An American visitor once commented that he was astounded to read in the press some of the quotes attributed to Singapore ministers. That was before he was told how much these carpetbaggers pay themselves.
In a Facebook post chockful of contradictions Lui Tuck Yew said a nationalised public transport won't run well because a Government funded entity "would have little incentive to keep costs down." That explains why most of the sources of inflation are traceable to local tariffs, fees, tolls, duties, taxes and the myriad of charges levied by the authorities. That explains why the fire exit staircase of the Traffic Police HQ is lined with faux marble.
"Nationalising the operators could result in a stagnation of service quality or efficiency over time." Problem is, we have already seen evidence of both declines. While under the charge of a duty free sales CEO installed at the recommendation of the PM's wife. Lest we forget - the MRT was originally built with Government funding, only the operating expenses (including said CEO's hefty paycheck) are recovered by commuter fares. The initial S$5 billion construction of the MRT network was Singapore's largest public works in 1983. Lui claims the Government has invested $20 billion, and another $60 billion will be drawn down by the end of the decade. That debunks the returns on investment argument, since the funds were not borrowed from open markets. Taxpayers are already paying for the infrastructure, must taxpayers also pay to ride on the train? That must sound like buying a house, and paying yourself rent to stay in it.
Cedric Foo, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said the fare adjustment formula has been in place for 6 years and valid till next year. He's in no hurry to review or revise the suspicious computations - meaning, the fare hike is a done deal. It figures, thanks to that mathematical device, the transport companies have never experienced a single year of financial loss.
Meanwhile, over at Maplewoods, the residents' suggestion to relocate tunnelling machine launch shafts to the King Albert Park worksite was pooh-poohed by LTA. Balakrishnan said it was "very easy" for him to accede to the demand since the condo has more voters than those at the Sixth Avenue shop houses affected by the move. "But I couldn't in all conscience do that" because the MP needs to "stand up for the minority." Is he talking about the 60% or the 40%? Whatever. Looks like the guys in charge are still adamant about having their own way, pre- and post- GE 2011.
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Majority of spineless and ball-less Sinkies voted for PAP. You die your business. Get used to it. You deserve it.
ReplyDelete"Nationalising the operators could result in a stagnation of service quality or efficiency over time."
ReplyDeleteBased on what sort of evidence or investigation is this "Tuck You" minister making this sort of statement. Why not privatise HDB then ?
What an idiot, speaking without using his brains first.
We must understand these people are not supposed to think differently (out of the box). They accepted that this is a "GOVERNMENT POLICY" and the "RIGHT THING" to do is to defend it which ever way they think fit. The fact that all those government projecta (for example MRT, Airport, HDB houses and etc.) were funded by tax-payer money never get any consideration in their thinking.
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as the 60% to the 40% according to one of their MP, as long as they focused on the 60% they should come out all right.
ReplyDeleteThere you go:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.surbana.com/en/index.html
Privatisation is good if there is true competition in a really open market. Government intervention is necessary only for consumer pricing watch. And yet, this can only work if there is a total accountable and transparent government to its people. Other than these above requirement, experience of other advanced countries tells you privatisation will fail in terms of consumers market.
ReplyDeleteOn other hand, nationalisation of public services may not be a bad idea only if there is an open intervention system to set the right key performance indicators (KPI) to ensure that such services are operated in an efficient way (including cost efficient but not making profit for sake of profitability) to serve the public. Again, this way will need a total accountable and transparent government to its people to make it workable.
So, even you can argue till the cow comes home, the ruling party has run out of idea and will expect to stick to the status quo if the people do not exert much pressure. After all, it is just few months after returning to power and there are many more months to short-change the short memory daft Singaporeans. Most new Singaporeans anyway do not have past memory.
I cringe whenever I read Ministers comments. I have self doubt as to whether what these scholars are saying is correct or am I going nuts. Then again, they can always claim as being misquoted.
ReplyDeleteThis Minister's comments is silly. SMRT and SBS are making huge profits. Nationalising public transport means they run as a non-profit organisation on a "breakeven" basis - which means commuters are charged less. Taxpayers are NOT affected, since the company breakseven. What is our Minister talking about throwing smoke bombs? Nobody says the national public transports needs to lose money. It just need to breakeven and make less profits and everyone benefits.
ReplyDeleteAs for Maplewoods, this one I support the government. We're talking about King Albert Park station, not Sixth Ave Station which is so far away - of course the digging have to be done near King Albert Park. Are Maplewoods residents prepared NOT to have the station? I know some of you are very keen to blame the government for everything but in this case, the Maplewoods residents are being really selfish and deserve no support.
Correction. The residents of Maplewoods want to move the booring machines to SIXTH AVE, resulting in eviction of the shophouses. In fact, LTA has already given in and agreed to move the machines nearer to Sterling condo side but Maplewoods residents for some bizarre reason, die die also want those machines to move to Sixth Ave. That cannot be reasonable.
ReplyDeleteSingaporeans have got the change the rulers spouted at the last election.
ReplyDeleteEverything has just changed and is changing from bad to worse.
40% did see it coming but 60% were fine with whatever change or no change.
Be reminded that worse can be 'worser' infinitely!
SMRT, SBS, are privatised companies in name, but nothing else. All are still govt owned.
ReplyDeleteIf anything needs to change, it is to make the competition a level playing field for all, including the real private operators. This is where the real competition can benefit commuters, not wayang privatisation.
What about a minister saying that foreign workers have a right to pursue action against local employers for unfair treatment? That is even something which sounds silly when we remember that local workers do not have any avenue to actually pursue action against foreign workers who bully them at the workplace!
ReplyDeleteThat is why, the ruling party is pro-foreigner -
ReplyDeletea> bringing students, from age 13, as ASEAN scholars and giving them free education till they are ready to lord over us.
b> they are still bringing 900,000 foreigner into Singapore, with one of them asking for a Indian President, as more Indians are in Singapore.
c> enslaving us, thru National Service and Reservist training, and paying a pittful sum of monies.
Sooner or later, for all we know, they might just make it possible for any resident to vote even if he or she is not even a citizen! I mean, what kind of things were going through their minds when they made these policies, always clamoring that Singaporeans are not good enough? Surely they should expect the ripple effect of Singaporeans leaving in droves, and always saying or suggesting that they can replace us with cheaper foreign workers says nothing, because these foreign workers will inevitably leave after they have sucked the land dry. I liken them all to the growing of corn in the USA, which sucks the nutrients out of the land and prevents any other crops from being grown in the land thereafter.
ReplyDeleteA
ReplyDeleteMany ministers and ultra rich floks sty at 6th Avenue, so Mapletree condo residents will not succeed!!?
Singaporeans leaving in droves??...well its OK. Singapore is made up of immigrants & children of them... it will continue to do so. Many foreigners seem to think v highly of living in Singapore n are more than willing to settle here. Will Singapore be ever like America where immigrants are still welcomed with open arms to settle and make the country even better? With such resentments expressed here I doubt!
ReplyDeleteTransport woes - agreed w Anon@July 14, 2011 9:43 AM. Ptesation works only if there is mkt competition, which of course exist here.
To Anon@July 14, 2011 10:43 AM, Nationalisation may make it achieve a 'breakeven' situation, but the service std in public transport will deteriorate for sure, & if you think the current situation is 'unbearable' imagine going back the type of public transport we had in the 80's. Nevertheless, there needs to be changes in the transport system to bring balance & I dont thinkg the govt as the conviction to pull it thru...they are constantly lookg at bottomline n bottomlines only. All they will do is tweak the system, like they've always done.
Maplewood case - Anon@July 14, 2011 10:43 AM, I fully concur with you. They are truely being selfish...but on the other hand, residents from surrounding areas are equally selfish coz they want their property prices to go up(like what the guy interviewed in the news said)...that to me are equally selfish.
Bottomline? Singaporeans are extremely selfish...as long it inconveniences others & not them, & they can benefit from others' inconveniences, they are for it. Thats why 60% still voted for PAPA.
From July 14, 2011 5:28 PM :
ReplyDeleteCorrections:
Ptesation works only if there is mkt competition, which of course DOESNT exist here.
Lui Tuck Yew has changed his name to Pui! Fcuk Yew!, please take note people!
ReplyDeleteThe saddest part is not only this 'Tuck You' minister explained it as such, one such opposition member, a Sec-Gen of the Alliance claimed that "Nationalized public transport is populist policy but not sustainable in long run.".
ReplyDeleteWhat a second idiot! No wonder he became the only one to lost his election deposit during the last GE.
The lady CEO was retrenched fm Duty Free Airport before she took over SMRT fm Admiral Kwek! She is a Msian driving a brand new Ferrari parked at hef office opp City Hall or Raffles City. Last yr she was $1.65 million and this yr $1.85 million. An increase of 200 K! She is taking the equivalent of a Cabinet Minister pay! Now u know why there is need to increase fares every yr! Once a yr instead of few times a yr fare increase accordung to the PTC!
ReplyDeleteSorry for the many typo errors cuz I'm using iphone to comment! I'm sure you can understand the gist of it.
ReplyDeleteI so totall agree with Tuck Yew, see how the gahmen is working now? Prices going up, standards going down. The best example are our ministers, standard going down, prices going up.
ReplyDeleteAnymore proof needed to show that what Tuck Yew said is totally true?