the following is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s 2012 New Year message:
2011 was a significant year for Singapore. Singaporeans went to the polls twice, and elected a new government and President. Having made a significant political transition, we are all now adjusting to new norms in a changed environment.
We achieved steady growth of 4.8% this year. The external environment is uncertain. Debt problems in Europe are far from solved. Next year looks like being difficult for the global economy. As a small, open country, Singapore will inevitably be affected.
Amidst this flux, we need to be confident of our position, and clear about our priorities and plans to build a better Singapore. We are working hard to tackle our immediate challenges. The Government is committed to keeping homes affordable to all Singaporeans. We launched 25,000 BTO flats this year, enabling many first timers to book their HDB flats. In 2012 we are launching another 25,000 BTO flats. In the private property market, the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty will moderate capital inflows and foreign demand, and help to stabilise prices.
We will redouble efforts to improve our public transport system and expand the train and bus network. We will identify and put right the causes of the recent MRT disruptions. The Circle Line, completed in October, now transports 300,000 commuters daily. More MRT lines are on the way. We will also continue to enhance bus services to improve the daily commuting experience. However, these improvements will take time, so meanwhile please bear with us.
Beyond these pressing concerns, we are attending to long-term issues to improve Singaporeans’ lives. Healthcare must stay affordable and accessible to give Singaporeans peace of mind. We are enhancing our education system to give young Singaporeans the best possible start in life. We must uphold inclusive growth and social mobility as pillars of a united Singapore. This calls both for upgrading our skills and productivity to improve wages, and for strengthening our social safety nets.
Population is a particularly complex and critical challenge. Like most other developed societies, Singaporeans are having too few babies, and our population is ageing. We must find workable solutions to keep our society vibrant and forward-looking, maintain our economic vitality and strengthen our Singapore core.
There are many factors to consider. Singaporeans need to have enough children to replace ourselves, yet getting married and having children are ultimately personal decisions. A vibrant economy needs enough workers and talent, yet we run into physical and social constraints if we admit too many foreign workers too quickly. Diversity enriches our society, but only provided new arrivals adopt our values and culture. We need to balance all these conflicting factors, make judicious compromises, and accept the unavoidable trade-offs.
These are real and present issues. We are tightening the inflow of foreign workers to a more sustainable rate. Companies are already feeling the pinch, especially SMEs. Individual Singaporeans will feel it too, because many foreign workers do jobs that serve citizens. Admitting fewer foreign workers also means forgoing business opportunities and accepting slower growth. This is one reason why we only expect 1-3% growth next year, and why we must do our utmost to raise productivity, to make up in quality what we will miss in quantity.
These population issues affect us all. We will discuss them over the next year, so that we can understand better what is at stake, and what choices we must make as a nation.
How we manage difficult trade-offs like the population issue reflects the strength of our community. Our society is increasingly diverse. The public debate has become more open and robust. This is expected and natural, as our nation matures. However, just as important is how well we relate to one another in our shared home. This applies not only in good times when there are fewer frictions and it is easier to get along, but also when we encounter tough issues, passions run high and different points of view have to be bridged.
Our success as a nation is increasingly defined not just in economic terms but also by our social capital. We need to strengthen our values of tolerance, mutual respect and empathy. This goes beyond being civil and considerate to one another. It involves us actively appreciating others’ perspectives, caring for our fellow citizens, conducting a constructive public discourse and accepting the need to make compromises that benefit the majority. These are essential attributes of a mature, gracious society which I believe we all want for Singapore.
I am glad to see signs of such positive engagement emerging. For example, nature, heritage and other interest groups are working closely and enthusiastically with the MND on the project to redevelop the former KTM railway land. Interested Singaporeans are making innovative suggestions on how to balance development and nature along the rail corridor. We need to handle other more contentious issues as constructively too, such as when we have to build new expressways, train lines or nursing homes, affecting residents nearby. Much as we would like to, it is not possible to please everyone completely. If all sides refuse to budge, Singapore will be gridlocked and nothing will move. Hence, we need to uphold a spirit of give and take, and actively search for creative and practical outcomes that serve the common good. And, after the final decision has been made, I hope that all parties will rally behind this collective decision.
Overall, we have every reason to be confident and optimistic. We pulled together as one nation to overcome the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. We are transforming our living environment. Punggol 21 Plus is taking shape. Marina Bay has become an international icon, and the Gardens by the Bay will soon be another jewel on our skyline. We continue to invest in our future: the Singapore University of Technology and Design is enrolling its first batch of students in April, and ITE Central’s campus in Ang Mo Kio is taking shape. We will strengthen the SAF and Home Team to protect our security and our harmonious way of life. We are enhancing our social compact too: nurturing our children’s values and characters, strengthening support networks for our elderly and improving our social safety nets to help Singaporeans help themselves. All these will contribute to making Singapore the best home for ourselves and our families.
Because we have been successful, Singapore’s international standing is high. Many foreign visitors commend the Singapore spirit and how well we work together. When I travel abroad, people often congratulate me on Singapore’s achievements and want to emulate what we have done. I recently met a young Singaporean participating in an APEC event in Honolulu. She was amazed at how respected Singapore was among her fellow international participants. Businesses know about and benefit from this Singapore premium, but Singaporeans in general are less conscious of this important fact. It is a tremendous asset, based on our track record, reputation, and justified confidence in our people and our institutions.
We must never lose these strengths. I am confident that in a changing world, we will continue to bond as one people and walk shoulder to shoulder into a brighter tomorrow. Let us cherish our dreams, look forward with optimism and resolve, and work together to achieve the best we can for all our people, and for our Singapore.
I wish all Singaporeans a very Happy New Year.
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True blue Singaporeans in the early years rally round their beloved Singapore. They were the builders of Singapore. They deserve the credit and rewards. Apparently they are not getting it. Instead of taking care of them and their families, the ruling clique were busy thinking about ways to make more monies for the country and thus justify their obscene takings from the coffers. That was their misguided goal. Hence the growth at all costs policies. Hence the start of large intake of foreign workers and foreign talent policies. Hence the overcrowding and increasing costs of living and the rise of property prices contributing to the reluctance of locals to marry, to grow the family. In so doing, true blues were somehow sidelined and left frustrated driving a significant many, away from our shores to seek better lives elsewhere. Meantime the rulers were drunk with the accolades showered upon them from all over for their achievements and the so-called miraculous economic growth. They become more prone to greed and arrogance and become egoistic and cocky, and crave for more accolades. They were overwhelmed and thought they can never go wrong. Don’t they see that other nations have also made headway and are not too uppity or drunk about it. Those oversea bouquets throwers apparently do not know what is actually taking place here. Do they realized the unhappiness brewing and simmering on the ground and the slow relegating of the original locals to that of a lower status. Somehow the emphasis seems to shift more on the rich foreigners moving in in droves, and the foreign workers displacing a big chunk of our workforce due to cheap wages, all for the sake of still bigger profits for already fat businesses. Hence jobs for locals become less assured, guaranteed and stable. The stress levels go up all round, dangerously. All in the name of growing the economy? Isn’t this stupidity? Causing untold unhappiness to your own people. Is it really wisely necessary, this fast-track high powered growth. Could we not pause and moderate our growth to match and relate to our population numbers? Surely this can be done. Slower growth and happier lives. Why are we rushing and causing a deterioration in our standard and quality of life? We may be less wealthy but could have better quality living. Many other small less rich nations are happily surviving. As it is, the arrivals of the new rich from especially this region, pushed up the costs of living. They are now enjoying the good life together with our elites. They can afford the best healthcare with prompt and attentive service. It is just inconceivable that our million dollar planners did not foresee and have a handle and grip on the situation. They are not that brilliant after all. Such discussions are now the talking point all over the island as the situation is now seriously bad and it is sinking in on the people. The locals are realizing they are fast becoming second class in their own country. As a result, the eyes of the people are opening bigger now. The rulers can boast of the 60 plus percent support. Who supported them? A quick ground survey will reveal that the rich, the elites, the new citizens out of gratitude, and a confused apolitical mainly lower and lower middle voted for them. The latter, more out of fear and apathetic kiasuism than anything else. Thanks to the decades of inculcating and conditioning the populace with the controlled media, the politics of fear and threats and the evolving kiasuism. If you don’t do this you will not get this mantra. If you talk too much, you get threatened and probably locked up, now they bankrupt you. With the Internet they are more careful now I guess. It is no secret that Singaporeans could easily rank number one in the world for indifference to politics. There is no avenue for you to stand up, register and really speak your mind with any well meaning criticisms. The fear is if you come under another banner, be prepared to be totally destroyed. Look at the fate of our past opposition politicians. Many are writing in anonymously like in the internet. That’s what the rulers want anyway and they have geared the people into this sorry state. The atmosphere of politics here is stifling and suffocating. The tiniest homegrown opposition is being intimidated and hammered by the ruling clique. Using scare tactics and their huge machineries at their disposal they conveniently fix and whack the opposition good and proper. What has been written above are repetitions. The fact is it is being repeated everywhere these days. The voice is getting louder as many felt used, taken for a ride, taken for granted, bullied and betrayed. Obviously there is an urgent need to reset our priorities.
some wise sayings from king solomon for the papies:
1. don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court; for yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them. (don’t exploit your poor citizens)
2. don’t weary yourself to be rich. in your wisdom, show restraint. why do you set your eyes on that which is not? for it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky. (all your ill gotten wealth sucked from the hard work of your people will fly away one day)
3. don’t move the ancient boundary stone. don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless: for their defender is strong. he will plead their case against you. (stop pushing us to the corner)
4. apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge. (pappies cronies, you’re applying the other way round)
5. my son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine: yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right. (are you really wise, pappies? search your hearts!)
6. don’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear yahweh all the day long. indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off. (papies cronies, listen: fear God and do the right thing in parliament and for your people)
7. listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path! don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat: for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (pappies, don’t just worship your obscene salaries, you’ll be in rags one day)
8. my son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways. for a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well. yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. (stop prostituting our nation, pappies!)
9. through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure. (if singapore breaks, it’s not the people’s fault, but you pappies)
9. wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate. (if you don’t listen to the ground, you are a fool)
10. one who plots to do evil will be called a schemer. the schemes of folly are sin. the mocker is detested by men.
(what dies this tell you, pappies, if men start detesting you?)
11. if you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small. (if you pappies falter in 2012 due to global economic turmoil, then your strength is small, so you don’t deserve your astronomical salaries)
12. rescue those who are being led away to death! indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter! if you say, “behold, we didn’t know this;” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? he who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? shall he not render to every man according to his work?
(help the needy, pappies. no excuse!)
13. don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. don’t destroy his resting-place: for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.(do not attempt to demolish the alternative party members just because they don’t fit your mold)
Mr L is not wrong at all to say that he can’t please everyone.
Whether your are a government or a citizen it is the same. As a citizen, as an employee, you are bound to have some friendly colleagues and some not so friendly ones, simply of the way you do your work. Not everyone will be happy with you, no matter how hard you try. Same with goverhment, you cant please everyone.
But the issue MR L needs to examine, what is his target, who does he want to please?
At this point in time, other than himself and his own cronies as some above have expressed strongly, i think MR L has designed a system to please EMPLOYERS and civil servants 90% of the time. These group remain by far the largest supporter of pap, that is why pap wins every election.
Employers love pap because they can get cheap labour and set up business. Employers actually dont like to hire singaporeans and the govt has helped employers in this regard.
Employers and corporations are well protected by govt (e.g. dbs etc well protected during lehman bonds fiasco)
Civil servants love pap because many get great bonuses and iron rice bowl stable job, no need to rock the boat.
These groups are all pleased. But those who are not from this group,TOC readers one and all, for sure many of them are not pleased.
The problem is that since everybody is a singaporean, it is wrong to over indulge in one group at the expense of other groups.
This is the main problm with MR L’s statement that “you cant please everyone”, it is a truthful statement actually, really.
zero
LHL is just complaining and covering his backside. As he doesn’t know these things because his apa never taught him so:-
“The truth told with bad intent,
Beat all lies you can invent” -William Blake
Because he is as…
““The Romans used to say that courage is not the only virtue. But it’s the only one that makes the other virtues possible.” – Benjamin Netanyahu to Brian Lamb on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, Sept. 21, 2001
Because…
“He who cannot remember the past is condemned to repeat it” – George Santayana.
And so their story telling goes on and on. That’s why hid apa could only managed a “I stand corrected. Because they are also “Deaf to criticisms” and therefore remembers nothing since they “heard” nothing!
Whatever happen to your “We are an Open and Inclusive Civil Society” Mr. LHL? Start with your transperancy first and then the “truth” you now tell will not beat all of the “Lies all of PAP can invent”. such as “An act of God” by your apapa!
After the GE2011, and the widespread unhappiness of people over the legalised corruption and cronyism, and PUB’s negligence in attending to feedback on Stamford Canal overfull level and Marina Barrage’s obstruction to the canal, there is still no change. It would appear that come what may, the papies will continue to be in a state of denial refusing to admit policy errors and fulfill solemn promises made by PM Lee to go for change. With what moral authority is he now asking people to brace for the upcoming recession and stay together to meet challenges?
PEOPLE’S WISH FOR 2012:
No need to make so many more promises since the last promises made during GE2011 are not going to be honored. Just stop all the legalised corruption and cronyism and excuses for flooding or SMRT breakdowns. Stop playing with property to benefit the rich and the foreigners. Stop double-taxing the electricity network charge and transportation and medicare fare increases. Stop bringing in so many foreigners to compete with our education places and jobs. businesses. People will be more than grateful to the government.
my wish for 2012:
a.
my wish list for singapore for 2012:
a.the population of singapore is frozen at its present number. strictly no more increase in absolute numbers. not just slowing the rate of increase as what the govt purports they are doing;
b.gove to take strong measures to stop any increase of property price – govt to take the lead by lowering the price of hdb flats. not just building more flats which is a bogus solution to the problem of high price of hdb flats.
c. lower utilities rates, public transport fares and this includes taxi fares. govet to take actions to nationalise the public transport system and the essential services..
d. govt to stop passsing the buck of governing and their municipal responsibilties through the process of privatisations and contracting out.
e. our elites and the rich stop engaging in rent seeking activities and start investing their time and effort in real concrete productive activities.
f. our elites and the better endowed have a heart for the ordinary singaporeans and be more self-less and compassionate in their actions especially where their actions could have an impact on the lives of ordinary singaporeans – stop indulging in speculative activities. our elites to invest their time in producing quality goods and services that can raise the quality of lives of all. not just themselves.
Looking at the situation in Singapore today, I can see only one economic plan. This is to continuously bring in cheap foreign labour and continuously sell Singapore citizenship to whoever wants to buy. This economic plan does not need the local population to participate and so the locals are left out in the cold.
Every year you need more and more foreign cheap labour to feed the needs of the ever growing numbers of new citizens. It seems to me that this two pronged approach to increase the GDP is not sustainable beyond another 10 years. By which time Singapore will explode. The Ministers and their well paid cohorts will by then all settle overseas and look back on the mother ship and say, “good riddance to bad rubbish. To earn such princely returns from just governing a country we really had to con them and frighten them with the best legal,political and secret police system which the founding father of our clan, the genius LKY devised for the purpose of grasping untold wealth.”
The PAP Government is in the business of selling the option to citzenship to anyone who pays the asking price.
The asking price for the option to Singapore citizenship is set very low and there is no qualifying requirement, I know of.
Give and Take?
True enuf.
Give 1 Take back 10!
Its like playing abacus.
remember the expensive herman miller aeron chairs bought by kbw which drew some public outcry?
i stumbled upon the following response by khaw, and it struck me instantly to see the pappies standard mold in explaining away and defending all their actions and policies, in the like manner why their cronies must be paid astronomically.
‘From: aehchua@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: 13 Nov 2005 20:13:36 -0800
Dear colleagues,
I refer to the above press article in the Sunday Times dated 13 Nov 2005 and would like to update you on the background of the matter.
1. The retail price of S$2200 quoted by the journalist for a Herman Miller Aeron chair is exaggerated and may be the list price before discount. The price of this chair offered to NBS is much lower around S$900. The Herman Miller chair has a warranty period of 12 years compared to a normal office chair with a 1 year warranty period and an average life span of 4 years or so. Hence over the 12 year period, the capital outlay of a Herman Miller chair is about the same as the outlay for 3 normal office chairs required for the 12 year period. In addition these chairs have the advantage of ergonomic design for health and posture and is intended to give faculty and staff a more healthy and comfortable work environment.’
first, let’s see if the chairs would last them for 12 years before they replace again.
in the same tone of defense, the people must pay the pappies ministers astronomical salaries in order to have their long term warranty to stay for several terms. anything less means they’ll break down within a few years and leave us in the lurch.
————–
‘Meanwhile, an orthopaedic surgeon in Mt Alvernia Hospital said, “You don’t need an expensive chair to prevent back problems. You need a chair that is wide enough, and is set for your eyes to be around the height of the computer. Ergonomic chairs are meant for those with back problems caused by poor sitting posture.”‘
meanwhile, we have also been telling the pappies we don’t need expensive ministers to prevent singapore from failing, but ministers who are set for their eyes to be around the people and serve the people selflessly as servant-leaders.
——————
‘MOM claims Xtra offered ergonomic design, durability and value for money, skipping their other sales pitch, “When it becomes a designer icon, its worth goes beyond its function.” In other words, the minister fell for the snob appeal.’
the pappies also claim the xtra unique genes, long-serving and good value for money for their a-team ministers is singapore’s icon, its worth goes beyond their performance.
fortunately we, the people, don’t fall for their snob appeal!
My wish list for Singapore for 2012:
(a) Discrimination against Singapore citizens when looking for jobs in Singapore will stop
– Age, gender, pregnancy and the requirement to serve national service will stop being disadvantages for Singapore citizens.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year 2012!
We are not pleased because we Singaporeans do not want Singapore to be the garbage for third world immigrants.
The genius of LKY is that he sets the stage such that he can take what he wants and the populace will have to accept by force of thuggery. In evolutionary biology, he is a good ancestor for his clan and hangers on. He singlehandedly propelled his corhorts to extreme wealth on the backs the indigenous population who may still not know what hit them so hard.
He has reared a parallel population of new citizens which even according to him are hungrier and therefore more suited to his grand plan for the betterment of his own clan.
The Suharto clan owns the country’s assets outright. So does the clans of Mubarak, Gadhafi etc. Our genius has his clan manage the country’s assets at exorbitant salaries. They all keep stables of secret police and turn the Law itself against the citizenry.
One trait distinguishes them. They have a firm belief that the populace can easily be bought. Right to the end when Gadhafi was pulled out of a sewer, he begun to negotiate his freedom by promising untold wealth to his captors.
LHL should read all the comments here, only then he can have a better idea of what’s happening on the ground. Singaporeans are not so easily taken in by his sweet talk and empty promises anymore.
Tmr is the ministerial pays and pension and double and triple appointment reviews. Plus bonus and increment and minIstry appointments. Let’s focus on this and give our suggestion.
No time to lose including civil servants also as some of the super scales are damn obsencely high.
They should be transparent including assets and properties they hold and can be reported easily to cpib
Bse the young Singaporeans are smarter and not so stupid now.
Their pays should be pegged to 50-80percent lesser. Cap to 3months bonus and also limited double or triple appointments. Part time mps directorship should be limited also… Allowances and claims should be limited including welfare for their families and relatives.
If they are for serving people. Let them really serve whole heartedly.
Auditors including alternate parties, members of
public and also local independent auditors should check on them…
Guan yin pu sha
Insatiable wealth accumulation by the greed creates social underclass as paradox goods that truly hurt the so called ‘first world country’ image. What a fake economy is brewing then when the socio-political aspect of the citizens’ well-being becomes torn and tetthered.
I bet you that the Ministerial Review will review nothing to shake the hold of LKY on his salary and all who look up to him for succour. He has already said that he and his cohorts deserve that level of salaries which is very cheap in fact compared with the size of the GDP. Who in Singapore in his right mind dare to review what he say?After playing with the citizenry for 8 months, the Review Committee would come back to LKY’s original idea about how much he should get paid and all who follow his footsteps.
Another screw-up is brewing!!!
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has just announced plan to divert waterflow from Stamford Canal to relief the flooding problems affecting Orchard Road. Based on what studies has he come to this decision? Did he study the root cause of current Orchard Road flooding as attributable to capacity of Stamford Canal to handle the extra rainfalls during exceptional rains? What about other contributory causes… to this flooding e.g. the construction of Marina Barrage which slow down the discharge to the sea or the construction of the multi-million islandwide newwater plant at Changi? Or was there any new feeder of waterflow from other parts to Stamford Canal which should have been cut off? PUB should not just leave the study to consultants alone due to possibility of conflicts of interest. More transparency and accountability please!!!
I sincerely hope the ISD and PAP read whatever is expressed in this forum and relate to the PM so that he will get to understand the real plight and disgust the average Singaporean is having.
We,the forummers here, are truly concerned with the deplorable state Singapore has become.We demand changes to take place where necessary in the political,socio-economic arenas so as to ensure a fairer and equitable society that benefits the majority and not just the leaders and their handpicked connected ‘elites’.
As evident in many countries today,despotism and cronyism are the cause of inevitable downfall of a nation and its people.Given globalisation and abuse of money-laundering,corruption has become commonplace yet hard to nail.Especially in a country under one political party rule that makes transparency or scrutiny almost impossible.
As such,our best hope is have an independent anti-graft authority (not under the purview of the PM ) to be the watchdog over the government ministries where partisanship will not be tolerated.This will eventually lead to an independent judicial system someday.
Taiwan may be a good example of how graft by one political party is brought to the open by public scrutiny(or other political entities) .Even corrupted judges or President of State (Chen Shui Bian) are never spared.
Perhaps,the best thing for the ruling party here to do is to stop seducing elites to take a free ride in its bandwagon anymore.
And the best way is to stop paying them that mega-million dollar salary and directorships in GLCs.
Only then will we get to see true spirited nation-serving civil servants or leaders!
In 2011 I travelled to the Nordic countries and Austria. All are wealthy, blessed with great natural scenery and despite very taxes and government subsidies, I do not see decay, massive homeless populations.
And the Occupy movements in USA has not touch such countries. It all makes me wonder whether Spore should review its economic and political stance.
The North European countries have not collapsed over the past few decades. Their politicians are paid a fraction of what the Sporean ministers are getting.
And yet N. Europe is not declining. And they have maintained their country (much larger than Spore of course).
Begs the question whether the Spore basis for moving forward should be examined again from top to bottom. The upswelling of unhappiness is increasing and I fear the worse for the PAP comes 2016
@Arthero Lim,
You still have hopes that the PAP Government including the PM may be able to change for the good. You have an optimistic nature.
I feel that change is impossible once a person or persons have violated trust by enforcing on the citizenry million dollar salaries.Such officials have a greedy spirit and the spirit is unchanging and unchangeable.
The only hope for Singaporeans is to somehow vote them out en masse. Then we can have a new beginning with fresh officeholders who have not known sin.
It may be already too late for Singapore because in their 50 years of power, LKY have seen to it that political interests are cleaned out from every breathing soul by pain of total loss of everything. Every State Institution is an arm of the PAP including the Judiciary who shamelessly do what the Masters Voice command them.
It is necessary to look towards 2016, the next GE. Spore electorate has awakened.
The ground swell of unhappiness at government policies and the consequences upon the livelihood of Singaporeans, has been increasing. Hardship and frustration cannot be eliminated by acts of Parliament.
The cascade of problems: environmental, transport, housing, health, retirement, CPF, etc. will continue to fester. It is not about “pleasing everyone”. It is about taking stock of where we are today and what we need to do for tomorrow.
Long entrenched governments are not replaced gradually. The wish to gradually increase Opposition voices cannot materialise. It is a sudden Yes or No comes 2016. And if it is No even at 50.1%, then the upheaval that results with the new Opposition Govt will be tremendous.
We have seen in Asian politics that incoming governments can enact vindictive policies aimed at discovering the past, of putting to jail previous leaders. The risk is a major social upheaval leading to violence, major disruptions to the economy and all the wishes of the electorate will not come about then.
I hope today’s government will act wisely or risk unrests and upheavals post the next election.
The article in Chinese newspaper Zaobao today quoted Sylvia Lim and Pritam Singh, who said that helping the poor is not the MP’s responsibilities but that of the Government.
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp120101_012.shtml
It is every MP’s responsibility to find means and ways to help the needy people and low income families in his constituency. I am appalled to read that WP MPs do not intend to do anything to help the needy and poor in their wards, attributing that solely as the responsiblity of the government. I am deeply concerned that they have become politicians not to serve the people but to serve their own political interests !
@Robert Teh,
The Minister in charge have either no brains or afraid to see that the solution to the flooding problem in this island can only be understood and solved by a holistic investigation of the geological profile in cross section of the island. All that have been said and done so far are ad hoc plugging of holes to show that something is being done. These multi-million dollar Ministers are so afraid of going into the deep structure of our island because they may have to report red herrings and charmed projects of their political masters. Revealing which is a sure way to stop their million dollar salaries flowing.So they jump up and down, spout nonsense,and nibble at the edges in order not to reveal fatal pet projects that lead to flooding in specific places.
The Minister in charge of flooding is just treading water in order to survive as long as possible in this million dollar game, the best paying game of all countries and of all time.
@Prime
The Government is hoodwinking the population by all the charity shows that it puts up. The President’s Charity Show is the most hypocritical of all. Again the Ministers should know that helping the poor is the responsibility of the Government who should establish a holistic scheme to assist the desperate in Singapore.
The Ministers earn millions themselves and should not set school children to beg for the poor. They can give to charity themselves as they have such large disposable incomes. Or else they can set up a proper welfare scheme like we had under British rule. LKY has consistently rejected any sort of State welfare for the people who fall through the net.So he has made our nation into a state of Govt endorsed uniformed beggars.
All these begging for the poor is a waste of precious time. Moreover it gives the criminal minded opportunity to scrounge on the citizenry by living off the public donations themselves. Recall that so many people have resorted to put their hands into the charity kitty.
This Government under LKY should re-establish orderly welfare so as to avoid hypocritical welfare and waste the time and effort of the citizenry.
insightful but disappointing, likely still learning on the job…
PM LEE is a MATHS TRIPOS;ALMOST WAS A MATHS PROFESSOR if he had chosen the more correct path for himself?
any primary school kid with simple knowledge of arithmatic knows that the more FTs pm LEE aim to please,the more sgporeans will be victimised and be displaeased.
or do our minister at the MOE plan to teach our kids ‘unorthodox’ thinking?
Water exit plan seems too complicated and is taking years to implement, like playing tikam-tikam, the guessing game. The true culprit is the Marina Barrage which enrages the rainwater for impeding its natural flow; hence the euphorical ‘ponding’.
Perhaps, the only alternative is to have A-Z plans for a safe political exit, leaving the underdogs in
total chaos in 4 years’ time. Successors beware!
The world is changing. Yet, our leaders are found to be engaged in constant regurgitations of some old ideas which no longer work for Singapore as new normals. How are we to motivate and empower people with this kind of rehashing of old ideas which have not worked. This is the problem with papies. China under Deng Xiao Peng’s leadership by example has truly enjoyed leaps and bounds with real econo…mic and social progress making it the modern economic power the world respected. By comparison, Singapore has been subjected to all kinds of control and autocratic rule that promote the leaders and the elites’ own hidden agendas and self-interests. We have retrograded and become a divided society. Our citizens are in a lose-lose situation having to bear the blunts all the time with all sorts of costs from privatizations of services and paying millions for promoting the elites, the rich and foreigners for their own self-interests. Papies should look in the mirror and truly go for change by leading by example.
A Feedback to Minister Lim Hng Khiang,
Do you not realise that the billions of loss in foreign investments in UBS, Citibank, Barclay etc could have created more than enough jobs for Singaporeans if properly invested in our various domestic import-substitution industries from energy to sea fish farming etc. Do you not give your department’s inputs to MND to avoid over-investing in real estate sector as monies will be tied down and not being put to economic use in building a knowledge-based economy talked about for years with no result. Where is our Samsung or Apple products ? Something is seriously wrong in managing the economy.
Prime
11 hrs, 15 mins ago
The article in Chinese newspaper Zaobao today quoted Sylvia Lim and Pritam Singh, who said that helping the poor is not the MP’s responsibilities but that of the Government.
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp120101_012.shtml
It is every MP’s responsibility to find means and ways to help the needy people and low income families in his constituency. I am appalled to read that WP MPs do not intend to do anything to help the needy and poor in their wards, attributing that solely as the responsiblity of the government. I am deeply concerned that they have become politicians not to serve the people but to serve their own political interests !
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I think what the mps are saying most of the things are beyond their means, including pappies mp. They would put up requests so that residents needing help gets their favor done and owe them some favors especially pappies. Mps should be focusing on getting constitency managed right and there should be sop. Too many people homeless or needing help. Also financial difficulties. Somethings are wrong !!!!!!
Gov did good job of hiding and fleecing.
Ahoy! The captain and his crew are indulged in harpooning the whales, reaping harvest for themselves.
@Prime.The Meet The People Sessions entail MPs to write to Government departments to get help for the citizen. When an opposition MP writes to a State Institution asking for assistance for a citizen, what do you think will happen. Of course no change of decision, no help will be given.
In time to come it will be known that if you ask anything of an opposition MP, nothing will be achieved.
So even the Meet The People Sessions will become stumbling blocks for the Opposition MPs.
I do not know why you need an MP to write to the Government to advocate for a citizen. It is just like getting your big toe to scratch your backside. In most countries an Ombudsman can take the citizens’ appeal and set thingd right. The Ombudsman being not affiliated to any political party will be treated with respect by State Institutions.
So if you are poor and go to an opposition MP for financial aid, you will be putting this MP at risk of being uncharitable. Word will go round that the Opposition are an uncharitable lot. So my fellow citizens you must understand the malevolence of the PAP dominance which leads them to commit the silliest acts to thwart the opposition.
@Prime,
What you say is just what is so predictable, that the opposition MPs cannot get financial help for the needy. Yes that is perfectly true. All State Institutions are closed to opposition MPs. Unless the opposition MP digs into his own pocket, he cannot get a cent from any Government organization to assist any particualr needy person that comes before him. While State Institutions will shower money on the citizen who sought the help of a PAP MP, the opposition MP will not get help from any State Institution.This is the sorry state of affairs.
The PAP has so lowered their sights that they are now like dogs running after every piece of bone. I hope you understand what I am trying to describe as the state of politics in Singapore.
@Robert Teh,
Yes something is seriously wrong. Not only in the management of the country but the air we breathe. It is so stifling. Not only for the citizenry but for the PAP parliamentarians themselves. Do you notice how they stand up to speak in Parliament? Like schoolchildren in a speech contest. How their eyes are glued to the desk. How carefully they skirt vital issues, never saying anything not been said before by their Masters.
The 80 odd PAP parliamentarians have the horsepower of at most one brain. There is a rule in cybernetics that the controller should have the requisite variety compared to the thing controlled.The thing to be controlled is the State of Singapore, its variety of social, economic,urban development, utilities, pricing, foreign affairs and all the stuff managed by government. Here we have only 2 or 3 brains, ( the third one is an assemblage of 80 brains) allowed to work on it. How to control the object?
Apart from colossal losses by Government companies, this Government has no other solution for the betterment of Singapore except to pump in more and more foreign bodies into it. Irony upon irony. The more they get paid the more scared they become to lose it. We breathe the air heavily tainted with the smell of fear. They say, predatory animals can smell fear and will attack on that cue.
Such practices will make the people grow more hatred that will translate more voting in alternative parties. People are already learning these dirty tricks. There will be a major trade off.
The more and more foreign bodies pumped into Singapore, the less and less it is still Singapore. This is the only CHANGE we can expect of the Lee Hsien Loong promise of change.
Yes
the reason that give you a million dollars paychecks it to please yourself first and screw the rest.
and
if that is the reason
please fark off from Parliament and give 50-50 share to opposition
those first world has it
Son of Singapore,
We find that only a few lonely voice in the wilderness are asking for change. True passions never die. Good to hear another voice like yours asking for change.
@Robert Teh,
I never expect change of the wholesome sort from what I see in progress.The only change is perhaps to pump more or less people into Singapore?
This playing with the population numbers seems to be the only button the PAP knows to press and also the only dial to adjust for societal and economic betterment of the country.
We have a Government bankrupt of ideas while personally they are rich beyond their wildest dreams, those dreams formed some 50 years ago by the founding fathers.
Actually, WP should by now be the Ruling party of singapore.
They have won 40% votes but due to grc system, this resulted in merely 5 seats.
Lets Synergise in 2016.
From now till then, plenty of fiascos can happen.
Smrt case happened in public. The fiasco was naked for all to see . Nothing to cover the nakedness. All the kings men could not put humpty smarty together again.
Forever and ever in history books.
Regards
Saw Jit Kee
My wish for 2012 is for netizens to stop complaining and blaming the Govt for everything that goes wrong. We have a nice environment, a good economy and a Govt that is trying best to make sure the country runs well.
Son of Singapore and Robert Teh
Your arm-chair criticism can continue but you are the type of citizen that complain un-endingly and not see the trade-offs and difficulties in running the country. I won’t go round throwing rocks and tearing things down until we have a stronger alternative that can effectively govern our country better than the incumbent.
@Complain non-stop
What trade-offs? You did not read the papers? Did you mean the Million-dollar legalised corruption and cronyism for the elites to enjoy ten lives? What do citizens get for the million dollar paid to them? SMRT fiasco and PUB’s lies to cover-up past feedback from Lucky Plaza on problems with the over-full Stamford Canal? Is this kind of service called trade-offs?
Complain non-stop, 3 Jan 2011
the major difficulty for PM & his team is his lack of leadership, his penchant for protecting his un-deserving team members like daisies.
maybe you should read the Straits Times on 31 December 2011, Saturday, page D2, on Chan Chun Sing.
quote: “Prime Minister LHL plans to step down by 2020.”
what does that say about S’pore’s brand of democracy? might is right? so even if a better team emerge they will never take the rightful place to run the country. with no mention of it as an error in printing, i take it as a hint to perpetuate rule for as long as they possibility could. maybe dun need to tear things down, they collapse by themselves- everything!