Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Hot issues in coming general election

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Hot issues in coming general election

What are the hot issues in the coming general election? Share your views in this survey.

14 comments:

Chee Ming said...: What happens if there are more than 3?; June 09, 2010 11:11 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...: Based on 39 responses, the top 4 hottest issues are:

Rising cost of living and stagnant income - 26 votes
Too many foreigners in Singapore - 26 votes
High cost of HDB Flats - 23 votes
High salaries of ministers - 21 votes
High GST and levies - 10 votes; June 10, 2010 3:43 AM
Anonymous said...: Here's another issue:
What to do with our old folks other than;
- cut their salaries
- extend their retirement age

On a related news story.
Straits Times, 10 June, page A4,
"Star Mentors add sparkle to the YOG"

- see the last paragrapgh
- "The young must ask questions. The old must answer honestly. It is an opportunity for both. One to learn, the other to give back."

- it's time for our young to ask our ageing, struggling citizens;
- "what happened to you?"
- "I will also grow old one day. How can I avoid your fate?"

Another startling news story,
brought to your attention by,
Mr Obvious Man; June 10, 2010 7:55 AM
Anonymous said...: Why do we need to tell our Singapore million dollar men what is important in Singapore?

Why do we need to help them?

They don't owe us a living. Why do we owe them a living?; June 10, 2010 7:58 AM
Tan Kin Lian said...: Here is the updated survey results based on 55 responses:

The hottest issues are:

Rising cost of living and stagnant income - 73% (i.e. 40 votes our of 55 responders)
Too many foreigners in Singapore -
67%
High cost of HDB Flats - 64%
High salaries of ministers - 53%
Rising unemployment of PMETs and no retrenchment benefits - 35%
High GST and levies - 27%

Most responders observed the request to keep to 3 items, but some marked more than 3. The percentage measure the percentage of respnders who selected the topic.

Rising unemployment of PMET has more votes than GST and levies.; June 10, 2010 8:52 AM
C H Yak said...: Mr Tan

Great to see your fast response.

Maybe you can put these 10 issues displayed as part of your blog posting or in an attachment with link in your blog posting...so all including latecomers will know what are the current top 10 issues.

If there are new issues suggested, a separate survey may determine if any of these 10 will drop out of the billboard later on.; June 10, 2010 9:28 AM
Anonymous said...: We, PMET and the middle age Singaporeans need jobs.

PAP Govt provide jobs but to foreigner talent and workers as the cost is cheaper. This helps GDP to grow and then Govt can justify the increase of their own [Minister] pay.

It is coming. Once election is over, PAP will convince the public of the need to increase the already HUGE Ministers' Salary by saying:

i) Very difficult to find "talent"
ii) Since 2008, no increase by cut
iii) Economy at 9% in 2010 showed Ministers done a great job so deserve to have pay increase.
iv) Singapore has bright future as long as they continue to have honest leaders [like the overpaid ministers]

PAP strategy is keeping all the unpopular issues in the closet and once after election, start implementing. Then tell the public that since we vote them in with 60% winning margin, we indirectly support them in all the programs they kept in their closet.

So what do we Singaporeans do? Taken for another ride and stared at PAP with eyes and mouth big-big saying "next time I will not vote for PAP, got tricked again"

When "next-time comes", the whole story repeats itself.....

The people may not be the same but the process keeps repeating every election....

We get conned and they walk to the bank laughing...; June 10, 2010 10:30 AM
what's on my mind said...: The items in the survey are all relevant to Singaporeans.

May I suggest a part two survey.
> has the govt done enough to address these issues ? yes/no

> should the PAP govt be made accountable ? yes/no

> do you think PAP MPs have been representing citizens ? yes/no

> do you think voting out PAP MPs will address issues that affect
citizens ? yes/no

> do you feel confident many citizens are more talented than PAP Ministers and MPs ? yes/no; June 10, 2010 10:44 AM
C H Yak said...: Q
"Rising unemployment of PMET has more votes than GST and levies."
UQ

Probably older people (esp PMETs) visit your blog...LOL.

The PMET issue will also attract more attention than "GST and levies" because :-

(a) If PMETs are out of job, they are equally if not worse off than ordinary workers who are employed...

(b) PMET no jobs - Zero income but heavy debt burden.

(c) Even if income tax lowered, will not help since out of job.

(b) But need to incur high GST all round and other levies, same as ordinary workers ... and higher GST is used only to help those who are "poor" according to the Govt and based on their definition of the "poors".

(c) No or limited retrenchment benefits, and CPF see-no-touch and also not allowed to beg ... If no savings, what can PMETs do even if all old debts are cleared?

If I am happily employed as an ordinary worker or PMET, and I do spend with thrift; I still may not be so concerned with rising GST and levies...

As a PMET if unemployed, if I still get my fair share of subsidies and is not barred from enjoying any just as a taxpayer who had paid my dues while employed, such as medical care;I may not be that hurted by rising GST either...but state "subsidies" are not working that way...where are older PMETs driven when unemployed.

No "carrot" to earn salary between $4,500 (CPF & MOM's benchmark ) ~ $5,200 (MOH's benchmark)as a PMET.

The Govt ignored the plight of the older PMETs.

This was MOH'reply to my letter in their website...but what about "excess" in medical insurance not covered ?

http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/mediaforums.aspx?id=18670

Of cos when a PMET is unemployed, his income is zero and he enjoy full subsidy here, but things are not so simple on the overall front in S'pore.; June 10, 2010 12:08 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...: Here is the updated survey results based on the first 100 responses:

The hottest issues are:

Rising cost of living and stagnant income - 74%
Too many foreigners in Singapore - 68%
High cost of HDB Flats - 60%
High salaries of ministers - 54%
Rising unemployment of PMETs and no retrenchment benefits - 36%
Unemployment of older workers 25%
Low wages (no minimum wage) - 25%
High GST and levies - 24%

Unemployment (of PMET, older workers) and low wages have now become "hotter" than GST and levies.; June 10, 2010 5:49 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...: The results of 100 responses are quite close to 55 responses. Statistically, the results would probably reflect the "final figures".; June 10, 2010 5:50 PM
Anonymous said...: I don't like some of the PAP policies, or the results of those policies, many of which are listed in the survey.

..but there are other things I like about what they have done. Like generally corruption free (like compare to neighbours), safe to live in with decent police force (aganin compared to neighbours)..etc

So the question is, is there a viable opposition? Would it make things better if I vote opposition?; June 10, 2010 6:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Singapore is generally corruption free? Well, one term that I heard about Singapore, which I also agree, is that Singapore is 'legally corrupt'.; June 11, 2010 8:21 PM
Anonymous said...: Since we are on hot issues in the coming GE, maybe a survey could be carried out on the opposition instead, to get them thinking. eg

1. How credible are our opposition

2. Are you confident they will win at least 1 GRC in addition to their current 2 seats in Hougang and Potong Pasir

3. Should our opposition stand as a United Opposition to prevent 3 cornered fight?

4. How many seats should our opposition contest
a) 100%
b) 50%
c) below 50 - give PAP a majority first

see any more to add on; June 14, 2010 5:40 AM