Unfortunately, Singaporeans have a short memory, and one can
only wonder what is the threshhold in its propensity towards the
"pain" that is regularly inflicted on its psychic.
The economy took a slide since 2002, deepened during 2003 - all of
which required us to make sacrifices in cuts to our pay and CPF,
with property prices plummeting (-40% for Private Properties, and
about -20% for HDB units).
These cuts were moderately replaced in late 2004, but have we
forgotten that before the cuts were fully replaced, and with an
unemployment rate still hovering at 4%, we saw price increases in
transport fares, petrol prices, fees for all kinds of services
provided by the Government and its Government Owned " Private
Enterprises " - hospital and medical fees, education fees, HDB
charges, Utilities - all of which took a hike of at least
10%.
With pay increase of less then 5% in 2004, and the 20% pay and CPF
cuts only moderately replaced, the 10% price increases cut deeply
into Singaporean plans.
During 2004, before Singaporeans were able to get back the full pay
and CPF cuts, and with the unemployment rate still at an all time
high of Singapore history, we saw the full replacement of the 10%
pay suspension of Ministers and Civil Servants.
It was also during 2004, that the Government decided that all
future HDB sales will no longer be financed by HDB, and that
Private Banks will take over the financing role based on NORMAL
COMMERCIAL TERMS - Singaporeans are now left on its own, with the
HDB homes open to seizures during mortgage defaults.
On top of this threat to the individual Singaporean's security, the
Government (aka the Ruling Party) and the NTUC (run by the Ruling
Party) combined efforts to convince Singaporeans to accept a new
Employment Plan of SHORT TERM CONTRACTS.
Can anyone still take on a 20 Year Home Financing Plan when one's
career is tied to a 5 Year Contract ?
Are there any bridging schemes to tied over the period of being
JOBLESS - between one short contract to the next ?
Our Economic Future rests very much on the Political Future, and
OUR Political Future also depends very much on our Economic
Situation.
Should Singaporeans subjugate its Political Future to that of its
own Economic Future, and in the process tolerate abuse to its own
Political Rights and its own Human Senses ?
Have Singaporeans forgotten to put in place a TRULY INDEPENDENT
check and balances to moderate the powers of ONE - whether it is
ONE Person, or ONE Family ?
Do we need another shock on the same scale as the NKF to awaken
ourselves that the " Power of ONE " can only lead to more abuses
and trouble ?
We are constantly reminded of the vulnerability of Singapore
because of its size, does it not make it even more vital that a
strong political institution of INDEPENDENT CHECKS and BALANCES
should be in place, so that we do not need to depend on the "Power
of ONE" in the Future ?
Can we ever ensure ourselves that any other future "Power of ONE"
can be as " incorruptible " as what we "see" (??) at the present
?
With so much smoke screen that is raised and issues shrouded by the
Secrecy Act, and information only released on a "need to know
basis" - can we be certain that what can be " seen " is the true
present picture ?
The fact that the present "Power of ONE" has adamantly refused to
allow checks and balances to its present supreme position will
already have sounded alarm bells in us, and yet Singaporeans remain
complacent and helpless to this threat to the Political
Future.
NKF has already proven the weakness and non-dependable position of
the "Power of ONE" type of Management, we should awaken ourselves
of the same being practised at the National Level.
