S'pore may raise retirement age to 68, says Lim Boon Heng

[koh_52]

heh! MW why u delete my post leh???

I said dear folks please cast yr vote wisely...anything wrong meh?

[Musicwhiz]

Koh_52,

I have done nothing with your posts. Since this forum was started, I have yet to delete anything!

[kazukirai]

Hi Koh-san,

I still see your previous posts. Don't think MW's done anything to them. But it does say that it has been edited by you.

Update:
I think I could see the posts because I'm a moderator.
Have approved Koh-san's 2 posts and sgd-san's post that were flagged in pink.
Have no idea why they were flagged for moderation though.
Cyclone, any clues?

[Zelphon]

Hi Koh-san,

I still see your previous posts. Don't think MW's done anything to them. But it does say that it has been edited by you.

Update:
I think I could see the posts because I'm a moderator.
Have approved Koh-san's 2 posts and sgd-san's post that were flagged in pink.
Have no idea why they were flagged for moderation though.
Cyclone, any clues?

Don't tell me PAP's IT division has penetrated all forums accessible by Singaporeans ah??

[koh_52]

My apologise to MW, sori i shd not jump to conclusion, maybe today weather hot n smokey... Trust me wouldn't happen again... Thousand of apologies.

[cyclone]

The problem has re-emerged again. For some reason, some posts are randomly flagged for moderation and only moderators can see them. Do not know how to solve the problem yet. Sorry.

Hi Koh-san,

I still see your previous posts. Don't think MW's done anything to them. But it does say that it has been edited by you.

Update:
I think I could see the posts because I'm a moderator.
Have approved Koh-san's 2 posts and sgd-san's post that were flagged in pink.
Have no idea why they were flagged for moderation though.
Cyclone, any clues?

[d.o.g.]

When retirement age is raised.. CPF withdrawal age and minimum sum will be raised...

This is meaningless for those who has accumulated enough wealth for retirement and does not require the CPF..

How abt those in the lower income bracket??

If you are in the lower income bracket, it is almost guaranteed that all your CPF was used to buy your HDB flat i.e. CPF balance at withdrawal age is only a small amount. So whether you are rich or poor, the money that can be withdrawn from your CPF account makes no difference.

The balance that's stuck in CPF aka the "minimum sum" can be used to buy an annuity, but again no matter what option you choose the payout is lousy. You would have to be in great financial difficulty for the annuity payout to make a difference, and even then it can only alleviate your misery.

That brings us back to the central point: CPF is not enough for retirement. Anyone who wants to have a decent retirement lifestyle has to accumulate significant assets outside of CPF.

[sgd]

I recall that I posted something then the next moment did a quick edit and save.

Then instead of re-posting it told me my post was under moderation already.

I think cannot do quick save.

---

sorry I mean cannot select the quick edit option after you first post.

[koh_52]

Yup, happen to me too... I do a quick edit and post reply...suddenly my post kena under moderation.

[koh_52]

Alarm bell ringing but GCT still do not hear

See how silly and out of touch GCT and cheng hu is with the people from the ground?
They are just not listening and do ot care about the citizen.

A disempowered generation?
By Rachel Lin

IN THE midst of all the talk about creativity and vibrancy and buzz, his question came like a cry in the wilderness.

Final-year aerospace engineering student Lim Zi Rui, 23, stood up during the Nanyang Technological University Ministerial Forum last night and asked: Did Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong know many young people no longer felt a sense of ownership in Singapore?

His question was one of several posed during the dialogue with Mr Goh, which ranged far and wide over ageing issues, art, even student accommodation.

'When I was younger, I was very proud of being a Singaporean,' Mr Lim said. 'But that was about five, 10 years ago. Five years later, with all the changes in policies and the influx of foreign talent, I really don't know what I'm defending any more.'

He said he was reflecting a sentiment held by many of his men in the SAF, who had to compete with foreigners for jobs. 'I feel that there is a dilution of the Singapore spirit in youth... We don't really feel comfortable in our country any more.'

Mr Goh's reply was one of deep concern. 'This is one early sign of danger... If this is happening, it is very serious.'

He asked Mr Lim why he felt disconnected.

Mr Lim assured SM Goh that he was still keen to fight for Singapore: 'I'm still serving as an officer and I definitely would love to defend Singapore.'

However, he compared his attitude to that of the foreign friends he had. 'I tell them, this is my country. I can't just leave here whenever I want to. You can come and play and work here, but I have to stay here.'

SM Goh responded with a defence of the Government's open-door policy. 'You want to have a home. Who's going to build your HDB flat?'

'My brother got engaged, but lost his engagement because he could not afford an HDB flat,' Mr Lim countered.

'Without foreign workers in Singapore, would your hall of residence be built?' SM Goh asked. 'If we totally reject foreigners, we're going to shrink in size... I don't think Singaporeans want that. What they want is to moderate the inflow of foreigners.'

He also said Singapore had to find ways to integrate foreigners. 'There are many of them who would like to be Singaporeans, and those of them who can be integrated, make them Singaporeans, make them part of us, make them help to defend the country,' he said.

Mr Lim said that his concerns were somewhat different. 'My question was, how are we going to help the younger generation feel a sense of belonging to Singapore? I don't think it's about integrating foreigners.'

'This is your country,' SM Goh replied. 'What do you want me to do to make you feel you belong?'

'For my part, don't worry about me,' Mr Lim said. 'I will definitely do something, if I can, for Singapore. But I can tell you honestly that the sentiment on the ground is a bit different.'

'If that is prevalent among young people over here, we've got a real problem,' SM Goh said. 'If the majority feel they don't belong here, then we have a fundamental problem. Then I would ask myself: What am I doing here? Why should I be working for people who don't feel they belong over here?'