This author is currently on hiatus for the ignoble cause of mugging. The public is advised to remain calm, as this routine protocol has been shown to have no effect on one's violent tendencies in 96% of cases.
| Saturday, April 14, 2007 |
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So i woke up ytd with a sore back and biceps, in addition to a nagging headache. Probably due to the fact that we just had our napfa tests on friday, then some rigorous physical activities thereafter, called EP3 + a bit of classroom soccer + wushu lessons at night. Not to mention the fact that i still stubbornly slept past 2 am. Though the migrane cleared after i looked thru the OB Brunei booklet - especially the bit on insurance coverage. That's gonna be 11 days of hell in some malaria-infested region - we were issued malaria tablets leh! - with Uncle Toh and Blee, our ever so caring maths teacher. Bleargh. Yet the booklet's so inspirational, with all the quotes from this guy called Anonymous... "There will be times when you will be wet and cold, hot, exhausted, dehydrated and probably quite frustrated with yourself and others around you. However, when you put in your best efforts to overcome the obstacles, you will by duly rewarded." -Liek zomg! D: Though the stuff in the booklet's nothing compared to the news this few days. I'm damn sick of reading page after page of justifications about the ministerial pay hikes, about how its for the good of Singapore, about how Singaporeans are so not being brainwashed, yadaa yadaa yadaa. Not that im the only one who thinks that way - even Elite Girl thinks so too, in addition to mrbrown (as usual) and lots of other ppl out there - 47.9% of Singaporeans, to be exact, according to a poll at asiaone.com. Yep, we're entering the forbidden realm of politics here - not that i haven't criticised the gahmen b4, heh. So now we know where all the extra GST goes to. I've taken the liberty to skim thru most of the reports in the Straits Times - and the most glaring fact that has never come out once is that PM Lee's salary will be 5 times that of Mr. Bush, the president of the wealthiest country in the world. (It's already 3 times now, and Bush earns roughly US$400,000 a year...do the math.) But then again, as PM Lee says, we shouldn't compare our gahmen with that of other countries since the systems are essentially different...so there. Even the most "balanced" article so far (Insight, 14 April, Sat) only went as far as to consult professors and lecturers from various institutions, who expressed the view that the PAP timed the pay hikes just after the elections so people would forget about it by the time the next election comes by. No street poll of the common Singaporean, hardly any coverage on the speech by opposition member Sylvia Lim, nothing. And 5 out of 7 quotes displayed in attention-grabbing giant font right smack in the centre were from surprise, surprise - MPs. Not that we Singaporeans have a say, in any case. They say they have a debate in parliament, but how come we only see supporting views from the PAP? Heck, they even banned foreign speakers from speaking at an SDP public forum, saying that "foreigners should not abuse their privilege by interfering in our domestic politics", as reported by CNN. (Again, i don't think this was reported in the Singaporean media.) At least for once, the headlines of today's Sunday Times was a report on how two coast guard officers died after a high-speed chase. Finally, a hint of environmental conservation by not wasting ink printing out useless propaganda. Saves our eyes too. God bless those two "heroes" who "sacrificed their lives for the security of the state"; and god bless PAP too, when their electorial percentage drops even further next General Elections. Assuming your aims for the "long-term good of Singapore", as reproted in the press, are truly genuine, then what will become of Singapore, under a government made up of selfish ministers who only go for the pay? An extra $1m won't garner you ministers of higher quality; though they will certainly come in greater quantity. In fact, the PAP would probably gain more support if all that money went to aid packages for the needy instead. Thought not like that would ever happen. Ugh. The hike up will be a tough one, especially in the dense jungle of Brunei. Yet, we have no say against the commanding officers, who nevertheless try to manipulate us using inspirational propaganda. |
'Twas teh winnar at 11:39 pm.
