Singapore students “invited” to attend YOG Track and Field competition this Saturday
August 16th, 2010 | 
Author: A letter purportedly sent by a “YOG 2010 Coordinator” inviting students to attend a Track and Field Event this Saturday has been making its rounds in Singapore cyberspace, sparking a massive outrage among netizens peeved at the use of such lowly, distasteful and callous tactics by the increasingly unpopular PAP regime to coerce students to “support” its YOG:
Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here]
As seen in the letter above, the students will not be provided with any refreshments at the event despite being “coerced” to attend and they are allowed to bring water bottles with selected logos only.
The authencity of this letter has been verified by a netizen Lim Meng Yong whose son was one of the “lucky” recipients.
“The affiliated Primary School next door is also ‘volunteering’ all these children of Dear LEEder Kim to support the YOG. My son is going on 23rd Aug, Bishan Stadium. Coming back to school at 10.30pm. NOW!!! I’ve to plan my time to fetch my son! …..I don’t want to dwell too much on this matter……vulgarities are about to be gushing out of my mouth,” he wrote in exasperation.
[Source: Vote PAP out Facebook]
Despite the inordinate amount of resources poured in by the PAP regime to publicize the inaugural YOG including spending a shocking $8.9 million dollars to put up giant billboards and banners all over the island, the response from ordinary Singaporeans has been most disappointing, prompting IOC President Jacques Rogge to express concerns about the “subdued” enthusiasm displayed so far.
In an online poll conducted by Channel News Asia a week ago, 88 percent of some 6,400 respondents said they are not “interested at all” in the YOG.
PAP leaders have blatantly refused to acknowledge the reality on the ground with Finance Minister Tharman claiming that the “enthusiasm” for the YOG has been very “real” and “infectious”.
When asked by the Brunei Times about the lukewarm response from Singaporeans, the PAP minister in charge of YOG Dr Vivian Balakrishnan replied:
“The answer lies on the ground, what people do and how they feel. At this point of time, I am quite confident that Singaporeans are proud of this and want to show our best to the world,” he boasted rather unashamedly.
The Chairman of Singapore YOG Committee Ng Ser Miang denied online reports that Singapore students were being forced to support the YOG in an interview with Associated Press yesterday:
“There will be stories flying around…..But just look at the faces of the children that are there, the sparkle in their eyes and the smile on their faces. Those are not things you can force. I don’t think anyone will be forced to come to watch the torch relay or the games. So I don’t think there is any coercion.”
If Singaporeans are indeed so “proud” of YOG, why must the YOG committee “arrow” the students to attend the events? They should be rushing to buy the tickets which must have been sold out by now.
It is not known if who is paying the tickets on behalf of the students. According to earlier reports, the Ministry of Education has kindly ”purchased” 80,000 out of the 100,000 YOG tickets on sale in the open market, courtesy of Singapore taxpayers.
One thing for sure, Bishan Stadium will be packed with students this Saturday and the Singapore media will have a field day “astrotufing” to proclaim what a “success” the YOG is from the “huge” number of spectators, most of whom have been “invited” or rather “arrowed’ by their schools to attend the event, a propaganda tactic often employed by North Korea’s state media, the KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) to generate fake grassroots support for Kim Jong Il’s despotic regime.
EDITORS’ NOTE:
Has your life been turned upside down by the YOG? Please share your views with us. We assure you that your identity will be kept strictly CONFIDENTIAL. We will be your UNCENSORED VOICE. We will publish your letter in FULL with ZERO editing, moderating or censoring. You do not have to suffer in silence! You have the RIGHT to speak up as a citizen of this country. Remember: you are a CITIZEN of Singapore, not a SLAVE of the PAP regime.
Our mailbox has been swarmed by letters from YOG volunteers for the last few days. Unless you specifically want us to publish your REAL NAME, we will use a pseudonym instead. Please understand that due to manpower constraints, we may not be able to publish your letters immediately and we will have to stagger them a few hours apart to ensure that they get maximum exposure.
Please keep your feedback coming! Singapore for SINGAPOREANS! Your interests always come FIRST.
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Parents HAVE the right to say ‘No’ to such atrocities. There is NOTHING the school can do to the pupil. Escalate it up to the ministry if need be. Be firm. Be nasty if need be.
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actually if they call it as an invitation, there is a choice of whether you want to go or not. what would the school even do if the students choose not to go
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juz like us being treated nastily!!!
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Singaporeans should stop being used again and again, and when the game is over, we will be back to square one being step over and kick around like a piece of floor rug by the old fart and his blood sucking cronies. Singapore is becoming a night mare for the local citizens.
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Complain some more la! 现在连’dog food’ 都没得吃!!
“Specially selected to be part of the school delegation to this even”? What a BIG JOKE!! Don’t FORCE the students’ to go thank GOD already.
’specially selected”……hahahaha!!!!
What school is that??
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I would let my child go if he thinks he will enjoy the outing. However, I let him go knowing that the Government won’t even bother spending $2 to buy him a snack and a packet drink. Out of that huge kitty of $387 million, not one cent goes to help my kid enjoy the YOG.
I think a little help in ensuring my son/daughter gets some refreshments goes a long way to spur my enthusiasm to support the YOG. But alas, the Government doesn’t even care.
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Your kid will merely be used as a prop, a decoration to fill up another empty seat.
Why? To enhance some principal/dean’s kpi. Those incorrigible balls carriers.
If people are interested, they will go and watch themselves. No prodding, coercing, pleading or ‘inviting’ required.
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Although the letter is titled “Invitation….”,
nowhere is there a field for parents to approve/decline their child’s participation nor is there a stated or implied request to reply as a follow up.
And in conjunction with the tone of words used such as “please ENSURE..”, “is ALLOWED”, I would take it more as a directive to be present at the event.
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Did the letter stated R.S.V.P
Coca Cola sponsored YOG why can’t they provide drinks as a minimum.
What is the stored value of the EZ link card?
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another joke for the day.
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This is the way a feudal Lord traditionally communicates with his serfs so what are you complaining about?
Don’t like it? Get your ass off the sofa and help the opposition stand in your ward right now. No time, donate money. Freedom doesn’t come free, you know.
Or do you expect your civil rights to be handed you on a plate without you having to stir yourself from your comfort zone?
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This noon I saw about 10 big buses at a school near my place, likely sending primary school children to the YOG event. Wtf. Why can’t PAP invites Bangladesh workers for the event? They will be going happily without being paid since govt imported them here.
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“Your son has been specially selected…” So what is the special selection based on? If everyone is selected, then no one is. With the budget of 400 millions, food and drink are not provided for special invitation? That’s what I call a good bargain.
Heard there will be a YOG youth night at Sentosa on the 24th. Any student received invitation to join in the fun?
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Yala! Why force those students’ which they don’t like to go,ask those new singaporean and PR to go la,they are so willing to go and wait until water run out the mouth already!and no one ask them to go!
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@Kong Lan Wei
If im not wrong, i think it was something like: free trips on bus and mrt for the day. And you are encouraged to take public transport. At least thats whats said on the YOG brochure. But since transport is provided, they are probably just giving the ezlink cards for free?
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Siao liao la! My son only got Adidas shirt and Nike shoes.Can he just wear under wear to go there? His under wear is crocodile brand one.
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The show has to go on, even if it is a big lie.
Can the big lie be covered with all a big show ?
Only the arrogance of the Pro Alien Party will lead it to believe that the entire world is as daft as they believe Singaporeans to be ?
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i thought slavery occurs in third world countries….not Singapore.
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Dedicated to the poor schoolkid ‘volunteers’.
The Show Must Go On!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ADh8Fs3YdU
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Sg is an animal farm and citizens are animals. In which ever way you act, you will still get slaughtered.
PAP go and another replacement would just take its place.
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Come on Singaporean…. get our ACT together, boycott the YOG, let them know that we true native Singaporean are not “YES MAN” like the PAPPIES.
Foreign journalist if you are reading this post, please interview some students whether they did it on their own free will to watch the TRACK AND FIELD EVENT on the day of the event. I think they’d rather go to the cinemas to catch the latest movies.
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I’m happy when you actually hear how the YOG participants from various countries enjoy Singapore. And of course there are volunteers who appreciate their experience.
Okay that’s besides the point.
I think that school itself who wrote it as an invitational letter themselves. It’s not PAP or Bala’s fault.
Bishan stadium was really bad. was there for AYG and the seating was really horrendous with no leg-room and space.
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What ?? Not even dog food is provided ??
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@ CRaVe – With that 400 million piece of cake going to MCYS, of course MOE also want a piece of it. Ng Eng Hen is probably cursing Vivian Balakrishnan right now, who knows?
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Many students will miss their usual private tuitions, music and piano lessons especially on weekends.
Many parents are forced to take on unproductive workloads since YOG started.
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There should have a choice for parents to mark “X”:
Agree [.]
Disagree [.]
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Govt letters always “you are specially selected” for this exercise…..
Note includes: Under the law section.”x.x”.sub code.”x.x”.any failure to comply is against the law.
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The last thing the government would be thinking is this.
If the government was good and fair to everyone in Singapore just like how Australia treats everyone, probably everyone in Singapore would be supportive of whatever we do.
BUT NO! THEY NEVER THINK LIKE THAT!
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Then some idiots would say but Australia got natural resources but Singapore don’t have, how to compare?
Then I would say, how about comparing San Marino, Andorra, Luxembourge and Lichtenstein? They are as rich or richer than Singapore, and they have no natural resources as well!
Let’s admit it. Our government is treating us like dirt now!!!!!
Where in the world got government ask the citizens not to retire one!!!!! WAH LAO EH! Think we north koreans ah! CCB!
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I have a feeling the EZ link card no money inside. Want to use must put money inside.
Just like some stupid lucky draws, where the winner wins the car key in all glamour and celebrations.
But the winner has to buy the car.
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What happens if a student still brings in a bottle with one of those 2 logos mentioned?
Will they confiscate it and let the poor kid die of thirst under the hot sun?
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Just stick a lousy YOG removable sticker on the bottle laH!
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this letter is guaranteed from a all boys school. notice they said “son/ward” instead of the usual “child/ward”. and how many boys school do we have in the bishan vicinity?
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it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students to attend such events……..y find fault
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Letting out steam is not the intention. If this Ministers and organisers admit to their mistakes, true blue Singaporeans will surely forgive and do our part. Going around and like an empty vessel and making noise through te crappy SPH will only frustrate Singaporeans. Stop picking on the poor kids. Let them concentrate on their coming exams. The Ministers with their millions can afford private tution but not poor Singaporeans for their poor kids. Peace N Love
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@stani- it is not about if it is a once in a lifetime thing, it is about respect the individual as a person and not someone to be RULED upon.
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bastard blow 4400 million of “Tax Payer’s” money and say we can’t provide you a $1 drink for your kids.
Bastards, Vote them out la.
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Desperate times call for desperate measures. That’s how low the YOG & its patrons has sunk to.
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Thus, I urge all parents receiving that letter to meet up and COLLECTIVELY decide to walk-over the “invitation”. No need 100% for a no-show, just 30, 40, 50, 60% and the message is clear. What, they can “punish” 30-60% of the students, meh? Do that and it is police/MOE case already.
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Check the Teacher-in-charge and which school they are from. Then publish the name of that school. If possible provide name, email & photo of the principal. Netizens and bloggers will know what to do next.
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@stani, August 17, 2010 at 3:49 am
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Wah, “once in lifetime opportunity” (OILTO) indeed. Welcome 100K foreign workers each year – OILTO; flooding in Orchard road – OILTO; ministers earning highest salary in world – OILTO; mass of youths not wearing any Nike or Adidas simultaneously – OILTO; limping terrorist escaped from max. security center – OILTO; ministers jetting around in a Jetstream plane fully paid by taxpayer – OILTO; real possibility of YOG flopping after spending $387m – OILTO …. etc. WTF OILTO you talking?
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Just call the school and tell them you have prior engagements, there is nothing the school can do.
There cannot be any force or coercion to attend an event outside of school hours. I personally believe this is not really MOE or PAP’s directive but the school principals’ focus on their promotion or rankings.
But ultimately, the school cannot force anyone to do anything especially if the parents personally call or write in the decline the “invitation”
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anti nike n adidas?
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@stani – why always divert the main point and deliberately undermine the main message? which is about coercion and desperation to fill up empty seats to the embarrassment you-know-who?
inane to justify that because it is once a lifetime so people should pretend and not find fault and once a lifetime means it is ok to steamroll over people and give them dog food – in this case. no food?
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@stani – why always divert the main point and deliberately undermine the main message? which is about coercion and desperation to fill up empty seats to avoid the embarrassment for you-know-who?
inane to justify that because it is once a lifetime so people should pretend and not find fault and once a lifetime means it is ok to steamroll over people and give them dog food – in this case. no food?
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What was the reaction they expected from the parents or the kids?
“Wah!!!
YOG EZ-link card!!
I want, I want!!”
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My colleague told me that her son’s school had had asked their student to volunteer to attend matches.
What surprises me is that they were told that volunteers from each class are to support different countries which will be assigned by the school.
Aren’t the volunteers going to the ground to support Singapore??
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why dun they just hire the blanglahs and chinese nationals who are not working on sat n sun to see the shows for free… throw in some SFI buffet after that. and a few lucky draw for instant PR status as prizes.. im sure the whole lot from Tuas, Woodlands, serangoon and china town will join in the festive event!
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I completely agree. That is exactly how I understand it. Excellent!
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Well, I was totally in tune with that. I told my sister and she said the same. I would like to hear whatever else you have on this. Excellent!
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wtf? different sch must fake and pretend to cheer for different country….kum gong kum gong.
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water bottles must not have either Nike or Adidas logos!??
first time that I heard of such rules imposed on spectators!
This is bullying by one of the sponsors? or is it that SYOGOC is pissed with Nike and Adidas for not supporting the YOG?
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Well, Ng Ser Miang caught with his pants down with solid evidence of that ridiculous invitation letter proving beyond a doubt that students have been forced to attend. So happy that a premium global news agency Associated Press has picked this up showcasing what the PAP is about high handed communist tactics like forcing our school kids to participate against their will. Parents are now complaining loudly.
PAP, your whitey tighties turned black & ugly liao. HA HA HA!
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@@@@@@@@@Ja:
August 17, 2010 at 8:15 am
Just call the school and tell them you have prior engagements, there is nothing the school can do.
There cannot be any force or coercion to attend an event outside of school hours. I personally believe this is not really MOE or PAP’s directive but the school principals’ focus on their promotion or rankings.
But ultimately, the school cannot force anyone to do anything especially if the parents personally call or write in the decline the “invitation.
But this brings everyone back to a simple point that has been mentioned in one of the threads!
See, during the Chinese dynasties, corrupt officials knowing that the imperial envoy would pass by their town, will pre-feed their poor citizens/peasants with food so that they may look well fed, give them new cloths so they may look presentable. – An attempt to mask or hide the fact that things are not doing well. This is exactly the same theory. Just simply that it happened in the 2010s, and deployed upon a different category of people in a different scale.
An envoy cannot excuse himself/herself by saying that the official is cunning. In those days, this is a crime as severe as treason. Punishable by death of all 9 generations of your clan.
Likewise, if you kill an ant, you take a life. You kill a human, you still take a life.
When a mistake is made, there is not big or small mistakes. Matters that there is one. Admit it, correct it.
But as we all know, our government never admits anything, rarely corrects anything and always blames it on other things.
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I forgot to mention, How many parents, would be able to see through the fact that their children, are actually being USED” i use the world USED, as TOOLS i stress the word TOOLS, by a channel, by an institution they have been led to believe are doing EVERYTHING, for the GOOD of their children!
And even if they do know, they are too busy to be trifled with such matters! My child is in the hands of the school, he’d be safe, i “think” he would enjoy going to the games, this is a once in a lifetime chance, i can see no disadvantage of letting him/her go.
There is no physical reason for them to decline!
Some major brand donates millions to a charity foundation and throws a party to let the whole world know about it. – Now, note that they use their money.
Our schools, sends its pupils, when they could be studying amidst the competitiveness of current education standards, when they could be at home with their family and friends, when they could be possibly much more productive elsewhere, to throw a “party”, to let the whole world “see” how fired up “everyone” is with regards to the Youth olympic flop.
I’m fine if my child were to be sent, disciplined, berated or even inconvenienced for His/Her SAKE. But if i were a parent, i would REFUSE to have him/her brought to this world to be used as a TOOL!
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Singaporeans by and large have woken up and are waking up from the hypnosis and deep slumber and now know that the incumbents are no longer trustworthy – hence the lukewarm response lah. Blame? Not the citizens but the uncaring, condescending and venal self-serving MIWs. It is the consequence of divide and rule, the consequence of elitism, the consequence of segmentation …. one can add on lah, the inequities are Himalayan!
One can lie, dictate, hoodwink and suppress the truth but not for long.
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talk cock govt. we are indeed a communist country.
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Sound good. Its also my favorite topic.That’s great andthanks for the fine sharring.
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Moth*r F**ker Villian Bala
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North korean should learn form our MM.
just use fine, jailed, sue and FEAR tatics.
North will be 10 or 100 times more rich than asia and do not even need to beg china for food.
Maybe the swiss educated son is preparing to follow our example once he take over.
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I’m a secondary school student and honestly I have looked forward to YOG for quite sometime. Gymnastics was my choice of sport to attend. But unfortunately, tickets were quickly sold out. If you watch on TV, you see many empty spaces but the tickets are still allegedly sold out. Why? Because MOE has bought most of the tickets but the students didn’t turn up for the event. I think it’s really great if MOE is willing to sponsor the students to these events. It gives a chance that we would not normally have to be a spectator of world class athletes. Maybe some of us are forced, but most of us are more than willing to attend these events. If you ask me, students who are unwilling to attend are ungrateful for the chance. I would willingly go for any event if it was free. How many chances would you get after all? Don’t get me wrong, in no way do I LOVE PAP. But as students, we sometimes don’t have the resources to attend these events. And we are grateful when given a chance to. There are always two sides to a story.
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I was very pleased to find this site.I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
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Oh please… again, I wonder why these articles are so closed-minded.
I have seen the buzz around students myself – having followed the torch relay for a fair bit of the way. But –> even though the kids are excited, most parents are not as excited. and since it’s the parents who control the purse strings, these kids would not otherwise have been allowed to go for the games unless the kids are coerced.
can we let this be an occasion for the country to celebrate its youth… and not one for closed-minded old people who see conspiracies everywhere to spoil the fun?
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So we should closed our eyes to everything bad abt YOG in order to be considered open minded???
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@ baboon,
guess you must be one of those born with a silver spoon ape, er.. sorry boy.
hmm, how to consider things closed minded. To simplify matters for you. If you are doing a renovation to your house, you got a budget of one million. As you go along doing up things, suddenly upon completion, your budget hit four millions…Oops..
As you step into your newly renovated house on a rainy day, you expect perfection. However, what you get is a leaking roof, chipped off tiles, peeling paint, choked plumbing, no electricity and etc… how do you feel?? Very happy with an open mind… or pissed off as you kena ripped off? So what do you think about singaporean now about this YOG event? Happy?
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