2009 will test the charactor of Singaporeans

reyes SG

i think what singaporeans need now is not motivational speech but steps and action taken by various singapore authority to address the issues.

1. as the ministers has said, this is no ordinary crisis. We should put singaporeans in priorty in jobs that singaporeans want to do and can do it.

2. experience is something when given opportunity to perform can accumulate. FT come to singapore gain more experience and will leave for another greener pasture. In this case, does ordinary singaporeans really benefitted? or does it benefitted govt tax coffers?

xtreyier my friend, i dont understand why u need to cheer for a foreigner to be temasek CEO. the last top foreigner incharge of a singapore bank, retrench over 450local employees when the banks are still making profits, yes profits not lost. your logic to support goodyear as CEO just wana make me laugh. he is just lucky man, he was at helm of BHP at time when the china and rest of the world are growing due to excess of credit in the market. If singapore wana developed movie industry next time, maybe we need Steven spieldburg to run temasek, GIC, EDB?

xtreyier SG

Dear xtreiyer

Thanks for your comments. While I am losing my keenness to debate with you, I must address some of the points you have raised, if only for the sake of stopping your mis-information from spreading.

My solutions are not self-centred at all, because they make life easier for the common man. As far as depletion of reserves is concerned, surely my solutions won't dent Singapore's wealth any more than Temasek's disastrous investments have already.

"This crisis is biz related. A biz exist to make profits, from sales' orders. This would be how they would earn money to hire people and pay them from parts of the profits earned."

Biz doesn't operate in a vacuum. It cannot and should not function independent of society, government and law. Which is why I disagree with your contention that govt shouldn't intervene in corporate affairs. Of course, I also believe govt intervention should be kept to a minimum in order to let companies flourish.

"While everyone is lamenting and wailing about the crisis, take a good look at the shopping malls - are they totally devoid of customers? Take a good look at our harbour - is it empty of ships? Take a good look at Changi airport - are there no tourists? Take a good look at our factories - have they ALL shut down?"

That's the biggest lie people like you are spreading. Shipping, one of Singapore's lifelines, is in deep, deep trouble. The sector will likely get hammered even more in the coming months, as global trade grinds to a snail's pace.

There is no shortage of crowds at Mustafa or Orchard, but that alone is not an indicator of a healthy economy. People will always shop because they need to survive. However, what CAN be considered an indicator is how many shops/pubs/stores have shut down. The govt is doing the right thing by making it even more easier for people to do business here, but it remains to be seen to what extent it is successful.

Factories? Man, you have no idea what's going on! Many chip companies are slashing production and capacity utilization. Manufacturing will find it very difficult to stay afloat as global demand keeps falling.

And if you read the papers today, you can see tourism is expected to fall this year. From today's Channelnewsasia: "Singapore expects visitor arrivals to drop as much as 11 per cent this year as the global recession curtails consumer spending and holiday plans. Mr Iswaran said 2009 will be a difficult year for the global tourism industry and that tourist arrivals may fall to between 9 and 9-and-a-half million this year. Tourist arrivals fell 1.6 per cent to 10.1 million last year. Total tourism receipts generated are also expected to fall to a range of S$12b to S$12.5b this year, down from S$14.8b in 2008."

That's almost $3 b in reduced income!

Open you eyes, man! You think I am a pessimist but I'd like to see myself as a realist. There's no point pretending we are not in trouble, and that the "spirit of Singapore" will overcome everything. Look at what's happening around in the world and how it is affecting us or will affect us. The government does realize all is not well and has taken some steps: my grouse is that they are not going further, due to this strange fear of "welfare".

Do you need to speak with a 'forked tongue'?

"Losing my keeness to debate with you" and yet you still debate on? and many more other instances of your double speak of which i shall not list to embarass you any further, to keep your youthful naive pride intact.

Misinformation? Since when did i not acknowledge we are in trouble?

The only difference between you and me is that i call for action whereelse you choose to rely on numbers as an excuse to beg!

There is more to biz than just numbers, economists and accounts often makes in processing and analyzing data. If numbers can be relied on, then this financial crisis would have been long averted. The human element is a number you cannot scientifically figure in ANY calculations.

It is far too complex that even E8 theory many not fully diagnose it. Vietnam was a war that McNamara tried to run mathematically based on attrition rate. So much for his theory, and ended up americans being kick off vietnamese roofs and out of the country.

So too, you, a self proclaimed 'realist' is doing the same. This is a crisis, the human element is the solution, not numbers you hold to so much. There is only so much the govt can do, and when our reserves are depleted, you and i will have to start begging.

PS. I am not from the ruling party. My views are my own and am fully responsible. I am only a private citizen offering my insight on free will basis. I will not mislead anyone to presume i am from there or the opposition camp. They have better and more capable officers than i can ever be.

xtreyier SG

i think what singaporeans need now is not motivational speech but steps and action taken by various singapore authority to address the issues.

1. as the ministers has said, this is no ordinary crisis. We should put singaporeans in priorty in jobs that singaporeans want to do and can do it.

BUddy Reyes, since when did i give any motivational speech???!! Do i not speak the truth and facts? I aint no Mark Anthony, that's for sure!

Stevenson101 SG

Not easy to get rid of them though it is possible. All I want is a ruling party that places serving public as the top priority.

We know they are getting worst. I used to respect LKY in the past, but not any more.

This is the point where i disagree with you.

I want a peaceful transition, no matter how you cut it the PAP still has more experience in managing Singapore and is still going to get things done faster and better than a newbie opposition. There would still be idiots in the PAP but considering the sort of education they went through they can't possibly all be incompetents.

It's not about them being better or smarter, it's just that they've been doing it more and already have a more or less effective workflow to identify and handle problems.

If the opposition suddenly wins by a landslide they would suddenly have all the power but no idea how things should be done. Then the scenario of LKY/LHL using the military to "save us" would have a valid reason. In the end, all the people get is absolutely nothing but a brief sense of satisfied spite.

Yes, some of them say really stupid things and should be get rid of. But i do not believe the whole of PAP is staffed by idiots and adopting the view that anyone is going to perform better than them is a recipe of disaster for us as a country.

Thus it becomes our job as citizens to scrutinize the Opposition and ensure they truly understand the responsibility at hand. Being able to make a good speech and saying things we like to hear should not be the only deciding factors.

A ruling party that places serving the public as the top piority is to me at most a pipe dream, something nice to put in a speech but do not accurately describe the true reality of its meaning. The whole idea of expecting the government to assume all responsibility but constantly deny it power to make the neccessary changes is a contradiction to me.

Is not the richest 1% considered the public as well? How about the loudest that calls traitors of the others that do not agree? This is not a imaginary scenario, America has already demonstrate the problems of a democractic electorate that wants the rights of freedom to consume more but ignores the responsibility of being the citizen of a democractic country.

I respect LKY in the sense that he recognises the flaws of humans. He rather have a system that assumes everyone is dishonest than one that assumes all are honest but immediately abused by the dishonest. I merely disagree with him on his method of deciding who is the talent and who isn't but can understand why he has to do it as such.

Corruption? I far prefer an alpha taking more than his proper share than have to deal with pack of wolves fighting over everything and getting nothing done. The whole idea of power is to gain more of it to stay in power, that is the nature of politics i do not see how different it could be under a multi party democracy.

This is my view of it at least.

Cram SG

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/301480.asp

Cram SG

"Do you need to speak with a 'forked tongue'? "Losing my keeness to debate with you" and yet you still debate on? and many more other instances of your double speak of which i shall not list to embarass you any further, to keep your youthful naive pride intact."

WTF? I stated very clearly my response was only to stop your misinformation from spreading. And you call that doublespeak. Do you even know what doublespeak means? You are the one engaging in doublespeak. You make bullshit arguments and when I call bullshit on them you start talking cock instead of refuting the points I raise.

"Misinformation? Since when did i not acknowledge we are in trouble?:"

That's not the misinformation I was referring to, genius. You stated very clearly that you think retail, shipping, and tourism are all in good health. That's misinformation - perhaps I should have just said you were lying, instead of using words like misinformation.

"The only difference between you and me is that i call for action whereelse you choose to rely on numbers as an excuse to beg!"

Bullshit! What action are you calling for? What are your practical solutions, apart from the usual crap about attracting MNCs and cheap foreign talent? And how the hell did begging come into the picture? I never talked about handouts or doles, though I think they would be justified for the poorest.

Look at this: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/301480.asp

This is just the kind of stuff I've been advocating.

Do you agree with such measures? If not, why not? What other ideas do you have? Instead of giving motivational speeches, why don't tell us all what your super plan is for Singapore?

''So too, you, a self proclaimed 'realist' is doing the same. This is a crisis, the human element is the solution, not numbers you hold to so much. There is only so much the govt can do, and when our reserves are depleted, you and i will have to start begging.''

I keep my eyes open, I know what's going on in the real world...I think that qualifies me as a realist.

I agree there is only so much the govt can do, but this govt has not done the maximum it can. That's my point. I think govt can and must do a lot more. The reserves are meant for the people...in times of crisis the govt should dip into them and support the people. And the govt can very easily ease the burden on the people by relief measures like scrapping GST and ERP, or offering educational loan relief.

Now, let us hear from you!

Fantagf SG

actually the title of the article should be :

instead. Ha ha ha!

Stevenson101 SG

"Misinformation? Since when did i not acknowledge we are in trouble?:"

"The only difference between you and me is that i call for action whereelse you choose to rely on numbers as an excuse to beg!"

Look at this: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/301480.asp

This is just the kind of stuff I've been advocating.

Do you agree with such measures? If not, why not? What other ideas do you have? Instead of giving motivational speeches, why don't tell us all what your super plan is for Singapore?

I keep my eyes open, I know what's going on in the real world...I think that qualifies me as a realist.

Now, let us hear from you!

Eh, can you organise your post a little better using quotes? Having a hard time seperating your posts and the quotes.

xtreyier SG

"Misinformation? Since when did i not acknowledge we are in trouble?:"

"The only difference between you and me is that i call for action whereelse you choose to rely on numbers as an excuse to beg!"

Look at this: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/301480.asp

This is just the kind of stuff I've been advocating.

Do you agree with such measures? If not, why not? What other ideas do you have? Instead of giving motivational speeches, why don't tell us all what your super plan is for Singapore?

I keep my eyes open, I know what's going on in the real world...I think that qualifies me as a realist.

Now, let us hear from you!

Calling my request for citizens to go look at our habour if it is devoid of ships is considered 'misinformation'? And you dare deludedly self proclaim yourself a 'realist'?!! You may fool yourself but please, singapore citizens are not fools.

Just on this issue alone disallows me to conduct a respectful discourse with you. I find it hard to respond to your twisting and squirming of issues. Thereore i must apologise and walk away from further debate. You need to go to school, not a debate.

But I am a generous person. Tell you what. You had your say, i had mine. 3 mths later, you or i will dig up this thread and prove who was right or wrong. Let it stand the test of time. If my call for affirmative action was accepted but did not worked, i will gladly accept the condemnation of all here the way Ho Ching had been condemned.

But if your reading of events are wrong, I would not ask the same be done to you. I only ask that you have a more open mind, look towards a bigger picture of our society as a whole, drop your self-centredness, and consider for your fellow citizens, as we citizens are all honour bound to do so.

Cram SG

xtreyier

You are the one guilty of everything you accuse me of. Where have I twisted and "squirmed" issues? You are the one who refuses to recognise the reality, the one who keeps talking bullshit without focusing on actual issues, the problems at hand and how they can be solved. I offer solutions that are aimed at the greatest good of the greatest number, and you dare call me self-centred! I give up.

Anyway, right and wrong don't matter here. What matters is how Singapore will tide over the crisis and how soon.

Fantagf SG

Sigh, just another gazelle.

Cram SG

Hi Stevenson101

Sorry about not organizing the post properly.

Hi Ice Dive

Sorry for the late response. On tuition fees, the difference between payment by citizens and foreigners is not all that high.

See http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/undergraduate/Pages/TuitionFee.aspx

Mastersldragon SG

Guide to the Singapore GE

As per 2006 GE, there are currently 9 Single Member Constituencies (SMC) and 14 Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) - 5 GRCs of 6- seats and 9 GRC of 5-seats, which gives a total of 84 seats.

To rule effectively, the ruling party will have to control two- third of the available seats- 56.

One of the GRCs- Jurong GRC- has 4 MPs due to the death of one of the MP. Calls have been made for a by- election to be held for the vacant ward- Bukit Batok, but unfortunately, it was sidelined by the EXTRAORDINARY government.

No of choices for Singapore voters

For walkovers, there are no choices available for the voters.

For 1 vs 1 contest, there are 3 choices available for the voters. They are: 1) PAP, 2) Opposition party and last but not least, 3) spoilt vote.

For 3- cornered fight, there are 4 choices available for the voters. They are: 1) PAP, 2) Opposition party, 3) another Opposition party or Independent, and last but not least, 4) spoilt vote.

Factors that Singapore voters should consider:

1) 2006 IMF/ World Bank Meeting

2) Shin Corp

3) Barclays

4) 2008 Singapore F1

5) Mas Selamat Kastari

6) ABC Learning

7) Ministerial pay hikes

8) Temasek Holdings

9) Upgrading

10) NKF Saga

11) SAF Saga

12) F & N Saga

13) Hongbao

14) DBS

15) NOL

16) Town councils

17) Statutory boards

18) Structured products

19) Electricity tariffs

20) Singapore financial system

21) Bukit Batok

22) Foreign talents

23) Singapore Flyer

24) SATS

25) SFI

26) POSB

27) Public Transport

28) Internet

29) Job Credit Scheme

30) Third Key

rokprince SG

Whats new? its always the citizens that get tested, never themselves. And for those pap puppies, go suck a cock.

Ice Dive SG

If singapore wana developed movie industry next time, maybe we need Steven spieldburg to run temasek, GIC, EDB?

**Clap hands for the wits

Not that I agree with the logic ..

Fantagf SG

Whats new? its always the citizens that get tested, never themselves. And for those pap puppies, go suck a cock.

Emoticons They are perfect, no flaws. They are the kings and queens and we are the peasants working hard to feed them. We are made to live under their mercy.

Cram SG

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/301698.asp

People already realizing the need to scrap GST! Also the power of free - free entry to Sentosa, Jurong, etc may possibly lead to more visitors. Desperate situation, desperate measures.

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