Singapore Corruption Index

Singapore ranks well in the corruption index currently. Will we be able to maintain our good ranking in the future will depend on the governing party willingness to fix the existing systemic weakness.

We know that it only takes a straw to break a camel's back.  All it takes is a single weak link to undo a strong chain and...sigh ...there are so many weak links in the current system.  For example :

1) Having related parties (family ties and/or politically link) holding key positions in both our sovereign wealth funds and MAS

2) Non-transparency in areas our government deems 'sensitive', which sensitivity we as citizens questioned (eg financial standing of GIC and our country reserve)

3) Limitless number of terms our PM can govern

4) Political leaders governing the country need not declare their financial assets before taking office and during their terms

5) PM holding real power is not elected by the citizens, while the President who is elected has limitation in his role to provide 'check and balance'

6) Extraordinary high salary of governing politicians tied to GDP as one of the factors for their extraordinary bonus

7) MPs inspite of drawing high salary, work only part time and running around holding directorships in so many private companies.  Is there not conflict of interest when making policies ?

8) The existence of GRCs and senseless redrawing of electoral bountaries during every election

Most Unpopular - CPF, HDB or SMRT ??

If a poll is done on which is S'poreans most unpopular organisation, which will rank number 1 - CPF, HDB or SMRT ?  CPF and HDB are notorious for their chameleon and complicated policies that are a burden to us.

CPF has iron grip over our money which we have no control over. They dictates how much we need to put in, when we can draw out and how much we can draw out......the list can go on and on.

HDB is well know for their run away housing prices which gallop faster than race horses.

SMRT is infamous for their unreliable and overcrowded trains which breakdown no longer surprises us since it happens so often.

These hese organisations have common problems :

-  complicated and confusing policies which are often flawed and disadvantaged us 
- diverted focus and ineffective execution of policies

Notching up the unpopular rank could well be MOM, ICA, MHA and NEA.

NEA sticking to its confusing PSI reporting method

Last year when we were badly hit by the haze, it was

crystal clear that our govt and NEA were not adequately

prepared, thought the haze has been returning without

failed annually for decades.

There has been many feedback on NEA complicated way of

PSI reporting which only confuses the public. It is

also not useful as it is based on past historical 3 hrs

and 24 hrs average, depending on which particle size

(PM10 and PM2.5)is used as reference. 

What the public wants is spot reporting base on PM2.5

levels as these particles could be inhaled into the

lungs and are known to be hazardous to our health. 

When the weather is fine, no one gives much attention

to the PSI reading. However once the haze hits us, all

eyes will be on the PSI reporting. 

Playing down the haze issue is not in the interest of

public health, as those PM2.5 which can be inhaled into

the lungs are known to be carcinogenic. From last year

observation, the PM2.5 readings were normally higher

the PM10. NEA average down the PM2.5 using 24 hrs,

while PM10 with 3 hrs.

Looks like NEA has not improved its complicated and
confusing PSI reporting method after all the public
feedback. Is NEA and the govt trying to give the
public a false sense of safety with their past
historical data average down to a smaller number?

Haze vs Warships

The number of hot spots in Indonesia are in the region of 200 to 400.  The yearly haze will be back, it is just a matter of time that the wind will blow our way.  How bad it will be depends on the political will of Indonesia and her affected neighbours.  Most of the time from past experience it is more noise from all sides than concrete action.

So is our nation lungs more important or nation pride ? When the haze hit us, more than 5 million lungs are at stake. Not forgetting that of tourists which number more than 1 million per month, plus all the fauna and flora on this little red dot, I would think our govt should give more priority to the haze issue now before it hit us.  Making noise after we are hit is too little too late.

Yes, our pride is bruised by our neighbour insensitivity in naming their warships. But then LKY placed flowers on the terrorists grave.  At least the Japanese political leaders pay respect to their own citizens whom commit war crimes. But here we have our own political leader paying respect to terrorists from other country who killed our citizens. So what to make of it ?

Besides, our PAP leaders love to say "let's move on" when they make mistakes.  What are they going to do now ? Force Indonesia into a corner with economical sanction ?  If they want to do such thing, I rather they implement it because of the haze to save all our lungs. 

S'pore would be viewed as a 'hero' as we save not only our lungs but that of other affected countries, plus those lungs belonging to ordinary citizens in Indonesia.  Take tough action where it matters and have the grace to accept apology.  Make the right political move to benefit the citizens.

Bruise pride does not kill us, but those minute haze particles which could be inhaled can cause cancer. And we have been inhaling it for decades due to our incompetent govt.

Indonesia naming of their war ships

This whole incident just show that diplomatic relationship is better than all the billions of dollar PAP spent buying the latest war 'toys'. Indonesia don't give a shit to all those planes, submarine.....etc our govt bought. These super expensive war 'toys' are just show off pieces with no deterrent power.

Diplomatic relationship is less costly and more effective. But our arrogant govt is very poor at it. When they open their mouth - eg LKY and the current batch of paper generals - they only know how to insult our neighbours. PAP high and mighty attitude is a disservice to our nation.

Our govt under PAP is only good at bullying her own citizens. Their are just meek sheep when confronted by our neighbours. Look at the haze incident and you get the picture of how much weight their words have on our neighbour, Indonesia.