Singapore vs Hong Kong

Some points to ponder.
*The Rule of Law
*Open Government
*Independent Judiciary
*Clean Civil Service




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

New! - Complimentary Seminar Preview

Check out the new seminar preview series.

==> Complimentary Seminar Preview



Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

V For Vendetta Speech

There is a big problem in this country. Does it ring a bell?

Do not forget the 5th of November...




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Internet Empire Launches - Hosting Entrepreneur Workshop

I've been having a lot of people in their late thirties, forties, fifties asking me the same old question. Edmund, do you have something that can make money easily? Something that does not require a lot of IT knowledge? Something that one can pick up really quickly?

I hear you!

==> Hosting Entrepreneur Workshop

I've assembled a 3 hour hands on program that anybody without any IT background can also do it. I've also got Videos to show the person how to do it step-by-step.

More importantly, I will also be providing a 2 year post support for this course to make sure that in the event you come up with any problems after the course, I will double up as your technical manager to help you liaise with your client.

24 seats left!

==> Hosting Entrepreneur Workshop


P.S. - This deal is really good at only 150USD. Sorry this deal is only for those who can attend in Singapore. For my overseas friends, sorry, I will be coming up the full videos so you can sign up as well. Cheers.



Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Tian Xia Wei Gong - by Name Wee (The Power of Unity)

Awesome scenes.



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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com
SEO Videos
SEO Expert
Internet Empire
Internet Marketing Singapore
Internet Marketing Coach
Internet Marketing Expert
Internet Marketing Seminar
Internet Marketing Videos
Website Translation Toolbar

Controversial Video From Malaysian Blogger - Wanted by Malaysian Government

Go through the video and see whether it rings a bell.


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Said Zahari's book launch 1st July 2007

----------------------------------------

Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

FEER answers Singapore Defamation Suit

Our Correspondent
16 August 2007
Magazine says no defamation of Lee Hsien Loong and his father took place in August 2006 article

In two 50-page defense statements, The Far Eastern Economic Review has replied to allegations it had defamed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former Premier Lee Kuan Yew, in an interview the magazine carried last August with Singapore opposition politician Chee Soon Juan. The defense statements are here.

The statements, filed late on Friday, argue that no defamation exists because the article and the interview were factual. It also argues that the article was written in the public interest and that as a political figure Chee was qualified to comment on public affairs in the island republic.

Singapore’s leaders, who have filed numerous libel suits against foreign media group and opposition politicians, have yet to lose a case in Singapore’s courts. Among those they have sued or taken other action against are the Economist, the International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg, the Asian Wall Street Journal and FEER.


Defense statements:
DefenceLKY.pdf
DefenceLHL.pdf

Source: AsiaSentil.com

-------------------------------------



Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Singapore's Temasek profit hit by Shin, lower gains

By Jan Dahinten

SINGAPORE, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Singapore's state-owned Temasek Holdings warned that growing protectionism in Europe and the United States towards it and other sovereign wealth funds could hurt its expansion abroad in search of higher returns.

Temasek [TEM.UL], which owns stakes in Barclays, Standard Chartered, and Chinese banks, is one of a stable of huge state investors with deep pockets and global ambitions which are increasingly coming under scrutiny by Western governments.

The International Monetary Fund said in June it is growing uneasy about the trillions of dollars managed by largely secretive sovereign wealth funds because it fears their activities could disrupt financial markets.

"The free flow of investment is important for economic growth," said Ng Yat Chung, managing director of portfolio management at Temasek, at a briefing on Thursday.

"We would be concerned" about any move towards protectionism in the developed economies, he added.

Government-owned investment vehicles control around $2 trill ion -- roughly the size of France's economy -- and are expected to grow rapidly to $12 trillion by 2015.

Ng acknowledged concerns over investments by state funds in key sectors such as telecommunications and banks but said Temasek, owned by Singapore's finance ministry, was different.

"We distinguish ourselves by our transparency," he said.

IMPAIRMENT CHARGE

Temasek reported a 29 percent drop in net profit to S$9.1 billion ($6 billion) for its 2006/07 financial year, from S$12.8 billion a year ago, on lower divestment gains and an impairment charge on Thai telecoms firm Shin Corp , which lost one third of its stock market value during the period.

Temasek declined to disclose the size of the impairment charge on its Shin stake, but its annual report showed a S$830 million loss from associated companies, which include Shin.

A Temasek-led consortium bought Shin, Thailand's biggest telecoms group, from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last year for $3.8 billion. The sale helped spark a prolonged political crisis in Bangkok.

Temasek said it had made S$16 billion of new investments in its 2006/07 financial year, against S$21 billion in the previous year. Last month, the government-owned fund agreed to invest up to 2.1 billion pounds in British bank Barclays Plc .

It divested assets of over S$5 billion in the financial year, against S$13 billion a year ago, while its portfolio value rose 35 percent to $108 billion from $80 billion.

"Temasek's investment outlook remains one of caution in light of medium-term geo-economic risks and signs of bubbly market conditions," Temasek Chairman S. Dhanabalan said in the review.

Temasek has expanded aggressively in Asia since 2002 in an effort to improve its long-term investment returns.

It reported a one-year total shareholder return by market value of 27 percent -- compared with a return of 32.6 percent on the city-state's Straits Times Index (STI) <.STI>, and a 20.7 percent return for a benchmark consisting of one third MSCI Singapore, the World, and Asia-Pacific excluding Japan.

Over a 10-year period, its total shareholder return of 8 percent compared with 9.3 percent for STI, and 7.9 percent for the MSCI index.

Temasek -- headed by Ho Ching, the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong -- owns large stakes in many of Singapore's biggest firms, including Singapore Telecommunications , DBS Group Holdings , Singapore Airlines , and PSA International [PSA.UL].

Temasek said that Singapore accounted for 38 percent of its total portfolio at the end of March, down from 44 percent in the previous financial year. Asia ex-Japan accounted for 40 percent of the portfolio, up from 34 percent in the previous year.

Source: Reuters
-------------------------------------


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Do You Really Love Singapore?

Letter from Essaive of SammyBoy Forum.

Do I Really Love This Country?

Our nation is preparing to celebrate its 42nd birthday early next month. Suddenly I see huge banners and billboards showing happy children of different races juxtaposed with the pictures of their respective MPs of the various constituencies sprouting around the country. I see banners, flags, music videos and all sorts of decorations wishing a country that rose from being a chaotic, dirty, impoverished state to an economic powerhouse with global benchmarks in almost every avenue, a happy 42nd birthday.

But looking at it critically, something just doesn’t seem right. Are these people really in a celebratory mood? Are those children really celebrating away from the camera too? Do these kids even know who those MPs in the poster together with them are? Did the people who put up those banners doing it out of passion or obligation? Did the singers of these national day songs really write from their heart and sing ad verbatim? Do people really love the country that much?

Firstly, are Singaporeans really celebrating? Because recent experiences include 3 different taxi drivers complaining to me about life in Singapore, 2 old men in the coffee shop engaging in really intense polemics on how exactly was the GST increase beneficial to the poor in Singapore and an electrical engineer I know is seriously considering not having a 2nd child due to the potential financial burden to his family. With all these cynicism going around, I really wonder how long more the Government can tell us that everything is okay. Just take a walk down your neighbourhood and chances are you will be able to spot a beggar or two or someone collecting empty drink cans from food centers and even dustbins to sell. If really is in a golden age, then how do we explain all these? Even I, coming from a middle class family find it hard to go by everyday but I really shudder to think how the less fortunate go about their daily lives.

Secondly, talking about the children pictured together waving the flag. Sure, they did it amidst instructions from the cameraman or their teachers but are they really enjoying their youth? Are they really allowed their weekends free to rest and relax? Exams, segregation based on academic performances, stress and peer pressure and now, soliciting for donations on Saturdays. Is this really necessary? I understand that charities need money to go about their daily running but what is the point if they have to force schoolchildren to do it for them with the Community Involvement Programme (CIP)? And how do you measure altruism in ? Especially after the recent scandals involving charities, how sure are you that Singaporeans are more willing to part with their hard earned money?

I understand that the government works very hard to make sure we remain successful but at what cost? What is the point of being no.1 in the world but back home; there are smaller but more dangerous issues which have not been tackled. The recent economic policies have resulted in a greater disparity between the rich and the poor. It may seem like I’m exaggerating but how do we explain the recent surge in comments coming in from the “elites” about the poorer and less fortunate in especially via the Internet? Then there is the issue of foreign talent.

Foreign talent is vital for ’s long term success and gives Singaporeans a much better challenge and rids us of complacency but just how much is too much? After all its common logic that some of these foreigners might actually only be using Singapore as a stepping stone before moving off to the place they really wanted to go like USA. So how does this pacify the local kid who studied so hard to get his degrees, toiled under the sun for 2 years in NS only to lose out to the foreigner who might go elsewhere where the prospects could be higher? Where is the motivation? Instead of motivating us, all we get are comments about how lazy and unmotivated we are.

Another point is how do we identify with foreign sportspersons representing ? An Englishman and a Singaporean could be watching a World Cup match and the Englishman could point to a random player and exclaim how they used to be childhood buddies but can the Singaporean do the same? Of course I’m not saying foreigners are evil but realistically speaking, wouldn’t it be more ideal if these foreign talents could be mentors instead of doing our jobs?

You know life in a particular country is sad when there actually has to be a public campaign to stop the abuse of bus captains. But has anyone ever questioned why exactly are these people beating up the poor bus drivers? Why more and more Singaporeans are perpetually complaining about life here? Why the number of flags you see outside HDB flats now is much smaller than in the 90s? Why most of the people who write to newspaper forums to praise this country are actually foreigners? Why people who get selected to receive their NDP tickets eventually go on to sell them for a huge profit? These are some of the things I hope Singaporeans will continue to think about and hopefully, like me, think of solutions.

------------------------
Source: http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=sammyboymod&msg=148950.1




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Wealth gap 'spreads across Asia' - Except Singapore

The gap between rich and poor has widened sharply in China and many other Asian countries as their economies have boomed, research has suggested.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) found that relative inequality had widened more substantially in China than any other Asian country except for Nepal.

Other countries with rising wealth gaps include India, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

More spending was needed on education, training and healthcare to alleviate the situation, the ADB argued.

Lagging behind

The bank said the main reason for widening wealth gaps in recent years was the discrepancy in investment between urban and rural areas which favoured better-educated, better-off urban populations.

Improvements in rural infrastructure were being held back by government policies which deterred private investment.


Growing inequalities can weaken social cohesion

Ifzal Ali, Asian Development Bank

Relative inequality, measured as the change in proportionate differences in income between the richest and poorest in society, has risen in 15 countries studied since the early 1990s, according to the bank's Key Indicators 2007 report.

In only six - Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Thailand - did it narrow over the period in question.

Although basic poverty levels have fallen as Asian economies have expanded, the living standards of the wealthiest in society have improved at a much faster rate, leaving the poorest lagging even further behind.

While increased income disparities were not unusual in countries such as China experiencing rapid economic growth, the ADB said such extreme differences were socially harmful.

"In a region as dynamic and vibrant as developing Asia, low growth in incomes of the poor is reflective of weakness in the pattern of growth," said Ifzal Ali, the ADB's chief economist.

"Growing inequalities can weaken social cohesion."

Social friction

Urban-dominated growth in China and India has caused social friction as a result of the high levels of migration to cities and a shortage of foreign investment in more isolated areas.

But the ADB said the answer was not to try and turn back the tide of globalisation but to ensure employment opportunities were made more widely available.

"Inequalities in life start early and they begin with extreme circumstances that deny millions the opportunity to have adequate nutrition, health and basic education," it noted.

Governments must ensure their health and education programmes were "targeted" and implemented in a way which did not destabilize the overall economy, the bank added.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6936525.stm



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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Sink-A-Poor

Another classic video.



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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Ministers Pay Hike

This is a little old but look at what Teo Chee Hean said.

"The government, as an employer has to respond quickly and decisively to stay competitive and close the wage gaps. Otherwise we will deplete the Service of the able people we need and the service level to the public will be affected."

Mr. Teo, are you trying to say that despite having the highest salaries of any cabinet in the world, we are not able to find the 'able' people to join us? Are you also trying to say that the salary paid towards the cabinet is not enough to keep the 'able' people.

No offence, but I think the PAP is in a world of their own. Uniquely Singapore.






Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Accident at Eunos MRT

There are so many accidents and yet SMRT wants to raise their fees again.




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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Hardcore Nose Digging Auntie on MRT

Questions.

1. Why is she occupying two seats?
2. It seemed that she was so enjoying the moment that she didn't realize she was filmed.




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Eunos MRT Accident

Look carefully, the windscreen is splattered with blood stains.




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

I Didn't Know LKY Could Speak So Fast

Somebody just posted this funny video on YouTube.




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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

LKY 'Bridging' Our Relationship

All the countries from all over the world need to pay attention to our advice. We have a strong team of 2 DPMs, 2 Minister Lees(PM + MM) and 1 Senior Minister. Each of their salaries are higher than any President & Prime Minister throughout the world.

There are 2 possibilities, they are either immensely talented or our system of paying out high salaries to attract top talent is horribly wrong. You decide.




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew Questions Gay Sex Law

Now we have another Gay Rights Expert.




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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com>

Singapore Bans Said Zahari's Video & Tan Hua Piao Speaks

A long glimpse of one of Singapore's exiled. More truths to be told.



Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Founding PAP member and ex-political prisoner to pen memoirs

Encouraged by the determination of fellow former political prisoner Said Zahari to unveil the other side of history, Singapore’s Dr Lim Hock Siew has also decided to publish his memoirs.

“Although I have told my story in a documentary film many years ago, I have decided to write it down myself in the form of memoirs like my ‘good brother’ Said,” he told malaysiakini during an exclusive interview in Kuala Lumpur.

“I am now conducting research to find out more newly declassified materials in London to link up more dots,” added the 76-year old founding member of Singapore’s now ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

Lim was detained without trial for almost 20 years from 1963 to 1982. (Which makes him the second longest-held political prisoner in Singapore after Chia Thye Poh)

According to him, although he was alleged to have participated in the activities of the so-called ‘Communist United Front’ in Singapore from the mid-1950s to early 1960s, he was never formally charged in any open court of law for the allegation.

“I still remember even my police interrogators told me that they knew I had never been a member of any communist party or group,” said Lim who was a central committee member of the opposition Socialist Front in Singapore at the time of his arrest.

He was detained during the 1963 Operation Cold Store, which saw more than 130 leaders of opposition parties, labour and student unions and journalists deemed to be left wing held as well.

For more information, click here.

Courtesy of Martyn See - Film Maker of Singapore Rebel.



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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism

By Dr. Lawrence Britt
Source Free Inquiry.co
5-28-3



Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

From Liberty Forum
--------------------------------

Do you happen to see any similarity?



Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Taiwan Media Analyze Singapore Politics Part 5

Good Analysis.


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Taiwan Media Analyze Singapore Politics Part 4

Good Analysis.


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Taiwan Media Analyze Singapore Politics Part 3

Good Analysis.


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Taiwan Media Analyze Singapore Politics Part 2

Good Analysis.


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Taiwan Media Analyze Singapore Politics Part 1

Good Analysis.


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Internet Crash In USA

Must See!


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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

New Video - Sink-A-Poor

Interesting Video.

Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Resignation From NSP

For Immediate Release:

------Start of Press Release------

Edmund Ng submitted his resignation on Friday at 1.45pm as a member of the National Solidarity Party effective from 22 Jun 2007. He has also resigned from his capacity as Central Executive Council Member and Acting Organising Secretary of the National Soidarity Party.

Edmund Ng is resigning to pursue other political interests. He will join Mr. Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam's Reform Party once he finish handing over all his official duties at the National Solidarity Party.

------End of Press Release------

The Break Up

The Break Up
Uploaded by geertdesager

Interesting video.



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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Anwar Ibrahim's Malaysian Report From London

Anwar Ibrahim's Malaysian Report From London

To download the report. ==> Click Here





Regards,

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Press Release - Responsibility and Social Repercussions of Escape of Ex-NKF Chairman Escape

NSP Press Release:
Wed, Jun 06, 2007

The National Solidarity Party (NSP) shares the frustration of the public over the NKF issue which has dragged on for more than a year. The high public expectation in extracting justice ended in the incredible jaw-dropping development where Richard Yong, a key player in the NKF saga, fluidly escaped the gazes of the authorities, and fled Singapore while owing a huge sum of public money to NKF whilst being declared a bankrupt.

We are outraged over how “a matter of hours” of lapse by the authorities has practically brought down 4 decades of efforts in cultivating a public spirit of spontaneous charity. The social repercussions from a collapse of public trust in institutions meant to safeguard their social interests are simply immeasurable.

It is a total disaster when a defaulter of public funds slips through the tight law-enforcement net without undergoing the due punishment. Every such ‘success’ story emboldens more law-breakers to test the authorities, and impose further duress on the security of the nation.

The repulsive event further deteriorates what remaining sense of generosity there was in Singaporeans when the NKF incident first came to light. It also inevitably erodes public confidence in the ability of the relevant authorities to execute their duties diligently and responsibly.

The lapse is all the more lamentable considering that the defaulter had a few months earlier divested his private properties for a personal gain of $7.5million, and attempted to dodge the authorities by not reporting his whereabouts. Despite the cues, the authorities had not taken tighter precautions.

The frivolous approach of the authorities is inexplicable, considering how the authorities have the track record of freezing assets of defendants in sensitive legal cases even before their convictions.

The incident has made a complete mockery of the nation’s proclamation of good governance, further strengthening the case for the need of checks and balances, and more transparency in matters of grave social concerns.

On behalf of the indignant public, the NSP would like to know what measures the authorities are going to take to satisfactorily remedy the situation, and recoup the public’s hard-earned money donated through an innocent sense of trust. The authorities owe the public a thorough and convincing explanation for the “extraordinary” oversight.

Until the necessary justice is administered, public cynicism will gain in strength to threaten the precarious social coherence. Together with Singaporeans, the NSP is keen to see an acceptable closure to the saga, and nothing less will do.


Central Executive Council
National Solidarity Party

--------------------
End of Press Release
--------------------

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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Singapore's New Look

Singapore's New Look
Thursday, May. 24, 2007 By KATHLEEN KINGSBURY - Time Magazine

There was something a bit unusual about Lee Kuan Yew's annual Chinese New Year speech this year. The words of Lee, Singapore's former Prime Minister and founding father, are heeded by the public, because they provide a road map for the city-state's economic development. Hewing to custom, Lee spoke dryly of free-trade agreements and strengthening economic ties with the region. But then he started talking about art exhibitions, jazz bands, museums and alfresco dining.

In fact, eating outdoors was mentioned no fewer than three times as Lee laid out the government's vision for a multibillion-dollar residential and commercial real estate project located near the downtown core. The Marina Bay development would transform the way people live and work in Singapore, the Minister Mentor said. Electric golf buggies will whiz by diners as they gaze from the water's edge upon the "sailing, boating, windsurfing and fishing." Singapore aspires to be "a tropical version" of New York, Paris and London all in one, Lee said, adding "the Marina will be like the St. Mark's Piazza in Venice."

Say what? It was hard to tell if the architect of Singapore's rise from third world to first was charting an economic course or making a sales pitch for a master-planned leisure community—because he was, in a way, doing both. Marina Bay is just one part of a government-orchestrated effort to change the face of Singapore. This is no Botox job. Work is underway on an epic facelift, one that could within a few years render Singapore nearly unrecognizable: the financial district will have a striking new skyline while casinos and other amusements will dot the city.

Even sleepy Sentosa Island, a 500-hectare tourist hangout located 15 minutes from the city center, is slated for overhaul via a 10-year, $5 billion plan to turn it into a world-class playground for the wealthy, with multimillion-dollar seafront homes, a megayacht marina and a Universal Studios theme park.

The point of this real estate renaissance: change Singapore's image as a prosperous but rather dull commercial hub into that of a vibrant, fun destination—a place people will want to live in or at least visit on holiday, not merely transit on their way to more exotic Southeast Asian locales such as Bangkok and Bali.

"Our entire nation is focused on a self-transformation," says Lim Neo Chian, CEO of the Singapore Tourism Board. "Singapore is changing its image in the eyes of the world."

Change it must. Faced with challenging long-term economic prospects and a flagging birth rate, Singapore's leaders have determined that the future of its 4.4 million citizens depends upon attracting multinational corporations along with hundreds of thousands of ambitious, educated (and preferably wealthy) foreigners to work and live there.

Like other Asian tigers such as Taiwan, Singapore is losing high-tech manufacturing jobs—once crucial to economic growth—to lower-cost countries such as China. Manufacturing now provides work for just 20% of the island's 2.5 million workforce, down from 33% a decade ago, a decline reflected in people's paychecks. The poorest 30% of Singaporeans have seen their wages drop consistently for the past five years, according to United Nations data. This economic predicament is complicated by flagging demographics. Younger Singaporeans—the most productive workers—are increasingly seeking employment overseas, while the ones who remain are having fewer children. At the current birth rate, the population will begin to shrink in 2020. And that portends stagnating economic growth and a declining standard of living.

The antidote: open the gates to immigration. The city aims to boost its population by 25% to 6.5 million over the next few decades. Due to the flagging birth rate, that goal can be reached only by admitting up to 1 million foreigners, more than doubling the current expat population of 875,400. Drawing in so many worker bees will require a lot of honey, in the form of good jobs, recreational opportunities, decent housing—the myriad elements that factor into a city's lifestyle. It will also require a certain amount of buzz—and Singapore is not currently thought of as an exciting city. Not that it isn't a model in many ways.

It's admired for its efficient government, first-world infrastructure, solid educational system—a real plus if it is to attract high-income talent from overseas—and clean, crime-free streets. Singapore is regularly named in regional surveys as one of the best places in Asia for expats to live. Per capita income last year was $30,900, equal to that of Japan, and the economy is popping; GDP grew 7.9% last year.

But detractors have long complained about Singapore's paternalistic politics and its straitlaced social environment that can be as stuffy as its equatorial climate. "I tell people Singapore is the Lexus of countries," says David Martin, a U.K. citizen who moved to Singapore three years ago and now is general manager of the Marina Bay Financial Centre, a $2 billion office-and-residential project that is under construction in downtown Singapore. "Lexus could be the most well-made car out there, but it will never be as attractive as a Mercedes or BMW."

This ambivalence is perhaps heightened by Singapore's unprepossessing cityscape. Many great metropolises have icons and landmarks like Big Ben or the Chrysler Building. The only physical attributes associated with Singapore are its statues of "merlions," a chimera with a lion's head and fish's body that was invented by the tourism board for a 1964 marketing campaign.

The government for years has been trying to liven up the place. In 2002 nightclubs were allowed for the first time to remain open around the clock, an attempt to inject some oxygen into the tourist trade and nightlife (lawmakers also repealed a law barring dancing on tabletops). Two years ago, city officials stopped tinkering and got serious: over considerable public objection, gambling was legalized. The government subsequently struck deals with major gaming companies to build two casino/resort developments, each costing about $4 billion. When completed, they will be the twin suns around which a solar system of new developments and diversions are expected to revolve.

One casino is located on a 24-hectare strip of land on the southern shore of Marina Bay, not far from the city's growing financial district at the mouth of the Singapore River. In February American casino operator Las Vegas Sands broke ground there on what will be the city's first integrated resort, scheduled to be completed in 2009.

Beyond gambling, the Marina Bay Sands—composed of three nearly identical 50-story towers—will offer 2,500 hotel rooms, 93,000 sq m of convention space, two theaters, an ice-skating rink, shops and restaurants. A revitalized waterfront will sport the world's tallest Ferris wheel, miles of walkways and a 100-hectare botanical garden. To help bring in tourists, Singapore recently announced it had cut a deal to become a stop on the Formula One Grand Prix circuit starting in 2008; the city will host the annual event on downtown streets and may hold Formula One's first night race.

For those with more genteel interests, a world-class art-and-science museum is being built near the Marina Bay Sands. Designed by renowned Israeli architect Moshe Safdie, the facility looks on paper to be as distinctive a landmark as the Sydney Opera House—its dramatic roofline resembles flower petals or an upturned palm. "We call it the Hand of Singapore," says George Tanasijevich, general manager of Singapore development for Las Vegas Sands.

The other casino, to be developed by Malaysia's Genting International, will stand on Sentosa Island, which is connected by bridge, light rail and cable car to the main island. Using land it had been reclaiming since the 1970s, the government several years ago began auctioning Sentosa plots to the private sector, but only to be developed under its careful guidance and marketing. Beaches that ringed the island were spruced up, and two golf courses modernized. Thirteen hotels containing about 3,500 rooms are planned, providing lodging for tourists drawn to the beaches, the casino and a Universal Studios theme park, which is also being built by Genting International and is slated to open in 2010.

Then there's what is arguably the capstone of the Sentosa initiative: Sentosa Cove, Singapore's first waterfront property development and also its first gated community. Each of its approximately 600-sq-m lots will soon sport luxury homes costing up to $20 million, each with infinity pools and private boat berths. Mixed in with the single-family homes will be four condominium complexes, a five-star hotel and a megayacht marina.

The government hopes the high-end properties will be purchased by wealthy locals as well as expat residents and overseas investors. To bring in the latter, a new property law was passed last year making Sentosa Cove the first land in Singapore that could be owned by foreign individuals (through 99-year leases) without special government clearance. Previously, foreigners could not easily secure land rights; those wishing to invest were obliged to purchase condominiums.

Backed by an international marketing campaign, Sentosa Cove homes are nearly sold out—more than half of the buyers are foreigners—and are generating a little bit of buzz that is music to the ears of the city fathers. When Hong Kong housewife and property investor Betty Ling first saw advertisements for Sentosa Cove three years ago, her Singaporean friends warned her "only ghosts live there." But she says she chose to buy in Singapore instead of Bali or Phuket because, "It's an international city and you have all the infrastructure of city life. You can feel safe there. Bali and China are scary. You don't know whom to trust."

Plus, she says, prices are relatively low, adding, "Where in Hong Kong can you moor your boat right outside your house?" Another Sentosa Cove owner is Rick Scanlon, a 37-year-old investment-fund manager who has lived with his family in Singapore since 1996. "Our lot is right on the water, sort of carved into the hillside," says Scanlon, an American expat. "It reminds me almost of living in Malibu."

Malibu? In some ways, what's happening in Singapore more closely resembles recent events in Macau, the former colonial enclave on the Chinese mainland that saw its property market and economy soar after the government in 2002 ended a longstanding gambling monopoly and touched off construction of a spate of new casinos, resorts and residential projects. Singapore's actions are having a similar effect.

Development is booming and property prices have been soaring. Upscale home prices that averaged about $8,500 per sq m two years ago are expected to reach more than $21,300 per sq m this year. Developers are piling into the market. Beyond Sentosa, several new luxury residential projects have gone up around the city in the past year, and units are selling out at record prices within hours of going on the market.

In one such project, St. Regis Residences, located in Singapore's shopping district, seven penthouses sold at an average price of $18 million; three-quarters of the buyers were from Europe, the U.S. and the Middle East. "Singapore has entered a new era in terms of costs," says Tay Huey Ying, Singapore research director for Colliers International property brokers. "The top tier—and its prices—are here to stay."

The commercial-property sector is also buoyant, especially around Marina Bay, the western shore of which is being promoted as Singapore's answer to Wall Street, but with sailing, waterskiing and dining on your doorstep. Eight new skyscrapers are in the works that would quadruple Singapore's supply of top-quality office space by 2010.

Partnering with both local and foreign developers, government planners have applied every element of its newest mantra—"live, work, play"—to the area. "It's definitely [the government's] vision," says Martin, the general manager of Marina Bay Financial Centre. "But they've convinced the private sector to foot the bill."

In fact, the government effort to revamp Singapore goes beyond property development. After the 1997 Asian financial crisis, bureaucrats realized the city could no longer rely upon manufacturing to fuel its economy, and began setting policies designed to create higher-paying, white-collar jobs in specific sectors: biotechnology, education, and private banking and finance.

Singapore aspires to be a regional or even global center in those areas by offering incentives to corporations such as tax breaks, reasonably priced premium office space and Singapore's corruption-free business climate.

The push appears to be contributing as much to recent economic growth as property. Since 2000, production of drugs and medical devices has quadrupled to $15 billion. World-class educational institutions such as INSEAD and Johns Hopkins University have established Singapore campuses. The city-state is becoming the largest hub for private banking outside Zurich.

Assets held in the Singapore offices of private banks including UBS and Citigroup have been rising 20% annually since 2003. More than 100 hedge funds have relocated to the island, up from 20 in 2004, according to the Singapore Monetary Authority. The Boston Consulting Group reckons Singapore now has more millionaire households as a percentage of total households than any other Asian economy.

Overall, an unprecedented 173,300 jobs were created in Singapore last year, and not just in high-pay professions. The construction and tourism sectors are also on the upswing. The Marina Bay Sands and Genting casino projects by themselves will add $8 billion of foreign investment. When completed, the developments are expected to create 38,000 service-sector jobs. "We have more than 450,000 citizens over 55 that are underemployed and undereducated," says Dr. Loo Choon Yong, a lawmaker and chairman of the Sentosa Development Corporation. "These are jobs they can do." Today, 68% of Singaporeans work in service industries, according to the Ministry of Manpower.

Despite this economic revitalization, many Singaporeans find the changes their city is undergoing to be bewildering and even threatening. According to public opinion polls, a majority of citizens were against the legalization of gambling, fearing casinos would result in increased crime and other social ills. Today, there's additional anxiety over ambitious efforts to boost immigration. In January, a local newspaper poll showed that 90% of Singaporeans opposed those efforts because they fear losing their jobs to foreign professionals.

Nearly 43% said they believe the government is more concerned about foreigners than its own people; they also expressed doubt that Singapore's open-door policy will translate into more jobs. "The backlash comes from so-called foreign talents taking the best jobs without any obligations to maintaining the national good," says National University of Singapore sociology professor Chua Beng Huat.

There's also backlash over the potential impact that an influx of up to a million immigrants could have on society in coming years. Singapore has steadily been adding about 100,000 expats annually since 1990, census data shows. Foreigners now make up about 19% of the city's population, in contrast with Hong Kong, where expats make up less than 8% of all residents.

"There are concerns over how in the world Singapore's tiny island and infrastructure will support the increased foreign population and how that will impact transportation, taxes, traffic, housing and schooling for the locals," says Singaporean Cheryl Liew, a consultant for an executive-search firm. One of those locals, Lance Lim, summed up this skepticism in a letter to the local Straits Times newspaper published in March. "We need to seriously consider whether our country is prepared to sacrifice its national identity for supposed economic growth," Lim wrote.

But not everyone is having an identity crisis. Pinchin Kwok chose to return to her native Singapore last year after living in New York for five years. The 28-year-old banker says she came home for "the good life" and that she's excited by the changes. "Many of the reasons people leave Singapore when they are young will be gone," Kwok says. "Life can only become more cosmopolitan and sophisticated. Everything will be less boring." Kwok adds that she expects Singapore will become "more of a melting pot like Manhattan, but at the core will be the heartlanders who've lived here for a long time and can pass along their values."

So maybe Lee Kuan Yew was right when he compared this new Singapore with Venice, London and New York. Those cities grew into giants not by copying blueprints of other capitals, but by being open to fresh ideas and unfamiliar DNA. "Yes, we should study best practices and features from other great cities," says Cheong Koon Hean, CEO of Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Agency. "But, ultimately, we need to seek out answers that best suit Singapore. To find our own soul." With their usual determination, Singaporeans are looking.

Singapore: Morphing Metropolis
Marina Bay Sands
Slated to be home to Singapore's first casino when completed in 2009, this $4 billion resort will sport more than 2,500 hotel rooms in three soaring towers. The project includes a shopping mall traversed by canals, an indoor ice-skating rink, two 2,000-seat theaters for Broadway shows, and an architecturally distinctive arts-and-science museum

Sentosa Cove
Developers say they had the French Riviera in mind when they drew up plans for a 117-hectare residential enclave on Sentosa Island. The hoi polloi need not apply. Luxury homes there cost as much as $20 million; residents have access to a yacht marina and a world-class golf course. To attract rich foreigners, Singapore amended its property laws to allow expat buyers to secure 99-year leases on land. The project is part of a wide-ranging plan to upgrade Sentosa Island for tourism

St. Regis Residences
The latest addition to U.S.-based developer Starwood's internationally known St. Regis line of upscale properties, these 173 luxury flats sold out quickly at record prices after hitting the market last June. When the St. Regis and its sister hotel, located next door, are completed in 2008, they'll rise over an upgraded Orchard Road, Singapore's main shopping district

-----------------------------------------



Regards,

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Tribute To Mr. JBJ - True Singapore Hero

This is a video that was created on Microsoft Movie Maker. The next video will be better.

To download this video, Click Here.




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

NTU Alumni Talk - Strategic Search Engine Marketing

My Friends,

I will be the guest speaker at NTU Alumni Club this coming Friday at 7pm. It is a Seminar cum Networking event. It will be an interesting night. Come and join me to catch me in action as I release some of my secrets of getting my website rank at the Top of Search Engines.


Date: 25 May 2007 (Fri)
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Venue: 8th Degree Restaurant & Lounge, Level 8
Price: $5 Member; $8 Guest

Click here to register

P.S. - You gonna regret it if you miss this one. ;-)




Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Tanjong Pagar GRC Flood

Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

George W. Bush's Resume

George W. Bush (Dubya)
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Past Work Experience

- Ran for congress and lost.
- Produced a Hollywood slasher B movie.
- Bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas; company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.
- Bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using taxpayer money.
- Biggest move: Traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox.
- With father's help (and his name) was elected Governor of Texas. (Sounds like someone in Singapore?)
- Accomplishments in Previous Positions

Changed pollution laws for power and oil companies and made Texas the most polluted state in the Union.

Replaced Los Angeles with Houston as the most smog-ridden city in America. Cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas government to the tune of billions in borrowed money.

Set record for most executions by any governor in American history.

Became president after losing the popular vote by over 500,000 votes, with the help of my father's appointments to the Supreme Court.

Accomplishments As President

- Attacked and took over two countries.
- Spent the surplus and bankrupted the treasury.
- Shattered record for biggest annual deficit in history.
- Set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month period.
- Set all-time record for biggest drop in the history of the stock market.
- First president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.
- First president in U.S. history to enter office with a criminal record.
- First year in office set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in U.S. history.
- After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, presided over the worst security failure in U.S. history.
- Set the record for most campaign fundraising trips than any other president in U.S. history.
- In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their job.
- Cut unemployment benefits for more out of work Americans than any president in U.S. history.
- Set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period.
- Appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in U.S. history.
- Set the record for the least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television.
- Signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any president in U.S. history.
- Presided over the biggest energy crises in U.S. history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.
- Presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history and refused to use the national reserves as past presidents have.
- Cut healthcare benefits for war veterans.
- Set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind.
- Dissolved more international treaties than any president in U.S. history.
- My presidency is the most secretive and unaccountable of any in U.S. history.
- Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. history (the 'poorest' multimillionaire, Condoleezza Rice, has an Exxon oil tanker named after her).
- First president in U.S. history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously go bankrupt.
- Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.
- First president in U.S. history to order a U.S. attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation.
- Created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.
- Set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in U.S. history.
- First president in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove the U.S. from the human rights commission.
- First president in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove the U.S. from the elections monitoring board.
- Removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in U.S. history.
- Rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.
- Withdrew from the World Court of Law.
- Refused to allow inspectors access to U.S. prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.
- First president in U.S. history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 U.S. elections).
- All-time U.S. (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.
- My biggest lifetime campaign contributor presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).
- Spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in U.S. history.
First president in U.S. history to unilaterally attack a sovereign nation against the will of the United Nations and the world community.
- First president to run and hide when the U.S. came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)
- First U.S. president to establish a secret shadow government.
- Took the biggest world sympathy for the U.S. after 9/11, and in less than a year made the U.S. the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in U.S. and world history).
- With a policy of 'disengagement' created the most hostile Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.
- Fist U.S. president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.
- First U.S. president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the U.S. than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.
- Changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.
Set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated U.S. law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.
Failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden 'dead or alive.'
Failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capital building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.
- In the 18 months following the 9/11 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.
- Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in U.S. history.
- In a little over two years created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the U.S. has ever been since the Civil War.
- Entered office with the strongest economy in U.S. history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.
Records and References

- At least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine (Texas driving record has been erased and is not available)
- AWOL from National Guard and deserted the military during a time of war.
- Refuse to take drug test or even answer any questions about drug use.
- All records of my tenure as governor of Texas have been spirited away to my father's library, sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
- All records of any SEC investigations into my insider trading or bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
- All minutes of meetings for any public corporation I served on the board are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
- Any records or minutes from meetings I (or my VP) attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review.
- For personal references please speak to my daddy or uncle James Baker (they can be reached at their offices of the Carlyle Group for war-profiteering.)

Source: Kelley Kramer
>>>> Download George W. Bush's Resume here <<<<<



Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

The Untold Truths of National Service

We are loyal Singaporeans and we feel the need to serve the country and protect our homeland. By sharing the storeis I am not telling you to not serve our country but how we could improve the current situations.

Let me share with you these stories. It might just let you have a new perspective of the disadvantages Singaporeans face by serving their National Service, Reservist and In-Camp training in their day to day life.

Incident 1.

IT Analyst on contract was on 2 weeks reservist in an IT Firm. He was serving a 6 months contract. After returning from the in-camp training, he was told his contract will not be renewed. When asked why it wasn't renewed as he was hardworking and fulfilled all job tasks on time, his IT Manager who is a Chinese National told him that he would rather hire more China or Indian Nationals as they have no 'down time'. This is getting increasingly rampant in many organizations where Non-Singaporean hold Management positions.



Incident 2.

One of my students, J.L. is a male nurse. Like many Singaporeans, he likes to start his own family and own a flat. He realized he could not afford to do that due to his family commitments. He works from 8.30 to 4.30pm in a local hospital. To supplement his income, he decides to take on a second job as a security guard on 2-3 week nights, working from 6pm to 6am.

Like many Singaporeans, he served his two weeks reservist and one day after returning from his reservist, he was told not to come back for work. Hence, he had to source for another job.



Incident 3

Lawrence Leow was a bright young kid. He was very active in school and was pretty diligent in his studies. He was studying in Anderson Junior College. Disaster struck when he was serving his National Service.

Lawrence had suffered heat stroke during his National Service. What happened next was a shock to many of his friends and family. Due to the heat stroke suffered during National Service training, Lawrence was paralyzed in most of his body. He also suffered inflammation and infection in his wind pipe. That resulted in having an operation to have a opening at his throat.

Lawrence could not eat on his own and had limited mobility. He could only type using a small digital pad or sms to communicate his thoughts. He was in no position to take care of himself. As he can't speak, he could only capture your attention by breathing deeply. Yes, it does sound like Darth Vader breathing with intensity.

I was concerned over his situation so I asked him whether Mindef offered any kind of assistance or compensation to him. I was told they are only paying him $500 a month plus a CSC card. In Lawrence's own words via sms to me, "The $500 is not even enough for me to hire a maid!".

This is sad as it adds on to Lawrence's family burden. During the free internet marketing workshop at HWA, it was his grandfather that had been wheelchairing him all the way from Bukit Batok to the HWA office at Balester. How many more are in the same predicament of Lawrence Leow?




I am asking the following questions to the authorities.

1. At a time when Ministers are giving themselves pre-approved increments of millions of dollars, why is it that the SAF is only compensating peanuts to those who suffered disabilities a meagre $500 a month?

2. Are the National Serviceman promptly covered under the accidental insurance. Isn't NTUC Income the most competitive provider in the market? Are the payouts realistic enough. Should we be looking for better coverage by perhaps opening a tender for insurance and inviting all insurance companies to participate?

P.S. - Anybody who wish to help Lawrence in anyway could contact me. He's struggling even to pay for his internet access.

P.P.S. - For reporters who want to schedule a face to face interview for a more in-depth story, you are welcome to contact me.





Regards,

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

NTUC Pays 7 Month Bonus!

You should check out this report from Today Online.

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/187478.asp




Regards,

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

‘How To Beat A MNC Using Strategic Internet Marketing?’ & Networking Night

I've been invited to speak at the NTU Alumni Club on 25th May 07. Tickets are available at $8 for guests and $5 for NTU Alumni members. The last I heard was that tickets are being snapped up really fast!

I will be sharing strategies and tips of how SMEs can Out Gun the MNCs with absolute NO Advertising Budget.

Check out here for more details. Finger food available.

==> http://www.ntualumni.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=18


P.S. - Interested in finding out how to make money with no money? That's my specialty. ;-)

==> http://www.ntualumni.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=18



Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Growing underclass in 'Lion City'

Hamish MacDonald
Al Jazeera
05 May 07

The city-state of Singapore is Asia's second-richest country after Japan - a high-tech global hub for banking, transport and business.

Modern Singapore has never really had a problem with poverty, but globalisation and an aging population are changing that.

A growing number of Singaporeans are now struggling to make ends meet - forcing radical changes to social and fiscal policy in a country where welfare remains a
dirty word.

Tan Ching Hoo is 62 years old. He used to work as a waiter, but now he collects cardboard for a living.

For every kilogram, he earns the equivalent of 65 cents. "Whether I like or not, I have no choice," he says. "I have to earn money."

His son pays the rent of $50 a month for a one room apartment.

'Dirty word'

But Tan is not alone. Eight per cent of Singapore's population is said to live in poverty and increasing numbers are joining that new class of urban poor.

Sinapan Samydorai of the Think Centre, an independent political research group, says for years Singapore was built around a concept of affluence, and was simply not prepared for the idea of poverty.

"Welfare was a dirty word in Singapore, even now. They don't encourage welfare."

Globalisation created Singapore's economic miracle, reinforcing the self-styled image of the 'lion city'.

But it also brought cheaper migrant labour, and that has made it hard for an ageing population to compete.

While most countries have their disadvantaged, what makes Singapore different is that a country now known as one of the most affluent in Asia is developing what
is being described as an underclass.

Singapore's government has now acknowledged there is a problem and in this year's budget it introduced what it calls "bold" new welfare payments.

Sylvia Lim, a member of parliament for the opposition Workers Party, says this represents something of a sea change in Singapore's policy towards welfare.

"This is quite radical for Singapore," she says.

"We have always lived under this system where you have to earn every cent that you get basically and now the government recognises that there are some people who
just can't earn enough now."

'Marginalised'

Singapore's emerging underclass may be relatively small now, but its growth could threaten the political dynamic in what is effectively a one-party state.

Chua Hak Bin, a Singapore-based economist with Citigroup, says this is the first time the government has acknowledged the issue.

"There will be some social pressures, there will be a group that will be marginalised," he says.

"I guess what is important though is that it is being recognised and the government is trying to do something to help those people."

Back at his small one room flat Mr Tan has yet to sign up for any of the government's new assistance programs.

The paperwork he says is just too complicated.

Even in pragmatic Singapore old habits die hard, and welfare, both giving and receiving, might take some getting used to.


Singapore's wealth gap:
[Source]: UN, Singapore government

GDP $28,077 per person in 2006
Economy forecast to grow 7 per cent in 2007
Between 2000 and 2005:
- Monthly income of Singapore's poorest workers fell 4.3 per cent to $774 a month.
- Monthly income of Singapore's richest workers grew 2.8 per cent to nearly 11,000 dollars a month

Source:
http://singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2007/05/growing-underclass-in-lion-city.html


Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Woman Dies After Overworked

Her story is a painful but apt lesson for us as we take a break this May Day: Work hard, but take care of your health.

That lesson came too late for Ms May Leong, who died on 23 Apr. Just two days before her death, she had written in her blog: "I don't wanna end up dead for the sake of dough".

Her mum and some friends believe she was stressed out from work. Going by her blog entry dated 21 Apr – her only entry this year – her job seemed demanding.

And she was clearly struggling to cope with the workload. Just before she died, Ms Leong, who would have been 29 this month, had been working on her laptop for eight straight hours, said her mother.

Although the cause of death can't be confirmed for now, family members believe she died from pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis. This is a condition that can strike when someone has been inactive for a long period of time, like sitting in one position.

"I really thought I was able to do everything, that I can be supergirl as well, but my health is worsening at a fast rate," she wrote in her blog two days before she died.

"Vitamin M(oney) isn't gonna cure my health."

The Singaporean is an only child. Her father left the family when she was young, said a relative, leaving the mother and daughter to fend for themselves.

That early trauma bonded the pair, who became close. Ms Leong, who worked in a multi-national company (MNC) and apparently drew a salary of $2,600 a month, said in her blog that she wanted to "earn lots of $".

She had a dream: To take her mother abroad for a holiday. Friends and family said she was bent on earning enough to realise that dream for Madam Lim Mui Mui, 54, who works as a packer for a supermarket chain here.

That is why Ms Leong continued to hold on to her job, despite being stressed by it.

Said her friend, Mr Li Kaiyan, 25, a civil engineering student at the National University of Singapore: "She told us before she blogged her last entry that she was overworked and stressed out.

"We hardly had time to chat on the Internet since she started this job about two months ago."

Ms Leong had been working at different jobs until she joined her last company in September last year, said Mr Li who has been a close friend for three years.

In March, she switched departments in the same company and work became more demanding.

Ms Leong, a support manager, was thrilled to "finally have the chance to 'fly high' in a Fortune 500 MNC", she wrote in her blog.

So much so that it was "ok for me to wake at 3.30am to start work @ 4.30am everyday in the morning" as she was dealing with New Zealand partners.

"But never did I realise what kind of stuff (would be) coming towards me..." she wrote.

"What I face everyday as a partner support manager is having more than 100 e-mails per day.

"Partners from New Zealand practically 'screaming' to be served first, getting their orders delivered ASAP, wanting everything, complaining of everything.

"Month end was the most 'exciting' part, you get to go on concalls (conference calls) almost every day, prepare backlog reports for each concall session which consists of 500 over orders remaining undelivered, investigating item by item...

"I've got to work at home during non-working hours including weekends, just doing my best to clear my work."

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

A National University Hospital spokesman confirmed that Ms Leong was taken to its A&E department on 23 Apr at around 8pm.

She could not confirm the cause of death as it is now a coroner's case.

Ms Pamela Wong, 29, who was Ms Leong's best friend for 21 years, believes that it was deep vein thrombosis which killed her. She said doctors had told family members that Ms Leong had a blood clot in her legs.

"Her family members told me that when she tried to stand up, the blood clot actually shot to her heart causing her to collapse," she said.

Ms Wong added that since Ms Leong fell down two weeks ago, she hadn't been feeling well.

On 18 Apr, Ms Leong fainted at the lobby of her workplace. But she did not want to take medical leave. Nor did she want to quit her job.

"She was worried because she was on contract. Every time she took medical leave, it would be on no-pay basis," said Ms Wong.

Ms Leong wrote in her blog: "I've got myself sick these few days. Had diarrhoea last Thursday (19 Apr), hurt my knee and was limping badly since last Sunday (15 Apr), had breathlessness since Wednesday (18 Apr) and fainted after work on that day at my office lift lobby, knocked my head against the wall when I fainted, collapsed again last night at home."

Madam Lim said her daughter had been very sick since Friday.

Ms Leong wrote in her blog: "Now my chest feels really tight & breathing is really tough. "Getting up & walk, I just feel like I'm carrying a heavy baggage of few hundred kilos & I'll start to feel really weak & dizzy."

Earlier, she had been to see the doctor at a private clinic near her home in Clementi. But the doctor had told her it was probably work stress she was feeling, said Ms Wong, who had spoken on the phone to Ms Leong the day before she died.

Ms Leong wrote: "Doc just said I'm really stressed out. Sigh..... what should I do? Quit? Or continue this ultra-super stressful job? "I've got a contract of six months to fulfill... three months to commit. If I quit now, I've got to pay back one month's salary. Not worth it. If I quit after May, it won't be so bad.

"But I don't know if my health can tolerate (it) till then."

Mr Li said: "According to her mother, before she collapsed, she had been working non-stop for eight hours with the laptop on her lap, replying to e-mail and work-related stuff."



At her wake at Singapore Casket last week, friends, family and ex-colleagues gathered. According to Ms Jamie Tan – Ms Leong's cousin – her boss was the first to arrive.

"We spoke to him. We wanted to know if she was overworked. He said no," said Ms Tan, 31, whose mother is the elder sister of Ms Leong's mother.

Madam Lim said: "Now that my daughter is gone, what is there left for me?"

She was gasping for breath

MS May Leong's mother called Ms Pamela Wong in a panic at around 7pm last Monday. Ms Leong had collapsed and she was having great difficulty breathing.

Said Ms Wong: "I used to live in the nearby block to her flat. But since I got married, I have moved. So I could not rush down. I called my parents and asked them to rush there first."

While her parents were on the way to Ms Leong's flat, they called her mother to ask if they should call a doctor or an ambulance.

"She asked for an ambulance," said Ms Wong. When her parents arrived at the flat, her father saw Ms Leong on the sofa "gasping for breath".

"He also saw a huge bruise on her leg," said Ms Wong. Ms Leong's mother was frantic, but there was little anyone could except wait for the ambulance.

"The ambulance took about 20 minutes to half an hour to arrive," said Ms Wong. "During that time, my father saw her calling her mother and crying, quite loudly at first, but as she grew weaker, her cries became softer."

By the time Ms Leong arrived at the National University Hospital at about 8pm, her condition was critical. Not long after that, she died.

Listen to your body or you may regret it

Deep vein thrombosis refers to the formation of a blood clot within a deep vein, commonly in the thigh or calf.

Some risk factors include being over 60 years old, overweight and being inactive for a long period of time.

If the clot partially or completely blocks the flow of blood through the vein, blood begins to pool and build up below the site.

Chronic swelling and pain may develop. The valves in the blood vessels may be damaged. Or if the clot breaks free and travels through the veins, it can reach the lungs, where it is called a pulmonary embolism (PE).

This is a potentially fatal condition that can kill within hours. To prevent DVT, you should frequently exercise your lower leg muscles – every half an hour or so – if you know you'll be inactive for a long period of time.

Other than exercising your leg muscles, you should also exercise work-life balance, said Dr Clarice Hong, a consultant psychiatrist in private practice.

"I would always advocate that we should always take care of ourselves first. If we don't take care of ourselves, we cannot fulfill our roles at work or at home, especially the multiple roles that women play," said Dr Hong.

If you do not feel well, you should listen to your body and rest. "Don't push yourself so hard doing one thing. That's like putting all your eggs in one basket. Because if something happens to you, everything comes to an end," she said.

Source: The New Paper, 1 May 2007


Regards,

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Awesome Video About LKY

This was an interesting video I found at Sammyboy. :-)



Regards,

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Dr. Chee's Book - A Nation Cheated

Dr. Chee's Book - A Nation Cheated
Click here to purchase it.



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Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Zahari&#39;s 17 Years

The complete video that is banned in Singapore. Filmmaker Martyn See, who was under investigation last year for a documentary about an opposition leader, said he was surprised by the ban. He said the film, produced at the end of 2005, had been approved twice last year with a PG rating. When it was not shown at the 2006 Singapore International Film Festival, as he expected, See applied for an exhibition license to screen it publicly. "I don't know what changed. Maybe different people with different views watched it this time," See told The Associated Press. "I based my questions to Said on his first book [Dark clouds at dawn: A political memoir], which is sold in Singapore. So what is in the film is not something the government didn't know." He said he had been ordered by the censorship board to surrender all copies of the film by Wednesday afternoon. See said that Said is the only one of those detained in the 1960s under the Internal Security Act who is willing to speak publicly about his experience. "I wanted to show another side of Singapore's history," See said of his reason for making the film.

Regards,

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

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You Spin Me Around

Interesting clip I found on YouTube. :)

Edmund Ng
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Edmund Ng Video

Regards,

Edmund Ng,
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

Internet Marketing Seminar

Check out this Internet Marketing Seminar Video.


Regards,

Edmund Ng,
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com

123,000 jobs were created last year and economists estimate some 70 percent of these jobs went to foreigners.

SINGPAORE: Middle class wages have been stagnant in the past 5 years, according to economists, and this could lead to social instability.

These concerns were shared at the annual Institute of Policy Studies Singapore Perspectives conference.

Economists believe a US economy slowdown in business and consumer spending may cause problems for Singapore, but as Singapore is tops in the ASEAN resilience index, it should be able to weather external shocks, thanks to a diversified economy and strong Asian demand.

They predict that growth going forward will be 3 to 5 percent.

The long-term growth limits for a mature economy was previously in the 3 to 5 percent range.

However, economists are asking who this growth is for. The income of the bottom 30 percent of the population has fallen. What is more worrying is the fact that the majority of Singaporeans in the middle class has only seen about a 1 percent increase in nominal income in the last 5 years.

It is not just Singapore - economists say stagnant wages is a global problem, and the chief reason for this is globalisation.

India and China are introducing a large pool of skilled and unskilled labour to compete with the labour forces of industrialised countries.

Singapore is susceptible to this because of its open economy.

123,000 jobs were created last year and economists estimate some 70 percent of these jobs went to foreigners.

"With the rate of immigration, even among unskilled and semi skilled labour at a rate twice of what we experienced in the 90s, at a rate fastest in the developed world, the question is - does this dampen our real wages as we grow? Does the strategy itself dampen real wages and depress real wages at the low and middle end of the spectrums? They are sacred cows but we should step back and think about them," said Yeoh Lam Keong, Vice President, Economic Society of Singapore.

Another reason cited for middle class wage stagnation is the move by the government to cut CPF employer contribution rates for older workers by 4 percentage points over the last 2 years.

"So if you were a worker in the 50-55 age group, you could have seen your wages fall as much as 10 percent over the last 3 or 4 years. Now with the economy improving, the government could bring that back, the increase is 1 or 2 percent. I'm in support of CPF tinkering but probably it happens far too often, but I think there's probably some justification to look back and think that the restructuring was a bit too aggressive on the CPF side and it has contributed somewhat to a very sandwiched middle class," said Chua Hak Bin, Director, Asia Pacific Econ & Market Analysis, Citigroup Global Markets Singapore.

The government is looking at increasing CPF by 1 to 2 percentage points in 2007.

Economists say workfare should become a more permanent pillar of the economy so as to cushion growing inequality.

Adding that long term middle class wage stagnation could lead to social instability. - CNA /dt



Regards,

Edmund Ng,
CEO, President
www.Internet-Empire.com