We are glad to hear the Prime Minister addressing the various key problems that we have been raising for the past one year in his National Day Rally speech.
However, at closer examination, we have the following key points to make:
$60 billion for MRT infrastructure over 10 years
1. Where would the government get the funding of $60B from?
2. Will the PAP government increase the GST to 10% or raise other taxes to get additional funding? Will the public transport fares increase to finance this expenditure?
3. Will the PAP government keep to the promised time frame of 10 years? The PAP government has delayed various important infrastructure projects, like the building of hospitals as well as the Downtown line, which have resulted in the increased cost of construction. Will the PAP government promise to keep to the budget of $60B instead of allowing it to balloon out of control, just like what happened to the YOG budget?
Measures to keep Housing Affordable
1. We are very confused by the various contradictory signals that the PAP ministers have sent within these few months:
a. Late last year, Minister Mah Bow Tan claimed that housing was still affordable, and that the influx of immigrants was not a main factor causing the rise in resale prices. But now the Prime Minister has acknowledged that the influx of new immigrants has contributed to the rise in resale prices.
b. When Minister Mah put up the first few measures in March 2010 to curb rising resale prices, some Singaporeans questioned the inadequacy of such measures. Minister Mah defended his ministry’s decision and said no other measures would be necessary. But just 5 months down the road, Minister Mah has introduced more drastic measures to curb property prices.
c. In March 2010, Minister Mah claimed that the supply of flats was more than sufficient to meet any surge in demand. However it seems that his ministry must now go into overdrive to ramp up the supply of BTO flats.
d. In March 2010, Minister Mah raised the minimum occupation period for resale flat owners who take bank loans from 1 year to 3 years. Barely a few months later, the ministry is now further pushing it up to 5 years. It seems that HDB is unable to provide any policy stability at all.
e. On 26 June 2010, MM Lee said there probably isn’t any property bubble. But now, Minister Mah admits that a property bubble is in the making.
2. In December 2009, after admitting to being “caught off guard”, Minister Mah reassured us of the ministry’s ability to keep this problem of “unexpected” rise in property prices in check. Yet the contradictions as noted above clearly signal that his ministry continues to lose sight of the severity of the problem.
3. The latest drastic measures have caused unwarranted shocks to the whole system. Those who have based their purchases of HDB flats or private properties on the past policies will face great financial losses. The frequent policy changes will erode investor’s confidence in the government’s competency in dealing with such problems.
4. As long as there isn’t any fundamental change in the pricing mechanism of new HDB flats and the increasing demand of new migrants (Permanent Residents) is not effectively met by other means, we do not see how prices for both new and resale HDB flats can become affordable. NSP reiterates our stand that new HDB flats should be sold at cost price to citizens. HDB should also consider selling new flats to PR at market price so to ease the demand due to unusual increase in PR population.
Immigration Policy
1. We do not think that the Prime Minister understands the real problems caused by the huge influx of foreign labour on the ground.
2. PM Lee has raised the example of coffeeshop owners unable to find Singaporeans who are willing to work until 12a.m. and thus they need to employ foreign workers. But the truth is, to ask workers to work 14 hours or more in a day is an act of exploitation. The labour law should be applied equally on both local and foreign workers. We cannot allow employers to exploit foreign workers just because Singapore workers are unwilling to be exploited.
3. We also notice that there are firms putting up recruitment advertisement which discriminate against either Singapore citizens or races. The liberal FT policy that the PAP government has adopted is partly to be blamed for this discrimination of local Singapore citizens by businesses. This practice has to be stopped and NSP urges the government to set up Commission of Equal Opportunity and setting laws to outlaw discriminatory employment practices.
4. PM Lee has ignored the severity of the depression of wages of both middle and lower income earners due to the influx of foreign labour. There is no mention of any concrete plans to deal with this problem.
5. PM Lee may think that foreign labour will help to create jobs for Singaporeans but the reverse is also true. Many Singaporeans’ jobs have been displaced by foreign labour. The problem is so severe that engineers and managers are now becoming taxi drivers. We have invested lots of money in the education of our citizens but such displacement of jobs of foreign labour has effectively made our investment wasted. Here again, there is no mention of any concrete plans to deal with this problem by PM Lee.
6. Raising workers’ levy alone will not help much in preventing engineers and professionals being displaced by foreign labour. Raising workers’ levy will not prevent exploitation of foreign workers nor save jobs for citizens.
7. Last but not least, this liberal immigration policy has caused a serious problem of income disparity within our society. Wages of both middle and lower income earners have been depressed while some have basically lost their jobs and face underemployment or even unemployment. The widening of income gap and the diminishing of middle class are great concerns to social stability but the Prime Minister has not addressed it either.
Conclusion
Although we feel that the Prime Minister has put up a very good pre-election National Day Rally speech but we still find that the solutions that his government has provided are generally inadequate.
We must bear in mind that all the problems and issues addressed by the Prime Minister are mostly the result of oversight by the various ministries under the charge of the respective ministers. All these problems are not new and have been raised by many people including NSP over the year. These problems could be long anticipated as it is the direct result of PAP government’s deliberate policy of opening the floodgates for foreign workers and migrants to come to Singapore. These “caught off guard” ministers should be responsible and made accountable for their deficiencies.
We also note that the Prime Minister did not resorted to giving out goodies or red packets to citizens as a populist tactic to win support. We would be impressed if PAP decides to abandon its past undesirable election tactic and choose to contest the elections based on its policy views, ideas and plans instead. We would be even more impressed if PAP could put up the boundary report way before the impending general elections. It will open up a new era of healthy political competition and engagement for Singapore.
Goh Meng Seng
Secretary General
National Solidarity Party
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Avoidance of Income Disparity...
Some reporter ask me what I would like to hear from PM Lee's speech and whether those key problems of Housing, Public Transport, Healthcare, floods...etc. Of course, whether PM will give out goodies.
My take is this, the problems of Housing, Public Transport, Healthcare and floods are not simple issues that could be resolved within a short period of time. The fact is, mistakes and oversights have been made by various ministries with regard to the explosive growth in population due to PAP's own FT policy. Whatever he says will not take effect immediately and solve the problems in a short period of time. Thus, most probably he will avoid them.
PAP is just too used to giving out goodies prior to GE since GCT time. Such "populist vote buying exercise" has been entrenched. I would be pleasantly surprised if LHL decided to go into GE without giving out goodies. That would mean Singapore politics will take a turn for a better change in which political contests are based on contest on ideas and strength, instead of pork barrel and vote buying politics. But I guess even if the LHL wanted that way, his party colleagues would not agree. They are just too used to such pork barrel and vote buying politics that they will pressure their leadership to continue doing it. Else, they will feel insecurity and not confident of holding their grounds.
I would want the PM to address the vanishing middle class which result in the worsening of income disparity. When PAP MPs took the signs of engineers turning into taxi driver as a consolation, this is where the problem will explode. Retail stores targeting the middle class have suffered and withdrawn in size. This is a BAD SIGN. We will end up with two extreme polar income earners which will create social tension in the mid and long term. This situation is worsen by the influx of foreign labor which displace the middle class workers or depressing their wages.
These are important issues that could not ignore. But it seems that PAP's economic discourse has always avoid this important issue altogether.
Any students of economics who study Capitalist by Karl Marx would know that such income disparity will eventually result in class struggle and instability. I just hope that our Nation would face this severe problem of income disparity with an open mind and try to resolve it before it is too late.
Goh Meng Seng
My take is this, the problems of Housing, Public Transport, Healthcare and floods are not simple issues that could be resolved within a short period of time. The fact is, mistakes and oversights have been made by various ministries with regard to the explosive growth in population due to PAP's own FT policy. Whatever he says will not take effect immediately and solve the problems in a short period of time. Thus, most probably he will avoid them.
PAP is just too used to giving out goodies prior to GE since GCT time. Such "populist vote buying exercise" has been entrenched. I would be pleasantly surprised if LHL decided to go into GE without giving out goodies. That would mean Singapore politics will take a turn for a better change in which political contests are based on contest on ideas and strength, instead of pork barrel and vote buying politics. But I guess even if the LHL wanted that way, his party colleagues would not agree. They are just too used to such pork barrel and vote buying politics that they will pressure their leadership to continue doing it. Else, they will feel insecurity and not confident of holding their grounds.
I would want the PM to address the vanishing middle class which result in the worsening of income disparity. When PAP MPs took the signs of engineers turning into taxi driver as a consolation, this is where the problem will explode. Retail stores targeting the middle class have suffered and withdrawn in size. This is a BAD SIGN. We will end up with two extreme polar income earners which will create social tension in the mid and long term. This situation is worsen by the influx of foreign labor which displace the middle class workers or depressing their wages.
These are important issues that could not ignore. But it seems that PAP's economic discourse has always avoid this important issue altogether.
Any students of economics who study Capitalist by Karl Marx would know that such income disparity will eventually result in class struggle and instability. I just hope that our Nation would face this severe problem of income disparity with an open mind and try to resolve it before it is too late.
Goh Meng Seng
Saturday, August 21, 2010
转载：新加坡今夜无人做梦？
淡马锡评论
作者：新加坡文献馆
庚寅年农历七月初某夜，一群生话在虚无缥缈之境的新加坡白羽大仙，在各自的空中楼阁就新加坡之梦喃喃自语。
一个说：新加坡是个没有梦想的社会，因为新加坡迅速发展，也变化得快，国人忙于自我鞭策，所以没有追梦的心思。
一个说：新加坡人为了追求物质而产生许多现实顾虑，所以敢于追梦的人不多。
一个说：一次行差踏错会毁了一生的大半积蓄，所以做个好梦只是一种奢望。
一个说：天有不测风云，国家应该爱钱，因为钱可以解决问题。把时间全放在追钱，所以无暇追梦。
一个说：为五斗米折腰的人，钱仅够花用，没有储蓄自然也没有追梦的的奢侈。
一个说：平日无所事事的富二代，爱怎么挥霍就怎么挥霍，有了这样的梦幻生活又何需织梦？
一个说：凡夫俗子生活在金钱矛盾之间，追梦只是另一个梦想罢了，所以斯人无梦。
这些神仙教诲是说：新加坡凡人应该脚踏实地，循规蹈矩的工作，奇思妙想有违务实原则，会危害社会安宁，不利国家经济发展。
时值新加坡45国庆之际，有人说，有了李光耀于是就有了新加坡；这是典型的新加坡痴人说梦。
新加坡人的新加坡历史现实是，有了华惹之梦，有了华校学生之梦，以及有了华印职工之梦所共同滋生的反殖民运动，才历经磨难塑造了一个独立的新加坡。
在这段反殖历史过程中许许多多各个民族的爱国人士，为了追求独立的理想而卖命流血的付出了沉重个人代价，这其中李光耀并非先行者，亦不是付出牺牲代价的受难者，但却是最终的利益收割者。史料上，李光耀的反殖反英事迹是相对的有限。
当年的时代精神就是新加坡人争取独立之梦。如果当年的新加坡年青人没有那种强烈筑梦的意愿与能耐，或许，到了今天新加坡还是米字旗飘扬，国人高歌天佑女皇。
回顾历史，培植与巩固新加坡两大经济支柱之一的本土经济体系，就是得益于南洋先驱的开荒之梦。
清代末叶的鸦片战争之后，天灾人祸使到中国南方的农村经济破产，人民被迫过蕃谋生，离乡背井的先辈就是靠自力更生白手起家。无可置疑的，南洋华社的政治与经济资本就是来自这群先驱的创业致富之梦。
追根究底，新加坡今天的种种成就是来自早年南洋先驱的愚公移山之梦，以及二战后，新加坡年青人的反殖民运动之梦的共同成果。饮水思源，这就是新加坡建国的根本之源。
显然的，追梦是成就新加坡的不可或缺的人文精神元素。
那么，何以在50年李光耀政权之后却会变成‘新加坡是个没有梦想的社会’？
首先，美国梦之所以历久长青是因为美国文化核心价值观的尊重人权和民主精神，都始终受到严峻的宪法保护。在三权分立的政治体制内，个人可以海阔天空去追求与实践自已的梦想。
但是，新加坡在一党专政下，宪法保障有名无实因为法规可以随时任意的修订，甚至于取消。在政权领导政府的格局下，依法执法可以轻易变质为以法凌人。自由环境激励自由思维，当社会丢失了思维空间，个人也就丢失了梦想空间。
其次，美国梦扎根于西方文明的以人为本的精神。这种人文精神突破了神权与封建的政治约束。人于是有了满足欲望的梦想，经济活动就是源于人的欲望无穷。在小政府格局下，个人享有相对大的经济自由，这个流动性极大的社会空间允许个人凭着自已的天赋和勤奋去主动的力争上游。
然而，按李光耀政治思维，人的劳动力只是一个生产因素，所以人只不过是一个经济数据。当人民沦为国家经济生产机器的齿轮之后，个人只能被动的依附着机器转动。
在新加坡的大环境里，个人主动性是不受到鼓励的，甚至于会受到严峻惩罚，因为主动性会破坏政府制定的社会规律，就象在机器里不听使唤，不依规律运作的齿轮是要被替换掉的。
当新加坡人被剥夺了生命的主动性，也就丧失了自我思考的能力，没有了思想，又何来会有欲望去编织新加坡梦？
其三，美国梦除了追求金钱财富的物质文化之外，也追求科学，知识和艺木等精神文化上的超越。
前不久，一名官二代说：务实新加坡人的生活目标是注重一份好工作，追求高素质的医疗和教育，以及满足于干净和安全的生话环境。在国庆晚宴上一名高官亦指出，新加坡人的人生目标应该是：好事业，舒适生话，多生育，关怀与慈善。
新加坡统治阶级所弘扬的是以物质生活为主要考量的狭隘人生观。这种思维下的新加坡只会走向一个缺乏精神文明的物质社会：追求舒适生话是否就是过着神戶牛式的生活？神戶牛是生活在一个很干净，安全，舒适，关怀与医疗照料周到，以及有古典音乐为伴的优质生活环境里。
狭隘的人生观带来没有实质内涵的社会行为。国庆期间有人劳师动众并浪费宝贵资源去创造可乐喷泉的世界记录。同样是虚荣心作祟，新加坡以外包伎俩去争取竞技场上的荣誉。但是，比赛的真实意义並非是为了锦标，而是鼓励个人超越自我的体能与精神界线。
想当然儿，一个有精神文明的高雅社会是不会有这种沽名钓誉的不诚实社会行为。
当一个政府只剩下唯有用钱去解决问题的途径，那么，这一个政府必然是已经处在黔馿技穷的困境。这种了无生机的一潭死水又如何滋生，并且激励人民去追求科学，知识和艺术等精神文化上的超越？
不是吗，吹皱的一池春水才能触动心弦，撩人遐思，令人想入非非？
新加坡从一个有追梦意识的先驱精神社会，演化到如今的一个没有梦想的社会。这种社会文明往后倒退发展的情况确实是一个非常可悲的景象。
社会文明退化的问题事关重大；这并非是一个人的面子，或者是一个政党的荣誉，而是一个国家的未来前程。
当先驱开荒的竞争精神被独裁霸权的垄断精神取代，当爱国精神被爱銭精神取代，新加坡不就己经失去了两个十分宝贵的建国人文元素？
当银行业失去了谨慎与诚实的人文元素之后，霸林就是毁在爱銭的无能之手。雷曼亦是毁于爱銭的欺骗之手。
危言耸听？这乃是前车之鉴。当领导的唯利是图蔚然成为上行下效的不良风气，一个栋梁不正的构筑必然是要坍塌的。
还会有人关心这个病态的新加坡社会吗？
新加坡的聪明人是制度下的既得利益者，他们已经生活在纸醉金迷的梦幻世界里，宛如庄周梦蝶，他们已经无法分辩真实与虚幻，再也体会不到外边的世界是什么模 样；他们对新加坡社会的病态无知无觉。对这群制度的塑造与执行者而言，新加坡社会是完美无瑕的，新加坡制度是值得他人借鉴。
新加坡的奴才和他们的主子同流合污，奴性使然，他们丧失了体恤与同情弱者的慈悲之心。奴才对社会的病态未必是无知无觉，可惜的是已经麻木不仁；入鲍鱼之肆，久而不闻其臭。对这群制度的守护者而言，新加坡社会虽然未必尽善尽美，但是，新加坡制度还是值得他人借鉴。
新加坡的傻子是制度的反对者与制度的受害者。他们努力的，即便受尽了惩罚的苦楚，还是坚毅的要挖掘制度的墙脚，要在制度的墙上开天窗，让外边的艳阳天驱散阴霾，让外边的清新空气冲刷乌烟瘴气。
在 新加坡社会的这三种人群里，聪明人已经在春梦里醉生梦死，再也无需追梦寻梦。奴才干了为虎作伥的勾当，夜晚做的都是恶梦，也就不会有心思去追梦。或许，在 新加坡只有儍子才会去追梦导梦。他们憧憬新加坡的明天会更美好，人人都可以自由自在的表达自已的信念，凭着本身的才华去追逐与实践自已的美梦，让梦想成 真。
新加坡今夜无人入梦？您呢？您有梦吗？
作者：新加坡文献馆
庚寅年农历七月初某夜，一群生话在虚无缥缈之境的新加坡白羽大仙，在各自的空中楼阁就新加坡之梦喃喃自语。
一个说：新加坡是个没有梦想的社会，因为新加坡迅速发展，也变化得快，国人忙于自我鞭策，所以没有追梦的心思。
一个说：新加坡人为了追求物质而产生许多现实顾虑，所以敢于追梦的人不多。
一个说：一次行差踏错会毁了一生的大半积蓄，所以做个好梦只是一种奢望。
一个说：天有不测风云，国家应该爱钱，因为钱可以解决问题。把时间全放在追钱，所以无暇追梦。
一个说：为五斗米折腰的人，钱仅够花用，没有储蓄自然也没有追梦的的奢侈。
一个说：平日无所事事的富二代，爱怎么挥霍就怎么挥霍，有了这样的梦幻生活又何需织梦？
一个说：凡夫俗子生活在金钱矛盾之间，追梦只是另一个梦想罢了，所以斯人无梦。
这些神仙教诲是说：新加坡凡人应该脚踏实地，循规蹈矩的工作，奇思妙想有违务实原则，会危害社会安宁，不利国家经济发展。
时值新加坡45国庆之际，有人说，有了李光耀于是就有了新加坡；这是典型的新加坡痴人说梦。
新加坡人的新加坡历史现实是，有了华惹之梦，有了华校学生之梦，以及有了华印职工之梦所共同滋生的反殖民运动，才历经磨难塑造了一个独立的新加坡。
在这段反殖历史过程中许许多多各个民族的爱国人士，为了追求独立的理想而卖命流血的付出了沉重个人代价，这其中李光耀并非先行者，亦不是付出牺牲代价的受难者，但却是最终的利益收割者。史料上，李光耀的反殖反英事迹是相对的有限。
当年的时代精神就是新加坡人争取独立之梦。如果当年的新加坡年青人没有那种强烈筑梦的意愿与能耐，或许，到了今天新加坡还是米字旗飘扬，国人高歌天佑女皇。
回顾历史，培植与巩固新加坡两大经济支柱之一的本土经济体系，就是得益于南洋先驱的开荒之梦。
清代末叶的鸦片战争之后，天灾人祸使到中国南方的农村经济破产，人民被迫过蕃谋生，离乡背井的先辈就是靠自力更生白手起家。无可置疑的，南洋华社的政治与经济资本就是来自这群先驱的创业致富之梦。
追根究底，新加坡今天的种种成就是来自早年南洋先驱的愚公移山之梦，以及二战后，新加坡年青人的反殖民运动之梦的共同成果。饮水思源，这就是新加坡建国的根本之源。
显然的，追梦是成就新加坡的不可或缺的人文精神元素。
那么，何以在50年李光耀政权之后却会变成‘新加坡是个没有梦想的社会’？
首先，美国梦之所以历久长青是因为美国文化核心价值观的尊重人权和民主精神，都始终受到严峻的宪法保护。在三权分立的政治体制内，个人可以海阔天空去追求与实践自已的梦想。
但是，新加坡在一党专政下，宪法保障有名无实因为法规可以随时任意的修订，甚至于取消。在政权领导政府的格局下，依法执法可以轻易变质为以法凌人。自由环境激励自由思维，当社会丢失了思维空间，个人也就丢失了梦想空间。
其次，美国梦扎根于西方文明的以人为本的精神。这种人文精神突破了神权与封建的政治约束。人于是有了满足欲望的梦想，经济活动就是源于人的欲望无穷。在小政府格局下，个人享有相对大的经济自由，这个流动性极大的社会空间允许个人凭着自已的天赋和勤奋去主动的力争上游。
然而，按李光耀政治思维，人的劳动力只是一个生产因素，所以人只不过是一个经济数据。当人民沦为国家经济生产机器的齿轮之后，个人只能被动的依附着机器转动。
在新加坡的大环境里，个人主动性是不受到鼓励的，甚至于会受到严峻惩罚，因为主动性会破坏政府制定的社会规律，就象在机器里不听使唤，不依规律运作的齿轮是要被替换掉的。
当新加坡人被剥夺了生命的主动性，也就丧失了自我思考的能力，没有了思想，又何来会有欲望去编织新加坡梦？
其三，美国梦除了追求金钱财富的物质文化之外，也追求科学，知识和艺木等精神文化上的超越。
前不久，一名官二代说：务实新加坡人的生活目标是注重一份好工作，追求高素质的医疗和教育，以及满足于干净和安全的生话环境。在国庆晚宴上一名高官亦指出，新加坡人的人生目标应该是：好事业，舒适生话，多生育，关怀与慈善。
新加坡统治阶级所弘扬的是以物质生活为主要考量的狭隘人生观。这种思维下的新加坡只会走向一个缺乏精神文明的物质社会：追求舒适生话是否就是过着神戶牛式的生活？神戶牛是生活在一个很干净，安全，舒适，关怀与医疗照料周到，以及有古典音乐为伴的优质生活环境里。
狭隘的人生观带来没有实质内涵的社会行为。国庆期间有人劳师动众并浪费宝贵资源去创造可乐喷泉的世界记录。同样是虚荣心作祟，新加坡以外包伎俩去争取竞技场上的荣誉。但是，比赛的真实意义並非是为了锦标，而是鼓励个人超越自我的体能与精神界线。
想当然儿，一个有精神文明的高雅社会是不会有这种沽名钓誉的不诚实社会行为。
当一个政府只剩下唯有用钱去解决问题的途径，那么，这一个政府必然是已经处在黔馿技穷的困境。这种了无生机的一潭死水又如何滋生，并且激励人民去追求科学，知识和艺术等精神文化上的超越？
不是吗，吹皱的一池春水才能触动心弦，撩人遐思，令人想入非非？
新加坡从一个有追梦意识的先驱精神社会，演化到如今的一个没有梦想的社会。这种社会文明往后倒退发展的情况确实是一个非常可悲的景象。
社会文明退化的问题事关重大；这并非是一个人的面子，或者是一个政党的荣誉，而是一个国家的未来前程。
当先驱开荒的竞争精神被独裁霸权的垄断精神取代，当爱国精神被爱銭精神取代，新加坡不就己经失去了两个十分宝贵的建国人文元素？
当银行业失去了谨慎与诚实的人文元素之后，霸林就是毁在爱銭的无能之手。雷曼亦是毁于爱銭的欺骗之手。
危言耸听？这乃是前车之鉴。当领导的唯利是图蔚然成为上行下效的不良风气，一个栋梁不正的构筑必然是要坍塌的。
还会有人关心这个病态的新加坡社会吗？
新加坡的聪明人是制度下的既得利益者，他们已经生活在纸醉金迷的梦幻世界里，宛如庄周梦蝶，他们已经无法分辩真实与虚幻，再也体会不到外边的世界是什么模 样；他们对新加坡社会的病态无知无觉。对这群制度的塑造与执行者而言，新加坡社会是完美无瑕的，新加坡制度是值得他人借鉴。
新加坡的奴才和他们的主子同流合污，奴性使然，他们丧失了体恤与同情弱者的慈悲之心。奴才对社会的病态未必是无知无觉，可惜的是已经麻木不仁；入鲍鱼之肆，久而不闻其臭。对这群制度的守护者而言，新加坡社会虽然未必尽善尽美，但是，新加坡制度还是值得他人借鉴。
新加坡的傻子是制度的反对者与制度的受害者。他们努力的，即便受尽了惩罚的苦楚，还是坚毅的要挖掘制度的墙脚，要在制度的墙上开天窗，让外边的艳阳天驱散阴霾，让外边的清新空气冲刷乌烟瘴气。
在 新加坡社会的这三种人群里，聪明人已经在春梦里醉生梦死，再也无需追梦寻梦。奴才干了为虎作伥的勾当，夜晚做的都是恶梦，也就不会有心思去追梦。或许，在 新加坡只有儍子才会去追梦导梦。他们憧憬新加坡的明天会更美好，人人都可以自由自在的表达自已的信念，凭着本身的才华去追逐与实践自已的美梦，让梦想成 真。
新加坡今夜无人入梦？您呢？您有梦吗？
Friday, August 13, 2010
YOG Spending in perspective...
PAP government is spending $387,000,000 for YOG which Singaporeans have shown very little interest. They even need to FORCED students to volunteer in the event while giving them TERRIBLE FOOD!
On the other hand, there are many problems which the PAP is very reluctant to spend money to solve. The recent flooding needs to be solved but at an UNKNOWN cost which the PM said would be TOO HIGH.
ON top of that, PAP government has refused to provide to many less privileged Singaporeans. They have refused 50% of applicants for public assistance.
This $387million was spent to host 5000 athletes and officials for YOG. This means on average, S$77400 was spent for each of the 5000 guests. This could have lasted 5000 citizens who are on public assistance of $360 for almost 18years!
It is time for us to re-examine the priorities of the PAP government. Why would they be willing to spend hundreds of millions on an event which very few Singaporeans are interested in while become a miser unwilling to spend in improving or helping the lives of Singaporeans at large?
Monday, August 09, 2010
NSP National Day Message 2010
I used to write special posting for each National Day on my blog every year (well almost). Most of the time, the theme is about National Identity.
For personal "ranting" during National Day is quite straight forward. But writing a National Day message for my political party is totally another cup of tea altogether.
I have been helping my party to do the recording of our National Day Message in three languages since last year. This year, I have to do it for myself as well as my friend, Syafarin who is delivering the Malay version.
Although this message is written for my party, National Solidarity Party, but it fully reflects my sentimental at this moment on what this Nation needs to change. The truth is, I have decided to join opposition politics 9 years ago basically because of my belief that I have to change the whole political system of Singapore, for the sake of my future generations.
So here it is:
English
It has been a frustrating year for many Singaporeans.
Although our GDP has grown significantly for the past quarters but the decline in the retail sector speaks volume of the kind of growth we are getting.
Our purchasing power is either stagnant or unable to catch up with the inflation caused by various factors. Any GDP growth that doesn’t benefit Singaporeans
in terms of higher purchasing power and quality of life is meaningless. It is at best
just another justification for the ministers to increase their own pay.
On the other hand, we have to ask ourselves while our Nation achieves almost 20% growth in GDP for the last quarter but have our income achieve even half of that growth?
Besides, the cost of having such high GDP growth is tremendous. We are just increasing more and more foreign labour to achieve growth. This may result in suppressed wages for Singaporeans and at the same time, a more crowded place for everyone else.
According to our study and research, the PAP government has consciously embarked
on a very aggressive foreign workers policy to help boost the economy since 2006. However, many ministers, including the Ministers for Transport, Health and National Development are basically “Caught off Guard” by such explosive population growth.
Our public transport system could no longer cope with the excessive increase of population over such short period of time. The growth in train and bus services is lagging far behind the growth of population over the years. This results in over crowded MRT trains and buses during peak hours.
On top of that, the fares have increased for many of us since July, for as much as 7% or more!
Our HDB flat prices are shooting off the roof. HDB failed to build enough flats to cope with the population growth. The need of paying a 30 years mortgage for a simple HDB flat is definitely not a sign of affordability.
Hospital care is the most important matter of life and death. However hospital beds are in great shortage as the building of the new hospital is delayed for nearly a decade. It seems that the Ministry of Health does not plan ahead. The problem could be so acute that sometimes patients have to be left lying along the corridors of the wards!
But yet, our Prime Minister has just declared that we need another 100 thousand more foreign workers! Are we supposed to endure a further deterioration of these problems?
The recent floods that we have are creating doubts on the competency of the highly paid PAP government. We do not want to hear excuses from “once in 50 years”, “it is impossible to be flood free” to “it is an act of God”. When we are paying the world’s highest pay to the ministers, we expect such fundamental problems to be solved.
To suffer 3 or 4 floods within a couple of months is totally unacceptable to a small island that prides itself as a modern world-class city state.
All these happenings come under the charge of the world’s most expensive ministers in Singapore. We need accountability but there is none. We need proper checks and balances but there is little.
Singapore needs to progress both economically as well as politically in a balanced way. We should not just aim for some huge GDP growth at all cost. We should also build a political system whereby accountability is effectively in place.
It is time for us, my fellow Singaporeans, to reflect upon all these happenings during this National Day. We have to ask ourselves what kinds of living environment and quality of life we want for our children. High GDP growth no longer guarantees better quality of life but in contrary, lower our overall standard of living.
We also have to ask ourselves whether we want our children to inherit a political system that is based on total dominance of power by a single ruling party, which will use every means to fix its opponents and those who hold alternative views. Do we want our children to inherit a government which only demands the highest pay in the world but shy away from accountability and responsibility?
We need a change to this system and we need courage to change it.
Wishing you a Happy National Day.
Chinese
今年是一个令很多新加坡人感到沮丧的年头。
虽然我们的国内生产总值在过去几季都有显著的增长，但从零售业的衰退看来，却又完全是另一回事了。
这显示我们的购买力并没有随着经济好转而增强，根本追不上
通货膨胀的步伐。如果ＧＤＰ的增长没能使新加坡人受惠，没能提升我们的购买力和生活素质，那也是完全毫无意义的。
这也许只能为再次提高部长们的薪金制造一个漂亮的借口。
另一方面，我们要扪心自问，虽然国家的ＧＤＰ在上一季
取得了约２０％增长，但我们的薪金是否有相应的提高呢？
此外，要取得如此高的ＧＤＰ增长，我们所需要付出的代价是膨大的。为了促进成长，我们输入越来越多的外劳。但这会造成新加坡人的工资被压低。于此同时，我们的生活空间
也因此就越来越拥挤了。
根据我们的调查和研究，行动党政府从２００６年起，就刻意进行一个野心勃勃的引进外劳的计划。然而，有多位部长，包括交通、卫生和国家发展部长等，基本上却都对如此急速的爆炸性人口增长显得“措手不及”。
我们的交通系统，已没能应付在短时间内过度激增的人口。这些年以来，地铁和巴士服务已远远落后于人口的增长。这也造成地铁和巴士在繁忙时间内变得非常拥挤。然而，车资的提高却对很多人造成不满。增加的幅度可高达７％，或甚至更高。
我们的组屋售价有如冲天炮。建屋发展局在过去几年里，所提供的新组屋根本无法满足急速人口增长的需求。如果一间普通组屋，都须用３０年的时间才能还清房贷，那么，很明显的，这根本就不再是个“负担得起”的房屋政策。
医疗设施对国人的生和死是至关重要的。但是建新医院的计划
已被拖延长达１０年之久。这导致我们的医院的床位严重的不足。从这也可以看出卫生部并没有依据人口增长而实施相应的措施来应付医院床位需求的激增。情况有时可以严重到，病人必须被滞留在病房外的走廊!
然而，我们的总理却宣布我们还需要多１０万个外劳！我们还能容忍这些问题继续恶化吗？
最近发生的水灾，使我们质疑这超高薪的行动党政府
的治国能力。我们不想再听到以“５０年一遇”、“想要完全没有水灾是不可能的”或“这是天意”等借口来推卸责任的。
当我们付出全世界最高的薪金给我们的部长们时，我们便有权要求他们解决这些基本的问题。我们引以为荣的现代化、世界级小岛，竟然在短短两个月内蒙受了３至４次水患。这是我们完全无法接受的。
所有的这一些事都发生在由世界最昂贵的行动党政府管理之下的新加坡。我们需要问责，但我们却没能做到；我们需要适当的制衡，但我们拥有的却很少。
新加坡必要在经济和政治双领域下，取得平衡的发展。我们不应只盲目追求高经济增长，而不惜付出高昂的代价。
同胞们，国庆之际，正是我们反思时候。
我们应自问，我们要为新加坡创造怎样的生活环境和生活素质？高经济增长，再也不能保证我们能拥有更好的生活素质；相反的，它却会降低我们的生活水准。
我们也要自问，我们是否要我们的孩子们继承由一党独大
一党垄断的专制政治体系吗？继承一个只要求高薪但没有担当和问责的政府吗？
我们需要改变这体系。
我们更需要勇气来改变它。
祝 国庆快乐！
Malay
Tahun ini merupakan tahun yang menghampakan ramai rakyat Singapura. Meskipun GDP kita telah meningkat dengan banyaknya dalam beberapa bulan kebelakangan ini, sektor runcit yang menjunamlah yang memberi kita gambaran yang sebenar tentang pertumbuhan ekonomi kita.
Kuasa membeli kita sama ada telah mendatar atau tidak dapat menampung kadar inflasi . Sebarang pertumbuhan GDP yang tidak memberi faedah kepada rakyat Singapura dari segi kuasa membeli dan mutu kehidupan yang lebih tinggi tidak bermakna sama sekali.
Keadaan begini hanya memberi peluang kepada para menteri kita menaikkan lagi gaji mereka sendiri. Sebaliknya pula, kita mesti tanya pada diri kita – negeri kita telah mencapai hampir 20% pertumbuhan GDP bagi tiga bulan terakhir ini tetapi adakah pendapatan kita akan mencapai separuh daripada kadar pertumbuhan tersebut?
Kita harus berbelanja lebih untuk menampung pertumbuhan GDP yang begitu tinggi. Kita terpaksa menambah lebih banyak lagi tenaga asing untuk mencapai pertumbuhan tersebut. Ini bermakna pendapatan bagi rakyat Singapura akan dicantas
dan pada masa yang sama, negeri kita akan menjadi lebih sesak dengan orang asing.
Menurut kajian kami, pemerintah PAP memang dengan sengajanya memulakan pengambilan tenaga kerja warga asing ini secara melampau sejak 2006 semata-matanya untuk merancakkan ekonomi. Bagaimanapun, kebanyakan menteri kita, termasuk Menteri-menteri Pengangkutan, Kesihatan dan Pembangunan Negara, telah disentakkan dengan pertumbuhan penduduk yang mendadak.
Sistem pengangkutan awam kita tidak dapat lagi menampung ledakan penduduk yang keterlaluan dalam masa yang begitu singkat. Perkhidmatan MRT dan bas-bas begitu lembab dibandingkan dengan pertumbuhan penduduk yang semakin banyak kebelakangan ini. Ini membuat keadaan begitu sesak dalam MRT dan bas-bas pada waktu puncak. Untuk memburukkan keadaan lagi, Kebanyakkan di antara kita terpaksa membayar tambang yang lebih sejak bulan Julai ini, adanya sehingga mencecah lebih 7%.
Harga flat-flat HDB kita sudah membumbung tinggi. HDB gagal membina flat-flat yang cukup bagi menampung pertumbuhan penduduk yang begitu pesat. Sekarang kita perlu membayar duit rumah selama 30 tahun untuk sebuah flat HDB yang biasa – ini menandakan rumah bukan lagi sesuatu yang kita mampu.
Penjagaan kesihatan di hospital merupakan perkara terpenting
antara hidup dan mati. Bagaimanapun, katil-katil di hospital
sudah banyak berkurangan disebakan pembinaan sebuah hospital baharu tergendala selama hampir sedekad. Ini membuktikan betapa Kementerian Kesihatan tidak memandang jauh semasa membuat rancangan untuk memastikan pertambahan katil-katil hospital seiring dengan pertumbuhan penduduk yang melampau. Masalah ini menjadi begitu runcing
apabila ada pesakit-pesakit yang terpaksa berbaring di tempat lalu lalang di wad-wad hospital.
Nanum begitu, baru-baru ini Perdana Menteri kita mengumumkan bahawa kita memerlukan lagi 100 ribu pekerja asing! Adakah kita harus bertahan lagi dengan keadaan yang sememangnya telah begitu buruk?
Banjir yang menimpa kita baru-baru ini membuat kita tertanya-tanya tentang kebolehan pemerintah PAP yang bergaji lumayan. Kita tidak mahu lagi dengar alasan-alasan seperti “hanya sekali dalam 50 tahun”, “mustahil kita tidak dilanda banjir”, dan “ini kuasa Tuhan”. Kita harapkan perkara-perkara asas sebegini
dapat ditangani memandangkan kita membayar menteri-menteri kita gaji yang paling lumayan di muka bumi ni. Tetapi kita terpaksa mengharungi 3 atau 4 banjir dalam masa dua bulan
dan ini amat tidak munasabah bagi sebuah pulau kecil
yang mendabik dada sebagai sebuah bandar moden bertaraf dunia.
Semua ini berlaku di bawah jagaan menteri-menteri termahal dunia di Singapura. Kita perlu ada pertanggungjawaban
tetapi tiada langsung, Kita perlu ada mekanisme keseimbangan
tetapi terlalu sedikit.
Singapura perlu maju dalam kedua-dua bidang ekonomi dan politik dengan cara yang seimbang. Kita tidak harus mensasarkan pertumbuhan GDP yang besar sehinggakan mutu kehidupan kita sengsara. Kita harus ada sistem politik di mana terdapat pertanggungjawaban.
Saudara-saudara dan saudari-saudari setanah air, masanya telah tiba untuk kita memikirkan tentang perkara-perkara ini sempena Hari Kebangsaan kita. Kita perlu tanya pada diri kita – suasana kehidupan yang bagaimanakah yang kita mahukan untuk Singapura. Pertumbuhan GDP yang tinggi tidak lagi menjamin mutu hidup yang lebih baik tetapi sebaliknya, merendahkan taraf kehidupan secara keseluruhan.
Kita juga perlu tanya pada diri kita sama ada kita mahu anak-anak kita mewarisi sistem politik berteraskan kekuasaan mutlak
di bawah pemerintahan satu parti, yang akan menggunakan apa cara sekalipun untuk ‘kerjakan” lawan mereka dan sesiapa sahaja yang mempunyai pandangan yang berbeza.
Kita perlu menukar sistem sebegini dan kita perlu berani menukarnya.
Selamat menyambut Hari Kebangsaan.
Dirgahayu Singapura.
For personal "ranting" during National Day is quite straight forward. But writing a National Day message for my political party is totally another cup of tea altogether.
I have been helping my party to do the recording of our National Day Message in three languages since last year. This year, I have to do it for myself as well as my friend, Syafarin who is delivering the Malay version.
Although this message is written for my party, National Solidarity Party, but it fully reflects my sentimental at this moment on what this Nation needs to change. The truth is, I have decided to join opposition politics 9 years ago basically because of my belief that I have to change the whole political system of Singapore, for the sake of my future generations.
So here it is:
English
It has been a frustrating year for many Singaporeans.
Although our GDP has grown significantly for the past quarters but the decline in the retail sector speaks volume of the kind of growth we are getting.
Our purchasing power is either stagnant or unable to catch up with the inflation caused by various factors. Any GDP growth that doesn’t benefit Singaporeans
in terms of higher purchasing power and quality of life is meaningless. It is at best
just another justification for the ministers to increase their own pay.
On the other hand, we have to ask ourselves while our Nation achieves almost 20% growth in GDP for the last quarter but have our income achieve even half of that growth?
Besides, the cost of having such high GDP growth is tremendous. We are just increasing more and more foreign labour to achieve growth. This may result in suppressed wages for Singaporeans and at the same time, a more crowded place for everyone else.
According to our study and research, the PAP government has consciously embarked
on a very aggressive foreign workers policy to help boost the economy since 2006. However, many ministers, including the Ministers for Transport, Health and National Development are basically “Caught off Guard” by such explosive population growth.
Our public transport system could no longer cope with the excessive increase of population over such short period of time. The growth in train and bus services is lagging far behind the growth of population over the years. This results in over crowded MRT trains and buses during peak hours.
On top of that, the fares have increased for many of us since July, for as much as 7% or more!
Our HDB flat prices are shooting off the roof. HDB failed to build enough flats to cope with the population growth. The need of paying a 30 years mortgage for a simple HDB flat is definitely not a sign of affordability.
Hospital care is the most important matter of life and death. However hospital beds are in great shortage as the building of the new hospital is delayed for nearly a decade. It seems that the Ministry of Health does not plan ahead. The problem could be so acute that sometimes patients have to be left lying along the corridors of the wards!
But yet, our Prime Minister has just declared that we need another 100 thousand more foreign workers! Are we supposed to endure a further deterioration of these problems?
The recent floods that we have are creating doubts on the competency of the highly paid PAP government. We do not want to hear excuses from “once in 50 years”, “it is impossible to be flood free” to “it is an act of God”. When we are paying the world’s highest pay to the ministers, we expect such fundamental problems to be solved.
To suffer 3 or 4 floods within a couple of months is totally unacceptable to a small island that prides itself as a modern world-class city state.
All these happenings come under the charge of the world’s most expensive ministers in Singapore. We need accountability but there is none. We need proper checks and balances but there is little.
Singapore needs to progress both economically as well as politically in a balanced way. We should not just aim for some huge GDP growth at all cost. We should also build a political system whereby accountability is effectively in place.
It is time for us, my fellow Singaporeans, to reflect upon all these happenings during this National Day. We have to ask ourselves what kinds of living environment and quality of life we want for our children. High GDP growth no longer guarantees better quality of life but in contrary, lower our overall standard of living.
We also have to ask ourselves whether we want our children to inherit a political system that is based on total dominance of power by a single ruling party, which will use every means to fix its opponents and those who hold alternative views. Do we want our children to inherit a government which only demands the highest pay in the world but shy away from accountability and responsibility?
We need a change to this system and we need courage to change it.
Wishing you a Happy National Day.
Chinese
今年是一个令很多新加坡人感到沮丧的年头。
虽然我们的国内生产总值在过去几季都有显著的增长，但从零售业的衰退看来，却又完全是另一回事了。
这显示我们的购买力并没有随着经济好转而增强，根本追不上
通货膨胀的步伐。如果ＧＤＰ的增长没能使新加坡人受惠，没能提升我们的购买力和生活素质，那也是完全毫无意义的。
这也许只能为再次提高部长们的薪金制造一个漂亮的借口。
另一方面，我们要扪心自问，虽然国家的ＧＤＰ在上一季
取得了约２０％增长，但我们的薪金是否有相应的提高呢？
此外，要取得如此高的ＧＤＰ增长，我们所需要付出的代价是膨大的。为了促进成长，我们输入越来越多的外劳。但这会造成新加坡人的工资被压低。于此同时，我们的生活空间
也因此就越来越拥挤了。
根据我们的调查和研究，行动党政府从２００６年起，就刻意进行一个野心勃勃的引进外劳的计划。然而，有多位部长，包括交通、卫生和国家发展部长等，基本上却都对如此急速的爆炸性人口增长显得“措手不及”。
我们的交通系统，已没能应付在短时间内过度激增的人口。这些年以来，地铁和巴士服务已远远落后于人口的增长。这也造成地铁和巴士在繁忙时间内变得非常拥挤。然而，车资的提高却对很多人造成不满。增加的幅度可高达７％，或甚至更高。
我们的组屋售价有如冲天炮。建屋发展局在过去几年里，所提供的新组屋根本无法满足急速人口增长的需求。如果一间普通组屋，都须用３０年的时间才能还清房贷，那么，很明显的，这根本就不再是个“负担得起”的房屋政策。
医疗设施对国人的生和死是至关重要的。但是建新医院的计划
已被拖延长达１０年之久。这导致我们的医院的床位严重的不足。从这也可以看出卫生部并没有依据人口增长而实施相应的措施来应付医院床位需求的激增。情况有时可以严重到，病人必须被滞留在病房外的走廊!
然而，我们的总理却宣布我们还需要多１０万个外劳！我们还能容忍这些问题继续恶化吗？
最近发生的水灾，使我们质疑这超高薪的行动党政府
的治国能力。我们不想再听到以“５０年一遇”、“想要完全没有水灾是不可能的”或“这是天意”等借口来推卸责任的。
当我们付出全世界最高的薪金给我们的部长们时，我们便有权要求他们解决这些基本的问题。我们引以为荣的现代化、世界级小岛，竟然在短短两个月内蒙受了３至４次水患。这是我们完全无法接受的。
所有的这一些事都发生在由世界最昂贵的行动党政府管理之下的新加坡。我们需要问责，但我们却没能做到；我们需要适当的制衡，但我们拥有的却很少。
新加坡必要在经济和政治双领域下，取得平衡的发展。我们不应只盲目追求高经济增长，而不惜付出高昂的代价。
同胞们，国庆之际，正是我们反思时候。
我们应自问，我们要为新加坡创造怎样的生活环境和生活素质？高经济增长，再也不能保证我们能拥有更好的生活素质；相反的，它却会降低我们的生活水准。
我们也要自问，我们是否要我们的孩子们继承由一党独大
一党垄断的专制政治体系吗？继承一个只要求高薪但没有担当和问责的政府吗？
我们需要改变这体系。
我们更需要勇气来改变它。
祝 国庆快乐！
Malay
Tahun ini merupakan tahun yang menghampakan ramai rakyat Singapura. Meskipun GDP kita telah meningkat dengan banyaknya dalam beberapa bulan kebelakangan ini, sektor runcit yang menjunamlah yang memberi kita gambaran yang sebenar tentang pertumbuhan ekonomi kita.
Kuasa membeli kita sama ada telah mendatar atau tidak dapat menampung kadar inflasi . Sebarang pertumbuhan GDP yang tidak memberi faedah kepada rakyat Singapura dari segi kuasa membeli dan mutu kehidupan yang lebih tinggi tidak bermakna sama sekali.
Keadaan begini hanya memberi peluang kepada para menteri kita menaikkan lagi gaji mereka sendiri. Sebaliknya pula, kita mesti tanya pada diri kita – negeri kita telah mencapai hampir 20% pertumbuhan GDP bagi tiga bulan terakhir ini tetapi adakah pendapatan kita akan mencapai separuh daripada kadar pertumbuhan tersebut?
Kita harus berbelanja lebih untuk menampung pertumbuhan GDP yang begitu tinggi. Kita terpaksa menambah lebih banyak lagi tenaga asing untuk mencapai pertumbuhan tersebut. Ini bermakna pendapatan bagi rakyat Singapura akan dicantas
dan pada masa yang sama, negeri kita akan menjadi lebih sesak dengan orang asing.
Menurut kajian kami, pemerintah PAP memang dengan sengajanya memulakan pengambilan tenaga kerja warga asing ini secara melampau sejak 2006 semata-matanya untuk merancakkan ekonomi. Bagaimanapun, kebanyakan menteri kita, termasuk Menteri-menteri Pengangkutan, Kesihatan dan Pembangunan Negara, telah disentakkan dengan pertumbuhan penduduk yang mendadak.
Sistem pengangkutan awam kita tidak dapat lagi menampung ledakan penduduk yang keterlaluan dalam masa yang begitu singkat. Perkhidmatan MRT dan bas-bas begitu lembab dibandingkan dengan pertumbuhan penduduk yang semakin banyak kebelakangan ini. Ini membuat keadaan begitu sesak dalam MRT dan bas-bas pada waktu puncak. Untuk memburukkan keadaan lagi, Kebanyakkan di antara kita terpaksa membayar tambang yang lebih sejak bulan Julai ini, adanya sehingga mencecah lebih 7%.
Harga flat-flat HDB kita sudah membumbung tinggi. HDB gagal membina flat-flat yang cukup bagi menampung pertumbuhan penduduk yang begitu pesat. Sekarang kita perlu membayar duit rumah selama 30 tahun untuk sebuah flat HDB yang biasa – ini menandakan rumah bukan lagi sesuatu yang kita mampu.
Penjagaan kesihatan di hospital merupakan perkara terpenting
antara hidup dan mati. Bagaimanapun, katil-katil di hospital
sudah banyak berkurangan disebakan pembinaan sebuah hospital baharu tergendala selama hampir sedekad. Ini membuktikan betapa Kementerian Kesihatan tidak memandang jauh semasa membuat rancangan untuk memastikan pertambahan katil-katil hospital seiring dengan pertumbuhan penduduk yang melampau. Masalah ini menjadi begitu runcing
apabila ada pesakit-pesakit yang terpaksa berbaring di tempat lalu lalang di wad-wad hospital.
Nanum begitu, baru-baru ini Perdana Menteri kita mengumumkan bahawa kita memerlukan lagi 100 ribu pekerja asing! Adakah kita harus bertahan lagi dengan keadaan yang sememangnya telah begitu buruk?
Banjir yang menimpa kita baru-baru ini membuat kita tertanya-tanya tentang kebolehan pemerintah PAP yang bergaji lumayan. Kita tidak mahu lagi dengar alasan-alasan seperti “hanya sekali dalam 50 tahun”, “mustahil kita tidak dilanda banjir”, dan “ini kuasa Tuhan”. Kita harapkan perkara-perkara asas sebegini
dapat ditangani memandangkan kita membayar menteri-menteri kita gaji yang paling lumayan di muka bumi ni. Tetapi kita terpaksa mengharungi 3 atau 4 banjir dalam masa dua bulan
dan ini amat tidak munasabah bagi sebuah pulau kecil
yang mendabik dada sebagai sebuah bandar moden bertaraf dunia.
Semua ini berlaku di bawah jagaan menteri-menteri termahal dunia di Singapura. Kita perlu ada pertanggungjawaban
tetapi tiada langsung, Kita perlu ada mekanisme keseimbangan
tetapi terlalu sedikit.
Singapura perlu maju dalam kedua-dua bidang ekonomi dan politik dengan cara yang seimbang. Kita tidak harus mensasarkan pertumbuhan GDP yang besar sehinggakan mutu kehidupan kita sengsara. Kita harus ada sistem politik di mana terdapat pertanggungjawaban.
Saudara-saudara dan saudari-saudari setanah air, masanya telah tiba untuk kita memikirkan tentang perkara-perkara ini sempena Hari Kebangsaan kita. Kita perlu tanya pada diri kita – suasana kehidupan yang bagaimanakah yang kita mahukan untuk Singapura. Pertumbuhan GDP yang tinggi tidak lagi menjamin mutu hidup yang lebih baik tetapi sebaliknya, merendahkan taraf kehidupan secara keseluruhan.
Kita juga perlu tanya pada diri kita sama ada kita mahu anak-anak kita mewarisi sistem politik berteraskan kekuasaan mutlak
di bawah pemerintahan satu parti, yang akan menggunakan apa cara sekalipun untuk ‘kerjakan” lawan mereka dan sesiapa sahaja yang mempunyai pandangan yang berbeza.
Kita perlu menukar sistem sebegini dan kita perlu berani menukarnya.
Selamat menyambut Hari Kebangsaan.
Dirgahayu Singapura.
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