tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174736882012-02-11T06:58:57.126+08:00The new Singapore skyline/Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.comBlogger59621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-2999400658042956232012-02-10T13:06:00.002+08:002012-02-10T13:06:56.957+08:00

Many of our local organizations just did not have the confidence of Sinkies and hoping that an angmoh would be a safer bet. Never did they know that the angmoh could be another con job. How many more organizations would like be cheated by angmohs? Or how many organizations are still having angmohs to front for them and have yet to find out the truth of the angmoh credentials? We are a developed

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-15446662782033974142012-02-10T09:39:00.000+08:002012-02-10T09:39:25.213+08:00

At the sold out Singapore Conference in Washington, Shanmugam pointedly told the Americans to shut up and stop trying to sow discord in Asia. He warned the Americans that the thought and talk of containing China is pure hogwash and would not be accepted by Asian and Asean in particular. It would not work. Asians are no longer unthinking colonized people that can be made to dance with the Western

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21866153307079288912012-02-10T08:34:00.000+08:002012-02-10T08:34:04.692+08:00

The Arabian countries are burning and Arabs are dying everyday, killed by foreign forces and instigated to kill each other by foreign forces. To whose interest or benefit it is to keep the Arabs in a constant state of turmoil an upheaval? And who is inciting the Arabs and fanning the fire of hatred in the Arab land? Asia and Asians must learn from these pitiful and hopeless people if they want

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-31404413190493657742012-02-10T08:04:00.002+08:002012-02-10T08:04:17.104+08:00

SMRT announced that it is going to spend another $90m or more on a new signaling system so that trains can arrive 20 sec or 30 sec earlier. Before even questioning whether this is money well spent, let me just recount my experience with the train services these few weeks after the resignation of the CEO. I used to take the early trains and my timing has not changed. The strange thing that is

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-80137604144518290122012-02-09T13:03:00.003+08:002012-02-09T13:05:02.165+08:00

This is another brilliant scheme in the brewing. The struggle to get oldies to work longer continues. Now the struggle to get oldies to be better paid. The cost of hiring oldies is lower because of lower CPF contribution, so can raise their CPF. With all due respect to the oldies, I am also one, depending on the job one is doing, many will slow down and some jobs that are physically and mentally

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-89320006787187244162012-02-09T09:39:00.001+08:002012-02-09T09:39:17.234+08:00

It was only a couple of years back when NUS raised its tuition fees. Today there are calling for another raise. And since the quality of education is closely related to the quality of tuition fees, the percentage of fee hike will see an equivalent improvement in quality. As they said, cheap is never good, and you want quality you will have to pay for it. At the rate NUS is improving its standard,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-5459153624350912722012-02-09T08:14:00.001+08:002012-02-09T08:14:00.864+08:00

The recent exposure of indiscretion by prominent public figures in the news has sent tongues wagging everywhere. Opportunists would have a field day telling their stories and innuendoes of the moral correctness and suitability of such people in places of authority. Character smearing and assassination and taking body shots at people and political parties could be done in all kinds of innocent

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-8879859480719101472012-02-08T12:06:00.002+08:002012-02-08T12:06:17.545+08:00

As the founding fathers faded away to history, it is good to see kind words being said about them. They were the leaders who stepped forward at a very difficult time to create something out of whatever the British left behind. And the politics then could be a life and death experience. Funny that none of them have been heard screaming or thumping their chests about their great sacrifices for the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-19328968280116642992012-02-08T08:32:00.000+08:002012-02-08T08:32:05.737+08:00

Do you want more money? What a silly question. Do you want growth? Another silly question. But beware of what you are asking for. Many a time a dollar given can end up returning 90c or more. Money given must come from somewhere just like money taken must also come from somewhere. Money does not appear from nowhere except printing or OPM. As for growth, there are many consequences for creating

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-292647312720907302012-02-07T15:19:00.000+08:002012-02-07T15:19:16.769+08:00

This lady in her beautiful pink samfoo was shocked to be told that she would not be welcomed for Sunday mass at the Church of St Anthony in Woodlands. The church has some dress code like wearing of skirts that should not be more than 5cm above the knees. The samfoo is a proper Chinese pant suit that ended 5cm above her ankles. Let me see what is so offensive about the samfoo. Maybe the warden

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-34412383950943833872012-02-07T10:16:00.000+08:002012-02-07T10:16:22.030+08:00

There is an ongoing debate for an honourable place in the history of Singapore for Subhas Chandra Bose of the Indian National Army. Some Indian nationalists wanted to erect a statue of Bose somewhere prominent to honour his role in fighting for the Independence of India. Under most circumstances this is a call that would be appreciated by many who fought against British colonialism. Bose was

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-68349089074421988972012-02-07T08:26:00.002+08:002012-02-07T08:26:46.108+08:00

The Peking duck has to be fed and be bloated to look good on the table. The only way for that to happen is contant stuffing, regardless of how fat it has grown. Some may think that the duck could turn into a goose or maybe an elephant. There is no concern about overfeeding, about being too fat, obesity. This idea seems to resonate in our growth policy. We need growth and growth and growth. And

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-20302719839727950732012-02-06T15:49:00.002+08:002012-02-06T15:49:44.864+08:00

Construction workers, mainly foreign workers, went on strike in a site building HDB flats. The main complaint is that workers were not paid since October 2011 and employers only agreed to pay the October salary today and salary due in December by Friday. Now is February 2012 and there should be two more months salary accrued and due for payment. These workers are already badly exploited by their

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-79800641623916646012012-02-06T10:01:00.002+08:002012-02-06T10:01:54.569+08:00

The reputation of our teachers and education system is so high abroad that our teachers are in demand to impart our teaching skills and methodology to other countries including the US, Philippines, Chile, Netherland and Saudi Arabia. NIE director Lee Sing Kong said, ‘the achievements of Singaporean students have been noticed internationally. “There must be something right in the way our teachers

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-29796091297417817022012-02-06T08:09:00.001+08:002012-02-06T08:09:34.642+08:00

Can a leader be great without ideas? Not exactly that they are dumb otherwise they would not be great leaders. They have ideas but their ideas may not work at all. They could be great being just a leader, to be able to move the masses with him through their oratory skills and leadership. Mao Tse Tung was a great leader in unifying China. His developmental and economic ideas or non ideas were

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-71881304295060357972012-02-05T09:11:00.002+08:002012-02-05T09:11:48.387+08:00

Sinkies are daft and lack drive. Foreigners are hungry and willing to slog. Foreigners are better. These are the sweeping statements that were made by intelligent people in high offices. How real are they? Sinkies put their children into nurseries at the young age of 3 and many studied till the age of 21, ie 18 years of formal education and spending several hundred thousands of dollars, only to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-33243335670403577112012-02-04T08:57:00.002+08:002012-02-04T08:57:53.954+08:00

Singaporeans are all reading the life of Dr Toh Chin Chye, one of the founding father of modern Singapore and the PAP. Chua Mui Hoong has a half page article of Toh Chin Chye in the ST today describing his tenacity and fearless fight for equality, press freedom, the politicising of the young Singaporeans and advocating more space for political freedom when he became a back bencher. In the same

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-85713044176110109392012-02-03T14:41:00.001+08:002012-02-03T14:43:57.049+08:00

If you are those who hate North Korea, Iran and any country the US hates, you may want to read the full article by Stephen Lendman in World Affairs column under the thread 'Wake up or sleep with the curse of the evil West/US forever in www.redbeanforum.com. Below are some extracts from his article on Weapons of Mass Deception. Selling War: "You Furnish the Pictures, and I'll Furnish the War."

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21287472890859035302012-02-03T13:05:00.001+08:002012-02-03T13:06:36.802+08:00

Toh Chin Chye passed away this morning at the age of 90. He was one of the founding father of PAP and modern Singapore. He was also a Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the PAP then. Another historical figure that has turned to ash. Another chapter of Singapore's history comes to an end.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-41333461595459145162012-02-03T11:20:00.001+08:002012-02-03T11:22:31.412+08:00

Unbelieveable! Up to 30 years ago, communists are the parallels to poor, uncouth, ruthless and revolutionaries. Today the communists are the new rich, the big spenders. They are travelling the world using their communist passports and welcomed with red carpets, to spend their communist dollars. The top fine arts auctioneers, the top luxury car makers, the top jewelry and designers, are all

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-51377031757225455702012-02-03T10:19:00.002+08:002012-02-03T10:19:14.730+08:00

Chiam See Tong said he is aggressively pushing for leadership renewal for his party. The departure of the 6 promising young men and women is a big set back to the Party. It is not reported that the party is aggressively trying to bring in people in their 20s into the CEC. Chiam is now 76 and still young if other politicians can still be active in the late 80s. So Chiam has another ten more years

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-46687442482293044112012-02-03T08:28:00.000+08:002012-02-03T08:28:23.808+08:00

Singaporeans becoming a minority in his own country is becoming a reality. Front page news in mypaper reported that in a foreign bank, in a team of 12 middle management banking staff, only 5 are Singaporeans. And it seems that this phenomenon is getting more widespread and may become a permanent and pervasive feature in the banking industry and other industries as well, particularly IT. The

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-44986807687564525752012-02-02T13:51:00.000+08:002012-02-02T13:51:13.727+08:00

Is it because of the liberalization, or is it because of the craze for artistic expression, this little uptight nanny state seems to be preoccupied with bonkings lately. The latest gossips, not gossips, newsworthy news that many Singaporeans are demanding to know or want to know, is who is bonking who. And it sells papers too I think, like the great tabloids or evening news. The only thing good

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-45607122763994200772012-02-02T10:57:00.003+08:002012-02-02T11:09:10.779+08:00

I have just called my phone service provider to cancel a service that I have not subscribed for, something like GPRS, which I was charged $5.57. I am not sure if I could have been paying for it in my previous bills. It seems that the service came together with an Android mobile phone. Many uncles and aunties or children have bought phones with many high tech stuff embedded that they did not know

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-12815337964205380312012-02-02T09:16:00.001+08:002012-02-02T09:16:43.623+08:00

Why was the Whip not lifted during the debate on Ministerial Salary? If the PAP believes so strongly in its philosophy and policy on high pay for public service, should not all the MPs and ministers also believe in the same ideology? Or was the rumour of a split on this issue true, that some MPs and ministers were not agreeable with the policy of high pay? How serious was the divide? Could the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-47815095975622446452012-02-02T08:30:00.002+08:002012-02-02T08:30:11.166+08:00

Several years ago when the heat was on haze coming from Indonesia, they recommended that they would need a satellite to keep track of all the fires in the huge archipelago. This sounded very reasonable given the size of the area to cover and the difficulty in locating the fire. It is normal for hundreds of fire to be burning without anyone knowing. With the satellite, they can pick them out on

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-33765193285376763162012-02-01T11:19:00.003+08:002012-02-01T11:34:36.324+08:00

The early phase of the Water Margin story told of the marginalized and convicted officials who were fixed up by corrupt powers of the day. And they had no where to go, could not emigrate, except to escape to Liang Shan. The first chief of the Liang Shan rebels was Wang Lun, a small minded selfish man of average intellect. As more and more able and more talented men flocked to Liang Shan, he

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-89431859854275659732012-02-01T08:26:00.004+08:002012-02-01T08:30:09.765+08:00

How many of you really become richer when there is a pay hike? I am referring to the normal average Singaporeans, not those whose pay hikes are in the hundreds of thousands or millions. Many will feel richer for a moment but whether they are richer or poorer will depend on the subsequent events that follow the pay hike. Are there more hikes in fares, charges, rentals and services? If they do,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-61460967550839668662012-02-01T08:11:00.003+08:002012-02-01T08:11:26.948+08:00

How things can change overnight. Many great arguments, uncontested and unchallenged, were elevated to become the daily mantras of Sinkies. Overnight, after a heavy thunderstorm, the dull Sinkie minds seem to have brightened up a little after the flood water subsided. Now they are calling all the mantras high falutins. They don’t believe in any of them anymore. The first to fall is the high

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-54711325658281297982012-01-31T13:53:00.000+08:002012-01-31T13:53:05.753+08:00

This is an interesting question that many observers are wondering. In the last election there were signs that the ground had shifted. The support for PAP was weakening and all it needed was for the opposition to put up a stronger slate of candidates to make some inroad into Parliament. And we have seen a GRC fell. Actually another one or two could have gone to the opposition. There was no lack

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-1579671679521069632012-01-31T10:30:00.003+08:002012-01-31T10:30:54.128+08:00

The govt took less than a month to decide on spending $750m to solve a little ponding problem in Orchard Road. The recommendations by the committee of experts were revealed only a few weeks back in the main media. Looking from a positive angle, it is decisiveness, a govt on the ball and is trying to tackle the problem as fast as it could. I still remember that it needed one whole year of studies

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-45777904854086013662012-01-31T08:41:00.002+08:002012-01-31T08:41:34.163+08:00

A contributor to the ST forum today, Woon Toon Tuan, wrote an article titled, ‘Why property prices will remain high’ and quoted some amazing numbers which he said were from official sources. He stated that from 1995-2010, the population of citizens and PRs increased by 758,000 while 128,896 private homes were built. The 758,000 when translated into homes needed with a 3.5 person per household

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-70896188420620572982012-01-30T14:38:00.003+08:002012-01-30T14:38:51.796+08:00

In his latest State of the Union Address, Obama Barack came across as a happy, balanced and contented man. In his Presidential speech it was all about nation and people, nothing about self. He was not there to defend his pay or asking for more pay. The only time he did mention about his pay was to say that he was very satisfied with his meagre official pay and was more than willing to pay more

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-36710156255421260872012-01-30T09:07:00.001+08:002012-01-30T09:07:41.112+08:00

I read that it will cost a student about $600k to study Medicine in Australia or more in the US or UK. This is a princely sum of money to acquire a skill to earn a living. I can presume that the cost of training a doctor locally is just as much, though it may cost less to a student after govt subsidies. The full cost could be as much as a million to produce a locally trained doctor to practice as

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-32107213902211021722012-01-30T08:28:00.002+08:002012-01-30T08:28:35.646+08:00

The big salary cut for ministers and politicians is a jaw dropping act of sort. It is a very significant admission that the salary paid to politicians was way way excessive in all counts and that finally it came to the open, and no one in his right mind would dare to defend it. It is also a confirmation that it was wrong in the private thoughts of many people, maybe even among the recipients of

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-36469198637131096282012-01-29T10:47:00.002+08:002012-01-29T10:47:52.294+08:00

The gate of paradise is heavily guarded by no nonsense and morally upright prudes. No sinners are allowed to pass through that gate with no exceptions. The moral high ground is zealously protected. Everyone walking around in paradise has a halo above his head, a sign of being above temptations. Paradise is only for the holiest of the holy. And they wear white, laundered many times a day to make

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-37391282991578178162012-01-29T10:36:00.000+08:002012-01-29T10:36:58.438+08:00

The state and its people are two sides of a palm. The first impression is that what is good for the state must be good for the people and vice versa. Can it be that what is good for state is not good for people and vice versa as well? There is this disquiet about the primacy of state versus its citizens. Should there be a test on which should come first, what would the govt do? There is a

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-29661931604446350452012-01-28T08:55:00.002+08:002012-01-28T08:55:50.480+08:00

My human resource experience apparently has gone out of date as far as justification for pay or higher pay is concerned. Let me just recall some of the basic premises in designing the compensation package for employees. HR will normally look at the job specs, the qualifications needed, the skill, risk involved if applicable, health hazard, even look at environment. Then HR will mix these with the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-42996002013871311582012-01-27T14:55:00.002+08:002012-01-27T14:55:47.293+08:00

Medical services, housing, education, public transportation, etc, are normally provided by the govt as institutions to serve the people. These organizations were set up using public funds to provide a cheaper alternative to their private counterparts. They have to be cheaper and decent enough to be of any use to benefit the people. They are the reasons why there is a govt and why people have to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-39238167529695683672012-01-27T10:48:00.001+08:002012-01-27T10:48:54.128+08:00

The two senior civil servants were reported to have been arrested and released on bail. So far most of the reports are highlighting their sexual indiscretions with the same woman and with some inkling on the awards of contracts through tenders. As far as I know, sexual misconduct is not a seizable offence. Correct me if I am wrong. It may be conduct prejudicial to the good image of an

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-56967164868120695172012-01-27T09:44:00.000+08:002012-01-27T09:44:14.610+08:00

The poll has ended and 180 participants cast their votes. 3 said yes, 173 said no and 4 were unsure. The final result is that 96% was against the salary package despite it being supported and approved by PAP. What to make out of this little survey? One thing, the participants are serious and thinking individuals and probably reflective of what the educated and informed Singaporean’s thinking.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-64348937174301007432012-01-27T08:31:00.000+08:002012-01-27T08:31:03.698+08:00

Every country is faced with the disease of corruption and finds their own ways to deal with them. The easiest and quite effective way, in case the problem is too big, is to simply behead them when caught. For a big country like China, they have yet to find a better way to deal with corruption. India, an equally big country with equally big corruption problem chose a diametrically opposite way, to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-19095409815016746172012-01-26T10:59:00.002+08:002012-01-26T10:59:33.538+08:00

George Yeo may have misread the message from Him and was in despair at his lost in Aljunid. He probably would be asking, why did He do it to him? He forgot that He may have better plans for him. By pulling him out from the bandwagon, George is now a free man, free from the taint of the gravy train. He must have found some goodness in George to lift him up from darkness and cleanse him from his

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-87380453811578107392012-01-26T09:13:00.002+08:002012-01-26T09:13:10.647+08:00

‘We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.’ Hussein Obama This is fruit for thought. Is it applicable to our city state? Is the number of people doing extremely

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-25687982752111753872012-01-26T08:42:00.002+08:002012-01-26T08:42:05.503+08:00

Over the last few days when news of the two senior civil servants were being questioned for corruption and now officially confirmed that they have been arrested and on bail, there are still many articles in the msm crowing about how incorruptible this island is and how the high pay to prevent corruption is necessary and effective. I think this is the time that everyone should just shut up about

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21605098343698079612012-01-26T08:12:00.001+08:002012-01-26T08:12:17.795+08:00

The netizens are in flame. Practically every netizen is saying, ‘see, I told you, more pay does not mean no corruption.’ Just because two senior civil servants were arrested by CPIB, it does not mean that they are guilty. It also does not mean that all the civil servants are equally bad. Two swallows do not make a summer. My view is that there is no such thing as no corruption, Only lesser. And

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-88297092657549392622012-01-25T11:49:00.002+08:002012-01-25T11:49:43.628+08:00

Who is the biggest maid employment agency? Who is the biggest employer of foreign workers? Who is the biggest reseller of cars? Who is the biggest insurance agent? Who is the biggest property developer? Who is the biggest toll collector? Who is the biggest employer of cheap labour? Who owns the biggest piggy bank? PS. One more day for the poll on Ministerial Salary on top right of page.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-29166425033039898922012-01-25T09:49:00.001+08:002012-01-25T10:08:32.346+08:00

Just because someone used the basic salary for comparison, it does not mean that everyone must use the same for comparison and analysis. One must know what is the intent of the discussion, comparison or analysis. If it is just a theoretical exercise to compare for the sake of comparing or argument, then no matter. Just compare anything, everything or nothing. It is just a comparison for

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-50506508824957462132012-01-25T08:14:00.001+08:002012-01-25T08:14:55.638+08:00

Politics and politicians have received many bad names which is unfair. Politics is a very difficult art or skill to comprehend and to practise. It takes a lot of skill and talent to practise politics and to be successful. Many fell to disgrace at the end of their careers. Compare to engineering, medicine or even law, politics is perhaps the most difficult of the lot, or any discipline. Everything

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-74776252889633435462012-01-24T12:38:00.002+08:002012-01-24T12:38:28.014+08:00

One day after the Dragon came in with a big bang, the ST today reported that the Commissioner of SCDF Peter Lim Sin Pang and Head of CNB Ng Boon Gay were both under probe by CPIB. This is really startling news to start the new lunar year with a bang. Since the big hike in salary for politicians and civil servants, corruption is more or less a thing of the past. With the kind of salary that is

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-64131021862747031702012-01-24T11:46:00.002+08:002012-01-24T11:46:13.685+08:00

Our parliament is still pretty tame compares to those in Taiwan or Japan or even India. But then again, it is always good to go fully prepared in case things get a bit rough. I have briefly listed down some items that MPs, particularly opposition MPs, should bring along as a survivor kit to Parliament. But before that, MPs must note that no firearms are allowed, not even firecrackers. No bottles

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-18354872936031679402012-01-23T09:39:00.001+08:002012-01-23T10:28:29.479+08:00

Ministerial Salary Review – Look at both sides now(Shen Guan Fa Cai means getting rich on promotion as court official) One of the key factors of the Review Committee’s recommendation is to peg minister’s salary to the top 1000 income earners, using the median with a 40% discount. Depending on the actual income, the salary could be near to the 501 of 1000 top income earners. Could it be above the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-75024661870355094602012-01-22T11:37:00.002+08:002012-01-22T11:37:32.099+08:00

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-32729097420318285362012-01-22T11:10:00.002+08:002012-01-22T11:10:52.645+08:00

I must say that we have an auspicious start for year 2012 with a more stable foundation for an agreeable year. The two political parties in Parliament have came to many common view points and policies. For a start, and the most important point to note, is that the PAP has commented and is happy that the WP has accepted the Salary Review Committee’s recommendation for ministerial salary. Though

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-64072825576738213092012-01-21T09:05:00.006+08:002012-01-21T10:04:55.415+08:00

Last night it was in the news, repeated several times to make sure that everyone heard it, that Lawrence Wong, Chairman of PAP’s Publicity and Publication Subcommittee, wrote in the PAP’s website demanding that the WP explains its change in position on the pay of ministers. And there is a half a page article in the ST today to signify how important it is and how strong the PAP attached to the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-75752986595721308502012-01-20T13:47:00.002+08:002012-01-20T15:26:42.546+08:00

"Minister of State Tan Chuan-Jin, choking over his words said: “I’m pained by the knowledge that I’ll miss the many moments when my children are growing up and time with my family. My parents are not getting any younger. Those moments missed do not return. Ever… In time I will look back and there will be gaps. But that’s life. I’m not sure how one considers it a privilege to miss these precious

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-70525194962960703162012-01-20T11:16:00.002+08:002012-01-20T11:16:04.661+08:00

The approval of the Salary Recommendation by the Review Committee also means that all the assumptions and logics are accepted as valid. The major points are, need to pay high salary to attract talent, right to peg ministerial salary to top 1000 income earners, right to pay allowances and variable bonuses based on the formula submitted. The other things that are accepted include a clean wage bill

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-2293359188642380932012-01-20T10:24:00.002+08:002012-01-20T16:39:42.934+08:00

Parliament has approved the recommendation of ministerial salary by the Review Committee. Technically, the MPs are representatives of the people and when they support the bill, it means the people also support the bill. So technically the MPs have spoken and voted on behalf of the people and voted for the new salary package. I have just created a poll on this to find out how many people support

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-69491378969296135002012-01-20T09:13:00.002+08:002012-01-20T09:13:47.700+08:00

MPs elected to parliament quickly learn that parliament is not a kopitiam to sing song and talk cock. Parliament can be a treacherous place, like a war zone or battle field and requires special skills to survive the day. Maybe that is a reason why so many MPs chose to disappear during parliament sessions. The democratic process of parliament is the culmination of a contentious way of pursuing

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-1049722987352844922012-01-20T08:10:00.002+08:002012-01-20T08:10:31.235+08:00

MPs are part time jobs as they have another job or can have another job that requires them to work full time or 8 hours a day officially. MPs that resigned from their full time jobs to go full time are the full time MPs. This is easily understood. When I say that political appointments are part time jobs, I can see many eye brows being raised. The smarter ones could see immediately where I am

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-43158120165434837392012-01-19T13:35:00.001+08:002012-01-19T13:35:29.475+08:00

The O level results have just been announced and so many students and their parents are elated with their straight A1s. Throw a stone and you will definitely hit one with at least 5 A1s and often more than that. Getting anything less is probably a rarity. I do not want to dampen their spirit as the Chinese New Year is around the corner. How many of these A1 students will make it to the top JCs,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-91881566059400905692012-01-19T09:33:00.002+08:002012-01-19T09:33:33.400+08:00

It really makes me sick to hear people whining that they are sacrificing for the country. So ‘jia lat’. The ruling govt must be damn ‘chek ark’ to turn these people into martyrs of modern Singapore. When a Sinkie is called to stand for political office, the first thought that came to his mind is ‘sacrifice’, despite the world’s highest paid salary, with many even getting more than the President

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-82096621784344344512012-01-19T08:32:00.002+08:002012-01-19T08:38:12.855+08:00

The ministerial salary recommendation was passed after three days of debate. Though there were some attempts to take issues with the recommendation on grounds of principles and methodology, eventually all was convinced that there was really nothing to discuss as it was a judgement call. And there was elation when a common number was found and a hurry to move on with no regards to how it is

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-38344357631402712362012-01-18T20:45:00.000+08:002012-01-18T20:45:24.214+08:00

Below are 7 short clips of WW2 films about the Japanese invasion of China and how this poor and unprepared nation was battered to pieces. It was only their human will and the spirit to live a life of freedom and the assistance of foreign forces from the West that helped the Chinese people defeated the overpowering and well equipped Japanese invaders. All peace loving and anti war human beans

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-39207167596972308642012-01-18T13:40:00.002+08:002012-01-18T13:40:11.254+08:00

The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 Jan 2012 Had the ASX deal gone ahead, Bocker could have comfortably hidden the far deeper downturn in equities trading experienced by his group than ASX over the past six months (although many a local stockbroker suffering loss of hair, sleep and a job might contest that view). Acquiring the ASX would also have reduced (although in some ways deepened because of

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-33612681966423070062012-01-18T12:40:00.000+08:002012-01-18T12:40:01.471+08:00

Hsien Loong is still thinking about promotion and career development of his employees. This kind of anomaly only exists in one country and no where else. No where in a democratically elected govt does a head of a political party has the privilege of career planning and development, and a salary scale for politicians as if they were employees of the state. In a normal healthy democracy every term

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-75955652667590949102012-01-18T10:19:00.002+08:002012-01-18T10:19:12.113+08:00

David Conner is retiring from OCBC after 10 years. He took over from Alex Au, the previous CEO. Alex was a Hongkie. The successor to David Conner is none other than another Hongkie, Samuel Tsien. DBS too did not have a local bred CEO for nearly two decades. The only local bank that still has a local in charge is UOB, which surprisingly is out performing the foreign run local banks if the value of

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-77941750610804948752012-01-18T08:36:00.001+08:002012-01-18T08:36:25.969+08:00

This guy was at a public tap with a big hose and filling water into a big tanker. Standing beside him was a long queue of human beans each with a pail or plastic container waiting for their turns. They have been waiting for hours but the tanker is so huge and may take several hours to fill it up. And several tankers were also waiting. Occasionally the guy at the tap would turn around and slosh a

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-20264408497622608162012-01-18T08:28:00.006+08:002012-01-19T14:04:50.465+08:00

We must see ourselves as the number one place to live for exceptional people. We must be an exceptional country and for that, the pay of our political leaders must be exceptional. We want the best and we shall pay the best salary in the world to get the best talent the world can provide. So far every suggestion and proposal for the minister’s salary is arbitrary. The logic is arbitrary logic,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-1258339477033167792012-01-17T11:48:00.000+08:002012-01-17T11:48:03.332+08:00

Be realistic and compares apple with apple. Alvin Yeo brought out an interesting point, that the political leaders of UK and US came from wealthy background and could afford to take lower salary. He quoted a few British politicians with net worth of 4 or 5 million pounds with the Cameron’s waiting to inherit a 30m pound fortune. For those with 4m or 5m pounds, actually ‘sub sub suey’ compare to

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21542881998302351532012-01-17T11:02:00.000+08:002012-01-17T11:02:09.122+08:00

Heard everyone screaming for KPIs like words from the mouth of gods. KPIs are the answer to work performance and an objective way to measure performance of an employee. HR professionals would tell you that it is just a tool. And a tool is as good as the person using it. It is not something so simple to set. Does anyone know how much time and effort to write a good and reasonable KPI and how

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-25277928949559121152012-01-17T09:42:00.002+08:002012-01-17T09:42:53.675+08:00

The debate on the Ministerial Salary has started. A brief description of what I heard and read is that everything about high ministerial salary is for the good of the country and people. There is nothing about self serving. The island needs strong, good and capable leaders. And how to get them is through paying them well. The ministers and MPs are arguing for more money not for themselves, but

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-50236958355960693402012-01-17T08:24:00.001+08:002012-01-17T08:24:42.052+08:00

The obsessive attention on the politicians and their political pay package has distracted the people from the vital role the civil service plays in the running of the country. The politicians come and go, by choice or by being ousted by the people when they are no longer trusted. The civil servants are career employees who will be there to serve whichever govt that comes to power. They will only

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-28039938603405271392012-01-16T13:00:00.002+08:002012-01-16T13:00:23.526+08:00

It takes about 13 hours to be in London, or if one drives, about 5 hours to be in KL. This woman and her two teenage daughters took more than a day to walk from Yishun to Tampines. They took a break in Chai Chee at night, sleeping in the void deck, and prepared to walk another 6km to Tampines. She had recently gone through a divorce and has no place to stay. They were walking to seek help from

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-61258590514821052472012-01-16T11:25:00.002+08:002012-01-16T11:25:27.062+08:00

The ST reported several cases of Singaporeans travelling overseas and were detained for months in foreign jails and treated by criminals. And their crimes were due to some rogues in uniform and their wild imaginations. They arrested them on grounds of suspicions or when they were under some kinds of hallucination that a family could be involved in human trafficking or trying to sell the children

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-19692566165875754872012-01-16T08:25:00.001+08:002012-01-16T08:25:44.497+08:00

Monday 16 Jan 2011 could be the most significant day in the history of Singapore politics. It is a day when the grossly overpaid compensation package of the ministers, a world record that belittles all other records in the Guinness Book of Records, will be put under the microscope. It could be expected that every single dollar paid under the system will be questioned. But one thing for sure, the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-37568737983439558162012-01-16T08:18:00.000+08:002012-01-16T08:18:06.872+08:00

'Elevation map that can help fight flooding may cost up to $125m Data from such mapping can be used in a computer model to predict floods, experts say A map that can show the height of land across Singapore and help fight the flooding problem could cost up to $125 million. Users of the map, accurate to within 10cm, would have a better idea of where rainwater would flow during storms. The data,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-59518266503962255232012-01-15T10:39:00.000+08:002012-01-15T10:39:07.484+08:00

Many people are familiar with Maslow’s four levels of needs Theory. The normal progression of normal human beans is from one level to the next. After observing recent developments in our society, I will take liberty to offer a couple of variations to this great social theory. The theory states that once a person has attained all this needs for Recognition in level 3 he will proceed to level 4

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-43519073420764230792012-01-14T09:33:00.002+08:002012-01-16T09:39:29.827+08:00

Monday is a big battle day in Parliament. 25 MPs will take to the floor to discuss the recommendations of the Ministerial Salary Review Committee headed by Gerard Ee. The agenda has been set. They will be discussing about the recommendations for future salary for primarily political appointment holders. The salary for MPs is more or less accepted as reasonable and may at most received a cursory

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-86622343764440683142012-01-13T16:28:00.002+08:002012-01-13T16:28:23.959+08:00

This is really unprecedented and the US is denying that it has anything to do with bullying or intimidating Iran. USS John Stennis, USS Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln will be waltzing in the area very soon. This amassing of forces is more than the two carrier groups in the Western Pacific Ocean during the tense confrontation between China and Taiwan a few years back. All the indications are

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-24002248162778648562012-01-13T11:45:00.002+08:002012-01-13T11:45:38.599+08:00

I have abstained all this while from making reference to her directly with due respect to all parents, husbands and brothers and sisters of every young person. She is after all someone’s daughter, somebody’s wife and sister. It is not very kind to be so harsh in our comments on her. Many do not know her and made remarks based on the few things or comments they heard or read about her in the media

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-55487822332145208072012-01-13T10:06:00.003+08:002012-01-13T10:06:25.719+08:00

There is a big battle between Asian Assholes and East European Professor in Chip Bee Estate. The trouble started when the professor had parties one too often and making too much noise to irritate her Asian neighbour. So the latter reported to the police and even recorded their jokes and adulterated conversations with phrases like Asian Assholes. The professor has now made an apology for the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-43897965978269188542012-01-13T08:35:00.001+08:002012-01-13T08:35:40.626+08:00

Don’t give me that puzzled look can? I was thinking of another title, ‘The temptation of Jesus Christ’, but that may be too religious an approach. There are many reasons why Sinkies need to stand up to protect the ministers. And there are many known and good reasons to do so. We were told that they are the crème ala crème of the super talents on this piece of rock. This must be a good enough

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-72746702337174752092012-01-12T15:53:00.003+08:002012-01-12T15:54:53.525+08:00

Bloomberg By Kana Nishizawa and Marco Lui - Jan 12, 2012 Securities traders and restaurant staff will protest outside the Hong Kong stock exchange offices today over the bourse’s plan to reduce its lunchtime trading break. As many as 1,000 protesters will gather at the Statue Square in the city’s central business district at 4:45 p.m. and walk to the headquarters of Hong Kong Exchanges &

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-12285091703250702862012-01-12T12:54:00.002+08:002012-01-12T12:54:17.859+08:00

More and more cases of PRs and new citizens benefitting from the housing policies or taking advantage of them are being reported in cyberspace. And to think that they did not have to do NS and could get a public flat so easily while so many Sinkies are not even eligible for some cock reasons, singles, income too high etc etc, makes the blood boils. How can policies be formulated that put Sinkies

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-51839380674410622012012-01-12T10:07:00.003+08:002012-01-12T11:01:26.952+08:00

The recommendations of the Salary Review Committee will be debated on Monday 16 Jan in Parliament. It will be PAP versus others, between those going to vote for the recommendations and those against it. It will not be a debate on conscience, not about morality or decency, but a debate on policy. Yes, Gan Kim Yong said the whip will not be lifted. This means that the PAP MPs must toe the line,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-21994917625258687042012-01-12T08:24:00.003+08:002012-01-12T08:24:54.792+08:00

I heard that some experts are recommending that SMRT provide incentives in the form of monetary rewards to commuters to take the trains outside the peak hours. I think this is a very ingenious suggestion. How come no super talent can think of such a brilliant idea? I am seriously considering doing that now and see how much money is SMRT going to incentivize me. Okay, my office starts work at 9

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-16540497369889043792012-01-12T08:18:00.001+08:002012-01-12T08:21:26.090+08:00

When they want to find a nice name for Marina Bay, they sought the expertise of foreign consultants who advised them, after collecting $400k, to call it Marina Bay. Today we have this MRT problem, a system that we have been operating for 30 years and looking like falling into pieces. And who else to look for expert advice when there is none locally? Call for foreign experts lah. Just pay only

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-56441613157140661162012-01-11T16:03:00.001+08:002012-01-11T16:03:53.423+08:00

China has woken up to its folly of investing its money in American stocks. The last decade had seen China losing billions in pouring money into American stocks while neglecting its own stock market. Instead of making money, it burnt a big hole for its blind belief and adolation of Wall Street and the great American financial con game. While doing it, it also in a way allowed the hollowing of its

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-14681067383666657222012-01-11T10:55:00.003+08:002012-01-11T11:04:11.398+08:00

You cannot run a country on greed or money. If what is good for the country is all about greed and money, then you will have to face policies that are greed or money driven. A country is about the well being of its people, not about the well being of a few rich men or women, not about the superb infrastructure, not about GDP growth, if they don’t benefit the people. To connect the performance

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-6289600032310298692012-01-11T09:06:00.001+08:002012-01-11T09:06:49.345+08:00

I am very impressed by the credentials of all the top drainage experts in town and their fanciful solutions to the ponding problems in Orchard Road. I think they will work, if not, just at a few more measures as things go along. It just costs a little more money that’s all. I am no expert in any of these stuff, drainage, catchment area, water flow, rate of flow, porous material, drain capacity,

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-11417846154061002432012-01-11T08:18:00.003+08:002012-01-27T14:38:45.015+08:00

I ask how much, not what is political leadership. And I say political leadership, not administrators or civil servants. Political leadership, is priceless, I mean the good ones, the really good ones, not those gold plated stuff. Leading a country needs leaders, to motivate the people, to challenge the people, to lead the people. The reverse, to demotivate the people, to tell them there is no

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-52472432462270060982012-01-10T11:43:00.003+08:002012-01-10T12:09:54.481+08:00

How much do you want? As the salary or money issue continues to engage the daft Sinkies, I would suggest that they get real. Throw away all the fictitious and fallacious assumptions and formulas. There is no right or wrong answer. What is right to the ministers may not be right to the people and vice versa. What is right to one minister may be wrong to another. Let’s just ask them how much they

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-22865960419714997002012-01-10T09:51:00.000+08:002012-01-10T09:51:02.983+08:00

In every dark cloud there is a silver lining. And the SMRT fiasco is no exception. Many good things came out from it. Never did the authority know that there were so many faults and maintenance issues that need to be rectified and put right. Didn’t the authority know that there are so many emergency procedures that were put to a real test and found wanting. It was all a big lapse. Nevermind, it

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-33314958498253952452012-01-10T08:36:00.000+08:002012-01-10T08:36:21.044+08:00

The debate on the world’s highest ministerial salary continues. What is unfortunate is that all the nitwits are stretching their discussions to both ends of the extremes, that we should not pay our ministers out of this world salary or pay them to be paupers. When one starts to argue on the premises of extremes, the argument becomes silly and so do the nitwits. None is trying to ask the simple

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-91375334453148768762012-01-09T14:28:00.002+08:002012-01-09T14:28:15.141+08:00

I was curious when the police allowed the rally in support of Anwar at the High Court. It could be a very serious demo if Anwar was found guilty. Now that the truth is out, very likely the verdict was already known and the goodwill for approving the rally was the final touches to a happy ending to a bad saga. The opposition should appreciate this new openness and freedom they are enjoying under

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-39244118866276956582012-01-09T11:07:00.001+08:002012-01-09T11:07:00.538+08:00

How things can change overnight. Many great arguments, uncontested and unchallenged, were elevated to become the daily mantras of Sinkies. Overnight, after a heavy storm, the dull Sinkie minds seem to have brightened after the rain water flooded them. Now they are calling all the mantras high falutins. They don’t believe in any of them anymore. The first to fall is the high salary for super

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-59187174021826842722012-01-09T09:17:00.001+08:002012-01-09T09:17:43.865+08:00

Is this what is happening to Singapore? Or is it just a case of a little bad govt for the testing to remind the Sinkies not to pray pray with what they already got? For nearly 30 years, the train was running quite near to clockwork precision or as good as you can get. Any disruption was minor and not something to be expected. Over the last few weeks, train faults, delays, slow down etc etc were

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-20670920364330324942012-01-09T08:09:00.002+08:002012-01-09T08:09:47.653+08:00

Soros and his company were once the typical corporate raiders the commercial world was used to. They have been superceded by a new brand of corporate raiders that are running and ruining many corporations to bankruptcies. The new corporate raiders are the senior management of corporations, hired to run the corporations but ended up raiding the corporations. The lack of accountability and the

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17473688.post-34478421082350877822012-01-08T13:43:00.002+08:002012-01-08T13:43:55.182+08:00

He told the Americans that this is a tough battle. He needs money, and more money. And he has to fight Congress for it. No, he is not fighting for his own pay. If he does, I would recommend him the Singapore formula and the Singapore system. Just tell Congress that there is this wonderful model that works, and it pays the head of govt a basic of $3m with 27.5 months of variable bonuses as backup

Chua Chin Leng aka redbeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743716923635835397noreply@blogger.com23