By Dr Wong Wee Nam, Guest Contributor
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.
- Bob Dylan -
The young are the builders of tomorrow.
There was a time not very long ago when the young in Singapore were apathetic and too absorbed with material things and caring only about themselves. Indeed, many cared little for Singapore and quite a number, because they had the means, chose to migrate.
Who can blame them? For the last forty years a generation of Singaporeans has grown up in a stifling political climate. They have grown up on a staple diet fed by a controlled media and many aspects of their lives have been dictated by a lot of rules and regulations. They lived as if they were guests in a hotel and felt like children in a childcare centre supervised by a domineering nanny.
Who can blame them for lacking a sense of history?
Having a sense of history can only come from political awareness. For our young Singaporeans to be cohesive and be committed to the nation and to one another there must be space in this country to allow them to develop their political awareness and to imbue in them the spirit of participation in the affairs of the country.
If we want our post-independence generation to make Singapore a better home and increasingly take over responsibility for Singapore, then the political climate must be right. All our young people must be encouraged to think for themselves and to feel the responsibility of making this a better place. Not just the ones specially chosen and anointed to be the future leaders of Singapore.
Should such a state of affairs persist, our young people will continue to be apathetic towards the affairs of our country and Singapore will only become a hotel where its citizens and other immigrants will just stay to make money and hopefully retire elsewhere.
There is no doubt that the young people of Singapore want to be patriotic citizens, not hotel guests. There have said the Pledge in schools for years and the males have done their National Service. Thus they have every right to feel that they belong here. They have every right to want to have a say in the running of the country.
As more and more become educated and better informed through the Internet, these people are no longer easily swayed by one-sided views. Most are intelligent enough to see many sides of an argument and are able to come to their own conclusions.
The new generation no longer just want the right to elect a government; they also want the right to supervise them through discussions and feedback at every stage of the governing process.
This is not a bad thing. It is better than if the young of today are pre-occupied with materialistic things and not caring about Singapore’s survival. This was the situation few years ago and, together with the influx of new immigrants, it was cause for concern.
Not All Is Lost
Luckily for our country not all is lost. At the recent anniversary dinner organised by the Singapore Democratic Party, I met a lot of young people who gave me a glimmer of hope that Singapore still has a future.
The dinner was not the usual sort where boring speeches are made and where senior citizens form the majority. Instead there were plenty of youthful faces like that of Khalis, Priveen, Tian Jing and Jarrod. Some, including Kenneth, have yet to take their ‘O’–Levels. Goh Meng Seng, the young Secretary-General of the National Solidarity Party, could be considered an “old man” that night.
Tony and Justin from the Reform party were also there. Many years back I had breakfast with two senior administrative officers who they said that Singapore does not have alternative ideas because brilliant scholars who left the service were usually so fed-up with the system that they did not want to provide any alternative ideas. And many chose to migrate. It is, therefore, good to see Tony at the party because he and his wife are obviously not turning their backs on their country.
There was a lot of vibrancy and energy at the dinner party but this is not to say that the organisation of the function had not met with obstacles. Jaslyn Go, a young mother of two and the dynamo behind the anniversary celebration told me getting a place was the most difficult task. A reputable hotel had turned them down when they heard it was for a political party’s anniversary celebration, saying that they were fully-booked. Yet when a call was made later to ask if the place was available for a wedding they said it was.
This reminds of the time I contested the 1997 GE. I had a lawyer friend who was boasting to me how he would contest the elections if only his wife had allowed it. I thought surely a brave man like him would readily act as a commissioner of oath for my candidacy. When I approached him to engage his professional service, he declined citing something like “they” will come after him. For what? For practising his profession?
The spectre of fear is still hovering in 2010 as it was in 1997. It is, therefore, gratifying that there are still young people around who are free from fear.
The young people I met are not a bunch of fun-loving philistines. Neither do they seem to me a group of hot-headed radicals. They are idealists with sound views on social and political issues and their feet are firmly on the ground.
The outlook and the perception of the young may not be the same as that of the previous generation. It should not be. Circumstances are different and changing all the time. As they are the vanguard of the future, more and more must be encouraged to have the independence of judgement, the ability to think for themselves and the freedom to try out new ideas.
A stifling atmosphere will destroy idealism, the individual’s motivations and his hopes for the future and his love for the country. Paternalism, therefore, should no longer have a role in this new age. If we want a vibrant and innovative society, then our young people should not be treated like dependent children.
Fortunately the Internet has now allow the younger generation to circumvent the control of opinion by the government and the main stream media and give them the freedom to express their our opinions and expose them to more informed and balanced views
It is such freedom that has made our youth feel that there is a future and that they have a hand in moulding it.
It is such freedom that will help prepare our young people to anticipate and meet the rapid changes in this modern world.
It is a pity, however, that the electoral system at the moment discourages the young from standing for election. Many young people from the opposition parties are discouraged from standing because of the hefty deposit that they need to put up. On the other hand, the young people from the PAP need a coat-tail to hang on. Because of this, Singapore is probably the only country in the world where many Members of Parliament have yet to fight an election by themselves.
This is a pity because the rough and tumble of an electoral contest would be able to show up the good leaders from those who are unable to stand on their own feet.
If any electoral reform is needed, it is to allow the future candidates to contend with one another for the right to represent the people. It is only in a one-to-one contest that the voters will be able to scrutinise the candidates offered to them and separate the wheat from the chaff. It is such a contest that will throw up strong leaders that will guide Singapore through the turbulent seas that lie ahead. It is only through the shouts and noises of an election that the voices of the common people can be heard.
President Roosevelt once said, “To conserve worthy institutions, one must adapt to changing times.”
Is Singapore worth conserving? From the youths that I met at the party, they seem to think so.
Yes, the times are a-changing.
___________________________________
Canada do not have any deficit. Quoting the USA is a bad example of a welfare state for a number of reasons.
1) USA is trying to maintain an empire and it have a huge miltary budget.
2) The country is huge, very huge, with alot of infrastures yet to be build while Singapore is tiny and small. No real expenses there.
3) Sg have no natural disasters while the USA have.
4) USA have to maintain several governing bodies in the world like the UN, IMF, WTO, NATO.
5) Having a deficit does not make the USA a poor country. It is still the richest country in the world with the highest technology. Try matching that!
I am sick and tired of hearing comments about this Brotherhood, this figment of the imagination, hijacking many threads I have frequented online, and wasting so much forum space!
5 cents worth of opinion:
I am in agreement with you and would like to hear more from the fence sitters of the early generation.
The current system put in place by the govt. is quite sound and the civil service running it is well equipped and highly qualified I must admit.
Without a check and balance, the govt. with the ever presence of LKY leave no room for a proper debate or discussion.(FEAR FACTOR AMONG THE MPS AND MINISTERS???)
Without doubt,credit goes to LKY’s leadership for guiding Singapore to what it is today and without doubt he failed to see that the Singapore he built with its people are no longer the same.
The 59-65 generation of Sinkehs,Thambies,Peons,Hippies and Beatniks have given way to a totally new generation of well educated who are outspoken and more demanding though without the same spirit of survival as their parents and grandpas. Today’s AGE is totally different from AGE of FIGHTING SPIDERS
MM,SM and the old dinosaurs should just leave and allow the younger minsters to tackle the new frontier of which I am sure given a chance are able to prove their mettle.(with a worthy opposition in place for check & balance)
The time for spoon feeding and threats no longer works and the only spoon feeding needed are the elderly poor, sick and less fortunate.
I am sure with the hefty sums these elderly minister had earned and stashed together with the BILLIONS in GIC, help should be given to the early generation that sacrifice and made Singapore what it is today.
There are not much of them around and it need not be a PRECEDENT as the young are well equipped and talented enough to march Singapore forward without these tight fisted rules which are way past its expiry date.
Why repeatedly mention that we are a MIGRANT SOCIETY when the generation of migrants and their children HAD NOT ENJOYED FULLY the fruits of their hard work and BINGO you bring in another WAVE and claim that we are a migrant society.(THE ELITES ARE WELL OFF BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE ORDINARY???)
JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER….(MPs & MINISTERS) not all from that generation of 59-65 are as brilliant and scholarly as the ELITES in fact I dare say 80% are ordinary but answered to the call of fighting and building a Singapore for themselves and their children.
“MAJULAH!!! FORWARD!!! SINGAPORE????
Under 500, I’ll keep that in mind.
Now sidetracking a little, let’s about the U.S economy. From what I’ve been seeing they’ve been taking important baby steps to solve their budget deficit. Something I believe people should be proud of their congress for. They knock each other out to protect their believes and open their ideas and plans for all to see. From what I know, and think, the U.S will probably see their debt going higher and higher for the next few years, we all know it’s a horrible thing to see, especially for investors. But from what I hear, at least the country is still fighting the debt.
The current administration (Obama) seems to be doing whatever they can, I find that acceptable simply because they’re at least, and I mean in the least, trying to solve problems of the people, something which I expect from any proper first world government. Yes they’re spending money of the future, that looks bad, really bad…but from what I’ve known the generation before emptied their own coffers and didn’t do anything about it. This current one, however, is doing something to first help the people, then have the entire country claw back whatever it has spent. It’ll be a long ride (And Fox News ain’t helping), and there’s full of other troubles ahead, but I see them try, and it’s all good effort in my eyes.
Now back to Singapore. And let’s talk about PAP. Now I don’t see them trying, no, not trying at all. All I see is excuses, and more excuses whenever problems crops up. And when problems do come they pat themselves on the back for it. GIC, Temesak and Town Council funds (And also the sale of PUB) are great bad examples. I didn’t see such money spent on helping the people. Was so much many spent on helping the people of Singapore that we had to dig into our reserves, privatize our Electricity, raise the age for CPF and other rising costs of everything, including GST?
Instead of hearing lesser sob stories, I get to see them personally the past years, with relatives losing their homes, cut electricity, seeing homeless in the beaches. Was I suppose to see this when people had the ability to lose billions of dollars in bad investments, yet no heads rolled, and excuses were given instead? Was I suppose to hear excuses that says things were inevitable when Public transport gets more and more crowded, living costs increase crazily while people’s salary gets lesser and lesser? YES I mean lesser, and lesser, when compared to ten years ago. NO I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS STAGNANT AT ALL, my friends didn’t get all that qualification to work for lesser than his parents in a similar sort of position.
I’m NOT supposed to hear excuses, NOT supposed to hear talks about food museums and FROGS in parliaments. I’m supposed to hear about Solutions and Ideas to solve the current problems we, the people, face. Do I hear those things? No I don’t.
My own way of doing things, seriously, is to replace cogs and parts of a machinery when it doesn’t work. The current one isn’t working, not at all. I enjoy putting risks in lots of things, and changing new parts is more interesting to me than to oil and fix old ones which will continue to give the same old nonsense after a short while. Of course the new parts I get will be put to test, and if they don’t work they get chucked away again.
Interestingly, the new parts, hopefully, will automatically make themselves cost lesser than the current one.
Which reminds me, something that I had not mentioned in my previous post. Singaporeans did not face spending problems like the Americans did. In fact we were more thrifty than we ever should be, excluding the CPF. So how did we ended up spending even more budget each year, and coming up with new interesting budges for foreign integration and being Cheaper, Better and Faster when we were already mostly working properly, albeit lazy about going the extra mile (something I agree with). Which also, according to the government, we would have had really negative results of productivity had we not brought in so many ‘Talents’.
Note: I’ve heard from a friend that a PR colleague of his became a PR under the title of ‘IT Engineer’ when in truth that person did nothing more than fix paper jams and restart computers. We have absolutely no idea how he became a Foreign ‘Talent’, and was allowed to become a PR with a basic pay of SGD 1.2k.
Perhaps I should go read up on immigration policies of Singapore. It seems to be interesting read.
Mr Lim Swee, Secretary-General of NTUC, was attributed in a Channel News Asia report on 15 Oct 2009 where “The labour movement, NTUC, will be working towards helping put on track a “Cheaper, Better, Faster (CBF)” economy in the next two years. See URL
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1011584/1/.html
He said these words above at the recent NTUC Ordinary Delegates’ Conference.
I came across this new “fresh innovative thinking” report today “THE Most Important Chart of the CENTURY ” in:
http://fedupusa.org/2010/03/20/the-most-important-chart-of-the-century/
In short, this chart tries to explain how Productivity should be measured to assess the health of the American economy today. It is an innovative initiative which could render obsolete and no longer relevant Keynesian economics and Milton Friedman economics – the 2 great macroeconomic theories which Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank and Tim Geithner, current US Treasury Secretary of the Pres Obama administration, are employing, in futility, to solve the major, grave and grim situation of the American economy.
Dear Lim Swee Say - Please stop using classical Economic theory to solve Singapore problems like “ ”Cheaper, Better, Faster (CBF)” economy”.
Our workers are already at the zenith of their working capability. They are exhausted physically, mentally and motivationally! I believe you are familiar with Mathematics (because I understand that you studied Engineering in university).
Please see this above chart with all your economic advisers to measure Productivity today and re-construct a new innovative productivity operational plan (replacing your ”Cheaper, Better, Faster (CBF)” economy”) for the Singapore workers and economy. If you have difficulty to do so, please resign and let some enterprising “hands on, can do” economics-educated leader succeed you.
After watching Lim SweeeSay on tv with the statement of how happy and rich he is after reading his CPF statement. Saying hopefully the money will still be there and correcting himself tells me that he is the most idiotic if not an idiot with no Par in Parliament.
@ Balasingam:
I saw the chart, understood his reasons, but I couldn’t find the solution in the link they offered. What exactly did they propose that could allow a world’s economic powerhouse to save themselves from debt? And in which I also remind you that I take that read with a pinch of salt, because I have no assurance behind a theory that compares the economy of Iceland to USA when there are many more factors involved. (Though I also acknowledge the fact that the money is flowing straight back to the banks.)
What exactly was the solution offered, I am very curious.
PeterC: I think the younger working generation of Singaporeans are looking for a sense of security, belonging and advantage in this tiny island. Or at least I together with a few of my friends are. There is no way we are able to afford a home with prices soaring so ridiculously. Where foreigners are ever so readily able to buy up units of homes as investments. I would like to see some control over that, even in the private homes market. With regards to jobs, Singapore is a haven for big MNCs to abuse. Our workers are all contracted and can be easily fired with no back lash. I would like to see more pro workers bill being passed. Without a secured job and affordable home, how can the current working generation ever feel a sense of belonging?
As a citizen, I am not even certain of my advantages over others. How so? My talents here are not appreciated when a foreign talent can bullcrap their way through for a much bigger slice of the pie. (Not all foreign talents are like that, but a large majority are) Foreign talents are taking advantage of the current situation to cash in. Heck! they earn s’pore dollars and spend it back in their country. So how they are benefiting us I do not exactly know except for shear market size when you measure it to GDP. So, as a born bred Singaporean, I stand to gain no outstanding advantage over others and yet I am readily available for others to exploit on. How does that make one feels? Ultimately, if this is a migrant society, then you will see pple just coming and going because obviously no one truly belongs here. This is no longer a home, but just a phase.
P.S: NZ is looking for immigrants, I am scooping it out to see job potential and the possibilities of starting a home there. Together with my wife, our CPF money have enough to buy a 5 room house that will be ours forever, overlooking a beautiful lake. As for the politicians there? Who cares, I am not even well taken care of here, what’s the difference.
And also to add, what I say does not necessarily mean I agree with the plans of the Obama administration. All I say is that I acknowledge the fact they’re trying to solve problems, unlike our creative little frogs. The time bomb you speak of is ticking for sure, since this past one year they kinda spent more than whatever the previous generations had done. It was really interesting reading the comments and arguments of both sides of the line.
Supposedly, many people in America is ready to go to Washington and start decorating lampposts, if you get what I mean. Hahahahahahahahahahaha, and thanks for the read, do tell LSS he should go back to his well.
Productivity,Teamy the Bee and cheaper, faster and better ALL HYPE and no substance the STARK TRUTH is clear for all to see. We are not in a healthy position as a PEOPLE and NATION and it can only get worse. I can’t seem to walk a distance of 10 metres without running into a FT/FW, where are my fellow Singaporeans????
What we need is a team any team with Singapore and its people in mind,Shit!! pardon me, we are only a little red dot with a population of 1.2 million back in the sixties although poor and backwards we were happy and carefree.I mentioned in an earlier post that during the Asian flu, Jabs/Inoculation were given F.O.C. Today,1st world BEST in almost everything and we can’t give free H1N1/H1N5 Tamiflu jabs which are due for expiry.
What in GOD’S name is WRONG or where has it gone WRONG.We need a change,a drastic change of people that needs money but not WORSHIP it to such an extend that they have forgotten that this a NATION/COUNTRY and not a CORPORATION.
HEADS will ROLL if this is a CORPORATION but NOooooooo!!! they are still collecting their MILLIONS and will be rewarded with more for saving on TAMIFLU and bringing in the cheap FT/FW to do it cheaper,faster and better.
We are not asking for a return to the FIGHTING SPIDER DAYS but DAMNIT are we better now than we were before????
I am not politically aligned to any parties but definitely A TRUE BLUE SINGAPOREAN MISSING MY COUNTRY AND WHAT IT ONCE WAS.
5 cents@26.3.2010 14:53
Dear Sir,
Your post left me with a lump on my throat as it was sincerely written from the heart. I am from the pre 65 generation and I have a daughter now working overseas but finding it difficult to cope and longs to come home but to WHAT??? This is no longer a home but a Cosmopolitan Corporation for just a phase as you wrote with no SOUL.
I must admit that I have no solution to what is happening to our NATION if you can call it one and my heart bleeds for those in your predicament and worse still the poor elderly less fortunate with nowhere to go but to await the final call to leave this world.
The govt. and its ELITES are laughing to the Bank with our citizens may it be the pre,post 65 and current generation in LIMBO.
Sir, sad as I am to see my fellow born bred citizens leaving, you have my blessings and DON’T they the hypocrites EVER DARE call you your wife and friends QUITTERS.
Hi PeterC,
Thanks for the support, I re-read my post and realized the substantial amount of grammatical errors. hehe Glad that you managed to interpret the badly written passage. Anyways, as you had put it, there is really nothing much we can do. Even, if we do manage to purchase a flat, how the hell are we able to afford retirement here? Oh yes if we do leave, we are quitters, quitters that can’t tolerate the way things are going and quitters to taking up a huge bank loan with inadequate salaries.
The current administration ask, why aren’t we having kids, my answer is, how can we afford to have kids. I am actually afraid that if I do have kids, what if I loose my job? What will happen to my kids? There is no minimum wage laws here, that means, MNCs decides our worth. Of course, they are here to exploit, if that is not the answer, why don’t I see any pension funds? I know of this woman, who worked her heart out for a corporation, but the moment she contracted cancer, they asked her to leave. She wasn’t remunerated at all except for her annual leave and she has been with the company for 25 years. This would have been a big protest out in the streets in any other first world society, the company’s insurance would have covered her. But not here. I just can’t believe that we pay this current administration so much money in order for them to give us up to the wolves for exploitation. O yes, that’s right, this is the only way we can remain competitive in this world. Ok, I would like to see you follow the same salary bracket and incentives. See if you will continue to be our politician.
The people have to decide what is the right thing for the nation, not a few good men sitting around the table. The people sitting around the table, comes up with solutions for problems. The people decide. That will be the best solution. Since we do not have a worthy group of opposition.
@ PeterC
Mar 26, 2010 20:13
Be courageous. Believe in yourself! We make the future!
I belong, like you, to the pre 65 generation.
My 2 children also studied overseas. They were earning good money and had a great lifestyle overseas. But they returned to Singapore. Why? They said that they are Singaporeans and. if they, the native-born Singaporeans, do not continue to build the Singapore Story, who will?
Do not worry. There are countless young native-born Singaporeans who have come back and in their quiet ways they are building a new, different and enterprising Singapore.
I know two of them who were working in the World Bank in New York earning very big bucks! They returned and took jobs that paid them one-quarter of what they were earning in New York. They are not afraid of the “foreign talents”. And they are beating them. In their work places they “boss” the “foreign talents”. These returnee Singaporeans came back because they want their parents, our pre-65 generation to continue living with dignity.
What can we, the pre-65 generation, do for ourselves? We have to look after ourselves and each other. Do a little good deed daily to one of our kind. When I see a pre-65 generationer in a coffee shop, I share my meal or coffee/tea with him. When we say goodbye, I press a Singapore currency note in their palm. I am not rich but my needs are few, so I just share whatever I have.
Have faith in our young people. They will not let us or Singapore down! They are not like their vocal minority peers who can only rant that “life is better overseas and I want to migrate.” but still do nothing to help themselves.
God Bless our Singapore and our brother and sister Singaporeans!
T A Balasingam:
Good day, I can’t help but see how your comments were indirectly pointing at one of my previous post. Not about to start any debates with you. Just wanted you to know that there are also other facets to the dice.
If your children or the two others who used to work in the world bank wish to step up and lead the new generation of Singapore. I think quite a few of us would be glad to support. When they or any others are ready to take the step and make the stand. Singaporeans all over will be ready to stand with them, if they do indeed have a good solution to all the current problems. I for one will not be supporting any oppositions only just because… I sit on the fence neutral
America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc… Whatever the country, I assure you that the idea that “Life is better overseas” is not just a rant. Obviously it must be true for whomever who makes that statement, for he/she must have had an experience that allow such expressions. I for one is guilty of such statements, I have lived overseas for almost 8 years and I can clearly say that life is indeed much better. But I returned for my parents and their ill health. If you want to understand why it is better, here are some reasons:
Housing is cheaper – pay off my loan much faster and can save for retirement much faster
Housing is yours forever – something to leave behind for the kids ( freehold is expensive here)
Better working culture – people do real work during working hours and go home at 6 when it’s time to leave (pple in SG pretend to work late to look like they are working hard and work is not performed efficiently. This however is not standard practice, but practiced at alot of places. Furthermore, bosses expect workers to stay late and do work, how to start a family? i don’t know!)
Better lifestyle – Work might be everything for some people, but not everything to everyone. Before you know it, life passes you by, don’t we all have dreams at one point in time. Do we have the time to pursue it? In Singapore it will be difficult to have the opportunity, especially with cheaper better faster. There are other things pple want in life, work might not be it.
Human Rights – This is absolutely important! Why should I put my future in a place that can’t even give me the least humanly rights?
Mr Balasingam, the world as how we understand it, is changing. Rapidly too. The answer to our problems in Singapore is not, the oppositions. They too will have flaws and in time will be seduced by capitalism when they are put in power. The problem is greater than just this tiny red dot. The problem is global. The problem is ideology, the problem is this piece of paper that we are all so obsess with. It’s a piece of paper, one decent size tree trunk can make a “billion” pieces of it. The worth of this piece of paper, is as much as you want it to be or as little as you think it is. While the banks are printing these notes and inflating the cost of living. We all become slaves, this is modern slavery. This ideology has to change, or it will eventually self correct. Human progression is at a halt because of it. The world is much smaller now, I consider myself a global citizen if you may. The internet is closing the gap and it is brilliant.
Let the people decide upon their future, especially the young who would decide to vote LKY PAP out or otherwise.
They are our only hope for the future and not LKY PAP.
Many pre 65 generation are non political aware or just plain idiot.
HOPE,I agreed with you.On top of that money politics will also come into place two weeks or so before the GE like the GST credit to win the heart and soul espec ially the poor folks and the haywire first timer who goes to the polling station.PAPPY’s strategy can be easily read by those who really thirst for real democracy.What they give take it,but vote for the opposition for changes which really and undisputed need to be change.
Bala everything u have said here has to be seen in against the stark light of your previous statement in another entry here.
They……deserved th be treated like #### and flushed down the sewer
you opinion derserves the same
Bala just bc u have two sons who can came back doesn’t mean others will take the type of abuse u or the name and shame brigade doles out. Don’t be surprised if they too believe you a d your kind and what little values u stand for derserves to be flushed down the sewers. Notice no one wants to talk to u Bala. Guess why?
“Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers. ”They” are no example for we Singaporeans to take heed of or emulate.”
You may not know this ppl Bala. You say something like this it is like throwing a pigs head into a mosque or holding out a Kris to make a point to the Chinese. Or serving a devote Hindu steak. You do this and your power to influence and persuade drops to nil. Instead of gaining a friend you make an enemy.All bc u cannot keep your ego in check.
Dear all,
There is no wisdom in pitching our case too vigorously. If this continues people will begin to ask why are we so quick to take offence? Why are we so intolerant of criticism? Why are we so quick to hit back? Why do we give people ultimatums wherever we seem to go?
We all have our respective principalities; I for one do not go to the Zarahustra, Phi Beta Kappa or Ekunaba forums or ten or twenty other forums where there may be other liaison officers behave like the Mafia, so why do some of you disrespect me and many others here?
Perhaps the Interspacing Metal Exchange has forgotten that I bear letters and credentials signed directly by the Council of the Wise and ratified by the four houses?
Perhaps the IME has forgotten who funds their projects? Perhaps the the IME has even forgotten where is the line where they should stand and never cross? Don’t come down here and issue threats. Understand this: we are strong because we move as one unit.
As for Balasingam, he is free to say what he wants here. Please go ahead Balasingam and give it your best hit. Do accept my sincere apology. The final arbiters will always be the readers and NEVER us!
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the Brotherhood – sponsored by the IMG)
We were once happy retirees in the heartlands with our families and recalling our happy kampong days.Not anymore,we hear sadness owing to rising cost with no rising pay to match,poor unable to cope,rude foreigners crowding our space with their ways which is still alien to some of us and it has nothing to do with race or religion.
Whining???complaining??? how would you feel when strangers are made more welcome and millions are spent to assimilate them and our less fortunate having to face a sad and dim future.
Some are ok and so so but most are here grudgingly knowing that if they don’t make the grade or money woe to their families back home and woe to those around them may it be employers or others.
What is the govt. doing about it except to make silly statements from time to time through some silly MPs and idiotic ministers.
We need solutions to our current man made misfortunes and dilemma,we the people may not have the solutions but the Cabinet with their millions tag to private Corp. should deliver if not have the decency to step down or resign and Singapore may still have a HOPE. If not lets hope a wind of change take place soon.
I totally disagree that our political climate is stifling. Having travelled extensively and a good portion of it to third world countries, I have come to admire the Government of Singapore for the positive contribution that it has made. I am happy. Can I be happier? Of course.
I do agree with the arguement that ministers salaries are too high and they are not very productive. They are efficient at escalating cost due to bureaucratic policies. For example to change a HDB grill cost about $800 but the compulsory engineering consultancy fees will cost $3-$4000.
But compared to the region they are quite good. Having amassed a large reserve and loosing a large part of it too. We should consider ourselves lucky to have lucky problems i.e. high minister salaries, too many ministers, quarrelling over reserves etc
Will Singapore be around? It depends on us. Even Ionescu the Romanian diplomat was tempted to use the line touted by many bloggers and opposition politicians that Singapore Judiciary is bull shit. So we shoot ourselves in the feet or mouth.
Having been living and working in UK for past 8 years, still a Singaporean and never have any intension to be a UK citizen even I can apply at any time, the reason is simple, I love this country which I called home! And my eldest son is due for NS in 2 years time and he will be back for sure.
I travel quite extensively due to the nature of my work, therefore can understand what Thinktok has trying to advocate. Nonetheless, to compare other 3rd world countries to a first world country like Singapore, in my personal opinion, is like comparing an apple to a pear. Look at other developed countries which handle their reserves with accountability and transparency; you will not see ministers fighting over how to share the reserves among themselves!
Why do you need such high pay ministers if you have opposition (Cheaper, faster and more efficient too) to scrutinize these ministers, check and balance are important here, and if the government is not doing a so called self-regulate itself, what we need now in Singapore are: accountability and transparency, the ministers with more human touch (not just talk, as talk is cheap); not aim for GNP figure solely and allow the influx of foreigners without giving thoughts to the consequences i.e. the depression of wages and productivity for man in the street; provide an affordable living to the 75% population and not just thinking of making money from the citizens; to allow the growth of Singapore identity and nurture local talents with a mind to embrace the world’s talents too.
I love this country and in my personal opinion there is a future in Singapore as long as we get the right candidates to run for the office, not a bunch of intelligence elites (they can be consultants but not those to make decision) without human touch, having said that I know it is easily says than done, nonetheless, at the end of the day, how do we know if we do not try to elect a new government and let them try running the country and giving all Singaporean the Swiss standard we have been promised 10 years ago.
SG inUK @
contributing positively all the way from UK makes you a true blue Singaporean. I share your sentiments and thoughts and believed we would have achieved a Swiss Standard had LKY & Son not open the floodgates, ignoring the sacrifices of Singaporeans who gave everything for their Nation and be tossed aside in favor of FTs & FWs.
It puzzles me that Goh during his term aspire the Swiss Standard and now blatantly stand aside knowing his years of achievement are being destroyed by Father & Son. Is it the Position of SM with the million dollar SALARY for doing nothing the reason?
He dug in his heels during his term when LKY slam him but today he is no better than LKY if not WORSE for being a turncoat to his people.
They say corruption destroys a country and leaves the people in destitute. Can we say the same about attracting elites to join in a their establishment by paying millions of dollars, and offering footsoldiers their way to fame, power and money for their support?
Look at whats happened to some of the incredibly resource rich 3rd world countries. The corrupted politicians offer international MNCs to go dig out their resources (oil, diamond, gold, etc) for the politicians own gain and the citizens got absolutley nothing except meagre paid labourious jobs. The only difference is their fellow citizens will not tell them to ‘be thankful’ for the jobs, food to eat and roof over their heads.
Agongkia and allies… one of the (many) tools that the PAP have mastered to divide and rule Singapore is by defining and building near-impenetrable walls between groups of people. Over half a century after most of the world figured out how stupid it was, race counts here, more than anything else. Your race determines what language you speak, who your friends are, whether you can even strike up conversations with people you may meet in the street. Granted, it’s “better” in some ways with the “Speak Mandarin” campaign… or it was until dialect became Officially Fashionable again. By keeping Singaporeans divided, and by maintaining one of the most rigid top-down societies on the planet (with the likely exception of North Korea), people who care NOTHING about you or your community are living the Gilded Life with all of our money. And every time someone tries to build a bridge from one group to another, he’s slammed down for having an ang moh name. If I had $10 for every time someone has called me an ang moh kwee here over the last 30 years, I could buy LKY and LHL, and have enough left over for an Esplanade or six. So long as people are willing to define someone by what he is rather than who he is, we will never be free. And we deserve not to be.
People say that Singaporean democracy will have been restored when we vote the PAP mercenaries out. Those people haven’t really paid attention to history: PAP themselves started out as an opposition party with credible plans to put their name into policy. We all know what happened after that. No, the true test of a restored democracy will be when first, another party or parties form the new Government and later, necessarily, they are voted out in favour of someone else. Look at the KMT in Taiwan; they’re a very different bunch of people now than when their own version of LKY was running the show. If they can do it, why can’t we?
There is no doubt in my mind that within the system there are THOSE that share and empathize with the unhappy population’s plight, Ministers & MPs included. Alas!!! their hands are tight or they are vying for time.Hopefully that should be the case and Singapore will survive this dark period and have a RENAISSANCE soon.
Ah! the Renaissance period! What happened then? Science! Seekers who seeks to understand the truth! The period of great debates over religion and science. For this period to come about, there needs to be a collective of thoughts that move and breath together. I doubt we are there yet, but then again I am skeptical fool. I don’t care who wins, I just hope that this person spare a thought or two for the people. For it is the people that makes a place, not a few good men.
That is the problem, to have a collective thought to move in tandem for the good of the people.
50 years ago a handful of unselfish people with a collective thought move a whole Nation to what it is today and yet we have today, elderly sick looking forward to death,leaping towards moving trains or high buildings to solve their problems in this supposedly Utopian society or a country with Swiss standard of living
What Happened???Why did it Happened??? and How did it Happened??? I do not have the answer,I hope Somewhere,Somehow and Someone will provide an answer.
What happened? I think it is rather obvious ain’t it? Greed! Control! Legacy! Am I just being a simpleton? Ask yourself one question, after proving that you have all the power, all the money, what else? You want a legacy!
But hey, I am skeptical. These days despite technology that can collectively communicate with a large group of pple, it is the pple that doesn’t want to come together. Why? too much securities, too much to sacrifice, too much to fear, I can be wiped out…. There is a behavior amongst Singaporeans that has been fostered since young, Selfishness. Care for yourself before others, this very thought of survival as an individual go against surviving as a pack. Since young, parents have encouraged this selfish individual thought. So naturally, like any butterfly effect, something has to give.
Future anyone got.
Its just whether it is a good one or lousy one.
Would it be More Expensive when salaries had been stagnated for years?
Would it more Pressure Cooker? Would it stifle the sugar cane? the kid’s pyschological health?
Would it be more Quality Of LIFE when everywhere is more packed and jammed? people fart how? in a congested place?
Will there be more human to human Communicated Disease infection including things like Flu, TB and any other diseases when more influx or visit? Would a tourist who did not declare he got TB be allowed to come into singapore and spread some before he fly away or on transit or visit computer shows where air is circulated around and people are so close to one another we can smell a stranger’s breadth? No? can you prove it beyond reasonable doubt?
The Future of the Minority , in a way , is held in the hands of the Majority where in a democracy, the mandate is given by the Majority in terms of politics , policities and parties.
thinktok
Apr 1, 2010 12:59
Will Singapore be around? It depends on us. Even Ionescu the Romanian diplomat was tempted to use the line touted by many bloggers and opposition politicians that Singapore Judiciary is bull shit. So we shoot ourselves in the feet or mouth.
we? you meant wongcan’tsink worked for the opposition party or workin for us the peasants? so who is actualLEE shootin ourselves ?
you har biggest ball carriers here alway blamin complainCENTS on the peasants when it your MASTER the pap a s shole been repeatin all the mistakes over and over again…
as though we the peasants let the romainian tranvette leaved the country with our blessin!