Uniquely Singapore, F1 or F9?: Inflation up, HDB property tax up, statistics disappear, Ministers’ pay up again soon
November 29, 2007
By Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the article “Taming inflation” (ST, Nov 25). Amidst all the statistical jargon in the media such as:
… September CPI year-on-year 2.7%
… October CPI year-on-year 3.6%
… October CPI month-on-month 1.3%
… the good news is that inflation is set to come down by the end of next year. The bad news? It is likely to climb higher before coming down.
… Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang recently told Parliament that inflation could go as high as 5 % in the first quarter of 2008 before moderating for the rest of the year to range between 3.5 and 4.5 %.
Ministerial salaries – 2nd upward revision soon
November 27, 2007
By Andrew Ong and Andrew Loh
On the 9th of April 2007, Minister in charge of the Civil Service, Teo Chee Hean, announced in Parliament:
“Salaries at the MR4 Grade are currently at 55% of the benchmark. Given the large gap, it is not realistic to close the gap fully in one go. Instead, we will close half of the current gap, that is, from 55% of the benchmark, to 77% of the benchmark by the end of this year.
This will be effected in two steps - one step now, and another step at the end of this year. Next year, we aim to close half of the remaining gap, bringing salaries to 88% of the benchmark by end-2008.”
(Sprinter)
The first revision took place on 1st April 2007. The second revision is expected to take place anytime from now till the end of this year, as the minister said. Given that it is uncertain if Parliament will sit in December, one wonders if the second revision will be debated or discussed in the chambers.
Read more
Catherine Lim’s open letter to the prime minister
November 26, 2007
Theonlinecitizen has confirmed with Ms Catherine Lim that she indeed is the author of the following open letter to the prime minister. Ms Lim had originally submitted the letter to the Straits Times and TODAY. Both papers rejected it.
TOC would like to thank Ms Lim for giving us permission to reproduce the letter.
Dear Mr Prime Minister,
This open letter is a plea which, as a concerned Singaporean, I am making with some confidence, since at no time has your government been more sincere and earnest in inviting feedback to make our society an even better place to live in.
My plea concerns the long-standing issue of political openness. It had, in the more than 40 years of PAP rule, been a source of much unease in the relationship between the government and the people. Now and then, the unease would erupt in the open, with the people agitating (usually through permitted channels such as letters to the press, public forums, dialogues with members of parliament, etc) for a long overdue political opening up, and the government firmly, often sternly, reminding them of more important national concerns, such as bread-and-butter matters that affect the lives of everyone.
How to deliver economic growth but lose an election
November 25, 2007
By Gerald Giam
How is it possible to preside over a booming economy and yet still lose a national election?
Australia’s outgoing Prime Minister John Howard may be puzzling over that question as he conceded defeat to the opposition Labor party in just-concluded federal elections.
“I have reformed the Australian economy and left it the envy of the world,” said a subdued Mr Howard as he conceded defeat after 11-and-a-half years in power. He had previously won four general elections and has presided over Australia’s booming economic growth since becoming prime minister in 1996.
Indeed, Mr Howard’s Liberal-National Coalition’s campaign theme was that the economy is safer in their hands than in the hands of an “inexperienced” Kevin Rudd, a former diplomat, the leader of the opposition and now prime minister-elect.
Bloggers’ meeting : 4th Dec 2007
November 24, 2007
A government-linked body has embarked on a review of the regulatory framework over the internet. While the focus of the review seems to be “what to regulate and how to regulate”, there is a sense from those currently being consulted that the aim of this exercise is not liberalisation.
So far, those being consulted appears to be the elite - the “experts”.
There is a need for ordinary bloggers - and filmmakers who intend to put video material on the internet - to get together and organise a submission to the relevant bodies, putting across the perspective of practitioners.
This call for a bloggers’ meeting should interest those who often discuss politics and society in their work.
Singapore miscalculates balance of power over Burma issue
November 23, 2007
The following is a report carried by Japan’s largest news agency Kyodo.
Singapore’s unsuccessful attempt to convince Myanmar [Burma] and China to allow a UN special envoy to Myanmar to address either a summit of East Asian leaders or a summit of Southeast Asian leaders is seen by some diplomats as a miscalculation of the balance of power in the region.
A diplomat from a member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said Singapore may have absorbed too much pressure from the United States for inviting Ibrahim Gambari to address either the ASEAN Summit or the East Asia Summit on his role in promoting national reconciliation in Myanmar.
MDA head honchos rap on video to get Singapore “creative and connected”
November 23, 2007
Below is the video - with the lyrics - showing the senior management of the Media Development Authority (MDA) rapping while “selling its message to get Singapore creative and connected”, as reported by the Straits Times (“Rapping MDA officers cause mixed feelings over rapping video”). The original video can be found here on the MDA website.
TOC will leave readers to draw their own conclusions.
Meantime, here are 3 bloggers’ reaction to the video: Mr Brown, Mr Wang, Celluloid Reality.
Here’s the MDA video. Lyrics below as well.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksw2UqTyhhc]
Uniquely Singapore: Charity – F1 or F9? Helping the poor?
November 22, 2007
After watching the Cancer Charity Show, my friend’s sister, a 50 plus housewife, was so depressed, that she jumped from the 10th floor of her HDB flat, the day after the show.
As I watched elderly sick Singaporeans pleading during the show, that they have no money for medical treatment, medicine, and one lady who said that she did not even have 10 cents, the first thought that came into my mind, was isn’t there Medifund to help those who cannot pay for medical fees and Comcare to help the poor ?
Since the reason given for raising the GST, was to help the poor, and the hike has already been implemented on 1 July, why do we keep hearing of pleas for help from the sick and the needy ?
TOC Breaking News: 50 Burmese nationals protest
November 20, 2007
For more pictures, please visit Pseudonymity’s blogsite.
20/11/2007, 1930 hrs:
50 Burmese nationals gathered outside Orchard Hotel in groups of three. Standing in rows of three, they formed a line that snaked across the frontage of the Hotel. One group carried a banner that said: “Listen to Burma’s desire, don’t follow junta’s order”.
We want to meet Gambari
Mr Marc Myo, a protest spokesperson and a student at Singapore Management University, told the assembled reporters that the Burmese community would like to meet with UN Special envoy Ibrahim Gambari. Mr Gambari will soon be in Singapore to meet with Asean leaders.He said this show of force was to put pressure on Asean and Burma to effect the immediate release of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Editorial: Time to stop Asean’s humiliation
November 20, 2007
By Choo Zheng Xi
Every big family has its awkward characters: the cousin who can’t stop talking about Multi-Level Marketing. The 50 year old aunt who can’t stop talking about her sexual escapades. The mad uncle everyone wishes would just stay in his attic.
Asean has been trying to pretend there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Mad Uncle Burma for a very long time.
Paragraph 76 of the July 2007 Manila Communique reads:
“We recognized the fact that Myanmar has tried to address the many and complex challenges she is facing. We reaffirmed our commitment to remain constructively engaged with Myanmar as part of building “one caring and sharing” regional community together.”
Drivel like ‘caring and sharing’ might have worked, pre Burma crackdown. However, it is getting increasingly hard to hide behind such meaningless euphemisms. Actually, it is getting downright embarrassing.
