The following is a letter from a lady in her early twenties.
Hello,
I was reading about the YOG. I’m not a well-read person of the newspapers. And I knew that YOG has exceeded their budget but didn’t know that it was a staggering $387 million.
Is it possible to ask the government if they have plans to lower education fees for locals if they could easily host such an international event generously but yet to provide our own people with cheaper education?
Lets say another way than just taking up bank loans and scholarships. Shouldn’t they solve issues within the country first than jumping at other opportunities that don’t really benefit the majority of the nation?
I know this might not be an issue of the government but I’m sure it is an issue to Singaporeans who are not very well-to-do.
The government might have overlooked that there are still many who are trying hard to survive in this country although being born and bred here.
They represent us but they know nothing about us. It’s such a pity.
I was just wondering if they actually cared.
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
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get out of my “elite uncaring face”.
Lamentably, our Govt always say Singaporeans matter first, but in practice only paying lip service.
Pride to be the first, image and GDP increase are at the top rung, other concerns second or worst of all do not matter at all.
The constant increase in costs of living, and the difficulty of getting jobs by older PMETs to be set aside, YOG, FI matter now.
Claim to represent us in Parliament, but do not know us, or pretend not to know us, which is which.
Sure, they care enough to make sure you are well trained for the workplace and productivity to generate the (taxes)funds for themselves, their cronies and relatives to live the Imperial Life.
The gov loses a lot of money overseas and in its investment, the only way is for them to continue to plunder and milk its own cows/sheeps. They wont spend a penny more to subside education, they rather use money to increase their pay.
I believe the PAP means it when Lim Swee Say said it before that they are death.
So it is true they know nothing about us.
It is time for ordinary singaporeans to Be Smart, which is to vote for opposition
or Be Smarter, which is take their goodies, promise to vote for them but of course do otherwise by voting opposition
or Be Smartest, which is take their goodies, promise to vote for them but of course do otherwise by asking 10 other citizens to vote for opposition
I see that Singapore today is the result of the 45 years of ruling by the PAP government. PAP is the government as a result of the way majority people vote. The system here has been abused by the people in power to make it difficult for ordinary people to have a say in things. We have cowardly sacrificed our rights to so-called security, stability, economic benefits. We have also lost our souls in life. If you are not happy with the way it is, do something to change it, for example:
1. leave the country
2. vote for alternative party
3. promote political awareness to friends and family to help them vote with their eyes open
4. join the alternative party
popcorn said “..Lamentably, our Govt always say Singaporeans matter first, but in practice only paying lip service…”
my friend see what they do and not what they say. For example, they keep saying that Chinese language is getting more and more important but they wanted to reduce the weightage of the chinese language.
They are always contradicting what they say with what they do. Another another, they keep saying that singaporeans come first but they always tekan singaporeans first.
those 66.6% that voted them are real jokers right?
they don’t represent us.
I’m just waiting for the inevitable sad day when one of them makes a famous “Let them eat cake” kinda statement…
They represent us but they know nothing about us. It’s such a pity. I was just wondering if they actually cared.
Hmmmmm……. will love and care help to grow the GDP?????
We are all digits. I wonder who said that. “digits”
For a S$30 increase in social welfare payouts, it takes the whole parliament to sit and debate.
For overspending on YOG, what were the checks and balance?
Citizens of Singapore – WAKE UP!
Young people, if you care about your future in Singapore, make sure you actually have two equally strong political parties to serve you.
The PAP now controls about 98% of the parliament. They can do anything they want because Singaporeans have given them the power.
For the coming election, just vote any opposition member into parliament because the PAP is sure to get at least 55% of the votes.
We need change.
We need to put people in parliament who will look after the interests of Singaporeans.
We need more alternative voices in parliament.
@The S S,
You are absolutely right!
Where is the check and balance?
What do u guys know?
All we singaporeans know is to complain and say the government are not doing any good. Do u all know how it’s like in other countries? Have u all wondered why we are the third richest country but yet our standard of living is only half of that in Europe and US?
Which government in the world does not make mistake? Albeit the failed investments, WE SEE GROWTH IN OUR ANNUAL BUDGET.
This is something the big countries like UK and US have not seen for years.
why do we need more alternative voices in Parliament? this is colonial govt?
more alternatice voices is good but will the voices be just that- voices only?
if 66% of PAP votes = 98% of PAP MPs in Parliament last election, can 66% of alternative parties votes = 98% (alternative party) MPs in Parliament?
hmmm….
From the way this letter is written, this young lady should be VERY concerned about the availability and quality of education.
Of course, point well taken, they really do not represent us in many many ways.
Well said and asked, they were white then but now turned black.
They were once upon a time good and caring, it was so then it isn’t so now.
Do something, dun just complain!
Indeed we now doubt the objectives of the present government. We do not have difficulty to see immediately that the actions of the present government is to deceive the world that sinkapor is a disciplined, rich, developed country. Yet beneath this are very unhappy people who are suppressed.
It is clear that the present government so call providing social service not for the welfare of the people but for the tick stack of money they get for holding a MP post. The people of sinkapor are merely digits and statistics, and oblects that help spin money.
The issue is they think and have convinced themselves that they truly represent us.
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They think and have convinced themselves that they should get the highest salary in the world.
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They think and have convinced themselves that every screw-up is an act of God, that they on their part had done the ultimate best-est and no amount of engineering will fix any issues completely.
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They think and have convinced themselves that they are the best talents in the universe.
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They think and have convinced themselves $30 increase for the needy is a VERY, VERY BIG sum, but $387,000,000 for a kid event is small change.
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With so much important thinking, why should they even bother what WE, the people, actually think?
It is this YOG that we even more see our social leaders as hypocrites , only assuming false appearance of virtue or sincerity.
theforgottongeneration: “With so much important thinking, why should they even bother what WE, the people, actually think?”
The PAP’s policies are 90% self-serving.
All the PAP MPs are the worker ants of LKY. He holds the power over them, but rewards them very, very richly.
The ideal situation would be having the PAP voted out. Singapore’s best hope is in her young people.
In a sense, the forgotten-generation deserves what they are getting from the PAP because it is they who have given the PAP absolute power.
I am not bias against those talent from China but I cannot help thinking that why government feel proud importing them into Singapore just to score few medals and why is it so important they must do so? What is the economic value in the sense that most of them are here for money and not for long term stay. Worst, wherever I go, I hear people mocking and make sarcrastic comments about these china people(athletics). Some of my relatives from malaysia has been mocking us since the last Olympic game where the ENTIRE singapore teams are almost imported from china. Where is the pride of doing that?
Excuse me, we actually care!
Our million dollars pay, we will definitely increase our pay this year to more millions as the economic growth is the world best.
Who care about you voters? Without us you don’t have all the best things in Singapore.
If by now a Singaporean fails to wise up and still believe that his interests over-rides the government’s priorities, then they are living in a fool’s garden. With recent hikes in services, the inflation rate has increased by 3.1% in July this year. The basic needs of the citizens like housing, employment, transport and food have all been increasing year to year without fail. Yet the take home pay remains practically unchanged, plus the ever increasing numbers of foreigners and new citizens to share Singaporeans wealth upon which was build by the sweat and tears of past generations. Get off your seat and do something about it for your own sake and the sake of all Singaporeans and those coming generations. Do this before we get overwhelmed by more new citizens and we be hapless and can only bark with no bite.
This government can change the constitution as and when the please. People need to realize just how significant that is. On top of that, they can select the President that we the people are supposed to have elected; Another very significant thing that people in Singapore need to wake up to.
The PAP plays with election rules and boundaries, disqualifying opposition candidates at their whim. They import in voters, etc…
Singaporeans need to realize that this is already the final hour to do something other than sit behind a keyboard and bitch, then vote in the PAP again.
Reclaim Singapore.
@ It’s the final hour already
i totally agree with you.
don’t sit behind the keyboard and bitch. singaporeans are good in it. time for them to change then the change for the country will come. or else long life PAP again!!
singaporeans are still voting for PAP so this si what you will get. it is not the system to be correct or to voice up to the PAP and government to improve the system and help us, they will never ever listen to you. their words is their words!
the only thing singaporeans can do now is VOTE them OUT!!
Very well said. PAP just couldn’t care less for the majority of the people.
Guys, please take note, if eventually Singapore is going to lose money out of this first ever YOG, why the hell would all other capable countries on the planet are desperately bidding to host those important international events??? And what is 400m comparing to the 230b pounds that is budgeted for London’s 2012 Olympic games…
The reason is simple. These costs are just trivial considering the benefits that Singapore is going to reap from hosting YOG. First is the intangible benefits of great branding, as the games got broad-casted all over the world Singapore is enjoying unparalleled yet free advertisements. The future economic benefits coming into Singapore, in forms of increased foreign investments and number of tourists will be counted in billions.
After all, our government is a group of world class investment elites.
last year recession..
utilities raised up
medical have to means testing to reduce subsidy
Town council fees go up
Employers paid to top up our CPF if they loose money..
now transport fees go up…
so tell me where u n i got one dollar extra to ride out the recession?
Once upon a time they represented us, but for many years now it’s all been about how much money they can make out of us and others and spending the bare necessary to keep the country apparently moving forward.
The fact that for a Country of our size we have the 10th largest foreign exchange reserves and 6th largest Sovereign wealth fund in the world… pretty much says it all.
Sure, we need it for a rainy day, and no natural resources to count on, but more than the US, Canada, UK, Germany, etc?…
Like a Company that doesn’t invest it’s some of it’s profits back into it’s operations, sooner or later something’s going to give.
There’s clear signs that the Singaporean “operations” team, i.e us, are fucking fed-up! The current “Board of Directors” and “Senior Management” needs to be booted!!
@PAP can do whatever they want, 24 August 2010
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“…the forgotten-generation deserves what they are getting from the PAP because it is they who have given the PAP absolute power….”
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The PAP has 98% of parliament due to careful redrawing of electoral boundaries & use of the GRC system. Given such elaborate scheming, the raw data shows only about 34% of voters opt for PAP; in turn this 34% of voters is only about 17% of the total population. The ’66%% mandate’ gives you an impression of the ‘majority’ of the population, maybe certain age group, certain segment of the social ladder, etc. In fact 17% doesn’t account for any specific group, much less a whole generation. Anyway they thank you for being misled and for shifting the blame based on wrong perception.
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Secondly, obviously you haven’t a clue what the Forgotton Generation is or who they are. They weren’t around to vote, so how can they put power where it is now.
@)Overwhelming short-sightedness, 24 August 2010
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Pure craps. Nobody talks of ‘future economic benefits from FDI or tourists’ in such things. You mean maybe the Beijing’s Bird nest stadium now being a tourist spot, collecting entrance fee? The money is made during the event itself – broadcasting rights, ticket sales, visitors shopping in-between, hotel bookings, etc….. Only 2 days left, mind telling us what has been the net takings for past 11-12 days?
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More like overwhelming BS.
Overwhelming short-sightedness, 24 August 2010
can you confirm that the benefits will materialise? can you ever? if so how long will the benefits trickle down to the masses? will the benefits be concentrated to a small group of society?
afterall, an event on the national scale ought to be the pride of the people. or would such mega events only bring the ire of the people, fueling the social divide?
pearls come from oysters, but would you pay a king’s ransom if you do not know how to cultivate pearls? but expect pearls to form on their own. this is the premise of mega events. the people are left to wonder how come they aren’t seeing the benefits. where’s the “pearls” dude?
do you think the blackout at MBS, the stoppages at our leading tourist attractions (The Flyer, Battlestar Galactica, The Tiger Sky Tower), Orchard Road flood, etc, are great for S’pore brand? how do you brand them?
@mice is nice, 25 August 2010
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Benefits that materialised? Plenty so far:
1) SYOGOC jetting around the world in a chartered plane, all expenses paid.
2) LHL did received a special Olympic medal from IOC. (Cost of YOG = $387,000,000; cost of medal = $20. Real smart.)
3) Convincing evidence that SFI has been serving dog food all these years. Good indoctrination for those waiting to enter NS.
4) Our football team showed its melee by beating countries whose names most can’t spell. Only to be beating by Haiti to whom we donated a pathetic $50K as aid during their earthquake early this year.
5) Learned again no amount of engineering can prevent freak act of God like a collapsing roof.
6) Developed an “O Yeah, O Yeah” song that can drive anyone bananas. Great weapon currently under evaluation by our Psychological Warfare Unit.
7) LHL caught napping during opening ceremony – priceless.
:
etc…
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Benefits like food on the table for elderlys? You want hawker center, foodcourt or restaurant?!?
@Overwhelming short-sightedness.
“considering the benefits that Singapore is going to reap from hosting YOG”.
1st off, understand the PAP mindset. They OWN all the money. It doesn’t belong to the tax payers. Even though the splurge taxpayer dollars on this, any benefit tangible or not does not go to the taxpayers.
These greedy MIW will claim that they made the money and it’s theirs! Do they at all consider that without the tax dollars they squeeze from us giving them billions to play with, they can’t do sh*t? Do they consider that anyone with an unlimited budget like they have can also do wonders? That they aren’t as special as the make themselves out to be?
Er, read Overwhelming Shortsightedness’s post again and you can see the satire.
PAP are aliens to Singapoean. PAP uses Singaporean for their own sake. Imagine paying above parliament the MM, SMs equivalent to wasted $10 millions for nothing just fortune-telling and jetting around the world.
PAP are aliens to Singaporean. PAP uses Singaporean for their own sake. Imagine paying above parliament the MM, SMs equivalent to wasted $10 millions for nothing just fortune-telling and jetting around the world.
They represent us because we voted them in. They know nothing about us because we didn’t care whether they did.
It is sad to see the level of discontent in Singapore against the PAP, and yet see them win election after election. Always the standard excuses are trotted out: Oh they keep changing GRC boundaries, they suppress opposition, they offer money/upgrading just before elections to entice people to vote for them etc. but one thing is never brought up, and that is the mentality of the electorate.
The fact that 67% of them fall for the same tricks for close to 50 years now says something. The PAP has been in power ever since Singapore became independent and no one party or a group has, until now even come close to challenging that hegemony (JBJ in Anson ’81 notwithstanding). This has resulted in them spreading deep into the culture of Singapore to a point where every ministry, stat-board and GLC is filled with their cronies or yes men. Worse still it all happened right in front of our eyes and we were to stupid or scared to do anything about it. Who can blame them for living in ivory towers when we built them the towers to live in? Why do we blame them for not caring when we ourselves didn’t care to find out who we voted for? We are calling them elitist and snobbish, and yes they are but they are merely a reflection of our stratified society. Ask any RJC or NJC student their honest opinion on the average Singaporean and their views will mirror the average MP’s. These are the people we actually treasure as the next generation of leaders so why is it so suprising that they turn out to be elitist? Right in front of our eyes, a people’s bank, POSB was assimilated into a loss making monster, DBS and we did nothing. Right in front of our eyes ministers paid themselves millions and we did nothing. Right in front of our eyes they hung drug mules and we did nothing. Right in front of our eyes they brought in gambling and we did nothing. Right in front of our eyes they bankrupted our leading opposition members and we did nothing. Right in front of our eyes they insulted us as being daft and lazy and we did nothing. Right in front of our eyes they handed over the reins of power to one family and we did nothing. Right in front of our eyes they created numerous statboards to make ministries even less accountable, and we did what? that’s right, nothing.
We deserve equal blame for letting this happen, in fact more. We aided and abetted their crimes, and only now, we see the result of what we have created and you know what? It serves us right for being asleep for so long.
“The fact that 67% of them fall for the same tricks”… go recheck that so called fact.
Government say Singaporeans matter first. I am yet to be fully convinced. More should be done for Singaporeans especially when the nation asks them to shoulder the national security by serving National Service. The security benefits all residents in Singapore.
Quote-
“If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place ………,
where you will have food on the table.
EVEN IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT, WE WILL HAVE MEALS DELIVERED TO YOU.”
(MCYS Minister Vivian Balakrishnan)
http://zh.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/394784?page=1
The above shows government care.
You no money buy food, 3 meals is delivered to you.
ONLY HAPPENS IN 1ST CLASS SINGAPORE, NO WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
All the above statement shows is that this government is totally removed from reality at best, or their total hypocrisy at worse.
I know it’s been said many times that a politician will say one thing and do another, but these MIW carry it to some fantastic extremes.
Overwhelming short-sightedness,
Sorry if this sounds crude. Even with the best intentions, you need to be deeper in your understanding of what branding means. Branding in commercial terms, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It requires the party concerned to live up to expectations. In this case, Singapore. This is where issues such as sub-standard food for volunteers, empty seats (for a large part of the games), students given ‘no options’ but to attend YOG, will not help. Sure we talked about international broadcasting, but awareness is only as good as awareness if for the huge amount we spent, no economic benefits are reaped. The argument that we need to look long term does not hold because none of the policy makers have their compensation and benefits pegged to the REALIZATION of long term rewards (in case you think a million dollar salary is still too little for them).
Branding has been talked about for the longest time to what I know in this country :
(a) Branding our universities as world class, yet many graduates cannot find jobs equitable to the education fees they pay.
(b) Branding our Esplanade as a cultural icon, yet, to date, attendances have been miserable.
(c) Branding out city as a liveable one, yet we misread all the signs (and mishandled) when it comes to handling a few floods, declaring them as a freak one happening once in 50 years.
Now that the YOG merry making is over, many are still waiting for appropriate answer to these questions:
1) why the ridiculous budget over run?
2) why the almost empty concerts seats?
3) why the food poisoning?
4) why the use of people-object to watch the games?
5) why penalise singaporeans if they think we block the YOG buses?
6) why incovenient singaporeans at certain locations by not allowing transport?
7) The biggest question: Why No Gold?