Jobs Credit
Scheme
Jobs Credit
Scheme was introduced with Budget 2009 and sparked a great debate
over it.
Is the Jobs
Credit Scheme workable?
Before answering
this question, you will need to answer another question
first:
Is this Jobs
Credit Scheme a big wayang or is it the real thing?
WAYANG
Assuming that
this Jobs Credit Scheme is a big wayang, we need to ask ourselves
this question:
Why did the
extraordinary government do it?
It is of course
an attempt to provide a ‘cover’ for other issues!
For example, when
the ministers gave themselves a huge pay hike, they also give
salary increments to civil servants and MPs. They do this because
Singaporeans are stupid and of inferior stock- as described by Mr
Li Ao! Thus, instead of venting their angers towards the ministers,
Singaporeans are targeting civil servants and MPs!
Then, what are
the issues that the extraordinary government is desperately trying
to ‘cover’?
1)
Mas Selamat Kastari
Mas Selamat
Kastari escaped from the detention centre on 27 February
2008.
Up to now, the
extraordinary government doesn’t seem to have any concrete plan for
the eventual recapturing of Mas Selamat Kastari.
It doesn’t even
have an inking of the whereabouts of Mas Selamat
Kastari!
2)
Temasek Holdings
What is Temasek
Holdings famous for?
It is famous for
its ‘hide- behind- honest- mistakes’ management!
So far, Temasek
Holdings did not manage to post capital gains for its investments-
Shin Corp (since 2006), Barclays (since 2007), ABC Learning (since
2007) and Merrill (now Bank of America).
Thus, there is
nothing to rejoice about when Temasek Holdings announce pay cuts
for its management!
What is there to
rejoice about when the forfeits are their heads!
In the end, there
is nothing that Singaporeans could do as we choose the wrong team
ourselves!
As LKY has
previously mentioned, Singaporeans have chosen the wrong team and
thus will have to suffer for the next few years!
If the selection
of the team for Temasek Holdings is based entirely on merit, then
obviously, the selection of an ex- minister for PSA Corp is not
based entirely on merit!
Thus, the ex-
minister was asked to leave by PSA Corp when he committed a honest
mistake while the ‘hide- behind- honest- mistakes’ management of
Temasek Holdings was allowed to stay on despite committing numerous
honest mistakes!
3)
SAF Saga
This saga begun
when Lta Li Hongyi went to Ministry of Defence- bypassing the chain
of command in the process- and filed a complaint against Lta
X.
As a result, Lta
X was fined S$2500.
Given
what Lta X had done, he is guilty of AWOL, insubordination and
failure to comply with lawful order!
He
should be demoted and not be given a fine only!
The
punishment is way too light!
Thus Singaporeans
can view the whole saga in two ways:
View 1
Scenario 1
Beside LTA Li Hongyi, there could be another
‘white horse’ involved.
View 2
This
whole thing is a big wayang! It is designed to ‘enhance’ the
profile of LTA Li Hongyi!
4)
NKF Saga
When the NKF
scandal broke out, the extraordinary government sent two people to
serve as chairman and lawyer.
The ‘chairman’ is
seconded from NCSS- a government- linked organization and the
lawyer- currently the Law Minister- was at that time a PAP
MP.
At that time,
there is widespread anger over the NKF scandal thus the first task
to be done was to make preparation for the filing of a civil
lawsuit!
Thus, these two
men are sent there to help influence the decision- making
process:
Who should be
‘put to the sword’ and who should be ‘spared’?
After the decision- making process, some were
sued while some- for example, the former NKF vice chairman, Mr
Alwyn Lim- were
‘spared’!
As a matter of
fairness, the entire board should be sued and the task of deciding
who is guilty should fall to the court judge!
Thus in the
handling of this saga, there might be some ‘unfairness’
involved!
Like the SAF Saga, there might be ‘white horses’ involved!
5)
F&N Saga
It is reported
recently that F & N decided not to appoint a group CEO after
months of searching. The reason given was that the necessary
skill sets required for F & B and properties might not be found
in an individual. Instead, CEOs will be appointed for its divisions
and they will report to the non- executive chairman, Mr Lee Hsien Yang. By doing so, F & N is making Mr
Lee Hsien Yang the unofficial group CEO. Unfortunately, Mr Lee,
while performing well as SingTel CEO previously, also do not
possess the necessary skill sets required for F & B and
properties!
It
might cause misguided Singaporeans to make unsubstantiated
statements!
For
example, misguided Singaporeans might make the following
unsubstantiated statements:
1) The action by
F & N is simply a plot to appoint Mr Lee Hsien Yang as the
group CEO a few years down the road. This would be rather unfair as
all Singaporeans have witnessed his performance at SingTel. By just
simply using his common sense, he managed to build SingTel into a
regional giant! He doesn’t have to use ‘honest mistakes’ as a
shield! This is done by adopting the GE strategy and makes some
modifications. For GE, it is no 1 or 2 on a global basis. For
SingTel, it is on a country basis! If the management of Temasek
Holdings were to use their common senses, Temasek Holdings won’t be
making an investment on the 4th largest bank- Barclays-
in Great Britain !
2) The current
SingTel CEO got lucky! If she didn’t happen to be at the right
place, right time and right position, she won’t be able to become
the CEO! For example, if she were to be a staff of Temasek
Holdings, until the day she died, she might not have the chance to
become CEO! Mr Lee Hsien Yang might have made some mistakes while
being SingTel CEO- not necessarily work- related!
3) The so- called
extraordinary government is guilty of corruption (morally),
collusion and nepotism. Beside the issue of group CEO, there
is also a dispute over Mr Lee’s pay previously!
6)
Ministers’ salaries
As all
Singaporeans know, the salaries that the ministers are commanding
are huge and undeserving.
Thus when the
extraordinary government announce that the ministers will be
getting a pay cut, there is nothing to rejoice about!
This is simply a
tactical ploy. It is designed to cheat a ‘strong mandate’ out of
the voters during the General Elections!
7)
Town councils
While the PAP-
controlled Town councils suffered an impairment of S$16m on their
investments, the two Opposition- controlled Town councils did not
suffer the same fate!
Thus, it seems
that the performance of the PAP- controlled Town councils are
rather lousy compared to the two Opposition- controlled Town
councils!
The last chapter
closed with the report that the First Ruler had shifted camp in
search of cool shade, and the news was very welcome to Lu Xun. He
went forthwith to assure himself of the truth of the report and
observe the new position. A level plain lay at his feet, whereon he
saw something short of ten thousand Shu troops, the greater part of
whom appeared invalids. On the banner of their leader he read the
name Van Leader Hu Ban.
"We consider
these troops children," said Zhou Tai. "Let me and General Han Dang
go out and smite them. I will give the formal guarantee of
victory."
The
Commander-in-Chief made no reply, but remained gazing out before
him.
Presently he
said, "It seems to me that an air of slaughter is rising over there
from that valley. Surely there is an ambush there. These poor
troops in the foreground are nothing but a bait. No, Gentlemen, do
not leave your positions."
Those who heard
this took it only as another proof of the imbecility of their
pedant commander.
Next day Hu Ban's
soldiers approached closer and challenged to battle, swaggering
about and brandishing their weapons and shouting volleys of abuse
without end. They manifested contempt by throwing off their armor
and clothing and moving to and fro with the utmost carelessness,
bare bodies and naked forms, blatantly unready to fight. Some even
sat or lay asleep.
Xu Sheng and Ding
Feng came to the commander's tent to complain, saying, "Those Shu
soldiers despise us so much. Let us go out and punish
them!"
[e] Sun Zi (aka Sun Wu, Sunzi,
Suntzu, Sun-tzu, Sun tzu) the author of the famed treatise The Art
of War. A general of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period, Sun Zi
made her the mightiest state during his lifetime by defeating Chu
and conquering Yue. His treatise the Art of War is still avidly
read today by many.
.....
[e] Wu Qi, aka Wu Zi, a famous
general in the Warring States period. He first served Lu, then went
to Wei, his native, and led Wei army against Qin. He made enemies
in Wei, so he fled to Chu , where King Dao made him prime minister.
Wu Qi made Chu a powerful state; expanded her territory; defended
her against Wei, Zhao, and Han; and attacked Qin. Wu Qi is the
author of a military treatise named "Wu Qi's Art of War".
.....
But Lu Xun only
smiled, saying, "You see things from the view point of brute
courage. You seem not to know the principles of war laid down by
Sun Zi* and Wu Qi*. This display is only meant to entice us into
fight. You will see the pretense yourselves in about three
days."
"In three days
the change of camp will be complete, and the enemy will be too
strongly posted for our success," said they.
"I am just
letting them move their camp."
Xu Sheng and Ding
Feng left the tent also sniggering.
But on the third
day the officers were assembled at a look-out point, whence they
saw that the army under Hu Ban had left.
"There is still a
deadly look over the valley," said Lu Xun, pointing to the hills.
"Liu Bei will soon appear."
Very soon they
saw a whole army all well accoutered pass across the field
escorting the First Ruler. And the sight took away all their
courage.
"That is why I
would not listen to those of you who wanted to fight Hu Ban," said
Lu Xun. "Now that the ambush has been withdrawn, we can settle them
in about ten days."
"The proper time
to attack was when they began to transfer their camp. Now they are
fully established with encampments stretching two hundred miles.
Having spent seven or eight months in strengthening where they
might be attacked, will it not be difficult to destroy them?" said
they.
"I see you do not
understand how to carry on war. This man Liu Bei is a capable and
crafty man. When he first started on this expedition his methods
were of the best, and he kept them so for a long time, so we have
to avoid him. When his troops are worn out and his thoughts cease
to be clear, that will be our day to attack."
(Sources:
http://threekingdoms.com/084.htm)
"This plan of
mine would not hoodwink Zhuge Liang, but happily he is not here.
His absence will allow me to score a great success."
(Sources:
http://threekingdoms.com/084.htm)
REAL
THING
If the Jobs
Credit Scheme is for real, then there are two possible
scenarios:
1)
Extraordinary stupidity
2)
Shameless and immoral (Wu De Wu Dao) government
Extraordinary
stupidity
If the employer
keeps the Singaporean worker for 3 months (salary S$2500 * 3), he
will get S$900 from the extraordinary government.
In order to keep
the Singaporean worker for 3 months, the employer will have to fork
out a much bigger sum:
Salary (3
months)
S$2500 * 3 =
S$7500
Employer CPF for
3 months (@ 14.5%)
14.5% * S$2500 *
3 = S$1087.50
Beside Salary
& Employer CPF for 3 months, you will also have to throw in
health insurance and Annual Leave as well!
Having reached
Chengdu , Ma Liang lost no time in seeing the Prime Minister and
presenting the plan of the armies as they were in the
field.
Said Ma Liang,
"Now the forces are on both sides of the Great River extending
along a front of two hundred miles, with forty stations, each
beside a mountain stream or in a pleasantly shaded forest. At our
lord's command, I prepared this map, and he sent me to ask your
opinion."
"Who advised such
an arrangement? He ought to be put to death, whoever it was!" cried
Zhuge Liang, tapping the table at his side.
"It is entirely
our lord's own work. No other had any hand in it," said Ma
Liang.
"The life and
energy of the Hans are done indeed," said Zhuge Liang sorrowfully.
"Our lord has committed those very faults which the rules of the
Art of War lay down as to be particularly avoided. The camps are
made where free movement is impossible, and nothing can save him if
the enemy use fire. Beside, what defense is possible along a
two-hundred-mile front? Disaster is at hand, and Lu Xun sees it
all, which explains his obstinate refusal to come out into the
open. Go back as quickly as you can, and tell our lord that this
will not do, that it must be changed at once."
(Sources:
http://threekingdoms.com/084.htm)
Mr Li Ao once
described Singaporeans as stupid and of inferior stock, let’s pray
that the employers are as described!
Shameless and
immoral (Wu De Wu Dao) government
It is actually a
good thing for the Jobs Credit Scheme to be implemented!
If the Jobs
Credit Scheme is not implemented, then there will be wages &
CPF cuts.
If there should
be wages & CPF cuts, many Singaporeans would immediately
default on their loans- including housing loans!
Contrary to what
Singaporeans think, HDB is not just a statutory board. It is a very
big business!
If Singaporeans
were to default on their housing loans, it will have an big impact
on the banks, financial and property markets, tax revenues and
HDB!
If this should
happen, the ministers will not be able to award themselves huge pay
hikes- even after the General Elections!
"I have something
to say. Listen quietly all of you!"
All turned
towards him.
"The emperor is
lord of all. If he lacks dignity and behaves in an unseemly manner,
he is no fitting inheritor of the ancestral prerogatives. He who is
now on the throne is a weakling, inferior to the Prince of Chenliu
in intelligence and love of learning. The Prince is in every way
fitted for the throne. I desire to depose the Emperor and set up
the Prince in his place. What think you?"
The assembly
listened in perfect silence, none daring at first to utter a word
of dissent. But one dared; for suddenly a guest stood up in his
place, smote the table and cried.
"No! No! Who are
you that you dare utter such bold words? The Emperor is son of the
late Emperor and has done no wrong. Why then should he be deposed?
Are you a rebel?"
The speaker was
Ding Yuan, Imperial Protector of Bingzhou.
Dong Zhuo glared
at Ding Yuan, roaring, "There is life for those who are with me,
death for those against!"
Dong Zhuo drew
his sword and made for the objector. But the watchful Li Ru had
noticed standing behind Ding Yuan a particularly dangerous looking
henchman of his, who was now handling his halberd threateningly,
and whose eyes were blazing with anger.
So Li Ru hastily
interposed, saying, "But this is the banquet chamber, and state
affairs should be left outside. The matters can be fully discussed
tomorrow."
His fellow guests
persuaded Ding Yuan to leave, and after his departure Dong Zhuo
said, "Is what I said just and reasonable?"
[e] Yi Yin was was helper and prime
minister of King Tang, the founder of Shang Dynasty. After King
Tang's death, Yi Yin served his sons and grandson. Soon after Tai
Jia, King Tang's grandson, ascended the throne, he committed many
faults, and Yi Yin, acting as regent, exiled Tai Jia to Tong Palace
---the burial place of King Tang. After three years Yi Yin returned
him the throne. Tai Jia eventually became an enlightened emperor.
Shang Dynasty lasted for 650 years (BC 1700-1050). It was this act
of Yi Yin rather than his services in building up an empire that
has made him immortal. Whether he did right in temporarily
dethroning the king was open to question, until a final verdict was
rendered by Mencius who thought that his ends amply justified his
means. This historical event attests the extent of the power
exercised by a prime minister in those days.
.....
[e] Huo Guang (BC ?-68) a general
and regent of Han. After Emperor Wu died, Huo Guang became regent
to three successive emperors, and the second one had been the
Prince of Changyi, who was on the throne for only twenty-seven
days. Huo Guang had the Prince of Changyi declared unfit to rule
and deposed him. Even though Huo Guang contributed much to the
empire's stabilization, after he died, he was distanced by the
emperor and most of his family were executed for conspiracy
charges.
.....
"You are
mistaken, Illustrious Sir," said Lu Zhi. "Of old Emperor Tai Jia of
the Shang Dynasty was unenlightened. Wherefore the sage Minister Yi
Yin* immured him in the Tong Palace till he reformed. Later the
Prince of Changyi ascended the throne, and in twenty-seven days he
committed more than three thousand categorical faults. Wherefore
Regent Marshal Huo Guang* declared in the ancestral temple that the
Prince of Changyi was deposed. Our present Emperor is young, but he
is intelligent, benevolent, and wise. He has not committed a single
fault. You, Sir, are an imperial protector of a frontier region and
not a metropolitan official and have had no experience in state
administration. Neither have you the pure intentions of Yi Yin and
Huo Guang which qualified their actions. The Teacher said: 'Only
with Yi Yin's purpose can one act like Yi Yin. Otherwise, such a
deed is treason.'"
(Sources:
http://threekingdoms.com/003.htm)
It is pretty
obvious that the extraordinary government doesn’t possess the pure
intentions of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, thus it is unlikely to act with
the noblest intentions!
CONCLUSION
It is actually
rather unwise of me to quote repeatedly from the Romance
of Three Kingdoms as it might tempt the
extraordinary government into following the examples of First
Emperor of Qin!
