Transformational Budget - Too much Transformers?

Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has said this year’s Budget may be seen as "unexciting" to some Singaporeans, but it is nonetheless strategically important because it is a "transformational" Budget.

He said the aim of the Budget was to bring the economy to a higher level.

Mr Goh was speaking at a dialogue at his Marine Parade constituency on Monday.

Addressing an audience of grassroots leaders and residents, he said for incomes to go up, productivity needs to follow suit, including that of foreign workers.

Mr Goh said the government decided against giving out too many goodies as no recession is expected this year.

Furthermore, households will continue to get benefits from last year’s policies.

Mr Goh said: "When I read comments that the Budget has got nothing for me as a person, rather than a few of the allowances and so on, they are wrong. This Budget is for you. It is about how we can increase our productivity as a whole — you as a worker, the company as a production institution, the management as the people—in—charge.

"If we can transform the economy through the measures introduced in the Budget, the income we have today can continue to increase."

The dialogue saw Mr Goh and his panel, comprising MPs Lim Biow Chuan and Dr Fatimah Lateef, addressing a range of issues including tax incentives and more relief for those supporting the elderly or disabled family members.

Mr Goh was also asked how confident the government was in achieving its stated aim of annual productivity growth of 2 to 3 percent.

"At this stage I can’t say with full confidence that we can achieve 3 percent growth per year, but it’s a target which we want to aim at. If we don’t achieve it, well it’s bad but let’s say we double it from 1 to 2 percent. That’s an improvement. It means your income goes up, but much less than what we hope would be the case," he said.

Mr Goh said one Budget statement cannot tackle all issues at one time, and this year’s plan deals with the long—term.

But many of the issues are on the government’s radar screen, and details of initiatives will be released in Parliament.

Chingay is also for Gays?

It's party time at the F1 Pit Building, where the Chingay Parade is in full swing.

The second night of the parade kicked off on Saturday evening with special greetings from President SR Nathan and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Some 7,000 performers turned the streets into party land.

The street parade will be followed by Singapore's biggest street dance party.

Organised by the People's Association Youth Movement, it's a time for party lovers to take to the dance floor which stretches across 360 metres in front of the Pit Building.

Chingay 2010 was the first time the general public were allowed to march in the parade. Members of Singapore's LGBT community, Kim and Roy, formed the first gay contingent ever to participate in the Chingay procession.

They took part on the first day of the two-day event held at the Formula One grandstand and Singapore Flyer vicinity, on Friday, 19 Feb 10 at 8 pm.

This video shows the contingent members dressed entirely in pink and waving a rainbow flag while marching and dancing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBnuWzcRLJU

Plus... I have to endure that horrorible song...

Treasury of the World

TREASURY OF THE WORLD: JEWELLED ARTS OF INDIA IN THE AGE OF THE MUGHALS’, 11 FEBRUARY 2010, AT THE ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM

It is a major milestone in a long standing relationship between Kuwait and Singapore. Cross-cultural interactions have long been a part of Asia’s history. Merchants from Arabia, Persia and other parts of the Middle East came to Asia to trade spices, porcelain and silk. In fact, Kuwaitis were among the earliest from the Gulf region to travel to Southeast Asia and Singapore. During the 1880s – not long after the time of the Mughals – Kuwaiti traders set sail to Southeast Asia, and some eventually settled in Singapore and have lived here for many generations.

Today, our exchange is in ideas, business, innovation and, of course, culture. This exhibition of Treasury of the World would not have been possible without the generosity of Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah from the Kuwaiti royal family. In this exhibition, you will see not just magnificent artefacts, but the enthusiasm and personal involvement of the owners of these Mughal treasures.

Prataman meets Russian President DMITRY MEDVEDEV

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is on a State Visit to Singapore at the invitation of President S R Nathan from 15-16 November 2009. President Medvedev called on President Nathan and received a call by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Istana today. He was also hosted to a state banquet by President Nathan.

At the call on President Nathan, both leaders agreed that bilateral relations were warm and friendly. There was potential to strengthen relations even further, in areas such as increasing people-to-people relations. To give impetus to bilateral relations, the leaders discussed the establishment of an Inter-Governmental Commission which would be co-chaired at a high level. The Inter-Governmental Commission is expected to explore and promote broad-based cooperation in a variety of fields. President Nathan and President Medvedev also discussed the outcome of the recently-concluded APEC Economic Leaders Summit.

At the call by Minister Mentor Lee, both leaders had a good discussion on international and regional issues. President Medvedev also conferred an Order of Friendship award on Minister Mentor Lee for “outstanding contribution to the development of Russia-Singapore relationship”.

He also meet Pinkie and Lau Goh.

Singapore receives Panda gift from China

SINGAPORE is getting a pair of black and white furry envoys from China to mark the milestone of 20 years of diplomatic relations.

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao announced on Wednesday at an Istana state banquet that a pair of giant pandas will be delivered to Singapore, as he expressed confidence that Singapore-Sino relations will reach 'a new high'.

The endangered creatures, which China rarely sends overseas, will arrive here in 2011 and Chinese diplomacy experts believe it is a sign of deepening friendship between the two nations.
'It reflects the importance of Singapore in China's foreign policy. Beijing does not send out pandas lightly,' said international relations analyst Shi Yinhong of Renmin University.

Singapore joins an exclusive club of overseas panda hosts, becoming only the seventh country since 1994 to receive the black and white creatures from China.

The pair of pandas, a one-year-old female and a two-year-old male, are from the Wolong panda reserve in China's south-western Sichuan province.

SCHOLARS: Our Future, the rock and the light of Singapore

1 This year marks the 44th year of our independence. We are a young nation state, with less than half a century of existence as an independent nation. Over that short period, our people have built a modern nation where many opportunities are available to those willing to work hard. Singapore is also a home where people of many races and religions live together in harmony and look forward to a better future for themselves and their families.

2 Life has not always been like this. As a young nation, we had our fair share of tumultuous years – grappling with racial tensions, security threats and economic downturns. We overcame each and every crisis by staying united as a nation. It is during such difficult times that we demonstrated our resilience, adaptability and indomitable spirit.

3 The achievements and successes we celebrate today are also the result of the vision the founding leaders had for the nation, their courage in implementing changes and their passion in serving their fellow citizens.

4 We will continue to need visionary, brave and passionate leaders with the ability and the heart to build a successful and vibrant Singapore. That is the key purpose behind the award of the President’s Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the country. They are given to this year’s most outstanding young men and women from our schools. The award recipients are talented and passionate individuals who have excelled in both academic and non-academic achievements. They have also distinguished themselves as top students in their cohort through their leadership qualities, sound character and a commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

5 Selecting President’s Scholars is a highly rigorous process. Headed by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, the President’s Scholarship Selection Board this year interviewed 15 talented and outstanding young men and women. From this year, all candidates being considered for the President’s Scholarships would be put through an Assessment Centre, where they would go through a series of exercises that presented challenges and scenarios related to public service work. The Assessment Centre exercises provided the Selection Board with a better all-rounded perspective of the candidates and added further rigour to the selection process for President’s Scholars.

6 I am happy to announce that this year, the President’s Scholarships are conferred on six outstanding young men and women. They are Miss Gan Su Yi, Miss Claire Soon Jing Min, Miss Tan Bao Jia, Mr Jonathan Au Yong Kok Kong, Mr Nicolas Tay Weizhe and Mr Alexander Joseph Woon Wei-Ming. Miss Gan will be reading Economics at University College London. Miss Soon will head for Oxford University to read History and join the Foreign Service when she returns. A PSC China Scholar, Miss Tan will be reading Economics at Peking University. Mr Au Yong, who is a concurrent holder of the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship, will be reading Ethics, Politics and Economics at Yale University. Mr Tay, a Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholar, will be reading International Relations and History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mr Woon, who will be reading Law at Cambridge University, will join the Legal Service after he returns. This year’s batch of six President’s Scholars are a good mix of male and female scholars and going to a good spread of universities in the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the United States.

7 The President’s Scholarship demands a commitment from you to serve your nation and fellow citizens, regardless of race, religion or socio-economic background. When you are abroad, bear in mind that you represent Singapore. Continue to do us proud by excelling not just in your studies but in engaging yourselves in university and community life, helping the less able and less fortunate.

8 Broaden your horizons by seizing all opportunities to learn new things about the world and about yourself. By staying in touch with community life and engaging in community work overseas, you will continue to acquire knowledge about, and empathy for, the concerns of ordinary people – something you will need when you return home to serve your fellow Singaporeans as public servants.

9 I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the families, principals and teachers of our President’s Scholars. The achievements of the Scholars today bear testimony to the good work you have done in their lives, in nurturing them to be who and what they are.

10 Once again, my congratulations to Miss Gan Su Yi, Miss Claire Soon, Miss Tan Bao Jia, Mr Jonathan Au Yong, Mr Nicolas Tay and Mr Alexander Woon. I am sure all of you will do Singapore proud by being good ambassadors of Singapore and by living up to the hopes and expectations we have placed on you. I wish you success in your studies and look forward to you serving with distinction in your careers with the Singapore Public Service.

10 challenges for Singapore

IN A National Day dinner speech yesterday, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong listed 10 challenges arising from Singapore's success, and which the next generation will have to face:

1 Maintaining high rates of economic growth
Singapore's economy has grown from $2 billion 50 years ago to $250 billion.
Mr Goh warned: "Just remember, the world is a very competitive place and our economy has matured."

2 Improving living standards which are already high
More than 90 per cent of Singaporeans own their homes, which are equipped with electricity and modern sanitation facilities.
This is an improvement by leaps and bounds over the housing situation 50 years ago, when thousands of Singaporeans lived in slums and squalor.

3 Providing better transport at affordable prices
Students now travel in air-conditioned cars, buses or trains, unlike in the past.
In the future, the Government would have to satisfy people's higher expectations of comfort, convenience and congestion-free travel along with providing affordable fares, Mr Goh said.

4 Stamping out diseases of affluence at affordable health-care rates
People live longer now and more develop diseases linked to an affluent lifestyle, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure, instead of infectious diseases.
Such illnesses are also more expensive to treat, said Mr Goh.

5 Helping to keep workers employed till age 75
In 50 years, Singaporeans' life expectancy has risen from 60 to 80 years of age, and the retirement age has been raised from 55 to 62.
With advances in health care, life expectancy will probably increase to 90 years in the future and people would have to work till the age of 75 to have enough savings "for a cosy retirement of 15 years", Mr Goh said.

The challenge would be to motivate and train older people to continue working, he said.

6 Getting young people to marry and have children
Development has led to a plunge in birth rates here.
Fewer women are getting married, and those who do are giving birth to fewer babies.

7 Supporting an ageing population
This will be a problem as an increasing number of old people will live longer, while fewer young people will be around to work and support them, Mr Goh said.
Now, 9 per cent of the population is aged above 65. By 2030, this will double to 20 per cent.

8 Getting more land
In the last 50 years, Singapore's land area has expanded by more than 20 per cent through reclamation.
As the population and economy continue to grow, more land would be needed, and its use balanced between the economy, housing and recreation.

9 Preventing a brain drain
Hundreds of students go overseas to study and more are not returning home.
Singapore needs to find ways to bond them to Singapore, so that most will return home and contribute, Mr Goh said.

10 Keeping a multi-religious society cohesive
Singaporeans are getting more religious, Mr Goh noted.
They have to guard against forming religious enclaves and mix with those of other faiths to prevent society from becoming divided, he said.

To work till 75... poor Sinkies...

9 NMP names submitted

TWO creative industry leaders and a former national swimmer are among the nine names submitted by a Special Select Committee of Parliament for appointment by the President as Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs).

They are three-time Sportswoman of the Year Joscelin Yeo, 30, fashion and media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng, 33, and arts manager Audrey Wong, 41.

The others who have been nominated for appointment later this month are Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) president Teo Siong Seng, 54, consultancy firm boss Viswa Sadasivan, 49, labour unionist Terry Lee, 57, academic Paulin Tay Straughan, 46, Gerontological Society immediate past president Laurence Wee, 63, and Ernst & Young Advisory managing director Mildred Tan-Sim Beng Mei, 50.

They were whittled down from a list of 46 candidates nominated by different fields and professions as well as members of the public. Three of these names, said the committee, were ineligible as they did not meet the criteria of persons who have rendered distinguished public service, brought honour to Singapore, or distinguished themselves in their fields.

Their selection also means that two current NMPs seeking a second term, lawyer Siew Kum Hong, 34, and PricewaterhouseCoopers executive chairman Gautam Banerjee, 54, were not successful. The term of service of the current nine NMPs will expire on Friday, July 17.

The new NMPs will receive their instruments of appointment from the President at the Istana on July16, followed by a briefing in Parliament the next day. They will then take their oaths of allegiance in Parliament on July20, which is when Parliament next sits.

The eight-member select committee of MPs, chaired by Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, announced the line-up in a report to Parliament on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by The Straits Times. On appointment by President SR Nathan, the nine will serve a 21/2-year term.

They told The Straits Times they intend to raise a diverse range of issues in Parliament, ranging from those concerning families and the elderly, to the problems facing small- and medium-sized enterprises. Issues relating to culture, identity and how to keep youths engaged are also likely to take centre stage.

NMPs were first introduced in 1990, to give neutral, non-partisan feedback on issues. In July 1997, the Constitution was changed to allow the maximum number of NMPs to be raised from six to nine.

Six functional groups, as well as members of the public, are invited to put up candidates for NMPs. The six are: business and industry; the professions; the labour movement; social and community organisations; the media, arts and sports; and tertiary education institutions.