Hello everyone, the past one month has been a hectic period. Many things have happened.
I have had some time to slow down and think about things over the past one week.
You would have seen the defence that my lawyer, Ravi, had file this morning.
(Roy's Lawyers: No case for Defamation as Roy already met PM Lee's demands)
Perhaps, let me share more on my thoughts on this.
You know, when I wrote the article, it was never my intention to say that the prime minister had misappropriated the money. And I have never said this.
What I really wanted to bring out was this - Singaporeans know that our CPF is being invested in the GIC and Temasek Holdings, but we didn't know how it was being invested.
Also, the GIC and Temasek Holdings were earning 6.5% to 16%, but Singaporeans were only earning 2.5% to 4% on our CPF.
Thus I wanted to question - why is it that Singaporeans now have the one of the least adequate retirement funds in the world, while GIC and Temasek Holdings are the 8th and 9th largest sovereign wealth funds in the world?
In short, I wanted to ask why the GIC and Temasek Holdings are so rich but Singaporeans are so poor.
I was worried. I was worried because will I be able to save enough in the CPF to be able to retire? In fact, this is a common question that I have heard from people who have spoken to me. If our elderly Singaporeans have to keep working as cleaners and labourers today, was it because they didn't receive the returns that they should on their CPF?
And this is what I've always wanted to ask - can the government be transparent and accountable with what they are doing with our CPF and let Singaporeans know?
I have never said that the prime minister misappropriated our CPF monies. In my articles, I have always used facts, statistics and research to base my articles on. Some might not agree with the analysis but as a writer, but it is an integrity that I hold on to, that I should only formulate my analysis on sound knowledge.
As such, I have never intended not stated that the prime minister had misappropriated our CPF monies.
In fact, I had instead hoped that the prime minister would be open to have an open dialogue on our CPF. I think if we are able to do so, we would be able to clear the air, once and for all, about our CPF. The prime minister hasn't responded but I continue to believe that this is the best way forward.
As Catherine Lim had said, there is a "need for a robust, trusting relationship between the government and the people, which, (she) strongly believe(s), is the only guarantee for a small country to survive in an increasingly perilous world."
Since the episode started, I have had some time to think about things and I would like to clarify myself. Perhaps if there are misunderstandings about my intentions, I would like to have the opportunity to clarify and have a constructive dialogue on this.
All along, I have advocated for the transparency and accountability of the management of our CPF and I've advocated for higher returns on our CPF, so that Singaporeans are able to be protected and taken care of by our government.
This is what I've always believed in and advocated for. I hope that we will be able to have a chance to discuss about this in an amicable way, and find a way forward for Singaporeans, and for the betterment of our country and our Iives.
Roy Ngerng
*Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/sexiespider/posts/10152241375694141