Reform Party leader: We have an oversized govt for a small country
September 6th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Reform Party leader Jeisilan Sivalingam has voiced out against the “large” size of the Singapore government. The 40 year old is a Process Improvement Manager in a multinational company located in Singapore and graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Management, specialising in Logistic and Supply Chain Management.
In an email interview with votingrp.wordpress.com, Jeisilan said he joined politics because he loves Singapore and he believes “that pluralistic democracy for Singaporeans is the only way to improve our lives.”
He took a swipe at the Economic Strategy Committee’s recommendations earlier this year to boost national productivity, but conveniently ignored the expenses incurred by the government:
“We have an oversized government for such a small country – where else in the world would you find Ministers Without Portfolio? For a small country like us, do we need three generations of Prime Ministers in the Prime Minister office? Uniquely, we have a Minister for Manpower and then have another Minister to represent to worker. And these ministers don’t come cheap.”
Singapore must be the only country in the world with two former prime ministers in holding ministerial positions in the cabinet and continues to get paid by taxpayers on top of the pension which they are entitled to for the rest of their lives.
“These are issues that need to be looked at with serious urgency and honest self-reflection. Complacency and Wasteful spending have to make way for a culture of prudence and being ‘lean’ when spending tax payers money,” Jeisilan added.
Under Singapore’s unique political system, there is literally no opposition in Parliament to hold the ruling PAP accountable which occupies 82 out of 84 seats though they won only 66 percent of the votes in the last general election.
Read the full interview with Jeisilan here.
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Posted in Editorial
Dang!!!! The Lean government, Lean Services, Lean Manufacturing…
Agree with the writer. There are too much talents (or excess muscles or fats whatever you call it) which should be released into the private enterprises.
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Yalor. It is indeed oversized and overspent. Never in the history of the world got such an arrangement only in dynastic China.
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An oversized, overpaid, Government is perfectly acceptable if the money is available to pay them AND if the Quality of Service is excellent and more than say 80% of the people are very pleased with their performance.
It is NOT justified under the current circumstances, for sure.
zero
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Singapore government is a JOKE. Its totally a laughtable JOKE when one talks about the Singapore government’s ministers’ salaries and having 2 past PMs still holding on to their seats. Singaporean are too afraid to make changes so its a FEAR issue more than voting for the right reason. Singaporean simple vote PAP and hoping they will have a job for life but the government have already change its plans. With the issues of Imigrants, cost of living, Sky-rocketing prices of HDB flats, control of our own money-CPF and Stagnant wages, Singaporean are doomed to be salves rather than Citizens of a developed country.
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Precisely – the gahmen is bloated, with too many useless pieces of sh*t like Baey ‘Food’ Keng and Ong ‘Old Man’ Heng. Not to mention useless posts like lao goh’s and that old fart’s. we need to avoid spending unnecessary money on these non-productive crap!
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Good article… very pertinent.. unfortunately will be derided or ignored by the incumbent party’s bootlickers without consideration of the merits of its arguments.
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I fully agree.
A bloated Cabinet of the highest paid ‘politicians’ in the world, running a place just 700 km2…a place not prone to natural disasters…with a well behaved people.
It is really overkill.
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er why dose every one have the title RP leader. how many leader do RP have?
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why get involved in politics. its unhealhy. singaporean are famous for being hardworking and productive and have university degree and some money from the years of working. is it not better to just start a new life some where else and forget about the whole sad place. since most singaporean grandparents are migrant themselves. singaporean should be very capable of migrating also. can always start a better life where u have open spaces, life not so stress, house cheaper and car cheapest. dont have to drink drain water dont have to worry about next door attacking you bec of the small red dot
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Under Singapore’s unique political system, there is literally no opposition in Parliament to hold the ruling PAP accountable which occupies 82 out of 84 seats though they won only 66 percent of the votes in the last general election.
why keep blaming the ruling for this problem
it is NOT their business to ensure an opposition party in the parliment
it is up to us citizens
so please go after the right people
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How come ministers still have pension? If they’re so capable, they don’t need it. Already abolished for the civil servants right. They make mistakes never have to pay for it. No wonder foreigners want to come and climb up Pappy ladder.
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I will say that those chee bye PAPies are not overpaid if local elderly aunties cleaning toilets in hawker centres are getting $250K per year salaries.
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Fantastic, points by Jeisilan, looks like the PAP has got some problems this year with Educated, Well spoken, Articulate and Honest Opposition Candidates. Finally a well paced and spaced debating line, where the attack is not on the person, but on the policies.
Right On !
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The PAP Government has to create work for the Singapore Mandarins.
Ngaim Tong Dow, Ex-Civil Service Chief, 2006, Straits Times – “So far, the People’s Action Party’s tactic is to put all the scholars into the civil service because it believes the way to retain political power forever is to have a monopoly on talent. But in my view, that’s a very short term view. It is the law of nature that all things must atrophy. Unless SM allows serious political challenges to emerge from the alternative elite out there, the incumbent elite will just coast along. At the first sign of a grassroots revolt, they will probably collapse just like the incumbent Progressive Party to the left-wing PAP onslaught in the late 1950s. I think our leaders have to accept that Singapore is larger than the PAP.”
More harm is being done to Singapore by Government fencing in and retaining the intellectual elites by buying off their talents in offering them iron rice-bowl appointments and huge pay packets.
These intellectual elites would be far better off left in the private sector to make their own sunshine and create opportunities and employment for the majority of Singaporeans. Some of these people may even want to try their hands at politics.
The way I see it, the PAP first ‘fixed’ the opposition. Next they ‘fixed’ the media. Then the electoral process – GRCs, gerrymandering, etc.
NOW THE PAP WANTS TO ‘FIX’ THE PEOPLE by bringing in foreigners who they see would be grateful for their new status i.e. Singapore citizenships.
Let us be very wary of them.
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Finally, someone says it like it is. waht…we have what .. without portfolios, Ministers in PMO,… sigh…
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i don’t know why you’re wasting time here
the pap is doing a good job…never mind if there are 93 of them + an extra few multiples of their family and friends whom we have to feed
at least they only take our money and our time and our freedom
we still have our lives, right?
we should be grateful we’re still alive
many countries have to struggle to stay alive
at least we’re still alive…
even if our lives are difficult, have to pay all these people plus their children, family and friends…at least we still have a life
it’s like that…should not complain
it’s like that
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Good.Short and precise.
I like the way he raised the issue about all past PM for the past 50 yrs still in the cabinet.And why do we need ministers without portfolios.
This really gell with the masses.
Because PAP tells people to work faster better and cheaper….and our cabinet is exactly the opposite.
“PAP do not have to work faster,better and cheaper”–a slogan
Perhaps all opposition parties can drum up this into a short slogans for the coming election because many older voters misses this point and election manifesto is only for the intellectual class.
I can think of a slogan such as ‘Reclaim Singapore for Singaporeans’…to drive the foreigners ruining local chances issue..
RP ,SDP and others…do remember the past..Hundreds of thousands attend your rallies but vote for PAP…rabble raising rallies are for entertainment.
Our youth has the facebook and etc but our bulk of our voters are above 50 are not so net savy….but they all know the problems they are living with…so you opposition parties must plant that in everyone’s mind with short rememberable quotes–that pops up during the cooling off 1 day.
And you guys may have only 9 to 10 days of campaigning with the threats of defamation and bankruptcy hanging over your heads….with our MSM all out to tarnish you.
Start now–spin small slogans in English,Hokkien ,Malay and if possible Tamil…and let that disturb the conscience of our voters.
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I have just read Michael Lewis’s Liar’s Poker, in his book he mentioned about the downfall of Solomon Brothers was because Solomon Brothers had been busying building an empire rather than focusing on building the business. In the then Solomon Brothers, power was equivalent to the number of people reporting to you. So every managers would spent their time in justifying how to get more people in their department. I suppose this is happening in many corporations.
I remembered reading in the papers a few months back that Temasek and MAS have more than 10 MDs each inwhich I hope they are not falling into the same perception of Solomon Brothers. Our government must not fall into this trap of wanting to build an empire, they must start focusing in building the country. They should thank thank Jeisilan Sivalingam for highlighting this issue.
Thank you.
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[Quote: The way I see it, the PAP first ‘fixed’ the opposition. Next they ‘fixed’ the media. Then the electoral process – GRCs, gerrymandering, etc. NOW THE PAP WANTS TO ‘FIX’ THE PEOPLE by bringing in foreigners who they see would be grateful for their new status i.e. Singapore citizenships. Let us be very wary of them.]
Absolutely correct on your saying. The PAP Government is overbloated on this little red dot. Where in the world you can see MM and SM posts except in uniquely Singapore where they are getting about $300,000,000 per year?. The reason behind this is that they are holding almost 100% of raw power where there is no altenative party to check on them.
To dear Reform Party leader Jeisilan Sivalingam, beware of the old fart, aged 87-year old who is a lawyer by training. He is very addictive to sue our native alternative party members, and his son also likes to fix people if there is a chance arisen. Old fart uses the laws to do the wicked things. Take care and make sure no devils follow at your back.
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With so many ministers in the government clearly show PAP capabalities. Truly incompetent & oversized.
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On a similar note.
From the time PAP created the GRCs, we are having an oversize parliament. It became even more bloated when they increased the number candidates from 4 to 6 in the GRCs.
These moves were never meant to serve the people more effectively and efficiently.
It was nothing more than a political move to create a huge hurdle for the opposition.
Sadly, we, the citizens of S’pore, have to foot the bill for these large number of backdoor and tailcoat riding MPs.
Time is not our side. PAP is letting in more new immigrant converts to counter the raising discontentment of naive S’poreans.
Vote against the PAP! At the very least, don’t let them have a two third majority in the parliament! Make the PAP accontable for what they do or say! Let’s take back OUR S’pore!
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Yes !!! The size is just too huge and need to be operated immediately or we will be in deep trouble.
VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!
VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!
VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!VOTE PAP OUT !!!!!!!!!
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Well highlighted article which the mainstream media would not dare to reveal. Additionally, why should we have two Deputies PM, so many Ministers without Portfolios(literally means without jobs!) and even Mayors(unnecesssary posts for own people or cronies in another country). Even the post of President(selected although purportedly elected) is a waste of taxpayers money that is why I am opposed to the word President Challenge Charity when there is literally no challenge whatsoever for him to come out money to help the poor! All the aforesaid are a burden to the state and taxpayers!!
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Cheaper , better , faster …. smell my Ass
From the top already screw up .
Not cheap , not lean and worst of all the output is garbage .
One MM , One SM , one PM , two Dpm and lot’s of talk cock and Sing song
men/woman in parliament to run a island .
With high inflation , reducing wadge ,
flooding , terrorist that can escape , mrt over crush point , not
enough housing , patient sleep in hospital corridor , citizen need to go
malaysia for treatment , TH/GIC lost in the billion’s , banks that breakdown ,e.t.c
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correction @ September 6, 2010 at 11:30 am
…to counter the raising discontentment of naive S’poreans….
should be native S’poreans.
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@amused -I am not “amused” by you at all ! Puppies jus know how to shit all over the place !
The writer is correct !
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Mr Jeisilan Sivalingam is spot on.
We need to ‘trim the fat’ in this government.
Better still, we need to put RP in power in the next elections.
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If Communism cannot sustain, same some pension scheme. Our future generations has been enslaved for the pension for the old. the old live older while younger generation disappear. The old should just leave peacefully.
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guess what i have new Singaporeans already whining about the policies.
I think its getting to them too…..
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Australia has a population of 22.4 million people and their House of Parliament has 150 seats.
Singapore has 5 million people and our Parliament has 84 seats.
On the same basis, it is either
Australia should have 84X4.5 = 378 seats or
Singapore should have 150/4.5 = 34 seats.
My view is that Singapore has much too many seats(originally were 65 seats).
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Hmm..I can see another new “Fixing” target for PeeM is born liao.
He talk like that sure kena “fixed” soon one but must respect these opposition people lor if not PAP treat voters like idiots lor!
But pity cannot put all opposition people together to fight as a team leh.Somemore RP KennethJ must make stronger statement and challenge PAP mah otherwise profile too low leh.
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Our PM, MM, SM and MPs are better paid than the those in the world.
Then, the number of MPs in our Parliament should actually be lesser than 84.
We can take the top 20 best countries in the world and do an average salary for the PM position and senior MP position as a comparison.
Newsweek ranks Singapore 20th position Best Country with PMs salary at US$2,850,000 a year.
Spain in 21st Position and their PMs salary is US$122,000 per year.
Although, Singapore has 2 of the oldest statemen (both @ 87 years old) on earth today i.e. MM and The President, other countries like US President Obama was 47 years old when he was elected, and British PM Mr. Cameron is only 43 years old.
So, older and elderly politicians may not necessary be better and wiser in this modern world.
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ARE THOSE OLDER and ELDERLY POLICTICIANS better and wiser to run a country?..Lets compare and judge for yourself…
If necessary, OECD Countries will have politician at 100 years old or 110 years old still running those first wrold countries today…but its UNTRUE, most political leaders are much younger.
Our country, Singapore is looking and feeling very old and tire..
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Vote PAP at your own job loss risk and be replaced by foreign talent !
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PAY & PAY
Where can I find the salary of the ministers? How much are we paying for the following:
Minister Mentor (LKY)
Senior Minister (GCK & Jayakumar)
Prime Minister (LHL)
Deputy Prime Minister (TCH,WKS)
Minister Without Portfolio (what this mean?) LBH,LSS
Plus plus…..
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Those people think Singapore rank high please think again. We rank high for business meaning good for businesses but not necessary good for workers like us. What we need is rank high in people’s purchasing power which I believe we rank lower than KL as reported in ST about a year ago.
Also, our govt also boasts that we don’t have labor protest. That again is good for business like American NMCs. Those NMCs are happy because they need not raise our pays. When there is labor protest actually it means they are people working for you and me. They are people fighting for our benefits. So labor protest is a good thing in fact. Think about that.
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Has anyone totalled the annual salary of the Singapore cabinet? I suppose the salaries should be publicly available somewhere?
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It almost over two elections, and the son still needs mentoring from the father. What’s going on. You tell people to be more productive in the business and yet we have two Ex-Prime Ministers in the Prime Minister office. What a shame.
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Not only does Singapore have an oversized government, but it also has an oversized Parliament of 84 seats serving a population of about 5 Million – of which only 60 odd per cent are Citizens.
A small township such as Toa Payoh has a Mayor, while New York City with a population larger than Singapore has ONE Mayor paid a fraction of the wage collected annually by the Singapore PM.
Ironically, despite being paid S$3.6 Million, the PM has at least six Ministers in his PM Office to support his duties – each is paid between S$2 Million to S$3 Million annually.
Oversized and Overpaid – while Singaporeans are expected to accept the immoral dictate of controlled wages without any mimum bottom.
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Aiyoh, poor Straits Times! After drumming into our thick, numb-skull dodo-brains that Singapore is uniquely SMALL and we, therefore, require unique UNIQUELY’s for SURVIVAL, we are still going on about the wherefore’s and whyfore’s of Singapore’s UNIQUE system. That means, alamak, Straits Times’ propaganda ain’t working no more in these newer 21st Century times, lah! You say poor thing or not? And they’re at it everyday, y’know!
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Bloated Cabinet and government.
If the opposition wins, what will be the headcount in the Cabinet?
What will be their asking price for the PM job?
The PAP’s price is $3m.
The opposition should be transparent, upfront and declare what is their price and headcount.
Will 20 times the salary of a police sergeant be enough for the PM’s job?
We wait.
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Many people do not believe that the unseen exists, and some do not respect the Unseen, and yet they can easily and readily believe in the words of politicians.
This is the fundamental contradiction in the lives of humans, isn’t it?
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hey! how can he said that?
we only have 2Ms as in MM.
USA has “3M”,SO WE NEED a MMM-Mentor of Minister Mentor and maybe,more!
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if only no GRC. 66% votes means only 55seats out of 84 in parliment.
29 seats belongs to the opposition! >.<! Say no to GRC… IMAO!!!
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We have mayors and 84 MPS, 3 PMs, so many M without portfolio; each costing more than a M…. PLUS their pensions? Have someone calculated how much they cost?
Basically the idea is to have many people for mass political support in parliament and many say yes dogs.
Calling us to be tighten our belts and accept lower wages but they are raking this much? And worst, cost of living is raised sky by their policies.
They can live in luxury and comfort forever and probably still have money for their next 2 generations. How about the rest of us? By the next gen, your sons wont be able to afford public housing and cannot compete with cheap foreign talents.
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At least we have one Botak now to take on the PAP Botak Thaman
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Time for FAP to take bitter medicine!
Oh they don’t like it? They won’t take it?
They also know bitter medicine is hard to take?
Yet it is so easy to tell others to take it!
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All these super inflated size garment are used as an excuse to guard and preserve the old fart and his party to stay in power at the expense of the taxpayers, and nothing else!
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Complacency and Wasteful spending have to make way for a culture of prudence and being ‘lean’ when spending tax payers money,” Jeisilan added.
LONG LIVE GOH KENG SWEE. He would have certainly agreed for a culture of prudence and being ‘lean’ when spending tax payers money.”
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Wake up Singaporeans, vote in scores of opposition MPs to be your voice.Don’t be scare of pap.In fact pap is scare of you, because only you have the power to kick them out every 5 years.All these ppl MM and SM are spent force.What can they help us except giving silly comments.
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I’ve said this many times before and I’ll repeat it here again.
Singapore has the highest public sector wage bill you can ever imagine.
And to sustain this humongous wage bill, you would have to squeeze every single drop of sweat, blood and tears out of Singaporeans. You would have to be very capital-intensive.
It will bring us down. Just look at Greece, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Dubai. Especially Greece… high public sector wage bill.
PAP has our CPF to thank for else the economy would have kaput long ago. But how long can it last?
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Charles:
September 6, 2010 at 8:28 pm
AlaMak! don’t anyhow complain leh.
MM lee will even get up form his grave should anything happen to Singapore,you know?
let’s take him for hos words,Charles,ok?
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Dear Sivalingam
We are about the the same age and I live in Jurong. I applaud you for standing up for what you believe in.. but do you really believe you can make the difference?
If tomorrow the elections was held n the Reform Party n the opposition captures Parliament, what would be your own contribution?I’m not trying to be nasty but the opposition w/o anyone to oppose has to begin to form their own policies am i right?n will these changes improve people’s lives?
when obama stood for elections he made several pledges. 1.he would make concrete changes to Wall Street n make sure that financial abuses would nvr bring the US to its knees again 2.he would pull out of Iraq 3. healthcare should be avail for all americans. Concrete changes.
What will be Reform Party’s concrete changes?
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It seems that the PM Office doubles over as the retirees’ lounge for former PMs from where they could pop up every once in a while to admonish the people for not being pro-grovernment. Very cool. Isn’t it? Get to relive their glory days and at the same time collect their multi-millions. Not enough? Still have minister without portfolio. I wonder whether this is unique to our country. No portfolio, then why need a minister?
Can’t all these resources be chanelled to the under privileged whom GCT was saying that Singaporeans are not considering, when they were actually voicing their greviences of their day to day realities? If Singapore is as successful as he claims, then why are there so many under privileged which the over-sized government could not handle?
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Sound likes Republican Party doctrine No Big Government
Errh…this is right wing party doctrine leh
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