“895 HDB flats repossessed since 2003″
March 29, 2007
By I refer to the article “895 HDB flats repossessed since 2003” (TODAY, Feb 28).
It states that “seven per cent of those who took HDB mortgage loans were in arrears of at least 3 months”.
As at the end of last year, banks have completed the mortgagee sale of 895 HDB flats financed with bank loans since the start of bank origination in January 2003. In recent months, the rate is about 60 cases a month.
Seven per cent of the 89,000 HDB flats with bank loans means that about 6,230 HDB flat owners have not been able to pay for more than 3 months. Some of these may become foreclosures.
Fake Degrees To Land Better Jobs On The Rise In Singapore
March 28, 2007
From KeralaNext.com
The use of fake degrees to land better jobs and pay is on the rise in Singapore with many of the offenders coming from India and China, the Manpower Ministry said in a published report Wednesday.
Data showed 374 people were found last year with fraudulently obtained employment passes, a marked jump from 97 cases in 2005, The Straits Times said.
Employment passes are designed for highly skilled people, while “S-Passes” are for semi-skilled workers.
PAP and the people: A return of disaffection? - Revisited
March 28, 2007
Extract of Catherine Lim’s article titled “PAP and the people: A return of disaffection?” Ms Lim touched on the issue of ministerial salaries in this article.
This was published in the Straits Times, Aug 26, 2000
FIVE years ago, I wrote an article called “The Great Affective Divide”, published in The Straits Times, in which I described what I felt was a serious problem in Singapore, namely, an emotional estrangement between the Government and the people.
I had identified the chief cause of the estrangement as a general resentment by the people of what they perceived as an arrogant, high-handed and authoritarian government style that cared little for their feelings, so that, despite the good life created for them by the Government’s efficiency and hard work, they felt justified to express this resentment freely through whatever channels were available, such as coffeeshop and cocktail-party talk, and the casting of votes in the elections.
Why’re we like that?
March 27, 2007
By Zyberzitizen
It is quite depressing to hear what has been said lately – by government officials and some others – about how so many are leaving the civil service, how we must essentially seduce them with money, and how much exactly (down to the last dollar) we should be paying them to stay in service of their country.
As I said in my blog, one glaring aspect missing in this whole discourse is the question of what kind of leaders we have and we want to have, actually.
My mom, who is in her 70s, is not highly-educated. She only has primary school education. But she speaks more sense than most people I know. So, she asked me the other day, after watching the news:
“Why’re we throwing money at every problem we face? We have traffic jams, we increase ERP. We don’t have enough teachers, we throw money to increase their salaries. Not enough nurses, we throw money. Helping the poor, we increase GST. Old age population? Increase GST. People going to JB to fill up petrol, we fine them. Don’t flush toilet, fine them. Now, want people to serve their country must have millions of dollars salaries. Why are we like that?”
It’s a simple question – “Why’re we like that?” – but it got me thinking about fundamentals.
Ministers salaries - lets have a re-focus
March 25, 2007
A minister in the Singapore government presently receives $1.2 million in salary. This is according to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as reported by the Straits Times on March 23, 2007 - “Top govt salaries far behind private sector’s”:
“A minister should be drawing $2.2 million a year or more, according to benchmarks approved by Parliament in 1994 to ensure competitive salaries for a competent and honest government.”
Although increasing ministers salaries may give rise to what the Straits Times calls “knee jerk reactionary views” from the public, and “visceral reaction in many quarters” (ST, march 24 2007, Insight), one should seek to understand why this is so.
And I would offer that there are good reasons for these sentiments.
The Case for Higher Salaries for Government Ministers
March 23, 2007
EXTRACT OF SPEECH BY MR LEE KUAN YEW, THEN SENIOR MINISTER, TO THE NATIONAL TRADE UNION CONGRESS AT THE SINGAPORE CONFERENCE HALL ON 19 JULY 1996.
Ministers who deal with billions of dollars cannot be paid low salaries without risking a system malfunction. Low salaries will not attract able men who are or can be successful in their professions or business. Low salaries will draw in the hypocrites who sweet talk their way into power in the name of public services, but once in charge will show their true colour, and ruin the country. This has happened in many countries.
We need dedicated and committed Ministers, but we cannot require them in today’s social climate to sacrifice like a Mother Theresa. Sacrifice for country must be within a realistic setting of present. It is like our National Day Parade. In the 1960’s we gave the marchers soft drinks and cakes. Now they are fitted out in the best T-shirts, jeans, and jogging shoes. Ministers’ wives and children are normal human beings, who have normal aspirations like the wives and children of their husband’s peers. We have to recognize the different social climate after many years of prosperity.
Of untrue material, politicians lying and blogs which tell the truth
March 23, 2007
After reading channelnewsasia’s report about what Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said about new media, I will have to agree with Aaron that what the minister said is rather confusing.
It is good that the minister reiterated what Dr Lee Boon Yang had said before – that the government will adopt a “light touch” on what goes on, on the internet. It is also good that Dr Balakrishnan says the government will take “into account the evolution of society.”
However, what remains unknown and un-defined are one, what does the government mean by ‘light touch’? And two, what really does ‘evolution of society’ mean?
Perhaps the government is purposefully leaving these as vague as possible – for whatever reasons.
1.8% cap on any bus, train fare hike this year
March 23, 2007
Straits Times
1.8% cap on any bus, train fare hike this year
Public Transport Council gives operators till August to apply
March 23, 2007
ANY decision this year on raising bus and train fares will be known only in August at the earliest, instead of the usual May announcement in previous years.
And if the Public Transport Council (PTC) approves an increase, fares will go up by 1.8 per cent at the most, a spokesman for the council told The Straits Times.
Government sets rules of engagement in face of new media
March 22, 2007
From Channelnewsasia
SINGAPORE: The government will continue to set political agendas and rules of engagement in the face of the new media, and will not be dictated by online petitions or polls.
And while it will try to balance the diverse interests of the society when it comes to issues of sex, nudity and violence online, it said it would not hesitate to prosecute those who post seditious or racially offensive content in cyberspace.
Singapore has a diverse community with different races, languages and religions living in harmony.
But it is also here where the fault lines lie.
5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth
March 22, 2007
From 23rd to 27th April 2007, Singapore will be the epicenter for youth discussion in the region. ASEAN Ministers and representatives from various youth organisations will come together in the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY V), establishing ties and addressing the interests of youths. This is the first time that Singapore is hosting the AMMY.
It’s time to have your say in ASEAN issues that matter to you.
