Policy Face-off: Immigration policies – how many is enough?
January 29th, 2010 | 
Author: By Alex Tan
During a Q-and-A session of a recent Political Forum held on 26 January 2010 at NUS, students lobbied tough questions at a PAP MP Mr Alvin Yeo.
The forum called the “Political Face-off” features Workers’ Party Chairman Sylvia Lim, PAP MP Lawyer Alvin Yeo and Dr Leong Chan Hoong (Institute of Policy Studies).
The topic was “Immigration” and Researcher Dr Leong kicked off the event with slides and presentation of his views on “Immigration”. He highlighted that it is the lower income Singaporeans who are the most bitter of foreigners’ presence because they have no financial security while the rich and affluent class of Singaporeans do not share such animosity towards foreigners. He said that the Immigration Policy is a balancing act that require due considerations to both foreigners and Singaporeans, however, he did not comment on the performance of PAP’s “balancing act”.
PAP MP Alvin Yeo of the Hong Kah GRC Team started his talk unprepared – no powerpoint presentation, no statistics and no scripts. His “pure” talk gave NUS students a regurgitation of secondary school’s social studies about a migrant society with no resources and how foreigners have added value to Singapore over the past century. He justified PAP’s pro-foreigners policies and even called the sacrifices of Singaporeans, like National Service and “competitive” wages, are for the “collective good of society” during the Question-and-Answer session.
Workers’ Party Chairman Sylvia Lim started her talk with a Statistic Table – showing the net number and percentage change of Foreigners Population, Singaporean Population and Permanent Resident Population in 1990, 1999 and 2009. She highlighted that the shocking growth of both the Permanent Residents(increased 3 fold) and Foreigners in total Population, while Singaporeans numbers in total Population has dropped 17+% over the past 20 years.
She raised the following during the presentation:
1) Singapore’s growth have skewed towards PRs and non-residents, and how Singaporeans have been left out of progress.
2) Importation of Foreigners to support our Aging Population is an “aggravation” and not a Solution. Her witted words “These people grow old too one day. They dont just…go away” were responded by roaring laughter from the students who were clearly made bored by PAP MP Alvin Yeo’s dry talk.
3) Lack of Clarity and Transparency in Immigration Policy has resulted from the PAP “panic” reaction in opening the floodgate to solve low birth rate and a slowing economy.
4) “We are not anti-immigration” is her stance but she emphasized on the quality and rate of Immigrants.
5) Criterias for Citizenship and Permanent Residency must be transparency.
6) Increase in Foreigners has resulted in Lower Productivity since 1995.
6) “Waste” of current population – elderly workers and the low income are effectively displaced by cheaper labor.
7) Foreigners depress Singaporean Wages. She also pointed out that the S-Pass Holders of $1800 are not necessarily foreign talents but cheaper labor for Employers.
Sylvia Lim’s presentation was cut due to restriction of time.
The Question-and-Answer session turned into a “Question-the-PAP” session where all questions raised by NUS students are directed at PAP MP Alvin Yeo.
Below are the excerpts of some hard questions that PAP MP Alvin Yeo faced:
“Why are the Malays not given equal opportunities as the other races in the Army? MM Lee also said “will your Malay neighbour give you the last few grains of rice or will she share it with her family or fellow Muslim or vice versa?” I as a Malay feel deeply insulted by the Government for our race.”
“How is the PAP going to address the “injustice” feelings of Singaporeans towards Foreigners?”
“Foreign Workers here are housed in dormitories and rented housing with inhumane conditions: like sharing a room with 10 others. What is the Government’s take on this?”
“The PAP has recently started the Basic English Test for Foreign workers. As I know, the Immigration Policy started many years before that. Why did the Government only thought of this now?”
PAP MP Alvin Yeo used much rhetoric in his answers to the questions, here are some quotes:
“I am a lawyer and not an economist.”
“I don’t think we should protect Singaporeans from global competition because this is what happens in the outside world. Global competition is good for Singaporeans because it makes them work harder and think harder to succeed.”
“They are here to work and contribute economically, and if we make foreigners serve 2.5 years of National Service, who would want to come here? they will leave”
“If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.”
“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
About the Author:
Mr Alex Tan is a Project Engineer by training. He blogs here
Posted in 
Well done, Sylvia!
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“I am a lawyer and not an economist.”
“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
=> Please don’t blame me, it’s not my idea…
“I don’t think we should protect Singaporeans from global competition because this is what happens in the outside world. Global competition is good for Singaporeans because it makes them work harder and think harder to succeed.”
=> Inviting immigrants = Global Competition???
Workers and think harder??? Please pass a law to make employers to give equal opportunity to Singaporeans, can???
“They are here to work and contribute economically, and if we make foreigners serve 2.5 years of National Service, who would want to come here? They will leave”
=> Singaporeans do not need to work and contribute economically to Singapore??? Or Singaporeans can die to protect Singapore and these FTs who are here to work and contribute economically???
“If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.”
=> Only the PRs FTs???
Reading his comments, I really felt so insulted that my hands actually shook when I am typing this. I am paying for these people who treat me like an idiot to be my MPs. I believe that these MPs have their lives to easy. We need to “make them work harder and think harder to succeed” and NOT shield them from Global Competition. I want FTs to be MPs!
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PAP is sending their marketing personnel like Alvin Yeo.
Every body will agree that he sucked.
He should perhaps consult past pap archives and see how Goh KS and the likes answer questions.
These 2006 PAP pigs are extremely thickskinned. Unprepared but still dare to show up.
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“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
How true are those comments but Let me ask MP Yeo this
1) Never mind you were not involved, do you agree and support those earlier policies? dont you need to be in support of them since you joined the party?
2) Pre 2006 dont know right, fine, how about all the policies after 2006. The spike in the intake of foreigners only took place after 2006, you are involved or at least engaged right?
Please be Honest.
MP playing Tai-chi? please save that for parks when you go and shake hands with your residents.
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By the way, PRS ARE NOT SINGAPOREANS!!!
I DON’T CARE IF THEY COMPLAIN.
SINGAPOREANS ARE SINGAPOREN CITIZENS WHO WILL STAND WITH SINGAPORE FOR BETTER OR WORSE AND GROW TOGETHER AS A NATION.
SINGAPOREANS ARE NOT SOME PRs WHO ARE CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES WHO WILL ABANDON SINGAPORE TO THE LIONS OR THE WOLVES AT THE FIRST HINT OF TROUBLE.
MPs, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?????????????????????????????????
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Can anybody tell me what is the monthly allowance of MP?
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alvin is so naive and at the same time cocky . why don’t you sacrifice some of your salary for the comfort of our foreign talents. you are not fit to be a lawyer not to mention being a mp who uses the back door entry into politics. go suck eggs.
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DEAR MM, SM, PM AND MPs,
IF YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND LOVELY FAMILIES ARE THREATEN BY WAR, WHO DO YOU THINK WILL STAND THEIR GROUNDS AND FIGHT TO PROTECT YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND LOVELY FAMILIES???
THE CITIZENS OR PRs OR FTs???????
I need to see a doctor for hypertension medication.
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“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
>Isn’t he representing PAP at the forum? How patronising.
“If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.”
> If there was no property bubble in the first place and things remain affordable, who will complain?
“I don’t think we should protect Singaporeans from global competition because this is what happens in the outside world.”
> Can a SGporean and a FT be drawing the same salary with the SGprean having to feed his family living in SG and going back for reservist whereas the FT has to support a family living in some country with lower standard of living with no obligation to SG?
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I feel like fugging a pathetic creature named Alvin.
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We love Sylvia. What a way to go sweetie.
If you are not elected as an elected MP in the next election, please do consider giving us lesson on civil disobedience.
(Quote)If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.(Unquote)
We own HDB property, if it drops we are equally happy. Who is unhappy? Yeah he is right, the PR and new citizens, they are unhappy. Who don’t know PAP only care about PR and new citizens and foreigners.
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This Alvin Yeo pig is the same one who bought a $6.5 million unit at Marina Bay Suites recently. He is obviously living it up big time.
>> “I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
I am very sure he would have done nothing even if he had been involved with the policy makings.
Wah, this kind of person can also be MP! Sucks big time!
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Alvin Yeo is smart not to make any preparations. Nobody can defend the indefensible. Even MM has to admit their mistake of mass importing foreigners without first adding the infrastructure and services.
But let’s not be fooled again. PAP has a PERFECT track record of not keeping to their promises to Singaporeans. Leading up to the elections, they will pretend that they know our concerns and implement some measures to pacify us. After the elections, they will take back TWICE what they gave up. Please don’t forget that the business community and landlords are addicted to importation of foreigners to make profits. And these people are PAP’s support base.
PAP MP Alvin Yeo says it is good to have competition so that Singaporeans can work harder. So let’s follow what he says and vote in more competition for the PAP so that they will work harder.
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3) Dr Leong Chan Hoong (Institute of Policy Studies): Most of us are not poor as per your Superficial peanut brain. You overestimate yourself. Personally I think you are just a typical type that only capable of studying hard 读死书 ！
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“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that
That’s no excuse, he is a representative of the ruling party, paid allowance of 13K monthly to plead ignorance, quite a joke isn’t it? If you can’t give good answers, don’t give stupid ones, the audience is much much intelligent than you think.
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ask him to F off! period.
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The political ambition,passion and conviction is not inherent in our MPs and ministers, they manifest themselves glaringly in unprepared Q&A, debate etc.
What choice do these MPs and ministers have, except to regurgitate “sanctioned” replies. we have had enough of the spewing of these condescending discourse.
we do not need anymore bureaucrats, whom are omnipresent in the entire civil service.
The PAP will continue to slide unless they do something about this. and i am not advocating infinitesimal changes in terms of half-hearted allowance of weak dissenting voices and the loosening of the current fear and stranglehold on party cadres.
the only way for the PAP to adapt and survive is to free up the judiciary and media and usher in a 2-party system of governance.
i predict a change within 3 to 4 election cycles and i hope i can see the change in my lifetime although i don’t think i can.
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Sylvia is absolutely right. “They” also grow old and simply “go away”.
So immigration is exactly like a very very expensive and self-destructing “cocaine” addition to heroin – progressively gets worse and worse as the passage of time evolving.
After this over-flood in recent years, we can’t take anymore except the creme-de-la-creme. Environmentally, the SOFT primary rocks underneath much of Singapore CANNOT physically sustain 50- storey residential blocks all over the island and layers of MRT tunnelling underneath.
One 2004 earthquake in Sumatra ( or 2008 Sichuan earthquake) shaking the region, millions will die in collapsed buildings with no hope for rescue – IT IS THE END OF SINGAPORE. Surviving and invading foreigners will come in and look for gold teeth, gold watches, cash among the corpses, and burgled homes for other riches just like scavengers digged into floating corpses on the Pataya beaches post 2004 tsunami destruction.
We cannot afford this risk.
It is insane of stupidity to aim for a permanent population beyond current 3.6 million citizens.
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Sylvia is absolutely right. “They” also grow old and simply “go away”.
should read as
Sylvia is absolutely right. “They” also grow old and simply “ DON’T go away”.
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Only Bukit Timah area is supported by hard solid granite, the rest of Singapore is just SOFT rocks.
http://homepage.mac.com/voyager/NoPlace/tect.html#content
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Why is this PAP guy earning A Million-dollar salary and speaking nonsense??
Sylvia – A VERY WELL-DONE. KEEP SPEAKING UP!!!
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“I am a lawyer and not an economist.”
“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
I FEEL EXTREMELY INSULTED BY HIS ANSWERS!
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sylvia lim is not responsible for PAP policy-making either yet she has more insight than a PAP MP who shirks responsibility.
yes,the rich like Alvin yeo will complain if property prices drop as he just bought a condo at a hefty price, he wouldn’t want to be in negative equity.
alvin yeo is not updated with the latest policy,NS is now 2 years not 2.5 years.
by excluding foreigners who become citizens from NS, we are creating divides between new and old citizens(even PM’s son has to serve NS), alvin yeo should retract his comment.
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Another CMI MP!
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The question the students should ask as a follow up to his retarded answers is, “Why do you think you deserve to serve 1 more terms as an MP if you cannot provide answers to our queries?”
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how typical of a person’s character to avoid the issues by saying i was an mp only since 2006!
so now his boss in pap will be asking him why he did not defend the government instead of skirting around the issue.
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It’s all bullshit. but kudos to Ms Sylvia for saying the things we want to hear. Hope it’s not just to impress us.
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“If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.”
I thought Singaporeans were only allowed to own 1 x HDB only?
and… isn’t public housing supposed to be subsidized housing to the public(Singaporean)?
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Should they be shaking in their pants? Maybe not. They may be trying to calculate how much to cream/spice/honey the carrots for the “donkeys” at Budget Day. They might announce extremely generous goodies though. And the stronger the mandate for PAP, the bigger the %age payout! Will you buy it? And they will do it again as usual, payout over 5 years! But tracks record had it that they will take 100 times back! So remember to vote wisely! VOTE FOR A CHANGE!
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This Political Forum is on the issue of immigration. PAP send a representative who have no knowledge & cannot answer any questions on this tropic. Except just parrot what his master had earlier mentioned before.
This show PAP is not sincere & very unorganized in their preparation for this forum.
They are also insulting the intelligence of these NUS students who had attended this forum by not bringing presentations & statstics to support their pro immigration policy. Just getting a CLOWN who open his mouth thinking it will be enough to convince the students. While WP Ms Sylvia Lim came prepare & organized.
This show the inefficiency of PAP. LKY, GCT, LHL & LSS instead of telling Singaporeans to be efficient & productive. They should instead check on themselves first.
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“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
Then pls get involve and implement policies that benefits the people b4 taking million dollars pays.
For your pay we can employ a few president Bush and Obama calibrators that can change the world. You cant even change a policy.
You can’t even understand economy and the stats and how the they affects people, n Implement policy direct or indirectly benefits people. Pls got back to law firm
Thank you many idiots choose to vote you
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I think Alvin Yeo meant the open-the-floodgates-to-foreigners policy is for the “collective good” of MIW and the wealthy bosses.
The arrogance of Alvin Yeo is reflected in him not being prepared for this Forum. He obviously has little respect for this audience that day.
It would be good for TR to post a transcript of Ms Sylvia Lim’s speech that day.
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If I were I would have asked 3 questions:
1. does the MP thinks that his answers have adequately and responsibly answered the queries?
2. does the public (those in the q&A) thinks that the MP’s answer is adequate?
3. why does he then think that political competition is bad for the country when it was RP who first raised the productivity issue in S’pore and Paul Krugman had raised that since early 90s? What is stopping the govts from 2 generations from acting on this critical issue?
Productivity fallen from 1995 until now and the pigs didn’t realise it. Goes to show one party rule breds laziness? From MTI all the way to the labour movement, both chiefs are implicated for this negligence.
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I want to debunk a myth that by inviting foreigners in, it “helps” Singaporeans to compete in global market.
Sorry, no dice. They did not come in on equal grounds. Singaporeans are mired by our CPF, NS, family commitments and no light at the end of the retirement tunnel. With these uneven playing field, how can we even compete?
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What lame excuses and replies!Here is my take.
I am a lawyer and not an economist.”
–>Even a lawyer will have some simple grasp of economics and can make some comments accordingly. Or is he implying that some lawyers in Singapore are that dumb?
“I don’t think we should protect Singaporeans from global competition because this is what happens in the outside world. Global competition is good for Singaporeans because it makes them work harder and think harder to succeed.”
–>The US govt is implementing policies to guard against dumping and also to protect jobs in the US. So what can’t the Spore govt do so?
“They are here to work and contribute economically, and if we make foreigners serve 2.5 years of National Service, who would want to come here? they will leave”
–>So are u saying that all those FT/PR who don’t do NS are just a bunch of insincere, calculative parasites?The NS issue will filter out the those are serious to settle down and have a stake here.
“If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.”
–>Complains?I thought the govt doesn’t give two hoots about complains by Singaporeans?Why worry now?MBT is shaking badly?
“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
–>OK. So please so something to tackle the problems ASAP. Anyway u were an MP for 4 years, what have u done for the people of Singapore?care to list it down?
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Ha ha ha!
Let me repeat again!!!
PAP offers WEALTH, FAME, and POWER; it has attracted a lot of opportunists, many people joint PAP for newtworking to serve their own interests.
Let me rephrase this MP’s words, and you guy can see how stupid a PAP MP can be.
From: “I don’t think we should protect Singaporeans from global competition because this is what happens in the outside world. Global competition is good for Singaporeans because it makes them work harder and think harder to succeed.”
To: “I don’t think we should protect local companies from global competition because this is what happens in the outside world. Global competition is good for local companies because it makes them work harder and think harder to succeed.”
If the GOVERNMENT does not protect the LOCAL COMPANIES, will they be able to survive global competition?
What the US government did to protect their local companies?
What the South Korean government did to protect their local companies?
what the Japan government did to protect their local companies?
ONLY INCOMPETENT PAP MPs WILL BELIEVE THAT LOCAL COMPANIES WILL BE ABLE TO GROW AND COMPETE GLOBALLY. THE TENSION BETWEEN LOCAL AND FOREIGN EMPLOYEES WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKEN ANY COMPANY’S COMPETITIVENESS.
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hi ronin
the NUS Student group has a recorded video of this. i ask them later for it.
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“They are here to work and contribute economically, and if we make foreigners serve 2.5 years of National Service, who would want to come here? they will leave”
Ha ha ha!
Hey Lee Kuan Yew, you need to talk to this MP?
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“If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.”
Should I assume that rich PAP MPs fall in this group?
Ha ha ha!
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“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
Ha ha ha!
Who stopped you from contributing?
Lee Kuan Yew?
Then you attend parliament for what?
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Alvin Yeo: “I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
Me: “I have been a Singaporean since born. You better shut up. b=By the way, r you a S’porean?”
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Obvious that Alvin Yeo is worthless an an MP. The $13,000 MP salary he gets per month is peanuts to him considering he is a law firm partner who earn millions by the buckets. What say you voters in Hong Kah constituency to kick him out with one very hard shove next GE?
It is a VERY good sign that NUS students who are Spore citizens are now taking a hard hitting role in asking questions. Remember one bozo MM LKY saying at one NUS forum that only foreigners dare ask him questions. Hope that senile old man can make one more visit to NUS to attend forum for these NUS Spore citizens to ask tough questions too. But you know lah, that senile old man will threaten them “You DAFT?” Yeah, go ahead.
TR, please remember to send your scouts over for more of these forums cos we only get the censored stuff in ST or Mediacorpse.
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“I am a lawyer and not an economist.”
“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
Alvin Yeo should stop wasting taxpayers money on his MP allowance and quit politics immediately for his immature replies.
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Name, : Mr Alvin Yeo. Constituency, : Hong Kah GRC. Address, : c/o One George Street #20-01, Singapore 049145. Tel, : 64168101. Fax, : 65325738
I called his office to ask him why he supports foreigners instead of Singaporeans. No answer. Will try again later!
Anyone here from Hong Kah GRC???
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MP Alivn, is just unprepared and treated the NUS students as secondary kids.. talk about “world class” government.
Alvin and The Chipmunks, he should just go and watch the movie and listen to chipmunks songs.
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I tell me sons this:
When you go to NS, don’t be crazy and train. It is not worth it to risk your life to protect those PRs and PAP people.
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I am staying in Hong Kah GRC, looking at the performance of the PAP MP, I will vote for any oppositions who want to contest in this ward.
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“If the property prices drop, another group of Singaporeans will complain.”
Alvin Yeo,
The question is why did PAP literally force property prices to shoot upwards by opening the floodgates to foreigners (who easily obtained PR), in the first place???
The FACT is the govt cocked up their infrastructure planning and ordinary S’poreans are suffering as a result. Yet till this day, we have NOT heard a word of apology from any minister. Instead, our ministers called us names such as donkey, daft, champion grumblers, animals without spurs in the hide!!!
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May I remind everyone that the liberal foreigner policies are still in effect.
One-year visit pass for seeking employment in Singapore.
http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=172&secid=171
There is also a Landed Permanent Residence scheme:
“Landed Permanent Residence (LPR) Grant period of 2 years for applicants not yet working in Singapore to find employment in the country”
http://www.entersingapore.info/sginfo/immigration.php
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just one of the many many pap puppets/ fools on display yet again…
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Im curious; what was Alvin’s response to the Malay issue as reflected in the artile and when did MM Lee made that statement about Malays not giving rice to his neighbor if he/she is not Malay? Thanks
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Its too late to ask these questions Sylvia Lim.
They are in our midsts and continues to do so.
WP was lucky in a way that the last election, hidden dragons and crouching tigers were just that. They din step forward leaving them the only choice for the roughly 33%.
You did not do enough. Fortunately , now there are strong players come to the fray. High calibres. To be fair , Sylvia and LTK are high calibre. But that did not translate into good results. What answers did their questioning gave us?
The problem is the number of talents is insufficient.
Now, hopefully, the talents from RP can give us more of the answers we want. I do not expect we can get all the answers. That can be achieved only with complete overhaul. imho.
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Do you know that shorty MBT recently said that “they’ have done their studies and “Yes it is possible and we CAN AFFORD To go underground” too!!!
His boss old geeko is so darn smart. No worries man as his boss just said last year that they are looking into building DYKES like in Holland too!!!
GET “The Idea”??? They ARE like “LOST sheep”!!! PAP that is!!!
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I think after this incident, PAP will forbid any of their MPs to take part in such forums liao. Throw face.
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I felt that Sylvia projected herself in this seminar as a professional person.
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When foreigners make up a substantial number for the PAP to win every general election in the future then the govt will consider it as enough. Now, the govt is playing game with Singaporeans.
PAP is taking advantage at the expense of Singaporeans.
Either we, Singaporeans have to put a STOP to it or we are finished sooner than you can imagine.
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Singaporeans have been CHEATED by the govt for too long.
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Most MPs are dozing and staring in deep space during parliment debate. At the end of the month, these pigs are so happy looking at their CPF statement. See this classic exmaple from this clown MP Alvin.
Singapore needs more good men (not necessary scholars & elites)into parliment to ensure everyone gets to do their job cheaper, faster & better. Competition brings efficiency & effectiveness.
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@ Dear anonymous on Fri, 29th Jan 2010 11:17 am on Fri, 29th Jan 2010 3:06 pm
Do you know that shorty MBT recently said that “they’ have done their studies and “Yes it is possible and we CAN AFFORD To go underground” too!!!
YES I BELIEVE IT IS A BAD JOKE OF A FOOL’S PARADISE.
They must be divinely clairvoyant to be able to measure the probable impact of a giant earthquake to any remotest degree of probable accuracy of some yet-to-eventuate FUTURE event as of the present.
Every time a small quake in Sumatra, buildings in Singapore vibrates – is that NOT telling enough of the risks involved?
AND BUILDING DYKES TOO like they did in Holland too? Does Holland or that part of Europe has any history of earthquakes?
And underground living in this hot climate – the deeper it goes the hotter it gets without ventilation? Who is paying for air-conditioning costs 24/7 in a carbon-constrained world of expensive energy?
Who believes them?
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“I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
This is what we get from a a MP who walked thru the backdoor.
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#Band of Brothers on Fri, 29th Jan 2010 5:29 pm
>>
Most MPs are dozing and staring in deep space during parliment debate. At the end of the month, these pigs are so happy looking at their CPF statement. See this classic exmaple from this clown MP Alvin.
>>
Singapore needs more good men (not necessary scholars & elites)into parliment to ensure everyone gets to do their job cheaper, faster & better. Competition brings efficiency & effectiveness.
>>
>>>>>>
If they win another election it will be another 5 years of collecting more huge salaries for another 5 years and beyond.
They are nothing so special. Others can also do their job with just a normal salary.
Anyway that nearly 90 years old man drawing so much of our money every month is unbearable.
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First, I’m proud of Sylvia for being humble. She respects her audience enough to actually prepare for the forum. I’m glad she used the opportunity well. Hopefully, “those who are still in a slumber will wake up.”
Second, to be fair to the PAP MP sharing the same stage as Sylvia, I say this article is one-sided it is unfair!!! He so Suay occay! Kena arrow for forum! Sumore share stage with Sylvia Lim! Poor Boy! He’s inexperienced occay! Those school kids so bad bully him one… Just because MM Lee not around…
Let’s be nice and just forgive him, shall we? He probably thought going up against an opposition leader will be a walk in the park. What do you guys expect? He’s a first time MP and Hong Kah GRC was a walkover in GE06. So it is not this guy’s fault that he didn’t get the necessary experience to take on an Opposition in front of an audience. It is also not his fault that he failed to prepare for the forum. It is again not his fault that he knew little of the policies made before he took office, Occay! You all bully him one… This is the fault of having GRCs hor! Giving MPs easy passage into the parliament. How to get experience like tat?
‘World-Class MPs’… HA HA HA ROFL.
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Elites make the policy, elites make the changes.
How do you determine an elite?
By the grades he/she have?
Grades are nothing when it comes to actualizing and problems solving.
Great musician(is it beethoven?) is deaf, but the compositions he made are great!
End of the day, do not classified elites and solutions base on his/her grades.
Over time, his/her inability will manifest.
Look at Singaporeans predicaments now?
Perhaps that is because of the manifestation in progress..
zzz
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Alvin Yeo simply does not understand what is hardship. He is just another mouthpiece of PAP!!
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To TR Editor
Could you ask Sylvia Lim of WP for permission to publish her presentation here at TR?
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“They are here to work and contribute economically, and if we make foreigners serve 2.5 years of National Service, who would want to come here? they will leave”.
So it is perfectly OK to make Singaporean males serve NS because they have no other choice unless they emigrate ?
Another idiot PAP Minister in the making !
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Aiyoh … he is from PAP …remember ?
May God “protect” Singaporeans from “nonsense”
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Aiyoh … he is from PAP …remember ? What else can you expect from him ?
May God “protect” Singaporeans from “nonsense”
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How many more around the country of those existed?
White or Blue Color Crimes???
Oakland City Attorney John Russo filed a civil lawsuit against an Oakland
business on Thursday, claiming it had swindled families out of thousands
of dollars by providing them shoddy or fraudulent immigration services.
Russo alleged that the company, American Legal Services, which has offices
at the Eastmont Mall, violated a number of laws, including practicing law
without a license, advertising legal services without required disclosures, making false and misleading statements and promises to their clients, and claiming to have special influence over immigration officials.
The lawsuit seeks $150,000 in restitution for six victims. It’s also
seeking civil penalties of $8.2 million – $100,000 for each of the 82
alleged violations of the state Immigration Consultants Act and the
California Penal Code.
Russo called the company a “criminal enterprise” and a “menace … to
some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Attempts on Thursday to talk to the owners of American Legal Services,
Musa Bala Balde and Irene Penaloza Balde, and one employee named in the
suit, Glenda Venegas, were unsuccessful. Messages left with a clerk were
not returned.
Immigration fraud is a long-standing problem in Oakland and throughout
the state, officials believe. Still, cases such as these are rarely
filed because victims have often lost their life savings or are afraid
of retaliation. There are also logistical hurdles.
“It’s very difficult to file a civil case when the victims have been
deported,” said Dan Torres, staff attorney for the Immigrant Legal
Resource Center.
Andrew Martinez’s wife, who did not want to be named, had been in this
country illegally since she was 7. Married for two years to Martinez,
she wanted to get a visa, but American Legal Services botched her
paperwork.
She faced deportation and had to travel to Juarez, Mexico, to meet
with the U.S. Consulate to clear up her paperwork, officials said.
All this while Martinez was fighting in Iraq with the U.S. Army Reserves.
“They’re taking advantage of people who are trying to do the right
thing,” said Martinez, whose wife now has a green card.
How many more around the country of those existed?
White or Blue Color Crimes???
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/28/BAMQ1BP8O2.DTL#ixzz0e0GwnPNn
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@lalaland on Fri, 29th Jan 2010 6:44 pm
“To TR Editor
Could you ask Sylvia Lim of WP for permission to publish her presentation here at TR?”
I second that. Someone who have been there and can do the transcript would be great.
Opposition needs all the exposure now and we need to start listening to their message.
Else there is really no hope for Singaporeans liao.
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Sylvia Lim, I like!!!
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hi btan
i have only made notes from Sylvia’s speech and powerpoint presentation slides. i intend to conduct a series of video interviews for these future Opposition MPs. will liaise with Temasek Review for this (:
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MP Yeo … read this news and judge it yourself …
EIGHTY-FOUR foreigners were arrested in the forested areas along Yishun Avenue 6 in a joint operation carried out by the police and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday.
The suspects – 67 men and 17 women – are believed to have used the cover of the forest for various illicit activities such as vice and gambling.
Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Gurkha Contingent and the ICA raided the forested areas – designed a protected zone – on Monday morning.
The suspects of various nationalities include Thais, Chinese, Bangladeshis and Myanmese.
Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun, said of the successful operation: ‘We will not tolerate any form of criminal activity. Operators who think they can get away with their illicit activities by operating under the cover of forested areas are sadly mistaken.
‘The Police will come down hard on such activities and weed them out wherever they may be.’
Investigations are currently ongoing Offenders who contravened the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act can be fined $1,000 or face up to two years jail or imprisonment or both.
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F**k Alvin Yeo , a come-by-backdoor MP … ya he is rite he is a MP since 2006 , may i remind you MR Alvin Yeo , u enter the Parliament not by the front door but by the backdoor , your Ward is not contested tht’s why u enter Parliament ..
if u got the courage , contest 1 on 1 at SMCs , let see if u got the ability to enter Parliament again ..
if not i got 2 words for ya : S*** I*
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““I have only been a MP since 2006, I wasn’t involved with the Policy Makings before that”
Alvin Yeo, you must have been a CRAP Lawyer someone who didn’t make the cut. That’s why you truly believe that you could BShit your way by being a politician.
If you are really THAT good a lawyer, how come you cannot answer solidly to a mere student? Or did you look down on these students, considering them beneath you that you felt it is perfectly ok to NOT come PREPARED??
It show you have no friggin respect to the common people. And don’t forget, these students are tomorrow’s workforce. I hope to God that these same students, who are males would NOT ever defend you if anything untoward happens to MY country.
Why don’t you go commit suicide you pig?
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It is a waste of time to talk to PAP stooges. The communication between PAP and the people is one-way. Just vote them out for good.
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Better yet. Can someone request Ms Sylvia Lim for her presentation to be publish here in full(she didn’t manage to finish her entire presentation due to time constrain).
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We will be more than happy to publish Ms Lim’s entire presentation here.
Anybody from WP keen to help us out?
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Article nonsense nia. Any better report no bias?
This Alex colourful spectacle la. Anything also agenda only. So one-sided meh? Then Sylvia go for what? Any monkey go there can liao. Alex go loh.
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Hi Alex,
Thanks. I look forward to either watching or reading Ms Sylvia Lim’s speech.
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Hi all,
You can read a synopsis of Ms Sylvia Lim’s presentation at http://wp.sg/2010/01/immigration-policies-forum/
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S’pore: ‘Textbook example” of repressive state
Human Rights Watch
January 20, 2010
See Malaysia: Events of 2009
SINGAPORE’S legal framework continues to perpetuate an authoritarian state tightly controlled by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). Although the party has won all elections since 1959 and is currently represented by 82 of the 84 parliamentarians with full voting rights, it is concerned that the next election, slated for no later than 2011, may demonstrate significant erosion of its popular support. To bolster its standing, the PAP has touted a relaxation of curbs on free expression, assembly, and association, and has expressed intent to introduce amendments to the constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act to guarantee a minimum of nine opposition members of parliament.
Appearances, however, are deceiving. In the interests of security, public order, morality, national harmony, or friendly foreign relations, Singapore law authorizes censorship of content and distribution of print material and films, severe limits on public processions and assemblies, and prolonged detention of suspects without trial. Mindful of the disruptions by civil society organizations at the 2006 World Bank-International Monetary Fund meetings in Singapore, parliament passed the draconian Public Order Law 2009 to preempt any such disruption at the Singapore-hosted November 2009 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Freedom of Assembly, Expression, and Association
In April 2009, seven months after the government rescinded the need for a police permit if more than four people wished to gather or stage a rally at Singapore’s Speakers’ Corner, parliament passed the Public Order Act 2009, effectively negating the earlier move. The new Act requires permits for any “cause-related activity”-such as a procession or assembly-no matter how many people are involved (a “cause related activity” is defined as a show of support for or against a position, person, group, or government). For “major” events, the Act permits police to issue “move-on” orders and to prohibit filming of their own activities.
Despite the October acquittal of three leaders and two supporters of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party, space has not opened up for political opponents. The five were tried for conducting a procession without a permit on September 17, 2007, while wearing T-shirts reading Democracy Now and Freedom Now. The judge first noted that although the home minister could make bylaws regulating assemblies and processions, nothing in the act defined what constituted either, and then ruled that the “natural and ordinary” meaning of procession was not applicable to the five walking casually on pedestrian pathways, taking breaks and impeding no one. However, the judge refused to rule the act unconstitutional, leaving in place a de facto police ban on outdoor political activities by opposition political parties. On October 12, 2009, the Attorney General’s Chambers filed an appeal.
Some of those involved in that “procession” are defendants, along with other Singapore Democratic Party members and supporters, in four other trials for “assembly without a permit,” “attempted procession without a permit,” or “speaking in public without a permit.” Fines imposed after earlier trials have bankrupted the party’s secretary-general, Dr. Chee Soon Juan, and his sister, Chee Siok Chin.
In March a judge found Wall Street Journal senior editor Melanie Kirkpatrick in contempt of court for allegedly impugning the independence of Singapore’s judiciary. In October the Far Eastern Economic Review and its editor-in-chief Hugo Restall lost an appeal in a defamation suit brought by Singapore founder Lee Kuan Yew and his son Prime Minister Hsien Loong Lee for a 2006 article they said implicitly suggested they may have abused the public’s trust. Damages and legal fees filed on November 13 totaled Singapore $405,000 (US$292,438).
The Newspaper and Printing Presses Act requires yearly renewal of licenses and empowers authorities to limit circulation of foreign newspapers alleged to “engage in the domestic politics of Singapore.” Internet content is less tightly controlled. Some political films and videos such as Singapore Rebel, a film biography of Chee Soon Juan, are approved, in part because their circulation cannot be controlled. But films containing “partisan or biased references to or comments on any political matter” are prohibited.
State law and political repression, including the threat of defamation suits and attendant bankruptcy, prevent the establishment of human rights NGOs and limit individual willingness to challenge the government. The Societies Act requires that most organizations of more than 10 people register with the government but limits engagement in “political activities” to registered political parties. Trade unions may not contribute to political parties, and the National Trade Union Congress, with which most unions affiliate, does not permit members supportive of opposition policies to hold office.
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Singapore is the only country in the world that has GRC for parliamentary election.
Over the years, it has created more harm than good for Singaporeans.
This “daft” policy has created many backdoor MPs who have came in by default under the coat-tail of their Ministers. Unlike the first generation PAP MPs, who had to fight hard inorder to earn every single vote; today’s PAP MPs are not only lacking in depth and substance – they are completely out of touch with the ground. They do not understand the reality and hardship of Singaporeans. They don’t live in HDB. They don’t eat at hawker centres. They don’t take bus nor MRT. When they pass policies, they just made and dictated them from their ivory towers without knowing how hard these policies are going to hit the pocket of an average Singaporean.
It is time for an average Singaporean to reflect……at the rate the current cost of living is going…….it is really very scarely. Increase HDB prices, increase HDB property tax, increase ERP, increase number of ERP gantries, increase COE, increase utilities, increase public transport, increase public parking, increase school fees, increase medical bills, very soon who knows they may increase GST again.
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“I am a lawyer and not an economist”
Well it is good that he admits he knows nuts about economic policies, unlike our most highly paid Cambridge-trained lawyer turned economic forecaster.
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The proud elites should STOP dreaming and START thinking.
Dreams are made in ivory towers,thoughts are born from the ground.
The only way for these chaps to learn and understand the people’s problems like unemployment and displcement is to let them experience first-hand what the common citizens have been through.
So,let us allow them the pleasure of being “unemployed” and “displaced” in the next election.
LET THEM TASTE THEIR OWN BITTER MEDICINE SO THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND?
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i work closely with the policy department in the ministry i work…all schorlars, speak proper english and write cheem papers with statistics that serve their purpose…all one sided papers…anyone from such a department willing to share their experience with everyone on TR how they come up with their so called policies?
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Most likely Alvin was invited for tea by MBT,WKS & LSS and became overly confident and arrogant as they say “in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king”.
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Hahahahah.
The chipmunk should have said:
“I was told about this forum two weeks ago,
so don’t ask me about things that happened
before that.”
and
“I did not volunteer to attend this forum so
don’t make things difficult for me.”
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“I don’t think we should protect Singaporeans from global competition because this is what happens in the outside world. Global competition is good for Singaporeans because it makes them work harder and think harder to succeed.”
After reading … something came into my mind …
Vote in more “alternative voices” to make the gar-ment work harder to serve us and think harder to improve our life !!!
MP Yeo ,thanks for enlighting me …
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Singaporeans have never ever been protected by PAP government nor asked for protection.
Many of us have done 2 to 3 years of National Service and placed at a disadvantaged for jobs, promotion, etc.
We are a 2nd class citizen in our own country.
It’s time to VOTE OUT THE PAP.
The USA citizens are smart because they voted out Democrats in Massachusetts because Obama is helping the already rich bankers.
In Singapore the PAP government are helping the property and banking tycoons. Lowest interest rate in ASEAN 0.1% and highest housing prices.
Fellow Singaporeans just vote 40% of PAP MPs and you see how life would be better for all Singaporeans
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“i am a lawyer, not an economist”?
LKY is a lawyer too, so can he stop talking abt economy?
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Remember the Zhang Yuan Yuan incident? Soon after the uproar, our dear MM Goh commented that PRs have every right to be loyal to their home country. Ok, so if they have this right, why is the Singapore Government still providing them with numerous subsidies?
On a sidenote, has anyone noticed the change in attitude by the government with regards to the immigration issue recently? They promised to decrease foreigners flow, decrease the subsidies for PRs in healthcare etc. I have a feeling that they are trying to lure Singaporeans into believing that PAP is doing something before GE so that we will vote them in again! I do hope that fellow Singaporeans will scrutinize what the PAP has done to SG for the past few years before casting their votes (and not just base their decision on the “carrots” — lift upgrading etc.)
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Singaporeans need to be Cheaper! Better! Faster! Yeay!
So that means we should not vote for a PAP government right?
They are obscenely expensive! – We can get many Obamas at least he will say things that pleases us.
Not necessarily better than a fortune-teller when it comes to forecasting (a well-known forecaster predicted a growing economy just before it went into a slump!).
And Very slow to respond to singaporeans’ concerns (it take them like 40 years? to rectify HDB’s flawed design and to admit that the stop at 2 campaign/have 3 if you can afford it and the method of learning mandarin was a mistake).
Very insightful of LSS! Now We all have good reasons to not vote for PAP. We all have a good reason to be Daft.
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Let give free singing lessons to our “Job” creators …
First song to teach them is … Count on me , Singapore …
We have a vision for tomorrow, just believe, just believe
We have a goal for Singapore, we can achieve, we can achieve
You and me, we’ll do our part, stand together, heart to heart
We’re going to show the world what Singapore can be
We can achieve, we can achieve
There is something down the road that we can strive for
We are told no dream’s too bold that we can’t try for
There’s a spirit in the air, it’s a feeling we all share
We’re going to build a better life, for you and me
We can achieve, we can achieve
Count on me Singapore, count on me to give my best and more
You and me, we’ll do our part, stand together, heart to heart
We’re going to show the world what Singapore can be
We can achieve, we can achieve
Chorus:
Count on me Singapore, Count on me Singapore
Count on me to give my best and more, count on me Singapore
( Repeat Chorus )
Together Singapore Singapore ( X 2 )
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I think PAP should just call for election next month. The longer they drag, the more ‘DAFT’ they appear.
Now they try to implement policies to add higher cost barriers in hope of appeasing the Singaporeans. Its probably a little too little, too late. Its just like giving extra quotas to COEs the past few years and now trying to add ERP gantries to reduce traffic volume. In the end, the jams stay and car owners get more unhappy.
PAP needs to do the following to reduce the unhappiness of the common people:-
1) Weed out poor EQ PAP MPs. This would include quite a few of the current ministers.
2) Reduce the MPs and Ministers salaries to decent levels.
3) Stop idiots from representing PAP in events and ensure these ‘dafts’ stop talking as if its running like a broken record.
4) Review the PR policies and approvals over the past decades. We do not want ‘talented’ PRs who compete on a low cost, poor quality basis. If we want a fight (‘flight’) to quality, let’s compete on level grounds.
5) Stop getting in low quality WPs and EPs who spent years repairing our roads.
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@ Joanne on Sat, 30th Jan 2010 5:27 pm
…..”has anyone noticed the change in attitude by the government….”
Carrots are dropped everywhere. Last week the official position so stoutly defended in the public arena is we still needs unspecified number of foreigners and this week” we reduced the intake of foreigners – unstated of absolute numbers or reduction in INCREASE in absolute numbers but still increasing ”
Political rhetorics are in practical terms cousins of lies. The problem is educating older folks like me – most of them totally-drunk of 45 years of indoctrination.
Generation Y must start aggressively de-tox their parents of blind incorrect trusting MSM and the incumbent party public preachings so that when it comes to voting, they may at least NOT casting a vote for the status quo leaving the fight for this country’s destiny to be decided by the young voters exclusively.
It is their future at stake, NOT MINE – which is long past my fair use-by date.
In this digital age, I can’t even kept pace with technology, where is my available intelligent relevance in determining the future for Generation Y and those coming in train??? Anyone older is probably a bigger fool thinking they really knows the world changing ever so fast.
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We need another 4 million FTs . This will replace singapore population . All SG citizens will be considered retired . Un-employment rate will be at 1 % .
Vote for papaya and this will come true . we might not even have a chance to clean tables anymore .
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@ Weil
‘I think PAP should just call for election next month. The longer they drag, the more ‘DAFT’ they appear.’
I wouldn’t mind if they appear more daft than they already are. =)
Anyway election not so soon la… They havent announce stuffs like progress package and gst rebates. They need to make sure such issues are reported agressively in the papers before they’ll dare to call for election.
All these talk about lowering subsidy for PRs n admitting the overly-inflated HDB Prices are just teasers… Time will prove it will be empty talk by our world-class government.
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if you guys arent careful, you may just get detained by the ISA!! and you ll be put in solitary confinement for max of THREE MONTHS WOOHOO
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PRs are only resident in the country. For tax purposes and administrative purposes. They also have their own countries as well, they get to vote and all the other goodies and liabilitie associated with the country of their origin. Surely they do not expect to get the same treatment as singaporeans. else why be a singporean?
in fact no other country or city in the world treats PRs better than locals with the exception to my city.
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I read that everyone is complaining about the PAP MP. Yet, when there is a chance to vote at an election, you guys vote for them. Otherwise, how can they have so many seats?
Wake up before its too late
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How many is enough? Is it NOT obvious there is ALREADY TOO MANY?
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Perhaps the below might help…on the other hand maybe not…cos some people only know how to see the numbers but either can’t or don’t want to see the numbers truely in the open or at the ground view or can’t get off their overpaid fat asses to do an actual real walk thru on the ground to triple check all the actual facts and figures…
What can i say…except the below vetted and truer then true by others who did the walk even as they did the talk…
http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/statistics/
haizzzz.
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