Kaffein-nated

Why don't you be the first to 'kee chiu'?

2012-01-16T17:10:00.002+08:00

I read with bemusement at what Acting Minister Chan 'Kee Chiu' Chun Sing had said (see article below and in Today).

This is my response to him:

It is so easy for you to waive away the real reasons for joining politics. You are after all on the winning side - the incumbent party that forms the majority of the government. And the grossly overpaid minister.

In case you had forgotten your status, let me remind you - you are already in a position to command the astronomical sum of salary as a minister and receiving that sum of money every month. You are probably one of those who beams with delight whenever you receive your CPF statement.

Yet you trumpet exactly like someone who eats abalone daily and goes about boasting "I don't really need to eat abalone".

*sarcasm on* Gee, you really are so full of humility. *sarcasm off*

Here is my suggestion -
Why don't you grow some 'balls' and volunteer "I really am into joining a team that is not in it for the money. I, hereby declare today that I will take a salary of SGD250,000 annually."

*muted silence* Hello, anyone from PAP camp? *muted silence*

Why don't you be the first to 'kee chiu' and lead by example?

Like the army lingo goes - don't just 'talk cock, sing-song'; talk also must 'walk the talk'. If not it is just NATO (no-action, talk-only). Talk is free and cheap.

Translate: Simply means 'walk the bloody talk', can?!!

Frankly speaking Minster Chan, sir, no offence here -
I lost a huge chunk of respect for you when I heard your maiden speech during the General Elections 2011 last year. I felt you were trying too hard to impress and you definitely did not grow on me.

I was advised to give you time to prove your worth.

With these words you had mouthed in the article, in one fell swoop whatever opportunities and chances of changing my perception were lost. I would not even want to mention your name after this post again.

To me, you are just similar to many-a-mouthpiece I have been listening to all my life. You all come from the same cookie-cutter, 'manufactured source'.

Tell me something new, Minister Chan. If you think I have erred in my words, prove me wrong.

But before that, allow me to predict what the Salary Review outcome in Parliament will be:

Motion passed to accept the Salary Review Committee's recommendation

Is there anything new?

Just like the Transport Fare Review Committee. Just like the recommended $125mil flood map system. Just like "GST to help the poor".

Tell me something new and prove me wrong.

Kee chiu, anyone?
* 'Kee chiu' in Hokkien dialect means 'to raise a hand and volunteer'.

Point of note:
Spare me from your everyday examples like eating at hawker centres. Seriously you PAP suck big time at these because you sound so disconnected these days.

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Political salaries: The key is to find the 'right balance'
Monica Kotwani

SINGAPORE - Pay is not an issue for the team in government, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing said yesterday as political salaries took centre stage in the first ministerial community visit held since the General Election.

This has been his experience, he said, when asked whether the expected cut in ministerial pay would make ministers less motivated.

He said: "I don't think any one of them comes here for the money. They come here to provide a better life for the next generation ... One of the reasons I stepped forward was because I knew I was joining a team that was not here for the money."

The key is to find the right balance, he added.

"Money shouldn't be the one (factor) to attract them. On the other hand, money should also not be the bugbear to deter them," he said.

"(For example,) you go to Peach Garden, you eat the S$10 XO Sauce chye tow kuay (fried carrot cake), you can be quite happy, right? Because you're satisfied with the service and so on.

"On the other hand, you can go to a hawker centre, even if they charge you S$1.50, you might not want to eat it if the quality isn't good." (read more)

Sick joke?

2011-11-12T12:52:00.001+08:00

I read the recent article by ChannelNewsAsia "Smaller flats do not mean lower quality of living: HDB CEO" (link here).

The first question that popped into my mind was why are we always told what is good for us?

I have always bemused - why are Singaporeans always told we are not doing enough for Singapore in spite of the sacrifices, and when will we be good enough for the country?

Whenever the PAP or some ministries want to push a policy or make a new normal, there will always be reports of how good it is.

What is your agenda, Dr Cheong, seriously?

For example when the PAP wanted to implement GST, there were waves after waves of articles and reports from financial analysts, economic gurus and intellectual professors who will give their $0.02 worth of knowledge - why GST is good for Singapore.

Ultimately it boils down to 'GST is to help the poor'.

All my life in Singapore, it has never been the PAP's fault when something screws up. It has always been us, the surf citizens. To them, we are the big problem. They are the cure. We do not follow their policies well enough thus the PAP has to make hard-line polices and bitter medicine. For our good, they say.

We don't pro-create, we put too much emphasis on our careers, we want good lifestyle, we want to own a car, we want to get a flat, etc.

But pause a moment and think about it. All these issues we are currently facing can be traced back to bad PAP policies.

Take for example, emphasis on careers. The drive during the 80s and 90s was to be No 1 in everything. When I say everything, it literally means everything. Second is not good enough.

From education hub to financial hub to tourist hub, we had to be the best. Best airport, best seaport, best education system, best politicians (where we had the salary reviews and hikes) and best worker (increase of productivity, cheaper and better and faster).

There were strong undercurrents by the powers-that-be to sell the top professions of doctors, lawyers and engineers. All these were to line graduates up to meet to the economic demands and growth. Every mother's son want to be some scholar, doctor or lawyer. Even my brother was not spared. Anyway I have always been the odd one out but that's a different story.

Another example, owning a place to live. The PAP had a good and well-thought out approach. Every Singaporean will own a flat to live in. A very noble approach and aspiration. At the back of my mind though, I always thought it was for them to take back the kampong lands to free up space.

With the explosive escalation of HDB prices and long waiting queues before getting married (ROM first then ceremony later), our young couples had to work hard to put a down payment for flats they have yet to live in.

Mind you, after a couple of years, who wouldn't want a more reduced pace and enjoy the finer things in life when they have achieved a certain level of income?

With kids coming into the picture, this becomes a whole new ballgame. There is another set of challenges like who will mind the babies while they work, the increase of household expenses, the lack and difficulty to travel abroad and sit back and enjoy the finer things in life. These contribute to getting married later in life so as to enjoy a bit more before the challenges set in.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not saying there are no joys in having kids. I have one daughter for the matter. But with the high cost of living expenses and housing prices, how does anyone expect these young couples to pro-create or start a family? Then we have this discrimination against pregnant mothers... gosh that's another lousy manpower policy that hardly protected expecting mothers.

Not long after we have this ex-PM Woody who sold the Singapore dream of 5Cs. Let's all say together - Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium and Country Club membership.

Now would not every young person want to achieve a status in life when my PM is encouraging young Singaporeans to pursue their dreams of 5Cs?

Back to the Today article. We now have this CEO of HDB trying to tell us how to live. Smaller is better, she says, because family nucleus is small.

I'm sorry, lady, I don't buy your bullsh*t. If it is so, why are we paying sky-high monies for a 20 or 30-year loan to get a smaller area that is only leased to us for 99 years?

Is this a sick joke? Perhaps I can second-guess your underlying words and agenda.

Basically this is going to be the new normal for HDB; this is your cue to build new smaller flats. With the justification of smaller area units, HDB can now build and squeeze more units into a block of flat and suck up more of our CPF monies.

This is not meant to be offensive. But sometimes jokers do talk a lot of crap.

Just like 'GST is to help the poor'.

Thanks for the memories

2011-11-03T14:20:00.001+08:00

For the oldies and goodies, here is an article (link here) which will definitely stir up nostalgic memories... memories of a bygone era where life was simple and slower with less 'noise'. Defintely not boring though!

I recently visited a toy museum of the 60s and 70s near Arab Street. There is a small entry fee which I felt was worth every cent. I spent a good one hour there, reminiscing the past. I think it's called the Children Little Museum (link). Photos coming soon.

Address: 40 Kandahar Street Singapore 198895 (near arab street)

I remember we used to make games from ice-cream sticks, rubber bands, plastic bags, match-boxes, drink cans, etc. That was until Game & Watch and Donkey Kong came out.

A few mentions which were not captured in the article:

10 cents gum bottle (usually either red or blue) with a white cap and a glue stick underneath the cap.
Pencil boxes with Gundam or other Japanese cartoon characters. The pencil boxes comes with many hidden compartments and was overlaid with buttons that when pressed will either unlock the hidden drawer or pop a door.
Tube of gluey, sticky paste that comes with a short, yellow stick to blow. Cover one end of the stick with the paste to blow a balloon which looks like a soap bubble.
Skipping classes to go game arcades with prominent 'School uniforms are prohibited' signs. I had to steal away home clothes in my school bag and change into them at a nearby toilet. The games cost 20 cents to play.

Thanks for the memories.

Totally disconnect

2011-10-28T14:39:00.005+08:00

Recently I read a blog titled "PAP: Stay Arrogant, Stay Clueless" (link here).

It sums up my thoughts about the recent parliamentary session which led to a conclusion that either Singapore has super-smart ministers and PAP MPs whom we can never understand their polices or thinking, or I have smart-ass ones who are absolutely clueless about the man on the street.

It gets even funnier when I read comments from die-hard PAP supporters. It always cracks me up. Usually these fall along the lines of:

Singaporeans are arrogant. We should not take the current government for granted.
Don't just criticise but provide alternative solutions.
Flippant choice of first or third world countries, depending on subject discussed

First and foremost, the general Singaporeans are NOT taking anyone for granted even less so of the PAP government. Most of us are grateful for what they had sacrificed and done over the past 20-30 years when Singapore was just a teeny weeny swampy island.

But we have to learn to let bygones be bygones. There was an era where we survived the risk of isolation and rejection. That said, it is now futile to keep talking about the past when the very present situation has general Singaporeans struggling to survive or fuming about the high cost of living. All these racial riots and communism unrests have their places in in the 60s history.

For the love of the country, I'd strongly suggest keeping those memories there. In the past. I agree we should (and rightly so) glean wisdom and learning points from these unfortunate events but hey, we really have to move on in restrospect of what the current present situation holds and looking ahead to what the future has in store.

To put it bluntly I call this reminiscing of the past - fear-mongering. Time and time again, my PAP ministers use these historical references to bring about fear of what may happen. We are certainly living in a different time compared to our forefathers' era. The rehashing of our past cripples our forward thinking. It becomes blatantly clear whenever the public attempts to connect with the government on pressing issues or when the opposition members question the current policies, someone from the PAP club is certain to preach about our history.

And this leads to one of the main grouses - we, the public, have been trying to reach out to you by voicing our concerns but you diss us with your 'I know it all due to our track record' attitude.

Having said that, you throw in the spanner with 'don't just criticise but provide solutions'.

Allow me to speak straight into your face. Pay me your million bucks and I'll provide you solutions. How often have you made a collaborative attempt to include our voices into your policies? It is always 'bad medicine is good for you'.

In most solution-delivery processes, one must first understand gather the customers' requirements and needs before attempting solutioning.

In simple basic English - LISTEN. Yet time and again, the PAP-controlled government trips up this simple step. We are often recipients of their high-handed remarks. Quite some time ago someone called us 'daft' and in recent times we need 'spurs in our hides'. Your often haughty, one-rule-applies-to-all policies are shafted down our throats with a 'listen up or ship out' statement.

When we tell you large number of Singaporeans are migrating out, you call us 'quitters'. When we tell you the large foreign influx is affecting our lives, you chide us for not being inclusive and in dire need of a social integration mindset. And you kick off programmes to socialise or celebrate their festivals with our monies.

Gee have you been listening? Your thrust of messages is always we need to do something or we are not good enough. This brings about resentful feelings and apathetic responses in our everyday lives. The icing? Your 'we know it best' attitude brings out the worst of you.

Can you the PAP pause and listen to your citizens who are also your customers? For once take a step back and pay attention. Fundamentally we pay you so you had better 'shut your gap' and listen more.

Yet I'm sure we have these 'die-hard' supporters who still swear by PAP even at the face of death with a gun pointing at their heads. I'd reckon the fart from the posterior end of my highly-esteemed godfather is perfume to their nostrils.

So I give you these words mouthed by my 'smarter than thou' ministers and MPs before some moron start to write comments to give me their $0.02 worth of bullsh*t.

Housing is affordable.
We are 'deaf' to criticisms.
How much do you want? Three meals in a restaurant, food court or hawker centre?

These are 'hard- to-swallow' statements. Reeks of arrogance that make me cringe and spit in disgust. Now you wonder why you had a sharp fall in your popularity ratings. You blame the social media, you blame the young generation for not being grateful to the PAP, you blame global economic crisis, you blame foreign newspaper trying to do you in, you blame oppositions for getting a better crop of candidates... You blame everyone except yourselves.

Now don't go crying to the public asking for alternate solutions when you the PAP did not even bother take time to listen from the beginning.

Last but not least, it never fails to irk me whenever a PAP leader or bootlicker flippantly choose between a first-world or third-world country to bring home a point.

To support their million-dollar salaries, they point to CEOs and top leaders of large corporations when I have the US president earning ONE-FOURTH of your salary! And mind you, he has to handle a lot more than you.

Firstly he manages a country many times over the size of Singapore. He deals with global crisis, implementing policies affecting millions of people and banks. His word moves or tumbles the world economy. He and his team handles catastrophic events of earthquakes and hurricanes. And my minister can't even handle minor flash floods.

Gee I think the US president has a pretty bad deal. No wonder a spokesman from the White House once quipped that he would not mind working in Singapore as a government official.

Then you PAPpies go about saying that the leaving presidents of US and UK have offers to give speeches and write books. Seriously apart from Lee Kuan Yew, I wouldn't give a hoot about my ex-president's book.

Why? Because I have absolutely no idea what he has been doing in spite of his four-million-dollar annual salary. I kinda linked him to 'holding babies', shaking hands and taking photos. Pretty expensive job, eh?

And the happiness index raised by the opposition member Sylvia Lim (fantastic speech by the way, God bless her soul). She aptly reminded the government to re-focus on the needs of the people.

What do my PAP politicians say? They put third-world Bhutan country down and alleviate their status about how good Singapore is because of their efforts.

Goondu or what? Are you opposing for the sake of opposing the opposition? You guys seriously ought to have your heads examined.

After watching some clips of the parliamentary seating, some of you left a very sour taste in my mouth

This is your second chance, Singaporeans

2011-08-22T22:24:00.002+08:00

GE2011 is passed. Whomever we have voted, we live with the results of our votes for the next five years. The elected person(s) hopefully will stand for you and represent you in parliament.

That is your concerted declaration. That is your majority decision. That is your collective voice. We, Singaporeans live with the result.

I can only remind ourselves - do we remember the promises made before the elections? When the elections were over and the din settled, did we see the changes we desired? Or are we now beset with a transport hike and utilities increase in a looming uncertain time? Where is the salary review and justification that seems to take ages to announce? Yet hikes were dish-out as if they had decided before the elections had begun, or were they all for show these reviews?

When Singapore's economic outlook foretold good times, we were 'sold' with tales of that high inflation was a global wave and commodity prices and service costs increases were certain. Therefore a rise in cost of living is expected. With the global recession looming around the corner again, we are now forewarned that jobs may be lost and futures are uncertain. We need to buck up and stay together.

All good and wise words. Yet I do not need to be an economic guru to 'foretell' such motherhood statements.

What is more crucial to a man on the street is that the policies enforced by the government and their vision for Singapore's betterment endures through both good and dark times. Not motherhood statements.

Truly Singaporeans, we have been kicked around far too long.

Just two days ago while grocery shopping, I lamented that the food prices displayed on the shelves had increased. I clearly recall that Singapore dollar is still very strong. Does it not mean we ought to have stronger purchasing power to buy imported goods at cheaper prices? Yet I do not see it reflected so but rather saw a higher price in spite of the 'low-price' tag.

For example, a family-sized Cadbury chocolate bar of 200g now cost $4.45 with a 'low-price' tag. I am certain with the strong SGD, it should not be so. I am certain I could even get it cheaper in Australia just on pure SGD-AUD conversion. Baffling, isn't it?

I fail to see petrol prices coming down when crude oil prices are low. Neither do I see cheaper basic food cost like sugar. All the clamour of basic food prices rocketing high were pretty lame as sugar stocks have hit low for quite a while already. Were we sold silly? You bet.

Now we have a chance. A God-given second chance to see a change. A change we want to see.

After which, it will be another 5 years. I doubt we will get another chance like we had in the recent GE2011 - a slew of qualified opposition candidates to give the ruling party a run for their money. Now we have 4 Presidential Candidates to choose from.

Can we sit on the fence hoping for the best to suddenly pop up? Do we not wish someone can hear our voices of displeasure and stand on our side of the fence? Can we vote in a 'group think' president, or even 'neutral' president? Or do we want put a stamp in our time and in this generation to witness a change -

A real change that actually makes a difference.

If not now, when? We have too many 'yes' men and rubber stampers already. We may not get a second chance if we do not vote someone who is passionate, outspoken and radical.

Give weight to these thoughts, my dear readers. Whatever the results show, it will be for the next five years.

That is your concerted declaration. That is your majority decision. That is your collective voice. We, Singaporeans live with the result.

My vote is with Tan Jee Say.

Food for thought:
Can you imagine a finance director signing off a waiver on the discrepancy findings of an audit check? Would you allow the accounts department to manage the company's audit and sign-off on it? Yet we seem allow an ex-GIC chairman who is aware of $50billion worth of lost investments to be a candidate for the second security key of our reserves. In my honest opinion Dr Tony Tan should not even qualify from the beginning. I'd say he is the worst candidate as far as track record shows.

Long working hours but also happy

2011-07-21T13:24:00.004+08:00

Since the 2011 Election I have not had time to blog. The usual personal and family commitments and also the switch to a new job with a new role in a completely new industry took most of my time.

Anyway I came across this article posted in 24/7 Wall St (read here) which was written quite some time back in June. The title was 'The 10 Happiest Countries In The World'. The Better Life Index is based on 11 measurements of quality of life including housing, income, jobs, community, education, the environment, health, work-life balance, and life satisfaction.

Well you know where this blog post is heading. Singapore has had so many issues and disgruntlement. Many unhappiness expressed are related to housing, jobs, health, education, work-life balance and satisfaction in life. Throw in income earnings as well due to how the FT policies have embraced the influx of foreign labour which depressed our wages. Gee... with the past years of flooding incidents, environmental issues are a concern these days too.

To sum that article up Denmark topped the list. Next is Canada, followed by Norway, Australia and The Netherlands. A couple of years ago Lee Kwan Yew took a dig at Denmark (see here). I wish he hadn't done that. Denmark till today has a continued success in birth rate and happy citizens. It makes us look so petty and silly right now.

Least to say Singapore was definitely NOT in the list but Australia was. Interestingly according to another article found on the same website, it listed the top 14 workaholic countries (read here). Australia was ranked #2 country with the longest working hours! Ahem, I didn't see Singapore in the list.

I have lived in Australia and I know the Melbourne folks generally continue to work from home after office hours. Either the article is skewed or nobody gives a sh*t about Singapore. Currently Australia's birth rate is at a healthy figure (as compared to Singapore) and like it or not, she is ranked #4 in the Happy Countries list. Unfortunately I can't say that for Singapore.

That goes to show that people can work long hours and yet be happy and productive (both at work and family). This is especially so when they enjoy a good, sustainable income (minimal wage perhaps) with supportive social system in healthcare, housing and retirement.

For all that my ministers and MPs 'sales talk' to try to convince me, I'd say it's a whole lot of bullsh*t. I think Singaporeans have been led for a long, long time. We have been totally cowed under a tightly-controlled regime and immovable education/academic system that bring us nowhere in life. If our education system is so good, why are our ministers' sons and daughters going overseas? Why are foreigners taking top positions in companies?

This authoritative-type of ruling tells us what we ought to think, how we ought to act and what we ought to do. The result? We are generally incapable of thinking smartly and creatively (look no further than the recent Lady Gaga steal for NDP song. It should put any doubts to rest), we hesitate to test new boundaries because we do not challenge the norm, and we are crippled with fear to reach new horizons because failure is not an option.

Seriously looking back at the past decade, though we have progressed in infrastructural developments, we hardly progressed in ideas and mindset.

There is an online joke about putting two men with a beautiful woman on an island (read here). The Singaporean men needs the government to tell them what to do. How true but sad indeed...

The Happiest Countries In The World (taken from the website)

What makes people happy? The question, which has been debated by philosophers for centuries, now is being tackled by international bureaucrats and the results are interesting, to say the least.

24/7 Wall St. analyzed the new OECD Better Life Index to objectively determine the happiest countries in the world. The Index is based on 11 measurements of quality of life including housing, income, jobs, community, education, the environment, health, work-life balance, and life satisfaction. We made “life satisfaction” the cornerstone of our index because it is as good a proxy for “happiness” as the survey provides. We then compared “life satisfaction” scores to the other measurements to find those economic and socio-political realities that had the highest and lowest correlation to happiness.

Read The Happiest Countries In The World

The happiest people in the developed world get loads of social services without having to work too hard. Having abundant natural resources, a thriving services sector and a fairly homogeneous population helps as well. The OECD study no doubt would have had different results had it included politically unstable countries in the Middle East or large emerging economies where political unrest threatens to bubble over such as China.

24/7 Wall St. also looked at one critical factor that the OECD study overlooked — economic stability. Our measure of this was total national debt as a percent of GDP. The figure helps determine a country’s ability to maintain present tax levels and social services. Odds are that countries with high debt-to-GDP ratios are more likely to need austerity policies to reign-in their government spending. Otherwise, their debt costs will soar.

Nations with long-term economic strength can also afford to support employment, education, and make health care widely available. Happiness viewed in this way means that people are more likely to feel better about themselves in Norway, which has almost no debt and great social services, than in Greece, which must slash entitlement spending or risk defaulting on its debt.

Old, stable nations of northern Europe took five of the top 10 spots on our list. These include Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark. Switzerland is also on the list and has many characteristics in common with the Scandinavian countries. The resource-rich, English-speaking countries of Australia and Canada made the cut as well. Noticeably absent from the list are any OECD nations in Latin America, southern and eastern Europe and Asia. Many of the southern European nations like Greece, Portugal, and Spain are in economic trouble and have high unemployment. The employment and education opportunities are not as good in Mexico as in Canada, nor is the access to high-quality health care. Japan and South Korea each have stable societies, but the people in both countries tend to work long hours and have limited leisure time.

The happiest countries seem to be places where there is a good balance of work and leisure time. Not all nations can afford to keep unemployment low through government subsidies. Not all countries can afford to provide universal medical coverage. Not all countries can afford to educate almost all of their children, which in turn supports extremely high literacy rates and builds a population of skilled workers.

The ten nations on this list are rich in natural resources or highly developed service sectors. These are assets which are in short supply worldwide, and that bolsters the foundations of the economies in these countries. Money alone doesn’t buy happiness, but it sure helps.

This is the 24/7 Wall St list of the Ten Countries With The Happiest People, most of which have bought and paid for prosperity because their economies have allowed them to do so. (Read more)

Don't provide us with more ammunition

2011-04-27T15:19:00.011+08:00

These days PAP seems to provide free ammunition for the opposition, netizens, online community and bloggers. The more they try, the worse it seems. Many of us have to work, mind you. We can't keep on blogging.

We are having a field day online seriously. I have never seen so many online postings. Go check out the 'Other Reads' links on my right.

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PAP supporters I know are now questioning the policies implemented since the last two elections (eg, GST increase, transport hikes, foreign talent policy). They are also mocking the quality of the new candidates (seriously Tin Pei Ling, Chua Chun Sing anyone?) and are baffled by the demeaning words of their Ministers and MPs. Now our PM Lee dishes out the old trick of fear-mongering.

One thing is certain - PAP is no longer the people's choice. Allow me to analyse a few examples.

#1

PM Lee: No by-election if PAP loses a GRC (Read Straits Times here)

IF A GRC is lost at the May 7 General Election - and a Minister along with it - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong does not plan to call a by-election to try and get him elected and back into government, he told the Lianhe Zaobao Chinese daily.

'Elections are a serious thing,' he said in an interview published on Tuesday 'The voters have decided, and we will accept the voters' decision.'

He added that voters, too, would have to live with the consequences of their choice to turf a Minister out.

'There are no safety nets in real life. So it's best not to take the risk.'

It is the sole reason that an election is serious thing that we have now more opposition candidates of high calibre and better credentials. Some of whom were high-flyers in the civil service.

It has got little to do with what you and your ministers claim that Singapore has increased in educational level and her people are more widely travelled. Why do you deceive yourself? If that is so, you would have attracted them into your party. Perhaps many have travelled widely enough to know they have been led by their noses all along.

All due respect, sir, your leadership and party had time to change. You guys didn't. Even up to this last last juncture, your party is still in denial.

Simply put, we have had enough. Singaporeans have given you grace time and again to prove yourselves deserving to lead us. For the past 10 years you must admit it has been disappointing, global financial issues not-withstanding. All except for Dr Lily Neo whom I have heard so much of her graciousness and I give utmost respect.

With this article you used the dirty trick of 'no safety nets' fear-mongering to prey on the weak-minded - rehashing and reminding your very own people with the spectre of near failures in history to cripple us.

Is that the way forward to a 'thinking society' and treating us like babies? It is very much akin to a mother of old generation telling her son not to go near the water else he drowns.

It stops here, sir. The new media of the internet and online forums reaches many. Readers challenge the norm and demand answers. Yet one by one, your ministers choose to ignore the sentiments on the ground. It is so childish to disable 'comments' and 'dislikes' in their Facebook accounts and yet your manifesto claims open feedback and discussions.

This is how far you have fallen behind.

By the way, pray tell me what 'safety nets' do we as Singaporeans have? By voting in the opposition to challenge your policies, my countrymen and I daresay we stand a better chance of having a 'safety net' for us.

#2

'It's not as simple as waving a wand' - DPM Wong Kan Seng on solving the issues of housing, immigration

Singapore - It is not such "a simple thing as waving a wand" at hot issues like the cost of living, housing and immigration, hoping they will simply disappear.

The measures introduced by the People's Action Party (PAP) Government need time to take effect, said Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.

(read Today full article)

Who created the housing bubble? Who invited foreigners and opened the floodgates for mass migration? Who lacked the foresight to address sky-rocket housing? Who told us housing is still 'affordable'?

Who raised GST? Who promised us Swiss standard of living? Who could have reduced inflation? Who lost billions in investments? Who rewarded themselves with a hefty pay increase and bonuses?

You and your party members did.

You created the mess, now go fix it. Wave your magic wand and make them disappear. You had two terms of a decade (which is a mighty long time in my opinion) to perform your miracle-working wonders, of which I had yet to see any progress. And you gave us half-baked answers and poor accountability to the disappearance of a limping terrorist.

Indeed it is not as simple as waving a wand. Hence we are paying you millions to fix it.

Now you asking us to be sympathetic to your cause, to give you time and ask for my vote. With impending loss at your front door, you now know hollow your words of promises sound. I'll tell you truthfully what will disappear - your millions in salary when you lose your seat and your minister post.

Time is not on your side unfortunately.

(part two coming soon)

You know you are second-class citizens when...

2011-04-22T09:24:00.001+08:00

...my Prime Minister gives credit to foreign workers instead of locals. I was peeved by this sentence when I read his speech during the opening ceremony of IMFlash, a high-tech electronic plant (read here).

"For every one foreign worker, we have created 1.5 local jobs in this project" Should it not be "For every 1.5 locals, one foreigner has a job"?

You, sir, have put the cart before the horse. And that shows a lot about your respect for our citizens. You have no respect and bonding kinship with us. No wonder people lamented that PAP is totally 'disconnected' from the ground.

I have noted that you failed to distinguish how many Singaporeans are actually employed

"Six in 10 of the employees are 'Singaporeans and permanent residents'. Singapore residents also take up two-thirds of the managerial and professional positions," PM Lee mentioned.

Actual Singaporean employees
Out of the six in 10 employees, can we know how many are Singapore citizens? Let me do a minor analysis and hypothetical worst-case scenario:

- Out of 10 employees, 4 are foreigners who holds work permits. That leaves 6 Singaporeans and PRs.
- Out of 6 employees, 1 is a Singaporean while the other 5 are PRs.

But why did I take the worst-case scenario? Because PAP has often hidden the numbers and twist it around to paint a different picture. Just like the media braying that the casinos created 25,000 jobs. How many were given to locals, that is the question.

If 5 out of the 6 employees in IMFlash are Singaporeans or within the company half of the employees (5 out of 10) are citizens, you can bet your bottom dollar that PAP would not want you to miss it even if you close your eyes and cover your ears. They would have crowed and glaringly highlighted it to the tune of "Investment helps create jobs for locals - five out of 10 jobs clinched by Singaporeans".

Singapore residents
Again the second part of his sentence "Singapore residents take up two-thirds of the managerial and professional positions" throws us a curved-ball.

Who are the 'Singapore residents'? Anyone who is a local, PR and one holding a work visa or 'S' pass. And I can assuredly say that most are filled in by foreigners consisting of PRs and temporary residents.

I have no qualms if foreigners come into my country when locals cannot fill the job or special expertise and skills are required.

But when my PM has to hide the details, you know you have been 'second-classed'.

A mystery unto itself - advice to young readers

2011-04-15T16:58:00.008+08:00

Let me share with you, especially to the young readers. This is a real scenario. If you are a Singaporean, you might want to chew on this:

Many Singaporeans I know who had left Singapore to work overseas in Western countries (Australia, US, etc) took huge pay cuts. Some were paid less than 50% of their previous salaries. One of the main reasons cited by the recruitment firms and potential employers was that they did not have enough local experience. I am sharing from my interviewing experience when I migrated to Australia. Though I did not have a pay cut, I knew many did.

Yet many foreign talents (FTs), especially from Western countries, are 'invited' to come into Singapore, attracted by huge salaries plus perks. From a recent newspaper article, many of these FTs (it stated >75% of them) have annual packages of >$180,000SGD. I have even read of one FT with a banking experience of 1+year taking a $7000SGD monthly plus perks, a tidy sum which Singaporeans may take 5-10 years to earn a similar amount.

I want to reiterate - I have nothing against FTs. However does this chap have any local experience?

Our FT policies treat them as if they are 'gold', bringing in so-called wealth of knowledge and skills enough to pay them so much more over. I am no sour grapes but I cringed paying someone so high with hardly any banking experience and worse - not even having local knowledge. I have also met highly-skilled and absolutely wonderful FT individuals in Singapore too.

One thing I don't understand -

Isn't hiring FTs meant keep Singapore cost competitive as often brayed by my ministers? We were told that if we keep asking for higher salaries, we would be edged out of competition by emerging countries like Philippines, India and Vietnam. I remember then PM Goh Chok Tong sharing that ONE Singaporean IT project manager can equate hiring 3-4 project managers from India. Then I wrote to Straits Times (ST) that with his pay of millions, I could have 3 Clinton presidents of much better calibre than any of my ministers. Of course my article wasn't published. And the truth is now project managers from India are not that cost effective. They do command a higher salary these days.

So who got the brunt of his words? I think many believed him and subconsciously put a cap to how much they are worth these days in fear of losing their jobs. I reckon many were hood-winked when the PAP started embracing FT policies. These local people swallowed the bait, line, sinker and fisherman. And his boots too because these ministers pay themselves exorbitant salaries claiming that they are highly sought after in the private sectors. Seriously give me a break!

Locals who went National Service and gave up two years of their prime youth to their country (mine was two and half years of NS, mind you!), studied in our so-called highly sought-after NUS/NTU, strived to make a decent graduate living at starting salaries of $2000-$2,300SGD monthly, and tried to support a family are now thumbed down and disadvantaged by these foreign talents who have no local experience whatsoever. These FTs took up job opportunities who could be filled by locals and also commanded a better pay many times over.

Why would any locals want to live in Singapore? I have never heard of any recruitment firms in Singapore telling an FT that he has to take a lower pay because he does not have local experience. Is this FT chap smarter, more productive or has he clocked more hours? Maybe but I doubt so.

I feel for you, young generation, coming out to work with your degrees and looking wide-eyed with hope and ambition to make it proud in Singapore. I empathise even more so for the next generation.

Unless you make yourself more marketable by going overseas to work for experience (yet maybe taking an intial pay cut but still gaining much more in experience) and come back as an FT, or perhaps emigrate to another country and live, it will be quite a challenge. Seriously.

I balked when my Minister Mah Bow Tan shared a vision of 6.5 million population in Singapore. With the stress and pressure to compete academically with FTs invited by the our government, doing NS and reservists but not compulsory to FTs (again!), and graduating and competing jobs with FTs (yet again!) and being edged out, I think you may have it going tough. I have just been to Japan. I admire them for keeping their Japanese people and culture and employing FTs where and when necessary.

So while young, spirited and without family commitments, grab opportunities that offer to work outside of Singapore. Look, feel, see and live life. Experience what it is like to be in another country, another environment. Not all is perfect I must warn you but one thing you have which I have lamented when in Singapore is -

Having an option and a choice.

This is often much lacking in Singapore. Be it in the music or arts, academic or trader work, excel in your passion. Even if you fail, there is a still a choice how you want your life to be.

In Singapore, it may well be like a caged hamster wheel as coined by Insane Polygon so aptly (link here).

---
On a separate note, reading these recent quotations published in MSM (mainstream media) make me want to puke!

When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one came back to thank him." - Lim Boon Heng, commenting that being an MP is a thankless job.
Verily, verily, Jesus did not did not ask for millions, He just healed them all. For free. Can you?

"They have full rights to participate in the debate, all debates. They can argue, they can establish themselves and they belong to political parties. These are not independents,’ - PM Lee Hsien Loong on NCMP scheme to ensure ‘opposition’ voices in parliament.
Right... if they can debate and shout till the cows come home but not have a single vote to action our voices in parliament, what are they there for again? I feel you are treating us with this contemptous "yeah, I'm listening but no thanks" attitude again. One which I detest very much.

"So if you think there is groupthink, that is one example you can quote – there is no groupthink." - Lim Boon Heng, who also had to toe the party line when he disagreed with some polices.
No 'groupthink'? Indeed, and there is no 'whitehorse' either. All figments of our imaginations. Minister, sir, you had the opportunity to stand up and make a difference. You didn't.

"Two-party system not workable here" - PM Lee, who had to spend time and effort to 'fix' the opposition in parliament.
We must be the most uniquely democratic country in the world. But it sure sounds eerily familiar to a dictator speaking in my humble opinion.

Wake up to the new media

2011-03-31T11:54:00.013+08:00

Read this online (link here).

New faces flamed online
But they say they will focus on working the ground for elections
By Rachel Chang & Robin Chan

NEW People's Action Party (PAP) candidates may have been prepared beforehand for a frosty reception in cyberspace, but the speed and malice with which some of them are being picked apart online have come as a shock.

Within days and sometimes hours of their introduction to the media as PAP candidates, private pictures and even court documents have been dug up and disseminated online, and forums lit up with debate and speculation.

Although the new candidates admit that the sound and fury of cyberspace has taken them aback, they say they are trying to tune out the most vicious comments and focus on working the ground for the coming general election.

The two female candidates introduced thus far have been the subject of the most intense scrutiny online.

Pictures from the Facebook account of the PAP's youngest female candidate, 27-year-old business consultant Tin Pei Ling, showing her posing with a Kate Spade shopping bag or with her husband on holiday, were posted on various websites and blogs.

Netizens have also raged over her young age, and alleged that her being fielded was due to her husband's position as principal private secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In the case of Ms Foo Mee Har, the Standard Chartered banker, an application for a bankruptcy order against a Mr Bernard Chan, who netizens claim is her husband, has spread to various forums.

The fact that she became a Singaporean only in 2008 has also come under heavy fire online.

When I carefully read the ST article, I came to a few observations and conclusions:

Unprepared for the backlash and online flames
The PAP came nowhere close to being prepared online - frosty or flame-grilled, steamed or stir-fried. Else the article would have been titled "New faces flamed online but we are prepared", and it would not follow "But they say they will focus on working the ground for elections".

This is a typical response when one is 'caught when pants down' but choose to be nonchalant. In order words "Let's move on".
.
Monkey see, monkey do
Let's be frank, the ruling party has time and again used the main stream media (MSM) to publicise its good image and propaganda works, eg abolone porridge. And the same medium is used to smear opposition parties and candidates.

I would not forget Tan Lead Shake the slipper-man and the James Gomez saga. Oh I'd thrown in the scrutiny pressure of Presidential candidate Andrew Kuan, and the heaps of scorn and 'insanity' of Dr Chee Soon Juan. In addition the recent fallouts between Desmond Lim and SDA, and the 'disintegration' of the Reform Party.

Pot call the kettle black, eh?
.
Newbies and rookies
Allow me get this straight - I have nothing against young MPs. But seriously why don't you put these rookies or 'newbies' into a single-ward member constituency contest?

If they win, hey it's the people's choice! A soaring phoenix emerges strong from the baptism of fire. They are worth their salt and dollars paid! However I reckon these newbies (a derogatory remark termed specially by ST for new opposition candidates but called new PAP candidates - new faces) will hide behind the coat-tails of their heavy weight masters in GRCs.

Don't be surprised when the online community provide them their own version of the baptism of fire.

I pondered - what does this 27-year-old candidate Miss Tin know about raising a family, life's hardship and 'bread and butter' issues? Life's journey often do not come from books or teachings. Principles that I adhere to strongly 10 years ago are no longer relevant to me now. But some of them came at a high price, or steep learning curve.

Rookie? You bet. In my view being married to the principal private secretary of the PM keenly puts a wedge of divide between the people and the eliteness of the candidate. Nothing personal, I hope :P

The other candidate Ms Foo may be someone more suitable. However she might have arrived at a wrong time when foreign talent/labour uproar and new citizen issues are heated topics. Just like a boiling soup spilling over. Locals have criticised that they felt sorely disadvantaged with National Service, missed opportunities and jobs lost but taken by these foreigners. Add in spicy ingredients like foreign talents who treat the Singapore passports like trash - they take it up only to give it up again at a blink of an eye.

So there we have it - hot, spicy curry soup with wasabi-flavour. Yucks!
.
Truth be told
Whatever letters we write (at least I do but never got published) to the ST have been edited and often the contents or intents changed. Whatever government forums we feedback to tend to be lost in translation. So this new media has become a platform to vent unhappiness and dissatisfaction.

Purely because you, PAP, has turned a deaf ear to our words.

Frankly I sense the newspapers trying to play the candidates as cornered puppies while making the netizens look bad and petty. I'd thought these media would have jumped at the chance to broadcast such articles. Hey seriously even baby-faced Kevin Rudd was not spared. I am certain their readership will soar and profit-takings increased with this election coverage! Alas no.

Will the newspapers publish my article? Heh, wake up to the new media... and smell the coffee.

About time for a change

2011-03-22T14:27:00.001+08:00

You know you need a new political climate change when you smile while watching it. This classy video took a dig at the so-called 'clean, white' image of the PAP. The intended pun was subtle yet it drove a strong message.

This is way better than the usual 'I have been around for the past 20 years' slogan that every PAP candidate and member had been practicing and regurgitating... like a pathetic broken record.

Looks like this GE is gonna pose a real challenge to the PAP with this kind of campaigning. About time for a change, don't you think?

We were in Japan when the earthquake hit!

2011-03-19T19:36:00.011+08:00

There are two parts to this post - the first one is my personal account experiencing the earthquake in Japan. The other is a reflection of how the earthquake experience surfaced my true loyalty for my country.

----- Earthquake experience in Japan -----
I am still in Japan, Kyoto. My family is with me. This is our ninth day of our first holiday trip to Japan. I had more than I bargained for.

We experienced the effects of the earthquake on our first day. Having touched down at Narita Airport, we took the Narita Express train to Tokyo. We felt our first tremours when the train stopped at Chiba station, 45 mins away from Narita Airport.

The carriage we were in rattled quite violently. I seriously thought that we were changing lines but it became clear when I looked out the windows and saw lamp posts swaying to and fro! People we all scrambling out of the buildings nearby and there were loud siren sounds.

It was initially exhilarating but we soon realised the severity of the situation. After two hours of waiting in the train, it dawned on the passengers that we were not going anywhere that night. A passenger having mobile access on his laptop shared the news with us.

8.9 magnitude of earthquake had just struck Japan off the coast! Counting back, it was about the time we touched down the airport. Imagine the earthquake hitting Japan while my plane was touching down. Truly thankful to God!

All train services in Japan were suspended and the railway lines disrupted. The good news is that we had heating in the train and we slept on cushioned chairs. Other commuters in Chiba station had to sleep on the floor because they could not get home. It was freezing cold. One of my colleague working in Japan walked 4 hours back home from Tokyo.

The second night was in a guest house. I experienced another bout of tremours when the room started shaking. This happened in the middle of the night. As usual only I was awake. Rachel and missus were rocking in their sleep... snoring. In such situations I know God is with us and I thank Him that we were away from the coastal regions when it hit. Our hearts are with those who had lost their homes and loved ones.

I was told that Japan experiences more than 1000 a year. That is a hefty number but everybody still goes about their daily living as if part and parcel of life.

In spite of this adverse and catastrophic event, the Japanese people were orderly and calm. There were anxious faces but I truly admire their courage and resilient spirit. There was no looting reported or chaotic reactions. Truly organised. And heart-warming too when I heard local citizens offering free lodging to these stricken families. By the way a big BOO to Channel News Asia (CNA) for profiteering on the demise of others. Shame on you!

----- Personal reflection of the earthquake -----
I read the news of foreigners fleeing the country. I can understand their flight. They have nothing to gain out of this calamity. I can also comprehend the Japanese sticking their necks out for their homeland. Especially the 50 Fukushima heroes.

Unfortunately I can imagine how Singaporeans will react in the face of such calamity.

I can imagine a widespread panic. I can imagine my government-welcomed foreigners leaving the country in droves. I can imagine having a national crisis because a lot of these critical jobs had been taken up by foreigners, eg nurses are now leaving the country. I can imagine my ministers telling us to remain calm yet sending their loved ones on the first plane out of the country. I can even imagine looting happening. Interestingly I did not hear any news of looting in Japan.

Sadly I can imagine myself among the throngs of people heading to Changi Airport and lining up at an airline counter.

Before anyone starts a 'higher-than-thou' flamewar on my blog, all I can say is these are my heartfelt words. No use hiding behind a fake loyalty and noble chivalry. We, Singaporeans, are a pragmatic lot... a saying often heard.

Since I am in a reflective mood, I will pen down my honest feelings. I do not know what I am defending as Lim Zi Rui had honestly pointed out.

My Singapore. More than 30% are foreigners in my homeland. I am not sure if the 'kampong spirit' still lives within her shores. Meritocracy rules the day, and a mercenary-spirit lives amongst us. The fittest survive, the goals outweigh the journey. It does not matter if my table-tennis batters are China Chinese as long as we get the gold medals and put our country in the international sports arena.

We employ foreigners where locals could have filled those positions. We pay exorbitant salaries to these foreign talents when we could have fed two to three Singaporean families with the same amount. My president is going to get a hefty pay increase of close to a million and my ministers are looking forward to a huge increase/bonus. My fellow citizens meanwhile have to erk out a living under high inflation and wait for a 30% increase of their wage over the next ten years.

I am told the ministers need to be paid millions and MPs given good money to keep their talents. Yet many of these people have never contested in any elections and represent us by means of walkovers. These people do not need to be challenged with natural disasters, large land mass area of a country spotted with large cities larger than Singapore herself and far between each other. I am told that Singapore is always in a precarious position because she does not have natural resources. Perhaps that itself is a blessing in disguise because these ministers do not need to wreck their brains during such catastrophic events. Pffft, they hardly even know how to deal with a once-in-fifty-year flood in Orchard Road!

I don't know how the Japanese are managing and coping with calamity after calamity. But having visited their country and observing their undaunted spirits, I am convince they will emerge stronger.

In the case of Singapore, I still don't know what I am defending.

I think I cracked a toenail

2011-03-01T14:27:00.004+08:00

The Straits Times reported (link here):

PM: Lower hurdle for opposition parties
Smaller GRCs and more single-seat wards offer more scope for contest
By Elgin Toh and Li Xueying

POLITICAL parties planning to contest the next election have to clear a lower hurdle than at previous polls, the Prime Minister declared on Friday in his first comments on the new electoral map.

He pointed to key changes in the way electoral boundaries are demarcated this time round, in line with guidelines he announced in Parliament in May 2009.

As a result, the average number of MPs per group representation constituency (GRC) has come down from 5.4 to five. The number of six-member GRCs has been whittled down from five to two, while that of single-member constituencies (SMCs) goes up from nine to 12.

'This should lower the hurdle for parties intending to contest the elections,' Mr Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday in comments to the media.

The boundary changes unveiled on Thursday also affect many incumbent MPs, he said. In other words, the changes hit People's Action Party MPs too.

The new boundaries leave the two opposition-held SMCs of Hougang and Potong Pasir intact, but sweeping changes have hit most of the other nine SMCs. Five have been absorbed into GRCs, while eight new ones have been created.

Are we for real? I'd reckon a better man will be silent and take the quiet victory rather than 'whitewash' it and try to look magnanimous. Sheesh... I have never known a political party in power to 'make way' for the opposition. You must have been the first.

Do you think we are daft? But I daresay, your daddy might be right. There will always be daft people who will believe anything.

I wonder aloud after so many hours/days/months spent in dialogged discussions, detailed planning and risk takings, to the final adjustment of the electoral boundaries by the elusive, invisible and the 'I-know-whom-but-you-don't' members of the Electoral Commission...

...the purpose of the redrawing is really to benefit the opposition, or in your own words "to lower the hurdles for contesting parties". Really? *eyebrows raised*

Truth be told - there is nothing much to lower. It took a rock bottom hit when opposition parties' hands are tied and their mouths silenced with defamation. Throw in GRC and gerrymandering and nothing else matters.

From the same mouth who said "the redrawing is to help the opposition parties" bespoke "GST is to help the poor".

Can I believe you? I bet the yes-men will believe anything. They might even agree that 'air coming out from your posterior end' smells like perfume too.

I seriously want to believe you. But my toes are laughing so hard. I think I cracked a toenail.

How about this, Mr Gan KY?

2011-02-23T15:51:00.002+08:00

Reading Today's article on "Higher Levy for Higher Leverage" (see below) baffles me. I fail to see how "higher levies will encourage companies to reduce their reliance on foreign labour and invest in productivity improvements" as quoted by Mr Gan, Manpower Minister.

In the first instance pro-foreign labour policies were drafted out by the Manpower Ministry which you, Mr Gan, and your predecessors had endorsed. The sudden U-Turn can only be related to the coming election. It definitely was not our call to 'invite' these foreigners into our country and then impose levies on them. But then I foresee there will be tweaks again to revert to pro-business post-election.

Don't get me wrong for coming to such a suspicious conclusion. A fair number of policies have been implemented as knee-jerk reactions to garner votes in the past. As a certain minister once said that housing was affordable, only to U-Turn and implement four to five cooling measures after those words. Even so someone said that flooding cannot be prevented, only to have new roadworks and raised ground in the next month thereafter.

Pre-election can do wonders. Post-election however is an entirely different ballgame as many have found out.

Now to higher levies. I wonder who benefits from the increase of levies. The government. Who will transfer the cost of the increase of levies? Hiring companies. Who will get the brunt of the levies' increase? Workers. This will ultimately result in the suppression of their wages. Is this true?

Simple analogy. Just say hiring a local costs SG$1200 in the construction industry (I just said, for example. Don't write, I won't reply) and hiring a foreign labour costs SG$800. With the increase of levy, hiring a foreigner msy now cost SG$1100. So there isn't really much of a difference unless the increase is so high that hiring a local becomes cheaper. So I don't see how this increase of the levy will yield better calls for a local to be hired.

The hiring company probably will depress the foreign labourer's wage to SG$700 to offset the levy increase and meet its total labour cost of maximum SG$1100 payout. A local's expectant wage will have to be adjusted to SG$1000 - 1100 instead of the previous market rate of SG$1200.

I may not have the right figures but assuming I am right in the above example, it can quickly be seen that such an increase of levy did not help a local at all. So why would my minister say that the levy increase will discourage companies from hiring foreigners?

But I definitely know who reaps the largest benefits - the government. In my opinion these levies are free money for them just like ERP and COEs did.

Don't get me going into 'productivity improvements'. Truth be told I have absolutely no idea how 'higher levy' equate into 'productivity improvements'. I seriously think a lot of ministers and MPs ought to have these 'productivity improvements' imputed into their lives if I were to base performance with their last-drawn salaries. Is there a matrix calculation or unit costing to exemplify their productivity? I think not.

Anyway let me suggest a better approach to this 'higher levy towards a higher leverage' quotation.

How about limiting the number of foreigners into Singapore to begin with? That will definitely encourage hiring companies to look for locals.

Next let us increase the levies these firms such that it becomes more expensive for them to hire foreigners than locals. Especially so when a matching skill can be found locally.

Automatically we will not have issues in which locals will be side-stepped. Perhaps we can even give these levies the government had been collecting and integrate it into the local workers' wage structure. Then we will have locals willing to take up such jobs because they pay a decent living.

The whole issue is not because locals are not willing to take up these menial jobs (I don't see this problem in Australia or US), but because the wages are so pathetic that locals would rather find other jobs.

The gist of this article is this -
The increase of levies not only depresses the wages of foreign workers, it does not translate into better wages for locals. It purely fills the government coffers without addressing the angst and doubts of our immigration policies.

And throw in the word 'productivity improvements' to sound complex and confounding. I get the shivers whenever 'divine beings' quote 'productivity' in the same vein as 'globalisation'...

... and 'world peace'. Brrr.

Here is Today's article (link here):

Higher levy for greater leverage
by Travis Teo and Joanne Chan

SINGAPORE - Even as property analysts expect the latest foreign workers levy hikes to push up construction costs, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong reiterated yesterday the move's necessity in order to hasten the Republic's productivity drive.

Speaking to MediaCorp, Mr Gan noted that the higher levies will encourage companies to reduce their reliance on foreign labour and invest in productivity improvements.

Said Mr Gan: "We don't have a lot of time because the other countries are also improving ... If you look at the services sector, for example, we're roughly about 75 per cent of the service productivity in Hong Kong. So we're behind but not too far behind."

He added: "Therefore, we have to step up ... and this is a good time to do that because we had strong economic growth last year."

Acknowledging the concern and anxiety of employers, Mr Gan noted that some companies have taken the productivity drive "seriously" and had implemented relevant measures.

But as for concerns that the higher labour costs will be passed on to consumers, Mr Gan urged companies to rethink their strategies and stay focused on raising productivity.

The construction sector, for instance, has a productivity road map, supported by S$250 million in funding. "But the progress, we believe, can be hastened. It can be speeded up," he said.

Keen competition will force companies to become more efficient, he added.

The latest changes to foreign worker levy rates will be phased in from next January to July 2013 at six-month intervals.

Meanwhile, analysts told MediaCorp that the hike - which will be felt most keenly by the services and construction sectors - will put a squeeze on the margins for construction firms and developers.

They noted that the increases come at a time when the Government has increased land supply and rolled out cooling measures.

Said Chesterton Suntec International head of research and consultancy Colin Tan: "In a rising market it doesn't matter... The problem comes when prices are starting to correct."

The analysts noted that, while it was possible to contain cost increases with improvements in productivity, it would not be easily achieved.

Some companies have shown that one way to counter rising manpower costs in the construction industry is to make the pre-fabrication process more efficient. For example, Tiong Seng Contractors uses lighter materials, such as aluminium, in the production process instead of steel, which is traditionally used.

Another way is to build bigger pre-fabrication components and tap economies of scale.

But improving productivity also requires companies to invest in supervisors and managers. Mr Andrew Khng, president of the Singapore Contractors Association, said: "Productivity is also affected if the middle managers or middle-level supervisors are not trained and if we can't retain them, then the continuity of your productive journey might take a step back."

Another strategy to keep costs in check is to move the pre-fabrication process to nearby countries where labour is cheaper.

For instance, industry insiders point out that the underground tunnels that MRT trains run through are being built in Malaysia.

But gains from productivity improvements may take time to materialise. In the short run, higher construction costs may push developers to set their asking prices higher when launching new properties.

Brilliant con artists or intelligent morons

2011-02-09T22:21:00.006+08:00

Let me share this simply story.

A certain Peter allowed Paul to safe keep his money. When Peter requested it back, Paul not only returned his money, Paul slapped Peter with an interest.

Does this make any sense to you? Does Paul need to charge Peter any interest when it first belonged to Peter? In addition Paul had the luxury to use the money to invest and reap the profits. In fact I'd reckon Paul should pay profit dividends to Peter for using the money.

That is how the stocks of a company work for me and pay me dividends.

As simple as this analogy, I fail to understand how REACH has the decency to propose the ridiculous Individual Unemployment Credits scheme? Labour economist Tan Khee Giap even has the audacity to think it is welfarism! How does that constitute giving welfare, you tell me?

The CPF is our blood-earned money. How can it be used as a loan to us when it belonged to us in the first place? Let's be rational - Today Online should not even publish such a laughable article.

I am no economist or financial guru but I immediately caught the sheer stupidity of it all. Using my money to loan back to me and charge me an interest. What a farce! The poor will be made even poorer. How smart is that for the Associate Professor? Either Tan Khee Giap and the REACH workgroup are brilliant con artists, or intelligent morons.

But... but there is no such thing as an intelligent moron. Exactly. That leaves us with only one choice. I'm sure you are smart enough to figure it out.

From Today Online:

Calls for leeway in use of CPF
Better support programmes needed for the involuntarily jobless: REACH
by Teo Xuanwei

SINGAPORE - It is a long-held position of the Government: Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings are mainly one's retirement nest eggs.

This has, however, not stopped one group from persisting with calls for some leeway in using CPF monies - in the form of short-term loans - because of what it sees as a pressing need: Involuntary unemployment.

This, as older workers, particularly those on low wages, await the impact new re-employment laws kicking in next year - mandating companies to allow eligible employees to continue working till age 65 - will have on them.

To this end, a workgroup set up by the Government feedback portal, REACH, has called for better support programmes for those who involuntarily end up jobless.

The workgroup was one of three formed last year to look into selected key policy concerns. The other two groups focused on promoting better integration between Singaporeans and new immigrants, and providing better support for single and low-income caregivers taking care of the elderly.

One of its proposals, termed Individual Unemployment Credits scheme, allows workers to take a loan (based on a percentage of their last-drawn salary with a cap) from their CPF accounts for three months after they become involuntarily unemployed. The loan has to be paid back upon employment.

Workers will have to contribute 1 per cent of their monthly income, up to a cap, to this scheme, with equivalent co-funding by the Government.

Another proposal, Wage Insurance Scheme, caters to those who take on a lower-paying new job after being involuntarily unemployed, by subsidising 50 per cent of the salary difference between the two jobs. The scheme is also funded via a 1 per cent co-payment by workers and the Government.

A third proposal is to give out a "modest monthly stipend", in the range of $200 and $300, to individuals aged 65 and above to help them meet their basic consumption needs.

Means-testing, based on income level and asset ownership, can be used to determine eligibility, proposed the workgroup, chaired by NTUC Learning Hub chief executive Zee Yoong Kang.

But it noted that this basic retirement grant is intended to be only one component of retirement adequacy. Other components like part-time work, personal savings, the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) and CPF savings should make up the rest.

The Manpower Ministry said the Government is committed to helping older and low-wage workers and will study the proposals. But it added that the budgetary implications of any proposal must also be carefully considered, so that any schemes that are rolled out are sustainable.

Labour economist Tan Khee Giap agreed and cautioned against jumping into these "popular suggestions", saying they bordered on welfarism.

"Until you work out the details, such as how much it will cost over time and whether the State is able to pay, one should be very cautious about taking up these recommendations," said Associate Professor Tan of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

He felt that tweaks to the WIS would be "more viable and sustainable".
"Higher cash payouts that are tied to certain conditions, such as making the worker go for productivity courses or skills training, is a simpler, more clean-cut way to help this group of workers," said Assoc Prof Tan.

The WIS scheme tops up the incomes of older, low-income workers who earn $1,700 a month or less with cash and contributions to their CPF accounts.

Unionist Lim Kuang Beng, general secretary of the Singapore Industrial & Services Employees' Union, felt that the retirement grant was the only feasible proposal. He said: "Taking loans from CPF accounts will mean the individual has even less money to draw on when he retires (if he can't find a new job). And those on low wages may not have the money to co-pay for the insurance scheme."

So GE is coming soon

2011-01-27T15:17:00.010+08:00

This is a short entry... I hope.

The usual daily activity for me is to check through the other blogsite links. While doing so, it dawned on me that I have been blogging since 2006. Wow... that's a good five to six years! Of course my readership pales in comparison to Mr Wang or mrbrown. It does not concern me because I never intended to compete with anyone.

So I started reading my first entry. Then the next and the next. I laughed at the cheeky entires when I blogged about games and missus. I treasured the innocence back then. Nothing heavy and thought-provoking. It started as a 'journal entry' blog which was hugely popular for startups - a capture of a significant footprint in one's life journey. Actually it was more like trying to fill in the pages. It felt like flipping through a photo album reminiscing past memories.

What started out as a journal entry blog turned into writings on more serious topics. Sometimes a bit of 'whinging'. Politics slowly crept in despite warnings from friends and spouse. Why? Why should anyone be afraid and silent to share his or her thoughts, views and opinions, be it politics, education or everyday life? We are not robots, mind you. We are walking, living and breathing mortals capable of intelligent speech and lightning-quick thoughts.

In this blog I am not character-assassinating an enemy, nor am I humiliating anyone. I definitely have no intention to slander a foe, nor do I desire to frame a person. So why are my friends warning me to stay away from politically-inclined topics?

I believe in sharing my thoughts and I love an active debate. It cultivates me to see beyond my often limited and shallow views and learn to accept that people are different. I begin to realise even though I may be right, it does not necessarily mean people can accept my 'rightness' or beliefs. But hey, we can still live together, can't we? We don't need to demolish our opponents, do we?

That is truly an important trait for anyone who wants to be a forward thinker in my personal opinion. Of course politicians might have an entirely different set of rules or idealogy. I can't comment because I am no politician.

Right... where was I? Oh, the coming General Elections (GE).

On 2 Aug 2006 I blogged about the upcoming hikes after the 2006 GE (read it here). While re-reading what I had written back then, I was eerily taken aback. Yes awfully and frightfully.

Each and every item I had predicted for the upcoming hikes after the GE actually came true. From transport to utilities to GST to ERP! And guess what is even scarier? Predicted responses from the main-stream media (MSM) were frighteningly spot-on.

What does this tell me?

There is nothing new. It is just a rehash of the same story, same old broken record playing the same tune...

...singing the same song,

...braying the same music,

...trumpeting the same achievements, and

...proclaiming the same fears.

Did you see the common denominator? The word is 'same'. From my personal view, nothing much has changed since the previous last two elections except the leadership changed from Goh CT to Lee HL, and SM Lee became MM Lee. The most wonderful achievement I can remember is when PM Lee HL announced the change of the civil servant work week from 5-1/2 days to 5 days. There was great rejoicing.

It saddens me because seriously not much has changed for the general folks. Inflation is still high, prices are still going up, wage gap is still growing, housing is still less affordable, and ministers' salaries are still increasing.

The crowning scariness of all scariness? The same people are still casting the same vote for the same mandate.

Scary.

Indonesian maids' salary overtakes cleaning aunties' wages

2011-01-19T17:11:00.010+08:00

More pay for new Indonesian maids by Saifulbahri Ismail

SINGAPORE - Indonesian domestic workers will soon cost more as agencies try to get more of them to work in Singapore.

MediaCorp has learnt that 17 employment agencies, who are major players in the market, will be increasing the monthly salaries of Indonesian domestic helpers from $380 to $450. The increment will take effect by this week and will only apply to new Indonesian maids.

Over the years, the supply of such helpers to Singapore has been dwindling as competition from places such as Hong Kong and Taiwan intensifies. Employment agencies indicate the shortage is severe. One solution - following a recent meeting between the agencies and maid suppliers from Indonesia - is to provide better salaries.

Nation Employment group director Desmond Chin said: "They are requesting us to match what is being paid to domestic helpers in Hong Kong, which is $650, and what is being in Taiwan, which is $800." - Today Online (read full report here)

Indonesian maids now have a minimal wage policy in Singapore but my local aunties and elderly folks cleaning toilets and clearing tables at hawker centres do not get them. Wow... just wow. *shakes head at the absurdity of it all*

Don't get me wrong, I am not against the increase of maids' wages. I believe it is about time for them to have an increase as inflation grows. The grouse I have is just a few days ago, I have a good number of MPs ~~debating~~ regurgitating that it is unwise to have a minimal wage policy.

Does it make any sense to you? Yet these same MPs are not crying foul for increasing the wages of maids when it is locals who need the increase more. Maybe these MPs should be part of a ministry or portfolio to represent the domestic helpers. My union chief can jolly-well join them too.

I remember someone once said in response to increase the monthly allowance for destitute Singaporeans on Public Assistance Scheme in 2007,

"How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?"

To rub salt into the wound, I have these ministers bemoaning locals do not procreate enough to meet to the fertility rate. Was it our fault in the first place when a god once determined 'Two is Enough'?

The median wage in Singapore has not increased substantially for the longest time whereas inflation has rocketed sky-high. How does the government expect a dual-income working family, who really needs a maid to manage the kids or elderly parents, cope with the rising cost of living and the exorbitant childcare cost and the new wage increase for maids?

The government has been rehashing the story to the citizens that they should not expect a high salary lest we overprice ourselves out of competition in this global market. By the way a recent news article mentioned that 20% of the foreign talents here earning >SGD180,000 annually. They have been selling this idea that Singapore needs foreign labour because we locals do not want to do the menial work which these foreign resources take up. Then they continued braying that our economy depends on these foreign labour for sustainability because they are cheap.

But then maids are not cheap now, are they? So who is overpricing whom now? It sure is better to be a maid in Singapore as compared to a cleaning auntie or uncle as a matter of fact!

Let me compute the cost of hiring a new maid. It is not as cheap as what my ministers make us think foreign labour is cheap labour. Maybe compared to their million-dollar salary, it truly is worth peanuts. But I have digressed.

This is the estimated cost for a household hiring a maid:

Maid's salary - $380 monthly
Levy - $170 for those with kids
I seriously don't know what this friggin levy is for because I don't get any service out of it except the government receives the money. Anything that happens to my maid is still my problem and cost.
Insurance - $350 yearly
Medical checkups - $60 yearly
This is aside from intangible housing cost, food cost, electricity and water utilities cost, medical leave when sick, doctor's fees, special occasions ang-pows (birthdays, Christmas, Chinese New Year) and transport EZlink top-ups.
That's all I can think of for now.

As compared to a cleaning contracting job which can go as low as SGD550 per month, I think maids have a way better deal. Maids don't pay for rent or utilities, mind you, or food and maintenance costs. But local aunties and uncles do.

The amusing thing is way back in 2007, the then SM Lee (now MM Lee) quoted,

"You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government. You get that alternative and you'll never put Singapore together again: Humpty Dumpty cannot be put together again... and your asset values will disappear, your apartment will be worth a fraction of what it is, your jobs will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people's countries, foreign workers." - (Straits Times, 5 April 2007)

I had blogged about it titled "Chambermaid vs foreign maid - got difference meh?" (read here).

Frankly to say, bring it on. I'd rather have my local aunties and mothers become my maids now. At least I do not have to pay for their utilities, or house them in my place. Not to mention paying for any airplane tickets for deportation and hefty fines should the foreign maids get pregnant. And I avoid paying this 'God knows what this levy fee is for'.Doesn't it sound scarily familiar to the mandatory annual TV and Radio license. *shivers*

So pray tell me again, are we better off with the cheap foreign labour coming in? Did my incumbent party forming the majority of the government give me a better standard of living? Did the daily cost of living come down to an acceptable standard equivalent to the median income, or perhaps the wages of the common man on the street increase? Did the GST really, really help the poor?

I sincerely wonder why they are representing me.

Unfair study fees - prove me wrong

2010-12-27T13:14:00.011+08:00

(Update 28/12)
Latest: Does anyone how many foreign students get the subsidy vs the local students?

The MOE website (click here) states that the subsidy is S$2,400 for both foreign and local students. But the initial entry school fee is different, ie local pays S$3,600 while a foreign student pays S$7,200.

In essence a local student has a significant lower school fee. This is a very encouraging perk being a Singaporean citizen. Well done, MOE. It killed the niggling doubt in my mind and put it to rest.

PS. Thanks to those who have responded. I am glad it was clarified. :)

--
(Update 27/12)
From a reader's response, the table is a portray of the types of category a student falls under. By default a student is categorised in one of Cat A, B, or C depending on his nationality.

Based on the type of scholarship, he is then required to pay the amount stipulated in the category he falls under, ie a Cat D local student pays S$1,200. The S$1,200 is NOT the subsidy amount but the actual fee.

Is my understanding correct? If it is so, then kudos to the MOE for giving the locals a substantial subsidy. Well done!

Can anyone clarify with a response?

---
I happened to chance upon a categorised table of school fees paid by Singaporean locals, PRs and locals for a well-established school. Unless someone can prove me wrong, I believe Singaporean locals are sorely disadvantaged.

I could hardly believe my eyes even though I always had niggling suspicions about how the school fees are heavily subsidised towards foreigners.

At a glance under the 'Per Annum' column, it seems like a Singaporean student pays only S$3,600 per year while a foreigner pays S$7,200 for the same year.

But don't rejoice too early thinking locals are heavily subsidised. Read again, I urge.

Just say a local falls under Category D. That means he effectively pays S$2,400 (S$3,600 - S$1,200 of subsidy award). There is only one kind of subsidy. From what I gather, a foreigner usually falls under Category E (which most of the students are categorised) and he pays S$2,400 (S$7,200 - S$4,800 of SMA subsidy award) too!

So what is the difference? Absolutely NOTHING! I think we have been hoodwinked thinking we are heavily subsidised. That goes for the students categorised under the MEP programme. It's still the same amount!

Another peeve is why are subsidies for locals (S$1,200) different from foreigners (S$4,800)? I do not know if this is called marginalisation but it sure fits the bill. Should not subsidies be based on performance and a student's result instead of nationalities? Why is there a distinction - are locals less deserving?

The school fees seemed twice the amount on paper but there is actually no difference in the net school fees paid. How can that be? I am bemused by the recent 'citizens come first' promised by the PM. Are these words easily forgotten or are they just airy-fairy words that are used to 'tickle our b*lls' to gain an election victory?

Someone had better give me an explanation because I am fuming mad.

Prove me wrong.

He came knowing He would die. Yet He came

2010-12-22T22:00:00.005+08:00

Luke 2:11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

1) Jesus came to die.

- Cloth Linen. Jesus the babe was wrapped in swaddling cloths. When He died, He was wrapped in burial cloth. "So Joseph (of Arimathea) bought some linen cloth, took down the body (of Jesus), wrapped it in the linen..."

- Manger. Jesus was lying in a manger. During that time, a manger is a concrete trough cut out of rock. When Jesus died, He was placed in a concrete cave. "... and (Joseph) placed His body in a tomb cut out of rock."

- Feed. A manger is where horses and animals feed from. Jesus came to be fed upon when He said, "This is My body broken for you. Eat this in remembrance of Me."

2) Jesus came to save.

- Birth. Born to us. A birth signifies new beginning, new hope. The old has passed, the new has come. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..."

- Saviour. In the city of David, a Saviour. That is His name - Yeshua, meaning 'He saves'. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

- Babe. You will find a babe. A baby is in total submission to the hands that hold him. "During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."

3) Jesus gave Himself both as a present and His very presence.

- Present. Born to us a Saviour. Jesus is a gift. A gift is not a gift if we try to earn or purchase it. The only thing we can do to honor God is to receive with thanksgiving. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son..."

- Presence. Jesus will never leave nor forsake us. He gives us His peace and abides with and in us. “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)

- Light. Born to us this day. When all is dark and bleak, see Jesus in the situation today. While the skies were dark in the night, glorious light and songs of joy burst forth amid the shepherds at the birth of Jesus. "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

Luke 2:9-14 "An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Did you notice that peace was only given to those whom His favour rest? Today God's favour rests on each one of us because we are the beloved in Christ Jesus. We have the peace of Christ which the world cannot understand. We cannot fail but have successes in every area of our lives because of His favour.

The shepherds were then in their throes of mundane life. Just like us who are milling about our daily lives. They were caring their sheep in the middle of the night. And so are we who are caught up with our cares, bills to pay and Christmas shopping. At times life's journeys can be as dark as night.

An angel appeared bearing the good news of a Saviour, and the heavenly hosts suddenly exploded in the midst singing praises to God. Likewise heavens are opened and the glory of God will fill our dark nights when the good news of Jesus is shared. The power of the gospel will transform lives and bring hope to all who hear. Our fears are dispelled; our nights become days. His praise will automatically fill our lips.

Luke 2:15-20 "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."

No one told the shepherds to go to Bethlehem. Yet they were willing to leave their flock to search for Jesus. No one reminded them to spread the word concerning Jesus. One look at Jesus was enough for them to spread the word concerning what they had seen and heard. And the people were amazed. Throughout our daily lives, all we need is to behold Him. One glimpse is all we need. One revelation from His Word is enough to light up our dark situations to change our perspective of life and give us the strength to carry on.

The message of the good news (gospel) the angel spoke drew the shepherds to Jesus. The Word the angel carried was actually Jesus Himself. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God. This Christmas, not only is the message of the birth of Jesus important, the Jesus we bring especially the Saviour gives hope and light more than people care to admit it.

It was not His birth that saved us but His death and resurrection.

Jesus came knowing He would die. Yet He came.

Winning winners, not losing winners

2010-12-15T16:17:00.008+08:00

I was reading the latest entry in My Singapore News (Redbean's blog). I usually pen my thoughts down in a notepad that comes with Windows. I had such a lengthy reply that I decided to blog about it.

It is every parent's dream to see their kids grow up successfully. This is especially more prominent in Singapore when the paper chase has gone to unprecedented levels. We know it when the tuition and enrichment classes have become money-making million-dollar industries.

Apart from that we have parents who will fork out sums of money and savings to buy and live in overpriced housing locations near good school zones. It has also become increasingly stressful for parents to get a chance to parent volunteer because it is the first step for a secured place in the school.

And then we have the infamous Primary One balloting exercise. The common denominator here are the tears. What differs is either the shedding are tears of joyful thanksgiving or tears of unjust beleaguerment and missed opportunities.

That is how much good grades and academic focus mean to us. There is no failure and seldom other alternatives. Uniquely Singapore?

Interestingly the big names often mentioned as shakers and movers, eg. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Bono and the latest Mark Zukerberg are all philantropists. There is also a whole bunch of other people who have made it big in life but give back what they have received to help humankind. This is another quality that sets winning winners and losing winners apart. I dig shows like 'Undercover Boss' and 'Secret Millionaire' because they give glimpses of bosses coming down to a worker's level.

I often wonder - does that come with academic qualifications that Singapore brags about? The Singapore education is a very resulted-oriented system that demands tangible results with factual numbers. And we are often lacking with a mature mindset about life and critical thinking beyond ourselves. Much of it is about getting the best grades, getting ahead in career and obtaining a scholarship if possible. Let others care about human lifeforms, social balance and enriching humanity.

I have come across incredible and dedicated teachers who are passionate about their work and their students' welfare and growth beyond just academics. How often were they bogged down with other 'value-added' programs that stole away their aspirations to mold lives? I have known how these people were graded low in ranking and often thumbed-down by their superiors and principals because they do not produce the necessary, tangible results expected of them from the school and the education system. Many of them have retired early or left teaching because they no longer saw their purpose anymore.

Just recently I came to know of a mother who met the form teacher to collect her son's report book. Her son's result was of average standing among his cohort. She had expected him to be promoted to a class of mid-level grade, perhaps Class D among classes A to G.

When she received news that her son was going to Class F, she gave such a cataclysmic gasped that the teacher had to reassure her and explain away the fears. Apparently the first two classes were dedicated to the top of the cohort while the rest were randomly assigned to their new classes.

We can laugh at the silly fear. But it goes deeper. Its roots have buttressed into many areas of our lives more than we care to admit.

In the end we may be winners as in the recent international Maths and Science competition. But whom did we kid? I hardly see many top Singaporean CEOs or Singaporean movers-and-shakers who had made the international scene. In my youth Sim Wong Hoo was our local hero and 'Bill Gates'. Mind you, he had just a Diploma to his academic qualification. But he sure rocked the gaming world with the Creative Sound Blaster.

It takes more than just academics to call ourselves successful winners. I hope we can be lasting winners who can not only impact lives but also leave a lasting legacy.

Who says we need an A-team to come up with a sound policy?

2010-12-14T17:22:00.006+08:00

Many of us need a car. Some of us more urgently than others.

My prediction is many may not see their cars until the Chinese New Year is over if I read the COE price graph correctly. The recent astronomical hike in the COEs provided little explanation other than if you need a car urgently, cough out the extra money.

Many of us need a car. Some of us more urgently than others.

It may be for whatever reasons ranging from transporting elderly, near-immobile parents to sales-line job to simple travel convenience to a show-off to impress someone who might not even care. In Singapore it does not matter if you live in the prime District 10 area or in the rural Sembawang heartlands, the COE knows no name or location. It speaks the language of dollars. No money, no COE.

Many of us need a car. Some of us more urgently than others.

Those who really, seriously need a car will cry foul? Why should anyone be penalised for trying to fulfill a need?

If you are wealthy and have the buckets of cash to give away, you'd probably be living near the town area. Perhaps Novena, Balmoral, or even along Orchard Road itself. The number of ERP gantries a rich person have to pass through daily will probably be less than a person coming down from Pasir Ris or Woodlands. As we can see the one living further away will probably need the car more than a person living in Orchard Road does. Yet he pays more for the matter.

Personal note: I'm not against the wealthy owning cars. It's their money anyway and they can spend how they like it. I'm against how the current COE system does not help a family who needs a car urgently.

This is one of the major flaw in the current COE system. In lieu of what I had mentioned, I urge you to read this proposal from the SDP. I was impressed.

*gasp* SDP? Are you certain? SDP members are very emotional (I'd rather say passionate) and will corrupt your mind (I'd rather say open your mind to alternative views). For the matter they are not just a bunch of opposition who plead human-rights this, human-rights that.

I assure you, the proposal is quite a viable solution. Needs more detailed analysis. It is not all fool-proof... yet. For the nay-sayers, is the current COE system working well for us anyway besides the usual 'show me the money' phrase?

Read it and make your own judgement. You'll be surprised that paying a million bucks does not necessarily equate better solutions. Or policies.

Many of us need a car. Some of us more urgently than others.

I just don't know where to start... smells fishy?

2010-11-26T17:00:00.002+08:00

I happened to read an article (read here) about a cyclist being 'bumped' off while he was cycling in the early morning at 5:15am along Holland Road.

Hmmm more suitable words would be 'kena bang' (Singlish for 'woefully hit by car') and 'bwang until jialat' (Singlish for 'thrown off badly') because the driver thought it was a large tree branch! And to say that the continued scapping noise she heard in the undercarriage for the next 2km was that same ~~trunk~~ branch is an understatement. That MUST have been a SUPER-DUPER-KINGSIZED ~~trunk~~ branch of a tree! This 'cock-eyed' driver should have been banned for life for a complete failure to differentiate between a ~~trunk~~ branch and a human being.

Most of us, if not ALL of us, would have stopped and stepped out to check. Why? Because we all know how riduculously expensive cars are in Singapore. To ignore the sound is so incredulous.

Worse of all, to put the blame on the Lexus sound-proofing was even more incredible! How moronic can it get? Can the victim sue Lexus for designing such an 'interiorly quiet' car? Gee I'd reckon she was blasting her Zouk music in the car, or perhaps her ears had popped due to the exceedingly high-decibelled music on the dancefloor.

As in the recent suspected murder case (read here), does it mean that if a child was thrown off the 12-storey HDB flat, the maid can plead the flat was built too high and it was not her fault that the child died? "Sir, gravity's fault for making your daughter hit the ground so hard." Maybe she can claim it was a bamboo pole which had fallen down because she was tired and did not notice.

Hello? Anybody home?

And the verdict from the Judge leaves me reeling in disbelief and disdain. Like huh, are you nuts?!! Nothing was mentioned about driver's alchohol limit and her state of being to drive safely. Hey, Mr Judge, it's Zouk for you. You don't just go there to 'look for your cousin' and then go home. Tell me, was she in her pyjamas and dressed-down clothes, or was she in the 'ciong' mode of attire? Can the police investigator ask if there were witnesses who had seen her partying and drinking?

Shessh, what an absurd statement... 'look for cousin'. At Zouk. The prosecutor was plain lousy to the point it 'felt' like it was all rigged against the cyclist. He had better find another career instead of the legal profession. Utter failure.

Why am I so uptight, one may ask?

For one, if the victim had been someone of significance or related to the 'high and mighty' group of people, this Cleopatra would have ended up 'brutally knifed' like Julius Caesar. She would not even get a chance to pay a paltry SGD$2400 fine. Her 'Cleopatra' face will be splashed across the papers and she'd be thrown in jail. No two-ways about it. Just ask the rag-and-bone guy who threatened to hurt MP Denise Phua. He did not even get a chance to hit the MP yet, I assure you, and he was hauled up into court. I am certain the prosecutor will not be someone of the same calibre as the prosecutor of this case.

Another point of note is the driver would definitely not get away with just a meagre monetary fine. I know in Australia, cyclists are a protected group of road-users. The road is considered a shared pathway for both vehicles and cyclists. There will not only be a public outcry, there will be call for blood on the judge should the driver escape with a small fine. I believe she will be minimally suspended from driving and thrown in jail.

The judicial system ought to protect victims. In this case it failed miserably.

Food for Thought: The lowest denominator

2010-10-28T14:40:00.006+08:00

Read this story and it struck home deeply.

I'm not trying to be noble or magnanimous in spirit when I penned this blog entry, nor am I attempting to resolve world hunger issues. But one principle I strictly adhere to with conviction in the army and also in my work environment is:

Everyone has a crucial part to play and the team is only as strong as the lowest denominator.

Recently a taxi driver shared his condition and predicament with me while driving to my customer's site. He is a 65-year-old Malay diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure and hypertension. His wife is very sick and bed-bound. He drives to support her and himself. His income is largely used to pay for his medical expenses. His children are not financially well-off to support their parents. He complains of fatigue and wishes he need not work so hard because he wants less stress and to live a simple life. He is definitely NOT getting it right now.

I questioned quietly, "Was this man lazy in his teens? Or perhaps he did not think long-term and planned his retirement properly. Was it his fault or did he and his wife slipped through the cracks of progress and nation-building?"

To which I answered myself that during his time, getting a job and earning a living was the main driving factor. Not schooling. How many Singaporeans during his age had the luxury of completing their studies to an 'A' level certification which means little now even? Aren't we doing injustice to them because they had to let opportunities go in order to support their siblings and parents back then? I know of relatives who had to quit primary education to work as an odd-job labourer to help finance the family and siblings.

It was the right thing to do. At that time.

Now it seems like the government policies of CPF and retirement have turned around and bitten them. These same people whose blood, sweat and tears helped built this nation. These people have nothing to fall back on except to work and work until they cannot do so anymore. Even then they might not have enough for their twilight years.

I have written a previous article somewhat along this line. I hope and pray that the leaders of Singapore government will implement a minimal wage policy. I see a greater good in this policy than all the 'fear mongering' thoughts shared by my Labour Minister Lim SS. Ironic, isn't it? Is he for the people or for the businesses I often wonder. If having a minimal wage policy will see companies sourcing elsewhere, then perhaps they should be. The savings are proabably used to pay their top executives millions for 'screwing up' as in the recent discoveries during the global financial crisis.

And SGX paying premium dollar for ASX? Strategic move one may think. I'd say strategically moronic move. Don't we ever learn from the huge financial losses in Citibank, Lehman Brothers, etc? Australian shares and dollar are at a peak these few months. Seriously do you need a PhD in economics to work that out? See how the market reacted to the news of the SGX buyout of ASX - FALLING prices. Maybe they are telling you that they don't really like you.

Health Minister Khaw BW not too long ago proudly proclaimed he had paid no more than SGD$8 for his heart bypass surgery. My jaw dropped because I remembered other folks paying much more.

So the begging question is: How did he do it?

Apparently his bill amounted to SGD$25,000. Out of which SGD$20,000 was paid by his private insurance and the other SGD$5,000 was paid by Medisave. Isn't it obvious that the lum sum was paid by his PRIVATE insurance? I am no financial advisor but I can safely say his premiums must have been quite a sum.

If this SGD$8 can be translated to an ordinary Singaporean or even SGD$100 which I believe most Singaporeans will gladly pay for such a heart bypass surgery, I'd say the Singapore healthcare system is superbly awesome and fantastic. And my Health Minister and government ministers are worth every single penny of their millions in salary.

Alas it is not so because the general Singaporeans can't afford to pay such a premium to cover their health cost. So asking Singaporeans to subscribe to Medishield which may help them in some way doesn't address the issue that the majority of SGD$20,000 cost will still be foot by them.

Now personally that is no public healthcare system to me at all. Unless SGD$20,000 is borne by the Medishield and SGD$5,000 borne by the patient. Now that is what a healthcare system really is - make healthcare affordable and available to the general public.

Of course we'll have the nay-sayers claiming that the taxes will go up, people will abuse the system, etc. Frankly hasn't our overall tax been increasing over the years? In addition I have not met anyone who wants to get sick or be born sick. But isn't GST to help the poor? Whatever happened to that?

C'mon, what talk you (Singlish for what an absurd statement)!

Anyway here is the excerpt from the article:

Wisdom From The Past

Over two thousand years ago, during the Warring States Period in China, a simple old woman had the common sense to realize that people need to be decently fed.

Zi Fa was a general in the State of Chu. In a battle with the State of Qin, his food supplies were running out and he had to dispatch one of his men back home and asked the King of Chu for fresh supplies. While he was there the subordinate paid a courtesy call to the mother of General Zi Fa.

The mother asked, “How are the conditions of the soldiers?”

“The food situation is very tight. The men could only have some beans and grains,” the subordinate said.

“How about your general?”

“Don’t worry ma’am. Our General has Braised Meat to go with his fragrant rice.”

“Oh, “ the mother said, shaking her head.

Not long after, General Zi Fa scored a decisive victory over the Qin army and he returned to his country a hero. However, when he went to his own house, he found the gate locked and he was not allowed in.

His mother then sent a messenger to relay him her message:

“When Gou Jian, the King of Yue, was fighting the State of Wu, someone donated a cask of excellent wine. He poured the wine into the river and together with his men, he drank from the river. Would there be any taste of wine left? Of course not! But the morale of the men had increased five-fold. Later somebody donate him some bags of grain. He divided them among his soldiers. Would the grain be enough to lessen their hunger? Of course not! But their battle resolve had increased ten-fold.

“In your case, while your men starved, you feasted. Why? Did not the Book of Songs advise, “Don’t enjoy yourself too much, only then can the good man be peaceful and relaxed”? Is your behaviour at the warfront something to be proud of? You sent your men to die and yet you live in comfort. Even though the war was won it has nothing to do with you but your men’s valour. You are not my son. Don’t come home.”

I confess watching the YOG opening ceremony...

2010-08-15T01:42:00.002+08:00

...and utterly regretted it.

Pre-teenage cousins and young kids glued their faces to my TV box (we had a family gathering), having been told by their schools to support the YOG. If they aren't participating, at least give their support in spirit by watching the YOG opening ceremony.

I was in the same living room with these starry-eyed future generation of Singapore, accompanying them in their eagerness. I was all ready to give credit and accolade to the organisers, the working committee, the supporters and the event itself.

Deep down I hoped it to succeed. I wanted it to succeed.

I lingered on the thought that no matter what comes may, a Singaporean is still a Singaporean. We will roll up our sleeves, grit our teeth and gird ourselves with the 'never-say-die' resolve to see it through. So there I was fully prepared to swallow my pride and to hold my criticisms that the over-publicised event might actually pull it off. I even berated myself for being cynical and skeptical about the whole thing.

SGD380+ million dollars, mind you! It's a huge sum of money.

But whatever resolve I had died after some time into the show. My pre-teen viewers cringed at the ridiculous 'alien', my young audience were befuddled with the boxer, and I felt the commentator tried too hard to lift the spirit of the games. Seriously it wasn't even his fault!

One of the audience remarked, "Why boxer? Why is he totally clueless about what he wants to do? At least footballer we understand." Another queried, "Where is this held, huh? Is it Marina?" And the final icing, one young one piqued, "Aiyoh, what kind of alien is it?

Wow... such a pale contrast to the recent National Day. At least with the National Day parade feedback I gathered, people enjoyed the lights, sounds, colours and singing. Especially the freebies in the goody bags.

We have these too at the YOG. But seriously something is amiss. This is Singapore's Youth Olympics to the world. There were lights, colours and singing alright but missing in SPIRIT!

Spirit comes with youth. You just can't buy. It comes along when the youths feel this is a 'cool' event to be in and the word of mouth spreads like a wildfire. From my interactions, most of them don't give a hoot about it.

It showed throughout the whole event amid the aplomb of bursting pillars of fire, zooming spotlights and fantastic stage show by the water front. There was an absence of the spirit of the youths in the event. It felt like it was all for show, a disappointing wayang of sorts. I pondered whom the event was for and if the budget given was even worth the spending. Bluntly put - disappointing show.

By the agonising looks on our faces, we switched to another channel. We concurred it was too painful to watch.

And I thought National Day needed more spirit and patriotism.

(Old Classic) I am a Singaporean, by Dan E

2010-08-04T23:05:00.005+08:00

Read the post by Under the Willow Tree on an old classic.

Brought back nostalgic memories. Blogging was a raging fever in 2006 and the government then was 'apprehensive' and 'suspicious' on the new internet media. During those times Mr Wang's blog was just 'Mr Wang Bakes Good Karma', and mrbrown was just er... mrbrown and the 'tur kwa' man!

Anyway this is an absolute wonderful piece of old classic which I am re-producing here. I remembered reading and immediately felt kinship with the author. Wow... how many of us go through life in Singapore like he did?

---
I am a Singaporean, by Dan E

I was born in 1970 at the KK hospital and grew up in a kampong near the old airport. My parents stopped at 2 after having my younger sibling.

I moved from my kampong to a HDB flat in the west-end of Singapore when the government exercised the Land Reclamation Act on my kampong to build new flats.

I schooled through PSLE, O-level, A-level, and took a 2.5 years Army conscription break before disrupting to return to NUS for a degree course.

I followed the Singapore dream: study hard, serve the country, work hard, listen to the government and have a good life.

I remember vividly an illustration from the National Education text in primary school where it depicted a happy family of four walking towards their car from a high-rise apartment.

I observed the property market riding waves after waves of increase and read the dosage of how “investors” harvested profits within weeks without even seeing the apartment they bought. Inspiring.

And I quietly wondered how I can afford a high-rise apartment. But I thought that the government has a plan and I went for my Reservists and IPPT.

I watched my mother fell sick, admitted for emergency treatment and ICU observation. I saw the hospitable bills piled to intimidating figures but I have one and just only one mother – priceless. I knew I had enough CPF savings to cover her.

I thought I knew, but the CPF Board knew better. I watched in horror as the clerk punched her calculator and calmly informed me that the combined CPF of my 3 family members could only pay for less than 15% of the $25,000 bill.

I wiped out my first few years of cash savings in one cheque. Little did I know, then, that this one cheque would go on to change my Singapore dream.

I researched the CPF and learned about the limited medical scheme, housing scheme, and the ever-rising minimum sum requirement. I found out that I can’t access my money even if I have a dying mother requiring an operation for which I have no cash to pay.

I finally understood why some old people say, “in singapore you can die but you better don’t fall sick”.

And I went for my Reservists and IPPT – but I began hating it for its inflexibility and infringement on my personal life.

I started asking “why”. I questioned and discovered that no one had a satisfactory answer, (or perhaps they just didn’t want to answer) – except for slogans like “More Good Years”, “Swiss Standard of Living”, “First World nation”.

No one, in fact, could tell me what constitutes a “Rainy Day” or who can decide if its going to be a rainy day. Certainly not the weatherman, I know.

I took up a job that led me away from Singapore, relocating to a few locations. Someone called me a quitter subsequently.

In Japan, I concluded that World-class transportation network is quite a bit more than just 4 lines running through the city.

In Taiwan, I realized that Singapore is really a western society that happens to speak functional Mandarin. I learned what is civic participation, media independence, and how absolute power will corrupt absolutely eventually.

I now know it is the electorate’s responsibility to ensure that the government does its job – not the other way around.

I married and bought my own high-rise apartment (not a cent from the CPF) – all outside of Singapore. I found out that I don’t need a car to complete the picture in order to be happy, or to support my ego.

I watched the post-911 GE and the recent Lee-junior GE. I saw Martyn See’s documentary on CSJ. I observed the emergence of political forums and their haste relocation from singapore, the evolution of the “persistently non-political” blogs, not to mention the blogs’ coverage of GE-2006.

I read with interest the emergence of civic awareness that are well articulated and presented on the Internet.

I am amused at the PAP’s apprehension of this new media, as well as its instinctive need to “fix” this emerging trend. I wonder how the new fix will reconcile with the new slogan, “Open and Inclusive Society”.

I continue to be amused by a shriveled 80+ years old man who persists in putting on his gauntlets and meeting his imaginary opponent in a cul-de-sac. And yet when the time comes for reckoning he backpeddles and calls out for judgement without trial.

I pay the government to do its job of providing governmental services to the country, including a fair, equitable and non-partisan method of upgrading older estates.

I didn’t pay to be told what can or cannot be expressed as opinions, be it constructive, partisan or otherwise. I have my wife at home to discuss freedom of expression – it is not the call of a civil servant or a minister employed by my tax dollars.

I have this to tell the civil servants and ministers: create more jobs, keep prices steady and try to move singapore upwards a little more in the Happy Nation Index. And stop complaining about how you cannot cope with rising oil prices, globalization, terrorism – you need to think really hard and come out with solutions.

And you do really need to worry about losing confidence because you are already there: through non-performance.

I am a Singaporean, who now understand the separation of State and Government, and who knows government must be managed and can indeed be changed (as opposed to some misguided musings).

I am a Singaporean, and I want a democratic society based on justice and equality. And I believe we will slowly but surely dismantle the obstructions accumulated from years of apathy.

So say we all.

Where is the line?

2010-06-16T19:04:00.008+08:00

Before people start a 'flame war' about my post, let me put forth a few choice words:

This is MY blog and my personal opinion. I do not represent any of the churches mentioned.
This post is NOT to justify an apology, nor is it to apologise for being a Christian.
I understand the Religious Act. I do not intend to offend anyone and I will not tolerate offensive remarks to other religions in the comments.

I refer to this article "New Creation Church pastor apologises" from Today (read here).

To the recent witch-hunts on Christian churches and organisations especially Lighthouse Evangelism, City Harvest and New Creation Church:

What is your problem?!!

Seriously I have met many people cussing under their breaths the name of Jesus. Especially so when they are in serious trouble or whenever they are faced with intimidating challenges: F-Jesus. We know what the 'F' stands for.

You don't see me making a mountain out of a molehill. I don't even frown at it because His name is far above all other names. That is enough for me. He doesn't need me to 'stand up' for His name. He can take care of Himself, thank you.

That goes for people who want to say about Christianity, the holy goat (as in 4 Weddings and A Funeral) or even about God. They can say all they want until the moon turns blue or kingdom comes. I take no offense at all because I don't expect those who are not of the same faith to know the truth. Truth as in the gospel truth.

I wonder why is a copyrighted video put in YouTube? Is it really to share the 'truth'? I smell an intent to tear a great church down and get an europhic feeling that 'It is I who have brought this giantic religious organisation down on its knees'.

Gee... allow me to share my thoughts - it's not going to change anything. Really it doesn't.

Because these churches aren't build by human hands. Jesus did by His blood. That said, churches are still run by humans who are fallable.

Are churches above the law of a country? Of course not! They are accountable to what they say. If you have seen the video, it does not bode on 'making fun' of other religions. And that goes to say about Lighthouse Evangelism sermons too. They were meant for their congregation who understands the context of the message.

Well bad publicity is still publicity. And all we know that these churches will continue to grow from strength to strength in numbers and miracles.

My opinion is that their senior pastors understand, believe and practice the principle of 'Reap what you sow'. To clarify this verse, it does not refer to sins but rather generous giving as in the context of Paul's letter. Thus I won't be surprised if their members give generously too. And a good steward manages the finance God has blessed him with well.

Recently I have seen awesome church buildings in Singapore. All I can say is 'Thank you Jesus'. Why?

Imagine you toured Taj Mahal. Would we think what a selfish king he was to spend so much of his wealth on a single woman who had died? No we will rather be awed by its beauty and structure, even more touched by the story behind its origin - the love for his queen. Read here.

Or what if King Solomon's temple is still standing today? Will we think Solomon is so unwise to squander all his wealth on a temple? Of course not! When one knows the Source of his blessings, he will bless the Blesser who had made him rich.

Out of the overflowing blessings we have received, we have buildings to magnify the greatness of His love for us. He died to give us all that He had. That is how Jesus is to us. God blesses us according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Even the cathedrals in Europe are awesome in wonder and splendour. That was years and years ago. How much more will His church grow from glory to glory each day!

I have said time and again, if a Muslim were to stand up for his faith and call other religion followers or non-believers as 'infidels' (as quoted in the Qur'an), he will be highly regarded for his faith.

But when a Christian compares his faith with other religions and shares about the absurdity of them, he will be condemned with intolerance and arrogance.

Take your pick - infidel, or misguided in faith.

It is no wonder Paul had so many hardships in telling people the gospel truth. The question is not whether he is telling the truth but rather do people want to be set free.

Art, or no art?

2010-06-10T10:30:00.004+08:00

Art is art when it is painted on a canvas to be admired. Art is vandalism when it is painted in public places and taxpayers have to dish out monies to clean up the mess.

There is a place for art. Public property is not my style. So keep your 'artwork' and spraycans for home use.

Swiss, no Swiss - welcome to Singapore. That goes for the rest of foreigners or tourists coming into Singapore. I'd rather keep my city clean, clinical even to the extend of 'fake' creativity than to be awashed with all kinds of so-called 'artwork'.

You are a smart man according to your job title, Mr Fricker.

Have you ever wondered why there isn't even a tinge of artspray on the MRT trains? Someone would have done what you did eons ago if graffiti had been allowed in Sinagpore. And you wouldn't even have a space to display your 'art'.

And I reckon the first person will be a government minister to do an opening ceremony before any others can do it.

Not even a love proclamation for our great Leeder can get you off the hook as a man found out (read here).

Be thankful you did not earn your stripes as a certain Michael Fay learnt 10 years ago.

MCYS = ARMY?

2010-05-03T12:44:00.012+08:00

In MCYS they do it like the ARMY.

"If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place where you will have a roof over your head, where you will have food on the table. Even if you can’t afford it, we will have meals delivered to you. You will get healthcare." - Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister MCYS

In my life as a Singaporean, the only time I have a roof over my head, where I have food on my table and free healthcare is - in NATIONAL SERVICE! Are you asking the couple to join the army? Or is your new appointment after elections our new Defence Minister?

In the whole saga, the only articles which I can understand fully and see the flow of events which made an impact are the ones from AJN (Al-Jazeera News) and TOC (The Online Citizen). I do not know if they are true (I say this cautiously) because I am only a third party reader. It would be good to be present at the couple's interview to vouch the details. But I have to take the information as true as any good reporting would.

I can see their efforts in trying to reach and help the couple and make the public aware of their plight. I believe their intention is to inform MCYS about the current situation - there are homeless people in our midst.

And these people need help. That was the simple message.

I am not sure if it is just me feeling this way - the mainstream media reportings and Vivian's responses each seemed disjointed. It's like a knee-jerk reaction with bits and pieces of information revealed along the way as the war of words and truth waged on. I wonder who can obtain these privy information? And if the ministry doesn't reveal or release them, can one obtain such information?

That is exactly my point. Nobody knows. What else do we not know? It is as if the 'unwanted' spotlight had been turned on the minister and suddenly the hidden stuff 'swept under the carpet' are now seen and every word scrutinised.

You see, Mr Minister, your own lips made this very bold statement. No offense but I don't know which hole this rabbit came out from, or which crack your speech writer is smoking.

Seriously I don't think TOC and AJN are making things difficult for you, sir. I don't see why you are getting so worked up. Put money where your mouth is. You mouthed off those words, not AJN or TOC. Or did your speech writer 'screw' you as 'mee siam mai hum' did?

Instead of working closely with TOC and AJN, you have tried to discredit them to justify your ministry. Instead of reviewing and tinkering the policy to prevent people from slipping through the cracks, you went on an all-out beration on the internet media and bloggers. And then you went on to embarrass the couple.

At the end of the day, the question is: Will the couple and family get the necessary help to move on with their lives?

Nobody wants to be a failure in life. Neither does this couple.

When size and distance do NOT matter for a Little Red Dot

2010-04-29T11:28:00.007+08:00

This new transport fare system is giving commuters confusing 'joy-rides' and headaches. I have been following it closely for quite a while. No matter how you permute it, the commuters are just gonna 'get the shaft' (or get treated the wrong way). Whether you take the train or the bus, you are NOT going to get a better ride with less crowd and traffic congestions.

I was rather bemused by the way how the local newspapers 'hurray-ed' the transport fare reduction. Felt like some euphoric and orgasmic news: Public transport fares to go down by 2.5%! (Full report here). I don't want to go into analysing the statistics and details. But many doubt if it is really possible to have 2.5% reduction. Google a bit and you will find many websites and blogs challenging it.

My grouse then? Distance-based fare system. As mentioned in the same TodayOnline article:

That is when commuters will be able to take advantage of a new distance-based fare system where transfer penalties are removed, announced the Public Transport Council (PTC) yesterday.

This means fares will be calculated based on the distance travelled, regardless of whether a commuter decides to make a direct trip or multiple transfers between buses, or between buses and trains.

"Depending on the decision, you can save money or you can end up paying a bit more, but for the benefit of faster travelling time," said PTC chairman Gerard Ee.(bold mine)

Seriously, sir, how big is Singapore that is befitting of a distance-based fare system? Singapore's land area is ~700 km2 and the main island is about 42km in length and 23 km in breadth. The coastline is a mere 193km. I have travelled from Melbourne to Sydney 800+km one way and then back. That probably constitutes going around in circles 8 times around Singapore altogether.

My point? Perhaps Singapore is too small to have a distance-based fare system. I can understand countries like Australia and Japan. But hey, Singapore? And the fare calculations are really, really fishy. Whatever happened to the word 'public service'? I also doubt the 'benefit of a faster travelling time' promise.

Let me spell it to you in simple terms - the commuters only want to have a CHEAPER, BETTER and FASTER transportation (as coined by a certain 'deaf frog').

Don't talk so much smack. Can you do that?

Here's looking at you, Singapore

2010-04-25T13:02:00.002+08:00

Well about time a government not only stands up, hears and understands the people's concerns but also have the guts to implement the unpopular decision. I'm sure a lot of investors are hopping mad. This is big news (at least for me) in Australia and I hope many young couples and families are rejoicing. Read all about it here.

I am all for investors coming in. Especially when there is a downturn and their investments help people to continue to have their jobs. But when the citizens and common people get slowly edged out, the policy has to be tinkered. Or thrown out of the window. The current house prices are really, really crazy right now. And the situation is aggravating. Sometimes I think I see a disgust on some faces during auctions. Of course the owners are the only ones beaming with joy.

I am glad the Australian government got this one right - their duty is to the Australians FIRST. I truly hope Singapore government does the same thing. But I have this familiar (pessimistic?) feeling that nothing is going to change drastically. What can you do when we have ministers telling us 'housing is still affordable'. About time someone 'wake up his idea' (meaning stop dreaming).

The truth is out... what are you gonna do now?

2010-01-28T10:49:00.009+08:00

So they finally figured out the truth.

The state counsel confirmed the Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionesco is the prime suspect and 'murderer'.

Harsh words from me? Yeap. A young man and newly-wed husband's life had been snuffed out because of a cowardice act. Mr Ionesco then chose to flee the scene and country. Why would anyone do that? To return to Romania at -5C temperature in December versus sunny Singapore at 30C.

Now no one knows where he is.

Perhaps a good quote related to a similar Mas Selamat's escapede by the Home Affairs Minister Wong KS will diffuse the situation:

"Silviu Ionesco is either in Romania, or he is not."

Too bad the late Mr Tong is not related to LKY. You see a few years ago when a certain Mrs Lee had a minor stroke, the SAF bothered to set up a make-shift hospital in an SIA plane and fly her back to Singapore. I am sure this special arrangement can be made for Mr Ionesco to return to Singapore. The cost is just an insignificant fraction compared to the losses by GIC and Temasek.

The onus is now with Prime Minister Lee, Foreign Affairs Minister George, and Home Affairs Minister Wong KS to call for the extradiction of the ex-diplomat from Romania to stand trial. Not in some country where his whereabouts are not even known. But here in the Lion City.

Well you wanna be a Lion Leader? Here's your chance to prove it. And surely hit-and-run cases in Singapore don't bode well for the culprit drivers.

This is a spaghetti situation. I know it is complex with international and legal laws thrown in. Hence we are paying you 'millions' to prove your worth.

Don't let us down. Be the lion you often claim to be.

---
Romanian diplomat was driver in Singapore fatal accident
Jan 27, 2010, 8:04 GMT (link here)

Singapore - A Singapore state counsel confirmed Wednesday a Romanian diplomat was behind the wheel of an embassy car when it ran over and killed a Malaysian man in December, a news report said.

Silviu Ionesco, 49, the highest-ranking Romanian diplomat in the city-state, had filed a police report that the embassy car had been stolen and left Singapore three days after the accident.

But in a court briefing on Wednesday State Counsel Lau Wing Yum said police investigations proved that the car had not been stolen and that Ionescu was the driver in the fatal hit-and-run accident, the online edition of the Straits Times newspaper reported.

The Romanian embassy car hit Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, who was walking on a pedestrian crossing, and another man on December 15.

The car then sped off and hit an 18-year-old student at another junction.

The car was found later with its front screen smashed and bonnet dented, according to the newspaper.

Tong died 10 days after the accident from severe brain damage, the two other victims were injured.

Romania's Foreign Ministry recalled Ionescu shortly after the accident and said it was conducting an internal investigation in the matter.

According to the state counsel, the whereabouts of Ionescu were not known.

An inquiry into the death of Tong would be held from March 3 to 10, said the report, adding that at least 35 witnesses would be heard.

Copyright Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Of 'Ovis Aries' and Leadersheep by SM Goh

2010-01-19T12:13:00.009+08:00

I am bemused by SM Goh Chok Tong's statement (from Temasek Review),

"(The ancient saying is) ‘an army of sheep led by a lion is stronger than an army of lions led by a sheep’. In other words, leadership is critical in battles; the leadership qualities, the courage and the ability and getting the team to follow you is crucial."

With this mentality there is no wonder why GM is down in the dumps. That goes for Temasek and GICs which are losing so much of our public money. Write off, mind you, and not something recoverable. And they are still paying top dollar for these 'lion-headed' leadersheep.

Stop over-selling yourself and the PAP. As I have blogged before, it is both the captain _and_ the crew working together to steer the ship through the storms. This 'higher-than-thou' attitude needs a good dose of bad voting to 'wake up your sheepish idea'.

First I am a lesser mortal, now I am categorised a sheep. But you call the elites - lions. In future when I fill in a form, I will remember to write:

Country: Lion City
Race: Sheep

Let me tell you that the lions are among the laziest animals in the animal kingdom. Been to the zoo lately? They are always basking in the sun, lazing and sleeping. The male lion seldom makes the effort for the kill but he always claims credit and takes the largest share. Hence 'a lion's share' is coined. Are you saying the PAP party exhibits this trait?

Do stop linking me a Homo sapien with animals. I have had enough of MacDonalds' zoo chronicles of trying to convince me that a Cu-pig (cupid) is actually a Pig.

Frankly speaking we don't need leaders with leadersheep qualities. I need leaders with both leadership and leader-heart qualities A good start is to watch and learn from 'The Lion King' movie.

True leadership always has the 'Servant King' mentality.

*roar*

Food for Thought: Amusing piggy issues

2010-01-12T14:04:00.008+08:00

(Latest) This is so humorous that I had to append it here. I laughed so hard that I actually forgave MacDonalds. Comment found in Straits Times:

"McDonald is stu-pig to kill-pig by changing it to cu-pig "

---
I was responding to to mrbrown's article (read here) and felt prompted to pen my thoughts. Yeah these days too free. What to do, still in holiday mood.

Why did the Mcdonald pig go missing? Because not halal, I'd think.

The funny thing is how can other races respect our Chinese traditions, customs and culture when we had to blatantly change the type of animal to an angel. It's not as if we are associating the pig with a jew or muslim. So why are we so hung up about it?

I mean Catholics don't believe in using contraceptives. Does it mean 7-11s should stop selling them?

In addtion Christians are against the use of the dragon symbols. I don't see Chinese New Year decorations taking out those dragon images and symbols and replacing them with angels? Or perhaps Singapore should ban the movie Babe the pig.

Sheesh, sometimes people make matters worse by trying to be too smart.

Another BIG loss?

2010-01-12T12:20:00.011+08:00

Ugh... GIC lost USD$675 million in poor investments on New York apartment complex. And it is not even just paper loss but write down. (read Reuters)

Look if you don't know what "write down" means, simply put - "it refers to (in accounting terms) the recognition of the reduced or zero value of an asset".

Big fat gee-ro (zero in English). Kosong. Lost. Hilang.

Again I have reiterated so many times. Paying top dollar to senior executives will NOT steer a company away from disasters or crisis (read here).

My top dollar question then is "How did it happen? Did we not have checks and balances in place?"

What checks and balances? As Singapore Finance Minster Tharman Shanmugaratnam (in)famous words were, "It is not the government's role to comment on or second-guess whether it was timely for the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and Temasek Holdings to make their recent investments. "

So why are you as Finance Minister sitting in the Investment Committee of GIC. Aren't your title in the GIC committee website stated as 'Minister for Finance'? How can you say it's NOT the government's role?

Pray tell me what is your capacity as an Investment Committee member there for? And I always wonder if there could be a conflict of interest.

When pressed again for answers a year later when both GIC and Temasek experienced substantial investment losses, Mr Tharman assured the Parliament House with "both Temasek and GIC monitor their investments very closely, but that they were ultimately long-term investors."

In that session MP Inderjit Singh did ask, "In July last year, Temasek invested a few billion dollars into Barclays Bank... From what I understand, these values have now gone down to half of the investment. Is the minister not worried that if GIC and Temasek continue with this kind of multi-billion (dollar) investments all in one sector - in the banks, this could quickly wipe out a significant portion of our reserves?"

To this the minister replied, "We have to leave it to them - timing, decision as to whether to invest, how to protect yourself in each investment, which GIC and Temasek have indeed done in each of these large deals... We do have an understanding with both GIC and Temasek as to the government's overall risk tolerance, so this is not a situation where we are completely hands-off."

First I am told it is not the government's role. Now I am told the government is NOT hands-off. Can someone make up his mind? And it also begs the question, "Are these long-term investments? Or did you mean long-term losses?" I can assure you that USD$675million write down is not just paper money.

The truth is the citizens are the real stakeholders of the monies. These people in GIC, Temasek, Investment Committee members, etc are just stewards. Yet time and again they seem to portray themselves as the owners of the monies, and the citizens are mere nuisances in asking too many questions.

Heads rolled when investments go awry in the corporate world. If Singaporean ministers keep emphasizing that top dollar had to be paid for 'A-team' quality; then likewise we must see heads must roll for such staggering losses.

PAP has always pride itself with integrity. Don't just talk. Have accountability.

Put your mouth where your money is.

Coolin' off period for General Elections?

2009-12-02T17:29:00.015+08:00

Anyone heard of a 'coolin' off' day before voting? Read here if you don't believe me.

Hmm... whoever gave such a highfalutin idea?

I have only known of someone getting 'heated up', or rather to be precise - 'lighted up' during a 'Meet the People' session. Surely I have never heard of anyone flamin' up before voting. Maybe only the human torch.

Perhaps the ugly truth is that the people have stored pent-up 'heat' throughout these years. Heated and worked up because they have not been voting for the past donkey years.

Or perhaps the day of elections will be a hot one. You know, higher mortals can predict 'golden era'. So one can surmise Election Day will be hot with a 'golden sun' in the sky.

Surely you would have thought Singapore being a developed country would have her mature citizens voting with their cool heads.

Hold on. We are NOT a country. We are just a city.

But Singaporeans are a strange lot. People do get heated up while queueing up for Hello Kitty. Or some condo units. But nobody complains when buying Toto or 4D under the hot Saturday afternoon.

Some cycling events can be rejected with "You may be well-behaving, but there may be other people whom you come across when you cycle who may stop you, may want to debate with you and that may attract a crowd, and therefore will result in problems the police want to avoid."

Gee, that concludes Singaporeans aren't all that apathetic if we are always finding opportunities to have 'heated' debates. Mayhaps some do get all heated up enough to debate with an opposition member, attract a crowd and warrant a police arrest... on the opposition member. So who can seriously predict what can happen before voting?

My question is has the 'coolin' day' been approved by the president or did he give his approval within days? I wonder if he too had a 'coolin' off' period after giving his consent.

Anyway has a study been done on the stress level before voting? Surely the scholars must have done some study about Singaporeans getting all heated up before voting. I mean if Singaporeans can master two languages without getting all worked up for years (er, excluding parents), I am pretty sure a tick on a piece of paper is mere child's play.

I hope the banks will also adopt the 'coolin' off' period for future mini-bonds and high-risk structured investments. Investors, do read the fine invisible prints carefully before you sign.

Seriously where in the world does an election need a 'coolin' off' day? Shouldn't it be after the event rather? I can attest to my need for 'coolin' off' when we spent monies to rename 'Marina Bay' to 'Marina Bay'. Or when told 'GST is to help the poor'.

Totally flabbergusted.

I don't know what tune PAP is playing. But it definitely sounds politics. How about an MJ version of 'Cool It'? If they can sing and dance hip-hop in Chingay, I'm sure they can pull this off.

Cool It
They told the Oppo not to come around here
Don't wanna see their face, they better disappear
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So cool it, just cool it

You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no jail, don't be an Oppo man
You wanna be hot, better do what they say
So cool it, but you wanna be hot

Just cool it, cool it, cool it, cool it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is their fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just cool it, cool it...
(sung to MJ's Beat It tune)

Maybe they are expecting a 'freak' result. I mean if a freak downpour can occur once in 50 years, do I need to parallel it to Singapore politics?

Or dare I say the one 'coolin' off' day is to mobilise the army if there is a freak result as quoted by a Leeder.

Lee Mai ~~Hum~~ Hiam. No hot chilli please. We are Singaporeans.

Uniquely Singapore.

Rest (Part 2)

2009-11-21T17:25:00.006+08:00

Matt 11:28 - 30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

These verses are often used in evangelical outreach - rest for the weary souls from worldly affairs, materialism chasing, personal glory and success building. Only Jesus can fill the void in our hearts and bring refreshment to the needy soul. But during the time of trial, new revelations about this verse emerged.

Come
The first word is to come. Come as we are. Broken and tired. Jesus will never turn any who comes to Him away. If we who were once sinners were received into His presence with joy, how much more will we receive now as sons and daughters of God when we come?

To Him
Recognise that we are not in control. Jesus is. He who holds the universe in the palm of His hand can number the hairs on your head. Amazing but true.

Keep Coming
I used to think this verse was meant for non-Christians. Or perhaps for Christians at the very end of themselves and when they most needed Jesus in their struggles.

Until God told me, “Son, it is not a one time thing. You keep coming. Not only will you receive rest, you will continue to remain in the realm of rest.”

Keep coming to Him and remain in the realm of rest.

All You Who Are
There is no condition in this verse except to come, all you who are. How difficult is it to come to him then?

The truth is it can be difficult for someone who still wants to be in control. Yet at the end of day, every knee will bow and confess His Lordship. Why wait till then?

This brings into remembrance that when Jesus walked the earth, NOT all in Israel were healed. But ALL who came to Him received healing.

All who came, received. Do you fall into the category defined as ‘All you who are’?

I Will Give You Rest
If we read the original Greek meaning, it is actually a causative statement. It should be interpreted as “I will cause you to rest”.

Not only will Jesus give our souls the much needed rest, He will make, cause or enable us to rest. It reminds me of Psalm 23.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

We can rest in the many assurances from the Good Shepherd who leads and causes us to rest in Him. Six times in this six-verse Psalm.

The only reason why we are not at rest is because we choose to walk into the shadowy valleys of our own makings. Valleys created using our own strength and human understanding. Yet the good news is even when we fail, He is with us walking THROUGH the troubles.

We will always pass through to the other side. There is always hope.

Take
This is a very commanding and blunt word - TAKE. It borders close to rudeness. Yet Jesus says, “Take from me”.

It pleases him when we allow Him to be God. He is not El-Cheapo but El-Shaddai. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider and Abundance.

Take from Him. Draw from Him. Use Him (I put this in a respectful way).

Allow Him to wash your feet. Anything less and you have no part with Him. Allow Him to transform the mundane plain water of our daily lives into excellent, intoxicating wine for His glory. Allow Him to love and serve you.

When we fail to take from Him, we dishonour Him as God. When we refuse to draw from Him but lean our own understanding, we disrespect Him as Lord.

Recount the Samaritan woman who took from Him at the well. She drew forth the everlasting water from the Fountain of Life Himself and was changed. So dramatically and instantly that she preached Jesus to the very town people who had scorned her. And they believed Him because of her testimony.

See the Roman centurion who took the power and authority of Jesus’ words. Just say the word and his servant was healed.

Learn from the woman with the issue of blood who stopped the Creator in His tracks when she drew forth healing power from Him.

Revisit the five-thousand strong crowd who took from Jesus when He blessed the five loaves and two fish. They, including the women and children, ate until they were all satisfied.

Ask the fishermen who received the net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish. So much that the uncouth fisherman Peter fell to his knees before Jesus.

His blessings overflows. God doesn’t know when to stop.

Allow Him to be God. Take.

My Yoke
Jesus was speaking to the Jews who were under the yoke of the Law. The yoke is the heavy wooden weight tied upon the neck of oxen to toil the soil. These people were hard pressed to achieve the unattainable standards of the Law.

Our burdens and sins we exchanged for His rest and acceptance before God at the cross. Take my yoke, He says, and give me your self-efforts and struggles. I am gentle and humble. My grace is easy because I carried your burdens at the cross.

When we know how much He loves us enough to sacrifice for us, we will enter into that rest. Rest from our guilty conscience. Rest from our efforts to produce a holy living.

He looked up and cried, “It is finished!” There is nothing you can do or add to what He had already done.

At the foot of cross, lay your burdens down. At the feet of Jesus, we find rest.

Rest.

Rest (Part 1)

2009-11-20T07:43:00.004+08:00

It has been a good long while since I have written any encouragements. Allow me to give you a glimpse of my struggles in the past two months.

I have been swarmed at work since my Sydney holiday trip on 1 Oct. I have been working at least 55 hours per week including weekends. My customers are UK-based, thus conference calls usually start at 7:30pm and end around 9:30pm.

I had a new assignment to a project which had gone off-rails. My job is to get it back on track. All sounded easy until I realised the huge financial impact for the year if this project fails. All other projects within that account are tentatively ‘put on hold’ until this project goes successful ‘live’. To miss the deadline is to miss two major payment milestones. Now that something the executives do not want to hear.

This means there is absolutely no room for any failure. The drop date is 14 Dec (which recently got changed to 7 Dec). There is barely two months left when I came aboard! Within moments, I discovered numerous outstanding issues and risks. Furthermore the project team members were distraught and unmotivated because the previous project manager was not a team player. He had been quite unresponsive to technical issues and escalations. Key project members had left the company because of him and his style of management. There were huge technical gaps due to the exodus that needed filling in. Even if new resources came aboard, they would need time to assimilate into the project team. Time is something I do not have.

During this period I was so stressed that I accidently burst my right eye capillaries while rubbing my tired eyes too hard. That resulted in a corneal abrasion. The GP doctor diagnosed it as ‘sore eyes’ and gave me a wrong medication which resulted in swollen eyelids for a few days!

Nearly every morning waking was an agonising effort. The intense pain to the optic nerves whenever sunlight enters the eye had caused a dull throbbing headache. My sleep had been interrupted because I often woke up from the pain and ceaselss flow of tears. I practically had to wear sunglasses all day and night. Any sort of light hurts the eye. I was basically mopping around at home. I could not watch TV and I could not look at my laptop for too long.

After two weeks, the eye got a little bit better. However recurrent corneal abrasion symptoms followed in which the healing wound on my cornea would open again whenever I wake from sleep.

Has the thought of being blind ever crossed my mind? Absolutely yes! I kept browsing the internet and reading up on the medical articles and stories on corneal abrasions. I felt I was going to end up like the bad cases described there.

Good news is that you will not go blind in a corneal abrasion except experiencing a lot of discomfort. In worse cases there might be a remote chance of infections which can lead to blindness. The cornea healing takes just 72 hours. However the restoration of vision can take several weeks. Or months. Praise God, my vision is nearly complete even I write.

In all these struggles I still had to continue my project work with one eye. As each day pass there is mounting pressure from the senior management to deliver. I cannot recount how many times I was asked if we could deliver. At this moment I felt like quitting work, lay back and rest. And that’s what God revealed to me – REST.

(Part 2 continues...)

What language does your heart speak?

2009-08-25T18:57:00.006+08:00

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Our senses are bombarded with a lot of news and information everyday. Most news we hear from the media and sometimes even well-meaning colleagues and friends are usually not healthy news.

“1 in 11 Australian women will develop breast cancer before the age of 75.”
“If your family member has died of cancer, you had better go for a check-up.”

Is that good news to you at all? Does it not cast doubt, bring fear and worry into your life?

Yet we readily believe and accept these words into our heart. We put more trust in what man and his limited understanding of our bodies than our trust in the good news found in the supernatural Word of God. Yes, the very same life-changing words which promise “With long life I will satisfy you.”

Such media news when read is transmitted to our brains. Our brains acknowledge and process the sense of the news. Our inner minds of intellect attempt to comprehend the facts. When we accept the facts, we receive it into our thought processes and the allow the ‘power’ into our lives. And ultimately into our hearts.

Our Minds and Our Hearts
Deuteronomy 11:18 (NIV)
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

God has designed our minds to be extremely powerful. Our minds can have the power to turn what is spiritual or virtual into its real or physical equivalent. If our minds are not guarded, all kinds of bad news will get into our heads. And when the bad news drops into our hearts, they will be so real for each one of us.

2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ;"

Our Hearts and Our Words
Deuteronomy 30:14
The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Luke 6:45
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Just like our minds and our hearts, our mouths and our hearts are also interlinked. If we hear of economic downturns and we watch news of companies laying people off, it is so easy to accept this news as the truth and agree with the world. When we watch advertisements and read magazines about the problems medical studies have found in our bodies, we believe them as the truth.

And so we have a tendency to say as the world says:
“Better don’t travel too much because swine flu is spreading like wildfire. I might catch it.”
“I think I’m going to be the next person to get the golden handshake from the company.”

My beloved friends, fact and truth are two separate matters. Facts are temporal and subject to change, but the truth remains forever. And knowing the truth will set you free.

It was once thought that the world was flat. That was a fact during that age and time. But nothing is further from the truth because the world has been round from the beginning God created it. What more can we say when God has ordained that He has plans for us to have a good future - plans of prosperity and hope.

Jer 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

In Luke 9 “Feeding of the Five Thousand”:
It was getting late and the disciples asked Jesus to send the crowd into the nearby villages for food. They brought to Him five loaves and two fish.

Jesus looked around at the five-thousand crowd (excluding women and children). They had followed Him and had been with Him all day as He taught. Now they were tired and hungry. The skies were darkening. He peered down at the five loaves and two fish in His hands. Turning to His disciples, He exclaimed, “Wah how come so little? Do you know how many people are here? How to feed all at once?”

Did Jesus say that? Did he see the lack and the limited resources within the physical realm? Or perhaps when God saw into the darkness in Genesis, He said, “Eeewww, it’s so dark!”

No, instead God saw light in the darkness and called it forth. Likewise Jesus did not proclaim the lack. Instead He took the food in His hands, looked up towards His Father and gave thanks. Gave thanks for the abundance He is about to receive. Gave thanks that God is Jehovah Jireh. the Provider. Surely God’s name is not El-Cheapo! His name is El-Shaddai, the God Almighty!

The Benefits of God’s Word – Health and Wealth
Proverbs 8
20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

Keep God’s words within our hearts. Do not lose sight of them. For they are health to our bodies and faith and hope to our minds and hearts. God’s will is for us to prosper and succeed but He leaves the choice to us.

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

The Bible has stated very clearly that it is the will of God for all believers to be prosperous in both health and wealth. Being rich does include having a lot of money.

If you are a believer and you are poor, it is the will of God for you to receive your riches and be rich. However, you will not be forced nor threatened to do so. You have the freedom to reject God’s will in your life, believe in the heresy of theology and remain in poverty. This is one of the main reasons why so many Christians are poor. They choose to believe in the lie that God does not want them to be rich. This false belief has caused them to reject the blessing of prosperity from God.

While God has the power to exercise full control over our lives, he will never do it without our direct approval because he has too much respect for us. In the previous Proverbs verses, we have the right to determine which course we wish to take in our lives and we do it by guarding our hearts above all else, and speaking forth the words according to what God had said.

And this goes for our health. Symptoms and outward physical appearances are facts. They are there for our eyes to see, our touch to feel. Remember facts are temporal and can change, but the Word of God is eternal and it will never change.

The truth is that God has put all our diseases and sicknesses upon the body of His Son at the cross. The sickness or disease cannot be at two places at one time! It’s either in your body or in Jesus’ body.

Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

When you look to the cross, see the sickness there on Jesus. He is your substitute lamb. The sickness will soon lose its power and its hold on your body. Just like when the Israelites were bitten by snakes in the desert. They were told to look at the bronze serpent. Either they look at the serpent on the pole, or they continue to look at their snake wounds.

Bronze means judged and the serpent represented the snake bites. See the snake bites (your lack, your sickness) judged on the bronzed serpent (Jesus). For those who looked, they were healed. But there were many who did not look at God’s provision for healing and rather focused on the snake bites. They all died.

The snake bites are as real as the money in your bank account or body symptoms. Instead turn your eyes towards the cross and see the healing and provision in our beautiful Jesus.

How do we guard our hearts?
The question here is how to guard our hearts? How are we supposed to prevent bad news from getting into our minds and hearts? The answer is we can’t. Everything we see and hear will go straight into our brains and minds. We cannot stop this flow. However, we can present the information to create a positive impression for our minds. We can align ourselves to what God says about us.

As in the news, you read that many people are getting laid off from their jobs and how they are suffering. When this information gets into your brain, add in a few lines like:

“Thank God, I am in this world but not of this world. God’s promise to prosper me will still hold despite the poor state of economy right now.”

“I am an ambassador in Christ. The laws of the world do not govern my life. I am a citizen of heaven and a child of the Most High God. I am governed by His Spirit who guides and prospers me according to His word and faithfulness.”

“Jesus died poor for me to live rich. I am glad Jesus’ death at the Cross is more powerful than the effects of the bad economy right now. So, I will still be rich regardless of the circumstances. With this wealth, I can bless more people.”

When you add in positive interpretations to your mind, you are effectively positioning your minds to think positive and subsequently your mind will make those positive impressions captive and you will speak them forth to come true. This is the way we guard our minds/ hearts.

In addition, we should not meditate on the bad news. After you read the bad news, put it aside and move on. Do not meditate on it or you mind will start making it real for you.

In conclusion, God has made in clear that he has given us the freedom to decide on the course of our lives.

What type of future do you want? Do you want to be rich, healthy and successful? Do you want to have a long life like days of heave on earth and see your children’s children?

If you do, fill your minds with eternal truths in God’s word. And isn't the Word of God none other than Jesus and Him alone. Never allow your heart (mind) to think on anything that you do not wish to have and you do it by flooding your mind with thoughts on the future you want.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In short, let God's peace in Christ Jesus guard your hearts and minds.

General Motors (GM) ran out of gas

2009-06-02T20:25:00.009+08:00

Wow... how the mighty automobile icon of America has fallen! It actually ran out of gas!

GM stocks tumbled from a >$20US two years ago to a mere $2.67US today! And GM is now considering (or perhaps have already considered) bankruptcy. Just a year ago, the reowned financial institution Citibank fell heavily, wiping out 93% of the stock value. And not too recent it traded for $1.00US! Wonder if one can actually buy a bank from eBAY.

What gives? Why the sudden shake-up? Didn't we pay millions to the top executives to put in place robust measures so that the company stays afloat during crisis? What had happened?

I am fully convinced that paying top dollar to senior executives will NOT steer a company away from disasters or crisis. I believe rewards and encouragements go all the way down to the last man in the company doing mundane or administrative tasks.

Everybody counts in both good and bad times. It is not only the captain of the ship charting the course but also the lookout point person to the sweat-covered engineers in the engine rooms to the chefs and waiters serving the customers.

However in recent years, we have this 'I-know-it-all' attitude from many top executives, including cabinet ministers and politicians. Hey you know nothing until the 'sh*t hits the fan' as the saying goes. Your policies are considered sound when they are still left standing after the storms of crisis have passed.

That can be seen when the common folks grit their teeth and pull in the muscles to help steer the ship through the storm. And that includes YOU! Yes 'you' includes the million-dollar self-paid executives and politicians going down into the engine room and rolling up their sleeves to assist the engineers and sweating with them.

These policies will stand... simply because the people believed in what you stood for, instead of you thinking how to please your shareholders and only concerned with achieving the bottom line results. Many things are not just about statistics and tangible results.

I can only wish the workers in GM and their families well. Because they are the most likely impacted by the bankruptcy.

We are worth much more

2009-05-11T08:43:00.000+08:00

If you happen to see a $10,000 dollar bill (I know it doesn't exist but let's assume it does) in the mud, would you pick it up? Many I know would pick it up because of the stated value of the bill. There is substantial value in it.

Does it matter if it is made of paper? Does it matter if it is covered in dirty, yucky mud? All these matters little to none at all. All because of the value stated on the paper.

Likewise, God sees the value in us. We are so precious in His sight that He sent His only Son to die for us and redeemed us back to Himself. Once in a while, we fall into mud (ie sin). But that does NOT change the value He had placed on us. There is nothing the washing of the water (ie Word of grace) cannot do to wash the exterior.

The purchasing power He had used to redeem us back gave us our worth. It was an overpayment for us in fact. More than we could ever think of. We deserved only the lowest but He gave us the Highest.

If a friend tells you that the $10,000 dollar bill is only worth $10 dollars, would you believe it?

None of us would. Simply because we can see the value for ourselves. Someone had printed the value on this piece of flimsy paper.

If we can believe the power vested by the monetary authority on that paper (even though it is just a paper), surely we can more than believe the Creator and Almighty who had placed our precious worth in His Word. He calls us Beloved, Redeemed, Precious, Children of God, Sons and Daughters, Heirs, a Holy Nation and Royal Priests.

The $10,000 dollar bill was just an illustrated value.

Dear brothers and sisters, we are worth MUCH MORE than that. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Eph 2:4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

What happened to Jesus during the three days of His death?

2009-05-08T09:27:00.008+08:00

I pray this sharing will shed light to what happened to Jesus during the three days of His death.

I want us to focus on Jesus - God's redemption and the eternal home He had prepared for us. I do not find joy speaking about Hades or hell. However hell is as real as Jesus claimed it to be.

Read Luke 16 The Rich Man and Lazarus
19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.

23In hell (original Greek is Hades), where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

This story is real.
So is Lazarus. He is not a story-made person by Jesus because Jesus does not use real names for parables in which He uses "There was a certain Jew, rich man, priest" etc. So we know a beggar named Lazarus actually existed during Jesus' time. And this story is not a parable but an actual situation.

Both died. Where did they go?
Lazarus went to be with Abraham in a place called Abraham's Bosom while the rich man went to Hades, or Sheol and was in torment, awaiting judgement. It was not clear why Lazarus went into Abraham's Bosom and why the rich man went into Hades.

However it cannot be that the rich man was rich therefore he went to Hades, or sheol. Because Abraham himself was rich, and so was Jacob and David, etc. I strongly suggest that Lazarus believed Jesus while Jesus was on earth while the rich man rejected Him. But that is another topic for discussion beyond this subject matter.

Where is Abraham's Bosom? Where is Hades?
No one could be justified through the Law. All have sinned through Adam's one disobedience. Yet there is a group of people known as the Righteous Dead. These are the people who believed in faith that God will provide a saviour and Redeemer in time to come. These people looked forward (or ahead) by faith that one day their sins would be cleansed and taken away completely. Not covered by sacrifices of the blood of bulls or lambs which were temporary.

That's why Abraham, even when he had lied was not struck dead. This included Jacob. All these people lived before the Law. Even after the Law was given, God's judgement was tempered with mercy. That's why David pleaded mercy when he committed adultery. Yet a death had to be wrought for his sins because David lived under the Law. However David looked forward for a time in future when he prophesied "Blessed is the man whose transgessions are not counted against him"! That's us, brothers and sisters in Christ. David saw us as - Blessed!

These people were put in a holding place called Abraham's Bosom. For those who rejected God's provision for a Saviour, they were put in Hades, a place of torment awaiting God's judgement. These are two different places because there is a great chasm between Abraham's Bosom and Hades (or Sheol) as mentioned in the story. These rightoues dead waited patiently for His death for them to be set free. That's where Lazarus went, I believe.

Hades is also a place of darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth. See Luke 13:28 "28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out." And Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Where is Paradise?
Recount the thief who asked Jesus to remember him and Jesus assured him "Today you will be with me in paradise"?

The thief too looked forward for his sins to be forgiven and he was counted as part of the Righteous Dead, awaiting the Saviour to cleanse and save him completely. Hence I believe Paradise is in truth Abraham's bosom because Jesus had yet to ascend into heaven. First Jesus must pay for the sins he had carried (see later).

Where was Jesus in the three days He died?
We know that when Jesus died, He carried the sins of man throughout time, even those of Adam. Thus Jesus died a sinner, even though He committed no sin. There is a deeper purpose why He died a sinner too.

First He descended into the lower regions (Hades, or Sheol) carrying our sins. He died a sinner. One of his victorious work was to wrestle the keys of Death and Hades from the devil, which He did.

Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."
9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Revelations 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

And then He crossed over and went to Abraham's Bosom to bring the Righteous Dead with Him into heaven. See in Ephesians "He led captives in his train"? These were the Righteous Dead who could not ascend into heaven because of Adam's sin.

Another supporting verse John 10
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

There are other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I believe most refer to the sheep from another pen as the Gentiles. But can it also not refer to the Righteous Dead?

These righteous dead were those people (ie Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, including the thief, etc) who died before Jesus' death but were awaiting for Him to come and free them and bring them into heaven. Thus when Jesus died, the tombs of many holy men broke open and they became alive in Christ!

Matthew 27: 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Why did Jesus tell Mary not to touch Him?
John 20 Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." 16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Mary could not recognise Jesus because He was in his glorified form. She only recognised Him when He called her and opened her eyes. When she looked to embrace Him, He told her not to touch Him. Yet in later scriptures, we see that He allowed Thomas to touch His side and hands. Why?

Because His work as High Priest had not yet been completed. Remember He still had to present His blood before His Father in the Holy of Holies and sprinkle them before the Mercy Seat. We also know the physical tabernale is a shadow copy of the one in heaven. Thus the final work was God's acceptance of His blood and believing man is completely cleansed and sins taken away. Jesus was doing the exact priestly work as required in the Old Testaments. He came to fulfil the Law, every bit of it, such that it satisfied God completely! For more understanding, read Hebrews in details to see Jesus' priestly work.

Hence He told her, "Do not hold (or touch) me as I have not yet returned to my Father." A High Priest cannot be defiled or touched just as he enters the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood upon the Mercy Seat on top of the ark. Likewise Jesus was carrying His own perfect blood for the cleasning of all of those who believed in Him, including the Righteous Dead. If only Mary's eyes were opened, she would have seen the spirits of many righteous men of the Old Testaments around Jesus.

So when Jesus went into heaven carrying his blood, the angels sang in joy. Man is now allowed into heaven for the first time. And heaven exploded with:

Psalm 24: 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

Because of the perfect sacrifice and atoning work of Jesus was completed. The Lamb that that was slain was obedient till death and fully glorified God in Himself.

What is hell then?
Death and Hades are not a state of mind or being. Because Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire which is called Hell. How could a state of being or mindset be thrown into hell? It does not make sense. Hell is now a place for those who rejected God's redemption through Christ. It is also for the devil and his fallen angels. It is a place completely separated and apart from God. There is no redemption here. It is the second death.

Confusion also arose in 1 Peter 3:19...whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

That word preached is NOT 'the gospel preached for redemption' but 'to herald, or proclaim Lord's judgement' that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Not as a particular teaching by Catholics who hold that there is a second chance for redemption.

Jesus literally went through three days of 'hell' to save us completely.

May you be blessed by this sharing.

Is love a chore?

2009-05-04T10:19:00.001+08:00

I read something about reasons for obeying and serving God. Are we doing it because because He first loved us, or we love Him, or because it is the right Christian thing to do, or because we want His blessing, or because we fear His wrath?

1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

I used to think this is the kind of love we must exhibit as Christians. I used to think this is the kind of love I must show to my neighbour. I was wrong. I can never in my lifetime reach or achieve this kind of love. Only God can. Thus this verse is the kind of perfect love God has for us.

Love will automatically fulfill His commandments, of which the two pillars are based upon - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind. And love my neighbour as myself. I can never do it. But Jesus can.

This love as described in both Corinthians and the Law comes only when we know how much we ourselves have been loved by God. And this love was shown when Jesus willingly died for me. Without accepting His love, I can only sustain my own kind of love. My own selfish love.

Perfect love casts out all fears. This love comes only from God. There is no other perfect love, except that which a righteous man died for sinful men to redeem us back for His own. His blood shed completely cleansed me so much that I can stand before a holy God righteous and pure, and dispel the accusations thrown at me. His blood has drawn aline around me, protecting me and crying, "Redeemed!"

Love covers a multitude of sins. How much and how deep is the multitude of sins? Wide enough when His arms were thrown open wide on the cross. Deep enough that He went into the very depths of hell to wrest the keys of death back for us.

When this love displayed by God through Christ sits rooted within you, you don't have to be told not to kill your neighbour. You won't steal his stuff either. You won't commit adultery because you love your wife. All these are possible when we are first filled with His love for us. We, on our own, can only love so much.

Obedience out of fear has good short-term effects - but for how long? Eventually people will just run away from the prospect of an angry, judgmental God because we could not fulfill what is required from Him. Or turn away as the Israelites did because fulfilling those laws becomes a chore. How can we even fulfill the first commandment which is to have no other gods before or besides God? Who can truly say God is always #1 in our lives all the time?

And wanting blessings alone without knowing His love is only selfish gain. It is not worship of God but worship of self.

When we come to understand and experience how much God loves us, worship becomes a natural response. It fills our entire person even as our souls' longings are satisfied. We no longer fear Him because His perfect love for us, shown by sending His Son while we were deep in sin, drives out all our fear. And receiving His blessings is as easy as a child receiving from a loving father.

In Proverbs 10:22 (Amplified Bible) The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].

This is the kind of blessings I want from the Lord - no sorrows and no toiling (or self-effort). Some people have told me this refers to spiritual blessings. Think again, if these blessings are spiritual, how can sorrow be added to them? Surely it means more than spiritual blessings. Can it not mean *gasps* material things too?

A story I once heard:
There was a woman who was married off to a tyrannical man. He dictated her every move and made her his servant. He wrote a list of her daily duties: waking up at 5am everyday, cooking his breakfast and serving it to him in bed, making coffee, getting his newspapers for him to read, basically waiting on him hand and foot. She was miserable.

One day the man died, and the wife was free. She married again later, to a patient, gentle man who loved her. One day she was looking through her stuff when she found the old list her husband had drawn up for her. She realised suddenly that she did the exact same things for her current husband - but because now she did them out of love, it was no longer the chore it had been.

No way, Jose... er, Josie

2009-04-17T12:20:00.012+08:00

The response from DBS in relation to Josie Lau's appointment as AWARE President is laughable.
Quote:
“Banks worldwide are facing very challenging times and her role as VP in the credit card space today is even more challenging, given the environment we are in,” the spokesperson said.

How ironic and absurd. If I remember correctly, one of the core values in large MNC is to do volunteerism work, isn't it? I guess it isn't so for DBS since there aren't gonna be any monetary gains.

I felt it was eerily high-handed and arrogant like the PAP. Pray tell me, do you pay her after-hours 24 x 7? What has her role in AWARE got to do with her VP appointment in DBS? Are there conflict of interests between the goals of AWARE with that of DBS for you to make such a statement? My finite mind thinks not.

Let me ask you a truthful question:
Can you be certain none of your senior management has ever held a post as an Executive Committee member in golf resorts or town clubs before? I think you'd better do your checks before you response to my question.

Anway who are you to tell what I can or cannot do in my free time as long there is non-conflict of interest and it does not degrade my performance at work? You don't jolly pay me for after-hours outside the office and it is not as if Josie gave a credit card fraud teaching session to your competitors.

For that matter, I know of a Victorian senior policeman who is casually employed by universities to give talks on youth and crimes. And yes he is paid hourly. I am proud of him because he went beyond his call of duty to teach and enhance public awareness in youth crimes since he has the knowledge.

In Australia, organisations allow and encourage employees to be part of the volunteerism work. Hey, the staff are even honoured for their effort especially during the Victorian Bushfire Black Saturday!

I wish you could praised her. Praise her for her dedication and for her leadership qualities which the members saw to lead them. In addition AWARE is a non-profit organisation to help women, and doesn't even come close to the functions of golf resorts or town clubs.

Our Minister Mentor says it best about knowledge sharing. To quote:
"Singapore will assess a country’s ability to absorb the transfer of ideas and knowledge before deciding whether to collaborate with the country on joint projects."

Oh wait, being an AWARE President doesn't benefit the bank. Hey, you don't even get paid. You should have assessed if AWARE is able to absort your transfer of ideas and knowledge before you decided to collaborate with them.

Heh, no wonder Josie, you got the shaft. I guess you are only allowed to hold appointments where there are significant financial gains, connections or networking.

You can forget about being a president. That goes for us, lesser mortals.

There are Leaders, and there are Leeders

2009-04-03T10:47:00.011+08:00

Told missus that the Top 10 Best Paid Politicians should be filled with all Singaporean ministers. I wonder if their salaries include other director fees they had received. They beat even the second-placed Donald Tsang hands down without a blink of an eye! (Read the rest in The Australian)

Anyway, I had a good laugh when there was a proposal to up the pay of Australian MPs. Result? There was a furore and backlash by the public to even dare mention it during this period.

In addition I was following the G20 summit in London. The Australian showed all the other countries' figures. There were Korea, France, Japan, Canada, Germany, ~~even Luxemburg~~! But no Singapore. Checked the actual countries - no Luxemberg. Luxemburg was categorised with Singapore and Switzerland on the tax havens list. Read here.

Then I realised Singapore was not invited because she was not in the Top 20 largest economies of the world! But her leader sure is paid the highest. Mind-boggling, isn't it? Sheesh we must really be so unique.

Indeed there are Leaders, and there are Leeders.

Lee Hsien Loong - Singapore
Salary in dollars - $2.47 million
Salary in local currency - S$3.76 million
Donald Tsang Yum-Kuen - Hong Kong
Salary in dollars - $516,000
Salary in local currency - HK$4 million
Barack Obama - United States
Salary in dollars - $400,000
Brian Cowen - Ireland
Salary in dollars - $341,000
Salary in local currency - €257,000
Nicolas Sarkozy - France
Salary in dollars - $318,000
Salary in local currency - €240,000
Angela Merkel - Germany
Salary in dollars - $303,000
Salary in local currency - €228,000
Gordon Brown - UK
Salary in dollars - $279,000
Salary in local currency - £194,250
Stephen Harper - Canada
Salary in dollars - $246,000
Salary in local currency - C$311,000
Taro Aso - Japan
Salary in dollars - $243,000
Salary in local currency - Y24 million
Kevin Rudd - Australia
Salary in dollars - $229,000
Salary in local currency - A$330,000

Missing links?

2009-03-24T09:55:00.017+08:00

This 'thoughts and rambling post' was in draft. Until the recent Cabinet re-shuffle announcement triggered the release.

Currently I am pretty busy at work. Blog time is whatever spare time I have. Being busy is a good thing in this 'so-called' time of downturn. Well, I had never believed in downturns as a matter of fact. My perception is what people often see as failures are really opportunities. Read Joseph (of Eygpt) in the bible and you won't be far off.

Anyway back to the main topic. This re-shuffle got me seriously thinking about the recent slew of questionable and mind-boggling events that had occurred recently.

David Widjaya's death
The MSM (mainstream media) reports were highly suspicious when they began to publish the likely causes of the death in spite of in-progress investigations. More sickening was pointing the finger at World of Warcraft. Right... that made me a 'suicidal person' since I had been playing it for many years. The most striking thing was that an official coroner's report had yet to be published!

I did remember commenting on MM Lee's statements some time ago about the Mat Salamat's escape. He said those statements while an independent inquiry was investigating. MM Lee is a very highly respectable person in Singapore. His words can effect and affect the outcome of a situational crisis. So it was no surprise when the independent inquiry report showed the lack of vigilance and total complacency. Duh! I for one felt two persons actually walked away scot-free.

Anyway it was as if MM Lee had either knew the details of the report beforehand or that he had sat with the 'independent' inquiry throughout the investigations.

Censorship on Dr Alan Ooi's farewell letter
Now that was really uncalled for. What was the MSM trying to achieve when it played the 'mind-game' of censorship?

Don't you think the truth will be out sooner considering how information is now shared on the Internet? Well it cuts across human barriers for one. The later the truth got out, the more the disgruntlement is bottled up. Be it through blogs, alternative reads, or just foreign press coverages - when people want to get the information, they will get it.

And I had to read the whole letter posted online by the Wayang Party instead of the MSM (though Wayang Party initially posted a partial letter to protect the farewells to personal friends and family).

Following this the MSM decided to publish the letter as an act of damage control. At a national level, it seemed all good to put to rest unanswered questions about the death of a scholar. The catch however was that a whole paragraph about Dr Allan Ooi's grievances with the SAF was 'snipped out'! And we had to read the unadulterated and unblemished version in Wayang Party blog!

Wow... that sure was a sinking feeling, isn't it? To have the truth withheld from me. What are you hiding? Could it be true about his grievances? Even if it was, it should be the people to decide how they want to digest the information. These are real opportunities for Ministers and SAF to stand up and respond. Instead the MSM chose the censor... what gives?

It's no fancy that the bloggers had a field day of throwing 'rotten tomatoes' and 'bad eggs' at the MSM. So much for our national paper global rankings.

CDC 8-month bonus to 2 senior managers
I will never blog about it. Except now.

In my opinion that is NWC (National Wage Council), PA (People's Association) and/or Dr Teo Ho Pin's business. And they are free to declare it and rightly so too, without any misgivings or misinterpretations. Well, on a personal note, to say 'I don't know' is a lousy answer to give to the press. Afterall Dr Teo himself is drawing money from the taxpayers too.

Just like the Perm Sec Tan Yong Soon open declaration in spending S$46,500 to learn French cooking. It's his business anyway. Who am I to say if it was well-spent or not? It's not as if he had taken his salary through underhand methods. And I truly respect him for even saying it aloud. Takes a lot of guts and confidence. Hmmm... perhaps not so smart in this 'economic recession'; maybe he should have published it in ICON or Plush magazines. At least the people who read them are in his category.

The disgruntlement became more acute within the blogsphere when the online media started a 'black-out' on this topic (read here). To make it inaccessible is to openly declare that 'we have something to hide'. Well, sort of.

This categorises under a major PR department glitch.

BBC interview with PM Lee
In the recent interview, PM Lee was asked, “Finally, Prime Minister, I read that you are apparently the highest paid head of government in the world. Your salary is about four or five times what President Obama gets. Are you worth all that money?”

PM Lee laughed and said:
"I am not comparing myself and I don’t look at these rankings. We go on a system which is open, honest, transparent – what is the job worth, what is the quality of the person whom you want. We need the best people for the job and these are jobs where you make decisions which are worth billions of dollars.

And you cannot do that if you are pretending and you just say, ‘Well, we are all in it for the love of King and Country’. We want it to be honest, we want people not to come in for the money. But at the same time the sacrifice cannot be too great. And at times like these, you want the best possible government you can have."

Now you have just gone and shot yourself in the foot.

In lieu of the recent predicaments by the MSM in trying to publish 'half-truths' or hide them (I don't know which), how can you say "we go on a system which is open, honest, transparent"?

What about how the President approval of touching the reserves? Was it open? Or based on trust? Surely not open if you had asked any man on the street until you were pressed for more answers.

Let me also draw you to the recent Town Council, Temasek and GIC invesments. Can you truly say it's transparent? I'm not too sure... and if I have doubts, it means you haven't been very transparent at all.

So if there is 'little' openness and much improvement for transparency (in my opinion), how can the word 'honest' be thrown it? It's pretty contradictory, don't you think?

And to top it off - now hear this:
Your whole answer (yes, your answer, PM Lee) was MISSING from Straits Times publication!

Why? Isn't the act self-contradictory again? It looked so, so silly from my point of view. Really. Anyone can just pick it up the missing pieces quickly (just like here) especially reading from other foreign online press. So it behooves me about the unnecessary censorship.

I'd reckon the current MSM wouldn't had 'blacked-out' your answer if there had been another independent media publishing the full transcript of your interview with BBC.

I just don't know where to hide my embarrassed Singaporean face. Again I ask - why?

Cabinet re-shuffle
Why on earth do you need these people when you are the highest paid politician in the world?!!

1x Minister Mentor
2x Senior Ministers
2x Deputy PMs
3x Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Office

Mind-bloggling, isn't it? Gee, that's a lot of top-notched salaries to give out. And under the super-super scale salary scheme, they must be drawing millions! They must be truly the best politicians in the world.

On a personal note, if I were a Chairman of a company, I'd fire the CEO straightaway. Either the CEO is totally incompetent, or his workload is so uniquely 'out of this world' that he needs all these 'supporting' seniors. I wonder also how in the world does one justify drawing all these million-dollar salaries without declaring their assets?

Competition
So where does all these ramblings lead to? I'd reckon the missing links are choices and competition.

Think about it. They are the same reasons why many readers turn towards online media like blogs and foreign press to have an alternative read. It is not that the current newspaper is lousy (well, it may be but that's another topic) but people want choices and competition. We want to see from another angle but alas, we don't really have a choice, do we?

I mean if I want to know more about aerodynamics physics, it would be foolish to just read from a book or article or from one author, wouldn't it? And how much I want to read depends on how much information I want to get from the various sources of whitepaper, academic books and analytical findings.

We agree that not all these theories are correct. Well, so does reading it from one academic source alone, isn't it? In fact it's even riskier!

And how does one get better in sports or in a soccer game? Well, simply pit your skills against your opponents on a level-playing field. Of course sometimes the referee is kayu (biased).

So why should it be different in reading about news and politics in Singapore? Wouldn't alternative read enable us to question and fine-tune the system better? If we are really open, honest and transparent, then healthy competition should be encouraged. Shouldn't it?

Competition brings in healthy checks. More often it draws the best candidate too! If the government can think that a company would pay a lower wage to a foreign talent to compete on the same job, would not the people think likewise to have a lower-paid government yet performing up to par with the incumbent?

I mean that's why we have tender processes to evaluate and pick out the best company to deliver the solutions. And that's why we have more than one interviewee for a job opportunity and then another round for the short-listed candidates. To instill choices for employers and competition among the employees.

Shouldn't it be likewise for elections and MPs representing us? But we don't seem to have such a choice because the MPs and policies have already been selected for us. At least for me because I have never had a chance to vote.

Why would it then be different in Singapore politics and the MSM? Perhaps the missing links are choices and competition.

Sheer genius, or complete dodo

2009-03-18T11:54:00.008+08:00

I... AM... STUMPED.

Speechless. Flabbergasted. Silenced. Call it whatever you want.

After reading this article from Today, I no longer know the depth of rubbish-ness that can come out from the Singapore msm (main stream media). Seriously. I don't know how to react, or comment any further.

Maybe it is such a brilliant move to be so unorthodox, obscure and uncomprehensible that bloggers kena stunned (caught off-guard). I mean, how are we going to answer that article? Snubbed. Totally pwned.

Either it's sheer genius, or complete dodo.

It's like saying we should go back to postage because emails and e-cards are causing world-wide companies to be obliterated. Fax machines will no longer exist and post-boxes will no longer be seen. And stamp collectors will soon fade away. There goes First-Day covers...

Wow, where did that analogy come from?

I don't know. Just like the electoral boundaries, the lines keep changing until it's all blurred now. Perhaps it is using ridiculous and highly questionable articles to increase readership. Maybe there is an angle which I had failed to see. Mayhaps it wants to test its media boundaries, or even try to stretch the limits of Singaporeans' patience to get a reaction.

I really don't know.

This is my fourth article back to back concerning the Singapore msm. Doesn't help when the press is ranked a lowly >140 out of 195 countries.

You are losing readership because you suck. No one wants to waste money for useless stuff that continues to produce junk, especially in a recession. Either you change your content or ship out. As far as I can remember, the blogging community has been telling you for ages .

You still don't get it, do you? Anyway, the Elite One has spoken. Doesn't matter a hoot to him, so why should it bother you?

"Singaporeans are free to read whatever they want, the influential founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew said of his country, which ranks near the bottom on a watchdog's index of press freedom."

Sheesh, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record now...

Did you leave your brains on your desk, or was it bashed out?

2009-03-15T14:11:00.010+08:00

Online editor of Straits Times, Joanne Lee, wrote such a stupid, moronic piece of goondu (silly) junk that left me aghast and disgusted.

Appalled to be precise. First I have politicians who claim to be qualified psychiatric doctors enough to call an opposition party leader lunatic. Now I have editors who are qualified Aunt Agonys enough to give domestic violence advice to public.

I bet she must have left her grey matter on her desk when she wrote it! Perhaps her boyfriend had bashed her on the head hard enough to write in such a concussed state.

By gawd, she is the _EDITOR_, mind you! Not just some freelance, or small-fry journalist! Doesn't it make anyone wonder about the quality of journalism the msm (mainstream media) has been dishing out these days? Why would anyone want to pay to read junk anyway? And to think I had just blogged about it here and here.

And it has to be Straits Times again? Wow... these days they seem to be desperate for readers thus these controversial articles to boost their readership.

Stupid is as stupid says, dear Joanne Lee.

It’s like saying maybe a wife should change her attitude towards sex if her husband had raped/violated her. Afterall, the husband had provided for the family so she should change herself to suit his needs. What a dumbo statement!

At no point, even provoked should a man hit a woman. Period.

So just because a driver in front of me provoked me, I can come out and bash the daylights out of him so that he can LEARN something from my bashing?

Gee, are you nuts?!! Just look at the picture and you say it's semi-ok? Or do you have to write some moronic commentaries to get paid? Wake up your idea and get a life!

Here is what Joanne Lee wrote. You make your own judgement, readers.

---
Was Rihanna semi-responsible?
March 13, 2009 Friday, 06:08 PM

Joanne Lee looks at her own experience with dating abuse.

I ONCE dated a guy who hit me.

Not in the full-on Chris-Brown-biting-Rihanna's-ears kind of way, but we'd argue and he'd get so worked up, he'd punch the wall and shove me around a little. (It'd usually be a one-off punch because he was inherently a decent guy who knew it was wrong to hit anyone.)

Domestic/dating abuse has obviously blown up in the news since the R&B stars' violent episode last month came to light and Chris Brown was charged in court this week. Oprah Winfrey dedicated her show to the two of them and, while sending her love to the two, also said: "If a man hits you once, he will hit you again."

Initially, the condemnation all over the Internet and media was against Chris Brown. A man raising his hand against the weaker sex is just something absolutely socially unacceptable.

But a second strain of judgement has surfaced, turning against Rihanna, saying: Yes, she might be a victim but she also probably provoked Chris Brown to violence.

Domestic abuse social workers would absolutely dismiss this secondary reaction, and I don't purport to know the natures of Chris Brown or Rihanna at all, but I can understand why some people would think the victim is not entirely blameless.

You see, my ex was Chris Brown's age, 19 (give or take) at the time. We were young, we had tempers and we had not the maturity to control those tempers. When he hit me those few times, I'll freely admit, I had a part to play in the outcome.

When I was younger, I was argumentative and it didn't help that I had a way with words - twisting words, to be precise. If he got frustrated and ended up hitting out at animate (me) or inanimate objects (mirrors), I honestly can't say it was entirely his fault.

Was this the case in Rihanna's situation? I don't know. Is it the case in all domestic abuse situations? Absolutely not. Some men just cannot control their violence and there is nothing to be done for it except for the woman to leave the monster to protect themselves and, God forbid, their children.

But what I do know, is that in my case, I contributed to his anger - which is why I forgave him time and time again (not that there were many times) and did not leave him. When we broke up in the end, it was for entirely different reasons.

As far as I know, he's now happily married, a father and doing well in his career. As for me, I think I've learned to bridle my tongue and be a more give-and-take kind of partner. (And I stress, give-and-take. Not give-and-give.)

So my humble advice to anyone out there facing mild cases of domestic/dating abuse is this: If you can help the situation by changing yourself, perhaps that's something to try if you truly love the guy.

Operative word: MILD.

If he's saying "I'm going to kill you", arm-locking you and biting your ears, no matter how much you look within yourself to try to improve your relationship, I really doubt your man is going to grow out of his temper tantrums.

Rihanna, leave the dude already.

I must be a mushroom

2009-03-13T11:55:00.006+08:00

That's how the Singapore msm (mainstream media) and SPH (Singapore Press Holdings who owned the msm) treat me. A mushroom. Why?

Because they keep me in the dark and feed me nothing but bullsh*t all day.

---
I could have included Temask Holdings also owns SPH. But I won't sink to your underhand methods and rather keep things in perspective and objective. However you, SPH, time and again have brought in unnecessary details to smear others.

For a good example is bringing in ~~Chia Tik Lek's~~ Tan Lead Shake's name in an article over his brother's death. You also did not fail to mention him as the Slippers Independent Candidate in an election. Pray tell me, what has that got to do with the death?

But for Mas Selamat's escape, you conveniently heaped the blame on us Singaporeans for being complancent, on the guards and duty officer-in-charge, and the upgrade of the TV cameras, etc. Everything except the real people who ought to get the boot - MHA minister and the Head of the Detention Centre.

Does not take a rocket scientist to wonder why you are stuck at 154th media position in the world.

Now there is a furore over how the MSM skewed the article to pin the blame on Dr Allan Ooi. And even censored parts of the letter to protect the SAF. Oh the audicity of it!

I mean what have we been fed all these years?! Yes, bullsh*t.

So I concur then that the government must have foreseen huge investments and profits in mushroom farms in the coming years.

Coz definitely we are all mushrooms.

More read here.

What you read is not what you read

2009-03-12T18:45:00.007+08:00

Oxymoron? Yeah you bet!

Especially when SPH has sunk to a new all-time low in gutter journalism. Yes I'm refering to the death of Dr Allan Ooi.

See for yourself here and here.

Everyone was taken for a ride if you had just gardner the contents from SPH. I mean it's so blatantly different and the spin story will spin you until you feel the late Dr Allan Ooi is just a love-sick puppy. Which he is NOT!

Really, I’m absolutely disgusted and appalled that even a letter has to be censored! I mean it’s his last letter for God’s sake!

Why would you do that, SPH? Isn’t it as bad as North Korea to have a tightly-controlled media? Why hide the facts and truths? It doesn't bring you any glory except now you have lost your pride and credibility? And it’s not as if in recent years you have had any.

You used to be good. I liked reading the newspapers many years ago. I don’t know what had happened. You had just lost the plot. Totally.

Thank you Wayang Party for portraying the truth. I cannot imagine how we would think of the late Dr Allan Ooi if you hadn’t published the first half of the letter not omitting SAF.

You truly sicken me, SPH! I’d never thought you will sink to a new low. Pui! You had left an utterly bitter (and not even close to satisfying) aftertaste as my punchline for this blog Kaffein-nated goes.

No wonder your government bosses are so afraid of the Internet because truths will be exposed and outrightly published without your control. And you have sought time and again to discredit bloggers, especially socio-political blogs.

So now I being to wonder if you had been telling us the truth about the recent deaths of David Hartanto Widjaja and Zhou Zheng.

I feel total disdain for you, SPH!

One man's ideas? I think not

2009-03-11T10:09:00.007+08:00

If you want to have an analytical overview and alternative read about what PAP claims, go no further and read Part 1 and Part 2. These articles are a really, really good. I think these should be in the history lessons, or at least an economic model of how not to screw up.

I have always had my misgivings whenever the PAP blows its trumpet that the modern day Singapore attributes herself to the wisdom and analytical vision of my godfather - LKY. Eversince I had started reading alternative views and commentaries (with just a simple pick up of an SDP newsletter at Orchard Road ages ago), I had begun to suspect that there are underlying truths that will never be published or made known publicly. You can get yourself a copy of the book - 'A Nation Cheated' here. There are also other alternative reads.

These articles not only walked through how Singapore had progressed through the years but also debunked the fact that the succes of Singapore was just LKY’s vision and wisdom that brought her thus far. Rather LKY had also followed other economic models, an example is the Switzerland one. There is nothing wrong with such claims but to attribute the country's success were based on his ideas/vision and his alone is a tad far off.

No, I am not saying he did not contribute to the success. In fact, I rather liked certain policies like making education compulsory. Yet again, it was not just his idea alone. Another one of the good policies is the death penalty on certain major crimes like drug trafficking, firearms possession, kidnapping, murder, etc. I am not a strong advocate on death penalty because life is precious. However there are some 'jokers' who are not only a menace to society by their mere existence, they are also sinisterly dangerous to our kids and well-being. They ought to be locked up for life, or perhaps life snuffed out of them.

Of course we have questionable ones like the 'Speak more Mandarin, less dialects' and the 'Stop at Two' and many others which we are now seeing the 'side-effects'.

I have digressed.

Now that Singapore has developed and progressed (at least at the educational and academic level and has been called a developed country), I believe we ought to be mature enough to handle alternative political reads. Many of my colleagues and friends (while I was still in Singapore) still hold the passive approach that 'government knows best' and continue to have the 'don't touch this if it ain't broken' attitude.

Like I have written a comment in Lucky's 'Diary of a Singaporean Mind', many Singaporeans need to open up their thinking and see the world for themselves. I do not claim that I have reached a thought level good enough to advise others. But after reading the comments published by some (young?) Singaporeans in response to the David Hartanto Widjaja saga, I could not help lamenting that they have a rather silo view of 'the state media is always right else it won't be published, will it?' mentality.

So much for musings. I believe it's time to move on from our past victories and successes so often trumpeted by the PAP who claimed to have brought Singapore thus far. It is starting to sound like a broken record these days.

Photos galore @ Tasmania (26 Sep - 4 Oct) - Part Three

2009-02-25T18:41:00.019+08:00

More photos as promised (see also Part 1 and Part 2).

The remaining three days of our trip were spent at Cradle Mountain. There is a reason why it's called Cradle Mountian.

The drive from Launceston took slightly more than two hours at a good leisurely pace. We stopped for lunch break at a small town named Delorain. Remembered we did a couple of wrong turns too during the journey.

A very beautiful countryside church

Once we reached the base of the Cradle Mountain, the drive got more scenic and beautiful . It was drizzling on our way up so there was a misty and surreal feeling like we were in heaven when we finally reached Cradle Mountain Lodge. We stay there for two nights.

During the day, there are a lot of graded forest walks and hikes (check here). We took The King Billy track (~1 hour) and also the 45-min The Waterfalls Walk (Pencil Pine Falls and Knyvet Falls).

We were told the weather changes frequently. So we brought along our jackets. As usual Rachel became grouchy and irritable after a while as there wasn't any kids to play or chat with. And missus showed her displeasure. I got sandwiched in-between.

Beautiful, lush and natural forest

Sunlight creeping through the canopies, on the forest floor and a creek

Family shots, waterfall in the background

It got colder at night. and the wild noturnal animals came out looking for food. In fact there was a wallaby standing just outside our cabin door. We also came up close and personal with different varieties of possums running along the rails and beams.

Another small creek, a wombat having lunch out in the open

Trekking to Pencil Pine Falls and Knyvet Falls, Rachel the Amazon Princess
(Apologies: too dark to take good pictures of the waterfalls)

On the way back to Hobart we stopped by Richmond. The Richmond Bridge (built in the 1820s) is the oldest bridge in Tasmania. The town itself was quaint and cozy.

Beautiful mansion overlooking the Richmon Bridge

Beautiful and all grown-up Rachel

Did you see how much my dear princess has grown up? She indeed looks so different from her earlier photos (see here and here). Gee, they grow up so fast. Don't we love family trips?

Latest: Got money also cannot use?!

2009-02-24T13:35:00.007+08:00

This 'no travel deposit' feature in the new ez-link card is a no-brainer (read here).

Here are my long-standing grouses against the LTA and transport companies (which I think are all in cahoots together):

Public transport is er... public transport.

What can I say? I don't know how you justify your profits if you are providing a public service. Shouldn't your profits be channeled back into the public in terms of stablising fares and providing better systems?
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When you lower your fares, you say as if you have done us a great service and feel that you have given me an orgasmic feeling. You don't. Get over it.
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From the newspaper article: "But the Land Transport Authority (LTA) explained that the new features of the card make this system more convenient."

Shouldn't you be making the system more convenient for the PUBLIC? Gee, this one absolutely no-brainer. I guess the word public is no longer in your vocab.
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Nobody asked for special features like Mobile TV, electronic tags or cards, or even high-tech transport systems implementations.

If you had taken public transport like we do, you will find that people just want to get from one place to another through the more accessible route, at a reasonably comfortable journey and in the quickest time.

All other jazz pales in comparison.
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If you want to move towards a cashless society and use the latest technology, by all means do it. Support yourself with the profits you have been having all these years. The common man should not be penalised.
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Paying for something which is useless is... useless. The inital purchase of the ez-link card can't be returned. Till now, you have not told me what I can do with this card?
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Do care to explain how much you have earned from advertisement alone? I could hardly look outside the windows these days without straining my eyes when I visited Singapore three months ago. They have been blanketed by your advertisement posters.

If you already have a steady stream of income from these advertisements, how come you are still justifying transport hikes? Reminds me of TV licenses.
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Now you implement an absolutely confusing system/policy and we have to adapt. See how moronic your statement in the article is:
"When you bought the old ez-link card, you had to pay an extra $3, known as a travel deposit, and this was not reflected in the card's balance.

So, when the card reader shows a balance of $0.01, there is actually $3.01 still on the card. And you can still take a bus or a train.

With the new card, the $3, which is no longer known as a travel deposit, is reflected in the card balance. That's all."

Wah how come so cheem (hokkein meaning complicated)? There is $3 but actually it is $0? Pray tell me, which smart-alec government scholar made simple mathematics so complicated? At least in the old card, the travel deposit is not reflected. So when you reach $0 or close to it, you know it's time for top-up.

Now it is there but still cannot use? Sounds like the dreaded CPF blackbox. *koff koff*

Photos galore @ Tasmania (26 Sep - 4 Oct) - Part Two

2009-02-19T21:41:00.025+08:00

Procrastination.

The bane of man. If it hadn't been for missus' constant ~~nagging~~ reminder, I would have conveniently forgotten about them. I am certain God thought Adam had procrastinated far too long in naming all the animals He had created.

Left alone, I reckon Adam will still be naming them today. No wonder God said Adam needed a helper. And a secretary.

Remember to thank missus, dear readers. Here's Part One to refresh your memory.
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Some coastal beach (very cold with Antarctic wind blowing)

We travelled from Hobart to Bicheno. Along the way, we visited the Freycinet National Park.

The park is very scenic and beautiful. I was told the hike to reach the Wineglass Bay lookout used to be >2 hours from the old carpark.

I believe the Tasmania Tourism Board decided to spare tourists like me from fatigue torture and had constructed a new carpark further uphill. It now takes 1 - 1.5 hours.

The hike up was totally worth the view as you can see below.

Rachel trying to convince the wallaby to hike along

I think it retorted, "Are you crazy?!"

Do you see the mountainous backdrop in the photo below? The Wineglass Bay is just behind it. No wonder the smart wallaby refused to tag along.

Rachel's partners in 'crime', family photo

Solid as a rock

Breath-taking scenery! Worth every effort...

... and the after-effects

After spending a night in Bicheno, we continued our journey to Launceston.

Launceston is much smaller compared to Hobart but definitely more bustling than Bicheno. Bicheno feels like a surfers' town.

We visited the Penny Royal World & Gunpowder Mill. Unfortunately it was under renovation and closed to public. There is also a nearby hand-made sweet factory named Gourlays Sweet Factory.

Gunpowder Mill and Gourlays

Quaint cafe and service apartment reception

Random photos shots, prominent windmill in town

Click to view Part One. I will be uploading Part Three with Cradle Mountain photos soon... :P

Of godhood, divinity and deity

2009-02-17T07:25:00.004+08:00

Before you read further, this is a political rant. Just read an article by Gerald Giam (read here).

I will like to respond to that letter. (Un)fortunately I don't subscribe to lousy newspapers which people use to pick up dog poo. This satirical strategy-game advice I have written has this underlying statement:

"We make lousy gods. Stop playing one!"
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There are numerous PC games like 'Black and White' and Sims-series to keep your air-level godhead and godhood status satisfied. Bear in mind, your worshippers have a 'happiness index' too. As in the games, there are repercussions if you are a lousy god.

Anway, here is how not to bring your 'diety' status to an all-time low:

Be wary of burnt offerings.
You may consider it pure joy when people 'tithe' or bring offerings to you through taxes you have imposed. However a minority might be fanatical enough to decide that burnt offerings albeit human ones are the holiest.
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Size does matter... with shoes.
Being a lousy god, you might jumpstart a shoe fetish or craze among the public to own the largest and fattest size. Both American and Chinese gods have had no trouble reading labels and their respective sizes in close personal encounters of the flying types.
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Use better priests.
Wisecrack statements by your clerical mouthpieces like "...squandered opportunity for a higher degree of self-regulation", "I am so happy whenever I see my monthly CPF statements", "5-day week is to be more reproductive" to "lesser mortals" don't make you popular with your worshippers.

You need an A-team to deliver best results. If the A-team fails, use foreign imports. It's cheaper anyway.
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Do unto others as you would have others done unto you.
Packing off your old, ex-worshippers into neighbouring countries will not only incur the wrath of your worshippers, it stirs righteous indignation among your neighbours. This hurts diplomatic ties big time. Not unless you want to get pk-ed and pwned.
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Some LEEders don't know when to quit.
You don't get many chances to restart in failed missions. So 'save' often and quit while you are ahead.

(Testimony) More than a conqueror in Christ

2009-02-14T18:10:00.005+08:00

I have been wanting to publish this testimony that I had written in early 2009 and emailed to my friends. Now I wish to share it with you readers.

May you be blessed by the goodness of God.

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Wishing you a blessed 2009.

I executed a project implementation on 2 Jan. Towards the end of the day, I received an email from a senior manager (whom I shall call Cathy) from my client company. She had accused me of executing the implementation without her approval. To add fuel to the fire, another manager from the client company (who was covering for the approvers on leave) had said that no approvals were required since the implementation was not pertaining to any production environments.

I called Cathy to explain the situation. She was furious and adament that I had flouted a very serious offence. Before putting down the phone, she would escalate to the senior management accordingly. Though she was rather rude and aggressive throughout, I responded politely and professionally.

Initially I did not take her threat very seriously until I read her email sent within the next few minutes. It was addressed a very senior vice president in US (whom I shall call Dave). He was the senior project executive handling my client account. To make matters worse, this email was copied to all the senior directors of her company.

I was pretty much in a state of shock. I immediately forwarded the email to my reporting manager lest he gets a call from US. I doubt he could do much since it had bypassed even the technology head in Australia.

It was already close to dinner time and we had already decided to eat out. While driving, I told Selene that whatever the situation, it would be turned into my favour. Somehow God is going to change the bad spotlight into a blessing where my name will be remembered well among the senior management of both sides.

Of course things are easier said than done. My human nature reared its ugly head.

At 4:30am I woke up feeling concerned. How God can save me goes against all human logic and reasoning. How could I sit still and do nothing? I brought out my laptop. Perhaps I should pen an explanation to Dave and copy a few senior managers to back me up.

I felt trapped and hopeless like the Israelites. In front of me was the vast Red Sea and behind me was the marauding Egyptian army. With despair flooding my soul, all I could think of were the 'what-ifs' scenarios. What if I had lost my job? I have a house mortgage to pay and I am the only breadwinner. Already many companies are retrenching their staff. Would this not be a good reason to fire me? Would God bless me with this job and yet take it away from me? I was settling for the best scenario where I would get a stern 'tick-off'.

Admist my fear, God's still small voice spoke. Just a word "Shalom". Peace, be still. My raging sea immediately lapsed into tranquility. "I will be your Shield and Mighty Tower. The battle belongs to the Lord."

And behold, a new mail alarm box popped up.

Dave had replied her email. To summarize he sternly told Cathy off (our client, mind you) and that he did not like her tone. He would not conclude without knowing the facts. Five minutes later, I saw Cathy's reply. I thought miserably, "This could well turn into a open war with each senior director taking sides and pouncing on each other's throats!"

To my astonishment, Cathy apologized. No, you did not hear me - she APOLOGIZED for her tone and will instead better her communication skills. Her email was sent to the same distribution list of seniors. She mentioned that she would also work closer with my company to improve the process. As if it wasn't enough, she sent me a personal note (copying Dave) to ask me to accept her apology. She would like to treat me to a cup of coffee as an apology. Even my manager was stumped! Anyway, he was in the midst of replying to Dave when I informed him the matter was settled.

Woot! Praise God! Imagine if I had tried to explain.

As God told Moses and the Israelites to "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord", God had perform the same miracle and opened up my very own Red Sea! The good news for everyone is - God is still in the business of opening up our Red Seas today. He is the God of the impossible!

Now how victorious can it be? Too good to be true? I beg to differ because I have an awesome Father. If God is on my side, who can be against me? God didn't say there won't be any weapons formed against me. But He did promise that those weapons formed against me cannot prosper, and every judging words against me shall be condemned. Hallelujah!

Now I have an even deeper understanding of being 'more than a conqueror' in Christ. It simply means Christ will fight our battles and all we need to do is rest. Once the battle is over, all we need to do is pick up the spoils of war. We are already victorious through a battle we didn't fight. Now that is more than a conqueror!

Just like a husband who works hard and brings home the money. And his wife gets to spend every single cent of it. The husband is a conqueror while the wife is more than a conqueror. Just joking :P

Remember Simon Peter? Jesus told him to let down his nets. And Simon hauled up a net-breaking, boat-sinking, load of fish. So much that he had to yell for the other boats to help him. Who attracted the fish to the boat? Jesus the Conquerer. Who got the spoils? Simon the more-than-conquerer in Christ.

That's you. That's me. That's for everyone who believes in Him.

There is a catch though: you simply have to REST and TRUST Him who is able.

Jesus + Anything = Nothing;
Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Help for bushfire victims

2009-02-11T17:04:00.005+08:00

Many people have lost their homes and loved ones in one of Australia's worst tragedy. If you wish to donate, go to the Australian Red Cross website (more details).

Let us provide whatever assistance to the victims, be it through prayer and donation (financial, clothes, blood).

Australian Abortion Laws To Blame For Bush Fires?

2009-02-11T08:10:00.011+08:00

For my Singaporean friends, I am alive and well. Thank you for your concern.

These are my thoughts and opinions in response to a certain dream from a person named Danny Nalliah linking abortion laws to the bush fires (read here).

I have been waiting for preachers to come forward and proclaim God's judgement upon Australia and Victoria. Seems like it's so common these days - doom and gloom. If they really had a word (or dream) from God, I'm sure the disaster would have been averted if they had stood up before then. No offense, gee anyone could have done it, with or without a word of knowledge. Even a terrorist claims his god is just and mighty in the 911.

If you want to see here how a disaster was averted as God gave a word of knowledge, see here (in Youtube) by a healing evangelist named TD Joshua. For info, see the other videos how a leg cancer was healed and also how a dead man had been raised.

So what is the difference between us Christians and the rest of this world?

The BIG difference is while we were lost in sin, our God came down and showed us how much He loved us by dying on the cross for us and saved us from the uttermost. All these He had done while we were still deep in sin.

There are some things flawed in his account:

How can anguish and agony and death bring glory to God?
The God I know who loves the world enough to send his Son to die for us while we were sinners. If his theory holds true that God is judging the world, He wouldn't have sent a saviour. He would have sent a destroyer.

And God didn't send a destroyer, He sent His own Son whom He loves.
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Since when in the bible has God's wrath brought repentence?
Rom 2:3 clearly states "So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?"

Read again. God's kindness leads us to repentance, not His wrath. If it was His wrath, the people of Israel would have turned to God. But they didn't.

See the Samaritan woman example. It was an encounter with Jesus and His love for her that brought her change. Jesus didn't condemn her at all. Look at the woman caught in adultery. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."

When people know how much God loves them in Jesus Christ, they will change and sin will lose its hold. The more we focus on sin and how we should address it, the more we give sin power and sin consciousness and will soon get entangled in its snare.
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What about Jonah? Didn't God's wrath was averted when Jonah preached and the Ninevites repented?
Read carefully again. Jonah's words were "That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." Jonah knew his God. Do we?

Anyway, he was to preach that God loved the Ninevites in spite of their sin. Instead he preached judgement. And he had hoped that through the message of judgement, they would turn further away from God.

See Jonah 4:1 "But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry." If he knew they would be changed with his preaching on wrath and judgement, why would Jonah be angry?

And "5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city." Jonah was expecting judgement to come upon the city. However God had compassion and by God's grace, the city repented and was spared.

That was why God asked Jonah, "Why are you concerned for a vine you did not grow? If you can be so concerned about a mere vine, how much MORE am I concerned about the city who knows neither its left hand from its right hand!"

My personal thoughts:

The world preaches doom and gloom all day.
God through Jesus preaches love and hope. We the church are not like the world.
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Disasters and calamities are NOT from God.
The keys of this world had been given by Adam to Satan when Adam fell. Satan still rules and holds sway in this world on how it is run. However the good news is his time is limited when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus is restoring what the first Adam had lost to us His bride. Not only that, He is giving us greater honor than what the first Adam had because Christ is the firstborn of the new Adam.

Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."

God is putting every enemy under Jesus' feet and the last enemy is death. This is an on-going process and each day Satan is losing his grip while more and more people turn to Christ.

However one day, we will be raptured and that's when Satan's full fury and anger will be unleashed on the earth. "We are light and salt of this earth" - our presence are vital to the world not going amok!
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In the old covenant under Law, when a person sins, he has to pay for his sins and curses follow through. Sometimes this comes in the form of diseases, disasters, failed crops, drought, etc.

It is not that God brought the curses. How could God be evil? Rather God had to remove his protection and that was how Satan could enforce disasters and diseases upon a person. Eg. The snakes in the wilderness. All these while the snakes had been there with the Israelites. But God protected them from the snakes until the Law came. Then God had to be the Righteous Judge and remove His protection whenever the Israelites sinned.

In the new covenant in Jesus Christ however, all sins of mankind had been put on Jesus' body at the cross 2000 years ago. There is no more curse on a believer in Christ, UNLESS the believer chooses to believe he can still be cursed under the old Law covenant.

For further read, read my response here on the global economic recession.

Singapore Budget 2009: Wage Credit

2009-01-26T00:07:00.008+08:00

Regarding the employer's CPF contribution reduction in the Budget 2009, I have coined this synomyn LPO-RPI. It means Left-Pocket-Out, Right-Pocket-In.

The budget attempts to 'save jobs' by having a wage credit for companies. Up to 12% of the first $2500 of wages will be subsidised by the government. It seems like a really innovative approach at the first glance.

I have a different take altogether. In the nutshell, nothing has changed for the common man actually.

In this wage credit, the government tops up the remaining employer's CPF contribution. This top-up amount is taken from the CPF. After topping up the employer's contribution, it goes back to you and back into your CPF account. And ultimately back into the government's hand.

Simply:
CPF (can't touch this) -> Wage Credit -> You -> CPF (can't touch this)

All in all, there is nothing to 'dip into the reserves' coz it's all transparent to you. It's like using your own money to fund yourself.

CPF is not like an account where you can withdraw at your whims and fancy. Neither were you given cash. So I do not see how the budget has helped a common man in this aspect. The only advantage it has is the employer pays less CPF contribution. How that constitutes to you saving your job is yet to be seen. I hope it does.

However this employer CPF contribution policy is also set by the government. So if companies feel the pinch, isn't it because this government's policy has created such scenario? Wouldn't it be better if the employer's CPF contribution be part of a worker's pay?

I do not want to dwell into past histories of the benefits of the CPF. There are a few angles to look at it.

Basically I do not think this Budget 2009 was impressive. One would have thought 'rainy days' might demand a more radical approach.

Let's hope I am wrong.

Get out of my 'greater mortal' face!

2009-01-21T12:33:00.011+08:00

You know, I'm all for Perm Sec Tan YS going to the famed Le Cordon Bleu culinary school for holidays with his family. It's his money, all 46k of them (albeit getting from tax-payers). He's entitled to spend it how he likes.

I believe the online grouse is that in times like this, the least these high-earners could do is SHUT UP. I remember a story about a bird who likes to sing but fell into some sh*t and then got eaten because it could not keep its voice down.

Exactly. Be SENSITIVE. And smart enough to know when to keep your gap shut.

So here we have Minister Teo CH rapping Perm Sec Tan for his insensitive article in Straits Times on 'damage control' mode, MP Charles Chong then decidedly and purposely(?) stepped into another landmine with his wise-crack remarks.

Of course it blew up right into his elite, uncaring face. And kinda wiped out whatever was said by Minister Teo.

Pray tell me, folks, how is this sentence:

"Get out of my elite uncaring face" - Wee Shu Min's infamous quote different from:

"Maybe it made lesser mortals envious and they thought maybe he was a bit boastful. Would people have taken offence if his wife (a senior investment counsellor at a bank) had paid for everything?”- MP Charles Chong now infamous quote

Gee, our 'elite' PAP ministers seem to have an affinity for stepping onto landmines. Perhaps Vietnam might have greater use for them to clear out their minefields coz these elites can never quite get 'blown into pieces'.

Somehow they will miraculously dodge the sharpnels and come out unscathed. Then they step on another landmine and survive it. They might want to transfer this knowledge to our SAF soldiers.

Perhaps they should learn some wise words from the newly appointed US President. At least he feels 'humbled' to be in this position.

Some people think it's their God-given right to be in these ministerial positions.

I'm sorry that it had happened. Let's move on.

*grins*

Let there be Light!

2009-01-16T13:23:00.010+08:00

I was listening to a sermon when the revelation about Jesus when suddenly His light hit me like a ton of bricks. It blew my finite mind beyond comprehension. It was so profound and yet simple to understand.

I saw how detailed and awesome the Word of God is - truly alive, full of Jesus footprints all over! Let me share my joy:

We know that God’s Hebrew name is Yahweh, YHWH (yodh-he-waw-he or pronounced yude-hey-vav-hey).

The term Yahweh is believed to come from these elemental root words:

hayah, haw-yaw’; a primitive root; to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always definite in expression or action, and not a mere verb or helper)
awah’, aw-waw’; a primitive root having to do with desire.
(Take note of this!) hawa', haw-waw'; a primitive root; supposed to mean properly, to breathe; to be (in the sense of existence).

In the beginning, Genesis says God spoke, “Let there be light!” and there was light.

“Let there be light” = haw-waw ore (Hebrew)

Did you see God’s name in those words? If you had seen it, praise God! You’ll be jumping for joy like I did! Did you notice “haw-waw” in both the sentence “Let there be light” and in the root word of Yahweh?

In fact the accurate translation should be “Let HIM be light!” Wow… isn't it awesome? And whom do you think the HIM is?

Read Colossians (bold mine)

Col 1:15 [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. 16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).

The first time God created was light and there Jesus was! It confirms that Jesus had a hand all along in God’s creation from the beginning! ALL things were created in Him, by Him, for Him and through Him.

God’s words coming out from His mouth is Jesus Himself because Jesus is the living Word of God. He is so powerful that when those words “Light, be!” left God’s mouth, light came into existence by the power of Christ alone.

Light is so characteristic of Jesus’ person. Light (Hebrew ‘ore’) means illumination, happiness, or even revealing, revelation. Jesus is God’s revelation, God revealing Himself. That’s why so many verses confirmed that Jesus is the Light:

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
John 3:21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Psalm 104:2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
John 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
1 John 1:5 God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Wow…. good stuff, eh? I’m sure now with this revelation, God’s light is flooding into our every person – spirit, soul and body as we behold the beauty of Jesus.

Then another revelation followed while I was meditating on those words above. If we replace the meaning of "Let Him be light!" with the Hebrew names (haw-waw = Jesus, ore = illumine, reveal), it can also be translated as:

"Let Jesus be revealed!" and God said that in the beginning in His Word. Double wow! Let Jesus be seen in the beginning of all creation.

No wonder Jesus is the Firstborn of all creation. I used to wonder why is He the Firstborn since Adam was in fact the first person created. Now I know - the first person God revealed was actually Jesus. Totally awesome!

Everything is about Jesus in His word. He is for us to discover and enjoy. Let us continue to see the marvellous beauty of God’s Word shed in the wonderful light of Jesus. May the Holy Spirit illuminate and reveal Jesus in every word and sentence, for He is the very living Word of God.

I am so blessed and excited by this revelation.

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Food for thought:
In science, we learn that all matters are made up of atoms. In recent breakthroughs, we have discovered that atoms now consist of protons (+ve), neutrons and electrons (-ve). Take a proton. It consists of positive particles within. Likewise negative particles for an electron.

Science says: +ve (positive) and –ve (negative) attracts each other, while similar charge repels each other.

Now it doesn’t make sense according to the theory above because all the positive particles in a proton should repel each other. In fact the proton could not have existed. But science now says an ‘unseen but very powerful force’ holds the positive particles in a proton together. They just don’t know what it is.

But we know who holds the particles together. It has been Jesus. Wow, science has no answer and it can only point to Jesus.

If God can hold the minutest particles together, I’m absolutely sure he can hold your life, your marriage, your finances and your whole person together. Be blessed!

No joke, I'd rather have a shoe or two thrown at me

2009-01-12T07:31:00.007+08:00

I condemn that attack on MP Seng Han Thong. My heartfelt sympathy to him and his loved ones.

No one needs to live in fear for serving the country. Using this dastardly attack is not the way to handle issues, personal or not. It was my missus who brought this up when she read Wayang Party blogsite. She was rather shocked.

I don't know what to say. This is the second attack on him. The first one was a punch in the face by a taxi driver concerning some revoked license. I'm not sure what provoked this second attack. Until the police publishes the investigation, we'll be left wondering with this haunting question:

WHY?

Coincidental that of all the MPs, he had been assualted twice. Gee, some group must have been really 'pissed' at him! Was this the act of a person with mental health issues? Or was it an old grudge?

This attacker is 70 years old. He probably doesn't think life is worth living. Perhaps he had lost all his savings in the minibonds? Maybe he was driven up the wall, backed into a corner with nothing else to live for... I don't know.

All I can surmise is this man is probably a very, very angry man. I do not think he has mental issues since he knows where to get the kerosene, plan carefully to approach the MP from behind and then light the fire.

All I can say to President Bush is "George, you had it easy."

May MP Seng have a speedy recovery from his burns. May God watch over him and his family in this hour of need.

Chambermaid vs foreign maid - got difference meh?

2009-01-11T08:39:00.021+08:00

I was thinking aloud about what our Singapore leaders have said when it hit me. It's quite baffling actually.

Here I have SM Lee justifying the obsence salaries of ministers. To drive home the point, he said a very controversial statement (more like fear mongering):

"You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government. You get that alternative and you'll never put Singapore together again: Humpty Dumpty cannot be put together again... and your asset values will disappear, your apartment will be worth a fraction of what it is, your jobs will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people's countries, foreign workers." - (Straits Times, 5 April 2007

Then I have PM Lee saying this recently on 8 Jan 09 at the AARP-Council: Reinventing Retirement Asia. Quote here:

"Sometimes, it is family attitudes that need to change. Let me share an example: The hotel industry needs attendants to clean rooms and change the bed linen. Older women can do such work well, and hotels are also keen to hire them. However, hotels have told us that these women tend to drop out from the training programmes, often under pressure from their children who do not want their parents to work as room attendants. So, the hotels have to hire foreign workers to fill the vacancies.

This is a delicate matter of face and status. The job of hotel attendant may be a humble one, but it is honourable employment, and if one can do it conscientiously and competently, there is no reason for the family to feel ashamed, or for society to look down on attendants or their families. We should not discourage anyone from taking on such jobs. To do so would limit his options to be active, engaged and to earn an income."

Being a maid is a shameful thing. But working as a chambermaid is not. Huh?

To bring fear, you give me a glimpse of what happens if we have a bad government. Now with recession, you encourage my grandmas, aunties and perhaps even mother to work as chambermaids.

Maybe it's because the government can no longer feed them. Or perhaps the wonderful retirement plan (ie CPF) is a ticking bomb waiting to blow up in our faces.

So this scenario begs the questions:
Am I paying millions for a bad dose of government already? If yes, why am I still paying?

Aren't the women in Singapore working as chambermaids akin to being maids in foreign countries? Is there really a difference then?

Of course, a chambermaid does not look after your kids or stay with you. But both are earning an income decently. Both pack up after the occupants leave the place.

So there aren't many differences, don't you agree?

Let's move further on the 'maid in foreign country' topic to prove my point.

What happens if a foreign country is willing to pay you a higher salary to be a chambermaid for their hotel? Are you considered a talent, or just a maid working in a foreign country?

You see the line blurs significantly. But with these contradicting statements and controversial claims from my million-dollar ministers, it's just black and white to justify their policies. One day black, the next day white.

No wonder PM Lee had mentioned that not many could understand and grasp the policies. I reckon only those bordering on mental insanity might still have a faint hope.

Then what is so different between working as a chambermaid and a maid in a foreign country?

The answer is basically nothing. Wherever pays more.

My advice to these million-dollars minister confusing me is perhaps Singapore can no longer pay your salaries. Perhaps you should move to where you will be paid higher.

And be the first Singaporean minister working in a foreign country.

Take your pick: Do the twist or kangaroo hop?

2009-01-09T11:38:00.006+08:00

Gee, I like kangaroos but I think it's gonna get the ban in Singapore.

After reading this article, you'll probably be hopping 'mad' with:

Apathy...if you are Singaporean
Glee ...if you are from the incumbent party in Singapore
Anger ...if you are a Singaporean Opposition member
Disbelief ...if you are a just and upright judge or person
Laughter ...if you are from a democratic nation in the West

AG Walter Woon says, “When discussion of a court’s judgments becomes an attack on a judge or the judiciary, then the law of contempt of court steps in.”

Does that statement sound like a threat to you, to put so much fear into you that you'll never question the judgement?

I'll do the twist anytime then.

Who do you say I am?

2008-12-12T09:12:00.004+08:00

I had just received a phone from a dear brother-in-Christ. He mentioned to me that a lifegroup leader had pronounced that this financial meltdown was God’s way of teaching the world, especially the US and Europe.

Rather I have asked him to ponder, “If it is so, why doesn’t the lifegroup leader quit his job right now so that he can achieve God’s will in his life?”

I remembered the tsunami and also 911 - the fall of the Twin Towers. Many people had lost their lives and loved ones. Can you believe preachers proclaiming that it was God’s judgement upon the world and America? Can you accept that Aids disease came from God to teach homosexuals and drug users a lesson?

The world in its chaotic state has been going into overdrive towards self-destruction ever since the fall of Adam. The devil has also been working overtime to seek, kill and destroy Man, whom God created in His image.

Can you see a God who is pleased when people lose their lives? Is that God’s will?

Of course we know (I hope) our Father is not like at all like this. He does not bring sickness, famine or poverty. I was taken aback actually because those condemning words had been spoken by a lifegroup leader.

I can understand when the world points an accusing finger at God for catastrophic events because they do not know Him. But for a Christian to agree with the world’s understanding and also attribute disasters to God is a very, very sad thing.

When the world proclaims doom and judgement, it is nothing new because they do not have hope.

But if the church of Christ says the same things, how are we different from them? Surely we have the answer. Surely we know and can reveal Christ who is the hope of the nations. Surely we are called the salt and light of the world.

If the church does not have hope, who else can share the gospel of hope and the good news to this lost world then? What good are we then in this world?

Jesus assured us with His answer. He said, “I came not to only to give life, but give life MORE abundantly.”

Life abundantly. Life-giving answers. A hope and a peace that the world does not understand.

Who do you say I am?
After putting the phone down, I felt God prompting me, “Son, who do you say I am?”

“You are my Father, who loves and cares for me enough to send Jesus to die in my place and redeem me. Even though my salvation is free, it came at a very costly price – the death of Your Son.”

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me with this verse, “Blessed are you for this was not revealed to you by man, but by your Father in heaven.”

John 3:16 (Amplified)
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Most of us know this verse John 3:16 by hard. But many may not have remembered the next verse.

John 3:17 (NIV)
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

God is not on a ‘condemnation’ hunt. The world itself is already condemned. That’s why we need a Saviour.

Do you know that God loved us so much that He is willing to give up His only Son? So why would God want to bring added famine and poverty into this world when it is already spiralling out of control?

Shouldn’t God bring THE answer to the world? Why add more sorrows?

Think about it. Will these so-called disastrous acts of God steer people towards God and know Him as a loving Father, or will such acts make people avoid God altogether?

Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

It is God’s kindness and goodness that draw people to Him. Just like how the sinners and prostitutes were drawn to Jesus. Not his wrath. In fact wrath and judgement create a barrier between God and us. They establish a chasm to distance us from Him.

Is that God’s will to put a distance between Him and us?

Read again slowly:
For God so GREATLY LOVED and dearly prized the world that He even GAVE up His Son…

God so loved the world (with us sinners within) that He willingly gave up His Son to take our place. Instead of us facing His wrath and judgement, Jesus took our place. He was separated from God as He soaked up our sins. In exchange we are accepted before God through Jesus' shed blood to make us righteousness by faith.

Remember Jesus shared this parable:
Matt 13: 44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The man/merchant in the story is God, who gave up His best (Jesus) so that he could buy (redeem) us back. He saw us as treasures of great value. That is what God’s love is all about.

We were like the hardened criminal Barabbas who was set free in exchange for the sinless and perfect man - Jesus. Jesus died in his place at the cross while Barabbas walked free.

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Jesus had never addressed God as “Eloi” in His life because God was always “Abba, Father” to Him. But now we notice the distance between Father and Son.

God couldn’t stand the sight of His Son because Jesus carried the sins of the whole world – past, present and future. Jesus was ugly, cursed on the cross and marred with God's judgement. “Condemnation” was upon His head.

So God turned His back upon Jesus and embraced us instead. He cast Jesus from His presence so that we can be accepted in the Father. And God’s fiery judgement and wrath fell upon the sacrificial Lamb so that we can now experience God’s love and kindness.

Jesus took every stroke and penalty of the Law upon Himself that we may have the blessings that come apart from the Law.

Why?

We are His beloved now
That we can be close to God. That we can call God – Abba, Papa. That when Jesus died a lonely man, God can say to us, “Child, you are mine forever.” Yes that is how much God loved us.

So much enough to sent His dearly beloved Son to die for us to redeem us.

Going by the same grain of thought, why would God want to punish the world if He had already sent His Son to save us? Isn’t it contradictory?

Do let me know if you had ever read in your bible where Jesus once told a man with a shrivelled arm to stretch forth the other arm. Looking at the normal arm, He pronounced, “Be withered!”

Then Jesus preached a convicting sermon to warn everyone that God is against sin. Looking at those withered arms again, he left them crippled and unhealed to remind the man never to sin again.

Did such a thing ever happen in the bible?

Or perhaps Jesus called down fire and brimstone upon the woman caught in adultery? Or stirred the storm further into a greater frenzy to teach faith to His disciples whom He called “O ye of little faith!”

Why would a doctor inject you with sickness only to administer you with his saving medicine? Would any father purposely put his son’s hand into the baking oven to teach him about not playing with fire?

How would you feel about such a doctor? Will you ever visit him again? What about the father? Would you ever do such a thing to your son?

Gee, there is only such a place for these people - in the mental asylum!

Yet we see God in such a way. And even preached Him to be such!

What will people think about this almighty yet vengeful god? Would you want to draw close to him? Surely not I! I’d rather be far from him lest I incur his wrath.

Therefore it makes no sense that Christians speak of my Father as a God who is out on a sin and condemnation hunt; when in truth, He had sent His son not to condemn the world but to save us.

Let him who has ears, let him hear.

Trip back to SG, TKL for Singapore President

2008-11-27T12:16:00.009+08:00

Just back from Singapore for a 2-week holiday.

Wow... so much has changed, especially within town. So many private apartments were torn down to make way for high-rise condos. I think many of these owners have struck 'en-bloc' pot of gold.

What I like about Singapore after one and a half years hiatus:

Food, glorious food.
From rojak, to peranakan food, to hokkien mee, to just plain hawker centres (no foodcourts please. The food usually sucks!)
Accessibility.
Quite impressed with the transport system actually. The digital display of the arrival times is a very good way forward. Also the SMS to find out when your bus is coming. Definitely a plus!
Shopping.
After 9pm the nightlife in Orchard and various hawker centres in the suburbs are still vibrant. Gee, it's usually ghost town in Melbourne and I believe for other parts in Australia.
Family, relatives and friends.
Of course the usual catching up. Felt like a CEO filled with lunch and dinner appointments nearly everyday.

Dislikes:

Weather.
Hot, humid and wet. What do you expect during monsoon season?
Crowds and congestions.
Gosh, the jam packed crowds in the trains and buses. Not to mention it was off-peak hour at 2:30pm! Everywhere there are people of all nationalities and races. No wonder Singaporeans have expressed their unhappiness over lack of personal space. I felt stressed even while driving as compared to Melbourne.
Cost of living.
Way too expensive as compared to the national average wage.
The Straits Times.
All about damage control, one-sided reports and commentaries. Give me a break! And there is this happiness index by the Newpaper. Total waste of space. Er, who decides what components make a common man on the street happy btw?

Also the papers were abuzz with the latest saga:

Tan Kin Lian is keen to run for presidency. Cool or what?! This threw a curve ball because TKL is not on the same platform as Andrew Kuan. TKL was once the CEO of NTUC, a not-easy to meet criteria in order to run for presidency.

About time someone not handpicked by the government steps forward. And the best thing is - we get to vote!

TKL mentioned that if he can gardner 100,000 petitions, he will truly step up the plate.

Singaporeans have always complained that they don't have a choice. Well now is your chance. Don't hesitate and sign the online petition.

The Two Robbers in Our Lives

2008-10-16T07:20:00.006+08:00

Have you met the two robbers in your life? And do you know their names?

Let’s look at this passage where their names are revealed.

Luke 23:39
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Do you see the name of the first robber?

The First Robber – “If only…”
The first robber told Jesus, though insultingly, if only Jesus was Christ, He would be able to save Himself and us.

He had pushed Jesus into the past.

“If only I had listened to my parents, or if only I had been wiser…”
“If only I hadn’t given in to him…”
“If only I had more options…”
“If only the financial situation was better…”

This thief suppresses you from rising to new challenges. He batters your confidence so much that you cannot lift your head up but rather hang down in shame. Your eyes are clouded with a veil to not look ahead towards a hope and a future because of your past failures. Each time to you make an effort to enjoy what you already have, he comes and robs your joy.

See the man who hurts his wife with condeming words. Though she is virtuous and good to him, he snaps back with contempt. He cannot forgive himself for his adultery two years ago. Each time his wife loves him, he punishes himself because he feels he does not deserve her.

Look at another woman who cannot love her child because many years ago as a teenager, she had an abortion. So she feels guilty for the unborn child and turns to drinking to drown her sorrows, indirectly neglecting her present child.

Observe the girl who had been sexually abused when young. Though she has met a wonderful man in her life, she feels dirty each time he touches her. She isolates herself and shuns his love. He feels frustrated.

Draw yourself to the boy who was rejected by his father. He cannot understand why his present wife hurts him with words of ‘too possessive’ or ‘too controlling’ when all he wanted to do was to show his concern and love for her.

Hear the elderly man's bitter ramblings. He had lost all his life savings – be it through squandering, gambling, investments, or was cheated of all.

The “If only…” thief brings a heavy burden of un-forgiveness, sorrow and pain. He reminds you life is unfair. He robs you of joy, success, peace and love.

The Second Robber – “What if...”
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

The second robber though respected Jesus pushed Him into the future.

“What if my investments are lost in this financial crisis?”
“What if he doesn’t love me?
“What if my child doesn’t make it in life? Or turns to the wrong side of life?”
“What if I am not the father of the child?
“What if this lump is cancerous?”

Each time you look ahead, the thief tells you how bleak the future is. There is little or no hope in life. Every man for himself, the fittest will survive.

This thief cripples with the fear of tomorrow. He burdens you with the unexpected, the “of all the people in the world it will happen to me” mentality. You will find it hard to hope, to dare or to love. He reminds you of those who tried and failed. You conclude that you are no better.

The “What if…” thief robs you of faith, hope, future and a sound mind. He burdens you with fear, worry, anxiety and confusion.

They stalk us all round. Some of them whom we have (un)wittingly invited them into our lives and have housed them for so many years. We have even grown so accustomed to them robbing us blind and have accepted them as our allotment in life.

Though in the past and future, they are very much present and alive in us.

Even if blessings have been poured out bountifully and abundantly upon you, you are oblivious to them. It seems like these blessings have slipped through your fingers like grains of sand. You cannot grasp or hold on to them long enough to enjoy them.

Both these thieves have robbed you at every corner of your life. Yet many of us cling to them.

Jesus is the answer - Today
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, TODAY you will be with me in paradise."

Jesus stands in between the “If only…” and the “What if…”.

Today. That is God’s timing, He lives in the present. The ‘NOW’.

That is how God introduces Himself. The God of Now – I AM. That is how Jesus introduces Himself – I AM the Good Shepherd., I AM the Resurrection and Life, I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life.

I AM. Now. Present. Today.

The mana from heaven that the Israelites ate was sufficient for each day. Enjoy it now. There will be mana again for tomorrow. No need to worry. Don’t fall back on yesterday’s mana because it will turn bad.

Pray tell me who the mana represents? Is it not the one who calls himself the Bread of Life?

Jesus said the devil comes to seek, kill and destroy. The devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But the Son of Man has come to give us life. Not only just life but life MORE abundantly.

See God’s provision now, see His hand of blessings upon you now, look at Jesus and behold his matchless beauty and His loveliness.

Live in God’s timing. Now. I AM.

Look at the Samaritan woman by the well. She forgot herself in Jesus’ presence. She traded her past when she beheld the Man of her dreams, and went ahead with joy and gladness into the future. She was filled with so much joy that she evangelised to the whole town. Yes, the very same town who scorned her and condemned her for her wayward lifestyle.

She saw and met Jesus in the present. She forgot her past, and feared no longer for her future. She was changed inside-out.

Just a mere look at Jesus and his beauty – know that all your past sins have been washed away as white as snow, and the uncertainty of the future no longer holds sway over us.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

So do not worry about tomorrow but look towards the Lamb God has provided. Rest in His finished work to cleanse you of your past. For there at the cross you will find your Rock of Peace.

Still not convinced?

John 11:19
and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Martha pushed Jesus into the past when she told Jesus – If only you had been here, Lazarus would not have died.

After Jesus replied to her, she pushed Him into the future with “in the last day”.

Jesus responded, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life”. He is I AM. Now.

And you assumed the financial institutions would have learnt from the previous recession studies. You thought you could trust the future predictions from analysts and gurus.

Haven’t we wised up? But day after day, we continue to trust the market reports and their answers.

The truth, my friends, is that they don’t have the answer. But someone does – his name is Jesus.

You can believe Him for He holds the future. Your future. Make no mistake He has seen your past. That’s why He came to die while we were yet sinners. You can trust Him for your every need and want because He cares for you.

Rest easy in Him. He is the Lord of the yesterday and the future. He is our very present help in times of need.

Don’t let the robbers steal what Jesus has done for you. Don't be like Martha.

His grace is more than sufficient for you today. Draw from Him each day as mana from heaven. It is more than enough for everyone and everything – marriage, finance and daily provisions.

Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Come, behold Him, the King of Kings… now.

Photos galore @ Tasmania (26 Sep - 4 Oct) - Part One

2008-10-07T19:55:00.029+08:00

It was indeed a blessed and memorable family holiday. Faithful as always, God had kept the weather beautiful for us. Even though it forecasted rain that day, it was sunny and bright... until we stepped back into the hotel.

I know it sounds cliche. But hey, I am the beloved child of God. I was deciding to delay the visit to the Royal Botanic Garden but through a turn of event, we decided to drive straight to it. You see, it was supposed to be a heavy downpour that day. However we took the step of faith. You can see from the garden photos below that the sun was up and shining bright. It was hard to imagine it would rain. But rain it did after we had left the garden and driving towards our hotel!

And this wasn't the only time. We had planned to hike the following day after reaching Cradle Mountain. I was feeling tired after the drive from Launceston and we decided to rest that day. Well, it rained. No prizes for guessing the weather on the day we planned to hike. I'll tell you in Part Two about the Cradle Mountain visit.
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Hobart is a very beautiful city. Reminds me alot like Ireland - coastal feeling with the sudden wind chills. The whole place has this the quaint, Europe-py feeling. Totally awesome coz both missus and I love Europe!

Anyway from the airport, you'll cross this beautiful bridge into Hobart. I had managed to take this shot from near the Royal Botanic Garden.

Bridge into Hobart

Ship going to Antartica, Europe-feel

Hobart city is pretty small as compared to Melbourne. I think you can cover it all in less than half a day. I hear it used to be a whaling port.

Wharf side photos

When in Hobart, never miss the Salamanca Market which is held every Saturday morning. Fantastic atmosphere and lots of interesting stuff to see. It's like the Pasar Malam in Singapore but with a much different feel. Gypsy, Europe, Swiss-sy feel.

We bought and tried the fruit leather, banana cake, Manuka honey, a potato dish which I forgot the name (yes the one with sour cream, bacon bits with some interesting fillings), bratwurst sausages, ginger bread, gypsy food, etc. Basically eat and eat. Good stuff!

Salamanca Market on a Sat morning

The Royal Botanic Garden is fantastic. There is an Observatory, a castle (I think it has been converted to a government house now), some nice history and a very intricate tapestry inside the house where the wooden sculpture man is standing. I took a lot of photos but could not display every one of them. Don't give this place a miss. You can be sure you won't regret it.

Royal Botanic Garden

We visited the outskirts of Hobart like Battery Point, Sandy Beach and the University of Tasmania. Except for Rachel (who was more interested in the playground), we loved Battery Point because the houses there had so much character.

Lovely houses at Battery Point

Where's Rachel... and missus?

Rachel playing at a nearby playground in Battery Point

Lookout point near the University of Tasmania

(Part Two coming with lots more photos...)

Updated: Part Two and Part Three

One month crash update

2008-09-25T11:44:00.007+08:00

Hadn't been blogging for quite a while. That's what happens when you are swarmed at work, coupled with Rachel recovering from various bouts of illnesses.

Two months ago, she first experienced sudden chills that shot her fever up to 40.1-40.4C. It was a Friday night. As since I did not have any project implementations that weekend, we had planned to go out as a family. So our weekend outing was thrown out of the window.

High fever broke on Sunday and I thought everything was slowly returning back to normal. I hadn't slept well. Woke up numerous times to sponge her and give her medicine. Boy was I cranky. It was as bad as my project implementations except that I don't get paid for the sleepless nights.

On Sunday she developed bacterial tonsillitis. Her fever returned and it hovered around 38.5 - 39.3C for the whole week. She had to take an antibiotics course. So poor Daddy. He was in a very sour mood because he was the only one who would fuss about his princess. The Queen? She said God will take care of it (er, quite true actually) and her beauty sleep was as precious as her darling daughter. Afterall there is Daddy.

In between I had encountered major project issues with difficult stakeholders. Quite sure I had committed murder numerous times in my heart when I was speaking to them. Practically sapped whatever strength I had left. In addition I had a couple of fiery bust-ups with a very unreasonable resource manager (whom I had 'murdered' in my heart numerous times) and also a heated disagreement with my direct reporting manager.

I literally cried. Cried out to the Lord for deliverance. And during those quiet moments with Him, He had never failed to strengthen my faith. In fact I picked up the guitar and worshipped Him every night. Each worship session lasted more than an hour - tears, sweat, casting cares, painful disappointments... yeah I threw them at Jesus' feet. We also prayed over Rachel and protection for the family after each worship session.

I cannot remember a time when my spiritual hunger was so intense, and how God gave me the awesome revelations about Christ within His Word. I don't know how to explain - 'Your Love is better than life' is so very real. The closeness I felt was as if God could have just whisked me up to heaven should I utter a request for it.

So each day through the trials and struggles, God's Word and faithfullness kept me literally alive. I clinged unto Him like a ship to the lighthouse in the midst of a howling storm. To Him who is steadfast and the Rock of my salvation. No one can help me, no one can understand the turmoils that Daddy went through. Three days after recovering from her tonsillitis, Rachel came home with flu. So another two days away from school.

A few weeks later, a boy kicked her in the stomach in school. She complained of a tummy ache that night. The next day in school, she started vomitting - 5 times! Yeah when the going gets tough, the tough freaks out. I freaked out.

I had to struggle if the kick in the stomach was the cause of the vomitting. If it was, then it must be something very serious like an internal injury. However the doctor assured us that it was gastro-flu. Rachel has mild fever of <38.5C. So another three sleepless nights to ensure she had medicine and drank enough fluid.

Through all these, I wonder if I had done something wrong or sinful that had displeased the Lord - that He allowed one thing after another to happen. That was how the devil wants me to see - my effort in sustaining myself. However the Word reminded me that Jesus, not only as our High Priest, was able to understand every struggle and temptation known to man. Jesus came as a man.

Not too long ago, God reminded me that Adam and Eve had the whole garden to enjoy - every fruit from every tree are theirs and theirs alone to enjoy. Yet the devil will continue to point to the ONE tree whose fruit God knew Adam and Even could not handle, let alone eat.

Similarly there are so many truths in God's Word - His promises, His blessings, His assurances. Yet in the struggles, we choose to see the ONE thing (like in my case Rachel's sicknesses) and 'tempt' God for answers. The devil keeps us focus on our troubles and symptoms. But all it takes was to look at Jesus and His beauty.

Isn't it amusing? Why do we keep looking for the ONE thing just to prove that God... is not God as He claims to be in His Word?

I realise how we see God (ie. we give weight to His Word) will determine the outcome of our struggles. Having a good opinion of Him will see us stronger, emerging better in understanding His love for us. As simple as each time the devil throws a lemon at us, God turns it into lemonade. That is how we ought to see our Abba Father is.

Exodus 14:13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

In order for God to fight for us, we need only to be still. And witness His deliverance. Often we try to be God and that complicates things.

When man works, God keeps silent and withdraws; when man says 'I cannot' and let go, God moves to work in our favour.

Just like King Jehoshaphat "The battle belongs to the Lord" passage, I believe strongly that when an aggressor (or the devil) attacks or steals from a Christian, there is a risk where he has to pay more than what he has taken (the bible says 7-fold repayment!). This applies only to those who put their trust in the Lord to allow Him fight their battles. When all is over, they only need to pick up the spoils of war.

Tomorrow we'll be flying down south to Tasmania for a much needed break. Eight days of holiday with family... wow. It's going to get better, that much I know how my Father will bless it.

In addition, we have bought a one-year old Honda Odyssey at a super-duper bargain price. It has clicked only 16,000 km and the price I paid was more than 10k off the market price of a similar luxury model and year (2007). No, it has never been involved in an accident (and never will). Brand new leather seats, with sun roof. I can still smell the newness.

Well, that is another awesome testimony.

Of foreign talents and imports

2008-08-22T11:14:00.009+08:00

I have been reading and following these articles for a long time. I have also submitted my comments in the articles.

The Whole Foreign Talent Debacle by Xtralicious
Hate the policy, love the paddler by TheOnlineCitizen
Have we won an Olympics medal? Really? by TheOnlineCitizen

While reading the article by Xtralicious, I felt a need to pen down my thoughts.

The first word came to mind:

Prostitute.

I don't know. Not wanting to sound crude but don't you think Singapore is a bit tad too desperate and 'opening her legs too easily' to get FTs?

And worse, throwing money and citizenships to entice them? At least a hooker gets paid. Yet my government gives money out to them.

Again I want to stress: I'm all for FTs and imports. But only when the job/task cannot be filled in by locals or maybe we have a major shortfall. So I'm all for hiring system administrators from India, developers and architects from China, etc to support the growing economy.

But table-tennis? Football? Aww, c'mon!

I'm very, very sure there are local athletes who want to be part of the Olympic team to represent Singapore but they can't get in because some 'Xiao Qiang' or 'Xiao Li' had been sponsored by our dear government and brought in instead.

Is this national pride, I ask you? Will it come to a stage where the highest salaries and perks will draw the best atheletes in? Isn't it like the English Premier League (or Geylang)?

BUT the difference is: a football club has stakeholders. It's all about money and success and delivering the results to be top of the table.

However this IS a country. My country. With common folks and citizens, our fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, ah-peks and ah-mas.

My country citizenship can't be so easily bought (or given out so easily for the matter) at the highest price (or sponsorship) available.

Can it? Does it even matter to the government how my citizenship is so valuable to me because I had served National Service for 2.5 years?!!

Anyway, where do all these stop at? More athletes from other countries? Isn't it running like a corporation now? Maybe the rot has set in already!

Now it feels so cold and clinical. No wonder the atmosphere is driving her own citizens in droves to other countries.

Yes congratulations to the paddlers! They did very well on an individual capacity at an international level. I applaud their skills in representing the Singapore team and getting a silver medal at the highest accolade - the Olympics.

But my heart does not share in their victory. My heartbeat does not sync with their achievements somehow. There seems to be a chasm and it's hard to explain.

I do find it difficult to celebrate their success at a national level.

The fall of Hitler: ERP gantries

2008-08-17T09:29:00.003+08:00

Can't stop laughing! Chio-kar-peng (fall down laughing in Hokkein). Thanks to mrbrown once again.

Of course if you understand German or aren't a Singaporean, it will be hard to understand what the joke is all about.

(click here to watch from YouTube)

This... is... so... KEWL!

2008-08-09T08:21:00.008+08:00

Rock on, mrbrown. Run for MP, we'll vote you in!

Listen here.

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Love song for Singapore by mrbrown

The trains they come and go
Filled with faces I don’t know
Sometimes they don’t stop for me
I live near Woodleigh MRT

The city’s changing every day
I saw a new gantry on the way
That is why I sold my car
Why the bus-stop so damn far

You took so much from me
Got no cash to take taxi

But I’m still in love with you
But I’m still in love with you
(And) when I grow old, and don’t do what I’m told
I will still be in love with you

I can’t afford a holiday
Everything has gone up but my pay
Can’t go out with all my friends
Can’t afford the latest fashion pants

You promised me paradise
Overflowing with abundant rice
I used to go for lunch buffets
Now my breakfast’s half a yeow char kuey

You took so much from me
Got no cash to go high-tea

But I’m still in love with you
But I’m still in love with you
And when I grow old, and don’t do what I’m told
I will still be in love with you

You took so much from me
Got no cash to go high-tea

But I’m still in love with you
But I’m still in love with you
And when I grow old, promise me you won’t turn cold
Cos I’d still be in love with you

Took so much from me
Got no cash, but I’m happy

I am still in love with you
I am still in love with you
And when I grow old, and don’t do what I’m told
I will still be in love with you…

Happy National Day, Singapore

2008-08-08T12:27:00.017+08:00

Like it or not, this video clip so reminded me about my NS days.

(link here if you cannot watch it)

I swear I felt a tear duct opening up. I'd be lying if I say it didn't stir up nostalgic feelings within me when I watched it. I felt patriotic. I felt Singaporean. A part of me wanted to embrace these youths and tell them, "Hey I understand. I've been through that sh*t. We all are kakis, abang-adek."

None of us who have been through the 2.5 years (that was the length of service during my time) can say the Army didn't change us.

Someone commented to me: "Why am I so bitter with the government?"

Read my lips: I'm NOT.

I'm sad. Disappointed that my birthplace is no longer my home. Or whatever is left of it. I no longer understand the policies. I no longer buy the 'carefully structured' speeches my politicians and most MPs make. I fail to understand the race to be #1, to be a rich nation with billions of economic worth with no heartware to understand the daily struggles of the low-income bracket families. Or the struggles of our past elderly generations who laboured for the country during their youths. It was as if they were robbed of it for somebody's cause.

To tell them they cannot enjoy the fruits of their labour, to work longer, retire later. To tell them their wage increases will cause inflation and to suck it up yet increasing their own salaries to astronomical sums.

These make me sad. And angry.

I feel patriotic when I speak up. As Barack Obama puts it, “Dissent does not make one unpatriotic.” - June 30, 2008.

Again, I will like to clarify - I believe FTs are important in a country. I, too, am considered an FT in Australia. However the policies that the .sg government has put in place do disadvantage our local youths.

Even for your death or disability in the Army, your family is paid peanuts. And not the 'peanuts' coined by our dear Mrs Goh CT to the tune of 60k/month (search "NKF golden tap Durai" in Google).

Happy birthday, Singapore.

PS. To all the gals who have wondered why your young men kept talking about their army days, it is for the same reason you go toilet together in pairs. We never outgrew the bonding we felt during those years of service.