Temasek holdings lost $39 billions last year

Just read the news in CNN, and in CNN it's got to be US$ instead of S$. I was just in my earlier post said that Temasek has more than US $100 billions asset, and in one year it lost $39 billions. Nepotism kills. Who should be responsible ? Ho Ching and those who appointed her as CEO of Temasek?
No wonder she is running away !
I wonder how much bonuses did Temasek give out last year for the good job done for the lost of US$39 billion?

Ho Ching to Leave Temasek Holdings

What a great news this is !

There were allegations of nepotism since she took over the job in 2002. If she was not married to our PM Mr Lee Hsien Loong, would she be appointed for the job as the CEO of Temasek Holdings which has an asset of over US$100 billions and is owned by the Singapore government ?

Already in 2007 Mr Lee Hsien Yang, our PM's brother had stepped down from Singtel which is majority owned by Temasek Holdings and now Ms Ho Ching is stepping down from Temasek Holdings from 1 Oct 2009, it makes Singapore a more democratic society.

What's next ? when is our PM Mr Lee Hsien Loong, son of Singapore's first PM Mr Lee Kuan Yew going to step down, so that the allegation of nepotism could be totally eliminated ?

Although it takes time, I hope to see Singapore becomes a more open and democratic country.

Morocco 摩洛哥 23 Jan - 1 Feb 2009

Morocco is a good place to visit. A lot of things to see and people are generally friendly. You don't get harassed like in Egypt.

Though it is a Muslim country, it is quite open, can get wine and beer easier than the US. Morocco actually produces wine and beer. A bottle of Moroccan red wine may cost as little as S$5 in supermarket.

Food is fine but when you eat the same thing everyday, you get sick of it.

Weather was still a little cold at around 4ºC in Jan.




Dubal Airport


Casablanca 卡萨布兰卡

Rabat 拉巴特

Meknes 梅克内斯

Moulay Idriss City 穆莱伊德里斯市

Roman City of Volubilis

Fez

Marrakech

Findland 芬兰 1208

X'Mas in Finland, cold but not so bad, it was not less than -5ºC through out our trip.

Just like the weather, my impression of the Finnish People is that they are also very cold.

Just when people told me that the pictures I took in my last 2 trips to Canadian Rockies and Bhutan were very nice, the pictures I took in this trip to Finland were a disappointment, blamed it on the cold weather.

This is not the only disappointment, the optional tour for Ice Breaker Cruise was cancelled and also no Northern Lights seen, again, blamed it on the weather.

The tour to Tallinn, capital of Estonia was also cancelled, this time blamed it to not enough time.

Anyway, not all were negative, I crossed the Artice Circle, rode a snow mobile, a reindeer sledge & a dog sledge, drank in an Ice bar, all of these were my first time.


X'Mas scene in Porvoo town, 50km east of Helsinki.


Every house was decorated for X'Mas.


Beautiful scene of wooden houses by the river of Provoo.


Central Station of Helsinki


2 men carry lanterns standing by the entrance of Helsinki Central Station.


Shopping Centre in the city of Helsinki.


Igoo (snow house) in Saariselka.


Snowmobile


Snow scene of Lappland from a window.


Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.


Santa Claus Office in the building behind me. His job is too take photo with tourists at 25 euro per photo. The blue line hanging in the air marks the boundary line of Artic Circle.


Just to indicate how far it is from here to Singapore, 9394km.

Helsinki Cathedral in Senate Square.

Esplanade Park of Helsinki.

X'Mas eve in Turku, the oldest city in Finland.