Deplorable reply from transport minister

Transport minister Khaw BW held a media briefing to announce the rail reliability target for 2020. The journalists asked him some questions about the current train breakdown in Singapore.

The minister chided the journalists. He said that it is not easy to fix the engineering problems. He challenged them to try to solve the problem if they are so smart.

I find the minister's remarks to be deplorable. The journalists are required to do their job as journalists. They are not supposed to be experts in engineering.

The transport ministry, the Land Transport Authority and the train operators are supposed to employ the engineering experts. They are supposed to identify the problems and to find the solutions.

The correct benchmark is the breakdown frequency of other train systems around the world. Do these train systems break down as often as has happened in Singapore. Some of these systems are older than our train system.

If our engineers are not up to mark, the transport minister should look for other engineers to fix the problem. He should not rely on journalists to give him the solution.

It is absurb for the minister to speak in this manner.

Sad to say, this is the quality of the ministers and the top officials that are appointed by PM Lee HL to run Singapore. It seemed that paying top salaries, in the millions of dollars, does not provide the answer.

We do need a change of government.

Wisdom of the Crowd - results

Here are the results of voting on these issues:

a) Was PM Lee's attendance at the G20 meeting good for Singapore? (65 Votes )

This is what the Crowd thinks. It does not look good for PM Lee.
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=175

b) Do you accept that HDB flats will have no value at the end of the 99 year lease? (71 Votes )

Only 18% accept this outcome to be fair. The remainder felt otherwise. Look as their reasons:
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=174

Should I buy an integrated Shield plan?

I have often been asked - should I buy an integrated Shield plan and which should I buy?

My answer is simple.

If you are affluent and well off, you can buy an integrated Shield plan. Your total life time cost could be much higher, but it does not matter, because you can afford the high premiums and you want the best for yourself. You are also able to choose your own doctor to treat you.

But, if you are not well off, you should read the following article.
http://www.fisca.sg/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ID=502

Changes to PDPA

It looks like the Privacy and Data Protection Act (PDPA) has led to cumbersome outcomes. The proposed changes to the PDPA seeks to address the unnecessary obstacles for business to operate efficiently.

I have a lot of complaint about the PDPA. It is supposed to help consumers. But it turned out to be causing stress to consumers.

For example, if I telephone a company, I get a lot of unnecessary mesages.that give stress to me. I have heard the same message a few thousand times. Each time, it takes 1 minute of my time.


I still get marketing calls from overseas. The PDPA is supposed to stop these calls. But it is not working.

http://www.todayonline.com/…/companies-may-use-customers-pe…

Has the problem caused by haze reduced?

Has the problem caused by haze reduced in recent years? Give your views here.
www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg

Reserved Presidential Election

Who will you vote in the President Election - Halimah or Abdullah? (64 Votes )

If Adbullah Tarmugi, former speaker and former minister, stands as an independent candidate against Halimah Yacob, endorsed by PAP?

View the results in
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=186

Give your votes on these issues concerning Aljunied Town Council

Here are two new issues on Aljunied Town Council for your votes.

a) Is it proper for an independent panel to be appointed to look into the lapses in Aljunied Town Council?
b) Is the proper for the independent panel to sue the Aljunied MPs to recover the improper payments?

Give your vote in www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg

Performance of ministers and agencies

It is quite worrisome to see all the lines going down. They measure the performance of the ministers and agencies. As more people started to vote here, the results are dropping, dropping.

At some point, the results will turn up. But meanwhile, it keeps moving down.

This will be worrisome for Lee HL as well.

http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/ChartJS.aspx

You can click on "Submit Your Vote" and your vote. Hopefully, your vote will be more positive and help to turn the trend up.

You can win a prize after submitting your votes on all the ministers and agencies.

Wisdom of the Crowd - results

View the results of the voting in The Wisdom of the Crowd.

a) What cause the high divorce rate in Singapore (63 Votes )
The results are quite surprising. Look and see for yourself.
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=183

b) Will the dispute between India and China over the Himilayan terrirtory lead to armed conflict? (60 Votes )
The results say - no war.
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=185

c) Which is your favorate TV channel (60 Votes )
Wow! 67% hardly watch TV. This is bad for the TV stations.
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=184

Submit your votes on the current issues and win a prize.
www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg

Look beyond the Workers Party MPs

Someone said that the lapses by the Aljunied MPs (from the Workers Party)  in running the town council will give a bad name to the opposition parties. The voters will be afraid to vote for opposition parties in the future.

I disagree with this view. In fact, I empathise with the Aljunied MPs. They were given a very difficult task.

When the WorkersPafrty won over the Aljunied constituency, there were faced with termination of contracts by the existing contractors, the termination by the managing agent and the withdrawal of the town council computer system.


They have to find alternatives within a short time. If not, who is going to clear the rubbish and clean the estates?

I cricitize the PAP government for creating this terrible state of affairs. It is terrible for them to make the MPs handle the work of the town council and to get a system where the existing contractors can hold the new MPs to ransom.

I find it deplorable for the PAP government to behave in this manner, without regard for the interest of the residents and ignoring their wish for a change in the people elected to represent them.

All this manipulations will not contribute towards improving the lives of the people and addressing the issues that they face in their daily lives.

I hope that the people all over Singapore will remember who is responsible for creating this mess and not be fooled into criticising the Aljunied MPs, who did their best under very difficult circumstances. Let us look at what cause this bad situation to arise in the first place.

New issues for voting

Here are job related issues for voting in The Wisdom of the Crowd.

a) Why does the government waive the levy for employment pass holders?
b) Why do employers prefer foreigners when Singaporeans are willing to do the job?

Vote in www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg

Display the Sequential Stop Number in Bus

This email is sent to Mr. Khaw Boon Wan in the Ministry of Transport. Will I get a reply or will this suggestion be totally ignored?

Dear Minister,

I enclose a suggestion for your consideration.
Please pass it to the Land Transport Authority.
Please ask your assistant to acknowledge receipt of this email.
Thank you.

http://www.tankinlian.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ID=1392

Bought an unsuitable life insurance policy

Many young people approach me for advice AFTER they have bought a life insurance polity that they find later to be unsuitable. It is already too late. Here is my tip on what they can do.
http://www.fisca.sg/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ID=499

Wisdom of the Crowd - results

The voting on these issues are now ready for viewing.

a) Is the law applied fairly in Singapore? (69 Votes )

Half of the Crowd said that we have two standards. This is really sad.
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=179

b) Should a person be charged for describing our court as being "pliant". (69 Votes )

More than half said "no". They gave their reasons.
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=178

You click here to vote on the current issues:
www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg

Tips for young people - should I continue my life insurance policy?

I have often received an email from a young person who bought a life insurance policy recently and now have second thoughts about the policy. They asked me for my view on whether they should terminate the policy.

I find it difficult to answer this question.
Read more.
http://www.fisca.sg/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ID=499

Avoid the same mistake made by this young NS man

Dear Mr Tan,
I had bought a Pruflexicash policy in March this year. I was told to listen to their talk for a 5 dollar NTUC voucher, therefore felt more obliged. The adviser talked to me about many benefits of the policy including showing me the percentage difference between investing in the bank compared to their savings plan.
I have already given 10 months worth of premiums.

After having financial difficulties recently due to NS, I realized that i had made a big mistake after going online and finding out many flaws with the plan. I realized i did not really understand the plan. and I could have used the money in a better way.

Currently, I have told the adviser i want to stop the plan but she told me I would have to surrender the money already collected. I am financial difficulty and don't know how to get the money back. If there is any advice you could give I would be very thankful.


Dear
There is no way you can get the money back. You have lost all the 10 months premium.
You can see if you will lose more by continuing the policy, or if you can get some of it back after two years.


Tip
For young people who have not fallen into this trap. it is best to avoid it. Here is a little known secret that can change your financial future.
http://www.fisca.sg/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ID=497

Replace the disastrous BTO system for building HDB flats

The BTO (build to order) system is very stupid. It is very bad. It forces familes to wait for another 3 to 4 years to get married. By that time, they will be in their mid 30s.

The waiting time could be reduced to less than 1 year, if the government builds the HDB flats in advance.

There is little risk of building in advance with public demand. There is a guaranteed demand for 20,000 new flats every years. In a recession, this demand may slow down but only for a year or so. The pent-up demand will take up the over supply when the economy turns around.

Read more about this common sense approach here:
http://www.tankinlian.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ID=1390

CECA was a disaster for Singapore

DPM Tharman had said it. "Wrong to have free flow of people".
He is admitting that the free flow of professionals under the CECA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India) was a big mistake. In fact, a disaster.

But, he did not say who was responsible for this disaster. The PAP never admit their mistake.

The biggest mistake is to appoint inexperienced people to run big ministries and government agencies. The people who negotiated the CECA agreement probably fall into this category.

http://www.straitstimes.com/…/wrong-to-have-total-free-flow…

Quote:
Singapore has been one of the strongest advocates when it comes to the free flow of goods and services, but there must be limits to the movement of people.

Otherwise there will be less push for businesses to be more productive, and "more fundamentally, you become a society where people don't feel it's their own society", said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday at an economics forum in India.

"This is a reality not just because of (President Donald) Trump in the US or Brexit in UK. It is a reality all over the world,'' he said when asked a question about tighter restrictions on Indian professionals moving to Singapore.
Unquote

Wisdom of the Crowd - new issues for voting

New issues for voting in The Wisdom of the Crowd.

a) Should the government provide regulations on shared bikes?
b) Where is the best place to leave a shared bike, e.g. Ofobike?

Vote in
www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg

Win a prize by submitting 10 votes, 20 votes, etc