... ah fark it dah... just move on out of here and forget it..

 

Originally posted by soulwinner:

The cure to this problem to be back with substanial saving.... frankly speaking have you ever see the 77,000 millionair complaint about the govt?

... they always quote numbers and figures...

... have they ever once shown us all a breakdown of all the figures they have published?

What are the 77,000 made up of? Locals? Foreigners? Companies?

Are these millionaires all still here in SG? Or are they all just referring to the CPF database? 

 

WHAT?

... this guy is either STUPID, or he thinks WE ARE ALL stupid...

... I dare imagine, that in around 200 years, all locals will be non-existent...

... and I also dare believe, Singapore may be renamed Temasek Global Commercial Island - an island meant ONLY for business of all industries...

 

... this place, run like a company, will eventually become one...

... already the young and new generations are of the view that this, IS NOT a place to live a wholesome life...

... the Brain Drain, & the ever increasing mass migration in this respect, shall continue...

.. I strongly feel and believe that, the people CANNOT be faulted at all...

Why? Simply because A LOT of Singaporeans were unable to Vote for or against the so called 'our government'...

... hehehe.. people from Street Level right into the Government Offices are sure LIVING LONGER aren't they??

 

... better chuck that Annuity Crap idea out the window... farking lame excuse for retaining people's money...

Dr Ong Chit Chung dies peacefully at home
By Lee Foong Ming/Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 July 2008 1347 hrs

   

 
Dr Ong Chit Chung dies peacefully at home 
 
 

SINGAPORE: Dr Ong Chit Chung, a Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC, passed away on Monday morning. He was 59 years old.

His family told Channel NewsAsia that Dr Ong was at home when he died peacefully.

A five-term MP, Dr Ong was a lecturer in military history at the National University of Singapore when he went into politics in 1988.

He won the single-seat ward of Bukit Batok for two terms before the constituency became part of the Bukit Timah GRC in 1996, and then Jurong GRC in 2001.

In 1991, Dr Ong was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and Labour.

He later left the world of academia and joined the private sector. At the time of his death, he was President of Davos Life Sciences Pte Ltd.

During his 20 years in politics, Dr Ong had also served as the Chairman for the Government Parliamentary Committees for Education, Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, who also entered politics in 1988, recounted that Dr Ong was "... always helpful to diplomats and ministry officials".

Dr Ong's sudden death also shocked many of his fellow MPs.

Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Education and Home Affairs Ministries, said: "I was only with him yesterday, having a game a golf, and he looked truly healthy.

"(During) my time as a parliamentary colleague to him, he (was) a very approachable person, a very good mentoring senior. He exchanged ideas with me (on) education and his view of how schools should evolve."

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and fellow Jurong GRC MP, Mr Lim Boon Heng, had also just played golf with Dr Ong last Wednesday at a fundraiser.

In a statement, he described Dr Ong as a very hardworking MP who had recruited many volunteers for community work.

Another Jurong GRC MP, Madam Halimah Yacob, paid tribute to Dr Ong, who helped her in the new constituency of Bukit Batok during her first election in 2001.

She said, "We (didn't) have the structure, system, in place. So when I went in... (during) the election period, we had to quickly put everything in place. And that was when I found the support given by the late Dr Ong Chit Chung extremely useful."

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said it is for the prime minister to decide if there will be a replacement to the position left vacant by the late Dr Ong.

Speaking at a community event on Monday, Mr Tharman said the remaining four MPs would be more than willing to share the workload of the late Dr Ong's constituency.

He said: "He had a very special way with people from all walks of life. If you look at his grassroots, it's a very vibrant group of people who have come from all backgrounds and all (of them) feel part of one big family.

"... He helped me personally when I came into politics in the same GRC and he was always a source of wise counsel and (gave) very frank advice and feedback on views on the ground. He was a completely dedicated person in Jurong and nationally and inspired many of us. Very quiet, totally dedicated."

In a statement to the media, Dr Ong's family said they are saddened by their loss. And in memory of his service to the residents in his ward, they have asked that, in lieu of wreathes, donations be made by cheques to the PAP Community Foundation, Bukit Batok Branch.

The wake for Dr Ong will begin on Tuesday evening at his family home at 41, Princess of Wales Road. The funeral service is expected to be held this Friday.

- CNA/yb/ms

... if ever, this is THE largest heap of BullCrap I ever read...

:0

You peeps here have not heard of Pirelli tyres???

Then I guess I've truly  mistaken this forum.

Originally posted by CasperV:

why don't you ask where you bought it from?

Oh, I'm not supposed to ask questions like this in here? My apologies, I thought it read CARS for this forum..

 

 

 

I recently bought a set of Pirelli Dragon tyres, and after looking at it a couple days, I wonder if there is any difference between the left set of tyres and the right set of tyres.

You see, I noticed although the external walls of the right side are correctly facing out, the inner thread pattern opposes the left set's inner thread patterns.

So I'm asking anyone here who's familiar with Pirelli tyres; does the Pirelli Dragon tyres come in a set for the right side, and a set for the left side?

Those pointed triangular patterns on the edges of the sidewalls of the right side tyres appears to be pointed backwards... this bothers me quite a lot.

However if this is considered normal, than I can rest & drive easy.

... reading this article, tells me that the government's various agencies does not communicate with each other - left hand does not know what the right hand is doing...

... and this is NOT new, there are many such similar incidents wherein innocent people are penalized for unintentional offences given to circumstances...

... I quote the recent example of a convicted person being administered additional strokes because of an Internal Error...

 

==========================

Accident lands woman in hospital...
Unpaid parking fines land her in court 
July 09, 2008      

SHE was hospitalised for 10 days after a road accident and almost ended up in trouble with the law - all because of her damaged motorcycle.

 
When Miss Sheetal Singh, 26, was discharged, she found she had been booked for parking offences.

Her motorcycle, which had been towed to a nearby carpark after the accident, had no parking coupons.

The customer service officer did not pay the fines, which eventually snowballed to $900.

When she was summoned to court, she failed to turn up and a warrant of arrest was issued for her.

The mess she landed herself in was finally sorted out last month and the fines were waived.

Miss Singh's problems started on 15 Oct last year, when her motorbike skidded on the Pan-Island Expressway near the Adam Road exit as she swerved to avoid hitting a car.

'I fell on my back and injured my right leg,' she said.

Her badly damaged bike was towed to the Adam Road Food Centre carpark by the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (Emas) crew.

 
Miss Singh said that she felt she shouldn't have to pay any fine as she did not park her bike at the carpark. -- TNP Pictures: KUA CHEE SIONG 
A Land Transport Authority spokesman said that it is standard procedure for the crew from Emas to tow an accident vehicle to the nearest designated carpark - with the owner or a representative present.

He said that Miss Singh's boyfriend signed a form that day to acknowledge that he would take over her bike. The boyfriend claimed he did not recall signing anything.

Four days later, her boyfriend removed the bike. Apparently, he had tried removing it earlier, but could not start it.

On 13 Nov, Miss Singh received parking summonses for three days, 15 to 17 Oct, amounting to $24.

She called the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) that day and was told to go to its office to file an appeal. When she said she could not move about because of her leg injury, the officer told her he would call her back.

She claimed he never did and she forgot about the matter.

Then, from December, a series of correspondence between her and the URA - and with both parties waiting for the matter to be resolved - eventually led to Miss Singh getting a summons this February to appear in court, and a letter in May informing her that her fines had snowballed to $900, including a penalty for being absent in court.

On 21 May, she was issued with a warrant of arrest.

She was also told to surrender herself to the Warrant Enforcement Unit at the Police Cantonment Complex, which she did two days later.

A month later, Miss Singh went to the URA office and was advised to pay $600 first to remove the 'tagging' on her motorbike by URA before she could renew her road tax.

'But I feel I should not even pay a cent as I did not park my bike there,' she said.

Responding to The New Paper's queries, URA said it has reviewed her case, waived her fines and told the police to withhold the warrant of arrest.
 
 

... so they said that they  have no intelligence or info which suggests that MSK is in Indonesia...

... then what if true intelligence in Indonesia spots or finds him?

... I think MHA better dig a hole in the ground in advance to stick their heads into when that happens ...

 

===========================

MHA says no intelligence or info to suggest Mas Selamat is in Indonesia
By Lee Foong Ming, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 July 2008 2335

hrs

 

SINGAPORE: The Home Affairs Ministry says there has been no intelligence or information to date which suggests that Mas Selamat Kastari is in Indonesia.

However Singapore authorities have been working closely with their Indonesian counterparts and other security and intelligence partners in their on-going security operation to locate and apprehend the Jemaah Islamiyah leader.

The Ministry's statement came after Indonesian media reported that Indonesian police had received information suggesting that Mas Selamat had slipped into the country following his escape from Singapore's Whitley Road Detention Centre in February this year.

As to newspaper reports that Indonesian authorities are on the hunt for three Singaporean JI members who had escaped a round-up of JI terrorists in Singapore in 2001, the Ministry said two of the three men identified, "Ishak" and "Rosid" are probably two men who are already under detention in Singapore.

They are Ishak Mohamed Noohu and Mohamed Rashid Zainal Abidin, both of whom had been arrested overseas.

Mohamed Rashid was detained in June 2006, at the same time as Mas Selamat Kastari, while Ishak Mohamad Noohu was detained in June 2007. - CNA/de

... the government's said Welfarism will instill a Crutch Mentality.

Is raising their own salaries to keep their own from CORRUPTION not a Crutch Mentality??

 

 

====================

kids who need more help 

 
.
SOME 3.4 per cent of children in Singapore are malnourished, according to political science professor Tobias Rettig of the Singapore Management University.
.
While this figure pales in comparison with that of many other countries, some may find it high for a country as well-off as Singapore. It means that more than 23,000 children in our midst do not get enough to eat. And as food prices continue to rise, it hardly seems like this number would decrease.
.
Malnourishment directly disadvantages these children. “The most evident consequences of malnourishment include impaired intellectual growth, loss of cognitive skills, weakened immune systems and increased risk of death”, according to Ms Shiela Sisulu, deputy executive director of the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
.
Children who don’t have enough to eat may thus incur higher medical costs and need more support later in life if their slowed development means they do not pick up the skills required to get decent jobs.
.
On the contrary, others enjoy a better life. Many students have mobile phones, abundant snacks and car rides to school. Moreover, money is spent on extras such as sending an increasing number of students abroad.
.
“Our target is for one-third of our secondary and junior college students ... to have at least one overseas experience”, said Education Minister Ng Eng Hen in a recent interview, and this was borne out at a recent secondary school assembly where students were preparing for trips to Europe, the United States, Japan and other destinations overseas during the December holidays.
.
While the contrast between students with plenty and those in need is not unique to Singapore, it’s surprising in a country where poverty is hardly visible. And while making students “world-ready” to compete in today’s global environment is critical, it also seems important to provide for poorer students so that they too gain the ability to succeed and so that society avoids costs in the future.
.
Just as underfed children can be hard to locate, research on malnourishment in Singapore can also be hard to find. One likely cause, though, is low income.
.
Last year, 5.4 per cent of households in Singapore had an income less than $1,000 per month and another11.9 per cent had an income between $1,000 and $2,000 per month. A family with less than $1,000 per month for all their expenses might not be able to provide their children with enough to eat.
.
The Government has recognised the issue and is providing more support. The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports has increased the amount it provides under Public Assistance schemes. MCYS data also showed fewer than 500 cases of public assistance cases last year that were not “aged destitutes”, perhaps supporting some such as MP Lily Neo who have asked whether the current levels of support are enough. The Ministry of Education also provides help for children who have difficulty paying school fees.
.
Voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) are also working to help the needy. Food from the Heart, for example, expanded its original programme of picking up leftover bread from bakeries for delivery to social welfare homes and now distributes food to needy families through its Food Goodie Bag programme.
.
The results from even this small effort have been striking. “All the kids under the programme are back in school, the violence in the family has gone down and the attitude of the pupils has changed, grades have also improved”, as Food from the Heart puts it.
.
There are other programmes for children as well, such as the YWCA’s Meals-on-Wheels for Children programme and Jamiyah’s Food Ration Assistance programme. And there are cash donation schemes too, such as the School Pocket Money Fund that provides money to over 5,000 children to buy food during recess.
.
Even with these programmes, though, the data shows that malnutrition persists and more help seems necessary.
.
The first step is to identify families and children who need assistance. Many may remain hidden, and it is easy to see why. If you’re a 10-year-old who hasn’t had breakfast, you understandably don’t want to tell your friends and neighbours that you’re hungry.
.
Some volunteers say that teachers are among the best able to identify students who need help, and other caregivers or community workers can also play a part.
.
The second step is to give more resources to the right organisations to help out. That’s not to say Singaporeans are not generous. Whether for Flag Day on the streets or charity shows on television, people are big-hearted and donations flow in. When disasters struck overseas, millions of dollars of donations poured in to help survivors from the earthquake in China, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the tsunami in 2004 and other calamities.
.
Yet, when asked what they need most, organisations like the YWCA and Food from the Heart say they still need more funding and food for distribution to families or for making meals. Donations and food drives can indeed help to alleviate hunger here at home.
.
While Singaporeans still need to help alleviate malnourishment abroad, it’s important to remember that reaching out and doing more for children here in our country can also have a positive impact that reduces the costs to individuals and society.
.
.
The writer is a consultant who haslived in Singapore since 1992.

 

... what he's done is just mask over a 3rd world country with the World Class label...

 

... from what I have been observing, Singaporeans are quite a hardy bunch. While they may not be rioting over stifling and self-serving policies, they are hard at work or excelling in their education towards one common goal/dream - to migrate out of Singapore.

 

... the time will come where riots can break out, but it will not be the true locals, but the many foreigners who were enticed into becoming a citizens.

 

... yes, they are effective - towards their own ends and needs that is. Not for the people...

... SP should learn to BullCrap more convincingly...

==================================

As temperatures rise, so do power bills
By Ansley Ng, TODAY | Posted: 03 July 2008 1114 hrs

SINGAPORE: Even as households are bracing for higher electricity bills, with the latest hike in power tariffs, some are puzzled over a spike of another kind in their monthly statement for June.

While they have not changed their lifestyle, those who approached Today said their electricity consumption has jumped significantly — at least, going by the usage graphs on the back of their SP Services bills.

Secretary Betty Ho, for example, received a bill that showed her family had used 726 kilowatt-hours (kWh) last month, an almost 50-per-cent jump from the 490kWh monthly average from January to May.

Ms Ho, who shares her five-room flat in Chai Chee with her husband and teenage son, said the household had kept to pretty much the same routine in the past few months.

When she called SP Services for an explanation, she was told the hot weather contributed to the spike in consumption.

“I only turn the airconditioning on at night when I sleep. Nothing has changed. They said the airconditioner ‘knows’ the weather is hot and has to absorb more energy to maintain the same degree of coolness,” said Ms Ho, adding that she was not convinced by the explanation.

Others who are affected also wonder if there were glitches in the billing system or in the way calculations were done. The company is expected to change to a new billing system by next month.

When contacted, eletricity retailer Singapore Power said there was nothing wrong with the way consumption was calculated and how consumers were billed.

“There is no glitch in the billing system, which has been in operation since the year 2000,” said an SP Services spokesperson. Consumption is usually higher from April to September due to the hotter months, she noted. “When the weather is hot, consumers tend to use more water and air-conditioning, which lead to higher energy use. Moreover, during the hotter months, air-conditioning consumes more power to maintain the same temperature as compared to cooler months.”

For some, this proves frustrating. Cleaner Teo Meow Eng, 60, has been conscientious about using less energy, with fuel prices pushing up power tariffs steadily since early last year. Mdm Teo, who lives in a fiveroom apartment, has stopped keeping the night light on and only turns on the water heater once a day, in the morning.

But while her consumption went down for April’s meter reading and May’s estimated reading — hovering just above the national average of 417kWh — it spiked to 681kWh in June when an actual reading was next done.

“I find it strange that my electricity consumption continued to rise after showing a drop for two months despite my taking steps to cut usage,” Mdm Teo said.

Bills are estimated in alternate months based on the previous actual meter readings. The spokesperson noted that spikes in some bills could be due to adjustments made to make up for “under-billing” the month before.

On Tuesday, the price of electricity went up nearly 5 percentage points to 25.07 cents per kWh, having risen for four consecutive quarters on soaring fuel prices.

Those living in five-room HDB flats can expect their bills to go up by an average of $5, while those living in one-room flats could see their bills increase by about $1.20. - TODAY/ra

Why make it so hard? 
 
Andy Ho
Thu, Jul 03, 2008
The Straits Times 

MY GRANDMOTHER, Madam Lim Hong, received a letter dated April 29 from the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board which contained a cheque for growth dividends in the amount of $300.

The validity of the cheque is 90 days for encashment with any OCBC branch office. The last day is stated as July 28, both on the cheque and the payment advice.

My grandmother is now 99 years old, bedridden and staying in a nursing home. I have two affidavits from the management that she has appointed me to handle her private matters. Armed with the cheque, the two affidavits and her IC, I went to one of the OCBC branch offices.

The officer told me that the bank was willing to encash the cheque but could not do so after checking with the CPF Board.

They made the phone call from their back office while I was waiting at the counter.

It seems that I had to visit the CPF office personally to get an authorisation from them in order that the cheque could be encashed.

I had already spent two hours on this matter. If I were to visit the CPF office and then OCBC again, I would have to spend at least another three hours on such a trivial matter.

With much regret, I am returning the original cheque with copies of the two affidavits and a copy of my grandmother's IC.

While I appreciate the kind gesture from the CPF Board on rewarding our senior citizens who have indeed built up this country, I cannot help feeling disappointed at the way the board is handling the administration of this matter.

On behalf of my grandmother, I thank the board for recognising the generation of solid citizens who have played a vital role in making Singapore what it is today.

Juliet Hasselblad (Ms)

 
 

... High Human Development..?? What does this mean? Is it Education? Is it Affluence? Is it Lifestyle? Is it Quality of Living/Life?

 

... I wonder, if we do posses and are loftily ranked in Human Development, why can't we do away with Courtesy Campagn, Gracious Campagn, Kindness Movement and such that is basically indicative that something is wrong, or not quite World Class yet, with society in Singapore & the Singapore's matrix itself...?

 

... WHAT, actually is being 'developed' that is human here in Singapore?

 

Total wages in Singapore up by 7-year high of 5.9% in 2007
Posted: 30 June 2008 1115 hrs

 

SINGAPORE: Despite the fact that Singapore's economy grew by a lower 7.7 per cent in 2007 compared to 8.2 per cent in 2006, wages grew strongly last year.

Total wages – basic wages plus bonuses – of private sector employees rose by a seven-year high of 5.9 per cent in 2007, higher than the increase of 4.5 per cent the year before.

Although inflation was higher in 2007, resulting in a lower increase of real basic wage, the real total wage increase of 3.8 per cent last year was still higher than 2006's 3.5 per cent.

Labour productivity growth, however, declined from 1.5 per cent in 2006 to -0.9 per cent in 2007, partly due to record employment gains last year.

The National Wages Council (NWC), in its recommendation of wage guidelines this year, said companies should grant built-in wage increase commensurate with the companies' performance as well as business prospects so that such increments are sustainable.

It added that companies which have done exceptionally well should consider granting workers a higher variable payment.

- CNA/so

Policies on ERP and COEs seem contradictory 
 
Lee Su Shyan
Mon, Jun 30, 2008
The Straits Times 
       
 
 
I AM puzzled by the recent announcements on the impending Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rate changes, with effect from July7.

I vividly remember reading a Straits Times article in March or April this year on a Land Transport Authority (LTA) report on the benefits of introducing ERP in Orchard Road.

The report stated that before ERP was introduced, retailers were worried the measures would drive away customers.

 

 
However, instead of business going downhill, retailers in Orchard are enjoying record boom. One reason was that ERP deterred motorists who used Orchard Road as a thoroughfare, and genuine shoppers flocked there to shop. The report also stated that car speeds were an optimum 20kmh to 30kmh, and ERP gantries in Orchard succeeded in keeping down traffic.

Now, on June 17, the LTA announced that car speeds in Orchard have fallen considerably, ERP charges will go up from $1 to $2 and operating hours on Saturdays will be from 11.30am to 8pm.

My question is, who validates and verifies that cars are moving at optimum speed? Who checks these reports? Who decides that, three months ago, the speed was optimum, but now it is no longer so?

One possible reason is that there are more cars on the road now. Cars are cheaper, application for car loans is easier, COE prices have dropped considerably, and rebates are given to motorists who switch to CNG cars.

The LTA controls the number of COEs issued, and although it says it will control the number of COEs issued because of highly congested roads, many policies are implemented to make car ownership easier.

So why does the LTA continue to issue COEs, even though it stated in a report last year that COEs issued are way above the stipulated quota - 9 per cent instead of 3 per cent?

And after issuing so many COEs, the LTA introduces ERP gantries everywhere with higher prices and longer operating hours to discourage vehicle use. Why not control the issuing of COEs in the first place?

I hope the LTA can shed some light on these apparently contradictory policies.

 

Jennifer Wong (Ms)
 

 

... I think they are like the Mafia of Singapore...

... Untouchable...

 

... and they can 'touch' you anywhere and anyhow they so pleases...

... mostly they touch your pockets, wallets, and purses...

Originally posted by t_a_s:

Don't be so black heart lah, Mrs Lee is better than Mrs peanut Goh. Never talk much one

... those who don't talk much, holds deeper thoughts and imparts darker ideas...

... if not for personal gains, can they show ys WHO is gaining from their decisions?

... should change this thread title to:

"7 Signs that you are Turning into LKY"

... yah, describes the LKY well...