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http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/03/16/the-alternative-news-in-1-day-80-cant-open-archives-after-50-years/ The Alternative News in 1 day? (80) – Can’t open archives after 50 years? March 16th, 2014 | Author: Contributions I refer to the article “Release of all past cabinet records may not lead to better outcomes: Lawrence Wong” (Today, Mar 11). Transparency may not lead to better outcomes? It states that “But Mr Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), refuted him, saying that such an open policy may not necessarily lead to better outcomes.” - I am rather puzzled by the reasons given in the subject Parliamentary debate as to why the record of archives which are more than 50 years old, cannot be made public. How can being transparent 50 years later – “may not necessarily lead to better outcomes”? Better outcomes in the future or in the past? Wouldn’t transparency and accountability lead to “better outcomes” now and in the future? Or are we referring to the “outcomes” of our history that cannot be changed? As to “Responding, Mr Wong said the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) does make available public archives for inspection for research and reference. Requests can be made at the NAS’s reading room, and the NAS will consult the relevant agency about providing access to these records. No transparency 50 years later because of “personal privacy”? But while all unclassified information is made available upon request, there are some records which are not available for open access, including those relating to national defence, foreign relations and internal security, as well as documents which may be bound by confidentiality obligations or personal privacy reasons, said Mr Wong.” - What are we saying here? That transparency of Government (and we are not even talking about accountability here) should be subservient to “personal privacy” and “confidentiality obligations”‘ reasons – 50 years after the event! If politicians are so concerned about “personal privacy” 50 years later – perhaps they should not become politicians in the first place. Less transparency = Good governance? With regard to “Mr Wong countered that the Government’s approach “is not transparency for transparency’s sake”, but transparency that leads to good governance.” - I find this to be somewhat self-contradictory. The fundamental basis of “good governance” is transparency and accountability. Check and balance? Our system of democracy which we inherited from the British is fundamentally based on the check and balance of Parliament, the Judiciary and the Executive (Government). So, how can “not being transparent” lead to “good governance”? In respect of “He pointed out that some countries have “gone somewhat overboard with freedom of information legislation or open access”, leading instead to the opaqueness and avoidance of records. - Can we have the names of these countries and an elaboration as to how it has lead “instead to the opaqueness and avoidance of records”? Civil servants won’t record real minutes of meetings? As to “Policy papers or cabinet papers may not have complete information or detail because the civil servants writing them know that the reports will be made available, he said. “I think we have to be careful of such inadvertent consequences.” - What are we saying here? That our highest paid civil servants who have been touted as the most incorruptible and efficient in the world – may not write a correct record of meetings because of the fear that they may be made public 50 years later? Wouldn’t all the people present at the meeting be able to see when the minutes are out – if the civil servant had in fact not written ä factual record of the meeting? If even now we have such an in my view “unfounded” fear – then is there not something wrong with the type of people that we are recruiting into the civil service? – Whatever happened to the values, continual emphasis on integrity and public duty, and training that we are inculcating in them? Why pay the highest salaries in the world – only to arguably, have civil servants who cannot be trusted or relied upon to do their job? “Tian You Yan”? In the final analysis, if I may use the analogy of a Chinese saying “Tian You Yan” (God has eyes) – by not being transparent 50 years after the fact, may have the opposite effect of inculcating a breed of politicians who may not do the right thing – in the comfort that their actions and deliberations may never be subject to the court of public opinion 50 years later. Perhaps we shoud have a compromise by allowing the opening of the Cabinet archives only after all the persons who were in the Cabinet at that time, are long dead and gone. Leong Sze Hian Leong is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, has authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been host of a money radio show, a daily newspaper column, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for Malaysiakini, executive producer of the movie Ilo Ilo (26 international awards). He has served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors and 13 professional qualifications. He blogs at www.leongszehian.com

http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/03/10/job-placements-decline-despite-record-jobs-vacancies/ Job placements decline, despite record jobs, vacancies? March 10th, 2014 | Author: Contributions I refer to the Department of Statistics’s (DOS) Monthly Digest of Statistics January 2014 released a few days ago. Job placements declining? Under Employment Services – the ratio of New Registrants to Placements has declined from 48% in July to 45, 38 and 33% in October, November and December, respectively. (Note: Placements – Number of people who were placed into employment by the career centres. This includes those who found their own jobs after receiving services from the career centres.) Record jobs, vacancies – but harder to get jobs? With record numbers of job vacancies, vacancies unfilled over 6 months and jobs creation for locals, in the 2 reports published recently by the Ministry of manpower (MOM) – why is it that the job placement rate for locals is declining? No breakdown into Singaporeans & PRs? Why is there no breakdown of the job placement statistics into Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs)? Previous Job placement rate just over 10%? However, according to previous Monthly Digest of Statistics’ reports, the ratio of Job Seekers Placed in Employment to Job Seekers Attended To was 14%, 18% and 12%, for 2011, 2012 and December 2012, respectively. More or less job seekers? Job seekers dropped from 100,504 to 24,500? According to media reports, “between January and November 2012, the number of people approaching the CDCs for training and employment assistance was 24,500, a 3 per cent drop compared to the same period in 2011. The success rates of those being placed into employment has also been higher in 2012. 11,800 were placed into jobs between January and November 2012, compared to 10,100 for the same period in 2011″ However, according to the Department of Statistics’ (DOS) Monthly Digest of Statistics Singapore June 2012, job seekers attended to by the CDCs and e2i, was 99,608 and 100,504, in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and job seekers placed in employment was 17,732 and 14,223, respectively. (“Easier to get jobs?“, Sep 7 and “Latest statistical highlights: Job placement rate drops to 14%, Jul 17) “Job seekers attended to” changed to “New Registrants”? It would appear that the Monthly Digest of Statistics was changed to “New Registrants”, instead of ”job seekers attended to”. This change has resulted in a dramatic increase of the job placement rate from 14 and 18 per cent in 2011 and 2012, respectively, to 36 and 49 per cent. What is the definition and difference between “New Registrants” and ”job seekers attended to”? Was this change announced to anybody? Job placement rate increase 172% (by magic)? So, this change has literally “by the stroke of a pen” increased the job placement rate in 2011 and 2012 by 157 per cent (36 divided by 14) and 172 per cent (49 divided by 18), respectively. So, how is it possible that 100,504 job seekers attended to by the CDCs and e2i in 2011, has dropped dramatically to only 24,500 job seekers approaching CDCs in 11 months (excluding e2i?)? Uniquely Singapore! Leong Sze Hian Leong Sze Hian is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow and an author of 4 books. He is frequently quoted in the media. He has also been invited to speak more than 100 times in 25 countries on 5 continents. He has served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chairman of the Institute of Administrative Management, and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications. He blogs at www.leongszehian.com.

http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/03/08/alternative-daily-news-72-sg-falls-by-13-in-retirement-index/ Alternative daily news (72) SG falls by 13 in retirement index March 8th, 2014 | Author: Contributions Sunday Times; 02 March 2014; Pg 37. I refer to the article “S’pore no longer one of best 30 places for retirees” (Straits Times, Mar 2). S’pore drops 13 places? It states that “it slides from 28th to 41st on index. Dropped to 125th for income equality? Singapore ranked a poor 125th spot for income equality, worse than the previous year’s 117th place” - More than 200,000 full-time, part-time and self-employed persons earn less than $1,000 a month. I estimate about 400,000 and 600,000 earn less than $1,200 and $1,500 respectively. Quality of life dropped to 75th? “Singapore’s quality of life index, which measures the level of happiness and fulfillment in society as well as environment factors, dropped to 75th place from 39th last year. Health index dropped to 59th? It also dipped in the health index, from 56th spot last year to 59th this year… high levels of out-of-pocket health expenditure” Highest share – private healthcare expenditure? - At about 67% – our private health expenditure is the highest among developed countries. Level of happiness? According to the Mercer’s 2012 Cost of Living Survey, Singapore is the 6th most expensive city out of 143 cities in the world – Singaporeans earn the lowest wages among the high-income countries – we also work the longest hours in world - Singapore has been ranked as having the 2nd highest work stress in Asia - among the the lowest fertility in the world – out of 224 countries- have been ranked the 2nd lowest libido as compared to over 40 countries. Surveys such as the Gallup rank Singaporeans as having the least positive emotions, most emotionless and least optimistic, – the Happy Planet Index ranks Singapore at 90th – most unhappy, and the World Happiness Report 2013 ranks singapore as the 126th (most unhappy) and 144th (most emotionless) - Singaporeans are second least likely to help a stranger, out of 135 countries. Leong Sze Hian Leong Sze Hian is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow and an author of 4 books. He is frequently quoted in the media. He has also been invited to speak more than 100 times in 25 countries on 5 continents. He has served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chairman of the Institute of Administrative Management, and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications. He blogs at www.leongszehian.com.