MOM's Joke

The omen is good for 2009 when I can laugh on the first day of the new year!

"For a more convenient way to reach us, log on to www.mom.gov.sg today" was the sign shown clearly at the Ministry of Manpower but below sat the unpaid China workers.

These China workers don't get it , do they?

Why can't they just use a computer to log on to MOM and complain instead of "crying foul over unpaid salaries" in such an unSingaporean manner.

How dare they create such unholy mayhem which only cancer patient and activists like Seelan Palay or Chee Soon Juan or Kangaroo 3 have the audacity to do. Don't they know it's a crime to gather like that? 1st world Singapore's not the place for such contemptible unlawful act!

Lest anyone takes me seriously for what I wrote above, when I saw this in ST today, I thought I've missed the first 3 months of 2009. Is today 1 Jan 2009 or is it 1 April 2009? April Fool's Day? The funnybone in me could not miss the candid camera moment of the above picture.

On a serious note, I sincerely believe when push comes to shove, one will do whatever it takes to fight for what's worth of one's value - be it salary, survival, justice, conviction, belief and/or freedom!

I sincerely hope that the workers get what's coming to them. For fear that I be misunderstood again, I mean their pay and not jail time for demonstrating for their universal human rights (Article 23).

Some like to smoke. Some are hooked to gambling. Some are addicted to drugs. Others can't stop carrying. On the 2nd page of the same ST, in her optimistic take on 2009, Chua Mui Hoong mentioned, "Another trait that is positive for Singapore is its strong government. In good times, people tend to lament the existence of a strong state. The state should step back and allow private enterprises and civil society a chance to grow, people say when things are going well. When things aren't, the very same people will turn to the state." She added, "The current situation affirms the wisdom of the fiscally conservative approach to budgeting : Being Kiam Siap (Hokkien for tight-fisted) in good times allows one to to be kang kai (Mandarin for generous) in bad."

Far as I know, the government was very "kang kai" and "kar si" (Hokkien for dare to die, meaning brave) in throwing billions to ShinCorp, CitiGroup, Merrill Lynch, UBS, ABC Learning etc. but was very "kiam siap" by giving only $330 to those who need public assistance after asking, "How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?"

"STAYING TOGETHER MOVING AHEAD BERSATU PADU BERGERAK MAJU did not work in 2008.

From the bottom of my from my heart, I hope we can really make it in 2009.

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