MOM has only its look-good statistics concealing the real
problem like the number of unemployed for 3 months, 6 months, 12
months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years.
It looks like Minister Ng Eng Hen is not willing to be accountable
or truthful by giving direct figures showing unemployment situation
in Singapore. He is more interested in showing number of jobs
created but not that interested in showing out of the jobs created
how many go to citizens as opposed to foreigners or PRs.
In addition, when the professors at NUS interpreted the MOM figures
as showing a stark picture of unemployment Minister Ng was quick to
blame them for giving false or wrong information which actually was
not caused by the professors.
The talents in our government should in the first place not try to
conceal truths in statistics. For example, Minister Ng could
instead of combining job creations in a merged category of
Singapore Residents (meaning no distinction between Citizens and PR
who are now regarded as residents on par with citizens) provide
separate figures showing citizens who have become unemployed
against periods of unemployment over the longer time frame as many
are still willing to stay employed but were unable to find jobs
after 1999 widespread retrenchments. So those who are still willing
to be employ but are unable to find jobs they should be included as
unemployed and not excluded due to MOM's own definition of no
longer seeking jobs after a shorter period.
To govern a country efficiently with care for welfare and wellbeing
of citizens we must not encourage this kind of practice to use
statistics to conceal unpleasant truths.
The press should be permitted free reporting of news including
their own professional interpretations of data and news so as not
to conceal ugly problems like NKF or Shin Corp or MOM's tweaking of
the unemployment figures.
The statistics on ZAEMites should be fully transparent and
accountable and not be tweaked by any ministers to lessen impact of
unpleasant truths.
There may not be just one case or several cases of suicides or
destitutes. But the press is not giving due coverage of such actual
problems. If government is to change its mindset the first mindset
is to let facts be reported freely as they stand.
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