When finance minister Mr Heng Swee Kiat went to deliver the budget speech in Parliament, many people were relieved to know that the minister has finally recovered from his horrible stroke and ready to serve the country again.
But the welcoming relief soon turned to shock as the minister drops a bombshell by announcing a 30% price hike in our water pricing.
Though the hike will be spread over two years – one in July this year and the other in the same month next year with the assurance that Singaporeans will enjoy rebate subsidies to cushion the hike, nobody is smiling especially when the hike is carried out during the current economic crisis.
Moreover, we realised that PUB has being enjoying profits from its operation and over the past 7 years, it has generated a massive S1.1 billion in profit. For FY 2015, it has generated $166.8 million profits – an increase of 77.3 per cent compared to FY2010’s profit of $94.1 million.
The government has also tried to increase train fare few years ago when the transport operators are still reaping handsome profits triggering off a protest in January 2014. Protesters were unhappy with the fact that the two major transport companies, SMRT and SBS Transit, are making $120 million and $18 million in net profits respectively and this is set to increase rapidly with the rise in train ridership as well.
For the latest 30% increase in water cost, the government has quoted the higher operating cost of treating water and that the reservoir in Malaysia is also drying up as mitigating reasons – factors which do not hold up well as all along PUB is still doing well in the black. The 30% increase in water pricing will probably add billions into the coffers of PUB but will certainly deepen the hardship of our poor and vulnerable who are already struggling with the country’s high cost of living.
We have the unenviable record of being the world’s costliest city for the third time in a row this year. More shockingly, the water price hike also came on top of a slew of other recent price increases eg town council fee, ERP, electricity among others.
Many have suggested that instead of increasing water pricing, why not ration water as during LKY’s time water rationing was very popular as it fosters community togetherness and people still value water as a precious commodity instead of having to pay dearly for it to be appreciated.
The environment minister Mr Masagos did himself no favour by saying that:”The consumer must feel the price of water and realise how valuable water is in Singapore, every time he or she turns on the tap, right from the first drop.”
It is as if Singaporeans need to be financially punished so we can better treasure our water supply. I am sure that we can look at other cheaper feasible alternatives to better appreciate water.
It is unknown why the government could not use part of the tens of billions it has collected annually from GST, COE, taxes, ERP, land sales and other tariffs to offset the water hike but prefers to pass the pain directly to the people.
The timing of the price hike is also damaging as many PMETs are still jobless or under-employed during this economic downturn. There is no social safety net for those who are jobless and such price hike only adds on to their growing frustration as a local Singaporean.
All these recent utilities’ price hikes reveals a heartless merciless government bent on squeezing every drop of revenue from a struggling populace tired from paying all kinds of bills amidst stagnanting income growth.
We call on all Singaporeans who are against this unjustified water price hike to turn up for our protest in a defiance show of unity.
Though we may not be able to change the government’s stance but at least we will show them that we are unhappy and won’t take it laying down!
Prepared by: Gilbert Goh
Event Organiser
3 March 2017Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/131704817353153/
SOMEONE ORGANIZING PROTEST AT HONG LIM PARK ABOUT WATER HIKE
When finance minister Mr Heng Swee Kiat went to deliver the budget speech in Parliament, many people were relieved to know that the minister has finally recovered from his horrible stroke and ready to serve the country again.New York-based food blogger caught cheating the Fort Lauderdale A1A Half Marathon!
On Feb 19, thanks to an observant race analyst who caught a New York-based food blogger lying about her race times during the Fort Lauderdale A1A Half Marathon.
Mr Derek Murphy who focuses in uncovering marathon cheats found out that Ms Jane Seo 24, had a give away photo that disclosed the distance she covered did not match the race’s 21km got disqualified from the race in the end.
Supposedly Ms Seo had completed second in the half-marathon was a 2014 Harvard graduate who has written for websites such as Huffington Post and Buzz feed.
However with a post-race photo of her displaying off her medal and wearing a Garmin GPS watch proved to be telling otherwise.
Ms Seo had only found to cover 11.65 miles in a time of 1hr 22mins 7secs when Mr Murphy leered in to examine the watch.
Travelers BEWARE! FAKE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR CIRCULATING.
New fake AU$100 notes are being used in Melbourne, as indicated by a report by The Age on Sunday (Mar 5).
The notes are being passed around at “eateries, bars, and shops” as per the report.
“The new fake bills are considered to be of a high-quality with only one major flaw – each has the same serial number: AI 13933231,”
Please take note for travelers
TOP CREDIT CARDS PROMOTION NOT TO BE MISSED FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH!!!
1. ANZ Optimum World MasterCard
The Optimum Rebate Programme will use Optimum$ to offer you rebates. The redemptions will be done in slab of $50 for the Opitmum$.
First 100 approved per qualifying week will get the free luggage but promotion is limited so you’ll need to send in your applications at the start of each week.
2. Standard Chartered Manhattan World MasterCard
All new candidates get to choose between 1) S$150 of Uber credits 2) S$150 Caltex StarCash Petrol voucher 3) Or a straight $138 direct cash rebate on sign up from now till 31 March 2017.
To qualify for the 20% cashback on all Uber and UberEats spend all that is necessary is to spend $600 monthly to be eligible. With that being the main attractive benefit on the Standard Chartered Card
Earn an additional earn an additional $30 cashback on your first eligible Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Android Pay transaction from now till 31 Jan 2017. Within 30 days of card initiation, all that is required is to make at least 1 Qualifying Transaction.
The sign up offers are only applies for New Principal Cardholders!
Creepy Doll FOUND ALONG Dhoby Ghaut MRT!!
Dear SingaporeUncensored,
On Jan 31 I was boarding the a MRT along the North-South Line towards Jurong East direction, I saw this scary looking doll perched at inside the train station.
Somehow when I seen that doll its give me the chills as it remind me of the a doll horror movie I watched some time back.
It kinda of strange as it make me wonder how can a doll from out of no where be in that area. I feel goosebumps all over my body just thinking of it.
-Soo Yong Ling
The ARRIVAL of Sony’s PS5,but it will not be challenging with Xbox Scorpio!!
When Playstation 5 is released Sony does not plan to rival with Scorpio or try to match up even though Sony do not want to their footing against Xbox Scorpio according to research analyst Michael Pachter.
There is still a wide edge with Sony being prominent in sale and Microsoft is eager to increase their traction to catch up with this generation with a final trick up their sleeve before the next one get implemented
As most people are most likely to stick to the same systems that their buddy have with the growth of online console gaming, therefore it would require a great update to move things from a console to another in a major way.
Even with an up to date Xbox One, it difficult to comprehend that it would be sufficient to move PS4 player over particularly with the PS5 releasing soon.
The codenamed Scorpio it’s alleged to be competing with the PS4 will be debut in late 2017 just in time for the holidays. Supposedly it going be a refurbished, “fashionable” version of the Xbox One.
Here’s what Michael Pachter has to say on how the upgrade/update patterns will look with the major consoles over the coming years:
“I think Scorpio will have same rules as PS4 Pro- every game made for PS4 Pro has to be fully compatible with PS4. Similarly, every game on Scorpio will have to be backward compatible on Xbox One. So what I think that means is that games will have to run at, say, 1080p and 60fps, but can be upgraded to 4k and 240fps or whatever it will be. But the game will have both on the disc, the hardware will know what file to play, so the Xbox One or PS4 looks for the standard file, while the Pro or Scorpio will pick up the better, faster content. I think that’s what you’ll see, I don’t think that’s a problem, and I think that very few games will support Xbox One Scorpio at launch- the games that support PS4 Pro will definitely support Scorpio, and they may not even run at 4K.”
“‘So games will run better, but they will be backward compatible- Microsoft is not replacing the Xbox One- they are upgrading it. So no, Sony will not come up with more hardware in 2018. You may get a PS5 in 2019 or maybe 2020, and an Xbox Two in 2020, and we will continue to get new consoles every three years, and their software will be compatible with the system released right before it. I think that’s going to be the pattern.”
Inconsiderate auntie wraps everything in plastic bags like gifts and hold up queue at NTUC
I was at NTUC Waterway Point and this lady was holding up queue because she wrapped all her items in plastic bags!
Everything from bottled Soya Sauce and other wrapped items were put into plastic bags, the poor cashier had to take each and every item out to scan, then put them back again.
Do you know this is very inconsiderate and environmentally unfriendly?
Should NTUC put a surcharge on people who waste plastic bags like this?
What do you think?
By Jamie
Cat found dead at ground floor of a block at Henderson road
Dunno which bastard who have done to my kitten that only stay with me for less den 4 mths and he is such a lovely one. Can everyone friends help me to share this issue and alert all friends outside and see if anyone witness a murder of my kitten.
He was found dead Friday early morning at 4.30am on the ground floor and I am staying in the 15 floor. I have been crying all day till now and I really miss him so much. Please help me guys and I really want this person jailed for killing my cat. Some ppl thinking that maybe he fell from 15 floor to lvl 1 but it cannot be as we put a collar with a pendant that comes with his name polar and our contact number too.
But I couldn’t find his collar from the first floor back to 15 floor. Please help me share this issue and I want to alert ppl who is staying at Henderson block 93. I want to catch the person who have did this to my lovely son. R.I.P my son. Love u forever and no one can replace u in my heart.
Facebook post by Jerriek Chen
https://www.facebook.com/chen.jerriek/posts/1202292563221717
Islandwide Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system to replace Gantries by 2020!
Next-generation Electronic Road Pricing(ERP) system have been approve for implementaton, which cover islandwide and with the capability to charge by the distance travelled.
Land Transport Authority Chief Executive Chew Men Leong said that it will be jointly constructed by local company NCS and Japan’s MH Engine System.
It is targeted to roll out from 2020 to replace the current gantry based ERP system in place since 1998.
Motorist need not worry about changes to the current charging regimen during the changeover period.
With the technology is in place, LTA will look into the choice of distance-charging after changeover period.
For road users with high mileages, such as taxi drivers, deliverymen and bus operators, significantly higher ERP charges will occur if LTA choose this path.
No timeline for the implementation of distance-charging said Mr Chew. For day one other functions of the new structure will be available.
These include real-time traffic information, coupon-less street side parking and automatic payment for off-peak car owners who drive during peak periods.
As the system uses satellite navigation technology its has island wide coverage
In places such as in tunnels or under viaducts where coverage tend to be weak, the use of signal beacons will be implemented.
Singapore can rethink current methods of curbing car demand with the new road-pricing system is in place said National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der- Horng.
It can move towards an a la carte system based on authentic distance clocked.” And doing away with the existing buffet-style certificate of entitlement (COE) system
Vehicle owners tend to drive as much as they can since the huge expense has already been made with current COE system encourages. It is comparable to how we eat at buffet to eat more than we should. Say Professor Lee.
China wife say want divorce SG man cause she want to play game with her friends
She has been busy playing this KTV game on phone and started singing everyday on the phone and chat with those taiwanese frens from the game.
Like neglecting me until she says she rather concentrate on this game and dun want me to nag on her playing the game.
She rather sing and chat with her frens than talk to me.
Now i ask her what she wants and she say divorce better so that nobody can stop her from playing this game, she even said she want return to her hometown in China.
What is she thinking? I did nothing to her only i told her don’t play so much.
By Richard Huang