Do you like this suggestion to build a network of underground pedestrian walkways to encourage people to walk within a town?
Monday, December 07, 2020
Sunday, December 06, 2020
Vaccinating the people
The governments will have the task of managing the logistics of vaccinating the people.
We can see which countries manage it well, and those that leave a mess.
Saturday, December 05, 2020
eCash payments at food courts in malls in Thailand
The eCash card that I propose has already been used in many food courts in Thailand.
Singapore is quite backward.
Messy implementation of Trace Together
I give this suggestion on how to solve the mess in the implementation of the Trace Together token/app.
A smart way to implement automation
I suggest a smart way to implement automation, instead of the dumb way that is adopted by LHL and his generals.
How MAS can launch eCash successfully
I give this suggestion on how MAS can introduce eCash into Singapore and make it succeed (when NETS cash card has failed before).
Friday, December 04, 2020
MAS should issue the CBDC - i.e. eCash
In this article, I explain why MAS should take the bold step to issue a CBDC (central bank digital currency) to replace the notes and coins that are now used.
Proposed merger of Grab and Gojek
The competition watchdog wants to study if the possible merger of Grab and Gojek could restrict competition.
I suggest that they should look at this issue from a different angle.
The public has the choice of the following modes of transport:
a) Public transport - bus and train
b) Taxis
c) Personal transport - buy a car
d) Private hire (Grab and Gojek)
Given the abundance of choice between the different modes, the watchdog should not worry about the proposed merger of the private hire platforms.
The platform need to operate viably. The unhealthy competition between these two platforms is not good for consumers over the long term.
Most countries regulate taxi fares anyway. Surely, the merger of Gran and Gojek is similar to the concept of regulated fares - which is actually better for consumers.
I hope that the competition watchdog look at this issue from a broader perspective and do not hinder the merger talks between these two parties.
Talk - every citizen should be employed
I have a plan to ensure that every citizen can have a job that pays an adequate income. They do not fear about being jobless.
This plan is for every body, especially the younger people and the elderly - who are now finding it difficult to get a job.
Do you like to hear this plan, and to contribute your views? Register for this talk.
WOTC - Safe entry recording
Wisdom of the Crowd: 93% of the respondents said that the safe entry recording and contact tracing is not useful and should be stopped. 7% said that it should be continued.
WOTC - Safe entry ambassador
Wisdom of the Crowd: 61% of the respondents said that the work of safe entry ambassador is largely unproductive. 22% said that it should be reserved only for elderly people. The remainder finds it to be useful to stop the spread of the virus.
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
1. Can President Trump pardon himself?
2. Is there a delay in the rollout of Trace Together tokens?
Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
Thursday, December 03, 2020
Tap Pay card can fill a gap in digital payment
The Tap Pay card can fill a gap in the current system of digital payment.
Wednesday, December 02, 2020
Reduce the cost of tunnels using machines
Cities need to build tunnels for transport and other services.
The cost of tunneling can fall dramatically using machines.
WOTC - Covid vaccination
Wisdom of the Crowd 92% of the respondents said that the government should provide covid vaccination to the people for free. 8% said it should be subsidized.
WOTC - Safe entry and contact tracing
Wisdom of the Crowd: 71% of the respondents find the safe entry and contact tracing to be unproductive. 29% say that it is useful.
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
1. Is sexual harassment a serious problem in NUS?
2. Is the sexual harassment in NUS worse than in other universities?
Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
CBDC - central bank digital currency
Some people are worried about a CBDC (central bank digital currency).
They worry that the government can track how they spend the money - e.g. at places where they do not want other people to know.
They are afraid of "loss of privacy".
I find their fear to be exaggerated. If they think about the problem, they can find the solution.
Here is my reply.
a) Most of the transactions are for payments that are not confidential, e.g. payments for purchase of daily necessities, etc.
b) If payments have to be made anonymously, they can use an anonymous e-wallet. This e-wallet contain e-cash and can be used for payment. Nobody knows who is the owner of this anonymous wallet.
I have designed a system called the Tap Card. It allows an anonymous wallet to be created. Money can be transferred into this e-wallet to be used for paying by tapping the card.
The Tap Card have the option of identifying the owner (in case it is lost) or being anonymous.
The Tap Card can also be used by people who does not have a mobile phone to make mobile payment.
I mention the Tap Card just as an example of a solution to the privacy issue. However, most people do not mind using e-payment without hiding their source.
I am in favor of the CBDC and other forms of digital payment. I only want to explain that the fear and reluctance of "loss of privacy" is unjustified.
Tuesday, December 01, 2020
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
1. PM Lee seeks damages of $150,000 against Leong Sze Hian.
Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
WOTC - Use Trace Together for entry into malls
Wisdom of the Crowd: 67% of the respondents disagree with the requirement to use the Trace Together app or device for entry into malls.
WOTC - Covid vaccination
Wisdom of the Crowd: None of the respondents are in a hurry to get vaccinated against covid-19
Saturday, November 28, 2020
WOTC - Ombudsman office in Singapore
Wisdom of the Crowd: 86% of the respondents said that it is useful to set up an ombudsman office to deal with complaints against public and commercial organizations. 14% said that it can be dealt better by the courts. The other two options - police and internal disciplinary panel did not get any support.
WOTC - Minister's statement on Parti Liyani's case
Wisdom of the Crowd: 89% of the respondents said that the minister's statement in Parliament on the Parti Liyani's case is not appropriate. 11% said that it is helpful.
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
1. Is Singapore an innovative company?
2. Are we over-reacting to a small number of covid infections?
Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
Friday, November 27, 2020
How to encourage innovation
I saw a post that KFC has introduced a self driving kiosk to provide food to customers in Shanghai.
My question is - why does KFC not introduce this kiosk in Singapore?
Here is my answer:
Low risk of serious infection
It is insane to continue the restrictions when the risk of serious infection is so low.
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Safe to stop contact tracing work
Singapore has carried out 4,448,000 covid tests since the start of the pandemic.
We were testing an average of 15,000 people every day. The number of tests have probably scaled down in recent days - maybe to 10,000 tests a day.
We do not have any positive cases for the past two weeks, except for a few travelers returning to Singapore.
If we carry out so many tests (say 5,000 to 10,000 a day) and could not find any case of infected people in the community, it is safe to conclude that the virus has disappeared.
I prefer to stop all the restrictions now. Instead, we can focus on catching the symptomatic cases through temperature taking at self service kiosks.
It is insane to continue with the safe entry and contact tracing activities, which is probably useless.
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
2. Should we prepare for a 4 hour working week?
Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
WOTC - Will Joe Biden make a good president
Wisdom of the Crowd: 50% of the respondents said that Joe Biden will make a good president. The other 50% said that he will not.
Work 4 hours a day
It is time for us to work out a new arrangement involving working 4 hours a day, instead of 6 hours.
Allow withdrawal of CPF to alleviate drop in earnings
Here is my suggestion to allow CPF to be withdrawn by members who suffer a drop of income due to the pandemic or other economic slowdown.
Do you like this approach?
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
2. Should banks be allowed to sell investment products to their customers?
3. Is it justified for Medishield Life premium to be increased by up to 35%?
Vote in
https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
WOTC - Hong Kong economy
Wisdom of the Crowd: 58% of the respondents expect the Hong Kong economy to do well. 42% expect the economy to do badly.
WOTC - Will Donald Trump accept the results of the election?
Wisdom of the Crowd: 80% of the respondents expect Donald Trump to challenge the results if he loses the election. This poll was taken before the election.
Saturday, November 21, 2020
We can open up the borders - the risk is low
If we continue to close the border and make it difficult for travelers to come to Singapore, our business will continue to suffer. Many have to close down, leading to retrenchment of workers.
Can we take the risk and open our borders?
Yes, we should open our borders now. I believe that the risk is very small and can be managed.
Here are my reasons:
Friday, November 20, 2020
Provide facilities for US Navy
Should Singapore agree to the request by the US Navy to be their base? Will China sees this as a threat? How can the government respond to this request?
Here are my views
Effectiveness and safety of a vaccine
There are two measures for a covid vaccine:
* Effectiveness
* Safety
Two vaccines are rated to be safe and 95% effective.
It does not mean that it is 5% unsafe.
These vaccines are considered to be 100% safe and 95% effective. It means that for 5% of the subjects, the vaccine does not provide the desired immunity.
Quite likely, it will not cause any harm either.
If a vaccine is not safe, i.e. known to have serious side effects, it will not be approved for use on people.
So, if the vaccine with 95% effectiveness is authorized for us, it is quite safe to use the vaccine.
Dealing with a non-existent risk
The daily cases and deaths world wide from covid-19 have increased during the past weeks.
So, it is a concern in the countries, especially those with cold climates.
I can understand their concern, when the numbers are spiking up.
But the situation is different in Singapore.
But there has been no local infection for the past two weeks. They are a small handful of imported cases, but mostly mild). They do not spread anyway.
It the risk becomes real, we can then take the required measures and pay for their cost. There is no need to pre-empt and over-react to this potential risk.
It is insane for us to take expensive precautions against a risk that is somewhat non-existent in Singapore.
Anyway, we can continue our insanity and see more people lose their jobs, livelihood and close their business.
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