Massive propaganda by Straits Times to promote “shift” in ruling party’s “foreign talent” policy
February 2nd, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
Singaporeans are fed a massive dose of propaganda by the Straits Times today to promote the seismic “shift” in the ruling party’s much maligned “foreign talent” policy.
No less than 10 articles on the recommendations by the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) released yesterday was published with the glaring headlines “The Big Shift” appearing on the front page:
The inherent message in these articles is consistently clear: the ruling party will reduce the intake of foreigners in the next decade and focus more on increasing the skills and productivity of Singaporeans.
While PAP leaders had been the strongest advocates for bringing more foreigners into Singapore to boost the island’s declining birth rates, they have made a subtle change in their stance in recent public statements.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his New Year Day’s message to Singaporeans that they remain a “priority” to his administrations.
Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong exhorted Singapore workers to increase their productivity instead of focusing on being “cheaper, faster and better”.
Even the Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who told Singaporeans to “bear with the tide of immigrations” as foreigners are “essential” for Singaporeans in August last year is now singing a different tune altogether:
“We’ve grown in the last five years by just importing labour. Now, the people feel uncomfortable, there are too many foreigners. Trains are overcrowded with foreigners, buses too, property prices have gone up because foreigners with permanent residence are buying into the market. The answer is simple: We check the flow of foreigners, raise your productivity, do the job better, so that instead of two workers, eventually you’ll do it with one worker, like the Japanese do,” he said.
[Straits Times, 28 January 2010]
Cosmetic changes have been made to the ruling party’s pro-foreigner policies to mark a “clearer distinction between citizens and PRs.”
The ruling party has received much flak lately over its misguided policies which have caused an inordinate amount of suffering to ordinary Singaporeans.
Though Singapore has been accepting immigrants since the 1980s and 1990s, the pace only picked up after 2003 when PM Lee assumed his position and unveiled an ambitious plan to increase Singapore’s population to 6.5 million people via immigration.
The floodgates were opened suddenly without warning and with no active measures taken to safeguard the interests of Singaporeans who are urged to compete directly with the cheap foreign workers.
Inadequate number of HDB flats were built to meet the rising demand, leading to sky-rocketing prices and pricing many ordinary Singaporeans out of the market as a result.
In 2008, only about 3,100 new flats were built when there were over 90,000 PRs and 20,000 new citizens.
The latest reversal of the ruling party’s stance on immigration and foreign workers is nothing more than a tacit admission of their policy failures.
With the elections nearing, it has no choice but to appease the electorate in order to secure another “overwhelming” mandate to rule as it wishes without any checks and balances.
Singaporeans cannot afford another 5 years of unchallenged PAP rule without any opposition to rein in on its excesses or they may really find themselves becoming a minority in their own country in the near future.
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I thought Lee Kuan Yew suppose to spot the pitfalls?
How come he still keeps his job?
He boss got counsel him or not?
Got make Lee Kuan Yew sign warning letter bo?
Got make him go through performance improvement programmes bo?
Ha ha ha!
looks like another wayang wayang before the election.
Ironically, the Lee’s government need to learn the word ‘firefighting’ in a hard way.
Ha ha ha!
The pap state propaganda machinery in full printing speed… all the more to reduce pap vote to below 60%…
Actually if you want some professional forecasters that are less expensive, you can go to the Guan Yim temple, Bugis, Albert Complex areas. They can even forecast winning 4D numbers.
i think they are aware how unhappy we are to the point that they are actually afraid.
1. LSS is fucking thick skinned. Read his comments about productivity. He thought we forgot his talk about investment being paramount importance and productivity is not.
2. They try to undo the originality of the RP’s talk on productivity by pushing behind the start date of this unoriginal report to 8 months ago to roughly the time that RP made that proposal. Very sly. With this kind of fabrication of start dates, where are the incentives for govt people to own up to what they say and be responsible.
3. the talk about Tanjong paga is to stablise the property prices there. at 500k for a 4 room flat (the new HDB flat), there better be a lot of things going on in tanjong paga area. How has that got to do with competitivity and productivity? Another smoke screen.
4. LSS should be asked why he thinks our productivity target is too high and how come Taiwan achieves it?
With people like lss and the other labor chief and the likes of lee bee wah around LHL, I think it is clear LHL is a lousy leader because lousy leader attracts lousy people.
Now you understand why elections cannot be held anytime soon.
None of the PAP ministers and MPs has question the “foreign talent” policy before the netizens in the cyberspace kick a fuss about it. That shows how much the PAP government meant when they say “Singaporeans always come first”. The useless PAP ministers and MPs are more concerned about their big fat salary rather than bothering about the plight of singaporeans. PAP should be voted out in the coming election and replaced with capable singaporeans who will serve the interests of singaporeans.
All these ministers collected $20 millions but do a shit job ! Every time make major mistakes, cheaper , better , faster, and now ???? vote them out better !!!
PAP policies are all dichotomies. There is always the opposing clause buried deep amidst the goodies. And it is the one that is buried that negates all the goodies. In this case its this clause in the press release:
“Nonetheless, the ESC recognises that it is critical for Singapore to continue attracting highly capable and entrepreneurial people from around the world to work here.”
So there you go, back to the same thing, influx of foreigners again from China & India non-stop. Also, in this 25 member ESC Committee are members of CEOs from private corporations who are foreign nationals but probably holding Spore PR status as our PAP throw them away like lelongs so its safe to assume that they have Spore PR status. If you look at pixs of the 25 ESC members in the mass media, you will see Indians & ang mohs.
Still Spore citizens will get conned, no?
Agreed with Moe Gan Thai.
Each time these mini$ters screwed up, just open their mouth and say some cheap words than to rectify their mistakes.
Next coming election, even if a Monkey come and contest in my ward, i will vote for the Monkey.
Too little and too late! Irreversible damages have been done to the social fabric of Singapore and the trust of even staunch PAP supporters. Yes, they are afraid now as they know the consequences of losing power. They will have to account for 40 decades of abuse of power and not to mention disclosure of P&L of GIC and Temasek Holdings. In history when oppressive regimes fell, there will be a period of revenge by the oppressed people on their oppressors. The writing is on the wall and I assume they can see it now. Do not stop now! Continue our assualt on the PAP monolith and we can bring it down by democratic process and we can build a new Singapore free of fear and actualise our national pledge! Majullah Singapura!
All the “cosmetic” measures taken by PAP recently are too little and too late. They should do their homework instead of relying on ideas raised by netizens in the cyberspace. If the PAP can’t come up with their own original ideas, that shows that “their spurs are not stuck to their hide” and they are not qualified to lead the people. VOTE OUT PAP !!!! The country need a much more competent government than this current useless batch of Minister Mentor, Senior Ministers, Ministers In Prime Minister Office, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, Members of Parliament and super underperforming President who does not perform his duty as check and balance on the government.
Hi guys, no need to get too excited, whatever the recommendations by the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) are the ASPIRATION only, just like our national pledge as mentioned by the prophet. remember……..?
Suggestion to all alternative parties, pls help educate all the uncle aunty during election rally when the time come,
their modus operandi is
first to appease, fire fight, damage control.
second to give carrot and kachiam puteh.
last to intimidate and threaten.
really nothing new.
Even a strong ardent supporter of PAP whose brother is former Army Chief-of-Staff shown some resentment toward them.
Could be our weekly dose of screwing PAP play a part opening his eyes….hahaha.
Now he only buy Straits Times (aka Shit Times) only on Saturday because its the thickest the whole week for his baby grandson and dog’s poo.
‘Reduce intake’????? We already have too many.
Should ‘Reduce existing’ to restore order, please!
Imagine what better things can be achieved with more Opposition members in Parliament: they might actually do something instead of just pay lip service!
Vote for the Opposition!!
You see…when that old impotent and dried-out teabag tried to justify the unreasonably high salaries of his bunch of “monkey see, monkey do” ministers, he claimed it would prevent a corrupt government from forming….
well what now old man? Instead of corrupt ministers..you’ve created a bunch of assholes who are more concerned about protecting their million dollar rice-bowls rather than doing their jobs properly for the betterment of the citizens and the country overall!
Time is running out for the dried-out teabag. His culture of fear, the effects of which can be witnessed even within the ranks of his own ministers (through their inability to stand up to the old crow and tell him he is wrong), will leave a legacy of incapable ministers who not only dont know how to make proper decisions but are grossly out-of-touch with people on the ground to really make any meaningful changes to improve the conditions of singaporeans in general.
He could have retired gracefully with dignity and honor, but looks like the only thing we will remember after Death has exacted a long painful death on him, is a sorry and bitter old man who was too afraid to let go. He has become embarrassing to say the least. A tired old fool who traverses the globe telling other leaders how to run their respective countries when his own is becoming a big mess!!!
NO MORE votes for your little impotent ‘YES Men” puppets!
Just as predicted, all these spin machines are now being released and the next will be the pork barrel. That will be the final stage, when it happens the election is near and that’s the prologue of the play.
All these are played out just for the one small hurdle and that is the general election and nothing in it will stay after election. What’s the final shift of power will eventually dictate the course of the day.
A younger Singaporean are sure to vote against PAP irregardless of what charade is being displayed. However the bulk of the population, the fathers and the mothers, they are really difficult to change. They will not barge unless they are convinced that voting out PAP will help their sons’ and daughters’ future.
The fathers and mothers of the young in Singapore mean business when it comes to election and they are under the spell that if PAP is down, the whole country will be ruined. Now that PAP is giving them some reassurances they will not give their votes to opposition. This is as sure as the sun rises from the east.
The young can coerce their parents by telling them you will leave Singapore and start a life overseas if PAP is re elected as government or if you’re a lady, you will marry a bengali and stay in India for the rest of your life, probably these can make the fathers and mothers worry.
Call this a youthful revolution or whatever you want, make sure we win against the spin machines of the PAP or we will have to live through the rest of our life as an loser.
Look like election is really coming soon, excepted those papaya put wayangshow before election
So who should we listen to? Who ever trust the released figures, charts, percentage, does it really matters? it seems to be misleading, confusing, contradicting then providing the real facts.
PM LHL, LKY, the ministers and the MPs, a waste of our tax-payer’s money. What is the President doing?
With their big fat salary..they will never ever understand/care for Singaporeans, all are just wayang show to be reported in the straits times & on TV.
haha, first look at the Straits Times, I thought I saw the title “The Big Shit”
Another ‘high-powered’ wayang show put up by the MIW!
This Govt. will always come up with ‘high-powered’ thingy whenever there’s a recession and they have ran out of ideas to solve the problems created by their own folly!This is to side-step the important ‘foreign-talents’ issue at hand and
divert the citizens’ attention!
During Woody Goh’s tenture as PM, he too set up one ERC wayang(economic review committee) at about the same time when the recession hit.The ERC was also a ‘high-power’one,to review the then slagging economy.
ERC came out with a marvellous report,wanting to transform Singapore into all sorts of HUBs ie. Education, Finance,
Bio-tech,Sports,Entertainment,etc. etc.a long list!
It was also during this time,that the idea of Swiss std. of living was moulded and to be achieved by year 2010!!
On the sporting side, the idea of playing in the World Cup final in 2010 was also bragged!!
Well, after decades,we are already in year 2010,we, the citizens ask,’what have you all achieved?’
Where are the so called HUBs!!
Where are the Swiss std. of living?
Where are our footballers heading to?
After all these years the report card has a big fat ZERO to show!!!
Now they want us to focus on this ‘high-powered’ ESC which is driven by $million engines!
They made it sound so important and so passionate that Singaporeans were made to think that this thingy will surely work!!
Anyway, we will keep in mind this occation and date.For 10 years down the road,we are VERY sure the report card will show another big fat ZERO!!
That’s PAP’s modus operandi. They have made a bloody mess by the sudden influx of foreigners of all catagories and are now trying to patch up the mistakes.After all the kpkb by the netizens,they are trying to soften their stand.
But, we will tell them it’s too late,too obvious!!
Damages have been done, and we will teach them how to rectify all the damages come Polling Day!!!
TR – you should document the developments and speeches just before this Big Shift.
reduce the number of foreigners in the next few years? These S-Holes always like to use words that can’t be quantified. Reduce 1 foreigner more than the year before also reduce. Reduce 10 also reduce. What they will do to compensate is to increase the PRs and new citizens. Now that’s a Big Shift.
The important thing is that I have stopped believing in anything that all these white pigs say.
I will vote for any opposition contesting in my constitency to reduce the number of white pigs in parliament.
Fellows Singaporean, “Think carefully before you vote” Think for your next generation as well and vote with your heart. Future in your hand.
We pay peanuts and we get monkey , but PAP are using tax payer to pay the highest salary in the world but still we get monkeys
where got logic, worse still these monkey MM,SM all interconnected with PM and still these cannot co-ordinate to make singaporeans proud.
Vote LSS out than replace another one preferably FT who is cheaper, better and faster. What say yo?
The PAP is now trying very hard to win back the trust of the singaporeans but too bad the amount of mistakes they created all these years eversince LHL took over office. I believe if they found out that they still cannot win back the people’s trust by next year, probably they could even delay the GE further or worst call off the whole thing by coming up with some made up stupid internal security reasons, which I think they will. The damage is too great till even whatever they want to say now will be turn a deaf ear from the singaporeans, at least at this present moment.
THe PAP is in deep shit .
1 ) if they have election now , they will be booted out for sure
2 ) If they have election later , more & more policies will crack and they will also be booted out .
They are in very difficult situation . too late to do damge control . Too stupid to wayang using media and newspaper as most of the citizens ( 80 % ) knows they sucks .Even FTs are complaining so this will add fuel to the election and they will loose more .
NOw is not if they will loose , its what % they will loose .
If they are lucky , they might retain 30 GRCs ..but chances are freak election is coming . They are also packing their bags and start selling their properties .
If you look beyond all the verbiage and pompous statements, this ESC report is basically trying to undo the bloody damage inflicted on the local workforce because of their far-too liberal and short-sighted foreign talent policy. All these years, and our highly-paid ministers and mps did not notice falling productivity figures? Sleeping on the job? Daft?
So is this how they intend to increase productivity? By asking you – one worker to do two workers’ job and get one worker’s salary? But inside their Prime Minister’s office, we have 1 Minister Mentor, 1 Prime Minister, 2 Senior Ministers, 2 Deputy Prime Ministers and 3 Ministers in the Prime Ministers’ Office to increase productivity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Singapore#Current_Cabinet
So the ESC has every recommendations except one: “Apologize to singaporeans for the overlooked massive influx that had occurred”
Afterall, they still dun want to admit their policy is flawed to begin with. In the end they found out that “We cannot over-rely on foreigners” and “need to cut down”. Then why influx in the first place? Whose fault? I think PAP govt too proud and refuses to admit mistakes.
Just say a simple “Sorry, we were wrong but we’ll fix it.”. And I’ll still reconsider my vote. But no, they will never do tat… so i’ll never vote for them too.
Yah, the “BIG SHIT” on their faces. When they spit, the wind changed directions and the spittle landed on their million dollar faces. No worries, more “BIG SHITs” will surely come, for this is only 1 of the shit that they have decided to make a turn around. The other shits are ERP, raised utilities, etc. Turn as much as they can before the elections, but can they turn the “BIGGEST SHIT” that they messed up i.e. the billions of taxpayers dollars that they have washed down the drain. That alone is enough to tell you and remind you of what you need to do when elections come.
Forecasting epic fail.
Pay peanuts get monkeys….pay $millions get greedier dumb ass hole monkeys!
Notice how sly now they are with the words ????
Now, they dont call them Foreign TALENT anymore, and rightfully call them foreign WORKERS and foreign LABOURS.
There’s a saying in Chinese, it’s easy to invite deities to come, but difficult to send them away.
The same goes for the foreigners in Singapore. Ask them to come is easy, want them to leave is difficult.
PAP and its businessmen supporters are addicted to cheap foreign labour. Without them, many of these businesses which don’t hire a single Singaporean will go kaput. I find it hard to believe that PAP will betray their loyal supporters by restricting cheap foreign labour. Don’t forget Singaporeans are lesser mortals in their eyes, we are just economic units which should be discarded to JB after we have outlived our usefulness.
I think the facts speak for itself. The various immigration schemes which flooded Singapore with cheap foreign labour are still intact. PRs, citizenships, and scholarships are still handed to any foreign tom, dick, and harry.
@Kn@hotmail.com
“NOw is not if they will loose , its what % they will loose .
If they are lucky , they might retain 30 GRCs ..but chances are freak election is coming . They are also packing their bags and start selling their properties .”
Please don’t use the word “freak election” if the PAP is booted out. You are implying PAP are the saints and Opposition are the devils when PAP control what the masses should hear and see.
On the contrary freak election is true when the PAP win big time but I doubt they will enjoy like they did yesteryear. When the old uncles and aunties pass on one by one their support is diminishing.
Nowadays youngster are expose to Internet they can read both side of story and make their choice accordingly.
PAP = Pian Ah Pek/Umm
Have anyone noticed most of the proposals by the ESC is almost the same as what have been posted in TR by our posters?
Seems some boss instructed his minion to make up the report, and this smart alec just do copy and paste job from TR and other blog sites.
So basically, we are paying million dollar salary to the MIW for them to read TR and sites for ideas??
If the MIW was smart enough to come up with the report, then why the heck we have so much inconsistent moronic remarks from the MIW??
Sadly, they are too many ‘daft’ Singaporean who will bite MIW’s bait and vote for the MIW again this time.
first to appease, fire fight, damage control.
second to give carrot and kachiam puteh.
then to intimidate and threaten.
Once voted in ……….. all forgotten liao
really nothing new.
I thought the battle cry recently was “cheaper, faster and better” and “upturn the downturn”?
How come everyone was “caught off guard” and “upside down”?
This is called the “SCIENCE OF MUDDLING THROUGH” – COMPLETELY CONFUSED??
Hope to see the daylight coming for the rights of its citizens.
Hope to see the downfall of these self serving $million ministers that have no moral ground to serve its citizens.
May the days come to see ….. the changes…..
The election dept as an independent body out of the PMonkey see PMonkey do office.
Re-instate the moral for our lawyers in the judiciary system without the interference of any ruling parties.
The elected president must be voted by its citizens not by self appointment by any ruling parties.
Abolish GRC – nonsense to claim to protect the minority races. Today, we see singaporean chineses, singaporean malays, singaporean indians, singaporen others are marginlised, we the citizens have not faults any racial discrimination, it is “YOU”, why b’cos you decide for us for your countries selection…
PRC – lookalike singaporean chinese
Indian – lookalike singapore indians
Pinoy, mayanmar – lookalike singaporean malays
Citizens UNITED WE STAND, we have to VOTE AP to save ourselves, our beloved city, our beloved home, our beloved families, our beloved children children future…. this coming election is our only HOPE….
…and the same hell restart all over again.
So what is new…monkey no see bad for others only good for self, monkey no do the right but always the wrong thing, monkey no think original just copy/follow blindly, monkey no talk common sense but only dollar sense for self and monkey no hear bad facts but BS facts to feel on top of its tiny prick of a brain!
It is paradise to be a white monkey in Singapore…and to parade one’s white pasted face to all and sundry…
Sick!
When the shorty MBT said, ‘The price rise of HDB flats caught me offguard’ I almost puked! These ministers are paid multi million dollar salaries and old man said they all have ‘helicopter vision’, so this is the what we tax payers’ multi million dollar salaries are buying…quality ministers who are easily caught offguard! Thanks but no thanks.
There is going to be A Big Shift and it only happens if PAP is kicked out and banished forever.
Election is coming…. This is the problem with a government that is too metric driven that they forgot they were human too and began to think of themselves as more than humans. Having GDP growth as a metric for measuring their success without a corresponding counter metric like improving median salary of the population is a recipe for disaster.. The great divide has occur…
These are smart people with only one track objective. The end result is a severely skewed society… Talk about inclusiveness and graciousness…
Oh, thank god for this extraordinary policy. But you still won’t get my vote.
How big can u “shift”?. Singapore is just an island. Maybe they should shift themselves and make way for sincere and dedicated local talent.
Tharman says — “grow economy with skills, innovation, productivity, not just expanding employment”
Funny why he should say this only now when Singaporeans had enough of the inflow of foreign workers. Why didn’t we grow economy with skills, innovation and productivity all along?
My fellow Singaporeans — please recognise these guys for what they are — politicians. politicians say what you want to hear. that’s what politicians all over the world do. why should our politicians be any different??
Don’t forget — it was the “Stop at Two” policy that is the cause of all our woes. That damage is irreversible. We have stumbled from one error to another. Funny how every article in the newspapers these few days is all about putting Singaporeans first, reducing foreign workers etc.
Don’t just talk and complain on blogs. Its about time to DO something about it, not just talk about it.
Folks,
I’m a true breed Singaporean whom has grown disllusion over our PAP Leaders policies. They are protecting their ‘rice bowl’, while throwing ordinary people like you and me to be ‘doing 2 person’s workload’. Can’t SM & MM in such a small country, be done by 1 person?
While we still have time before next GE … please be ‘mouthpiece’ to inform all your relatives, colleagues, friends, neighbours to reach out & read TR. Let them decide , if it still make sense (cents) to continue supporting PAP. Their recent ‘change’ of policies is simply pre-election gimmick.
It is predicted year 2010, Singapore will have 2 prominent person passing away. We just heard of Mr Ng Teng Fong today ….
Remember , if not for the internet access to such web site , we are still worshiping the PAPAYAS . Looks like PAPAYA pants are down and very confused . They have killed 80 % of local citizens with the massive influx of FTs . On top of it , they LOST BILLIONS ( Temasek & GIC combined ) .
I just cannot think fof a reason to vote them . Will not detroy my vote either . Oppositions , please be active as 80 % of singaporeans will vote you in .
PAPAYAs , time is NOT on your side . controlling the media and newspaper will only make it worse as more people will flood the internet . Either way , you will loose BIG .
Lol productivity. Wasn’t that something the PAP was championing in the 70’s-80’s? I know it was in those social studies books… but maybe the syllabus has changed.
Nobel Prize winner, Mr Albert Camus, wrote a book called The Renegade. In the book he said that Goodness has a limit and cannot be reached but evil can be easily achieved. He warned that absolute authority can only be executed by evil men.
Now, does his last statement ring a bell? What he said may well apply to what’s is happening here in Singapore.
The Opposition better get ready soon as the election is defintitely coming and… soon!
Don’t get caught with pants down.
The problem with this esc report is that it didn’t address the inequality in treatment between singaporeans and pr.
This is a real disappointment.
Notice they are regurgitating the argument put forward by an article of TOC regarding the inanity of the Singapore liberal immigration policy.
These pigs are really thick skinned.
There is this article on the chinese news papers about the use of PAP youth supposedly pretty girls in this elections to win votes (I didn’t find them pretty).
Copying WP’s method.
these pigs have become very low.
Hi,Temasek Review, please blog about public library rights too. Seems like tax payers money are going to support PR’s usage of the library resources, while FT only has to pay $42.80 per year. This is ridiculous. My english is not good, so hope that you can get your editor to write something meaningful.
The massive propaganda indicates Polling Day is approaching and the Govt knows that this will be a contested issue.
Whatever they say or promise now we should not believe..It has been proven in the past. Once election is won by the Papies, all goodies will be retrieved and taxes will start to be rolled out..maybe we will see even more FTs!
Well, cronies. You are going to hold out the increase of foreigners until the Circle and Downtown lines are up and fully running, OK?
Bring in foreigners so fast. Yet take so long to build and open up circle line.
It’s like stuffing yourself with food after food when you have problems clearing your bowels. Go figure.
I hope not too many sinkees are taken in by such cheap talk. The only way to MAKE SURE they really mean these words is to vote in more opposition to keep the PAP in check. If a mandate is given again, they will go back on their words and wipe out the native sinkees for good!
And also know why they are building platform doors on open air MRT stations. To “box” people in so that they wouldn’t fall off when they sarding pack more commuters onto platforms.
With election approaching near, I am sure a lot of wayang efforts are required from PAP camp. I doubt their commitment to Singaporeans will be realised because it is not genuine, at least we were betrayed for many decades and knew we can’t be easily fooled again.
The past few years have been a bitter years for everyone in Singapore. The middle class suddently degraded to the poverty level. Cyberspace has been throwing bombs to keep PAP on their toe but they were reluctant to give way and continue to past legislation unfavourable to netizens. So why now to make changes suddently when Singapore has been defaced beyond recognition? Why change now when they could have done so many years ago, where is their foresight when they suddently felt they made mistakes? Or was it simply rhetorics for the purpose of BUYING VOTES and thereafter, the gate of Singapore will reopen wider than the previous one. I will vote PAP regardless. I have lost my trust in them and can’t wait to vent my anger with clear head at the ballot box. LHL failed miserably to operate Singapore since the last mandate was given to them. We need a new party to bring Singapore out of its trauma and have the accumulated burden off my chest. I hope everyone do the same.
Yeap, election is definitely on the way.
These moneky don’t see the coffin will never shed tears. Now, only shedding crocodile’s tears. Will let them shed the real tears soon.
We have shed enough tears. Now, time for revenge.
hahahaha..! I laughed. I can’t help but being cynical. Call me ungrateful, whatever, another U-turn.
Actually, a fair proportion of Singaporeans in the age group between mid 20s to early 50s are starting to question the govt. Papies still have great influence on housewives, grannies and grandaddies. So it is important for each and everyone of us to try to also “propagate” our parents to think otherwise of the Papies.
Greatasia,
“Yee Lau liow”, otak tak botoh cannot forecast already.
Too much Money stuck on his face…blurr already,like Uncle Scrooge,donald duck’s uncle.
Hello,you people, let the “Lau Ah Pek”rest lah! Now so many complaint,he “siow” already,you know?
More Brain juices needed to pump out and more high blood pressure,after he “Tong Tong Chiang” How ?
If the PAP keep to their promises, we will not be in such a mess today. Everything has fallen apart, thanks to their broken promises. Election is coming and now lies are being propagated far and wide through SPH.
Hokkien people say, “Chui Kong Meng Lui”. That’s what the PAP has been doing. Free talk but no action.
They must really think we are stupid….
Shit times is demonstrating itself as the PAP voice box yet again. Laughable…
Question 1. When was this ‘committee’ put together?
Question 2. Why was there any buzz from the private sector about this big plans they’re making?
Question 3. Why aren’t experts on energy, innovation and productivity in the committee? We have the same old faces who created the problems in the first place.
Question 4. How long did they take to come out with his plans?
It looked as if it was done overnight.
The plans are just skimming the surface of real problems. Productivity is an issue more deeper than they think. It’s about creating a perfect balance of work and family life. To create a family, housing needs to be affordable and policies to be pro-family. A happy worker is a productive worker. Make NS a national education which S’poreans can choose how long they would like to participate. Not 2 years, cos by the time you get out, the skills you learn in poly, ITE is outdated.
Education needs to be knowledge focus rather than academic. We need thinkers and visionaries not followers and doers. To produce innovation is not from research and development, it’s from having knowledge to know what is the next big thing. Learning maths will not achieve that. Learning evolution and human history will.
What ever happened to alternative energy. Why can’t manufacturing industries re-cycle wasted energy to electricity to power surrounding housing estates. If workers in the factories know that by running the factories efficiently they can reduce their own power bill, that will make them work harder to reduce waste. That is Swiss standard of living. These ideas are not new. Nuclear energy should always be the last resort. We are bathed in sunshine almost 9 months of the year. Why can’t HDB flats have solar panels to contribute electricity in that block?
Lastly, Tanjong Pagar as waterfront city. the papers shows a broadwalk with people walking and tables for cafe. heck any junior landscape artist can draw that in a couple of hours. No concrete plans, just pretty pictures. Best of all, the reclaim areas are just white blocks on paper, no plans on how they will segment that big ‘white space’.
All carrots dangling for us to take. Are we that dumb? That might work 5 years ago. I truly hope Singaporeans are not that naive to take the bait. These are just high-falutin ideas conjured up for disillusioned Singaporeans believing every single word from PAP. These are not grand ideas but a thin veil of promises which they have no idea how to make it real and solid. Foe all Singaporean’s sake, we need a change. This is not it!
Singaporeans cannot afford another 5 years of unchallenged PAP rule without any opposition to rein in on its excesses or they may really find themselves becoming a minority in their own country in the near future.
This basically sums up why Singaporeans need to put more opposition in parliament during the next elections.
I hope Singaporeans wake up and realise this before it is too late.
The so called “The Big Shift” into skill, productivity and innovation is not new. It was the policy in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Could anyone remember the old statutory board called ” National Productivity Board (NPB)”.
The “Big Shift” is in the correct direction. A successful shift would uplift the per capita income of Singaporeans. The per capita income of Singaporeans should be the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of the cabinet rather than the GDP (it appears to be the existing KPI).
One needs courage to make the change that is commendable. However, I hope that the Government has the perseverance in pursuing the change long after the next General Election (since it is the direction that many citizens support, it does not matter whichever party forms the next Government). Of course, a creditable number of non-ruling party MPs would enhance the probability that this Big Shift is properly implemented.
Increase the foreign workers levies might not be the most appropriate mean to lift the Singapore workers pay. It certainly would increase the Government revenue. The more effective way will be the tightening of foreign workers quota.
The member list with photos have grown to over 3,000. I wonder how the ISD is going to put them all inside the small prison cells.
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=vote+pap+out&init=quick#/group.php?v=wall&ref=search&gid=153492722129
Everything behind accepting FT is levy$, HDB$ and GST$, etc.
The more the merrier, everyone pays GST$
3 million not enough, 6.5 million better, 10 million best.
Just curious this 25 member ESC Committee that’s doing a “hard” job will they be paid extra from what they have already earn which is millions so far?
“inherent message in these articles is consistently clear: the ruling party will reduce the intake of foreigners in the next decade and focus more on increasing the skills and productivity of Singaporeans.”
The keyword is “in the next decade” and by then, there will be little TRUE BLUE Sinkaporeans around to vote the PAPies out of office.
Sinkaporeans will be a minority in their own country with no ABSOLUTELY status nor standing.
pui,pui,pui …PAP
the gullible and daft will be taken in by this propaganda and vote in another 5 years of unchallenged misery and pain to themselves. most will say vote in the untested oppo may be worse, so better vote PAP as they are a `benign’ known quantity. like dat we are doomed and deserved everything they throw at us AFTER they win- more foreigners and more goodies for PRs. we pay and pay as third-class citizens, do NS, displaced in our jobs.
It is time to change. Changes have to come.
The cards have been played – its a total waste of time to discuss 45 years of history now.
Vote for change.
HIT THEM HARD!
Hit the S.hit out off them.
@Sinkapore welcome to the no-class citizens
It will happen if we don’t vote them out asap.
Given another strong mandate term, PAP sure will influx more FTs.
They are trying hard to reduce FT prior to the election but will never commit it once they still in power.
When the true Singaporean standing is no-class status, those who can afford to migrate will do so. Whereas those who can’t migrate will suffer under PR and FT(PAP’s citizens).
PAP must lose 50% of overall seats to let them feel the heats.
Vote for a change, vote for PAP 50% power reduction!
please i have had enough and sick to my bones.even a corpse or animal to stand against them also can.
Another shit speech by these idiots.
They trying any means to deceive native singaporeans that they care so much……….ah ! sssssssssshhhh………….
talk cock while they can, however we already promised to vote them out.
VOTE PAP OUT to save ourselves !!!
VOTE PAP OUT to save our children!!!
VOTE PAP OUT to save Singapore !!!
The flip=flop is so obviously glaring…. whats happening? One big-shot say this today, another say that next day…. then a BIG SHIFT???? whats happening???? No wonder the new US ambassador wants to encourage greater openess in the Spore Govt. Read below….
US nominee wants greater openness in Singapore
WASHINGTON — The nominee to be the US ambassador to Singapore said Tuesday he would encourage the government to allow greater openness, including more space for opposition parties.
The biggest joke is to control FWs thru gradual increase in levies! What a laugh….again using money to solve problems. Same flawed ideas over and over again. Recession comes, go for training, be cost competitive, cut CPF, wage restraint and hope that MNCs come back to Spore. There is nothing new at all in the report viz a viz The next lap, goal 2010. Its just like Mao’s Great Leap forward.
The TOP 30 highest paid politicians in the world are all from Singapore
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1. Elected President SR Nathan – S$3.9 million.
2. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – S$3.8 million.
3. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew – S$3.5 million.
4. Senior Minister Goh Chok Thong – S$3.5 million.
5. Senior Minister Prof Jayakumar – S$3.2 million.
6. DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng – S$2.9 million.
7. DPM & Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean – $2.9 million
8. Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo – S$2.8 million.
9. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan – S$2.7 million.
10. PMO Miniser Lim Boon Heng – S$2.7 million.
11. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang – S$2.7 million.
12. PMO Minister Lim Swee Say – S$2.6 million.
13. Environment Minister & Muslim Affairs Minister Dr Yaccob Ibrahim – S$2.6 million.
14. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan – S$2.6 million.
15. Finance Minister S Tharman – S$2.6 million.
16. Education Minister & 2nd Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen – S$2.6 million.
17. Community Development Youth and Sports Minister – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan – S$2.5 million.
18. Transport Minister & 2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim Siang Kiat – S$2.5 million.
19. Law Minister & 2nd Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam – S$2.4 million.
20. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong – S$2.2 million.
21. PMO Minister Lim Hwee Hwa – S$2.2 million.
22. Acting ICA Minister – Lui Tuck Yew – S$2.0 million.
23 to 30 = Senior Ministers of State and Ministers of State – each getting between S$1.8 million to S$1.5 million.
Note: 1. The above pay does not include MP allowances, pensions and other sources of income such as Directorship, Chairmnship, Advisory, Consultancy, etc to Gov-linked and gov-related organisations or foreign MNCs such as Citigroup (for Lee Kuan Yew), etc.
Anakin, did Mao used money to solve problems? Is the Next Lap akin to the Great Leap Forward?
The Pigs Action Party is a party for foreigners. Clear and simple. All young people know that.
They even want to import PRC trash to dilute local minorities like the Indians and Malays.
My only worry is that older folks without internet are brainwashed by state TV and radio and shit times.
All of us take the responsibility to show the seniors (and elders in your family) the monsters that the PAP truly are.
I tell my parents:
“If I have a job, I will definitely support you in old age.
If you vote for PAP and I lose my job to a foreigner, then YOU must support me.
If you vote for PAP and I cannot afford to buy a flat, then I will have to wait till you die to get a flat. Till then, you have to bear with me as I cramp with you.
If you vote for PAP and I become poor by their doing, you can never see grandchildren and our family line with die when I die.”
Like what a few forumers mention, think safe to say this round of GE (when it happens), the same 33.3% will continue to vote for opposition. The younger gen of Singaporeans who read the alternative media are also gradually lifting the wool being pulled over their eyes by the present govt.
However, the key to ushering more alternative voices into parliament and break the ruling govt’s stranglehold lies in convincing the uncles, aunties and man on the street the importance of alternative voices for the future of Singapore
They need to be convinced that it is for the greater good of their children and grandchildren. This is the hard part as people like them do not really understand meaning of free press, free speech, check and balances etc. One reason is that their current situation is still not too dire for them to rebel e.g still have roof over their heads, children get decent education, crime rate is fairly low etc.
They are largely ignorant or apathetic to recent news of foreigners taking up Singaporeans’ jobs or Homeless Singaporeans camping in Sembawang Park as these issues do not pierce through their heart. Years of Indoctrination through MSM and Schools that they owe their eternal gratitute to PAP has also numbed their minds to other alternatives.
So when I read that Opp intends to contest Tampines due to perceived unpopularity of MBT, I am still fairly sceptical that they will be successful in wrestling a GRC from PAP.
The tide of change will come but I fear it may not be this GE as these group of Aunties and Uncles just do not feel hungry enough for change. They have not been pushed to the brink hence they will vote for the devil they know than the devil they don’t.
So if the young gen,informed netizens and opp parties really want to effect change, I think one of the key battles lies to convincing this group of voters. It is not easy but it has to happen.
Also, another key area in challenge a GRC is also to attract good malay/minority candidates to get the malay/minority vote. From what I perceive so far, this is something the ruling govt is still doing better than Opp and giving them an edge.
Apologies for the slight deviation but I’d thought of giving my views in my maiden post in TR.
Cheers
A Big Shift? Come on, isn’t productivity an on going thingy?
Are the ‘high-powered’ committee members telling Singaporeans that productivity was never in their agenda all these years?? Or were they all in slumberland and suddenly woke up and realise to their horror that there were no productivity!!
All this ‘high-power’idealogy is nothing new.They were at it
since they came
into power decades ago.Ten years down the road,it will be back to square one and nothing to show and they will put up another ‘higher-powered’committee to just wayang to show the citizens that they are on the ball!!!
Now whilst they are at it,they sound like the deafening thunder and the flashes of lighting are spectacular,but where is the RAIN???
“the gullible and daft will be taken in by this propaganda and vote in another 5 years of unchallenged misery and pain to themselves.”
Tell those stupid gullible and daft that they won’t have another 5 years after the next election because their votes are no longer relevant and effective to counter against the mass of vote from those third-world foreigner citizens then. Tell them that they are as good as dead then and stop complaining and resign to life as maid and slave. And if they want to die then, they might even get a discount of funeral blanket from YPAP Sear.
If one were to look back on the past 3 GEs, bread/butter issues are always there and ppl still give their mandate to the ruling party in good and bad times. The coming GE, with the ground swell already building up seems more focused on the unhappiness over the FT policy/costs of living. The ruling party knows that they are losing support on this and the Shit Times seems to be doing some damage repair (it’s a bit too late). If anything, the ruling party only have themselves to blame for their eroding political goodwill, having shot themselves in the foot and not even knowing it. In short, no political acumen, no politcal sense, not delivering their end of the bargain. They forgot that they had put themselves in a transactional relationship with their high pay. “There is no free lunch”, to quote from someone.
I feel depressed everytime I read any major propoganda in the Straits Times. It’s almost like a the PAP are trying their hardest to appease Singaporean opinions on websites such as these where people air their honest views.
What’s depressing is that it just begins to feel more and more like a dictatorial regime everytime genuine opinions are brushed aside for the sheer purpose of misleading us Singaporeans. It’s just so sad that we don’t have as much ownership of this country even when compared to so called ‘third world’ countries. At least the voters in India, Thailand or the Phillippines can choose their leaders.
Here we just get mocked and scorned everytime someone mentions the PAP being replaced. As if those guys, however smart they are, are irreplaceble. Nobody is.
As much growing resentment as there is for the PAP now. We just know that the pork barrel politics will win the votes in the end. We’ll all get 500 bucks cash and a ‘guarantee’ that HDB flats will be frequently upgraded. We will be ‘guaranteed’ that our flats will make us heaps of money in 20 years (assuming we can afford one now). And honestly, with how much control there is over the mass media, its extremely easy for the PAP to discredit any promising opposition party. Opposition parties will also have to climb enormous hurdles just to get a small bit of info from the PAP to discredit them. Such information can be easily withheld by the PAP under the guide of ‘national security’ and only the voters who are vehemently against the PAP will vote for the opposition.
The simple truth is there is really nothing much we can do but put up with this, overthrow the government (which is highly unlikely considering how most of us were brought up in this country) or leave the country.
I do hope that Singapore changes for the better under some new leadership soon. But alas, that is a dream that may be several decades in the making.
@ ayoungsingaporean on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 1:24 pm
” I do hope that Singapore changes for the better under some new leadership soon. But alas, that is a dream that may be several decades in the making. ”
Thanks for sharing with us your thought from a perspective of a young generation. My humble suggestion, it is good to have a dream, because it is always dream that is a beginning of almost everything in life. If we want change, if we want progress, if we want true democracy, if we want a govt which truly treasure and appreciate her own people, we can do our part no matter how small a role we play, because collectively we can be a force. We can exercise our right when the time come. As a young generation, I am sure you are IT literate and maybe you could help to pass the message, promote the website, help email TR, TOC weblinks to your peers, help educate your parent, brother and sister to know their right and what they can do to help change Singapore.
I am highly skeptical that the government actually means what it says.
Notice they haven’t backed down from their 6.5m to 8.0m population target. And from their point of view they want it to happen because it increases their tax and other revenues (which is all they care about).
Tell-tale sign… solution for too many foreigners is not to so much a commitment to tweak the quota, but to increase foreign worker levies (another excuse to raise more money). And they mentioned the 1/3 rule is just a guide (that means some years there could be more)
So, how to grow more without getting more foreigners?? Easy lah, give them citizenships and PRs lor… so see your HDB prices will “always go up”. Happy?
Never mind what they write, talk or think Just Vote PAP OUT !!!!!!!
Never mind what they write, talk or think Just Vote PAP OUT !!!!!!!
Never mind what they write, talk or think Just Vote PAP OUT !!!!!!!
It doesn’t matter whether a policy is right or wrong. The ruling party PAP decides that for u.
I still remember in the 80s, our parents are asked to stop at two. I was the 3rd child & my parents were fined. To add to this agony, i have least priority when it comes to enrolling in a primary school. But the principle told my mum that luckily it was the enrolment Tiger year kids, otherwise i may loose out.
Years after, the government then tell us to have more kids & punish SG people by an uncontrolled influx of FT if we dun listen.
Come on, we are humans & have inertia in our thinking, not machines where we can simply just switch on & off.
ESC report ? Serious policy doucment or political hogwash of another con?
ESC preached cutback in migration influx due to physical and social limits. Less than 48 hours later after “acceptance”, 360 degrees turn – MORE MIGRATION INFLUX.
ESC reecommends nuclear power energy, then sudden from long long distant wonderland broadcast, no nuclear energy!!
Both key planks are deadly adventure risks for Singaporeans. They want our votes and mandate for them to gamble with our lives – QUICK betting on and off just like the IR casino gambling business.
It is time for change. Cooling off period or not, VOTE ONLY FOR OPPOSITION.
I really hate that part whenever there is an inherent threat to our SGP economy, the government would often succumb to tweaking our Cpf contributions, reducing Employer’s contributions to our cpf, reduce cpf interest rates and take their own sweet time to restore it back to original cpf levels, ask us to take pay cuts – like in a stock market environment. Did we cooperate? Yes we did. All SGPoreans did. Why don’t the GOVT set an example next time when there is a national crisis to tell us they are more good years in PAP by taking actions like reducing: GST, town council rates, personal income & property taxes, ERP rates, car park rates, medical costs, bus/mrt/taxi rides. Please, every MF thing you put in placed please reduced it and then we can take pay cuts and so on. On the contrary, when economic times are pressing, you see that your mee goreng, teh/kopi, roti prata, taxi fares, bus fares, mrt fares all rise un tandem. Where got justice la to make us take pay cuts and reduce our cpf which is for housing loans and retirement.
Ruling party cannot continue doing things their way.
Sometimes, we feel that we work so bloody hard not for ourselves and our families, but for “Singapore Inc” – owned by ruling party.
This is so that the ruling party can continue to line their pockets with generous million-dollar wages.
Really sick of listening to the political bullshit churning out from the ruling party’s propaganda machine. Really got to wake them up from their slumber!!!
Don’t understand why so many people still want the ruling party liars when they and their folks are being played out so many times, you people out there kenna pap gong tau is it? come to think about it if the 66.6% is really a true figure or something else. Don’t be too shock even with so many singaporeans already so sick with the ruling party, suddenly the 66.6 can just become 88.8 result coming from the PM office, only God knows!
Ex-President Ong Teng Cheong was a great man. He did try to fight for many things and provide answers for the people. However he was fighting the course alone burdened by his cancer and his wife’s bad health during then. In fact PAP never expect Ong TC to against them after all these years as a PAP member. I think Ong TC searched his conscience and decided to do the right thing.
SR Nathan?? He’s just a useless puppet installed by LKY and his PAP party. After Ong TC, PAP was bitten and definitely has to install a “Yes Man” rather than a President that may check on them and make them accountable for the things they have done. Damn his pay is $3.9M?? Walau its better than him selling roti prata! He has to sell 4,875,000 pieces of prata to achieve that kind of earnings! SR Nathan never contribute to the nation at all. He is wasting the tax payer’s money while we slog everyday!
Vote PAP out!!!! It’s time we band together Singaporeans! Enough of repression! We want a democratic country where our govt serves us instead of we serve them!
President Ong Teng Cheong was a great man. He did try to fight for many things and provide answers for the people. However he was fighting the course alone burdened by his cancer and his wife’s bad health during then. In fact PAP never expect Ong TC to against them after all these years as a PAP member. I think Ong TC searched his conscience and decided to do the right thing.
SR Nathan?? He’s just a useless puppet installed by LKY and his PAP party. After Ong TC, PAP was bitten and definitely has to install a “Yes Man” rather than a President that may check on them and make them accountable for the things they have done. Damn his pay is $3.9M?? Walau its better than him selling roti prata! He has to sell 4,875,000 pieces of prata to achieve that kind of earnings! SR Nathan never contribute to the nation at all. He is wasting the tax payer’s money while we slog everyday!
Vote PAP out!!!! It’s time we band together Singaporeans! Enough of repression! We want a democratic country where our govt serves us instead of we serve them!
Guys one day PAP will shut this website trust me. Looking at the rate it is going, esp near election time. Then they’ll say internal security issue shit again… May even arrest owners of the site using their infamous ISA!