http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2012/04/tharman-should-get-his-facts-straight.html
Lucky Tan made some observations about Taiwan and Singapore which are quite different from DPM Tharman.
Later, I will also give my observations about Taiwan, based on what I saw during my previous visit and the observations of a Singaporean who lived there.
Lucky Tan made some observations about Taiwan and Singapore which are quite different from DPM Tharman.
Later, I will also give my observations about Taiwan, based on what I saw during my previous visit and the observations of a Singaporean who lived there.
I was in Taiwan 5 years ago and stayed there for a few days. I was impressed with their taxi service - quite low fares and excellent service. It is not like the complicated system that is found in Singapore.
ReplyDeleteI was also impressed with their mass transit system. During the off-peak period, there are plenty of seats. The train operator may make less profit, but the comfort of passengers is also important.
My friend told me that free Wi-Fi can be obtained in public transport and over most places in the city. It is much better than Wireless@SG in Singapore.
I am quite sad that Singapore has deteriorated so badly in recent years. It must be due to the policy of PM Lee Hsien Loong.
I refer, in particular, to the "light touch" policy and the "tricke down economics" favored by PM Lee.
ReplyDeleteRecently, I met an emigrated(to Canada)Taiwanese family on a boat-trip to Pulau Ketam Island in Malaysia. After spending a month of vacation in both Taiwan and Singapore, they found that in terms of social security/benefits, the Taiwanese government under President Ma Ying-Jeou's administration has done a good job by providing with all the free basic medical care for the people. In addition, there are some monthly living allowances given to the needy/the aged. The Taiwanese government views the basic medical service/care as a need NOT a consumption. They are surprised to learn that Singapore is far behind the developed nations that we have not done enough in taking care of the basic needs of our own citizens. Anyone cares to share?
ReplyDeleteHave not studied the economic model of Taiwan, but Singaporeans are now awakening to the fact that economic policies and decisions made decades ago by the PAP Govt, are now affecting us in the most negative way.
ReplyDeleteE.g. The contract made between the Oil giant Chevron and the Indonesian Govt and the Goh Chok Tong Govt, on pegging the price of natural gas ( from Naturna Gas Fields) to the price of Oil on the world market.
This peg is killing Singapore consumers, with the situation that while Natural gas prices are falling in the US, but our electricity prices, using natural Gas, are continuously going up.
By blaming the price of oil as a scapegoat to raise electricity prices, Govt is not honest, as our energy power comes from Natural Gas, not Oil. So some of the inflation problems we face are inflicted by our so-called forward looking Govt, who were unable to see beyond the future Oil price trend, when it was just US30 per barrel, at the time the Gas contract peg was signed.
Stupid or naive, the American MNC and the Indonesian Govt may be smiling gleefully at Singapore.
Sure, we are angry at our electricity prices forever going up, inflicted on us by the stupid PAP Govt's peg. And they still wan
to continue pulling wool over our eyes, whenever they wan to raise prices. Have more respect for our IQ, we are not as daft as LKY claims.
Fundamental difference:-
ReplyDeleteTaiwan policies is to look after the average Taiwanese citizen.
S'pore policies is to look after the multi-millionaire and billionaire, never mind what nationality they are. Money is more important than pink NRIC or NSman status.