TR EMERITUS

People have always wondered why is it seems easier for foreigners to get work visas or permits nowadays. The possible reason could be the trade agreements our leaders so eagerly signed on, to increase Singapore's Growth Domestic Product (which their bonuses and salary increments are tied to) without a thought for the negative social consequences. The China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement In reference to China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA) 23 October 2008: http://www.fta.gov.sg/fta_ceca.asp?hl=6 "The market access obligation means that a country cannot impose additional market access restrictions for these sectors, both quantitative and qualitative. For instance, restrictions cannot be imposed on: i) the number of service suppliers, service operations or persons employed in a particular service sector; ii) the value of services; or iii) the legal structure used." Due to the currency exchange, majority of Singaporeans will not head to China just to work in their service industry unless they are willing to uproot and live in China with expatriate terms However, the people of China will definitely want to come to Singapore to work in our service industry to accumulate enough wealth to be able to live comfortably in China. Moreover, they don't even have to be excessively qualified to work in the service industry in Singapore. Based on the agreement, restrictions cannot be imposed on the number of foreigners a company can employ even if they are not qualified. Close to 70% of the world’s products are made or contracted to be made in China. So basically, we are already buying and importing made-in-China goods long before the agreement. Singapore does not have anything that China would need in terms of goods and services. But China (as in India), do have low quality job opportunities. So, once again we have traded our job market in exchange for a country to open up their markets for us mostly for the banking industry and for investments for our SWF. As our local banks and SWF grow, so does our GDP. However, Singaporeans, will be displaced by cheaper foreign workers from China in the service industries such as Food & Beverages, Retail and Hotel/Tourism. In other words, better economy in Singapore = more unemployment for Singaporeans. Foreign workers are given free training to improve their communication and skill sets, while Singaporeans will have to pay (with subsidies depending on the courses) for the same training. Why do our country insists on acquiring so many foreign workers knowing plain well that they will displace our own local workers? And why could a company employ so many foreign workers? Hint, “restrictions cannot be imposed on persons employed in a particular service sector” The India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement In reference to India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) 29 June 2005: http://www.fta.gov.sg/fta_ceca.asp?hl=6 "Professional bodies in the accounting and auditing, architecture, medical (doctors), dental and nursing services in both countries will negotiate agreements, within a year of the signing of CECA, recognising each other's education and professional qualification. This means that upon the completion of these mutual recognition agreements, India and Singapore professionals from these five professions could be able to practice in Singapore and India respectively." "Professional employed in 127 specific occupations will be allowed entry and stay for up to 1 year or the durations of contract, whichever is less." "Intra-corporate transferees (i.e. managers, executives and specialists within organisations) will be permitted to stay and work in India and Singapore for an initial period of up to 2 years or the period of the contract, whichever is less. The period of stay may be extended for period of up to 3 years at a time for a total term not exceeding 8 years." "Singapore companies will have certainty when they choose to deploy Singapore staff to help manage their Indian operations. Skilled and qualified professionals and service suppliers from Singapore would also gain easier access to the vast Indian market. Similarly, this would also apply to Indian companies when they deploy Indian staff to manage their operations in Singapore" The trade agreement is supposed to be beneficial for both countries where, professionals from India and Singapore can work in each other’s country. There is also freer movement of goods and services with lesser red tape. And if you noticed, the agreement does not impose restrictions on the number of professionals a company can employ from either country. What is most disconcerting, India tends to import our products, services and investments mostly from the banking industry and for our Foreign Sovereign Funds (SWF) and NOT our labour, while we import their labour but NOT their products and services - have anyone seen a flood of made-in-India products in our major department stores?. This forms a skewed economic picture, whereby, our GDP will grow because of increased trade, but at the same time, Singaporean professionals will be displaced by professionals from India. In other words, better economy in Singapore = more unemployment for Singaporeans. Guess who signed the agreement that seems to disregard our well-being? Hint, he is the son of an old man who claims he can rise from the dead. And it may not be over based on the following article reported on the 18th April 2010: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5823303.cms "India will seek greater access for its professionals in Singapore in areas such as IT, health, education and finance in the upcoming review of the bilateral agreement between the two countries. The second review of the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement or CECA that was rolled out in 2005 will begin early next month. “Although we managed to get access for some of our professionals in Singapore as part of the CECA, we will try to get more in the review,” a commerce ministry official said. Commerce department is holding consultations with the industry and other ministries to finalise how much more it could offer Singapore in exchange for greater access in services.” Currently, we already have PMETs (people categorized as Professionals, Managers, Engineers and Technicians) losing their jobs to foreign workers because companies rather employ based on cost factor than acquiring qualified skilled and productive workers. If, the report from the above article is true, we may see more of our local PMETs lose their jobs in the IT, health, education and finance industries in the near future. Indian leaders should not be blamed here. For all its worth, they signed the agreement because it benefits their workforce greatly since the number of quality job opportunities in India is low. Leaders with great foresight can see a good deal which however, seems to be sorely lacking in our own leaders. Singapore will invest Billions of Dollars to create more jobs - for India and China As, mentioned before, China, India and Singapore will be reviewing their FTA agreements. In the earlier FTA agreement, Singapore may have traded its job market for its GLCs and SWF to enter China’s and India’s market. Since the earlier agreement stated, “no restrictions should be imposed” in terms of movement of goods, services, labour and companies. Our GLCs and SWF have been heavily investing in Chinese and Indian Companies and setting up shops in China and India, while the citizens of China and India have been coming to Singapore in search of jobs but not vice versa. However, in the coming FTA review, Singapore has nothing much left to offer to India and China, as Singapore’s job market is reaching its saturation point, if recent rhetorical reports are to be believed. So with a tightening job market what else can Singapore offer to ensure long term access to China’s and India’s markets? Ingeniously, Singapore will create more jobs in China and India, instead of creating more jobs in Singapore. China Barring any food scares like the bird or swine flu, generally, Singapore’s external food sources are stable. However, costs can fluctuate depending on indirect global forces such as Oil prices or Natural disasters. In fact, Singapore is one of the top waste producers in terms of food. (ref: http://foodwasterepublic.com/category/blog/2010/03/introduction-dirty-secrets-of-a-food-paradise) So, it shows that Singapore do not have much of an issue in importing food. Moreover, Singapore has invested much in sustainable technology for water, aquaculture and agriculture to reduce Singapore’s dependency on food and water imports. This is based on the assumption to ensure price stability and security. So it boggles the mind, the need to invest billions for a huge farm project in China (ref: Straits Times, 22 May 2010 or http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2010/05/singapore-eyes-huge-china-farm-project.html) The China Jilin (Singapore) Modern Agricultural Food Zone will take 9 months to study and 15 years to build completely and is projected to cost $22.7 Billion. AVA's chief executive Tan Poh Hong comment it will benefit Singapore by strengthening the resilience of its food supply hold no water, as it was let slipped, “for finding a ready market for its produce, Jilin is close to some of Asia's most densely populated cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Dalian and Tianjin”. There is no mention if jobs will be open in the farm project for Singaporeans. Admittedly, Singaporeans may not want to work as farmers, but the project would need managers, engineers, or top-tier vacancies which our PMETs have the skills and qualifications to do. But it can be assured jobs will be aplenty for the citizens of China in the farm project. India Ever since the CECA was signed in 2005, Singapore’s GLCs and SWFs have been snapping up Indian companies with almost no impunity. (ref: http://www.pureportals.com/Default.aspx?alias=www.pureportals.com/glcwatch) However, if recent reports are to be believed, India is using the opportunity during the FTA review, to slap a 10% cap in joint holdings with Indian companies. (ref: http://in.biz.yahoo.com/100607/50/bavqn4.html) This contravenes the earlier FTA agreement. Succinctly, India has asked Singapore to invest $2 Billion dollars in infrastructure projects. (ref: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703302604575294120593747804.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines) India is probably taking a leaf from China, with recent reports that Singapore will be investing Billions in the farm project in China. (As FIFA must have taken a leaf from Singtel’s massive bid for the EPL by upping their bidding price for the World Cup coverage) We should not be surprised if the 10% cap may magically disappear if Singapore approved India’s request for a ‘small’ donation to its road-building projects. As Mr David Cohen, director of Asian Economic Forecasting at Action Economics, says, “India's economic growth is expected to surpass every other economy except China, and that will generate substantial infrastructure need. That should make it an attractive investment opportunity for Temasek". Again, there is no mention if jobs will be open in this project for Singaporeans. But it can be assured jobs will be aplenty for the citizens of India in the infrastructure projects. In summary, in their pursuit for higher GDP (which is tied to the ruling elites’ salary and bonuses), massive amounts of money are pumped into projects in foreign soil by its GLCs and SWF while its own domestic industries are stagnant or floundering. Shouldn’t the authorities spend the billions here in Singapore? To ensure that its citizens have access to quality jobs and jobs security? So why is it being diverted away that does not seem to benefit its own citizens, when the initial capital of the GLCs and SWF was from its citizens own money in the form of taxes?   A Singaporean Patriot  Read More →

作者:冀居·谢 律政部长兼内政部第二部长尚穆根说，本地有数以千计以盈利为目标、分红给股东的私人机构，若要政府用纳税人的钱去维持这些公司的保安，既不可能也不合理。 那好了，民防部队每年都在地下地铁站举行防空壕演戏、镇暴部队服役人员的经常性巡逻，我也看过穿上SBO扛着机枪的武装巡逻，这些政府都有向地铁公司，或者地 铁公司向政府征收费用吗？如果都没有的话，或者只收象征式的费用，那么双方的交情匪浅，政府是不是可以扛起那一部分的责任，什么叫做不可能也不合理？ 既然是政府宪报（gazetted）这些地点为重要设施（key installations），那么肯定跟国民的生命财产有关，您就谈谈这部分嘛。再来，裕廊岛上90多家化工工厂，政府利用国民服役人员的廉价津贴来保 护这个岛，有跟它们收过费用吗？那肯定是它们愿意前来的先决条件，是个免费大奉送。 还有新电信的卫星转播站，保护得如飞弹基地似的，有收钱吗？新电信一年赚多少钱，你跟我讲？ 如果说以盈利为目标的私人机构都得自己顾自己，政府不能用纳税人的钱去维持这些公司的保安，那么纳税人付给公共交通保安委员会和国家安全统筹部高官的天价薪水不也白花了吗？ 退一万步来讲，黄根成的内政部不是一个以盈利目标的私人机构，照样儿让马士沙拉末利用建筑保安的漏洞而尿遁，有人头落地吗？各级长官不也“钱多事少离家近，位高权重责任轻，睡觉睡到自然醒，数钱数到手抽筋。” 长官，您吠的哪棵树？ 来源：大马论坛  Read More →

作者:费言 关于地铁总站保安疏忽，政府是否有责任的问题，我们律政部长，兼内政部第二部长尚穆根这么解释说： “认为保安只是政府的责任，是错误的想法，正如副总理兼内政部长黄根成所说的，这件事人人有责，政府多次强调，这需要政府、私人企业与民间一起合作，因此，企业必须严肃看待设施的保安问题。” 他的这番话，准确应证了淡马锡论坛上的一句话： 【最可耻的应该还算是政府，所有的责任都撇得清清楚楚，把烂摊子丢回给地铁公司去收拾。】 这位律政部长兼资深律师，还不忘耍弄他专业律师搬弄逻辑的高招，兵分两路分化群众焦点,他语重心长地说：SMRT是挂牌上市公司，股东每年都分了大量利润红利，却妄想让新加坡320万人民来承担它的保安费用？（如此说起来，他们还有保护纳税人钱财不被滥用的功劳呢？） 这个律师的嘴巴够厉害吧？这种说法，够奸猾了吧？ 还有更奸猾的论调：“另一些人提出质疑，则另有政治动机！” 把质疑的声音通通归纳为政治阴谋，网络鸟话，他就可以不必听到太多的鸟话，耳根清净，回家安心去睡觉了！ 还是我们早报前资深PAP议员吴俊刚老头勇于大义灭亲，敢讲公道真话。他在新文章中这么说： 【接下来相信国人也不想再听到什么“叫醒电话”（wake-up call，意为警钟）了。最近，我们一再的听到“叫醒电话”，SMRT樟宜车厂里的地铁列车被涂鸦客潜入而懵然不知，有议员说那是“叫醒电话”，于是 SMRT和公共交通保安委员会表示将进行全面检讨；这回，地下排水道阻塞演变成水患，也有议员说是个“叫醒电话”，于是，雅国部长也表示将全面检查所有排 水道。难道大家都睡着了？电话已连响了两轮，相信大家都该醒了。 】 老吴说得没错，从地铁总站被闲人侵入涂鸦事件看来，我们的内政部或者所谓的国土安全部，并没有从拐马逃跑的噩梦中被惊醒，尚穆根指天画地，把一切责任推得干干净净的狡辩，也明显是一种推卸责任的“吉宁仔讲古”托词。 从 2004年开始，政府已经成立了一个所谓的公共交通保安委员会，负责包括设施保安、信息科技、危机管理和公众警觉教育等在内的指导工作，很显然地，政府进 行这样的保安编制，证明他们涉入很深，也似乎要全盘负起协调和管理公共交通安全的工作。他们在2007年还主办过一个工作坊，目的据说是要定期“审议新加 坡陆路交通所面对的安全问题，并且探讨可行的技术方案来应对所有可能的威胁。” 既然涉入如此之深，但是这个所谓的“公共交通保安委员会”，这些年来都干过什么好事呢？他们对地铁总站这么重要的公共交通设施，有做过什么保安的指示和指导，以及日常工作检查和检讨吗？ 如果他们有这么做，而SMRT没有认真执行，哪为什么不摆出事实，提出证据来，让公众和政府能透明地对SMRT进行严肃的责任追究？ 如果他们什么都没有做，这个所谓的公共交通保安委员会是不是应该被谴责？或者应该即刻被解散重新组织，这些在里面领干薪天天睡觉的人，是不是应该马上被滚 蛋，还必须被追究失职责任？内政部们负责这个委员会的官员，是不是应该站出来解释发生了什么问题？失职的人是不是应该被滚蛋和追究责任？ 吴老头的话，其实只讲对了一半。尽管已经拿那么高的薪水，新加坡的许多官员和部长们的确都在睡觉。叫醒电话已经响了很多次，已经震天响了很久很久，但40年来骄傲跋扈地趟在功劳簿上的PAP部长们，就是那么的睡意怏然，似乎一点觉醒的意思都没有。 公共交通要塞的地铁总站里面，防卫保安摆的竟是“金玉其外，败絮其中”的空城计。铁一般的事实摆在人们眼前，在头号恐怖分子拐马从保安森严的监牢里逃走之后，那次惊人的wake-up call，显然的，并没有把我们黄根成部长和他的内政群英们叫醒。 为了在新加坡还没有被恐怖分子不幸炸毁之前，为了不再让乌节路成为另一个东方的威尼斯城，为了让我们喜欢睡觉的部长们更快地觉醒，亲爱的新加坡选民们，是时候了。 请善用你们手中的选票，不多也不少，准确地传达你们的信息，准时地给他们wake-up call，让他们认真地丢掉几个集选区或单选区，就如大马人民发动308政治海啸那样，让他们如在半夜听到惊雷那样，很快就会从梦中惊醒，从此不再讲漫天的大话，不再乱吹牛皮，不再讲推卸责任的鸟话，不再讲高薪引才的鬼话，从此老老实实，勤勤恳恳地为新加坡做好他们的工作。 来源：大马论坛  Read More →