Important to build a gracious society
July 2, 2008
We may have to re-think some of the policies that have shaped Singapore successfully in past years, but have become disadvantageous today.
Liu I-Chun wrote a letter that was published in the Today paper recently. It was titled, “I will miss this home.” The sub-title said, “In Taipei, hospitality and kindness abound, making it an extremely liveable city”.
Here’s what she wrote in her letter:
I am an expatriate who has been living in Taipei for the past three years, and have grown to like this place
Cultural vibrancy, a convenient public transport system and excellent healthcare system aside, it is the hospitality of the Taiwanese people that I will dearly miss when I leave this city.
People automatically give up their seats on buses and trains to the infirmed and the elderly ….. Read more
Vacuum cleaners and the financial service
June 26, 2008
Wilfred Ling
One week ago, a salesperson came to my house to demonstrate and sell a vacuum cleaner. It was an impressive vacuum cleaner with many capabilities:
The machine was highly sophisticated and her four hour demonstration was highly impressive. My wife and I felt that this is a good product. The catch? It cost 10 times that of a traditional vacuum cleaner that we had bought one year ago.
The salesperson (let us call her Promoter A) was highly persistent and told us that if we decide to buy on another day, the cost will be 15% more. To get the “good” price, we must buy on the spot. Of course, my wife and I never make purchases on the spot. We would discuss privately before making a purchase. This person made us feel obligated because she said she is commissioned-based. If we were to make the purchase later, it becomes a direct sale and she gets no commission. After much persistence, the salesperson gave us two days to think about it. Read more
Giving equal access to social benefits
June 4, 2008
A Government needs to collect sufficient tax to pay the expenses of running the country and to provide the social benefits to its citizens.
The tax should be collected fairly from the citizens. Those with higher incomes should pay more tax. A high income earner should pay more tax willingly. It is better to earn more and pay more tax, rather than be in the opposite situation.
After paying a higher amount of tax, the high income earner should be entitled to the same social benefits as other citizens. They do not expect to receive more social benefits, but they should not be given less. Read more
A compassionate “fine” system
May 28, 2008
Someone once said that Singapore is a “fine” city. We have a fine for littering, a fine for jay-walking, a fine for late payment of taxes, a fine for traffic offences and a fine for paying a fine late.
It is all right to have fines to impose discipline on the people. This is how Singapore gets the reputation of being a clean, orderly and safe city. It has its advantages.
However, in their zeal, the authorities may forget that their manner of imposing the fine can cause additional unintended hardship. Read more
Link pay of leaders to happiness index
May 21, 2008
Out Of The Box is TOC’s new column by Kin Lian.
Tan Kin Lian
A few days ago, someone asked me this question, “Do you think our leaders’ performance is commensurate with their pay?” I suspect that he wanted me to comment if our leaders are over-paid for their current level of performance.
It is my policy to avoid commenting on any specific person’s performance and pay.
I wish to share my personal views on how corporate and government leaders around the world should be rewarded.
The truth about life insurance
May 7, 2008
Many people buy life insurance to provide financial security to their family. If premature death occurs, the policy provides a cash sum to take care of the future financial needs of the family.
Insurance agents are drilled into thinking that they play a “noble” role in safeguarding the future of many families. This is half the truth.
Here is the other half: Many families are being grossly overcharged for the modest financial protection offered by the life insurance policy. After deducting the high expenses, their net savings do not earn a sufficient yield for them to live on during their retirement.
Former CEO of NTUC Income calls for “collective protest”
May 5, 2008
Former Chief Executive of NTUC Income, Mr Tan Kin Lian, is calling for a “collective protest” against Income’s “bonus cut”.
In his blog posting, Tan says that he “will be asking a lawyer to organise policyholders who wish to submit a collective protest against the bonus cut. This will be sent to the board of directors and to MAS.” Read more
High cost of living – what the government can do
April 30, 2008
TOC is happy to welcome Mr Tan Kin Lian on board as the latest addition to our writing team. He is the former chief executive of NTUC Income, an insurance cooperative in Singapore.
Lessons from the general election in Malaysia
The Malaysian general election held in March 2008 produced results that surprised not only the politicians but ordinary voters as well. A Malaysian friend told me that the ordinary people wanted to send a message to the ruling Barisan National, which had governed the country for over 50 years, about their unhappiness with the current situation. They did not expect to see a change in five state governments to the Pakatan Rakyat.
One key issue that contributed to this unexpected election results appears to be the high cost of living. It is not sufficient for the Government to explain that the higher prices are due to external factors. The people expect the Government to find effective ways to deal with this problem. This is what they elected the Government to do.
This election result has lessons for Singapore. What can the Government do about the high cost of living in Singapore?
No voting NO: Burmese embassy staff contrive to disenfranchise voters
April 27, 2008
Selene Cheng
Burmese national desperate to vote goes topless, but still no vote
A sea of red greeted me as I made my way up the road to the Burmese embassy at St Martin’s Drive. Burmese lined both sides of the road, the rows of people in red standing three abreast along a pavement sporadically broken by blue uniformed policemen.
The crowd was gathered to vote early in a referendum to approve a new constitution for Burma.The constitution, drawn up by the military junta, is seen by many Burmese as a bald attempt by the junta to cement its grip on power. It disqualifies opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from holding key political positions as she is married to a foreigner. Miss Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, won an election in a landslide in 1990. To this day, her election victory remains unrecognised.
Free press vital to S’pore’s survival
April 17, 2008
Does Singapore’s press measure up? Is it the voice of the people? Does it champion the people’s rights? Does it ask the questions that need to be asked? Does it examine public policies and issues critically?
By Lee Weijia
This article is in reference to the report “Press freedom a double-edge (sic) sword” in the April 5 copy of Weekend TODAY.
This report on Ms Anson Chan’s interview with Weekend Today only served to show once again the sad state of our local press, albeit by implication.
Chan is Hong Kong’s most famous female legislator and has held the second-highest governmental position as the head of the Civil Service. Despite being a high-ranking official in the Hong Kong government, Chan has publicly expressed views different from the previous Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Mr Tung Chee Hwa. This has earned her the reputation of being “Hong Kong’s Conscience”. She is an active supporter of democracy and a fervent defender of press freedom.
