Wake Up Your Idea
Saturday, April 26, 2008
  When Cost Goes Up, Wages Don't Need To?
When I read the headline "Raising Wages To Address Costs Not The Right Solution" on CNA, I thought to myself, how else are we going to solve the problem? Intrigued to find out, I read the report - of which the first 3 paragraphs are reproduced below. After reading the report, I was left perplexed as I did not notice a solution being offered. I read it again and eventually realised that the heading and the article were mismatched. The article was talking about some inconsequential law that, unsurprisingly, will benefit employers, corporations and the like.

As the circled portions highlight, as far as the title goes, the question is framed (again) in the first paragraph and the answer in the third paragraph is simply 'Suck It Up' - ie. "..have a realistic expectation of wages...". Amazing how the solution can be purported to be living with it rather than expect an increase in salary.

Funny how such 'wisdom' on having "realistic expectations of wages" does not apply when it comes to the million dollar salaries of the highest public officials in the land eh?

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Thursday, April 24, 2008
  What To Do, It Has Happened...
We have a silly-looking icon which can't decide if it's a fish or a mammal. We also have a national flower with a salutation as its middle name. In addition, we aspire to be the biggest in everything we build or do - suspiciously as though obsessed with overcompensating for the lack of actual land size or population might. But what I love most about Singapore is our prodigal son [NOT Fandi Ahmad] and his wise words of wisdom.

In May 2006, he uttered the immortal words "...I'm going to spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them..." with regard to the opposition during an election rally. Shockingly, he still got re-elected.

Barely 2 years later, he's back with an irresistible reply to a national disaster where a 'dangerous terrorist' escaped, with a cool "...what to do, it has happened." The embarrassing incident was followed by an equally-embarrassing inquiry report worthy of only an 'O' Level pass at best, with amateurish statements from the PM (aforementioned prodigal son-of-a-...) and the Minister responsible for the fiasco that can only be described as insulting to the average sensible citizen.

Nevertheless, I have complete faith in the truest-of-the-true current 'face of Singapore' to provide timeless classics like 'Mee Siam Mai Hum'. I simply can't wait for the next pearl of insight to spew forth from his post-cancerous mouth.

I wonder if decades down the road, we will look back and say that it was this unrelated alleged terrorist - albeit indirectly - who sowed the seeds of impending doom for the ruling 'elite'. Will I be telling my children that a certain Mas Selamat changed the history of Singapore in February 2008?

New Illustrated SOP For Detention Guards

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Tuesday, April 08, 2008
  Steve Irwin, Nick Petroulias & Singapore = SCAM
What Do Steve Irwin, Nick Petroulias & Singapore Have In Common? Apparently an elaborate scam involving millions of dollars. I chanced upon this on a tomorrow.sg post and the latest report on Reuters that was referenced does not specify the 'Singapore-based company' by name. However, digging a bit, I discovered that this issue has been floating around since late last year and the Irwin's are in fact involved in a scam to avoid paying taxes - either knowingly or unknowingly.

Nick Petroulias is apparently a disgraced former Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) who was involved in some shady underhand work to give 'rebates' to some firms that he had a financial interest in between 1997 & 1998 and for which he was arrested in 2000. A trial is presently ongoing and he has been found guilty on some charges already.

The interesting thing to note is, in this current case involving 'Mr Crikey' and gang, the suspicious company based in Singapore is HQZ Argentum - supposedly an investment bank at 'Whitehouse' building located at Maxwell Road. The number given is 67228316 and, when called (I did), re-routes to a telephone operator in New Zealand where an automated service informs that the number no longer exists. Perhaps someone should see if the office is still there at 32 Maxwell Road #03-07 S(069115).

I wonder why a fraudulent establishment and/or scheme would choose (squeaky clean) Singapore as a base for operations? How did it manage to escape prosecution (or detection, at least) by our authorities? Oh wait, they let Mas Selamat go right? Oh wait wait, it's our fault for being complacent and expecting such extremely high standards of our not-so-exceptionally-paid government. And I am sure the fact that revenue from the taxation of the millions being passed through the republic goes to our national coffers have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Where's A Stingray When You Need One

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Sunday, April 06, 2008
  The Rhys Thomas Affair
A news report today informs that an Australian pilot who flew a plane into Singapore air space in January (earlier report) was fined S$5,000. Wow. Fly a plane without any communications into Singapore and you get fined. Simply TALK about flying a plane into Singapore and you get detained under the ISA indefinitely.

In the words of the typical Singaporean, "Ang Moh cannot be terrorist meh?" Perhaps it was colonialism at work...

JI Plan 'B'

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