Asked why MRT train windows do not have emergency ventilation panels, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew's response demonstrates the laggard attitude about the life threatening event of a blacked out carriage jam packed with suffocating human beings.
Confirming the existence of a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system that was supposed to keep the lighting and ventilation going on for at least 45 minutes, Lui said,
"Whether the emergency power supply... is doing what's it's supposed to do, whether it's sufficient, I would want to take a much more careful look."
This coming from a guy much photographed on site, posturing for the opportunistic photo op, trying his darnedest best to understand what the fish was going on, and still wants more time to read the used-by date on the backup batteries. While at it, how about flipping through the maintenance log, and do a quick check when they were last recharged? These are actions with immediate repercussions, as there are similarly equipped trains running everyday, each of which is another disaster waiting to happen.
We can understand it will take a bit longer to query why they bought Kawasaki trains assembled in China, the country that gives you spectacular smash ups like the recent collision in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. Even Bangkok, with lowly paid parliamentarians, didn't stinge on public safety when they sourced their trains from the more reputable Siemens Transportation Systems (Siemens C651 were bought mainly to complement the existing Kawasaki C151 trains due to the opening of the Woodlands extension). Investigating sourcing decisions sometimes require the assistance of other agencies like CPIB. How long did they take to nab the flashy guy who scammed the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) out of $11.8 million?
Here's a heads up for the really difficult work about vibrations dislodging the third rail: take a hard look at the spacing of the rail mountings.
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As usual, if it comes from the opposition, be a little hesitant to agree. Reminds me of the oft told tale of Americans spending time and money designing a ball point pen that works in space. The Russians just used the pencil.
ReplyDeleteWayang. All wayang!!
ReplyDeleteDo you need a Chief of Navy to find out whats wrong with the train system? Ask the men on the ground. They will tell you whats wrong.
No need a scholar just someone with a heart and passion for work.
"Do you need a Chief of Navy to find out whats wrong with the train system? Ask the men on the ground. They will tell you whats wrong."
Delete...isn't that what he is doing, talking to the people on the ground maintaining the MRT system?
I remember listening to a BBC special report that China was able to achieve great feats on their High Speed Rail because they cooperated with Kawasaki at first to develop high speed train system in China on condition of technolog transfer. After technology was transferred another company was set up and using these new technology stolen they simply increased the capacity of the design and patent them and call them indigenous technology. Kawasaki was very mad and internally ban all future investments in China. I wonder these MRT trains really from the Japanese Kawasaki plant in China or could it be the Chinese Kawasakee
ReplyDeleteCome on. Not all Chinese products are of poor quality. Chinese can make rocket, missile, space craft, nuclear stuff, etc. China has the capacity and capability. Your computer, iPhone and iPad are made in China. Their workforce skills may be much better than Singapore's though not all sectors.
ReplyDeleteJapanese modernisation and its technology today are built on the money and resources they had robbed from China mainly and also southeast asia since the 19th century Meiji restoration. There is no pride on Japanese Kawasaki.
Wake up Singaporeans.
@ Anonymous (1:15 pm)
ReplyDeleteBoy, we have a PRC lover here.
No need to put down Japan just because you want to puff China up.
Nice try....
I think the Transport Minister doesn't have any clue of what has gone wrong since the source or root of the problem may have started way back since the SMRT line was built. That's why I am of the opinion that asking the SMRT CEO to leave will not help to solve the problem, because the problem itself may be too big for her to handle it on her capacity as a CEO.
ReplyDeleteBeing laymen, most of us are unsure what had gone wrong and this present Minister also is new and looks to know not better than us. We are now having the situation of the blind leading the blind.
Enjoy Our SMRT Ride While It Is Okay! But Be Prepared For The Unknown!
"Being laymen, most of us are unsure what had gone wrong and this present Minister also is new and looks to know not better than us. We are now having the situation of the blind leading the blind."
Delete..so isn't there a point where the minister needs to start to learn about the transport system, its operation and maintenance, so that he is not as "blind" as the rest of us?
I am not paying for a newbie Minister to "learn on the job".
DeleteNot with such a high salary.
I want answers now.
Not wait for an overpaid newbie to learn on the job.
And who does not know how to assemble a committee of local & foreign train experts at taxpayers expense to solve a private sector problem?
Why are taxpayers subsidizing SMRT in the search for cause & solution?
Come on! Anyone that runs any big transportation Company, be it air sea or land, should know that essential preventive checks and maintenance must be made regularly.
ReplyDeleteLife and good are at stake when heavy fast moving vehicle, vessel, plane and machinery are in operation(in motion). Even uneducated lay folks know that.
patriot
Is there any truth to the correlation between floating slab sections and failures? If the isolators for the floating slab sections were not properly selected, they would resonate at the same frequency as the train passage (function of wheel spacing and train speed).
ReplyDeleteNo need to say further, it's unthinkable to have a retail person to run the metro, much worse if she was there for 9 years.
ReplyDeleteThe problem of our MRT is been feedback for so long and yet not much is done. Her focus is sorely on profit and her pet project is on retails. The 1st and most important purpose for MRT should be to fetch people from point A to point B switftly and safely, any things else should b secondary ! They must have found very telling faults, that's why she is asked to go ...
"The problem with overpaying ministers is that they tend to take too long to come up with solutions. After all, each extra day means an additional $3,000 in the wallet - courtesy of the taxpayers, even after the token salary cuts. "
ReplyDelete... you make it sound as if people in general (including Ministers) solve one problem or make one decision at a time. If one issue is not solved, they sit on their hands and not tackle others until that particular one is resolved. The logic you promulgate is ... illogical.
" We can understand it will take a bit longer to query why they bought Kawasaki trains assembled in China, the country that gives you spectacular smash ups like the recent collision in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang."
...if there is a proper public tender and Kawasaki's bid meets the requirement while offering the lowest price, is there any reason to reject it. Are you implying that our tenders should be based on certain renowned brands and limited to certain countries of manufacture?
PS. someone should check whether the Thais carried out a proper public tender.
"If one issue is not solved, they sit on their hands and not tackle others..."
DeleteANSWER
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So what else do these overpaid bas$%%^ do other than mouth platitudes like;
"Singapore must find its own way"
"Govt will follow through on CPIB probe"
"Are you implying that our tenders should be based on certain renowned brands and limited to certain countries of manufacture?"
ANSWER
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Why not you FUC$#!! SHI@#$#@ ?
It's not as if the present tender system in SMRT is working.
Why don't you go stand on the MRT track and tell us if the train is coming?
Thank you for every other excellent article. Where else could anyone get that type of info in such a perfect means of writing?
ReplyDeleteI've a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the search for such info.
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