i just saw a fb status which made me wonder... if you disagree with the gov so much, why stay? you want change, the government had changed, well, somewhat, with a new cabinet sworn in today, with new people sworn in, while some of the old "stepped down".. maybe i'm too forgiving, in the sense that i don't judge by their "past mistakes".. the post that got me thinking was this: "after nkf, gerald ee is to oversees ministers pay... more golden taps?" frankly speaking, gerald ee was not part of the golden taps sega that was due to misappropriation by the management of nkf... in fact, he was part of the external body that oversees the various charities in singapore, and not decide how the individual charities should spend their cash... maybe some might find such organisations indirectly responsible for the scandal since it was suppose to ensure that such thing do not happen... to me, it is not the organisation's responsibility that such unfortunate thing happened. it is like saying your parents/guardians are at fault since you failed your exams/committed a crime since they are responsible for you...
nevertheless, a new era for singapore had begun, with old man no longer involved in the cabinet... i think that was what most singaporeans want.. for him to relinquish his reigns and allow singapore to grow up without him guiding, after being coddled for so long.... like parents do when their babies grow up...
mich..
9:34 pm
I'm back again. Elections results were released late last night, into the wee hours. PAP won most seats, only losing to WP for 1 GRC and 1 SMC. SMC was retained by WP and the lost of the GRC resulted the lost of a very prominent well liked cabinet minister. All in all, I feel that the results are good. I still trust PAP ruling, with more Opposition voices (6 from WP) and another 3 more as NCMPs. One would think that many are happy with the results. A good credible opposition team being part of the parliment, despite the lost of some ministers. Furthermore, most wins are quite close, with opposition receiving at least 33% of the votes in each constituency. This shows how much the citizens are losing faith in the government, and that the incumbent have to work harder the next 5 years to win the overall 40% over. I don't know whether I should be disturb over some posts floating around the new media. Excluding posts regarding certain individuals, some comments on the results were quite disheartening. A friend posted a tweet post where some of the incumbent supporters were lambasting the GRC that was won by the opposition. Said friend commented on her post: what are these young people thinking? I don't know what the incumbent did to her that made her so strongly against them, but I feel that each have their own views and we should not criticise them. Perhaps from those young citizens point of view, they felt that the incumbent had did good overall despite their shortcomings. We have no right to criticise them for thinking differently from us. As I mentioned in my previous post, will relationships shatter due to different political leanings? I find myself leaning towards the practical side, taking things as they are. Housing is expensive. Yes. But I don't discredit the incumbent just because of that. Cost of living - well everywhere is increasing, and if you look at it properly, Singapore is still a pretty much livable place. On the policy regarding the Casino - gambling is wrong and affects alot of innocents. By having casinos build here, the government are increasing the temptation. True, but looking at another point of view, people gambles regardless whether there's a casino here or not. I guess it does bring revenue into the country, somehow.. As many says, its a chicken and egg theory. Look at USA, every 5-6 years they change their government. 1 term you see the democrats, the next you see the republican as the citizens will find that this party did not deliver, so they move on to the next. I find that everyone should just live with the results. The incumbent are threatened, they even lost a GRC. Give them a chance to repent, like we tried to give opposition a chance to stand out. Whether you like it or not, they are the parliament. If you hate them that much, during the coming 5 years, keep voicing out and not wait till campaign period to voice your grievances...
mich..
3:35 pm
its polling day tomorrow... can't wait for the GE to end.. its getting a little bit out of hand.. and it is not because plenty of people are against pap and supporting the opposition.. nor it is because the oppositions are united against pap.. it is more of the media that is getting out of hand... especially new media.. 100% of alternative media dissed the ruling party, writing out their bad points and such.. which is normal for them.. they are after all an ALTERNATIVE media. if the mainstream media is more ruling party prone, doesn't it makes sense for the alternative to lean the other way? i'm fine with that. what making all these out of hand are the new-media --- facebook... it started out fine, where people post news regarding the GE.. mainly on the rallies each candidates held.. which is good as not all are able to attend the rallies but they at least get to know what the candidates have to offer. unfortunately, some voters went further by sharing the news.. which mainly focus on A) a particular party, B) the candidates or C) both options A and B.. ok.. these people want to inform others what kind of jokers are our candidates and who to vote for.. but after a while.. it gets irritating.. the facebook feeds are flooded with such news.. 99% of them are bias.. why do i say that? they all focus on what lousy job or person the ruling party or candidates are.. so do we still want them? some are more balance in their views.. i applaud to that.. i don't mind you showing support for the party you want to be in... and help in their campaigning... but there have to be a limit for that.. (i think that's where pap loose out as they are mainly using traditional methods whereas the oppositions are using new media to get the younger generation's vote...) cooling day is today yet some people are still "informing" others on the candidates... forgetting that it is a form of campaigning.. campaigns are performed to inform voters and sway voters to their side... which is what the news do... since pap is crappy in terms of eq and work.. we better vote for opposition since they don't threaten us outright... well my take is opposition also did threaten us subtly as we continue to suffer if we don't have opp in the parliament.. doesn't that boils down to the same thing? i threaten you you threaten me... of course not many see that way.. i know of some people who are adamant of having opposition in (good to have them in as more voices) but i find that they are quite mislead... to them, any opposition is better then incumbent.. i said it before and i said it again, that is what scares me.. for voters to vote without proper thinking.. i do hope its all talk only.. i found it very real as people i know well are very against incumbent (at the same time forgetting the good that they did do) and leap at all sorts of news that paints the incumbent candidates in a bad light.. not verifying sources and twisting the words of people who doubts some of it.. but if the same news happens on the other side, they question... why is there such a huge divide??? this happens really close to home when an uncle was just happily sharing an alternative news article with us.. i found the article quite unbelievable, not because i know the candidate (i don't even know who the hell is the guy) but the way the article is wrote.. it is written by an ex mrs candidate (yup that's what the name quoted in the article) and how her ex husband who is a current candidate cheated on her for his assistant even though they have 2 children... come on.. at least give a real name lah.. so i questioned its authenticity.. aunt A said it is true as it is written on a cna forum.. i was like right.. forum.. but never mind.. good to check it out.. AND in the forum, someone gave the link of where the quote came from and people start commenting on it.. some of course believe it.. some question.. don't know whether to believe it or not.. i went to the link provided.. where the real source came from and was sorely disappointed. the article had nothing to do with the candidate having affair... it was the writer's view on what some of the candidates said or did during their past terms or campaigns.. however as i read through the comments.. a certain ex mrs candidate appear as the name of the person commenting.. and just said what was being shared by many.. the moderator even said that if u are real, please come fwd so we can video interview you.. no such thing happen.. so i feedback back to my family... in a way i was trying to tell them don't believe everything u read or hear... aunt B agrees with me.. adding on that xxxx words cant really be trusted.. but the aunt A twisted her words and said that since they are xxxx therefore it is true... the other aunt and i sweat drop.. she even replied back that the 1st aunt did not get the point.. same aunt also commented on my facebook status "begging" people to stop posting news regarding GE as its already cooling day.. so all campaigning got to stop.. she said it is very unlikely to happen as cooling day is proposed by incumbent and they will find loopholes.. i was like CANT YOU READ?? sheesh.. i sorta blasted her for not reading her.. and i'm kinda afraid she will take it to heart and says i'm rude... oh well.. sometimes i hates ge.. people only choose what they want to read and believe (that's human nature.. i cant fault that) but sometimes i feel it breaks ties? i'm not say a pro incumbent.. neither am i against the opposition.. its just that i find voters trying to "persuade" other voters to their side is irritating.. and unfortunately, many don't realise they are doing it unintentionally... each are entitled to their own views.. if i support the candidate different from you.. will you hate me??
part of me believe that it is NOT that these people are really die hard supporters of the candidates (regardless of parties) but more of it is the FIRST time most of singapore gets to vote, save for tanjong pagar... hence, i'm glad all will be over tomorrow and the same cycle will continue five years from now, whatever the outcome may be... and i'm very sure that regardless of people happy or unhappy with the results, the very same voters will still complain... even if its in their favour...
Labels: GE must means something for me to write about it 3 times so far...
mich..
9:55 pm
I'm kind of afraid for the future of Singapore for the next 5 years. That's right, general elections are around the corner (May 7) and every political parties are heating up in their fight to be chosen. Ruling party aside, I'm a bit disappointed with the opposition parties. Going through their manifesto for the upcoming elections, some to me felt like they are buying votes.
It is true our cost of living is increasing, as with the rest of the world. I seriously doubt decreasing the cost will help in the long term. My question is this: who will bear the cost? Inevitably, the tax payers will bear it - which is you and me. Perhaps it is due to me living overseas for 2.5 years in a city of a developed country that made me see that living in Singapore is relatively cheaper then overseas. Based on dollar to dollar, I can't have a decent meal for $5, neither can I have a maximum transport cost per trip on a public transport that cost $2. A party mentioned that education to be free to all up to secondary level. Well, I guess a free education to all will only benefit those who cannot afford the school fees. With our rising cost of education - namely the increasing need to use technology in the classrooms, again who will bear the cost? Majority of Singaporeans can afford the fees, which is not very high in the first place. Instead, why not offer a scholarship or an interest free loan to those in need to up to secondary level? Why a loan? It is to ensure that the student will actually study and get an education and get out of the poverty cycle. Once the student enters the workforce, he has to pay back the school fees, somehow. This is also to prevent an abuse of the system. Another party mentioned about subsidies for preschoolers and nursery. My stand on this: parents do not need to send their child to a private "renowned" and "good" preschool/nursery. That is a luxury. You can't afford it, just send your child to a cheaper alternative - the public schools. Which preschool your child goes to doesn't dictate which primary school your child will go. Preschool to me is where a child mingles around with children their age and learn the basics. Most Singaporean parents are too elitist in their thinking, while complaining about the stressful environment, forgetting that it is THEM that made it so. I went to a public nursery and kindergarten, mixing with children from my neighbourhood, learning the basics and playing with them, while caretakers get to know their fellow neighbours while waiting for us children to finish our "school". We went to different primary schools, some to schools nearby, others to schools we had an affiliation with, like any other children across the country. I managed to enter my primary school as both my sisters studied there and also through religious affiliation, well mainly it was due to having my sisters studying from that school. Both my secondary and primary schools are not an elite schools, yet I have primary school schoolmates going to the branded/elite secondary schools and secondary school schoolmates that came from the branded/elite primary schools. Yet, most of us had carved a path for our own, some more successful then others. So is it a necessary to pay so much for a private preschool education when a public one works just as well?? Two parties mentioned on decreasing the classroom size to 20. It might be more condusive for learning based on teacher students ratio, however, where are you going to find more teachers? Teaching more classes will just simply increase the teachers workload, as if they are not stressed enough. Even in overseas, public schools classroom size is about the same as Singapore. Junior colleges, pre-U and tertiary institutions' tutorial classes have class sizes about 20, what they forgot is also there are less students in the schools and courses, hence it is feasible. Lectures are usually conducted massed, which is usually made up of all the students in the cohort doing the course. It all boils down to manpower, and the weaker students just have to go for extra lessons. If the child is keen on learning, he will make an effort and approach the teacher after class to clarify any doubts. Another party also mentioned on increasing tuition fees for Singaporeans so reflect our citizenship status and make tertiary education more affordable, and another wanting to increase intake. This party had forget this: Singaporeans do pay lesser then PRs and foreign students. Foreign students taking up the tuition grant have to work in Singapore for 3 years minimum, and contribute to our economy. Sometimes, I wished Australia have the same system as Singapore, as currently, only their citizens and PRs (and those from New Zealand) enjoys the discounted fees. I don't mind taking up the grant, and worked for 3 years in Australia, just to pay a fraction of the cost. Tertiary institutions across the world have rising fees, not just Singapore. My tuition fess in Australia for my university, which is one of the top 5 in Australia is about A$25000 and rising. Residents of Australia and New Zealand pay about 10 - 20% of their tuition fees. Once again, who is going to absorb the addition tuition fees grant?? It is true that tertiary education is good. But do not forget, having too many qualified people will lead to an imbalance workforce. Comparing now to 15 years ago, it is easier to find a graduate now than then. I recall the envy of an European friend I met in Australia. She asked me if I could find work in Singapore just with a degree since I was not furthering my studies. I replied yes, and add on that I could actually find a job with a diploma, although a lower paying one. Her response was that of an envy as she said without a PhD, it is rather hard to get a job in Europe. My colleague's boyfriend who is French, have a hard time finding a permanent job with his Masters degree, as everyone there is equally or better qualified. I have a degree and I seriously don't want to do a job that is of a technical level, and offers a technical level salary. If you can't afford a tertiary education now, and are not able to qualify of a scholarship, worked for it. I do know of many who saved up before pursuing their degree at a later stage of their life. Some worked for a few years, others had their company to sponsor them (as well as a bond), some did part time, and some well, they took a loan, like me. Speaking of bonds, one party commented that they will do away with scholarship bonds, allowing the scholars to have a free range on where they want to utilise their expertise in when they graduate, instead of tying them down to the company that bonded them. From a scholars point of view, it is good to be bond free. But from the bond provider point a view, it might be a wasted investment as not all bond takers will want to work for the bond providers. I will just work with whoever that gives me the best offer, that is how grateful I am, along with most Singaporeans.
Regarding the issues of employment, I do agree on a minimum wage per hour - eg: a minimum of $5/hour based on qualifications and job scope. A fast food employee earns less then $5/h for a long time, it is time to change that. The cost of living is increasing (that can't be help) but the pay is not. Perhaps an increase of wages earned for blue collared jobs will encouraged Singaporeans to pick up those jobs. In most cases, jobs are offered to foreigners because Singaporeans A) find it too degrading for them and refuse to do that kind of jobs B) they asked for higher pay, whereas the foreigners request for lower pay. It is the mentality of Singaporeans that inevitably caused ourselves to have an increase of foreigners on work permit over here. We should all take it to our stride and pick up the jobs. In most countries including the developed ones, they rely on their own countrymen. For example in Australia, their construction workers and odd job workers who are all termed as tradies, are mainly their local people. They take pride in their work and can truly call their buildings Australian made. Of course we do not have the manpower over here, unlike China and India, where their population are way more than ours. So I guess we can't change that fact we need construction workers. Its the service industry that is problematic. Many Singaporeans refused to work in this industry. Singaporeans no doubt are difficult to please, but I guess we just have to smile, and probably bitch about the demanding customers behind their backs to feel better. Employees do need to hire residents first, and if the need required, PLEASE PLEASE have some quality checks. Don't just employ. It irks me to be served by someone who CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH!! It is after all the country's first language. What irks me most about foreigners is that they refuse to assimilate to the "culture" here - speak simple English, good hygiene etc. What they need to remember is this: they are in another country, don't try to "covert" the country to that of your own. With a change in mentality and an increase in wages, I believe we might have some improvement on the blue collared front. One party mentioned on the reliant of the current ruling party on MNCs and if they are in the parliament, they will push for less reliant on them and support the SMCs instead. To me, this is not a very smart move as Singapore do not have resources. SMCs alone cannot sustain our economy. It states that MNCs will employ the cheapest labour, hence looking across our waters for staff. What they forgot is that MNCs do need to have a quota of Singaporeans employed as stated by EDB. Furthermore, MNCs mainly hires the person with the best ability, and they do pay more or have a better benefits, which most SMCs or local companies lack. I went for jobs interviews from both local and foreign companies, the local company thinks I asked to high (which is not the case) and the foreign companies gave me a better benefits. Needless to say, if possible, I would rather work for a foreigner than a local. It is the SMCs that goes for the cheaper labour, not the other way around. Get your facts right.
On housing, some parties mentioned of having private developers developing affordable housing on to of HDB providing public housing to the population. How that is feasible I have no idea as private houses are never cheap. Furthermore, it is to provide competition to HDB!! How are these private housing going to be considered public? Who will managed them? The building management? How is that going to be like HDB, which is managed by town council aka HDB aka the government??
These were some of the things the various parties touched on in their manifestos, that I'm more concerned with. As such, it is a disappointment when they don't really think much into the future. Actions first think later usually ends up badly. While it is good to pressurise the ruling party and bring them down from their high horses, it is also good to consider the opposition candidates carefully. 5 years can cause a lot of changes to the country. Everyone says we need to give the opposition chances. But if they give us this kind of plans, I would rather have the ruling party instead. My main fear is that some voters are so insistent of having an opposition in the parliament that they won't vote carefully and conscientiously. I'm happy with my life here with not much of complaints. Maybe I'm pro ruling party, maybe I'm just someone who is easily contented. One thing for sure, I'm glad I don't need to vote (it is too much of brain power, who you vote will affect the nation for the next 5 years). Many people in my GRC are very disgruntled for not being able to vote and are quite adamantly wanting an opposition. Is it because the rest of the nation except us get to vote? Who knows. As it is commonly known, Singaporeans favourite past time is to COMPLAIN!! *It just simply show how grateful we are*
Labels: My take on the opposition manifestos
mich..
9:27 pm
