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| No board member was harmed in the production of the Singtel fire |
The three independent members of Singtel's board comprising the committee of inquiry looking into the October fire at an Internet-exchange room concluded that the cause was human error, and not systemic failure. Maybe board member Bobby Chin could explain why the present system allows for hot-work in a enclosed space with no provision for automatic fire suppression. Blame the small fry, not the board, that has to be the system. The lead seal had to be melted to change out the cables at Bukit Panjang cable chamber, a company wide standard practice probably still being carried out at other Singtel Internet-exchanges across the island. The telco will switch its blameless error-free system only by the end of next year.
The Media Development Authority (MDA) is playing similar games when it is demanding to know who exactly will own and run the different iterations of a socio-political website. The Breakfast thingy had already pulled down its shutters, rather than submit to ridiculously onerous registration undertakings "meant to guard against foreign funding". You can almost anticipate MDA's arguments against operating on Facebook or Twitter. In the case of former, Mark Zuckerberg could be construed as funding the alternate iteration of the website. Unless, of course, Facebook starts to charge users for operating their accounts. The madness won't end here.
Notice the lady being hounded has a personal blog with a name resembling a local newspaper. Even when MDA finishes with the sledge hammer - or borrow the blow torch from the Singtel fire-starter veteran of 30 years - on the Facebook or Twitter presence, you can bet lawyers' letters of demand will be flying through slow mail to allege copyright infringement of the Berita Harian banner.
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Yaacob's light touch on internet regulation has become a blow torch or a sledgehammer. We know this will eventually happen despite their reassuarances. After all this is the cyber world where Kee Chiu wants to do battle - to reclaim their space (votes, in plain English).
ReplyDeleteIf he has balls, he should just go after the Mark Zuckerberg and the likes directly. But all they are good at is going after the little guys. We knew slowly they will start to claim ownership and claim instagram, reddit, fb, twitter and what-not as long as is a channel they will squash them. Imagine you might not operate on a brick-n-mortal but you can still try and make another entreprenuerial go on an online e-commerce. But in SG, again, the sledgehammer will come. This will never end. The netizens have to fight and push back hard, or they will lose all the social media channels to speak their voices, if they once again, succeed in their oppression game.
DeleteThis entire episode only goes to show how utterly clueless they are. Using the antiquated laws to deal with new media.
Obama @ Mandela's memorial
Delete"There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the side-lines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard."
Shame on Yaacob and his MDA ministry.
Shame on PAP.
Yup, expect much the same for the COI on the riot. Another income opportunity for those who sit in the board?
ReplyDeleteCoi coi coi coitus interruptus.
DeleteI don't think it is fair to say "PAP's greatest fortune is to rule over Sinkies."
ReplyDeleteSingapore's great wealth was generated by the brain and will power of one man.
Not entirely correct.
DeleteHe was happy to deal in politics & and frame the law.
The other partners were happy to deal in commerce,
Business people here have a rich history of lurking in the shadows.. they make money and they are happy.
He helps them make money by creating a political framework that promotes it... not entirely his own idea.
Business greed is the motivation.
//Business people here have a rich history of lurking in the shadows..//
DeleteNot his partners, they have the audacity to be mentioned in print...
because they know he has the print media under his absolute control.
I think PAP's greatest fortune is the compliant Singaporeans.
DeleteWho are united behind the PAP.
But do not like or trust each other.
Is it advantageous for the PAP not to have feelings of patriotism unless it is under the PAP flag?
What do you think?
You would be compliant if your business, pay, salary was on the table to bet.
DeleteMany people are very afraid of losing their mercedes, condos, .. the material things that offer comfort.
And He knows that very well... and YOU know that too.
40% no longer so compliant.
DeleteIs this an accelerating pattern?
40% not good enough... looks static from here on.
DeleteWhenever there are lapses in service, be it banking, retail, forex..
ReplyDeleteits always the staff's doing. Never do we see the elite being strung out to dry.
Management have the good life... cars, large homes, golf memberships, business travels. They sit above all and conjure up "procedures".. helped no less from lots of "sa-kahs" on the ground.
30 years?... it counts for nothing... he will soon join the ranks at Transitioning.org. Meanwhile the executives will be promoted and enjoy a long career hopping from one department to another.
I dislike management.
The bad news is that with every passing day, its becoming more like soviet Russia or Maoists China where dirt is swept under the carpet, nothing is ever learnt from past mistakes, and creating an atmosphere of impunity for more incompetence at the top. The rot is deepening, the cancer spreading. The bad news is the good news.
ReplyDeleteAnother scapegoating exercise.
ReplyDeleteUnder normal circumstances (if the fire had not occurred), the 30yr vet would have been lauded for using his initiatives to carry out his work without the tool. Unfortunately, he is the only one beated, boiled and blowtorched to his retirement. No word on their abysmal fire prevention SOP, recovery and back up capacity during and after the accident.
Wash your mouth with SOP!
DeleteTattler, pardon my ignorance, but who is that lady you allures to ? I usually could follow every hints and leads you care to educate us but am lost on this ! Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteBertha Henson (BH) of Breakfast Network (BN, not the political association across the causeway).
DeleteBertha Harian does sound like Berita Harian.
ReplyDeleteThat was her intention. Formerly from ST writes exceptionaly and impartially well. Too bad had to close because of the overbearing MDA. I can't think of any article that would have spook them
DeleteBN will be missed.