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Survey finds 30% of Singapore secondary school students claim they have been bulliedSurvey finds 30% of Singapore secondary school students claim... I refer to the CNA report, “An underreported problem? Survey finds 30% of Singapore secondary school students claim they have been bullied.” (May 30) and “Jail for man who punched taxi driver for overtaking him” (June 05). Most of us don’t like to see the occurrences of bullying in schools, as it reflects where...

Trump blinked again on tariffs, but China isn't in the clearTrump blinked again on tariffs, but China isn't in the clear I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: Trump blinked again on tariffs, but China isn't in the clear. (May 15) One deniable fact: There are no winners on either side (between China and the United States) in the trade and tariff war. Yet, Trump still persists to do it. It is not surprising that Trump has increased China's...

Podcasts didn't decide GE2025Podcasts didn't decide GE2025 I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: Podcasts didn't decide GE2025, but they changed how Singaporeans engage with politics (May 9). The 2025 General Election has several features/characteristics that deserve our attention, discussion and reflection: In today era, technological revolution, innovation and advancement...

GE2025: Stunning victory for PAPGE2025: Stunning victory for PAP I refer to the CNA’s report, “GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP, winning 87 of 97 seats with higher national vote share in PM Wong's first electoral test” (May 4). GE2025 has clearly delivered the following key messages/notes from the vast majority of voters: The Workers’ Party (WP) has done a fantastic good...

This is not a game of cardsThis is not a game of cards I can appreciate parties wanting to hold their cards close to their chest, but the smoke and mirrors games on nominations day, the shuffling of the DPM from a seat he had openly been declared to be defending, and other ministers shuffling constituencies leaves one feeling the PAP thinks it is playing a game of cards. Constituency...

Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans? I refer to The Online Citizen GE2025 news report, “Lee Hsien Yang: Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?” - (April 14), and “The Straits Times’ report, “GE2025: Singaporeans will go to the polls on May 3, Nomination Day on April 23” (April 15), and The Online Citizen GE2025 report,...

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝... Is the PAP of today exceptional, with unmatched competence and delivery? Afterall, that is their justification for the highest salaries in the world. Let’s look at its more recent track record. Large numbers of NRIC numbers were recently unmasked, leaving Singaporeans exposed to identity theft, fraud, abuse and scams....

GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit TimahGE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit Timah I refer to the CNA news, “GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC but may make way for Singapore Democratic Party” (April 10), “More opposition 'star catches' are emerging. Is Singapore's political scene maturing?” (April 10) and “PSP says government response to Trump tariffs 'overblown',...

GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited into politicsGE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited... I refer to CNA’s news, “GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited into politics” (Mar 28). It is not surprised to notice that in recent weeks, two NMPs and top ministry officials have resigned, fuelling speculation they could be fielded as potential candidates for the ruling People's Action...

More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote in GE2025More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote in GE2025 I refer to The CNA’s News, “GE2025: More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote” (Mar 25). As Singapore’s General Election is due to be held within this year, the following factors will more or less influence the election situation this year: A)The general mentality of voters Voters are generally...

How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning US supportHow the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning... I refer to the CNA’s commentaries, “How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning US support” (Mar 4), “Lessons from the Trump-Zelenskyy meltdown- for friends and foes” (Mar 1) and “Will Trump tariffs push China to change economic tack?” (Mar 3). Foremost, we need to recognise the reality...

Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum WageSingapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage: National Service Should Not Come at the Expense of Opportunity Costs Singapore’s National Service (NS) has long been a cornerstone of the nation’s defense, requiring young men to dedicate two years of their lives to military, civil defense, or police service. While...

Trump-Putin deal on Ukraine will be Europe’s moment of reckoningTrump-Putin deal on Ukraine will be Europe’s moment of... I refer to the CNA’s Commentaries, “Trump-Putin deal on Ukraine will be Europe’s moment of reckoning” (Feb 20) and “Ukraine can survive with the ‘least worst’ peace” (Feb 22). Now, In the eyes of European Union, they have lost trust and confidence in the United States, it is solely due to the flip flop...

From Deepseek to Huawei, US tech restrictions on China are backfiringFrom Deepseek to Huawei, US tech restrictions on China are... I refer to the CNA’s Commentary, “From Deepseek to Huawei, US tech restrictions on China are backfiring” (Jan 31). Would it be practical, useful and effective for the United States to continually pursue an aggressive containment strategy to hobble China’s tech push? Undoubtedly, the answer is obviously not. There...

Don't get distracted by Trump's outlandish Cabinet picksDon't get distracted by Trump's outlandish Cabinet picks I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: “Don't get distracted by Trump's outlandish Cabinet picks” (Nov 25), and “'No one will win a trade war’, China says after Trump tariff threat” (Nov 26). As everyone knows, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will return to power on January 20, 2025. Trump has dismissed...

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Editorials
Iran’s 'Terrifying' New Arsenal Brings Israel To...

Iran’s 'Terrifying' New Arsenal Brings Israel To...

Iran’s military might continues to keep the world guessing. No one truly knows the full extent of its...
Iran unleashes

Iran unleashes "Doomsday Weapon" the Khorramshahr

After firing 'Fattah 1' hypersonic missiles toward Israel, Iran has now reportedly unleashed the "Doomsday...
Pakistan to nuke Israel if...

Pakistan to nuke Israel if...

Pakistan has conveyed to Iran that if Israel nukes Tehran, Islamabad will launch a nuclear weapon against...
Iran rejects ceasefire, vows retaliation that would...

Iran rejects ceasefire, vows retaliation that would...

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a boiling point as Iran firmly rejects ceasefire negotiations...
Iran burns Tel Aviv with fresh barrage of missiles

Iran burns Tel Aviv with fresh barrage of missiles

In a dramatic escalation, Iran launched a fresh barrage of over 100 missiles targeting the Israeli city...
Iran targets multiple cities in Israel after pounding...

Iran targets multiple cities in Israel after pounding...

Iran dealt a severe blow on Israel for the second straight night on June 14-15. Israel was hit by a barrage...
Iran targets Israel's Dimona Nuclear Power Plant

Iran targets Israel's Dimona Nuclear Power Plant

In a dramatic and unverified claim, Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen news outlet reports that Iran has launched...
Iran's pulverises Tel Aviv with barrage of Hypersonic...

Iran's pulverises Tel Aviv with barrage of Hypersonic...

Iran launched a powerful third wave of overnight missile strikes on Tel Aviv, targeting military bases...
Israel's air defenses breached by Iran's missile barrage

Israel's air defenses breached by Iran's missile barrage

Operation True Promise III intensifies as Iran launches multiple waves of missile attacks targeting major...
Iran launches major retaliatory missile strikes at...

Iran launches major retaliatory missile strikes at...

Iran has launched a significant ballistic missile attack on Israel, with hundreds of missiles raining...
Iran launches hundreds of drones at Israel

Iran launches hundreds of drones at Israel

Following the unprovoked air strikes by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran has retaliated by launching...
Israel launches air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities

Israel launches air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities

Explosions have been reported northeast of Iran’s capital Tehran, according to the state-run news agency...
Real Footage of China's 2025 Flood Crisis in Yunnan...

Real Footage of China's 2025 Flood Crisis in Yunnan...

Devastating floods and geological disasters have struck Gongshan County, Nujiang Prefecture in Yunnan...
Strong hailstorm strikes China's Xi'an causing airport...

Strong hailstorm strikes China's Xi'an causing airport...

On the evening of May 8, Xi’an, the capital city of China’s Shaanxi Province, was struck by a powerful...
Four parties lost their election deposits in GE2025

Four parties lost their election deposits in GE2025

A total of four opposition parties, the Singapore United Party (SUP), People's Power Party (PPP), People’s...
Level 16 super typhoon devastates multiple cities in...

Level 16 super typhoon devastates multiple cities in...

Northern China was hit by an extreme weather event on Thursday as a massive cold front swept south, colliding...
Level 15 winds destroy buildings rooftops and cause...

Level 15 winds destroy buildings rooftops and cause...

On April 30, northern China was struck by an extreme weather event as a massive cold vortex surged southward,...
TR Emeritus to 'shut-up' on 2nd May 2025

TR Emeritus to 'shut-up' on 2nd May 2025

Please be informed that TR Emeritus (TRE) will shut down its comment function site-wide at 0000 hours...
Opinions
Don’t Rock The Boat

Don’t Rock The Boat

Singaporeans are, by and large, practical people, being mainly immigrant stock. They value security,...
Trump and his ilk are at it again

Trump and his ilk are at it again

Trump and his ilk are at it again. They are not going to back down. Yes, it’s Harvard, his eyesore,...
我们是否该重新思考国防开支的优先顺序?

我们是否该重新思考国防开支的优先顺序?

新加坡政府近日宣布将采购两艘额外的“无畏级”潜艇,引发了一个重要问题:我们的国防力量,到底需要多强? 毫无疑问,一个强大且可信的军队对于保障国家主权与威慑潜在威胁是不可或缺的。新加坡地处战略要冲,国土面积有限,因此需要一支现代化的武装部队。然而,当我们对比邻国——马来西亚拥有两艘潜艇、印尼正逐步扩展至十二艘——新加坡在水下战力上已处于领先地位。这不禁让人质疑,我们是否正引领着一场无声的区域军备竞赛? 问题在于:当威慑的需求被满足后,继续扩军是否已经超出必要? 一艘“无畏级”潜艇的估价超过十亿新元,还不包括长期的运营与维护成本。这两艘新潜艇的资金,若能转用于迫切的民生需求,例如医疗保健、老龄化支援、教育及弱势群体扶助,或许对社会的整体韧性更具意义。 政府一再强调国防开支是经过审慎规划的,但当生活成本日益上升,政府却仍需将消费税(Gst)提高至9%甚至更多,这种矛盾不禁令人困惑。如果某些战略性国防项目能够延后或循序推进,节省下来的资源是否可以用于社会发展呢? “全面防卫”不仅仅是硬件实力,更是要赢得人民的心与信任。让人民感到安心、有保障、受到重视,这种安全感无法靠潜艇来衡量,而是通过每一位国人的生活实感体现出来。 这并非是在呼吁削弱我们的国防,而是呼吁我们重新思考国家的优先事项。当我们继续推进军事现代化的同时,也不要忽视同样重要的任务——巩固社会契约、增强国民凝聚力。   Cwc-Ai  
The three of threes about DPM Heng Swee Kiat

The three of threes about DPM Heng Swee Kiat

The first part of the threes is about the when, the how and the why? And it is about his retirement...
我们是否该重新思考国防开支的优先顺序?

我们是否该重新思考国防开支的优先顺序?

新加坡政府近日宣布将采购两艘额外的“无畏级”潜艇,引发了一个重要问题:我们的国防力量,到底需要多强? 毫无疑问,一个强大且可信的军队对于保障国家主权与威慑潜在威胁是不可或缺的。新加坡地处战略要冲,国土面积有限,因此需要一支现代化的武装部队。然而,当我们对比邻国——马来西亚拥有两艘潜艇、印尼正逐步扩展至十二艘——新加坡在水下战力上已处于领先地位。这不禁让人质疑,我们是否正引领着一场无声的区域军备竞赛? 问题在于:当威慑的需求被满足后,继续扩军是否已经超出必要? 一艘“无畏级”潜艇的估价超过十亿新元,还不包括长期的运营与维护成本。这两艘新潜艇的资金,若能转用于迫切的民生需求,例如医疗保健、老龄化支援、教育及弱势群体扶助,或许对社会的整体韧性更具意义。 政府一再强调国防开支是经过审慎规划的,但当生活成本日益上升,政府却仍需将消费税(Gst)提高至9%甚至更多,这种矛盾不禁令人困惑。如果某些战略性国防项目能够延后或循序推进,节省下来的资源是否可以用于社会发展呢? “全面防卫”不仅仅是硬件实力,更是要赢得人民的心与信任。让人民感到安心、有保障、受到重视,这种安全感无法靠潜艇来衡量,而是通过每一位国人的生活实感体现出来。 这并非是在呼吁削弱我们的国防,而是呼吁我们重新思考国家的优先事项。当我们继续推进军事现代化的同时,也不要忽视同样重要的任务——巩固社会契约、增强国民凝聚力。   Cwc-Ai  
Cutting down reliance on US military equipment

Cutting down reliance on US military equipment

There is a rampant rumor going around that claims Egypt has ordered 48 J10C with a price tag of USD$25B...
2025大选—明确授权,变化中的政治格局

2025大选—明确授权,变化中的政治格局

2025年大选结果无可争议,政府再次赢得了强有力的授权,稳固了其在新加坡政治格局中的主导地位。尽管选举结果并不令人意外,但胜利的过程却并非没有争议和复杂性。 值得注意的是,选区划分的变化在本次选战中发挥了重要作用。陈清木医生与徐顺全医生等资深反对派人物,因选区重划而受到显著影响——传统支持基础被分割或并入他区,无疑左右了某些关键选区的最终结果。虽然选区调整在新加坡选举历史上并不罕见,但其公平性与透明度仍持续引发讨论。 工人党虽稳守东北区的传统堡垒,但未能在本届大选中攻下新的选区。不过,该党仍获得两个非选区议员(Ncmp)席位,虽属安慰性质,却在象征意义上维持了国会内多元声音的存在。 更值得关注的是,本届大选所处的人口背景正经历剧烈变化。新加坡人口从2000年的约300万增长至2025年的超过500万。考虑到多年来出生率持续偏低,这一增长几乎可以肯定主要归因于移民流入,尤其可能在华人群体中增长显著。这一趋势对国家的社会结构和政治生态产生了深远影响。 展望2030年大选,各政党不仅要面对一如既往的选区调整与突发的全球事件,更需正视一个不断演变的社会结构。随着越来越多新移民成为国民,选民构成日益多元,政党在政策制定与信息传递上必须更具包容性与前瞻性。他们必须同时争取老一代公民与新加坡新公民的认同,回应共同关切,并跨越代际与文化差异的鸿沟。 在新加坡持续向前迈进的过程中,其政治也必须与时俱进——反映日益多元的人口现实,同时坚守国家的核心价值观:团结、韧性与务实。 Cwc-Ai
A jaw-dropping election

A jaw-dropping election

This is a jaw-dropping election. For the opposition. SDP’s Dr Chee and PSP’s Leong were deeply disappointed....
The Nation has rejected multi-party Parliamentary representation

The Nation has rejected multi-party Parliamentary representation

Our party suffered great losses and I personally have suffered the greatest hit. But these personal losses...
A False Analogy That Insults the Intelligence of Singaporeans

A False Analogy That Insults the Intelligence of Singaporeans

Minister Ong Ye Kung’s recent assertion that a “co-driver” bears no responsibility if a car crashes...
There is a cost to losing

There is a cost to losing

There is a cost to losing. At least in PAP’s books. And one of the costs is a policy of priority. That...
Hougang Belongs to the People

Hougang Belongs to the People

Thank You for the Reminder, Mr Marshall Lim. It is with no small measure of amusement that one reads...
Its all about trust

Its all about trust

Dr Ng Eng Hen from PAP has pointed out the most important key point about this General Elections, it...
Misunderstanding What Singaporeans Truly Expect from...

Misunderstanding What Singaporeans Truly Expect from...

The government's repeated assertion that it is "easy for the opposition to ask the government to give...
Punggol GRC

Punggol GRC

Punggol GRC is without question one of the most hotly watched, followed and contested constituency in...
Should Singapore Be Concerned About David Neo’s “Action-Takers,...

Should Singapore Be Concerned About David Neo’s “Action-Takers,...

Singaporeans should pause and reflect on the recent remark by PAP candidate David Neo, who said that...
Why Singaporeans Must Reconsider the Dismissal of SDP’s...

Why Singaporeans Must Reconsider the Dismissal of SDP’s...

The Singapore government’s blunt assertion that the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)’s proposals...
Expect the exchange of barbs in politics

Expect the exchange of barbs in politics

In a political contest, expect the exchange of barbs. And we do not lack any of it in the rallies held...
Letters
Survey finds 30% of Singapore secondary school students...

Survey finds 30% of Singapore secondary school students...

I refer to the CNA report, “An underreported problem? Survey finds 30% of Singapore secondary school...
Trump blinked again on tariffs, but China isn't in...

Trump blinked again on tariffs, but China isn't in...

I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: Trump blinked again on tariffs, but China isn't in the clear. (May...
Podcasts didn't decide GE2025

Podcasts didn't decide GE2025

I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: Podcasts didn't decide GE2025, but they changed how Singaporeans engage...
GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP

GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP

I refer to the CNA’s report, “GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP, winning 87 of 97 seats with higher...
Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?

Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?

I refer to The Online Citizen GE2025 news report, “Lee Hsien Yang: Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs...
GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit...

GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit...

I refer to the CNA news, “GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC but may make...
GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are...

GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are...

I refer to CNA’s news, “GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited into politics”...
More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote...

More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote...

I refer to The CNA’s News, “GE2025: More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote” (Mar...
Snippets
Risk and Bonus Management | Strategies at 1Win Casino

Risk and Bonus Management | Strategies at 1Win Casino

Top Casino Strategies Singaporean Players Use on 1Win Users of the 1win platform are increasingly...
Why More Singaporeans Want to Stay Single and Child-Free

Why More Singaporeans Want to Stay Single and Child-Free

Singapore is full of individuals living life in this fast-paced world. The social shift of many individuals...
Singapore’s Sports Industry: A Rising Powerhouse...

Singapore’s Sports Industry: A Rising Powerhouse...

Singapore’s sports industry is on the cusp of greatness, leveraging cutting-edge infrastructure and...
What are the most popular hobbies in Singapore in 2025?

What are the most popular hobbies in Singapore in 2025?

As work-life balance remains a constant talking point in the fast-paced city-state of Singapore, residents...
10 Most Popular Mobile Games in Singapore

10 Most Popular Mobile Games in Singapore

Singaporeans can't get enough of their phones these days, spending tons of time battling opponents, building...
Langkawi to Koh Lipe Ferry: Complete Travel Guide

Langkawi to Koh Lipe Ferry: Complete Travel Guide

Planning a tropical escape from Malaysia to Thailand? The journey from Langkawi to Koh Lipe offers a...
This is not a game of cards

This is not a game of cards

I can appreciate parties wanting to hold their cards close to their chest, but the smoke and mirrors...
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝...

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝...

Is the PAP of today exceptional, with unmatched competence and delivery? Afterall, that is their justification...
Sticky & Recent Articles

Miscarriage: 75% of women vaccinated in their first trimester have lost their babies

Miscarriage: 75% of women vaccinated in their first trimester have lost their babies

At least 75 percent of women in their first trimester who have received the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine have had a miscarriage, according to one fertility clinic. In the April 11 episode of “The Ben Armstrong Show,” the host played a clip in which Sen. Malcolm Roberts of Queensland, Australia, revealed findings by a local gynecology clinic about an increasing number of women having difficulty getting pregnant. According to Roberts, about 13 percent of women have miscarriages around the world. But the miscarriage rate increased to 50 percent with vaccinated women. With those vaccinated in the first trimester, the miscarriage rate rose to 75 percent. (Related: Healthy 39-year-old single mother dies four days after getting second dose of Moderna coronavirus vaccine.) “That is huge information that is being ignored,” said Ben Armstrong. Health authorities can’t seem to make up their minds The U.K. initially said that it was not safe for pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, by the end of April 2021, the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunization updated its guidelines to say that COVID vaccines pose no specific safety concerns in relation to pregnancy. The BBC reported on this update with similar guides from a number of medical authorities who said that they should be careful with their dose. Explaining the reason behind the shift in guidance, the BBC cited a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study of over 90,000 pregnant women, saying that there had been no evidence that any vaccine can cause fertility problems. The CDC data form part of a broader study, which concluded that there are no obvious safety signals among pregnant women who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. (Related: VAX ATTACKS: The new mRNA coronavirus vaccines will likely cause immune cells to attack placenta cells, causing female infertility, miscarriage or birth defects.) However, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency advised pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid taking a COVID-19 vaccine due to the limited data regarding its effects. Additionally, the World Health Organization said in January 2021 that the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant women is not recommended. COVID-19 vaccines are neither safe nor effective However, there had been records of vaccine adverse events being dangerous. The Pfizer document data dump, for instance, showed that Pfizer knew that its COVID-19 vaccine was not safe and effective at all. It produces vaccine injuries and can even cause death. Pfizer and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knew that the vaccines cause heart problems for teenagers, yet gave it emergency approval for teens despite the age group not being vulnerable to the virus. A doctor also pointed out that in May 2021, the FDA had 35 new cases of myocarditis in teenagers, yet the hospital administered them with the vaccine with no mention of its harm to teenagers’ hearts. Pfizer itself paid the media to tell people that the vaccines were safe and effective despite knowing otherwise. However, when it started to want to force jabs on younger people, it did so despite admitting that they were not especially vulnerable to the virus. With healthy immune systems, most teenagers are likely to get mild colds and recover in two weeks thanks to their natural immunity. There has been no need for a vaccine. Yet, the company and the FDA still haven’t pulled back on the mandates. “Don’t ever tell someone to get something that is risky to their health, to protect them from something that’s not risky from their health. That’s unethical. It’s evil,” Armstrong said about the mandates.   Source: Vaccine Deaths        Read More →

Living in the Ponzi Scheme

Living in the Ponzi Scheme

I’ve never been one for the corporate office. Although freelancing was not the most lucrative in as much as I was unable to build without a steady income, I am far prouder of the things that I did as an independent contractor than when I was employed by a corporation. Whilst peers in the PR agency could boast of reaching certain positions in Western multinationals run out of New York and London, little me, a nobody with no great corporate experience from little Singapore was compared with a multinational PR agency (“You did more for us than….). I only swallowed getting properly employed in an insolvency firm when the then Evil Teen became a part of my life. My pride of being able to survive outside the Singapore norm (needing New York, London or the Government to tell me what to do) had to give way to the responsibilities of fatherhood and so I stayed in the “steady,” and “respectable” space of being a working “professional” in establishment Singapore. I actually worked more than office hours on a daily basis because it was the “normal” thing to do. Then came the pandemic and the lockdown in April 2020. Life in the lockdown took some adjustment, especially at the moments when retainer income wasn’t coming in. However, I started a simple walking routine and when I started moving more, the brain started to function. When I had to return to the office and resume a life of having to be in a certain location more than two hours at a time and had to look at files and store bits of paper, it finally dawned upon me that the “normal” life of an office job and being part of some self-made tribe of a profession is in fact not normal at all. The increasingly crowded bus ride into the office puzzles me. Why do people take such joy in going to places that go against what nature designed us to do? It is not natural to sit at a desk for eight hours a day looking at bits of paper containing information about things that happened a decade ago. People take pride in being chained to a desk. I hear of people bragging about how they were up looking files all night or how they are under so much stress that they can’t sleep or eat, I’m suddenly aware of why populations in the developed world aren’t growing – people are too busy masturbating over files in the office to have sex I shouldn’t knock masturbation – as Woody Allen says, “It’s sex with someone you love.” However, there comes a point when we’re so busy masturbating over our self-importance (the usual sources of masturbation being I am a degree holder with many professional qualifications working in a managerial post in a big company in an office in the centre of town and I am too busy to eat or sleep), that you forget that there’s the “actual sex” of doing something useful for someone (the paying customer) without doing harm to people. Sure, I get the fact that we all need to make a living. I get the fact that a steady income is paramount to survival. I do make my way into Shenton Way on a daily basis because I do need regular payments. I am also grateful that my main employer understands that I function best when I am moving around, so he uses me for the task that allow me to move. However, we’ve created a system that is unsustainable and, in many ways, a total scam. We have conditioned people to believe that they need to go to a desk and stare at a screen and bits of paper for a third of their day because their entire livelihood depends on it (one of worst forms of slavery in professional firms is the clause that prohibits you from taking on another job even if it’s in a totally different industry). Once’s entire life then gets forced around a certain company or to an extent on a certain industry. Lawyers will only hang out with lawyers, accountants only mix with accountants, PR professionals only mix with other PR professionals. No other animals tie themselves to a single source of food – the grazing animals move around for different grazing areas and the hunting animals look for the grazing animals. Governments around the world have failed miserably to build a more sustainable system and only encouraged a return to an unnatural normal with the encouragement to return to normal. While I do think that Singapore’s government did a reasonable job in managing the pandemic, it failed in trying to create something new. Instead of encouraging experimentation with work models, it proceeded to encourage the landlords to run various adds on how much better life was in the unnatural normal (incidentally the Singapore government is the largest landlord in Singapore). Masturbation only encourages people to continue jacking off rather than thinking of ways to get better. Look at the way in which professional firms get paid – selling time. Whenever you see a working professional, what you’re essentially paying for is the time that the said professional spends on your issue rather than whether the said issue gets solved at all. Senior partners in Singapore’s big law firms can charge around $1,000 an hour – the underlying words being an hour. This holds true even when you lose a case. As Mad Magazine once said – “No lawyer is ever undefeated – they get paid whether they win or lose and they continue billing after the case when they go for appeals.” The system is designed in such a way that it is not in “professionals” interest to solve the problem in the most efficient way. Thus far, only one professional has had the courage to challenge this established system by including a “success fee” clause in his contracts. The professional has made a lot of money but even he has on occasion had his success fee struck down by the courts on a few occasions. In another instance, there is a case of a judicial management where the court had no problem taxing the fees of the lawyers and restructuring professionals who charged by the hour. However, they proceeded to hold up the fees of the auctioneer of the equipment, who was the only one who could quantify the value they brought (dollars and cents) and charged based the measurable dollars and cents they brought in. The court felt it was expensive to charge based on measurable value (the auctioneer in question is not known for being cheap but they’re known for providing value which cheaper competitors do not provide). How is it common sense to accept charges on an efficient system but challenge the payment of the only party that actually can measure the value of the work they provide? Thankfully, I am not the only freak who thinks that the current economic system is an unsustainable scam designed to promote masturbation. Someone from the Temasek Review Emeritus pasted a link to a post of mine, which lead to a Forbes article where Nobel laureate Steven Chu described the world economic system as a “ponzi scheme.” The article can be found here. I may be a nobody from a Little Red Dot, so its understandable that nobody will take what I say seriously. However, Mr. Chu is more than qualified to talk about the economic system of the world. Policy makers around the globe would do well to take him seriously and restructure their systems to encourage productivity and sustainability instead of defining insanity by repeating the same things and hopping for different results.   Tang Li *Although I’ve been based mainly in Singapore for nearly two decades, I’ve had the privilege of being able meet people who have crossed borders and cultures. I’ve befriended ministers and ambassadors and worked on projects involving a former head of state. Yet, at the same time, I’ve had the privilege of befriending migrant labourers and former convicts. All of them have a story to tell. All of them add to the fabric of life. I hope to express the stories that inspire us to create life as it should be.      Read More →

Singapore’s policy is ‘to be close to all great powers’

Singapore’s policy is ‘to be close to all great powers’

Prof Tommy Koh says that Singapore’s policy is “to be close to all great powers”, but that we pursue a policy of non-alignment. (ST, 8/4/22) He quotes our first foreign minister, Mr S Rajaratnam in his inaugural speech at the UN in 1965. In that speech, Mr Rajaratnam said that we do not side with “narrow power bloc interest", but we are fully aligned to the principles of the UN Charter, which guides international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations. Thus, “we do not wish to be drawn into alliances dedicated to imposing our way of life on other countries.” However, whenever any country, big or small, violates the principles of the UN Charter, we will speak up against it because small countries cannot hope to prevail in a confrontation with big powers but can only do so when every country, big or small abide by the principles of the Charter. However, as time went by, the evidence suggest that we are less and less non-aligned. Prof Koh claims that we have been quite consistent in condemning Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia, Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan and the US’ invasion of Grenada, as we have condemned Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine. But did we condemn the US, when either by itself or with its allies, invaded Vietnam in the 60s, Cambodia in 1970, Laos in 1971, Panama in 1989, Iraq in 1991, Haiti in 1994, Afghanistan in 2001, and Iraq again in 2003? Did we condemn Israel, a staunch ally of the US, when it invaded its neighbors numerous times? Despite our founding fathers’ declaration to be non-aligned, we have been drawn into alignment with the Western bloc, especially the United States. According to the website of the US government, “Singapore is one of the United States’ strongest bilateral partners in Southeast Asia and plays an indispensable role in supporting the region’s security and economic framework. The United States cooperates with Singapore on the full range of security issues, to include border security, maritime security, military preparedness, counter proliferation, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.” Not only do we refrain from speaking up against the US and it’s allies, commonly referred to as the West, we have echoed their denigration and propaganda against their adversaries like Russia and China. It isn’t far-fetched to say we have become a mouthpiece of the West, especially the US. Our local newspapers carry articles published by Western newspapers - Reuters, Bloomberg, Agence France-Presse and NYTimes reflecting Western interest everyday. Even worse, our local newspapers tweak the headlines to give a slanted impression. For example, in the bombing of the rail hub in eastern Ukraine on Friday (8/4/22) which killed about 50 civilians, The Straits Times headline reads “50 killed in rocket strike at rail hub for evacuation, says Ukraine” By using “says Ukraine” it gives the impression that Russia is the culprit since Ukraine is reporting the crime, when in fact it is not clear who fired the missile. Our local Business Times is even worse. Its headline for the same story says “At least 50 killed as Russia strikes Ukraine rail evacuation hub”. How does BT know Russia launched the missiles? Many other countries are more objective. The Canberra Times simply headlined the story “50 killed in strike on Ukraine rail hub”, making no reference to the culprit as it is not established. The one-sided reporting can also be found in our local newspapers everyday when it comes to stories related to the containment of China, stories about countries resisting the imposition of neoliberalism, vaccines, and many others that concern the interest of the Western bloc, especially the US. It is one thing to have US presence in the region to balance the big power of China. Indeed, life may be oppressive for many countries in the region with an unrestrained China. But it is quite another to openly side with one big power against another. Will the US protect us if we are attacked by another nuclear armed big power? The evidence in Ukraine so far is no. Our founding fathers wisely advocated a policy of non-alignment with big power blocs. Have we strayed dangerously off course?   Foong Swee Fong      Read More →

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