Ramblings

The offset package is out. To find out the details of the offset package, please refer to http://www.gstoffset.gov.sg/

The good thing about this offset package is that it’s staggered over a few years. GST credits are given out for a period of 4 years, and the value of the amount of GST credits that one receives will depend on the size of your flat and annual assessable income. One can expect to receive anywhere between $100 to $1000 over 4 years. NSman and NSFs get a one time $100 payout. To find out more about the amount of GST credits that you qualify for, click here. In addition, there is the Senior Citizen’s Bonus, Post secondary education account top ups and rebates for utilities and conservancy charges rebate.

The GST offset package is perhaps the best that I can hope for. By staggering the payouts and spreading the benefits over a wide range of categories rather than one lump sum is the most sensible thing to do. If the offset package is done the progress package style where a one-off lump sum is given, the travel agencies are going to see a sudden surge in demand for holidays by less than prudent Singaporeans and all the money meant to help them for the next 5 years will evaporate instantly.

There’s also a PDF document that compares the amount of additional GST payable (based on Department of statistics 2005 General Household survey) and the value of the offset package. Since not everyone might have a PDF reader, I’ve reproduced the document in a format that can be displayed on all internet browsers:

The government has stuck to its promise that the poor will more than benefit from the increase in GST, so I suppose I can officially remove my objection to the GST. However, I am concerned that there are gaps in our system that will result in some people being left out of the package. The offset package is there, but some of the poorer folks, especially those that are not so literate, might not actually know of the package. I guess this is perhaps the current challenge now.

Overall, the GST offset package has been pretty reasonable, although there are probably questions as to why is there a need to raise GST only to give an offset package. It doesn’t sound very intuitive. The official answer to this has been laid out in the Budget speech, which will form the part 2 of my thoughts on Budget 2007.

A few times every year, I would experience a state of pensiveness about my relationship with my wife-to-be. Today is one of those times, because it’s Valentine’s Day.

I keep wondering to myself why is it that I love her so much. What is this thing called love? It is perhaps one of those things that we cannot define exactly, but somehow, we all can come to some form of unspoken agreement on what love is. While we cannot define love, we can describe the things love can do, and we can see the effects of love (both positive and negative of course).

Just completed her Valentine’s gift. I’ve no idea why I decided, of all things, to draw. Usually, I would walk around the Orchard/City Hall/Bugis area in search of a gift, but I think that this year, I don’t want something off the shelf. I racked my brains and thought that I would get a sketch book and draw out some of the more memorable times we had together. The only thing holding me back was that I can’t draw for nuts. I think a primary school kid would do a better piece of work than me.

Honestly, I was afraid of being laughed at by her for my super lousy drawing. But I decided to go ahead. I guess this is why I say love is amazing. You do things that you won’t usually do. No way am I ever going to draw for anyone else, even if they pay me a million bucks. I’m simply atrocious at drawing. And, I’m afraid of people laughing at me.

I’ve been together with her for a really long time, and I think I finally understand what does it mean to have a soulmate. She can predict what I’m thinking and what I’m going to say with amazing accuracy. And, I can too (though I’m not as accurate ). She talks like me sometimes, and I behave like her sometimes. She knows when I’m upset, and I’m always there to support her when she feels stressed out. Words are perhaps insufficient to accurately describe the feeling of being in love for a long time. It’s not a fleeting feeling, or a mad rush of blood to the brain. It’s something so subtle, but yet so strong, so reassuring.

I’m going to say that I’m thankful. Thankful that she is willing to put up with such a stubborn, bad-tempered and much less than handsome guy. It can take alot of patience to deal with me, and I’m grateful that she’s stayed by my side when she could very well not suffer my idiosyncracies. I do not know what it’s like to love another (she was my first), but as it is now, I do not need to know, and I don’t want to know. I’m contented to have her, and I will enshrine my love for her in the sanctity of marriage this year.

It’s a strange name, isn’t it? But, such a place does exist in Singapore. You can find it at Parliament House.

For those who do not know, Parliament sittings are open to the public. Anyone can go into Parliament House and watch the parliamentary proceedings. And, you will have to sit in the Stranger’s Gallery.

I was told that the Stranger’s Gallery is so named because anyone who is not officially part of the parliament is considered to be a stranger to parliament, thus the name Stranger’s Gallery. I got a chance to visit the gallery last week (no pictures, because my camera phone was confiscated for the duration), and it’s pretty nice and comfortable.

The seating capacity is about 120, and under the armrest of the seats are headphones. I was told that during Parliament sittings, it is required by law that the speeches made are translated in real time, and that’s what the headphones are for. Apparently, there’s an option to switch to radio and listen to some pop music if you’re bored. I also noticed a couple of flat screen TVs in the gallery, which I presume is for people sitting at the top row of the gallery (you can’t see much if you’re up there).

So, if anyone is interested to be a stranger in parliament, just hop on down to Parliament House. I think the public entrance is at the side of Parliament House, directly opposite the Supreme Court. Just note that when you enter and leave the Stranger’s Gallery, remember to bow to the Speaker of Parliament (he’s usually seated at the front, and in the center. You can’t miss him. He has the biggest chair). Failure to do so is considered disrespectful of the Speaker’s authority, and you might find yourself being escorted out of Parliament House.

Don’t ask me about wireless connection. I didn’t have a laptop to try. If there’s wireless connection, maybe someone consider blogging on the fly about the Budget that will be announced on Thurs? It’ll be fun to beat the MSM.

It has been on my mind for a few days already, but I can take it no more. I just don’t fucking understand why our courts have to hang Iwuchkwu Amara Tochi.

Yes, he is 21 years old, making him an adult by Singaporean law. As an adult, he should know better than to dabble in drugs. However, a high court judge noted that there was no evidence suggesting that Tochi knew that the capsule that he was asked to bring to Singapore contained heroin. Is this not a FUCKING VALID MITIGATING factor?

Why are we killing a person who quite clearly has been made used of? Was there evidence to suggest that Tochi was benefiting from bringing the drug into Singapore? Bloody hell, do we have to kill a person just because some damn law said so without considering the factors of the case? Does Tochi deserve to receive the same kind of punishment as cold-blooded murderers?

I have never opposed the death penalty in Singapore because I believe that it is a necessary evil at times. Unfortunately, I never imagined that it would be applied so mechanically. In fact, I think it has been so grossly abused. I have lost faith in the Singapore justice system. The taking of one’s life as punishment now appears to be nothing more than routine business.

Tochi, I am so sorry. Tochi’s mum and dad, I am so very sorry too. Tochi does not deserve to die. My country chose to kill him even though there were doubts on his case. I’m sorry that there is nothing I can do. I am just a small fry in this country whose voice will probably not be heard. Nonetheless, I still want to say sorry. It’s the least I can do.

From today on, I will never support the death penalty again, no matter how good the reasons are for killing a person as punishment. My eyes have been opened, but it came at the expense of Tochi’s blood.

Tochi will be hanged tomorrow morning. Fuck this. Is there justice at all in this world? I’m sorry if I don’t sound like my normal self. I’m just so upset.

Thaksin’s visit to Singapore is certainly a very visible sign of agitation to the current Thai government. The Singapore ambassador got summoned (presumably for an earful, although it probably would never be made known what actually transpired) and a 9-year old exchange programme got cancelled as a ‘sign of protest’.

Frankly speaking, there’s nothing wrong in allowing Thaksin to visit Singapore. He committed no offence here, so why can’t we let him in? I’m sure his entry into Singapore was in accordance to proper immigration procedures. Sure, it might have been a little insensitive as an Asean friend and a relatively close geographical neighbour, but legally, there’s nothing wrong in allowing a person to come to Singapore if all his immigratation documents are in order.

In fact, if we are to compare, what’s the bigger deal? Thaksin coming to Singapore, or the current Thai government arbitarily introducing laws to limit foreign ownership of companies in *ahem* certain industries. Compared to the actions of the Thai government, I think that Singapore allowing Thaksin into the country is peanuts (no pun intended).

If I’m going to lose billions to you, why will I bother to care if I *accidentally* hurt your feelings? As if my feelings are not hurt by a stunt that causes me to lose millions. You beat me, I beat you back lor. Very simple.