Second chance

I think most of us are willing to give a person who is a former criminal a second chance. That means we will treat him as one of us ordinary citizens and also employers will treat him equally when he applies for work.

However, I guess a bank, for example, will not employ anyone who has committed any financial crime. Or a school will not let someone who has molested young children to teach its kids. The public would also have doubts about letting them in these jobs.

I think they can also stand for parliamentary elections after a certain number of years but whether people support them or not is another thing. Giving people a second chance doesn't mean forgetting what they have done.

I was thinking of what our Miss Beautiful Singapore said. She is beautiful and has a charming smile. We like that. But from what she said, as reported in the papers, it seems she just put her crimes as something she did when she was young and rash. When asked why she didn’t tell the organizers about her crimes and her conviction, she said “it’s not as though it’s that big …”.

Even primary school pupils know that it is wrong to steal things. So if you are a teenager or if you are less than 18, it doesn’t make you less wrong. When Miss Beautiful did not declare her conviction when she first applied to join the contest, she committed another dishonest act, forgetting that she has been given a second chance.

If from the start Miss Ris Low had declared her conviction, her application would be rejected. Then she would not have to go through the ordeal. So I would say she has to bear the greater part of responsiblity.

Is prostitution legal in Singapore?

Most of you know that soliciting is illegal in Singapore. That means you cannot offer your sex services on the street or in any public place, harass people or stand around with a placard hanging on your breasts to advertise your services. You probably also know that prostitution is not illegal in Singapore. But is it legal?

Though not illegal, I think it is not legal either; because :

First, the Government doesn’t recognize it as a legal business, at least not yet. The prostitutes and brothel owners don’t have to pay taxes and brothels don’t have to pay for a licence. If it is legal the Government would be taxing them. This would not look good on the Government because it is getting money from immoral earnings.

Second, if it is legal, there would be some written rules and regulations. If the brothel owners or prostitutes think that the anti-vice authorities are unfair to them, they could complain or write to the papers. They could also form an association or union to fight for their rights.

Right now, they just have to abide by certain rules which can be amended any time and the AV can suspend them for a short period if they breach any rule or in more serious cases, close down the brothels or send the prostitutes back home.

Third, the Government cannot close down a legal business. But if the Government suddenly decides to close down all the brothels, it can do so but probably it will give them two years’ notice.

So I think the brothels are just authorized to do their business, not legalized and the prostitutes are not 'legal' but registered so that they can be better managed and to ensure they go for health check-up.

Praises for Singapore

Singapore as role model

Like any loyal citizen, I am proud that others praise us .....

The loyal oppositions

What our opposition leaders said about our pledge. They agreed that it is an aspiration we should adhere to, something which is always relevant.

Our Pledge

We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation

I still remember the pledge. I think many of us do because we have been saying it for years in school. I think it is quite a marvelous piece of work.

It is still as relevant now and in the future as it has been in the past.

Unlike countries with thousands or hundreds of years of history, building a nation in Singapore is never job-done. It is always on-going. We will not reach the perfect stage where everyone is happy and peace and prosperity are assured. So every generation will build upon what we have already achieved and improve on it.

There will always be threats and crises. And with more immigrants settling down here, we need to constantly remind ourselves of the words ‘regardless of race, language and religion’.

Happiness is where your heart is

One significant factor that contributes to your happiness is loving your country. If you dislike your country, think of migrating and see only faults in this and that everyday, how can you really be happy. Hopefully you can go to the country you want and it welcomes you and treats you well.

Loving your country doesn’t mean you like everything and have no complaints. No, you may still complain and find faults in many things. However, you also see the positive side of things you don’t like. You know that in certain things there is no permanent ideal solution.

You still feel the stress in your life and in your job. But you are also grateful for the things that you have and you appreciate the love and help your family members and friends give you.

You may like to have gambling and prostitution banned altogether, but you know it cannot be done and you live with it. You understand that it is not possible for you to like every policy.

The grass looks greener on the other side. But when you go to the other side, you realize that it is the grass in Singapore that is greener. Your home is Singapore.

A fair outcome

One-quarter of the investors who lost their money investing in the structured products got full compensation and two-thirds got partial compensation. This is better than what I had expected.

Everyone should take responsibility for his own action. We cannot just blame the financial institutions and say the investors themselves are faultless. During those boom time, high returns ranked higher in the investors’ mind than safety and risks. And who would have thought that they would lose all their money.

The investors, even the old and uneducated, should bear some responsibility too. Sorry, if I sounded a bit harsh but I believe this is the truth.

It would be unfair if you compensate everyone or compensate investors equally.

So I would say the case-by-case approach is the right way and the outcome is fair.

Frivolous petition

This is a report in the papers about people signing a petition for Ms Lee Bee Wah to step down as the president of STTA.


Now, if the organizers were there together with say 1% of those who signed online. And they posed for reporters and gave their views on the matter. This would have given their cause a great lift.

Instead the organizers didn’t come. Also none of those who signed online came. The people hired to look after the forms played hide and seek with reporters. Maybe most of these people just want to have their say but are not willing to stand up for what they say. I don’t think people would take them or their petitions seriously.

I think the petition is a frivolous one.

Ms Lee was merely stating the criterion required for a coach to be nominated for the Coach of The Year Award. It didn’t imply that Mr Liu was lacking in these things. Perhaps not enough - say you need a grade A+ to be nominated, but Mr Liu just got an A.

Suppose I were a coach in a company and my boss told me those were the criterion for promotion. If my colleague was promoted but I was not, I wouldn’t say that my boss had questioned my integrity, commitment or professionalism. It meant I had to work harder.

A wise move

I said before that it is possible for the oppositions to win two GRCs and that the PAP also thinks so and is prepared for it. The recent announcement that nine seats will be given to the oppositions seems to support my view.

This is a wise move. It helps PAP MPs and Singaporeans to psychologically prepare for it and the PAP to save face if the oppositions really win one or two GRCs. It could say 'we have anticipated this and reserved seats for them'.

The oppositions should not keep on harping about abolishing the GRCs. GRCs are necessary. The two WP MP and NCMP know very well in their heart that without the GRC minority candidates may not get elected. I have already elaborated on this in an earlier post.

One of the reasons why some people don't vote for the opposition is that the opposition doesn't have the strength or ability to form the government. These people do not agree completely with the PAP policies but they do not want to vote an opposition just for its own sake.

I would say the WP, for example, should make governing Singapore as its long-term goal and work towards it.

Homosexuality and Mas Selamat

Homosexuality
A manual in Aware's sex education programme for schools said that “anal sex is normal and healthy”. The anus is for us to excrete solid waste material. Putting your penis in a shit hole is definitely not normal and not healthy.

We can accept homosexuality and accommodate homosexuals but we cannot teach our pupils that anal sex is normal.


Mas Selamat
It was reported that our JI leader swam across to Johore. I wonder if this information came from his own mouth. It might be true. Or he might just be pulling our legs because it is not in his interest to let us know his method.

But of course it is also possible, notwithstanding his slight handicap and that he was not a good swimmer. We have heard how shipwrecked people survived for days floating in the sea without food. And there are handicapped people doing incredible things.

Aware, H1N1 and Complacency

In my view one good thing that comes out from the unsuccessful takeover of Aware – if there really are people in Aware who are trying to promote lesbianism or homosexuality, now they will not be able to do it. Hope that Aware will also be more vigilant about members making use of the organization to promote their own views whether on lifestyle, sexuality or religion.

Just like the escape of the JI leader and the Rojak food poisoning, this saga again reminds us not to be complacent and take things for granted. Maybe the old Aware leaders did not expect that there are people who will scrutinize their sex education programme.

Similarly we should not be complacent about the H1N1 virus too. When there are more information about the virus and scientists find that it is not too dangerous or does not spread easily, then we can relax a bit. Meanwhile we should practise good personal hygiene. If we are sick we should see a doctor and stay at home as far as possible so as not to spread our illness to others.

Proper way to wash your hands

About H1N1 Flu, please click here:

http://foodasmedicine.blogspot.com/2009/04/dr-joe-bresee-swine-flu.html

Don't take things for granted

When certain things happened here some people said ‘how can this happened in Singapore?’ Why not, I say?

Unexpected maybe but why cannot happen here? God also cannot guarantee you this. Whether food-poisoning or other mishaps, it just takes someone’s moment of carelessness, inattentiveness or laziness and it could happen.

Even if every stall in a hawkers' centre has an A grade and the centre is cleaned everyday you still cannot 100% guarantee no food-poisoning. Cleanliness is just one thing, personal hygiene and attitude are more important. If just one hawker is too lazy to wash his hands after going to the toilet, you could get food-poisoning already.

I think many Singaporeans are taking things for granted. They have been living in a well-governed Country all along and have not gone through sufferings and pains.

I was thinking of more terrible things that could happen, like a massive blackout, or a bomb exploding.

Cannot happened in Singapore??? I would say probability is very low but not impossible.

Light touch for the internet

Rules for the internet

First, a law is there not just to punish people. It also shows our disapproval of things like anti-social habits or to reflect values of our society.

The anti-littering law is an example. If everyone is considerate and responsible we don’t need this law, but this is not so.

Most litterbugs are not caught but we can’t do away with the law. Otherwise, people will have no second thought about throwing a tissue on the street and young people will grow up thinking it is all right to litter.

It is the same with the jaywalking law or the seat-belt law. Many offenders are not caught but one day they might pay for it dearly as some already had. But these laws are there actually to protect people.

The law that criminalizes gay sex is another example. I believe the police generally ignore such activities. The law is there to reflect our emphasis on family values and that we do not want to encourage homosexual behaviour.

The internet

The reasons I mentioned above apply to the internet too although some people say the rules cannot be enforced so no point having them.

As we have seen, racist and anti-religion remarks are not tolerated. A few people have been punished for this.

Then there are people who tell untruths and some others who are abusive and rant rubbish, all under the cloak of anonymity.

We don’t have to be bothered by people who talk rubbish or use vulgar language because we can pick them out easily. They are like a mad woman cursing loudly on the street. These people are generally unhappy with their life, frustrated with their own problems.

As for untruths, some people say no need to worry, readers can separate the thrash from the facts. But not everyone is so logical or rational or have the knowledge. And many are school students or young people.

There needs to be rules and regulations too, even if difficult or not possible to enforce.

First, it shows we don’t condone certain things. Second, there is always a nagging fear in these people’s mind that their identities could be exposed.

Oral sex

It was reported that a Malaysian politician was being investigated again because he had oral sex. And oral sex is against the law.

Anyway if a couple do it in their room no one would be bothered. The Malaysian police have better things to do then to investigate people’s sexual activities.

Some people think it is an archaic law and should be scrapped. They say oral sex is common.

How common? 80% of couples do it? Is it just common among city folks who claim themselves to be open-minded.

By the way, even if something is common does it mean it is right? I am not just referring to oral sex, for example it could be prostitution, cheating or littering.

Prostitution is illegal in some countries although we know it is common in these countries. How come the law is not scrapped.

I believe the anti oral sex law still has relevance in Malaysian society and will not be repealed.

Three cheers for Singapore

Strong Government, strong economy and strong army – these are crucial for Singapore. Besides for our own well-being, it enables us to deal firmly with pressure and demands from our neighbours, negotiate trade packs and other agreements with other countries and participate in international missions. Which country would want to cooperate with us or help us if we can’t defend ourselves and have little money.

Foremost is an efficient, strong and non-corrupt government. In future if no party can provide that, it is bad omen for our Country. But that doesn’t mean no oppositions in Parliament. But we must have competent ones who put the Country’s interests in first place.

I believe certain things will not change whichever party forms the Government: People who are a threat to our security will still be detained. People who defame others will still be sued. Say-all-the-nonsense-you-like type of free speech will not be allowed. That also applies to controversial issues on race and religions.

If we have a mediocre Government, Singapore will be no different from other Asean countries. There will be strikes, confrontations and even chaos because being a small country, a few incidents could spread and affect the whole country rapidly. Troublemakers might stir up racial tensions. Why then would investors, foreigners or even tourists want to come here. Who would want to become our citizens.

And there must be the rule of law. Some people may think a certain law is silly but a law is made only after careful considerations. You may not agree with it, but I believe there is a reason or purpose for a law to be there.

Cut GST to stimulate spending?

Will people spend more if the GST is cut?

Say a poor family that spends about $2000 or less a month and saves little or nothing. If the GST is reduced by 2%, the family can buy a bit more with the $2000 or it spends less on the same amount of things and save about $40.

Or say another family that spends about $4000 pm and saves $200. If the GST is reduced, probably it will still spend $4000 but I don’t think it will spend more by using the money budgeted for saving.

Also people in the lower-income group might spend more if they are thinking of buying a costly item. But this is not something that happens frequently.

If you take a rich family that spends $8000 or more. The rich is not bothered by GST. If the GST is reduced, it will continue its normal lifestyle. Since prices are lower, it will spend less than $8000.

So I don’t think cutting the GST will encourage people to spend more. Instead the Government will collect much less revenue from the rich, the amount of which can be used to help the poor.