must have been using money to wipe his backside. cannot even tell what is toilet paper.

poor man, kana played out by his grass-root people. he is a good chap who did alot for his constituents. he is plain unlucky not to check first . . .

This is a CASE certified outfit!!!

“If my presence there had given the university credibility, that was not my intention.”
So what’s your intention?
Don’t tell me you are ignorant about WCU’s credibility when you are world-class?
What a joke! Stop being lame, i can’t stand it.

Let’s move on – it’s an honest mistake.

So apathetic! With thousands working for the ministers and a PR machinery so well orchestrated, it is amazing to read almost daily the screw ups of highly paid Government men which had adverse impact on citizens’ families.
In just education field alone, it is interesting to read about the UNSWAsia closure where even the ministers involved even declined to meet parents, foreigns students left in the lurch by Singapore registered educated agencies, citizens squeezed out of university places, and scholarships given to foreigners.
The Government people must have their heads examined, and soon…………to stop the complacency and under par work performance.

hahaha hahahahaha… hahahaha…

this is just so funny…

a former minister of state for education being the guest of honour for a degree mill…

LOL hilarious!!!!!

this, my dear friends, is the quality of people who make up the government that the people of singapore vote into power year in and year out.

Singapore must surely be the laughing stock of the world of academia!!!

this is a super big joke… how stupid is that a former minister for education is unaware of what’s accredited and what’s not?

by allowing these con-jobs to be around is already something spectacular and attending the dinner itself? don’t these highly paid elites have minders/assistants to filter out trash?

i know singapore is in recession and we need more than a laugh… but having the government creating the jokes one by one is not really helping us…

This is what happens when Ministries/Ministers are not held to task for their areas of responsibility. Lately we have seen such incompetencies in handling terrorist, immigration, foriegn workers (too many), investments, education etc etc it makes one wonder if you really have the best talent or those proclaimed to be the best. Well if they are the best they have failed the test and without accountability they will continue to brand themselves as the best. For goodness sake, a former MOS for education and MP giving such a lame excuse. They recent expose on the private school is really just a tip of the iceberg. Many of these schools including some big ones have politicians and ex-politicians seating on their boards. Some are operated by ex high profile civil servants so not much scrutiny is placed on them. We need MOE to wake up and close the dodgy schools down, so that MPs and ex MOS will not be embarassed by attending their graduation. Joke.

Chan Soo Sen probably thought: “Wow! This is an opportunity for me to be guest of honour woh. Ok, on! I will accept the invite!”

I thought the PAP govt always say: “Due diligence! Due diligence!”

I just have to wonder if it was say, Dr Chee who accepted such an invite. I am sure the PAP and the local media would go to town with it.

But alas, it is one of their own…PAP MP.

These people are driving Singapore Inc to doom..
Singapore has a reputation of being trustworthy and ethical in business dealings from foreign peers.

If this type of things keep cropping up, we will lose that BRAND and we will be no different from other nations.

But .. .how come the mass media is publishing this type of story that will put a bad light on PAP MPs.

Does that mean the mass media are loosening up and really trying to report as it is.

How can an MP just accept invitations like that? What more he was the Minister of State for Education! The most important question is:

Was he paid to attend the ceremony?

And if he was, what is he going to do with the money now? Return it? Donate to charity? Keep it and act blur?

I really feel very very sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy for Mr Chan Soo Sen.

I did not expect he would come to this level….. very very sad…..

actually I ask – is Goh Chok Tong paid twice – as senior minister and as Chairman of MAS>>

The excuse he gave was quite lame actually. Having been a MOS and having lots of working experience previously, I thought a simple background check into WCU is a logical process, especially when you’re invited to be the Guest of Honour. Wouldn’t you want to know who and what you’re dealing with before lending your name?

Complacency I suppose….

i am a resident in the joo chiat constituency.

contrary to popular belief, it;s not chan who has been doing all the work for the estates…it;s the grassroots organisations and residents who tirelessly work to keep the sleaze out of joo chiat… to a certain degree, its working, but to a larger extent, it could have been far more effective if chan and the authorities work together to decisively take action against the bars, lounges and transit hotels to eliminate the vietnamese prostitutes and their clients from the area.

chan merely sits around being the guest of honour of pointless community events (Joo Chiat Idol anyone??)…his face is plastered across banners in the constituency proudly proclaiming him to be the MP.

what is worrying is that he is accepting these invitations and blaming it on his grassroots leaders. Does he not read the invitations? and if he does, does he not have the brains to do some research first? after all, he would have had to make some kind of speech or address the guests right? what would he talk about? the weather????

it is worrying that we have him as a leader in joo chiat, and more worrying that we have such leaders in our elite parliament.

disappointing. and worrying.

for more on residents’ efforts on Joo Chiat, please visit http://www.myjoochiat.com

I am a resident of Joo Chiat and thus one of Mr Chan’s constituents. Unfortunately, Mr Chan has not done much for the area. The sleaze that has plagued us the past few years has only gotten worst and while there is a very strong grassroots effort, the effort is unmatched by Mr Chan. It is truly disheartening to see the kind of politicians our tax money is being used to ‘attract’. And now he, as a former Minister of State for Education, attending an event for a degree mill, and then proceeds to feign ignorance is simply ridiculous! Obviously he was invited for a reason (certainly it was not for him to try out the free food). It does not take a rocket scientist to know that the Guest of Honor was invited to add ‘honor’ to any event.

If my boss who earns $4000+ a month is to make such kind of mistake, he would be out in the street tomorrow with a bowl in his hands.

CSS still got the cheek to think about “lending creditbility”, what credibility does he have after such a blooper?

maybe he also got toilet paper degree. . .
. . . “you wipe my backside, I wipe you backside . . . ”

LSS, now CSS anymore S-es in the bunch of fumbling idiots?

oh yes, another question – doesn’t he read the fine prints?
I’m sure it’s not 84 pages long!

His focus was on the his status as the VIP for the event. He probably checked everything about where and who he sits with, but the most basic of all checks – to check the credentials of the organisation that invited him – eluded him. What a shame.

Complacency? or knowing they can do no wrong?

in the true spirit of Singapore…. LET’s MOVE ON.

This is another episode of world class paid ministry doing lower than class decision and relaying more of his secretary to do his job of finding the hard facts right. Our world class ministry is really getting more and more handicapped by having a brunch of good pay scholar who has been giving him no advice of bad advice. This mis-judgement is detrimental to our citizen and will be another laughing stock in the education arena. Again! Honest mistake it must be.

#17 & 18)
Don’t complain ..
Use action and vote him out then.

i didnt vote for him in the last election, if your eally must know. and yes,,,,i wont be voting for him next election either. … but i have a sneaky feeling that they’ll absorb joo chiat into east coast or marine parade GRC come 2011…they already have Lee Yi Shyan as second advisor of Joo Chiat (he’;s from East Coast GRC). is that a signal or what?

why did MSM report this? It’s their routine. When something critical happens, they churn out news using sacrificial lambs to distract the masses. Recall GST, IR, CPF Life, Mas Selamat, 21% tariff increase. Before you can even utter “mee siam mai hum”, they already “siam” behind the lamb of the moment, and behold! they have moved on.

“why did MSM report this? It’s their routine. When something critical happens, they churn out news using sacrificial lambs to distract the masses. Recall GST, IR, CPF Life, Mas Selamat, 21% tariff increase. Before you can even utter “mee siam mai hum”, they already “siam” behind the lamb of the moment, and behold! they have moved on.”

Be fair lah.

When MSM finally reports something that doesn’t shine a positive light on the PAP it is met with such cynicism.

Frankly I doubt that this little sideshow will be sufficient to ‘take cover’ behind. I don’t think anyone will think so….

This looks and feels like a distraction from the minibonds issues honestly…or the price rises…or what the gov has done wrong recently…

I smell a rat…

“This looks and feels like a distraction from the minibonds issues honestly…or the price rises…or what the gov has done wrong recently…

I smell a rat…”

Well, if the purpose of this (laughable) incident being reported was to serve as a decoy from the minibonds issue I must say that it’s a pretty stupid method. This pales in comparison to the financial situation.

To be honest, this is quite a small issue. I simply see it as a case of no ‘real harm’ to the govt, thereforce can report. See it more optimistically, at least the MSM IS reporting something that is not pro-govt…right??

Was there any form of compensation for his appearance?

If so, in what form and how much is the value?

it’s the trend i think, since news headlines lately have been revolving around scandals worldwide and people at the top being fraudulent and stuff…time to dig up some dirt!

oh. We all know what he’s there for…free buffet! that’s what all these functions are about arent they =P

Actually, Mr. Chan wanted to encourage life-long learning. That was why he agreed to be the guest of honour. This is his explaination. So give the man a break, can we?? The whole incident has already embarrassed him quite badly. Maybe he purposely went there to check out first-hand about this degree factory?? Or maybe ” wrong place, wrong time” ??

#29) chorus,

You can see more anti-pap here.
Whatever PAP do ..right or wrong,
these folks here will try to twist and turn into PAP doing something wrong or have motives behind.

After I write this.. I should be expecting flame from them..any moment now..

isa,

yes I have noticed that with some people. (here and in the real world -_-)

To be honest I am not a fan of the PAP and there are many intelligent commenters on TOC with solid, balanced arguments whom I enjoy reading. I think the over zealous commenters are among the minority, though they are quite vocal.

“Actually, Mr. Chan wanted to encourage life-long learning. That was why he agreed to be the guest of honour. This is his explaination. So give the man a break, can we?? The whole incident has already embarrassed him quite badly. Maybe he purposely went there to check out first-hand about this degree factory?? Or maybe ” wrong place, wrong time” ??”

Hmmm. The cynical would say that old Mr. Chan didn’t do his homework and was caught with his pants down. The life long learning thing is just an excuse he cooked up.

Personally, I feel it was damn stupid of Mr. Chan to be there. I just feel we should give ST a break and cool it with the conspiracy-oh-this-is-meant-to-overshadow-minibonds theories which I find more than a little ludicrous. Almost as laughable as Mr. Chan’s presence.

plain stupid ninkumput..period…Im tired of all this idiots!

Recently I read that our MM saying that his party has always had 2/3 majority in election. Everyone perhaps him knows that they would not have returned 2/3 if it was all single seats. Let alone still be in power. Well thats statistics..he believes it..we must be fools..

Chee and JBJ were always right..we need electoral reforms..

lezzbo (#17), joochiat-er (#18):

hearing views from joo chiat residents do give us more insight on how the MP of your constituency is working.

kena (#5):

everyone makes mistake. apologise and move on. though he should be more pro-active in checking out the credential of university.

lezzbo (#25):

who was the opposition during the last election? was joo chiat a single member constituency?

We have loan sharks but they let you take the money first and only if you don’t pay . their khakis come around to apply pressure on you. But nowaday, we have banks who become Buaya (crocodile) and swallow you lock stock and barrel.
Now who is fair ? Loan Shark or Buaya ?

Obamaosama…all sama lah !

His intention was not to lend credibility to the fake university by attending the convocation as guest-of-honour lah.

I guess his intention must be to get some credibility from the fake university lah, right or not? Some more got free dinner and can be photographed and appear in the next day’s newspapers leh.

Are we paying peanuts to get monkeys?

The problem of local degree mills runs really deep. Being CASE-certified or MOE-approved does not necessary imply the private school is not a degree mill. If so, it is only fair that MOE and CASE accreditation should be taken back from all the private schools and future accreditation should cease too.

Cannot blame MP Chan Soo Sen because it may due to mis-selling or misrepresentation of WCU to this MP. Is some RM of WCU is to blame for misleading the MP ? Why this MP trust WCU without performing due dilligence ? Is he guaranteed a good return ? Did he read the fineprint when he agree to WCU’s invitation ? Did he check with his lawyer on the invitation ? Did some gov org approve such university programme ? Or is WCU is registered but may not get approved by some gov org ? Maybe MP Chan Soo Sen is to be blamed because he accept the invitation without understanding WCU.

Anyway, if MP Chan Soo Sen has any grievance, he should go to Hong Lim Park to voice out , we will be glad to listen to his plight, and Dr Chee and SDP can also help him with the protest for his innocence if he request.

MP Chan Soo Sen shouldn’t blame anyone but himself due to caveat emptor (“let the buyer beware”). Who ask him to attend WCU’s invitation without understanding WCU ? Did he not read the prospectus of WCU and clarify his lack of understanding and knowledge with RM from WCU ?

MP Chan Soo Sen shouldn’t act blur as if WCU stand for We Con U. WCU is not to blame. MP Chan Soo Sen as a Dodo is.

Daniel (#43),

LOL. Your sarcasm knows no boundary and I find it very amusing.

Daniel (#43)

Fat hope

“and Dr Chee and SDP can also help him with the protest for his innocence if he request”

Chees and SDP are the heirs of “sound and fury” JBJ.

Talk abt human righrs but when people lose money, where were they? They did not organise anything, they did not speak out.

Where were they? Juz like WP, keep quiet, buat bodoh. I hope Chees and SDP have the decency to keep quiet now that safe to attack banks, and not be opportunist like SIAS and WP. Brave when the danger passes.

I always thgt that we needed an Opposition. Now I’ve changed my mind: we need
an Opposition that dares to do the right thing, not juz mouth platitudes. We got PAP to do the platitudes.

Give chance a bit lah.
In case you’ve forgotten, Chees and SDP already fighting another battle so that they can continue to fight for freedom and human rights for Singaporeans. If they are permanently silenced, we will have no more voice now that JBJ is gone.

This is why clowns like CSS ought to disappear from the face of this planet if he has the decency to aknowledge and take responsibility for his mistake. Nothing better to do, still make such a blunder. The glare of the spotlights must have really blinded him. So please, do the decent thing and quit!

There might even be a readily available position for him in parliament – a full time jester – for MM, PM & SM’s amusement.

An older Singaporean, I read every speech of MM and he with his earlier cabinent team remained my hero for many reasons and most of all getting us booted out of Malaysia.

Let me expressed my observations with a suggestion or two, and hope that both netizens and Government can mitigate each other and strke a beautiful balance for the way ahead for the good future of Singapore.

Induction into Government has always been difficult and this is one reason why Singaporeans must eventually come to term with the subjective pay structure of ministers- it must be one of the key motivating factors to get the best. Others include good character and real intention to serve which Singaporeans generally accept of all PAP candidates at their introduction. Their performance subsequently is for all to see.

Netizens have been generally quick to complain – this is a Singaporean trait and after all the grosses the Singaporean is generally a nice fellow and normally would try to solve his or her problems, and move on.

May I suggest that netizens refrain from personal attacks on Government leaders- the reaction may not be good for the nation; it is very good to debate issues – on education alone ,there are so many, like the previous over weight program where primary school kids were forced to walk up and down the staircases in full view of all during recess time – the psychological damage and adverse self esteem cannot be overemphasized, and some of these kids have been badly affected that in their later lives, live with depression and other psychotic disorders – what is the final outcome ? MOE discontinued the program but heaped praise on itself!
Other issues which were calliously handled include the UNSWAsia closure.

All these episodes are learning curve for the Government and if anything, honesty and truth even to oneself must prevail, not to take credit when it is not due, and where possible not to be too defensive- otherwise with the ongoing trend – pre-emption and legistration will be the order of the day and we will be seeing and hearing less and less of SM and PM.

So far I am impressed by Lim Swee Say in his apology for a SARS related episode. Has his statute and standing been really affected ? I think not, despite being moved and his straight forward English comments on CPF are being picked for critism which is expected.

With MM in his advanced years, and as his erstwhile fan, I am genuinely concerned now.

What lezzbo and joochiat-er said about MPs being bo-chap is true also in Thomson. Many massage joints offering special services have cropped up in the Upper Thomson shophouses and the tompang MP isn’t doing very much. On a national level, i think the govt is slowly getting all of us used to sleaze so that when the casinos open and the hookers, toyboys, money launderes and foreign Ah Longs come in, we’d all be numb to it.

35) chorus on October 22nd, 2008 11.53 pm

isa,

yes I have noticed that with some people. (here and in the real world -_-)

To be honest I am not a fan of the PAP and there are many intelligent commenters on TOC with solid, balanced arguments whom I enjoy reading. I think the over zealous commenters are among the minority, though they are quite vocal.
————————————————————————–

Have the People learnt anything?
Never Trust Blindly. Trust as long as you see strong evidence and proof.
I recall Gerald said not all newspeople ’so like that’ .
I then think to myself, news reports are released to public domain after its cleared by the chief Editor who could also ‘advise’ the writers what to write (or not to write). Is my understanding correct? If so, I like to know in more detail what was Gerald trying to say. How does he know? Even if writers tell him not all are ’so like that’, writers still report to chief Editor (directly or not) and news is serious business where articles and reports are checked before released to public domain.

I hope Gerald could clarify on what he meant. thanks!

Kang Mui Hoong

How come TOC trust ST reporting on WCU?

Remember all the misinfo that disinfo come from ST on 2006 election.

If TOC had investigated WCU and say it is “paper mill” then I believe it is paper mill. But to quote ST ….

#39 –
who was the opposition during the last election? was joo chiat a single member constituency?

Joo Chiat was a single member constituency and Mr Chan contested against someone named Tan Bing Seng (i think…cant recall, as he wasnt exactly a stand out either, to be fair) from Workers Party.

48) Concerned Moderator

I’d like to believe that the older generation has a deep affection for MM especially those who have ‘fought’ alongside him from the days of separation to this modern era. It is this belief that has seen the PAP stay in power for the longest time.

I’d also believe that most of us would accord him this credit and even compliment him for setting Singapore on the course toward modernisation.

But, unfortunately, we can only go as far as the point when he decided to hand over the PMship.

You see, things (esp politically) began to degenerate when he started tightening the reins in preparation for his handover. He needed to make sure that his successors had to be adequately protected against all forms of attacks. Probably he foresaw that his son would be premier in the not too distance future.

Defamation suits, sticking labels to anyone who opposed the regime and making sure the oppositions big guns were all either sued into bankruptcy or driven out of the country. Control of the MSM. This was the starting point of where Singapore politics were to be heading. . . in the wrong direction.

Now, one thing led to another. The transition of power was effected and GCT was handed the baton. MM was still vocal behind the scene to ensure that Sg did not navigate away from the course he had set.

You said: “Singaporeans must eventually come to term with the subjective pay structure of ministers”

Whether we come to terms with it or not (I will never) is not for either side to suggest but yes; I do agree with you that it is SG standard that when left there long enough, it will eventually ‘come to term’. And yes; it is the key motivator to ‘get the best’. But my question is: “best in what?”. The best servants? for this is what it is. To be in politics is to serve the greater good of the people in the country. This was what made LKY popular – and this will be the downfall of his successors because they have yet to learn how to serve the greater good.

You also said: “All these episodes are learning curve for the Government and if anything,….”.

No; i would beg to differ. There is no learning curve when it comes to the lives and well-being of the citizens. When you are paid so well and with all the means and resources at your disposal, you are EXPECTED to do your homework well, deliberate well and make the best decision for all – nothing lesser than this.

I understand the emotional affection you have for LKY but LKY is not Singapore and Singapore is not LKY. Neither is Singapore PAP and vice versa.

As for hearing ‘less and less’ of SM & PM; well; to each his own. The less said the better. I definitely would not miss not hearing them. For each time we hear them talk – my pocket gets lighter and lighter.

If there is any advice this young punk can give to an old hat like yourself it would be this: Passion first before emotion.

Thanks for sharing.

To 50) No breaks! No Free Lunch!:

“I recall Gerald said not all newspeople ’so like that’ .
I then think to myself, news reports are released to public domain after its cleared by the chief Editor who could also ‘advise’ the writers what to write (or not to write). Is my understanding correct? If so, I like to know in more detail what was Gerald trying to say. How does he know? Even if writers tell him not all are ’so like that’, writers still report to chief Editor (directly or not) and news is serious business where articles and reports are checked before released to public domain. I hope Gerald could clarify on what he meant.”

I’m not sure what you’re getting at. Yes journo’s reports are subject to their editors’ corrections and approval. But it does not automatically make the journalists themselves sycophants, as many of us would mistakenly assume they are. That’s what I meant.

A piece of paper only. Why people paid so much like $19,000.00 or 25,000.00 for a piece of paper (degree) even when they know it is worthless. Because somewhere in their conscious or unconscious minds, they convinced themselves they are ” Investing” in their future. So these degree mills sell them “HOPE” in the form of a piece of paper by urging them to Invest !!

Another kind of worthless paper now. Here we have the more innocent victims of the “Lament Brothers”, I mean, “Lehmen Brothers”. These innocent and unfortunate investors were sold worthless pieces of papers that come with sophisticated names like “minibonds, high notes, pinnacles etc”. By now these have become worthless papers – 10,000 victims and $350 million dollars later. How can anyone believe that the victims can understand or should understand funny words like “first default or credit events” ???? It is more like pre-meditated and deliberate bad designs by twisting the English language where such funny words are concerned – so as to camouflage real words like “bankruptcies and winding ups” which all of us, most of us, will have no problems to understand. Sounds more and more like pre-meditated murders ??
So you see how both cases involved in selling papers (worthless papers) to people who are Investing in their futures (degrees) or Investing their wealth for retirements (minibonds) – and you can see Paper business is the Best Business.
This is the Big Growth Business of today and even tomorrow as long as people remain trusting and gullible. Next time, we should all be very cautious whenever the products anyone selling us is made from Paper – degrees or minibonds.

55) Rushking

Well said!

Now whoever is in support of the English language, or rather, Queen’s English – put your hands up ………….

Next, whoever is in support of Singlish, put up your hands ………………

Moral of the story: make sure the banks and FIs read and write in Singlish.

Well said, No. 53) Gemami.

Most of us don’t have any problem with LKY during the times the old guards were around. That’s when their policies were mostly sound and aligned with the needs and values of the people they were leading.

As the old guards disappeared one by one, and the leadership transitioned to the new generation of leaders, suddenly the leaders realised they are sitting atop a money-making machine. Singapore became Singapore Inc, and the leaders started drawing pay packages matching that of best of the top professionals. CPF has been tweaked countless times in the last 5 years. I will give the benefit of doubt to GST and ERP as they are bound to happen sooner or later in any respectable country. But what about privatisation of the supply of basic goods and services, resulting in costs going up, rather than down? What about the decision to build the IRs (not one but two, on a small island nation), and the subtle embracing of alternative lifestyles? What about the countless massage joints in HDB neighbourhoods providing questionable services? What about the influx of FTs, taking up jobs at all levels, leaving Singaporeans to beg, sell tissue paper, and sleep in the parks, benches and bus interchanges? What about CPF Life, which was built atop the basic assumption that people still do not know how to manage their own money after working for 40 over years? I don’t even want to start talking about Mas Selamat, about our overseas investments, or point out how illogical the reasons were behind the 21% electricity tariff hike.

Yet, through this all, the ordinary citizens suffered quietly. The US presidential campaign talked about Joe the plumber. I will tell you that I am the average Singaporean. I have 2 young kids, live in a HDB flat, don’t own a car, and commute to work by bus & MRT in 3 hours daily to & fro. My wife and I have 2 aging parents to support. I will speak as an average Singaporean, or if I sound below average, that’s fine.

Kids & teachers are put through punishing paces in schools, to the extent that professionally trained counsellors are now a regular feature in schools, and teachers take turns to use up their medical leave. What does the escalating teenage suicide rate tell us about Singapore? Parents worked hard to cope with the rising costs on all fronts, all this while having faith that the Govt will do what’s best in the interests of the citizens, given the track record of the old guards. Unfortunately, what’s done seem to mostly benefit Singapore Inc, to uphold our brand and reputation as seen through the eyes of other nations and rankings. Grievances are muted. Cries for help are mostly directed to VWOs. Have you seen the Monday night show on Channel 8 about households in need? I think those are the worst of the lot, where at least one or more members have broken down mentally or emotionally. Many others are just trying hard to get by. Surely we do not need to see them break down before helping them?

Most people including me, are not advocating for any form of handouts from the Govt. Instead, we are asking “is it necessary to raise GST, transport charges, electricity tariffs NOW?” Can the Govt afford to postpone or to stagger it? We are not asking them to artificially suppress prices as MTI claimed; we are asking them is it necessary to raise them? As for CPF, deferring the withdrawal age is fine, but is it necessary to raise the minimum sum and force CPF Life on us?

56) Hello Gemami,

Here’s my one humble vote for English – or Queen’s English – as long as it is Honest & straightforward English that don’t mislead or cheat our uncles and aunties of their money.
We must outlaw those deliberately bad English used in selling equally bad & wicked products – we should outlaw and label them as Bank English ( I mean Bad English ) and Lament English (I mean Lehmen English). These misleading words belong to “Cheat_glish” because they are not honest and straight English.

We should go back to good, simple, honest, Englsh that everyone can understand – no jargons, no technical or legal bullshits, no sophisticated voodoos, in product brochures, prospectus, or contracts. Make this law now &do the Right Thing !!

good point Rushking.

indeed, the key words are simple and honest – just like Singlish. It is as simple and honest as it can be – a ’straight-to-the-face-no-strings-attached’ lingo that even uncles and aunties can understand.

I’m not saying i am advocating Singlish but when it comes to Bank-English or Law-English or any other types of English where English doesn’t sound like English and which does not sit on any land mass with a national flag on it, then it is imperative that a Singlish version of any legal document be made available for the common Singlish citizen.

Otherwise, it will always be “Cheat_glish”

57) logicalman

thanks for a wonderful piece of sharing.
i must admit that when I was replying to #48) Concerned Moderator, I did not even condifer these details. thanks for filling in the blanks.

60) gemami: thanks for a wonderful piece of sharing.

Thanks gemami. Just being logical here :)

59) gemami: Otherwise, it will always be “Cheat_glish”

Actually, there’s nothing wrong with the English used, except that it’s normally used for contracts, and to understand the terms and the context , one needs to be legally and financially trained. And of course, how can uncles and aunties be so naive? Well, they can because they trust in the name of the establishments.

Sorry, digress a little; I know this is about Mr Chan, not mini-bonds.

Someone said if you do not know what they are selling to you, don’t buy. I agree, but if they make it sound like it’s fixed deposit, and most uncles and aunties do know what’s a fixed deposit, then that’s what we need to fix.

I have personally seen a bank manager walk up to everyone in a queue in our homegrown bank, inviting them to buy a product. Is that wrong? Well, it’s not, but should that be encouraged? I don’t think so. If we are queueing up to do banking, we obviously are not shopping for new financial products. If we need anything, the better educated ones among us will know how to pick up a brochure from the counters or check the web. So if they solicit down the queue, guess who will end up being the customer? Most likely the uncle or auntie who’s just collected monies from CPF.

Banks (and while we are at it, hospitals & clinics) are not supermarkets; let’s not cheapen them. They sell products that cannot be sampled or easily understood. If they want to give out flyers, that’s fine, but leave out the canvassing please.

I know Chan Soo Sen to be a sincere, hard working person, who is very much on the ground. Just like me.

If I were invited by this university, I would probably have accepted and be embarrassed by this incident.

Lesson: do not be so harsh in judgement. This is an oversight. If the university is accredicted by CASETrust, one can assume it to be all right. It may be difficult for a person working alone, without the backing of a big government ministry, to carry out the detailed checks.

Here is another angle. If there are many students in Singapore that are graduating from this unversity, perhaps it is all right to grace the occasion and give them the honour.

Mr Tan, you’re really too kind.
Still having the time to defend the integrity of a fallen ‘all-white’ angel.

Leave him be, he will not know how to reciprocate your kindness.

Well, I do sincerely hope I am proven wrong though.

I wonder is it because CSS is a sincere, hardworking & on the ground person which explains why the gahment let him fall (because he fails the elitist test).
=> no offense meant

“62) Tan Kin Lian on October 23rd, 2008 6.33 pm

Lesson: do not be so harsh in judgement. This is an oversight. If the university is accredicted by CASETrust, one can assume it to be all right. It may be difficult for a person working alone, without the backing of a big government ministry, to carry out the detailed checks.

Here is another angle. If there are many students in Singapore that are graduating from this unversity, perhaps it is all right to grace the occasion and give them the honour.”

Cheers Mr. Tan sir.

Many would do well to have even half of your balanced judgment and thought out views.

Now I see why so many speak well of you.

Alot of people are talking and utter rubbish in this TOC and used profane languages to colour their pts. But the question is who are these people? They are just one track mind people with stupid limiduts…. covering their own weaknesses. They think they are saint, they are perfect and always right. They are actually dumbnuts…… eg. when everythings/events are unfolded, they used events that are jumbled up to curse and swear the garment. Will the garment able to predict the financial crises now one year ago? then you are sure U will not have GST talking cock shop. Then again U will not have these Minibonds, Notes problems etc. and these “greed” or “smart investment” people (again depends on events/situations to coin the termed) will collect their coupons and go home happily. Looking back, people always gave their comments that is already history. They never excercise their thinking & power wisely when the time is right or they excercised wisely but regret later. Two years from now ie. 2010/2011 (the FUTURE), think carefully b4 U excercise your power and put the right X in the right place B4 you will start talking and writing rubbish again after that to blow your stupid frustrations. Who cares?

66) Oscar Choy

thanks for the insight – albeit from a very arrogant and blunt perspective.

you asked “who cares?”.
well, did you realise you’ve answered your own question? By posting your comments here, it showed that you cared . . . care enough to share with us your point of view.

So, point us, allow us to share in our own little dramatic way, according to the colourful people that we are. It’s democracy isn’t it?

lol wat a lame excuse. these papaya elites have been taking us for fools and belive that we’d swallow whatever published in the ST.

time to wake up papaya. u wont be who u’re if urs not getting support from ppl. its too late to realize if u lose ur lose in the next GE

I lived in Joo Chiat constituency. I respected all the other MPs for their hardwork, you may observed most of their hair turn grey after less than a term, but sadly I have different respect for my own MP.

Where is Mr Chan during the Everitt Neighbourhood Saga, as a MOS of Education then,

I personally believed that it did not reflected well for the image of the teaching profession, especially it was aired on TV news, for the neighbouring countries to see. I was concerned for my son moral education in that school.

Also so much talk about, what Mr Chan would do to get Joo Chiat out from the special map, but I believed the residents themselve did more.

Mr Chan is a stanford grad and he did not even bother to check before he goes to attend something. Maybe he is not bona fide stanford grad.

Anway, when he was doing the Suzhou industrial park project, he was every bit as screwed up as he is MP for Joo Chiat. There were rumours he enjoyed wine and song (karaoke) and maybe other elements of the floating world. That perhaps explain why when he took over Joo Chiat, the bastion of the nongya culture was transformed into a world class whore haven, bringing in plenty of GDP contributions to the area and a lot of liveliness as well.

Mr Tan Kim Lian,

You said, “I know Chan Soo Sen to be a sincere, hard working person, who is very much on the ground. Just like me.”

Please tell us what are the good results brought about by Chan’s “HARD WORK ON THE GROUND” to the people in Joo Chiat and to Singaporeans as a whole when he was Minister of State in Education.

I will not judge him. But, I want you to produce facts to back up your views.

he should come out and sincerely apologies for his error

Mr Tan Kim Lian,

I refer to my post No. 71, please provide me with details on the good side of Chan Soo Sen so that I could change my perception of him. You simply said HARD WORK ON THE GROUND by him is not enough. Give us real cases.

I am sure you could cite some facts and actual good works carried out by him. But please do not quote some of the simple tasks in MOE or CDAC.. he was paid almost million a year doing some routine job.

We should give MP Chan Soo Sen’s credit especially in this saga, the credit is tremendous and far-reaching but it is really not something we didn’t know.
So great credit for MP Chan Soo Sen for showing us that :

- highly academic qualification and credential don’t mean that they are any more intelligent and diligent.
http://www.parliament.gov.sg/AboutUs/Org-MP-CV-ChanSooSen.htm
1973-1974 GCE `A’ Level (Catholic High School, Singapore)
1975-1978 BA (Honours) (Oxford University, UK)
1986-1987 M Sc (Stanford University, USA)

- That gahman is not infallible. He is after all human like rest of us. That is why check and balance are so important in government and yet we don’t have the proper check and balance other than the gov themselves. Isn’t there is a conflict of interest ?

- Most importantly, THESE GOVERMENT CAN TALK BIG BUT DOESN’T EVEN PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH ! They can talk about caveat emptor when investors are mislead into buying financial product because they did not do due diligence but yet the gov could not apply caveat emptor when their very own gahmen fail to practice what they preach, which is to perform due diligence and asking lawyer for advice prior to agreement on deal.

the high and mighty got his comeuppance!
serves him right!

I feel that nowsaday, Singaporeans show little respect for Government Officials.

I call up Traffic Police hotline at 18800 5471818 and spoke to Mr Hasmir at about 5.55pm on 28 Aug 2009.

I gave feedback that were lots of illegal parking along the 2-way lane with centre while between unit 252 and 250 Tembeling Road. There were no actions taken by the Traffic Police in spite of numerous call made on the situation. The illegal parking has created high probability of a collusion as it creats “blind spots” for vehicle coming in and out of the lane. Mr Hasmir gave little respect to Mr Chan Soo Sen when mentioned he is not bothered if the compliant gets to him.

I hope to be able to get the updated email address of Mr Chan Soo Sen so as to be able to share more on the matter. His previous email address always bounce back my emails sent to him.