Following the speech as reported on Channel NewsAsia, this 2005
National Day Rally speech seems to be light weight in
content compared to those published through the last FORTY
YEARS - when first made by LKY, and followed through by GCT.
PM Lee wants Singapore's service culture to be improved
: - this call reflects the failure in
GCT's effort to build a "Gracious society".
After FORTY YEARS of continuous cacophony from the Ruling Party
that range from cajoling to scolding the Singapore vassals and
minions to obey and perform all the tasks that the Ruling Party has
"set up" - the Singapore vassals and minions are now deeply "SET
UP" into the MATRIX.
PM Lee says Singapore needs to foster innovation to grow
economy : - he said human imagination and enterprise were
what Singapore would need to move on and stay ahead; that is how
the Republic has gone "from mosquito
coils to semiconductors" and "from bee hoon to Biopolis".
Singapore certainly need human imagination and enterprise to take
back the initiative and private enterprise that was destroyed by
the Ruling Party over the last FORTY YEARS.
Singapore has moved from "mosquito coils and bee hoon" to
"semiconductors and Biopolis" - but who are the
owners of the "semiconductor plants"; and who are the developer and
owner of "Biopolis" - as well as holding stakes in the various
Biotech researches that reside in the Biopolis ?
PM Lee announces help for lower income, older Singaporeans
: - "To help narrow Singapore's
income gap, lower income families will receive Central Provident
Fund Housing Grants to help them buy their own homes" .
"HDB flat ownership will be more affordable for lower income
families with this new housing grant" .
Giving with the Left Hand, and taking back with the Right.
The grant is given to purchase HDB flats that will be "designed for
affordability " - but will the affordable HDB flats be liveable
flats ?
"A concern for older Singaporeans is
also the cost of health care - the Medishield age limit will now be
raised from 80 to 85".
"In providing for themselves, Singaporeans must not retire at 55
and live till 80, but should keep on working longer".
Giving with the Left Hand, taking back with TWO Right Hands - keep
on working beyond 55 and pay tax, while the continued income pays
for the Medishielf.
Is the Government topping up into the Medishield, or is the worker
encouraged to work continuously to top up his own Medishield
protection ?
Will the Medishield be sufficient to look after anyone up to 80,
let alone raising it further to 85 ?
Looking at the 'orbituary page' - how many lower income
Singaporeans get the opportunity to pass on after 85 ?
"One way to narrow the income gap is to
help lower income families build up their assets, like subsidising
home ownership and savings".
"The basic principle which we applied in helping low income
Singaporeans, which has worked well for us and we must keep - it is
we go for workfare, not welfare. That means if you work if you are
prepared to help yourself, if you are going to strive I will help
you to succeed".
The Principle of this Self-help Assistance Program has been ongoing
for the last FORTY YEARS, and yet the number of lower income
Singaporeans is growing, with the annual shrinking of the Middle
Income Group.
"Mr Lee also highlighted a subgroup
amongst the lower income families who face multiple problems.
All races are represented but amongst the groups the Malay
community is over-represented. But it's a problem which we have to
address, tackle, and to help these people get their lives in order,
most important to get their children to be sorted out so that
children start off straight in life.
To get lives together, these families will receive help, like
providing them with stable jobs and keeping their children in
school.
Children will also receive more help to break them out of
poverty".
Similarly, this sub-group of Lower Income Singaporeans seems to be
sliding deeper into the quicksand of poverty.
The same "Principle of Assisted Self-Help Program" has been
on-going for the last FORTY YEARS, and the beneficiaries from
sub-group remain largely from the Malay Community; and with the
numbers from the Chinese and Indian Communities also growing in
size.
After FORTY YEARS of persistent effort, and with the problem
growing, is the program designed to fail ?
Singapore needs to reinvent itself into vibrant global city
: PM Lee - "the city must
reflect the spirit of our people - well conceived,
vigorously executed, restrained but high quality, every aspect thought through,
constantly being improved and remade in search of excellence. A
city in our
image - a sparkling
jewel, a home for all of us to be proud of, a home that belongs to
all of us" .
Are Singaporeans empowered to reinvent Singapore, when we cannot
even be allowed to fly the Singapore Flag - until and except with
the approval of the Government a.k.a the Ruling Party ?
Can Singaporeans be allowed to Stand-up and contribute to Singapore
- WITHOUT the need of any Suitability Certificate or be conscripted
by Law ?
Unfortunately, the eloquent call to reinvent is not directed at
Singaporeans, but only to Singapore - a.k.a Singapore Inc., a.k.a
the Ruling Party, a.k.a the First Family.
