The Residents of Springlead Estate
could prepare a list of issues to be brought up for LHL to address;
and these could include the following :
Is there any justification for ERP Charges to be increased along
the CTE, when it was not designed for the expected traffic loads
that is clearly to be expected from the heavy public and private
housing developments in the Yishun-Sembawang-Woodlands area.
The CTE was designed in the late 1970s, constructed in the late
1980s, and opened for use in the mid-1990s; and the moment the CTE
was opened for use, traffic build-up was almost immediate, and in
next to no time, log jam during peak hours showed that the design
of the CTE did not consider traffic growth for the 21st
Century.
Compared to the AYE and PIE, the design of these expressways were
good to be used for more then 8 years before there was any need to
improve to allow it to carry a higher load of traffic flow and at a
faster speed.
Taxes - direct and indirect taxes that are shrinking the available
funds even to the higher income group, how will this affect the
lower income groups ?
Perhaps LHL can provide some conceptual framework - if no clear
idea is available - concerning his government intention to ensure
no Singaporeans are left behind ?
LHL should be questioned about the Temasek-Shin Corp transactions
that has resulted in a loss of at least 40 per cent value of the
invested amount, and the political fallout in the warm friendship
that Singapore had with Thailand for decades.
He should be asked to clarify his "PAPa's " statement that Temasek
takeover is completely above board, when the multi-tier proxy
ownership is obviously contrary to Thai Law on Foreign Ownership of
Public Companies.
It was totaly ingenious for the Straits Times to publish recently
the close copy of Temasek's multi-tiered proxy arrangement with
that of the Norwegian Telco - in its total ownership of a Thai
Telecom Company through proxy arrangements. Is it correct for us to
believe that with the precedence of others having done wrong and
managed to circumvent the law, it becomes correct and prudent for
our law abiding state owned corporation to follow such dubious
arrangements ?
LHL should be asked if the Civil Service, the Police and the SAF
will be neutral and respect the Constitutional Process in accepting
the Election Results - in the event that an Alternative Party
should be elected to form the next Government ?
Will the Ruling Party gracefully step down, or will it instigate a
Constitutional Crisis ? Is our Elite from the Ruling Party
politically mature to ensure that our Election System will allow
for a peaceful and orderly transition and handing over of
government between elected political parties ?
The Residents of Springleaf Estate are mostly professionals,
businessmen, and are worldly wise; and unless they prefer to be
"politically safe than sorry" - there is little to be expected from
this LHL visit to this Estate.
