TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent Following Dr Chee's letter to the Straits Times forum rebutting Mrs Chiam's claim that he had ousted opposition leader Chiam See Tong from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) 17 years ago, a Singaporean by the name of Patrick Tan has responded by rapping him again for his intent to introduce Western-styled democracy into Singapore. His letter begins: "I REFER to the report, 'Chiam's SDP exit: Wife speaks up' (March 29), and Dr Chee Soon Juan's response last Friday, 'No one forced Chiam out: SDP chief'. I do not know either of them personally, nor have I voted for them. But I regard Mr Chiam highly as an opposition MP - he has contributed in no insignificant way to Singapore politics. Dr Chee, however, seems more intent on introducing a confrontational Western-style democracy in Singapore. While that model may work in some countries, it does not mean it is the best and only model for us." Mr Tan then went into a tirade against the "bipartisan politics" seen in other modern democracies like United States and Thailand. He opined that such a "confrontational approach" is not suitable for Singapore: "Singapore is a young country with a multiracial population. While we have enjoyed peace for many years now, our society remains fragile. Harmony is key to our survival and our future. In this scenario, political contests by rival parties based on a confrontational approach are not the best model." By publishing his letter, is the Straits Times endorsing Mr Tan's views as well? In fact, the PAP and the state media have been perpetuating the erroneous view for ages that "confrontational" politics is detrimental to Singapore. Mr Tan appears to be one of the many Singaporeans who have been unwittingly brainwashed by the state media over the years. There is no such thing as "confrontational" or "western-styled" democracy. Democracy simply means a model of governance based on a certain set of criteria such as multi-party politics, rule of law, accountability and transparency as well as an institutionalized system of checks and balances. The political turmoil that Thailand is currently embroiled in is not caused by "confrontational" democracy, but by inherent weaknesses in its system which enables an entrenched elite to subvert the will of the people and seize power in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner. Mr Tan added that "it does not matter if we have a full Western-style democracy, partial demo-cracy or socialism that works the Singapore way. What is important is that we continue to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress based on justice and equality." Singapore is not a democracy - it is a pseudo-fascist totalitarian state with all its institutions controlled by a single party or rather a single clique within the party with no checks or balances whatsoever. Such a system may appear to be stable on the whole so long there is a strongman to hold the pieces together, but once he is gone, the rot will begin from within and cracks will appear eventually. The PAP is currently given a blank cheque to run the nation and look how it screws up the lives of ordinary Singaporeans with its catastrophic immigration and labor policies - has it really achieved happiness, prosperity and progress based on justice and equality for us? Under PAP rule, only a small group of people including PAP ministers have achieved happiness, prosperity and progress. The rest of us are simply struggling to get by with life. As for justice and equality, justice only stands on the side of those who are well-connected and some people are more equal than others especially if there are from the PAP. This is the reality on the ground. Without confronting the PAP heads on, will Singaporeans be able to reclaim their own country ever again?  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent The Straits Times put up an article with the most misleading title that "90% of grads found jobs within 6 months", but conveniently left the fact the average wages of fresh graduates are lower than in 2008 at the bottom of the article. According to the MOE's Graduate Employment Survey, nine out of ten graduates from the three local varsities found a job within six months of graduation. What was not mentioned is the number of graduates who are on contract jobs. According to a Straits Times article a few weeks ago, one in three polytechnic and university graduate are on contract jobs. The average wages last year were also lower than that in 2008. For example, in 2008, SMU economics graduates with cum laude and higher qualifications landed average monthly salaries of $4,164. The same group last year started at an average of just $3,606. With the increase in cost of living, especially that of public housing within the same period of time, it is pretty obvious that fresh graduates are not having an easy time contrary to the rosy picture painted by the article. The result corroborates an earlier release by the Manpower Ministry which revealed that the real earnings of Singaporeans have declined by 3.2 percent in 2009. Again, the figures are misleading because it is skewed by extreme values towards the upper end. A more accurate figure to use should be median salaries which the Straits Times did not report. The Straits Times attributed the lower wages to the economic gloom last year, but the economy was already improving by the second quarter with companies hiring again. A likely cause is the uncontrolled influx of foreign workers who are allowed to compete directly with Singapore graduates for limited jobs which can otherwise be taken up by them. Some companies like Keppel Corp and Courts even put up job advertisements in Malaysian papers to recruit Malaysians specifically. Due to the PAP's liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up more than a third of Singapore's workforce. The figure will go up to 44% if PRs are included. The easy availability of cheap foreign labor is a key reason behind the falling wages of Singaporeans, according to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial. Unfortunately with the mainstream media firmly controlled by the PAP, such negative news are censored and Singaporeans remain ignorant of the reality on the ground.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so and help us exceed the number of fans on the official YPAP Facebook page.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent In yet another sign that the PAP's disastrous immigration policy has been peeving off many Singaporeans and that its leaders remain oblivious to its negative impact on the people, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean was asked point-blank by a NUS student on the reason behind being so many foreigners in Singapore lately during a NUS forum yesterday. To the dismay of the audience, instead of addressing the issue proper, Mr Teo dismissed it with the customary PAP rhetoric that Singapore has always kept a "tight lid" on immigration and that foreigners are increasing in numbers because "there are many more people who want to live and work here." It appears that Mr Teo is ignorant of a Gallup poll done last year which revealed that the top three emigration destination for college students in China are United States, France and South Korea. Singapore was not even featured in the top five. The foreigners are increasing in numbers not because they are flocking to Singapore but because the PAP is desperately mass importing them over. Unlike other countries like Australia and Canada, immigrants do not have to pass a compulsory International English Test to work here with the end result that Singapore has been swarmed by large number of non-English speaking PRC nationals in recent years. Mr Teo added that "those with criminal records or who cannot support themselves are kept out, while those who are given work passes can work here only for a limited period, and hold jobs that Singaporeans may eschew." Perhaps Mr Teo is not aware of the the Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) allows foreigners who are i) holders of selected university qualifications, or ii) current or former holders of selected skilled migrant visas to stay in Singapore for up to one year to facilitate their job search in Singapore.  These foreigners are competing directly with Singaporeans for jobs which can otherwise be taken up by them. According to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, the relentless influx of foreign workers has depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living and led to an overall decline in the standards of living. Mr Teo said he was confident the Government could maintain immigration controls 'at the correct settings'. Based on his appalling answer above, how can he expect Singaporeans to have any confidence in the PAP? To put it bluntly: the PAP has screwed up its immigration policies big time by bringing in too many foreigners within too short a period of time such that not only are we experiencing many problems with limited infrastructure but having difficulties in integrating all of them as well. Instead of admitting its mistake and have a proper debate on immigration issues as Australia is doing now, the PAP chose to splurge $10 million dollars of taxpayers' monies to cover up for its gross incompetence, ineptitude and impotence. Unless Singaporeans vote out the PAP in the next general election, they will surely end up as second class minorities in their own country of birth at the rate the PAP is mass importing immigrants to perpetuate its political hegemony forever at the expense of true-bred Singaporeans.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans.   The UBS Series: >> Part 1: Singapore has lowest wages and domestic purchasing power among Asian Tigers >> Part 2: Moving towards a Russian standard of living >> Part 3: Why Singaporeans are paupers in a first world economy   Related articles: >> Why Singaporeans' fear of new immigrants is rational >> Lim Hwee Hua: Avoid irrational fears of immigrants >> SM Goh: Immigrants are still welcomed in Singapore >> Singaporean working in China lashed out at grouses of Singapore PRs >> Eight reasons why foreign workers will be preferred over local ones >> Declining wages of Singaporeans and the continued denial by PAP leaders >> Halimah Yacob refutes UBS study findings >> Halimah Yacob: Productivity drive will be derailed if foreign worker challenge not addressed  >> Exposing the six major flaws in the PAP’s immigration policies >> Wong Kan Seng promises to tighten immigration policies >> SM Goh: Foreign workers numbers may still rise >> Malaysian car mechanic applying for Singapore citizenship >> PAP launches Singapore Citizenship Journey to help new citizens integrate >> Compulsory for new citizens to attend “sharing sessions” with grassroots leaders >> Wong Kan Seng urged Singaporeans to be more tolerant of foreign workers >> Tharman: Foreign workers increase income of low-income families >> Sylvia Lim: Pace and influx of foreigners over last few years is wrong >> Amy Khor urges Singaporeans to welcome foreigners >> PAP MP wants more money to be spent to make new citizens feel welcomed in Singapore >> Shanmugam: Foreigners generate jobs for Singaporeans >> Vivian happy there are 4,500 new citizens serving as grassroots leaders >> Cosmetic changes made to immigration policy >> SM Goh: New immigrants needed to make up population shortfall >> PAP ministers hailed contributions of foreigners >> SM Goh expressed support for Zhang Yuanyuan >> State media: citizens have more rights over PRs >> Zhang Yuanyuan got her Singapore PR in only 2 months >> Official reply from government on the Zhang Yuanyuan fiasco >> Singapore PRC PR proclaimed loyalty to China publicly >> PRC resident hung China flag to celebrate its National Day >> PRC student in Singapore wants more scholarships for foreigners >> PRC prostitutes solicit for customers on Singapore’s cyberspace >> ERA: 40 per cent of resale flats buyers are PRs    Read More →