Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore were ranked top of Transparency International's 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), all 3 tied with a score of 9.3. Since corruption rears its ugly head in myriad forms, blatant or subtle, it's no wonder this number has been referred to as the "murk meter" in the 5 Nov issue of The Economist. Perceptions, after all, can be so subjective.
One criticism levied is that the Berlin based TI singles out poorer countries since the organisation mirrors the ethos of wealthier nations. And there is their methodology of 13 surveys of experts and business people, which varies from country to country, and over time, making year to year comparisons misleading.
TI claims that a combination of sources measuring the same phenomenon is more reliable than each source taken separately. Their evaluation of the extent of corruption in countries/territories is done by two groups: country experts and business leaders. PERC (Political and Economic Risk Consultancy) is in the business group. It was PERC who once reported that Singaporean wages are higher than that of America and Australia, which then Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan Tony Tan cited to justify the 1 Oct 2003 CPF cut. A cruel cut from which Singaporeans have never recovered. PERC's CEO Broadfoot defended the validity of his company's findings thus: "More often than not, business decisions are made based more on perception than facts." So much for objective professional research.
The other source aggregated for the CPI indicator is provided by country/risk/expert analysts. One of them, Freedom House - Nations in Transit 2010 (FH2010), uses scores derived from pretty tough questions like these:
1. Has the government implements executive anti-corruption initiatives?
2. Is the country's economy free of excessive state involvement?
3. Is the government free from excessive bureaucratic regulations, registration requirements, and other controls that increase opportunities for corruption?
4. Are there significant limitations on the participation of government officials in economic life?
5. Are there adequate laws requiring financial disclosure and disallowing conflict of interest?
6. Does the government advertise jobs and contracts?
7. Does the state enforce an executive legislative or administrative process - particularly one that is free of prejudice against one's political opponents - to prevent , investigate, and prosecute the corruption of government officials and civil servants?
8. Do whistle-blowers, anticorruption activists, investigators, and journalists enjoy legal protections that make them feel secure about reporting cases of bribery and corruption?
9. Are allegations of corruption given wide and extensive airing in the media?
10. Does the public display a high intolerance for offical corruption?
Since we do have members of parliament who collect company directorships like Imelda acquires footwear, or office holders who have benefitted from substantial discounts from property magnates, a perfect score of 10 looks hardly achievable. Question 5 looks particularly dicey.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Famous Last Words
On Oct 29, Shadrake wrote in British Weekly, his "Open Letter to the Singapore Government":
"I am being prosecuted and facing jail for exposing prosecutorial scandals in Singapore – scandals this PAP dictatorship doesn’t want decent Singaporean citizens to know about. "
Well, the 76 year old British certainly had his bravado knocked out of his system when the Singapore court convicted this week him of challenging the integrity of the city state's judiciary in a book criticising its use of the death penalty. Confidently armed with state anointed judicial powers to dish out a custodial sentence or a fine – or both – judge Quentin Loh dangled a carrot in front of the subdued Shadrake, saying he was giving him "a final opportunity to make amends", i.e. now is the time to come to Jesus.
After the court adjourned on Wednesday, the pugnacity in Shadrake was evidently diminished in his neutered choice of words, "I think I've been given a very fair hearing." Faced with a loaded gun at his forehead, even a mendicant professor must be tempted to grovel. Lest we forget, there is the double whammy of the Attorney General's Chambers' separate threat of criminal defamation charges, which carry penalties of up to two years in jail and a fine.
In a prospectus designed to win over sceptical academics about a proposed NUS-Yale liberal arts college, Yale President Richard Levin and Provost Peter Salovey admitted they were "greatly concerned" by the Shadrake case. "It gives us reason to inquire even more deeply to understand how free faculty and students would be to express themselves in scholarly publications, in the classroom and on campus," they wrote.
Shadrake has thus far refused to apologise, saying after the ruling that he would "work out how to do this and satisfy the court". Don't waste time here, you might as well have talked to Hitler about world peace. All that fellow wanted was a piece of Poland, a piece of France, a piece of Russia, etc. What was it that the Old Man once said?
"Repression, Sir, is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love--it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack." (Singapore Legislative Assembly Debates, 4 Oct 1956)
"I am being prosecuted and facing jail for exposing prosecutorial scandals in Singapore – scandals this PAP dictatorship doesn’t want decent Singaporean citizens to know about. "
Well, the 76 year old British certainly had his bravado knocked out of his system when the Singapore court convicted this week him of challenging the integrity of the city state's judiciary in a book criticising its use of the death penalty. Confidently armed with state anointed judicial powers to dish out a custodial sentence or a fine – or both – judge Quentin Loh dangled a carrot in front of the subdued Shadrake, saying he was giving him "a final opportunity to make amends", i.e. now is the time to come to Jesus.
After the court adjourned on Wednesday, the pugnacity in Shadrake was evidently diminished in his neutered choice of words, "I think I've been given a very fair hearing." Faced with a loaded gun at his forehead, even a mendicant professor must be tempted to grovel. Lest we forget, there is the double whammy of the Attorney General's Chambers' separate threat of criminal defamation charges, which carry penalties of up to two years in jail and a fine.
In a prospectus designed to win over sceptical academics about a proposed NUS-Yale liberal arts college, Yale President Richard Levin and Provost Peter Salovey admitted they were "greatly concerned" by the Shadrake case. "It gives us reason to inquire even more deeply to understand how free faculty and students would be to express themselves in scholarly publications, in the classroom and on campus," they wrote.
Shadrake has thus far refused to apologise, saying after the ruling that he would "work out how to do this and satisfy the court". Don't waste time here, you might as well have talked to Hitler about world peace. All that fellow wanted was a piece of Poland, a piece of France, a piece of Russia, etc. What was it that the Old Man once said?
"Repression, Sir, is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love--it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack." (Singapore Legislative Assembly Debates, 4 Oct 1956)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
That Can't Be Our Baby
Peter Lim sure knows how to pick them. First he is conned into making a "sure bid" for Liverpool F.C. Then he splurges S$202 million to acquire a medical centre. Not just any medical centre, but the Thomson Medical owned by Dr Cheng Wei Chen and his family, the same who screwed up an IVF operation.
A Singaporean Chinese was supposed to have her egg fertilized by her Causcasian husband's sperm in a petri dish, only to discover that their bouncing baby had a different complexion, and a definitely different DNA. The whole implantation process was supposedly recorded by CCTV, so the wife can actually see her eggs moved by the embryologist from cold storage to the warm of her womb. Same type of CCTV system Wong Kan Seng used to pin James Gomez for not filing his minority-race candidate application form as claimed during the 2006 General Elections. There's a nice graphic of the In-Vitro Fertilisation process in the morning papers, and a nicer disclaimer by MOH - "MOH provides guideline, but hospitals may have different procedures". And if that does not suffice to waive responsibility and/or accountability, MOH is quoted as saying that theThomson Fertility Centre "has certain procedures that could be improved." Classic taiji.
The director of the Centre for Assisted Reproduction at SGH was surprised by the news, "I believe the labs have very strict procedures, because the guidelines come from the Ministry of Health." Dr Peter Chew was plainly dismayed, "This is bad. It should not happen." Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who recently announced that he was confident to take on a mano-a-mano SMC straight fight, is probably just as sanguine about the lapse in MOH's enforcement of its directives. After all, there were strict procedures at Whitley Road Detention Centre, and Wong Kan Seng is still very much around.
Interestingly, the lady involved is not too upset about the whole SNAFU, and the stranger will not be put up for adoption. Maybe she has been conned by the official propaganda about welcoming foreigners and helping them to integrate into Singapore society. Maybe she just has a big, generous heart.
A Singaporean Chinese was supposed to have her egg fertilized by her Causcasian husband's sperm in a petri dish, only to discover that their bouncing baby had a different complexion, and a definitely different DNA. The whole implantation process was supposedly recorded by CCTV, so the wife can actually see her eggs moved by the embryologist from cold storage to the warm of her womb. Same type of CCTV system Wong Kan Seng used to pin James Gomez for not filing his minority-race candidate application form as claimed during the 2006 General Elections. There's a nice graphic of the In-Vitro Fertilisation process in the morning papers, and a nicer disclaimer by MOH - "MOH provides guideline, but hospitals may have different procedures". And if that does not suffice to waive responsibility and/or accountability, MOH is quoted as saying that theThomson Fertility Centre "has certain procedures that could be improved." Classic taiji.
The director of the Centre for Assisted Reproduction at SGH was surprised by the news, "I believe the labs have very strict procedures, because the guidelines come from the Ministry of Health." Dr Peter Chew was plainly dismayed, "This is bad. It should not happen." Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who recently announced that he was confident to take on a mano-a-mano SMC straight fight, is probably just as sanguine about the lapse in MOH's enforcement of its directives. After all, there were strict procedures at Whitley Road Detention Centre, and Wong Kan Seng is still very much around.
Interestingly, the lady involved is not too upset about the whole SNAFU, and the stranger will not be put up for adoption. Maybe she has been conned by the official propaganda about welcoming foreigners and helping them to integrate into Singapore society. Maybe she just has a big, generous heart.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Move Over, Baghdad Bob
Ng's debut was his vociferous rebuttal of a university finding that foreigners took 75% of new jobs created. Nanyang Technological University economists, Chen Kang and Tan Khee Giap had based their study on publicly available figures from the Manpower Ministry's website. Ng accused them of being "sensationalist, irresponsible and unprofessional", but avoided labelling same of another university don involved in the study, Lim Chong Yah, since latter's daughter is married into the Lee family. According to Ng, 9 in 10 new jobs in Singapore actually went to citizens and permanent residents. In hindsight, we now know how malleable truth can be under the hands of a spin doctor.
He's at it again, this time insisting that polls conducted in 2008 and this year showed 95% of young people are proud to be Singaporean. The Education Ministry had polled 74,000 students in Primary 4 and 6, Secondary 2 and 4 and Year 2 JCs. Ng also claims that "objective surveys to gauge the sentiments from the ground" had consistently shown that the public felt Singapore was a place they belonged to, and would defend (it) if it came under threat.
That was too much even for the normally compliant press, who quoted heavily from a letter from the public:
"I suspect that, not only young Singaporeans, but Singaporeans in general are beginning to feel that way.
My sentiment comes from engaging with friends, colleagues, and National Service buddies on many national issues, in particular the foreign talent policy.
If a crisis or war hits Singapore, it would be very disheartening to see hundreds of thousands of foreigners and PRs ditching Singapore leaving behind 3 million-odd Singaporeans to fend fro themselves."
If the good doctor still happens to be high on spirits, alcoholic medication or otherwise, he should listen carefully to the writer's poignant ending:
"Surely the situation would dampen the Singapore spirit. In the end, Singaporeans would ask: What are we fighting for?
I hope my children will never have to ask me this question."
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Something Is Fundamentally Wrong Here
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, faced with the honest truth from a young student and SAF officer about what's amiss at ground level, had to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here in Singapore.
M K Kang's wife was with her 10 year old son when she flagged down a taxi for Orchard Cineleisure. The cabby drove to Cathay Building instead and had to be redirected to the correct destination. As a South Korean who has been here for 3 1/2 years, she did what Singaporeans normally do, and offered $10 instead of the metered $11.30 for the unwelcomed scenic detour. Cabby got out and threatened to punch her if she did not pay full fare. Surely the minister in charge of public transporation has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
A Puupella's son was bullied and beaten by some students in school. After reporting to the police and the school principal, the police washed their hands and allowed the principal to handle the matter. The school caned the bully and her son - latter for retaliating by pushing back his attacker. Surely the minister in charge of educaiton has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
Third year Republic Polytechnc student Darren Ng was with his friends at Downtown East when a group of 10 teenagers accused him of staring at them. After a brawl that took place just outside a crowded MacDonalds, Darren was hacked with a chopper and subsequently died from multiple cuts to the limbs, back and abdomen. Shopkeepers at Downtown East said they were used to seeing skirmishes in the mall. Surely the minister in charge of public safety has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
Meanwhile welder Dai, who hailed from China in 2008, dragged a fellow Chinese national into the bushes and raped her. After the tumble in the grass, the pair spent half an hour together trying to locate her missing shoes and mobile phone again. Dai was spotted when he returned to the site to look for the phone. Surely the minister in charge of foreign workers has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
M K Kang's wife was with her 10 year old son when she flagged down a taxi for Orchard Cineleisure. The cabby drove to Cathay Building instead and had to be redirected to the correct destination. As a South Korean who has been here for 3 1/2 years, she did what Singaporeans normally do, and offered $10 instead of the metered $11.30 for the unwelcomed scenic detour. Cabby got out and threatened to punch her if she did not pay full fare. Surely the minister in charge of public transporation has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
A Puupella's son was bullied and beaten by some students in school. After reporting to the police and the school principal, the police washed their hands and allowed the principal to handle the matter. The school caned the bully and her son - latter for retaliating by pushing back his attacker. Surely the minister in charge of educaiton has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
Third year Republic Polytechnc student Darren Ng was with his friends at Downtown East when a group of 10 teenagers accused him of staring at them. After a brawl that took place just outside a crowded MacDonalds, Darren was hacked with a chopper and subsequently died from multiple cuts to the limbs, back and abdomen. Shopkeepers at Downtown East said they were used to seeing skirmishes in the mall. Surely the minister in charge of public safety has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
Meanwhile welder Dai, who hailed from China in 2008, dragged a fellow Chinese national into the bushes and raped her. After the tumble in the grass, the pair spent half an hour together trying to locate her missing shoes and mobile phone again. Dai was spotted when he returned to the site to look for the phone. Surely the minister in charge of foreign workers has to admit, something is fundamentally wrong here.
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