Wishlist for the fantasy government of Singapore

The following is going to be a controversial wishlist for a lot of people but here goes:

1. The complete and utter privatization of Temasek. While I agree that Singapore does need a sovereign fund for CPF in the form of GIC, it clearly does not need two. Moreover Temasek apparently interferes with the free market(s) of the world to a greater extent and also faces more risk. I say privatize it, float it, distribute ALL of the government's shares equally to its citizens. The government can always retain a direct, but non controlling, stake in Singtel.

2. The privatization of HDB blocks and conversion of all the "leases" into title deeds. Let the people and market decide to stay where they want to, and NOT based on some arbitary social programs of the government. HDB can become a GLC and thus the money will flow to the government as the PAP wishes. However HDB should not allowed for foreign ownership of any kind and scalable subsidies should be offered to first time buyers and families.

3. Reducing the size of the government. Singapore does not need more bureaucrats to feed. Reduce the number of government employees and the number of statutory boards by means of a review, trim the fat out. Of course to start with the obvious, the ministers in charge dont really need such large salaries.

4. Further reduce NS to 1 1/2 years; condense training and the number of years in reservist training, reduce the number of reservist officers and non-commissioned. This saves money and produces a more professional army rather than a wayang (english: charade) and boosts productivity.

5. Further give more training grants, more low interest loans to local startups and SMEs etc. to counterbalance the benefits given to MNCs.

But this is purely fantasy, as Singapore Inc. would never cede central authority over almost everything.

How the mighty have fallen

Will the democratic change in Malaysia be a domino effect for the other countries in Asean? Another question: does America welcome this change as democracy or continue to endorse satellite states such as Singapore as "democracies"?

Granted the issues faced by the Malaysian people are different, the people in the most affluent state in Asean must be contemplating such a change in 2010 or 2011.

Personally as a right of centre person, I have a wishlist (see above) for Singapore that many in the opposition and the government would oppose for various reasons.