The hot topic

It's the General Elections season, so being a Singapore citizen, I should be concerned right?

Too many people, too many concerns. Oh, and some complaints too.




From The Worker's Party rally speech by Gerald Giam on 28 April, there are already a few points I do not understand.

1. I quote him, 'In just the last 5 years, we’ve seen our country become so overcrowded because of the PAP’s mismanaged immigration policies. Every day, we ordinary Singaporeans face the indignity of squeezing into packed trains and buses, even late into the night! Traffic gridlock is getting worse and worse, even with ERP in operation at 10 o’clock at night. We face a housing crunch because the PAP failed to plan for enough housing to cope with all the new arrivals.

Our cost of living is shooting up. Electricity bills are up. Bus fares are up. Food prices are up. Even the flood waters are going up. The only thing that is not going up much are your incomes!'

A huge quote I know, but is it important.

First he said that 'Traffic gridlock is getting worse and worse, even with ERP in operation at 10 o’clock at night.' and ' The only thing that is not going up much are your incomes!'. If I didn't remember wrongly, reason why the government implemented ERP was to try to control the amount of cars getting pass. This is of course to encourage people to use the public transport. And to further do it, they kept the COE skyhigh, isn't it? However, why are we still experiencing so much high traffic with all these cost? Because People in Singapore are rich! So are you sure we can't stand the living standards in Singapore?

2. 'If you elect us to be your MPs, we will focus our efforts on uplifting low-income workers and easing the burdens of working professionals.'

I am very thankful for this statement, no doubt. Who wouldn't want a better pay? Question is, who is going to pay for the wages? The company right? (Oh, or you are going to make the government pay for the increment) Okay, let's say it's the company paying, which is true, it means more expense for the company right? We take the worst scenario whereby the company may not be doing very well at a point of time but has to abide by the high wages rule, (newly implemented if possible), and has to either close down or apply for aid from the government, whose money is it going to companies? Isn't it also the people's money? Or would you, being an opposition MP, be very kind to your people, use your salary to help them? Since you get the same pay as the rest of the MP from PAP as well. Show a good example to them! Everyone will cheer for you. (referring to any opposition MP here)

Take another point, if doing business here is so high cost to the people, would anyone still want to set up a business here? Even if they do, higher cost of productions means higher price to sell their service/products. So who is going to suffer? Still the people.

Then may I know how much do you consider a low-income? I have a friend, a civil servant, complaining that she is underpaid. She is paid more than $3000/month, not including bonuses which occurs about 2-3times per year. She buys branded goods once in a while (restricted herself already), drives a car her dad bought, shop and travel every year (usually more than once). Is that poor live? Then why is she complaining?

3.'We will press the government to increase Workfare payouts—and its cash component—so that every Singaporean takes home a decent income.'

Good idea. At my age, I would love to get more out of my pay than to put them in the CPF. Because I want to spend it! But think in the long run, what are the money in your CPF for? Your future use. To buy flat, to use for medical reasons, to use for your old age.

I have friends who doesn't save, they spend every single cent of their monthly salary (they might not be highly paid and might have some burdens to carry). But see the danger? If you don't save now, you will work until you die and worry for your own meals when you get old. And God knows how is life going to be when you get old? By looking at trends, probably what you have in CPF can't even cover your expenses in your old-aged days. Ah, but if you want to bring in the point that the world might be ending soon, so why not just use up the money while we can, true enough, then well, fine.

4. 'We will do this by putting pressure on the government to control the inflow of foreign workers, so that Singaporeans will have more bargaining power to demand for higher wages.'

Okay, I do agree that foreign talents are coming a bit too quickly. I'm saying this towards the high managerial positions like directors and GMs. But we have to admit that it is partially our responsibility. Why? Are Singaporeans ready to assume such positions? Singaporeans are slightly timid, not-so-willing to speak up, and thus will result in some fear to assume such important posts. To support my point, ask yourself, how many times do you ask someone who is sitting on the priority seat to give up his/her seat for someone who needs it more standing nearby? Or how many times do you volunteer yourself (in school or in work) in taking up a challenging task, like a presentation to the whole school/company (for example)? No, not many Singaporeans do that, me neither. That's why I'm not high on the corporate ladder.

The willing-to-speak-up ones, are already putting themselves in this elections.

That was foreign talent for the top of the pyramid. How about the bottom. I am sure most of the foreign talent comes from the bottom level, construction workers, cleaners, domestic helpers, even factory workers. I have no idea how much they are paid, but let's say, they are paid the wage of a typical teacher in Singapore, would you want to do all the manual work? No I wouldn't, then why not be a teacher? I might be stress during exam periods, but at least I do not have to be under the sun all the time, or have to deal with dirty dishes, dirty floor, all these manual work! So if they do not hire foreign talent to do it, who is going to build your houses, shopping centres, clean your house, look after your child/old parents, clean your house for you? And I thought he said 'We face a housing crunch because the PAP failed to plan for enough housing to cope with all the new arrivals.' You want houses to be built fast, but there's not enough construction workers! I know in this case, 'new arrivals' refers to the foreign talent. But they can't buy a flat in Singapore, they usually have designated expat apartment/hotel to stay. In fact, I think our government is already trying, even give subsidy to newly weds to get new flats. Without these, I guess most Singaporeans will just end up staying with their parents. Do you want it?

Then we talk about the lower-income group. I have to agree that having the power to demand for better benefits and higher wages is definitely beneficial for them, especially for the elderly. For you think again, if cost is that high, why wouldn't the companies want to hire foreign talent who can also do the job for a lower wage? We learned this in school.

5. 'If the Government does not respond to your feedback, we will voice out in Parliament and embarrass them into action. This is something that PAP MPs cannot do. I don’t blame them, because who dares to speak out against their own bosses!'

Good point on the 2nd sentence! Yup, they most probably wouldn't, in concern for their million dollar salary. But I'm concerned about the 'voicing out in Parliament and embarrass them into action' part. What does it mean? Making a scene at the parliament and make our government a laughing stock like the government of some other country(s)? I would be embarrassed too, as a Singaporean.

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PAP has too many funny things I don't want to list.

To me, I'm just asking for a safe and stable country, of course a government which cares for our general benefits. I'm not saying I'm in total support of PAP and totally against any opposition party. I do agree to having a more balanced parliament, to take care of the voices of the people better. But sometimes I am concerned about what some opposition party offers and what they can really do when they enter the parliament.

I heard Nicole Seah saying this through watching a video on youtube. She asked, 'Who is paying for the upgrading?'. Of course the people are, and so I agree that those sector of Singapore 'ruled' by opposition party should be given upgrading opportunities as well. But I asked, why didn't your MP helped to voice out and influence the parliament like they influenced you to vote for them? She is a confident person I say, well, too bad I'm not in the GRC that she is running for.

But I would say, I didn't like the way any opposition mock the current government like they do. Hey, you are entering yourself into the parliament that you are mocking! I dare not say our government and parliament is flawless, they are definitely not.

However, are we sure that is the approach we want to take. Be magnanimous towards the party who wouldn't admit their mistakes. Be gracious and not point at them like they are doing to you.

Contrary to the 'opposition' word, I don't agree with totally opposing to the government/parliament. I want to hear how they will work with the government/parliament to help the citizens. Not just simply saying they are wrong. They are not entirely wrong, they just need more voices. I'm sure Singapore isn't the worst country around, even after it's being ruled by single party for so many years.

To be truthful, I don't really have anything to complain about any policies. But I'm quite puzzled over something. Why is PAP trying all ways to strike at the oppositions and in the end get backfired by the citizens? A little stupid, they should do something more mature and sensible instead. A better approach to give a better image of themselves, like speaking of how some policies have benefited Singaporeans in the past 5 years. And any other policies that could be implemented in the next 5 years. Not just trying putting themselves in higher class or whatsoever. Not just trying to laugh at other parties, and in the end get laugh at. How silly! Why don't you all, the highest ministers in Singapore, tell us what we will get if we vote for you. And not just tell us that we will regret if we don't vote for you with the threats. They keep using analogies to say how oppositions will destroy our nation and our government, but I don't think it's true.

Another week to go before the polling day. We shall see.