Why can't opposition MPs be advisers to grassroots bodies, PA?

Just cos someone's an opp MP doesn't mean that he doesn't support all Govt policies. Ignoring them when appointing grassroots advisers is a gross generalisation bordering on xenophobia. This is PA shooting themselves in the foot, an open admission of a subjective, selective, sycophantic policy of key appointments in a non-partisan entity. MPs're elected by the people, opp or not; who's PA to say they're unfit?

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_707744.html

Keynesian economics

In economics Keynesianism (pronounced /ˈkeɪnziən/, also Keynesian economics and Keynesian Theory), is based on the ideas of twentieth-century British economist John Maynard Keynes. According to Keynesian economics the state should stimulate economic growth and improve stability in the private sector - through, for example, interest rates, taxation and public projects.

The theories forming the basis of Keynesian economics were first presented in The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, published in 1936.

In Keynes's theory, some micro-level actions of individuals and firms can lead to aggregate macroeconomic outcomes in which the economy operates below its potential output and growth. Many classical economists had believed in Say's Law, that supply creates its own demand, so that a "general glut" would therefore be impossible. Keynes contended that aggregate demand for goods might be insufficient during economic downturns, leading to unnecessarily high unemployment and losses of potential output. Keynes argued that government policies could be used to increase aggregate demand, thus increasing economic activity and reducing high unemployment and deflation.

Keynes argued that the solution to depression was to stimulate the economy ("inducement to invest") through some combination of two approaches:

- a reduction in interest rates.
- Government investment in infrastructure - the injection of income results in more spending in the general economy, which in turn stimulates more production and investment involving still more income and spending and so forth. The initial stimulation starts a cascade of events, whose total increase in economic activity is a multiple of the original investment.

A central conclusion of Keynesian economics is that in some situations, no strong automatic mechanism moves output and employment towards full employment levels. This conclusion conflicts with economic approaches that assume a general tendency towards an equilibrium. In the 'neoclassical synthesis', which combines Keynesian macro concepts with a micro foundation, the conditions of General equilibrium allow for price adjustment to achieve this goal.

The New classical macroeconomics movement, which began in the late 1960s and early 1970s, criticized Keynesian theories, while New Keynesian economics have sought to base Keynes's idea on more rigorous theoretical foundations.

More broadly, Keynes saw his as a general theory, in which utilization of resources could be high or low, whereas previous economics focused on the particular case of full utilization.

Some interpretations of Keynes have emphasized his stress on the international coordination of Keynesian policies, the need for international economic institutions, and the ways in which economic forces could lead to war or could promote peace.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keynesian
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This is obvious in Singapore, where our Government builds overhead bridges, disabled-friendly walkways etc. to stimulate the construction industry. So, yes, Marina Bay Sands IR will be built at all costs.

Civil servants have been gagged for too long

Look, Aims (Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society) notwithstanding, civil servants been doing it all the while.

Love it or hate it, government policy is something always on everybody's lips, so what makes civil servants any different? In fact, civil servants probably have even more to say about it and, dare I say it, even more entitlement to say it, given the stake that they have in the ministry they serve in.

In the purpose of fostering creative tension, it's a wonder the Government hadn't thought of this sooner, but it's certainly better late than never. Its policies are best questioned & critiqued by people in the know.

For sure, the guidelines regarding the Official Secrets Act, abuse of position etc. need to be clear & clarified, but don't let that get in the way of the long-overdue ungagging of civil servants.

Town Council to Start Own Casino by Nyonya Kway (must be Talking Cock)

After its sinking fund investment, um, sank, Bukit Gorblok Town Council intends to recoup its losses by starting its own casi… sorry, sorry, integrated resort.

“Since Marina Bay Sands is facing problems, we may have a window of opportunity,” said Bukit Gorblok Town Council (BGTC) spokeswoman Ms Betty Ng.

Ms. Ng revealed earlier this month that they had invested a portion of the estate’s sinking fund, supposed to be deployed for maintenance and upgrading, into high risk equities like DBS High School Musical Notes 5, and Lemon Brothers Minibombs.

When asked why a non-profit organization like a town council would want to take such huge risks with residents’ money, especially for paltry returns like 3% p.a., Ms. Ng replied, “We take our cue from the Gahmen. To succeed in Singapore, you must follow the Lee men. So of course we invested in Lehman, lah.”

But now that the global economic crisis has wiped their investments out, BGTC isn’t just shrugging its shoulders and accepting the situation as just “L.L.”, said Ms. Ng.

“We’ve come up with a solution we think will earn all our money back.” BGTC will be starting its own casino.

“It makes a lot of sense,” said Ms. Ng. “In our constituency, everybody is suffering – hawkers, shopkeepers, residents. But one business attracts long lines every week, week after week – the 4D booth. This tells us something.”

According to Ms Ng, BGTC has entered into joint ventures with several experts in the local gambling scene, such as the Chap Sar Tiam Tattooed Blood Brother Society of Geylang Lorong 69. “I don’t have too much information about them at the moment,” said Ms. Ng in response to press inquiries. “They’re society is a bit secretive.”

BGTC will offer less luxurious, but still appealing gambling options to customers. “Maybe we won’t have a roulette wheel or baccarat salon, lah. But we think people will still come and place money at our mahjong, chapjikee and paikow tables, and also our own innovation – Texas Hold’em Cheekupak.”

Aside from gambling, there will also be other entertainments, Ms. Ng promised, “like karaoke, peidu mamas and shih-tzu massage, where customers can have their bodies rubbed all over with a small dog.”

BGTC has also planned to limit the deleterious social effects that gambling might have on its own residents. “So we’re going to charge all residents extra $50. If you come from Toa Payoh or Sengkang, can just come in and puak, but local residents, too bad.”

BGTC will have its ribbon cutting ceremony next week, officiated by MP and Senior Mini-star of State for Boring Affairs Dr. Potongaji Salaribigwan. “Dr. Potongaji has also kindly agreed to place the first bet,” said Ms. Ng. “His office says he needs to make up for his pay being cut somehow.”

And what about BGTC’s casino’s name?“We thought that since Marina Bay Sands will be delayed,” said Ms. Ng. “We would call ours Kanina Bay Hands.”

The Billion-and-One Commandments

Wanna know where's the Parks Act? Well you can find it here at Singapore Statutes Online, together with other obscure novelties like Animals & Birds Act (isn't a bird an animal?), Application of English Law Act, Banishment Act, Boy Scouts Association Act, Bretton Woods Agreement Act and the ultra-relevant Cattle Act.

Parliament: Cops scared of crooks, so base closed! by Royce Cheah, The Star Online

The stupidity and incompetence of the reply is really quite chocking, but then again, little shocks you about Malaysia anymore.
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KUALA LUMPUR: A police beat base in the Chow Kit area of downtown Kuala Lumpur was closed down because it was in a location that was considered unsafe, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

In a written reply to Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa), Syed Hamid said the beat base was located in a dirty area where there was a possibility of being exposed to contagious diseases.

The presence of criminals also posed a threat to the safety of police officers, he said.

Lo’ Lo’ had asked why the beat base on Jalan Haji Taib was closed considering the high number of vice-related activities in the area, as well as what kind action had been taken by the police to curb such activities.

Syed Hamid said that the police were looking for a new location to build a police beat base that would be able to give “guaranteed and continued service to the public.”

Lo’ Lo’s was the 30th question in the Order Paper and hence did not get a mention in the House during the daily one-hour Question Time. However, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) managed to raise it when he interjected during Azmin Ali’s (PKR-Gombak) speech during the debate on Budget 2009.

Dr Mohd Hatta said that if the police themselves felt unsafe in a beat base, then it would be even worse for the public.

“The minister has to resign if he is worried about the safety of police in that area. Maybe it would be better to put the beat base in army barracks,” he said.

Dr Mohd Hatta then managed to raise the issue again during his own debate on Budget 2009 saying that Syed Ali’s response was not rational.

“The police are there to make a place safe. If they themselves are scared and run away, then how can we hope for others to want to be there?

“It is embarassing and that is why the criminals will always be there,” he said.

Dr Mohd Hatta said if the place is dirty, then it is up to the police to organise gotong-royong activities to clean it up or if they did not want to then they should move to Putrajaya or Parliament.

“And what is this about contagious diseases on Jalan Haji Taib? The only kind of contagious diseases that are present there are sexually-transmitted ones.

“Is the minister scared that his charges will contract such diseases? That kind of thing is a matter of choice. In any case, if this is what he is worried about then we are worried that the police are not above this.”

Dr Mohd Hatta added that the police had to be brave people and that they were a different breed altogether when facing demonstrators. He said he hoped that the minister would clarify his written answer in the House as this is not the kind of police that the people want.

Fined $200 for sleeping

This takes the cake, it really does. Make us a laughing stock too. The worst kind of law is the one filled with loopholes and inconsistencies, and so it proves.

A man was fined $200 for snoozing at Sun Plaza Park. It was raining at the time and I guess he was just waiting it out. As you know, there really is no better time to sleep when it is raining. And so he did, on a sheltered bench. Two NParks officials came along, told him to get up, and here's where the story gets complicated.

The officials claim he didn't obey; the man claims he did. Regardless of that, they both agree that it was the man's first 'offence', if you can call it that.

Some of this may sound reminiscent of Mr Murali's excellent editorial, but I guess great minds think alike.

If it's his first offence (undisputed fact), why the heavy-handedness. Wouldn't a verbal warning or (harshly) warning letter suffice?

Besides, at no place in the park was there a sign prohibiting a snooze. In their great esteem, NParks couldn't find it either, and helpfully informed us that it wasn't on their website, but that the public could read about the offence in the Parks Act or something like that.

Hmmm, let's picture this:
Child: Hey Dad, let's go to the park!
Dad: I know, wait. Let me read the latest edition of the Park Act first, in case flying a kite that looks like a hammer is illegal. Might look like Workers' Party.
Child: Oh I see. Where do you find that Act? Maybe the NParks website?
Dad: Nope, not there.
Child: Ministry of Environment?
Dad: Nope.
Child: Google Parks Act?
And so on.

Next time you go to the funfair, better check the Funfair Act first. Sekali you drink water while on the ferris wheel and get fined for drinking at the wheel.

Moreover, motorists are fined relative pittances for putting motorists and pedestrians in danger, like by parking along double yellow lines, speeding etc. The message? Sleeping on a bench is a greater sin than hogging a busy road. Tsk. Just imagine the number of people he inconvenienced while sleeping - all those people walking in the park while it was raining - all two of them. Oh wait, those were the officials.

The biggest loser in the whole sordid affair must be NParks and its lawmaking. Forget Henderson Waves and all its good work. One PR disaster and all the public sees is a ponderous, heavy-handed government body bound with red tape that bullies tired people.

All this proves that laws are useless unless you have civil servants with the initiative and common sense to implement them.

Another conundrum: The law against homosexuals is loosely applied but this is not. What is a matter of greater importance then? People sleeping on the wrong bench or people sleeping with the wrong sex?

Serangoon Gardens apartheid

Yes, this may sound like Sepp Blatter calling Ronaldo a slave, and I may be accused of now reading up sufficiently on pre-Mandela South African history, but I dare say the whole "I don't want foreign workers in my backyard" tug-of-war between Serangoon Gardens, the Government and now Tai Hwan smacks of petty apartheid.

Granted, we are not talking about citizens here, but foreigners. But the Serangoon people are talking about them as if they are a bunch of molesters & murderers who only know how to get drunk & vandalise. That is about as broad a stereotype as you can get. Unwittingly, they are perpetuating the Singaporean stereotype of selfishness & self-interest.

Singapore is so small that eventually, they're gonna have to live in someone's backyard. The big picture is it happens to be Serangoon Gardens/Tai Hwan this time. Might be Hume Park next time, or Lentor Avenue. Put yourself in their shoes - if you were in a foreign land earning whatever you can so your family, who you won't see for years, can scrape by, wouldn't you want their sympathy too? Yes, you would. Now go and do likewise.

They had the cheek to complain they were not consulted. Hello? Does the land belong to you? No. Do you really expect the Government to accede when you say you want them somewhere else? Again, big picture. If everyone says no, where do we put them? Lim Chu Kang?

I know "dormitory" is an anagram for "dirty room", but it can't be that bad. Wake up, stop dreaming and have a little heart.

Means testing

This letter was published in The New Paper on 5 Mar 2008, p24.
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I was not sure previously what means testing meant, but I must comment that Mr Khaw Boon Wan's method of assessing the amount of subsidy a patient receives for Class B2 & C wards is a breath of fresh air. He has done away with the rigid system used so widely in our Government and introduced what can only be described as a fairer and more flexible system. Instead of one inflexible income ceiling, there are now as many as 16 different stages spanning $2000 in average monthly income, each with a difference in subsidy of only 1%. If everyone was to follow suit, we may never see the words 'falling in the gap' any more in The New Paper's human-interest sob stories.

For example, for the C Class wards, a family earning $3200 and below gets an 80% subsidy. Previously, it would not be uncommon for someone to earn, say, $3300/month and fall in the gap completely, getting no subsidy at all. This practice forced people to desperate measures like asking their employers to pay them less just to meet the income requirements. As we speak, come couples applying to buy new flats are caught in this conundrum, earning just above $8000 and qualifying only for resale flats. With this new means testing system, it is hoped that such borderline cases will be dealt with greater mathematical sympathy and flexibility. The more exhaustive the range, the fewer unfortunate borderline cases there will be.

Now if only the other ministries could follow MOH's lead and correct their inflexible systems to better cater to the needs of Singaporeans. Knowing our Government, they'll probably adopt a prudent wait-and-see attitude. May I stick my neck out and say they should start developing them immediately: Mr Khaw's means testing looks every bit a winner.
Reference: The New Paper, 4 Mar 2008, p10-11