Vivian: Govt aware of political risk but it is worth taking

[Confuseous]

In a Facebook post titled “Political suicide vs demographic extinction” last night, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said he would prefer to have a smaller population of foreigners here but “we are facing the crisis of our lifetime”.

“Our citizen population will halve every two generations,” he said.

“The real emergency is not babies, but ageing. That is why the population will increase in the short-term before the inevitable decrease in the long-term.”

Dr Balakrishnan noted that Singapore today has almost six working-age citizens for every senior. In 2030, it will be two working-age citizens for every senior.

Even if there is a sudden baby boom now, said Dr Balakrishnan, “they will only be 17 years old in 2030”.

“Hence, we will need some kind of ‘top up’ over the next two decades — foreigners to work with us, care for us, pay taxes and to help create opportunities.”

He added: “Our main focus must be the hopes, dreams and fears of our current 3.2 million Singapore citizens and our future children. Everyone and everything else is secondary.

“The headline numbers and the speed of change are scary — but we must keep our cool and decide confidently as one people on our future destiny regardless of politics.

“That is why the government is taking such a big political risk in publishing (the White Paper).”

 

[scroobal]

Not sure we can trust someone who tried to mislead over 5 million people with the word "ponding"

 

[winnipegjets]

What crisis? PAP fear mongering!

It is so easy to import foreigners. In five years, the PAP was able to increase the population by 1.5 million.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Since Michael Palmer is now very 'eng', VB should give him a call and get him to read "Political Suicide." Coincidentally, author shares the same name as our ex-Speaker.

 

[Reddog]

After 50 years of total control, the pap is now telling us that we are fcuked if we do not fcuk ourselves another time by making ourselves the minority in our own country. Are we really such dafts to believe in such bullshit ........... again !!

REGIME CHANGE is the only alternative.

 

[steffychun]

Vivian was once a smart guy. ACS, National Debater, good doctor. Once in PAP land, he's talking cock.

 

[Travellor]

Not sure we can trust someone who tried to mislead over 5 million people with the word "ponding"

or someone who set out to send $2 bucks but ends u spending $4 without fully accounting wdf happened....i smell another AIM in the offing......

 

[ionzu]

Dr Balakrishnan noted that Singapore today has almost six working-age citizens for every senior. In 2030, it will be two working-age citizens for every senior.

this would not be problem if temasek paid decent rates to CPF board and in turn members will have enjoy decent returns instead of inflation losing 2.5% crap from CPF.

Temasek screwed up our CPF returns, and snowballing into lack of retirement security and this eventual BS about needing more workers to support the elderly.

well done PAP!

 

[streetsmart73]

After 50 years of total control, the pap is now telling us that we are fcuked if we do not fcuk ourselves another time by making ourselves the minority in our own country. Are we really such dafts to believe in such bullshit ........... again !!

REGIME CHANGE is the only alternative.

hi there


1. aiyoh!
2. so now, the elites are "telling" dafter sheep.
3. that the explosing of its population to 7mil is for its own good hoh:p
4. want more headcount.
5. one man can have more than 1 woman.
6. sure got more babies in toll

 

[TracyTan866]

Not sure we can trust someone who tried to mislead over 5 million people with the word "ponding"

I agree with you. VB, TCH, LSS, KBW and LHL all cant be trusted

 

[winnipegjets]

The reality is that they need foreigners so that they can keep the price of HDB flat high. Who knows if the CPF has the funds to repay sinkees their retirement savings? Keep the HDB flat price high to deplete the retirement savings of sinkees.

Taxpayers don't support the retired in sinkapore. So, what crap is VB mouthing about having to increase the number of taxpayers?

 

[Boliao]

Not sure we can trust someone who tried to mislead over 5 million people with the word "ponding"

Or his failure to manage a simple budget of $100m and overspent it by 4 times, yet, having the cheek to say it is worth it.

 

[Prometheus888]

Or his failure to manage a simple budget of $100m and overspent it by 4 times, yet, having the cheek to say it is worth it.

I believe that there might be a lot of $2 PAP crony companies who "tendered" for and worked the accounts of this YOG project as well. It all happened before the 2011 Elections where there is a dire need for election slush funds.

I hope a proper and thorough inquiry be held as regards this incredulous budget "oversight"....

 

[ChaoPappyPoodle]

Even if there is a case for more foreign workers what is the benefit of getting more new citizens and worse yet PRs? Re-institute estate duty if more tax revenue is required. :oIo:

This ageing issue didn't just crop up in the last year or so. This is basic mathematics that one knew even 50 years ago! Instead of building a knowledge based economy where even those in their 60s can contribute economically, these scam artists known as politicians showed themselves to be little men with even smaller brains who are only capable of running a third world economy based on cheap manufacturing paradigm and continuing to be slaves to MNCs.

The PAPzis are quite a useless lot if you scrutinize their policies and what they have achieved in the last 30 years. They are quite a disgraceful lot.

 

[Prometheus888]

Even if there is a case for more foreign workers what is the benefit of getting more new citizens and worse yet PRs? Re-institute estate duty if more tax revenue is required. :oIo:

What?? and let you discover how many rich people are there in singapore who were hiding their illicit billions from their respective governments abroad????

Or for that matter, for you to find out how much LKY is actually worth when he finally kicks the bucket....

 

[jubilee1919]

Not sure we can trust someone who tried to mislead over 5 million people with the word "ponding"

You are wrong you know? He was the one who said it should be called "flooding and not ponding,"........http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120110-320827.html

It was NEA that said it with the support of the MSM's.

 

[Jlokta]

this idiot should just shut the fuck up.

not like we've forgotten the YOG fiasco.

 

[Dinkum]

Not sure we can trust someone who tried to mislead over 5 million people with the word "ponding"

This half-cast snake and his bunch of arseholes are worse than Lim Yew Hock who sold away Christmas Island to Australia in the 50's.

 

[ChaoPappyPoodle]

this would not be problem if temasek paid decent rates to CPF board and in turn members will have enjoy decent returns instead of inflation losing 2.5% crap from CPF.
Temasek screwed up our CPF returns, and snowballing into lack of retirement security and this eventual BS about needing more workers to support the elderly. well done PAP!

Even the Malaysian government pays much more interest to their citizens for their retirement funds. When their state investment arm earns more the people get more. Not so in Singapore. This alone should tell Singaporeans that the PAPzis will take advantage of them as long as they are in power. There are countless other examples where the citizens are taken for a ride and duly cheated of their hard-earned money.

The PAPzis should explain clearly why new citizens are required to support the older generation. They should provide clear facts and figures. When all is said and done, everyone will realise that the PAPzis have been screwing citizens of their retirement funds by grossly over-charging for public housing and limiting the interest earned in CPF accounts. These are the two main factors that lead to the older generation being unable to be self-sufficient. The cause of the problem is the PAPzis and their solution will create even more problems as more Singaporeans will find it harder to hold on to jobs as they are discriminated against while in the workforce.

 

[ray_of_hope]

Vivian knows only too well that this does not amount to political suicide. Thus, the White Paper is introduced now. By the next GE this would be either forgotten or most people would have reconciled themselves to the inevitable. It is just like Bukit Brown. It was a massive issue in Sep-Dec 2011 and even into the first months of last year, but today it is all but forgotten.