resident >>> calls TC office >>> HDB>>> NEA >>> LTA >>> POLICE >>> directed back to TC office.

he was seen as a reformer but he is now one of conformers.

he had opprtunities to make a new singapore and solidify rising support of people after 1997 election but he has ptoven that he can’t beat the system

we are let down !!!

now, they twist their tactics again, by keeping weak MPs in GRc and bring out ministers to stand in Single consituency

after 50 years of self rules, Singaporean are muted by all these political tricks

The more educated people have more stakes to lose so they are easily muted.

We, singaporean, have been a nation of robots under 1 central command. Now the central command is already growing old and senile, and with his supreme “intellect”, he named his newbie son as the successor. Of course, he is protected by his relatives and “business partners”.

All these talks from gct is useless when they are the one creating the problems and most of the time, i think it is for their political gains.

He stared with a bang but looks like its ending with a whimper. Look at all around us, social, economic, political……, in all aspects we’re straining to be a 1st world country, but really just in the top echleons of the 3 world banding.

TCs are key stones in nation building and it took 20 years to realise that the people are not pluged in? Can a 1st world nation have so much scism and disconnect?

Initially on the right track but took too may wrong turns. Now desperately lost! He limited his counsel to the elites who continues to be disconnected with typical Singaporean Heartlanders. Over time these out-of-touch elites grew into yes-men.

Why I feel sorry? Time is not on his side and he is going down in history for something he dread. I wish we can help but I don’t think there is much we can do. We belong to a different social class.

yes! the senitment feelings is already spreading and steadily and ppl are getting very pissed when talk about them in all issues.

few days ago, i told my kids when their come, you either do or dont as far as family plan is concerned. that is …if you cant afford dont commit when concerning expenses on marriage, housing and kids planning.

this problems in sg is serious esp when you dont enough money to survive let alone planning for the above not cos we dont want to, is just that we cant.

59) TrueBlood Singaporean on June 29th, 2009 11.07 pm

Dear Brother, we shouldn’t complain about Town Concils cause it still cheao $50 as compare to Condo Maintenance of $200 to $300. But is worth if you drive a car of parking $90.

From $200 (low end) to $50. And I think most of Singapore’s HDB estates are of the same standard as condo estates, if not better. Furthermore, it is more difficult to maintain a HDB estate’s cleanliness due to a much higher human traffic than in the condos.

Considering how much the “sinking funds” have contributed to subsidizing our SC/CC costs, not too bad i think?

What XGGX heard from the friend who supposedly work in TC sounds reasonable. It is indeed difficult to estimate how much budget is required, thus the tendency to “over budget” just a little which brings in higher possibility of surplus. It also makes sense that this surplus be invested for higher returns instead of getting the miserable less than 1% interest.

However, the benefits mentioned by XGGX seems out of place.

“1. With the revenue generated from this sinking fund, each resident actually pays less than what is required to run the Town Council. …”

Are we paying less than what is required now? How much do we really need to manage a Town?

“2. Costs of running the Town Councils are pretty much fixed (assuming that you maintain the same standard of services even during recession times), but the SC/CC Charges can vary, to offset the tough economic times for some residents. So this is the “rainy day fund” that the Town Councils can tap into during the down times.”

If the cost of running the town Councils are pretty much fixed, then the budget estimate will no longer be that difficult which means tendencies of “over budgeting” should be less too. Furthermore, when was the last time any residents enjoy SC/CC rebate to offset the tough times?

XGGX, I feel that your friend who works in TC really fits into the description of “missing link between TC and residents”. TC seems to be working so hard on how best to manage funds but forgotten to communicate with residents on what residents really do want in their towns.

If there is any TC members or decision makers reading this, don’t forget this one thing, you are not a fund manager. You are an estate manager. Reach out to your residents (clients) and find out what they really need or want. Deliver if it is within your means and explain, in details, if you can’t.

I’m never impressed with TC who proclaim how much savings/surplus/funds they have. I’m only impressed with TC who can make claims about how much they have done for the residents with so little funds. I’m even more impressed if the residents themselves tell me how much their TC has done for them.

Also there is the missing link of town council uses sinking funds to buy risky products and the town council accountability to the residents for the funds used.

We should complain abt HDB prices! Prices does not go with our pay increased but foreigners intake. A couple earning 2, 3K. How to afford to pay back the loan!
Hope Singapore population will extinct in future!