Category: Singapuraku

Self-Serving PAP Will Never Serve Singaporeans

Dear Singaporeans who still have blind faith in PAP,

Please do yourselves and our country a favour by scrutinising PAP’s policies, especially after current MP Goh Chok Tong became PM in 1990.

If you have still not realised PAP has been self serving and using shortcuts to achieve miraculous economic ‘growth’, it’s about time you wake up to reality. You should also be extremely concerned about PAP concealing information for 5 decades. As responsible citizens, it is our right and responsibility to criticise, question and demand answers from the government. If not, the government will continue to make silly and utterly stupid statements. Their thinking impacts our lives.

Goh’s analogy of the (PAP) government as our parents and citizens as children comes to mind with Goh brazenly claiming citizens “freely criticise it (PAP) for the slightest mistakes…”. ** The absurdity of Goh’s analogy has been confirmed by the FB commentshere. Goh, aka Lau Goh, must have been in dreamland when he claims PAP has been criticised for the slightest mistakes. Questions which should have been directed at Lau Goh:

– Poor planning resulting in a housing bubble where PAP has still not been able to bring prices down to earth after 8 rounds of cooling measures since 2009, is this one of the “slightest mistakes”?

– Overcrowded public transportation (even on weekends), providing foreigners hundreds of million$ in annual tuition grants while giving peanuts to locals, public hospitals’ ‘innovative’ tent and corridor wards, skyrocketing cost of living, etc, are these considered “slightest mistakes”?

If these questions are posed to Tin Pei Ling, Lau Goh’s GRC teammate, she wouldn’t know what to say. Neither would you nor other PAP supporters. If epic failures are considered “slightest mistakes”, what would be a grave mistake to Lau Goh? Do you want to wait till our country is doomed?

Using the same Lau Goh’s analogy for our CPF retirement funds, don’t you find it strange that your parents (PAP) wants to retain your (children) retirement funds despite CPF members being of grandparent age? If your real parents insist on doing so, it is pretty certain such a relationship lacks trust, especially after your parents have hidden relevant information from you for decades. Hmm… how come Lau Goh is surprised by the increasing distrust of PAP?

Would caring parents see their children (you) struggle with raising their (PAP’s) grandchildren but still insist on locking up your retirement funds in a where-is-my-money account? If PAP were our parents, they must have been terribly cruel to think nothing of their children’s suffering.

When you really reflect on what our jiak liao bee politicians say, instead of blindly accepting every word, you will know a lot of it is rubbish. Including the above analogy.

By further scrutinising PAP policies, you will also realise it has taken our country in the wrong direction and that we have been going downhill for more then 2 decades. But instead of fixing flawed policies, PAP prefers to engage in propaganda to focus our attention on its achievements during the 70’s and 80’s, ie LKY’s overrated ‘indispensible’ leadership.

PAP is so adept at using the mainstream media to mask its failures but if you give this the slightest thought, you would know that PAP has not resolved any chronic issue. Yes, NONE! What we have are only promises that there will be solutions at a future date.

An obvious instance would be the construction of 204,000 residential units by 2016 which may satisfy future demand but does little to address the issue of unaffordable housing prices. All public flats,which must also include resale HDB flats, are still unaffordable to ordinary citizens.

When Lau Goh became PM in November 1990, the Resale Price Index of HDB flats was about 25 (not shown in chart below). In 6 short years, our asset enhancement policy caused prices to quadrupled with the RPI hitting 99 and its currently more than 5 times at 135.6 in Q1 2015. PAP had also used high prices (high GDP) to justify stratospheric ministerial salaries. Was PAP serving Singaporeans?

Image source
For 25 years, Singapore has been going downhill because PAP knows nothing about REAL economic growth except by growing the population. This shortcut continued well into 2010 when someone finally admitted “We’ve grown in the last five years by just importing labour”. That person was none other than Lee Kuan Yew.

From 1990 to 2010, our population had increased by about 2 million, with foreigners forming about 70% of the annual increase of 100,000. PAP is definitely aware of its pseudo-growth model and that’s the reason for bulldozing the PWP through parliament.

Till today, PM Lee still does not know how to grow the economy except by growing the foreigner population at citizens’ expense. Five years after “We’ve grown … by just importing labour”, PM Lee doesn’t seem to have understood the significance of what his father had said. PAP still prioritises it interests over the well being of citizens.

For years, citizens have been told by PAP that if costs are too high, foreign businesses will not invest in Singapore or pack up and go somewhere else. But PAP makes no mention of the real killer which is high rental. Many businesses, including retail, have folded due to significantly high rental cost. Even hawkers cannot survive and have been replaced by foreigners. By not reducing the price of land and rental and continuously depressing wages, who is PAP serving?

Fearing the loss of power in the next GE, PAP has belatedly made a U-turn maintain a tight foreign worker policy as opposed to 2 decades of red carpet treatment for foreigners. It appears our new MOM Minister Lim S S does not believe in previous PAP’s doomsday BS. But one has to be wary of PAP’s immigration policy flip flop; the devil in in the details.

PAP has never been our servant and never will. Lee Kuan Yew has already made it abundantly clear – PAP does whatever it thinks is right, never mind what the people think.

As a fellow Singaporean, I would advise you to scrutinise government policies instead of being repeatedly taken in by PAP’s propaganda. For our children’s sake and for our country, it’s time we realise the truth – a self-serving PAP can never serve Singaporeans.

Phillip Ang

** “While they (Singaporeans) do not criticise their parents’ imperfections, when it comes to the Government, they see only warts… and freely criticise it for its slightest mistakes or when we disagree with it.” – Source: Askmelah

Source: https://likedatosocanmeh.wordpress.com

June 9, 2015
PRC Contractor Recommended By Town Council Tried To Overcharge My Mother

My toilet is under hdb upgrading at teban gardens, so the town council called up my mum cos they need to realign a pipe in the kitchen leading into the toilet.

They recommend this PRC contractor to take down the cabinet.

The task includes some unscrewing and one man job.

1st day he came and spent about half an hour taking it down. on the last day he came n put back, after that the PRC man ask my parents for $400.

WTF. $400 to take down and put back after the pipe is done. is this serious overcharging or cheating? no new materials was used or any hacking was done.

just take down and put back cost $400? better i buy a fking new one?

Call the PRC main company they didn’t bother about me. the cb thing is he said he do for many households in the block for around the same price

Tomorrow i intend to call the town council office see what they say. they should go to every household n ask how much that PRC is overcharging those old folks like my parents

edit: forgot to add .he offered to cover up those exposed white pipe in the kitchen and also in the toilet for $3000+

Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

June 9, 2015
A Look At Some Of The PAS Professionals Who Fell

After weeks of smear campaigns and bitter infighting, the PAS muktamar which ended on Saturday saw leaders from the so-called “professionals” faction almost wiped out by the ulama class, whose characteristic long robes made a clean sweep of one of the Islamist party’s most controversial elections.

Among the losers were the faces PAS usually trots out at forums attended by all races – “progressive” leaders deemed more non-Muslim-friendly, and who often find themselves conducting damage control for the party to audiences hostile to PAS and its plans for hudud, the Islamic penal code.

One of them is Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who, since his early days, has made an attempt to push the party beyond its Malay-Muslim vote bank by pioneering the PAS Supporters Club – a group of non-Muslim PAS fans – which later evolved into the PAS Supporters’ Congress in 2010.

The chairman of PAS’s national unity bureau, Mujahid coined the party’s 2013 general election slogan “PAS for All”, which softened the Islamist party’s hard-line image and ultimately gained the support of non-Muslim voters, despite MCA’s concerted anti-hudud campaign.

Mujahid, son of former PAS president Yusof Rawa, is also known for his efforts to foster interfaith ties with Christians, and wrote a book about his experiences, titled “Engaging Christianity: A travelogue of peace”.

Outspoken leader Mohamed Hanipa Maidin was booed and jeered at the PAS muktamar last weekend when he defended his criticism of Hadi, and was even struck twice last year during a PAS central committee for calling the president weak and biased.

But the lawyer has been instrumental in engaging with the public over hudud on PAS’s behalf, and has written two books related to it: “Undang-Undang Hudud Perspektif Perbandingan” and “Prima Facie”.

He is also one of the few, if not only, PAS leader who has publicly stated that he believed the Islamic criminal law should be put on hold until people were ready to accept it.

In his career, Hanipa was the lawyer for former air force major Zaidi Ahmad who faced a court martial for issuing a statement to the media on how the indelible ink used in the general election in 2013 washed off easily.

Academic Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who heads PAS’s Research Centre, has always been seen as the voice of reason and moderation in the party and, like Mujahid, has strived to turn the party into one that is more “middle ground”.

During the controversial tussle over the word “Allah” among Muslims and Christians, the former Kuala Selangor MP was one of the few who were vocal in defending the Christians’ use of the Arabic word, on the grounds that it was not the exclusive right of Muslims.

In open letters and in forums, Dzulkefly has also defended the party’s decision to enforce hudud in Kelantan, citing democracy and the state government’s responsibility to fulfil the people’s wishes.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin Ayub’s loss in the contest for the PAS vice-presidency came as a surprise to many, as he was an uncontroversial figure and had held important posts in PAS for more than three decades, including the PAS Youth chief.

Dubbed “Mr Clean”, Salahuddin was seen as the bridge between the professionals and the ulama, but never took sides with any faction.

Like the ulama, he has maintained that any PAS member pushing for “liberal Islam” should be expelled, but was also quick to defend so-called “liberals” Mujahid, Dzulkefly and Khalid Samad by stating that they should be allowed to argue their views.

However, in the run-up to the PAS elections, Salahuddin, too, was implicated in an alleged plot to topple PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Although investigations into the plot petered out because the accusers failed to attend a party inquiry, rumours of the conspiracy persisted and cost Salahuddin his votes, along with the other Pakatan Rakyat-friendly PAS leaders.

But not all of the professionals lost in the elections. The sole non-ulama to have survived is Felda activist Mazlan Aliman – but even he is mulling quitting his central committee post after being “disturbed” by the party’s turmoil.

Mazlan, who heads non-governmental organisation National Felda Settlers’ Children’s Association (Anak), rallies for the rights of the settlers and has made a name fighting against Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGVH).

During Thursday’s polls, delegates appeared to have voted according to a list of candidates endorsed by the ulama wing of the party which is largely pro-Hadi and influential over party affairs.

The list was circulated at the assembly of the Dewan Ulama.

The use of such lists is said to be rare in previous PAS elections, which have typically seen a mix of clerics, professionals and activists elected to the central committee.

But the PAS elections this year were held amid internal strife over differences towards Hadi’s leadership and the direction of PAS in balancing its Islamist agenda with political pragmatism.

Source: www.themalaysianinsider.com

June 9, 2015
Jamiyah Buka Studio Terbit Bahan Media Untuk Internet

Bangunan Jamiyah yang berusia hampir 20 tahun di Lorong 12 Geylang, kini turut menempatkan sebuah studio kecil lengkap dengan peralatan moden.

Dengan pelaburan sebanyak $100,000, studio itu dilengkapi dengan kemudahan seperti bilik rakaman, kamera dron dan ‘skrin hijau’ sebagai latar belakang untuk kesan khas dalam video.

Studio yang baru siap pada April lalu itu akan digunakan untuk menghasilkan video dan rakaman audio berkualiti.

Sebagai contoh, Jamiyah akan mengundang pakar dalam bidang tertentu seperti kesihatan, agama dan guaman untuk memberi ceramah.

Video klip ceramah singkat itu kemudian akan dimuat naik dalam talian bagi tatapan ramai.

Kemudahan baru itu ialah satu cara meluaskan pendekatannya kepada orang ramai, kata Presiden Jamiyah, Dr Mohd Hasbi Abu Bakar.

“Hari ini, banyak program Jamiyah, seperti kelas pendidikan, tidak dapat berkembang kerana keterbatasan ruang.

“Tetapi di Internet, ruang fizikal tidak menjadi isu. Kami ingin luaskan pendekatan kami menerusi Internet,” ujarnya dalam satu wawancara dengan Berita Harian baru-baru ini.

Beliau berkata Jamiyah pertama kali mendapat idea menghasilkan studio itu semasa mengadakan lawatan ke sebuah pertubuhan di Istanbul, Turkey, pada 1990-an, yang mempunyai studio penyiaran dan medianya sendiri.

Dengan kemajuan teknologi sekarang, kos penyiaran telah merosot dan membolehkan Jamiyah menubuhkan studionya sendiri, kata Dr Hasbi.

Jamiyah mula merancang bagi studio itu tahun lalu.

Pada 19 Mei lalu, akhbar ini melaporkan pelakon dan penulis drama komedi Husin Saaban akan bertugas sebagai pegawai komunikasi kreatif di Jamiyah bermula 2 Jun ini.

Encik Hussin memberitahu Berita Harian bahawa beliau akan memanfaatkan studio di tingkat empat bangunan Jamiyah di Lorong 12 Geylang itu untuk kerja-kerja produksi dan penganjuran acara dalam tugas barunya itu.

SENTIASA BERUSAHA MANFAAT TEKNOLOGI

Satu lagi contoh bagi badan berusia 83 tahun itu memanfaatkan teknologi ialah klinik guaman sivil dan syariah yang dilancarkan dalam talian tahun lalu.

Dinamakan iCounsel, klinik guaman dalam talian itu diperkenalkan bagi memenuhi permintaan masyarakat bagi khidmat guaman percuma yang meningkat.

Golongan yang memerlukan khidmat guaman percuma boleh mendapatkan khidmat tersebut dengan membuat panggilan video dengan peguam dalam talian.

Jamiyah bekerjasama dengan Persatuan Rakyat (PA) untuk menyediakan kemudahan komputer di Kelab Masyarakat Kaki Bukit dan Kelab Masyarakat Eunos bagi penduduk yang tidak mempunyai kemudahan komputer di rumah.

Ini sebagai tambahan kepada sesi klinik guaman lain yang diadakan secara bersemuka di bangunan Jamiyah.

Buat masa ini, peguam sukarela menawarkan khidmat pro bono itu masih menawarkan khidmat tersebut di Jamiyah.

“Tetapi, idea bagi iCounsel ini agar peguam boleh memberikan khidmat itu di mana-mana sahaja.

“Dengan ini, kami berharap untuk menarik lebih ramai peguam menyumbang tenaga bersama kami,” ujar Dr Hasbi.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

June 9, 2015
TAA Letak Tiga Tabung Di Little India Untuk Jangkau India/Islam

Tiga kotak derma Tabung Amal Aidilfitri (TAA) akan diletakkan di kawasan Little India sepanjang Ramadan dan Syawal ini dalam usaha pertama kempen tahunan itu menjangkau kepada masyarakat India/Islam setempat.

Secara keseluruhan, 70 tabung TAA akan diletakkan di serata Singapura dan dua talian derma dibuka bagi mencapai sasaran mengumpul $800,000 sepanjang kempen yang akan berlangsung hingga 31 Julai ini.

Kempen dana tahun ini dilancarkan dalam satu majlis di Joo Chiat Complex semalam oleh tetamu terhormat, Menteri Pembangunan Sosial dan Keluarga, Encik Tan Chuan-Jin.

Menurut Ketua Jawatankuasa Eksekutif TAA, Encik Muhd Harmizan Abdul Hamid, majlis pelancaran serupa akan diadakan di Pusat Warisan India dalam minggu pertama Ramadan bagi meningkatkan kesedaran tentang kehadiran tabung TAA di kawasan Little India.

“Kami meluaskan pengumpulan dana ke kawasan Little India kali ini bagi menunjukkan kepada masyarakat India/Islam kita bahawa Aidilfitri juga diraikan oleh mereka. Ini merupakan salah satu strategi kami untuk menambah bilangan tabung TAA tahun ini,” kata beliau.

Tahun ini, bilangan tabung TAA ditambah daripada 60 kepada 70 dan akan diletak di beberapa lokasi baru, termasuk pusat beli-belah OneKM di Paya Lebar dan Little India Arcade.

Tabung TAA juga diletakkan di Joo Chiat Complex yang biasanya dapat mengumpul derma paling tinggi berbanding lokasi lain.

Tahun lalu, tabung derma di Joo Chiat Complex berjaya mengumpul $121,000.

Sebanyak 168 tabung TAA juga akan diletakkan di masjid-masjid di serata negara.

Sementara itu, dua personaliti radio dari stesen Warna 94.2 FM, A.B Shaik dan Mariam Mas’od, telah dilantik sebagai duta kempen derma tahun ini bagi menggalak pendengar menderma melalui talian derma 1900-112-9010 ($10) dan 1900-112-9050 ( $50) yang telah pun dibuka.

Sejumlah $400,000 diharap dapat dikumpul melalui cara menderma itu.

“Warga Singapura rata-rata murah hati. Mereka bukan sahaja menyumbang wang, malah juga masa ke arah tujuan yang baik. Sedang kami mencapai kemajuan, akan tetap ada warga Singapura yang memerlukan sedikit bantuan. Dana yang telah disumbang membawa banyak perbezaan,” kata Encik Tan.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

June 9, 2015