The Online Citizen speaks to financial expert and TOC’s own columnist, Mr Leong Sze Hian, for his take on Budget 2010 which was unveiled by the finance minister on Monday.
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- The Budget
It looks like the budget is not too bad, some could say that it did not go far enough in some areas, especially towards the most destitute. Even hate-filled anti-government blog Temasek Review had little to say about it but for its usual rant about foreigners.
To Mr. Leong,
You have my utmost respect for taking time and effort to scrutinise areas of the budget 2010 that appear to contradict the supposedly revision in policies by our govt to make all of our lives easier.
I have read the opposition views concerning the budget as well but am dismayed that the arguments put forth were not substantial, or maybe ST just simply edited out the “controversial” bits. I would sincerely urge the opposition leaders to have a look at Mr. Leong’s views as I believe they are in concert with what the majority of the lower-mid income families are feeling right now, and will be exerbated by the seemily lack of measures within the budget to address the imminent social problems arising out of downward spiralling of living standards for the lower incomes. Our OPPOSITIONS must arm themselves with full ammunition to fight the PAP fire at parliament next week, else we will see Mr. T throwing up more excuses to justify his budget. Good luck Guys !
Good Morning Mr Leong,
The budget as I see it needs to fit into a box that is determined by global factors, there are many drivers here, commodity & oil prices, globalization etc - it seems to me you believe very strongly; you can construct such a box. My fear is your assumptions are seriously flawed.
Fact: neither you or I can instil order into lets say the vagaries of what we commonly term as economic drivers - oil, commodity, migration, demographic shift are really all beyond us - s0 whether this budget is successful or not will really depend on the future economic landscape – for example if the budget says we need to improve productivy; how can this feat be accomplished if the price of oil prices goes up thus increasing manufacturing cost / what if Bangladesh decides to open a Free trade Zone and undercut China in terms of labor cost i.e in what way will higher employee productivity be able to off set those rises? It cannot.
So I think it’s very important to understand the limits of the budget and how much of it is predicated on first obtaining ideal conditions ; IMHO it is just a rough sketch, it cannot be anything written on stone.
The main problem as you rightly highlighted is: how do you close the gap between the have’s and have’s not – this again is a hubris that is very difficult to reconcile socially or economically against the idea of globalization - observation suggest, the poor will definitely get poorer and the rich will definitely get richer – this one of the paradox of capitalism is it has managed to accomplish what communism couldnt even do – squeeze out more for less from the ordinary Joe – I suspect that could be one reason why countries such as China and Russia these days no longer see any value in communism. This is a big problem. The issues they raise are too long wind bag to elaborate here.
But to cut a long story short – the question we should all ask ourselves as a nation is whether the budget along is enough to offer a sustainable solution; to this and many other problems that I simply dont have time to highlight – IMHO sooner of latter the question will have to surface: can we resolve this hubris without buying into a full fledged welfare state?
I have taken the liberty of providing you this link to refresh many of the issues I have raised here along with other interesting questions concerning your commentary regarding the budget
http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/how-long-can-singapore-remain-a-welfare-free-state/
Thank you, do have a productive day and I do beg the indulgence of most readers here for my windbag reply.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood – sponsored by the Interspacing Mercantile Guild)
Whether you realize this or not Mr Leong, every single issue that you have highlighed here has already been adequately provisioned in the form of the welfare state – that’s why the welfare state was created to resolve all these seemingly contradictory issues along with harmonizing many of the contradictions you raised in one go.
What I dont seem to understand is why you have to use so many bullets to bring down one elephant; when all you have to do is give it one good shot with the bullet called the welfare state. I fail to understand.
SD
Goodness gracious me, Mr Leong is right. There is nothing in cash for me, an average Singapore in the street.
It appears to be a budget that serves to either enrich the government (via various increased taxes/levies) or transfer money from its left pocket to the right.
Vote OUT PAP. Better late than never!
Unfortunately, as the experience in Europe shows, the welfare state brings along its own set of challenges. There is a reason why even the much lauded Nordic models are trying to retool their systems in light of the pressures of globalization. And these are states with longer histories, less demographic/cultural diversity than Singapore – all advantages towards an effective welfare state where you know you’ll be letting down your tribe and your forebears if you shirk your responsibilities.
Singapore CAN move towards a welfare state system, but it will take a lot of work. But one quick fix is the usual one – lower taxes. In addition, I would try to reallocate the tax burden, reducing the GST in favor of raising taxes on specific luxury items – cars and private property comes to mind. The danger is that the rich who contribute the bulk of government revenue would leave. Lowering the pay of ministers and civil servants is another easy and politically palatable option.
In the end, the problem is our various expenditures leave us not much choice. Imagine if we could do away with our defense spending! But the realities of the situation means that we have no choice but to spend that much.
Oh well, there’s always integration with China ala Hong Kong, in which case we can do away with NS and the defense expenditure instantly… but who wants that?
We pay them millions, believing that they are world class, and they can only give us solutions that other government produce, at a much lower cost, and with better impacts.
These millionaires know that Singaporeans are so gullible and will not be able to fault them, thus they continue to get away with their dismal policies.
Well said, Sze Hian!
I would like to suggest that a transcript be posted below the video, given that some TOC readers might find it inconvenient to view the video (in office? slow internet?) and the audio of the clip is unclear at various parts too.
Physical limitations, multi-ethnicity (communication constraints) and over burden of infrastructural stress continue to oppress productivity gain and may soon be negative of consequences. No amount of
technological innovation and skills training can overcome this. In economics, it is the limits of growth similar to impact of labour supply in an aging population. So $1.1 billion spread over 5 years is just too thin and too little to have any positive impact when productivity gain expectation runs against the migration influx of lower quality foreign labour import with severe language/communication bottlenecks within the work place setting.
It is a non-event as far as budgetary slack can afford fiscal give – it is a budget deficit, remember. Global factors rule and the Government probably do NOT have a handle of comprehension of fluidity of financial and economic conditions prevailing which may change suddenly and drastically.
It is a cautionary budget while Government grope for direction. MSM boast of majority of citizenry happy with Budgets proposal is just political pigeon thinking.
For the govt to talk/revive talk about productivity now suggests that it has been ABANDONED! When did this happened?
Are we to conclude that the govt agency or agencies tasked with the country’s economic development have the capability only of single-tasking and not, the to be expected or the oft boasted about, multi-tasking? ARE THEY JUST ‘ONE BOOK’ WONDERS tasked only with the govt’s latest flavour of the day?
It also suggests that there is only a single ‘mastermind’ behind economic development strategy devoted to carrying out what the govt (not the experts’) feels.
I guess govt of LHL believes that too many cooks would spoil the broth, instead of two (or three or four…) heads are better than one.
Spending more on healthcare does not mean Singapore becomes a welfare state. It may just mean spending less for defence. We already have the largest Armed forces compared to all the South East Asia countries put together and many will agree that we do not need to groom generals to run businesses.
I myself am a degree holder . But having a degree or higher education does not mean one can understand the policies as well as what our highly respected Mr Leong has shared with us in the video that
1. Increasing foreign worker levy , based on historical truth of the past , can indirectly lower the salaries of singapore workers especially the lower income ones.
I am shocked, dismayed and disappointed by CNA’s budget forum for not having a complete discussion and invite respected talents like Mr Leong or Mr Tan Kin Lian to debate on the budget.
How can the mere mortals like myself and the lower educated understand the complete picture of the budget and its implications when such concerns like possible effects of lowering wages of lower waged singaporeans with the levy?
Singapore needs a big change. I cannot envision my future in the next 5 years. I dun even want to think about the next 10 years.
Somehow, i have an eerie feeling that we are back in the 80’s or 90’s again when focussing back on Productivity.
They have not run out ideas right?
[i] We already have the largest Armed forces compared to all the South East Asia countries[/i]
and when 3 little fugitives from malaysia landed on our little TUAKONG arm forces trainnin ground with 1 small rusty pistols.. the whole arm forces troops shakes and trembled with fear..onLEE to be rescued by foreign mercenary the GURHKAS..worst of all from the polis units….
Thanks Leong for the insightful comments. maybe you and Kenneth Jeya can run together for a GRC.
Leong Sze Hian – I am sure you are fully aware that no President or Prime Minister of any country has ever produced an annual budget that meets every demand or need of the electorate. He or she will produce a budget that resolves the main issues facing the country. When an issue requires more than a year to solve because the problem may be complex, funds will have to be provided annually until it is solved.
So I am disappointed that you have not discussed the positive actions and give the Government credit when they deserve it.
The world is undergoing tsunami-like changes. We have to adopt long term strategies in order to live well. What can you offer to counter the actions practised or proposed in the Budget?
I am not satisfied with a few measures in the Budget but, on the whole, I am happy. Why? Because the Budget provides measures for those Singaporeans whose needs are bigger or grim.
If the Government is so hopeless as you are trying to portray, why are there so many foreigners working eagerly in Singapore? I am told there about a million of them from developed Western countries to failed states,
Why do you send your children to government funded schools subscribing to the national education system? Keep them at home and teach them yourself. Nobody is coercing you to go to a Government polyclinic or hospital when you or any family member are sick. You can go to a private physician or hospital or better still seek medical care in neighbouring countries that claim that they provide just as good a service cheaper. I can cite so many more areas where you have the freedom to choose a non-government provided service but the above two are illustrative of the thrust of my views.
The PAP Government is not claiming or trying to be Superman. It never did since 1959. Its responsibility is to be equitable and effective. On that score, it is doing a marvellous job. It may not earn from you an A grade but to me a die-hard 67 Singaporean, I award it a High Distinction. (Harvard University awards carefully and stringently a High Distinction grade to its exceptionally outstanding students.)
T A Balasingam,
By your yardstick, I would give this government a subpar grade. If the Government is so good as you are trying to portray, why are there so many Singaporeans quitting Singapore?
I am satisfied with a few measures in the Budget but, on the whole, I am NOT happy. Why? Because the incompetent, irresponsible people who created the problems that the Budget puports to address are still drawing their world-class salary.
I am also a die-hard Singaporean, but I come to my stand based on weighing the opposing views and observing the actions (or inaction) of the people in charge. A leader exists to serve, with humility, integrity. If the heart is not in the right place, one cannot be relied on to make the right policies even if he does whatever he sets out to do right. Without trust from the followers, the leader does not lead; he rules.
Balasingam, how do you know what you don’t know?
Balasingam,
“If the Government is so hopeless as you are trying to portray, why are there so many foreigners working eagerly in Singapore? ”
so easy question you dare to ask our Mr Leong? Hey come on lah, he got more important and high value things to do than reply your kind of question lah.
ok lah, allow me to answer your doubt lah.
Why so many here?
1. wiki what is Financial Crisis.
2. consider the open door policy that i feel could be bar none.
3. where do most these people come from ? 3rd worlds. What is the sg currency compared to theirs?
4. Why so many never take up citizenship and choose to be PR for so many years or decades?
why am i replying to questions like these? on a saturday????! oh my goodness.
balasingam, please lah…..
T A Balasingam,
It’s fine to have opposing views, and one gives credit to another for valid points raised. It is ridiculous in your case to say that if we disagree with certain policy or the way that it is implemented, then we have to boycot it completely. I disagree with charging GST on the water conservation tax because I disagree with the unfairness of imposing a tax on tax. Does that mean I should not drink water from Singapore’s reservoirs?
No wonder PAP is so complacent. I can’t wait to dig my spurs in their hides.
@sgcynic
@Jeromy Chua Mui Chee of the Bai and Bai
Please read my comments carefully. Your criticisms are out of point; they do not rebut my points. In fact your points validate my comments. Thank you.
I’d rather have the opportunity to choose a non-PAP led government than a non-government provided service. The only thing white fat pigs are good for is the slaughterhouse.
But then again how many of us have that chance?
Balasingam,
Jeromy already shared with you some reasons why foreigners come here. Its the pro-foreigner worker policies. This is why they are here and the currency factor. Their comments are valid.
For your case, you failed to reply their questions posed to you.
When you claim someone’s points are not valid, that is just your words. People need not believe you.
If you are so wise, mention 1 flaw in the system unless you are unable to due. Tell us you are unable to or you find no flaws in the system.
Next time we should go sing karaoke.
@T A Balasingam, Feb 27, 2010 17:58
“…I am told there about a million of them from developed Western countries to failed states,…”
Is that a typo error or U saying a million FTs here? Have you seen the data from NPS on the breakdown of foreigners here? Are you able to share why there is 36% population foreigners, presumably all eager to work here? What is the next developed country with about the same percentage? Let’s make it easier for ya, which country has merely 25-30%?
“….The PAP Government is not claiming or trying to be Superman….”
I think you are wrong here. They did claim to be Superman in order to justify paying themselves a Superman’s pay. But of course, they didn’t actually SAY that they are Superman…
“….Its responsibility is to be equitable and effective…..”
Really? Is the income gap between our PM and the poorest about the same for other developed countries? And what is our latest TFR? 40+ years and still can’t solve that problem? C’mon, with many issues in hand, maybe they can drag an issue for 2-5 years (tops) and I think people can understand. But 40+ years??? Doesn’t sounds like High Distinction caliber, leh. Pls be reminded that the Stop-at-2 is a failure of the highest order in terms of sustaining the natural birth rate of Singapore — the ONLY resource we could had. U got check with Harv. before awarding their HD or not?
Lastly, let have a bit of fairness here. Mr Leong’s points may be a bit dramatic (rightly or wrongly) but you expect him to score very High Distinction like our ministers without being paid $million salary? Oh yeah, forgot, that is Singapore’s version of Accountability.
PS: I have nothing for or against TOC or Mr Leong, just using the space to blow steam. In fact I can be pissed being moderated several times.
@theforgottongeneration, Feb 27, 2010 23:47
“…Oh yeah, forgot, that is Singapore’s version of Accountability….”
Forgot to add: …. Other countries would called that Cheapskate.
@Kandasar
A flaw in politics exists if one is adamant to look for one and label it so. It is like a glass that is filled 50% with water. If you say that it is half empty, your answer is correct. On the other hand, if your answer is that it is half full, your answer is also correct. So what is the flaw of both answers? You figure it out.
For me, as I said that it is all a question of choice and which solution provides a better chance of resolving a problem as well as achieving the desired outcome.
Jerome quoted me when he said, “If the Government is so hopeless as you (which refers to all the critics of the Singapore Government) are trying to portray, why are there so many foreigners working eagerly in Singapore? ”. You must read this sentence of mine in the context of my thoughts in the remainder of the following paragraphs.
To paraphrase my own views, I am saying to all the critics of the Government, that if this PAP Government is so hopeless, why then do you repeatedly continue to use the services it provides, for example, sending your child(ren) to a Government funded school of the “screwed up educational system” which is based on the so-criticised, apparently unpopular Government education policy. Similarly, why do you still go to a Government polyclinic or hospital which is based on a much maligned health care policy when you are sick?
Regarding Jerome’s point on the perceived liberal Government policy on foreigners working here – seriously thinking, do you think Singapore could have achieved its high GDP growth rate without them? Go to Raffles Place, the national financial centre, and see the overwhelming number of foreigners working in the banks. They handle the sophisticated private banking, syndicate loans, foreign exchange deals because there are so few native Singaporeans who are skillled enough to manage these highly profitable, wealth creating jobs. Visit our Government hospitals and observe the large number of specialist surgeons, etc who are foreigners. Why? Because there are insufficient native Singaporean specialist doctors. Go to our sophisticated pharmaceutical, chemical and oil industrial plants. The majority of the specialist supervisors and engineers are foreigners. Visit Biopolis, the heart of our science and biomedical research activities, and be awed by the large presence of foreigner scientists and engineers. Visit NUS, NTU and SMU and observe the large number of world class, top-of-the class professors. Why are so many top, highly qualified foreigners working here? Are they stealing the jobs of deserving qualified native Singaporeans? No! The reason is plain obvious (which Jerome has failed to recognise nor understand) – there are just insufficient numbers of highly talented, highly qualified native Singaporeans to drive Singapore so far forward and so fast in this global race of dynamic change.
So there are the flaws in Jerome’s comments. I respect his (and your views, Kandasar) because both of you have the freedom to express your thoughts, be they right or wrong and I hope Jerome would be respectful equally of my views instead of rantings words like “why am i replying to questions like these? on a saturday????! oh my goodness.
balasingam, please lah…..”
Finally, Kandasar and Jerome also, we must meet and karoake together. After all we are Singaporeans sailing in the same boat called “Republic of Singapore”!
Cheers, Majulah Singapura!
T A Balasingam,
Half filled glass and a half emptied glass means the same. Dont twist the fact the glass is still never full. An uncaring and incompetent government is still incompetent no matter how you look at it. With the 100B dollars of losses yet to be accounted for, poor policies in immigration, poor social safety net, poor employment opportunities for old and young Singaporeans, poor housing policies, education systems that lacks depth and poor healthcare system(we need malaysia to help care for our people). With all these factors, i cant be blind to see the glass half full or empty to me it is never full.
“To paraphrase my own views, I am saying to all the critics of the Government, that if this PAP Government is so hopeless, why then do you repeatedly continue to use the services it provides, for example, sending your child(ren) to a Government funded school of the “screwed up educational system” which is based on the so-criticised, apparently unpopular Government education policy. Similarly, why do you still go to a Government polyclinic or hospital which is based on a much maligned health care policy when you are sick?”
In my humble opinion, a child needs to be given an education and Singapore Schools are decent enough for that but it is the system of streaming and elitism that irritates parents and children alike. I assume that you might not have such problems either your child has full access to tuition since money is not a problem as you seem to be a PMET or other resources(donations) you can mustered by your calibre. To any poor and middle class families with no money for their kids tuition, poor results means streaming with a stigma. At such a young age, children are defined by their grades to be sub standard to the bright students. With pressures to excel and performed all the time, many kids have thought of committing suicide, recent secondary school student and NTU’s cases are prime examples.
“Similarly, why do you still go to a Government polyclinic or hospital which is based on a much maligned health care policy when you are sick? + Visit our Government hospitals and observe the large number of specialist surgeons, etc who are foreigners. Why? Because there are insufficient native Singaporean specialist doctors”
I went four times to 2 government hospitals for same operations and never was i cured of it and spending a lot of money. Finally, i went to a PRIVATE HOSPITAL and cured of the problem. The worse part is having INDIA trained doctor and foreigners doing surgery on you. The pain and anger you suffered and disappointment cannot be explained in words. What kind of healthcare are you referring in my context? Polyclinics are the worse kind of healthcare. My aged mom with diabetes said to me she has to queue up more than 1.5 hours to see a doctor who always seem to be impatient and quickly wants to clear her..only 7 mins consultation. The medicine they gave are not expensive, slow or no effect and worse off in direct inverse of cheaper, faster and better. She ended her misery by seeing a private clinic which means pay more and she is a housewife. Do you understand this kind of misery? Now, we can fly FIRST CLASS on SIA to KL for 1st CLASS healthcare at 50% price, what kind of GOV delegate duties of healthcare to another poor country? Huh?
“Regarding Jerome’s point on the perceived liberal Government policy on foreigners working here – seriously thinking, do you think Singapore could have achieved its high GDP growth rate without them? Go to Raffles Place, the national financial centre, and see the overwhelming number of foreigners working in the banks. They handle the sophisticated private banking, syndicate loans, foreign exchange deals because there are so few native Singaporeans who are skillled enough to manage these highly profitable, wealth creating jobs.”
This is one big joke. Importing FT to boost GDP figures. Is these the type of GDP growth you wanted? The economy will suffer in the LONG RUN due to finite resources. It is not a good economic policy and if it is, country like Japan could have done the same and not be having a less than 1% GDP growth. Did we have a Toyota, SONY, CANON and innovative companies to back up a GDP fueled economy? During the economic crisis, these so called FT in all these highly complex CDS fiasco aint them the same people from the western banking world that gave us the MINI BONB(BOMB) saga? Come on! When the sky falls, no matter how talented a FT is he cant go against the tide of wealth destruction, is he/she? You are telling me a FT can do wonders and a Singaporeans cant? They are still human and falls for the same CDS and lies from faulty rating agencies. The government holds a strong control in banking secrecy and many wealthy and hedge funds loves to come here. Go take a look at CNBC to find out Singapore is ranked top 10 in bank opaque transparency index. Without it, do you think our gov is capable of drawing investment funds in?
“Visit Biopolis, the heart of our science and biomedical research activities, and be awed by the large presence of foreigner scientists and engineers. Visit NUS, NTU and SMU and observe the large number of world class, top-of-the class professors. Why are so many top, highly qualified foreigners working here?”
Please list out the World Class scientists and WORLD REOWNED professors to AWE us! I bet you cant named more than 3 WORLD CLASS SCIENTISTs here. Please be discreet in your boast! I remember that an unethical world class scientist left Singapore not too long ago and lambasted Singapore for all the bad. Do i have to mentioned his name here? You said Singapore lacked of enough talent in areas of science, sure i agreed with your statements because Singaporeans are constantly being left out in scholarships and places of good local UNI in preference for FT students. That is why there are shortages, it is discriminating since a decade ago.
“Are they stealing the jobs of deserving qualified native Singaporeans? No! The reason is plain obvious (which Jerome has failed to recognise nor understand) – there are just insufficient numbers of highly talented, highly qualified native Singaporeans to drive Singapore so far forward and so fast in this global race of dynamic change.”
Ha ha! Another self denial on your part. There are always highly qualified Singaporeans enough to fill the small setups of companies in the biopolis . Compare it to the US and EUROPE, how big is our BIOPOLIS that needs to mass import FT instead of Singaporeans? Can disclose some figures of the professionals needed in all these companies?
A country that stop loving her own citizens but instead treated foreigners like her own children cant be right and that herself a sign of a “half filled and empty” government, one that can never fill the vast aspirations of Singaporeans. One that is doomed to failed for the long run.
the same can be spoken about fusionpolis..the latest toy in the PAP arsenal of BS. arrogant white pricks can be seen walking around the entire complex..
[i]Nobody is coercing you to go to a Government polyclinic or hospital when you or any family member are sick[/i]
but nobody also vote for the present government ministers out of freewills?
so thus this mean that the government member can placed anybody they liked within the government itself?..so if you are not happy you just go to a private government or the malaysian government for assistance and rulin?
how about i pay the malaysian polismen to arrest @ detained you?
good to eat you keep
bad to eat..you pass over to another person…
T A Balasingam,
“To paraphrase my own views, I am saying to all the critics of the Government, that if this PAP Government is so hopeless, why then do you repeatedly continue to use the services it provides, for example, sending your child(ren) to a Government funded school of the “screwed up educational system” which is based on the so-criticised, apparently unpopular Government education policy. Similarly, why do you still go to a Government polyclinic or hospital which is based on a much maligned health care policy when you are sick?”
In economics, there’s something called essential goods and inelastic demand. Unlike the case where if we disagree with a department store (say it’s lack of sales ethics) and we can CHOOSE to boycot it, we have no choice when it comes to things like education and healthcare. To repeat myself, it is ridiculous for you to say that if we disagree with a certain policy or the way that it is implemented, then we have to boycot it completely.
In any case, I guess those who “quit” Singapore have taken up your advice – we have read of cases where parents migrate (rightly or wrongly) because of the bilingual policy or the high stress and cost of living. You are right to some extent in saying that if “this PAP Government is so hopeless, why then do you repeatedly continue to use the services it provides”. That’s what elections are for – to exercise our right not to use this service provider.
We bother to criticise because we want change for the better. Discuss or critic why the criticisms are not valid or impractical. Do not give strawman arguments like the above.
No need for thanks. My sympathies.
Great insight !!!
As usual, PAP try to implement policies that appears to tackle the problems but it does otherwise..
All wayang…
And they have the cheek to raise their pay by ~8.8% this year…
They have no shame !!!
@T A Balasingam, Feb 27, 2010 17:58 @T A Balasingam, Feb 28, 2010 1:01
Honestly, TA, I thought you might had some well-thought alternative views to share with us. Like some top secret behind the scene stuff that the average S’porean is too naive nor privileged to see through.
But your lengthy paragraph from “Regarding Jerome’s …….. ….global race of dynamic change….” really reads like something lifted off the Govt history text book for your grand-children. Typical stock answers which is quite stale by now with only half-truths.
Not withstanding TRUE Singaporean (Feb 28, 2010 3:23) views from the GDP angle (which I fully agree; his/her half glass analysis is also very good), let’s think: HOw old are all these foreigners working in mentioned banks, hospital, top scientists, blah, blah blah…? If you say 5-10 year old, then MAYBE we can say it is due to the low birth rate of Singaporeans. But they are 20+ to 40’s?! Did you ask yourself why we didn’t have enough babies 20-40 years ago, or why our education system didn’t start turning out such native talents 15-20 years back? Instead we see many ding-dongs U-turning policies over e.g. too many doctors, so brakes applied on our students entering medical, only to find we don’t have enough specialist surgeons now. Same with lawyers, accountants — one time say too many, then later say too little, then don’t know say what. Engineers must take the cake — mass produced them only to find all the manufacturing overseas now. So it is not a question of whether we have sufficient manpower; it is more a question of poor resource management of our limited manpower. And there can be no denying whose responsibility this ought to be.
If what you say is true about the best brains scrambling to work here, then we would have some signicant breakthru’ in the biotech industry by now. Instead, these talents are just fizzling along; our race to develop say the H1N1 vaccine illustrates all is talk only. Even HK had managed to develop one based on TCM??!! Ask around, man, those highly qualified specialists are working here because there is no accountability to produce results. Look at the records of our PSC scholars. Any manage to start a Google, Microsoft, Hyflux, Creative, etc.? Or just pressing buttons to find the best balance for the ERP gantry rates? Seriously, you need to go down to the ground to have a proper perspective these days.
Anyway, hope you can prove us wrong with your replies… remember, no cheating copying from your grand-children books.
Thank you for your comments to my view. Let me rebut each of you in a civil and respectful way notwithstanding some of you had pilloried me personally when we should address the Tissues without denigrading the speaker.
@True Singaporean
I enjoyed reading your comments although we are at odds on some of them. This is understandable and expected in a debate on national issues because it is natural to have a multitude of views on any issue.
Re: Half filled glass and a half emptied glass means the same. My point here is that it is all a matter of perception by the onlooker. It is like the proverbial 3 blind men trying to describe an elephant where one was holding the trunk and said it is wrinkled and curvaceous; the second blind man was holding the foot and said that it was fat and round; and the third blind man was holding the tail and said that it was thin, hairy and smelly (his nose was near the elephant’s anus!). All three blind men had accurately described the elephant from where they were touching the elephant but all three were wrong in describing the whole elephant which, perhaps, was their goal in wanting to describe the elephant! So, you see it is all a matter of perception. I was not trying to “twist the fact the glass is still never full”.
“I assume that you might not have such problems either your child has full access to tuition since money is not a problem as you seem to be a PMET or other resources(donations) you can mustered by your calibre. ” Your assumption here is wrong totally. I came from a very poor family where my father, mother, 2 brothers and 3 sisters squeezed living in a one-room of a floor area of 25 square feet above a shophouse. My father told me “Build your own future for yourself and your family. Do not depend on any body, not the Government, not your friends and not on me or your mother. I will provide you as much as I can afford to give fairly to each of you, my children, but I cannot promise you a rich and comfortable life’. These words of a wise and honest father carried my siblings through our youth and up to university. I have told and done the same with my 2 children. I never spent a cent on private tutors for them. In primary school, my wife and I tutored them doing their homework. In secondary school and higher, given the family values that they have been taught and embraced, they studied by themselves. Whenever they had some learning difficulty, they would ask their teacher who were professional and gracious enough to spend time after school teaching again the learning difficulty to my child. My daughter was fortunate to be awarded a scholarship to study in university whilst my son saved and earned his money to finance his university studies. He did not apply for a scholarship because he did not want to be bonded.
I refrain from responding to your query whether I am a PMET. I believe and practise that all men and women are equal and precious. I do not pigeon-hole people into social classes. I respect and help all humanity, regardless whether he is a beggar, orphan, single parent, doctor, lawyer, etc. In my eyes, they are all my brothers and sisters of Humanity.
I am sorry to read about your mother health condition and “treatment” from the nursing and medical staff at the polyclinic and hospital be they native Singaporeans or foreigners. I have an aged mother, age 91 years old. She also suffers many diseases of aged people. Whenever she is sick or have to attend to a regular appointment at the polyclinic, my sister or I will take leave and bring her. My mother speaks Teochew only. My sister and I took the effort to talk to the doctor and learn of her medical condition, etc. So when we send her home, she is supervised in accordance to the doctor’s advice. Overtime, my sister and I have become friends with her doctors ( two of which are foreigners and speak English with a non-Singaporean accent) and nursing staff. (one of them is a foreigner witha foreign accent). She is a Class B2 patient but she gets regal treatment from the staff. My point here is that my sister and I took the time and sacrifice to get ask the medical staff for advice which we then complied and whenever they see my mother again, they are overjoyed to see her in good health. I hope by sharing my experience, you and your mother and the medical staff will be bonded in trust and love.
Your comment “…because Singaporeans are constantly being left out in scholarships and places of good local UNI in preference for FT students”. I was a non-academic staff of National University of Singapore (NUS) until lately. In my tour of service at NUS, I have not come to know of any Singaporean student who missed out on a scholarship that he or she had applied for and was by merit the most deserving applicant. My daughter was awarded a Government Scholarship and in her year of application, all Government scholarships were Singaporeans. Up to today, the situation is still the same. Perhaps you know of a foreigner student who had been awarded a Government scholarship. Then share this news with me so that together we can address the issue with the Government.
“Please list out the World Class scientists and WORLD REOWNED professors to AWE us! I bet you cant named more than 3 WORLD CLASS SCIENTISTs here. Please be discreet in your boast!”
Let me name more than “3 WORLD CLASS SCIENTISTS”:
1. Sir David Lane, Chairman BMRC
2. Dr Edward Holmes, Dy Chairman BMRC
3. Dr Judith Swain, Exec Director SICS
4. Dr Brigitte Lane, Exec Director IMB
5. Dr Edison Liu, GIS
6. Dr Neal Copeland, Exec Director, IMCB
etc.
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@sgcynic
Great! I look forward to seeing you step forward in the next General Elections and will consider you seriously. Propose a manifesto of plans that will excel as the best manifesto, even better than that of the PAP and I will vote for you and your political party. After all, the best candidate with the best manifesto deserves to be the next Government and I will give you an equal and fair chance to vote for you.
After all, that is what democracy is all about!
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@anotheridiotBALAsink
Your comment “you are the most bloomin a s shole i hav yet to come across…” does not deserve a rebuttal. It reflects your bankruptcy of rational thinking and respectful communication.
Sir David Lane
Chairman BMRC
“…….address the Tissues…….”
Ooops, sorry about this typo error. I meant:
“……address the issues….”
Thank you.
balasingam, you said :
“Regarding Jerome’s point on the perceived liberal Government policy on foreigners working here – seriously thinking, do you think Singapore could have achieved its high GDP growth rate without them?”
You are quoting an example of the construction sector. How about jobs in the IT sector? Why need so many of them when singaporeans are more than capable to do many of these jobs? Are you conveniently using the need for contruction labor to justify the huge influx in basically ALL Sectors if not most sectors?
How do you know singaporeans could not have achieved the same if not higher GDP when there is no chance to prove that? This never happened. You are only guessing.
By the way, your techniq is lame. You keep avoiding direct replies. Name me a flaw in the policies if any or say that there is no flaws in your opinion. Which is it? Or you have no idea?
At the coming elections, may a beloved party fall and my beloved country rise. Trust not in those with sweet manifestos but in their actions. We’ve seen how men in white stayed ahead and minibond investors stayed together led by a retiree who fought for them. There’s no need for the best brains who has no time for his constituents (http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2010/02/availability-of-elected-mps.html). Vote only for those whose hearts we trust are in the right place.
[i]Which is it? Or you have no idea?[/i]
he hav 6 great scientists in mind..
Let me name more than “3 WORLD CLASS SCIENTISTS”:
1. Sir David Lane, Chairman BMRC
2. Dr Edward Holmes, Dy Chairman BMRC
3. Dr Judith Swain, Exec Director SICS
4. Dr Brigitte Lane, Exec Director IMB
5. Dr Edison Liu, GIS
6. Dr Neal Copeland, Exec Director, IMCB
..he even used sir david lane to rebutt me in a red bus lane..chairman somemore..wah pulled ranks.. i ain’t no rocket scientist..but i sured can rocketed his a s shole…
wah balasink..you hor world class..
let me point you your little tiny flaws…
[i]My mother speaks Teochew only.[/i]
let see.. you signed in as an indian..you signed out as sir david lane
your mother speak teochew @ the ripeful aged of 91?
wah! your pap gene demned powerful… eer on 2nd thoughts.. i thought baker is dead and buried..he is the last angmor in the former pap cabinetships ministers
[i]@sgcynic
Great! I look forward to seeing you step forward in the next General Elections and will consider you seriously. Propose a manifesto of plans that will excel as the best manifesto, even better than that of the PAP and I will vote for you and your political party. After all, the best candidate with the best manifesto deserves to be the next Government and I will give you an equal and fair chance to vote for you.
After all, that is what democracy is all about![/i]
what democracy are you harpin ere teochew kileng ch owangmor?
when your master leekuanyew still insist on holdin hands with 5 other MPs just to garner 1 vote..not onLEE for him..for his son and nephewS as well..
might as well add in laulee daughterinlaw and mrs harrylee you know the sleepin 1 in general hospital…
@anotheridiotBALAsuredsink
You are obnoxiously rude and disrespectful to an elder woman who is gravely sick. Where is your humanity? Or do you have a lacuna, a void in your brain
It is obvious that you have a callous, insensitive body and mind but no soul!
Hi T A Balasingam,
I read thru all the postings so far and all i have to say is that…
If you feel strongly that PAP has done a good job…
then go ahead and vote for them in the coming election if you get a chance to vote..
Like wise for those who disagreed with what TA Balasingam mentioned…
All points are valid to certain extent…
Just different perspective is all…
For me..
It is very simple..
Looking back in the past 10 years of my life as a native Singaporean Citizen..
Has my quality of life improved???
My answer is no and I support and agree with all who countered TA Balasingam points..
That does not mean I totally disagree with what TA Balasingam raised…
So my choice is pretty obvious..
I will vote PAP out..
And I seriously do not think they deserve the ultra high salary they receive…