Oh oh….elites trying to find more excuses to raise GST again. GIC and Temasek no more money left is it?

last time say is to help the poor, now say will raise if you want to free transport. think the free transport will come in only 50 years after they raise the GST.

use minister pay to subsidise transport lor, surely they are smart enough to do that?

instead of getting the 1.5% from us, how about the govt come up with 0.8 – 1% from our reserves, pay for more buses and improve the transport infrastructure here? if they really want us to take public transport instead of driving, that should be the way that they’re going.

hmm, now why didn’t raymond lim think of that before throwing out a suggestion that will further tax us ordinary singaporeans?

A 1.5% increase seems a little steep for free usage of the busses and MRT, however not unreasonable, especially if they introduced a few more busses/trains and ran their services for an hour or two more every night (or even just weekends). Though it does bring up the issue of what to do about tourists who come in and get a GST refund. More than likely they used that free transport and then are no longer paying for it once they leave.

The way he says “your GST” is also very condescending….so he does not have to pay GST, or he’s trying to remind us again that it doesn’t matter to him? To that I say…your mother

Increase GST for the sake of the poor people, say until so sinful, but increase GST for minister’s million dollar pay say until so saintly, and justified and righteous,

I bet you next time Ministers pay come for review he will say

Increase minister pay to millions…. The money still must come from somewhere, right? It is about a 1.5 percentage point increase of your GST. So, now it is 7%. You want good PAP goverment , do you must have the GST to go up to 8.5%

1.5% increase and we get a “completely free” bus and train service?

Sure or not?

If that is so, I’d suggest that we use 1.5% of Temasek and the GIC’s investment returns for this purpose, so that we all can have a “completely free” bus and train service. After all, how much is 1.5% more of GST? Probably a billion or two more.

$1 billion or $2 billion is nothing for Temasek and GIC – even our town councils make $1b a year.

Temasek and GIC have spent more than our national budget last year – which was $30 billion.

So, what is one or two billion to them?

Raymond Lim should suggest this to the PM.

Arrogance. Hubris. Condescension.

Disturbed, worried and arrogant to the people.

The last time the transport companies raise fares, it was because the oil price was sky high. Now that the oil price is at a 4 yr low, how come they didn’t reduce the fares accordingly? And also, all the oil companies are the same. Raise prices at break neck speed. And when the oil price has tumbled to a 4 yr low, they are just slow bloody slow in reducing prices.

They are all the same. A bunch of blood sucking leeches jumping at every opportunity to suck, drain every drop of blood from hard working citizens. What’s the word for it….Opportunistic profiteers.

So when the next GE comes, we must remember hard this episode, and don’t let any of us be bought ever again. Remember. Or we will just ask for it again and again….till we drop dead.

Certainly as arrogant as ever!

patriot

I don’t about you guys, but what I’m seeing is a decided tactic on the part of the MIW to wear the citizens down with jibberish. After all what can we do? Vote them out? Sigh…… Lan Lan Singafools!

“Temasek and GIC have spent more than our national budget last year – which was $30 billion.”

when you say spent, do you really mean lost?

by the way, i am completely lost in whatever he is trying to say. many things just don’t make sense. that’s why I am not a minister i guess.

Typical PAP. Giving an answer for a question nobody asked. Did anyone ask for a free transport system? NO!

People are simply frustrated that despite the poor economy, retrenchments, low wages and low oil prices, transport companies are still considering fare increases.

And despite the yearly increases, the transport system seems to be getting worse and worse.

why not you reduce your salary to help others?

it is the same for us.

why ask us to pay more when you yourself earn too much already.

still not content.

go and look at yourself in the mirror.

zhu bai jie zhao jing zi, li wei bu shi ren.

Wah LAU!!!! TOO MUCH … TAKE A PAY CUT FIRST BACK TO PRE 1982 Minister pay then come clean and tell us this .. What an A$$ H#Le

WHY nowadays MP and Minister talk with brain below their waist line and rear end from table tennis sport to HBD and utilities and other issues…. TOO MUCH BETTER IF THEY DON”T SAY ANYTHING AN LEAST WE DON”T GET PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its all very clear now. There is only 1 option left.

PERIOD.

well, here it goes again! “justifying” for the increase…gosh, how much more can the people take?

Mr Lim explained: “This is because the public transport fare is not directly linked to the oil prices. We link it to national factors, like the inflation level in Singapore, and the wage level in the whole of Singapore.”

Mmm, in the past, did those transport company cite increase in oil price as a reason for increase fare?

and the wage level in the whole of singapore, is it increasing? even if so, is it at the same rate that they are increasing fares?

Public transport fare increases are like ministers pay increases, only up and no down.

patriot

Why GST? Why not increase income tax rate for people who earn $80,000 or more p.a by 1-2% instead?

WHO ASK FOR FREE RIDES AND BUS FARE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CALL YOURSELF A TPT MINISTER ….YOU BETTER TAKE A PAY CUT AND BE DEMOTED >>>WHAT A DUMP A$$$$$$$$$$$

Mr Lee K.Y. Please look into what these clowns are doing, they are not up to standard to lead Singapore in these present World Crisis.

Shame on you,TM! My question is to you, are the train & bus system running at a loss? Don’t treat Singaporeans like a kids, you need to grow up! Everyone in this world knows no such thing as completely free train & bus system. Everyone pays for it! As a TM, you are elected to serve the people, paid millions $$$, not to threaten citizens with proposal of increasing the GST. 7% is already too much now. Why don’t you say simple logical words like reduce the GST to tide over the Singapore recession during this world crisis. I bet Singaporeans are happy to hear, rather than to cause more resentments against the govt. Our PM said that good times to increase the GST was to help the poor, is this the right time – recession now – to threaten us, proposing to increase the GST to provide completely free transport system or a lame excuse to increase GST again! Damn you! Maybe another tactic to divert the attentions of the DBS issues?

Remember …. the reasons often used to justify fare increases are higher oil prices and salary increases. I’m not convinced you can use inflation as a reason because it is based on a basket of cost factors (and transport cost is one). This leads me to conclude that the main reason to raise the transport fare is profit protection. Without it, how else can you distribute bonuses and dividends? What they should do is to cut the bonus and dividends and conserve more of their profits for fleet renewal instead of increasing fares as justification.

Scratching my head…… how did GST and transport fare became linked?

monthly salary = 4k,
1.5% of 4k is only $60, for a month of free transport of over $300?

I will take the offer. Thanks. :D

Go to hell Raymond! Don’t be an asshole and do stupid thing just because you are being paid to be one. Have a principle in life and make sure your brain cells are all in working condition when you talk.

#27) Currently Spared on December 22nd, 2008 8.45 am

Not everyone is able to earn $4k a month. I think those that earn such a salary would be able to afford a car. Low income families will be hardest hit if GST is raised again.

Dear alky,

Please note the sarcasm in the post. We dun earn 4k, so we have be impacted by the 1.5% GST increase by less than $60? For free transport in return, it is a good deal. Surely, lower income group also spend more than $60 on transport, given the raising cost? Moreover, they are the ones taking the buses and trains right? Think about it. Dun just grunt about it, take a good offer when given.

It’s a good deal indeed when you also consider your parents, wife and kids travelling for free when taking buses and trains. So how Raymond? If we say ‘yes’ to your suggestion, how? Will you be true to your words?

this raymond has a lot of bullshit…really wasting millions of tax payer on his salary. I am totally disappointed, how could people of this calibre and nonsense logic be at the top managing our transport…

when oil price is high, link to transport fare, when oil rice low, no direct link…

The PAP aka LKY knows we singaporean inside out left right center. They know they can do and said whatever they want and there is nothing we singaporean can do about it! You have given them the mandate the last election remember? I said we deserve the PAP! we kiasu kiasi selfish short sighted apathy voter!

GST to subsidize transport? What a straw dummy argument.

I wonder if our dear Tpt Minister is clear in his head about the status of our “public transport” operators.

When it comes to raising fees, the public transport operators are PRIVATE business concerns.

But when it comes to threatening people with higher costs, suddenly, such PRIVATE businesses can be paid off with taxpayers’ money through GST.

When he offers so many of such hollow arguments in one interview, we finally get to see clearly what is inside his multi-million dollar, Division One calibre mind.

#30) Currently Spared on December 22nd, 2008 9.40 am

Do you really think prices of everything will go up by only 1.5% if GST is raised?

Don’t forget that prices in our markets, hawker stalls and coffeeshops went up by more than 2% when the elites raised our GST from 5 to 7% last time. Please don’t be so naive as things are not so simple in the real world.

My Question is how the hell he become a Transport Minister? If he say Transportation will be free, PAP need to increase 1.5% more to apply for it, are you sure? Pass few year PAP have increase the GST from 3% to 7% regardless good time or bad time. Since PAP have increase the GST for the pass few years, why Transport Fare still keep on increasing together? That means previously increase of GST does not include Transport Fare into consideration?

See Singapore Citizens, again our PAP are talking without using their brain and speak to cover their mistake make. Giving us all kind of excuses, instead of helpping us Citizens to go through the critical time together. USA new President haven’t start his posts, He already thinking how to help their US Citizens to cope up this recession time. DID OUR PAP DO THAT? NO, they still wanted to earn more and dig more money from us Singapore Citizens.

While on this issue of Public Transports, let us not forget that if an open market is adopted, more operators shall result in cheaper fares. However, the Authority is bent on protecting the existing cartel of operators.

Other than using a tiny bit of the Reserves, lowering the sinful Remunerations of the leaders, less gambling in oversea investments and even reducing the huge profits of the Public Transport Operators and other essential goods and services providers, the people would be benefitted greatly. WHY CAN’T OUR LEADERS JUST BE A LITTLE BIT KINDER AND BENEVOLENT??

DOES REDUCING YOUR(ministers) MULTI-MILLION SIN DOLLAR ANNUAL INCOMES LOWER THE QUALITY AND MEANING OF YOUR POSITIONS AND EXISTENCES??

IS SERVING AND TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE BEYOND(not) YOUR DUTIES AND CONCERNS???

Please ask yourself(Parliamentarians) tonight before YOU SLEEP, Please do!!!

patriot

Funny how come those transports CEOs n Directors r hiding behind TM, tot they r the one who should come out n explain things.

This Lemon Lim is a prime example of the sheer arrogance and patronising attitude so prevaent in pappies. Sure leave a sour aftertaste. Noticed he’s been bounced around since all the ministers and perm secs roundly ignored his ‘Yellow Pages rule’. Another ’spalling concrete is caused by residents spraying water on the ceilings’ Lim Hng Kiang in the making.

I am all for an open market concept for our transport system. The cost-to-customer equation is more than enough to convince me that we should have choices, which in turn brings about competition that results in lowering of transport fares.

As with all PAP policies, they want complete monopoly. With monopoly comes twitching of simple solutions with all sorts of nonsensical conditions that especially protect their interests over those of the people.

Going deeper, I see all these measures are part of the PAP’s startegy to hold the people to ransom and is tantamount to vote-buying. We become so helplessly dependent on them and become so imbeded in our belief, that, we cannot do without them leading and showing us the way because if we do not, we will face a life of uncertainty and turmoil ahead of us. So, to prevent ourselves from such perceived trauma, we vote them in, one GE after another.

To all my fellow Singaporeans, it is time we dare to challenge this false notion that PAP is THE solution to all our problems.

We must begin to realise that PAP has become THE root of all our problems in recent times. This is mainly the result of their obsession with its monopoly phylosophy. This monopoly has to stop.

It is so hurtful to have all these dispensable mini-ministers telling us all sorts of rubbish in such arrogant and insensitive manner. Let’s decide, as JBJ would have said it, Enough Is Enough!

he said ‘free transport’ …maybe just 1 trip per day. lol.

Singapore is like those old remote mining towns where you work, pay rent to live in a crappy shack owned by the mining company, spend what little you’re paid at the company-owned provision shop, is dependant on the company for utilities (including transport), send your kids to the only school (also owned by the company), and constantly pray that you the company doesn’t give your job to some worker from another town who’s OK with a lower wage.

*blinks eyes, mouth open, nothing but silence comes out*

…

Too shocked to say anything,
Kaffein

PS For the millions you pay, you get these million-dollar answers that so high and mighty that kena stun until blur.

that I cannot honestly say anything….*speechless*

Hi #42) Pissed,

You and I and all ordinary Singaporeans know the Singapore you’ve described.
The problem is this PAP govt does not see it the way we do.

Old and remote we say;
the hub of the world, a shining example of an economic miracle is their proclaimation.

Pay rents to live in in a crappy shackwe say:
80% of Singaporeans are owners of homes that are rich in dollar value. Every shack is an art piece with surroundings that speaks of nothing but beauty, they reply.

spend what little you’re paid at the company-owned provision shop, we tell them :
They would reply: We help you stretch your hard-earned dollar by giving you rebates and discounts on top of the cheapest price in town.

send you kids to the only school owned by the company, we say :
But this is necessary to take care of the only resouce we have, our people. Make them smart, teach them to fit into the system and you do not have to worry for the rest of your life. This is a made-to-measure system, you don’t have to think. Fit into it and you’re made for life, they tell you.

constantly pray that you the company doesn’t give your job to some worker from another town, we cry :
But it’s necessary to stay competitive so that more bacons will be shipped in to the economy and we can all enjoy them till our bellies are happy as can be. The fw are here to do the jobs too low for us, special breed of the human kind, to do.

So you tell me, Pissed, how to make sense of these sort of arguments? People who believe they are doing the right thing for us. People who think we are an ungrateful lot.

Tell me, Pissed, how to find their soft spots while we have to continue to live in our little crappy holes?

Only one solution is in our hands. The only power we have. Let’s use it.

Raymond Lim studied economics at U of Adelaide and we get this types of answers from him. SHAME ON YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another MB Tan, came from the same bloody hole, a blood sucker. Pls try not to bullshit your humble citizenry, don’t treat us like a fool, we are not one of you.

The meaning of “public transport” in Sg is VERY different from many other countries.

Here, the word public in “public transport” appears to be defined NARROWLY to mean “used by the ordinary people”. Nothing more, nothing less.

From what we’ve witnessed so far, “public interest” is the lowest consideration when the operator’s profitability repeatedly tramples over the commuters’ interests.

Perhaps why citizens repeatedly feel angst is because we mistakenly assume that, like the rest of the world, “public interest” should rank highly when it comes to “public transport”.

Dont confuse those 2 terms in Sg.

Here is some food for thought:

Temasek Holdings owns 54% of SMRT as of 2008.

http://www.temasekholdings.com.sg/our_portfolio_portfolio_highlights_major_investments.htm

So for every dollar of profit that SMRT makes from us, 54 cents goes to the government’s investment arm.

Isnt that a comforting thought whenever the PTC approves rate hikes for transport operators?

Does it make sense why our Transport Minister has to say such seemingly incomprehensible things?

But their profit margin is in the range of billions yearly. Unless someone justifies that the profit is required for further development of the system…

Gawddarn it, S$1billion in profit is hardly a loss.

Make your own conclusions.

all they are interested in are profits…they are earning and they wanna earn more and the more they earn, the more bonus they will get…and the cycle will repeat itself. they will use some factor that “justify” the increase, but down the road, when those factors justify a decrease, they say it is no longer relevant…something must really be done. imagine with this past few years, how the price/cost has sky-rocket

They more they have in the kitty, the less guilty they feel when they dip into it to line their own pockets.

Guys. He already mentioned. Government has NO SAY in the raising (ahem sorry REVISION) of transport fares. If so, then any corresponding GST increase to give us free transport is POINTLESS. Gahmen has NO SAY remember?

woa…so our gahmen has no power over this yah? then why are they drawing such a high salary when they have no say over PUBLIC transport….lol

”

Another MB Tan, came from the same bloody hole, a blood sucker. Pls try not to bullshit your humble citizenry, don’t treat us like a fool, we are not one of you.”

hey, of course you aint like him. he earns 2 million plus a year. you????? you pay the ERP charges everyday to pay him. =)

Raymond Lim has shown himself to be a very typical MP and Minister (yet to see one really humble and down-to-earth one) among the governing elites. Why are they so brave (or thick skinned)? Aren’t they afraid of losing votes next round? Sigh! :-(

I feel that what we comment here may not change the thing.
Only 2 ways available for all to use:

1. Decision day
2. Koo koo clock stop ticking.

is that not sweet? short and sharp but fully summarised the entire universe of truth.

Since the transport companies can apply to the PTC for approval to increase fares during good times, why can’t commuters apply to the PTC for approval to decrease fares during bad times? Why should the PTC route be one-way? PTC should also consider commuters’ request..right?

Our TM must have lost it! The job of managing the transport system, managing the expectation of the people and at the same increasing the wealth of temasek-lined companies is too much for him. The spectacle of him over the TV blasting away did not make him look ministerial, cooly conveying his points across without causing offence. He appeared to be like a quarrelsome and provacative ah Beng I see at food courts ever so often!

aiyoyo

why ELITEs take so much $ & talk like this huh???

aiyoyo

Oh the minister read my mind exactly. I was not asking for a freeze in fare hikes. Not a subsidy for the low income and elderly. I WANT IT FREE!!!! FREE!!!!!! Readers should go watch the video clip on CNA of him saying this line. It’s a picture of humility. I think he has the potential to be a mini-LKY. Just like the line about if ministers don’t get high salaries, our wives will become maids in foreign countries.

Raymond Lim Studied Economics and We are stupid or What to get answers like “This is because the public transport fare is not directly linked to the oil prices. We link it to national factors, like the inflation level in Singapore, and the wage level in the whole of Singapore.”

THIS TYPE OF ANSWER CANNOT EVEN GET ANY MARKS AT JC LEVEL >> DUMP A$$$ He think we are all primary kids

Raymond is just typical of those backdoor PAP MPs and ministers…sitting comfortably in his office and making policies that makes sense only to him and his PAP colleagues.

If only he can put himself at the same level of those suffering citizens…

If only he can empathize with those who counts any savings (even 10 cents) as important for their next meal…

If only he can understand that what he earned in a year could be something that a ordinary citizen may be earning in his or her lifetime…

If only Raymond Lim was not a backdoor minister being elected into parliament through PAP’s manipulative GRC system…

Maybe Raymond Lim should put himself up in a single constituency ward to contest the next election, and let people judge whether what he says make sense!!!

But I supposed he does not have any guts at all…because he is after all a backdoor minister!!!!

well, one good thing about this Raymond is the buzz he has created among netizens. before the TC fiasco die out, this 1 appear….or is this created to try to smoother the TC fiasco?

[...] statements provoked a rather unhappy reaction from Singaporeans. The Online Citizen’s quote of his remark provoked over 60 angry responses in just 12 [...]

#48

The GLCs do not know how to make money outside of Singapore, so they suck all from singaporeans.

just take a look at the investments outside singapore? where are the profits?
dont boost about your profit, all come from your poor fellow citizens.

why? becose they can only do it to the citizens, we are so tame. try other countries, they will kick you out of their country.

This Raymond Lim is really out of tune with people like us, talking about inflation and GDP to a group of senior citizens…he must be really out of his mind!!

Can’t he talk at their level and use simple laymen and ordinary language…Ahh…I forgot, PAP have no place for laymen, only elites who are capable of making decision from the comforts of their air-con comfortable office eqivalent to a 3 room flat in Singapore!!!

#63 BusHike is correct…he is just a backdoor minister who have no “feel” about the life of citizens…he is too high and almighty for all of us to understand…and it is our fault, because we are not elites like him, and we don’t earn the kind of money like he does…so we will never understand him!!

Or. you know. just cut minister’s excessively high pay. Just by, you know, 1.5%.