Tag: SG50

Permanent Balloting Ban If You Sell Your NDP Tickets

The price for getting caught selling National Day Parade (NDP) tickets is now a permanent ban from being able to ballot again. Previously, the penalty was a ban of three years.

Brigadier-General Melvyn Ong, chairman of the NDP executive committee, said in a statement on Tuesday: “Monetising the privilege to be part of the nation’s birthday goes against (its) celebratory spirit… Those found to be involved in such activities will be barred from balloting for future NDPs.”

He added that the committee is working with online sale sites, including Carousell and eBay.

Mindef declined to give more details, such as whether tickets already sold would be deemed void.

About 100,000 NDP tickets are available this year, for a preview on Aug 1 and the actual show on Aug 9 – set to be the biggest ever to celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee. The free tickets were allocated via an electronic ballot system.

An online Straits Times report on Sunday said NDP tickets were selling on mobile marketplace Carousell for up to $400 each for the actual day, but such posts were removed following quick action from the site. Two listings this week to sell NDP rehearsal tickets were removed within 30 minutes of being uploaded.

Replying to queries from The Straits Times, a Carousell spokesman said it has received an e-mail from the the NDP committee and has “responded accordingly”.

She added: “We have already removed all listings and our team is keeping a close watch on new listings… Should a seller continue to disregard our guidelines, we will suspend their account.”

She declined to reveal the number of listings removed so far.

A Carousell user’s listing selling a pair of tickets to the July 4 rehearsal was removed soon after it was uploaded yesterday, but he still managed to offload the tickets to his friend for more than $100.

The seller declined to be named, but revealed that his rehearsal tickets came from helping out in the NDP as part of the Army.

He said: “My family didn’t want to go, and I have already seen two NDPs, so I decided to sell them. I did not know it was not allowed.”

Ebay could not be reached for comment.

There are buyers willing to fork out for the tickets, despite some high prices being asked. A potential buyer, who wanted to be known as Justin, said he was willing to pay up to $150 for a pair of tickets, as a surprise gift for his wife.

“After two failed attempts at balloting, I’ve decided I would stand a better chance… buying from touts,” said Justin. “Selling NDP tickets is not something I condone but I am left with no alternatives.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 2, 2015
Did The People’s Association Reserve Tickets To Own Members Only?

“The idea was good but shame it ended up as an ugly spat between the haves and the haves-not,” said one person.

He was referring to the much anticipated SG50 barbeque (BBQ) organised by the Australian High Commission here in Singapore.

The island-wide event by the Australians, to celebrate the two countries’ bilateral ties and to show solidarity in celebration of S’pore’s 50^th year as an independent state, would see the bbq take place at 50 locations in Singapore.

The event also coincided with the visit of Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbot.

All seemed to go well, with many looking forward to being among those who would get to taste the 10,000 steaks which would be dished out on Sunday, 28 June.

PM Abbot and his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, themselves were at the BBQ in Bishan Park on Sunday.

It was, as believed, a free non-ticketed event.

However, on the day of the event itself, the Australia in Singapore Facebook page dropped a bombshell – tickets would be required to participate in the feast.

It said:

“This is IT. Tonight’s the night of our long awaited ’50 BBQs’!”

“Many locations are ticketed by the People’s Association to ensure there’s enough food for all. But we’ve been told some spare coupons are set aside for those who just show up. We can’t wait to cook for you.”

Questions soon started to be raised about the ticket requirement.

“Hi mates, pls clarify on confusing sudden PA tickets issue,” Cp Tan posted on the page.

“We don’t even know where to get the tickets because it wasn’t stated we need to get the tickets,” Jey Yeo said. “And now, like you said, tickets are all taken.”

Candy Foowitu posted: “Turned up early only to be disappointed later on when they started distributing the food when our group were asked to produce tickets? Why wasn’t this announced earlier that those ticketless residents from neighbouring estates were only entitled to leftovers from 8.30pm onwards? Disappointing.”

Some who attended the event on Sunday confirmed that tickets were required.

Davis Yin: “Seriously, the Aussie BBQ event was poorly organised!! I was looking forward to enjoy my Aussie BBQ dinner with a friend. But in the end, an event staff told me that a ticket is required to claim the food. The website stated that the Aussie BBQ event is opened to the public. Well, I was rejected and turned away because I didn’t have a ticket to claim my food.

“Frankly, you all wasted my time by going down to Bishan Park. I demand an explanation!!!”

“All are just inaccurate information passed down,” Junn Chin Teo said. “I was rejected right in the face at Bishan Park. Seriously waste my bloody time. You’re welcome.”

Soon, the anger was directed at the People’s Association, as criticisms and questions started to flow in on the Australia in Singapore page.

Some asked if the People’s Association had reserved the tickets for their own members, such as grassroots members, with none issued to the public.

Some complained that there were no public announcements of where to collect the tickets.

“A fantastic initiative undermined by the ruthlessly mechanical PA machine rejecting all non invitees,” Nicky Hamster Goh said.

Aileen Lee: “It’s 28 June 6:35pm, we dropped by Bukit Batok East Community and were surprised that ticket was required to attend. We were told by volunteers.. tixs were free but all given away by Tuesday! My kids are very disappointed.”

Richard Toh: “Same same ticket only thing at Bishan Pk at 7.30pm. Asked 3 separate Teck Gee T shirt wearing “officials” and they said no tickets available as they are given to “Grassroots members only”.”

“PA, you should clearly state its for your selected members AND NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC,” he said.

Tan Wan Qi: “Don’t understand why the sudden PA intervention, turning such awesome event as if their own event. We went down at 7.30pm with our family as well to Bishan Park, only to be turned away by the grassroots members. Feels terrible.”

Jonathan Goh: “Isnt this a walk in event? Why must it be ticketed, the CC near me didnt even publicise anything about this event.”

Dudu Kenny Xie: “I when over to punggol hardcourt. And those PA members rejected us to be participate. I even asked the lady in charge. Basically just brushed off us and she continue entertaining their dearest MP Ms Penny Low.”

Khor Fujie: “I emailed one of the CC(Admiralty) for information of the event and tickets distribution. I only got the reply yesterday that the tickets were out. No prior notifications/information given to residents on their FB page, but yet the tickets were out. Were the tickets being circulated internally to PA members only?”

Tina Hashim said:

Another person posted:

The incident is also being discussed at the Hardware Zone forum.

The Online Citizen (TOC) will be contacting the People’s Association for clarification on the allegations that it had reserved the tickets for its own members.

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

June 29, 2015
SG50 – Money, Money, Money Everywhere

For the first time, the Govt seems to have so much money to throw to the people. And everyone is saying the GE is around the corner. That is a side issue, what matters is that the Govt is giving and giving and giving. Every citizen is getting something from the Govt directly or indirectly. And the Govt does not stop there. It is also throwing money to the PRs, the so called locals or residents but not citizens.

How can the people not be happy? How can the people not be having second thoughts not to vote for the ruling Govt? This is a Govt that is giving money to the people and no one knows how much more it is going to give to the people and when will it stop or will it ever stop.

It is SG50, a time for celebration and you cannot celebrate without money. So the Govt is going to stuff money in the pockets of the citizens. And everyone is happy that no one bothers to ask, where is the money coming from, whose money is it that the Govt is giving to the people? Would the giving be so excessive that it would kill the goose that is laying the golden egg. Would the Govt get carried away with so much money to give as if there is unlimited money available?

The people’s money? Who says that? The money the Govt is giving the people is the people’s money and it is just returning some to the people to make them happy. It is one of those too good to be true story. And when something is too good to be true, should not the people be wary? What’s next? The budget must be balanced, what the Govt is giving out must be within the budget and if not enough or over spent, then the Govt would have to take it back somehow, from someone or from somewhere. The Govt cannot simply print money to give away without having to account for it.

Where is the money coming from? Whose money is it in the first place? When Lily Neo was asking for a few dollars for the needy, the govt or someone was unhappy. Now, the rich also got, the poor also got, the non citizens also got.

Like that also can. Why give money to the non citizens? You know how many of them will be getting something from this SG50 celebration? The Hokkiens say, ‘Cheng hu chin tua kang’ [Ed. Hokkien for “the government is very magnanimous/generous”].

Lily Neo, this is the best time to ask for more help for those under public assistance scheme.

Chua Chin Leng aka Redbean

Source: mysingaporenews.blogspot.com.

June 22, 2015
10 Things You Can Buy With $71 Million SG50 Civil Servant Bonus

The Public Service Division, under Prime Minister’s Office, announced recently that there will be a SG50 bonus for all civil servants, amounting to $500 per officer, “in recognition of their contribution towards nation building”.

The bonus was to be paid with the mid-year Annual Variable Component (AVC) of 0.5 month, in July 2015.

There is an estimated 143,000 public officers in government service, which means the SG50 bonus would amount to about $71.5 million.

That’s a lot of dough. So we decided to see what else the SG50 bonus could have actually been spent on, and came up with our favs…

#1 — 7,150,000 plates of Peach Garden XO sauce chai tow kway

Image credit – InSing

Openly endorsed by NTUC chief, Minister Chan Chun Sing, $10 for a plate of this prestigious adaptation of the delicious hawker centre favorite is not to be scoffed at. Confirm quite shiok, right? Civil servants and citizens who agree, kee chiu!

#2 — 8,937,500 heart bypass surgeries

Image – The Straits Times

If National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan can get it at the bargain price of $8, any civil servant and citizen should be able to! And let’s face it, after all that XO chai tow kway, it is better to be safe than sorry, as you can’t really depend on Medishield to cover you for everything!

#3 — 31,630 Kate Spade bags

Image – justonebyte.com

Nothing but the best to tote around with in swanky Singapore, forking out $1,900 for a piece of this will seem like a breeze with that much bonus. Civil servants can now emulate their favorite politician or celebrity. Good for both the guys and gals!

#4 — 1,430 HDB flat subsidies for single-parent families

It’s SG50, so lets not fuss too much about all this and share a little! And with about 500 single parent births registered in a year, $50,000 per family is surely not too much to ask, just to level things up a bit for everyone.

#5 — 35,750,000 neighbourhood kopi tiam kaya toast sets

Image – TripAdvisor.com

We are not letting this go without gunning for the bread and butter issues (literally)! Another local favorite, something enjoyed by uncles, aunties and children alike, the sweet aroma of a $2 kaya toast set is just irresistible. A great perk for the civil servant rushing to work, and the best gift of appreciation for your Minister boss!

#6 — A year’s worth of pocket money for 99,305 needy primary school students under the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

Joseph Schooling (image – The Straits Times)

If Joseph Schooling can do it, so can our government! Needy primary school students receive $60 a month from the Fund, so why not help bolster it so that The Straits Times can spend the money somewhere else, like hire better journalists?

#7 — Palliative care for 2,958 elderly people a year

Our silver generation, unfortunately, does not come with the silver dollars. Annual fees for a patient staying at a non-profit palliative care home chalks up about $24,000. If we can give billions for the Pioneer Generation Package, this should not be too much to ask!

#8 — 14,300 collumbarium slots

Fortunately, we do not have to contend with the potentially sky-high prices at the now defunct Fernvale Columbarium. But a regular slot at any columbarium hovers around $5,000 a niche. So let’s not skirt around the death issue and face it with a bit of realism. In cash.

#9 — 143 units of dignity for our Ministers

Surely our civil servants would think nothing of sacrificing their SG50 bonus for their bosses! $500,000 for a bit of dignity, what a steal!

#10 — 2.1 years of good government for all Singaporeans

Ok, so we were wrong, this one surely beats the XO chai tow kway.

“The price of good government is $34 million a year – just $11 per Singaporean a year – or the cost of five plates of char kway teow per citizen. And the price of bad government? It could have been $3,166 per Singaporean, said Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.”

The man has spoken, ’nuff said.

Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com

June 19, 2015
SG50 Bonus Should Be Given To The Lower-Income Singaporeans Too!

DEAR MR PRESIDENT

Everytime its all about the civil servant.. maybe the GOVT shud relooked and, since its sg 50…, give that 500 to the road sweepers, the cleaners, the old age, the poor, the homeless, the middle n low income families, the true singaporean, the parents of special children and children with chronic illnesses, the preschool teachers, the odd job labourers, the single parents, the orphanages, old folks at OLd folks home, and the housewives.

NOT SPECIFICALLY civil servants!!!
Sorry but, No offence. I just hope this msg gets to you and the whole gang. 500 is a big deal to the above people. It is not jus my opinion alone but im sure the rest of the ‘regular’ singaporeans would agree with me.

Source: Nurul Marzuki

June 19, 2015