Actually ah… after the last time he talked about chillis and onions at F1, I think it’s better if he remained quiet la. How come our leaders like to talk about groceries one ah? First got chiku, then got peanuts, then got chili and onions…

Oh my god ! The ministers still want to increase salaries? S$ 2 to-4 miillions still not enough? If they are so money minded, why not resign and become bankers or businessmen. Are they really that heartless when so many Singaporeans are suffering ? What’s wrong with our country ?

I believed they will exercise discretion in the salary revision.
Most probably they will put it on hold.

If they increase their own pay, it would be contradicting what they had said about increasing wages will lead to more inflation.

Oh my god! The ministers are still thinking of increasing their salaries ? S$2 to 4 millions still not enough ? Are they so heartless? Do they feel happy when they draw so much salaries and yet the ordinary citizens are struggling? If they are so money minded, when not they resign and become bankers or businessmen?

What wrong with our country?

Here, we are so fretful. There, they are so cool, as cool as cucumbers! Rest assured citizens, young or old, the Government will work out something for both parties (the predator and the prey) and this debacle must be taught in Social Studies for our children’s learning.

2) People Progress Party on October 21st, 2008 3.01 pm I believed they will exercise discretion in the salary revision.
Most probably they will put it on hold.

What? put on hold? they should announce at least a 50% pay cut to show the people that they care during this crisis. Increase some more and the people will see to it that the 66.6% be reduced to 33.3%, which is quite possible now. They have already made so many mistakes or just can’t be bothered attitude and espect the people to put their trust on them again? come on singapore deserves much better people to managed their $$$, even an idiot can argue this point.

I think I spotted him last evening at Bukit Batok Nature reserve. Maybe we should sent our special police force personnel there to scour the place. I think it was an orange coloured tee shirt he was wearing. Somehow there was a noticeable slight limp on his left leg.

6) “Increase some more and the people will see to it that the 66.6% be reduced to 33.3%, which is quite possible now.”

You are underestimating our dear leaders. Wait until they announce GRC enlargement or constituency boundary change. The GE will be similar to a “sure win” lucky draw to the incumbents.

“4) Sadman on October 21st, 2008 3.07 pm
Oh my god! The ministers are still thinking of increasing their salaries ? S$2 to 4 millions still not enough ? Are they so heartless? Do they feel happy when they draw so much salaries and yet the ordinary citizens are struggling? If they are so money minded, when not they resign and become bankers or businessmen?

What wrong with our country?”

Nothing wrong lah. Very normal lah. Just that we have always been sold the idea that they are some fantastic breed of super creatures god-sent from heaven.

Mind you, a lot of people have come to believe it without much questioning.

I’m sure Mr Teo CH will come up with some cock story that mini-stars “deserved” their 3rd large pay hike!! Anyway, even withouth the final pay hike, the previous 2 large pay increases are more than enough to make them happy for the next few years when ordinary S’poreans suffer from higher costs of living and depressed wages due to freeflow of immigrants!!!

I am pretty sure that they won’t be any pay increase for any ministers and for the matter, if one is proposed, I am sure our PM will be turning it down for himself as well for his entire cabinet. I am pretty sure our Ministers will follow suit in view of the downturn outlook for 2009/2010.
One cannot hold the entire civil service for downturn of the economy globally as the same they should not hold Wan Kan Seng for the escape of Mas Selamat. However I am perturbed on how the aftermath of Selamat’s escape was handled.
Lets read postive & concrete articles on how we could stay together and fight this downturn rather than bicker day in and day out on our govt!

“I’m sure Mr Teo CH will come up with some cock story that mini-stars “deserved” their 3rd large pay hike!!”

Well, a lot of people already know all along it is coc* story. But it takes a crisis for blockheads to really see it.

Crisis is a real cure for people who have poor vision.

What mini-stars ? If those mini-stars keep on performing in front of a pre-selected audience, of course all they hear are loud applause from people whose very own appraisal may be judged by how loud they can applaud.

So you will get to hear a stupid joke only being laughed at by the same group of like-minded people while others who do not share their special traits will stare at it blank-face.

I think he needs time to write his script or for his loony adviser to pass him his script.
This time takes longer because they need to check it through many times or else becomes a blunder again. mee siam mai hum please.

8) Anonymous on October 21st, 2008 3.34 pm
Wait until they announce GRC enlargement or constituency boundary change. The GE will be similar to a “sure win” lucky draw to the incumbents.

I dun think so, even if they annouce GRC enlargement at last minute which they usually do, their % will definately drop further than they expected, unless they abolish it by telling you ppl that due some internal security reason, they have no choice.

Last year when the US had a 3.5% economic growth,most asia countries benifited by having 5 to 7% GDP growth (China having >10%). Singapore had a 6.8% Growth. Our supper highly pay sinisters congratulating themselves for a job well done and increased salary 3 times in a year. However , they overlooked a poor country called Phillipines which has countless internal problems but performed better than the supper highly pay singapore government .Phillipines had a higher GDP of 7%. The supper highly pay sinisters claimed credite for the 6.8% growth instead of admitting that it was a generally good world economic condition that help most countries in achieving good gorwth. Any 2nd or 3rd class countries could also achieve at least 5% growth without a supper highly pay multi-million sgd government. This year, when the GDP is less than 3%, the supper highly pay govern is fast to blame the world economic. They point fingers and blame everybody except themselevs.They are just like Taiwan former President Tan S Bian quick in blaming China and KMT when there is a crisis in Taiwan.They just refused to admit that the increase 0f GST from 5% to 7% last year had done a lot of harm to our economic. The unending increase of ERP has done no good to everybody. The wrong policy of pegging electricity tariffs to forward oil contract,why can”t they buy sport oil for Oct -Dec use.

If our President, PM, MM, SM and the various Ministers deserve a pay raise, then George Bush deserve another term as President of the United States of Amercia!!!

11) “Lets read postive & concrete articles on how we could stay together and fight this downturn rather than bicker day in and day out on our govt!”

Read ST if one wants postive and concrete articles.
TOC provides ppl with alternative views.
These 2 sources help one to come to an informed decision.

I certainly agreed that the current elected leaders are slow in their response to the crisis faced by the 10,000 investors. The SM who is also the MAS chairman is not in the Parliament sitting of October 20. which is not an encouraging sign to the 10,000 waiting for a solution.

Certainly the oppostion MPs have not taken the opportunity to speak up for Singaporeans and demostrate their leadership during this crisis.

Remember, everyone, who were and are at the MAS watch when all the “bonds” were approved for sale? Who was the finance minister then and then who was and is still the MAS chairman?

Obviously, the Singapore people are paying millions to feed monkeys who always claim credit but shirk responsibilities when trouble come.

SM Goh copycated kin lian and asked the bank to do the right thing. I think he himself should do the right thing, resign from his chairmanship at MAS and all the minister, especially the ex-finance minister should take a pay cut and donate all their bonuses to buy back all these bonds from all the poor aunties and uncles.

20) “SM Goh copycated kin lian and asked the bank to do the right thing. I think he himself should do the right thing, resign from his chairmanship at MAS and all the minister, especially the ex-finance minister should take a pay cut and donate all their bonuses to buy back all these bonds from all the poor aunties and uncles.”

The bucket has to stop somewhere in a blame game. Past history showed that the bucket only stopped at the operational level and never at the senior management level.

In the Mas Salemat case, PM already said that resignation of ministers in the aftermath of a crisis in other countries would not be repeated in SG. Resignation did not solve the problem at hand. Where to find another experienced elite to replace the incumbent in this talent-scared island called SG.

I agree, the Opposition parties have been equally disappointing. None of them have come out to really help the 10,000 investors who are in dire need of help. In the end, it took Mr Tan Kin Lian, who is not paid millions and neither elected or nominated to parliament, to step out to help out the people on his own good will. God bless him and his family!

7) gemami on October 21st, 2008 3.25 pm

You have got very good sense of humor. You bad bad boy!

Look, must give time for him to meditate. Also, there is something call plausible deniability. He is the PM afterall and his word is final (or someone higher? This old man here got confused too). So, let others do their work first.

Only Mr Tan is free, our “leaders” are busy running the country, how to bring in investments and fix things. Cause once we have economic growth, all problems can be solved.

VS RAAJ, plse go to the MPs’ ” meeting the people session”, you will seei so many poor Singaporeans queueing up for financial help; then you will understand how sad it is.
If the suoer highly pay ministers paying themselves multimillion dollars pay but created so many poor citizens, do you think they still deserve that kind of pay. Are you blind or deaf?

We shouldn’t expect too much out of the opposition – they don’t have any power at the moment. Who to blame?

Those in power are, perhaps, currently debating over their next pay rise, or discussing how to further keep Chee away from politics.

With the political parties hurling lawsuits and insults at each other, I believe their efforts are better spent helping the people resolve their problems.

Besides the point, I wonder if Mr Tan here would consider standing for elections.

Can we get them into the Guiness Books of Records for defamation suits?

No leadership from PM lee? Nah!
I am sure when Parliament move the proposal to increase
the Minitoots pay, he will be the first to speak, just like the
last time.

in US you see the President of the US and manymany representatives and senators talk about the issues affecting everyone…. in sg u hear about the F1 race

As for the missing PM regarding the Lehman Bros related saga, it is not unusual going by their past incidences. Unlike political leaders of other countries where they show leadership in times of crisis or unpleasant incidences, our own political leaders will only show-up to claim credit when there are successes. Otherwise, they will only designate the lowest possible official that they can get away with to face the public. It was like this in the NKF case, it was like this in the recent Mas Selamat escape, and it is now for the mini-bonds case.

We have fair weather friends, and in S’pore, we have fair weather political leaders too.

As for the pay-hike, I don’t think there will be any announcement. Afterall, the increment had already been approved last year. In the present climate, they won’t wanna make any announcement but will just quietly get the raise anyway.

Hey Layman out there, you trust your brother with your money and now your brother bankrupt. What to do? LL la … forget about your money, layman brothers

Why should they be concerned when elections are still years away?

They think they are untouchable at the moment and won’t need to speak about anything except pay increments for themselves and fee increases for the people for now. They never admit their mistakes when even the blind can see it.

Today, it was annouced on the radio that the “Prime Minister says the Goverment will help the people, especially low income-earners, cope with the current economic crisis”.

Hmm. Does this qualify, har?

After helping the poor, they will most likely helping themselves by increasing their own pay. S$2 to 4 million salary still not enough? My God!

Everytime our govt gives out bonus or assistance package to its citizens, they will definitely increase this and that.. This time will not be an exception. Shall wait and see.

Aiyah, our Pee Am is very busy fondling a panda soft toy at Mercy Relief function,lah! Please do not disturb him, hor!

Sickest Political Joke of the Millenium:
Foreign Minister George Yeo: “The important thing is to DO WHAT IS RIGHT. You cannot always be worried about votes.” (ST 19.10.08)

PAP say: Pay Peanuts, and you will get Monkeys!
S’poreans say: Pay Big Bananas, but still get Incompetent Monkeys !!!

PAP = People’s ACTION Party (official/misleading version)
PAP = Pay And Pay (popular version — pay monies and also pay for their fiascos)
PAP = Pathetic And Pathetic (rude version)
PAP = Pissed And Pissed (angry version)

No leadership from PM ?

Depend on what leadership. If it relate to money going to the coffers’ pocket, they are surely proactive and show leadership on driving money to money, with daily front articles in MSM propagandising how they are ‘definitely the bargain’.

“After helping the poor, they will most likely helping themselves by increasing their own pay. S$2 to 4 million salary still not enough? My God!”

See how obscene is these minister’s and president pay
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/269330/1/.html

I SUPPORT THEIR PAY HIKE.
I support because I think and believe the MAJORITY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM.
I hope they hike more substantially to reward these men and women who sacrifice so much for the people they REPRESENT.
Look at the minbond issue. They put so much effort helping them voice up.

Look at the multiple many many numerous HIKES (newspaper, Transport, Electricity, Singtel….) still got help given wan. So caring.

Look at the RECESSION. They calmed us by saying fundamentals sound.

Look at the FT policy. They so care about you not losing your job, they help your company hire cheaper but good good foreigner workers. Maybe 1 more million foreigners influx even better? I am so touched! *sob* *sob*

Look at the Cost of Living. It is still increasing. They say after more people switch to energy saving bulbs, there is 22 % hike in electricity bills on top of an earlier hike. The touching thingie is they demo and tell us the benefit of using energy efficient light bulbs! which other country leaders do that? so detail thing they also care. I’m so Touched man! Despite the large drop in oil price recently, there is still Electricy hike of so muchie. I trust and believe they must have strong reasons for needing more money by way of electricity pricing.

Tough times produce great leaders like what we have seen. Tan KL is one of them. ;)

just to clarify on FT policy, else get flaming…

I meant your companies hire cheaper labor means companies wont go bust so easily thus saving your jobs. So great and caring.

Caveat Emptor has backfired. Many’s life saving kenna burned . Some have turned to ashes or up in smoke. Some are still smouldering and no help is in sight.
Caveat Emptor applied to intangible financial products is doomed from the start.
You can tell that to the Ah Peks, Ah Sohs, uncle aunties and the old folks that Caveat Emptor is PM’s idea of investing for them.

pm lee was busy speaking at the launch of Mercy Relief’s overseas offices. Ironically he spoke in support of efforts to help the poor and displaced in Chinese villages. Uh.. What about the poor here?

“pm lee was busy speaking at the launch of Mercy Relief’s overseas offices. Ironically he spoke in support of efforts to help the poor and displaced in Chinese villages.”

Singaporean already kena what they deserve when the clown says GST is to help the poor, now this Chinese Villages still never learn Singapore’s lesson ? Gov say there is no free lunch. Want PM’s help, better think thrice …

Maybe the PM knew nothing about this minibond incident . Maybe he’s too busy thinking about how to fix some problems or people . Maybe the MM should inform him, and if the MM also dun know, I think, eh, the SM should tell him. Later maybe they will give out Compensation Package.

More than 10 000 people are affected for sure when you include their dependent family members!

In any Western democracy, such behaviour by politician will be treated as treason and the culprit banish forever from holding public office. Only in Singapore where the pap controlled anything and everything that they can behave like this and get away with.

In any Western democracy, screwing the citizen is considered a exception rather than a norm, but in Singapore screwing the citizen is considered a norm rather than a exception.

That’s why your vote matters. I don’t see any leadership, and leadership has to be felt, seen and perceived by the public, to be effective.

Fellas should vote more carefully next time. I guess a wake-up call is the only way they will listen.

Singapore used to be ahead of the game, now we’re all seeing reactionary policies. Where’s the vision? Where’s the long-term gameplan?

Go figure. There’s a lack of real talent where it counts the most, or maybe there’s too much comfort settling in.

have mah…when JBJ died…he sent a rather petty and bitchy letter of shit to the deceased family…maybe that’s his only forte!

Luckily the PM has gone missing otherwise how we know that PM is not fake ? I will be very surprised if PM appear because it will worry me that someone must have masquaraded as the PM. Thank goodness !

Please PM,
continue to disappear because that is precisely what you paid millions for. The moment you appear, a disaster will happen especially when you start opening your mouth !

MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew called for a sense of proportion yesterday, pointing out that the annual wage bill for ministers and all office holders is $46 million – or just 0.022 per cent of Singapore’s total economic output.

It was an ‘absurdity’, he said, for Singaporeans to quarrel over whether ministers collectively should be paid $10 million or $20 million more, when an economy worth $210 billion was at stake

‘The cure to all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government,’ he said in his first comments on impending salary increases for ministers and top civil servants. ‘You get that alternative and you’ll never put Singapore together again.’

Singaporeans’ asset values would also disappear, he warned, adding that ‘your apartment will be worth a fraction of what it is, your jobs will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people’s countries’.

He said the present system of benchmarking ministers’ pay to top private sector salaries was ‘completely above board’ and allowed the Government to recruit ’some of the very best’ to lead the country

When it was put to him that people hoped for leaders who were willing to make sacrifices and who were not there for the money, he replied that these were ‘admirable sentiments’. But he added that ‘we live in the real world’.

His bottom line: if the Government could not pay competitive salaries, Singapore would not be able to compete and ‘we’re not going to live well’.

Salary spike for civil servants in spite of enonomic downturn? Why is it that I am not surprised (again)?

“If your boss has not raised your salary for more then 3 years despite your good performance, Singapore would also not be able to compete!”

PM when to practise the advance course of Taiji, beside that he also practises Yin Sheng Shu (invisible martial arts) . Well done PM, keep it up, if your skills improve further, we can consider to give you a pay raise as you’ll be even more talented and unique and irreplaceable with your newly mastered advance skills.

Behind closed doors . . . . PAP meeting for family members.

MM: What the f***? Who’s going to deal with this mess?
PM: Papa, surely you’re not asking me to face the people?
MM: Not to worry son, we have a blockhead with us, remember?
PM: Yes papa, I go talk to him.
SM: What? But I have already handed the baton over to you.
PM: I know, but my papa says you must do it because you are the chairman of MAS.
SM: Shit! What if i get my deputy to do it?
PM: Up to you lah, as long as it’s not me . . hee .. hee .. hee …
LHK: Huh? how come I have to do it?
SM: Because MM’s boy says so.
LHK: OK, i do it but after that, the rest must take over.
SM: Who are ‘the rest”?
LHK: the ‘rest’ lor . . . the newspapers, tv, radio and all the MPs too, they must all chip in. I will just show my face once only.
MM/PM/SM: ok lah, ok lah – better than nothing.
PM: Papa, if the people are still not convinved, how? Must I come out to face them?
MM: We will see boy, we still have ‘Blockhed’, remember?
PM: Oh papa, you’re the best!

49) PAY ME OR I BE CORRUPT on October 22nd, 2008 2.08 am
When it was put to him that people hoped for leaders who were willing to make sacrifices and who were not there for the money, he replied that these were ‘admirable sentiments’. But he added that ‘we live in the real world’.

WAKE UP SINGAPORE ! WE LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD ! no more pursuing your dreams and start not to believe every words you hear, not to believe every print that you read and not to believe any promise that has been made to you, they are meant for those people out there who only wish to hear the good stuff and when bad times come, bye bye and kiss your own arsh!

In view of the recession and the grim outlook for a couple of years at least, it would be good if a General Elections be held soon, to give the government a fresh mandate.

This will also inject some vigour into all the MPs, including those from the opposition parties, to look into the present grievances, serioously.

Perhaps to gauge the feelings of the people / citizens, TOC could have a survey on that. :-)

I am totally convicted that our Prime Minister and the PAP government are solidly behind the people of SIngapore – Yes, very very very far behind…….

I seriously don’t think ANY CEO of ANY company should be expected to keep his job with the same leadership skills as our beloved PM. Seriously, leader of a country……give us a break!

gemani … lol thats a good one, and probably a real one too ;p

with so many things and so many many years gone i still dun understand y pp still vote for them ??? time to change la

use company copy of news and save $0.90 a day on weekdays everyday and save $1 on Saturdays , every saturday and save another $0.90 on sundays, every Sunday.

use library newspapers.

but like this, i worry if more hikes will cum when profitablity is at risk due to lowered buyership.

I do not BUY the news (at $1 a pop, Saturdays). but you might. I am poor. All my savings gone into smoke.

ah loo, time to read other news sources liao … all papers owned by government read liao will brainwash de … better suft toc often to get a clearer picture of wats really happening out there

better call in Scully and Mulder from the X File…

zefly (#1):

our PM is just trying hard to loosen up the atmosphere. but with a joke that the public does not understand, i begin to think if he’s already out of syn with our people?

only an act of … now. nothing else can . either that or when the t-rex no longer pulpit.

#sadam
There’s plenty of Singaporeans below the average income ceiling that needs help! and I am pretty sure that the govt. has been and is handling this issue. There is a much far larger picture to running a stable country then to the queue at the Meet the People’s Session. Apart from people having financial constraints, there are others who queue having many other issues….What is far more important now, as I said, neither the PM or any of his Ministers, will ask or will get any pay rise in view of the global downturn!
Our PM and Ministers draw a very healthy salary compared to any others in any governance and for this they will sail us through this rough time as they did in the past. They are up to the task, no doubts!!!

@Gemami Good script there! Something outta MAFIA! heeeee

@Feline #60. hahahaaaaaa :D

@Kang #62 T-rex! hee hee

When things go wrong, the blame game starts. Being the kiasu and arrogant people that they are, rather than owning up, rectifying the problem and a promise to do better, they took the blame game way out.

As i commented in another post on this site, i think senior folks within the Govt and in MAS are now trying very hard to cover their backsides, distanced themselves from the issue, not show any links to the Govt. Thus it explains why our PM not saying anything, LHK says “Dont politicise this”…MAS says “You have to take it up with the banks yourselves.”

Sadly, it it all linked back to the Govt, or more specific, to the complacency of the Govt. MAS is chaired by SM. DBS is Temasek, run by ex-minister. They want to liberalise the market, to make Singapore attractive, but at what expense? who gets the short end of the stick?

Its not because they’re not proactive, or not concerned, but more of the fact they want to cover their backsides first. once they’re in the clear, that they can show they’ve done their work, or they have someone to blame (eg a gurkha guard or a law clerk or a TT Durai), then you will hear someone senior addressing this.

I bet my bottom dollar on this – too bad the casinos are not opened yet.

So, did i over-simplify the issue here? perhaps i did, but more transparency from parties involved would be great, and give me more reason to see both sides.

We’re not ignorant – we’re not Singaporeans from earlier generations. Quite clearly, some folks up there are out of touch, and complacent. Life’s been too good for them. Thats what happens when you create elitism.

“That’s life. Next time put your money in CPF.” “What to do? This happened.’

How different are these quotes to “Let them eat cake.”?

PAY ME SO THAT I WILL NOT BE CORRUPT

Thieves come in many shape and sizes and corruption has got to do with one’s character and not how many million he has got in the bank. Small thief steals one watermelon. Big time thief steals truck loads of watermelon.

Any high school economics student can tell you money is the lowest form of motivation. Is there any wonder that we have ZERO leadership in any situation where there is no financial motivation for the leaders.

People have to learn sometimes not only how much the heart, but how much the head, can bear. -Maria Mitchell.

The heart has its reasons that reason does not know. -Pascal.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Our Leaders, Our Fellow Citizens and Our Nation Singapore Needs Prayer! Pray for Those in Authority for There is a Higher Power and Authority Above Them.

What LKY said these days does not make sense to Singaporeans especially the young. He seems to be living in a airy fairy world of his own. Claiming that Singapore will sink if the pap ministers are not well compensated is one of those fallacies.

69) Harry on October 22nd, 2008 2.40 pm What LKY said these days does not make sense to Singaporeans especially the young

Hmm, other than the part about our women working as maids in other countries, aren’t the other warnings about security and jobs already fulfilled, many times over? What does that say about the current crop of leaders?

And even the maids warning is hilarious, if not absurd. Are all Filipino women maids? Are all Sri Lankan women maids? Are all Indonesian women maids? What’s the link between maids and a country’s leaders? Is that an indirect mockery of the competence of the leaders of these nations? Resorting to the old trick of using another country as the bogeyman?

South Korea is doing a lot better than Singapore. Despite their regular violent protests and high-profile resignations among political leaders who have blundered, I have yet to see South Korean women work in other countries as maids.

Reminds of some other issues (other than GST increase, transport fee hike, electricity bill up,Serangoon Garden, etc) which hurt a relatively smaller amount of Singaporean families – the closure of UNSWAsia campus etc…….the answer is always to blame the others, make statements of exhortation and try to let time take care of the problems…..it may not acceptable anymore vis a vis the top salaries which breed expectation of good performance by the Government men.
However it seems that citizens’ unhappiness is casading to a big whirlpool, and the PM must step up to show real leadership otherwise he may too be passed off as so so in the history books.

actually i am not very clever. My education is only diploma from ITE. My father and mother kena in mini bomb. But if PM say they are so tokong then why so lau paioh in doing things. Yesterday, I phone up this cab company, it is the one that is using all this hyundai diesel car. A new company. They took 15 min to come. When it came, I had already taken comfort which coming within 5 min. That mean speed is quality, slowness is laziness and it mean people are still reading book, they dunno, if they dunno then how come we are paying them so much money to do nothing? Is this a magic show?

I really no understand!

If you are so tokong. Then you are always number 1. That is why we have gold, silver and bronze medal. That is why USA become the first country to send the astronaut people to the moon. No 1 means you are the best. But how come No1 pay not is coming only after the hongkies people. You mean the hongkies chenghulan is better? Isit. I dunno. Because if you come last then how come can still get gold medal? Waah, this kind of job I also wan, lose also can win and when other win, I also can win when I do nothing.

Have you ever seen a general in command say and act when he has so many junior staff can speak and act on his behalf? So, in any circumstances, less flaw
would the general make.

In china the most cruel general is 曹宇, but even when his own soldiers are suffering he also get on his horse and show his face. When you dont show you face and sit down and keep quiet, you go and think lah where is the number 1? Got meh? I see so many old people like ghost like that in Hong lim park, some crying, some dont even know what happened. If it is so clear, then how come everyone is so blurr? That is number 1 meh?

I think this one is very pariah standard

We complain over the pay hikes given to Ministers. The real question we should in fact ask is: are Ministers being compensated enough for their job?

Consider the PM: he is in-charge of the welfare and interests of an entire nation. Why should he be paid less than a CEO?

Sometimes I wonder whether public servants are being paid too little, and CEOs and corporate hot-shots too much.

While we can argue that a true-blue public servant will not ask for a pay rise because he is serving the people,we need to ask who are the ones sanctioning the pay rise? If it is the ministers themselves, then maybe there is something wrong there. But if the people campaign for it, then I would find it acceptable.

But the quagmire of the situation is this: I don’t think politicians and civil servants are given enough recognition in the first place. While we may often criticise government policies, we tend to go overboard in our criticisms.

Maybe it’s time the people decide how much Minister should be paid.

Let me try to spin on behalf of the ruling party,
“It appears to the public that the PM is missing again but it is not his intention.
The PM is merely practising a hands off approach, call it delegation of duties to his ministers, allowing more hands on experience. This also allows PM to assess the performance of his ministers, relevant to promotions and bonuses.”

The truth to the PM missing again is linked to whether he has any leadership in the first place.
It is even more painful to know why and how he got there.
The person who puts him there has done a great disservice to the country.

It is not strange for them to avoid showing their faces when there is a storm coming, who will volunteer to get hit by criticism and ruin their reputation.

Of course, a capable leader will stand up, get hit by criticism AND solve the problem.

Anyway, they have lots of highly paid subordinates to ‘take the responsibility’, why would they need to show face.

I’ve worked as a temp in a government office before and I can say that the greatest skill that all civil servants have acquired is ‘pointing arrows’.

In the older days in atap house kampong, when there is a house fire breaks out. Some people believe they are helping when they:

1. Run and hide is the best way out.

2. Help by just shouting “Fire” “Fire” “Fire”

3. Some are getting pails of water to put out the fire

4. The brave one are already running into the house to help those trapped

Which type id our highly paid ministars? Shouldn’t the highest rank leader be leading by example most here now in all these episodes of fiasco?

I believe our PM was trained in the SAF leadership course before and in SAF there is a motto: “LEAD BY EXAMPLE”.

66) Kaomangai
- you forgot the professional thieves – they steal in brought daylights, in front of your noses!

PM has lost his mandate. He is to me a good time CEO and when times are bad he go and hide.

Whats left of Singapore? Every man for himself? The poor and needy turning to who for help?

All PAP ministers and majority of MPs are good for nothing as recently their performance sucks!. They are are seriously in need of polishing up their people skills and be diligent in their service to the people.

These leaders are not leading anymore, they are wayanging in public. Please Stop, we had enough of PEKING OPERA!

FG

You are not so much supporting those who bought the minibonds but using their plight as a convenient sapu-lily to beat Govt ministers over what you are afraid may be their impending salary rise. That is crafty and unworthy!

Also, as there is as yet no clear cut evidence on who did what to whom, should the PM join in the cacophony created at Hong Lim Park and every coffee shop and website? That will cheapen his words.

Precisely because he understands the issue far more thoroughly and clearly than most of those talking their heads off about the soured structured products that he should reserve judgment, not rush to untimely n rash judgement.

It doesn’t mean that the Govt isn’t doing anything, as is evident, but because Lehman is already bankrupt, it is no point running around like a headless chicken clucking away. Better that the Govt should work out a fair and equitable solution and use moral suasion to help the truly duped, if there are any.

As for your claim that “An estimated 10,000 investors are on the brink of losing all that they have saved and invested”, I think it’s a gross exaggeration. Indeed, the 10K investors may lose ALL that they have invested but it doesn’t mean that all of them have also lost ALL that they have saved.

Thank you!

80) Gemani – Thanks for the reminder. Ali Baba and his gang! How true!
77) Spin Doctor – I have posted the story below elsewhere but will re-post it here in response to your message.

Post Turtle

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, whose hand was caught in the gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to one of the political candidates.

The old rancher said, “Well, ya know, that candidate is a ‘Post Turtle’”.

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a ‘post turtle’ was.

The old rancher said, “When you’re driving down a country road you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a ‘post turtle’”.

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain.

“You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, and he doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there, and you just wonder what kind of dummy put him up there to begin with”.

Terrance (#76):

“We complain over the pay hikes given to Ministers. The real question we should in fact ask is: are Ministers being compensated enough for their job?”

am i hearing things wrongly? do you think our ministers underpaid? if you think million dollars pay for managing a population of 4.5mil is too little, i think george bush and hu jing tao who manage an economy much bigger than the size of singapore and a population much bigger than singapore are earning peanuts.

or would you rather compare papayas to durians, using the salary of big company CEOs as a gauge? maybe you think the salary of china and US president should be increased too, if you’re going to compare their salary to microsoft CEO and CNOOC CEO.

and look at our ministers. many of them have multiple portfolios. some are even chairman of big companies, largely owned by temasek holding. please tell me that they’re not drawing pay from these large organisations, will you?

i do not have much complaints about the million dollars package of our ministers. but by increasing the salary when the economy is in recession tell me how much they care about our citizens..

You sure you want him to help? Everytime the guy says help, we pay…help ease road traffic=ERP….help poor/ordinary folks like us=raise GST. You should be glad he has kept quiet all the time….Might be thinking of a better “help” scheme for us to pay for…Oh dear…I shudder at the thought of that….Besides utilities rise when oil price drop…scandalous…20+% some more …wonder whether they are trying to suck up more money to fill holes elsewhere created by the economic meltdowns here and there. Anyway…stay happy everyone…don’t fret too much and spoil your day.

@Terence of #76 “Maybe it’s time the people decide how much Minister should be paid.”

I don’t think that’s VERY hard for the govt to decide!

When the salary raise happens, there will be another uproar not only against the government but also against employers.

I can name at least one company who has NEVER raised salaries for its managers who served more than 20 years of retail service. One of its managers left the company 2 years ago and is now the employer’s competitor and on the same floor of a shopping centre in Orchard Rd. The ex-employer was pissed but I have no pity for him nor his daughter (who is running the business) – the very same people who never bother to compensate me for my right hand injury during work.

If you are stingy, talents will run. Be over-generous and subordinates will take advantage and take you for a fool.

83) Kaomangai,
thanks for sharing the ‘post turtle’ story reflecting our present political setup. Singaporeans should share this story with the rest of the world and resident TOC cartoonist sei-ji can provide the masterpiece.

“Indonesian Wayang Kulit ” was mentioned sometime back by one netizen to illustrate our political setup. For the benefit of our readers, it is basically a puppet master behind the scene who selects the puppets for his show, pulling the strings and decides the direction of the story. The public does not interfere but watch the entertainment. For the moment we know which puppet is missing.

The early-days SAF Officers were trained by the Israelis and they were told this:

“Enemy in front, Charge!”

The later-days SAF Scholar Officers (especially the white horses) were trained by Singaporeans and they were told this:

“Enemy in front, Take Cover!”

82) auntielucia says:
“.

Well auntie, the people did not need him to come out and start giving them his magic formula for cure. all they wanted was to hear from him one or two reassuring words to convey that he is personally looking into the matter.

So what if he understand the issue? Does he understand the plight of the people especially the investors?

<”…It doesn’t mean that the Govt isn’t doing anything, as is evident…..”.

auntie, what is ‘evident’ ah?
TKL has to give personalised advices from his website, he has to personally go down to HLP to show the investors what avenue of recourse they have and to answer all sorts of queries from these investors. Where is the ‘evident’ during this stretch of time? The only ‘evident’ thing I can think of is MAS copy-catting HK’s every move to protect SG’s own interest.

auntie, you’ve been going to the community centre too often. bad girl!

Haha thanks gemami,

a good one on what is ‘evident’.
Evident is obvious, you can see it.
Don’t hide behind the closet and suddenly come out to give a grand speech.
A public servant should engage the citizens and follow up on what they are proposing instead of hiding behind the scene.
If not, any announcement made by the government would feel like a bombshell to everyone. Luckily, singaporeans don’t have a weak heart.

Terrance (#76):

“Sometimes I wonder whether public servants are being paid too little, and CEOs and corporate hot-shots too much. ”

There is NO basis of comparison. A public servant is, as the name suggests, a servant of the people. It is wrong to use the renumeration of CEOs as a benchmark for ministerial salaries. This because both groups pf people head entities with totally different purposes. Ministers are leaders of the government who are expected to execute the mandate given by the people,and, be accountable to the people who are ultimately their employers. Government is not merely managing public organisation and maintaining their efficacy; it is a social responsibility,an honour, a privilege. On the other hand, CEOs are just hired to make as much profits for their respective companies. The job usually doesn’t include expectations beyond that.

“But if the people campaign for it, then I would find it acceptable.”

Honestly, who would campaign for it during reccession time? It is irrational to do so when many of our fellow citizens (the lowly-skilled, the retirees, the students, even the ordinary man on the street) are having to watch our money carefully.

For Gemami

U wrote: The only ‘evident’ thing I can think of is MAS copy-catting HK’s every move to protect SG’s own interest”
So WHAT’s wrong with that? Surely SG interest shld come over n above everyone else’s or we wld have chaos as every section fights for its own interest.

Evident– See wot Maybank, HLF n DBS are doing? That must have been due to “moral suasion” of MAS.

In a time of high tension and global financial crisis, it’s better to work calmly behind the scenes, rather than incite one another to confrontations. Sure, those “leaders” will get a lot of media coverage n instantly gain high profile but imagine if the anger and panic shld infect many more than those immediately affected, like the minibonds in this instance. Then we cld have mass hysteria and every auntie n uncle wld be wanting to withdraw their investments. Is that what TKL n others like hime really want to see?

Lastly, fyi, re CCs. Never in my life been to one, thank you very much!

@ 92),

don’t talk cock lah !
TKL is more proactive than this govt and where is the mass hysteria ?
Not just TKL but nobody will want chaos. How can you even think that of TKL ?
You say Singapore’s interest should come over and above everyone else’s,
but ah pek here is not going to fall for this BS argument again and again when I can see this govt putting their own party interest first .
This govt copying others cannot claim to be worldclass lah ! except in pay only. Are our leaders working calmly behind the scene or shitting bricks ?
More likely they need time to regroup to come out with some Bullshit. They need to package it nicely so that it is more palatable lah.
Ah Pek and many elderly khakis have live long enough and do not wish to go to our graves as fools, swallowing BS all our lives lah.

@ 92),

I have no problem with it’s better to work calmly behind the scenes, between MAS and the banks. What is missing and disturbing is gov agencies working with and helping the affected investors. It is up to Mr Tan to do the organizing work to help the affected investors.

There is no organizing grassroots leaders to help them with the process but there was such grassroots effort to help the people to sign up for Growth Dividends etc.

There is no organized effort from CASE to help handling the complaints collectively.

The gov just wanted to make the individual elderly and less well-educated customers to face the banks that mis-sold the products to them in the first place. What kind of gov is that.

We have heard of how the banks handled these complaints, not really that responsive, at the first Speakers’ Corner gathering. If not for all these publicity in the past two weeks, we may be seeing this work calmly behind the scenes thing drag on for some more time to come.

92) auntielucia

auntie: are you from this planet or what? or have you just returned from Mars? Is the MSM that powerful that it even reaches Mars?

Everything is wrong about it! We’re not talking about not putting SG’s interest over the individual. We are talking about a bunch of people who publicly promoted themselves as being equal to the top 3% brains of the land and being paid they way they deemed fit to be paid. And, it is precisely this alienation that we have come to expect the best and only the best because they say they are the best! You must have read the numerous posts where Wisdom advises that leaders have to show leadership with wisdom and show it with a balanced view while providing solution to the problem at hand.

What is wrong to ask for a mere word of assurance from the leader of the land? We are not even asking for an immediate fix – something the PM is VERY good at when dealing with the opposition. We are asking that he show his face to ASSURE the people that the matter will be dealt with amicably for all parties’ interests.

auntie
It will be very sad that the PM’s show of face to assure Singaporeans would incite confrontation. You too believe in this. Woh!

auntie:

why don’t you go find out the answers yourself? Go to HLP this Saturday. I’m sure TKL will be there.

about the mass hysteria part:
did it not happened, so much so that SM and LHK had to show their faces in the end just to calm the crowd? did it have to reach this point? would it have reached this point if only the PM came out to assure the crowd, Sgs?

I’m surprised that you’ve not visited any CCs in your life. well; just to share something light with you since you’ve taken an interest to speak your mind. this is what we are here for. right?

well; i do vist the CCs – every Saturday evening to be exact. my son is taking taekwondo lessons there and he is a National taekwondo poomsae champion – and he is only 7.

The gahmen had never taken the citizens’ interest seriously.

They were pressurised to act because of what others (HK, Aust, Malaysia) had done.

Otherwise, foreigners will send their money away. I know, because my dad had.

I am sure he was not the only one who thought of it. His business associates were all buzzing over this.

Singapore is good for the rich, never the poor. My dad told me to always remember this. And forget about being Singaporean. It’s a joke.

I think auntie lucia meant well lah. Problem is, she is more passionate about food and knows where the best restaurants are than how the old and less educated get by in Singapore.

My mother who is 65 had bought some of these fixed deposits. She is still referring to them as ” fixed deposits” …. and believe me, that’s what she thought she had.

I am out of my wits trying to make her understand why she may be losing money. She thinks the bank is robbing her.

She scolds and cries, usually at the same time.

My brothers and sisters have decided to “compensate” her on behalf of the bank in the event nothing is refunded.

Aunty lucia won’t have this problem, I’m sure.

For us who have followed this saga from Day one, we are deeply disapppinted at how the DIV One government had performed and how regulators like MAS behaved like headless chickens the whole time.

No. 95) Gemami

“What is wrong to ask for a mere word of assurance from the leader of the land? We are not even asking for an immediate fix – something the PM is VERY good at when dealing with the opposition.”

Indeed, he had time to write unleash some last words to fix JB Jeyaratnam in the form of a condolence. This, from a world-class leader, a Prime Minister. His actions speak for himself, and I do not wish to say more lest some writers perceive it again as PAP-bashing.

lol Don’t even talk about CASE!

They only handle cases ‘from members who have paid annual membership fees’. CASE is NOT free! And even if you’re a CASE member, complaints against financial services and banks isn’t one of the things they handle. CASE handle complaints against supermarkets, furniture shops, etc They don’t handle complaints about online auction frauds, etc

We have no BBB (Better Business Bureau like the USA). BBB has the right to shut down ANY cheating firm. Singapore doesn’t have that kind of ‘armour’!

@Alex #91 —> Very well-said!

kelly: CASE handle complaints against supermarkets……….

well, except NTUC Co-op. . . . .both named defendants in Stansfield College suit against them as reported by ‘TODAY’.

” Stansfield is suing CASE for “inlawfully” suspending its two schools from a scheme that would allow them to take in foreign students. Stansfield’s suspension came after the two schools failed to buy insurance for 400 of their students. NTUC income is the only insurer endorsed by CASE for the scheme”.

Thank you Gemami for that extra info. Hugz 2 u! Yes, you are right. Only NTUC Income!

He escaped to China yesterday and his father is as quiet as a mouse, does he dare to say golden years again ? His predictions are all wrong, better quietly withdraw and retire if not many singaporeans will kick you out in the next election !!!

To whoever: nothing wrong with asking for a word of reassurance but not when it’s demanded. PM isn’t yr touchy feely PR type who does things for effect n to raise his profile. If you want that, you shld next vote in a PM like the SIA PR manager who jumped up and hugged the man who had just lost his brother in the SQ82 crash. The world’s camera was on the conference and wow what a wonderful foto op!

Better to deliver the goods than just “TC” as the old uncle said!

I’m deligted that Gemani n son make plenty of good use of CC’s. Good that some people do get to enjoy the goods delivered by good government. I don’t begrudge them or those who make full use of HLP. Just that they r not my kind of scene, thank you!

auntie
people only demand when the needs they seek are absent. it should not even have gotten to this stage.

the ‘demand’ that you speak of is nothing compared to the pap’s method of total annihilation of whoever cross their paths.

it is this same measure that the ‘demand’ tis taking place – if you can call it ‘demand’ in the first place.

you are right in your observation of pm as one who is not touchy-feely. it is why he is not in touch with the citizens that he serves – yes, serve, not govern . . . for a leader has to serve its people while he governs the country. both must be balanced.

sadly, this pm has lost his sense of balance.

“103) auntielucia on October 23rd, 2008 7.01 pm
Better to deliver the goods than just “TC” as the old uncle said!”

Another fire fighting creature.

Are you kidding, aunty Lucia. Which needs photo ops. It won’t fill much of your stomach.

And if it is REAL delivery of goods, who is complaining. Most people have come to develop an uncomfortable aversion and are making jokes over this “delivery of goods” where somehow this funny thought of “I-take-2-from-you-and-I-give-you-back-1″ always comes across the mind.

Unless, you are so into your own cocoon that this kind of common jokes has bypassed you and a lot of your feloow kaki.

Aunty Lucia, you should spend more time doing shopping and talk to more people. If you want to be real fire fighter, join our Home Team – they need you more.

#105)

let’s be gentle with auntie . . . cannot blame her if she has been cooped up for far too long with only the tv and radio for company. . . . she has only recently ventured out into the world of online discussion and maybe wants to make a statement or two. we’ll allow her that . . . ok?

now, we are not against the pm’s governance of the country aren’t we?
he has shown himself to be so competent and capable of ‘fixing’ broken and unbroken things alike with $$$ as the incentive (did i miss another $?) for doing so.

let us go back into history a little to see where this pm came from.
i think he was an SAF officer earning about maybe $15,000 a month?
now let’s scratch our head to see what else he had done …….mmmmmmm………………mmmmmmmm………………..oh yes ……..cable car …………. ok, let’s credit him for this ……………….. even though we know who was behind it ……………….. he just had to show his face on one of the nights the SAF came out in full force to save the dangling cable cars ……… i know this episode, i was there ………….. so many generals putting their heads together but he took the credit.

has anything changed? well beats me! maybe he rides the bicycle better than before. what else has he done ……………….mmmmmmmmmm……………mmmmmmmmmmmm……….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………………………..

U r right.. I shld go back to my knitting than entangle with pple with absolutely closed minds like yrs…and yes Paragon suits me better than getting my kicks in HLP, thank you!

arriverdeci

Yes, Gemami – some things have changed. I LOOK OLDER as compared to when he was in SAF. Oh no wait, was I born yet? Getting muddled! lol

One thing bugs me you know? 3 murders in Bukit Batok and none solved! Kinda bugs me that there are murderers out there LOOSE!! What’s happened to our best ‘criminologists’?

Its about time we have a peoples poll either weekly ,monthly on how we perserve how our PM SSM SM and ministers are doing. No point asking how our President is doing. He is the highest payed in the entire world so he must be doing well!

Other countries have it why not us. They our government should be able to accept constructive feedabck after all they accept exhorbitant pay every month and cant wait for their imminent pay increase!

And if you cant find any minister in sin they must be overseas travelling round the world free and trying to make sin a better place for themselves first and foremost!

Well, it is good that people should be doing the real fire fighting just like our Home Team.

But for aunties to come here trying their luck by practising a little bit of magic , you must extremely be wary and send back to their place of original belonging – and that is shopping centres.

This kind of aunties who know how to meddle with keyboard & internet are the classy type and probably glib tongue from many years of “low-soh” experience – and they hope to apply their luck on innocent uncles like us.

Of course, we are not against the pm’s governance of the country. I love him and his buddies so much that whenever they make any statement, I cry bucket full of precious tears. Long live pm, mm, sm, m&m, just fill the rest for me as I am getting tired.

109)

it’s ok, we can loosen up now – the coast is now clear – the auntie has gone back into her cocoon to catch up on some knitting …………..

I always said that everyone of you can stand up for the next General Election come 2010/2011. If you have the guts, the show of good face and speak the right thing during the 7 to 10 days of election campaign, you stand a good chance of being carried into Parliament! Many people in Singapore want alternative voices to be heard in Parliament. YOU are the ONE! Stand UP NOW# Do not just waste your time blaa, blaa and write rubbish here and now – pick yourself up and prepare, you have just 2 years to hit the road. Look at the country just north of us, any new faces putting himself/herself up for the GE 8 Mar 2008 suddenly got into Parliament/Dewan Rakyat. If you do not file the papers(no wayang, wayang business) to try on Nomination Day, you will miss the chance to serve the people of Singapore.

Man, we need an Obama in Singapore. It will happen.

Just as Colin Powell (Republican) supported Obama (Democrat), I believe from the ashes of PAP, someone will rise up and be a beacon of light for all of us.

Minibonds divide and conquer the minions to support the FIs
Power and electrical tarrifs that feeds Singapore power billion dollar profits and govt refusal to change structure even with recession looming
Mas Selamat Jalan-ed and how minions got whacked

Just as I believe in God, i will not migrate and I believe Singapore will be better – better than the current PAP and what it has to offer

God Bless Singapore.

109) Gemami, how are you my friend. on October 23rd, 2008 8.39 pm Well, it is good that people should be doing the real fire fighting just like our Home Team.

But for aunties to come here trying their luck by practising a little bit of magic , you must extremely be wary and send back to their place of original belonging – and that is shopping centres.

Don’t have to blame the aunties for what they are. All these years, majority of our folks are somehow being conned into believing what they hear and see on our garment control media like ST and on TVs, always hear the good stuff. Even my own folks are like them all the while. However, thanks to the younger generation who are now more open and dare to speak up for their rights. Good work new singapore, be united and stand up for our country!

just focus on kicking these money grabbers out in the next election. simple.. don’t need to talk so much

The income divide is very huge and real in Singapore.

We have a group of well-to-do singaporeans, the likes of auntie, who will staunchly support PAP’s governance because they continue to benefit at the expense of those below that divide.

The elitist airs exhibit themselves and the sad thing is, they clearly want to show you they are above you. Going to CC is not their cup of tea, they are the PARAGON crowd, remember?

These people will never empathise with the ordinary man like me. Earn a mere 2k salary, 2 kids to feed and live in a 4 room pigeon hole.

If one auntie that goes to Paragon can’t understand the pain of an ordinary man, how could I expect our PM to do so?! He was born with 2 golden spoons, one from mum and one from dad.

PM has not demonstrated his capability to lead. All his so called talents are just hearsay, from dad’s pal and some fancy media reports.

Given the current minibond saga, he had not appear to make any contribution at all, but chose to fly to China to jiak hong instead.

To me, he is more “shadow puppet” than Pu Yi, the last emperor of China. And I hope, he will bring the downfall of the Lee empire. No one will cry, perhaps auntie.

112) tiredsingaporean (Gemami, how are you my friend)

very well, thank you.
and thank you too for the piece of advise – i can be quite naive at times, i admit.

ordinary man – you forgot the third golden spoon, much bigger than the 2 golden spoons of daddy and mommy . . . yes, that one …… i repeat ….. THAT one!

the same one he is continuing to dip into . . . the bottomless golden spoon.

jokes aside, you’ve put across a very good point. i must add that the divide is not simply between the top and bottom. The Singapore divide is more like what I would call, the ‘KUEY LAPIS’ divide.

There are so many layers of divisions …… there are the outcasts who sleep in homeless shelters anywhere they could find on the island / the poor, overly taxed and over-worked illiterates / the ordinary folks like you & me / the ‘have-a-bit-more-than-you’ types / the Paragon types like auntielucia – probably semi-retired with nothing much to do other than to go shopping at Paragon and never be seen at OG, knitting as pastime activity / there are the executive Singaporeans who lord over the rest of us and demanding that they be treated like royaties / and the top tier aliens who call themselves ’servants of the land’.

there are other divides of course, eg educational & political – pro or anti PAP, pro or anti govt, pro or anti SG, opposition supporter or critic etc.

sadly, most would behave differently depending on the layer they are at – to keep up with the jones of that division.

fellow Singaporeans, which layer are you?.

I have never considered a political career or showing my face. But you can collate ideas from those who write here. Otherwise there would be no purpose of posting comments here.

We have a few good people here including but not limited to Tan Kin Lian, Andrew Loh and Leong Sze Hian. Do I see a show of hands to support them to serve our nation in the next election? Show your support!

100% behind them, Kelly – all of them, in fact, not limited to these few only. Others like Pearl and Joel can be groomed for the future too.

119) kelly on October 24th, 2008 12.15 pm
120) gemami on October 24th, 2008 3.08 pm

yes, we should encourage more ppl to speak up here, LOUD and be heard, even to the extend of arranging meet up for discussion, there only 1 way to rescue ourt beloved country, i.e. through the unity of its own true blue singaporeans, no matter which race and color you are from, you are still the citizens of sg, so be active and start speaking up, let the world hears you if possible.

119) kelly on October 24th, 2008 12.15 pm

I have never considered a political career or showing my face. But you can collate ideas from those who write here. Otherwise there would be no purpose of posting comments here.

We have a few good people here including but not limited to Tan Kin Lian, Andrew Loh and Leong Sze Hian. Do I see a show of hands to support them to serve our nation in the next election? Show your support!
—————————————————————————————

please factor in the possibilities of what party they may or may not join at the last minute.

Gomez ring a bell?

“you can ring my belllllllll llllll llllll ring my bell! ring my bellllll ring a ring a ring…”

Ministerial issue again…..we have been through this many times. Our politicians’ and top civil servants’ salaries are pegged to the top earners among 6 professions, including bankers. We now know that bankers for many years have been taking risks with “other people’s money” in order earn higher bonuses for themselves.

If that is the case, in principle how can our ministers’ and top civil servants’ salaries be pegged to the unscrupulous bankers’ salaries ?

Today I met a civil servant, 25 years service as a support staff, earning 1800 a month. As always there is a tendency to lump the whole lot together. But in the end its the elite Ministers and superscale who are paid the most. Anyway are MPs and Ministers civil servants or elected officials whose term shoul be detremined by the people. We have a situation where they enjoy pension when is been taken away from the bulk of civil servants whom it was meant for. Come on , lets see it in perspective, majority of the civil servants here are not well paid but if we are given the average than it looks good. Its just like the country where the top 10% earns what the rest earns. Sometime I feel sorry for the poor civil servant slave.

We need to take back the power. We surrendered it and now we cannot retrieve it. We forget we emply them and not the other way around. Lets kick the arrogant b……. out

while the son has gone missing, the father had just passed an unbelievable insult on “assortative mating”, what is going on with this familees now, its totally rediculous!

126) tiredsingaporean on October 25th, 2008 2.12 am

while the son has gone missing, the father had just passed an unbelievable insult on “assortative mating”, what is going on with this familees now, its totally rediculous!

might this family be proof that “assortative mating” is disastrous?

Our PM is World Class one !!! Why …

World Class Pay – even George Bush US salary cannot beat him !!!

World Class Disappearing Act – even David Copperfield slower than him !!!

World Class Job – attending tea parties at Mercy Relief while the country is in recession, wah no wonder he is at number one, cos he is the only one doing this !!!

We are in awe … he brings a brand new meaning to the word “‘World Class” !!!

The thought that came to my mind having read the above blogs was ” a total lack of responsibilities of senior officials”. Although they were highly paid and quick to take credit when things are fine but failed to take responsibility when thing goes wrong”. Is this a good example to set for the country? Time will tell. Singapore may be rich now but the world is changing fast and over the next twenty years or more, our neigbours will catch up with us. The shortage of land and natural resources will remain a serious problem it had always been and million dollars ministers/official will never be able to resolve these problems. Investing the money wisely is only a partial answer to a long term problem. I am not sure our current group of ministers will be capable of finding solutions to these problems. All Singaporean should be encouraged to debates these issues but deep down I know it will never happen.