I recently severed friendship with 1 malaysian middle-aged FT becos I buay tahan her constant mocking of spore in front of me.
She & her 3 sons are ALL PRs, none of her sons serve NS btw. ALL her 3 sons are nurtured by our spore's education system since very young. During our meet to gether sessions last time, she always like to say eh, u all sporeans very foolish, stupid why u all do this or that & she'll compare to say back in malaysia, malaysians are much smarter, more kind-hearted etc(BTW, I do not agree malaysians are more kind-hearted than sporeans, i think ban jin ba liang).
She's also keep saying next time her sons will sell their flats/condo here & all move back m'sia . She & her sons doesn't sound grateful at all towards spore's education system for nurturing her 3 sons.
At 1st I put up with her mocking but eventually i can't take it anymore & I stopped contact with her for some time oredi.
At least there's a greater percentage of PRCs willing to serve NS in comparison
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
professor say emphatically NS IS KILLING SG
The other thing is, of course, productivity. Again, the general strategy is a good one. I think there is a little bit of tension between the orderly, well-organised tradition of how things are done in Singapore... and the kind of chaos that you need to raise productivity. You need non-conformists. You need renegades. And that's not the 'Singapore Way'. I wait to see how that plays out.
that lan chio sg flat I dont want !!
HOURS after Private Joe Foo Wei Rong died, Defence Ministry (Mindef) investigators discovered a medical certificate (MC) inside his personal locker in his bunk.
The full-time national serviceman had collapsed during training on Tuesday morning. The MC said the 20-year-old had 'sprains and strains' on his knee and leg and should rest on Sunday and Monday. He was also supposed to be on light duties for the next four days.
However, on the first day of Pte Foo's 'light duties' on Tuesday, he joined platoon mates in their morning basic exercise routine, which included push-ups, sit-ups and a session at the chin-up bar.
While attempting his seventh chin-up, the full-time national servicemen fell from the bar and lapsed into unconsciousness. He could not be revived and died later in hospital.
Pte Foo's grieving father, who had taken him to the Singapore General Hospital on Sunday, earlier told The Straits Times his son got an MC following a visit to the hospital's emergency room. This led Mr Foo Heng Lye, 51, to question why his son took part in the morning exercises.
While investigations continue, it appeared Pte Foo had not submitted his MC to the camp authorities. In a statement yesterday, Mindef said the camp's medical centre showed no records of his MC.
=> But was he prevented or discouraged from doing so?
It is standard practice for MCs obtained outside of camp to be submitted to the medical centres for endorsement.
Told about this yesterday, Mr Foo said he would await the outcome of investigations, which are expected to take about three months. The inquiry is also expected to look into whether military doctors knew he had a seizure in 2004, another concern his father raised.
Pte Foo cleared all pre-enlistment medical tests and was certified combat fit with the highest grading of Pes A.
Mr Foo, who thanked his son's military superiors for the support rendered, joined the sombre and silent send-off for his son yesterday morning.
Some 40 family members and friends from Presbyterian High School and Singapore Polytechnic attended the military funeral at Mandai Crematorium. They were joined by over 100 servicemen, including those from Pte Foo's unit, the 4th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment.
They walked in procession along the driveway to the cremation hall behind the coffin, which was borne by Pte Foo's platoon mates and later placed on a gun carriage. Soldiers who wore black bands on their left arms lined part of the driveway and saluted the coffin as it passed.
In keeping with Chinese custom, his grieving parents did not join in the procession. They also did not go into the viewing gallery when his body was cremated.
Both were weeping uncontrollably
The funeral service, which began at 9.45am, was a simple one. Prayers were chanted by a single Taoist priest, and Pte Foo's older brother offered joss sticks. No eulogy was given.
There was a tense moment when Mr Foo was presented with a folded national flag and a peak cap. He stood up and accepted both items, but he was clearly heartbroken. He said: 'I don't want the flag. I want my son back.'
joolin@sph.com.sg kimspyke@sph.com.sg
The full-time national serviceman had collapsed during training on Tuesday morning. The MC said the 20-year-old had 'sprains and strains' on his knee and leg and should rest on Sunday and Monday. He was also supposed to be on light duties for the next four days.
However, on the first day of Pte Foo's 'light duties' on Tuesday, he joined platoon mates in their morning basic exercise routine, which included push-ups, sit-ups and a session at the chin-up bar.
While attempting his seventh chin-up, the full-time national servicemen fell from the bar and lapsed into unconsciousness. He could not be revived and died later in hospital.
Pte Foo's grieving father, who had taken him to the Singapore General Hospital on Sunday, earlier told The Straits Times his son got an MC following a visit to the hospital's emergency room. This led Mr Foo Heng Lye, 51, to question why his son took part in the morning exercises.
While investigations continue, it appeared Pte Foo had not submitted his MC to the camp authorities. In a statement yesterday, Mindef said the camp's medical centre showed no records of his MC.
=> But was he prevented or discouraged from doing so?
It is standard practice for MCs obtained outside of camp to be submitted to the medical centres for endorsement.
Told about this yesterday, Mr Foo said he would await the outcome of investigations, which are expected to take about three months. The inquiry is also expected to look into whether military doctors knew he had a seizure in 2004, another concern his father raised.
Pte Foo cleared all pre-enlistment medical tests and was certified combat fit with the highest grading of Pes A.
Mr Foo, who thanked his son's military superiors for the support rendered, joined the sombre and silent send-off for his son yesterday morning.
Some 40 family members and friends from Presbyterian High School and Singapore Polytechnic attended the military funeral at Mandai Crematorium. They were joined by over 100 servicemen, including those from Pte Foo's unit, the 4th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment.
They walked in procession along the driveway to the cremation hall behind the coffin, which was borne by Pte Foo's platoon mates and later placed on a gun carriage. Soldiers who wore black bands on their left arms lined part of the driveway and saluted the coffin as it passed.
In keeping with Chinese custom, his grieving parents did not join in the procession. They also did not go into the viewing gallery when his body was cremated.
Both were weeping uncontrollably
The funeral service, which began at 9.45am, was a simple one. Prayers were chanted by a single Taoist priest, and Pte Foo's older brother offered joss sticks. No eulogy was given.
There was a tense moment when Mr Foo was presented with a folded national flag and a peak cap. He stood up and accepted both items, but he was clearly heartbroken. He said: 'I don't want the flag. I want my son back.'
joolin@sph.com.sg kimspyke@sph.com.sg
filipino who never serve NS steal jobs from singaporean who kenna con into doing NS
Filipino shows Singapore how service is done
By Corrie Salientes-Narisma
WINSTON M. Lim and his team are the public face of premier serviced residence Ascott Singapore Raffles Place.
They welcome guests with their sweetest smiles, help them register, bring them to their apartments, address their concerns and make them feel at home.
Click here to find out more!
Winston fits well in the multicultural setup in Singapore, in general, and Ascott, in particular.
People who see him receiving and confidently chatting with guests at Ascott may think he is Singaporean or Chinese, or even Japanese.
But when one, particularly a Filipino, comes closer, he would sense a different kind of warmth in Winston'the kind that can only come from a Filipino.
'I am from Manila,' he says, and that explains it.
Winston Mallari Lim is one of the many Filipinos in Singapore who have helped changed the face of OFWs in this city-state for the better.
He is assistant resident service manager of Ascott Singapore Raffles Place, the highest ranking Filipino there.
He was part of the pre-opening team of Ascott's flagship serviced residence in Singapore, which opened only in July last year, and he now leads its front office team.
Cut for the job
Winston's natural charm and warmth serve him well as he goes about seeing to the needs of his clients at the serviced residence'a second home for those who need to stay out of their own homes for some time. Ascott provides an ideal environment with professional support'a place to relax and enjoy life with the most personalized services possible.
The difference between a hotel and a serviced residence, he says, lies in the service provided.
'Because our guests stay long term, as against a hotel setup, we have to connect and live with them. The relationship is more personal,' he explains.
Winston doesn't have any problem with that. In fact, he finds it easy to connect with guests.
'This is one area where Filipinos are very good at,' he says, adding that Filipinos can be effortlessly warm, hospitable and customer-oriented.
'We are maabilidad (resourceful). No problem is too big that we can't resolve. We don't mind working extra hours if only to finish a task,' he says.
The patience of Filipinos comes in handy when dealing with the most demanding guests and handling their most 'unique' demands, as Winston refuses to call them 'difficult.'
These are the factors that endear Filipinos to many service-oriented companies in Singapore, and the reasons why Filipinos end up at the front lines of these establishments.
Winston says that when Ascott was just starting to get off the ground, half of its front service staff of 14 were Filipinos, and the training manager was also a Filipino. The number is now down to four as some of his fellow Filipino staff members moved to other countries or have settled down.
'I'd say Ascott and other service-oriented establishments here want to hire more Filipinos but they have to maintain a certain mix.'
Happy resident
Terry Smith, a British psychologist who has been residing in Ascott Singapore since February this year, readily puts in good words for Ascott and its staff, particularly the Filipino front service personnel he has been dealing with since the start of his stay in the serviced residence.
'There is an interesting mix of people here and they are all nice, but what I like about the Filipino staff members is that they are confident, relaxed and easy to talk to,' Smith says.
Although Smith knows he won't stay in Singapore forever, he has come to appreciate life in Singapore and feels right at home in Ascott.
'There's peace and fun here, and the personal attention I get from the staff is second to none.'
Landing in Ascott
Winston graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in hotel and restaurant management. He started his career in a five-star hotel in Manila before transferring to a resort in the Maldives. Later, he moved to Singapore.
Although his major was culinary arts, his strength turned out to be in the area of dealing with people, and there is great demand for that particular skill in the hospitality industry.
He was on vacation in Singapore while still working in the Maldives in early 2008 when he found out that Ascott's flagship serviced residence was opening there and was in need of front office personnel. Upon the prodding of his friends, Winston applied and was immediately taken in by Ascott.
His current job involves supervision and administration of the front office staff, now composed of 16 people.
'We bring guests to their apartments, orient them on how to fully enjoy their stay in their new 'homes' and help them settle down,' he says.
Ascott's guests are mostly executives who have to stay in Singapore for weeks, months or even years. Thus, they need more than just rooms to sleep.
'We should be a family to them,' he says.
Winston loves his work and the place where he is working now, for Ascott Singapore has become his home away from home.
Also, he is happy and proud that, in his own way, he is able to promote the Filipino's warmth and hospitality for all the world to see and experience.
This article was first published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
By Corrie Salientes-Narisma
WINSTON M. Lim and his team are the public face of premier serviced residence Ascott Singapore Raffles Place.
They welcome guests with their sweetest smiles, help them register, bring them to their apartments, address their concerns and make them feel at home.
Click here to find out more!
Winston fits well in the multicultural setup in Singapore, in general, and Ascott, in particular.
People who see him receiving and confidently chatting with guests at Ascott may think he is Singaporean or Chinese, or even Japanese.
But when one, particularly a Filipino, comes closer, he would sense a different kind of warmth in Winston'the kind that can only come from a Filipino.
'I am from Manila,' he says, and that explains it.
Winston Mallari Lim is one of the many Filipinos in Singapore who have helped changed the face of OFWs in this city-state for the better.
He is assistant resident service manager of Ascott Singapore Raffles Place, the highest ranking Filipino there.
He was part of the pre-opening team of Ascott's flagship serviced residence in Singapore, which opened only in July last year, and he now leads its front office team.
Cut for the job
Winston's natural charm and warmth serve him well as he goes about seeing to the needs of his clients at the serviced residence'a second home for those who need to stay out of their own homes for some time. Ascott provides an ideal environment with professional support'a place to relax and enjoy life with the most personalized services possible.
The difference between a hotel and a serviced residence, he says, lies in the service provided.
'Because our guests stay long term, as against a hotel setup, we have to connect and live with them. The relationship is more personal,' he explains.
Winston doesn't have any problem with that. In fact, he finds it easy to connect with guests.
'This is one area where Filipinos are very good at,' he says, adding that Filipinos can be effortlessly warm, hospitable and customer-oriented.
'We are maabilidad (resourceful). No problem is too big that we can't resolve. We don't mind working extra hours if only to finish a task,' he says.
The patience of Filipinos comes in handy when dealing with the most demanding guests and handling their most 'unique' demands, as Winston refuses to call them 'difficult.'
These are the factors that endear Filipinos to many service-oriented companies in Singapore, and the reasons why Filipinos end up at the front lines of these establishments.
Winston says that when Ascott was just starting to get off the ground, half of its front service staff of 14 were Filipinos, and the training manager was also a Filipino. The number is now down to four as some of his fellow Filipino staff members moved to other countries or have settled down.
'I'd say Ascott and other service-oriented establishments here want to hire more Filipinos but they have to maintain a certain mix.'
Happy resident
Terry Smith, a British psychologist who has been residing in Ascott Singapore since February this year, readily puts in good words for Ascott and its staff, particularly the Filipino front service personnel he has been dealing with since the start of his stay in the serviced residence.
'There is an interesting mix of people here and they are all nice, but what I like about the Filipino staff members is that they are confident, relaxed and easy to talk to,' Smith says.
Although Smith knows he won't stay in Singapore forever, he has come to appreciate life in Singapore and feels right at home in Ascott.
'There's peace and fun here, and the personal attention I get from the staff is second to none.'
Landing in Ascott
Winston graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in hotel and restaurant management. He started his career in a five-star hotel in Manila before transferring to a resort in the Maldives. Later, he moved to Singapore.
Although his major was culinary arts, his strength turned out to be in the area of dealing with people, and there is great demand for that particular skill in the hospitality industry.
He was on vacation in Singapore while still working in the Maldives in early 2008 when he found out that Ascott's flagship serviced residence was opening there and was in need of front office personnel. Upon the prodding of his friends, Winston applied and was immediately taken in by Ascott.
His current job involves supervision and administration of the front office staff, now composed of 16 people.
'We bring guests to their apartments, orient them on how to fully enjoy their stay in their new 'homes' and help them settle down,' he says.
Ascott's guests are mostly executives who have to stay in Singapore for weeks, months or even years. Thus, they need more than just rooms to sleep.
'We should be a family to them,' he says.
Winston loves his work and the place where he is working now, for Ascott Singapore has become his home away from home.
Also, he is happy and proud that, in his own way, he is able to promote the Filipino's warmth and hospitality for all the world to see and experience.
This article was first published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
cannot find job after NS force to become construction worker while foreign talents work in air con office in shenton way
No O levels, but he earns $4,000 a month
FOR upwards of 12 hours every day, Mr Abdul Rahim Muhamed Rashid sits alone in his 20th-storey 'corner office'.
The place is small, no bigger than the inside of a Toyota Camry, but the 23-year-old says that he does not leave it except for emergencies.
Related story:
»'Move locals up the career ladder quickly'
»WANTED: S'porean construction workers
»Constant skill upgrading pays off
He has a little fridge in there for drinks, a small radio for company and some plastic bags and newspapers to take the place of the toilet.
Click here to find out more!
'It takes 10 minutes for me to climb up there, and I'm young. The older ones take longer. So we don't go up and down when we don't have to. We do everything in the cabin,' he says.
His job involves using the crane to pick up building materials from the ground and hoist them to where they are needed. 'It's a little bit like playing a computer game,' he notes.
But that is perhaps the only upside to it. Long days, isolation and some very questionable toilet habits are all part of the life of a tower crane operator, he says.
And it is clear why people like Mr Abdul Rahim - Singaporeans working in construction - are becoming an endangered species.
Indeed, if not for having dropped out of school at Secondary 4 because of financial problems, he does not know if he would have strayed into the field.
'Before doing this job, I was delivering pizzas. I saw a newspaper ad which said that a company was willing to sponsor a crane operator course for workers so I thought I would go and try it out,' he says.
He was selected to attend the week-long course. He passed the theory and practical tests and has not looked back since.
He started as a tower crane operator in 2008 and eight months later took a government grant for another course on how to operate a different crane.
He does not intend to stop there.
'If I have the ability to operate many different cranes, I am more flexible. If there are no jobs for a tower crane operator, maybe I can work as a crawler crane driver,' he says. A crawler crane has tracks and can therefore be driven around easily.
He admits that it will not be easy getting Singaporeans to do the job, especially those with higher education and options.
'It's hard work and a lonely life. And we work very hard seven days a week. Your girlfriend needs to be very understanding,' he jokes.
But with a monthly salary of around $4,000 including overtime and the prospect of making up to $6,500 as he gains experience, he isn't about to give it up.
'There are not that many opportunities for people of my qualifications to earn this kind of salary.'
FOR upwards of 12 hours every day, Mr Abdul Rahim Muhamed Rashid sits alone in his 20th-storey 'corner office'.
The place is small, no bigger than the inside of a Toyota Camry, but the 23-year-old says that he does not leave it except for emergencies.
Related story:
»'Move locals up the career ladder quickly'
»WANTED: S'porean construction workers
»Constant skill upgrading pays off
He has a little fridge in there for drinks, a small radio for company and some plastic bags and newspapers to take the place of the toilet.
Click here to find out more!
'It takes 10 minutes for me to climb up there, and I'm young. The older ones take longer. So we don't go up and down when we don't have to. We do everything in the cabin,' he says.
His job involves using the crane to pick up building materials from the ground and hoist them to where they are needed. 'It's a little bit like playing a computer game,' he notes.
But that is perhaps the only upside to it. Long days, isolation and some very questionable toilet habits are all part of the life of a tower crane operator, he says.
And it is clear why people like Mr Abdul Rahim - Singaporeans working in construction - are becoming an endangered species.
Indeed, if not for having dropped out of school at Secondary 4 because of financial problems, he does not know if he would have strayed into the field.
'Before doing this job, I was delivering pizzas. I saw a newspaper ad which said that a company was willing to sponsor a crane operator course for workers so I thought I would go and try it out,' he says.
He was selected to attend the week-long course. He passed the theory and practical tests and has not looked back since.
He started as a tower crane operator in 2008 and eight months later took a government grant for another course on how to operate a different crane.
He does not intend to stop there.
'If I have the ability to operate many different cranes, I am more flexible. If there are no jobs for a tower crane operator, maybe I can work as a crawler crane driver,' he says. A crawler crane has tracks and can therefore be driven around easily.
He admits that it will not be easy getting Singaporeans to do the job, especially those with higher education and options.
'It's hard work and a lonely life. And we work very hard seven days a week. Your girlfriend needs to be very understanding,' he jokes.
But with a monthly salary of around $4,000 including overtime and the prospect of making up to $6,500 as he gains experience, he isn't about to give it up.
'There are not that many opportunities for people of my qualifications to earn this kind of salary.'
games for New Citizens , NS for Singaporeans
It’s all about “new citizens” and “integration” nowadays which have been making the headlines in the Singapore press.
Coming after the footsteps of Bukit Batok grassroots organizations which will be organizing a “Water Festival” for foreigners, another pseudo-PAP organization Southwest CDC has launched a game show aimed at helping “new and local citizens learn more about Singapore.”
According to Channel News Asia, the “Integrate Singapore Quiz” was developed by the Southwest Community Development Council to “integrate” new and local citizens.
It was not revealed where and how the game show will be conducted.
Though it was not mentioned explicitly, it is likely that the funds for developing and hosting the game show will come from the mega $10 million Community Integration Fund unveiled last year by the Minister of Community, Youth and and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
The fund will be disbursed to various community and grassroots organizations to organize events such as seminars, game shows and language classes to promote “integration” between the new and old citizens.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas.
The Home Affairs Ministry revealed that there were nearly 60,000 PRs and 20,000 new citizens last year.
Two out of every three Singapore PR applicants are successful, an astonishingly high success rate for a developed nation. Some of the PRs are granted within a few months. There is no minimal period of residency to qualify for PR unlike in other countries.
As too many foreigners, many of whom are unable to speak English are allowed into Singapore within too short a period of time, it is a near impossible task to integrate all of them now.
Confronted with an intractable problem, the PAP chose to throw money at it in the hope that it will somehow be resolved.
The onus is on the immigrants to learn how to adapt and integrate into Singapore society instead of the other way round.
Taxpayers’ monies should never be used to cover up for the PAP’s disastrous mistakes or to fund such useless social events to make the new citizens feel at home.
They have few incentives to reach out to other Singaporeans as there are simply too many of their compatriots here that they tend to congregate within their own communities.
The freebies and goodies given out by these grassroots organizations will only attract those seeking free food or perks who lack the interest or committment to “integrate” themselves, thereby defeating their original purposes.
The most crucial step in the integration process begin right at the very first step in the selection of prospective migrants and not now when they are already allowed to settle in Singapore.
The PAP has screwed up Singapore’s immigration policies badly and as usual, it will get away again with impunity thanks to the state-controlled media which has been busy of late trying to “showcase” its efforts in “integrating” the new citizens.
Coming after the footsteps of Bukit Batok grassroots organizations which will be organizing a “Water Festival” for foreigners, another pseudo-PAP organization Southwest CDC has launched a game show aimed at helping “new and local citizens learn more about Singapore.”
According to Channel News Asia, the “Integrate Singapore Quiz” was developed by the Southwest Community Development Council to “integrate” new and local citizens.
It was not revealed where and how the game show will be conducted.
Though it was not mentioned explicitly, it is likely that the funds for developing and hosting the game show will come from the mega $10 million Community Integration Fund unveiled last year by the Minister of Community, Youth and and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
The fund will be disbursed to various community and grassroots organizations to organize events such as seminars, game shows and language classes to promote “integration” between the new and old citizens.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas.
The Home Affairs Ministry revealed that there were nearly 60,000 PRs and 20,000 new citizens last year.
Two out of every three Singapore PR applicants are successful, an astonishingly high success rate for a developed nation. Some of the PRs are granted within a few months. There is no minimal period of residency to qualify for PR unlike in other countries.
As too many foreigners, many of whom are unable to speak English are allowed into Singapore within too short a period of time, it is a near impossible task to integrate all of them now.
Confronted with an intractable problem, the PAP chose to throw money at it in the hope that it will somehow be resolved.
The onus is on the immigrants to learn how to adapt and integrate into Singapore society instead of the other way round.
Taxpayers’ monies should never be used to cover up for the PAP’s disastrous mistakes or to fund such useless social events to make the new citizens feel at home.
They have few incentives to reach out to other Singaporeans as there are simply too many of their compatriots here that they tend to congregate within their own communities.
The freebies and goodies given out by these grassroots organizations will only attract those seeking free food or perks who lack the interest or committment to “integrate” themselves, thereby defeating their original purposes.
The most crucial step in the integration process begin right at the very first step in the selection of prospective migrants and not now when they are already allowed to settle in Singapore.
The PAP has screwed up Singapore’s immigration policies badly and as usual, it will get away again with impunity thanks to the state-controlled media which has been busy of late trying to “showcase” its efforts in “integrating” the new citizens.
fucked ! con into doing NS for nothing !
Foreigners are given preference over locals. I do not know of any country that practises this. To compound to this, when the foreigners are in, they bring in more foreigners at the expense of the locals. Don’t believe me? Go to the Dept of Statistic website now to check:
Singapore total employment : 2.99 million
Foreigners and PRs employed : 1.78 million
Singapore citizens employed : 1.21 million.
If you minus Singaporeans employed by the govt i.e. all the ministries, armed forces, NS men, police, statutory boards like HDB etc I guess in the private sector Singaporeans comprised only 30% of the work force. Which country has such statistics? We are totally overwhelmed!
I urge Singaporeans to go to Raffles Place MRT to see the pathetic ads placed to plead to employers to hire on merit and be fair (to locals). Again another UNIQUELY SINGAPORE campaign.
Singapore total employment : 2.99 million
Foreigners and PRs employed : 1.78 million
Singapore citizens employed : 1.21 million.
If you minus Singaporeans employed by the govt i.e. all the ministries, armed forces, NS men, police, statutory boards like HDB etc I guess in the private sector Singaporeans comprised only 30% of the work force. Which country has such statistics? We are totally overwhelmed!
I urge Singaporeans to go to Raffles Place MRT to see the pathetic ads placed to plead to employers to hire on merit and be fair (to locals). Again another UNIQUELY SINGAPORE campaign.
no future for NS slaves !
My future looks bleak living here in this country.. Jobs will be harder to get cause most of it goes to the foreigner and if u lucky to get one,they offered low wages, price of living will rise, hdb price will rise, still need to serve NS, Man, we doom, DOooOM i tell you, DOOM!!!!
I would really like to live independently, but i just cant do it here.. Maybe when in ns i save up all my pathetic pay and move out. Unless change have been made…
I would really like to live independently, but i just cant do it here.. Maybe when in ns i save up all my pathetic pay and move out. Unless change have been made…
everyday more discovered they been con into doing NS
me also same position…i got retrenched in 2008,till now cannot find a job i found out one imported ah ne ne has taken over my job at cheap cost..got air ticket sponsor some more..my marriage plans all cancelled.. go CDC, they show you “middle finger” they will tell you try again and bad luck for losing a job…and treat you like pariah and have to wait for queue number, the saddest thing, i serve my NS, get injured, paid my taxes but when i jobless..they show me the door, ask me to die by myself! Foreigners they treat them like King…spent money on them on english courses and rubbish festivals…most of them are foreign trash and not foreign talents.
singaporean guy discovered he kenna con into doing NS
Mr Lim Chin Choon, 35
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090927/a24-1.jpg
Mr Lim worked as a security officer for a while but had to quit due to the long hours, as he has to take care of his grandma. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Secondary 2 qualifications
He has sent out about 100 resumes to companies but has remained unemployed for four years. He had previously done data entry in a firm which folded.'I've sent out many resumes but the companies don't even reply. I even went for a course to be a security officer and passed it,' he said.
He did work as a security officer for a while, but quit because of the long hours.
'I live with my grandmother who is in her 90s, and I have to look after her, so I cannot be working too late at night,' said Mr Lim, who is single. His tight financial situation is cause for worry. His parents give him $10 at a time for necessities. 'I think the main things that employers look at when you go for interviews are your age and education level,' he said.
'I am willing to learn and work hard, but employers tell me they are looking for someone younger and with better qualifications.' He said he has gone to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports as well as the Employment and Employability Institute for help.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090927/a24-1.jpg
Mr Lim worked as a security officer for a while but had to quit due to the long hours, as he has to take care of his grandma. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Secondary 2 qualifications
He has sent out about 100 resumes to companies but has remained unemployed for four years. He had previously done data entry in a firm which folded.'I've sent out many resumes but the companies don't even reply. I even went for a course to be a security officer and passed it,' he said.
He did work as a security officer for a while, but quit because of the long hours.
'I live with my grandmother who is in her 90s, and I have to look after her, so I cannot be working too late at night,' said Mr Lim, who is single. His tight financial situation is cause for worry. His parents give him $10 at a time for necessities. 'I think the main things that employers look at when you go for interviews are your age and education level,' he said.
'I am willing to learn and work hard, but employers tell me they are looking for someone younger and with better qualifications.' He said he has gone to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports as well as the Employment and Employability Institute for help.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
malaysian come in for free we do NS for fuck !
Everytime I come to this forum, all I see is singaporeans complaining about this and that...most of them are really stupid complaints, which clearly showed these people are so short-sighted.
I am a Malaysian, by the way and I don't live and don't work in Singapore. I am here because I have investment in Singapore, so I need to keep myself up to date with Singapore market.
Number 1 complaint - Foreigners working in Sg, esp Malaysian.
Complaint so much for what? I admit, a lot of Malaysian come to Sg and work because of higher pay. But on the other hand, Singapore desperately need malaysians too. Malaysians are the only foreigners that share the same culture and language as Singaporeans. Without Malaysians, singapore won't be able to function in almost every aspect. So stop complaining.
Before singaporeans complaint about malaysians, ask yourself, do you rather have Malaysians who speak the same language as you to get most of your jobs done or do you want someone who don't speak the same language as you.
If you really think that Malaysians should not come to Sg, then go and vote for a government that ban Malaysians working in Sg, I want to see what happen to Sg.
Number 2 complaint - Stop complaining of Sg government opening doors to other foreigners...
As a malaysian, I envy Singapore so much because of its open door talents policy, Malaysia is no where close to that...the UMNO-malay close Malaysia door to talents...instead UMNO only want those illegal muslim filipino...a very sad case for malaysia
so please stop complaining, if malaysian can do what sg is doing, malaysia can be very prosperous. PAP policy is right in this sense.
Number 3 complaint - don't complaint of your MRT lah..
I traveled to so many countries, Sg MRT is one of the best in world, so stop bitching about it. Come to New York City, you will then learn to appreciate Sg MRT.
Number 4 complaint - stop complaining of your health care lah...
Sg health care is among the best in Asia, i know it, because i m in the medical field. It might be expensive, however, it is still better than a lot of Asian countries...come to the US and see, you can't even afford to see a doctor for a cold. So stop bitching about it.
Even though seeing doctor in Malaysia is cheaper, but Sg has better quality in general. so stop complaining...
Number 5 complaint - stop complaining you don't have enough money
You don't have enough money, most of time is because you are wasting money and don't know how to save. Singapore wages is considered very high compare to most countries in Asia, not to mention that Sg tax is low compare to Western countries...
So..please stop bitching...
Number 6 complaint - stop complaining prices in sg is expensive.
sometime, it is more expensive in malaysia, i know it, because sometime i go to sg and buy things, because it is cheaper....
What you should complaint:
1. complaint about media corp, singapore tv today is getting more and more bored, unentertaining, actors are horrible...
2. complaint about why singapore laws are so tough and unforgiving...
3. complaint about why singaporeans are so kia su...
I am a Malaysian, by the way and I don't live and don't work in Singapore. I am here because I have investment in Singapore, so I need to keep myself up to date with Singapore market.
Number 1 complaint - Foreigners working in Sg, esp Malaysian.
Complaint so much for what? I admit, a lot of Malaysian come to Sg and work because of higher pay. But on the other hand, Singapore desperately need malaysians too. Malaysians are the only foreigners that share the same culture and language as Singaporeans. Without Malaysians, singapore won't be able to function in almost every aspect. So stop complaining.
Before singaporeans complaint about malaysians, ask yourself, do you rather have Malaysians who speak the same language as you to get most of your jobs done or do you want someone who don't speak the same language as you.
If you really think that Malaysians should not come to Sg, then go and vote for a government that ban Malaysians working in Sg, I want to see what happen to Sg.
Number 2 complaint - Stop complaining of Sg government opening doors to other foreigners...
As a malaysian, I envy Singapore so much because of its open door talents policy, Malaysia is no where close to that...the UMNO-malay close Malaysia door to talents...instead UMNO only want those illegal muslim filipino...a very sad case for malaysia
so please stop complaining, if malaysian can do what sg is doing, malaysia can be very prosperous. PAP policy is right in this sense.
Number 3 complaint - don't complaint of your MRT lah..
I traveled to so many countries, Sg MRT is one of the best in world, so stop bitching about it. Come to New York City, you will then learn to appreciate Sg MRT.
Number 4 complaint - stop complaining of your health care lah...
Sg health care is among the best in Asia, i know it, because i m in the medical field. It might be expensive, however, it is still better than a lot of Asian countries...come to the US and see, you can't even afford to see a doctor for a cold. So stop bitching about it.
Even though seeing doctor in Malaysia is cheaper, but Sg has better quality in general. so stop complaining...
Number 5 complaint - stop complaining you don't have enough money
You don't have enough money, most of time is because you are wasting money and don't know how to save. Singapore wages is considered very high compare to most countries in Asia, not to mention that Sg tax is low compare to Western countries...
So..please stop bitching...
Number 6 complaint - stop complaining prices in sg is expensive.
sometime, it is more expensive in malaysia, i know it, because sometime i go to sg and buy things, because it is cheaper....
What you should complaint:
1. complaint about media corp, singapore tv today is getting more and more bored, unentertaining, actors are horrible...
2. complaint about why singapore laws are so tough and unforgiving...
3. complaint about why singaporeans are so kia su...
Greek crisis brewing in Sg bloated SAF ex regulars civil service
The financial crisis rocking Greece has brought into focus the warped reality of the country's civil service, where a long tradition of political perks has bred fiscal disaster, analysts say.
Packed with political supporters of governments past and present -- and often operating on its own rules -- the Greek civil service has gorged itself to such a degree that even its nominal masters have trouble deciding where to start trimming waste.
"Nobody, not even the prime minister, can say how many civil servants there are," says Constantinos Michalos, head of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of Greece's main business lobby groups.
"We calculate 1.2 million people including contract workers. The civil servants' union says 700,000. The finance ministry says 800,000," he said.
In addition to trying to sort out the mess by reforming its wage registry, the Socialist government of George Papandreou this month said all state staff would see 12-percent cuts in benefits and 30-percent cuts in holiday pay.
The Socialists are trying to tame a debt of nearly 300 billion euros (409 billion euros) fueled by a public deficit that grew to 12.7 percent of output last year, more than four times the allowed EU limit of three percent.
According to the Greek interior ministry, the number of permanent civil servants grew by over 28,000 people between 2006 and 2008.
Michalos, a former general secretary at the finance ministry, considered a honeypot among state offices, has no shortage of state-sector excess stories.
"Cleaning ladies and press officers at the finance ministry receive double the pay of their colleagues at other ministries," he notes.
"In parliament, staff work for 12 months but receive 16 (month) salaries."
"And civil servants get bonuses for dressing well and reporting to work on time," he said.
"This monster was created by politicians," political commentator Stefanos Kassimatis wrote in liberal Kathimerini daily this week.
"They buckled under union pressure and kept on awarding privileges until it eventually escaped their control completely."
The union representing civil servants, Adedy, says that bonuses, which can account for nearly half of total state staff pay, are essential to bolster its members' nominal salaries which are "the lowest in Europe."
According to Adedy, civil servants make 1,350 euros (1,800 dollars) on average. The minimum wage in Greece is 740 euros.
"There are anachronistic distortions to protect various groups or woo potential voters," said Yiannis Stournaras, general director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research, a private think-tank.
"In public hospitals alone, the absence of proper accounting leads to a waste of 1.5 billion euros a year."
"(Greeks) had hoped that the day of reckoning would come later. In the end, it came sooner because of the financial crisis," he added.
Papandreou has pledged to use the crisis to clean up decades of corruption and mismanagement at the civil service.
Studies have repeatedly shown that the Greek public sector is a graft haven with tax offices, urban planning departments and hospitals the worst offenders.
And the problem is getting worse according to corruption watchdog Transparency International, whose local branch this month reported a 50-million-euro rise in bribes last year to 790 million euros (one billion dollars).
The average bribe was 1,355 euros in the public sector and 1,671 euros in the private sector, chiefly involving private clinics, banks and lawyers, according to the study, carried out by Public Issue for TI Greece.
"The Greek civil service is the field where the crisis is at its most evident," Theodore Pelagidis, a professor of economics at Piraeus University and co-author of a new book on corruption, told AFP.
"But it is not the cause of the problem," he argued.
"The whole way the economy is organised is deplorable ... the country has learned to live off EU funds, shipping and tourism proceeds -- basically, money falling from a helicopter without being generated locally."
Packed with political supporters of governments past and present -- and often operating on its own rules -- the Greek civil service has gorged itself to such a degree that even its nominal masters have trouble deciding where to start trimming waste.
"Nobody, not even the prime minister, can say how many civil servants there are," says Constantinos Michalos, head of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of Greece's main business lobby groups.
"We calculate 1.2 million people including contract workers. The civil servants' union says 700,000. The finance ministry says 800,000," he said.
In addition to trying to sort out the mess by reforming its wage registry, the Socialist government of George Papandreou this month said all state staff would see 12-percent cuts in benefits and 30-percent cuts in holiday pay.
The Socialists are trying to tame a debt of nearly 300 billion euros (409 billion euros) fueled by a public deficit that grew to 12.7 percent of output last year, more than four times the allowed EU limit of three percent.
According to the Greek interior ministry, the number of permanent civil servants grew by over 28,000 people between 2006 and 2008.
Michalos, a former general secretary at the finance ministry, considered a honeypot among state offices, has no shortage of state-sector excess stories.
"Cleaning ladies and press officers at the finance ministry receive double the pay of their colleagues at other ministries," he notes.
"In parliament, staff work for 12 months but receive 16 (month) salaries."
"And civil servants get bonuses for dressing well and reporting to work on time," he said.
"This monster was created by politicians," political commentator Stefanos Kassimatis wrote in liberal Kathimerini daily this week.
"They buckled under union pressure and kept on awarding privileges until it eventually escaped their control completely."
The union representing civil servants, Adedy, says that bonuses, which can account for nearly half of total state staff pay, are essential to bolster its members' nominal salaries which are "the lowest in Europe."
According to Adedy, civil servants make 1,350 euros (1,800 dollars) on average. The minimum wage in Greece is 740 euros.
"There are anachronistic distortions to protect various groups or woo potential voters," said Yiannis Stournaras, general director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research, a private think-tank.
"In public hospitals alone, the absence of proper accounting leads to a waste of 1.5 billion euros a year."
"(Greeks) had hoped that the day of reckoning would come later. In the end, it came sooner because of the financial crisis," he added.
Papandreou has pledged to use the crisis to clean up decades of corruption and mismanagement at the civil service.
Studies have repeatedly shown that the Greek public sector is a graft haven with tax offices, urban planning departments and hospitals the worst offenders.
And the problem is getting worse according to corruption watchdog Transparency International, whose local branch this month reported a 50-million-euro rise in bribes last year to 790 million euros (one billion dollars).
The average bribe was 1,355 euros in the public sector and 1,671 euros in the private sector, chiefly involving private clinics, banks and lawyers, according to the study, carried out by Public Issue for TI Greece.
"The Greek civil service is the field where the crisis is at its most evident," Theodore Pelagidis, a professor of economics at Piraeus University and co-author of a new book on corruption, told AFP.
"But it is not the cause of the problem," he argued.
"The whole way the economy is organised is deplorable ... the country has learned to live off EU funds, shipping and tourism proceeds -- basically, money falling from a helicopter without being generated locally."
he become millionare by kenging from NS = good role model
Mar 20, 2010
No home, but dad knew he just had to make it here
Mr Shaik Mohamad Abdul Jaleel has gone from sleeping in back lanes to a bungalow off Orchard Road. The businessman started helping his family make ends meet at a young age, and credits his father with teaching him the value of hard work, discipline and honesty. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
View more photos
MILLIONAIRE businessman Shaik Mohamad Abdul Jaleel lives in a bungalow off Orchard Road, but prefers to sleep on the floor.
'I'm used to it - it's more comfortable for me,' says the founder and managing director of Mini Environment Services (MES), a dormitory builder and operator with an annual revenue of $80 million.
He recalls the times when he and his immigrant father, Mr Muthumaricar Shaik Mohamed, slept under the stars.
With no home of their own, they showered in the washing bay of the Stamford Road hawker stall where his father sold groceries.
Earlier, they had lived and worked at the family shophouse in Colombo Court, until they were asked to move out in 1967 by the authorities.
'My father was given the choice of relocating to Jurong or Toa Payoh. But he could not afford the monthly rent. So he chose a hawker stall instead,' says Mr Jaleel, 52.
It had been a gruelling and gritty life for Mr Jaleel's father, who first came to Singapore from Madras, now known as Chennai, in the 1930s to join his family.
Mr Shaik, then in his 20s, made a living here by helping his father run the family business in the City Hall area. His father and three brothers had arrived earlier to pave the way for the rest of their family to join them.
Over the years, the store expanded to three shophouses selling groceries, food and textiles. But business faltered after their father's death and the siblings went their separate ways in 1964.
By then, Mr Shaik had married Ms Syedunisa Bi, his Taiping-born bride, and had five children, including the youngest child and only son, Mr Jaleel.
Without education or skills, Mr Shaik was unsure how he would support his family on his own. He returned to Madras, his hometown, that year, with his family in tow.
But the limited opportunities there and his longing for a better life saw Mr Shaik get back on a ship bound for Singapore. He took only Mr Jaleel, leaving the rest of his family behind.
Home for father and son was the shophouse where they ran their business. When it was taken over for redevelopment, they found themselves without a roof over their heads.
Recollecting those homeless days spent eking out a meagre existence, Mr Jaleel says: 'That's where my life of sleeping in back lanes started for me. My dad took it. He did not feel sorry for himself. He knew he just had to make it here.'
An MP came to know of their plight and took them off the streets by securing a one-room flat in Mosque Street for them.
Every month, his father would earn about $200, and send up to $80 home to support his family.
Mr Jaleel had to drop out of school at Secondary 2 to help make ends meet.
He took odd jobs like washing cars and selling cosmetics from the age of 12, and soon found work as a cleaning contractor for a Chinese businessman.
Mr Jaleel credits his father with teaching him the value of hard work, discipline and honesty - three traits that kept Mr Shaik, who eventually became a Singapore citizen, going.
'He had no other choice. He decided that this was the place where he was going to be.'
In 1976, Mr Jaleel founded his firm MES. Over time, it grew to become today's 20,000-strong international firm based in Lower Delta Road.
In 1980, he married Ms Daulath Bee, a Chennai native. They have six children aged 14 to 27 and five grandchildren.
An active grassroots activist in Aljunied and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRCs, he recently announced plans for a $1 million foundation to support children's education and broken families.
He says: 'My life is here, my future is here, therefore I have to be here. I don't mind contributing back to the country, to the community, whatever extra I have.
No home, but dad knew he just had to make it here
Mr Shaik Mohamad Abdul Jaleel has gone from sleeping in back lanes to a bungalow off Orchard Road. The businessman started helping his family make ends meet at a young age, and credits his father with teaching him the value of hard work, discipline and honesty. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
View more photos
MILLIONAIRE businessman Shaik Mohamad Abdul Jaleel lives in a bungalow off Orchard Road, but prefers to sleep on the floor.
'I'm used to it - it's more comfortable for me,' says the founder and managing director of Mini Environment Services (MES), a dormitory builder and operator with an annual revenue of $80 million.
He recalls the times when he and his immigrant father, Mr Muthumaricar Shaik Mohamed, slept under the stars.
With no home of their own, they showered in the washing bay of the Stamford Road hawker stall where his father sold groceries.
Earlier, they had lived and worked at the family shophouse in Colombo Court, until they were asked to move out in 1967 by the authorities.
'My father was given the choice of relocating to Jurong or Toa Payoh. But he could not afford the monthly rent. So he chose a hawker stall instead,' says Mr Jaleel, 52.
It had been a gruelling and gritty life for Mr Jaleel's father, who first came to Singapore from Madras, now known as Chennai, in the 1930s to join his family.
Mr Shaik, then in his 20s, made a living here by helping his father run the family business in the City Hall area. His father and three brothers had arrived earlier to pave the way for the rest of their family to join them.
Over the years, the store expanded to three shophouses selling groceries, food and textiles. But business faltered after their father's death and the siblings went their separate ways in 1964.
By then, Mr Shaik had married Ms Syedunisa Bi, his Taiping-born bride, and had five children, including the youngest child and only son, Mr Jaleel.
Without education or skills, Mr Shaik was unsure how he would support his family on his own. He returned to Madras, his hometown, that year, with his family in tow.
But the limited opportunities there and his longing for a better life saw Mr Shaik get back on a ship bound for Singapore. He took only Mr Jaleel, leaving the rest of his family behind.
Home for father and son was the shophouse where they ran their business. When it was taken over for redevelopment, they found themselves without a roof over their heads.
Recollecting those homeless days spent eking out a meagre existence, Mr Jaleel says: 'That's where my life of sleeping in back lanes started for me. My dad took it. He did not feel sorry for himself. He knew he just had to make it here.'
An MP came to know of their plight and took them off the streets by securing a one-room flat in Mosque Street for them.
Every month, his father would earn about $200, and send up to $80 home to support his family.
Mr Jaleel had to drop out of school at Secondary 2 to help make ends meet.
He took odd jobs like washing cars and selling cosmetics from the age of 12, and soon found work as a cleaning contractor for a Chinese businessman.
Mr Jaleel credits his father with teaching him the value of hard work, discipline and honesty - three traits that kept Mr Shaik, who eventually became a Singapore citizen, going.
'He had no other choice. He decided that this was the place where he was going to be.'
In 1976, Mr Jaleel founded his firm MES. Over time, it grew to become today's 20,000-strong international firm based in Lower Delta Road.
In 1980, he married Ms Daulath Bee, a Chennai native. They have six children aged 14 to 27 and five grandchildren.
An active grassroots activist in Aljunied and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRCs, he recently announced plans for a $1 million foundation to support children's education and broken families.
He says: 'My life is here, my future is here, therefore I have to be here. I don't mind contributing back to the country, to the community, whatever extra I have.
what the british buidl up , PAP torn down with NS
WHEN Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's parents first came to Singapore to look for a better life in the 1930s, they sold sundry provisions.
But business was not good after World War II, so they returned to their village in Zhongshan prefecture in Guangdong, China, taking their young daughter and son who were born here with them.
After six months, they returned here in 1949. Mr Wong was three years old.
'I don't think the conditions in China were favourable,' Mr Wong, 63, tells Insight.
'Having been in Singapore for some years, my parents thought Singapore was a better place to make a living.'
What led them to move here is no different from why many of today's migrants decided to come here.
Back in their village, his parents and others lived off the soil as farmers.
When they came here for the second time, they became hawkers in what is today Farrer Park, selling noodles at a coffee shop at the corner of Race Course Road and Owen Road.
Life was tough, for they had to move from one rented room to another in the area - including a converted garage - each time the rent went up. They also had three more daughters.
'Since life was still not very good in China in the 1950s, and the children were all here, my parents decided to make Singapore home,' says Mr Wong.
They could speak only Cantonese, but picked up bazaar Malay and Hokkien to get by at the market.
After several years, they took over the tenancy of a pre-war single-storey terrace house in Race Course Road, and set up a stall in front of their home.
They were determined to give their children a good education, even though Mr Wong's father had only a few years of education and his mother, none.
There were not many English-medium schools then, but the former tenant of their new house helped register Mr Wong in the Rangoon Road Primary School, where he began his education.
He also attended a Chinese school for the other half of the day. He went on to Outram Secondary School and the University of Singapore before joining the Administrative Service. He entered politics in 1984.
Mr Wong's younger sisters went to Methodist Girls' School. One became a nurse, another a legal clerk, and the youngest an accountant.
When not at school, they would help out at the noodle stall.
To earn extra income, their father would travel around selling sundry goods, cloth and fruits from a tricycle cart. He also helped friends and fellow migrants from his village write letters home.
As Singapore moved towards self-government, the law was changed in 1957 to allow those born here or who had lived here for 10 years to become citizens.
Like many of the 220,000 China-born Chinese here, Mr Wong's parents registered as Singapore citizens.
This entitled them to vote in the May 1959 elections, which brought the People's Action Party to power.
Mr Wong remembers accompanying his parents to the polling station at his old school and listening to the results over the radio.
Many of his classmates had parents who were born elsewhere, but this was never an issue, he recalls.
He notes 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 adds.
Mr Wong speaks from experience when he says: 'Many of us are first generation. When you are born here, your friends are here in the same school, with the same language, you will feel Singaporean.'
But business was not good after World War II, so they returned to their village in Zhongshan prefecture in Guangdong, China, taking their young daughter and son who were born here with them.
After six months, they returned here in 1949. Mr Wong was three years old.
'I don't think the conditions in China were favourable,' Mr Wong, 63, tells Insight.
'Having been in Singapore for some years, my parents thought Singapore was a better place to make a living.'
What led them to move here is no different from why many of today's migrants decided to come here.
Back in their village, his parents and others lived off the soil as farmers.
When they came here for the second time, they became hawkers in what is today Farrer Park, selling noodles at a coffee shop at the corner of Race Course Road and Owen Road.
Life was tough, for they had to move from one rented room to another in the area - including a converted garage - each time the rent went up. They also had three more daughters.
'Since life was still not very good in China in the 1950s, and the children were all here, my parents decided to make Singapore home,' says Mr Wong.
They could speak only Cantonese, but picked up bazaar Malay and Hokkien to get by at the market.
After several years, they took over the tenancy of a pre-war single-storey terrace house in Race Course Road, and set up a stall in front of their home.
They were determined to give their children a good education, even though Mr Wong's father had only a few years of education and his mother, none.
There were not many English-medium schools then, but the former tenant of their new house helped register Mr Wong in the Rangoon Road Primary School, where he began his education.
He also attended a Chinese school for the other half of the day. He went on to Outram Secondary School and the University of Singapore before joining the Administrative Service. He entered politics in 1984.
Mr Wong's younger sisters went to Methodist Girls' School. One became a nurse, another a legal clerk, and the youngest an accountant.
When not at school, they would help out at the noodle stall.
To earn extra income, their father would travel around selling sundry goods, cloth and fruits from a tricycle cart. He also helped friends and fellow migrants from his village write letters home.
As Singapore moved towards self-government, the law was changed in 1957 to allow those born here or who had lived here for 10 years to become citizens.
Like many of the 220,000 China-born Chinese here, Mr Wong's parents registered as Singapore citizens.
This entitled them to vote in the May 1959 elections, which brought the People's Action Party to power.
Mr Wong remembers accompanying his parents to the polling station at his old school and listening to the results over the radio.
Many of his classmates had parents who were born elsewhere, but this was never an issue, he recalls.
He notes 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 adds.
Mr Wong speaks from experience when he says: 'Many of us are first generation. When you are born here, your friends are here in the same school, with the same language, you will feel Singaporean.'
wtf come all the way from china to do NS here
WHAT theatre director Kuo Jian Hong, 42, inherited from her immigrant father, who died in 2002, is the legacy of social consciousness.
Her late father was Singapore's most famous playwright, Mr Kuo Pao Kun, and her mother is ballerina Goh Lay Kuan.
When Ms Kuo was growing up here, she did not play with the things other little girls did.
Instead, she sang and played with younger sister Jing Hong and the students at The Practice Performing Arts School, founded by her parents in 1965.
For her, those were the simple pleasures of life, and family included everyone in the school.
'My parents loved life and loved people. I think they had a real big heart for people, and that has influenced how my sister and I view life and family,' says Ms Kuo, who is artistic co-director at The Theatre Practice (TPP), a bilingual theatre her father founded in 1986.
Her parents' deep concern for others, she says, created a strong sense of goodwill within their theatre 'family', which she enjoys to this day.
Mr Kuo came from Hebei, China to Singapore when he was 10, at his father's request. The elder Kuo was a successful businessman who owned Singapore's first multi-level department store, Peking, in the City Hall area.
Madam Goh moved here in her teens from Sumatra, Indonesia after World War II. Her parents were educators who sought teaching opportunities here.
The two met at Rediffusion's Mandarin radio play section, married, and lived in a bungalow off Orchard Road.
For immigrants like her parents, the theatre community offered them a place away from their home provinces in which to sink their roots, Ms Kuo says.
The innumerable acts of goodwill that people extended to one another forged a strong sense of community at a time when life was hard.
It seemed almost natural then that Mr Kuo would express his discontent with the socio-political turmoil in China and Singapore through his plays.
'There was discrimination, racial tension - there were all these things that were prime material for artistic creation,' says Ms Kuo.
His works were so critical that some were banned from the stage, such as The Struggle (1969), about the social turmoil that results from rapid urbanisation and capitalism. Eventually, he was arrested during the leftist purge in 1976.
He was detained for over four years and stripped of his Singapore citizenship. His citizenship was reinstated in 1992.
To Ms Kuo, her parents' social activism was less about being political than it was about being socially conscious of how people were being affected by regimes and policies.
'One of their concerns was the underdogs: the old, the youth, those who were ripped off by the opportunistic acts that were going on...materialistic quest was the last thing on our minds.'
This is the legacy of social consciousness that her father left Ms Kuo. She became TPP's artistic co-director in 2005 after spending 20 years studying theatre design and working in film and theatre in the United States.
She is married to freelance producer-director Christopher Hatton, 41, an American. They have a daughter, Olivia, who is five years old.
What brought her home was her sense of mission to grow the audience for Chinese theatre. This is why she chose to produce the Chinese modern rock musical Liao Zhai Rocks, which opens on Thursday.
Musicals, she says, can bring in audiences who would not ordinarily choose to watch a Chinese play. They also draw in artists from the music and English theatre scene who would otherwise stay away from Chinese theatre.
'For a lot of people who don't speak Mandarin any more, the only time they speak (Mandarin) is when they are singing karaoke. So songs are this thin thread that connects a lot of people to Chinese culture.
Her late father was Singapore's most famous playwright, Mr Kuo Pao Kun, and her mother is ballerina Goh Lay Kuan.
When Ms Kuo was growing up here, she did not play with the things other little girls did.
Instead, she sang and played with younger sister Jing Hong and the students at The Practice Performing Arts School, founded by her parents in 1965.
For her, those were the simple pleasures of life, and family included everyone in the school.
'My parents loved life and loved people. I think they had a real big heart for people, and that has influenced how my sister and I view life and family,' says Ms Kuo, who is artistic co-director at The Theatre Practice (TPP), a bilingual theatre her father founded in 1986.
Her parents' deep concern for others, she says, created a strong sense of goodwill within their theatre 'family', which she enjoys to this day.
Mr Kuo came from Hebei, China to Singapore when he was 10, at his father's request. The elder Kuo was a successful businessman who owned Singapore's first multi-level department store, Peking, in the City Hall area.
Madam Goh moved here in her teens from Sumatra, Indonesia after World War II. Her parents were educators who sought teaching opportunities here.
The two met at Rediffusion's Mandarin radio play section, married, and lived in a bungalow off Orchard Road.
For immigrants like her parents, the theatre community offered them a place away from their home provinces in which to sink their roots, Ms Kuo says.
The innumerable acts of goodwill that people extended to one another forged a strong sense of community at a time when life was hard.
It seemed almost natural then that Mr Kuo would express his discontent with the socio-political turmoil in China and Singapore through his plays.
'There was discrimination, racial tension - there were all these things that were prime material for artistic creation,' says Ms Kuo.
His works were so critical that some were banned from the stage, such as The Struggle (1969), about the social turmoil that results from rapid urbanisation and capitalism. Eventually, he was arrested during the leftist purge in 1976.
He was detained for over four years and stripped of his Singapore citizenship. His citizenship was reinstated in 1992.
To Ms Kuo, her parents' social activism was less about being political than it was about being socially conscious of how people were being affected by regimes and policies.
'One of their concerns was the underdogs: the old, the youth, those who were ripped off by the opportunistic acts that were going on...materialistic quest was the last thing on our minds.'
This is the legacy of social consciousness that her father left Ms Kuo. She became TPP's artistic co-director in 2005 after spending 20 years studying theatre design and working in film and theatre in the United States.
She is married to freelance producer-director Christopher Hatton, 41, an American. They have a daughter, Olivia, who is five years old.
What brought her home was her sense of mission to grow the audience for Chinese theatre. This is why she chose to produce the Chinese modern rock musical Liao Zhai Rocks, which opens on Thursday.
Musicals, she says, can bring in audiences who would not ordinarily choose to watch a Chinese play. They also draw in artists from the music and English theatre scene who would otherwise stay away from Chinese theatre.
'For a lot of people who don't speak Mandarin any more, the only time they speak (Mandarin) is when they are singing karaoke. So songs are this thin thread that connects a lot of people to Chinese culture.
another dog who bark but never serve NS
AT THE beginning of the 20th century, a young Dzafir Abdul Karim left his family on Bawean Island, north of Java, in search of work in Singapore.
He found work driving a steamroller to flatten roads under construction.
At night, he made traditional herbs, practised blood cupping - a traditional healing method akin to acupuncture - circumcised Malay children and taught them to read the Quran to supplement his meagre wages.
He did not speak much about his migration here to his eight children - three others died when they were young - but Mr Dzafir's hard work and ambition rubbed off on them, his son Ridzwan Dzafir, 82, recalls.
'He was conscious of the fact that he was a migrant, and had to work harder than locals,' Mr Ridzwan, a former top civil servant, tells Insight.
'That probably led to his doing more than one thing, and we acquired his enterprising and hard-working streak.'
At a time when few Malay boys made it to English schools, Mr Dzafir and his wife Rugayah made sure their sons worked doubly hard to make the grade.
Madam Rugayah was born here. Her father, Haji Khodri, had moved here from Madura, an island off East Java, and became a businessman who manufactured Malay herbal medicine and was a respected religious leader. Her mother, Hajah Halimah, was from Sulawesi.
Many such immigrants came from various parts of the Malay Archipelago to Singapore, but their origins mattered less as they formed a Malay identity based on a shared language and faith.
Once they settled down and formed a family here, Mr Ridzwan's parents called Singapore home. They moved to bigger homes, and eventually to a bungalow in Lorong 33 Geylang, where their children made friends with people from other communities.
Eldest son Jamil joined the civil service in the 1930s and rose to become assistant secretary, second son Razak built low-cost kampung houses in Jalan Eunos, third son Karim was a chemist with Shell and later a unionist, fourth son Ahmad joined the education service, and sixth son Khalil was a Straits Steamship Company officer.
Their two sisters, however, did not receive much education, as was common among many families at the time.
Mr Ridzwan, the fifth son, who studied in Geylang Malay School, Telok Kurau English School and Raffles Institution, won a scholarship to Raffles College, the precursor to the University of Malaya, in 1948.
But he failed one subject in his first year, and had to repeat the entire year.
Mr Ridzwan says he was devastated, as losing his scholarship also meant losing his spot in the university hostel.
Fortunately, he managed to get financial help from his dean, and resolved to complete his degree, even if it meant staying up past midnight and squatting in friends' rooms. He passed and was offered the chance to obtain honours, but turned it down to find work.
In 1952, he joined the Customs service, and nine years later, was absorbed into the elite Administrative Service.
In 1956, he married Madam Mushrifah Abdul Aziz, a widowed typist and mother of two at the Civil Defence Force, where he volunteered. They have three children of their own.
Mr Ridzwan went on to set up Singapore's diplomatic missions in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta after independence, and worked on trade matters and negotiations, rising to be director-general of the Trade Development Board, the predecessor of International Enterprise Singapore.
On top of his hectic schedule, he also served as president of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and chief executive of community self-help group Mendaki.
He notes wistfully that the Malay community can do much more to narrow the gap with other races in areas like education and skills, and feels a mindset change is needed.
'We must be more ambitious, more competitive, just like our forefathers who were migrants,' he says.
He found work driving a steamroller to flatten roads under construction.
At night, he made traditional herbs, practised blood cupping - a traditional healing method akin to acupuncture - circumcised Malay children and taught them to read the Quran to supplement his meagre wages.
He did not speak much about his migration here to his eight children - three others died when they were young - but Mr Dzafir's hard work and ambition rubbed off on them, his son Ridzwan Dzafir, 82, recalls.
'He was conscious of the fact that he was a migrant, and had to work harder than locals,' Mr Ridzwan, a former top civil servant, tells Insight.
'That probably led to his doing more than one thing, and we acquired his enterprising and hard-working streak.'
At a time when few Malay boys made it to English schools, Mr Dzafir and his wife Rugayah made sure their sons worked doubly hard to make the grade.
Madam Rugayah was born here. Her father, Haji Khodri, had moved here from Madura, an island off East Java, and became a businessman who manufactured Malay herbal medicine and was a respected religious leader. Her mother, Hajah Halimah, was from Sulawesi.
Many such immigrants came from various parts of the Malay Archipelago to Singapore, but their origins mattered less as they formed a Malay identity based on a shared language and faith.
Once they settled down and formed a family here, Mr Ridzwan's parents called Singapore home. They moved to bigger homes, and eventually to a bungalow in Lorong 33 Geylang, where their children made friends with people from other communities.
Eldest son Jamil joined the civil service in the 1930s and rose to become assistant secretary, second son Razak built low-cost kampung houses in Jalan Eunos, third son Karim was a chemist with Shell and later a unionist, fourth son Ahmad joined the education service, and sixth son Khalil was a Straits Steamship Company officer.
Their two sisters, however, did not receive much education, as was common among many families at the time.
Mr Ridzwan, the fifth son, who studied in Geylang Malay School, Telok Kurau English School and Raffles Institution, won a scholarship to Raffles College, the precursor to the University of Malaya, in 1948.
But he failed one subject in his first year, and had to repeat the entire year.
Mr Ridzwan says he was devastated, as losing his scholarship also meant losing his spot in the university hostel.
Fortunately, he managed to get financial help from his dean, and resolved to complete his degree, even if it meant staying up past midnight and squatting in friends' rooms. He passed and was offered the chance to obtain honours, but turned it down to find work.
In 1952, he joined the Customs service, and nine years later, was absorbed into the elite Administrative Service.
In 1956, he married Madam Mushrifah Abdul Aziz, a widowed typist and mother of two at the Civil Defence Force, where he volunteered. They have three children of their own.
Mr Ridzwan went on to set up Singapore's diplomatic missions in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta after independence, and worked on trade matters and negotiations, rising to be director-general of the Trade Development Board, the predecessor of International Enterprise Singapore.
On top of his hectic schedule, he also served as president of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and chief executive of community self-help group Mendaki.
He notes wistfully that the Malay community can do much more to narrow the gap with other races in areas like education and skills, and feels a mindset change is needed.
'We must be more ambitious, more competitive, just like our forefathers who were migrants,' he says.
their ancestor curse their lousy grandsons
for killing Sg with NS.
they must be thinking from their graves , WTF ! come all the way from china to escape opression and now kenna NS for all our sons forever !!! CCB !!
============================
Mar 20, 2010
If our parents had not made Singapore home
You recognise them as the faces of Singaporeans who contribute immensely to society, public service, the law, the economy and the arts. But do you know their origins? Insight speaks to five first-generation Singaporeans whose parents arrived here from the region and beyond in search of a better life.
By Zakir Hussain, Political Correspondent & Cassandra Chew
SENIOR Counsel Harry Elias' parents hailed from Baghdad, while retired public servant Ridzwan Dzafir's father sailed from Bawean Island.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's parents arrived from Guangzhou in the 1930s but returned home once before deciding to sink their roots here.
Mr Shaik Mohamad Abdul Jaleel's parents came from Madras - today's Chennai - and Taiping, while Ms Kuo Jian Hong's parents left Hebei and Sumatra.
They came, they saw, they conquered their fears and made Singapore home.
Their children were born and bred here, attended local schools and established careers or businesses which made them part of the local community and an asset to society and the economy.
These are the stories that reflect Singapore as an island of immigrants since its founding by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.
As a trading post and gateway to the region, it attracted workmen from China, India and elsewhere. Successive waves of immigrants followed as Singapore and Malaya developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In 1957, as Singapore progressed towards self-government and later independence, people who were British subjects or born here automatically gained citizenship.
Like today's newcomers, migrants who lived here long enough and swore loyalty to Singapore became citizens.
For first-generation Singaporeans, their ancestral links had become a distant memory and Singapore is their only home.
As DPM Wong told Parliament earlier this month: 'We are all descendants of immigrants.'
Had the forefathers of today's citizens been denied the chance to come and settle here, today's Singaporeans would not have been born here and Singapore would not be what it is today, he said.
Similarly, he tells Insight, the first-generation children of today's migrants will likewise contribute to Singapore and be as Singaporean as 'old' citizens.
'The children and grandchildren of today's immigrants who sink roots here will grow up with our children and grandchildren.
'Together they will be the next generation of Singaporeans and Singapore will be their home, just as much as it is our home today.
they must be thinking from their graves , WTF ! come all the way from china to escape opression and now kenna NS for all our sons forever !!! CCB !!
============================
Mar 20, 2010
If our parents had not made Singapore home
You recognise them as the faces of Singaporeans who contribute immensely to society, public service, the law, the economy and the arts. But do you know their origins? Insight speaks to five first-generation Singaporeans whose parents arrived here from the region and beyond in search of a better life.
By Zakir Hussain, Political Correspondent & Cassandra Chew
SENIOR Counsel Harry Elias' parents hailed from Baghdad, while retired public servant Ridzwan Dzafir's father sailed from Bawean Island.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's parents arrived from Guangzhou in the 1930s but returned home once before deciding to sink their roots here.
Mr Shaik Mohamad Abdul Jaleel's parents came from Madras - today's Chennai - and Taiping, while Ms Kuo Jian Hong's parents left Hebei and Sumatra.
They came, they saw, they conquered their fears and made Singapore home.
Their children were born and bred here, attended local schools and established careers or businesses which made them part of the local community and an asset to society and the economy.
These are the stories that reflect Singapore as an island of immigrants since its founding by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.
As a trading post and gateway to the region, it attracted workmen from China, India and elsewhere. Successive waves of immigrants followed as Singapore and Malaya developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In 1957, as Singapore progressed towards self-government and later independence, people who were British subjects or born here automatically gained citizenship.
Like today's newcomers, migrants who lived here long enough and swore loyalty to Singapore became citizens.
For first-generation Singaporeans, their ancestral links had become a distant memory and Singapore is their only home.
As DPM Wong told Parliament earlier this month: 'We are all descendants of immigrants.'
Had the forefathers of today's citizens been denied the chance to come and settle here, today's Singaporeans would not have been born here and Singapore would not be what it is today, he said.
Similarly, he tells Insight, the first-generation children of today's migrants will likewise contribute to Singapore and be as Singaporean as 'old' citizens.
'The children and grandchildren of today's immigrants who sink roots here will grow up with our children and grandchildren.
'Together they will be the next generation of Singaporeans and Singapore will be their home, just as much as it is our home today.
he never serve NS talk so big
WHENEVER Senior Counsel Harry Elias, 72, recalls his days at St Andrew's School from 1945 to 1954, one vivid scene inevitably comes to mind.
Before each competitive game, the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu players of the school rugby team would huddle and pray together.
'They all prayed to their own gods, but they all prayed together,' says the son of Baghdadi Jewish immigrants, who is today one of Singapore's leading lawyers.
The unusual ritual puzzled onlookers then, but to the young and impressionable Harry, it embodied the racial and religious freedoms his parents could not enjoy back in Iraq.
His parents, Mr Elias Jonas and Ms Sophie Reuben, left their country with their families at the turn of the 20th century, during the reign of the Ottoman empire.
Because of the lack of opportunities at home, many Jews sought better lives in the east, says Mr Elias, who took his father's first name as his last.
His father, then in his early 20s, became a successful merchant who ran four knick-knack shops along Arab Street, while his mother, in her mid-teens, was a housewife and midwife. She also volunteered as a chevra kadisha, who prepares the dead for burial.
Mr Elias is the youngest of 12 children, 10 of whom survived.
Back then, about 30 family members lived together in a rented bungalow in Burmah Road, off Serangoon Road, where Mr Elias was born.
'It was cramped, we didn't have modern sanitation. The faeces used to be collected in a bucket,' recalls Mr Elias, who spoke to his parents in Arabic and Malay.
They never went hungry, but meals were straightforward affairs. Boiled chicken feet with rice and saffron was a common item on their menu.
Life might have been simple, but what struck the Sephardic Jewish family was the lack of anti-Semitism in their new home.
'We never found any discrimination any time, any place, anywhere,' he says firmly. He recounts how his school principal recognised Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, as a holiday for his Jewish students.
Almost everyone was an immigrant then, so there was no reason to view others as trespassers, Mr Elias points out.
Although he had lost both parents by the age of 22, Mr Elias was able to pursue his dreams because many doors were open to him. A string of scholarships took him through to university in Britain, where he studied law.
He was called to the Singapore Bar in 1969, and started his own firm here in 1988. Today, Harry Elias Partnership is a top law firm.
Mr Elias is married to Ms Thelma Sharbanee, a Singapore-born Jew with Iraqi roots. They have two children each from previous marriages.
He is keenly aware that his success would have been unlikely elsewhere: 'This is the country that gave me every bloody opportunity I could get. No one hindered it, not a single obstacle.'
Before each competitive game, the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu players of the school rugby team would huddle and pray together.
'They all prayed to their own gods, but they all prayed together,' says the son of Baghdadi Jewish immigrants, who is today one of Singapore's leading lawyers.
The unusual ritual puzzled onlookers then, but to the young and impressionable Harry, it embodied the racial and religious freedoms his parents could not enjoy back in Iraq.
His parents, Mr Elias Jonas and Ms Sophie Reuben, left their country with their families at the turn of the 20th century, during the reign of the Ottoman empire.
Because of the lack of opportunities at home, many Jews sought better lives in the east, says Mr Elias, who took his father's first name as his last.
His father, then in his early 20s, became a successful merchant who ran four knick-knack shops along Arab Street, while his mother, in her mid-teens, was a housewife and midwife. She also volunteered as a chevra kadisha, who prepares the dead for burial.
Mr Elias is the youngest of 12 children, 10 of whom survived.
Back then, about 30 family members lived together in a rented bungalow in Burmah Road, off Serangoon Road, where Mr Elias was born.
'It was cramped, we didn't have modern sanitation. The faeces used to be collected in a bucket,' recalls Mr Elias, who spoke to his parents in Arabic and Malay.
They never went hungry, but meals were straightforward affairs. Boiled chicken feet with rice and saffron was a common item on their menu.
Life might have been simple, but what struck the Sephardic Jewish family was the lack of anti-Semitism in their new home.
'We never found any discrimination any time, any place, anywhere,' he says firmly. He recounts how his school principal recognised Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, as a holiday for his Jewish students.
Almost everyone was an immigrant then, so there was no reason to view others as trespassers, Mr Elias points out.
Although he had lost both parents by the age of 22, Mr Elias was able to pursue his dreams because many doors were open to him. A string of scholarships took him through to university in Britain, where he studied law.
He was called to the Singapore Bar in 1969, and started his own firm here in 1988. Today, Harry Elias Partnership is a top law firm.
Mr Elias is married to Ms Thelma Sharbanee, a Singapore-born Jew with Iraqi roots. They have two children each from previous marriages.
He is keenly aware that his success would have been unlikely elsewhere: 'This is the country that gave me every bloody opportunity I could get. No one hindered it, not a single obstacle.'
obama fatal error
my view on this is that obama is an idealist that will ruin the country.
there is no such thing as healthcare.
To see what I mean , consisder the paradox , the okinawan who went through the depravity of world war two is the healthist people on earth. Whereas the american who won the war are the world most obese people and dropping like flies.
somewhere inside the above lies the solution and not blindly throw money like what obama is doing.
obama father finally ended his life in drunken sorrow. look like his son following the same path of destruction.
there is no such thing as healthcare.
To see what I mean , consisder the paradox , the okinawan who went through the depravity of world war two is the healthist people on earth. Whereas the american who won the war are the world most obese people and dropping like flies.
somewhere inside the above lies the solution and not blindly throw money like what obama is doing.
obama father finally ended his life in drunken sorrow. look like his son following the same path of destruction.
fucking hell con into doing NS for nothing
I am an engineer. Over the past year, I have been squeezed out of my job by cheaper Chinese, Malaysian and Indian engineers. To them, $2000 is much when they remit back home. To me, I can't even afford a HDB, as frugal as I try to be, because the foreigners keeps driving home prices up on a daily basis. To add insult to injury, more of the foreign graduates replacing me had their university fees paid by our very own Ministry of Education. These graduates were not only given free college education, they were even given a month allowance of few hundred dollars each. While I had to work part time to support my education in NUS, and I still remain in debt to my student loan. (BITTER LAUGH!!!!).
I spent 2.5 years of my precious youth serving the SAF, during which I lost my first girlfriend during training. These foreigners were given PRs and citizenship in less than 2.5 years and they don't even need to serve. If war breaks out, I have to protect 1/3 of the population fuilled with these people?? (Assuming they dun run away at the 1st sign of trouble??!!) SAF even sent me a letter threatening to fine me for going overseas without telling them...to attend a funeral of my uncle...(BITTER LAUGH!!!!). Hey, here's an idea, why don't I migrate to another country before migrating back. That will save me more time!
I am working in odds jobs now 7 days a week. I am now almost 30 already. Inflation exceed my savings rate, and I find a home, marriage, kids and happy future beyond me. A simple illness or a year of unemployment could wipe me out. Yet the government is wondering why there are less marriages and births....(BITTER LAUGH!!!!)
I bear no love to my country now. My country does not need to be attacked, it has already be invaded and taken over. Thanks PAP!
July 19, 2009 12:42 PM
I spent 2.5 years of my precious youth serving the SAF, during which I lost my first girlfriend during training. These foreigners were given PRs and citizenship in less than 2.5 years and they don't even need to serve. If war breaks out, I have to protect 1/3 of the population fuilled with these people?? (Assuming they dun run away at the 1st sign of trouble??!!) SAF even sent me a letter threatening to fine me for going overseas without telling them...to attend a funeral of my uncle...(BITTER LAUGH!!!!). Hey, here's an idea, why don't I migrate to another country before migrating back. That will save me more time!
I am working in odds jobs now 7 days a week. I am now almost 30 already. Inflation exceed my savings rate, and I find a home, marriage, kids and happy future beyond me. A simple illness or a year of unemployment could wipe me out. Yet the government is wondering why there are less marriages and births....(BITTER LAUGH!!!!)
I bear no love to my country now. My country does not need to be attacked, it has already be invaded and taken over. Thanks PAP!
July 19, 2009 12:42 PM
Saturday, March 20, 2010
# Should we Abolish NS, discard the National Antemn – Majullah Singapura and trash the Pledge then let this place be a Pure Free Market – simply to make money only ???
*2 of my uncles and one of my aunties were killed by the Japanese when they invaded Singapore; similar to many other people who were either tortured or killed in Singapore at that time.
My grandparents and father suffered hunger and humiliations during the Japanese occupation of Singapore.
My father told me to do my National Service well
Without being a regular; I contributed until the rank of Major [NS] and was CO of one Guards Battalion and Brigade Dy S3.
*But now traitors had let in excessive numbers of cheap foreigners; invaded n mess up our lives in Singapore. This is same like the Japanese enemies who invaded n exploited Singapore 2 generations ago.
Many of us lost our biz, are jobless, missed local university places, missed scholarships, missed preferred primary school places, lost COEs, couldn’t afford public HDB flats, disrupted by foreigner queues jumping for buses, for trains, for tickets, etc. We are forced to be more boorish.
Many of us got squeezed out of PMET jobs and now have to work as taxi drivers, insurance n financial derivatives agents, property agents, etc.
*Now my 80+ yrs old father have to stand while foreigners occupy Priority/Reserved seats in MRT trains and queue behind foreigners at hospitals n polyclinics.
Foreigner enemies are all here amongst us and probably the only task left for our uniformed armed forces is to help our ruling party clear oppositions n protestors from our streets.
Now, unlike my father, I tell my sons that National Service is meaningless.
I also told my sons not to hurry in marriage and least of all having children who may become financial slaves to the banks thru buying expensive houses, cars, and also tax slaves etc.
IQ is genetic; ordinary locals got squeezed down the artificial Population ‘Bell Curve’ by foreigners in Singapore.
Quotas in Uni, JCs, Polys limiting locals plus FTs also squeezed us down the artificial Population ‘Bell Curve’ in Sgp.
*2 of my uncles and one of my aunties were killed by the Japanese when they invaded Singapore; similar to many other people who were either tortured or killed in Singapore at that time.
My grandparents and father suffered hunger and humiliations during the Japanese occupation of Singapore.
My father told me to do my National Service well
Without being a regular; I contributed until the rank of Major [NS] and was CO of one Guards Battalion and Brigade Dy S3.
*But now traitors had let in excessive numbers of cheap foreigners; invaded n mess up our lives in Singapore. This is same like the Japanese enemies who invaded n exploited Singapore 2 generations ago.
Many of us lost our biz, are jobless, missed local university places, missed scholarships, missed preferred primary school places, lost COEs, couldn’t afford public HDB flats, disrupted by foreigner queues jumping for buses, for trains, for tickets, etc. We are forced to be more boorish.
Many of us got squeezed out of PMET jobs and now have to work as taxi drivers, insurance n financial derivatives agents, property agents, etc.
*Now my 80+ yrs old father have to stand while foreigners occupy Priority/Reserved seats in MRT trains and queue behind foreigners at hospitals n polyclinics.
Foreigner enemies are all here amongst us and probably the only task left for our uniformed armed forces is to help our ruling party clear oppositions n protestors from our streets.
Now, unlike my father, I tell my sons that National Service is meaningless.
I also told my sons not to hurry in marriage and least of all having children who may become financial slaves to the banks thru buying expensive houses, cars, and also tax slaves etc.
IQ is genetic; ordinary locals got squeezed down the artificial Population ‘Bell Curve’ by foreigners in Singapore.
Quotas in Uni, JCs, Polys limiting locals plus FTs also squeezed us down the artificial Population ‘Bell Curve’ in Sgp.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
SAF is killing Sg
PAP would rather spend $11B (30%) out of total of $36.5B (according to the main estimates of the Ministries in budget 2010) to buy new military toys and feed our paper generals than to spend on social welfare for our elderlies.
And they keep bluring the word welfare, saying it's a bad word. Sure, we do not advocate welfare for the Abled but certainly, welfare for the Aged ought to be a state responsibility. How can you expect a 75 year old guy with his legs shaking to still go round working, collecting dirty plates in hawker centres? Does PAP want us all to work until we literally all drop dead in our working places?
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.
- Martin Luther King -
And they keep bluring the word welfare, saying it's a bad word. Sure, we do not advocate welfare for the Abled but certainly, welfare for the Aged ought to be a state responsibility. How can you expect a 75 year old guy with his legs shaking to still go round working, collecting dirty plates in hawker centres? Does PAP want us all to work until we literally all drop dead in our working places?
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.
- Martin Luther King -
party and free food for new citizens , NS for Singaporeans
The PAP has launched the Singapore Citizenship Journey portal using taxpayers’ monies this month as a pilot project in three GRCs – Tanjong Pagar, West Coast and Sembawang.
Prospective new citizens will now have to register on the Singapore Citizenship Journey before they can become Singapore citizens as well as to attend compulsory “sharing sessions” with PAP-affiliated grassroots leaders.
The portal will also have an e-learning module to help new citizens learn more about Singapore and an online module in English for them to complete.
Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament on Wednesday that “having a more structured naturalisation process will ensure that they understand and appreciate the pillars of national identity and values.”
It is unsure how prospective new citizens who cannot even speak a single word of English will be able to complete the online module.
In a desperate attempt to reversing the damaging effect of the “Stop at Two” policy in the 1970s and to boost Singapore’s declining birth rates, the PAP has opened the floodgates to foreigners in the last few years.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent, an increasing number are born overseas.
A significant proportion of the newcomers hail from the inland provinces of mainland China, many of whom are unable to speak or comprehend English. The mainstream media carried reports of Chinese construction workers, cleaners, masseurs and even prostitutes being granted Singapore PRs and citizenships.
PAP’s octogenarian leader Lee Kuan Yew said in a recent interview with the National Geographic magazine that it is a “good idea” that Singapore welcomes so many Chinese immigrants as they are more “hard-driving” and “hard-striving” than locals.
Though the fundamental reason behind Singapore’s immigration policy is sound, it is implemented too hastily with little prior planning or foresight to anticipate problems arising in the future.
Too many foreigners were allowed into Singapore within too short a period of time such that it is near impossible to integrate all of them and the fault lies solely with the PAP.
For example, plans to integrate them should have been drawn up as early as 2003 and not only now when Dr Vivian unveiled a megal $10 million dollar Community Integration Fund to serve the purpose which is too little, too late.
With ethnic enclaves already emerging in the HDB heartlands, it is very unlikely that the new immigrants, consisting of a motley crowd of mainland Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Malaysians etc. will be able to mix around with one another, let alone integrate into the larger Singapore society.
At the end of the day, it is ordinary Singaporeans who are paying the price of the PAP’s policy mistakes and not the millionaire PAP ministers whose positions remain as secure as ever.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, the relentless influx of foreigners has depressed the wages of ordinary Singapore workers, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing, decreased labor productivity and led to an overall decline in the standards of living.
Unfortunately, the PAP continues to live high up in their own ivory towers and remain oblivious to the problems currently besieging the nation.
Unless Singaporeans vote out the PAP in the next general election to reclaim the ownership of their nation, they will soon be relegated to second class minorities within their country of birth with the males having to serve two years of National Service to protect the foreigners, PRs and new citizens
Prospective new citizens will now have to register on the Singapore Citizenship Journey before they can become Singapore citizens as well as to attend compulsory “sharing sessions” with PAP-affiliated grassroots leaders.
The portal will also have an e-learning module to help new citizens learn more about Singapore and an online module in English for them to complete.
Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament on Wednesday that “having a more structured naturalisation process will ensure that they understand and appreciate the pillars of national identity and values.”
It is unsure how prospective new citizens who cannot even speak a single word of English will be able to complete the online module.
In a desperate attempt to reversing the damaging effect of the “Stop at Two” policy in the 1970s and to boost Singapore’s declining birth rates, the PAP has opened the floodgates to foreigners in the last few years.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent, an increasing number are born overseas.
A significant proportion of the newcomers hail from the inland provinces of mainland China, many of whom are unable to speak or comprehend English. The mainstream media carried reports of Chinese construction workers, cleaners, masseurs and even prostitutes being granted Singapore PRs and citizenships.
PAP’s octogenarian leader Lee Kuan Yew said in a recent interview with the National Geographic magazine that it is a “good idea” that Singapore welcomes so many Chinese immigrants as they are more “hard-driving” and “hard-striving” than locals.
Though the fundamental reason behind Singapore’s immigration policy is sound, it is implemented too hastily with little prior planning or foresight to anticipate problems arising in the future.
Too many foreigners were allowed into Singapore within too short a period of time such that it is near impossible to integrate all of them and the fault lies solely with the PAP.
For example, plans to integrate them should have been drawn up as early as 2003 and not only now when Dr Vivian unveiled a megal $10 million dollar Community Integration Fund to serve the purpose which is too little, too late.
With ethnic enclaves already emerging in the HDB heartlands, it is very unlikely that the new immigrants, consisting of a motley crowd of mainland Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Malaysians etc. will be able to mix around with one another, let alone integrate into the larger Singapore society.
At the end of the day, it is ordinary Singaporeans who are paying the price of the PAP’s policy mistakes and not the millionaire PAP ministers whose positions remain as secure as ever.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, the relentless influx of foreigners has depressed the wages of ordinary Singapore workers, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing, decreased labor productivity and led to an overall decline in the standards of living.
Unfortunately, the PAP continues to live high up in their own ivory towers and remain oblivious to the problems currently besieging the nation.
Unless Singaporeans vote out the PAP in the next general election to reclaim the ownership of their nation, they will soon be relegated to second class minorities within their country of birth with the males having to serve two years of National Service to protect the foreigners, PRs and new citizens
PAP ram down rubbish into NS slaves mouth
Measures to make ex-spouses pay up
by Carolyn Quek
DEADBEAT dads are in for a hard time.
Courts will be empowered to sentence them to do community service, go for financial counselling or even post a bank guarantee to ensure they do not default on maintenance payments to their ex-wives and children.
New measures are also being put in place to make it easier for ex-spouses to seek and enforce maintenance orders.
These moves, alerted by Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Vivian Balakrishnan last year, are set to come into force by next year.
In announcing the stiffer enforcement actions yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan noted that the number of defaulters continues to rise.
This, despite defaulters facing the threat of jail, fines and court orders that require banks to transfer money from a defaulting spouse to the ex-wife.
Last year, 3,585 applications were made for maintenance orders to be enforced, 10 per cent more than the previous year.
Also, orders to pay alimony and child support were often shrugged off. Of the 4,515 orders issued in 2005, 966 or 21 per cent were breached within three years.
Almost half of the 966 orders were ignored more than once.
The situation will worsen with the rise in divorces.
About 6 per cent of couples who married in 2004 had divorced by last year, their fifth year of marriage.
By comparison, for couples who were married in 1987 - including Dr Balakrishnan - the corresponding figure was only 3.2 per cent.
'In the last two decades, the likelihood of a marriage failing within five years has doubled,' the minister added, in his response to several MPs calling for a tougher stand against defaulting ex-spouses.
Among them was Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC), who said: 'Love is blind. As a woman, I'd like to appeal to all women, take charge of your love life. If a man does not take responsibility for his ex-wife and children, there is every likelihood he'll do it again.'
The process for women to seek enforcement of the maintenance order will also be made less onerous, said Dr Balakrishnan. They will be able to lodge complaints via video links at family service centres, instead of having to personally appear in court to begin the process.
The Women's Charter will be amended to give the courts new powers to impose further penalties. These include allowing the courts to issue more orders to a defaulter's employer to deduct the maintenance amount from his salary, as well as impose community-based sentences.
Said Dr Balakrishnan: 'We've had situations where the man says, 'It's all right, put me in jail, then I can't work, then I can't pay'.
'So, courts need to have an additional menu of options in which they can penalise or deter the recalcitrants without necessarily stopping them from being able to continue working.'
A 41-year-old secretary, divorced for 12 years, cheered the new measures, saying her ex-husband had defaulted many times through the years.
The longest stretch during which he failed to pay her alimony was four months.
But even defaulting for one month was enough to throw her finances off kilter as her 12-year-old son requires special treatment for his dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
She also supports her aged parents.
She has taken enforcement action a few times, but hesitated on several other occasions as she feared taking time off work would not go down well with her employer.
'With the video link filing, I believe the applications for such complaints will definitely go up.'
carolynq@sph.com.sg
New measures
Deterring defaulters:
# Spouses who fail to pay maintenance can be ordered by the court to post a bank guarantee to set aside funds against future defaults.
# They can be sentenced to do community service by the courts.
# They can also be ordered to go for financial counselling by the courts.
# Their spouses can report the maintenance amount owing to them to credit bureaus, to better reflect the credit standing of defaulters.
# People registering their second or subsequent marriages must declare any outstanding maintenance debts.
# Employers will also get more orders from the courts to deduct the maintenance amount from an employee's salary.
# Complaining ex-spouses can, under a soon-to-be-amended law, obtain employment information of defaulters from the CPF Board.
Easier enforcement:
# Court processes will be improved to make it easier for complainants to enforce maintenance orders.
# Courts will be given powers to order defaulting spouses to provide information on their financial status.
# People without lawyers to help them enforce maintenance orders can turn to newly launched centres called Help, or Helping to Empower Litigants-in-Person.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
by Carolyn Quek
DEADBEAT dads are in for a hard time.
Courts will be empowered to sentence them to do community service, go for financial counselling or even post a bank guarantee to ensure they do not default on maintenance payments to their ex-wives and children.
New measures are also being put in place to make it easier for ex-spouses to seek and enforce maintenance orders.
These moves, alerted by Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Vivian Balakrishnan last year, are set to come into force by next year.
In announcing the stiffer enforcement actions yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan noted that the number of defaulters continues to rise.
This, despite defaulters facing the threat of jail, fines and court orders that require banks to transfer money from a defaulting spouse to the ex-wife.
Last year, 3,585 applications were made for maintenance orders to be enforced, 10 per cent more than the previous year.
Also, orders to pay alimony and child support were often shrugged off. Of the 4,515 orders issued in 2005, 966 or 21 per cent were breached within three years.
Almost half of the 966 orders were ignored more than once.
The situation will worsen with the rise in divorces.
About 6 per cent of couples who married in 2004 had divorced by last year, their fifth year of marriage.
By comparison, for couples who were married in 1987 - including Dr Balakrishnan - the corresponding figure was only 3.2 per cent.
'In the last two decades, the likelihood of a marriage failing within five years has doubled,' the minister added, in his response to several MPs calling for a tougher stand against defaulting ex-spouses.
Among them was Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC), who said: 'Love is blind. As a woman, I'd like to appeal to all women, take charge of your love life. If a man does not take responsibility for his ex-wife and children, there is every likelihood he'll do it again.'
The process for women to seek enforcement of the maintenance order will also be made less onerous, said Dr Balakrishnan. They will be able to lodge complaints via video links at family service centres, instead of having to personally appear in court to begin the process.
The Women's Charter will be amended to give the courts new powers to impose further penalties. These include allowing the courts to issue more orders to a defaulter's employer to deduct the maintenance amount from his salary, as well as impose community-based sentences.
Said Dr Balakrishnan: 'We've had situations where the man says, 'It's all right, put me in jail, then I can't work, then I can't pay'.
'So, courts need to have an additional menu of options in which they can penalise or deter the recalcitrants without necessarily stopping them from being able to continue working.'
A 41-year-old secretary, divorced for 12 years, cheered the new measures, saying her ex-husband had defaulted many times through the years.
The longest stretch during which he failed to pay her alimony was four months.
But even defaulting for one month was enough to throw her finances off kilter as her 12-year-old son requires special treatment for his dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
She also supports her aged parents.
She has taken enforcement action a few times, but hesitated on several other occasions as she feared taking time off work would not go down well with her employer.
'With the video link filing, I believe the applications for such complaints will definitely go up.'
carolynq@sph.com.sg
New measures
Deterring defaulters:
# Spouses who fail to pay maintenance can be ordered by the court to post a bank guarantee to set aside funds against future defaults.
# They can be sentenced to do community service by the courts.
# They can also be ordered to go for financial counselling by the courts.
# Their spouses can report the maintenance amount owing to them to credit bureaus, to better reflect the credit standing of defaulters.
# People registering their second or subsequent marriages must declare any outstanding maintenance debts.
# Employers will also get more orders from the courts to deduct the maintenance amount from an employee's salary.
# Complaining ex-spouses can, under a soon-to-be-amended law, obtain employment information of defaulters from the CPF Board.
Easier enforcement:
# Court processes will be improved to make it easier for complainants to enforce maintenance orders.
# Courts will be given powers to order defaulting spouses to provide information on their financial status.
# People without lawyers to help them enforce maintenance orders can turn to newly launched centres called Help, or Helping to Empower Litigants-in-Person.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
20 percent more Indians who never NS in Sg
MR MOHAMED Mustafa Shahulhamid has been looking for a resale flat in Little India for his son in the last six months.
So far, his hunt has been fruitless.
'Many Indian families want to live in Little India. No Indian families are moving out and we cannot buy from the Chinese,' said the 51-year-old frozen food trader.
Under the Ethnic Integration Policy, the Government has set ratios for ethnic groups in HDB blocks and precincts. This is to prevent enclaves from forming.
In Little India, the quotas for Indians/Others are usually filled.
But Mr Mohamed Mustafa may now get a break as a result of quota changes. On March 5, the quotas for Indians/Others were raised to 12 per cent and 15 per cent for precinct and block respectively, up from 10 per cent and 13 per cent.
So far, his hunt has been fruitless.
'Many Indian families want to live in Little India. No Indian families are moving out and we cannot buy from the Chinese,' said the 51-year-old frozen food trader.
Under the Ethnic Integration Policy, the Government has set ratios for ethnic groups in HDB blocks and precincts. This is to prevent enclaves from forming.
In Little India, the quotas for Indians/Others are usually filled.
But Mr Mohamed Mustafa may now get a break as a result of quota changes. On March 5, the quotas for Indians/Others were raised to 12 per cent and 15 per cent for precinct and block respectively, up from 10 per cent and 13 per cent.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
SAF full of idiots like this
I’ve spoken to someone who works in the army as a regular and he said, “We must vote for the PAP. We are government servants, and if we don’t vote for them our performance grading will be affected.” And when I asked him in return about the future of the rest of the people, he said, “Don’t have time to worry about other people, we get good pay and good life can already. Why I want to spoil my own rice bowl, thinking about the rest?
kelings get HIGH PAY Sg males get NS
Singaporeans not good enough: Temasek offered 110k – 130k USD per annum to fresh Indian IIM-B graduates
All 270 students from the 2010 batch of the post-graduate programme (PGP) of the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIM-B) have been placed in just five days since the opening of the process. IIM-B also claims to have completed the final placements ahead of all other IIMs.As many as 120 reputable firms from and outside the country – from both the traditional and emerging sectors like healthcare and energy – visited the institute during the placement period.Fifteen new companies took part in the placements this year, recording a 41 per cent increase from last year.Prominent among the new entrants were: AT Kearney, Alvarez & Marsal, Bain & Co, Booz & Co, Diamond Consulting, Nomura and Temasek Holdings.Nomura is reported to have made the highest offer of Rs80 lakh per annum for the role of vice president finance in an international location. Temasek Holdings offered Rs50-60 lakh per annum.
The students have accepted as many as 15 international offers from companies including Nomura, Temasek, P&G, Enzen, Arvin Meritor and UAE Exchange.
About 45 women in the batch accepted offers in sectors, like investment banking, consulting and PE.
In the lateral placements held for students with two years of work experience, 30 companies made recruitments. A total of 66 offers were received by the students in lateral placement as compared to 50 offers last year.
All 270 students from the 2010 batch of the post-graduate programme (PGP) of the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIM-B) have been placed in just five days since the opening of the process. IIM-B also claims to have completed the final placements ahead of all other IIMs.As many as 120 reputable firms from and outside the country – from both the traditional and emerging sectors like healthcare and energy – visited the institute during the placement period.Fifteen new companies took part in the placements this year, recording a 41 per cent increase from last year.Prominent among the new entrants were: AT Kearney, Alvarez & Marsal, Bain & Co, Booz & Co, Diamond Consulting, Nomura and Temasek Holdings.Nomura is reported to have made the highest offer of Rs80 lakh per annum for the role of vice president finance in an international location. Temasek Holdings offered Rs50-60 lakh per annum.
The students have accepted as many as 15 international offers from companies including Nomura, Temasek, P&G, Enzen, Arvin Meritor and UAE Exchange.
About 45 women in the batch accepted offers in sectors, like investment banking, consulting and PE.
In the lateral placements held for students with two years of work experience, 30 companies made recruitments. A total of 66 offers were received by the students in lateral placement as compared to 50 offers last year.
SAF general climb on career on back of NS slaves
RADM Lui added that while he reaffirmed the Government's position on approaching new media with a light touch, he warned it was not a sign of weakness: 'It's worthwhile to remember that a relaxed grip is a sign of a strong hand.'
He also reminded netizens to be mindful in cyberspace, as real world laws apply there too: 'They take courage from the cloak of anonymity in cyberspace and sometimes that can have repercussions beyond what they imagine it to be.'
He also reminded netizens to be mindful in cyberspace, as real world laws apply there too: 'They take courage from the cloak of anonymity in cyberspace and sometimes that can have repercussions beyond what they imagine it to be.'
Singaporean become second class in own country
But what's interesting is this, one of the 3 before leaving said to the fallen girl that becuase she (the queue cutter) is a PRC, they gave face and decided to stop whacking her. But if she was a Singaporean girl, they said they will kick her until she died!
Membership has its privileges, they know that a Sinkee citizenship is worth less than a foreign one.
Membership has its privileges, they know that a Sinkee citizenship is worth less than a foreign one.
how stupid can SAF get ??
MADAM HO SHIYUN: 'I refer to Thursday's report, 'Temasek Club for all SAF officers'. My officer husband returned home a few days ago with a letter from Temasek Club saying how it was pleased to welcome us as new members. I didn't know whether to jump for joy because my family can now enjoy additional club facilities, or to laugh at the absurdity that, whether we like it or not, we are part of a club that we most certainly will not be patronising much. While a $10 monthly fee does not amount to much, the point is we did not have a choice in the matter. Instead of paying the club the fee, I would be happier to donate the subscription fee to a worthy cause headed by Temasek Club.'
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
even SAF officers dont like SAF
Temasek Club for all SAF officers
ALL commissioned officers in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will have to join the Temasek Club, once the sole province of most of those who hold the ranks of captain and above.
ALL commissioned officers in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will have to join the Temasek Club, once the sole province of most of those who hold the ranks of captain and above.
Sg males treated like shit in their own country
THE Government is cracking down on defaulters to secure maintenance payments for their ex-spouses and children, as more couples in Singapore divorce. Those who fail to pay maintenance on time will face tougher penalties and sanctions, warned Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament on Wednesday.
To address the high incidence of defaults, which rose by 10 per cent from 3,266 applications in 2008 to 3,585 last year, Dr Balakrishnan said the Women's Charter will be amended to give the court powers to enforce maintenance orders against those who neglect their obligations to their children and wives, and also to make the process less onerous for claimants.
Besides imposing fine and jail sentence, the court will in future require the defaulter to post a bank guarantee to set aside funds against future defaults applications, mete out community-based sentences and order the defaulter to undergo financial counselling where necessary.
The court can also order employers to pay maintenance from the salary of employees, who have defaulted on such payment. Claimants will also be given means to report maintenance debts to credit bureaus to better reflect the defaulters' credit standing.
Dr Balakrishnan added that MCYS will also require persons who are registering for their second or subsequent marriage to declare any outstanding maintenance debts. The Subordinate Courts will also improve their processes to make it easier for complainants to enforce maintenance orders.
Explaining why a tougher stance is called for, the minister said the high incidence of defaults showed that the current measures may not be sufficient to deter defaults. At the same time, many complainants, mostly women with children, face difficulties in navigating the process of seeking enforcement. They have to attend court at various stages of the enforcement process, and this affects their jobs and childcare arrangements. In cases where the complainants face repeated defaults, they would have to go through the entire process again.
Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
To address the high incidence of defaults, which rose by 10 per cent from 3,266 applications in 2008 to 3,585 last year, Dr Balakrishnan said the Women's Charter will be amended to give the court powers to enforce maintenance orders against those who neglect their obligations to their children and wives, and also to make the process less onerous for claimants.
Besides imposing fine and jail sentence, the court will in future require the defaulter to post a bank guarantee to set aside funds against future defaults applications, mete out community-based sentences and order the defaulter to undergo financial counselling where necessary.
The court can also order employers to pay maintenance from the salary of employees, who have defaulted on such payment. Claimants will also be given means to report maintenance debts to credit bureaus to better reflect the defaulters' credit standing.
Dr Balakrishnan added that MCYS will also require persons who are registering for their second or subsequent marriage to declare any outstanding maintenance debts. The Subordinate Courts will also improve their processes to make it easier for complainants to enforce maintenance orders.
Explaining why a tougher stance is called for, the minister said the high incidence of defaults showed that the current measures may not be sufficient to deter defaults. At the same time, many complainants, mostly women with children, face difficulties in navigating the process of seeking enforcement. They have to attend court at various stages of the enforcement process, and this affects their jobs and childcare arrangements. In cases where the complainants face repeated defaults, they would have to go through the entire process again.
Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
New citizens molly coddly , but Sg males bash in NS
People interacting with displays of Singapore's heritage and culture, at an event aimed at integrating new citizens and permanent residents with Singaporeans. Those who intend to be citizens will now have to go through a mandatory Singapore Citizenship (SC) Journey, which will include a tour, a sharing session with grassroots leaders, an online tutorial, and a citizenship ceremony. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
PERMANENT Residents who intend to be citizens will now have to go through a mandatory Singapore Citizenship (SC) Journey, which will include a tour, a sharing session with grassroots leaders, an online tutorial, and a citizenship ceremony, said Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan on Tuesday.
The SC journey which starts this month, and will be fully rolled out in the second half of the year.
Through the online programme, new citizens will learn about Singapore's national symbols, governance, and defence among other things. They will then take an online quiz.
This is complemented by a half-day tour to Singapore Parliament House, URA Centre and the National Museum.
Also compulsory is the community sharing session where new citizens can find out more about Community Clubs, and grassroots organisations.
The National Integration Council will also work with the NVPC to raise awareness of volunteer opportunities among new citizens.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
serve NS but sg property sold to Foreigners ?
In the light of escalating properties prices, it will be pertinent to understand that singapore properties should be reserved for Singaporeans. It is not fair for Singaporeans to do NS to safeguard assets of foreigners.
Furthermore, if properties are all purchased by foreigners, it will be a sad day when Singaporeans have to rent from foreigners and yet, guard these rental properties during NS.
Singapore is an open economy. Foreigners can stay in 1 property during their stay here. There is no reason to allow them to buy more. China govt has recently implemented this to stop inflation in their home country too. Will PAP have the moral courage to do the right thing for the nation?
Furthermore, if properties are all purchased by foreigners, it will be a sad day when Singaporeans have to rent from foreigners and yet, guard these rental properties during NS.
Singapore is an open economy. Foreigners can stay in 1 property during their stay here. There is no reason to allow them to buy more. China govt has recently implemented this to stop inflation in their home country too. Will PAP have the moral courage to do the right thing for the nation?
what is this ? asonist strike in Sg everyday
6 double-decker buses destroyed in early morning fire
Singapore - Residents of Ang Mo Kio estate reported being awaken by three to four thunderous 'explosions' in the early hours of Sunday morning.
At 3.30 am, six double-decker buses at Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot caught fire.
Residents from the nearby high-rise housing estate reported seeing large smoke fumes rising from the area as well as a 'smoky' smell coming from the area. » Read more
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Dr Ng say you kenna con into doing NS
Dr Ng Eng Hen: No “strong reasons” for new citizens to serve National ServiceWritten by Our Correspondent Stung by fast rising public unhappiness and discontent against its pro-foreigner policies, the PAP has made some cosmetic changes to its policies of late to placate angry voters, but one thing remain cast on stone: new citizens will still be exempted from National Service which is compulsory for all males born in Singapore. During a “parliamentary debate” yesterday, PAP MP Michael Pamler asked if “new citizens should shoulder responsibilities that able-bodied male Singaporeans undertake.” For some strange reason, it was the Second Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen who answered his question and not the Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean who was caught sleeping on camera earlier. Dr Ng said that “it is not a sufficiently strong reason for the requirement to be imposed on them”: “‘We have specifically narrowed the scope because we know that it imposes considerable costs both to the individual and to the nation……From time to time, there have been calls to extend NS beyond this remit, to fulfil laudable social objectives. I am not in any doubt that these are laudable social goals but it is an inadequate reason for us to impose NS to go beyond the remit of a critical national security and survival need,” he claimed without substantiating his statements. An increasing number of Singaporeans are getting fed up with the discriminatory policies the PAP has practised against them in favor of the immigrants. For example, the PAP gives out generous scholarships to PRC students who are given Singapore citizenships upon graduation without ever serving National Service. In contrast, Singapore males have to serve two years of National Service before entering universities at their own expenses if they did not manage to secure a scholarship. Furthermore, they are disadvantaged by their reservist obligations upon entering the labor market. Dr Ng pointed out that there are many programmes to “integrate new citizens and help them better understand the importance of national defence.” For example, the People’s Association organized visits for new citizens to the Army Museum while the Defence Ministry organises visits to the Pulau Tekong Basic Military Training Centre, but these one-day visits can hardly substitute for the unique 2-year NS experience which all Singapore males have gone through. The new citizens should go through at least the 3-month basic military training to prevent them from taking a “free ride” on the contributions of native Singaporeans. Otherwise, it will appear that native Singaporeans are serving NS to protect the lives and properties of these new citizens. Right now, there is a pervasive public impression that Singaporeans are being relegated to second class citizens within their own countries. The new citizens should be made to pay an additional social security tax to make up for not doing NS. With Singapore being swarmed by foreigners thanks to the PAP’s liberal immigration policies, it is little wonder that there exists a common saying in the populace: “NS for Singaporeans, Jobs for foreigners |
Dr Chee talk about Freedom but continue to promote NS slavery
Dr chee video
Another eloquent opponent of the draft was former President Ronald Reagan who in a 1979 column on conscription said:
"...it rests on the assumption that your kids belong to the state. If we buy that assumption then it is for the state – not for parents, the community, the religious institutions or teachers – to decide who shall have what values and who shall do what work, when, where and how in our society. That assumption isn't a new one. The Nazis thought it was a great idea."
Orchard Road for FT , Jurong , woodlands for NS slaves
Drop-out rate 50% for selection of BTO flats in 2009
By Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 05 March 2010 2128 hrs
 | ||||||
 Mah Bow Tan | ||||||
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan revealed this figure in Parliament on Friday. He added that the high application rates for recent BTO launches do not reflect true demand for flats.
Mr Mah noted that 22 per cent of the applications for BTO projects in the last four months are repeat applications from the same households. He gave the example of a recent BTO project, Fernvale Palms, that had just completed selection.
He said: "By the end of the selection exercise just this week, 44 per cent of first-timers who were invited to select a flat declined, did not do so.
"They were given the chance; they went, they saw, they said, 'No, thank you, I don't want.' - even when all the flats were available on the first day. 34 per cent of applicants gave up their chance to select a flat."
Members of Parliament, such as Cedric Foo and Cynthia Phua, had questioned if there was a sufficient supply of housing.
Responding to them, Mr Mah said that HDB received nearly 480 appeals in the last six months from home buyers who said they could not get a flat. But he added that only six per cent of these applicants genuinely did not have a chance to choose a flat in at least two BTO exercises in non-mature estates.
Mr Mah said that the government is committed towards helping Singaporeans own their first home. But he urged home buyers to be realistic.
Dr Ng say Jobs for FT , NS for Sg
NS for new citizens: No strong reason
NS meant to meet critical national need, not fulfil social goals: Ng Eng Hen
THE idea that new citizens should be made to serve some form of national service is understandable.
But it is not a sufficiently strong reason for the requirement to be imposed on them, Second Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday.
He was responding to proposals by Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC) and Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) that new citizens should shoulder responsibilities that able-bodied male Singaporeans undertake.
Dr Ng explained that national service is to meet a critical national need, namely national security and Singapore's survival.
'We have specifically narrowed the scope because we know that it imposes considerable costs both to the individual and to the nation,' he told the House.
'From time to time, there have been calls to extend NS beyond this remit, to fulfil laudable social objectives.
'I am not in any doubt that these are laudable social goals but it is an inadequate reason for us to impose NS to go beyond the remit of a critical national security and survival need.'
Dr Ng said agencies had programmes to integrate new citizens and help them better understand the importance of national defence.
The People's Association, for example, organised visits for new citizens to the Army Museum. And the Defence Ministry organises visits to the Pulau Tekong Basic Military Training Centre.
In his remarks, he said that two other fundamental principles - universality and equity - also served as the basis for policies on enlistment and deferment.
All young Singaporean males who are fit to serve are conscripted, and national service policies apply equally to everyone regardless of background or status.
Otherwise 'there will be strong feelings of unfairness, which will undermine the commitment of our national servicemen'.
He also responded to Nominated MP Viswa Sadasivan who asked if the ministry could be flexible with deferments for servicemen when there is a clash between the time they complete full-time service and the time they enter university.
Dr Ng said it was difficult to address specific needs of individuals, but provided this assurance: 'We want to ensure, in terms of equity, that no enlistee will enter a university later than his peers.'
CAI HAOXIANG
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