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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Vivian: Why SGs not excited abt YOG?</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>8:00 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>30377.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Dr Vivian Balakrishnan urged Singaporeans to “rally” behind Youth Olympic Games
March 21, 2010 by admin
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http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/21/dr-vivian-balakrishnan-urged-singaporeans-to-rally-behind-youth-olympic-games/
Written by Our Correspondent
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan urged Singaporeans yesterday to “rally” behind the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore soon in order to make it a success.
Dr Vivian had expressed concerns that the YOG fever has yet to sweep the nation with only 150 days to go.
This is hardly surprising as Singaporeans are in no mood to welcome the YOG. Though Singapore is now technically out of recession, the economic reality on the ground remains grim.
While the cost of living has sky-rocketed, especially that of public housing, the wages of Singaporeans have not kept pace with inflation.
The real earnings of local workers (including PRs) had decreased by 3.2 percent last year even as the PAP ministers look set to receive a hefty 8.8 percent pay hike.
Dr Vivian seems to be living in an ivory tower and remains blind to the hardships and sufferings of ordinary Singaporeans.
“We need every Singaporean to understand that this is not just about sports or young people – it’s for all Singaporeans…..’All the effort that we invest in this will be wasted if every Singaporean doesn’t feel that this is a once-in-a-lifetime (event), that the Olympic flame is going to come to Singapore in such a close way and isn’t touched by it or affected by the Olympic spirit one way or another,” he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times.
Dr Vivian stressed that the “goal” is now to recreate the buzz:
“We’ve got to find ways for the hawkers, for the taxi drivers, the bus drivers, the small and medium enterprises to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to showcase their products and their services to the world,” he added.
The goal of Dr Vivian and MCYS is to ensure that all Singaporeans are sufficiently clothed and fed.
Though Singapore is the second richest country in Asia after Japan, Singaporeans enjoy few social welfare benefits from its miserly PAP government which exhorts them to work for as long as they can well into their golden years till they drop dead while being “faster, cheaper and better” at the same time.
When asked by MP Lily Neo in 2007 to increase the monthly PA allowance so that its recipients can have three basic meals a day, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan retorted:
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”
He added that “one limiting factor must be the sum that we give through public assistance cannot be so generous as to erode the work ethic.”
[Source: Channel News Asia, 9 March 2007]
It was revealed that there were only 11 successful PA applicants between July 2008 and Deccember 2009. MCYS said that the low numbers showed that Singaporeans want to be as “self-reliant” as much as possible.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan costs Singapore taxpayers about $1.9 million dollars a year or $5,278 dollars a day. When your correspondent completed typing this article after 20 minutes, he would be $100 richer.
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March 21, 2010 by admin
Filed under Headlines
Leave a comment
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/21/dr-vivian-balakrishnan-urged-singaporeans-to-rally-behind-youth-olympic-games/
Written by Our Correspondent
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan urged Singaporeans yesterday to “rally” behind the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore soon in order to make it a success.
Dr Vivian had expressed concerns that the YOG fever has yet to sweep the nation with only 150 days to go.
This is hardly surprising as Singaporeans are in no mood to welcome the YOG. Though Singapore is now technically out of recession, the economic reality on the ground remains grim.
While the cost of living has sky-rocketed, especially that of public housing, the wages of Singaporeans have not kept pace with inflation.
The real earnings of local workers (including PRs) had decreased by 3.2 percent last year even as the PAP ministers look set to receive a hefty 8.8 percent pay hike.
Dr Vivian seems to be living in an ivory tower and remains blind to the hardships and sufferings of ordinary Singaporeans.
“We need every Singaporean to understand that this is not just about sports or young people – it’s for all Singaporeans…..’All the effort that we invest in this will be wasted if every Singaporean doesn’t feel that this is a once-in-a-lifetime (event), that the Olympic flame is going to come to Singapore in such a close way and isn’t touched by it or affected by the Olympic spirit one way or another,” he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times.
Dr Vivian stressed that the “goal” is now to recreate the buzz:
“We’ve got to find ways for the hawkers, for the taxi drivers, the bus drivers, the small and medium enterprises to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to showcase their products and their services to the world,” he added.
The goal of Dr Vivian and MCYS is to ensure that all Singaporeans are sufficiently clothed and fed.
Though Singapore is the second richest country in Asia after Japan, Singaporeans enjoy few social welfare benefits from its miserly PAP government which exhorts them to work for as long as they can well into their golden years till they drop dead while being “faster, cheaper and better” at the same time.
When asked by MP Lily Neo in 2007 to increase the monthly PA allowance so that its recipients can have three basic meals a day, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan retorted:
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”
He added that “one limiting factor must be the sum that we give through public assistance cannot be so generous as to erode the work ethic.”
[Source: Channel News Asia, 9 March 2007]
It was revealed that there were only 11 successful PA applicants between July 2008 and Deccember 2009. MCYS said that the low numbers showed that Singaporeans want to be as “self-reliant” as much as possible.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan costs Singapore taxpayers about $1.9 million dollars a year or $5,278 dollars a day. When your correspondent completed typing this article after 20 minutes, he would be $100 richer.
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