington for a government rescue. Some trimmed their executive compensation due to lagging bank performance, but still forked over multimillion-dollar executive pay packages. (See TIME's Top Ten News Stories of 2008)
Benefits included cash bonuses, stock options, personal use of company jets and chauffeurs, home security, country club memberships and professional money management, the AP review of federal securities documents found.
The total amount given to nearly 600 executives would cover bailout costs for many of the 116 banks that have so far accepted tax dollars to boost their bottom lines.
Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee and a long-standing critic of executive largesse, said the bonuses tallied by the AP review amount to a bribe "to get them to do the jobs for which they are well paid in the first place.
"Most of us sign on to do jobs and we do them best we can," said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. "We're told that some of the most highly paid people in executive positions are different. They need extra money to be motivated!"
The AP compiled total compensation based on annual reports that the banks file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 116 banks have so far received $188 billion in taxpayer help. Among the findings:
— The average paid to each of the banks' top executives was $2.6 million in salary, bonuses and benefits.
— Lloyd Blankfein, president and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, took home nearly $54 million in compensation last year. The company's top five executives received a total of $242 million.
This year, Goldman will forgo cash and stock bonuses for its seven top-paid executives. They will work for their base salaries of $600,000, the company said. Facing increasing concern by its own shareholders on executive payments, the company described its pay plan last spring as essential to retain and motivate executives "whose efforts and judgments are vital to our continued success, by setting their compensation at appropriate and competitive levels." Goldman spokesman Ed Canaday declined to comment beyond that written report.
The New York-based company on Dec. 16 reported its first quarterly loss since it went public in 1999. It received $10 billion in taxpayer money on Oct. 28.
— Even where banks cut back on pay, some executives were left with seven- or eight-figure compensation that most people can only dream about. Richard D. Fairbank, the chairman of Capital One Financial Corp., took a $1 million hit in compensation after his company had a disappointing year, but still got $17 million in stock options. The McLean, Va.-based company received $3.56 billion in bailout money on Nov. 14.
— John A. Thain, chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch, topped all corporate bank bosses with $83 million in earnings last year. Thain, a former chief operating officer for Goldman Sachs, took the reins of the company in December 2007, avoiding the blame for a year in which Merrill lost $7.8 billion. Since he began work late in the year, he earned $57,692 in salary, a $15 million signing bonus and an additional $68 million in stock options.
Like Goldman, Merrill got $10 billion from taxpayers on Oct. 28.
The AP review comes amid sharp questions about the banks' commitment to the goals of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), a law designed to buy bad mortgages and other troubled assets. Last month, the Bush administration changed the program's goals, instructing the Treasury Department to pump tax dollars directly into banks in a bid to prevent wholesale economic collapse.
The program set restrictions on some executive compensation for participating banks, but did not limit salaries and bonuses unless they had the effect of encouraging excessive risk to the institution. Banks were barred from giving golden parachutes to departing executives and deducting some executive pay for tax purposes.
Banks that got bailout funds also paid out millions for home security systems, private chauffeured cars, and club dues. Some banks even paid for financial advisers. Wells Fargo of San Francisco, which took $25 billion in taxpayer bailout money, gave its top executives up to $20,000 each to pay personal financial planners.
At Bank of New York Mellon Corp., chief executive Robert P. Kelly's stipend for financial planning services came to $66,748, on top of his $975,000 salary and $7.5 million bonus. His car and driver cost $178,879. Kelly also received $846,000 in relocation expenses, including help selling his home in Pittsburgh and purchasing one in Manhattan, the company said.
Goldman Sachs' tab for leased cars and drivers ran as high as $233,000 per executive. The firm told its shareholders this year that financial counseling and chauffeurs are important in giving executives more time to focus on their jobs.
JPMorgan Chase chairman James Dimon ran up a $211,182 private jet travel tab last year when his family lived in Chicago and he was commuting to New York. The company got $25 billion in bailout funds.
Banks cite security to justify personal use of company aircraft for some executives. But Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., questioned that rationale, saying executives visit many locations more vulnerable than the nation's security-conscious commercial air terminals.
Sherman, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said pay excesses undermine development of good bank economic policies and promote an escalating pay spiral among competing financial institutions — something particularly hard to take when banks then ask for rescue money.
He wants them to come before Congress, like the automakers did, and spell out their spending plans for bailout funds.
"The tougher we are on the executives that come to Washington, the fewer will come for a bailout," he said.
(See TIME's Pictures of the Week)
Wow America! You've only just realised that now? Singapore has been adopting that philosophy for years. See how unlike you decadent westerners, we Singaporeans who have adopted a Confucianist teaching have deftly avoided the financial crisis with our leaders' foresight which we managed to get by paying them oodles of money. *
*Heavily laced with sarcasm now.
Banks that are getting taxpayer bailouts awarded their top executives nearly $1.6 billion in salaries, bonuses, and other benefits last year, an Associated Press analysis reveals.
The rewards came even at banks where poor results last year foretold the economic crisis that sent them to Washington for a government rescue. Some trimmed their executive compensation due to lagging bank performance, but still forked over multimillion-dollar executive pay packages. (See TIME's Top Ten News Stories of 2008)
Benefits included cash bonuses, stock options, personal use of company jets and chauffeurs, home security, country club memberships and professional money management, the AP review of federal securities documents found.
The total amount given to nearly 600 executives would cover bailout costs for many of the 116 banks that have so far accepted tax dollars to boost their bottom lines.
Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee and a long-standing critic of executive largesse, said the bonuses tallied by the AP review amount to a bribe "to get them to do the jobs for which they are well paid in the first place.
"Most of us sign on to do jobs and we do them best we can," said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. "We're told that some of the most highly paid people in executive positions are different. They need extra money to be motivated!"
The AP compiled total compensation based on annual reports that the banks file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 116 banks have so far received $188 billion in taxpayer help. Among the findings:
— The average paid to each of the banks' top executives was $2.6 million in salary, bonuses and benefits.
— Lloyd Blankfein, president and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, took home nearly $54 million in compensation last year. The company's top five executives received a total of $242 million.
This year, Goldman will forgo cash and stock bonuses for its seven top-paid executives. They will work for their base salaries of $600,000, the company said. Facing increasing concern by its own shareholders on executive payments, the company described its pay plan last spring as essential to retain and motivate executives "whose efforts and judgments are vital to our continued success, by setting their compensation at appropriate and competitive levels." Goldman spokesman Ed Canaday declined to comment beyond that written report.
The New York-based company on Dec. 16 reported its first quarterly loss since it went public in 1999. It received $10 billion in taxpayer money on Oct. 28.
— Even where banks cut back on pay, some executives were left with seven- or eight-figure compensation that most people can only dream about. Richard D. Fairbank, the chairman of Capital One Financial Corp., took a $1 million hit in compensation after his company had a disappointing year, but still got $17 million in stock options. The McLean, Va.-based company received $3.56 billion in bailout money on Nov. 14.
— John A. Thain, chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch, topped all corporate bank bosses with $83 million in earnings last year. Thain, a former chief operating officer for Goldman Sachs, took the reins of the company in December 2007, avoiding the blame for a year in which Merrill lost $7.8 billion. Since he began work late in the year, he earned $57,692 in salary, a $15 million signing bonus and an additional $68 million in stock options.
Like Goldman, Merrill got $10 billion from taxpayers on Oct. 28.
The AP review comes amid sharp questions about the banks' commitment to the goals of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), a law designed to buy bad mortgages and other troubled assets. Last month, the Bush administration changed the program's goals, instructing the Treasury Department to pump tax dollars directly into banks in a bid to prevent wholesale economic collapse.
The program set restrictions on some executive compensation for participating banks, but did not limit salaries and bonuses unless they had the effect of encouraging excessive risk to the institution. Banks were barred from giving golden parachutes to departing executives and deducting some executive pay for tax purposes.
Banks that got bailout funds also paid out millions for home security systems, private chauffeured cars, and club dues. Some banks even paid for financial advisers. Wells Fargo of San Francisco, which took $25 billion in taxpayer bailout money, gave its top executives up to $20,000 each to pay personal financial planners.
At Bank of New York Mellon Corp., chief executive Robert P. Kelly's stipend for financial planning services came to $66,748, on top of his $975,000 salary and $7.5 million bonus. His car and driver cost $178,879. Kelly also received $846,000 in relocation expenses, including help selling his home in Pittsburgh and purchasing one in Manhattan, the company said.
Goldman Sachs' tab for leased cars and drivers ran as high as $233,000 per executive. The firm told its shareholders this year that financial counseling and chauffeurs are important in giving executives more time to focus on their jobs.
JPMorgan Chase chairman James Dimon ran up a $211,182 private jet travel tab last year when his family lived in Chicago and he was commuting to New York. The company got $25 billion in bailout funds.
Banks cite security to justify personal use of company aircraft for some executives. But Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., questioned that rationale, saying executives visit many locations more vulnerable than the nation's security-conscious commercial air terminals.
Sherman, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said pay excesses undermine development of good bank economic policies and promote an escalating pay spiral among competing financial institutions — something particularly hard to take when banks then ask for rescue money.
He wants them to come before Congress, like the automakers did, and spell out their spending plans for bailout funds.
"The tougher we are on the executives that come to Washington, the fewer will come for a bailout," he said.
(See TIME's Pictures of the Week)
Wow America! You've only just realised that now? Singapore has been adopting that philosophy for years. See how unlike you decadent westerners, we Singaporeans who have adopted a Confucianist teaching have deftly avoided the financial crisis with our leaders' foresight which we managed to get by paying them oodles of money. *
*Heavily laced with sarcasm now.
Labels: financial crisis, Politics, stupid policies, sudden outbreak of common sense
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The people are getting angry...
http://www.insanepoly.com/blog/?p=586
http://littlespeck.com/content/politics/CTrendsPolitics-081006.htm
Sounds like a death knell ...
Labels: Politics, stupid policies, stupid singaporeans
Hilarious American Presidential Debate Spoof (SNL)
Labels: Politics
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
How the World and Singapore respond to the Financial Crisis
http://wayangparty.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/how-the-world-and-singapore-leaders-respond-to-the-global-financial-crisis/
Labels: current affairs, Politics, poor customer service
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Dr Lily Neo Rocks!
She seems to be asking the questions that people should be asking but are not.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_271908.html
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/272917.asp
Where as Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon seems to be becoming the next Vivian B... must be a MCYS thing.. all lose their souls or something..
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_271908.html
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/272917.asp
Where as Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon seems to be becoming the next Vivian B... must be a MCYS thing.. all lose their souls or something..
Labels: Politics, stupid policies
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Stop giving them ideas!!!
Everyone sucks.. but us...
From Channelnews Asia:
The political problems faced by many countries in Asia can be traced back to two words: Money politics.
And the reason such troubles have not taken root here? There is no “money politics” in Singapore, and “we have a Division One team in charge”, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew last night.
In many Asian countries, money politics is simply the “code word” for buying votes to gain power, and after that is done, “to recover your expenses plus some profit for the next round of vote-buying”, said Mr Lee at the Tanjong Pagar 43rd National Day Celebration Dinner.
“One of the big problems they now face, in other countries, is the people in power want to reserve the money, keep it for themselves. So, they exclude young able people who want to join their team ...
“The result is, there is no talent inside the existing parties.”
Contrast that to Singapore.
“In other countries, elections do not put up a Division One team. They are a Division Three, either a B team or a C team in charge. In Singapore, we carefully select our candidates ...
“Over the years, with each election, we see the quality of the MPs, their education levels, their competence, their abilities, their energy.
“Their youthfulness is renewed and we have a leadership that’s able to meet the rising standards of the population,” said Mr Lee.
But today’s younger generation does not understand all this, the Minister Mentor said.
“They say, oh, let’s have multiparty politics. Let’s have different parties change and be in charge of the Government. Is it that simple? You vote in a Division Three government, not a Division One government, and the whole economy will just subside within three, four years. Finished.”
Such proponents should study Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines, where rotating party governments have led to more mismanagement. “And a ‘freewheeling paress’ has not cleaed up corruption, although according to American ‘liberal’ democracy theories, it is designed to do so,” Mr Lee said.
Even in the face of a global recession, Singapore has enough long-term investments to buffer the setbacks, noted Mr Lee.
“Why are we on top of our problem? Because there’s a Government that’s planning ahead, seeing ahead, calculating ahead, making the right decision. Yes, there will be recession around the world. But we will have enough investments already going on,” he said.
As a mentor and advisor to the younger policy-makers, he cited how he backed Singapore’s hosting of the Formula One in September, even though he himself was not a fan. “We cannot stay still. The world has changed – there’s a jetset that travels all over the world because they are interested in the Formula One races. Why? I don’t know.
“I find very little excitement in it. They wheel around and around, and it’s over. And there’s an accident – so what? But I’m told there is tremendous exitement in the way you get the cars, the way you change wheels, the way you drive, and so on,” he said, drawing chuckles from the audience. - TODAY/ra
Yup, we don't buy votes in Singapore. It's just convenient that we give away money to those who are of voting age before an election. Nope, no money politics here. Doesn't his hand ever get tired of patting himself and his team on the back? Division 1? Ok fine.. Division 1 with no heart. No understanding of the situation the ground. The only thing that I agree with in this whole article are the last 2 paragraphs. Everything else is just more of waving fear to the younger generation (which surprisingly doesn't scare as easy as the older generation). I think he's worried. Cause the new generation is quite different. They respond differently. We don't like threats. We don't heel just because some guy who's out of touch with the world tells us to. Just like they've lost touch with the people, they've lost touch with the younger generation. They think that having dance and rap videos is what it'll take to connect. Laughable.. division 1 indeed...
Labels: current affairs, Politics
Friday, June 27, 2008
That familiar song again..
Someone should stop letting the old codger make sound bytes.. or at least stop allowing them to be aired.. Seriously.. in the papers, he's throwing that all too familiar spectre of fear and uncertainty into the face of Singaporeans again.. and this time to a global audience. 5 years is all it takes to unravel everything that has been done in Singapore. All it takes is a fluke election.. yeah.. well.. we've been having those for quite a while now.. Stop using fear as a motivator. A good government doesn't do that. Fear is used by dictators and people afraid to lose power. And then there's that line about the ministers not getting rich but Singapore has.. yup.. the ministers have not been getting rich.. so the fact that our ministers are paid more than almost every other country is not them getting rich.. ah.. I guess it's that time of the year again.. tell fairy tales to foreign delegates.. Last year was the whole one end of singapore to another end in 20 minutes.. early this year was that our grads get paid USD$3000 on average.. Somehow people believe that being around foreigners gives them the right to use flexi-truth..
Labels: bewildered, Politics, rant
Monday, June 16, 2008
Yet another MM causing trouble...
This time on the other side of the Causeway. http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/8859/1/
Dr M says it again: Don't question Malay rights
Posted by Super Admin
Monday, 16 June 2008
(The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has told non-Malays that they should stop questioning the special rights of the Malays and count themselves privileged, having been given citizenship and other rights in this country.
He urged them to understand history and realise that an agreement was reached before independence in 1957 when the Malays were willing to accept other races as people who could "share the wealth of this land". Part of the formula saw Umno allow MCA and MIC to administer the country.
"Finally, with the agreement of all parties, immigrants were accepted as citizens of Tanah Melayu and people of other races accepted the reality that Malays had special rights as indigenous people of this land. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra willingly gave one million citizenships to Chinese and Indians. Which country in the world has given immigrants equal rights?
"If the Malays were willing to accept the immigrants we should not let other people now question our rights," he said, drawing applause from a Malay majority audience, at a resthouse in Teluk Intan on Saturday. The speaking engagement was organised by a non-governmental organisation.
Defending Malay rights and painting a doom's day scenario for Malay political power have been recurring themes in Dr Mahathir's speeches across the country since election 2008. He was criticised heavily for playing the race card in a speech several weeks ago in Johor, with Malaysians accusing him of trying to drive a wedge between different races in the country.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali even wondered whether Dr Mahathir was laying the foundation for racial strife with his incendiary comments.
But in Teluk Intan on Saturday Dr Mahathir hit back.
He noted that every time Malays discuss matters related to their own race, they were accused of being racist or chauvinistic. "There appears to be an attempt to stop Malays from speaking about our rights. If we speak about our rights, we are called racists. If they speak about their rights, then it's alright," said Dr Mahathir.
The former prime minister has come one full circle in his political rhetoric. In the early days of his political career, he was part of a group of young Umno politicians known as the "Ultras".
This group believed that Umno should not share political power and blamed Tunku Abdul Rahman for pandering to other races. Dr Mahathir moderated his views after becoming the prime minister in 1981, realising that anyone who wants to govern Malaysia needs the support of non-Malays.
In 1995 he promoted the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. Today he has adopted his old rhetoric, perhaps acknowledging that his goal of pushing Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi out of office will only be realised if the Malay ground, particularly Umno members are galvanised into action by fear of losing power.
Interesting fact: Mahathir isn't a Malay by definition. He's an indian muslim (supposedly)
Dr M says it again: Don't question Malay rights
Posted by Super Admin
Monday, 16 June 2008
(The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has told non-Malays that they should stop questioning the special rights of the Malays and count themselves privileged, having been given citizenship and other rights in this country.
He urged them to understand history and realise that an agreement was reached before independence in 1957 when the Malays were willing to accept other races as people who could "share the wealth of this land". Part of the formula saw Umno allow MCA and MIC to administer the country.
"Finally, with the agreement of all parties, immigrants were accepted as citizens of Tanah Melayu and people of other races accepted the reality that Malays had special rights as indigenous people of this land. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra willingly gave one million citizenships to Chinese and Indians. Which country in the world has given immigrants equal rights?
"If the Malays were willing to accept the immigrants we should not let other people now question our rights," he said, drawing applause from a Malay majority audience, at a resthouse in Teluk Intan on Saturday. The speaking engagement was organised by a non-governmental organisation.
Defending Malay rights and painting a doom's day scenario for Malay political power have been recurring themes in Dr Mahathir's speeches across the country since election 2008. He was criticised heavily for playing the race card in a speech several weeks ago in Johor, with Malaysians accusing him of trying to drive a wedge between different races in the country.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali even wondered whether Dr Mahathir was laying the foundation for racial strife with his incendiary comments.
But in Teluk Intan on Saturday Dr Mahathir hit back.
He noted that every time Malays discuss matters related to their own race, they were accused of being racist or chauvinistic. "There appears to be an attempt to stop Malays from speaking about our rights. If we speak about our rights, we are called racists. If they speak about their rights, then it's alright," said Dr Mahathir.
The former prime minister has come one full circle in his political rhetoric. In the early days of his political career, he was part of a group of young Umno politicians known as the "Ultras".
This group believed that Umno should not share political power and blamed Tunku Abdul Rahman for pandering to other races. Dr Mahathir moderated his views after becoming the prime minister in 1981, realising that anyone who wants to govern Malaysia needs the support of non-Malays.
In 1995 he promoted the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. Today he has adopted his old rhetoric, perhaps acknowledging that his goal of pushing Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi out of office will only be realised if the Malay ground, particularly Umno members are galvanised into action by fear of losing power.
Interesting fact: Mahathir isn't a Malay by definition. He's an indian muslim (supposedly)
Labels: current affairs, Politics
Monday, April 28, 2008
The feeling's mutual, sweetheart
Hmm, ok guess the words can't be read. But the article starts with the political editor of ST Chua Lee Hoong saying "Reading Internet postings often makes my blood boil." Oddly enough, reading editorials in the ST make my blood boil, my head woozy, my knees weak etc... guess I win.
Labels: Politics, propaganda
Saturday, April 26, 2008
China Rocks!
Just read an article and also saw the pictures of people in China protesting the recent Olympic flame fiasco (which one? the one in France). Well they were protesting outside Carrefour (a french company) as a result of this. Also it seems, they are angry because Carrefour might or might not have voiced support for Tibet recently. And it was a huge protest from the pics I've seen. In the range of thousands. Why is this impressive? Well, for one they were protesting for what they believe is right. Speaking up is rare, especially in a country in China. But the most important reason is that this is the country which has a history of actually killing it's protesters there and then and making no apologies about it. Tiannanmen Square incident anyone?
I mean, the authorities could easily order some mass arrest or shooting (but I guess it would be bad PR for the country with the Olympics coming up), another reason might be that the powers that be also agree with what they are doing, but cannot be seen to openly support. So speak up people, speak up for what you believe in before they bring in the tanks.
I mean, the authorities could easily order some mass arrest or shooting (but I guess it would be bad PR for the country with the Olympics coming up), another reason might be that the powers that be also agree with what they are doing, but cannot be seen to openly support. So speak up people, speak up for what you believe in before they bring in the tanks.
Labels: Politics
Friday, April 18, 2008
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Listen up people of Singapore. The long awaited moment has arrived. The Academy Awards will be held in Singapore next week. And you know what's the best part? We have nominations in every category being presented for. From best picture to best support actors/actresses. And I heard on the grapevine that we are set to win all the categories. Quite hard to lose when you're the only person in the running, but that's the way Singapore does things. We remove all obstacles and opposition so we always win*
Ok, I kid, it's not the Academy Awards, but it's still a big show and tell. It's the COI findings. This is the end result of a 1 month plus investigation into the escape of "Toilet Break" star himself, Mas Selamat. Well makes sense anyway since the news on him has been drying up. Even the state controlled media doesn't have much to print on him already. I'll do a play-by-play after the findings are out over at Smoke & Mirrors
So far here are the announced categories:
Best Picture: Toilet Break - The Mas Selamat Story
Best Actor:
Best Actress:
Best Supporting Actor:
Best Supporting Actress:
Best New Actor/Actress (aka Breakout Star) : Mas Selamat
Best Scriptwriter:
*Except when challenging other countries, then we always suck thumb and need to concede...
Ok, I kid, it's not the Academy Awards, but it's still a big show and tell. It's the COI findings. This is the end result of a 1 month plus investigation into the escape of "Toilet Break" star himself, Mas Selamat. Well makes sense anyway since the news on him has been drying up. Even the state controlled media doesn't have much to print on him already. I'll do a play-by-play after the findings are out over at Smoke & Mirrors
So far here are the announced categories:
Best Picture: Toilet Break - The Mas Selamat Story
Best Actor:
Best Actress:
Best Supporting Actor:
Best Supporting Actress:
Best New Actor/Actress (aka Breakout Star) : Mas Selamat
Best Scriptwriter:
*Except when challenging other countries, then we always suck thumb and need to concede...
Labels: mas selamat, Politics, screw-ups
Monday, March 24, 2008
Cost is Rising, Lies keep Coming (To the tune of Hosanna)
Was talking to Vincent yesterday online and he mentioned how the increase in food prices has become ridiculous. He ordered a spring onion pork rice which was normally $4 and had now increased to $5 (20% increase) Then I shared my experience with fried rice which used to cost $3 but was now $4. (25% increase). It may seem a lot, but to put things in perspective of the rest of Singapore, it's still ok for us. Vincent is working and I still have savings and I rarely eat out (although the cost of that is rising as well). But what about the lower 10% of Singapore? People who are living from meal to meal? It was recently increased to $330 by our "generous" Minister Vivian B. (B stands for? Bullshit?)
I notice that they are made from Coca Cola, Tiger Beer, Guinness Stout and various other soft drink cans. Perhaps he senses that I do not really know what they are (which is quite true), so he explains: “They are vases. See here, you can put flowers in them.” Indeed, with the flowers in them, they do look rather appealing and attractive.
“How much is this one?”, I ask him as I hold up one of those medium-sized vases. “Five dollars,” he says. I survey his collection, finding it hard to decide which to buy. In the end, I choose the Tiger Beer one because of the colour—blue—it looks the best to me.
I hand him a ten dollar note. While he looks for change, I ask if it is ok for me to take pictures of his cans. “Yes, sure,” he says, adding that the local media has been here before. “They interviewed you?” I say. I was curious. But he just smiles and says nothing.
“Did you learn this from someone?” I ask him. “No lah,” he replies in Hokkien. “This is my own creation,” and grins proudly.
He was so reluctant to increase it. Coming up with his famous spiel.."you want eat in hawker,food court or restuarant" with regards to increasing the amount of public assistance being given. Now the fact is, even with the increase, hawker center meals cost an average of $5 per meal (assuming the person gets rice (which is now 70 cents per bowl), veg and meat for a balanced diet and a drink)
Now doing the maths. 30 days x 3 meals x 5 = $450. (Yes I know that breakfast is probably cheaper, so if u remove breakfast from the eqn it's $300. Leaving $30 for rental, utilities, buying necessities?) So they will be skipping some meals or eating unbalanced diets, which will lead to medical problems which will lead to financial problems because of rising health care costs. Thankfully those who are able are working and earning money on their own. I came across this website http://theonlinecitizen.com/ which recently published a few articles on the lower income in Singapore. (I didn't say beggers because according to one of our representative to the UN, Singapore has no homeless, destitude or starving people. They can't possibly be lying right?)
But since a picture paints a thousand words, let me paint just that:
This is what everyone is told. Let me open your eyes, and hopefully like Paul on the road to Damascus, the scales may fall off your eyes as well.
For those lazy to click, let me just post one of the articles up.
"Tucked away in a little corner in the courtyard in front of the Chinese temple at Waterloo Street, an old man sits and works patiently on his vases—vases made out of discarded aluminium cans.
Under the umbrella which shields him from the rather hot Tuesday afternoon sun, he waits for passing customers, hoping to make a few sales today.
As I watch him, I wonder what is going through his mind, as he twists together strands of tin foils he has cut out from the tin cans he collected to make his vases.
I stand up and walk over to his makeshift stall.
He is at first oblivious to my presence, as he concentrates on his work. I squat down to take a closer look at his vases, all neatly displayed in front of him. “These are really beautiful”, I say to him. He smiles and tells me that it takes him several hours to make just one.
Under the umbrella which shields him from the rather hot Tuesday afternoon sun, he waits for passing customers, hoping to make a few sales today.
As I watch him, I wonder what is going through his mind, as he twists together strands of tin foils he has cut out from the tin cans he collected to make his vases.
I stand up and walk over to his makeshift stall.
He is at first oblivious to my presence, as he concentrates on his work. I squat down to take a closer look at his vases, all neatly displayed in front of him. “These are really beautiful”, I say to him. He smiles and tells me that it takes him several hours to make just one.
I notice that they are made from Coca Cola, Tiger Beer, Guinness Stout and various other soft drink cans. Perhaps he senses that I do not really know what they are (which is quite true), so he explains: “They are vases. See here, you can put flowers in them.” Indeed, with the flowers in them, they do look rather appealing and attractive.
“How much is this one?”, I ask him as I hold up one of those medium-sized vases. “Five dollars,” he says. I survey his collection, finding it hard to decide which to buy. In the end, I choose the Tiger Beer one because of the colour—blue—it looks the best to me.
I hand him a ten dollar note. While he looks for change, I ask if it is ok for me to take pictures of his cans. “Yes, sure,” he says, adding that the local media has been here before. “They interviewed you?” I say. I was curious. But he just smiles and says nothing.
“Did you learn this from someone?” I ask him. “No lah,” he replies in Hokkien. “This is my own creation,” and grins proudly.
In my head, several questions are itching to be asked—how old is he? How long has he been doing this? How is business? Does he have problems with the authorities who may consider this illegal hawking?
“I am 80 years old and have been doing this for almost three years already,” he answers. “It’s hard to make a living but I get by.”
“How many do you sell a day?”
“About 2 or 3.”
“Do tourists buy from you? Or locals?”
“Mostly locals, Chinese who come to the temple.”
“It’s quite hot to be here the whole day. How long do you stay each day?”
“I come here in the morning and I leave in the afternoon.”
“But what happens if it rains?”
“Rain how to sell?” he laughs.
“You don’t have a licence for this, right?”
“No lah.”
“What happens when the ti-gu (health inspectors) come? Do they come often?”
“Yah, sometimes they come two or three times a week. Sometimes they ask me to pack up. If they do, I pack up lor. Give them face lah. But sometimes they also leave me alone.”
“I am 80 years old and have been doing this for almost three years already,” he answers. “It’s hard to make a living but I get by.”
“How many do you sell a day?”
“About 2 or 3.”
“Do tourists buy from you? Or locals?”
“Mostly locals, Chinese who come to the temple.”
“It’s quite hot to be here the whole day. How long do you stay each day?”
“I come here in the morning and I leave in the afternoon.”
“But what happens if it rains?”
“Rain how to sell?” he laughs.
“You don’t have a licence for this, right?”
“No lah.”
“What happens when the ti-gu (health inspectors) come? Do they come often?”
“Yah, sometimes they come two or three times a week. Sometimes they ask me to pack up. If they do, I pack up lor. Give them face lah. But sometimes they also leave me alone.”
I find out that he has a daughter and that he used to do “some small business” before he started making vases out of tin cans.
“I have a friend who offered me a shop space in Pasir Panjang without rent for one year. But I prefer to stay here because the shop isn’t at a good location. I don’t know how business will be over there”, he says.
“You’ve been here almost three years. I guess you’re more familiar with the place here too”.
“Yes”.
“I have a friend who offered me a shop space in Pasir Panjang without rent for one year. But I prefer to stay here because the shop isn’t at a good location. I don’t know how business will be over there”, he says.
“You’ve been here almost three years. I guess you’re more familiar with the place here too”.
“Yes”.
As we chat, passersby look curiously at us. A lady stops and looks at his vases. “Buy one lah,” he urges the lady in his gentle, soft manner. She seems interested at first but then walks away.
“Not easy to sell, huh?” I say.
“There was one time some ladies bargained with me. They say how can I sell one for five dollars. They wanted one dollar for each vase. How to survive if I sell one vase for one dollar? One meal nowadays already cost $5!”
“Yah, it would be hard to survive on that,” I replied. “Especially when you invest so much time and effort for each vase you make. And you don’t sell that many either.”
He smiles.
Throughout the entire conversation, he continues to twist the strands of tin foil with his fingers—and ever so patiently, he would apply glue to them and stick them to the main “body” of the vase.
As the afternoon wears on under the hot sun, a family stops at his stall. The mother picks up one of the vases and looks at it. She says something to her daughter. I hear the father utter the word “handmade”.
The old man looks up at them and, as he did earlier, urges them to buy one.
“Not easy to sell, huh?” I say.
“There was one time some ladies bargained with me. They say how can I sell one for five dollars. They wanted one dollar for each vase. How to survive if I sell one vase for one dollar? One meal nowadays already cost $5!”
“Yah, it would be hard to survive on that,” I replied. “Especially when you invest so much time and effort for each vase you make. And you don’t sell that many either.”
He smiles.
Throughout the entire conversation, he continues to twist the strands of tin foil with his fingers—and ever so patiently, he would apply glue to them and stick them to the main “body” of the vase.
As the afternoon wears on under the hot sun, a family stops at his stall. The mother picks up one of the vases and looks at it. She says something to her daughter. I hear the father utter the word “handmade”.
The old man looks up at them and, as he did earlier, urges them to buy one.
This time, his luck is better. The mother and daughter discuss which one to buy and settle on the one with the Hello Kitty sticker. The old man smiles, takes their $10 note and gives them back $5.
I feel happy for him. It is always nice to know that your work is appreciated and that people would pay you for that too.
But more importantly, each dollar from each vase he sells perhaps gives him a little peace of mind about tomorrow – in this ever-changing, fast-paced Singapore that he lives in.
If you happen to be at Waterloo Street, do stop by his little makeshift stall. And if you can afford it, do buy one of his vases.
To me, his vases symbolise and remind me of virtues such as patience, hard work, graciousness - and beauty.
Simple the vases may be—but they are the work of the gentle hands of an affable old man."
I feel happy for him. It is always nice to know that your work is appreciated and that people would pay you for that too.
But more importantly, each dollar from each vase he sells perhaps gives him a little peace of mind about tomorrow – in this ever-changing, fast-paced Singapore that he lives in.
If you happen to be at Waterloo Street, do stop by his little makeshift stall. And if you can afford it, do buy one of his vases.
To me, his vases symbolise and remind me of virtues such as patience, hard work, graciousness - and beauty.
Simple the vases may be—but they are the work of the gentle hands of an affable old man."
Maybe they are blind or maybe it's something more sinister. Maybe they just want these people to "disappear".
Labels: cost of living, food for thought, inflation, Politics, propaganda, stupid policies
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
What's good for the goose, should be good for the gander right?
PM Lee says JI fugitive Mas Selamat's escape a setback
SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari is a setback and is something that should never have happened. Making his first public comments on an issue that has gripped Singaporeans, Mr Lee on Sunday also called on the people to "close ranks and bounce back, chastened but stronger and more on guard".
With Mas Selamat still on the run after 12 days, it is not surprising the hunt for the missing fugitive remains the talk of the town. In his first public comments on the issue, Mr Lee said the authorities are not absolutely sure yet what happened. But they will find out what went wrong and "fix it".
A Committee of Inquiry has been set up to look into how the escape occurred. Mr Lee said, "As Minister Mentor said, we are not infallible. If we are not careful, we make mistakes. When we do, we better find out and put it right. I think that the security agencies are taking it very seriously - ISD certainly. "I think the police and the Gurkha unit and the SAF forces, which are now (trying to) catch him, they are (carrying out) the operation with a lot of resources and close cooperation. I have been talking to the ministers responsible and I think we have a good chance of catching him, provided he is still in Singapore."
When asked if he believed that Mas Selamat is in Singapore, Mr Lee replied, "We have no reason to believe that he has left." However, while security forces will learn and grow from this, Mr Lee said such a mistake must never be repeated. Asked if it has affected the country's reputation, Mr Lee said, "It's not done (any) good for our reputation, but I don't think people believe that we are just like any other place where you can have television sets and other things in jail these days...we are different, this was a lapse. What to do, it has happened." Meanwhile, Mr Lee said it was good to see how Singaporeans of all races had come together to distribute flyers to residents and maintain watch. And he called on the population to overcome this setback and close ranks. - CNA/ms
Ah, our PM's most fave phrase: Fix it. Be it fixing the opposition or fixing a screw up. Anyway I think he's just coined yet another new phrase: "What to do, it has happened." as a cure all, magic bullet, something that absolves all responsibility. So this is what the brilliant spin doctors that they have can come up for him after his 11 days of silence? Smoke and Mirrors -> http://liasing.blogspot.com could have done a better job. I think our PM is like George W Bush. Bush has his Bushism, our PM has .. "Hsienism" ? I wonder if his new tagline can be used when we people commit offences in our daily lives. Somehow I doubt it. We just don't have his charisma to pull off such a line.
SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari is a setback and is something that should never have happened. Making his first public comments on an issue that has gripped Singaporeans, Mr Lee on Sunday also called on the people to "close ranks and bounce back, chastened but stronger and more on guard".
With Mas Selamat still on the run after 12 days, it is not surprising the hunt for the missing fugitive remains the talk of the town. In his first public comments on the issue, Mr Lee said the authorities are not absolutely sure yet what happened. But they will find out what went wrong and "fix it".
A Committee of Inquiry has been set up to look into how the escape occurred. Mr Lee said, "As Minister Mentor said, we are not infallible. If we are not careful, we make mistakes. When we do, we better find out and put it right. I think that the security agencies are taking it very seriously - ISD certainly. "I think the police and the Gurkha unit and the SAF forces, which are now (trying to) catch him, they are (carrying out) the operation with a lot of resources and close cooperation. I have been talking to the ministers responsible and I think we have a good chance of catching him, provided he is still in Singapore."
When asked if he believed that Mas Selamat is in Singapore, Mr Lee replied, "We have no reason to believe that he has left." However, while security forces will learn and grow from this, Mr Lee said such a mistake must never be repeated. Asked if it has affected the country's reputation, Mr Lee said, "It's not done (any) good for our reputation, but I don't think people believe that we are just like any other place where you can have television sets and other things in jail these days...we are different, this was a lapse. What to do, it has happened." Meanwhile, Mr Lee said it was good to see how Singaporeans of all races had come together to distribute flyers to residents and maintain watch. And he called on the population to overcome this setback and close ranks. - CNA/ms
Ah, our PM's most fave phrase: Fix it. Be it fixing the opposition or fixing a screw up. Anyway I think he's just coined yet another new phrase: "What to do, it has happened." as a cure all, magic bullet, something that absolves all responsibility. So this is what the brilliant spin doctors that they have can come up for him after his 11 days of silence? Smoke and Mirrors -> http://liasing.blogspot.com could have done a better job. I think our PM is like George W Bush. Bush has his Bushism, our PM has .. "Hsienism" ? I wonder if his new tagline can be used when we people commit offences in our daily lives. Somehow I doubt it. We just don't have his charisma to pull off such a line.
With clever data manipulation, you can make everything seem right...
Singapore still ranked as least corrupt in Asia
The Philippines and Thailand seen as most graft-ridden in survey of expats
By Goh Chin Lian
THE Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (Perc) expects corruption to emerge as a hot-button issue in Asia this year as slowing growth, rising food prices and political campaigns feed a groundswell against graft.
But Singapore is unlikely to be tainted as expatriates surveyed by the Hong Kong-based group once again rank it the least corrupt economy in the region.
The annual survey also rated Hong Kong and Japan highly among 13 Asian economies.
The Philippines was deemed the most corrupt for the second consecutive year.
Thailand, China, Indonesia, India and Vietnam fared poorly too.
The 1,400 expatriates surveyed in January and February this year were asked to grade the extent that corruption detracts from the attractiveness of the business environment they work in.
Singapore scored with its 'no-nonsense approach to corruption', the report said.
Perc said the 100 expatriates polled here were of the view that the Singapore Government is 'doing an excellent job of keeping corruption low'.
'It is not excessively bureaucratic and does not impose onerous compliance costs, but it is strict about regulations and thorough in its monitoring,' the report said.
Perc highlighted the integrity of the public sector as a factor that impresses foreign investors.
It said the lack of corruption also enhances the Republic's credentials as a business and financial centre.
Why in the world are expatriates surveyed to find out if a country is corrupt? Shouldn't you ask the citizens? Who would have a better idea of the corruption than the citizens? Especially in the case of Singapore. Corruption in the country has become legalised. Expats who aren't familiar with the way things are done in Singapore are obviously unlikely to rate it as corrupt. Oh well, once again, the catchy slogan comes to mind: "NS for Singaporeans, Jobs for Foreigners". I sometimes think if they could amend the constitution, they would allow FTs to vote because it would ensure the ruling party a win.
The Philippines and Thailand seen as most graft-ridden in survey of expats
By Goh Chin Lian
THE Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (Perc) expects corruption to emerge as a hot-button issue in Asia this year as slowing growth, rising food prices and political campaigns feed a groundswell against graft.
But Singapore is unlikely to be tainted as expatriates surveyed by the Hong Kong-based group once again rank it the least corrupt economy in the region.
The annual survey also rated Hong Kong and Japan highly among 13 Asian economies.
The Philippines was deemed the most corrupt for the second consecutive year.
Thailand, China, Indonesia, India and Vietnam fared poorly too.
The 1,400 expatriates surveyed in January and February this year were asked to grade the extent that corruption detracts from the attractiveness of the business environment they work in.
Singapore scored with its 'no-nonsense approach to corruption', the report said.
Perc said the 100 expatriates polled here were of the view that the Singapore Government is 'doing an excellent job of keeping corruption low'.
'It is not excessively bureaucratic and does not impose onerous compliance costs, but it is strict about regulations and thorough in its monitoring,' the report said.
Perc highlighted the integrity of the public sector as a factor that impresses foreign investors.
It said the lack of corruption also enhances the Republic's credentials as a business and financial centre.
Why in the world are expatriates surveyed to find out if a country is corrupt? Shouldn't you ask the citizens? Who would have a better idea of the corruption than the citizens? Especially in the case of Singapore. Corruption in the country has become legalised. Expats who aren't familiar with the way things are done in Singapore are obviously unlikely to rate it as corrupt. Oh well, once again, the catchy slogan comes to mind: "NS for Singaporeans, Jobs for Foreigners". I sometimes think if they could amend the constitution, they would allow FTs to vote because it would ensure the ruling party a win.
Labels: Politics, propaganda
Thursday, March 06, 2008
He might really still be in the country after all
So it's a week since Mas Selamat got out of prison. During that period, we have gotten a lot more information (either not useful, or just released too late). The important stuff hasn't been revealed yet. Once again leading me to make comparisons between the way things are done over here in Singapore and how my company used to deal with crisis. The private sector deals with issues a lot faster. There's no need for some board of inquiry. We were expected to have initial findings within the first 24hr. Full report out to the customer out within the next 2 days. Why must it be revealed within the next 2 days? Because the customer is important. And it shows a sense of urgency. Now Singaporeans can be considered as the customers of the Singapore government. I mean that's why they are called civil servants right? But sometimes they seem to forget the servant part. I mean.. when are the servants paid more than the employers? Anyway like I was telling the fatone the other day, I know how to make sense of their salary. Divide by number of citizens who support them. And if that seems logical to you, you are indeed a typical Singaporean.
Now let's compare what the people involved did. They revealed bits and pieces of information. Like attire and the on-off limp. I've watched enough TV/Movies to know what is normally done. An APB is put out for a suspect with full description : Including last seen location, attire and whatever distinguishing marks. Straight away. Our Home Team? We released it days after.
It astonishes me because we are constantly told that our public sector pegs itself to the private sector on certain things. I see that performance is sadly not one of them. The full report is due to come out in about a month's time. And according to one of the quotes by George Yeo: "We'll reveal what can be revealed." So there's stuff that's going to be covered up? Well at least he's being upfront about it.
And where are the top 3 leaders of Singapore during this period? MM, SM and PM have been surprisingly quiet through all this. One would assume MM Lee at least would have something to comment on this. Since he once commented that to put an end to such talk (referring to people criticising the government), would be a dose of incompetent government. I guess he's keeping his promise after all. How rare, finding a politician who keeps promises.
Anyway, the reason for the title is because I just came across an article regarding how a bangladeshi(spelling?) worker was mistaken to be Mas Selamat because he walked with a limp. Police raided his home and all. This poor man however did not know anything about Mas because he (here's the crucial point) doesn't understand the posters and stuff that have been put up. Which brings up the crux of this post: There are several areas in singapore where Mas can easily hide because the people there do not speak English or what not. The posters will mean nothing to him. Also they may not be keeping an eye out for him. I was at Golden Mile Complex last Sunday and Mas could easily have been hiding there. Lots of foreign nationals. But I'm sure the brain trust already has all their protocols in place.
Now let's compare what the people involved did. They revealed bits and pieces of information. Like attire and the on-off limp. I've watched enough TV/Movies to know what is normally done. An APB is put out for a suspect with full description : Including last seen location, attire and whatever distinguishing marks. Straight away. Our Home Team? We released it days after.
It astonishes me because we are constantly told that our public sector pegs itself to the private sector on certain things. I see that performance is sadly not one of them. The full report is due to come out in about a month's time. And according to one of the quotes by George Yeo: "We'll reveal what can be revealed." So there's stuff that's going to be covered up? Well at least he's being upfront about it.
And where are the top 3 leaders of Singapore during this period? MM, SM and PM have been surprisingly quiet through all this. One would assume MM Lee at least would have something to comment on this. Since he once commented that to put an end to such talk (referring to people criticising the government), would be a dose of incompetent government. I guess he's keeping his promise after all. How rare, finding a politician who keeps promises.
Anyway, the reason for the title is because I just came across an article regarding how a bangladeshi(spelling?) worker was mistaken to be Mas Selamat because he walked with a limp. Police raided his home and all. This poor man however did not know anything about Mas because he (here's the crucial point) doesn't understand the posters and stuff that have been put up. Which brings up the crux of this post: There are several areas in singapore where Mas can easily hide because the people there do not speak English or what not. The posters will mean nothing to him. Also they may not be keeping an eye out for him. I was at Golden Mile Complex last Sunday and Mas could easily have been hiding there. Lots of foreign nationals. But I'm sure the brain trust already has all their protocols in place.
Labels: bewildered, food for thought, law enforcement, mas selamat, Politics, screw-ups, stupid policies
