TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent It was an embarrassing day for the PAP's much vaunted Integrated Resort as the Universal Studios Singapore theme park's main attraction has to be shut down indefinitely due to a technical glitch found in the Battlestar Galactica roller-coaster ride during an inspection yesterday. The Universal Studios theme park, touted as the only one in Southeast Asia is located within the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) IR which was opened only a month ago. The state media has been actively promoting the theme park after it opened amidst much fanfare barely a week ago. On 19 March 2010, Reuters reported that the Singapore Universal Studios was opened with a "lavish ceremony aimed at attracting luck, and repeat business." "Doors were flung open to the public at precisely 08:28 a.m. after 18 Chinese lions blazed through the entrance at 08:08 a.m. The number 8 is considered by many in mostly ethnic Chinese Singapore as auspicious. Actresses dressed up like Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop paraded with the lion-dancing troupe along Hollywood Boulevard, one of the seven themed zones in the 20-hectare park that aims to attract 4.5 million visitors in its first year," it added. [Source: Reuters, 19 March 2010] “We have ambitions that this would be the No. 1 destination in Asia and also Europe as far as theme parks are concerned,” Genting Group chairman Lim Kok Thay was quoted as saying. In a statement released to the press yesterday, RWS said that it had decided to shut down the ride to "reaffirm its commitment to employee and guest safety." Separately, the Singapore police issued a statement that the "ride's licence has been suspended with immediate effect." RWS has come under fire even before it was opened when sceptical netizens challenged its management repeatedly to reveal the exact number of Singapore citizens employed on its payroll. For some strange reasons, both RWS and the PAP have patently refused to do so except a vague statement that "more than 70 percent" of RWS staff are Singapore PRs and citizens and that RWS remains "committed" to employing Singapore citizens. Since its opening, visitors have confirmed that most of its casino staff are non-Singaporeans. There were also complaints that only half the casino's gambling tables were available and the place was flooded with foreign workers especially on the weekends making it difficult for punters to place their bets. With the second casino run by Marina Bay Sands scheduled to open next month, it will be a tough call for both IRs to generate a profit at least in the first year of their operation given the limited size of the Singapore market.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so as well.   Related articles: >> Universal Studios Singapore courts 8 for lucky launch >> Freelance prostitutes spotted at RWS Sentosa >> Call on RWS to reveal exact number of Singapore citizens on its payroll    Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent The prices of resale private homes have shot through the roof this year, supported by sky-rocketing HDB flat prices. According to a Straits Times report today, the "average prices for non-landed private resale homes have surpassed the 2007 peak by 6 per cent while landed home prices are 15.6 per cent ahead." Experts claimed that "rising prices in the HDB market - and high launch values for new homes - are helping to push buyers into private resale homes." A research conducted by real estate agency Savills showed that private resale home prices have exceeded the 1996 peak and have reached a record high level in 2010. "HDB resale prices are on the rise and prices of new launches are quite high, so private resale homes have become a popular alternative for buyers," the Straits Times quoted Ms Christine Sun, the firm's senior manager for research and consultancy as saying. The average mass market prices were at $662 per sq ft (psf) and mid-tier homes at $886 psf in the first two months of this year, which are up by almost 20 percent compared to prices in 2007. The prices of resale HDB flats grew by 8.2 percent in 2009 with median Cash-over-Valuation or COVs doubling from $12,000 to $24,000 in the last quarter alone. As prices of public housing increase, the prices of private housing will surely follow suit. The predicament of Singaporeans today is caused largely by poor planning and lack of foresight on the part of HDB, the sole provider of public housing in Singapore. The ruling party had made known its ambitious plan to increase Singapore’s population to 6.5 million via immigration as early as 2005. However, only slightly more than 11,000 new flats were built between the years 2006 – 2008 when there were over 90,000 PRs and 20,000 new citizens alone in 2008:   [Source: HDB Financial Report 2008/2009] Below is a graph illustrating how the rise in the prices of resale flats coincides with the rise in the number of foreigners in Singapore between the years 2000 and 2008, courtesy of Kojakbt, the moderator of 3in1kopitiam: Due to the ruling party’s liberal immigration policy, foreigners now made up 36 per cent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 per cent in 1990. Foreigners also make up some 6o to 70 percent of the buyers of private homes in Singapore, thereby popping the prices up. Singapore's economy is overly dependent on the global economy. It was the first Asian country to enter into a recession in 2008 during the global financial crisis. In the event of another similar crisis leading to the exodus of foreigners from the local property market, it will crash precipitating a burst in the public housing bubble which has been building up for quite some time. The state media has been feverishly whipping up market sentiments by painting a rosy picture of the property market. For example, the same article by Joyce Teo claimed: "The soaring prices are part of a larger picture that depicts the entire real estate sector roaring along in top gear." Basic economics tell us that all markets move in cycles - there will always be ups and downs. When the Singapore property market finallycomes down, it will crash in "top gear" as well.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so as well.   Related articles: >> Grace Fu: PRs are helpful to HDB flat owners who sell their flats >> HDB launches “traveling exhibition” to trumpet its achievements in the heartlands >> PAP to upgrade 12,000 HDB households ahead of next election >> Mah Bow Tan: We do not want flat prices to go down >> Prices of resale flats to rise further as PR quota reached >> Taiwanese PR offers $50k COV for resale flat >> Mah Bow Tan: PRs have minimal impact on resale flat prices >> No empirical evidence to suggest that public housing is affordable in Singapore >> When will Singapore’s property bubble burst? >> Why HDB is unable to reveal break down costs of new flats now >> HDB to consider introducing rules to curb property speculation >> HDB blames Singaporeans for not selecting flats when given the chance >> Singaporeans worried about retirement after depleting CPF to pay for over-priced HDB flats >> Mah Bow Tan acknowledged that rising HDB flat prices has sparked “fresh concerns” >> PM Lee: Govt does not have control over prices of resale flats” >> COVs of resale flats shooting through the roof >> HDB resale price index hit record high in 2009 >> Singaporean wants PRs to live in rented flats instead of buying resale flats >> Singaporeans wants PRs to be banned from selling HDB flats at a profit >> Shanmugam: Singaporeans likely culprits for driving up HDB flat prices >> Mah Bow Tan: HDB flats remain affordable >> Means testing for PRs to buy resale flats >> Immigration and public housing: should the govt or people plan ahead? >> Grace Fu: hard to predict demand for housing >> Indonesian PR bought 4-room flat at $653,000 >> Mah Bow Tan asks home buyers to be realistic >> PAP MP blames young couples who cannot get a flat for not planning ahead >> Home affordability: HDB versus the public >> Demand vs supply: so many applicants, so few flats >> Number of applicants exceed number of flats >> HDB to increase supply of flats >> Mah: don’t compare with prices in the past >> ERA: 40 per cent of HDB flat buyers are PRs  Read More →

OPINION There is a lot of discussion in the mainstream media and blogosphere recently on the issue of immigration and foreigners. An increasing number of Singaporeans have expressed reservations about the PAP's liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies which have changed the face of Singapore forever. Being a small island of only 700 sq km in size, its impact cannot be more acutely felt by native Singaporeans who finding the environment they live in increasingly foreign to them with each passing day. PAP leaders have been exhorting Singaporeans to welcome the immigrants as they too are descendants of immigrants. Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng went as far as to say that not many Singaporeans can really claim to have been here for more than five generations. “Now, we feel foreigners who come here are intruding into our space. But we forget that that’s what our parents did before – intruding into the space of those who were here before them. We should remember that immigrant children will one day be like us,” he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. [Source: Straits Times Insight, 20 March 2010] The argument that Singaporeans must welcome immigrants because our forefathers are immigrants too is a fallacious one. Singapore is no longer a colony of immigrants for we have evolved into a nation with a common identity which binds all Singaporeans together and it is this identity that sets us apart from the foreigners. What does it mean to be a Singaporean? Can a melting pot of various ethnic races and cultures be fused to form a hybrid identity? Some countries define their identities by race, e.g. Japan, China, South Korea while others by religion, e.g. Iran, Lebanon, Indonesia. Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious country. We are situated in the middle of the Malay Archipelago where most of its inhabitants are Muslims and yet the bulk of our population are non-moslem ethnic Chinese. The irony is most Singapore Chinese do not identify themselves as "Chinese" like their brethen in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Due to the significant numbers of Malays and Indians in our population, we cannot define Singapore as a "Confucian" or a "Chinese-based" society. The Singapore Chinese have more in common with their fellow Malay and Indian Singaporeans than a Chinese from mainland China. What binds the Singapore Chinese, Malay and Indian together? It is not race, religion or culture, but language, institution and system. 1. English as the lingua franca of Singapore: Singapore and perhaps Malaysia are the only countries in the world where Buddhist/Taoist Chinese, Muslim Malays and Hindu Indians can live side by side with one another in peace and harmony for so long with few social conflicts, a remarkable feat not seen anywhere else. This will not be possible without English as the lingua franca of Singapore to enable the three major races to communicate and interact with one another. All Singaporeans, regardless of race and religion grow up learning English as their first language and this lays down the foundation for their common Singapore identity. 2. British institutions: We inherited our education system, civil service, judiciary and parliamentary system from the British and these not only form the important pillars of our nation, but have evolved to become part of our identity as well. That's why Singapore has more in common with previous British colonies like Australia and New Zealand instead of China. All Singaporeans go through the same education system when young. Our judicial system is constantly rated as one of the best in the world and our civil service has run the country relatively well with few hassles. Our common British heritage may also explain why Singaporeans have few difficulties migrating and settling down in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. 3. Meritocracy: Singapore's meritocratic system is a great leveller in reducing the inherent differences among the various races in Singapore because no regardless of race, religion or language, every Singaporean starts out on an equal footing and are given equal opportunities to succeed in life. Unlike in Malaysia where the racial divide between the Malays and ethnic minorities is growing wider, no race is treated more favorably than others in Singapore. Though the ethnic Chinese constitutes about 75 percent of the population, they enjoy no special rights or privileges. Neither do the Malays who are the original inhabitants of Singapore before the arrival of the British. The above three factors blur the racial distinction among Singaporeans of different ethnic groups and are responsible for the gradual emergence of a common identity unique only to Singapore. Before Singapore achieved independence in 1965, it was a mere colony of Chinese, Malays and Indians. It could open its doors wide to immigrants from all over the world as they were only here to make money. We are a nation today with a common identity and this will be the main limiting factor in the number of immigrants we can accept. If we accept too many immigrants who cannot integrate well into local society, or worse clash with our identity, we may end up with a divided society like Lebanon if we are not careful. The soul of a nation lies in its identity - how its citizens define themselves. Uncontrolled immigration will not only dilute this identity, but will also erode the sense of belonging among native Singaporeans as well, with manifold repercussions on social bonding, unity and cohesion in the long run. As the English language is the most important attribute which binds Singaporeans together, it is quintessential for prospective citizens to have a basic command of the language. In countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada, all foreigners have to pass the IELTS test (International English Language Testing System) before they can even apply for a work visa, let alone PR. We have accepted far too many immigrants who cannot speak English into Singapore and they will become a ticking time-bomb in the future. Immigrants who are illiterate in English have no business in Singapore at all. Let's face it: no matter how much money we throw at them, they can never integrate into our society. It is presumptuous to assume that they will bear children who will be brought up under the Singapore system. What if they do not have children? The situation is further exacebated by the presence of large numbers of foreigners who will tend to congregate among their own communities. Do we see the mainland Chinese new citizens interacting with the Indians or the Burmese going out with the Filipinos? No! They all keep to their own small cliques at work and home. How is the government going to foster "integration" between such disparate groups of people? The gradual weakening of new-found national identity and consciousness will only weaken Singapore in the long run. Native Singaporeans may simply vote with their feet and migrate to English-speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada and those overseas may have fewer incentives to return now. We should not be fooled by short-term GDP growth figures at the expense of our long-term prospects as a nation. This relentless, crazy and irrational pursuit of growth at all cost is leading us down a blind alley and once we lose our national identity, it will be too late to reclaim it.   EDITORS’ NOTE: You can join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to help us raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans.   Related articles: >> Immigrants will exert heavy burden on public resources in the future >> How immigration can destroy a nation: Balhae versus Silla >> Why the present wave of immigration is different from the past >> Wong Kan Seng: We should remember that immigrant children will one day be like us >> 8 reasons why foreign workers will always be preferred in Singapore >> 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 →