The Presidential Elections is just 2 days away. Although the attention is not as much as GE2011, I thought it’s still a good idea for me to pen down my thoughts at the moment.

My choice had always been Tan Jee Say since the day he decided to stand for the PE. There is a lot of hustling and bustling along the way, but since the GE, I have become slightly more seasoned at deciphering the information around me. And with more listening and watching, I believe I will be making the right choice.

Tony Tan is a definite No No. Firstly, I am not for the men in white. Secondly, I won’t vote for a Chinese who doesn’t speak Mandarin. Thirdly, I didn’t know how he sucks so much until I saw him on the “ST Presidential Roundtable” as well as the “TOC Face to Face 2” videos. I am attempting to view him base on own observation. Arrogance – by smirking, turning his head away and looking down whenever he feels uninterested about the question. Slimy – by not answering any questions posted by anyone. Defensive – of anything that has got to do with the constitution, past decisions and possibly any question that is “not normal”. If voted in, he will just be doing what the establishment had shaped us into believing what the President can and cannot do. He keeps saying that the President “must be above politics”. But please, this is politics.

Seriously, being a general Singaporean who never bothers myself much about politics, I have never heard of Tan Cheng Bock until this April where he appeared on the cover of ST with the title “It is wrong to call it Ng Teng Fong Hospital”. This caught my attention as I am also against this hospital name too. That aside, I began to hear more and more of Tan Cheng Bock after that, together with his blog. Suddenly, he announced that he will be contesting in the PE.

Now, fast forward till today to why I won’t vote for him. His blog was set up in March this year, and there are tons of issues which he recorded videos on, but most of the topics are just touch and go with only 1 post each. Most of the time, he will just repeat his grandfatherly talk by harping on the “I am not a Yes man” and “I am a man of principles” ideology. These are words of what people say of you, not words which you keep saying to everyone you meet.

And on the 2 recordings mentioned above, his performance is far less satisfactory than even Tony Tan. He is so confined to “himself” and “his ideas”, which appears heavily influenced by the establishment over the 6 terms as an MP. He does not seem to be able to keep a clear and focus mind, demonstrated by his answering of the wrong questions on several occasions, and which requires some prompting before he comes back on track. The one thing that finally turns me off is when he says that he “will resign” if there is a serious “fundamental disagreement with the government”. I just want to say that it is very easy to leave a post, but it takes courage to stay. I will not vote for someone who will walk out on me just because he disagrees with the government due to his belief.

I also find him a spendthrift. $160,000 on postage to send his flyer to all the 800,000 households in Singapore, not including the envelopes, printing and manpower cost. Along the road where I stay, there are 4 huge banners within a 200m stretch, so I guess there will be more throughout the island. Not to mention car decals and booking of a Singapore Expo hall for his rally. I personally don’t think he can manage the use of reserves well, especially when he is not financially inclined. As the day draws closer and closer, I really cannot understand his intentions, which seems vague and contradicting at times. To me, his personal agenda seems stronger than national agenda.

Tan Kin Lian is the only candidate whom I came up close and did a “Hi 5” with him during his visit at a food centre. Without Tan Jee Say, I will vote for him. Amongst the 4 of them, he could be the only one that is not so versed in social issues. He does not articulate as well as the rest, and probably lacks the “stature” as many would like to perceive. But he is very genuine, and you can feel that he is a very sincere candidate, probably the real People’s President in the making. When asked about something which he does not know, he openly says he don’t know, enquires about it, and then gives his thoughts. He is someone who can listen and I believe it when he says he can be the voice of the people. As much as he is sincere, many people may take the pain not to vote for him just because they don’t want to split votes for someone whose chances is not high. I just hope he gets to keep the deposit.

Why will I vote for Tan Jee Say? When you hear a man speak passionately, you can feel it. When asked how he felt towards issues like the ISA, Section 377A etc., his reply is given right away without much thoughts, so either he is a very good actor who gives model answers to garner votes, or they are words from the heart. I believe it is the latter. The moral courage he has been talking about is seriously lacking in our society. I can’t believe that there is still 60% of the people who are disillusioning about how great our establishment is. In Mandarin, I like to call it 鬼遮眼 (eyes covered by ghosts). It is so easy to differentiate something between right and wrong when that thing becomes so obvious, but they prefer to choose the wrong side to believe, maybe for some personal gains.

On whether he is confrontational, I don’t think so. However, this is subjective depending on the level a person can accept. Those who can’t accept someone who talks louder with strong views will see it as confrontational. They think that it is bad for the country, bad for the government, and bad for the people. I see it that he can hold very constructive debate, which will likely lead to more accountability and transparency. Again, this is what the establishment has shaped us to believe in, that you have to talk nicely, slowly, and maybe fake a smile. Those who are a bit louder will be deemed radical. Just watch this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsAa9VmwOaI) and ask yourself whether these UK office holders who booed their opponents, or even the British PM himself appeared rouge to you outside of their Parliament?

Even though the President may not be able to do much right now, I would still rather vote for someone who will try to do more and think out of the box. Who is to say that in the next 5 or 10 years, our constitution is not going to be amended? If he has the courage to raise issues that no one else does, why not?

Ask yourself, the President is paid 4 million a year using your money, so it is you who is employing him. And now it is even better that you get to decide who to employ, just by that vote of yours. If you are the boss of a company, will you employ someone who works within their scope during his tenure or would you rather employ someone who make your money worth by adding-value to his work?

不知怎的，最近老是和阿慧注意周围一些浪费食物的情况，越看越觉得情况严重。在机场的Popeye Chicken, 看到隔壁座的一对好像是旅客样子的印度夫妇。他们买了两份套餐，吃了一两口后，可能味道不顺口，竟然拿了行李就离开了。

另一个常出现食物浪费的地方是Ikea。可能是食物好吃的关系，或是价格合理，又或者是浆料和饮料任拿，造就了一批贪婪的食客。不知隔壁座当时坐了多少人，但在几个盘子里却出现同一个现象，就是所有的马铃薯都是完好的，似乎没有人动过。数一数，那可足够味饱一个人了。食客下手的是所有的肉类如炸鸡翅。还有，一大碟剩余的辣椒酱根本就是吃不完的，却不知是否浆料器失控，撒了一大碟辣椒酱给他们。

我没把情况拍下来，因为看了很让人作呕。呕的不是那一座好像猪般的吃法，而是被浪费掉的食物。

我们的富裕可能让我们忘了还有贫困的人。

我们的奢侈可能让我们忘了食物的珍贵。

我们的高傲可能让我们觉得食物一定要有剩，才算是吃得饱。

我们的自尊可能容不下两个人共享一份食物。宁可一人一份，然后吃不完。

我们不会天天都看到不幸的事。可是若你还稍微有一点恻隐之心，那么当你下次在外用餐时，请先想一想你所需要的分量才点菜吧。别说世界的另一端，就是在岛国的另一端，也都有着一群在挨饿的同胞。毕竟在正常时候，七分饱也就够了。

我们家对食物的看法很简单，但多数人不认同。如果在家里请客，要拿捏分量可不是容易的事，但我们的做法是不会过分的准备。如果客人吃得太饱，会感觉恶心。如果吃得意犹未尽，则会觉得特别好吃。在外也是一样，不用一次过点太多。任何时候需要加菜，还怕没得加吗？

真不明白，为什么就是会有人一直把你当笨蛋。有时候，不说不一定不会，会说不一定能干。

今天刚接了一通电话，真是无事不登三宝殿。明明已经很多年没联络的人，当时在无声无息下离开他的岗位，就如人间蒸发，现在竟突然出现，想用同样的方法叫你做一些事情。不好意思，大家朋友一场，所以以前会在在不了解的情况下应酬你。之后把事情的来龙去脉都搞清楚了，我告诉自己这个人的话不能信。怎知他这次出现，竟还好像好朋友这样说了一堆废话。在察觉到我其实不是他想像的白痴后，马上借故把电话挂了。还是那副德性。

当人在高处时，可要小心自己的言行，别把当初帮过你的人当作废料乱踩。因果报应是时时刻刻都在发生的。

之前在圣诞和新年期间，帮忙朋友照顾她的狗狗 Winnie。这是我们第一次照顾小狗，有点措手不及，但相处下来，却越来越喜欢她。

她虽然有些怪脾气，但却聪明的很。

工人党终于拿下第一个集选区了!

改变，因果，报应，这些都是会来的。不管是五年，十年，二十年，还是五十年，它就是会来的。

希望 – 一定要有！！

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为了大选，在劳动节写了一则英语稿，05.05.11 发表于theonlinecitizen. 以下是全文。

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个人的事再大也是小事。国家的事再小也是大事。

The above words in English means “However big a personal issue is, it is still a small issue. But however small a country issue is, it is still a big issue”.

Upgrading

At every election, there is one single thing that the government will do – upgrading of flats and precinct.  I believe that everyone knows the real reason why multi-million upgrading programs are unveiled at this time, although majority chooses not to talk about it openly.

If you look at the letters published in the papers, people talk about how they are contented with the current situation or what our country has achieved since independence. They are happy and cannot imagine what will happen if they wake up on the 8th of May to find that the value of their house dropped from 400k to 200k. It is an asset which they have worked so hard to pay for in the last 30 years. Others are very pleased with the upgrading programs that they have been getting, and cannot imagine what to do if they do not get a fresh coat of paint every 5 years. They want the value of their home to appreciate. This is a personal interest.

It is precisely this “personal interest” which the ruling party knows, that they use the same tactic over and over again. Recently, an NUS student asked PM Lee why flats in opposition wards are at the last in queue for upgrading, and it was confirmed by PM Lee that he has to take care of PAP wards first because those residents supported PAP. This was further reinforced by MM Lee that he can guarantee voters will regret if they vote opposition. The value of their flats will drop and upgrading plans won’t be carried out.

As a responsible government, how can the PAP discriminate Singaporeans by dividing us this way? It is well-known that their salary and the money used for upgrading are from all of us taxpayers. They are supposed to provide fair treatment to all citizens and not for their sole interest of gaining votes. In fact, if they really want to win the opposition wards over, they should not just hang the carrots there, but to give out the carrots whole heartedly even when they lose, and maybe to give the opposition ward even more.

I, too, am a normal Singaporean living in an HDB flat. Of course I would like the value of my flat to appreciate over time (again personal interest), but not at such a rate that is much faster than how our salary grows. Every time you think of how the value of your flat goes up, try thinking of those who are less fortunate to afford a flat. Not everybody is eligible to rent a flat from the government, and for those who had to rent from the open market, the rental is tied to prices of resale value, which they cannot afford.

Recently, both the WP and PAP candidate for Hougang were asked “What do the residents need?” The WP candidate said that they needed someone who is caring, responsible and who can help them. In contrast, the PAP candidate said that they needed lift upgrading, more covered walkways and education assistance.

Which answer do you prefer?

Lift upgrading is not supposed to be a gift from the government. It was because back in the 70s and 80s, housing people and was more important, so HDB does not provide lift landing at every floors so as to keep building cost low. If they are making up for it now, they should not talk like it is a new idea, as if we owe them to do something they should already have done.

Singaporeans are well-travelled and well-educated compared to a generation ago. Just take a look, which country has more covered walkways than we do? While we are in a tropical country, do we need to be so sheltered that we cannot even carry an umbrella on a rainy day? Again, is this to our personal interest when we “like” what has being done?

There is a joke that I am reminded of every year during in-camp training. When asked to provide suggestions as part of the improvement process, there is always a few of them who would suggest building a covered walkway from our unit to the cookhouse, which is just 50m away. It never got implemented, maybe because we soldiers do not need to vote in the SAF.

High Cost of Housing

Why are people marrying in their 30s? A few years back, one of my new colleagues from a neighbouring country laughs her way out when she hears that in Singapore, couples wait for flats to get married. She finds it special. On one hand, the government wants us to get married early and to boost the declining birth rate. But on the other hand, our MM Lee is saying that Singaporeans are impatient in waiting for their flats.

I think there are 2 reasons for the impatience. First, not all marriages are so well-planned that you can do it 5 years in advance. When you felt like marrying, you just want to get married. If there is a choice, you won’t want to apply for a flat and wait for the spark to die down during the years of waiting. Sure you can rent, but why waste money to pay for something which does not belong to you in the end?

Secondly, everyone is worried about the rising cost of new flats. I don’t believe that young couples find it affordable anymore, because I have taken that route before. In 1993, my parents bought a new flat at about $95 psf at the lowest range. In 2004, my new flat was $173 psf at the lowest range. That is an 82% increase in 11 years. A latest check on HDB (2011) for a new flat at my estate was $289,000, which is $295 psf, and translates to paying $1,144 per month on a 30-year loan. This is a 70% increase in 7 years. If this sounds much higher than what you thought, it was because the sizes of new flats are smaller, and it is only fair that I compare it based on psf.

Scenario

Assuming you and your spouse are now 30 – 35 years old and is buying a new 4-rm flat of the lowest range. If you want to pay the flat fully using CPF, it means that both of you need have $572 every month on your ordinary account (OA) till you are 60 – 65 years old. As OA contribution reduces based on age, this is how much you need to earn every month to ensure timely payment on your loan.

*CPF salary ceiling increased to $5000 from Sep 2011 onwards. So you will have to fork out cash beyond 60 years old.

Questions:

• Are you sure you can earn $5000 when you reach 60 years old?
• Are you sure both of you will be working throughout 30 years earning this kind of salary?
• Are you sure you can achieve the CPF minimum sum of $123,000 (which increases every year) for retirement when you are 65 years old?
• Do you think this scenario is going to get worse or better?
• Are you worried for the next generation or just yourself?
• Do you still believe our minister when he says that flats are still affordable?

Before ending, let me relate a story that I think is much better than Mr Lui Tuck Yew’s.

A man was sentenced to life imprisonment. The first day when he stepped into his cell, things started to go wrong. The spoon for drinking soup has holes in it. The fish has a mouse-trap-like spring that pokes into his jaw when he eats it. The chair he sits on is made up of knives that injured him. When he fell down on the floor, he sat on nails. And there are other traps that hurt him faster than he can react. He realized this is not a normal cell, but a torture chamber.

Then, he saw a small opening in the wall, and began to dig until its large enough to crawl through. Outside the opening is a green patch of land with flowers and a clear blue sky. He wants to get out, but was very worried. What if there is a head chopper waiting at the other side of the wall that will drop on him when he sticks his head out? So for the next 50 years, he just sat at his cell every day, looking out to the green pastures and the clear blue sky.

My friend, do you have the courage to go through that opening?

华语翻译：

有一个人被判了终生监禁。当他踏入牢房的那一天起，奇怪的事便接二连三的发生。喝汤时，发现汤匙是有洞的。吃鱼时，却被带有机关的鱼骨夹到。坐在椅子上，才发现被暗藏了的刀子割伤。跌倒在地，则被满地的钉子刺伤。除此，更有许许多多的陷阱，让他根本来不及反应。他这才发现，这根本不是普通的牢房，而是行刑室！

接着，他看到墙上有个小裂缝。 他开始拼命的挖，一直挖到这个洞有足够的空间爬出去为止。在洞的另一端，他看到外头的大草地，花草树木和蓝天白云。他很想出去，但又非常害怕。万一墙的另一边，有着一副断头台等着他，那该怎么办？于是，在未来的50年里，他就这样的，每天坐在牢房里，看着外头的蓝天白云。

朋友，你有勇气穿越那个洞吗？

在Jalan Kayu 吃完美味的 prata。回程途中出现雨后的彩虹。真漂亮！

翻开星期六的报章，便看到两则关于年轻人的交通意外。一起是关于一名服役军人遭倒退的卡车撞死的不幸事故，而另一起则是一名青年因开车失控而导致两名孟加拉籍客工伤亡。两人才19岁，却得面对如此遭遇，令人惋惜。

以上两个事故只是冰山一角。每每都会看到年轻司机因鲁莽驾驶而酿成惨剧的报道。我不禁要问，18岁的驾驶法定年龄会否太小了？很多18岁的年轻人心智还不成熟，血气方刚，往往只想一到18岁就马上考取驾照来证明自己长大了，开着父母的车到处与朋友约会，炫耀一番。他们真的适合在公路上行驶吗？真的会以周遭的人的安全着想吗？有数据显示，越年轻的司机，肇祸的几率要比其它年龄层高出许多。

再细看公路四周，所谓的“大车”或“豪华车”似乎也越来越多了。说实在，很多国人往往都以车子的大小来炫耀个人所谓的身份地位，用其的贵贱来衡量个人的经济与消费能力。有趣的是，普遍上一名经理的车型都不会比其下属的小，经理的也绝不可比总经理的大，以此类推。记得友人曾说过想把驾了一年的车换掉，买个大型点的，理由无非只是不想在公路上被人‘欺负’。在聚餐时，当某人说出他的车辆型号时，还有人会大力曾赞“哇，你很成功啊，很成功！”我不禁恍愕，这种拥车心态在现今社会已比比皆是了。

笔者年过三十，却只在一年多前才前往考取驾照。对很多国人来说，这可能有点迟，可是我却从没有那种急着想要驾驶的欲望。对我来说，车子只不过是一种交通工具。公共交通在很多时候更加方便。在我有限的驾驶经验中，几乎每次开车都会遇到令人厌恶的公路行为。超速驾驶，转道不打灯，高速紧跟车后，边抽烟、边用手机边驾驶等等。在大雨中，行为更是鲁莽，丝毫不被大雨影响。难怪很多人都说在新加坡开车很有压力。以德国为例，大多数的高速公路都不会设置速度指标。原因是公路使用者都懂得自律。在新加坡，相信这是行不通的。

笔者相信，驾驶与公路安全意识始于从小教育与政府有效管治监控。在很多欧美国家，驾驶者法定年龄虽也定在16或18岁，但18岁所拥有的驾照却是限制级的(Restricted License)。法律会规定限制级驾照者在一个设定年龄之前（如21岁），不得在晚上一个指定时间内驾驶。而其他时候，也必须由一名21岁以上的合法驾驶者陪伴。有些国家甚至还规定陪伴者的座位需要安装多一个脚踏刹车器。
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吊诡的是，本地各大保险公司只会担保21岁以上的车主，显示保险公司对于21岁以下司机没有信心。笔者不能了解为何政府可把限制级电影设定在21岁，却把驾驶年龄定在18岁？其中一个猜测是国民服役的入伍年龄是18岁，而一些服役人员需要驾驶军车，应此得把考取驾照者年龄法定为18岁。但别忘了，在军营的条规里，驾驶者都需要有一名上士以上的人员陪伴以做必要的控制，就是所谓的Vehicle Commander。所以基本上军车在路上行驶时都是两名人员的，大大减低了意外的风险。无庸置疑，新一代的年轻国人普遍都在安逸的环境中长大，就是所谓的“温室里的花朵”。父母无微的呵护也使得他们缺乏适当的警惕能力以及危机感。

在此建议，政府大可考虑实施类似限制级驾照的措施，直到驾驶者21岁而记录完好，才转换成普通驾照。而国民服役人员在服役时若累积了制定里数，也留待他21时才颁发驾照。

日前路径牛车水一带，就在牛车水原貌馆外见到两名看似老师的女士正带着一群小学生。看来是学校假期的休闲活动吧。

当我接近学生群时，其中一位老师高声说道：“Look, class, this is the 红头军. Ya? 红头军”（译：“大家看，这便是红头军。好吗？红头军”。）我一时错愕，什么红头军？难不成这里有前苏联的红军？跟着我便顺着那位老师所指的方向看看。原来她指着的是原貌馆外的一尊红头巾铜像。

当我走过那段路后，不期然回想，即然老师要以英语解说，为何却舍弃红头巾的正确翻译－Samsui Women,　却以标音不准的话语硬凑进她的英语解说？现在的孩子们可不像我们二三十年前一样，可从电视剧认识到“红头巾”,“亚塔屋”, “南洋”等字眼。而许多家长更把教育的责任全都往学校和老师们推。若老师们以不准确的词汇或常识灌输学生，家长又忽视情况，错误的词汇必在孩子们的脑海成型，学了等于白学。

我举另一个例子。常会听到长辈们说“噢，下个月某某要结分了”。这下“结婚”可变成“结分”了，似乎在寓意结了就分。虽然我偶尔也会开玩笑的跟他们作弄一番，他们也很配合的马上讲出“结婚”，可是过了一阵子，又是结分了。由于长辈们早年都是以方言交谈，学华语也没有我们以汉语拼音学习这么容易，所以难免会有这种情况。小孩子听了，有时也会跟着念。

“红头巾”可不同于“结婚”两个字这么普遍。红头巾可是早年默默地为新加坡做出贡献的妇女，是在新加坡独有的称谓。很难想象当这些孩子们长大后，或在外国朋友，或在远方亲戚到来时，带着他们走访牛车岁原貌馆时，指着铜像说“Look, this is the 红头军”。

最近在电视上看到某大型电器与家具公司的几则广告，又收到一本厚厚的宣传册子，发现以“超大节省”为促销的广告有误导成份。

分期付款的方式不是以大家所熟悉的每月计算来宣传，而是每星期计算。以一件 $1000 的货品简单的计算一下。每星期 $9.13，48个月，每月4个星期。最终偿还的数目大约 $1750。无论货品的种类或价格，计算利息的方式都是一样的。4年下来，会比原来价格高出 75%，每年的单一利率约18.75%。该公司到底是在卖电器还是在做信贷，这就不得而知了。

以信贷的方式向银行贷款，单一利率平均为3%，而该公司的作法却比银行高出最少15%，几乎就要“追上”信用卡债务的 24%。

该公司是没有信用卡免利息信贷的。所以，这种做法很明显的是在针对低收入者。无论你所拥有的是两房式或租赁组屋，你还是希望有一个电冰箱，电视，或孩子学习需要的电脑。在没有太多储蓄的情况下，这种只要有身份证和工资单就能消费的方式无疑变成一种最直接的途径。就算了解其中的道理，可能还是会被眼前“每星期 $9”的广告所打动。

这让我联想到本地一部电影里的情节。大耳窿振振有词的说他所做的其实都是为了穷人。银行不肯借钱，就让他来借吧！难怪穷人会越来越穷，因为商业上的种种做法都是对他们不利的。

市场上曾有这么一个看似合法、却摆明敲诈的做法。某人开了一家二手电器行。你需要$2000，他会私下叫你去向上述的该类大公司，以分期付款购买一件价值$3000的电器。之后，他以$2000向你购买，再以“二手”的方式以$2500卖出。大公司，电器行和“二手”买家都赚到了。你也拿到了需要的钱，却掉进了更深的债务洞穴，4年所还的数目几乎双倍。

这种做法的出现，就是因为有该类型公司“方便低收入者”的信贷方式。我们也不能排除往后会有更多变种的信贷方式出现。

希望消费者协会能够注意该类型信贷。必要时，可消除每星期付款的广告模式。或许低收入者在看到每月需付$36分期贷款时，会三思而后行，把辛苦赚来的钱用得更有价值。

大约二十年前，当我还是名中学生时，校长曾在礼堂上叙述她的一段经历。话说在回国途中，她与身旁的一位洋人交谈。洋人当时正在阅读一本中文刊物。之后，洋人称赞校长讲得一口漂亮的英语。校长笑答“在新加坡，很多人都能讲得像我一样”。洋人拿起手中的刊物问道，那中文又如何呢？校长调侃对我们说：在回答英语部分时，她的确撒了谎，但回答中文部分时，她倒是很认真，语带遗憾的说“对不起，我的华语并不好”。

几个月前，我跟阿慧在德国列车内跟一位从北京前去公干的旅客闲聊许久后，她表示没想到我们普通话讲得还不错。因为只在国内接触过新加坡人，而从没到过本地，所以一直以为我们是以英语交谈的，而普通话就不行了。她有些惊喜，我们却有些讶意，一时不知该怎么回答，便说“其实在新加坡，凡是华人，大多都能用普通话交谈。有机会不妨来看看”。

我跟校长一样，撒了一个谎。

虽然两个简单的经历相隔二十年，而各自的出发点也一样是想把好的一面呈献给外国人，但母语的现实状况却是大大的不同了。

从前，人们专注于把英语学好，害怕孩子到了社会，因为英语程度底而“输给人”，身为第二语文的母语变成是次要了，只要求孩子会听，会讲，考试刚刚好。校长或许也属于这一群，所以才会下意识得让外国人了解新加坡人甚高的英语程度。但从外国人的角度看来，他们不会因为你说得跟他们一样流利的英语而对你刮目相看。相反，他们会以你是“华人不会讲华语”的身份对你另眼相看。校长当下的感触是对的——遗憾。

各位若细查即不难发现，当时的孩子们，也就是现在处于三四十岁的一群，即使水准参半，但绝大多数都是双语通行的。虽然当时以华语交谈居多而可能导致英语程度普通，一踏入社会，英语能力却会自然因工作上的需要而有所提升。但一些华语基础不够的，说起话来总会给人听出“这个是 jia kandang的”。

如今，家长们仍是专注于要孩子把英语学好，对于华语的掌握，却诸多借口，还希望教育部真的降低华语考试比重，以保子女不被母语成绩给拖累。但可以想象，再过二十年，当这些孩子都踏入社会后，几乎就会断了跟母语接触的机会。他们到时可能会“传承”父母的做法，想一些新‘点子’，为让他们的孩子放弃母语而奋斗。

可能要重申一下。我指的是那些有机会学习华语，却又因为瞧不起华语而不学华语的人。

又是中学时代的事件。当时有一位学生领袖，是十足的kandang,父母当时已经在为他争取放弃第二语文。华语年考时，他就直接交白卷，连名字都不会写，要老师代劳。之后，鄙视他的同学大有人在，我就是其中之一。

华人不会讲华语，听起来就是个笑话。

最近听几位友人谈起关于他们应征时碰到的点滴，觉得好像很多人都面对相同的问题，有必要分享一下。

例子一。朋友到一家大公司应征。被安排在早上九点半面试。当时还有另两位求职者。因为董事在开会，所以便让三人等着。怎知这一等便是两个小时。而当董事出来时，还一脸不耐烦的开始进行面试。因为他还在赶时间，便给了每人三至五分钟时间。匆匆结束，一声道歉也欠奉。

求职者请了假，准备充裕，应约前来来应征。这些都是基本行径。哪面试的公司呢？难道就不能给求职者一些时间上的尊重吗? 在一些发达国家如纽约或日本，人们把浪费时间当成是一种罪孽。虽然我相信在本地这只是少数的情况，绝大部份人还是会等上半小时左右。

例子二。朋友选择在辞去做了几年的工作后，休息一阵子再重新出发。面试时却遭面试者一直针对“还没找到工作就辞职”这点做出私人攻击，一味的把求职者贬低，说得一文不值。

如何选择自己走的路是私人决定。正所谓“英雄不问出身地”。面试者要注重的因该是求职者能够为你的公司带来什么。他的经验，专长，往后的心态才是重点。面试者又何必咄咄逼人，非要揭出一些他们认为是“沧疤”的事呢？

可能是我们的社会常把求职叫做“讨工作”。这名词听起来带有有些许贬意。好像真的需要讨才会有。毕竟求职是双方面的事，是一种合作。公司有需求，求职者上门献出他们宝贵的经验。若谈得妥，就是双赢。谈不妥，就当是认识一个人。求职者应该以谦卑，但不是低下的态度去应征。

朋友的做法一向都是不把所求薪金放得太高，甚至可能还低于“市价”。职位方面也是一样的心态，若有高低两个空缺，而自己的条件也都符合，他还是会选择较低的那个。

就那一个做法- 条件不要放得太高。

这当然没有错，也是政府，长辈，或任何苦口婆心的朋友会给的意见。姑且勿论在寻找的是什么工作，其实在求职时应该保持一点高姿态。不是叫你漫天开价，表现傲慢，或跟应征公司大谈条件，摆出不可一世的样子。

至少，都要有那一点尊严，和对自己能力的信心。

近日来每当到了晚上，都会闻到阵阵烧焦味，影响睡觉前的情绪。起初还以为是邻国在梵烧树林，之后才得知原来是岛国气候干旱以致今年首二个月的丛林野火增加所造成的。

这是自然现象，但可笑的是造就这自然现象的是我们自私的行为。在这里提的不是什么环保意识，而是吸烟。

岛国的气候已经这么炎热了，再加上近年气温上升，心情偶尔变得烦躁也难免，周遭还有这么多的二手烟，把空气弄得更糟更热。单在去年，每天被点燃的烟有六百七十万只之多。

在食阁或咖啡店用餐，座位的安排使得吸烟与非吸烟区只在一线之隔，根本起不了什么作用。在大厦入口五公尺范围内不准吸烟，也不知大厦业者会否积极执行。在市区走一圈，到处都是违令者，有很多甚至还是学生。最吊诡的是，有些人走了五公尺，就刚好站在巴士车前站吸烟。当要提醒他们车站不准吸烟时，却连一个“不准吸烟”的告示牌都没有。新加坡人是很识趣的，你没有当场列明不可以做，我就能做。

我曾拨给环境局的热线举报一些“热门违例区”。也不得不赞扬一下他们的确是会采取行动的。但毕竟人手不可能到处站岗 ，等待违例者出现。烟客们真的需要自重。

在日本，烟客都会“自定”吸烟区。就算看到当地人点着烟四处走，身上也必定带着一个烟灰盒。有些地方还设立了“吸烟厅”，让烟客们集中在一起，吸吸彼此的二手，三手烟。浓浓不散的烟味，还的确让一些烟客觉得不好意思， 从此决定戒烟。姑且勿论理由，至少它达到了效果。

刚搬进新组屋时，环境清幽。两年下来，基本上没太大的改变，却老是被隔邻的二手烟呛得难受得很。因为在家办公，所以若不把厨房的窗户关起来，一天到晚可要被熏上十来次。每次闻到烟味传进厨房又值达客厅，都让我和太太精神紧张，马上冲去把窗户关好。事件让我懊恼不已。到现在还不能确定到底是哪一户邻居的杰作。

以前也曾在报章读到同样的事件，而当局也回复了发信人，说没办法干涉屋主在自家的行为。在新加坡，有80% 的人都住在政府组屋，若不向市镇会或环境局反馈，还能往哪里？这不像公寓，能向管理委员会反馈而得到妥善的行动。

在国家发展部的“Building Maintenance And Strata Management Act” 中，很详细的提到很多关于住户行为的章程。基本上章程环绕着的无非是住户不能做些在声音，垃圾处置，晾衣服，使用易燃物，养宠物等等的行为上，骚扰到其他住户。虽然仔细而繁多，但对于那些抱着为他人着想心态的住户，其实不难做到。若在私人公寓，有些发展商甚至还把不得在地板“捶辣椒”列为骚扰之一。政府组屋虽然不受这些章程覆盖，但建屋局其实也以这些条文为基础，设了类似的指南。

看到这种种详细的章程，不禁纳闷，为何“在家吸烟以致干扰邻居”这一项不在之内呢？毕竟这也不是少数人的问题。朋友之间碰到类似情况的比比皆是。吸烟是个人的事，但若危害及影响到周围的人时，就是大家的事了。毕竟左邻右舍也算是同处“一个屋檐下”，大家忙碌了一天回到家中，就是为了份温暖和平静，烟客们凭什么要邻居在自己的家中忍受着他们的二手烟呢？这样的情况又有谁来管治呢？

很多调查资料已经证明了二手烟的危害。很不明白，为何这个高消费，危害本身，危害他人，危害环境的行为还出现逐年增加的趋势。请不要忘了，当你身边的人因为长期吸二手烟而患病时，影响到的不单是他个人，还有他的家庭。

为减少吸烟人数增加，政府已经推出了很多值得鼓励的条例。在来恐就是像美国一些城市，全面禁烟了。我以一个非吸烟者的角度来看，当然赞成，但会更希望我们能生活在一个比较自制的社会，不需要走到那个地步。

“你在哪里工做啊？”
“哦，那还好，环境比较简单 。”

“你以前当兵是做什么的huh？”
“哇，不错leh, 很 sing nang酱（轻松的意思）。”

“哦，今天这么准时下班啊？”
“多希望我的职位可以跟你一样，就不用这么忙了。”

是不是常听到这样的话呢？其实我以前当兵时就跟队友们碰到很多类似的冷眼冷语。属于空军部队的我们，一向都给人家很轻松的感觉。因为努力不懈，一大批人考到了体能测验金牌，结果还会给人家在面前说是去Beach Road 买的。

大家毕竟都是血气方刚的年轻人，脾气有点“衝”是可以了解的。但好就好在我们可能听惯了，所以也不去解释或比前比后。怎么说大家也是为国家贡献，履行兵役。重点在于坚守岗位，尽责而把本份做好。真不明白为什么就是要比谁比较“siong” 。

出来社会工作第一个十年了。发现原来很多人都会这样。时不时在谈话间都会让你知道其实你没有他们忙。这是很主观的。你只要去争辩，他们又会有另外一种想法~“明明很轻松，还要讲到很忙”。

我没有长时间跟国外的人接触，但总觉得这种把对方比下去的情况在本地真的很普遍。好像是让人拿来减压用的。

年轻时就听过这样一个故事。

有一次，源律禅师问大珠慧海：“和尚修道，还用功吗？”
大珠说：“当然用功啦。”
源律禅师问：“怎样用功？”
大珠说：“饿了就吃饭，困了就睡觉。”
源律禅师说：“所有的人不都是这样，这跟您用功有什么不同呢？”
大珠说：“不同。”
“有什么不同呢？”
大珠说：“别人吃饭时，不肯好好吃饭，却百般思虑；睡觉的时候又不肯好好睡觉，要千方百计地计较，所以就不同啦。”

很简单，但却道出了现代人的通病。不管做什么事，都不能专心的做，心里很多杂念。以较正面的现代语来讲，这叫做“一心多用”。英语更好听，叫 Multi-tasking。

不是说我在这里写这些就不会这样，毕竟我也是一个在凡尘打滚的个现代人 ：D。 这么多年了，我还是记着这个小故事，以警惕自己凡是做事不要那么急躁。多集中，少分散。尽量不要忙了一大圈后才发现原来什么都只做了一点，而且还是半桶水。

事在人为，总有一天一定能告诉自己 ~ 我终于在用工的做东西了！