Sharing personal information

I shared my NRIC, email and telephone in Facebook two weeks ago.

I want to share my experience.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1605

Use of KPI to measure performance

I do not like the use of KPI to measure performance in a commercial organization or the public sector.

Why?

It could lead to dispute, unhappiness and deliberate cheating.
https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1601

Be sensitive about stating a "historical fact"

 When Vietnam "invaded" Cambodia in 1978, the Asean countries got together and opposed the "invasion".

So LHL stated a historical fact that the Asean countries, including Thailand (under PM Prem Thinsulanonda) opposed the "invasion".

There was no doubt that the invasion was made with good intent, i.e. to stop the genocide in Cambodia, but it was nevertheless an "invasion".

With the benefit of hindsight, or with some prior wisdom, LHL should have avoided the mention of the "invasion" as it implied that Vietnam had the intent to occupy Cambodia's territory.

I hope that LHL give a call to the prime ministers of Vietnam and Cambodia to explain that he did not intend to besmirch their good name. Anyway, it occured three decades ago.

He could also make a follow up statement in his Facebook page. If his Facebook admin wants to use my text, go ahead. No need to get my permission. Hahaha.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1599

Avoid any criticism without checking the facts

Once in a while, someone will criticise the survey in the Wisdom of the Crowd - saying that the sample size is small and is biased.

He might even make a personal remark that "as a statistician, Mr. Tan should know about this flaw".

This person thinks that he (or she) is "smart".

If he is circumspect, he would have known about the following:

a) In the website, I already stated that this is a self selected sample and the results should be treated like any straw poll.

b) There was no pretension that it represents a statistically reliable survey.

c) To carry out a statistically reliable survey, the cost will probably be more than $20,000 - but the "smart person" thinks that it can be done for free.

d) If he has been following the survey for a while - instead of giving his "smart opinion" without proper consideration, he would have known about these features.

Before giving an opinion that is critical of another person's view, it is important to do some research and reflection first.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1598

WOTC - Expand MRT network

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Should we continue to expand our MRT network?

Here are the responses: (41 Votes)

61 % - We should be prudent in our spending and consider the cost and benefit carefully.
20 % - The expansion will provide better connectivity to all parts of Singapore.
15 % - We have an adequate network already and should avoid further expansion as it is extremely costly.
5 % - We need to expand the network to cater to a rapid increase in population.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1375

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

WOTC - Which party do you support

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Which political party do you support (top choice)?

Here are the responses: (42 Votes)

29 % - Workers Party
29 % - Singapore Democratic Party
26 % - Progress Singapore Party (Tan Cheng Bock)
10 % - People Voice Party (Lim Tean)
7 % - People's Action Party

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1374

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

Poor design of ATM machine screen

DBS Bank had a poor design of the screen at the ATM machine. It caused the customer to lose $1,000 in cash deposit.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1597

WOTC - Change to the democratic process

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Which change in the democratic process do you like most?

Here are the responses: (43 Votes)

30 % - Election to be spread, so that one fifth of constituencies go for voting each year with GRCs being replaced by single member constituencies
30 % - Ministers to be appointed from outside Parliament, so that MPs can focus on their role as law makers. 
26 % - MPs are required to vote on bills using their independent judgment and not follow the party direction.
14 % - Elect the president directly (and not through Parliament)

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1373

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

WOTC - Should NRIC be kept private

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Should NRIC be kept private?

Here are the responses: (45 Votes)

38 % - It is important to keep the NRIC private.
27 % - Even if the NRIC is known, another party cannot access the record without the password.
24 % - The NRIC is an important way to identify a person and should be used transparently.
11 % - There is no harm when the NRIC is known to the public.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1372

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

Escrow accounts

There is a high risk in appointing lawyers to manage escrow accounts. It is better to set up a few appointed organizations to manage the large sums of money.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1592

How Germany implements rent control

An easy way to run a country is to leave all matters to the market.

But the market can get out of hand, just like property prices and rental.

Some people said that it is difficult to regulate rentals.

The Germans have found a solution. It is not perfect, but it is better than letting the market run amok.

Here are the key elements of the approach taken by Germany.

a) For new rentals, they do not control the rentals.
b) For renewals they protect the existing tenant by regulating the rentals not to exceed 10% above the average rentals for the area.
c) The increase in rental should not exceed 20% over a three year period.
d) Special adjustment can be made for improvement in property, but in practice it is difficult for landlord to justify a large increase.

This approach is fair. It is market based, but does not allow the landlord to increase the rental for existing tenants to an arbitrarily high level.

It seemed to work quite well in practice.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1588

WOTC - Concern over online privacy

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Is the concern over online privacy justified?

Here are the responses: (40 Votes)

68 % - It is important to protect data privacy for online transactions.
23 % - The concern are exaggerated by parties that have a commercial interest to provide the solutions.
8 % - The concern is exaggerated, as the breached data are not usually not serious.
3 % - Online passwords are usually well protected.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1371

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

WOTC - Enrolment in local universities

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Should enrolment in local universities be increased for local students?

Here are the responses: (45 Votes)

56 % - We need to give more places for local students to get a degree.
27 % - We should give promote people based on experience and performance, rather than on a degree.
16 % - We should give better wages for non graduate jobs to encourage more people to take up these jobs and prevent the over supply of graduates.
2 % - We should discourage people from spending three or four years on getting knowledge that they do not need for their future careers.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1370

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

Latest feedback

Here are the latest feedback, including a selection printed in the mainstream newspapers.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/latest.aspx

Wisdom of the crowd

Vote on these issues
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

Weakness of the US system of governance

The erratic behavior of President Trump reflect the weakness of the American system of governance.

The UK parliamentary system provides better control over such erratic decisions.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1583

WOTC - Deposit for Jolovan Wham's appeal

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Why did Lee HY decide to provide the deposit for Jolovan Wham's appeal?

Here are the responses: (44 Votes)

41 % - He wants to do what he considers to be morally right.
34 % - He is unhappy with the actions taken by the govt against his wife and son.
25 % - He was to give Jolovan Wham a fair hearing.
0 % - He wants to take part in the next general election.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1369

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

WOTC - Indonesia 2019 general election

I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd:

Was the 2019 general election in Indonesia carried out fairly?

Here are the responses: (38 Votes)

45 % - The demonstrators were probably paid to participate in the protests.
29 % - It was carried out fairly and properly.
16 % - Observers from international bodies have reported that the process was fair.
11 % - It was carried out in a questionable manner and caused many people to demonstrate against it.

See the pie chart at: 
http://www.wisdomofthecrowd.sg/chart.aspx?ID=1368

CLick here to vote on the current issues: 
https://wisdomofthecrowd.sg/active_issue.aspx

Big and small

For several decades, I observed that many people do not have a sense of "big or small". They tend to overspend, because they do not know what is an acceptable cost.

https://tklcloud.com/Feedback/feedback2.aspx?id=1582

A dishonorable son.

This is a true story.

Mdm X had some misunderstanding with her daughter in law. The son sided his wife and severed relationship with his mother. This occurred more than 40 years ago. They did not reconcile their differences.

Mdm X, who was almost 90 years old, was seriously ill, She knew that her death was imminent. She asked her daughter to telephone her son and asked him to visit her before she died. She sat in the living room for the whole day waiting for her son. He did not show up.

Mdm X passed away the following day. The son refused to attend her wake and funeral.

The behavior of the dishonorable son was unforgivable. No matter how bad was the quarrel, which had occurred more than four decades earlier, he should have visited his mother before she died and gave her the peace of mind that she has sought.