TR EMERITUS

I understand that none of the 9 questions filed by MPs on Sers, was debated in Parliament on 4 & 5 Jul, due to a lacking in time, and the late order no. of the questions, and that the Parliamentary petition submitted by the residents through NCMP Leong Mun Wai, was rejected for failing to meet the requirements of the standing orders of Parliament, although an adjournment motion by the constituency MP enabled a speech by the MP & a response by the Minister. Also, after so many media reports, arguably, giving the impression that most of the concerns of most of the affected residents, have been resolved - perhaps the $64,000 questions have not been answered - which are as follows: It may also be good - for the SERS (Ang Mo Kio) - to know how much estimated profits or losses will there be for the HDB, assuming all the residents take-up the replacement flats? What are the development plans for the acquired site, and what are the estimated projected profits or losses, in the future? In answering the above 2 questions - there should be transparency as to what is the breakdown of the flats' prices, into construction, land and other costs? Perhaps the moral of the story for SERS, may be that without transparency - there may be a lacking in accountability, or arguably, maybe even no accountability at all? How many of the about 83 Sers in history, were for flats that were older than 30 years? Also, how many of these Sers required the residents to top-up nothing, or hardly anything?   Leong Sze Hian      Read More →

I am fully aware that this commentary may earn me loud applause and silent admirations or hatred and even threats and may also cost me electoral support if I decide to run again for public office but that is the least of my concerns. I believe that 2 drug related prisoners were executed before daybreak at Changi prison. I do not believe that the prison authority enjoys hanging people. I strongly support the decision. European Union including Norway and Switzerland have unfortunately communicated with the Singapore government to express their objections to our action and we have noted their positions, however, much as I have disagreed with the pap government on many issues, this government has not failed in its duty to keep our people, our streets and our country safe and free from the curse and scourge of drugs that have plagued the United States and many other countries and their peoples. We have plenty to be grateful and thankful for their unwavering resolve. Everybody understands that poor, desperate, greedy and low IQ people are everywhere and they are particularly vulnerable to exploitation but drugs is a different kettle of fish, so to speak. Any Singapore government worth its salt must never go soft due to intense pressures both domestically and outside of Singapore and concede a single inch in our battle against drugs and the people involved in it.... Unlike the EU or the US, our geographical location makes us even more vulnerable because we are so close to a major poppies growing and opium cultivating region. I would like to see MOE and our schools organise excursions for their secondary and higher level students to visit our prisons and maybe even watch for themselves prison videos of how canning is carried out to drive home the message never to get onto the wrong side of the laws, especially drugs because I do not believe that any amount of teaching, reminding or preaching young people who grew up in an environment of peace, plentiful and much pampering can beat that first hand wow experience. Like we do not 'teach' the US government about their gun laws, I hope that western governments can make that extra efforts to better understand our situations, our challenges, our values, our concerns and our context etc. Think.   Simon Lim      Read More →

Has Minister Desmond Lee via his ministerial statement made yesterday, opened another can of worms with regards to HDB policies? 5% of all HDB eligible for SERS so remaining 95% will be $0 value after 99 years? In the case of Ang Mo Kio, within the same new blocks of HDB flats there are 99 years lease and 50 years lease flats offered, people will go for 50 years lease flats instead of 99 years lease due to price. That being said, people who got 99 years lease their resale value on a whole in future might be brought down by resale flats in the same block or those nearby as their leases are 50 years or shorter. When you factor in, rentals or room rentals, market rental prices will be similar for both 99 years lease flats as well as 50 years lease flats, as tenants who rent are not affected by the difference in lease status. It would make more logical sense to get a higher yield by getting a 50 years lease flat instead of 99 years lease flat. Were the cause and effect consequences of these policies in the ministerial statement, well thought of? or were they merely a "firefighting" effort with regards to the sentiments of the affected Ang Mo Kio SERS residents?   Prabu Ramachandran      Read More →