“..16 million is 0.8 per cent of all their funds available for investment. Thus, all the TCs combined have 2 billion apportioned for investments… [as] the investible portion is 35% of the total sinking fund, TCs have about 5.7 billion! Yes, billion.”
Gabriel Sim

“Even a single voice should be heard. If 1,000 voices are not loud enough, I wonder what will make our [MAS] officials hear?”
Tan Kin Lian

“What saddens me even more is that none – absolutely zero – of our Members of Parliament have seen it necessary or worthy for them to visit Hong Lim Park on any of those five Saturdays to speak to the affected investors in person.”
Andrew Loh

“Would the PAP government dare repeal S17(2) of the [Industrial Relations Act that gives employers the LEGAL RIGHT to terminate an employee] and risk the wrath of employers, including foreign investors? We all know the answer. The PAP has never been sympathetic towards the ordinary worker or layman on the street.”
Solo Bear

“The ruling People’s Action Party will be making and posting their videos on their website. That’s great news. But then someone should tell them to submit all their videos to the Board of Film Censors, as required by the Films Act. Otherwise, the censors are not averse to physically seizing films, as they did with One Nation Under Lee. Or are some parties in Singapore more above the law than others?”
Martyn See

“An oppression so comfortable, you will not notice it.”
Molly Meek

Roundup this week and recommended reads after the break.
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“If we just send away the foreign workers now, it will do us harm, because the company already in difficulty and they hire half foreign workers, half Singaporeans and you tell them foreign workers must go out, you take Singaporeans, its cost may go up and the company may close.”
Lee Hsien Loong

“We did not pay this govt so much to give explanations on why they can’t do things better for Singaporeans…”
Lucky Tan

Singapore is not ready for . . . anything its citizens’ beloved elected-into-Parliament-via-walkover leaders claim it is not ready for.”
mollymeek

This week’s recommended reads after the break.
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Thanks Anonymous_X for the link to the Barack Obama cartoons.

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“Please note that the [22% electricity tariff] increase is only affecting HOUSEHOLDS. Businesses do not bare this. Why the discrimination?”
Comment to Reply to SP Services: Don’t shoot the messenger

“I find it funny, in a way, that LKY should be so concerned to create brighter people in Singapore. You see, from our own experience, we have learnt that Singapore doesn’t do all that is necessary to look after the bright citizens it DOES have.”
Valentine Cawley

“No! Emphatically not! Whether in writing news stories or features, properly trained journalists check and double-check their facts, set these in context, work in relevant background information, insist on objectivity and balance, organise their material so their account flows smoothly and logically, and use temperate language unless there is a powerful reason to resort to strong words. Even in offering views, they ensure that the opinions expressed are based on fact..”
Leslie Fong, SPH, when asked if bloggers can be journalists.

“If we protect consumer’s interest, people would want to put their money with us and use our fund managers.”
palmist

Is MAS being short sighted in trying to protect bank profits in the minibond debacle? What is the damage done to our plans of being a financial hub in the long run, when FI interests are put above investors’? If I’m a high net worth individual you can be sure that I will be moving my investments to places that will protect me from mis-selling (does anyone really believe it wasn’t?)…High net worth individuals with legit money anyways!

Recommended reads for the week after the break.
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“The fact is, everything that has happened since [your massive pay rise], from electricity hikes to Mas Selamat to Melamine is being blamed on you because you have set yourselves up as infallible leaders. It doesn’t matter if you can’t control these events. The fact is, Singaporeans will take every opportunity to strike out at you because you’ve set yourself up to be struck at…”
Khayce

“That is the way the world is… you marry a non-graduate, then you worry about whether or not your son or daughter is going to make it to the university!”
Lee Kuan Yew

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“When Shan, a second year political science student, asked Dr Balakrishnan about Singaporeans who were affected by the mini-bond fiasco, the minister in turn asked her whether he should approach the problem as an economist or politician. Her simple reply—to look at the issue from the eyes of an “ordinary Singaporean”—won the applause of the audience.”
The Enquirer

“..we see very obvious signs that the govt will be the last among nations to help its citizens AND only if whatever actions it follows will protect its competitiveness, not that it is the right and decent thing to do for your citizens.”
commentator_sc

“For a while this generated growth for our financial sector - a key goal of the govt. But there is a price to be paid when greed overcomes prudence and fiduciary duty is forgotten….traded away for commissions..”
Lucky Tan

“That’s life, if you want good rewards, you have to take risks. Otherwise, leave your money with the CPF.”
Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister, Chairman of MAS.

“Charities should seek extinction rather than growth. The mantra of business is growth.”
Dr Lee Siew Peng

I think this should apply to the Government as well. Other than foreign policy and national defense and maybe one or two other areas, the Goverment’s main job should be to empower its people in self preservation and the pursuit of happiness. Sadly the current administration doesn’t think that way. Singaproe Inc was a good plan in the 70s and 80s but its an outdated model to take our country forward today.
g

Recommended reads for the week after the break.
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