69.9% of Singaporeans had their prayers answered... when MRT finally collided/ broke down.
Everything is working out PERFECTLY according to script when MRT repeatedly broke down since 69.9% agreed that it is MOST IMPORTANT to fix the opposition first, fixing the MRT is less important and can be always be indefinitely postponed (just like lift upgrading for opposition constituencies) http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/10/hdb-should-be-neutral-and-stop-playing-politics/ ......
For the people of Singapore, MRT breakdowns are truely a dream come true since it validates the idea that every effort to silence political opposition has been made, with no stone left unturned.
Even if taxes are raised, town council fees are raised (because all lift manufacturers like to hold greedy PAP politicians hostage to their monopolistic control over lift maintenance and renewal costs); its all to fix the bogeyman of political opposition in parliament.
The wishes of most Singaporeans have been finally granted, although I wonder if its an outcome to be actually proud of.
[video=youtube]
PS: instead of focusing on signing cheap contracts with lift manufacturers who install lifts cheaply so as to hold town councils ransom to lift replacement / maintenance fees: to "buy supporters votes" during elections, PAP should have directed A-star, ST Engineering/ other Temasek majority owned company to become the 'UBER' of lifts: controlling the platform, design etc so that in the simple passenger elevator industry, a generic design with not just affordable installation, but also affordable maintenance for public housing use, can be installed without need to be held hostage to lift manufacturing companies who charge exorbitant sums for maintenance fees involving proprietary replacement parts. (The appended report shows how even the usually powerful Anti-Competition Commission of Singapore, which is now on its knees when lift manufacturers overcharge for spare parts, is begging the general public for suggestions to lower the exorbitant costs of obtaining proprietary elevator replacement spare parts).
===========
HDB lifts: Feedback sought on issue of spare parts
Some lift manufacturers have allegedly refused to supply spare parts to third-party contractors.
Some lift manufacturers have allegedly refused to supply spare parts to third-party contractors.ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
PUBLISHED: November 16, 2017
Calvin Yang
An alleged refusal by some lift manufacturers to supply spare parts for the maintenance of lifts in Housing Board estates to third-party contractors has prompted the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) to take action.
A lift manufacturer has an advantage when tendering for maintenance contracts, as it has the parts for its own brand of lifts.
The commission is seeking public feedback on proposals to address the issue and had earlier launched anti-competition probes on some companies supplying spare parts for lifts to HDB blocks. It is looking at practices, including the alleged refusal to supply vital parts such as motherboards to third-party lift maintenance contractors here.
These parts are required for the maintenance and servicing of lifts installed in HDB estates.
The practice may have prevented the third-party contractors from competing for contracts to maintain and service lifts of particular brands installed in HDB estates.
Each HDB estate typically has multiple brands of lifts installed. Town councils can choose to either appoint the original lift installers to undertake the maintenance services, or appoint a third-party contractor for the lifts within the estate.
In a statement yesterday, the competition watchdog said: "If a lift company or distributor does not provide proprietary but essential lift spare parts to third-party lift maintenance contractors, other lift maintenance contractors may be prevented from effectively competing for contracts to maintain and service lifts of that particular brand in Singapore."
The commission... is looking at practices, including the refusal to supply vital parts such as motherboards to third-party lift maintenance contractors here.
To address the competition concerns, lift parts suppliers BNF Engineering and C&W Services have proposed voluntary commitments to sell spare parts of the relevant brands to a purchaser, subject to certain terms and conditions.
The terms and conditions address issues such as the supplying of parts on a reasonable and non-discriminatory basis and ensuring that the purchaser of parts is adequately qualified to service the lifts.
They also include clarifying liability, ensuring spare parts are not modified or used for other lift brands and seeking consent from the owner of the lift being repaired.
CCS will decide whether to accept or reject each of the proposed commitments following the market consultation.
The public consultation will close on Nov 28.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 16, 2017, with the headline 'HDB lifts: Feedback sought on issue of spare parts'.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/hdb-lifts-feedback-sought-on-issue-of-spare-parts
Everything is working out PERFECTLY according to script when MRT repeatedly broke down since 69.9% agreed that it is MOST IMPORTANT to fix the opposition first, fixing the MRT is less important and can be always be indefinitely postponed (just like lift upgrading for opposition constituencies) http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/10/hdb-should-be-neutral-and-stop-playing-politics/ ......
For the people of Singapore, MRT breakdowns are truely a dream come true since it validates the idea that every effort to silence political opposition has been made, with no stone left unturned.
Even if taxes are raised, town council fees are raised (because all lift manufacturers like to hold greedy PAP politicians hostage to their monopolistic control over lift maintenance and renewal costs); its all to fix the bogeyman of political opposition in parliament.
The wishes of most Singaporeans have been finally granted, although I wonder if its an outcome to be actually proud of.
[video=youtube]
PS: instead of focusing on signing cheap contracts with lift manufacturers who install lifts cheaply so as to hold town councils ransom to lift replacement / maintenance fees: to "buy supporters votes" during elections, PAP should have directed A-star, ST Engineering/ other Temasek majority owned company to become the 'UBER' of lifts: controlling the platform, design etc so that in the simple passenger elevator industry, a generic design with not just affordable installation, but also affordable maintenance for public housing use, can be installed without need to be held hostage to lift manufacturing companies who charge exorbitant sums for maintenance fees involving proprietary replacement parts. (The appended report shows how even the usually powerful Anti-Competition Commission of Singapore, which is now on its knees when lift manufacturers overcharge for spare parts, is begging the general public for suggestions to lower the exorbitant costs of obtaining proprietary elevator replacement spare parts).
===========
HDB lifts: Feedback sought on issue of spare parts
Some lift manufacturers have allegedly refused to supply spare parts to third-party contractors.
Some lift manufacturers have allegedly refused to supply spare parts to third-party contractors.ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
PUBLISHED: November 16, 2017
Calvin Yang
An alleged refusal by some lift manufacturers to supply spare parts for the maintenance of lifts in Housing Board estates to third-party contractors has prompted the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) to take action.
A lift manufacturer has an advantage when tendering for maintenance contracts, as it has the parts for its own brand of lifts.
The commission is seeking public feedback on proposals to address the issue and had earlier launched anti-competition probes on some companies supplying spare parts for lifts to HDB blocks. It is looking at practices, including the alleged refusal to supply vital parts such as motherboards to third-party lift maintenance contractors here.
These parts are required for the maintenance and servicing of lifts installed in HDB estates.
The practice may have prevented the third-party contractors from competing for contracts to maintain and service lifts of particular brands installed in HDB estates.
Each HDB estate typically has multiple brands of lifts installed. Town councils can choose to either appoint the original lift installers to undertake the maintenance services, or appoint a third-party contractor for the lifts within the estate.
In a statement yesterday, the competition watchdog said: "If a lift company or distributor does not provide proprietary but essential lift spare parts to third-party lift maintenance contractors, other lift maintenance contractors may be prevented from effectively competing for contracts to maintain and service lifts of that particular brand in Singapore."
The commission... is looking at practices, including the refusal to supply vital parts such as motherboards to third-party lift maintenance contractors here.
To address the competition concerns, lift parts suppliers BNF Engineering and C&W Services have proposed voluntary commitments to sell spare parts of the relevant brands to a purchaser, subject to certain terms and conditions.
The terms and conditions address issues such as the supplying of parts on a reasonable and non-discriminatory basis and ensuring that the purchaser of parts is adequately qualified to service the lifts.
They also include clarifying liability, ensuring spare parts are not modified or used for other lift brands and seeking consent from the owner of the lift being repaired.
CCS will decide whether to accept or reject each of the proposed commitments following the market consultation.
The public consultation will close on Nov 28.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 16, 2017, with the headline 'HDB lifts: Feedback sought on issue of spare parts'.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/hdb-lifts-feedback-sought-on-issue-of-spare-parts
