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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...

Putin escalates Ukraine warPutin escalates Ukraine war I refer to The CNA’s Commentary: “Putin escalates Ukraine war by a step, not a leap, with missile experiment” (Nov 23). Foremost, Zelenskyi’s intention to join Nato has greatly threatened the security and survival of Russia. Hence, Zelenskyy has offended Putin and Putin has no choice but to launch a war with...

Will PM Wong address the astronomical ministerial salaries?Will PM Wong address the astronomical ministerial salaries? I refer to The TR-Emeritus opinion article, “Will PM Wong address the astronomical ministerial salaries” (June 14) by Mr Yoong Siew Wah. It has always been a controversial topic which concerns about our top political leaders who receive their salaries that are many times higher than those foreign political leaders. Our...

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Editorials
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...
Chaos in China as extreme storm destroys homes and...

Chaos in China as extreme storm destroys homes and...

Beijing’s 22 million residents were asked to stay indoors on Saturday, as powerful winds swept across...
China, Thailand, and Myanmar in ruins after devastating...

China, Thailand, and Myanmar in ruins after devastating...

On March 28, 2025, a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay, causing...
Myanmar 7.7 earthquake collapses buildings in Thailand,...

Myanmar 7.7 earthquake collapses buildings in Thailand,...

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, causing widespread panic...
Beijing shocked by earthquake and mega sandstorm

Beijing shocked by earthquake and mega sandstorm

Since March 24, 2025, northern China has been battling extreme weather as a massive sandstorm swept through...
Mega hail causes mass destruction in Fujian and Guangdong

Mega hail causes mass destruction in Fujian and Guangdong

An unexpected and severe hailstorm struck multiple cities in Guangdong and Fujian between March 3 and...
Extreme weather struck multiple regions in China

Extreme weather struck multiple regions in China

On March 2, 2025, extreme weather struck multiple regions in China, with parts of Henan province experiencing...
Happy Chinese New Year 2025

Happy Chinese New Year 2025

Wishing all our Chinese readers:     Team@TR Emeritus  
Huge snow caused numerous disruptions on China's major...

Huge snow caused numerous disruptions on China's major...

As the Chinese New Year approaches, millions of people across the country are making their annual journey...
The rapidly spreading HMPV virus you haven’t heard...

The rapidly spreading HMPV virus you haven’t heard...

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is making headlines as cases surge, especially among children and vulnerable...
4.1 magnitude earthquake shakes Shanxi's Linfeng city

4.1 magnitude earthquake shakes Shanxi's Linfeng city

On the evening of January 10, 2025, Linfen City in Shanxi Province was struck by an earthquake. The tremor,...
7.8 magnitude earthquake devastates Tibet

7.8 magnitude earthquake devastates Tibet

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake has hit Tibet, in the region of Shigatse, which is near the border with Nepal. According...
Outbreak of mystery virus in China

Outbreak of mystery virus in China

China is r eportedly facing a new health crisis as the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak rapidly...
Unknown Virus Rampages in China; Hospitals Utterly...

Unknown Virus Rampages in China; Hospitals Utterly...

A blogger in China has shared a video, claiming that this isn’t China’s Spring Festival travel rush;...
Opinions
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...
Don't Be Swayed by the Noise—Think Critically Before...

Don't Be Swayed by the Noise—Think Critically Before...

In recent weeks, the political buzz in Singapore has reached a new high. Massive crowds at opposition...
We vote whoever is deserving of our vote

We vote whoever is deserving of our vote

I am surprised that Lee Hsien Loong chose to remind us of the 1997 shameful episode when he, his father...
The Case for a Diverse and Balanced Parliament

The Case for a Diverse and Balanced Parliament

The Singapore government has recently stated that "Good government needs good people" and cautioned against...
Letters
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...
How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with...

How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with...

I refer to the CNA’s commentaries, “How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning...
Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage

Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage

Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage: National Service Should Not Come at the Expense of Opportunity...
Snippets
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...
The sleep science revolution in elite sports

The sleep science revolution in elite sports

Professional sports have entered a new era where recovery science directly impacts performance outcomes....
Sports Betting in Online Casinos as a Way to Improve...

Sports Betting in Online Casinos as a Way to Improve...

In today's world, online sports betting has become not only a popular form of entertainment but also...
Sticky & Recent Articles

mRNA Is Not Gene Editing?

mRNA Is Not Gene Editing?

During a global health conference, the president of Bayer's Pharmaceuticals Division told international "experts" that the mRNA COVID-19 injections are truly "cell and gene therapy" marketed as "vaccines" to be made palatable to the public. "We are really taking that leap [to drive innovation] – us as a company, Bayer – in cell and gene therapies … ultimately the mRNA vaccines are an example for that cell and gene therapy. I always like to say: if we had surveyed two years ago in the public – 'would you be willing to take a gene or cell therapy and inject it into your body?' – we probably would have had a 95% refusal rate," Oelrich added. And there you have it, your truth bomb. Stefan Oelrich, president of Bayer Pharmaceuticals Division, inadvertently revealed the truth about mRNA 'vaccinations,' correctly stating that they are not vaccines at all. In truth, the term "vaccine" is merely used to gain the faith of a highly-skeptical public. So, what exactly are they? They are exactly what we have always said they are: gene editing tools to rearrange your DNA.  [LINK] But the horror show doesn't end there; as more and more fully vaccinated people get "rare cases of" myocarditis, blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks, it appears a new pandemic is on the way. A pandemic of individuals who are completely vaccinated, developing severe adverse responses to the vaccination. Since mid-2021 there has been a strikingly high number of "sudden and unexpected" deaths in sport. In full activity, even 13-year-olds are falling. Let me ask you, can you ever recall a time when so many trained and in shape athletes on every level from amateur to professional started collapsing and dropping dead in the middle of the game? One of the main things all these athletes from around the world all have in common is that they have received the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine to be able to remain on the team. At no point is the vaccine ever even considered as being the cause of the blood clots, strokes and heart attacks, the vaccine makers are given a complete and total pass. To even suggest such a thing immediately brings down upon you the wrath of the news media, social media, the FDA, the CDC, Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden, Donald Trump and every other liar on the face of the earth. Globalist financial elites on the other hand, "have had a terrific pandemic," according to reports, as the world was buffeted by lockdowns, supply-chain issues, economic instability, and destitution in its aftermath. Over the last 12 months, the world's top ten wealthiest men have more than quadrupled their fortunes to $1.9 trillion, growing at a rate of $1.6 billion each day, demonstrating that the wealthy have largely avoided the suffering and financial devastation imposed on so many by constant enforced lockdowns. This has terrifying implications for us here in 2022, as we see governments over the world strengthening their grip on their population, forcing them to receive the injection and then prove it by being obliged to submit their Immunity Passport to gain access to public services. Today, world governments are currently adopting directives, not laws, to force their populations to be vaccinated, and if they don't, to punish them in ways that the Nazis would cheer from Hell, if such a thing were possible. What will 2022 hold? More of the same and lots of it. We are looking at the new fascism sweeping across the world, medical fascism, with the tip of the needle replacing the barrel of the gun. An astonishing thing is unfolding before your very eyes, the entire COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot narrative is doing an 180-degree turn, with our medical fascist overlords acknowledging nothing, admitting nothing and apologizing for nothing while being caught red handed. It's eerily-reminiscent of watching the Nuremberg Trials, but in color. You are watching it play out before your very eyes and still don't believe it? Nazi butcher "doctor" Josef Mengele once told Jewish twins who were his prisoners at Auschwitz that "The more we do to you, the less you seem to believe we are doing it." One of the latest things that will trigger the social media censorship in 2022 is the re-posting of articles and memes that use the term 'mass formation psychosis' made popular by vaccine expert Dr. Robert Malone. It may be a new phrase but the concept is not new at all, it refers to how a large group of people, as large as a nation or even many nations at once, can come under a group delusion triggered by fear and chaos. Sound familiar? Sure does. In the meantime, now at the start of Year #3 of the plannedemic, the mass formation psychosis of the New World Order is bearing fruit, with people turning on each other over vaccination mandates and immunity passports, in the craziest global civil war you could imagine. This lost world will experience mass formation psychosis the likes of which have never been seen on this earth, it will make Hitler's little mind control games look like kittens playing with a ball of yarn.   Sjorne Shen      Read More →

Tragic Startup Story During Covid-19

Tragic Startup Story During Covid-19

I am writing to you in the midst of utter desolation and desperation, and hopefully this email will not get filtered or lost in the sea of entries that barrage your emails on a daily basis. I am writing to you because I have no one else to turn to, and hopefully my message will serve as a cautionary tale for other young students like me who thought we stood a chance in the F&B industry in Singapore. My little bar is (or rather was) located at 29 Dalhousie Lane, on the outskirts of Little India with good proximity to Rochor MRT. My younger brother, sister, and two other close friends of mine were the founding members of this bar. All of us are still full-time students in university, except for my sister who is still awaiting her ‘A’-Level results. We had saved up for approximately 2 years, collectively, as well as taken up significant loans from our parents to fund the start-up costs of the bar, which totalled to close to S$180,000. Happily, and filled with naïve idealism, we opened our doors on 6 May 2021, amidst what seemed like a hopeful trajectory towards endemic “New Normalcy” as promised by the government. Back then, our contractors had even planned for 8-seaters in the bar, given that the prevailing rule was 8-pax dining. First Closure On the fourth (4th) day of opening, we were slapped with a ten (10) day closure as well as a S$1,000 fine, as the Safety Distancing Ambassador Officers purportedly caught a table with six (6) diners at a table, on the same day the new rules were gazetted reducing dining limits to 5 pax. Admittedly, we had indeed broken the letter of the law through our negligence, but I simply regret that the magnitude and harshness of the law had to be levied on us, especially given our utter inexperience regarding these novel rules. I’m sure there are others like me out there, who admittedly know that inexperience is inexcusable for non-compliance with the regulations, but seek some level of amnesty or at least discretion, and rigidly apply the letter of the law against us. Reluctantly, we accepted the punishment levied against us with grace and chose not to contest the claims. Notably, this incident occurred 2 days prior to Minister Lawrence Wong announcing Phase 2 Heightened Alert (circuit-breaker for F&Bs) which banned dining-in altogether. The SDA officers decided to only levy the charges the day after P2HA was lifted, extending our “circuit-breaker” for another 10 days. It was a nightmare for all of us and really drained our bank account, forcing us to cut back on part-time staff and personally take on the roles fulltime without pay. Second Closure Fast forward to 28 Aug 2021, merely 2.5 months later (mind you half this time was spent in P2HA and serving the closure order), came our second closure order. It was coming close to 12 midnight, and my partner/bar manager Rishi, was mopping the floors and cleaning up the place while a few customers were still hanging out in the bar, without any alcohol. In the spur of the moment, Rishi removed one bottle of Budweiser beer from the fridge and drank it himself, and let another staff member have a few sips as a token of appreciation for assisting the cleanup. Unbeknownst to us, Safe Distancing Enforcers were outside our premises, videotaping the incident. They immediately barged into the bar and attempted to enforce order in the place. Despite our best attempts to reason with the officers and show them that there was no attempt at all to sell alcohol past our 10.30 time limits, they pressed hard on Regulation 13(1)(c) read with First Schedule (Paragraph 5) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures)(Control Order) Regulations 2020, where even the owners of the bar could not consumer alcohol at all past 10.30pm, due to the broad nature of how the regulations were phrased. We attempted to appeal against the decision, but they simply failed our appeal process within a day, without justification, and levied us with a twenty (20) day closure order and S$2,000 fine. This move nearly bankrupted us as we struggled to make rent attempting to sell food on online channels. Liquor Licence Revocation Order Past the 2nd closure order, we immediately tightened every corner in the bar operations, strictly obeying every letter of the law, and then some. We had Rishi take photos of the bar every 10.30PM to ensure that all customers and alcohol is strictly cleared from the tables and implemented hefty fines for non-compliance. Three weeks later, despite our valiant efforts, the SPF served a liquor licence revocation order on us. Despite sending in long letters of appeal twice, the Liquor Licencing officer simply replied to us with short templated “no” answers. Accordingly, us three partners sought assistance from our MPs. This procedure let us be put through a liquor appeal board, to “adjudge” whether to revoke our liquor licence. After toiling for 2 months, once again, it was a short templated “no” answer, but this time stating that their decision was final. This effectively sealed our fate as revoking our liquor licence is akin to cutting off the jugular vein to our business that was barely making rent every month. This was a death sentence to the business, and effectively now riddled the three of us with a combined debt of close to $320,000. Writing this letter, I seek nothing more than to put my story out there, and hopefully let the court of public opinion judge whether this was the right decision.   Jonathan Foo      Read More →

As PAP Leaders Look Forward to Another Year of Outsize Earnings and Prepare to Raise Taxes on the Poorest, More Singaporean Families Go To Bed Hungry

As PAP Leaders Look Forward to Another Year of Outsize Earnings and Prepare to Raise Taxes on the Poorest, More Singaporean Families Go To Bed Hungry

PM Lee has said he expects the economy to grow by 3-5% this year but that will still only make the economy about 1% bigger than it was at the end of 2019. By way of contrast the US economy ended 2021 over 2% larger. Most of Singapore’s growth in both 2020 and 2021 came from manufacturing with all other sectors below the peak they reached in 2019. Manufacturing’s growth was of course driven almost wholly by external demand, meaning that it was the same old story of dependence on US growth, whether directly or indirectly. Nothing is likely to change this year either. The PAP have made Singapore so dependent on foreign labour that the economy grinds to a halt without it. Thus LHL has reassured business that the doors will be open again to foreign workers, saying “We will also press on to bring in much needed migrant workers, and ensure international talents feel welcome and are able to complement Singaporeans”. Hopefully among the foreign talents that must be welcomed due to the dearth of qualified Singaporeans, despite PAP’s claims that our education system is hugely superior to the rest of the developed world, there will not be too many of the recent rash of paedophiles that have attracted headlines in Singapore such as the American Mixed Martial Arts artist that was making videos for Contact Singapore while making videos of his own having sex with underage girls. The frequency of these cases might have something to do with the fact that while countries such as the UK, US and Australia require a Police Certificate containing details of all convictions (other than those that have been stepped-down after 30 or 35 years), MOM does not seem to make that a requirement. I googled criminal record checks for working in Singapore and the first thing I came across is a post from someone in the UK boasting that he got a job with a criminal record for violence because Singapore only requires a basic criminal record check and not the full disclosure other countries insist on. The post is headlined “A city of possibilities – Living and working in Singapore with a criminal record” which should really tell Singaporeans all they need to know about the PAP’s policies. Our Minister for Law. Shanmugam, normally so eloquent when it comes to telling other countries how to run their affairs and boasting about Singapore’s safety, is strangely silent on these cases and why they were welcomed into the country and not picked up at the visa application stage. It is likely that PM Lee is expecting manufacturing to generate much of the expected 3-5% growth as it is has significantly outperformed the rest of the economy which remains depressed by the pandemic . Manufacturing has also been responsible for most of the productivity growth over the last five years, though much of this may be generated by MNC tax avoidance strategies and is neither taxed nor makes much impact on Singaporeans’ living standards. Ireland has the same strategy and its economy has massively outperformed Singapore’s (and the UK’s) over the last twenty years but its people have not benefited to anything like the same extent. If he is relying on manufacturing, then he may not be in luck as there is increasing evidence that Americans’ demand for manufactured goods, which generated the huge Asian export boom last year and snarled global supply chains on the back of US stimulus payments, is saturated and unlikely to expand much this year. LHL is silent on how he expects the growth to be generated but by removing demand from the economy through a rise in the regressive GST he is not helping to reduce the economy’s (over) reliance on external demand. Most of the extra jobs needed to generate that growth will likely go to new foreign workers and managers who may not spend much in Singapore meaning that what economists call the multiplier effect of that spending will be limited. The PM and his Government’s indifference to the welfare of Singaporeans is shown by the anecdotal evidence of increasing hardship for a significant section of the population. A few days ago a BBC article entitled, “How the high cost of living is hitting Singapore’s poor” quoted Nichol Ng, co founder of Food Bank Singapore, as saying: “What we have seen when we make the door-to-door deliveries is that young families [with] both husband and wife working a part-time job or in the gig economy – these were the families that got impacted when Covid hit and all the part-time work dried up. It is not just the poorest 10% of the population who now need help: It has slowly crept to maybe 20% of the population including middle income families that might not even know where to get help in the first place.” This is similar to findings by the LKY School of Public Policy in their study, “What people need in Singapore: A household budgets study” I wrote about this recently in “As More Singaporeans Go Hungry, PM’s Wife Offers Free Mouthwash”: The Government’s stinginess while sitting on over $2.5 trillion of financial assets, which does not include the value of the land it owns and assets like Changi Airport Group, was put into stark contrast with the plight of many Singaporeans by the publication recently by the LKY School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) of a study of the minimum income needed for a basic (very) standard of living in Singapore for a single person household with one child (aged 2-6 years) and a two person household with two children (one aged 7-12 and the other 13-18). It calculated this as $3218 per month for the single person household with one child and $6426 for the two person household with two children. Comparing this minimum income with the figures for work incomes (including Employer CPF contributions) per family member for employed households (Key Household Trends, 2020) the study found that the incomes of 30% of working Singapore households were below their assessed Minimum Income Standards. However only 87% of households have at least one working member. 8% of households are comprised solely of non-working members aged over 65 while the remaining 5% are also non-working but some at least of the members are under 65. For those over 65, CPF savings and Government assistance are unlikely to be enough to meet the LKYSPP minimum income for the over-65s of $1,421 month meaning that a significant number of the elderly live in poverty. The elderly are forced to continue working into their 70s and 80s, though unlike Father of the Nation Lee Kuan Yew not many are able to draw combined salaries and pensions from state coffers of $5 million per year (till 2011) and continue “working” into their 90s. Government income supplements like WorkFare only cover a fraction of the shortfall. They also subsidise employers meaning that wages are probably lower than they would be in the absence of WIS (Workfare Income Supplement). This year the situation is likely to get much worse with utility bills doubling and food prices rising at double digit rates. The unnecessary and regressive rise in GST will not help. As I said in “Indranee Rajah Misleads Parliament by Falsely Claiming Singaporeans Will Be Protected from the GST Hike for 5 Years. Should She Be Referred to the Committee of Privileges?”, the amount the Government will rebate back to middle and lower income Singaporeans will likely only be about 6% of the revenue raised, and the rebate has in any case been paid for previously through the Finance Minister’s misleading (some would say criminal) practice of claiming as spending money set aside in funds and endowments. There is no certainty that this money will ever be spent. Expect this year’s Budget to contain more fake assistance for lower income hard working Singaporeans and their families in the form of squirreling money away in “long term” funds while the level of reserves, along with how much the PM’s wife has earned over the years, remains a state secret. While too many Singaporean families go to bed hungry, the only certainty is that LHL and his Ministers will continue to draw their outsize salaries for another year. However this will only be the tip of the iceberg as we are denied any information about Ministers’ spouses and relatives’ monopoly on the top jobs in the bloated state sector and also whether they profit from Government contracts like LKY’s wife did in the past as head of Lee & Lee. Unlike the UK where damaging information about Boris Johnson’s parties during lockdown surfaced, LHL’s corrupt control of the media, fear of the penalties that await whistleblowers and desire of the Parliamentary Opposition not to risk losing their seats by questioning the PM too closely, means that LHL and his wife can sleep soundly and continue to plan to pass the baton of power to the next generation of their family. Seemingly, despite increasing immiseration, Singaporeans are quite happy with this state of affairs.   Kenneth Jeyaretnam   I’m a Singaporean economist who became an opposition activist. I blog to provide an alternative to the porkies that the Pinkies tell. It just so happens that my alternative is the truth. That’s why I’ve never been sued in any civil or criminal court no matter how hard hitting my criticism. I’m quoted and interviewed and asked to speak across the world but largely censored in Singapore in an effort to silence my political opinions. The left hate me because they think I split their vote and because I eschew their outmoded economic models. Models that don’t work. The Right and the Conservatives hate me because I’m a liberal. I’m not sure what the middle think of me. I don’t think there are more than a handful of people in the middle, here in Singapore. I’m a Singaporean born and bred, dual heritage, my parents Singaporean established here before the State of Singapore was created. I’m not Eurasian. I read economics at Cambridge and could be broadly described as from the Keynesian school but I believe in interventions. I was formerly a successful hedge fund manager. After economics and politics my greatest interests are history, film and Makan. I run but I run so I can eat like a Singaporean.        Read More →

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