Universal Studios Singapore official opening (May 2011)

Congratulations Universal Studios Singapore on your Grand Official Opening. It was a great party though the weather could have been cooler, but such is our sunny Singapore. Also a very warm thank you to the guests of honour and foreign celebrities,Paula Abdul, Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Vicki Zhao, etc. who have far travelled to grace the event with your presence. Not forgetting our local stars as well including Denise Keller, Adrian Pang, Michelle Chia, and especially our dear Dawn Yeoh and Sheila Sim who mingled amonst us in the warm humid weather. It was a wonderful party, congratulations once again.

I was a little unprepared and only had my camera phone with me, hence the poor picture quality. (Sorry Dawn for the blurry photo, it really doesn't do you justice.) But nonetheless, thought I'd share some highlights...

For more professionally taken photos of the event... Please follow this link.

Ministerial pay review?

Seems like there is some recognition for a need to review the ministerial salaries to appease the public sentiments of the apparently very high salaries by of the Singapore ministers. I have always professed that Singapore has one of the "lowest" corruption rates around the world largely because there is no need to do so. Our ministers are among the top-notch of the carefully selected "white horses" amongst the "old boys network" and are handsomely promised a stable career with revolving portfolios if deemded necessary. There seems too much at stake to risk and perhaps the rewards are already built in anyway.

With regards to the salary review? I'm a little skeptical about this...

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/ministerial-salaries-effective-21-may-2011-113043431.html

I'm convinced that one way or the other, their nett package may not change too much. Its just about re-structuring it so it seems more "acceptable" and justifiable, giving us less visibility into where the additional income sources may stem from. Anyway, what was promised wasonlya "salary" review, of which the salary could be only part of the overall income.

In any case, if they can justify their deserving rights to the pay I have not much qualms. I am more concerned about other issues particularly cost of living and long term competitiveness of the country's economy, especially how they intend to continue driving growth taking into consideration the welfare of the people.

Growth has its costs if not managed well. As the "almighty" they obviously know that their role is not as a charitable organisation, but it should not be a soley profit-driven corporation as well. We've came a long way the past half a century... what should be our direction for the next half a century? I'm sure if they can promise, quantify, and deliver, pay structures will no longer be an issue to be contested. But that stands to be proven isn't it? No point adjusting ministers' pay just to shut our mouths up when nothing else changes.

They should recognise that the people's dissent stems from our inability to comprehend such high rewards when they have failed to address various needs and critical issues, made grave financial shortfalls, yet maintaining their nonchalant, adamant, and arrogant stance. Sure, they managed to hit certain selectively chosen KPIs for their reporting and news reporting purposes and covered the others by being real hush hush. But taking a look across the population, take some time to listen to the people's voices. Does those numbers reflect what is happening on the ground? Perhaps it is once again a very good marketing campaign to keep foreign investors happy, something the government has been very good at thus far.

Anyway, enough of my rambling...

My point to the "new" government is this:

instead of

I'm sure if they can justify their pay well and convince the people of their justifications, we wouldn't be here today to discuss about this. Food for thought moving forward...

I am not a blogger

I would never claim myself to be a blogger. Especially since the last time I posted anything on blogspot was probably years ago. Ever since the first appearance of blogs, the hype of the web 2.0 and the introduction of "new media" threatening to replace traditional news media and change the business model or the way people view the world through social media, my world hasn't changed much.

With a couple of "old" friends setting up our so called" resistance force" against the adoption of Facebook when we were all flabbergasted by the immense speed of adoption by the people around us, it is scary for us "infidels" and possibly equally exciting for the folks within the network, though I suspect in the beginning they were busier trying to bite or poke each other and their adopted human pets.

Close to half a decade has passed since then. WOW!!! And the world hasn't changed too much for me. Not yet at least. I'm still not on Facebook despite having watched The Social Network. Yet, it is hard to deny the impact of the virtual and social media on our lives. While not tweeting or blogging regularly, I am a frequent visitor of an online hobbyist forum for fishkeeping. Amassing a heap of information and resources, the forum provided an avenue for learning and sharing among hobbyists. But not just that, it also serves as an excellent tool for PR and marketing.

In the past half a year, the posts by myself and another individual on the forum saved an almost bankrupt company. By writing reviews, posting available stocklists, taking pictures and showcasing the company's goods, we generated interest for the company. From a little known fish shop in the east side of the island, the shop now has visitors travelling all the way from Woodlands. It is no doubt that online presence has become a necessary evil these days, and managing your online presence is no longer a just hobby or something you do during your free time but rather, potentially a proper full-time job.

With the emergence of online PR firms, social media tracking companies, the reputation of companies online has become an issue important enough to keep track, important enough to even affect election results. This post today is in essence to recognise and congratulate a special company that had the foresight to capitalise on this, Brandtology. I shall not elaborate too much on the company since I'm not their PR firm but would just like to congratulate them on the deal and salute them for putting Singapore on the map for the IT and technology community worldwide.

Random pictures taken this Sunday while wandering in town with my iPod touch

malicious words

Its amazing the damage words can bring... and with blogs ever the more we should be more careful with the kind of words people, or companies spread about us. Or for that matter, what we sa about others. While blogs and non-reviewed publications like forums etc. allow for freedom of expression, one should also not abuse it and discretion should be taken when reading information form such sources. Especially since it may not be verified.

Unfortunately, there are individuals or companies which irresponsibly engage such tactics to injure or attempt to distort the reputation of others. While we cannot stop such expressions of opinions or skewed representations, we should always keep a watchful eye so we may be prepared to react to comments about such posts. Should such comments take to the extremity of defamation, we should also be ready to stand up for our rights as opposed to accepting such slander. Singapore is not afraid to engage legal means to protect its own interests.

Anyway, this post is in response to certain individuals who have attempted to spread malicious blogs about our company. My only response to them is that their act has been rather childish and unprofessional. I believe we have been rather gracious and tolerant towards their multiple attempts to injure us. We value your freedom of expression and speech, but then again, please grow up.

Sometimes... I feel like blogging what I'm thinking or feeling and frankly, but lately... it has probably too messy to put into words...

Photos part VI (Dubai 2006)

Photos part V (US Road Trips 2005/2006)