A suggestion for Mr Janil Puthucheary – pls serve as MO for 2 years first before MP May 5, 2011

Have been following the GE rallies closely post Nomination Day. I do pity the Tanjong Pagar folks who would not get a chance to vote. Even attended WP’s rally last week and boy, people are hungry for change!

What a radical idea …. for Mr Chiam (well loved by the masses) and Mr Low (dares speak up for masses)  leading their charges out of their comfort zones to win a GRC or maybe 2?? We also have a number of ex-cheng hu lang who have switched over to Opp camps. Additionally, you have the famous NSP and its star attraction as well as Ms Kate Spade vying for Marine Parade GRC. There are also a couple of lawyers (Sylvia, CSM (his CCTV quality Mandarin and Taiwan-hardened Hokkien are pluses), Jeanette Chong from NSP and of course, the gregarous Pritnam Singh lawyer-wannabe) coming out to offer electorates an alternative voice. Who dare says politics is dead in Singapore?

All are singing the same tune … high cost of living, spiralling HDB prices, loose immigration policies, million-$ salaries, lack of accountability, blunders made by MIW ….

Amongst the numerous statements made by both PAP and non PAP folks, what irks me most was the statement made by ex CDF MG Chan (who by the way has already been happily shooed into Parliament riding on A Gong’s coattails). “Excuse me Sir, what do you mean by saying that we can suka suka substitute “other forms of contribution” for National Service?” How can we allow these New Immigrants join the Parliament and speak up for Singaporeans when they have narly served a single day of NS? Are you saying NS is not important and we can siam NS so long as we can contribute in other ways? I am sure over the years, there would have been plenty of SG males who could have excelled in sports, music, arts or any other profession if they could have it another way. No, other than Mr. Famous Pianist who got away with a $5k slap on the wrist, most if not all able-bodied SG males serve NS. Hence, Sir, I am troubled, concerned, and deeply disappointed with your statement.

May I humbly offer Mr Janil an alternative by serving as an MO first for 2 years before serving as an MP? Given his age, I am not sure if he can undergo BMT but serving as an MO in an air-conditioned environment for 2 years should not be too taxing on him. I am sure by doing so, this would silence issues about him not serving NS and he would then legitimately run for Parliament 5 years later.

Fellow Singaporeans, Vote for Change! Vote for Alternative Voices! Vote with your Heart & Conscience!

Who knows … the MIW might just tweak the rules and redraw electoral boundaries in the next GE so that we don’t have to vote anymore and it would be a clean PAP sweep. Maybe just have 4 GRCs with 22 members each … like that Opp don’t have to compete liao … or park everything under A Gong’s ward????

Vote for a First World Parliament!!!

New Year Resolutions January 23, 2011

It has been eons since I updated my blog. The December lull along with its festive atmosphere have come and gone in a blink. It is difficult to shake one out of the lull as CNY comes hot on its heels right after a flurry of celebrations. Regardless, Corporate life rears its ugly head and put any idylic thoughts to a rest.

Immediately after ushering in 2011, my weekends have either been spent watching movies on a plane or being best friends with the Spreadsheet family. To quote a line from a movie I watched, we are so busy its no wonder we are called the Human Race. I was in the States 2 weeks ago and boy was it exhausting! It was so bad I was literally burning 2 ends of the candle as there was a night where I worked 2 shifts – Asia time after completing a solid day of training in the States. Fortunately, there have been more hands on deck lately as my team expanded and I could finally outsource some work to others.

Having been through some turbulence in my life recently, I had a epiphany of sorts and have made 2 simple resolutions “to pursue health, peace and joy” in 2011. Beside restoring emotional & mental well-being, a recent death in the family impressed upon me the pressing need to take care of my health. While the med check up report gave me an all-clear, the doctor advised cutting down on alcohol as there are signs of fats accumulating in my liver. For a moment, I felt like foie gras!! In addition, I urgently need to bring some joy back into my life. I plan to vacation with a vengeance! I have started reading self-help books like “The 4-hour Work Week” and “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”. I would make time for a healthier lifestyle, perhaps kick-starting my Japanese language or Music lessons once again. This year, I would throw caution to the wind, start taking more risks in my life and seek freedom from the fetters of the daily grind.

I am optimistic I would live and end a happier and healthier person in 2011! Wish me luck.

新不了情 December 5, 2010

心若倦了,
泪也乾了,
这份心情,
难舍难了。

曾经拥有,
天荒地老,
已不见你,
暮暮与朝朝。

这一份情,
永远难了,
愿来生还能,
再度拥抱。

爱一个人,
如何斯守到老,
怎样面对一切,
我不知道。

回忆过去,
痛苦的相思忘不了,
为何你还来,
拨动我心跳。
爱你怎么能了,
今夜的你应该明了,
缘难了情难了。

Why is the timing always bad? December 5, 2010

“Fate rarely calls upon at the moment of your choosing.” – Optimus Prime (Transformers 2)

Just because … November 20, 2010

I do not love you the way you want me to doesn’t mean I don’t love you thru my own ways.

 

 

Fatigued and Exhausted October 23, 2010

Just returned from a 2-week back-to-back business trip to HK and the Bay Area. The whirlwind of busyness has left me virtually breathless and robbed me of precious personal time to update my blog. Although I am not in Sales (but providing heavy duty support to sales teams), I can sense the pressure to meet the lofty $1B goal this Q.

“Will we make it or will we not”? There are endless programs and promos to roll out over the next few weeks to make the number. “Yes! Make that number as Wall Street has no mercy!!” is the battlecry that rings in everyone’s mind. It does not help that the stock price has taken a sudden turn for the worst last month. I am sure the Board and investors are demanding serious answers and are trigger-happy to take some drastic actions if we do not see a  quick turn-around in business sentiments and yes, the stock price.

As the company aspires to grow its business by leaps and bounds over the next 2 years, it suddenly dawns upon everyone that we need to scale up back-office support (yes, that means improving systems and productivity levels) and marketing air-cover dramatically over the course of 24 months. Personally, I am fatigued and completely exhausted physically and psychologically. When the first and last thing you think of is work, that means work has taken a toll on your mental and physical health. Can’t wait for reinforcements to be on-boarded next month!

Before long, 2010 would be a distant memory as we usher in 2011 … how would things change for you and me? We can only plan so much but not really in full control of our destinies. Maybe I should draw up my bucket list at some point : )

Weekend Humour June 19, 2010

***Overheard in forums***

1) On religious harmony …

A: “… my god is Pigsy and if anyone insults or bullies my god, I will immediately report to the police.”

B: “… my god is Monkey King and if anyone insults or bullies my god, I will immediately report to the police.”

A to B: ” … but your god always bully my god …”

2) Still on religious harmony …

C: “Can we have some sort of ISO9000 accreditation system to ensure the religious leaders don’t cross the line?! If not, they end up sorry here sorry there and hug hug here hug hug there … as if doing it for national TV”.

3) On Orchard Road flooding …

D: “Singapore has finally arrived … we have truly earned the title for being Venice of the east”

Downgraded & Demoted May 19, 2010

X weeks ago …

E’s daddy: “E, whose friend is Uncle H?”

E: “E’s friend … also Papa’s friend.”      :  >

Last Week …

E’s daddy: “E, whose friend is Uncle H?”

E: “Mama’s friend … also E’s friend.”   : <

Property Party – Free for All! Come pop the champagne!! April 18, 2010

Unless you have been living on MARS, you would know this has been a global phenomenon since government stimulus measures were introduced to resuscitate the economy. You also do not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that a substantial portion of the funds originally earmarked for infrastructure spending has somehow flowed into property markets around the world.

Recently, the local newspaper interviewed residents from key cities spanning from Beijing to Bombay and from Singapore to Sydney on their feelings towards escalating property prices. Uanimously, people were getting frustrated, exasperated, anxious or had simply accepted the fact that they were moving further and further away from owning a house, any house for that matter.

Can this party go on for long? For me, I feel the party will end soon (and badly) as every other person I meet is involved in property in some form or fashion. Even teachers (typically known for being realists) are getting into the party these days. I personally know of people who gave up stable jobs with good incomes (even MBA, CFA holders) to sell property.

Article copied and pasted below for your reading pleasure.

Time for investors to reflect?
Three newly-unveiled plots to yield 3,150 units in total; supply rate is now at 150 units a day
by Colin Tan 05:55 AM Apr 17, 2010, TODAY

SINGAPORE – The simultaneous release of four residential sites on Tuesday just three weeks after the first set of three plots were unveiled must give cause for concern for the 1,761 buyers who bought units from developers last month.

Together, these seven sites are expected to yield 3,150 units. To put it across in the starkest possible way, this supply is at the rate of 150 units per day. If you annualised this figure, it is 54,750 units a year.

Actually, the numbers could potentially be 15 per cent more if developers continue to turn out tiny but more marketable apartments. Of course, this would be assuming new supply continues at this rate for the next 12 months.

In comparison, the exceptionally good years in 2007 and last year achieved sales of more than 14,000 units each.

The latest news release from the Housing Development Board (HDB) says: “The Government will continue to monitor the property market closely and make available sufficient supply in the market to meet the demand for home buyers. If necessary, more supply can be injected via the GLS Programme” second half of this year.

Do we take this dare seriously? After all, they have been repeating this for the past year. The difference this time is that they have finally backed it with more than just a token supply.

The HDB said the supply of 10,550 homes for the first half of 2010 from the confirmed and reserve list is the highest in the scheme’s history. When developers’ sales for March was released on Thursday, some analysts chose to read the jump in sales negatively. They reasoned that when sales came in at around this figure previously, it triggered “cooling” measures from the authorities.

I would suggest, the greater threat facing investors now, is with the increased supply rather than the anticipated cooling measures which may only affect prices. Then again, not at all, if they continue to be merely symbolic.

Look at China. The authorities have been introducing measures which have far more bite but have not really succeeded in reining in prices.

They have raised mortgage rates, re-imposed a sales tax, introduced higher deposits for land purchases, banned banks from lending to builders hoarding land or holding back homes sales in anticipation of higher prices. All to no avail.

Property prices rose at a record pace in March. Residential and commercial prices in 70 cities climbed 11.7 per cent on average from a year earlier. Haikou, the capital city on the southern island of Hainan, had the biggest gain, with a 53.9-per-cent jump in overall prices. Sanya, also on Hainan followed with a 52.1-per-cent increase.

If 2010 turns to be another good year for the Singapore market, it would mean three exceptional years – besides 2007 and 2009 – in four years. Can the market truly digest three very good years of supply? Prior to 2007, the market was only absorbing an average of between 8.000 and 10,000 units per year.

Within the public housing sector, the HDB has indicated that it will put out about 12,000 units this year. It is already ahead of schedule. Judging by the number of Built-to-order flats (BTOs) it launched for the first four months, it is on track to finish with 14,000 or more. The Board has indicated that it will push out more BTOs if there is demand for it. This is more than the 11,000 over units it built between 2006 and 2008.

At this rate, will there be enough future HDB upgraders to support the lower end of the private housing market in three years time when all the private units sold in 2009 and 2010 start to complete?

Satisfactory answers must be found if the investments are not to be mere gambling plays.

Success & Fortune favour the brave and lucky ones April 4, 2010

I had coffee with a friend yesterday. This friend of mine (lets call him A) is in his early 30s and is already financially independent. Apparently, A made a killing in the stock market on a couple of big bets (all calculated risks) when financial markets were tanking a year back. Fast forward to a year later, he has seen his portfolio grow tremendously. He also collects hefty dividends every quarter. In fact, he would probably be able to live on passive income for the rest of his life.

Its hard not to be envious when one is still struggling with one’s career. Being a salaryman in the 21st century means you are constantly insecure and not knowing where the next big recession or axe will befall upon you. On top of that, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you realise that being outstanding at work does not necessarily equate a promotion, better pay or even better opportunities. And even if there is a promotion, better pay or opportunties, it just becomes another mindless rat race on a higher level … perhaps one where you have to deal with office politics or manage difficult employees or unreasonable expectations. In short, as an employee, you are not in control of your destiny. Yes, having a job is better than being unemployed but sometimes, you wish you could reverse time and make different decisions which could alter one’s destiny altogether.

Success in life is not about being incredibly smart. Traits such as being well-connected, being favoured upon or simply just having good looks are much more important. Unfortunately, schools only teach you how to read and write. They do not teach skills on how to be successful in life.

Sometimes, Success & Fortune favour the brave and lucky ones.