Desmond Kuek - Leadership Failure

[oppoibchief]

Aiya, Desmond probably called His ex Army elites in the cabinet. And the deal to blame on aunty is done lor. A fair speculation isnt it?

 

[scroobal]

My sense over the years is that it is fundamentally flawed in that it takes in so many people across the civil service and GLCS and results in inbreeding traits. The focus is in this pool. The iron rice bowl for scholars and golden parachute have resulted in safe execution.

None of the Western countries have such a system. It is similar to the Mandarins of Imperial China and the famous or infamous imperial exams systems. India too has the elite entrance systems and look how corrupted and poorly they perform.

It should go back to the old system where the top few are given scholarships as a reward and a recognition but they they go into a common pool and performance and potential drives promotion and assignment of duties. Let them be hungry.

The scholarship selection process is fair enough, but scholars should not be given a free ride and an iron rice bowl just because they did well in ECAs and "A" levels/"S" papers. A kid at 18 years old may have loads of potential but he still needs to prove it when he gets out into the real world and works with real people, crafts policies that affect REAL families, etc. You're right .... all these people have the red carpet laid out for them since young and they grow up without having had their feet put to the scorching fire.

Leaders are made, not born. Mollycoddling a scholar all the way up is not going to produce many capable leaders. Even those who are capable ... their ranks are dwindling over the years due to emigration, etc. Terrific brain drain.

 

[watchman8]

Good angle.

The problem with the establishment/ political elite is focus only on leadership succession at the very top echelons, but LACK of proper system to talent grooming, putting people through the fire, encouraging character development and risk taking, instilling the right values and mindsets, etc.

It is a system of patronage and cronyism, not a baptism of fire to throw out the good men/women. That's why they're scraping the bottom of the barrel now. VERY HEAVY PRICE.

It was rumored that during annual ranking exercise, if an overseas scholar is ranked below top quintile, the superiors will have to explain to perm sec because this represents a massive waste of money sending that scholar for overseas studies, and a slap on the judgement capabilities of PSC. The default blame is on the superiors of the scholar for not guiding him properly.

Hence after a short while, everyone learnt never to slow down the career path of an overseas scholar, unless that scholar is resigning soon.

 

[Confuseous]

The in-breeding results in groupthink, and they all pat themselves on the back for coming to the same conclusions.
They should take a leaf from the current chairman of UBS who said that if yours is the only opinion that differs from the rest in the room, it does not mean that they are correct.

Desmond Quek came up that way.

 

[mesmerised]

[QUOTE
Very sloppy. Why meet the PRC driver in the dorm and obviously the posed photo giving the impression of serious empathy while one third of the staff were going to detained.

What about talking to his customers - the ones who pay for his services - the ones who were inconvenienced - the ones that will rate him. This is common sense.[/QUOTE]

The SOPs were drawn up since the time we had issues with Thai workers who stayed here illegally and decision was made to cane those who break our laws. The Thai govt sent in their warship to repatriate all those who wanted to leave immediately.

Can see clearly that the govt wanted the issue handled in a systematic way. Including who to 'front' it, who should come out smelling like roses and who should be seen to be 'apologetic and caring'.

Come 2016, this incident will be played out prominently to show how the younger 3rd generation of leaders handled the issue and averted the mighty Chinese from sending their aircraft carrier to pick up all the Ah Goons home.

Points scored all round. Performance Bonuses assured!

Rest of us should just 'move on' lah.

 

[myfoot123]

How did a
- OMS scholar
- schooled in Oxford
- schooled in Harvard
- SAF 6th SAF Defence Chief
- member of elite Admin Service
- Permanent Secretary
- CEO of one of the biggest GLC

Failed to show his face in the midst of the crisis, absolutely no sound or picture, takes the first chance of a showing his face by turning it into a cheap publicity photo opportunity by visiting his staff at the dorm like Mother Theresa and then to end up having a third of his affected staff in detention in a prison. Fucking clueless or scared shitless or both.

How did we end up with such leaders. Even a moron would know when to turn up at a funeral.

He probably went to America to see if he can apply American cuisine course for his whole family and than take 3 months paid leave thereafter. Someone who went for french cuisine course said a good leadership is someone who can be absent from work without any disruption to his office.

 

[aurvandil]

If you look at Kee Chiu and the speech which gave him the nickname, Mr CEO probably thought he was being politically cunning and clever.

He got the EVP responsible for this mess to brief the media and make the apologetic noises. He then showed up to meet the poor downtrodden drivers in their dorms with a message of hope and reconcilliation.

Just like Kee Chiu thought he blew everyone away with his Kee Chiu speech, our SMRT CEO thought we would be dazzled by his political cuning.

Actually there are outstanding leaders in the civil service and society is such that there are bound to be good leaders. Do agree that the system and culture over the years has evolved to such a state that it is indeed taboo to acknowledge adverse events.

This is an excellent opportunity to sack this bugger, send a clear message to all those highly salaried arseholes to pick up their game and serve the nation.

People must be laughing at us. We got a Malaysian with bad hairdo that screwed what was once an iconic transportation structure and now an army chief who can't even instill confidence.

Comments about opening lines of communications - that is cardinal in an army. You certainly do not want to fire on your own men.

 

[Hans168]

Philip yeo was one of Goh KS fav. See where yeo led us into. First was engineering, then bioscience. A bloody mess in everything he steered.

Now he got a few golden car parking lots as reward.....

 

[sleaguepunter]

My sense over the years is that it is fundamentally flawed in that it takes in so many people across the civil service and GLCS and results in inbreeding traits. The focus is in this pool. The iron rice bowl for scholars and golden parachute have resulted in safe execution.

None of the Western countries have such a system. It is similar to the Mandarins of Imperial China and the famous or infamous imperial exams systems. India too has the elite entrance systems and look how corrupted and poorly they perform.

It should go back to the old system where the top few are given scholarships as a reward and a recognition but they they go into a common pool and performance and potential drives promotion and assignment of duties. Let them be hungry.

spurs in the hide are only meant for the bottom feeders.

those on top are cover with high quality cotton.

 

[scroobal]

Excellent analogy bro. I did not think of it but have to agree with you. Bloody devious. Explains how he climbed to SAF no. 1 and PS.

If you look at Kee Chiu and the speech which gave him the nickname, Mr CEO probably thought he was being politically cunning and clever.

He got the EVP responsible for this mess to brief the media and make the apologetic noises. He then showed up to meet the poor downtrodden drivers in their dorms with a message of hope and reconcilliation.

Just like Kee Chiu thought he blew everyone away with his Kee Chiu speech, our SMRT CEO thought we would be dazzled by his political cuning.

 

[scroobal]

I can confirm that.

It was rumored that during annual ranking exercise, if an overseas scholar is ranked below top quintile, the superiors will have to explain to perm sec because this represents a massive waste of money sending that scholar for overseas studies, and a slap on the judgement capabilities of PSC. The default blame is on the superiors of the scholar for not guiding him properly.

Hence after a short while, everyone learnt never to slow down the career path of an overseas scholar, unless that scholar is resigning soon.

 

[GoldenDragon]

We all have to worry how the cabinet ended up appointing him as the SAF chief. How did the selection mechanism throw him out as the best candidate. Or is he the best that we got.

Same question can be asked about the appointment of the previous and current CP in the SPF.

 

[GoldenDragon]

It was rumored that during annual ranking exercise, if an overseas scholar is ranked below top quintile, the superiors will have to explain to perm sec because this represents a massive waste of money sending that scholar for overseas studies, and a slap on the judgement capabilities of PSC. The default blame is on the superiors of the scholar for not guiding him properly.

Hence after a short while, everyone learnt never to slow down the career path of an overseas scholar, unless that scholar is resigning soon.

This is very true. I know of one case whereby a HI of a land div was ordered to change his assessment of an OMS. This HI, as with those who worked with this OMS knew this chap wasn't an officer and a gentleman. Years late, this OMS had to resign as a result of his case which was reported in the ST.

 

[Leongsam]

Strikes are a minor issue. They occur in NZ on an almost weekly basis and CEOs never get involved. They simply appoint a company spokesperson to handle the press and get on with more important tasks.

CEOs get involved only when there is a major incident such as an accident which has cost lives.

This refusal to go to work has been blown way out of proportion only because it has occured in a country where there have been no strikes for a quarter of a century because citizens are cowards and don't have the guts or gumption to stand up for themselves.

You guys have a chance now to behave like 1st world citizens and simply treat this strike as the non issue that it is. Baying for the blood of the CEO makes all of you come across as a bunch of raving loonies that you'll usually associate with places like the Gaza strip.

 

[halsey02]

Yes, he is indeed in charge. Even if someone is appointed 1 day before the crisis occurred, if that person has leadership, he would have stepped up, told the commuters what he plans to do and keep them engaged. This chap was in so many leadership roles and seem lost.

I wonder if he knows who his customers are?

I am sure he knows who his customers are!, definitely not you or me or the many that have to depend on PUBLIC transport to get from point A to B, get there within reasonable time, within trusted safety. His customer is, you already know & do not have to shout out the name(s).

 

[halsey02]

He probably went to America to see if he can apply American cuisine course for his whole family and than take 3 months paid leave thereafter. Someone who went for french cuisine course said a good leadership is someone who can be absent from work without any disruption to his office.

In other words, they are overpaid, too much time on their hands, complacent & incompetent. Do we need incident like this, that place the public in grave danger of a sabotage to wake them up? Isn't this frightening!

 

[Leongsam]

Auckland bus drivers to strike every Monday

Published: 10:21PM Tuesday September 04, 2012 Source: ONE News

• 
• Source: ONE News
• • Union meeting to delay Auckland bus services

Auckland bus drivers say they have been forced to step up their industrial action because they have been unable to convince their employers to properly value their work.

The Auckland Tramways Union says bus drivers will take strike action every Monday for nine weeks from September 17 in an effort to convince NZ Bus to take their wage claim seriously.

Mediation has concluded without agreement between unions representing 900 Auckland bus drivers, and their employer, Infratil-owned NZ Bus.
At issue was the drivers' claim for a pay rate of $20 per hour to commence sooner than the company was prepared to offer, Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt said.

Drivers have submitted during bargaining that this should be in place by July next year, whereas the company wants to delay it until April 2014, he said.
Bus drivers are routinely away from home for 14 hour days to earn an eight-hour wage, due to their split shifts for peak services, Froggatt said. "It is not at all easy to support themselves and their families in Auckland on the wages that NZ Bus pay. This is a very profitable company, who can comfortably afford a better deal for Auckland's bus drivers."

NZ Bus' owner Infratil posted a 6% profit increase last month and company directors have recently been voted a 3.7% increase, Froggatt said.

​

"Yet the workers who carry the travelling public day to day are being asked to wait until 2014 to reach a decent wage of $20 an hour."

Froggatt said that also at issue were pay rates covering shifts when drivers are required to come into work on their rostered day off. NZ Bus pays them time and a quarter, whereas others in the company are paid time and a half, he said.

NZ Bus was out of step with other bus companies, he said.

FIRST Union has been able to conclude bargaining with other major Auckland bus companies within a much shorter time period and for higher rates, showing bargaining can be reached without the need for industrial action if the company was willing to pay a decent wage, Froggatt said.

 

[eatshitndie]

This tiny little incident has been blown way out of proportion only because it has occured in a country where there have been no strikes for a quarter of a century because citizens are cowards.

You guys have a chance now to behave like 1st world citizens and simply treat this strike as the non issue that it is. Baying for the blood of the CEO makes all of you come across as a bunch of raving loonies that you find in places like the Gaza strip.

in the bay area, we had 5 major strikes in the past 2 weeks leading to thanksgiving.

the bakers' union went on strike, caused hostess, company that made twinkies among other goodies, to go out
of business. the company was already in dire straits due to more americans abandoning sugary junk food. the
strike dealt the final nail in the coffin. all hostess' union employees lost their jobs as a result.

the nursing and hospital workers' union went on strike against a couple of healthcare providers. temp workers were called in, and strike lasted one day.

teachers' union went on strike in east bay school districts.

longshoremen and port workers' union went on strike at a time when the oakland port was at its peak in terms of imports for the upcoming holiday season.

i prefer the sg system.

ps: i forgot to add the 5th - hotel workers' union. they went on strike during thanksgiving week against a high end hotel chain.

 

[Leongsam]

i prefer the sg system.

So do I.

If anything, the Singapore authorities have been far too lenient. They should have arrested every single striking worker the day it happened in a display of shock and awe.

The culprits should then have been publicly flogged, jailed for 6 months and then driven out of town for good.

The CEO, if he did have to be involved, could then have done an LKY with a "don't mess with us or you'll live to regret it" statement. This would have reinforced his authority over the minions that work for him.

Case closed.

 

[Charlie99]

Same question can be asked about the appointment of the previous and current CP in the SPF.

For those of us who were in 1 SIR or HQ 2 SIB, when the former CP was in 1 SIR, we are very puzzled indeed as how Mr. K. could ever be promoted to be CP.

With regards to the present CP, I am not familiar, but possibly, there are no other SPFOS in the running for that position.