Why Tharman is standing for Election as President of Singapore

 

1) If he wins, he will move into the Istana... A government Bungalow. 

2) As President, he will stay there... Rent-free!

3) The other two Indian Ministers have to pay rent for the Government Bungalows at Ridout Road.

My first conspiracy theory about GE 2020

So I woke up to this story:

GE2020: PM Lee accepts PAP candidate Ivan Lim’s withdrawal; says ‘thorough investigation’ not possible given nature of GE campaign

“I recognise that the controversy over my candidacy has eclipsed the core issues of what this election should be about — Singapore’s future and the difficult steps we have to take to recover from Covid-19,” Mr Lim wrote.
“The controversy has also caused intense pain and stress for my family. I cannot put my family through this,” he added. “I thank the party for giving me this opportunity to serve.”

In accepting Mr Lim’s withdrawal, Mr Lee [PM] said that the controversy over his candidature was unfortunate.
“Ideally, there would have been a fair and deliberate consideration of these allegations. Unfortunately, the nature of the campaign is such that we do not have time for a thorough investigation,” Mr Lee said in his reply to Mr Lim.
“The allegations spread like wildfire online, eclipsing the serious life and death issues we must grapple with,” Mr Lee, who is also the prime minister, added.

Minister Shanmugam comments on Singaporean "Activists" inviting Mahathir to promote Democracy in S.E. Asia

Minister Shanmugam has "described the whole conduct of the Singaporeans involved as "a little sad" and "a bit regretful". " They had met with Mahathir, and invited "Dr Mahathir to take a leading role in promoting democracy, human rights, freedom of speech in South-east Asia."

Which prompted a whole lot of support and some disagreement from Singaporeans (my impression was that most comments were supportive, but I could be projecting), and this sarcastic comment:

As usual PAP misses the point and the opportunity.
What PAP (and Minister Shanmugam) should point out is how egalitarian SG society and politics are.
In the US for example, you have to be a candidate for President (and eventually POTUS), before you can invite a foreign leader to intervene in your politics and your election.
In Singapore, you don't even need to be a billionaire or a presidential candidate, let alone be President. Or even an MP.

Now THAT'S what I call Free.
Or as Singaporeans would say, "too free, ah?"

Wedding wishes

Wedding wishes from a married man to his younger... let's call them "friends"... who were about to get married.

Congratulations on this monumental (emphasis on “mental”) decision and change in your life! Anyone who decides to get married must be crazy. But anyone who doesn’t must be stupid. So what would you rather be? Crazy or stupid?

(Spoiler alert: I went with crazy)

The Kiasu Guide to Spotting (possible) Terrorists

Our Minister for Law and Home Affairs has said that it is a matter of "When", not "If" Singapore has a terrorist attack.

You could of course try to run, but where? The recent bombing in Belgium shows us that there is no safe place really. Well, ok. Maybe Inner Mongolia. No one wants to bomb that place, but then again, unless you are born there, do you really want to go there? For good?

If you don't want to run or can't run, then how do you spot a Terrorist?

Well just the other day, there was an elderly man on a mobility scooter on the MRT. I thought, he's just an old man with mobility issues. He had an air tube running to his nose, and there were two air tanks behind him (strapped to the scooter). Then I noticed he had another tank in front of him.

Man, he has some breathing difficulties!

Retorts and Rebuttals - Tap Water and Water filters

If our tap water is safe, why does my water filter turn brown after 3 months?

That's because the water filter manufacturers want you to continue to buy their products (which is not useful). The water filters are designed to discolour after continuous 3 months of use. If you change the filter after just one week, you will see very little discolouration. 

Retorts and Rebuttals - Haze April 2016

Singapore should focus on its own role in combating transboundary ‪haze‬ instead of “making so many comments”: Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya.

Comment/Response

So the rapist told the cops, "The victim shoiuld just focus on how she had contributed to the rape - the way she dressed, being out late at night, in my part of town - instead of complaining about me." 

Now waiting for the rapist's father to say, "ya la. Rape only one night. What about the 364 nights of the year my son did not rape her? She never show gratitude for those nights! Ungrateful!"

The Same-Old Criticisms of Singapore

We've been going about this all wrong!

When people say Singapore is undemocratic, we shouldn't defend it or get all defensive. We should agree. "Yes it's undemocratic. There's no freedom. You won't like it here. Don't come. But it's ok for tourists. Just don't come here and try to get a job."

When they ask, "is it true chewing gum is banned in Singapore?" Say yes.

Then say, "can you imagine a place that doesn't allow chewing gum? It's inhumane! You can't possibly live in a place that doesn't allow chewing gum! That's like a Basic Human Right!"

If they ask if it's true that there is no press freedom in Singapore? Say yes. All you read in the Straits Times is how good the SG government is. Instead of how horrible the US government is, like what a truly free press should be doing. In the US.

In the land of the blind...

A Singapore Parable?

It is said that in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. 

The one-eyed king told the blind people that it was going to get dark soon.

And the blind asked, "what is this dark that you are talking about? We live in darkness, you stupid fool!"

"Don't worry," said the one-eyed leader, "I have fire!"

And the blind asked, "what is this fire you speak of?"

"Here," said the one-eyed leader. "This is fire. It lights the way."

The blind reached for the fire to touch and feel what they cannot see, and they scream, "Argh! It burns! It burns! You stupid king! Are you trying to burn us! How is this helping us? Put it out! Put it out!"

And the blind rushed the one-eyed king making him drop the torch and it went out.

Then the darkness came.

And the one-eyed king could not see.

But he was at last equal to the people.