TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent A YPAP member by the name of Koh Ming Yeong allegedly wrote a complaint to delphiforums to delete two posts critical of the PAP in the 3in1kopitiam, hosted under delphiforums. According to its moderator kojakbt, the two deleted posts are an article from National Geographic magazine about MM Lee's callous remarks about Singaporeans and a post about disgraced actor Mark Chow, who was charged recently in court for molest as being a PAP member of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. The articles are deleted apparently because they disseminate any inappropriate, defamatory, libelous, threatening, infringing, obscene, or unlawful material or information" and "violate any copyright law, or other intellectual property law." under Delphi Forums term of service. The Temasek Review does not have any specific guidelines regarding the use of our content. Netizens are welcomed to reproduce an excerpt of Temasek Review's articles on their blogs and forums as long they provide a link back to our site. 3in1kopitiam forumers have been embroiled in a protracted flame war with YPAP members since the last two weeks when it was revealed that the YPAP member who taunted one of its forumer "interpretsg" (Alex Tan) for his detention during National Service, has business dealings with Eunos grassroots organizations. Mr Sear Hock Rong started an education service provider in July this year and counts among many grassroots organizations in Eunos as his clients. He is the Chairman of Eunos Community Club Youth Executive Committee. His business partner Mr Fong Yoong Keong is the Vice Chairman of Eunos Zone "3" Resident Committee which is also a client. Despite persistent requests by netizens for both Mr Sear and Mr Fong to clarify if there are any conflicts of interest between their job and grassroots work, they have declined to do so. Mr Sear posted a comment on Temasek Review saying that he does not feel there is a need to "explain anything to anybody" and he challenges netizens who questioned him to make a report to the relevant authorities. In a separate development, Kojakbt has written an email to Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and advisor to Eunos RCs to seek clarification "concerning conflict of interest when Eunos RCs decided to award business deals to their own Eunos RC grassroots members." Prior to setting up his company, Mr Sear was working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he left after a year as his contract was not renewed due to a "D" grading he received for his appraisal. Mr Sear wrote on his blog that: "It was an insult to me, as I felt I never deserved a 'D' grade for my work. I finally made a decision to leave, since there were many unhappy moments in the last one year." The Temasek Review has offered to find a "right platform" for Mr Sear to explain himself to the online community. We are now offering him $300 to do so ($200 courtesy of Alex Tan), but he has yet to give us a reply.  Read More →

By Khalil Adis Singapore´s founding father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, said public flats will appreciate in value as long as the country´s economy continues to grow, reported Channel News Asia. He was speaking at the launch of The Pinnacle@Duxton yesterday. Standing at 50 storeys high, this development is the tallest Housing Development Board (HDB) public housing project in Singapore. The issue on public housing affordability is a hotly debated topic that has divided Singaporeans. Data from the HDB shows that the Resale Price Index (RPI) has continued to climb even further, posting a record 145.2 points for the third quarter. This is a growth of 3.6 percent over the previous quarter. While the record rise has benefitted HDB upgraders, young couples and singles trying to get their first leg into the property market, are finding HDB resale flats far too expensive. The property boom means HDB upgraders made at least S$200, 000 in profit when selling their flats this year. This has enabled them to upgrade to mass market condominiums. Young couples and singles, however, have to deal with rising resale prices and increasing cash-over-valuations (COVs), which have resulted in many deciding to defer their purchase. PropNex notes that the overall median COV for the third quarter is $12, 000. This is a 300 percent increase compared to the $3, 000 figure in the second quarter. The rise in the RPI and COV are due to the lack of supply and increased demand from both Singaporeans and permanent residents. This has prompted the HDB to ramp up supply of its Build to Order (BTO) flats from 8, 000 to 9, 000 units. According to government data, Singapore´s population has grown to almost 5 million. Of this, approximately a quarter of that is foreign workers. The number of foreigners getting permanent residency status also surged more than 11 percent in 2009. MP Dr Muhammad Faisal, an assistant professor of real estate at the National University of Singapore (NUS), recently said young couples who were unable to get an HDB flat should plan ahead. However, some say the onus remains with the HDB as the increase in demand is due partly to the government´s liberal immigration policy.    EDITORS' NOTE: The above article was first published on 13 December 2009 on property reportand is republished here with kind permission from the author.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent The former CEO of NTUC INCOME Mr Tan Kin Lian has spoken out against MM Lee's remarks on Singaporeans being less "hard-driving". MM Lee had earlier made the comments during an interview with the National Geographic magazine more than a week ago. Speaking to journalist Mark Jacobson, MM Lee said he is aware that “many Singaporeans are unhappy with the influx of immigrants, especially those educated newcomers prepared to fight for higher paying jobs.” “Over time, Singaporeans have become less hard-driving and hard-striving. This is why it is a good thing that the nation has welcomed so many Chinese immigrants.” Lee was quoted saying. Lee describes the country’s new subjects as “hungry,” with parents who “pushed the children very hard.” “If native Singaporeans are falling behind because the spurs are not stuck into the hide, that is their problem,” he quipped. In a blog entry written on Christmas' Eve, Mr Tan expressed his dismay at MM Lee's remark: "I find this remark to be quite unfair to Singaporeans. Already, they have to study very hard in schools, such that many children do not have time to play and enjoy their childhood. The male citizens have also to serve National Service.......In spite of these efforts, Mr. Lee said that the Singaporeans have become "less hard-driving and hard-striving". Mr Tan's views were shared by many of his readers who left comments on his blog condemning MM Lee for "insulting" Singaporeans. An anonymous poster wrote that Singapore is not necessarily attracting the best talents from China: "For a country as big as China, obviously there are some places and people there where things are much worse off than Singapore. They even find Singapore attractive despite low wages and poor working conditions when they come here. So Singapore is attracting a lot of such immigrants, not so much as those from richer and more developed areas of China. And in doing so. we are in fact not only downgrading ourselves in quality of living but also create difficulty in seeking a living for a majority of our own people. Of course the ruling and other elite classes are not affected by all this. GDP may grow with such a policy but there are many hidden negative social aspects arising from this." Rex commented in a sarcastic tone that MM Lee is wishing "lazy Singaporeans" a Merry Christmas: "I am shocked to read these disparaging remarks from this old man, not just because of its implications, but also because he is airing bad linen in other's courtyards. Removing all the victorian english aside, LKY plainly told the american media (not S'pore media), "Singaporeans are getting LAZY that's why we have to bring in 25% foreingners to overcome it). What kind of leadership is this? I never heard of it. Analogy: If your children are lazy, is it not your fatherly duty to train and help him with all means possible? Instead, his solution is to kick flesh and blood out of the house and look around adopt another child, without giving his own child a chance. I suppose that his own children and grand children will be exempted from such treatment. I don't believe it. It is absolutely horrifying and outrageous!!! One pertinent point: we cannot compare times of old to present times. 50 years ago, it was a level playing field. Chinese immigrants worked hard together with locals for the same rewards. Today, locals can work hard, but we are bogged down with artificial barriers like high CPF (so employers favour foreigners), NS reservist (so employers favour foreigners) high exchange rate (so foreigners effectively gain more and have more reason to work hard), high HDB prices (foreigners earn singapore money and convert back to their home money and they can afford decent housing) and many other socio economic factors. I was luckily born in a generation when, if you work hard, you will succeed. THERE EXISTS AN INCENTIVE FOR WORKING HARD. Today things are so bad that there is somethings no reason to work hard, because you can't succeed are get rich that way. The Singapore dream is shattered. On the other hand, foreingers have reason to work hard, because the SGP dollar is strong and they can convert back and retire comfortably in their original land. I think it is a very very very sad Christmas present LKY give to Singaporeans. The Great Leader is abandoning us totally, and telling the whole world about it. This is his Christmas present to all of us. Merry Christmas you lazy Singaporeans!" Mr Tan shot into fame last year by holding more than 10 rallies at Hong Lim Park to fight for the rights of the aggrieved minibond investors who lost their entire life-savings after purchasing credit-linked products with financial institutions in Singapore following the collapse of Lehmann Brothers. Mr Tan had earlier claimed he would participate in the next presidential elections if he managed to garner 100,000 signatures from Singaporeans on a petition drive. Nothing has been heard about it ever since. Initially touted as a possible candidate for the opposition, Mr Tan has been keeping his fingers crossed so far. Mr Tan was a PAP member for the last 20 years. He has since terminated his membership. Many Singaporeans do not mind the fact that he was formerly from the establishment. Having an alternative voice other than the PAP to speak up for them in parliament is better than nothing at all. Read the rest of comments on Mr Tan's blog here  Read More →