Crumbling of Singapore?

[ckmpd]

"Crumbling of Singapore" indeed. Effects of PAP's incompetence, mismanagement, nepotism and cronyism:

"Just after $1.1 billion dollars worth of taxpayers’ monies are disbursed to SMRT and SBS Transit to help them improve their services and keep operating costs down, SMRT is asking for another ‘Ang Pow’ from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) again.

In a press statement released this evening, SMRT said it needs to spend around S$900 million over eight years (2012-2019) to renew and upgrade its train systems, raising questions on why it has not done so earlier despite reaping in obscene profits year after year.

SMRT does not expect to foot the hefty bill entirely on its own and is currently discussing cost-sharing arrangements with the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

“Some of the measures are already on-going and will be accelerated, while others are new,” interim Chief Executive Officer Tan Ek Kia said at a news conference on Tuesday.

SMRT also claimed that as the system ages, faults will arise from time to time though the Hong Kong’s MTR and Japan’s railway systems with much longer history have never been besieged by such frequent breakdowns before.

However, SMRT was quick to remind Singaporeans that even with the ‘renewal’ plans, it cannot expect no disruptions.

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has earlier said in Parliament that ‘minor’ disruptions less than 30 minutes are ‘unavoidable’:

 

[Fook Seng]

If you want to see how well Singapore is doing and how the country is admired around the world, read the contents of http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?115528-Proof-that-Singapore-is-tops!

You shouldn't allow emotional issues to cloud your thought process and your judgement. When it comes to tangible yardsticks such as infant mortality rates, poverty rates, suicide rates, unemployment rates, investment, health... anything which can be quantified, Singapore is always up there with the best.

It is about time, you stop focussing on statistics as they are very easy to manipulate if you know how these are derived. Look at the real situation on the ground, the number of people who default on their HDB mortgage payments, understand what 20% of the population taking home 80% of the payroll means for the rest - the 80%. Feel more that whatever fine statistic put up is a reflection of the dire straits of things on the other side of the coin. Understand that this Govt is an expert in putting up a front e.g. like having an earlier coat of paint for flats lying the main thorough ways. I can still remember very well the PM's apology just before the GE2011 Polling Day. But what was he actually saying?

 

[ckmpd]

It is about time, you stop focussing on statistics as they are very easy to manipulate if you know these are derived. Look at the real situation on the ground, the number of people who default on their HDB mortgage payments, understand what 20% of the population taking home 80% of the payroll for the rest of the 80%. Feel more that whatever fine statistic put up is a reflection of the dire straits of things on the other side of the coin. Understand that this Govt is an expert in putting up a front e.g. like having an earlier coat of paint for flats lying the main thorough ways. I can still remember very well the PM's apology just before the GE2011 Polling Day. But what was he actually saying?

I agree with you totally. Statistics lie. To know the truth we need to go to the ground and see what Singaporeans are experiencing, know their feelings and hear what they are saying. Living in our own ivory tower and hearing from only our yes-men will not get us the truths

Dont trust what the pap says and what the SG media reports

 

[Leongsam]

I want my old Singapore back!!!

The Malays in Singapore want their Island back too. When are the other ethnicities going to bugger off back to where they came from?

 

[Leongsam]

It is about time, you stop focussing on statistics as they are very easy to manipulate if you know how these are derived.

There are certain categories of statistics that can be manipulated by being selective, choosing a particular time period, covertly excluding a certain category and so on.

However, other stats tell the whole story.

Take a look at infant mortality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_mortality_rate

The fact that Singapore is on top of table is of huge significance. What it means is that the chance of YOUR kid dying at or soon after birth is 0.26% (2005~2010 data). On the other hand, if you wanted to be a father in China, the probability of your baby dying at birth would be 10 TIMES HIGHER!

Ask yourself this question; if the PAP is doing such a bad job, would such impressive figures be achieved year in year out? If the poor were being left to die in the gutters, surely it would have started showing up in the health stats by now.

These sorts of stats aren't just numbers. They affect each and every Singaporean who wants to start a family.

 

[ckmpd]

From an overseas Singaporean to LHL:

"The relentless influx of foreigners over the last few years has not only cause great unhappiness and dissatisfaction among Singaporeans living in Singapore, but even real Singaporean talents based overseas are having second thoughts returning to work in Singapore.

One Singaporean student Tan Yiwen posted a comment on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Facebook page expressing her concerns about the future after seeing her friends struggling to compete with the foreigners. .

Admitting that she is a PAP supporter, she wrote frankly that she is very disheartened to see what Singapore has become.

“I have friends who graduated from university, struggling to get a decent job that pay them $2,000 and above, but many companies tell them that they do not have the relevant experience, in which I believe is just an excuse to not hire them or to press for lower wage.”

The beginning of the "Crumbling of Singapore"?

 

[Fook Seng]

There are certain categories of statistics that can be manipulated by being selective, choosing a particular time period, covertly excluding a certain category and so on.

However, other stats tell the whole story.

Take a look at infant mortality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_mortality_rate

The fact that Singapore is on top of table is of huge significance. What it means is that the chance of YOUR kid dying at or soon after birth is 0.26% (2005~2010 data). On the other hand, if you wanted to be a father in China, the probability of your baby dying at birth would be 10 TIMES HIGHER!

Ask yourself this question; if the PAP is doing such a bad job, would such impressive figures be achieved year in year out? If the poor were being leftc to die in the gutters, surely it would have started showing up in the health stats by now.

These sorts of stats aren't just numbers. They affect each and every Singaporean who wants to start a family.

Statistics do not tell you measuring a city and measuring a country with stretches of rural communities in additional to cities would and should give you a different set of statistics.

 

[ckmpd]

Statistics do not tell you measuring a city and measuring a country with stretches of rural communities in additional to cities would and should give you a different set of statistics.

Well said!!

 

[Leongsam]

Statistics do not tell you measuring a city and measuring a country with stretches of rural communities in additional to cities would and should give you a different set of statistics.

That's fine. Compare it with Luxembourg then where your kid is twice as likely to die at birth or Malta or Macau. The stats are all there in the link.

And don't forget that when you bring up the fact that Singapore is nothing more than a city, you should be giving even more credit to the PAP for keeping things humming along in a country that has no hinterland whatsoever.

Tell me what other govt could make a success of a small lump of clay in a such a bad neighborhood. What the PAP is doing is truly amazing considering all the challenges they are up against.

 

[ckmpd]

By Sanjay Perera:

"Some of the sad responses to Professor Lim Chong Yah’s suggestion of trying to close the disturbing income gap in the country betray the underlying truth about such matters: That it is in the interests of the elite and moneyed class to justify why this cannot be done."

The rich wants to exploit the poor and refuse to pay them decent wages. It calls for wise govt action to protect the poor!

 

[ckmpd]

By Can:

"I am saddened every time I saw construction sites loaded with low-cost workers/laborers in Singapore, and not because of the ethnics or country of origin, but because of the slack and unprofessional behavior, where most of them are slacking and doing nothing, i.e., 1 person operating machinery, few standing besides watching or doing nothing.

Employers usually cite cost reason for employing low-cost workers. However, the construction cost in Singapore is similar or higher comparing to many of the first-world countries, like Australia or USA. And to give an example, an Australian bricklayer commands a salary of >AUD$100k/annum "

 

[ckmpd]

Written by Can:

"In Singapore context, EXPERIENCE & PROFESSIONAL are not being valued. The employers rather go for cheap labors where they consistently make mistakes, unprofessional. This results in wastage of materials, delaying project progress. "

 

[Leongsam]

And to give an example, an Australian bricklayer commands a salary of >AUD$100k/annum "

Australia is an egalitarian country and brick layers stand shoulder to shoulder with brain surgeons. There is no stigma attached to performing a blue collar job.

Would a Singaporean be willing to work as a bricklayer if he was paid a similar wage?

 

[ckmpd]

Australia is an egalitarian country and brick layers stand shoulder to shoulder with brain surgeons. There is no stigma attached to performing a blue collar job.

Would a Singaporean be willing to work as a bricklayer if he was paid a similar wage?

Do you have any reason to think they would not?

I have seen Singaporeans taking the jobs of cleaners at S$800 per month for six-days a week, 8hr per day job.

I have seen security guards working 12 hr shifts with a day off for every two weeks for S$1200 per month.

I dont see why Singaporeans would not take up a bricklayer's job if they are paid a fair wage

 

[ckmpd]

Written by Joe..Calling the PAP's bluff:

"The word ”talent” is a misnomer, an anomaly, and it is apparent that it was couched by the incumbents to mislead the population and most importantly those foreigners who come here.

Labeling them as talent is a mere psychological ”placebo” that the incumbents know (and knew) that it will work. Hence, the labellings! It is being exploited (cos of ignorance and weaknesses within one) and one must be intelligent to see through the bluff."

 

[ckmpd]

The PAP has severely miscalculated Singaporeans' anger against the PAP leaders and their bad policies.

The PAP has only a few years to right their mistakes.

Ignore Singaporeans' anger at its own peril!

 

[Fook Seng]

And don't forget that when you bring up the fact that Singapore is nothing more than a city, you should be giving even more credit to the PAP for keeping things humming along in a country that has no hinterland whatsoever.

Do you find any city state that has failed to hum along very well without the hinterland within its own borders? On the other hand do you find any city state that has spent as much per capita on defence as this city? This is clearly a paranoiac spending and costs us heavily in all other aspects of our life.

The availability of the hinterland outside our immediate borders is purely a goodwill gesture of our neighbours and at most what they would view as a win-win situation. But we need them more than they need us. It is sometimes with great concern that we tremble when relations with our neighbours sour because our politicians shoot off their mouths.

 

[ckmpd]

"PM Lee said these are all real issues that the tripartite partners must address together.

He said on its part the government will implement several strategies.

The first is to keep Singapore open, embrace the world, welcome new ideas and explore new opportunities.

Mr Lee said that's how Singapore has become successful and has competed against bigger countries and held its own and more.

The government has also improved the lives of the people and secured a bright future here for their children."

LHL said the govt has improved the lives of the peopl? Is that real? LHL is in self denial. He sounded lost! At a time like that when workers are struggling, SG needs a strong PM to help the workers, not a sissy who asked the tripatrite to take over his job!

 

[ckmpd]

Do you find any city state that has failed to hum along very well without the hinterland within its own borders? On the other hand do you find any city state that has spent as much per capita on defence as this city? This is clearly a paranoiac spending and costs us heavily in all other aspects of our life.

The availability of the hinterland outside our immediate borders is purely a goodwill gesture of our neighbours and at most what they would view as a win-win situation. But we need them more than they need us. It is sometimes with great concern that we tremble when relations with our neighbours sour because our politicians shoot off their mouths.

well said..it shows SG has poor leadership!

 

[Leongsam]

But we need them more than they need us. It is sometimes with great concern that we tremble when relations with our neighbours sour because our politicians shoot off their mouths.

It's always better to negotiate from a position of strength. The PAP has shown great foresight when it comes to defence and it is comforting to know that Singapore, while being small, is far from vulnerable.

When it's dependence on Malaysian water is overcome, it will be able strengthen its position even further.

You may not mind your wife and daughters being raped and killed by marauding soldiers from the North or South. Most Singaporeans do not share the same view.