Lost the sense of bonding and togetherness

[Hishercar]

The letter attached by a fellow citizen expresses the dire straite the current situation is that is we ars so disillusion.

 

I hope some from this forum will some day take the initiative to lead our country

 

 

please give support to our fellow countryman who are in a worse situation that all of us here

 

 

thank you

 

 

http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/

 

Lost the sense of bonding and togetherness

Dear Mr. Tan Kin Lian

 

I am a retiree in my sixties and, like you, my heart sentiments and empathies are for the man-in-the- street, ordinary Singapore citizens, and the senior citizens, who are not able to express themselves on their plights and miseries, for lack of ability, education, literacy, IT skills and media know how.

 

The plight of the poor misguided uncles and aunties, and including my wife and I, who laboured all their lives trusting in the government's promise of a better life, when they can retire with their CPF nest eggs, have just had their dreams shattered and crumbled by the latest chain of events from the financial collapse from around the world. Some of us may be in the same age bracket as a few of our longstanding national leaders, some of whom have passed on, and some who are still giving counsel on the affairs of state. How does one compare the earning of a poor cleaner or bus or taxi driver, with that of those whose monthly salary income is 2000 times as much, or whose lifetime savings is not even one fifth of one months salary of some.

 

It is not my mission and agenda to protest against the establishment, just for protest sake. But we are now talking about retirees and hardworking citizens who have saved diligently and conscientiously for nearly all their working lives, and as they now walk into their sunset years, they have just suddenly seen the sun go down, without being sure whether it will rise up again the next day.

 

This is a very sad and human tragedy for Singaporean leaders to address quickly. There is no point in building more of the asset rich Singapore hardware, when the national heartware is in tatters. We have to offer a temple of hope, in order to create a real sense of community belonging in this small so called ' Red Dot island paradise'

 

Whilst we are shut out our city to entertain and accomodate our foreign guests, as they pop champagne and feast on caviar and veal, whilst they watch some silly machine zooming by, our taxi drivers, retailers and restaurants are hurting from lack of patronage and support. Whilst Rome burns, we are makiing sport.

 

It is paradox, and an irony, when well qualified and able young Singapore born sons and daughters, leave this 'island paradise' for greener pastures in Australia, NZ, the U.S., Canada, and may not come back home, and we then encourage new alien migrants from neighbouring feeder countries, offering them PR or Singapore citizenship after two years, because they can play better ping pong, or badminton, or football to add to our talent pool.

 

On the one hand we have full born and bred political opposition members who risk and sacrifice all they have and owned to speak up for the silent Singaporeans, but they are crucified on our court altar, for their their defiance and different points of view. Are we supposed to behave like obedient Singaporean sheep that goes "baa baa, yes sir, yes sir, you're right again,

all the time" .

 

What has happened to the days of the "gotong royong" when we were more kin and kind as near equals with 'cangkuls and poon kees' in hand, to re-build track roads and clean up the beaches. That was a time when we truly felt the kampong community spirit of collective self help, and we could relate and identify very strongly with our MPs and national leaders fighting for this country's survival. What has happened to the recognition and memories of some of our surviving pioneer old guards like Toh Chin Chye, Goh Keng Swee, Othman Wok, Ong Pang Boon, Jek Yeun Thong? Are they forgotten, because they have now become irelevant today? What about those who have also contibuted but are no longer with us - Devan Nair, S Rajaratnam., E.W Barker, Howe Yoon Chong, George Bogaars, Hon Sui Sen, Lee Siew Choh, Lim Chin Siong, J.B. Jeyaretnam and others.

 

This country and this nation's progress in the last 40+ years has been one of miraculous transformation, if we judge our report card by stainless steel, gleaming glass, bricks and mortar, and manicured trees and the landscaped gardens. No Singaporean in their 50 -80 years, would deny our government this credit. Our port, airport, CBD, MRT, highways, public housing, schools and institutions of learning stand out as wonderful trophies to our national sense of accomplishment, and much pride for the civil servants, town planners and estate managers. I, myself, have been a beneficiary of this economic progress, when I recall, as a kid, how I used to take my bath from a public stand pipe, or well, and poo into a bucket. Yes, I am grateful to this goverment for improving our creature comfort, dignity and quality of living, but not of life.

 

But somewhere along the way, coming to where we are today, we seem to have lost that sense of bonding and togetherness with our founding fathers. Our progress reminds me of the book "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. With the success of the physical transformation of the environment, there has also been an attitudinal and spiritual transformation of another kind. It has been a gradual process and shift of our cultural values and national priorities

 

As our leaders work and live in fine comfort, we the citizens of Singapore are mortgaged to our hilt, and now even our hard earned savings are going up in smoke, because the people in charge knows how to set up the traffic rules, but did not do anything to monitor and track the traffic flow.

 

Hence for many of us who continue to place our blind faith and trust in a government backed and publicly endorsed brand name, and then to be told when the bottom falls out, "you make your own bed, you lie in it". " If you fall down from bed, through no fault of your own, that's too bad. That's life. The market forces of caveat emptor will have to prevail "

 

It is like saying, we have proudly built for you a wonderful zebra crossing, but you can cross at your own risk, without the need for traffic light controls..

 

You are a brave man for doing what you are doing now, and I will refrain from egging you on, by being just an entertained spectator. Some people will do that, but when the riot vans come around, many will scatter and hide. I am a peace loving person, but like many Singaporeans who have helped to build and make this place our home, I too have my gripes and grouches, at the way we are often being programmed and manipulated by those who know what is best for us.

 

It will be interesting to see if the Prime Minister will still deliver on his national rally pledge, that no one will be left out of the national banquet and pie sharing, even in this difficult and trying time. To the rich dining in aircon comfort, an unfinished bowl of rice is only just $0.50 cents. To the impoverised and starving, that same bowl of rice, could represent a days wage, of burning and straining in the hot sun, or some bent old lady collecting tin cans and discarded cartons just to stay alive, let alone calling it a living.

 

May God bless, and keep you.

 

PatAngel

[Throttle2]

very well written piece that i cant agree to anymore myself

(although i'm not in my 60s)

 

but let us be pragmatic about it , times have changed and life is more complicated now and will only continue to get more complicated.

 

while we may not be able to turn the world around in our lifetime, we can help ensure that our children may. So teach our children the right moral values and instill in them life's most important virtues. That is our only hope.

Edited October 18, 2008 by Throttle2

[Ahhuat]

not that i want to support gahmen but this guy's argument also not that great...

 

it's becos of the gahmen's past focus on quality of life that this oldie even has something to tok about, even a computer..

 

that's a lot more than i can say for my grandparents in malaysia.. true.. got gotong royong spirit where they live.. but they have to rely on each other not cos they want to but cos they NEED to.. and why? cos some gahmen there didnt focus on quality of life...

 

so if ppl like this guy really want all that, go up north lah.. always complain.. cant have everything.. if u want gotong royong spirit.. why knock on the gahmen's door.. one moment say gahmen make a nanny state.. but everything go to gahmen..

 

if u want gotong royong spirit.. go knock on your neighbour's door.. tok to them.. greet them.. dont expect gahmen to do it for you.. simple thing like this also complain..

 

stupid..

[Chrispie]

I think it is not about where he wants to go, but what does your OWN govt does for the people. It is clear how our neighbors protects its own natives. If you look at ours, the elites gets all the perks.

 

I feel that often what our leaders does and says are just paying lip service to the majority. The solutions are often temporary, and not sustainable. Personally I always believe in doing whatever it takes to become independent of whatever policies the govt dishes out to us. Rather than to be at their mercy, I do whatever it takes to control my own plight and situation.

 

It often saddens me when i watch street interviews (during news) when people will say "I am sure the authorities will... so dont worry... we are safe..."

 

And when their minibond investment fails, they look again to the govt for help. MAS is quick to reply that they will not be following Hongkong's actions. Expected.

 

Singaporeans should open their eyes and do something soon. For themselves at least.

[Guest Julio369]

even if gahmen close all 4D/ TOTO outlets, ban cigerettes, ask ppl not to buy car, ask ppl not to buy expensive HDB flats, ask ppl to cook at home, DIY everything, travel less & work hard & save money..... ppl will never learn nor listen...the addiction to spend & show??? a simple example, why ladies like to buy LV/gucci bags ???

 

but on the brighter notes, we have safe drinking water, blue sunny skies, freshair, uninterupted power supply, safe streets, parks & nature reserves, library, safe hospital, sports facillites, schools & knowing your children are safe..... but not many S'porean appreciate these....i know FTs do.

 

we have a choice.....

[Nutty]

Dunno why... I felt depressed reading this.

[Octopus]

even if gahmen close all 4D/ TOTO outlets, ban cigerettes, ask ppl not to buy car, ask ppl not to buy expensive HDB flats, ask ppl to cook at home, DIY everything, travel less & work hard & save money..... ppl will never learn nor listen...the addiction to spend & show??? a simple example, why ladies like to buy LV/gucci bags ???

 

What I see is gahmen the one pushing up the price of HDB. Why the "rule" to follow (of trend slightly behind) market price? Why?

And why need to peg electricity price to future oil price, which resulted in 21% increased? Why?

They are making things expensive in the first place, on something which they can control yet they don't choose to do so. Why?

[Guest Julio369]

can buy ulu places...

 

we S'porean, the human race, is partly to blame for inflating the price, gahmen is just facilating it.

 

if buyers not willing to pay high (all cooperate, cahoots, collusion), sellers cannot sell high right? but sellers damn greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy.....buyers damn dumb & greedy, dumb & greedy, dumb & greedy.....

 

does COE & minibonds rings a bell?

 

as for other price increase, we can always use less....did you on your aircon last night?

[Octopus]

can buy ulu places...

 

we S'porean, the human race, is partly to blame for inflating the price, gahmen is just facilating it.

 

if buyers not willing to pay high (all cooperate, cahoots, collusion), sellers cannot sell high right? but sellers damn greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy.....buyers damn dumb & greedy, dumb & greedy, dumb & greedy.....

 

I'm refering to direct sales by HDB, not resale market.

 

as for other price increase, we can always use less....did you on your aircon last night?

I've not been using air-con for 2 years already. So you feel its right on the 21% increase, given oil prices has fallen from the peak by half and S'pore in recession?

[Hishercar]

[reply]I think it is not about where he wants to go, but what does your OWN govt does for the people. It is clear how our neighbors protects its own natives. If you look at ours, the elites gets all the perks.

 

I feel that often what our leaders does and says are just paying lip service to the majority. The solutions are often temporary, and not sustainable. Personally I always believe in doing whatever it takes to become independent of whatever policies the govt dishes out to us. Rather than to be at their mercy, I do whatever it takes to control my own plight and situation.

 

It often saddens me when i watch street interviews (during news) when people will say "I am sure the authorities will... so dont worry... we are safe..."

 

And when their minibond investment fails, they look again to the govt for help. MAS is quick to reply that they will not be following Hongkong's actions. Expected.

 

Singaporeans should open their eyes and do something soon. For themselves at least.[/reply]

 

is this a problem about complacency or apathy among singaporeans

 

like myself I would like to do something but the fear is when I try, those around say will support BUT when the times come these same people will be hiding and pretending nothing has happened

 

when at opposition rally, so many support, opposition gain confidence but when results come out

 

still the same old results

[Hishercar]

i am sorry to cause you to be depress but you are not the only one

 

hang in there buddy

[Hishercar]

a simple answer

 

because we gave them the thumb ups mandate

[Hishercar]

yes it is true

 

but if everybody bid $1 for COE, then the government will find other ways to squeeze BUT

 

they have studied psychology that is people are basically greed and would want the best at the cheapest price or willing to play people out so that can get the cheapest price or even free even better

[Hishercar]

you must be staying near the sea or in the direction of the wind

 

2 years without air-con how to tahan

 

my place balcony face afternoon sun

 

at night the walls radiate heat so no need to turn on heated BUT instead air-con

[Application9999]

can't agree more on what he wrote....it sad state that we are in......i will sure do something in the next GE...

[Chongster]

it's abit of an old man talking about what teochews call "sweah tiang see" (the good old times

 

but it is true, the day they peg their pay to the market, they lost a whole lot of moral authority. PM in his speech came out to say that it is not about moral authority and he is donating his pay rise, which in chinese is call "there's no 300 tael of silver here".

 

now in a crisis, whatever they say, people go "yeah yeah, look at your pay and where you live first". they cannot rally the people, because they lost the moral authority.

[Guest Julio369]

for new house, newly wed couple can CHOOSE to stay with parents...if the whole population gang up and CHOOSE to stay with parents, will the property goes up?

 

for existing house owner, they can CHOOSE not to upgrade...if all gang up..will HDB still CHOOSE to sell high price?

 

But S'porean are selfish (or put it nicely, boh chap), as long as their own house is clean & safe, whatever rubbish outside their main corridor they don't give a damn.

 

for power bill increase, i suggest they increase 100% to 200%, i want to see how we are boiled & screwed, if not, we peasant will still be worshipping the lords of the ring.

[Donut]

actually i have the opposite side of view abt the recent investments failure.

 

why do these ppl put $$ in the investments? is it because of greed? it is greed.....

 

think abt it... didn't the garment keep promoting annuity payments? what's the basic principle of annuities?

 

annuities are to prevent the person to "mis-spend" the lump sum of $$.

 

i know alot of ppl dun like the "annuity" idea, coz they like to see the lump of $$ in their own bank account. BUT can all of them know how to manage this large sum of $$? the answer is NO.

 

the head is not so big, but everyone wants to wear a big hat.....

 

hokkien ppl always say: be smart can already, no need to act smart

 

 

think abt it.... the garment or the banks are not to be blamed for this. its the own individual who are greedy, who wants faster returns.

 

no one can predict the future abt the returns or gains.

 

back to our basic rule in life. there is no such thing as "quick get rich schemes". $$ will not fall down from the sky so easily.

 

this will reflect the principles of CPF scheme. imagine there is no CPF scheme, and all of us are having own money to spend... what will happen?? it will be alot worse than now, because we will dump all of $$ into whatever investments...

 

CPF forced us to save money. it acts like a safe desposit that we cannot touch. at least that money can be used to pay for housing or medical.....

 

i know alot of ppl will curse for wat i am saying here.... but the garment did a good thing for having CPF scheme.