Colonial Istana to fall with the Oxley wall !
-
Nobody is asking why is mm & sm sharing the same premises meant for the SG Head of State at the Istana?
Do we have 3 presidents or 3 prime ministers?
Nobody cares because many think it makes no difference by speaking up.
Yes we can make a difference if all of us speak up.
Singaporeans Boleh.
Who say nobody care?? You do care but quietly inside your heart.
Zero respect for democracy is zero respect for the people because democracy is essentially by the people, for the people.
The people is YOU.
-
the old fark can declare himself as emperor also S'poreans will keep quiet..........
i bet Nathan gives the old fark a massage too...............
-
The creation of these ambiguous titles sm,mm is undemocratic.
The PM being the most important and head position of the parliamentary democracy has its authority greatly diminished in the eyes of the public.
The essence of democracy is thus diminished too.
-
The trio at the colonial Istana whose combined income is about S$1000000/- per month ranked the highest paid govt officials in this planet.
Yes , without getting a single vote from the Singapore Citizens.
Furthermore the octogenarians have not ruled out running for office again.
This is not a very healthy development for the State of Singapore.
Dun you agree?
-
Built during the colonial era the premise, it was the residence of the colonial governors, on a huge 106 ACRE plot of prime land very much larger than US White House.
(106 acre = 428 966.781 sq meters)
This is a symbol of the old order and should give way to the new.
Part of it could be converted into The Liberation Square of Singapore, like the Merdeka Square of KL, which can also be used as a peaceful rallying point for Singaporeans who can call for greater democracy, in the light of the major hurdle because of the still large GRC put in place. It can also be a tourist attraction spot wat.
-
Look at the jaw-dropping pay rise of $890,000 for yr 2011 for one of the trio in the colonial istana (palace).
-
Let's look at some of the responsilties and duties of a USA Prez in comparision:
'Article II executive powers
War and foreign affairs powers
Perhaps the most important of all presidential powers is command of the United States armed forces as commander-in-chief. While the power to declare war is constitutionally vested in Congress, the president commands and directs the military and is responsible for planning military strategy.
Along with the armed forces, the president also directs U.S. foreign policy. Through the Department of State and the Department of Defense, the president is responsible for the protection of Americans abroad and of foreign nationals in the United States. The president decides whether to recognize new nations and new governments, and negotiates treaties with other nations, which become binding on the United States when approved by two-thirds vote of the Senate.
Administrative powers
The president is the chief executive of the United States, putting him at the head of the executive branch of the government, whose responsibility is to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." The executive branch has over four million employees, including members of the military.
Presidents make numerous executive branch appointments: an incoming president may make up to 6,000 before he takes office and 8,000 more during his term. Ambassadors, members of the Cabinet, and other federal officers, are all appointed by a president with the "advice and consent" of a majority of the Senate. Appointments made while the Senate is in recess are temporary and expire at the end of the next session of the Senate. ' WIKIPEDIA
-
The president earns a $400,000 annual salary, along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment - WIKIPEDIA
Yes the above is talking about USA Prez.
-
Let's look at the responsilties and duties of a USA Sec of State in comparision with SG Prez :
The specific duties of the Secretary of State include:
- Organizes and supervises the entire United States Department of State and the United States Foreign Service.
- Supervises and supports the foreign affairs activities of other U.S. Government entities including the Defense Department, CIA, and Department of Homeland Security
- Supervises the Special Activities Division of the National Clandestine Service.
- Foreign trade missions and intelligence assets report directly to the Secretary of State.
- Advises the President on matters relating to U.S. foreign policy, including the appointment of diplomatic representatives to other nations, and on the acceptance or dismissal of representatives from other nations.
- Participates in high-level negotiations with other countries, either bilaterally or as part of an international conference or organization, or appoints representatives to do so. This includes the negotiation of international treaties and other agreements.
- Responsible for overall direction, coordination, and supervision of interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government overseas.
- Providing information and services to U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad, including providing credentials in the form of passports and visas.
- Supervises the United States immigration policy abroad.
- Communicates issues relating the United States foreign policy to Congress and to U.S. citizens.
As the head of the United States Foreign Service, the Secretary of State is responsible for management of the diplomatic service of the United States. The foreign service employs about 12,000 people domestically and internationally, and supports 265 United States diplomatic missions around the world, including ambassadors to various nations. WIKIPAEDIA
-
How is it that the pay raise alone is more than USA Prez. No wonder lot of misgivings is echoing through the SG internet after the pay raise is annouced.
Past Prez of SG has served S'pore well without being paid millions unlike now.
-
mai gong liao. walk the talk. this is the only way, we can be heard.
-
Originally posted by reyes:
mai gong liao. walk the talk. this is the only way, we can be heard.
If we were to attend the coming election rallies by the opposition in bigger numbers than 2006, it has to be translated into votes if change is what we seek. -
As Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, the president may also call into federal service the state units of the National Guard. In times of war or national emergency, the Congress may grant the president even broader powers to manage the national economy and protect the security of the United States but these are not powers granted by the Constitution to the president.-- wiki
Dun u think it is not squandering of public funds to pay SG Prez out of this world salary especially when comparing with the duties and responsibilities of the world most powerful nation's Head of State ?
-
That's is why my taiwanese uncles use to say, "Singaporean seibei gong kia"
-
.........they have all the technology at their finger tips and control but all decide to buy them instead of building n improving their lives.
-
Nobody stays at the Istana, anyway. You want to use more land for their houses?
-
The White House and grounds cover just over 18 acres (approximately 7.3 hectares).
WHILE
The Istana ('Palace' in Malay) is located within a large open compound in the otherwise urbanised setting of the Orchard Road area.
The 106 acre (0.4 km²) estate was once part of the extensive nutmeg plantation of Mount Sophia
Source Wikipedia
Land scarce Singapore is pretty generous seah.
