Open letter to sm goh chok tong

[makapaaa]

Dear Friends,

I have sent the following Open Letter to several publications challenging SM Goh on his comments about farmers' quality of life. Let us see if there are any response. If any of you notice any reply pertaining to my letter, please let me know.

Thank you.

Cheers

Wing Lee


OPEN LETTER TO SM GOH CHOK TONG

Dear SM Goh,

Todayonline, 5th April, 2011 reported that you ridiculed farmers in less developed countries that they have no understanding about quality of life. It is embarrassing that a senior statesman like yourself has such a narrow vision of quality of life. What kind of message do you intend to give to the younger generation? It also insults people like us who depend on land and nature for survival.

Your definition of quality of life seem to be amassing money to a degree that exceeds sanity and morality. Please pause and think that 99.9% of the population on earth does not have the privilege like yourself to collect a salary of $3.8 million, plus your pension, plus bonus payment, plus director’s fees, etc. Does it imply that most of us lack any meaningful quality of life?

I live a simple and comfortable retired life with my wife for less than S$1,200 a month* or what you made in less than an hour. We built our own modest 1,500 sq feet house in Sechelt, Canada for less than the price of a 4 room HDB flat. It has a view that rivals the best in Singapore. I do fishing, crab trapping, picking wild berries, attending to my fruit trees and some vegetables. We do all our house chores like marketing, cooking, washing and keeping the house clean and tidy without any maid or outside help. You may call it “low quality of life” but we enjoy ourselves tremendously and found true happiness in what we do. There is no shame in using our hands. In fact we are proud that, in our mid sixties, we are able to live independently and survive happily largely on nature. It may be something rich people like yourself think otherwise.

To verify and lend creditability to my story, I challenge you to send reporters and spend a week living in my house and write a report of their stay. One of the reporters can be from Straits Times and the other must be from a neutral news media.

I am willing to put S $10,000 in trust with a reputable law firm to reimburse the two reporters for their cost of travel if they find what I said not to be true. However, you should also put up S$10,000 to reimburse those people you have insulted who live on nature. I will donate this amount to a charity organization.

The S$10,000 is a huge amount for a retiree like me. On the other hand, S$10,000 is definitely peanuts for you. You make that in less time than going to the bathroom. Sir, please put money where your mouth is and prove me wrong.

Looking forward to your early reply.

Yours Respectfully,


Cheong Wing Lee
Sechelt, B.C
Canada.

* Cost of living breakdown per month:: Groceries $400, travel and petrol $100, sinking fund $100, utilities (gas, electricity, water) $40, TV cable $75, fishing and crab license $5, general expenses $300 to 400. (No mortgage or car payments)

https://picasaweb.google.com/retiredwing/SecheltSunshineCoastHome2010#

 

[Spearhead]

I have a feeling that SM Goh might replied that he is joking again.......

 

[myfoot123]

No wonder PAP has no talent when their statemen kept making unjustifiable remarks and comments about other people liifestyle not in tune with PAP million dollar perks.

 

[Leongsam]

We want people to do more for themselves, says SM Goh

by Ong Dai Lin
04:46 AM Apr 02, 2011
SINGAPORE - The Republic is moving into an age where there is "more meaningful, constructive discussion" and Singaporeans can be engaged and encouraged to participate in the country's affairs, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Friday.

Speaking at the Singapore Polytechnic Graduates' Guild (SPGG) inaugural dialogue forum, he said: "We want people to do more and more for themselves, and depend less and less on us."

But as he replied to a point by SPGG vice-president Hoe Lye Soon that the Government was "omnipresent in our society" and could be "more relaxed" by outsourcing work done by the People's Association or the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Goh also said there was a downside in making the change.

"You'll discover very quickly that when we try to do less for people, right away there's a backlash. They say: 'Why do we elect you for? You're supposed to be there to look after our interests'."

The question, Mr Goh said, is how to get Singaporeans to do more for themselves and engage them in constructive discussions.

The Government has set up forums to do so, he said. Mr Goh cited how Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong initiated a pre-General Election television forum on Channel NewsAsia.

"(The Opposition) may have very silly views, but nonetheless you've got to listen to them. Then, you encourage them. But sometimes, to be fair, they're not so silly. Then, they have to be heard," Mr Goh said to laughter in the room.

He outlined in a speech five challenges for Singapore: Limits to growth, vulnerability to international events, ability to compete internationally, rising expectations of Singaporeans as well as political and social stability.

To meet these challenges, he said, it is important for Singapore to invest in and position its people to take advantage of a growing Asia. Other strategies needed are to restructure Singapore into an entrepreneurial and creative economy to improve productivity and to be open to international talent.

He added that Singapore must maintain high standards of leadership in politics. Core values such as meritocracy, self-reliance and multi-racialism must be kept and an inclusive society must be fostered.

The target is to grow real incomes by 30 per cent, and Singapore's Gross Domestic Product per capita will reach around US$55,000 (S$69,000) by 2020, he said.

Doubts surfaced at the forum, though, that this could be achieved. A student cited the rising cost of living, including housing prices, as a worry.

It is an area, replied Mr Goh, that requires attention from the younger generation and the Government.

Noting that surveys indicate how people in less-developed countries are happier, he said: "Because they don't know what life is; they're quite happy. They wake up, they brush their teeth, then they'll farm, and then they'll sleep. But do you want it that way?"

What of the future for Singapore women, asked one forum member who said she has difficulties juggling work, family and her aspirations.

This will depend on society's attitudes, said Mr Goh. While there is no glass ceiling in the public service, most men expect women to do the bulk of the housework in an Asian country such as Singapore, he noted.

Asked about the likely outcome at the coming General Election, he said it was too early to tell. But if Singaporeans vote for the best people to look after Singapore's future, "then, my prediction is that the outcome will be good".

 

[Charlie99]

QUOTE:
" Cheong Wing Lee
Sechelt, B.C
Canada.

* Cost of living breakdown per month:: Groceries $400, travel and petrol $100, sinking fund $100, utilities (gas, electricity, water) $40, TV cable $75, fishing and crab license $5, general expenses $300 to 400. (No mortgage or car payments) "

***** ***** *****

I am not disputing the contents of your post and your open letter, except for the amounts reflected as your cost of living per month in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada.

Based on my experience in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (and may be because we do not have fruit trees and a vegetable garden like yours), and the recent continuing increase in the price of food, I believe that $400.00 a month for groceries for 2 persons appear to be on the low end of the range.

You may have inadvertently omitted insurance premium for your motor vehicle, home and contents.

Although I am unfamiliar with the cost of heating a home throughout the winter in BC, and whether or not you use a wood stove to heat part of your house, your $40.00 a month for utilities (gas, electricity, water) appear to be very low. For us in Toronto, with an 1,800 sq ft home, the average cost for gas (heating, hot water and gas stove) is $1,600 to $1,700 per year, electricity is $800 to $900 per year (including air conditioning during the summer), water and sewage is $1,200 to $1,300, which will result in about $300 to $325 per month.

Sincerely,
Charlie
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

[GoldenDragon]

If Lau Goh declines the challenge, he is worse than a chow aqua.

 

[SIFU]

If Lau Goh declines the challenge, he is worse than a chow aqua.

last GE he also took the challenge tasked to him by lhl to win potong pasir and hougang back for pap. epic fail. both pp and hougang's oppo did even better than the GE in 2001.

 

[wizard]

What kind of reply you expect from someone who preach Gracious Society then bully the opposition in the parliment.

Use $100 million to dangle hougang and PP. But keep numb when he lose.

U really expect an honest answer from him. Most likely it will be a smoke out reply if he ever reply u. His main job of sitting there while LHL getting ready to become PM has been fullfilled.

 

[Windsor]

I have a feeling that SM Goh might replied that he is joking again.......

If you manage to gather all the "JOKES" put up by Woody, you will discover he has no sense of humour at all. Notably, they are very dry, humourless, does not in anyway tickle your sense of the funny. In other words, the person and what he spouts off as jokes are really unfunny and wooden, just like him.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

SM taking over MM for making gaffes now

 

[GoldenDragon]

I have a feeling that SM Goh might replied that he is joking again.......

He will never accept the challenge. He is ballsless. He only wants his salary and cause slight discomfort for his successor.

 

[streetsmart73]

He will never accept the challenge. He is ballsless. He only wants his salary and cause slight discomfort for his successor.

hi there


1. aiyoh!
2. woody shall tongue-in-cheek his principal pte secretary for the response mah.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Actually it begs the question why smart men are making gaffes so near to elections. Some conspiracy? Senile? Or just plain arrogance? Thinking sinks will vote them in no matter what.

 

[seebaysong]

Good letter written with sincerity and honesty...most imptly humility which our leaders need to learn and experience ... For their sake and more imptly the future of Spore

 

[Leongsam]

Noting that surveys indicate how people in less-developed countries are happier, he said: "Because they don't know what life is; they're quite happy. They wake up, they brush their teeth, then they'll farm, and then they'll sleep. But do you want it that way?"

I'd counter that by suggesting that the majority of Singaporeans don't know what life is.

A wholesome and happy life certainly DOES NOT revolve around upgraded pigeon holes, mobile phones, platinum cards, Katy spade handbags, casinos, COEs and sipping coffee at Starbucks.

It's more about having space to breath, time to think and having some control over your immediate surroundings.

 

[aangsc]

looking at those pictures from the link given, I remember two very distinct feedbacks from frenz who find similiar view in New Zealand. One said it is like a paradise on earth while another said it is such boring place as there wasn't any shoppings , nightllife, arts exihibits and opera performance...practically dead town. Really depend which group you belongs. As for me, the Canada view is still my dream paradise. Having said that , do you seriously think SG or our gov can provide you with fresh air and open space ? That's is as good as telling you to migrate if that is what you are looking for.

 

[Char_Azn]

Goh's statement as usual have been taken out of context. Read carefully and you'll know what he is referring to. He didn't meant the country bumpkins have no life. He meant the outlook of life for someone living in the country and pple like us from the city is very different. The expectations is also different hence it explains why someone living with nature are usually more easily contented. It does show however the guy is getting old. He isn't as careful as he used to be when he speaks. The older LKY seem to be handling old age better then this guy. He should seriously step down, sounds more and more like he is getting senile

The 2 letters 1 from Toronto and 1 from Sechelt paints a very different picture of Canada. However SG, is a city. Comparing the standard and cost of living with a countryside town is comparing apples to oranges. It would be closer to compare Toronto to SG since both are major cities. This Cheong Wing Lee have left SG for too long or have never set foot here before. SG is the size of a peesai. Good luck trying to fine a "country side" to move to, to be one with nature

 

[SIFU]

Goh's statement as usual have been taken out of context. Read carefully and you'll know what he is referring to. He didn't meant the country bumpkins have no life. He meant the outlook of life for someone living in the country and pple like us from the city is very different. The expectations is also different hence it explains why someone living with nature are usually more easily contented. It does show however the guy is getting old. He isn't as careful as he used to be when he speaks. The older LKY seem to be handling old age better then this guy. He should seriously step down, sounds more and more like he is getting senile

pap dog very quick and eager to defend your pap masters again

 

[Cestbon]

Tell SM Goh without farmer what does he eat? Where does he get the meat/vege/fruit?
Tell people do they want farmer life?

 

[Leongsam]

pap dog very quick and eager to defend your pap masters again

I told you to stop pretending you pappy rat. It isn't working anymore. Everyone knows what a turncoat you are.