Have manual oversight

An insurance company submitted a regular file for GIRO deduction from their customer accounts. Due to a "file format error", the amount deducted was 100 times of the expected amount. The decimal point was overlooked.

I suggest that the company requesting for GIRO deduction should submit a control total of the amount to be deducted. This will ensure that they have checked the transactions.

If the control total shows an unusually large amount, it would have been noticed by the control staff.

We cannot assume that computer systems will work properly. It is dangerous to rely on computer processing without manual oversight.

Shelve the fake news law

Malaysia will repeal its Fake News law in its first sitting of the new Parliament.

It wlll be wise for Singapore to shelve the passing of a Fake News law for the foreseeable future.

It can be reconsidered when there is a clear need for this law in the future.

In the meantime, fake news can be handled under the existing laws.

​​​​​​​

WOTC - Alternative policy options

I ask this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd - Should the public put up alternative policy options for the Government to consider?

Here are the responses:

46% - There is no point. The government will not listen.
31% - The voters can vote for an alternative government to implement the changes.
13% - It is useful for the public to understand there are alternatives to the current policies.
12% - If there is strong support, the government will implement the changes.

Yes - 54%, no - 46%

See the breakdown of the votes in
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=710

WOTC - Withdraw CPF at 65

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd - Should CPF members be allowed to withdraw all their savings at age 65?

Here are the responses.

58% - It is their money. Let them decide what to do with it.
35% - There should be allowed to withdraw all their money at 55, as earlier promised.
5% - We should stop them from squandering away all their savings.
3% - They should keep a minimum sum for old age.

Yes - 93%. No - 8%

See the breakdown of the votes in
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=711

WOTC - View on HDB

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd - What do you think about HDB?

Here are the responses:

80% - It has become too expensive.
13% - It is a good way for Singaporeans to own a home.
7% - It takes too long to get a flat.
0% - It is a good investment for the future.

Positive - 13%; negative 87%

See the breakdown of the votes in
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=708

WOTC - Views on CPF

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd - What are your views on CPF?

Here are the responses:

67% - It has become too messy with many confusing rules and regulations. 
21% - The interest rate is too low; the government is keeping the profit.
7% - It is a good scheme to provide for housing, medical expenses and retirement.
5% - I prefer CPF contributions by employees to be voluntary.

Positive 7%; negative 93%.

See the breakdown of the votes in
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=709

Develop depth and experience in political leadership

At the general election in Malaysia, the voters elect their leaders for the state and for the country.

Many politicians gain their experience at the state level before they compete at the national level.

Most of the candidates for the national level, i.e. Parliament, have many years of experience at the state level.

The political leaders in Malaysia at the national level are usually seasoned politicians. They know how to connect to the people and to understand their needs and aspirations. They make better leaders.

We need to strengthen the depth of our political leadership in Singapore.

We can have direct election into the the town councils. To avoid duplication, these councils should also take care of the work of the community development councils.

We need to have town councils that represent a town. It could comprise of six to 10 constituencies.

The people elected into the town council can come from several parties.

Ideally, we should get rid of the group representative constituencies (GRC) and have the MPs elected individually and directly for each constituency.

This is the structure that is followed in most countries. They have election at more than one level and have people elected from several parties. This gives the chance for the elected leaders to gain political experience and the local level before moving to the national level.

It is time for Singapore to develop depth and experience in the political leadership.

Tan Kin Lian

WOTC - People elected as MPs

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd - Should MPs be people who are well educated and successful in their career?

Here are the results of the responses:

48% - No. They should know the life of ordinary people.
38% - No. They should be able to connect well with the life of the ordinary people.
8% - Yes. They should be the best in our society.
6% - Yes. We need the best to form the pool for our ministers.

Yes - 14%. No - 86%.

See the breakdown of the votes in
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=706

WOTC - Outcome of Trump Kim Summit

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd - Are you optimistic of the outcome of the Trump Kim Summit?

Here are the responses:

43% - The Summit made vague promises that were agreed earlier.
26% - It will lead to a safer and better world.
17% - The outcome was disappointing due to the haphazard manner it was held.
14% - The Summit has achieved a significant breakthrough.

Optimistic - 40%. Not optimistic - 60%.

See the breakdown of the votes in
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=707