Living in JB 2 (Johore)

[horizonhills]

All along we were careful and sensitive over the racial conflicts since independence. Now in singapore the ft-sg conflict could be very fatal as we have 60 percent of foreigners in singapore. Even the singapore police or army are no match for the mass number of ft

[jasonjst]

We can all understand the frustration of poor infrastructure planning coupled with an influx of unqualified foreigners that has taken a toll on its citizen. But after the GE, the government is making quite some drastic tweaks to the work permit to address these issues. And also taken steps to resolve the infra problem. It will take at least a few years to feel the difference.

What else do you think the government should do today to resolve these issues?

Come on , they are barking at the wrong tree again . Singaporean are OK with work permit holders , mostly in construction , heavy industries sectors . People are piss off with those S pass , fake talent , some low end mamasan PR , dependent Pass , etc .

[arsenal]

Mr brown is a funny but learned guy. Should ask him to join us to live in malaysia..

Some ft folks now think they are here because our govt beg them to come.. They deserve everything better than locals.. Sound so familiar.. Just make sure we don't do the same when living in JB..

What our govt can do now? If they run out of idea, better let go and new and capable persons will appear.. They pat on each others back and say well done.. They also oppose for the sake of opposing whenever opposition speak..

http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2012/08/...nd-lonely.html

[whoami]

Come on , they are barking at the wrong tree again . Singaporean are OK with work permit holders , mostly in construction , heavy industries sectors . People are piss off with those S pass , fake talent , some low end mamasan PR , dependent Pass , etc .

Yes. W/P holders no problem with most Sporeans. Its those S and E/P tat hinders qualified Sporeans fm holding such jobs! I have seen US, French, Korean, Japanese, etc E/P holders working with their respective companies. So how does foreign companies investing here benefits the man in the street? I have seen GRO (non sporeans) working with our local hotels. So they have more knowledge of Spore than our locals?

[arsenal]

Another master piece from Mr Brown..

People complain that Singaporeans are not good at sports and that we have to import our talent. I say we should compete in sports we will excel in. We should have our own #SingaporeanOlympics:

1. @mrbrown: MRT Rush Hour Squeeze

2. @mrbrown: Lunch Hour Tissue Chope Toss

3. @mrbrown: NParks Brompton Bicycle Gebiz Tender Sprint

4. @mrbrown: Cabinet Reshuffle Musical Chairs

5. @alfpang: Condo Launch Queue Marathon

6. @goldfishhysays: First to Morning Queue for Free Newspaper Race

7. @mrbrown: MRT Escalator Never Keep Left Buggers Hurdles

8. @ShunfuMart: Ear-Coin Weightlifting

9. @muhammadmutasim: Reserved Seat Speed Sleeping

10. @ShunfuMart: Ladies Slow Walk

11. @mrbrown: SAF Golden Arrow Archery

12. @thesahadevan: Complain Marathon

13. @lammified: SAF White Horse Racing

14. @longadin: Uncle Phelgm Spitting

15. @prodigalgeek: Primary School Synchronised Balloting

16. @levraitaz: Nomination Day Form Filling

17. @ShunfuMart: Hokkien Obscenities Marathon (Taxi Driver Invitational)

18. @boifirdhaus: #SingaporeanOlympics : Press Traffic Light button Till Shiok.

19. @byliwei: See Who Can Get @mrbrown To Retweet First

20. @mrbrown: McDonald's Curry Sauce Drinking

[Newbie2012]

We can all understand the frustration of poor infrastructure planning coupled with an influx of unqualified foreigners that has taken a toll on its citizen. But after the GE, the government is making quite some drastic tweaks to the work permit to address these issues. And also taken steps to resolve the infra problem. It will take at least a few years to feel the difference.

What else do you think the government should do today to resolve these issues?

The effort and resolve taken by the govt to solve the problems are not even near the half-hearted mark. How to you grade such performance by the govt below?

1. Decrease the annual INCREASE in number of foreign workers in SG. Half-Hearted (H-H ) effort would be to stop the absolute increase in number of foreign workers in SG, not decrease its annual increase in numbers!

2. Telling Singaporeans to tolerate and accept the inconsiderate and bolder behaviour of Pinoys and PRCs enclaves in SG. H-H effort is to gently berate and tell the foreign enclaves to know where their stand should be.

3. Limit the number of years that PRs can rent out their HDB flats to max 5 years. H-H effort will be to give them 3 years to sell off their HDB flats in the market when they are not staying in it anymore. HDB flats should never have been held by non-Singaporeans for rental or investment purposes especially at times when supplies are very limited.

And where is the long term policy change to stop the decrease of pure-bred Singaporean population. Shouldn't this be the least patriotic effort expected of any governments in the world to prevent its own people from decimation? Instead the govt is doing a "productive" job by focusing on cosmetically increasing the population percentage of Singaporeans in SG by converting unmistakenably PRCs, Pinoys, Caucasians into Singaporeans. Statistically, its a job well done in boosting the Singaporean population and justify for the minister promotion or pay increase but would you take a chinese medicine containing western paracetamol for your arthritis problem?

[ginfreely]

So do you deduct the costs of rectification from their rental deposit?

Some yes some no, depends whether spot the damage in time and the tough part is get tenants to agree to the deduction.

[ginfreely]

Yes. W/P holders no problem with most Sporeans. Its those S and E/P tat hinders qualified Sporeans fm holding such jobs! I have seen US, French, Korean, Japanese, etc E/P holders working with their respective companies. So how does foreign companies investing here benefits the man in the street? I have seen GRO (non sporeans) working with our local hotels. So they have more knowledge of Spore than our locals?

There is no restriction on the number of employment pass holders a company can employ. It is not unheard of companies hiring only only or two Singaporeans and the rest are employment pass holders.

[ginfreely]

The effort and resolve taken by the govt to solve the problems are not even near the half-hearted mark. How to you grade such performance below?

1. Decrease the annual INCREASE in number of foreign workers in SG. Half-Hearted (H-H ) effort would be to stop the abosulute increase in number of foreign workers in SG, not its annual increase in numbers!

2. Telling Singaporeans to tolerate and accept the inconsiderate and bolder behaviour of Pinoys and PRCs enclaves in SG. H-H effort is to gently berate and tell the foreign enclaves to know where their stand should be.

3. Limit the number of years that PRs can rent out their HDB flats to max 5 years. H-H effort will be to give them 3 years to sell off their HDB flats in the market when they are not staying in it anymore. HDB flats should never have been held by non-Singaporeans for rental or investment purposes especially at times when supplies are very limited.

I think it is obvious to discerning citizens whether govt is half hearted or not in their efforts. But of course to foreigners, they see it differently from their point of view and some tried to influence others to think it is acceptable.

[Lord Aragorn]

Yes. W/P holders no problem with most Sporeans. Its those S and E/P tat hinders qualified Sporeans fm holding such jobs! I have seen US, French, Korean, Japanese, etc E/P holders working with their respective companies. So how does foreign companies investing here benefits the man in the street? I have seen GRO (non sporeans) working with our local hotels. So they have more knowledge of Spore than our locals?

Personally, I think the government is tweaking the right areas by increasing min salary requirement, changing ratios, and refining the rules for dependent passes. The reality is that we need foreigners. At 2% unemployment rate, we just can't get enough Singaporeans to fill critical jobs.

My company has more than half Singaporeans. Personally, I prefer Singaporeans to foreigners, all things being equal. Because Singaporeans understand the business domain faster. Reality is that when we open up a position, very few qualified Singaporeans apply. Many unqualified foreigners apply too, but the law of large numbers dictate that you will find the right persons from the larger pool.

If there were no EPs, we would have relocated and more than half of my company's Singaporeans will lose their jobs. That's the reality of business. I don't like it, but we don't have much of a choice. We are competing with the world - the good old days where competition is only local is gone.

[ginfreely]

Personally, I think the government is tweaking the right areas by increasing min salary requirement, changing ratios, and refining the rules for dependent passes. The reality is that we need foreigners. At 2% unemployment rate, we just can't get enough Singaporeans to fill critical jobs.

My company has more than half Singaporeans. Personally, I prefer Singaporeans to foreigners, all things being equal. Because Singaporeans understand the business domain faster. Reality is that when we open up a position, very few qualified Singaporeans apply. Many unqualified foreigners apply too, but the law of large numbers dictate that you will find the right persons from the larger pool.

If there were no EPs, we would have relocated and more than half of my company's Singaporeans will lose their jobs. That's the reality of business. I don't like it, but we don't have much of a choice. We are competing with the world - the good old days where competition is only local is gone.

Increasing minimum salary is not effective, companies have been known to inflate the salary to reach desired salary level but paid out less. What is needed is stringent administrative government controls like other countries to ensure companies put in all efforts to hire Singaporeans at suitable salary level and hire foreigners only when able to justify they can't find Singaporeans.

I find it strange that companies suddenly cant find Singaporeans or Malaysans to work as service staff in the last few years and instead have to hire Pinoys. It is easy to give the excuse of can't find Singaporeans but should delve into the reason behind, the real reason is salary levels have gone too low for Singaporeans to do the job with employers having the easy option to switch to Pinoys. It started with construction, then cleaners, then service staff, already happening is PMET, next is Singapore business taken over by foreigners?

As for defendant pass, I think many people were not even aware PAP was so liberal in granting the defendant pass in the past, no wonder can see so many elderly foreigners brought in.

[Lord Aragorn]

Increasing minimum salary is not effective, companies have been known to inflate the salary to reach desired salary level but paid out less. What is needed is stringent administrative government controls like other countries to ensure companies put in all efforts to hire Singaporeans at suitable salary level and hire foreigners only when able to justify they can't find Singaporeans.

I find it strange that companies suddenly cant find Singaporeans or Malaysans to work as service staff in the last few years and instead have to hire Pinoys. It is easy to give the excuse of can't find Singaporeans but should delve into the reason behind, the real reason is salary levels have gone too low for Singaporeans to do the job with employers having the easy option to switch to Pinoys. It started with construction, then cleaners, then service staff, already happening is PMET, next is Singapore business taken over by foreigners?

As for defendant pass, I think many people were not even aware PAP was so liberal in granting the defendant pass in the past, no wonder can see so many elderly foreigners brought in.

I agree - I'm also unhappy to see the uncles in my favorite petrol kiosks replaced with young Chinese girls.

I think the govt will move in that direction, while making sure that the oversight do not become too onerous and chase businesses away like some other countries. The challenge is to strike the correct balance, and I agree that the balance should be tilted towards more stringent controls.

[summervale]

Aragorn, you still believe the 2% unemployment rate? Personally, I feel if some companies choose to close down because of excuses such as cannot find suitable "candidate", so be it.

I believe you are in the management level, frankly do you think this EP's can help? I doubt so, because I met many of them, mostly are green, those experience one would like to replace you.

Personally, I think the government is tweaking the right areas by increasing min salary requirement, changing ratios, and refining the rules for dependent passes. The reality is that we need foreigners. At 2% unemployment rate, we just can't get enough Singaporeans to fill critical jobs.

My company has more than half Singaporeans. Personally, I prefer Singaporeans to foreigners, all things being equal. Because Singaporeans understand the business domain faster. Reality is that when we open up a position, very few qualified Singaporeans apply. Many unqualified foreigners apply too, but the law of large numbers dictate that you will find the right persons from the larger pool.

If there were no EPs, we would have relocated and more than half of my company's Singaporeans will lose their jobs. That's the reality of business. I don't like it, but we don't have much of a choice. We are competing with the world - the good old days where competition is only local is gone.

[Lord Aragorn]

Aragorn, you still believe the 2% unemployment rate? Personally, I feel if some companies choose to close down because of excuses such as cannot find suitable "candidate", so be it.

I believe you are in the management level, frankly do you think this EP's can help? I doubt so, because I met many of them, mostly are green, those experience one would like to replace you.

I run the company. And I feel the 2% unemployment rate first hand. All my employees are minimum EP, no S pass. So there is no requirement for me to hire Singaporeans, yet we've more than half Singaporeans. We fight for the best talents - local or otherwise - to compete globally.

It's a real challenge to find enough Singaporeans to fill up critical positions. And we pay above market rates with a strong brand in the market place. So pay is not an issue. The real issue is talent. We've many SG talent in the company, but there is just not enough to stay ahead of the competition. What the government say is true - at least in my case - that Singaporeans will lose their job if companies like mine can't get enough foreigners to fill the talent gap. I cannot emphasize enough that today, we are competing with the best in the world, not the best in SG.

[jasonjst]

I agree - I'm also unhappy to see the uncles in my favorite petrol kiosks replaced with young Chinese girls.

I think the govt will move in that direction, while making sure that the oversight do not become too onerous and chase businesses away like some other countries. The challenge is to strike the correct balance, and I agree that the balance should be tilted towards more stringent controls.

Come on, million dollar ministers cannot figure out all these "oversight" and make a correct balance? Or could it be these million dollar ministers/agents are enjoying some sex favors from their 3rd world counterpart who supplies the cheap FTs ?

[summervale]

Thanks for writing. A while ago, I got an exact feedback from another boss in another company.
But, 2% unemployment rate is not exactly the problem for your case, it is problem of our best talents leaving the country for greener pasture.
Even the local univeristies have difficult recruiting the brightest local to fill up their PhD positions.
Once these talents left to do pursue their studies or work elsewhere, most likely is that they are gone forever.

Even, I myself are tempted to leave (even at my age) this shithole, but because of so many committment (personal) here and my kids education, I have no choice but to stay. I even bought a property in Jb to convince myself to retire there.

I run the company. And I feel the 2% unemployment rate first hand. All my employees are minimum EP, no S pass. So there is no requirement for me to hire Singaporeans, yet we've more than half Singaporeans. We fight for the best talents - local or otherwise - to compete globally.

It's a real challenge to find enough Singaporeans to fill up critical positions. And we pay above market rates with a strong brand in the market place. So pay is not an issue. The real issue is talent. We've many SG talent in the company, but there is just not enough to stay ahead of the competition. What the government say is true - at least in my case - that Singaporeans will lose their job if companies like mine can't get enough foreigners to fill the talent gap. I cannot emphasize enough that today, we are competing with the best in the world, not the best in SG.

[butadesu]

Come on, million dollar ministers cannot figure out all these "oversight" and make a correct balance? Or could it be these million dollar ministers/agents are enjoying some sex favors from their 3rd world counterpart who supplies the cheap FTs ?

This brings along another bugbear among Singaporeans. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS!
When the government pay themselves millions of dollars a year and keep telling everyone in the world that they are the best, the brightest, the smartest, the cleanest and most effectiveness, then why is life getting more difficult than before? Yes, I may be earning more $ than before but has my quality of life improve?
To be fair, our government (relative to other countries) are indeed very effective. I mean come, u look at Japan and US politician? many are actor, actress, comedian, broadcaster etc. Our leader are lawyers, doctors, economist and engineers leh. However, our leaders have marketed themselves in the position that now people are beginning to wonder are they really so good or are they "value" for money? I mean we are paying them CEO pay, not peanut engineer pay!! And it doesn't put them in good picture when terrorist start running away from prison, flood in orchard and YOG overspend 3x? I know they are not saint, flood is natural disaster, terrorist escape is an accident, YOG overspend, well everyone overspend for Olympics. But building insufficient housing and inadequate transport is definitely a policy mistake. I mean hey, how do u justify how many houses to build every year? Of course based on population growth! If you know u are growing your pop and fails to build, then is a policy mistake. (I'm assuming we illegal immigrant are negligible here :P )

[summervale]

The trouble with these ministers are that they claimed they have attracted so "many" talents from aboard but don't they keep track how many local talents leaving from the backyard?

These local talents are not replacable.

Come on, million dollar ministers cannot figure out all these "oversight" and make a correct balance? Or could it be these million dollar ministers/agents are enjoying some sex favors from their 3rd world counterpart who supplies the cheap FTs ?

[jasonjst]

This brings along another bugbear among Singaporeans. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS!
When the government pay themselves millions of dollars a year and keep telling everyone in the world that they are the best, the brightest, the smartest, the cleanest and most effectiveness, then why is life getting more difficult than before? Yes, I may be earning more $ than before but has my quality of life improve?
To be fair, our government (relative to other countries) are indeed very effective. I mean come, u look at Japan and US politician? many are actor, actress, comedian, broadcaster etc. Our leader are lawyers, doctors, economist and engineers leh. However, our leaders have marketed themselves in the position that now people are beginning to wonder are they really so good or are they "value" for money? I mean we are paying them CEO pay, not peanut engineer pay!! And it doesn't put them in good picture when terrorist start running away from prison, flood in orchard and YOG overspend 3x? I know they are not saint, flood is natural disaster, terrorist escape is an accident, YOG overspend, well everyone overspend for Olympics. But building insufficient housing and inadequate transport is definitely a policy mistake. I mean hey, how do u justify how many houses to build every year? Of course based on population growth! If you know u are growing your pop and fails to build, then is a policy mistake. (I'm assuming we illegal immigrant are negligible here :P )

Look at the 10 million spent on COI for MRT, just to conclude that poor maintenance is causing all these. You pay RM 100 buck to your mechanic in JB, he can draw the some conclusion and may even fix that broken bolt for you.

[butadesu]

Look at the 10 million spent on COI for MRT, just to conclude that poor maintenance is causing all these. You pay RM 100 buck to your mechanic in JB, he can draw the some conclusion and may even fix that broken bolt for you.

I felt, the 10million has to be spent somehow. Because after all, we Singaporean trust "Brand". So must get the "experts" over, go to court with expensive lawyers etc. I guess it has to be part of the process. How else can you "convince" the public of the result?
However, I felt having SMRT as private company running the rail is again the government trying to find the easy way out in doing things. The motivation of a private company is to generate profit. And providing a comfortable train ride does not generate profit. Squeezing everyone like sardine generates profits!! So if your KPI is to generate profit. What should u do?
1. Add more trains, increase frequency, create more space in the train, increase my overhead cost
2. Wayang wayang, maintain just enough number of train, let them squeeze, let them wait. Cannot board, wait for next train. Still cannot board? Ask them to wake up earlier!! Anyway, they don't have a choice do they? How many can afford 100k car? Or else ask them take my bus or taxi lor!