SAF sends its parachutes to PRC for packing

Hahaha.. this has got to be this week’s most stupid Oppie supporter post I've seen.

And obviously, how can our biased alternative media resist sharing such a sensational story rumour?

Please lah Leslie, don’t come and talk cock. Who you trying to bluff?

You “painfully struggled” over this for “2 days”?  How did you “painfully struggle”?

Was it very painful to simply clarify with your “brother-in-arms” what he said or actually meant? Were you certain he was not pulling your leg, by trying to trick you with a play on the term “PRC”?

In any case, you are making a very serious claim here, not to mention you are also implying that the Commandos have no professionalism.

Don’t you think you have a responsibility to verify the facts of the matter before you let loose your “anguish” online? Do you and/or your "Brother-In-Arms" have any hard evidence to back up this claim? 

Or is it a case of "He say" "I heard" "I thought"?  If so, then who blardy confirmed it?

Besides, if you are so concerned about operational security and leaking out our defense capabilities, do you think it is appropriate to be sharing your concerns on such matters on the Internet?

What happen to the chain of command? Did you or your “brother-in-arms” actually try to clarify the facts of the matter and put forward your/his concerns internally first?

Bro, as we say in the army - don’t ASSUME and make an ASS out of U and ME.

Have a look at this very comprehensive article by Lovely Singapore on this matter. It explains very clearly why it is likely that Leslie Ang has been tricked and/or kena sabo/made up this fairy tale.

Lovely Singapore - Why is SAF Rigger done by PRC

Image: Singapore Matters

Update: Here's what the Chief Commando Officer, Colonel Simon Lim says (12 jan 2015):

via The Singapore Army FB

So from his statement, the facts of the matter are:

1. SAF Riggers are STILL fully deployed.
2. Parachute-packing function is outsourced to a local company.
3. Many of ST’s parachute-packing staff themselves are former Riggers. (where got PRC contractors??)
4. SAF Master Rigger certifies ST’s staff to pack the parachutes, and closely supervises the packing process.
5. Arrangement in place since 2010, and there have been zero parachute reliability issues.

I wonder what Leslie has to say. His original post would be what you would call "stir shit for the sake of stirring".  

Image: Shut Down TRS

Look at rubbish site The Independent SG insisting that the riggers are outsourced to PRC (China) instead of PRC (Pasir Ris Camp) even after the clarifications by SAF.

Here we have the job ad from ST Electronics that clearly shows they are only hiring Singaporean parachute packers (Riggers) for the job. What does The Independent - Singapore has to say?

Source: http://impact-sg.jobstreet.com/jobs/jobdesc.asp?type=0&eid=34643843&jid=3727287&did=1289&its=0&src=8&itn

Alex Tan not interested in Money or Fame! LOL

WP shows what it means to be "Accountable" & "Transparent"

Did you know that WP had actually tried to block what the Independent Accountants could do and check upon?

Here's an extract of what the Ministry of National Development's Press release had to say:

"... However: the (WP's) Statement fails to disclose that AHTC had tried, unsuccessfully, to limit the accountants’ terms of reference, to:

(a) Only the non-compliances identified by the Auditor-General’s Report (the “AGO Report”) of Feb 2015, and

(b) Only any improper past payments involving its former managing agent, FM Solutions & Services (“FMSS”) and FM Solutions and Integrated Services (“FMSI”).

The Court disagreed with AHTC, and said that:

(a) The Terms of Reference should include all non-compliances under Section 35(c) of the Town Councils Act which had been identified (i) by the AGO Report, and (ii) by AHPETC’s own auditors, in its subsequent audited financial statements for FY 13/14 and FY 14/15.

(b) The Terms of Reference should extend to examining whether any past payments made by the Town Council were improper and should therefore be recovered, and should not be limited to only transactions involving FMSS and FMSI. ..." 

Reply to Media Queries on the Court of Appeal Hearing of 7 Jan 2016
MND Press Release, 7 Jan 2016 (PDF Copy)

WP / Oppie supporters will simply dismiss and argue that this is MND trying to slander WP.

Well then, if the MND statement is false and is indeed slander, then what is WP waiting for? Go and sue the Govt / MND for defamation already! What is WP waiting for?

Image: Fabrications About The PAP

Is this WP's definition of being "Accountable" and "Transparent"?

Why did WP feel that it had to block/limit what the Independent Accountants could do?

Does WP have something to hide?

Instead of Experts, WP wants a "Newcomer" to fix its problems

This is just sibei stupid lor.

You want to "prove your innocence" and show that you are being "unfairly targeted", then why you would want to use a 'newcomer" to audit your books/processes?

Isn't it much better to use a established and reputable Auditor with relevant experience so that the Accounts can no longer be in dispute, and this Audit report can finally let everyone of us know that residents' money is accounted for, and that you have nothing to hide?

Or is it really because WP is deadly afraid of what will be exposed by a proper forensic audit?

And if WP defends their choice on the basis of costs or 'operational familiarity', then why switch to this "newcomer" now? What happen to AHPETC's previous Auditors - Foo Kon Tan Grant Thornton? Why don't they continue using them?

Is because WP is unhappy that Foo Kon Tan Grant Thornton had raised 13 disclaimers in its FY 2012/2013 report?

Is WP going to get rid of Audit Alliance soon too, since Audit Alliance had flagged 8 areas of concern, including the presence of related party transactions and failing to make timely transfers to its sinking fund for FY 2013/2014 report?

=================================================================================
Update (15 Jan 2016): 
If you have been trying to find out more online about who Business Assurance is, you'd have realise that there's virtually no information available about them.

Here's a very interesting article written about who Business Assurance is.  Here's an excerpt (emphasis mine) :

"... I am really surprised that AHTC chose this company because if they had bothered to ask around in the industry, they would have discovered some interesting facts about this one-man operation owned and managed by Alex Chai Chon Fatt. 

Being an accountant, I am aware that it is fairly common knowledge among many of us in the industry that Alex Chai has failed his Practice Monitoring Programme (PMP) and that he is restricted from conducting audits of companies for a period of 1 year. In fact, this is the second time that Alex Chai has failed his PMP. ..."

While this information is not readily verifiable, it does raise a lot of questions about WP's conduct in addressing the AHPETC issues.

Read more here:  AHPETC High Court Appeal - Pritam Incompetent or Dishonest?

=================================================================================

WP keeps on dragging and deflecting from the main issues of clarifying their dubious Accounts by frivolously claiming that "having independent auditors would "derail" the town council's work, as it would have to deal with several sets of auditors."

Where is WP's Transparency in handling this?

How is WP showing their Accountability to their residents?



Read more below:

5 Key Lapses in AHPETC's Accounts 

Auditor-General's Main Report of Audit ofAljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) – 6 Feb 2015 (PDF Source)

"AHPETC admitted that for FY2014/2015, they had only made two transfers to the sinking fund, and that they had been late in doing so. They also admitted to breaching the Town Councils Act and Town Council Financial Rules." 
Channel News Asia

The MND also wants the independent accountants to examine past town council payments and take appropriate action to recover any losses suffered by the town council and its residents.
Straits Times


HDB suggests that one of Singapore's four major accounting firms be appointed instead to fix accounting and governance lapses at the Workers' Party-run town council.

Channel News Asia

What you need to know about the AHPETC saga
Yahoo News

Firm hired by AHPETC to manage accounts a one-man outfit
Straits Times

Leong Sze Hian & WP mouthpiece tries to pull a fast one over medical subsidies

It's really bullshit nonsense when the opposition-wannabes like Leong Sze Hian (LSH) tries to twist and bluff and scare the public about the amount of medical subsidies that the Govt provides for.

LSH's caption for the above bill screams:

“B2 ward Hospitalisation and medicine – $3,267 – MediShield Life pay $300”

wah... sounds scandalous right? After all, for a medical bill of $3267, a MediShield Life payout of $300 is only a paltry 10%.  Damn sad right?

But is that really true? Let's examine the facts as set out by the bill above.

In the bill, the total charges is $5,532.33 before any subsidy. (Where did LSH's figure of $3267 in his caption come from?)

Then we have the Govt Grant of $3263.62 for B2 wards kick in. (Did LSH confuse himself?) That's almost a 60% outright subsidy of the bill!

And bear in mind, this subsidy is NOT an insurance payout, or even money from the CPF medical insurance schemes. It is a outright govt grant towards the bill.

So the patient actually has to pay a balance of $2,333.51 after the Govt Grants. (GST is absorbed by Govt) But that's not the end.

This is where Medishield Life insurance kicks in and reduces the medical bill by another $300.16, which works out to be 12.8% of the balance $2,333.51.  And the Patient has received a total subsidy of (Govt Grant $3263.62 + GST Absorbed $158.80) = $3422.62.

The final payable amount of $2,333.51 is paid using the Patient's CPF (Medisave) account.

Yes, the MediSave money is NOT a govt subsidy but from the Patient's own (compulsory) savings. But remember, 17% of the Patient's CPF contribution comes from the Employer. And the MediSave account earns 4% pa interest on the savings- guaranteed.

So now, the Patient doesn't even have to fork out a single cent of cash, instead using the CPF savings to pay the bill.

Healthcare will never be cheap, and the costs will keep on rising. And this is a global phenomenon. You can't just look at the absolute amount that you are paying and scream "expensive" without comparing it to something.

Here are some experiences of those who have used our healthcare system.

• Singapore Healthcare System – Retiree Pays Astronomical Sum Staying Changi Hospital For 80 Days.
• Singapore Children Hospitalization Cost – My Experience WithKKH Vs TMC

Do you own homework and work out the maths. And then think about how much a similar hospital stay / treatment would cost you in another country.

Don't just let other stir your emotions and cloud you judgement.

Read more here:

Lovely Singapore - MediShield: The Independent misleading the public that no subsidies for $900 medicine using an old hospital bill

MediShield Life Website

MOH - How much does the Singapore Government spend on Healthcare? (YouTube)


Comparisons and Commentary about Singapore's Healthcare system

Harvard School of Public Health - Singapore’s health care system holds valuable lessons for U.S.

WorldFocus.Org - Singapores health system saves money and lives (YouTube)

Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) Australia - Lessons from Singapore in Health (YouTube)

Healthcare Triage - Healthcare in Singapore (YouTube)

Fox Business - The Singapore Alternative

Brookings Institution - Affordable Excellence - The Singapore Health Care System

Brookings Institution - Singapore's Health Care Lessons for the U.S.

Creating a better health system: lessons from Singapore

More illogical anti-NS rubbish from Alex Tan

So one of the latest rubbish articles shitted out written by Alex Tan Zhixiang of STR, is this nonsense about how NS is bad...blah blah blah..

Image: Shut Down TRS

First of all, Alex Tan - it is not called "National Service" is nothing.

Obviously NS is going to require a certain amount of sacrifice from us all. Who ever said that it was going to be painless?

And you make the dumbass assumption that just because there are guys who don't look forward to serving NS, you think it is the same as "more Singaporeans today oppose NS".

Yes, this particular recruit is probably having a bad case of NS-blues. 

But does that necessarily mean that he would be opposed to serving NS?

Image: Mothership.SG

Put it this way.

Do you like Speed Cameras/driving within the posted speed limit? Do you like Injections/vaccinations? Do you like paying taxes?

I doubt any one does.

But these are the necessary evils that we have to put up with in life. We don't like them but they are there for the greater good of society.

And isn't it the same when it comes to NS?

Which guy likes to have their hair reduced to a short coconut stubble?

Who likes to chiong the Obstacle Course or even do the 2.4Km run almost every other week?

Who likes to be away from their families and loved ones for long periods of time?

Obviously it would be ideal if there was another way which we could defend Singapore against our enemies without NS.

But is there?

For every NS opponent like Alex Tan, there are easily dozens of others who support NS wholeheartedly.

Image: LTC(NS) Darren Tan, CO, 823SIR

Alex Tan is so virulently opposed to NS that he fails to recognize for what NS is truly about.

NS is not 'slavery' or the government making use of NS soldiers as 'free labour".

It is about coming together as a country to defend our Homes and our Loved Ones from those who would seek to threaten or hurt us.

Alex Tan's opposing arguments about being disadvantaged in education, career, personal freedoms etc, reveals much about his own character and personal values - that he is only looking out for himself only. His mentality type shows him to be the person who would be the first to run at the first sign of trouble (which he actually did, over the TRS saga).

And Alex Tan is obviously either being very naive or choosing to be plain ignorant about world affairs, or as he calls it "today's international political climate".

Well, let's have a quick look at what has been happening around the world and in our neighborhood.

Blatant land grabs/invasions of sovereign nations are NOT a thing of the past.

China is obviously raising temperatures in the South China Seas. And Singapore relies on the South China Seas for its maritime trade.

BRP Sierra Madre is a World War II-era ship that is grounded at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands with a handful of marines, as Philippines’ last line of defence against China’s efforts to control most of the South China Sea.

Image: CNN

2015 - Paris Terror Attacks
2015 - Terror's evolving threat to Singapore
2015 - Bangkok explosion: fatal blast at Erawan shrine 
2015 - Islamic State agents from Syria 'in Thailand to target Russians'
2015 - Japan says armed Chinese coastguard ship seen near disputed islands
2014 - Russia annexs Crimea
2014 - How an oil rig sparked anti-China riots in Vietnam
2014 - China-Philippines navy spat captured on camera
2014 - Philippines lodges protest over China ship blockade
2014 - Indonesia names warship after marines
2013 - Malaysia launches attack on Filipino intruders in Borneo

So in this short list, we have nations invading other nations, territorial disputes and terrorism threats. And how much of it do we see the UN playing a role to resolve or mitigate the tensions? And how many of these countries have been caught-short due to their weak armed forces?

Has the world become safer? Or is it still a vicious dog-eat-dog world?

Can Singapore afford not to have NS or a strong defence force? Who will defend our rights and sovereignty as a nation?

Alex Tan, and his buddies can take their anti-NS nonsense and shove it down their collective throats. For someone who despises everything Singapore, why is he even still trying to pretend to be some sort of a  Singapore news source out in Australia?

really? Where's the logic in this senseless rant? 

Alex Tan - one-time politician wannabe; former SAF Detention Barracks guest; self-imposed exile to Australia; Chief Editor of Bullshit generating website and generally all-round potty-mouth liar.

Singapore in 2015

As #2015 comes to a close, we look back at the past year and can't help but feel proud of what we have achieved, and how we have stood together as a nation through tough times. What were your most memorable moments in #2015?

Video Source: YouTube - Gov.SG