Anonymous on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:05 am 

Creating “cheap” jobs and let those who take it, unable to even survive with the ever-rising costs. That’s perfect!

fpc on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:23 am 

I disagree that the govt does not want to spend monies because of fear of imposing a crutch mentality.

I think the govt is short of cash. All the wealth is illusory.

They lost a lot of monies overseas and is having headache how to cover the cpf problem.

fair and square on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:40 am 

selfishness and greed are never satiated…
most millionaires are probably thinking rather hard how to
make it to billionaires and the laden billionaires are perhaps crazily inclined towards becoming the first trillionaire?
aND,,if they can’t attain IT in their present lifetime,they would probably have left instructions for their posterity to
burn “hell-notes” or something like that to make sure they are trillionaires in hell!
taking and squeezing “blood of stones” is the “Moral” of most present day elites..SHARING?..well it’s stupidity and a shame;
not until some of the greedy pigs themselves got burn(aka recent Wallstreet) BUT it’s not a shame when it’s them who are
getting help from the poor men(taxpayers)!
‘CLOSING THE INCOME GAP’ ARE MERELY WORDS that sound good;
THEIR VERY ACTIONS ARE DIRECT contradictions!
So,may God help the poor…Amen!

TR Post For This Case is... on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:46 am 

Timing coincedence and maximised, TR most appropriately placed under “TOP NEWS” and to THE “LEFT” Of TR’s other OPINION Column Article “OPEN LETTER To PM LEE EXPRESSING…” SINGAPOREAN’S “UNHAPPINESS OVER HIS PRO-FORIEGNER POLICY”… AND “ACCOUNTABILITY”…

Please note that TR’s article IS NOT about PM Lee’s (AND SO MM’s & SM’s) too in Tripartrite Policy Of “Pro-ForeigNER” and IS NOT about just pro-foreign worker!!!

THANK YOU TEMASEK REVIEW FOR YOUR VERY GOOD JOB!!! BRAVO!!!

Loooong Bia on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:10 am 

Did the Victim of Life have CPF money?
IF SO, why did she have to suffer from Financial Distress IF she OWNS money in CPF? Why can she not seek medical treatment with her own money in CPF?

Why !!!?

Old Guy on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:11 am 

TErrible and SaD..

this is singapore behind closed doors to the foreigners in APEC

for singapore on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:27 am 

The way “charity” is being carried out in Singapore is similar to the way how eployers perform corporate social responsibilities…it smacks of hypocrisy.

Government organs and NGOs here are so quick in responding to
foreign requests for aids but simply “glance over” or worse,totally ignore the plight of their fellow singaporeans.
In the same vein,both public and private employers are seemingly enthusiastic about “CSR” PROJECTS but even more NIMBLE at RETRENCHING their own,mostly SINAGPOREAN,EMPLPLOYEES!

what’s becoming of our nation?…seeking attention?!

Muppet on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:53 am 

Yes. I strongly believe they have cash flow problem. That’s why they have this CPF scheme whereby retirees cannot withdraw most of the monies out of their CPF account. This is especially so when the baby boomers are reaching their retirement age. If these baby boomers withdraw their CPF monies, the papayas will be in real trouble …. real trouble having money to pay for their fat salaries.

... on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:57 am 

here is a piece of information for the temasek review team. consider this:

in singapore’s health care system, there are 3 layers, namely the acute hospitals, the community hospitals and the nursing homes. of the 3 layers, MOH is suppose to have a purview over them. of the 3 layers, 2 of them (community hospitals and nursing homes) are run largely by VWOs. given that it is such a crucial part of the healthcare system, why are they run by voluntary organisations? of course there are benefits to the way that things are being run, in that the ministry capitalises of the organisations willingness to help and is able to tap into the donations of the public.

the drawback of it? the largest would be standards. the community hospitals are quite well run but the same cannot be said of the nursing homes. there are always exceptions to this of course but by and large, the nursing homes, if you have seen the behind the scenes of one, would live you desiring for more.

Poor Singaporean on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:59 am 

I am also prepared to jump from HDB flat if I find out that I have a terminal disease. It is better to end my life like that instead of suffering further and get my hard-earned savings in the Medisave to feed the doctors and surgeons bank accounts for them to stay in big houses and drive posh sports cars.

fair and square on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:21 pm 

If everbody chips in,there should be that much lesser problems.
to the rich bosses-don’t greedily “squeeze: your people.
to the ministers9and top civil servants)-do more for HONOUR
THAN MERE DOLLARS!
to the NGOs-don’t neglect your own “brudders” and “sistas”.
to the doctors-don’t anyhow charge your poor patients!
to the upper middle-class- no need to show off big cars,
just be kinder.
to the middle-class-do whatever you can,perhaps cut down
on your holidays to afar.
to the poor- do your best and the above will do the rest!!!

坡仔哥哥 on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:46 pm 

1. It is OK to highlight this case since TR’s mandate is an Alternate Voice for local issues – but we need to consider all the other successes as well. For every 1 Mdm Chen, there are other successes (people who benefit from the current system), maybe there are specific and unique circumstances which causes the sucide?

2. In the same token, if there is no unique circumstances, then there will be more and more Mdm Chen jumping to their deaths very soon.

Maybe it will take about 5 or 6 Mdm Chen to make the government stand up and consider its policies all over again.

Political SalesMaN on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 1:07 pm 

I came across several Doctor wish LKY would live even longer. So can make them even more richer.This is more cruel then animal.A good profession Doctor use to save life.Now adays Doctor use to slaughter life.

And Justice For All on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:17 pm 

The problem lies with the high and ever increasing medical bills and costs. Our social system is tilting.

‘Poor Singaporean’ is right. Those who are not well off and having terminal diseases have to see their life savings (accrued through hard work at little pay over the years) evaporate through paying the high medical fees, only to see their valuable little hard earned money go feed the pockets of rich doctors and surgeons, who then spend these money on fast cars and big houses. This is the injustice and inequality of our social system. And the PAPies are responsible for it. The spiralling costs in medical facilities have not been controlled. Why should they be bothered with this as, after all, it is a plight faced by the lower income base, and the ministers and their families do not have to face it as they have a lot of surpluses to spare with their million dollar salaries. Needless to say, a lot of these ministers have family members who are also in the medical profession feeding on the poor.

Our social system needs a serious rethink, and a thorough re-structure is inevitable. This re-distribution of income through our income tax system is inequitable and disproportionate relative to the ever increasing cost of living situation Singaporeans are presently facing. In other countries, it is effective because there is also a corollary system of welfare policies running parallel which compensate for any shortfall or “leakage” in this tax system. But we do not have this privilege here as our government is against such an idea of welfarism. Mr Chua Sian Chin, the then Minister of Health, went to study the health system in China during his tenure, and upon his return, wanted to introduce a similar system adopted by the Chinese, which would provide Singaporeans to a very large extent, almost virtually free medical care at state expense. He was removed from his office.

All things said and considered, the PAPies sitting in our Parliament are obsolete in relation to the needs of Singaporeans presently. If they had been effective in the past, this effectiveness has been eroded away with the changing circumstances in our environment. They have lost touch with realities and are not relevant to the changing shifts in people’s economic, health, and political needs. How can a minister with a million dollar salary ever appreciate the problem of a man with a $800 a month salary feeding a family of 4? A piece of plain bread tastes sweet to the hungry man, but it wouldn’t even excite the appetite of our ministers. How, then, can they understand the problems facing the poor ?

It’s time Singaporeans put their perspective in order. We need political leaders who are insync with us, who understand our needs, and who have gone through the same hard road of economic employment as we have and not reaching the high pedestal through free rides. We do not need ministers who are co-opted into their position without gaining the relevant experience of pain through the hard process.

Jobless on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:40 pm 

“There are few social welfare benefits for Singapore citizens. CPF, which is originally intended as a pension fund is now deemed inadequate to meet the retirement needs of Singaporeans.”

Just wondering, but wouldn’t it be better if old folks with no means of support and in need of medical attention just ‘book’ themselves a place in Changi. Wouldn’t the government have to take care of them and look after their medical needs.

Changi seems to be the best option for old folks. Instead of going around and looking for tin cans and old newspapers, the government will look after your every need. And instead of fearing the prospect that KBW will send you to Johor, you can remain in Singapore, where your love ones can easily visit you.

Anyone disagree?

Bambi on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 3:13 pm 

Well. This is REALITY.

In fact, for the $16 per day ppax 160 odd countries listed on the UN developing list, the situation is even worse off.

Some are dying by the wayside and others waiting to be eaten up by vultures standing beside them once they give up their last breath.

Check it out.

Why GOD?

kuku on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 4:26 pm 

more jumpers in god forsaken sinkapore, vote pap out to prevent any more

http://fashionablefacistdictator.wordpress.com/

Muppet on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 6:12 pm 

Correction …. CPF was never meant to be a pension fund. It was designed to get money from the citizens to build up the infrastructure of Singapore. When Singapore went independent, where do you think the papayas get so much money to build up the infrastructure? CPF … they designed this and tell the people back that the gahment is saving for their retirement. In actual fact, they need the money to build up the infrastructure. But the message of “pension fund”, “saving for their retirement” is very pleasant to the people back then. Today, the papayas are desperately designing complex CPF schemes to prevent the baby boomers from withdrawing majority of their monies out of their CPF accounts. If they do, then the papayas will have no fat salary, Temasek and GIC will be starved of that money.

And Justice For All on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:47 pm 

Bambi

What you have narrated is a universal problem faced by mankind. In poor countries their plight would be worse (as you have highlighted) but generally the problem persists, even it is evident in the US on an exception basis.

So we have to ask whether there is a God. And if he exists, why does he allow this state of affairs to persist where some people are suffering while others are having a whale of a time. Even worst still, a scenerio of the fortunate few who had it good at the expense of others’ suffering.So does God exists? No one can really answer this question while he is alive. He will only know it when he dies, whether there is a hereafter.

So the dichotomy of this situation (that when you finally know the answer it would not have mattered anymore because you would have crossed into another realm) is a bridle to prevent anyone from having the this answer and allowing him to profit from this privilege while he is still alive. Our present belief system is based on faith and not the answer. Which leads us to another greater question than the first. And that is : What is the Grand Design?

LKY will very soon be able to know the answer to the two questions posed. They may not have been in his mind (which was preoccupiedall this while with amassing all that power). The 70 year old Mdm Chen has already crossed this threshold. In this respect, all the intelligence which LKY thinks he is endowed with does not even hold a candle to the knowledge that Mdm Chen now has (in that great somewhere). Death indeed is the leveller.

Such is the mortality of men, and the viscosity of life. And some wither away their time on earth without any compassion for their fellowmen (the PAPies). While others make themselves sacrificial lambs for society (the ex-political detainees).

Which leads us back to what we should do, to believe in the existence in God, or not to believe. The answer lies in mathematical logic :

If a life time is equivalent to 90 years, and thereafter is forever, the stretch of our mortal years is only a tiny speck relative to the yonder. SO IT IS BETTER TO BELIEVE THAN NOT TO BELIEVE.

John Potus on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 12:31 am 

Thousands and thousands of Singaporeans are in financial distress. All you have to do is read the news and you will see daily reports of loan shark runners getting caught. It just never ends.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_456954.html

This must mean that there are thousands and thousands of Singaporeans in a very desperate situation. Whether they regret it or not, I am sure the MIW are extremely worried that the problems of gambling will worsen and result in more social ills once the casinos open.

One bad decision after another.

Rainnix on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 3:07 am 

There are 3 ways to get back your CPF fully.
1. Emigrate
2. Suicide
3. Vote PAP out in the next election.

reader on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 3:09 am 

Dear And Justice For All (10:47pm):

It is interesting to read your logical take on religion and the meaning of life. Allow me to contribute my views on this off-topic discussion (logic-based, of course).

The gist of your argument is that it is better to believe than not to believe. But you have neglected to factor in the COSTS of believing.

And by costs, I’m not just referring to the time, money and effort devoted into a religion.

I’m talking about the OPPORTUNITY COSTS. By believing in say, Christianity, one is no longer able to believe in Buddhism or Hinduism or Scientology. Without clear evidence of which religion is “right”, how would one know that he has hedged his bets correctly?

In fact even inside Christianity, there are different denominations and churches, and they all believe in slightly different things. And these differences are significant, for otherwise there would be no need to set up the different factions.

Thus from a logical perspective, the probability of one’s belief being “right” is actually extremely small.

The next logical conclusion is that we should still have a belief, for a small chance of being “right” is better than no chance at all.

But this is neglecting the concept of seeing atheism as a choice/religion in itself. Perhaps atheism is the only way of being “right” and having ANY kind of beliefs will doom us to being “wrong”. Without clear evidence to the contrary, we cannot discount this possibility.

Thus my final logical conclusion is, it doesn’t matter if you believe in a god, or which god you believe in. All of us have an equal chance of being right (or much much more probably, wrong).

Rockerfella on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 9:15 am 

Suicide rates of the world and why people kill themselves.

Singaporeans must remain discering and learn to check out facts first. That’s why we are a developed country. We mustn’t always fall hook, line and sinker into whatever is written.

Check this out:
http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/suicide-rates-of-the-world/

Bambang on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 11:01 am 

We shd learn from our Malay Singaporeans.

I understand that no matter how poor they are they won’t commit suicide (religion plays a part).

Many would instead turn to the Town Council, CDC, MENDAKI, government & NGOs for assistance.

The rest can also learn from their resilent.

Fievel on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 1:13 pm 

Singapore is not meant for long term residency…I mean, lots of our angmoh PRs will return to their countries if sh!t happens to their lives here…this place is great for high wage earners to come get sheltered in our low tax environment, appreciate the sun for a few years, then when push comes to shove, go home! Aged locals, however, are just stuck with no options whatsoever…except maybe to commit suicide.

Since the govt is so pro-FT, I hope we get enuff outspoken angmohs into our system to change the way PAP treats our fellow citizens

cy on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 2:39 pm 

i will like to contribute to this talk on religion and atheist.

I was formerly an atheist too, i rationalise myself that there is nothing left after we die. but after much exploration, i changed my thinking. i like the buddhist concept of reincarnation and that there are true stories of ppl, esp monks who have great wisdom and saw “the truth”, they have broken away from the karmic cycle, which unfortunately we are still trapped in.

Presently, i haven’t joined any religion group as i believe one need not join a religion group to practice what the great religious leaders like Jesus, Prophet mohammed, buddha, etc. preached. In fact, buddha warned ppl to be careful of “wolf in sheep’s disguise” ie. unscrupulous ppl hijacking religious groups, something like anti-christ followers.

The true tenets are common to all religions, though they have slight differences in their practices, it is the common things like compassion, fraternity etc that we should pay attention to.

Pascal’s Wager (or Pascal’s Gambit) is a suggestion posed by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal that even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though God exists, because so living has everything to gain, and nothing to lose

Seriously on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 4:26 pm 

@ Bambang on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 11:01 am

MSM (Berita Harian) reported that Singaporean Malays are migrating in record numbers. Surely this must be telling that something is very desperately wrong with their survival habitat which supposedly gave them protected privileges in our society. It is an indictment of a very sick society brought into this dismal state of affairs by failed and failing public policies of the Government.

What is resilient for the rest when the strongest (and at least able to migrate) in their community is leaving in droves?

apathetic on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 10:27 pm 

does anyone know the suicide rate here btw?