May 1, 2011

Property Values and Your Choice of Political Party

When I read about Low Thia Kiang leaving Hougang to run for elections in Aljunied GRC, I felt fear and dismay. Low is well-known and very well-loved in Hougang, and if he had chosen to remain in Hougang, his seat in Parliament would be almost guaranteed. However, when Low comes to Aljunied GRC, it's a different ball game, especially with the PAP's gerrymandering tactics.

If Low should lose in Aljunied GRC, then this would be a disaster for Singapore. It would be a very dark day in the history of this nation.

For so many years, Low has been the (almost) lone Opposition voice in Parliament, one man standing up and bravely  speaking up against a pack of 80+ PAP MPs. It takes no courage whatsoever to be a Mah Bow Tan or a Wong Kan Seng in Parliament, but it takes great courage to be a Low Thia Kiang. To his immense credit, Low has done his job and served Singaporeans well, not just for a year or two, but for the past 20 years

If Low loses in Aljunied GRC, then even that one lone voice in Parliament might be gone, silenced for good. It is possible that parliamentary debate might then degenerate into an utter sham. Nothing but a puppet show with PAP MPs posing nice, friendly, pre-arranged questions to each other and giving nice, friendly, rehearsed answers to each other. There would be nobody to challenge them, nobody to act as a check and balance, nobody to ask the tough questions that really need, for the sake of the nation, to be asked.

Honestly, if we come to that stage, Parliament House might just as well shut down. On weekends, the PAP MPs can just gather at Hsien Loong's living room or Kuan Yew's garden to have some cakes and coffee. There they can plan their next salary increases; chit chat about golf and BMWs; and casually make a few national policies for five million citizens. So much for public accountability and transparency,

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Regular readers of my blog know that I moved house a few months ago. What I didn't mention was exactly where I moved to. I now live in Tai Keng Gardens, a small quiet residential area near Paya Lebar, and I recently learned that my new address is under Aljunied GRC.

There isn't the slightest doubt in my mind who I need to vote for. After all, I am intelligent, educated, well-informed and concerned. So effectively I have no choice. I have to vote for the Workers Party. Because I can see so clearly that the PAP's performance over the past five years is just taking this country on a one-way trip into slow deterioriation and gradual collapse.

Things have already reached such a bad stage that I can sincerely say this: if you genuinely support the PAP and want them to succeed, then you must vote for the Opposition. For the PAP can improve and do better - it has that potential. What the PAP needs is to be shocked out of its own complacency.

The best thing that can happen for the PAP is that they lose 10 seats in this election. Then suddenly they will wake up, remember the people whom they are supposed to serve, and start getting their act together. The PAP does have some talented, capable people in their midst. It's just that they have lost their way, over the past five years.

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I see from the newspapers that Kuan Yew has been busily making statements to create fear in the electorate. Something about how the Workers Party (if they win) will bring down the property values of Aljunied GRC.

What's that old saying about old dogs and new tricks? Fear-mongering is one of Kuan Yew's favourite tactics. Woe betide you, foolish Singaporeans, if you do not listen to me, then the sky will fall on your head. Some of his statements are so far-fetched that it's amazing he still has any credibility left.

Remember this stunning proclamation from Lee Kuan Yew, in 2007? The PAP ministers were just about to give themselves another fat pay raise, and Singaporeans were questioning this. Lee Kuan Yew's reply was that if the PAP ministers did not get their increase, the women of Singapore will become "maids in other people's countries".

Oh, come on, Kuan Yew. Can you at least try to keep your fear-mongering a little more .... rational?

Regular readers of my blog know that I am a keen watcher of the property market. I'd like to share a few personal observations on the content of Kuan Yew's latest fear.

LKY's basic point is that the WP is incompetent; that they will mismanage Aljunied; and the area will be so badly run that property values will fall sharply (relative to PAP constituencies).

But let's look at the facts. Low Thia Kiang has been MP for Hougang, for twenty years. If Low can ruin property values through his sheer incompetence, then Hougang should be a slum by now. But it is not. It is a clean, vibrant HDB town, with its own lively suburban malls, hawker centres, supermarkets, bus interchange, sport stadium, two MRT stations and more.

I can honestly tell you that, as a person who is familiar with the area. My brother lives in Hougang, my kids used to go for tuition in Hougang, and I still go there with my family quite often to eat and shop in Hougang.

Most Singaporeans wouldn't realise it, but I'll just say it straight out here. MPs do lots of important things, such as debate, discuss and shape national policies in Parliament and meet residents to help solve their personal problems. MPs and their grassroots supporters also organise community events like Plant-a-Tree Day and Chinese New Year dinners etc, and make appearances at schools' Prize-Giving Day to hand out awards and make speeches. All these types of MP work have their value and are important in their own way. But none of them has any direct bearing on the value of your property.

In other words, whoever you elect as your MP has very, very little influence on whether your property value will go up or down. May I quickly give you a big bunch of illustrations? Okay, let's go:

Your MP does not look after the roads in your neighbourhood (the LTA does that). 
Your MP does not look after the parks (the National Parks Board does that).
Your MP does not look after your public library (the National Library Board does that).
Your MP does not look after your sports stadium or public swimming pool (the Singapore Sports Council does that).
Your MP does not build shopping malls for you (property developers such as Capitaland do that).
Your MP does not manage your MRT line (SMRT does that). 
Your MP does not manage your SBS buses (SBS does that).
Your MP does not look after your electricity supply (SP Power does that).
Your MP does not look after your carpark (the URA does that). 
Your MP does not investigate crimes (the Singapore Police Force does that). 
Your MP does not put out fires (the SCDF and their NSmen do that).
Your MP does not ensure that top schools are near your home (whether a school is top or not depends on the students' efforts).
Your MP doesn't prevent mosquito breeding (the NEA does that).

Your MP does engage the cleaning contractors to clean the neighbourhood (which, in terms of level of difficulty, is not exactly rocket science and shouldn't be a challenge for any self-respecting MP, whether from the PAP or not). Apart from the cleaning contractors, your MP also builds playgrounds, fitness corners, maybe a couple of covered link ways here and there. None of these little projects require great ability or vast competence, nor will they have any significant influence on your property value.

There, hope it's all abundantly clear now. Abundantly clear that Lee Kuan Yew is mongering foolish fears. Don't be his sucker.

127 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, the MP does not do all those things but as an "elected" official, the MP wields the ultimate power to tell NEA to do something if things are neglected. And NEA has to. That's why MPs and elected officials in a normal democracy are respected individuals. Elected officials deserve our respect over civil servants.

That said, LKY is going crazy to see his beloved PAP challenged and he was caught unawares by this new movement. Telling Show Mao to "go back to China" sent chills down my spine and exposed like no other words can just what a petty and vindictive person he is. Let's all say: MM, please retire.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I read with dismay on today's Sunday Times when LKY commented that (should WP win)..."Aljunied GRC residents would have five years to live with the consequences".

I mean, I respect LKY for all that he's done for Singapore. But to create fear like that (as Mr. Wang alluded to) is totally uncalled for.

I do not stay in Aljunied GRC but will be rooting for WP.

Anonymous said...

Many still do not realise that this is a very, very important election.

This election will affect all future elections, and how we vote will determine the continued existence or demise of the Opposition in Singapore politics.

As they say, the window of opportunity for the Opposition is closing fast. The redrawing of boundaries, the effect of new citizens' voting patterns, the upgrading factor which still appealed to most voters and the manufacturing of new veiled threats, are all taking a toll on Opposition votes.

Low definitely knows that he must make his move now, or he will never get his chance after this election.

Voters of Aljunied GRC must think carefully what they are voting for this time. This is the GRC that the Opposition has the most optimistic chances. It is not about upgrading and who can run Town Councils better. It is about the future of politics for the whole of Singapore as well.

Anonymous said...

If PAP wins Aljunied GRC, then indeed it will be a sad day for the opposition. Because most likely it will also be a clean sweep 87-0 for PAP.

But I also think it is unlikely the opposition can win more than 10 or even 20 or 30 seats. Why? Let me explain.

Because of the GRC system, Singapore's small size and urban population, the profile of voters would be quite similar in every constituency in Singapore.

Therefore, as a result, if an opposition can win 15 or more seats, it is likely that, due to above, they can also win 50 or more seats, since almost all seats are contested. That is, the opposition wins big.

But frankly speaking, do majority conservative voters really want opposition to win big, except for some special areas like Aljunied or even Hougang?

Hence my most optimistic scenario is opposition will win at most 10 to 12 seats. And that I think is only a 50% chance.

And very much less than the 30 seats needed to deny PAP 2/3 majority in Parliament.

And hence at the end of the day, I think nothing much will change.

So help youself, if you are suffering under PAP policies, for most likely hese will be continued.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand how PAP can take someone like Janil who never do NS and be so mean to Chen Show Mao who performed with distinction for our country at home and abroad. Why they like that? Very very sad.

Anonymous said...

From the looks of it, we don't even need an MP.

Parka said...

Actually the fear is real.

Just look at Steve Jobs when he first left Apple. Apple went into decline and almost collapsed.

Not really a fair comparison because a country is supposed to be more resilient than a company.

If there are consequences, it means that the country wasn't resilient, or wasn't built to be resilient, or built to be PAP-reliant. That's a negative point to me about PAP.

Anonymous said...

That mummified blabbermouth should learn to shut up. The people should not be the ones afraid of supposed government. PAP is the schoolyard bully, not knowing how the tide is turning against them.

Anonymous said...

Chen is threat lor. Only Loong and his grandchildren can be PM or Goh who is cut from same cloth. How can Chen come and tear their beautiful fabric telling S'poreans not to be "cowardly lions". Chen Show Mao: welcome home. Thank you for reminding us we are Lion City and we can roar like Lions. Don't listen to Hairy Lee.

Anonymous said...

I think we should temper our expectations for the time being. How many seats the Opposition can win is less important. The starting point of winning one or two GRCs is important.

Giving the Opposition about 10 seats will be a good start. That will make the PAP sit up and not take us Singaporeans for granted.

Realising that threats and vote buying will not always work, they will have to change, forced to change and take the feedback from Singaporeans more seriously, listen more intently rather than brushing them aside as 'noise' which means irritants and nothing more.

Sure, there are trade-offs and sacrifices, that people in Hougang and Potong Pasir know very well. But with 10 seats in Parliament representing a large segment of the population, they have to change their way of treating and dealing with Opposition voters.

Use the stick too vigorously and they will find that it hardens the resolve of Opposition voters. In any case, they are also marginalising their own supporters in those Opposition wards, who may in time, turn the other way, as in the 2006 elections in Hougang and Potong Pasir. If the PAP does not realise this, it is to their disadvantage.

The PAP is afraid of losing a GRC. It is always difficult to win back once they lose it. Hougang and Potong Pasir, though SMCs, are good examples.

Losing one or two GRCs will definitely change their behaviour. We can be sure of that.

Anonymous said...

To Parka, you analogy for Aljunied to Apple is not a right analogy. Apple is a stand alone company and there is only one Steve Jobs, whereas for Aljunied GRC it is part of Singapore and there are a lot of talents in Singapore, not only George Yeo. The way LKY threatened to Aljunied GRC voters is an impediment to Singapore political progress and evolution. It shows PAP's arrogance and takes Singapore as their own property.

Anonymous said...

Singapore is NOT a company. It CANNOT just wind up like a private company, when it does not make profits. We are NOT beholden to any political party, and we decide the party we want to represent our voices. If we have to actually "live and repent" after voting in any alternative voices, it only bodes ill for our nation because it means that we have not become anything lesser than a nation that is totally reliant on the PAP.

Anonymous said...

IF WP wins Aljunied GRC, we will possibly see more able and qualified ppl joining them, thereby strengthening the party and the political atmosphere. Other afvantages are pretty obvious, estate management and upkeep will be the same. If PAP returns back to Aljunied, they will strengthen thier voters base by bringing in more new citizens to partake what we have built up all these years. What is to be expected will be increases in transport and other fees, Vote wisely.

Anonymous said...

Don't just root for WP. Root for all Opposition parties! Send PAP a strong message!

Lye Khuen Way said...

The final results on 7th May can go either way. A BIG loss for the opposition or as welcome defeat for the PAP in 3 GRC's and some !

The more elderly voters are beholden to the old PAP. If you can, do try to enlighten your uncles/aunts but sadly telling them about GIC/Temasek : MiniBonds : HDB flats prices can be challenging. They do not care.

Those of us in our fifties and younger, with access to the Internet will be able to access the situation better. We can see thru' the tricks & cover-ups & blatant lies or half-truths.

Only if you are the top 20% , property owners do you fear a Property Value drop. Me, only staying in my humble HDB.

Go ahead. Vote with your children & their children in mind. The PAP need some rude awakening.

Anonymous said...

I will donate some money to wp and may even volunteer some time. Time for pappies to get out. They have clearly lost the plot, blinded by their high pay.

Anonymous said...

I bought a resale flat in Hougang (under Ajunied GRC) in 1998 for $368K + 7K cash. I sold it for $370K in 2008 without any cash above valuation. And that was soon after the Lift Upgrading Pragramme and there is a new lift just a few steps away from my unit.
Asset enhancement may be true for older generations who bought brand new flats from the HDB at a very low cost but it is certainly not the case for me. (I don't even want to go into details how much I have lost for my CPF monies from interest and loan payments over the years).
And as for value of properties in opposition wards not being able to increase, well, mine was under a PAP ward!
I like Mr George Yeo, but I can't same the same for the entire PAP. I didn't vote for the PAP in 2006, and although I am no longer living in Ajunied GRC, I still get to vote this time and I certainly know which box to mark the "X".

Amused said...

There are over 3,200 readers commenting on the Yahoo news report, "Aljunied voters will regret choosing WP: MM Lee.” Mind you, these are registered users, not anonymous users. And the overwhelming majority publicly condemns LKY's threats. If I were a PAP party member, I would be extremely worried. But who has the courage to tell the old man to shut up?

Telling Chen Show Mao to return to China just shows how selfish and manipulative this old man is. Chen is a clear threat to Lee and his PAP party, but his presence in the parliament can only be positive for the country. Yet Lee wants none of it so he can maintain his iron grip on power.

Everyone needs to vote opposition now to keep PAP in check. Volunteer to help your opposition party in your ward next few days!

jim said...

MM Lee is wrong about flats being cheaper in WP Hougang, though it was in response to a leading question. i went to the hdb site and saw that the figures are indeed comparable to PAP Hougang, if not better. can any industry expert verify?

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=3213499&highlight=hougang+HDB

I got this interesting facts from another source..

i am find it strange pap keep harping vote in WP will result in HDB price to fall. But if want look at the HDB records on the HDB website, one can see HDB flats in Hougang Ave 5 which is the heart of Hougang SMC, the prices of the 4room flats that transacted there are not much different from Hougang Ave 8 which was run by georgie aljunied grc. The prices for the last 12 months are as follow:

Hougang Ave 5 3rm flat : ranging from $245K to $330K (WP)

Hougang Ave 8 3rm flat : ranging from $220K to $326K (PAP)

Hougang Ave 5 4rm flat : ranging from $305K to $420K (WP)

Hougang Ave 8 4rm flat : ranging from $290K to $420K (PAP)

Hougang Ave 5 5rm flat : ranging from $340K to $527K (WP)

Hougang Ave 8 5rm flat : ranging from $390K to $496K (PAP)

looking at the above figure, i fail to comprehen how did PAP come up with the logic that WP run hougang HDB flat worth less than the same across the road in the PAP run estate. The figure above are not bull****, all taken from HDB resale e-service. On the whole, WP’s Hougang worth more than PAP’s Hougang. In fact, i use Hougang Ave 8 as comparsion place hougang ave 5 at a disadvantage as Hougang Ave 5 were built in 1983 while Ave 8 were built in 1986, some even in 1992.

So can PAP explain why people are paying more to buy a older flat in a “slum” while pay less for the newer flat in a “world clas estate” run by the PAP?

http://services2.hdb.gov.sg/webapp/B…PReslTrans.jsp

feel free to click on the link to check, all the figures are from HDB website.

Anonymous said...

The urgent question is whether Singapore can really accommodate the PAP proposed 6.5 million population. Without a strong opposition, this plan, already in place, will go unchecked. The strain on the environment and living space shall degrade quality of life. Singaporeans with means will leave, and foreigners with talent won't come. Such issues affect the entire country. It is not only Aljunied GRC's future that is at stake. We cannot wait another five years for the plan to become irrevocable.

Val said...

I'm voting in the Aljunied GRC. I'm voting for a chance that I'll get to vote in the next election!

Anonymous said...

If Hougang residents take those threats seriously, Hougang would have remained in PAP hands.

They warned that rubbish in Hougang will pile up to the 3rd storey and Hougang will become a slum if WP wins. That did not happen. On the contrary, short of upgradings, Hougang is well maintained, clean and green.

In an effort to look respectable, it is literally forcing the PAP in adjacent Aljunied GRC to work harder, trying to keep up appearances, especially in areas facing Hougang. Do you outsiders know that the area around Heartland Mall/Kovan MRT station is perhaps the most frequently upgraded precinct in the whole of Aljunied GRC, with major tilings, diggings, retilings, planting of shrubs in open spaces and later digging up those shrubs and coverting the space into a car park.

In fact, so much unnecessary wastage of resouces that it elicited complaints from Aljunied GRC residents, living close by, of blatant abuse of Aljunied GRC Town Council's money.

Now, there are more upgradings to come, with plans to convert the car park into a shopping belt with walkways. There are already more than enough shops, begging for customers, around and inside of Heartland Mall!

Anonymous said...

George Yeo is one of the Few Good Ministers around so its irony He may be the victim of the GRC system?

Anonymous said...

First, a thank you for Mr Wang for making the right choice.

Many from the high income group do not share the same concerns like us because they let their material comfort blind them. I guess they are rich but not intelligent because they do not see there is a systemic fault in our country's governance. They went for the short term gains.


I'm going for the opposition even though they are not prominent nor have the 'star power'. But, I know a society functions best when every fragment of it is well taken care of. That means, we need a good cross section of people providing feedback and ideas to make things work for everyone.

I see the opposition parties as one party. They share the same objective, that is, to bring our voice into parliament.

So, even if he is a warehouse assistant, he represent a group of singaporeans that is one of us. I have no regrets voting him in.

I know some whom I spoke to think that if the opposition is not Low or Chen, the others are not worthy. This is utterly wrong. And I hope more will be enlightened.

Anonymous said...

George Yeo good? Really? What did he do and achieve to qualify as 'good'? Until now his Romanian hit and run case is still unresolved. He, like all other pap mps and ministers, are just yes-men for the leegime.

le radical galoisien said...

I am an Opposition supporter but I really want to ask a question -- is Parliament really that much of a puppet show?

When I see the whole transcript for the Balakrishnan comment, I really see PAP MPs debating amongst themselves -- in a sometimes passionate fashion. They make rhetorical qualifications to each other and they fight to have the time to say what they want.

So I am intrigued.

Maybe this applies only to a few MPs though -- the rest are silent, or say stupid things like Tin Pei Ling.

Anonymous said...

Why the same old scare tactics? If there is one reason NOT to vote the PAP it is because it is tired sounding, repetitive and unimaginative.

Up to the day the elections were announced the drum beat (OF EVERY MINISTER) in Singapore is for the people of Singapore to be INNOVATIVE, DARING, ENTEPRENEUR. To reach for the world and be brave and daring. "To go where no one has gone before."

Ha ha HA!

Now that election is upon us we are told, "Why rock the boat?" Be safe,vote the peopleyou are familiar with. DON'T TRY ANYTHING NEW!

This how PAP propaganda works. The Government uses words to beat both sides. It's a case of heads I win, tails youlose.

The point is very simple: if you can't trust them at their words what can we trust them with?

Anonymous said...

Mr Wang,

I agree with your reasoning in principle but I fear that the sad reality is very different. The MP may not be responsible for many of the functions that affect property values, but a constituency which elects an opposition MP will almost certainly induce a PAP government to withhold resources and services from that constituency.

So in that sense, it is true that voting for the opposition will cause the value of your estate to suffer because the PAP itself will ensure this happens regardless of how competent the opposition MP is.

Will Singaporeans be able to think long-term rather than look at the next 5 years only? We'll only know on May 7... regardless of what happens, we deserve the government we get.

le radical galoisien said...

"I see the opposition parties as one party. They share the same objective, that is, to bring our voice into parliament. "

In 2006 I was a diehard Opposition supporter.

And while I still would vote for any Opposition party, it becomes apparent that some parties are nobler than others, and some would compromise their principles to stay afloat.

as yawningbread analysed, SDP seems the most principled, followed by the more moderate WP; the RP seems promising, but the SPP, NSP and the SDA to me, are more likely to entertain populist rhetoric to win votes.

still, I will support them, because unity is very very important. but I am concerned. There is a reason why there was so much splitting.

Anonymous said...

Sticking with the Old.

I worked with abuse sposes 9men and women) and one of the really striking characteristic is that these abused victims in most cases DO NOT want to leave their spouses preferring to be intimdated again and again.

A very common psycholgical loy used by the perpetrator of abuse is to provide a semblance of familiarity. The victim is paralyzed, unable to tear himself or herself free and locked into a cycle of abuse because of imaginary fears (these are really more terrifying than real fears).

We are now told that we should not throw everything away because we have much to lose.

However isn;t there alsomuch to gain.

Singapore is on the cusp of a Renaissance. Can the PAP lead us to further heights or do we need new blood, a new way of doing things?

Let us take housing: given the very rhetoric of the PAP can public housing go further upin prices given the present situation? Or are they all likely to drift down supposing something very bad happens because of a government bungle like with the GIC?

Housing prices can only go much higher if Singapore turns into a true global city. To do that you need to reinvent government. So even if we vote with money in mind the PAP cannot remain in dominance.

Anonymous said...

Sticking with the Old.

I worked with abuse sposes 9men and women) and one of the really striking characteristic is that these abused victims in most cases DO NOT want to leave their spouses preferring to be intimdated again and again.

A very common psycholgical loy used by the perpetrator of abuse is to provide a semblance of familiarity. The victim is paralyzed, unable to tear himself or herself free and locked into a cycle of abuse because of imaginary fears (these are really more terrifying than real fears).

We are now told that we should not throw everything away because we have much to lose.

However isn;t there alsomuch to gain.

Singapore is on the cusp of a Renaissance. Can the PAP lead us to further heights or do we need new blood, a new way of doing things?

Let us take housing: given the very rhetoric of the PAP can public housing go further upin prices given the present situation? Or are they all likely to drift down supposing something very bad happens because of a government bungle like with the GIC?

Housing prices can only go much higher if Singapore turns into a true global city. To do that you need to reinvent government. So even if we vote with money in mind the PAP cannot remain in dominance.

Anonymous said...

The parliament is not a puppet show. It is scripted.

Ministers get the list of questions asked about their ministry. The MPs need to file these questions beforehand.

Then, the civil servants will get into overdrive mode to collect data and info to defend whatever accusations or questions brought up.

The Minister collects the information, either his PPS writes the replies or some AO will do it as a cab memo or something.

The cabinet will also discuss beforehand what is a good theme. LOl

Like, if they know peasants are unhappy about HDB prices, they will also arrow someone to ask to give impression the goverment machinery is working. Most of the time, they aim to lessen the unhappiness, not to solve the problem.

Vincent Liu said...

Thank you for saying it out loud and clear.

Given the readership of your blog, I do sincerely believe you've made a difference in dispelling the fear-mongering, and hopefully inspired others to vote without fear as well.

I would hope that this GE will make a difference. I love my country, but not the current way the PAP government is running it.

I will closely watch the outcome of this GE; it's of a very personal relevance. I hope Singaporeans will be enlightened enough to make the right choice for the country.


Thoughts of an overseas Singaporean.

Anonymous said...

On the 2nd of April 1955, the Singapore Legislative Assembly General Election was held. The British found to their dismay that their preferred party, the PP did not win big. The large win went instead to David Marshall's Labour Front. A small as yet unknown party known as the People's Action Party won three seats. I wonder what would have happened if the PAP had been then dismissed as "having no qualifications"and experience with politics?

Anonymous said...

Not Very Qualified

Mr Wang. Thank you for your blog and for your views. I think you have opened the window to many things.

I am not very qualified but one of the tricks of school debaters and neurolinguistics is to DEFINE and NARROW the debate thereby taking attention away from other more damaging issues. In Chinese this is called making a noise in the east to attack the west.

Now the PAP is drawing attention to Aljunied. This is a legitimate trick. I am sure though that you and your readers are not fooled. This election is about more than Aljunied. There are many issues out there and many issues affecting other GRCs and SMCs.

Anonymous said...

"This election is about more than Aljunied. There are many issues out there and many issues affecting other GRCs and SMCs."
Anon May 1, 2011 5:20 PM

Like it or not, this election is about Aljunied. If PAP wins Aljunied, it will also win every GRC and SMC, for sure.

Singapore election very predictable one, not like other countries.

And also nothing will change much one, not like other countries.

Anonymous said...

'Anonymous said...
I don't understand how PAP can take someone like Janil who never do NS and be so mean to Chen Show Mao who performed with distinction for our country at home and abroad. Why they like that? Very very sad. May 1, 2011 12:35 PM"

It's politics. Just that some who think that gentlemen rules are all that matter may get to learn this fact late. The incumbent will do anything within their means to ensure the survival of their own interest.

As voters, we must learn how to sieve out all the grand rhetorical noises which will not contribute to our own interests.

Anonymous said...

With regards to the comment made at 11:51 AM. "the MP wields the ultimate power to tell NEA to do something if things are neglected. And NEA has to."

When my mum requested our MP to write in to NEA and the Town Council to request for a waiver of rental for the period that she was injured and unable to operate her hawker stall, or allow her to pay in installments... he definitely did so with a lot of politeness and helpfulness.

Unfortunately, NEA and the Town Council also politely wrote us a letter to refuse our request. I subsequently called in and managed to work out installment plans.

2 phone calls > 2 MP letters.

Anonymous said...

LKY is such an intelligent, realistic and logical man, he should know that competition can only do good for PAP, it's proven in all aspects, be it in sports, studies, anything in this universal...he is probably too old to think logically when he made such statements, sad.

Anonymous said...

Downright funny to the guts! When straight facts become funny... it's spells out the glaring negatives.

Anonymous said...

Hello all,

Which seller will say his goods are no good?

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Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Wang,

Your post hits the nail on the head. It's good to see from comments from others which show that opposition wards do not suffer from drop in property value, contrary to what PAP has been saying (and no one bothers to rebut them with hard data, I don't know why)

The fact that opposition wards have continually voted opposition shows that PAP's threats are empty and have no substance, otherwise these wards would have long switched to PAP after one round with the opposition.

Unfortunately, the message doesn't really get out since the Straits Times is so blatantly biased (I don't know how these journalists can look at themselves in the mirror every day), and all we get are large font headline threats from the PAP in the newspapers everyday.

Every man including myself has only one vote, and I despair that it may not be enough given the hordes of ignorant out there who will continue to vote for the incumbent.

Caltan712 said...

Wouldnt you say Mr MM is shaping the opposition landscape as much as he has shaped the nation? His words is making all of the opposition voice so upset, suddenly he is helping the opposition along?

He is highly intelligent. You think he wouldnt have anticipated the very response his words have created?

What is disconcerting is the inability of WP's supporters to see that they are preaching a divisive society based on the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', creating distrust between the ruling intellectuals and the middle-low income. Sowing seeds of distrust in the incorrupt, efficient govt that we have in PAP is going to translate into forms of distrust with ANY govt, WP or PAP.

Have you heard of antagonistic contradictions?

There is no future and hope in an opposition based on division and populist agenda.

Anonymous said...

I'm really shocked that you would say that, considering the kind of highly divisive remarks that PAP ministers have been regularly making in recent times. For example, MM Lee's statements about Malay Singaporeans refusing to integrate; and Vivian's attempt to strike at VW on the basis of sexual orientation.

"Populist rhetoric" is just the new term that Pappies have recently come up with, to dismiss widespread concerns of Singaporeans.

Anonymous said...

Heavy-duty propaganda is of course most evident on the news, which generally adheres to a strict formula.

Item one features the president visiting somewhere – a hospital, a school, a farm.

Item two is a serious piece of national news: forest fires, economic problems.

Item three is a piece of foreign news, chosen to show that Russia’s problems are nothing compared with other countries’: if the Russian piece has been about forest fires, the next item will be about forest fires in Australia or the US; if the Russian news has been about economic problems, the next item will focus on economic problems in the West.

The final item is always a happy piece: a tiger cub born in a zoo, Russian victory at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Donald said...

Spot on!

le radical galoisien said...

I'm sorry but "populist rhetoric" is a concern of individual intellectuals, not the PAP, who we also dislike.

Note that the SDP refrains from scapegoating people or entire segments of the population. For this its followers are fewer than the WP, but it sticks by its principles.

Anonymous said...

While I am quite disgusted by the fear mongering tactics, which prompted me to look at the alternatives, I worry about the ability for the opposition leaders on how they formulate the promises in their manifesto and how they will be carrying out these promises.

The rallies do not provide the rationales for all these issues - instead I just hear how they slam government policies over and over again, driving up the emotions of the spectators.

And that leaves me in a dilemma if the alternative is good enough. Wondering if I am the only one who feels this way.

Anonymous said...

The question is whether we dare to give the opposition a chance - if they are not up to par, we can still reconsider our choice in the next election. And the incumbent definitely has to shape up if they want to win people's hearts.

However, imagine what happens if all seats go to a single party? I'll leave it up to you to think through.

Anonymous said...

I think everyone in a household plays an important role in the coming election.

Take an example of a household of 4. If 2 votes go towards PAP and 2 to the opposition, then there's no difference in the outcome.

However if 3 votes go to the PAP, there's a net of 2 votes for the PAP.

If everyone in the household votes for the PAP, we have 4 votes to the PAP, which is doubled what we have for the above scenario.

So vote very carefully because every vote counts.

Raelynn said...

my cousin (who is 22 and hence an eligible voter) was lamenting that how can it be said that singaporeans are not well to do when almost everyone owns a car, hdb carparks are parked to brim with cars, and how much better is WP with their moral high ground when they drove Merc Benz to the yishun rally. i was on the verge of tearing out my hair and screaming at him to wake up. makes my blood boil that we still have new gen voters taking this kind of mentality. and they ar enot a minority based on the facebook comments.

Anonymous said...

May 1, 2011 9:52 PM
"The rallies do not provide the rationales for all these issues - instead I just hear how they slam government policies over and over again, driving up the emotions of the spectators.

And that leaves me in a dilemma if the alternative is good enough. Wondering if I am the only one who feels this way."

So when would the alternative be good enough if polices are not slammed which in any case have to be slammed.

If emotions are not one of the keys, why would our senior leader indulge in fear mongering targeting human basic instinct.

Anonymous said...

When the opposition failed to contest in every constituency, Singaporeans complained that they do not have a chance to vote.

When the opposition gives Singaporeans a chance to vote by contesting all the constituencies, they are now asking the opposition to show what they have done in their wards before they will vote for them.

As Low Thia Khiang said, the PAP has never allowed the opposition to even set up a base in a PAP ward, so how can the opposition do anything to prove their ability. Even Chiam See Tong, the MP for Potong Pasir, could not have permission to plant a shrub in his own ward.

On the other hand the PAP can set up base in the opposition wards to further their cause. Just goes to show how skewed is our system!

Would voters dare give the Opposition a chance? I think better forget it.

It is difficult to find a sufficient number of voters with the kind of courage and spirit as in Hougang and Potong Pasir to make a difference.

Suffice to say, the majority of Singaporeans' lives are ruled by three words:

Kiasu, Kiasi and Kiachenghu.

If the PAP wins all the seats in this election, Singaporeans deserved to be trampled like ants, unable to retaliate. And this will be forever.

Caltan712 said...

Anon writer of 8.33pm.

I travel to china on biz trip very often, dont live there like Mr Chen. I know a bit more of their society than just through the local media. Antagonistic contradiction is meant to divide and is not applied in racial context. MM's comment about the Malays. The context he made that statement as an assessment and summary of what his time and era presented to him. Also, today he clarified that his intention was to assimilate them.)

Antagonistic contradiction is more Mao based. It formed the basis for all those class/social struggles in the past.

Also, putting gay orientation into this thought is taking it out of context.

So, I disagree that VW and MM's words are examples of this antagonistic contradictions. (You can read more about that Mao thought elsewhere.)

In fact, PAP's party line has never been to "pull down the rich and the intellectuals" to appease the poor. I feel that WP's and most of the opposition have been basing their arguments for their ticket into parliament on rhetoric of the pay gap between the ruling intellectual elite and the normal HDB dwellers. Things like "why they should be paid millions and you are not" is very common. "Why should GLCs and MNCs compete with local SMEs". "Why should the person who does not pay taxes, do national service be in the same country as us and have our jobs"

Can you hear the class divide, the protectionism in these statements?

PAP said they want this to be a land of opportunities for all. They have diversified our education system bringing in liberal college, having IB system, value-added neighbourhood schools, pathlight school. EDB has so many schemes to help the small companies here and to bring in new businesses into SIngapore, it's not funny how serious they are about encourage entrepreneurship in Singapore.

They may have screwed up somewhere along the way but PAP DNA is to progress, to build and not tear down.

Therefore, I place my bet with the incorruptible and effective DNA of the PAP than with the divisive and questionable doctrine of the WP.

Anonymous said...

"my cousin (who is 22 and hence an eligible voter) was lamenting that how can it be said that singaporeans are not well to do when almost everyone owns a car, hdb carparks are parked to brim with cars, and how much better is WP with their moral high ground when they drove Merc Benz to the yishun rally."

are the cars parked in the HDB carpark all belonging to singaporeans ? care to provide any data that you may know - not that kind that is mixed with PRs. Your cousin is only 22 and if he still holds the same curiosity when he is in his mid 40s or 50s, my salutation or resignation will go to him.

the mercs that private owners drive around have to be taxed heavily via ROAD TAX, ERP, COE, etc. This surely does not come from the national coffer but contributing to the national coffer.

Anonymous said...

it's easy to throw accusations and say that things are not working, the current leaders are not doing things well..but harder to be able to provide solutions that show results.

I am for the current government's way of efficiency, meritocracy and gunning for success spirit, but disgruntled at the way how they are getting distant from the ground.

A selfish wish will be to keep the current party in government, but having more alternate voices in the parliament for check and balances.

Caltan712 said...

Anon of 10:39pm

Why is your cousin disappointing you?

He's been told by the opposition (both the parties and the internet forums) that our ministers are too well-paid while the rest of SIngapore is suffering. He was told that if they really love the nation, they should be doing the same work for less.

Now, he sees the opposition driving the Benz, he would think that these guys are cut from the same cloth as the ones he is told to vote against, right?

He is astute to match what he sees with what he hears.

And this is my point, financial might comes with success. ANd what's wrong with that? Why make an issue of it? The opposition that are asking for our votes will one day be paid those very salary they dery. As voters, we should concentrate on having a future that sets us up to be successful within a system that is safe and secure.

It is true that the rich in china are leaving. I deal with them everyday. They are leaving their system which is now increasingly hostile. Is this what we want?

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:52:

It is very unlikely that the PAP will lose complete power in this election, in the worst case, they will still have the most seats in parliament, which means that policy formulation will still be lead by them. So the job of the opposition in parliament is, at least for the next 5 years while the opposition gains some experience, to act as checks and balances and to ensure that ordinary Singaporeans' feedback is heard by parliament.

Therefore, there is really no need for the opposition to come up with a shadow cabinet or come up with detailed policies at this time. In addition, it is quite unfair to expect the opposition to come up with detailed policies since they have no access to the civil service machinery, unlike the PAP.

Despite the advantage the PAP has, I still have not heard any solutions to the problems from the PAP, other than the usual threats, semantic arguments and statements of no substance (e.g. trust us, track record, valuable values etc). You would have thought that with all the resources at their disposal, they would have been able to answer directly many of the policy questions asked by the opposition.

Anonymous said...

"Things like "why they should be paid millions and you are not" is very common. "Why should GLCs and MNCs compete with local SMEs". "Why should the person who does not pay taxes, do national service be in the same country as us and have our jobs""

If you still cannot understand the above after all the kpkb, i think you ought to be at the receiving end of the hard end in the above context to understand.

Anonymous said...

Falling into the PAP trap.

The PAP's standard tactic is to ask ANY critic or opponent to come up with solutions.

To which tactic I would paraphrase the great Dr Johnson, "Sir. I amy not know how to build a table but I can well criticized it."

Otherwise the standard response to ANY criticism would be "Why don't you tell or better still show me how to do it?" In which case we can never criticize or comment upon anything or handiwork. And I would ask the good old PAP members if they ever criticize or comment about anything in their life (say a badly constructed toilet bowl or a poorly cooked bowl of noodle) without being a first class mason or chef.

Criticism is itself a form of WORK and SOLUTION because it ANALYZES, REVEALS AND OFFERS WAYS OF POSSIBLE SOLUTION. It has its own logic and value. I am sure Miniser of Home Affairs for example does not know everything about police or forensic work but does that prevent him from asking probing questions where necessary? I hope not.

I have been watching this particular tactic by the PAP since the 1960s when it was always flung at the face of its student critics at the then University of Singapore."If you criticize then you better come up with a better answer!" I am only surprised that after all these years the method still works.

The answer to that challenge by the PAP is that the questioning or criticism is part of the solution and one would be very surprised if they did not recognize it!

Anonymous said...

"The PAP's standard tactic is to ask ANY critic or opponent to come up with solutions."

It used to a common motivational & management fad to encourage people in coming out with solutions at the same time when pointing out problems.

However, it could be so blindly applied to the extent that some people think that just by mouthing it will conveniently enable them to brush aside / reject / ignore criticisms and save them from the nagging trouble of being targeted for the problems.

Anonymous said...

"And this is my point, financial might comes with success. ANd what's wrong with that? Why make an issue of it? The opposition that are asking for our votes will one day be paid those very salary they dery."

Of course, bad examples have already been set and it will take quite a long while to eradicate it, if it can ever be done.

"As voters, we should concentrate on having a future that sets us up to be successful within a system that is safe and secure."

System that is safe and secure ? With casinos just an mrt ride away in less than 1 hour from the most far end of singapore ? With so many people being crammed like a sardine can ?

If it is so successful, why equally sane, educated & successful people from other group of society (some as opposition candidates and some as complaining electorate) are having different opinion.

Anonymous said...

If oppos are warehouse assistants, we say they are not qualified.

If they are accomplished like Chen, we question why they drive BMW and Merc and could afford to stay in America, China.

It is obvious how serious we want our voices heard, if we have any at all.

myblog said...

We really should look beyond our Constituencies when we cast our vote this time. We should look beyond the frills of having more covered walkways, upgrading of flats etc. (I respect the people in Hougang and Potong Pasir). Instead we should focus on the more important issues that are going to affect us in more serious ways. This includes the uncontrolled influx of foreigners, rising HDB flats, rising costs of living, congested public transportation, how to better nurture our own talents and not relying so much on foreign talents (it's about bringing out the best of our own people), and other issues that really matters to us. Last but not least, think also about the less fortunate people of our society, how we can build a more caring and inclusive society for Singapore.

Mr Wang, I'm also a Aljunied resident, and I'll exercise my vote for the better future of Singapore.

Anonymous said...

Is it in your interest to vote for PAP (Part 4)

Mr Tan takes to the podium. He has decided to speak up for his new-found friends contesting against the PAP on 7 May 2011.

Mr Tan:
Fellow Singaporeans and friends,

My friends in the opposition camp have put their future at risk by putting themselves up against a powerful opponent, PAP. If they have the courage to stand up for Singaporeans in public display open to enemy attack, shouldn’t we fellow Singaporeans at least show them support at the ballot box? Unlike the opposition candidates who cannot hide, our voting is secret. Should we not have the decency to support our comrades who put themselves in the frontline behind the scenes?

Fellow Singaporeans, I don’t ask you to make the same sacrifices as opposition candidates. I only ask you to vote for the opposition secretly. Nothing serious will happen to you because your vote is secret. Opposition candidates are the ones taking the risks. For this, they earn my respect. If you are the type who always complain and yet when the time is ripe to do the right thing, you don’t even have the decency and courage to do it, I can only say one thing. To quote a famous PAP candidate, I don’t know what to say (Mr Tan stomps his feet).

Fellow Singaporeans, once again, the PAP is threatening and scaring you. They said you have no future if the PAP loses power. I have heard this so many times. Let me tell you a similar story at my first job. There is this engineer who caused huge losses to the companies because the system he designed had many problems. When my boss wanted to sack him, this engineer employed fear-mongering tactics by saying that he is the best person to fix the problems because nobody is more familiar with the system than him. If he is sacked, the boss will not be able to find a competent replacement who is good enough to fix the problems. My boss got scared and retained him. 5 years later, the problems got bigger. Again, that engineer used the same old trick and my boss got scared again. 5 years later, the problems got bigger still. This time, all of us got sacked. The company went bankrupt. Along the way, that engineer threatened my boss into giving him higher bonuses and salaries while screwing up along the way.

We Singaporeans have given enough chances to the PAP. In 2006, we voted them. Today, the problems are still the same. The only difference is that they have gotten bigger. Are there more foreigners of questionable quality today than 5 years ago? Are housing prices shooting beyond our reach compared to 5 years ago? Do you feel you have a brighter prospects in the next 5 years? Is our cost of living made worse by rising GST, transport costs and government fees?

Do you think the PAP still deserve to be given another chance? Fellow Singaporeans, sack the people who created the problems in the first place. Why give them chance after chance? Give them chance to raise their own salaries and bonuses, then later push the problems to us to bear? If you don’t sack them this time, then we will all end up getting the sack. We will die if we get the sack. For them, they can live in retirement happily ever because they have dug enough gold. Why do you think they can dig so much gold? Because there is no opposing voice to say no whenever they try to dig more gold into their own pockets. On May 7, Singaporeans got to rise up and install a voice in parliament to put a stop to outrageous salaries and bonuses. Singaporeans are not stingy. We just want to make sure our government earn their money deservingly. It is very dangerous to have people approve their own salaries. There will be no end to the gold-digging.

Anonymous said...

Continue from previous comment:

The PAP says vote for them because they have a track record. When it comes to track record, what comes to mind is their track record of threatening voters to vote for them. Worst of all, fellow Singaporeans, PAP use your own money to threaten you. What gives them the right to deny public funds to taxpayers who did not vote for them? If we surrender to such bullying, then when is it going to end? We will forever be bullied because the big bully is encouraged by your cowardice. Fellow Singaporeans, use your head to think! When someone bullies you, what do you do? You fight back! Of course, we are not violent people. We fight back by not voting for the people who dare to use our own money to bully us. If you do not have the courage to fight back, then you deserve to be bullied forever. Use your big head to think. If not, you don’t even deserve to have your small head!

Fellow Singaporeans, let us unite and vote for our enlightened self-interest. Mahjulah Singapura.

Vote wisely.

For part 1,
http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/02/27/is-it-in-your-interest-to-vote-for-pap-part-1/

For part 2,
http://www.temasekreview.net/2011/03/04/is-it-in-your-interest-to-vote-for-pap-part-2/

For part 3,
http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/04/05/is-it-in-your-interest-to-vote-for-pap-part-3/

caltan712 said...

Anon 11:39pm

Criticising on its own is pure intellectual. Criticising then proposing a solution would make a laudable opposition.

I think the idea of moving town businesses to HDB estates is a really smart idea. It would ease MRT congestions and reduce costs of operations of the business. Many other benefits. Tampines and Changi already have banks operating their backroom there. MBT announced this recently that this project is going to speed up.

I think they are thinking out the box and bringing jobs nearer to homes.

Well, PAP has just shown you that they do not ask questions back for the sake of refuting your criticism, no? They have given you a rather practical solution, isnt it?

It's far easier for us to sit here and say we will vote in secret for the people who braved persecution on ur behalf.

Respectfully yours.

another fan of yours said...

Dear Mr Wang,

i'm not going to comment on politics, nor do i intend to poke fun because i sense the seriousness in your style.

But i just thought that this article's style differs so much from your previous posts... that i'm sensing a bit desperation too.

Anonymous said...

The best thing that can happen for the PAP is that they lose 10 seats in this election. Then suddenly they will wake up, remember the people whom they are supposed to serve, and start getting their act together.

If that happens, then suddenly every opposition candidate will be uncovered to be sleeper cell operatives of Al Qaeda (nowadays a Communist or Marxist label is not gonna fly) and Operation Cold Store II will be instantly launched to ensure that Li Hongyi will still be successor to the throne.

Liz Lim said...

The only reason why singaporeans still listen to MM Lee is because they are used to trusting him. He and his party has trained us not to think for ourselves, "just vote PAP, and we'll take care of you". As long as our parents' generation is still around (those late 40 and above), I think PAP will still have majority vote.

As far as most Singaporeans seem to think, all that whole list of yours is controlled by "the government" and that means they belong to PAP. So I would think the average ignorant thinks that voting "opposition" parties (I hate that word in this sense) is gonna mean they will lose these services. If Singaporeans are less ignorant about such things, the PAP would not be able to make such statements so boldly. And they know that the average singaporean is ignorant, it's why they keep talking to us like this.

Anyway, I think that having more than one party in parliament is also good for the country, because when the people hear two sides of an argument, it will cause them to think more about national issues whether they are for or against the majority party. The nation needs thinking people -- if we have that I don't think we ever need fear that we will have "no government".

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wang said...

"In fact, PAP's party line has never been to "pull down the rich and the intellectuals" to appease the poor. I feel that WP's and most of the opposition have been basing their arguments for their ticket into parliament on rhetoric of the pay gap between the ruling intellectual elite and the normal HDB dwellers. Things like "why they should be paid millions and you are not" is very common. "Why should GLCs and MNCs compete with local SMEs". "Why should the person who does not pay taxes, do national service be in the same country as us and have our jobs"

Can you hear the class divide, the protectionism in these statements? "

-----

You are mixing up various issues but I will address them anyway.

Firstly, you say that the PAP will not pull down the rich and the intellectuals to appease the poor. You seem to be suggesting that the Opposition wants to do so.

But I cannot see any basis for your saying so. If there was any basis, I would have noticed by now, since my own annual income puts me squarely in the category of the rich people.

The truth is that the facts and figures on the income gap in Singapore speak loudly for themselves, to anyone who will listen. Go look for this book published last year - "The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger", by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.

What will you learn from this book? That out of 23 developed countries studied in this book - including countries as diverse as Australia, Japan, USA, Israel, Spain, Ireland etc etc - Singapore has the BIGGEST income gap of all.

To put it simply, Singaporeans are not whiney and complaining. The Opposition is not making a mountain out of a molehill. The truth is that the income gap in Singapore is INDEED very, very large, going by objective international standards, and is large enough to win Singapore yet another unenviable world record.

Personally speaking, I am a wealthy Singaporean, yet as I go around in my everyday life, I can see and feel the rising costs of living, and I can empathize with the problems that poorer Singaporeans are facing. Why is the PAP unable to do so? I think it is time to vote them out.

Anonymous said...

Due to the GRC system, small size and being urban, resulting in a more or less homogeneous voter profile every where, and as long as majority voters want PAP to remain as government, the PAP will not likely lose any seats, let alone be voted out.

Few political analysts seem to bring attention to this uniquely Singapore characteristic.

Anonymous said...

"Criticising then proposing a solution would make a laudable opposition."

Well, it would also be justifiable that those of started / created the problems be penalised & not being rewarded by having solutions for free from others, if ever there are any. Besides, solutions seemed doable for some may not be doable for another group, either because of vested interest, face saving or whatnots.

And you need a lot of full info (almost full) to come out with sensible solutions. Will this info be ever revealed to the people so that some industrial / market experts may give their own views / suggestions on the side e.g HDB construction and land costs pertaining to HDB pricing.

Moving businesses close to heartland estate has its drawbacks also e.g greater human traffic & congestion causing greater demand on business space hence higher price filtering onto existing heartland HDB flats & businesss operation like coffeeshop, etc, etc.

A lot of surface glitz is just surface glitz, not really benefiting the average singaporean but creating all the wrong buzz to mask away the real issues - e.g cost of living rising faster than income from the average joe.

About Tampines, a sports hub is in the pipeline. Some good existing infrastructures may have to be torn down and currently people are enjoying the free use of the existing stadium. Don't you think it is a waste of money.

Comes the new sports hub, a lot of space will be taken up and whatever little peace existing now for the surrounding area will be gone. As for prices of services & food, you do not need to be economist to visualize what will like going to take place.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Wang

Mr Parka's example is spot on.
When Steve Job overstayed in his 1st stint, Apple was in almost terminal decline. When he came back, stronger and *relatively* humbled, he lifted Apple to greater heights.

Maybe thats what PAP needs.

Anonymous said...

Why do PAP supporters keep harping on the fact that opposition don't provide solutions? Have they bothered to read through the opposition's manifesto? Which is by the way more comprehensive than the PAP's own? Solutions like reduce GST, reduce NS, reduce minister salaries, create more teacher jobs, all these sound like great solutions to me. How is these worse off than the PAP's plan to increase GST, let foreign-born new citizens escape NS, increase minister salaries, create more jobs for foreigners?

Emerald Loh said...

Very well said.

The PAP does need to be shocked out of its complacency. LKY believes the party is so safely entrenched in power, they can intimidate the people to submit and 'repent' their hesitation. But I think PAP should self-reflect and repent their arrogance instead.

Anonymous said...

"Solutions like reduce GST, reduce NS, reduce minister salaries, create more teacher jobs, all these sound like great solutions to me."

Gst = to help the poor = are you trying to prevent the poor from being helped and trying to help the rich for getting richer by taxing them lesser.

NS = to defend the country = are you trying to put the country into danger and defenseless when it is attacked by unfriendly forces.

Reduce minister salaries = do you want a more corrupt government service and have bad governance and put peoples' livelihood at risk.

Teacher jobs = we are already doing that = blah blah blah on the statistics showing how good our mathematical score and universities comparatively with those in the world.

Sacred cows cannot be touched = we want the cake and eat it = just continue to give constructive solutions before your unconstructive complaining = we will tell you when your solutions are good = we have plenty of scholars (are you as qualified as a scholar) + internet police whose only business is to come out with fantastic textbook explanation potentially plucked out from some google search - with the recent additions of not jamming the brake of a good driver, trees and mushrooms.

Anonymous said...

Why does my beloved fellow countrymen living in Potong Pasir and Hougang do not seem to ruminate, regret their actions or suffer consequences after voting for Chiam and Low for the last 20 years or so... Do they know something we don't?

Gratitude is not blind loyalty as Tan Jee Say said, all our ministers (including MM) get paid for their contributions to build Singapore to what it is today. What we Singaporeans are truly interested is whether our leaders and government are listening to our concerns (housing, cost of living, influx of foreigners, etc.) and whether they lead us into a better future, not what they have done in the past which have repeatedly said like a broken recorder. 好汉不提当年勇。Our ministers are paid millions and they better deliver and exceed our expectation because they are the highest paid in the world. And for goodness sake, don't use old tricks unless you are old dogs during election especially with Gen Y and Z voters. Sometimes i think it is better to learn from Ronan Keating's song with lyrics singing "you say it best, when you say nothing at all..."

My dear Singaporeans, whether or not you have benefited from the government or its policies, think for our future generation and help the ruling party not to be complacent by giving them competition.

Overcome your fear and vote with your heart. Vote wisely for the future of Singapore, Singaporeans and our future generations.

Fox said...

Guys, don't forget about Holland-Bukit Timah GRC where SDP's strongest team is fielded. Note that the PAP has not threatened the people of this GRC. Why? There is a lot of private housing here which are impervious to the upgrading threat, and we have many good schools. The PAP won't dare to turn the neighbourhoods here into slums. In fact, more than a few of their MPs stay here. They can't touch us. Please vote your conscience.

achia21 said...

Pandering to Greedy Singaporeans.
If you have ONE home in Singapore, then higher values automatically means hihger property taxes. You only see the monetary gain when you (a) need to sell and buy another (nore expensive) place or (b) you die and your children inherit and sell your place.

Here's to more property taxes to fund govenrment expenditure.

Anonymous said...

The bogey candidates:
http://mypap.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/bogey/

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with Mr Wang on PAP being complacent in recent years. Those of us like me who have worked in civil service or govt-linked companies know full well that the mentality of "covering your own ass" permeates the entire hierarchy. Nobody is willing to take a calculated risk to bring the organisation forward, always choosing the status quo or the safe middle-of-the-road option. Those days of visionaries like Goh Keng Swee and Lee Kuan Yew are definitely gone...

Caltan712 said...

Mr Wang

Am honored to have your direct reply. I shall go read the book you recommended. With all due respect, I don't think you will find hostility towards the rich (the class that you belong to) in WP's message because you were not looking for it but are looking for reasons to vote them in.

I have not mixed up my issues. The oppo is campaigning on hot issues, and the ground is unhappy and discontent, no? You wld say this is a result of the past five years of bad policies.

You see, even with a smart scheme like moving jobs to HDB centers, dissenting voices claim that these would drive up prices and the bad is going to outweigh the good.

What would be revolutionary would be an opposition that does not push these buttons, does not fan the ground's discontent for the emotional leverage it gives them in the polls. An oppo voice that tells us a future that they can create on the current pillars of openness, of stability. It would inspire more than 'checks and balance' wouldn't you agree?

Instead, we are happy to have oppo that tells us when the ministers are voted out, they can still come back for the oppo to learn from and shadow. Oppo that tell us they are not ready to form a govt but pls give them the foot in the door.

My grouse against the oppo is not that we shouldn't have one but that there is a lack of an inspiring one.

The three things that Chen said we should think of. Why only three, why not five, six? Why only those three?

The questions we should really ask the oppo is.
1. Are they aligned along our nation's pillar of harmony and cohesion?
2. Do they see a future built on what we already find are necessary foundations for growth and recognition in the world?
3. What are the problems they see we face as a nation in the next five years?

Hey, no one talked about these things except PAP. Of course, they were not looking out for these things.

I belong to a group that pays household taxes more than half the median income. I am married and have children, My total subsidy from the govt is negligible. When I lose my job, I will have no workfare scheme, no union etc. but I am none the worse off because I am able to play my part as a wealthier individual of this country.

So, Sir, In this short little space, i attempt to show you that the standards we are putting our oppo to is way too low.

Anonymous said...

"You see, even with a smart scheme like moving jobs to HDB centers, dissenting voices claim that these would drive up prices and the bad is going to outweigh the good."

Jobs yes. But not to the extent that the whole of HDB heartland living space morphs more into a business market space & where enbloc / relocation for old flats may take place or relocated to make way for more 'premium use' where you have to top up with further dollars for 'better quality' houses in some other areas not to your liking / choice.

Anonymous said...

//
Guys, don't forget about Holland-Bukit Timah GRC where SDP's strongest team is fielded. Note that the PAP has not threatened the people of this GRC. Why?
//

Eh cos (1) as you said they (PAP and their supporters) live there and (2) it is the *almost* bible belt of SG and SDP is fielding a gay candidate stupid enough to be caught in an event *pre election* endorsing gay rights and child sex (whether or not it is morally correct is a separate issue)?

Anonymous said...

Mr Wang ... you just destroyed my fading dreams of getting affordable housing :-(

Anonymous said...

MM threatened that the voters of Aljunied GRC would “regret it” if they voted for the Workers’ Party. Again, he pointed out that the WP team had “little track record” compared to the PAP. He further threatened that Aljunied GRC's residents would have 5 years to “repent” voting for WP, because they would learn that the PAP would always take care of PAP constituencies first. So much for serving all Singaporeans.

As Singaporean, I have had enough of his bullying tactics. I have already had a lifetime of fear instilled in me: you might fail your exams and never find a good job, don’t speak, don’t question, don’t get in trouble. I am not taking any more. I am too young to be so afraid.
If the Singaporeans of the 1960s had been so fearful and so concerned about “track record”, we would not be where we are today. LKY and the PAP would not be where they are today. This city, Singapore as it is today, is a testament to what Singaporeans have achieved – and we did not achieve all this because we were afraid.

So the PAP, please stop the fear-mongering. It makes you look like the Opposition have got you on the run, like you have nothing left but to fling threats and doomsday scenarios at the electorate. With the complicit mainstream media to help you propagate these baseless fears, it is sneaky and dishonourable, and does not reflect well on the maturity of the PAP.
I will not be intimidated and fear-mongered into backing down from doing what I believe is right. Not anymore.
It is true, there is no guarantee that the Opposition will be able to deliver.

But we will be taking a chance anyway. How do we know, when we vote PAP, that the new PAP MPs can indeed deliver? After all, many of them, also have little track record. How do we know that housing prices will not continue to skyrocket, that the wages of the lower-income will not continue to be suppressed, that sick people will not continue to be bankrupted by healthcare? How do we know, when we vote PAP, that you can fix all these problems, be accountable and start to connect with the people?

There is no “safe” vote. There are no real guarantees in life. We cannot know for sure how the next 5 years will turn out. The future is essentially unpredictable. You are not GOD, even if you, LKY think you are.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.”

We have already seen how things are under the PAP: how people are suffering, how help is not forthcoming, how the Ministers pay themselves with no accountability. Can you say that things have been fantastic for all Singaporeans in the past 5 years? Can you say that it could not have been any better?

Insanity is voting for the same party over and over again, and expecting things to be different.

I cannot tolerate all this fear-mongering from the incumbent. I cannot tolerate all this bullying and gerrymandering. I cannot tolerate being just “noise” in my own country, bossed about by holier-than-thou Ministers who don’t understand the sort of lives and problems that normal Singaporeans face.

I believe that there needs to be a change, and I stand by my belief. I will not stand for all this fear-mongering and threats to try to get me to back down.

I am Singaporean. It is my right to have a say in where my country is heading for the next 5 years, and I will vote according to what I believe is best for my country’s future. I will not give in to fear.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 12:55pm:

You are just regurgitating the PAP propaganda.

Opposition has pointed out (which PAP has not disputed) that small percentage of GST collected (1-2%) is used to help the poor. If GST is to help the needy, why isn't all or substantially all of the GST collected be channelled into welfare programs?

You want us to do NS? Get all new citizens to do so as well. Why is a PAP candidate getting away with it? He has been in Singapore for 10 years and he was never asked to do NS? We either all do it, or none of us do it.

The 30 highest paid political leaders in the world are all from Singapore. Does getting paid $3m a year stop you from being corrupt? Maybe. But then maybe we should also have minimum wage and welfare so that everyone in Singapore is rich and so do not commit theft and robbery. Giving astronomical pay to prevent corruption is dumb. A minister could be rich getting a $500k salary and so do not need to resort to corruption. Why $3m then? Where does it stop?

What are PAP's solutions to these problems? They have not even tried to answer them. Then why should the opposition be expected to come up with solutions when the PAP themselves have no answer?

Caltan712 said...

I was travelling to Taiwan for work from the beginning of Chen SB's time as the president. He was supported by voters looking to solve hot button issues.
It was a perfectly sane country till he came along.

My point is not to build our opposition voices on rocky foundations of dissent and unhappiness.

Be courageous to vote to have an opposition that inspires you because of a future that you can be excited about. otherwise, all your grouses will never end.

I won't be surprised if I cannot change any of your minds but I will still write, unless mr Wang blocks me, because I won't sell myself out for an inferior opposition voice.

Anonymous said...

One step at a time la. Without actual figures of the reserves/statistics what grand proposal can Oppo come up with?? Later kenna accused of talking big and coming up with nonsensical and illogical plans? (Who is to say it is nonsense and illogical when the voters, the best to judge, are kept in the dark)

What imminent loss can we get? Cannot perform, out u go in the next GE. Simple as that. If we choose Oppo we dunno what we will get but based on 'track records', u can guess what will come out next if voting otherwise. Only wheb we tread the unknown we can discover treasures.

Ok la, so even if Oppo no good plans. But when they question ruling party why like this and that, ruling party need to JUSTIFY WHY THE POLICIES ARE BENEFICIAL FOR US SINGAPOREANS. Rather than just accept some grand plans that elitist scholars come up with and shove it down our throats? With no struggle at all? No questioning at all? Accept like Yes Man but we all know no one is infallible, mistakes do happen but it could have been prevented in the first place?

But if everyone is apathy and thinks that we should be subservient, then u deserve what u will be getting.

Anonymous said...

Actually does anyone know if Vincent W is gay? Why does every one assume he is? Not that being gay matters to me but I'm just curious since people are making a deal out of it

Anonymous said...

Dun u guys know even the Opp who missed their chance to fight our dear MM was being staged?

How could they be there waiting n still late? Such low dirty class approach by the old man really will undo whatever goods he has done for himself!

Anonymous said...

The government should not have let the property market run wild in the 1st place. Of Couse those lucky rich fellows who had the chance to flipped 1 or mant times who not like it but look at how the Australian tightening it. Foreigners can only buy new projects n can only sell to the locals after they bought the property. This will ensure the non locals who invest there truly root there for a couple of years. In a sense when the country progress n the people income truly progress then yr property value in Australia then increase then do you gain your asset appreciation. Notblike here, we had virtually allow a lot of cash rich people to play with out property market n leaving those who truly need to buy and stay out of reach

Anonymous said...

We are going to be like the Venice of Asia soon if we do not have more Opp voice.

So wat if your property values go up? We may be able to afford tiny little apartments now but what about other generations to Come?

PRs should not even be allowed to buy landed property leaving own local landed property dreams being burst by the influx of dirty monies coming from overseas!

Yes, the like of Jet Lee or Jim Rogers are getting quick stamp Singapore citizenships! But the talks of whether they actually holding dual citizenship is being left out! I would not be surprised if special approvals are given to them just looking at the ways our government are so desperate for their monies that we lost our back bones!

Landed property should only be owned by citizens and not even any high profile PRs who do not want to hold a stake in the country. They are just making use of the fact that land scarce city like ours, the landed property value will go up eventually.

And they should be restricted to sell landed property to citizens only!

Anonymous said...

[quote]
GE: Focus on longer-term issues, says PM Lee (2 May)
PM: Vote wisely for a stable future (25 Apr)
PAP will ensure better future for workers, says Labour chief Lim Swee Say (19 Apr)
GE: Beware of false hopes to a better future, says Lim Swee Say (1 May)
[unquote]

I'm terribly frightened of the word "future", because the future is largely unpredictable. Many things can happen in five years. Some of us don't even live to see it. I'm not being pessimistic, mind you. As an ex-teacher, I knew of kids whose parents divorced or whose father or mother died of cancer in a short time that they were with me. But yet the PAP keeps telling us to believe that the future will be better.

Ask yourself - has your life changed for the better in the last five years? If not, what makes you think that the government will make it better in the future?

As the famous economist John Maynard Keynes said, "In the long run we are all dead."

The PAP likes to make promises every five years. But five years is really a long time. Many things can happen that make their promises irrelevant or outdated - some of these changes are beyond our control. For example, the promsie to raise wages becomes irrelevant when there's world wide recession.

It's like an adult who promises a kid that he will get him something if he (the kid) behaves himself or does well. The obedient kid believes the adult but each time the adult gives excuses and gets away with it. Do you want to be that kid all the time? Again and Again?

Worse than promises, they also create a climate of fear by telling you your property prices will deflate or that your preccint will not be upgraded if the opposition takes the ward.

Don't be cowed. As Mr Wang has pointed out, Hougang is a thriving town under the chage of Low Thia Khiang in the last twenty years.

From the rallies at PAP and opposition of this current election, it's quite clear to me who the devil is. If the PAP had done good its promises from the last election in 2006, people would have been grateful and would have made it known by thronging to PAP's rallies, just like the droves of people going to opposition rallies. But what I've seen so far are many unwilling participants at PAP rallies made up largely of ah peks and ah sohs, many persuaded to go there on chartered buses with free food and drinks provided.

Time flies like an arrow. We don't have that many five years. I certainly don't want to regret and repent for another five more years by voting for the PAP. The PAP needs a rude wake up call and the time to do it is this election.

Anonymous said...

//
I was travelling to Taiwan for work from the beginning of Chen SB's time as the president. He was supported by voters looking to solve hot button issues.
It was a perfectly sane country till he came along.
//

Taiwan is insane?
Really?
Got link?
This is really bad news!
... Acer, HTC, TSMC, Quanta, Asus ...

caltan712 said...

What do you know about taiwanese business culture? Do you know how much their grads are paid for their first jobs? Do you know why there are many SMEs in Taiwan?

Hmm said...

my response....

Eaststopper said...

Not sure why Mr Wang thinks that by voting for opposition, the income gap in Singapore will narrow.
The most likely solution to narrow income gap is to increase taxes for wealthy people like Mr Wang.
Perhaps more taxes and less incentives for high-income earners like Mr Wang? The UK has a relatively lower income gap. Last I heard, the bankers are taxed 50% of their income. Perhaps Mr Wang has aspiration to move to the UK?

Anonymous said...

To Eaststopper:

Tax the bankers to pay our million-dollar ministers and our President Zo Bo Lan (President Do Nothing) so that they can have a life of luxury for themselves and their children?

Muhahaha!

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wang said...

Eaststopper:

You're out of touch.

Ministers' salaries are linked to GDP growth which means that they are incentivised to spur economic growth. Unfortunately that doesn't mean that Singaporeans actually get richer - in fact, it has turned out that the opposite is true. Read my earlier post "Singapore's Top Election Issue".

The Workers Party has proposed that ministers' salaries should instead be determined according to a formula which links the salaries to the median income of Singaporeans or to the income of the bottom income-earners in Singapore. Eg a minister could earn 40 times the salary of a Singaporean in the bottom x% of the population.

This formula would incentivise ministers to find ways to help poor Singaporeans earn more and do better in life, and the effect would be to narrow the income gap.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wang said...

1. Who cares about Taiwan?

2. Did you ever realise that a hot button issue might be a hot button issue, because it is REALLY, REALLY important and it matters a lot to the citizens?

I absolutely do not understand the suggestion that the Opposition should stay away from hot button issues.

What issues do you suggest that they take on instead? The promotion of flower arrangement courses for senior citizens at community clubs?

Eaststopper said...

I maybe wrong, but I think your grouse seems to be more related to our ministers' salary than to our growing income gap.
Just a thought process - the salary you are currently being paid is based on the expectations next best applicant in the market. For some profession like yours, highly specialized with a tiny pool of candidates, the renumeration is naturally higher than other profession.
For ministers esp in Singapore, there is no easy way to determine the available candidates and the market rate - Case in point: I would have thought that given your previous few postings, there would have been sufficient grounds for you to run as an opposition candidate. Instead, you chose not to.
Personally, I don't think PAP have done such a bad job navigating through the crisis in 2007 through 2009: I mean you still kept your job (your employer did not relocate out of singapore) and had a good annual increment.
The unemployment figures here are kept low despite the job losses in US and Europe.
Plus we did not have to bail out any banks and most of the lehman notes holder were compensated...
Your family in the past years have upgraded successfully from a HDB to a private property (kudos to your hardwork and PAP's economic policies which have preserved your HDB's value)
Please enlighten?

caltan712 said...

Dear Mr Wang

As a guest I should have better manners when posting at your blog. Perhaps manners in the cyberspace is less relevant than in real life.

I have written (earlier), to the best of my limited ability, about a little idea. The idea that it is far more noble and more revolutionary to fight on creating value, on progress and on a hopeful future. So far, the opposition is fighting on the low ground of dissent and of unhappiness, creating as much emotional leverage as they can.

Anonymous said...

The PAP is right that there is no guarantee that the Opposition parties can deliver. The PAP is right that by voting them in, we are taking a chance.

But we will be taking a chance anyway. How do you know, when you vote PAP, that their new untested candidates can deliver? How do you know that housing prices will not continue to skyrocket, that the wages of the lower-income will not continue to be suppressed, that sick people will not continue to be bankrupted by healthcare? How do you know, when you vote PAP, that they will fix all these problems, be accountable and start to connect with the people? How, indeed do you know you can trust them not to ignore our voices once we give them the mandate.

There is no “safe” vote. There are no real guarantees. We cannot know for sure how the next 5 years will turn out.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.”

Insanity is voting for the same party over and over again, and expecting things to be different.

Anonymous said...

Actually, it is not too difficult for the PAP to regain the trust of the people -- just admit their mistakes, misdeeds, shortcomings, and then unveil a plan and commitment to make restitution . 回头是岸 !

Instead, LKY arrogantly warned Aljunied voters that they will 'pay a heavy price' if they vote the Opposition! PAP will deny them the upgrading of their HDB flats, and their property values will then suffer.

Has he forgotten that there are also PAP supporters in Aljunied. So he will sacrifice even his own just to prove a point. He doesn't even care for his own supporters' interests.

Frankly, I will rather endure old lifts, and live without the PAP upgradings than submit to the indignity of caving in to such bullying. I am a former PAP supporter

Mr Wang says so said...

Eaststopper:

You presume way too much about my personal life and career.

This much I can tell you. I can see very clearly for myself the effects of the FT policy in my own workplace, in my own department and right in my immediate team.

You are completely right to say that I, as a Singaporean working in a highly specialized area, am drawing a high salary. What you don't know is the hiring history of my team.

I'll just give you the raw facts. Since 2006, it has gone something like this. My team has hired

a Canadian,
an Indian,
two Australians,
one New Yorker,
one Frenchwoman
one Brit (coming this month)

and ...... ONE Singaporean. Me. (I left my current employer in 2007 and rejoined in 2008).

If you take my team as a microcosm of what's happening in Singapore, then yes, one could say that the PAP is very good at creating jobs .... for foreigners.

Mr Wang said...

"Plus we did not have to bail out any banks and most of the lehman notes holder were compensated..."


Eaststopper, please try to name me one, just ONE bank,

from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea or Bangladesh

that needed a bailout from its govt during the financial crisis.

You cannot. There is no such bank. Banks in Asia do not do transactions linked to US subprime mortgages and therefore didn't go down like US banks.

Next, please try again to convince me that the PAP deserves a special prize for successfully averting a non-existent event that EVERY single country in Asia also averted.

As I mentioned elsewhere, that would be about as absurd as praising the PAP for saving Singapore from the earthquake that Japan recently suffered.

Eaststopper said...

Hello Mr Wang,
Well, based on your previous postings, it is quite easy to glean information about your personal life and your career. I am sorry if my assumptions were incorrect.
Re employment of foreigners, I see the same in my work place. Singaporeans form less than 10% of the workforce.
I participate in the hiring process frequently but what I am concerned is not with the growing number of foreigners but the diminishing quality of the Singaporean candidates. The question should really be - why are there not more Singaporeans in your midst?

Again, I am really not sure where your grouse with the government lies in because you seem to be in such an esteemed class of people in Singapore, as evident from all your previous postings - highly educated, well employed, good family with a nice bungalow. All of these which were the result of hardwork on your part as well as a stable political economic system on which your wealth and well-being are protected. So apologies as I really struggle to see where your unhappiness lie in.

Eaststopper said...

Hi Mr Wang,
Re bailout banks in Asia, do read up on Woori bank in Seoul, South Korea.
Have a great GE week.
Eaststopper

Anonymous said...

The consequence of bad governance and arrogance is felt at every level. However, when people talk and write or blog they quite rightly reflect their own situations.

One could very well use the same arguments that Eaststopper uses on the PAP. That they only talk about issues that affect them. That is perfectly natural.

However, whatever issues we talk about throw up a range of other issues that point to a general pattern in this case, an erosion of values as well as of governance.

If ANY PArty has governed well and with compassion would they have a problem with the electorate? Or are we saying that the unwashed, smelly electorate cannot comprehend and understand the problems that face them? That they are disgrunted because they are emotive or are swayed. Come, come if that is the case then why bother with elections?

Consider this: the Prime Minister says blithely that he will "revisit" HDB income ceiling. Hooray! But hang on.

Why wait until an election and for unhappiness to surface before you "revisit" (his words not mine) issues? Surely it is the task of EVERY elected politician to listen to issues on the ground. In any case WHY has the PAP manifesto not addressed this? Surely the government has been listening, been feeling the pulse, been responding? Are they worth their salaries otherwise?

An election comes round once every five years or so. Must we wait for an election before the ruling party sits up and takes notice.

What other issues are there that are swept under the carpet and not addressed because they are not raised?

How many of the poor can raise issues? Do their concerns and problems not matter?

The said...

/// Eaststopper said...
The question should really be - why are there not more Singaporeans in your midst? ///

I am also the minority in my department. The root cause is the government opening the flood-gate to foreigners. Supply and demand - more supply (much more than needed) thereby depressing wages. How can Singaporeans (with 2/2.5 years of NS, and the increments) compete?

/// Again, I am really not sure where your grouse with the government lies in because you seem to be in such an esteemed class of people in Singapore, as evident from all your previous postings - highly educated, well employed, good family with a nice bungalow. All of these which were the result of hardwork on your part as well as a stable political economic system on which your wealth and well-being are protected. So apologies as I really struggle to see where your unhappiness lie in. ///

Here, you betray your inability to see beyond your nose. Do you know what is sympathy? Do you have any empathy for your fellow citizens? Mr Wang and myself are fairly well off. But we can still see the plight of the low-income and middle income people in our midst.

In most countries, the poor can still survive in the countryside by farming and growing vegetables and rearing chicken and pigs. Can the poor survive in Singapore?

So, you are happy because you are well off. You do not feel for the poor when it is government policies that caused the people's hardship.

It is okay to splurge the citizens' money to the tune of hundreds of millions on the YOG, but the same Minister is reluctant to increase the subsidence allowance by $1 a day for 3,000 really really needy people.
You still cannot see the source of most people's unhappiness?

As to the bailing out of Asian banks - you managed to fish out 1 Korean Bank. Does that nullify Mr Wang's point that most Asian banks don't need bailing out?

Wang said...

To The

You are being illogical to Eaststopper,
the blog author requested the name of any bank, as the author stated that there were no Asian banks.

The other bank which was assisted in Japan is Shinsei Bank which was bought over by Five Star Private Equity.

So unfortunately there were Asian banks which were affected.

Agree that most Asian banks were not affected significantly but due to interconnection, a significant number were affected to varying degrees.


Frankly, as a swing voter, it is based on issues and have written before not all are worth their weight in gold but do not expect a swing voter to blindly support any opposition.
I am definitely not the school which supports any Ah Kow, Ahmad, Raju candidate

If WP were up against the Minister in charge for MND,that would be a different kettle of fish.

Regards

NB Eaststopper is of the school of tough love thru most probably rising thru tough times.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wang said...

Woori Bank? Sorry, but I don't think that their bailout had anything to do with the 2008 financial crisis.

Woori was rescued 10 years earlier than that, in 1998. A different story altogether.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wang said...

Shinsei Bank? Same thing, bailout was back in 1998.

Please recall the context. Eaststopper was talking about the financial crisis from 2007 to 2009.

Anonymous said...

Isn't Tai Keng Gardens part of Marine Parade GRC?

HOA Security said...

Really,This one is very nice and great information of value of property.I like this valuable property.

Wang said...

Mr wang

Shinsei Bank was in the news in Japan for suspension during the Lehman crisis, you can look it up yourself, they had to pledge a lot of assets.

Well, will stop at this point in time if not ideologies will come into the picture.


Regards

Anonymous said...

I will always remember MM saying that if MBT cannot convince the people on the HDB policies ten he does not deserve to be elected.

If the most talented and capable people that the PAP can throw at us cannot handle the so-called second rate opposition because we cannot find a second team of leaders for a two party system, then they do not deserve to have majority.

I for one would like some so called Ah Tee, Ah Kau to get voted in and see some of our concerns being raised.

Just today, it was written that the $8k ceiling for DB has not been reviewed for 17 years. Wonder what was the base price for HDB 17 years ago ?

Anonymous said...

do we really need the voices of the opposition in this internet age? now he said 2 voices is not enough, how about 3 more, enough? ultimately is it not the motive of taking over the government? i only see those higher income group benefit more in this deal! stop using the name of lower income group to achieve own self interest!

Anonymous said...

or the love of singaporeans to achieve own benefits!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, LKY comments about Aljunied GRC residents bearing the consequences for voting in the opposition. I felt so THREATENED! Scare, Panic, How? Vote Opposition lor.

Eaststopper said...

Hello Mr Wang,

There were varying degrees of help offered to various commercial lenders around Asia by their respective governments using state funds during the financial crisis of 2008.
In Woori's case, it was partially owned by the KDIC but the government's stake was increased again during the crisis as more state funds were pumped in.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b7bbb6a4-fc4b-11dd-aed8-000077b07658.html#axzz1LOKNUa9D

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/business/worldbusiness/24iht-24won.17217405.html

Unknown said...

My friend's reaction to PM Lee's apology:

PM,this is not your mistake. The mistake lies in us, the voters. We trusted and voted PAP for too long. We are correcting it now,correcting our vote…and voting the
opposition.
Thank you for your apology,we are more sorry than you.

Anonymous said...

Temasek Review reported that:
According to figures from the Home Affairs Ministry, nearly 90,000 foreigners became new citizens between 2006 and last year with the electoral rolls being updated twice in a year to add them to the electorate.

New citizens are likely to vote for the PAP because they already ‘bought’ the PAP and its policies when they took up citizenship.

“When they converted their citizenship, that’s their vote already,” said Associate Professor Straughan, a sociologist from NUS.

Though there are no figures available for the exact number of new citizens voting in the coming polls on 7 May, they are likely to be more than 100,000 which may prove crucial in closely fought contests like those in Aljunied and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. In the British election held last year, more than 80 percent of the immigrants voted for the incumbent Labor Party.The

The PAP regime has been mass-importing foreigners into Singapore since 2006 and converting them into Singapore PRs and citizens in a desperate attempt to shore up their support base.

‘Talents’ from all trades such as cleaners, construction workers, bus drivers, beauticians, masseurs and even prostitutes are granted Singapore PR and citizenship by the PAP in a record short time without a mandatory minimal period of residency as imposed in other countries. (read here)

Many of these new citizens have benefitted from the PAP’s ultra-liberal and pro-foreigner policies such as YPAP leader and new citizen from India Sinha Shekhar who subletted his resale HDB flat for rental income while living in a condominium. (read here.)

The PAP has been roping in the immigrants into grassroots organizations which are ‘breeding grounds’ for PAP activists. A Straits Times report in July last year revealed that new citizens and PRs now constitute 20 percent of the grassroots leaders in Singapore. (read here)

Foreigners now make up 43 percent of Singapore’s population. Of the remaining 57 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas. With PAP de facto leader Lee Kuan Yew promising to import another 900,000 foreign workers into Singapore, it’s only a matter of time before Singaporeans become a minority in their own country.

The coming election may be the last window of opportunity for Singaporeans to reclaim ownership of their own nation after which their voices and votes will be diluted by the relentless influx of foreigners that they will have little influence in subsequent elections with the increasing number of new citizens voting to keep the PAP in power forever

Anonymous said...

Same for me too, so afraid that I really can't sleep well eat well. If Pap dominates th entire country I can see flat prices soaring up to half a million in near future why are we being force to Sit down no and shut up? We nolonger have the right to stand? ? Pap is not the government how can they have total say over everything even when we are the ones workin giving them the money! !!!!! The worst thing is because of the stupid GRC we are giving freeaccess to ppl not capable enough to eventalk eloquently and you want them inside! !! Stop force feeding ministers especially thosewho went in through relations and not even recognised for their ability at all! Mr low has fought super hard for smc but still Pap won't abolish the dumb system. .and to all those stupid singaporeans who still can't awake from the Pap spell. Hope you won't be regretting and cryingwhen your kid can no longer have a future here! ! And stop complaining things are exPensive! You made the stuPid choIce so you suffer! IgnoRant politically apathetic stupid singaporean! !!!!!!