PAP not out of touch: Foreign Min. George Yeo

Mr George Yeo, can I ask when you last took a bus or MRT to work? Would you be willing to forgo your substantial salary for 1 year and live like an ordinary Singaporean? Would you be able to live in an HDB apartment and leave all your comforts behind?

Sir, if you claim that PAP is not out of touch then why are the concerns of our native Singaporeans not addressed?

1) Home ownership. We serve our nation through national service and are proud to do so. We were brought up in the days to be proud of our nation building. Mr Lee Kuan Yew once told us that every Singaporean should be able to have a home so that there is some belonging to the nation. However the sudden influx of foreigners who easily get citizenship have priced ordinary Singaporeans out. Many Singaporeans find buying a home out of reach.

2) Overcrowding. Our small nation was never meant to accomodate so many people. Sure you can put them all in high rise buildings to live but we have no space to go out with our families and enjoy our weekends. Would you be able to take your family down to a restuarant incognito and get a table for lunch? You would find it almost impossible.

3) National Service. It is our fundamental element that separates us from the new immigrants. We have all done our bit for the nation. We served 2 and a half years before and now serve a 13 year cycle of reservist. I am proud to serve. But what upsets many Singaporeans is that the new immigrants don't have to do so. One of our new potential PAP candidates have just been made citizen claims he is staying, fighting and fully invested. If that is the case, then let him serve national service first before contesting in the elections.

4) Rising cost of living. Sir, have you ever wondered how you would be able to make ends meet for a family of 4 with very little. The GST on everything makes cost of living go up. Allow a GST waiver on all basic consummables like food and drink at the very least. This will allow the lower income group be able to afford to feed their family.

There are more which fellow Singaporeans can highlight but I will end here.

Is PAP out of touch? I'm afraid its a yes.

I can't say over these many years of struggle, our government did make our world much better than many other countries. But the fact is I don't feel the heart for the people, not like the older generation government who strive for the well being of us the citizens.

I remember many years back when I was still staying in TPY and Mr. Ong Teng Cheong as the MP; visited the resident every week and I remember seeing him at least once every month at my door step. He has the heart for the people, he feel for us and work to provide a balanced society beneficial to the country and the people. Do you see anyone has done things like Mr. Ong?

What I feel, the government no longer work for the benefits of the people but the benefits of the government.

Ok another millionaire minister talking nonsense now and rattling off a well rehearsed SOP PAP speech like a parrot.

If SG is really so tip top then let's look at some issues below.

CPF not enough for retirees for basic living expenses and govt not wishing to pick up the slack.
CPF gets decimated in event of major illness (prevalent in old age).
Old people work in fast food chains, foodcourts, coffeeshops - feel so bad having old people serve and clearing plates for us.
Old people collecting drink cans from garbage bins or cardboard to sell as a source of income.
Old people selling tissue paper.

I wonder how tourists and expats and other foreigners feel about this.
Even people from less developed neighbors also marvel at this wonder.

Thanks to pap and millionaire ministers who sit on their gold mine and mock the people they are supposed to serve.
Millionaire ministers who appear only during GE time and subsequently disappear after that and the only work we see them perform is escalating costs for the voters.

"out of touch"...properly the civil servant staff didn't update the MP with the correct info.

Recently happened to see a walk abt @ Kovan Hawker Centre by 1 of the MP. The Hawker Centre VIP Tables are covered with nice table cloth. Do normal S'porean like us go to the Hawker Centre with our own table cloth to put it on the table for dinning? Is the MP down to earth? Is the MP "out of touch" of our normal S'porean lifestyle?

Our government, they have learnt to ignore and avoid answering to us about the mistakes they or the other government sectors had made.
They are too busy with the BIG picture and forgive the small ones. But they have forgotten that there is a saying in Chinese:”病从浅中医”. (Seek for medical treatment before it gets worst.”)
They are so busy with building more ERPs and pushing for HIGHER living standards where only the rich may stay and live in Singapore. How much are we paying for Road Taxes and our cars every year and yet the amount we are paying to use the road on top of the road taxes we are paying? I had just received a rebate of S$15.20 for the radio licence, it’s so pathetic. How many ERP gantries can I use it for?
The HDB flat rates went up by 100%; my dad spent 15 – 18 years to pay off our current flat with his S$1,600 – S$1,800 per month salary. I have to spent 29 years with monthly cash top ups if I were to buy a 30% smaller in size 4 room flat to fit my whole family.
There are many to them ‘The Government’ small little things that are running out of hand. The individual bureaus have many times chosen to ignore enquiries which they are not able to answer, assuming them themselves as the untouchables and brushed our issues away.

Precisely what he is saying here is showing he is completely out of touch. Who cares about being ranking near the top when our lives are near the bottom? Don't talk about superficial things lah and compare other countries again. Ok fair want to compare? bring us to another country that has old people cleaning tables or picking tins to make ends meet or ministers paying themselves millions and have 'tough in cheek' comments when things go wrong. Our country is like on steroids, all muscles but health is breaking down from within! This ppl are still ignorant about the tell-tale signs and still insists we are doing great. Don't make a mockery at us, the true singaporeans!

Not out of touch.... it is call DISCONNECT or DISORIENTATED...

Disconnect in a way when GDP is put in top priority without consideration to the impact on Singaporeans.

Disorientated in a way when you are overshadowed by prolong ruling of single party and paying yourself obsence salaries.

Ask Mr Mah come give us a explaination.....

Economics he failed BIG TIME when he fails to up anticipate supply when demand is so much with your foreign influx resulting in population expansion by the millions.

Financial he failed BIG TIME when HDB prices gone up 3-4% compounded quarterly last 2 years and he says managable.

Management he fail BIG TIME when HDB vision of affordability and accessibility fail big time.

Can you tell me what qualification does your HDB minister is having?

Hard for you to write a report card...come on. Truth is revealed. So many cases like Mas Selamat, Hdb prices, Casinos, Yog, Gst, Fw are all being created by your fellow "abang" in your PAP office. We will make a change this time...give plenty of chances to opposition in this GE. Bythe way, just for your information. I stay in Pungol 21 too for 7 years, none of your PAP members came to do house visits, who is Micheal Farmer,Penny Loo n the rest of the grassroots members in your GRC??? 300mil for a yog, who else is going to escape from prison again, Casinos creating social problems, high hdb prices, influx of fw to compete job with Singaporeans, heard if PAP win landslide victory GST increase to 10%,....Mr Khaw $8bucks bypass surgery, where are welfare medical for infants, children n elderly??Last but not least, 27yr old to enter politics, way too young...so we have had feel, seen, experience the failures of PAP time n time again for the past 5yrs. I have woke up......................................so have you?

George Yeo comment on 15%GDP and Sporeans being proud coming home indicated that he is out of touch.

1, S'poreans dont care about the 15% GDP.
2, This place doesnt feel like home anymore.

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE ? The so called FT who are older than me.
Let me direct to the point. I am a Spore born Sporean and served 6 years as a Regular in the then Air Defence Command (1969 to 1975) and subsequently completed my 10 more years reservist obligations. I was disqualified to purchase a HDB flat because my wife and my combined incomes were exceeded $ 8k in 1980.
I have a good Electrical & Electronis Engineering Degree from UK in 1978. I worked very hard and gained promotions from rank and file - started in MNC as a Regional System Engineer in 1978, Technical Manager, Regional Sales Manager -Asean, Regional Director-Asia Pacific and Regional Managing Director - Asia Pacific Region for the past 23 years.
Due to acquisition and merger of my last MNC and I was retrenched 10 years ago by a FT, the then I was 52 years old.
I was told by the Head Hunters and potential employers for the past 10 years that I was too old to re-hire for a middle or senior management jobs despite I was willing to accept a lower salary job.
Fortunately, my family and me were able to survive for 7 years which based on our simple life style and saving. Eventually, we were forced to down grade our home from a semi-Detach ( Dist 10 ) to a condo 3 years ago. I am gladful that by then my 2 kids were either completed their bachelor degree education or obtained a government scholarship. They have practically reduced my financial burden but I remain unemployed.
Although, I am very fit and having pletty of ener---- at my age which is below the compulsory retirement age. However, I am remain jobless because the government policy which allowed the MNC and local firm to import FTs for the middle and top management jobs.
Let me ask a simple and fair question. Why there are so many FTs working in the middle and top management posts in the Banking Industry, sales and marketing, Telco, IT & Engineering in the government linked companies eg Sembcomp, Keppel etc. and teaching professions in the tertiary institutions? Are you telling me that we completely don't have any local talents and scholars at all ?
I am not happy with the FTs Policy. Also share Adam Khoo's comments on this subject which directly or indirectly do affect our NS & Reservists' commitment and morale.
In spite of completed 6 years regular and 10 years NS obligations ( Total 16 years ) and I was not qualified for a HDB flat but the FTs ( and Foreign Labourers ) could easily purchase a HDB flat at the expense of my local Spore born citizens
I am a season PAP supporter. I often think that the past success system that never fails. But, it seems that the recent years government FTs' policy do let some of us down.Reply.

i strongly agree with DARK LIGHT.i also in aljunied GRC for more than 3 decades.MP visiting when near to election time.Problem approach them while they visit. NO ACTION TALK ONLY! (NATO)

If he as a politician cannot solve our problems, then who can ?...we, as a commoner do it ourselves......must be joking.....

He has the authorities and "kar kia" = helpers to help him .....how can he not solve problems for us....

Tax payers pay him to do the job for singaporean..die die he must find solution for as he has been performing and working so well for us.....

now he said he cannot solve all the problems for us ....no excuse..then why is he there for ?

no logic right..cannot perform then ..come down lor..someone that can do the job take over lah

he is also talented and capable..how can he not use his experience and knowledge to do the job.

Ruling party is not out of "touch"... Ya, they touched hands only= shaking ppl hands during visitation,

they are not listen to the people of singapore...suffering in silence....not able to find
jobs.....worrying about putting food on the table, high living cost.....health care cost....w

the basic needs and day to day problems that every man on the street worrying everyday.

Mr Yeo in my school of thoughts your team fail in results 1) one man can walk across the causeway after killing a small girl and other man can swim across the causeway and have the whole nation looking for him fail social security .

2) HDB is about public housing for the people of Singapore and not for foreigners they should be ban from buying flats .The way flats are price at is ridiculous. And do you realize that even we buy a 4 room flat today we be paying for the longest time . Pay finish DIE public housing should be affordable . FAIL housing

3) CPF is our hard earn money GOVT have NO right to Hold our money after 55 years of age and STOP coming up with all kinds of rubbish polices on our CPF money

But have your team make it easier for us ? THE ANSWERS IS NO maybe your team thinks that we have short term memory . SORRY MATE YOU ARE SOOO WRONG THESE TIME YOUR TEAM FAIL BIG TIME AND BY THE WAY I AM MY FORTY and i am not naive

When someone from PAP says 'education cost is very low'. I think that's enough to prove that PAP is out of touch to normal citizens.
We pay almost $30k to complete our uni education in Singapore.
For people who is going to earn $15k a month soon, of course very low la.
Dont forget, we dont earn so much.... we got to feed our parents.... we got to pay 300k for a 4 room flat. we gotta worry that NO ONE is gg to employ us if a recession comes again when we hit 40 years old. We gotta worry this, gotta worry that. From the moment we step out of school. We are in debt till we die.
If I earn 15k a month at the age of 27, i also say education cost is very low la.
I'm sure everyone here agrees with what i say. Because I AM IN TOUCH WITH ALL SINGAPOREANS.

Well after this 2011 Election...ALOT of Singaporeans PREDICTED
( Not by me though. By Tanjong Bodoh )

These things might takes implement !!!

1) HDB prices increases to $100,0000 ! YES $1 Fu#king Million dollars !
2) GST 10% or more !
3) CPF withdrawal again Delay !
4) More influx of Foreigners into Singapore !
5) More ERP Gantries and More Expensive charges !
6) Retirement Age DELAY to 70 years old !!

So...Vote wisely please ! For our future and our Children future..........

NO more Pay AND Pay $

Hello Whenthetimecomes, I'm glad you have finally realized that you'll never going to c your CPF monies... and taking a risk to vote for Opps in the coming GE... It's better late than never!!!! We've always been reminded by the ruling party in every past GE that when we vote we should think about the future of our children, our children children.... as only the ruling party can give us and our children, our children children a better life and a better future... Yes most of us have been thinking of our children, our children children all these past years and foolishly voted in the ruling PAP again and again!!!! Ask yourself, do we feel better... do our children feel better.... Yes for the minority... who are rich they feel very much better.... hwr, for the majority.... we're suffering... every things is so expensive.... foreigner coming to our shore to take up our job.... our space... our transport... this is for the betterment of our children, our children children.... is this what we really want from the ruling party and give them the vote again in this coming election... THINK CAREFULLY!!!!!! Don't be foolish again and again and this time rounds don't let them treat us as children to make us think for the betterment of our children, our children children... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH fellow SINGAPOREAN... I'm also in my 50s... I've never voted for the ruling party ever since I've my right to vote... I still can recalled when I was a child, both my parents were not educated and each time when election comes by, they were told to just marked the sign with the thunder.... being non educated, they foolishly marked the thunder... well in those days, it is good to mark the thunder as way back then, Singapore is just finding its feet... and with colonialism and communism... we really need the thunder to guide us through... as years gone by, and as I grow older and my 1st vote came by.... my old parents then told me... DON'T MARK THE THUNDER..... I then asked them why... and they told me, well we're uneducated and don't know how to read and write and so we just follow the ppl instruction to mark the thunder... and our life have never been good anyway, but you have gone to school and know how to read and write... and if you going to mark the thunder like we do, you and your children will be going to suffer like us.... so what so good of marking the thunder..... (both my parents have already gone to the thunder and unfortunately they have never enjoyed life under the thunder as they have been poor, very poor all those years despite the promised by the ruling thunder)... so you c, think of your children, your children children when u vote.... the thunder will never going to give you and your children, your children children any good life.... and I've never give my vote to them at all... but sad to say, the Opps was never given the chance to represent me as the most of the election its either walkover, or GRC..... So SINGAPOREAN, I'm in my 50s, given me a chance to enjoy life... let me have a chance to c more Opps to help me, my children, my children children... my parents don't have the chance as they are uneducated.... we're now more educated, we need not follow the ruling to ask us to mark the thunder... we can c and decide who we want.... for the betterment of our children, our children children....GIVE THE OPP A CHANCE... SEND THEM INTO PARLIAMENT... DON'T LET THE ARMY CANDIDATE, THE YOUNG PUNKS HIDING THE PANTS OF GRC to teach us how to think of the future of our children, our children children.... they themselves cannot take care of themselves... all they can is say YES SIR YES SIR to all the command of the given to them... You want another commander to give you command and obey only.. THINK ABOUT IT FELLOW SINGAPOREAN.. MY VOTE IS FOR THE OPP NOT MATTER WHAT... Bear in mind, I don't just vote for any tom, dick and harry Opp anyway. Good luck Singaporean.... let's really be BRAVE.. GIVE THE OPP A CHANCE.. Chiam and Low have proven!!

Mr George Yeo, i shall let you know what is still in touch. Things changed drastically in the last 5 years. In the past, i see a few foreigners in my neighbourhood. Not much foreigners in the mrt. Still not so overcrowded. 5 years later today, i working in a mnc as a senior consultant, in my department there are 14 foreigners vs 2 singaporeans. If you take the train, you wont be amused that there are more foreigners than singaporeans on the train. Sometime you can see singaporeans giving up their seat for the foreigners infant, pregnant women and elderly. This is known as giving up spaces for someone that come from a foreign land. Is not only this seat, we have to share everything with them, compete with them for spaces regardless young or old. Fighting with them for jobs. They have an unfair advantages over us, you talk about productivity but on ground businesses mostly care about costs.

They even inflitrated into our property arena. Now i living in punggol grc. i stayed on level 6. to my left is a combined family of indians foreigners. to my right is a family combined of flippino foreigners. to my front is a combined friends of flippino foreigners.There are 6 units per level. 50% belongs to foreigners. Nowadays u rarely don't see less than 20 foreigners a day which is only just a very rough estimate. For me on avergae i can be expose to more than 80 foreigners a day,

We used to thought only at little india we will be overcome by indians, at chinatown we will be overcome by china chinese. But now OMG. i went to sentosa during the chinese new year. i was flooded by one whole swarm of foreigners and i meant really one whole chunk. The whole sentosa was flooded with people with at least more than 70% is foreigners. For once i thought it is going to sink. You want a population of 6 million and i can expect 50% going to come over overseas, i really do not know where our singapore space will be. Our jobs and our live will be grossly affected. Vote for the opposition.

One of the most glaring issue that the PAP did was to peg Minister pay to the top earners in Singapore. Ministers from the most developed countries dont even earned such amount. This create a politics of envy.Many young graduates joining the workforce were disillusioned that their salaries were way below the allowance of an MP. Senior citizens were left to fan for themselves. Some worked as cleaners,general workers to ensure 3 meals a day. To aggravate the situation the CPF retirement fund withdrawal age is peg at 62. Those who cannot get a job because of his age had approached CPF board but was told to wait until he reached 62. PAP had really lost touch with the ground with regard to the plight of poor and the aspiration of the young.

George Yeo can't solve all problems but you do what you can . hahaha..... do not BULLSHIT to singaporean la..............i think singaporean are not stupid la,,,,,,,,,,,

A danger intelligent Terrorist Angle planning to bomb Singapore,, he can escaped inside Detention Center with CCTV,.??? , escaped from the country without Passport by simply walking across the causeway? HaHaHa

Singapore Policeman only know how to catch small fly / Student / small boy, If a big eagle and a real gangster with gun, I think policeman will hide at the Conner HaHaHa