TR EMERITUS

By Yoong Siew Wah Can you imagine anything more clownish than a deputy prime minister snoozing away during a speech by his fellow- DPM Wong Kan Seng in Parliament? DPM Teo Chee Hean was caught by camera. We have just witnessed a clownish spectacle of the minister and secretary- general of the NTUC who said in Parliament that he was deaf to the criticisms of an opposition MP and we are now presented with the comical spectacle of a deputy prime minister snoozzing while Parliament was in session. If Mr. Wong Kan Seng's discourse can induce somnolence in Mr. Teo Chee Hean, he can certainly apply for a patent for insomnia cure. DPM Teo Chee Hean has been given wide publicity as the man of the moment appointed by the Prime Minister to improve national productivity. With his somnolent performance in Parliament, do Singaporeans really believe that he has the right credentials for the important task. When he can snooze off during a Parliamentary session, what is there to give the public the confidence that he will stay alert in his productivity job. As he is also the Defence Minister, is he setting a good example to his soldiers? If any soldier is caught sleeping on his job, how is he going to discipline the soldier? There will definitely be double standards in punishment meted out to the offending soldier. It may be argued that there may be extenuating circumstances in DPM Teo's case, as some ministers and government MPs found sleeping during Parliamentary sessions is sometimes a common sight, but a deputy prime minister is not a ordinary mortal. He is next in line to the prime minister and acts for the latter in his absence. Can you imagine the prime minister being caught snoozing in Parliament? There will be mayhem which will lead to further deterioration of confidence in the government. Maybe in the eyes of the government DPM Teo Chee Hean is a minister of sterling character. With his fat obscene pay of $3 million a year he is expected to give a sterling performance rather than be caught sleeping on the job. He is in charge of our Army, Navy and Air Force and these forces look up to him for sterling leadership. Good leaders learn from their mistakes and improve on them. Let us hope that DPM will learn from his experience. We may not see the end of such comic operas. It may be appropriate to conclude with a famous saying of the Chinese philosopher Confucius: I do not wish to see it any more. (wu bu yu guan zhi yi)   About the Author: Mr Yoong is the former director of Singapore’s Internal Security Department from 1971 – 1974. He blogs here  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent The Straits Times has shown once again its "expertise" in obfuscating official statistics to mislead unsuspecting readers. The first sentence of Jeremy Au Yong's article "First rise in productivity in two years" in the Straits Times today reads: "Singapore recorded its first increase in labour productivity in two years, following the strong turnaround in the economy." A reader taking a quick glance at the title and first sentence may be misled to believe that Singapore's dismal productivity rate has finally turned the corner. If we study the Labor Report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) carefully, we would have realized that the "rise" was only in the fourth quarter and Singapore's overall productivity in 2009 continued to decline: [Source: Ministry of Manpower] As we can see from the above figures, Singapore's labor productivity had been decreasing for three consecutive quarters in 2009 giving an overall decrease in 4.7 percent. The 3 percent rise in productivity in the last quarter is a reflex rebound due to the improving economy and therefore it is premature to reach any conclusion. As Associate Professor Hui Weng Tat of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy told the Straits Times: "In an upturn, when output or price of goods increases and employers have not yet hired more people, productivity will naturally go up." Nanyang Technological University labour economist Tan Khee Giap added: "'In a sudden upturn, labour productivity will always go up. You need to look at it during normal times, when the economy is in a steady state. Any increase then would be meaningful." [Source: Straits Times, 16 March 2010] According to a shocking press release from the U.S. Department of Labor last year, Singapore experienced the steepest  decline in productivity among 17 developed economies in the world in the years 2007 – 2008. Among the 17 countries, the Republic of Korea and the United States had the largest increases (1.2 per cent each) while Singapore had the steepest decline (-6.6 per cent): As noted in the graph below, Singapore’s labor productivity took a plunge from 2004 onwards when the inflow of foreigners started to pick up: [Source: Kojakbt, 3in1kopitiam forum moderator] With Singapore's perennial dependence on cheap foreign workers, its labor productivity is unlikely to increase by much at least in the near future. The Straits Times should not be too quick to jump on the preliminary figures to paint a rosy picture on the ground in order to please its political masters. Even though Minister Lui Tuck Yew praised the mainstream media as a "trusted" source of news in Singapore, Singaporeans must continue to regard what it with a heavy dose of salt especially its title and first paragraph which can be blatantly misleading and inaccurate at times.   Related articles: 1. The root of Singapore’s economic woes 2. U.S. Labor dept: Singapore has steepest productivity decline 3. How PAP screws up Singapore’s labor productivity by opening its doors to foreign workers 4. Singapore has the lowest wages and domestic spending purchasing power among the Asian Tigers 5. Moving towards a Russian standard of living 6. Why Singaporeans are paupers in a first world economy 7. The Singapore Way 8. DPM Teo Chee Hean praises Singapore government for progress made in past productivity drives 9. Pitching the case for genuine democracy in Singapore  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent Disgraced movie director Jack Neo has been slammed by both the media and netizens for considering to remake his affair into a movie. Insiders from the entertainment industry told Shin Min Daily yesterday that they felt that it is better for Jack to leave Singapore for a while and wait for the storm to blow over before resuming his career. After all, he had already made enough money these years, they argued. As for his reported plans to make a movie based on his scandal, they urged Jack to spare a thought for his wife and not to reopen her old wounds again. Netizens are equally outraged at Jack's idea. LIE KY wrote on Temasek Review: "Looks like this incorrigible lecher and liar Jerk Neo would do anything to exploit any situation for his personal gains. To him bad or adverse publicity could be “spinned” into his own version yet make money through the distorted film. This goes to show how scheming and despicable he is! Having no regard for those he caused distress and harm ,he is banging now on his own infamy ..(for money by hook or crook)" Kicktadpole added: "Such movie is just rubbing salt to the wound that has been inflicted on his wife and family. They are trying to forget and forgive him and he his trying hard to remind them….with the movie. such irony." Sturmtruppen didn't mince his words: "Only a real MENTAL CASE SICKO person and A REAL IDIOT will be thinking of capitalizing on the pain and misfortune of others to earn money!!" Jack Neo has declined to comment further on the saga. Neither did his good friend George Yeo who is currently away in Hong Kong for an official trip and still writes on the same blog as him.  Read More →