Blog moving from Blogger to Wordpress Dear All, I have decided to move my blog from blogger to wordpress. The main reason is because wordpress has a "cleaner" appearance and is very user-friendly. Please update your bloglinks to www.antineodem.wordpress.com I appreciate all who linked to and comment on my blog in the past and I look forward to seeing you guys again. I promise at the very least, the new blog will look better and cleaner; and hopefully as I grow in experience and knowledge, the analysis will become better and sharper. It has been a great ride with blogger. To more good years with wordpress =)P.S. I am not totally giving up this blog but it might morph into a more personal blog in the future. For now, all the action is in wordpress. Blogger or Wordpress I have started a new blog at www.antineodem.wordpress.comI am not sure whether I want to continue with blogger and blogspot or move to wordpress. The new wordpress is very user-friendly and looks (much) cleaner. But I have no idea how to create expandable posts in wordpress (which I struggled with too in blogger and gave up).Advice anyone?P.S. Will continue blogging at blogspot for the time being as I sort out all the necessary technological stuff. Also, I don't feel like paying 15 dollars for a custom CSS editor for wordpress while I can get it free from blogger. The Politics of Upgrading-Journalism, Mr Chiam and a citizen Happy Lunar New Year to one and all! Being in Carleton makes you realize that the New Year is not only celebrated by the Chinese but by the Hmong, the Vietnamese and the Koreans. Also, did you know that Japanese do not celebrate the Lunar New Year but rather consider Jan 1st as the new year?Anyway, to the main topic of today's post. Chiam See Tong complains to SPH editors that a particular journalist lacks journalistic integrity with regards to a news report about the purported difficulty of Chiam in providing lift upgrading for PP residents.The undercurrents run deeper. A Straits Times Forum Letter by Chan Mia Lee later directly criticizes Chiam for no doing his duty as a MP with regards life upgrading. Mr. Chan has previously criticized Mr. Chiam in a ST forum letter in Oct 2005 with regards to Chiam's "paranoid" over Sitoh Yin Pin's invitation of a foreign singer to sing in Potong Pasir. After which, three ST forum letters wrote in to support Chiam. (See below)Chiam's complaint letter to SPH can be accessed here. The news article and the "citizens" ST forum letter can be seen below. Note the dates.The Straits Times (Singapore)February 13, 2007 TuesdayChiam: Difficult to fulfil lift promise; Potong Pasir MP admits it will be tough to give HDB residents lifts that stop on every floorGoh Chin LianOPPOSITION MP Chiam See Tong is finding it a struggle to fulfil an election promise to provide his HDB residents with lifts on every floor. Lift upgrading was a carrot the People's Action Party (PAP) dangled in the last general election.The opposition veteran declared then that he could match the offer in his Potong Pasir constituency, saying that he had enough funds to do it within five years.But the Singapore Democratic Alliance leader has now said providing his HDB residents with lifts that stop on every floor will be 'a bit difficult'. He told The Straits Times last week that many blocks did not have common corridors on all floors. This meant separate lift shafts had to be built, and would add to the cost.He spoke about the difficulty when interviewed for an update on plans he outlined for the ward during the polls: 'Regarding the replacement of lifts, we said we had enough money at that time.'I didn't realise they were going to make the lifts stop on every floor. That is a different proposition altogether. 'But if the replacement is one for one, that we have money for. But to stop on every floor, especially these blocks in Potong Pasir, it's a bit difficult.'The lift upgrading issue - and whether Mr Chiam had funds for it - came up repeatedly during the hustings. He said at the time that 40 blocks would have lifts on every floor within five years, and he would have enough funds for the upgrading.He cited two sources he could draw on: his town council's sinking fund and residents co-paying the exercise.But Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, campaigning to win Potong Pasir back for the PAP, described the offer as an 'empty promise'. He noted that Mr Chiam's accounts showed that he could use only $800,000 of the $8 million in his sinking fund. This would be enough for just four blocks.Mr Chiam kept his seat, winning 55.8 per cent of the valid votes.Since then, he has asked the Government for the $80 million in funds for upgrading that was promised to residents by losing PAP candidate Sitoh Yih Pin.The Government declined. It reminded Mr Chiam that as voters chose him, the PAP man has no mandate to pursue his proposal with the Government. Still, it announced that all eligible HDB blocks will have lift upgrading by 2014 - but PAP wards will get priority over opposition wards, all things being equal.But in December, the HDB said residents in 22 blocks across the island will still have to climb some stairs to get to the lift. This is because having lifts stop on every floor in those blocks was too expensive or not feasible. Half-landings may be provided instead.Eighteen of the 22 Potong Pasir residents The Straits Times spoke to last week could not clearly remember what Mr Chiam said about lift upgrading at the hustings.The other four, like accounting executive Jessica Lee, 25, recall him saying he had funds for lifts on every floor. But they did not expect the town council to have funds for it soon, if at all. This was because upgrading costs would be high and the council needed to spend on estate maintenance.When told of Mr Chiam's explanation, those interviewed were not dismayed they may not get lifts on every floor. But they said the elderly or disabled would need it.Still, Madam Lew Kwee Heong, 74, who uses a walking aid, is resigned to the possibility that it may not happen.She goes out once a week. Her maid or children help her at the stairs between her unit on the 14th floor and the 13th floor lift landing of Block 134 at Potong Pasir Avenue 1. She said in Mandarin: 'It's up to Mr Chiam or the Government. We can't do anything about it.'chinlian@sph.com.sgThe Straits Times (Singapore)February 17, 2007 Saturday ST FORUM - ONLINE STORYFulfil your promise on lift upgrading, Mr MPI am disappointed to learn that Mr Chiam See Tong, the MP for Potong Pasir, has taken a different tack on lift upgrading in his ward 'Chiam: Difficult to fulfil lift promise' (ST, Feb 13).It has been almost a year after the election and only now has he realised that it is quite a challenge to provide lift stops on every floor of HDB flats.I hope that Mr Chiam would keep to his election promise and pursue lift replacements resolutely, come what may. And time is of the essence because a year has passed since the election ended, and the next general election may be held in 2011.Nothing seems to have been done in the estate. Perhaps Mr Chiam could enlighten us on what progress he had made so far. I am also keen to know the outcome of the much publicised covered walkway from the MRT station to HDB Block 147 whose concept had the residents full of anticipation.Also, Mr Chiam, are there any plans to make Potong Pasir a barrier-free ward during your term of office?Chan Mia LeeRead Mr Chiam's reply to ST hereMr. Chan's previous letter on Mr. ChiamThe Straits Times (Singapore)October 26, 2005 WednesdayST ForumChiam should focus on bonding with residentsChan Mia LeeI WAS surprised to learn from a recent Straits Times parliamentary report that Mr Chiam See Tong, the incumbent MP who had won all five elections in Potong Pasir constituency, feels paranoid and insecure just because a crooner sang praises of his rival, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, at a National Day dinner.If he is really so afraid, then I would say that he no longer enjoys the confidence of residents in his constituency. To the best of my knowledge, residents are not that naive to be swayed by a song so easily. A man of his stature should therefore not be so concerned. The solution is to engage Mr Sitoh with more and more social programmes for the residents. And if he thinks that engaging a singer can win him votes, then he should do it too. Nobody is going to stop him. Raising such a small issue in Parliament would not score him any points.Potong Pasir is a constituency that lacks many social activities. If not for Mr Sitoh and his dedicated grassroots leaders filling the vacuum, the constituency would be a ghost town. Blaming this and that does not help Mr Chiam at all. He is just creating a storm in a teacup. I would suggest that he starts engaging Mr Sitoh and his grassroots leaders quickly by continuously organising mega-events for the residents.Mr Sitoh and his supporters have set the pace, so rise to the challenge and follow them by organising activities such as a weekend Mega Tour to Port Dickson with five meals, one night's accommodation and transport thrown in, all for a mere $88 per person.Or organise a National Day dinner for 2,000 diners at $20 a head and have singers sing praises of him. I am sure his equally dedicated supporters can do that.The ground is therefore neutral and whoever serves the residents well deserves to be elected in a general election. It is as simple as that.Who is to blame if he finds that the ground is not even? Surely, he cannot claim that Mr Sitoh created the unevenness. As an MP the ball is in his court. It is time Mr Chiam realises that Potong Pasir residents want him to work harder and provide them with social activities too, not just maintaining the ward well.If he fails to meet their expectations and should he be unsuccessful in the next election, the history of Potong Pasir would end with him.So Mr Chiam should start rallying his supporters to match Mr Sitoh and his grassroots leaders in building bonds with the residents, before it is too late. Time and tide wait for no man.A reply from a citizen then to Mr. Chan's letterThe Straits Times (Singapore)October 29, 2005 SaturdayST ForumIncumbent MP Chiam deserves respectI REFER to the criticism levelled on Mr Chiam See Tong, MP for Potong Pasir, by Mr Chan Mia Lee in his letter, 'Chiam should focus on bonding with residents' (ST, Oct 26).Let me first state that I am not a resident of Potong Pasir. Neither do I know Mr Chiam personally, nor am I an opposition supporter. As a matter of fact, I have always voted for the PAP candidate. But I have great respect for Mr Chiam. Here is a man who has risen against all odds to win a seat to represent Potong Pasir. As an opposition MP, he has been an honourable Member of Parliament. He does not oppose for opposition's sake.For him to be re-elected in Potong Pasir for five consecutive terms says a lot about the level of support he enjoys from his constituents.But here is also a Member of Parliament who is not the adviser to grassroots organisations in his own backyard. Instead, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, who has repeatedly failed to wrest the constituency from him, is the adviser. In every PAP ward, the elected representative is the adviser to the grassroots organisations. Why is this not the case in Potong Pasir?Grassroots organisations are not part of any political party. Neither should they have any political affiliation. If that is the case, why is Mr Chiam not the adviser to the grassroots organisations in his ward?I do not think Mr Chiam is paranoid and insecure just because a crooner sang praises of his rival at a National Day dinner. A National Day dinner is not a political-party event. The crooner has no business to be singing praises of Mr Sitoh and urging the diners to vote for him.This is outright disrespectful of the incumbent MP. Imagine if the same incident were to take place in the Prime Minister's ward. Would the Prime Minister laugh off the incident?More likely than not, the crooner would be hauled up for interfering in local politics. The organiser would also be hauled up for turning the dinner into a political event without a permit.Representing a constituency as an MP is a serious undertaking. It is not a beauty parade or a karaoke contest. Did Mr Sitoh apply for a permit to hold a political rally during the dinner? If not, would he not have broken the law when the crooner urged diners to vote for him?Under election rules, shouldn't there be no campaigning outside of the election period? Should the police not investigate the matter and take appropriate action against the organiser and the crooner?Mr Chiam has repeatedly shown that he is a gentleman, even though he is an opposition member. Even Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong have openly praised him for his gentlemanliness and said good things about him.Why can't Mr Sitoh and his supporters reciprocate by respecting Mr Chiam as the incumbent MP? Sure, fight him if you must in the next election and may the better man win. But, until then, Mr Chiam is the elected representative of Potong Pasir and deserves the respect and support that should be accorded to every MP.In disrespecting an honourable Member of Parliament, Mr Sitoh and his supporters are showing disrespect to Parliament.Patrick Tan Siong Kuan Conference on Southeast Asian Americans: Building Scholarship and Cross-Campus Connections A call for papers for an undergraduate conference on the topic of SEA Americans. Also, the conference is interested in having papers on Southeast Asia itself too; especially on issues of nationalism, ethnicity, sovereignty and human rights. Any questions, you can post your comments here or email cwong@carleton.edu. Conference on Southeast Asian Americans: Building Scholarship and Cross-Campus Connections May 12-13, 2007, at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota On campuses across the United States, a new generation of young scholars is engaged in research on the history, immigration, and contemporary life of Southeast Asian Americans in the United States. Undergraduate students are carrying out exciting research projects about the dynamic changes taking place in communities of Southeast Asian Americans and the relationship of these communities to the larger society and global environment. The “Conference on Southeast Asian Americans” has two principal aims. First, the conference will provide a forum for undergraduates to share and discuss their research. Second, the conference will offer a space for faculty and undergraduates to develop collaborative relationships for future research endeavors. The conference will focus on studies of Southeast Asian Americans who are immigrants or descendents of immigrants from the mainland of Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. We are especially interested in papers about the ethnic Burmese, Cambodian, Hmong, Khmu, Lao, Lue, Mien, Thai, Thaidam, and Vietnamese. Scope of Paper Topics The conference will feature panel presentations by undergraduates of research papers of approximately 25-40 pages in length. Most of these papers will represent academic work produced in advanced undergraduate classes or independent research projects, but papers written at any college level of work will be considered for presentation on a panel. We encourage papers written from a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives on any topic of concern to Indochinese Asian American communities and individuals. For example, papers may focus on history; economics; identity formation; the sociology of work, families, and community organizations; political engagement; gender; the environment; art and literature; education; language; religion; or public health. Procedure for Submitting Paper Proposals Students who would like to present a paper should submit an abstract (about 250 words) of their paper and the name and email address or phone number of a faculty recommender who can provide information about the student’s academic work (a letter is not necessary; the name of a faculty recommender is sufficient). If a paper has already been completed (or mostly completed), it is recommended that the student submit the paper or draft paper in addition to (or instead of) an abstract. We will begin accepting paper proposals on January 15, 2007, and the final deadline for submissions April 1, 2007. Proposals should be sent to Professor Carolyn Wong at her email address: cwong@carleton.edu. Agenda A plenary session will convene on Saturday, May 12, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. Three sessions of panels will be scheduled during the late morning and afternoon of May 12. The evening will feature a cultural performance. On the morning of Sunday, May 13, participants will gather to reflect on the conference and what was learned, and discuss future directions for research. Participants will then have time to drive to visit sites of interest (and have lunch at a restaurant) in the Hmong American and Vietnamese American communities in St. Paul, Minnesota. Housing and Costs Students at Carleton College will provide free housing in their dormitory rooms to as many out-of-town guests as they can accommodate. We will also provide information on local hotels and guest accommodations. The fee for the conference will be nominal (to be announced in December 2006 on this website). The fee will cover only the cost of meals and incidentals, such as publications of conference materials. Faculty Advisory Committee (partial list) Naran BilikGary Yia LeeMai Na M. LeeLinda Trinh VoCarolyn WongKou YangRika Ito Contact: Carolyn Wong, email: cwong@carleton.edu, phone 507-646-4680 Steve Chia out of politics? The recent walkabout by Steve Chia and his National Solidarity Party comrades suggest that Steve Chia might not have quit politics. NSP seems to be back, in orange uniforms. Are we to see another fight in Chua Chu Kang again in the next election? Kudos to Workfare and Minister Lim Encouraging more companies to pay CPF to lower wage workers through the indirect methods of workfare can only be good for these workers. A very innovative policy by the government. The Straits Times (Singapore)February 14, 2007 WednesdaySwee Say: Partial Workfare will get low-wage workers on CPF scheme; Call to give those without CPF half- bonus, if they pay half of Medisave contributionLET a low-wage worker pay half or less than the usual Medisave contribution. But let him get half or more of the Workfare bonus.This 'partial Workfare' approach is being recommended by the labour movement to help low-wage workers who are not on the Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings scheme. Labour chief Lim Swee Say, who announced this idea on Sunday, elaborated on it yesterday. He said the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) supports the plan to link Workfare to CPF.This linkage has been proposed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who suggested that Medisave contributions in CPF be used as an eligibility criterion of Workfare, now a permanent income support scheme for low-wage workers. Explaining the 'partial Workfare' idea yesterday, Mr Lim said it would encourage low-wage workers to be on the CPF system.It is critical to get them on board because without CPF, workers will not be able to save for their retirement and medical needs, he said.'No CPF, no safety net,' Mr Lim told union leaders after touring Jurong Shipyard.Medisave, a compulsory medical savings account, is one component of the CPF. The other two are the Ordinary Account and Special Account. The current proposal is for low-wage workers to contribute only to the Medisave account to qualify for Workfare.However, NTUC has received feedback that some cannot afford to make this monthly Medisave contribution.NTUC estimates there are about 100,000 workers without CPF accounts. Some could be odd-job labourers, contract workers or in informal jobs like part-time work.This led the labour movement to formulate the partial Workfare which the Government is considering. The idea is to let low-income earners without CPF contribute at most 3 per cent to 4 per cent of their income to Medisave. This proportion is half the usual 6 per cent to 8 per cent that workers with CPF contribute to their Medisave accounts.But they should not be given full Workfare, to distinguish them from those who contribute in full to Medisave. 'Otherwise, those with CPF will drop out of the system,' said Mr Lim, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.NTUC president John De Payva held employers responsible for ensuring these workers get their full Workfare, by giving them CPF. 'We are making a statement to employers that you...are depriving them of their basic rights as they are workers who should qualify for CPF,' he told reporters after the visit.Employers should pay their local workers CPF once their wages exceed $50 a month.There will be a concerted effort to call on employers to do so, Mr De Payva said, adding: 'If we start now, by next year, more of these people will get full contribution of CPF and they can look forward to higher Workfare.'sueann@sph.com.sg Super Funny DBS Machine by Brown MR Brown has a funny post on DBS machine. Idea of the Day-Ritual and Power Ritual was not simply a cynical covering for naked coercion but an active force constructing power relationships. In a broad sense, rituals included all routinized movements through space which participants interacted in defined ways, but the scale of movement can be very large or very small. The travels of the emperors around their empire were both practical inspection tours and ritualized expressions of their bodily presence. In the gardens of Versailles, nobles and kings staged their relations in more controlled space than on the battlefield, but in both places they exerted power in public forms-Peter Perdue, China Marches West, Pg 419In forming hierarchical relations that drew for their coherence on powerful cosmic ordering principles embedded in higher-order rituals (a relationship that British imperial representatives remained ignorant of throughout the reminder of the Qing dynasty), Qing Guest Ritual retained the attributed of difference among lesser kings in such a way that their own proper management of their kingdoms could not only be acknowledged, but organized in relation to the extension of the supreme lord's virtue and grace throughout the world.-James Hevia, Cherishing Men from Afar, Pg 212 When S'pore population is 6.5 million Interesting commentary on Zaobao on the proposal to grow our "population pie."Without a proper debate on immigration I wonder, would there be a consensus on this issue in the long run? Without a consensus, will there be backlash against new immigrants? Will "native" Singaporeans feel displaced? What is so "native" about Singaporeans born in Singapore? What about the issue of national service for immigrants and their children? 当新加坡有人口650万 我国土地面积有限，目前估计约有680平方公里，大概相等于一些国家一般中等城市的大小。如果新加坡的人口增加到650万，这里将容纳得下吗？生活条件和人与人之间的相处，又将会产生怎样的变化？国家发展部长马宝山日前的一项宣布，相信触发了国人不少联想。　　上星期五，部长在市区重建局的常年工作计划研讨会上说，2001年我国的概念总蓝图是以550万人口作为规划依据，而五年后，我国人口已从390万左右增加到将近450万。目前经过中期调整，市建局日后将以650万人口为规划依据。　　部长并没有指明新加坡将在什么时候会达到人口650万，他的这项宣布来自政府不断未雨绸缪、长远规划的一个背景：从1971年便开始实行的“概念总蓝图”规划，目的是预先为新加坡未来四五十年的土地发展和基础设施投资做好准备。　 　宣布构想的同时，马宝山作出保证，只要妥善规划和谨慎利用土地资源，新加坡仍有足够的土地来应付未来发展的需求。他也指出，当局不会忽视城市建设的各个 方面，居住环境须有良好素质，交通也要保持顺畅。然而，在我们看，最主要的挑战，还是在于他提出的：“新加坡是我们的家。”部长认为，人们必须对周围环境 抱有“家”的感觉。　　媒体访问的社会学学者大都认为，人口增长最值得关注的问题，是对国家的归属感。固然，一个“可观”的人口将确保新加 坡的消费能力和增长动力，是新加坡的宝贵资源。不过，鉴于我国婴儿出生率偏低，无论在过去或将来人口的填补在很大程度上仍然要靠外来移民。问题是，新移民 如何顺理成章地融入本地社会，与世代在此生活的本土人打成一片，不分彼此。　　理想的做法，无疑是设定若干政策，确保本地公民优先享有政府 的津贴与优惠；而与此同时，对新移民的素质进行筛选。但在世界经济全球化之际，新加坡如何保有一个具备本身文化特色的“自我”，让本土人亲切地认同，而外 来移民也心悦诚服地在这里定居，并非只把新加坡光当作一个赚钱发迹的跳板，这确实是我们面临的一大挑战。　　为了容纳更多的人口，我们必须 进行更大面积的城市发展，这肯定将对现有的城市容貌产生极大的影响。不难发现，国家发展部长对这个课题其实也高度重视。宣布规划的同时，他不忘强调须让新 加坡的传统住宅商业区，如小印度、甘榜格南、马里士他、荷兰村、实乞纳等区获得修建。同时，传统建筑物的保留也“越来越重要”。　　归根结 底，新加坡既是个大都会，也是个城市国家，政府以及城市设计师一开始就注意到这一点，因此，在整个城市的规划上也别出心裁，具有全局和长远的构思，因此我 们相信，把未来人口设定在650万，是经过深思熟虑的决定，自然也考虑到人口增加所必将带来的各种需求和影响。政府看来已经胸有成竹，有把握新加坡发展成 为一座更加精致美丽的城市，一个对国民而言更有活力和魅力的家园。　　我们期望的是，除了人口的增加和有形的建设，我们的人文景观也能取得同步的发展，使650万人的大都会也成为一个人文荟萃的国家，我们的教育学府、研究机构更加闻名遐尔，同时能栽培出更多杰出的科学家、企业家、学者、艺术家、文学家等。　　建设一个650万人的城市，只要民众安居乐业，休闲文娱都有好去处，大致上便算功德完满了。建设一个650万人的国家，就要具备更多举世瞩目的成就，以及更加平衡的发展。 What's so difficult about zero-rating or having 2 rates of GST? I wrote on a similar issue some time ago but I just find it increasingly surprising that many people have continued to argue against zero-rating or having two forms of GST simply because it is "mah fan", "ley chay" or in English, bothersome.If it is really so burdensome to introduce zero-rating or two rates of GST, should we have one flat rate of income tax then? Should we also urge SBS to have one flat rate of transport pricing? Why not have one flat rate for all schools in Singapore, regardless of whether they are private or public? Furthermore, how about one flat rate for students in universities, regardless of whether they are overseas or local? Maybe one flat rate isn't always the best policy option, even though it is the most efficient one? (Sometimes it can be though) Can we sacrifice some forms of efficiency in exchange for an alleviation of financial burden for the middle to lower income Singaporeans?What exactly is 7% GST, 2% more GST for basic necessities? If you are a household that spends 1000 dollars per month per food before GST, you now spend 20 more a month on food. You do the maths on water bills, housing (shelter) and fan bills. [I am not advocating zero-rating or dual forms of GST to be implemented on water, housing and fan bills but just to illustrate that increase in GST does require significant financial commitments from Singaporeans; it is really different from raising the income tax for eg.]I am very confident that our world class civil service, our top notch PSC scholars, our efficient ministry of finance and our ever-vigilant CASE would have little problems dealing with 2 forms of GST. In addition, having 2 forms of GST creates more public policy options for the government; it is much easier for them to increase GST in the future to raise more public monies, as most Singaporeans will feel assured that the taxes on their basic necessities would not go up.P.S. I am a little bit pessimistic about the offset package; Will the expectations by the public not match the generosity of the government?The Straits Times (Singapore)February 10, 2007 SaturdayMore handouts, and the poor should get the most; Relief packages vary but in some countries, groceries and daily essentials are tax-exempt. Bryan Lee and Erica Tay examine measures adopted by Singapore and other countries to soften the blow of the GSTMR LEE Kim Seng is 34 and lives with his wife, and five children aged between two and 12, in a three-room Toa Payoh flat.A former contractor, he has been jobless since September last year when he fractured his leg. The family relies on his wife, 31, who earns about $600 a month as a part-time supermarket cashier.In their home, every cent counts. Few will argue that less well-off households such as Mr Lee's should get the most help to cope with a consumption tax like the goods and services tax (GST).That was what the Government did through 'offset packages' when the tax was introduced at 3 per cent in 1994 and again when it was raised to 5 per cent in two stages, in 2003 and 2004.These packages have typically taken the form of rental rebates and other types of financial assistance. They are designed to match the amount of extra tax burden created from GST for a period of time.Yet there is a common perception that not enough is done, especially for those who struggle to make ends meet, while others question why better-off people receive offsets as well. From the start, it has been widely acknowledged that GST hits low-income families hardest. While the well-to-do will pay more GST in absolute terms when they spend, the tax weighs more heavily on the pockets of the poor in proportional terms as they typically spend a larger part of their wages.Moreover, less well-off households are also less able to curb their spending to save on GST, because much of their expenditure is on essential goods and services. The Government introduced extra handouts to poorer families when GST was introduced in 1994.These took the form of rebates on HDB flat rents, service and conservancy charges and property taxes. Those living in smaller Housing Board flats received bigger rebates while those in larger apartments got less.In the more recent GST rise from 3 to 5 per cent, the less well-off again received the lion's share of a $3.6 billion offset package.Besides rebates on HDB flat rents, and service and conservancy charges, the Government gave out Economic Restructuring Shares (ERS) which could be converted to cash immediately.Again, property size and value determined the amount of rebates and shares given.On both occasions, personal income taxes were also reduced. Mr Lee and his wife received about $1,200 in ERS last year but spent it straight-away.'We used the money to pay off our utility arrears and loans we had taken from friends,' he said.A Finance Ministry study estimated that a one-room flat dweller will have received a total of $2,068 in GST offset benefits between 2003 and this year, while savings from lower income taxes came to $92.Compared with the $553 additional GST he would cough up over the same five-year period, he would be covered for the tax hike for another 13 years if his annual spending patterns do not change. Those in bigger flats would have their GST covered for at least eight years from 2003, according to that study.Despite the handouts, the criticisms have persisted. One reason is that lump-sum offset handouts are easily forgotten once they are spent.More controversial, however, is the fact that in the past, the offsets were given to almost every Singaporean, even the wealthy.MPs interviewed recently by The Straits Times said they favour a more targeted approach to delivering GST offsets. With 90 per cent of adult Singaporeans receiving at least $1,200 in ERS and the rest getting between $600 and $800 each, it might have been better if the financial help was not spread out so thinly so that more could be given to the poor, they said.The Finance Ministry study shows that residents of private property will be shielded from the GST hike for eight more years after this year.While they received much lower direct offset benefits, they saved $4,581 from lower income taxes between 2003 and this year, much more than the additional $1,891 of GST they would have incurred in the period.And they continue to enjoy the income tax savings for years to come, unlike the one-off offset package.Citigroup economist Chua Hak Bin said this is not a surprising result as one of the big reasons for the GST hike was to finance a cut in personal income taxes to attract foreign talent to Singapore, while retaining top locals.This is part of the restructuring of the Singapore economy in a more globalised world where competition is more intense than ever before.Such individuals, he said, are needed and the net effect in the long run will be a robust local economy that will benefit all Singaporeans. In the upcoming GST hike, the Government is expected to be as generous, if not more so, as the income gap between rich and poor widens.In an editorial in the latest edition of Petir, the People's Action Party newsletter, Second Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam wrote that the Government will have a full set of measures to offset the impact of the GST hike on the poor.'If we do nothing, the wages of this group of Singaporeans will stagnate, while that of higher-income Singaporeans will rise.'Experts say that housing type remains a good starting criterion in determining who should get the most assistance. But additional steps could be taken to ensure that the money reaches those who really need it.Citigroup's Dr Chua said that a further gauge based on the number of dependants an individual has could be a helpful refinement.Stock brokerage CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun reckons help could be more targeted towards individuals, rather than households, and that could be addressed by the Government's Workfare programme. Economists also note that middle-income families have generally felt the squeeze the most as they receive less offset benefits while enjoying smaller income tax savings.Charging less GST for some itemsBESIDES handouts to poorer households, some countries exclude basic items such as fresh groceries and babies' clothing from GST, or apply a reduced tax rate to them.The argument is that it helps to keep necessities affordable for the poorest households.In Australia, fresh produce such as meat and vegetables, among other things, are exempt from the 10 per cent GST there.In Canada, basic groceries and medical devices are among the goods exempt from its 6 per cent GST. Britain practises a system of varying consumption tax rates for different goods and services.Its general value-added tax (VAT) rate is 17.5 per cent, but many basic grocery items are 'zero-rated' or VAT- free, while items such as sanitary napkins and condoms are taxed at 5 per cent.Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in last year's Budget statement that reducing GST on certain goods and services such as food was not an effective way to help the poor, as much of the revenue lost from such concessions would go to richer households, who spend more on food.The Singapore system of one standard GST rate was modelled on the New Zealand system.For Singapore, only the export of goods and certain international services are zero-rated. Tax experts, citing the experience in other countries, point out that zero or reduced GST rating brings with it a major problem: It is simply too cumbersome to implement.While the intentions might be good, Ernst and Young tax partner Yeo Kai Eng said: 'The flip side is, it can end up as an administrative nightmare.' Lists of zero-rated goods and services can run into pages, and minute details separate the taxable from the tax-free.For example, certain countries deem hot takeaway food GST-taxable, but not freshly baked bread that happens to be warm. So where does that put hotdogs?In countries where milk powder is GST-free, it is unclear whether products derived from milk are taxable, tax experts pointed out.Even children's clothes came under debate in Britain, noted PricewaterhouseCoopers tax partner Koh Soo How. Should clothes for small-size adults be taxed the full 17.5 per cent, when apparel for bigger-size children and teens are VAT-free?'Such definitional difficulties have led to court cases, some of which have gone all the way to the European Court of Justice,' noted Mr Koh.Said Ernst and Young's Mr Yeo: 'When you have a complicated list of what supplies are in and what are out, it is open to a lot of interpretation and confusion. There is then a need for clarification after clarification,'However, this does not mean that zero-rating should not or cannot be implemented.Mr Koh said: 'If the decision is to apply a reduced or zero rate to food and basic necessities, we need to avoid the overseas experience of having to make distinctions between hot and cold food, uncooked and prepared food.'It should not matter if the food you purchased is cooked or uncooked, cold or hot, or bought from the hawker centre or a restaurant.'The lower or zero rate should be applied uniformly and across all categories of food if we want to avoid the complexities experienced overseas.' Democracy in China a standstill? The Straits Times (Singapore)February 10, 2007 Saturday Beijing's democracy drive at a standstill, analysts sayGoh Sui Noi, Senior CorrespondentCHINA'S democratic development has come to a standstill and is even taking a step backwards, analysts said yesterday.However, in the long term, pressure from the ground will lead to progress, at a pace that is likely to be 'two steps forward and a step back', suggested Mr Li Fan, who heads the Beijing-based private think-tank, World and China Institute. 'The people's political awareness, rights awareness and democratic awareness are growing stronger, so if you move backwards, the people will not agree,' he said.He noted too that younger and better-educated party cadres at the grassroots level who were in direct contact with farmers and their problems were pro-reform. Also, the social movement for civil rights and freedom in China was developing strongly, he said.For example, last year, a local government in Hengyang city, Hunan province, was taken to court by the people for breaking the law after it bought two cars that were not part of its official budget. China's democratic development began with movements by intellectuals and students in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s, the government launched democracy through village committee elections.But since then, forces have led to a reversal in the march towards democracy, he said in Singapore at an international conference on East Asian democracy and political development in China. One of these was special interest groups comprising local governments, elites and business organisations that wanted control over their turf and therefore rigged elections for village committees and local people's congresses.It did not help that the central government did not come up with new measures or try to resolve these local problems, he told The Straits Times in an interview later. Premier Wen Jiabao has talked about extending direct elections to township governments, but no action has been taken, he noted.'It is all superfluous words,' he said. He said the situation now was worse than 10 years ago.The picture was no brighter for intra-party democratisation, said Dr Lai Hongyi of the East Asian Institute. Party leaders were having second thoughts about even the 'timid' measures that have been taken over the past two decades.Through the years, reforms within the party have included the appointment of cadres and local leaders through secret ballots. There have also been experiments with direct elections of township party secretaries.However, in the past year or two, intra-party reforms have lost momentum, with no new experiments allowed and current ones halted or scaled back, said Dr Lai.He attributed this to the current party leaders being uncomfortable with the trend of people wanting to widen reforms, and the leaders' satisfaction that their social policies have dealt adequately with grievances of the people.Yesterday's conference also discussed democratic development in other East Asian countries, including South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand. The two-day meeting, which brings together political analysts of the region, ends today. Recommendation-China Marches West It's time for a book recommendation again. Peter Perdue's book is excellent, and is provocative in its ambitious attempt to help us understand the notion of "frontier zone"; and banishes the notion that ordinary Han Chinese living on the frontier zone in China imbued different sense of ethnicity and practiced different daily living from their non-Han Counterparts. An top notch historian's writing and a must read! China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia (Hardcover) by Peter C. PerdueReviewForeign Affairs : Perdue succeeds in giving new life to matters that have succumbed to stale conventional thinking.--Lucian Pye This is a masterpiece of contemporary scholarship. Nothing like it has been published in the field of Asian studies for several decades. And no one has written about Inner Asia during the formative eighteenth century with such comprehensive vision. It covers a huge swath of place and time, has impressive intellectual reach, and speaks with a calm certainty that sustains the reader's attention for the length of the book.--Timothy Brook, author of Collaboration: Japanese Agents and Local Elites in Wartime ChinaA masterful examination of imperial expansion and frontier history, this work goes to the roots of what it meant, for China, to be an 'empire' in the eighteenth century. Perdue's massive and detailed research into the expansion of the Qing empire contributes a crucial dimension to the comparative study of the Chinese, Russian, and Ottoman empires in the early modern period. This is a first-rate accomplishment and a truly outstanding piece of scholarship.--Nicola Di Cosmo, Institute for Advanced Study, PrincetonBuilding on meticulous research in several languages, Perdue argues convincingly that the Qing conquests were of enormous importance both locally and globally. Drawing us deep into interconnected issues of frontier environments, state formation, and control of the historical record before the age of mass communication, his nuanced account sets a new standard for the study of both comparative empires and identity formation in the early modern world.--Joanna Waley-Cohen, author of The Sextants of Beijing: Global Currents in Chinese HistoryThe author presents his complex arguments in clear prose that is uninfected by current academic jargon, and the pleasure of reading his book is enhanced by its beautiful production values, which include good maps and carefully chosen full color illustrations.--Edward Dreyer-University of Miami ST journalist transferred to Guangzhou for imprisonment Not covered by the Singapore media? BBC Chinese News程翔已经转至广州监狱服刑 程翔妻子刘敏仪已向广州监狱申请，希望在农历年前夕探望程翔。 被北京当局控以间谍罪的新加坡《海峡时报》中国特派员程翔已转往广州监狱服刑。 据程翔妻子刘敏仪证实，她在2 月1 日收到广东省广州监狱的信件，通知她程翔已于1 月31 日从北京转到广州监狱继续服刑。 广州监狱的通知书中附有监狱电话、地址和乘车方法。 刘敏仪表示已向监狱申请，希望在农历年前到广州监狱探望程翔。 她曾经两度致电广州监狱提出要求，有关方面表示领导正在出差，要等候领导的决定。 刘敏仪表示她会继续争取程翔保外就医，也会和行政长官参选人曾荫权和梁家杰联络，希望他们继续关注程翔事件。 程翔被北京当局逮捕之前，是新加坡《海峡时报》的中国首席特派员。 程翔2005年4月22日在广州被国安部一直被拘留，其后北京当局在2006年8月31日指控他替台湾当局收集情报，以间谍罪判处他5年有期徒刑。 程翔曾提出上诉，但被北京市高级法院驳回，维持原判。 其后行政长官曾荫权1月中向媒体证实程翔获得批准转到广东省的监狱服刑。 Singapore's Poor No poverty in S'pore? Think again.Singapore's poor emerge as delicate political issueAsian Wall Street JournalJanuary 30, 2007SINGAPOREBy YAROSLAV TROFIMOVDURING rush hour in Singapore's ultramodern subway system, wrinkled old ladies squat on the underpass floor with handfuls of small tissue packets that they sell at one Singapore dollar, or 65 US cents, apiece.These are the poor of Singapore, left behind by the boom that has transformed this tropical island of 4.5 million people into a regional business, finance and technology hub. Poverty here isn't nearly as desperate as in its Asian neighbors, or even many Western societies. But it has become an increasingly sensitive political issue, prompting new tax and social policies that the government is expected to unveil in the annual budget presentation Feb 15.According to official statistics, at least 40% of Singapore's households saw their real incomes decrease from 2000-2005 -- while the overall economy posted some of the world's highest growth rates, surging by 7.7% last year."The question is, who is all this growth for?" says Manu Bhaskaran, an adjunct fellow at Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies and a partner at the Centennial Group, an advisory firm. "Shouldn't the government be aiming for lower growth, but better distribution? "The government's strategy so far is to pursue a balancing act of generating more revenue for helping the poor without scaring off the global investors who have long been attracted by the city-state's low-tax regime. "The dual objective is to ensure that the Singaporean economy continues to remain competitive, and to strengthen the inclusiveness of Singaporean society," says Lim Swee Say, secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress and a government minister.Most of Singapore's poor are in their 50s or older, and many are onetime manufacturing workers who lost their jobs to cheaper competitors in China, Vietnam or India. Many lack education and English-language skills that are needed to prosper in expanding sectors such as services and finance.It is only in recent months that senior officials began to speak out on the problem of structural poverty, recognizing the potential perils for a multiracial, multireligious society such as Singapore's. "It is essential for us to tilt the balance in favor of lower-income Singaporeans, because globalization is going to strain our social compact," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a speech last fall.Singapore's People's Action Party, founded by Mr Lee's father Lee Kuan Yew -- who is still a senior government member with the title of Minister Mentor -- has controlled the island since independence in 1965, winning nearly every seat in parliamentary elections. The country's mixed population of Chinese, Malays and Indians has accepted decades of the PAP's often authoritarian rule in exchange for phenomenal economic growth that has transformed this former British trading outpost into one of the world's most prosperous states.While providing subsidized housing and health care, Singapore's government has long resisted calls for European-style unemployment benefits for the poor, describing welfare as a "dirty word" and rejecting the idea of a minimum wage. Instead, the government has come up with the concept of "workfare" -- a large-scale program to top off the incomes of those Singaporeans who accept low-paid work. Details of the program will likely be given in the budget presentation."We can't stop the income gap from widening because the wages are determined by the global competition for knowledge workers, and by the excessive supply of unskilled workers," says Mr. Lim, the minister and union leader. "But what we're trying to do is to make sure that the widening income gap doesn't necessarily translate into a widening social gap."Most developed economies fund such social programs by redistributing wealth through progressive taxation: the top-bracket federal income tax rate is 35% in the US, and at least 40% in most of Western Europe. But Singapore is ideologically opposed to this model: the island-state has been steadily slashing its top income-tax rate, from 55% at independence in 1965 to 28% in 2000, to 20% today. Making up for the shortfall in revenue, Singapore established a general sales tax, currently at 5%.It is the sales tax that the government is planning to tap again to pay for the "workfare" initiative. According to Mr Lee, with the new budget the sales tax is likely to rise to 7% -- a measure that, economists calculate, will generate some S$1.5 billion of extra government revenue.The plan is far from popular. In the two months since Mr Lee in November first mentioned a likely sales-tax rise, the proposal elicited unusually vocal criticism from Singapore's corporate world and opposition leaders alike. The influential Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry complained the sales-tax increase is "likely to have an immediate and detrimental effect on local spending," undermining Singapore's long-term competitiveness.Sylvia Lim, leader of the Singapore Workers' Party and an opposition Parliament member, also pointed out that the poor -- the ostensible beneficiaries of the proposal -- would be hurt the most. "We need to strengthen our safety nets through some redistributive policies," she asserted, adding that consumption taxes, such as the sales tax, "are generally regressive and likely to compound the underclass problem."While the government usually ignores the minuscule opposition in this tightly regulated country, the business community's pleas found a receptive audience. Aware that corporate taxes are even lower in rival business centers such as Hong Kong and Ireland, Singapore signaled it would sweeten the pill for businesses: To compensate for the higher sales tax, the corporate tax rate, currently 20%, would be shaved by at least one percentage point."This is a tough and competitive world," Minister Mentor Lee told Singaporean journalists as he explained the planned corporate-tax cut. "People don't come here because they like Singapore -- they come because the returns are better." Sylvia Lim's Youtube Speech Hear Sylvia Lim, WP's chairperson, speech on the penal code here and here. Hear the Q&A session here, here and here. Singapore-A Benign Hegelian State? Interesting article by Terence Chong. Even though I disagree with some of his analysis, primarily on his overstating of the case for a significant civil society in Singapore thus discounting notions of the operation of a hegemonic state, his notion of a somewhat benign Hegelian state is nonetheless provocative. He argues that while globalization has essentially changed the "labels" we have placed on Singapore's state, does Chong realized that Singapore was built on some form of globalization (in itself a neo-liberal modernizing discourse) when it was "founded" as a colony. The practice of "selective globalization" (See Chong's earlier works) is not "new" but something the state has historically practice. As Carl Trocki has attested, colonial legacy has placed an premium (incentivise) on the new leaders of Singapore to continue this process of "selective globalization." My own take is unless there is a significant shift in both the elites and ordinary Singaporeans' attitudes towards globalization, capitalism and welfare, political change might be difficult. But yet, in 2007, we are beginning to see such a change; and to what extent is the online media NOT playing a significant role, as he so claims? The Straits Times (Singapore)February 8, 2007 ThursdayWhy labels for the Singapore state fall shortTerence Chong, For The Straits TimesLABELS are both instructive and misleading. On one hand they tell you what to expect, while, on the other, everything else that does not fall within the realm of expectation is ignored. So too scholars have offered a variety of labels to pin on the Singapore state. Corporatist state, developmental state, patriarchal state, authoritarian state, strong state and hegemonic state are just some labels that attempt to capture the People's Action Party's (PAP) style of governance.Though often descriptively useful, such labels also helm in our intellectual imagination. Can a patriarchal state introduce feminist or women-friendly policies? Can an authoritarian state be liberal? Can there ever be a strong civil society with the hegemonic state? These questions do not dismiss the occasional validity of such labels but, instead, draw attention to their intellectual limits and remind us of the fact that state-society relations are never static.Take the patriarchal Singapore state label for example. According to the literature, the patriarchal state is modelled after the traditional nuclear family where, just as the man is head of the household, so too the ruling elite are viewed as father figures and where masculine interests override feminist interests at state level. Scholars argue that the patriarchal Singapore state is either tolerated by a highly educated female population because of its success in delivering economic growth, or disguised and expressed as capitalist logic or consumerist culture. All these may be true but there are counter-examples. Progressive institutions like the Women's Charter accord women the same legal status as men and outlaw polygamy, while government policies such as the lifting of the quota on the number of female students allowed to study medicine must be addressed before the patriarchal label is used.Furthermore, while the Singapore state may be intrinsically patriarchal, it does not mean that it is exclusively patriarchal. In other words, in addition to male bias, patriarchal states are also guilty of privileging other ethnic, religious and class identities. An inflexible label obscures the other 'sins' of the state and the struggles of other marginalised groups.Another popular label is the hegemonic Singapore state. There is much mileage in this label because of the Singapore state's centralisation of power and its exercise of this power through institutions like the press and trade unions.This label is a favourite of Western scholars who look at the state's control over key institutions and conclude that Singaporeans are under the hypnotic sway of the hegemonic PAP state, and would break free if they only knew how to. Unfortunately, such scholars do not extend their examination to local civil society. And for those that do, local civil society is invariably cast as either a perpetuator of state hegemony or an entity so comprehensively saturated by the PAP that it is void of any contesting potential.Empirical examples from local civil society tell a different story. Singapore theatre, for example, has had a history of counter-hegemonic activities, beginning with highly polemic and government-critical Chinese-language social theatre in the 1970s. Today, Singapore theatre continues to function as a critical space, resisting and contesting state hegemony. This institution has consistently shouldered the responsibility for critical commentary on society and local politics.Perhaps most critically of all, the hegemonic state label fails to account for globalisation. The inflow of information and culture across borders has served to undermine state hegemony to a large extent. New sources of information such as blogs, alternative media and online access to foreign media have made it necessary for scholars to rethink and refine the hegemonic state label.Perhaps a more valuable insight into the Singapore state would be to understand how it sees itself. For this, German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's work comes in handy. Hegel's modern state, most vividly described in The Philosophy Of Right, should be seen, first and foremost, as a philosophical-political ideal conditioned by imperial Prussian national interests. Nevertheless, it is an ideal that the Singapore state has come closer than most in matching.A key feature of the Hegelian state is its self-perception as altruistic and whose interests transcend those of the individual and society.For Hegel, the state's relationship with people is not borne of self-interest but of solidarity. The Singapore state, similarly, reflects this altruism in the way it represents itself as non-partisan and above the competition of group interests.This has allowed the Singapore state to present its actions as ethnically and religiously neutral, and is thus capable of mediating polemical concerns.Needless to say, one of the criticisms of the Hegelian state is that it believes that it is speaking for society when in fact only the interests of the ruling elite are served.The Singapore state, like the Hegelian state, also seeks to be a rational state. For Hegel, the family was the realm of emotions and civil society the realm of individual self-interest, and it was only in the form of the state that human reason could be fully expressed. And it was only the state that had the power to fulfil it.The Singapore state's rationalism takes a pragmatic form. It is often an economically driven logic that measures and privileges material and quantitative consequences over other considerations in policy-making exercises. This has been the underlining rationale for social eugenics, the graduate-women policy, the population-control policy that encouraged parents to stop at two children, and the banning of chewing gum, among others.Thirdly, both the Hegelian and Singapore state make clear that it alone can guarantee individual freedom. To ensure civility and stability, Hegel believed that the state had to regulate civil society. Hence, state intervention to guide and govern civil society was legitimate. It is the Hegelian conception of civil society that has found the most intellectual currency in describing the Singapore condition.The Singapore state attempts to reconcile state power with an often contradictory and conflict-ridden civil society by offering small spaces in which controversial civil society groups may exist as long as they do not overstep their boundaries, which are, of course, decided by the altruistic state.To conclude, most theoretical descriptions of the Singapore state lack flexibility and conceptual openness. This is increasingly vital as the state responds to the contemporary processes of globalisation.As boundaries become more porous, and as the ruling elite is confronted with the contradictory forces of globalisation, the relationship between the local, national and the global will become more unpredictable, something which most conventional state theories are too rigid to capture. Instead, a more open-ended framework is needed to understand the PAP state as a concoction of interests, values and ideologies designed to retain power and consent amidst the processes of globalisation.Terence Chong is a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. This article is from a longer essay entitled Embodying Society's Best: Hegel And The Singapore State, which was awarded second prize by the Journal of Contemporary Asia for its contribution to state theory and globalisation in Asia. Tony Tan Gives the Go Ahead for Liberal Arts College Let's hope there's money to take this project through.My earlier comments on a liberal arts college. Here and Here.The Straits Times (Singapore)February 5, 2007 MondayWe must be first with liberal arts school: Dr TanBYLINE: Liaw Wy-CinIF A liberal arts college is not set up here, someone else will do it in the region and it will be Singapore's loss.This warning came from Dr Tony Tan, who heads a high-powered international panel which advises the Government on tertiary education.In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times, he expanded on one of the key recommendations that emerged last month from the 6th Meeting of the International Academic Advisory Panel (IAAP) held here - that a small, private college be set up here to provide a broad-based education of the type highly valued in the United States.Liberal arts colleges there are reputed for providing a general undergraduate education spanning the humanities and sciences. They are also where picking up life skills like communication, social etiquette and networking are considered as important as building the ability to think creatively, critically and laterally.What distinguishes these small colleges from large, comprehensive universities is their focus on undergraduate teaching rather than postgraduate work and research, areas into which universities pour a fair bit of resources and work.Such colleges, which originated in the US, are known for producing well-rounded students, some of whom go on to graduate training in specialised professions like medicine and law.A liberal arts college will complement the options provided by the larger universities here and add diversity to the tertiary education landscape, said the advisory panel.Dr Tan said the college will have to be of the highest quality, 'an institution where not only the best Singapore students are attracted to attend, but also the best students from Europe and America'.The dean of Nanyang Technological University's business school, Professor Hong Hai, echoed his sentiment about Singapore being well positioned to offer such a college in the region.He told The Straits Times: 'The 21st century is the Asian century. A lot of people from Australia, the US and Western Europe want to come to Asia to take in the culture and to network, and Singapore is seen as a clean and safe place.'Prof Hong and and two other academics, Linda Lim from the University of Michigan and Pang Eng Fong from Singapore Management University - all of whom have taught in American universities - wrote a feature in The Straits Times in 2004 advocating such a college.Besides the economic pay-off from having foreign students here, there is also cultural and political mileage with the college an international magnet for students seeking an all-round education, he added.'We get top students from the region, who may some day be leaders in their own countries. They would have already forged strong links and good will with Singapore,' he explained.Before the gains can be enjoyed, however, there is the question of the cost of setting up such a college. This will be high because of the low teacher-student ratio, which could be one teacher to each pair of students, said Dr Tan.Dr Tan estimates an endowment of US$1 billion (S$1.7 billion) will be needed, and hopes for a 'generous soul to give that money'.Opting for a liberal-arts education is still an unusual move among Singaporeans, though its popularity is growing. Public servant Tan Shin Bin, 22, who went to Wellesley College in Massachusetts on a scholarship in 2003, said she was the only Singaporean there in her first year.'By the time I graduated last year, there were more than 10 Singaporean students in my college.' Are we afraid of political diversity? First Appeared on Singapore Angle: Perspectives The recent announcement by the People's Action Party (PAP) that it has assembled a "new media capabilities group" to "counter" its critics online was heavily criticized by prominent bloggers. Some have pointed out the hypocrisy of the autonomous postings that will be done by these YPAP members. Others argued that it is unethical for them to do so. However, should not bloggers welcome these interactions from the Young PAP members? First, this clearly shows that the PAP is willing to engage with the blogsphere and not control it. This in itself should be seen as a significant gesture by the party to engage, rather than fix; to counter, rather than charge. This is why I am greatly heartened by the setting up of the P-65 blog and Foreign Minister George Yeo's blog. Whether we agree with them or not is one thing, but this clearly sends a signal that the PAP is becoming a fair-minded party when it comes to appreciating diverse views and interests online. Second, the more important charge by bloggers opposing such moves by the PAP is the notion that moderate and fair bloggers will be undermined by such engagements by the PAP. That is, any person not sprouting "anti-establishment" views (this in itself is a vague terminology) will be suspected therefore for being pro-PAP. This will cause moderate bloggers to be more extreme in order not to be suspected as such and for anti-establishment bloggers to take more extreme views. My take is that credible bloggers on the whole look at arguments rather than personality in responding to comments. If your opinions are well reasoned and interesting, I will not decry you simply because you are a party member. Similarly, if you are affiliated with the opposition parties, it does not mean that all your arguments are solid if they are not backed with good evidences. In addition, it does not mean because you have an agenda, your speech and opinions are not valuable and that you will not change their own political views. If you prove completely disagreeable and totally not interested in listening to other people, it is obvious that most people would not bother to engage you after a while. But most people do change and listen, especially when they are exposed to different opinions. The larger question that one has in mind then is "Can partisan politicians, which tend to represent the epitome of agenda and ideology in a society, change their views when they engage with their alternatives?" Toh Chin Chye, Devan Nair, Chia Ti Lik and many others have changed their opinions over time and space.My only concern is that these anonymous individuals might conduct "entrapment" exercises in the blogsphere. There is a possibly that they could induce bloggers to speak on issues or lead them down the path that might be construe as seditious or problematic. Time will tell whether such exercises will be conducted but I am inclined to give these people the benefit of the doubt. If not, I am sure that bloggers will give them a hard time on their blogs. We should not be afraid of political diversity. Engaging our critics, persuading them to our point of view and creating more forums for political discussions thus making the blogsphere more exciting, credible and pluralistic can only be good for the maturity of Singapore's politics. If we believe that more Singaporeans will become more informed through our blogging, shouldn't we be convinced that PAP members will also be similarly more informed too if they engage with the blogsphere? Singapore wins the ASEAN cup! Singapore won the ASEAN Cup (formerly known as the TIGER cup)! We drew in Thailand 1-1 and the overall score is Singapore 3-Thailand 2Ole, Ole, Ole! Ole! Ole!See the Winning Goal here (This Clip also shows the goals in the Singapore's leg where we led 2-1) See the thailand goal here: Watch the Fans in Bangkok:Lots of our highlights on youtube. Just type in "Singapore and Thailand" See the CNA report here. -31 degrees- Today, I experienced my coldest weather yet. -31 degrees here at Northfield, Minnesota. It was quite funny. I was walking to the campus center for my school's mid-winter ball when suddenly my vision blurred. Apparently, ice has formed on my eyelids (as well as on my good friend, we had a good laugh).Usually cold weather results in chapped lips, frozen ears and red red red noses and faces. But frozen ice on your eyelids? Is it comparable to salty sweat in +31 degrees in your eyelids?When you experienced -31 degrees in Northfield or +31 degrees in the jungle of Pulau Tekong, you start to appreciate good weather. You start to sincerely hope that Chinese New Year wouldn't be -25 but +25 degrees.Oh, my sunny Singapore. Oh, my Northfield in the spring. Will College Grads from Singapore Lack Key Skills in the Near Future? I wrote something a while earlier about my support for the establishment of a liberal arts college in Singapore. The latest Chronicle of Higher Education has a report on the skills that are not imparted enough by America's universities. And counter-intuitively, It is not the technical and professional skills that our most of our Singaporeans university graduates are learning. I believe as our economy becomes more globalized, we will be increasingly forced to find jobs in industries that stress creativity and originality. Will it be long before the skills that this article talks about will become scarce if issues of higher education reforms in Singapore are adequately addressed?The Chronicle of Higher EducationFeb 2, 2007College Graduates Lack Key Skills, Report Says The Association of American Colleges and Universities has warned that college graduates are less and less prepared to compete in the global economy. In a report, the group urges colleges to adopt a broader curriculum, with less focus on specific technical training and more on skills like critical thinking and problem solving. The report, "College Learning for the New Global Century," released in January, recommends a series of steps that colleges should take to prepare students for the modern work force. "We are seeing a lot of graduates who have specific skills and interview well — technical interviews," said Wayne C. Johnson, a vice president at the Hewlett-Packard Company who participated in a news conference about the report. "What we rarely see is the ability to use the right-hand side of the brain — creativity, working in a team. In the survey, 305 executives of companies were asked what they looked for in a job candidate. The top three choices were "teamwork skills," "critical thinking and analytic reasoning skills," and "oral/written communication." Only 9 percent of those polled listed "able to work with numbers/statistics" as one of the top two skills they were seeking. The report emphasized the need for colleges to integrate the study of civics and sciences into the whole curriculum as well to offer hands-on learning, such as internships. What will bring Singaporeans "back"? Honestly, It is not the casino and crazy houses that will induce overseas Singaporeans to return back as claimed by new NMP Mr Gautam Banerjee.A vibrant "new" Singapore is good. But is all relative. The irony is that it is far easier for overseas Singaporeans to gamble if they wish to overseas. The irony is that "crazy house" performances are no big deal in most overseas countries. The irony is that many countries have democratic process that allow even overseas Singaporeans to be REAL stakeholders in their communities. The irony is that Nominated Members of Parliament are unheard of in most Westminister Parliamentary System. The irony is that both Mr Banerjee's children are studying in an international school, which should automatically exclude him for speaking up on education issues in Singapore as 99% of Singaporeans who study in Singapore study in a gahmen school.We need a more representative press. Let's do more coverage of social enterprises and civil society activists in Singapore. Some of these NMP seem so remote, like that are from another planet? Why are there no "Green" Voices in the Nominated Member of Parliament Scheme? Whose voice? Whose party? Whose governance?The Straits Times (Singapore)February 2, 2007 FridayHEADLINE: Stepping forward for their causes; Seven new Nominated MPs were sworn in last month, joining two incumbents. Sue-Ann Chia meets three of them this week to ask about their pet issues. Next week: the remaining four new faces in the NMP ranksHe wants people to sink roots hereABOUT 25 years ago, a young Indian national living in England thought long and hard about which city would offer him the opportunities he sought. He considered, then rejected, London.'England in the 1980s was a very British place. How many foreigners were in senior positions? Very few,' says Mr Gautam Banerjee, 52, who had moved from Singapore to England at age 18. He settled on Singapore. Why? He held fond memories of the place as he had lived here for two years in the early 1970s when his engineer father was working here for a multinational company.The economy was also booming, and he reckoned he had a 'fair chance' of making it to the top here. So he moved here in 1982.He was right about his prospects. Job offers came from four big accounting firms.He joined the former PriceWaterhouse as an assistant manager and is, today, executive chairman of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and chief executive of PwC Asia. He is one of three foreigners-turned-Singaporeans in the current crop of nine NMPs appointed last month.Mr Banerjee, who became a citizen in 1990, is keen to persuade other foreigners to follow in his footsteps.'As Singapore is a small country, we need to supplement with overseas talent... get them to sink roots here and be involved in the next lap,' he says. He also wants overseas Singaporeans to return home. The lure? A new Singapore.'In three to five years, with the setting up of the integrated resorts and more tourist arrivals, there will be a buzz about this place,' he says.He has begun to spread the word. In December last year, he was in New York speaking to Singaporeans living there, as part of a programme by the Overseas Singaporean Unit to engage citizens living abroad. Was it odd for a foreign-born Singaporean to market Singapore to its own citizens?'I don't think they were surprised,' he says, adding: 'The term Singaporean is changing. Just like in America, many of its citizens are first-generation Americans.'In time to come, when we bring in more and more talent, Singapore will become a more international place.' There are about 875,000 foreigners here. About 8,300 became citizens each year between 2001 and 2005.As for the fear among some of losing their jobs to foreigners, Mr Banerjee counters with the oft-voiced argument that foreigners are needed to create more jobs and grow the economy. He says he was 'inundated' with calls, e-mail messages and SMSes from the expatriate Indian community here expressing joy on his NMP appointment.He says he intends to raise issues faced by the expatriate community, such as their difficulties in placing their children in local schools.It was his position in the business community, he believes, which led his peers to ask him to apply for the NMP position. He is not new to public service. He has been a resource panel member for the Government Parliamentary Committee for Trade and Industry since 2002. He was also a member of the Cut Waste Panel, which evaluates public feedback on how public agencies can do better.But he thought 'long and hard' for three weeks before applying to be an NMP. His PwC partners supported him. So did his wife and two children. His son, 17, studies at United World College, an international school here, while his daughter, 21, is in England doing her masters at Imperial College London.Singapore is doing well, he says. 'I have a vested interest to make sure it continues... but it is important to give the right feedback and be engaged in the whole process of governance.' Quotes of the Day We will be an open, inclusive society where we all have a place, where we can all contribute, we all care for one another as one people and one nation, whatever our race, religion or background.These are ambitious goals but I think we can achieve them.We have what it takes.I think if we make up our minds we will get there.We have the energy, the drive the spirit and we will do something special for ourselves.-Lee Hsien Loong, PM of Singapore, ND Rally Speech 2006The need for [expression] is something natural, inborn, universal, something that defines us uniquely as a species. It has to do with the human sense of self, identity and belonging. It is manifest in all societies, whether full, partial or nascent democracies-Catherine Lim, Famous Singaporean author in her article on"Managing Political Dissent", Straits Times, 20 Jan 2006Many Singaporeans have avoided having to deal with the excesses of political contention in the past. But if Singapore is to mature as a democracy, then it is time for every thinking citizen to take up his responsibility to play his part in shaping the kind of open society we all need to believe we deserve to have.-Koh Buck Siong, Straits Times Op-Ed, 17 Jan 2006THE vote matters to most young Singaporeans, with seven in 10 keen to cast their ballot in the coming general election.In the same breath, almost six in 10 would not be disappointed ifthere was a walkover in their constituencies and they did not get a chance to vote.Their ambivalence - wanting a say but not being too bothered if they do not get one - showed in the findings of a Straits Times survey on young voters this month.-Sim Chin Yin, Straits Times, "Keen to vote, but OK with walkovers", 17 Mar 2006 Modernity, Management and Ideology Wrote something short on Chinese Aid to Africa for my independent study and thought of just posting it hereIt seems that the Chinese workers lived very simply in most African countries, often in similar conditions as that of their African counterparts. The contrast as stated by Brautigam could not be stronger; The Italians had their food shipped in every fortnight and lived in relatively better housings. Do these actions by the Chinese workers reflect the orthodox ideological stances of the Chinese workers? (eg. The egalitarian nature of the Afro-African third world solidarity) Did such attitudes change perceptibly in the 90s as the Chinese economy started to grow rapidly?To the larger issue of the conceptual understanding of "modernity", it seems that the Chinese agent of modernity augment with the African's (or at least the elites') vision of self-sufficiency and development. While other types of foreign aid often seemed recycling funds back to the host country ('growth' without development), the Chinese-style of developmental aid seemed particularly compatible with the African's vision of creating a self-sustaining and thus a "modern" developed nation. "A hardworking man in the process of creation of large things" increasingly becomes a powerful symbol of modernity. However, that vision of "modernity" seemed to exclude managers and "profit"-orientated merchants. Were they looked down upon in the African society like they were in the Chinese society?While the process of development was steady, the subsequent training in the management of new projects were not successful or did not occur and many of these aid related projects became unprofitable or unsustainable when they were handed over by the Chinese to the local people. In numerous projects throughout Africa, projects only became "profitable" again when the Chinese came back in the nineties and took charge of management of these projects again. Do the image of "modernity" and a modern man not include a man or woman who can manage and ran an operation well? Did this perpetuation of modernity reflect the outcome of growth, but ultimately not sustainable "development"? Is the explosion of business schools (learning in management) in China a shift in the vision of modernity among Chinese? Are there more business schools or schools teaching management in Africa today? Is there an inversion of social hierarchy, with a change in the transnational vision of "modernity"? Would a post-modernist argue that the meta-power and meta-narrative holding the everyday-structure of "modernity" been transformed and broken down by the change in attitudes towards capitalism in developing countries?(Historically, merchants were considered to be the lowest in the social hierarchy in Chinese society; many merchants resorted to leaving China (voluntarily or involuntarily), building dynamics overseas regimes in Hong Kong, United States, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. The irony it seems in China today; a merchant [businessman] seems to be much more respected than a scholar, which used to be top of this hierarchy) The Void Deck-Open and Inclusive? Plight of Low Income Singaporeans. It always amazes me till today how so many of my friends and acquaintances claim that there is no poverty in Singapore; there's housing for poor Singaporeans; and how creating more avenues of welfare will take Singapore down the road to a "lazy" country. While all these are off-the-top impressions, I wonder if the education system perpetuates that sort of myth in our efforts towards nation building.I am glad there is still an institutionalized political system called the Meet the People Session, where MPs still are forced by precedence to meet lower income Singaporeans. Without MPS, I think Singapore will be worse off, with our representatives not seeing the true reality of Singapore and Singaporeans. That's why I particularly appreciate Union MPs who interact a lot with blue collar workers; they can bring some of these important concerns into parliament.Honestly, if you are a senior accountant working in a Big Four, living in Orchard Road, club in Clarke Quay during the weekends and shop at Isetan's supermarket, how would you ever see the Singapore that many of us see? If you are a top engineer working in a MNC, living in Redhill, visit your friends downtown for dinners and partake air-conditioned food courts only, do we really care about the Singapore that we do not see? Do we make trips to Aljunied one room flats to talk to families living in them? Do we know that their corridors often lack adequate lightning? Do we know that their sons and daughters depend on ST pocketbook fund? Do we know that a loaf of bread to them means a lot for their sustenance? Do we know that the lack of two forms of GST could be potentially difficult for them?What does it mean to be an "open and inclusive" society? Is it merely a slogan for the elites to debate the theoretical of democratic openness or for Members of parliaments to call for media freedom? Surely, it must also be an powerful rhetoric to bring Singaporeans, ill-suited for the relentless pace of competition and globalisation, together? Surely, it means empowering unions, civil society and social enterprises to provide governance where the state cannot provide? Whose governance? Whose voice? Whose party? The Straits Times (Singapore)January 28, 2007 Sunday For homeless, it's no job, no money, no choice; Living on the streets is their only option as they have nowhere else to go; welfare homes try to help but some fall through the cracksNur Dianah Suhaimi & Melissa SimFOR driver Hashim Eusuff, home is a 14-foot lorry. After he knocks off each night, the 41-year-old parks in a quiet Marine Parade carpark and sleeps in his seat. Once the owner of a four-room Sengkang flat, Mr Hashim was evicted last November after defaulting on his home loan repayments.He was unable to pay because he was retrenched. His 33-year-old Indonesian wife sleeps at her stepfather's one-room flat with three other family members. Mr Hashim's plight got an airing in Parliament last week, when Marine Parade GRC MP Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim brought up the issue of the homeless in Singapore and asked what the Housing Development Board (HDB) is doing to help.This prompted Parliamentary Secretary Maliki Osman to remark that some people are 'homeless by choice' because there are other housing options open to them, including subsidised rental flats, open-market rental flats, or living with relatives.This is evidently not the case for many.Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Inderjit Singh said many residents are in negative equity and, as a result, the banks force a sale and the residents do not have excess cash to rent a flat. Of the six MPs who spoke to The Sunday Times, five said they had handled cases involving people who were either already homeless, or on the verge of being so.They said those who are homeless are generally hit by the same few problems: no job, no relatives and negative equity. Banks say they try hard to help these customers by lengthening the loan period and deferring payments, and insist that eviction is only a last resort.HDB also offers various financial assistance measures which include extension of the mortgage loan term, payment of a smaller mortgage instalment under the Reduced Repayment Scheme and deferment of mortgage payments.For those who are eventually evicted, the other housing options suggested by Dr Maliki are sometimes not viable.For example, Mr Hashim does not qualify for an HDB rental flat because his wife is a foreigner. He cannot rent anything on the open market because he does not have enough cash for the three-month downpayment. Living with his siblings is also not an option because his relationship with them is not good.Tampines GRC MP Ong Kian Min, who has seen six homeless cases, said: 'Surely people are not homeless by choice. People would rather have a roof over their heads.'Even Dr Maliki's third option of living with family is not always possible, either.Of the five family service centres that spoke to The Sunday Times, three said they had seen cases where the homeless keep away from relatives because of misunderstandings, psychological abuse or shame. Jeny K, 45, will be evicted from her flat in just three days. At the moment she has no job and nowhere else to go.She is single and unable to find another single to rent an HDB flat. Renting on the open market is too expensive for someone who has only $12 in her wallet. She is also adamant about not returning to her mother's home because she says her mother has caused misunderstandings between her and her siblings, who are unwilling to take her in.This week, she might find herself in a welfare home, but even there a place is not assured. Welfare homes accept only destitutes, who, as defined by the Destitute Persons Act, must be found begging or idle in a public place. There are 10 welfare homes run by the voluntary sector that provide care for about 1,700 destitute people in Singapore.Said Ms Frances Lee, a senior social worker at Care Corner Family Service Centre (Toa Payoh): 'There are some like Jeny who fall through the cracks and there is nowhere they can go. The last resort is to sleep in the void deck and get picked up as a destitute.'Even for the most desperate cases, though, there is often hope. Mr Singh cited a case where one resident with two school-going children lost his job, stopped paying his mortgage payments and got evicted. The mother and children are staying with a friend while the father is still sleeping in void decks and parks.Although he has already received two HDB subsidies, a meeting was called between HDB, Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre and some grassroots leaders. The grassroots leaders will provide the deposit for a rental flat and HDB will expedite the process for an HDB rental flat application.A HDB spokesman said it is prepared to help genuinely needy cases to rent or downgrade to a more affordable HDB flat.However, such appeals need to be carefully scrutinised to ensure that our limited housing subsidies are fairly distributed to those that need them most.Mr Singh said: 'All in all, not everyone ends up on the street. A handful do and in most cases that's because they come to us for help at the very last moment or after they have lost their flat.''There is nowhere they can go. The last resort is to sleep in the void deck and get picked up as a destitute.' MS FRANCES LEE, senior social worker at Care Corner Family Service Centre (Toa Payoh) Should our commendable NTUC move in the direction of the Malaysian TUC? Very commendable of the NTUC to be proactive in helping their workers in retraining. I noticed that NTUC under the helm of Halimah Yaacob has began to shore up to its core competency and rightful interests; that is to help the workers in Singapore prepare for the competition that globalization bring into Singapore. In another ST forum article today, NTUC has taken the lead to employ older workers in their co-operatives such as NTUC supermarkets.Another excellent way to help the workers would be for NTUC to talk more with SMEs, to encourage not only their workers to be unionize with NTUC but also to provide them with the necessary information to employ older and retrenched workers. They have the potential to reach out to many of the SMEs, who may be more flexible and open to employing these retrenched workers.On a slightly different note, it seems that a lot of debate on helping lower and middle income workers (LMW) seem to divert away from the topic of trade unions in Singapore, as if it is simply a contractual (elections) or tensional (through media and official talkshops) issue between the government and the LMW. Can we revisit the issues of giving more autonomy to the NTUC so as to create a more organic support system for the LMW? Can NTUC be still linked to the PAP or the government but yet foster a more competitive and active spirit to help workers? Should we follow the model of the Malaysian Trade Union Congress, where it links with the government have not prevented it from raising issues of minimum wages, privatization of government services that result in loss of jobs as well as issues of migrant workers?I personally feel it shameful that our NTUC while trying to do so much for our workers in Singapore, have somewhat neglected the plight and problems faced by migrant workers. We as Singaporeans delegate our compassion for these people to VWOs, civil society such as Transient Workers Count Too, and Religious organizations. Can the NTUC be yet another pillar in supporting them? Why is our NTUC not doing much for them while the MTUC, a government-linked Union in Malaysia, can?The Straits Times January 27, 2007 Saturday NTUC to sponsor training of workers; It will also tap other agencies to help improve workers' skillsKen KwekTHE National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is going to step in and sponsor the training of unionised workers in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Labour chief Lim Swee Say made the promise yesterday to these workers who are rarely sent for training because their employers either cannot afford it or cannot spare them as they have few employees. 'The Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will allow the NTUC to function as if we are their employers...We can sponsor them for training,' Mr Lim said at a press conference after his presentation on what he wants NTUC to achieve this year. The workplan seminar was attended by about 500 unionists and employers.This move to upgrade their skills will be done in concert with the WDA. Last November, the WDA announced that it would shift more funds towards 'worker-based training', so that employees could apply for courses without needing the backing of their bosses.The labour movement will also step up its efforts to improve the skills of SME workers by working more closely with other agencies such as the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (Spring Singapore).The government agency has been tasked, among other things, to help SMEs grow.Besides the SME workers, NTUC has identified five other groups of workers that will also be given help so that they can be more secure in their jobs, work longer, and get better jobs and salaries.They are low-wage workers; older workers; contract workers; workers at risk of being retrenched; and PMETs, or professionals, managers, executives and technicians.For older workers, re-employment is the way to go. Mr Lim said labour leaders had studied employment practices in Japan, where 70 per cent of workers at retirement age of 60 and beyond are re-employed.He called on companies in Singapore to learn from Japan, by restructuring their wage systems and promoting workers' health so they are fit for re-employment.More can also be done to improve on last year's record. Said Mr Lim: 'On the ground, some of our union leaders are frustrated that the pace of re-employment is still slow,' he said.Last year, 161 companies here re-employed 2,500 older workers, while this year the target is to get 300 more companies to re-employ 4,000 older workers.Asked what level of re-employment Singapore should aim to achieve in five years' time - the period in which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently said he hoped to see 'significant progress' - Mr Lim again looked to Japan for inspiration:'We hope that in the next five years, we should reach out to at least 70 per cent of the companies within the unionised sector.'For low-wage workers, the NTUC wants, among other things, to get them on the Central Provident Fund scheme to boost their long-term savings.'We must find a way to at least top up their Medisave...so that they can take full advantage of the Workfare bonus,' he said, referring to the income support scheme for low-wage workers.The labour movement will also set up a Unit for Contract Workers and aims to retrain 1,000 of those at risk of retrenchment. It will also help PMETs claim jobs in such new growth areas as integrated resorts.Mr Lim said a tripartite institute, called the Employment and Employability Institute, would be set up to provide infrastructure and information for the retraining and re-employment of workers. 4 Quotes of the Day 4 Quotes of the Day The government should not and cannot hold itself responsible for what the people see or read. Otherwise, Singaporeans risk losing the ability to think, evaluate and judge for themselves. The Mr Brown incident illustrates too clearly how new and old media could have engaged each other better. Having driven negative comments or untrue information about the government underground, into the labyrinth of virtual space, the government loses an opportunity to engage the propagators and dispel the erroneous statements.-Baey Yam Keng, PAP MP (Nov 10 2006)In conclusion, what I have talked about assumes that building democratic societies are universal goals. Is this true of Asian societies? There have been views expressed by some Asian leaders that Western democracy promotes individualism, which is inconsistent with collectivism and Confucian values. My view is that if democracy embodies citizen participation in public life and in determining the kind of society we have, there is enough scope within it to cater for Asian values. All politicians should face their electorates squarely and seek mandates which are truly democratic. To this extent, democracy has value for all societies.-Sylvia Lim, WP Chairperson, NCMP (Aug 21 2006)Gajah di-depan mata tak nampak, kuman di-seberang kelihatan-Malay ProverbYou measure democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists.-Abbie Hoffman Accountability at Work Accountability at work; a Reader asks, their MP's replyStraits TimesJan 25, 2007 Bukit Panjang Town will get sports complex WE REFER to the letter, 'Will Bukit Panjang residents get a stadium?' (ST, Jan 20), by Mr Ho Khin Peng. A sports complex will certainly be built in Bukit Panjang Town. In addition to the original proposed site at Petir Road, we are evaluating the possibility of building an integrated sports complex at the Bukit Panjang N5 Park. A decision on the location will be made when the plans are finalised after consultation between the relevant agencies, grassroots leaders and residents of Bukit Panjang Town. Although this consultation process may take a little longer, we hope that it will generate a better solution which benefits all residents of Bukit Panjang, including the divisions of Cashew and Zhenghua. We thank Mr Ho for his letter. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan MP (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) Dr Teo Ho Pin MP (Bukit Panjang) Liang Eng Hwa MP (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) Seems that the Democrats got it right? Senator Jim Webb, in reply to President's Bush State of the Union Speech, spoke on the rising inequality in the United States. I felt he was articulating clearly the reality of the "dualization" of not just America's economy, but also Singapore's one. (However, I am not convinced of protectionism as advocated by the Democrats) Will consensual politics in major "capitalist" states continue if the winners keep winning, and the losers do not find a social safety net?Even the Economists has an article on this issue. Excerpt from Senator Jim Webb of Virgina: Economy When one looks at the health of our economy, it's almost as if we are living in two different countries. Some say that things have never been better. The stock market is at an all-time high, and so are corporate profits. But these benefits are not being fairly shared. When I graduated from college, the average corporate CEO made 20 times what the average worker did; today, it's nearly 400 times. In other words, it takes the average worker more than a year to make the money that his or her boss makes in one day. Wages and salaries for our workers are at all-time lows as a percentage of national wealth, even though the productivity of American workers is the highest in the world. Medical costs have skyrocketed. College tuition rates are off the charts. Our manufacturing base is being dismantled and sent overseas. Good American jobs are being sent along with them. In short, the middle class of this country, our historic backbone and our best hope for a strong society in the future, is losing its place at the table. Our workers know this, through painful experience. Our white-collar professionals are beginning to understand it, as their jobs start disappearing also. And they expect, rightly, that in this age of globalisation, their government has a duty to insist that their concerns be dealt with fairly in the international marketplace. Someone asked, you got the figures for immigration Without WP Chairperson Sylvia Lim, will we (ever) know about these figures? Should these numerous figures raise alarm or delight? We had about 5.85% increase in population over the last five years ago from immigration alone. In the next five years, the govt is aiming for another 240,000/4 million = 6% increase in population.The Straits Times (Singapore)January 23, 2007 Tuesday 240,000 new PRs, citizens in next 5 yearsSINGAPORE can expect to add about 200,000 permanent residents (PRs) and 40,000 citizens to its fold in the next five years, if it draws the same numbers as it did in the last five years. This is part of the three- pronged approach to arrest a falling birth rate, along with encouraging more Singaporeans to have babies and keeping citizens based overseas committed to the country, said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng.In his written answer to Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim on the Government's projection for additional foreigners, Mr Wong also revealed that the Republic had a yearly average of 38,700 new PRs and 8,300 citizens from 2001 to 2005.This works out to 193,500 PRs and 41,500 citizens over five years.Mr Wong said many new PRs and citizens were employment pass holders - usually graduates or diploma holders who are skilled professionals or managers in areas such as finance, biomedical sciences and the creative industries.He added that many countries are competing for talented migrants to increase their population. Even Japan has begun to open its doors to non-ethnic Japanese immigrants, he said, noting a recent report that more than two million such immigrants are Japanese citizens today.