TR EMERITUS

One of the things I noticed about getting older was the fact that people started to treat me a bit more seriously. The one demographic that seemed to treat me more seriously were younger women and as I’ve blogged previously, its fun to have a young chick drop enough hints that you’re interesting until your kid tells you that you’re behaving like a “Disgusting Old Man.” I’m bringing this up because there’s a new phenomenon in politics – “Cool Old People.” The most prominent instance of the “Cool Old Person,” is in the USA. The election in November will be between Donald Trump who is 74 and his possible opponents, which include Bernie Sanders (age 78), Joe Biden (age 77) and Michael Bloomberg (also age 78). The only exception among the current Democrats is Mr. Buttigieg, who is a sprightly 38-year-old. Interestingly enough, Mr. Sanders, who is the current front runner is most popular among young voters (my younger brother’s friends are all proud Sanders supporters), while the youthful Mayor Pete is more popular with older voters and struggles with the younger crowd. Here in Singapore, the coolest thing in politics is Dr. Tan Cheng Bok, the Secretary General of the newly formed Progress Singapore Party (PSP), who is a sprightly 79-years old. I’ve mentioned in my previous post “Grandpa’sRevenge,” that the most striking thing about being in a PSP gathering is the fact that nearly one was over 45 but also highly energized. While you would not associate the term “rock star” with a 79-year-old, Dr. Tan was certainly that. Why is it such that we’re now seeing a group of old people being so cool with the kids? Perhaps it has something to do with old people being able to speak their mind and being able to address the issues that interestingly enough, affect the young. In Singapore, the PSP have very cleverly made the issue of affordably housing one of their teams. In the USA, it’s 78-year-old Bernie who is discussing things like “Medicare for All,” and forgiveness of student debt. If Bernie Sanders is currently front runner for “most popular granddad,” it’s because he actually is the granddad speaking for the issues that matter to the kids, which somehow the parents don’t want to discuss. Having the prefix “grand” next to your family title gives you certain peculiar privileges with kids. I think of my recent trip to Vietnam where I got to hang out with my grandnephew Krishna who described me as “my best friend.” The question is simple – how many of us were actually closer to our grandparents than to our parents? I’m sure many would say that they have great memories of their grandparents, the figures who were had been there and did that and could tell you that your parents were fussing over something that didn’t matter all that much and what really mattered was love and concern. In politics, we’ve talked of “Dad” issues like defense and security and “Mum” issues like education. Well, we have “Grandparent” issues, which are essentially the issues parents think of but they go one step further. Grandpa knows that education is important but he also understands you shouldn’t be crippled by student loans. Grandpa understands that knowing how to fight is important but it’s easier to be friends with people than to bully them. People facing the “Cool Grandpa’s” should never dismiss them for being old. They should remember grandpas have grand kids who will stick up for their grandparents.   Tang Li *The author blogs at https://beautifullyincoherent.blogspot.com/   .    Read More →

By now, many Singaporeans would have heard Chan Chun Sing’s “leaked audio” recorded during a meeting with local business leaders. Some would feel smug because they were not the “disgraceful idiots”, others will no doubt feel slighted, embarrassed, angry or even ashamed for thinking of their family in a crisis. While some have praise Chan Chun Sing for being wise, his candidness belies some traits Singaporeans should feel very worried about especially because this man is a Minister in government, no less. This Minister feels it’s ok to call people “idiots” and “disgraceful” because they’re actions don’t sit well with him, rightly or wrongly so. Even children know name calling is a form of bullying. Whatever your issue with another person, name calling is never ok. It puts down another person and many times, cause them distress and embarrassment. It is degrading. Chan Chun Sing has now glorified and normalized name calling when someone acts in a manner you deem inappropriate. To him, it is funny even. In his tirade, he mocked people’s fears without attempting to show any understanding and compassion. Fears are real. Singaporeans witnessed deaths during SARS, including big name doctors who were supposed to be experts at prevention and cure. Covid-19 has killed doctors in China too, especially one famous whistle-blower. Oftentimes, fears are not rationale. Even the PAP government acts out of fear. It hoards trillions of dollars in reserves, against many economists’ views of what is sufficient, instead of spending more on healthcare and supporting the vulnerable adequately. Mockery, name calling, repeating rhetoric and pushing out propaganda is not the way to address fear. Instead, educate people with facts, like one posted on Science Insider where two medical professionals in the US shed light on some myths about Coronavirus, and explain why those are untrue. They did this in a respectful manner, seeking to educate rather than disparage myth-holders. To Chan Chun Sing, people who rush to stock up on essentials are those who “never think”. That’s his perspective. It is true that many hoarders can’t think straight. Fear does that to you. By calling hoarders “idiots” and “disgraceful”, and asking people to tell off others, he is encouraging divisive behavior in the society, dividing the nation into those who are “wise”, and those who don’t know any better. Divisive politics has been a hallmark of the PAP government, from the education system where we stream the “smarts” and the “normal”, to socially where we have the “aristocrats” that Singaporeans must listen to, and economically, where the haves (elites) can demand for millions in salaries and the have nots should learn to tighten our belts. Even the Presidential Election is now dividing Singaporeans further by race. Chan Chun Sing is also myopic. He did not stop to consider why some may buy in bulk. My parents live in Bedok South, a neighbourhood with many elderlies. On the same floor as them, there are 3 elderly households (one old couple, and two widowed elderly). Every time my mum, who is herself in her 70s, go to the market or coffeeshop, she buys for them as they are frail. When Covid-19 gripped Singapore, she took her trolley and toddled with my elderly dad to the supermarket. They loaded it with canned foods and 8 packets of toilet rolls. It was no easy feat for my elderly parents to lug all those goods back, and here’s the breakdown: 8 packets of toilet rolls – one for her and my dad, one for the old couple, one each for the two widowed elderly, two for my household, and two for my sister’s household (because we have young children). After distributing the canned foods, each elderly household, and she and my dad, had 2 canned luncheon meat, 2 canned preserved vegetables, 2 canned preserved peanuts. She was apologetic that she couldn’t buy any for my sister and I because they couldn’t carry more. Two for each elderly household is hardly hoarding. When my mum called me to tell me to go to her house to pick up the toilet rolls for my family after work, I was shocked. I told her she should have asked us to buy what they needed but her rationale was that we won’t have time between work, kids and cooking. To Chan Chun Sing, my parents are idiots who don’t think, and are a disgrace to Singapore. To me, my parents are heroes who overthink … for others, to the point of inconveniencing themselves. There are others who buy in bulk to donate, as we have seen on social media since the outbreak. So, if an attendee at Chan Chun Sing’s meeting should see someone buying in large quantities, should they approach and scold first without understanding? Some of you may like to think acts of sharing are minority cases but many families help one another when doing purchases because everyone else is working or caring for someone at home. It is not uncommon. My sister-in-law has a car therefore, would buy groceries for her mum, her sister’s family and us when she does a run. Chan Chun Sing is the Minister for Trade and Industry, and Minister-in-charge of Public Service. His poor command of English (doesn’t know what is “sia suay” in English), tactless criticism of a foreign leader and the lack of empathy for the public make a mockery of the offices he hold. What’s worse, he even encourages business leaders to laugh at and scold Singaporeans who exhibit certain behaviour. These leaders are our employers. Now do we still wonder why the “leaders” of our community see themselves as higher than others? Chan Chun Sing also revealed that the Government issued surgical masks to make people feel “shiok, shiok”, and in order not to get a scolding from the people. He is also willing to “gamble” over greater good. Is that sound leadership? It makes me wonder what he prioritises when making decisions. I would hope the government make good and responsible decisions that are prioritized in this order: people (lives), economy (money), stuff, and not the other way round. Chan Chun Sing, in his capacity and representation of the Government shows he is myopic, unsympathetic, elitist, and a bully. Singaporeans should be worried about such attitude because our everyday lives are impacted by their decisions and actions.   SIDame        Read More →

Most people find that they have to carry too many cards. That's right. Each person should be required to carry no more than (say) 6 cards. Each card should be actively used. These 6 cards card be: a) an identity card b) a transit card c) a credit card d) an employee or school card e) a cash card (but it must be universally accepted) f) whatever if your favorite. I get annoyed with the PG or the MG card or the PA card. They are not well used, except for getting discounts. Why not use the NRIC for discounts? We need to have a universally accepted cash card. To make it possible, the cash card should be easy to use, low cost and convenient. The NETS cash card or the EZLink card is not well used because the merchants find the device to be too expensive (even on monthly rental) and the transaction fee to be too high. I developed the Tap Pay card to be the solution. The merchant can use the mobile phone or tablet as the device to process the payment card. This will bring the cost down to an attractive level. If the retailers, hawkers and merchants like it, it can take off. Watch this video Tan Kin Lian      Read More →