Goh Chok Tong had his ostrich head stuck in the sand for so long, he was utterly clueless. Student Lim Zi Rui's spoken words must have jolted him up from his Rip van Winkle slumber, "If this is happening, it is very serious."
Mr Lim's message at the NTU Ministerial Forum on night of 29 October is the writing on the wall that marks the watershed for a new Singapore in the making:
"When I was younger, I was very proud of being a Singaporean. But that was about five, 10 years ago. Five years later, with all the changes in policies and the influx of foreign talent, I don't know what I'm defending anymore."
Many of his men in the SAF had to compete with foreigners for jobs:
"I feel that there is a dilution of the Singapore spirit in youth... We don't really feel comfortable in our country anymore."
Comparing his personal attitude as a SAF officer with his foreign friends:
"I tell them, this is my country. I can't just leave here whenever I want to. You can come and play and work here, but I have to stay here."
Responding to Goh's lame excuse about workers to build HDB flats:
"My friend got engaged, but lost his engagement because he could not afford a HDB flat."
Goh must have been stoned out of his freaking mind when he claims that Singaporeans don't want to reject foreigners:
"My question was, how are we going to help the younger generation feel a sense of belonging to Singapore? I don't think it's about integrating foreigners."
And in case the Senior Minister still wants to play deaf and dumb like the frog worshipped by Lim Swee Say:
"For my part, don't worry about me. I will definitely do something, if I can, for Singapore. But I can tell you honestly that the sentiment on the ground is a bit different."
Those last words must have finally sunk into Goh 's dense skull of his: "If the majority feel they don't belong here, then we have a fundamental problem. Then I would ask myself: What am I doing here? Why should I be working for people who don't feel they belong over here?" Hey dumbnuts, you were never wanted as a seat warmer here in the first place, and you should really be way over there, far away, maybe with your quitter daughter in the UK.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Do As We Say, Not As We Do
They may share the same surnames and political party affiliation, but each seems to have a different idea about the right age to stop work.
Speaking to reporters in Finland, Minister-in-charge of issues of ageing Lim Boon Heng, 63, is suggesting that the Singapore re-employment period to be extended to age 67. He said: "People are healthier and living longer, so they need more money so as to relieve the burden on their children and the Government." To support his thesis, he quotes Germany is increasing its statutory retirement age from 65 to 67 between 2012 and 2029, and Britain will raise state pension age to 66 in 2024 and eventually to 68 in 2044. However, countries do provide for their senior citizen's needs in the twilight years, such as free healthcare and welfare assistance sufficient for 3 meals in a hawker center, food court or restaurant. Just don't count on it in Singapore. For logistics manager Michael Loh, 59, he feels compelled to keep working "until the official retirement age", whatever that is, and accept whatever scraps offered piecemeal to him. Member of Parliament Charles Chong explains why: "we don't have much choice ... because if people are living longer, they won't have enough savings to last for 15 years if they retire when they are just 62 or 65". Longevity is reserved only for the rich.
Meanwhile in Singapore, Lim Swee Say, 56, is announcing plans to make it compulsory for top union leaders to "step down" at age 62. One of the 12 former union leaders who "gave up their post voluntarily" was general treasurer of Union of Power and Gas Employees Mohammed Salleh Kassim, 63, who had to fall in line, rationalising, "It's not wise to hold on to the post till the last day." Not for him the privilege of working longer even if his health permits. If he needs extra income, he'll just have to collect tin cans and cardboard boxes like the rest of the silver haired generation.
One Lim is born in 1954, and the other in 1947. Is it mere coincidence that both are advocating policy changes that are favorable to his own age grouping?
Speaking to reporters in Finland, Minister-in-charge of issues of ageing Lim Boon Heng, 63, is suggesting that the Singapore re-employment period to be extended to age 67. He said: "People are healthier and living longer, so they need more money so as to relieve the burden on their children and the Government." To support his thesis, he quotes Germany is increasing its statutory retirement age from 65 to 67 between 2012 and 2029, and Britain will raise state pension age to 66 in 2024 and eventually to 68 in 2044. However, countries do provide for their senior citizen's needs in the twilight years, such as free healthcare and welfare assistance sufficient for 3 meals in a hawker center, food court or restaurant. Just don't count on it in Singapore. For logistics manager Michael Loh, 59, he feels compelled to keep working "until the official retirement age", whatever that is, and accept whatever scraps offered piecemeal to him. Member of Parliament Charles Chong explains why: "we don't have much choice ... because if people are living longer, they won't have enough savings to last for 15 years if they retire when they are just 62 or 65". Longevity is reserved only for the rich.
Meanwhile in Singapore, Lim Swee Say, 56, is announcing plans to make it compulsory for top union leaders to "step down" at age 62. One of the 12 former union leaders who "gave up their post voluntarily" was general treasurer of Union of Power and Gas Employees Mohammed Salleh Kassim, 63, who had to fall in line, rationalising, "It's not wise to hold on to the post till the last day." Not for him the privilege of working longer even if his health permits. If he needs extra income, he'll just have to collect tin cans and cardboard boxes like the rest of the silver haired generation.
One Lim is born in 1954, and the other in 1947. Is it mere coincidence that both are advocating policy changes that are favorable to his own age grouping?
Don't Make Him Angry, You Wouldn't Like Him When He's Angry
Singaporean lawyer M. Ravi had originally invited the local media to his humble office at People’s Park Centre on Tuesday, to clear up what he claimed were inaccuracies in the MSM reporting of his role and statements made in the ICA case of his former client, U.S citizen Kamari Kenyada Charlton. He was riled when the reporters pressed him to clarify that the issue of Kamari being wanted by the Interpol for an alleged phone scam was conveniently raised only after his visa case made the news.
But what supposedly turned him into an incredible hulk was when he sported a recording device that had been placed surreptitiously on the table. “I told reporters clearly that they could take notes, but they should not make recordings,” said Ravi. He was utterly pissed with their "crooked" journalistic procedure. The same "journalists" alleged that he flung a glass onto his own table, shattering it (the glass, not the table). He did not reach across the table and slap anyone, only prima donna ministers in waiting do that. And no, he didn't turn green and grow 10 feet tall like the Marvel super hero, otherwise the table, and not the drinking glass, would have been smashed up. And the journalists would have made a mad rush run for the exit, instead of waiting for Ravi tell them to get the hell out of his office. Grandma always taught us that guests should never, never over stay their welcome.
Unfortunately for Ravi, as a practicing lawyer in Singapore, he is expected to behave like other lawyers in town, and grovel before the representatives of the official mouth piece. Already, the President of the Law Society, Mr Wong Meng Meng, took immediate action, writing officially to him and the proprietor of the firm he works at, "to seek a full report, on an urgent basis, on what transpired.” You would have thought that Wong could render the professional courtesy of a simple phone call to a fellow solicitor and clear the air a bit, haze or no haze from Indonesian forest fires. Whatever happened to the courtesy campaign in Singapore?
But what supposedly turned him into an incredible hulk was when he sported a recording device that had been placed surreptitiously on the table. “I told reporters clearly that they could take notes, but they should not make recordings,” said Ravi. He was utterly pissed with their "crooked" journalistic procedure. The same "journalists" alleged that he flung a glass onto his own table, shattering it (the glass, not the table). He did not reach across the table and slap anyone, only prima donna ministers in waiting do that. And no, he didn't turn green and grow 10 feet tall like the Marvel super hero, otherwise the table, and not the drinking glass, would have been smashed up. And the journalists would have made a mad rush run for the exit, instead of waiting for Ravi tell them to get the hell out of his office. Grandma always taught us that guests should never, never over stay their welcome.
Unfortunately for Ravi, as a practicing lawyer in Singapore, he is expected to behave like other lawyers in town, and grovel before the representatives of the official mouth piece. Already, the President of the Law Society, Mr Wong Meng Meng, took immediate action, writing officially to him and the proprietor of the firm he works at, "to seek a full report, on an urgent basis, on what transpired.” You would have thought that Wong could render the professional courtesy of a simple phone call to a fellow solicitor and clear the air a bit, haze or no haze from Indonesian forest fires. Whatever happened to the courtesy campaign in Singapore?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The Fun Game Of Musical Chairs
It had to be the last straw. Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng was supposed to have updated parliament, and the interested public at large, how Mas Selamat made it across the crocodile infested Johore Straits. After all, his Home Team boys ought to have had sufficient time for a thorough debrief at Whitley Road Detention Centre. But Wong had nothing new to report. Nada. Zilch. Zip. Zero. Kosong.
Everyone was hoping to hear if Mas Selamat actually made the crossing with the assistance of yellow rubber duckies, or stowed away in one of those second hand submarines brought in by Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew. Or teleported into the Malaysian town of Scudai. The way Goh Chok Tong and gang probably did when they got inside the Cheng San GRC polling station in 1997 without physically being within 200 metres of the polling station, also referred to by then Attorney General Chan Sek Keong as the "safety zone which stretches outwards for 200 metres from the polling station".
It's not a bad deal for Wong. He is now DPM only, less responsibility, and collecting same pay. He can even spend more time at those onsens in Japan with his travelling business buddy Ong and his snooty wife. Whether Shanmugam can do a better job keeping Mas Selamat under lock and key, only time will tell. And do we really need another Minister in the already overstaffed cabinet? As full Minister, Lui will be assigned 24 hour Gurkha sentries at his private residence, on top of the other perks. It's good those guys are tall, they can carry the aquaphobic Minister across the flood waters whenever it rains heavily.
The PM must have missed out on musical chairs during his deprived childhood. "This reshuffle is a minor adjustment," he said in typical euphemism.
Everyone was hoping to hear if Mas Selamat actually made the crossing with the assistance of yellow rubber duckies, or stowed away in one of those second hand submarines brought in by Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew. Or teleported into the Malaysian town of Scudai. The way Goh Chok Tong and gang probably did when they got inside the Cheng San GRC polling station in 1997 without physically being within 200 metres of the polling station, also referred to by then Attorney General Chan Sek Keong as the "safety zone which stretches outwards for 200 metres from the polling station".
It's not a bad deal for Wong. He is now DPM only, less responsibility, and collecting same pay. He can even spend more time at those onsens in Japan with his travelling business buddy Ong and his snooty wife. Whether Shanmugam can do a better job keeping Mas Selamat under lock and key, only time will tell. And do we really need another Minister in the already overstaffed cabinet? As full Minister, Lui will be assigned 24 hour Gurkha sentries at his private residence, on top of the other perks. It's good those guys are tall, they can carry the aquaphobic Minister across the flood waters whenever it rains heavily.
The PM must have missed out on musical chairs during his deprived childhood. "This reshuffle is a minor adjustment," he said in typical euphemism.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
That $8 Bill For Surgical Bypass In Singapore
Whatever his noble intentions, be it attracting more foreigners, making a sales pitch for MediShield, promoting the medical tourist business, or plain electioneering plug for the wonderful job the MIW is doing for the country, you can't escape the fact that Khaw's claim amounts to false advertising.
The used-to-be credible Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan ("if everyone were to be like Mrs Lee, this planet would be heaven") proudly declared: "My out-of-pocket expense for the hospital bill was $8 only". Khaw was referring to his bypass surgery, and no, he did not disclose the itemised bill. He did say his hospital expenses were largely covered by MediShield and a private Shield supplement. What he did not reveal was the accumulated sum of the insurance premiums he had been shelling out for a rainy day. Or that, as a civil servant, he is entitled to more medical freebies than the average Singaporean slaving in the private sector. Khaw takes delight to boast in his blog that after the 2008 MediShield reform, the MediShield payout was raised from 56% of large hospital bills to 66%, a 10%-point increase. What he did not mention were the various increases in medical charges and cost of medication since that year. It's the same old pay and pay system, jack up the tariffs, then offer the paltry rebates.
Insurance is a convoluted business. How many realise that many policies do not cover tumours that are benign, non-malignant or pre-malignant and non life-threatening? The 21 definitions of the main critical illnesses set out by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) include this: "A non-malignant tumor/cyst in the brain, cranial nerves or meninges within the skull, resulting in permanent neurological deficit that has persisting symptoms" - meaning, tumors in the pituitary gland and angiomas are not covered. It's a truism about insurance that says you win only when you really lose. And when you're gone, the money goes to somebody else. Will you be really rejoicing that you have stage 4 cancer and your premiums have been up to date?
The used-to-be credible Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan ("if everyone were to be like Mrs Lee, this planet would be heaven") proudly declared: "My out-of-pocket expense for the hospital bill was $8 only". Khaw was referring to his bypass surgery, and no, he did not disclose the itemised bill. He did say his hospital expenses were largely covered by MediShield and a private Shield supplement. What he did not reveal was the accumulated sum of the insurance premiums he had been shelling out for a rainy day. Or that, as a civil servant, he is entitled to more medical freebies than the average Singaporean slaving in the private sector. Khaw takes delight to boast in his blog that after the 2008 MediShield reform, the MediShield payout was raised from 56% of large hospital bills to 66%, a 10%-point increase. What he did not mention were the various increases in medical charges and cost of medication since that year. It's the same old pay and pay system, jack up the tariffs, then offer the paltry rebates.
Insurance is a convoluted business. How many realise that many policies do not cover tumours that are benign, non-malignant or pre-malignant and non life-threatening? The 21 definitions of the main critical illnesses set out by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) include this: "A non-malignant tumor/cyst in the brain, cranial nerves or meninges within the skull, resulting in permanent neurological deficit that has persisting symptoms" - meaning, tumors in the pituitary gland and angiomas are not covered. It's a truism about insurance that says you win only when you really lose. And when you're gone, the money goes to somebody else. Will you be really rejoicing that you have stage 4 cancer and your premiums have been up to date?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
