TR EMERITUS

Dear MM Lee, I refer to your speech at the Tanjong Pagar National Day celebrations last night as reported by Straits Times on 16 Aug 2010. You said, as you often say, that a strong government underpinned Singapore's survival and progress over 45 years. Many third world nations like Myanmar, North Korea and Zimbabwe are helmed by strong men, strong government. Yet, their strong governments didn't result in progress like that of Singapore's over 45 years. The prevalence of strong governments helming poor countries suggests that a strong government is not what underpins a country's success. Using examples closer to home, both Malaysia and Indonesia have had similarly strong governments like ours over decades, yet both countries did not achieve the level of progress that we did. Strong government is not what distinguished us from Malaysia and Indonesia. You said moving forward, we continue to need exceptionally strong government with the ablest and toughest leaders to keep the economy growing and to create jobs. But Hong Kong has shown that it is not necessary to have a strong government to grow the economy or to create jobs. Taiwan and South Korea, the other two East Asian economic miracles, have also shown that even when a strong government isreplaced by one that is not as strong, the country doesn't simply collapse but continues to grow from strength to strength. You spoke of Singapore as the most improbable story over the last 45 years. It is a story you have been telling for the last 45 years but which you have never once proven. Singapore may not have had resources but it is strategically located at the shipping crossroads between the East and the West. That strategic location is as valuable as any resource. The 'hostility' of our neighbour lasted a mere two years until Suharto's rise to power in 1967. So it wasn't a 'hostility' that continued to plague us for 45 years. Finally, you said that our casinos helped the tourist industry grow by 30%. But the 30% growth is over the recession year last year. If we were to similarly compare our tourist arrivals in 2004 against those of the SARS year of 2003, we would similarly find a spectacular rebound in tourist numbers.   NG KOK LIM  Read More →

OPINION The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games is becoming an embarrassing farce for the PAP regime which has spent nearly $400 million dollars on it. Despite the mammoth efforts taken to publicize and promote the YOG, the response from ordinary Singaporeans has been most disappointing so far. [Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] The competitions on the first two days suffered from low attendances with so many empty seats galore that the camera crew had difficulties avoiding capturing them completely on screen. The number of volunteers far outnumbered that of the participants at YOG celebrations held in the HDB heartlands with the live bands at Marina Bay performing literally to rows of empty chairs. To compound matters, the YOG was hardly reported in the international papers which have largely focused on the ballooning costs and the general apathy displayed by Singaporeans at the event. While the state media has tried desperately hard to hype up the YOG with PAP leaders putting up a brave denial in front of the depressing response, the fact remains that no amount of money, publicity or astroturfing can generate genuine enthusiasm, affection and passion from Singaporeans. We have been challenged repeatedly by PAP trolls here to provide photos to substantiate our claims that there is little interest in the YOG from the citizenry. We now show you a series of photos taken by Leonard Soosay on Sunday, 15 August 2010 to set the record straight: You can view all the 59 photos on Leonard's Facebook here. A picture speaks a thousand words, let alone 59 pictures showing the level of interest in the YOG from ordinary Singaporeans. The TRUTH is - the YOG is a FLOP. Nobody cares a damn about it as reflected by the online poll conducted by Channel News Asia lately in which 88 percent of some 6,400 respondents indicated clearly that they are "not interested at all" in the YOG. Now, let us recap some of the most ridiculous public comments made by PAP leaders and YOG officials which are "quite DIVORCED from the reality" on the ground, to paraphrase the words of Law Minister Shanmugam. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: “It has been a challenge and great satisfaction for us to organise this first Games. I think it has struck a chord with our people.” Finance Minister  Tharman Shanmugaratnam: "The enthusiasm is very real and it’s infectious. It’s still early days but everybody who has been involved in making the YOG a special experience in Singapore has shown the world what Singapore can do on a scale like this." Community Development, Youth and Sportss Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: “The answer lies on the ground, what people do and how they feel. At this point of time, I am quite confident that Singaporeans are proud of this and want to show our best to the world." Singapore YOG Organizing Committee Chairman Ng Ser Miang: "just look at the faces of the children that are there, the sparkle in their eyes and the smile on their faces. Those are not things you can force. I don’t think anyone will be forced to come to watch the torch relay or the games. So I don’t think there is any coercion.” International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge: "I expect the Youth Olympics to overcome spiraling costs and the so-far subdued fan enthusiasm to evolve into one of the world's premier sporting events." Sorry, Mr Rogge, but the YOG is not going to become a premier sporting event overnight, not in Singapore at least. If you have bothered to read the comments posted by young Singaporeans in cyberspace which remains out of reach of the PAP regime's censors, you would have realized that not only are they not interested in the YOG, quite a number are cursing and swearing at it for messing up their lives. If there is some consolation for Mr Rogge, the YOG coincides with the "Hungry Ghost" festival of Singapore when the "Gates of Hell" will be opened, releasing the spirits of our ancestors to earth who will surely enjoy this $389 million dollar "GETAI" put up by the PAP regime for them: [Source: Bangles Ong Facebook] EDITORS’ NOTE: Has your life been turned upside down by the YOG? Please share your views with us. We assure you that your identity will be kept strictly CONFIDENTIAL. We will be your UNCENSORED VOICE. We will publish your letter in FULL with ZERO editing, moderating or censoring. You do not have to suffer in silence! You have the RIGHT to speak up as a citizen of this country. Remember: you are a CITIZEN of Singapore, not a SLAVE of the PAP regime. Our mailbox has been swarmed by letters from YOG volunteers for the last few days. Unless you specifically want us to publish your REAL NAME, we will use a pseudonym instead. Please understand that due to manpower constraints, we may not be able to publish your letters immediately and we will have to stagger them a few hours apart to ensure that they get maximum exposure. Please keep your feedback coming! Singapore for SINGAPOREANS! Your interests always come FIRST. Related articles: >> Singapore students invited to attend YOG event >> Dr Vivian “unapologetic” about bursting YOG budget >> PAP’s astroturfing to welcome YOG torch rally and Emperor Qianlong’s six trips to Jiangnan >> Ng Ser Miang: Singapore students not “forced” to attend YOG events >> Disaster at YOG opening ceremony >> 8 reasons why I am disappointed with YOG opening ceremony >> Netizens lampooned YOG opening ceremony >> No news of YOG opening ceremony in rest of the world >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve “DOG” food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament 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 →

A letter purportedly sent by a "YOG 2010 Coordinator" inviting students to attend a Track and Field Event this Saturday has been making its rounds in Singapore cyberspace, sparking a massive outrage among netizens peeved at the use of such lowly, distasteful and callous tactics by the increasingly unpopular PAP regime to coerce students to "support" its YOG: Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] As seen in the letter above, the students will not be provided with any refreshments at the event despite being "coerced" to attend and they are allowed to bring water bottles with selected logos only. The authencity of this letter has been verified by a netizen Lim Meng Yong whose son was one of the "lucky" recipients. "The affiliated Primary School next door is also 'volunteering' all these children of Dear LEEder Kim to support the YOG. My son is going on 23rd Aug, Bishan Stadium. Coming back to school at 10.30pm. NOW!!! I've to plan my time to fetch my son! .....I don't want to dwell too much on this matter......vulgarities are about to be gushing out of my mouth," he wrote in exasperation. [Source: Vote PAP out Facebook] Despite the inordinate amount of resources poured in by the PAP regime to publicize the inaugural YOG including spending a shocking $8.9 million dollars to put up giant billboards and banners all over the island, the response from ordinary Singaporeans has been most disappointing, prompting IOC President Jacques Rogge to express concerns about the "subdued" enthusiasm displayed so far. In an online poll conducted by Channel News Asia a week ago, 88 percent of some 6,400 respondents said they are not "interested at all" in the YOG. PAP leaders have blatantly refused to acknowledge the reality on the ground with Finance Minister Tharman claiming that the "enthusiasm" for the YOG has been very "real" and "infectious". When asked by the Brunei Times about the lukewarm response from Singaporeans, the PAP minister in charge of YOG Dr Vivian Balakrishnan replied: “The answer lies on the ground, what people do and how they feel. At this point of time, I am quite confident that Singaporeans are proud of this and want to show our best to the world,” he boasted rather unashamedly. The Chairman of Singapore YOG Committee Ng Ser Miang denied online reports that Singapore students were being forced to support the YOG in an interview with Associated Press yesterday: “There will be stories flying around…..But just look at the faces of the children that are there, the sparkle in their eyes and the smile on their faces. Those are not things you can force. I don’t think anyone will be forced to come to watch the torch relay or the games. So I don’t think there is any coercion.” If Singaporeans are indeed so "proud" of YOG, why must the YOG committee "arrow" the students to attend the events? They should be rushing to buy the tickets which must have been sold out by now. It is not known if who is paying the tickets on behalf of the students. According to earlier reports, the Ministry of Education has kindly "purchased" 80,000 out of the 100,000 YOG tickets on sale in the open market, courtesy of Singapore taxpayers. One thing for sure, Bishan Stadium will be packed with students this Saturday and the Singapore media will have a field day "astrotufing" to proclaim what a "success" the YOG is from the "huge" number of spectators, most of whom have been "invited" or rather "arrowed' by their schools to attend the event, a propaganda tactic often employed by North Korea's state media, the KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) to generate fake grassroots support for Kim Jong Il's despotic regime.     EDITORS’ NOTE: Has your life been turned upside down by the YOG? Please share your views with us. We assure you that your identity will be kept strictly CONFIDENTIAL. We will be your UNCENSORED VOICE. We will publish your letter in FULL with ZERO editing, moderating or censoring. You do not have to suffer in silence! You have the RIGHT to speak up as a citizen of this country. Remember: you are a CITIZEN of Singapore, not a SLAVE of the PAP regime. Our mailbox has been swarmed by letters from YOG volunteers for the last few days. Unless you specifically want us to publish your REAL NAME, we will use a pseudonym instead. Please understand that due to manpower constraints, we may not be able to publish your letters immediately and we will have to stagger them a few hours apart to ensure that they get maximum exposure. Please keep your feedback coming! Singapore for SINGAPOREANS! Your interests always come FIRST. Related articles: >> Dr Vivian "unapologetic" about bursting YOG budget >> PAP's astroturfing to welcome YOG torch rally and Emperor Qianlong's six trips to Jiangnan >> Ng Ser Miang: Singapore students not "forced" to attend YOG events >> Disaster at YOG opening ceremony >> 8 reasons why I am disappointed with YOG opening ceremony >> Netizens lampooned YOG opening ceremony >> No news of YOG opening ceremony in rest of the world >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve “DOG” food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament 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 →