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- Aug 14, 2009
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I read with great dismay the negative opinions of our govt on the Internet. Such opnions are not based on facts but falsehoods perpetuated over time by irresponsible individuals. As such I would like to address a number of them:
1. HDB is too expensive - HDB should sell at cost of building.
HDB should be credited for providing housing to so many Singaporeans in other countries many people are homeless. Yet irresponsible people accuse the HDB of making outlandish profits...all this is RUBBISH.
If HDB sell flats at cost of building, say $100K, the buyer can sell the flat later in the open market for $400K and pocket $300K that belongs to taxpayers. So the HDB selling price MUST always be linked to the market and subsidised from the market price downwards so that the actually subsidy that govt gives out can be computed properly based on market price.
2. Singapore is not democratic.
This is another lie. Singapore host elections every 4-5 years. Anyone who wants to run can do so nobody stops you. A voter can vote for anyone he wants. In Singapore, you can freely condemn the govt all you want - just sit at coffee shop and you know than PAP-bashing is a national past-time for some people. Yet the PAP wins every election. Why? Quality....the PAP has quality people just compare qualifications, accomplishments etc many are top directors, CEOs etc. What kind of people Opposition have? Any ah kow, ah cat - speak and write broken english, talk nonsense etc. That is the real reason why they lose.
3. Foreign talent policy is bad.
Singapore is suffering from low fertility rate - lowest in Asia even lower than Japan. If we don't bring in more people, the tax base will shrink and the govt will have to up your income tax. Many people say foreigner put them out of the job or push down wages. This is another lie by Chee Soon Jua et al. Our economy is global in nature so our wages is set by global demand for our goods and services. What you get paid depends on the demand for your service in the global market. Having foreigners here does not change a thing. Only jobs affected are domestic jobs like cleaners, waiters etc that serve the local demand. Traditionally Singaporeans shun such jobs so businesses brought in foreigners because they have no choice. Granted this wil depress the pay of our cleaners but why do we want our fellow Singaporeans to be cleaners? The govt elevate them by retraining them for higher skill jobs. If there is no choice the govt gives them workfare to support them. Overall, Singapore benefits from foreign workers - our tax rate is among the lowest in the world.
It is good leadership that allowed Singapore to survive and thrive and much of it has to be credited to visionary leadership of the PAP. Of course, they are not perfect. Perhaps death penalty for drug trafficking is too harsh but they do it to protect us from drugs - just look at the scoorge in western countries and the lives drugs destroy. Some do not like NS or reservist but how else do we protect our nation given our size?
1. HDB is too expensive - HDB should sell at cost of building.
HDB should be credited for providing housing to so many Singaporeans in other countries many people are homeless. Yet irresponsible people accuse the HDB of making outlandish profits...all this is RUBBISH.
If HDB sell flats at cost of building, say $100K, the buyer can sell the flat later in the open market for $400K and pocket $300K that belongs to taxpayers. So the HDB selling price MUST always be linked to the market and subsidised from the market price downwards so that the actually subsidy that govt gives out can be computed properly based on market price.
2. Singapore is not democratic.
This is another lie. Singapore host elections every 4-5 years. Anyone who wants to run can do so nobody stops you. A voter can vote for anyone he wants. In Singapore, you can freely condemn the govt all you want - just sit at coffee shop and you know than PAP-bashing is a national past-time for some people. Yet the PAP wins every election. Why? Quality....the PAP has quality people just compare qualifications, accomplishments etc many are top directors, CEOs etc. What kind of people Opposition have? Any ah kow, ah cat - speak and write broken english, talk nonsense etc. That is the real reason why they lose.
3. Foreign talent policy is bad.
Singapore is suffering from low fertility rate - lowest in Asia even lower than Japan. If we don't bring in more people, the tax base will shrink and the govt will have to up your income tax. Many people say foreigner put them out of the job or push down wages. This is another lie by Chee Soon Jua et al. Our economy is global in nature so our wages is set by global demand for our goods and services. What you get paid depends on the demand for your service in the global market. Having foreigners here does not change a thing. Only jobs affected are domestic jobs like cleaners, waiters etc that serve the local demand. Traditionally Singaporeans shun such jobs so businesses brought in foreigners because they have no choice. Granted this wil depress the pay of our cleaners but why do we want our fellow Singaporeans to be cleaners? The govt elevate them by retraining them for higher skill jobs. If there is no choice the govt gives them workfare to support them. Overall, Singapore benefits from foreign workers - our tax rate is among the lowest in the world.
It is good leadership that allowed Singapore to survive and thrive and much of it has to be credited to visionary leadership of the PAP. Of course, they are not perfect. Perhaps death penalty for drug trafficking is too harsh but they do it to protect us from drugs - just look at the scoorge in western countries and the lives drugs destroy. Some do not like NS or reservist but how else do we protect our nation given our size?
