KTM train to Johore Bahru

I took the KTM train to Johore Bahru two weeks ago.

My friend told me that this is the best way to avoid the heavy jam at the causeway. He was delayed by 3 hours on his previous trip.

The cost of the KTM trip was $5. It was rather steep, but we agreed to pay it to avoid the jam.

There was a train every 70 minutes, so it was necessary to check the schedule. We bought the ticket on the spot.

I was surprised that there were clearance from Singapore (exit) and Malaysia (entry) at the same building. It just require 1 minute of walking from one checkpoint to the next.

There was no queue. We went through the checkpoint immediately. The train was rather empty.

The journey was only 5 minutes. We arrived at the JB train station. There was no need to clear the checkpoint as we had already done it in Singapore.

It should be possible to have a train every 15 minutes, if there is demand. If the fare is reduced to $2, I am sure that many people will prefer to take the train to avoid the jam.

WOTC - SAF top brass

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Is it advisable to rely on SAF top brass to run the country?

Here are the responses: (75 Votes)

56 % - They do not have experience in non-military matters.
40 % - The military approach is not suitable for a country.
1 % - They are capable of dealing with major issues.
1 % - They are good in people management.
1 % - We can rely on their loyalty to the country

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=824

WOTC - Scholars to lead the country

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Is it advisable to rely on our scholars to lead the country?

Here are the responses: (82 Votes)

40 % - They tend to be self centered and selfish.
35 % - They cannot understand the lives of ordinary people.
18 % - They are elitist in their thinking.
6 % - They can balance intelligence with humility.
0 % - They are the most capable people in each cohort.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=823

Pick the "low lying fruits"

I adopt the strategy of "pick the low lying fruits".

These are projects that are easy to implement, not costly, and can produce significant results.

Here are two examples:

a) The two governments will spend a few hundred million dollars to build the MRT link to Johore Bahru. It will take 6 years to be ready.

The low lying fruit is to increase the capacity of the KTM Trebau Shuttle, linking Singapore to Johore, by 5 times. The trains will run at 15 minute intervals, rather than an average of 75 minutes. It can be implemented within a month and can cut down the jam on the causeway.

The train fare can be reduced to $2 to encourage more people to use it.

b) The Ministry of Health is building an electronic Health Record system. It will take many years and a few hundred million dollars to get it ready. The value of this system is questionable.

The low lying fruit is to build a system to store the drug alergies of each patient and the health checkup records. This system can be ready in a short time. It will use information that are already captured in existing systems. The doctors will find this information to be useful to give proper treatment to patients and to avoid unnecessary tests. They do not need to ask the patient for these information.

This approach of "picking the low lying fruits" can improve our productivity and reduce our cost. It is the way to go ... to be a Smart Nation.

Tan Kin Lian

Health information system

After the SingHealth database hack, the Ministry of Health is now delaying the implementation of the electronic health record (eHR) project. They are worried that the hackers can get access to the sensitive information.

I like to suggest this approach.

a) Create a simple system to allow the doctors to provide essential information about each patient.
b) The essential information are drug allergies and health checks.
c) Hospitals, polyclinics and medical laboratries can contribute to this system, with permission from the patients.
d) Private and public doctors and nurses can apply to have access to the system.
e) All access will be logged to ensure that unauthorised accessed can be traced.

Recently, I learned that the Health Promotion Board was maintaining a separate database of the health checkups. They rely on information provided by the patients. This is costly and unreliable. If the patients are not aware, there will be duplicate and unnecessary tests being carried out.

HDB Lease

Why do HDB owners have to pay property tax when they are not the owners but only the lessee?

Answer - it is a condition of the lease. When a lease has a tenure of more than 6 years, it is usual for the landlord to specify that the lessee has to pay the property tax, in addition to the rent.

The landlord wants to collect the rent and be protected against future increase in property tax.

In the case of the HDB flat, the lessee has to pay an upfront premium, instead of a monthly rent, for the 99 year lease.

The HDB lease is not the same as a leasehold on a private property, because it has some conditions tied to the use and resale of the property. Apart from these special conditions, it is similar to ownership of a leasehold of private property.

WOTC - PAP and votes

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Which factor will cause PAP to lose most votes?

Here are the responses: (68 Votes)

63 % - Lack of transparency and arrogance.
18 % - Increase in GST
9 % - High minister's salary
7 % - Increase in water, electricity and transport fares.
3 % - More breakdown in MRT trains

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=822

WOTC - Key goal in education

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

What should be the key goal in education?

Here are the responses: (69 Votes)

35 % - Educate the child and give them time to enjoy their childhood.
33 % - Ensure that every child can read, write and have a good character.
28 % - Prepare the child to survive in a competitive world.
4 % - Encourage every child to excel and compete to be scholars.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=821

WOTC - New CEO of SMRT

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Do you agree that the new CEO of SMRT should take public transport to work?

Here are the responses: (68 Votes)

37 % - I still need him to solve the rail breakdown problem.
24 % - It is a short term public relations stunt
21 % - Government ministers should do the same.
19 % - It is a good start.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=820

WOTC - Learn a new subject

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Which method do you prefer to learn a new subject?

Here are the responses: (72 Votes)

61 % - Watch a video
22 % - Read a book
10 % - Listen to a podcast
7 % - Ask a friend
0 % - I stopped learning

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=819

Central planning

Central planning by socialist countries failed in the past. But that was a different era.

Today, central planning is likely to succeed. Why?

We are in the age of the Internet. We have large volumes of data that can be used for planning.

It is easy to measure the results and to communicate them quickly to all the relevant parts of the organization. This will help to achieve the goal of efficiency and accountability.

Large organizations have central planning. They describe it as "corporate planning". The need to plan their corporate goals and have them achieved through decentralized execution. They measure the results and performance of the different parts of the organization and act on the results.

The key difference between the central planning of a private enterprise and of a government is in the goal that is being pursued.

A private enterprise is driven to achieve the maximum profit, usually by suppressing wages, overcharging and delivering inferior quality at lower cost.

The aim of the government should be to deliver the public goods in a cost efficient manner by using the cost plus method.

If the government provides a subsidy, they will have means to ensure that the subsidy is distributed equitably and that nobody abuses the subsidy for personal gain. Examples of subsidized public goods are basic education and health care.

There is still room for the private sector to cater for wealthy people who can pay for better quality.

But ordinary people would prefer to have their basic needs met at low cost. They want low cost of living.

Do not be fooled by people who imply that central planning by government is bad. It did not work in the past for various reasons. But it can work well today. And it is a better way to deliver public goods and lower the cost of living for ordinary people.

Tan Kin Lian

Repair and maintenance of HDB estates

As our HDB estates and flats get older, they will need to be repaired, maintained and replaced.

We need to create a new way of handling the work at low cost.

The current practice of tendering is wasteful and costly. It may end up with high cost and shoddy work in many cases.

What is the alternative.

We can form a state owned company to carry out the work on a cost plus model. It is like in the old days where the HDB was able to build the flats at low cost through planning and economy of scale.

This company can order the required materials in bulk at low cost. They can also train local workers to do the work and provide continuity of employment at fair wages.

Owners who have special requirements can engage private contractors. Those who are happy with basic work done at low cost can engage this company that operates on a cost plus model.

There is a need to ensure that this company operates efficiently and do not work in a corrupt manner. This can be controlled through proper supervision. This company will operate through several operating divisions. The performance of the divisions can be compared and identify inefficiency.

The operating principle is to produce an acceptable quality of work at a low cost. It is not to generate the most profit to provide bonuses to managers or owners.

I believe that such a model can work. We can give it a try. But we have to put in the time and effort to make sure that it is properly managed.

WOTC - Salary of SMRT CEO

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

What is a reasonable annual basic salary for the new CEO of SMRT?

Here are the responses: (63 Votes)

83 % - $500,000
13 % - $1,000,000
3 % - $1,500,000
2 % - $2,000,000
0 % - $2,500,000 or more

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=818

WOTC - Li Hongyi in politics

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Is it a good strategy for PAP to field Li Hongyi for the next general election?

Here are the responses: (76 Votes)

42 % - It will be seen as nepotism,.
39 % - Singapore will be doomed.
12 % - He should contest in a single ward to test his popularity.
7 % - It will provide certainty for the future succession to lead Singapore.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=817

WOTC - Former PAP MPs

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Will it help if Tan Cheng Bock's coalition can recruit a few former PAP MPs?

Here are the responses: (69 Votes)

49 % - It will increase the votes for the coalition significantly.
25 % - It will increase the votes for the coalition slightly.
12 % - The former PAP MPs will be disliked by the opposition voters.
7 % - It will be negative for the coalition.
7 % - The former PAP MPs have experience.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=816

WOTC - Lee Hsien Yang in politics

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Will Lee Hsien Yang make an impact if he joins Tan Cheng Bock's coalition?

Here are the responses: (81 Votes)

49 % - He will increase the votes for the coalition significantly.
27 % - People will not trust him, as he is from the Lee family.
14 % - It will increase the votes for the coalition slightly.
10 % - It will be negative for the coalition.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=815

Merdeka Generation Package

Those born in the "Merdeka Generation" should not celebrate the "Merdeka Generation Package".

Why?

Are you not the generation that spent 2 and half years to serve National Service and another 15 years for reservist training that disrupt your career?


Are you not the generation that paid a higher price for your HDB flat?

Are you really so well off that can afford the exorbitant medical expenses that have increased mercilessly during the past decade?

Surely, the government can give you the same benefits as those expended to the "Pioneer Generation"?

Why does this penny pinching government not extend the PG package to your generation?

Why do they have to create a new package and give you less that what you need, less than what you deserve?

And this bad decision is taken after they have increased the water charges, electricity charges, transport charges and other charges that added to the cost of living? This is not counting the increase in GST to 9% that will be implemented in the near future.

Yes, the Merdeka Generation Package is better than nothing. Surely, as citizens you deserve more than nothing, after all the sacrifices that you made for your country?

Tan Kin Lian

Restructure the bus system

I have now modified my proposal for an express bus system that connects 10 regions. Each region will have 2 interchanges.

If a bus travels from region A to region B, it will stop at 4 interchanges, including the starting point. In between, they will travel on the expressway.

With 10 regions, we need 45 express services. We do not need 330 bus services.

From the interchanges, there will be feeder buses to the nearby areas.

For example, Toa Payoh and Bishan can be considered as one region. Similar Serangoon and Hougang can be considered as 1 region. Ang Mo Kio is big enough to be a separate region on its own, so it have two interchanges.

Most people can take a local bus to an interchange and take an express bus to another interchange and a local bus to the final destination.

Under the new system, the interchange will have only 9 express services to the other regions and perhaps 4 local services. It will be more manageable than the current system.

The interchanges are also connected to the MRT station. They can transfer to the MRT station also.

My view on VERS

The voluntary enbloc redevelopment scheme (VERS) that the HDB will introduce in 20 years time is a good scheme. It allows HDB owners to sell their 70 year old flats back to HDB and get cash.

But the owners should have a realistic expectation. They cannot expect a windfall gain.

Why?

You are selling back to HDB. HDB will give you a fair price, but it will not be a windfall.

Remember, the government has plenty of land, so HDB does not need to offer you a windfall price for your old HDB flat to tear it down. It is easier for HDB to buy empty land from the government.

After you get the cash from the VERS, you should expect to pay three times of that amount to get a similar flat in the same location.

Why 3 times? You are getting a fresh 99 year lease instead of a 30 year lease. You are also getting a new flat to replace an old flat.

If your old flat has a lower density, maybe, you can get a better price, so you do not need to pay 3 times to get a new flat.

You can buy a smaller flat or move to a remote location. That is a sensible move.

Still, the VERS gives HDB owners an option, but it will not be a windfall.

Tan Kin Lian

NRIC disclose year of birth

When the NRIC started, a sequential number was given. If we kept to this system, we would be able to keep to the S series as we have not passed 10 million of citizens yet.

Somebody decided that the first two digits should be the year of birth. This was a stupid decision.

Suddenly, there is some sensitive information in the NRIC. Some people don't want their age to be disclosed.

It became necessary for the NRIC to be kept secret.

Furthermore, we run out of S series under the new millennium and have to introduce the T series.

This has been a costly mistake. It was made by bureaucrats and scholars living in the ivory tower.

It could have been avoided if these issues were better discussed in public or in parliament.

This is the weakness and flaw of the Singapore system under the PAP.

It was all right during the first generation of civil servants, but it became very bad after that.