TR EMERITUS

It was reported that the recent Vietnamese rioters burnt our national flag and industrial parks because our Singapore’s flag was mistaken as the PRC’s flag. A TRE writer said that this sounded like a convenient excuse for both the authorities of Vietnam as well as Singapore. To the Vietnamese, it could claim that the fire was an honest mistake. To the Singapore Government, it could claim that the fire was not due to any failed foreign policy. The person went on to argue that S’pore was pro-PRC, and the Viets knew this, and decided to whack us. Well this could be right, but my take is that the Viets “know” that S’pore has so many PRC* FTs that they think S’pore is part of Greater China: so might as well burn our flag, while they are burning Taiwanese factories and killing a Chinese worker. Anyway burning our flag is a lot less bad than burning S’porean-owned factories, businesses or industrial parks, or killing S’poreans. So in my scale of things that matter, burning our flag is pretty. Lives and property matter more. Which brings me to FDI. Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea respectively are Vietnam’s four largest investors, as measured by registered capital. China ranks between 5th and 11th, depending on how Vietnam’s official data is interpreted. A Western analyst says foreign investors are still trying to determine whether there are more serious problems afoot that may pose a potential threat to future investment, such as a bias against foreign investors, or instability in the regime. (http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/05/factory-riots-vietnam) Given Sembcorp’s biz as an industrial park developer there, it will be watching closely. To end, since partying in Orchard Rd is a “trespass” on our sovereignty (at least to one GMS), I look forward to hearing from Goh Meng Seng supporting the govt’s stand on our flag being burnt. If not, I and you the reader can reasonably conclude that GMS is anti-Pinoy or the PAP govt (or both), rather than pro-Singapore. Or at least being pro-S’pore comes lower in his priorities than being ant-Pinoy or anti-PAP. BTW, I would be more indulgent of GMS if he had simply said that Pinoy partying in Orchard Rd was not to his liking because it was too in S’poreans’ face. But he decided to rant about sovereignty, a technically legalistic concept. “I don’t know what you mean by ‘glory,’ ” Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. “Of course you don’t — till I tell you. I meant ‘there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!’ ” “But ‘glory’ doesn’t mean ‘a nice knock-down argument’,” Alice objected. “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master — that’s all.” Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. “They’ve a temper, some of them — particularly verbs, they’re the proudest — adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs — however, I can manage the whole lot! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!” (Thru the Looking-Glass) Have a gd weekend. _________________ *          Slutty looking, violent, cheating shop assistant can get PR meh? There is gd evidence that a PRC prostitute got citizenship. Cynical Investor Source: Thoughts of a Cynical Investor  Read More →

There are more than 700k Work Permit holders working here. Last night’s Talking Point’s topic was about whether to integrate these foreign workers or to leave them alone. The general view was that Sinkies must take the initiative to reach out to these transient workers, to get to know them, to organise activities for them or to participate in their activities. One went further to suggest that the foreign workers should be involved in our grass root activities, even patrolling to keep the place safe. My eyes were rolling. I could go on to elaborate more of the things the panelists would want to do to make these workers feel appreciated, to tell him how grateful we are for them to build our homes, roads and infrastructure and to help to grow our economy. I would like to add that we should invite them to our homes on their festivals or holidays, and likewise when we are celebrating ours. We should also celebrate their birthdays and show them how caring and gracious we are. It keeps me thinking. How much time does an average Sinkie have to socialise and integrate with the foreign workers? Does an average Sinkie have time for his/her parents, siblings, Sinkie friends and neighbours? Or are they so tired after work and would like to have some moments of peace and rest for themselves? There is this presumption that the Sinkies have a lot of free time and a lot of energy and money to spend time with the foreign workers. Their well-being is our responsibility, the responsibility of all Sinkies. There were some sensible views expressed, like these are workers here to make a living. Give them a decent place to live, to rest and to play. Give them decent working environment, take care of them and make sure they are paid. Don’t cheat on them. These are the responsibilities of the average Sinkies? What about their employers and recruitment agents who benefited from their labour and fees? What about the govt that collects fees from the workers to be here? Shouldn’t it be their responsibilities to take good care of them? Do we need to integrate them to our way of life or we integrate into their way of life? Are they citizens that are going to be part of us? Are they PRs that are here on a long term basis to live with us and try to be one of us? There is one very serious issue that ‘seow’ Sinkies are taking for granted. These are very nice people, like the rioters in Little India. I have to be fair here when making this comment. In every community or group of people, the majority are nice or decent people. These include the Sinkies. But in every group, including Sinkies, there is always that 5% or 10% that could turn bad when given the opportunity or temptation. You want to take the risk with them? You know which one is going to be bad? You want our innocent young girls to go and socialise and play with them? One source of trouble with people is familiarity. When people get to know someone too well, they get to know the weaknesses and vulnerability of that person. When people are invited to your homes, they get too familiar and could have naughty and dangerous ideas. Think of the stranger you brought home and trusted to take care of your old parents and children. There are that 5% to 10% that could bring harm to you while you try to be very nice, very gracious, very caring and very clever. My view, very subjective, is that the foreign workers should be left alone to live their lives as long as we don’t mistreat them, don’t exploit them, and don’t abuse them. There is no need to want to be too clever or too nice. But there will also be the 5% to 10% of Sinkies that would want to be very nice to them. Go ahead and be nice. Do not force it upon the average Sinkies to go and socialise and integrate with strangers they have nothing to do with in their lives. Do not ask for trouble when there is no need to. Do not create the familiarity and the temptation to bring harm to oneself or family members when there is no need to. They live their lives and the Sinkies that choose to live their own lives should stay that way. Sinkies don’t ‘kee seow’ and ask for trouble that you would curse yourself later on. Many will be lucky and have good experiences and stories to tell. Better to treat each other at arm’s length, unless one has good reasons to be connected out of necessity or work, and be cautiously and tentatively respectful and safe. Often kindness does not beget kindness but harm and pain. That is the hard truth in life. But of course, for those who have so much time and love for the foreign workers, do not be affected by my cautionary comments. Go and do what makes you happy and make the foreign workers happy. Chua Chin Leng aka redbean * The writer blogs at mysingaporenew.blogspot.com.  Read More →

Calvin Teo (from his Facebook page) Kaki Bukit Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) chairman David Poh recently posted a letter on notice boards in Kaki Bukit, informing the residents that Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) had not nominated the ward for the HDB Home Improvement Programme (HIP). This was reported by the Straits Times (ST) last Saturday ("Grassroots leader, AHPETC at odds over upgrading", 10 May). Mr Poh said that the relevant town council must nominate projects before they are selected and that AHPETC did not nominate any such projects for Kaki Bukit this year (‘Kaki Bukit grassroots find fault with AHPTEC again‘). David Poh's letter to the residents: Yesterday (16 May), Mr Calvin Teo, assistant secretary of Kaki Bukit CCC, wrote a letter to ST Forum complaining that the headline of the ST article ("Grassroots leader, AHPETC at odds over upgrading") gave the impression that the appeal to AHPETC for upgrading of blocks in Kaki Bukit came from chairman David Poh, when in fact it came from the CCC itself. Mr Teo said that there are 53 residential blocks in Kaki Bukit, and all except one are more than 30 years old. "Today, there are still 30 blocks that have not been upgraded," he said. Mr Teo argued that based on age, "Kaki Bukit should have a few flats selected every year". "It is disappointing that this year, AHPETC nominated 8 upgrading projects for the constituencies under its charge but excluded Kaki Bukit, which has the oldest flats in the constituency," he added. "The CCC decided to appeal to AHPETC on Feb 10 to reconsider its nominations, but there was no reply for three months. The CCC recognises that it has to respect the decisions of AHPETC, but all we are asking is for it to respond to our appeals." Apparently, Mr Teo's letter to ST Forum carried the signatures of all the Kaki Bukit CCC members. In any case, AHPETC has already responded to the latest assault by the grassroots leaders of Kaki Bukit. It published a response on its website on Friday (9 May). In its reply, AHPETC revealed that for the last 2 years – 2012 and 2013 – AHPETC nominated various clusters in the Eunos, Hougang, Paya Lebar and Kaki Bukit wards for the HIP program. The Kaki Bukit cluster (Blocks 533 to 536) was, in fact, eventually selected by HDB for 2013. For 2014, AHPETC nominated clusters in the Bedok Reservoir-Punggol, Serangoon and Paya Lebar wards for the HIP to give the flats in these places a chance to be upgraded. HDB eventually selected the clusters in Bedok Reservoir-Punggol and Serangoon wards in Aljunied GRC to be upgraded for 2014. AHPETC noted that HDB has since announced that it would ramp up the HIP project, increasing the number of eligible units per year from 28,000 units to 35,000 units. It promised to nominate more clusters in Aljunied GRC for HIP and “looked forward to HDB’s fair consideration of the nominations”. Kaki Bukit grassroots leaders have tried to find fault with AHPETC numerous times, ever since Aljunied GRC fell into opposition hands. Last year, they complained about cleaning issues at 2 Kaki Bukit hawker centres. The complaints were so great the matter was even brought up by Minister Vivian in Parliament for debate at the national level. With regard to the letter from Calvin Teo, popular blog The Alternative View [Link] asked the following questions: "All we are asking," he (Calvin Teo) wrote, "is for it (AHPETC) to respond to our appeal." Now if indeed that was his intention, we wonder why Calvin Teo saw the need to paste letters on the PA notice boards making the aforesaid accusation. Does Calvin Teo expect the AHPETC to reconsider its decision each time the CCC of a ward makes an appeal? Does Calvin Teo understand the meaning of "fairness" and "spreading the benefits"? AHPETC oversees over 700 blocks of flats. Does he think that residents living in the other clusters would care for the fact that flats in Kaki Bukit were not selected this year and hence, in a display of altruism, give up their chance at upgrading this time round? And if there are still 30 blocks in the Kaki Bukit cluster that have not been upgraded, shouldn't Calvin Teo and his gang question their own PAP which had been in control of the GRC for decades? Better still, why doesn't Calvin Teo write to HDB to ramp up the HIP, instead of barking at WP? Finally, lest we forget, the CCC is an arm of the People's Association which has a highly pro-PAP partisan agenda, being headed by none other than Lee Hsien Loong himself. Indeed, the PA's blatant attempts at sabotaging WP are on record for all to see. Who is Calvin Teo? According to LinkedIn [Link], Calvin Teo is the owner of Top Advertising Pte Ltd: His company provides creative design and print solutions. And according to his company's Facebook page [Link], the company has won many awards: What is even more interesting is his company website reveals an impressive list of clients [Link] consisting mainly of Singapore government bodies and agencies, including the PMO: Prime Minister’s Office Minstry of Defence Singapore Armed Forces Republic of Singapore Air Force Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports People’s Association South East Community Development Council North East Community Development Council North West Community Development Council South West Community Development Council Central Community Development Council Community Centres / Clubs Resident’s / Neighbourhood Committees Singapore Sports Council Ministry of Home Affairs Internal Security Department Singapore Police Force Singapore Civil Defence Force Central Narcotic Bureau National Crime Prevention Council Ministry of Finance Monetary Authority of Singapore Ministry of Law Intellectual Property Office of Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry Agency for Science, Technology and Research Ministry of Transport Land Transport Authority Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Ministry of National Development Building and Construction Authority Ministry of Education National University of Singapore Nanyang Technology University Singapore Management University Singapore Institute of Management Institute of Technical Education JCs / Secondary / Primary Schools Teachers’ Network Ministry of Health National University Hospital Mediacorp Canon Singapore The Asia Life Performance Motor Singapore Technologies Association for Small & Medium Enterprise Lions Club of Singapore Junior Chamber of Singapore Some netizens looked through the postings on his personal Facebook page [Link] and found that he has been telling unhappy Singaporeans to quickly emigrate so that foreigners can come in: It is indeed surprising to hear this from a so-called grassroots leader of our community, who is essentially telling unhappy Singaporeans to get out of Singapore. Calvin Teo's boss, Kaki Bukit CCC chairman David Poh was earlier revealed to be the President of the Moneylender’s Association of Singapore ('Grassroots’ David Poh is Moneylender’s Assoc President'). The "adviser" to Kaki Bukit CCC is Ong Ye Kung, the losing PAP candidate for Aljunied GRC in the 2011 general election.  Read More →