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Articles from
January 2008
| 31/01/2008 |
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INFLATION IS DR TONY TAN'S BIGGEST FEAR, SO ARE WE
By Raymond Lo Wan Mou @ 12:13 AM :: 905 Views ::
7 Comments ::  :: General
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Dear Administrator,
Dr Tony Tan, former first deputy prime minister and now deputy chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) had said in Davos on 26 Jan that inflation is his biggest fear of this year.
Our December 2007 inflationary rate is 4.4%, a 25 years historic high.
Like Dr Tony Tan, I believe all Singaporeans and foreigners here are sharing his sentiment.
I also believe very strongly that most of us would like our government to address in depth, plans and finds ways, not only to lessen the burden of its people, but also combat and contain it. It is after all about stressful living, hungry stomach and enough food on he tables for the families for everyone of us.
As this has a "serious effects" on our country, government and the people, a holistic national approach is needed to lessen the people's pain.
Budget speech has its limitation. Because of the buoyant economy last year our Government most likely would have a surplus exceeding $4 billions. A generous inflation-offsetting package is expected to be announced on Budget speech on Feb 15.
Rebates, off-settings, hand-outs and such other temporary measures are treating the 'symptoms' of our concern. Such once-off measure only encourages the recipients asking for more financial help when the first help have been used up.
Our Government should treat this issue as a national top priority given that our highly respected, knowledgeable and far-sighted Dr Tan had voiced this as his most concern and fear.
I would suggest the following three main actions:-
First, a ministerial committee on combating and containing inflation should be formed.
Second, co-operation and co-ordination of all revelant government ministries, agencies, statutory boards, big private enterprises, importers and exporters, business associations, co-operatives, et cetera may need to come together to address the issue of food prices, durable and non-durable goods.
Third, a full parliamentary debate may need to be conveyed to discuss in depth, the economic 'know how', new laws to be enacted, and the ways forward such as aspiring higher economic growth and more free trade. Such steps are necessary as the worst may yet to come.
If our Government has some success or has lessened the pain of its people, I am certain that the bond between the ruling governing party and Singaporeans will be much more meaningful and united. This will be in its true sense as PM Lee had said "continue to work together and support each other".
Anything less than satisfying the hungry bellies of the people will go into death ears.
Regards
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| 30/01/2008 |
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Increasing health costs
By G.K. Goh @ 10:34 AM :: 853 Views ::
2 Comments ::  :: General
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Waiting with bated breath - what is the next health cost increase after Medishield premium increase? Will cost increase come from public or private sector? what further refinements will add to spiralling health costs? Doctors who normally would charge poor patients lowly on compassionate grounds lose their virtue once expenses are charged to insurance and then it becomes the standard charge. Sigh will compassion be thrown out the window with all the new refinements?
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| 19/01/2008 |
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It's more than money
By AWH @ 10:06 AM :: 819 Views ::
5 Comments ::  :: The Young Ones
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We have the prosperity and all the symbols of material success. But the long term survival of our small country needs people with more than money on their mind. This is what some Chinese parents are doing about their successors.
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| 14/01/2008 |
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PM LEE SHOULD GIVE TOP PRIORITY ON INFLATION & HIGH COST OF LIVING IN 2008 AGENDA
By Raymond Lo Wan Mou @ 10:33 AM :: 969 Views ::
12 Comments :: :: General
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Dear Administration,
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had recently said that the Government's agenda for 2008 will focus on health care, transport and education.
Going by the numerous letters to our local main newspapers expressing concern and anxiety about rising inflation and costs of living, I am indeed surprised that PM Lee has not placed this as an Government's official agenda that needs to be addressed.
Perhaps he is of the views that Budget 2008 is the right platform to address this issue.
I strongly believe that most Singaporeans and foreigners living and working here, would like our Government to address in depth and plan ways to lessen the burden and array the anxiety of all its people. It is after all about hungry stomach and food on the tables for the families of everyone of us.
The Budget speech has its limitation and time contraint to discuss, debate and find ways in depth to combat this fundamental issue of eveyone's daily living.
Minster of Trade & Industries Mr Lim Hng Kiang had lately mentioned in the Parliament that inflation is expected to hit a 25 years historic high of 5% of the first half of this year to the shock of many MPs listerning his assessment. It is indeed a very worrisome to all of us.
Therefore putting it as an official Government’s agenda would have made all the difference between the governing party and its people.
However, it is still not late.
Combating such important issue would require:-
Firstly, A ministerial committee likened to that of the Sars’ saga and also during the height of outbreak of dengue fever, needs to be formed to tackle this pressing problem of ever increasing prices of all things and commodities.
Secondly all Government Ministries, Agencies, Statutory Boards, big private enterprises, importers, business associations, cooperatives, et cetera need to be mobilised, co-operate and co-ordinate to arrest and combat this increasingly worrying issue.
Thirdly, a full parliamentary debate should be conveyed to discuss in depth, the details, new laws to be enacted and the ways forward to ease the anxiety and desperation of the people.
Last but not the least, although such present uptick in inflation may be a global phenomenon. But country like Japan under its new prime minister Mr Yasuo Fukuda will comfront the problem head on. Two week ago (I heard from FM 93.8) he announced that his top priority will be arresting the rising cost of living and inflation in Japan. Our Government can do likewise.
If our Government has some success or has lessened the pain of its people, I am certain that the bond between the ruling party and Singaporeans will be much more meaningful and united, and will be in its true sense as PM Lee said “continue to work together and support each other”
As Confucius once said “ They (which I interpret as our national leaders) wish to secure the good of others (its people) have already secured their own”
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| 07/01/2008 |
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Public Transport (bus and MRT) for All Singaporeans
By Kumaran RN @ 2:30 PM :: 1206 Views ::
6 Comments :: :: General
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Hi to all,
With regards to PM's 2008 message, "...A key focus is to improve our public transport, so that more Singaporeans will take buses and trains instead of driving cars. We can do more to make public transport a choice mode of travel..."
I hope when he said "we", he also meant his Ministers and fellow MPs, govertnment officials and other high-ranking civil servants, especially those in the Ministry of Transport, will begin to take pride in our public transport system and start travelling more on our buses and MRTs more regularly instead of cars. I hope they can lead by example by showing Singaporeans that our transport system is progressing towards being world-class.
This is currently not what is happening very openly. I have read that ministers and even the righ-ranking officers in Germany do take their public transport. So, if our Ministers and MPs urge their fellow Singaporeans to rely more on public transport than cars to commute, then whey aren't their showing this in action ?
Only when the day comes when many of our business men, govertment officials (civil servants, MPs and ministers) start to feel more proud of our public transport system, especially buses and MRTs, and commute more regularly in them together with the ordinary Singaporeans, then only we can see our public transport system becoming more effecient and secure and progress to become a world-class transport system.
And I wish to see these changes from this year and I hope this can narrow the social gap among the people of the various ranks and bring them closer to be One People, One Nation and One Singaporean instead of seeing this notion only on national day observance ceremonies.
Kumaran RN
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