Monday, June 22, 2009 0:57

PM Lee urges citizens to do their best to get through downturn together

In Quotes • 1,845 views • 78 Comments

The government has done what it needs to do through the GST offsets, the Resilience Package and the many schemes which Singapore has in the Budget and off the Budget, in order to help people in the ways which would help them to help themselves – keep their jobs, find new jobs and help their families.

PM Lee urges citizens to do their best to get through downturn together

Related posts:

  1. New citizens outstripping net increase of existing citizens?
  2. SM Goh urges Singaporeans to “keep the economy going”
  3. Upturn the downturn – NTUC sings to lift spirits
  4. Dissident urges Obama to push Singapore on rights
  5. So, has the NTUC been able to “upturn the downturn”?



78 Comments

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greenhorn
Jun 22, 2009 1:42

Despite all the measures employed by your A-Team which yielded little or no results, there’s still ONE thing you’ve yet to implement, i.e. to REDUCE your MILLION DOLLARS SALARIES !!

torkkork
Jun 22, 2009 2:04

dear prince
our royal highness
you alway urged us to do our best in economic downturns?
the chinese government have reduced their gst to 6% from 9%
so which part of us you are tryin to help?
i also can sing and danced on NDP/7th months kortais as well

torkkork
Jun 22, 2009 2:18

opps
mine apologies
china reduced it gst from 4.5 % to 3%
miscalucalte

Rational
Jun 22, 2009 3:26

This downturn is different from others. Currently, it a confidence issues. The whole world is not spending. This is causing a short term demand to drop.

The is 6 billion people, everyone need food, a bigger TV! But the confidence is delaying the spending.

The factories are shut, people are layoff. This is causing demand and inventories to drop. Companies are losing cash flow.
There are lot of super tanker loaded will oil sitting around the world oceans and seas.

The next phase is going is happening, the demand will catch up and exceed low supply. It will takes time to get the factories output going again and get the people back to work. Those companies without the cash and unable to borrow will close.

The best strategy is to helps companies conserve and maintain cash-flow, keep as much people employed and machinery in-place and wait for the next phase to hit. The winner will be those that can catch the first wave, the loser will be those that miss the boat.

This up and down swing in demand and supply will happen a couple time before it stablelize. It depend on how far the companies is away from the consumer in the supply chain. The further away from consumer, the worst it get.

Get any source of income you can get and decide which career path you want to go and position yourself for it when it recover. Those without cash will go down, those with sufficient cash will sail through this and get a head start.

At this junction. The small nuclear family will suffer the worst, while the extended family will fair better. The government use this opportunity to encourage the family members to bond closer together and overcome the difficult time.

When the going get tough, the tough get going.

Anyway, I am struggling to earn a living for my family 6000 miles away, think of my family, Singapore and nasi lemak.

A Tan
Jun 22, 2009 7:50

A lot more has to be done (and can be done) if PAP is to maintain its support base.

David
Jun 22, 2009 10:12

His rhetoric reflects his limited intelligence. Simply put, he has no solution to this crisis except to dance, talk and party. Besides, he has not cut his salary, his GST and the number of work permits granted to foreign tom,dick and harry. Thus it created a serious lack of confidence in this govt. How to unite and help our own comrades when the govt is breaking us apart with no sign of remorse & lack of honesty to its citizen? We have been hearing lies through their loudhailer media to create false hope and mocking Singaporean’s intelligence. Begging us to unite is a telling sign that tripartite did not work, JCS and other superficial schemes implemented did not achieve its purposes. This is the 2nd time we hear him begging Singaporeans to save ourselves and not rely on this overpaid public servants.

dennis
Jun 22, 2009 10:57

I am tired of listening to “boh liao” advice from overpaid political leaders.
PM Lee should call for an early election so that many of us can show him what we think of his ‘A’ team running the country.

Daniel
Jun 22, 2009 11:08

You don’t just rob the ciitzen and tell them that you helping them by return a fraction of what belong to them in the first place.

lactobacillus
Jun 22, 2009 11:13

Serious, we need an unemployment insurance after this crisis. We had suffered 3 recession in 10 years. I think it is high time we put in place such methods to help true-blue singaporean. A lot of singaporeans in the private sector would have experience the trama of being axed or going to be axed. And, looking for jobs in bad economy is no easy task.

mike
Jun 22, 2009 12:02

9) lactobacillus on June 22nd, 2009 11.13 am ,

the worst is yet to come unless they know what to do (but i doubt) and acts fast.

aiyoyo
Jun 22, 2009 15:42

aiyoyo

not sure when economy recover? elites got solutions? results?

but it seems their pay is sky high (pls correct if misunderstand).

just look at current situation, not sure is it worth to pay so much tax for

commoners? basically hope commoners to live happy & less pressure,

but not sure if this thought will be seen in this red dot?

aiyoyo

mice is nice
Jun 22, 2009 16:04

we cannot afford the “A” team anymore, have to cut cost liao. may have to settle for “B” or “C” team.

but the “A” team cannot be priced similiarly to “B” &”C” teams, they say liddat risk getting corrupt. but the “B” & “C” teams never say must pay fat fat salary to prevent corruption.

time to live within our means, pay what we can afford ah.

loop
Jun 22, 2009 16:40

I always try to do my best in life. However, there are limits in different individuals. Some need more help.

Yang
Jun 22, 2009 17:08

When will our leaders willing to down their pay to match with HK leaders pay. Start talking about it before we forget again. I do not know what kind of action had they taken if they are serious in sharing the suffering with us. Downsize the elite no. inorder to save more cost to the government expenses and pass some to us.

theforgottongeneration
Jun 22, 2009 17:19

Millions bucks salary for such cheap talk. If sold on getting & integrating FTs, then should try to pull people like Obama in — got liao want & cheaper. Instead only get types like LBW — expensive, take cover queen, table-tennis passion sure useful to us now during recession. What was it that a minister said we should reinvent ourselves as — Cheaper than others but still Better? Let’s start at the top.

sgean
Jun 22, 2009 17:40

It would help if the MPs would STOP insulting singaporeans and breaking ranks instead of closing them:

being too choosy,
too complacent,
being too demanding,
being too mollycoddled,
being lesser mortals,
complaining about waiting 15 mins for a bus whereas a foreigner is happy that the bus comes in 30 minutes,
and when people lost our money, instead of an apology we’re asked to be thankful instead.

Tan Lan Siang
Jun 22, 2009 17:53

I wonder is it IMPOSSIBLE for a Opposition member to come up the same ’solutions’, if not better ones?

The JCS is come up by, i recall vaguely, some young people with some experienced people right? So, get these and can come up solution already?

Is it or is it not?

So, who generates a report to say how ‘effective’ are the solutions?

or who ascertains the effectiveness?

Can the people also ascertain?

We need Referendum to achieve this in a convincing manner.

H1N1 Dengue Malaria
Jun 22, 2009 18:01

16) sgean on June 22nd, 2009 5.40 pm

Does Charles Chong take the bus to work EVERY day?
What does he mean by Singaporeans? ALL singaporeans?
If not , is it a fair statement? Is it insulting some singaporeans?
Did he compare with 1st world standard? Europe trains or cable trams come very on time and frequently also.

Did Chong compare Apple with Apple – the fare price we pay and those in 3rd worlds? The Distance coverage by the transport services. Which is more? Which transports more people ? Which country bigger? Bigger is always more tough to manage with bigger population.

I wonder are these factors taken into his Remark on ’singaporeans’?

1st, it was job choosey in a recession.
then, it was mollycoddled.
now, it is compare 3rd world transport with 1st world.
oh, i almost forgot the many zeroes and JB ah kong homes.

kingfisher
Jun 22, 2009 18:22

What our dear Pinky was saying is this: we’re going to import even more foreign trash so you all better shut tf up, and live with diversity and tolerate our loud-mouth, spitting, loafish, oafish, loutish, boorish Chinamen and women amongst you in the food courts,wet markets, schools, libraries, MRTs, buses, malls,supermarkets, Geylang, Tiong Bahru, Ponggol etc. This is what his Daddy-O told him to say and do.

In the original report, the ghost of Wee Siew Kim has reappeared. For those who have forgotten him,he was the one whose daughter made the one-liner famous: Get out of my elitist face! The report quoted him as making agreeable noises and citing Heartstrings as the programme to help the disaffected. Haha..how incredibly funny and ludicrous the way life turns around- the father of the cynical and snobbish daughter making platitudes..Elections coming, so got to show his worth a bit and emerge from under the rock he’s been hiding all this while.

kingfisher
Jun 22, 2009 18:27

He meant that he will bring in some more foreign trash to flood the place, so better bear with it, and stop whining if you Sinkies find yr foodcourts, malls, buses, trains, shops, markets, schools, running around with boorish country folk from PRC who spit, talk loudly, behave uncouthly, litter, pick their noses, elbow you and yr children around etc.

ikanrajah
Jun 22, 2009 18:34

The original CNA report went further to say:

Tackling the economic crisis in Singapore also involves the “many helping hands” approach. And one programme which the Jalan Kayu division has launched is called Heartstrings. It will benefit a hundred needy families in the division.

Wee Siew Kim, MP, Ang Mo Kio GRC, said: “By using the Heartstrings approach, the local grassroots organisations, which is the RC, can reach out to them directly with a package of household necessities. We intend to make it an on—going project, it is not meant to be mandate just for these trying economic times.

“And we intend to start it small with a package of S$40—50 a month on the basis that we can sustain it. We also (that) intend every two months, the RC works with the other entities in the constituency, whether it is the merchants association, mosque or temple, and together they can reach out to the needy households in our midst, and the households also see that these entities are working together as part of a community.”

Can you remember this bloke Wee Siew Kim? Can you imagine him making ingratiating noises about something like Heartstrings? Hey, he still has to recover his credibility you know, after his daughter destroyed him some months ago with the now infamous liner: “Get out of my uncaring elitist face!”

Funny how life’s tragedy comes full circle! Maybe elections are really coming soon,and this guy had better say something that will whitewash away his elltist uncaring family trait?

guojun
Jun 22, 2009 19:46

help ourselves, he said! this Gahmen is obviously not very good at PR…he could have said “i will cut my salary until this crisis is over…” in end effect, it also means he is not too willing to go with us what…

PAP has majority votes
Jun 22, 2009 21:24

Lee Hsien Loong and his team are doing very well. Look at the PAP results at every election. Easily 66% mandate and 98% seats.

How can you say they are not good? The results speak for themselves.

Peter Tan
Jun 22, 2009 21:38

They are totally mean, unsympathetic and money-minded to implement means-testing in public hospitals last year even when the average Singaporean is suffering.

In the first place the 80% subsidy is not really a 80% subsidy as many better drugs and treatment are excluded.

RED-man
Jun 22, 2009 21:54

Yes. We will be able to help ourselves if u and your wolfs stop helping themselves with our pocket! If not, kindly shut your gaps and move on till the day we have the chance to vote you and your gangs out for good. Thanks

YODI
Jun 22, 2009 22:40

It’s time for action! Stop telling the people to band together during this hard times and forge ahead. The good times will come. But should not the government start frist by taking a huge pay cut. I cant wait to see the governments reason when they start raising the salaries of the ministers when times are good.

The reason will be probably that they did not ask for a raise during the hard bad times of recession!! So now they are entitled for a huge raise and apy hike. I sincerely wonder if any of our so call “A” team ministers will be able to get a job in another country and be paid what they are getting. Perhaps we should offer the US government our ministers to help them run the US government since we keep saying they are the best!

Wee L P (Lang Pat)
Jun 22, 2009 22:42

20) ikanrajah on June 22nd, 2009 6.34 pm

I see that though it appears nice gesture, I would have been impressed only if the root cause of the problem can be addressed – joblessness / livelihood is the problem.

Instead of spending money on these gestures, I would suggest someone come up a solution to CREATE Jobs.

EDB, can you tell us how much investment is coming to singapore compared to year-on-year last year and the years before?

Lee Bee Hwai
Jun 22, 2009 22:46

22) PAP has majority votes on June 22nd, 2009 9.24 pm

I think foreign ruling parties would be so so very envious of them in that they know they will continue to rule despite whatever has happened.

This, I feel , is something they should feel very fortunate about.

Overseas, they have so much competition they cannot predict their future.

So, though they are the highest paid, what is more fortunate than fortune is the feeling of security of rice bowl.

juz my 1.01 cents.

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)
Jun 22, 2009 23:32

We are pro worker! (oi oi!)
We are pro business (oi! oi!)
Uptuuuuuurrrrrn the downturrrrrrn!!!!!

mice is nice
Jun 22, 2009 23:43

it’ll be tough digging up all the roots of the problem. the tree has grown too big for too long. the only tree so big, it is willing to risk all other smaller trees in the entire forest!!

a tree too big to be felled (just look at the banks & car makers, they all claim that also)?

Did You all watch the Newsreel on television ?
Jun 22, 2009 23:52

If You did, then You should know that PM Lee was swarmed by loyal Singaporeans who thrusted their toddlers to his arms and proudly posed for picture takings and news crews.

And here are just a handful ranting away, contrast the two and one realises there are many supporters of our leaders including one that justified the saying “Get out of my uncaring ellitist face”. On a superficial reading, it seems that the majority of Singaporeans are very impressed with the Leadership lead by PM Lee. It will be difficult to dispute or deny this fact.

Rant and whine all You like but the fact speaks for itself.

mice is nice
Jun 22, 2009 23:57

for news on air, editors have the luxury of selecting that few seconds out of who-really-knows-how-long the total recorded footage is.

just look at movie trailers, some trailers are the movies!! :P

pw
Jun 22, 2009 23:59

Shame to just talk. Talk is cheap. Pls walk the talk. Show by example by cutting the ministerial astronomical salary by half. Even then ministers are still getting many times what Barrack Obama gets.
Singapore is now the world’s laughing stock.

patriot
Jun 23, 2009 0:07

Please allow me to express my condolences to the Family of the Late Anthony Yeo.

May He Rest in Peace and His Family be strong.

patriot

RED-man
Jun 23, 2009 0:39

22) PAP has majority votes on June 22nd, 2009 9.24 pm

Hi. When you say majority, I kind of wonder if you have include the walk over? But one thing for sure, most of the dreamer in Singapore still have no idea of the nightmares that is in the making on the expense of their sweet dream.

Can’t wait to laugh at these dreamers, finally when the PAP collasped! I do believe I can see it in my life time. By then I most likely watch it in the TV in other country slipping my coke light. Cheers

peysen
Jun 23, 2009 5:43

hi number 22, 66% is only for the eligible voters, not the whole population of singapore as you well know the many walkovers. in essence, less than 50% of singaporeans voted for the PAP… anyone got a confirmed figure?

CJ
Jun 23, 2009 8:20

Indeed, in the next elections – the people will do what it needs through CAREFUL VOTING, in order to make helping themselves POSSIBLE.

blackfeline
Jun 23, 2009 8:27

i come to this conclusion….his only skill is cooing babies…the rest is humbug!

the LOSSES and Honesty
Jun 23, 2009 9:50

31) Did You all watch the Newsreel on television ? on June 22nd, 2009 11.52 pm

Erm, are they RC members?
Public servants?
anyone knows?

Pop Quizz
Jun 23, 2009 10:05

{{{{{35) RED-man on June 23rd, 2009 12.39 am 22) PAP has majority votes on June 22nd, 2009 9.24 pm

Hi. When you say majority, I kind of wonder if you have include the walk over? }}}}}

Question 1 :

Who in singapore, or any where in the universe for this matter, knows
HOW MANY Singaporean voters , OUT OF ALL VOTERS including ALL WALKOVER WARDS, Actually Support them?

My uneducated answer which is also unofficial answer is NO ONE KNOWS. PERIOD.

Question 2:
For how long has this situation been?

Question 3 :
Is it healthy?

Question 4:
While in large countries, it may be difficult, though not impossible, to achieve >90% of Voters to vote, a tiny dot like this with comparatively tiny population should be able to achieve >95% voting for the following reasons:

1. small means easily manageable. Very easy comparatively.

2. the more vote, the more credibility and stronger mandate. Who disagrees? So, this is one more reason .

3. singaporeans are the most law abiding people on earth and some say the entire milky way. Law will make sure all voters vote. give it +/- 5% margin. should be achievable.

What is MAJORITY?
Tell me. Rebut me. If you can.

GABRIEL
Jun 23, 2009 10:15

Mr Tan Kin Lian: We need your help in analysing what is the best way forward — for the ordinary citizen who wants to generate an income in these trying times. Should not the Government provide seed money to those who want to start a small business that has the potential to become an income-generator? By all means, provide training to those who will benefit from being able to rejoin the workforce when the upturn comes. But there are many senior baby boomers who have already got the skills but have got no cash — as their savings are locked up in their HDB homes and CPF retirement plans. They would appreciate seed money to start their own small enterprises. Share your views, Mr Tan. PM Lee has all the good intentions but the average Singaporean needs practical down-to-earth measures to survive.

SotongBall
Jun 23, 2009 11:49

Gabriel, the Government has a seed program where it funds $2 to $1 of seed money that you manage to raise from a private investment group (Business Angels). I understand that the cap is up to $1million dollars from the Government. However I think this scheme is not for all and definitely not for very small businesses.

Although it is not a direct responsibility of the Government to provide seed funds for small businesses, there are obvious benefits especially in such troubled times. Perhaps the Government can budget for a “microcredit scheme” where it lends seed money to anyone who is setting up a small business from a hawker stall to a shop. The amount of money should be limited (say between $5k to $30k); tenor of 1 to 3 years; low interest;on a reimbursement basis to minimise abuse. Only native singaporeans may apply.

mike
Jun 23, 2009 12:01

hi sotong ball,

that’s a good ideas. but i doubt they will even consider unless situation in unemployment really gets into chaos.

GABRIEL
Jun 23, 2009 12:46

Thanks SotongBall for your suggestion of a microcredit scheme. Even if a fifth of 10,000 out-of-job Singapooreans succeed in their small business set-ups, with help of seed money from the Government, that’s 2,000 companies which can grow and perhaps employ another 4,000 out-of-job Singaporeans.
That’’s the way to go, if the Government wants to put good money to good use, and help preserve the dignity of Singaporeans in their own country. Heck, we need income to put food on our tables, not learn songs on how to upturn the downturn, oi oi.

I Can Honestly Say . . .
Jun 23, 2009 13:07

i have not found a job after more than 4 months of intensive searching. Who is going to upturn my downturn. You want us to help but who the hell is really helping us?

FT? FW? FU!

SZ
Jun 23, 2009 13:43

It seems to me that our dear PM had for the past few months been revolving around the same line…did they round out of ideas?

to 31) Did You all watch the Newsreel on television ?

Do you see NGs been included in any show? or were they taken out or included at the end as a spoof?

aiyoyo
Jun 23, 2009 13:44

aiyoyo

not sure if elites got good ideas on $ usage, instead on INVESTMENTS outside

the red dot… (just look at the $ invested & their returns, is it good?)

think take care of own house better la, until own house kilat kilat then may go

about INVESTMENTS outside…

a discussion topic with friends during lunch time; now back to work alamak..

aiyoyo

photos ops
Jun 23, 2009 14:44

“And here are just a handful ranting away, contrast the two and one realises there are many supporters of our leaders including one that justified the saying “Get out of my uncaring ellitist face”.

what are rc members for. photos ops and visibility.

For Show
Jun 23, 2009 16:05

Hi photos ops,

very true; i once met a few busloads of folks attending an MP Walkabout in the East and inquired where they were from. The Answer, they were from Marsiling.

From Marsiling(North) to attend an Official Event in the East. What a great show !

But, we have to accept that whether the audience comprised of RC Members or any other organizations, they are by and large still SINGAPOREANS and citizens.

photos ops
Jun 23, 2009 17:10

“But, we have to accept that whether the audience comprised of RC Members or any other organizations, they are by and large still SINGAPOREANS and citizens.”

like in marketing, visibility gives you a larger-than-life picture (in this case made in the context of some previous comment that they have many supporters) and it may well translate into a self-fulfilling prophecy of actual support (herd instinct). how else do they need to exercise control when it comes to oppo (remember the bicycle event).

yeah by and large, they are SINGAPOREANS (what an emphasis) and citizens. never mind, let us enjoy this wayang show and besides it is not that everyday you can get such free shows.

theforgottongeneration
Jun 23, 2009 18:02

@48) For Show on June 23rd, 2009 4.05 pm

Same experience couple of weeks back at my old estate — surprised that participants arrived by busloads, considering the estate is small and everywhere within walking distance. Asked parents and neighbours, but nobody recognise anyone in the group! During VIP/MP speech, a bunch of supporters were screaming and prompting the crowd when to clap, etc.

Anyway, agree with 49) to give such organizers credit. Probably trucked all the people from an old folks home for a “half-day excursion”, free refreshment, chance of MP kissing them, photo shoots, (oh yeah, free T-shirts), etc. Old folks happy, organizers happy, (residents blur).Two birds & 1 blur pigeon with one stone. Sleek.

part-time actors and actresses
Jun 23, 2009 18:21

“Same experience couple of weeks back at my old estate — surprised that participants arrived by busloads, considering the estate is small and everywhere within walking distance. Asked parents and neighbours, but nobody recognise anyone in the group!”

these “part-time actors and actresses” are being circulated around the island for such events to make up the “strong support”. and sometimes this is zoomed into the tube of your living room as news (media management) giving you a slow and gradual conditioning of the support that they have.

theforgottongeneration
Jun 23, 2009 18:38

@51) part-time actors and actresses on June 23rd, 2009 6.21 pm

U mean like the professional criers at funerals? Maybe this is one way of creating part-time employment. Innovative, yah?

Re: “….in order to help people in the ways which would help them to help themselves – keep their jobs, find new jobs and help their families….”

photos ops
Jun 23, 2009 19:01

“U mean like the professional criers at funerals? Maybe this is one way of creating part-time employment. Innovative, yah?”

aiyoh, i do not know of any better way to say it. But it is so ‘professionally’ managed and it has worked ’so well’ to their advantage all these years.

as for help, it does have its share of genuine desperate takers who are left with no choice but to accept whatever help that is available. another opportunity for photo taking and story writing ? the problem is that media visibility is too skewed in favour of one side for them to tell their side of the story.

mice is nice
Jun 23, 2009 19:15

sometimes even doing our best is not enough, simply because there is limits to what many can do, as opposed to how much the “some” can do.

cynicholas
Jun 23, 2009 20:19

the president’s unjustified salary can feed a third world country for a year

Hope good men don't die early.
Jun 23, 2009 21:28

He can be PM as long as he wants to. Hope there is no relapse of his cancer. Otherwise we lose a good leader. We can’t afford to lose him because it is not easy to find another local talent like him in tiny Singapore. Sorry foreigners not eligible to be PM even if you are talented, unlike in Temasek Holdings where they can be MD.

patriot
Jun 23, 2009 22:24

Reading all the Comments in this Thread makes me feel very sad and shameful.

Shameful due to the shamelessness of some actings of my fellow countrymen, either to project a false image or in helping to create that false image. These SINFUL and SINNING ACTS justify the SIN of our Country so divinely named.

patriot

Daniel
Jun 23, 2009 23:24

“We can’t afford to lose him because it is not easy to find another local talent like him in tiny Singapore.”

Right ! We cannot lose him after all where else in the world can we a talented gahmen and his noble family who lose billions of tax-money and still pretending nothing has happened and now finding more ways to squeeze and milk more blood from the citizens.

It is said that Emperor Nero burnt the city with fire while still playing instrument
“Rumors soon arose accusing the Emperor Nero of ordering the torching of the city and standing on the summit of the Palatine playing his lyre as flames devoured the world around him.”
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/rome.htm

Well, our Emperor family even greater than Emperor Nero and more senile, burning unprecedent billions of taxmoney and reserves while still eating shark fin and mee siam mai hum.

Daniel
Jun 23, 2009 23:26

“very true; i once met a few busloads of folks attending an MP Walkabout in the East and inquired where they were from. The Answer, they were from Marsiling.”

With PAP MP , it is legal gathering. But with opp party MP, it is illegal gathering. What a double standard.

ah soh
Jun 24, 2009 0:06

I may be shamelessly flirting armourously in the Net, however I feel that acting to mislead fellow Singaporeans is more shameful than me, it is sinful as well.

Hope KopitiamApek will contribute some views here.

doctorwho
Jun 24, 2009 0:54

His A Team should do something useful, like rent a hawker store and sell food to raise funds for charity. Food like mee siam mai hum, sure long queue one.

prettyplace
Jun 24, 2009 1:28

What I understand from…these helping hands coming from different directions…

They are giving out goody bags, ang pows and also financial assistance.
But why doesn’t this happen in a formal way…like 1 agency doing the required job…..
Like this Heartstring….lah…Jln Kayu Helping Hand lah…and CDC’s, East West North….

The reason, I can think off is that they don’t really want to account for the Total number of people who are in Need.
And another reason these grassroots people usually RC’s popping up everywhere and offering help and money makes people belief that the PAP…MP is the one giving out all these money…when it is actually the tax payers and from the Ministry…budgeted to provide assistance.

Best is to form a proper organisation and provide structured assistance…to the entire family, then this current way.
So that everyone gets equal amount and there won’t be duplications.
And those coming for assistance don’t need to feel unconfortable as well.

LHL…if you want people to band togather… be as one….perhaps this is a good approach.

And…people, I heard some of these MP’s are giving money out from their own pockets as well….some ..only some for their residents.

Don’t know where Singapore is heading economically….
thank god for derivatives…and for some fools who didn’t get it…but thought they.
did….

May We Live in Interesting Times.

RED-man
Jun 24, 2009 1:43

Quote: May We Live in Interesting Times

Yes indeed, where Singapore is one of the few countries that has multi-billions government organising ROADSHOW once in a while. Especially when the people are getting frustrated with them or nearing a election.

Talk is Cheap
Jun 24, 2009 9:43

“The government has done what it needs to do … ”
My ass! The gahmen can do much more:
- reduce CPF
- stop importing China workers and hookers
- remove TV and radi license fees
- remove water-borne fee
- remove GST on essential groceries and public services
- lower water, gas and electricity tariffs
- not spend money integrating Foreign Trash
- employ local daily-rated workers for conservancy services and not outsource to companies employing Bangladeshi workers

Talk is Cheap
Jun 24, 2009 9:59

Kingfisher: “In the original report, the ghost of Wee Siew Kim has reappeared. For those who have forgotten him,he was the one whose daughter made the one-liner famous: Get out of my elitist !”
She not so elitist anymore. Nw sewing costumes for angmoh wannabe actors. See http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/players/Urinetown.html , 9th line from bottom. Picking up essential wayang skills, from the looks of it.

theforgottongeneration
Jun 24, 2009 10:02

@62) prettyplace on June 24th, 2009 1.28 am

Giving out goody bags and ang pows is not a bad thing, provided it is with good & genuine intent. I don’t want to mislead anyone (as some are saying of others, and they could be right), but do you consider the upgrading of HDB a “formal” way? I mean, upgrade 4-5 blocks, stop, wait 4 years, elections, then start/stop again with another 4-5 blocks. Logically, can’t they just continuously upgrade the estate throughout the intermediate 4 years? Look around and see how fast a brand new govt-linked building can be put up, all stops pulled.

@63) RED-man on June 24th, 2009 1.43 am

It is doing a Falklands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War). Mark, this year NDP will be spectacular, never mind the recession. In meantime, everyone has forgotton the debate as to why the national stadium is still usable & yet millions was used to create the largest floating stage in the world.

aiyoyo
Jun 24, 2009 12:25

aiyoyo

in terms of ‘goodies’ elites given out,

on the other hand, not sure how much $ commoners already paid upfront???

another lunch time discussion topic; raining soon got to run…

aiyoyo

Upsize the Downsize ?
Jun 24, 2009 13:05

64) Talk is Cheap on June 24th, 2009 9.43 am

of course the gomin can do more.
But we have no MP power to push for our demands for improvement.
But no worries, that 80 inside will help wan.
U trust me right?

IMS
Jun 24, 2009 13:15

ERP hikes causing prices to soar to NEW hikes. Its crazy but some of the prices rose like 40%. When asked why, they said prices different from last year, rentals and ERPs go up and up, so no choice.

Can TOC calculate how much is made from these ERP gantries on a monthly basis and how much impact on living cost?

Humbino Lee
Jun 24, 2009 14:15

How is singapore pools revenue and expenditure accounted?
must be lots of money there. monopolistic some more. I wan leh.

pugdragon
Jun 25, 2009 0:50

Giving us a small handout, then increasing the cost of living relentlessly, & that’s supposed to be helping us?

Creating unemployment problems for locals in the 1st place through mass import of cheap foreign labor that local bosses favor, & then claiming to “solve” the problem with useless schemes or empty advice?

His claims are more twisted than A & W’s curly fries!

Come next election, we’ll be singing “na na na na. na na na na. hey-ey-ey. goodbye!” to him!

mice is nice
Jun 25, 2009 1:15

the election department started handing out letters to “draft” staffers for that big day liao…

Daniel
Jun 25, 2009 1:18

“Giving us a small handout, then increasing the cost of living relentlessly, & that’s supposed to be helping us?”

It is so predictable of this gov. Increase the price of everything, next come out wayang programme to say that if public face problem, seek help in the programme.

PM Lee,
Why not you and your clowns cut own pay to $100,000 a year together with your bunch of good-for-nothing father, SM, ministers ,and craps, and citizens will urge the gahmen to do their best to get through downturn together ?

toiletmatter
Jun 25, 2009 23:09

lets just face it, theres no difference in politics betw spore & anywhere else, so lets just lower our pride on pap & feel better about everyday, its not gonna change even if pap lose ge, the same guys will still rule behind the scene

RED-man
Jun 26, 2009 0:27

75) toiletmatter on June 25th, 2009 11.09 pm
its not gonna change even if pap lose ge, the same guys will still rule behind the scene

Dear toiletmatter,

Maybe we should count ourselves lucky that japanese and german did not win ww2. Maybe we should see it as coincidence that cars, mobile phone, airplane etc are just thing that dropped from the sky to make our life easier.

I mean, by the way you put it, everyone might as well point the gun on our head and pull the trigger.

RED-man
Jun 26, 2009 0:31

If our fore-father have the thinking like yours, we might just a subject of British Empire right now. Way to go man… That’s the spirit!

pw
Jul 3, 2009 21:58

High time PM Lee walk the talk. Don’t tell us what to do, but show us what he is doing.
Let’s start by reducing his humongous salary. If I have just one percent of his salary I would have no problem doing what he says.

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