Singapore has a short history since independence in 1965. We have from independence day, a total of 6 Presidents so far. They are Yusof Ishak (Malay), Benjamin Sheares (Eurasian), Devan Nair (Indian), Wee Kim Wee (Chinese), Ong Teng Cheong (Chinese) and S R Nathan (Indian).
We are a mutli-racial society. Our demography breakdown by ethnic groups shows 76.8% Chinese, 13.9% Malay, 7.9% Indian and 1.4% Others in the Census 200 survey (http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/people.html).
We have had 2 past Chinese Presidents and 1 past and 1 present Indian Presidents. There seem to be an unwritten 'guideline' that our government seem to follow - there should be a rotation of the Presidency among the ethnic groups. Now, there seem to be this dilemma. Judging from the rotation, isn't it about time for a Malay President?
The big question will be - do you know of any suitable prominant Malay that the public know of? Let see who do we have - as of July-2005, we have 20 full ministers (including Prime, Senior and Mentor Ministers). Out of the 20, there are 16 Chineses, 3 Indians and only 1 Malay (Dr Yaacob Ibrahim). There are no other Malay full minister!
Although there are few Senior/Ministers-of-State in the Parliment, they are not around in politics for 'long'. The last well-known Malay Minister is Othman Wok who is already 80! How is the government going to find a replacement Malay to stand for Presidential Election 2005?
Without any suitable Malay candidate (suitable as in prominant and well-known to the public), the government is stuck with the incumbent, our respectable President S R Nathan! Otherwise, there will be grumbling among the Malay ethnic group, I guess.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Is S$600K peanuts?
'For a person who runs a big million-dollar charitable organisation, with a few hundred million in reserves, $600,000 a year is peanuts.' - Patron of a certain foundation
(http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,91455,00.html?)
If you go by that argument, in that case, our beloved Prime Minister is grossly underpaid!!!
Singapore, Inc. is the biggest organization that you can get in Singapore. Fortunately, for the benefit of us Citizen, this incorporation has an Official Foreign Reserves of US$115,216 millions as of Jun-2005! (http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/mqstats/indicators.html) (https://secure.mas.gov.sg/masmcm/bin/pt1Official_Foreign_Reserves.htm)
Going by the same argument as that highly-educated and well-informed Patron, our beloved Prime Minister deserved a annual package of more than S$400 million! Wow! Unbelievable!
Do you think our beloved Prime Minister dare to draw this kind of money (S$400 mil) and expects to get re-elected? Going by the same line, do you think that particular CEO deserved that sum of money (S$600K)? Here we are talking about a charity in which a substantial portion of its funding come from the kind public donation?
(http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,91455,00.html?)
If you go by that argument, in that case, our beloved Prime Minister is grossly underpaid!!!
Singapore, Inc. is the biggest organization that you can get in Singapore. Fortunately, for the benefit of us Citizen, this incorporation has an Official Foreign Reserves of US$115,216 millions as of Jun-2005! (http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/mqstats/indicators.html) (https://secure.mas.gov.sg/masmcm/bin/pt1Official_Foreign_Reserves.htm)
Going by the same argument as that highly-educated and well-informed Patron, our beloved Prime Minister deserved a annual package of more than S$400 million! Wow! Unbelievable!
Do you think our beloved Prime Minister dare to draw this kind of money (S$400 mil) and expects to get re-elected? Going by the same line, do you think that particular CEO deserved that sum of money (S$600K)? Here we are talking about a charity in which a substantial portion of its funding come from the kind public donation?
My Blog
After reading so many blogs of other people, I guess I should keep 'in trend' with society by keeping a blog too (although somewhat I am more like a laggard)!
What should I write? Well, I don't write out-of-spite. More, I will try to make my blog tranverse in the direction of a commentry of topic such as politics, society, world, etc.
I hope for some good feedback as well. Reading from forums in youngpap, sgforums, hardwarezone, etc do give me insights and open up my viewpoint to a much broader view. Information is never useless. It is the person who has this information who decide whether it is useful <- perception, expectation and judgement.
"Perception", "Expectation" and "Judgement" are 3 powerful words to use. I shall slowly explain them what you can expect from these terms. Just like the finance people who like to talk about "transparency"! Is Singapore charities transparent enough anyway? Nonetheless, I will be withdrawing my donation to a certain infamous organization, which I called a "commerical entity" and which they declare it is a "charitable organization", soon. Damn! How I wish they will just allow me to withdraw by phone <- lack of convenient!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)