Singapore General Election 2011 - Part 1 （选区的划分）

上个星期四(2011.02.24)出炉的大选选区划分，84个议席增加到87，大概无人觉得意外，反而觉得理所当然，主因是选民增加(尤其是榜鹅，盛港及三巴旺)的关系。

大致上在野党阵营又再一次的说划分对执政党(PAP [Peoples' Action Party])较有利 - 徇私 (Gerrymandering). 在一定程度上的确，因为大选选举委员会 (EBRC[Electoral Boundaries Review Committee]) 完全没有字面上或口头上的说明，反而是一两位内阁部长级的出面说一些话，坦白的说一定程度上代替了EBRC的应有职责，有点欲盖弥彰，对号入座。拜托让这些公务员行使他们的职责好吗？新加坡的公共问责风气也该改一改了，不要凡是都是部长们动口。

这次的12个单选区(SMC [Single-Member Constituency])里的几个新单选区划分出来倒是有点匪夷所思，容后再谈。

IRs Stop Free Shuttle Services

Excerpts (The Above Web):

The Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) has issued directives to the two Integrated Resorts (IRs) to stop their free shuttle bus services with immediate effecta apart from certain destinations spelt out in the law regulating casino advertising such as the airport and hotels ... Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) had initially announced on its website that it will cease its bus services plying housing estates on Sunday night. However, RWS stopped its free shuttle services yesterday afternoon after receiving the directive from the CRA ... The outcome of the free shuttle bus services provided by the IRs came to light on Wednesday, after the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) said it is seen as promoting gambling among heartlanders ... Bay Sands (MBS), its paid bus routes serving Orchard Road and Outram, and its free shuttles to some hotels were suspended at midnight on Thursday except for its airport shuttle bus service which remained in operation yesterday ...

market2garden:

The authority acted so abruptly because General Election is around the corner or else it will take longer time to issue the guideline. Somehow the 2 IRs have to behave that they are good corporate citizens of Singapore. More importantly, my guess is earliest date the Parliament will be dissolved in next sitting (15 Sep 2010 Wed), i.e. today 1.30pm. PM will set the tone for the election. Stay tune for the ongoing event.

Taiwanese Urged to Deepen Ties with Asean

Taiwanese Urged to Deepen Ties with Asean
Source: The Straits Times Dec 18, 2009 (Fri) by Ho Ai Li, Taiwan Correspondent

Taiwan has to rethink its game plan in South-east Asia amid the intensive engagement of the region by China, Japan and South Korea, academics and the island's leader said this week.

Taiwan is in danger of being left behind when free trade pacts between Asean and China, Japan and Korea take effect in the next few years.

... The Government should help local producers market their goods globally, he (Dr. Chu Yun-Peng (朱云鹏), former Taiwan minister without portfolio) suggested.

“Ecfa (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement – Economic Pact with China) is not necessary good for Taiwan in the long term, but what is the alternative?” he pointed out.

market2garden: Future trends (15 to 20 years) nowadays are hard to predict as the capitalist world is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Let us (Expert of layman) focus on 5 to 10 years as “long term”. It’s time for world leaders to change the mindset of long term time frame.

Budget 2009 – Fashion Fund (from I-S Magazine)

Source: I-S Magazine Feb 06, 2009 Issue

OK, if we really truly believe that Singapore can be a shopping hub like Hong Kong or Japan, we will need a fund dispersed to all Singaporeans on a regular basis – say, $200 a month. We need to imbue a sartorial pride among our citizens that appearance is important – how else can we support our new shopping malls in Orchard Road when they actually open by year end? Think long term.

market2garden: Yes Yes Yes, especially after Orchard Road just completed the facelift.

Earth Hour Singapore 2009

Earth Hour:
Last Saturday of Every Year – 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
This year: Mar 28, 2009

Earth Hour (Wiki):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour
Earth Hour Singapore Effort (Other’s Blog):
http://www.earthhoursingapore.blogspot.com/
Earth Hour (From Esplanade Park) (Other’s Video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pnvHdkzOOc

The objective of this blog entry is to serve as a record. My personal opinion here is immaterial. BTW, what’s your view on Earth Hour?

Wanted: Prison Guards (from I-S Magazine)

Source: I-S Magazine June 20, 2008 Issue

Excerpts only.

The Singapore Prisons Service is seeking a prison guard who:
Knows how to operate the CCTV (and not watch the other kind)
Will not think it’s normal when a prisoner takes a 20-minute toilet break, kidney stone or no kidney stone.

The prospect can look forward to:
An attractive remuneration (including access to the prison dentist) and healthy bonuses upon the peaceful demise of a life-termer.
A gold watch after 25 years of service.

market2garden: Any system that the manpower is overstretched will not sustainable.

Comments on The Online Citizen (Singapore’s Social-Political Blog / Web)

I came across TOC (The Online Citizen) the web site after the press release of Bloggers 13 comments on liberalization of citizen journalism in Singapore.

Well, some netizens commented this web site anti-establishment. Their comments probably too extreme, but nevertheless the articles posted in TOC mostly never pro-establishment.

As I like to see things from many angles and perspectives, it would be beneficial to look at things from both TOC articles and pro-establishment local print media,.and to add the third party source, such as online forums, blogs and news outside Singapore. As I see it there are no such things as absolutely right or wrong. It is matter of our own interpretation and judgement.