TR EMERITUS

(July 3, 2014)    The Singaporean Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said a Filipino diplomat in Singapore cast doubt on an online news report that Filipina household workers were being displayed for sale at some of the city-state’s malls. In a statement, MOM responded “to recent Filipino media reports, based on an online Al Jazeera story, about the treatment of Filipino foreign domestic workers (FDWs) while they are placed with employment agencies (EAs) in Singapore.” The statement said “we note that when contacted by The Straits Times, the Filipino labor attaché in Singapore, Mr. Vicente Cabe, was quoted as saying that based on his observations, the online article ‘doesn’t seem to have basis’ and that while he saw some FDWs sitting on one side of a room at some agencies, waiting to be interviewed by clients, “ . . . it seems a bit exaggerated to say that there is anything wrong with that.” The MOM said it visited the EAs in the two shopping centers concerned and did not find any inappropriate “displays of FDWs.” Its statement added that “the Al Jazeera story also mentioned that some FDWs could be seen demonstrating household or care giving chores within the premises of EAs. As some EAs have training facilities in the same premises as their front offices, it is not unreasonable for FWDs to be performing such chores at the EA’s premises.” Furthermore, “the same story also suggested that some FDWs were not treated well while in their EA’s care. MOM’s rules are clear that EAs have to ensure the well-being of FDWs in their case.” The ministry said “inappropriate display of FDWs” at EAs’ premises or advertising them as being “available for hire at cheap or discounted prices” are unacceptable practices. MOM requires EAs to be responsible and accord basic respect in their practices to both their clients—the employer and the FDW—and expects them to exercise sensitivity when marketing their fees or services.”   [Source]:  http://www.manilatimes.net/singapore-ph-attache-denies-maids-sold-in-malls/108832/    Read More →

"Today, we can bring lethal firepower at a very short time to hit moving targets – one shot, one kill." LG Ng Chee Meng, Chief of Defence Force According to the latest Reuters' report on Friday ('U.S. grounds entire F-35 fleet pending engine inspections', 4 Jul), the US military has grounded the entire fleet of 97 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 stealth fighter jets after a US Air Force F-35A jet caught fire at a runway in Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on 23 June. The plane caught fire as a pilot was preparing for takeoff. US Defense Department said they have ordered additional inspections of the F-35 engines. Last month, one of the F-35s had an in-flight oil leak which also triggered mandatory fleetwide inspections of the jets. Singapore's Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Ng Chee Meng has confirmed with US Air Force General Herbert Carlisle, commander of US Pacific Air Forces, that Singapore would procure the expensive F-35B jets. This was revealed in an interview transcript released by the Defense Writers Group conducted in July last year [Link]. “I know that’s a decision that’s been made and that’s why they’re part of the program, but I don’t know where they’re at in putting that in the budget,” said General Carlisle. Each of the F-35 jets is expected to cost at least US$160 million a piece [Link]. A squadron of 12 F-35 jets will at least cost Singapore's taxpayers US$2 billion. Speaking to the media on 1 Jul, LG Ng boasted that SAF is now in a position of strength and can hit any moving targets with "one shot, one kill". “Today, we can bring lethal firepower at a very short time to hit moving targets – one shot, one kill,” said LG Ng. “This is a capability that few armed forces in the world possess, and we have the capabilities to ensure that we fulfil our mission to protect Singapore.” He also revealed that SAF is harnessing "new technologies, automation, robotics and unmanned technologies to incorporate them more into our fighting systems so that we can create even more potent fighting capabilities with leaner resources.” $12.6 Billion Defence Budget MINDEF was allocated $12.6 billion in this year’s Budget, up 3.2% from $12.3 billion last year. It is more than a fifth of total government expenditure for this financial year. In comparison, the government will only be spending about $430 million a year to subsidise premiums in the recently announced MediShield Life (‘Ng wants a bigger warship to carry more helicopters‘). Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”  Read More →

FIFA 2014 World Cup Former are under performers like certain very well-paid PAP ministers? This World cup is proving a nightmare to the PAP's Hard Truth that ministers will only perform well if very well paid by int'l standards. I'll let the facts speak: In round 1, the teams managed by the three highest paid managers were eliminated. The teams were Russia, England and Italy. The managers are paid £6.7m, £3.5m and £2.6m, respectively. (Data from UK paper, hence the £) Other mgrs on the top 10 most well paid list that were eliminated were Spain (mgr is the 7th most highly paid at £2m) and and Japan (9th at £1.6m). For the record, Portugal's mgr is 12th at £1.3m. Then, Switzerland lost to Argies. It's manager is paid £2.2m (5th in the world). Argies' mgr is a lowly 22 at £0.49m, Brazil's manager is the 4th most highly paid at £2.4m and as we all know he juz missed two bullets. Chile's mgr (at £1.1m) is ranked 14th, and Columbia's is ranked 15th at £1m. scan0001 (from ST last week) Germany's mgr is the kind of guy PAP would like as a poster boy. He is paid £2.1m (6th) and doing well. Another PAP-poster boy would be Holland's mgr (8th in the world at £2m), They would demonise Argis' mgr (a lowly 22 at £0.49m: how would PAP MP eye doctor respect him?) , Costa Rica's mgr ( ranked 26th with £0.26m),and Belgium (20th at £0,52m). More evidence (as if more was needed) to show that the PAP is talking rubbish about the link between ministerial salaries and the quality of ministers. It doesn't work in World Cup footie. The PAP would be praying hard that Argies don't win. BTW, I'm hoping for an all ang moh final with Holland winning. And it's not 'cause the German coach is paid more.   Cynical Investor [Source]: Thoughts of a Cynical Investor (http://atans1.wordpress.com).  Read More →