Andrew: Inside & Insights

Picture taken with Mr Chiam See Tong, Chairman of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) party on 25 April 2008.

Inspired by the recent news after the toilet escape of Mas Selamat Kastari, www.TalkingCock.com Records presents- Wong Can Sing! Party Favourites Vol. 1

Hurry and grab yours today!

Album available at all major minor music stores! Ha ha…

I chanced upon the following entry which I thought was most disturbing because in my opinion, what was presented seemed to bare an element of truth. If this is really true, then I understand better why I am the way I am today. Do read it and decide for yourself what is the truth.

Nothing is accidental in Singapore. I have come to learn that these past nine years.

It is no accident, therefore, that Singapore’s education ministers come from military backgrounds. They are all former staff of the armed forces. Clearly, they have been chosen for a reason. Clearly, they are expected to bring their military experience to bear on the task of guiding the nation’s education.

A military man is not to be put in charge of education, unless one wants that education to have a military flavour. That military men are always chosen, to be education minister, rather confirms the impression of my South American friend, that Singapore’s schools are rather like military schools from overseas.

Indeed, it is most telling that the new education minister, whose name eludes me right now (he has just been appointed), is also, as I understand it, 2nd Minister for Defence. The connection between education and the military could not be more explicit, therefore.

Read the full entry here>>>

Last Saturday I “incidentally” turned up for a private event organised by Ms Chee Siok Chin of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) at the Excelsior Hotel.

Read the event coverage here>>>

The good side of the screening

The movie was a political documentary by Honest Productions titled One Nation Under Lee and it presented the unscrupulous ways Mr Lee Kuan Yew wielded his power since entering into the political scene.

It is very informative and factual with news reports and interviews of individuals that were victims of Mr Lee’s political regime and ambitions. Much of what was presented is unknown to Singaporeans, especially the 2nd and 3rd generation of Singaporeans like myself.

This is a must-see, though it is certain never to be approved or released by the authorities.

The ugly side of the screening

Though I applaud some of the individuals’ courageous and sacrificial stance in championing the cause for a democratic political system, I do not agree with their course of actions undertaken during the event.

For instance, the emcee boldly crushed a letter from MICA which warned them of the consequences and legal implications of screening the movie, and threw it on the floor with defiance in front of the audience.

When MICA officials arrived, shouting could be heard from inside the room. Though I wasn’t at that scene to witness who were the ones shouting, but sometimes I think we forget that whether we are government officials or politicians, we are still fellow Singaporeans.

Moreover we are all in the same plight, and perhaps even sharing the same common goal. But just on opposite sides.

Building our ideal future

Personally, I do empathise with the frustrations of the opposition wards in not been given a fair playing ground to pit against the ruling party. As it remains a fact that it is almost impossible to be a voice or have a say in our country.

However, I am not a supporter of outright rebellion and civil or uncivil disobedience against our government or towards any particular politician. Even how unfair the playing field might be, a basic respect still needs to be rendered to our authorities when we engage with them without being mired by personal grievances.

When we render respect, we can safely expect respect to be reciprocated. And that is how I believe we can earn the right and credibility to speak and to be heard.

Being pro-Singapore first

Without a doubt I am certain we do not want the younger generation to learn from us in becoming a disrespectful or unruly bunch in the course of exercising their freedom of speech or rights, for it is said that true freedom is being able to do the right thing at the right time.

In the course of achieving our democratic goals, I think it is far more important to impart the right values and virtues such as love and respect to our people especially the younger generation. This would surely build a more gracious, cohesive and inclusive society that we all hope for.

Because in the final analysis, it is not the political system that needs the reforming, but the people in the system that needs the reforming.

Therefore, if we truly want to convey the right message, I believe the reforming begins with each one of us first before we attempt to change or overthrow others.

Or else, how different are we from those we attempt to change?

Theonlinecitizen (TOC) has a new look!

It is amazing how this non-partisan site has grown in readership and prominence with fellow Singaporeans in such a short span. And I am privileged to be able to share and play a bit part in it as a national service.

For those who are clueless to this site and current affairs, this is a site to visit for alternative views besides those we frequently read from our predictable and lop-sided mainstream media.

I forsee that TOC will play a significant role in the years to come in informing, educating and empowering Singaporeans in being more active in shaping the future of our nation.

Visit the website here>>>

Picture taken with my spartan buddies- LCP Vinod K and PTE K C Goh at 595 Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR) Unit standing-down ceremony at Jurong Camp II on 27 March 2008.

Today, I attended my first grassroots meeting for my neighbourhood! This was something that I wanted to do very much as part of my community outreach in staying in touch with the ‘ground’.

I was invited as an observer for my first meeting. And I really did not know what being an observer meant, but I assumed it was “just to watch only”. So you could imagine how challenging it was for me to play that role and sitting still for two hours. Ha ha…

Despite living in my neighbourhood for more than 20 years, it was funny how it was my first time seeing most of the faces in that room. It was really a good mix of people in terms of race, gender and age. There were about 25 of us.

Personally, it was an eye-opener and a humbling experience. It was fascinating to see this group with such diversity working together to get things done as they ran through the meeting’s agenda.

When we came to the part- Feedback on Government Service/Policies, I was all geared up to listen what most of them would discuss. But as expected, it was the usual. Most complaint about the raising costs.

The amusing part of that discussion came:

“Complain… complain, so how? What do you suggest?”

“I think we can suggest that RC members get 10-15 per cent discount off Fairprice house-brand products”

“Ya it is time to re-look into revising RC members’ benefits and privileges”

I guess just like how our ministerial leaders’ salaries need to be revised in accordance to the market, what more for grassroots leaders’ benefits and privileges rite?

If not, how to retain talent correct?? =p

Singapore’s most wanted man, Mas Selamat Kastari is still on the loose.

If you have not heard or seen the latest update on the JI leader, here’s the poster to spot some of his many possible faces. 

So please be alert and keep a look out!

Ho ho ho… =p

Much attention has been on Singapore’s greying population and it will likely remain as a perennial national challenge for the many years to come. 

I read that according to the United Nations, population ageing will be most significant in Asia. By year 2050, 1.2 billion people in Asia will be 60 years and above- four times the number today.

With our higher life expectancy, Singapore counts as one of the fastest ageing countries in the world. Today, one in 12 Singaporeans are 65 and above. By the year 2030, that would increase to one in five of us being 65 and above.

Ageing in Singapore

Anticipating the ageing issues that will arise, our government has made substantial efforts to address these issues such as the recent organising of the SICEX 2008 Exhibition that was held at the Suntec Convention Hall last two weeks ago.

The Ministerial Committee on Ageing (MCA) led by Mr Lim Boon Heng from the Prime Minister’s Office have been kept busy since last March by providing more care and concern for our ageing society. This has come in forms in advocating employment for older workers to annuities for old age and the tweaking of Eldershield and the CPF.

When explaining the reason behind the key changes of the CPF scheme, PM Lee cited how the government was concern for Singaporeans’ financial sustainability especially with the rise of life expectancy at 80 years old now.

From a glance, it looks like we do have a government that truly cares for their people with their plans to secure retirement for the ageing population. However, if we scratch the surface deeper, we might find another probable reason for this.

Tapping on human resource

It is a well-known fact that Singapore being deprived out of all other natural resources have only our human resource to tap on. That is why the role of education in Singapore is emphasised and is one of our nation’s core foundation.  

This is also further explains and helps us understand on our government’s stance on certain policies or leadership approaches. For instance, we pride ourselves for providing WORKfare and not WELfare.

In Singapore, there is no “free lunch” and all of us are expected to work. If you want welfare, you got to work and contribute to CPF to receive incentives. That is our workfare.

Asset or a liability

Imagine when 500,000 Singaporeans retire at age 65 by 2010 out of 4-5 million as according to statistics. And couple that with the higher life expectancy and the need of healthcare.

Would the retirees have enough to survive?

Where would they get the money to survive if their savings are wiped out?

Would there be a sufficient workforce to sustain economic investments?

I believe some of these questions would have been our government’s primary concerns. And with the rapid growth of the ageing population, there is an urgent need to find solutions in keeping our economy going.

Not only does a retiree represents un-productivity, he/she also represents in economic terms, a liability.

Why?

Simply because by not working, one no longer contributes to the CPF. Not only does he/she not give, but he/she is taking.

Not mentioning that our economy being so dependent on consumer spending in bolstering it afloat would likely experience a big dip with retirees having less spending power.

So if a retiree runs out of money, where does he/she go?

Government lor…

If you don’t believe, you only have to look at our present situation with the rising cases of the poor and needy seeking financial assistance from our government at the Meet-The-People sessions.

Therefore, with the number of retirees expected in the years to come, that poses as a huge “liability” to our government. And this better explains the initiatives and measures for securing our retirement, welcoming of foreign workers to fill in those “gaps” and the recent means testing for healthcare.

Not sure if you agree with me, but all these care, concern and efforts, it seems are inclined more towards the sustainability of the economy, and not exactly for us. 

Looking hard below the surface, I am faced with the hard truth that I am regarded nothing more than a mere number that contributes to my country’s population statistics.

Work till I die

But to be fair, I do applaud the government in carrying out a fine job in ensuring that our limited human resource in Singapore is fully utilised to his/her potential in contributing productivity to our nation’s workforce.

Putting myself in their shoes, this could be a bo bian (no choice in Hokkien) kind of situation.

However, as a working 30 year old Singaporean, my concern are the rising cost of living which would shrink the value of my CPF retirement nest in 30 years time. 

Another concern is the affordability of healthcare as by that retiring age, healthcare would be a necessity for me to keep working in order to stay alive.

Against such a bleak bo bian backdrop, it is apparent that as a Singapore citizen, I will have to work till I die.

After announcing the ministerial’s salaries hike for MPs and administrative officers - the elite of the civil service- last week, Senior Minister Goh Chong Tong was reported saying that “the latest civil service pay hike is aimed at retaining and attracting younger officers.”

This is despite the fact that Ministers at the starting grade will take home $1.94 million next year - an increase of 21 per cent over this year’s $1.6 million under the revised salary package.

SM Goh further explained that the increase was necessary and emphasised that the Ministers were less concerned about their own salaries because their salaries were actually quite attractive.

“But we are concerned about the civil servants now and the next generation of people whom we are trying to target to become Ministers,” he said. 

Read the report here>>>

For Money or for people

Personally, I am flabbergasted over SM Goh’s comments and reasons for proceeding with the hike.

Notwithstanding that the retaining of Ministers is a valid reason for expediting the hike despite the increasing inflation, but it seems to send out a very wrong signal to the public.

For once, I am concern and question the agenda of any Minister taking up his/her role in our public service by using money as a “carrot” to retain and lure young officers.

Would he/she be in a ministerial role for the money or is he/she truly passionate about serving fellow Singaporeans?

The answer, I believe makes a lot of difference in how Singapore will be led. This would eventually affect the livelihood of us Singaporeans with the kind of policies rolled out for “nation-building”.

Nevetheless, I believe there are more others reasons to leave the public service apart from not having a high salary package. The other possible reasons surely cannot be any much different from us non-elites which should include having a lousy boss, not having opportunities for personal development or a dislike of the working culture.

So would increasing the salary package really solve the problem? Or is the increment really meant to solve that problem?

The sort of leaders we need

Ideally speaking, we need more leaders that will lead with their heart and soul especially if one who is in a role of a Minister.

If one steps up to become a Minister, it should be a calling rather than a career.

The reason why they serve makes a difference because in the face of great adversity, we can be sure that those who serve with passion will stick to the end of their duties even if it costs them their lives.

For those who are in for the money, we can expect them to leech on the people’s resources and lives. And like a hired hand, we can expect them to elope at the sight of danger.

Therefore, it is up to us to decide which one of these two types of leaders would we rather have lead us.

I really dread to think how Singapore will be run with the young and new Ministers in office who are in for self-interest rather than the people’s initerest.

But probably it is not too hard to imagine when we just have to look at our present state.

Read related TOC article here>>>