6/14/2014

The CPF issue took down a minister in 1984




In 1984, Howe Yoon Choong, then Minister of Health, produced a paper, Report of the Committee on the Problems of the Aged, with the main objective of delaying withdrawal of CPF savings from age 55 to 60. This created an up roar with the workers telling the trade unions they were strongly against it. The feedback was so negative that it led to his stepping down from politics.

Though the report was stating a demographic problem that was waiting to happen, it was wrong news at the wrong time. It is always never pleasant to be a messenger of bad news. Often the messenger got fried. Howe’s recommendation was a simple delay from age 55 to 60, but it was bad enough to bring down a serving minister for suggesting it.

Since then, several changes had taken place in the CPF scheme. Withdrawal age was pushed back to 60, 62, now 65 and may go higher. The withdrawal sum is no longer a lump sum but in the forms of drips and drapes, an annuity payable monthly. Then there are now two minimum sum schemes that are holding back a huge sum of the people’s savings, at current rate, about $198k with the Medisave included. In addition, the CPF members are compulsorily required to purchase CPF Life annuity insurance and an akan datang Medishield Life medical insurance.

Compare these changes to what Howe Yoon Choong had proposed the delay from 55 to 60 was nothing. How did the Govt managed to get so far without an uprising or an up roar like the time of Howe? Maybe the people did not protest. Maybe the trade unions did not protest. Maybe the protests were not fed back to the Govt. Maybe the Govt simply ignored the protests. Whatever, things seemed to have gone down well superficiality, or quietly. No protest meant the people agreed to the changes.
7 Jun told a different story. It was like all the problems and anger were bottled up and just exploded. The can of worms was ripped apart and no one can close it anymore. The issues and unhappiness are in the open. No complaints, no protest, no demonstration? What is real?

Is the anger is real? If the misgivings and unhappiness are real, would this CPF thing bring down another minister? Or would it bring down instead a Prime Minister? I think not. I think it could be worse. Everything that is wrong with the CPF has come together as one big problem and is blowing up at one go.

Please feel free to disagree. I know, many would think this assessment is an over exaggeration of a small problem or no problem. Don’t make a molehill out of a mountain. Oops, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. It will fizzle off and nothing more would be heard of it. Life will return to normal. And the minimum sums will just keep piling up as planned.

Kopi Level - Green

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The CPF issue took down a minister in 1984"
RB

U sure or not? Maybe the minister didn't want to continue as minister for other reasons? And the then PM accepted it? Possible, tio bo?

But now maybe no minister want to stop being a minister what. And PM also want them to remain as minister what.

That's why now don't have an up roar like the time of Howe lah.

So it all depends on the 60% and the PAP lah, not protests, uproar or what not.



Anonymous said...

Did WKS resign when there was a big uproar due to the escape of Mas Selamat in 2008?

So u see, if the minister doesn't want to resign, or the PM doesn't accept his resignation, no minister will resign.

So protests, uproar, curse all no use one.




Anonymous said...

Nothing will change in Singapore because LKY is unlikely to change his mind.
And he writes many books to remind us even after his death ... what his values are.
And to double confirm, PM Lee is his son.
Like father, like son?

And there is even a church called PAP that pays very attractive salaries to ensure LKY's vision and values live on in perpetuity.

Anonymous said...

Actually hor, it's not even up to the PAP to decide.

It is up to the 60% to decide. And 60% is the ultimate political force to be reckoned with in Sinkieland.

No group, protests, uproar, blogs, opposition or whatever can ever hope to win anything if they don't or cannot court and make love with the 60%.

Anonymous said...

New PAP chicken jokes to prove why Singapore can never change.

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

AMERICAN CITIZEN:
Why not?

SINGAPOREAN CITIZEN:
Government say can cross the road meh?

WORKERS' PARTY:
We take our cue from the driver.
When the driver stops, then we cross the road.

Anonymous said...

RB, I think likely your assessment is wrong lar cause if the people are not happy, they would have voted out many pap mp in 2011 liao Tio Bo?

Matilar, before u post anymore nonsensical posts, go write your books lar.

Matilar, before you post any nonsense today, I wanted u to reflect how best to use your time. Example by writing your books rather then waste other people's time.

1) how to boast about sexual power when both tiny are missing
2) the art of incest
3) the guide on how to bull shits
4) how to irritate people and waste their time daily
5) learning to be thick skin and flameproof
6) how to tahan when your ass kena fucked
7) how to act as patriot when you are a traitor
8) how to act and look normal when you are actually insane
9) learning to speak when a cock is stuck in your mouth
10) how to con your sisters and daughters to continue having sex with you without reporting to the police.
11) How to develop multi tasking skill. Sharing of secret on Learning how to type on keyboard posting commentary on blog when there is a hard cock pushing in and out in matilar mouth.
12) How to cook two tiny to be delicious enough that the pigs would eat them.
13) How to brag about your intelligence when you have none and how to tahan when both mouth and ass kena screwed at the same time.



Anonymous said...

PAP Chicken Jokes to prove Singaporeans cannot change.

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

PAP MINISTER:
There is no OB marker. So you are allowed to cross the road.

Anonymous said...

With S'pore no longer able to compete in the lower end of the foreign investments?

Singapore now diversify to the service industries & higher end and higher margin premium products to bring Singaporean better standard of living, closing the income gaps, increase the birth rate, Singapore cleaners the pay around $700 to $1K?

The obsolete ideas of depend on cheaper was outmoded, which used in the past where S'pore begin to take off, now China with billion of workers competing with S'porean?

Singapore is concentrating bring higher end tourists and to increase their spending, with the average tourists from 8 millions rise to 15 million presently and now Singapore next target is 20 millions tourists?

Massive training of staff and feedbacks to improve and raise the standard of Singapore tourist attractions through engaging foreign consultants?

With Singapore First Party formed try to learn from the high successfully Northern Europe states? How to bring S'pore long term success and its social problems brought by the GRC?

Singapore now can't depend on the past low end foreign manufacturing, but to raise it standard of designing premiums and high end products, innovating better services and products in it s manufacturing sectors?

What type of feedback and ideas to bring Singapore to the next level of the advanced countries, lower income gap, higher birthrates & higher standard of living & work life balance, less dependent on casinos which can bring broken families?

Encourage ideas and feedbacks on returning the CPF on 55 as promised?

With the downtrend of the ruling parties it is likely a coalition form in 2016 as more internet better educated saavy youth able to vote in 2016?

Anonymous said...

Why Matilar haven't commented yet hah?

Normally he is the first, if not at least 2nd or 3rd to comment one what.

oldhorse42 said...

RB thinks that the CPF issue is a big thing that would not only bring down a minister, the govt and or even blow every thing apart.
Frightening right? But is it for real?
How many turned up on 7 June in Hong Lim Park? 6,000 on the generous side. Is it enough to topple the Govt or vote it out of office?
Just a small fraction of the working population. Even Nicole Seah thought that it is blown out of proportion.
It is not that all your CPF has been locked up. Just a small portion and you can still use some to invest in property or gamble in shares and gold.
Life will still go on. Di bo di?

Anonymous said...

The new Singapore trend:


http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/05/new-political-party-sfp-made-up-of-mainly-former-civil-servants/

Anonymous said...

PAP govt which is very pro-Japan has not allowed the footage released by China where 2 Japanese armed fighter jets flying very close to China planes to be shown on TV. 'Zou Jin Taiwan 2014 06 13 ' Change language to Mandarin in youtube to enhance search for the video.

Anonymous said...

Why he stepped down? Nobody's knows. Its inner PAP politics. If you ask now, many will never step down becos most of them will not get a S$1M dollar salary + bonus + pension in private sector in Spore.

Singaporean are too generous. They don't question what, who, why they vote in their candidates. Their MP represents their voice and their future aspiration in Parliament which may sometimes defer from the party stand.

Anonymous said...

12.29pm, I think cause the book poster has woke him up so likely he wrting his books now to earn money instead of posting comments for RB to earn kopi.

That motherfucker is very calculative and practical son of the bitch

Anonymous said...

The Dawn of Singapore new era?

Tan Jee Say formed the Singapore First Party http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/05/new-political-party-sfp-made-up-of-mainly-former-civil-servants/ to lead Singapore into the new level of success?

Singapore have one of the highest income gap in the world and one of the lowest birthrate?

Various ideas of copying from the highly successful North Europe benchmarking to incorporate into Singapore context?

Tan Jee Say from a humble background his vast experience in the public and pte sectors, stood well for him in leading a highly successful individuals both from the public and pte sectors?

His ideas of using less immigrants to boost the economy would reduced many social problems associated with overcrowding,lack of facilities, competition for jobs etc?

His various ideas of free education, boosting birthrate, worklife balance, retrenchment benefits and old age enhancements stood well for the team in 2016, which they hope to co operate with other team to bring Singapore to the next level?

Diversify Singapore in the service industries, developing the SME through branding, innovation and designing getting better, higher end higher margin products will stood well to lower Singapore income gaps?

Where is a developed country with cleaner pay of between $700 to $1K per month?

Tan Jee Say in his fifties, can possibly be the future PM as he has the experience assisting the former PM and in pte sector? With mobile internet things changed rapidly?

His former SDP team which he first went into politics, possibly among the best performance of the opposition, with many new immigrants and the multi billions dollars at the One North in Hollang Bukit GRC? Which the western side the ruling parties usually have 65 pc support where more new immigrants?

His recent outing of Elected President with achieved a break even for newcomer stood well? Out of the four highest heavyweight Singapore can offer he got 25 percent? Competing with the ruling party best?

With 64 percent of the votes went to the opposing voices of Tan Cheng Bock, Tan Jee Say and Tan Kin Lian?

Tony Tan even with the massive MSM support, massive association support and government support only got 34 percent?

Anonymous said...

To change policy you must first have enough elected MPs from the oppositins alot more than now
However the PAP candidates are safetly protected by the GRC system. Many of miw would be sitting in the Parliament if Not because the GRC system, Plus they controlled the media,ie Strait Times, CNA,Channel 5 & 8, Suria, Vasamthan, Sin Min, Wan Bao even lady mazgaxine etc Absolutely no articles that like critical of the MIW policy like CPF , NS, GRC are allowed to be printed.
Aren't opinions agsinst the PAP policy also checked in the school of higher learning
Do you want change Sporeans ??

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@RB:

>> Life will return to normal. And the minimum sums will just keep piling up as planned. <

This is the more likely scenario.

>> It will fizzle off and nothing more would be heard of it.

No, it'll still be there and people will continue to bitch about it -- just like other perenial socio-political bugbears: lack of political opposition, high mnisters' salaries, censorship of political films...and so on.

Why do you think we are here? Well, there are many reasons. One fundamental reason is our ADAPTABILITY, and this trait has been selected for through the processes of evolution by natural selection.

This is why if you are a person in power like a boss or a dictator -- you can throw a lot of shit at your people -- causing them all sorts of discomfort, and maybe getting an advantage of "leverage" -- before the people break.

Anonymous said...

"Tony Tan even with the massive MSM support, massive association support and government support only got 34 percent?"
Anon 1:42 pm

Bcos of Tan Cheng Bock lah. If no Tan Cheng Bock, Tony would had got 70%, Hainan Ah Ko 25%, and TKL 5%.

That's why I have serious doubts whether Ah Ko's SF Party can even win a single seat next election.

Anonymous said...

Consider the importance of CPF to most people, the ruling party could face massive defeat in 2016?

Just by suggesting the delay in return CPF caused the retirement of former Minister Howe Yoon Chong in 1984?

CPF is so important to people which they saved for 30 to 40 years which they expected it to return to them at 55?

By the recent highest turnout in the protest of CPF? The massive protest votes can't be underestimated?

Anonymous said...

"By the recent highest turnout in the protest of CPF?"
Anon 2:18 pm

WP election rallies turnout not high meh?

Then how come PAP could still win at least 60% votes when things were already very bad for Sinkies?

Anonymous said...

The CPF issue is like a flame, getting hotter and hotter. So when the PM said he is flame proof, does it include the CPF thingy? We'll wait and see if he gets his butt burned.

Anonymous said...

Next time if you got opportunity just ask them 1 question - can you tell me why you are worth >1M salary. Let them explain themselves. If they can justify then they deserve it. If not turn right exit.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@231:

>> Then how come PAP could still win at least 60% votes when things were already very bad for Sinkies?


You are making an assumption which I think is in error: you are assuming that most if not all of the people who attend WP rally or CPF protest will vote AGAINST the govt at the ballot.

No. No and categorically N.O.

In social and group situations, the human ape modifies his speech and behaviour to CONFORM to the "norms" of the company he is in. The values he shares with the group amplifies the emotions. He feels uplifted and safe, and accepted and understood. This leads to positive state -- a state of possibility, hope and a clear path to "success" or "happiness" -- whatever those words mean to the human ape in question.

Cut to the ballot process. The ape is now in a different situation, and he is in a different emotional state. Fear takes over, and soon the twin demons of Kiasu and Kiasi are ruling his monkey soul.

And so he votes PAP.

It is human-ape nature to say and profess certain things, but acting in narrow self interest spurred by FEAR to act in ways completely OPPOSITE to what they professed to believe only moments ago.

So don't get so upset next time people are not "true to their word" or "walk the talk". Relac lah brudder, it's just your fellow monkey acting on his nature, just like you do as well, but fail to remember when you did similar thigs ;-)

Anonymous said...

With the people understanding and knowing more from the internet next election may not be the same anymore

Anonymous said...

I have two predictions (actually insights):

1) Roy (God Bless) will be sued to bankruptcy.

2) Roy (Cheer!) will receive standing ovation in every election rally that he shows up.

What will happen to PAP and currently PM Lee? I will not predict but will leave that to all of you.

Anonymous said...

Penalizing the Old?

By locking up the old people CPF is penalizing the old, the old had struggling so many year spending 40 years building Singapore, come to their old age, yet their CPF was locked up?

The older a person in Singapore the more important the CPF and savings to them as reserve, as the chance of getting a job is lesser during their youth, so the need the money which promised to return to them as reserve?

Anonymous said...

Woman begging to get her CPF back video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152560065256383&set=vb.14440041382&type=2&theater

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@441:

We are all a particular species of hairless, African apes.

Go learn some fucking science, you ignorant motherfucker.

1. You learn science, you become smarter.

2. The smarter you become, the better your chances of landing a good job.

3. You get a better job, you earn more money.

4. Now you have enough money. So you can stop your illicit enterprise of pimping out your teenage daughter's deliciously fragrant, honey-dripping, pink, shaved and tight cheebye on the internet. (Thus denying dirty lustful pleasure to 100's of horny bros. Sorry boys. Bad luck)

5. Then you won't be caught. Thus you'll avoid getting nicely skewered by a roadside story-teller like redbean on his blog, where thousands will read your sorry-assed story then ridicule you.

You see? Causality lah. Dun pray pray.

Study science. Improve your chances ;-)

Anonymous said...

Sinkies shud just blame themselves la.
When the locals were under the british, they built schools of their own languages. When taxi drivers got bullied by british soldiers and other whites having rest and recreation here, they went back for them. British subjects of Chinese, Malay, Indian and others were not afraid of fighting for justice.
Now, all sinkies lembeh lembeh macham anjin piarah. They behave like dogs to masters. Let the masters whacked anyhow and still loyal like stupid pariahs.
Sinkies deserves to be treated by their masters like dogs.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Nicole Rebecca Seah will join PAP soon la.

Anonymous said...

This CPF unhappiness within a section of Singaporeans will fizzle out and die a quiet death. Like so many other contentious issue before this, it will be accepted though grudgingly by some and everything will be quiet again. Hong Lim Park has been introduced to " indicate " to the world that the Government listen to the voice of Singaporeans. It is to show that democracy exist in Singapore. How many contentious issues raised in speeches at this park have made life better for the citizen? Has any points raised to show unhappiness in the country changed any government policy? This CPF meeting at the park attended by 5000 to 6000 people will be forgotten. The next meeting on this same issue scheduled for the July will not be well attended. The Singapore government is the largest employer in Singapore. Most government employees will be too frightened to attend this type of gathering for fear of being identified as trouble makers. Sad case when one is frightened of the people whom you put in government to look after your wellbeing and happiness. Uniquely Singapore. Sad sad sad situation. Live with it, you get the government you vote for.

b said...

Unless there is foul play, the heartless gov will be replaced in the coming GE2016.

b said...

Already many grandpas and grandmas are crying foul, so their children and grand children will also cry foul. It is the entire 3 generations. It is not a small segment being affected this time.

Anonymous said...

Those born b4 the 60s, in whatever jobs, were able to get married and produced many children. Half dozen or more was no problem and they were under British Rule.
How the hell after fifty years of local rule, the people are facing problems in housing, healthcare and almost everything else in living?
Some are living like kings and royalties, how come?

Anonymous said...

Get out of Singapore if you are not happy

Anonymous said...

get out and stay out

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:02 pm

Well said !

Anonymous said...

Yep kpkb for what ?

Anonymous said...

Will the opposing voices of Tan Cheng Bock, Tan Jee Say & Tan Kin Lian co operate?

If the Elected Presidency is scrap, will the opposing voices of Tan Cheng Bock, Tan Chee Say, Tan Kin Lian co operate or join forces to run for the the General Election 2016, which had 64 percent of the opposing voices?

All three has the capacity qualified to be Elected President, so they too had the capacity to be PM?

With 33 percent TCB had the highest support, all his previous around 5 MP elections he got an average of over 80 percent support, possibly the best showing of any MP, he too head a listed company previously?

Tan Jee Say, is the secretary of the former MP, so he know well how the government works, he had the potential to be PM, and have vast experiences in the fund management industries?

Tan Kin Lian was formerly head of NTUC?

Anonymous said...

How can it be my money if i have to beg a PAP MP for the return of my CPF money?

SOURCE:
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/06/76-years-old-lady-begged-hri-kumar-to-help-her-get-cpf-money-back/

Anonymous said...

7.41pm can not lar as all wanted to be the boss so hard to co operate. Even though tkl only less than 5% but he also wanted to be the boss and once I addressed him as kl and he wrote how dare u it's mr.tan for u. So like that how? Knn u tell me lar

patriot said...

The Fame that one seeks for glory sake may just becomes blunder in posterity.

patriot

Anonymous said...

GE 2016 - Pig Hunting Season.
Whose the fattest pig of them all?

b said...

Study science. Improve your chances ;-)

- many nazi scientists died together with Hitler.