Singapore has gotten into trouble with China because it is run by a bunch of clowns who just don’t know when to shut up. And when they did so temporarily, dishonourable son’s sister discovered she could also talk.

A number of PAP elites must have contributed to losing $30 million?? worth of military equipment. Who are responsible? Parliament didn’t ask so, again, nobody is responsible for tens of millions in tax dollar losses.

Incredibly, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen has even claimed that our “seized Terrexes are protected by international law”. What’s the point of making such a statement when protection is equated to their non return? Ng should not anyhow hantam because if his statement were true, China would be in trouble.

Instead, PAP government is the one in trouble.

If a $30 million (figure should be verified) loss could wake PAP up from its stupidity, then it will be worth it.

At the moment, we have nothing to retaliate against China for zeizing our property. ZERO. KOSONG.

The PAP government has put us in this vulnerable position by:
– Providing between half a million and one million mostly low-paying jobs to Chinese nationals.
– Investing more than $100 billion of reserves and CPF dollars in China.

If PAP were to send them packing, some industries will be crippled. But if the Chinese government really wants to teach PAP a lesson, they could ‘invite’ their citizens home and we are also screwed. Not only will many industries face massive disruptions and companies bankrupted, property prices will also collapse, etc.

What if the issue escalates and 4000 Chinese take matters into their own hands and riot in Geylang? Can SPF handle 4000 Chinese, many who have been abused by their employers, when they could only run and hide from 400 Indian rioters? Can a less than 10,000 strong police force handle 4,000 rioters, possibly more?

As for our investments, the withdrawal of our $100 billion investment is peanuts to them. But what China could do is tweak some policies or make the divestment process extremely difficult, especially for major shareholders like Temasek and GIC.

Why did PAP invest more than $100 billion in a corrupt communist country in the first place? A mistake has been made and we should learn from it. But not without holding anyone accountable.

After losing our national pride, we somehow ended up in a lose-lose situation. How the hell did we own self checkmate own self? PAP elites are not so smart after all. But it’s still not too late to revisit our immigration and foreign investment policies.

Dear A.S.S. Editor

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday that Singapore will explore more training opportunities for SAF in New Zealand. He also said that this was an opportunity to strengthen relationships with like-minded countries like NZ, due to uncertain times now. He cited the US new president, Brexit, and rising powers like China and India as reasons why the times are changing now.

Was this just a smokescreen, and a silent agreement that Singapore need to look for other training places away from Taiwan after what happened to our Terrexes? Have we finally admitted defeat in this saga? Of course, they won't say it out loud, but the timing of the agreement with NZ seems mighty suspicious. Really like admitting we lost in the Terrex issue, and now it's time to find training places away from places where China say we can't be there.

Oh well, at least New Zealand also got huge training areas for our SAF personnel.

Chai S L

A.S.S. Contributor

Dear ASS Editor,

I refer to your article by Mr Leong Sze Hian posted yesterday, highlighting the plight of retrenched workers by Temasek-owned Surbana Jurong.

Thank you for calling the bluff of both Temasek and GIC and I would like to share the same plight of another group of affected workers by Temasek-owned subsidiary, Keppel Corporation which is helm by former Minister for Labor, Lee Boon Yang.

A group of workers have already previously been quietly retrenched over the last few months with grossly indecent payouts. Singaporean workers received equivalents of 2 weeks "compensation" for every year of service while PR and other EP, S Pass holders obtained a month worth of salary for every year of service. The highest payout of $70,000 went to a foreigner with more than 20 years of service. This effectively went against the established 'Tripartite Guidelines' that caps 25 years at most!

I also heard from my Aunt that workers' petitions and MP letters from the PAP to NTUC and MOM to halt the upcoming retrenchment exercise after the Lunar New Year, were all being blatantly rejected and Singaporean workers will either have to "take it or leave it" as the clause rendering all powers for NTUC to decide on their behalf were inked in their contracts that they coerced to sign as a precondition to working at Keppel.

With the economy heading for a serious downturn and the PAP refusing to admit and mend ties with the US and China through the respective cultural ambassadors residing here, we are going to witness another once in 50 years unrest that will not only split the Tripartite Alliance apart but will also tear the fabric of our nation! This is through no fault of ISIS or Islamic ideologies but by the systematic policy failures of the PAP and the duff electorate that continues to blindly vote for them.

#Novoiceinparliament

Sulaiman Yusof
A.S.S. Contributor

<Fcebook post by Kirsten Han>

I don't agree with a foreign power setting terms for my country, flexing its muscles to browbeat us into submission. I don't think Singapore should become subservient to China just because they are bigger than us. I don't think we should accede to conditions imposed by China – if indeed any conditions have been imposed – just to get the nine Terrex ICVs back more quickly.

That said, I also do not see why there is a need to line up slavishly behind the PAP government, or to feel a personal sense of outrage about the confiscation of military vehicles. Yes, China is being a bully, but there is more than the binary between "stand up and defend your nation" and "you're a traitor with no sense of loyalty".

I don't agree with what China is doing, and am concerned by the extension of its authoritarian power, not because I hate China, but because authoritarianism that erodes freedoms and civil liberties goes against the values that I personally hold dear. This means that I'm also concerned about authoritarianism within Singapore, which is why I feel a lot less about nine infantry carrier vehicles – a currently awkward political and diplomatic situation – than about the lack of political rights, due process and checks on power in Singapore, which have already had impact on the lives of many Singaporeans for many years, and will continue to do so for years to come.

Some people talk about the need to "defend our country" as if this Terrex saga is an existential threat and war has already been declared. But threats can come in many forms, and if we want to defend Singapore we need to ask ourselves what it is that we want to defend. Do we want to defend our country from China just because they are a Them and we are an Us? Or is there something more about Singapore that we care about, that we want to protect?

In the past year alone we have seen activists called up for hours of questioning, their devices arbitrarily confiscated (without warrant, because in Singapore the police doesn't need one when so many offences are classified as "seizable"). Some of this property has been with the police for about half a year now, even though the police has not charged anyone with any offence, nor provided an explanation as to why the devices have to be held for so long. There is no assurance that the activists' privacy is being respected, that the police aren't digging through their internet history, their emails, their chat logs – even if this data has nothing to do with the actual offence that they claim to be investigating.
That the authorities have so much power, unchecked, are things that should worry every Singaporean. The lack of due process and accountability is far more likely to have an immediate impact on our lives than a petulant foreign power trying to squeeze every bit of leverage out of nine Terrex chia. (And these are problems that will remain even if the vehicles are eventually returned.)

Just because some of us don't really care about the Terrex ICVs doesn't mean we don't care about Singapore. There are more than two positions that can be taken here. Perhaps some of us aren't particularly moved by confiscated military hardware because we want to focus more on fighting for the things that would make Singapore a place worth defending.

Dear A.S.S. Editor

Interesting to read in the news today, a Singaporean housewife won a S$7.8 million jackpot from Malaysia's Toto jackpot. Lucky for her, but funny because the Malaysians won't be too happy to see a Singaporean, who lives in Singapore, but asked her uncle who stays in Johor to buy her the Malaysian Toto.

Wonder what our dear friends in Malaysia will think. Even jackpot money also Singapore want to take from Malaysia? Can allow foreigners to take away their jackpot money? Some more this foreigner does not even live in Malaysia, but lives in Singapore, is a Singaporean and only got her uncle to buy her the jackpot numbers.

Wonder if this scenario happened in Singapore, will we all be unhappy? Our jackpot money won by a Malaysian?

Tay E C

A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editors,

1st of all thats not my real name. I just wanted to show this letter from HDB which was placed at my gate recently because i was not at home when the officer came. The reason for the letter given to me was after when i went to the town council to clarify. I knew i have some outstanding rent charges i havent paid yet.

So after my queue number was up and proceed to the counter and asked the officer there, why was i given this letter 'Notice to Quit'? The answer gave me quite a stunned. I had only 3 months of rent that i havent cleared. 3 months only! And for your info, i am living in a 1room rental flat, and working as a cleaner.

So isn't this a contrary to what the Government way of helping its own citizen? Are they being compassionate to its own people? Do they have sympathy for the less fortunate? I guess not!

Ram
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear A.S.S. Editor

How come if you are a doctor, you do something very wrong and in a very unprofessional manner, the most you get is a six month suspended from work sentence, $10,000 fine and just a warning letter? Hardly will affect the doctor, right?

Dr Yong Thiam Look Peter was found guilty of having carried out an operation on the trigger finger of a patient without his consent, and never kept any records of the procedure. He had also been found guilty of carrying out the operation on the clinic's table, not in an operation room. All these seems like pretty serious offences. But six months suspension from work? Six months will pass by quickly. $10,000 fine? He's a private doctor, been in this practice for decades, the fine easily paid by him. And warning letter? Am sure the letter will have been thrown into the rubbish chute soon enough.

And the good doctor still wanted to appeal the sentence against him! Some people think they are so privileged.

Stephanie Y

A.S.S. Contributor

A reader at a restaurant was shocked to see a staff fill up a bucket of hot water from a dispenser at the serving station that was open to customers.

The staff then poured the bucket of hot water into another pail used to mop the floor.

This happened at Saizeriya restaurant in Bedok Point.

While the bucket used to transfer the hot water from the dispenser into the pail was not in contact with the dispenser, the reader felt that doing this in full view of customers dining at the restaurant was rather disturbing.

What do you think?

Dear A.S.S. Editor

Why is it that on MRT stations, we often hear some very redundant announcements, things that people will automatically do without the need to be told. Anyone else getting annoyed by this?

But when it comes to delays and emergencies, sometimes no announcements made over the PA system. The SOP on the MRT stations really flawed. Imagine hearing announcements like "Attention please. If you are unable to board the train at Platform A, please wait for the next train." Of course have to wait! Or "Attention please. For your safety, please do not stand near the escalator landing." Who stands near escalator landings when your aim is to get into the trains fast. Or "Attention please. For quicker boarding, please move to a less crowded area along the platform. Thank you." Who wants to to go to crowded area to quickly board?

But when emergency situations arrived, no announcements made. All passengers left clueless. Well done!

Arnold Tan

A.S.S. Contributor

<Facebook post by Kelvin Tay>

Hi..

i know is bad to post this online.. but i had just make a police report and they wish for me to spread n post to see if there is any chance at all someone have seen or know my mum (Lucy Wong).. as stated in the police report.. my aunt final wish is to see my out of contact mum for the last time.. i know is old photo.. but she is the lady on the right..

last address is amk av 10.. everything else is as above police report.. if any1 gt a clue where she is plz contact me..

Kelvin Tay

<Suspension Notice by NEA>

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will be suspending the licence of eating house, Kim San Leng at Blk 511 Bishan Street 13 #01-522, Singapore 570511 under the Points Demerit System for main operators. The eating house, together with all of its food stalls, will be required to cease operations for one day on 20/01/2017 (Friday).

The main operator has accumulated 16 demerit points over the last 12 months and fined a total of $1100 for the following offences:

1) Failed to deposit refuse in refuse bin lined with plastic bag - 4 demerit points

2) Failed to keep licensed premises free of rat infestation - 6 demerit points

3) Failed to keep licensed premises free of rat infestation - 6 demerit points

Depending on their past records, main operators of coffeeshops, food courts and canteens who accumulates 12 or more demerit points during a 12-month period may have their licences suspended for a period of either one, two or three days. All food stalls operating within the premises will also have to cease operations for the same period of time.

NEA takes a serious view of these offences and would like to remind food operators to observe good food and personal hygiene practices at all times, and to engage only registered food handlers. NEA will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone found to be in violation of the Environmental Public Health Act.

In the interest of maintaining a high standard of food hygiene at all eating establishments, we would also like to advise members of the public who come across poor hygiene practices in food establishments not to patronise such outlets but to call our 24-hour NEA Contact Centre at 1800 - CALL NEA (1800 - 2255632) with details for our follow-up investigations.

Back

Dear A.S.S. Editor

I came across an overseas news report of an Indonesian maid who had worked in Singapore being abused by her employer. According to the news report, the maid was a 20 year old by the name of Fadila Rahmatika, who had worked for eight months under her second employer, named as Tan Seok Neo in the report.

According to the news, the maid had been working for two months under a different employer, who had treated her well, but because the employer kept a dog, she had asked for a transfer to another employer. That was how she ended up with Tan, and had worked for the new employer for eight months. In the eight months, she was not allowed to leave the house, and was forced to work for 24 hours everyday, without getting her salary. She was only given instant noodles to eat. She was constantly slapped and beaten up when Tan accused her of being slow. She was also locked up in the bathroom on many occasions, and allegedly had mild acid thrown at her and had hot iron placed on her hands and legs. After eight months of abuse, the maid had difficulty moving her hands and legs, and even had fainting spells.

She was finally dumped in Batam by Tan. She was given only a few Singapore dollars when she was abandoned in Batam by Tan. She also currently had lost her ability to talk, only able to use sign language to communicate, and the only words she keeps repeating was Singapore and hospital.

Avin Neo

A.S.S. Contributor

<Facebook post by Land Transport Guru>

[16 Jan 2017] A SMRT MAN A22 (SMB1371H) rear ended a SBS Transit Volvo B9TL (SG5570B) this afternoon, along Ulu Pandan Road, before the junction of Clementi Road.

SG5570B suffered engine damage and coolant was leaking over the road.

Meanwhile, SMB1371H's front was severely damaged and impacted inwards, with the door and dashboard crushed out of position.

Dear A.S.S,

Chinese New Year is the busiest festive season and companies are paying employees at higher rate regardless of part timers or full timers during this period.

However, HonestBee is paying their shoppers as low as $4.80 per hour. Despite the low pay, shoppers are required to do bulky orders that can be up to 30 to 40kg when most of the customers are ordering cartons drinks.

How does it feel when you are being paid $4.80 per hour when you have to deal with heavy orders, crazy long queues and unreasonable customers that yell at you over the phone for not able to fulfill their orders due to out of stocks.

For your information, we are paid $8 per hour during Christmas festive season. And how are we not being paid as high as $12 per hour when NTUC is paying $12 per hour for their part timers during CNY period.

Shopper Bee
A.S.S Contributor

Dear Editors,

I was travelling along Nicoll Highway when I saw a man roller blading in the middle of Nicoll Highway! There were so many cars and buses around him but he did n't seem to care about his safety.

What is he thinking, roller blading in the middle of a busy public highway. He think he is blading on his grandfather's road? This is a danger to himself and other motorists who may swerve and hit others in order to avoid him.

Hans
A.S.S. Contributor

<Facebook post by Eddie>

I went to get myself a packet of fried rice. The boss said that they had ran out of "plastic" (take-away containers). He added that if I didn't mind, he could pack the fried rice in another way.

When he spoke to me, I was on the phone. I just told him, "anything, can takeaway the rice can already".

10 minutes later, the boss passed me this.

I was speechless.

Dear A.S.S. Editor

Our National water agency, PUB, will be taking action against the contractor of the MRT station construction site, Sato Kogyo, for causing the flash floods that hit Upper Thomson Road on Christmas Eve.

According to the reports, an investigation taken by the PUB indicated that the construction of the nearby Upper Thomson MRT Station had affected the public drainage system, which in turn caused the flood to happen. A temporary diversion drain constructed by the company within the worksite was found to be undersized. PUB was also not informed of the temporary drainage system. PUB had ordered the contractor to carry out rectification works immediately.

If not wrong, many businesses in the area was affected by the flood on that day, and lost lots of money due to forced closure and clean up. So, does that mean the businesses can claim form the contractors about the loss income?

Justin K

A.S.S. Contributor

Dear A.S.S. Editor

NTUC has announced that it will open 83 of its outlets island wide for 24 hours on the eve of the Chinese New Year, to allow shoppers to continue shopping for their CNY goodies.

25 of its outlets will also remain open throughout the CNY period itself. This is a change from previous years, where most of the outlets are closed during the holidays. In fact, most of the shops are normally closed during the CNY period that it became the norm for Singaporeans to stock up on food items to tide over the CNY period. Nowadays, most shops remain open, so the practice of stocking up on food items will die a natural death.

This is good news for customers, but possibly good news for NTUC and the other shops also, as remaining open during the period will ensure many shoppers will buy stuff there, and thus, more money coming in for them. For customers, no need to worry about grocery during the CNY period like in previous years. Win-win situation.

L Osman

A.S.S. Editor

<Facebook post by Leslie>

The money-crazy PAP Government tries to justify their latest increase on cross-border road charges by portraying it as tit-for-tat. Basically what they are telling the Singapore public is "they started it first".

“This is to ensure that Malaysia takes into consideration our response whenever they raise their tolls or introduce a new levy,” Mr Khaw said.

But before anyone is fooled, let's look at some events in time:

1923
The Johor-Singapore Causeway was built and completed by the British.

1942
The Causeway was partially severed during the 2nd World War and was rebuilt by the Japanese once they captured Singapore.

Before 1973
There were only toll charges on both sides. I have no information on when toll charges was implemented but I believed it to be after Singapore declared Independence.

1973
Singapore implemented the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), collecting a fee of SGD 20.00 per foreign-registered car coming in from Malaysia in addition to the toll. Malaysia did not follow suit.

During the 1990s
Singapore extended the VEP to motorcycles, collecting a fee of SGD 4.00 per foreign-registered motorcycle coming in from Malaysia in addition to the toll. Malaysia did not follow suit.

2014
Malaysia finally decided to increase the toll for the first time, the PAP Government screamed bloody murder and retaliated by increasing their own toll as well. Not satisfied with merely increasing the toll charges in retaliation to Malaysia, they also increased the VEP from SGD20 to SGD35 at the same time.

Malaysia's increase on cars:
Entry: From RM 2.90 to RM 9.70
Exit: From RM 0.00 to RM 6.80

Singapore's increase on cars:
Entry : From SGD 0.00 to SGD 2.70
Exit: From SGD 1.20 to SGD 3.80
VEP: From SGD 20.00 to SGD 35.00

1st Nov 2016
Malaysia finally decided to implement the VEP of MYR 20 (officially known as Road Charge or RC for short) on their side 43 years after Singapore has done so, the PAP Government once again screamed bloody murder despite them already collecting VEP for all these years. The Malaysia RC do not apply on foreign-registered motorcycles despite Singapore VEP doing so.

2017
The PAP Government introduces the Reciprocal Road Charge (RRC) of $6.40 on all foreign-registered vehicles to take effect from 15th Feb 2017.

To summarise (from 15th Feb 2017):
Malaysia collects from Singapore-registered cars:
Entry : Toll (MYR 9.70) + RC (MYR 20.00)
Exit : Toll (MYR6.80)
Total : MYR 36.50 (~USD 8.17 at current rate)

Singapore collects from Malaysia-registered cars:
Entry : Toll (SGD 3.80) + VEP (SGD 35.00) + RRC (SGD 6.40)
Exit : Toll (SGD 2.70)
Total : SGD 47.90 (~USD 33.50 at current rate)

To put it in perspective (from 15th Feb 2017) by looking at the USD value, we can observe that Singapore is collecting 4.1 times per foreign-registered vehicle more than Malaysia.

So who is matching who? Match what?

If the PAP is actually sincere in matching, then they should be reducing the fees collected on foreign-registered vehicles instead of increasing it.

And if you think this has nothing to do with you because you do not drive, think again. Many of the groceries and commodities you consume on a daily basis are imported from Malaysia via land-border crossings. Any increase on the border-crossing fees increases the prices of the things you buy.

Dear A.S.S. Editor

This morning, I was taking the MRT to work during the peak period, and I saw one man sprawled down on the floor of the MRT trains between cabins, apparently asleep.

People had no choice but to walk over him as they attempted to go into the other cabin. Don't know whether the man was too tired, that he used the floor of the train as an impromptu bed, or he was simply too drunk to think about where he was sleeping.

The man subsequently alighted at Chinese Garden, oblivious as to what he had been doing.

Syed Akbar

A.S.S. Contributor