tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post1646961181479035058..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: Perhaps the Minister is a Little ConfusedGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-65685752070320969122008-01-03T16:18:00.000+08:002008-01-03T16:18:00.000+08:00Link - this reader is disturbed by Mr Lim Hng Kian...Link - this reader is <A HREF="http://stupid-genius.blogspot.com/2007/11/disturbed.html" REL="nofollow">disturbed</A> by Mr Lim Hng Kiang's comments.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-85059974192730608602007-12-14T20:01:00.000+08:002007-12-14T20:01:00.000+08:00G S T - Government Salary TaxG S T - Government Salary TaxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-16179116730182012652007-11-27T02:18:00.000+08:002007-11-27T02:18:00.000+08:00mr wang you are amazing!!! i get so impressed by y...mr wang you are amazing!!! i get so impressed by your sharp intellect! you wow me beyond words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-67811713426456443702007-11-24T02:29:00.000+08:002007-11-24T02:29:00.000+08:00Before I read this posting, I was watching the You...Before I read this posting, I was watching the Youtube video of Ms Chee Siok Chin being forced into a van. I was very sad as a Singaporean and then I saw your post. I now understand why LKY said there is not much talent in Singapore. I saw the Senior Police Officer and I conclude he is not a talent. I saw your posting about Minister Lim and I conclude he is not a talent. <BR/>But I think LKY is not looking in the right place for talents. From your posting, you are obviously a talent. <BR/>Therefore I am very sad for Singapore because talent is not being used wisely.<BR/>SAD...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-72541426528038148792007-11-20T09:58:00.000+08:002007-11-20T09:58:00.000+08:00NTUC is what it is today because of the members re...NTUC is what it is today because of the members rebate which was about 8% in the initial years and has now dwindled to 4%. They could not compete in Malaysia and China because of the level playing field in those countries and also because NTUC do not have the benefit of the membership base. <BR/><BR/>As a member, I do not necessarily buy things from NTUC firstly because the rebates now are miserly. I go where it is cheaper, like Sheng Shiong or Ang Mo and sometimes, Shop n save. <BR/><BR/>Believe me, certain things work well in Singapore only because the playing field is not level, like politics, and not because we are extraordinarily good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-74816663368614910792007-11-18T23:02:00.000+08:002007-11-18T23:02:00.000+08:00I want to ask hor Mr Wang.NTUC inside got many is ...I want to ask hor Mr Wang.<BR/><BR/>NTUC inside got many is last time PSC scholar one right? Majiam one big alumni like that. So must be solid one lah.<BR/><BR/>Why hor, GIANT from Malaysia without scholars can open many stores in Singapore. But NTUC with so many scholars close down in Malaysia (Johor), Vietnam, and struggling in China? Supermarket work must be too low level for their talent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-38436322911163171192007-11-18T22:59:00.000+08:002007-11-18T22:59:00.000+08:00Yes. Lower our standard of living. Lower our costs...Yes. Lower our standard of living. Lower our costs of living.<BR/><BR/>Let's get cheaper Ministers.<BR/><BR/>It'll give our nation's funds a HUGE surplus, to spend on US.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-64281547119068486852007-11-17T21:19:00.000+08:002007-11-17T21:19:00.000+08:00He talks better than the birds, only that the bird...He talks better than the birds, only that the birds songs are more pleasing to the ears and soothing to the hearts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-74630446453252124122007-11-17T21:13:00.000+08:002007-11-17T21:13:00.000+08:00Hey, what you people are saying here is your landl...Hey, what you people are saying here is your landlord fleecing you like nobody's business. In the words of a believer; the landlord ought to die a terrible death ! Got to wait and see hah, when the day's coming ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-48160179251610729772007-11-17T12:56:00.000+08:002007-11-17T12:56:00.000+08:00The Government owns 90% of all the land in Singapo...The Government owns 90% of all the land in Singapore and this is their best gold mine. Be it for housing, office, shops or factories it is all under their control. And when you buy a car or used their roads, you will be paying more and more for ERP as the years go by. <BR/><BR/>You think after paying up your HDB flat that is the end of your commitment? No, you will be paying more and more in conservancy charges when the walkways and pavilions needed repairs, and you will have to fork out more and more because they say you asked for it. There is no running away from this reality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-5415059001172803382007-11-17T08:34:00.000+08:002007-11-17T08:34:00.000+08:00Of course in Singapore the CPI or rate of inflatio...Of course in Singapore the CPI or rate of inflation DOES NOT measure the cost of living. It measures the cost of idiotic Ministers. <BR/><BR/>Sigh! This is, once again, "Uniquely Singapore"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-46198013787488428012007-11-17T02:14:00.000+08:002007-11-17T02:14:00.000+08:00Anonymous at November 16, 2007 12:23PM has said it...Anonymous at November 16, 2007 12:23PM has said it right.<BR/><BR/>Rent is one of the key, if not the key factors for rising cost of living in Singapore.<BR/><BR/>Ask yourself: Who owns the land, be it industrial, commercial, residential, shopping mall land? Is it not the government, either directly or indirectly through closely related subsidiaries in the form of real estate companies?<BR/><BR/>Who has always pushed for 'upgrading schemes' for say, shops or food sellers, then immediately afterwards hiked the rents, causing the original tenants to either 1) Leave or 2) Raise prices/lower quality?<BR/><BR/>Where do the rent money go to? Who benefits? Who has the motive for the action? It is too blantantly obvious - if you can't see it, it's because you CHOSE NOT TO SEE IT. DENIAL MODE.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-82710499743147960732007-11-17T02:04:00.000+08:002007-11-17T02:04:00.000+08:00Some things not to do, that'll definitely lower yo...Some things not to do, that'll definitely lower your cost of living. And possibly the standard of living too.<BR/><BR/>The objective is twofold: <BR/><BR/>1) To save money in Singapore, and have your quality life OUTSIDE Singapore, preferably with that pink IC in the garbage bin where it belongs.<BR/><BR/>2) To not get ripped off by the SG Government, notorious for its avarice and manipulative deceit.<BR/><BR/><BR/>The things not to do are:<BR/><BR/>1) Buy a car in Singapore. It is a rip-off, with COE, ERP at every corner, Traffic Police and carpark wardens with tight quotas to meet, miscellaneous maintenance and upkeep costs and taxes to pay. Everytime a car sale is made, you literally 'feed' the PAP government. Please do not feed the overpaid monkeys. Don't get me started on the forced scrapping before your car reaches its 10th birthday.<BR/><BR/>2) Buying a 'highly subsidized' and 'affordable' HDB 'dream home'. Condolences to those newlyweds who most probably had the urge/pressure to buy a pigeon hole, then pay off the loan over a 30-year period. Then along the way, you'll be coaxed into paying for upgrades to PUBLIC housing. Good luck getting ensnared to this sh!thole.<BR/><BR/>3) Buying 4D/Toto religiously, week after week at the SG Pools outlets. Cluebat time: most likely you won't hit the jackpot, statistically speaking. Your money will once again be used to 'feed' the government. They claim it benefits some charities... most likely a big lie to make punters feel good about losing good money.<BR/><BR/>4) Fall ill. This is probably largely beyond our control. But still, do what you can to stay healthy and fit. Medical costs will kill you, even from non-private hospitals. Means testing will kill you. MediShield/Save/whatevercrap will not offer much protection. Again, do not 'feed' the government.<BR/><BR/>5) Avoid NTUC Fairprice for grocery/ household shopping. Don't even take up their membership - NTUC chalet booking discount is a retarded excuse for that. Sheng Siong, Shop and Save, Giant, Carrefour, even Cold Storage for you richer ones. Ignore the NTUC hypermart at AMK Hub - everytime you shop there, you're helping them recoup supermarket venture losses made in China. Avoid NTUC-managed 'Cheers' convenience stores at gas stations.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Follow my tips and you'll avoid feeding the pappies your hard earned money, and survive better each day living on this island. Take heed, and take care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-11752052265677061412007-11-16T12:23:00.000+08:002007-11-16T12:23:00.000+08:00What had perhaps contributed partly to the rising ...What had perhaps contributed partly to the rising cost of living might not all be due to global factors like oil or flour, but also for example GST, higher and higher bids for land and therefore more and more expensive shop and office rentals. As a result food vendors who rented space will have to increase prices. <BR/><BR/>I think the rental factor is the most serious single factor affecting cost of goods and services. But the Government has for the last two years been coaxing up the property market and laughing all the way to the bank with all the land sales. Singaporeans are waking up to what they meant by more good years and for whom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-5821168292300805522007-11-16T10:34:00.000+08:002007-11-16T10:34:00.000+08:00Pity the one income family with monthly income of ...Pity the one income family with monthly income of $600+, which is expected to feed 4 mouths or more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-21408786318110594512007-11-16T02:27:00.000+08:002007-11-16T02:27:00.000+08:00Inflation is a result of too much money being put ...Inflation is a result of too much money being put into circulation because it benefits some entity but not the overall economy. It is not a result of growth.<BR/><BR/>You should look at the basis of money and there is your answer. When money was based on something with intrinsic value like gold economies grew without undue increases of the money supply. After all to increase the money supply meant increasing the gold reserves. So in such a situation you had a natural check on inflation.<BR/><BR/>Now, the fiat system that we have all over the world has consequences one of which is long term un-sustainability and little things like inflation.<BR/><BR/>Right now we have this but it wasn't always like that. In fact it is only last century that the world reserve currency was floated. There is many more years of the gold standard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-35034631492309676372007-11-16T00:39:00.000+08:002007-11-16T00:39:00.000+08:00Is NTUC cheaper?I buy my fresh perishables from th...Is NTUC cheaper?<BR/><BR/>I buy my fresh perishables from the wet-market. <BR/><BR/>I buy canned food from retailers like Ang Mo/Sheng Shiong<BR/><BR/>I buy shampoos/conditioners/hair gel from small retailer like Red Tomatoes (you save ALOT)<BR/><BR/>I buy Electronics Products (yes, they sell them now) from Goh Ah Bee /Parisilk<BR/><BR/>I didn't switch to a cheaper product to enjoy a lower cost of living. <BR/><BR/>I switch vendors to improve my standard of living.<BR/><BR/>NTUC? I go there to compare prices to buy else-where.moomoomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02911270867099927784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-20786784881596978512007-11-16T00:32:00.000+08:002007-11-16T00:32:00.000+08:00Everyone should just refer to Ling's comments abov...Everyone should just refer to Ling's comments above.<BR/><BR/>She has demonstrated what our minister is saying all along, switch to a cheaper product to lower cost of living.<BR/><BR/>In this instance, Ling did not even switch to a "cheaper" product, she switched to a "free" product.<BR/><BR/>And she not only has a lower cost of living but she actually improve her standard of living by not paying to read crap.<BR/><BR/>Clap clap clap.moomoomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02911270867099927784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-19586656411398460722007-11-16T00:20:00.000+08:002007-11-16T00:20:00.000+08:00Sheng Siong, tell the staff that talking down to y...Sheng Siong, tell the staff that talking down to you is against your rules. Btw, there is no shop in Singapore that sells their goods at the lowest prices except in advertisements and gimmicks!<BR/><BR/>Make your money here(Sin) and spend it in Malaysia, Bintan, Batam, Thailand and China. It will give you five times or more values.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-1879423836921879452007-11-16T00:13:00.000+08:002007-11-16T00:13:00.000+08:00It interesting to know that our ministers kept re-...It interesting to know that our ministers kept re-emphasizing that our cost and standard of living is low according to world standards n other things r in accordance wif world standard....yet when it come to justify policy (most evident is the ministers salary hike), they dun seem to go accordingly to world standard :P <BR/><BR/>seems like world standard is a useful, practical words to justify an action or decision (however, solely and can b use by the ruiling party)- Low Thia kiang kana 'fired' by a minister when he compared ministers' salary to their scandinavia counterparts <BR/><BR/>(which have a much higher cost of living than SG, yet lower civil servant salary) <BR/><BR/>not gg to NTUC fairprice anymore, still got Sheng siong supermarket near my place. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-28192597795298983852007-11-15T20:58:00.000+08:002007-11-15T20:58:00.000+08:00No comment.Anyone knows where to find cheaper good...No comment.<BR/>Anyone knows where to find cheaper goods...? <BR/>Actually, maybe solution lah~<BR/>Eg:<BR/>1. Buy cup, without handles. <BR/>2. Buy car, no buy 4 wheels, 3 can oredi.<BR/>3. Buy shirt, no have sleeves one.<BR/>Joke joke lah...<BR/>No serious hor.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!<BR/>Scope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-81752992460151014142007-11-15T14:33:00.000+08:002007-11-15T14:33:00.000+08:00zj83, NTUC Fairprice is definitely NOT lowest pric...zj83, NTUC Fairprice is definitely <B>NOT</B> lowest price guaranteed. I have been doing some checking and NTUC is MORE expensive than other supermarkets in many items although pricing for staple goods are competitive. These days as a consumer we have to do our own 'research' and not just believe in general perception. In fact I will avoid NTUC purely on pricing.<BR/><BR/>There is one time I was writing down the prices of items at a NTUC outlet and a staff came up and asked what I was doing. She then told me what I was doing is against their rules. LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-1998681575065475762007-11-15T12:58:00.000+08:002007-11-15T12:58:00.000+08:00Maybe we should take a step back and consider what...Maybe we should take a step back and consider what the minister could have said.<BR/><BR/>In my opinon, the minister had the unenviable job of trying to explain away an inevitable phenomenon in a manner which will appease the citizens.<BR/><BR/>Inflation is a result of economic growth. Economic theories suggests that when national income increases, unemployment rate falls and the general price level of goods will rise. <BR/>Inflationary pressures can only be suppressed by slowing down the growth of the economy, either by reducing interest rates, or by a contractionary fiscal policy.<BR/><BR/>Basically when the economy growths, inflation is inevitable.<BR/><BR/>The upside to economic growth is that the income levels of the people will generally increase, thus enabling most to cope with the rising cost of living.<BR/><BR/>Explaining the economics of it all might achieve the effect of appeasing those who have genuinely felt the increase in income.<BR/><BR/>But to those have been left behind by the economic growth, what was the Minister to say? Suck it up and get on with life?<BR/><BR/>The game of politics is one of keeping the electorate happy. In this regard, the Minister could have done no better than to engage in "poltical doublespeak".<BR/><BR/>While I am too against the many policies of the govt, focusing on Mr Wang's last statement on ministerial salaries appear to me to be missing the main point of his article.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-24512894572764461282007-11-15T12:44:00.000+08:002007-11-15T12:44:00.000+08:00@EastStopperI for one find it a bit hard to take t...@EastStopper<BR/>I for one find it a bit hard to take that the current level of inflation is indeed a surprise. It is has been plain for all to see the kinds of injection made by the central bankers all over for the last few years. Then you add the astronomical salary increase as if to counter the future dropping standard of living.<BR/>Look I know that you know it ain't so and I know you are not making excuses for others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-58750531617995913192007-11-15T11:48:00.000+08:002007-11-15T11:48:00.000+08:00Lowest price guarantee by NTUC - you must be jokin...Lowest price guarantee by NTUC - you must be joking!<BR/><BR/>You'll be shocked to know that certain items are priced with at least 50%~100% mark-up as compared with others. <BR/><BR/>Just make your own comparison.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com