Misconception 3: SDP does not offer alternative ideas

Ah Chia SG

Misconception 3: SDP does not offer alternative ideas

Tuesday, 05 May 2009

Singapore Democrats

The Singapore Democrats only know how to criticise the Government but are not constructive in providing alternative ideas.

Like the other misconceptions (see here and here), this is one that the PAP and its supporters like to spread despite abundant evidence to the contrary.

As early as 1994 the Democrats adopted Dare to Change: An Alternative Vision for Singapore written by Dr Chee Soon Juan as its manifesto.

The book unambiguously spells out alternative ideas in the various policy areas including the economy, politics, society, culture and the arts, education and the media. Not only that, it also provides the rationale for these alternatives.

The ideas were subsequently expanded and refined in other publications such as Your Future, My Faith, Our Freedom: A Democratic Blueprint for Singapore, the SDP's Economic Report 2005, and First World For Whom? They are further developed in Dr Chee's latest book A Nation Cheated. (See all the publications here)

Our flagship publication, The New Democrat, and pamphlets consistently highlight these alternative policies.

This website includes a section, Our Manifesto, that spells out the SDP's position and counter-proposals on the various policy areas where we disagree with the ruling party.

During the Budget debate in February this year, we came up with a 5-point counter-proposal to help Singaporeans cope with the current economic crisis including suspending the GST, giving out spending vouchers, restricting the use of the ERP, etc. (See here)

All these put to rest once and for all the untruth that the Singapore Democrats are not constructive and do not offer alternative ideas.

In fact not only have we come up with alternatives, our proposals have been echoed by other people including academics, commentators, and even PAP MPs.

But Singaporeans don't know much about this because the state media will not publish our ideas.

What's more, PAP and their supporters keep repeating the lie that the Democrats simply criticise and don't offer constructive ideas.

In the 2001 GE we campaigned on a few of our ideas including the Singaporeans First Policy, minimum wage, and retrenchment benefits. We repeated this in the 2006 elections.

But the media refused to highlight and debate these ideas. Instead, all it did was to focus on the actions the PAP took against us.

Such is the tragedy of Singapore politics where constructive ideas from the opposition are not highlighted and discussed.

The state media ensures that no national debate takes place on such issues. As a result the nation is the poorer for it.

Censoring and not debating the Singapore Democrats' alternative proposals is one thing.

But to then turn around and accuse us of not being constructive is simply dishonest.

http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/component/content/article/2331

dadeadman1337 SG

Good ah, minimum wage, next time have to pay maid $1000, tan ku ku

webben SG

Good ah, minimum wage, next time have to pay maid $1000, tan ku ku

Yes, next time you may have to pay a wage fit for human dignity.

kramnave SG

Problem is their ideas centres around spending money and not earning.

Atobe SG

Problem is their ideas centres around spending money and not earning.

At least, the SDP has put Singaporeans first on their agenda.

At least their ideas is spending money on Singaporeans - especially the under-class, and those in the lower Middle-Class that need help most.

At least, the idea is to make Health Care more affordable to Singaporeans, education more relevant for our young to face a more creative global competition and not to be a mere economic digit for the MNC partnered by Government Linked Companies that create directorship positions for retired PAP Ministers and MPs.

At least, the SDP have the idea to have money spent for Singaporean's security in the long term social, economic and political welfare.

One thing is for certain - the SDP will surely review LKY's "minimum Million Dollar wages" for Ministers when there is ZERO minimum wages paid to Singaporeans.

Another thing we can be certain is that the SDP will not spend US$100 BILLION to bail out foreign banks, and refuse to spend a single Singapore Cent to bail out Singaporeans who are out-of-job, or even to help the Singapore Under Class who has to beg the MP to help them prevent HDB from throwing them out of their homes, or the PUB from cutting the electrical and water supply.

angel7030 SG

Implementing Minimum wage in a country base on meritocracy and performance is not viable. Singapore adopts a Market wage which had serve it economy, beside the global financial crisis beyong it control, had did quite well indeed. Let the Market decide our wages. We must adopt a flexible wage system

If you look into indonesia, the mini wage had cost so much trouble for them, when economy good, people start to protest to raise the mini wage that can go into long term industrial riot and fighting, then when economy is down, the employers start to find it difficult to maintain their labour cost as they cannot cut wages, these led to govt change of laws to reduce the mini wages, and again street and industrial protest start to riot and fight.

Atobe SG

As the owner and manager of a Bar, we can understand your resistance to have a minimum wage for SINGAPOREAN worker.

The PAP principle in meritocracy is a self-serving principle that is selectively exercised.

If meritocracy is a measure, can the dictates of the market be exercised ?

Both are in conflict with the other, as meritocracy demands the market to react according to its merit, while the market reacts to the supply and demand conditions.

Is your position reflective of Singapore's situation ?

Are wages in Singapore based on meritocracy, and free market conditions of supply and demand ?

This is happening in Singapore, where Meritocracy demand that the MINIMUM wage for Ministers are placed at a minimum of S$1,000,000 while the wages of Singaporeans are dictated by the National Wage Council.

The National Wage Council is supposed to be tripartite working between the Singapore Employers, Trade Union and the Singapore Government - and with the priority given to the Employers survivability to allow jobs to exist without too much regard as to the ability of Singaporean workers to survive.

This is obvious when the Singapore Government implemented the self-serving policy of changing Singaporean Employment Contract to renewable short-term period - and with revised short termination notice.

All these are done in total disregard to Singaporean's need for long term financial security and commitments in housing and raising of young families.

The policy is self-serving as the Singapore Government is the largest employer of Singaporeans through its various Government Linked Corporations.

Can the problem in Indonesia be comparable to Singapore ?

The Indonesian population is almost 25 times larger then Singapore, its minimum wage still allow its Citizens to survive as the country is largely an agricultural country and not wholly dependent on industries.

Its urban population is only a fraction of the entire Indonesian population, and the total number that demand wage increases in better times are insignificant, and their demands for wage increases during the better times are justified as it is common for Cost of Living to go up during such times.

Surely, you will raise the price of your drinks to cover the increase in rental demanded by your landlord during the good times ?

Everyone ask of increases during the good times, and it is a matter for the Indonesian Government to communicate with the Indonesian masses during the good and bad times.

Can you deny the Minimum Wage Policy to allow Singaporeans to survive ?

Even in the USA, the US government is looking into ‘Obama’s plan to increase minimum wage of US Workers’.

This is not mere political rhetoric, but a purposeful action plan to reduce Government expenditure by raising the minimum wages of US workers so as to raise the Standard of Living of those who are perpetually dependent on Social Welfare Support.

Is Obama alone in this review ?

Since 2007, the same was done in Germany, France and UK, and reviews are constantly made to maintain living standards.

Did LKY not make a claim that Singapore is a First World Country ?

Why are the majority of Singaporeans still drawing Third World wages ?

angel7030 SG

As the owner and manager of a Bar, we can understand your resistance to have a minimum wage for SINGAPOREAN worker.

The PAP principle in meritocracy is a self-serving principle that is selectively exercised.

If meritocracy is a measure, can the dictates of the market be exercised ?

Both are in conflict with the other, as meritocracy demands the market to react according to its merit, while the market reacts to the supply and demand conditions.

Is your position reflective of Singapore's situation ?

Are wages in Singapore based on meritocracy, and free market conditions of supply and demand ?

All these are done in total disregard to Singaporean's need for long term financial security and commitments in housing and raising of young families.

The policy is self-serving as the Singapore Government is the largest employer of Singaporeans through its various Government Linked Corporations.

Can the problem in Indonesia be comparable to Singapore ?

Surely, you will raise the price of your drinks to cover the increase in rental demanded by your landlord during the good times ?

Everyone ask of increases during the good times, and it is a matter for the Indonesian Government to communicate with the Indonesian masses during the good and bad times.

Can you deny the Minimum Wage Policy to allow Singaporeans to survive ?

Even in the USA, the US government is looking into ‘Obama’s plan to increase minimum wage of US Workers’.

Is Obama alone in this review ?

Since 2007, the same was done in Germany, France and UK, and reviews are constantly made to maintain living standards.

Did LKY not make a claim that Singapore is a First World Country ?

Why are the majority of Singaporeans still drawing Third World wages ?

You are wrong, I dun mind implementing a policy of mini wages in my pub policy for Singaporean. But when bad time comes, I will not hv the flexibility to change it, so end up that I had to retrench most of them in order to sustain my cost and apply multi tasking workscopes for those staying behind.

By taking meritocracy as a base, Singaporeans had become one of the best educated peoples and a good place for education in Asia, it is thru principle, people excel and thru performance, they excel further. We hv no resources, unlike other 1st world countries, whereby they can have their own industrial and resources. Therefore, we are very much dependent on the Global market, and if the Global demand is slack, we go into a recession, but we remain calm, get trained and be ready for the next up turn, unlike other countries having street protest and fighting for jobs.

And if you will ask EDB, because of our flexible wage system, we are by no mean a favorite attraction of the MNC, and other top hi tech business and investment. If our wage system it to remain rigid, i guess more jobless will occur as most investor would had moved out.

Other 1st world countries had it own way of churning the economy, by raising their minimum wages is to give the workers more purchase power and secondly, to tell those lazy bums to start working as the wage is high now, that is their strategy.

If LKY said that we are in the first world, so be it, there are many first world countries around the world with beggars on the street and homeless old folks too. I guess the world also recognised us as in the 1st world, why not, we should be proud to be after 50 years of national building. As opposition, they should be proud that they are the 1st world opposition.

likedatosocan SG

Neutrally speaking,

provide an idea is not difficult.

So, its easy to provide ideas.

But only when you get to try the idea that you can prove it can work.

No chance to try, no way to prove it works.

Ah Chia SG

You are wrong, I dun mind implementing a policy of mini wages in my pub policy for Singaporean. But when bad time comes, I will not hv the flexibility to change it, so end up that I had to retrench

What about in GOOD times longinchjohn?

And why must retrench?

Cannot take no pay leave meh?

Minimum wage can be minimum hourly wage.

So depends on the worker working how many hours.

That is up to the boss, longinchjohn.

Atobe SG

Are you the owner of the Bar, or did you not say that it belonged to your Father ?

Are you the employer or is the real employer - your Father ?

If you are not the real employer, what do you know about managing workers wages during good or bad times ?

Do you not know that during bad times, the MINIMUM wages can also be similarly adjusted DOWNWARDS - and most workers are happy to take a lower pay then to be with NO PAY and JOBLESS ?

However, minimum wages are required during the good times, as much as it is needed during the bad times for Singaporeans - and the National Wage Council has to be guided by such minimum wage guidelines.

Did retrenchment help to sustain your operation, or does it mean that with every Singaporean worker that you lose - you will be allowed to employ one or two less foreign worker that is determined by the ratio imposed by the Manpower Ministry ?

Or did you find a way around this ruling ?

What do you know about principles, excellence, performance and merit - when in the other thread you insist that it is smarter to cheat, ruthless and have the 'dare to win' attitude to beat everyone at any cost to be the King of the Pile ?

Japan, Switzerland, Israel and other similar countries with no resources do not have to institute the kinds of policy that the PAP led Singapore Government has decided to follow at the expense of our Singaporean Citizens.

These countries have jealously protected their borders from the free and easy entry of foreigners to take up work and residence at the expense of their own nationals - and this is done even when they are just as much locked into the Global Economic Grid.

If wage is by no means a favorite attraction of the MNC and other hi-tech business and investments - then what else are you referring to ?

Does that mean the justification for the PAP to impose harsh rules to ensure political stability by preventing political participation by ordinary Singaporeans in the government processes that affect the lives of ordinary Singaporeans ?

Is this the reason for your involvement in the Bar operation business by corrupting hard Singaporean with "foreign wine, foreign women and foreign songs" - and sell the souls of wholesome Singaporean Families simply to make profit from Singaporeans that you lure to your Bar ?

Is Singapore not a 1st World Country as so proudly claimed by LKY ?

There are bank managers who have been retrenched and being retrained to be hotel room cleaners, while other financial positions in foreign companies are filled by foreigners - as this is a condition for them to open operations in Singapore.

Like you, the PAP led Singapore Government sold the Singaporean Soul for the sake of immediate status of attracting another leading name to enhance the PAP goal of making Singapore a Financial Center.

You must be as myopic as LKY - who said that Singapore is a 1st World Country with NO beggars and homeless.

You must have been too busy playing and drinking at your Bar.

Should we be proud of a Singapore that prefer NOT to bail out Singaporeans, but will prefer to lose US$100 BILLION of our hard earned monies to bail out foreign banks only to be taken for a sucker to see the US$100 BILLION worth less then 30%, and with some stakes becoming worthless ?

Given the political handicap and multiple restrictions imposed onto the Singapore Opposition, we should be proud that the Opposition has been able to sustain the political interest of Singaporeans in the politics of Singapore.

skythewood SG

At least, the SDP has put Singaporeans first on their agenda.

At least their ideas is spending money on Singaporeans - especially the under-class, and those in the lower Middle-Class that need help most.

At least, the SDP have the idea to have money spent for Singaporean's security in the long term social, economic and political welfare.

One thing is for certain - the SDP will surely review LKY's "minimum Million Dollar wages" for Ministers when there is ZERO minimum wages paid to Singaporeans.

there is such thing as ZERO minimum wages? I want to employ a singaporean for free too

Chew Bakar SG

there is such thing as ZERO minimum wages? I want to employ a singaporean for free too

Tan kuku. Even slavery is not free, you got to feed them.

Atobe SG

there is such thing as ZERO minimum wages? I want to employ a singaporean for free too

"ZERO minimum wage" means NO minimum wage.

Did you take it to mean "minimum ZERO wage" ?

dadeadman1337 SG

Unless we are living on grass, we cant complain

Ah Chia SG

Unless we are living on grass, we cant complain

Why?

dadeadman1337 SG

Well for one we're not that poor for the measures they implement to be of any effect. Secondly, for such measures, they would prob raise taxes, now who would that benefit?

angel7030 SG

What about in GOOD times longinchjohn?

And why must retrench?

Cannot take no pay leave meh?

Minimum wage can be minimum hourly wage.

So depends on the worker working how many hours.

That is up to the boss, longinchjohn.

on behalf of longinchjohn,

The govt is now giving up to 90 percent of payrolls to employers who sent their employees to training under the SPUR program. And most of the courses are free. Many company are sending their employees for course during these down time, and when economy pick up, they still get back their without the need to recruit new ones which make admin messy. And more over, their staffs are now better trained and equipped to higher the productivity for them. It is a win win situation. Why go unpaid leave?? You may not come back and take the unpaid leave forever.

For those workers and staffs who are retrenched is mostly due to closure of a dept or operation of certain division, in another words, they become redundant, whether company send them to SPUR or not is no more viable. These group of people can individually go for SPUR and get $6/hr training and if you are a Professional executive you get $10/hr training. So what are they waiting for, take the free course, get paid, and they will job match for you. And all these are for Singaporeans only, not for PR or S pass or Permit holders. Now, where in the world do you find such structured way of getting our fellow singaporeans trained and be ready, where in the world, the govt paid you to go for training??

Yes, of course it is up to the boss, the boss can said that the mini wage for my organisation is $1000, another may be $700 and so on. But the most important is the legal aspect, the nation must not set the mini wage bill, it will only give the bosses an upper hand in lowering their mini wage policy, so instead of giving $1000, now the mini wage is set at $500, i can give you $500, and I am not wrong?

Hey, i told you thousand and one times, longinchjohn is my brother, he is no more here, and if you keep insisting that I am longinchjohn so be it, i cannot do much but to date you out to prove to you. But is seem that you never want to be dated. Anyway, i got nothing to loose.

angel7030 SG

I believe that our National wage council which is a tripartite decision had serve us well thru the years, it gives us a very flexible and structured wage systems, there was never a mini wage set thru all these years since industrialistion. To gauge it, you have look at our economy thru out the last 50 years. You have to put you hand in your heart and ask yourself, are we better off than our surrounding countries??

MINIGUN2000 SG

the wage.......is made and set by ther greedy companies....like as if their $100 is their lifesavings