Are we using
people to grow the economy or using the economy to grow our people?
First, it was a 4.5
million figure in the 1990s projected for 2010 to 2020, then 4.5 million
projected for 2040 – 2050. And now they are thrusting the 7 million figure by
2030 upon us. [Here]
Khaw Boon Wan, the
same guy paid who tried to convince us that healthcare cost is affordable with
his $8 by-pass operation story, has now moved on to selling the story of good
quality life with 7 million people. [Here]
They have declared
specific figures about the population size and the rate of economic growth they
want for 2030, Singaporeans in turns
need to know about the specific figures about on quality life by 2030 as
we are supposed to benefit from this foreign influx.
On transport—private and public alike
Besides housing
these extra 1.7 million people, KBW and his gang forget that people move around
the island to commute to work, to run daily chores and to go schools.
Travelling
comfort, efficiency and reliability are the deciding factors, not by the sheer number
of new MRT lines, new MRT stations or interchanges.
Don’t forget that
new lines will only bring in new commuters to the existing problem-infested MRT
system, in addition to the extra loads from the 2030 population projection
which may well become a reality even before 2030, as well as commuters from Malaysia when
the line finally extends to Johor.
Therefore, we need
projected figures for 2030 in these
areas:
Public transport:
1. Total number of commuters on the MRT system
and public bus system during the peak hours.
2. The distribution of commuters at each MRT and bus interchange
during peak hour.
3. The average number of trains which
commuters have to wait at interchange before being able to squeeze on board
during peak hours; the number of buses which commuters have to wait before
being able to board during peak hours.
4. Train and bus frequency during peak hours.
5. Total number of commuters for each train
station during peak hours.
6. The frequency of train faults and bus break
downs every week.
7. The train and bus fare as a result of increased
operation costs due to increased commuters.
8. The average number of stops for each
long-distance bus route.
9. The extra time required to cover the same 2013-bus
route in 2030 during peak hours.
On the road,
1.
Total
number of vehicles plying the roads during peak hours (buses, taxis, trucks,
motorbikes inclusive please!).
2.
Total
number of vehicles on each existing highway during peak hours.
3.
The total
number of vehicles to be added onto the roads between 2013 to 2030.
4.
Price
of COE across all groups.
5.
The
total number of ERP gantries to solve 2030 congestions even though the 2013
congestion issues are not even resolved by the existing ERP gantries.
6.
The daily
average of road accidents.
7.
The
average time taken to cover the entire length of Bukit Timah road during peak hours
in 2030 and the extra time required as compared to 2013.
On
Healthcare
Apart from moving our aged parents to Johor
for cheaper nursing care and getting them out of the way for the new
immigrants, we should know the figures for:
1. The number of hospital beds
to every 1000 patients.
2. The number of physicians to every 1000
patients.
3. Estimated queue time to book for
specialist appointments.
4. Total number of healthcare workers
required to support a 7 million population and whether this number is included in
the 7 million population already.
5. Average number of patients at each polyclinic.
6. The average waiting time to see a doctor
at polyclinics.
7. The average book time for a dental
appointment at polyclinics.
On Housing
1. Prices for new flats for all flat-type.
2. Size of new flats for all flat-type
On Education
1. The class size for primary and secondary schools.
2. The total number of primary schools,
secondary schools and colleges.
3. The number of places available for
Singaporeans at local universities (private universities excluded please!).
On comfort
1.
The
total number of people at coffeeshops, hawker centres, restaurants during each
meal time for seven days a week.
2.
The
total number of shoppers at neighbourhood shopping malls and central district
shopping malls on weekends.
Conclusion
Admittedly, the
list is non-exhaustive. However, if they cannot project the figures for the
above as accurate as their population and economic target, how could we trust the
quality life which they depicted for us?
And when the figures
in the above areas are far from satisfying in our current 5.3 million
population figure situation, it is a mystery of how the 7 million figure would
translate into better quality life than now.
By 2030, Singapore
will no longer remain a multi-racial country but a multi-national country (MNC) instead. Realistically, we would need
multi-national MPs/ministers to represent the interest of each nationality such
as Myanmese, Indonesians, Vietnamese, Filipinos, PRC and Indians. Since we are
on the note of projecting figures, they might want to project the size of GRC
too for 2030.
