TR EMERITUS

Singaporeans are very smart. They want to have a democratic govt that takes care of the people. They know how to choose. Where can you find such a govt? Which country has this kind of govt? Most of the democratic countries end up being corrupt. They take care of the rich and the cronies. Why is this the case? It is in the nature of the democratic process. Under a democratic process, one has to be elected by popular vote. The voters need to be "bribed" with goodies or with promises. It is costly to give them goodies or promises. The candidates need a lot of money to run a campaign. They depend on the rich to finance them. So, the winning candidates are obligated to take care of the rich and the cronies. Look at America. It is as corrupt as it can get. Look at one democratic country after another, including those nearer home. If the democratic process is likely to be corrupt and the govt has to take care of the rich and the cronies, it is better to go for another govt. The alternative is a communist govt that has, as its core principle, the goal of uplifting the working class and the poor. Can a communist govt be corrupt also? Yes, it can . But, it can also be relatively clean. In today's age, where many bad deeds can be publicized through social media. The obvious corrupt practices, such as demanding and collecting bribes, can be identified and dealt with. It is more difficult to deal with the subtle corrupt practices, such as nepotism and cronyism, hiding under the guise of democracy and meritocracy.   Tan Kin Lian      Read More →

Millions of residents had left virus city Wuhan prior to the complete lock down, according to local city officials. The mayor of Wuhan, Zhou XianWang said on Sunday (26 Jan) that about 5 million residents – nearly half of the city’s 11 million population – had left before the lock-down was initiated as part of an emergency measures to try to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Among the millions that have left, thousands had flown to Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Japan  – although the five most popular destinations of those leaving Wuhan were in neighbouring Henan province, reported China Business News (CBN). The paper reported that Thailand was the most popular foreign destination for tourist from Wuhan between 30 December to 22 January, the day before the epicentre of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak was locked down. Citing figures from Flight Master (a travel platform popular in China), CBN reported that during that period more than 11,000 tourists flew from Wuhan to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and another 9,000 to the Thai capital’s Don Mueang International Airport. Singapore Changi Airport and Narita International Airport in Tokyo respectively received 10,680 and 9,080 passengers, while more than 7,000 flew to Hong Kong, the paper said. It has been estimated that more than 7 million Chinese tourist are travelling all over the world during the Lunar New Year holiday season. Meanwhile, the authorities in Singapore have setup a multi-ministry taskforce to combat the Coronavirus and any eventuality. The taskforce has announed a host of new measures which include enhanced checks and screening and compulsory leave for people returning home from China, all of which are designed to combat the spread of the virus. Singaporeans are also advised to avoid travelling to mainland China if it is not essential travel. Effective Wednesday (29 Jan), passengers with Hubei passports will undergo checks, additional attention will be placed on flights from mainland China. and temperature screening will be done at airports for all incoming flights. New measures will also be imposed on students and workers coming back from mainland China. Individuals who have travelled to China in the last 14 days will have to undergo health monitoring with temperature checks twice a day for two weeks from their return as well as make declarations concerning their travel and health to their respective organisations. Anyone with close contact with vulnerable populations, such as those in the eldercare, pre-schools and healthcare sectors, will have to take 14 days of compulsory leave of absence upon returning to Singapore. To date, the Coronavirus has caused 81 deaths and infected about 2876 throughout the world. [ Latest Updates ]   * Source: China's NHC, state media, other authorities.      Read More →

Language aside, the general school facilities and resources in Indian government schools are not comparable to Singapore government schools, and Indian teachers and students often work and study under adverse conditions. I have often wondered how Indian government schools, despite their inadequate and commonly antiquated education facilities and resources, can produce talents in demand by a first world country like Singapore. There must be something unique (almost magical) about the Indian government schools, their education administration and education Ministry, Ministers and their officials.... How much of the Indian talents are “real” talents that Singapore cannot survive without them? How can India produce the first world talent when Singapore cannot despite our good education facilities and model?.... Lastly, if a Third World country like India can produce First World talents which Singapore must have to survive, why can’t First World Singapore produce the talent investors require (though not in the same numbers)? It is only when the PAP government is really taking serious actions (rather than their ‘fanciful talks’) to control the inflow of foreign talents especially from India can our well-skilled and educated Singaporeans remain in employment without fear of unfair competition. Kok Ming Cheang The above statements from Kok Ming Cheang's article in the TRE are something that I have been musing about and perplexing to many Singaporean PMETs that have lost their high paying jobs to foreigners especially those from India. Amusing to me is one thing, but pain and suffering to the affected PMETs and their families is another. And to those that paid lip service to the suffering of this group of Singaporeans and claiming that they understood their pains and empathise with them,with their lives while they live their lives of aplenty because of their million dollar salaries, is another. This is very serious matter and should not be taken lightly.  The reason 'wayang' as some in the social media have said about the sudden interest in MOM to right the decades long wrong to the Singaporean PMETs and their families hopefully is not really just another wayang because election is around the corner. Is there anything wrong with this education conundrum or something is wrong with the facts? Is it true that third world Indian education is producing all the talents that first world Singapore education is unable to produce? Or is it true that Singapore's first world education is not producing the talents that first world Singapore needs, ie failure in the Singapore education system? Something is very wrong. Something is fake, cannot be both. Either Indian education is really good and producing good talents for Singapore or it is not. Or Singapore's education is really producing duds despite its claim of being world class or it is not. What is fake, which part is fake? Can Singapore, after spending so much money to have a world class education system is not really what it is, everything is fake, fake world class education therefore unable to produce the talents it needs?  Or India's third world education is producing fake talents that the stupids in Singapore cannot tell the difference and took them in as talents?  Which is which? What is real and what is fake?       Chua Chin Leng *The author blogs at http://mysingaporenew.blogspot.com/      Read More →