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作者:李显涛 叱咤港台的苹果日报据说最厉害就是列表，可以把一个事件/人物的来龙去脉、祖宗十八代都挖出来，让读者一目了然。可是看看咱们这里的报纸，不但不想知道真相，还把采访到资料散落一地，让读者去趴着自行解读，尝试法医CSI的角色，那么这些人的专业到底是什么呢？ 赌场免费巴士突然喊停，国会也开会啦，大家如果希望能够从国会的一问一答知道真相，可能会大失所望，而且这些报道还可能看得很累。 头版，标题为《进赌场本地人　已超过100万人次》的三段报道： 1. “社会发展、青年及体育部长维文医生在国会上强调，虽然政府不会阻止国人到赌场，但是为了减少赌场对人民的冲击，赌场业者的促销策略只可以针对外国旅客，而不能瞄准本地人。两家综合度假胜地所提供的直透巴士，就是越过了这个界线所以在上个星期五被令即刻停驶。” 2. “根据社青体部的调查，滨海湾金沙所提供的巴士，虽然必须付车费，但是所付的款额之后却可以用来抵消餐饮费用，包括赌场内的餐馆。至于名胜世界的免费巴士，周日运行到晚上10时30分，周末或是公共假期前夕甚至到凌晨2时30分。这个时候除了赌场，其他设施早已关闭。” 3. “赌场管制局审查了业者的促销手法以及他们不断往邻里和中央商业区扩大的巴士网络，最终决定下令即刻停止两家综合度假胜地的巴士服务。今后他们只可以在赌场管制宣传条例所列出的特定旅游景点提供载送服务，而且须事先获赌场管制局的批准。” 刊在第12及13版，《名胜世界：提供免费巴士服务　是为圣淘沙注入更多活力》： 1. “名胜世界发言人说，免费巴士服务每天载送约2500人到名胜世界。乘客到综合度假胜地是为了它多样化的设施与服务，包括环球影城、《生之旅》演出、以及各式餐饮服务。他指出：‘所有巴士服务都获得相关的准证及许可，开往综合度假胜地。’” 2. “受影响的巴士业者星运旅游执行董事叶础升受访时，他说：‘我们巴士业者对赌场管制条例不熟悉，因此对条例有所忽略。但为什么当初在申请巴士服务时，陆路交通管理局和公共交通理事会没有要求我们向赌场管制局申请？’” 3. “社体部：终止巴士服务决定并不仓促。上星期五赌场管制局突然下令综合度假胜地马上终止巴士服务，公众质疑这个决定仓促，社会发展、青年及体育部回复时表示，圣淘沙名胜世界免费巴士服务及促销活动启动不久，它已经开始监察工作。” 《国会报道 设跨部门委员会　处理监管赌场相关问题》 1. “社会发展、青年及体育部长维文医生在国会回答谢健平（马林百列集选区）的提问时透露这个消息。谢健平指出，赌场管制局隶属内政部，而全国预防嗜赌理事会却属于社青体部，他提议这两个机构是否可以统一在同一个部门底下。” 2. “ 维文认为赌场所牵涉的问题复杂，不可能由单一部门来处理，因此一个集合了各部门代表的跨部门委员会将会更有效。维文说：‘我们需要更完善的沟通和协调。其 实这个议题牵涉到的不只是内政部和社青体部而已，它和交通部及贸工部也有关联。今后这些问题将由易华仁所领导的委员会，以更全面及更透彻的方式来探讨，把 所有不同部门的考量都综合起来，我想长远来说将更有效。’” 解读出来的结果是： 当两家IR要搞组屋免费巴士接送的时候，社青体部维文部长底下的全国预防嗜赌理事会，一定有人认为既然是“综合度假村”搞免费交通，当然不 关他们的事，于是就把他们转给陆交局和公共交通理事会去处理，并且很顺利地得到准证。当时内长黄根成的赌场管制局正蒙头大睡。可是当本地赌徒增加的政治舆 论压力来了，维文不好出尔反尔，于是就摇醒黄根成的赌场管制局出面制止，让陆交局发出的准证食言，然后又想出一个说法来圆谎。这时他们不说①赌场只是IR 的一小部分，名字还叫做Resorts World Sentosa、金沙会展中心；②新加坡是个24小时的活力都市，这两样都不谈了。而是说“因此这两家综合度假胜地的业者，一概不允许直接或间接向国人促销他们的赌场。这个原则在他们投标时就已经清楚列明。政府的立场始终没改变。”——那么以后圣淘沙或者金沙都不能促销他们的旅游景点和会展设施，因为那样都会直接或间接把国人拉到赌场门口，那就罪孽深重了，还有地铁局也应该关闭直通赌场的地铁站…… 我们纳税人用百万年薪请来的部长，原来是坐在办公室整天想着怎么推卸责任，事后搽干净自己屁股的高手。更糟的是，说谎的技巧还不是很高明。 大马论坛  Read More →

In a sign that the PAP is losing touch with the problems faced by ordinary Singaporeans, another PAP MP continues to insist that newly-weds have no problems obtaining a roof over their heads despite the evidence on the ground showing otherwise. When asked by fellow PAP MP Halimah Yacob in Parliament yesterday if HDB may revive a rental scheme for newly-weds who cannot get new flats, Parliamentary Secretary Maliki Osman emphasized that "newly-weds have enough housing options: they can stay with their parents, buy a resale flat or rent." "HDB will look into its feasibility, bearing in mind the housing needs of the different groups which it caters for," he added. The prices of HDB flats have nearly doubled in recent years due to limited supply of flats being built in the face of rising demand fueled by mass-immigration caused by the PAP's pro-foreigner and ultra-liberal immigration policies. While the prices of flats have sky-rocketed, the median salary of the average Singapore worker remains stagnant at $2,400 monthly, forcing many young Singaporeans to postpone marriage and starting a family of their own. Mr Maliki appeared unable to understand the fact that not many young couples can afford to buy resale flats or rent a place at today's astronomical prices. With the cost of living at an all-time high, the middle class is feeling increasingly squeezed with little savings to spare, let alone to have kids. HDB is solely at fault for the present predicament of many newly-weds by its failure to plan ahead by building more flats to meet the expected increase in housing demand. Only 3,183 flats were built in 2008 when Singapore accepted 20,000 new citizens and 90,000 PRs who were allowed to purchase resale flats in the open market by the PAP regime. [Source: HDB Financial Report 2008/2009] As there are insufficient new flats being built to meet the demands of both Singaporeans and the new citizens, many have to purchase flats in the resale market, thereby jacking up prices in the process. Below is a graph illustrating how the rise in the prices of resale flats coincides with the rise in the number of foreigners in Singapore between the years 2000 and 2008, courtesy of Kojakbt, the moderator of 3in1kopitiam: The PAP will probably wait till a few years later when even new flats are priced out of reach of ordinary Singaporeans before they will admit the severity of the problem they have created.     Debunking official myths of HDB flats series: 1 Myth 1: Singaporeans are “owners” of their HDB flats 2. Myth 2: HDB flats are “affordable” to most Singaporeans 3. Myth 3: Rising prices of HDB flats “generate” wealth for Singaporeans   Related articles: >> Mah Bow Tan: Immigrants not solely to blame for rising demand for housing >> Proposed housing rules for Singaporeans and foreigners >> Errant buyers of resale flats now face jail term >> New property rules a ploy to get foreigners to settle in Singapore >> Mah Bow Tan: Property boom in 2007 was “unexpected” >> Singaporeans complain about new housing rules to curb speculation >> HDB releases 3,000 flats in a single day >> Mah admits there is a property “bubble” evolving >> New rules to prevent private property owners from speculating in resale flats >> Mah blames Singaporeans for strong demand in public housing >> Mah: 16,000 BTO flats next year >> Median COVs hit a record high >> $300,000 for four-room BTO flats in Punggol >> Mah Bow Tan: HDB flats are still affordable to first time flat buyers >> Why Mah Bow Tan’s policy of high HDB flats is wrong >> Letter to Mah Bow Tan on HDB policies >> Singaporean want govt to allay anxiety over HDB leasehold >> Mah Bow Tan embarrassed by Reform Party’s Hazel Poa >> Mah Bow Tan: “Unrealistic” expectations to blame for unhappiness about flats >> Taiwanese PR paid record $ 650,000 for 4-room resale flat >> Grace Fu: PRs are helpful to HDB flat owners selling their flats >> HDB launches “traveling exhibition” to trumpet its achievements in the heartlands >> PAP to upgrade 12,000 HDB households ahead of next election >> Mah Bow Tan: We do not want flat prices to go down >> Prices of resale flats to rise further as PR quota reached >> Taiwanese PR offers $50k COV for resale flat >> Mah Bow Tan: PRs have minimal impact on resale flat prices >> No empirical evidence to suggest that public housing is affordable in Singapore >> When will Singapore’s property bubble burst? >> Why HDB is unable to reveal break down costs of new flats now >> HDB to consider introducing rules to curb property speculation >> HDB blames Singaporeans for not selecting flats when given the chance >> Singaporeans worried about retirement after depleting CPF to pay for over-priced HDB flats >> Mah Bow Tan acknowledged that rising HDB flat prices has sparked “fresh concerns” >> PM Lee: Govt does not have control over prices of resale flats” >> COVs of resale flats shooting through the roof >> HDB resale price index hit record high in 2009 >> Singaporean wants PRs to live in rented flats instead of buying resale flats >> Singaporeans wants PRs to be banned from selling HDB flats at a profit >> Shanmugam: Singaporeans likely culprits for driving up HDB flat prices >> Mah Bow Tan: HDB flats remain affordable >> Means testing for PRs to buy resale flats >> Immigration and public housing: should the govt or people plan ahead? >> Grace Fu: hard to predict demand for housing >> Indonesian PR bought 4-room flat at $653,000 >> Mah Bow Tan asks home buyers to be realistic >> PAP MP blames young couples who cannot get a flat for not planning ahead >> Home affordability: HDB versus the public >> Demand vs supply: so many applicants, so few flats >> Number of applicants exceed number of flats >> HDB to increase supply of flats >> Mah: don’t compare with prices in the past >> ERA: 40 per cent of HDB flat buyers are PRs     Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans.  Read More →

A Senior Vice President of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has been sacked for receiving illegal payments and misappropriating shopping vouchers for the promotion activities of the Straits Times handled by his unit to which he voluntarily admitted, the Straits Times reports. In a brief statement released by SPH, it said that "Mr Peter Khoo Chong Meng, 45, senior vice president in the English and Malay Newspapers Division, is being investigated by police." It is not known how the scandal came to light. Mr Khoo also chaired the organizing committee in charge of raising funds for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STPMF). According to Mr Han Fook Kwang, editor of The Straits Times, he believes that STPMF was not involved and he reassured donors that they will maintain the integrity of the fund. SPH, which  is the only print media company allowed to operate in Singapore, was formed in 1984 after the amalgamation of the various papers in Singapore, bringing them completely under the control of the PAP. The present Chairman of SPH is Dr Tony Tan, a former minister of the PAP regime. The Singapore media is ranked a pathetic 133th position in terms of journalistic independence by respected international NGO Reporters without Borders last year.   Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans.  Read More →