The relentless rising cost of living in Singapore

[jacky43]

This could be a reason Ministry of FA approved and, allowed "crazy rich Asian" to film in this red dot. It does increase FTs travelling in searching for jobs. This gen all reduce salaries. Fool!

Another event is none other the F1. It does not hit sales but FTs as well as foreigners applying PR and pink ICs. Look carefully at the Burma people. This are the murders and rapists.

Karma hit them by locking them in this red dot the rest of their fucking lifes.

[jacky43]

Several members of the public have expressed unhappiness that with more shoebox units, the size of private residential units is getting smaller and smaller. They have asked the Government to step in to ensure that new developments adhere to a certain minimum size.

Since 2013, the Government has introduced a slew of cooling measures like the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty and Qualifying Certificate rules, all of which have had an impact of the buying decision of price conscious property buyers. More recently, the Government introduced an additional cooling measure of buyer’s stamp duty of 4 per cent on the portion of a property’s value that is more than $1 million.
------------
Even at PRC the people in charged cannot guarantee the next 50 yrs. In this red dot we knew the 2 parties will ruled for the next 50 yrs. Expensive housing that include commercial space. Still FTs flock into this country knowing the productivity had not really gone up.

VN and us. That country is not worth for anyone to invest tons of $. The only interesting contribution to this country. VN wives, nothing more and we flesh back into the 80s till now. Easy to marry cheap to bring into this country. Of course taking up PR and new citizens are never easy.

Born locals men need to think with their brains instead of their dicks.

[kuasimi]

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nati...ts-on-bn-loss/


High cost of living, Fake News Act among reasons why Pakatan won, say analysts



KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in Malaysian history, the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition stared at defeat as it lost to Pakatan Harapan whose victory – aided by the sweeping tsunami rakyat nationwide – saw it win 113 of the 222 parliamentary seats in the 14th general election (GE14) on Wednesday (May 10).

The GE14 results clearly show that Malaysians have voted for change, rejecting the 63-year Barisan reign which finally came to an end at the hands of Pakatan, a loose coalition comprising Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP, Parti Amanah Negara and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

Besides maintaining the mandate in Selangor and Penang, Pakatan also conquered Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and won enough seats to form the Federal Government.

It also almost captured Kedah, Perak and Sabah.

Analysts said among the reasons why Barisan did not win was the wave factor of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was seen as the right leader to solve the nation's woes such as the high cost of living, debts and bankruptcy.

Other issues involved the sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the alleged Felda Jalan Semarak land grab and the Anti-Fake News Act which was passed just before GE14.

Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Marthada Mohamed described the Barisan defeat as having been caused by a rare Malay tsunami in both urban and rural areas, in which the people had to rise to show their dissatisfaction with some government policies leading to the high cost of living.

“We have not seen a Malay tsunami for a long time and today, we see traditional Umno and Barisan strongholds are now under Pakatan control.

“This is because of the high cost of living, an issue very close to the hearts of rural Malays, especially.

“The rural rakyat has been feeling the pinch, suffering and facing difficulties. That is why they wanted to show the Barisan government that these issues must be solved delicately and efficiently,” said the College of Law, Government and International Studies dean at Universiti Utara Malaysia.

On the other hand, he said, Dr Mahathir was continuously emphasising abolishing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which had a great impact on the cost of living.

Universiti Sains Malaysia political scientist Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian attributed Barisan’s shocking loss to the silent majority which had spoken, and the sentiment of GST, cost of living and the Mahathir-wave, among others. – Bernama
TAGS / KEYWORDS:
GE14

[kuasimi]

Not sure over 50 years, how much billions of taxpayers money had been use to foot the bills and to maintain the thousands of PAP-related political appointees in the NTUCs, RCs, PAs, CCCs, GLCs, Grassroots and Civil Service. Especially the Scholars, Retired PAP MPs, Retired Generals, Retired Ministers and their network.

Hence became the rising cost of Government which in turn became the rising cost of living for Singaporeans.


https://sg.news.yahoo.com/putrajaya-...080700940.html


Putrajaya to axe 17,000 ‘political appointees’ to save govt money


Malay Mail
Ida Nadirah Ibrahim
Malay Mail16 May 2018




PUTRAJAYA, May 16 — A whopping 17,000 “political appointees” will be terminated soon, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

He said his Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration is looking to trim excess fat from the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration to cut government spending.

“There had been excessive government spending and we need to reduce this, which includes too many contract employees, some of whom were for administrative needs while others were political appointees.

“In cases where they are drivers, who get a low salary, it would be a burden to them if we terminate them abruptly,” he told a news conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.

Dr Mahathir said such contract workers would be reassigned to tasks more suited to their qualifications.

The prime minister also said the government is reviewing other expenditure in order to cut costs.

When asked how many more government servants will be laid off aside from the “political appointees”, Dr Mahathir said action will only be taken against those who are suspected of wrongdoings.

“The senior officers who obviously have done something wrong or are suspected of doing something wrong, we will give them leave for them to enjoy a holiday, or we will suspend them.

“It depends on what particular action we can carry out in order to remove them from the government,” he said.

[kuasimi]

During the 1980s to 2000s, PAP kept harping on Asset Enhancement Scheme and did not mention much on expiring leasehold of 99 Years Leasehold houses. AES went against the logic of declining leasehold principle and lower home values. It was artificial and pure propaganda which could not be sustain.

This lead to intense housing speculation for 20 years until even low cost housing like HDB started having COVs of $100,000 and $ 1 million dollars resale value. This lead to the new generation of Singaporeans incurring deeper housing loans and deeper housing debts regardless buying within their means or not.

Now PAP face the inevitable of declining housing leasehold and lower home values and all the talk about Asset Enhancement Scheme had stopped. Now plenty of propaganda about declining leasehold, lower home values and not PAP's fault.

Without AES propaganda, housing prices would have risen anyway with inflation in a slow and steady manner and housing prices will be more realistic. AES only benefited people who own more than one house and frequently make money from trading houses.

PAP in the rush to win votes from 1980s-2000s had played with Singaporeans life savings. It was pure evil and not responsible.


https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/l...b-lease-expire


Fair for Govt to let HDB lease expire


National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that there would be serious implications if the lease of HDB flats were extended (Lease extension a complex issue, says Lawrence Wong; May 18).

I would like to add that it is only right for the Government to let the lease expire after 99 years.

The Government has taken this stance with private property, where the first batch of affected owners will have to vacate their homes in 2020 (Govt taking back 191 homes in Geylang when lease ends; June 21, 2017.)


Why, then, should taxpayers bail out Housing Board flat owners upon expiry of their lease, when owners of HDB flats have already enjoyed generous subsidies?

There should not be dual standards between owners of HDB flats and private homes in this respect.

Buyers of both types of property are aware that the lease will expire eventually for leasehold developments.

Buyers could have paid more if they wanted a freehold property, for which the lease will never expire.

Lee Yong Se

[kuasimi]

https://www.malaymail.com/s/914991/d...e-cash-is-king

https://www.malaysiakini.com/


Dr M: Najib told me ‘cash is king’

Published 2 years ago on 13 June 2015

By Boo Su-Lyn




KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak had asserted that “cash is king”, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed today in response to his concerns over the incumbent prime minister’s controversial Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) cash aid policy.

The former prime minister who has been critical of the direct cash handouts to lower-income groups, also mocked the Najib administration’s alleged payments to supporters to hold “I heart PM” placards.

“You can’t give money to the population, but he said ‘Cash is king’,” Dr Mahathir told a press conference after speaking at the Cooler Lumpur Festival here.

“You don’t ask your girlfriend to give a placard. If they love you, they’ll love you,” he added, referring to the “I heart PM” placards held by Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters that were seen commonly in the run up to the 13th general election two years ago.

Dr Mahathir also expressed disappointment that BN recorded its worst ever electoral performance in Election 2013 under Najib’s leadership.

“You didn’t even do as well as the sleeping prime minister,” said Dr Mahathir, referring to Najib’s predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The ruling coalition lost seven more federal seats than in Election 2008, where it had lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority.

“I’d said before, ‘if you do worse than Pak Lah, you should resign’. Then 1MDB (came),” he added, referring to the debt-laden 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Dr Mahathir said he could not accept it that the state-owned fund was “losing billions of government money”.

When asked if no one was good enough for Dr Mahathir after having criticised the country’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, followed by his hand-picked sucessor Abdullah and now Najib, the Kedah-born said: “If I thought no one was good enough for me, I would never have resigned.”

“I thought there should be people better than me. I resigned on my own; it’s not because people were fed up with me,” he said.

He added that it would be wrong if he doesn’t criticise wrong things being done.

Dr Mahathir also said if BN loses the next election, those who purportedly cover up wrongdoings will be held liable for being an accessory to the crime.

Dr Mahathir has been openly pushing for Najib’s resignation, citing the controversy surrounding 1MDB that is facing a huge debt burden of RM42 billion.

[kuasimi]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ltiple-8247326


Auditor-General's Report: People's Association cited for multiple lapses


The issues flagged in the report, released on Jul 15, included procurement lapses, issues with the management of tenancy contracts, and a "clear conflict of roles" with a Citizens' Consultative Committee chairman involved in approving his own claims.






INGAPORE: The People's Association was flagged for various lapses in the Auditor-General's Report, released on Wednesday (Jul 15), including lapses in management of tenancy contracts in Community Club/Centre Management Committees (CCMCs) and procurement lapses.



LAPSES IN MANAGEMENT OF TENANCY CONTRACTS

Of the 91 CCMCs test-checked by the Auditor-General's Office (AGO), 35 did not obtain approvals from the relevant approving authorities for awarding 53 tenancy contracts, totalling S$17.78 million. Approvals were either obtained from committees which were not authorised to do so, or whose approval limits were below that of the contract values, the AGO said.

In addition, 10 of the 35 CCMCs did not obtain the relevant approvals for the direct award of 13 tenancy contracts without competition, worth a total of S$3.67 million.

"The number of lapses detected points to a weakness in the People's Association's monitoring of CCMCs' compliance with its financial rules with regard to tenancy contracts," said the AGO. PA has informed the AGO that is has since obtained covering approvals for the tenancy contracts.

LAPSES IN PROCUREMENT


Test-checks of nine grassroots organisations (GROs) - comprising four CCMCs, three Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) and two Residents' Committees (RCs) - revealed non-compliance with PA's financial rules, including the award of nine contracts totalling S$152,600 prior to obtaining approvals; the award of 15 contracts worth S$565,300 from the wrong approving authorities; not seeking approval for 10 direct purchases from suppliers worth a total of S$53,700; and not inviting quotations in writing for 13 purchases totalling S$187,900.

"The common lapses found in most of the grassroots organisations test-checked indicate that they may not be familiar with PA's financial rules," the AGO said. "They also reflect a lack of oversight by PA."

The PA has since informed the AGO that it will review its procurement rules for GROs, to strike the right balance between competitive procurement and "expeditious decision-making" on the ground.

LAPSES IN ENGAGING TRAINING OPERATORS

According to the report, the AGO found common lapses in engagement of training operators and the collection of course fees across most of the seven grassroots organisations checked.

For example, four GROs engaged operators directly without calling competitive bids under eight contracts, totalling S$311,800. "Hence, there was no assurance that the GROs were able to obtain the most advantageous bids for the courses," the AGO said.

One RC awarded a contract for tuition services with an estimated revenue of S$1.11 million to the incumbent operator through a quotation exercise, when a tender was required. There was no evidence other operators were invited to quote, the AGO said.

Four RCs test-checked could not produce evidence that they had carried out audit checks on course fees - totalling S$1.26 million - collected by operators on the RCs' behalf, according to the report. The PA said that the RCs had conducted random checks on the collection of the fees, but these went undocumented. The course fees have been fully collected from the operator, PA added.

One RC did not take any action when an operator repeatedly delayed handing over course fees collected on behalf of the PA, totalling S$414,700, every month from April 2013 to July 2014. This exposed the RC to the risk of the operator defaulting on the payment of course fees, the AGO said.

LAPSES IN MANAGEMENT OF RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The AGO's checks found that the chairman of a CCC was involved in approving the award of two contracts worth a total of S$32,000 and corresponding payments to a company of which he was a member of the senior management. For one of the awards, another CCC member involved in the approval process was both a director and shareholder of the company, the AGO said.

The CCC chairman also approved payment for a purchase worth S$1,500 from another company where he was both a director and shareholder.

In these cases, the two CCC members involved did not declare their interests in the transactions, the AGO said. "As a result, there was no assurance that the transactions were conducted at arms' length."

PA acknowledged that the chairman should not have approved the payments, but checked and found that there was no irregularity in the payments as the amounts tallied with the quotations and the work tendered.

Test-checks revealed seven instances where the CCC chairman was involved in approving his own claims, totalling S$114,767 - a "clear conflict of roles", the AGO said. In three of these payments, no supporting documents were available.

The PA's response was that the chairman had inadvertently approved his own claims, and said that the vice-chairman and treasurer will endorse future payment vouchers instead.
MP for Sembawang GRC Khaw Boon Wan said the grassroots leader in question was from Admiralty CCC and that he has stepped down to facilitate a full investigation.

"I am glad that the Investigation Panel found no evidence of dishonesty. Nonetheless, it was a related party transaction that was not declared," Mr Khaw said in a statement. "The CCC will study the investigation report, and review its procedures to ensure that such lapses do not recur.”

Fellow MP for Sembawang GRC, Vikram Nair said he was saddened to learn of the findings by the AGO and that the grassroots leader concerned has "served with distinction for many years". The man is giving full cooperation in the investigation, Mr Nair said.

ISSUES WITH FUND UTILISATION REPORTS

The PA obtained excess funding from the Citizens' Consultative Committee ComCare Fund (CCF) from the MSF, amounting to S$84,394 over two years, due to errors and omissions in the updating of disbursements at seven CCCs checked.

The errors include duplicate entries of CCF disbursements, incorrect amounts recorded and inclusion of financial assistance that was not to be funded by the CCF. Disbursements were entered into the system by an officer without any independent checks, the AGO found.

These errors led to inaccurate CCF usage reports submitted by PA to MSF, ranging from an overstatement of S$225,703 in some cases to an understatement of S$120,210 for FY2012/13 and 2013/14.

In response, the PA said it was conducting a one-off reconciliation exercise for all CCCs to update and correct the CCF utilisation reports, meant to be completed by June this year.

Source: CNA/es

[kuasimi]

https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...organisations/


$56,000 for 3 “work plans” retreats for grassroots organisations?

Published on 2015-08-18 by theonlinecitizen




In his response to questions on the Auditor General's Office (AGO) report on the People's Association (PA), Mr Lim Swee Say gave a detailed breakdown of the nature of the reimbursements involving the former chairman of the Admiralty ward's Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC).

Mr Tonic Oh, the chairman in question, had written and signed off on cheques totalling some $114,000, which were from seven reimbursement claims, to himself.

According to Mr Lim, two out of the seven claims were not substantiated with proper receipts or supporting documents.

One of these was the money for a funeral wake which a needy family required immediately.

Mr Lim said there was no supporting document for the claim but the amount given was "witnessed by a few volunteers."





Is this enough substantiation for the PA to pay out reimbursements to Mr Oh - that the claim was "witnessed by a few volunteers"? Who were these "few volunteers"? Were they or are they closely related to Mr Oh? What are their positions in the PA or the CCC?

And how much was this claim?

Mr Lim did not say.

The other incident which was not substantiated with documentary proof were three claims for "workplans" retreats by the grassroots organisation (GRO).

While Mr Lim did not specify which GRO it actually was, it is presumed that it was Mr Oh's own CCC.

The Straits Times reported:

"Four claims were for retreats to discuss workplans. Only one had supporting documents. The receipts for the other three, totalling $56,050, were misplaced but the CCC later verified the sums with proof of payment from the vendor."





One would first question how much was the claim for the one which had supporting documents - Mr Lim did not say.

As for the other three,while the CCC later verified the sums with proof of payment from the vendor - which Mr Lim, incidentally, did not name - the obvious question one would ask is:

Why does it cost $56,050 to hold three workplans retreats?

That works out to an average of $18,680 for each retreat.

Where were these retreats held? Were they overseas trip? If they were, are these necessary?

GROs have indeed held such retreats overseas through the years, and questions about them have been raised in the past.

For example, in 2014, members of the public queried the Member of Parliament and grassroots adviser for Sengkang West, Lam Pin Min, on whether it was necessary for his GROs to hold its "retreat" in Taipei, Taiwan.

Dr Lam, who is also Minister of State for Health, had uploaded some photos of the trip on his Facebook page. (See here: "Grassroots leaders like to go overseas to do planning".)





Lam Pin Min Facebook

TR Emeritus also reported at the time:

“If everyone in the photo is paying from their own pockets, then I have nothing to say. But if even 1 cent has been used to sponsor this retreat, I would like Dr Lam to tell us more about it,” [a] reader said.

Apparently, according to the website of People’s Association [Link], grassroots leaders and their MPs do regularly go for overseas retreat to “work”. They will also bring along their family members too.

For example, from 12 to 14 Dec, Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan went with his grassroots leaders and family members to Batam.

The purpose was for them to meet and create the work plan for next year – “to plan the direction for 2015.″

Such "retreats" by the GROs have also taken place in other overseas locations, such as in Indonesia and Thailand, and has been going on for quite a while now.

For example, in a letter to the Straits Times Forum page in 2006, Mr Ang Hak Heng asked why "100 grassroots leaders from Cheng San", in the then PAP-run Aljunied GRC, needed to conduct their retreat in Pattaya, Thailand.

"Assuming the cost at $100 per grassroots leader and 10 cents per card, it would be $10,000 and $8,000 respectively," Mr Ang wrote. "The actual costs may be higher. Is it really necessary to conduct the discussion at a foreign resort in the first place? There are resorts in Singapore and there's Sentosa. It could save them travel time and also support local businesses and stimulate our economy if the session was held in Singapore."

He added: "The money saved could be used to help needy residents, students, the elderly and unemployed. It will certainly increase the sense of well-being and happiness for some, if not all Aljunied residents."

The PA's response to Mr Ang's letter was that the grassroots leaders "co-pay" for such overseas trips.

Still, it raises the question of why the need to go overseas at all for such "workplans" meetings.

And how much indeed has been spent by all the 1,800 GROs on such things.

[kuasimi]

[kuasimi]

http://theindependent.sg/when-your-d...ernet-brigade/


https://forums.$$$$$$$$$$$$.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/when-your-defenders-trolls%97-pap-internet-brigade-5842544.html



When your defenders are trolls—the PAP Internet Brigade

By Anna Maria - June 4, 2018







Similar to other countries around the world, Singapore also has its share of internet trolls whose main job is to defensively comment on social media or other web forums. One such group is the PAP Internet Brigade or PAP IB, as written about in the Tumblr site papbrigade.tumblr.com, as well as other websites.






According to papbrigade.tumblr.com, the PAP IB is composed of youths who are members of PAP. They do their “intelligence” work in shifts starting early in the morning, often using fake accounts. They purposely watch discussions closely, and comment with opposing perspectives when needed, or even post fake news items to mislead readers.



Yes, the presence and activities of the PAP IB should be alarming. Their posts and comments are specifically designed to make it appear to the public that the policies of PAP, as well as PAP MPs are well accepted and appreciated by the general public. But what is perhaps most alarming is that their activities are a direct attack against initiatives by citizens to engage critically with policy-makers, and misrepresent how PAP policy is actually received by the public.

The PAP IB is not a new organization, in fact the seed of it has been in existence even before 2007, when reports concerning a “counter-insurgency” against critics of PAP emerged. This counter-insurgency was led by Ng Eng Hen, the head of the new media committee of PAP. The other members of this committee are Zaqy Mohamad, Baey Yam Keng, Lui Tuck Yew and Josephine Teo.



According to the Tumblr site, one part of team formulates the strategies, and the rest carry it out. More than 20 active members of the party well-versed in the digital world were purportedly directed to anonymously post on blogs and forums in order to refute and deny posts that are against the establishment.

Since its beginnings in 2007, the group has evolved into the PAP IB, which consists of a random group of bloggers, bullies and trolls on the web.

According to the papbrigade.tumblr.com, neither their strategies nor mental prowess are at all admirable, citing the following examples:

Blogger Petunia Lee’s extreme “idol-worship” of Lee Kwan Yew, to the point of shedding copious tears after his wife died http://petunialee.blogspot.sg/2010/0...n-yew.html?m=1

Bullying and intimidation tactics against Tan Tiong Hock and other critics of PAP, which caused their accounts to be disabled http://singaporenewsalternative.blog...ernet.html?m=1

Targeting Occupy Singapore http://facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=286084491497007

The writers responsible for the site have also questioned whether the strategy PAP IB employs is even ethical, citing the “cynical caterwauling and ad hominem attacks” and the lack of substantial and well-thought out analysis of the initiatives of the opposition parties. Some groups on Facebook, such as Enigma, have even resorted to vulgarity and crass language as part of their strategy.

The site also calls out PAP IB’s members for blindly following the party, determination to annul opposing views and democratic methods, and their adherence to PAP’s dominance. The greatest concern is that, “For its lack of intelligence and inability to argue on the more substantive level involving policies and politics and its preoccupation with ridiculing and destroying the opposition and PAP’s critics, the PAP IB is more a bane than boon to Singapore’s democratic well-being and growth.”

Another question brought up on the Tumblr site regards who is paying for the site—whether it’s the party or the government itself. Quoting Lee Kwan Yew, who said, “The PAP is the Government and the Government is the PAP,” the site’s creator writes, “If we are a true democracy built upon equality and justice, we will reject this deliberate obfuscation of the Government and Party.”

To use public funds for the PAP IB would be a transgression of democratic ideals, since it ultimately serves only PAP.

It is also important to remember that public servants are first and foremost, accountable to the citizenry. If the ruling part wants to push their policies or receive feedback for such, they must use proper channels to do so, instead of a legion of internet trolls.

“Raucous debates of diverse depths and quality are part and parcel of the democratic politics. Attempts by the PAP to coopt or control such alternate viewpoints are but a sign of a lack of the Party’s confidence in its own policy platform. Most of all, it exhibits the trademark unwillingness of the PAP to listen to the ground, in the mistaken belief of its own superiority that would surely and hopefully soon prove fatal to its own long-term survival.”

[kuasimi]

http://theindependent.sg/ownself-pra...ommunity-work/


Ownself praise ownself? Netizens mock PAP Aljunied GRC candidate for “wayang” about how he’s not paid to do community work



By Jewel Stolarchuk - June 20, 2018





Ruling party member Victor Lye Thiam Fatt’s recent Facebook post does not appear to have gone over very well with some netizens. Writing on his social media page today, Victor – who contested Aljunied GRC at the last election and directly faced Workers’ Party veteran Low Thia Khiang only to lose – recounted an exchange he had with a young resident at the opposition ward.

Revealing that the resident had asked him how much he was paid for doing community service as he made his rounds in Aljunied GRC, Victor wrote:

“The answer is “not a cent”. I told him we as volunteers even spend our own money doing community work. He was surprised, but appreciated the truth. Seems he was told something different by others. He then asked me when I started volunteering. The answer is “since 1999″ when I wanted to help those who lost jobs in the Asian Financial Crisis.”

Victor then shared that another resident asked him why the PAP Aljunied GRC team did not receive Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats, even though they “lost by the smallest margin”:

“Later, another resident asked if the best losers in the elections are paid for their unelected seats in Parliament. [For background, Singapore has a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme that ensures up to 9 seats for unelected opposition voices alongside the 89-seat Parliament. This will be increased to 12 at the next election. Plus, NCMPs will be given the same voting rights as elected MPs.]



“I answered, “yes”. Then, he laughed, “but actually, you guys in Aljunied GRC lost by the smallest margin (of less than one percent). Yet, opposition losers gets paid and sit in Parliament while you still walk the ground with no pay and no Parliament seat? Better you join opposition! Le siow ah!” (translated as “are you crazy?”)

“I decided to let him have the last laugh while I focused on resolving problems faced by a resident. Another day in Aljunied GRC…”

Several netizens poked fun at Victor’s post, opining that he is simply praising himself. Asserting that this is just a “wayang” or an act, netizens opined that Victor appears “proud and arrogant” and that he may just be gunning for the high salaries elected politicians are paid here:
















Victor was last in the news two years ago when he released this Chinese New Year music video – a project by the People’s Action Party’s Bedok Reservoir-Punggol Branch that he chairs:




Victor distributed limited edition DVD copies of the music video over the Chinese New Year weekend in 2016, during his usual rounds at Aljunied GRC as part of his preparation for the next General Election.


https://www.facebook.com/victorlye.s...71003689750636

[kuasimi]

https://www.facebook.com/JoseRaymond...type=3&theater


https://www.gov.sg/~/sgpcmedia/media...e%20Report.pdf






Jose Raymond 乔立盟
Like This Page · 18 June ·


Various pro-PAP Facebook pages, and PAP MPs have taken issue with my Facebook post about the visually handicapped 59-year old Toa Payoh resident who was denied long-term social assistance. I'm glad.

One pro-PAP Facebook page has even gone to the extent of trying to justify the Government's proposed increase in GST because of such cases so the Government can do more. How classy.

Along with MSF Singapore's response, their framing is that the resident already receives a plethora of assistance from various parties, a fact which my post had already indicated.

I am happy the revelation of ground realities has irritated the PAP because they need to be made aware of what's hurting people. Writing the post was a last resort, as I had taken the resident to meet his MP Saktiandi Supaat in January this year.

The government and the PAP can frame the issue one way, but I can reframe it another way so the public can see the issue from a different perspective. That's how policies can be tightened, as ultimately we must do what's best for our citizens.

The Government also needs to ask itself if its policy and decision making in such matters is morally and ethically acceptable.

As I had stated previously, here are the facts and key questions so the public can decide if MSF can and should be doing better.

1. The 59-year old resident is visually handicapped.

2. He has kidney failure and gets dialysis treatment three times a week.

3. He has been declared as medically unfit to work.

4. He gets a payout of $620 from his own CPF Retirement Account.

5. He looks after two other blind gentlemen who are also unable to work.

6. He applied for social assistance and was rejected, and in its response to his application the MSF states that he doesn't meet the criteria because he earns an income from his CPF Retirement Account.

7. He gets support from other VWOs, well-wishers to help pay for rental, some food, transport to and from dialysis treatments.

Here are the questions we must ponder over:

1. Why is one's CPF Retirement Account being considered income? What is the policy rationale behind this especially when dealing with cases like the one above?

2. Why is this resident allowed to dip into his CPF Retirement Account before he is of retirement age? Shouldn't he be accorded long-term social assistance first and then have him dip into his Retirement Account later?

3. How much does someone need to live in dignity in Singapore, and especially so if he isn't able bodied.

4. Is the Government's policy and decision making in such matters morally and ethically acceptable?

Policies should always be reviewed and discussed based on ground realities. It's through extensive debate and looking at issues through various lenses and perspectives that we can make our policies better for the benefit of Singaporeans.

This is something the PAP and its supporters need to get used to, for the benefit of Singaporeans, the people it claims to represent.

Loving Singapore means loving its people. ����

#SGLivesMatter

[kuasimi]

http://www.unscrambled.sg/2017/04/25...ruly-hopeless/


Now we know Singapore football is truly hopeless


L;DR – What a sordid mess!

In 1998, then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong set Goal 2010. The aim was for the Singapore national football team to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa. 2010 came and went. We didn’t get anywhere near to qualifying for the World Cup Finals. Then 2014 came. And went. We didn’t get anywhere near qualifying for the World Cup Finals.

It’s 2017. And we are already out of the running for a spot in the 2018 World Cup. Not only that, the FIFA ranking of our national team has fallen drastically since 1998. We used to be ranked 81 in 1998. Today, we are ranked 159.





There are a total of 211 national associations in FIFA. So while we aren’t exactly at rock bottom, we are pretty close. How did Singapore football get to such an abysmal state? The root causes are fairly complex. But recent events can give us some ideas of why Singapore football is so hopeless.

The $500,000 donation

For the first time in donkey years, the leadership for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), the governing body of football in Singapore, is to be elected, not appointed. Any illusion that this would improve the state of football in Singapore is quickly dispelled by the farce of the campaigning.

It all started when Mr Lim Kia Tong, the current interim President of FAS, alleged that his opponent Mr Bill Ng, chairman of football clubs Hougang United FC and Tiong Bahru FC, as wanting to be the President of FAS he is “only interested to gain some mileage”.

That prompted Mr Ng to hit back. He alleged that the FAS had asked him to donate $850,000 to it through his clubs Tiong Bahru FC and Hougang. Mr Ng intimated that Winston Lee, the FAS general secretary, arranged the donations without the knowledge of other FAS council members. That led to a whole long sordid exchange of “he said, she said”.

Regardless of who said what, the whole $500,000 donation incident says a lot about the administration of football in Singapore.

Did the donation help Singapore football?

One question that the $500,000 donation raises is this. What was it used for? Ostensibly, the donation went to the ASEAN Football Federation’s (AFF) Football Management System, a “system” that almost no one had heard of until last week.

Given that football in Singapore isn’t exactly flushed with cash, every cent counts. $500,000 is a huge sum of money compared to what’s available to develop football in Singapore. Why did that much money go to some regional system rather than on developing football in Singapore? How does that help develop football in Singapore? Could the money not have been better spent?

For instance, only $70,000 was spent on organising grassroots competitions. Clubs involved in these grassroots competitions provide a base and platform for players to train and develop and serves as a channel for budding players to turn professional. It is estimated that FAS need to spend about S$400,000 annually to ensure that these clubs were sufficiently funded and that the leagues were properly run.



Show me the money!


Speaking of how FAS spends its money, FAS paid its key management personnel $1.8 million in the financial year ending March 2016. The key management personnel include the general secretary, and CEO of S.League. Of the key management personnel, the highest paid personnel earns between $400,001 to $500,000. In contrast, national players in the S.League are paid between $4,000 and $10,000 a month.

But at least FAS spends the majority of its money on football related activities. That isn’t the case for Tiong Bahru FC. Tiong Bahru FC had an annual revenue of $36.7 million in the last financial year from its fruit machines (a fancy name for jackpot machines). It paid out around S$23 million in winnings in 2016.

From the balance of $14 million, it paid its 15 employees $2.073 million in salaries in 2016, and also forked out an additional S$528,000 for staff training, uniforms and staff welfare. It paid around S$960,000 in total rent in 2016 to the unit’s landlord, Polygon Venture. That’s about $80,000 per month and works out to be $31 per square foot.

What’s strange about the rent is that it’s quite exorbitant compared to other units in the area. The club house is in the basement. Other units on the same floor are charging between S$2.92 and S$11.23 per square feet in rent. The only unit charging S$31.50 per square feet in rent is located at street level.

Things get fishier when you consider that Polygon Venture, the landlord, is owned by Bonnie Wong Yuk Ying, who shares the same same residential address as Mr Ng, the club’s chairman. Also, consider that the total rent paid for the clubhouse is substantially more than what’s the paltry $169,000 that is actually spent on the football team.

And it’s not as if Tiong Bahru FC couldn’t afford to spend more on the football team. After accounting for all its expenses, the club made a profit of about $604,000 in 2016. So it seems that the primary business of a football club in Singapore isn’t about football, but about operating jackpot machines instead.

Bad impression

While it’s not fair to say that all the football clubs in Singapore are like Tiong Bahru FC, but this latest revelation really creates a terrible impression. But the management of Tiong Bahru FC, the spending priorities of FAS, and the curious case of the $500,000 donation really don’t inspire confidence in the management of football in Singapore.

To make matters worse, police have raided the headquarters of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and three football clubs. The raids were triggered by a police report filed by SportsSG. This is SportsSG’s statement:

“SportSG also made further checks, which raised other serious questions about the use of Club funds. Based on legal advice, SportSG decided to file a police report on 19 April 2017 at about 7:50pm, in respect of suspected misuse of Tiong Bahru Football Club’s funds and a purported attempt by a senior officer of the Club to delay and/or obstruct the completion of audits into the S.League sit-out clubs.”

After the raid, four people have been arrested. They are Hougang United chairman Bill Ng and his wife Bonnie Wong, FAS general secretary Winston Lee, and ex-FAS president Zainudin Nordin. They are now assisting the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) with the probe into the suspected misuse of funds, and an attempt by a senior club official to obstruct the completion of audits of the S.League’s sit-out clubs.


https://www.todayonline.com/4-arrest...ainudin-nordin


All hope lost
Neil Humphreys, long-time observer of Singapore football, sum up this situation best:

“To the casual observer, Singapore’s only professional sport looks like a dispiriting basket case of back-handers, back-slappers and ladder-climbers, all focused on personal ambition rather than the game itself.

That’s the long-standing perception and after a week of petty claims and counter-claims, the perception now presents itself as reality. It’s all about greasing palms and making friends in higher places.”

Given how sordid it has become, you would be forgiven if you have lost all hope in Singapore’s football. The only silver lining is that we are probably at rock bottom. The only way from now on, surely, must be up. Or so we hope.

[kuasimi]

http://theindependent.sg/fas-spends-...key-personnel/

FAS spends $70K on community football but $1.6M on salaries of key personnel


By The Independent - September 27, 2016





By: 永久浪客/Forever Vagabond

It was reported by TODAYOnline yesterday (‘FAS spending on grassroots competitions sparks outrage‘) that members of the local football community were angry that only $70,000 was spent by FAS on community competitions in the local scene last FY (April 2015 to March 2016). This includes spending on the National Football League (NFL) and Island Wide League (IWL).

According to the FAS, the total organising expenses for community competitions like the NFL, IWL, FA Cup and Singapore 9s, amounted to just over $112,000.. This amount was offset by club participation fees of $41,000, resulting in about $70,000 of net spending from the FAS (each NFL and IWL club pays $1,700 to take part in the competitions).



The $70,000 spending to help develop football in the community scene was minuscule compared to FAS’ total revenue of $35.8 million, of which the majority came from Tote board’s donations.

Volunteers forking out own money to help community football



Darwin Jalil, president of Eunos Crescent FC told the media that the $70,000 spending reflects FAS’ lack of regard for the local amateur leagues. He said that FAS is wrong to disregard the local amateur leagues because they “provide a base and platform for players to train and develop and serves as a channel for budding players to turn professional and play in the S.League”.

Yakob Hashim, coach of Yishun Sentek Mariners, also expressed his unhappiness. He revealed that many local community clubs struggle to stay afloat because of a lack of money.

“If you’re serious about making the NFL and IWL become proper leagues and improve the standard of players at a grassroots level, then you need to provide some seed money to the clubs,” explained Yakob. “A lot of the club owners are volunteers, but have to fork out their own money to run the club because they’re passionate about local football.”


Even a professional S.League club chairman commented, “I am somewhat disturbed at how the NFL and IWL have been effectively marginalised. No meaningful football ecosystem can be developed if the grassroots football leagues are not encouraged to flourish.”

“This gross imbalance in budget allocation to the elite (S.League) and non-elite (community) football is worrisome. It belies a lack of understanding of the football ecosystem,” he added.

$1.6 million salaries for key management personnel

Meanwhile, according to its last year’s annual report, FAS paid $1,640,056 to its “key management personnel”.

The key management personnel are listed as:
• General Secretary
• CEO of S.League
• National Coach
• Technical Director
• Director S.League
• Deputy General Secretary

The FAS annual report also revealed the salary ranges of 3 of its top key executives:
• $200,001 to $300,000 – 1 person
• $400,001 to $500,000 – 2 persons

Presumably, FAS’ top key operating management personnel, the General Secretary, must be receiving a remuneration of between $400,001 to $500,000.

[kuasimi]

http://theindependent.sg/ceo-of-s-le...salary-in-fas/


CEO of S.League is Ex-SAF Chief of Artillery earning big salary in FAS





By: 永久浪客/Forever Vagabond

It was earlier reported that while FAS was only willing to spend $70,000 on local football tournaments and community development, it was more than happy to spend $1.6 million on the salaries of its key management personnel (http://theindependent.sg/fas-spends-...-key-personnel).

In its annual report, it has listed its key management personnel as:
• General Secretary
• CEO of S.League
• National Coach
• Technical Director
• Director S.League
• Deputy General Secretary


The $70,000 spending to help develop football in the community scene was minuscule compared to FAS’ total revenue of $35.8 million, of which the majority came from Tote board’s donations.

COL (NS) Lim is former SAF Chief of Artillery



One of its key management personnel is COL (NS) Lim Chin. He is currently the CEO of S.League:





According to FAS, COL (NS) Lim was appointed as CEO of its S.League in 2012. It was disclosed that COL (NS) Lim is formerly the Chief of Artillery in the SAF.

FAS President Zainudin Nordin then said COL (NS) Lim would bring with him “strong leadership skills and strategic management capabilities”.


At his appointment, COL (NS) Lim told the media, “I am honoured to join an organisation that has gained recognition and stature both regionally and internationally, and I hope to continue the good work done by outgoing CEO Winston Lee and his team.”

Winston Lee did not leave the FAS but was promoted to become its current General Secretary.

COL (NS) Lim added, “Going forward, I will be working closely with my team to devise the S.League Strategic Plan which will bring us to the next level.”

“I look forward to meeting and working closely with our stakeholders including FAS, club chairmen, sponsors, advertisers, media, volunteers and fans as we aspire to raise the standard of our professional league,” he promised.

COL (NS) Lim gave S.League players a tongue-lashing

Two years later in 2014, COL (NS) Lim found himself in the news when a leaked dialogue which was put online, exposed a tongue-lashing incident between him and S.League players from Tanjong Pagar United.

In the meeting, when the players challenged the contribution of the chairman of their club as well as questioned COL (NS) Lim, Lim then exploded:

“The chairman of the club and the management committee (are) above all of you. You are players, nobody is bigger than the club. The chairman heads the club. The management committee is not for you to judge… So I think you all need to know where you stand as a player, as a staff, as a coach. Do not ever question the chairman on his role and responsibility.”
Later, the media approached Lim for comments over the incident and he explained, “It just hurt me to find that the players, in such a big forum and in front of everyone, were questioning Edward’s (chairman) role and what he has done for the club.”

“So, at that moment, I felt that I couldn’t sit down and let this continue,” he added. “My tone was a bit loud but, certainly, I think we empathised with the players who were affected.”

Netizens were criticising him for his tone and choice of words in the exchange. Many think that he has too much SAF baggage with him. One netizen commented, “He talks to people like he got the power to send them to DB (detention barrack).”

Another said, “In other leagues, the millionaire footballers will tell him to go f**k himself and know his place.”

CEO of S.League earns $500K?

In any case, the FAS annual report revealed that the salary ranges of 3 of its top key executives were:
• $200,001 to $300,000 – 1 person
• $400,001 to $500,000 – 2 persons

Presumably, FAS’ top key operating management personnel, the General Secretary, must be receiving a remuneration of between $400,001 to $500,000.

It’s not known if COL (NS) Lim, as CEO of S.League and part of FAS key management team, is also one of the 3 earning big salary in FAS. Most of the FAS revenue, of course, comes from the generous donations of Tote Board – money from Singaporean punters of 4D, TOTO, Singapore Sweep, sports betting and horse racing.