Wasteful renovation works by PAP's Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council

Question:
1) Is this why the PAP government is pandering to construction companies constantly clamouring for more foreign workers?
2) Is this one of the reasons that PAP town councils have being asking to increase S&CC charges over the years?

Facebook, 5 Jun 2014


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Snapshot: Singapore can't have First World economy with Third World costs - Lim Hng Kiang

Question: Dear Lim Hng Kiang, is it okay to have 3rd World wages in a 1st World economy with 1st World cost?

Chan Chun Sing accused Goldman Sach of sowing discord amongst Singaporeans with recruitment dinner for LGBT students

Question: Isn't the PAP government's immigration policy not sowing discord amongst Singaporeans?

Gay Star News, 3 May 2014
A Singapore minister has admonished a multinational company in Singapore for its recruitment practice saying that foreign companies 'should not venture into public advocacy for causes that sow discord amongst Singaporeans.'
The article he was referring to is believed to a report by MyPaper on Wednesday which said that US-based investment bank Goldman Sachs will be hosting a recruitment and networking dinner for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students later this month at its office in Singapore. Full story

Related:
Outing The Bigots - Singapore Notes

Another words of wisdom from Lim Swee Say

Hardwarezone Forum, 2 May 2014


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OPINION: A Singaporean shows the way, when government leaders fail

The Online Citizen, 28 Apr 2014
Blogger Ravi Philemon has done what the prime minister should have done – to reach out to both sides of the divide in the controversy over the holding of an Independence Day celebratory event at Ngee Ann City on 8 June. [See here: "Dialogue between organisers and protesters of Philippine".]
When the event was first announced by the Pilipino Independence Day Council Singapore (PIDCS), all hell seemed to break loose then. Criticisms came fast and furious, especially online from protesters who felt the Filipinos should not hold their celebrations at such a public venue. These criticisms however were then followed by equally strong reactions from those opposed to the protest itself.
The protesters were soon labelled “trolls”, and those who reportedly and allegedly made threatening phone calls to the organisers were quickly labelled “a disgrace to Singapore” by the Prime Minister himself.
The Acting Manpower Minister preferred to accuse the protesters of “bigotry” and who “peddle hate”. Full story

Related:
Dialogue between organisers and protesters of Philippine Independence Day celebration best way forward - Raviphilemon.net

NEA's KPI encourages under-reporting of PSI

Harewarezone Forum, 11 Mar 2014


Full story

OPINION: Singapore Border Security Bypassed Once, Twice... - Chun Han Wong, WSJ

WSJ Blog, 11 Mar 2014
SINGAPORE—At a busy border post on the Singaporean end of a causeway linking the island to Malaysia, immigration officials have learned that lightning can strike twice.
Less than two months after a Malaysian motorist breached security at Singapore’s Woodlands immigration checkpoint, another Malaysian driver blitzed past the same border crossing over the weekend.
The latest incident has stung immigration officials, who came under scrutiny for the second time this year for what government leaders and citizens are calling “inadequate” security measures and even complacency. Full story

Related:
DPM Teo “chides” ICA but it’s not good enough - The Online Citizen

Eight PAP Town Councils increase service and conservancy charges despite huge surpluses

Yahoo! News Singapore, 27 Feb 2014
Service and conservancy (S&CC) charges will be going up at eight town councils from 1 April onwards.
Owners of one and two-room flats will see fees go up by $1 and $1.50 per month respectively, but dwellers of three-room flats and larger will see higher increments of between $4.50 and $10.50 per month by 1 April next year.
The increase will be done in two stages, announced the Sembawang Town Council on behalf of the other seven — Ang Mo Kio, Marine Parade, Moulmein-Kallang, Nee Soon, Pasir Ris-Punggol, Potong Pasir and Jurong (which previously already raised its fees in 2010). The first increase will take place on 1 April this year, and the next a year afterward.
Asked why it is increasing S&CC despite its healthy surpluses, the town council said in a prepared response that “such surpluses have been in the decline over the years”, noting that with its rising maintenance and operation costs, they will "not be able to sustain their operations without incurring operating deficits”. Full story

Snapshot: NTUC Chief Lim Swee Say wants to change Singaporeans' mindset on low-wage jobs, and make it "jobs of the future" for them

Hardwarezone Forum, 10 Feb 2014


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Related:
Khaw Boon Wan: We need more local crane operators - The Real Singapore

PAP MPs top the list of absentees in parliament sessions since the last General Election

The Real Singapore, 9 Feb 2014
I have collated the data through Parliament Votes and Proceeding click on http://www.parliament.gov.sg/publications/votes-and-proceedings12th.
Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng probably caught the AWOL infectious disease from her teammate Mah Bow Tan in Tampines and absented herself for a total of 14 times in Parliament.
Another Tampines GRC team member Masagos Zulkifli (Tampines GRC) absented himself 14 times which is the curse of Mah Bow Tan's AWOL.
Zaqy Mohamad of Choa Chu Kang GRC absented himself for 10 times.
Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade GRC) absented herself for 16 times. Her friend, Tin Pei Ling probably caught the trend and absented herself 7 times since 2011.
Rounding off is Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) who absented herself 13 times. Full story

Singapore government looking to encourage young Singaporeans to become carpenters with training and "rebranding"

China.org.cn, 6 Feb 2014
The labor movement and authorities of Singapore launched Thursday a voluntary wage ladder and a training funding program for carpenters, which is considered part of the "traditional skills sector" where local workers are at the risk of disappearing.
The NTUC, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and the Singapore Furniture Industries Council, also jointly launched a 3. 5 million dollar (2.8 million U.S. dollars) program to train 180 local carpenters in the next two years. The funding will cover their training and salary subsidies for employers.
They are also considering efforts to rebrand carpenters as creative craftsmen to woo the young people. Full story

Related:
PM Lee assures young Singaporeans future is bright, opportunities are plentiful - Singapolitics.sg

When the going gets tough, ex-ISD chief Pang Kin Keong wanted to crawl back to bed with covers over his head. He is now the Perm Sec at Ministry of Transport

Comment: Is this why our transportation system is so screwed up? The ex-ISD chief who fails miserably during Mas Selamat fiasco is now the Perm Sec at Ministry of Transport! 

Yahoo News Singapore, 24 Jan 2014
The man who was at the helm of Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) has opened up for the first time about the now-infamous escape of Jamah Islamiyah Singapore chief Mas Selamat from the Whitley Detention Centre.
Now the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Transport, former ISD director Pang Kin Keong said in an interview with Challenge, a civil service magazine, that the incident, which happened on 27 February 2008, was the lowest point of his two-decade career working for the government.
“I’ll be honest,” he was quoted as saying. “When I read the newspapers or my email, (I felt) like slumping and going back to bed, under the covers.” Full story

In Singapore, the Mysterious Case of a Border-Security Breach by Malaysian Female Motorist - WSJ

WSJ Blog, 23 Jan 2014
A Malaysian motorist breached Singapore border security and eluded police for three days before being arrested this week while trespassing the city-state’s foreign ministry headquarters, in what officials described as a serious security lapse.
The incident drew opprobrium from government officials and citizens alike, and many Singaporeans have taken to social media to criticize what they perceive as shoddy policing in a country long reputed for orderliness and low crime.
The apparent ease with which the Malaysian woman was able to breach two security checkpoints in four days also prompted anger and ridicule among citizens, who say the incident points to what they perceive as police complacency.
“If this ‘lapse’ is not symptomatic of some kind of systems breakdown, then I don’t know what is,” Bertha Henson, a former senior newspaper editor turned social commentator, wrote on her blog. “It would be ironic if our law enforcement agencies and their officers are taking peace and security for granted.”  Full story

Singapore PM's chartered SIA flights costlier than Putrajaya’s private jets?

Yahoo! News Singapore, 19 Nov 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim today sought to fend off allegations of excess in Putrajaya’s use of private jets, claiming it would cost more to follow Singapore’s choice to charter flights for government leaders.
Saying that Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers were misguided in praising Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for choosing travel on a commercial airliner on his way to a recent summit, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the flight was chartered and could not be considered commercial.
“They say the Singapore PM uses a commercial flight; that’s not true. If you look at the summit at the airport you see his plane parked with the rest. That means he chartered the plane and not fly on a commercial flight like what is claimed.
“To charter the plane is more expensive than to use your own plane,” he told a press conference in Parliament here. Full story

Singapore's URA gets to play Sim City with the world's most advanced 3D smart city technology for urban planning

PC Advisor, 18 Nov 2013
The government of Singapore will use the world's most advanced 3D smart city technology for urban planning and has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with mapping technology giant Esri for this purpose.
Through the use of Esri's advanced 3D smart city technology, Singapore's urban planners will be able to perform urban design simulations and visualise different scenarios efficiently.
The two-year MOU will see the URA embark on several new spatial projects, and establish a '3D Urban Simulation Prototype Lab' for 3D GIS testing and modelling. Full story

Singapore unveils master plan for port, airport, waterfront

Reuters UK, 19 Aug 2013
Aug 18 (Reuters) - The Singapore government unveiled a master plan on Sunday to double capacity at Southeast Asia's busiest airport, build a new waterfront city, move its massive port and relocate a military airbase to free up land for development.
The plan announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong follows mounting discontent in one of the world's wealthiest nations over an influx of foreign workers and expatriates blamed for a range of problems - from strained infrastructure to among the highest living costs in Asia.
In an annual National Day address, Lee sought to allay those fears, elaborating on a trove of long-term plans that appear intended to counter a growing voter backlash against the People's Action Party (PAP) that has ruled Singapore for more than half a century. Full story

PAP Govt makes Medishield compulsory for all Singaporeans, PM Lee gave notice that premiums will be raised

TR Emeritus, 18 Aug 2013
At the National Day Rally today (18 Aug), PM Lee said that the Govt will improve healthcare financing to give all Singaporeans “more peace of mind”.
The current medical insurance scheme, MediShield, will be revamped to become MediShield Life, he said.
“The MediShield Life will not stop at 90. So don’t worry, it will cover old people. Secondly, MediShield Life will be universal. It will cover everybody, every Singaporean – old ones, young ones, those newly born.”
However, premiums for MediShield Life will be higher too but the Govt will subsidise MediShield Life premiums for those who cannot afford them. Full story

Heng Swee Keat signals impending policy changes to arrest problem of diminished trust between government and citizens

The Star Online, 8 Aug 2013
EDUCATION minister Heng Swee Keat signalled impending policy changes on several fronts including housing, as he sketched out how the government intends to ensure that growth becomes even more inclusive.
Underpinning the way forward, however, must be the “critical ingredient” of trust between the government and citizens, he said in a speech at an Economic Society of Singapore function. Full story

Concern over Singapore killings of 357 monkeys in six months

Hong Kong Standard, 30 Jul 2013
Wildlife concern groups have expressed concerns over the killing of 357 monkeys in Singapore in just six months this year. That amounts to an average 59 macaques a month.
Media reports cited Louis Ng, chief executive of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society as saying that the scale of culling ``seems like we're trying to exterminate the monkeys, not manage the conflicts between them and people.''
The Sunday Times said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority had euthanized 357 monkeys from January to June, compared with 204 in 2010, 151 in 2011 and 127 last year. Link

Consumers ultimately pay the price for MDA's decision on football broadcast rights

Out-Law.com, 30 Jul 2013
A pay-TV broadcaster in Singapore has been told to let customers of a rival broadcaster access standalone Barclays Premier League football coverage at the same price it charges its own customers, but has won the right to separately bundle that same content together with other content it offers to its own customers.
The Media Development Authority (MDA) said SingNet was exempt from rules that would have required the company to cross-carry channels where BPL coverage was bundled with other content on a platform operated by rival StarHub. SingNet was, though, told to make its standalone BPL coverage available to StarHub subscribers on the same terms as it is available to its own customers. Full story