Rilek1Corner

Tag: government

  • Singapore Entrepreneur Asad Jumabhoy: Singaporeans Should Stop Complaining And Start Competing

    Singapore Entrepreneur Asad Jumabhoy: Singaporeans Should Stop Complaining And Start Competing

    Entrepreneur Asad Jumabhoy is a member of the once-powerful Jumabhoy family whose name is synonymous with Scotts Holdings, one of Singapore’s pioneer property giants. Years of family feuds including one between Asad’s brothers weakened the family business and by the late 1990s, Asad decided to go his own way.

    One of the first things he started as CEO of his Scotts Group was Asia Tax Free Shopping, a GST tax refund platform. Over the years, he’s been able to adapt and zero in on opportunities.

    His latest project is UTU, a cross-border loyalty and reward points platform for consumers – a project he is working on with his son.

    He goes “On the Record” with Bharati Jagdish about this, about staying competitive, and how he feels about the problems that plagued the Jumabhoy family business. But first, whether he felt a sense of apprehension in stepping out of his family business to go his own way.

     

     

    STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT FOREIGNERS AND COMPETE 

    Jumabhoy: I think it has to do with education and skills level. If you turn around and say, “I’m as good as the foreigner that comes in. I’m probably better-educated. I’m happy to compete.” it’s fine.

    It’s a question of getting our local men and women to say the same thing. You’re good enough to compete, so compete. Stop complaining. Let anybody come. You want to work or you don’t want to work? You want to work hard or you don’t want to work hard? You want to get somewhere in this world or you don’t? It’s up to you.

    Don’t come and tell me foreign guys came in and took my job. Improve your skills. I see so many kids today come from every kind of background, well-of backgrounds and not well-off backgrounds. They’re knocking themselves out learning. It’s really a question on how much you’re willing to put out and how hard you’re willing to work.

    Bharati: Of course some might say no matter how hard I work, I’ll never really be able to compete because the foreigner doesn’t have to deal with the high cost of living that I do and therefore is willing to accept a lower salary than me, so he becomes a more attractive employee.

    Jumabhoy: That’s market practice. Every time you interfere with market pricing, you end up in a mess. It’s not just Singapore, every country. If you put currency controls for example, you’ll get a problem somewhere else. All these things are interconnected. It’s been proven and it’s very painful to prove, but the market economy is a good allocator of resources.

    If you have a feeling that your talent is worth more than what you’re being paid, go do something else. Go start your own business. If the market is saying, “Asad, I’m not willing to pay you so much for this job.” then I have two choices: either I change my job and change my focus or I stick with this and accept my position.

     

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • UN To Myanmar: Your Reputation Is At Stake Over Rohingya Crisis

    UN To Myanmar: Your Reputation Is At Stake Over Rohingya Crisis

    UNITED NATIONS — The reputation of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in Myanmar is at stake amid international concerns over how it is dealing with violence in the country’s divided northwest, a senior United Nations official warned on Tuesday (Nov 29).

    The conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has sent hundreds of Rohingya Muslims fleeing across the border to Bangladesh amid allegations of abuses by security forces. The crisis poses a serious challenge to Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi, who swept to power last year on promises of national reconciliation.

    In a statement, the U.N.’s special adviser on the prevention of genocide Adama Dieng, said the allegations “must be verified as a matter of urgency” and urged the government to allow access to the area.

    “If they are true, the lives of thousands of people are at risk. The reputation of Myanmar, its new Government and its military forces is also at stake in this matter,” he said.

    “Myanmar needs to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law and to the human rights of all its populations. It cannot expect that such serious allegations are ignored or go unscrutinised,” he said.

    Soldiers have poured into the area along Myanmar’s frontier with Bangladesh, responding to coordinated attacks on three border posts on Oct. 9 that killed nine police officers.

    Myanmar’s military and the government have rejected allegations by residents and rights groups that soldiers have raped Rohingya women, burnt houses and killed civilians during the military operation in Rakhine.

    The violence, the most serious bloodshed in Rakhine since hundreds were killed in communal clashes in 2012, has renewed international criticism that Ms Suu Kyi has done too little to alleviate the plight of the Rohingya minority, who are denied citizenship and access to basic services.

    “The government needs, for once and for all, to find a sustainable solution to the situation of the Rohingya Muslims and other religious and ethnic minorities in Myanmar, a solution that is in full compliance with the international human rights standards that the government has pledged to respect,” Mr Dieng said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Religious Malays Breed Carelessly, Don’t Take Charge Of Their Lives, Perpetuate Handout Mentality

    Religious Malays Breed Carelessly, Don’t Take Charge Of Their Lives, Perpetuate Handout Mentality

    Melayu yang susah tapi anak ramai are usually from the alim tak alim type. It is also the same group that perpetuate that handout mentality.

    Beranak more than they can afford (besarkan anak bukan setakat bela bagi makan minum, there are college and uni fees to consider which most Malays dont) then expect the government to tanggung all their offsprings studies.

    Menyusahkan orang.

    Have what you can afford and not beyond that.

    Plan and think long term.

    Kalau asyik pikir berapa ramai nak baca doa depan kubur kitalah mentaliti bangang yang memperabihkan khazanah negara untuk nak dibela.

     

    Source: ML MelayuLama

  • Andrew Loh: Governement Is Hypocritical In Its Handling of Singlish

    Andrew Loh: Governement Is Hypocritical In Its Handling of Singlish

    I don’t understand how the Prime Minister himself can dissuade Singaporeans from speaking Singlish, and his press secretary even finding it necessary to write to a foreign publication to disabuse a fellow Singaporean poet for being supportive of Singlish – and at the same time, the government have its Tourism Board spend taxpayers’ money to create a slick 3-minute video using that same Singlish to attract tourists.

    And in your “Little Black Book” publication, a guide for tourists, you describe Singlish as “Singapore’s unique gift to the English-speaking world.”

    A gift to the world but Singaporeans themselves should not speak or support it?

    How does that work?

    I hate to say this but this is really hypocritical.

    You tell Singaporeans not to speak the language but you glamourise it on a national stage at the National Day Parade 2015, and you also use it to attract tourists, and your MPs and ministers use Singlish during election rallies to portray themselves as ordinary citizens like the rest of us.

    But Singaporeans should not use Singlish because not all of us have PhDs and are thus unable to “code switch”?

    What lousy double standards you have.

     

    Source: Andrew Loh

  • New Cabinet Formed

    New Cabinet Formed

    Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled Singapore’s new Cabinet on Monday (Sep 28),

    Mr Lee shuffled his team two weeks after the People’s Action Party took almost 70 per cent of the votes in a General Election in which the Prime Minister campaigned upon the need for strong candidates in Parliament to ensure leadership renewal.

    “It’s an urgent task. We don’t have the luxury of time,” noted Mr Lee in a press conference on Monday where he announced the changes.

    “I have given heavy responsibilities to the next generation of leaders. They will be stretched and tested, and must gel together as a team. By the end of this term, we must have a new team ready to take over from me.”

    THREE COORDINATING MINISTERS

    In total, there will be 20 Cabinet members, up from 19. Of the 20, half were elected in the last three General Elections, and half are below 55 years old, Mr Lee noted.

    The key change to the structure of the Cabinet is the introduction of three Coordinating Ministers, each of whom will oversee a handful of related Ministries.

    “We need tighter coordination across ministries to have a tighter, whole-of-Government approach to issues,” said Mr Lee in explaining the change.

    The three are:

    • Mr Teo Chee Hean (Coordinating Minister for National Security)
    • Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies)
    • Mr Khaw Boon Wan (Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure

    Mr Teo and Mr Tharman will each remain Deputy Prime Minister, but relinquish their previous ministry portfolios. Mr Khaw Boon Wan will also be Minister for Transport, replacing Mr Lui Tuck Yew, who announced his retirement from politics ahead of the General Election.

    Mr Khaw – who said he did not volunteer for the Transport post, but willingly agreed when approached by the Prime Minister – said his vision of the future Singapore was that of a “car-light” society.

    “As Transport Minister, my major objective is to further raise the quality of life for Singaporeans – make it easier for them to move about on feet, bicycle, bus, train and driverless cars. One critical piece is an extensive and reliable rail infrastructure. We have launched huge numbers of rail lines – some 60 billion dollars’ worth – so when fully implemented it’ll be a big plus for Singaporeans,” said Mr Khaw.

    “But in terms of reliability, we are not quite there yet. Let’s be realistic about such a complex system – it’s not rocket science but also not straightforward. There will be fires big and small but I hope for Singaporeans’ patience and we will do our best.”

    NEW ACTING MINISTERS, NEW OFFICE-HOLDERS

    In another change from the previous Cabinet, two ministries – Education, and Trade and Industry – will each have two full ministers, overseeing separate aspects within the ministry.

    Those new to the Cabinet are Acting Ministers Ng Chee Meng (MOE, Schools) and Ong Ye Kung (MOE, Higher Education and Skills).

    Said Mr Ong: “It’s a great honour to be given a complex and important role for Singapore’s future. The previous ministers have built exceptional system and I’ll strive to build upon it. My top priory it is to know how the ministry works and understand the entire system. I look forward to taking guidance from ministers and working with Ng and being part of the MOE family.”

    Added Mr Ng: “Singapore recognises education is one of best gifts we can give to children. We have consistently invested here as part of our national strategy. I take on this heavy responsibility with enthusiasm and hopefully to value-add.”

    Among the existing Ministers, those with a change of portfolio include Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (Foreign Affairs), Mr K Shanmugam (Home Affairs), Mr Heng Swee Keat (Finance), Mr Lawrence Wong (National Development) and Mr Masagos Zulkifli (Environment and Water Resources).

    Ms Grace Fu will head a ministry, helming the Culture, Community and Youth Ministry.

    “I’m humbled by the confidence PM has in me. I think MCCY has started off a good phase of development under Lawrence Wong. My priority is to engage stakeholders to build a committed community in Singapore,” said Ms Fu.

    Mr Chan Chun Sing, who remains a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, will take over Mr Gan Kim Yong as Party Whip.

    Three Ministers of State – Maliki Osman, Sim Ann and Desmond Lee – will be promoted to Senior Ministers of State, while the new office holders at Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary level are Mr Chee Hong Tat, Koh Poh Koon, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Mr Baey Yam Keng and Mr Amrin Amin.

    Apart from former Transport Minister Lui and former Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi, both of whom asked to step down prior to GE2015, Mr Lee Yi-Shyan also asked to step down and return to the backbenches.

    The full Cabinet is as follows:

    PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
    Mr Lee Hsien Loong – Prime Minister
    Mr Teo Chee Hean – Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security
    Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam – Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies
    Mr Chan Chun Sing – Minister, PMO
    Mr Heng Chee How, Mrs Josephine Teo – Senior Minister of State
    Mr Sam Tan – Minister of State

    DEFENCE
    Dr Ng Eng Hen – Minister
    Dr Maliki Osman, Mr Ong Ye Kung – Senior Minister of State

    FOREIGN AFFAIRS
    Dr Vivian Balakrishnan – Minister
    Mrs Josephine Teo, Dr Maliki Osman – Senior Minister of State

    HOME AFFAIRS
    Mr K Shanmugam – Minister
    Mr Desmond Lee – Senior Minister of State
    Mr Amrin Amin – Parliamentary Secretary

    TRADE AND INDUSTRY
    Mr Lim Hng Kiang – Minister (Trade)
    Mr S Iswaran – Minister (Industry)
    Dr Koh Poh Koon – Minister of State from Jan 1, 2016
    Ms Low Yen Ling – Parliamentary Secretary

    FINANCE
    Mr Heng Swee Keat – Minister
    Ms Indranee Rajah, Ms Sim Ann – Senior Minister of State

    MANPOWER
    Mr Lim Swee Say – Minister
    Mr Teo Ser Luck, Mr Sam Tan – Minister of State

    TRANSPORT
    Mr Khaw Boon Wan – Minister
    Mrs Josephine Teo, Mr Ng Chee Meng – Senior Minister of State

    NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    Mr Lawrence Wong – Minister
    Mr Desmond Lee – Senior Minister of State
    Dr Koh Poh Koon – Minister of State from Jan 1, 2016

    COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION
    Dr Yaacob Ibrahim – Minister
    Mr Chee Hong Tat – Minister of State
    Dr Janil Puthucheary – Minister of State from Jan 1, 2016

    ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES
    Mr Masagos Zulkifil – Minister
    Dr Amy Khor – Senior Minister of State

    LAW
    Mr K Shanmugam – Minister
    Ms Indranee Rajah – Senior Minister of State

    HEALTH
    Mr Gan Kim Yong – Minister
    Dr Amy Khor – Senior Minister of State
    Dr Lam Pin Min, Mr Chee Hong Tat – Minister of State

    EDUCATION
    Mr Ng Chee Meng – Acting Minister (Schools)
    Mr Ong Ye Kung – Acting Minister (Higher Education and Skills)
    Dr Janil Puthucheary – Minister of State from Jan 1, 2016
    Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Ms Low Yen Ling – Parliamentary Secretary

    SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT
    Mr Tan Chuan-Jin – Minister
    Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim – Parliamentary Secretary

    CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH
    Ms Grace Fu – Minister
    Ms Sim Ann – Senior Minister of State
    Mr Baey Yam Keng – Parliamentary Secretary

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com