To all Singaporeans:

Your worries and concerns about the relentless rising cost of living in Singaporea are all unfounded and baseless as all these are “Good for Singaporeans” because they are still affordable in the eyes of our super-talent ministers who continue to draw pension and obscene sky-high salary when their services are needed beyond 55 years old.

For the poor and lazy peasants who cannot keep up with the “Good for Singaporeans” scheme: Get out from my elite uncaring face.

Hi everybody, is it possible for costs of living in Singapore to come down?

My humble, maybe even stupid opinion is that costs will have to go further up. Some reasons are beyond our control, even those who claimed to be genius will not be able to help except to help their own pockets! Nature not only has made our land tiny, it has also given the least of resources except a strategic position, the usefulness of which gets eroded as time goes.

It is clear how other nations, especially our neighbours have developed and got better with Nature endowed big landmass and rich natural resources. What this means is that Nature has decided and its’ decision has not gone unnoticed by the Rulers of the day.

They(leaders) know this tiny dot is destined and what super talents they have will not change the fate of this land and its’ poor inhabitants. However, they can take ‘good care’ of themselves first; having ‘got the mandate’ from the citizens to their political powers, they decreed that they are worth multi-millon Sin Dollars in remunerations per year to commensurate with their ’self proclaimed talents(abilities?)’.

The non-talented mass on the other hand ‘can survive with about $300 a month for three meals’ a day at hawker centre, foodcourt, restaurant or wherever. And the poor will have to pool their miserable CPF monies into a so-called annuities to help each other, otherwise pray for helps, don’t ask for helps; YOU DIE YOUR BUSINESS! Ultimately, destiny will set upon us, and it should be quite soon.

For those who ‘have made the neccessary arrangements’, the hedonistic lifestyles will be actualised once they get out of this resourceless(and therefore fun-less and boring) land. Let us face it, if living is going to be good here for most of us, I suppose very few of us will ever ‘grumble’ and blame others and fate.

Will there be needs to amass fortunes by way of remunerations, gamblings(drug trafficking, robbery, vice operation, smuggling etc) and businesses? The answer is a definite yes but in much less desperate manners because there is a minimun comfort level. But, when one knows a potential fate is about to descent, hell breaks loose and each to his own.

Can we blame selfish, thoughtless even sinful behaviours in us, the leadership the masses? Yes if we go by the idealistic, moral interpretation and no if we are awared that for over forty years, the Leadership has only emphasized economic developments exclusively with little and no concerns for moral, ethic and wholesome societal values. Hey, I maybe damn wrong and do excuse and guide me along should I have been misguided.

some cost increases cant be avoided, which is understandable and accepted.

What i cant accept is when many of the above cost increases are IMMEDIATELY passed on to the consumer. There is no indication where these orgs/companies made any attempt to reduce other areas of overheads/costs, nor increase revenues in other areas. what saddens me is that THERE IS NO ATTEMPT to even inform us whether they’re trying to do it in other areas.

They take it for granted. Why? Because no one holds them accountable. no one challenges them. neither from the press, MPs, NGOs, consumer associations, trade unions, shareholders and stakeholders etc.

Management makes the easiest decisions of all – pass on the cost pressure to the consumer. sad, really.

oh and another thing…

IKEA charges for the use of plastic bags. with the extra money they earn from this, what are they doing with the funds?

Contribute to an org that helps cut down carbon emissions or other important environmental causes – or is it going straight to their pockets?

Seriously, how would the CASE president be able to prove / tell price adjustments that are due to fluctuating demand and supply and those that are profiteering? Is he going to demand that companies show him their books?

Everywhere, prices are increasing beyond the raise in 2% GST. Most retailers have increased their prices. Has demand increased and supply decreased so much since 1st July?

When Auntie Ho Ching go shopping or she made a lost, you can be assured that cost of living in Singapore will shoot up to take care of her spending spree.

———————————————————–
Temasek Approaches Nasdaq To Buy LSE Stake – Report
by Reuters

The reported interest by Temasek comes amid growing protectionism in Europe and the United States towards sovereign wealth funds making aggressive overseas investments in search of higher returns.

The International Monetary Fund said in June it was growing uneasy about the trillions of dollars managed by largely secretive sovereign wealth funds because it fears their activities could disrupt financial markets.

GOvernment-owned investment vehicles such as Temasek and its sister agency Government of Singapore Investment Corp control about $2 trillion — roughly the size of France’s economy — and are expected to grow to $12 trillion by 2015.

——————————————————-

[...] Full list [...]

Good list of things, I guess what I am sensing from the below quote below is,

Dont’ vote for a govt that does not take care of its people!

I don’t want to have anybody who is 85 years old or 90 years old and say ‘my CPF finished, I have no insurance, and now I need to live. And I have nobody to look after me… then what happens?”

but alot of us don’t even get to vote anyway.

Andrew,

Great work in collating this!!!
Hopefully it does makes people realise how much had been increased ever since the last GE…

SG Punk,

It doesn’t matter if you don’t get to vote so long as you’re able to convince one who does, that the it is imperative to vote out the incumbent = “An eye for an eye, a vote for a vote”.

Get involved!

[...] 30, 2007 in Daily Sg Raising Cost Of Living Online Citizen: The relentless rising cost of living in Singapore Hello Land of Ever Increasing Fares/Bills/Prices HWZ EDMW: The relentless rising cost of living in [...]

Today I just had a bowl of Yong Tau Foo at People’s Park Hawker Centre where there seems to be a perpetual queue. The standard price charged is now S$3.00 per bowl instead of what used to be S$2.50 per bowl, an increase of 20%.

If there is no price increase, one will notice that either the bowl has shrunk or the ingredients are less or your coffee has less milk and sugar. So has ST really done their homework or is ST trying to pull a fast one !

Next time, when you eat the mee, you better take the bowl back because 50cents is the price of the bowl. haha

if you think that there is a significant price increase for items that is not a necessity, give it up. let the supplier of that service or product feel the pinch of loosing a customer. stop supporting these retailer. they inturn will also feel the pinch of losing sales. if more consumers do this, they will not any how raise price. Imagine just one day that the whole of singapore stop using public transport for a day. how much money will these so called public transport provider lose? making tons of money from us still want to increase transport fare. shame on you.

My policy is that i will not be held ransom by these people, i will hold them in ransom by quitting the service / product.

Dear CASE,
I want to complain to CASE about the increase in prices for my Civilian servant. I notice her qualities of service (QOS) are dropping and now she complain that I’m not paying enough for her children to Go on scholarship in “other expensive, not local/regional(cheaper)” University leh. And to think that I conservatively majority vote for her (against the wife)to stay here. How huh?
I know I pay for her qualities services but I as an elitist citizen required the best you know. Last night she went AWOL absent without official leave from the house and I emailed all my neighbor to find her including the rubbished dump foreman. She was dating a guy from her village who work there leh so headache. She want him to stay in our house some more, She invite him to eat in my house to eat food here. Which I don’t mind if he can do some house maintenance for me.
So I was just wondering can I exchange her for better one?
If so, How soon? Must I wait for her term to finish.
your sincerely The elitist onlooker

Would you rather live in a country with guns, sirens, hookers and drugs around the corner, 24/7? Or a country with stability, peace and safety? A small price to pay, to live in Singapore. Majulah Singapura!

A useful compilation. Thanks :)

[...] The relentless rising cost of living [...]

[...] fast growth is beginning to be expensive. Increasing prices in just about everything has overshadowed the city state’s prosperity in the last four [...]

[...] The relentless rising cost of living [...]

[...] you’re a Singaporean, please go here and have a look for yourself how prices have been going up for almost every single thing in [...]

[...] you’re a Singaporean, please go here and have a look for yourself how prices have been going up for almost every single thing in [...]

[...] are not new to us. In recent times, even expatriates are beginning to feel the pinch of the rising cost of living in Singapore. Ranked 9th as most costly Asian city for expatriates, the myth of Singaporeans being the only [...]

I am perplexed how the Singapore Power said that the increase in electricity tariff is pegged to oil price hikes when almost all power generating stations in Singapore use natural gas.

I have posted the following article on Young Pap, LuckyTan, MrWangsaysso blogs and hope you query the SP over their remarks.

‘It is reported that the electricity tariff will increase from next months onwards – according to Singapore Power, the increase is due to the oil price hikes.

I am surprise that Singapore Power based its electricity tariff on oil. As early as 2004 most of the power generating plants in Singapore used gas and it had contracts with Malaysian and Indonesian gas suppliers, notably from the Natuna Gas Fields and here I paste these report taken from Energy Information Admininstration:-

Natural Gas
Singapore’s Natural Gas Consumption, 1990-2004. (Source: EIA, International Energy Annual)Singapore imports all of its natural gas, which is mainly used for power generation and petrochemical production. In 2004 Singapore consumed 233 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, a greater than five-fold increase from the 2002 level of 41 Bcf.

If you use gas to generate electricity and peg this hike on oil prices, more businesses will also hike their prices and the next round of such increases will be disastrous for us poor and not too poor people.

Thanks.

Hope this will help Irgen:

http://services.spservices.sg/cs_faq_elec_tariff.htm

5. Why do tariffs fluctuate with higher fuel oil prices when 60% of our country’s power generation uses natural gas as fuel?

The natural gas contracts are pegged to fuel oil prices. Hence, the price of natural gas will also change accordingly when there is a change in fuel oil prices.

P.S. I believe this gas contract pegged to fuel oil price is a common practice.

fuel oil prices vs electricity tarriff:

http://www.singaporepower.com.sg/images/press_release/chartdec07.jpg

‘5. Why do tariffs fluctuate with higher fuel oil prices when 60% of our country’s power generation uses natural gas as fuel?’

But Singapore’s Energy Market Authority reported that 80% of the country’s electricity demand comes from natural gas today. Quoted below:

By 2003, this goal had already been met, and the Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) reports that about 80 percent of the country’s electricity demand comes from natural gas today

So we would like to know if more than 80 percent of our power plants are now using natural gas, why is it that SP gives a different figure i.e. 60%?

I have surfed the net seeking the answers to such hikes when I see my utilities bill tripled in the last 10 years. I have posted my questions on several sites and one of them told me that Singapore signed a contract couple of years back to supply natural gas for 20 years. Here I quote:

“As far as I could remember, Sembgas had a couple of years signed a contract with Indonesia to buy natural gas from Natunas gas field for 20 years at a fixed price with a minumum volume per day, albeit with adjustments for inflation, etc. The gas is piped to Jurong Island from the gas field at Natunas.

If none of our power station under normal circumstances runs on fuel oil, I take it that all run on natural gas. No?

[...] how the price for everyday commodities have risen beyond the means of working Singaporeans, party secretary-general Dr Chee served notice that the [...]

[...] occasion for Singaporeans to protest against the exploitation of consumers who have had to endure a rash of price increases over the last few months while the businesses owned by the Government continue to register fat [...]

After a long string of price increases these past 2 years, LHL has the audacity to claim that S’pore is “not just a playground for the rich”!!!!

“S’pore is “not just a playground for the rich”!!!!”
maybe he means it is the playground for the super-rich like himself, president, nepotism family etc that prey on pleasants.

Try living in another country before complaining. I’m now in the UK – do you know how much I pay for a 17-minute train ride to London for work : 4.10 pounds ONE WAY – which is around SGD 12 … I used to pay less than a dollar for this type of travel back in Singapore. A 30-minute taxi ride here from my place to the airport is around 40 pounds (120 SGD). A 5-minute taxi ride is around 6 pounds (18 SGD). 3-bedroom flats are around 700-1000 pounds (2100-3000 SGD) and these are not the good flats (not like the condo units in Singapore). Daycare is around 500 pounds (1500 SGD). Even stuff like Ikea products here are twice as expensive as in Singapore.

Oh and don’t say the salary is higher – yes it is higher but not enough to cover the difference coz after removing the taxes… my net salary here in the UK is close to what I earned back in Singapore. Anyway – I’m only here on a short-term project and just went for the experience :)

So please – stop complaining or maybe try living in another first-world country first (South Korea, New York, Japan etc.) and see if living there with the same lifestyle as in Singapore is really cheaper.

[...] government ministers and other political appointees, the world’s best paid, will cost taxpayers another 15 percent in the coming financial year starting April, according to the city-state’s [...]

I’m really scared. i’m only a primary school student and the university prices are increasing. What will happen when i go to the university? Will we be able to afford it?

Angelo, are we complaining ? We just to keep cost down and justify the price hike. No one want to see a case of unjustified price hike as and when the government feel like it just because the establishment feel Singapore is still cheap compared to western counterpart ?

Singaporean living in Malaysia, Bangkok etc will too emphasize how cheap the living expense in these countries because the currency rate, policy, salary structure and environment are different.

Anyway, your reason is the same reason that our ministers will often quote for price hike once in a while. So to be fair, let not benchmark against other country in term of living standard.

In western country, our currency sucks. In eastern country, our currency still rules.

No one will complain if the coffers is honest enough to justify price increment and policy.

“Seriously, how would the CASE president be able to prove / tell price adjustments that are due to fluctuating demand and supply and those that are profiteering?”

Let applies this case to MNC.
Remember the government is to make MNC happy even though at expense of consumer. They lure the MNC here to make economic benefits, and really why sure they offend MNC ?

Is there any case example where CASE make a claim against MNC due to price fixing, collusion etc ?

if the cost of S&C keeps going up when the lifts are urine,foul smelling, not scrub, sanitize, when the fans don’t work for weeks and one has to keep going to the town council to complain week after week and getting into sour notes with the cleaners, than singaporeans need to go the way malaysia had in the general elections, croynism, six star salaries,collecting s&c but no work done, sounds like ah long here……pay late get fine, sick 3rd class treatment, better go away to some other place also 3rd class but pay less.. somebody claim s’pore will be swiss of asia in 2010,,,dream on.

we have to pay the price for staying in singapore… if any one of us are willing to give it up, then we are free to leave singapore..

i have friends who are so pissed with singapore (the local policies etc) to the extent that they are migrating overseas and they are willing to give up their singapore citizenship just to get out of here (and grab their CPF along too).. and of course they are complaining too but then again they have the choice to make their decision and they made theirs.

everyone has their rights to complain but we also have the right to choose to live or to stay..while it may not be as easy to leave as just by saying it out.. many of us do have the choice, especially the younger generations..

sigh…

I am very disappointed that the govt is promoting quite a few MPs to become senior ministers.

Is the govt having too much money in their pockets? If that is the case, care to give back to S’poreans?

To be honest, if i have the money, i would change my citizenship. This current govt is full of crab. I have no faith with the current administration. The older batch of ministers are much better. They are more careful and understanding to the needs of ordinary folks.

This is because the older ministers have gone thru the hardship of wwII. However, the current ministers are just paying lips services. To date, I have no seen my MP in my area.

Ow OW OWW! Petrol prices…. what more can I say :(

I agree. Cost of living is crazy.

“By 2003, this goal had already been met, and the Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) reports that about 80 percent of the country’s electricity demand comes from natural gas today.”

“May 9: Expect to pay higher electricity bills. Soaring crude oil prices drove the benchmark market price of electricity to a record last month, and there is not much relief in sight. (Straits Times)”

If the above statements are true and the price of natural gas has not risen as much as that of oil and given that TOC is now a credible force to be reckoned with in Singapore, could it (TOC) write and address an open letter to our Power companies on behalf of all in Singapore to raise questions on the price increase of our electricity.

Yesterday I submitted about our Lousy MRT but why this page is blank ?

I submitted a complaint about MRT signage,etc. last week It was not published. Maybe it is because I use a nickname “”Osama sama”" and could this terrorist’s nickname causes me to be censored. I like the word Ösama sama”as it is catchy and in Malay means “we are together”. If the nickname connotes violent or terrorism, then I should be told and can change it to “”osamakita”" sounds cathcy too….heh ! heh !
How about that ?

Osamakita

[...] begun calculating my expenses and have become more intent on saving. And after reading this, I realised that while I can afford to spend, I don’t see why I [...]

The increase in food and oil prices is far beyond the government’s control. What we need to realize is that there are 6.6 billion people on this planet who are fighting for a chunk of the earth’s resources and planet earth simply cannot satisfy all of us who desire a first-world living standards. We are now living in an era where oil supplies have trouble meeting demand (peak oil); hence, the escalation in oil prices which will eventaully find its way into everything else since our industrial civilisation is built on this precious commodity.

http://www.energybulletin.net/primer.php
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/SecondPage.html

Property is a good hedge against rising inflation. In that case, there is a case for property prices to continue to be on the uptrend.

Petrol just went up $0.048 per litre for a 95. Everything is now so much more costly than a 2 months back.

CPI is 7.5% is the highest in 26 years and GDP growth expected to be 4-6%. 14.5% GDP growth yoy for Q1. Looks like inflation is staying throughout the year.

Where is the gahmen ’s promise of more good year and golden age of singapore?
More like shit and more shit coming our way.

lousy givt. In malaysia petrol price stayed at $1.92 for so long , no change at all, whereas in spore pump prices increase a few times in 3 months. The govt just kept quiet, in Indonesia, fuel increase ppl come out protest, in spore fuel increase in price, ppl keep quiet, let it be, govt more happy.

“Where is the gahmen ’s promise of more good year and golden age of singapore?”

It is true that gahmen’s promise comes true though to themselves not to the citizen. You see, now having $16.4 billions surplus in addition to another $10 billions at end of year means that these coffers going to get additional millions dollars bonus on top of their millions dollar salary ! More good years. Yes, more good years for these S-hole. It is not only the golden age but a diamond age for these coffers because never a gahmen been so wealthy in the world as our coffers. World’s number wealthy gahmen at expense of citizen…

They f*** think is thier money. It is the PEOPLE ’s money. They spend it like some princes and kings. They wasted our money in stupid investment and called it long term. They have no accountability and transparency. It is one big family of elites and they scratch each other’s nack like monkeys do. GOD will punish them.

Can’t the government reduce the petrol tax now?

I do not think reducing petrol tax will result in people rushing to buy car now since curbing of car population is well in place in other areas.

Petrol price has a rippling effect on other costs and affect the whole nation.

Simple Minded;
There a lot of things the govt can reduce tax or cost of, but reducing their earnings isn’t in their nature. They are forever fearful of losing money, and not that as if they saved a lot by being thrifty they will used the money to help Singaporeans get by or ease hardships. They think nothing of spending Millions or Billions on IR project, but deliberated at great length over increasing Public Aid funding by a measely $30.00.
Go figure…

cant do anythin ..we are to pussy..look…jb jeyaratnam…dr chee…they tried..
forever..their sons, grandchildren will control this country forever..president
..just for show…for the average singaporean..in singapore..u live to pay bills..tax..
check out the ban video on you -tube… type..dr chee ban video…and search..the title is singapore under lee quan yew…
for me, what i know..one day..in future..maybe in a million or thousands years..the only living locals living in singapore will be the descendents of the current government. Think about it

if only i have 1 million i will leave for good .

Thanks for the collation of the rising costs’ list.. I hope the Opposition would bring up this list during the next GE… The ruling party needs to be humbled into losing a GRC or two.!!!

Heh. Not pro or anti anything, but shouldnt you guys also do a list of all the rebates and stuff we get as well? My dad is still smiling from his car tax rebate………….count your blessings man.

Heh. Not pro or anti anything. Why not ask your dad that he is also smiling from the ever increasing ERP charges here and there, the heavily taxed fuel cost here, finding parking space where there is non and parking charges itself.

Maybe, the situation of your dad could be uniquely good just like many things in Singapore.

the gahment do what ??when thing go up like nobody business i always see other country do something for their pp but not mine. mine here always ask business man or the private company to donated money or food , than the gahment do what so good and easy money huh

tunkudon on June 6th, 2008 2.21 pm

“if only i have 1 million i will leave for good”

Brother, why leave. Singapore is your country and belongs to you and each and every one of us. Stay and make Singapore a better place. Gahmen are only representatives, if you don’t like them change them and keep on encouraging your friends, family members and colleagues, etc to change them. We owe it to ourselves to make Singapore a better place for us and our children and not only for some highly paid fat cats.

The people are the real power – they have to find out this power themselves and excercise them responsibly.

tks think cat , how i wish and really wish i love my country . but ………… if it only can change .

Good afternoon, brother. Sure you can love your own country. Currently, the atmosphere here has been too much moulded by fat cats – that is why a lot of people feel that there is no sense of ownership and some have gone totally apathetic about their power to change things.

Well, it takes time and people like you who care & yet frustrated to change things. Sometimes, we may not be the ones within our lifetime to enjoy the fruits but we must make it a better place for our kids and future generations of Singaporeans. Like minded people like you and me must do our part no matter how small it is to set the path slowly and yet steadily.

One thing for sure, we Singaporeans do not need fat cats around us to bulldoze us with twisted reasoning & explanation while seeing them getting fatter and fatter each day.

If i win i will leave this country till the lving conditions return back to normal the prices of everything is rising due to the rise in oil prices in Malaysia its getting harder and harder to survive every day.

But i think China is playing i very big part in this too but its not really their fault cause of the recent earthquake that has happened…

Petrol prices are up again this morning at Shell. What about other stations?

next month cost of PUB electricity bill will go up, dont know go up how many time s liao. Nia mah, this type of govt also have. never help people. Every damn thing go up, up up up…. when can come down nia mah !!!

“The people are the real power – they have to find out this power themselves and excercise them responsibly.”

Perhaps, it’s time to feedback effectively to have a silent protest, everyone plays his/her part as Singaporean by wearing white & black(attire) everyday to send the message across. We, and I beleive, most people are unhappy over the relentless rising cost of living in Singapore now.

today’s ST reported that MM Lee is worried about freak election. He thought if other party is in charge, spore will ruin in 5 years. He thought that only MIW can govern spore, non pap people are not talented, is it so ?

Gary Teoh on June 26th, 2008 9.17 am

I cannot reconcile the fact that as a founding father, why does he have to keep on instilling fear into us Singaporeans instead of empowering the citizens in general so that they have the confidence to face crisis and not to be too reliant on the incumbent party only.

Surely he understands that the quality of national leadership is not party specific and that other parties can also galvanise the trust and support of other better candidates who can bring Singapore to the next level.

Gary;
do not take LKYs’ Words at face value, he simply wishes that PAP lead by Lee Hsien Loong will not fall before he(LKY) departs. If that happens, history and posterities of him will not be illuminating. Imagine how heartbreaking it will be to see the Leadership of ones’ offspring falls before his own eyes. No amount of fortunes will be consoling then because name, reputation and fame will all be buried with disgrace and disappointment.

Btw, his words are spokened more to entertain than real worries, LKY knows too well PAP will not be toppled in the Next Election and the one that follows. But hard to say, if natural calamity of a serious nature happens.

From the Internet, I realised how comprehensively the Leadership make up of the PAP Members is abhor by its’ citizenry. This speaks volume about the respectabilities of our national leaders, it is terrible shame!

patriot.

ya same old shit from old man. tell u what i willing to give them a try . better than u . we have no LIFE. give us our LIFE back !!! 2011!!!

Quote: Made_Man on October 10th, 2007 10.08 pm Would you rather live in a country with guns, sirens, hookers and drugs around the corner, 24/7? Or a country with stability, peace and safety? A small price to pay, to live in Singapore. Majulah Singapura!

Probably, he is one of those who benefitted from en-bloc sales. He talks like one without money problems.

One never know what will happen in life? Look at Malaysia, Abdullah and his party, it can happen in Singapore too. More people now are being pressed against the boiling pot so strange events might evolve overnight.

SIngPost is doing a roaring business… postage stamps have risen from 5cts to 6cts to 10cts to 15cts to 20cts to 22cts.. now 26cts.. a hefty 400% rise in less time than you say only the sky is the limit.

The price of imported goods is beyond S Govt control.
The standard of Living is within our own control.
Each individual will use HIS / HER $$$$$ to the best benefit & efficiency.
So just be flexible, adjust, reduce & find a new way to beat the inflation.

In fact we do not need subsidies, IF THE ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES PROVIDERS ARE NOT GOING FOR MAXIMUN PROFITS TO FATTEN THEIR BOTTOMLINES!

TAXES FOR FUEL CAN BE LOWERED AND CONSUMPTION TAX COULD HAVE BEEN HOLD BACK . THERE ARE NOT MUCH JUSTIFICATIONS TO KEEP RAISING UTILITIES CHARGES.

There are many options for our leaders, however, the only method they like, IS TO MAKE THE PEOPLE PAY AND PAY. AND THEY PLAY AND PLAY THE PEOPLE TIME AND AGAIN.

patriot.

and in a few months time they are going to increase their pay again .u die ur problem .

Hi All,

As per my view, US is dumped Crude in past si months, Although they started to dump it from earlier. I’m finding the data related to buying done by US in past months, If someone can provide me, where I could get all this data, pls send me on my mail add.

Regards
Prashant

It is time to call for a concerted effort to fight the food and fuel crisis by ourselves. Our Government is weak and have no solutions or strategies to lessen the burdens of the struggling citizens. This is our problems and must be solved by ourselves. Let’s move on with our lives! “GOVERNMENT IS NOT A SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM(s), GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM.” Quote taken from Ronald Reagan.

Singaporespirit;

well said, your comment above.

patriot.

Dear people,

Its time to wake up and stop complaining.

Inflation is a worldwide problem and not only Singapore’s. While Singapore is suffering from ’sky high’ inflation of <8%, other developing countries are suffering from inflation of 15% or more. I think we are extremely fortunate!

I see lots of complaints regarding rising oil prices. But that can’t be helped either. The most popular brands of petrol in Singapore are Shell, ExxonMobil and Caltex. They are not PAP! In my humble opinion, Singapore is wise not to have fuel subsidies like our neighbors do. By having such oil subsidies, it will drain the country’s resources, and result in more reliance on fuel. If you look at the US, fuel consumption has reduced significantly with the rising costs of fuel. This shows that how people can rise up to the situation and be more efficient. As Singaporeans, we can do likewise!

On a hind note, I agree with ‘NewOld’ We should be proactive, and be flexible in our spending. Use our hard earned monies with a highest efficiency, and get the best return on the money spent. But, in so doing, do remain Gracious and Considerate to one another, to make this place a more livable home!

Pump price goes up again. Let’s hope that water can replace fuel to run our vehicles by end of this year. Won’t be surprised if oil price reaches $200. Now is $146.

75) NewOld on July 1st, 2008 4.39 pm
81) Ray Fang on July 5th, 2008 10.58 am

“The price of imported goods is beyond S Govt control.”

Hey, both of you brothers in arms. Any suggestion from you that the govt can help. I love relying on the govt – as they are so RE-LIABLE.

Surely there are things which can be controlled by govt (heard the echo of word such as talent being constantly drummed into us to justify multi-million price tag), any good idea from you also ?

83) New Fang on July 5th, 2008 2.45 pm .

Rule No: 01..God help those who help themselves.
Rule No: 02..Ask what U can do to help others, instead of asking Others for Help.

Job a plenty…..pick up a part-time job or do more overtimes or re-examine yr spending pattern or cancel away the extra WANTS & adjust yr NEEDS. Hope these r some Good Idea that i can contribute.

This SAT 5 July 2008, We decided to stay home to clean up the House, Wash the Car, Eat-In, Watch TV & 30 mins Jog around the Estate instead of Eating-Out, Car Wash, Pay Parking, Burn Expensive Petrol & Movie…that save S$40-S$60.

Dear elite uncaring face Leaders,

if u can’t solve the problem of rising cost of fuel, utilities bill, cost of living etc, pls fart off . We deserve to be demanding cos since u farkers want high pay, get ready to be fark all day long 24/7. u deserve all that we throw at u for all the below-par peformance and should be sack long ago. U people damn thick skin to be still around for higher pay. with yr standard of performance, the foodcourt cleaning aunt pay of $500/mth is more suitable for u. if u take the $500/mth and perform like what u doing now—- we will not fark u cos than u deserve it for not doing yr job well. you people are a disgrace to be serving as civil SERVANT.

Dear fellow Singaporeans,

Let us bond together if you truly feel the pain.
Wear BLACK for the entire day on 9th Aug.
Please include your family members and friends, and go about your normal routine.
This is our message to the ruling party.

best regards.

ERP has increased again, and the numbers of gantry have also increased. I wonder ERP is for controlling traffic , then COE is for controlling what ?

83) New Fang on July 5th, 2008 2.45 pm
85) Disgrace leaders on July 5th, 2008 11.07 pm

In my very humble opinion, do not rely on the government.

If the government gives payouts, its a bonus. If they do not, so be it. If they are candid, and have a good foresight, we are fortunate. However, if they are corrupt and incompetent, we are free to vacate our subsidised HDBs and leave.

If Singaporeans think they are very unfortunate for having such a government, then they are free to leave. No one is stopping them. However, be warned. Look out of our small island for a government that gives payouts when the economy is doing well. Look for a government that gives a one-off bonus when they increase taxes. Are there any?

Most governments just raise taxes when they please, and no offer of ‘candy’ to help citizens swallow the bitter pill.

On a final note on inflation, Iran’s inflation rate has just hit 26%. Now, that is a government that is truly inadequate.

“Most governments just raise taxes when they please, and no offer of ‘candy’ to help citizens swallow the bitter pill.”

So please tell us who the first world “most governments” refer to ?

“Dear people,

Its time to wake up and stop complaining.”

Wake up too. Please stop all the whining about people complaining. People are asking to justify the PayAndPay scheme and policies, and where is the money go from collecting ERP, and all these stuffs. And stop telling us that inflation is the world wide problem too if the ministers are so keen to increase their salary and perk with their own “they know best” prediction that inflation can be ended in a year time. Where in the world can you find a so first-world government who feed rhetoric just to increase self-worth and price hike ? Rather than saying people are complaining, why not say the ministers are complaining of money not enough ?

88) Ray Fang on July 7th, 2008 1.10 pm

“If Singaporeans think they are very unfortunate for having such a government, then they are free to leave. No one is stopping them. ”

Hey why not feel it this way, if Singaporeans think they are very unfortunate for having such a government, they should stay to make things better and not resigned to having to leave or to quit. Remember the leave-quitter label.

We should not just quit Singapore just like that but must ensure that Singapore has the best governement which represents the best interest of the people.

Singapore belongs to all Singaporeans and not only to the Government.

“On a final note on inflation, Iran’s inflation rate has just hit 26%. Now, that is a government that is truly inadequate.”

Do not keep on comparing with countries which are not so better off than Singapore – it is a regressive benchmark and there is nothing to be proud of. Just because you have cherry picked one which is worst off than Singapore, that does not mean that our present position is justifield.

I thought we were world class right, so we should compare with first world countries and their practices. Premium pricing means premium product unless you are telling me that is all only a marketing ploy.

89) Daniel on July 7th, 2008 1.23 pm

Feel free to check out the tax rates of US.

84) NewOld on July 5th, 2008 6.27 pm

Rule No: 01..God help those who help themselves.
Rule No: 02..Ask what U can do to help others, instead of asking Others for Help.

Very good rule. I think you have got all mixed up. In fact, I sincerely think that we are helping them more than they are helping us. Can you imagine after getting the multi-million package, they are still not richer. By their very standard, a significant portion of Singapore should be living in poverty. What an insult to the people.

Angels like you are rare and hard to come by and I hope that you are not one of those which the general public is helping more instead of you helping them.

91) New Fang on July 7th, 2008 1.45 pm

Got your point. I agree about making Singapore better rather than quitting. I also agree on justification of certain policy moves.

However, we can never make Singapore better by simply complaining. Its easy to complain, and let ministers rack their brains. Perhaps, it will be good to complain with a solution in mind?

In my perspective thus far, certain policies such as the erection of ERP gantries, or reduction in corporate taxes etc, are justified. This explains why i am still rather comfortable with the PAP.

Regarding inflation, i still think its economics. We probably will have very low inflation if the government tightens monetary policies and strengthens SGD against USD. But will it help the trade of Singapore? Will our exports still be as strong? I am not too sure about that. I am not an economist, and have no crystal ball.
Alternatively, the government can have subsidies for food, petrol etc. Then, Singaporeans will still be wasteful in using petrol, or food. A crisis is a terrible thing to waste. It is there for a reason. It is there to teach us efficiency.

Ray Fang ,
if you want to make Singapore a better place, by all means stop comparing with other countries. I expect Singapore to do better given that it doesn’t have natural disaster like US and China (countries which have earthquake, storm, tornado which US need money to rebuild land) and that it is small place that far easier to control.
Don’t you feel piss off whenever the government justify price hike by saying that it is still cheaper than rest of countries that they specially select to make the comparison ? Why not make comparison with Thailand or country that far cheaper than Singapore ?

Common, no one trust a government that openly says that money need to buy moral authority, and not one that shred in secrecy as and when money is concerned.

Ray Fang ,
“However, we can never make Singapore better by simply complaining. Its easy to complain, and let ministers rack their brains. Perhaps, it will be good to complain with a solution in mind?”

Many do complain with a solution. For example, just like at Mr Brown. But in the end what the government tell the people. The same old excuses: “We knows better than you”

Now billions of dollars of investment/reserve go unaccounted and lost in investment of banks, and LuckyTan has intelligently warn of that. LKY’s solution: Citizen no need to know reserves and it may take 30 years to recoup (Are we really moron to accept that ? Did you want to dig out the body of LKY to ask for accountability then ?)

I do not think that the people is complaining at all and it is not the people who did not offer solution but the same old clowns who keep the citizen that they know best and the policies some of the gahmen don’t even understand. Don’t you recall the pinkish clown who say that even MP may not even understand some of the policies ?

When people want to know about Selamat’s case, suddenly you have a so-called own ‘independent’ commision of inquiry that has conflict of interest.

NOw who not giving solution ?

“nd let ministers rack their brains. ”

Rack their brain to think out another wonderful PayAndPay scheme ? Come on, are we still naive to believe that the senior gahmen really care about the future of Singapore ? Really, what is Singapore as a country to you ?

Yes, Stop telling us too that it is all globalization. If indeed it is globalization, LKY, LHL and gahemn wouldn’t go around the world asking the emigrated Singaporean to return. How I know ? Because I saw those clowns while travelling giving their big talkcock session. They should have asked what can government do for the people, not what the people do for government especially this pathetic ruling party is running Singapore as private Lee-limited.

I suggest you look around and expose yourself to more foreigners’ view and travel widely. If you think that world worship Singapore because of its success, you have to wakeup. The world is the make-believe world as LKY has said. Take away the billions of dollars that are lost through investemnt in other countries, and you find the world laughing at the greatest cirus clowns. The world has tolerated Singapore because it is been throwing money recklessly to other countries. Visit and speak to those in other countries, not those gahmen of course, and find out the brutal truth. You will be shocked.

“If Singaporeans think they are very unfortunate for having such a government, then they are free to leave. No one is stopping them. ”

So what a government’s role is ? Making prata and cutting ribbon for society event like our president ?

Why not phrase it this way
“If government think they are very unfortunate for having such citizen, then they are free to step down. No one is stopping them. ”

A government is been elected by the citizen, so why should you ask the citizen to fart off ? It is not that minority of laymen citizen has difficulty aligning with the interest of government, it is the majority of citizen here. So who to fart off really ? The citizen or the government ?

[...] (which I agree with by the way), where prices of basic necessities and hence the cost of living are continously increasing, and the income divide is becoming more significant, how long do you think you can survive if you [...]

ERP charge has increased starting this week, petrol has increased til I lost count, not to mention other food items. The govt can not solve the rising cost problem, it blamed the world and external factors. What is the use of paying millions of dollars to the ministers when they can’t solve problems.
tewniaseng!!!
http://tewniaseng.wordpress.com

93) New Fang on July 7th, 2008 1.55 pm

Yes the MIW are fairly well paid MM,SM,PM,MP etc. These MIW in PAP has laid down a very good & solid base for all Singaporean to build up & help themselves. That is visible from the good Housing, Water, Electricity infrastruture, the Good Road, SIA, PSA, Jurong Island, IR, Traffic lights, Peaceful & Safe street, Managable Inflation, remember THIS ISLAND history only since 1965 has No-Resources to fall back. MIW works hard to keep S$ strong with Big S$ Reserve, GIC & Temasek to invest S$ from S$100mil to S$100Bil. Get NTUC to control imported inflation. These r job…. not U & I can do lah.

Look No further, jus drive over to JB-Malaysia with that Oil, Rubber, Oil Palm, Tin, Durain Rich. They r in a mess with Mongolian Murder, Demo, Sodomy, Inflation, Fuel Sudsidy Demo, Corruption, Political mess etc. Do U want yr Family & Kids to be in that situation, not to memtion the Hi-Inflation with a weaken MR$. Sing Inflation & Cost of Living is OK. Don’t mess around with proven Govt in power.

U muz help yrself to do better & than help others after U r succesful. CowPeh & CowBull get U No-Where. Why So Angry Over The Well Paid Minister !

I hav only a sec edu and benefited from the MIW good works & now able to enjoy Life under their Leadership.

My Family & I NEVER asks for Help but works hard & hav Fun in this resource-poor Island. We get the lowest in ERS & No W & E Rebates like those in HDB.

“Look No further, jus drive over to JB-Malaysia with that Oil, Rubber, Oil Palm, Tin, Durain Rich. They r in a mess with Mongolian Murder, Demo, Sodomy, Inflation, Fuel Sudsidy Demo, Corruption, Political mess etc. Do U want yr Family & Kids to be in that situation, not to memtion the Hi-Inflation with a weaken MR$. Sing Inflation & Cost of Living is OK. Don’t mess around with proven Govt in power.”

NewOld, why not send your comment to the Strait Times, then you will have more supporters.

No one asking you to go to Malaysia. If you feel Singapore safe, stay in Singapore then and stop complaining about other countries’ plight as well.

Proven government ? Proven in what ? Proven in coverup, controlling MSM, propaganda, give shit, and ask for more $$$$$$$$, legal corruption, and also in “Let’s move on” ? Have you ever thought why Singapore is so successful ?

The old guards of the ruling party that are capable of building nation have long since gone. What left is money-loving coffers that reap the benefit of the work done by the old guards. LKY ? He getting senile each day, and noone own him anything anymore. His deceit is been exposed .

102) Daniel on July 9th, 2008 5.03 pm

Be Pro-Active to solve the Cost Of Living.
I do enjoy the Cheapo Lunch & Petrol in JB & hav the survival skills in crime infested area in Mal Land, Thai & Veitnam.
Don’t get me wrong that I am complaining abt other countries but jus to share with U that ,…we r lucky with PAP in power.

PAP hav proven track records in creating a safe, properous, peaceful Singapore that many Countries wants MIW advise & guidance. The New Guards is leading Singapore on the RIGHT PATH. Be Grateful lah… The Bugging stop here.

Comments edited by moderator.

Newold,
why not you compare to Africa better. Our children not starving like them in Africa.
Always like to compare, this is the weak point of pap. Like to compare. They like to use the extreme end to compare. Taxi fare here is cheaper compare to Japan, HK, but expensive compare to Malaysia. This case, they will use Japan and not Malaysia for comparision . Don’t fool us MIW. When cost of living go up, MIW say it is world trend. They dont have solution. Tarman said don’t increase workers salary just because to tackle inflation. He did not say don’t increase ministerial salary. MM Lee said, want to follow Swedish Way, because spore population decrease. Why they did not think of that 10 years ago ?? will it be too late now?? They collect million dollar salary, they can’t plan properly, now sudden U turn ? He said no free lunch, now got free lunch. Do you believe him??

“PAP hav proven track records in creating a safe, properous, peaceful Singapore that many Countries wants MIW advise & guidance. The New Guards is leading Singapore on the RIGHT PATH. Be Grateful lah… The Bugging stop here.”

Yes, yes, yes. …. You believe the MSM again ? What advise and guidance are you talking about ? Are you reading from mainstream news, channel that only show only best part, and censor the rest ? Or Are you taking news from few years ago when Singaporeans are still very cuckoo, naive and innocent ?

Are you really detach from reality ? Are you quoting from the past ? Don’t you know that as long as any government will willing to throw money oversea, other countries are just as happy to sing their praise publicly just like our MSM editor, or whatever dogs will do for sake of $$$$ ?

Where is the full transcript and audio, Video showing the world praising Singapore ? We like to see if they censor or mislead information like the kangaroo court case against Dr Chee.. And don’t show us the propangada video where oversea country leader praise Singapore because the coffers pump money into those countries to sing the coffer’s praise ! We are hunger for those resources.

104) Tewniaseng on July 10th, 2008 11.21 am

Taxi fares are cheap in Malaysia because we are using SGD. If we are working in Malaysia earning ringgit, taxi fares are going to be expensive!

But i feel the pain about our ministers’ pay. It does seem alot, especially when some may just be earning $12000 annually. Perhaps thats why there are so many harsh, hurting, complaints here? Having green eyes?

“But i feel the pain about our ministers’ pay. It does seem alot, especially when some may just be earning $12000 annually. Perhaps thats why there are so many harsh, hurting, complaints here? Having green eyes?”

No one is green eyes if they do the job well. So do you think for all the things that they have done asking money here and there, and keep complaining to the public that money not enough, but yet money go back to GIC and Temasek for investment, are they really worth millions ? Their answers to citizen are moronic and insulting to the ear. With coverup of hiccups here and there, mask up all the bad news, destroy citizen who dare voice out their corrupted and immoral practice, so that these coffers can justify their own pay ? So is it because green eyes that citizens are complaining ? Ever wonder why the coffers can talk so much rhetoric and next moment tell the citizen to bite the bullet while they laugh all the way to the bank ? Oh , banks also have government stake… CitiCorpse,

Greed has no boundary and limit. With coffers who only can exploit the citizen, do you think money will ever be enough for them ? Do you think it is so noble of Pinkish Clown to donate his increment when Temasek and GIC’s stake belong to him and the pathetic FamiLee ?

104) Tewniaseng on July 10th, 2008 11.21 am

Only with a comparison, a reference point & a compass. Than we know our position & location. Our location is a Tiny Red Dot, south of Mal, North of Indon, west of Phillipine & East of Sumatra.
Look like Singapore is the only Shiny Red Dot here.
Singapore is still the Best for me. U can chose to disagree but my Family & i have faith with the MIW aka PAP stay. My Income tax & many other taxes paid to them as salary or whatever is put to GOOD USE. Majullah Singapura.

101) NewOld on July 9th, 2008 3.33 pm
106) Ray Fang on July 10th, 2008 12.30 pm

Well, after hearing views from both sides of the picture. Generally, I tend to agree more with Daniel and Tewniaseng as for as observation on the things around here is concerned.

“PAP hav proven track records in creating a safe, properous, peaceful Singapore that many Countries wants MIW advise & guidance.”

Old generation of leaders has done the building / creatiing lah (and certain degree of recognition has to be accorded and this has already been done so) but new generation of leaders are doing a very very expensive maintanance work. Get it. Some old ones may even get too comfortable already.

105) Daniel on July 10th, 2008 11.43 am

Are you reading from mainstream news,
channel that only show only best part, and censor the rest ?
Are you really detach from reality ?
Are you quoting from the past ?

Daniel…don’t jump to conclusion so fast with yr view as above.
I only believe what I have seen, I Felt, I Tasted & heard with my Ear from the Horse Mouth. Travelled far & wide. …..the latest in 2008 Apr, May & June… to a few Countryies……. Seen their Chaos, Homeless, Beggar, Choking River, Bumpy Roads & the Crimes etc.

$$$$4ever not XXXXXX. Freebies or Handout is the fastest route to Hell.
Wake up & start finding solution to manage the Inflation. At the same times Pay them well to manage the S$, the Inflation, the Investment, Yr Home-Singapore & continue with current proven standard of Living as it is now.

Believe me….U & i are far ahead of the crowd. Many wants & are in Q at our Door Step to get a Job & Live here. They came hiding in Car Boot, Cover under Basket of Vegy, Hide in Refrigated Truck, Swim across St of Johor in Rubber Tube….All these pples risk their LIFE to get here-Singapore. Many came in Call- Girls, Maid, Coffee Shop cleaner, Waters etc.

I agree. Ever since starting on my new job which requires me to travel, I experienced the luring comfort of Germany and Austria. At the same time witness how mismanagement can destroy a nation, I specify Philippines. Beggars fill the streets in Quezon City. While I sat in my client’s car in a real traffic jam (not our miniature jam), beggars came to my window knocked onto the glass while stretching out her cup on one hand holding on to the baby with the other. The sight breaks my heart and these sights are common over there. Back at home in Singapore, finding beggars is a challenge. The gap between the wealthy and the poor is very wide in Philippines. While 10Euros may not matter very much to us, by giving a mere 10Euros to the bellboy made his day as an out of proportioned tip.

I cannot agree more that our forefathers led by Mr LKY has done a great job to sculp a spectacular economic landscape.

There is always trade offs for everything. But I am sure I rather have ERP, COE and endless complains on the expensive life here as now than to allow my country dip into the mire like the poorer nations.

111) ThePeople’s on July 25th, 2008 9.55 am

“There is always trade offs for everything.”

Nicely said only if …….. . Yes only if you are at the receiving end of the good part – and only if is not overly done if you are at the receiving end of the bad part . Hey I do not mind a little tickle or pinch from you once in while it is still manageable. Well, if it it ‘upgraded’ to a punch, no one is going to sit still and clap his hands.

People who buy into trade offs for everything have mindlessly accepted the way LKY and his PAP run the country.
In effect LKY started off running Singapore as a country, to continue prosperity , he is now running an exclusive business. The people who really benefit will accept this trade off.

Let’s look at all the other trade offs.
Pretend there is no conflict of interest with LKY as MM and chairman of GIC, LKY’s son as PM, LKY’s daughter-in-law as CEO of Temasek.
Pretend that there is transparency and accountability.
Pretend that somehow the President of Singapore is aware of our reserves and we can assume he will act in the interest of the people.
Pretend that it is ok even if the President was not elected.
Pretend that the IBA report on our judiciary is nonsensical and they are up to mischief to do Singapore in
Pretend that the Straits TImes ranking of 154th does not affect its credibility and transparency.
Pretend that a lopsided representation of 82 PAP members against 2 opposition will not affect the check and balance on the ruling party.

I sincerely believe that many netizens can continue with many many trade offs that we should accept in return for not ending up like other S. E. Asian countries.
The big difference for me is that I can see beyond my rice bowl. LOL

113) Conjob on July 25th, 2008 12.43 pm

Trade Offs, Pretend, IBA reports, Elected President , everything have mindlessly accepted etc by “Conjob ”

Well my Friend “Conjob ”

MIW……… Get to do the JOB, Get the Econ moving, Attract the Investment, Keep the Country Safe, Clean & Green, Erect ERP to move the Traffic, Run HDB Town Council, Solve Drinking Water problem, Manage Health Care etc….in this Resourceless Red-DOT-CITY called Singapore.

THEY “MIW” DONE A GREAT JOB!!!

WE HAVE DONE MANY COMPARISON FROM NORTH< EAST< SOUTH & WEST!!!
RED-DOT BO BEH CHOW!!!………….No horse Run!!!

IT IS PROVEN & WE HAVE TASTED!!!
WE ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE ON THIS TINY RED-DOT.

114) newold on July 25th, 2008 3.06 pm
“in this Resourceless Red-DOT-CITY called Singapore.”

Yes sir, in the past lah. Don’t keep on showing us your results of several A1s in your PSLE or ‘O’ level lah – we have already “paid you” for that already. Shame on you lah. Do not keep showing us the same BEH trick.

BO BEH CHOW. Really meh. Hey, any lobang for this weekend.

@ newold,
“We enjoying every minute on this tiny red-dot”

Good for you that you are enjoying yourself, and the “we” does not apply to those left behind, those facing economic hardship, job uncertainty,etc,etc,etc.
And let me surprise you by saying that it does not apply to people like me whose rice bowl is full.
The reason is because I see beyond my ricebowl, call it empathy for less fortunate fellow Singaporeans and setting my sights on a much much higher standard of governance. Nation building if you like.
The present government definitely needs a very big kick in the butt to do a lot better.

It is obvious you are very satisfied with the PAP and you are free to continue to support them. The readers will draw their own conclusions on you and me, where we are coming from. It is up to all Singaporeans to decide the outcome with their votes and I will live with that decision.

I think many of you have yet to understand the fact that while you sit before the monitor, you are already enjoying the luxury of a stable life which many of our younger generations have taken for granted. So many people overseas will trade places with you.

It is useless to debate. It took me real life experiences, tears and heartbreaking revelations to appreciate what I have now in Singapore. Even though Mr LKY is not a perfect man. Which man does not make mistake. It will not be honourable for me to hide behind the monitor and bad mouth him.

A wise man said before, “Those who are without sin may cast the first stone.”

Regarding the bad part of the trade offs, I will rather upgrade myself to become immune. Work upwards and stay afloat. I will not boast about my little achievements here. But I can say that by working upwards with honour and integrity, giving the best that you have, making a decent living to own a reasonable accomodation and some above average assets is possible.

The imperfect government has done their part to create a good environment for me. How well to do am I will be decided by my ownself. No amount of efforts they put in will be of any use if I only whine and cry for help. God help those who help themselves.

I just hope the successors will be just as good and not ruin the stable economical landscape painstaking built by our forefathers.

Good luck to everyone here.

117) ThePeople’s on July 25th, 2008 5.11 pm

“It will not be honourable for me to hide behind the monitor and bad mouth him.”

Now you get it hoh. We have to sit behind the monitor. What serious option do we have leh. You must be kidding leh to teach us about honourable way to conduct ourselves. You must be pretending to be blind not to know about reality here.

Will the MSM do the honourable thing and let us have our views (your call it bad mouthing) aired through it no matter how drastically different the views could be from them (those honourable men of your kind) so that a more balanced view on the ground feel is concerned – not only those wayang ones good for marketing or trumpeting their own ware.

At least, TOC is kind & responsible enough to blanko all those statements that are deemed too way off the mark to be seen and read.

I do not know what kind of shock you have experienced in some other place(s) for you to have a much much worst benchmark. One thing for sure here, a lot of other people also have their own experience & benchmark and glaring examples here for them to look , see and compare.

@117
Words of wisdom : “Those who are without sin may cast the first stone “.
You should advise LKY on that. How many stones has he cast in his life ? Many of us will not put someone in detention for 32 years, or financially ruin another human being and his family, because of words.
Any sensible person will aknowlege that no human is perfect and will make mistakes. People with integrity will admit to mistakes but do you recall LKY or his cronies admitting to mistakes ?

The success or safety of a country isnot just due to any government. It is always the collective effort of all the citizens. Only shameless politicians will not pass up the chance to take the credit.

As citizens we should not find excuses on behalf of the government when it makes mistakes. Responsible citizens have every right to question them and
in a way will push them to be better and not be complacent. Whilst we should not take the government for granted, it is even more important that they do not take the citizens for granted.
The leadership in the government should know that criticisms + responsibilities come with the job. No one forced them to take the job and they are free to leave for the private sector.

116) Conjob on July 25th, 2008 4.46 pm

Congra that yr rice bowl is full. Please help us to keep it that way, protect the system for the future generation to enjoy. The present PAP system has give lots of pple a full Rice-Bowl too. That is why S’pore Beggars are hard to find. Those that i found are professional Beggars from other nearby Countries. This is the BEST PROVE that the system in S’pore is working. The S’porean are help me ERS, Utilities Bill Offset, Food Vouchers etc & most important Jobs a plenty if they are not lazy !.

Yr ……”empathy for less fortunate fellow Singaporeans and setting my sights on a much much higher standard of governance. Nation building if you like.
The present government definitely needs a very big kick in the butt to do a lot better”.

No, No, No pl don’t go around kicking others …………

This PAP system is safe, sound & proven. Those less fortunate has many ways out. Just check out the thick ST Job Section. Take another P-Time job or 2. Work hard & save for a better future for yrself & Kids.

Me & my siblings worked on 2 jobs for many yrs. We bring home the Bacon & see the kids thru school, all b’cos we know that there is no such thing as FREE LUNCH.

To those that whine or looking for changes in the name of “EMPATHY” or OTHERS AGENDA. Please do so within yr backyard.

@ newold
You certainly have a wry sense of humour.

Professional beggars ?…..you have not found any real ones ?….I think you need help on this. LOL

It is ok for you and your siblings to hold 2 jobs for many years ? …..but few readers will agree except the PAP MPs who hold multiple directorships, moonlighting as MP or Director, whichever way. Are you one of them ? lucky you.

Go around kicking others?….How to when I have a slight limp like Mas Selamat? The only way to kick the govt’s butt is cutting down on the number of PAP MPs, serves as a big wake up call….everyone needs a wake up call once in a while.

This PAP system is safe, sound & proven ?…..for the exclusive group right ? Again are you one of them? lucky lucky you. No invitation for me yet. LOL

Please do so within yr backyard ?….isn’t Singapore our backyard ?….pardon me if I am not aware that the boundary has been changed. LOL

Sad to know that there are so many angry, dissatisfied, bitter, unhappy people around. I am not one of them. I am sure there are happy Singaporean around. We are all living under the same sky, same rainfall and same sunshine. I wonder why there are so many unhappy people around …. sad.

Gus,
that is because some people care more than others over the future of Singapore. You can live a very happy life if you just accept Singapore as it is run, and the government will thank you for it. No unhappiness means more round of salary increment for gahmen since people are happy anyway and don’t bother.

I wonder why there are so many happy bootlicker gahmen around …. sad.

122) Gus on August 1st, 2008 2.01 pm
We are all living under the same sky, same rainfall and same sunshine.

The world is living under the same sunshine leh. Your name is Gus and my name is Dus. You may be a lady and I may be a man, or vice versa. You may like mee siam mai hum and I may like mee siam mai mee siam. So how can be the same leh.

Think, most r happy….something likes 100,000 Happy Singaporean.
Only 1 or 2 or maybe 3 are unhappy.
So the ratio 100,000 Happy S’porean to 3 Unhappy S’porean.
Well the World Is Not So Perfect for the minority.

hey, i suspect that many of you vote for PAP too right.
PAP is not perfect, but close to.
If you so smart, come out and stand for government, lah!

PAP is quite close to perfection…. You are so clever PAPer !
They are relentless in the pursuit of perfection …..in underhand tactics lah!
I can give you more of what they have nearly perfected…….
example : the BS that they packaged makes it so palatable for many.
the judiciary so respectable that convinced IBA for so many years.
a corporation that is recognised as a country.

PAPer, your masters will not be happy with you instigating the ordinary folks.
They are already worried with many things.
WKS and others like him sitting pretty are hoping for walkovers in 2011.
You will get to see many smart ones coming out in 2011 lah!
Be patient ok.

pap all are like this paid and paid until we suffer want lah the pap give us alot of problems want lah but what to do life still must go on the pap want us to suffer
the pap will want us to paid until we die want

PAP solves Big problems & we do the small little one.
Yr Indo & Flipinnas Maid clean yr House & wash yr Car.
ENV take care of yr Newater.
LTA keep the Road pot-hole free.
S’pore Is In Good Hand of PAP Govt.
Good Clean & Safe City State.

Healthy Economy……Please visit Natas Travel Fair in S’pore Expo to see & feel the S’porean throwing $$$$$$$$ there.
Travel Fair FREE TROLLY Bags already OUT OF STOCK .
Many of those spending $2K & above get a FREE Bag.
S’porean spend, spend, spend. travel, travel, travel…
That is our way of LIFE here with PAP in charge.
How can U CowPay & CowBull about Life here?
Be Grateful to the PAP & Count Yr Blessing in this Tiny Red Dot and a Land of PLENTY !!

[...] – The Relentless Rising Cost of Living by The Online Citizen [...]

Yes i totally agreed aygee, when i called up LTA as to why Comfort Delgro has not reduce the surcharge, LTA got the cheek to tell me that they can only advise ComfortDelgro, as prices of taxis has been deregulated.

And ComfortDelgro claims that they would only remove the surcharge is the oil prices are revised to that of dec 2007 level which is 97.7usd per barrel. Now that is IMPOSSIBLE. I really question why the authorities cant question on that figure!

The government is not thinking of its people at all. it only thinks of how to monopolise the political scene and also of its own pay. How sad it is to be a Singaporean.

There is one thing you forgot… MINISTER PAY RISE!

My suggestion – give all the ministers another pay increase. The cost of government is not keeping pace with inflation, hence we are not getting the best from our finest.

I feel it is time again for mini star pay to be benchmarked to maintain their “real income” level

if the increase can be categorized in a various particular group, say for petrol group, then we can visually see the series of price increase throughout the period and by how much is the increase.

i wonder whether we are imposing too many fees/charges/levies/taxes on SMEs/MNCs & companies. at the rate we are going, with increasing cost of doing business here , lower workers’ productivity and shifting of the market center from SG to China/HK/Korea in the north and India in the east, i feel that many companies will be shifting their operation overseas to enjoy much lower costs, higher productivity & proximity to market. and please don’t blame workers if those who are in power do not know how to manage. indeed, i hear many business men grumbling at the side but no one is hearing now . . .

advertisement rates for the local papers have just gone up too

81) Ray Fang on July 5th, 2008 10.58 am

“Dear people, Its time to wake up and stop complaining. Inflation is a worldwide problem and not only Singapore’s. While Singapore is suffering from ’sky high’ inflation of <8%, other developing countries are suffering from inflation of 15% or more. I think we are extremely fortunate!”

Dear Ray Fang, what have you been smoking or do you rarely get out much? What basket of products/services are you using to derive the <8% inflation? (I would like to ask the garmen that but I know they will not tell me, or worst give me some BS story). I would say that inflation is definitely in the double digit range, JUST LOOK AROUND AND USE YOUR MENTAL CALCULATOR WHEN YOU PURCHASE ANYTHING!!! I’m constantly baffled by people’s ignorance and reliance on ridiculous figures that they churn out. Come on, be smarter than that please… numbers can be skewed and usually not 100% transparent/accurate. Even hawker food has shot up so much and food courts are charging sky-high prices and not very far off from entry-level restaurant prices. Coupled with the next generations’ general inability to cook, there’s less chance of avoiding daily inflationary pressures. We all know that prices go up easily/quickly and almost never drop. Any drops are merely a token gesture and not a true reflection of market rates.

“I see lots of complaints regarding rising oil prices. But that can’t be helped either. The most popular brands of petrol in Singapore are Shell, ExxonMobil and Caltex. They are not PAP!”

In case you and others are unaware for some reason, SG is pro-company and the reverse for employee rights. Just TRY to seek help when you’ve been disadvantaged or need help from an employee’s point of view. SG only prevents a very basic layer of support for people who they consider as problematic or fall through the cracks and require help e.g. divorcees, needy (don’t talk about one-off payoffs please, they’re still not sufficient). Basically if you have a problem and need help, you’re screwed. We’re not talking about fuel subsidy but they could lower the oil taxes but that wouldn’t be as visible and appreciated by the people, so why do it? It’ll hurt the coffers as well so they might as well push the problem to the people and asking them to be ‘efficient’ in their usage. Although I don’t have issues with the quest to be more efficient, I am peeved that with all the money that’s been taxed out of us, the roads still are crowded and jammed! Totally defies all logic with what COE and ERP is supposed to do! If there are so many jams then limit the number of COEs issued, otherwise you might as well put gantries up everywhere, from my toilet to my doorstep to the lift and to the carpark… and then use the GPS installed in every car to charge by distance driven! Families who own more than one car (forgive me if I refer to such families as well off) should be taxed heavily for having more than one car, on purchase and on secondary annual recurring taxes. I know some of my friends whose families own like 3-4 cars and one even for their MAID!!! I’m not envious but instead find it incredulous that SG is not in traffic gridlock with such frivolous practices.

I am adding a link from http://www.findsingapore.net/forum to here under the topic “Dairy to Singapore’s Cost of Living – Post GE2006″ – http://www.findsingapore.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=33181#33181

PAP is not equal to singapore..singapore is belong to singaporeans.
better don talk about thank them.
.but why singaporeans need to thank PAP?? for rulling
country?? is just all PAP effort made singapore until so good??
btw,they taking the salary of millon SING DOllAR. thank them for what??
is not part of their JOB??

DID them give good solution?? all solution is just increase and increase $$..EG:ERP,or electricity!
remember,mostly our electricity is use natural gas!Not oil..but WHy they using oil $ to charge our SINGAPOREANS ELECTRICITY BILL>>>–<<_<
how young singaporeans like me could survive payin tat amount of money??
in the 1980s,a 5 room flat is just 50k to 90k..how big the gap is..!!

findin a jobs only about 2 to 3 k in starting pay..so using tat little salary to pay 700k of flat??daily expenses??

we have 4 power plant,3 going to sell away..who built the power plant??gov or tamask holding?? but why when we sell away the power plant,money is giving to tamask holding??
SECOND IS,when the electricity increase the fees,NoONE could STOP..included gov.becos WE SOLD AWAY HAPPILY!! hahas..

AND TAMASK HOLDING IS WHO RUIL..?? when other party take charge of singapore,,DO NEW GOV STILL HAVE TAMASK HOLDING??
ASK MY Q,NEWOLD…o…!!

gov solve problem by increase the charge,,,,and tat BECAME our problem and burden.
be smart..newold..

by all the expenses i name out..DO u all still want marry or having children?? it will be much more expenses than tat…hai,stressful life,can i don think about it?? NO,becos i am a SINGAPOREANS..!!

VOTES IS IMPORTANT,,DON THINK OF yrself..becos still have lots of pp suffer,but u just don know..don selfish..all of pp die,such as jump down MRT track or others method for died.

who say other party can”T rule singapore?? DID u ALL giVE them chance?
sometime don too lookdown on pp..
GOV love to said to us that,must have have competition,so it will be upgrade yrself…
WE MUST TRUST GOV WORDS…SO give a chance to other party ba..?maybe it also could UPDATES pap.:):)

love singapore!!! count me in!!!! BATTLE IS NEEDED….!!!

i could use com must thank my parent…becos they paying electricity bill…not pap..

hosital fees increasing…GST increasing..

if got car..road tax is payin for using roads,,but Y must have ERP?? tax again???
bus and MRT fares increasing too…how do poor pp affortable?? lots of begger in sing,just u don see it…

66.6% pap won the election for past..not 100000 happy pp vs 3 unhappy pp.be smart…newold.

66.6% is at the amk electron of LHL…:)

140) Victor on September 5th, 2008 3.52 am.

This my reply ……………………….Dear Victor from NewOld

My Family & I live thru PAP Rule. PAP is a proven Brand, give us hope, peace, security, prosperity & a good life. My Family with ages ranges from 27 – 75 yrs.
We only take what is proven, tested, workable PAP as our Goverment. TIKAM or TRYS others Brands only over our dead bodies. That is our stand !!!

Looks…… there is lots of troubles in Thai, Mal, Philip & Indo. That is more than a good point to prove that Singapore is GOOD & SAFE to Live, Work but Plays hard in Phuket, Penang, or Bintang or Cebu with my strong S$$$$$$$$$.

Just look at the RM1 Ringgit VS S$. It was 1 to 1. Now RM2.38 VS S$1.
My S$10 is equal to RM23.80 & now can buy….10 litres of Gas or 3 Sarawak Pineapples, or 12 kilo of Mangosteen or a Curry Fish Head Lunch @ RM20 for 2 person in JB and more if further up north to Ipoh or Padang Besar. Why should we complaint about PAP or Car or LTA or SingPower or ERP or Gas or Housing in Singapore. Some even buy RM230,000 Condo in JB, Malacca, KL & Penang as weekend home with S$100,000. The S$ make us KING & QUEEN in SEA.

We just learn to adjust & be flexible with our strong S$ & Singapore Passport. We Work, Live in this stressful but prosperous vibrant City State call Little Red Dot or Chilly Paddi..

There are lots of Married Singaporean earning 2k, 3k or 3.5k living comfortably in 3 or 4 room HDB. Some take SMRT, SBS, Ride a Bike and a few own a car too. Many enjoy ultility rebate & ERS too. They learn to adjust & fit into Singapore too.
Some hold 2 jobs so that Wife can stay home to care for the Family. My Family of 5 live on less than $3k a month happily.

Don’t want the Disruptive Thai Demo, Mal Sodomy or Indo kind of life. Road full of pot-holes, inefficient civil service, corruption & many others chaos !
So please help us to keep PAP in power OK!!

I too witnessed the deterioration of the political landscape in the region. Went to Thailand on a business trip lately and was so relieved to escape the demonstration narrowly by 1 day. Went to Taiwan on the 1st day Chen SB came forth to apologise for the unaccounted NT7bil. Went to Philippines in July and for the first time witness how corruption can ruin a nation.

Back here in singapore, my German colleagues who came here all expressed their preference to work and stay here. We are the only country in this region comparable to the developed European countries like Germany. I’ve been to Germany for work too. And realised the great similarities in terms of stability and comfort between the 2 countries. Of course, if you minus the fantastic weather and the autobahn where I drove the SLK200 at top speed legally. (^_^)>

I certainly hope that Singapore can continue the economical stability for many years to come. But the current leaders seem to lack the charisma and dedication of the leaders in the past. The spirits of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Toh Chin Chye and Mr Rajaratnam seems to be lacking in the current leaders. I find the current leaders more inclined towards monetary gains or bootlicking their way up on their chief.

I too do not support absolute power consolidation into one party. It appears more like a monarchy system to me. And our future livery depends on the one party’s integrity. Totally under the mercy of the party. So I do hope to see different parties standing on different grounds making their stand for the unspoken.

Many people call for reformation but what do we see during the elections? Many people suffer from short term loss of memory and those who waved the reformation flag voted for the ruling coalition and opted for the old life they loathed instead. Only to return to complain about the aftermath.

Make an effort to vote against the PAP if you really feel the need to. Make words count as actions. Make your desire become reality.

Could not agree with ‘The People’s” more. Its sad that we have been conditioned to believe that having a opposition spells doom for Singapore. On the contrary, we need to understand that a opposition will provide for a check and balance to the way the ruling party runs the government. Yes, we have long since heard that the ruling party has its own checks and balance but lately we have seen several incidents where one has got to question the priorities, party, individual or the people. With impunity comes the arrogance that one is always right and the past successes are used to cover the inherent flaws of the present. We need to redistribute the power so that no family, group or party controls and rules with impunity. While we are quick to be reminded of the failed systems in some countries, there are many a country where success and the well being of the people are acheived with a vibrant political environment where the ruling party needs to win the support of the people based on their performance and not by threats and monetary incentives. A sealed off door is worst than a revolving door policy. The list of price increases is running long but yet we have no answers but blame the global economy but when a few things fall our way its the brilliant work of the government. Somehow or rather is story no longer holds water to many of us.

143) newold on September 5th, 2008 3.53 pm
“Some hold 2 jobs so that Wife can stay home to care for the Family. My Family of 5 live on less than $3k a month happily.”

Long time no hear from you.

How about those who do not even have any work even if they want to work. Hey not a cleaning job which pays less than sgd1,000/- for some retrenched executives or professionals. This kind of jobs (which can easily go into any statistics as job availability) is plentiful.

hi.
thank for reply..i just a student..if hurt u,i apologise.

but life is just full of worKK??
in the past,,5 room flat just sold 70 to 90K with a salary 3k is enough,becos in tat time,all is so AFFORTABLE.

but now, just one 5 room flat in AMK,not orchand,SOLD 700k WITH OUT INTEREST for just 30Year..!! without paying daily expenses.! if i work,would i have a salary of 2k, how i SURVIVE,buyina a 700k flat??
having family?? children? think about it.

u mean this is good sign??takecare of CITIZEN?? i don think so.

and now all the government department is all changing to TAMASK holding[TH]..
POSE going to change to DBS tat is control by :TH:..is tat FAIR>>>—<<<!!

who is tamask holding?? u have not ans my Q..?????
CONTROL by goV or private company?? if change of ruilling party,DOES it still belong to singapore GOVERN.

THIS R A SERIOUS Q TAT ALL SINGAPORE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT.including
newold..
why all our SINGAPORE recourses change to TH name,WITHOUT PAYING ANY MONEY..this is our citizen MONEY,okaY.hardwork.
power plant is our recource,is it,,but WHY SELL IT AWAY..DOES IT FAIF TO THE SINGAPOREANS??
SINGAPORE SO POOR TO SELL AWAY IT OWN POWER PLANT,.
setting up a company just want to earn money.so it will increase the electricity and water BILL..

u STILL TELL ME TO HAVE FAITH towards pap. when i small,yes.
but now,SORRY,i can’t trust anymore. totally disappointed..hai.

ask my Q:newold,
tamask holding is belong to WHO.government or private company??

stop saying other country…
u SHould compaRE the past of SINGAPORE in 1980s..tat is CALL PAP GOV TAKE GOOD CARE OF SINGAPOREANS..
now is not,
is PP FULLY DISAPPOINTED TOWARDS RUILING PARTY..

they still control of media and internet..
IS SINGAPORE A FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY COUNTRY??..
IN THE PAST,SING PP IS TOO SCARED…NOW WITH the NEW GANERATION..HAHAS..ALL WILL CHANGE,..
BECOS WE KNOW HOW HARD OUR POOR PARENT IS suffer now.

can”T newold give chance to opposition party??
HOw u know they can’t do it??
R U GOD?? no. everyone is human being,, . so give change to other people…
genuis is good?
taking our citizen tax to their high SAlary?? come on,normal human being also could do,c
hina PM is more good…

song:
stand up,stand up for SINGAPORE…!!!!!!
S I N G A P O R E

Many events had happened. Another power plant that provides 30% of the nation is sold for profits. Something is amiss, maybe did not take up economy as a subject, so don’t understand what the Government is up to. It is better to have eyes and see not, ears and hear not and mouth that speaks not… Can’t get rid of the fear factor when greed creeps in….

Is Singapore so poor as to sell away her power plants? The nation has no need of electricity? Just being cynical about this whole matter , but on second thought, our country is heading towards clean energy: solar energy! We are to build the world’s largest solar energy plant that generates solar power by 2010. Better get ready for a radical change in a year or two.

i just disagree of selling our 3 power plants!!
this is our recources,
singapore so rich,WHy WHY WHY need to sell away..??

perpare FOR THE increasing in electricity bill BA…
SINGAPOREANS!!
WHY SOME SINGAPOREANS CAN”t THINK….LIKE TO ACT MATURE,,,LIKE NONE OF THEY BUSINESS…Disappointed young generation…T.T
hai…
sorry if hurt your heart…:(

Singaporespirit & Victor: A sense of national loss over the sale of Singapore’s power plants is uncalled for. According to the Ministry of Trade & Industry, piped natural gas from Malaysia and Indonesia accounts for 76% of our electricity fuel mix. However, the International Energy Agency has estimated that Malaysia natural gas production will peak in 2016 while Indonesia natural gas production will peak in 2013. Singapore Gas will start constructing our first Liquidified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal next year, so that we may be able to diversify our natural gas sources although we will only have 1 aggregator supplying the LNG. In the mean time, these power plants are extremely risky assets to hold on to.

alright..as u say.
but if THE company buy our power plant,,do they will not increase the $$ of electricity bill..first problem…

as company just want to earn profit …

secondly,,GOV sold away the power plant,,,but the money is post to Temask holdinD (TH) ??? Do TH this is a goVERN company?? or LEE COMPANY??
I REALLy WONDERING.. GOV company or lee company is big DIFFErent..

but i still disagree of wat u say,,,ya,it is a danger assets,but DO SINGAPOREANS NEED ELECTRICITY for the future,30 year or more?? ofcos,, if the fees of nature gas increase,our electricity will increase,
but now our power plant sell to the company, WE need to pay more due to increase nature gas fees AND COMPANY PROFIT!!! don u think about it??

REMEMBER,, now we pay electricity is using OIL Price,not nature GAS PRICE..!! why..IS IT GOV JUST WANT TO EARN MONEY from we??

this is call takecare of SINGAPOREANS?? i wonder.
plz ans…thank :):)

Wah.. how to cope with so many price hikes?

When I was a general worker with SIA in 1978 (SIA established year), my monthly salary was less than S$200. A Malay colleague told me he drinks tap water to save money. My Malay boss told me he always work overtime to increasse his income for TEN children. Eating out at staff canteen was around $1. I brought my lunch to work site to save money.

Today, Thailand farmers drinks rain water and survive with 4000Baht (S$160) for one family monthly. Their lifestyle is very simple. Now, the cost of rice is US$800+ per ton. You make a lot of complaint. You eat rice and expect farmer to be your slave. Can you think of hardship of farmer who feed you?

148) Victor on September 5th, 2008 5.53 pm …….can”T newold give chance to opposition party??
HOw u know they can’t do it??
R U GOD?? no. everyone is human being,, . so give change to other people…

No way………. My Family will NEVER gives OPPOSITION a chance., maybe over our dead body. Too much RISK to try some unproven OPPOSTION.
PAP has gave us WEALTH, SECURITY & GOOD LIFE.

Yes, Yes, Yes….I will only compares Singapore with the surrounding ASIAN countries. They are the closest, same culture, bigger, corrupt, inefficient, bullies & is a mess politically since i was born. Singapore only 43 yrs from 3rd World to 1st World U know !!!

Cannot use Commodities Rich Aussie, Kiwi, Tech Rich Jap or Europe to compare lah. Too much difference & with their long history.

neworld:

PAP was just as unproven in 1965 as the Opposition in Singapore is today. In fact, your notion of unproven means refers to the fact that they don’t have any experience in ruling a country. However, this is where your logic is flawed.

PAP may be in power for a long time as an organisation, but human-wise, each new candidate that PAP has put up has no experience in ruling a country. I am sure you hard of former US President Bill Clinton. He was elected Governor of Arkansas fresh out of graduate school without substantial work experience. Did he do a bad job? There are many examples of politicians without “experience” that actually contributed to the a nation’s success.

Sorry………Me is Not One To Take Too Much Risk. Life Is Great In Singapore lah.

READ ON & U WILL BE CONVINCED !

Articles from the Malaysian Blogg…enjoy this: http://blog.limkitsiang.com

3rd World to 1st World….
did our surrounding countries is 1worlds yet…no..so why u compare OUR country to their…
we should compare to the western!! if not,how we going to improve…._(_!!
we don talk all culture,history or other shit.
becos all the thing all not the same…ANd I don think singAPORE got culture..hahas,

in 1965,why we prove PAP?? and in tat time,pap got prove tat his party is a efficient party,,NO..
THEN WHY we trust?? becos we just want to let this party try…
and now,we have quite a standant of living in singpore…BUT IN 1965,DO we make BIG RISK FOr giving pap a chance?? YES,ofcos,or now,we can”T see singapore lo…

So towards the opposition party,singaporeans also willing to give opposition party a change to ruiling sing,u MAYBE will have a big risk,but we also make a big risk in 1965…am i correct??

Mostly PAP policy let me dissapointed..SO I AM WILLING TO CHANCE SINGAPORE…
BIg risk then will have BIG benefit..
in 1965,ALL singaporeans had make a big effort and BIG RISK in singapore.
so as now,i willing to learn to effort and i willing to give opposite a chance to make a effort in singapore..

HOW could u judge or know a person whether he have the abilities to fix in a position when u did not let them try or help u…think about it..:)

WE R SINGAPORE,SINGPOREEEEE WE R..!!!!

@young generation@

too many error in my spelling and words..sorry.

Umno,BN, Gerakan, MCA, PKR, PAS, PAD, PPP etc…..
Don’t ever get into this mess & be burden for Generation to come.
You can see, read & feel the heat now in KL & BK.
Don’t try please,
Don’t give them chance please.
Take the proven smooth road & continue to support workable Govt.
That is PAP.

newold (#161): The PAP route is hardly smooth. You simply chose to forget some inconvenient truths. You may not like change, but any policy the government makes now affect Gen-X and Gen-Y Singaporeans 30-40 more years more than the generation of babyboomers. You have enjoyed your stability for at least 20 years, so don’t make us (Gen-X & Gen-Y) to continue to suffer from bad policies made now while you are dead.

162) Donaldson Tan on September 18th, 2008 9.23

My judgement is that the present PAP Govt are doing very well.
Me too hav 2 Kids just started works & in the same GEN X & Y too.
My kids are the X & Y generation, that is the reason why i am in this forum.

PAP have foresight & are working very hard for the good of X & Y generation.
They take short term pain for long term gain for the good of Singaporean.
But sad to say, some just cannot accept the Hi-PAY of S’pore Govt, The Hi-COE, ERP, HDB etc, etc, etc. Some can’t see beyond their nose and cannot appreciate nor grateful to MM, SM & the present young PAP works.

So, to these group. Please get across the to JB, Bk or Jakata. See how the Govt there works, see the Living condition, Security, Housing, Food & Medicare. Stay there for 6 months & U will understand the word “” SUFFER “” better !!!!
U will be convert like me upon yr return. That S’pore under PAP is doing GREAT.

what the hell also want to increase food money drink oil also want to increase now what u all pap want to increase u pap is to much already i will deal with u all

newold(#163):

I never doubted the capability of PAP’s old guards. It is the Young PAP and new cabinet that I am very doubtful. Have you read the P65 blog? Do u realise how disconnected the P65′ers are from the public? A government, no matter how competent or not, is still accountable to its people. If the ruling party has lost sight of that, then it means the ruling party has lost sight of you. Why are you still supporting a party that does not have you in mind?

newold(#163):

Ray Fang (#88) said “If Singaporeans think they are very unfortunate for having such a government, then they are free to leave. No one is stopping them.

Although Ray is a PAP supporter, he is aware that Singaporeans who are not happy with the government can only choose to leave Singapore or not, and most of them definitely can’t vote out the ruling party because of walkovers. However, voting for PAP is voting for the oppression of Opposition in Singapore and then you happily buy in PAP’s arguement that they are the only credible political party in Singapore. Isn’t this somewhat fallacy of the circular logic?

Politik is not my cup of TEA.

Opposition Party trying out or replacing PAP is a No, No to me.

Too much risk, uncertainty, untested Opposition…..is just buying Melamine-SANLU Brand of Milk from China.

P65blog is just another discussion.

Here we discuss….. Relentless Rise In COL is our concern.
However, having walks, drive, MRT around my Little Red Dot, my estate, looking, feeling & tasting around China Town, Little India & Geylang Serai area.
Visited the Old Folk in B Merah, T Bahru & comparing the surrouding.
Living standard, Cost, S’porean future & Security is very well managed by the present ………………………………P A P Govt.

167) newold on September 19th, 2008 1.43 pm

Going through your past posts, it seems that the problem does not lie with the credibility of the opposition.

The problem lies with your extremely low threshold for risk-taking.

You are very comfortable with past success (tested formula) and like to give a linear permanence in extending this past success into the future.

“Too much risk, uncertainty, untested Opposition…..is just buying Melamine-SANLU Brand of Milk from China.”

“Melamine-SANLU Brand of Milk”, if I am not mistaken, comes from a state-owned company and is one of the oldest and most well-respected brands of infant formula in China. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanlu_Group

To emphasize again, it is one of the oldest and most well-respected brands of infant formula in China. You gave a wrong example.

“oldest and most well-respected” in the past is just that, in the past.

167) newold on September 19th, 2008 1.43 pm

The problem does not lie with the credibility of the opposition.

The problem lies with your extremely low threshold for risk-taking. You are comfortable with past success (tested) and find it easy to give a linear permanence in extending this past success into the future.

“Melamine-SANLU Brand of Milk from China”, as mentioned by you, comes from a state-owned company is one of the oldest and most well-respected brands of infant formula in China. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanlu_Group)

Emphasis intended, it is one of the oldest and most well-respected brands of infant formula in China and it also comes from their state-owned company.

“oldest and most well-respected” in the past means just that, in the past.

The P65 Blog represents the young people in the PAP. The writers are younger generation MPs from the PAP, including Jessica Tan Soon Neo, Michael Palmer, Lam Pam Min, just to name a few.

newold (#167):

According to you:
1. Politik is not my cup of TEA.
2. Too much risk, uncertainty, untested Opposition…..is just buying Melamine-SANLU Brand of Milk from China.
3. Please get across the to JB, Bk or Jakata. See how the Govt there works, see the Living condition, Security, Housing, Food & Medicare.

While politics is not your cup of tea, you are more than happy to repeatedly state that Opposition is untested while you stubbornly refused to compare Singapore to better examples. In another words, you would like a status quo to remain, which means no need for improvement, no need for welfare while people’s needs and the world economy continue to evolve.

170) Donaldson Tan on September 19th, 2008 5.18 pm

It is OK for me to be stubborn. If it benefit me & the future generation.

S’pore is still No: ONE !! After I compared Singapore to……. USA, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong & China-Shantou & Beijing & most SEA countries. That i visited.

Remain status quo is OK too !!!
If things are running smooth, peaceful, efficient,job a plenty & corrupt free environment.

S’pore with PAP will carry on with a lots of future improvement, welfare, economy & many others, they have proven in less than 43 yrs for my Kids to proper & live in this clean & safe City-Singapore. Many others Country Leader talk about & use as reference points for their City-Country future planning & development. They send pples here to study PSA, HDB , New Water, Airport , Industrious park, etc

etc………………………….This ONE GOOD REASON.

My Grand Children will be proud of this THE LITTLE RED DOT under the capable leadership of PAP , shining & standing out among the sea of Corrupt Country both North, South & East.

Singapore with High Unemployment, Police asking for Pocket $$, City full of Beggars & Robbery, Housing slum, Abandon projects, Traffic chao, Gabbage pile-up, Water & Electric no longer regular & not running, crimes infested, Medicare not working, MAS, SIA, PSA, Changi Airport in a mess. This will happen very fast when corrupt opposition is in power. See that in Boleh Land & Indo now. Still want to try, untested party or admit the opposition ?

I have supported the PAP for many years and still admire the old guards very much. Many of my peers from the early seventies are talented, honest and successful in their field. None have taken an interest in politics and it is a shame because many would have beaten the present lot hands down. I believe there are many more talents from 70s to 90s. These talents together with discipline workers are the main reason for the country’s wealth. PAP is only part of the reason. I believe very strongly that Singapore can do much better with another party to challenge the PAP. It is ridiculous to compare Singapore with our neighbours when we are pass that stage. The old guards sacrificed so much and they would expect us to have higher aspirations. Comparing with Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo or even some western cities like Paris, Munchen, Sydney or Melbourne would be more appropriate.
Although I am a PAP supporter I cannot turn a blind eye to their self serving governance and policies. I want to win but not in the manner that has been done.
I want my leaders to show more integrity, sense of fairplay, accountability and compassion. I want more welfare for the needy because we have the money.
I want my PAP to recognise that the opposition and their supporters are countrymen first and political opponents second. We need to focus more on nation building, country comes before any political party and for this reason I am willing to give the opposition a chance.

172) newold on September 19th, 2008 9.27 pm

Complacency is a very dangerous thing sometimes. I give due credit to the old guards who have transformed SG to what it is today, however am not a PAP supporter anymore due to what I have seen through the years until now. Change is happening everywhere whether one likes it or not. Remaining the status quo is not wrong, nor is it good. With no change, there is no progression and only stagnation in an ever-evolving world. I respect your viewpoints based on your personal situation and quest for a non-troubled and stable life leading to the golden years (if it still exists anymore in SG where the word retiree is fast becoming obsolete). However, one has to take into consideration the big picture involving the general population and not just a select group of people. The fact remains that the general wages have not risen in tandem with the massive price increases and is disproportionate, causing a lot of alarm and negative sentiment.

Everyone has their right of opinion so there’s no point being personal in a public forum where discussion is only right.

That said, I noticed you mentioned that you’ve visited those countries but there is a big difference in visiting and actually having put time living and working in those countries. Only after a few good years clocked in can one truly have a clearer picture of how the country is being managed. One needs to know and talk to the locals as well as keep abreast of the political going-ons. In my opinion, just visiting as a tourist or on short business trips is hardly able to give an accurate depiction of how a country is being managed, or mismanaged.

Comparing ourselves with worse-off countries (albeit being the closest proximity to them) is only a form of self-consolation and used if we’re attempting to be more like them. We’re already one of the richer and more progressive countries in the world so why shouldn’t we be benchmarking against the more established economies? FYI, our government also sends its ministers on fact-finding and research trips to source for ideas to bring back and implement in SG. Many things here were taken from other countries, so it’s not that we’re so full of bright ideas to begin with that other countries are the only ones trying to learn from us.

As for corruption, don’t be hoodwinked… pull down the veil and you will see the hidden agendas of people and the white-collar professional corruption that is happening everywhere. What you do not see does not mean it doesn’t happen. It just goes on invisible to outsiders. Do you think that some business-owners have nothing to gain if they become MP? Think really hard, it doesn’t need a rocket scientist to figure this one out. It’s good for business definitely… who wouldn’t want to do business with a ‘reputable firm’ right? Opportunities will open up etc.. Commercialism has taken centerstage and commonfolk are feeling the heat as a result, losing confidence in the process. MPs prancing around on stage just does not cut it for me nor does it help at all unfortunately. There must be some decorum and sanity in the process for credibility’s sake. Do not simply patronize the people, insult their intelligence and brush accountability aside. That is not what a true administration does to its people.

We have somewhat become SINGAPORE INC. over the last decade or so. The common people have seemingly become the slaves instead of masters of their own destiny and this is deeply saddening. Personally I liken the worldwide political arena to that of a beauty pageant… the best candidates just did not participate. You’ll have to knock on doors and ask for the gem of a daughter that is residing within. One cannot deny that many enter politics for the wrong reasons and to achieve their personal agendas, be it noble or not. It does not necessarily mean they’re the most qualified or suitable candidates. That, my fellow people.. is for YOU to decide.

Life will just get tougher in SG as time goes on. Be prepared to make changes and do remember to spend enough time with your family and loved ones while you’re slogging away at neverending employment.

173) can do better..
said well man…

but i only support the party tat give benifit to the citizen…

PAP just making me more disappointed..
Corrupt in singapore just as in legal…do u know why..
1.CEO ,PM or minister salary so high…need to CORRUPT?? no neeD ma..so much money le,why corrupt.RISH LEH.if pther country also could get such high salary,they also will not CORRUPT LOL.

if u all could see clearly,we all will not tat LEE family operate a lot of goV post or such as temask HOLDING,CEO..
If u all add all their salary together,u all will know tat how huge amount of money they get from SING CITIZEN..

Do u think singapore is becoming more better?? i don think so.
sing have import 1m of foreign worker.,alot of 40 to 50s uncle or aunty lost their jobs becos of these..YA,most of the job r low pay,but don u feel sad about LOCAL singaporeans..?? singapore is not a place for SINGaporeans to stay in??
i sad man…really..
this current gov just want our money..
Alot of solution no need to use the method of”increase the price”
if u like to compare other country,hey .come on,other country have lot lot NATURE DISASTERS which spent lot of money to recover,but in sing.we does do not need..
so WHY still keep increase the price.. lots of money could give to us,but then…..

, untested party ??
hahas,in 1960s,WHY sing pp VOTe for pap?? did we tes test them..no ma..hahas.so why SING vote them…is it a word call” TRUST”..
but now.not trust at all,man..
so lots of young generation willing to give other party chance to rulling sing.
alot of think u don know only,becos the main media just cover up.begger in sing increasing man…making me more sad.
@young generation@

174) Lim Bu,
i have the same feeling with u..but i still very young..hai.don know went i could die.hahas.
u said well..:)

newsman (#177):

If the Thai can accept Pples elcted Govt peacefully.

Are you suggesting that the Thais cannot change their mind about their government after they have elected them?

If the UMNO, Gerakan, BN, MCA, MIC come clean without the ISA & Sodomy II.

If the Indo KPPU & ACA can clean clean.

Will PAP come clean when Opposition politician questions them over PAP’s corrupt practises without throwing the ISA and Libel suit? To name a few, the HPL Saga, the Teh Cheang Wan Incident, Mismanagement of PAP Community Foundation’s Funds, PAP Ministers entering Cheng San GRC Ballot Box Area when votes were being counted.

177) newsman…if u this pp could awake…
singapore will not like tat……
how could u compare OUR country to their…

u so many IF,i only one…..
.IF THE GOV COULD REDUCE ALL THE TAX TO “0%”GST ERP OR whatever..

these party could rulling singapore FOREVER,,,..

please lah…toot singaporeans like u is so useless..
like an turtle..

hahas,in 1960s,WHY sing pp VOTe for pap?? did we take the RISK..yes.why SING vote them…is it a word call” TRUST”..
SINGAPOREANS..!!

When i was in primary school………
always wonder why my classmates travel in family car.
among classmates we compares our toys.
compares where did we go for holidays, what type of home we have, what yr parent biz/job etc….So comparison is actually a good DRIVER & A COMPASS to our future.

Tax Free & Zero Tax in Little Red Dot with ZERO resource except MANPOWER & BRAIN. . There is not such thing as FREE LUNCH….wake up, wake up…STOP DREAMING lah. Times to grow us & be responsible for yrself & yr future generation.

Comfortable but not well off. Just 3 meals a day. A small Fam x 5. A cheapo Holiday overseas every 6 moons. A small secure CPF & A Part-time works that get me a few $K. A Peaceful, Secure, Safe & Clean Land to call home-Sinkie. So veri happy leh. …But In yr EYES I AM A TOOT!
Ok call me anything that make u happy but I No complaint leh.

My whole Life ONLY VOTE FOR PAP. VOTE with my EYES WIDE OPEN, Vote the right & capable party, vote for Safe CPF, Vote for ERS handout, Vote for Good Medicare. Vote to ensure the most Capable & Fair PAP Govt. U see i trust them with my vote. But only after careful consideration & they deliver with GOOD & CAPABLE LEADERSHIP.

So If U R here to CowPay & Cow Bull like me. U hav yr right.
I Hav my reasons as stated above. Me & My Fam will never want to try any other opposition, when we hav already a GOOOOOOD & CAPAPABLE PAP.
Why Take Chance. Maybe $1-$5 to buy TOTO weekly is the only chance i will take.

I wonder…

newsman,
Are you a disciple of Lucky Tan ? If so, Lucky Tan must be very fortunate to have you as disciple.
Yes, we are so always fortunate and so lucky compare to the other worse-off countries. Never mind any blunder and nonsense by PAP because we are always so lucky and blessed. Long live PAP !

why u buy toto??
PAP tell us don gamble ma…why u gamble..??
i DON THINK U have the luck to win..hahas,.

“STOP DREAMING lah”?? but i don dream,becos i still awake ar..if not how i type…??hahas.

VOTE with my EYES WIDE OPEN,as u said,,
ofcos yr eyes must open,if not how u vote.??later VOTE wrong lo..

“There is not such thing as FREE LUNCH”
hey,,OUR gov told us to be FREE volunteer in youth olympics in 2010..becos really lack of volunteers,,WHY AR…BEcos PP like u LOL…HAi,disappointed..

as u say no free lunch right..WHy GOV still asks sec or pri school students to have their CIP…no free lunch ma…?? is it.. WHY THEY NEED TO DO??.hahas,.

pp like u will not takecare yr parent Very much…u know why..Becos in yr mind,take care of parent need MONEY LEH..so know need right,,
U r telling the next generation not to takecare their own parent when they grow up right,,is it…??

“A small secure CPF & A Part-time works that get me a few $K”
R U crazy,or need to slp leh,A FEW K…OR a few H..
if have a few K,sing will not have LOWER INCOME LEVEL le..please,,
CPR? better don have…:) harm lots of pp.

Can”t be tax reduce?? to 3% GST,no ERP..??
BUilt more roads lah!! u think tat ERP will cure for a long term.??
from:
@young generation@

Reading Victor here brings me joy and laughter, young generation can be extremely wise. My salute!

patriot

I personally feel that the government is taking too much of a deterrence stand on problems in Singapore.

When faced with congestions on the trafficways, they implement ERPs to make drivers think about their pockets before driving that way. It might work in the beginning, but as drivers start to find alternative routes around that ERP, another route starts to get congested and another ERP gantry is raised there. There won’t be any end to it in such a manner.

Road tax is going down, more ERP gantries are going up. Sure, the drivers might be happy that road tax is lowered. But what about the non-drivers? The lowered road tax doesn’t count into their fares if they take a cab.

What to do? Stop taking taxis. Take buses and trains. But that too is facing hikes in fares.

With the cost of transport so high, people will generally think again when deciding to go out. Business will be affected, and with less customers, it’s either raise or fold.

In a way, these “solutions” that are being implemented have caused nothing but more problems for the people.

What our money can buy then, can’t buy anything now..

Increasing prices, taxes, pay hikes…(ministerial in nature at that)…Non-transparent GIC…(and Temasek)…selling of our power plants, recently an average of 22% electricity price increases…(which could mean that some households could be seeing something like close to 40% increase in their bills in extreme cases…GASPS!!!)

I see wad some people are saying about the proven track record of the PAP. Yes i agree its proven. And i do admire very much how they steered the country from obscurity into prominence. Surely feats like these are admirable.

But that said, track records are only just that, track records. We’re now seeing a change of guard…(or its already been mostly changed)…most of the old respectable stalwarts are now no longer there or are stepping aside for the new ministers. So some people who continue to rely on track records as justification for saying so and so political party is good, have got to realise its no longer justifiable evidence of the party’s worth.

So is the current government, partially free of our old stalwarts, and trusted to carry on the legacy of the party to look after the interest of the people and the nation up to task?

In the face of current global issues, our government isn’t really doing well i guess. They do make a ’show’ of trying their best. With the issue of progress packages and all to ‘cushion’ the impact…Quoting SAF army songs…”They give me $100, they take back $99″ go figure

But we are tired of hearing the same old excuses about how prices HAVE to go up because of globalisation, old prices…things out of the governments control…(its like wearing the same underwear again…and again,.,,and again…)…and even so, the lack of justification for these hikes. Also in the face of this adversity, the people in power are remarkably quiet on these issues. Have they just chosen to just do that, knowing that it has worked in the past? Where if they just keep quiet, the problem and rumblings will go away? I don’t know…

The focus seem to be on falling birth rates, and foreign workers or ‘talent’. But little on the plight of the common Singaporean. And also events of the F1 and all. But is there exposure to the hardships faced by our common Singaporeans?

To me i don’t need to look at what it is that the Government is doing or not doing. Since the Government has a hand in most of the processes of the country, I have to look around at what is said in the local press and the news…just think about what is NOT said

LITTLE is said about the plight of the common Singaporean, who is likely to suffer these effects. More focus have been placed on Macro things.

So my humble opinion on our current government? I feel its not doing anything much. In the face of globalization, of course its inevitable for these phenomena to happen, but little has been done to shield our Singaporeans i feel.

Is it resting on its laurels as scholars and elites who look after our affairs and have the technical know how to manage our country? Have they become disconnected from our common plight and ordeals? Is complacency now the disease that is small but surely present?

I leave my opinions to myself on that one…

I do not have much information on the Energy Market Prices but oil prices is certainly going down, especially with US and Europe’s economies down, energy prices is not likely to go up. Singapore may be hit by recesssion soon, so the need for energy is probably going down, but why prices are rising by so much ? Singapore’s electricity rate is rising by 21%, this is ridiculous.

High prices and high cost of living is certainly eroding Singapore’s competitiveness, the government is pricing Singapore away. Hong Kong is reducing electricity tariffs in October 2008 by 3%.

Reference:

https://www.clpgroup.com/Media/CurRel/news/Pages/20080923_02.aspx?lang=en

The EMA also cites the high consumption of Singapore, but this increase also affects those that use electricity to the bare minimium, is the government forcing
us to use candles? High consumption is a different entity to be worked at and not be linked together. Is the government doing it again, using high prices to deter consumption? It will only hit the poor, the retirees and those who already are very thrifty in using eletrictiy.

Let’s not kill the Singapore economy by high prices. Things are already bad enough.

Forgot to add, in Hong Kong, they do not have to pay 7% GST, the HK government also distribute handouts to its citizens.

The shite time going to increase price again by 10 cents. All singaporean shld boycott shite time n read news online.

About price increases and hikes in essential services and goods.

Profiteerings are not just deeds of unscrupulous businessmen, unscrupulous men are more inclined and capable of profiteering(read make money) for themselves. And these people need not be in businesses(commerce) to satisfy their greeds.

patriot

Time to keep your monies to yourselves in such times.
1. cycle / walk to work, or just stay overnight in office
2. eat fruits and bread, apples only 3 to 5 for $1 (about there)
3. go online only in the day when in office, at night live in the dark / sleep early
4. bath lesser, save water. if our tiong friends can do that, so can we

“A small price to pay, to live in Singapore.”

indirectly saying, if can’t pay, get out of their elite uncaring faces?

As citizens we can’t always be held at ransom for just these reasons. Might as well use the same reason, 10-20 years later, for whoever’s personal benefits.

The Senoko Power Station was just sold to a Japanese firm and the next thing we know electrcitiy tariffs are going up!! What an irony! Our GICs and Temasek holdings are going around the world acquiring assets but here, we are selling our assets, close to the common man, to foreigners! Our basic source – power supply – is in the hands of foreigners!!!

I just hope that THEY WILL SELL THE WHOLE ISLAND, ONLY THEN CAN WE ESCAPE FROM THEIR(RULING REGIME) IRON FISTS.

SO, PLEASE SPEED UP THE SELLINGS!

patriot

Whole world suffering with USA catching a cold.
S’porean Life seem normal, good & inflation manageable here.
F1 buzzz past, soon Youth Olympic & more.
Wow ONE S$ can buy RM241. Relentless Inflation happen, only in M’sia.
So time to spend, spend, in M’sia this year end school holiday.

one day very soon singapore will be like usa if there is no good government.

“Whole world suffering with USA catching a cold.
S’porean Life seem normal, good & inflation manageable here.
F1 buzzz past, soon Youth Olympic & more.
Wow ONE S$ can buy RM241. Relentless Inflation happen, only in M’sia.
So time to spend, spend, in M’sia this year end school holiday.”

Thank to MSM for making you feel so good no matter what. The sky is so blue. The sea is so blue. Nothing will happen as long as you believe in ShittyTimes. You lost your job, and your salary stagnant, it will still be okay because you believe blindly in ShittyTimes and the Dr Feelgood (government)

one day (#195): we already don’t have a good government.

Aiyah, everything only ‘cho hee’ (acting) only lah. They give all of you credits, bonuses from the right hand and collect them back, couple with extra dollars with the left hand. You think they really bother. They only bother about your votes only. Some more can say what we give you sufficient to meet increase. And I thought it is only to help the people defray cost of food etc. Now where got extra for food?????

hi,

read thru the long list of comments.

the recent electricity tariff hike of 22% is unbearable.. initially presumed due to increase of oil prices as SP has stated, but it seems like our fuel mix for electricity generation mainly comes from pipeline gas supplied by indonesia, at a fixed rate for 20 yrs.

the public ought to be told the truth.

could the relevant comment posters, “irgen”, “electricity” and “donaldsoutan” verify the source?

all is bull shit..>!!!!

22% of electricity…EG:
$100 become $122
$122 included 7% gst bocome $130.54

130.54-107=23.54
so tatal increase 23.54% without GET…..

hey,remember,water still have 3 kind of tax…!!
30% water tax is the most freak thing…

still got pp said,”sing V good le lah!!! u pp don always said gov lah”’

i agree sing V good if the current gov LEAVE sing…

u all must know,all business need electricity,and their electricity fees is 5 to 10k de..if now already increase 23.54%…how huge their electricity fees will be…

then all the operating fees will be added in pp who buy their products…
Bread will increase,food will increase,,can u all don eat???

can not ma…!! then how!!!
THANK for the good gov LOL…..NEWold or other pp support pap de…come out and said something LA!!!

in the past,talk until so clever….now ne!!!!!!!!
LAME and freak pp.!!

all the thing will goes up de.
in the past i said before…we can”T sell the power plant,becos we needed it..
still got pp say is a risking assets!!
now what happen…

when u don sell away,u still benefit,,now sell away,,DO U BENIFIT FROM IT..!!
COMPANY just want to earn profit,how the GENIUS gov DON KNOW!!
hahahaahahahs…VOTE THEm LAH..
STUPID PP…

hey,remember,some more our electircity is come from NATURE GAS..

in the next election…i can pap will not have single seat…

sibgapore pp V educated de ma…
WHY u all can:T think when u all VOTE!!!!

want us suffur with u all….
Don made us no face lah…

alot of pp like to said,if u don like pap gov…leave SING!!
but do SING respresent PAP..NO ma..WHY must leave!!!!

now the birth rate drop until like tat..who need to BLAME…

USE Brain and think,ofos not sing pp fault…
more dissapointed…

HISTORY,current gov will be ended soon soon…
wait and,,u shall see…
@YOUNG generation@

Everything happens for a reason. why u people always kena pluck by yr government? cos when u are weak ,they climb over your head and shit on you. Friend, you people deserve it. let hope you people continue to kena squeeze hard.

dear gong gong,

not we deserve it,,is other people tat have different view,deserve it..

then we guy in here have to suffer from it…

do u think we like it…!!
come on…
is tat some freak pp don know how to use their VOTE wisely,,so we got harm from it.

just need to wait until 2010 or 2011 lo.in order to change the sky..
if in 2010/11, singapore still remain as 2 seat vs 80 seats,and still continue to be treat like tat..

i don know whether i still need to be loyal to my country anot.
Singpore have import alot of foreign labour,
china,india of other developing countries,DO THEY LOYAL TO SING??
IF sing in battle,hahas,Do they still willing t0 stay in sing??
Don GOV get it..!!
we,young generation,born in singporeans will be loyal to sing,if singapore in battle,i willing to die in order to protect singapore..

but now current GOV treat us like tat…
i very sad..

singaporeans willing to stay in overseas than sing,
CURRENT GOV STILL DON UNDERSTAND!!
SING GOV JUST WANT MONEY SET AS THEIR TARGET,ALL THEIR policy JUST BASE ON MONEY..

I THINK I TOO naive..CURRENT GOV don want me this kind of pp tat loyal to sing..mind as well leave..

my loyalty should in other country not singapore anymore,if gov still treat us like an dog.
from:
@young generation@

we,young generation,born in singpore will be loyal to sing,if singapore in battle,i willing to die in order to protect singapore..

mistake on top..sorry.

@YOUNG GENERATION@

intriguing to see that there are so many voices out there, but the current government still states that the youth of today are politically ignorant.

I’ll support anyone who takes a stand and speaks up at speakers corner or anything.

For me, I’m switching to bicycles for transport. But if too many people do that, I think even bicycles need to pay for ERP gantries.

bicycles is going to have road tax,ERP or COE…hahas.

btw,Singtel going to rise the COST OF home line….

Great great great..!!!

SINGAPOREANS.!! LIVE HAPPY IN SING BABABABA,,,
HAI.
iS not,” youth of today are politically Ignorant.”

IS TAT WE TALK ABOUT gov POLICY ,IS STILL NO USE AT ALL…
all our REASON ABOUT THE RISING COSTS IS IGNORE BY GOV..
SAY ALL NOT SAY,STILL THE SAME…MING AS WELL don SAID..

BUT i think tat there is need TAT YOUNG GENERATION to speak out and not just sit at there and STUP UP>>>…<<<
FROM:
@young generation@

Singtel fixed line to increase $10. Newspapers already increased 10 cts and 20 cts per day. I am a peaceful guy because when i complain nobody hears me.

So I think I will just terminate my residential fixed phone line and rely on my mobile phone – anyway, most people, my friends, don’t call me on the fixed phone line anymore. I will also give up buying Newspapers for now. These savings are little but I hope to use the savings to pay for the increase in Electricity bills. What to do ? Just try to “tahan” here and there by stretching the dollar.

actUally,
singaporeans no need to TAHAN THIS DE….
becos is WE the citizen BIGGER IN SINGAPORE…
The BOSS IN SINGAPORE IS SINGAPOREANS!!

NOT THE GOV PP..

SO PLZ…USE YR VOTE WISELY IN ELECTION!!
SINGAPOREANS…

u guy still vote for the current gov,,,so need to HAVE PREPARE for INCREASING THING..

STAND UP,,,STAND UP FOR singaporeANS!!!>
@YOUNG GENERATION@

We must all go to check our brains – maybe our common sense ran away. So simple theory like : “If Oil price goes down, then electricity chrages will go up” – like this simple we also cannot understand ?? See, in Hongkong now they announce 3 % reduction in Electricity charges because Oil price gone down – these Hongkong people also got mental problem, right?? How can Oil price drop, Electricity charges also drop ??? They must learn from Singapore example which ist he only correct model – ” that is if Oil price drops then Electricity charges cost more” !! No common sense Hongkies !!

What to do ?? Just accept lah – don’t complain so much. Try to follow my example to cut costs :

1) ERP up – don’t drive lor.
2) Newspapers price up – don’t buy papers, don’t read lor.
3) Telephone ( SingTel) charges up, give up my residential fixed phone line.
4) Electricity bills go up – this one real tough – how to escape ??

Since 2006 over a 50% increase in the cost of electricity. Why doesn’t Singapore have consumer protection? Conserve energy comercials on the TV and in the mailers, what is SP doing to bring down the cost of production are they developing a means for the future? Are they turning to other countries for supply? Why are the prices dropping at the pumps for petrol?

There are things we can choose to buy or change, I can use the MRT instead of driving. But, I may soon have to look at needing loan to keep my ice box on or explain to my son why we have to read the paper in void deck to save money to keep the food cold and cook the meals.

People complained when the bus charge went up a few cents, the electricity prices are soaring higher than eagles dares to fly and no one dares say a word. Grin and bare it. Hold SP accountable, for the profiteering.

Dave;

we do have ‘Consumer Association’, but whether it is functioning or not, I do not know.

patriot

With a public utility, considering just how formalized and rigid things are here in Singapore I wouldn’t have thought that such thing would happen. Yet the math doesn’t add up, the price per barrel increase doesn’t compare to the increase to the of price per KW. After reading other posts, regarding the production of power in SG coming through the use of natural gas and that not increasing I am skeptical. It feels more like people taking advantage of a situation and having a population and no other corporate compitition to deal with.

I think something is going very wrong here. Everything seems to increase tremendously one after another as though the country is in deep shit. 1 min reported GIC managed more than 300b, then 200bil and then 100bl lately. Is this could be the reason of taxing the pp to recover the lost? even it is so, why should the sing pp be penalise?

SP is a goverment owned and controlled business so it would be hard for the government to police it’s own pricing policies. It has no compitition and it has a bottom line to protect, it has a captive customer base that can not switch to another service provider if they become unsatisfied with the way that they dermain prices. Beyond complaining about that rate of increases, what will happen to Singapore in the event that their suppliers refuse to supply? Shouldn’t we look to alternatives, besides natural gas or crude oi that depend on outside supply too heavily? Using ocean current to propel hydro-electric systems or turning to nuclear energy.

i think tat Sing pp need to REAL riots in real life..but i know i will cause some negative effect in sing..
but Do u all know tat how WEST COUNTRY disagree on their GOV policy??
they sent some pp to talk to GOV..
BUT IF IT DOES NOT WORK,,,THEN USING hard METHOD,,SUCH AS,RIOTS..

sometimes bad solution will change something in real life,,

as what i said before,singapore is belong to sing pp,,not the HIGH POST PP..

by doing this…i think tat the GOV MAYBE MAYBE WILL KNOW HOW HARDS IN NOW SING PP FACES..

Sing GOV just want to suck yr blood until………..don know when.. :(

takecare all singaporeans..
from:
@young generation@

Patriot (#212) and Dave (#213):

I personally feel that CASE is inadequate. In a liberalised market for electricity and healthcare, consumers must have a voice. CASE represents a multitude of consumers and being the only organisation, it serves the interest of too many people. The individual trade unions under the NTUC would be a better platform to raise concern over retail prices of daily goods and services because each trade union is a natural organised consumer representation. Each trade union also tends to cater a group of workers with similar economic positions, of which members of the union committee come from. Such union leaders would tend to be more responsive to their “constitutents” and provide a stronger public voice than CASE in applying price pressure.

Donaldson Tan;

it would be ideal if Unions in Singapore are proactive, as I have said in my post, I do not know if CASE is functioning, Unions in SIN are very similar to CASE. There are so many hikes and increases that had been announced and publicised and how much have we heard from CASE. Each time CASE said something and it rarely did so, it is the usual caveat emptor, ‘consumers should know the risks’ etc, as if the consumers are at fault and not the sharks feasting on the vulnerable buyers/users.

When one looks at the People running CASE and the Unions in SIN, it is not difficult to see that they are mostly Parliamentarians of the Regime. The “PRIVATISED” ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES PROVIDERS(Healthcares/Utilities/Transportation/Education etc) ARE STATE OWNED ENTITIES. It is simply naive for Singaporeans to hope for CASE and the Unions to uphold Consumer Rights for the People.

Some organizations, such as PTC(transport) are as good as the President in SIN, toothless(not due to advance age) and inconsequential in their functions, very much like decoration pieces for window dressings and very expensive. Another good case for us to complain? But not to CASE please.

All in all, the Laws on (anti)Profiteering have been impotent and hardly ever exercisized, imho, there is no need to set up bodies here and there to tackle a simple problem of profiteering. The more people and organizations are involved, the more complicated and waste of money ensue.

Profiteering is a sympton that there are unscrupulous people in businessess and organizations. When profiteering and fleecing are rampant in a country, it goes to show the Managers of the Country are inefficient and incompetent. And when the Profiteers are State-owned Enterprises, what can we say?

So, there is little or nothing we the people can do but consume less so as to be less fleeced.

patriot

patriot (#218):

I share similar sentiments to you with regards to the state of trade unions in Singapore. Essentially, opposition parties must court individual trade unions to re-assert their independence from NTUC. NTUC today is no longer the same organisation it was when Devan Nair founded it.

TakBolehTahan,
Everthing increase……….
Next election Change Gov.

no pp will hlp sing pp..

only need to depend on ourself leh…

NTUC or what even,,,all is support RUILling party….

all our recources going to sell away if u guy still DON want to wake up..:(:(
and the increase will CONTINUE.

HAI…

@young generation@

Hi Donaldson Tan;

thank You for the concurrence and response.

Devan Nair did indeed play a big part in the Union Movements in SIN. When he joined the Regime, he was made the Mover of the various unions and consequently, if memory serves me right, he was the One who managed to get all the different Unions in SIN under the NTUC Umbrella.

As such, I think that after Devan Nair became a PAP Parliamentarian, not only he embraced the PAP Ideology, he propagated and promulgated(through Union Newsletters/Publications/Education of members) it(PAP Ideology). As he headed the NTUC almost throughout his entire PAP Days and successfully turned the Union into a Tripartite Coalition with the Employers and the Government, he played a lead role in making the Union(NTUC) into what it is today.

Readers; please feel free to enlighten me about the NTUC and Devan Nair, for I was never with any Union. My knowledges of both are from recollections gleaned from medias and discussions with Union Members during my working days.

patriot

Pardon me, for I forgot to conclude that the NTUC today is a part of the System(Governance), as such, I believe Opposition Politicians and Parties are unlikely to have any influence on the Organization.

To be linked to Post#222.

patriot

patriot (#222):

Although Devan Nair led the tripartism movement, PAP in 1969 and PAP in 2008 have different goals and priorities. At that time, trade unions were equal partners with employers and thus they have the bargaining power to press for workers’ needs in a peaceful manner under a government-moderated forum. However, trade unions today are no longer in the same relational position it was in and no longer effective in pushing for agenda, especially when the government is pro-business. What made sense in 1969 is now a legacy defect bear by people like us. It is time to revive the Singapore Association of Trade Unions (SATU).

With the rate of price increases of almost everything going on without the concern of the feeling and hardships of local citizens, it will soon come to a stage whereby situation of everyone here would be no difference compared to slow death scenerio, you die your own problem, while the ruling party continues to draw their huge and obscene salaries out of the pp pocket. Do nothing now and your next generation will continue to suffer further. Anyway, the hint is already out there . . . not satisfied! you can always pack and leave.

i’m serving ns now and i’m really feeling that money is extremely tight. i save whenever i can, i don’t go out for entertainment, i eat at home when possible. but with the prices of everything rising, the few hundred dollars is really too little to sustain even a thrifty life (i’m not kidding). worse, i feel that ns is a liability for men as they sacrifice more than just time. women do not understand what it means to serve ns. some think it is a simple life for us. the so called foreign talent are not here to stay for long – but the government treats them like gold and our citizens like dirt – and the best thing is they get our jobs and don’t even have to serve ns. actually some of them aren’t even talented. sigh, i hate to say that the quality of life in singapore has decreased to the point where i seriously want to give up my ic and migrate – but the paradox is that i’d have wasted my 2 years of life…..

to patriot and donaldson tan:

after reading ur discussion on our national trade union (NTUC), i’m keen to know about more about it. What is the main function of NTUC in singapore and has it effectively fulfilled its role as a trade union throughout the years?

NTUC becos super-market lo..

CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE…

for earning PROFIT…

hai..no one of the GOV care about singaporeans.. :(:(:(
tired..

my only hope is opposition party.. :)
i think,it is the hope of whole singaporeans..
so…i know we r not so stupid…so election,we r know how to do le ba,,,.. :):)

@young generation@

like what my friend said, are they triying to get us to foot the electrcity bill for the f1 race (given the rise came just after the race)? 20% is absolutely ridiculous! Especially since i keep reading reports in our local papers that say petrol prices are falling.

Well, i don’t know whether they use crude oil or petrol or whatever. but i would like to think that their prices are directly related to world oil prices and so if that is falling, why should electricity rates rise? and rise by 20%!

i think the pap is trying to see how far they can push us. it was bit by bit previously, but now they’re getting greedy. sad to say, they have succeeded.

i am amazed by the relative lack of disgruntled voices considering the staggering % increase. or perhaps it is just that the mainstream media is not reporting these disgruntled voices, therefore making it seem like people aren’t that badly affected.

coming from a working-class family which is barely making ends meet, this increase will really hit us hard.

damn it. time, please pass faster so that the next GE will come around quicker and dear WP, please start contesting in my constituency. *prays to whoever is listening/watching above*

“i am amazed by the relative lack of disgruntled voices considering the staggering % increase. or perhaps it is just that the mainstream media is not reporting these disgruntled voices, therefore making it seem like people aren’t that badly affected.”

That is the power of media. If you see the media doesn’t report it, perception is that it is not important and that everyone accept it. This is a reason why LKY controls the media. Because the media never mentions it, people assume that maybe he is the one that worries.

Having been to Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, I can tell you there is no way the media that independent of government will fail to mention such hike. We are been brainwashed by the media and that is why majority feel apathetic towards politics and issues that affect them.

Why do you think the Big China able to hide the tainted milk incident before the Olympics ? Have they report such act in the mainstream media, you see the indelible repercussion or even endup in the delay of Olympics.

blade;

as I had said, I was never a union member, however when I started working after National Service in 1972, trade unions were independent organizations with very strong bargaining powers.

Union Leaders those day bargain hard for their members and if their reasonable demands are not met, they havd no qualms calling for collective down tools(stop works) walk outs and boycotts(stay away from works for a period of time). Violent protests were not unheard of.

Unions of yesteryears were much like unions in Europe and US as you get to know from the reports in the medias. They were independent from their employers and government.

As for the establishments and regulations regarding unions , I have no inklings except that unions were trade specific or company specific, ie Airport Workers has Airport Workers Union and Banking Workers have Bank Workers(of different banks) Union etc.

patriot

“damn it. time, please pass faster so that the next GE will come around quicker and dear WP, please start contesting in my constituency. *prays to whoever is listening/watching above*”

Anyway, I expecting many areas will endup contesting in GRC again, which means lot of walkover and more happy Pappy’s face.

pay gst, pay more for my favourite char kway teow, plate smaller, self service, must clear my own tray . . . . . time for us to send a clear and strong message. would toc organise a tar pau home cook food / eat at home week?

the supposed justification for the recent 21% hike in electricity tariffs was reportedly due to how the EMA purchases the fuel oil using the “forward fuel prices” of 3 months.

Correct me if i’m wrong, but that means that the current electricity tariffs is due to the fuel oil prices of 3 months ago being high? Given that reasoning, we should see a huge drop in the electricity tariffs for the next quarter due to the falling oil prices. So the only way we can see if the EMA’s reasoning is indeed valid is to watch to see if the tariffs fall drastically in the next quarter

Jason

234) Jason on October 11th, 2008 12.11 pm

Stop dreaming Jason, whatever price increases that has been implemented and effected by the garment, since when did they ever drop as according to market flactuation? The answer is never. They stay no matter what as all these are additional profits to them. All they do is (as usual) giving out some freebies to the public like rebates for some couple of months and knowing that all you ppl out there will just quiet down and move on.

http://www.spservices.sg/news/PressRelease-29-Sep-08.pdf

this does show that there actually has been reductions in the electrical tariffs
however, as to whether it is a true reflection of the market fluctuation or due to other factors that i do not know. However, i do agree with your view tiredsingaporean that the majority of the time, prices do indeed go up and never come back down. But whether this applies to the electrical tariffs, only time will tell.

I feel I need to respond to this post, mostly because the poster did not define what they meant by foreign talent. Please remember dear poster that the maids and heavy laborers that this country depends so much on all fall within this clasification of foreign talent and none are treated like gold all of them are treated like dirt. Now they may not have to serve NS like yourself, but that does not make them golden. If they get their PR they will have to register for NS by the way and serve the counrty unless for one reason or the other they are given and expemption. Now, you may in hand be refering to the handfull of whites in the country that do come here to work for what ever reason, the ever so unpopular ang moh, of which I belong. I see the way Singaporeans stare at me and other whites on the buses and the MRT, yes we do know how you feel and talk about often.

We pay more for every service, we get charged more when we walk into the wrong shopping centers, sales men see a pay day in each one of us. Now if it is true that we are not here to stay long, that would mean that any job, that we took from a Singaporean wouldn’t be taken from them for long because, well as you stated yourself, we will be gone soon any way. So what is your actual complaint, is it the jobs, the money or the women that you have lost to a white guy?

226) sick of singapore but tied down by ns on October 9th, 2008 12.25 am i’m serving ns now and i’m really feeling that money is extremely tight. i save whenever i can, i don’t go out for entertainment, i eat at home when possible. but with the prices of everything rising, the few hundred dollars is really too little to sustain even a thrifty life (i’m not kidding). worse, i feel that ns is a liability for men as they sacrifice more than just time. women do not understand what it means to serve ns. the so called foreign talent are not here to stay for long – but the government treats them like gold and our citizens like dirt – and the best thing is they get our jobs and don’t even have to serve ns. actually some of them aren’t even talented. sigh, i hate to say that the quality of life in singapore has decreased to the point where i seriously want to give up my ic and migrate – but the paradox is that i’d have wasted my 2 years of life…..

foreign talent = any foreigner that able to contribute to GDP growth that make the coffers fat and happy

import foreign talant is a need but it also must be a acceptable RATE..

gov import so much of FORE worker in sing,,becos they just want to earn money,,,they correct their FOREIGn TAX,eg:maid…or wat ever..

do u all know,how much foreign worker in sing??
1 out of 5 pp in sing now…
hai…

237, said also correct..i agree.

but u must give sing pp time…
as so much FW enter to sing,,,
we local sing pp will felt tat we r useless.and find job will be difficult too..it does not benefit sing pp..

the main thing is,GOV must give sing pp a particular period of time to treat equally either sing pp or FW..

but gov don give us time,,they always import too much of FW…then the problem cause..becos local pp heart have not accept FW yet..and some FW also very rude.

but my Q is,,
do FOREIGN TALANT OR WORKER loyal to sing??
going to NS or not,,does not represent loyalty…but is just a waste of time…entering NS also made sing man difficult to find a stable job.becos we need to go RE SER for 13 years.

FW just come to sing and earn money..
as a result,local sing pp go to other country and develop..

let say tat ,sing pp plus FW pp have 100 male pp.
BUT,when in war time..
do FW loyal?? i don think so..they will ran back to their own country asap..
SO LEFT 50pp only..
but some of the sing pp in other country developing..don wish to come back..
so left to 35 pp in sing in battle le..

in tat time,,the 35 pp will think tat DO WE NEED TO loyalty to this GOV or country tat does not treat us well during the difficult times,,such as now..??

so what happen next…among 35 pp,some perhaps will carry white flat..
sing flat have red and white colour,when u guy say u loyal to sing,carry sing flat.but when in battle,tear away the top..left bottom to use during war time.
who is the guy which design sing flat?? too good to use..

actually sing V easy to occur..
Sing have a lot of modern techology(MT) so wat..?? with no pp control the MT,tat treat as USELESS.

the energy is use NATURE GAS…

so don take about oil oil oil…

if gov is really good to us…set up Clean energy as much as poss..
Clean energy is expensive,but also benefit a long time…

i thought gov HAVE a FAR SIGHTED VIEW….
they just want to MONEY>..

wake up lah..
u guy still don know tat who is good to sing pp or not ma..

just use yr vote wisely.
don votes for RUIlling gov le..
it is V diffcult le.

in 2009,gst maybe going to increase 2%..
HAHAHAHAHAHAHS….
sing pp,don made me feel tat u r stupid.

So lets look at all the foreign talent workers that are taking the jobs from Singaoreans. Their are the Indo maids that scrub the floors, pick the children from school and prepare the meals, the Chinese, Indian, Thai, Indo and what not Girls of Geylang that service the boys we can’t forget their ‘Foreign TALENTS’ now can we, that are brought in on tourist visas now they are most definantly taking jobs away from Singaporean girls. What about the large number of Bangladeshi, Indian and Nepali men that are brought in to do like improve and build the MRT, work any construction site, dig trenches, clean the sewers, mow the grass, wash the roads and do every other menial job below the standard of a ‘normal’ man.

So when some one says that 1 in 4 jobs in Singapore is taken by a foreigner that includes thoses that I have just mentioned above. As for myself, I didn’t come just to make a quick dollar and then leave, I have a family here. A wife who is Singaporean and to some of you I guess you would feel she is a traitor, but I don’t think she cares. I am raising a son here and he will serve this country and I will teach him to defend it.

Lets not fight over the issue of FW here, whether they are white, black, purple or blue, we are all humans under one common planet called earth. The problem lies in the implementation of the system by our so called world class leaders who are only thirsty for money and power. Most of the price increase do not really affect the FT as a whole and the garment knew that. As for the non talented FW who are earning the lower salary, they too are not affected so much since whether there are price increament or not, they only managed to spend the daily necessity like 3 simple meals which are still better off than in their own country. The most affected people are the local citizens, mainly the middle class lot, as every single price increase in any area makes a bigger hole in their pocket. Their salaries are all stagnant for years while the garments increases theirs like no business. Please do not point fingers among us which would ultimately make lives more miserable. Infact, we the citizens of singapore should unite as one big power to change the system comes this next GE. All opposition parties should also unite as one to represent the people of singapore. Remember, the power lies in the hand of the people, the garments are only acting as managers. Correct me if I am wrong since they want to rule singapore like a big corporation standard then the business owner (represented by the citizens of singapore) should learn to practise the “hire and fire” system in time to come.

dave, i feel i have to speak up in fairness for most of us whom you have stereotyped as whiners against the foreign legions.

first of all, bless you and your family for showing us that there are fw out there who have made a choice to hold steadfast to their commitment to this new country they now call home.

unfortunately, your comments and sentiments are exactly those that the msm have made them out to be. i do not know why, but it seems that our govt, in their endeavour to get the best foreign talents from around the globe, they have resorted to putting down its own citizens. probably it is a way of encouraging and assuring these foreign talents that they have nothing to fear should they decide to make the trip to Singapore.

is it wrong for the born-and-bred citizens of this land to ask the govt for assurance in regards to their livelihood and basic needs? i am inclined to believe that because we have not had one bit of assurance coming out from this govt that we have become apprehensive which leads us to a certain extent in casting that envious eye toward the fw in our land . . . they have been assured their place in this land even before they step foot on it, while we who have grown up here have to fight tooth and nail for everything.

as for your insinuation that our men might be whining because we have lost our women to these fw- well – i am sure the men too have their side of stories to tell about Singapore women and why they (the men) are not casting their eyes on them (the S women) in matters relating to a secure and happy future.

foriegn talent comes in different catgories and like some posts mentioned, even labourers and table cleaners are considered foreign talents. they are so talented that the govt now is on a mission to get singaporeans to clear their own trays after a meal. what’s next? will diners have to mop the floor as well? we never had this problem in all our years of living and now becasue we need cheap labours disguised as foreign talents, the govt has no qualm to get Singaporeans to back up such a mission – even by soft force a.k.a. campaigns

241,
all u r saying about FW is just low pay jobs tat sing pp not willing to do..
is not fair,,..
still have a lot of high pay jobs and factories jobs tat taken by foreigner.
then how about the uncle and aunty tat r 40 and 50 plus year old with no certificates..
they just can fid into the factories jobs,But now,all the jobs taken by other developing countries labour..which r 20plus..

as a boss,which one would u choose?? ofcos is the FW..it is cheap,production high..so have more profit earn..as a company view..

but who really CARE about tat uncle and aunty??
if we not going to care.WHo cares..they r V difficult to find a jobs to cover their monthly expenses..if they no jobs,have they going to survive??

if sing pp have many jobs to let us do including(aunty and uncle),,i really don mind FW or FT enter singapore for jobs…
but now,the situationis not the same..
sing pp find no jobs,all r taken by FT or FW…
so what is the feeling about singaporeans??
………………………………………………………………………………..
lets say tat the country u r born in is malaysia,
and u now is a sing PR or citizen..
then,,,war bagan..
SING VS malaysia..
yr son would defend sing,or defend malaysia…??
tat is the real troubles tat all FT, FW or sing gov,local pp needed to think about it..
and not all the FW mind r same as u..
they just want to earn quick money,maid or other low pay jobs,DO they LOYAL to sing,,,,HAHAHAHaS…
stupid pp also will know the answer.

we would not call yr wife as a traitor,,come on man,we r mature..
love is love…bocos of belove each other,then u will marry and have child.
who care about COUNTRY. :)

244) victor @young ganeration@ on October 12th, 2008 5.33 pm
“lets say tat the country u r born in is malaysia,
and u now is a sing PR or citizen..
then,,,war bagan..
SING VS malaysia..
yr son would defend sing,or defend malaysia…??”

thumbs up to you!

i have a colleague at work who confided in me recently.
he is a pr holder with a son and daughter studying in singapore.
his son is due for ns soon and wants to spend his life as a singaporean.
he himself wants to retire back to his own country in 5 to 10 years time.
he is liable to be called up to defend his country should anything happen between his country and singapore. he is attempting to convince his son that singapore is not the place to be if one is looking for an early retirement and skip all the daily strugglings just to keep up with the pace of life here.

would i expect anything other than this from one who has no roots whatsoever?
if one could leave his homeland and give up his citizenship so easily, what makes you think he will plant his roots here?

one thing is for sure, singapore pr is just a quick way to make a quick buck(et) and a quick getaway to retire in the quickest possible time.

singaporeans are the real cuckolds.

what cuckold…
shame of u ….
every pp have it own personal view..

ALL IS BASE ON U AND yr frenz.

from primany to sec and to JC..
mostly my foreign frenz just come to sing for a short stay.
and after when they graduated…
they go to US,britain,france of others western country for staying and jobs….

their MAIN target is stay at those countries and be tat country citizens..NOT sing..
90%. okay…
they can now give up their borning citizenship,and take sing citizen..

when other country offer them good pay or what…they told me tat they will also do the same thing..
give up sing citizenship,,and take others citizenship…just as easy as possible.

it just a piece of paper..
OUR GOV use so much money to train them,, to talanted them and what r the result.

but many F in sing…but too little % will continue to live in sing.this my main point.

and don scold sing pp…
R u fit to scold singaporeans..??
if u don like sing..just leave it…
no one force u to stay in.

a city live 10 beggers,and 1 begger enter the city,also wants to eat their food..ofcos other beggers will disagree..and will say him..becos he is the one tat need to eat their food.
but tat begger, scold back the 10 begger,#cuckolds#..

hahas..i just telling a joke.,.hahas.

@and remember in mind.,,*every pp have every pp view*.
go and learn yr manner…@

hey,mind yr words.

10begger in the city and prepare for dinner..
1 begger enter,want to join them for dinner..ofcos 10 begger will disagree and say him…but tat begger scold back 10begger as *cuckolds*

R tat begger fit to scold back to others 10begger?? he is the one tat want to eat our food.? fit to scold us??

hahas.,i”M just telling joke..hahas.

i have a lot of F frenz tat just stay in sing a shout period only.
when time reach,they want to go to western country,to develop their career.
take others country citizenship.

so why u need to train them?? for what..?what us to respect u? u r the one who scold us..
and plz,,,learn yr manner..

how many F pp will defend sing…hhahahahas….joke.. when war time.let see where u r..
u want us to trust a betrayer soldiers like u..? do tat soldiers have loyalty??
perhaps some F pp have,,a small % …V difficult.

i don know whether u r PR or citizenship..
u r not fit to scold sing pp..
every pp have their own view,have their own votes.}
learn yr manner..

sorry for 245) gemami,,
i read too fast..misunderstanding..

ALL IN 246 IS FREAK WORDS.NO NEED TO READ
but this is real,
i have a lot of F frenz tat just stay in sing a shout period only.
when time reach,they want to go to western country,to develop their career.
take others country citizenship.

so why u need to train them?? for what..?

how many F pp will defend sing….joke.. when war time.let see what the F r..
want us to trust a betrayer soldiers.? do tat soldiers have loyalty either pr or wat??
perhaps some F pp have,,a small % …V difficult

i just care tat,
then how about the uncle and aunty tat r 40 and 50 plus year old with no certificates..
they just can fid into the factories jobs,But now,all the jobs taken by other developing countries labour..which r 20plus..
hai

247) victor @young ganeration@ on October 14th, 2008 12.17 am

no probs!
take care not to get too emotional!

hai…
singaporeans..real sad..

Yes, sad to be bullied by your own guardians, enslaves in your own country and rendered impotent in national/social affairs.

PM.. kindly don’t simply used your mouth to say “We will pull through together”. Now we are asia first country to go into recession, you ought to do something in order to justfy your high salary. First of all, you should lead example by cutting down yours and all minister’s salaries. Minister Lim is too happy seeing his monthly CPF, feeling he is too rich, he has forgotten on how to help the poor singaporean to overcome this recession.
Remember your part’s name. PEOPLE ACTION PARTY. So, please take action, don’t just talk and laugh only.

Is it fair to say if oil cost US$150 three months ago and now costs US$80, double the amount of oil could be purchased now to pare down the cost of the oil purchased three months back to cut electricity generation cost? In any case, our power generation is 80% natural gas driven at a much lower cost.

21%+ INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF IS INCREDIBLY TOO MUCH!!!

IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ITS’ BEST FOR THE WELLBEINGS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE??

From the Fact that the people are being treated liked customers to Essential Goods and Services(operate by privatised state companies) for profits and the Constant Cries of SALARIES NOT ENOUGH for Parliamentarians and Senior Civil Servants, we are at the bottom of its’(Gov) priorities.

People talking party..

no hope le lah…to ptp…

only know how to talk..

singporeans wake up…
time to awake..and attack.

No hope here.
Better plan an exit route.
If kenna oppressed till my limits, packed up & say bye bye with a smile.
mimicking the words of the Lee, gahment out to “do us in” lah

if all opposition pp just pack and leave…

u all fail…
Hero only appear on difficulties time..

Vote is impt..
singapore is as good place…but only in good pp hand..
So let battle BA>.!!

We will not give up…if we only have 10pp,against 10000pp..>
we will continue to fight…
no one will know what will happen..only god..
maybe we will lose in the battle ,,,but at least in my heart,,i felt tat i do a right in my life.
Sing pp…battle on election ba..

don give up,,give up only show tat u r fear…but WE NOT.. :)

way to go victor!
the batlle is now waging and when one is in the midst of battle we won’t know the outcome until the war is over.
yes; the war will take a long time – generations even – just like jbj – he may have lost the battle but who is to say he has lost the war?.
the best is yet to come!

Everything going up. Very soon our PM LHL will pass a motion in parliament to increase Ministers salaries. Reason: Ministers’ pay must go up to cope with raising cost of living.

sad sad sad…

but i think they only can do the job for more 3 to 4 years ba..:)

who say tat genius pp rule well…
hey,do u guy know tat a lot of bank going to broke… but the most interesting part is ,,,,THEY R THE GENIUS GENIUS PEOPLE…

hahas…they did well…issit.?
hahas…

if u want to rule a country,,,all yr policy should be takecare on yr citizens…

DO sing have such pp…?
think about it. :)

do continue to keep this updated. thanks so much for this useful resource.

253) conned,ransomed,cheated en bullied on October 14th, 2008 5.29 pm Is it fair to say if oil cost US$150 three months ago and now costs US$80, double the amount of oil could be purchased now to pare down the cost of the oil purchased three months back to cut electricity generation cost? In any case, our power generation is 80% natural gas driven at a much lower cost.

Today the price of gasoline is down again to 1.74 litre at the pump station, so is the garment doing anything about it? or just pretend nothing happen and continue to profiteer from the ppl? its time to wake up ppl, this is just pure robbery.

Just to put on record.

Today 16th October 2008, oil per barrel falls below USD$68(Reported in London.

Do monitor the price of electricity for February 2009 for adjustment, if any.

don dream…
the price of electricity for February 2009,will goes down,,,

if goes down by $0.30,,next time increase by $1.20..
hahas.

blade (#227),

You asked me a question on trade unions. It inspired me to ask NTUC for its constitution but I was informed that it is not a public document, and thus they refused to give it to me. It makes me wonder if even ordinary NTUC members are even entitled to access the NTUC constitution.

donaldson tan (#264)

http://www.ntuc.org.sg/ntucunions/abt_ntuc_pap.asp

seems like NTUC is not even apolitical.. so much so for a worker union..

seems like ntuc fairprice is making hugh profit too..
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/05/cases-relationship-with-ntuc/

can any financial savvy compare ntuc fairprice financial statement with other similar f&b companies?

雪上加霜。。。。 白色吸血鬼。。。。

blade (#266),

A worker union is political. Simply by asserting collective action together for some form of social justice (e.g. increase salary or improve safety condition of work place) is already political. A worker union may be partisan, but it usually meant is that the political party would court the support of the worker union, and not entrench itself into the worker union.

[...] much higher for most expats, who are renting private condos rather than HDB flats.  Food, too, has gone up enormously in price, like everywhere else; but certain large stores seem to be jacking up their prices [...]

donaldson (#268)

thanks for the clarification.

have you read on the parliament debate on the electricity tariff? electricity tariff will not be cut though oil price has come down by more than half now, reason being the tariff is reviewed every quarter and if the tariff is changed now, it will repel potential investors.

i do agree that the review of electricity tariff now will ward off potential investors, but 2 questions:

1) the raise in electricity at the first place is a mistake, not to say huge hike of 21%. the tariff rate is said to be based on a formula, does that mean that SP Power follows strictly the formula and EMA just to verify the formula is correct and sign the paper to pass the hike through? if that is so, why do we need a special authority, the EMA, to do that calculation? doesn’t EMA has a moral obligation to ensure the hike is reasonable and our people will not be over-stretched by the increase?

2) our minister mentioned the drawback of investors turned off due to control in the price of electricity. so i ask, is privatisation of SP a good thing, since we have lesser control on the price of its electricity and the detrimental effect of a profit maximising firm of an essential utility product (not that SP is already accumulating high profit at the expense of our people)?

We need increased competition in retail electricity. Although the electricity market has been liberalised, the general public is still excluded from the benefits of competition by virtue that SP still maintains the monopoly to supply electricity to residential homes. I urge more local entrepreneurs to step up to the challenge to enter the retail electricity market.

270) blade on October 22nd, 2008 11.25 am

Either way, its all voice down to only 1 thing, money making opportunity to the garment, why should they care about the consumers, not that they ever did before. No solution, no problem just pass it down to the consumers, case closed.

As a Singaporean working overseas, my thoughts are ….. I’ll try to spend more time outside of Singapore ’cause its cheaper for me.

When I come back, I get whacked left right and centre with fees & surcharges from everywhere and that takes $$ out of my already shrinking nest egg (given the world economic turmoil & inflation).

I know my retired parents complain about living costs when they go back to SG and I can now see how their money seems to stretch more when they spend time overseas

ScorpioJerm (#273):
would you mind telling us which country are you in now, so that we can make a reference to the cost of living?

“it will repel potential investors.”
Look like they rather repel the citizen than the investors. Did the investor vote the government in or the citizen ?

electricity tariff will not be cut though oil price has come down by more than half now, reason being the tariff is reviewed every quarter and if the tariff is changed now, it will repel potential investors. – blade (#270)

Of course it will repel potential investors. But why are investors more important? Singapore´s worker productivity has remained stagnant for a good number of years while of most of our GDP growth comes from foreign investment, not worker productivity. Pegging ministerial salaries to the GDP skews the preference of our ministers to foreign investors over us.

blade (274)

Hi blade … I work in KL, Malaysia. I’ve some Singaporean friends who work in Bangkok and we seem to share similar opinions.

I was also speaking with another Filipino expatriate who was going to be posted to Singapore from Bangkok. After he had talked to a few people about what it was like to live in Singapore and made his calculations, he decide to turn down the Singapore posting in favour of staying in Bangkok.

I guess because countries like Thailand and Malaysia are so large and include non-urban suburbs & villages you can get a wide spread of prices. In KL a plate of char kway teow is RM4 but if you go to Mersing, you can find one for RM2.

I think so. But then maybe is maybe not. get it?
The answer is in your head.
You tell me. which hike you have not accepted BY WAY OF NOT PAYING FOR IT?
This means, if you paid for it, you accepted it in this sense.
eg. a salesman says his product is now 22% more expensive. You pay and buy the product. In consumer law , this means acceptance.

eg. a salesman says his product is now 22% more expensive. You pay and buy the product. In consumer law , this means acceptance. – #278

Sometimes I wonder why Singaporeans are so apathetic that if they are not happy with the price hike, why hesitate to boycott? In consumer law, this is not acceptance.

Donaldson Tan (#279):

“Sometimes I wonder why Singaporeans are so apathetic that if they are not happy with the price hike, why hesitate to boycott?”

for durable goods and services, it’s easier to boycott. if the service of a restaurant is bad, we spread the words, we avoid that restaurant. but what about public utility like electricity? it’s managed by a natural monopoly that earns exorbitant profit, solely hold by “big bro” and it’s ironical that our govt said that they prevent the price increase, even when we have a regulatory body EMA.

any singaporeans wanna risk power cut-off by not paying the bill? do you wanna be put on EVA (eletronic vending system, aka pay-before-you-use) system and have a bad credit?

simply put, there’s no credible leader who would stand up against this price hike and gather a mass to appeal against it. though there is a huge percentage of price increase, it has not reached a critical point that the general population will gather to go against the policy.

families that are struggling to cope in this difficult times will just have to burn candles at both ends, eating 2 meals at the hawker center instead of the 3 that a minister has suggested.

280) blade on October 27th, 2008 11.10 am
any singaporeans wanna risk power cut-off by not paying the bill? do you wanna be put on EVA (eletronic vending system, aka pay-before-you-use) system and have a bad credit?

see! they are using the parkign coupon system again for the electricity, so you guys pay first and they start to bill you as much as whenever they wish, what are we talking abt here, in most countries like malaysia and thailand, it is the garment subsidising much for the electricity and water utilities instead, but singapore, its the other way round, you don’t pay, you don’t use!

We are cultured on PROFIT Orientated society and cannot tolerate LOSSES so Times have changed and expect to see more losses in Equities/property values/jobs/homes/love ones. Inflation is eating on whatever savings to the Retirees silently! So what goes up must come down and greety shareholders must learn to see the difference as not all the time boom time of yester yrs.
I’m a Retiree and Tak Boleh Tahan, only to fast as and when meaning avoid spending and going on survival mode!…..Blame the WORLD? or Society?

It’s driving people to sleep in the streets as can be seen in this website:

http://photobucket.com/images/singapore%20homeless/

No sleeping here too…
Following the recent case of the fella who was fined for sleeping in the park; notices being put up at the void decks. For those who can’t see properly, it reads:
“Dear Residents,
Please note that you are not allowed to sleep in the common areas.
Offenders will be prosecuted.
Thank you for your co-operation and understanding”
October 20, 2008

Oct 14, 2008
Costly park bench nap
Nappers can be fined $200 for misuse of park facility.
The National Parks Board (NParks) fined the private bus driver for having misused the park facility by sleeping on the bench. — PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER

WHAT was supposed to be a free 15-minute nap on a park bench turned into a costly snooze for one Singaporean. The New Paper on Tuesday reported that a 62-year-old, who only wanted to be known as Mr Kassim, was fined $200 when he dozed off on a Sun Plaza Park bench while taking shelter from the rain. The National Parks Board (NParks) fined the private bus driver for having misused the park facility by sleeping on the bench.

The incident happened on Sept 1 at a park in Tampines. Mr Kassim had dozed off on one of the wooden benches while seeking shelter from a heavy downpour. He woke up about 15 minutes later to see two men, who would later identify themselves as NParks rangers, walking towards him. They asked for his identity card, told him he had ‘abused park facilities by sleeping on the park bench’, and issued him a ticket. Mr Kassim accepted the ticket despite not knowing it was an offence to sleep on a park bench.

Five days later, he received an NParks letter detailing his offence and asking him to pay the $200 fine. When he went to the NParks office to make payment, he claimed he was told by a staff member that he could appeal. But he decided against it, citing it would be a hassle. According to an NParks spokesman, more than 10 people have been fined for misusing the facilities in the parks.

The spokesman did not say if these specifically involved sleeping on park benches. He told TNP: ‘We try to create the conditions that make visitors feel at ease… When people abuse our parks by overstaying or squatting, they make genuine park users feel uncomfortable. Others sleep on benches or in shelters in an inconsiderate manner and deny park users from these facilities.’ Of eight regular park-goers surveyed by The New Paper, none knew that sleeping on park benches was an offence.

On the NParks website, there is a list of ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ for visiting parks. Sleeping on a park bench was not among the ‘Don’ts’, but there was a disclaimer which said the list was ‘not exhaustive or intended to be a complete list of the prohibitions or regulations governing our parks’.

I seriously think its damn sad when some of the laws they come up with are such jokes.
Fining your citizens so as to make Singapore look nicer for the tourists..

When all untility services became privatised years’s ago, I believed it was a bad idea. Although many said this was to achieve efficiency and accountablility (apparently a western model they were so ready to extol – definitely a rarity!), I could see a no win situation for consumers.

This provatisation model worked in the west because there were hundreds andthousands of competitors in telecommunications, transport, education, health and power.

But when the situaltion is one akin to monopoly, Singaporeans should have been alerted then. But as usual, their senses were numb.

This is a case of the worse consumer nightmare other than a a run away inflation.

It is very distresing to read in page 4 of the TODAY’s newspaper dated 1st Nov 2008.

This is how group CEO for SP clarified its businness and role in electricty supply. The key message was this: Blaming SP Services for high tariffs is akin to shooting the messenger. We have nothing to hide.

Its Chief Financial Officer Yap Chee Keong added:
“If I am the lorry driver (delivering) goods to your house, and you ask me how come the (price for) a bag of rice has doubled, I can’t explain to you”.

SP went on to blame the market regulator, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) for the tariff increase.

However, further down in the same article, it was reported that SP’s profit from the regulated eletricty market was $423 million last year.

WOW! this kind of lorry driver I want to be.

as want sing compare to the past..

it did not improve at all..it deprove a lot of time…just think..

The price at the pump stations today has dropped further, so what now?

our PM said tat ERP is discourage pp to use car..
yes,i agree to some part of it..
but he also must knows tat sing pp like to pay for all..,,such as COE..but not like ERP..
if not…,,hahaass…it will lost quite % of voters.

and our LKY said tat,,in order to control electricity..,,,the ways is just control by $$
i agree to some part of it…,,,

but do he concern the impact..
not only houses,,all the shops and coffee shops also will increase much..
the fees will charge in goods tat sell to us..

hai..all just like an recycle..,,
after all..,is we going to die..becos gov quite takecare of us..
jiayou,singaporeans..

The world is changing so the people will change.
Who ever live in this World will die one day.
Party win election, Party lose election.
The rich to make himself rich they never care the poor.

Cost of living in Singapore going up and up.
The poor have to pay and pay.
The rich geting richer and richer.

what good talk..291.. :)

what a good speech.. :) 291

SP makes $423 million in one year. Make, OK ? This means Nett profit OK?
There are 4 million people in Singapore.
Say 4 people in one household / SP account = 1 million accounts.
This mean SP makes $423 from each account a year, or
about $35 from each household each month.
It is blatant profiteering of a monopoly having its customers over a barrel..

tua sian hokkien pian (#293):
“This mean SP makes $423 from each account a year, or
about $35 from each household each month.”

you are a step ahead of me. i was talking to my friend about this and was just about to do the calculation and let our citizens aware of this. so where’s the passing down of cost saving due to increase efficiency that SP services has been talking about?

Oh yes, i will likely to provide my own humble solutions. We can start by

1) By increasing our electricity consumption, helping SP to earn more profits, in order to justify the 21% increase.
2) By driving into cities during peak hour, helping our government to earn more revenue from ERP. It will be “given back” to you in form of subsidies, payout, etc.
3) To motorcyclist, cyclist and other public transport haters- By traveling and squeezing(if there is still any space left) on our SMRT trains during peak hours. This is to help SMRT in applying for fares increase again due to well…overwhelming demands.
4) Work like shit as much as you can to supplement your household income during these uncertain times (you never know when you will get retrenched) so that the tendency to fall sick increases. Our hospitals are glad to admit you in to take care of you. Please refer to their website for a price comparison (to be amended due to high admission rate) prior to admission.
5) Buy more, so everyone earns….maybe our government can increase their wages next time citing the reason “Singapore economy remains bright in times of global crisis, thanks to us”.

This is a good read for everyone (Singaporean)…….safety net for the umemployed or retrenched.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/jobless_benefits

Sometimes, welfare benefits can be used as means to stimulate the economy.

[...] [source] AND THEY BLAME WOMEN IN SINGAPORE FOR NOT WANTING TO HAVE CHILDREN!?!?!!? BRILLIANT!!!! [...]

Today news Oil price going below $50.
Oil price down.
So do the electricity Bill going down?

299) Mohamad Hamim on November 21st, 2008 11.07 am Today news Oil price going below $50.
Oil price down.
So do the electricity Bill going down?

They just don’t give a shit about this at this time, afterall these extras $$$ are pure profiteering for them. Infact they should cut the electricity tariff by at least 50% now if base on today’s oil price, but do you think they will? since they says that our electricity price is peg with oil price, so? what now?

300) tiredsingaporean

Well, they did say they will bring it down – BUT ONLY IN JANUARY 2009.

By January 2009, they must not only bring it down but pay us back what they have collected for these three months – no less.

Well, they did say they will bring it down – BUT ONLY IN JANUARY 2009. – Gemami (#301)

But that is just in line with EMA’s pricing formula

….EMA’s pricing formula.

Then get EMA to pay us back.

WE don’t care who pays, EMA or AME or MEA or MIA, just pay us back.

301) gemami on November 21st, 2008 2.10 pm
Well, they did say they will bring it down – BUT ONLY IN JANUARY 2009.

By January 2009, they must not only bring it down but pay us back what they have collected for these three months – no less.

ya, maybe they will pay back but bring forward to Feb 29, 2009

dream on ba,,hahas..

sad singaporeans.

301) gemami

i hope so too. but it’s impossible.

look at the the credit crunch created by those top banks, some still got their fat bonuses after being bailed out by the govt. when checked, the govt could only freeze the bonus of those who had not been paid, but not take back what has already been paid.

in fact, if this electricity hike were to take place in european countries, like france, there will be collective action of not paying the bills (anyway, at the first place, the hike will never happen). in singapore, our people will just suffer in silence.

all these are made possible because of ….

YOU, SINGAPOREANS,

time to wake up … stupid singaporeans

Just bought my daughter’s P5 text book(chinese language). It cost $8.85, this is a increase of over 100% as compared to last year. sigh…

It’’s the time of the year again which we need to pay TV license fee.
I still find it hard to swallow the lame excuses MDA gives us on why we should pay.

As a matter of fact, our local tv programs are crappy, noisy and substandard.
What’s worse is the shows are old & most are repetitive.

Many of us don’t even watch local programs for goodness sake!
Don’t tell me you need funds to develop your so-called educational, cultural etc programs when all of it is propaganda.

I strongly believe Mediacorpse should fund its programs from the advertising fees they earn. Many countries have already done that & abolish the tv license fee.

Hey compare to our neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Hongkong, India, Australia, NZ etc, we are not better off, we still have to pay tv license fee.

In times like these, we are finding difficulty bracing through recession & they still have the cheek to collect tv license fee. To me it is purely redundant and deemed as extra bonuses to fatten their pockets.

Pardon me for letting out fumes here, i just feel so unjustified.
We can’t do anything, can we?
If we don’t pay up, we will end up in kangaroo court.
What kind of rule is that?
shhh…tyranny…oppressive…communist…authoritarian..despotism…
nepotism…monarchy…shhh…shhh

aiyoyo

blur blur one day pass one day,

actually look back carefully,

so many things skyrocket so high price,

aiyoyo maybe last time no pay attention during lesson,

that’s why now everyday blur blur like that

aiyoyo

309) don on November 28th, 2008 3.51 pm
It’’s the time of the year again which we need to pay TV license fee.
I still find it hard to swallow the lame excuses MDA gives us on why we should pay.

Don,

just to share with you, I remember some many years back I forgotten to pay up my TV license and know what happened to me? I got a warrant of arrest letter to report to tanglin station, goodness me I don’t believe our garment can resort to this low just to get back a hundred bucks out of our pocket, shocking very much I am really amazed.

lol tiredsingaporean, since your tired, don’t watch tv la.

the irony of singapore media, we pay to watch government propoganda. i think north korea and USSR made it free.

I have stopped using NETS for purchase, has no more Singtel landline, no newspaper. Haven’t canceled TV license yet, but probably soon. Hope they don’t charge a YouTube license!

The only electrical appliances I have are energy saving lamps, fridge, a computer and a laptop, and fans. Lo and behold, my utilities bill is $120, as compared to a few years ago when I had more computers, it was still under $90.

312) me on November 30th, 2008 5.48 pm lol tiredsingaporean, since your tired, don’t watch tv la.

the irony of singapore media, we pay to watch government propoganda. i think north korea and USSR made it free.

Don’t know what will come out next. Maybe, they would send me to the electric chair if I did not pay up my income tax.

come on guys.
we gonna accept wadeva is arrange for us,
we cannot do anything but to accept it,
they got their own reason.
cheer up guys.
if everyone were to complain, what do u think will happen to the whole world.

equal breathe (#315),

Obviously if we are not happy with whatever they are doing, we must challenge them through means which are accessible to us and individually. Acceptance is not the only the thing we can do.

#266 blade
ntuc fairprice is not only making huge profits but is also getting votes for the PAP. By offering discounts during these few months the govt is telling the people that it is helping the poor. As ntuc fairprice is not a public listed company the govt has a big say in running and controlling the company. PAP is more interested in getting the votes than the profits for the shareholders.

The relentless rising cost of living in Singapore.

Everything rises, and Singaporeans pay should be the same as foreigners if possible by most of the bosses. (My point of view).
They will ask Singaporeans U want this pay or else we can engage the foreigners ,some maybe can even get less S$100 to work for them .

Is it fair for Singaporeans living in such a “high rising” Environment.To us, is it consider as Low Pay .

IS IT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INSTEAD LOWER THE RENTAL COST FOR THOSE FACTORIES ,SHOPS AND OFFICES LOCATED IN SINGAPORE ?

Then maybe the employers will consider to increase a little bit more salary for Singaporeans workers, not by cutting cost through our workers pay instead.

FURTHERMORE :
“Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong related a conversation he had with a company head
“If he were asked to employ only Singaporeans, his costs would have gone up and he would have had no choice but to shift the whole company out of Singapore to China,” said Mr Gan”

No wonders why majority of all Singaporeans do think of going to migrate to other countries if there’s a chance for them.

Low Pay and become a 2nd class Singaporeans instead.

Already as 2nd class in Singapore why not migrate and maybe have better chances there. Even employer wants to shift to China, by Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong .

One of the main cost escalator is the high HDB price. Govt in a unwise move in 1993, lengthened the hdb waiting time to 4 years, and push out hdb flats quarterly at 5% price increase per quarter. This caused the new HDB price to double as resale price doubled due to the 4-year queue. That led to the runaway of hdb. The govt thought they are doing us a favour, but we never gain from our high hdb price except for paying ourselves higher monthly rent for staying in our own hdb. But our kids now cannot afford a hdb except we buy one for them. With this, commercial properties also started to runaway. Business cost went up, cost of living went up, wages must keep pace, profit must keep pace, prices must goes up. So the vicious cycle keep feeding itself.

Then another unwise move again on the ERP recently. When COE was the main cap for car population, it was controllable. Then some unwise politicians claimed that everybody should have a cars, otherwise they would be unhappy (based on the same logic, every one must have a landed property, otherwise they would be unhappy. But based on the same politicians people would be happy to pay govt daily rent if they stay in their OWN landed property.) So more cars, everywhere ERP, cost of transportation goes up, so is bus, taxis and business costs. Another vicious cycle started and feed on itself again.

So with housing and transportation (2 basic daily essentials for all workers) in a runaway vicious cost increase, how can cost of living not increase?

One possible solution maybe to take this financial crisis as a opportunity to fundamentally rethink on how these 2 essential costs can be reset for Singaporean,. For HDB, we can re enforce the Singaporean/PR owner occupied requirement and lower the price. Nobody losses as we are only paying ourselves rent, but our mortgages will be down, financial burden will drop significantly and the minimum amount of wages increase we must need to survive will also reduce. For transport, we can re-introduce COE as the cap, and remove most of the unnecessary erp. This would reduce bus, taxi and business costs. This will also help to bring back business to many erp hard hit business district and further reduce business burden.

aiyoyo

really very very stress live in this country leh!

everything so expensive! (think only salary not so expensive hor)

aiyoyo

Have we ever stop to think about screwing them back,, take for eg. wet markets stall holder.. all the aunties are now starting to realised that these wet mkt stall holder have been s$rewing them for years and shopping more supermarkets nowadays.

There must be ways that we can fight back, cos we are being s$rewed for too long already and worse even taken for granted that ppl living here are all dump a$$ess and got no b@lls

gahment will never go back on their own policies even when it’s blatantly obvious that they are wrong. they will continue to make up excuses and think of more ways to hoodwink us and hope that we will continue to be a bunch of guai guai never make noise sgreans.

remember that time when london was emulating the ERP system, there were so much coverage all over the papers. when the london mayor recently announced that the ERP system does not work and they are removing it, there was only a small article on the straits times. was there any comment from the gahment on it? no! just continue to believe that they are right and continue to increase the charges for “our own good”!

322) wat4stay on December 23rd, 2008 5.23 pm
Not that they didn’t know the ERP system does not work to control traffic but as long as the system keeps pumping out $billions from the motorists pockets just to keep those idiots richer and in power every year, you think they will scrap the idea? not unless over the dead body of who that person we all know. C’mon, this is real good money, and an easy one duh!

It is time now to renew car insurance, there will be an increase of 30% which is $300 plus more. Need to take public transport to save cost.

This is the best compilation ever. It sends such a strong signal to everyone who read this – our governement has become so profit minded that causes our cost of living to go skyhigh.

But some of the links and references are not functioning anymore. Can TOC team look at these links and update them?

I’d like to forward this link to all my frenz and relatives to remind what “good deed” our government has done for us.

aiyoyo

is this the way commoners to live in???

with so much debt & hi cost…

aiyoyo

Wah food price start to go up again Aiyo. Just before CNY, our NTUC (SINGPOST) is having promotion of those AMIR Brand Beef Slice 1 PACK for $6.88, now after CNY they having a promotion but the price had been revise upwards to $6.95 that is an increase of 1%. I wonder if this is because of inflation or because of price fixing. Anyone can educate me.

Today’s Straits TImes: Prices of community hospital stay increases.

Recently, the prices of coffee/tea ranges, eggs and roti prata have all gone up like the salary of the President, what’s happening ? Prices of fuel/utilities have receded, salaries of foreign workers are much cheaper and yet prices of consumables are stealthily raised. This is no lawless land, right ?

WHY ALL THE BLATANT PROFITEERING?

I just completed reading the list.

*STUMPED*

Gee luckily I’m not the only one complaining.

One thing I’m not happy is, we are made to pay higher property tax calculated
based on the annual value and rental value of the property. The point I want
to bring out is many of us live in our one and only flat, we don’t rent it out.
So is it fair to tax us based on that? You can tax those properties rented
out higher but you should leave the rest of us alone.
We don’t rent out our property so don’t make us pay higher property tax.

If things go on like this, we are basically just working and working to pay for
the relentless rise in cost of living. It’s very meaningless, we won’t be able to
save much, we remain cash poor and come retirement we may still need to work or even need to sell the remaining deeds of our property back to the HDB and end up with no property to our name when we die.
That seems to be a possible reality in current Singapore, which is getting very
expensive. We pay high living costs, work longer hours but our life don’t seem to
get any better.

Yea this is a wake up call for those foreigner who think Singapore is a Goldmine. Wake up and see the truth spoken by singaporean here. Do not be fooled by government media who alwalys sing praise to government policy and singapore in general. In fact, as most of us know, we can only save that much (if at all) after paying for 1001 bills every month. Yet we cannot stop because we have kids to feed, parent to take care of. And if unfortunately retrenched, lose the income, the entire family would suffer. Best scenario is what pointed out above, you manage to bring up your kids or taking care of parents, but nothing left when you retire or die.

we are living in the biggest scam in the world!

A big portion of the profit is used to pay our civil servants and their cooking classes.

why is so much spend on job credit for employers and not on workers who are hard hit at this time.$100million to be precise.workrs need to support their families.company do not need to.

a few years ago i have incorporate some ideas to cut what i know is an ever increasing utility bills.

idea 1a) introduce a 2nd stage of lighting into existing homes
use a cheap 5watt table lamp to serve as a nightlight. listening to music, watching TV or doing stuff on the PC does not require a high output lamp. in any given area, a 5watt lamp putting out about 190 lumens is enough to make a room glow with light, choose warm white for more throw*. no expensive dimmer controls needed!

idea 1b) renovation (pre-planning)
read up on lighting techniques to maximise lighting. less light leads to less power consumption leads to less increase in indoor temperatures. installing lights closer to work areas in eg, kitchens reduces the need for a higher watt lamp.

(using energy saving lamp does not mean 1 automatically saves electricity, 1 still needs to calculate how much is used. recessed lighting that uses energy saving lamps may end up using more energy because more units are needed to offset their limited illumination capabilities.)

idea 2) aircon “waste water (for future homes)
route aircon condensation pipes high enough for a mid-large pail or basin to collect water which otherwise flows down the pipes. for households that frequently switches on the aircon. you’ll be amased how much water is gone to waste.

throw* defined as how much the light can illuminate a target per unit of light. normally yellowish lights tend to “throw” better in this respect.

if landlord charge tentants rental so high, how to sell things cheap to consumer.

do not expect things to be cheap.

the new sengkang hawker centre, the landlord bid the place until so high, so have to rent out to stall owners even higher, so how can the hawker sell cheap and how can consumer have cheap food.

if capitaland and f and n charge tentants so high rental for their shop units how to expect to buy cheap and good things

so who is above these landlord?

maybe is government.

if government can in charge of the new sengkang hawker, then rental no need to be so high then food will be cheaper.

Tax by any other name is NOT tax you see. I reckon the SG Govt can even get away with murder. Come to think of it, yes, murder by the name “suicide” is not murder.

“In addition I was following the G20 summit in London. The Australian showed all the other countries’ figures. There were Korea, France, Japan, Canada, Germany, even Luxemburg! But no Singapore. Checked the actual countries – no Luxemberg. Luxemburg was categorised with Singapore and Switzerland on the tax havens list. Read here.

Then I realised Singapore was not invited because she was not in the Top 20 largest economies of the world! But her leader sure is paid the highest. Mind-boggling, isn’t it? Sheesh we must really be so unique.”

http://kaffein-nated.blogspot.com/2009/04/there-are-leaders-and-there-are-leeders.html

Kangaroo Clowns . What can I say of the shameful gahmen ?

what to do, give face wait till old man go to bed then do what u want later

I love to shop at GIANTand Shop “N” Save tpp…………Don’t bother about Points on your purchase!…..If you chalk up points and forget to redeem, your points are lost and blame yourself …………. outdated system for 3rd World Counties!

Singaporeans pay for goods & services in the Sterling Pound equivalent of UK but Singaporeans earn in Sing dollars according to Singapore market rate. So, I can understand what the average Singaporean with a family to feed and nurture, must be going through.

As long as the Gahmen has a finger in every business, things will not change for the better. How can any business compete with the law makers themselves?

Although VAT (equiv of GST) is 17.5% in the UK, there is no (ZERO) VAT on FOOD and other essential stuff. I do not have a problem with the high VAT on luxury goods including alcohol because I can always do without them.

TOC should also similarly compile of lists of prices that went down. Balanced view please.

Have you ever wondered why Chung Hwa free clinic charges for its services? Aren’t they funded purely from donations? The credibility of the doctors are questionable, since they hired professors instead of doctors for treatment.

>The relentless rising cost of living in Singapore

the only way to survive the high cost is by not having to pay cpf & income tax, after all 100bil lost = no regrets

[i]Tax by any other name is NOT tax you see. I reckon the SG Govt can even get away with murder. Come to think of it, yes, murder by the name “suicide” is not murder.[/i]

well actuallee
truthfoolee
the government do get away
first they charged you for killin anybodies
than they hang you for murder
either way
they makes 2 organs for FREE!
and they sell it to the highest bidders
you know liked son of c.k.tang inc…
blah blah blah

vote will represent citizen voice.

IF U don know have to use yr vote wisely, u just is a toot human being and does not have any right saying out a word.

and all gov is just fear tat ctizen vote,include singapore gov.
and only vote can control them,becos citizen is the bigger party, not any other party.
we vote them and give them chance to become gov to control us,so we have the right to demand something them.

if they just treat us as salves.

vote can kick them out. vote win compare to money and military.
so use vote wisely.

to all who commented on this blog…why comment if you do not want to do anything, but just vote for pap…it only shows your support for them…so don’t need to rant here…rant it on the vote…you chose the pap…if you are not happy with them, use the vote…that is what is called people power

The consumer price index (CPI) in May 2009 rose by 0.6 per cent over April 2009. The increase was attributed largely to higher costs of housing and transport & communication.

For the period January-May 2009, the CPI was 1.1 per cent higher compared with
the same period in 2008.

to emokid,
u must know tat now sing is not only sing pp.
now we have about 1000kplus of other country to be singapore citizen.

and maybe mostly came from china.
as what now total population is about 4800k.

so is pap let them to be sing citizen,ofcos they will vote pap for election,maybe first times.

and the percentage is 30% u know.
hai,if the real sing pp only have half of it vote pap.
pap also will get to 60plus percentage,

so what we do.?

only maybe the new sing citizen will choose to vote oppo party,then the sky of sing will be change.

now still have lot lot of other country pp want to join sing citizen.
i guess next time our country will have a new party for the new party,
so will make 3 party after all.
so the vote % will split.

hahas.or better choice, if the NEW citizen want to join back their past notion,eg:china.

then singapore is a part of china lo.
hahas.just about 70% vote will make sing to other country lo.

but i don mind..
hahas,becos i feel tat as a part of china,is not a bad thing.under this gov rule,dislike.no freedom.
hahas.

It is a hopeless cycle:

1) FTs and PRs are allowed to flock in
2) Prices of housing and cars rise, forcing other prices to rise in tandem
3) The gahment tries to raise SG’s dollar value to mitigate the imported inflation. (When SGD is high, foreign imported goods become cheaper)
4) However, when this happens, the foreigners flock in even more. The get more when they remit back home.
5) Locals get screwed as their savings and salaries get eroded by inflation.

-While China had the sense to keep its currency low to help its exports, SG did not
-While Japan had the sense to keep foreigners out, SG did not
-While Malaysia had the sense to treat its native people better, SG treats foreigners better than its citizens
-While citizens of other countries love their countries, people in SG treat SG like a hotel or office to come and go.

What is wrong with my country?

Oh Btw….p65 blog has disallowed comments and people from seeing past comments. I wonder why?

See:

http://www.p65.sg/2009/02/04/jobs/#comments

[...] paper culture, to indicator lights being optional on most Singapore cars (among other things), to the frequent and intermittent GST price hikes (sounds fun being a Singaporean doesn’t it?), and I realised from listening to the lyrics is [...]

I just went for a HDB flat open house sale.

It was $40k over valuation…yet 30 different groups of people were there to view. More than half foreigners…

How to live in SG is a wonder to me

KopitiamApek,
I do not see the views are imbalance. The price would hardly go down. Even if its going down, the next moment the govt will slap you with a GST increase. Remember, they aim for a 10% GST increase?Just look back and see what actually has been done as promise by the govt during the election?
I am being slap with more foreigners fighting for one rice bowl when I have a mother and a father or in some case for others… children to take care off.
People is now migrating to vote them out. Dont you see?
Why not you write in to ST to ask them to publish a more balance view?

Economics 101 – GDP is the value of all goods and services produced in a country.

When prices of everything inflates, nominal GDP goes up without any real growth.

Who benefits the most from GDP increases?

i may take taxi often as i have transport for me. but what shocked me few days ago, i took a taxi from shenton way to defu lane, hougang and costs me $18.00.

another place from kranji mrt station to defu lane (same place) costs me this time $27.00.

i understand from the driver how is the cost derived at? here is the scheme..

from 5 – 8 pm inside CBD a surcharge of $3.00 plus 35% of fares stopped at destination dropping whereas outside CBD 5-8 pm pllus 35% of fares.

no wonder recently even a professor(scentist) who lost his wants to drive taxi too.

Goodness Lord!

Inflation is an universal problem. Natural resources is runing low but the speculators and traders are making millions without adding any value. Government could help by reducing GST taxes and hold down government owned ultilities prices. There are elected to govern and looked after Sinkaporean. Unless they had forgotten why there are there for after being in power for 50 year. Remind them at the election-just don’t be forgetful Sinkaporean. The only power we have is the vote. No matter how much we write here will not change the situation one iota except through the bailot box. A corrupt regime had its own ways for far too long.

Let me just put it this way :

Once upon a time everyone either walked or ride on bikes, and made $800 a month. We yearned to have our own car.
Then PAP cam along…
Now we are all driving expensive cars…and making $1,500 a month. While some are happy, many are pissed off. Because we have only 2 choices here, either the Ferarri or the Lamborhgini.

So the PAP said OK, they will give us a cheaper alternative… a Maserati. Those who continue to complain were labeled as ungrateful.

Meanwhile, floodgates to this country are opened for the rich who could afford the Maseratis and stupid who thought you can afford a Maserati on a $1,500 a month income. Truth was, we were just hoping for a simple Hyundai Getz….

I am convinced that for ALL issues found in all ARTICLES on TOC, there is only 1 WAY out as comments can only have so little effect, if any.

Make the decision wisely.

This comment shall apply to all articles including future ones. Believe me, it will be applicable as amazing as it sounds.

Is this still being updated? I think the 12.5% increase in electricity tariffs should warrant an entry?