Speaking of players, a number of new ones have been introduced. Are they as good as they claimed? Nobody knows. More importantly, all the candidates have spoken about serving the people, improving their constituencies and help their voters. How they are going about doing these, I am not sure. They never state.
I may not get to vote this tie round but there are a few topics that I feel all parties should addressed not just for my benefit as a potential voter. So far no in-depth discussion. No ideas or no desire?
- "Excuse me! Can I have my space back?"
Singapore's population has exploded in recent years but by no means due to a natural growth. Artificially inflated by a huge influx of foreigners, we are experiencing overcrowding that has caused our nerves to twitch and tempers to flare. Our infrastructure and resources have been strained to the limit and the people have barely room to stand in most public spaces. It was not long ago that our parents were told not to have more children to prevent exactly this scenario from happening but we seem to have forgotten that.
Experts calculated that Singapore can sustain a population of 6 million and maybe more. However, theoretical feasibility doesn't translate to practical living. A healthy living environment includes substantial space for its habitants to own with privacy. Singaporeans don't want to walk shoulder to shoulder with other people.
Personal space is so important to some of us. If I don't mind working or living in a crowded place, then I would have gone to Hong Kong. At least the pay is higher enough for me to buy my own space. I used to enjoy an arm's length of personal space even when I am out of the house. Can I have that back?
- "I just want to work!"
The labour structure needs to be reviewed and businesses reorganised. Gone should be the days where Singapore rely on cheap labour for manpower-intensive industries. By importing cheap foreign workers, we let businesses get away with their social responsibilities of providing the realistic level of wages that withstands the inflation rate. Instead of looking after local workers, they choose to supplant them with foreigners not because they have different skill-sets but to lower costs.
Yes, costs in running a business in Singapore has been rising. However, to reduce or suppress wages to an unrealistic level so that shareholders and directors can get obscene amounts of dividends and bonuses is morally corrupt. Cheap labour is definitely the easier way out as opposed to investing in existing workers and technology to increase productivity.
If we are to develop industries that require a small workforce to be profitable, we can even reduce the country's population to better focus in giving everyone a higher quality of living. The government can retain traditional businesses with historical or strategic values by subsidising operating costs or prices like how the Japanese are doing. As for other types of businesses, shift them to industrial parks in neighbouring countries with lower rentals and weaker currencies.
The bottom-line is: if Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway can achieve progress and growth with limited population, why can't Singapore?
- "How much is that apartment in the block?"
HDB started out as a wonderful initiative to provide affordable housing to Singaporeans. However, it has deviated from this noble commitment recently by arbitrarily determining the price of a new flat and allowing resale price to skyrocket. Of course, anyone who pays for a property wants it to preserve and even increase its value. But if the initial price already sets the owner back with a big and long mortgage, then it defeats the purpose of accumulating wealth even if the value of the flat rises significantly.
Another question lies in the true ownership of the flat: is it the payer or HDB? It is HDB when there is actually a 99-year lease whereby HDB has the right to acquire the flat at the end. Hence the flat cannot be counted as wealth even if the next generation can inherit it. And this argument has yet to take into consideration the taxes or fees HDB collects when there is a transfer of ownership.
So to truly fulfil the mission of 100% home ownership, HDB should build flats that are affordable in terms of a reasonable period of payment. It also has to return public housing to the concept that only Singaporeans can own a flat, i.e. no reselling of a flat to a permanent resident. To prevent a flat being used for speculation, one should not be allowed to own a flat if he/she has a private property.
- "We are Singaporeans..."
Tying to the first point discussed, the Singapore Identity has been compromised. We need an immigration policy that is designed for the people with generations here, not just in the name of economy or progress. It should be for the preservation of the social cohesion, ethnic harmony and community spirit that we have painstakingly built up so far. People are unhappy to see their social/cultural norms being affected, the togetherness eroded and feeling like a minority in their own backyard.
Worse still, the foreigners tend to form cliques and have no intention of assimilate into our society. Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for everyone to come together and create communities where they can bond with people from the same country or culture. But don't do it at the expense of the locals by bringing along habits that are not suitable or undesirable here.
Let us define the number of foreigners we allow in based on demographics. We enjoy the diversity of cultures and people from various countries but we need a quota for those coming from any single country. We also love to see immigrants start a new life and family here but there is no reason why they have to bring their extended family. Quoting a friend: "We are facing an aging society so why are we importing old people?"
- "The Straits Times or The States Times?"
Free speech and free press are the building blocks of a developed nation. We need a responsible mainstream reporting media that is independent from the government. Only this way we can ensure the country is run transparently and the people able to hold the government accountable for its policies.
Only with enough information can the people decide the direction they want the country to progress. And only when the people get to choose their own destiny instead of a group of so-called elites running the government can social harmony be achieved. If not, there won't be any trust in the government even if it does the correct things.Last but not least, even Malaysia has learn the importance of respecting people's needs in celebrating festivals by giving the Indians a public holiday for Thaipusam. Shouldn't Singapore be following so?
PS: Credit to my friends for coining some of the terms used.
