Monday, May 12, 2025
30.3 C
Singapore
type here...
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 5201

Will Raising CPF Contribution Rates For the Elderly Really Make It Easier For Them to “Retire?”

The Independent
-
0
Will Raising CPF Contribution Rates For the Elderly Really Make It Easier For Them to “Retire?”
4082108865_cbb500f220_b

The superficial answer to that question would be “yes.” But the truthful answer is well… you don’t need to me say it right? Recently, the Labor Movement, otherwise known as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), brought up the issue of raising the Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions from 32.5 percent to 36 percent for workers above 50 to 55.

 

Right after we wrote about the top complaints Singaporeans had with their CPF account, NTUC coincidentally mooted the above proposal. There’s no confirmation as to who will pick up the tab on these contributions, but it’s looking like employers will shoulder most, if not all of the increase. Of course, that makes business owners nervous about their bottom line when it comes to hiring more elderly employees.

I completely agree that CPF contribution rates should be raised for elderly Singaporeans. But I think the Labor Movement’s proposal leaves out one VERY important group – Singaporeans past the age of 55 who are still working well into their “retirement” years.

What Does a Growing Elderly Workforce Say About CPF and Retirement?

While a contribution increase is a step in the right direction towards helping elderly Singaporeans achieve that illusive dream called “retirement,” it also brings up a troubling question – why has the number of Singaporeans working beyond the age of 65 doubled over the last 10 years according to Ministry of Manpower (MOM) statistics?

Take a moment to ponder the following data on the percentage of elderly Singaporeans still working well past the age 55:

Labor Force Participation Rate (Percentage) – By Age From 2003-2013
Age 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013
55-59 57.5 63.5 66.0 68.4 70.2 73.2
60-64 34.2 43.9 46.7 50.6 54.7 59.7
65-69 19.5 25.3 26.6 29.9 36.2 40.2

I’d like to think that the growing number of Singaporeans working past the age of 65 is because they enjoy their jobs and want to be active.

But my instincts tell me that many Singaporeans working past the drawdown age do so because they have to, not because they want to – but I could be wrong.

Either way, it’s hard to dispute the fact that more and more elderly Singaporeans have to keep working well past 55, which makes me think that MAYBE contributions should be extended to them too. After all, there’s a HUGE difference in CPF contributions from age 55 to 65+. I don’t know about you, but I think they should have their CPF contributions raised as well. What do you think?

For those of you not familiar with their contribution rates (Total Contribution), here they are:

  • Age 50-55: 32.5% (NTUC is proposing it be raised to 36%)
  • Age 55-60: 23.5%
  • Age 60-65: 14.5%
  • Age 65+: 11.5%

The reality is that many elderly Singaporeans reaching 55 are finding out too late that they don’t have enough to retire on. Unfortunately, if you don’t reach the 148K current minimum balance, all you get is 5K, a pat on the back, and a “come back in 7 to 10 years for the rest” response.

So maybe the “real” retirement age for Singaporeans should be 75 instead of 65, because that’s the portrait the statistics above are starting to paint. It breaks my heart to say this, but for the elderly Singaporeans who are already going through this situation, it’s really too late to start saving. A CPF contribution hike might ease the cost of living a bit, but it’s not a cure.

But for those of you still lucky enough to have the benefit of youth, you owe it to yourself to get up to speed on what you need to do to ensure you’re in a prime position to actually have the choice of working during your latter days.

Knowledge Is Your Best Weapon for Avoiding the Pitfalls of CPF

CPF, which is jokingly referred to as the “Coffin Protection Fund” by some, has never been an easy system to understand. That fact should trouble you – because it’s probably the most important scheme that you’re pumping money into (20% of your salary until age 50).

Yet, the reality is that most of us know very little about it, especially when it comes to the retirement aspects of the system. Then again, CPF is so complex – it makes Inception and Memento look like Sesame Street by comparison. No wonder people are frustrated with the system!

But I’ll tell you this, as painful as it is, you MUST make an effort to learn more about it. I’m not saying you need to read every insufferably complex page on CPF’s website – that’s Guantamo-like torture.

The best way to learn about your current CPF situation and plan for your future is to:

  • Make an e-appointment with a CPF customer service executive so they can help you make sense of your current CPF situation.
  • Attend CPF seminars on components like buying home, healthcare, etc. Bookmark the CPF Events page on your web browser!

So fill up EVERY appointment slot and FILL those auditoriums people, because the time to ask questions is NOW, not 20 or 30 years from now.

Of course, at MoneySmart, we’ll continue to inform you of the last happenings on not just CPF, but on everything personal finance-related! Follow us on Facebook to stay informed!

At MoneySmart, we have two questions for our readers:

  • Will raising the CPF contributions by employers for elderly employees up to age 65 make “retirement” an easier dream to attain?
  • If you’re at retirement age (65 or older), are you still working because you WANT to, or because you NEED to?

Share your thoughts with us on here!

Image Credits:
tallkev

Happy Valentine’s Day to the men of Singapore

The Independent
-
0
Happy Valentine’s Day to the men of Singapore

Dear men of Singapore,

I do not know all of you but I am dating one of you. I am fortunate to be with a man who has an opinion and does not falter when I attempt to bully him into agreeing with me in an argument. He is always clear with his own beliefs and I respect that quality in him. I admit that it feels terribly lonely when the person closest to you does not share your opinion, but it is also terribly satisfying to see your partner stand up for his views.

Truth be told, I have not met many of you. Those who won’t apologise  for the sake of keeping the peace in a relationship. And those who refuse to buy a girl gifts just because she demands them.

I have met men who refuse to say, “anything lah” to questions a girl asks. Whether it is where to eat, where to go or how they feel, they are always vocal and honest about themselves.

A month ago, I was walking down Orchard Road and I met one of you. He was about 18 years old and a complete stranger. He walked up to me and struck up a conversation. I could tell he was nervous but he talked to me for half an hour without missing a beat. I asked him why he talked to me, he said: “I want to get out of my comfort zone.”

I love the fact he was brave even though he was afraid. There is nothing corny about walking up to a girl in broad daylight for a chat. It shows confidence. It shows that you are not the type who will run away when circumstances throw you out of your comfort zone.

So dear men, I do not care how many times you have been rejected by a girl. I do not care how many people have called you a wuss. I have seen some of you stand up for yourselves. Just because the current trend of the media is to empower women, it does not mean men should be disempowered by the truckloads of  women masquerading as feminists.

Be brave, stand out. We women love a man with a backbone. Happy Valentine’s Day!

(Please feel free to to speak your mind in reply.)

MAS Offers Exemptions From TDSR – First Step In Preventing a Home Loan Debt Bubble?

The Independent
-
0
MAS Offers Exemptions From TDSR – First Step In Preventing a Home Loan Debt Bubble?
7052815643_04fcf6ea10_b

Yesterday’s announcement by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) that it would exempt owner-occupiers of residential properties from the current TDSR rules was an interesting move – especially when you consider how quick MAS moved to contest a Forbes article about a potential housing debt and credit bubble in Singapore.

Maybe the move wasn’t spurned by numerous international media outlets saying the same thing. Maybe it wasn’t the statistical fact that Singaporeans have the one of the highest levels of household debt in Asia, with 75% of that debt coming from home loans.

Maybe the latest MAS exemption was an “I meant to do that” moment, or maybe it’s just the first step in preventing a major housing bubble in Singapore.

Regardless of the rationale for the change, MAS has loosened the TDSR noose around the necks of Singaporean property owners with the following exemptions:

Owner-Occupiers Can Refinance Their Residential Property Loans

If you purchased your home before the latest TDSR rules went into effect on 29 June 2013, MAS will exempt you from the current TDSR restriction so you can refinance your home loan – but only if you’re occupying the home that you’re refinancing.

If you’re unfamiliar with TDSR and exactly how it affects your home purchase, read our Editor’s insightful article “Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) and How It Affects Your Loans.”

MAS makes it clear that if you’re an owner-occupying trying to refinance, you’ll get the following exemptions:

  • The Mortgage Servicing Ration (MSR) won’t apply to you if you’re refinancing a home loan for an HDB flat or an Executive Condominium (EC) ONLY if you purchased the HDB flat before 12 January 2013 or 10 December 2013 for ECs (MSR implementation dates).
  • If your purchased your residential property before the current loan tenure limits (30 years for HDB/35 years for all other residential properties) were implemented on 28 August 2013 for HDB flats and 6 October 2012 for all other residential properties, you’ll be able to maintain your current loan tenor even if it exceeds the current tenure limits.

Borrowers Can Refinance Their Investment Property Loans

Owner-occupiers of residential properties are the focus of the latest TDSR exemption, but perhaps the ones in even more danger are the overleveraged property investors. MAS maintains that the 60% TDSR limit continues to apply to refinancing of all investment properties.

But… despite that proclamation, MAS says that it understands that some property investors need a little breathing room to “right-size” their debt obligations.

In other words, if you’re a property investor who’s an interest rate hike away from having a Fukushima-like financial meltdown, this exemption is for you:

  • MAS will give you until 30 June 2017 to refinance your investment property loans above the 60% TDSR limit under the condition that you:
    • A) must have purchased the investment property before 29 June 2013,
    • B) commit to a debt reduction plan with the bank you’re refinancing with; and
    • C) you fulfill your bank’s credit assessment.

If You’re Going to Refinance – Do It Now!

There’s no question about whether interest rates will go up. There’s only the question of when it’ll happen. Once the U.S. starts letting up on its Quantitative Easing (QE) and interest rates starts rising, it’s the overleveraged Singaporeans who will be the first to go under once the tsunami hits.

So what MAS just did was give you an early warning if you’re too close to the beach (over-leveraged). Right now you still have time to get to financial safety. So if you’re going to refinance, do it now. Thankfully, the home loan experts at Smartloans.sg can help you refinance with the best interest rate available free of charge.

Do you think the new MAS TDSR exemption is the first step towards preventing a “bubble” burst? Share your experience on Facebook! And to find even more useful information on everything personal finance, visit MoneySmart today!

Image Credits:
cain2143

CASE and that cup of kopi

The Independent
-
0
CASE and that cup of kopi

By Tan Bah Bah

Unlike for public transport, price rises for a cup of kopi may not necessarily provoke a protest rally at Hong Lim. But they add up to the overall sense of helplessness of Singapore consumers in the face of sometimes arbitrary price hikes. And the organisation that is supposed to be at the vanguard of looking after their interests does not seem to be all that effective or even keen to be there.

In fact, the Consumers Association of Singapore was useful during the collapse of Five-Stars Tours only to the extent that it “helped” those affected file Small Claims Tribunal and insurance claims.  It received about 600 complaints, though 6,000 consumers were hit by the closure of the company.

It was a pretty major letdown, as Five Stars Tours was a popular Malaysian tourist bus company. CASE could have done more. The consumer body has been around since 1971. Forty three years of existence and all it could do was offer clerical assistance.

Now take the hikes in the prices of coffee sold in the kopitiams (coffeeshops) and hawker centre stalls.

There is a distinction between the hawker stalls and coffeeshops.

From what I understand, most of the coffee stalls within the hawker centres stalls in the heartlands continue to be rent-controlled. This is part of the government’s ways of keeping a lid on the cost of living.  Also, inflation can be reined in.

You can still get a cup of coffee at these stalls for 60 cents to 80 cents a cup, if you know where these stalls are, and for coffee whose quality is in no way inferior to that in the modern shopping malls.

Step away from these stalls and patronise the coffeeshops and the story is very different. Just not that long ago, you could still get a cup at 80 or 90 cents. Some foodcourt drinks kiosks are reasonable, given the cleanliess and comfort of the surrounding  – $1.20 a cup but some have become clearly exploitative. One popular chain charges $1.80 for coffee black.

The real gripe is with the coffeeshops.

One can still justify paying a certain amount of money for the convenience and environment of a foodcourt inside an air-conditioned shopping mall.

Many of these foodcourts are in malls next to MRT stations or even a bus hub.  You cannot complain. The rent is high.

And so long as there are the heartland stalls around, you have a choice of skipping these mall kiosks for the sip-and-run-territory of the ah sohs and uncles.

So far the heartland stalls are our frontline weapons in our battle against inflation and profiteering. You can have a fair meal and excellenet coffee without busting the ATM.

But the moment the other ubiquitous coffeeshops abandon their common man roots and adopt a free-for-all grab-every-cent approach, there might be a fightback by consumers.

Sometime back in the 1980s, taxi fares were jacked up arbirarily to “secure” a better lifelihood for taxi-drivers. First, the taxi-drivers suffered a massive drop in business. Second, many commuters decided to boycott taxis. They found that taking buses was so much cheaper and a large number did not return. The boycott became permanent.

A number of coffeeshops took advantage of the Chinese New Year to increase the prices of their coffee by 10 to 20 cents a cup which they will keep and not reverse. It looks like the seasonal cartel has raised its ugly head again.

CASE cannot forever hide behind its neutral-and-not-hostile-to-business stance. Time to go beyond testing and filing claims and be more activist on behalf of the rights and expectations of Singapore consumers.

For a start, it might want to draw up a list of coffeshops and stalls which have maintained and not increased their coffee prices. And publicise this list for all to read.

CASE should act more like a consumers’ lobby movement rather than a consumers’ mini kindergarten.

SIA passenger fed up with food service

The Independent
-
0
SIA passenger fed up with food service

A postgraduate scholar, 28, found herself entangled with Singapore Airlines about the food she ate on board an eight-and-a-half hour flight from Brisbane to Singapore for a transit to Mumbai last December 13.

Komal Patil, an Indian national residing in New Zealand claimed that she suffered diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps after she had her inflight meal of omelet, sausages and chicken noodle. She said she was told there was no medical provision available for her condition on the flight. Upon landing, she tried to make her way to a nearby clinic and she said she received no assistance from the ground staff.

“After walking for half-an-hour I collapsed near the clinic and learned the clinic was closed. The airport staff attended me ten minutes later and a doctor could only attend to me 15 minutes later. I had to pay S$98.70 to the private clinic,” she said.

When she made her way back to Brisbane (a transit flight from Mumbai to Singapore) on January 12 this year, she was further angered when she was served “non-heated buns” with no cutlery.

“I was humiliated,” she said.

When she asked for a cup of coffee, she said the attendant forced a whole meal tray on her table.

“If you do not eat, then keep it or I have to walk some steps to get another tray,” she recalled the attendant’s words.

“I had the option of flying with other cheaper airlines. I payed extra dollars just to have a comfortable and safe flight. But Singapore Airlines has provided me unacceptable service, contaminated food filled with lots of humiliation and mental trauma,” she said.

Komal has filed two complaints to Singapore Airlines but was told in the reports that the food she ate met “microbiological standards” and “no other passengers were poisoned.”

The report also noted that no crew or ground staff was aware or raised a report or request for assistance on ground when Komal was looking for a clinic at the airport.

Singapore Airlines did not comment.

What happened to your wish, Ser Luck?

The Independent
-
0
What happened to your wish, Ser Luck?

By Michael Y.P. Ang

What happened to all that chatter about the Government’s wish to have Singaporean representation at the Winter Olympic Games? Are the Republic’s winter dreams on track or on ice?

The Government’s winter wish was revealed by Teo Ser Luck (above) four years ago while the Winter Olympiad was taking place in Vancouver, Canada. Ser Luck was then the Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the now-defunct Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) had much to say then, even claiming that “it may be possible to have Singapore represented at the 2014 Winter Olympics”. So why are the authorities now so quiet about their winter quest?

The SSC said in 2010 that it was “in the initial stages of looking into the feasibility of supporting athletes to qualify for the Winter Olympics” and that “given the dynamics of Asian body structure, some of the plausible winter sports in which our athletes would be suitable for include speed skating and snowboarding.”

However, despite repeated attempts by The Independent to obtain a progress update, the SSC has chosen to remain silent, without even a response to indicate it had no comment.

Before sceptics jump to the conclusion that the Government’s Winter Olympic plans are merely wishful thinking, other possible explanations should be considered.

Perhaps the SSC’s media relations officers are preoccupied with relating to the mainstream media. Or maybe the SSC, even after four long years, still needs more time to work out its plans. Or could there be a red carpet secretly in the works, to welcome foreign-born winter athletes holding brand-new pink ICs?

Winter sporting landscape not completely bleak

Whatever the case may be, Singapore’s winter sporting landscape is not totally bleak. Lucas Ng provided a spark in 2011, becoming the first Singaporean to compete at a winter games, skating against the continent’s fastest in Short Track Speed Skating at the Asian Winter Games in Kazakhstan.

However, the odds of 25-year-old Lucas reaching a future Olympiad are not in his favour, especially considering the Olympic odyssey of speed-skater Barton Lui. The 20-year-old, currently competing at the Sochi Games, is the first Hong Kong man to qualify for the Winter Olympics.

Lui first engaged in the sport when he was only 10, and moved to Vancouver in his early teens in order to obtain world-class coaching expertise, before putting his studies on hold at age 16 to relocate to China to train full-time.

Lucas, on the other hand, picked up the sport at the ripe old age of 22. However, even if Lucas fails to reach the Olympics in the future, his 2011 trailblazing effort in Kazakhstan and ongoing participation in international competition, hopefully, will inspire young speed skaters to seek Olympic excellence.

Watch out for curling

Even without Singaporean Olympians in speed skating, figure skating, and snowboarding, all is not lost. The sport of curling appears to be shining a ray hope on Singapore’s winter quest.

Remember the Football Association of Singapore’s “GOAL 2010” dream of the Lions qualifying for the 2010 World Cup Finals, or the Singapore Ice Hockey Association’s claim in 2010 that Singapore could qualify for future Olympics?

Unlike football or ice hockey, curling falls within the category of ‘realistic’. The Singapore Curling Academy (SCA) seeks to popularise its sport nationwide, partly by promoting curling through the SSC’s upcoming five Super Sports Clubs.

Whether the SSC will allow the SCA to work at its super clubs remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. The latter’s optimism for developing Singaporean curlers to compete in the 2017 qualifiers for the next Winter Olympics makes much sense.

SCA’s head of business development, Dalon Goh, said: “Singapore has done well in bowling and recently, in kayaking and archery during the SEA Games. These sports depend on an individual player’s technical skill in delivery, strategy, and will power during competition. Curling is similar. There is no disadvantage for athletes with a smaller build.”

The SCA has already secured commitments from two overseas curling clubs to provide professional coaching expertise. The foreign clubs will either have Singaporean curlers at their location for training or send coaches to Singapore to conduct a training camp.

While it is too early to talk about qualifying for Olympic curling, developing talented curlers to participate in Olympic qualifiers will be a crucial first step as Singapore presses on with its Winter Olympic quest.

Your HDB Flat Is No Longer the Asset You Think It Is

The Independent
-
0
Your HDB Flat Is No Longer the Asset You Think It Is

Since 2008, HDB flat owners have been enjoying steadily rising resale and Cash-over-Valuation (COV) prices. To look at a graph of the rise and fall of resale prices is to be reminded of the tracks of a roller coaster. No, I’m not talking about some “kiddie coaster” like the Shrek ride at Universal Studios Singapore – I’m talking about one of those coasters with a huge incline that’s both terrifying and exhilarating to ride on.

That was until the second quarter of 2013, when resale values suddenly began to fall rapidly. That’s the bad thing about roller coasters. Once you reach the peak, you’re left with is a horrifying drop that you can’t avoid – all you can do is go along for the ride.

Why You Shouldn’t Get Your Hopes Up About Using Your HDB Flat as an Asset

“Big deal, prices rise and fall, that’s completely normal!” some say. Surely we’ll eventually see prices rise up again so we can ride the roller coaster once more right? Well, not exactly. In the past, you could have expected prices to go up and down according to the market.

But things are different now, because of government intervention.

The reality is that government intervention is what’s keeping HDB property prices from becoming even more unaffordable than they already are. Think about it – according to the HDB resale price index, the value of resale flats increased by over 175% from Q1 1992 to Q1 2013!

That was until the government took the following actions:

Long story short – after releasing 8 rounds of cooling measures and a deluge of BTO flats, MAS finally brought down skyrocketing HDB resale prices in 2013 the same way a .450 Nitro Express bullet brings down a charging rhino.

The proof can be seen in falling resale flat prices, which dropped almost 2% in the second half of 2013 and is expected to decrease by as much as 10%. Also, the median COV price has dropped by over 85% over the last 4 years, and continues to drop.

What Can You Expect In The Future?

In trying to make property “more affordable” for the average Singaporean, the government also created a painful Catch-22 situation for HDB flat owners. That situation is this – HDB owners now have to start dealing with the reality that their flat is no longer an asset; now it’s just public housing, with a value that’s no longer controlled by the market, but the government.

Changing the perception of HDB flats from a money making asset to a living space that you and your descendents can inhabit for 99 years will be a painful process. But the reality comes down to these important points:

  • HDB flats started out as “affordable public housing,” in the 1960s, turned into VERY profitable asset over the span of a few decades, and now the government wants to make them “affordable” again.
  • You don’t own your HDB flat, you’re only leasing it.
  • Your flat’s value ultimately becomes $0 at the end of your 99-year lease, because HDB flats will return to their true owner – HDB.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Worker’s Party MP Gerald Giam learned that tough truth from the Minister of National Development in an interview posted on his blog.

Sure, you’ll have outliers like the $1 Million dollar Bishan flat, but for the most part, HDB flats will rise and fall based off the government periodically tightening home buying restrictions when values go too high, and loosening them so resale values can go up. Almost sounds like a form of torture doesn’t it?

Do you think HDB flats should stay an asset, or do you think the government cooling measures were needed to make public housing more affordable for the next generation of Singaporeans? Share your experience on Facebook! And to find even more useful information on everything personal finance, visit MoneySmart today!

Image Credits:
TZA

Dating is not rocket science

The Independent
-
0
Dating is not rocket science

“How do you get a woman to say YES to a date?” It is the first thing one of my male friends asks me when I tell him to ask his crush out to the movies.

It is meant to be a casual outing between a 30-year-old man and a woman in her 20s to the cinema to catch the latest blockbuster on the big screen, but he was hesitant. “I don’t think she’ll ever say yes,” he says. “I don’t think she even likes me…she won’t tell me what’s on her mind. I’d rather she asks me out.”

In today’s world, men are as timid as mice. It takes a courageous woman to ask him out to the movies. And no, this is not some scene out of Bridget Jones’ Mad About That Boy where a woman pursues a man of her desires.

This is the true story of a Singaporean man who lacks the confidence and luck to ask the woman he fancies out to the movies.

For Michael*, 30, asking a woman out is already a challenge. Despite being well-educated, he has been rejected on many occasions by women from all walks of life.

Struggling to get a Singaporean girlfriend for the last five years, he finds it frustrating, sometimes baffling, as to why he gets rejected. Although his parents are fine with him remaining single and living with them for the rest of his life, Michael admits that he longs to get a girlfriend, settle down and move out of his parents’ home.

“My ideal partner would be someone who is pleasant-looking, easy-going, intelligent and independent,” says Michael with a smile. “Someone I can have a conversation with for life.”

Singapore does not lack independent and intelligent women. And the good news to all Michaels out there: it is possible to date a woman even if you have failed a million times. But first of all, you must be confident of who you are as a man.

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. The very first thing you should do is to ask her out for either a meal or movie over the phone. Don’t worry about how she thinks of you. Your aim is to ask her out in a smart, polite and casual manner. And don’t rush your words or inject too many “errs..” in what you say. You will sound reckless and silly.

And don’t worry about her turning you down. Nobody dies from being rejected. If she turns you down, politely ask her when will she be free to meet up. Here’s a useful tip: to increase the chances of her saying “Okay,” “Sure,” or “All right”, opt to watch the latest blockbuster in town.

If she absolutely has no issues with you asking her out on a date, do not talk about the way she looks when you meet up with her. This is a big NO-NO for women – she does not like men to gush out compliments about her looks. Don’t even think of talking to her about having sex and or babies. Most career-minded women, like myself, dislike these topics. Talk to us about our work, interests and hobbies – but don’t lie to impress us.

According to relationship expert Violet Lim, some things are better left unsaid, especially on a first date. “Women,” she says, “are generally looking for someone who’s confident, carry themselves well and financially stable.” Men, do not talk about your salary, especially if you are not earning much.

To get another date with her, talk to her like you would any other person. But you should not call her until a week after your first date. Dating smart and attractive women requires you to be indifferent. The trick here is to play hard-to-get, which makes you three times more attractive in her eyes.

Finally…if you want to build attraction and create desire, hit the gym and work out! Smart women prefer men who don’t just look good but are health-conscious. And being trim and fit conveys the message that you are in-charge of your own body and that makes you resilient to obesity-related diseases. It also conveys the message that you are geared for success.

Hanging out with successful men and pick-up artistes also helps you get up to speed on dating tactics. Observe what these men do and try them out by checking out any available women on the streets. Mind what you say and do. Or be prepared to get charged for sexual-related offences.

Dating a woman out is not rocket science.

Image credit: Singapore Love Links

How WP frustrates PAP

The Independent
-
0
How WP frustrates PAP

By Augustine Low

The Workers’ Party has been frustrating the PAP by doing what it does best – staying moderate and restrained, and avoiding confrontation and tit-for-tat.

Since GE 2011, PAP Ministers and MPs have taken turns to take pot shots at the WP. When the WP stays silent on issues, it is accused of opting out or sitting on the fence. When it makes a stand on something, it is criticised for pandering to the public, claiming credit and trying to score points.

The WP strategy appears to be this: You can snipe and snap all you want, we choose to respond only when we want to, we have no intention to engage in bickering and tit-for-tat.

The PAP has adopted an offensive strategy in a bid to draw the WP out of its comfort zone. Most recently, the likes of Hri Kumar, Indranee Rajah and Josephine Teo have chastised and castigated the party for either staying silent or speaking up. But to the frustration of the PAP, the WP refuses to be baited to respond in kind.

The WP prefers to stick to its strategy of doing its work on the ground, connecting with residents one-on-one and attending to day-to-day problems.

The WP’s current strategy has its roots from key lessons learnt.

Low Thia Khiang is a wily politician who observed first-hand how the JB Jeyaretnam style of politics cost him dearly. JBJ was a fearless warrior and a raging bull who attacked relentlessly, but he was felled by libel suits, bankruptcy charges and credibility issues. For all his brave efforts, JBJ failed to put together a cohesive force to challenge the might of the PAP.

Low learnt that patience and moderation would prolong longetivity in politics. He chose to concentrate on constituency politics and play an understated role in Parliament. For him, fireworks only provide short-lived euphoria. Finger pointing and strong words of condemnation are seldom necessary.  For the WP, the priority is hard work on the ground. Once the WP has a stranglehold of a constituency, it is very difficult to dislodge it.  This solid ground-up work was the key to it spreading its wings from Hougang to Aljunied GRC and Punggol East.

Another lesson learnt was from the AIM sage which became protracted and took up too much of the WP’s time and resources. For such disputes, the full weight of the PAP – and its government agencies – will be marshalled to discredit the WP, and distract it from constituency politics. And unlike the PAP, the WP does not have a wealth of resources and manpower at its disposal and will find itself on the losing end if it were to enter into long drawn bickering.

While the WP has frustrated the PAP with its restraint and reticence, it has also ironically frustrated some of its own supporters and pro-opposition forces for the very same reasons. Expectations rose exponentially when it captured a GRC in 2011. Some supporters want a WP that is more combative, ready to pounce on missteps, and vigorously take the government to task for shortcomings.

But the anticipated fireworks have not materialised. There is some dismay that the WP has not bared its fangs enough, and not been a bigger and louder voice for people’s angst and dissatisfaction. Whether this has consequences for the WP remains to be seen.

But the WP must be doing something right when it keeps frustratrating the PAP. It is adept at keeping its cards close to its chest and might yet spring another major surprise or two – like it did when it fielded its formidable A-team in Aljunied GRC in 2011. For the WP, it’s all about less talk and more action.

William Lim: Unhappy commuters, unhappy society

The Independent
-
0
William Lim: Unhappy commuters, unhappy society

Dressed in a blazer and knee-long skirt, Sherry got off her bus at Tanjong Pagar. She was heading back to her office after her lunch break when I approached her. Wiping of a bead of sweat, she said she no longer takes the MRT because it was so packed during the morning hours.

“Sometimes the bus takes longer for me to get to work [than trains], extra 15 to 20 minutes,” she said.

The Independent Singapore spoke to a group of 20 working professionals around Tanjong Pagar, Raffles and City Hall vicinities. All said they were unhappy about the jam-packed, body-to-body train rides in the morning and a number of them said, the rides got on “their nerves”.

Off to an unhappy start of a day’s work in the office, these commuters also find themselves facing similar rides back home during the evening rush hours. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has indicated that an average Singaporean takes one hour and 10 minutes to go to work each day, making a day’s travel time of two hours and 20 minutes.

William Lim, a well-known architect and urban planner, said we need to redefine what is a comfortable living standard in Singapore.

“At the moment it is not very comfortable here. We have to wait too long [for the trains]. There is a limit. Because Singapore is small there is a limit to the capacity, even if you improve the MRT lines,” he said at his home last Monday. “All this comes down to the number of people that can operate in the city.”

He said that Singapore’s economic growth today is too dependent on the increasing the number of people in the city.

“Do you want more [economic] growth or do you want more generally stable population and high quality of life?” he asked.

Lim believed that slower growth is the only way for developed countries. “That is something favourable by the younger people. So the government will have no choice but to deliberate on this.”

Lim gave a talk on 13 January at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), about a need for Singapore to move away from its attempts to be a ‘global city’ with lifestyles based on income and affordability. He advocates a more inclusive society that is accessible to all Singaporeans, regardless of their spending power.

“I think basically the ideological battle is: Are you [government] able to deliver happiness? Happiness is not related to materialism though you must have enough to survive. But having said that, a young professional has to work every night and has no time for his friends and family that create unhappiness. It is what time do you have for yourself and your friends. This creates unhappiness.”

Referring to the unhappy commuters of the working Singaporeans, he said that one way to ease the morning pangs is to create more bicycle lanes.

“Half the population cannot afford cars anyway, they all have to go on public transport. It is quite expensive for those who are earning less than  $2,000 a month. If they can cycle relatively cheaply then it might be feasible,” he explained.

“Not necessarily we cycle to point A to point B but even to MRT station you can just park there. Or take your bike on the train I think that is the sort of framework that should be re-examined.”
But when asked by The Independent Singapore, 19 out of 20 working class Singaporeans who currently use the MRTs to work said they would not consider cycling to work.The most common reasons cited are they could not ride a bike properly, the weather is too warm and the roads are uneven.
“I have to send my children to work. This is not feasible,” said Voon who works at Raffles.Wong, her friend, jested, “Are you going to provide us showers in the office? It is very hot”.

1...5,2005,2015,202...5,257Page 5,201 of 5,257

The Independent SG

Singapore News

Bakery owner says ‘landlords hold overwhelming negotiating power’, appeals to government for help

0
SINGAPORE: A series of social media posts from the...

‘Do you check your helper’s luggage on her last day of employment?’ — Maid’s employer seeks advice

0
SINGAPORE: An employer took to social media to seek...

Singapore richer, healthier than most English-speaking countries?

0
SINGAPORE: Singapore is getting so accustomed to superlatives that...

Singaporeans more open to talking about death, but few take concrete steps to prepare

0
SINGAPORE: A recent survey by the Singapore Management University...

Business

Singapore Politics

WP MP-elect Fadli Fawzi pays tribute to Faisal Manap, holds first MPS at Kaki Bukit

0
SINGAPORE: Fadli Fawzi, who is part of The Workers’...

Harpreet Singh: WP team in Punggol is just getting started

0
SINGAPORE: Harpreet Singh Nehal, who had been part of...

Singaporeans weigh in with wish list for next Cabinet, the next Minister for Defence has big shoes to fill

0
SINGAPORE: We are all guessing on the upcoming Cabinet...

Ng Chee Meng asks PM Wong to exclude him from government role in new leadership lineup

0
SINGAPORE: Jalan Kayu MP and National Trades Union Congress...

© The Independent Singapore