Safe City Index - Singapore ranked 2nd

The Safe Cities Index is a report from The Economist Intelligence Unit. The website provides the Executive summary and Introduction, or about 7 pages of the 44 page downloadable report.

[Update: Safe City Index 2021. Singapore is third now. In "Environment Security, Singapore is ranked 37th with a score of 69.9. I guess Singapore is too hot.]

Thoughts on the NDR 2018

I had my wish list for the NDR.

China-US Trade War

For the US-China trade war, one potential PM-to-be had spoken about it. But he was speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce, and his message was for the Americans:

"Your choice of where you put your investment, your choice of where you make those strategic moves for your company, will cumulatively build up a picture of what the US stands for in this region… The choice you will make individually will collectively inform Washington where their priorities will be."

There was no message for Singaporeans.

The better message was from Bilahari Kausikan.  But his message was more on the idea of a Singaporean identity, and the Singapore Reality resisting the imposition of the Chinese (China) framework and identity on Singapore:

Singapore's public transport system among best in the world: McKinsey report

There was a CNA report from McKinsey that ranked Singapore's public transit one of the best in the world.

Immediately, the disgruntled conspiracy theorists suggested that this report was paid for by the Singapore govt.

You know, to make the PAP look good.

This is the summary of the report in a chart form:

 

HIP 2 is not hip and not a real option.

First reaction to the NDR 2018.

Home Improvement Programme 2 is supposed to work hand in hand with VERS. At that time, owners of 70+ year old flats will be offered 3 options.

1) HIP 2. This will cost money. For a flat with "decaying" value. You will also suffer the inconvenience of improvement works.
2) Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS). This will give owners some benefits.
3) Do nothing, and run out the lease. No costs. No benefit.

Option 1 is to "motivate" owners to choose VERS (option 2).

So faced with the three options, what would you choose? 

Option 1? 

I don't think so.

NDR 2018 - What will PM Lee speak on?

I feel that the National Day Rally speeches by PM Lee has less gravitas than those of his father. So I am not going to harp on it.

Instead this is what I think he should talk about. And maybe he will.

China-US Trade war

"When elephants fight, grass gets trampled." US and China are "elephants" in terms of their economic weight.

Singapore is so much grass to these elephants.

PM Lee should address this, and spell out the risks, and how we might try to deal with it.

Maybe there is nothing we can do about it. Grass cannot move to a place where the elephants are not fighting.

But maybe tell us what to expect. Tell as the worst case scenarios, and the best case we can maybe hope for.