• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Letter to TOC (Updated)

by onlinecitizen
24/11/2008
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 10 mins read
0

 

Two-party systemnot good?

I refer to the article on The Straits Times, Change must come to PAP (16 Nov 2008).

While the PAP should be commended for their pro-activeness in implementing and evolving their party to be relevant to the electorate, I would however like to point out several areas of concern.

1) It appears that PM Lee feels only the PAP can bring about change. This is however narrow-minded in political perspective. While the PAP continues to dominate in local politics that does not mean that it is the only agent for change in Singapore’s political system. In fact, given its size and dominance their inertia to bring about change could be overwhelming.

2) With the deeply entrenched influence of the PAP in Singapore, should the PAP ever grow weak, corrupt and incapable of governing, where then is the adequate checks and balance on the government if a one-party system were to remain status quo in Singapore. Will the electorate be bereft of an alternative should the incumbent grow corrupt.

3) PM Lee’s position seems to be partisan politics in nature with the suggestion that the opposition or non-PAP activists are incapable of bringing about change for the benefit of Singapore. This reflects poorly on Singapore’s style of governance where partisanship politics has led to a polarization of the governance. While the opposition may differ on ideology they nevertheless are sincere and are just as concern about Singapore, by PM Lee’s sweeping statement, he has totally disregarded any groups that are not aligned with PAP as incapable and unfit to bring about change.

4) I do not think that many Singaporeans desire to have the Taiwan’s style of parliament but certainly Singaporeans desire to see more meaningful and thought provoking debate. While the current batch of PAP MPs had spoken out on many issues, our system of governance modeled on the Westminster style does not allow for the PAP MPs to vote outside of their party line unless the Whip is lifted. Can the PAP then provide meaningful debate within their party?

5) Barack Obama’s current style of governance seems to indicate that he is keen to work with anyone who has the best interest of the country regardless of their political affiliation. Why then does the PAP seem to regress in the shell of partisanship politics, believing that they own the monopoly of people who care for Singapore?

Lim Chih Yang

 

————–

The PAP rode high to power on the shoulders of the workers in 1959. Its well-known slogan, which it proudly trumpeted from the 1950’s to the end of the 1970’s, was that it was a pro-labour government that subscribed to the principles of democratic socialism and abided by the pricinciple of “A Government OF the People, BY the People and FOR the People”.

For the PM now to say that Singapore will not do as well with a two-party system as it would with a one party-system, goes against the very spirit of the pioneering fathers of the PAP. Incidentally, it’s a shame though, that the First Chief Minister of Singapore, Mr. David Marshall, was too egalitarian perhaps to see things from PM Lee’s perspective.

A single-party system at its best might well mean power being distributed among the few most capable members of the same party. At its worst, it may well lead to an Autocracy where absolute power is concentrated in the hands of a Dictator.

Meanwhile before ‘journey’s end’, we have to make the most of the situation. And if I had to err, I would err in favour of caution. I would choose that a system be protected by the people it governs than that system solely resides with a small group of elites. Even worse is it for ‘the system’ to reside with one man.

Ho Cheow Seng

(This letter was edited for length.)

————–

“Change has to take place in Singapore, but change must take place not (between parties) but within the PAP.”

According to TODAY, PM Lee argues that change can happen without the opposition. Is PM Lee still worried about spending time to “fix” the likes of Low Thia Kiang and Chiam See Tong?

In fact, a two-party system can urge the government to push for faster change in policies and better decisions that better suit the citizens’ needs. PM Lee’s wish to “fix” the opposition only suggests how the PAP recognizes that a dominant second party could potentially challenge them in terms of reaching out to the people – if only they were given equal say in Parliament.

The structured products issue was a display of complacency by the government. Being the dominant party having to face only a small number of opposition voices – which are sadly weak as well – the government has absolutely no urge for change. In a government dominated by one political party, what truly significant and decisive change can we hope to see?

One example would be the government’s neutral stand on the structured products issue. Investors who claimed to have been misled by the banks met with lip servicing from Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. They were then simply redirected to the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Do the investors really deserve such treatment? Why do Ministers only appeal to the people so often during the election period? As Andrew Loh – deputy Editor of TOC – mentioned: Where were our politicians?

It is the pressure and criticism brought up by the opposition towards the current party that can truly bring about change into our lives. As citizens, we would want to be able to make a choice between two parties in the upcoming elections.

Lim

———-

Treat our vulnerable ones better

I read with interest the article “Don’t chuck elderly away to old folks home”. I have some comments about it but first, do let me introduce myself. I am an occupational therapist working currently in Singapore. An occupational therapist is one who teaches people how to get back to their lives after an incapacitating event in their lives. It can be a stroke, a mental illness etc. We teach them strategies to cope with the daily demands of life and we also assist in training their caregivers in taking care of them.

I have worked in many places within the Singapore healthcare system. From nursing homes, acute hospitals, community hospitals, acute mental hospital, community mental health settings, community paediatric settings.

I would like to make a few points about the nursing homes in Singapore.

  1. Much of the VNH (voluntary nursing homes) in Singapore have a less than ideal staffing ratio. The needs of these elderly can be demanding at times and with a poor staffing ratio, it’s very very difficult to meet them.
  2. Much if the workers in these homes are foreign worker who speak little local dialect. This poses a huge barrier as the elderly would have no means of expressing their needs to the staff. It is unrealistic to rely on a couple of translators within the home to know what the residents want.

One of the biggest problems is the unwillingness of the government in closely monitoring the way these VNH or the many care facilities run by the VWOs in Singapore. On paper, there are a series of checks and balances but in reality, much of these organisations have developed strategies to make sure that the paper looks good.

Why should we put the care of our most vulnerable, of people who helped built Singapore up in the hands of a voluntary organisation? In my experience, a majority of the staff have severely inadequate knowledge in the care of these people. Take a visit to the only place where destitutes and people who have mental illnesses get locked up and you will start to understand what our government is actually doing.

Ruijie

———–

Buyer beware

(This letter was denied publication by the Straits Times)

Much has been said and written about “Buyer beware”, investing “with their eyes open” and “I think the prospectus says ‘you could lose all or a substantial part of your investment in the Notes’ in bold print, on page 1 or 2”.

But what if the prospectus did not disclose material facts?

The New Paper’s Doctor Money ( Larry Haverkamp) wrote on 4 November 2008 that

“A feature common to ALL linked notes is that investors never see the charges. They include:

> costs embedded in the initial pricing;

> counter-party returns in the product’s risk/return structure;

> commissions from buying and selling the options, swaps and underlying bonds;

> market-making and surrender fees; and

> annual management fees, including trailer fees kicked back to distributors.

They are deducted directly from the yield. Investors are likely to attribute the low return to market conditions rather than unseen costs.

Most importantly, unit trusts and investment-linked products (ILPs) routinely publish their charges. Linked notes never do.”

Investors in Minibonds and HN5, Jubilee and Pinnacle Notes should be asking lawyers whether the failures to disclose the above amounts to a breach of section 243 (1)(a) of the Securities & Futures Act which reads, “A prospectus for an offer of securities shall contain all the information that investors and their professional advisers would reasonably require to make an informed assessment of the matters specified in subsection (3).

And if they are, what are the remedies and against whom. As Doctor Money wrote, “The question of the day is: ‘Should non-disclosure of embedded charges invalidate linked-note sales contracts and require a refund from issuers and distributors?’”

Breaches of section 243(1)(a) are something MAS is surely investigating because we have been assured, MAS is looking, “thoroughly into every possible breach of regulation, poor internal regulation or sales practices. And it will take action where necessary”.

Adrian Tan

—————

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

LTA revises ERP rates up after latest review; Gantries reach as high as S$5 for 8:30am – 9:00am
Singapore

LTA revises ERP rates up after latest review; Gantries reach as high as S$5 for 8:30am – 9:00am

07/02/2023
Stern warnings was an “in-between” solution as CPIB lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute six former KOM executives for bribery, said Indranee Rajah
Parliament

Stern warnings was an “in-between” solution as CPIB lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute six former KOM executives for bribery, said Indranee Rajah

06/02/2023
19-year-old delivery rider in China covers 5km in 22 minutes to deliver antivenom to woman who had bitten by snake
China

19-year-old delivery rider in China covers 5km in 22 minutes to deliver antivenom to woman who had bitten by snake

06/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?
AFP

Adani shares dive again as Indian opposition stages demos

06/02/2023
Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available
Singapore

Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available

06/02/2023
Japanese-Canadian junior high school girl breaks national record with 3km in 9:02 mins
Japan

“I want my normal life back,” Sherry Drury withdraws from National Junior High School Tournament due to overheated public attention

06/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

LTA revises ERP rates up after latest review; Gantries reach as high as S$5 for 8:30am – 9:00am

LTA revises ERP rates up after latest review; Gantries reach as high as S$5 for 8:30am – 9:00am

07/02/2023
Stern warnings was an “in-between” solution as CPIB lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute six former KOM executives for bribery, said Indranee Rajah

Stern warnings was an “in-between” solution as CPIB lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute six former KOM executives for bribery, said Indranee Rajah

06/02/2023
19-year-old delivery rider in China covers 5km in 22 minutes to deliver antivenom to woman who had bitten by snake

19-year-old delivery rider in China covers 5km in 22 minutes to deliver antivenom to woman who had bitten by snake

06/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

Adani shares dive again as Indian opposition stages demos

06/02/2023
Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available

Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available

06/02/2023
Japanese-Canadian junior high school girl breaks national record with 3km in 9:02 mins

“I want my normal life back,” Sherry Drury withdraws from National Junior High School Tournament due to overheated public attention

06/02/2023
FY2023 Budget Statement to be delivered by Lawrence Wong on 14 Feb, 3.30pm

FY2023 Budget Statement to be delivered by Lawrence Wong on 14 Feb, 3.30pm

06/02/2023

Scholar, lawmakers and journalist among Hong Kongers on trial

06/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Cognizant India transfers staff to work in Singapore as recently as this year

Local IT grads can’t find jobs while engineers constantly transferred from India to work in SG under CECA

by Correspondent
05/02/2023
94

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
47

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
26

...

No response from Josephine Teo on whether Mediacorp has been instructed to stop coverage of SMT circulation scandal

No response from Josephine Teo over alleged blackout of coverage by Mediacorp over SMT circulation scandal

by Terry Xu
06/02/2023
11

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

November 2008
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Oct   Dec »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz