Singaporeans are ageing fast — let’s get planning

[This is quite a bit late - a letter from June. Better publish it before the end of the year. What can I say? Getting old.]

Ku Swee Yong

June 10, 2016


I am not bringing up this subject because I see my hairline receding rapidly or because I need bifocals.

As highlighted in my latest book, Weathering a Property Downturn, if we took a snapshot of Singapore’s population tree in 2015 and assumed that the population was with us all the while (that is, no inward or outward migration), 400,000 residents celebrated their 60th birthdays between 2006 and 2015, and in the next 10-year period between 2016 and 2025, more than 600,000 residents will celebrate their 60th year on earth.

Our resident population in 2015 was 3.9 million, of which 700,000, or 18 per cent, were already over 60 years of age. If we froze the population based on the 2015 demographics and accounting for about 19,000 a year for residents who pass away, by the year 2025 at least 30 per cent of us will be older than 60. That equates to more than 1.1 million Singapore residents.

Depositors have no say in banks' business activities

Aug 10 2016

I am surprised by Mr Christopher Tang Wai Leng's view that DBS Bank owes depositors an explanation for its loan losses ("DBS must explain Swiber debacle"; last Saturday).

Yes, in classic banking theory, banks lend out their customers' deposits, so if there is a big loan loss, a bank could fold and it is possible that customers won't be able to get their deposits back. However, this theory is long out of date.

A bank is a corporate entity separate from its customers (both depositors and borrowers).

As long as customers can get their deposits back with the agreed interest, which is still the case with DBS, depositors have no say in the business activities of the bank.

Banks have capital, profits and reserves, their own borrowing ability, and even a possible government bailout, with which to first fund losses (well before getting to deposits).

If anyone, it is the bank's shareholders who deserve, or have a right to ask for, an explanation, certainly not its depositors or other customers.

Gerard de Vaz

Create fun TV programmes to educate public on how to recycle

LYNNETTE LOW

JUNE 9, 2016

It is a bad idea to make residents “pay as you throw” in order to reduce waste (“Pay as you throw among ideas to cut down waste in Singapore”; June 4).

First, it would raise the high cost of living and send stress levels here even higher. That surely cannot be a good thing.

Second, littering is already a problem in Singapore. If we have to pay as we throw, unclaimed and anonymous rubbish would probably be more prevalent.

A more effective and meaningful way to encourage recycling and to cut waste here is to educate the public and create awareness of this subject through interesting programmes on Channels 5 and 8 during prime time.

Singlish must not be allowed to displace Standard English

MAY 25, 2016

I agree that the Government cannot afford to ease up on its strict stance on Singlish ("PM's press secretary rebuts NYT op-ed on Singlish"; yesterday).

Singlish has indeed taken on a life of its own, and has flourished as a vernacular with a distinctly Singaporean heritage. We use and flaunt it like a badge of national pride.

While poet and literary critic Gwee Li Sui, in his opinion piece on Singlish published in the International New York Times, said that even politicians and officials use Singlish, I believe most do so with an awareness of the specific context and register that Singlish should be used in.

It is often used to establish an instant rapport with the audience, as it transcends barriers of race and social class.

Does ethical consumption have to cost so much?

[This was not a forum page letter. But it is silly enough to get my dander up. So here it is and here I go.]

TODAY

VAIDEHI SHAH

MAY 13, 2016

Eat organic food. Drive an electric car, not a gas-guzzler. Buy clothes made by fairly paid workers: Such calls have grown louder and more frequent in recent years.

While responsible consumption advocates mean well, they often overlook the fact that not everyone can afford these sustainable goods, which are usually more expensive than mass-market products.

The poor are being priced out of sustainable and ethical consumer options, and this is wrong for many reasons.

[But not as wrong as your inability to see that arguing for the right of the poor to drive electric cars instead of gas guzzlers, presumably to reduce carbon emission, in order to save the planet, is the WRONG solution to saving the planet. We should move towards aggregated transport, i.e. public transport. But a great start to a blinkered, ill-informed, unthinking essay.]

Recast the S’porean identity based on inclusivity, fairness — not materialism

[I clip and pasted this article to this blog because I thought it was a reader's letter. Only at the end, did I realise that it was supposed to be a commentary or opinion piece. But seriously, I found the quality of thought to be no better than some forum letters. And the verbosity hinted at some insecurities or immaturity.

Maybe I am being too harsh... NAAAAHHHH! 

Or, rather, why don't you decide. I found his writing rather pompous.]

Want more babies? Help families afford cars

[This was not a forum letter. But it might as well have been. It is not an original blackmail point. Many car-loving would-be parents have written in before threatening to withhold their sperm or eggs unless they get a car. 

The tactic is so transparent. Let's see how this one does.]


Ezra Ho

April 27 2016


Last month, officials from the National Population and Talent Division, led by Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo, went on study trips to Denmark and South Korea to understand how these countries dealt with their falling fertility rates.

The consensus is that we need a holistic approach that cultivates a more family-friendly society. Raising the fertility rate would require an equalising of the demands of childcare by enhancing paternity leave, promoting a more supportive work culture, providing adequate infantcare and fostering a shift in societal attitudes.

So here is a crazy idea to add to the mix: help families afford cars.

[If this is a crazy idea, there are lots of crazy people in Singapore. If there are enough of them, they are no longer crazy. Just a vocal minority.]

Good to sound alarm on terror attacks, but guard against self-fulfilling prophecies

Haj Mohamed

March 30, 2016


I acknowledge why the Home Affairs Minister sounded a note of caution in the report “Attack on Singapore a matter of when, not if, says Shanmugam” (March 24). However, Singapore is not Britain, France or Brussels.

Britain’s Muslim population comprises immigrants from Asia and Middle East, whose cultures contradict its own. Singapore has an indigenous Muslim population who have deep roots here and have been practising their culture with ease. France, the most secular of countries, allows the mocking of religions. Singapore’s Government, though secular, has thoughtful legislators who are against this.

Build 'singles village' to help young people get hitched

[On the same day that Singapore was reported to be the happiest place in the Asia Pacific, and the 22nd happiest place (or people) in the world, this letter was published. Which tells me that while we may be happy, we are a sad, sad people with no real world smarts.

I will let you read the horrifying proposal by this forum letter writer. The comments were mostly negative. The positive/supportive ones... were likely sarcastic. 

And yet, the ST Forum Page Editor felt that this letter was worth printing. This blog continues to find new material. My "response" at the end.] 


Mar 16, 2016,

While I respect the decision of those who have opted to remain single, a check with my single friends revealed that most of them did not choose to be so ("More young people staying single"; last Friday).

Our working schedules are so packed that we simply cannot find the time or opportunity to meet other singles.

We have to think out of the box to increase the odds of a meeting exponentially. 

[An intended double entendre, here? No? Probably not. This writer seems quite devoid of humour.]
Most of my friends got attached during their university days, when they stayed in hostels and had chances to mingle in places like the canteen and library.

Hence, building a singles' village would be a good way to go.

For this to work, a lot of criteria will have to be fulfilled.

First, the rent to stay in the village must not be high. However, the term of rental should be restricted to two years as singles are there to find love, not access cheap housing.

Second, these rental units have to be small or even shoebox-size. We do not want those staying there to be too comfortable with living alone.

Wi-Fi or other entertainment should not be provided in the units. Those who want to watch TV or surf the Internet will have to go to community halls. All day-to-day activities, such as laundry, must be done in public places, so that singles will have the chance to meet and chat with strangers.

There can also be meetings or outings planned every weekend, or even every night.

At the end of the day, even if one does not leave the village with a soulmate, one will leave with more friends than before.

Chua Boon Hou

[The temptation is to spoof his idea with sophomoric twists with puerile intent. I shall resist temptation. It would be too easy, really. 

Another temptation is to poke holes in his little details - like not providing wifi in the units. Apparently, he has never heard of mobile wifi, and smartphones with extended data plans. 

The really really sad thing about this suggestion is that it is so yesterday. No, so last week. No, so last decade. Or 3.

This is basically "SDU 2.0 - Summer Camp" Or "BMT" if you like.

The same reason people resisted SDU at first is going to be the same reason they will resist SDU 2.0 the Singles Village.

Men may well sign up for this. After all, low rent, social activities, chance to meet women - why not?

But women will think long and hard about how they will be seen if they signed up and lived in such a village.

Besides the labels - "desperate", "easy", "party girl", she might as well just wear a sign "Open Season" on her body, cos every male in the village will be trying to hit on her. 

This would be SDU writ large and in your face. Especially if you are a woman. You couldn't walk into the "singles village" without the potential for sexual harassment. 

Of course, it is only sexual harassment if he doesn't look like Brad Pitt, but realistically, why would a Brad Pitt lookalike be living in a Single's Village?

Leaving aside the costs of setting up such a place, the expenditure of resources, the opportunity costs, the sacrifices for other possible use of these resources, the sad sad sad thing is that the writer in all seriousness, believes this can work.

Which shows his lack of appreciation of the reality of human nature, human motivation, human concerns, social interaction, social rules, and social mores.

Worse, he seems to have imbibed of the SG govt's penchant for social engineering. At least the govt's penchant from the past. Only more clumsily. ]

Conservation must go beyond face value

5 Mar 2016

Changi Prison is undoubtedly an important historic site ("Parts of Changi Prison gazetted as national monument"; Feb 16).

Hence, it is regrettable that what is to be preserved is just a mere section of its perimeter wall.

The rest of the historic prison complex has been levelled, including key structures, such as its clock tower and blocks containing the prison cells where prisoners of war were incarcerated during World War II.

‘Light-ups’ at Orchard Road a disgrace

From Phillip Tan Fong Lip

December 18, 2015

The first fire at Orchard Road, known the world over to be a shopping haven at this time of the year, signalled something amiss about this year’s light-up (“Christmas tree catches fire at Orchard Road”; Dec 2, online).

Though Orchard Road is still one of the world’s best shopping streets, it is unfortunate for its reputation that there was another fire (“X’mas decoration along Orchard Road catches on fire”; Dec 10, online).

Although that was not as big as the first fire, two things stand out: First, why were lessons not learnt from the first case and more care not taken to ensure no repeat of such an incident?

Second, has the cost of the light-up been so prohibitive that safety has been compromised in a case of penny-wise-pound-foolishness? The literal light-up — incineration and not only illumination — of the decorations is a disgrace.

Perhaps lacklustre business at Orchard Road has compelled sponsors to cut costs. On this note, I wonder if Singaporeans would be willing to defray the cost of the light-up.

I, for one, would donate a note or two to this cause. Orchard Road has enriched my life with its grandeur, and surely others would not deny its enthralling beauty and that they want to see it perpetuated.

[Classic example of unbridled speculation leading to a jump to a conclusion unsupported by any facts other than the writer's unimpeded imagination, followed by a proposed solution of his own inclination. To be fair, his inclination is quite selfless - donating a few dollars to the cause. I said "selfless", not overwhelmingly generous. 

His whole proposal is premised on assumptions build upon assumptions, and even more assumptions. 

Let's start from the end: Would this drive to get Singaporeans to defray the cost of the light-up mean a voluntary "Donation" or a "tax"? If donation, fine. If tax, on what basis? Who gets taxed?

All this is assuming that the problem is money and cutting costs. Assumption without facts. How much was spent on this year's light up compared to previous years'? How much should it have been if costs were cut? Where were the costs cut? How much money do we have to throw at the problem to prevent it in future? Assume that costs were cut. The end of faux rational thinking.

Thirdly, he assumes that sponsors were cutting costs. What does he think happens? The sponsors individually calls for tender for the decorations and then bargain for lower prices, and the vendors cut corners? Maybe in his mind and in his world. 

In this world (or if I know how things are done), the sponsors pledge their donations to the organisers, the organisers request for tenders and proposals, and the best offer that is within budget gets the contract.

So what corners were cut?

"Orchard Road has enriched my life with its grandeur, and surely others would not deny its enthralling beauty and that they want to see it perpetuated."

Wow. some pretty lights and your life is "enriched"? ]

Let's be a cultural melting pot, not bowl of salad

Jan 7, 2016, 

When we take a train ride, we often hear many languages being spoken and see attire that hails from varied origins.

These are signs that we have become multi-faceted in terms of ethnicity and national origin.

But it begs the question: Are we evolving into a melting pot, where many distinct elements are forged into one? Or a bowl of salad, where each item remains separate from the other?

Many of us are of immigrant stock. Singapore was barren and it was these people who put aside their differences and made the country into what it is today.

Each community retained its self-help social establishment, but, on the whole, there was ample room for all to mingle and be part of Singapore's mainstream, including its English-medium schools and national service.