TR EMERITUS – Untold Hard Truths From Around The World – 淡马锡评论 – formerly Temasek Review

DPM Teo advised young couples not to wait for perfect life before having children

Singapore's declining birth rate must be causing endless nightmares for PAP leaders such that even Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has to step in to advise young couples to have more children. Speaking during a dialogue session organized by the women's wing of the PAP's People Association, DPM Teo said: "I think we are a very perfection-obsessed society, and we forget that in seeking and waiting for perfection for our children, we end up not having any." DPM Teo doesn't realize that Singapore's low total fertility rate of 1.22 is largely caused by the PAP's policies which is imposing an increasing strain on the middle class. Though the economy grew between 5 to 7 percent in the last decade, the median salary of the average Singapore worker remains stagnant at $2,400 monthly. In the meantime, the cost of living has sky-rocketed, especially that of public housing fueled by ever growing demand from the relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore. While a single income family can afford to pay off its mortgage loan in ten years previously, a dual-income family now needs 30 years or more to do the same. Singaporeans are not waiting for "perfection" for their children to set up a family. They are waiting for a roof over their heads. Living high up in his own ivory tower and far away from the "lesser mortals", it may be difficult for DPM Teo to grasp this simple fact. Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us. Read More →

史上最牛的伪善 — 免费赌场巴士

作者:雷风雨当他们要建赌场的时候，媒体大肆宣传，说IR不只是赌场，赌场仅占5%。当他们想利用终止免费巴士服务来抬高自己的“道德形象”，希望借此在大选前缓和选民不满政府允建赌场的政策时，仿佛免费巴士上就是赌场。连荣华最关心选民的福址，他首先发难，海峡时报随即粉墨登场，把RWS的免费巴士课题登在头版。RWS免费巴士服务都推出了数月，如今不过因为连荣华要在国会表达他的关怀，突然就成了头版新闻。怎么看，都像事先编好的剧本。好戏还在后头。RWS不明究里，急于讨好政府，主动宣布将在上星期天全面终止组屋区的免费巴士服务。这一来破坏了剧情的发展，RWS抢了先机，政府没法借此制造道德形象。于是，才宣布正在“调查”中的社青体部被迫匆匆亮相，赌博管制局隔天突然下令即刻终止免费巴士服务。呵，几个月来陆路交通管理局批准的事儿，突然变成多一分钟也不能容忍。剧情至此越发明朗：就是要这样大力打压，道德形象才能深入民心，因为组屋区的人民都很清楚赌博害人不浅。可惜，连荣华和维文都忘了，就在免费巴士接载处不远以及更多的组屋邻里中心，政府的万字多多投注站大排长龙。好了，剧情总算没被RWS搞砸，接着就是水落石出的大团圆。上周六，海峡时报全版介绍荷兰-武吉知马集选区，没错，连荣华和维文就是该区的议员，他们的相片和PAP的商标都上版。剧终。剩下一群莫明其妙亏大钱的大巴公司和大巴司机，都成了这幕道德剧的牺牲品。续集：连荣华将在国会继续就此课题“质问”政府，维文将借此大义凛然慷慨陈词，誓与赌博不共戴天。好啦，希望有反对党也在国会请教连荣华一下，是不是应该扩大他的关怀，叫他的主子把4D多多投注站全给赶出组屋区，最好都搬到圣淘沙去，而且要像终止免费巴士服务那样果断，一分钟也不能容忍。大马论坛 Read More →

PM Lee should give Singaporeans a level political playing field instead of air talk.

PM Lee’s latest “Dare-do-and-accountable Singapore Spirit” slogan certainly sounds like an old advertiser promoting an old product with a new catchphrase. First of all,the People’s Action Party must show us the “action” first, not just talk or promise. Since when had PAP ministers or MPs or even high-ranking civil servants being held accountable for some of the most memorable slip-ups (such as Mas Selamat escape, city floods, YOG’s overbudget and others). Not to mention the lacklustre performance of PAP cabinet in Parliament debates on crucial national issues before passing the bills. If the PAP government has come to realise that the nation needs the “Singapore Spirit” so badly after some 45 years in power, it should reflect on its past records of how inherent or existing “Singapore spirit” had often been either stifled or “demolished” by itself. If it truly yearns for such a “Singapore Spirit” to flourish, it can start materialising it in this coming General Elections by making sure every candidate contest in “Single Member Constituency”- a one-to-one political “cul-de-sac” to rid of GRC “piggyback MPs”. As an oppositionist,I would like to put this challenge to PM Lee to give Singaporeans a level political playing field instead of air talk. Lim Tung Hee Read More →