I've long observed that the government in Singapore, while delivering a solid performance, has problems with communicating it clearly to the public. One such example is the impending GST increase to 9%, which was tentatively announced back in 2018 and is now planned to take place by 2024.
I once heard someone say that the government could technically abolish income tax for most people but it doesn't to give them a sense of participation.While I don't know if the story is true, it's easy to see that instead of a sense
Is there a way to independently verify that the COP made correct decisions in the Khan affair? I believe there is.I believe it's always a healthy exercise to assume everybody else is lying - or, at the very least, that they are wrong. Questioning everything and everyone
Singapore government's supporters seem to be skeptical as to whether the fallout from the Khan affair is going to hurt the Workers' Party in the long run - and I agree, that many of its followers will remain unfazed, seeing its troubles as bullying by the PAP
The most entertaining thing about the COP saga is how WP and its supporters have all of a sudden changed tune on how to ensure integrity in domestic politics. Workers' Party likes to present itself as a reliable check on the PAP government - and yes, this is what
All of the Workers' Party leaders have scored own goals - but the note delivered by Sylvia Lim could be the end of Pritam in politics.
My recent argument with Jamus Lim (you can follow it in full on his wall) has revealed just how ambitious and self-confident WP's economist is.After lecturing trade unions back in 2020 about "folksy wisdom" that apparently guides their negotiations with the government re: minimum wages,
A few days ago I responded to Jamus Lim's post proposing that MAS should spend billions of dollars to make SGD more expensive so people can buy things more cheaply (even though it makes Singapore more costly to foreign buyers). Today I got an even more bizarre reply,
Does Singapore have too much money in foreign reserves? Should MAS spend it to boost the value of SGD and promote imports?
Very few things have ever left me underwhelmed about Singapore but there's one that stands out - what is quite paradoxical for a country that prides itself in its financial services. Local banks are useless. This seems to be a disease of developed countries, as my experience has
I've been following Titus Low's case lately as it represents a clash of personal liberties and social engineering. How much freedom is too much? And if things are governed by consent of free individuals, is that enough to permit certain behaviors in the society? Obviously, the
Today's "lacking self-awareness" award goes to... Singapore's chief loving critic.So, Alfie complained a few days ago about the somewhat delayed transition in political leadership of the PAP and, by extension, the government. He questions whether CCS, OYK or LW are really the best
