Staring into The Abyss Part 3

Famous lines from the famously privileged and extremely well paid men in whites-

“Retrenchment is good for Singapore. If there are no retrenchments, then I worry for Singapore” Goh Chok Tong

“We will give help but not too much” Goh Chok Tong Straits Times Aug 20, 2001

“We started off with (the name) and after looking at everything, the name that really tugged at the heartstrings was in front of us. The name itself is not new, but what has been used informally so far has endeared itself to all parties.”  Mah Bow Tan, spending $400,000 of taxpayer’s monies to rename Marina Bay as Marina Bay. In a word- Awesome!!!

“Singaporean workers have become more expensive than those in the USA and Australia.” Tony Tan.

Contrast this with a report from the Straits Times, 1st July 2005- “Nearly 300,000 Singaporean workers earn $1,200 or less in gross monthly income. Half of them, or one in 10 workers, earn even less – $900. They are the group most vulnerable to retrenchments and fallout from economic restructuring. Many already struggle to make ends meet and have little or nothing for their medical and retirement needs.”
 

“But that does not change the hard facts of the ground, which is that the average Singaporean, the 90 over per cent who retain their jobs, have had good income.  And for most of them, their incomes have grown even in the most difficult years that we faced in the last five years.” Mar 2005 Budget Debate, Lim Hng Khiang. Contrast this with a Straits Times report, 19th Feb, 2005-

“Monthly incomes for households in the bottom 20 per cent fell 3.2 per cent a year, from $933 in 1998 to $795 in 2003.”

“There are enough jobs for all Singaporeans even now. There are 85,000 unemployed residents. But in the manufacturing and services sectors alone, there are 200,000 jobs held by foreign workers.

This means more than two jobs per unemployed Singaporean. If these Singaporeans are prepared to lower their expectations, and work shifts or in the sun, all 85,000 unemployed residents can be gainfully employed.” Goh Chok Tong

“I don’t see it happening.We have policies in place to prevent the creation of an underclass.” Goh Chok Tong again. (any wonder why this guy failed to recover Potong Pasir and Hougang during the last election even after he staked his name on it)

And in case you’re wondering why someone in singapore can be driven to commit suicide in desperation, I leave you with this parting gift from a Straits Times report dated 26th Jan, 2003-

“More than 3000 Singaporeans have applied for a government assistance scheme in the first two weeks of the year …but no one has qualified.”