by: Chee Soon Juan
25 Jan 07
In a move that is the clearest sign yet of a government run amok, Parliament has approved another pay increase for President S R Nathan.
In 2006, Mr Nathan was already drawing $2.6 million a year – a salary that was indecent by any political standard. But even this was not enough because this year, his income was increased to $2.8 million, a hefty jump of $200,000.
This was all tidily approved by Parliament. In light of the falling income levels of the working poor in Singapore, what were they thinking of when they voted yes? Did any MP ask for a justification for the increment? More important did any MP oppose the increment? Why not?
In other words, was there any debate? If there was, it was not very intelligently reported by the Straits Times because all the newspaper had on the topic was a little square on the top right-hand corner under 'Parliament Shorts'.
But then right beside it was a huge report that one could not ignore even if one tried headlined "Are some here homeless by choice?"
The story starts with the government asserting that some Singapore even though they had options to housing chose vagrancy instead.
It ends with the Government "assuring" the House that it would only "try" to help homeless families. Isn't it comforting to know that our ministers who help themselves to $4,000 a day in salaries assure us that they would "try" to help our destitute?
And how does it propose to do this? Apparently by increasing the GST.
In the same session, this Parliament agrees to increase the President's salary by $17,000 a month. (No doubt the ministers' salaries will follow suit. But Singaporeans will never know the amounts because the Government won't announce them.)
Is it just us in the SDP or is there something seriously sick with the way our nation is run?
We need a Government that will help the people first, not the president who's already a multi-millionaire.
We need a Parliament whose vocabulary extends beyond "Aye!" and MPs who will start asking some real questions and hold the cabinet accountable.
But before we can have any of these, we need to demand our right to vote freely and fairly in elections, to a free media, and to free speech and assembly.
Stand up, Singaporeans. Speak up. Refuse to live in such shame and dishonour any longer.
Note: To learn how to empower yourselves, register for the Empower Singaporeans Seminar this Sunday. Click here.
Where is the Wayang Party's statement in this matter?
ReplyDeleteOh LTK and Sylvia is keeping quiet because they want a pay rise for themselves.
Does an unproven comment made with agitation and sarcasm serve any point?
ReplyDeleteIn normal life, we can't guess what another is thinking. What's the point in our political environment? What's the use for the citizens if your mentioned personnels spoke and get 'slaughtered' which you know they will be?
A well written letter.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha, more proof that Wayang Party only know how to Wayang!
ReplyDeletebrand new holiday 5 bedroom teak wood home in Bangkok Taling Chan
ReplyDeletedistrict.
massagelondon@gmail.com
http://massagelondon.org
Suit family with children and animals as the place is safe and has a
terrace under the elevated on stilts house.
Goes cheap, even short let - as I can't go on holidays to Bangkok as
often as I use to go. At the moment stays there my daughter with her
children, but she can move to my sister in law house just the next door.
A much better option of staying in Bangkok than the town centre, with
it's noise, pollution, traffic jams and crowds of tourists. In a Taling
Chan home-stay you will immerse yourself in a traditional lifestyle and
learn a little bit about Thai culture and customs. Walks through the
fruit orchards and flower groves make a very challenging experience.
There is nothing comparable to it in the whole of Thailand - a dream
student home stay or a holiday accommodation.
Rent a vacation rental home in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok is the capital
of Thailand located in the Gulf of Thailand in Bangkok Province. The
city is the largest in Thailand with some 7 million residents. A popular
tourist destination with historical venues such as the Grand Palace and
the pure gold reclining Buddha. Rent holiday lodging directly from
owners of villa.
Why stay in a Bangkok hotel when you can rent a vacation rental?
Area Description
It's by Thanon Wongwan Rob Nok and by the Klong Bang Tal - 5 minutes
drive to South Bus Terminal (towards Kanchanaburi, Cha Am, Hua Hin,
Phuket, Krabi and Malaysia) on Thonburi & 15 minutes to Chao Phraya
River, Khaosan Rd, the Old King's Palace & the Wat Pho. There is also a
frequent bus 556 to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Pictures on request.
Around are traditional houses with orchards, gardens, peace and clean
air.
You can feel here like living in the traditional thai willage - yet 5
minutes walk is 7/11 shop, cash machine and a daily street market. A
short ride there is a famous traditional thai floating market in Taling
Chan by the Chakphra Canal.
There are several nice homestays in that area - old thai teak wood
houses on stilts just overlooking slowly moving canals. You are in the
middle of verdant and vast, lush gardens.
The exact address to my home:
172/9 moo 11 Kanchanapisek
Salathammasop
Thawi Wattana 10160
Bangkok
(it's on the west border of Taling Chan district with a newly formed
Thawi Wattana, and a few hundred yards south of amphoe Bank Kruai,
already in Nonthaburi province).
The location is here 1:5000 - you might see larger ones if you don't
recognise this area. The home is 80 meters south of the red circle on
the first map - by the canal.
If you are coming by taxi just stop immediately after the klong Bang
Tal, go down over a small wooden steps to the canal and walk along the
concrete path by the canal 150 metres - almost to the end of this path.
If you are coming by car pass the canal and park on soi Muban Chuangchun
Park Villa - you will have to walk back about 150 metres.
If you are going to stay there and have a car we can arrange an off road
parking space close to the home (at the end of the soi with the red
circle) and use a side gate to enter the property.
Vacation Rental Amenities
Features
Balcony
Canoe
Full Kitchen
Game Room
Hardwood Floors
High Speed Internet
Kayak
Kitchenette
Linens Provided
Outdoor Shower
Parking
Patio
Porch
View (Water)
Appliances
Alarm Clock
CD Player
Ceiling Fan
DVD Player
Ice Maker
Iron
Microwave
Radio
Refrigerator (Full)
Refrigerator (Mini)
Stereo
Telephone
TV (Antenna)
TV (Cable/Satellite)
VCR
Washer/Dryer
Activities
Boating (onsite)
Canoeing (onsite)
Fishing (onsite)
Kayaking (onsite)
Playground (onsite)
Bicycling (<1 mile)
Children's Pool (<1 mile)
Golf (<1 mile)
Grocery Store (<1 mile)
Gym/Fitness Center (<1 mile)
Hiking (<1 mile)
Miniature Golf (<1 mile)
Pool (<1 mile)
Restaurant (<1 mile)
Live Entertainment (1 mile)
Shopping Area (1 mile)
Tennis (1 mile)
Bowling (2 miles)
Movie Theater (2 miles)
Basketball Court (3 miles)
Park (3 miles)
Volleyball Court (4 miles)
Horseback Riding (6 miles)
Ice Skating (7 miles)
Zoo (7 miles)
Casino (9 miles)
Aquarium (14 miles)
Amusement Park (15 miles)
Theme Park (15 miles)
Water Park (15 miles)
Beach (25 miles)
Deep Sea Fishing (25 miles)
Hunting (25 miles)
Ocean (25 miles)
Sailing (25 miles)
Scuba Diving (25 miles)
Snorkeling (25 miles)
Surfing (25 miles)
Windsurfing (25 miles)
Vacation Rental Policies
Payment Options: PayPal, Money Order, Cashier's Check, Personal Check,
Wire Transfer
Check In: 1 a.m.
Check Out: 12 p.m.
Required Stay: even 1 night - but residential guests, for many months,
are welcome
Cancellation Policy: All of the rent is required to complete the
booking. If you cancel anytime, payments (less 1 nights rent) are
refunded if the unit is re-rented.
Deposits: A refundable security/damage deposit of $100 is required
Other Policies: * Smoking is allowed. * Guests may arrive on any day of
the week. * Dogs and Cats are allowed. A deposit of $100 will apply
towards eventual clining house and the garden. * There is no specific
quiet time policy, though guests are asked to be respectful of any
neighbours. * Children are allowed. A Crib, High Chair and a Play Pen
can be provided. * No Maid Service is provided during a stay. An
optional Daily Maid Service is available for the following fee of $5.
Owner Supplied Testimonials
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There is something subtly exotic about wood. No other substance seems to
mature in the same way, changing it's texture and smell in a second life
that defies life's normal rhythm.
The traditional Thai teak house represent a style of living that is
almost absent from Bangkok these days - with citywide modernisation, it
is hard to find older houses that are still in use.
Villages such as Lampang in the North, featuring predominantly teak
houses, are becoming more and more rare as people switch to modern
building materials.
Built around the concept of simplicity, Thai stilt houses were the
functional solution to a hot climate in the days before
air-conditioning.
The gap between the floor and ground enables a cool breeze to to
naturally ventilate the entire house, and the open window style still in
practice today further aids this process.
Building with native teakwood gave the houses a natural beauty that is
still imitated in today's architecture (think of the sweeping, upturned
eaves of many Thai roofs.)
Prized for it's durability and attractive finish, teak has been logged
almost to the point of extinction, and the magnificent trees (sometimes
reaching 50m in height) are today rarely found outside dedicated
plantations.
However, there remain some people trying to revive the traditions of
teak workmanship, incorporating it into new homes and proving that old
materials can be re-used with stunning effect.
In the heart of the Taling Chan district lies a canal that seems
entirely detached from the regular bustle of city life, yet connected to
the rest of the klongs that form the city's ancient corollaries.
I am introduced to this world by Kanya, a masseuse currently overseeing
the production of a new home with her husband Yan. She leads me along
the narrow path by the canal and I soak up the atmosphere of a quiet
backwater entirely different from the Bangkok I am used to.
Across from us sits a magnificent example of wooden architecture, an
obviously new house by the water's edge surrounded by palm fronds.
Kanya explains that this has been built with the express purpose of
being a party house, and I feel a pang of jealousy for their frivolously
beautiful enterprise.
Just back from the canal's edge sits her house, an obvious labour of
love that sits next to her sister's, also being built with an eye for
past wooden beauty.
While the ground floor retains some modern materials, the upper floor is
furnished with a stunning mix of old teak boards and ornately carved
pine shutters, the darker wood setting off the light to beautiful
effect.
Inside the house the smells of wood craftsmanship pervade the rooms, and
there is a feeling of inherent age that is difficult to achieve in new
properties.
The main room upstairs stretches the breadth of the house, overlooking a
patch of genuine wilderness that teems with life, and I'm pleased to
hear they have no plans to get rid of it. "We wouldn't want to lose the
birdsong" explains Kanya.
Throughout the house, we walk on gigantic beams that have the solid,
immovable quality of wood that has been in existence for a great deal of
time; "100 years old, maybe more" she says proudly.
Taken together, the ancient wood and the laid back pace of the canal
provide an intoxicating mix that would likely tempt even a die-hard
village-dweller to consider city life.
My Taling Chan visit has reminded me that Bangkok is a city of many
faces, where the old can sometimes lie comfortably beside the new
(without complaining about the price of milk these days.)
And while the building of super-malls with concrete and steel continues
apace in Bangkok, there are signs that the traditional is also making a
comeback, with interest in attractions such as Vimanmek mansion (a
gigantic teak house made exclusively with teak - no nails!) and Jim
Thompson's house on the rise.
It seems that there are also a number of people who are willing to
sacrifice convenience for beauty in building of their own Thai homes, as
the growing number of teak queries for 'traditional thai teak wood
homestay Bangkok' posted online show.
A trip along the Chao Phraya shows a great deal about the city's
character, from individual riverside lives to gigantic trade barges,
peaceful restaurants to stunning Wats best seen by boat.
But a surprising part of this journey are the properties that have
fallen by the wayside of development, beautiful teak houses left
abandoned by their owners that have the potential to be truly amazing
locations.
With all the development occurring along the riverbanks, it is a shock
to see such treasures lying idle, and if Thailand is to maintain it's
heritage this would surely be a good place to start. After all, a teak
house party by the river is not to be sniffed at...
The Taling Chan house featured is available for long and short term
rents
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Best time of the year to travel.
The best months to travel through Thailand are December and January.
Second best are November and February. These months constitute the
'cold' seasons. In Bangkok temperatures are still as high as during a
good West-European summer though. At night, it cools off a bit but
temperatures will rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius, even at night.
From roughly March till May, Thailand experiences the hot season, when
temperatures can soar into the 40 degrees range. Not the best time of
year to go walking about cities or countryside.
From roughly May till October, we have the rainy season. It is quite
unpredictable when it is going to rain though, and there are sometimes
episodes of up to two months during this period, when there is no rain
fall. Other years, rain falls more consistently almost every week.
Traditionally rain falls during the late afternoon. It seldom lasts more
than a few hours.
Flooding of areas of Bangkok and in the provinces occurs, more at the
end of the rainy season in Bangkok (the drains are more clogged by
then).
Temperatures tend to be high, but cool off somewhat each time it has
rained.