- Joined
- Jul 10, 2008
- Messages
- 985
- Points
- 0
Gong Xi, everyone. Happy New Year.
It's Chinese New Year again. As we greet the arrival of the year of tiger, many Singaporeans can't help but feel worried about what this coming new year will bring.
During these past few years, how has your life been? Has the quality of life for your family improved, or has it deteriorated?
For many people, HDB flats are becoming more and more unaffordable. All our CPF money has been used to pay for our HDB flats, and what's left is not enough for retirement.
In addition, Singaporean's CPF has been withheld by the government. Under schemes such as the Minimum Sum Scheme, Medi-save, the Annuity, and so on. After you retire, it's just not possible for you to get your CPF back, and to enjoy the fruits of your life-long labour.
Many senior citizens still need to work. Their working hours are long, and their pay is meagre. The grandpas and grandmas we see sweeping the floor, cleaning the tables or washing the toilets, are considered very fortunate. At least, they manage to find work. Because there are more elderly who need to find leftover food to eat, or look for cardboards or aluminium drink cans in the rubbish bins to sell.
For those Singaporeans with a job, they have to compete unfairly with foreigners. We all know that to allow the mass influx of foreigners is the PAP government's policy. Even as we need foreign talents, the PAP government's real objective is to keep wages down. This is so that the government and its government-linked companies can profit.
But with a monthly wage of only $800, how can Singaporeans compete with these foreign workers? They do not, like us, need to support their family's expenses, as they can live with this amount.
In the past few years, Singapore's population has reached 5 million, 38% are non-Singaporean citizens. We do not fault these foreigners. They need to make a living as well. Who we really need to blame is our own government. When the local labour market is flooded with foreigners, the PAP can profit. As long as Singapore's GDP grows, our ministers will increase their salaries accordingly. The ultimate victims are us Singaporeans.
Currently, our ministers' salaries are about $10,000 per day. Yet, ordinary Singaporeans find themselves not getting enough to live by. This is why the rich-poor divide is becoming greater.
According to a survey, Singaporeans are under the greatest stress and feel the least happy in the whole of Asia.
Statistics also show, there is on average one Singaporean committing suicide every single day. But our million-dollar PAP ministers are completely detached from the reality of ordinary Singaporeans.
How do we Singaporeans stop this unfair and unjust competition from further deteriorating? What the SDP wants to achieve is a Singapore that truly belongs to Singaporeans, one where everyone can compete fairly, one where there is a sense of justice, not a Singapore that is heaven to only the rich.
However, we need your support to achieve these goals. During the coming general elections, we will need your fullest support. Because without your support, it will be difficult for the Opposition to get into Parliament. With no opposition in Parliament, the PAP government is going to ignore public opinion and continue to act according to its fancies.
Finally, let's work hard together in this year of tiger, towards a better future of our country.
From my family and everyone in the SDP, we wish you and your whole family, “Happy New year, May all your wishes come true.”
It's Chinese New Year again. As we greet the arrival of the year of tiger, many Singaporeans can't help but feel worried about what this coming new year will bring.
During these past few years, how has your life been? Has the quality of life for your family improved, or has it deteriorated?
For many people, HDB flats are becoming more and more unaffordable. All our CPF money has been used to pay for our HDB flats, and what's left is not enough for retirement.
In addition, Singaporean's CPF has been withheld by the government. Under schemes such as the Minimum Sum Scheme, Medi-save, the Annuity, and so on. After you retire, it's just not possible for you to get your CPF back, and to enjoy the fruits of your life-long labour.
Many senior citizens still need to work. Their working hours are long, and their pay is meagre. The grandpas and grandmas we see sweeping the floor, cleaning the tables or washing the toilets, are considered very fortunate. At least, they manage to find work. Because there are more elderly who need to find leftover food to eat, or look for cardboards or aluminium drink cans in the rubbish bins to sell.
For those Singaporeans with a job, they have to compete unfairly with foreigners. We all know that to allow the mass influx of foreigners is the PAP government's policy. Even as we need foreign talents, the PAP government's real objective is to keep wages down. This is so that the government and its government-linked companies can profit.
But with a monthly wage of only $800, how can Singaporeans compete with these foreign workers? They do not, like us, need to support their family's expenses, as they can live with this amount.
In the past few years, Singapore's population has reached 5 million, 38% are non-Singaporean citizens. We do not fault these foreigners. They need to make a living as well. Who we really need to blame is our own government. When the local labour market is flooded with foreigners, the PAP can profit. As long as Singapore's GDP grows, our ministers will increase their salaries accordingly. The ultimate victims are us Singaporeans.
Currently, our ministers' salaries are about $10,000 per day. Yet, ordinary Singaporeans find themselves not getting enough to live by. This is why the rich-poor divide is becoming greater.
According to a survey, Singaporeans are under the greatest stress and feel the least happy in the whole of Asia.
Statistics also show, there is on average one Singaporean committing suicide every single day. But our million-dollar PAP ministers are completely detached from the reality of ordinary Singaporeans.
How do we Singaporeans stop this unfair and unjust competition from further deteriorating? What the SDP wants to achieve is a Singapore that truly belongs to Singaporeans, one where everyone can compete fairly, one where there is a sense of justice, not a Singapore that is heaven to only the rich.
However, we need your support to achieve these goals. During the coming general elections, we will need your fullest support. Because without your support, it will be difficult for the Opposition to get into Parliament. With no opposition in Parliament, the PAP government is going to ignore public opinion and continue to act according to its fancies.
Finally, let's work hard together in this year of tiger, towards a better future of our country.
From my family and everyone in the SDP, we wish you and your whole family, “Happy New year, May all your wishes come true.”
