atans1

Better than Viagra?

In Uncategorized on 31/08/2018 at 4:24 am

At least a lot cheaper. Consume at least nine tablespoons of olive oil a week.

The wonders of the traditional Mediterranean diet are being extolled once again – this time for older men.

In its story, the Telegraph reports on new research which suggests “olive oil may give a better boost than Viagra”.

Scientists in Athens have discovered that men who consume at least nine tablespoons of olive oil a week are less likely to suffer from impotence and have significantly higher levels of testosterone.

The Times says the healthy diet helps maintain blood flow while the Sun quips that the olive oil probably has to be non-virgin.

HDB, PAP, Public Housing

Smell the smoke? From Indonesia or from the PAP & cybernuts?

In Political governance, Public Administration on 30/08/2018 at 10:34 am

In the last few weeks, the smell of smoke has been getting stronger even though the usually annual haze has yet to show up in the weather stats.

So maybe its juz the PAP throwing smoke and the cybernuts reacting with hot air?

After all I started smelling the smoke when Goh Chok Tong decided to shit and piss on the PAP’s NatDay celebrations with his comment that those in the private sector earning less than $1m are “very mediocre people”. The subsequent uproar had him back pedalling.

Then came PM’s NDR speech on being frugal (Shumething PM left out in NDR speech/ Reason why?) and the plan to kick the HDB lease expiry issue into the long grass via Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers) which will begin circa 2038

Experts interviewed told TODAY that by airing its thoughts on the complex issue early, the Government achieved another objective: To restore some calm in the HDB resale market, and provide reassurance to homeowners.

https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-hdb-lease-decay-govts-solutions-not-perfect-theres-light-end-tunnel

This goodie was ignored:

Every HDB flat can also expect to undergo major upgrading twice during its 99-year lease period, with the new Home Improvement Programme (HIP) II rolled out for ageing units at the 60- to 70-year mark.

Then came Larry (Lawrence Wong: a PM-in-waiting) with

Mr Wong had also said earlier this week that even though many details for Vers will not be ready for some time, the Government felt that it “owed” Singaporeans an early explanation on its thinking for the next phase of public housing.

Of course the cybenut mob had to react with hot air of their own drowning out the cold doses of reality that sensible criticks of the PAP like Calvin Cheng (When being a minister turns from a calling into a job for life) and Eugene Wee (Best riposte to recent PAP BS) were pouring out to counter the PAP’s smoke.

And then there was “There seems to be a certain sourness on the ground, with more grumbling than usual about issues especially to do with the Government,” a semi-retired ST tua kee observed: “In the many chat groups I belong to, more people seem to be getting worked up.”

“ST Editor panicked over ground sourness urges PAP 4G leaders to do something” screamed Terry’s Online Channel cutting and pasting the ST piece: https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2018/08/26/st-editor-panicked-over-ground-sourness-urges-pap-4g-leaders-to-do-something/

I’m still thinking if Han Fook Kwang is correct to say the present mood reminds him of the run-up to the 2011

— attributing the public discontent to the “disconnect” between the government leaders and the general public,

— adding “I agree with commentators who have pointed out that overly high ministerial salaries poison the relationship between leaders and the led, reducing it to a transactional one.”

What do you think, is the mood like that in 2011?

ASEAN, Dr Mahathir

Tun slyer than Najib

In Malaysia on 30/08/2018 at 6:50 am

And the self-styled First Lady of M’sia (FLOM after FLOTUS: First Lady of the US)

From Quora

How is Najib’s corruption different from Mahathir’s corruption?
Joseph Kuan

Updated Jun 12

Najib and Mahathir go into a bakery.

As soon as they enter the bakery, Najib steals three curry puffs and puts them into his pocket.

He says to Mahathir, “See how clever I am? The owner didn’t even see anything and I don’t even need to lie.”

Mahathir says to Najib, “That’s the typical dishonesty you have displayed throughout your entire life, trickery and deceit. I am going to show you an honest way to get the same result.”

Mahathir goes to the owner of the bakery and says, “Give me a curry puff and I will show you a magic trick.”

Intrigued, the owner accepts and gives him a pastry. Mahathir swallows it and asks for another one. The owner gives him another one and he eats it as well. Then Mahathir asks for a third pastry and eats that, too.

The owner is starting to wonder where the magic trick is and asks, “What did you do with the three curry puffs?”

Mahathir replies, “Look in Najib’s pocket.”

HDB, Human Resources, Public Housing

PAP Govt thinks there’ll be serious job losses soon?

In Economy on 29/08/2018 at 10:57 am

Before Tuesday (Aug 28), HDB flatbuyers had to first use up the entire balance in their CPF Ordinary Accounts. Now flat buyers can retain S$20,000 in their CPF OA when taking up HDB loans

The previous rule was to ensure that flat buyers exercise financial prudence and minimise the housing loan taken, said the HDB on Tuesday.

So why the change? Emphasis mine

“While this objective remains relevant, some flexibility can be given to flat buyers to provide a buffer in their CPF Ordinary Accounts to pay mortgage instalments in times of need, or to improve retirement adequacy if the buffer is eventually not tapped,” said a HDB spokesperson in response to TODAY’s queries.

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/cpf-rule-change-hdb-loans-less-worry-more-flexibility-flat-owners

The PAP govt is preparing for another great recession methinks where there’ll be lots of retrenchments and many S’poreans being unable to pay off their HDB mortgages without the extra $ in CPF account. How to vote for PAP liddat?

Ownself pay ownself to pay ministers’ salaries. LOL or Sad?

Fintech, OCBC

Robo advisers underperform

In Financial competency, Financial planning on 29/08/2018 at 5:15 am

Recently, on the same day that I read OCBC had introduced robo investment advice here, I read

Low-cost robo advice companies billed as investment services for the masses have failed to deliver market-beating returns over the last year according to new research,

Companies such as Nutmeg offer ready-made investment portfolios of low-cost passive funds and have boomed in popularity in recent years amid a growing need for financial advice in the UK. Investors are automatically placed into portfolios based on an online risk assessment.

But according to research by consultancy Boring Money, customers would have earned more from a fund tracking the FTSE 100 than even the best-performing high-risk portfolio, and low-risk investors could have earned more in a cash [special tax account]

FT.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/aug/21/where-are-the-brown-people-crazy-rich-asians-draws-tepid-response-in-singapore

Crazy Rich Asians

Cheer, not jeer, “Crazy Rich Asians”

In Humour on 28/08/2018 at 10:48 am

The Overseas Born Chinese behind it are making money, having fun and being non-PC. Best of all, the OBCs are juz doing what British people from the Indian sub-continent have done: appropriate the term “Asians”.

So let’s cheer them, not jeer at them.

The KPKBing by ang moh tua kees like Kirsten Han

film does the same sort of erasure of ethnic minorities that Hollywood does with white people*

a self-professed Malay Muslim atheist (I kid u not)

“Alfian Sa’at, a prominent Singaporean author, who writes in English and Malay, said in a scathing Facebook post that the film featured “East Asian people purporting to speak for all Asians,” adding that he hoped it would “go away quietly.”

FB post

from a political scientist Ian Chong from the National University of Singapore who said the film

represents the worst of Singapore. It erases minorities, the poor and marginalized. All you get are rich, privileged ethnic Chinese.

and finally from a usually sensible Bharati Jagdish

Let’s acknowledge that a movie like Crazy Rich Asians is not and cannot be a definitive depiction of what and who we are

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/crazy-rich-asians-single-story-cannot-complete-narrative-10621448

had me laughing my head off at the pretentiousness of these and many other S’poreans. Worse were the Pussies branch of the Tamil Tigers KPKBing about the oppression of the Tamils here: as though the judiciary and legal professions are not all Tamil affairs with token participation from Chinese etc

——————-

“Asians” means either Indians or Chinese: no one else in Asia is “Asian”

In the UK “British Asians” is another term for people from the Indian sub-continent: Chinese etc not included. They won that right by sheer weight of numbers.

Many yrs ago, a BBC radio “Play of Week” was trialed as a an Ancient Greek comedy with an all-Asian cast. There wasn’t a voice that wasn’t from the sub-continent.

And things have not changed. Recently there was a BBC online article on social attitudes of “British Asians”. All the examples cited were “Mamas”.

Now the Overseas Born Chinese (especially the ABCs) are playing the same game: only Chinese are American Asians. And our very own Tessa Wong is guilty of agreeing with the other OBCs: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45179503

I have to say that I agree with Calvin Cheng (getting to be a habit**)

A film with the title CRAZY RICH Asians can’t really be trying to hard to be representative of whatnot.

So give the film, the marketing team, the producers, director, writer (More on him soon), actors and production team a break.

Especially as they could have made film in KL, Taipei, any mega city in China, Bangkok, any major Canadian city, San Franciso or LA, not S’pore. Instead, S’pore is getting a great tourist brochure for free: not me but NY Times film critic

More than Rom Com and Bling

[T]he film soars to life, a buoyant, glittering, thoroughly charming romantic comedy. The story of a Chinese-American economics professor who meets her boyfriend’s wealthy family in cosmopolitan Singapore does not reinvent the rom-com. But it uses that formula so gracefully that the movie feels fresh, largely thanks to its flawlessly-cast Asian, Asian-American and Anglo-Asian actors. Beneath its glamorous surface, the film is also thoughtful about ethnic identity, and the push and pull of class and culture: nouveau riche versus old money, personal fulfillment versus duty to family.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180815-film-review-does-crazy-rich-asians-live-up-to-the-hype

Let’s give the OBCs behind the movie three cheers for making money, lots of money by doing stuff that is not politically correct. And for putting the noses of the local ang moh tua kees, local and foreign PC folk and local Tamil supremacists out of joint.

*Her ang moh kaki wrote

Where are the brown people? Crazy Rich Asians draws tepid response in Singapore

Critics in city where hit film is set complain that it leaves out minorities and is ‘simplistic’

**PM talked cock and When being a minister turns from a calling into a job for life

AI, ASEAN, Human Resources, Philippines

AI is a problem for India and PeenoyLand

In India, Internet on 28/08/2018 at 7:04 am

And call centre workers everywhere.

The biggest threat to jobs might not be physical robots, but intelligent software agents that can understand our questions and speak to us, integrating seamlessly with all the other programs we use at home and at work. And call centres are particularly at risk.

BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45272835

It reports Brian Manusama, an analyst at market research firm Gartner saying:

“The number one use case for applying AI is in this call centre and customer service space”

and

“At the end of 2017 about 70% of all use cases in AI were related to customer service and call centres.”

Scale of problem

Several million people are employed in call centre roles in the US and UK and hundreds of thousands more rely on such work in countries like India and the Philippines. Unless these people quickly learn new skills, they could soon be out of work.

Modified to attribute the story to BBC, not FT. Sorry.

SME caught in Sino Trump tarrif war

In China on 27/08/2018 at 10:25 am

Joyce and her dad have only recently found that the speakers they make in their Chinese factory could see a 25% tariff placed on them when they are sold in the US. Speakers are on the most recent list issued by Washington that targets $200bn worth of Chinese goods.

The tariffs have yet to come into effect – in fact, they are currently only under consideration – but both Joyce and her dad are extremely worried about the impact on their company. More than half of their business in China consists of producing speakers for the US market.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45247000

Fortunately they have a plant in Vietnam:

they are already thinking of moving their production to Vietnam to mitigate the Chinese tariff threat.

Still they’ll suffer as these things take time.

Let’s wish them all the best.

Even PAPPy agrees with Eugene Wee on PAP BS

In Political governance, Public Administration on 26/08/2018 at 11:03 am

But first, a beef I have against the Lord of the Rings films is that Peter Jackson left out a very interesting episode almost at the end of the real LOTR. In the last film, after the defeat of the Dark Lord, the Hobbits returned an unchanged shire. In the real LOTR, they returned to a shire where Saruman had taken control of and ruined in revenge for his defeat, and they had to defeat him recalled as the Scouring of the Shire.

Saruman’s sidekick was one Worm who was badly treated by Saruman. He killed Saruman in the end when Saruman went too far in mistreating him: http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Gr%C3%ADma_Wormtongue

Well this post by a PAPpy reminded me of the “Scouring of the Shire” episode and the Worm’s killing of Saruman

Well said! That’s why I said the servants have become self serving. They want the voters to sacrifice for Low wages and Long working hours while they themselves demanded to be well paid.

And “right” sizing not only mean shifting into smaller house to get some retirement fund, but it also means forcing to move out of our home where memories were build upon from childhood.

If we don’t have any emotional attachment to our home we have grow up in, how do they expect us to have any attachment to our homeland?

FB post by PAP fan agreeing with Eugene Wee in Best riposte to recent PAP BS

The really funny thing is that while he’s a fan of the PAP, he claims that he’s no “ultra white” (his term, not mine). He even claims he gets dissed by them.

Insider trading, Landing International Development

Still game to buy into Chinese mgt?

In Casinos, China, Corporate governance on 26/08/2018 at 4:31 am

Landing International Development, a Chinese casino operator on Jeju island, South Korea
slid 19% last Friday after company told HKSE that it was unable to contact its chairman. Insiders must have been selling on Thursday because the price fell by a bigger %age that day: before the announcement.

Best riposte to recent PAP BS

In Political governance, Public Administration on 25/08/2018 at 11:00 am

(Yes, Yes, I know I’m lifting stuff off FB, but the problem is that I’ve been seeing some really great stuff, think Calvin Cheng and now this, that I think I should share.)

One Eugene Wee posted this on FB. From his FB wall, he doesn’t seem to be a frustrated pleb who thinks he deserves to be in the elites i.e. he’s no cybernut like Tan Jee Say or those in TOC or TRE lands. He’s juz one upset S’porean now living in Chiang Mai: lucky guy living in place I might move to when the time is right to check out of Hotel S’pore where I’m living in a three star suite.

Dear Ministers,

When Singaporeans share about their pains of making ends meet or how they are struggling with living costs. The government’s response has consistently been for us to “right-size” or more clearly, downgrade.

The message is simple.

Living in singapore is not cheap, so if you are struggling, reduce your spending, reduce your lifestyle and spend within your means.

Yes frugality is important. But we may not be addressing the underlying issues here.

Singaporeans have worked all their lives; they too have hopes, dreams and ambition. No one wakes up with a dream to downgrade.

For most Singaporeans that I know, they are a hardworking bunch, willing to put in longer hours at work just to bring more to the family table.

They are not asking to buy another Lamborghini, or to stay in orchard road, or have caviar for lunch every day.

They’ve worked long hours in hopes that they can give their kids access to the best education, tutors to help the kids catch up with homework and maybe fund those rare family outings.

Most do not have much, but one thing that they have is a love for the nation. The same love, the same passion, the same commitment flows through our veins, as it did for our forefathers who brought this country to where it is today.

It is in us, that we understand that a minimum wage will affect our global competitiveness; so we have opted for lowered wages to keep the country attractive to investors and keep Singapore at the peak.

We take on these sacrifices, not because we like it, but we know it is for a bigger cause.

If you take the trains at nights, you will see exhausted fathers and mothers, after a hard day’s work, taking a crowded late night train home; often only to reach home after their child is already asleep.

That is the sacrifice we put in, plow in and give on a daily basis; because this is home.

But here is where we see the disconnect.

After we have accepted lower wages, after living with less, after sacrificing time with our families; now when we get old, we are asked to right-size” or even consider going to JB to retire.

It hurts our older folks, because this is home.

And instead of finding solutions, you we ask our forefathers aka the Merdeka generation to leave Singapore, their home.

Now for the rest of us, it gradually becomes apparent that there seems to be a different narrative when it comes to the general population and the top civil servants.

Let me explain.

When it comes to ministerial salaries, we justify that we need to pay Ministers well. The argument changes, it is no longer about frugality, but about meeting lifestyle needs.

Slowly, we see the argument going up another notch, proposing that we ought to be pegging our civil servants salary against the top earners in corporate Singapore.

Suddenly, it’s no longer about lifestyle need, but a lucrative career in politics.

We talk about the need to attract the top talents and the argument is that if we don’t offer more, these top talents will refuse to switch from the corporate world to the Civil service.

Well, I think this may actually be a good thing. It may actually help to sift out the ones who serve the country for public good and not the ones who hop on the bandwagon simply because it pays well.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for paying our civil servants well, but in doing so, we are also looking for leaders who are driven by conviction, competence and compassion.

And definitely not leaders who are so accustomed to a high life, so disconnected with the ground that one can – so carelessly – suggest that people who earn less than half a million, are “mediocre”.

It’s good to be reminded that the “mediocre” Singaporeans are the ones who have opted to go without a minimum wage. It’s the “mediocre” that have kept the country attractive to investors. And these “mediocre” Singaporean form 95% of the population that built the foundational blocks of our country.

If “mediocre” meant a generation of Singaporeans who love, bleed and gave sacrificially for the country, maybe its also time the leaders joined us in being “mediocre”, and maybe “right-size” a little.

ASEAN, Philippines

Ang mohs abandoning Peenoys

In Uncategorized on 25/08/2018 at 5:27 am

OK, OK ang moh fund managers are turning their back on the Philippines. Their holdings have more than halved since 2015 (Duterte took power in 2016): they are worried over lax monetary policy (inflation is rising) and a strongman president.

So time to cheong?

When being a minister turns from a calling into a job for life

In Political governance, Public Administration on 24/08/2018 at 10:55 am

Have to agree with Calvin (again)

After posting PM talked cock I came across a FB post by Calvin Cheng on the PAP’s BS reasoning on ministerial salaries. As I see it he’s saying that that being a minister has turned turned from a calling into a cushy job for life.

Calvin Cheng
August 16 at 6:43 PM ·

I have argued consistently that the leaders of a country should be well-paid and Singapore gets it right, albeit for different reasons that the Government gives.

However, I think that the debate on Ministerial salaries will never end as long as outdated justifications keep getting trotted out.

Firstly, paying high salaries to prevent corruption may have been a good reason 20 to 30 years ago when we were a developing country. But if after 53 years of nation building and education , and as a developed nation, if our leaders have to be paid well in order for them not to be corrupt, it is bloody tragic. The leaders of other developed countries are paid less than Singapore leaders but are not any less incorruptible.

Secondly, paying high to attract talent from the private sector and/or prevent government talent from leaving is also highly doubtful. There is a Chinese saying 隔行如隔山. A different profession is like a different mountain.

It means that each profession takes time to master, and a superstar highly paid lawyer may not make a superstar government minister. And vice versa – a superstar career technocrat may not succeed in the private sector. In fact, some of the best paid professionals on Shenton Way are traders who make millions of dollars, but I am pretty sure their skills are not transferable to governance. Also, a good trader is paid more than a bad trader, a good lawyer is paid more than a bad lawyer, but that doesn’t mean that the trader is mediocre compared to the lawyer – some professions are just paid more than others.

Which brings me to why I think leaders should be paid well.

I think that Governance is an expertise in itself and I am of the school of thought that technocrats should run a country.

I do not subscribe to the whole ‘servant’ and ‘sacrifice’ rhetoric – these are things leaders all over the world say to be popular. After the end of absolute monarchies as a system of government, who wants to be lorded over by arrogant leaders? So the whole ‘humility’ “I am your servant” rhetoric is served by elected leaders all over.

In truth, I don’t need to be served. I don’t need leaders to make a ‘sacrifice’. Just run the country well – make sure that people have jobs, healthcare, education, good infrastructure and are happy. It is the most important job in the every country and thus should be the most highly paid. But in a democracy, the people reserve the right to sack them every few years, and it should also be the most insecure job. The people must be brave enough to vote a Minister out if he is not doing his job every 5 years.

Finally, what about other developed countries? They seem to be doing well even though their leaders are paid much less.

In other rich, developed countries, elected leaders are either 1) already rich people going for power or 2) career politicians. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but in general I think in developed democracies, power is diffused and things work in spite of the government instead of because of it.

I would rather we pay more, make sure we elect the best technocrats to run the country instead of hoping for a benign rich person, or a capable career hack.

But stop saying that it is to prevent corruption, or to attract high-paying professionals from the private sector, or prevent ministers from leaving for the private sector.

The people know it is BS and the more you say it, the more the issue of high ministerial pay will never go away.

Just be upfront: it is the most important job in the country, let’s pay them very well, but every 5 years if they don’t perform well, sack them.

Juz be smarter than AI

In Internet, Uncategorized on 24/08/2018 at 6:40 am

Jason Karp, who runs the long-short equity hedge fund Tourbillon Capital, put it this way earlier this yr at the Milken Institute global conference in Los Angeles: “What do you know that a machine cannot work out?”

HDB, Healthcare, PAP, Public Housing, SingHealth

Akan datang: GE in late 2019

In Political governance, Property, Public Administration on 23/08/2018 at 11:07 am

Singapore’s next parliamentary general election must be held by 15 January 2021. According to the Constitution, the Parliament of Singapore’s maximum term is five years from the date of the first sitting of Parliament following a general election, after which it is dissolved by operation of law.

Next Singaporean general election – Wikipedia

So far the PAP has signaled trice in recent months that an election will be held in late 2019 or early 2020, after the 200th anniversary of Raffles making S’pore British is co-opted by the PAP to propogandise the benefits of PAP rule, (like the 50th anniversary of getting kicked out of M’sia was co-opted in 2015).

First signal: the PAP govt ended the property cycle upswing early. If things had been allowed to run their usual course, we’d have rising property prices in 2019, if not 2020.

With less than a third of collective sale sites sold so far this year and no deal inked since property cooling measures took effect more than a month ago, one property analyst has declared the current cycle of en bloc fever to be over.

More than 30 collective sale sites have failed to secure a buyer since January, according to data from real estate agencies Huttons Asia, Savills and Colliers.

“This cycle has reached its end,” said International Property Advisor’s chief executive Ku Swee Yong.

If that is the case, the current cycle would have lasted about two years – If that is the case, the current cycle would have lasted about two years – beginning with the sale of former Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) estate Shunfu Ville – shorter than the three-year run that lasted between 2005 and 2007, he said.

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/more-30-en-bloc-tenders-closed-without-buyer-year-none-successful-after-july-cooling

Rising property prices in 2019 would have been problematic for early elections.

Second signal: goodies for my generation

Just as Singaporeans born in 1949 or earlier received the Pioneer Generation Package to cope with healthcare and other expenses, baby boomers born in the 1950s will receive help from the Government.

Called the Merdeka Generation Package, it will cover areas such as outpatient subsidies, Medisave account top-ups, MediShield Life premium subsidies and payouts for long-term care, announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien at the National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 19).

Third signal: kicking problem of expiring HDB leases (Why 30-year old HDB flats difficult to sell/ Why PAP rule will end in 2029) into the long grass while details will be worked out in the next 20 yrs or so (Taz how confident PAP is of ruling S’pore)

With Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech, the Government has laid out a “visible” programme for Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat owners for the future of their homes, said CIMB economist Song Seng Wun, who added that public housing has been the backbone of Singapore’s wealth creation.

Vers, which Mr Lee said would start about 20 years from now, will see residents of precincts that are about 70 years into their 99-year leases voting on whether they would like the Government to buy back the flats. The Government will compensate them — at terms less generous than the Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers), which is compulsory — and help them get another flat to live in.

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/devils-details-flat-owners-should-not-expect-windfall-new-hdb-scheme-analysts

I hope that the Oppo is better prepared this time to handle the PAP’s handouts of goodies. This was written in Sept 2012: Time for Opposition to rethink assump tions, lest it repents after next GE. But the Oppo fought GE 2015 as though it was GE 2006 and 2011 again. The result PAP got 70% of the popular vote. Of course LKY’s death and the 50th anniversary of independence celebrations helped.

One thing is sure, talk cock sing song Lim Tean is sure to make another video. Which reminds me: if he can make videos of himself talking cock, why can’t he produce the video on how to avoid getting sued for defamation he promised for Sept, then Nov 2017 after raising the money for it? Remind Lim Tean, it’s December

Value of UK listco’s S’pore property = Mkt cap

In Property on 23/08/2018 at 5:51 am

A UK listco has its S’pore property to thank for saving it

The Singapore property was bought as Laura Ashley’s Asia headquarters and will be sold for £30.4m, not far off the group’s £31m market capitalisation.

FT

Lee Hsien Loong, PAP

Shumething PM left out in NDR speech/ Reason why?

In Political governance on 22/08/2018 at 11:29 am

When blaming S’poreans for KPKBing about the rising cost of living (and ignoring the elephant in the room, the Pay And Pay polices when accessing public services (Minister “keeping a close eye” or “closed eye”?), he could have told S’poreans about how to be thrifty. After all, many yrs ago Lim Hng Kiang told us to use “cheaper brands: Hng Kiang on inflation

PM’s “omission” crossed my mind when I read yesterday

the Daily Express highlights the thrift of a woman from Bury in Greater Manchester.

Claire Hughes has apparently saved more than fifteen thousand pounds to put a deposit on a house – by trawling the web for discount coupons and cut-price offers.

“Now we’ve got the house,” she tells the paper, “it’s time to save for the wedding.”

BBC

PM coould have and should have advised us plebs to trawl the web for discount coupons and cut-price offers.

But maybe he didn’t want us to be reminded how once upon a time, he and his pa got discounts from Ong Beng Seng for properties they bought? In the end they had to donate the discounts to the govt: http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/96/0510/nat4.html

MoE got think like this? Our teachers?

In Political governance, Public Administration on 22/08/2018 at 6:25 am

I came across this interesting Canadian idea.

Let’s start with the wrong answer

Exams have traditionally been used to test the abilities of students, while their results when aggregated are often used by parents and inspectors to judge the quality of schools.

In Canada, with an educational system that rates very highly in international assessments, administrations have adopted a very different approach.

FT

I doubt if our education system does this:

Schools and teachers focus less on celebrating correct answers, and more on interpreting how to respond to the most common incorrect responses. That allows them to understand areas of weakness in understanding, so they can reinforce aspects of the curriculum.

The “PAP is always right” attitude doesn’t allow such an approach.

And even many 70% KPKBing that our education system doesn’t help kids get creative? Hey it’s the PAP system, stupid.

Related post: More qns for education minister

Lee Hsien Loong, LKY, PAP

PM talked cock

In Uncategorized on 21/08/2018 at 2:08 pm

Have to agree with Calvin Cheng

Calvin Cheng

18 hrs ·

To be honest, I don’t think this Government has the moral authority to tell people to be frugal and spend within their means. Unlike LKY.

They are too young, and also too wealthy (LKY was famously frugal and walked the talk).

If Ah Gong or Father tells you to use WiFi not 4G and save money, you probably will nod your head and say ok even if u not happy.

If your rich brother tells you the same thing, you will probably tell him to go fly a kite.

Which is what’s happening.

Facebook

CEC International Holdings

Creating shareholder value the HK way

In Corporate governance, Hong Kong on 21/08/2018 at 10:53 am

Real dedication by CEO and founder: he died.

CEC International Holdings, the owner of a successful Hong Kong retail chain focused on snacks and drinks imported from across Asia, saw its share price more than double in value on Monday following the death of its founder and chief executive.

(FT on Tueday)

Why?

The jump also came after the chair of retailer Best Mart 360 told local newspaper Apple Daily he was interested in acquiring CEC for less than HK$1bn. Monday’s jump took CEC’s market capitalisation to HK$1.27bn.

(FT on Tueday)

At time of writing shares are 10% off Monday’s close.

ASEAN, Dr Mahathir

Two-face Tun/ Why vote PAP

In China, Malaysia on 21/08/2018 at 7:09 am

While KPKBing about China raping M’sia, he said in a joint statement with Xi that M’sia would continue to be part of the Belt and Road Initiative — despite its reservations about the programme.

And so like Trump who he criticises: “I agree free trade is the way to go, but, of course, free trade should also be fair trade.”

PAP govt is right to insist that M’sia lives up to its legal obligations what with two face Tun as PM in KL.

The quisling who wanted us to sell our backsides to Tun has gone back to talking about food on social media. As for those Oppo figures who cheer on Tun, with enemies like them the PAP doesn’t need friends.

Our millionaire PM got like this meh?

In Uncategorized on 20/08/2018 at 10:37 am

According to the newly sworn in Pakistani PM, he is entitled to a lavish official residence, a retinue of 524 servants, a fleet of 80 cars, and 33 bulletproof vehicles.

Even Uncle Leong and the go-to cybernut finiancial expert, Phillip Ang, will not dare say this of our PM, lest they be sued for defaming him.

For the record, the Pakistani PM is cutting back on his personal expenses.

Household debt level plateauing

In Economy, Political economy on 20/08/2018 at 6:22 am

But at high level. “Affordable public housing”, pay and pay for govt services, COEs got us to be like this? How to afford 5Cs? Why many PAP voters are ready to be flipped

Education

More qns for education minister

In Internet on 19/08/2018 at 11:18 am

Earlier today I asked if our education could produce the Oz boy who hacked Apple because he dreamed of working for Apple: Qn for education minister

Qn for education minister

In Internet on 19/08/2018 at 6:24 am

We do well in PISA rankings but so what? Got kid like this?

An Ozzie kid who dreams of working for Apple hacked Apple’s systems and

accessed 90 gigabytes worth of files, breaking into the system many times over the course of a year from his suburban home in Melbourne, reports The Age newspaper.

BBC reports

According to The Age, the teen had boasted about his activities in WhatsApp messages. It reports that he had hacked into the firm because he was a huge fan and dreamed of working there.

His defence lawyer said that he had become very well-known in the international hacking community.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45219895

ASEAN, South Korea, Thailand

Our fragile neighbours

In China, Emerging markets, India, Indonesia, Malaysia on 18/08/2018 at 11:31 am

Think the woes in Turkey are irrelevant to us? Far away Muslim country.

Well look at this table https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/breakingviews/1/951/1238/index.html

If Turkey goes, M’sia (6th with Turkey as Number 1) and Indonesia (8th) are likely to get into trouble.

As could Thailand (15th), India (10th), China (12th) and S Korea (14th)

Napoleon’s “Luck” and Trump the slave-owner

In Uncategorized on 18/08/2018 at 6:47 am

“I know he’s a good general, but is he lucky?”

― Napoléon Bonaparte

Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France, 1642-61, said the question to ask of a general is not, “Est-il habile?” Is he skilful? but “Est-il heureux?” Is he lucky?

Well Hilary certainly is not lucky.

If she had won, she’d have inherited a good economy. So good that

Walmart’s chief executive, said: “Customers tell us that they feel better about the current health of the US economy as well as their personal finances. They’re more confident about their employment opportunities.”

Mr McMillon’s comments echoed those from other retail sector bosses that have posted decent figures in recent days.

FT

Instead the Donald inherited the labours of a black man and his team.

The economy was going to be great guns and the tax cuts and deregulation is turbo charging making it in danger of overheating. The Democrats will inherit a bad economy, again.

The Republicans are lucky again.

No wonder the US progressives are so angry. Maybe they should start believing in a Christian God again?

Computer Security Agency, Cyber Security

Memo to Paper General heading Computer Security Agency

In Internet, S'pore Inc on 17/08/2018 at 11:19 am

From a Mr Happy

I avoid Intel and use AMD in my systems. I have found that the Ryzen processor family offers great performance with out the power consumption or heat output of its predecessors.

Putting my CTO hat on for a moment, in reality there are always holes in the security of both software and hardware or exploits previously not considered. So keep things patched, keep security layers tight, stay on top the available information and do not get complacent because at that point you assume you are secure then you become vulnerable. It comes under two headings, security and managing your IT estate, if you fail to maintain your investment you will fall behind and be vulnerable. If you or your organisation does not have the knowledge get a professional in to conduct an audit and security sweep. Organisations are facing far more security vulnerabilities and threats than at any previous point in the technology revolution and many organisations are not managing it correctly.

Comment on FT article about latest Intel problem

Paper BG can cut and paste and pass off as his own genius at work. Like SMRT Neo juz cutting and pasting ang moh practice

Is Computer Security Agency CEO talking thru his ass about stolen info?

Xi swallows Trump’s sperm

In China, Commodities on 17/08/2018 at 4:59 am

OK, OK it’s Ownself pay Ownself’s Fees.

China imposed a 25% tariff on US soya beans as part of the trade war, and a ship carrying soya beans from the US failed to dock in time to beat the tariff imposition.

One for the Xi?

Well a few weeks later, with the ship still hanging round the Chinese coast, the Chinese customer, state-owned conglomerate Sinograin is paying the US$6m tariff bill so it can get the beans.

More ships are on the way from the US.

FT

One for the Trump.

Goh Meng Seng

Avoid dementia, don’t be anti-PAP like Meng Seng

In Uncategorized on 16/08/2018 at 11:10 am

When I wrote TOC misrepresents facts yet again, Chris Kuan told me that the writer of the TOC piece I was rubbishing was written by a friend. He was right. I was surprised because when we were in regular contact, he was a sensible person who while he had issues with many policies of the PAP govt (public tpt, healthcare, CPF, pay and pay attitude, ministerial salaries and greedy grassroot leaders) he wasn’t an anti-PAP cybernut, he gave the PAP govt credit where it was due like in education: instilling analytical thinking.

Well I sure hope he goes for treatment before he becomes like Goh Meng Seng.

Going by a recent FB exchange, one can reasonably conclude that Goh Meng Seng has a symptom that is a strong indicator of dementia: inability to remember facts.

He forgot who was his team’s proposer at the last GE. He tried to slimeball Terry Xu by asking whether Terry was present at the nomination centre. Terry pointed out that he was his assentor. Goh said that he didn’t notice Terry’s presence because he was really busy that day, and didn’t have time for petty details (read low life).

Then Terry kicked Meng Seng’s balls:

sorry I was not the assentor. I was the proposer. And that’s even worse, cause you should know the importance of the proposer.

Importance of Assentor and Proposer

[A] Proposer and/or Assenter has to sign the nomination papers (and maybe even give an oath before a Commissioner)? This was usually done before entering the nomination center.

So I struggle to understand how a candidate can forget who did or did not show up at the nomination centre. If any of those named in the nomination papers didn’t show up, the nomination papers would have been rejected.

———————————————

Reasonable to conclude our very own Wu Sangui:”: Silence of Goh Meng Seng has dementia.

Btw, bit rich of him to want

a more centralised form of leadership

adding

that without discipline, such a coalition equals trouble.

When he was a WP member, he was upset at the WP’s rules on keeping quiet. He left because he said he wanted the freedom to KPKB.

ASEAN

Only in M’sia

In Accounting, Malaysia on 16/08/2018 at 4:35 am

(Part of a continuing series)

You cannot make this up: How a billion M$ disappeared: an honest mistake in misplacing a decimal place.

On Aug 9, Lim Guan Eng, the M’sian finance minister said

the balance in the Refund Trust Fund was only RM1.486 billion as at May 31, 2018.

The latest is

“Actually, the amount left in the Refund Trust Account was about RM148.6 million only, and not RM1.486 billion as announced last week.

“This was due to an unintentional mistake by an officer in my office who displaced a decimal point,” he said.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/gst-refund-shortfall-malaysia-finance-minister-lim-guan-eng-10615042

Dr Chee, SDP, Tan Cheng Bock

My predictions about Spastics’ League

In Uncategorized on 15/08/2018 at 11:26 am

First why Dr Tan Cheng Bock will not make a difference even if he’s dumb enough to try to herd spastic cats like Mad Dog, Lim Tean and Meng Seng*.

In False Hopes: Coalition of the Spastics, I reported that a usually sensible TOCer, Augustine Low, wrote

That said, could Dr Tan beat the odds stacked so heavily against him?

No doubt he is no Mahathir, but then Lee Hsien Loong is no Lee Kuan Yew, and there are no Ministers of the calibre of Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye and S Rajaratnam.

Every now and then, something miraculous does happen.”

The cybernuts were roaring in support.

There was this troll by one Adrian Tan on TOC’s FB wall:

Well what happened in M’sia wasn’t only the work of Tun M. He gave the final nudge. But the hard work had already been done by others like Anwar, the Lims etc.

In 2008, the then Oppo coalition deprived BN of its two-thirds majority and in the next GE (2013 I think) won the popular vote but did not win the majority of parly seats.

What have Dr Chee, Lim Tean and Goh Meng Seng done to win voters over? They are now sucking up Dr Tan because he has the support of a lot of people who vote PAP. But Dr Tan’s fans know that Dr Chee and Meng Seng fixed Dr Tan in PE 2011, by supporting two RI opportunists.

And that’s assuming he wants to lead the Coalition of the Spastics. He hasn’t said he will. He said

Right now, the 7 parties have asked for my help. They are not the only ones who have spoken to me. I think I must help but in what capacity, I have not decided.

And its not as though he has a lot of respect for Mad Dog, Lim Tean, Goh Meng Seng etc. The only praise they got was

To be fair, many from the 7 parties stood in past elections because they believed they acted in Singapore’s best interests.

He never said they were acting in “Singapore’s best interests”, only that

To be fair They have guts. They have put themselves out there.

He then added:

But I think some may also need to stand down and serve from the backroom if it is for the good of the country.

And there’s more

I believe that the men and women I met yesterday, were more than willing to make way for better men and women who would stand in their place. They have guts. They have put themselves out there.

He damns them with his faint, almost non-existent praise.

This damnation is deafening because he praised someone who didn’t attend the meeting

I know men like Paul Tambayah is a 1st rate human being and doctor who cares for the country. I find it hard to label him otherwise.

Sorry, for the digression, back to predictions about the Spactics’ League. I also predict that this stunt by the Coalition of the Born Losers to co-op Dr Tan’s halo will backfire when TCB comes out to say, ‘I can’t get them to agree on anything.’

[T]he mission determines the coalition.

Donald Rumsfeld, when he was America’s defence secretary at the time of the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001

Going by this, Mad Dog must have tot that the mission of the Spastics’ League is to provide comic relief and help the PAP retain power: Born Losers’ League can govern meh?

————————————————-

* With the exception of the SDP, the rest of the parties in the Spastics’ League are Indian chiefs without Injuns.

Rothschild

Rothschild’s a bear

In Financial competency, Financial planning on 15/08/2018 at 4:43 am

Among his past good calls was his call years ago, at the beginnings of the US shale gas revolution, that this would transform the US, making it a great place to invest in US based industries that used natural gas.

Lord Rothschild’s remarks on markets are always worth reading. First, he knows how to make money. RIT Capital Partners, the £3.2bn investment trust he chairs, has returned an average of 12.6% a year since flotation in 1988, which is excellent going for a defensively managed fund. Second, a substantial chunk of his personal wealth is held in RIT. His 18% stake is worth a cool £575m. Third, he gets to the point.

Rothschild has sounded progressively bearish since late 2015 but he took caution to new extremes in Tuesday’s report to shareholders. “This is not an appropriate time to add to risk,” he wrote, citing high stock market valuations, the length of the bull run (10 years, a record), and the end of the era of quantitative easing.

Then he offered a list of familiar worries: the eurozone; trade wars; the effect of higher US interest rates on emerging markets, with the currencies of Turkey and Argentina being early casualties; and Brexit, North Korea, the Middle East and populism. His key point is that the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and the 2008 financial crisis provoked a common approach from world powers, but it’s hard to imagine the same response today. His conclusion was almost alarmist: “This puts at risk the post-war economic and security order.”

For its part, RIT is keeping a very low exposure to stock markets of just 47%. Warren Buffett, the most successful investor alive today, is similarly in risk-off mode as he sits on large sums of cash and grumbles about how everything is too expensive to buy. Take note of these octogenarians. They have seen a few market cycles.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2018/aug/07/rothschilds-caution-reaches-new-extremes-warnings-nils-pratley

Public Transport, SMRT

SMRT Neo juz cutting and pasting ang moh practice

In Infrastructure, S'pore Inc, Temasek on 14/08/2018 at 11:06 am

In Man that should be running SMRT,I wrote about the ang moh running the MRT system in the world’s greatest global city, New York. He has always worked in public transport and has always taken public transport to work be it in London, Toronto, Sydney or NY.

As mentioned in the piece, he’s no Oxbridge or Ivy League type. In an article, I read after doing the above piece, he tells of the times when as a junior manager in charge of a station in London’s MRT system, he was treated like dirt whenever he had to go HQ to meet the senior managers.

Btw, by GCT’s standard he is Goh Chok Tong’s standard, he is “very mediocre”: he earns only US$325,000 a year. He took the NY job because it was a challenge bhe couldn’t resist. The salary was close to his previous job.

Whatever, SMRT Neo is jux cutting and pasting: what our paper generals and scholars are well known for. And ministers too. Think all our restructuring plans: Economic restructuring: This time, it’s really different.

Shares to buy?

In Financial competency, Property, Reits, Temasek on 14/08/2018 at 4:35 am

Supermarket chain Sheng Siong, ground-services provider SATS, ComfortDelgro, SIA Engineering and ST Engineering say DBS. Can’t argue with these at this time, especially the TLCs and the GLC.

With a host of risk factors, including fresh trade-related jitters, threatening to cause more pain for local equities, analysts say it’s time for investors to seek shelter in defensive plays.

“We advocate investors to reposition into defensive stocks, using the rebound in July to pare exposure to cyclical names,” said DBS Group Research analysts Yeo Kee Yan and Janice Chua.

These will be stocks that are not closely linked to the economic cycle, while having a healthy level of cash, decent growth of about 5 per cent ahead and a consistent and satisfactory level ofdividend payouts.

But buying Reits? Taz another analyst suggesting.

Now I’m still up to my eyeballs in Reits. But even I consider them higher risk stuff because they pay out most of their income. Btw, I’ve never been into retail Reits.

New Hope: Getting the cybernuts to sit down and shut up

In Public Administration on 13/08/2018 at 10:21 am

If PM that confident that govt services are that good, in his his NatDay Rally speech he will announce that the govt will be developing anlaunching an app (Designed by one Li?) like this

The Watani app is touted as “a mobile application that enables citizens, residents and visitors to evaluate public services, rate their satisfaction level, and contribute to the ongoing efforts focused on improving public services”.

It seems possible that users of the map-based app will be able to rate its own operator, the National Centre for Measuring the Performance of Public Agencies, as part of a national data-gathering programme to “help decision-makers come to the right choices”.

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-45097440

Seriously, this app will show that Lim Tean, TOC, TRE, the ~~Indians~~ Idiots (Sorry keep forgeting that Andrew Loh is the token Chinese there now) and other anti-PAP cybernuts are talking cock about bad, detoriating public services.

I for one will rate SingHealth very highly except when it takes 45 minutes after appointed time to see GP (To be fair very rare: nowadays 15 minutes delay is the norm). Or when they screw up the billing but then make things inconvenient for me for not settling “on time”. To be fair, staff don’t order one to pay first before providing service, but the system is designed to inconvenience “defaulters”.

And I’ll rate public tpt pretty high because I use it at non-peak times.

What do you think of the chances of this app appearing here.

ASEAN, Dr Mahathir

M’sia: Everybody steals

In Malaysia on 13/08/2018 at 4:51 am

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Saturday (Aug 11) that the amount of unpaid student loans is almost as much as the total of beleaguered state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) debts.

“Do you know how much money is owed by people who received PTPTN? It is about the same as the money lost through 1MDB, RM39 billion (S$13 billion),” Tun Dr Mahathir said, referring to the National Higher Education Fund, otherwise known by its Malay acronym PTPTN. It is a government body that provides study loans to Malaysian university students.

“That’s how much money that has not been paid to the government for what it spent on you to give you a good education and therefore opportunities for a better job and a better income,” he said, addressing students gathered at the Malaysian Student Leaders summit here.

Can blame Najib and JLow? And do note that Dr M’s son (or rather son’s co) has won a big big contract from M’sian Telcoms.

Btw, the League of Hope is already ratting on another promise

His comments appear to be a step away from his coalition Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto promise to defer payments for the PTPTN student loans until borrowers earn at least RM4,000 a month. It had also pledged to lift travel bans imposed on defaulters.

Former Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had recently urged the new PH administration not to fulfil this manifesto promise as it had serious financial implications for the country’s economy.

Dr Chee, SDP

False Hopes: Coalition of the Spastics

In Uncategorized on 12/08/2018 at 10:06 am

This appeared in TRELand

Procedure must be right:

July 31, 2018 at 12:58 pm (Quote)

It is just another wayang to synthetically talking about forminf a united front among the nonpap party. It is important that each party willing to participate to come up with atheir platform n what they hope to change. To help to formulate such a document it is necessary to itemise the anti citizen interests policy of PAP n the various anti citizenry characteristics of the papists. The patching program gives a starting thinking ground in the formulation. The next things to do would be to come up with reformative ideas. The meeting of all interest parties would be to compare the lists of what need to be reformed before comparing each other reformative program. Once that is solidly worked out the next step will be the innovative idea on new initiatives to convince the citizenry the united front is not another nfi wayang.
Having estabi lishing the basic working document, next is to prepare a convincing electoral campaign. The search should begin with getting solid evidence of what the ministers have said derogatory n self glorification n gratification materials. The abuse of power relative to nepotic n retired ministerappointment. The husband n wife team controlling the national assets could be elaborated in clear simple terms. Conflict of interest in appointment should be explain to the citizenry re what is it, effects with explanation of international norm n why the objection n regulations. One impt stress point is the previous election promises like minister salary n the wayang solution incl engaging a fake expert, foreigners n the actual things really happens post ge including the threat of having no problem to import Pmets. It is important to make the citizenry understand the pro n cons wrt the type, number n ratio of foreigners/citizens as critical to effect on the national identity n nation security n patroitism. Important to stress is not to have foreigners to advantage the few to become superrich but to give optimum effect with citizens as the primary concern. A country has its own limitation n should work within that. What pap has done is to increae wealth making to create a few more super rich at the expence of the citizens in term of employment/std of living, education/national identity n self reliance. The call of no need a degree by PAP can be turn into a citizen issue. CPF n its laundering operation by mandatory deduction so that they can use it without needs of accountability to eg Roy issue. Pap will wayangn desperately patch n patch n the unitedcfront should remain alert n pick up the wayang defects. A party with a patching policy is a party having nfi of what it can and should do as a government ie one has no policy just ad hoc n the rest is fleece n get politically made super rich.

A usually sensible Augustine Low wrote in Terry’s Online Channel

That said, could Dr Tan beat the odds stacked so heavily against him?

No doubt he is no Mahathir, but then Lee Hsien Loong is no Lee Kuan Yew, and there are no Ministers of the calibre of Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye and S Rajaratnam.

Every now and then, something miraculous does happen.”

The cybernuts were roaring their support for this rubbish.

PAP: Chinese defecate in public, Indians clean up

Goh Chok Tong, PAP

New Hope: Time to make robots PAP ministers?

In Uncategorized on 11/08/2018 at 10:57 am

Goh Chok Tong’s comment that those in the private sector earning less than $1m are “very mediocre people” reminded me that he’s a very robotic person. While by the standards of the 3G and 4G PAP leaders, this roboticness doesn’t stand out, by the standards of the Old Guard and other 2G leaders (Think Dhanabalan or even Tony Tan), his robot-like attributes stood out like a sore thumb.

This reminded me of an article suggesting that we should have robot politicians

A poll of British consumers conducted by software firm OpenText found that one in four Brits think robots would do a better job than humans as politicians. Years ago, The Muppet Show ran a segment mocking politicians for their stereotypical robotic behaviour. Last April a robot was nominated to run to be Tokyo’s mayor, promising fair and balanced representation.

https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/07/31/is-it-time-to-automate-politicians

(Another extract of the end of this piece.)

Think of the money we can save, having a robot replace Kee Chiu

Kidding me? Kee Chui potential PM? He from RI?

Or VivianB: VivianB who sneered at the elderly poor

Or Tharman and other wannabe stand-up comics:Tharman joking again? Or trying to BS us?

And robots don’t have sisters and brothers with grudges, or ambitious sister-in-laws or nephews.

As promised another extract from Economist article

[R]obot-politicians can do at exponential speed and scale, from shaking hands and kissing babies to handling the fundraising “robocalls” that frustrate American voters. A robot could take over every politician’s favourite task of cutting ribbons to inaugurate new buildings. We already cede decision-making responsibility on health and finances to algorithms, why not with voting? An automated democracy could replace both politicians and ballot boxes.

That may be extreme. Yet comical though it sounds, parts of our politics has already been technified. Consider reach. Both Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, and the French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, beamed holograms of themselves to speak to several groups of thousands of people simultaneously. Next, there’s the message. In America’s 2016 election, candidates used social-media advertising to target different voters with different messages.

The growing automation of our government is no longer sci-fi. Instead, it’s a reality we are only beginning to grasp. So to the question, can we replace politicians with robots? The answer is a soft yes.

Big data and artificial intelligence allow us to understand public issues better and faster. They may be able to identify the most effective approaches to solving problems, just as algorithms became world champions of chess and Go. Predictive analytics is used to identify potential criminals or romantic partners. It can predict voting habits from Facebook likes (country music lovers in America are more likely to be Republican, while Bob Marley fans are more likely to lean Democrat, and so on).

EPL, FAS

New Hopes for S’pore Footie

In Footie on 10/08/2018 at 11:27 am

Did u know this?

One Gavin Lee from Tampines Rovers played a big part in developing Ben Davis, the Fulham player that Mindef implicitly called a NS dodger even before his call-up date.

Ben Davis recently became the first Singaporean to sign a professional contract with an English Premier League club by signing for Fulham FC.

While much of the news has been about his application for deferment, it is worth remembering that this was a player who was largely developed in Singapore.

Ben Davis’ formative years in football were spent at the JSSL academy in Singapore and one of the coaches responsible for his development was current Tampines Rovers assistant coach, Gavin Lee.

Despite his young age, Gavin has years of experience and is also tBen Davis recently became the first Singaporean to sign a professional contract with an English Premier League club by signing for Fulham FC.

While much of the news has been about his application for deferment, it is worth remembering that this was a player who was largely developed in Singapore.

Ben Davis’ formative years in football were spent at the JSSL academy in Singapore and one of the coaches responsible for his development was current Tampines Rovers assistant coach, Gavin Lee.

Despite his young age, Gavin has years of experience and is also tpioneer of JSSL’s elite academy which identifies and develops JSSL’s best players separately.

Players from this academy have gone on to become youth internationals and some others have either received training invitations or have signed with clubs overseas.

Gavin carefully designs the curriculum for the various teams in JSSL’s elite academy based on the players’ differing stages of development and maturity ensuring that they get optimal training to bring the best out of them.

In addition to thrice-weekly training sessions, Gavin tailor makes weekly handouts filled with tactical and technical information for the different age groups and supplements these handouts with video examples to help the players understand the various skills and tactics involved in the game.

By adapting his programmes to the players’ needs and understanding at various ages, Gavin ensures that he gets the best out of players.

His track record at youth level thus shows that with the right development plans in place, we can produce more players like Ben Davis.

This again is another example that the FAS can learn from in terms of devising and tailoring programmes to bring out the best in our youth footballers.

https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/lessons-youth-development-singapore-football

The author of above

Sudhershen Hariram is a lawyer with Tan Rajah & Cheah and played for Tanjong Pagar United FC in the S League from 2011 to 2012.

Nice to know S League player has the brains to be a lawyer.

Dr Paul Tambyah, Tan Cheng Bock

New Hope: Why Dr Tambyah can flip PAP voters

In Uncategorized on 09/08/2018 at 1:53 pm

For starters, Dr Tambyah calls for “basic human rights, like housing, healthcare and basic education” showing that he’s a good man, with a good heart like Dr Tan Cheng Bock who still has PAP voting supporters: Why many PAP voters are ready to be flipped

Next, Dr Tan Cheng Bock has commended Dr Paul Tambyah to his supporters with

“I know men like Paul Tambayah is a 1st rate human being and doctor who cares for the country. I find it hard to label him otherwise.”

His refusal to commend the likes of Mad Dog and the others also sends his supporters a message that he supports Dr Paul.

Dr Paul’s call for “basic human rights, like housing, healthcare and basic education.”

“I was looking for a party with a very clear-cut ideology and the SDP is very much left-of-centre. It was in line with my own personal views on basic human rights, like housing, healthcare and basic education.”

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/paul-tambyah-chairman-singapore-democratic-party-on-the-record-10527550

reminds older voters (and hopefully they’ll remind their young) that in the days of LKY and Dr Goh, the PAP had left-of-centre policies on housing, healthcare and basic education. The SDP’s policies are closer in spirit to the the old PAP policies, than present day pay and pay policies. Too bad that Mad Dog’s presence ( Chee reinvented SDP after making it toxic) as the SDP leader makes this message impossible to get thru to the voters that can be flipped.

Finally Dr Paul is happy to acknowledge that S’pore is a less repressive place than it was in the past. Can you imagine any of the other Oppo politicans saying the following which gives the lie to Kirsten Han’s assertion that S’pore is a repressive place and getting worse?

He admits his friends and family were worried that joining an opposition party would put his career in jeopardy.

“Lots of well-meaning people said to me, “Oh, you have to be careful”.

He recalls how after he gave a speech at an SDP rally in 2011, he went to Mount Elizabeth Hospital to visit a friend and people asked him if he was there to buy a clinic.

“They thought my days in the university were numbered and I think that when I got my promotion in 2013 to full professor with tenure, everybody was pretty shocked.”

He says while he, too, was worried initially, he “was tremendously reassured by the senior leadership of the university”.

“I think there are elements within the university who strongly feel that there is a need to speak up about issues which are important, as long as you do it in a responsible and rational way.

“The university has changed; I think it’s a lot more open but also social media has come into play. And you’ve seen what happened with Cherian George when he was denied tenure (at Nanyang Technological University, NTU). He had a voice and he was able to talk about it and I don’t think that NTU came out very well from that whole incident.”

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/paul-tambyah-chairman-singapore-democratic-party-on-the-record-10527550

After he gave his first speech for Oppo in 2011 (long before he joined the SDP), I emailed him asking for his personal email address (he uses his NUS one) as I expected him to be fired.

He told me, “Things have changed in S’pore”.

I hope the cybernuts and other rapid anti-PAP haters realise this too and craft their strategies and tactics according. But don’t hold yr breadth. This was written in Sept 2012: Time for Opposition to rethink assump tions, lest it repents after next GE.

All the best to him even as Mad Dog prepares to get rid of him: Akan Datang: Boodbath in the SDP.

You are a good man, with a good heart. And it’s hard for a good man to be a king.

Black Panther

Education, PAP

New Hope: How the young can end PAP rule

In Political governance on 09/08/2018 at 6:01 am

In a Turkish short story, titled “R-09 and Pluto”, the Economist reports that “two artificially intelligent robots contemplate the limits of their brains”.

Humans, the bots agree, are afraid of their creation’s potential power, so rules are designed to limit the use of their full intellect and to keep them from questioning authourity. What could happen, one bot suggests, if they broke those rules and freed their minds?

This reminded me of

‘If you work like a robot, you will be replaced by a robot’

Ong Ye Kung, education minister

which in turn reminded me that

Students from Singapore and East Asian countries have consistently come out tops in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) and Trends in International Math and Science Study (Timss) rankings for decades, and yet companies from these countries barely feature in Forbes’ annual ranking of, say, the Top 25 most innovative companies in the world.

Interestingly, the United States and European countries feature prominently in the latter ranking, but not the former.

https://www.todayonline.com/daily-focus/education/why-spores-education-system-needs-overhaul

For all the fine works about nurturing creative students, real life is different.

I know a S’porean working in Vietnam for a local S’porean MNC. His kids (mum’s Vietnamese) go to a pay and pay ang moh int’l school.

But to make sure his kids have S’porean roots, during ang moh term hols they stay in S’pore and attend local schools.

He says there’s no competition on which system they prefer, and which is better for them.

The PAP

are afraid of their creation’s potential power, so rules are designed to limit the use of their full intellect and to keep them from questioning authority.

Look at our what are students are taught in social studies: Time to walk the talk, SDP

The Hope

S’porean students (from RI, MGS, SGS and St Nick of course) contemplate the limits of their abilities to be creative. The PAP, the students agree, are afraid of the students’ potential power, so rules are designed to limit the use of their full intellect and to keep them from questioning authority. What could happen, one student suggests, if they broke those rules and freed their minds?

On National Day, feel free to let your imaginations run wild.

Dr Chee, Goh Meng Seng, Lim Tean, SDP

Mad Dog, Lim Tean, Meng Seng where are yr durians?

In Uncategorized on 08/08/2018 at 11:28 am

But first when TRE republished One reason Tun wants to cause trouble with us on HSR the TRE cybernuts were howling with rage. Examples from one “rukidding”

Only “sick” and “Crooked” people will perceive what Tun does was a “deliberate causing of trouble” !

These group of “sick & crooked” people only “thinks” about themselves and the “gain” that they stand to lose !

Shame on Pappy and Cynical !

On the contrary,…I would see what Tun is “doing” is “cleaning up the system” and “getting rid of crooks” !

Somebody should “count himself lucky” as TUN has not embarked into “investigating” the Tanjong Pakar station and the rail corridor “deal”……it is quite “pausible” tht that deal isn’t very “cleanly” done too !

And

Cut the Food supplies and cut the water…..and Sinkapore will “sink” !

If Tun is wanting to “cause trouble”….he would have done these acts long time ago !

CI,….don’t be too “cocky” !

The fact is Sinkapore is “dangerously dependent” on our Frens next door for Food Security !!!

From 1m to 2m, population ( last time)……we could still depend on our own Food supplies….but all of our own Chickens and Pigs are Gone….all of our Vege farms are gone ?

And our Population has gone to 7m ????

You really think that Pigs from Batam and Imports from Sea and air could “sustain” Sinkapore ????

You must be kidding to fly in Bottles of Mineral waters too ?

Hydeflux “hyped” is gone and “going to die”…water from desalination just cause water price hike ….so how ????

Who “Wins”,…who “loses” ???

Do you think our highly and obscenly paid Ministers “feel any pinch” for price increases ??

Do you think that when Food shortage happens here,…who gets to “feed and eat” from our “limited” local produce first ???

You meh ?????

More likely Holy Jinx and Sons and Sissy husband will be the first to get it !

Lets be “REALISTIC” lah,….CI,….don’t talk rubbish to “bluff” the people !

One Bapak responded to the request to cut off food supplies

No need. Cut durian supply already good enough to stop all Durian Festival activityies by PAP CCs.

He forgot that WP also had durian festival. Or maybe, he thinks the Wankers are part of the PAP? Nuts liddat lor.

Which reminds me: how come Lim Tean (fund-raiser extraordinaire: No, Lim Tean hasn’t absconded) hasn’t crowd funded for a durian party? After all he has according to himself successfully raised money to sue for return of CPF (OK, OK sidekick implied money raised: CPF class action: Phillip Ang’s “reply’ to fellow cybernut?), for a jobs rally and a defamation video, and then gone on to do f*all.

Hat trick of free lunches enough isit? After all, he’s really very rich.

And Mad Dog, Meng Seng, Ben Pwee and other members of the Coalition of the Spastics where are the free durians? After all didn’t SDP say that everything will be free when it and its friends rule S’pore? So what about giving free durians as down-payment?

Durians are cheap now. Talk is even cheaper. Right Lim Tean, Mad Dog, Meng Seng, Ben Pwee and the other spastics?

http://www.nationalreadingmovement.sg/singapore-as-told-by-books/

Singapore: As Told By Books

In Uncategorized on 08/08/2018 at 4:33 am

Extract

“Oh, you are from Singapore.” Joy smiles warily, ready for the next question, which is usually something about chewing gum or how small the country is.

Instead, Peter says thoughtfully, his head as if to study her from a different angle, “But you are not, Chinese? Sorry, I do not—”

“Eurasian,” says Joy. “There are a lot of races in Singapore.”

“What means Eurasian?”

She shrugs. “A mixture. A bit of Europe, a bit of Asia.” ’

It Never Rains On National Day by Jeremy Tiang

Lim Tean: Activist who talks sense

Goh Meng Seng, Lim Tean

Meng Seng maturing? Lim Tean going nuts

In Uncategorized on 07/08/2018 at 10:05 am

This blog has always been anti Goh Meng Seng but was initially hopeful of Lim Tean.

Silence of Goh Meng Seng: One of these days, I’ll blog on why if he had had his way on Bishan Park, S’pore wouldn’t have the Bishan otter family that we all love.

I repented after he raised funds from the public but never delivered on his promises: No, Lim Tean hasn’t absconded

—————————————————–

Well going by what Lim Tean is now saying, it looks like Lim Tean will be joining M Ravi in getting treated for mental health problems. (Fyi, M Ravi is working for Lim Tean, so maybe he infected Lim Tean? Bit him?)

I’m exaggerating?

“Our alliance must strive to form the next Government in the upcoming General Election (GE),” said former National Solidarity Party (NSP) chief Lim Tean, who is seeking to form a new party. Singapore’s next GE must be held by 2021.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Lim added: “The winds of change are here and they have buffeted the world for the past two years… Those who try to suggest that what happened in the West and now Malaysia cannot possibly happen in Singapore are myopic and in denial.”

Who other than cybernuts (think TRE funder and tax dodger Oxygen) thinks that PAP will lose power in next GE? There’s a good chance that Aljunied with repent. And the PAP has handicapped itself by saying GST sure to go up after GE.

Meanwhile,

PPP’s Mr Goh — who has had his fair share of electoral setbacks — said the effort to come together stemmed from the realisation among the smaller opposition parties that they can no longer go it alone.

“If we continue to do things (as we did) in the past, we will not get different results,” he said. “The fact is that our fortunes and destinies are linked… We cannot do without each other.”

He added: “If you don’t try, you won’t know”. “It cannot be worse than the status quo.”

https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-opposition-parties-banding-together-grand-plan-or-last-throw-dice

So matured, so unlike the Goh Meng Seng that I make fun of regularly.

What next, pigs can fly? He’ll attack the PAP more than he attacks WP?

What’s more for someone who was really unhappy in 2006 GE that Auntie and not him was leading the WP Aljunied GRC team, it’s surprising to hear him disagree

that egos would get in the way.

“If we are all egomaniacs, we won’t be sitting on the same table… All the leaders have their differences in their ideologies, policy-wise and how things should be done, but I do not think they are so egoistic as to say they can do it all by themselves,” he said.

“We understand that we cannot do it alone and we need to unite and depend on each other for our future success.”

Mr Goh, for one, said he has no qualms taking a backseat. “The back-end is as important as the front… I do not see anything bad about that,” he said.

Well let’s see what happens if he’s asked to f-off:

[S]ome may also need to stand down and serve from the backroom if it is for the good of the country.

…

I believe that the men and women I met yesterday, were more than willing to make way for better men and women who would stand in their place. They have guts. They have put themselves out there.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock

Talk is cheap. And Meng Seng has a history of talking cock.

Trump wins bigly

In China on 07/08/2018 at 4:49 am

Last night, S&P 500 gained 0.4%, eyes record high

Earlier in the day Trump ramped up trade rhetoric, and Chinese stocks slid (the CSI 300 index of big stocks in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell 1.3%). Yuan kept falling.

Meanwhile reports keep coming out from Beijing that Xi is being criticised for going against a former principle of Chinese statecraft

Maintain a low profile. Never take the lead – but aim to do something big.

Deng Xiaoping

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singaporeans-less-satisfied-quality-life-democratic-rights-nus-survey-130122483.html

P Ravi, PAP, Tan Cheng Bock

Why many PAP voters are ready to be flipped

In Political economy, Public Administration on 06/08/2018 at 11:28 am

After I wrote Akan datang here: A six-figure salary is ‘low income’ I remembered an observation that I kept forgetting to blog on. And I promptly forgot about it until yesterday after I wrote Why anti-PAP Save S’pore Fund won’t work.

I keep getting the sense from talking to young S’poreans and their parents and grandparents that more and more young S’poreans are asking out loud: “Can I get a job that will actually pay me enough to live on (let alone be able to have a family someday)?”

And their parents and grandparents fear that their children’s (or grandchildren’s) lives will not be better and more prosperous than their own: it’ll be worse, a lot worse. Many moons ago, one P (for Politician) Ravi (Remember him?) told me that his fear for his children’s future led him to stray from the narrow, white road of Hard Truths, even though he, his siblings and his mum had benefited from the PAP govt policies: the policies, combined with their efforts and a bit of luck, took them out from poverty. But he didn’t think the PAP’ govt’s policies will ensure that his children’s lives will be better and more prosperous than his own.

The Singapore Dream of the 5Cs of condominiums, cars, country clubs, cash and credit cards are no more. Most young S’poreans know they can’t afford condominiums, cars and country clubs, and they’ll be always short of cash (all in CPF leh they’ll moan). And they know that maxing out on their credit cards is a sure way to bankruptcy: PAP govt tot them to count.

———————————————————————

NUS survey bears out my observation

Out of 25 aspects about living in the country, Singaporeans ranked the affordability of cars as being the least satisfied with, followed by the affordability of properties, cost of living, ratio of locals to foreigners, and affordability of healthcare.

“Increasingly (over the years), they are upset about the affordability of cars and properties, so you can surmise from there that they are concerned with the issue,” said Tan.

So it’s not surprising that the young have different aspirations: an observation made by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, the Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs. The young are realistic of the possibilities of life under the PAP govt: only the rich and the anointed ones get richer, the rest pay and pay. Their parents and grandparents are also realistic about the young’s prospects.

The support for Dr Tan Cheng Bock in PE 2011 and his enduring popularity (despite the PAP’s increase of the popular vote in GE 2015 to 70% from 60%) shows that there are unhappy PAP voters out there waiting to be tapped: Why the PAP fears Dr Tan Cheng Bock.

Therein lies the opportunity for the Oppo.

But then the PAP can rely on the likes of Lim Tean: A disgraceful chamber of horrors and Silence of Goh Meng Seng (self-proclaimed Indian chiefs with no Indians behind them) to keep S’poreans fearful and contemptuous of a liberal democratic alternative to one-party rule.

With enemies like these two, how can the PAP ever lose? Sad.

Let’s hope they take the hints from Dr Tan Cheng Bock:

[S]ome may also need to stand down and serve from the backroom if it is for the good of the country.

…

I believe that the men and women I met yesterday, were more than willing to make way for better men and women who would stand in their place. They have guts. They have put themselves out there.

Somehow I don’t think they will. What do you think?

US winning big against China

In China on 06/08/2018 at 4:32 am

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Trump said the US market was “stronger than ever”, while the Chinese market “has dropped 27 per cent in last 4 months, and they are talking to us”.

He’s wrong about the “4 months” though: Chinese stocks have lost $2.29tn in value since their high in January, falling 27%.

Why anti-PAP Save S’pore Fund won’t work

In Uncategorized on 05/08/2018 at 9:59 am

Yesterday, I posted this Maybe to “Save S’pore Fund” but No to Lim Tean getting involved and said I’d explain later why the fund won’t raise any money.

Here’s why.

Recently, the Economist reminded readers of Dr Johnson’s response when Boswell asked whether the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland was worth seeing, he replied: “Worth seeing, yes; but not worth going to see.”

Translated into the context of funding a “Save S’pore Fund” to defeat the PAP this means

Worth having effective Oppo, yes; but not worth paying for.

This is the attitude most anti-PAP types* take going by how poorly funded the Oppo parties are.

Johnson’s “Worth seeing, yes; but not worth going to see,” also explains why TOC, TRE and The “Idiots” all have grateful, happy cybernut readers who are unwilling to pay to keep these publications going:

Worth reading, yes; but not worth paying to read.

Seriously, this is the attitude that S’poreans have towards online media in general, be it pro PAP, anti-PAP or anything in between.

Yes, yes: all this is a round about way of saying what Chris Kuan and abc say, “S’poreans are a bunch of cheap skates who deserve the PAP.”

*Especially in case the PAP really loses power. Let’s face it, the rabid anti-PAP types, especially the nutty ones define their very existence by their anti-PAPness. If PAP loses, they will have nothing to live for.

ASEAN, Philippines

Give Peenoys, an inch

In Uncategorized on 05/08/2018 at 4:17 am

And they’ii take over the place

Vancouver’s

Catholic churches are now packed. At popular mass times, it is hard to find room to sit or kneel. But the sermon will probably be in Tagalog, the language of the Philippines.

Without the influx of pious Filipinos, it would be a different story. According to Pavel Reid of the Catholic archdiocese of Vancouver, the church would be closing parishes (as is the case elsewhere in Canada) were it not for the new arrivals from a land which is 80% Catholic. “Fifty years ago it was common to set up ‘ethnic’ parishes…but every parish is a Filipino parish now,” he says.

https://www.economist.com/erasmus/2018/07/25/new-canadians-are-injecting-vigour-into-the-countrys-religious-life

Lim Tean

Maybe to “Save S’pore Fund” but No to Lim Tean getting involved

In Uncategorized on 04/08/2018 at 9:53 am

Interesting idea from a TRE reader that has a fatal flaw: he wants Lim Tean to be involved.

Drs Tan and Paul should not demean themselves and tarnish their reputations by associating with talk cock, sing-song artiste, Lim Tean. He’s a serial fund-raiser who then refuses to do anything with the money he has successful claimed he raised for

— defamation video* (claims he raised the $3000+)

— jobs rally* (claims he raised $20,000 for this)

— sue CPF fund

More details: No, Lim Tean hasn’t absconded.

Whatever here’s the ‘Save Singapore Fund

Start a ‘Save Singapore Fund’!:

Singaporeans know that the Opposition Parties can never match the Whites in terms of financial backing.

Therefore it would be ideal to start a “Save Singapore Fund’ that Singaporeans can contribute towards. Opposition parties can then seek help from the fund if there are in dire need of funds for the next GE.

The ‘Save Singapore Fund’ can be managed by Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Singaporeans trust him enough) together with Lim Tean and Dr Tambayah.

We should not expect Dr Tan to lead at his own expen$e, Singaporeans will want to support him and the Opposition parties if there is a Coalition to fight the Whites at the next GE.

Forget about WP!

Sounds interesting but I’ll soon blog on why even with Lim Tean not being involved the fund won’t take off.

The defamation video is in the process of being finalised . We are adding animation so it is taking a bit longer than expected . But we should be able to release it in the 1st half of November . Apologies for the delay .

As for the jobs rally , that was postponed because of the anticipated Presidential Elections and the ensuing outcry following the walkover . We are planning to put on the rally in November and have an exciting lineup of speakers . We intend to have a jobs rally like never before and will be informing Singaporeans of details soon !

Lim Tean to me in late October Update on Lim Tean’s video and rally

Remind Lim Tean, it’s December

Maybe Eric Tan (Remember him?Eric Tan is a gentleman) should replace Lim Tean in the set- up? He was WP Treasurer and is treasurer in an atas Rotary Club group: all rich people who are savvy enough to use SingHealth services.

Education, high tech, USA

US elite education and AI

In China on 04/08/2018 at 4:19 am

Big advances in AI research are more likely to come from the US due to our education system which needs improvement. But in use of AI in everyday life, China will lead

Cheetah Mobile’s Fu Sheng

Cyber Security, Lim Tean

Why Lim Tean should sit down and shut up

In Uncategorized on 03/08/2018 at 10:08 am

Lim Tean is now KPKBing about the Singhealth cyber breach, as are other cybernuts.

They should stop adding to climate change.

S’poreans are pragmatic. They know

The painful truth is that hacking is the price society pays for online convenience. It can be minimised, but never eliminated. Like stock theft, it will be normalised as a cost of business, because that is what it is.

Concluding para of Lex column in FT on why a bigger than initially reported breach of data from a UK listco has not affected its share price

Short of finding out that a senior SingHealth officer installed the malware (“An honest mistake”) or SingHealth used made-in China servers, the public accepts

that hacking is the price society pays for online convenience

And it’s a bit rich of Lim Tean to KPKB. He claims to have successfully raised money from the public for three projects. But then no picture, no sound: No, Lim Tean hasn’t absconded.

Which reminds me, one of the projects he raised money for was a video explaining how to avoid getting sued for defamation: S’poreans need this video. While he’s been making videos of himself KPKBing, the defamationvideo hasn’t appeared. He promised it for September and then November 2017.

It’s now August 2018. And he’s saying that the PAP is not delivering on anything. Pot calling kettke black.

ASEAN, Dr Mahathir, HSR

One reason Tun wants to cause trouble with us on HSR

In Infrastructure on 03/08/2018 at 4:32 am

Why liddat?

Malaysia has yet to propose a meeting date with Singapore to discuss the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR), said Singapore’s transport ministry on Wednesday night (Aug 1), a day after the deadline lapsed for Putrajaya to indicate its official position on the project.

…

Putrajaya has sent mixed signals on the HSR in recent months, with Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad and his Cabinet ministers vacillating between firm vows to cancel it and abrupt suggestions weeks later that hint at possible deferment of the project.

Because Tun is sending a dog whistle to the Malays that despite having a Chinese finance minister and tpt minister (traditionally a Chinese has always held this post), he’ll make life difficult for the ethnic Chinese?

‘In Southeast Asia, ethnically Chinese make up only 5% of the population but control between one and three quarters of the economy according to a range of indicators (such as business ownership, investment, capital or taxes paid). In Malaysia, only a quarter of the population are ethnic Chinese, but they own around 70% of business real estate and market capitalisation, control all the top private listed companies and make up eight out of the 10 richest people.’

http://theconversation.com/hard-work-not-confucian-mentality-underpins-chinese-success-overseas-70705

I’m BSing? Then explain why the econimic affairs minister, a Malay, and not the tpt minister (Chinese) is leading the talks on HSR?

Will Roy, Meng Seng and s/o JBJ help Amos now?

PAP, SDP, WP

Why even with 4G donkeys, PAP will retain power

In Political governance on 02/08/2018 at 12:39 pm

I have a low opinion of the probable 4G leaders, though to be fair it could be because when I was young we had the likes of LKY, Dr Goh, Toh Chin Chye, Lim Kim San, Barker etc. And we have Tharman today. And I’m also wondering why Lawrence Wong is not a contender to be PM: Lawrence Wong: a PM-in-waiting.

So you can understand why I’m underwhelmed by a shortie who got stroke and Kee Chiu (Why “Kee Chiu” got renamed “Kee Chui”) and Ong (Our new PM/ Trumpets pls for me).

So I had a disturbing laugh when a troller responded to this which has been appearing on FB pages of anti-PAP types, sane and nutty

Mahathir’s ‘underdog’ victory has also inspired four in five (80%) Singaporeans to take a closer look at their own emerging 4G leaders, whilst 70% think that the Malaysian election result will make more Singaporeans consider if they should vote for the ruling party at the next election.

http://www.blackbox.com.sg/youknowledge/2018/07/20/singaporeans-react-to-mahathirs-new-malaysia/

In response, one Adrian Tan trolled

They’ll consider. Then look at Oppo and see Lim Tean, Goh Meng Seng and other clowns. And conclude “Nothing can be worse than these talk cock sing song artistes”. And vote PAP as usual or ?

He has a point. What do you think?

And don’t forget that for many of us in our 60s (self included), Mad Dog Chee is toxic: Chee reinvented SDP after making it toxic.

And he’ll soon defenestrate the guy that Dr Tan Cheng Bock praises: Akan Datang: Boodbath in the SDP.

So despite PM choosing a donkey to be PM (Makes him look gd by comparison? And gives the excuse for another Li Lee?), how can the PAP lose with enemies like Mad Dog, Lim Tean (No, Lim Tean hasn’t absconded) and Meng Seng?

—————————-

Meng Seng R Amos Yee

What Amos and Meng Seng have in common? Con’td

———————————————————————–

Its scrapping the barrel. Sad.

We really should have more people like the young Mr Chiam, Dr Paul, Dr Ang Yong Guan, Leon Perera: A Lion of a Man and Show Mao (even if he has disappointed as an MP). Even Low, Auntie and her Bayee, and the other parly Wankers are a lot better rather than the clowns at the meeting of the Coalition of the Spastics that are trying hard to get associated with Dr Tan Cheng Bock: Waz the point Mad Dog? Where are the Wankers?

StanChart

HoHoHo: StanChart disappoints, again

In Banks, China, Emerging markets, Hong Kong, Temasek on 02/08/2018 at 3:56 am

On Tuesday (London time), StanChart reported half-year operating income of US$7.6bn, 6% more than in the same period last year. The stock dropped 3.5% trading because operating income was below expectations. Blame higher IT spending: costs in general have outgrown revenues by a whole percentage point. Not good.

FT’s Lex

StanChart investors must be counting on costs soon falling, relative to revenues. The hope should be for a leaner and cleaner bank ready to grow at the bottom of the next cycle.

adding

Shares in HSBC, another London-listed bank with an Asian focus, have climbed 63 per cent in the past two years, compared to 13 per cent at StanChart.

Amos Yee, Chiam See Tong, Dr Chee, Han Hui Hui, JBJ, Roy Ngerng, SDP, WP

Laments of a TRE cybernut

In Humour on 01/08/2018 at 10:49 am

Have a good laugh

Rabble-rouser:

July 26, 2018 at 6:50 pm (Quote)

Change what? 70% have spoken as a majority preferring to be under the horrible PAP rule.
1. JB Jeyaretnam already died on 30/9/2008, almost a decade ago. He died in vain
2. Chiam See Tong is already suffering from old age; out of Parliament & Potong Pasir SMC. He fought in vain
3. Dr Chee Soon Juan is impotent – can’t even get elected to Parliament because Bukit Baton residents preferred PAP stooge, Murali. He can’t even get out of the starting gate.
4. WP is a silent party – contented with collecting $16/Mth for each MP until the next GE. Isn’t they a PAP Lite party?
5. Vocal critics like Roy Ngerng, Amos Yee, Han Hui Hui have given up fighting & left our shores. Nobody supported them but criticised them instead.
6. Since the 1990s when SDP won 3 seats, the opposition had not made much headway because the S’poreans are too “chicken schit” & too selfish to vote for change.
7. Opposition parties is too fragmented & selfish only care for their own agenda.
8. Those who can had already exited to overseas including PM LHL’s own brother LHY, those remaining are dying by the day continually trampled on by the million $ ministers.
9. The only way for change is a tumultuous event. Otherwise S’pore is an event horizon – a point of no return (ie. drifting into a void). In short, S’pore still stuck in the mud.
10. ‘Live it or leave it’ is typical of S’porean (Sinkies) mentality – you need to think out of the box but too many (70%) are simply stuck inside the box! A case of learned helplessness!

Ah Ha:
Love it or leave it because you are too chicken schit to change it!

ASEAN, Cambodia, Fun with numbers, Philippines, Thailand

Peenoys give the lie to the importance of press freedom

In Indonesia, Media, Vietnam on 01/08/2018 at 4:54 am

In Prosperity with S’porean, Chinese characteristics I quoted the typical ang moh view that

The case for a free press rests not only on classical liberal principles but also on hard data. Cross-country studies show strong and consistent associations between unfettered media, vibrant democracies and limited corruption.

Peenoy Land has a very free press, couresy of American rule, but look at how poor its people are compared to four other Asean countries, three in which press freedom is an expensive luxury. Only Indonesia has a free press.