Political Views of Singaporeans - All views are welcome

Letters to all MPs but only one reply

2008-05-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

I wrote to all or nearly all MPs but got one reply. Thanks for that solitary reply. It appears that all the MPs are the same - they were scared stiff of the issues and problems I brought up so they would rather say nothing. In this solitary reply I received, let us see if the issues I have brought up got the light of any enlightened deliberation for future solutions.

You said at the onset you could not answer to my first two issues namely ministerial salary and whether minister for law's reply to the public concern about misuse of Land Acquisition Act where lands in Geylang were acquired supposedly for public use which was left vacant and unused for any public purpose for years.

The first issue you replied on was merely a regurgitation of government position on its acquiring lands paying only a fraction of market value thereby depriving citizens of their property right without any rationale. The fact that there could be such a law at all in an civilized so-called first-world country like this little red dot and were contented with such deprivations of citizens' birth rights clearly proved that our MPs are not working hard enough to correct existing injustices of such nature. Of course you may still say now the government has realized its mistake after Hock Kee case or Geylang case and have recently after a letter of mine and others pointing out such injustices that the compensation for acquired lands was amened in April 2007 to market value. For your information, I happened to be acquainted with one pending acquisition and asked the SLA whether the subject land acquired would be compensated at full market value and the answer given was the government panel of values would decide without revealing the basis of such valuation. In the case of collecting development charge the government valuers have compiled the market valuations to be used to collect any appreciated values but in the case of land acquisition the government valuers would rather keep the list to themselves only to be used in countering any affected land owners' own claims for compensation. What kind of market valuation is that or is it a case of double standard in that in asking developers to pay development charge it would push the market values to the highest possible but in acquiring lands such transparency is from a hidden secretive list maintained by government valuers as I have mentioned. I would leave it to our MPs like yourself with experiences in handling such cases to tell us citizens whether this is being transparent or fair or just and whether as MP you are interested or passionate enough air problems or issues on our behalf.

On another issue concerning the claim of government that the sale of HDB low-cost housing at a small discount off market price for similar flats in the market place was indeed a subsidy, it is indeed a sad day when our MP like yourself has also taken the establishment's view that it is indeed a market subsidy and not the actual cost subsidy. Is this kind of subsidy to be correctly claimed as subsidy ? That is the issue posed. Why repeat the government's position on an issue if you are a MP who is supposed to represent like some sort of counsel for the people in bringing up issues and problems. If you are merely existing to represent establishment we have better people to do that - the ministers. We need MPs to function differently from ministers in that if people suffer from any problems MPs are to understand the problems in-depth and not merely to use their position to explain government point of view which in the little red dot today has become some kind of joke.

I hope you and all MPs would change your position to be more pro-country and pro-people and not taken the view that you exist through GRC to represent the collective view of the cabinet or government which clearly is now the case.

May I have your permission to publish your reply in the internet since the Straits Times routinely does not do so?

Thanks and regard.

Robert Teh Kok Hua
(A passionate citizen interested in the welfare of people)

Should LKY be answerable to billions of losses of people's monies by GIC?

2008-05-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

It is not that people don't understand decision making process in a big organization as some have put it.

What we the people are finding it difficult to accept is the constant harping of their talents and abilities by the leaders who are actually only lucky people given the opportunity to be leaders so they should learn how to accept responsibilities for poor performance and criticisms for mistakes.

If as leaders they still cannot accept responsibilities for mistakes or losses then in the first place they do not have qualities of leaders, period.

Proceeding from the above-stated basis, have our leaders like MM Lee plainly accepted the first principle of government or leadership - accepting responsibilities for poor performance whether in specific examples of loss like in Shin Corp all these years?

If GIC is an entirely private company like Worldcom or Enron, we the people can accept what some have said that investment is a long term and not a simple or easy process and people must take the good decisions with the bad ones and judge them for overall performance.

GIC is an public organization set up to safeguard the collective assets and surpluses of Singaporeans and its monies are people's hard-earned monies. All on board of GIC are trustees of public fund. As trustees of public fund if they want to invest in Shin Corp or UBS (in a crisis situation) Bangalore or Russsia Township they as trustees must get the mandate of the people. Have they done so?

If LKY is to set up GIC correctly with accountability in the first place there may be no problem in doing what he has been doing.

Be it as it may with some luck he has made some gains in the past despite refusing to be accountable for this type of high-risk investments. He has however through use of power refused to grant ex-president Ong Teng Cheong request to provide him as custodian elected president to make GIC and government accountable to some investments and that was a major error or judgmental blunder on his part.

As a lawyer himself he should know fully well that public monies like those belonging to MCST's or NKF can only legally be invested under the current general laws in trust funds consisting mainly of fixed deposits in banks or certain instruments not like what he is doing with public monies in the GIC.

So there are two sets of laws here - one for himself and his GIC and one for the MCST or NKF monies belonging to the public. Is his action as a leader legally right or morally correct?

Having seen the way he has been conducting the affairs of government vis-a-vis investments of people monies it will be clear that he still does not want to be or keeps stubbornly giving excuses to avoid being accountable to the people despite many years of people's unhappiness in this respect as published in the media and in the internet.

The main issue now is whether the further billions of losses by GIC in such continuing rash investments in risky shares and stocks overseas is caused by LKY by his own authoritarian and unaccountable use of power. Is he or GIC being accountable ?

If GIC sets up proper prescribed rules and regulations and laws to safeguard people hard-earned monies (not LKY's certainly) with accountability open to independent panel of acceptable standing representing the president or people, we can then listen to the whys and wherefors of professionalism of investments and other aspects like the actual organizational decisions.

Let the issue be understood in greater perspective and not be sidetracked by hypocrisy again and again by LKY in the same way he has denied the ex-president Ong and the citizens as a whole from many objective feedbacks on this issue. (not just the internet forumers).

Man and His Honor

2008-04-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

The House of Commons suits me fine,
For I will always be with my own kind,
If ever I run out of salt or rice,
I will have no need to cry,
For I still have my honor,
If a man live without honor,
He is as good as a dead dog,
Let evil men be filled of craft
For me I trade not in such art.

How to govern corruptly legally yet look good?

2008-03-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

Corruption is bad, this is what our leaders tell the animals in the Farm.

Welfare is bad.
Corruption is bad,
Meritocracy is good,
Rule of law is good,
Talent is good,
We must reward talent,

How do you stop the government to promote his own cronies into position of power to serve him and his own interest?

This is called grey areas, administrative or discretionary power in our law books.

A government can simply play Jekyl and hyke by putting up laws and regulations which on the face is just but actually are full of loopholes with interpretations subjected to its own internal control to serve own hidden agendas e.g. to tinker with election process to prevent others from standing for election and keep itself in power.

In the Westminster system of democracy, we the citizens are supposed to have the right to stand for election or elect others as our MPs and let them have the unimpeded right to question any wrong doings or policies in parliament.

Is this system of open and accountable governing process being followed?

Given the large discretionary or administrative power given the the ruling party's secretary general to govern with appointments of all senior positions from Ministers to chief justice and senior civil servants each paid the handsome million-dollar salaries who will try to rock the boat and disagree with the chieftain?

So Westminster has actually provided a platform in the hand of a determined autocrat to govern by sheer dictatorship due to the large areas of discretionary power granted to the position of PM who could exercise large discretionary power over appointments of Ministers, MPs etc resulting in one-man-show which finally leads to cronyism and malpractices and abuse of power.

The above-stated power granted to the PM in the Westminster system will end up finally benefiting the ruling party, its elites and not the ordinary people.

We the citizens are suffering from all sorts of tweaking of laws and playing with the laws and are having to face with all the hypocrisy and denials of problems because of such grey areas.

So there is an urgent need to check on the large areas of administrative power e.g. appointing judges, creating positions or promotions to run any departments for their own favored cronies.

A crooked government will simply know how to go its its own parliament to pass any laws it wishes to suppress its people with legal means creating another form of tyranny to suppress its people.

To a crooked government which intends to use laws to control its population any reasons will be good enough as there are many excuses one can give to pass any laws if a PM under the Westminster is determined enough to get its own way.

Even defamation laws or internal security laws intended to be used to apprehend the violent criminals can be turned into powerful instrument to be used against ordinary people who criticise the government.

The large discretionary or administrative power to PM to appoint his own connetions or cronies to power is simply not right or proper.

It is time for people to change such system and put a check on loopholes within the grey areas in all our laws the constitutions and civil and criminal laws and procedures to stop crooks to govern the country for their own purposes and agendas.

How do we the citizens stop such a governing system from being corrupted by power and use legal method to reward themselves and even enjoy business dealings with companies which trade with the government's power that be is another major issue to be looked into.

How do we stop a government under such a system using its large administrative power to fix or sue its critics and opposition with defamation law suits under its own controlled courts for remarks or criticisms uttered honestly in the course of electioneering is yet another major concern of citizens.

So if we the citizens do not want any more tweaking of the laws such as the constant redrawing of election boundaries or the banning of voting of MPs in single-ward constituencies or any more repeat of disastrous losses in Shin Corp or immorality in NKF let us voice out our concerns with fear or favor and start asking for change in a serious manner with safeguard to stop the rot.

If we do not want to have Enrons Worldcom, CAO abuses let us put in the efforts to clean up the present system'

Your future is in your own hand. Let us decide to stop the following malpractices currently being carried on in our parliament which do not benefit us the citizens:-

(1) Passing of any laws the leaders like through its controlled parliament
(2) Setting up of many crony posts or positions to reward its own loyal yes-men.
(3) Setting up of too many committees and unnecessary posts like SM, MM, Parliamentary secretaries and majors etc.
(4) Give them monies and power to act like proxies,
(5) Having all kinds of CEOs to front for bill collectors type of occupations.
(6) Putting up too many excuses to change laws and deny responsibility.
(7) Launching too many grandiose projects to spend monies
(8) Profiteering from land and infrastructures already owned by citizens.

If we do not want to see the above-mentioned malpractices happen in front of our very eyes in our own circus parliament it is up to citizens to spread this message to all to ask for change in our governing system to prevent anyone or future government from governing corruptly through legal wrangling of laws and administrative power through our present system.

A new way to peace in this world

2008-02-22T05:53:00.000-08:00

For thousands of years mankind has been at wars.

After the first and yet another the second world war, mankind should have learned the truth about wars, that is there is no victor.

Whether a war is fought on the ground of national or economic security, greed or ambition, or plain hegemony on one race over another the second world war conclusively proved one truth - the world is for us all the live in peace and not be engaged in self-interest or domination or greed.

With the release of the first atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, hundreds of thousands of innocent people were killed. Conversely hundreds of thousands were similarly killed on both sides of disputants.

But men are obsessed today as ever as seen in the latest rounds of conflicts between the Palestinians and Israelis. Where is more superior in terms of race, cultures or religions?

If God's teaching is something to go by, obviously God has taught men to treat their fellow men as brothers and not to kill one another or conquer anyone for religious or any other reason.

There has to be fuller understanding of God's teaching in order to understand God's will to men and finally understand it is against God's teaching to kill or be at war.

Furthermore it is futile to engage in wars as finally there is no victor as seen in the second world war.

The Japanese people and their leaders are still far from remorseful about their own wars. They try to justify their last war as a war of self-defence.

Now earth warming, ecological pollution and depletion of oil and other natural resources are further bad news and without war mankind has not much good years ahead to live for.

So now let us examine what god or gods want of us in this earthly life of ours. Did god or gods really ask people to fight it out and engage in conquering others or our neighbours?

One would have thought from reading of bible or koran that God says "Love thy neighbours" even if god at the same time has said other things like "Do not sin".

Do denizens of the world have a higher or more noble reason to disagree with such basic wisdom let them tell us that god was wrong about the first advice.

If they treasure and trust their own almighty whoever he might be, surely they will be more patient with their neighbours even if they don't love them.

Let us all declare as "Peace Day" the anniversary of second world war and tell the Israelis and Palestinians on this day there is no purpose to fight on but there is god's purpose to live in love and not hatred.

Prose of No Hope (In reply to President's Poem on Hope)

2007-09-26T22:53:00.001-07:00

On and on leaders on the little red dot,

Carry on wrangling with laws and regulations,

Years and years of tweaking of voting process,

Of bending democratic rules of accountability,

Without thought of people's suffering and want,

Double charge on lands, assets, recovering all costs,

GLCs usurping citizens' assets into monopoly schemes,

Direct and indirect taxes unspent and assumulated

To be spent on extravagant golden taps and own salaries,

Idle taxes grow surpluses by billions not enough,

Losses on Shin Corp not disclosed or explained,

On national day Citizens brace for another shock,

Pay and pay without services or accountability

Another and another excuse yet cooked up,

This time citizens contrite to live longer lives,

Citizens deemed careless with their own monies

Not failure in governing CPF schemes or economy,

For fear citizens might squander own retirement funds,

Had better leave their funds at 55 to better hand.

With a bit of tweaking like interest top-up,

Leaders would take their fund to form a pool

To pay out small annuities to whoever live longest lives,

The red dot leaders say annuities would look after all,

But they did not say by their own billion surpluses

Or not by surpluses from hidden profits gained,

But by little monies left of citizens who live shorter lives,

Who had to postpone draw of retirement kitties

From 55 to 85 to pay for citizens living longer lives,

The elected MPs each gives a great speech,

And even sultry poetry for good to sing praises,

Of goodness to receive collective annuities,

In spirit and truth this is the story,

Of how the little red dot is governed,

By greed, scheming and legalistic puppetry.

Political Proverbs

2007-07-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a compilation of useful political proverbs for general information:-

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

Better be a free bird than a captive king.

Better free in a foreign land than a slave at home.

Courage in war is safer than cowardice.

Cursed is he who doth his office craftily, corruptly or maliciously.

Divide and rule.

Even war is better than a wretched peace.

Every man for himself.

Every man is master in his own house.

Fight fire with fire.

Forewarned is forearmed.

From prudence peace from peace abundance.

Give me liberty or give me death.

Good fences make good neighbours.

Good kings never make war but for the sake of peace.

He that is hated by his subjects cannot be king.

He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.

He who demands does not command.

Little is done when many command.

Might is right.

No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition.

Old politicians chew on wisdom past.

One man with courage makes the majority.

One peace is better than ten victories.

Oppression causes rebellion.

Peace flourishes when reason rules.

Power goes before talent.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Reform that you may prosper.

The ballot is stronger than the bullet.

The best government is that which governs least.

The cause finds arms.

The fear of war is worse than war itself.

The first duty of a soldier is obedience.

The hearts of people are the only legitimate foundations of empire.

The mob has many heads but no brains.

The office shows the man.

The race is not to the shift nor the battle to the strong.

The right divine to govern wrong.

The subjects' love is the king's best guard.

The tree of liberty grows only when watered by the blood of tyrants.

The unbought loyalty of men is the cheap defence of nations.

The voice of the people is the voice of God.

There is no little enemy.

There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder.

They that govern most make least noise.

To grow proud in office is the nature of man.

Tyranny is far the worse treason.

United we stand, divided we fall.

War makes robbers, and peace hangs them.

When what you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

When power puts in its plea, the laws are silent.

When the cause is just, the small conquers the great.

Who fills the office must learn to bear reproach and blames.

Who loves peace serves God.

Who obtains an office surreptitiously will administer it like a fox.

Who shall keep the keepers ?

Process Management - Key to Efficiency and Good Corporate Governance

2007-03-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

COMPUTERISED PROCESSING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (OSP)

Ask any successful bosses, they will say they owe theirs to secrets like the following:-

1. Focus and Consistency.
2. Positive Work Attitude.
3. Foresight & Insight
4. Supportive Environment.
5. Passion & Determination.
6. Coordination, Teamwork and Bottom-up Approach.
7. Adaptation to Environments.
8. Creativity and Entrepreneurship
9. Leverage on Strengths avoidance of Weakness. (Sun Sze Art
of War)

A moment of reflection these are in-born personal qualities and not something manageable by the staff or workers.

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS

Read up any management book, no doubt we will come across concepts and principles which on the surface explain efficiency, productivity or other factors of success e.g. Taylorism, FAYOL, Neurological systems, technical, Organization Theory, Human Relation Theory, Financial Control and Analysis, Management-by-objective, Planning concepts and premises, Operation Research, Quantitative and Scientific Approach, Breakthrough Principle, Uniqueness Principle, Standard Operating Procedures (ISO), Sun Sze Art of War etc.

The truth is concepts or theories are not something easily performed, manageable or attainable by the workers.

The common problem as always is how to make them doable or manageable.

At the end, most management concepts and theories are simply not processes or something doable only look-good leading to fire-fighting, idling and office politics causing inefficiencies and many practical problems.

Moreover, as unveiled in the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the root cause of malpractices is self-centredness caused by lack of doable or attainable tangible processes.

WHAT IS OBJECTIVE-STEPS PROCESSING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Hence, Objective-Steps Processing Management System in recognition of the lack of doable or attainable work processes establish tasks in their natural logical component parts and arrange them in sequential doable work routines of workers very much like the lego blocks to render efficient performance as follows:-

OSP Step (1) Study of Ideas, (Feasibility, Plan, Outline, Scheme, Details)
OSP Step (2) Enquiry,(Specifications, tender)
OSP Step (3) Securing Contracts,
OSP Step (4) Contract Administration (10 departments),

Whatever your business or vocations, you can manage tasks in such lego-like 4-steps processes (administration) with detailed routines arranged in 10 functional departments thus:-

1.(General) 2.(Human Resource) 3.(Revenue) 4.(Accounts) 5.(Marketing) 6.(Services-all contracted activities) 7.(Facility) 8.(Enforcement) 9. (Production) 10.(Compliance).

Read such routine work processes as set up in OSP FileList at www.managefranchise.blogspot.com or www.ospforohsopolite.blogspot.com.

Today, businesses are processes in easy component computerized applications e.g. banking, trading, travel-ticketing, designing, transportation, logistics, stock-trading, accounting, telecommunications, government services, court administration etc.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS (10 DEPARTMENTS)

Learn how to process complex and overwhelming organizational tasks in component work processes as set up in OSP Process File List. Do away with petty unnecessary micro-instructions often engaged in by most ad hoc or conceptual management or bosses.

Moreover as tasks are processed they generate quantified feedbacks i.e. "1" for non-attainment, "2" for attainment and "3" for corrective action by all departments to reach excellence.

Such hands-on process management provides performance status with variances or "1"s closed or corrected every week on Friday with prescribed sequential processes set up in work forms and clearance forms.

COORDINATION AND KNOWLEDGE APPLICATION

Management is no longer conceptual orthodoxies but hands-on task processing from decisions to implementations in follow-through actions to reach goals and objectives with coordination and knowledge application.

For those who are used to accounting or financial procedures or SOP, they will no doubt find OSP a very useful tool to help them attaining orderly financial tools as through processing accounting tasks in form- and work-form processes they could tangibly oversee revenue, expenditure, cost saving, enforcement, logistics etc.

OSP Process Management offers a hassle-free 3-level short-rein process structure controlled by OSP Process File List as follows:-

Level 1: Management Report (call centre)
Level 2- Form processes generate objective factual feedbacks.
Level 3 - Work-form processes provide for coordination and knowledge application.

FINAL GOAL - ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY

A simple Clearance Form coordinates all multi-functional tasks to avoid duplications and wastages.

All government services are similarly managed objectively with hands-on coordination, knowledge application and teamwork doing away with look-good justifications and hypocrisy which cause many inherent problems.

Whatever is your industry, business or vocation, you could excel with OSP Process Management. Start your OSP computerised Process Management today with a licence from the author which will be readily given.

Note: “Objective-Steps Processing Management System” is the intellectual property of Robert Teh Kok Hua. It is available at S$25 per copy, complete with a FULL set of administrative and work forms for your application. Enrol for OSP course at S$50 per two hour session and S$3,000 per full-set_up package. Enquiry: Email:robertkhteh@hotmail.com

A Review of government performance under PM Lee Hsien Loong

2006-10-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

PM Lee Hsien Loong, has announced in his inauguration speech in 2004 that he would build an inclusive and cosmopolitan society.

He has welcomed citizens to engage in robust debates on government policies and even invited non-conformists to join the party.

So, I for one has some time written to the youngpap secretary offering to volunteer my service to take part in debating government policies. I was referred from one agency to another without any result.

As advised, I had to see the MP of my constituency first presumably to be subjected to some scrutiny before considering my request.

I told youngpap secretary that as I was only interested to play my part as a devil advocate I should not be subjected such party rules but there was no further reply.

Lately the government instead of welcoming people with non-conformist views in debating its policies, PM Lee has told the media not to engage in crusading journalism without elaborating such terms and even gone to the opposite of sending anonymous counter-insurgency agents to counter cyber criticisms in internet forums.

So by his actions is he indeed interested in building an inclusive cosmopolitan society. Is he serious in inviting people to speak up or debate on the government policies?

Is he interested in encouraging citizens to take an active part in running of the country.

Is he interested to change the past policies which had caused rising costs of living or elitism or loss of economic competitiveness and migration of citizen talents due to lack of openness, pro-people mass participation in running of the country.

Of particular great concern is the fact that within a few months after the 2006 election, he has increased the GST by 2% to 7% despite continuing budget surpluses and hidden profits from land and housing sales etc,

It is a great concern that he has represented GST increases as a means to enable him to introduce workfare but as it turned out to be it was actually a prelude to increasing the ministers' own hyper-salaries by another million per annum.

All the above-mentioned actions do not augur well for ordinary citizens who are in the lower and middle income groups who are smarting from past policies of taxing and recovering the fullest costs of providing services which lead to high costs of living and loss of economic competitiveness.

There is also no change in the government accountability and transparency and no attempt to restore the role of the elected president to allow him to play the greater role as expected of him in protecting the assets and surpluses of the people. There has been no disclosures of assets and extraordinary profits and gains from land and housing sales and double-taxes made from privatizing essential services to government linked businesses etc.

There is no efforts made to ensure that government will be prudent and not spend citizens' surpluses on extravagant projects like the 7 wonders or on foreign investments which benefit the foreigners with heavy losses by the billions.

There is no change yet to the hypocrisy and denials often made by ministers in answering to mistakes and shortcomings like massaging of statistics on employment figures or GDP or persistent failures in restructuring the economy to value-adding model talked about for years.

There is no change to the profiteering by the HDB in sale of public low-cost housing at market prices when such housings were built on lands already paid for and owned by the people.

There has been a lot of monies on helping foreigners in education and securing them jobs at the expense of unemployed citizens.

Profits made on land sales and investments should have been plowed back to lower costs of essential services.

The billions spent on biomedical researches are not making any significant returns in job creations.

If the lower income earners are getting poorer with dropping wages, how could he justify swopping of corporate taxes with GST which hurt the lower income even more.

The lower income earners are paying more than 50% of their income on basic needs like transportations and utilities as a result of PM Lee's untimely swopping of income tax by the GST.

Will his MPs and Ministers speak the truths in parliament on the above-mentioned problems and issues affecting most citizens or will they be hip-hopping or putting up wayang kulit to detract people's attention to real problems or be submissive in order to safeguard their own careers ?

The above-stated questions will be asked again and again and hopefully PM Lee will confront such serious concerns in governing the country.

Codes of conduct for ministers

2006-05-14T03:42:00.000-07:00

Posted from http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ministers/ministerial_code/

1.1 Ministers of the Crown are expected to behave according to the highest standards of constitutional and personal conduct in the performance of their duties.

1.2 This Code provides guidance to Ministers on how they should act and arrange their affairs in order to uphold these standards. It lists the principles which may apply in particular situations drawing on past precedent. It applies to all members of the Government (and covers Parliamentary Private Secretaries in section 2).

1.3 Ministers are personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in the light of the Code and for justifying their actions and conduct in Parliament. The Code is not a rulebook, and it is not the role of the Secretary of the Cabinet or other officials to enforce it or to investigate Ministers although they may provide Ministers with private advice on matters which it covers.

1.4 Ministers only remain in office for so long as they retain the confidence of the Prime Minister. He is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a Minister and the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards, although he will not expect to comment on every allegation that is brought to his attention.

1.5 The Code should be read against the background of the overarching duty on Ministers to comply with the law, including international law and treaty obligations, to uphold the administration of justice and to protect the integrity of public life. They are expected to observe the Seven Principles of Public Life set out in the first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, repeated in annex A, and the following principles of Ministerial conduct:

* Ministers must uphold the principle of collective responsibility;
* Ministers have a duty to Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and agencies;
* it is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the Prime Minister;
* Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public, refusing to provide information only when disclosure would not be in the public interest which should be decided in accordance with the relevant statutes and the Freedom of Information Act 2000;
* Ministers should similarly require civil servants who give evidence before Parliamentary Committees on their behalf and under their direction to be as helpful as possible in providing accurate, truthful and full information in accordance with the duties and responsibilities of civil servants as set out in the Civil Service Code;
* Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests;
* Ministers should avoid accepting any gift or hospitality which might, or might reasonably appear to, compromise their judgment or place them under an improper obligation;
* Ministers in the House of Commons must keep separate their roles as Minister and constituency Member;
* Ministers must not use government resources for Party political purposes. They must uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service and not ask civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the Civil Service Code.

1.6 Ministers must also comply at all times with the requirements which Parliament itself has laid down, including in particular the Codes of Conduct for their respective Houses. For Ministers in the Commons, these are set by the Resolution carried on 19 March 1997 (Official Report columns 1046-47), and for Ministers in the Lords the Resolution can be found in the Official Report of 20 March 1997 column 1057.

Propriety and Ethics Team, Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS

To reach the First-World - First, revamp the Constitution

2006-03-24T17:09:00.000-08:00

The Constitution is the single most important document which spells out the basic rights of citizens such as freedom of speech or freedom to stand for election and defines the role. duties and powers of government and its component branches.

The constitution of Singapore however has been too brief and general allowing the government of the day to interpret it to suit its own narrow-minded agendas and disregard such rights under the guise or excuses like pragmatism, racial representation, or maintaining law and order.

Such vagueness has led to usurping the roles of other equally important roles of government i.e. the judiciary, the legislative, the members of parliament, opposition parties and citizens with too much concentration of power in one or a few men of the ruling party.

Owing to the deprivation or non-provision of basic rights, the government is able to interpret the provisions such as to deny right of citizens to defend against state autocracy and wrongs with legal process like habeas corpus or demand right to stand for election under the principle of governance for the greatest benefits of the great number of citizens to meet diverse social, economic and cultural needs and aspirations.

Hence the ruling party of the day has gone on with tweaking of the laws and regulations including hindering their right to stand for election by block representation system or GRC with the excuse of protecting the minority racial candidates.

Group representations require single election candidates to form themselves into blocks or GRCs before they could stand for election hence hindering individual candidates of their right to offer themselves to stand for election in a one-man-one-vote process provided in the constitution.

In addition, the vague provisions in the current constitution has created a situation where the executive branch and its narrowly based cabinet take power into their own hand by appointing their own elites into all other branches of government without independent confirming process with the participation of elected Members of Parliament.

Thus we are making a charade of having election just to give all-in and unlimited power to a few within the eventual cabinet to do as they like without accountability in decision making or results based on producing the greatest benefits to the greatest number of people.

In view of the above-stated problems and shortcomings, it is urgent to revamp the constitution and prevent a few self-imposing leaders from exploiting vagueness of provisions and existing loopholes and usurping of the entire government roles for their own benefits.

Clearly due to many years of narrow-minded self-centred governing system we are suffering from lack of development of our own social, cultural and moral character and vibrancy as a people essential to nationhood in the long-term interest of the nation.

It has been argued that the govern needs to maintain law and order but with concentration of too much power in few members of the self-imposing executives.

What people want from all their feedbacks is for leadership to happen but not without processes which allow the whole government to be managed with accountability and transparency. There is a more critical need to check or prevent abuses of power which eventually with cause breakdown of law and order we seek to prevent in the first place.

Thus to maintain law and order the government and its executive branch have to subject themselves to the same set of laws and their equitable and objective enforcement.

It is only through empowering the people in granting them freedom of speech, association, exercise of voting right and right to stand for election, etc that the state is able to maintain law and order or bring about greater social, cultural and moral vibrancy and succeed in endeavors of nation building.

A good government is one which will govern the whole country based on rule of law and order in the larger perspective as stated in the foregoing and not some wishy washy utterances to serve the narrow agendas of the power that be and excuse them of wrong doings.

Obviously if a government is to achieve progress and wellbeing of citizens it will have to upgrade and change from a narrow-minded one called leadership or talent to one incorporating the above-stated larger goals and perspectives.

It is even more important to ensure good corporate governance based on holistic and overall benefits of all.

Concentration of power in the hand of the executive alone will lead to over-controls, over-regulations, narrow agenda of staying in power using meritocracy or pragmatism as tools to increase their own power while preventing participations of masses and stifling of creativity and enterprises of society.

With revamping of the constitution, citizens could take a more active part in development of long-term stability of nation and maintenance of true law and order with correspondence protection against corruption, abuse of power and other malpractices.

To run a country competitively and successfully, the ongoing political development process must be facilitated rather than hindered.

The government is elected to carry out the following essential functions:-

(1) administration,
(2) legislation - passing of laws and regulations for fair and just administration,
(2) justice,
(3) maintaining a free election process to enable citizens to elect their representatives or offer themselves as candidates to stand for election,
(4) implementing policies and decisions in objectively defined work processes to ensure good corporate governance i.e. governance with accountability and responsibility essential to development of citizens' social, cultural and economic vibrancy and competitiveness.

Specifically the constitution should clearly define (a) An effective executive, (b) Independent legislature, (c ) An independent judiciary.

Each of the above-stated three component branches of government has its own critical roles and responsibilities to play. By spelling out such roles and responsibilities as well as power or authority it will then lead of development of good corporate governance to serve the greatest benefits of the greatest number.

When such a constitution is established, it is then possible to bring about condition for citizens and government to work with cooperations, coordination and efficiency. All government policies and decisions will then gain the fullest support and participation of its citizens in nation building ?

The current vagueness due to lack of clear definition of rights and privileges of citizens and component branches of government has created a situation where the executive has accumulated too much discretionary power to pass laws and regulations to suit its own narrow agendas avoiding accountability and curtailing people's right to speak up, and participate in governing policies, appointments of government etc.

Read more about the current problems and shortcomings of the government in "20 major policy errors of government" and "review of performance of government under PM Lee Hsien Loong" as posted to the forums and the feedback unit.

With such revision of the constitution, it will then be possible to work toward bringing about a cosmopolitan and inclusive society. Will it govern the nation for the greatest good of the greatest number?

It will also help the government of the day to better appreciate that the goal of nation building is larger than that of creating surpluses by taxing and recovering all costs possible from the citizens resulting in rising costs of living to the citizens and their loss of economic competitiveness or worse spending of surpluses on extravagant projects or foreign investments like suzhou or shin corp.

There is obviously against the spirit of the constitution to tweak the electoral process under the pretext of maintaining law and order or protecting the interest of racial minority.

The curtailing of individual's right to stand for election unless he forms himself into grouping with other candidates for whatever reason has caused serious set-back to the progress and wellbeing of citizens in nation building.

The revisions along the line as stated in the foregoing with help to motivate all citizens in nation building and bringing about conditions essential for on-going efforts to build a vibrant, open and competitive nationhood.

Process Management - an alternative to top-down ad hoc management

2006-03-18T16:56:00.000-08:00

“The secret of getting ahead is to get started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex and overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one.” - Mark Twain

INTUITIVE MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Objective-Steps Processing Management System (OSP) offer an alternative to conceptual leadership, talents, policies to upgrade management viz:-

(a) Study of Ideas,
(b) Enquiry,
(c) Contracts and
(d) Contract Administration.

STEP 1 – STUDY OF IDEAS

The first step - “Study of Ideas” translates conceptual decisions, policies to actions.

It strikes at the core of creativity while empowering all to implement all major decisions.

STEP 2 – MAKE ENQUIRIES

After decision, the next step is to “Make Enquiry” on resources to enable decisions to be translated into concrete actions creating a dynamic action-oriented organization or culture.

Typically the second step is carried out with calling of “Quotations/Tenders” regularly implemented to maximize resource application.

STEP 3 – CONTRACTS

The 3rd step - securing contract - empowers staff to take actions to secure opportunities by closing deals or contracts enabling an enterprise to be run competitively.

STEP 4 – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

To implement policies, objectives, and decisions, all projects, works and services have to be systematically implemented in details to fulfill all requisites quality-time-cost objectives.

Such detailed contractual administrations are divided into 10 standard departments each divided in 3-4 core activities for greater focus and consistent project-like governance thus:

1.(General) 2.(Human Resource) 3.(Revenue) 4.(Accounts) 5.(Marketing) 6.(Services, normally open-ended outsourced works) 7.(Facility) 8.(Enforcement) 9. (Production) 10.(Compliance).

Hence whether it is the a business or a government agency, all its works and services can be standardized and rendered attainable in well-established component work processes contained in forms (admin) and work forms outlined in a OSP Process File List viz:-

1. Administration Forms (existing forms adapted easily from each ministry/dept)
2. Work Forms (10 departments)

Processing of each form produces quantified Feedbacks of "1" (not attained) "2" (attained) and "3" (excellence)

Close all input task-lines via the call centre weekly with self-corrective actions taken by staff at each level.

Such process management produces closing status information.

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE APPLICATION

Set up the above-stated process management today to enable all staff to carry out tasks instead of aimlessly following ad hoc and self-centred petty individualistic instructions which are often unnecessary.

Process management will enable any enterprise to work towards attaining goals at every level of management through greater coordination and mass participation in knowledge application.

A clearance Form is used to close daily operational tasks to avoid double-handling, inefficiencies, mishaps, security and fire risks etc.

Set up a call centre to process all forms and work forms.

LIST OF PROCESSING FORMS
Examples of Forms:-

Standard letters (FGL) work orders (FGW), production orders (FNO), tender/quotations, (FQL), purchase orders (FCP), salary/remuneration orders, (FHS), contracts, (FCP) invoices, (FAI) vouchers, (FAV) etc.

EXAMPLES OF WORK FORMS

Work Forms include Budget Control Work Form (WAB), Security Check Work Form (WSS), Stock Control Work Form (WNS) etc.

It will not be necessary nor desirable to concentrate decisions and power in a few individuals.

Well established work processes as stated in the foregoing allow all enterprises be it business or government to delegate all tasks i.e. policy, decision, projects, for collective good corporate governance without self-centredness to reach excellence and results.

Such process management could help to avoid wrongdoings and malpractices.

It has helped me to attain super-efficiency in my own multi-tasking work environment beyond proportions.

I would like to share such process management with all today. Results guaranteed to the faithful and diligent.

Note: User- or trainer- Licences will be readily issued to anyone interested by the author Robert Teh Kok Hua of Book “Objective-Steps Processing Management System” (book available at Singapore National Library)

HOW WILL OSP UPGRADE MARKETING OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS ?

2006-03-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

How do you make your business more competitive?

For example, you can apply secrets of success such as the following :-

(1) Leadership abilities or talents approach,
(2) Planning and organizational approach
(3) Organizational charting.

Now, try to plan out your marketing activities e.g.

(1) By products differentions or value-adding strategies etc ?

(2) By quality, efficiency and productivity through SOP?

(3) By effective delegations, coordination and applications of knowledge by staff ?

Still not willing to give up intuitive ad hoc approaches?

...........Try your intuitive solutions for next 3 month and review..............

DEPARTMENT REPORT (MARKETING)

Set the following marketing core activities in a department report (marketing) to carry them out with coordination and quality-time-cost performance.

Core Activity (1) Customer's Needs (a) product differentiation (b) values
Core Acitivity (2) Price/Cost (a) price/volume analysis (b) cost/price ration
Core Activity (3) A & P Program - 4 Ps (a) promotion (b) place
Core Activity (4) Sale: (a) interest list (b) call list.

Marketing staff no longer need to keep guessing what need to be done and instead can carry out tasks with efficiency and commitments.

Just oversee the 4-step marketing processes and monitor them with quantified feedbacks of "1", "2" "3" representing "non-attained", "attained" and "excellence" based on quality-time-cost criteria via the Call Centre (Management Report) for processing solving diverse problems to reach goals and objectives.

Customers' needs and wants, cost/price responses and marketing programs are consistently attended to with coordination and knowledge application at all level using the 4-part tasklines.

Use OSP Call Centre processes to implement your marketing plan to realise success.

Please contact me if you are still unable to upgrade your company performance after 3 months !!!

Upgrade leadeship - Try OSP ?

2006-01-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

Every now and again, leaders everywhere will be talking about leadership abilities such as the following:-

1. Focus and Consistency.
2. Positive Work Attitude.
3. Foresight & Insight
4. Supportive Environment.
5. Passion & Determination.
6. Coordination, Teamwork and Bottom-up Approach.
7. Adaptation to Changing Environments.
8. Creativity and Entrepreneurship
9. Leverage on Strengths and avoidance of Weakness. (Sun Sze Art
of War)

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS

Upon closer examination, it will be seen that these are just concepts or assumptions like intelligence or foresight and not something that can be performed in the real work place.

As a matter of fact, by stressing on one's leadership or foresight it often creates on-going in-breeding of individualism rather than efficiency and productivity or creativity or entrepreneurship.

No wonder, the usual work places are often full of office politics as posted to me by an ex-colleague entitled: "Why are Office workers always tired":-

1. Jumping to conclusion

2. Beating around the bush

3. Running down the boss

4. Going around in circles

5. Dragging their feet

6. Passing the buck

7. Climbing the ladder

8. Wading through paperwork

9. Pulling strings

10. Throwing their weight around

11. Stretching the truth

12. Bending the rules

13. Pushing their luck

By continuing with all the conceptual utterances and assumptions in management without translating their beliefs, philosophy, policies into doable work processes with empowerment of staff to carry out diverse decisions, plans and actions enterprises are unlikely to change very much into result-oriented and creative management.

Concepts and principles taught in management courses simply are not enough e.g. Taylorism, FAYOL, Neurological systems, technical, human resouce, financial, commercial, Management-by-objective, Planning concepts and premises, Operation Research, Quantitative analysis, Breakthrough Principle, Uniqueness Principle, Standard Operating Procedures (ISO), Organization theory etc.

The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 has exposed self-centredness as the root cause of problems causing the debacles of financial system.

Hence it is critical to re-examine conceptual assumptions and their incipient self-centred approaches. Should a business enterprise involve the people in developing their own diverse aspects of talents ? Or should business enterprises continue with all kinds of look-good presentations and justifications or politics and games to avoid accountability and due diligence.

WHAT IS OBJECTIVE-STEPS PROCESSING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Objective-steps processing management System (OSP) enables enterprises to carry out tasks in 4-step 10-department component work processes that allow goals and decisions of companies to be carried out with quality-time-cost good corporate governance. It divides tasks into 4 basic smaller doable or attainable componet OSP steps :

OSP Step (1) Study of Ideas, (Feasibility, Plan, Outline, Scheme, Details)
OSP Step (2) Enquiry,(Specifications, tender)
OSP Step (3) Securing Contracts,
OSP Step (4) Contract Administration (Functional tasks or Operations),

To begin OSP management, first organise the enterprise as follows:-

(1) An Organization Structure, (Departments and personnel)
(2) Assign roles and duties of departments and staff,
(3) Set up Controls, coordination, for corrections of deviations and results.

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS

OSP's follow-through logical work processes enable staff to perform tasks with ease and objectivity and professionalism to reach results and excellence.

Only when a government is able to implement its policies and decisions can it lead to results. Only those with implementation abilities and excellence can it succeed in solving problems and issued confronting the customers. Such empowering work processes have been spelt out with integrations to daily work routines in the OSP Processing File List. (Refer to post 28.1.2005 below)

Today, many works and services are increasingly laid in computerized logical component processes e.g. banking, trading, travel-ticketing, designing, transportation, logistics, stock-trading, accounting, telecommunications, government services, court administration etc.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS (10 DEPARTMENTS)

Contract administrations (OSP-step 4) are laid down in 10 departments for effective objective supervision: 1.(General) 2.(Human Resource) 3.(Revenue) 4.(Accounts) 5.(Marketing) 6.(Services-all outsourced activities) 7.(Facility) 8.(Enforcement) 9. (Production) 10.(Compliance).

All tasks in OSP processes are input as task-lines for processing and closing attaining coordination, knowledge application and corrections as follows:-

1. Each department is set up as 3-4 Core Activities.
2. Each core activity is performed against 2-3 quality-time-cost croteria.
3. Perform Core Activities to pre-set time-schedules and parameters.
4. Inspect and asssess performance of core activities as "1" for non-attainment, "2" for attainment and "3" for excellence.

Call centre provides monitoring of all variances or "i" for self-correction by all staff in two-way communication task-lines by each department.

COORDINATION AND KNOWLEDGE APPLICATION THROUGH CALL CENTRE

Such objective quality-time-cost hands-on call-centre processes lead to accountable and transparent supervision at operational level through the processes set in Department Report as mentioned in the foregoing.

Call Centre processes ensure all departments are able to self-regulate to cut down on unnecessary wastages or expenditure, to produce cost saving, and audit on revenue collections, with creative management with effective 3-level monitoring:-

Level 1: Management Report (call centre)
Level 2- Department reports – oversee operations giving variance feedbacks.
Level 3 - Work forms - sequential knowledge application.

FINAL GOAL - ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY

In addition, a multi-department clearance form is used to coordinate operational activities e.g. housekeeping, security, logistic to attain organizational efficiency and avoid duplication and at the same time cut down wastage to increase your efficiency and business profitability.

Hence whatever is your work or business, do not take chances with ad hoc or intuitive conceptual approaches. Use the OSP Call Centre work processes to follow through tasks automatically by staff with minimal supervision in 4 OSP steps. Don’t wait until it is too late ?

Note: “Objective-Steps Processing Management System” may be purchased from author Robert Teh Kok Hua at S$25 per copy, FULL set of administrative and work forms is available at S$10 per copy. Enrol for OSP course at S$50 per two hour session and S$3,000 per full-set_up package. Enquiry: Tel: 63565622; Email:robertkhteh@hotmail.com

Leadership needed in today's world?

2006-01-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

The YoungPaP has held its 17th Youth leadership training course on 2.8.2007 as posted on its website.

The Youngpap must have witnessed no doubt the various problems confronting the country of late from NKF malpractices to government ministries' incurring financial losses in many projects due to negligence and carelessness as reported by Auditor General and recently to Shin Corp losses etc.

Are the Youngpap's Youth Leadership training course aimed at providing solutions to problems facing the country citizens ?

If not then, what is the purpose of such training. Will it produce the desired results to turn the wrong doings and malpractices like NKF, Shin Corp and all the hidden problems around.

What is leadership, talents, insight, foresight ? Are leadership, foresight or talents some form of self-centredness or assumptions?

Are our leaders too conceptual and governing by too much look-good assumptions.

Are all the policy utterances about meritocracy, leadership, pragmatism, merely excuses to allow them to promote themselves and their own kind with all kinds of self-awards of their own connected elites.

Is all the anti-welfare fear as painted merely used to justify their one-tracked taxing and back-charging of all costs to citizens via the Government-linked privatized entities causing perpetual rising costs of living and the loss of economic competitiveness in our domestic wing of the economy.

Are we still building a country based on the philosophy of bringing about the greatest benefits of the greatest number?

Should we continue to allow talk-only conceptual leadership while ignoring and passing over genuine problems as unsolvable or just to allow such conceptual leaders to get by?

Should people continue to make sacrifices while leaders keep taxing and recovering all costs while stinging on needful services from medical care to housing and education etc.

Are our leaders interested in governing the whole country to benefit themselves and their own narrow-minded agendas and look-good reporting?

What is wrong with governing the country with accountability, balanced roles, checks and balances, codes of conduct, using objective pre-defined independent assessments.

Despite many years of wrong doings as stated in the foregoing, ministers are still persisting in refusing to change as witnessed in the latest refusal to grant permit for holding cycling event by WP while allowing youngpap to hold such similar event.

It is clear that the government has degenerated into one of legalistic wrangling of laws and regulations to maintain political control, taxing and recovering costs and even profiteering depriving people of essential services like medicare, utilities, education, housing, transportation etc.

As a result of such a system of autocratic government, the country has taken a setback since the 1970s with its own domestic economy stagnating, dropping wages, young and educated unemployments.

The domestic economy is being squeezed out of their survival by government's getting into businesses of all sorts to compete with its own citizens.

What happen to all the talents of our own citizens or do we have no talents?

In the fast-paced technology, we need to build collective or distributive leadership whereby all policies and decisions of government are not resting on the desires or self-centredness of a few leaders but are distributed or decentralised through pre-planned work processes to be performed by the whole government team.

Only when a leadership system is so translated into down-to-earth implementation processes with accountability and check and balances will it lead to broad-based participation and knowledge application by the all with the support of the masses.

Therefore considering the above-stated circumstances facing the country as a whole our leaders today should be in possession of not only directional visions or foresight but more importantly they should possess the quality to make good accountable decisions and have the implementation ability to translate all policies and decisions to broad-based knowledge applications and teamwork.

We will need to leaders who were able to empathise with people's problems and suffering as expressed in feedbacks such as the "20 major major government policy errors" given to the Feedback Unit since 2002.

We need ministers and civil servants who could come down from their ivory tower and be able to solve many problems we are facing and to restructure the economy to value-adding technology-driven economy talked about for years.

Perhaps youngpap members who have attended such training courses should share with all whether they have indeed received the kind of leadership training to help solve problems or only to qualify them to gain their own internal promotion.

The Little Red Dot Story

2005-12-28T06:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a Little Red Dot Story depicting the Singapore success as claimed by its leaders as I see it.

In the east beckons a little red dot,

A one-man-one-vote democracy,

Where people voted for passionate leaders,

To fight for justice and equity,

Alas when leaders came into power,

Became arrogant with own worth and ability,

Obsessed with ability to tweak laws,

Iron Rice Bowlers elevated to instant talents,

Took for themselves the highest salaries,

Surpassed that of president of United States,

Citizens told of horror stories,

Like the welfare and free lunch bankruptcy,

So governing was tax and hoard monies,

Only to be spent on Shin Corp and Micropolis,

To tweak the law and stay in power,

Painted fear of citizens wasting votes,

So twisted laws to fair voting process,

Abolished voting in single constituency,

So no citizens could vote their MPs,

Except in groups of 3 to 6 MPs called GRC,

So election time turned into mockery,

Claiming to provide racial harmony,

Actually design of power that be,

Was to stop any one from election,

Opposition who told of unpleasant truths,

Were sued for bankruptcy without mercy,

Till walkover in every constituency,

People bought over with goodies,

Once no-contest pantomime was over,

GST and fees doubly increased,

Low-cost housing sold for double profit,

Less cheeky discount called subsidy,

Forever taxing and hoarding of monies,

To be spent on shin corp for self-glory

Blamed would be put on honest mistake,

Election goodies took care of unhappy memories,

Fiasco in value-adding to new economy,

Resorted to IR over the dead body,

Mass educated unemployed and dropping wages,

Avoided by pointing fingers at worse countries,

Forgotten solemn promises of talents,

Just blamed on long suffering people,

Calling them quitters and grousers,

Thus was the story of the little red dot,

Told by leaders press as forever success,

Sadly but true a tale of bigotry and hypocrisy.

Manage tasks via Process Management to upgrade your enterprise

2005-12-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

“The secret of getting ahead is to get started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex and overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one.” - Mark Twain

INTUITIVE MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Objective-Steps Processing Management System divides complex tasks in 4 lego steps as follows:-

(a) Study of Ideas,
(b) Enquiry,
(c) Contracts and
(d) Contract Administration.

STEP 1 – STUDY OF IDEAS

The first step “Study of Ideas” strikes at the core of creativity as it empowers everyone in knowledge applications.

STEP 2 – MAKE ENQUIRIES

The second step “Make Enquiry” follows up idea with hands-on “Quotations/Tenders” to maximize resource application.

STEP 3 – CONTRACTS

The third step empowers staff to close deal and manage an enterprise competitively.

STEP 4 – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

Any enterprise routinely wastes a great deal of time managing diverse contractual tasks or operations in an ad hoc and fire-fighting manner.

These diverse contractual tasks are divided in 10 standard functional departments with set up in 3-4 sets of core activities for consistent and focused project-like management thus:

1.(General) 2.(Human Resource) 3.(Revenue) 4.(Accounts) 5.(Marketing) 6.(Services-all external or outsourced works) 7.(Facility) 8.(Enforcement) 9. (Production) 10.(Compliance).

The diverse contractual tasks are processed in form- and work-form processes, viz:-

1. Administration Forms (General department)
2. Work Forms (Operations in 10 departments)

Processing contractual tasks or operations in standard task-lines via forms and work forms at the same time generates quantified Feedbacks via department reports (Friday)

Close task-lines with Corrective actions and status information.

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE APPLICATION

Coordinate multi-functional contractual tasks via a multi-task clearance form to attain organizational efficiency and final results.

Call-centre processes all tasks in task-lines through the following forms (administration) AND work forms (Operational):-

LIST OF PROCESSING FORMS

Standard letters (FGL) work orders (FGW), production orders (FNO), tender/quotations, (FQL), purchase orders (FCP), salary/remuneration orders, (FHS), contracts, (FCP) invoices, (FAI) vouchers, (FAV) etc.

LIST OF PROCESSING WORK FORMS

Work Forms include Budget Control Work Form (WAB), Security Check Work Form (WSS), Stock Control Work Form (WNS) etc.

Such processing of Forms and Work Forms generates quantified feedbacks of “1”, “2” and “3” (easily converted to percentages) representing non-attainment, attainment and excellence respectively.

It is now possible to implement every policy, decision in follow-through logical work processes to avoid self-centredness or concentration of power in individual or malpractices.

It has helped me to achieve super-efficiency in my own multi-tasking work environment beyond proportions.

I would like to share such an effective call-centre process management with all today. Just get a licence from the author which will be readily given !!! You will not regret this move.

Note: Intellectual property of Robert Teh Kok Hua author of Book “Objective-Steps Processing Management System” available at National Library.

Talents by assumption worth millions

2005-12-24T06:01:00.000-08:00

Talents, leadership and meritocracy,

By assumptions worth millions,

Clothed in Confucianism or Asian values,

Add a little fizz and sparkle,

Never short of ideas or talents,

To create higher standards of living

To reach Swiss standard of living,

To restructure to value-adding economy,

Fill people with hope, dreams and long-term good,

To bite the bullet or pills of pragmatism,

Bear the pain to pay double on lands already owned,

Triple the costs on vehicle to beat traffic woes,

First the excise, then COE, came ERP,

Pay and pay with no end to fee increase,

Corporatise transport, medicare and utilities,

To tax and recover all costs through creative accounting,

Till businesses go bust and citizens suffer joblessness,

Asian crisis, Asset collapses, and deepest of recessions

Leadership and talents by assumptions,

Put to test by crisis and recessions,

Behold citizens were told crises world phenonmenon,

Nothing to do with leadership or assumptions,

Citizens told not to be choosy, and go for re-training,

Recessions beyond control of million-dollar ministers,

At long last world economy turns the corner,

Talents, leadership, Asian values quickly recover,

With loud assertions of leadership as strong as ever,

That without leadership there would be chaos,

That high costs of living is not a problem,

Over-40s educated unemployed was a structural problem

Scant were mention of NKF or 20 major policy errors

None was mentioned of lack of technology minister

Capable of broad-based education, or mass knowledge application,

In short this rest leadership by assumptions worth by the millions.

Regionalization ? Do we have the right management or technological excellence to do so?

2005-12-22T06:12:00.000-08:00

In time, a business will need to expand business overseas or compete with low-cost centres.

Let's take stock of what are our areas of efficiency or whatever your resource or other advantages. Do we have something to offer to other investors or host countries?

How do we manage our own operational tasks in any of the following operational departments: 1.(General) 2.(Human Resource) 3.(Revenue) 4.(Accounts) 5.(Marketing) 6.(Services-all outsourced activities) 7.(Facility) 8.(Enforcement) 9. (Production) 10.(Compliance).

(1) Have you set up your special competitiveness for our own bread and butter core activities e.g. manpower, resources, locational advantages, labor costs or other opportunities?

(2) How do we oversee our Cashflow, financial integrity, and revenue recovery?

DEPARTMENT REPORT (SERVICE - TECHNOLOGY/R&D)

(3) How do we take charge of our Service Department (Technology or R&D) to oversee core activities e.g. latest technology model, hardware and software development.

DEPARTMENT REPORT (MARKETING)

(4) Have we achieved excellence in: Customer's needs/values, price/cost, A&P - 4 P (product differentiations or technology excellence) due to your research and development ?

(5) Have you set up work processes for each department and communicate regionally with coordination and practical knowledge application via the HQ Call Centre with corrective actions taken on any quantified variances?

If we cannot answer the above-stated questions, do we have what it takes to go regional to impart our managerial or technological excellence.

Let us start today to take ownership of our core areas of competency by managing tasks efficiently and effectively through "Call-Centre Objective-Steps Processing Management" as elaborated in the foregoing.

Call centre process management will enable us to level up in management excellence in supervisions and coordination of entire enterprise to take advantage of inherent regional opportunities.

Government Performance Benchmark

2005-12-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

"Government Performance Benchmark" is set up to enable people to assess government's performance in specific areas that concern the citizens' wellbeings in terms of meeting of people's expectations. It is intended to be a rough tool with quantified inputs of "1" for unsatisfactory, "2" for satisfactory and "3" for excellence.

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS (GPB)

Benchmark questionnaires are designed to cover issues about lives or works, social or cultural wellbeing, in a straight gut-feel opinions of respondents. It covers a base period of 12 months starting from 1.1.2006 updated on 1st of each month.

HOW TO VOTE: Just state in "comment" below this blog: GPB0012006 - e.g. 1, 2 or 3.

(Key: 1=unsatisfactory ; 2=satisfactory ; 3=excellent)

TOTALISATOR of questionnaire : GPB0012006 : (......100 %)
[Computed: "1" as 1/3 (33%), "2" : 2/3 (67%) "3" : 3/3(100%)]

FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING QUETIONNAIRES

(GPB0012006) Whether Land Transport Authority has improved its services after collapse of Nicol Highway collapse or careless placing of barricades resulting in serious cyclist accidents at overhead bridge?
Your Poll: GPB0012006........(1, 2 or 3)

(GPB0022006) Whether Ministry of Manpower has served Singaporean workers with higher priority than the foreign workers : Your Poll : GPB0022006 ......(1, 2 or 3)

(GPB0032006) Whether National Trade Union Congress has served employees with higher priority that the employers: Your Score : Your poll : GPB0032006.......(1, 2 or 3)

(GPB0042006) Whether Ministers are proactive in solving unemployment problems e.g. taking of positive measures like promoting new technology start-ups to create jobs and "retrain" the workers to help them secure employment opportunities as against the foreign workers.
Your Score: GPB0042006.....(1, 2 or 3)

(GPB0052006) Whether government has sufficiently used the nation's Surpluses to create jobs or relieve unemployments within the country.:
Your Score: GPB0052006.....(1, 2 or 3)

(GPB0062006) Whether government has after the NKF revelations of malpractices become more open and accountable and willing to listen to people's queries regarding creating persistent surpluses or reserves and refrained from statistical and look-good denials of problems which lead to greater underlying problems?
Your Score: GPB0062006.....(1, 2 or 3)

(GPB0072006) Have past instances of Bureaucracy in civil service substantially reduced? Your Poll: GPB0072006......(1, 2 or 3)

(GPB0082006 ) Has the costs of essential (medical care, utilities, housing, transportation etc) services been reduced or moderated e.g. by refraining from double-charging on land costs when lands were already paid by taxpayers under taxes?

(GPB0092006) Have major economic restructuing projects e.g. creating technology start-ups, value-adding economic upgrading, various business hubs or Growt Triangle attained the desired progress?

(GPB0102006) Is there any relaxation in control of intellectual space thereby witholding progress from mass participation in knowledge application and causing a disaffective divide between the government and the governed?

(GPB0112006) Are satisfactory control measures being implemented to maintain worksite and building safety after the experiences with Hotel New World collapse or Nicol Highway cave-in?

(GPB0122006) Has government delivered the promised Swiss standard of living?

(GPB0132006) Has government succeeded in its Asset enhancement scheme?

(GPB0142006) Has government succeeded in getting citizens to invest in Unit trust investment?

(GPB0152006) Has government maintained a strategic Foreign relation in the overall interests of our national wellbeing and security.

(GPB0162006) Has the government succeeded in its knowledge-based value-adding investment strategy?

(GPB0172006) Has government while seeking to avoid welfarism gone to the opposite of over-taxing or over-recovering of costs e.g. Double-charging on lands (paid for by taxes yet sold back to citizens at market prices) or triple charges on vehicles (excise duty, COE and ERP)

(PGPB0182006 ) Has the Meritocratic education policy over-emphasised on the education of elites while neglecting development of broad-based practical education aimed at practical knowledge application and entrepreneurship.

(PGPB 19) Has government balanced on the learning of Mother tongue as against equally important pursuit of science and technology knowledge a(nd applications.

(PGPB 20) Has government on the way to Reaching World Cup soccer league within the 2020 deadline?

(PGPB 21) Has government succeeded in preserving the values or growth of the citizens' retirements through the CPF scheme?

(PGPB 22) Has government governed the country with integrity and accountability as against promoting the high-salaries of government ministers' and civil servants to avoid corruption.

(PGPB 23) Has government practised sufficient level of accountability and transparency in respect of investments of citizens' monies in overseas investments.

(PGPB 24) Has government caused irreversible Loss of economic competitiveness due to its policy to push up costs and salaries levels to price out lower-end industries and increase the HDB mortgage to keep the citizens working for 30 years under the Goh Keng Swee Doctrine?

(PGPB 25) Has government succeeded in creating a supportive environment for development of technology start-up and business entrepreneurship

(PGPB 26) Has the government taken sufficient steps to nurture the domestic sector of economy in the course of promoting foreign investment.

(PGPB 27) Is the decision not to delay the opening of Buangkok MRT Station till 2008 signaling government change of heart after all in order to give better service to the people?

(PGPB 28 ) Is the so-called Goh Keng Swee Doctrine assuming the high salaries and high costs will price out lower grade industries or high HDB flat prices will tie people down to working harder to sustain prosperity still working well for Singapore today?

(PGPB 29) Has the government fully justified paying their own ministers salaries equivalent to the highest earners in the private sector plus all other benefits like lifelong annuities after two terms of office and has such a system of self-reward succeeded in combating corruptions?

(PGPB 30) Has government's entry into business brought about greater economic competitiveness, vibrancy or entrepreneurship to the economy?

(PGPB 31) Government's Sincerity in building an inclusive society?

METHOD OF POLL: Reply to thread: e.g. PGPB No. ...(1, 2, or 3)

BENCHMARK RESULT: 1st Day of month: (By adding votes of "1" + "2" + "3" divided by max marks (total polls x "3" ) x 100% ; low mark : 33 -50 % Acceptable = 50 - 66%, Excellent = exceeds 66%)

Panelists : For your nominations of 3-5 panelists receiving highest votes.

Please give your nominations and comments on questions by 30.11.2005 ?

NOTE: On 12.11.2005 Today's Newspaper carried an article on page 6: "New "Satisfaction"; Index for service which states:

"A BENCHMARK to evaluate service standards in the retail and F&B sectors will be established by the end of next year.

The Workforce Development Agency says it will call for proposals on the national service indicator by next month..."

If Performance Benchmark such as these are compiled on parameters set up by the interested party and civil servants such performance measurements are unlikely to be free from biases or statistical skewing.

GPB 1-29 are the first set of questionnaires of high relevance to people's concern and problems. The GPB will truly reflect actual government's service performance.

PROPOSAL TO OVERHAUL AND UPGRADE THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION

2005-12-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

PROPOSED OVERHAUL OF CURRENT CONSTITUTION,

The current constitution (Singapore) being adapted from the Westminster Model of Parliamentary Democracy is too general and vague. There exist many grey areas e.g. the framework of government and their interrelated working relationship or hierachy not sufficiently defined with clarity. Hence, such a constitution allows the governing party a lot of leeway to govern the country to suit its own purposes and narrow interests.

It is therefore essential to re-examine the current constitution with a view to improving the current system of government and overcome all shortcomings and if necessary overhaul it to provide the necessary changes to bring about certainty and prevent any manipulations or tweaking of the constitution by any parties in power in future to serve their own hidden agendas or interests.

First let us review whether the constitution should clearly spell out the rights and duties of citizens' rights or the integrity of respective components of system or the safeguarding of the one-man-one-vote election process.

In the present form of the constitution, the ruling party has been able to amend the election process and tweak it into a GRC to enable any ruling party to control the election so that individual best candidates of quality or leadership abilities are no longer free to stand for election and who have financial resources like than acquired by the ruling party over time has the capacity to put up candidates for election.

All the components of government - the executive, judiciary and military and legislature - are now under the current vaguely defined constitution are being subjected to control by the over-powered Executive.

The Executive has acquired too much power to the extent that the ministers without morality or support of the people can proceed using fallacies and hypocrisy like "need to attract and retain talents and avoid corruption" write their own pay cheques paying themselves millions of salaries or life pensions without any basis or consent of the people.

The government can use their own officers or judges to interpret the laws and persist in passing any laws as they please taking advantage of the grey areas in the constitutions to circumvent loopholes to do all its biddings.

There is no tolerance of criticisms of government with most of the government resorting to fixing of political oppositions or alternative shadow government.

Even if there is some forms of tolerances they will be exceptions or hypocrisy in dealing with people's feedbacks of problems.

The answer is obvious: under the above-stated circumstance, the Westminster Model of democracy no longer works for the largest benefits of the people, produces a government which is capable of governing by the people.

To such an extent the government is working only for the benefits of the ruling power to stay in power and do as it likes to serve its own narrow or hidden agenda, people must now take actions to ask for change through peaceful and constitutional means to change for the better.

The constitution is the basic document of nation building and as such it must clearly establish the fundamental roles, duties and responsibilities of election process, rights and privileges of being citizens so as to enable them to play their ultimate roles and duties to secure the integrity of the election process and governing of the country with accountability based on proper check and balance seen in all democratic systems of government.

With such a democratic framework as stated in the foregoing set up in the constitution, it should then enable the whole constitution to be the final source of law to which all will revert to safeguard social, cultural and economic vibrancy particularly in the following areas:-

(1) One Man One Vote election process to ensure that all who are eligible are able to enter his name for nomination to be a candidate for election.

(2) To ensure multi-racial representation, a certain number of seats of parliaments can be reserved for contest among minority candidates.

(3) The rights and duties of citizens are spelled out as inviolable with suitable protection irrespective of race, culture, religion or tenets including freedoms of speech, political beliefs, right to stand for election or right to make criticisms of policies or practices of government in power without fear of being sued for remarks or criticisms of government in the course of election.

(4) The roles and duties and responsibilities of components of governments i.e. executives, legislature, judiciary and civil service are spelled out clearly to avoid conflict or usurpation of power by anyone to lay down a foundation for establishment of rule of law.

(5) Establish Rule of law, justice, fairness and equity in conduct of laws without fear or favor to the government in power.

(6) To Establish a low-cost independent panel open to observers from UN agencies to oversee election process and political participation by citizens.

(7) To Establish powers in appropriate agencies under the supervision of an independent panel for indictment or Investigation and adjudication of conflicts of interests among members of the government.

With such a constitution, the government will then respect the roles, duties and rights and privileges of being citizens and go about governing the country proactively including complying with the framework of roles and duties of government and encouraging and motivating citizens to take an active part in scrutiny of government performance and feedbacks of whatever policies or actions taken by the government to ensure that they would exercise their sacred votes during election without fear or favor or compromise.

Such a constitution will then help to bring about greater possibilities to all citizens to have a country well run by the government which will truly serve as the government by the people and for the people in the widest perspective of nation building.

All could then respect the constitution and work collectively towards bringing about true democracy and build a cohesive social and cultural and economic entity able to contribute to creativity, entrepreneurship or participations in election, giving feedbacks without fear or favor.

Singapore's democracy is still young so it must not falter and should have a larger perspective and vision to evolve and mature in its democracy.

Mr. Charles Chong,

Thanks for your enlightening response to my proposal to amend the constitution.

I note that you have certain substantial personal views about our current system of governing or our constitution yourself which although qualified as your own views not necessarily representative of the government's view on the matter are nevertheless in my opinion quite representative of the government's views and in a way quite the present mainstream or conventional wisdom of the day about the constitution if I may say so.

The gist of my proposal is that our current constitution is quite old having been drafted some 40 odd years ago, and that it may be quite ambiguous or unclear in provisions relating to the roles of branches of government and inadequate to provide for respective independent and interdependent functioning of its different branches of government thereby allowing any party in power to interpret it at its discretion to suit its own narrow purposes and agendas. My view is that such a state of the constitution may not auger well for the future due to changed circumstances, education, past experiences encountered, newer needs and aspirations of the people.

It might be wise of our founding leaders in the inception to have those constitution unclear and assuming as it might have been. But over time such a constitution might create immense problems and difficulties if it becomes outmoded or outdated failing to win over the respect of the people. Over time government may lose confidence of the people and rule of law may be eroded due to disregard or even contempt of law and the constitution.

Will such a constitution one day produce a rogue government who may do anything as it likes to serve its own purposes should those leaders not be as benevolent as our some of our first generation of leaders.

The quality of the people according to you is an important factor and the constitution by itself will not finally determine our every wellbeing. I have no problem with such views. However where you compared with countries like Philippines or Indonesia or Thailand I do find that it may be far fetched to make such comparison as in life we do not have to level down but should seek always to level up instead just like we do not always compare our education system with these countries but with the best in USA or Europe.

My main criteria remain directed at addressing whether our current constitution is too loose or unclear or whether it has sufficiently set out the respective roles and duties and power of government branches clearly enough to make a progressive sovereign nation and not one where all major decisions or policies affecting the people could be at variance with the constitution and people stand the risk at any time of losing those rights depending on who is in power.

I hope you will support my proposal taking into account all the above-stated examinations of relevant issues and see if there is indeed a valid issue deserving to be looked into that the original provisions might have fallen behind people needs and aspirations.

If your answer to the above-mentioned primary issue of discussion that the constitution as it was drafted and passed by parliament remains adequate I do hope such an answer will be based on hard and concrete evidences and rationale and our problems affecting the people are indeed not caused by the lack of a more enlightened and empowering and motivating constitution.

You may wish to address if there is any provisions which being too unclear of the duties or power of the executive branch of government has led to encumbrance of voting right of citizens due to GRC or usurpation or undermining of power of the other co-existing branches like the Judiciary or the Legislature due to lack of established rights and power of the respective branches.

In particular I feel that there is an urgent need to study whether too much discretionary power being given to the executive may lead to too much discretion power being given to the governing power or its likelihood of future abuse due to uncertainty in the provision.

Should the constitution define the set out the basic fundamental right of citizens and be firmly set up as the primary document of nation building to which all citizens could pay homage or respect thereby serving as the rallying point of loyalty to the country critical for building a more just and equitable and forward looking society.

I do hope you could see that the above-mentioned important points about the constitution so that it will emerge as the source of our laws to better serve as the ultimate compact between the country, the government and the people.

The day we could spell out citizens' rights and government duties and power the government could then serve the people with propriety and docorum and the constitution will then serve as the primary document of nation building and make clear all the basic and fundamental principles and provisions and practices arising therefrom to build a better and more progressive country.

Have the people felt the need for change such as the need for the constitution to spell out their rights and privileges as citizens so as to prevent any potential or future abuse?

Singapore is supposed to be a young democratic country by comparison with established democracy like the UK or Western European countries or USA.

Taking into consideration the above-stated rationale we therefore do not quite need to hark back to our past history or make comparison with our worse examples of democracies like the Philippines or Thailand or Indonesia. No doubt many problems existed in Indonesia under Suharto or Philippines under Marcos before they turned to democracy and not all their problems could be or should be attributable to democracy or their processes.

Why not compare with more mature democracies like Denmark, Finland, UK or USA where their citizens are better assured of their basic rights and freedom and under those basic rights and freedoms their respective people have indeed fare well in all aspects of nation building not just economically but scientifically, humanely, politically, socially and culturally and in many other ways than ours.

We should not need to keep checkmating our own democratic processes including denying having our best constitution by comparing with the worse experiences in order to look better or resort to any apologies or excuses about unhappiness of our own people under less than perfect over-pragmatic pseudo-democracy.

Frank question will have to be asked including: if past government is less than accountable except by claiming to have mandate by election, is it necessarily a good thing or desirable in the future to have future government behaving the same.

If ministers are to approve their own pays and life pensions should future government ministers do likewise?

The foregoing are some important issues and problems an upgraded constitution should be able to help address and put all controversies to rest.

We could at least make clear and certain what is grey or loose or unclear or ambiguous provisions to serve us better for nation building including prevention of abuse.

Therefore I hope with the above-mentioned reasons you will support my proposal to review the current constitution with a view to updating it to serve us better and more competitively.

From the perspective it will also become clear that we have not addressed many potential issues and problems facing nation building by reason of our being that we are still by far only a young nation.

I humbly suggest that we should keep an open mind and not come to any conclusion we are better or worse of in comparison with other countries but let the facts of our circumstances stand on their own merit and discuss all such issues faced in the constitution objectively taking note of advantages or disadvantages.

We could seek to evolve our own better routes taking into account our newer circumstances and the needs and aspirations of our more educated electorate of today.

Given such a larger perspective I hope we will eventually arrive as being a more sophisticated electorate who will know what we want and how to choose a proper and effective government.

For the latter we will indeed need a boost from a proactive and forwarding looking creative constitution which is my case for revamping or amendment of the constitution to serve that end.

Yours faithfully

Robert Teh Kok Hua

1.1.2008
Dear Ms. Penny Low,

I feel honored at being invited to meet you at your Monday Meet the People session to discuss the concerns contained in my proposal to MPs to table a proposal to amend the current constitution.

Because the topic is rather a large and complex one, I do hope that there will be opportunity to have fruitful discussions at least on key issues in my proposal. Therefore I take the liberty of writing down my concerns in advance of seeing you for further discussions on the matter. (I will call on you at your meet-the-people session after you have read my main concerns as given below)

I note that as MP you too will have no doubt have certain views about the constitution as it is and my proposal might easily be taken to mean as a challenge of some sort as it stands.

Nevertheless I hope with openness, the various points made in my proposal will have a chance to be better understood from the larger perspective of nation building eventually and not perceived negatively.

The gist of my proposal is that our current constitution is now quite old having been drafted some 40 odd years ago, and it may be quite ambiguous or unclear in provisions relating to the roles of branches of government and inadequate to provide for respective independent and interdependent functioning of all component branches of government thereby allowing any party in power to interpret its provisions to suit its own narrow purposes and agendas.

My view is that such a constitution may not auger well for the future due to changed circumstances, education, past experiences encountered, newer needs and aspirations of the people.

While it may be wise for our founding fathers to have such a piece of constitution for pragmatic reason, nevertheless over the longer term we will to govern the country with open and accountable fairness and equity or rationality or morality to ensure maximum of participation by all citizens.

I do understand that to have to achieve peace progress we need to prioratise the nitty gritty like fairness and equity or accountability to later. How long should we have to wait ?

However if a constitution like ours is to serve as the vital primary document of nation building it is obvious that it has to be clear and unambiguous and helpful as we possibly can afford to. Thus it is my view that such a unclear and ambiguous constitution as we do have might pose immense problems to our ongoing nation building.

If not addressed in time it will become counter-productive as too much leeway or compromise on basic principles will lead to abuse by whoever coming into power and worse breakdown of rule of law due to widespread contempt by all citizens.

Over time under an ambiguous or unclear constitution as we have witnessed we will lose the credibility of the government even if elected by votes under certain GRCs and government may lose the confidence of the people due to compromising of the laws and disregard of fairness and equity or even contempt by the citizens.

Will such a constitution one day produce a rogue government who may do anything as it likes to serve its own purposes should those leaders not be as benevolent as our some of our first generation of leaders.

The quality of the people may be important too and the constitution is the starting point for us to evolve a more responsive citizenry too as people by propaganda or by themselves will not in practise help us to guarantee the total wellbeing of the people.

Even though by comparison we are relatively materially well off as compared with neighbouring countries like Philippines or Indonesia or Thailand. The government always tend to compare ourselves with these neighbouring countries and consider our citizens asking for change to the governing system as idealistic.

However my view is that in life we do not have to level down but should seek always to level up instead just like we do not always compare our education system with these countries but with the best in USA or Europe.

My main concerns are that because the current constitution is rather unclear or loose it has created a situation wehre the government may make certain major decisions or policies affecting the people contrary to or at odds with the provisions or implied provisions of the current constitution.

Such a situation can be prevented if we have the constitution incorporating clear provisions and ensure that the government or executive branch of government will have full legality and legitimacy to govern the country and the constitution will facilitate the running of asll aspects of the government or the country going forward.

By setting out the roles, duties and power of the government component branches clearly that we can prevent abuse like usurping or overreaching the power of other branches of government or by cultivating a government which often ignore the basic rights and privileges of citizens due to lack of clarity of the constitution itself.

I hope you will support my proposal taking into account the above-stated background circumstances behind my proposal.

I do hope there will be responsive to the key or main issues I have mentioned in the foregoing and and any responses from those who are in charge will be similarly based on true hard and concrete evidences and rationale and not assumptions as ultimately such a decision will affect the whole government nd the lives of citizens are at stake.

You may wish to look into any part of the constitution which gives the executive the power to put up encumbrance of voting right of citizens like the GRC or any other compromise in the exercise of independence by the judiciary or the police or civil service or any other branches of government due to lack of established rights and power of the respective branches.

In particular I feel that there is an urgent need to make transparent and accountable exercise of presumed power by the executive of government including their right to write their own pay cheques so that such discretion power will be used without possibility of abuse due to uncertainty in the provision.

Should the constitution define the basic fundamental roles and duties and power of all parties of government as a primary document of nation building it will no doubt serve as the rallying point of loyalty to the country critical for building a more just and equitable and forward looking society.

I do hope you could see that the above-mentioned main points of concern addressed in the constitutional amendments I proposed we will then go about building an inclusive nation and put an end to any conflict or sense of divide presently afflicting the country due to many past pragmatic or autocratic policies.

The day we could spell out citizens' rights and government duties and power in this primary document of nation building we will be able to start building up mutual respect between all parties of government, the oppositions and the citizens.

It is essential to go to the basic and fundamental principles to look after the underlying governing philosophy and enshrine them in the constitution if we want to make progress in nationhood beyond the bread and butter.

Only when the citizens could see that they have a part to play in the constitution will they respond to government call to build an inclusive country which is one of the key program of government under the primiership of Lee Hsien Loong.

Singapore is supposed to be a young democratic country by comparison with established democracy like the UK or Western European countries or USA.

Taking into consideration the above-stated rationale we therefore should look at my proposal to study and review the current constitution and put up suitable amendments so that we the citizens will once again feel belonged as in the early 1960s and not the apathy of not being recognised and our votes are not even important enough for the government to want to encourage competitive voting to elect them as government.

No doubt many problems exist in the larger world outside with many countries being in chaos or poverty like Indonesia, Philippines or Myanmar where the people have had to live in worse condition. I do hope that in considering my request to amend the current constitution the government does not have to keep pointing our worse conditions elsewhere to allow them to keep to the past and miss the relevant opportunity to upgrade our level up to more advanced democracy based on more advanced constitutions as necessary.

Why not compare with the worse countries for once and level up instead to successful democracies like Denmark, Finland, UK or USA where because their citizens are assured of basic rights and freedom they have indeed fared well and better in all aspects of nation building not just economically but scientifically, humanely, politically, socially and culturally and in many other ways than ours.

We should not need to keep checkmating our own democratic processes including denying problems for ages like the more accountable decision and policy making process adopted over approving their own pay cheques or life pension or over the way the ministers invested billions of our better or resort to any apologies or excuses about unhappiness of our own people under less than perfect over-pragmatic pseudo-democracy.

Frank question will have to be asked including: if past government is less than accountable except by claiming to have mandate by election, is it necessarily a good thing or desirable in the future to have future government behaving the same.

If ministers are to approve their own pays and life pensions should future government ministers do likewise?

The foregoing are some important issues and problems an upgraded constitution should be able to help address and put all controversies to rest.

We could at least make clear and certain what is grey or loose or unclear or ambiguous provisions to serve us better for nation building including prevention of abuse.

Therefore I hope with the above-mentioned reasons you will support my proposal to review the current constitution with a view to updating it to serve us better and more competitively.

From the perspective it will also become clear that we have not addressed many potential issues and problems facing nation building by reason of our being that we are still by far only a young nation.

I humbly suggest that we should keep an open mind and not come to any conclusion we are better or worse of in comparison with other countries but let the facts of our circumstances stand on their own merit and discuss all such issues faced in the constitution objectively taking note of advantages or disadvantages.

We could seek to evolve our own better routes taking into account our newer circumstances and the needs and aspirations of our more educated electorate of today.

Given such a larger perspective I hope we will eventually arrive as being a more sophisticated electorate who will know what we want and how to choose a proper and effective government.

For the latter we will indeed need a boost from a proactive and forwarding looking creative constitution which is my case for revamping or amendment of the constitution to serve that end.

Yours faithfully

Robert Teh Kok Hua

Dear Mr. De Souza,

Thanks you for your reply. I do hope and pray everything possible will be done by all who have the power and opportunity to do so constitutionally and peacefully to level up our democracy (not to keep comparing with worse countries in SEA or elsewhere but with the best in the West as well) so as to evolve our own brand to succeed in nation building.

Our leaders no doubt have shown the fiery spirit and passion in fighting for our survival as a small nation without resource. That was way back in 1960s.

I pray they would never give up and would carry on fighting for our own brand of democracy with the same spirit as they would have done (if reborn) in fighting for independence.

Robert Teh Kok Hua

Dear Minister Teo Chee Hean,

I thank you for your personal reply to my proposal for MPs to table a motion to amend the constitution of Singapore.

As MP Mr. Charles Chong has copied his reply to you, I just feel it is in order for me to copy my reply to him to you too so that you could see my side of argument for amendments to the constitution.

As a resident of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and a citizen, I feel it is my duty as a citizen to voice my concerns about the current state of the Constitution of Singapore which while it has served us well in the past might not continue to do so in the future because of changed circumstances and life cycle in the evolvement of our political system and governing of the country. My points were made known the proposals and replies to MPs and Mr. Charles Chong.

I hope that where my points or suggestions are objective, valid or forward looking as they are intended to serve and as shown in my proposal, perhaps you would use your good office to support my proposal as fully as you can. Thanks and regards,

Robert Teh Kok Hua

Date: 3.1.2008
Reply to MP Mr. Charles Chong

I am glad that you have taken much efforts to deal with my proposal to amend the current constitution of Singapore which in my opinion has caused certain problems with specific examples as enumerated in my earlier emails due to its lack of clarity on roles and respective duties and power of different independent and interdependent branches of the government and lack of definition of the rights and privileges of citizens.

The current constitution might have served us well initially laying certain foundation for our infrastructural and institutional development but over time it has caused certain excesses and has become outdated by new circumstances, rising needs and aspirations of citizens as elaborated in my previous 2 emails.

I can accept your clarifications why there is a need to be circumspect of over-liberal democratic practices like street rallies and protest movements which have brought about chaos and disorders instead.

However there is no need to become paranoid with democracy and go the other way, turn our back on democracy and go on with governing with absolute power without accountability which will lead to worse consequences.

I have to agree with your observation that free election, or liberal rights etc alone in themselves will not guarantee us of peace, progress or prosperity and we need to build up our institutions and organize ourselves.

The above-stated observations I gathered from your comments I believe are widely shared too by many citizens and I do not intend to dispute such wisdom.

Having identified certain common grounds or principles on the kind of government we want apart, I believe it will not be too difficult to go about inking what we want to preserve and discard in our constitution.

The Westminster Democracy and its governing processes give widest power to the PM and his cabinet but such a system is liable to abuse unless it is supported by a matured and sophisticated people as you have put it supported by defined roles duties and power to assure citizens of good governing which will then prevent chaos and disorders being feared by our leaders.

We need to evolve to a more workable constitution which ensure the right processes are in place not subjected to tweaking manipulations or legalistic wrangling by any party in power. With such process accountability of the executive incorporated in the constitution it will then endure and gain the respect of citizens without which the government cannot truly claim success.

In our case the Westminster system only gives the elected leaders the procedural or outward mandate but beyond that there is much more to be accomplished. There is no mandate to the leaders to manipulate laws or constitution or do away with basic right of citizens to elect the best possible individual candidates or tweaking their right to elect the best leaders eligible to stand for election to the GRC. There are many alternatives to providing for racial balance in election without hindering individuals' election chances.

Amendments should primarily be confined to putting a certain cap on such unlimited power of the executive exercise power which might deprive citizens of their birth rights and custodianship of being a citizen.

I agree with you that not all parts of the current constitution are bad and those which have served us well should be retained.

Given relevant opportunities and patience to study the problems caused and the rising needs and aspiration of a more educated people, I feel we collectively will be able nail the weak links and come up with relevant amendments to the constitution to be proactive and forwarding looking and motivational to serve the greatest benefits of the greatest number. Only then will be able to build up lasting institutions.

The executive should be given only needful power and not absolute or supreme power which may encourage growth of rogue government in the future. Surely we do not want to build a Singapore to what it is today only to fall into the hands of the unscrupulous one day. That day MM Lee really might surely have to rise up from his grave.

I personally believe that in this regard we should also discard the paranoid fear often painted by our leaders that any loosening or liberalizing of our present tight controls under the Westminster system with one offering greater accountability might lead to chaos or disorders. If democracies in Europe or the West which have existed for centuries have brought about such vast economic social and cultural advancements and transformational progress with great advancements in science and technology who are we to decry democracy and give the verdict that it is full of dangers. Often dangers of chaos and disorders have their root causes in lack of democracy or accountability and not attributable to democracy. Democracy was made the scape goat for certainly unfortunate people who for certain deep rooted reasons will always fail no matter what system they choose to govern themselves.

Efforts should be made by our talents in government with the cooperation and input of citizens to make suitable amendments as soon as possible to meet rising needs and changed circumstances.

Yours faithfully

Robert Teh Kok Hua

4.1.2008
Ms Foo Yee Shoon,

May I enquire as you are referring the matter to technical department whether in substance there is a case or merit objectively speaking for supporting such amendments from the point of view of MP. Thanks and regards.

Robert Teh Kok Hua

Fundamentals of Democracy

2005-12-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

Democracy endures on broadly based fundamentals

On bedrock of rights, freedoms and accountability,

Nations that aspire to these principles,

Will grow in Science and technology aplenty,

Nations that thrive on abundance of human spirit,

Where Democracy seeks to self-renew,

Where citizens see the right and wrong and question non-stop,

Will strengthen its foundation of validity,

Soundness of principles and practices

That gives room for other ideologies,

To fault democracy as unworthy,

As divided, directionless or tyranny by the majority,

Yet, despite slowness, contentions and shortcomings,

Democracy will put right what is wrong,

For better service of humanity

Democracy remains trustworthy where men fail

Democracy founded on basic human spirit

On rights freedoms and safeguards that never die,

Where wrongs are put right by check and balance,

By institutions that serve the true civic community

Friends friends do not fear democracy,

Do not fear the majority tyranny,

As majority will check on tyranny,

As it has done for centuries,

For accountability and transparency

Democracy Never dies

2005-12-05T03:57:00.000-08:00

Democracy is a hoax,

This is what people say,

No such thing as democracy,

This is what people say,

But democracy is everywhere,

It never dies,

It spreads through all continents,

All corners of the globe,

It raises livelihood, justice, and equality,

Because through democracy,

The common people have a say,

Through the ballot box,

They may stop wrongdoings by kings and princes

Because democracy is accountability

Checks and balances ensure a better future,

Scientific progress triumphs in democracy,

Cultural vibrancy, and social dignity too,

Blossom in democracy,

Critics of democracy say hear, hear,

Leadership and talents are their true abilities,

That bring greater heights of progress,

Whereas Democracy is contentious, and uncertain,

That spells abuse and tyranny by the majority,

That democracy is slow in making decisions,

Yet, critics of democracy know that without democracy

There will be tyranny, hypocrisy, suppressions,

Genocide, and denial of freedoms and rights

Worse nightmares pervade the centuries,

Once again, men will rule by egoism, self-glory.

That increase suffering,

Only Democracy brings happiness,

From mass participation

Accountable good governance,

Beyond Figures and statistics that lie,

Democracy brings Truths,

That lay bare all suppressions, obsessions and hypocrisy.

Talents and leadership

2005-12-05T03:39:00.000-08:00

Plentiful are our talents,

Everthing is world class,

Full of good presentations,

Of Contrivance, Alienation, Depolitisation,

Corporatizations and Avoidance,

Many Policies and Assumptions,

Will solve all problems,

With world-class solutions,

Meritocracy and Confucianism,

Will showcase our values,

Tax-and-recover charges will increase surpluses

Reserves and provisions,

No more headaches as the wonderous gains,

And Plenty of Surpluses will prove leaderships,

Talents Again and again,

Never mind what is going to happen,

These are Simple answers to complex questions.

How to live a happy life

2005-12-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

Indeed men are specks of dusts

In the vast universe,

Born into nakedness and nothingness,

Save for needs and desires

That seek cloth to cover his nakedness,

That seek esteem of fellow citizens

Centuries after centuries,

Alas, Men strove to rise,

Only from ashes to ashes,

Dusts to dusts without higher purposes,

But only his ego and self-glory,

Witnessed in blood, corpses and battles,

Agonies over names and fames,

That do not rise further

Than dusts and ashes

Leaving sad memory of griefs,

sacrifice of many,

The suffering of fellow men,

The vanguished and trampled souls,

Citizens have yet to find happiness,

The noble cause to live life's principles

To seek true happiness, health and joys,

Care and warmth of people around,

Free from strife and clamour

They cannot live forever

Without a higher purpose

To truly enjoy happy life that eludes many

We can live our own happy life,

If only we know how to avoid torment by self and face,

Is it not what we want life for?

Man can live life with Honour

2005-12-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

Man has a choice to live a life of honour,

Or that of a biological creature,

Just a lump of fresh,

But man seems to be born with a sense of duty,

To his fellow men,

He will seek conquest of deep oceans,

Transcendance of the blue sky,

And unravelling the mysteries of universe,

Through the ages men have lived by wisdoms,

As found in their words of honour,

By whose words, men are judged,

Some as light as froths,

Others the beacon that shines in the universe,

Whatever men are, they have their stations,

By which to fulfill this life with honour.

Power corrupts

2005-12-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

Power is a self-fulfilling game,

Before ascensions to power,

Men are humble,full of humility,

Willingness to serve,

Jobs and good lives will be promised,

Leadership defined as Duty to serve,

No self-adulations about talents,

Alas, Sadness is nature of men,

Once the power is in hand,

There will be power play and all talks

About leadership and talent,

About meritocracy and the need to pay,

More to the talents,

Who are the talents,

Definition is immaterial,

It is pragmatic to pay and avoid corruption,

Power corrupts as men have learned,

Finally men want power,

For with Power there will be rewards of money,

Power create power and votes,

Through power, men can be controlled,

Press, and political expressions can be silenced,

Power will grow more powers,

Not a matter of leadership or talents,

Power promises more pays,

With more pays there will be less corruption,

Power will create assumptions, and frills,

To mull over truths not as important,

Power is what leaders want for with power,

They can do as they like and ignore citizens' plight,

To overwhelm rights and views,

All wrongs and negligence,

Hear no evil, see no evil, there will be none,

More monies can be legally obtained,

And there is nothing anyone can do to stop

The power and legalistic play,

Never mind about objections,

Through legalism, all will be taken care,

And there is nothing the Youths of today,

Can do as they lack the independent mind,

They are easily satified with some goodies,

Not youths of aspirations,

Hopes or spirit eagle dare,

So power will hold sway over youths,

Who is to Care about wise counsel,

Power is in the votes,

More votes can be legally obtained,

Wrestled from people's own hand,

The Prestine Duty to serve,

Is too old and long forever forgotten,

Pay and pay, the ultimate power play,

Till people cannot see the light of day,

Because power has its own life,

It has taken over values,

Power creates its own justifications

For power play has its own good time,

Is any values as important any more.

As power talk and power play,

Duties and accountability can wait another day,

For now is the power game to be played,

That is what power is all about?

Speaker's Corner

2005-12-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

"Speaker has a corner.

To practise his democracy.

To test openness for all to see.

Hear hear hear,

Problems, complaints aplenty,

By noon, all the king's men,

Hail the king, long live the king,

Ever ready for to quail any disparity,

By the moon, their stern voices grow hoarse and weary.

For without cause, all shows are nothingness,

All display are empty,

The people's cause and their values are the most worthy,

For people are forever that fend for lives and true democracy"

Democracy is about choice

2005-12-04T05:23:00.000-08:00

Choice, choice, choice,

Democracy is about choice,

One man one vote,

Is the choice for Stability,

Through Gradual progression,

Of Fair representation,

Of views and opinions,

Of choice of better life,

Of fulfillment of aspirations,

Needs, and purposes of life,

Of social and community values,

Not found in any other systems,

That deem democracy as too ideal,

As too liberal and promiscuous,

Little do they know that it is the only model

That Offers ultimate protection,

Of citizens' basic rights,

Justice and equity through independent judiciary,

Accountable Executives and legislature,

To ensure laws and enforcements

Affecting people's lives and works

Are made accountable for protection,

Against Tyranny and egoism,

Or deprivations by fellow men,

Through the constitutions, laws and enforcements

Will offer safeguards by independent panels

They say democracy is too ideal,

And anyway, politics are ever dirty,

They sey they only want bread,

But man does not live by bread alone,

They say everything is Heritage,

And leadership and not democracy,

They say that there will be chaos,

If people can take to the street to exercise their freedom,

I told them without democracy,

There will be tyranny, oppressions and murders of the masses,

They say never mind, never mind,

Enough is enough

Go and study some more,

A book this and that,

Wisdom is more important,

And be happy and say no more,

Too early to say what will work,

This is democracy, but democracy should be treasured

And fought for and not denied,

Only then, will democracy work for the good of men.

Leadership in the New Age

2005-12-04T05:11:00.000-08:00

Do you believe you have the potential to be a good leader to serve the people with honour and integrity? I suppose we have often heard our leaders speaking on the importance of leadeship, or individual's insight or foresight. What is good leadership? Do they have what it takes to make good leaders? Or do they only talking about some abstract concepts and assumptions or good-looking presentation ?

Let us examine here what are some uniques abilities or attributes that leaders require to solve problems, set direction and unite people with collective actions or sacrifices to strive for maximum progress for everyone.

The following are some qualities or criteria required of the leaders:-

(1) Passion,
(2) Ability to Motivate people in applying knowledge application or inspire them to work in teamwork, diligence or sacrifice for the country,
(3) Ability to Translate goals and objectives into implementation processes to empower all workers to maximize their knowledge applications, to create competitiveness, technology start-ups and jobs.
(4) Accountability and Transparency
(5) Collective leadership and good corporate governance to avoid self-centred narrow top-down conceptual management that stifle mass participation in knowledge application, implementation of ideas and growth.

In whatever actions he takes, a leader must achieve goals and objectives holistically to attain qualities (2) - (5) and act with reliability, or sense of justice, empathy with the poor or concern with social and economic wellbeing of all ?

He should be honourable, possess the highest integrity and not engage in artful arguments or fallacies or rhetorics resulting in breaking of promises and setbacks to their followers.

He should understand that people have needs and desires to succeed in their respective fields and would soon unleash their skills and apply their talents meaningfully if leadership is more proactive with implementation for common good.

He should practise broad-based practical education for his people which will lead to widespread application of technology and knowledge.

In the fast-paced technological age of internet, people need processes and facilitation to empower them to apply their inherent skills and knowledge to be creative, entrepreneurial and proactive, and seize opportunities at practical applications of knowledge by all in every field.

Leader must avoid too much controls and regulations, or taxing and recovering of costs to the full market values thereby causing hardship.

Today's leadership should possess the clear practical ability to motivate people to become true partners of business or enterprise so that the masses could be totally involved in decision making and working towards results together as a team.

In this way they can then leverage the many resources at work and mobilise the people to realize technologicial start-ups and value-add economic competitiveness which currently could only be talked about.

No matter how brilliant, the concept of a few talents at the top of organization is too narrow the leadership approach. In the new political movement as posted, it is the ultimate intention of the movement to provide a common platform to forge consensus among participants to serve the people better.

Today's leaders should be collective open and consultative possessing the total functional abililites and total scope and radar range to cover the whole spheres of social culture and economic exchanges and leveling up of competitiveness. They should level up to objective management to avoid self-interests and obsessive controls which are not consonent with the majoirity's vibrancy and growth.

Process management can be set up to lay out works to be performed collectively with coordination and application of knowledge at all level to attain results to attain the movement's objectives.

Political Discussions

2005-12-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

At the request of forumers of sgforums.com, I have dedicated this blog to all who feel that they have some views on political evolutions of Singapore, currently a modified parliamentary democracy of Westminister origin.

The first tasks of this blog will be to put together people with views and their postings on political evolutions and evaluations of success or shortcomings of current governance. I will create topics so that all could post according to the topics to prevent the blog from becoming too diffuse or messy.

Good day to all of you. You may post your views under the topic created here.