TR EMERITUS – Untold Hard Truths From Around The World – 淡马锡评论 – formerly Temasek Review

When ‘groundswell of opinion’ is deceptive

By Zakir Hussain from Straits Times LAST May, then Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong was at the centre of an online storm over his application for a second term in Parliament. A deluge of comments, many of them anonymous, surfaced on various forums including the portal of the Government's feedback arm, Reach. They attacked Mr Siew for taking sides in the leadership dispute at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) and taking a 'pro-gay' stance, saying he was unsuitable as an NMP. Some netizens speculated that there was an organised attempt to make the online views appear representative of that of the majority. Read rest of article here. Read More →

World-Class Public Transport System? RUBBISH!

I refer to your report "Only one case of non-compliance" (TODAY April 6) on the Public Transport Council's review of bus service standards. Every day, many students and adults rely on both bus and rail transport to go to school and to work. As fare-paying customers, they have every right to expect the following service standards. Not just affordable fares and timely arrivals, but also a pleasant ride which means air-conditioned comfort with proper circulation of cool clean air in the cabins. Why the concern? Because this is also a public health issue. Our jam-packed public transportation system is a possible mode for the transmission of various air-borne infectious diseases, such as Common Cold, Influenza, Tuberculosis, SARS, H1N1 and Bird Flu. For years, many long-suffering commuters have provided feedback about the stuffy and dusty interiors of our crowded buses and trains. Many buses have a lingering smell of stale air, and their aircon vents are often encrusted with black dust which could harbour mould. When breathe in, mould can cause respiratory or asthma problems especially for young students and elderly commuters. Alas, such customer feedback have fallen on deaf ears. Despite being public transport regulator, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) had conveniently passed the buck to the respective bus or rail operator to cook up defensive "non-answer" replies. To protect both the health and travel comfort of public transport commuters, why is it so difficult for the LTA to lay down and enforce these service standards on our bus and train operators: > After bus and train services end at midnight, cleaning crew to move in with heavy-duty vacuum cleaners to suck dust from aircon vents and floors. The interiors must be cleaned on a daily basis because of the heavy usage of public transport. > "High-touch" surfaces, such as grab handles and poles should be wiped clean with an appropriate disinfectant. > Set stringent intervals for aircon maintenance and changing of dirty aircon filters. If the LTA cannot enforce such a simple service standard that will definitely encourage more Singaporeans to switch to public transport, its claim of a "World-Class Public Transport System" will just be an empty boast. It now remains for Transport Minister Raymond Lim and his well-paid LTA bureaucrats to "walk the talk". David See Leong Kit Read More →

香蕉乱报

作者:李卖蚬千多张A4纸在盛港举行反行动党示威，警方介入调查。盛港约12座组屋居民，日前看见有千多张A4纸在信箱周围举行反行动党示威。A4纸张身上以“国民须知的真相”为标题，抨击执政的行动党家属以权谋私，并出卖与剥削国人。住在康埔桦路大牌256座的黄小姐（42岁，行政人员）受访时说，A4纸这样的做法是很不环保的。人民行动党总部表示，基于A4纸张只是一张纸，暂不采取行动。白沙－榜鹅集选区议员张有福表示，A4纸张涉及课题广，相信居民可自行判断函中内容是否可信。但是居民细读了A4纸张后，发现涉及的课题并不广，不外是一、指责行动党领袖们的亲属以权谋利，和二、出卖了本国人，大量引进外来人，剥削本地人的血汗钱。东北市长张思乐今早受询时说，有居民把一张A4纸带来给他看，对方措辞激烈但有点无聊。就不知道张市长这次有没有像上次“Eric How”事件那样，没搞清状况就无聊的教人去报警呢？他认为，居民有各自的想法和判断，但议员为选民办事的承诺不会改变：“该做的我们会继续做。” 有居民认为他这种回答才像张有福议员说的，“涉及很广”，讲了等于没讲。为何不直截了断的说示威内容完全是无稽之谈呢？警方今早受询时证实此案，目前正在调查中。炉平驰律师指出，居民有问题可向议员反馈，这是不负责任的做法。但有居民表示，这不是等于叫不爽行动党的人向行动党的议员反馈？脑筋黐咗线吖？再说，反馈有鬼用咩，要不是耳聋，就指你是人工草！ A4纸张可在“煽动法令”条文下被控，罚款高达5000元或坐牢最长3年，或两者兼施。一些A4纸在受访时，表示他们不会气馁。因为如果几张A4纸被控，还有千千万万张A4纸！他们还表示，接下来，他们的行动会更有创意，以引起国人的注意。比如，他们会假装用来包油条，或躲在巴刹里包蔬菜。如此一来就不能说他们不环保了，再者，如果报章隔天的标题是“A4纸张包油条，警方介入调查”，效果肯定会很滑稽而引起更多人注意。来源：大马论坛 Read More →