Comments on: TOC Opinion: Singapore a “blacklistee” to be?

By: electronics

electronics — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:54:16 +0000

This really is your brain on journey. We showcase the essence of location, what is distinctive and authentic, and what locals cherish most about exactly where they reside.

By: Will Singapore Soon Be On The Black List?

Will Singapore Soon Be On The Black List? — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:38:24 +0000

[...] Todays, 15th April 2009 Singapore Expat News come from “TheOnlineCitizen.com“. [...]

By: Hal

Hal — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:42:17 +0000

Bah. Money laundering is the pretext in the hunt for lost government revenue in the global recession. The G20 are out now to redefine tax avoidance as tax evasion. Strong banking privacy laws are now conjured as criteria for tax havens. Singapore is in illustrious company – Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, key European financial centres are also targeted.

By: Yan

Yan — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:03:04 +0000

Singapore will stretch the limit with the law as the money pouring to Singapore is helping it big time. Many Indonesian conglomerates (already convicted in Indonesia) can be found strolling in Orchard Road. I think as long as it is not drugs-related money, laundering is a good business that Singapore always welcome.

By: theonlinecitizen

theonlinecitizen — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:41:33 +0000

Ganga (#9),

The tone of the articles will be different from time to time because of the issues raised.

By: Donaldson Tan

Donaldson Tan — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:41:19 +0000

At least we all can be sure that the G20 protests is not about paying more or less tax. I agree with smallvice585 that as long as the threat of economic sanctions remains, a greylist is still a blacklist. However, to demonstrate that it is indeed a blacklist or greylist, the threat of economic sanction must be proven to be real.

During the previous 2008 G20 Summit in Washington, France and Germany wanted to clamp down on tax havens and regulate hedge funds. Finally, because of the extent of corporate bail-outs worldwide, the G20 finally decided to clamp down on tax havens to reduce the leakage of public funds to these tax havens.

By: Edward

Edward — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:28:13 +0000

To: #9) Ganga & 8) Retiree

I don’t mind Singapore being daring and creative in making money but not further increasing ministers’ salaries and bonuses. Why should we stifle their creativity?

We should be hard-hitting when it comes to unfair tactics used to retard the growth of the opposition and to impose more restrictions on political and press freedom in Singapore.

By: Chang Mai Tin

Chang Mai Tin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:31:09 +0000

Thanks to Choo Zheng Xi for
assuring us that singapore is not yet blacklisted.

Your article gives singaporeans a sigh of relief.
Once again, my thanks for your effort.
Great penmanship.

By: Ganga

Ganga — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:40:46 +0000

Don’t mind me asking, has there been a change of tone on TOC? The articles don’t seem to be as hard-hitting anymore and appear to be more descriptive…

By: Retiree

Retiree — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:33:03 +0000

This is good -shows that Singapore is daring and creative to make money. Keep it up.
Make more and the salaries can go up further.
Bravo

By: kasdo

kasdo — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:28:47 +0000

byebye to our private banking industry haha

By: Dell

Dell — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:48:33 +0000

I await the inevitable response — that the ‘West’ is out to ‘bait’ Singapore again…

By: despots share secrets

despots share secrets — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:27:56 +0000

Agree with jim @ 4)

Doing business with the Burmese junta is understandable to some extent,
but to honour them ?
Isn’t it shere stupidity to advertise one’s sweetheart relationship with pariahs and thus allow others to make a case S’pore is a haven for money laundering ?

By: jim

jim — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:24:56 +0000

The extremely close ties the Singapore Government has had with some countries might have been a factor for being included in this grey list – Lee Kuan Yew’s close ties with the Soeharto-era Indonesian Government and currently the mysterious alliance with Myanmar.

As known worldwide, both countries are world-class in terms of money laundering.

By: smallvice585

smallvice585 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:04:54 +0000

Whitewashing blacklist? It is still a blacklist as long as sanctions are threatened for failure to comply.

By: Haven_not

Haven_not — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:06:42 +0000

Actually those rich foreigners who parked their money here need not be in cash under banking secrecy laws. They can be in the form of other assets like property. That’s why you see high end property prices shooting into the stratosphere.

Or they can invest in other areas like the leisure industry. Like Raffles Town Club was sold to a Chinese national in his 30s a few years back. Also few years back a new US$ billionaire listed by Forbes was a Chinese national in his 40s residing in SIngapore whose China property company was listed on SGX.

Or they can invest in antiques, luxury cars and the like. These sectors used to do roaring businesse. For instance an Indonesian bought a crate of vintage wine for over $300K.

With the opening of casinos the avenues for money laundering become even wider.

By: Ravi Philemon

Ravi Philemon — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:33:39 +0000

My thoughts here: http://singaporesocialactivist.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-will-they-respond.html