TR EMERITUS

The PAP has launched a "National Well-Wishing Campaign" to garner 500,000 well wishes from Singaporeans for the Singapore athletes participating in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG). It was launched yesterday by PAP MP Halimah Yaacob at the "Health and You Exhibition 2010" at Suntec City. Singaporeans can pen their wishes at the exhibition over the weekend. They can also visit 20 road shows or go online to send their well wishes. It is not known how much public monies the PAP has splurged on the publicity for YOG including huge display banners which have sprouted up across the island. Despite the massive promotion and media frenzy over it, the response from Singaporeans has been lukewarm so far, prompting concerns from PAP Minister of Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who urged Singaporeans to “rally” behind the YOG: “We need every Singaporean to understand that this is not just about sports or young people – it’s for all Singaporeans…..’All the effort that we invest in this will be wasted if every Singaporean doesn’t feel that this is a once-in-a-lifetime (event), that the Olympic flame is going to come to Singapore in such a close way and isn’t touched by it or affected by the Olympic spirit one way or another,” he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times in June. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong chipped in later exhorting Singaporeans to do their “part” to make the Games a success by “making the athletes feel welcome and giving them a memorable experience.” If the YOG goes well as planned, the PAP will surely claim credit for it and call for a snap election weeks later on the back of the "feel-good" factor among citizens. Should it become a flop, Singaporeans can be sure that they will be blamed again.     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 →

PAP Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam aims to increase the wages of the average Singapore worker to $3,100 in ten years' time from the present low level of $2,400. While the cost of living, especially that of public housing has ballooned in recent years, the median wages of Singapore workers have stagnated. The starting pay for a fresh engineer graduate in 2004 is between $2,600 - $2,800 while A first year medical officer can expect a monthly salary of $3,500 in 2004. It remains the same or even less today. Howeever, Mr Tharman is optimistic that the target is achievable if  Singapore have workers with top quality skills. "It's a bit of a puzzle as to why despite a good education system, good schools system and one of the better rated university system in the world, we are not achieving as much with the workforce in terms of skills, expertise and therefore productivity - there is a gap," he was quoted as saying in Channel News Asia. Singapore has one of the lowest wages and labor productivity among developed nations, thanks to the PAP's pro-foreigner and liberal immigrations policies which have seen the country being swarmed by foreign workers and immigrants in recent years. According to a Wall Street Journal report in January, the relentless influx of foreign workers has depressed the median wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living, decreased labor productivity and led to an overall decline in the standards of living. Singapore was ranked a miserable 53th position as the most liveable city in the world by the Economist Unit behind the likes of Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria. Though it is the richest country in Asia in terms of GDP per capita after Japan, it has the highest income gap as well (after Hong Kong) among third world countries like Russia, Ghana and Rwanda. While the median salaries of Singaporeans have stagnated, that of PAP ministers and MPs have sky-rocketed and is likely to continue increasing in the next years.   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 →

'In a rare statement, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has encouraged Singaporeans to offer the PAP "constructive criticisms" publicly. "Singaporeans should continue to give feedback, and constructive criticisms will be accepted and acted on," he was quoted as saying in Channel News Asia. SM Goh was speaking to reporters at the Shanghai World EXPO in reference to the widespread criticisms received by the Singapore Pavilion, prompting the organizers to make some last-minute changes. Though he has stepped down as Prime Minister of Singapore in 2003, Goh still "tours" the world frequently in his position as Senior Minister. He did not elaborate more on what he meant by "constructive criticisms". Based on his past track record, any criticisms of the PAP is considered as "destructive". In 1994, famous Singapore writer Catherine Lim penned two critical commentaries in the Straits Times insinuating that Goh was not really in charge as Prime Minister of Singapore. The latter had taken over the position from PAP strongman and founder Lee Kuan Yew in 1991. After the publication of the second piece, Goh's press secretary challenged Catherine Lim to "enter politics" to take "responsibility" for her views. At a PAP event, Goh made it clear that Lim had "gone beyond the pale" in her criticisms of his leadership. "When my authority is being commented on or undermined by wrong observations, I have to correct them, or the view will prevail that I am indeed not in charge of Singapore," he said. [Source: Men in White, page 479] Catherine Lim later said she was "traumatized" by Goh's reaction and was worried that she might be arrested by the police for her comments. Goh's latest exhortation to Singaporeans to offer "feedback" appeared to contradict that made by his colleague PAP Minister without portfolio Lim Swee Say in Parliament a few months ago. Then, when criticized by an opposition MP, Lim shot back immediately: "We (PAP) are DEAF to all criticisms."   EDITORS' NOTE: Please offer your "constructive criticisms" to the PAP here at your own peril. Remember, it must be "constructive" according to the PAP's strict guidelines. "Destructive" criticisms of any sort will not be entertained and may be construed as "defamation" (criminal or otherwise) in the eyes of the unique PAP law. When unsure of what to say, the golden rule is to "shut up and sit down"     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 →