Uproar over giving maids one day off

Some Singaporeans' negative reactions to the new policy unfortunately affirm what many other cultures think of us: A spoilt, soulless society with a huge sense of entitlement. How can we be a society with soul if we cannot even consider the basic human rights of the people we employ to care for those we hold dear: Our children and elderly?" - Cherie Lim Ball

Not sure what are these ugly Singaporeans are thinking, I am sure there will be a revolt if all our employers cut back our current 2-day leave to 1 day per week.

Related articles:

• Maids a necessity but also a privilege to have

• Too many foreign maids died unnecessarily
• Low mentality of some Singaporean employers (and the Government) in treating maids
• The downside of maid culture in Singapore

Ugly Singaporeans - AGM/EGM at its worst!

While I have heard and read about it many times form newspapers, nothing beats seeing it first hand.

The particular EGM was a shareholders' meeting to elect a new group of directors, some ugly scenes witnessed that are simply mind boggling:

• A handful of outspoken shareholders hogged the microphone (most of time not, they shouted from where they seated, some moved from point to point as they liked) and tried to deviate from the original agenda, completely depriving others a chance to speak. Despite numerous cajoling by the appointed proxy, the chairman and fellow shareholders to put it to vote, some shareholders just had no respect for the rules ...
• One retiree simply refused to put his mobile phone to silent mode (may be his phone does not support one or he simply too dumb to know how to use it) despite getting many dirty looks. He also did not bother to leave the room but continued to discuss with his broker on latest news and placing orders.
• I noticed more than 80-90% of them were retirees, it was well known that many of them went for the food, but the ugly scene was when it was announced lunch to be served next door, these supposedly well-to-do investors dashed to the room next door as if they were going after deep discount after the post Christmas sales, never mind that many of them are retirees which we have to give up seats to them in the MRT. 
• Most embarrassing was the hotel manager had to remind the shareholders that "new" ruling stated that no food was to be taken out of the hall. Obviously, there must be rampant incidents in the past where some shareholders might have helped themselves too freely by packing food home. OMG.
• Never in my life did I see so many old folks eat so much! Their plate was full of food that seems enough for two persons so much so that those who was behind (who are likely not attending the EGM for the food) are left with nothing much to eat.

Such is the "first world" behaviour! While I can understand if they are poor and desperate, but no! These are savvy investors who can afford to buy shares and probably lots of shares! I am speechless......

The appalling "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) attitude

"Such engagement on the building of eldercare facilities will attract only the noisy minority. What about the quiet majority who do not mind having the nursing home, or who are supportive of it, like me?"- Yeo Chiat Wei

"How sad! There are citizens amongst us who do not appreciate such priceless facilities for our own aged parents, relatives and friends living amongst us. There are citizens who want to fully utilize such facilities but refuse to live near them fearing that their property prices might be affected!" - Gin Tai

It is getting more than a little bit out of hand and sometimes fuelled by the Kiasu attitude of the MPs to accommodate such nonsense. We are not talking about building a nuclear plant or a graveyard here, the latest episode is the residents in Woodlands Street 83 petitioned against the setting up of an eldercare centre at the void decks of Blocks 860 and 861. Some disingenuous residents complained of potential impact on the property prices, the possible rises in death cases, the parking woe etc are plain rubbish. But one resident has a point, there is no lack of vacant places everywhere, why take away their little spaces left, for once I agree and the Government has a lot to explain why they left so much vacant spaces empty for decades while encroaching citizens' fast disappearing communal space.

[Updated 27 Aug 2012] One parent was angry his child was given homework during the school holidays, while another was upset that his child was not. An elderly resident urged the Government to quickly build an elder care facility in his estate "before more people object", while a young man wanted an entire school to be relocated because it was too noisy. These are some situations Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has encountered since he entered politics last year. He said: "Some ... make me worry; some lift my spirit. But each raises an important question about our future. In the fight for space, will our elderly be pushed out? Will our young succeed here, or do they have to emigrate? Will we have citizens who seek to contribute, or will they just advance their own interests?" (Source: Todayonline "National conversation must be inclusive")

"Our void decks are fast disappearing, and along with it the feeling of open space... there's also the issue of overcrowding, which leads to an increase in social tension."-Colin Tan

"After years of the Government championing asset enhancement in the value of flats, owners have bought into the idea that their homes are a source of investment for monetary gain." - Wong Say Ming

"The old folk will be groaning right into my home". - Bernard Lau, who lives in Block 182 Bishan

Other ridiculous episodes of the "not in my backyard" fiascos include:

- Aug 2012: At Ang Mo Kio St 52, some residents of a Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) project are upset over plans to build a BTO project less than 50 metres from their development. some of the residents at Park Central - who obtained the keys to their homes less than a year ago - include the dust and noise that would be generated, and whether there are sufficient amenities, including car park lots, to cater to another cluster of flats. (see Park Central, a sign of self-centredness?)

- May 2012: The MOH plans to build a six-to-eight storey nursing home in Bishan St 13. A group of residents who live in the three blocks directly facing the proposed site in front of Block 181 have petitioned against the plan, citing various reasons such has Blockage of airflow, overcongestion and too near a school. (see also "Majority of residents support nursing home plan")

- May 2012: Residents at Jalan Batu, an estate near Mountbatten Road, raised their concerns over a proposed expansion of an existing daily rehabilitation centre at a dialogue session with their Member of Parliament, Mr Lim Biow Chuan, in May. (Source)

- Apr 2012: Some HDB residents near Little India want to bar foreign workers (of Indian descent) from loitering in their void decks (Source).  Askmelah's Note: they don't call Little India for nothing. These residents want the prime location yet don't want the nuisance. They should not have applied to buy these public houses from the Government in the first place and there are many Singaporeans will be dying to take their places (and the "nuisance"). As the writer rightly pointed out: "it was not so long ago when upper-crust clubs in Singapore displayed "No dogs and Chinese" signs, which we rightly find appalling today. Putting up permanent barriers to keep foreigners away from void decks is just as abominable."

- 2012: Some Toh Yi residents opposed the building of studio apartments for the elderly in their estate.

- 2011: A (or all?) water tank was replaced where a dead body was found. I wonder how if the Bedok residents also campaign to clean the entire reservoir now that there are more than 7 deaths found in the last one year?

- 2011: Residents of the Maplewoods condominium also came together to oppose the siting of a launch shaft for the construction of the Downtown Line in front of their property.

- 2008 - over reaction to the building of a dormitory for foreign workers in Serangoon Garden estate. The episode could have caused the downfall of a minister and MP of that estate Ms Lim Hwee Hua.

- 2007 - No funeral parlours in Sin Min estate.

- A few years ago, a proposal to build a communal hospital was protested by residents in a housing estate (Ang Mo Kio?).

Related links:

• 'It's an issue of shrinking communal space'
• 'Not in my backyard' attitude: How MPs handle it
• More than a case of 'Not in My Back Yard' syndrome
• Not in my backyard? (The Straits Times  4 Feb 2012 Editorial)
• Affected residents may have a point in appealing against facilities for the elderly
• PM Lee worried about 2 disturbing trends in Singapore
• Barring foreigners from some Little India void decks is abominable, says a reader
• Malaise of squabbles over spaces (The Straits Times  9 Jun 2012 Editorial)
• Serangoon Gardens Dormitory Saga
• Govt should rethink resident engagement
• Park Central, a sign of self-centredness?

• 'Yes, in my backyard'- Group of 500 residents want Govt to stick to plans to build rehab centres
• Is NIMBY flak an excuse not to engage?

We are Number One again! Err, in terms of habitual complaining

Singaporeans always wants to be No.1, this is one title that we will rather not have. It may be hilarious take but is is not far from the truth.

Paid to queue - A new social illness

Many Singaporeans are rich but have no time, so they ask their maids, their foreign workers to queue on their behalf. The latest is to pay students as "part time workers" to queue for buying a flat.

What message are we sending to the young? There are easy money to be made? No need to work hard, just queue. As one "queuer" said" "ten dollar an hour is quite good because you are not doing heavy work. I've done service-related jobs at restaurants and the rate is abut $7 an hour."

There should be a law to ban such ugly and disgraceful practice!

Students 'paid to queue'

Agents vying for Bedok Residences enlist their help on part-time basis

Source: Todayonline  23Nov2011

The appointed marketing agent for Bedok Residences has come out to explain why there were students being paid by agents to stand in line.

The project - a development by CapitaLand - will be launched today. But since Sunday, a queue had formed, with students (picture) spotted among the hundreds of people who have been queueing.

Contacted by Today, ERA Realty key executive Eugene Lim said: "Agents can only queue for one space and they might have more than one buyer so they have to get people to help them out in the queue."

He added: "The reason why there are students in the queue is because it is the school holidays and they see this as a part-time job."

According to ERA, the queue had been forming since Sunday. As of yesterday, there were about 500 people in the queue, ERA added.

Mr Lim noted it was not possible to determine how many of those in the queue were teenagers hired by agents as some of them could be relatives of genuine buyers.

Meals are provided by the agents and as there is security, it is safe for the teenagers, Mr Lim noted.

"They are doing what they would usually do at home, playing on their phones or computers, and by sitting in the queue they get to earn money," said Mr Lim.

ERA also said that they had done an audit at midnight on Tuesday to ensure that all Ministry of Manpower guidelines on the age limit for part-time employment were strictly being adhered to. ERA staff also performed an identification card check on those in the queue.

According to Mr Lim, only those over the age of 16 had been queuing overnight. Younger replacements - aged 13 to 15 years - relieved them in the day.

He said that the students are mainly personal contacts of the agents and are mostly Singaporeans. The rate at which they are paid varies and is determined by the different deals struck by the agents and the students. They are paid either on an hourly basis or on a project basis, said Mr Lim.