Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Aug 7, 2009
Sinkapooreans happy with LEEgime
Survey finds eight in 10 confident of economic future
By Sue-Ann Chia, Senior Political Correspondent & Cai Haoxiang
Some Singaporeans remain concerned about the affordability of basic needs such as health care, transport and housing. -- PHOTO: BUSINESS TIMES
MOST Singaporeans are happy with the way the country is governed, with many confident that Singapore has a bright future.
But some remain concerned about the affordability of basic needs such as health care, transport and housing. A small number are also dissatisfied with employment policies relating to foreigners and older workers.
These are the findings of a survey done once in two years by government feedback unit Reach, which polled 1,558 Singaporeans in June for their views on public policies.
Commenting on the results released on Thursday, Reach chairman Amy Khor said: 'In the last year, we have seen a fair share of feedback on cost of living, employment and the foreign workers and talent issues, and that's not surprising, given the economic crisis.
'Hence it was also not surprising the Budget measures which are aimed at addressing the current downturn and prepare Singapore for the future were welcomed.'
More than eight in 10 are satisfied with the measures introduced in this year's Budget to help families, workers and businesses cope with the crisis. They support dipping into the national reserves to fund part of the $20.5 billion Resilience Package, which is aimed at saving jobs.
But what Dr Khor found encouraging was that most Singaporeans expressed confidence in the country's future despite the downturn.
There were, however, some areas which made people frown. These range from cost of living issues to employment prospects. While nine in 10 were satisfied with the quality of health care, three in 10 suggested that health-care financing can be improved further. There was a dip in satisfaction when it comes to keeping housing affordable for the majority.
In the latest survey, relatively more appear to be vexed by work issues. Around one-third were unhappy with the job opportunities for older workers and measures to help the retrenched find jobs. Almost three in 10 were also sore over employment policies that led to an influx of foreigners here.
Those most likely to be displeased were citizens who see themselves competing directly with foreigners for jobs, like the jobless and low-skilled. Such sentiments are not surprising, said Dr Khor, as it is in line with feedback Reach receives via its website and other channels. But, she added, the survey shows 'unequivocally the Government's efforts and initiatives are recognised and appreciated'.
Latest comments
This post is copied from the ST Forum thread "....but so should Canadians.".
The letter which was rejected by ST is a million times more worthy than this kind of dumb survey. Mr Wing has definitely spoken for hundreds of thousands of sgreans!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ronintan1
REPORT POST
Yesterday, 11:32 AM
Be thankful to Canada, Mr Brooks
Thursday, 6 August 2009
The following is a letter by Mr Cheong Wing Lee, a Canadian, in response to Mr Eric Brooks’s letter in the Straits Times titled, “Be grateful, Singapore”.
Dear Editor,
As a fellow Canadian I am embarrassed by Mr Eric Brooks’ remarks to Singaporeans. Mr. Brooks is a visitor with a superficial knowledge of Singapore history. He should refrain from making such ridiculous sweeping statements.
I was born shortly after the Second World War and raised in Singapore before immigrating to Canada. I have worked and lived in more countries than Mr Brooks. There is no doubt that most Singaporeans deeply appreciate the outstanding work done by the Singapore leaders in bringing the country from third world status to the present world class status. However, gratitude evolves with time and social changes. Singaporeans are now better educated. They travel, see, learn, compare and adapt. Singaporeans are not stupid or naive.
Singaporeans now have a higher level of thinking and are more demanding. This demonstrates progress. Higher aspirations, greater expectations come with evolving progressive social changes. A society that remains complacent and stagnant deteriorates and eventually collapses. No country can excel with a mindless society of puppets. The Singapore government should be grateful that its citizens are matured and not treat anyone with opposing views as public enemy. Most of them are as passionate as the government in making Singapore a better society.
Singaporeans are smart enough to see through spins and propaganda and evaluate the truths for themselves. It is difficult for most Singaporeans to remain silent whilst government leaders lecture them to be thrifty, not to be materialistic and not to demand for higher pay. On the other hand, the leaders reward themselves with pay packages that exceed the leaders’ of the eight richest countries in the world combined.
The Singapore ministers’ argument that their pay package is only a small fraction of the country’s GDP is weak and debatable. The Canadian prime minister draws less than 10 per cent that of the Singapore prime minister’s but he governs a country 15,000 times the size of Singapore, with a population that is eight times larger and with a GDP that is ten times more. Vancouver in Canada is constantly voted the best place to live in the world. This example put the Singapore government’s argument out of context.
The government gives S$360 a month as financial support for the poor and needy. If such an amount is computed by the government as enough to survive, why then do they need to pay themselves by millions?
I cordially invite any member of parliament and/or news media reporter to come and stay with me for a period of time and I will show them that it takes only a small tiny fraction of their salaries to live happily and healthily in a beautiful environment with a good standard of living.
Is it a surprise that Singaporeans are discontented? It is just human nature. Confucius was quoted as telling the emperor on good government:
“How can the emperor be happy when the people have nothing? How can the emperor not be happy when the people have everything?”
Does Mr. Brooks know that 79% of Singapore students after studying overseas do not return to Singapore? Are they not grateful too?
So Mr. Brooks, before you further make a fool of yourself in Singapore, be grateful to Canada and not complain because of a temporary disruption in garbage collection in Toronto. Be thankful of the good healthcare system and the generous old age pension. If you truly like Singapore you should be a citizen. There are lots of Singaporeans who are willing to trade your citizenship if it is possible.
Yours truly,
Wing Lee Cheong
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by: kampongkid at Fri Aug 07 07:13:49 SGT 2009
How not not be unhappy wit the PAP govt? Can you walk to the streets to protest? Shouting slogans? Hold rallies with being tightly supervised? Boycott? Student Unions having more freedom of speech? Abolishing the ISA?
Posted by: UriahHeep at Fri Aug 07 06:59:51 SGT 2009
Aug 7, 2009
Sinkapooreans happy with LEEgime
Survey finds eight in 10 confident of economic future
By Sue-Ann Chia, Senior Political Correspondent & Cai Haoxiang
Some Singaporeans remain concerned about the affordability of basic needs such as health care, transport and housing. -- PHOTO: BUSINESS TIMES
MOST Singaporeans are happy with the way the country is governed, with many confident that Singapore has a bright future.
But some remain concerned about the affordability of basic needs such as health care, transport and housing. A small number are also dissatisfied with employment policies relating to foreigners and older workers.
These are the findings of a survey done once in two years by government feedback unit Reach, which polled 1,558 Singaporeans in June for their views on public policies.
Commenting on the results released on Thursday, Reach chairman Amy Khor said: 'In the last year, we have seen a fair share of feedback on cost of living, employment and the foreign workers and talent issues, and that's not surprising, given the economic crisis.
'Hence it was also not surprising the Budget measures which are aimed at addressing the current downturn and prepare Singapore for the future were welcomed.'
More than eight in 10 are satisfied with the measures introduced in this year's Budget to help families, workers and businesses cope with the crisis. They support dipping into the national reserves to fund part of the $20.5 billion Resilience Package, which is aimed at saving jobs.
But what Dr Khor found encouraging was that most Singaporeans expressed confidence in the country's future despite the downturn.
There were, however, some areas which made people frown. These range from cost of living issues to employment prospects. While nine in 10 were satisfied with the quality of health care, three in 10 suggested that health-care financing can be improved further. There was a dip in satisfaction when it comes to keeping housing affordable for the majority.
In the latest survey, relatively more appear to be vexed by work issues. Around one-third were unhappy with the job opportunities for older workers and measures to help the retrenched find jobs. Almost three in 10 were also sore over employment policies that led to an influx of foreigners here.
Those most likely to be displeased were citizens who see themselves competing directly with foreigners for jobs, like the jobless and low-skilled. Such sentiments are not surprising, said Dr Khor, as it is in line with feedback Reach receives via its website and other channels. But, she added, the survey shows 'unequivocally the Government's efforts and initiatives are recognised and appreciated'.
Latest comments
This post is copied from the ST Forum thread "....but so should Canadians.".
The letter which was rejected by ST is a million times more worthy than this kind of dumb survey. Mr Wing has definitely spoken for hundreds of thousands of sgreans!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ronintan1
REPORT POST
Yesterday, 11:32 AM
Be thankful to Canada, Mr Brooks
Thursday, 6 August 2009
The following is a letter by Mr Cheong Wing Lee, a Canadian, in response to Mr Eric Brooks’s letter in the Straits Times titled, “Be grateful, Singapore”.
Dear Editor,
As a fellow Canadian I am embarrassed by Mr Eric Brooks’ remarks to Singaporeans. Mr. Brooks is a visitor with a superficial knowledge of Singapore history. He should refrain from making such ridiculous sweeping statements.
I was born shortly after the Second World War and raised in Singapore before immigrating to Canada. I have worked and lived in more countries than Mr Brooks. There is no doubt that most Singaporeans deeply appreciate the outstanding work done by the Singapore leaders in bringing the country from third world status to the present world class status. However, gratitude evolves with time and social changes. Singaporeans are now better educated. They travel, see, learn, compare and adapt. Singaporeans are not stupid or naive.
Singaporeans now have a higher level of thinking and are more demanding. This demonstrates progress. Higher aspirations, greater expectations come with evolving progressive social changes. A society that remains complacent and stagnant deteriorates and eventually collapses. No country can excel with a mindless society of puppets. The Singapore government should be grateful that its citizens are matured and not treat anyone with opposing views as public enemy. Most of them are as passionate as the government in making Singapore a better society.
Singaporeans are smart enough to see through spins and propaganda and evaluate the truths for themselves. It is difficult for most Singaporeans to remain silent whilst government leaders lecture them to be thrifty, not to be materialistic and not to demand for higher pay. On the other hand, the leaders reward themselves with pay packages that exceed the leaders’ of the eight richest countries in the world combined.
The Singapore ministers’ argument that their pay package is only a small fraction of the country’s GDP is weak and debatable. The Canadian prime minister draws less than 10 per cent that of the Singapore prime minister’s but he governs a country 15,000 times the size of Singapore, with a population that is eight times larger and with a GDP that is ten times more. Vancouver in Canada is constantly voted the best place to live in the world. This example put the Singapore government’s argument out of context.
The government gives S$360 a month as financial support for the poor and needy. If such an amount is computed by the government as enough to survive, why then do they need to pay themselves by millions?
I cordially invite any member of parliament and/or news media reporter to come and stay with me for a period of time and I will show them that it takes only a small tiny fraction of their salaries to live happily and healthily in a beautiful environment with a good standard of living.
Is it a surprise that Singaporeans are discontented? It is just human nature. Confucius was quoted as telling the emperor on good government:
“How can the emperor be happy when the people have nothing? How can the emperor not be happy when the people have everything?”
Does Mr. Brooks know that 79% of Singapore students after studying overseas do not return to Singapore? Are they not grateful too?
So Mr. Brooks, before you further make a fool of yourself in Singapore, be grateful to Canada and not complain because of a temporary disruption in garbage collection in Toronto. Be thankful of the good healthcare system and the generous old age pension. If you truly like Singapore you should be a citizen. There are lots of Singaporeans who are willing to trade your citizenship if it is possible.
Yours truly,
Wing Lee Cheong
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by: kampongkid at Fri Aug 07 07:13:49 SGT 2009
How not not be unhappy wit the PAP govt? Can you walk to the streets to protest? Shouting slogans? Hold rallies with being tightly supervised? Boycott? Student Unions having more freedom of speech? Abolishing the ISA?
Posted by: UriahHeep at Fri Aug 07 06:59:51 SGT 2009
