Jaslyn Go’s Blog

A reader’s kind remarks for Jaslyn and the cause she stands for
February 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under: Voices of the People

I am an American and live in the state of California. I happened to be looking at various websites addressing child care, and ran across this article. I applaud Ms Go’s courage. I am a single father, having raised my daughter for the past 19 years, and yes, I want her to live in a world cleaner and more humane than the one I live in. I see Ms Go taking a position to provide a better today and tomorrow for the residents of Singapore.

I have spent time in Singapore, quite a few years ago, while in the US Military, and have always held very fond memories of it, the people, the city. As a matter of fact, I fell in love there with a Malay woman, have very fond memories of walks by the river, or by the quay.

As an American, when people ask me about Singapore, there is only one response, “you have to see it for yourself”. I respect the country, and the people.

So Ms Go, I wish you the best in your pursuit, and though I may not know you, I respect you.

Good luck, from Rick in California

http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=2328&cpage=1#comment-3805

Subject: Re: Fw: Complaint against the behavior of Town Council Staff
To: “Yeo Jin Kiat”
Cc: “feedback” , “Wang Yam Peng”
Date: Thursday, 26 February, 2009, 11:32 AM

Dear Mr Yeo / Mr Wang,

Thank you for responding to my complaint.

However, besides whatever measures the town council has undertaken to advise and remind the staff the proper way of communicating, I believe your staff owe the cleaner an apology.

Till apology is given to the cleaner, I do not see any justice done to the embarrassment and humiliation the cleaner was put through by your staff.

For your info, even after we ended the conversation, I could still hear the commotion.
My domestic helper who was downstairs for 15 mins (according to her) witness the whole incident. I make the phone call (to you) after she went down, the phone call (with you) ended before she came back. The abuse did not stop even after the phone call was made to him (by you).

cheers;

Jaslyn Go

Fw: Complaint against the behavior of Town Council Staff
Friday, 20 February, 2009 4:59 PM
From: “Yeo Jin Kiat”
Cc :”feedback” , “Wang Yam Peng”

Dear Jaslyn,

We share your concerns. It is not good for the Town Council to be perceived by the public as showing disrespect to their cleaners, whether foreigners or locals.
We have reminded all our staff and contractors to be wary of their conduct in public.

Thank you for the feedback.

Regards,
Yeo Jin Kiat
Dy General Manager
Tanjong Pagar Town Council

Re: Complaint against the behavior of Town Council Staff
Friday, 20 February, 2009 4:58 PM
From:”Wang Yam Peng”
Cc:feedback@tptc.org.sg, “Yam Keng 1 Baey”

Dear Miss Jaslyn Go

Thank you for the feedback .

We agree with you that the worker deserves the appropriate respect. The particular staff has been advised and reminded on the proper way of communicating with the worker.

Yesterday, after our first telephone conversation about the feedback, I called and spoke to Mr Joe Tan, the Property Officer in-charge of the maintenance of the common property of Blk 14 Jalan Bukit Merah. Mr Tan confirmed that he was at the ground floor of the block shortly before you called our office and he had just scolded a worker for poor cleaning works. In our second telephone call to update you the details, I informed you the name of the staff as requested. Nevertheless, we will visit your flat with Mr Tan to clarify the matter if it is necessary.

The case will be referred to the Property Manager in-charge of your neighbourhood for the necessary follow-up. Thank you once again for the feedback.

Regards

Wang Yam Peng
Senior Property Manager
Tanjong Pagar Town Council
DID:64119448 / Fax:62720091

SEND AH KONG to J B – Dr. Mahathir & Mr. Brown respond

http://www.mrbrownshow.com/2009/02/16/the-mrbrown-show-send-ah-kong/
http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2009/02/please-mr-khaw-have-heart.html

Click the Speaker Icon to listen to the song
This is pretty good from Mr. Brown
http://www.mrbrownshow.com/2009/02/16/the-mrbrown-show-send-ah-kong/


Theres a place Batu Pahat.
Where the old folks can roam free.
And this place very cheap. Got many palm trees.
Work whole life in Singapore.
But still Broke until teng kor.
Don’t want you.
Go and die in another country.
When its time to Mati,
90 cents for a kopi.
Send ur dad and mum.
They have chewing gum.
Send ah kong
Fine budget old folks home.
Health minster say got discount across borders.
Since we are dying.
Might as well make space for the living.
Singapore too small
Pls go to JB.
You may think it is far
Scally bad guys steal ur car.
Lagi worse if u drive bm or Honda.
Don’t be scared
Not so scared.
Just don’t stop if tire flat.
Theres no jam if u choose to go on wkdays.
When u go to johor, u can also do some shopping
Seafood cheap n fresh.
U can save some cash.
Send ah kong move to a bigger plc
Health minister say malaysa Oleh.
They got pirate ship and power tokat ali.
Why? Singapore
Better go Jb.
Send ah kong if he kana sick.
Health minster say ambulances on the way
Gahment very caring. Just an option they are sharing.
Singapore loves u. Grow old in Jb.
Gahment very caring. Just an option they are sharing.
Singapore loves u. Grow old in Jb.
For you and for me
Got no erp
Its cheaper u see.
Go die in jb.




Lyrics and song on the old folks home in JB by mr brown

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Please Mr Khaw, have a heart.
“So what is the difference in putting them in Johor Bahru?” asked Khaw Boon Wan in ST 10 Feb 2009. Look at “them” lying on the floor in the picture and read here.

“Mr Health Minister Sir, if there is no difference, why don’t you ask Mr Lee Hsien Loong to put his mother in a nursing home in JB?” Though it is not nice to use Mrs Lee as an example, it is worse for a minister to offer advice that’s offensive to Singaporeans!

I do not know if the Lee family gets preferential treatment at Woodlands Checkpoint but for lesser mortals, Wong Kan Seng’s men will be looking for Mas Selamat in every bus, van, car and bicycle everytime we visit sick relatives in JB nursing homes. No sir, in trying to make ends meet, we neither have the luxury of time nor money like you have.

It’s so sad that when we grow old and become unproductive and need nursing care, we are nothing but bad news to our caring Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan. We do NS here, work here, slog here, pay our taxes here but we are encourage to go die in Johor Bahru! For being grey, we become part of the “silver tsunami”? To me tsunami means bad waves that kill without mercy, not unlike the fire storms in Australia now. I’m human, I’m sensitive. I’m angered by such derogatory remark made by insensitive and callous minister. It’s such a shame that a health minister whose duty is to take care of the welfare and health of its citizens is taking all preventive measures to ensure that his rich government need not cough out a cent when the ’silver tsunami’ hits!

“He also disclosed that his ministry is looking at how to help Singaporeans set aside a sum of money for long-term care in their old age. This could take the form of a compulsory medical savings account like Medisave, but called Eldersave.”

It is sad. It is so very sad!

CPF was a retirement savings plan when I started work more than 40 years ago. I was promised that my contribution of 25% and my employer’s contribution of 25% (yes, total contribution was 50% then) will be returned to me in full with interest when I retire at 55. Along the way the CPF scheme went scheming with Medisave, minimum sum scheme, retirement account, compulsory longevity annuity scheme and now, Eldersave???

For me 55 has come and gone and the promise of me getting my retirement savings (promised made to me 40 years ago) was nothing but a mirage. Yes, they tell me it’s still there but I cannot touch it till I’m 62 (minimum sum) which may change to 67 or 85. It’s their call. They can change it anytime they please.

Now the cause of my next heart attack. I have my Medisave that I can’t use it for my medical care. I need to pay co-payment and deductible before I can use it for my medicines and doctor visits. What hurts most is I have to pay an administrative fee to use my Medisave after paying out of pocket cash for co-payment and deductible. It’s my money, been my money but I can’t use it even it’s specifically meant for my medical care. WTF!

Alas, even under such tough time for common folks, the Health Minister is scheming “with no plan to do so” “Eldersave” to squeeze us further.

‘This is, of course, not the time to be talking about raising the CPF contribution rate and we have no plans to do so. But when the economy eventually recovers fully, we should revisit this issue of saving for our long-term care.’ he said.

Dear Singaporeans, have your lubricant ready and be prepared to be screwed again as “his ministry is looking at how to help Singaporeans set aside a sum of money for long-term care in their old age.“

Good Luck!

feedmetothefish

Source: http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2009/02/please-mr-khaw-have-heart.html

With the recent speculation that a snap election will be held sooner than later..

I would like to share the following video from youtube..
credit goes to bugusjunction for producing this video..

“With election fever round the corner, the perfect inspirational song! With apologies to Mr Cameron Mackintosh!” – bugusjunction.

Miserables in Singapore

I urge Singaporeans to vote wisely this time round!

Complaint against the behavior of Town Council Staff
Friday, 20 February, 2009 1:19 PM
To:
yampeng@tptc.org.sg
Cc:
feedback@tptc.org.sg, “Yam Keng 1 Baey”

Dear Mr Wang Yam Peng;

As per our tele-conversation on 19 Feb 09, I would like to make an official complaint against one of your staff for his unbecoming behavior at the lift lobby of my block (Blk 14 Jalan Bukit Merah).

I had just got out from my car at the carpark next to the rubbish bin of my block when I hear loud commotion somewhere around my block (pls note, the carpark is further from the lift lobby compare to the front carpark lot and I can hear the commotion).

As I walked to my lift lobby and notice a elderly gentleman (grey hair and a bit plump) shouting at 1 of the cleaner (if I am not mistaken, a Bangladeshi) while another young gentleman looked on (guy in dark shirt and pant).

Your staff was hurling vulgarities at the worker in full view and earshot of many of my neighbors and myself who had gathered at the life lobby waiting for the lift. The place was not clean in “his bloody standard” and he “bloody well do a better job” are but some of his nasty remarks. He carried on asking the worker if he knows what day is today. Embarrassed by the shouting, the worker kept quiet or might have reply softly which is when your staff was emboldened and raised his voice even louder and demanded that the worker answer him loudly. All these exchanges going on while at least 5 of us were waiting at the lift lobby and watching.

When I reached my home, I can still hear the shouting from upstairs.

I spoke to you earlier on, the name you gave me and insisted was Mr Joe Tan. I have met Mr Joe Tan walking around my precinct several times, I do not think that the gentleman is Mr Joe Tan.

I have checked on the notice pasted at the lift lobby, the supervisor now is Mr Wan Fook Keong, which resembles the man I saw.

The behavior of your staff is very uncalled for.

Perhaps the worker might not have done a good job or up to his standard but from my impression this worker might have been new on the job. If this worker was bad, I believe that the previous lady cleaner was worse. When she was assigned to clean my block, my block was always so dirty and cockroaches were always seen around the rubbish chute area. Her mopping of the lift leaves the lift still dirty and smelling worse, mainly because the water used for mopping in the first place wasn’t clean. She talks more then she cleans, and goes around blaming the residents for making the place dirty instead of cleaning up the place. For such a standard, I have never seen her being reprimanded in public in that manner before for a equally or even worse job done.

Certainly Mr Wan (I assume I got the right person) might think of the worker as a lesser mortal than him, thus justifying his verbal abuse. To me, no fellow human being should be subjected to such humiliation and embarrassment even if you think you are superior.

You mentioned that you will send Mr Joe Tan to apologize to me personally, to which I mentioned that he does not owe me a apology. He owe the worker a apology.

I assume (and most probably I am right), Mr Wan or even Mr Joe Tan is a town council staff or a sub contractor engaged by the town council, but once they don on your polo tees with town council’s logo, they will be seen as representives of the town council and arguably and thus considered a civil servant, so is this the kind of conduct a civil servant or town council staff should behave?

Or pehaps Mr Wan is not aware that according to Mr Lim Boon Heng, we Singaporeans are dependent on foreigners to retain our jobs. Mr Wan should start showing respect to the foreign cleaner if not, he might lose his job.

cheers;

Jaslyn Go

I was sharing this encounter with Seelan recently when he suggested that I should post it on my blog..

To my readers, allow me to share this ‘joke’ with you…

Sometime ago (Nov 08), I was talking to this Taiwanese lawyer.

I was telling him how most of us when mentioned Taiwan, we know that their President is Ma Ying Jiu, when we mentioned USA, we know the incoming President is Barack Obama, etc etc..

However, whenever I mentioned about our Singapore President, many do not know who is our Singapore President.  They only know Lee Kuan Yew and his son (many do not even know LHL’s name, they know him as LKY’s son)..

The Taiwanese Lawyer suddenly look at me and asked “huh? you have a President in Singapore?? I only know about Lee Kuan Yew and his son!!”

Need I say more??

It is sad to think that we taxpayers are paying $3.8 million to a leader that almost does not exist..

While many lesser mortals are absolutely disgusted by our top civil servant Tan Yong Soon’s saga.  I have many reasons to thank him for;

1) Thank you for opening a can of worms, for if not for you, we do not know to what extend our top civil servants are grossly overpaid.

2) Thank you for giving our grossly overpaid MP a chance to speak what he truly think of the people who voted them in – The Lesser Mortals

3) Thank you for letting us know that MP Charles Chong has totally  forgotten that the lesser mortals he mention were the ones voted him in and his salary is drawn from the lesser mortals hard earned money!

4) Thank you for letting us know that in times of a bad recession, while lesser mortals are struggling to make ends meet, the higher mortals from the establishment are still enjoying the high life that lesser mortals can only dream of.

5) Thank you for proving once again that our media are state control – looking at how the state media went into overdrive damage control mode to rehabilitate you.

I hope more from civil servants like Mr Tan Yong Soon, Mr Charles Chong and not forgetting Ms Lee Wai Ling who live in a ’shabby house” in Oxley show us lesser mortals what kind of life they lead.  If not for them, how else do we know the income disparity between the higher mortals and lesser mortals.