The following letter is sent to us by a TOC reader.
by Blacktryst
With the release of Budget 2011 by the government, we can safely assume that it is election year. It is on everyone’s lips at the moment, a buzz is generating. In addition, a Straits Times reporter on Feb 23rd 2011 quoted Finance Minister Thurman saying that the Budget is not an election ploy but rather the “Progress Package” is focused on Singapore’s long-term growth.
In political talk, yes the election is coming and yes the budget is an election ploy. So without further ado, in my humble opinion, I like to formally list out some of the important things or wish list that I hope the opposition parties and the incumbent P.A.P will address and support in all or in parts at the upcoming election.
- Review and if necessary, revised the Immigration laws so that we actually get quality foreign talents that actually contribute to our country’s economy, sports and the arts scene and contribute to our tax revenue. Currently we are tax exempt if we earn less than twenty grand per year (I could be wrong now) so if cheap labour are imported and they earn less than twenty grand a year, they are tax exempted too no?
- Restructure the current judiciary system and remove government interference so that it will become a truly independent and trusted justice system for all rather than being the P.A.P’s arm of justice.
- Allow greater freedom of expression for political debates in all types of media including Internet, Television, Radio and Print. How can we understand one another if we do not talk amongst ourselves and express our views openly and mutually? The government is afraid of subversive talk and igniting the race riots of yesteryear but I argue our dear Senior Minister LKY has already ignited racial tensions by his subversive comments in his book.
- Restrict the election committee authority to unilaterally draw political boundaries like GRCs just so it can favor one party.
- Instead of having a SGD 6 billion progress package that gives every Singaporean a one time cash offer, how about offering a multi year package that instead use that one time cash offer to subsidized the increasing health and hospitalization costs? Our aging population is getting to be very burdensome to the families ti support and while we cannot afford universal health care as it will become very expensive, we can still lessen the load by subsidizing more of the costs especially medication.
- Revamp the current President’s scholar or current streaming system to include a minimum quota system to allow minority races a chance at the scholarships. Our current meritocracy model although works well but it still excludes minority races from getting to be part of the government through such elitist models of education because of many factors of which I will not elaborate.
- To go with the quota system in government scholarship programs, I would also like to see a quota system introduced for government sector jobs as a means of making sure all Gov departments work harmoniously with all ethnic races. I argue that government sector are by its nature bureaucratic anyways so why not make it democratic as well by allowing better ethnic representation.
- Demand greater transparency in our Country’s investment institutions such as Temasek Holdings and GIC so as to discourage nepotism and incompetence at those institutions. It is a travesty that they can be allowed to operate with our country’s reserves paid for by our hard earned tax dollars and lose billions without accountability.
- Enact some sort of environmental or green initiatives for our industries or promote Green (environmental industries) as another pillar of economic growth. Developed countries such as Canada and Europe are encouraging innovative companies to build green products that can recycle waste or used consumer goods or generate electricity by other means. They are also encouraging green cars such as the Nissan Electric leaf. Perhaps our government can also encourage private/public investment in providing charging outlets for electric vehicles so that we can wean ourselves away from gas guzzling and polluting vehicles. Our country is so small we can easily introduce electric vehicles and be successful.
- Repeal 377A of the Penal Code (A draconian law criminalizing sex between mutually consenting adult males). It is a law that is outdated and no longer serves the current social climate of the times. If the government truly wants to encourage equality, then such discriminatory law should be removed.
I think these are the more important ones in my opinion. I have more wishes to add to my list once I think of it, but I now open the floor to your readers to add any more to the election year wish list that you like your opposition and PAP political leaders to support.
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that stupid goh said community has to come first, WHAT GUTTER GARBAGE, when the poor, unemployed, lower middle class are SQUEEZED of all their EARNINGS and THIEVING OF THEIR CPF.
if the gov is SO RIGHTEOUS, RETURN THE PEOPLE’S MONEY TO THEM.
the gov does not need to hold such money and returned a less than INFLATION rate,
this is PLAIN STEALING, THEIVING and DAYLIGHT ROBBERY !!!
VOTE THEM OUT, NOW, NO MORE WAITING FOR 5 YEARS, NOW !!!
KJ,
YOU NEED TO CONSOLIDATE YOUR BEST CANDIDATES FOR THE WEAKEST GRC AND PLANNED TO WIN, NOT JUST NCMP,
WE THE PEOPLE NEED “ALL” THE “SEATS”
ALL 87 IF POSSIBLE,
MOTTO IS, “NO MORE HELICOPTER, BACK DOOR MILLION DOLLAR GARBAGE FROM PAP, AS THIS IS ROBBING THE PEOPLE OF THEIR MONEY…..
LOCALS, ASK YOURSELFS, “HOW MANY MORE EXAMPLES DO YOU NEED”
IS EGYPT, LIBYA, TUNISIA, BAHRAIN, NOT ENOUGH OF EXAMPLE
DO WE NEED MORE SUHARTO,MARCO,TAKSIN,MAHATHIR, DO WE ???
What an excellent list – well thought through, comprehensive and pragmatic. I fully agree with all the points you put forward, though point 7 would need to be implemented carefully to ensure people are being hired to do a job, not just to sit around to satisfy a quota.
Your sensible article stands out from the rest of the content. Well done!
I just have 1 point on my election wishlist — PAP lose their 2/3 majority.
When that happens, many of the things on the above list will happen, or start to happen.
extra wishlists:
- how about MPs should stay in HDB, so they can feel the “ground”.
- transport ministry ppl should take public transport.
- cut the MPs pay to “our” market rate. like cut 90% of their pay now.
- MPs should declare their income and assets.
- MPs should be accountable for their promises during their speech in talks, walkabout. We have enough of the lau goh swiss standard of living, which never comes. Also the stupid LHL “GST to help the poor”, so disgusting.
Extra Wishlist:
The greatest impediment to a healthy political climate here is the “FEAR” factor in the mind of most voters.
- Fear of being sued bankrupt through frivolous law suits
- Fear of being intimidated by police for using metaphor in forums.
- Fear of losing a civil service job if one is traced through the serial numbered vote casted.
- Fear of being discriminated in an opposition ward.
- Fear of ISD
- Fear in everything – “Kaisi” – “Kaisu”. Typical Singaporean mentality.
Therefore, my wish is that Singaporean should change their mentality and vote without any FEAR!
Right now we have to downgrade should we sell and buy a home. Just think about how
high home prices will be when it hits 6.5 million !!!
Our casino island is attracting ALL and sundry from every country on earth. If you think the traffic and MRT congestion is bad. It will be totally unbearable when our government has achieved their desired population Size!
This country’s not my home, i’m just a passing through…
if Singapore’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?
For me, I believe true-bred Singaporeans, must, and not should, make up the majority of residents in Singapore. I dread the days when we Singaporeans are the minorities in our own country.
One of my wishes:
All ministries should have their own KPI, and NOT be tied to GDP only. e.g Ministry of Transport of KPI of a certain average speed on highway, etc.
Possibly only the PM will continue to have GDP as his KPI.
Their target population is planned to raise GDP. Real burden falls on us because we will be squeezed in housing ( not only in unaffordable prices ), buses, MRTs and every need for daily living. It is no accident that the exact figures of immigration are hidden from us because government plan everything way ahead of time.
Civil servants and senior officers of GRCs should declare their political affiliations.