Will ministers listen to feedbacks?
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(posted to Feedback Unit on 6.4.2006)
At one of the Feedback Sessions I attended, I remember some one speaker once fervently pleading with one of the ministers on the panel for government to practise EQ in running the country pointing out many of the top Fortune 500 companies are successful because of adopting such people-oriented system.
Do our ministers accept such feedbacks at all or are such good feedbacks are simply ignored?
Instead we often see the ministers trying to give lectures to people to correct their faults or shortcomings. Do our ministers first want to correct their own shortcomings?
Over the past 40 years we keep coming across all kindso fo persistent increases of government fees and charges e.g. transport, medical or Housing. The extra profits made by the government from the tax-and-recover system of charging and all the double-charging of lands and triple-charging of vehicle ownership etc do not come back as endowments to help lower the high costs of living created. During prolonged recessions citizens have to sacrificed more harsh policies and even new incentives to foreigners to take away jobs from the locals.
Surpluses are used only so far for paying higher salaries and bonuses to ministers and their elites or election-time give-aways which are illegal in many countries.
The above-stated system tax-and-recover system of government is not helping the people and is anti-competitive, anti-progress, anti-business and anti-vibrancy.
The corporation and privatisation of traditional government services are basically done to allow governemnt to charge higher fees. Such a system of money-driven government has caused the whole economy to go down since 1990s. If we look at the economy over the past 10 years or so - it is punctuated by short recovery but long decline. Wages are progressively going down and property prices have dropped over 30 %. This loss of our economic competitiveness is not recognised by our leaders who seem to wait only for short-recovery to avoid the problems. Our unemployments will get worse.
Today we have become a country with third-world wages bearing the first-world costs as posted by many.
Why are we reaching such a state of shame - we have neglected the Fortune 500 EQ system of empowering people.
We can forsee that even if GIC and Temasek are to make more than 1% pa the people will have to continue to suffer paying higher and higher fees and charges.
If the government is able and capable it will use the surpluses to create endowment funds to defray the high government salaries and bonuses they have created. They will take the cue from NKF uproar and change their mindset about surpluses which are anti-progress and anti-motivation.
I hope the new MPs and Ministers being claimed as our best talents will be talented enough to practise EQ so that there will be new hope in solving our current problems e.g. the "20 major problems of the governemnt" as posted in another thread.
So I am asking them being the new blood to try taking a closer look at how Fortune 500 companies practise their pro-people management. People have given good feedbacks but they have been ignored or stonewalled with uncaring attitude and those ministers who persistently ignore such advice should step down and make way for new blood who might be able to convince our past leaders to change.
Why afraid to change ? Why still persist in the "Pay and Pay" autocratic system.
I would propose that our new MPs and Ministers should practise more EQ and try urgently to solve the following serious problems:-
(1) High costs of living;
(2) Anti-business policies and practices;
(3) Anti-local pro-foreign investment and employment policies and practices.
(4) NKF-type of presumptuous surplus-hoarding anti-EQ policy
(5) Double-charging on land (HDB sale pricing) and triple-charging on vehicle ownership or usage.
We will remind the ministers that in their original proposal to avoid welfarism, they have said they will charge sufficiently just to cover consumption.
Today too many ministers are tryng to make extrad profits by charging fullest market prices.
So are ministers going to listen to good feedbacks and change? People are waiting for our government to change. Government is the problem. -
No leh, we must listen to our ministers lah, becoz we are not as smart as them mah.
HDB got discount or subsidy?
Got difference or not?
Don't ask me, i also don't know leh.
Minister sure know one mah, that's why can become minister!
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"Secondly, 1st-timer citizen households will continue to enjoy generous housing subsidies. Singaporeans may not appreciate how much they enjoy in housing subsidies, which are in various forms. Let me elaborate. Those who purchase a resale flat can obtain a CPF housing grant of $30,000/$40,000. Those who buy a new flat will enjoy an even higher subsidy. As announced by PM in the Budget Statement, we will also provide an additional CPF housing grant of between $5,000 and $20,000 to 1st-timer households earning below $3,000 per month. These are explicit and substantial subsidies. They can amount to $60,000, which is as high as 40% of the price of a 3R flat in a non-mature estate. In addition to the upfront subsidy, 1st-timer households also enjoy an additional subsidy by way of the HDB concessionary loan which they can apply for to finance their flat purchase. For a $100,000 30-year loan, a 1% interest subsidy would mean a subsidy of more than $10,000."
---- Mini Star Horse Treasure Mountain
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From the ST Dec 20, 2005:
NKF said it saved patients more than $3.5 million by offering them lower drug prices and subsidies. This was not true. It made close to $1 million each year, in 2003 and 2004, in gross profit from the sale of such drugs.
The gross profit margin worked out to almost 40 per cent each year. And that was because NKF did not pass on the rebates it got on its bulk purchase of medicine.
For example, it said one drug cost $25. It gave patients a $13 discount and charged them $12. But NKF paid only $8.20 for the drug. It pocketed a 46 per cent profit.
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From the ST 21 Dec 2005:
Instead, Mr Subramaniam, the accountant, said the way the NKF treated the definition of subsidy and the way KPMG did were from"different perspectives".
The NKF defined subsidy as the difference between the amount a patient would pay for treatement and drugs elsewhere in Singapore and the amount they paid the NKF. "In my understanding of NKF's view, subsidy must be tested against the market rate and not the net amount incurred."
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From the ST Aug 6, 2004:
HDB pricing keeps new flats affordable to most Singaporeans
I REFER to the letters, 'What goes into pricing of HDB flats' (ST, July 23) by Mr Hiong Kum Meng and 'Subsidy should be based on flat's building cost' (ST, July 27) by Mr Mohamed Rafiq Hamjah.
Mr Hiong concluded that the increase in HDB resale prices has outstripped wage growth, based on a comparison of changes in the Resale Price Index with changes in average nominal wages between 1993 and 2003.
We would like to explain that resale flats are transacted in the open market on a willing buyer-willing seller basis. The prices are not set by HDB. Prices can fluctuate, depending on factors such as the economic outlook, employment situation and sentiments in the property market.
What is important is that HDB prices its new flats so that the majority of Singaporeans can afford one. From 1993 to 2003, the prices of new four-room flats increased by 2.6 per cent per annum, below the annual increase of 5.3 per cent in average wages cited by Mr Hiong. New-flat prices did not rise as steeply as resale-flat prices, because HDB prices new flats below their equivalent market price, that is, at a subsidy.
Mr Mohamed asked why HDB's subsidy for new flats is related to the market price and not the building cost of a flat. Today, first-time HDB flat buyers can buy either resale or new flats. Those who opt to buy resale flats from the open market can take up a housing grant of $30,000 or $40,000, which allows them to enjoy a discount off the market price of the flat.
Those who opt to buy new flats from HDB also enjoy a discount off the equivalent market price of the flat.
The difference between what the buyer pays HDB for his flat and what it is actually worth in the market is a direct and real subsidy provided by HDB to the buyer.
Like the housing grant for resale flats, the provision of such a market-related subsidy in the case of new flats has enabled HDB to keep its flats affordable for the majority of Singaporeans.
DESMOND WONG
Deputy Director (Marketing & Planning)
for Director (Estate Administration & Property)
Housing & Development Board -
Obviousman
It is obvious man, from the HDB reply that HDB has only confirmed beyond doubt that it is selling its new flats at market price and not at a subsidy which has the meaning that it is below cost.
Even if there is a discount of some thousands, the price is still market price as the net price is still way above construction cost which is around $80,000 for a 3-room flat.
If one is to read the HDB Act, I am sure he will find the Act says that HDB was promulgated to provide public low-cost housing. That is the reason too Land Acquisition Act was passed to enable HDB to acquire land at cheaper prices in order to cater to HDB to build low-cost housing to house the lower-income groups of the population. Citizens' monies are used to fund HDB and its land acquisition so effectively lands are paid for by the citizens.
In selling HDB flats under the low-cost housing program called "Homeownership for the people", if HDB is selling its flats at market price of S$120,000.00 for a 3-room flat it will be making profit and land cost would be charged again because the market price is way above construction cost + land cost.
Therefore based on HDB Act and Land Acqusition Act, HDB has no right to price the flat at market value less a bit of discount to look good. HDB has made a windfall profit of some S$14 billions over a period of some 12 years. -
Will ministers listen to feedbacks?
Yes and No.
Yes, only if the old Emperor says so - otherwise
NO is always the way they treat most if not all feedbacks.
Above observation are based on personal experiences and people I know. -
You got that right; all puppets.Originally posted by miongisback:Will ministers listen to feedbacks?
Yes and No.
Yes, only if the old Emperor says so - otherwise
NO is always the way they treat most if not all feedbacks.
Above observation are based on personal experiences and people I know. -
Basically no. A fren of mine turned up for one of those dialogue sessions at the CC and questioned the govt rep (can't remember who) about bus fare hikes one year. When the govt rep tried to give the PR reply, my fren asked point blank: "Have you ever taken a bus? Do your wife and children take buses everyday?" The rep was stunned into silence for a moment before spinning a yarn that did not answer the question. In the end, the fares were still hiked and my fren was never welcomed at another dialogue session again.
And if they do listen to feedback, there won't have been a need for those nice white elephants along the road center median outside Buangkok station. I thought those were really creative and nice actually... -
They don't have to in the first place. When they make a certain policy they have already considered the "opposite' viewpoint already. They know what you will be unhappy about.Originally posted by KittynMeow:Basically no. A fren of mine turned up for one of those dialogue sessions at the CC and questioned the govt rep (can't remember who) about bus fare hikes one year. When the govt rep tried to give the PR reply, my fren asked point blank: "Have you ever taken a bus? Do your wife and children take buses everyday?" The rep was stunned into silence for a moment before spinning a yarn that did not answer the question. In the end, the fares were still hiked and my fren was never welcomed at another dialogue session again.
And if they do listen to feedback, there won't have been a need for those nice white elephants along the road center median outside Buangkok station. I thought those were really creative and nice actually...
The problem is not that they don't know and need your feedback.
The problem is that they will take take care of their own interest rather than your interest into consideration... why should they? They sure win elections because they kill off all the good opposition candidates who is there to defend your interests. So you see if there is free and fair elections, many different candidates representing many different interests will be elected and spek in parliament for those interests that they represent... instead of only certain group's interest... big businesses, government linked institutions and the PAP themselves eat the cake or most of it. -
The peoples who is in the grass roots and RC's are all the joints of the spider web, feeding information's back to the other joints and leading all the way to the center where the spider is.Originally posted by KittynMeow:Basically no. A fren of mine turned up for one of those dialogue sessions at the CC and questioned the govt rep (can't remember who) about bus fare hikes one year. When the govt rep tried to give the PR reply, my fren asked point blank: "Have you ever taken a bus? Do your wife and children take buses everyday?" The rep was stunned into silence for a moment before spinning a yarn that did not answer the question. In the end, the fares were still hiked and my fren was never welcomed at another dialogue session again.
And if they do listen to feedback, there won't have been a need for those nice white elephants along the road center median outside Buangkok station. I thought those were really creative and nice actually...
And the spider will spring out with many other smaller spiders to make a kill. This Poison Spider and it's web had grown so big now, our peoples knows it, because our Elders told us during the occupation of the Japaness soldiers, there are so many of these traitors and they've to whisper among their trusted villagers. -
Very interesting collection of material from 2005, and shows the obvious greed that permeates the minds of the Public Establishments by the obvious tacit approval from the POWER OF ONE - to ensure Profitability from Public Services.Originally posted by ObviousMan:
Are there subsidies which is subsequently taken back from the RESALE PRICE when the flat is sold - (with interest payable?) ?
No leh, we must listen to our ministers lah, becoz we are not as smart as them mah.
HDB got discount or subsidy?
Got difference or not?
Don't ask me, i also don't know leh.
Minister sure know one mah, that's why can become minister!
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"Secondly, 1st-timer citizen households will continue to enjoy generous housing subsidies. Singaporeans may not appreciate how much they enjoy in housing subsidies, which are in various forms. Let me elaborate. Those who purchase a resale flat can obtain a CPF housing grant of $30,000/$40,000. Those who buy a new flat will enjoy an even higher subsidy. As announced by PM in the Budget Statement, we will also provide an additional CPF housing grant of between $5,000 and $20,000 to 1st-timer households earning below $3,000 per month. These are explicit and substantial subsidies. They can amount to $60,000, which is as high as 40% of the price of a 3R flat in a non-mature estate. In addition to the upfront subsidy, 1st-timer households also enjoy an additional subsidy by way of the HDB concessionary loan which they can apply for to finance their flat purchase. For a $100,000 30-year loan, a 1% interest subsidy would mean a subsidy of more than $10,000."
---- Mini Star Horse Treasure Mountain
It is interesting to note that the HDB Subsidy Program was supposed to have been withdrawn in progressive stages, and completely phased out by 2005.
Somehow this is now revived with a burst of energy when PM LHL step into the PM Office - as has been a slew of programs that involve large financial handouts that were not available during LKY and GCT term in office.
How much funds have been paid out by PM LHL since he came in, and where are the source of funds from - when these funds were not accumulated during his term in office ?From the ST Dec 20, 2005:
It is very obvious that NKF has taken a leaf out of the Ruling Political Party methods - in non-transparent, clever juggling of numbers to ascertain costs so as to justify the atrocious prices charged to the Public.
NKF said it saved patients more than $3.5 million by offering them lower drug prices and subsidies. This was not true. It made close to $1 million each year, in 2003 and 2004, in gross profit from the sale of such drugs.
The gross profit margin worked out to almost 40 per cent each year. And that was because NKF did not pass on the rebates it got on its bulk purchase of medicine.
For example, it said one drug cost $25. It gave patients a $13 discount and charged them $12. But NKF paid only $8.20 for the drug. It pocketed a 46 per cent profit.
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From the ST 21 Dec 2005:
Instead, Mr Subramaniam, the accountant, said the way the NKF treated the definition of subsidy and the way KPMG did were from"different perspectives".
The NKF defined subsidy as the difference between the amount a patient would pay for treatement and drugs elsewhere in Singapore and the amount they paid the NKF. "In my understanding of NKF's view, subsidy must be tested against the market rate and not the net amount incurred."
ALL DONE WITH PROFITABILITY IN MIND and NOT PUBLIC SERVICE
The high cost of health and medical attention payable by Singaporeans will wipe out the CPF Medisave Account and tax the Medishielf Insurers, as well as the bank account of Singaporeans - leaving little left for any second visits for repeat attention.
It is interesting to note that the Medishield Insurers will not accept any further policies from Senior Citizens over a certain age - leaving the over taxed and hard pressed families to take over the responsiblity of high costs to look after the very old.
When there is no longer any money to be made from individual Singaporeans, it is left to the Families to take over the responsibility, so as to open a new pipeline of funds for new accounts to be sucked dry.From the ST Aug 6, 2004:
In a country that is dominated by the POWER OF ONE, we would expect that trends will be set by the POWER OF ONE.
HDB pricing keeps new flats affordable to most Singaporeans
I REFER to the letters, 'What goes into pricing of HDB flats' (ST, July 23) by Mr Hiong Kum Meng and 'Subsidy should be based on flat's building cost' (ST, July 27) by Mr Mohamed Rafiq Hamjah.
Mr Hiong concluded that the increase in HDB resale prices has outstripped wage growth, based on a comparison of changes in the Resale Price Index with changes in average nominal wages between 1993 and 2003.
We would like to explain that resale flats are transacted in the open market on a willing buyer-willing seller basis. The prices are not set by HDB. Prices can fluctuate, depending on factors such as the economic outlook, employment situation and sentiments in the property market.
What is important is that HDB prices its new flats so that the majority of Singaporeans can afford one. From 1993 to 2003, the prices of new four-room flats increased by 2.6 per cent per annum, below the annual increase of 5.3 per cent in average wages cited by Mr Hiong. New-flat prices did not rise as steeply as resale-flat prices, because HDB prices new flats below their equivalent market price, that is, at a subsidy.
Mr Mohamed asked why HDB's subsidy for new flats is related to the market price and not the building cost of a flat. Today, first-time HDB flat buyers can buy either resale or new flats. Those who opt to buy resale flats from the open market can take up a housing grant of $30,000 or $40,000, which allows them to enjoy a discount off the market price of the flat.
Those who opt to buy new flats from HDB also enjoy a discount off the equivalent market price of the flat.
The difference between what the buyer pays HDB for his flat and what it is actually worth in the market is a direct and real subsidy provided by HDB to the buyer.
Like the housing grant for resale flats, the provision of such a market-related subsidy in the case of new flats has enabled HDB to keep its flats affordable for the majority of Singaporeans.
DESMOND WONG
Deputy Director (Marketing & Planning)
for Director (Estate Administration & Property)
Housing & Development Board
When it benefit itself, the POWER OF ONE will let Singaporeans to set the trend, and instead of playing the role entrusted to it - to re-align misguided excesses to prevent speculations and allow long term attainable progress - the POWER OF ONE will prefer to participate in the greedy excesses of Singaporeans.
With Public Housing provided by HDB being priced a notch below Private Housing, and with HDB Home Loans no longer available, is there any program left for the Young Singaporean Families to purchase their own Homes to start a Family ?
Controversial contradictions can be seen in the Public Policies of the Government aka the Ruling Political Party in the manner in which it governs Singapore - with its PROFIT ORIENTED POLICIES in providing governmental and essential services to Singaporeans.
Some may argue that Government should not operate into a deficit position, but can anyone justify the runaway surplusses that recur annually to boost the Government Treasury - that will be transferred to the GIC and Temasek for their overseas "shopping trips", and all done at the expense of hard pressed Singaporeans trying their best to cope with the high costs of living ? -
Listening is one things. Important is reaction to have a proper resolution can be something else.
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No competition, no need to act mah!
Ministers' ricebowl made of GOLD --- act for what? -
Actually, we only need one person the govt to know EQ and the rest of the pack will follow. So what if the new Candidate know EQ, i dun think they will dare to voice it out for fear of the WHIPS as mentioned previously.
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Originally posted by ObviousMan: I only heard NKF golden tap reported by local contractor..so far never hear of golden ricebowl. Sure on not?
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Listen? Who says they don't listen?? Of course they will listen!
They always listen!
Just LISTEN only mah!!!
Only listen - nothing else. -
Did anyone read about that new opposition candidate Edmund Ng's comments on last friday's papers?Originally posted by ceciltan:Actually, we only need one person the govt to know EQ and the rest of the pack will follow. So what if the new Candidate know EQ, i dun think they will dare to voice it out for fear of the WHIPS as mentioned previously.
"'When I was with the Young PAP in Jalan Besar, every time I expressed an alternative view to government policies, I was told to shut up or tone down. There was fear from within. In the end, I decided to join the opposition."
- quoted from ST.
So much for anyone with EQ as soon as thney join the party / govt. -
in this case they are not listening, but merely hearingOriginally posted by ShutterBug:Listen? Who says they don't listen?? Of course they will listen!
They always listen!
Just LISTEN only mah!!!
Only listen - nothing else.
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If you really want to hear PAP followers speak against their party bad policy, bad tactic and bad image.Originally posted by KittynMeow:Did anyone read about that new opposition candidate Edmund Ng's comments on last friday's papers?
"'When I was with the Young PAP in Jalan Besar, every time I expressed an alternative view to government policies, I was told to shut up or tone down. There was fear from within. In the end, I decided to join the opposition."
- quoted from ST.
So much for anyone with EQ as soon as thney join the party / govt.
Wait till the the party break-up day to happen.
Mr.Goh Chok Tong strategy to do away the Whip with PAP MP in Opposition wards is Singapore Funniest Politician or Mr.BIN of Singapore. -
Actually, the one who should be answering this question is RorbertTeh.
Go over to the Feedback Unit Website forum and see his postings.
http://app.feedback.gov.sg/asp/index.asp -
Ther're just there to ANNOUNCE and make known to residents/singaporeans that this particular decision will be made....Just like Assembly Day during your primary school/secondary school...Originally posted by KittynMeow:Basically no. A fren of mine turned up for one of those dialogue sessions at the CC and questioned the govt rep (can't remember who) about bus fare hikes one year. When the govt rep tried to give the PR reply, my fren asked point blank: "Have you ever taken a bus? Do your wife and children take buses everyday?" The rep was stunned into silence for a moment before spinning a yarn that did not answer the question. In the end, the fares were still hiked and my fren was never welcomed at another dialogue session again.
And if they do listen to feedback, there won't have been a need for those nice white elephants along the road center median outside Buangkok station. I thought those were really creative and nice actually... -
Obviousman,Originally posted by ObviousMan:Actually, the one who should be answering this question is RorbertTeh.
Go over to the Feedback Unit Website forum and see his postings.
http://app.feedback.gov.sg/asp/index.asp
Actually, I have been posting to the Feedback Unit for a few years now. I have dealt mostly with major government mistakes and policy errors.
My latest posts include : (1) leadership qualities our leaders should possess in order to lead the new generation (2) high costs of living - double-charging of land costs by HDB and triple-charging on vehicles i.e. excise duty, COE and ERP which I consider is unconscienable and immoral (3) Ministers' repeated failures to restructure the economy to the value-adding and technology driven model they have been talking about for years.
Since 1970s, ministers have not kept their promises as posted in "20 major government policy errors".
If Ministers have the calibre they should debate with people on these posts. So far they only invited students to appear on TV forums probably to give the impression that they are open to debates or questions for wayang.
I will take off my hat to them if the ministers are prepared to debate the people on such posts. -
