tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post3929962877150489789..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: Letters From Our World-Class GovernmentGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-85988258413119179942009-05-06T20:28:00.000+08:002009-05-06T20:28:00.000+08:00We pay them top dollar, surely we cant expect them...We pay them top dollar, surely we cant expect them to spend so "much" time on "simple" stuff like this right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-43714119384703606952008-12-26T21:26:00.000+08:002008-12-26T21:26:00.000+08:0020-30 year morgates are plenty in the world, but h...20-30 year morgates are plenty in the world, but how many of them have the level of debt GDP as compared to Singapore?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-88864692086508725752008-12-25T16:24:00.000+08:002008-12-25T16:24:00.000+08:00Actually 20-year or 30-year mortgages are common i...Actually 20-year or 30-year mortgages are common in many, many countries around the world.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-56473554025461946902008-12-25T13:46:00.000+08:002008-12-25T13:46:00.000+08:00It might be exactly why our HDB "subsidised" housi...It might be exactly why our HDB "subsidised" housing is so expensive, we need 30 years of our working lives to repay. Even for a graduate.<BR/><BR/>And they tell us that "standard" of living has been improving. Why then, is the loan period not correspondingly shorten due to better qualified citizens getting better wages?<BR/><BR/>The failings of the past 10 years of governing or direction is getting obvious for all now. I hope they ponder on it and start to really work on improving our lives instead of repeating same old lines, then grumbling the better educated, more dissening young are not voting for them. Time to sack a lot of old timers who screwed up and did creative statistics intepretation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-71758749848515528982008-12-24T21:38:00.000+08:002008-12-24T21:38:00.000+08:00How else do you expect the Ministry to reply? That...How else do you expect the Ministry to reply? That chap has asked/given an irrelevant question/suggestion to an irrelevant party. <BR/><BR/>It is his own obligation to determine how much he can afford/risk etc. The Ministry has no obligation to tell him how he should plan his finances, family etc.<BR/><BR/>I cannot imagine a grown adult actually expecting the government to make this kind of decisions for him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-28524063590329666132008-12-24T13:25:00.000+08:002008-12-24T13:25:00.000+08:00shocking to see how irrelevant the ministry's repl...shocking to see how irrelevant the ministry's reply was. If this was an exam, it would have scored an F for being so out of the point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-30397608596771808822008-12-24T12:18:00.000+08:002008-12-24T12:18:00.000+08:00I agreed with Syl. Singaporeans just want to be na...I agreed with Syl. Singaporeans just want to be nanny but then complain on the most frivolous of things and bragged too much control. Isn’t it better to make your own decision (even if it may end up being a wrong decision) than being controlled and coerced?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-91520472174221373552008-12-23T16:19:00.000+08:002008-12-23T16:19:00.000+08:00I am not sure whether I am right. But isn't HDB st...I am not sure whether I am right. But isn't HDB started out to provision affordable and "subsidized" housing to Singaporean. But recently, subsidized housing cost half-a-million. Personally, it is not quite affordable for me. I am just newly-wed and a new father. I am still staying with my parents because there is a complete shortage of housing. For example in the recent balloting exercise, there are 149 flats available for sale. and I was told the total queue number swells up to 1500. My queue number is 800++ I am not sure if HDB is aware and is doing anything about the situation.<BR/><BR/>When I approach my MP about my housing problem. I was told he has no authority over HDB. HDB advised me to go to open market for available housing. So yes, as a first timer, I do get my priorities, but priorities does not guarantee a flat.<BR/><BR/>--K--Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-24512724619618221612008-12-23T10:11:00.000+08:002008-12-23T10:11:00.000+08:00Actually, my main concern about Ee's letter is the...Actually, my main concern about Ee's letter is the ever-present need for a "nanny state"...<BR/><BR/>Everything also must or have to be "official"...cannot use cow sense (common is never common it seems) to decide or reason for oneself...sigh<BR/><BR/>As long as we have these sort of mentality, we can never grow...<BR/><BR/>And as long as people (sheep) expect such nannying, guess who will remain in power?Xtrocioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846520633929127414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-80363368055607599932008-12-23T00:56:00.000+08:002008-12-23T00:56:00.000+08:00That response reflects the worldview of the Singap...That response reflects the worldview of the Singaporean government - that the state of the state is already perfect, and to suggest an improvement not already thought of by the bureaucrats is to malign their perfect foresight. That does not mean that the bureaucrats / state does not introduce 'improvements' from time to time, but when they do that they hope that people would not identify it as a measure to correct a pre-existing fault...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-11009979325981049932008-12-22T23:28:00.000+08:002008-12-22T23:28:00.000+08:00If I go to supermarket to buy chicken, I want info...If I go to supermarket to buy chicken, I want info on when the chicken is packed, place of import, etc.<BR/><BR/>I have to decide for myself whether or not the chicken is to my taste.<BR/><BR/>If I start asking government to tell me which dietitians can show me whether I should eat chicken or fish, then I am asking government to tax me more for that additional service.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, I will ask them to do more if I think that they are already collecting too much "profit" out of me, I better get my money's worth and demand more service.ArtBoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11861908245832796219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-75461504761526511212008-12-22T23:20:00.000+08:002008-12-22T23:20:00.000+08:00there're independant financial advisers that can d...there're independant financial advisers that can do just that. insurance, investments, housing loans, will-writing. Now you just need to meet a tactful one that knows how to tell u nicely:<BR/><BR/>"mr so-and-so, i understand your dream of owning a home with ur lovely wife. Given ur income, monthly committments, expenditure blah blah blah, it would be in your best interests to stay with ur parents for the time being"<BR/><BR/>LOL. Anyone, some of these advisers have blogs. Do check them out.darthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03489422578575667993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-1060633198811364312008-12-22T22:49:00.000+08:002008-12-22T22:49:00.000+08:00Regarding inanity1-All ministries have KPIs.2-KPIs...Regarding inanity<BR/>1-All ministries have KPIs.<BR/>2-KPIs must be met.<BR/>3-A probably KPI is that all enquiries must be answered (hence the Answer).<BR/>4-A complete answer may pacify 95% and inadvertently ruffle 5%.<BR/>5-A partial answer may pacify 50% and inadvertently ruffle 50%.<BR/>6-An inane answer will ruffle no feathers and pacify no one.<BR/><BR/>So what will you settle for?<BR/>1-A complete answer that may result in being tarred and feathered?<BR/>2-A partial answer that may result in being tarred and feathered?<BR/>3-An inane answer will say nothing, do nothing, and yet satisfy a requirement to have said something.<BR/><BR/><I>There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.<BR/>Donald Rumsfeld</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-17215702753323141922008-12-22T22:41:00.000+08:002008-12-22T22:41:00.000+08:00To be fair, Lim Yuin Chien's response is typical o...To be fair, Lim Yuin Chien's response is typical of what you might expect from any jobsworth bureaucrat anywhere in the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-16125100044004920972008-12-22T21:58:00.000+08:002008-12-22T21:58:00.000+08:00Hi Mr WangAt the risk of pcking bones ...The Mr Be...Hi Mr Wang<BR/><BR/>At the risk of pcking bones ...<BR/>The Mr Bean dude is a multimillionaire and has an IQ way above that of Lim Yuin Chien.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-82122482940316471092008-12-22T21:42:00.000+08:002008-12-22T21:42:00.000+08:00Syl, if indeed the Ministry shared your view, then...Syl, if indeed the Ministry shared your view, then it should have just said so. Instead of giving an irrelevant, nonsensical reply that assumes Singaporeans to be stupid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-51376941637494328862008-12-22T21:29:00.000+08:002008-12-22T21:29:00.000+08:00Root of the problem : HDB too expensive.LutherRoot of the problem : HDB too expensive.<BR/><BR/>LutherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-47983328873391034322008-12-22T21:16:00.000+08:002008-12-22T21:16:00.000+08:00We always criticise the Singapore for being an aut...We always criticise the Singapore for being an authoritarian nanny state, yet when problems arise, the first thing we do is go crying for nanny. No wonder the PAP continues to be condescending and authoritarian. We asked for it. <BR/><BR/>"Whether I can afford it" is the most basic question that anyone with half a brain would ask himself when buying something as expensive as a house. Factors like planned family size, expected future income, retirement age, etc will naturally be taken into account. Why should public funds be spent on mollycoddling everyone who wants to buy a house just because some people are too dumb to do basic financial planning?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-37529389079279652592008-12-22T18:47:00.000+08:002008-12-22T18:47:00.000+08:00George says:Mr Wang,Have you considered that it is...George says:<BR/>Mr Wang,<BR/><BR/>Have you considered that it is not in the interest of the HDB to'nanny' potential buyers of its flats since it would mean a long drawn out process and there is the very real possibility of the potential buyers ending up being pronounced as 'disqualified' by virtue of projected inadequacy in funding. Lot's of HDB flats would then be left vacant abegging for buyers. When this happens the govt would also then be left without a 'handle' to manipulate Singaporeans, since they would not be saddled with a mortgage to pay for the rest of their working lives!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-55927615539164493312008-12-22T18:02:00.000+08:002008-12-22T18:02:00.000+08:00"As you point out yourself, these are issues which..."As you point out yourself, these are issues which given the complexities, can only be sorted out by individual borrowers themselves."<BR/><BR/>I didn't say that. In my previous post, what I said was that individual borrowers SHOULD do such things for themselves now, as things currently are, especially *because* there is there is no official process anywhere in place to help them with such things.<BR/><BR/>What Ee is suggesting is that there SHOULD be some official process put in place.<BR/><BR/>I <I>can</I> indeed envisage a wide variety of possible ways by which some kind of official process could be put in place. Some would be more detailed; some would be less detailed. <BR/><BR/>An example of a fairly simple process might be as follows:<BR/><BR/>(a) before granting a housing loan, the bank / HDB is required to alert the customer that he may wish to consult a financial adviser about his mortgage and its implications on his overall financial condition. The bank / HDB could then provide the customer with a list of independent financial advisory firms in Singapore which could provide sch services. It's left to the customer to decide whether he wants to consult such a firm or not.<BR/><BR/>Another example of a fairly simple process could be as follows:<BR/><BR/>(b) the bank / HDB is required to provide basic information to the would-be borrower, about the various factors that he should think about, before he takes a housing loan. Such information could come in the form of a standard, basic, pre-printed booklet. This booklet could even just be an expanded version of this <A HREF="http://www.moneysense.gov.sg/resource/publications/guides_publications/Loans%20and%20You%20-%20Article%204_29Nov.pdf" REL="nofollow">publication</A> by Case & ABS.<BR/><BR/>A more complicated process would be one where the bank itself is required to walk the customer through a questionaire about his financial lifestyle / goals etc, before granting the customer a loan. This questionaire would not be all that different from the ones that banks currently use, before selling their customers an investment product.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-50497646020183664432008-12-22T14:11:00.000+08:002008-12-22T14:11:00.000+08:00Dear Mr. Wang, As you point out yourself, these ar...Dear Mr. Wang, <BR/><BR/>As you point out yourself, these are issues which given the complexities, can only be sorted out by individual borrowers themselves. <BR/><BR/>I wouldn't fault the Ministry's response to what I think to some extent is an inane request: I don't expect the Ministry, let alone the bank, to act as my financial nanny.<BR/><BR/>Besides, so long as the bank acts above board, they cannot be faulted for pursuing their self-interest. After all, they aren't charities.<BR/><BR/>Wouldn't we, as persons in our own right, act in the same way say, when we negotiate with our employers? <BR/><BR/>Regards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-60887857582889578112008-12-22T13:25:00.000+08:002008-12-22T13:25:00.000+08:00I think I am also capable of giving such replies ...I think I am also capable of giving such replies and willing to do it for half or quarter of their pay. <BR/><BR/>After all, I think I gave more intelligent and well thought comments and replies for free to Mr Wang's and others blogs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-49869920002310538232008-12-22T11:39:00.000+08:002008-12-22T11:39:00.000+08:00it is the typical pontius pilate response...the ba...it is the typical pontius pilate response...the banks should or ought to be doing this so we should not intervene....missing completely the point that the banks are doing it only from the bank's POV (sigh.. ) Maybe we should increase the salaries for the public servants ( ministers included ) as we are obviously not able to recruit the ones with real brains only those who are good at passing exams!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-70209847798099051802008-12-22T10:45:00.000+08:002008-12-22T10:45:00.000+08:00This is the standard of the current govt what. Mea...This is the standard of the current govt what. Meaningless replies from ministers at the top to lackeys and civil servants at the bottom. Don't expect any change soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-32253358535536278252008-12-22T10:39:00.000+08:002008-12-22T10:39:00.000+08:00Don't forget that's why we pay our civil servants ...Don't forget that's why we pay our civil servants and politicians extravagant amounts so that they can go all broody when issues like these are raised and come up with answers that will tax the brain of Alice in Wonderland. It is therefore unfair and utterly wrong for us to criticize the administrators and politicians for doing nothing. "Nothing will come of nothing" and nothing is an art form that needs creativity, experience and a certain amount of low cunning. Ask Madoff, he knows all about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com