档案

李资政：环保意识同人文素质有关我国环保工作难超越日本

2009-10-20T05:45:00.000-07:00

2009-10-20

● 周殊钦　报道

国人经常自我诟病环保意识不足，可是这个问题能透过政府在组屋建造几个方便人们分类丢垃圾的滑槽来解决吗？内阁资政李光耀认为这个问题归根究底还得回到新加坡人的人文素质上，而包括新加坡在内的国家，都难以做到环保工作享誉全球的日本人那样。

李资政昨晚在新加坡国立大学政治协会举办的肯特岗部长论坛上回答学生的问题时指出，以垃圾分类而言，不仅是因我国的组屋建筑结构空间限制，不适合加建多几个垃圾槽，即使是政府不惜成本建了，人们是否真的就会按规矩把不同类别的垃圾丢进不同的垃圾槽中？
“我们怎么能找出谁丢的瓶子进入哪个槽里去呢？这是无法知道的。难道我们得安装金属探测器，然后说既然是你丢的，你就得被罚款？如果你不能证明，人们一定会说那个瓶子不是他的，而是他的邻居丢的。因为每天得拎一袋瓶子，再乘电梯下楼才能把分类垃圾丢掉，对家庭主妇来说是个额外的工作，我不认为她们会很欢迎这样的做法。”

他说：“在新加坡，你必须要明确指出说：‘诶，是你！’然后才会有下文。这是个问题。但是在日本，如果政府通过这样的指令，所有的人都会照规矩去做。”

在李资政看来，即使是提问的学生所说的在环保方面做得比新加坡好的台湾和韩国，也难以同政府说要制定把室内冷气温度控制在摄氏25度以上的条例，全国人民就会立即按照条例去做的日本相比。

“我去过新加坡驻日本的大使馆，在使馆后方就摆放了三个垃圾桶，那是丢不同类别垃圾的垃圾桶。”

据李资政透露，政府曾认真考虑改变现有组屋只建一个垃圾槽的建筑结构，而多建几个不同的垃圾槽，以让人们分类丢垃圾，但是从电梯翻新，使电梯停留在每一层楼的工程，有些组屋可能得每户耗资超过十万元来看，多建垃圾槽不仅需要空间，而且建筑成本也必定不菲。

说到底，环保还是个取决于个人行动的问题，那么对全球将产生深远影响的气候变化课题又如何？世界领导人年底在丹麦首都哥本哈根开会时，是否能就旨在取代2012年期满的《京都议定书》的新协定讨论出个所以然？

对此，李资政并不认为气候变化这个在工业国与发展中国家不断拔河的问题，会在年底的会议上轻易得到解决。

“除非中国和印度也同意制订某种减少碳排放的目标，美国将不会对一个明确的减排比例作出承诺。不过，美国总统奥巴马当初在竞选时曾把这个课题列为关键课题之一，因此我不相信他可能像前任布什那样，采取中印不加入，美国就不会有任何动作的立场。因为这是欧洲人和美国人民都不能接受的。”

据李资政分析，中国和印度也可能不会采取过于固执的立场，而是会提出某种灵活的减排目标。所以，人们还是可以期待哥本哈根的气候大会可取得一些成果。

至于一些国家如日本和澳洲，一直想把新加坡提升至《京都议定书》下必须遵守更严格碳排放标准的一级国家，李资政强调新加坡的国情不同，虽然我国的人均碳排放是全球最高的国家之一，但这都是因为我国所制造的货品大约四分之三是供出口的。

“这些都是外国人在消费的货品。跨国企业带着耗能的行业来到我国，我们为它们生产，它们出口后却说新加坡造成世界升温。对此，我们将据理力争，并且准备好论据去哥本哈根。在这方面，新加坡不应被视为一个普通的国家。”

他让我们吃得放心

2009-05-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

18 May 09

为免供应突断新加坡必须加大农业投资

　　随着社会的进步，国家经济体必然转变。在国小地缺的新加坡，农作地让位给国家发展用途是无法避免的决定。随着农作地继续减少，本地对进口食品的依赖也必然增加。为了确保本地拥有足够的食品供应，农粮局在利用科技提高本地农场生产力的同时也不断地扩大食品进口来源。但要进一步保障食品供应源源不绝，减少供应突然中断的威胁，新加坡必须加大农业投资。

　　近年来，许多国家在迅速发展之际，专注于工业开发，忽略了农业的重要。去年，商人注重生产生物柴油，造成粮食短缺、食物价格不断飙涨，一些国家为了保障国人的福利，甚至不排除禁止出口粮食。如果全球各国继续把发展金融、科技等业务放在农业之上，那全球粮食短缺是迟早的事。在蔡新民眼里，去年的物资高涨是一记警钟。

鼓励与海外农民合作　在当地投资农业

　　虽然本地已经有足够的进口来源地，可以在任何一个国家停止出口时，灵活地提高从另一个源头的食品进口量，但蔡新民认为，要进一步保障新加坡人的食品供应，最好就是鼓励新加坡投资者同海外农民合作，在当地投资农业生产。

　　他说：“在这类投资下，新加坡在（农场的）食品生产才有更大的拥有权。这么一来我们更有把握，农场的收成会出口到新加坡。”

　　中国以及中南半岛（Indochina）国家是本地投资者可能进军的国家。商人可以通过合作，把高科技引进农场，教导当地农夫如何通过这些途径提高生产力。

蔡新民说：“这些国家有很多小农民，他们的农业手法非常传统。这或许是我们可以作出贡献的地方。我们不只是利用他们的土地，也可以帮助改善他们的生活，让整个社会更繁荣。这样一来，别人才不会以为我们是在剥削他们。这是个互惠互利的局面。”

　　他希望本地最终可以自己生产，应付20%至40%的食品需求。

勾起历史的伤痕 ——哀失去的圣诞岛

2009-05-05T03:01:00.000-07:00

2009-05-05

● 区如柏

　　最近笔者与家人到澳洲悉尼自由行，享受了秋天的凉意和丰盛的海鲜美食，但也勾起了对圣诞岛（Christmas Island)的记忆与哀愁。

　　抵达悉尼当天（4月15日），正值一艘满载数十名阿富汗及斯里兰卡难民的木船在澳洲水域遭军方驱逐时发生爆炸，酿成了有人被炸死、30多人受伤的惨剧。

　　接下来几天，澳洲电视台及报章铺天盖地般报道，今年以来已经有不少难民以每人1万美元的代价，由走私的“蛇头”安排偷渡到澳洲，接下来还会有更多的船民涌入。

　　澳洲政府正在忙于安置他们暂时在一些岛屿栖身，这些岛屿包括曾经属于新加坡管辖的圣诞岛，电视也出现过一瞬即逝的圣诞岛画面。

岛上有丰富的磷矿

　　距离西澳城市柏斯2600公里，在印尼首都雅加达以南500公里的圣诞岛，过去是新加坡管辖的岛屿，面积135平方公里，岛上盛产磷酸盐（磷矿）。殖民地政府从新马召募劳工到岛上开采磷矿，小时候曾听邻居叔叔讲述他们搭船到圣诞岛工作的故事。

　　1957年在澳洲的请求之下，英国政府决定将圣诞岛割让给澳洲。

　　新加坡于1955年4月举行首届立法议会选举，劳工阵线赢得较多议席，组织劳工阵线联合政府，管理新加坡的内部事务，该政府先由著名律师马绍尔出任首席部长。1956年6月，马绍尔因独立谈判不成，愤而辞职，由林有福继任。

　　割让圣诞岛给澳洲之事是在林有福执政期间发生，记忆中当时林有福政府并没有抗拒这次割让圣诞岛的安排。在这项安排之下，新加坡获得290万英镑的赔偿。仅仅290万英镑就出卖了135平方公里的领土。

当时的劳工阵线联合政府根本就看不到圣诞岛的丰富资源，反而是日本人识货，1942年日军侵占印尼后，战略目标就瞄准圣诞岛的磷矿，占领爪哇岛之后，一举南下侵占圣诞岛，夺取岛上的资源。

　　由于1957年新加坡还没有自治独立，在一个贪腐无能的政府治理之下，圣诞岛便割让给澳洲了。在这之前，1955年属于新加坡管辖的可可麒麟群岛（Cocos-keeling Islands)已经割让给澳洲。

成为难民中心安置偷渡客

　　庆幸的是，1959年5月30日的大选，埋葬了劳工阵线，由人民行动党领导的新加坡自治政府随即成立。近年来有关白礁岛主权的争执，政府以不卑不亢的姿态，不屈不挠的精神，在国际法庭上成功捍卫新加坡的领土主权，令老百姓欢欣鼓舞。

　　据2006年澳洲的人口统计，圣诞岛岛上有1439人，70%是华人，20%欧洲人，马来人占10%，除了英语是官方语言之外，粤语与马来语也是民间的语言。

　　今天的圣诞岛，除了岛上的居民与经济运作之外，也成为澳洲政府安置偷渡客的难民中心。抚今追昔，不胜唏嘘。期待编写教科书的专家学者，能将割让圣诞岛的历史写入教科书内，让后人珍惜国家的领土。

作者是退休新闻工作者

Nurturing a key advantage

2009-03-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

March 18, 2009

MANDARIN FOR CHINESE SINGAPOREANS

Nurturing a key advantage

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew spoke at the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Speak Mandarin Campaign yesterday. We carry here an edited excerpt of his speech.

THIRTY years ago, I launched this Speak Mandarin Campaign. Chinese students were learning Mandarin in school. Unfortunately, they spoke dialects among themselves and at home. When I watched interviews on our Chinese TV channel in the 1960s and 1970s, I found students and workers speaking Mandarin haltingly.

Mandarin has to be the common language of Chinese Singaporeans. If the Government had left language habits to evolve undirected, Chinese Singaporeans would be speaking an adulterated Hokkien-Teochew dialect.

To effectively promote Mandarin, we closed down all dialect programmes on radio and TV from 1979. Also, I was setting a bad example by making speeches in Hokkien in the 1960s and 1970s so as to reach the largest number of Chinese. From 1979, I decided to stop speaking in Hokkien and switched to Mandarin. Had I not done this, Hokkien/Teochew would be the common language among the Chinese in Singapore, not Mandarin.

The value of a language is its usefulness - not just in Singapore, but also in the wider world. If you speak Hokkien or Cantonese, you reach some 60 million in Fujian and Taiwan, or about 100 million in Guangdong and Hong Kong. With Mandarin, you can speak to 1.3 billion Chinese from all over China.

I understand the strong emotional ties to one's mother tongue. However, the trend is clear. In two generations, Mandarin will become our mother tongue.

English is the key language for our people to make a living. It is the second language of all non-English-speaking peoples. Multinational companies use English. Internet data banks are mostly in English. PRC Chinese are learning English with great effort. If Mandarin were our first language, Singaporeans would be of little use to China. They do not need more Mandarin speakers. English gives us easy access to English-speaking societies and the developed world. Thus, Singaporeans bring value-add to China.

To keep a language alive, you have to speak and read it frequently. The more you use one language, the less you use other languages. So the more languages you learn, the greater the difficulties of retaining them at a high level of fluency.

I have learnt and used six languages in my lifetime - English, Malay, Latin, Japanese, Mandarin and Hokkien. English is my master language. My Hokkien has gone rusty, my Mandarin has improved. I have lost my Japanese and Latin, and can no longer make fluent speeches in Malay without preparation. This is called 'language loss'.

To become a united nation, the population must speak a common language, so that they can communicate with one another. Singapore's multiracial peoples would not have been united if we had used Mandarin as our common language. All non-Chinese, 25 per cent of Singaporeans, would have been disadvantaged. The result would have been endless strife, as in Sri Lanka, where Singhalese was made the national language and the Tamil-speaking were marginalised. We made the right decision to use English as our common language.

We also retained the teaching of mother tongues. Even in 1959 when we first became the Government, my colleagues and I could foresee a time when China would open up and become a huge economic power. Our choice of English has enabled our fast growth. Now with China's economy growing, parents and students no longer complain of the burden of learning Chinese, a difficult language.

China wants to collaborate with us because through English, we are able to connect with the West. At the same time, our Mandarin is fluent enough to communicate with PRC Chinese.

The Speak Mandarin Campaign and our bilingual education policy have resulted in a growing number of young Singaporeans speaking Mandarin among themselves in schools, the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities. They also watch Mandarin TV more than English TV.

Quite a few Singaporeans with only AO- or O-level passes in Chinese have sent me e-mail from China to thank me for making Mandarin compulsory for them. With this basic foundation, they have been able to expand their vocabulary and increase their fluency after a few months in China. Singapore Press Holdings distributes a free bilingual newspaper called Wobao or my paper, which is bilingual in Chinese and English. It has a glossary of translations for the more difficult English and Chinese words and phrases.

School examinations no longer concentrate on mo xie, dictation from memory, or ting xie, listening and writing. They are not needed in real life. With computer programs, you can type the pinyin and the characters will appear. Since 2007, we have allowed the use of digital dictionaries in national examinations.

Singapore's advantage has been that we have a Mandarin-speaking community. We have newspapers, magazines, books and television programmes in Chinese. We need some 300 Singaporean graduates each year who have Chinese language and culture at a high level, to interact with their China counterparts. The flow of new migrants from China as citizens and permanent residents will help in this process.

English is our dominant language. Most students will have little difficulty in mastering working-level English. However, if parents speak in English to their children at home, learning Mandarin will be a problem. Research of American-born Chinese disclosed that when these second-generation Chinese try to learn Chinese in college, those who speak English at home found mastering Chinese as difficult as Caucasian-Americans; those whose parents spoke to them in Mandarin easily made the grade. My advice is for both parents to speak Mandarin to their children if they can. If one speaks in Mandarin and the other in English, the child will grow up speaking more English than Mandarin.

李资政：与政府福利计划比较成功者伸援手成效更大

2009-03-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

● 蔡添成
7 Mar 2009

　　由社会上的成功者主动对弱势群体伸出援手，所带来的成效更大，受惠者也会心存感激。反观由政府资助的福利计划，是没有情感联系的援助，往往被人们视为理所当然。

　　内阁资政李光耀昨晚在接受国际扶轮社（Rotary International）颁发荣誉奖的仪式上讲话时，就赞扬像国际扶轮社这类志愿团体多年来对社会公益做出很多的贡献，也很高兴见到它在全球各地的成员，至今都不遗余力地开展慈善事业。

　　国际扶轮社社长李东建把代表最高殊荣的荣誉奖颁给李资政时，表扬他多年来在国际社会展现深具远见的领导能力，并为世界的和平与文化交流作出重大贡献。

　　李资政在20多年前已经成为新加坡扶轮社的荣誉社员。他在演讲中说，国际扶轮社早在公民社会团体还未广泛成立之前，便已展开社会福利援助活动。

　　“它协助社会上不幸和弱势的一群，那些富有爱心的成功商人和专业人员也为这些有意义的慈善事业作出了贡献。”

　　他说，特别在美国这类发达国家，志愿福利团体像雨后春笋般出现，对社会提供比政府更多的援助，而由于这类援助是由一群热心支持者资助与管理，所带来的助益更大，受惠者也都心存感激。

　　“由政府资助、政府官员管理的福利事业，由于缺乏了一层感情联系，因此被视为理所当然。经过一段时日，人们会把这当成他们应得的。所以就产生了国家福利心态，人民也失去了努力拼搏的原动力。”

　　李东建是韩国企业家，他以国际扶轮社社长身份在褒扬状中赞扬李资政以非凡的远见，“把新加坡在一代人的短时间内转变为一个现代化、极富活力、安全与繁荣的国家”。

　　褒扬状还赞扬李资政为新加坡制定了优于许多国家的公共住屋、教育及公共卫生政策，使新加坡达到第一世界的生活水平。

对于自己所获得的褒扬和肯定，李资政在接过奖项后谦虚地表示华人有句谚语叫“盖棺定论”，也就是当人死后，才对他生前所做的一切作出价值判断。

　　“当我在这类颁奖场合得到赞扬时，都会想起这句谚语。当我离开后，传记作者、历史学家和新闻编辑人员将追溯我一生的事迹，并得出他们的结论。”

　　颁奖晚宴是在君悦大酒店举行，约有600名本地和本地区扶轮社的社员与宾客出席。过去曾获得这项殊荣的国家与国际机构领导人有联合国前秘书长安南和现任秘书长潘基文、美国前总统克林顿、前苏联总统戈尔巴乔夫和南非前总统曼德拉。他们都因任内对人道主义作出重大贡献而获奖。

　　国际扶轮社是全球规模最大的人道援助组织之一，拥有超过120万名社员，分布在超过200个国家的3万3000个扶轮社。它至今已为慈善事业筹得超过8亿美元（约12亿新元）义款，并计划在2012年突破10亿美元（约15亿新元）。

　　目前本地有约23个扶轮社，成员达800人。国务资政吴作栋也是新加坡扶轮社的荣誉社员。新加坡的扶轮社多年来支持创办的志愿福利团体计有在1947年成立的新加坡防痨协会（SATA）、1957年成立的新加坡痉挛儿童协会（Spastic Children's Association）、1964年成立的新加坡防癌协会（Singapore Cancer Society）、1972年成立的新加坡肃毒协会（SANA）、1991年成立的新加坡阅读障碍协会（Dyslexia Association Of Singapore）和1996年成立的新加坡帕金森病学会（Parkinson's Disease Society）等。

李资政秘书：双语政策证明有效

学方言建议行不通

　　新加坡政府多年来实行的双语政策已证明有效，不仅使我们掌握英文这门世界通用的工作语文，也保留了华族的母语，更能便利新加坡人同崛起的中国保持接触。

　　因此，主张学习方言以使新加坡语言更丰富多采的建议，既行不通也是愚蠢的想法，因为这将导致人们分心，无法学好华英两种语文。更何况海外华侨和外国人都在学习华语，而不是中国各省份的方言。

　　内阁资政李光耀的首席私人秘书徐宏达昨天致函英文报《海峡时报》，针对它昨天所刊载的一篇关于方言正在“消失”的报道作出反驳，并阐明政府对此的立场。

这篇报道引述南洋理工大学语言学与双语研究部代主任黄美清博士在南大举行的语言学研讨会上的谈话，指一种语言的消失，只需一代人的时间。

　　黄博士说：“虽然新加坡人还能掌握多种语言，但在40年前，我们的用语更加多元化。年轻孩童现在已经不懂得使用其中的一些语言了。只不过一代人的时间（就出现这种情况）。正当许多语言面对消亡的危险时，如肯尽力保留现存的语言并加以创造，还是有希望的。”

　　这篇报道提到研讨会上除了探讨如何保留世界上日渐消失的语言，也提到一些在本地日渐式微的方言，比如客家话与潮州话，以及印度的一些方言。

　　对此，徐宏达回应说语言要生存，就必须有人时常使用。

　　“人们更常使用一种语言，意味着将有更少时间学习其他语言。因此，一个人学习更多的语言，要能达到高度流利的地步，难度就更大了。尽管一些有语言天分的人可以掌握多种语言，但新加坡超过50年推行双语教育政策的经验，却显示大多数新加坡人很难同时应付华文和英文这两个语系不同的语言。这也就是我们（政府）不鼓励使用方言的原因。”

　　他说，方言的使用对华英文的学习构成干扰，而国人也必须掌握英文这门共通并且能与全世界沟通的工作语言。同时，政府也强调学习华文，使它成为所有不同方言群的新加坡华族的母语。

　　“这是中国13亿人口的共同语言，海外的华侨和外国人学习华文，而不是学习中国各省份的方言来与中国接触。”

　　他指出，政府过去几十年来推行双语政策已取得进展。

　　“许多新加坡人现在都能很流利地讲华语和英语。任何一个新加坡机构或是南大提倡学习方言，必然会损害对华文和英文的学习，而这也是愚蠢的。这也就是政府在1979年之后，在电视和电台停止播出方言节目的原因。为了不发出自相矛盾的信号，当时的李光耀总理也停止以福建话发表演讲。那可是他自1961年以来便因不断使用而讲得很流利的一种方言。”

Don's urban farm idea wins accolade

2009-02-07T04:04:00.000-08:00

ST, 4 Feb 2009

Aeroponics method ranked among top 3 green solutions in Discovery Channel series

HE HAS perfected the art of growing temperate vegetables in sunny Singapore.

Professor Lee Sing Kong's urban farming technique of growing top-grade produce in air - sans pesticide and fertilisers - is among 20 technologies worldwide, including Singapore's Semakau Landfill, that have been singled out as potential green solutions for the future.

Prof Lee's technique, called aeroponics, was ranked among the top three solutions chosen in the Discovery Channel's Ecopolis series, which explores environmentally-friendly ways to sustain an overcrowded, polluted world in 2050.

Aeroponics, developed 12 years ago, involves growing crops by suspending their roots in troughs and spraying them with a nutrient mist.

It has been touted as a possible urban farming solution, given how easy it is to set up and its compact land use.

One farm in Singapore has already been successful with it, and currently sells vegetables such as lettuce and basil commercially.

Prof Lee said he was proud to have been highlighted in the series.

'It is encouragement to continue pursuing new frontiers, even though the ideas may sound bizarre,' said the 57-year-old, who now gives technical advice to Aero-Green Technology, an aeroponics farm at Lim Chu Kang Agrotechnology Park.

The son of rubber and oil palm plantation farmers, Prof Lee added that his work had been driven by the dream of helping to alleviate poverty and hunger.

'Many farmers do not have the knowledge to optimise food production,' he said.

'I have worked with people who are still very primitive in agricultural practices. It is hard to teach them, but you need to persevere.'

The Semakau Landfill, which is managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA), was lauded as an example of eco-friendly urban waste management.

It features a clean and efficient way of getting rid of the toxic ash that is a by-product of incineration. The ash is stored in plastic-lined, watertight storage spaces on Semakau Island, which lies about 8km south of Singapore.

When these spaces are full, they are covered up with a layer of earth, and eventually become grassland.

As a result of this, the 350ha island has healthy mangrove swamps, forests and coral beds despite being a landfill.

The other top two solutions hailed by the Ecopolis series were nano solar technology and a form of transport called the e-Jeepney, which is powered by electricity.

Jeepneys are the most popular form of transport in Manila, and the e-version was cited for cutting down on air pollution in the city.

All the other innovations featured in the Ecopolis series were in the areas of food and water, transport, energy and buildings, and came from countries such as the United States and Australia.

我国15年打造成宜居环球城市

2009-02-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

2009-02-07

国会报道财政预算案辩论国家发展部

　　经济前景不明朗，但眼前不尽是一片愁云惨雾。政府将在未来15年投入巨资，把新加坡打造为充满活力和宜居的环球城市。

　　国家发展部长马宝山昨天在国会拨款委员会辩论国家发展部开支预算时说，新加坡在今年底就能看到滨海湾新的风景线开始成形，包括建设中的双螺旋桥和北端的艺术公园，以及环绕滨海湾的步行环道。

　　由于整个滨海湾发展是长远的工程，政府在未来10到15年将投入另外10亿元打造它的基础建设，如展开公共服务设施隧道的下一阶段工程、排水和道路系统及步行环道周围的基础设施。

　　此外，政府也会投入29亿元为裕廊湖区、加冷河畔和巴耶利峇中心等区域商业枢纽注入必要的基础建设。裕廊地铁站将获得翻新，新的裕廊综合医院和科学馆也将在该区落成。经过巴耶利峇的地铁环线服务后年开始运作，新的转换站也同时启用。

　　组屋区翻新计划未来五年也会获得46亿元拨款，比过去五年多一倍，包括为义顺、金文泰和黄埔等成熟组屋区注入新元素，如兴建结合商店、住宅和巴士转换站的综合大楼和水上休闲设施。

　　马宝山也向张有福（白沙—榜鹅集选区）承诺，政府将继续推行“优质榜鹅21”计划，首个位于市镇中心的综合地段最迟2011年推出。

　　可持续发展方面，政府未来五年将拨款10亿元推行可持续发展跨部门委员会的建议，细节下月公布。

　　另一方面，教育部兼国家发展部高级政务部长傅海燕回答议员询问时说，已有80%符合资格的组屋获选翻新电梯，剩余1000座未来几年也会获选，以达成2014年所有组屋获得电梯翻新的目标。

　　傅海燕透露，2008年获选电梯翻新的60个邻区，比原定计划多出10个，名单即将公布。建屋局希望今年的财政年可加快步伐，提早半年选出更多邻区。

去年新公民人数增加

2009-02-06T19:03:00.000-08:00

2009-02-06

在印度出世、长大、接受教育的乌玛雅看上了我国的社会安全、行政高效、组织性强、清洁和绿化环境等，决定成为新加坡公民。

　　这位移居我国十年后，于去年入籍新加坡的36岁母亲，目前在分子与细胞生物学院担任研究员。乌玛雅是个爱书人，她经常出入图书馆，慢慢地参加了一些图书馆活动，如给小朋友朗读故事书。通过朗读，她和本地社群的接触面逐渐扩大，现在她已加入了丰加民众俱乐部妇女执行委员会，成为基层领袖，过着完全本地化的生活。

　　她在接受本报访问时说，参加这些与本地人交流的活动，协助她一步步认识我国的社会面貌。

　　主管国家人口委员会的副总理兼内政部长黄根成，昨天在国会拨款委员会辩论总理公署的收支预算回答议员询问时透露，像乌玛雅一样，去年加入新加坡大家庭的新公民共有2万零513名，比前年的1万7334名多了18％，而新永久居民也从前年的6万3627名增至7万9167名。

　　为了协助新移民融入本地社会，政府将设立国民融合理事会（National Integration Council），这个汇集政府、私人企业界及民间力量的新组织，能更有系统地协助新移民尽快融入我国社会。这个理事会将由公社会发展、青年及体育部长维文医生将担任主席。

　　议员洪茂诚（丰加集选区）在发言时说，最近有两个居民去见他，一个要求他向建屋局请求撤销一张停车违规的传票，另一个因家庭女佣受伤，接到人力部传票，同样要他　协助请当局撤销。洪茂诚说：“他们也特别提醒我，他们是‘新公民’，要我特别关照他们。”

洪茂诚：是否该取消“新公民”一词

　　洪茂诚提出是否该取消“新公民”这个词的使用，因为这会不断提醒新公民并非土生土长的公民。这对我们提倡让新公民融入社会，起着负面的影响。

　　黄根成认为，“新公民”只是形容词，并不会影响他们融入我国的隔阂。他说：“土生新加坡人和新移民在文化上必定会有差异。融入本地社会是个双向过程，新加坡需了解并接受新移民，而新移民本身也得努力以成为新加坡社会一分子。”

外国人为我国作出贡献的不仅限于经济方面，去年奋不顾身以身躯掩护错误使用手榴弹的新兵的郭乔辉中尉，原本也是“外国人”，出生于马来西亚的他自2007年起已成为一名真真正正的新加坡人。

　　黄根成指出，吸引外国人成为本地居民仅是人口政策的一面，另一面是加强与超过15万名海外新加坡人的联系。为此，当局将在今年4月25日，继纽约和墨尔本之后在伦敦举办第三届“新加坡日”巡回活动。

Increased:
New citizen 2008 20513; 2007 17334
PR 2008 79167; 2007 63627

公共部门将有1万8000份新工作

2009-02-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

2009-02-06

公共部门将为市场增添1万8000份新工作，其中30%或约5400份适合教育程度在A水准或以下的人申请。这些新工作包括环境卫生官员、助理护士以及新加坡武装部队和内政团队的一些职位。
　　议员张思乐（白沙—榜鹅集选区）在国会拨款委员会辩论总理公署的收支预算时问，公共部门下来将增加的1万8000个新工作机会，有没有考虑聘请非大学毕业生？

　　主管公共服务的国防部长张志贤说，这些工作中，有5000多份只要求申请者拥有A水准或以下教育程度。

　　张志贤进一步补充说，其余70％的工作机会，如教师、医生、药剂师和工程师等空缺则需要较专业的大学文凭；护士和技师等需要理工学院文凭。

　　他指出，公共服务部门将好好利用这个人称“雇主市场”（employer market）的机会，聘请适合的员工填补行情好时，公共部门流失的公务员，以提高公共服务的水平。他强调，公共部门将维持一贯的招聘标准，只雇用有合适技能、专门知识以及正确价值观和态度的人。

　　张志贤也指出，虽然政府增聘人手，但公共部门目前所聘用的约11万人，仅占整个劳工市场4％。公共部门不可能为所有求职者解决工作问题。

　　议员黄守金（宏茂桥集选区）和哈莉玛（裕廊集选区）也提出年长工人受聘问题，张志贤指出公共服务领域每年新雇的40岁以上公务员也有所增加，从2007年的728人增至2008年的1000人。

　　他也透露，退休后被公共部门重新聘用的年满62岁工人也从2006年的96人，增至2007年的103人，去年则达189人。法定机构去年也重新聘用了234名达退休年龄的工人。

吴资政：国人有吃苦耐劳优点　能顺利渡过难关

2009-02-02T05:33:00.000-08:00

2/2/09
联合早报

新加坡逢“牛”必衰？1985年、1997年和2009年的经济衰退，不巧都在牛年发生。但是，吴作栋资政认为牛的优点是可靠、勤恳和吃得起苦，而国人正是凭着这些优点克服了过去的经济危机，这次也一定能同样顺利地渡过难关。

　　国务资政吴作栋昨天在马林百列区的新春联欢午宴上讲话时说，尽管新加坡正陷入经济寒冬，他呼吁国人不要气馁，而应乐观向上，积极提升知识与技能，以在经济好转后再次冲刺。

　　“这次的经济衰退并没使亚洲经济脱离发展轨道。只要美国经济复苏，我们将再度取得增长。而奥巴马总统到底有没有能耐去扭转美国经济，将可在六至九个月内看出端倪。”

　　吴资政也呼吁国人保持团结，就像前几次遇到经济危机那样，药再苦，工人和雇主都一起吞下，并同政府携手合作，全民一心把经济拉出谷底。

　　他还呼吁国人发挥大家庭的互助精神，彼此互相扶持，共渡患难。政府则将不断加强国家的长期实力，投资于教育和基础设施，把新加坡打造成更美好的家园。

　　他勾勒出三五年后新加坡将出现的一片令人憧憬的全新风景线时说：“到时有了新添的综合度假胜地和植物园，滨海湾的风景线将变得璀璨夺目、绿意盎然。公园连道和水道工程将美化我们的家园，翻新后的组屋区也将充满活力。”

使用储备金有“三不”

2009-02-02T05:29:00.000-08:00

2/2/09
联合早报

● 游润恬

　　保管新加坡国家储备金的国库是打开了，但政府此举并未砸破国家的扑满，日后仍必须保持一贯的自律，确保不会一遇上困难，就打储备金的主意，把它挥霍掉。

　　为此，国务资政吴作栋昨天在马林百列区的新春联欢午宴上讲话时提出“三不”原则，说明哪些情况不足以成为政府要求总统拿出第二把钥匙打开国库的理由。

　　他在重申国家储备金只能在万不得已的情况下动用时，还打趣地对居民说本地常见诸如“禁止钓鱼”、“禁止吐痰”等告诫人们不可作出某种行为的警示牌，当政府为了应付眼前的严重经济衰退而决定动用储备金之际，他也认为应该向政府竖起三种禁止动用储备金的警示牌。

　　“一不”是不能用作社会福利。

　　“我不是说我们不应该推行社会援助计划，而是认为推行社会援助计划所需的资金应来自现任政府的收入，而不是来自前任政府所积累的国家储备金。”

　　“二不”是不能用以推行永久性计划。例如就业入息补助计划或社区关怀计划等永久性计划，无论是多么值得推行，都应利用现任政府的收入及资金来落实。

　　“三不”是不能作为非紧急用途。

　　“除非出现灾难性的紧急状况，政府必须推出一次性的特殊措施来消灾或避免经济受到无可弥补的破坏，否则也不应动用储备金。”

　　财政部长尚达曼日前向国会发表新财政年度政府预算案时宣布了总值达205亿元的振兴配套，并首次决定要求纳丹总统批准从国家储备金中拨出49亿元，以资助雇用补贴计划和特别风险分担计划这两项暂时性的应付经济危机举措。

　　吴资政昨天指出，当政府克服当前的经济危机之后，仍必须延续量入为出的节约政策，以维持适度的预算盈余，让储备金不断积累。

　　他也解释政府这次决定动用储备金，绝不是几个人随性作出的决定，而是财政部长尚达曼首先必须让李显龙总理同意政府有动用储备金的必要，两人还得说服内阁，再由内阁分别向总统和总统顾问理事会说明，以取得他们的同意，最后是向国会及民众作出交代。
一次又一次危机积累丰富应对经验

　　新加坡自建国以来经历过多次经济危机。吴资政指出虽然每一次危机的性质都不一样，但是在政府采取有效的应对措施之后，总是能克服万难，以更稳健的脚步走出危机，而部长和官员们都从一次又一次的危机中积累丰富的应对经验。

　　当年刚加入马来西亚不久，新加坡便在1964年第一次经历严重的经济衰退。当时由于内外局势动荡，马来西亚和印尼都无法如想象般成为我们的经济腹地，政府于是决定不把视线局限于本区域，决心推行以出口为主导的工业化战略，要把整个世界都变成新加坡的市场及腹地。

　　1985年的经济危机则是因工资及其他经营成本高涨，导致生产力下滑所引发。政府当时双管齐下，一方面透过削减雇主公积金缴交率及税务等措施来减低经营成本，另一方面则提升工作队伍的教育及技能水平，朝高增值经济的方向大步迈进。

　　1997年的亚洲金融风暴则为我国带来了调整成本，开放金融业，并重新打造经济的时机。2001年的世界互联网经济泡沫破灭，又突显了我国对电子业的过度依赖，政府于是下决心使制造业多元化，大举进军石油化工业及药剂业等高增值产业。2003年来袭的沙斯虽然恐怖，我国经济也只不过受挫了一个季度，之后便一直保持增长，直至眼前的危机爆发。

　　令许多人纳闷的是政府既然一直强调国家的经济基础稳定，那为什么新加坡却时不时会陷入经济衰退？

　　吴资政对此作出解释时，指出这是因为新加坡是个小型的开放经济体，贸易总量达到国内生产总值的3.5倍，就如汪洋中的一艘小快艇，当风和日丽、海面平静时，能以比其他大型油轮、集装箱货船等船只更快的速度前进，遇到刮风起浪时，就不得不放慢速度，甚至得驶入的避风港。
　　他强调当我们这艘快艇驶入避风港后，船长和船员都不应闲着或在那里干着急，而是要利用这段时间进行船身维修并提升引擎，为重新启航做好准备。政府的振兴配套所要达到的目标，正是保住工作；提升工人技能并且投资于基础设施、科研及教育，为经济重回康庄大道铺路。

Obama on green drive

2009-01-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

ST, 28 Jan 09

He orders review of roadblocks on tougher fuel-efficiency rules

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has begun the process of shredding Bush administration climate policies, signing measures to encourage production of fuel-efficient cars and vowing to lead the fight against global warming.

On Monday, he set out on an ambitious path to cutting greenhouse gases, ordering a review of Bush administration roadblocks on tougher state auto-emissions rules and moving towards requiring cars to use less petrol.

His plans coincided with the release of research in which international scientists argued that the damaging effects of climate change were basically irreversible.

'Today, I'm announcing the first steps on our journey towards energy independence, as we develop new energy, set new fuel-efficiency standards and address greenhouse gas emissions.

'To protect our climate and our collective security, we must call together a truly global coalition,' said Mr Obama.

This was the latest in a flurry of directives to reverse policies set down by his predecessor, Mr George W. Bush, who was reluctant to take control of international efforts to combat climate change.

Mr Obama instructed the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to re-evaluate a proposal by states such as California to enforce their own emissions standards for truck and car exhaust. He also ordered the Department of Transportation to produce guidelines to require US cars to reach average fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon (15km per litre) by 2020.

He also touted some US$90 billion (S$136 billion) in clean-energy spending in the stimulus Bill pending in Congress, including a tenfold increase in assistance for developing super-efficient cars.
Greenhouse gases from cars are currently not regulated by the federal government, and the Bush administration opposed state efforts to set restrictions.

Should the EPA grant California, 16 other states and the District of Columbia permission to set a standard for reducing greenhouse gases from cars, experts say federal regulations will soon follow, then limits will be ordered for emissions from refineries and industrial plants.

The move to encourage the design of more fuel-efficient vehicles received a positive nod from the 11-member Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

While promising action at home, Mr Obama also made clear he would ask for action from giant developing economies to do more to limit greenhouse gases.

Environmentalists praised Mr Obama.

'It's a terrific beginning,' said Mr David Yarnold, executive director of the Environmental Defence Fund. 'It fires the starting gun for millions of new jobs, and amplifies the stimulus package and welds it to environmental benefits - and it highlights how those issues are inseparable.'

In another sharp break from Mr Bush, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton picked former Clinton White House official Todd Stern as envoy for climate change.

He is a veteran of the talks that led to the Kyoto Protocol that was rejected by Mr Bush in 2001.
LOS ANGELES TIMES, ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Renewable energy law to woo investors

2008-12-24T22:08:00.000-08:00

ST, 20 Dec 2008

Renewable energy law to woo investors
Perks like tax breaks to boost self-sufficiency in the Philippines
By Alastair McIndoe, Philippines Correspondent

MANILA: The Philippines has passed legislation to boost investment in renewable energy via tax breaks and other credits. The move is aimed at both helping the country become more energy self-sufficient and at cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

President Gloria Arroyo said the Renewable Energy Act, which she signed into law this week, was the 'first and most comprehensive renewable energy law in South-east Asia'.

Green groups agreed, saying this was a 'landmark' for the region. It took almost 20 years to get the Bill passed.

Greenpeace energy expert Amalie Obusan said she hoped Asean would be able to formulate a 'shared vision' on renewable energy and emissions reductions for its leaders' summit, to be held in Thailand in February.

The package of measures to encourage the production and consumption of renewable energy in the Philippines includes a reduced corporate tax rate of 10per cent - a third of the normal level - for power producers using renewable energy.

The Philippines is the world's second largest producer of geothermal power after the United States.

Energy experts and environmentalists say it is among the countries in the region that have the highest potential for developing renewable energy on a large scale.

'It has a particularly high potential to develop wind and solar power, which currently makes up just 1per cent of the energy mix,' said Ms Obusan.

The new measures require utilities to source a certain amount of their electricity from renewable energy sources.

Mrs Arroyo said the incentives should enable the Philippines to capture a slice of the rising global investments in renewable energy, which totalled US$71 billion (S$103 billion) last year.

'With our Renewable Energy Act, we can move aggressively to develop these resources,' she said.

'This is also timely because it mitigates climate change. All of these efforts are working to improve the overall quality of life of the Filipino people,' she added.

Among Asean's larger economies, Vietnam and the Philippines are the bloc's biggest users of renewable energy, accounting for about 22 per cent of their energy mixes, according to a report by the Asian Institute of Technology, using data from 2000.

Next comes Malaysia with 7 per cent, followed by Indonesia at 5.9 per cent, Thailand at 2.8 per cent, and zero per cent for Singapore.

The Philippines still relies heavily on coal and oil - both imported - for power, which, in roughly equal measure, together account for nearly half of the country's energy mix.

Over the years, the country has managed to substantially reduce its oil imports by developing indigenous oil and gas sources off the western island of Palawan.

Even so, US$7.5billion was spent on oil shipments last year, representing about 5per cent of the country's gross domestic product.

Mrs Arroyo has set a target for the Philippines to become 60percent self-sufficient in energy by the time her terms ends in 2010.

The reported level in 2005 was 56.6 per cent.

amcindoe@yahoo.com

Demand grows for local veggies, eggs

2008-12-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

12 Dec 2008, ST

Rising prices of imports, food safety fears fuelling increased production
By Jessica Lim

EVERY day, vegetable farmer Wong Kok Fah spends six hours harvesting vegetables at his 5ha farm in Sungei Tengah. His daily yield - 2 tonnes of leafy greens like cai xin and kai lan - is sold to supermarkets and provision stores the next day.

It is something Mr Wong, 47, has been doing every day since he was a boy, but in the past, he harvested only 1.5 tonnes a day.

'Now, people are buying a lot. I cannot grow enough vegetables,' said the owner of Kok Fah Technology, who has seen demand go up by 30 per cent compared to last year.

The increased overall local food production - consisting mainly of vegetables and eggs - tells the story: Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority figures show that vegetable production in Singapore stood at 19,027 tonnes last year, up from 17,397 tonnes in 2005.

Singapore has also increased production of eggs by 29 million a year since 2005, with the total hitting 373 million eggs last year.

The spiralling prices of vegetable and egg imports, coupled with food safety concerns due to the rising number of diseases spread by food, are the main reasons for the growth of the 'buy local' movement, said farmers who spoke to The Straits Times.

In the past three months, imports of these products from Malaysia - which is the main supplier of eggs and vegetables to Singapore - have as much as doubled due to tighter supply.

'All this means that the price gap between imported vegetables and eggs (and home-grown ones) has narrowed to about 10 per cent,' said Mr Jimmy Kong, 34, who operates a stall at a Serangoon wet market. 'Two years ago, it was about 30 per cent.'

Local farms are making moves to meet this increased demand.

This year, Kok Fah Technology hired 12 more workers and expanded its farming area by 20 per cent.

Six months ago, Quan FA Vegetarian Farm moved from its 1.4ha spot in Lim Chu Kang to another almost twice that size nearby. Since then, production has increased to 5 tonnes a month, from 3.5 tonnes monthly in 2005.

Major egg producer Seng Choon Farm is in talks with the Government to expand. 'We sell about 300,000 eggs daily and we definitely want to increase productivity,' said Seng Choon's manager Koh Yeow Koon in Mandarin.

Cold Storage reported a 20 per cent increase in sales of local vegetables and eggs this year compared to last year.

At NTUC FairPrice, sales of local eggs went up 5 per cent, while that of local vegetables went up 10 per cent.

At Sheng Siong, 10 per cent more local vegetables were sold this year compared to last year.
FairPrice has increased the variety of local greens on its shelves - from 12 types three years ago to 17 types available now.

Sheng Siong has done the same, with seven types of green vegetables available now, up from four last year. 'The time lag from harvest to shelf is shorter for local fare, so they last longer. That is an advantage,' said a Sheng Siong spokesman.

The increased demand, said Singapore Polytechnic retail management lecturer Sarah Lim, is due to more locals 'looking beyond price', a phenomenon 'typical of an increasingly affluent society'.
'But if the price differential is very great,' she added, 'people will probably choose the cheaper product.'

This seems to be the case for Madam Phua Shu Qing, 44, who started inquiring about the origin of vegetables at wet markets about six months ago.

The mother of two said: 'I try to buy more home-grown veggies if prices are not too high. They are usually fresher and I know they are safe to eat.'

新加坡巴士公司聘用更多中国司机

2008-11-19T03:49:00.000-08:00

http://bbs.8684.cn/thread-99892-1-1.html

联合早报，19 Nov 2008

新加坡巴士公司聘用更多中国司机

新加坡本地两家公共巴士公司从中国引进更多司机，以解决巴士司机短缺的问题，同时应付更严格的服务要求。　　　　

而随着经济放缓，业者预计接下来在本地的招聘工作会较为顺利，预料会有较多本地人愿意加入巴士司机这个行业。　　

经营2800辆巴士的新捷运在今年3月试用了首批20人的中国籍巴士司机，公司在7月和9月间分别到成都、大连、哈尔滨和南京展开招聘活动，目前总共录取了330个合格的申请者。　　

新捷运告诉本报，到目前为止，已有140名中国籍司机抵达新加坡，到了今年底，会有另外80人前来，其余会在明年3月之前报到。　　

他们在中国已是合格及有经验的巴士司机，到了新加坡后，还是得先接受两个月的训练才能正式投入工作，目前有接近50人已完成培训正式上路。　　

经营860辆车队的SMRT企业则聘用了另外50名中国籍巴士司机，使中国籍司机人数增加到150个，去年11月SMRT在中国录取了100名司机。　　

这150名从吉林、福建、山东和南京等聘请的司机，目前全已到了新加坡，他们大多也已开始投入驾驶服务，只有30个仍在受训中。　　

SMRT企业透露，目前公司总共聘用1850名巴士司机，其中少过25%是外地人，他们当中，以马来西亚人居多。新捷运则雇有约5000多名巴士司机，其中大概两成是马来西亚人。

工作性质与时间使本地人裹足不前　　

据了解，新捷运的中国籍司机基本月薪约为900元（公司也提供住宿）。长达两个月的培训主要是让学员掌握巴士司机的基本职务，包括通过实际的路上驾驶训练，让中国籍司机适应新加坡的路况和工作环境。　　

此外，公司也会安排巴士司机上英语课，学习如何以简单的英语同乘客沟通。　　

由于工作性质关系，加上工作时间长，上早班的司机需凌晨三四点出门工作，夜班司机则需工作到凌晨一两点，本地人向来都对巴士司机这个行业裹足不前，令业者在招聘司机时经常碰壁。　　另一方面，随着巴士乘客量增加，加上当局实行更严格的巴士服务素质准则，包括缩短繁忙时段车队出车的间隔时间（headway），促使司机人手短缺的问题加剧。　　

上个月，新捷运和SMRT就因为服务水平不达标，分别被公共交通理事会罚款9300元和1000元，这已是两家公司第二次被罚款。　　

为解决巴士司机短缺的问题，业者于是加强招聘工作，继续在本地和外国增聘人手，而接下来的经济不景气，预料将为业者带来新的“契机”。　　

新捷运联络总监陈爱玲受询时说：“根据我们以往的经验，在经济放缓的时候，申请当巴士司机的人确实会增加一些。”　　

SMRT也预计接下来会有更多本地人申请加入这个行业。　　

4个月前从大连飞来新加坡的孙玉辉（35岁），上月开始驾驶新捷运8号巴士路线，接载乘客往来淡滨尼和勿洛。

他受访时说：“在新加坡驾巴士基本上同中国差不多，这里的车辆使用的是右边驾驶盘，中国的是左边驾驶，刚开始需要一些时间适应，但习惯之后就没有什么问题了。”　　

孙玉辉在中国有10年驾驶巴士的经验，也曾自己报名参加过英语基础课，“在这里有时会碰到马来和印度族乘客用英语询问有关车资或巴士路线的问题，我都还能够理解，也能用简单的英语回答”。

S'pore eyes 'food zone' as next project

2008-10-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

ST, 24 Oct 2008

BEIJING: After an industrial park and an eco-city, Singapore and China's next big project could be a 'food zone' in north-eastern Jilin province, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

In the first project of its kind, the zone could supply some five to 10 per cent of Singapore's demand for pork, bolstering the country's food security.

While it is a commercial project by government-linked company Singapore Food Industries (SFI), the Government is keen to lend it support.

And PM Lee signalled that by raising the project with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in their meeting yesterday. Mr Lee told Singapore reporters later that Mr Wen said the food zone - believed to be the first that China would embark on with another country - can be developed.

SFI signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jilin government on Tuesday to conduct a feasibility study.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who is accompanying Mr Lee on his official visit, told reporters here that the study is expected to take between six months and a year.

If the green light is given, the food zone will be an integrated facility that covers the entire food production system. The plan now is to develop a pig farm, said Mr Mah, but chicken farming may be explored at a later stage.

'The long-term objective of this zone is to provide for supply of food not just for local consumption but also for export to Singapore, which is in line with our overall objective of ensuring food security for Singapore,' he said.

PEH SHING HUEI

叶品秀和陈雁仪将获总统颁发奖章

2008-09-19T06:49:00.001-07:00

2008-09-19

● 吴秀金
林国明（摄）

　　我国两名残奥女将叶品秀和陈雁仪将获得由总统颁发的奖章。
　　社会发展、青年及体育部长维文医生昨晚到机场迎接我国残奥代表团载誉归来时，宣布这项好消息。他说：“总统将颁发功绩奖章给叶品秀，以及公共服务奖章给陈雁仪。”

　　明智中学学生叶品秀（16岁）在北京残奥会上，夺得女子50米仰泳－S3级金牌及50米自由泳－S3级银牌，成为我国首名夺得残奥金牌的选手。陈雁仪（29岁）总共摘下两枚马术铜牌，其中盛装舞步个人赛Ia级别铜牌是我国在残奥史上首枚奖牌，她也在个人自选动作科目Ia级别赛中获得铜牌。

　　在叶品秀和陈雁仪的带领下，我国代表团在本届北京残奥会上总共取得了1金1银2铜，创下历来最佳成绩。新加坡另外四名代表是女泳手吴蕊思、田径选手陈志强、帆船组合陈威强和林国良。
　　新加坡残奥代表团所有团员昨天晚上10时30分走出樟宜机场第三搭客大厦闸门时，立即受到约250名支持者的热烈欢迎。维文与步出闸门的团员一一握手祝贺，并为运动员戴上胡姬花环。
　　
来自明智中学的30多名学生在校长吴咪咪的带领下，高举着布条及喊着口号，祝贺叶品秀载誉归国，使得机场气氛非常热闹。吴咪咪说：“这群学生都是叶品秀的同班同学和朋友，他们要求到机场来，所以学校就安排巴士送他们来。”

　　叶品秀表示，看到这么多人来迎接代表团，她感到很意外。她说：“我没有想到有这么多人来机场接我们。我接下来会把更多时间放在学业方面，因为今年就要考O水准了。我还没有设定下来的目标，但我一定会继续游泳。”

　　在北京奥运会为我国夺得银牌的我国女子乒乓球队，也将获颁功绩奖章。

关心残疾运动员

2008-09-17T04:04:00.000-07:00

联合早报， 17 Sep 2008

● 洪艺菁

　　新加坡选手在北京残疾奥运会上取得一金一银二铜的骄人成绩，原来并非偶然，而是因为国内有许多人近年特别积极培育他们。

　　社会发展、青年及体育部高级政务次长张思乐刚从北京参观残奥会回国。他在答复议员们的口头询问时透露，为了准备参加残奥会，本地残疾运动员今年所得到的拨款显著增加。在2008财政年，平均每个受看好的正常运动健儿可获得的拨款是5万4000元，每个受看好的残疾运动员所得到的拨款却是10万6000元，高出近一倍。这数字粉碎了一些人心中觉得残疾运动员较不受国家重视的疑问。

　　为了帮助残疾运动员争取更好的训练资源及提高夺标机会，当局今年六月也成立了新加坡残疾奥林匹克理事会，代表新加坡与国际残疾奥委会和其他国际残疾运动员团体接洽。

　　在残奥会上赢得金牌的本地游泳选手叶品秀可获得的奖金是10万元，这是奥运夺金选手所获得的奖励的十分之一。银牌和铜牌奖金各为5万元和2万5000元。相比之下，在京奥夺得银牌的女子乒乓队却得到了75万元奖金。有些国人因此为残疾运动员感到不值。

　　但是，这并非因为政府厚此薄彼，而是这些奖励金来自私人企业，残疾选手的奖励制度也是近年才开始设立的，筹款起步较晚。相比之下，残奥会规模和竞赛水平也不如夏季奥运会。

　　当然，我们可以选择呼天唤地，大喊“不公平”，也可选择从积极角度来看待这个问题：随着残疾选手们取得优秀成绩，商家和民众对这些选手们更加认识，赞助和捐款也会相应增加。

　　我觉得对本地残疾运动员或社会上的残疾者最大的尊重，就是把他们视为常人，不要带着有色眼镜去看待他们。就如张思乐所说的：“其实，对残疾运动员而言，他们更关心的是能否继续接受体育培训，继续加强他们的竞赛能力，并让别人把他们视为运动员而非残疾者。”

　　如果这次残奥会让新加坡人留下的印象，仅仅停留在残疾运动员面对多大的困难或奖金比别人少，那我们的眼光未免太狭隘了。

　　新加坡从本届残奥会得到的收获，不仅是四面奖牌，也包括更了解残疾运动员的培训需要，从而知道如何为他们制定长远的培训计划。

张思乐的一句话很有启发性：“一般运动员无法参加残奥会，但残疾者却可以参加夏季奥运会。”

　　在上个月的北京奥运会上，我们也看到南非选手纳塔莉虽然在车祸中失去了一只脚，但她仍坚持参赛，并在女子10公里马拉松游泳赛中，在24名完成比赛的选手中排名16，圆了奥运梦。新加坡若好好地从小栽培我们的残疾运动员，他们日后说不定也有望在夏季奥运会上为新加坡夺牌。

我国残奥战绩历来最佳

2008-09-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

2008-09-16

● 韩咏红（北京特派员）
谢光凭（摄）

　　昨天是北京残奥会游泳赛的最后一天，我国16岁小将叶品秀终于传来捷报，在她个人最拿手的50米仰泳-S3级中勇夺金牌。

　　在上午的预赛中，这名首次参加残奥会的少年泳手就以57秒92的成绩，刷新自己今年初4月创下的1分0.8秒的世界纪录。

　　尽管胜券在握，但由于担心上星期五在50米自由泳预赛中刷新世界纪录，决赛却游出第二名的历史重演，晚上决赛前新加坡支持者心情都有点紧张。

　　比赛结果与上午一样，开赛后头30米，她的位置似在第三、第四之间，接着冲力大发，越游越快、越游越快，最终以强大的速度优势冲向终点，如其名字所暗示的，一枝独秀夺得金牌。

　　她的决赛成绩是58秒75，比银牌得主，英国的弗兰·威廉森的1分6秒07快了超过7秒半。铜牌归给了中国泳手夏江波，成绩1分7秒97。

　　昨天的比赛也是我国残奥代表团本次赛会上的最后一场比赛，现场的拉拉队除了数十名来自我国官员、运动员家属与朋友、在北京就读的新加坡留学生以外，我国残奥队“大家庭”的所有成员几乎全员到场加油。

　　感人画面，还包括从香港转往北京的新加坡残奥马术两面铜牌得主陈雁仪的热情参与。陈雁仪患有大脑麻痹症，双耳失聪，说话速度慢，但始终振臂努力喊着：“新加坡、新加坡。”

　　赛后，新加坡人在场馆大厅亲切相拥，互相道贺。

母亲庄美花受访时说：“听到国歌奏起时，真的很感动。她这样，算为国争光吧？”
　　夺金主角本人话却不多。受访时她说：“很高兴，很感动这么多人来支持我。我也很兴奋，因为是新加坡第一面金牌，而我只有16岁，就实现了梦想，赢得残奥金牌。”

　　叶品秀从小患有肌肉萎缩症，肌肉随着年龄增长逐渐退化。几年前她还在游泳S5级比赛，今年被分到S3级，就反映出她肌肉情况的恶化。但也是这份逆境中奋进的勇气，让大家对她格外心疼。

　　在场的新加坡体育理事会总裁温仁德大赞我国残奥理事会，在不受看好的情况下，没有人愿意给予机会时坚持了理想，这次出赛的经费是最后一分钟才筹到的，结果取得巨大成就。

　　诚然，只有6个运动员代表的新加坡残奥队做到了，当国人普遍还不知道什么是残疾人体育时，他们远征北京，搬回1金、1银、2铜，改写一项全国纪录、两项世界纪录，完成了辉煌的一页。

张志贤：栽培体育人才我国体制健全

2008-09-01T01:49:00.000-07:00

1 Sep 2008

● 林慧慧

　　新加坡在北京奥林匹克运动会所取得的佳绩，证明本地已建立起一套健全的体育人才培育制度，有天份而且愿意付出努力的年轻人，将受到全力栽培。

　　全国奥林匹克理事会主席张志贤指出，要是没有这个制度为体育健儿提供良好训练和准备，我们引进的外来体育人才如乒乓队，也就无法取得目前的成绩。

　　他指出：“我们之所以要建立这样一个制度，是为了确保所有人民，不论新加坡公民或是从外地来到这里并希望成为新加坡团队一份子的人才，我们都能有系统地栽培你，把你带到你体育事业的巅峰。”

　　张志贤举例说，射击和帆船就是其中两个已设立良好机制来栽培年轻健儿的体育项目。“这个机制已经到位，接下来就看我们的运动员有没有决心和耐力，勇闯这个领域的巅峰。”

　　国家乒乓球女队在本届奥运中为我国夺得阔别48年的奥运奖牌，不过由于立功球员都是原籍中国的新移民，所以坊间再度出现有关我国是否过度依赖外来体育人才的讨论。

　　张志贤也对此提出了他的看法：“外来人才在体育领域所扮演的角色，跟他们在社会其他领域扮演的角色是一样的。做为一个国家或社会，要是我们自我封闭，我们势必无法取得长足的发展。”

　　他认为，人们不应该太刻意区分新移民和土生土长的新加坡人。“新加坡本来就是一个移民社会，认真追查族谱起来，我们当中有多少人能自称是百分之百、有十代人在这里土生土长的新加坡人？我想没有人可以这么说，因为我们的父母、祖父母，甚至是我们自己，都在一定程度上算是移民。”

　　展望未来，张志贤说，全国奥理会将确认出一些运动员能发挥的体育项目，根据运动员的能力，争取在区域甚至国际赛事中出位。

　　他认为，即将于2010年在我国举行的首届青年奥林匹克运动会，将给本地青年一个与世界顶尖运动员会面的机会，相信这有助于激起本地青年对体育运动的兴趣。

他说，到时每所学校将“认领”一个前来比赛的参赛国，这不单能让学生对运动项目产生兴趣，也能让他们深入认识其他国家。
　　也是国防部长的张志贤昨天是在出席东北社区发展理事会活动后受访时，以全国奥理会主席身份发表看法。

　　在昨天这场社区关怀会展上，法国兴业银行（Societe Generale）属下企业与投资部门和学生咨询中心（Student Advisory Centre）两家机构，分别捐出8万4000元和15万元，资助东北社理会推行一项新设立的午餐基金。

　　这个午餐基金为东北区内22所中小学的342名贫困学生，每天提供1元至1元5角的零用钱，确保他们有钱吃午餐。

More unable to pay electricity bills

2008-08-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

35% of families with power bill woes stay in larger 4- or 5-room flats
By Theresa Tan

MORE families here are having trouble paying their electricity bills.

And in what social workers described as 'surprising', a significant number - about 35 per cent - are those who live in larger four- and five-room flats.

As of June this year, about 13,700 households have been put on a pre-paid metering scheme after they had their power supply cut off or were in danger of having the supply disconnected.

This is up from about 12,200 in December 2006, according to SP Services, the customer service arm of utility company Singapore Power.

The bulk of these families live in rental flats and smaller one- to three-room ones. But social workers say they are astonished that many families who cannot pay their bills live in larger flats.
Those interviewed say this is an indication of how rising prices and stagnant incomes are affecting more people.

MP Halimah Yacob (Jurong GRC) said: 'If you look at it, inflation has also affected not only the low-income group, but also the lower-middle class.'

The high numbers, they added, point to a Singapore phenomenon: Of being 'asset rich but cash poor'. With little savings, such households are affected by sudden changes, such as when the breadwinner loses his job, or the economy starts slowing down, as it is doing now.

Mr Shawn Koh, centre head of Pasir Ris Family Service Centre, said: 'Inflation and bad times do not discriminate according to flat types.'

Social worker Sophie Cheng added that some Singaporeans buy larger flats without thinking 'very hard' if they can afford them - a point also made by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan in February.

The pre-paid metering scheme, called Payu, for Pay As You Use, involves replacing conventional power meters with special ones that work only if an account has sufficient credit in it.

Users can top up amounts from $10 to $250 into their accounts. As electricity is used, the sum is drawn down and has to be topped up. Twenty per cent of what they top up goes into settling their outstanding balances with SP Services.

Madam Noorfarizan Abdul Rahim, 30, went on the scheme after failing to pay her bills for three months. Her family owes SP Services over $400, but with four children to feed on a single income of $850 a month, putting food on the table, not paying bills, gets top priority.

Madam Noorfarizan, whose husband is a cleaner and whose children are aged between eight months and 10 years old, said: 'The price of rice has gone up, the price of cooking oil has gone up and everything has gone up.'

To help a little go a long way as far as energy is concerned, she restricts activities like watching TV. Social workers say that other such families also resort to leaving their flats in darkness. Many throw doors and windows open to catch available light from common corridors.

Madam Noorfarizan topped up her Payu account with $10 a few days ago, but just $3 remains. She will head to the Post Office today to top up another $10 - good for 'two to three days of power'.

Help for some of these families, meanwhile, is on the way. Two Community Development Councils - North West and South West - have started a scheme that gives utility vouchers to help residents whose power supply has been cut off or is danger of being cut off.
theresat@sph.com.sg

公共医院急诊服务需求增加

2008-08-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

2008-08-29

● 陈颖佳

　　公共医院急诊服务的需求持续增加，但今年上半年，求诊人次的上涨幅度似乎已见缓。

　　卫生部受询提供给本报的数据显示，今年上半年，公共医院急诊室共有39万8167求诊人次，比去年同时期的37万8835人次，多出了5.1％。如果下半年的求诊人次和上半年相近，今年的上涨幅度预料比去年少。

　　我国去年的急诊部门求诊人次，比前年多出11％，而病情轻微者就占了55％，引起卫生部的关注。本报今年初追踪报道时，曾经询问卫生部，病人人数增加是否促使急诊部门调高收费。卫生部发言人当时并没有给予确切的答案，仅表示当局正在探讨如何设定一个妥善的收费方式。

　　2002至2007年间，我国人口增长了9.9％，而超过65岁的人口增加了23.2％。在同时期内，急诊部求诊人次，从2002年的59万6986上升至去年的75万2122人次，增长了25.9％。卫生部认为，急诊部求诊人次近年激增，是因为人口增长和人口老化。

　　求诊人次见增，一些公共医院急诊部的门诊收费也见涨。最近几个月，有关医院陆续调高急诊部的门诊收费，上调幅度介于5元至15元。收费调整后，全国各公共医院急诊部的门诊收费介于75至90元之间。

　　卫生部发言人在答复中指出，通货膨胀、薪金增加和其他因素，例如药物价格上涨，都会导致急诊服务的成本增加，因此公共医院能行使自主权，在适当的范围内调高收费。

　　过去12个月，樟宜综合医院和中央医院的急诊门诊费保持不变。

　　中央医院和国大医院的急诊费用最高，收费90元，而这两所医院也将在未来发展成结合医疗与研究的重点医院。陈笃生医院的急诊费则从80元增至85元。

　　虽然亚历山大医院的收费调整最大，收费从60元调高到75元，但相对较低，和樟宜综合医院的急诊费75元一样，是所有公共医院当中最低的。

亚历山大医院发言人答复本报询问时说，院方多年来认为有必要将急诊部的收费，和其他医院的收费挂钩，并在过去三年逐步作出调整。“我们确保调高后的收费仍是病人负担得起的。”
　　国大医院发言人则指出，急诊部的门诊费固然昂贵，但急诊室的医疗人员实行了一些措施，减少不必要的住院，从而为病人节省医药费。

　　国大医院在急诊室设立了一个拥有八张病床的病房，为病人在同一天提供医疗服务，省却病人留院观察的麻烦。这个措施去年为病人节省了3870个住院天数。

　　国大医院也在今年6月为胸部疼痛和心绞痛的病人提供一站式的检测服务，减少不必要的入院。院方希望因胸口疼痛入院的病例，从每星期25起减少到每星期13起，为所有病人在一年内节省1300个住院天数。　

李资政：我国未来政府可延续前任政府表现

2008-06-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

（2008-06-26）

　　内阁资政李光耀认为新加坡的政治领导层经过三任总理的更迭，已将一些机制、标准及委任部长的程序融入国家的运作生态中，因此未来的政府应该可以延续前任政府的表现。

　　然而，由于他把确保新加坡能持续取得成功视为己任，因此认为必须提醒人们这并非必然的结果。因为在一个自由的选举制度下产生的政府，未必是个最能干、最有能力为人民谋福祉的政府。

　　“当一个人参加选举时，人们对他所做的判断不是以他的治理能力为考量，而是以他的说服力来给他作出评价。”

　　为此，李资政并不完全相信选民永远都知道什么才是对他们最好的，怎么做才是最能给人民带来和平、稳定与幸福的。

　　“如果选民因一时不慎重考虑事情、变化无常或纯粹像发疯似地投票让反对党执政，以看它是否能做得更好，那我认为后果将难以预料。因为不出五年的时间，这个地方可能就会毁了，而要收拾这样的残局，也是非常困难的。”

　　李资政昨晚在李光耀水源奖的颁奖礼之前举行的对话会上回答一名与会者的问题时，强调毫无天然资源可言的新加坡的生存条件是系在超凡的表现上。如果作出这种超凡表现的基本体制消失了，我国将失去所拥有的一切。

　　“我尝试说服年轻一代去了解这一点，而他们却认为‘唉，这个老人又在重播唱片了’。但是，我确确实实是个过来人，也知道要如何将事情恢复原状。”

　　他指出，要治理好一个国家的条件其实很简单，一是组成一个能赢得人民信任与支持的政府；二是有行事光明磊落、能为国家做出正确决定的领导层。但是，条件看似简单，要完全符合却近乎不可能。

　　李资政进一步解释这两个知易行难的条件的重要时，指出政府必须取信于民，是因为这将有助它作出困难却有必要的决定。新加坡的领导层是经过长期积累诚信，每当许诺时都会确保能履行诺言，因此才能争取到民众的信任。

“或许最重要的是我们必须有能干的人来负责这一切，但是这在人民自由选举的制度下是非常困难的。”

　　他指出，如果去分析美国民主党总统候选人奥巴马和希拉里的初选过程，人们所得出的结论将是关键并非在于谁是更好的总统人选，而是谁在竞选时犯了错。希拉里败给奥巴马的原因就在于她没及时听取政党选举候选人预备会议所提出的关于如何在竞选中脱颖而出的意见。

　　对于奥巴马声称将带来改变，李资政表示人们只能拭目以待。不过，他在回答关于自己能为世界作出什么贡献时，自谦地表示自己的贡献有限，因为这个世界这么大，而且又那么多元化，要改变谈何容易。

　　“即使我是美国总统，也不会尝试去改变这个世界。因为要改变世界，是超出任何一个国家的能力。”

李资政：民主体制不是先决条件国家稳定才有经济增长

2008-06-05T06:11:00.000-07:00

（2008-06-05）

内阁资政李光耀认为实行民主体制并不是一国取得高速经济增长的先决条件。要取得长期经济繁荣，国家就必须保持稳定，政府也必须能有效地推动有利于经济增长的政策。

　　他昨天在斯科尔科沃—莫斯科管理学院（Skolkovo-Moscow School of Management）的国际咨询委员会会议上同20多名俄罗斯国内外政界、商界及文化界名人畅谈政府和私人企业该如何施展领导能力，以带动经济发展。

　　他引述诺贝尔经济奖得主史宾斯教授（Michael Spence）所率领的世界银行增长与发展委员会的调查研究报告，列举出13个在1950年以后，至少有25年持续取得每年7％以上经济增长率的经济体取得高增长的五大要素：

　　一、与世界经济接轨，能运用环球市场上的科技、资源和需求去创造财富；
　　二、保持微观经济稳定，制止市场出现抑制投资的大幅波动；
　　三、维持高储蓄和投资率，为未来做好准备；
　　四、依靠正常操作的市场经济，政府以明智的方式进行适当的市场干预；
　　五、拥有尽职、可信和能干的政府。

　　李资政分析世界银行的调查报告指出，这五个有利发展的因素都有两大共同点，即稳定的国家和有效的政府。

“如果没有稳定，就不可能出现长期的经济增长，商业和贸易也不会繁荣。无论是大国还是小国，一旦脱离国际经济体系，就无法繁荣昌盛。然而，要赶上全球化的潮流，各国都需要内部稳定。”

　　李资政指出，长期的高速经济增长有赖于有效的政府和强大的政治领导层。

　　“这样的政府能确保国家保持稳定，以进行长期的策划和投资，让企业欣欣向荣。它们能推行法制、保障财产拥有权及建立正直的体系。这将赋予长期投资者，尤其是让研究与基础设施的投资者有更大的信心，对持续的经济增长起到关键作用。”

　　他强调世行的增长与发展委员会的调查，发现了突出言论自由和人权重要性的西方自由民主体制，并不是经济增长的先决条件。

　　“能取得高速增长的国家，政治体系都截然不同，从一党执政至多党民主制都有。因此，强大和有效的政府是关键。”

　　李资政引述史宾斯教授的谈话说：“无论实行哪一种政治体制，当权者的表现，而不是取得政权的方法才是最重要的。”

　　他指出，调查报告显示政府在推动经济发展方面，扮演着非常重要的角色，单单扩大政府是不够的，更重要的是政府必须有效力。

　　他也表示领导能力对私人企业的发展非常重要。

　　“有效的领导能力能协助公司制定发展方向和策略，让它们创新和增长。强大和能干的领导能力是一种资源，在动荡时期更为重要。”

　　原油价格飙升，拥有丰富石油与天然气储备的俄罗斯，近年取得迅速的经济发展。李资政说在可预见的未来，石油与天然气将继续成为关键的资源，但是俄罗斯如果要持续取得经济发展，就必须发展人力资源和体制。

他认为俄罗斯要善用人力资源，就必须对教育和公共卫生进行投资。他赞扬俄罗斯人“才华洋溢、坚毅不拔”，并指出俄罗斯是领导艺术、音乐、工程和科技的国家，还拥有丰富的人力资本，有待进一步挖掘。

　　李资政在出席斯科尔科沃—莫斯科管理学院的国际咨询委员会会议后，也同院长瓦尔达尼安（Ruben Vardanian）一起举行记者会，吸引了多家俄罗斯媒体派记者采访，而且有机会发问的记者都把握机会，与李资政进行深入的交流。

　　彭博社驻莫斯科记者问李资政，高速增长的经济体所须具备的五大成功因素，哪个最重要。李资政回答说，俄罗斯新任总统梅德韦杰夫已经意识到法制社会和独立的司法体制是推动经济增长的最大要素。

　　他指出，基础设施的发展有赖于长期投资，因为外资企业将有机会培训俄罗斯的工程师和设计师，设计能在世界市场竞争的产品。而缺乏司法制度的保障，将使长期投资者怯步。

　　李资政也引述美国前财长萨默斯的话说，世行的增长与发展委员会并没考虑到政府主导的增长政策如何加深贪污问题，造成无法推动经济增长。

　　对此，他认为俄罗斯所面对的贪污问题是从“计划经济”转向“自由市场经济”过程中所面对的问题。当市场开放之后，旧的官僚体制里的人放弃特权，商人获得经营权之后，谋取了更大的利益，因此与官员分享利益。由于这是个日积月累的制度问题，并非一朝一夕能解决，如果能提升生产力，减少经营准证的条目，就能减少权钱交易的问题。

　　李资政说，斯科尔科沃管理学院将能为俄罗斯培养新一代的商界和政界领袖，是俄罗斯进行的重大投资之一。而这个学院的委员会也汇集了俄罗斯和其他国家的优秀人才，有条件发展成优秀的商学院，吸引外国学生。

下一任总理现在非得30多岁？

2008-04-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

● 洪艺菁
angyc@sph.com.sg

（2008-04-05）

　　最新一轮的内阁改组令人感到有些担忧，因为大家还没见到未来总理的身影。

　　李显龙总理和上一任总理、现国务资政吴作栋都很早就崭露头角。吴资政在1976年12月从政，两年后当上部长，再过六年就当上副总理，当时才43岁。李总理在1984年12月从政，一年后就受委为代部长，然后在1990年11月当上副总理，当时才38岁。两人担任副总理多年后就任总理，人们都不觉得惊讶。

　　现任的两位副总理贾古玛教授和黄根成分别是68岁和61岁。他们在这次内阁改组中都留任，又没有任何年轻部长升上副总理位置，颇令一些对内阁换血充满期待的人感到意外。

　　李总理受访时表示，这些资深老将的贡献对国家很重要，因此也对他们一再挽留。他指出，贾古玛教授负责处理许多涉及法律的外交课题，而这些课题都拖延了很久，一个人即使再能干，若不了解事件的背景，又缺乏经验，依然无法在一夜之间全面掌握和了解。贾古玛教授也担任气候变化部长级委员会主席，负责统筹政府的气候变化应对措施，并且参与国际谈判。

　　至于黄根成，他身为内政部长，身负关键职务，不但涉及对付恐怖主义活动、法治与社会秩序等多个领域，也负责全国人口政策。

　　即使如此，两人依然可以在适当的时候卸下副总理职务，让较年轻的部长接任以磨炼领导能力，并让国人尽早认识他们。

　　目前内阁里不乏能干又受国人尊重的部长，其中包括大力推动教育改革的尚达曼（51岁），和先后在多个部门掌舵的现任国防部长张志贤（53岁）。虽然年纪不轻，许多人仍认为他们是合适的总理接班人选。

　　李总理进行这一轮内阁改组时没有委任新的副总理，理由也许就出在人民行动党政府领导人所开出的“下一任总理现在应该是30多岁”这个条件。目前最年轻的部长维文医生已经47岁，而在担任政治职务的议员当中，最年轻的张思乐也已经39岁。若依照这个条件，人们得出的唯一结论是，领导人心目中的下一任总理还没出现。

年龄是最容易被理解的条件，不过却不是挑选下一任总理人选的唯一条件，而我也希望不是最重要的条件。

　　据总理日前受访时表示，因为社会正在老龄化，工作队伍也已老龄化，年轻人的擢升速度都比较慢了，未必经历过许多考验，现在要物色30多岁，又有担任部长潜质的新人非常困难。而30多岁的新人要融入团队和被接受，也较为困难。

　　的确，据笔者观察，到了下次大选，许多所谓的“年轻部长”虽然在位不久，年龄却已是50岁左右。如果他们就是未来内阁团队的骨干，未必会服从一个年轻及缺乏经验的人选当他们的总理。
　　此外，30多岁的人也未必愿意从政。笔者今年31岁，因此很能够理解同个年龄层的人的想法。在同辈当中，许多人不是忙着打拼事业，就是忙着照顾年幼的孩子，要他们牺牲时间和个人自由加入政坛，是非常困难的。

　　基于这些理由，“目前30多岁的未来总理”也许根本就不会出现。

　　其实，我们一直把“换新血”等同于引进较年轻的人才不一定正确。在政党轮替的国家，当一个新的政府上台时，新的国家领导人可能会比上一届领导人的年龄更大。然而，在新加坡独特的政治气候下，我们无法看到这种情景，因此也忽略了引进年纪较大的“新人”，依然可以为内阁注入生气。

　　至于需要年轻的总理和部长来吸引年轻选民的理由也说不过去。年轻选民最在乎的并不是国家领导人和他们一样年轻，而是国家领导人是否有能力使新加坡继续发展，以及是否聆听他们的诉求。

　　政府领导人在自我更新的过程中，如果能跳出对年龄的迷思，必能有更大的选择空间。

　　一个四五十岁的人，事业可能已经达到让他们感到满足的阶段，孩子也比较独立了，加上有一笔可观的储蓄，经济负担也较轻了，他们这时也许会开始想回馈社会。例如全国志愿服务与慈善中心前主席郑有强在50岁退休后，就从事多项社会服务。他退休前是国际咨询顾问公司埃森哲的董事经理。而全国肾脏基金会主席余福金则是在55岁退休，离开会计业，全心投入社会服务。
　　我们如果把部长当作一个“职业”来吸引人才加入，就永远得和市价比赛。然而，对一些在私人企业界有良好发展的优秀人才来说，部长的待遇再高，也比不上他们在私人企业的酬劳，因此要他们放弃高薪职业、事业前景、个人自由与隐私，去冒着从政后未必肯定当得了部长的风险，在权衡得失后可能会觉得很不划算。

如果一个人在事业上有了一定的作为，对于减薪、擢升等也比较不在乎时，如果发自内心想为国家社会服务，政府领导人邀请他从政，成功机会是否会更高？他此时的思想也会较为成熟，而在事业和社会上又享有一定的名望和成就，也会让人民更加信服。

　　至少我是这么想的。

马国反对党执政五州将撤销“新经济政策”

2008-03-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

（2008-03-12）

（槟城综合电）马来西亚民主行动党秘书长林冠英昨天宣誓出任槟州首席部长后，即刻宣布不会采纳特别照顾马来人的“新经济政策”。

　　几乎同时，公正党实权领袖安华在吉隆坡也表示，由反对党执政的五个州，将撤销实行将近40年的“新经济政策”，而改以“更讲求绩效的制度”，来公平地照顾各族贫困人士，让他们同获廉价屋和教育机会等福利。

　　林冠英就职后宣布：“我们管理的州政府不会受新经济政策所限，这一制度带来朋党主义、贪污风气，以及低效率。”

　　他说，联合政府将以民主作为施政的核心价值，希望重建一个“以民为本”的体制，注重经济、施政及人民的社会需求，倡导并实践廉正及透明的价值观，同时相信机会均等及社会经济公正。

　　林冠英宣布了一个包含15个要点的改革议程，规定政府所有采购工程及合约公开招标，竞标资讯上载至互联网，公开让所有人查询；重新检讨耗资80亿令吉的槟城环球城中城（PGCC）计划；规定槟州首席部长、州行政议员、州议会议长及副议长、槟岛市政局与威省市政局主席，都必须公布本身的私人财产。

　　改革议程也列明：委任工商领域专业人士或非政府组织代表，成为槟州各级地方议员；寻求对策实现槟州人民“居者有其屋”的心愿；寻求会见首相阿都拉，让对方听取及回应槟州人民意愿，如通过国家石油公司（国油）承担联邦政府计划兴建的槟城第二大桥建筑费。

　　针对槟州乱七八糟的交通系统、房地产价格飙升问题，以及周遭环境肮脏的问题，林冠英承诺将寻求对策作出改善，但人民也要改掉本身的坏习惯。

　　受询及其班底都没有执政经验时，林冠英笑说他们都“没有贪污和滥权的经验”，但他承认，新政府在初期将会面对磨合问题，相信人民会给予他们时间。

　　宣誓仪式于昨早10时在槟州元首府进行，败选后仍保持君子风度的卸任首长许子根也出席宣誓仪式，以见证州政权的顺利转移，并与林冠英微笑握手合照。

总理促国人别陷入“坐吃山空”思维

2008-03-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

不重视经济成长多关注财富分配？总理促国人别陷入“坐吃山空”思维
（2008-03-10）

● 周殊钦

　　李显龙总理对一些国人最近谈论政府的财政预算案时，只关注所分得的红包大小表示担忧，并提醒人们千万别陷入不重视推动经济发展，只关心国家财富如何分配的“坐吃山空”危险思维。

　　“没有了经济增长，我们将会一蹶不振。我们的盈余和储备是一点一滴累积起来的。我们有了可观的资源，才能为长远的发展进行投资，使新加坡不断取得突破、不断进步。四十多年来，推动新加坡前进的正是这种良性循环。我们应该极力保持这个优点。”　　

　　他留意到一些人已经忘了新加坡是勤俭建国，才能为今天的繁荣奠下稳固的基础，总以为国家十分富裕，因此有能力大花特花，不仅嫌政府的社会福利政策显得寒酸、不够慷慨，更提出许多花钱和派钱的主张，还美其名为“分享盈余和改善福利的良方”。有些人甚至批评政府过于重视经济增长，应该改变思维，多关注国家财富的分配。

　　“我对这种非常危险的想法感到担忧。我们能有今天的成就，正是因为我们努力储蓄，也很节俭，不把钱财随便乱花，而是努力工作，量入为出，并为未来储蓄，才建立起今天的新加坡。也因为这样，我们才累积了足以投资于未来，以及能在国人有需要时分发一点小红包的资源。”
　　他说：“这才使得新加坡能在世界上昂首而立，而新加坡人也可以放心，只要愿意自食其力，政府必定会照顾他们。”

必须维持两大治国重要原则

　　李总理昨天为盛港新镇的安谷民众俱乐部主持开幕式时以华英语发表演讲，重申我国必须维持的两大治国重要原则，一是人民必须发挥自力更生的精神；二是政府和人民应该合力推动经济前进，想办法把经济蛋糕做得更大，而不是只幻想着蛋糕会从天而降，无须工作也有得吃。

　　“我们追求的理想是政府领导有方，人民能够自力更生。如果政府和人民能这样相辅相成，我国就能保持竞争优势。如果单靠政府，将会孤掌难鸣。因此，政府近年来提出的许多政策，包括今年的财政预算案，需要获得人民的配合才能产生实效。政府希望通过这些政策激励人民自动自发去改善自己的生活。”

　　他指出，如果放弃了这些原则，经济将难以持续发展，像安谷民众俱乐这座拥有多种现代化设施的休闲场所不仅不可能实现，人们还要回到像过去以锌板作屋顶，只有一张乒乓桌，居民只能同坐一排长凳观看电视那样的惹兰加由民众联络所去。

“你可以大笑，也可能以为这是难以想象的事情，但是有上必有下，如果要使新加坡经济一直向上发展，人们就必须勤快工作，一直在推它往上。”

　　李总理强调政府提出人人有份拿红包的预算案，虽然侧重照顾的是受物价上涨冲击较大的低收入家庭，但是也没忽略中等入息家庭，而这种一方面与全民分享经济果实，一方面加强社会安全网，向陷入困境的家庭伸出援手的做法，正折射出政府的治国理念。　　

　　政府上月15日公布的新财年预算案曾招来一些人，包括国会议员的批评，然而香港特别行政区政府随后公布的财政预算案却有着我国预算案的影子，尤其是它在预算案中派发“红包”，与市民分享财政盈余的做法，还被李总理所引述的中国新华社网上评论文章形容为“依样画葫芦”。

　　他认为这足以显示许多国家，包括中国、印度和中东国家都在认真地观察新加坡的做法，并有意从中学习。

吴资政：民众对预算案红包欠缺反省

2008-02-19T02:29:00.000-08:00

吴资政：民众对预算案红包欠缺反省
（2008-02-18）

● 李静仪

　　国务资政吴作栋表示，人们对新财政预算案的反应一般来说非常正面，但欠缺的是一点反省，民众在期盼得到“红包”的同时，也应该扪心自问，这个预算案到底是如何争取到的。

　　针对有人质问，去年的财政预算盈余多达64亿元，为何政府只同国人分享其中的18亿元，吴资政指出，我国之所以能取得这么高的预算盈余，是因为经济表现特别强劲，而且盈余主要是来自去年从蓬勃房地产市场所征收的巨额印花税。

　　根据贸工部早前发表的2007年经济调查报告书，房地产市场蓬勃及更多集体出售交易，政府去年的印花税收激增两倍至41亿元。

　　但吴资政指出，房地场市场的强劲表现不太可能持续，否则市场会面对供应过剩的问题，经济恐怕也会过热。

　　他昨天在出席马林百列集选区为老人院年长者和独居老人举行的“迎春纳福千叟宴”后受访时表示，民众对预算案应有切合实际的期望。

　　他说：“如果你看亚洲其他国家，或甚至是世界其他先进国家的财政预算案，很少会和新加坡的一样，如此富有人情味，这么全面和有远见”。

　　他说：“人们应该扪心自问，新加坡为何能推出这样一个预算案，不只是今年，过去好几年也是如此，而且若基础掌握得好的话，未来可能还会持续……问题是，要如何确保日后还能继续推出类似预算案。”

　　吴资政指出，虽然我国拥有相当可观的储备金，“但它就像是一只会生金蛋的金鹅，如果试图动用，就有如不再‘喂养’这只金鹅，到头来鹅会越养越小。因此我们应设法拨出一些资金来不断扩大储备金。”

　　他说：“绝不能动用储备金，否则就有如宰杀金鹅来索肉，不如继续养肥它，让它生下更多金蛋给人们分享。”

吴资政："我曾出席马林百列市镇会的活动，第一个印象是好像来到了退休村，见到许多老人家，问题是我们要如何照顾这群长者，他们在身体和财务上都无法照顾自己，这是我们一大隐忧，因此在筹划预算时需紧记要未雨绸缪。”

　　他认为，今年的财政预算案非常有前瞻性，因为它把重点放在提升教育和资助研究与发展方面，这是确保经济继续保持强劲的必要措施。

　　马林百列集选区议员谢健平受访时透露，该区将在一个星期后举办两场对话会，向基层领袖了解民众对预算案的看法。

林文兴：新加坡人要明白自己其实很幸福

　　总理公署部长林文兴则提醒新加坡人明白自己其实很幸福，因为去年的经济取得强劲增长，使每个家庭今年都从财政部长手中接过了一个大红包，协助他们应付不断上涨的生活费。

　　他说：“如果想每年都有这么慷慨的财政预算案，新加坡人必须团结一致，配合正确政策的推行，以保持新加坡经济增长的势头，同时不为国家增添多余负担，培养起自力更生的文化……那么当政府有盈余时，财政部长就能象财神爷一样分发红包。”

　　林文兴是在昨天为设在后港51街第571座组屋底层的第五个职总乐龄日间托管中心（NTUC ElderCare Centre）主持动土仪式时发表看法。

　　也是人口老龄化课题部长级委员会主席的林文兴受访时指出，年长者过去没有机会累积太多公积金，今年政府有能力再次拨款为他们填补公积金和保健储蓄户头，显示国家认同他们为新加坡做出的贡献。

A Team - MM

2008-02-02T02:30:00.000-08:00

Feb 2, 2008

Major task to find next 'A Team' from small talent pool
MM: Two-party system not viable as there's not enough top talent
By Clarissa Oon

POLITICAL FORECAST: MM Lee and Prof Tommy Koh at a dialogue with 900 participants at a conference on the future scenarios facing Singapore.

SINGAPORE'S talent pool is not big enough to support a two-party political system, as it is tough enough unearthing a first-rate team comparable to Singapore's founding fathers, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew yesterday.

Calling the People's Action Party (PAP) Old Guard Cabinet 'the A Team', he noted that there have been calls for political liberalisation, but also reminded that Singapore's 3.7 million resident population lacked the talent to support a two-party system.

'Many people say, why don't we open up, then you have two big parties and one party always ready to take over. I do not believe that for a single moment.

'We are not Israelis, you know. They can afford to do that. They have got any number of generals, writers, linguists, life science researchers, everything. It's a different mix of population,' Mr Lee said.

'We do not have the numbers to ensure that we'll always have an A Team and an alternative A Team. I've tried it, it's just not possible,' he added.

Speaking at a dialogue session at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mr Lee noted that, when he became Prime Minister in 1959, only two of the 10 ministers in his first Cabinet had been born in Singapore.

They were Mr Lee himself and Mr K.M. Byrne, who was the Labour and Law Minister in the early 1960s.

'All the others were born and bred in Malaysia, Ceylon, India and China,' Mr Lee said.
But now, Singapore has to pick leaders from within its borders, he said, adding that 'it's one thing going to the South China Sea for deep sea fishing (and) another thing going to Sentosa lagoon.'
He also cited the example of the current Chief Justice, Mr Chan Sek Keong, who was born in Ipoh.

For the next Chief Justice, however, 'we are trawling from the Singapore pool'.

At the same time, he stressed the necessity for Singapore to have a top-notch team in charge.

'Singapore needs an A Team in charge to work out the best solution...political leaders who are on the ball, think ahead, analyse carefully, choose the best options and sell it to the people, because you have got to carry people with you.'

He said that he had been lucky in finding an A team to replace the original one that was 'more than equal' in ability, integrity and capabilities.

The second A team was able to produce a third A team.

'This present A team,' he said, 'is good for another two elections. If, in these two elections, you don't see the silhouette of a fourth-generation A team, then you have reason to worry, because you need at least one term to become a really capable MP and a minister.'

In a dialogue with 900 participants at an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) conference on the future scenarios facing Singapore, Mr Lee said that the major threat to the country was not an inability to attract talent but the loss of Singapore-born talent.

'Our Achilles heel is that we lose too much of our own talent at the top, drawn by very attractive offers from top financial and legal institutions taking them out to China and elsewhere, and then not returning,' he said.

He cited his own family as an example.

His two sons had both taken up government scholarships and then returned to help build the Singapore Armed Forces and the economy up.

But of his three grandsons, all outstanding students, only one had taken up a government scholarship.

The Public Service Commission had also informed him that only half of each year's 300 top students applied for scholarships.

'That is the challenge that I consider most critical. We win that challenge and we can keep two-thirds of our top talent, then...that settled core is firm, that spine is there, the added talent can be so many megabytes, the hard disk is there,' he said.

Returning to the theme of political leadership, Mr Lee questioned the wisdom of supporting leaders like current United States Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
He described Mr Obama as a one-term senator with manifest intelligence and a gift for getting the right pitch.

'But you ask yourself: Is it going to be a safer world with McCain or with Obama?' he wondered aloud, leaving the question unanswered.

IPS chairman Tommy Koh later asked Mr Lee if the PAP would allow for a human rights commission to be formed.

Mr Lee said that that was for the younger leaders to decide but added that, in his view, as long as the Singapore Government remained clean, capable, meritocratic and fair, 'I don't see the need for more political policemen'.

Prof Koh, however, said that he respectfully disagreed.

He pointed out that, in mature democracies such as the United Kingdom and France, there were institutions such as human rights commissions and ombudsmen which 'act not as policemen but in order to help improve governance and fairness'.

clare@sph.com.sg

Asia should sustain growth, address environmental concerns

2008-01-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

PM Lee says Asia should sustain growth, address environmental concerns
By Channel NewsAsia's May Wong in Davos Posted: 25 January 2008 2311 hrs

DAVOS, Switzerland: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said Asia needs to sustain its growth, but at the same time address environmental concerns, for the long-term.

Mr Lee was speaking at a session on Climate Change during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Pollution, if left unchecked, is set to worsen with higher growth.

However, Mr Lee noted that Asian countries are reluctant to use less energy as they feel the current greenhouse gas problem is caused by developed countries in the past.

So Mr Lee suggested three ways Asian governments can strike a balance between tackling immediate development needs and protecting the environment.

Firstly, countries should take steps that will benefit them directly, regardless of any climate agreement. One major initiative is to price energy properly.

Mr Lee noted that many countries like China and India are subsidising energy, and this leads to waste and over-consumption.

Mr Lee said "their economies will perform much better and greener" if they phase out these subsidies.

Secondly, the Prime Minister encouraged Asian nations to pursue sustainable development. For example, he said that China has set definite targets to reduce major pollutant emissions by 2010.

Mr Lee added that ASEAN too is "working to reduce energy intensity, deploy clean and renewable energy, and protect the region's forests and biodiversity.

Singapore is also making a national effort.

Mr Lee had announced on Thursday that a new inter-ministerial committee will be formed to study sustainable development strategies for the country.

The third strategy is for developed countries to "take the lead in reducing emissions, while helping developing nations to do likewise".

This can be done by offering financial incentives or technology transfer. On their part, Mr Lee said developing countries should make use of the help and commit to resolve their specific needs.

On the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Lee said it is flawed. The treaty does not include all major emitters. So Mr Lee said some developed countries want to scrap it and start from scratch.

However, Mr Lee said that won't be done. Instead of starting from a blank slate, Mr Lee said countries have to start from Kyoto and move forward from there.

Mr Lee noted that it is also "crucial to get China and India on board. Otherwise, the problem will not be resolved."

Mr Lee acknowledged that the US too refused to participate in the Kyoto Protocol. He said that is something that "has to be discussed and negotiated."

The Kyoto Protocol requires developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions below levels specified for each of them.

These targets must be met within a five-year time frame between 2008 and 2012.

Mr Lee pointed out that effective steps must be taken now to achieve environmental sustainability.

So he called on every nation to do their part in coming up with a realistic and workable global solution.

Mr Lee said that with better knowledge and technology today, countries must revise their strategies to tackle this long-term climate change problem for the sake of the future.

- CNA/ms

生活垃圾：分类处理待何时？

2007-12-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

● 章星虹

　　刚刚落幕的联合国气候变化大会，就减少温室气体排放的议题，通过了“峇厘岛路线图”。但老实说，这路线图具体有哪些内容，相信很多人都不甚了了。

　　事实上，生活在地球不同角落的每一个人，包括在新加坡的我们，都已或多或少地感受到因环境污染而引起的气候变化。但普通市民如你我，面对今天这许多全球环保课题，总的感觉是“无能为力”。也正因为如此，我们照样过着以往过惯了的生活。

　　然而，我却在想，普通市民如你我，虽然在“全球减排”之类的课题上插不上话，但总能在日常生活中为自己的生存环境做点儿什么吧？
　　

生活垃圾日益增加
　　
　　这就引出了我的问题：新加坡何时才会全面推行生活垃圾的分类处理做法？
　　想问这个问题，已不是一天两天了，因为我近来愈来愈不知道应如何处置日益增多的生活垃圾。

　　比如，家人喜喝某牌子的矿泉水，喝完后剩下一个个空玻璃瓶。常识告诉我不宜把玻璃制品掺杂在厨房垃圾之中，于是我和孩子把瓶子集中在大纸盒中，搬到公寓底层的垃圾槽旁边。但我却不知道垃圾处理员是否会看到我们的苦心，把玻璃瓶与其他类别的垃圾分别处理。

纸张的两面都使用过后，就成了孩子口中的“paper for recycling”（有待再循环的纸张）。我们通常也会把这类纸张收集在一个纸箱里，郑重其事地把纸箱放在公寓底层的垃圾槽旁边。同样地，我们不知这些纸张其后的命运。

　　这种担心不是没有理由的：公寓的垃圾处理系统，并没有设置垃圾分类桶，所有的生活垃圾都被混杂堆放在同一个大型垃圾槽里。

　　问了一下周围的朋友，包括住在政府组屋、连地住宅的朋友，得到的回答都是一样的：每天扔下垃圾槽的生活垃圾，都未经过分类；事实上，即使你把经过分类的垃圾分放在不同垃圾袋里，也无济于事，它们最后还是会被混放在一起，除非你专程把分类垃圾送到远离家居的数个指定地点。

　　从国外来的朋友，也多有同样的烦恼。一位欧洲朋友说，他甚至不介意把空玻璃瓶送回商店去。在他的家乡，买瓶装饮料通常需付一点押金，而退瓶时往往能取回比押金稍高一点儿的退款。日本朋友则常常提到她家乡的严格垃圾分类制度，并为今天无法为维护环境出一点儿力而感到不安。
　　

全民参与环境保护
　　
　　事实上，全民参与环境保护，最直接、最有效的做法就是从自己的生活做起。在垃圾总量日益增多的今天，如果我们每一个人都能自觉地把生活垃圾分成几大类（包括有机可回收垃圾、不可回收垃圾、纸张、玻璃制品、电池类毒性垃圾等），就能极大地减少垃圾的处理量，最大化地利用垃圾资源。

　　我们也都知道，生活垃圾的分类管理制度，在许多先进国家实行已久。今天的新加坡已跻身先进国家行列，环境保护方面也成绩斐然，但迄今所做的，仍大多停留在政府行为的层面上，在发动全民参与日常生活环保的方面，显然做得还不够。

　　这里其实牵涉的问题有二：一是政府是否有意提高全民的垃圾分类意识？二是当全民具备了基本的垃圾分类意识后，我们的市政环保设施又是否能跟得上？这包括教导市民如何为垃圾进行分类、在不同类别的居民住宅区内（包括政府组屋、私人公寓、连地住宅）设立更多、更方便的生活垃圾分类箱、甚至在每周指定日子里到各居民区收集不同类别的垃圾等。

不知从什么时候起，我开始留意这片土地上人与环境的关系，包括那常年清澈的蓝天、环拥市区的茂密绿色覆盖。每次离开新加坡，我发现自己的目光也开始投向在别处人们的生活环境，并与新加坡做一比较。很多时候，我为新加坡在环境保护上取得的成绩感到骄傲，为发展中国家急起直追的努力感到振奋；但与此同时，我也观察到新加坡与其他先进国家之间存在的明显距离，察觉到新加坡“百尺竿头，更进一步”的空间。

　　这个“更进一步”的空间，于是就换成这样一个问题提出来了：新加坡何时才会全面推行生活垃圾的分类处理做法？

·作者在本地从事海外新闻编译工作

TRANSPORT DILEMMA: CAR OR BUS?

2007-12-17T00:46:00.000-08:00

Straits Times Dec 15, 2007

TRANSPORT DILEMMA: CAR OR BUS?
Ride your way to a liveable city...

Why not cars? Because 'a car takes 30 times more space per travelling person than a bus'
By Lee Siew Hua, Senior Political Correspondent

THE story of Singapore is illuminated by its land transport policy.

That daily bus trip may feel wholly unexceptional.

But the cool, smooth ride is a wondrous world away from the patchwork bus systems and the lurking pirate taxis that once peddled erratic mobility in the 1960s.

Though imperfect, today's road-and-rail network makes it possible for the progress- minded island to run as a fast-paced and efficient country and economy.

For the transport system seeks to heighten mobility, so personal lives and the national economy are not crimped by wasted hours, creeping productivity and health hazards.

Land transport also tracks the nation's road to the developed world.

The country was built road by road, and system by technology-rich system - and very much pushed along by powerful political will too.

Electronic Road Pricing is an example.

Leaders elsewhere have danced around this unpopular congestion control.

Singapore - habitually undeterred by political costs after doing the strategic sums - can lay claim to being the first in the world to establish city-wide road pricing and a few other innovations.

But the desire to be world-class also carries the weight of higher expectations. Singaporeans are now discerning and demanding, and expect the best and the fastest.

The middle class, for instance, would like a choice of premier bus and taxi services, unless public transport can truly deliver a seamless commute with top service.

And what about unclogged expressways, and simply more of them?

And the desire of many to own a car?

Transport policy will always be a political and emotional issue, since it touches the wallet and embodies middle-class hopes.

Transport policy is also exciting, transforming a nation's life and economy. It colours the atmosphere, quickens the pace and changes the scenery.

Roads define a nation. America's open road is a picture of its engineering genius and independent spirit.

Singapore's transport system chronicles the solution-seeking spirit of a country that cuts a methodical path through the tangle of clashing agendas that multiply within a diverse population.

Hopefully, it is both a logical and vibrant path.

In 1996, the White Paper on Land Transport drew the road map for a world-class transport system.

A decade-plus later, the ideas will be updated when the Land Transport Review is released next month.

Ahead of the review, it is clear that some issues are unchanged. For starters, in official eyes, the path to free-flowing traffic is clear:

If only people will cool their passion for cars, and hop onto buses and trains.

But it's also a tricky manoeuvre for planners here.

The reality is that the big push to prioritise public transport - and so decongest roads - is a policy in transformation.

For road blocks are still being dismantled and these include: The delayed Circle Line must start running to add fuller MRT connectivity.

The wait for buses should shorten too. And even that stroll to the bus stop or MRT station can be more pleasant.

Question marks remain over whether the bus, MRT and taxi policies are the best.

This is precisely why the Land Transport Review is so timely. It will address transport challenges of the next 10 to 15 years, taking the nation further along its quest to be liveable and world-class.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim is mindful of all the lingering issues, but he is decisive on his cornerstone policy:

Public transport is the key to a liveable city.

'Public transport is the most space-efficient way to transport large numbers of people in a complex city state,' he says in an interview with Insight on the thinking behind transport policy.

'A car takes 30 times more space per travelling person than a bus,' he points out, ready with numbers.

Public transport must be a choice mode, he concludes.

Where's my bus?

PEOPLE call perennially for direct buses. But to spread the transport web island-wide in the least pricey and most beneficial style, a trunk-and-feeder system was chosen.

So, a Sengkang resident with a Jurong job may jump onto a feeder bus outside his flat to access a long-distance trunk bus or the MRT line - then use a feeder again.

With this, people live with the hassle of transfers. The trade-off: higher frequencies.

The alternative of direct buses trying to link all points of the island is deemed too complex and wasteful. This can result in 'a bus timetable as thick as a telephone directory'', says Mr Lim.
'You can't navigate that.'

The thinking is that the trunk-and-feeder will stay - but must change on three principal fronts: waiting time, travel time and overcrowding, say Mr Lim and commentators.

Mr Michael Palmer, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, agrees with the model, with caveats. The MRT is comfortable and fast, he says. The kink is its interface with buses.

On the ground, his Sengkang folk gripe that they wait 10 to 15 minutes for a feeder bus, which then takes 10 to 15 minutes to get to the MRT.

So speedier connections really matter. Punctuality too.

'In Switzerland and Germany, you can actually set your watch by the time the bus comes,' he remembers.

Mr Lim recognises that the trunk-and-feeder is 'not doing as good a job as it should'.
The good news is that commuters are actively surveyed, and policy is indeed forming to uplift the daily commute.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is reviewing the integration of buses and rail to minimise transfers. It will quicken frequency of basic buses from 15 to 10 minutes.

Hopes of merger

HERE, the SMRT and SBS Transit each run segments of the rail and bus systems.

Despite the hoped-for benefits of competition, a 2006 Public Transport Council survey showed that bus riders were still 'fairly dissatisfied' with waiting and travel time, and overcrowding.

Corporate competition has also sent very odd signals.
SMRT decided in 2004 to give away a Nissan March car to reward its bus and train commuters.
'What company has marketing where you are promoting your competition?' wonders transport policy expert Paul Barter of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

'Their competition is not SBS. Their competition is the car,' he asserts.

This irony or anomaly seems to flow from flawed competition and a lack of imaginative links between the big listed transport providers, and this is an unsettled issue.

Introducing contracts for the transport providers may improve service. The threat of a new entrant entering the sector through competitive bidding can keep SMRT and SBS Transit focused on efficiency.

Another idea is merger. Former transport minister Yeo Cheow Tong still hopes the two firms will seek a way to integrate one day, as those in Hong Kong did. Its two major train operators merged, and lowered fares this month despite global fuel increases.

Integration can result in economies of scale. It will end duplication of routes, technical expertise, and more. It can grow the transport pie for all.

Mr Yeo sounded out both players, especially when the North-East Line began running, and all the inefficiencies were starkly clear.

'They all realised that hey, there are benefits, but the devil's in the details, how to value each one, how to balance the benefits,' he says.

'I hope they continue exploring, find a way forward to eventually integrate.'

Circle Line's moment

ONE more road block will be overcome when the Circle Line starts running in 2010. Then, more people will not need to travel to the city interchanges, but can change trains at the periphery of the city.

That will free up capacity and relieve the overcrowding.

The MRT network is now close to two-thirds of its final size, at 138.2 km.

The Circle Line, Downtown Line and Boon Lay Extension will in future push the total rail length to 215.3km.

Earlier, planners had debated the moment to launch the critical Circle Line. 'You launch it too early, it's a $5 billion asset, hardly used, and it's a huge loss,' Mr Yeo says.

'But if you launch it too late, then the current lines will be overcrowded.'

It's a judgment call, with so much public cash involved.

He's still wistful that the 2004 Nicoll Highway collapse set back the Circle Line by possibly two years - but hopeful about the new lines ahead.

Vexing, vibrant taxis

ONE more sector to fix: Cabs.

Both the possibilities and the perennial complaints are greatly fascinating.

First, why the protests?

These run the gamut from touting to cab unavailability, from dour drivers to a surfeit of surcharges.

Just to highlight two issues:

Cabs are treated not as a premier service here, but as a fairly cheap alternative to buses and trains.

Another factor is that the taxi industry is deregulated - fares in 1998, supply in 2003.
A free market lets taxi companies set prices.

One question is whether operators have enough incentive to adjust fares to match inflated demand, given that their revenue flows from vehicle rentals rather than fares.

It is toughest to find a cab in the evening inside the Central Business District (CBD). The new city surcharge plus peak fare - announced by ComfortDelGro - may help normalise this situation.

The LTA thinks this is the right direction. Cabs must be priced at a level matching their 'door-to-door chauffeured services', says Mr Jeremy Yap, LTA's acting group director of vehicle and transit licensing.

He also presents the brighter side of deregulation.

The industry is now 'more vibrant' with seven innovative players - up from two major firms of which ComfortDelGro has been dominant.

'So customers can avail themselves of more options, differentiated services.' Choices include MPV taxis, and soon LPG-powered cabs.

The fleet has ballooned 25 per cent from 2003. This is a rise from 19,000 to 23,800.

'Of course, it's not perfect,' says Mr Yap, but the LTA engages with a spectrum of stakeholders to improve taxis, puts 'mystery customers' in cabs for audits, pores over monthly surveys.

Recent ideas include proliferating CBD cab-stands for safety, which reduces empty cruising cabs as well.

Call-centre standards (See below) will improve. These are exciting days, he indicates.

Perpetual worriers

PUZZLES remain.

How much will the Circle Line change commuting life, or are expectations too high? Will taxi companies tussle between business decisions and the decongestion mandate?

Is integration of the bus-and-rail providers possible, and rational?

One conundrum is not going away. Says Mr Palmer, the MP: 'Trying to persuade people not to use the car and instead use public transport is not going to go very far, not at the prices we pay for cars.'

Glance at the 1996 White Paper, and there is a sense of deja vu. The wish for quality transport remains, for one. Balance between cab supply and demand is still sought.

What has changed?

The LTA counts the air-conditioned Toa Payoh transport hub and the North-East Line among its milestones.

Since 1996, the transport system is also supporting a 25 per cent surge in population.

Transport Minister Lim urges a little perspective: 'The perennial issues will remain, and in fact, become more complex, as travel demands become more varied over time.'

Even the Land Transport Review will be a work in progress. Importantly, he says, there is a process to continually relook and refine policies to meet travel needs.

Unresolved issues do not detract from the system's strengths, but mean the worrying and strategising do persist.

He says a global panel told him that Singapore has a good system, so the danger is slipping into complacency.

His response: 'Members of the public keep us on our toes. And in any case, we're perpetual worriers.

'We worry what's going to happen next, what we should do, so constantly we're trying to make it better.'

So the journey continues.
siewhua@sph.com.sg

Cabs: Matching supply and demand

THE Transport Ministry is keen on more people dialling for their cabs, rather than flagging them down.

This will more efficiently match the supply of taxis to demand and reduce the empty cruising of cabs.

To nudge this shift in behaviour along, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is set to raise service standards for call bookings from Jan 8.

Taxi call centres will then need to cater to 90 per cent of calls from 5pm to 11pm.

The compliance rate now is set at 80 per cent. Earlier this year, it was 70 per cent.

This time slot encompasses the hours of highest demand, when people get off work, return home after shops close, or pub-hop.

There are financial penalties if standards are not met.

How ambitious is this 90 per cent compliance target?

After all, a cab company once received an astounding 100,000 calls in an hour on a rainy evening - and the taxi fleet stands at 23,800.

Mr Jeremy Yap, LTA's acting group director of vehicle and transit licensing, says the authority will note unusual events, say, if an MRT line is disrupted and its passengers call for cabs en masse.

New entrants to the taxi sector will have time to ramp up their standards. And cab operators are 'zealous' about their reputation, he says.

Commuters think centralised booking is good - a move that the LTA may study with cab companies.

Meanwhile, the standards will likely prod companies to invest enough in better, more responsive call centres.

The larger hope is that more and more taxi trips will be made via call bookings.

Is a total conversion to call bookings likely?

Interestingly, the LTA's online game asks players to play the role of transport minister and to weigh just such a move. It is not a stretch to imagine that officials debate this possibility.

'Currently, we do not mandate a percentage of trips that must be made by call booking,' Mr Yap says.

'This is something we can study, of course.'

If bookings are the norm one day, the new standards will equip taxi companies to offer that service well.

LEE SIEW HUA

The PA is a statutory board

2007-11-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

Nov 23, 2007

Young, raring to go and in charge of grassroots
Young blood being brought in to spark new ideas, meet residents' changing needs and attract younger volunteers
By Goh Chin Lian

WHEN Mr Teo Ser Luck became an MP last year, he wanted Mr Danny Soo to head one of the grassroots organisations in his ward.

The MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, now 39, felt the sales manager, a grassroots volunteer for 12 years, had the heart to serve others and had the support of grassroots leaders, including the seniors.

He convinced Mr Soo and today, the Punggol Park Community Club Management Committee (CCMC) is led by one of Singapore's youngest grassroots leaders.

At age 32, the chairman of the CCMC is among a growing group of youthful leaders at the helm of Singapore's grassroots organisations.

In all, 63 out of 189 chairmen of citizens' consultative committees (CCCs) and CCMCs have stepped down in the past five years, said the People's Association (PA), the umbrella body overseeing all grassroots organisations here.

The major exodus can be traced to a 2002 ruling, which set an age limit of 65 years for top posts. However, the entry of young blood is also seen as a way to keep refreshing the grassroots movement with new ideas to meet residents' changing needs, as well as to attract younger volunteers.

Said Mr Teo, on his choice of Mr Soo: 'He cares for others. He had been volunteering for many years and earned the respect of others to be...a potential leader.'

But Mr Soo had some initial trepidation. He told The Straits Times: 'It was a big challenge, as the committee members have been in the grassroots for over 20 years. But I was assured that the senior grassroots (leaders) would back me.'

He took charge of the Punggol Park CCMC in July from 51-year-old Sonny Tan. It comes 12 years after his first taste of grassroots work, when he joined the club's youth executive committee. He moved to the CCMC six years later and became its vice-chairman last year.
Like most grassroots leaders who stepped down, Mr Sonny Tan has not walked away. He is vice-chairman of Punggol South CCC, which leads grassroots activities at the constituency level.
In fact, of the 63 who handed over the reins, only one had quit while three died. The remaining 59 of them continue to serve, either as an honorary chairman or in some other capacity, said Mr Tan Boon Huat, PA's chief executive director.

The age limit also applies to two other key posts: secretary and treasurer of a committee. Since 2002, four secretaries have left, reducing the average age to 50 years, from 67 years. Similarly, 30 treasurers have gone and the average age is down to 48 years, from 68 years.

PA's Mr Tan said the younger profile of leaders is also the result of the ongoing process of leadership renewal, which started in the late 1970s when, to keep pace with Singapore's changing demographics, professionals and managers were drawn into the grassroots movement.

One veteran who continues to serve is Mr Ong Teck Hong, 70, the honorary chairman of Clementi CCMC. Younger leaders seek him out for advice from time to time, he said.

'We need young people to bring in new ideas because the needs and problems of residents change over time,' said the senior fellow at the National University of Singapore's social work department.

One such leader is Mr Leon Luai, 35, the chairman of Aljunied-Hougang CCC since last year.
In May, he introduced a programme for community leaders to help residents hunt for jobs in the neighbourhood and even accompany them to work, plus follow up with home visits and phone calls.

Mr Soo is working on bringing go-kart racing to the heartland, ahead of the Formula One race held here next September.

He feels one way to get more younger people involved is to let them form interest groups.
He said: 'Let them organise what they want to do, then bring them into the committee to let them see whether they want to serve longer.'

On perceptions and 'privileges'

THE People's Association's chief executive director, Mr Tan Boon Huat, (below) responds to perceptions and criticisms of grassroots organisations and their leaders:ST FILE PHOTO

On whether the perceived links with the PAP affect recruitment of grassroots leaders.
'It's not a widespread problem. If it were, why do we have 26,000 grassroots leaders?

The PA is a statutory board. It's like any government agency: We serve in the interests of Singaporeans. We deliver the Government's programmes for the benefit of all Singaporeans, permanent residents and all those who are here. That's our job.'

On whether better facilities to attract more sophisticated Singaporeans will alienate the poor.
'If demographics, education and expectations change, how can we stay behind?

If the PA continues to be your attap hut CC with a zinc roof, offering ping-pong tables, black-and-white TVand basketball court, who are we going to attract? Even the lower-end Singaporeans won't find us attractive.

We will continue to offer the poorer ones among us many affordable programmes and activities.'
On 'privileges' of grassroots leaders.

'I'm quite amazed sometimes to see some of these chaps, who have given up so much time, being misunderstood at certain times.

There's no money in it. Every five years, they get certificates from us. A very small handful get National Day honours.

People begrudge the parking privileges* some have but first, you've got to have a car; secondly, you've still got to park somewhere; thirdly, you still have to have your own HDB parking label, so what's the beef?

Some have primary school registration priority**, but the number of those who are able to benefit at the right time is only a couple of hundred a year.

What other privileges? Nothing.'

* Grassroots leaders can park their cars, for free, between 7am and 11pm at HDB carparks in the constituency where they serve. But they must live in HDB flats and hold an HDB season parking ticket to get the HDB special parking label. Grassroots leaders who do not live in HDB flats can buy it at $18 a month.

** Priority in Primary 1 registration is for Phase 2B. But it is only for schools in the constituency where they serve or live in. This is the same priority given to people who have served in or are connected to the school.

新中签天津生态城协定

2007-11-18T23:36:00.000-08:00

● 周殊钦
曾坤顺（摄）

　　新加坡和中国继苏州工业园区之后的最新标志性合作项目——中新天津生态城已正式开展。李显龙总理和中国总理温家宝昨天在总统府签署了发展生态城的框架协定，涵盖了城市规划和可持续发展的政策与计划。

　　新中双方过去几个月，展开了生态城的选址方案与技术的研究，并对实际合作的形式达成了共识，最后确认在天津市建设生态城。这也证实了本报前天所作的独家报道。

　　两国总理在协定签字仪式后发表简短讲话时都表示，两国政府将全力支持这个象征新中友好合作的项目。

　　李总理说：“生态城是一个非常重要的项目，我们就此和中国方面进行好几个月的商谈，双方都付出了很大的努力。我们讨论了如何开展这个项目，选址应该选在哪里。我很高兴我们选中了天津，新加坡政府将在各方面给予支持。我相信中国中央政府及天津市政府也会给予生态城全力支持。”

李总理：生态城不纯粹是商业项目

　　他也说：“生态城不纯粹是一项商业项目。它反映了新加坡愿意继续跟中国分享发展经验的承诺，也表示我们欢迎中国根据国情和需要参考我们的经验。生态城的构想是让两国携手合作，在中国打造一个社会和谐、重视环保和讲求资源节约的城市。这个城市可作为其他城市的楷模。”

　　温家宝表示生态城是继苏州工业园之后，中新又一次重要的合作尝试。“我相信苏州工业园成为两国友谊合作的结晶，那么天津的生态城的建设又再成为中新友好合作的另一个亮点。”
至于生态城的意义，李总理表示它展示了两国在应对全球气候变化、加强环境保护、资源和能源节约，以及建设和谐社会的决心。

　　据本报了解，生态城具体位置是在天津滨海新区内的汉沽和塘沽两区之间，占汉沽区南部20平方公里、塘沽区北部10平方公里，距离滨海新区的核心区域只有约20分钟车程，被认为是地理位置优越的地段。

　　除了两国总理所签署的《在中国开发生态城框架协定》，国家发展部长马宝山和中国建设部长汪光焘也代表各自政府签署一份《补充协定》，列明生态城主要建设内容和具体的落实计划。双方也各别成立财团并组成联合开发中新天津生态城的合资公司。

　　据《在中国开发生态城框架协定》，副总理兼内政部长黄根成和中国国务院副总理吴仪也将在“中新双边合作联合委员会”架构下，担任统筹生态城建设工程的新中联合指导委员会主席。这个委员会将由双方政府，包括天津市政府的高层官员所组成。

　　此外，两国也为生态城成立一个直接向新中联合指导委员会汇报、由马宝山和汪光焘领导的联合工作委员会，以支持及应付这个合建项目的相关建设问题。

　　李总理和温家宝昨天也一起主持了新中教育基金会的推介式，这个旨在推动两国教育和人力资源发展与合作的基金会，除了为两国年轻官员提供交流机会之外，也加强两国人民之间的互动，以及促进新中的友好关系。

　　李总理过后在总统府为温家宝总理一行所设的晚宴上致词时，这么形容新中双边关系：“两国之间关系密切，合作的领域非常广泛。生态城框架协定的签署和新加坡—中国教育基金会的推介将加强双边合作，并进一步深化和把双边关系推向另一个高点。”

　　生态城是国务资政吴作栋今年四月底同温家宝总理在北京会晤时，首次提出的构想。七月，李总理也与到访的副总理吴仪讨论了生态城对加深两国伙伴关系的意义。

　　生态城计划的目标在于借鉴新加坡在水资源利用、环境保护和社会发展方面的经验，以在中国发展一个既能实现经济发展，又能兼顾环境与社会和谐的城市。

　　今年上半年，马宝山和被指定同中方一起发展生态城计划的新加坡公司吉宝企业的执行主席林子安，分别带队访问了天津和唐山两个候选城市，对那里的选址工作和其他地方环境进行了考察。
吉宝企业将是开发生态城项目的本地财团的领头公司。中方财团的主要企业包括天津滨海新区城市基础建设投资有限公司、天津泰达投资控股公司及中国国家开发银行。

张思乐吁民间举行更多支持申奥活动

2007-11-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

申奥委员会顾问张思乐呼吁民间举行更多支持申办青奥的活动，以提高我国成功申办青奥的机会。

　　张思乐指出，有不少人民为申办青奥而努力。他说：“我看到越来越多学校、企业和学生自动上前来，举办支持申办青奥的活动，如在他们的运动日和体育计划尝试加入奥林匹克价值观。这些都是很积极的表现。”

　　“当我走在街上，他们问我的第一个问题是我们的胜算如何，他们也常问我入选成绩什么时候公布。也有阿伯、阿婆拍拍我的肩膀问我‘青奥怎样了？’他们都很兴奋。”

　　我国青年奥运会申办委员会上个月提交了申奥计划书，对于报告书，张思乐认为：“我们已经做足功夫。”

　　国际奥委会成立的评估委员会将在下星期一（11月19日）公布有资格申办青奥会的城市，并在12月3日至18日到这些城市进行评估，然后在明年2月底前选出主办城市。

　　张思乐探讨了其他申办青奥国家，认为这些对手的实力不可忽视。他并希望有更多人民能自动发起支持申办青奥的活动，以提高我国申办青奥的成功机率。

　　他说：“一些城市已经透露了他们申办书的细节，他们个别计划都非常地好、非常完整，其他城市有类似经验、举办过大型奥林匹克运动会。新加坡属于比较年轻的城市、比较少经验。不过，我们的热忱，使我们更有希望成功申办青奥。如果有国人的支持，我们的胜算会比较高。”

公积金（第二修正）法案三读通过就业入息补助申请资格不调整

2007-11-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

● 刘慧芬　王珏琪　明永昌　林慧慧　林妙娜　陆彩霞

　　政府暂时不会调整就业入息补助的申请资格，那些原本底薪不到1500元，但是因为加了加班费或年终花红以致平均月入超出这个申请资格的工友，恐怕无法获得这份补助金。

　　人力部长黄永宏医生为这项决定做出解释时指出，这是为了让政府能
“针对性地把钱用在那些更需要帮忙的人身上”。

　　他指出，要是以月入少过1500元为标准，估计可以帮助月入在第30百分位数（percentile）或以下的贫困国人；另外要是以45岁或以上、月入少过1000元为标准，则能帮助月入在第15百分位数以下的国人。　　

　　黄永宏指出：“我想这些是我们要给予最大帮助的群体。”

　　政府是在今年2月宣布把就业入息补助计划（Workfare Income Supplement，简称WIS）设定为我国社会安全网的第四根支柱，鼓励年长的低薪工人继续受雇，以增加他们的公积金储蓄。

　　月入少过1500元的年长低薪工友只要缴交公积金，公积金局就会鉴定他们的受雇情况和月入，从而发放就业入息补助。第一笔就业入息补助将在明年1月发放。

　　黄永宏强调：“我们不要把援助分得太散，因为我们只要一提高（申请者的收入顶限），我们要拨出的款项就更多，这肯定会影响我国的财政预算。”

　　他指出，从成功申请到就业奖励花红的人数来看，估计可以分到就业入息补助的工友超过30万人，政府每年需拨出的款项估计要4亿元，由于拨款数额庞大，政府有必要设定一定的门槛。

　　在2006年共有34万名低薪工友获得政府就业奖励花红（Workfare Bonus）,今年获得这份花红的人也有36万2000人。

黄永宏昨天在国会为公积金（第二修正）法案提出二读时，针对哈莉玛（裕廊集选区）的提问做出上述回应。

　　哈莉玛指出，由于当局在计算工友的平均收入时，也把各种津贴、花红和加班费算在内，这使到不少低薪工友无法申请这项补助。她吁请人力部检讨计算月入的方式。

　　她指出，不少低薪工友都靠加班来增加收入，有些工友的加班费甚至是月薪的两三成。她以那些底薪大约1000元的保安员为例，他们只要每天加班4个小时就会超出1500元。

　　哈莉玛指出，在目前劳动市场紧缩、人手短缺的情况，工友在所难免要加班。

　　她指出：“要是我们真的要鼓励低薪工友工作，就不应该使那些辛勤加班，并在休假日或公共假日回去上班的人受到不公平的待遇。”

　　针对这一点，黄永宏指出，政府会在这项计划推行三年之后进行检讨，从实际推行计划的经验来判断是不是要放宽申请资格。

　　黄永宏也列出有关发放就业入息补助的条例。那些被发现虚报月入资料以骗取就业入息补助的公积金会员，初犯者将面对最高2500元罚款，重犯者最高罚款一万元。修正法案也将给予公积金局权力，向通过诈骗获取这份补助金的人追讨回款项。

　　法案中的另一项条例修订涉及公积金存款利率的问题。

　　政府在最近的公积金改革中，宣布从明年1月1日起，给予会员公积金联合户头（也就是指特别、保健储蓄和退休这三个户头，简称SMRA）首6万元存款额外一个百分点的利息。

　　按照目前规定，要是公积金会员从户头中提款用在购买房屋、孩子教育等，他们在填补回这笔款项时，也必须把款项在借出期间所可能赚取的利息一并归还。　　

然而要计算这个额外1个百分点的利息的程序相当复杂，所以黄永宏建议修订法案，让公积金局行使要不要追讨这个一个百分点利息的决定权。

　　他强调：“要是当局觉得追讨这笔利息会使会员陷入更深的经济困境，那当局就不会费力追讨这笔利息。”

　　国会已三读通过公积金（第二修正）法案。

Dangerous to lower criteria to enter politics: Vivian

2007-11-12T16:42:00.001-08:00

Nov 11, 2007

'High political hurdles' needed to ensure S'pore continues to have good leaders, says minister at youth dialogue
By Jeremy Au Yong

SINGAPORE must keep its entry barriers to politics high, to ensure that only the best get in, said Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday
To lower standards simply to encourage contests would be a 'dangerous short cut', he added at a dialogue with about 100 young Singaporeans.

'Many people are asking us to dumb down our political system. Lower the hurdles, lower the standards, lower the penalties, lower the deposits, so that we can have apparently more contest,' he said in response to a question about whether Singapore will have a more open political system in the future.

'I would rather have high political hurdles, so that anybody who seriously enters the contest is a good, strong, honest person, willing to pay the price and able to withstand the scrutiny of the public.'

The key, he said, was not about the future of the People's Action Party (PAP), but whether Singapore will continue to have good leaders.

'I'm not so obsessed with whether or not the PAP wins the election in 2030. What I'm more interested in is the quality of candidates who will be available for the electorate to choose and the quality of the leadership.'

If the candidates are strong, it really does not matter who wins from a 'purely national point of view'.

'From a partisan point of view, my objective then is to recruit as many of those people as possible into the PAP,' he said, adding that the ruling party had the 'lion's share' of talent now.
The 21/2-hour dialogue, organised by the National Youth Council, was lively with about 10 questions for Dr Balakrishnan and lengthy discussions.

With the focus on what Singapore would be like in 2030, the minister touched on issues ranging from dual citizenship to free education.

But it was the PAP's dominance which was on the minds of many participants.

Asked if the party would be willing to let go of the one-party system, Dr Balakrishnan replied that the Elected Presidency was created to prepare for peaceful transfer of power.

'With a second key, with a veto power on expenditure of reserves and appointment of judges and senior civil servants - if we were constructing a one-party state, there is no need to prepare all this,' he said.

Externally, he said that he did not share the 'dismal prognosis' of one participant, who was worried about Singapore's survival amid the rise of China and India.

Dr Balakrishnan believed that Singapore was never competing in the same league as the two Asian giants, and should see their rise as opportunities rather than threats.

In fact, Singapore is also positioning itself to take advantage of the growth of Asean.

'When Asean achieves an economic community, which we have targeted to achieve by the year 2015, 560 million people in one region then can compete with continental-size economies.

'If we get it right, we are in the game. If Asean succeeds, who is likely to be the Manhattan or the New York of Asean? Our neighbours will not like the answer but you and I know, we will be in the running.'

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital to be new model of hospital management: Khaw

2007-11-12T06:11:00.000-08:00

7 Oct 2007

SINGAPORE: The soon-to-be-completed Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun will be a new model of hospital management, says Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan. This includes the setting up of a charity fund to help patients where government subsidies are insufficient. Mr Khaw also announces the hospital's board of directors, most of whom are from outside the medical field, saying they will bring in fresh perspectives. The Khoo Teck Puat Hospital will be Singapore's newest general hospital, come 2010. The Health Ministry says the hospital can pick up a tip or two on service-oriented management from the Raffles Hotel. That is why Jennie Chua, the former CEO of Raffles Holdings, has been appointed to head the hospital's board of directors. Alexandra Hospital's CEO, Liak Teng Lit, said: "If you look at our board members, because they've all been successful in their respective areas, they are able to help us in a very deep way, not in a superficial way of just giving us general directions or general ideas of what can be done." Minister Khaw said that the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, with its board independent from the National Healthcare Group's management, provides an opportunity to structure a new way of hospital management. He said: "The bulk of the cost will still come from the government, so it's not a VWO like Ren Ci. But at the same time, it's not a completely public hospital because there's this $125m from a foundation. So I need to find a slightly different governance model." This includes using an annual grant from the Khoo Teck Puat Foundation to help patients where government subsidies like MediShield, Medisave, MediFund are not enough. If successful, Mr Khaw hopes to replicate the idea in other general hospitals. In an example of innovation at the new hospital, the C-class ward will be divided into groups of five beds each. Bathrooms will be located at each cluster, which means greater convenience and comfort for patients. The 5-bed arrangement also allows for quicker isolation of patients from infectious diseases. The Ministry says that while costs may be higher, some patients have expressed willingness to pay more for better service. Mr Khaw said: "We would have to have a say in the final pricing; they would have to clear the final pricing with us. And, of course, the Ministry of Health will ensure that the key point remains - that they (prices) will remain heavily subsidised and affordable." Alexandra Hospital, which will run the Yishun facility, says it aims to have a one-hour turnaround time for 90 percent of its patients once the hospital is ready in 2010. - CNA/ir

Teo Ser Luck On Youth Olympics

2007-10-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Oct 13, 2007
YOUTH OLYMPICS
Three factors in Singapore's favour
Hopes of winning 2010 Youth Olympics bid rest on facilities, relations and support
By Marc Lim, Sports Correspondent

ON THE OLYMPIC TRAIL: PM Lee (second from left) is shown the various Olympic medals used in previous Games at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Accompanying him are (from right) Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's IOC Executive Board member Ng Ser Miang, MCYS Parliamentary Secretary Teo Ser Luck, former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and IOC president Jacques Rogge. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

SINGAPORE'S Youth Olympic Games bid will hinge on three factors: good infrastructure, good relations and good support.
The three areas will be looked at closely by the International Olympic Committee, when it decides to which city the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010 should go to.

As Singapore scores well in all three, the IOC should be confident that the Republic will stage a good Games, says Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck.

Updating the press on Singapore's bid for the Games, Mr Teo said that he was optimistic about Singapore's chances.

He said: 'Having good infrastructure, planning is what Singapore is known for.

'We also have a unique concept of clustering the Games in various parts of the island, in both the heartland and city centre.'

SMALL IS GOOD
'This is one example where size doesn't matter. By being small, we get to involve the whole country, without athletes having to travel far away on trains or planes.'
TEO SER LUCK, Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports), explaining why Singapore, with their smaller venues and geographical area, hold an advantage over other bidding nations
Unlike the Summer Games, where there is a need for large stadiums owing to the large number of athletes, only small-capacity venues are needed for the Youth Olympics.

As such, Singapore's smaller stadiums are enough to accommodate the expected 3,500 athletes.

Added Mr Teo: 'This is one example where size doesn't matter.

'By being small, we get to involve the whole country, without athletes having to travel far away on trains or planes.'

However, having a sound plan is not enough. Having good relationships with the IOC and the various international sporting federations also helps.

Mr Teo observed that the visits by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne last week had made an impact.

Said Mr Teo, who also went on the trip: 'It was good for PM Lee and Minister Vivian to visit the IOC, the Olympic Museum and understand the Olympic movement.

'It was useful for us to talk to the IOC about what kind of legacy the Games can leave behind to host cities. I am sure the IOC officials also took away something from our visit.'

The chances will also be helped by Singaporeans in key positions in international sports federations.

For example, SingaporeSailing president Low Teo Ping is also the International Sailing Federation vice-president, while Singapore Hockey Federation president Annabel Pennefather is the International Hockey Federation's vice-president.

As the Youth Olympics will cater to athletes between the age of 14 and 18, several sports may be modified. The duo can help find out how Singapore can help customise their sports in 2010.

Added Mr Teo: 'Support is also important. The Government is backing the bid.

'And our people are also behind us, with overseas students setting up websites to support the effort. It's nice that even the old uncles come up to me during my walkabouts to ask about our chances.'

Singapore will submit its candidature file to the IOC on Oct 26. A shortlist will be released next month before the winning city is announced in February.

marclim@sph.com.sg

PM Rally Speech 2007

2007-08-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

为年老无忧　要延迟退休

要确保在年老时免于担忧、并有足够的储蓄，最佳途径是继续受雇和工作得更久。

　　随着人们寿命的延长，你不能期望在55岁退休，然后生活到80岁、85岁或甚至90岁。你必须工作得更久，缩短退休生活时间。

　　美国、英国和日本等世界各国也在试图让国人工作得更久，并较迟领取退休金。目前，他们（领取退休金的人）很多都刚过60岁，这些国家正争取把退休金领取年龄推迟到近70岁。实际上，他们认为必须争取把退休金领取年龄推迟到70多岁，或至少70岁。但是，这在政治上将是一项挑战，而且需要很久的时间。

　　我们也得做出这样的调整。

　　我们并不期望所有新加坡人都跟李女士和陆女士一样工作到80多岁或90多岁。但是在55岁或甚至62岁就退休又太早了。

林瑞生的故事

　　林瑞生告诉我们这个故事：

　　林瑞生一次在走访选区时，在巴刹同一名居民交谈。对方看起来很健康，所以林瑞生问他：“你今年几岁？”居民回答：“72岁。”林瑞生说：“哇，以你的年纪，看起来很健康。你还在工作吗？”居民回答：“没有，我很早就退休了，在55岁的时候。”林瑞生就说：“55岁！为什么你那么早退休？”居民回答：“因为我不知道我会活这么久！”

　　我们的挑战是如何才可以吸引更多60多岁的人继续工作？我跟工会领袖讨论过，这也是他们最关注的问题。

他们告诉我，员工本身是希望继续工作的，而且一直向工会领袖施压，要他们同雇主探讨可行的方案。知道他们想要工作，我觉得这是很大的有利因素。但是我们需要让更多人能够这么做。

　　如何做到这一点？在新加坡有三个方法：教育、立法和奖励。

　　让我先从教育谈起。

　　我们需要改变雇主和员工的心态，让雇主认同年长员工的价值，有效地分配工作给他们，善用他们的能力和强处。

　　一些有先见之明的雇主已经开始这么做。例如：新捷运重新聘请一些退休的巴士司机出任新司机的指导。

　　员工也必须作出调整，准备在62岁过后“换档”、接受较低的工资和较轻的工作量、接受较低的职务，让年轻人有机会升职。否则，我们看到的景象将是最年长的人担任最高职位的工作。那我们整个体制就好像是一座山，一座越靠近顶峰，头发就越来越灰白的山。那肯定不能使我们充满活力。

　　新加坡能源公司的高级技师在退休后被重新雇用为技师，这让另一人有升迁成为高级技师的机会。

　　所以教育是第一步。

立法要雇主重新聘用退休员工

　　第二步是通过立法，清楚向雇主、公众和员工发出信息，说明我们是认真看待这个课题，这是我们面对的重大问题，必须想办法解决。

经常有人问，为何不干脆立法提高法定退休年龄？但我们的经验显示，这不能解决问题，或许还会使问题恶化。

　　目前的法定退休年龄是62岁，但不是每个人都工作到62岁。许多女性很早就退出劳动队伍，他们到了三四十岁有了孩子、有了家庭之后就不工作了。

　　男性当中，只有三分之二的人工作到62岁，尽管有法定退休年龄，仍有三分之一不到62岁就退休了。

　　因此，单是提高法定退休年龄不能奏效，还是会有人提早退休，又或者雇主会认为这将加重他们的负担，而不愿聘用年长员工。

　　更好的做法是，立法要求雇主重新聘用退休员工，让他们满62岁后还继续工作。这对雇主和雇员来说都是较具灵活性，不一定是做同样的工作，也不一定会拿同样的薪金。

　　这并不意味着每个员工肯定会有工作，但雇主需作出安排，根据员工的表现、健康情况、偏爱及公司的需要，重新聘用退休员工，双方做出双赢的安排，通常这是每年进行的。
　　这就是日本人经过长时间筹备后采取的方法，也是我们将要做的。

　　我们将通过重新聘用法案（Re-employment Act），它将从2012年1月1日起生效，要求雇主重新聘用达退休年龄的员工，第一步是重新聘用员工直到他们达65岁，日后再逐步调高到67岁。
提供就业入息补助奖励就业

　　政府将通过奖励措施，鼓励年长员工继续就业，同时鼓励雇主聘用年长员工。

一个方法是提供就业入息补助（Workfare Income Supplement，简称WIS），这是我们在今年推出的计划，当雇主聘用年长员工时可获得津贴。

　　我们在设计这项计划时就已偏向年长员工，35岁的员工可享有部分好处，到了45岁以上就能完全受益。我们还可以进一步加强计划，让满50岁和60岁的年长员工享有更高的就业入息补助。

　　这么一来，雇主在计算聘用年长工人和较年轻员工的工资成本时，年长员工将略占优势，而在决定要聘用年长员工或外国员工前，他们会想，聘用外国工人需要缴税，年长员工则有就业入息补助。

　　我们原先准备几年后检讨就业奖励计划时才这么做，但随着我们今年将做出重大改变，包括改革公积金计划，所以最好是不要再等了，现在就实施。

55岁以上员工补助比年轻工人多一倍

　　我们将为55岁以上的年长员工提供更高的就业入息补助，比较年轻工人多出一倍。
　　目前，每月收入1000元的60岁员工，每月可获得100元的就业入息补助，同45岁员工一样，相等于每年获1200元，或10%的薪金。

　　在调整计划后，他每个月可获得200元，或相等于20%的薪金，并非全数是现金，有些是存进公积金户头。

　　这将出现明显的不同，他每个月将能领更多钱回家，公积金存款额也会增加，这将能鼓励年长员工重新就业，及鼓励雇主聘用年长员工。

　　这是工会及由颜金勇领导的提高年长工人受雇能力劳资政委员会提出的好建议，这将能提高年长国人的就业率，让他们有更多养老金，这是我们协助年长员工自食其力的计划核心部分。

政府以一系列改革措施解决老龄化及收入悬殊问题

李显龙总理昨晚针对政府和国人极为关注的人口老龄化及收入差距扩大等问题，提出了一系列的解决方案，目标是让年长者继续受雇，得以积累足够储蓄以安享晚年。

　　政府为此将透过改革公积金制度、提供额外公共住屋津贴和就业奖励，让中低收入阶层与年长工人得到更多援助，以确保这些弱势群体在国家向前迈进时，不会被抛在后头。

　　为了配合工人受雇的年龄延长到65岁，政府将从2012年起把公积金最低存款额的提取年龄从62岁逐步提高至65岁，以及强制50岁以下的公积金会员购买年金。

　　李总理在透过电视直播的国庆群众大会上向国人发表的常年重要演讲中所宣布的新措施，也兑现了政府在今年二月发表的财政预算声明中所提到的调高消费税率及动用更多的储备金投资净收益来应付人口老龄化、加强经济竞争力及推展各项重大建设的承诺。

　　他强调政府必须确保新加坡持续取得增长，才有足够的资源去解决各种挑战，因此会通过改变雇主和雇员的心态、立法和提供就业入息补助金三管齐下的灵活方式，让工人在62岁退休之后能重新受雇。

　　为此，政府将通过立法，从2012年起规定雇主在雇员达到法定退休年龄时重新雇用他们，先是让他们从62岁做到65岁，然后再延长至67岁。

　　为了鼓励年长工人继续工作，政府也将加强鼓励措施，包括让超过55岁的雇员获得更多的就业入息补助金，不但收入增加，公积金户头的存款也会增加。以一名60岁的工人来说，如果月入1000元，将可得到每月200元的就业入息补助。

演讲轻松幽默

　　李总理先后以马来语、华语和英语发表长约两小时半的演讲，虽然所触及的课题很严肃，但他在演讲时穿插幻灯片和录像片段，所列举的众多例子却能紧紧地扣住听众，轻松幽默的言谈也不时引起全场笑声和掌声。

他在演讲中不断吁请年长者积极看待工作，活到老，做到老。因为国民人均寿命不断提高，现在的70岁相当于从前的五六十岁，人们也应该相应调整对工作的心态。

　　“如果健康没问题，就应该继续工作。这不但可以避免钱不够用，也有益身心。因为要安享晚年，钱是很重要的。”

　　至于公积金制度的改革，是让公积金会员从普通户头的存款中获得多一个百分点的利息，顶限是普通户头的首2万元存款，如果把普通户头、保健储蓄户头及退休户头加起来，则以6万元为限。这笔钱仍可动用来购屋及支付医药费，不过不可用来作其他的投资。目前普通户头存款的利率是2.5％，其他户头的利率则是4％。

　　李总理的演讲是围绕着“机遇之都”这个主题。他在畅谈国家的良好机遇时，也宣布政府不但将通过新的家居改进计划和邻区更新计划不断提升组屋区的居住环境，也将改善私人住宅区的设施。

　　昨晚约有1400名基层组织、各行各业、志愿团体、公共部门及各界的代表受邀到新加坡国立大学文化中心礼堂聆听总理的演讲。他今年重点谈到提升教育、公积金制度改革及延长就业年龄等课题，还特地邀请50名校长与教师及工会代表听讲。

　　为了满足学生对大学学额的需求及加强国家的长期竞争力，总理也宣布将设立第四所公立大学，以在2015年之前把进入受津贴大学的同龄学生从目前的23％增加到30％，并且鼓励学生学习英文与母语以外的第三语文。

　　在华语演讲中，他强调政府的双语教育政策不变，而特选学校也将继续扮演重要的角色，以加强母语教学和文化的传承。而中华总商会也成立了称为“通商中国”的社交组织来推广华语。内阁资政李光耀已答应出任赞助人，副总理黄根成和几位部长则将担任顾问。

　　谈到新加坡的前景，总理指出贸工部估计未来五年至十年的经济增长率将介于4％至6％。这虽是个雄心勃勃的目标，但未来几年的情况对我们有利，因此他有信心能取得比这更好的表现。

　　“我们一定要抓紧千载难逢的机遇，加快发展和改革的步伐。未来十年，新加坡必将焕然一新，变得更加多姿多彩。让我们一起努力，为全体国人创造更辉煌的前程。”

鼓励公务员掌握双语常月补贴不限外交官

新加坡人到外国，尤其是在语言上没有障碍的中国发展，可以取得骄人的成就，一个重要因素就是了解这些国家的文化和语言。因此，政府将继续全力支持培养双语与双文化人才的政策，而教育部也将全力支持特选学校，协助它们加强母语的教学和文化的传授，以肩负薪火相传的使命。
学习母语是天经地义的事

　　李显龙总理昨晚在国庆群众大会上向国人发表30分钟的华语演讲时，强调了掌握双语的重要，并指出要下一代学习母语是天经地义的事。尽管中国的经济起飞确实激励了人们更加重视华文，但是学习语文不应该只是因为经济上的考量。

　　他说，全球目前正掀起一股学习华语的热潮，即使远至南美洲，甚至是非洲都有人在努力学习华语，因此新加坡人应该充分利用这个大环境，把华语学得更好。事实上，本地人对华文华语的掌握已成了他们同中国交往的一大优势，而许多中国官员及游客也因为文化上的亲切感而到我国来考察及旅游。

　　李总理指出，自本地特选学校推出双文化课程以来，便受到家长和学生的欢迎，使得报名选修这项课程的学生至今超过900名。而特选学校也因应时代的转变，不断引进新的教学法。

　　“我们应该继续推广华语，维持华文水平。拥有将近30年历史的特选学校扮演着重要的角色。它们确立了方向，制定了不少计划，相信可以培养双语与双文化人才。”

　　身体力行是发挥模范作用的最佳途径。李总理透露为了鼓励全体公务员加强双语能力，政府决定把目前只给予掌握双语的外交官的常月补贴金扩大至需要同外国人打交道的贸工部、国家发展部及公共服务学院等部门的官员。

　　他相信多数官员会选择最为实用的华语，因此这项措施也表达了政府推广华语的决心。

　　他指出，政府也将在完全不对母语政策造成影响的情况下，实行一些奖励措施来鼓励各族学生学习母语之外的第三语文，尤其是马来语或印尼语。因为这两种语言有利于国人同邻国人民交往、做生意，以及加强彼此之间的了解。

总商会设“通商中国”

李资政任赞助人

　　李总理透露，新加坡中华总商会已成立了一个名为“通商中国”的社交组织，将招募对中国有兴趣的商人、专业人员、年轻人及学生，让他们有机会进行交流，建立联系，以及用华语讨论各种重要课题。

　　内阁资政李光耀已同意出任“通商中国”的赞助人，而黄根成副总理和几位部长也将担任顾问，以表示政府对这个计划的支持。

工人党劳动节献词 (2007)

2007-04-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

2007-05-01

工人党劳动节献词：工人收入跟不上经济增长　可能造成社会价值鸿沟

虽然新加坡经济取得强劲的增长，失业率下降，房地产市场也一片红火，但是工人党在劳动节前夕所发出的献词中，指本地仍有一大部分工人的收入跟不上经济增长，可能造成社会的统治精英和一般国人的收入与价值观出现鸿沟。
　　这个第一大反对党也针对我国所收割的经济果实是否都分配到全体国人手上，提出了一连串的质疑。
　　“新加坡人的日常生活改善了吗？国人的工作和孩子的前途有保障吗？新加坡是否还属于新加坡人的，还是国人都已变成只同国家有物质联系的客工了？”
　　这份由工人党财政陈恩忠签发的献词指出，现在距离去年五月大选将近一年，因此是让人们对政府这一年来所制定的政策及其对我国工人的影响进行思考的时候。
　　它说，自去年大选以来，人们所看到的是消费税增加、公共交通车资提高及医院与综合诊所收费上涨，而人民行动党政府又似乎改变了它在大选期间的说法，正打算实行支付能力调查（means testing），以作为公共医院的收费指南。
　　“对工人来说，唯一的安慰是工人党也赞成的就业奖励计划。遗憾的是政府是透过调高消费税率来资助这个计划。”
　　工人党也在献词中重申反对政府提高消费税率，因为它认为政府在财政预算案中所估计的收入增加数额，足以显示即使消费税率保持不变，仍有能力支付这项让工人受惠的计划。
　　献词指出，工人党已在大选期间呼吁政府考虑制定政策去提高工人适应反复无常的世界经济的能力，包括改变工会的行事模式、修订雇佣法令及检讨中央公积金的管理，以让会员获取更高的回报。
　　它表示对公积金投资计划正在检讨一事感到欣慰，但是却对公积金仍未恢复到2003年之前的水平感到不满。
　　“工人党坚信公积金不应被当作用来对经济衰退作出反应的手段，而是应该维持当初设立的原意，即作为工友退休后的养老金。工友在国家进行经济重组时，已经过一轮削减公积金的行动了。”

老鼠爱大米

2007-04-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

2007-04-24

老鼠爱大米－彭飞

● 彭飞

前年滇藏路上，开车的是纳西族人，手机响个不停，遇上危险弯道腾不出手，铃声可响上三五分钟。初时颇受干扰，一周下来渐渐习惯了铃声旋律，能顺口哼小半节。同车年轻小伙子告知，这是当前红遍全中国的网络歌曲《老鼠爱大米》。
　　纳西师傅早已跨越而立之年，性格沉潜，绝不浪漫，情歌恋曲随身，其实另有一番寄托。闲聊时他坦称尚未走过这条路，传言中的困顿艰险并未令他却步，因为这一趟车的丰厚回报，很可能是他今年最丰盛的“大米”。
　　细细玩味，“大米”竟有了不同意象。少年郎眼里大米是情爱，辛苦奔波为的尽是两情相悦；壮年人心中，大米则是实实在在的生活物质，不管路有多遥，风雨多大，挣得温饱富足便是无憾人生。
　　近日孙立群教授在“百家讲坛”开讲秦相李斯，提到其“老鼠哲学”，居然也同“大米”相关。据司马迁《史记》记载，李斯原是楚国上蔡人，年轻时在地方政府机关担任小公务员。某日如厕，他看到厕所里的老鼠吃着脏东西，每逢有人或狗走来，就受惊逃跑，惶恐终日。其后李斯有机会进入官家粮仓，看到粮仓中的老鼠，住在大屋子里，根本不用担心人或狗惊扰，生活安逸而无忧。两相对照，李斯不禁感叹道：“一个人有出息还是没出息，就如同老鼠一样，是由自己所处的环境决定的。”
　　李斯由老鼠际遇推理，一个人能平步青云，很大层面并非决定于天资禀赋，而是在于他所选择的位置。做人得把握时机，眼光要远大，不能一辈子窝在地方“小厕”吃屎，务必不惜一切代价挤进中央“粮仓”，无所顾虑地享尽公共资源――“大米”。
　　为了安享大米，这世间的道义公理都轻如鸿毛，李斯奸险地杀害了同窗韩非，只因对方才学胜己，深恐他获秦王赏识而夺去自己的粮仓大位。秦始皇死后，李斯更与赵高密谋杀太子扶苏与大将蒙恬，为的其实仍是要保住手中的大米饭碗。中国历史上首个文化浩劫――焚书坑儒，正出自李斯的政治构思，其背后思维不外当人民都无知无识，大可愚而弄之，手中这碗大米饭即可安稳吃上百年。
　　不过，独享大米的后遗症不轻。曾读过一则老鼠寓言：一只老鼠不慎掉进了米桶，米桶里还有大半桶大米，它喜出望外，无忧无虑地过了好长一段时间。一天，老鼠发现米桶已经见底，再抬头一看，不禁大吃一惊，这时桶已经高得跳不出去，更糟的是自己更胖得没有一点弹跳力了。老鼠心慌意乱，张开嘴巴拼命去咬桶底，却徒劳无功。最后这只老鼠在吃完桶里最后一粒大米后，饿死了。
　　寓言颇有警世寓意，但坐拥大米粮仓的老鼠几曾意识到会饿死、横死的危机？放眼四望，脑满肠肥，竖着贪婪小红眼睛的鼠辈，在五千年历史回廊上，绵绵不绝，来来去去。
　　权倾天下的李斯最后还是不得善终。朝廷里另一头更奸猾、凶残的仓鼠捕杀了李斯，将他腰斩于市，并残酷地夷三族。《史记》记载，李斯临刑前对儿子说：“如今我想做个老百姓，跟你回返上蔡故里驱狗捕兔，过简单平安日子，却再也不可能了。”
将死之言真情流露，但总在刑刀之下，棺材之前。这世间不爱大米的老鼠太少，满仓大米仍不够而贪得无厌的却比比皆是。今后，偶尔仍会哼哼《老鼠爱大米》，为葬身米堆的鼠类哀悼。

2007-04-26

细读《老鼠爱大米》

● 成汉通

　　看到彭飞在“四方八面”的《老鼠爱大米》（早报4月24日），使我想起去年在选区的一个场合，也听到这首中国的网络歌曲。那是个星期天的早上，我们在区内展开灭鼠运动，台上的童星唱完这首歌后说，老鼠虽然爱大米，我们却不爱老鼠，所以我们在这里展开灭鼠运动。
　　细读《老鼠爱大米》，彭飞由大米讲到李斯，又从李斯的老鼠哲学提到李斯的推理，即一个人能平步青云，很大层面并非决定于天资禀赋，而是在于他所选择的位置。做人得把握时机，眼光要远大，不能一辈子窝在地方“小厕”吃屎，务必不惜一切代价挤进中央“粮仓”，无所顾虑地享尽公共资源——“大米”。
　　一些新加坡人向我反映，彭飞的文章似乎是针对部长加薪这个课题。他们得到这个印象，是因为这是目前举国上下热烈讨论的话题。彭飞是本地作家，文章刊登在《联合早报》，自然引起人们的联想。他是不是有感而发？如果是的话，那就不妙了。部长加薪是个重大课题，我们在国会里辩论了三天，三十多名议员发表了他们的看法，大家就事论事，有话直说。许多新加坡人也借诸报端，慷慨直言。借古喻今，是中国古代文人骚客针砭时政的护身法，但是在今天的新加坡，这种做法无助于达成共识，解决问题。况且以“老鼠爱大米”来暗喻部长加薪，未免有欠公平客观。如果说新加坡政府是“无所顾虑地享尽公共资源”的贪婪的老鼠，那不是比当年的菲律宾马可斯政府还要糟？
　　彭飞在文中提到李斯和韩非。李斯原是楚国人，在楚国当守粮仓的文书。他拜师学治国之道，学成后认为“楚国不足事，而六国皆弱”，只有秦国具备统一天下的条件，于是他到秦国施展才华，这是两千多年前的人才外流版本。我们在中学时念中华文选，也读到李斯的《谏逐客书》，文中的“泰山不让土壤，故能成其大；河海不择细流，故能就其深”，至今耳熟能详。
　　韩非原是韩国人，在当时的战国七雄中，韩国最弱，又和强邻秦国接壤。他看到内忧外患，接二连三上书韩王，认为韩王“所养非所用，所用非所养”，韩王看不起韩非，不认为他有真才实学。而韩非的一系列著作流传到秦国后，秦王十分欣赏韩非，担心韩非如果受韩王重用，秦国将有无尽的隐患。秦王后来是以武力威胁，才迫使韩非到秦国效力。这是两千多年前的争夺人才版本。
　　从这两个版本，可见人才之争和人才外流，是千百年来都在演进的事件，所谓自古已然，于今尤烈。
　　我们面对环球竞争激烈的现实局面，除了打造新加坡，成为环球都会，机遇处处；也想方设法，高薪抢贤。对于这个课题的探讨，不会就此结束。最主要的关键，是要从现在看到未来的挑战，看到环球的竞争。
　　彭飞表示，今后偶尔仍会哼哼《老鼠爱大米》，为葬身米堆的鼠类哀悼。就不知道他所指的米堆和鼠类，是有所指？还是无所指？

　　·作者是杨厝港区国会议员

2007-04-30

也读《老鼠爱大米》

● 吴大地

　　我不认识彭飞，也没有读过他的文章。直到4月26日，在《交流》版读了国会议员成汉通《细读老鼠爱大米》一文，才去把彭飞的“肇事”文章找来看，因为我也十分关心部长加薪这个议题。
　　读后的感觉是，这篇文章的内容以及所谈到的一些现象，与新加坡的政治现实，扯不上关系。
　　我国政府清廉高效，已是国际共识。一个政府成为世界市场的品牌，确实罕见。如果说彭飞文中那只腐败贪婪的小老鼠，是在影射我国部长政要，实在是焦距错位。
　　再说，一只无德或无能的老鼠，想要挤进我国的中央“粮仓”，谈何容易。类似我国的任人唯贤制度，在国际上也非绝无仅有，而贪污无能的老鼠，在很多国家却到处都是。这制度在我国行之有40年，成绩有目共睹，出错的例子屈指可数，主要的原因是甄选严格，监察敏锐，这类鼠辈，必然会被挡在粮仓门外。
　　彭飞认为李斯的政治构思“焚书坑儒”是一种愚民政策，那就更与我国不遗余力的提高国民教育素质的做法，刚好相反。
　　如果说他讽剌的是我国的“精英主义”，那就更加离谱了。我国的精英主义只不过是选贤与能，力求把最合适的人选放在最适当的位置上，实践的是管理学上的常识。政府求才若渴，只担心可供挑选的精英太少，所以想方设法尽力播种栽培。每一代的新秀，多是从社会各界中，筛选出来。如果说我国政府把人民当成无知无识，进而愚而弄之，这样的话语，必定是出自一只瞎老鼠之口。
　　最后，彭飞故事中的老鼠因为吃尽大米，困在空桶中饿死。自独立以来，我国的国库从无到有，从第三世界跻身世界富国之列，其速度之快，己被政治经济学者视为奇迹，这样的善于创造财富放眼未来的政府，与那只只会吃不会做最后粮尽而死的笨老鼠的意象，相距何止万里。
　　如果作者真的有意“借古讽今”，暗喻部长加薪一事，那么他所说的与事实的距离实在太远了，别说是暗喻，就算是明言，听起来也有点像天方夜谭。
　　就文章本身而论，《老鼠爱大米》是一篇难得的好文章。将来遇到彭飞的作品，一定不会错过。

“寰宇·新加坡”: 诚信”、“新知”、“联系”和 “生活”

2007-04-21T05:04:00.000-07:00

20 Apr 2007

「寰宇·新加坡」方案提升我国发展层次

政府将透过新拟定的“寰宇·新加坡”（World·Singapore）总发展方案来推动和提升国家的发展，使它在取得40年的成功之后，能继续繁荣昌盛，不只确保经济持续增长，也为所有的人民带来充满希望和机遇的稳定未来。
　　主管公共服务的国防部长张志贤昨天在经济发展局第九次国际咨询理事会会议上指出，来自全球的竞争越趋激烈，新加坡如不推陈出新，将很难保有它所取得的优势。
　　张志贤是经发局国际咨询理事会主席。他说，许多国家借鉴新加坡的经验之后，发展得很快；处在这样的大环境之中，我国这些年来为吸引外资所采取的“中西合并”（East plus West）发展模式已不足以应付竞争，必须提出比这更有吸引力的方案。
诚信、新知、联系、生活
　　他在莱佛士大酒店举行的会议开幕式上发表演讲时指出，公共部门在2005年年初同各界协商，集思广益之后，把“诚信”（Trust）、“新知”（Knowledge）、“联系”（Connected）和“生活”（Life）列为新加坡的四大强项，成为这个新发展方案的要素。

“诚信”指的是新加坡体制完善、法治严明、尊重知识产权及严厉肃贪；

“新知”则指我国朝向打造知识经济体及强调革新创新大环境的方向发展；

“联系”指的是新加坡同本国人民和海外知交的情感联系；

而活力无穷的新加坡，在打造新市容之后，将成为人人乐于“生活”的环球大都会。

张志贤透露，有多达20万国人在海外工作、读书或旅游，我国去年也接待近1000万名游客和举办170次商业会议。多达7000家跨国公司在本地设立区域办事处，另有八万名外国学生在本地读书。新加坡透过这些连接点同世界保持联系，也建立国家的联络网和亲新加坡的国际群体，这有助于扩大它在世界的分量和影响力。
　　张志贤说：“简单地说，由于我们具有‘诚信’，所以人们前来定居；‘新知’吸引他们到这里工作，而新加坡能‘联系’许多在外的人，所以他们同我们站在一起，并因这里是理想的‘生活’地点而前来居住。”
　　在吸引外来投资方面，他说：“现在许多国家都透过提供税务优惠吸引投资者，但我们觉得未来将不会出现这样的情况。良好的治安、保护知识产权及廉洁的体制等是新加坡的强项，是我们要充分发挥的地方。”
他说，“寰宇·新加坡”之间的这个小点，指的是“果敢的小红点”，是新加坡奋发精神的体现，也是把它和全世界连接起来的汇点。
　　“这个小红点提醒我们，新加坡或许是个小地方，但我们要追求的是众多的希望与梦想，也能在最终实现这些愿望。”
　　张志贤过后在记者会上强调，这个总发展方案不只针对经济层面，也涉及我国各个领域，包括物质与无形的层面。
　　为了使“寰宇·新加坡”发展新方案及早开花结果，公共部门已在一年多前成立19个跨部门的行动小组。它们已展开各项计划，以逐步实现在医疗、教育、服务、科研与创新等领域所定下的发展目标。行动小组分别由一名常任秘书领导，共有250名公务员参与。
　　公务员首长何学渊在记者会上说，在探讨国家未来发展的同时，公共部门也得出一个很重要的结论，即要应付国家未来的挑战，不能单靠一个部门，而必须结合跨部门的优势，集体努力才行。
　　他说，成立跨部门行动小组也反映出政府机构的运作已有别于过去的传统方式，这对公共部门是一项重大的改变。
　　以跨国企业总裁占多数成员的经发局国际咨询理事会在这次两天的闭门会议中，针对我国的经济发展提出建议。他们昨天下午同内阁资政李光耀举行对话会，晚上则应李显龙总理的邀请，到总统府赴宴。

21 Apr 2007

针对“寰宇·新加坡”总发展方案经发局国际咨询理事会建议重点发展三大环节

主管公共服务的国防部长张志贤昨天在总结经济发展局第九次国际咨询理事会会议的记者会上指出，国际咨询理事会在为期两天的闭门会议中，针对我国的经济发展提出了许多看法及建议，而这些建议基本上可归纳为上述三大环节。
　　也是经发局国际咨询理事会主席的张志贤指出，理事会成员在过去两天所提出的宝贵意见突显了“寰宇·新加坡”的四大发展要素，也就是“诚信”（Trust）、“新知”（Knowledge）、“联系”（Connected）和“生活”（Life）。
　　在谈到建立人才基础时，张志贤说，理事会建议我国加强培养本地人才及提升劳动队伍素质，并且带头探讨如何让较年长的员工持续为经济作出贡献及创造价值。
　　要确保经济持续增长，也为所有的人民带来充满希望和机遇的稳定未来，张志贤表示，理事会所建议的第二个关键是，新加坡必须与本区域的经济增长引擎维持联系，与本区域的公共及私人企业界建立关系。
　　理事会建议，如果要在“联系”这方面取得成效，我国可把焦点放在创立及培养从事创新及研发的国际人才网络，积极打造我国在突出知识经济体及强调革新创新大环境的竞争优势，以及不断尝试及敢于冒险，从失败中吸取经验。
　　此外，理事会认为，我国应该建设一个有利于创业及创新的大环境，除了积极吸引海外企业到本地拓展业务外，也应该协助更多本土企业寻求海内外的商机，以确保新加坡维持长期的经济增长动力。
　　理事会也认为，我国应加强在一些领域的优势，包括城市发展及管理、教育、保健、环境与水务科技及洁净能源（clean energy）等。
　　由于看好洁净能源这个新兴领域的增长潜能，政府日前已宣布将投入1亿7000万元来推动洁净能源、尤其是太阳能（solar energy）的研究与发展计划，目标是要让洁净能源领域在2015年为我国带来17亿元的增值及创造7000个就业机会。
　　理事会成员之一的英飞凌科技（Infineon Technologies）总裁齐博特博士（Wolfgang Ziebart）说：“新加坡相信是亚洲区域最发达的国家，比起其他国家，新加坡将最早面对如何解决与发展相关问题的挑战。不过，这也意味着，新加坡有机会抢先取得解决人口老化、节省能源等问题的最佳方案。”
以跨国企业总裁占多数成员的理事会也再次强调“寰宇·新加坡”的四大发展要素；“诚信”指的是新加坡体制完善、法治严明、尊重知识产权及严厉肃贪；“新知”则指我国朝向打造知识经济体及强调革新创新大环境的方向发展；“联系”指的是新加坡同本国人民和海外知交的情感联系；而活力无穷的新加坡，在打造新市容之后，将成为人人乐于“生活”的环球大都会。

杨莉明：美总统另有高收入　领袖薪金不能纸上比较

2007-04-10T05:34:00.000-07:00

2007-04-10

杨莉明：美总统另有高收入　领袖薪金不能纸上比较

拿新加坡部长薪金与其他发达国家顶尖政治人物的薪金相比，这样的作法虽然是合理的，但杨莉明（碧山—大巴窑集选区）以美国前总统克林顿为例指出，不能只在纸上比较政治领袖的薪金。

　　她说：“我发现许多国家的政治领袖是在任期后才有财务回报，而不一定是在任期内，例如，克林顿的自传《我的生活》（My Life），（出版社给他的）预付金相信有1200万美元。”

　　杨莉明引述《国际先驱论坛报》上个月2日的一篇报道指出，克林顿离开总统职位的六年内，赚取了惊人的4000万美元演讲费。

　　该报道也指出，根据《华盛顿邮报》，克林顿三分之二的演讲费来自外国，包括一家沙地阿拉伯投资行和由中共官员成立的中国房地产开发团。

　　此外，报道也说，克林顿不可能是唯一利用总统职位优势获取巨款的前总统。报道也指出，一些前总统获得大笔的退休金，而且常年获得的职员服务、办事处和旅游津贴总值高达数十万元。

　　2007年财政年，克林顿将从美国国库中获得约116万元，单是他的电话津贴就有7万7000元。

　　杨莉明问：“新加坡是否也希望发生这样的事？如果答案是‘不’，那就必须问人力资源人员应该怎么做，怎样才算是支付部长公平的市场薪金？根据工作的分量、能力还是市场比较？”

部长与高级公务员薪金对工友有好处

2007-04-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

我国政治领导人总年薪占GDP 的0.022%

● 洪艺菁（墨尔本）
　　政治领导人的年薪总额目前约占新加坡国内生产总值的0.022％，或是相当于政府开支的0.13％。内阁资政李光耀昨天透露，数目计算起来约有4600万元。
　　政府下星期一将在国会上宣布超级公务员、部长及担任其他政治职务者的薪金调整详情。
　　李资政在墨尔本接受新加坡记者访问时说：“我们是在争论是否应支付4600万元、3600万元还是2600万元吗？我们难道为了要节省2000万元而危害到一个国内生产总值规模达2100亿元的经济？争论的人究竟知道自己在说些什么吗？”
　　他说：“对于赚取1500元至3000元的小康之家来说，这是笔天文数字，但是对于政府来说，我们得照顾的是这40年来辛苦累积的大笔财富。如果我们不支付市场薪金，人才将被私人企业挖走，一旦由一批无能的人来管理国家，你将损失惨重，到时的损失将是数千亿元。”
　　他指出，政府物色人才的标准不仅是个人的学业成绩，也要看他们的性格、处事待人的方式和他们的长期表现。这是个以多年的经验理出来的评估标准。
　　“依照目前的制度，虽然我们并没吸引到所有的最优秀人才，但是也吸引了当中的一部分。许多人仍不愿牺牲个人的空间和家庭生活。”
　　他说，即使我们能够要求一个人为担任一个任期的政治职位而作出牺牲，但是要一个人连续担任几个任期，作出这样的牺牲却不容易。
如何回应
对部长加薪的批评？
“如果你倒退回‘旋转门’式的政府，一个政府前面两年是在学习，另外两年才真正办事，之后连问题都还没搞清楚，可能就已经被踢出局，由下一个政府接替了。这正是许多国家所面临的情况。”
　　针对人们对政府调高部长薪金的不满，李资政说：“要回应这些批评，办法是让人们好好去领教一个无能的政府。当你作了这个选择之后，新加坡将再也无法重建起来，就好像童谣中的‘矮胖子’（Humpty- Dumpty），一旦跌倒损坏，就无法补救了。你的资产将会贬值，工作将流失，又面对安全危机，我们的妇女到时得到其他国家当女佣去。”
　　他指出，新加坡是个只有约400万人口的小国，竟然可以为130万名外国工人制造就业机会，那可不是件简单的事，而这也显示我们在创造经济增长的道路上走对了路。
　　“我认为这是个可行的制度。如果你为4600万元而争论，即使加减1500万元，我认为你还是搞不清楚问题，不知道现实是什么。如果政府差，经济下滑，你的房子会值多少钱？你是否会失去工作？你不妨和住在曼谷、马尼拉、吉隆坡、雅加达的人比比看。”
　　李资政前晚在美国花旗银行举办的“领袖典范巡礼”系列讲座上发表演讲后，有一名医生请他指点如何规划事业前景，他当时答说“如果你想发达，还是不要当医生，从事金融业好了。”
　　本报记者针对这一点，指出许多医生并不是为了飞黄腾达而当医生的，一般人对医生的期望是“医者父母心”，若将这个道理引申到身为“父母官”的国家领导人身上，人们也期望他们有献身精神，而对部长们的献身他们也会心存感激的。当政府把吸引部长级人才的薪金和市场薪金指标挂钩时，是否走错了方向，甚至淡化了他们所作的牺牲？
　　对此，李资政边笑边点头边回答说：“这些是令人敬佩的情操，但我们是生活在现实中。”
　　他透露，当初要吸引黄永宏医生、巴拉吉医生、维文医生等人从政也不容易，因为从政前身为妇科专科医生的黄永宏的年收入约450万元，从政后，起薪却是60万元。脑科专科医生巴拉吉从政后薪水也大跌，当他无法当上部长时，前总理吴作栋曾问他是否要回去行医，他却表示愿意继续留在政府中为人民服务。
　　他指出，无论是打高尔夫球、网球、羽毛球还是游泳，首奖都是笔巨额奖金，人们为了得到首奖，会耗尽一生，用尽全力去锻炼自己。
　　“你要培育胜利者就得这么做。这就是竞争。”
李资政昨天续程前往柏斯访问，将在明天结束此次纽西兰与澳洲之行。
问答语录
记者：昨晚在花旗银行“领袖典范巡礼”系列讲座上，有位医生请您指点如何规划事业前景，您答说“如果你想发达，还是不要当医生，从事金融业好了”。的确，许多医生并不是为了飞黄腾达而当医生的，一般人对医生的期望是“医者父母心”，若将这个道理引申到身为“父母官”的国家领导人身上，人们也期望他们有献身精神，人民对部长们的献身是心存感激的。因此，我们把吸引部长级人才的薪金和市场薪金指标挂钩，是否走错了方向，甚至淡化了他们所作的牺牲？
　　
李资政（边点头边微笑）：“这些是令人敬佩的情操，但我们是生活在现实中。你在人生的起点必须充满理想，我年轻时是个社会主义者，认为人人应该获得平等的机会和报酬，但是我现在知道那是行不通的，你给平等的酬劳，大家只愿意付出一样的努力，一切会每况愈下。因此，你需要有竞争，并奖励胜利者。”
李资政年薪270万元
　　李光耀资政透露，他个人的年薪是270万元。
　　“我大可成为一名顶尖律师。他们的年薪达400万元，也无须承担像我那样的责任，而是给客户提供意见，是否打赢官司，是客户本身的得失。”
　　他在本报记者询问他的薪俸时，毫不犹豫地坦然说出这个数字。
　　他也兼任政府投资公司主席。据他透露，同政府投资公司里最高薪的职员的薪金相比，他的薪俸只相当于个别职员薪金的一部分。
一些负责投资业务的顶尖职员所管理的是50亿至100亿元的资金，所领取的薪金却比部长们高得多，否则这些人才将流失到私人金融机构。

林瑞生：顶尖人才更了解基层需要提高部长与高级公务员薪金对工友有好处
2007-04-02

全国职工总会秘书长林瑞生指出，政府提高部长与高级公务员的薪金以吸引及留住人才，其实对工友是有好处的。
　　林瑞生昨天出席回教先知穆罕默德诞辰庆祝活动受访时说，这些顶尖人才能更了解基层的需求，制定必要的政策协助基层，使劳资政三方能有效地配合。
　　他说，新加坡是世界上失业率最低的国家之一，很大一部份原因就是因为我们具有优秀的政治领导和高效率的公务员所致。
　　他也指出，工友和工会领袖都意识到我们必须面向未来，共同迎接经济全球化的挑战，在这种情况之下，我们更加需要优秀的政治领导和高效率的公务员。
　　林瑞生也是总理公署部长。他说：“过去几个星期，我们不断同工友解释（政府提高部长与高级公务员的薪金）的原因，工友们都能理解。”
　　李显龙总理日前在行政服务常年晚宴上指出，目前特一级行政官的年薪是121万元，这其实是2000年市场薪金的对照基点，现在的对照基点已达到220万元。由于这个基点是根据2006估税年的报税资料计算，所反映的是2005年的实际市场薪金水平，而私人企业界这两年来的薪金相信已上升更多了。
　　为此，总理表示有必要拉近行政官的实际年薪和市场薪金的对照基点之间的距离，使政府得以吸引及留住人才。
　　政府将在本月9日（星期一）公布部长与政府行政官的加薪详情。
　　回教先知穆罕默德诞辰庆祝活动昨天上午在兀兰体育场举行，活动由新加坡回教理事会(MUIS)主办，参加人数约千名。

April 5, 2007
MM Lee's take on freedom in Singapore and ministerial salaries

Following up on protests at the Australian National University (ANU). In the context of the global contest for talent, how much does it matter that some people see Singapore as a place that restricts individual freedoms?
MM Lee: Let me first challenge the assumption that people see Singapore as a place that restricts individual freedom. This is the stereotype that the Western media purveys of Singapore. But businessmen and talented people who work for these companies are better informed; otherwise we wouldn't have attracted the talent we have.
The ANU knew they would get flak from the human-rights people for offering me an honorary degree. So too the Imperial College London for making me a Fellow just a few years ago; so too Melbourne University.
So what does it prove? These are people who understand what's happening in the real world and understand the real Singapore.
The press works up a storyline that Warwick University finds Singapore's academic freedom restricted, so they don't come.
I think the real reason is they worked out their sums and they found it was not economical.
You've got some of the top names from America, and even Australia has got the University of New South Wales setting up a campus.
So let's not ourselves be drawn in to purvey this line.
What is the individual freedom that you are deprived of? Are you prevented from saying what you want? Are you prevented from exercising your rights as a citizen?
Since we are trying to attract talent, does it matter that they see us in this light?
No. The people that have the talent will have the wit to investigate, to know what they are in for.
You know the number of unsolicited mails that I get and PM gets from people completely without motive? They've come, they know the old Singapore.
And what they are saying is, it's a very good place - safe, wholesome, everything works - and they wish they could have the basics we have established.
And if you allow this to be degraded, you'll never put the present Singapore together again.
If we didn't have more self-confidence in what we are doing and we listened to what is prescribed for us, we wouldn't be here.
You cannot bring Singapore from where it was to where it now is without long periods of stable government and experienced ministers.
You watch the development of Taiwan or South Korea.
The period of transformation took place when they had governments that stayed for a long time, ministers and civil servants who acquired experience and expertise and improved the system and got it to a high state.
And once they liberalised, like they did in Taiwan, you look at the growth rates. You look at their stability, you look at what their future promises.
I meet their journalists; they come to Singapore. If you read Tian Xia and several other very reputable papers, they are full of admiration for what we have achieved.
Now how does Taiwan get back to stability and growth and sanity?
It's facing a very difficult future in which China is growing bigger and bigger year by year, stronger and stronger.
And they are not in a position to go independent because the Americans will not support them because it means war.
So what is the rational thing to do? Is the rational thing to say 'I change the Constitution' and provoke the Chinese into a clash?
That's what the present President is attempting to do because then he thinks he will be able to rally votes. I mean, you are now into mass manipulation of attitudes in order to win votes by deceiving people that this is a way forward, when there is, in fact, no way forward.
You look at South Korea. They are now with a generation that voted in a new government completely at variance with US policies.
Without the US, South Korea is in dire difficulties with the North. But you have a younger generation that says, out with the Americans.
So does it make sense?
I want to ask about ministerial salaries. Your view on how well the system has worked to bring in talent?
Every time there is a pay revision to catch up with benchmarks, this debate will come up again.
But you ask yourself: Do you want the present system where it's completely above board?
And while we are not recruiting all of the very best, we are recruiting some of the very best, because quite a few of the very best do not want to give up their private lifestyle and their family life.
Yes, you can get a person to give up and make a sacrifice for one term.
But will you get a man or woman to serve successive terms, gain experience, become a really competent person, a very competent minister and sacrifice his family, their welfare, their comforts and their children's future and education, going abroad etc? It's not possible.
They're at the top of their cohort. We talent spot. We headhunt for people who not only have just academic qualifications but track records of performance.
How did I learn this? Because in the early days, looking for talent, I put in bright PhDs. Didn't work. We even had a Rhodes scholar.
We found that we needed other qualities: character, motivation, judgment, stability, temperament, ability to connect with people.
So, finally, we worked out a system where we looked at a person in totality: How does he perform in real life, whether as a businessman, as a CEO, as a doctor, as a lawyer, whatever?
Supposing I had served just one term. Would I have known this? No. Because I've served since 1959, and successive elections we fine-tuned and learned in the process.
You go back to a revolving-door government: the first two years you learn how to do your job; next two, three years, you begin to do the job. Before you know where you are, you're out. Next government comes in.
And that's what's happening in many parts of the world.
Carefully consider.
You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government.
You get that alternative and you'll never put Singapore together again: Humpty Dumpty cannot be put together again... and your asset values will disappear, your apartment will be worth a fraction of what it is, your jobs will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people's countries, foreign workers.
Just think. We have a population of three-point-something (million) and we are carrying and able to give jobs to another 1.3 million people.
How does that happen? Why can't the 1.3 million people get jobs in their own countries?
It must be something that we're doing which is right, that creates economic prosperity, that creates growth, that requires talented people to join us, to help us produce all these extra goods and services.
You know the absurdity of all this?
The total cost of ministers' salaries, of all office holders, the present cost is 0.13 per cent of government expenditure (and 0.022 per cent of GDP).
It amounts to $46 million. We are quarrelling about whether we should pay them $46 million or $36 million, or better still $26 million. So you save $20 million and jeopardise an economy of $210 billion? (This was the size of Singapore's GDP in 2006.)
What are we talking about?
You know fund managers? I'm chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and we put $5 billion, $10 billion with top fund managers, just to benchmark how we are performing against the best in the market.
We have about three or four top US investors and we track what they do and we compare what we are doing.
And you have to pay them not 0.13 per cent. Win or lose, whether the stocks go up or down, they take their cut. You ask GIC employees; I'm the chairman of GIC. I'm being paid as Minister Mentor, the Senior Minister before that, and even as Prime Minister before that, a fraction of what the top managers in GIC earn.
But they are handling over US$100 billion (S$151 billion). They make a mistake, we lose $10, $20, $30 billion overnight when the stock market collapses.
So for the average family earning $1,500, $3,000, we are talking of astronomical figures.
But for people in government like me, having to deal with these sums of money which we have accumulated through the sweat of our brow over the last 40 years, you have to pay the market rate or the man will up stakes and join Morgan Stanley or Lehman Brothers or Goldman Sachs. And then you've got an incompetent man and you've lost money, by the billions.
So get a sense of proportion.
Would you like to share how much you are paid?
It's in the Budget. I'm paid $2.7 million. A top lawyer, which I could easily have become, today earns $4 million. And he doesn't have to carry this responsibility. All he's got to do is advise his client. Win or lose, that's the client's loss or gain.
But there are top people in other countries who don't get paid as much but who are also corruption-free, who have also done a good job.
Let me put the American system and then you will understand why if we ran that system, we're in trouble.
If you become President of the United States like Bill Clinton was, or George W. Bush, you earn about less than a million dollars. But you have the White House, you have Airforce One...When you leave office, you write your memoirs, you're paid by the tens of millions. And Bill Clinton, for every speech he makes, it's at least a million or half a million or he doesn't go. And he starts a foundation. They all do this.
You take Alan Greenspan. He sacrificed his earnings as a very expert financial specialist and he took on as a job as chairman of the Federal Reserve, at a pittance. As Paul Volker did.
But he's already got a huge sum of money and when he leaves, he can increase the huge sum of money because of the standing that he has.
He makes a statement and says there could be a recession in the second half of this year and the world stock market goes down.
Can we afford a revolving-door government? Suppose after five years, I go out and say 'OK, I write my memoirs, I become a lobbyist'. How does that get the country going?
I say this is a system we worked out. It's above board, it's working. And if you're going to quarrel about $46 million, up or down another $10 or $20 million, I say you have no sense of proportion; you don't know what life is about. And just think, what would your apartment be worth with a poor government and the economy down?
We talk about the Government as fu mu guan (a Chinese phrase that refers to public officials as parents who care for their children). So people hope that leaders are not there for the money, that they are willing to make that extra sacrifice.
Those are admirable sentiments, but we live in the real world. It took a lot of persuasion to get Ng Eng Hen, Vivian Balakrishnan, Balaji Sadasivan to give up their lucrative practices and become ministers and ministers of state, and no guarantee they would succeed.
Ng Eng Hen six years ago, when he first entered politics, was making $4.5 million and he came in and took a job that paid him about $600,000.
Balaji was earning also in the same category. He was a top brain surgeon with very high skills. He took a chance. When he was not made a minister in the selection process, Goh Chok Tong, then Prime Minister, said 'Would you like to go back to your private practice?'
He says 'No, I'm going to do this as a senior minister of state'. But he's made sufficient to look after his family and children, and his wife is a doctor. So I think that's a sacrifice.
I started off as a socialist, believing that all men should be given equal opportunities and equal rewards. I know that doesn't work.
You have competition and reward the winner.
You look at golf, tennis, swimming, badminton, anything you like. The first prize is an enormous sum. And to get that first prize, you start spending your life, sweating your guts out to master a certain skill which (is) admired and supported by hundreds, if not thousands of millions of people watching you.
It is a competitive world in which we live and if we can't compete, we're not going to live well.

顶尖人才更了解基层需要, 对工友有好处

2007-04-02T06:21:00.000-07:00

2007-04-02

林瑞生：顶尖人才更了解基层需要提高部长与高级公务员薪金对工友有好处

　　全国职工总会秘书长林瑞生指出，政府提高部长与高级公务员的薪金以吸引及留住人才，其实对工友是有好处的。

　　林瑞生昨天出席回教先知穆罕默德诞辰庆祝活动受访时说，这些顶尖人才能更了解基层的需求，制定必要的政策协助基层，使劳资政三方能有效地配合。

　　他说，新加坡是世界上失业率最低的国家之一，很大一部份原因就是因为我们具有优秀的政治领导和高效率的公务员所致。

　　他也指出，工友和工会领袖都意识到我们必须面向未来，共同迎接经济全球化的挑战，在这种情况之下，我们更加需要优秀的政治领导和高效率的公务员。

　　林瑞生也是总理公署部长。他说：“过去几个星期，我们不断同工友解释（政府提高部长与高级公务员的薪金）的原因，工友们都能理解。”

　　李显龙总理日前在行政服务常年晚宴上指出，目前特一级行政官的年薪是121万元，这其实是2000年市场薪金的对照基点，现在的对照基点已达到220万元。由于这个基点是根据2006估税年的报税资料计算，所反映的是2005年的实际市场薪金水平，而私人企业界这两年来的薪金相信已上升更多了。

　　为此，总理表示有必要拉近行政官的实际年薪和市场薪金的对照基点之间的距离，使政府得以吸引及留住人才。

　　政府将在本月9日（星期一）公布部长与政府行政官的加薪详情。

　　回教先知穆罕默德诞辰庆祝活动昨天上午在兀兰体育场举行，活动由新加坡回教理事会(MUIS)主办，参加人数约千名。

研究显示　我国社会企业比港台落后20年

2007-03-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

研究显示　我国社会企业比港台落后20年
2007-03-31

　　“在新加坡我们常说，我们不给你鱼吃，而是教你怎么钓鱼。但是在台湾，人们的观念则是：不是教你怎么钓鱼，而是教你怎么养鱼，扩大你的资源。”

　　这是新加坡国立大学商学院副教授张子颖到台北参与研究当地社会企业的运作模式后，留下的深刻印象。相比之下，本地的社会企业不论在商业专业知识或公众的认同与支持上，都落后香港和台北，仍处于雏形阶段。

　　亚洲区基金会及民间组织议会（CAFO）去年展开首个比较新加坡、香港和台北三地社会企业的研究。参与的5名学者来自新港台，于去年2月到9月间到三地的15家社会企业考察，每个城市各5家。本地的社会企业为新加坡复员技训企业管理局（SCORE）、商联中心（Bizlink）、青年挑战企业、青年企业家计划和Ikhlas，它们为残疾者、前罪犯、中途辍学少年及单亲妈妈等提供工作机会。

　　政策研究院高级研究员许林珠博士也是参与的研究者之一。她指出，新港台皆属于富裕城市，可能有一些相似的社会问题。研究目的在于探讨社会企业在各别城市所发挥的影响力、运作模式、所面对的挑战及如何推动社会企业的发展。

　　许林珠说：“本地的社会企业确实落后于香港和台北，或许20年左右，但这不是个比赛。各地的市场环境不同。新加坡也有不少历史悠久的志愿福利团体，但基本上属于传统运作模式，主要靠政府资助维持。社会企业则是全然不同的可持续性概念，需进一步推广。”

　　研究也发现，社会企业在香港和台北获得较多关注与支持，例如政府会发出特别营业执照给社会企业，同时优先选择购买社会企业提供的服务与产品，带头协助推动社会企业的发展。

　　张子颖指出，台北民众很支持社会企业，不会因职员的特殊背景而产生排斥。他举例说，一家聘用有精神问题者当服务员的糕饼店，不仅生意蒸蒸日上，顾客也愿意同服务员亲切交流。此外，人们也不介意大老远到一家由社会企业设立的添油站添油，表示支持。

　　但是在新加坡，社会企业面对的挑战之一就是一些公众对聘用弱势群体的社会企业存有误解或偏见，所以可能不太愿意使用他们的服务或产品。

　　张子颖说：“我的个人感觉是，新加坡没有很强的公民社会。多数人依赖政府来解决社会问题，很少会主动去想怎么通过个人的能力去协助社会需要帮助的人。”

　　另一方面，许林珠也指出，社会企业和普通商业机构的性质不同，不应单以营利来评估社会企业的表现。它们面对更多局限和挑战，包括职员素质、低回报的生意等，需要更多私人企业的参与和支持。

她建议设立社会创业基金，个别人士或私人机构可提供资金，资助社会企业或不为营利的机构，也同这些企业合作加强它们的管理和运作模式。

　　社会企业的宗旨是以商业方式服务社群，为弱势群体提供工作机会，或把营利转作慈善用途。这项新兴企业越来越受重视，社会发展、青年及体育部本月初宣布成立社会企业委员会，由即将出任标准、生产力与创新局（SPRING）主席杨烈国担任主席。此外，该部也自2003年起设立社会企业基金，现纳入社区关怀企业基金，至今已资助了62个社会企业。

　　由国大主办的社会企业论坛今天在新达新加坡会议厅举行，来自美国西雅图社会创业伙伴的Aaron Jacobs将分享机构的经营模式和成功之道。

虽然一些人才流失到美澳等地新加坡从中印吸引到人才

2007-03-31T08:04:00.000-07:00

李资政与澳洲各界领袖对话李资政：
虽然一些人才流失到美澳等地新加坡从中印吸引到人才

● 洪艺菁（墨尔本）曾坤顺（摄）

　　内阁资政李光耀指出，新加坡面对一些人才流失到美国和澳洲等地的问题，但却能从中国和印度吸引到另一批人才；下个10至20年的发展会是如何，将决定于人才的去向，但新加坡最终得到的人才必须比失去的多。

　　他昨天出席由澳洲纽西兰政策学院主办的首次“世界领袖论坛”，和60位澳洲地方官员、商界领袖与大学代表进行了70分钟的对话。除了回答与会者的问题，李资政也提出问题，希望了解他们如何看待澳洲的未来。

　　与会者向资政透露澳洲正面对人才外流的问题，向他请教解决之道。资政的回答是：“我们也未必有答案。”

　　李资政感叹说，世界已经改变，人们已不在同一个地方生老病死。谈到新加坡二三十年后的前景，资政表示那得取决于世界到时的状况。

　　他说，一些人其实不必在新加坡过境，较靠近中国的泰国曼谷机场，看来也比我们占优势，但新加坡却有成功的独到之处，因为它建立了一套很好的体制。

　　他认为，经济会不断改变，但一些体制是不会改变了，新加坡的一些优势包括愿意和世界各国展开经贸合作及重视知识产权。

　　他指出：“我们是得接受一个事实：我们可以做到的，中国和印度迟早也可以做到，而且做得更好。但我们有一些优势，是别人需要较长时间赶上的。”

　　有与会者称李资政为“环球领袖”，他笑说自己可不是什么环球领袖，只是把新加坡治理得好。“我们得学得很快，否则就完蛋。”

他认为，一个国家的成功之道在于杜绝贪污、维持高效率及拥有能快速应对世界改变的人民。“如果我们可以维持进取心，不断设法赶上别人或超越别人，那我们将成功。”
　　资政说：“30年后，我将不在了。但希望当政者将有悟性和智慧，明白‘我们得这么做，否则就会落在人后’。”

领导人背后须有很好的支援团队

　　他指出，领导人背后必须有个很好的支援团队，新加坡人口很少，因此特别重视栽培人才，早年一度通过哥伦坡奖学金计划派遣少数非常优秀的学生到欧美和澳洲念书，吸取不同经验。“不过，代价是我们国内的大学无法吸收最优秀的本地学生，医学院和法学院则除外。”

　　当局的应对措施是和外国大学合作以推行交流计划，让选择在新加坡念大学的学生也有机会到国外大学上一年的课程。

　　李资政说：“对世界来说，新加坡继续是有用的经济体，因为我们懂得保持竞争力。但我们现在已经进入不同的时代，吸引的人才是否还能比失去的多？”

　　他指出，美国很早就发现吸引外来人才的重要性。美国早期着重于吸引讲英语的人才，后来也把范围扩大到讲德语、法语、印度语和华语的群体。九一一事件之后，美国稍微提高警惕，但李资政认为，美国很快又会恢复欢迎外来人才的政策。相比之下，欧洲却因吸引人才方面较慢而吃亏。

　　新加坡也面对人才外流的挑战，在新加坡出生却旅居澳洲的人就约有五万名。记者发现墨尔本繁忙的购物街道上，有家名为“Singapore Chom Chom”的餐馆，里面可找到水粿、叻沙、椰浆饭、炒面粉、烧烤海鲜等新加坡美食。

　　店主周福财告诉记者，他在25年前和妻子从新加坡移民到澳洲，刚开始是从事建筑承包工作，后来看到餐饮业商机、也为解自己和其他同乡思念新加坡食品的“乡愁”，于是在墨尔本伯克街（Bourke Street）开店售卖新加坡美食。

他的两个儿子都在澳洲出生，一家人很喜欢澳洲的生活步伐，最后选择放弃新加坡公民权。

新加坡海拔仅两米非常关注气温升高

　　李光耀资政说，新加坡只比海拔高约两米，因此对环球气温升高非常关注。他透露：“我们已同荷兰方面联系，向他们请教如何建造堤坝。”结果引起全场哄然大笑。

　　他认为，美国必须加入保护环境的行动，因为单靠新加坡、澳洲和欧洲的环保努力是不够的。当然，各方也得呼吁中国和印度加入这项行动，以共同解决问题。

　　澳洲近年来发生百年来最严重的旱灾，环保课题因此深受澳洲人民关注，已经演变成政治课题。李资政日前会见澳洲总理霍华德时，两人便就环保课题进行了25分钟的会谈。昨天出席论坛的政府代表也对这项课题表示关注。

　　李资政也向与会者分享新加坡如何利用科技来解决长久困扰它的水供问题。他指出，再过二三十年，新加坡水供将自给自足，现在中国也希望引进我们的技术。

西方民主概念在中国仍行不通

　　尽管年轻的中国人希望在决策过程中获得更多的参与，但中国的政治精英和知识分子始终相信领导人必须由最好的人才担任，因此谁都可以参加竞选以成为领导精英的西方民主概念在中国仍行不通。

内阁资政李光耀认为，中国面对的挑战包括取缔贪污、解决贫富悬殊问题以及应付越来越多人要参与决策的期望。

　　他指出，文革时代的领导人已经逐渐让位给年轻一代，而中国也越来越重视任人为贤，好些市长都是四十多岁，并拥有博士或硕士文凭的精英。

　　资政说，无论是当政的精英或是知识分子，都对谁都可以参加竞选以成为领导精英的民主概念不表赞同，因为他们期望看到最优秀的人掌政。

　　他指出，中国目前有六成人民住在乡下，20年后将进入另一个转捩点，到时将有六成人民在城市里生活，因此中国得设法让他们有更大的政治参与空间。

　　李资政说：“目前的中国共产党已不再拥护共产主义，它是一个希望继续掌政并改变中国的政党。”

　　当有与会者问中国经济增长是否能持久？李资政对此感到乐观，不认同一些美国学者声称中国将走下坡的观点，并指出持有这种观点的人已经越来越少。

与亚太经合组织相比东亚峰会可能更成功

　　内阁资政李光耀认为，以长远来说，东亚峰会比亚太经合组织更可能取得成功。

　　李资政指出，虽然目前有亚细安加三、东亚峰会、亚太经合组织等多个组织并存，但它们各发挥不同的功效，重点也不同。他说，华人有句成语叫“同床异梦”，刚好可形容这种局面。

他举例说，新加坡并不认为俄罗斯是东亚的一部分，因为俄罗斯偏向欧洲。但是由美国主导的亚太经合组织却把俄罗斯归纳在内，这将使该组织失去焦点。

　　他认为，长远来说，包括亚细安、中国、日本、韩国、印度、澳洲和纽西兰在内的东亚峰会比亚太经合组织更可能取得成功，但亚太经合组织也有其发展空间，更多拉丁美洲国家最终会成为亚太经合组织的一分子。

林宝音批评执政党

2006-12-03T04:14:00.000-08:00

东南亚研究院论坛林宝音批评执政党对异议者限制和围堵
2006-12-02

● 蔡添成

　　本地知名英文作家林宝音批评执政党对政治异议者进行限制和围堵，还认为新加坡的民主要有发展，除了拥有强势的政府，也要有强大的公民社会组织、传媒及人民自发的行为互相配合。

　　这名女作家昨天在东南亚研究院举办的探讨东南亚国家政治发展的论坛上针对新加坡的政治课题发表演讲。她维持一贯的批评执政党的作风，虽承认我国现有的政治开放尺度已比十年前宽松，但是整体而言，自由度还是不够。

　　她还表示今年的大选让她大跌眼镜，因为她原以为反对党会在大选中一败涂地，但是工人党却表现得很出色。她还公开赞赏选民在大选中敢于拒绝执政党所开出的翻新配套，把选票投给了反对党候选人。

　　林宝音说在人民行动党政府多年的治理之下，国家向前发展，治安情况良好，政府有很高的效率和政治廉洁度，但是政治上的包容度却有待改进。

　　她以自己所定下的“5C”来概括政府对待政治异议者的方式，即“控制”（Control）、“设限”（Constraint）、“围堵”（Containment）、“斗争”（Conflict）以及透过所谓的“水晶球占卜术（Crystal Ball Gazing）来预测我国未来的政治走向。

　　她说，执政党领导人坚信他们所施行的领导方式是最好的，因此也不喜欢异议者所发出的“噪音”，于是对反对党和人民采取严密的控制。过去所有以讨论新加坡政治为主的政治论坛或俱乐部都先后一一“寿终正寝”，就是很好的例子。她对此表示无奈，也对那些关心政治发展，最后却失望退出的人寄以同情。

　　林宝音指行动党领导人在今年大选期间处理“戈麦斯申请少数种族候选人身份鉴定证书事件”的手法，就反映出不同领导人对这起事件的包容度有别，而且由于执政党的打压动作引起了反效果，导致选民的反感，所以行动党后来才赶快改变口吻，让这起事件平息下来，把竞选焦点转回其他课题。她还提到这次大选“推翻”了她原有的观点，使她对选民和年轻人敢于表述的态度“刮目相看”。

　　她原以为向来势弱的反对党，应不会有所作用，然而工人党却获得相当高的得票率；她原以为年轻人对政治漠不关心，然而他们却勇于表达自己的所思所想；她本来还以为选民会看在物质条件份上，投票给执政党，却没想到他们竟然会拒绝执政党所提出的翻新配套。
对此，她说：“这次的大选，是这些年来最为有趣的一次。”

　　林宝音还对新加坡民主党秘书长徐顺全博士的遭遇深表同情，不过她却认为徐顺全所采取的一些同政府对抗的行为是毫无意义的。

　　“我佩服他的勇气，在情感上，我是非常同情他的。” 对我国未来的政治发展，她认为社会将会逐步走向开放，未来10年至15年的新加坡社会或许会是李光耀资政担任总理时的强势作风和吴作栋资政担任总理时的亲民作风的结合体。

　　“我深信任何一个政府无论是多么的强大，还是需要有强大的公民社会团体互相配合。当有灾难发生时，政府无论做得多么的出色，还是需要人民的参与。” 她认为社会要开放，还是需要政府、传媒和民众三方面的参与及配合，然而在现阶段，政府是强大的，传媒和人民力量却相对的薄弱。

　　一名与会者问她既然这么积极敢言，对新加坡政治表现出深刻的关切，为何不干脆从政？林宝音回答说，她在12年前第一次写政治评论，引起政府的不满，当时的领导人就向她发出挑战，要她从政，过去也有人批评她是坐在安乐椅上的批评家（Armchair critic），因此旁人要她从政的呼声时有所闻，但是她却自认不适合从政。

　　“我的答案是自己缺乏从政者的政治敏锐度，也不是从政的料。” 她补充说就如自己过去曾担任社会义工，后来却发现自己不行，所以放弃了。

新书发布会　介绍反对党竞选活动

2006-12-01T18:17:00.000-08:00

后港区议员刘程强、波东巴西区议员詹时中和非选区议员林瑞莲昨晚齐齐在新加坡管理大学校园亮相，跟他们在一起的还有多名工人党的党员，连日前宣布退出工人党的两名前中委吴明盛和谢智力也都到场。但他们所参加的不是跨党政治聚会，而是一项介绍反对党竞选活动的新书发布会。

　　由妇女行动及研究协会（AWARE）前会长蓝玉娇（Dana Lam）执笔的“Days of Being Wild－GE2006 Walking the Line with the Opposition”（《记2006年大选的反对党狂野日子》），所记录的正是今年五月大选的一系列竞选活动，主角是工人党。

　　蓝玉娇也是一名作家及装置艺术家。她邀得多年好友、前官委议员苏英医生为她主持新书发布会。

　　但是，真正促成这部书从构想化为事实的并不是作者本身，而是出版商方可弘。
　　他受访时说，当他在四月底参加工人党的竞选群众大会时，亲身感受到上万群众的激昂情绪，印象非常深刻。他的父亲从前曾向他提起早年新加坡的政治运动“汹涌澎湃”，但是他对父亲的忆述一直都无法产生共鸣，然而却在这次群众大会上亲自印证了父亲所言不虚。

　　方可弘说，作者主要是在工人党所角逐的选区，即后港、义顺东、义顺中、阿裕尼集选区、宏茂桥集选区及东海岸集选区访问约50名居民，了解他们的看法和搜集竞选期间所发生的事情。

　　作者在书中透过综合描述，记录政府领导人和工人党要员在大选前后的谈话，并对新加坡政治的发展作出评论。书中穿插了上百张照片，都是由反对党的支持者和一些民众所提供的，并且也刊载了几篇由网民叙述竞选情况的文章及反对党支持者所写的打油诗。

　　这本书的平装本售价23元1角，精装本则需预订，售价是47元2角5分。

Transport giant's dilemma - serving both shareholders and commuters

2006-11-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

Straits Times Nov 22, 2006

ComfortDelGro to review its domestic operations Transport giant's dilemma - serving both shareholders and commuters AS SINGAPORE'S largest public transport company

ComfortDelGro expands overseas, it is re-examining its domestic operations.

The listed firm, which owns 75 per cent of transport operator SBS Transit, is doing some soul-searching, as its foreign business continues to dwarf its Singapore holdings.

In a speech yesterday, ComfortDelGro chairman Lim Jit Poh seemed to hint at a change in the company's future direction, while affirming that Singapore would always be its base.

He said his company supported the Transport Minister's recent call to make public transport the main choice for commuters, adding that as the ministry 'embarks on a review of the industry, we too will embark on a self-examination exercise'.

He sketched out the dilemma which his company finds itself in - having to serve both its shareholders and commuters.

The two roles, Mr Lim said, will have to be re-examined, and his company is preparing to submit a paper on this issue to the Transport Ministry.'

As an operator, SBS Transit will need to look at how best we can balance our duties as a service provider and as a public listed company with responsibilities to our shareholders,'he said.

While shareholders want good returns on their investments, commuters want a comprehensive service with low fares.

Indeed, Mr Lim noted that the public had taken two extreme positions on transport matters.

He said,'I note the public calls for more competition.

I also note the cry for centralised and integrated services.'ComfortDelGro has become the world's second largest land transport operator since it was formed three years ago, Mr Lim said, in a speech to honour the company's service excellence award winners.

Revenues from its overseas operations have outstripped those of local operations since 2004.

And its overseas operations accounted for nearly half of its group operating profit of $51.3 million for the third quarter of this year.

Mr Lim said his company was constantly looking at ways to improve and engage commuters, such as via the monthly season pass.

Mr Ong Kian Min, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said ComfortDelGro's corporate moves, if any, must place commuters' interests first.'

I don't know what it is going to do, but we must make sure that commuters' interests are always safeguarded,' he said.

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

Nov 25, 2006

Is Singapore's public transport system Two much?

A land transport review is on.

A key question it must grapple: Can this city actually afford two public transport operators?
Goh Chin Lian and T. Rajan discuss the options

TRAVEL WOES: The hoped-for benefits of competition have not materialised, as many commuters end up making transfers to get from one town served by SBS Transit to another served by SMRT.

A recent study found that more commuters are spending more time travelling to work.
-- STEPHANIE YEOW

BANK employee Ang Ek Hoon grumbled when asked about the state of buses here.

'It's the time spent waiting that really gets you.

It takes at least half an hour before the bus I want turns up.

The scheduled time is 10 minutes. Besides, you may have to wait longer if the bus is packed.

'He was complaining not recently though.

The year was 1972 and Mr Ang was among a long line of commuters with a truckload of woes this newspaper reported on, when a new roadmap for land transport was being laid out.

A milestone State and City Planning study had determined that the car population needed to be controlled before 1992 to prevent gridlock.

By then, a rail transit system would also be vital.

The bus industry - plagued by reckless bus drivers, rude conductors and ramshackle buses - underwent several overhauls.

Ten bus companies merged into three in 1970, and then to one Singapore Bus Service in 1972.

Thirty years later, much has improved.Commuters' woes, however, sound strangely familiar.

Ms Tan Swee Huang, 39, a human resource executive, moans about how she takes 11/2 to get from Marsiling to Bukit Timah - by feeder bus, train and then another bus.

When she was in school in Bukit Timah, she hopped onto a direct bus that took her less than an hour.

'I don't see how this is an improvement,' she says.

Just as in Mr Ang's time, Singapore is embarking on another comprehensive review of land transport that will set out the way ahead for the next 10 to 15 years.

Reviews may seem like the road well-travelled when it comes to land transport, spanning myriad aspects.

But one clear destination is how to make more people use public transport, so much so that they can happily declare 'my other car is a bus or train', says Transport Minister Raymond Lim.

Hence, attention is not on road expansion, which will in fact slow down to 8 per cent over the next 15 years, half the rate of the previous 15.

Neither is it on changing the controls on vehicle ownership and usage through quotas and electronic road pricing.

Why the almost singular focus on public transport usage?The answer lies in a set of numbers that seemed to have crept up and shocked policymakers.

The last White Paper on Land Transport in 1996 set a target of raising the number of trips on public transport from 51 per cent daily, then to 75 per cent.Instead, that share actually dipped - despite the heavy investment on public transport to the tune of $10 billion in the past decade.

Fewer than half of the daily 8.3 million trips here are on buses and trains.At the same time, the car population climbed up 'quite substantially' as Mr Lim put it when he announced the review last month.

That's not the half of it.

The car is being used more heavily too.

Between 1997 and 2004, the car population grew by 10 per cent, but the daily number of car trips shot up by 23 per cent.

Mr Lim wants a big shift: Public transport should make up at least 70 per cent of trips in morning peak hours - from the current 63 per cent - over the next 10 to 15 years.

On the face of it, the to-do list for infrastructure seems straightforward: Extend the rail network and improve the bus system.

The Land Transport Authority is also reviewing the regulatory and competition framework, 'to achieve the outcome of providing commuters with more choice and a more integrated and efficient public transport system'.

Shaping the industryMR LIM tells Insight a review panel will study these issues over the next year, including roping in external consultants with lessons from elsewhere.

Yet, all eyes seemed trained on the current duopoly in public transport.

It has to go, say observers, MPs and experts alike.

Right now, SBS Transit and SMRT both run trains and buses.

SBS Transit dominates the bus industry, providing 75 per cent of the scheduled bus services, while SMRT is the major rail player, running the North-South and East-West Lines as well as the future Circle Line.

The hoped-for benefits of competition have not materialised.

The two operators' bus and train routes hardly overlap with each other, making them monopolies in their own kingdoms rather than direct competitors.

This is bad news for commuters who end up making transfers to get from one town served by SBS Transit to another served by SMRT.

Indeed, a recent study found that more commuters are spending more time travelling to work.

This is why some have had it with competition.

They say merge these companies into one private, but regulated, monopoly.Mr Cedric Foo, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Transport, told Parliament last week: 'The single operator would enjoy economy of scale and there would be less inefficiencies at the boundaries of the two operations.'

The Public Transport Council and the Competition Commission could monitor and moderate fare increases.

But Dr Paul Barter, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, sees a downside.

'In this arrangement, it is difficult to raise standards, since it is hard to know how much the operator can bear when we 'raise the bar'.'

An alternative suggestion: a single operator for trains and a single operator for buses.Mr Ong Kian Min, deputy chairman for the GPC for Transport, believes some controlled competition between trains and buses would give commuters more choice over which service or route suits them better.

'It will also keep the different operators on their toes, and be responsive to changes and the needs of the commuters.'

One problem, though, is that the buses may leave trains in their wake as people prefer the point-to-point service buses offer.

Then, the question about heavy investments will surface again: Will the trains serve enough commuters to justify the billions poured into the rail system?

Another scenario is that the rail system may become more attractive when its network grows with the opening of the Circle Line by 2010 and other rail lines in Bukit Timah and the eastern region.

But the question of who pays still hangs over this outcome.

The network, as it expands, will go into increasingly less dense areas.

Already, the North-East Line (NEL) is feeling this effect and struggling as projections on housing populations in the northern corridor have not panned out.In trying to make the rail network more connected, Mr Ong suggests allowing the train operator to offer bus services or other means to feed passengers in a housing estate to a nearby MRT station.

Other smaller, enterprising bus operators should also be allowed to offer mini-buses that take fewer passengers than the big SBS Transit buses.

They could make shorter loops for commuters dissatisfied with the waiting and journey times of feeder services.

Monopoly with expiry dateIN SEVERAL cities, including London, transport operators run a monopoly - but for a limited period.This is an idea that could also work in Singapore to replace the current duopoly.

It would involve dividing the bus and rail systems into several parts and opening them up regularly for competitive bidding by operators - including foreign players if there are not enough local operators.

While the winning bidder will monopolise the route, it cannot afford to be inefficient or to exploit the market.

Otherwise, it risks losing the route to a stronger bidder several years later.The authorities could also dictate terms.

It could fix in the contract certain routes, timetables, penalties and rewards for service, along with physical demands like automated ramps for wheelchair users.

The contract could require a uniform image and integrated ticketing and marketing.

'Passengers need not even be aware that different operators are involved,' Dr Barter says, noting that bus systems in Hong Kong, London, Sweden, Australia and several Latin American cities practise such competitive tendering.

London, for example, introduced competitive tendering of bus routes in 1986 and incentives for quality service into contracts in 2001.

A government report this year presented a rosy picture.

Since 2001, excess waiting time has been halved and the network has expanded by 26 per cent more kilometres.

Seven major players run the network, compared to one or two in other British cities.

For every route retendered, there are, on average, three bidders.

Contract costs stayed flat over the last four years, while operator returns are around 8 per cent in the capital.

Transport economist Anthony Chin of the National University of Singapore notes, however, that with competition, the cost of monitoring the operators as well as of enforcement may go up.

In London, where the mayor sets the fares, the improved services also come at a cost to the government.

Fares collected cannot cover the cost of the contracts.

Public subsidy across the network increased from zero in 1999 to £550million (S$1.6 billion) in 2004/05, or an annual subsidy of almost £200 per household in London.

To be sure, a change in the current structure of competition will not immediately guarantee a shift towards more people using public transport.There are other factors at play.

If, as Mr Lim says, the idea is to get more people to think of the bus or train as one's 'other car', the transition to public transport must be not so discombobulating for this category of commuters.

Right now, it feels that way for many.

One of them, Mr Simon Sia, 37, a tax manager, drives but takes the train reluctantly when his wife needs his car.

He hates it that the buses and trains are always crowded and he has to rush.

'I wasn't holding my breath,' he says in a resigned voice about the promise that a two-operator transport network would lead to better service.

Even as he begrudges the profits of the operators, the irony is people like Mr Sia are prepared to pay a bit more for better service.

Yet, public transport here a one-size-fits-all model, including fares.

And fares - a permanent political hot potato - must remain affordable to the lower-income groups.

But middle- and higher-income commuters - like those who own cars - may be willing to pay more for a better level of service in public transport.

The conundrum is: How to juggle different expectations and yet not end up being scalded by the hot potato because one group feels transport is too expensive.

Mr Gerard Ee, who chairs the Public Transport Council, has another take on how to make public transport one's 'other car'.

Use the information superhighway to provide real-time travel information to commuters.

'A lot of frustration is due to unmatched expectations,' Mr Ee says.

Real-time information will allow commuters to plan their journey and deal with their frustrations - even if the bus is late because of congestion on the road.

The idea is not new. The 1996 White Paper provided for the display of bus arrival times at bus stops, as well as through other means, such as the Internet and telephone hotlines.

The project never took off.Insight understands that SBS Transit is still looking at a system that can give such real-time information via the Internet, cellphone and personal digital assistant.

Looking ahead WHETHER the review will lead to an overhaul is anyone's guess right now.

But those reading tea leaves had plenty of material when ComfortDelgro's chairman, Mr Lim Jit Poh, said on Tuesday that it is on a 'soul-searching exercise' to review its domestic operations, now that the group's bus operations overseas dwarf its Singapore operations.

Some see it as a big hint that its subsidiary SBS Transit may change hands or form.

'As an operator, SBS Transit will need to look at how best we can balance our duties as a service provider and as a public listed company with responsibilities to our shareholders,' he said.SMRT has not issued any statement.

But in a recent interview, its chief executive, Ms Saw Phaik Hwa, notes that one key question facing public transport is the choice between competition or complementarity.

Although Mr Lim cautions against prejudging which sacred cows should be slaughtered in reviewing public transport, the knife seems keenly poised over the current duopoly.

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

Looking 10, 15 years and beyond

Transport Minister Raymond Lim speaks to Insight on the transport review:

'Developing a good urban transport system is a serious and challenging issue for every major city. '

There is no silver bullet to solving this issue.

'The solutions we come up with must be holistic ones that do not just plug individual shortcomings or address specific complaints, but ones that can work together in a consistent and sustainable system.'

The review will therefore be a comprehensive one.

But we should not make changes for the sake of change or prejudge which sacred cows should be slaughtered at the onset.'We must guard against simply doing what is popular but rather we must do what is right and necessary for the greater good of the community, and which would put us in good stead not just for the present times but for the long term - 10, 15 years and beyond.

'Given that trade-offs are inevitable as there are diverse and competing user groups, we will take care to hear different views and perspectives from different stakeholders as part of the review process.'

On the various suggestions to change the industry structure, be it to have more direct competition or to have a single operator, I believe that it is only prudent to introduce any changes, especially those that may radically alter our public transport model, only after carefully examining the strengths and weaknesses of our current model, which has served us well on the whole.

'This we will do over the next one year or so, with inputs from external consultants who can help us draw on from other cities. What is clear is that the desired outcome is a public transport regulatory and industry framework that will provide commuters with a more integrated and efficient public transport system that clearly puts the commuter at the centre.'

档案

李资政：环保意识同人文素质有关 我国环保工作难超越日本