Category: Uncategorized

More thoughts on Model Price/Wage Fixing – A further reply to the Competition Commission

More thoughts on Model Price/Wage Fixing – A further reply to the Competition Commission

The Competition Commission responded to an interview with me about the price-fixing decision against the Association of Modelling Professionals of Singapore. The interview is here: http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130506-420591.html The ST Forum response is here: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/modelling-agencies-price-fixing-had-adverse-effect-market-20130509 I have always found public battle of words on the pages of Forum pages unseemly and have chosen not to write in…

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Cheaper, Better, Faster ?

Cheaper, Better, Faster ?

The question that has always bothered me is why people think that Singaporeans are losing jobs to foreigners merely because they are cheaper. Why would an employer hire a foreigner merely because he is cheaper? If he is cheaper but worse, I wouldn’t hire him. At the very least, he needs to be cheaper but…

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HDB Loses 1 Billion Dollars a Year – Why We Should Care

HDB Loses 1 Billion Dollars a Year – Why We Should Care

http://www.moneysmart.sg/money-talks/hdb-loses-1-billion-a-year-and-why-you-shouldnt-care/ Been seeing this article doing the rounds on cyberspace and needed to debunk it. This blogger argues that HDB makes a loss because it buys land from SLA at market rates and it does not matter since it is from one government account to another. The alternative to buying land from SLA at market…

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A reply to “We are no longer a nation of immigrants”

A reply to “We are no longer a nation of immigrants”

My friend Ravi Philemon wrote this blog post( http://www.raviphilemon.net/2013/02/no-longer-nation-of-immigrants.html ) presumably in response to my previous post. I understand much of what he is feeling. New immigrants also have to be diligently assimilated – I think rigorous citizenship classes is a start. Right now, new citizens do not need to undergo intensive history and cultural…

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6.9 Million People and An Emotional Hump

6.9 Million People and An Emotional Hump

The protests against the White Paper on Population at Hong Lim Park have been making headlines around the world. In the meantime, in between exhortations by Ministers and pro-Establishment commentators to get above the emotional angst and emotive rhetoric, one is witnessing an anger startling not in its intensity, but by the way it cuts…

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A Historic Loss for the PAP

A Historic Loss for the PAP

The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) biggest nightmare has come true – for the first time in their recent history, they have lost a previously safe seat. The loss of Aljunied was devastating but not unexpected – Aljunied has been closely fought for several elections, with its constituents being part of Cheng San and Eunos GRCs…

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Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing

With the furore surrounding the proposed online code of conduct, the government is in danger of losing political goodwill whilst not achieving any of its aims. A code of conduct is not a piece of legislation and if it lacks teeth by way of penalties; it is unenforceable.  To begin with, asking the internet community…

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