Ngiam Tong Dow - Iswaran talk Hollywood cock on F1

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

ON FORMULA 1

How else can Singapore further transform into a global city?
My favourite topic — I’m on public record — is Formula 1 (F1). We’re paying the Englishmen to stage the F1 night race here. Why should we use taxpayers’ money to pay for these races? I have asked this question publicly, but the MOF has never addressed it.

Doesn’t F1 put Singapore on the world map?

What does it mean by putting a country on the world map? I was born in a generation where every cent counts, so I believe we should spend our money wisely, and not on frivolities. Sometimes, I think our present Cabinet spends money on frivolities, and staging the F1 is my “favourite” example.

A Hong Kong delegation asked me what I consider frivolities. In Hong Kong, they have fireworks displays every year. One of the delegates asked me whether I thought it was a waste of public money. If everyone in Hong Kong can see the fireworks, then there is no waste; if only a restricted number of people can see it, then the money spent is wasted.

Since Singapore has been considered a boring country, don’t you think it will increase our soft power?

These are all Hollywood-type dialogue. When you do not have money or there is no food in your stomach, your priority would not be Singapore’s soft power.

For example, one of my favourite topics to show the stark difference in priorities during my younger days and today is work-life balance. During my younger days, we never thought of work-life balance. For me, my first plane ride was for a work conference in Bangkok! It’s a different generation now, as people today travel frequently for leisure from a young age.

I’m not saying we should be miserly, but we should spend our personal money and public funds wisely to benefit most people.


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