Streaming in school to be scrapped
Pretty good news if you ask me. I was never a fan of the streaming system, being a pretty late developer myself. As I forced myself to go through hours and hours of additional classes and homework just to keep up, school started losing its lustre and learning changed from being fun, to a chore. Hopefully, future batches will have a better time, and there will be no more stigma attached to kids from the EM3.
Full article hereLabels: em3, school, singapore, streaming
On traffic wardens
There has been a recent spate of letters to the
ST forums regarding the outsourcing of the responsibility of dishing out traffic offences to the public to private companies. People have complained of getting more summons, the writer that started it all claims to have kena 5 tickets in one month, despite having a clean record for over 40 years. Interesting... haha..
I'm not too sure of the situation nowadays, since I've not driving anymore. I do remember that I was always often booked for certain offences, mainly parking related. I did appeal a couple of them, which I felt was unjustified, for example, there was once I was booked for not displaying my parking coupon CLEARLY even though I left it as I always did just beside the ERP sensor. Appeals were never successful, I almost always got a similar template reply that honestly, is full of bureaucratic crap that if decipered successfully, failed to make any real sense.
I have always wondered a few questions. For example, in my above mentioned case, where the offence is that the coupon is not displayed clearly, how do you define clear? Is there a standardised location where one must display it? What if the warden has poor eyesight? Are there any proofs, for example, the warden should take down a picture of the situation so that if the driver wants to dispute the matter, they can handle it in a clear and just manner, instead of simply one man's word against another's? I did display a valid coupon after all, and I dispute the fact that it was not displayed clearly, but once again, there is no clear definition of 'clear', and it basically ended up between my word against the warden's, neither side having actual proof, yet I ended up on the losing end as I still have to pay up my fine after my failed appeal, otherwise I would have to end up in court.
I recalled an incident some time ago, also in the ST forum, where a member of the public wrote in to comment that he/she witnessed a police officer using his mobile phone without a hands-free set while driving, and listed the time of the offence, as well as the car plate number of the vehicle. The reply from the SPF was that, after investigation, the officer confirmed he was at the place and in the vehicle, but denied that he was using his phone, and the member of public that witness the incident was invited to contact the SPF to pursue the matter. I'm not sure what happened next but I would believe that the writer would most probably choose not to pursue the matter on their own time and the officer will probably get off scott free IF he was guilty as charged. To me, it seems like a public servant's statement is given precedence over the public. Imagine if you receive a summon that you have been spotted taking a car while driving without using a hands-free set at a given time and place, with your car plate number. You admitted being there, in your car, but denied that you have been using your phone. What do you think is the likely outcome?
Labels: police, singapore, summons, tickets, traffic, wardens
Foreign talents
Came across this article on
My Singapore News regarding yet another PM dialouge with the youths in their latest
charade attempt to connect with the youth.
What interest me is the point being made in the above linked post.
Extract:
During last night's PM dialogue with the youth the concern of letting in too many foreign talents in the salary bracket of $1,800 and $2,500 were raised. This is the group that will hit very hard on our young graduates and executives. The fear is genuine.
Hsien Loong's response was to acknowledge the concern but added, 'I think we should bring in people who can make a contribution and as for our people, you'll compete with them but at the same time because they are here, our economy will grow and there will be more business, more opportunities for us.'Personally, I fall into this very group. I graduated couple of months back, with a degree in Information Systems & Mangement. Prior to that, I had a diploma from a local polytechnic in an IT related field as well. You can say that IT is both my interest and probably my forte and I consider myself pretty good at it, and enjoy it as well. Like every other young people, I have dreams of landing a 'dream job' whereby I can get a job that pays well, while at the same time doing what you love. Its easier said than done.
I guess in a way, IT industry is more affected than many others say maybe manufacturing or engineering sector as a result of globalisation. IT projects are so many easier to outsource for example, you can easily get a programmer from India or a web designer from China to do parts or even entire projects without having the need to be physically in Singapore at a fraction of the cost compared to hiring locals. I accepted that fact a couple of years back and as software engineering is not my core interest anyway, I have more interest in networks and hardware, it didn't really bother me too much.
The hard fact hit me when I went job hunting. 80% of the interviews I went to, the interviewer basically just sneer at my so called 'accomplishments' such as projects and my results slip and told me that in the real IT industry, paper qualifications count for nothing, they want actual experience. Cool. I can understand that. I'm willing to work for the chance, the experience, as long as you are willing to give me the chance, and of course, a reasonable pay package. Most of my fellow classmates, which incidently, none is in the IT line anymore, have an average pay package of $2000 - $2500, so I was expecting along the lines of $2000, or maybe slightly lesser by a couple of hundreds, if it meant landing a job I craved.
I did not count the number of interviews I went to, but I'm quite sure that I had been to no fewer than 10 interviews, and I really seen the share of ridiculous offers. The most jarring incident was one whereby the interviewer offered me $1200 and refused to add a cent more, telling me that he can easily get a foreigner with a S-Pass to do the job at that price, and they would be far more experienced than me. In fact, I should be grateful that he is offering me this opportunity to learn and I quote
"Nobody will want to hire a fresh graduate these days when we can get more experienced people for less, and they don't need to go back for reservist." I do not want to sound arrogant or anything here, but come on lah, I am afterall a degree holder, you are basically paying me less than what I would have expected even as a poly graduate lor. Back when I was running my pub, I paid my perm staff $1500 a month and he doesn't even have a full 'O' levels. I probably should have gotten a foreigner to do the job too huh... Then where will all the locals go and find their jobs? I seriously can understand if they get foreigners to do stuff that locals want to do such as construction etc, or if they are REAL talents, they can be a CEO or some high ranking expatriates that we have come to get used to. But by allowing them to come in at entry level and take away the opportunity from young fresh graduates, it will only be breeding a whole new generation of discontent youths. Stop giving lip service and model answers in response to questions such as the above mentioned and show us that you are really paying attention to what we are saying.
Labels: foreign talent, fresh graduate, jobs, singapore
Thai-Singapore axis set to unravel
John Burton of the Financial Times21 Sep 06
Singapore could suffer the most among countries in the region from the military coup against Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai prime minister, who forged close ties with the city-state and sold his telecommunications group to Singapore's state investment company.
It was the $1.9bn sale of a 49 per cent in Shin Corp by Mr Thaksin's family to Temasek Holdings in January that triggered the political crisis that led to the coup after it was revealed the family paid no taxes on profits from the deal.
Mr Thaksin was seen by Singapore as its strongest supporter for closer economic integration of the Association of South-east Nations, which provoked talk of a Singapore-Bangkok axis within the group.
The ousted Thai leader also expressed admiration for Singapore's political system, telling Singapore officials that he wanted to model his Thai Rak Thai party on the long-ruling People's Action party.Mr Thaksin decided to sell Shin Corp to Temasek to dispel allegations of conflicts of interest between his family's corporate holdings and his government duties as he prepared to stand for a third term as prime minister.
The deal turned out to be the most controversial conducted by Temasek since Ho Ching, the wife of Singapore's prime minister, became the group's chief executive in 2002 and launched an ambitious global acquisition strategy.
Public protests in Thailand over the deal have led to a nearly 40 per cent fall in Shin Corp's share price since then. In April, Lee Hsien Loong, Ms Ho's husband, told parliament that "Temasek invested in Shin Corp because it saw value in the investment" but added it was not government policy "to second guess Temasek's risk assessments".
A former senior Singapore official, however, criticised Temasek's handling of the deal in light of Mr Thaksin's growing unpopularity at the time. "Temasek did financial due diligence, but not political due diligence," he told the Financial Times. Temasek said it had considered all aspects in concluding the deal.
A Temasek-led consortium increased its stake to 96 per cent in Shin Corp under a mandatory offer, but the takeover has been investigated by Thai regulators over whether Temasek used proxy companies to avoid a 49 per cent ceiling on foreign ownership in strategic industries. Temasek said it fully complied with Thai law.
Michael Montesano, a Thai specialist at the National University of Singapore, believed it was unlikely a new government would nullify the Shin Corp deal, but Temasek might have to reduce its stake if it was found in breach of foreign shareholding limits. Temasek said it was premature to comment on the coup's impact.
Most regional governments expressed concerns about the coup and called for a restoration of democracy in Thailand.
Indonesia's defence minister, Juwono Sudarsono, said the Thai coup illustrated one of the pressures facing south-east Asia's civilian democratic governments. "If there's a lesson it is this: politicians and parliamentarians must get their act together and consolidate party building and deliver on performance," he said. "Otherwise people turn to the military for decisiveness and stability."
In the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the president who declared a brief state of emergency to crush an alleged coup attempt early this year, was keen to quell speculation the Thai coup might encourage the military to attempt a similar takeover.
Additional reporting by Shawn Donnan in Jakarta and Roel Landingin in Manila
Labels: singapore, thailand
Coup in Thailand
Received a call early this morning from a friend of mine that didn't know I was back in Singapore. Spoken briefly on msn before my trip and somehow she got Cambodia and Thailand mixed up. Think somebody needs to brush up on their geography.. hehe
Thailand situation updatePersonally, I would have loved to be there. I mean, what are the chances you will ever see something like that ever happening in your lifetime, considering the fact that we live in Singapore? Probably when a 'freak results' occur and the military have to step in(refer to last post), which I doubt will happen any time in my lifetime.
Maybe people will say that we do not know how blessed we are living in such a peaceful country blah blah blah... I get that. But I would also like to have some excitment and unpredictablity in my life for a change. Would you really want to just go through the same routine life till the end of times?
Labels: coup, crisis, singapore, thailand
Is PAP the only choice?
I came across
this article the other day, and it gave me the chills...
Extract:
"Without the elected president and if there is a freak result, within two or three years, the army would have to come in and stop it," Lee said.Just a couple of question.
Is the elected president an independent individual or a 'puppet' or failsafe device for the ruling party? Does this mean that the president basically has no will of his own and does whatever PAP tells him? Is his job to serve the people, the ruling party (govt) be it PAP or otherwise, or is he simply a PAP man?
What about the army? Is the army there to serve and protect the nation of singapore, or the PAP party? Can the party, if it is not the ruling party anymore, activate the army at will? Does this also imply that if one day, the PAP is no longer the ruling party, we can expect a civil war? Can our conscripted army choose not to fight if they don't believe in what they are fighting for? Can our sons of singapore not choose another party to rule us through a fair and democratic process(not exactly what I would consider a "freak result") without being threaten with war?
I really fear for our future.
IMF
Everybodys talking about it, every other person is getting arrested for it as well apparently. Usual suspects include of course our dear
Mr CSJ, some activist handing out flyers, including Mr Pillai, who started the
400 frowns campaign to counter the Government's 4 million smiles project. Another website that is campaigning a
4 million frowns project is so far spared, probably because the govt realised that it can never hit that target anyway... hahaha..
Apparently, Mr Pillai was arrested not for starting the campaign, but for distributing
flyers. Damn.. Didn't know that there is a law against that. They should do something about those
litter flyers that somehow seem to mysteriously appear at my doorstep every morning instead.
I hope that doesn't discourage the burger king auntie from distributing her discount coupons... I need those.
Enough is enough
I think I have had enough. Enough mourning, enough complaining, and enough of feeling sorry for myself. At least on this blog. :) Those things shall go off from here to another location. Though its not very productive, I still have a need to vent my fustration somewhere, just not here.
I started this blog initally to move away from my mundane life and to blog about more interesting stuff, and thats the way its going to be again. Focus.
Lost
I'm like a ship with no harbour, a vessel with no captain, a man with no aim, seemingly lost at sea... I'm really really breaking down...
Sail away sweet sister
Sail across the sea
Maybe you'll find somebody
That will love you half as much as me
My heart is always with you
No matter what you do
So sail away sweet sister
Cause I'll always be in love with you
