By Gilbert Goh of Trasitioning.org
My fear is that if the ruling party calls a general election now they may lose a few more seats to the opposition based on the current environment. I have never met so many dissatisfied Singaporeans in my life.
1. Foreign workers
The issue of foreign workers is perhaps the biggest grouse of Singaporeans. The huge sudden influx of foreign workers into our tiny island state is too much for most locals to bear. Not only do they compete for employment opportunities with Singaporeans, they also drive down wages as manpower supply exceeds demand especially at the last recession.
Though the government has tried to placate Singaporeans by promising to slow down future intake of foreigners, the damage is already done and may cost the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) a large number of votes.
2. Housing
Prices of HDB resale flats have risen significantly since the middle of last year even in the midst of a recession. This is largely thought to be influenced by the huge number of foreigners bidding for resale flats. Moreover, the build-to-order (BTO) programme is not really going as well as proclaimed. Newly-married couples have to wait for at least three years and the locations of new flats are also not that popular.
Singles above 35 years of age can buy HDB resale flats but the sky-high prices are seen by some to be inflated by immigrants with strong cash reserves. They also felt victimised as the housing policy is seen to favour married couples.
3. High cost of living vs stagnated salary scale
The high cost of living has affected the spending power of most Singaporeans, notably the poor and lower middle income earners. The past recession has forced many Singaporeans to take on lower-paying jobs. Many who are retrenched from their high paying jobs have lost the hope of ever attaining such good-salary jobs again. They feel that the country has regressed.
The inflationary rate has also outstripped whatever small gain in salary the average wage earner has made. Many are also unable to save enough for their retirement – a potential time bomb for the country.
4. Bias In Human Resource Practices
Many PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) in their 40s and 50s are not able to find jobs easily as employers continue to be biased against this age group. With younger, cheaper foreigners waiting in line, employers have the upper hand here, especially when the economy is still in its gradual upward trend. Many who are desperate take on low-end jobs such as cab drivers and security guards to make ends meet. People in this age group often carry the burden of unpaid hefty home mortgages and educational funding for their children. Under-employment seems to be a main issue with middle-aged professionals who are armed with coveted degrees and MBAs.
5. People everywhere
Trains are more crowded as foreigners enter our country by the hundreds of thousands. Every part of this little red dot is swarmed as Singaporeans avoid their usual weekend solace at the shopping malls and cinemas. They begin to camp in at home during the weekends, wallowing in their frustration. They may also explore migration opportunities in the search for a better life abroad.
With overseas voting available for the first time in the forthcoming election, it will not be surprising if many of such votes should go against the ruling party.
6. Stressful lifestyle
The Singaporean lifestyle is often associated with stress and boredom. People simply move from one stressful environment to another as they progress in life.
From being stressed out at school due to the achievement-oriented environment to work stress prevalent everywhere, the typical Singaporean has often complained of having no time to relax.
Too much time spent at work has also contributed to a high divorce rate, as many couples fail to find the time to cultivate their relationships. This have also resulted in a spike in juvenile delinquent crimes as the lone parent can not find the time and space to care for their children left alone at home.
7. Lack of welfarism
There is general agreement that the government is stingy in its many welfare programmes. Many lament that they have to pay high prices for healthcare services. The sandwiched generation has a lot to complain about here as they have to care for their young children and aged parents.
In the eyes of the typical Singaporean, it is better to die poor and dignified than depend on the government for hand outs. Many have also complained of the high–handed ways Community Developement Council (CDC) officers have handled their welfare applications.
8. Skyhigh ministerial pay
Much have being said about the high salaries our ministers command. Ministers are paid in the millions and this have not gone down well with the people, especially when their own salaries are being squeezed by the influx of foreigners.
Ministers are also perceived as distant power figures, unable to understand how people on the ground feel while they plot their policies up in their ivory towers.
How many ministers actually take the MRT to work and attempt to understand how the common people feel about the peak hour crowding they endure on their way to work daily?
9. Huge losses on our foreign reserves
Recent reports on the huge losses incurred by Temasek Holdings and Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) have also stirred up a lot of negative sentiment against the ruling party.
Its failure to be transparent in its investments have caused many Singaporeans to believe that there are things that the two investment bodies are hiding from the public. As monies in the foreign reserves belong to the citizens of this country, people will naturally react adversely when news breaks about huge losses incurred by the government’s two investment arms.
10. Push for change
People generally believe that change is needed in a stifling political environment that has long been dominated by a single ruling party for well over forty years.
The issue of foreigner workers may just be the main catalyst that push Singaporeans to demand for change. People are pragmatic and if their economic needs are not met, they may simply go for the jugular.
Forced out by foreigners in their work places and feeling second-class in their own country, Singaporeans may well throw caution to the wind and vote for an alternative.
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Wiser
My chosen nick “nonsense” has deeper meanings. Its essence is about the way things are happening here and now is pure nonsense. It does not apply to my views.
Haha Now I got it for your choice of name.
Well for the question of what I think will eventually happen is sorry to say .
Choas, Violent, & in the end no peace no rest and lastly the destroying of human to human.I mean pysically. Children will be seen in the streets begging without hands or legs.
No justice. No law. Crimes go up. And when the time comes. no one will be here to listen or analyis science. They will be seeking and hunting for survival. From modern age back to tool age. Like what you have described “What goes up must come down is explained as gravity in science”.
When an explosion erupts from small granite to huge fusion Nuclear missile. No one can judge or predict what will be the after effects. Wat they can do now is Prevent.
This I can see in forehead. which could be possibe. What will happen when pressure is contained. I believe we all know that.
We are all here for linked and one common purpose.
For a good law.
For a good leader.
For a good ruling party.
And we will do what we have to do to maintain this nation value.
Here all my comments are not just mine. They are from many people here I had casual talk for the past one year. From children to elders, PRs and foreigners. All of their own opinion, But one thing I realized in most of them. The anger kept deep inside them. from taxi drivers, hard labours, machinists, market holders, company stuffs, NS guys, people in government sector & much more. When I bring all of them together, I cant imagine what might happen if a outsider wiuld to stir things up.
The reason for them to contain their anger is FEAR.
Its is well explained in todays Head Topic where we stand. It is just a mini example.
New York Times apologises to PM, MM Lee
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20100324/tap-singapore-newyorktimes-c3bb44c.html
What is the effect of their having 25000 election officers? Are these all their supporters?
Who are the ones who count the votes? Do these belong to any party? Are these supporters of any party?
Are there clear ‘live’ video footage covering real-time vote counting for each ballot box?
I mean live action is shiok for voters to watch in excitement wor. I mean voters can count each vote counted wor. so fun wor.
Who can answer this?
The PAP cannot be voted out because it is technically impossible. LKY in an earlier time said that he has to ensure that a ‘freak election result’ must never take place, meaning having the PAP kicked out. Thus he devised the GRC system which make it impossible for Singaporeans to vote in an alternative government.
Singaporeans are dreaming if they think they can remove the PAP through the electoral system. It is permanently rigged to prevent this from happening. The recent ‘cooling off’ period proposed and the appointment of 25,000 election officers is to prevent any possibility even of any more opposition member being let in, not to speak of throwing out the government.
i think the 25000 election officers are merely civil servants who kena arrowed to perform the role. i don’t think they are party supporters…
Agree with Oracle.
Many TOC posters is calling LKY “the Dictator”.
So how could you guys expect to vote out a dictator? that had never happen in the history of mankind! Most of the time, blood has to be sheded to remove one.
Singaporeans should blame themselves for rearing one.
The curtains will come down on the geriatric Dictator any time soon, the sooner, the better.. Then I believe things will get much better for most of us.
Perhaps one could add an 11th reason – call it the Miscellaneous Factor such as
1) prosecution of relatively defenceless opposition leaders.
2) redrawing of electoral boundaries to their own advantage.
3) say put sporeans first but do otherwise
even if the pap got kick out, GIC and Temasek is still under the control of the lee dynasty. They already say, even if opposition takes over, they cannot take over the GIC and Temasek and other gov link companies as well. Somemore, they put a President to help them checkmate against the government if the opposition takes over.
Absolutely cunning designs! God pls punish them!
The fear factor has gone.The IM(Instruction Manual) has never stated that Civil servants must vote LKY PAP.The vote is secret, not confidential. The young are all set to vote the Opposition like RP.The pre 65 generation of politically unaware are ‘fed-up’ with life in Singapore.The RP has started to recruit more Scholars and professionals. PAP ‘captain’ (LKY) is awaiting for the time to demise.
These are some truths about what is happening now.
So, it’s ripe time to vote out LKY PAP starting from this coming GE and thereafter.
Before you cast your vote, just ask yourself if you truly believe PAP will make any improvement to your life and next generation. If you miss this chance without doing justice to yourself and the country, good luck to Singapore.
Even if a prostitue signs up an an opposition, I still vote for her as long as FCK ARSE PARTY falls. They are behaving like gods now especially Monkister Pee Peean Ballskrishcunt, the pondan mama. Used top to be a debator but hv used his god damned skills against the poor people. This proves that doctors, oarators, lawyers can turn eveil if left unchecked.
I even vote for a dog! At least it is grateful!
We had to vote out the Lee dynasty ASAP. The man & women in white think they are gods and enjoying a first world salary & life style while the rest of singaporeans living in a first world country with third world salary. We are forced to compete with hundreds of thousands of PRs and foreigners and these gods are putting rules to safeguard their diamond bowls. They don’t even listen and keep giving excuses why things cannot be done.All singaporeans must stand up and stop these dictators.
What I’m worried is that these so called dissatisfied singaporeans are all NATO (no action talk only) and they will still vote for PAP when the time comes simply because of fear. As for me, I will show my support by going for rallies, exposing the fallacies of the incumbent govt and of course by voting for the opposition and being pruod about it.
The day the god of no mercy , lky demise then there is new life for all singaporeans.like mention by extremewellnessgroup is simply the truth and get rid of PAP dictatorship we all will be happy.
I disagreee with points 2 & 5.
If the government restricts them totally or mostly, it’ll hurt our GDP.
In point no 5, every country has “people everywhere”.
Let the opposition become government, Singapore will be worst than the US. MNC’s will relocate. Jobs lost. Insecurity will set in.
The problem is lack of land. Just take a drive to Johor state (27 times bigger than Singapore) and you’ll see vast open spaces. Drive on the NS highway for an hour, you’ll see plantations lining both sides.
No matter what, we would not be here if not for PAP.