Letter to MM Lee on daft Singaporeans casting protest votes against PAP
January 30th, 2010 | 
Author: Dear Mr Lee,
I refer to your comments as reported by Straits Times on 28th Jan 2010.
You said that our flats are subsidised. But what is $40,000 compared to $100,000 to $200,000 increase in flat prices over the last three years? Even with the subsidies, Singaporeans end up paying a lot more.
You said that our flats will appreciate in value and that will add to our wealth. But for every $100,000 addition to the wealth of my estate, each of my children must fork out an extra $100,000 for his or her future housing needs. As long as there is more than one child, the family as a whole loses, not gains. The only entity that truly gains is the HDB and the government. It would really be ‘daft’ of you if you cannot see the silliness of your own reasoning.
You warned Singaporeans that our flats will not longer be of value if Mah Bow Tan loses. Are you threatening Singaporeans? Mah Bow Tan has already lost many years ago to Chiam See Tong and yet Potong Pasir flats are as pricey as any flat would be.
You seemed to chide Singaporeans for always wanting it cheaper and better. But flat prices have gone up by 30% in the short span of three years. We are not asking for cheaper, we are asking for price stability. Are you sure you’re getting your facts right? Are you sure you’re not being ‘daft’ instead?
You said the government has to price flats fairly. Compared to three years ago, new buyers have to pay 30% more now. You call that fair? Did our salaries increase by 30% over this period?
You said that the government is giving us something more valuable than what we paid for. If the price of flats increased by $100,000 over the last three years and the government gives a $40,000 subsidy, aren’t we paying more still? Isn’t it ‘daft’ to insist that we are paying less when we are actually paying more?
You said that the government gives us an asset that is below market price the moment we buy it. But by the time we buy the asset, the market price of that asset has already gone up by $100,000. So even with a subsidy of $40,000, we are still paying $60,000 more for nothing the moment we buy it.
So if there is a ‘loss’, it’s a fictitious one that confounds the electorate.
Ng Kok Lim
Posted in 123 Responses to “Letter to MM Lee on daft Singaporeans casting protest votes against PAP”
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Don’t need to talk too much cock to him..just vote him out at Panjong Pagar GRC as he is not adding value
The old man should simply stay on the side line and retire for good instead of making a fool of himself each time he “provides advice”… But again, even the son can’t rein him in terms of reasoning so Singapore has to bear with the gentleman till he really kicks the bucket.
Mr Ng, you must understand MIW. When they speak there is always a grain of truth and a pound of lies.
All they say is that particular grain of truth.
Its not wrong to say that when they sell you a new flat at $250k, after 5 years, you will in all likelihood sell it for more than $250k which means you got to buy an asset for less than what you can sell it for.
However, here’s the pound of lies that they failed to mention.
1. HDB is the only supplier. So they can say what they like and they can claim whatever price they like.
2. The resale price that you sell after 5 years is indirectly controlled by them – via the new flat prices.
3. The amount of flats in resale is also controlled by them since they are the ones to release new flats.
4. the MIW allowed huge influx of foreigners who many became PRs and there isn’t enough resale flats and that’s why the resale prices went through the roof.
5. The new flat prices are peg to the resale prices (which by the way is indirectly linked to the new flat prices). This is a catch22 situation in which the prices will keep rising.
6. HDB will never allow the new flat price to drop which means resale prices can only drop marginally.
7. If you are a singaporean and sell, you will need to buy which means you will not get to realize your “profit”. Only looks good on paper.
8. Unless you are a PR or planning to migrate, when you sell, you can realize this profit. The rest of us can only feel good for the paper gains.
9. If you have kids (as you have mentioned), you will lose more as a family.
See the pound of lies. Well, we need to educate everyone to view whatever they say to search for the pound of lies.
The old fossil is getting very carelss lately but the MIWs are so scare to tell him. Perhaps they are just as daft. On one hand trying to come up with feel good headlines everyday on MSM but scolding singaporeans as lazy, need spur in our behind, daft, etc.
If I live in Tanjong Pagera and there is a contest there, I will definitely vote against him even if they put a monkey or even a corpse there.
I am waiting to see if this gets printed on the MSM, strait times or even in stomp.
The question is how does MM knows that an alternative political party could not provide better for Singaporeans?
I recall once Tom Watson, then IBM chairman, who said in 1958: “I think there is a world market for about five computers…
And we now know better.
There is always something better.That is the law of nature.
MM has no monopoly on wisdom , neither had any man or woman in the entire history.
Just for the record, the flat that you lives in is not an asset, it is a liability!
A flat can only be considered an asset when it is rented out to produce positive cash flow and increase in value over time. As most family live in their own flat, money is flowing out of their pockets to someone else such as banks, etc. Even if there is capital gain, it is foolish of them to unlock the gain as the flat does not produce positive cash flow. Anyway, any increase in value will be offset by the increase in resale price unless you sell and don’t buy.
I think I now know the reason why Temasek Holding & GIC is making significant losses. Their leader can’t differentiate the difference between asset and liability!
The morale of the story is: it is perfectly save to get rid of MBT!
30/1/10
Today’s HDB flats and their prices are beyond reach for alot of Singaporeans especially those local born young couples unlike the good old days any young couple can just get married and buy one. There are flaws in the HDB flats policies and price mechancism, perhaps the PAP government has so called argued successfully market forces true to an extend but there must be good policies in place to check speculation of prices which we have seen, reached to this level and beyond control.
Time for a relook and fine tune HDB flats policies and perhaps time for both the PAP MPs and the two opposition MPs to speak out on this and to ensure at the end of the day, HDB flats are owned by foreigners, possible.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
“Wow, you are the can”! I really have to take my hat off my head and salute you with total admiration and respect for your courage in taking this DOM to task! Thank you so much for a task well done, go, go, go, Ng Kok Lim and TR go, go, go, go, Ng Kok Lim and TR go, ……….
Singapore will have future with “PEOPLE LIKE YOU” and you are really the savior for the gullible and credulous main-street-men whom are too feeble to take-on this bunch of despicable and contemptible wrenches.
Does this DOM know what is going on before he sticks “his neck out and shove his #ass# in” for his cronies? This stupid cum idiotic mbt has “bull-shitted” through his way for the past few years since he takes on the post as the minister for mnd at the same time devouring millions of dollars of remunerations from the state coffer. The smos for mnd gf is also another good for nothing million-dollar nerd whom “simply” rely solely on those information/inputs from the mnd and hdb without knowing the head and tail but just the middle body, deliver shameful utterances publicly without scouring through the real development of the housing industry. Both need to be voted out of political office by next “G-erection” to ensure accountability and responsibility.
There are so much more flaws and short-comings under the faulty mechanism driven by the hdb besides than those points smartly pointed out by you in your brave-letter to this DOM! Mnd and hdb really need total re-invention urgently to put the development of Singapore Housing Industry in right perspective cum prospective so as to prevent more damages being done to the already “fragile” Housing Industry!
I will be of great interest to provide you with more details/information on those flaws and short-comings of these idiotic organizations to ensure Taxpayers’ money is well spent and accountability being enforced.
Kowtow to TR and Ng Kok Lim! Long life TR, long life Ng Kok Lim! Long life to democracy, accountability and responsibility!
great letter.
There is a lot of truth in the letter.
You forgot to mention about the relationship between housing price and retirement funds.
high flat prices imply low retirement fund in Singapore.
The current generation is paying for the last few generation and in spite of that, there are many old people with no retirement monies.
Taiwan and south Korea and even HK work just as hard as us with high % growth in property value (especially Taiwan and HK) but still, they have managed to have a lot more retirement monies than us.
In addition, for the Taiwanese, they had 8 years of Chen Sui bian stealing monies from Taiwan.
All the mrt, tall buildings, these places all have.
How did we end up to that stage?
VOTE PAP OUT no matter what nonsense they spout
VOTE PAP OUT no matter what nonsense they spout
VOTE PAP OUT no matter what nonsense they spout
why so polite on the writing, just send a mail and tell the old fart to kick bucket and go . He add no value to Singaporeans and still drawing $$MIL from Tax payer..
Well Done!
all of us realise by now that the ruling party never looks at things in a holistic manner as what many developed nations do. instead they siphon out what they wished to say to suit the occasion. they are really good at that, i must say.
one way to reverse this is to join a party that allows us to speak up freely without fear of reprisal from anybody.many of us have somewhat forgotten what is freedom of speech after all these years of bondage.
democracy means everyone can talk , not restricted to only MPs.
Good, good , good letter, Mr Ng. Many thanks from my heart.
Thank you TR.
I will cast my vote for the opposition in the coming election regardless what the PAP government is going to say or do.
But, unlike what MM Lee is accusing, my decision has been based on sound judgement and due consideration. Never has it been a consequent of foolishness or poor emotions.
The PAP has been given many opportunities to serve the people and to better the lives of Singaporeans. They may had done that in the past. That was one reason why they were voted in previously by a majority.
However, in recent times, I do not see my life improving as an average Singaporean. Instead, it is people who are connected to the elitist group of the system and foreigners who are willing to succumb to our autocratic and regimental rules that are benefiting from Singapore’s economic growth. Average Singaporeans like myself are in fact facing a deterioration in our lifestyles and livelihoods.
Unfortunately, the PAP government still does not realize the plight of the ordinary people. They have been given many chances to improves things for the people, especially in recent years when there is a growing resentment over the leadership quality. Unfortunately, they still do not performed up to expectation and has not delivered what they had promised in the past election. I believe that our fellow Singaporeans will choose our vote based on the performance of the party over the last five years and will not be based on the hot-air talks that is given over and over again. You can call “wolves-coming” for once and twice, but never thrice.
Anyway, I would like to restate that my vote against the PAP party is NOT A PROTEST VOTE, BUT A VOTE OF HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR MYSELF AND FELLOW SINGAPOREANS. I am not protesting against the PAP. But I would rather slot my coin in an opposition’s machine.
In the last few year they have been very complacent about many things. Things went wrong left, right and centre. It is time now to give the checks and balance before Singapore money are all lost in failed investment.
Contest in tanjong pagar pls, make the old man buzi and drain him. if not coming election he can tok cock alot. The only solution now we have is VOTE PAP OUT! MM,MBT OUT!
“Did our salaries increase by 30% over this period?”
Oh!
Ha ha ha!
That’s easy.
Andrew Chuah on Sat, 30th Jan 2010 11:04 am
you were once a banker right. they have to keep on playing & sustain the game of higher and higher prices lah. else, people who have bought high will suffer. The irony is that the inflationary effect gets transferred / passed forward to the future generations.
ultimately, it is a zero sum game with property prices contributing to the large proportion of the overall personal cost / expenditure of a person.
now where does the circular problem of decreasing population (not daring to give birth bcos of higher cost structure) of natural singaporeans and their need to solve it by increasing even more immigrants come from.
if the country’s underlying economic fundamental (real value addition work not speculative) is sound and more than enough to match the proportionate & relatively high prices, then god bless. else, appreciation in value of static asset (properties) will form a big proportion (ratio) of the expenditure (or income) of any average income earner – to the extent of overwhelming them as mentioned in this article and will eventually implode when the country is squeezed and packed to its critical threshold.
Wealth (for those who have it) in our context in being rearranged by being locked in static assets (properties) where you need ever increasing demand (population) to maintain & sustain it.
i hope those people from IB so earnestly defending garment policies in the net will get to see it for themselves the twisted unforeseen consequences.
lastly, profound thanks must go to Mr. Ng Kok Lim for writing such a clear article where it is simple to read & understand and also to TR for publishing this in the net.
Most people will still vote PAP in the next election. The PAP still control most of the wealth of the nation, and most people are fearful and greedy.
I don’t understand why discussion is aroung affortability of HDB flat while it should have been job security. Many people in their 40s and 50s are being replace by young and cheap and untalented foreigners and YET these Singaporean still need to pay the HDB/housing loan until the age of 60s.
CAN YOU GET THE PICTURE NOW!
TR, I salute YOU for this! Hope this give strength and courage for those who are half hearted but willingly and brave enough to take all these bloody idiots ruling party to task.
Kick them out!
What ? Ng Kok Lim again ?
But who else but one of the sharpest and best debaters I have read online. Ng Kok Lim should write more to expose those lies and fallacy of the monkey and gorilla party as election is drawing near.
The days of kangaroos are over.
Very sure the old fart will even talk very highly of his so-called fraud and scam $40,000 subsidy scheme when HDB flat cost $1 millions, and will hookwink the world of how great and generous SinGov is compare to other countries for their “$40,000″ to help citizens.
These gahmen can even say that they are helping the citizens with $40,000 when it isn’t even from the gov !
Anyone recall how HDB says that they lost money due to subsidy ? Those Fuckers still dare to give nonsense.
The fact is:
if you reduce the downpayment from 20% to 10%, you increase the number of people who have the monies to pay the downpayment (since 10% is less than 20%).
Say the same proportion of people want flat, this reduction will end up making more people demanding flat i.e. driving up demand.
I suspect this rule change is made in 2006 in anticipation of the huge number of immigrants they are letting in after 2006.
So, MBT is lying when he said that it was Singaporeans’ fault. It was his fault in driving up prices artificially by a rule change i.e reducing downpayment from 20% to 10%.
Even Shin min article agreed with me on this observation.
This low downpayment way of property buying is one of the reasons Yeo Chow Tong was ruined. See http://www.yeochowtong.com
see http://www.bocomgroup.com/mediafiles/documents/p2_2505_en.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estate_bubble
Remember LHL suggested to an old lady that she rent out her place and stay with her children.
Now MBt is blaming people for renting out their HDB places.
Renting only play a small part in driving up the current housing prices because it has always existed for a long time. But the downpayment rule change only happen in 2006.
MBT is lying.
In addition, requiring a low downpayment increasing the likelihood of default.
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/11/negative-equity-report-for-q3.html
MBT should be fired for introducing so many risks into our housing program.
Thumb up, support your ideal, Ng and Micheal have put a strong point. Simple to understand.
“Anybody who decides to take me on needs to put on knuckle-dusters. If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try. There is no way you can govern a Chinese society.”
- Lee Kuan Yew, The Man and His Ideas, 1997
“If we had considered them serious political figures, we would not have kept them politically alive for so long. We could have bankrupt them earlier.”
- Lee Kuan Yew on political opposition, Straits Times, Sept 14 2003
/John on Sat, 30th Jan 2010 11:49 am
Many people in their 40s and 50s are being replace by young and cheap and untalented foreigners and YET these Singaporean still need to pay the HDB/housing loan until the age of 60s./
Aiyoh, john. Why not you come out with an good article of about the matter. TR will definitely publish it.
Garment has SPURS. I thought they said they are helps available. Go find them lah.
About loans, there is this thing called higher loan and lower loan. And you may not even qualify for a higher loan (bcos of higher prices) which may somehow eat into your ability to pay.
When talk about job security, you will want cheap house prices. when say house prices, you will want job security. Are you from IB.
Bravo! Bravo!
Ng Kok Lim you are right on. A lesser mortal versus the immortal, its a good show.
The headline in the ST is trying to work its magic through the mind of Singaporean once again. More jobs for local.. blah blah blah. All kinds of damage control. Propaganda, propaganda, they are all propaganda.
As expected, there will be some politicking in the coming days. The general public anger will soon be cooled because the scheming PAP will spin at high velocity to calm your nerve. That will follow with some pork barrel politics and soon the people will think of voting them again.
Why is people more incline to vote for the PAP, it is because of their selfish need. They are more interested in satisfying their immediate requirement instead of their long term need. Once they get their jobs back, housing stabilizing coupled with some goodies, they are back to their old ways once again. They will vote for PAP.
To appease the electorate perhaps some heads may be sacrificed to save the mighty PAP.
Singapore cannot continue to be like it is with the PAP taking almost every constituencies. Our heart should be for our country and not our self interest and our own need. We must work for a democratic country where politics is being played out by various political parties and not just one party. This is a better alternative.
We cannot be daft, we will show them we are more matured. Even if PAP accede to our every need and give us tons of goodies, the answer should still be the same, we need more opposition in parliament to check on PAP. We are not in a protest mode, rather we are in an awakening mode, it is better to secure our futures on our own and not alms from the PAP.
This is our last chance to reclaim Singapore, if we fail to do so, we will never be able to do so. Five more years of PAP rules, is going to be a great disaster. They will strip every threat of the electorate and any means of depleting their stronghold.
For now they will spread out their goodies in the open and let us walk towards it, once we thought it is safe and enter the feast, the trap door will come down and we will be out and out.
Singaporean please for your children sake, wise up.
Reclaim Singapore Now, I truly must plead with you. Don’t be trap once again else we will never get out.
Let us not be fooled by their false surrender, we must march on and secure our final victory by reclaiming Singapore.
If you are the true sons of Singapore, arise and cast your vote wisely.
I stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Singapore and together lets reclaim Singapore.
He and his party treating us like animal and 3rd class citizens . Exercise your voting power during coming election . we have no choice but to accept another party because the current garman sucks in every sense . Please get out of our life .
Wow,subsidies? big deal!
Singaporeans taxpayers have been subsidising you more than these peanuts-anyway,our HDB-even after we co-pay for upgrading still go back to the GOVERNMENT-for the humogous losses your people made through squandering away again to some foreign sovereigns.
I begin to wonder whether this government owes its’ obligations and duty to Singapore and singaporeans or some foreign countries and their people?
This government is getting very confused as to who voted them and to whom this country belongs to?!!!!!!
citizenofSG on Sat, 30th Jan 2010 12:18 pm ,
dont worry, i have since long ago prepared and guide my family members who and what to vote in coming election.
just vote him out man… 3 million worth of crap….
PAP uses the same tactics as the Chinese Communist Party to keep in power. Playing on citizen’s greed and petty jealousy to be in power. Pathetic…
Stupid and arrogant man. What a pity!
Mr Ng: Did our salaries increase by 30% over this period?
MM Lee: Actually, yes, mine did. More than 30% in fact. What say you?
further demonstration of MBT trying to slap LHL’s face:
http://www.pmo.gov.sg/News/Transcripts/Prime+Minister/200+sign+up+for+HDB+Lease+Buyback+Scheme.htm
LeeHaveLied is well aware that HDB rental yield is high as indicated by the above link and in fact, he recommends rental for old people.
MBT is now claiming that “While promoting a free market, Mr Mah drew the line at speculation and stressed that HDB flats are for “owner—occupation, not speculation or rental investment.”
(http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20100128/tap-709-hdb-reviewing-rules-ensure-specu-231650b.html)
Either MBT is lazy and didn’t realise that high rental yield of hdb flat is promoting speculation or he thinks it is wrong for LHL to promote rental or LHL is not aware that high rental yield promotes speculation.
Well we are know why: with such a high pay, how could they know the reaction of common people?
(I didn’t want to say that they deliberately change the downpayment rule and immigration rule to push up the hdb prices to madness which is self evident)
The list of policy changes from HDB that led to the current hdb price bubble is given below.
with hindsight we know why those rules are made:
1. in preparation of the release of the floodgate of immigrants (so that these people have a place to stay).
2. sucking up the cash savings (through the 5% cash rule and cov that encourage ever increasing bidding) to cover up the mess at GIC/TH
3. to boast the working adults to retired person ratio
http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10221p.nsf/Attachment/AR0506/$file/16-policy-changes.html
All this to the detriment of Singaporeans.
Let alone the risks that these policies have introduced.
We also know another thing:
The rules set in 2005-2006 are one of the major causes of the current escalation of property prices contrary to how/what MBT and all the other pigs are trying to push the blame to.
They have a 3 million dollar pay to protect.
Do you think they would own up to the problems they have created?!
Vote them out.
Those pigs that remain will have 2 incentives to work hard:
1. they have 3 million dollars pay to keep. Where else could they get that pay at that age.
2. the elected opposition, new media and electoral will expose any shortcomings in the work they do and these pigs that remain will have to work hard to solve the real problem, not just do some window dressing work and give some stupid speech.
Just remember to vote these pigs out.
Don’t worry. With few pigs, there will be more food to go around.
another link:
http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/press_room/mom_speeches/2005/20050719-speechbymrmahbowtanministerfornationaldevelopmentminist.html
if you read some of the old crap MBT has pronounced, you would want to laugh.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/parliament/erc/0723mah.htm
If this round, MIW win landslide victory again. I think we all Singaporean deserve it, after so many election you guys doesn’t seem to get wiser at all.
Recipe for a Better, Joyfull, Healthy Future for Singaporeans!!
First, remove MM LKY, simply because he is a “daft”.
Then, discard his useless retard son, for spouting rubbish and
do not practise what he preaches!
Also boot out both SMs, DPMs…….and….and….What the heck!
VOTE OUT THE PAP! …..VOTE OUT THE PAP!!!
Hope election comes quickly …
Please dun walkover again … I want to vote !!!
MM Lee was referring to ‘Negative Wealth Added’, ie: Wealth is still a ‘gain’ of sort, right?
There are always two sides to any argument.
But to lky there is only one side – HIS side.
The pros are always stressed but the cons are
never mentioned as though there is no such thing.
It is long overdue that such a self-serving
government be kicked out, and as fast as possible,
before they destroy Singapore.
I will even argue that if the papsies suffer
substantial losses in the coming elections, lky
himself may not survive it to enjoy his forcasted
victory. Remember a few GEs ago when papsies lost
a few percentage points of the total votes, the
whole party and in particular the top leadership
went into such a frenzy it was as if the world had
come to an end?
Damage is done … once bitten by snake … blah blah blah .
Sorry … I had enough … the so called “cooling” day will not change my decision …
But I will still welcome it … if the so called “cooling” day is declared as a public holiday … hehehe
lky… you are old.. senile.. so stop making a fool of yourself by those crappy speeches…
29 Jan Straits Times article “HDB reviews rales to stamp out possible speculation”. MBT was reported to have said that THESE CLAIMS WERE WORTH CHECKING. He must be SLEEPING ALL THESE YEARS IN HIS JOB if he is not aware of this.
It is an open secret that these have gone on for years. Chesterton director confirmed this. He is only checking it now.
As I reflect on all that is happening in Singapore, I feel very sad. How could we have such a person holding such a high position and despite what he has done LKY can still threaten Singaporeans casting a vote against this man.
citizenofSG – Why is people more incline to vote for the PAP, it is because of their selfish need. They are more interested in satisfying their immediate requirement instead of their long term need. Once they get their jobs back, housing stabilizing coupled with some goodies, they are back to their old ways once again. They will vote for PAP.
I fully agreed with you. I am not surprised by the outcome of the next GE results. That is why good opposition like Steven Chia decided to leave politics for good.
It is indeed very disheartening to see good opposition fighting so hard for Singaporeans and in the end we let them down.
If the MIW today are good, just like their predecessors who cared for the people, I got no qualm voting for them. Only a few MPs today can match the qualities of the old guards. MP Dr. Lily Neo is a good example.
The Chinese believed that for a ruler to rule, he needs the mandate of heaven.
Here in Singapore, respects and votes come from the mandate of the people. Therefore, use your vote wisely!
LKY,
In order for you not to be daft you need to give NS men free medical fees.
Tax PR and foreigners more.
The PAP and MM, SM, PM,DPM, DPM, Cabinet Ministers and Political Secretaries all are coming in force or will be coming in full force in one wy or another to enrich Singaporeans with higher HDB prices and justifications. Property owners in Singapore consist of 80% of HDB owners. In HDB the majority are staying in GRC and when their HDB prices are prop up by PAPpolicies, the majority of the voters in HDB estates will be smiling and complain by all bull shit, bec when come to voting, they will cast at the PAP. You think they bother to vote for opposition? They want $$$$ which speak lounder than anything or affordability. MBT will be saved and the majority of Singaporeans will give him a resounding victory. HDB higher value are an extremely powerful carrot to the voters and the PAP will maximise it.
Here’s an article that all PAP “elites” should read and remember…
http://larryh.newsvine.com/_news/2010/01/30/3830925-scott-brown-people-arent-stupid-and-leaders-should-figure-out-theyre-better-informed-now-than-ever-by-john-fund-january-29-2010-1008-pm-et
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703389004575033160663975610.html
Note that the Election Department works for lky.
//$$$ and employees of LKY
if LKY is so sure of winning, tell him to start the election now since the outcome is certain.
Have the election every 3 years and abolish the GRC. Just have the presidential election and the president/dictator decide every time.
Save time and monies.
Are HDB flats in Hougang and Potong Pasir now in opposition hands down in the dumps? Nah, the old man’s getting senile. Don’t worry, vote out shorty MBT. Tampines prices will go through the roof.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
i believe many singaporeans will still vote PAP, not as much as 2006, but theres enough. These singaporeans have been brainedwashed for 40 years coming to 50 years, that half a decade!
The same question abounds, don’t vote for PAP how? later the opposition steal everything. Oppostion is no good. And after agreeing that PAP is also no good, they still say maybe its better the devil u know than the devil you don’t.
WAH LANZ vomit blood.
Those who vote wrongly people are actually making many, many other people suffer by their wrong voting.
They and their children and grandchildren will be forever bullied by very rich elites who will forever call them stupid donkeys and horses, because they have no hope to become rich.
Those who vote without thinking will surely meet their freak karma in a few years time.
They have forgotten the lesson of 1998 when property prices plummeted and auctions then were the norm. Singapore economy indeed is a very open one. Just a hiccup in China, Hongkong, Japan or even South East Asia would probably result in many people out of jobs and and not being able to service the loans. Many could then have no choice but to sell their flats. Those who buy it high may have their CPF savings wiped off too. Do we really own HDB flats? Hey, remember, it’s “99 years Lease”. Many of the hdb flats are already past 35 years and in 10, 20 years time, the value would depreciate. In 1998, even the rich were not spared. Any doubts? Just ask the former owner of KEN AIR, etc.
The younger generation will be anti-PAP because we are a cushion between the rich and the poor. I think PAP are feeling the heats right now. TR is doing a great job in giving us a zero-ground viewpoints.
If PAP are not serious with the new generation of Singaporean, good luck to them cause our votes is to those that benefits Singaporean and not PR & FT.
Vote for a revolution against PAP policies!
THE WHOLE CRAB ABOUT HDB SUBSIDY AND PR SPECULATION CAN BE RESOLVED BY MBT VERY EASILY.
First – bar PRs from buying in the small resale market (everybody needs to stay and cannot sell for investment gain)artificially inflating market values of HDB and low end of private condos market in tandem because sudden PR demand exceed limit citizenry sales to upgrade.
Second – open up and insist foreign PRs buying solely from HDB on Build-to-order basis at fixed price and sell also at the exact fixed price back to HDB – no gain or no loss to foreign PRs and HDB. Since HDB claims it is subsidising Singaporeans for these HDB flats, if it buys back from foreign PR at the same price, it will be reclaiming back its full subsidy given to foreigners – NO LOSS TO HDB.
Thirdly, if foreigners take up citizenship with all rights and obligations, they can sell on the open market – that is fair to them BUT until then THEY CANNOT SPECULATE by buying on resale market and rent them out with overloading of tenants for profit driving up valuation and causing distressing and damaging price inflation for Singaporeans who must buy them for owner-occupation.
IS THE GOVERNMENT AND MBT GAME OF THIS DEALING TO ACHIEVE A WIN WIN ALL FOR ALL FOREIGN PRs and locals??
30/1/10
Hi Why Like That-Good to hear from you. Yes, I was a Senior Banker with a Swiss Bank. I agreed with you and had the PAP government changed the rule of the game and still stick to the old rule ie HDB is strictly for Singaporeans (better local born Singaporeans), these HDB flats and their prices would not had balloned so high and still within reach and our young Singaporeans couples can still get married and buy their houses….sad this happens in our Modern Singapore.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
This old pig thinks Singaporeans are his ATM machine.
Work to pay for his pay through taxes and slave to pay for excessive housing loan whose price is used to value the land this old pig sells to cover his overseas losses.
A very good article indeed, well done Ng Kok Lim. This old fart will put on the knucker duster to bounce at you as what he claim to be . But dont worry, he already have 3 nails stick to him and just hammer it with another nail and super glue, he can never rise from his grave ( which he claim he can rise from the grave when he feel something is wrong ). We are no more living in the past when the Policeman wear short pants whereby he can arrest and torture his political opponents with ISD like Chia Thye Poh, Dr lim Hock Siew , Poh Soo Kai and many others. I salute you, Ng Kok Lim .
Remind us of our younger days, ha ha ha
Quote
“Once upon a time, in nineteen sixty-nine.
HDB were not only subsidized,
but standard of living also very nice.
One spouse working, all can survive,
children are children all running around so nice.
Fast forward 40 years, it is the dreaded two thousand nine,
HDB flats had all became smaller in size.
Now termed “market subsidized,
their prices are not so kind.
Cost of living had grown so high,
now both spouses have to work nine to nine.
We all have to work like mice,
just so we can get some rice.
While ministers all sitting on cloud-nine, busy scheming for our every dime.
PAP MPs, all pretending to sign,
but in reality, have no minds.
Terrorist escaped, no need to resign, fixed the oppositions also never mind.
Children from two, are getting up-sized, before they even recognize, whatever is life.
Their minds are filled, with all sort of lies,
that Lee Kuan Yew is the only one who ever sacrificed.
Golden age came and went, in a flash of an eye, economy chewed to death,
by rodents and mice.
The government is simply, not so nice, hinting us to send our elderly, far off to die.
Asking to explain, they are not kind, “Lesser mortals” we became, while they walk high.
Is this the end? We can’t resign.
This sad story of Singaporeans is our life.” Unquote
– Author unknown –
3-in-1 kopitiam – ThinkAll
Thanking U for waking us – singaporeans from their slumber.
@”Debt becomes a social, economic and political control.”
LKY publicly said it is his intention to get singaporeans into debt (read: heavy debt) as a way for them to “have a stake in the system” and not “rock the boat”.
The unsuspecting usual singaporean may think nothing about this and might even agree with him, yes people need to be motivated to work and work towards the better good of singapore – but they only need to realize that this means the PAP government is literally imposing crippling indirect taxes on the people and subject them to a lower standard of living which they would otherwise have. (which could develop a viable domestic market – never quite understood the PAP argument that domestic market is based solely on population size. surely disposable income is a better gauge?)
To add insult to injury, the huge capital proceeds from land and property sales are funneled and redirected eventually to our GLCs Temasek, GIC…etc which suddenly owes no transparency or obligation, or for that matter, pay interest to the people of singapore whose money they used.
Not to mention singapore is a highly volatile economy with no social safety net. High debt exacerbates the financial and social stress on singaporeans which indirectly leads to low, almost non-existent birth rates, which leads to the PAP government having the excuse to import foreigners which further increases the social stress factor.
So perhaps singaporeans should stop and think about the symptoms of their lives and question the root causes of them.
3-in-1 kopitiam – ThinkAll
Again, thanking you for waking us up from our slumber. We will not be fools this coming election.
@All the PAP need to do is to ease the standard and quantity of loan from, may I remind all PAP supporter, their banks.
Debt becomes a social, economic and political control.
PAP has imposed on this country a massive social, political and economic experiment which they are proud of and one which they expect to be emulated by other countries.
Have no doubt about it.
The constant supply land is ensured via the 99 year lease.
Damn to PAP market subsidy.
How foolish not to see that the entire population are now mice in PAP social experiment.
Beware the man in white, like a laboratory assistants poking and stroking millions of mice in a massive social, political and economic experiment.
Beware their stroke.
Beware their method.
They must be dealt with, or our future generation, our entire wealth will forever be in the hands of a few.
Let there be no uncertainty. PAP is simmering their little pot of revolution, in this previously peaceful country.
PAP is the entity of evil.
Thinkall
3-in-1 kopitiam – ThinkAll
Once again, thanking you. Singappore for Singaporeans – We all have to wake up NOW!!!!!
@The foolishness and blindness of PAP supporters in so call “market subsidy”.
It does not take a professor in Ricardian economics to understand such foolishness in simplest terms possible.
There is only one seller of peanuts, in the land of elephants. The price of peanuts is determined by the seller. Peanut is the staple of the elephants. In order to qualify as market subsidy: the seller merely control the supply of peanuts sold to the elephant and the entry of new elephants into the market.
For many years, this government has been forcibly killing all other peanuts sellers (through land acquisition) and at times where the price of peanuts fall, they introduce new hungry elephants from elsewhere competing with local elephants for those peanuts; pushing up the price by several folds in the secondary market: Allowing them to sell peanuts at “slight discount” which is in essence far higher prices than before.
With the two tools, the control on land (several decades later, renewed HDB leases) and ability to turn the tap on immigration, the PAP “market subsidy” is but an illusion which they turn on the people anytime and at whatever price they want.
For instance, they can simply make HDB a million dollar tomorrow merely with a switch, turning off the land supply in and introduce another million immigrants (which they did), and the market subsidies can be whatever they call it.
The only delimiter is the ability of the people to handle such price shocks.
Therefore, the only way to stop the rise of housing prices is to stop the PAP and cut it from power.
Acting as the only seller, the supernormal profit was a monopolistic rent seeking result, which prior to 2008, constituted at least half of the reserves, while the other half was the mandatory savings accumulated by Singaporeans.
Simply put, PAP is like a giant monopoly controlling the most unitary market in the world, with absolute control on supply as well as demand.
This is the true PAP.
This is their subsidy.
This is the kind of subsidy that kills.
3-in-1 kopitiam ThinkAll
Singapore for Singaporeans – UNITED WE STAND.
@For those who think innocently of the PAP. Think twice, thrice if not many times!
The control of land;
The massive influx of immigrants;
The price of property;
The debts and the resultant passive political disposition;
The controls;
The homogenous political landscape;
The awkward GRC pieces where any sub-constituencies are constituted like some kind of massive distant jigsaw:
These are the PAP laying out its plan of domination.
There is a reason why good countrymen chose to leave then to stay and be held as slaves.
They want us to leave, so that there will be silence.
They fear no flux of populace, it is preferred.
This is an evil entity call the PAP.
Be aware.
Thinkall
PAP: PEASANTS AGAIN PUNISHED.
Policies Anger People
Party Against People
Not forgetting the LOAN INTEREST paid to HDB. Interest alone can buy another flat of the same size, which explains why there are so many default cases for interest alone.
HDB flat is a 30-year liability, payable by CPFOA and partial cash in the event that the installment exceeds the CPF contribution.
If u live in prime area, there’s a possibility to earn some bit if u decide to downgrade to a less convenient location. If u’re living in a less than favorable location, dreaming for a real profit is the best option.
The key points to life after loan is fully paid up, what kind of monies does one family have for retirement?
As a Singaporean, I am more concerned about the impact of the following:-
A) The economic shock when MM Lee passes on whilst still in government.
B) The loss of direction amidst PAP when MM Lee passes on.
For A, I would like to lessen the economic impact when ensuring he is not voted into power for the next election.
For B, the lack of political sucession planning is a shock. The quality of leadership and strategic planning of the new batch of PAP people pales in comparison to MM Lee and his generation. Just look at the new people PAP brought in over the past few elections.
For a simple fact, no one will vote people who showed little interest in the little hitches of the commoners. The various ministries have became more like mini-political scenes and scaling tools for scholars than actual services provided to help the people.
Its just my observation. Please enlighten me if this is accurate.
I bet many hdb flat owners don’t really bother to know exactly how much money they are paying back to the ruling party except that they are more concern about being able to service their monthly hdb loan rather. I may not know exactly how much we are paying back but I do know that taking up a 105K hdb loan for a 25 years pay back and after almost 11 years servicing my monthly repayment, my outstanding still stands at 105K today. I don’t know how much interest the hdb is charging but I know I am still paying the interest today, and that is really daylight robbery.
MM Lee will just pretend that he did not read Mr Ng ’s article, since he does not intend to reply to him. He will even say that TR & other online media are just unimportant and unreliable site that no Singaporeans care and read.
lol
The PAP is extremely kiasu and has no confidence in themselves therefore they has designed the GRC system, enhancement in HDB values (by manipulating the demand (allow more migrants) and very slow in releasing lands for development and are mounting discredit campaign against critics and broadcast their propaganda over the powerful control media. Singaporeans majority are scared and no balls, selfish and want more $$$$$ and the PAP will win for decades to come, PAP and MIW has become the only Party in the history of mankind to have governed Singapore for decades after decades. Opposition members better join the PAP, you sure win under the GRC, sure made $$$ and have no fear or lots of benefits. The political climate here is totally different bec the majority of people are different and very very fearful. Good for PAP.
It is not a good idea to have the PM as the chairman as GIC or anything related.
In addition, it is not a good idea to have a wealth fund this big.
I wonder why HK didn’t have such a big fund.
errr our entire wealth IS ALREADY in the hands of a few… PAP crap all in the famiLEE.
Chairman of GIC – Lee Kuan Yew
Honorary Advisor to Citibank – Lee Kuan Yew
Total losses 50b
Any conflict of interest? u say leh?
Tha PAP have since a long time use the wrong ‘words’ to hoodwink sillyporeans. Subsidies is actually ‘discount’. And their ‘discount’ is after they heavily mark up the price.
Only sillyporeans can continue to be blinded by PAP talk again n again.
Actually PM Lee is the main culprit as he is the pusher for large import of foreigners. MBT is also a victim of PM Lee’s mistake. I don’t understand why nobody put a blame on our incompetent PM ????
Joke of the day
LKY, GCT and PM Lee are in a helicopter over Marina Bay. LKY looks out the window and says, “You know, I bet I could drop a $1,000 note out the window and make one person very happy!” GCT comments, “Yes, but I could drop ten $100 notes out the window, and make ten people very happy.” LKY says, “True, but I could drop one hundred $10 notes out the window, and make one hundred people very happy. The pilot responds, “Big deal! I could drop all of you out the window, and make the whole country happy!”
2nd joke of the day
GCT is out jogging one morning, notices a little boy on the side with a box. Curious, he runs over to the child and says, “What’s in the box?” The little boy says, “Kittens, they’re brand new kittens.” GCT laughs and says, “What kind of kittens are they?” “PAP,” the child says. “Oh, that’s cute,” GCT says and he runs off. A couple of days later, GCT is running with LKY and he spies the same boy with his box just ahead. GCT says to LKY, “You gotta check this out,” and they both jog over to the boy with the box. GCT says, “Look in the box LKY, isn’t that cute? Look at those little kittens. Hey, kid, tell LKY what kind of kittens they are.” The boy replies, “They’re Opposition.”
“Whoa!” GCT says, “I came by here the other day and you said they were PAP. What’s up?” “Well,” the kid says, “Their eyes are open now.”
3rd joke of the day
A little boy goes to his dad and asks, “What is politics?”
Dad says, “Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I’m the breadwinner of the family, so let’s call me government. Your Mom, she’s the administrator of the money, so we’ll call her the civil service. We’re here to take care of your needs, so we’ll call you the people. The maid, we’ll consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we’ll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense.” So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what dad had said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to his parents’ room and finds his mother sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny’s room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the maid. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, “Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.” The father says, “Good son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.”
The little boy replies, “Well, while Government is screwing the Working Class, the Civil Service is sound asleep, the People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit.”
To be honest, I think some of you are just been ridiculous. You speak of voting against PAP for the sake of a better tomorrow. What better tomorrow would you have based on the current batch of opposition candidates? The possibilities from the opposition just isn’t good enough. Remembering that MBT stands in a GRC. Show me a list of opposition candidates that can stand together, united throughout the election campaign and give MBT a run for their money in his GRC? Which opposition candidate has enough ground experience to truly understand and truly represent is constituents?
Sorry but this is the sad state of affairs in this island of ours. So much is the control of the dominant party that every area of our lives is being controlled. This place is not longer your country. You are living in an environment whose rules are changing all the time, according to the whims and fancies of the dominant party. If you can’t understand how this works, then you don’t understand the fundamentals of life. Life is a constant change, don’t expect everything to fed down your throat and to your advantage. Quit blaming the government for everything.
Increase in foreigners … without them, whose going to clear our tables and trays at hawker centers? Whose going to bring me my tea at favourite eating place?
Increase in HDB prices … would you rather see a reduction in prices? Yes, that would be good for the people whom are looking to purchase BUT what about those whom are already living in one? Their retirement egg nest IS that HDB flat. If prices are reduced, so does their retirement egg nest.
So unless you or an opposition can put up a sound plan of action against all of these, quit wasting your time telling people of your intentions to vote the other way. Understand what alternatives there are.
If you have a SOLUTION to the problem, everyone would be there to look out for you. But if you don’t, you are just a complainer, that complains without the slightest hint of how to solve the problem. That’s the majority of us, me include and that’s the sad truth! So, like the vaccum cleaner that is now running beside me … Life SUCKS!
To : TeeKee on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 2:02am
People are reasonable, they think the real boss should be responsible and answerable to all these, no point to blame just those MANAGERS right ?!!!!!!!!!!
cheers
I don’t know why are we paying millions to these idiots who can talk so much bullshit.
They can pay me $100,000 a year and I will do a job 100Xs better than these people who don’t even know what they’re talking about in the first place.
Rebel, how do you know that things won’t get any better under the opposition? After all, Hougang and Potong Pasir actually IMPROVED under the opposition as compared to when they were administered by the PAP.
You Wrote:
7. If you are a singaporean and sell, you will need to buy which means you will not get to realize your “profit”. Only looks good on paper.
8. Unless you are a PR or planning to migrate, when you sell, you can realize this profit. The rest of us can only feel good for the paper gains.
9. If you have kids (as you have mentioned), you will lose more as a family.
My Comments:
1. Why does this old geeko keep on harping this same tune?
2. No other things and way to ‘MEANtor’ US Native Singaporeans???
3. Does show how he has run out of “steam” doesn’t it? STALE!!!
4. And so OUR CPF Scheme, “Heavily-Subsidized” HDB flats and HDB Resale market ALL WORK TOWARDS AND “ONLY” FOR ADVANTAGE OF PRs THEY “FAST 7 FURIOUS IMPORTED!!! HEY!!!
DID MM, SM, PM ALL said they ARE “GOOD” for US!!! So…
5. What is our Singaporean Citizenship worth if one isn’t a PAP MP???
6. WAH LAU OOI??? Been treating us like dumb nerds ARGH!!!
Frankly I was “tickled Pink by Rebel on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 9:04 am comments. So my HALF cents worth:
Let us also know that governments all over the world with solving both EMPLOYMENT and INFLATION!!! And all of them CAN’T solve them except by enriching the already rich!!! Which somehow do include themselves (Politicians and Families) one way or another.
The thing is here in Singapore, geeko in PAP government also legally enrich themselves too, even if only consider out-of-this-world salaries with BIG purchasing power of course. Am not sure which method of enrichment is better moral and ethical. But then, when it is centrally sanctioned, then where does the immoral and unethical aspects lie??? Your guess is as good as mine yah!!!
And does even late-comer MBT own like 3 condos and a bungalow too? Confirmation anyone??? So, how many and wealth are all the other PAP stalwarts and ex-stalwarts??? Let’s keep guessing!!!
wow, so many voices from the citizenry.
I really injoy all these comments. Shiok man!
To rebel
I don’t necessary subscribe to the idea that without PAP right now, Singapore will fail. I believe this very moment, if the MIW take flight and flee from the country and there is a power vacuum, able singaporeans will come forward and serve and not expect the salary that they are taking. We will be alright.
Honestly, the MIW is not gonna walk away from the multi-million dollar salaries. Also, I don’t think PAP will be voted out in this election. However, I am hoping that they will lose the 2/3 majority (even this I am not sure). However, we must send a clear univocal message to them that their self serving policies must stop.
In anywhere else in the world, PAP would have been voted out without a seat but haiz, this is singapore…
Where’s Tanjong Pagera?
As an old man I can only sum up how I feel now using the lyrics sung by Elisa Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” below:
What a fool I was, what dominated fool,
to think that you were the earth and the sky,
What a fool I was, What an elevated fool,
What a mutton-headed dote was I!
No, my reverberated friend,
you are not the beginning and the end.
There’ll be spring every year without you. England still will be here without you.
There’ll be fruit on the tree.
And a shore by the sea.
There’ll be crumpets and tea without you.
Art and music will thrive without you. Somehow Keats will survive without you.
And there still will be rain on that plain down in Spain,
even that will remain without you.
I can do without you.
You, dear friend, who taught so well,
You can go to Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire.
They can still rule the land without you.
Windsor Castle still will stand without you.
And without much ado we can all muddle through without you.
Without your pulling it, the tide comes in
Without your twirling it, the earth can spin
Without your pushing them, the clouds roll by,
If they can do it without you, ducky, so can I
I shall not feel alone without you
I can stand on my own without you
So go back in your shell
I can do bloody well
Without you….
The millions of dollars is actually bribery to shut up the ministers as they knew to much what the DAMN STUPID gahmen had done all these years
Who burn down the kampongs, why was no arsonist caught?
Only those associated and working for the pap are rich, as anyone can guess why
Hi TR – do you think MM Lee will have read this Letter and will he care to respond??
It IS well known “That it takes a thief to CATCH a thief”
And so does not be common sense too that it’ll also “Take a DAFT to know another daft”? Notice the caps and non-caps for size and complexity? HEE-Haw!!!
why talk so much cock with him? let the reaper take him and which is going to be soon. and we can all spit on his grave..
Rebel
PAP leadership made Singapore what it is today. It’s not so much the individual PAP characters (be it LKY, GCT or LHL) which made our nation into an economic powerhouse in the region. IT’S THE PEOPLE OF SINGAPORE. The sooner you understand this, the better it is for you and the clearer the picture will present to you that, should the entire PAP leadership disappear or get voted out, nothing will change. Life in Singapore will still go on, as it has for the past decades. Why ?
Sim Wong Hoo will still be running Creative Tech, Wee Cho Yaw will still be overseeing his UOB empire, Kwek Leng Beng will still be acquiring hotels overseas, Ng Teng Fong will still be building houses, and so on and so forth. The PAP leadership is only responsible for setting the direction, but its the people down the line who carry them out. So the workman is as good as his master, or else everything fails. The political masters may give good directions and insights, but government policies must be carried out by good permanent secretaries (non political office) and the people are the ones who drive the economy. If Sim, Wee, Kwek, Ng, and the whole retinue of capitalists, industrialists, and the general labour force did not toil their labour but just sat back to do applause in the comfort of their armchair, there would be no first world Singapore today.
That’s the reason why the countries in our region are lagging. They may have capable leaders within their fold but, notwithstanding corruption, enforcement of government policies is difficult due to geographical factors as well as due to the mindset and culture of the people. There is no substitute for hard work. A people with a culture of get-rich-quick mentality (through either corrupt practices, the lottery, etc) cannot build the foundations for strong economic growth for the country.
What made the PAP leadership special and different from our neighbours is their ability (especially LKY’s) to understand this, that hard work and labour always pay. However, LKY say this million times and if Singaporeans do not budge, do not give that extra inch of productivity, etc. there will be no result to show for LKY’s policies.
And I agree with Neswreader that there will be no such thing as a “vacuum” if the PAP leadership disappears overnight. There are many talented people here, some of whom are already within the establishment while others are helping the economy grind, and still others in transition, and yet still others coming out from the streams of educational institutions, etc. It’s an endless stream.
So, Rebel, you’ve got to be more level-headed. If PAP goes, it is just a political party and its office bearers that goes. Every population has their cream, and unless there is a braindrain outflow following the demise of the PAP, other capable people will fill the shoes. Your thinking is archaic and reminds me of LKY in the 70’s when his ego was as big as the weather balloon. He said that it was a “circle of 300″ (his forecast of the numnber of intelligent people in Singapore then). If he was right, that it was only 300 and the rest of the population being daft by the millions, we would not be where we are today.
@Rebel
HDB flat prices will rise forever? The last time i know HDB is still 99years lease, not Freehold.
If minimum wage is implemented, i believe there will still be someone serving you tea.
What makes you think that the opposition has no plans?
I know for sure is that opposition did not lose millions and billions of taxpayers money.
I have just listened to Obama’s budget speech. The budget is prudent and practical. To think that LKY actually describe Obama as lightweight! What a shame, LKY!
That also goes to show his standard of reading the quality of PAP candidates!
You said to Rebel:
“Your thinking is archaic and reminds me of LKY in the 70’s when his ego was as big as the weather balloon. He said that it was a “circle of 300″ (his forecast of the numnber of intelligent people in Singapore then). If he was right, that it was only 300 and the rest of the population being daft by the millions, we would not be where we are today.”
1. The “circle of 300″ was with referenced to them pappies then being killed all at once in a 747 Jumbo Jet!!! LKY now has the even bigger Airbus A380 for now ever greater Alto-Ego!!!
2. and you’re absolutely right that Fat-Cat LKY meows to big as like you say has claim countless times HOW “HE” and he alone made Singapore!!! In short, his brand of EGO Displaces EVERYONE Else to make “HIM” the ONLy ONE who planned, worked and achieved everything!!! POSSIBLE “Rebel”???
3. And to be even more blunt, “Rebel”, do you know what it means by “You sound like a FROG in a well”??? Think about this and real deep. Clue: It is worse then those who just think inside the box!!!
4. Thanks again “Really Independent”. And let’s hope that people like him will grow in knowledge, understanding and FATHOM to become wise.
Ng Kok Lim: “You said the government has to price flats fairly. Compared to three years ago, new buyers have to pay 30% more now. You call that fair? Did our salaries increase by 30% over this period?”
I earn $1000 a monthly, even if my salary increase 30% to $1300, I am still worst off. Let say a 150,000 3-room flat 3 years ago now cost 195,000, an increase of 45,000. I had to have this 30% increase for 12.5years [45,000/(300*12)], not counting the extra interest I have to pay for the bigger loan amt. I rather keep my $1000 salary and paid 150,000 for the flat.
But if MM Lee salary increase 30% from his annual salary of $3 million, that will be an increase of almost 1 million dollars in one year. He got easily get a condo with a that increase in one year while I have to slogged 12.5 year or more to pay that extra 45k fro a 3-room flat.
I rather it happened the other way. Let cuts all our salary by 30% and reduce our housing price by 30%. This is the only way to narrow the gap between the poor and rich.
@ concerned on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 8:41 am
Good humour, keep them coming, thanks.
@ Really Independent? on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 6:31 pm
very well thought article, excellent. (and many other good posting from other bloggers on this thread too)
@ Rebel on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 9:04 am
Your points noted, but my humble suggestion, be more optimistic, make the first step no matter how small, because only then there will be change, a change for a better future for all singaporean. That first step is to send a very strong and clear signal.
By the way, for all those who are not yet aware of this links, they are for your leisure reading……..enjoy.
http://leewatch.info/quotes/
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew
(my thanks to a blogger ‘Democracy’ for the lead)
$1m for HDB… must be mad to pay this price. You can get a freehold condo in West coast.
Just vote him out and celebrate when he kicks the bucket.
LEE KUAN YEW, I know election is coming soon, so when we speak, YOU LISTEN.
Open your mouth again, we teach you how to drop your jaws in shock soon. WATCH OUT.
Ng Kok Lim,
Don’t worry, they will never dare to touch you now unless you do or say something really stupid. Keep hitting on their soft sports, they have full of them now.
4 years ago, they already don’t dare to really trial Gomez even he was truly at the wrong. Now, worst, if they suka, suka arrest any oppositions, they will suffer more at the poll box.
So keep it up!
This daft citizen of yours happens to be in your GRC Mr. MM Lee. So, if we are lucky to have oppositions contesting here, I will teach you the true meaning of DAFT!
For now I will WAIT.
@SL, for S$1mil, I can get a bunglow in China and live like an emperor!
@#PoorMan on Tue, 2nd Feb 2010 4:30 pm
>>
Ng Kok Lim: “You said the government has to price flats fairly. Compared to three years ago, new buyers have to pay 30% more now. You call that fair? Did our salaries increase by 30% over this period?”
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I earn $1000 a monthly, even if my salary increase 30% to $1300, I am still worst off. Let say a 150,000 3-room flat 3 years ago now cost 195,000, an increase of 45,000. I had to have this 30% increase for 12.5years [45,000/(300*12)], not counting the extra interest I have to pay for the bigger loan amt. I rather keep my $1000 salary and paid 150,000 for the flat.
>>
But if MM Lee salary increase 30% from his annual salary of $3 million, that will be an increase of almost 1 million dollars in one year. He got easily get a condo with a that increase in one year while I have to slogged 12.5 year or more to pay that extra 45k fro a 3-room flat.
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I rather it happened the other way. Let cuts all our salary by 30% and reduce our housing price by 30%. This is the only way to narrow the gap between the poor and rich.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I thought all the poor men (or even many middle class people) do not give more than a cursory thought about that $$million salary since such huge numbers are beyond them, meaningless and even abstract to them.
It’s a good sign that some do know. Isn’t the Internet wonderful and liberating? But the saddest thing is those who do know are still miniscule in number.
@#haha on Sat, 30th Jan 2010 12:50 pm
just vote him out man… 3 million worth of crap….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes, he is so very, very, very old (coming to 90) but still drawing that kind of $alary in a nonesensical position.
He should just get the hell out of there and go get a job somewhere, like his own father, who worked as a counter sales staff at some shop before he died.
Why can’t he just leave the running of the country to his son and all those the younger talents? After all LHL is the Prime Minister, nor him.
I love to be call daft since it will portray the ignorance of the other person. Thank MM Lee for making us to be more motivated to your fear inputs.
He should go over to the China’s ruling state and run that country since he like PRC so much. China = more power to play.
Staying it SG is like a frog within a well.
Gain more power and control people with fear responses that is what most of warring dynasty does.
Rebel on Sun,
did the number of singaporeans suddenly increase by so much that we suddenly need so many foreigners to clear our tables or bring us tea? the answer is no. so the bulk of of the people coming in is not here to serve us.
there was no mention at all in the article about reduction of prices. in fact, the writer wrote:
“You seemed to chide Singaporeans for always wanting it cheaper and better. But flat prices have gone up by 30% in the short span of three years. We are not asking for cheaper, we are asking for price stability.”
so we shouldn’t misread the article, it didn’t push for reduction of retirement egg. It is pushing for stability.
the plan is simple. but the plan will involve the government making much less money. so there is no question about a sound plan against all these. that’s the easy part. the difficult part is convincing people that what we have currently sucks.
the solution is straight forward. you don’t have to be a genius to take good care of your own people. the problem is that the majority of the people are under the illusion that we are already well taken care of. they will continue to adopt that mentality till the day they die unless they are convinced otherwise.
so unless we make them see the truth, unless we make them realise what is happening, nothing will happen. unless the masses understand and want change, nothing will happen. so this is not about whining, this is about illuminating the masses.
I wonder what his title would be in the next cabinet. I guest he will be Chief mentor, and GCT will be MM. Mostly likely there will still be two SMs,namely JK and WKS. Another among the elites will be appointed DPM. So we might have the following at the top:
PM
CM
MM
SMs
SMs
DPMs
DPMs
Incredible for a small country. Cheers and hope “the wind of change” will blow our way in the coming GE,
Rebel on Sun,
did the number of singaporeans suddenly increase by so much that we suddenly need so many foreigners to clear our tables or bring us tea? the answer is no. so the bulk of of the people coming in is not here to serve us.
there was no mention at all in the article about reduction of prices. in fact, the writer wrote:
“You seemed to chide Singaporeans for always wanting it cheaper and better. But flat prices have gone up by 30% in the short span of three years. We are not asking for cheaper, we are asking for price stability.”
so we shouldn’t misread the article, it didn’t push for reduction of retirement egg. It is pushing for stability.
the plan is simple. but the plan will involve the government making much less money. so there is no question about a sound plan against all these. that’s the easy part. the difficult part is convincing people that what we have currently sucks.
the solution is straight forward. you don’t have to be a genius to take good care of your own people. the problem is that the majority of the people are under the illusion that we are already well taken care of. they will continue to adopt that mentality to the day that they die unless they are convinced otherwise.
so unless we make them see the truth, unless we make them realise what is happening, nothing will happen. unless the masses understand and want change, a good sound alternative plan will mean nothing to them. so this is not about whining, this is about illuminating and triggering the masses.
I will be daft that’s for sure. Yesterday, someone asked me if it is true if MBT gets voted out, the price of housing will plunged like what MM have suggested. I replied, would you sell your property at 30% discount from the current market price, of course not, came the reply, the short term wise, I really don’t see how voting out of MBT or MM can be detrimental to Singaporeans…
Not just HDB, public hospital, public utility, public transport are squeezing every dollar out of the citizen. For e.g. how can our electricity tariff more expensive than Hong Kong when our electricity is generated by natural gas, which is much cheaper than oil, than Hong Kong when they are using petrol for power generation.
I think what is happening in Singapore over the last few years when immigrants were let in without strict criteria and discretion is because the leaders took their eyes off the ball.
Not all ministers come from wealthy backgrounds and the elite. Most of them are decent, bright and academically sound. Some of them even had idealistic tendencies in wanting the PAP to govern with more heart and caring. George Yeo was once an anti-establishment rebel. So was Vivian Balakrishnan. But the inner circle of PAP members led by LKY decided that it is better to get them involved in government than against them. Tommy Koh was an idealist who saw the light and would have taken the PAP on. But he was shunted to the US as ambassador and now he is part of the establishment, having cognizant of the PAP’s questionable methods to stay in power at all costs but chose to live with it.
What keeps them going is the money and power.
All of a sudden, if your bank account starts to bloat as fast as the incoming immigrants, reaching several millions in a few short years, you will be reluctant to give it all up and take up the flag to oppose what they know already in their conscience to be not right -the way people’s lives are controlled based on LKY’s philosophy of how we should be governed.
They took their eye off the ball as they see their lifestyles change. They now are on par with the rich and famous that come to Singapore to stay and boast of the republic’s virtues. Their offices take on a semblance of public company chairmen.
They all manage by statistics. If you notice replies from them, they are always backed up with statistics. Someone mentioned that our island can take a population of 6.5 million and MBT mentioned that of course it would take a few decades or something like that and LKY kept plugging the growth theory of manpower equals to higher output equals growth.
We all now know better that it did not take a few decades – it took just a few years for the population to jump. But the signal was sent and every well paid official took this as a sign that the inner circle has given their blessing, so open the floodgates and let the rich refugees come. Most from circumstances that they cannot tolerate in their own country, not that they can make more money here than their own. A talent is in demand evrywhere. But at first it was foreign talent. Later it became jobs Singaporean do not want. So ok, bring them on. Singaporeans don’t want to be prostitutes and massage girls and maids right? Let a few thouand from outside pass through. We need them to support the growing foreign talent. Although I am sure it was not tabled as a policy as such, it happened because they took their eye off the ball!
It’s like, look here ministers, I make your life comfortable, you tow the line, apply your skills and create Singapore in terms of what I want it to be. Anybody who comes up to challenge us, I will be in front to lead them to a cul-de-sac, take out my knuckle dusters and and make sure they don’t come out. You just do your job. If you don’t get elected, never mind, your life will still be comfortable and on a higher plane. We have many GLCs. I will make you chairman or CEO or something. Even if you cannot see that Tanjong Pelapas should be nipped int the bud, I will still put you there. I have been cleaning up all promising potential smart ass opposition politicians for decades. Those that are left are no threat. Just do your job and we’ll continue to do well. Don’t worry about the media. I have locked them in and nobody can own a chunk of shares to kick out my appointed chairman.
From transport policies to housing to speak mandarin to immigration to education to multi million dollar pay packages, these mistakes that come to the fore will certainly result in a party losing their seats or power in most countries. Not here. Apologising for collosal mistakes is seen as a virtue. I take the rap. I am not ashamed.
Most democratically elected governments owe their jobs to the people who vote them in or out. They have to answer to the common people. If this is allowed to be exercised here without Marine Parade being part of Ang Moh Kio and you cannot explain this to your child without going into politics, no Minister will sit in his/her chair to study statistics and decide on matters that affect daily lives. They will be out in the streets to make contact because you, the people are their boss!
To make this happen, exercise your vote intelligently. I will vote for someone like Koh Boon Wan. He is what the PAP should be. But there are only a handful like him. Exercise your power and regain your rights so that the millionaire ministers and MM, SMs, ??Ms realise very quickly who is their boss.
No matter how many websites or blogs you have to oppose policies, it will not matter unless the ground can be shifted. I can sense it happening but you must, like them look at statistics and decide your move.
I do not want an “asset” which will cost me 30 or more years of hardwork and eventually be returned to HDB when 99 years lease is up. I just want to have an affordable shelter!
@ Java10 on Sat, 6th Feb 2010 8:28 pm
Your analysis is truly enlightening, i agreed with most of your points.
Though i don’t give a damn to the ruling party. I do believe not 100% of them within their party are the same. There must be some (though I don’t know exactly how many) who still have a heart and mind to serve the people, but because they are in a much bigger system which is so contagious with the “I know best, know all” culture from the emperor, that they just can’t openly go against the inherent force to do the correct thing.
Another word, they will have to do the best they could within the present constraint. I believe and I hope once the emperor is gone. Some of these more righteous one will step up and do more.
Having said that, I personally still firmly believe in true democracy.(not a fake one like now). I ‘dream’ that more like minded citizen will be exercising their right wisely and collectively we can help make our dream come alive someday. Thank you.
This is a very interesting discussion! Keep it up.
Did the MIW ask the people whether we need a M&M and S&M? What kind of rubbish crap value do they add? Rather, they suck out more money from taxpayers’ funds, if they are worth so much in private sector terms, then they should just get lost to the pte sector – see who will pay them such absurd salaries? And now we’re told rubbish about MBT’s (in)abilities, all of them should just scram.
Please get the AGENDA right before anything else!
Their agenda is to work for themselves by squeezing her people.
Our AGENDA is to work for the people by the people and for her people.
that is why i hated the govt abuse the word subsidy when it is infact they incur a huge profit.
it is more like a rebate rather than a subsidy. the word subsidy sound like they really fork out money to help the people when in fact HDB and developers are laughing their way to their banks.
it is more like a rebate rather than a subsidy. the word subsidy sound like they really fork out money to help the people when in fact HDB and developers are laughing their way to their banks.
Now do you singaporeans now still believe everything that the ruling party is telling you? be careful, in their policy making, black can also be white, and this is very dangerous thing to believe so to many singaporeans.
Dear MM Lee,
1 thing for sure, without Mah, doesn’t cause our flats to be worthless.
But voting for Mah.. definitely will make me pay more for my flat.
Lastly, remember how you commented on Chiam See Tong that causes Mah to be voted out? think n recall back Sir! that cause voters in Potong Pasir to swing towards Chiam, n the history is for you to see.