Quora Answer: What Could Donald John Trump Offer Democrats to Entice Them to Give US$5 Billion for a Border Wall?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What could Donald John Trump offer the Democrats that would entice them to give him US$5 billion for a border wall?  Why will Mexico not just pay for it, so we can just open up our government?”

How would Americans feel if Canadians put up a multi-billion-dollar border wall to keep Americans out?  I would think this would be quite obvious.  Or, are you so entitled that you believe the rest of the world is obligated to give the US money so their idiot presidents can keep stupid promises?

Firstly, the sort of wall Donald John Trump wants is not going to cost five billion dollars.  Land acquisition costs along the proposed path of this wall is likely to cost more than that.  Five billion is a number pulled from fantasy, and it is not going to build anything more than a white elephant.  Many illegals tend to be either legal visitors who overstay, or come via stowing away on ships and planes.  Whilst there are numbers who cross the border, better policing is the answer, not a wall.  What use is a wall when cartels and human smugglers are digging elaborate tunnels?

Secondly, just as Trump is playing to his base, his idiocracy, the Democrats are playing to their base, who can be just as extreme.  It would not benefit Democrat politicians to be seen to cave in to Trump.  Their base would never forget this betrayal.  The era of politicians compromising across the aisle in the two Houses is over.

Quora Answer: What Would You Recommend for Alternative Investments in 2019?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “I am looking to make some alternative investments in 2019.  What would you recommend?”

One area you might want to look into would be technology funds, particularly in the areas of online retail.  It is growing, and it will continue to grow as more people move away from traditional retail and buy online.  There is a pronounced shift in China and East Asia, and that will drive growth in companies such as Alibaba and Tencent.  Currently, their stock is underpriced due to negative sentiment pertaining to issues such as the recent trade dispute between China and the US.  This is a bargain, when we consider an extended investment horizon.  China’s middle class, their domestic market, is growing, and their consumption is at double digit growth.  This means companies geared towards servicing them are largely impervious to losing market share elsewhere.  Their only pressure is in funding, debt servicing and the export market.

Another area of growth, in the long term, would be food.  Food security is a priority for many countries, and they are willing to spend billions to secure supplies and maintain prices in domestic markets.  It would be a sound strategy to consider taking a position in companies that are in the business of farming, agribusiness and related suppliers.  Yet another underrated market with phenomenal growth is actually pet food.  The cost of the ingredients to the consumer price is huge.  This means they make far more profit than most people realise.

Quora Answer: Are Malaysian & Singapore Ties Thicker Than Water?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Are Malaysian and Singapore ties thicker than water?”

Although Malaysia and Singapore were once one country, that was half a century ago.  We have taken divergent paths politically and economically.  Whilst many Singaporeans, including myself, have relatives in Malaysia, as time goes by, those ties seem increasingly distant.  As a Singaporean, I have great distaste for the apartheid system that is their bumiputera policy.  I have no emotional connection to that foreign land across the Causeway.  The childish antics of their politicians, their overt Islamofascism and racism are at best, mildly amusing, and at worst, a cautionary tale of how we do not want our country to be.  Muslim hate preachers like Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, who are banned from giving talks here, are given citizenship there.

The previous Malaysian government was a kleptocracy, and the current one is a populist idiocracy.  Mahathir bin Mohamad is still governing as if the geopolitics of the region was in the 1990s, and trying to pick a fight with Singapore to detract from their failure to fulfill electoral promises.  Singapore has far better political ties with Indonesia and Thailand than with Malaysia.  And as both countries continue to pursue their divergent paths, less and less Singaporeans, except perhaps the Malay community, would feel any ties with people across the Causeway.

Project Evaluation (EMinent Communicators TMC, 06th August 2019)

The following is a recording of my project evaluation, at EMinent Communicators Toastmasters Club, on the 06^th August 2019.

AIA Plans that Cover Dengue

According to the NEA web site, there have been close to 5,000 cases of dengue fever in the first quarter of 2020.  This has largely been overshadowed by the Coronavirus pandemic, but it is still a health concern.  The breakdown may be fund here: https://www.nea.gov.sg/dengue-zika/dengue/dengue-cases.  The following are AIA plans, and the key areas of coverage in the event of a dengue infection.

Hospitalisation Benefit

This pertains to medical and health plans that provides coverage for hospitalisation.  They include the AIA Healthshield Gold with both the Vital Health rider, or the older Essential rider; AIA Platinum Health; and the Hospital Income and Hospital Income Special riders.  Hospitalisation due to dengue fever is covered by all these plans.

Accident Benefit

This pertains to personal accident plans that provides coverage for accidents and injuries.  They include AIA Solitaire PA, AIA Platinum Accident Care, and AIA Star Protector Plus.  Dengue fever is covered as these plans provide coverage for accidents and injuries caused by animal or insect bite, including dengue fever, subject to terms and conditions of the policy.

Disability Income Benefit

This pertains to plans that pay out an income arising from disability.  The only such plan is AIA Premier Disability Cover.  Dengue fever is covered as this plan provides coverage for income protection due to illness or injury.

Travel Benefit

This pertains to travel insurance.  The only such plan is AIA Around the World Plus.  Dengue fever is covered as this plan provides coverage for accident and sickness during overseas trip.

Critical Illness Benefit

This pertains to critical illness plans and riders that provide early, intermediate, or major stage critical illness coverage.  They include AIA Power Critical Cover, AIA Beyond Critical Care, AIA Early Critical Protector Plus; and all critical illness riders such as Critical Protector Life, Critical Protector Life (II), Early Critical Protector Life (II), Early Critical Cover Extra, Critical Cover Extra, and others.

Dengue fever is not a critical illness condition, meaning that the critical illness benefit will not be paid out.  However, dengue haemorrhagic fever is covered under the special conditions benefit of some critical illness plans and riders.  If dengue fever fulfils the definition of dengue haemorrhagic fever, the special conditions benefit may be claimable, subject to the terms and conditions in the policy.

Complications due dengue fever may be admissible for a critical illness benefit claim or premium waiver, subject to fulfilment of the definition of the critical illness condition covered in the policy.  If the critical illness plan has death benefit, then death due to dengue fever is covered, subject to the terms and conditions in the policy.

Pre-Natal Benefit

This pertains to coverage for the mother or the unborn.  The only riders are Baby Protect Plus (II) and Baby Assurance (II).  Dengue haemorrhagic fever is stated in the list of “Other Infectious Diseases” under the hospital care benefit for child, and it will be covered.

Death Benefit

This pertains to payout upon death.  This includes all life, savings, and investment-linked plans and riders that provide death coverage.  Death due to dengue fever is covered, regardless.

Project Evaluation (Tampines West TMC, 14th July 2019)

The following is a recording of my language evaluation, at Tampines West Toastmasters Club, on the 14^th July 2019.

AIA Covid-19 Support Programme

What is the AIA Covid-19 Support Programme?

The AIA Covid-19 Support Programme is for eligible clients who have policy premiums due or overdue, from 01^st April 2020 to 30^th September 2020 (both dates inclusive).  Eligible clients can apply for an extension of their premium grace period, for a period of up to 6 months, if they are approved to be deemed eligible.  Please note that AIA has the discretion to vary the terms and conditions of this programme, such as extending or shortening the grace period.  The full terms and conditions is available on our corporate website.

Who is eligible?

This is not an automatic qualified program.  Eligible clients can apply, and it is subject to AIA’s approval.  The eligibility criteria cover clients who are in the below circumstances:

▪ Self-employed persons in affected industries such as aviation and tourism;

▪ Persons who have lost their job due to Covid-19;

▪ Families whose livelihoods were affected by Covid-19; and

▪ Other reasons as assessed at the discretion by AIA as appropriate.

This programme covers regular premium paying policies with premium due date or policy renewal date falling between 01^st April 2020 and 30^th September 2020 inclusive.

What will happen to the policy during the extended grace period?

AIA continues to provide the protection coverage for these affected policies.  In other words, should there be a claim during this 6-months period, AIA will honour the claim in accordance to the existing policy coverage terms and conditions.

For investment-linked policies, monthly mortality charges will continue to be levied during the extended grace period but no premium holiday charges, if any, will be applied.

If there is a claim during the extended grace period, the claim will be assessed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the existing policy coverage.  If the claim is admissible, the outstanding premium will be deducted from the claim payout, or collected prior to the payment of claim.

How can clients apply?

To apply, the policyowner would need to complete and submit the “AIA SG Covid-19 Support Form”.  This form will be available on our corporate website from the 03^rd April 2020.

How would clients be informed on the outcome of application?

Clients will be informed via mail on the status of application.  An eCopy of the acknowledgement letter will also be made available to clients via My AIA SG, and to the servicing financial.  Please allow 5 working days for AIA to process the application.

Will GIRO or credit card deductions continue during the extended grace period?

No, premium deductions via GIRO or credit card will stop until the end of the extended grace period.

Will deductions from CPF Medisave continue during the extended grace period?

No, premium deductions via CPF Medisave will stop until the end of the extended grace period.

What is required after the end of the extended grace period?

Customers are required to pay back the deferred premiums, in full, by the end of the extended grace period to avoid policy lapses; and write in to request to resume GIRO or credit card deductions for their policies.  Please note that this is not a waiver of premium programme.

What happens if premiums are not paid at the end of the extended grace period?

For investment-linked policies, the policy will continue to remain in force and go into premium holiday as long as there is sufficient value to pay for the monthly charges.  If there is insufficient value to pay for the monthly charges, the policy will lapse.

For policies with surrender value, non-forfeiture options would apply.  This means that the policy may go into automatic premium loan, or it may lapse.

For policies without surrender value, the policy will lapse.

Should clients like to make premium payment before the end of the extended grace period, how can this be done?

Clients may make premium payment anytime before the end of extended grace period using:

▪ AIA Pay EZ (https://myaia.aia.com.sg/en/myaia-payez/login.html);

▪ AXS (kiosk, e-station, m-station); and

▪ Internet banking (Citibank, DBS, OCBC, UOB, SCB, HSBC).

AIA recognises that these are challenging times for all of us.  AIA are amidst assessing the extension of the support programme to further help our clients in need.  I will update my clients as soon as there are developments.