Tan Kin Lian’s continued liaison with SDP may prove more to be a hindrance than help
By Fang Zhi Yuan, Chief Editor
According to SDP’s website, Mr Tan Kin Lian will be gracing its event at Hong Lim Park on 31st December 2008 with a speech.
SDP will be holding a New Year Eve Countdown at Hong Lim Park where it will be lining up a panel of speakers to honor the memory of the late J.B. Jeyaretnam.
While fellow opposition leaders Mr Low Thia Kiang and Mr Chiam See Tong have been avoiding SDP as a plague, it is indeed gentlemanly and courageous of Mr Tan to accept SDP’s invitation to speak at their event.
Undoubtably, SDP is the only true blue opposition party left in Singapore which dares to confront the ruling elites heads on.
On principles and paper alone, Dr Chee Soon Juan should have become the de facto opposition leader in Singapore.
Though I do not consider myself a SDP supporter, I will gladly cast my vote for them should they contest in my constituency in the next General Election, but with an impending bankruptcy suit looming over their heads, will SDP still be in existence by then ?
While I respect SDP for their conviction and determination, they remained unelectable at the ballot box. In fact, Dr Chee has already given up on the electoral process as a viable route to effect much needed changes in the system.
In spite of the controversies enshrouding the non-violent activism it espouses, SDP did force the government to yield some ground in the recent token permitting of outdoor protests at Hong Lim Park.
Unfortunately in the long-term, SDP is unlikely to win any more new fans. The crowd attending its countdown at Hong Lim Park will indicate how far it will go in the next few years.
By associating himself with SDP, Mr Tan is sending out the message that he does agree with some of the political methods being employed by the SDP.
Will this be an asset or hindrance to Mr Tan’s own political ambitions in the future should he decide to run for public office ?
What Mr Tan needs now is both a political vehicle and a grassroots machinery to lay down the ground work for him.
Being in the PAP for 30 years, he should be more aware than anybody else of the importance of having grassroots support to organize an election campaign.
There is already a “Volunteers for TKL” group which is charged with collecting signatures for his petition to run for public office from which he can build and expand upon.
As for the political platform, Mr Tan could well afford to set up a new party on his own or join an existing one, perhaps the now rudderless Reform Party founded recently by J.B. Jeyaretnam before his untimely demise with little or no political baggage.
Mr Tan is one of the few high-profile establishment figures who have crossed over to the “opposition” in recent years (if opposition is the correct word to use). It is a coup for SDP to have him speak at their event. However, will Mr Tan’s urbane middle class supporters continue to stick with him if he continues to lean further towards SDP ?
If Mr Tan has indeed set his sights on running for political office, he must remove all possible obstacles in his path on the parliamentary route. Unless he intends to stay an activist all his life, it is neither pragmatic or wise to be labelled as part of the “SDP gang” by the state media.
Both the electoral process and extra-parliamentary activism play equally important roles in breaking the PAP’s political monopoly and they are not mutually exclusive of each other.
Without civic consciousness and activism, an uninformed and naive electorate will always be swayed by the carrots and stick approach adopted by the PAP. With no MPs in Parliament, there will be no independent voices to provide an effective check and balance on the government.
To put it bluntly, SDP needs credible moderates like Mr Tan more than Mr Tan needs them. Mr Tan’s kind gesture to SDP will surely win him the support of hardcore opposition voters, but he needs to ensure that he does not ailenate the middle ground at the same time in doing so.
Interview with Macpherson residents on transport fares
Video produced by The Enquirer TV, The Singapore Enquirer
Prologue:
In a meet-the-people session conducted on 21 December 2008, Transport Minister Mr Raymond Lim told Macpherson residents that “public transport fares is not directly linked to oil prices” and therefore it has not come down in tandem with dropping oil prices.
We ask Macpherson residents what they think of Mr Lim’s explanation.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsnX5QJ90UA&hl=en&fs=1]
Also read our rebuttal of Mr Raymond Lim’s lame explanation here
Excerpts of interview:
“I doubt it. Because definitely oil plays an important part in the economic stability, so when the oil prices come down, we should expect certain depreciation in the transport costs.”
“Actually since the oil prices have already come down, they should reduce the price.”
“Transport fares are very expensive nowadays !”
“Now the oil prices are very low, the transport fares should be coming down…..He (Raymond Lim) can say his own thing, we people have our own views.”
“There are many poor people nowadays. Prices keep going up, but never go down !”
Results:
We interview a total of 40 Macpherson residents:
1. Are transport fares expensive ?
Expensive: 25 Affordable: 10 No comment: 5
2. Mr Raymond Lim says that oil prices are not linked to transport fares. Do you believe what he says ?
Yes: 0 No: 34 Don’t know: 6
3. Should transport fares be decreased soon ?
Yes: 38 No: 0 No comment: 2
Conclusion:
62.5% of those interviewed agree that transport fares are expensive, 85% do not believe in Mr Raymond Lim’s explanation that oil prices are not linked to transport costs and 95% hope that transport fares will be decreased soon.
Lawyer Leonard Loo plans for final showdown with the banks
Video produced by The Enquirer TV, The Singapore Enquirer
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkfS-qJQHMI&hl=en&fs=1]
Excerpts of Mr Leonard Loo’s speech:
“For those of you who has complained to the FIs, my personal suggestion is to speak to a lawyer and ask them about your legal rights. I am not asking you to come to my law firm.”
“One of the things you must prepare before a class action is the documents such as the prospectus and the risk profile assessment. With these things, you can go and see a lawyer.”
“If there is any offer of compensation from the FIs from the class action, please consider it carefully.”
Tan Kin Lian says minbond case will not go to court as banks and govt want to save "face"
Video produced by The Enquirer TV, The Singapore Enquirer
PART 3
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwTN0_xHAMw&hl=en&fs=1]
PART 4
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvikG-QPn7o&hl=en&fs=1]
Excerpts of Mr Tan Kin Lian’s speech:
“This is the style in Singapore now. You write no letter – no news, no reply. Second letter – no news, no reply. Third letter – no news, no reply. I don’t know what has become of Singapore. Where is the accountability and fairness ? You see, these are people, their job. When people write to me, ask for my help, it is not my job, but anybody who write to me, I give a reply even though sometime my reply is ‘I am sorry, I don’t know how to answer.’ ….As best as I can, I do give a reply. This is the government officials’ job, they don’t reply to you. I send second letter, they don’t reply, I send third letter, they don’t reply. So I don’t know why I hope that at least if you can’t handle, just give a reply, don’t just quietly ignore it.”
“So far the complaint with the banks is very slow, takes 5 to 10 weeks…95% rejected, then the complaint to FIDReC, very few submitted and those who submit, very few are heard, so it will take a long time. MAS say don’t take legal action, depend on the complaint process in Singapore, but after 3 months, many people are becoming impatient….many people already want to take legal action.”
“Again I want to be quite honest. A legal action can take a long time, you go to court, after you fight the court whether you win or lose, the bank can still appeal, then go one more time, so it is going to be long and quite messy, but Mr Loo agree with my committee that the maximum fee is S$4,800.”
“My honest opinion is – the banks will not go to court, the bank will settle out of court, because to go to court, the publicity is going to be very bad for the banks and for Singapore, but of course right now, the bank say it will reject and reject…..but if you are willing to fight, the bank will negotiate a settlement….at that time, even the government may change their mind, if the reputation of Singapore is so bad, how can in Singapore, ordinary people can lose their money and nobody come and help, who will dare from other countries to put their money in Singapore if Singaporeans lose their money like that, maybe the government will ask the banks to settle.”
“Who will the banks settle with ? Those who join the class action. Some people say ‘I sit down and wait for other people to fight.’ When the fight is over, those who join the fight will get the compensation, not you….You have to make the judgment yourself, whether to fight. My wish is that even before we go to court, this thing is settled.”
EDITORS’ NOTE:
The Singapore Enquirer will be burning the speeches of Mr Tan Kin Lian on 29 Nov 2008, 6 Dec 2008, 13 Dec 2008 and 27 Dec 2008 on DVD. If you are interested in getting a copy of the DVD, please email us at sgenquirer@gmail.com and we will post it to you by mail completely F.O.C.
Tan Kin Lian insinuates that banks break the laws and MAS did not investigate
Video produced by The Enquirer TV, The Singapore Enquirer
Part 1
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoR5gezGJg&hl=en&fs=1]
Part 2
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlMDaXMbnmo&hl=en&fs=1]
Excerpts from Mr Tan Kin Lian’s speech:
“The petitions were to ask the government if the banks who marketed the products have broken two laws…..I presented the signatures with 983 signatures and a letter to MAS…. MAS receive the petition and after that I follow up to ask if they have conducted an independent investigation. They never answer. They only say whatever we do we will announce through the media release. All of you receive the media release, did you receive any news whether there was any investigations, No.”
“When the laws are broken, we have the government, we have the police, we have the Attorney-General, it is their duty to investigate whether laws are broken, so far we have not heard any news. I myself tried to call MAS and ask if we can have a discussion. They say ‘no, they cannot discuss with individual investors.”
“I wanted to submit the petition in person to MAS Chairman Mr Goh Chok Tong, but he is traveling, so I say can you give me a senior person to talk to, they give me a junior person, so I say I might as well send by email. They acknowledge my email, of course I want to meet with them, but again they refuse. Did they investigate how the RMs were trained. We don’t know, no news.”
“I think by now, many of us are very disappointed, how can after so many months, this kind of outcome. Of course MAS says investors should lodge a complaint with the bank and the bank must give you an answer within 4 weeks and if the answer is no, you should go to FIDReC.”
“According to the complaint process, you get an answer within 4 weeks. Many people after 4 weeks got no answer, so they come to me. Honestly I don’t know as I am not the person in charge. MAS is in charge.”
“I do a survey in my blog and 17 people replied…..the 17 people represent what is happening roughly to everybody. Actually there are 16 replies, one of them only submit complaint 2 weeks ago. Of the 16 replies, 10 of them say they receive an answer from the bank, 6 say never receive. The 10 who receive an answer, the average is six and a half weeks, so MAS 4 weeks mostly exceeded, more than 4 weeks, so it is between 4 and 10 weeks. Of the 10, 9 were rejected, which means no case. 1 say got compensation…..he never give particulars, I don’t know true or not true.”
“Another 6 submitted and still no news. How long did they wait ? Between 5 to 9 weeks, no news. So a lot of cases are still no news. Next question is: ‘do you intend to complain to FIDReC.’ Many say they will complain though honestly they think complain also no use. There are alot of people who are discouraged. But three say they will not complain, they don’t want to waste their time.”
EDITORS’ NOTE:
The Singapore Enquirer will be burning the speeches of Mr Tan Kin Lian on 29 Nov 2008, 6 Dec 2008, 13 Dec 2008 and 27 Dec 2008 on DVD. If you are interested in getting a copy of the DVD, please email us at sgenquirer@gmail.com and we will post it to you by mail completely F.O.C.
Tan Kin Lian castigates the authorities for lack of accountability during last minibond rally at Hong Lim Park
By Eugene Yeo, reporting on site from Hong Lim Park, 6.10pm
Over 300 investors turned up at Hong Lim Park to attend Mr Tan Kin Lian’s last minibond rally. Subsequent meetings will be organized by the group leaders for the various notes.
Mr Tan began by presenting a summary of the minibond rallies he had held so far since October. He had sent 3 petitions to MAS and no reply was heard. Letters sent to MAS to investigate the banks for possible breaches of law under the Financial and Securities Act were also not given a reply.
After following the authorities’ advice to follow the complaint process in Singapore, there is still no resolution in sight for the minibond investors. In a survey done on Mr Tan’s blog participated by 16 people, most receive a reply from the banks after the mandatory 4 week period set by MAS. Out of 10 who did hear from the bank, 9 cases were rejected.
Few investors have expressed their willingness to lodge a second complaint to the arbitrary authority FIDReC, claiming that they lack “confidence” in the process.
In a rather blunt criticism of the authorities, Mr Tan castigates them for not giving a reply to him and the investors. Using himself as an example, he said he would make an effort to reply to every email investors sent to him even though he is not paid to do so. On the contrary, the officials who are earning a regular salary to do the job should be more proactive in attending to this matter. He said Singapore has now become a place where there is neither accountability or transparency to the cheers of the crowd.
Mr Tan told the crowd he has consulted a few Senior Counsels, some of whom were his friends for many years and none of them are keen to take up the case as they are connected with the banks. Even for those who are not, they do not want to spend time to study the prospectus unless they are paid a fee to do so.
In the end, only one lawyer, Mr Leonard Loo has agreed to study the case without charging a fee. Mr Tan urged the investors to join the collective legal action as it offers the only hope for them to reclaim some of their loss from the banks. He feels there is a good chance that the banks will settle the cases out of court as there will be alot of negative publicity should the suit goes all the way to High Court. Even the government may be compelled to intervene by pressurizing the banks to compensate the investors since a protracted messy legal wrangle will tarnish Singapore’s reputation as a legal hub.
Mr Leonard Loo, who was carrying his 2 year old child, also gave a brief speech to the investors of his plans for them. He will be giving a more detailed briefing next Tuesday at a seminar organized by the newly set up “Minibond Victims group”.
Mr Tan ended the day by giving the participants a small memento of a pocket calender to commemorate the rallies he had organized. Though there is still no resolution in sight after 8 rallies, Mr Tan has been instrumental in bringing the investors together.
EDITORS’ NOTE: The Singapore Enquirer team will be uploading the speeches of Mr Tan and Mr Loo in a short while. Stay tuned here for more updates.
Political space in Singapore unlikely to expand beyond mere tokenism
By Fang Zhi Yuan, Chief Editor
The legalization of outdoor protests at Hong Lim Park and the possible relaxation of laws governing political discourse in cyberspace was welcomed by some overly optimistic observers (read CNA article) who predict it will herald in an era of greater openness and liberalization of political space in Singapore.
Unfortunately, this latest political development in Singapore will prove to be another false dawn as the autocratic PAP is unlikely to yield more ground than is warranted in order to preserve their hegemony.
In the first place, the initiatives rolled out by the government are meant to serve their own vested interests rather than to expand the political space when there was never any pressure exerted on them to do so by Singaporeans.
The large turnout at the minibond rallies comprising mostly of silver-haired retirees who are desperate to recoup their investment losses can hardly be construed as a political awakening for Singaporeans.
Allowing outdoor protests at Hong Lim Park is a tactical move to deflect international criticisms of Singapore’s draconian laws prohibiting freedom of assembly following the World Bank fiasco last year and to circumvent SDP’s strategy of discrediting its laws through civil disobedience.
Now that protests have been permitted albeit in a limited way, it will certainly slow down the momentum of SDP’s push for greater liberalization.
As for the widely anticipated change in laws governing cyberspace such as decriminalizing the production of political podcasts, it is more of removing an obsolete law which is impossible to enforce which has proven to be embarrassing to the regime than a calculated move to promote greater political debate amongst the nation’s net-savvy younger generation.
Looking at things from this perspective, it is clear that the PAP has no desire or motivation to further expand the political space beyond mere tokenism for purposes of political contingency.
In fact, the state-controlled media has added a spin to it to make it appear that the PAP is an enlightened and liberal government which understands the aspirations of Singaporeans so as to appeal to the P65 generation of voters.
While the easing of rules have added vibrancy to the country’s dour political landscape, its core remain essentially unchanged – the PAP system.
As long the PAP system is not challenged directly, the PAP is quite contented to allow ordinary citizens to question and dispute its policies. Yes, we can throw whatever brickbats we have at them, but at the end of the day, they still call the shots.
The latest moves are no more than PR exercises to revamp its patriarchal image in order to win the hearts of the young voters who may be put off by its repressive laws. The PAP is still the same old PAP. It will never allow an alternative center of power to emerge in Singapore simply because it cannot afford to.
After enjoying uninterrupted power for over four decades, the concept and practice of “parliamentary democracy” has become a foreign word to the PAP.
Any moves which threaten the status quo will not be tolerated as evident in its relentless prosecution of opposition politicians who advocate reform of their system of governance such as the late Jeyaretnam and Dr Chee.
And Singaporeans are still the same apathetic Singaporeans. In an increasingly difficult economic climate, most are more concerned about their pockets rather than political space.
Unless we see a thousand Singaporeans gathering at Hong Lim Park to call for greater political openness, we are unlikely to progress beyond this present infantile stage of political maturity.
69 year old man unable to find job, given only S$150 a month by government for living expenses
Produced by The Enquirer TV, The Singapore Enquirer
(Also watch the video interview with Mr Chua’s wife in the thread below)
Prologue:
69 year old Mr Chua used to work as a construction laborer in the past. He is still healthy and able to work, but nobody wants to employ him, citing age as a concern.
As he does not qualify for the Public Assistance scheme, he is only given a monthly allowance of $150 which he supplements by borrowing from his friends.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDJh6E1678&hl=en&fs=1]
Excerpts of interview translated from Hokkien:
SG Enquirer: Do you go to look for work ?
Mr Chua: Yes, I cycled everywhere from Geylang to Whampoa, but they say I am too old and refuse to employ me…..I told my friends like this die already I have no job to do, no job no money. If this house has to be paid by me, then I really die.
SG Enquirer: How much did the government give you a month ?
Mr Chua (crying): S$150 only. They open a bank account for me and deposit the money into it every month.
SG Enquirer: Is it enough ?
Mr Chua: Not enough. The water bills is already a couple of dollars…..in 2, 3 or at most 4 days, the money is gone.
SG Enquirer: Are food prices high now ?
Mr Chua: Yes, very expensive ! When I go out to look for job, I dare not drink coffee at coffeeshop. I ordered hot water instead, no money what to eat ? Can only drink water.
SG Enquirer: Did you ask your MP to help you look for job.
Mr Chua: Yes, they gave me a job as a sweeper at ….don’t know where, offered me S$300 monthly, but the transport fares cost a hundred plus dollars already.
SG Enquirer: Did you ever go hungry ?
Mr Chua: When we are hungry, just take some roti (bread).
SG Enquirer: Do you still have CPF ?
Mr Chua: No.
SG Enquirer: Are you upset with your predicament ?
Mr Chua: Yes, but what to do ? When we run out of money, I have to go around to borrow from my friends and when the S$150 is deposited on every 3rd of the month, I will use it to repay them.
75 year old granny abandoned by 6 her children to fend for herself in twilight years
Video produced by The Enquirer TV, The Singapore Enquirer
Prologue:
While Singaporeans are celebrating the festive season, 75 year old Madam Chan (not her real name) does not know when her water supply will be cut off again.
She lives with her 69 year old husband, Mr Chua (second husband, her first one whom she had her children with passed away 20 years ago) in a one room rental flat.
Her 6 children have abandoned her and she have tried to find them to no avail. Occasionally, they will drop by and give her a hundred dollars or so to spend.
Unable to find any work and not qualifying for Public Assistance, she was left to fend on her own. Madam Chan still owes PUB about S$2,000 in utility bills and her water supply was once cut off for 2 weeks.
PART 1
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Fecesp4F0&hl=en&fs=1]
PART 2
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0dXQQI2LU0&hl=en&fs=1]
Excerpts of interview translated from Hokkien:
SG Enquirer: How many children do you have ?
Madam Chan: 6 , 3 sons and 3 daughters.
SG Enquirer: Do they still keep in touch with you ?
Madam Chan (sobbing):
No, they simply vanish, I don’t know where they are. They didn’t give me any numbers to contact them.
Madam Chan: Have you seek the help of your MP ?
SG Enquirer: Yes, they ask me to contact the Tribunal for maintenance of parents. I dare not go as I do not know what to say. If I say the wrong thing, I may be jailed.
SG Enquirer: Do you owe the PUB any money ?
Madam Chan: Yes, about S$2,000, only for the water, they didn’t charge me for the electricity.
SG Enquirer: Was your water supply ever cut ?
Madam Chan: Yes, not too long ago, it was cut for 2 weeks because I cannot afford to pay the utility bills.
SG Enquirer: Oh gosh, how do you live without water for 2 weeks ?
Madam Chan: We leave the tap on for it to drip drop by drop into a bucket which is filled up after a day. We use the water to bathe.
SG Enquirer: How much is your water bills a month ?
Madam Chan: Sometimes S$20, sometimes S$30, we owe them for a few months already.
According to AFP, the Singapore government has recently acquired the property interests of a US-based firm in China and Japan for 1.3 billion dollars which it paid up front by cash. Our government is damned filthy rich. Why can’t it do a bit more for helpless elderly like Madam Chan ?
EDITORS’ NOTE: We thank our reader for informing us of Madam Chan’s plight. We have sent given her some groceries and NTUC vouchers worth S$60 to tide her over this difficult period. A volunteer will be contacting Madam Chan soon to bring her to the Family Court run by MCYS. We will bring you the interview with Madam Chan’s husband, Mr Chua tomorrow.
Let us not forget the spirit of charity in this festive season
By Fang Zhi Yuan, Chief Editor
It is a bleak Christmas for Singapore as the city state’s economy went into recession with tougher times ahead. We have been reminded repeatedly by the government and the media to brace for a sharp downturn next year where both pay and jobs are expected to be cut.
With no social safety net to help those who are retrenched and unemployed, Singapore workers are becoming anxious and fretful about the uncertain future. A doctor friend of mine told me he has seen an increase in the number of patients seeking help for anxiety-related disorders, insomnia and even depression.
There are many things to worry about: jobs, CPF, stock portfolios and mortage loans. Even as we sit down to Christmas dinner today and spend time with loved ones and friends,these grim thoughts will still be at the back of our minds.
In spite of the blanket of gloom which has grown to enshroud the current economic climate, most of us are not doing that badly, despite the downturn.
We still have our jobs and can keep up mortgage payments. Our shareholdings have taken a battering, but we should still have enough spare cash to buy simple gifts for our friends and family
Imagine if this is how the meltdown has affected us, think about how much more worried those less fortunate are feeling: the elderly, disabled, unskilled and the homeless among them. If we have not already given consideration to these people, it is high time we did.
Singapore charities have reported a dip in donations during the last quarter of 2008 and they predict it will be much harder to get the public to donate in 2009 with the current economic crunch.
For those of us who can afford to, we should not forget to do our part for the less fortunate in society. Christmas is the traditional time of giving and sharing and what better way to celebrate it by putting our words into action ?
The spirit of Christmas is embodied by loving-kindness, goodwill and compassion more than the expensive decorations and displays we seen in Orchard Road. Even in the face of troubling times, we should not forget its spirit in this festive season.
EDITORS’ NOTE: We will be showing you a video interview of an elderly couple in the evening to find out how they are spending their Christmas.
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