April 2007 articles on theonlinecitizen

Abusing maids – again by theonlinecitizen
It would seem that employers are adopting a new tactic to punish their maids – perhaps avoiding physical abuse like in the past. Is starvation of maids the new method employers are using to punish their domestic helper?

Be mindful of the affective gap by Catharine Lim
The policy on ministerial salaries will, at the least, breed weary resignation in Singaporeans: What’s the use of giving one’s views at all? And, at the worst, give rise to toxic cynicism: What’s the use of teaching our young such values as caring and selflessness and sacrifice if each carries a price tag?

The first tier of the first world: beyond the bottom line by Leong Sze Hian and Choo Zheng Xi
The eroding ideals of egalitarianism are reflected in the ever increasing Gini coefficient, the socio-economic right to have a house over your head is being undermined by increasingly common foreclosures, and the ever increasing ex-offenders’ population may, in a sense, be putting paid to the rhetoric of a ‘kinder, gentler Singapore’.

Ministers’ salary – is the government losing touch? by Leong Sze Hian
Pegging pay to two-thirds of the median income of the top 48 earners in the professions may in a way, be an inherent bias, which may tend to contribute to policies in the future that may continue to widen the income gap.

Why the poor needs help now by Leong Sze Hian
Since the main reason given for raising GST was to help the needy, why not do more to help the needy now, instead of waiting for the GST hike to take effect. After all, civil servants have had their pay increased immediately now, even before the GST increase’s effective date.

Damage control by the prime minister? by theonlinecitizen
Giving the least in our society – those on public assistance – just a measly $290 per month (which is an increase of only $30 per month), compared to a minister’s increment of $33,333 per month, raises the questions of priorities, and the moral standing of the government.

Packed audience at SDP forum by theonlinecitizen
The Singapore Police and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had earlier rejected the SDP’s application for professional visit passes to be given to its overseas speakers to speak at the forum on the grounds of “public interest”.

Singapore Inc – PE ratio not quite right by Leong Sze Hian
Using the PE ratio may mean that people like George Bush and others from countries with large GDPs, ought to be paid even more than the computations based on the initial rationale of pay as a percentage of 0.13 per cent of total Government expenditure, or 0.022 per cent of GDP

“Live” television debates equal “entertainment”? by theonlinecitizen
How can we be an ‘inclusive society’ when at the most important times when the government is contemplating critical issues affecting the lives of all Singaporeans, that Singaporeans are excluded from such debates?

An extraordinary government? by Zyberzitizen
An “extraordinary” government would see that the reasons contributing to this lack of talents in government goes much deeper and more serious than not paying more than peanuts.

Government should use free software by Koh Choon Lin
Instead of handing the technological machinery of Singapore to small groups of entities and locking Singaporeans into dependent relationships with these groups, the Government should use publicly available and freely licensed software. This is the only way to preserve the independence of the Government from private interests.

Did we make a difference? by theonlinecitizen
By paying themselves such astronomical salaries, Singaporeans have a right to expect the government to solve most – if not all – the problems they face. And to do this by the next elections.

The economics of Singapore’s future’s politics by Celluloid Reality(s)
Singapore has often been equated with Singapore Inc, therefore it is only apt that we as the stakeholders in this state, feel that there is more dividend to be gained by staying with the company. Pragmatism is best served in it’s basic form, with Singapore’s continued prosperity and growth as the overarching goal.

The wisdom of the crowds by Leong Sze Hian
We may need to re-think our mindset to not over-concentrate the smartest like our scholars and the most successful elite, in the decision-making heirachy of our GLCs, otherwise, the silliest of costly blunders not just in money terms, but to Singapore’s reputation and relationships, may happen.

The wisdom of the crowds

By Leong Sze Hian

I think we may need to re-think our mindset to not over-concentrate the smartest like our scholars and the most successful elite, in the decision-making hierarchy of our GLCs.

Otherwise, the silliest of costly blunders not just in money terms, but to Singapore’s reputation and relationships, may happen, has happened, and we should try harder to not let it happen again in the future.

In the Business Times articles of 26 April, 2007, titled “Why corporate transparency matters: Transparent companies are better able to reap the benefits of harnessing market forces“, “Nations with huge reserves should be spending” and “No change in Temasek, GIC leadership: MM Lee” (April 25), the first article states:

“IMAGINE this: everyone within a corporate environment being able to access information they need from their computers; and information, moreover, that has not been adulterated, so that they can be assured that what they get is the truth. With such access, everyone will know what the true drivers of the business are.

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The economics of Singapore’s future politics

By Celluloid Reality(s)

Singapore’s existence since 1965 has been an exercise in idealism underpinned by a ideology of pragmatism, brought about by a keen sense of sober realism in the days following the expulsion from Malaysia and realizing that this nation had to survive on whatever it had.

Pragmatism in the Singaporean context has often been defined to be a realist outlook in terms of how both domestic and foreign policy has been crafted to suit the needs of Singapore as a socio-political entity at any given point in time.

It is certainly not too fancy to claim that economics and the goal of economic success and development play a very influential and undeniable role in the growth of this nation, both as a society, and as a state.

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Parliamentary exchange between Lily Neo and MCYS minister

This is an excerpt of the parliamentary debate between PAP MP Dr Lily Neo and Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on the issue of public assistance.

Dr Lily Neo:

Sir, I want to check with the Minister again when he said on the strict criteria on the entitlement for PA recipients. May I ask him what is his definition of “subsistence living”? Am I correct to say that, out of $260 per month for PA recipients, $100 goes to rental, power supply and S&C and leaving them with only $5 a day to live on? Am I correct to say that any basic meal in any hawker centre is already $2.50 to $3.00 per meal? Therefore, is it too much to ask for just three meals a day as an entitlement for the PA recipients?

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:

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

The full transcript of the exchange can be found here.

Did we make a difference?

By theonlinecitizen

Perhaps the most disheartening thing about the debate over ministers’ salary is the end-result. Many have spoken, some very passionately. Most, as far as I can discern, are against the increase.

Yet, in spite of all this, nothing changed the government’s mind about the pay rise.

Catherine Lim’s analysis of what she termed “the skill of the strategy” – made in her article in 2000 – succinctly summarises what transpired recently.

“The skill of the strategy is apparent in an analysis of its stage-by-stage operation.

First, the Government, having made a major policy decision, throws it open for public discussion, allowing, even encouraging the people to voice their views freely through the permitted channels such as the forum pages of the newspapers and the face-to-face feedback sessions with their Members of Parliament.

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Government should use free software

By Koh Choon Lin

The Government is increasingly dependent on computer software to operate. Singaporeans access important services like SingPass via the Internet, leading the makers of software exerting substantial control over how the Government operates.

Most software currently used by the Government is like a black box. It is proprietary, which means that the Government is not allowed to look inside to see how it works. Proprietary software comes with restrictions preventing it from being copied without permission.

The Government placed its fate in the hands of a few entities when it accepts these restrictions on the technology Singaporeans depend on for everything from social services to our CPF savings. Government needs to serve the public interest and has an obligation to remain independent of such control.

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An “extraordinary” government?

By Zyberzitizen

Eversince the issue of ministers salary emerged recently, the PAP government has been taking great pains to let Singaporeans know how “extraordinary” they are. This is not unexpected, of course. How else would they justify their highest-in-the-world salary, right?

It is getting to the point of making us nauseous – and sick in the stomach.

Here are some quotes from the horses’ mouths, so to speak. (Bold emphasis are mine):

Teo Chee Hean:

“The government is a special government… Singapore is helped along by a first-class, excellent, efficient, uncorrupted public service.” (CNA)

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Danish citizen responds to MM Lee’s “mediocre government” comment

A Danish citizen, Mr. Gregory Glen, responds to MM Lee’s remarks that Denmark, Finland and Switzerland can afford mediocrity in the remuneration of their ministers. This is an extract from the blog, This Lush Garden Within.

I read with interest Mentor Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s remark in Singapore’s Parliament that Denmark, Finland and Switzerland can afford mediocrity in the remuneration of their ministers.

I shall restrict my observations to Denmark and Finland.

These 2 Nordic countries reward their leaders, in both the private and public sectors, somewhat less handsomely than Singapore. Despite this, I would suggest that both countries’ governments are by no means mediocre, and neither have they evinced any indication of being able to afford it.

Finland has managed to weather the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 90s, a market for 20% of its exports, in no small part due to its successful transformation from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy. Its leading multinational, Nokia, is the market leader in the mobile telecommunications industry, with a global market share of 36% in the manufacture of mobile phones (Q42006) and revenues of €41.121 billion (2006). While most of the credit for this success story can be attributed to the Finnish private sector, Finland’s government had a significant role to play in creating the optimal framework for the flourishing of the technology sector.

Please click here to read full article.

“Live” television debate equals “entertainment’?

“We have live debate all the time in the parliament. I think that is the most appropriate place for us to conduct our debate unless you think otherwise. All discussions are recorded officially in the parliament proceedings, the Hansard. Hence we make sure of our facts before we debate.

I guess what you want is entertainment, a debate or dialogue on TV. I think all MPs should make full use of parliamentary sessions to debate on issues affecting all Singaporeans.”

- PAP MP Dr Lim Wee Kiak on the P65 blog in reply to a comment by a reader who asked for a ‘live’ tv debate between PAP MPs and opposition MPs.

Dr Lim’s comments bring up several points to ponder on. First, should debates be only confined to parliament? Second, does ‘live’ tv debates equate to “entertainment”? Three, should debating issues be left only to Members of Parliament (MPs)?

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“Working elite folks like us”

The following is a video on the recent ministers’ pay hike. It is recommended to theonlinecitizen by a reader. It’s rather humourous. Take a look:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GKjqT2VPF4]

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