Crumbling of Singapore?

[iansloth]

20 problems in singapore summed up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpmT9vyrfuo

 

[TracyTan866]

Excellent article by Redbean.

"It seems that the Tourist Board is having second thoughts about the fakes and imitation tourist attractions that are sprouting up in the islands. With so much money pumped into the fakes, and with minimal returns, not mentioning that the bigger they are the bigger will the white elephant stand out, trying to justify their existence, to cover cost, is going to be a mammoth task. And for the poor guys that are tasked to promote such fakes and with targets that could not be met, it is a daunting and stressful proposition.
How much more would have to be coughed out upfront to build the fake gardens in the Marina Bay and how much would be needed to keep the glass, concrete and steel structures in good conditions and the plants in them comfortable? How many visitors are needed to be herded to these fake contraptions to just break even? And why would visitors from the temperate countries flew all the way here to see temperate plants? With travelling cost spiraling down, the hot land people would have no problem flying to the temperate countries to see the real things.

Has anyone wondered why the African states did not build such fakes? Did anyone ask why tourists are flocking to Africa to see the authentic and barren African grassland and savannah or the Amazon jungles? Oops, shouldn’t say these to give people the idea of creating an African wild park or an Amazon jungle, or they have already done that? And all it needs is a cut in the power or energy supply and all the plants in the greenhouses would turn to dust and the structures into wasteland.

How long would these fake attractions last compare to the Botanic Garden that has been in existence for more than a hundred years, and needing pittance for its upkeep? Millions of people have spent their times, several generations, in the natural environment of the garden. It is an eco system that is self sustaining, with minimal upkeep in trimmings, grass cuttings and trash clearing. The Botanic Garden, a genuine tropical garden, will continue to exist for the next few hundred years as a tropical self sustaining ecosystem. How long would the fake gardens survive without pumping more and more money for its upkeep?

The Botanic Garden is like the mature states of Europe, attaining a certain balance and equilibrium, not much haste or farce, but existing quietly and peacefully as part of the natural habitat. The fakes will need more and more effort to get the buzz going, a lot of effort to keep its artificial vibrancy that is unnatural and unbalanced, just like the haste and fast pace of development in this city. Just pull the plug and all will come to a stand still.

What is needed is to strike a natural balance, not too much haste and pace, a natural swing and momentum of its own. The high pace of social and economic activities and the chase for vibrancy are unsustainable. It will need more and more effort to keep the wheel spinning, all for the sake of spinning the wheel.

Yes, the authentic and natural attractions of the islands are what the tourists would want to see, would fly half way across the world to see. They don’t come for the fakes. And the authentic way of life does not need expensive upkeeping to stay attractive. Think the vastness of wild Africa and the likes of Nepal and Tibet, the seas of Maldives. There is no need to spend a couple of billions to built funny structures to attract tourists. Think the Bugis Street of the past and the present Little India and Geylang. These are the real stuff and cost free.

How long can we keep pumping steroids to keep things going at this frantic rate?

 

[TracyTan866]

The pap thought that the liberal import of foreigners into Singapore will mitigate the effects of its bad policies. Their planned integration of foreigners into SG has gone bad. Some causes are:

1. 1.4m imports into 4m Singaporeans (35%) is massive and unprecedented in any country
2. 35% dilution of Singaporeans in 5yrs is too fast. No other country dilutes its local population with foreigners at the rate of 7% per annum
3. Incompetent PAP didnt prepare adequate infrastructure in SG to take in the extra 35%, causing congestion, frustration, inflation, poor quality of life
4. PAP is unable to attract 1st world imports but has to rely on 3rd world cheap foreigners
5. PAP takes in mostly fake talents who cant speak English which is the working language
6. Foreigners are mainly from PRC and India and they bring with them bad habits, eg spitting, cutiing cues, pee-ing in public, cut queues, which are alien to most Singaporeans
7. Singaporeans find difficult in mixing with India Indians, PRCs, Filipinos, others
8. PRCs find difficulty in mixing with Inidans, Singaporeans, Filipinos, others
9. India Indians find difficulty in mixing with Singaporeans, PRCs, Filipinos, others
10. Filipinos find difficulty mixing with Indians, PRCs, Singaporeans, others
11. Other nationalities find difficulty mixing with Singaporeans, Indians, PRCs, filipinos
12. PAP blaming and calling Singaporeans bigots and xenophobic
13. Nationalistic fervour of the foreigners
14. Cultural differences of the foreigners
15. Xenophobia
16. Zenophobia
17. NS for Singaporeans, jobs for foreigners
18. PAP bending over to please foreigners at the expense of Singaporeans
19. PAP's record of being lenient to foreigners when they flout SG's laws
20. PAP's poor strategy of recruiting new citizens into grassroot organisations as they provide warped and wrong feedbacks

etc

With so many problems and the PAP's dogged determination to import 1.5m more foreigners, i foresee many more problems for SG and the ultimate crumbling of SG under the pap

 

[zhihau]

not many folks talked about TCJ's remarks at Marine Terrace KPT... maybe tomorrow :p:p:p

 

[TracyTan866]

not many folks talked about TCJ's remarks at Marine Terrace KPT... maybe tomorrow :p:p:p

TCJ calls Singaporeans bigots! As a political leader, TCJ shd not tarnish Singaporeans with such generalisation. With that he has turned many foreigners against Singaporeans and make integration much more difficult

We must vote such Singaporean leader out

 

[zhihau]

TCJ calls Singaporeans bigots!

belum! belum! TCJ only warns of bigotry... he knows fully well that the pots shouldn't call the kettle black

 

[TracyTan866]

belum! belum! TCJ only warns of bigotry... he knows fully well that the pots shouldn't call the kettle black

Reported in CNA:

"SINGAPORE: Singaporeans should make a stand and say 'no' to bigotry, said Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin on Friday, referring to a recent article about Filipinos being targeted online for planning to celebrate their Independence Day in Singapore."

 

[zhihau]

Reported in CNA:

"SINGAPORE: Singaporeans should make a stand and say 'no' to bigotry, said Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin on Friday

that's why you see, he warns of bigotry and did not explicitly say "Singaporeans are bigots" :p:p:p

 

[TracyTan866]

that's why you see, he warns of bigotry and did not explicitly say "Singaporeans are bigots" :p:p:p

i dont see it that way. it's ok...we can agree to differ in interpretation his words.

 

[TracyTan866]

that's why you see, he warns of bigotry and did not explicitly say "Singaporeans are bigots" :p:p:p

It is very unwise of LHL to jump into the Filipino Independence Proposal fray without thinking carefully.

Did LHL consider the possible consequences of allowing Filipinos to celebrate their Independence Day at Ngee Ann City? Some possible consequences are:

1. Will there be possible law and order infringements when a big and boisterous crowd gather at Ngee Ann City on 8 Jun?
2. Who is responsible for law and order? must Ngee Ann City? Must be SPF!
3. Can SPF ensure law and order on 8 Jun? What was NJH's inputs?
4. Does the SPF recommend that a permit be issued for the celebrations?
5. Will India Embassy apply for permit to celebrate its National Day at Little India if 8 Jun permit is given? What wld LHL say then?
6. Will China apply for permit to celebrate PRC National Day in Oct? what will LHL say?
7. If permit is given, LHL is opening a can of worms.

Why didnt LHL think before he shoots off his mouth? Is he a loose cannon? Why did he just chastise Singaporeans without thinking

There is wisdom in confining National Day celebrations within the Embassy as the respective country will ensure law and order within its compound.

Will NJH now stand up, brief and advise the Cabinet to use their common sense and refuse to issue the permit?

Let us see whether LHL is man enough to acknowledge that he had exercised poor judgement and had made a fool of himself.

Or is this a blessing in disguise that hammers a nail in pap's coffin?

 

[TracyTan866]

1. MRT Congestion
2. Housing problem
3. Hospital beds shortage
4. Unemployment of locals
5. Increased suicide rate
6. Unhappiness of citizens
7. Road congestion
8. High ERP rates without easing traffic congestion
9. Bus crowdedness
10. National Service for locals, jobs for foreigners
11. PAP running out of idea how to promote economic growth but having to resort to vices such as gambling.
12. Increased social problems and integration due to high influx of cheap, unskilled and unqualified migrant laboour with their 3rd world social behaviour and lawlessness

Are these signs of the crumbling of Singapore? The pap appears to run out of ideas how to bring SG forward but is taking the obvious easy ways out, bringing long term problems to SG.

Are the recent MRT failures precursors to more failures to come? Will there be forthcoming systemic failures of the Transport system, Medical Institutions, Housing issues, social problems?

Written by Redbean:

"The answer is no, or not yet. Our Sampan is still looking good and still good to load in more and more passengers. It is like Noah loading the animals for a journey instructed by God. Fill them up! The captain is very confident that this Sampan would not sink even if it is loaded with 6.9m, and more when the need comes. Maybe by then another hull will be added to turn it into a catamaran, safe, stable and sound.

The South Koreans did not have an unsinkable catamaran. And they did not have a good captain too. And the tragedy is still unfolding with a target of at least 300 innocent school children on the death list. Obviously the captain was confident that his ferry would not sink. It was is good condition and plying daily through the Korean sea to Jeju from the mainland. It was a routine trip. All system go. Even if a trainee or assistant was at the helm, nothing drastic could go wrong. And the passengers of teachers and students have great faith in the captain, his crew and the ferry to provide a safe journey to their paradise island.

There was a bang. The ferry either hit something or something exploded. Nevermind, the captain was in charge. He told everyone to remain calm and stay where they were. Do not panic, do not rush as it would be dangerous doing so. The captain could not see anything serious like the sinking of the ferry on his radar. He probably thought it was a minor problem. There was time.

There was plenty of time to evacuate the passengers. The ferry was sinking slowly. Yes, the captain had all the time in the world to mount an evacuation, to get the passengers to put on their life vests like the drill before the journey. The captain had all the time to lower the lifeboats. There were 46 of them.

No one could see the danger ahead. The teachers and students remained calm and stayed where they were told. Some were in the lower levels and in their cabins. And the ferry continued to sink. No one panic. No one could think of the worst, not even the captain. And the ferry continued to sink, and even with half the ferry on its side, it was all calm. The passengers remained in their cabins, having full faith in the good judgement of the captain. And the ferry continued to sink. And the captain still did not call for a full evacuation. And the ferry continued to sink, with nearly all its obedient sheeples inside their cabins, all waiting for instruction from the captain to evacuate.

They did not know, I think, that the ferry was sinking. The captain did not tell them so. Some were still in the dining hall having their breakfast. And the ferry sank.

Where was the danger? Where was the early warning or signs of a big mishap on the way? No? Everything is under control, trust the captain and his crew. The ship was not going to sink and bring its passengers under.

The rest is a very sad story. The moral of the story? How much shall you trust your captain? How much can you trust that the Sampan will not sink? How much must you trust yourself, your own judgement, that when things are bad, it is bad. Get out when you can to save yourself. Let the captain sink with the ferry. But the captain was too smart for that. He left the sinking ferry in time to save his own skin.

PS. The final reply by the crew of Sewol when told by the maritime traffic control. 'Make passengers wear life jackets and get ready in case you need to abandon ship' is
'It's difficult for the passengers to move now.' Think 2030!

will Singapore sink under the unwise, easily agitated, arrogant, impulsive LHL?

 

[TracyTan866]

1. MRT Congestion
2. Housing problem
3. Hospital beds shortage
4. Unemployment of locals
5. Increased suicide rate
6. Unhappiness of citizens
7. Road congestion
8. High ERP rates without easing traffic congestion
9. Bus crowdedness
10. National Service for locals, jobs for foreigners
11. PAP running out of idea how to promote economic growth but having to resort to vices such as gambling.
12. Increased social problems and integration due to high influx of cheap, unskilled and unqualified migrant laboour with their 3rd world social behaviour and lawlessness

Are these signs of the crumbling of Singapore? The pap appears to run out of ideas how to bring SG forward but is taking the obvious easy ways out, bringing long term problems to SG.

Are the recent MRT failures precursors to more failures to come? Will there be forthcoming systemic failures of the Transport system, Medical Institutions, Housing issues, social problems?

Chua Chin Leng on the Reality of the SGX:

"Jeremy Grant wrote ‘Singapore exchange losing out to regional competitors’ in the Financial Times on 23 Apr 14.

‘Singapore’s equity market is looking increasingly unloved. Last year the city-state’s stock exchange suffered the indignity of being overtaken in terms of trading volume by its Thai counterpart, knocking Singapore into second place in southeast Asia for the first time. More recently it was also overhauled by Japannext, a relatively small trading platform that competes with the Tokyo bourse.

This makes SGX, the Singapore exchange, Asia’s ninth-largest share market – a frustrating state of affairs for an exchange that prides itself on being “the Asian gateway” for investors in the region.

Singapore’s problems – a combination of low trading volume, or liquidity; relatively high transaction costs; and a dearth of big-ticket initial public offerings – were highlighted on Wednesday when SGX reported a 22 per cent fall in net profit for the third quarter….’

Is it surprising that the SGX is going down into the longkang as a failed stock exchange? People in the industry knew this long ago but the media has been hyping about how successful it has been with increasing volumes in derivatives and all kinds of shit except the real business of stock trading. And many who are supposed to be doing something to right the wrong are pretending to be Rip Van Winkles.

There have been a slew of measures rolled out by the SGX and every time it was touted to improve the trading volumes, improve liquidity, good for small investors, and the ridiculous no lunch break to extend trading hours for more volumes. We all know that it did not get better but worst.

So, how long would this myth of a fantastically successful stock market, the best managed in Asia, the financial centre that is doing roaring business going to go up in dust? When would the govt face the reality that things are in shit and the SGX is already in the intensive ward? This thing did not happen yesterday. The writings were on the wall a couple of years but everyone turned the other way. No one wants to know, no one wants to lift his little finger, no one wants to take responsibility but only prayed that the magician would continue to pull little rabbits out of his hat. Are there still rabbits left in the hat for the show to go on and everyone clapping for an encore?

Do they know what is happening, what is the cause of the dying stock market?

Many things are not right in Singapore. But the pap and SG media are pretending that all's well.

 

[eric3417]

Its relatively amusing to roughly look thru the exchanges in this topic mainly from the Top contributors.
Abit like watching a debate. With 2 main parties thou shall not name who & afew neutrals...
I hope this debacle will continue till 2016 when the next GE comes.
Bcoz it's educational (Samkipedia???) to many sinkaporeans as many are still frogs in their wells.
Thumbs up to the main casts for keeping this thread ongoing. Yong Xin Liang Ku ah...

 

[TracyTan866]

Its relatively amusing to roughly look thru the exchanges in this topic mainly from the Top contributors.
Abit like watching a debate. With 2 main parties thou shall not name who & afew neutrals...
I hope this debacle will continue till 2016 when the next GE comes.
Bcoz it's educational (Samkipedia???) to many sinkaporeans as many are still frogs in their wells.
Thumbs up to the main casts for keeping this thread ongoing. Yong Xin Liang Ku ah...

Hi Eric3417,

Some Singaporeans are frogs in the well because of PAP's policy of controlled information, mis-information and dis-information. The pap failed miserably to know the ill effects of their bad policies. Keeping some Singaporeans ill-informed is bad for Singapore and Singaporeans. I suspect the pap is regretting this bad policy.

But the pap has not learnt. Another bad policy that will haunt the pap and Singapore in the future is the shifting of goalposts for CPF withdrawal and lack of transparency and lack of accountability. Unless the pap cut losses now and admit their mistakes in the management of CPF, it will dig a deeper grave for itself. Enough has been said about the CPF currently and I will not overindulge in it. Suffice to say, the pap will not get away easily on this issue unless it comes clean and admit its mistakes.

The pap is still stuck in its old arrogant mindset and is not really working for the betterment of Singaporeans. The pap is working for itself. The Pioneer Generation Package is an attempt to create a goose to lay golden eggs for cheap funds. The Pioneer Package is so blatantly wrong and ill conceived and I foresee it blowing in the pap's face in future.

The pap continues to lose support and people who still think that the pap has 60% support is truly ignorant. I wont be surprised if the pap has less than 50% support right now and support continues to slide.

MediShield Life is also another con job. I am amazed at the lack of intelligence of pap ministers. Do they think that Singaporeans will believe that the proposed is good for them? It is another money making scheme to allow insurance companies to benefit from the compulsory life insurance. Medishield Life and CPF Life will ensure that the main insurance companies will reap supernormal profits and assured income at the expense of Singaporean workers. The pap can try to hoodwink singaporeans with the compulsory Medishield Life scheme by giving inadequate and confusing information for now. But the ill effects will hit the pap in the future

Some hot issues which the pap has no answer and that will determine the result of the next GE are:
1. Liberal influx of foreigners
2. CPF issues
3. Pioneer Generation Package as a source of cheap fund for GIC and benefiting TLCs and GLCs rather than help elderly Singaporeans
4. Continued control of information and denying Singaporeans right to speak out
5. Insincerity of pap leaders

 

[liongsum]

How does the Pioneer Generation Package create golden eggs, cheap funds? Sure or not? Seems to me it is spend spend spend for the sake of those citizens (& PRs) over 65 y o.

 

[zhihau]

Insincerity of pap leaders

trust me, each and every single one of them sincerely wants that million dollar paycheck

 

[TracyTan866]

How does the Pioneer Generation Package create golden eggs, cheap funds? Sure or not? Seems to me it is spend spend spend for the sake of those citizens (& PRs) over 65 y o.

So far what we know about the Pioneer Generation Package is that 450,000 pioneer Singaporeans will receive between $200 to $1000 per year. Information seemed to be deliberately scanty and confusing so that the average Singaporean is not able to draw any useful conclusion besides knowing that a pioneer Singapore receives some money from the govt each year which is deposited into the CPF account. But this money is tax payers' money and not pap money and it works out to be abt $1.5Billion per year. The $1.5B could have been used to reduce healthcare costs or to help the poor. But the govt chooses to put it into CPF account. The devils are in the details and show pap's evil scheme. They are:

1. Golden Goose for the CPF. This $1.5B goes into CPF. In other words, the CPF gets a golden egg of $1.5B from the govt every year. The pioneer Singaporeans cant use it except to buy MediShield or to pay for medical bills. If the pap is truly caring and wants to honour elderly Singaporeans, why doesn't the pap just give cash to them and honour them by letting them use the money anyway they want it rather than restricting it to CPF? By putting the money into CPF the pap shows that it is unwilling to use this money to help the poor but instead is locking this $1.5B and providing this yearly golden egg to CPF. Isnt this a golden egg for the CPF?

2. Cheap Fund. Deposits into CPF is locked in and the Singaporean cant use it anyway he wants. This is long term locking in. Paying 2.5% to 4% interest on such locked in money which the Singaporean cant withdraw when inflation is 5% is cheap fund to CPF and GIC to invest and gamble in global markets

 

[TracyTan866]

trust me, each and every single one of them sincerely wants that million dollar paycheck

Very true. Not just their current pay cheque but they also sincerely work for their next career. So each Minister sincerely wants their paycheck and wants a good second career. Every Minister is assessed on performance and potential by Dictator's Performance and Potential Appraisal System as follows:

A Performer. Excellently obedient doggie. Can always lie, twist and turn problem issues into opportunities to make the Dictator look good. A Performer Doggies include TT, Lee Boon Yang, Lim Boon Heng, Tharman, TCJ, LSS

B Performer. Very obedient doggie. Sometimes can turn problems into opportunities to satisfy the Dictator. B Performer Doggies include TCH, LHK, LTY etc

C Performer. Obedient doggie but lacks brains and/or EQ. Tries hard to please the Dictator but lacks intelligence, EQ and often embarrasses the party. C Performer doggie includes VB, YI, etc

D Performer. Intelligent but disobedient doggie. Smart doggie who has its own mind and often lacks party discipline. Often defies the Dictator, sometimes challenges him and makes him look bad. D Peformer doggie includes David Lim, Chan Soo Sen

 

[TracyTan866]

trust me, each and every single one of them sincerely wants that million dollar paycheck

PAP Ministers sincerely work hard to get a good second career. The Dictator has a Potential Appraisal System as follows:

A Graders. Potentially to be rewarded with 2nd careers as: President Singapore, Chairman SPH, Chairman Temasek Holdings

B Graders. Potentially to be rewarded with 2nd careers as: CEO of GLCs and TLCs

C Graders. Not useful to the Dictator and Party. No shelf life left. Use and discard.

D Graders. Problem makers. Kick them out.

 

[zhihau]

PAP Ministers sincerely work hard to get a good second career.

one full term in office $$$ not enough