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The politics thread :)

wuqi256

Moderator - JB Section
Loyal
Welcoming one and all (Let the venting begin!!!)
- Please refrain from personal attacks, thank you. :smile:
 

butadesu

Alfrescian
Loyal
I'm glad we are allowed to discuss some politics in this forum.
The reason why Singaporean are living or investing in JB comes in the form of PUSH and PULL factors.
Both are the driving forces that created the situation that Singaporeans wants a piece of JB experience.
Politics will inevitable be a major part of the PUSH and PULL factors.
First of all I'm not against PAP. They are one of the best government in the world. One of the greatest accomplishment they have made that continue to impress me is their ability to attract foreign companies to invest in Singapore. Especially impressive is how Sg manage to attract big MNCs to setup their regional HQs, hubs etc. These are important because this will create QUALITY jobs.

I would also want to give credit PAP for creating some not so usual strategies that has worked well and against Singapore.
1. Importing lots of engineering/IT/technical workforce from developing countries.
This has displaced a lot of Singaporeans white collar workers. Many either moved to other industries or has to lower their salary.
However, this has created jobs for many blue collar workers. Blue collar workers that cannot be retrained to service and biomedical sector need to be continue to be employed. Remember just a decade ago, Singapore is a major manufacturing center for HDD, semi con etc. Gone are the days but who will take in these blue collar workers without the lure of availability of cheap engineers?

2. Casino. Although the earnings of casino is always featured in the headlines and awe many why they can earn so much. Some ask what kind of quality jobs does Casino creates? By simply looking at the direct job contribution by Casino is very little. Even though the promise of bringing in more tourist is a good reason but personally, I felt one of the benefit of bringing in Casino is to increase the competitiveness of our financial sector. Casino is a good place to do money laundering.
In the past, Singapore was able to attract a lot of FDI from Indonesia and Malaysia because a lot of ill gotten money are put here. Indonesia govt appeal many times to sg govt to repritiate these money back but Singapore just won't do it cos these money are GOOD money. Now imagine money from Indonesia and Malaysia can make our financial sector vibrant, think about the money from CHINA and INDIA??? U see, a lot of Chinese earned lots of illegal money in their country but worry about getting caught. So they have to send their child, wife(s) and money aboard. Singapore says, comeon, use our money laundering service (casino) to legalize the money, invest in our financial products, buy house here, keep your families here, study here and enjoy the party. Isn't it wonderful??

But I guess many already knows what are the side effect of these policies.
 
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butadesu

Alfrescian
Loyal
Good neighbor Bad neighbor.

There are 2 way of saying Singapore unique position in ASEAN.

1. A beautiful house in a terrible neighborhood
Some says Singapore is incredible because it manage to do so well even though it has lousy neighbors like MY and IND.
If MY and IND are not so corrupted, not so dangerous, more stable and consistent with their policies, SG would have a better time, bigger opportunities, less need to spend on defense etc.

2. Exploiting weaker neighbors
Some says Singapore has exploited its weaker neighbors by attracting all their talents (leaving them brain drain), buying their produce cheaply (water, sand, agri), attracting their FDI and money etc.
For example, in the past, there is a saying that it is meaningless to build luxury condos in Indonesia because govt will will to tax, track their account etc if you buy them. So rich Indonesian would rather invest their money in condo in SG, thus leaving the country poor because money keeps flowing to sg.


So which do you think is more correct?
 

contra

Alfrescian
Loyal
intriguing. actually how does casino help money laundering?

2. Casino. Although the earnings of casino is always featured in the headlines and awe many why they can earn so much. Some ask what kind of quality jobs does Casino creates? By simply looking at the direct job contribution by Casino is very little. Even though the promise of bringing in more tourist is a good reason but personally, I felt one of the benefit of bringing in Casino is to increase the competitiveness of our financial sector. Casino is a good place to do money laundering.
In the past, Singapore was able to attract a lot of FDI from Indonesia and Malaysia because a lot of ill gotten money are put here. Indonesia govt appeal many times to sg govt to repritiate these money back but Singapore just won't do it cos these money are GOOD money. Now imagine money from Indonesia and Malaysia can make our financial sector vibrant, think about the money from CHINA and INDIA??? U see, a lot of Chinese earned lots of illegal money in their country but worry about getting caught. So they have to send their child, wife(s) and money aboard. Singapore says, comeon, use our money laundering service (casino) to legalize the money, invest in our financial products, buy house here, keep your families here, study here and enjoy the party. Isn't it wonderful??

But I guess many already knows what are the side effect of these policies.
 

wuqi256

Moderator - JB Section
Loyal
intriguing. actually how does casino help money laundering?

Not referring to any casino of course. As per my limited layman understanding, Credit is extended/given by the casino or through junkets, etc. Different sources of money can come in and then be converted OR repaid to the credit given. A certain percentage of the balance in the casino is then "lost" and after the rolling is done, the remaining balance of chips encashed and comes out from the casino legally.

There are of course, many other methods to clean it and some do it through multiple steps/process before its finally laundered.
 

butadesu

Alfrescian
Loyal
intriguing. actually how does casino help money laundering?

I think there are more than one way depending how much u want to launder at a time and how well u want your tracks to be covered.
Most straight forward way.

A (the guy with illegal money), B (the guy that helps to launder money)
A pass illegal money to B by some way
Both A and B enter casino. Change cash to chips.
Both play a little.
B pass A the chips.
A then cash out all chips as winnings.
The winnings are legal money.

Do you know how much is transacted each day at casino? I don't know but I'm sure it must be an interesting figures. :P
 

contra

Alfrescian
Loyal
Not referring to any casino of course. As per my limited layman understanding, Credit is extended/given by the casino or through junkets, etc. Different sources of money can come in and then be converted OR repaid to the credit given. A certain percentage of the balance in the casino is then "lost" and after the rolling is done, the remaining balance of chips encashed and comes out from the casino legally.

There are of course, many other methods to clean it and some do it through multiple steps/process before its finally laundered.

wow, you and butadesu are so learned...... interesting for me that casinos have a role to play in financial centre creation, among other things like keeping Chinese people happy with the culture of gambling. Thanks guys
 

arsenal

Alfrescian
Loyal
Party A deposit 10M into the Casino. He played a little bit to show some activities.. Casino offer party A a cheque book.

Party A use the cheque book, walk around Marine Bay Sand area, find a nice condo pay the house in full..

Few weeks later party A sell the house to another person whom he owned money.. Party A best wishes is the house near the Casino are more expensive so that he don't have to buy too many....

That is a legal way of using Casino as a bank..

I think there are more than one way depending how much u want to launder at a time and how well u want your tracks to be covered.
Most straight forward way.

A (the guy with illegal money), B (the guy that helps to launder money)
A pass illegal money to B by some way
Both A and B enter casino. Change cash to chips.
Both play a little.
B pass A the chips.
A then cash out all chips as winnings.
The winnings are legal money.

Do you know how much is transacted each day at casino? I don't know but I'm sure it must be an interesting figures. :P
 

butadesu

Alfrescian
Loyal
An avid cyclist has written an impassioned open letter to Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, repeating a growing call for a 1.5-metre lane to be set aside for road cyclists.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/open-letter-urges-pm--minister-to-improve-road-safety-for-cyclists.html

I myself does not cycle or recreational or transportation because it is really really dangerous to cycle on our roads.
However, I hope our government could make efforts to promote cycling by setting up cycling tracks, improves road conditions for cyclist, setup more parking lots with cameras to protect bicycle from being stolen, setup bicycle rental at mrt and bus stations etc, we could solve many of our transportation woes. Besides, cycling is healthy!!

If only our government could just think out of the box a little, try to convince their rich elite friends to do with a smaller road for their Ferrari and attempt to consider that many lowly paid people like me could actually do with bicycle for transportation rather than squeezing into bus and mrts like sardines.
 
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ginfreely

Alfrescian
Loyal
An avid cyclist has written an impassioned open letter to Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, repeating a growing call for a 1.5-metre lane to be set aside for road cyclists.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/open-letter-urges-pm--minister-to-improve-road-safety-for-cyclists.html

I myself does not cycle or recreational or transportation because it is really really dangerous to cycle on our roads.
However, I hope our government could make efforts to promote cycling by setting up cycling tracks, improves road conditions for cyclist, setup more parking lots with cameras to protect bicycle from being stolen, setup bicycle rental at mrt and bus stations etc, we could solve many of our transportation woes. Besides, cycling is healthy!!

If only our government could just think out of the box a little, try to convince their rich elite friends to do with a smaller road for their Ferrari and attempt to consider that many lowly paid people like me could actually do with bicycle for transportation rather than squeezing into bus and mrts like sardines.

I am not siding with the driver who caused the accident but I think there need to be training and licensing for cyclists too. Especially those foreigner cyclists, they can ride in opposite direction, bicycle has no reflector, wear all dark clothes when riding at night, ride across the zebra crossing suddenly.
 

wuqi256

Moderator - JB Section
Loyal
I am not siding with the driver who caused the accident but I think there need to be training and licensing for cyclists too. Especially those foreigner cyclists, they can ride in opposite direction, bicycle has no reflector, wear all dark clothes when riding at night, ride across the zebra crossing suddenly.

Actually i posted about errant cyclists as well as pedestrians quite a few years back as i realised that no releases of iPhone or Android OS ever features a energy shield or force field yet. Not talking about the regular professionals or those really into it as they tend to obey rules and value the lives of others as well as their own.

Either they cycle fast without looking or they have their heads glued to their phones while riding a bicycle. Some carry umbrellas as well when cycling and they are so distracted by their conversations that they tend to cross into other lanes without looking. Once quickly yanked a young woman out of the way of speeding traffic just in time. Not a single word of thanks. A bro of mine knocked into someone who was running across the zebra crossing while yakking on the phone. She didn't even realise that she was crossing the road when she woke up in the hospital.
 

wuqi256

Moderator - JB Section
Loyal
wow, you and butadesu are so learned...... interesting for me that casinos have a role to play in financial centre creation, among other things like keeping Chinese people happy with the culture of gambling. Thanks guys

Buta is the learned one but i am still learning in life. Yes casinos are a good cover for many businesses to operate in, both in daylight and hidden in the dark. When the water is too clean, there will be no fish, i guess they embraced this philosophy when they allowed the operators to come in.
 

whoami

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Whether we drive a car or ride a bike...or even if we are the pedestrian, I will always remember tis ad i saw at one of the shopping centre.

Its better to lose a second in life then lose a life in a second... :(
 

julyaric720

Alfrescian
Loyal
I love this thread already..
girl.jpg

girl2.jpg
 

contra

Alfrescian
Loyal
Re: Living in JB 3 (Johore)

Just done with a client meeting. He is coo of a bank here in Singapore. Malaysian from KL. Was chit chatting and touched on Legoland... He was very sceptical and almost convinced that it will NOT open in time in Sep. because of the way Malaysian govt do things here... Hmm... I tried to defend but his cynicism runs deep... A bit annoyed really... ;-p... Wattodo... Just have to wait till Legoland really opens and that will hopefully open up ppl's eyes to iskandar... Which many still sniggers at..


Sad to say some of the Malaysians who have been in Singapore for a long time have the worst attitudes. They have grown to 'look down' on their Malaysian 'kaki-nang' and be highly skeptical of any mega projects. But this did not arise from a vaccuum. Some of them also have been borne from experiences, many were first to be burnt when they invested in JB & Malaysian projects that were abandoned or vision not materialised like Cyberjaya back in 1997. I will suggest to forumers here , please do not try to convince them .

I am hoping we can start to build a new society in IM of people with like-mindedness and try to help each other out, like what we are doing in this forum. Malaysian SPRs can be the natural bridge to help Singaporeans in settling in. Just leave any Hitler-like prejudices behind and not bring to IM. Naysayers will always be naysayers until they see for themselves. Witness how many people datuk wuqi has 'converted' not by force but by living his life to the fullest. Even billionaire Peter Lim has invested milliions in JB recently and so has Temasek and Capitaland. The smart ones have started to come in. No need to convince others. When my friends see my new house, I am sure they will start to look for themselves. :smile:


Really draw comfort and lift my spirits from all forumers with regards to IM. Regardless of what the sceptics say, most of them have not even try to understand IM nor been to any of the key areas. Failure often precedes success. Hope Malaysia gets it right this time!

Malaysia has got it right this time. They returned Tanjung Pagar Station last year. This was and is a key change in attitudes by the leadership.

A risk other than the global economic climate, is the upcoming elections. But I take comfort that I have read the DAP's plan if they win Johor. They complain not enough federal funding to IM and they will press for more!

Lets hope the property prices do not form a bubble in the meantime. I think terrace of RM1m in IM is not a good sign at the moment. Let demand be cooled down for now by not trying to convince naysayers. In the meantime, happy adventures discovering JB for yourself :smile:
 

Mingchye

Alfrescian
Loyal
Re: Living in JB 3 (Johore)

Last time when Mahathir was in power, he had that negativity towards Singapore as Singapore is the anti-thesis of all that he stands for. His views/outlook coloured the entire UMNO, BN and by extension the entire govt. Things started changing for the better when he stepped down. Even now after stepping down he will pop up every now and then to slam Singapore. Sour grape lah he.

I am very glad that relationship between the countries have improved since then and will/must continue to improve. Take it from me guys, should Pakatan Rakyat win big in next election, they will be very anxious to prove themselves and one of the thing they will do is to maintain and improve relationship with Singapore so that investments continue to come in. Dont believe those BS by the BN saying woe betide Malaysia should opposition take over. See how Penang has improved under DAP. BN sour grapes la, can go suck thumb.
 
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