maximise growth at any cost, at the expense of singaporeans

Singapore has the third-largest share of foreign-born persons in its population of any country, after the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

It is inevitable that foreigner numbers will continue to swell, but the key is how many the country can accommodate and how fast it wants to grow.

PAP govt had went overboard in trying to maximise growth, at the expense of singaporeans.

For the investments that were brought in, the criteria were more to generate growth.

This has led to more low- skilled and cheaper foreign workers on work permits.

Their presence, in turn, has depressed the salaries of low-skilled Singaporeans.
It is not a new trend, and PAP govt policymakers are aware of it,




government labour reports show that wages of workers such as cleaners and labourers have stayed stagnant or even declined in the past decade, while the wages of higher- skilled workers rose.

Singapore had the biggest gap in both years. It also had one of the fastest widening gaps: In 1996, the top 10 per cent earned 4.9 times the income earned by the bottom 10 per cent; in 2006, that proportion had increased to 5.7.

The PAP govt has not done their job well, people has eyes to see.



cheers to our great leader who made thw wrong policies while they are aware of it.

1st World Country, 3rd World Wage Structure

1st World Country, 3rd World Wage Structure?
"For years, companies have creamed off a larger share of economic gains - larger than those in other developed countries or industrialising economies in Asia.

As a result, workers get a slice of Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) that is considered unusually

tiny

compared with their counterparts' share in those countries.


many people have asked: how come we have economic growth of 10%, but we cannot feel the goodness?
where all the money have gone to?

we knew that 80% of the company profit goes to 20% of the top management whilst 20% of the rest is for 80% of the workers.

so, we can see the clearer picture from here.
we the workers worked like shit, had minimum increments over the past few years.
our CPF cut when there is a crisis and when good times have come, it is the same as ever.

For years, companies have creamed off a larger share of economic gains.

it really make us feel bad when you know the truth.

transport fares

come july the 3rd, there will be fare adjustment for the buses and MRT.
for some commuters, they may have slight savings while other remained the same.

but not for the elders who enjoyed a flat rateof 68 cents before 3rd july.
now the flat rate has increased to 86 cents, an increment of 18 cents.

still, it was a tiny sum as compared to others who enjoyed saving instead.

however, they are the vocals ones, perferred to be the silent ones, and kept quiet since the fare's adjustments a few weeks ago.

for those smokers who smoke outside the flat, they will noticed this sign..

smoking

i do not like people smoking, but i do not hate them as some of them chose a corner to smoke.
however, i hate those who smoke outside their flat, tnd let their neighbours have their second-hand smoke.
for their own conveniences sake, and to satisfy their needs, they do not care about other but they themselves only.

people have become selfish nowadays and i have noticed the changes long, long ago.
are our society progressing orwalking backwards..?

you have already know the answer

the special one

Mourinho always likes the last word, as he is plotting more Champions League success if he signs for Real Madrid.

"Few have the privilege of winning it.
it's an even bigger privilege winning it twice.
i can win a third, a forth, a fifth time but i don't like the feelings will be different," he said.

"the feelings are joy and happiness and a tear if i leave."

Mourinho always proved that he is always right in the end.
again and again, he showed that he could win the much prized trophy.
he said it and he did it.

unlike one minister said that singapore will be in the final 32 teams of 2010 world cup.
he is building castle in the air, knowing that it was the gigantic lie.
and yet he said it and reported in the press!
shame on you.

I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow

I am the man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my days
I bid farewell to ol' Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised.

The place where he was born and raised

For six long years I've been in trouble,
no pleasure here on earth I've found
For in this world, I'm bound to ramble,
I have no friends to help me now.

He has no friends to help him now

It's fair thee well, my old true lover,
I never expect to see you again.
For I'm bound to ride that Northern Railroad,
perhaps I'll die upon this train

Perhaps he'll die upon this train

You can bury me in some deep valley,
For many years where I may lay.
And you may learn to love another
while I am sleeping in my grave.

While he is sleeping in his grave

Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face you never will see no more
But there is one promise that is given,
I'll meet you on Gods golden shore

He'll meet you on God's golden shore

North and South Korea

ring finger

eversince i injured my left ring finger, i have changed much since then.
i am no longer no same person.
i have changed but still walked on the narrow path which i have chosen.
it is my choice.
no one else.

for friends

for friends.
as days passes by, as we works,
friends are disappearing from my phone list.
each year, it is getting smaller as we strikes off friends whom i trusted them but betrayed me in the end.

all left are few but precious friends whom i can depended on.

they are truly my friends.

talk less do more

i have learnt from my mistakes in the past.
luckily friends told me and advised me.
Talk less and do more.

i have been too trusting in others, and in the end, i have fallen, hard.

calm

i will be calm.
i will be still.
in quietness and silence.

too many jobs for singaporeans?

they told you that Singaporeans should not be choosy, take whatever jobs that comes up, but they never told you this:

The momentum has now ground to a halt because of the economic crisis.
But if the pace picks up again, Singaporeans could end up being outnumbered by foreigners in the workplace.

there could be more than three million foreigners working here by 2030, forming half the workforce. That will jump to almost 10 million by 2050, making up 75 per cent of employees here.

It is a frightening leap from the current figure of one million, or 36 per cent of the workforce.

Of the 235,000 jobs added in 2007, six in 10 went to foreigners. The ratio rose last year, with foreigners taking seven in 10 of the 222,000 new jobs.
This means that almost 300,000 foreigners flocked here to take up jobs in the past two years, pushing their population past the one million mark for the first time.

bad blood

Hong Kong comedy and drama actor, Richard Ng said this.

He told once he witnessed with his own eyes a China man pulling a woman out of a cab just because he wanted to have the cab for himself first.

He also commented on the huge influx of China immigrants into Singapore.

He said in time to come, Singapore's crime rate would go up because of these immigrants.

He added the Singapore government was importing bad blood.

attitude

it is just a simple task, but attitude that counts.
different people reacts to the task and have different attitudes.
the aim to do the things even better.
but what we saw is the exact opposite.
they just do not care.

honour

i will fight for honour,
regardless of everything.

Welcome To Next Great Depression

it is coming.
for every success came the greatest failure.

robin hood:one man can change the world

Robin Hood 2010 is not the typical story of the man and his gang of “merry” men stealing from the rich and giving to the poor that we have known for years.

This “new” version of the famous creator is more detailed and purposed.

Robin Hood 2010 starts out by giving us a more detailed history of the famed archer and how he sacrifices himself for his country.

Russel Crowe brings his usual expert performance to this film. Crowe makes us believe the notion that one man can change the world.

Max von Sydow, Kate Blanchett and William Hurt also give stellar performances. This version of Robin Hood is bloody and violent and is not for little kids.

As I was watching this movie, I kept thinking of the movie Gladiator and how Robin Hood falls along the same lines.

Don’t get me wrong here, this movie is an excellent movie.

If someone other than Russel Crowe were playing the lead I would probably never made the comparison.

Just as Russel Crowe made Gladiator the hit movie it was, he will also be remembered for Robin Hood.

This movie is definitely a must see for all action fans as Robin Hood 2010 will not disappoint you.

the saddest sound

Alvin Tan: Jobless reader cried with Mum on Mother’s Day, May 18th, 2010


if anybody asks me what I have given my mum on Mother’s Day last weekend, my answer will be – SORROW.

“Oh, you’re such a unfilial son!” one will quickly retort.

No, no, hear me out.

I am a 44-year old single guy, held the post of a senior manager before but was retrenched last year.

I have sent out more than 230 copies of my CV to potential employers but received only less than 15 interviews so far.

Each appointment brought forth false hopes of employment and ultimately disappointment. How many rejections can a person take?

I was furious and dismayed but I could take it all.

As for my mum, she can’t. Such is the love of a mother has for his son. She wants her son to be gainfully employed and not daily coop up at home living a meaningless life.

I know that she is worried for me as each time when she heard that there was an interview coming, she would iron my clothes personally because she knows that my ironing is out of this world.

Weeks and months have now passed and I am still at home, patiently cutting papers for job opportunities.

I also began to slowly doubt myself – is there something wrong with me? Am I that bad that no employer is willing to give me a chance?

My savings are also drying up and the bills are haunting me slowly.

I can take it all – but not my mum.

She can’t bear to see her beloved son unemployed for so long.

You see, a year ago, I promised my mum on Mother’s Day that I will give her a good treat when I can find a job.

More than 365 days had passed since that day. How time flies when you are jobless.

Finally, Mother’s Day came last Sunday. I asked her what would she want for a Mother’s Day gift?

She cried and said: “The best present will be a job for you.”

I hugged her and we cried together.

Tears filled my eyes and there is a growing resentment within me.

I don’t hate myself anymore for being unemployed. I hate the current policies of Singapore.

It is not that I am lazy but the truth of the matter is many jobs have now gone to the foreigners.



Under Singapore’s lax labor policies, companies are allowed to employ foreigners so long a quota for local workers are fulfilled.

The situation is further exacerbated by the astonishingly short time in which the PRs are granted.

Most countries require foreigners to reside for a period of time before they are allowed to apply for PR but not in Singapore!

Two out of every three PR applications are successful here.

Many of these so-called foreign talents are in direct competition with us locals for jobs. Can Singapore truly accommodates six million people? Where are the additional jobs going to come from?

I have served my 2-year national service to protect my country and now my country is filled with these foreigners, which I am obligated to protect. How ironical can it be!

Is this what I deserve for being a true Singaporean?

As for my mum, she will have to wait a while longer for her Mother’s Day treat from me.

mother's love

when i injured ourselves one day, the first person whom came into our mind is my mother.
no body else but my mother.

the call of the wild

the howling
the cry,
the hope
and
the wishes..
not for me, but for my mother

the nature

sometimes, i have time, i will go to the forest.
to smell the fragrance, feel its greatest, and sleep on the grass patch, glancing at the bright green leaves..

it is like heaven, there's no need to travel far.
it is just nearby.

marathon

i have hoped that one day i will run my 1st marathon.
of course, i have to train myself to run at least 50km.
now my average jog is about 6km.

still a long, long way to go.
still, i have to give my ever best effort to fullfill my wish.
Oh, Yes!

PR

a comment by one bloggers

I am glad to read you applied for citizenship. Sorry that you got rejected.

Regardless, it should be an official policy that citizens should always come first, at the expense of PRs and foreigners. Every country is morally obliged to care for its citizens FIRST. That is what a citizen should expect.

You might not be a citizen, but your sons are entitled to, since they are doing NS.

Most of us resent PRs because of the following reasons;

1) Many of them are just cheap labour. We locals can't fight cheap, because our families live in expensive housing, and not in Third-World Housing

2) Many PRs, once they become managers, have a tendency to fire Singaporeans and replace them with their own countrymen. If you were one of us, wouldn't you be angry with the foreigners too?

3) Many PRs are arrogant. They actually dare demand for the same rights and privileges as citizens.

4) Many PRs and foreigners think they are some big-shot just because they pay taxes. So what? They pay enough tax to cover all our salaries and the public services? If not, they should shut up. We pax taxes too.

5) Many PRs import into our countries the same bad values that keep their own countries poor and downtrodden; corruption, nepotism, dishonesty, laziness.

Not all Singaporeans are good. There are corrupt Singaporeans too. But enough of us are hardworking and not corrupt. That is enough to get our country going, and enough to make you come to our land, instead of us going to live in your land.

5) Many of us think that PRs and foreigners are only fighting with locals for limited jobs, jobs that can and should be performed by a citizen.
Many of us feel that Singaporeans won't get a job if the manager if Filipino or Indian or PRC, because the Filipino/Indian/PRC manager would rather give the job to his own countryman.

That makes us hate the PR very much!!

no pain no gain

bloodshed means nothing.
face them, not hide.
straight on.

still alive

i am still much alive.
much alive than what you have think.
it is good that i am still alive.
oh, Yes!

have no fear

fear is your greatest enemy.
show no mercy

band of brothers

in the end, when i was played out by someone, it was a humiliation which i will never ever forget in my entire life.
that is why i trust myself, and never believe in others.
they are afterall, our band of brothers.

shield

protect yourself.
guard your heart well.

supernova

liberation of the greatest energy.

rebirth

rebirth of a new man.
me, a changed person.

let it all go

Let go of the Past,
Only then you move towards the future.
Let go of the Regrets,
Only then you move towards the happiness.
Let go of the Presumptions,
Only then you move towards the truth.
Let go of the Problems,
Only then you move towards the solutions.
Let go of Yourself,
Only then you move towards the divinity.

do not break

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times,
happy moments and unhappy moments.

The next time you are experiencing
one of those bad times or unhappy moments,
Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.

If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point; show resilence.

Bend; But don’t break!

Philippines Elections 2010

Elections are more entertainment than enlightenment in the Philippines.
Every night, candidates travel from town to town in whistle-stop motorcades packed with comedians, pop singers, movie stars and basketball heroes.
They sing and chant political slogans, dance and hand out partisan, colour-coded T-shirts, baseball caps and wristbands to crowds of equally enthusiastic potential voters.

Party labels, ideology and issues have virtually nothing to do with the campaigns. Politicians instead rely on the strength of their personalities and two traditional

Philippine formulas for success-- "family and favours" and "guns, gold and girls."

In many ways, the Philippines' elections can be compared to the country's popular soap operas. Behind the conflicting web of personal relationships, business interests and shared histories lies a wavering uncertain mass of shifting alliances, angry accusations and desperate political showmanship.

And, just as on television, a fear of violence and bloodshed lingers in the background. So far, more than 90 people have been killed in the run-up to the May 10 polls.

old friend

met an old friend whom i have not met for a long, long time.
he still remembered me, and called my name.
ah..
after those years, he still does not forget me and i also have not forgotten him, too.
we had a long talk.
time passes quickly when you met a good talker like my friend.
it is good.

well, we parted unwillingly and promised to meet whenever possible.

take care my friend, take good care.

timeless

where time there is no borderless, boundless, unlimited.
our persistant chase of happiness always ended in agonies.
so, be contented of what i have.

time is endless

for space, time is endless.
for us, our time is limited and is a fraction of a second in space.
i don't give a damn to those who betrayed me.

frankly speaking my dear i don't give a damn

frankly speaking my dear i don't give a damn.

calm

calm.
all is calm.
when the sparrow flies over the lake, its images is reflected on the surface.
once it flies away, the calm returns to its original state of calmness.
empty once again

salute

it is a dirty war.
like iraq, it is the war best avoid.

i have been one that i trusts people too much.
well, that is life, isn't it.
however, i still continued on my narrow path.

when i was in the darkest valley and still able to smile, it is not easy, but i have done it.
so, let smile at our trusted friends and colleagues, once again.

the moment of truth

the person whom you have trusted the most played you out.
the person whom you knew for two to three years turned out just an ordinary person.
well, when things happen, and it always do, i take it and let it go pass us.
i move on as i have already let it go.