A Day In The Life

Vivian Balakrishnan claims that just because some volunteers stick around him at grassroots events, he's no fraud, "If I'm a fraud, or if I'm selfish, or if I'm incompetent, they're are not going to hang around with me." What this emperor with no clothes on fail to fathom is that the folks that do hang around him are those in desperate need for a handout. Like the grassroots volunteer who spent hours accompanying him for block visits, only to tell him afterwards that his wife was in the hospital with advanced leukaemia - you can bet the doc didn't reach into his own wallet to help the man out with the bills.

On incompetence: "I can tell you honestly on the ground, it's not an issue," was his take on the charges of YOG being riddled with incompetence and mismanagement." Sure, people are now concerned largely with rising cost of living and the impact of foreign workers invading our shores, but they sure haven't forgotten about the $300+ million blown away. If he can't handle a one-time sports event, how can he be entrusted with longer term national issues?

On being selfish: How many times did MP Lily Neo had to badger him before he would relent on an extra $40 per month for the destitute? Q.E.D.

On being a fraud: One definition goes this way - A person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities. For simplicity's case, let's focus on we get for the millions invested in a minister (about $5,000 a day), specifically the productivity output in a typical day:

4am: I'm up to feed my 5-year-old.I've done the night feed for all 4 of my children.
7am: Up again, to send third child 18 to school. Read newspapers, clear first round of e-mails.
9am: Meetings at the MCYS office.
12.30pm: Lunch - sometimes with out friends. My friends are used to getting SMSes at the last minute... I make it a point to stay in touch.
1.30pm: Parliament
5pm: Parliament adjourned, rushed home. I try to spend some time, either tea or early dinner with the family.
7pm: Head to constituency for meeting with grassroots leaders, followed by Meet-The-People Session.
12:30am: End of MPS. Head home. My wife staysp up for me. (At night) I surf the Internet, clear a few more e-mails. Sometimes, if I have time, I go running, 5 to 8 km around the neighborhood.
2am: Sleep

The typical taxi driver must feel real guilty about driving only 10 hour shifts to pick up fares. Or the chicken rice seller standing on his feet the whole day, day after day. Even the Ah Soh picking up empty cans and cardboard must surely shed a tear for the hard working minister.