One of the worst failures of the modern PAP

[Alim]

The top 10 percent of the population are the rich, who live in wealthy districts, while the bottom 20 percent are the languishers who have difficulty coping with a high cost structured life. The third is the large middle class.

 

A SINGAPOREAN couple walked into a Lamborghini showroom and bought two units - his and hers - for US$650,000 (RM2.04mil) each.

 

"It's amazing; young kids coming in and spending S$2mil (RM4.7mil)," the manager told a journalist. "I don't think they were even 30 years old."

 

Last year, 29 of these creme de la creme models were sold countrywide, beating Ferrari (26 cars).

 

In 2007 a total of 320 luxury cars including Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lotus, Aston Martin and Maserati, were sold to Singapore's new rich.

 

As the nouveau riche basks in their newfound glory, more Singaporeans from the poorer quarters are approaching the government for food aid.

 

A growing number of homeless can be seen sleeping in void decks of buildings and, pressed by high living costs, more elderly citizens are working as toilet cleaners or collecting used cans for recycling.

 

Singapore remains largely a middle class society. The high number of shopping plazas attests to it. But the group may be decreasing as a result of globalisation and runaway prices.

 

The city-state of 4.7 million people has two - perhaps three - faces. On the top 10 percent are the rich, who live in wealthy districts, own yachts and blow S$10,000 (RM23,209) on a single meal.

 

At the bottom 20 percent of the population are the languishers who have difficulties coping with a high cost structured life in an international city. The third is the large middle class.

 

Take the case of Carol John, 27. She doesn't own a bed, sleeps every night on thin mattresses with her three children. Hers is a one-bedroom flat that reeks of urine smell from the common corridor outside.

 

"I can't save anything, it's so difficult for me," John, who is unemployed, told a reporter. She relies on her husband's S$600 (RM1392) monthly salary and S$100 (RM232) government handout.

 

She is luckier than others who are homeless - elderly and even entire families - who sleep at void decks or the beach and bathe at public restrooms.

 

In perspective, Singapore is the second richest country in Asia next to Japan, with a per capita GDP of US$48,900 (RM154,141).

 

Homeless cases are few, nowhere comparable in number to Osaka's army of vagabonds or New York's bag ladies.

 

In fact, nine out of 10 poor people in Singapore have their own home, and usually a phone and a refrigerator.

 

But in the local context, it is a potential minefield of unrest. The proportion of Singaporeans earning less than S$1000 (RM2320) a month rose to 18 percent last year, from 16 percent in 2002, according to central bank data.

 

The bad part is that life is often worse for the unemployed - compared to other countries - because Singapore has no safety net and no rural hinterland to cushion their suffering.

 

Unlike in Malaysia or Thailand, a jobless person who cannot cope with the global market has no countryside to retreat to so that he can live off the land.

 

The problem will get worse. In other words, the rich will get richer and the poor, poorer with the middle class remaining more or less stagnant.

 

The state's Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, has worsened from 42.5 in 1998 to 47.2 in 2006, which makes it in league with the Philippines (46.1) and Guatemala (48.3), and worse than China (44.7) according to the World Bank.

 

Other wealthy Asian nations such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan have more European-style Ginis of 24.9, 31.6 and 32.6 respectively.

 

This is one of the worst failures of the modern People's Action Party, despite its democratic socialism principles.

 

It was with these that its first generation leaders were able to turn a poor squalid society into a middle class success story.

 

Economists attribute the major blame to globalisation, which benefits the skilled citizens and the rich but makes it hard for the unskilled, the aged and the sick.

 

Even the highly educated are not spared.

 

The use of new instruments like company restructuring, relocation or out-sourcing of workers - unheard of before - is widening the gap and creating more income inequality.

 

For example, while the proportion of lower income rises, those who earn S$8000 (RM18,570) or more increased from 4.7 percent to 6 percent.

 

This rising inequality could eventually undermine the bedrock of society - the broad middle class.

 

Some economists say that the feared erosion of Japan's middle class, first enunciated by Japanese strategist Kenichi Ohmae, may already be happening here.

 

His country was emerging into a 'M-shape' class distribution, in which a very few middle class people may climb up the ladder into the upper class, while the others gradually sank to the lower classes.

 

These people suffered a deterioration in living standard, faced the threat of unemployment, or their average salary was dropping, he said.

 

Gradually, they can only live a way the lower classes live: e.g. take buses instead of driving their own car, cut their budget for meals instead of dining at better restaurants, spend less in consumer goods.

 

And, Kenichi said, all this might take place while the economy enjoyed remarkable growth and overall wages rose.

 

However, the wealth increase may concentrate in the pockets of the very few rich people in the society.

 

The masses cannot benefit from the growth, and their living standard goes into decline.

 

The Singapore government, which relies on the middle class vote to remain in power, has vowed to make economic gap-levelling its top priority - for survival, even if nothing else.

 

Star, Malaysia

[Duckduck]

HAHAHA... Star malaysia report... their income gap is prob worse!!! super corruption, kaki getting APs, walan the rich there is 1000x more rich than here man... the poor there i orang asli type... did u see the ah gong's palace? ridiculous cost of construction so freaking huge!

[Doosan]

even the state assembly man originally fr malaka can afford a palace--istana zakaria in kelang area

 

but political "change" in 2OO8 cause him his life, he had heart attack & up lorry liow

[A5SB]

One of the worst failure is greed and pride.

 

It is greed which motivate them to pursue GDP growth at all cost, even to the extend of allowing casino in our land. It is greed which make them open the floodgates to import foreigners into this country indiscrimately.

 

It is pride which cause them to be complacent, thinking they can do no wrong. Resulting in major mistakes like escape of terrorist and once in 50 years flood. It is pride which make them listen only to yes-man around them, shutting themselves off from the common man.

 

My dad told me a few days ago, if the govt allows casino to be set up here all in the name of GDP growth, you know they have lost their moral compass. Unlike some of you I didn't even need to ask my dad to vote for change, he actually reminded me and wanted to make sure I too vote for change too.

 

 

 

 

[Tonyng]

One of the worst failure is greed and pride.

 

It is greed which motivate them to pursue GDP growth at all cost, even to the extend of allowing casino in our land. It is greed which make them open the floodgates to import foreigners into this country indiscrimately.

 

It is pride which cause them to be complacent, thinking they can do no wrong. Resulting in major mistakes like escape of terrorist and once in 50 years flood. It is pride which make them listen only to yes-man around them, shutting themselves off from the common man.

 

My dad told me a few days ago, if the govt allows casino to be set up here all in the name of GDP growth, you know they have lost their moral compass. Unlike some of you I didn't even need to ask my dad to vote for change, he actually reminded me and wanted to make sure I too vote for change too.

 

Yep. The casino issue.

 

There is some money that we know as individuals that we should not try to earn or have links with. I say that this is the same for a country at large.

 

 

 

[Kiadaw]

One of the worst failure is greed and pride.

 

It is greed which motivate them to pursue GDP growth at all cost, even to the extend of allowing casino in our land. It is greed which make them open the floodgates to import foreigners into this country indiscrimately.

 

It is pride which cause them to be complacent, thinking they can do no wrong. Resulting in major mistakes like escape of terrorist and once in 50 years flood. It is pride which make them listen only to yes-man around them, shutting themselves off from the common man.

 

My dad told me a few days ago, if the govt allows casino to be set up here all in the name of GDP growth, you know they have lost their moral compass. Unlike some of you I didn't even need to ask my dad to vote for change, he actually reminded me and wanted to make sure I too vote for change too.

 

Of course they are motivated to pursue GDP growth. Their bonus are link to GDP!

[Spurman]

HAHAHA... Star malaysia report... their income gap is prob worse!!! super corruption, kaki getting APs, walan the rich there is 1000x more rich than here man... the poor there i orang asli type... did u see the ah gong's palace? ridiculous cost of construction so freaking huge!

 

 

well... At least their news report seems quite a good read to me... And kinda speaks sense and non bias

[Donut]

They like instant gratifications.

 

We got low birth rates, so garment is worried abt supply of manpower and labour in the future. What is their plan? Instead of encouraging ppl to give more birth, have better quality lives, they just open their legs and let FTs come in. Ther result is instant. They have a ready supply of cheap labour. No need to spend money on encouraging higher birth rate, no need to give incentives, no need to bother with our quality of life.

 

We want to improve tourism and GDP. Thy simply build casinos. Instant results again, but at the expense of us......

[Alim]

well... At least their news report seems quite a good read to me... And kinda speaks sense and non bias

 

Better PAP-biased ST anytime

 

[Kiadaw]

They like instant gratifications.

 

We got low birth rates, so garment is worried abt supply of manpower and labour in the future. What is their plan? Instead of encouraging ppl to give more birth, have better quality lives, they just open their legs and let FTs come in. Ther result is instant. They have a ready supply of cheap labour. No need to spend money on encouraging higher birth rate, no need to give incentives, no need to bother with our quality of life.

 

We want to improve tourism and GDP. Thy simply build casinos. Instant results again, but at the expense of us......

 

How can say like that. The government cares about you.............

 

 

 

today.

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is another story.

 

[Scion]

HAHAHA... Star malaysia report... their income gap is prob worse!!! super corruption, kaki getting APs, walan the rich there is 1000x more rich than here man... the poor there i orang asli type... did u see the ah gong's palace? ridiculous cost of construction so freaking huge!

 

 

unbiased report from a foreign news source...

at least better than ST

 

oh btw... TPL said: Besides studying whether the gap is widening, it is more important to find out if the lowest-income group is able to get by and not fall into the vicious cycle. Many people are complaining and blaming the government for this problem. But is this really the responsibility of the government? I don’t think so.

Edited May 7, 2011 by Scion

[Kiadaw]

unbiased report from a foreign news source...

at least better than ST

 

oh btw... TPL said: Besides studying whether the gap is widening, it is more important to find out if the lowest-income group is able to get by and not fall into the vicious cycle. Many people are complaining and blaming the government for this problem. But is this really the responsibility of the government? I don

[Kopites]

Education Cost as well

[Kiadaw]

Education Cost as well

She is from Humble background...

[Duckduck]

unbiased report from a foreign news source...

at least better than ST

 

oh btw... TPL said: Besides studying whether the gap is widening, it is more important to find out if the lowest-income group is able to get by and not fall into the vicious cycle. Many people are complaining and blaming the government for this problem. But is this really the responsibility of the government? I don

[Galantspeedz]

Better PAP-biased ST anytime

 

And you think Malaysia papers has no bias against our country to try to sow discord?

[Falcon1668]

farking airhead lah.. make GCT look bad only.. im sure he knows he lose some votes due to her

if airhead still ok ...... think hers is vacuum

[Sabretan]

Airhead, at least got air.

 

Vacuum? Now u r praising her, vacuum has the ability/potential to suck in lots of knowledge or rubbish.

 

I juz call it dead space.