<Complaint by Jbm Skt>

PLEASE READ!

1. This man married a Chinese national. He promised to bring her son over to Singapore to study. He asked for $30,000 from his wife, reason being he needed to pay for the registration and admin fees. Of course she borrowed from her friends and relatives in China and gave it to him. After 3 months, there was still no news and she started to get worried. He then told her another $20,000 is required to bribe the relevant department or else it will not be successful. Again, she forked out another $20,000.
In the end, he admitted that he did not apply and had spent the whole $50,000. Not only did the poor boy have to be sent back to China, his wife had to slog her guts out to pay back the debt every month.

2. He had another affair with a Singaporean woman behind his wife’s back. She was his childhood sweetheart. He told her that his ‘business’ (which is non-existence) was facing some legal lawsuit and was in dire need of money to pay the legal fees and fines. It did not cross her mind that he would con her and took out her life savings and pawn all her valuables to lend him. She also borrowed money from her family, everything totaling up to $75,000.

3. A month after lending money from his girlfriend, he told me and my wife that his ‘business’ was facing cash flow problem and he was unable to issue salaries to his workers, many of whom are foreign workers on work permit). We did not know of the above incident where he asked for money from his girlfriend until he disappeared, so we did not suspect anything and lent him a total of $57,000 over a few separate occasions. We used up all our savings as well as my daughter’s university funds which he knows we would need right now. We trusted him because we were on quite good terms and we see him every day. He promised to return us when his project was completed.

4. He also borrowed money from a couple of friends here and there, totaling up to $10,000 at the same time.
In the end, he quit his job and disappeared (does not even go back home). Right now, all of us are not able to contact or locate him. He would still be on whatsapp, but would not reply even after seeing the messages.

So why did he need so much money, to the extent of cheating his wife and girlfriend, as well as his friends? We have no idea, but we bumped into one of his friend who works in a KTV. She told us that for the past 1-2 months (the same period he borrowed money from all of us), he spent over $100,000 on a KTV hostess.

Please share this post and keep a lookout for this person. Beware of dealing with him. From what we found out and after piecing up all the stories together, he has been doing this (conning people) for some time.

We are now looking for him and please leave us a comment immediately if you have any news of him or saw him somewhere. We appreciate it a lot. Thank you.

Dear All Singapore Stuff,

Be wary of joining GB (Group Buys) from Taobao groups on Facebook.

To begin, you may or may not want to believe what I will be writing below. But nonetheless, I've taken some time to pen it and it's really up to you. There may be some lingo used that only people who have bought from Taobao before will understand but generally, the purpose of this post is purely to raise awareness to the general public, letting them make informed decisions and of course, save money! The intent is and never will be to slam and/or condemn all Taobao groups on Facebook, well, except for some questionable group.

First of all, most of us have all heard of Taobao - China's answer to Amazon in the US. Basically, almost everything that you can think of that is made in china can be found on Taobao and buying from Taobao allows you to save quite a significant sum of money rather than buying from retailers here since you are somewhat buying direct from the source. Recently, even our Malay and Indian friends have also started joining the Taobao craze. Well, if you knowhow to buy from Taobao and get it shipped to you on your own, like myself, congratulations! For those who have no confidence with reading mandarin or have no idea how to ship items on your own, you have a few options:

One, engage the service of a forwarder like 65Daigou, SGshop etc... Their websites are in English and all you need to do is to provide the link of the item and these forwarders will buy on your behalf and get it shipped to you; with an agent fee of course, but prices are all listed and transparency is there.

The second option is to join a GB (group buy) organized by people in the numerous Taobao groups you can find of Facebook. The intention of a group buy, is to gather a number of interested buyers to buy in bulk and ultimately save on costs like shipping, bulk discounts, etc. However, the admins of this particular group of mention have the sole intention of making (big) profits from organizing such group buys. How do I know? Someone I knew challenged the group's admin on the GB price of a particular item, almost immediately, he was kicked and banned from the group. No reason was given its quite obvious why he was kicked and banned. I did a simple check with other members with other Taobao groups, and it seems like he was not the only one. Everyone and anyone who posted links of the same item with a cheaper price tag, or questioned the GB price of items, has been kicked and banned. Its obvious that these admins want to protect their money making GBs which they try to pass off as "save on shipping thru GBs" to unsuspecting members. Below are just of the few examples on how their little money making trick/scam/scheme work:

1) After poking around a bit, it seems there were many other cases as well, I have heard of 1 lady whom wanted to "tompang" their shipment with these admins. Her items were like just 7 or 8 small items, and the "tompang" fees quoted to her was close to S$100 via sea. Even idiot would also know that S$100 or S$110 can allow you to almost ship an entire 1 cbm @500RMB per cbm. So much for "tompang" huh? Last I heard, the lady made a fuss and threatened to forgo the shipment after paying the S$100 and the admins "gladly" refunded her S$50, which, IMHO, is still expensive.

2) As mentioned before, someone I knew recently questioned on the price of a particular item, an umbrella, which got him kicked and banned. From what I heard, the cost of the umbrella on Taobao is RMB 88. The price offered for members interested to join the GB was SG$59.90 per umbrella. Now even though they mentioned SG$59.90 was "all in", inclusive or credit card charges, GST, whatever tax, handling fee, and including local courier delivery to your door step, you do do the math. RMB 88 converts to about SG$20, how on earth does shipping and all other fees come up to SG$40? It simply doesn't add up. First off all, they said credit card fees are included which is 3% of the Taobao transaction. S

ince they collect cash payment from members first before the GB proceeds, they should have the cash, so why is there a need to use credit card? eNets (direct bank transfer thru NETS) can be used which has a service fee of just $1 per transaction regardless of the transacted amount. Secondly, they mentioned that umbrellas are bulky and require sea shipping which is BS. The reason why they say ship by sea is because all goods shipped by sea, regardless of the price is being subjected to 7% GST by customs, which can be used to push up the GB price. I asked around and people have shipped the exact same umbrellas via 4px air as they fall within the maximum dimensions allowed by 4px air. Furthermore, goods shipped by air are only subjected to GST for purchases in excess of SG$400. Having said that, if the GB was really so big, a more cost effective way is to split the air shipment to prevent GST from being charged.

I have also taken the liberty to ask around and people who have shipped the exact same umbrellas via sea mentioned that each umbrella is only like 0.03 or 0.04 cbm (cubic metre) which translates to like S$4 or S$5 for sea shipping @500/550rmb per cbm. Next, local courier service, at the most give you $10 to deliver island wide, unless you use helicopter? Lastly, a check on Taobao showed that the exact same umbrella was sold by another seller on Taobao for RMB 49 only and they most probably could have quoted people RMB 88 and ordered from the cheaper seller. So, from this, simple math will tell you how much profit those admins are making. No doubt you will want to earn some handling fee and that is ok to most people if you make it transparent. However, an umbrella which costs RMB88 (or even RMB49) and you happily charge people SG$59.90 for each umbrella. Thats absurd. My guess is that they have a bigger shipment of their own, and the profits from this GB will somewhat give them free shipment costs for the entire shipment.

3) More recently, after talking to another friend, whom was also kicked from the group for posting links of item with cheaper prices. She mentioned to me that a number of people she knew, whom like me, was also kicked when questioning the price of GB items. With the number of GBs these admins organize, simple math can tell you that each GB can probably earn them bag them a 1-2k profit, and not to mention free shipping for themselves. No doubt they mention things like only join if comfortable with the price, etc, but its obvious they are taking advantage of those whom do not know the cost of shipping, and if there are any actual discounts given by the seller for bulk purchases.

4) Oh and even more recently my friend found out that he was kicked and banned for being "irritating". Yeah, i guess he irritated their money making scheme. LoL.. He mentioned that he has like 20-30 mutual friends inside that group, so yeah, kick them all lah?

So, fellow Taobao-ers, do keep your eyes open when joining these so called GBs organized by this particular group. Know what you're buying and do your sums correctly first before joining, otherwise you may end up paying more than you should and making someone else happier and fatter. Do not be afraid to request for pricing transparency like questioning the price of the item and request a breakdown of the shipment costs and whatever fees, and if they don't give, don't join. Well, and if you get kicked or banned, then it only just proves my point. Also do remember there are also many other Taobao groups around in Facebook who truly organize GBs to help everyone save money instead of taking us as carrot heads and trying to rip us off.

Happy Taobaoer
A.S.S. Contributor

Ah Kow: Walau eh. Singapore SWFs damn sia sway. Can anyhow claim make a lot of money but no need to show any proof.

Ahmad: GIC is worse then Temasek because it no need to show even one single investment using our CPF. PAP create law say no need to show how money invested then Singaporeansbodohbodoh repeat like parrot “law say no need to show investment”. Ha ha.

Ah Kow: Bro, why you laughing? Scholars lose money also our money, OK. You also bodoh or what. But compare the 2, at least Temasek got state all the big investment so when we see the big companies share price drop like stone we know how much they lose. .

Arumugam: Kow is right. Today I want to show you how Temasek has planned to fail because it has failed to plan. Don’t anyhow believe these scholars can manage a fund because they did extremely well in the classroom. Real world and classroom conditions are not the same, OK. (Turning on his laptop) Look at this share and tell me what you think.

Image – FT.com

2010 – invested US$47.8 mil (link)
2011 3Q filing – Temasek held 2.7 million shares/6.2% shareholding (link)
2013 Aug – to invest up to US$60 million in convertible notes (link)
2015 June – Amyris agrees to exchang convertible debt for shares at $2.30 per share (link)
2015 3Q filing – stake increases to 42.2 million shares (link)
2015 Dec 11 – stake increases to 69.59 million shares (link)

Ah Kow: Thamby, this not possible leh. Temasek where got keep rotten investment so long? Sure got plan to cut loss. Basic investment 102 got teach must have cut loss and plan for emergency exit.

Ahmad: Their trading terbalik because scholars think real world and classroom same same. My kaki trade local shares also know something call cut loss. Trading must have exit plan – cinemas and buildings also got emergency exit in case fire. IPO $16, now collapse 90%, how come starting hold 6% but now increase to 36%? Temasek think this is Great Singapore Sale or what. Tomorrow I go ask my kaki.

Arumugam: The problem is Temasek does not have any exit strategy and its long-term view mostly koyak. For example, Standard Chartered they also got no exit plan but just know how to invest like money fall from the sky. They never expect to inject money into bank or share price to collapse. Like PAP, they also want face.

Now with 36% stake in Amyris, must continue to hold forever until company really bust. If not lose US$100 million never mind but lose face cannot.

If it wants to sell a company that has made only losses, there’s no buyer for such a large stake. If got, then they want to buy from Temasek at lagilelong price. Lose-lose situation can’t do anything except pray. 

Ah Kow: I remember some wise man say never mind can keep for long-term like 20 or 30 years.

Ahmad: Other small players can just cut loss but I think Temasekmatileow. Every time Amyris cry for more and more money, Temasek got no choice but top up like MRT commuters top up MRT card. Die die also must travel by MRT right?

Ah Kow: Singaporeans more stupid than me because I understand government no choice but to donate more taxpayer money to this type of company. Then PAP cut down on social spending or make some noise in pariahment say government cannot anyhow spend on citizens. Die la, like that.

Arumugam: Temasek says its 10-year return is 9% but it has so many lousy investments I really find this hard to believe without disclosing all investments. Most Singaporeans have become blur like sotong after all the nonsense reported in Temasek annual report, such as … the organisation weight profile.

Ahmad: Bro, you sure or not. Which fund manager so goondu report this kind of thing?

Ah Kow: If want to act clever, they might as well report which employee the grandmother born twins at 80 years old. Ha ha.

Arumugam: OK, look at this chart.

(Ahmad and Ah Kow laughed non stop for the next 10 minutes)

Arumugam: OK, we don’t have much time for today but we already know Temasek has many foreign investments deep deep underwater without oxygen. Like our DPM asked, what do you think?

Ahmad: My friend small time local stock market punter tell me if investment sala just close one eye, bite the apaitu, cut loss and try to make money from other investment. Don’t average on lousy position.

Ah Kow: I also hear this before something like golden ruler of trading right, Aru? But how come Temasek still buy when the stock become almost no value? This not ordinary penny stock but super penny stock like pock kai stock already.

Arumugam: You are both right. Temasek has painted itself into a corner. They never planned for such a scenario and cannot cut loss because their stake too big. If they start to cut loss, then stock will collapse. Even the news of their intention to cut loss will trigger smaller investors to exit at the same time.

Ah Kow: Hmm … now I understand why other good fund manager advise not to take very big position in one company. But too late for Temasek right? I mean for Singaporeans. 

Arumugam: Yes, it’s too late. But worse is Temasek never seems to learn any lesson from past mistakes at all. If it cut now, losses will be more than US$100 million. But if it cut later, even more money will be needed for this loss-making company. Why is Temasek 100% sure and keep injecting more money into Amyris? OK, I know you both must go back to work. We’ll catch up next week.

HDB flats have remained affordable

I refer to the article “New HDB flats have remained affordable: HDB” (Channel NewsAsia, Jan 3).

1st-timers pay less than a quarter of income on average? 

It states that “Overall, new HDB flats have remained affordable, the housing board said. In 2014, first-time home buyers used less than a quarter of their monthly income on average to pay for their housing loans, below international affordability benchmarks of 30 to 35 per cent, HDB said.

80% pay CPF, no cash?

It added that about 80 per cent of the first-time new flat buyers also service their monthly installment using only their CPF savings, with no cash outlay required.”

Can’t afford won’t buy?

This logic of affordability may be flawed because if you couldn’t afford it – you wouldn’t buy it in the first place.

Many pay more than a quarter of income?

As to “used less than a quarter of their monthly income on average” – may mean that many may have had enough CPF savings at the time of purchase to take out lower housing loans.

Also, “average” may mean that a lot of people may be paying more than a quarter of their income?

If this is the case – is it still arguably affordable?

Depleting CPF savings for retirement?

Even if you are paying a quarter of your income – plus up to 10.5 per cent (maximum contribution rate) for Medisave contribution – how much do you have left of your maximum 37 per cent CPF contribution, left as savings for your retirement (37 – 23 – 10.5 = 3.5%)?

Here’s what doesn’t sound quite right – if 80 per cent “ also service their monthly installment using only their CPF savings, with no cash outlay required” – and the maximum CPF contribution percentage to the Ordinary Account is 23 per cent for age 35 and below – how can it be at the same time that households “used less than a quarter of their monthly income on average to pay for their housing loans”?

Enough “CPF contribution” or “CPF savings”?

So, do these statements mean that we are talking about “CPF savings” to pay the monthly instalment and not “CPF contribution”?

If so, then arguably we may simply be saying that HDB is affordable (no cash outlay monthly) at the expense of depleting our accumulated CPF savings for retirement.

No 2nd-timer“affordability” statistics?

And why are we only giving the “affordability” statistics for first-timers, since many are not first-timers?

$1.9b housing grants last 9 years?

As to “To keep flats affordable for Singaporeans, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has disbursed S$1.6 billion in Additional CPF Housing Grants (AHG) to close to 83,000 households since 2006. It has also given out S$297.61 million in Special CPF Housing Grants (SHG) since 2011 to almost 20,000 households, as of November 2015.

Breakdown of statistics on actual grants given to households?

HDB gave this update in a media statement on Sunday (Jan 3). Eligible first-time buyers currently enjoy up to S$80,000 in housing grants, comprising the AHG of up to S$40,000 and the SHG, also up to S$40,000″– this works out to an average AHG of $19,307 ($1.6 billion divided by 82,873 households) and SHG of $15,229 ($297.61 million divided by 19,542 households).

With the average price of a 4-room BTO flat in Punggol in the November sales launch at $324,500 ($277,000 to $372,000) – the grants may in most cases be a very small percentage of the price.

BTOs price increase over the years?

The 4-room average price for PunggolBTOs in 2006/2007 was $213,500 ($173,000 to $254,000).

So, does it mean that the average price increased by more than 50 per cent ($324,500 divided by $213,500) in the last 8 years or so?

And of course – if you are not a first-timer – you may not qualify for the AHG and SHG.

If you are a “First-Timer and Second-Timer Couple Applicants” – for example if your household income is $3,501 to 3,750 – your total grant is only $7,500 (no grant for BTOs before November 2015).

For second-timers upgrading only from a 2-room to 3-room in a non-mature estate – the grant is $15,000.

Ratio of grants to price?

If we are given the ratio of the actual grants to price over the years – will it indicate that flats may be less “affordable”?

Reciprocate trust with more transparency?

LeongSzeHian

Dear Editors,

It come to my attention that lentor ambulance have an awesome team members who protract the professionalism of emergency services with patience, love, skill, tactfulness and knowledges.

My grandma who is old in age(74years old) come down with very high fever does not wish to admit to hospital.their 3 team members patiently coax my grandma who stubbornly refused to admit to hospital.They have never once lost their cool ,raised their voice or threatened this old folk.They coax her and explained to her like their own grandma to seek treatment the hospital for more than 40mins.

Eventually when my grandma agreed to seek treatment,they stretched my grandma out of her rental flat with extreme care to make sure that she is not hit by any of the junks.It is a small flat with full of junks around making it squeeze to manoeuvre out of the space available in stretches.

As attached is the 3 loving kind soul that any boss will want to have them. I would like to thank the Leading team leader Zaneta which show the most caring and patience. (The lady in the middle of the photo)

Please convey my utmost sincere heartfelt thanks to them.

Xiao Ming
A.S.S. Contributor

2 days ago, Joan Soon left a negative review of Crab in da bag on FB because she felt that the crab that was served to her was small and not worth the price.

Dear Editors,

Me and my husband went to one indian coffee shop last Thursday night to have some hotdrinks and snack. There were this one couple sitting next to us. The girl is a malay and the guy was a chinese boy.

And they were like doing public display of affection and they just dont care if people looking at them especially the girl like so itchy keep on I don't know also what she want to do..want to f***k go hotel lah don't show people it's so disgusting.

Aaliyah
A.S.S. Contributor

<Complaint by dingjer>

I have a stalker who has been calling me using all sorts of numbers. Today he called me using my residential landline number, giving me a nasty scare as I thought he had broken into my house. Later he called me using my father's mobile number. Lately he has always been calling me using numbers beginning with the first four digits of my own mobile number. It seems like he is using special software to manipulate his caller ID. My question is, is this illegal in Singapore? I'm trying to apply for a Personal Protection Order against him from the court, but this alone bugs me very much.

I found after some checking with my telcom that my stalker had called the telcom and impersonated me by misusing my full name and NRIC so he could get my new mobile number (to which I changed after experiencing up to 1,500 calls from him a day). Basically he called pretending to be me and asked for my new mobile number, and the telcom staff gave it to him. This was confirmed after the telcom staff helped me listen back to the call recordings.

I thought this would be serious. I made a police report about it, but my Investigation Officer hasn't been doing a lot about it except saying investigations take a long time. I wished the IO had looked at it as an impersonation case but because it originated from a harassment case, that's what they're seeing it as.

Basically my stalker is my ex-boyfriend. We broke up in May last year, and till today he still wants to be friends with me. I've tried to get along with him but he eventually wants us to be more than friends, and I'm just uncomfortable with that. For the past few months I've been stalked by him outside my workplace, outside my house (my void deck and sometimes right at my doorstep), at places I frequent, at where I attend lessons, etc.

In an attempt to lighten things up my parents like to joke about him and call him our security guard - he's there every night right after he knocks off from work. When my neighbors have their doors closed, he would get bolder and sit right at my doorstep and peep through the gaps in our front door or eavesdrop.

I remember after discussing with my mom in the living room about getting the PPO against him, we realized he was peeping at our doorstep, so I opened the door and filmed him for evidence. He got up from a kneeling position at my doorstep and he went, "I heard you were going to [whatever I discussed with my mom]" and I was like wtf this guy is fucking insane gtfo.

He's uploaded photos of us kissing on Facebook and proceeded to add my relatives on Facebook. Yesterday when he called using my dad's number, he casually said he had lists of my mom's and dad's friends on Facebook and he could add them if he wants. When I asked him to remove those photos, he said he wouldn't listen to me unless I regard him as a friend first. WTF. Now I'm worried about facing my relatives during CNY fuck.

I don't know if this impersonation case alone should have warranted more attention. Failed gay relationship. Nowadays my mom puts my stalker and gay people in the same category and tells me to stay away from them. Learn from your lesson, she said. Be a normal person, she said.

Dear A.S.S Editor,

I have employed a filipina maid last december. She seemed nice and had worked for a family for 3 years before her employer just suddenly sacked her after an argument.

Anyway, I dont mind her not being too thorough in cleaning the flat. But what I noticed is that she is lazy. She initially will change towels, curtains and sheets after more than a month. She always have her nails long even if I already told her to cut it short. We also agreed that her curfew from day off is max 10pm but now she doesnt adhere to the agreement. Even if I already talked to her about it several times. She doesnt follow the rules I gave her when she first came to my home. She would even make me look stupid when I told her she didnt do the cleaning. She'd sometimes say that the vacuum might have splattered the dust. (SIGH!).

I pay her 550 SGD per month. She shares a room with my sister. She also has internet access. She has a HP, a tablet and a computer. Also, every day off, she says that she goes to disco at Orchard Tower or Bugis. But she also told me that she wants to find a boyfriend (indian) because they give her money.

Yes. This sounds like rants but I do not know how else to make her understand that she is a maid. She even cook my daughter's food for her own consumption.

I dont like to get into arguments or lecture her because after I do that she treats my daughter badly. My daughter always complains.

If you be kind to please give me your insights and thoughts. I am just getting tired of her excuses.

Mtrisha26

Hi Parents,

I will like to find out when you parents stop being naked in front of your kids.

My two boys are 5 and 8. I still allow them to see me naked while I am bathing or changing clothes.

The elder one though 8, does not seem to display any particular attention. I am always normal in front of them, and they don't pay seem to bother too.

The reason that I did not stop them is I don't feel the need to 'hide'. Wouldn't it make them feel more curious to know about mummy's body or maybe other girl's body in the future if I keep hiding from them. I tot maybe if they see it frequently, it will become 'nothing' in their eyes so their mind will not get too excited or curious about women's body when they grow up. I don't want my sons to grow up being to curious about sex and want them to treat it as a normal part of themselves.

I once overheard a boy of age about 7-8 yrs requesting his mum to let him go into the shower so that he can watch her bathe at a public pool. I was at the next cubicle bathing. The mum rejected him. I found it rather funny though. Son wanted to watch mum bathe and mum frantically refusing to let him watch.

While, I intend to stop when my boy shows sign of awkwardness or puberty.
Will it be too late? Are you parents ok with being naked in front of your kids?

Gooby

Dear ASS Editors,

Last week, something big happened at what is probably the biggest casual subforums in Singapore, EDMW. Sudden enforcing of strict rules and moderation by HWZ admin was met with strong resistance from users, some of whom have been using the site for almost two decades.

User started getting banned for a term they had always been using. Subsequently, moderators started sweeping the subforum and banning users indiscriminately lead by "Dragon", believed to be female. Even users who were toeing the line were caught in the cross-fire. A resistance from the users was hampered by pro-moderator forces known as "SaGu and friends". Reasons for the clamping down of terms is suspected to be top-down, with government-linked sponsors being the primary suspects. Other suggestions were post-election clamping down on voices of people to avoid suspicion, pro-PRC relationships, etc...

The tipping point occurred when a moderator taunted a user by using the term RCHJB "red card ho jiak bo?" when dishing out an infraction. Upset EDMWers began to find alternative avenues to voice their opinions, calling themselves "rebels", and SPH "the empire". Some EDMWers ran to "Petalbytes" forum, while others even started making alternative forums such as "EDMW Club" and "Longluntan EDMW". More drama was to follow as a proposed merger between the latter two failed to materialize, citing differences in direction. It is believed that EDMW Club favours improving the user experience while Longluntan EDMW prefers to allow NSFW pictures and things generally disallowed in the original EDMW.

In the midst of things, the rebels started deliberately posting sensitive content to get themselves banned on the original EDMW as a sign of defiance. Rebels also started to take action against EDMWers they believed to be supporting the Empire, by exposing personal information online. Things escalated to a point that even Dr Vijay, one of the most respected figures on EDMW had to step in to make a statement.

Things are still at a stalemate now and things are surely going to be interesting in the coming weeks.

A Typical Edmwer
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editors,

I met a great Singaporean SBS Bus Captain today. Fetched my lil princess from school today n suddenly it rained heavily. So no choice I had to take a bus home which is jus one bus stop away.

Board the bus n asked how much the fare will be for me n my lil princess for jus one stop. He replied" it's ok sir, u only going one stop n it's raining. No worries".

Got me all stunned I jus paid $2 n told him thank u. SBS 103, SBS6853S. @abt 1400hrs. Along yio chu kang rd.

BillyBoy
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editors,

The pap reported that Singapore's economy grew at 2.1% in 2015. But Singaporeans know that 2015 had been bad for businesses and Singaporeans. So how did pap comes out that SG's economy grew at 2.1%?We wait for the detailed results which will be announced in a few weeks time.

In the meantime, SGX drops more than 50 points today and China stopped trading for today at 1+pm when the index dropped 7%.

I foresee bad times for SG in 2016. Let us see how the pap will gloss through the figures this year.

Tracy Tan
A.S.S. Contributor

Survey on private universities’ degrees

I refer to the articles “Move to gauge worth of private degrees” and “Private schools hold own surveys” (Straits Times, Jan 4).

The former states that “But Mr Ng knows he is luckier than his peers. “I have friends who also went for a degree, but it made no difference to their work. It’s quite common and is partly why I didn’t pursue a degree earlier.”"

73% of SIM graduates found full-time jobs?

As to the latter article’s “Its (SIM) survey for the Class of 2014 noted that 73 per cent of its graduates had found full-time jobs within six months. It also reported an average gross monthly salary of $2,766 for graduates in full-time jobs.

The National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University reported a consolidated gross mean salary of $3,333 a month for the Class of 2014.

80% of public universities’ graduates found full-time jobs?

More than eight in 10 of their 10,126 graduates surveyed found full-time jobs within six months of their last exam.

Private universities giving more statistics?

The Singapore Institute of Technology reported a gross mean monthly salary of $3,010″– what may perhaps be interesting to note is that some of the private universities may be giving more statistics than the public universities.

30% earned less than $2,000?

For example – “At JCU, its survey of students who graduated at the end of 2013 and in 2014 found that more than seven in 10 were settled in jobswithin six months. About half had salaries of between $2,001 and $3,000, and about 30 per cent made less than $2,000 a month”.

30% unemployed?

Does this mean that about 30 per cent were unemployed?

More “public universities” statistics please?

So, what is the 30th percentile salary for the public universities? Also around $2,000 like JCU’s?

In respect of “MDIS did not provide the salary details of its graduates, but said that in 2014, about eight in 10 of its students had found full-time or part-time jobs six months after graduating” – does it mean that about 20 per cent were unemployed?

Part-timers and unemployed are forgotten?

Also, why are there no “public universities” statistics on the graduates who are working in “non-permanent” or part-time jobs (not in full-time permanent employment), or unemployed?

Economically active graduates declined by 5.4 per cent?

In this connection, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s Yearbook of Manpower Statistics 2015 –  the proportion of economically active graduates declined by 5.4 per cent from 94.5 per cent in 2007 to 89.1 per cent in 2014.

Full-time employed graduates dropped 7.1%?

Full-time permanently employed graduates also declined by 7.1 per cent from 89.8 per cent in 2007 to 82.7 per cent in 2014.

Real starting salary growth -9% last 7 years?

The median starting salary for graduates increased by only 16.4 per cent from $2,750 in 2007 to $3,200 in 2014. As inflation from 2007 to 2014 was 25.5 per cent – does it mean that the real starting salary growth was -9.1 per cent (25.5 – 16.4) over the seven years?

Only 6 in 10 poly graduates found full-time jobs?

Polytechnic graduates may even be worse off as full-time permanently employed polytechnic fresh graduates declined by a whopping 15.9 per cent from 75.3 per cent in 2007 to 59.4 per cent in 2014.

Huge influx of foreign workers?

To what extent has the huge influx of foreigners to an estimated non-Singaporean share of the total workforce to 48 per cent now, and our liberal foreign labour policies contributed to the above?

LeongSzeHian

Dear Editors

Tampines Street 11 is a short one Km road and had been turned upside down over the past 3 months. A central divider that is 4 times the width of normal road dividers had been constructed along the entire stretch of the road. Some parts of the divider has been deliberately constructed to zig zac along the way forcing drivers to sway left and right just to drive through it. Over and above all that 5 extremely high road humps have just been constructed over the past two weeks.

On enquiring as to why all these nonsensical road construction was done over the past three months, it was revealed that Tampines Street 11 is to be converted to a 'Silver Zone' and the road construction is deliberately done to slow down vehicular traffic to accommodate the many elderly folks living around this area.

However, the scholar engineers and planners at LTA have not foreseen that the road is now so narrow that even the buses have difficulty driving through the road (there is a sharp bend along one part of Tampines Street 11) and when a vehicle breaks down along the road, the entire road will be blocked up due to the dividers constructed in the single lane road. There was even an incident where the ambulance could not get through the road because of a bus that had stopped.

I wonder has anyone ever thought through all these issues. It is a good concept but an extremely bad execution.

It is not not a 'Silver Zone' but a 'Idiot Zone'. Wonder whose head will roll if there is a fire or medical emergency and the fire engines and ambulance could not get through the road to reach the site on time.

Chan (Tampines Resident)
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear ASS,

It is the first day of K2 kindergarten school.. I was in shock. How can K2 spelling become so difficult. The spelling look more like Primary 3 standard.

In my primary time, our spelling not so difficult. I feel now Singapore is trying too hard to be like US.

I know Society is Moving, but dun torture a k2 kid with such difficult spelling.

Jerlyn (Concerned Parent)
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear Editors,

This is one arrogant Ah Tiong PRC bus driver. I was at Tanglin Halt Close parking my car. This PRC bus driver drove up to me and told me to get out of the lot and allow him to park.

He claim this parking lot is he who own it because he buy the parking space. This is a car parking lot not a bus parking lot, who is he to tell me to move and let him park?

Chia J J
A.S.S. Contributor

Dear A.S.S,

My maid is always trying to stir things up at home, saying things that make me upset. She has been around for 8 years but I only noticed this over last one year. For example she knew I get very upset when I heard that my son misbehave and she is always telling me my son did not do his homework or everything stuff goes missing at home, she will say my son took them. There was a time when my son couldn't find his homework and she said it couldn't be found. Later I found it hidden in her bag and under her pillow.

I told my husband about it and he took her side saying I don't know how to teach my son and there is nothing wrong with her. He is always taking her side, shouting at me and scolding me whenever I found her with misdoings. When he did that, the maid will walk away smiling.

Last year when I celebrated his birthday for him, he insisted the maid joined us else he would forgo the celebration.

Even when she destroyed 2 of my husband Dior Homme shirts with iron and bleach, he just smiled and said next time don't do it again. Quite a number of my dresses were burnt when I told her to use steamer. Then when I wanted to throw away, she asked for them, said can send to the poor people in Philippines. I ignored her and threw them into the dustbin. I suspected she burnt my clothes on purpose cos the bursts were usually on edges that could be cut away if one is to shorten the dress.

Once I came home early and saw the maids down at void deck trying on clothes and exchanging clothes. My son told me our maid had taken some of my old discarded dresses that I left in store room to sell. I once saw her friend wearing my dress. I told my husband about it and he said I have no proof. That dress was bought from a US store not found in Singapore and I altered the dress neckline and parts of it to be unique.

Thank you for allowing me to rant. Whenever in brought up this issue, he would shout at me again. What should I do?

Namie

Dear A.S.S,

I boarded MRT at Yishun on 2 Jan 2016 about 730am. I am almost 6 months pregnant. This fat goon was seating on the reserved seat and did not offer his seat to me. I am not demanding that I should have the seat, as this is becoming so common but I feel sad that people are inconsiderate and unkind.

The seat in my case is crucial as I am having pregnancy complications (bleeding for 3months at least, at a threatened miscarriage, low lying placenta now so I do get pain in my belly with baby kicking low and standing too long will compromise my pregnancy. This is a baby after 14 years with 2 miscarriages in the past.

Of course this man or any will not know the story behind every pregnant women as each case is different and I honestly prefer to stand expect that I have to take a lot of caution now given my condition. We do not have the luxury to stay at home or take a cab every day to work. The whole row was filled up with young men who were "sleeping". This man in the reserved seat was not sleeping but looking around and only shuts his eyes a sec or two at times. I wish he knew what I was going through.

Though I am advised by doctors to bed rest, or at least not stand/walk too for long, we have no choice but to work to survive. My journey was about 35-40mins. I was already standing in front of him for about 20mins with my tummy obviously showing. This is not new, so I can’t expect much. But what shocked me was about 20mins later, a Chinese pregnant lady walked in and this guy immediately got up and gave her the seat! WITH?! Even kindness and consideration is race selective?!

P.S: I hope men can be gentle men too.

From, SG Indian mummy.