Reform Party’s Response to PM’s National Day Message
August 31st, 2010 | 
Author: The Reform Party was disappointed with the PM’s speech. This was an opportunity for the PM to address some of the pressing issues facing this country and his failure to do so has demonstrated once again that our government is out of touch with the people. Here is the Party’s view on some of these issues and our proposed solutions.
Economic performance
The PM praised Singapore’s economic performance this year. However this has been built on the back of a vigorous US recovery, which is now fading fast. Singapore’s performance is just a leveraged version of what most of the other Asian economies have experienced. Given that imports subtracted 2.4% from US GDP growth in the last quarter it is clear that we are fast approaching the limits of what can be achieved by reliance on US demand. There are few signs that Asia has replaced the US as a source of final demand. So we can expect a dramatic slowdown in growth for the second half of this year and perhaps even a technical recession where growth is negative over two quarters. And let’s remember that while unemployment may have been contained, Singapore workers have suffered real wage cuts that are a long way from being restored. The wage guidelines for next year of a 3% pay rise would still be lower than expected inflation of 3-4%. In other words real wages will continue to fall.
The Reform Party is of the view that our level of net saving is unnecessarily high and we would do more to stimulate domestic consumption by reducing taxes or increasing transfer payments to the less well-off.
Foreign worker/Immigration policies
Buried in the PM’s speech was the eye-opening detail that 400,000 Singaporeans (or about 20% of the domestic labor force) are receiving workfare of an average $1,000 each (most of which goes into CPF). This is the segment of the population which has suffered most from the PAP’s open-door foreign worker policy, yet there were no policy measures announced to help them.
The PM relied on isolated anecdotes to downplay the level of anti- foreign worker sentiment that threatens to spill over into xenophobia. He provided no reassurances on immigration policy and no evidence of how the PAP policies have benefited the ordinary Singaporean or older retrenched workers. The folksy stories of aunties do however concur with our experience that Singaporeans are not xenophobic by nature but have been pushed that way by PAP policy.
The Reform Party supports the policy of allowing easy access to foreign workers with special skills, but we should ultimately be looking to provide Singaporeans with the skill sets to take their place over the longer term. We do not agree that this country needs foreign workers to compete directly with Singaporeans on all levels of the workforce.
It is difficult to see how Microsoft’s need for skilled software engineers translates into the necessity of having foreign chambermaids or shop assistants. Nor indeed why any MNC (such as Microsoft) if it lacks skilled engineers should not reciprocate for the benefits of being based in Singapore, by running training courses to bring our local engineers up to the specification that they require. It is difficult to see why we should fight so hard to retain industries that employ 80-90% foreign workers as it just increases the competition for domestic inputs whose supply is inelastic, such as land.
The Reform Party is pleased that the PM has responded to our call for the need to raise productivity. Unfortunately PAP policies such as the current excessively liberal foreign worker policy are antithetical to productivity growth as they only serves to keep cost of labour low. The government has yet to show any real commitment or clear cut long term strategy to increasing productivity.
National Service
The only concrete initiative was to reward NS men with a grant of $9,000. Few details were provided other than to say that it could be used to pay for further education (which the Reform Party would make free for NS men) and for housing (where sky-high prices are the result of deliberate government policy in restricting the supply of land and growing the population at an unsustainable rate).
The Reform Party believes that $9,000 in a restricted account does not come close to reflecting the economic cost Singaporean NS men face with two years of lost earnings. Furthermore, the PM said that future education fees will have to rise, presumably to cover this additional expense.
The Reform Party continues to propose, in this regard:
- Lower taxes for NS men
- Obligation on foreign students on Singapore scholarships wishing to work here to serve NS
- Cutting the NS period down to a year at maximum within 5 years
- A target for zero death in training
Education
On education, the Reform Party has repeatedly called for a reduction in the weighting given to PSLE in order to provide a more holistic education. We have also called for an abolishment of streaming at the early stages of education, between N levels and O levels as we want to offer opportunities for late bloomers who do poorly at PSLE to move up if they do well.
The party is disappointed with the PM’s 30% target for enrollment and his excuses for not expanding further. Again the PAP demonstrate their inability to formulate any long term innovative strategy for increased enrollment in institution where learning is targeted at the skills required in the workforce. The Reform Party has also called for the need to increase the percentage of university enrolment up to advanced nation standards.
The PM failed to touch on any measures that would ensure all of Singapore’s children receive an equal right to an education, including the physically challenged, those with learning difficulties, or other issues such as familial economic hardship.
Conclusion
It is interesting to see yet again how much Reform Party thinking is now reflected in Government policy but this begs the question of why we need a PAP government in the first place. In response, I reproduce below the Reform Party’s 19 policy pledges so the electorate can judge who has the welfare of ordinary Singaporeans at the heart of their policies. It is all very well to talk of the Singapore spirit but this is a government which continues to insist on running Singapore as a business and has downgraded Singapore from Sovereign Nation status to International city status.
By Kenneth Jeyaretnam on votingrp.wordpress.com
Read rest of article here.
Posted in Opinion
Yo Ken, where u contesting? I at Pasir Ris and U have my vote!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hee! hee!….does not take a “Rocket scientist” to know that PEEM is jus “peeing” all over the place and polluting the air with all his “farts” !!!
Ken n Sylvia..there is no need to expalin now..lets jus keep your “ammo” and “fire” during GE.
Why let the “Cat out of your Bag” so soon?….they don’t play fair you know ?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You suggest making education free for all NS men. Sounds good, might buy you the votes as well but from a practical standpoint, funding it would be a major challenge. How will you pay for it? you will have to increase taxes or else you will drain the state coffers. Both of which will lead to problems. I agree that this government is “light handed” when it comes to foreign workers. there is no disputing the fact that there are too many of them and an excess of can suppress wages and lead to a various social problems like overcrowding etc. However, we need them, albeit in fewer numbers. i think companies should only be allowed to hire after they have declared to the MOM that they cannot find the right candidate after an exhaustive search.
We all like free houses, free goodies, free education etc. any European countries do provide free education, free healthcare, free post secondary education, but they have sky high income taxes. These measures attract the voter but are not beneficial in the long term. This is one of the reasons why Europe’s economy is in a big mess right now.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
To RP
May the Force be with you!!
“MAJULAH SINGAPURA”.
PAP SURE LOSE
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
free education for NSman? RP is better at blowing the trumpet then PAP man.
reduce NS to 1 year within 5 years? i will never trust RP to defend singapore. it take SAF even longer to decide to buy a tank and you want to cut operational readiness and training by 50%! what if the tekong robber had wento woodland instead, where is the 4NTN forces? Who will put out fires and answer prank calls?
btw, since when zero target for death isn’t a target in NS? did you served?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
nice counter offer,except but reducing NS to 1yr and NS liablities to 5yrs is wishful thinking, not forgetting our birth rates hv bn dropping, it take abt 1 yr to train an officer fm bmt to ocs, after become officer then finish NS w/o first deploying them to combat? pls offer something more conclusive, all FT who wish to become PR shd serve NS, serving NS need not necessary means taking arms, they can serve as road sweeper to keep our environment clean, gardener to beautify our city garden, or become farmers to help increase our need for food, doubtful if war preceed us now how many of us especially the younger generation knows how to farm own vege, potatoes, or slaughter chicken
nice try anyway, keep it up RP
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I was reading the PM’s NDR speeches…… looking for facts and figures but I saw none. Then I skipped all the whole lot. Without numbers, words means nothing or anything to anybody. I’d suggest that the future govt speeches be short on words, but packed with empirical and analytical numbers that shows the whole picture.
Meanwhile, I am not very impressed with the speeches so far. On the other hand, its seems the alternative views are more fact-based.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@rap: August 31, 2010 at 8:49 am
Seriously, free education for the NS man is an investment.
How many NS men after serving NS will still continue to pursue a tertiary education ?
As matters stand, the present government is willing to pay $9,000 to every NS Male who has completed NS liabilities.
With more then 1,000,000 passing through NS since 1967 and still living – this single payout alone will cost Singaporeans $9 BILLION.
Have you considered where this amount is coming from ?
The annual top up exercise to our CPF accounts – from supposed annual economic surplus had – amounted to approximately $2 Billion annually.
Instead of the top up – or the $9000 payable to individuals – the lump sum total could have gone into a sinking fund to pay the annual premiums for a National Service Education Insurance Scheme that will provide coverage for such a plan for Free Education to Singaporeans completing NS liabilities.
This sinking fund scheme can be expanded to include a National Insurance Scheme to look after all the requirements of Singaporean Senior Citizens.
It is the creative management of our limited wealth to bring maximum benefits to everyone instead of allowing our money to be politically exploited to benefit those who wield political power over us.
Singaporeans should demand a REFORM to the manner in which LEGISLATIONS are rubber stamped to disenfranchise Singaporeans of all our POLITICAL RIGHTS – especially when MM LKY had defined POLITICS as the POLITICS OF LIFE.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The opposition parties understand our problems much better and have sound solutions to resolve them.
We should give them a chance to manage this country.
This are in a very big mess now.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Me and all my Malaysian friends will never vote for the Reform Party. Go and dream long long….
We support ONLY the PAP.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Our Pledges
■Providing Cheaper and Better Lower-Income Housing by releasing more land for house-building and allowing the private sector a greater role
■Universal health insurance to be funded through current CPF contributions replacing current Medisave and Medishield schemes
■Basic Old Age Pension payable to all provided they have worked and paid into CPF for a sufficient number of years
■Reform of CPF to make contributions above those necessary to fund health and unemployment insurance and basic pension voluntary
■Universal child benefit scheme (as part of Guaranteed Minimum Income) to replace current tax breaks that heavily favour women on higher incomes
■Guaranteed Minimum Income for those in work to replace current Workfare system and to be integrated with child benefit and tax system
■A Minimum Wage to encourage businesses to raise productivity
■Reforms to Foreign Worker Policy to ensure that business gets the skilled labour it needs but that our own citizens come first
■Reductions in or exemptions from GST for certain categories of goods like food that form a higher proportion of total expenditure for those on median incomes and below
■Universal free and compulsory education from pre-school through to secondary level
■Expanded university enrolment and increased investment in improving quality of education for everyone
■Increased assistance for older workers and women re-entering the labour market to retrain and acquire new educational qualifications
■Reduction in NS to 18 months initially with aim to reduce it to one year as soon as feasible
■Requirement for new citizens and PRs to do NS or to pay lump sum tax instead
■Privatization of Temasek and GIC and distribution of equity to Singaporean citizens of more than five years standing
■Continuing Business and Foreign Investment Friendly Environment coupled with low tax rates
■Greater help and support for local SMEs to grow world-class companies
■Abolish restrictions on freedom of expression to encourage creativity and innovation necessary for a 21st century knowledge-based economy
■Reduce waste and inefficiency in government starting with slashing ministerial salaries and replacing it with performance-linked earnings tied to indicators directly related to your welfare.
As I said before, the 9-points proposals are the general guidelines for the people to think about it. All these have to discuss again entirely if they want to implement in the future.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
New Era:
August 31, 2010 at 11:06 am
The opposition parties understand our problems much better and have sound solutions to resolve them.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
hi.It is becos the most opposition members are your ‘NEIGHBOURS-NEXT-DOOR’ unlike the PAPies who live in IVORY TOWERS.
SO,it does not make sense to vote for people living in OVORY TOWERS,does it?
On the contrary,SINGAPOREANS should VOTE IN the SINGAPOREAN neighbours WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR.These are the people,like you and me,who understand what is wrong as they are also facing the saem shit,dayin day out.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I love what the RP is proposing regarding NS except for
Obligation on foreign students on Singapore scholarships wishing to work here to serve NS
We still need foreign talents in Singapore, what we want is less and better quality talents in our shores. The above suggestion will scare away both the lesser and better talents, the latter is what we need.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Even Taiwan is moving away from National service to Volunteer Units in 2014.
On March 10, 2009 Minister of Defence Chen Chao-min said by the end of 2014 Taiwan will have an all volunteer military force. The process of removing conscription will begin in 2010 and by the end of 2014 an all volunteer force will replace the conscipts. Individuals who wish to join must have a minimum of high school education and those who do not volunteer for the military will be forced to complete four months of military boot camp.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
SG in HK, that said minister may be gone before the dateline LOL
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Wow! Apparently this RF’s long response to NDR could be so concised in the Straight(Straits) Times by way of a sentence or two! While the mainstream media gave huge pages to ‘kaki lan’ like the regular articles to the Dear Leeder’s daughter Lee WL and recently PAP Teo! In fact SIN practises ‘quanxi & nep…’ so much so that the supposedly public press becomes private press! If the alternative parties could be granted alternative views; at least Singaporeans could hear both sides of the views, not one sided or lop sided!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I gladly accept the $9K grant (even though it is pittance in comparison to my 2.5+10yrs of NS), and still vote for RP.
Why? Simple. RP’s pledges make sense and truly reflect the ground conditions. I just hope it is not another case of ANIMAL FARM, where pledges eventually get re-written due to insatiable need for more power, greed, corruption. etc etc.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Btw, I wonder what happened to WP of late. So damn quiet……I would expect Low or Sylvia to express their views.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Singapore economy will recover
American economy is getting better, thanks to Obama
We are in this mess, because George Bush had “very light ears”
George Bush love to listen to the Brits, Saddam Hussien is a bad guy, and they launch a war on Iraq. In the past USA actually supported Iraq to attack Iran. And now you can spot Brits once again stiring up trouble, misleading USA to attack Iran. And it is the same Brits that now critize USA economy, it is the same Brits that now critize USA drawdown of troops.
Thank to Obama Barrack, this guy “see more than he listen” and those Brits can no longer be a nuisance to the world
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I agree with RP’s proposal to cut NS to 1 year, but only for other-ranks.. For officers, I think they should still do 1.5 year – 2 years NS..
I am willing to pay higher taxes, provided medical care is free and education is free up to university..
Look at the taxes (in all form) that we are already paying under pap..
coe,
roadtax,
erp,
gst,
water-conservation tax (and gst on top of that),
petrol tax (plus gst on top of that),
property tax for hdb flats..
income tax
share dividend tax
The most ridiculous is that we are made to pay $2 administrative charges every time we use OUR medisave for chronic treatments..
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The PAP government currently holds 98% of the parliament.
If the opposition can just win a few extra seats in parliament, the PAP would be more willing to listen to what Singaporeans have to say. The $9000 to be paid to NS men is an insult to what the NS men have sacrificed.
Voters have to ask themselves, “Do I benefit from the current PAP policy of suppressing the wages of Singaporeans by mindlessly importing foreign labour?”
Even if you’re a new citizen, it would be to your DISadvantage to vote the PAP as a continuous influx of foreigners would always depress wages.
SO IF YOU’RE NOT A TYCOON OR A PAP RUNNING DOG, YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR THE OPPOSTION.
THE LOGIC IS CLEAR CUT, COMPETITION IN THE POLITICAL ARENA BENEFITS EVERYONE EXCEPT TYCOONS OR PAP RUNNING DOGS.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Very impressive programmes presented to win votes GE as talk is cheap and nothing to lose. But, where does the money come from was not mentioned in the proposals at all. Please provide the financial details and if you can show the programmes are sound and viable to implement without taxing us further, all of us should vote for the party. The opposition parties in our neighbouring countries also presented very beautiful programmes to help the poor souls. When voted into office, the standards of living of poor souls remain the same until today.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Singaporeans are getting the leaders they voted in.
We only dare to bark and bark! Like they say about dogs… those that bark, don’t bite; those that bite, don’t bark.
Because we r scared of 1 old man and his cancer-son and his gang of balls-carriers, we have basically let 90 odd con-men talk their way into multi-million dollar jobs as politicians and MPs. They managed to scare all of us into giving up our little speck on the world map to them we call our nation-island.
So like it or not, PAP is the choice of the people of Sin-gar-poor. There is no one to blame but ourselves as the stupid and cowardly citizens of this island-city. Lion-city? More like paper lions. AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAP ACTING THE WAY IT DOES – THESE PAP CON-MEN ARE ARROGANT BECAUSE THEY KNOW SINGAPOREANS HAVE NO BALLS TO DO ANYTHING.
We are good at complaining but no one has the guts or willingness to die for Singapore! With our kia-soo and kia-see mentality, we are all talk and no action. That is why things will never change, and PAP knows it. So they let us talk.
The only way now for Sing-ga-poorians to get back their island is to HAVE SOME BIG HAIRY BALLS TO GET OUT IN THE STREETS AND TAKE ACTION LIKE GANDHI DID! OR LIKE OUR FOREFATHERS AGAINST THE BRITISH!
OR ELSE… ALL THIS IS IS MORE TALK COCK, SING USUAL! WHICH IS WHAT SIN-GAR-POORIANS ARE VERY GOOD AT.
MALU LA SINGAPORE! MATI LA SINGAPORE!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Devagi, please give RP a chance. As it is, we are paying through our nose (eyes, ears whatever)with the current ruling party. I don’t expect RP them to change everything very quickly, but I am keen to have another voice in. It is for our children’s sake.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
To PAP FT Supporter : You “xiao” ar…Malaysian not allowed to vote in Singapore lah…balek kampong la you.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“Cutting the NS period down to a year at maximum within 5 years”
this is not practical.
we should be looking at reducing the number of years doing reservist duties instead.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Do your part and print out the article above and send to as many relatives, friends and neighbours as you can – especially the old folks who are PC-kayu. My small community is already behind you Kenneth! God bless!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Devagi: August 31, 2010 at 2:19 pm
money sure must come from someplace lah. it is the distributional effect or how “equitable” it is that are coming from (or going to) the different stakeholders as far as benefits enjoyed / costs suffered from being rent seek are concerned.
ask the incumbent, aren’t they also doing the same. of course, when there is a change of leadership, the mix of beneficiaries / paying public ($ sense) will change lah.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Devagi, that’s a typical retort when the opposition parties suggest reforms. A fair question. BUT, while you ask where is the money going to COME from to support these policies which will genuinely help the People, do you know where is your money (tax/CPF) GOING under PAP? Temasek? GIC? YOG? MP Pockets? Millions and billions of state funds lost without any accountability and transparency? Is this what you prefer? Give our Opposition Parties a chance and a voice! It will wake up the MIWs!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Devagi: August 31, 2010 at 2:19 pm
you don’t talk talk only. some broad program or manifesto have to be given / conveyed lah. else how the hell are people going to know what you stand for or going to do.
as for nitty-gritty details, u will get to know more when u r the garment – whether there are used tissue papers, left-over crumbs, crockaches, rats, slime, bones, skeletons, etc which u may discover for u to re-look / reassess your program.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
RP must be related to the firebrand extremists of TR.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I ageed that isolated anecdotes do not paint the whole picture and it may not represent the whole picture.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@PAP FT Supporter:
August 31, 2010 at 11:32 am
Are you citizens yet? If not, keep your stupid mouths shut-up!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear RP, kindly contest west side of Singapore.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i agree that s’pore is in a desperate need of pluralistic democracy, and i personally wish for 30-40% of non-PAP as members of parliament, nevertheless, i feel that your manifesto is overly wishful and may be difficult to justify when contested.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Except the part regarding NS is useful, others are just crap
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Economy growing very strong this year, especially the 2nd Qtr?? SOUNDS VERY HOT to me. But I must admit very confusing – Tau Kon Kon ( head very groggy)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1078377/1/.html
The strength of “growth” rebound was attributed “mainly to the success of the two integrated resorts and a sharp increase in pharmaceutical output.”
STATISTIC DEPARTMENT DATA THAT “Retail Sales down 3.4% in May 2010″ WHEN COMPARED TO 2009.
Is it not amazing of of the following facts proven here -
a) May 2010 retail sales fell 3.4% compared to May 2009
b) April 2010 sales were lower than April 2009 by 2.5% ( i.e. 3.4% – 0.9%).
c)April and May 2009 was in deep recession near its lowest bottom in March 2009.
When did the two IR resort opened? Wasn’t it one partially opened close to end of June 2010 and yet having big impact on 2nd Qtr GDP?
And look at the world in reality. Japanese 2nd GDP growth slowed to 0.1% from 1.1% in the March qtr. So Japanese GDP growth slowed by 90% when Singapore GDP did “wonders”. And US economy 2nd qtr GDP came in at 1.6% in 2nd Qtr compared to 3.7% in the first Qtr, so US GDP slowed by 57% in the 2nd Qtr compared to 1st Qtr. And EU was roiled by sovereign risk crisis in Greece, Spain and Portugal – Greece nearly went belly-up i.e. BANKRUPT like Iceland!
So when US, Japan, EU all nearly dead and Singapore GDP grew by 19% in flash estimate? And then we suddenly need additional 100,000 foreign workers in UNSPECIFIED INDUSTRIES?
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/07/16/massive-outcry-from-netizens-over-pm-lees-promise-to-bring-in-100000-more-foreign-workers/#comments
And guess what now? It is official, WE NEED 45,000 BLANGA DESH MAIDS to drive our economy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then this marvellous news in MSM on 21 August 2010, page C24 reads ECONOMY’S UP BUT PEOPLE NOT SPENDING by Esther Teo.
Eh, how come IR resorts fired up retail sales in Singapore reported on 14 July 2010 in CNA and now on 21 August 2010, retail sales is dead in Singapore?
Looks more like lightning flash of GDP growth than thunder and rain of economic wealth showing on us – “lucky” Sinkies to me!
Even more hilarious is prediction of next decade a bed of roses waiting while someone else is worried about property bubble pending when economy forecast to shine like a decade of hot summers of economic wealth ahead?
The economic numbers and logic and statistic of scattered timing of contradictory information release DOES NOT ADD UP, just like we need 45,000 Blangadesh maids to fire up our GDP growth.
RP should be more blunt of the economic truth that Ben Bernanke last week talked of “deflation” risks ahead.
ECONOMIC AND POLITICS IN SINGAPORE IS REALLY INTOXICATING TO MY MORONIC INTELLIGENCE.
rotflmao.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
OUCH!!!!!!!! And of course, the rosy economic outlook prognosis FORGOTTEN to remind Sinkies of Bernanke’s fear of “deflation” risks ahead.
Economics seems to be tell Sinkies selectively of what they want us to hear of “HOT NEWS” KIDS GOOD BEDTIME STORIES?
and this Obama’s gigantic fear? Restoring US economy ‘most urgent task’: Obama in CNA
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1069265/1/.html
The prophets of good rolling times seems to be behind time of how fast the world is changing.
Good luck Sinkies on unquestioning trusts of our FT-assisted talent class.
Or shall we change the team come the next ERECTION? At least we got an economist in RP team which seems more up to date on economic realities and facts than the silly blindfolds and story-telling we been long accustomed to but never queried?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When PAP says they will give every NSman $9000 in their CPF, why no one questioned them where the money is coming from? I suppose it is because you all know it is going to come from increased taxes via raised ERP,increased levies and tariffs, raised basic needs like electtricity, food, roof over the head, education etc. Why don’t you also ask where the billions $ GIC lost came from?
So if you still can “trust” PAP after all that, how come you cannot trust RP to be able to solve some of our problems?
Devagi etc, ask the same questions to PAP and see where you can get better transparency and a less expensive government!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Old Horse:
no different frm the incumbent lah:
Upset:
u will get to know more when u r the garment:
I share all your views. If the first class economists of RP can share the fiscal details to fund the programs with the electorates early, many of us would be won over by RP to vote for its candidates. We need not second guess any more.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Devagi: September 1, 2010 at 4:13 pm
u only know how to throw smoke here and there.
ask the conservative party (with liberal) garment in uk loh which is more open about details more than us. the details of their programs r only starting to come out bits by bits after the election loh and still not final lo.
but then, y should u ask something abt uk right ?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Packed trains. What are the solutions?
A few sections between MRT stations on the existing lines have been identified as having packed trains during peak hours by the PM in his NDR speech.
What is the solution? Build more lines, etc? Very costly. Cut train to 100 seconds interval? Is that enough?
When will LTA build the infrastructures to reverse the trains and send them back empty towards the busy and highly packed sectors?
For example, why not turn the train around at Bishan & send it back empty towards Novena during peak hours to clear the crowd between the Toa Payoh and Orchard Rd sector?
There is no need to run all the trains to complete its full course and end at the terminal half empty, isn’t it?
Who in the LTA and SMRT are the true experts & professionals in mass public transport systems?
Did PM Lee ask LTA?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
2-year NS service was meant for all – tom, dick and harry back in 1966-1970, isn’t it?
Why the 2 years of NS back then, and what was the objective when NS was mooted and started?
It was to send our youths into the army for 2 years due to over supply of manpower at that age [to absorb them into the army and for the state paying them a few dollars a year as cheap labour etc.] when red dot did not have enough jobs for them in the private and public sectors. We had unemployment problems back in those early years after independence in 1965.
It was a clever move by late DR GKS – to have NS and to absorb surplus manpower supply with shortage of jobs for them. Killing two birds with one stone.
But condition has changed now. We have many FWs filling jobs in red dot.
If the NS service is cut by 50% to 1 year, the release of the number of NS men will increase the work force supply and it will mean red dot can rely less on importing cheap FWs, who will create all kinds of social problems and red dot having to pay high social costs.
When will our politicians wake up to this Truth?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0