MRT Fiasco – Blame who? (from TR Emeritus)

[sense]

An insightful article from TR Emeritus

MRT Fiasco – Blame who?
December 18th, 2011 | Author: Contributions

PAP’s self-proclaimed first world public transport, the MRT train, malfunctioned in three separate instances in less than a week for the first time since its inception in 1987. Media reports both online and mainstream have covered extensively on the faults and Singaporeans get to catch a glimpse of how riots could be felt like – public blackout, mass gathering scenes, frustrated people and broken window panes.

Leaving the train fault aside, SMRT also proven themselves to be incapable of handling contingencies. The shuttle bus service provided were not able to accommodate the number of commuters. SMRT’s other arm, the taxi operations, insensitively sent out an announcement notice to all taxi drivers calling the train breakdown incident: “Income Opportunities”.

The question remains to see whose head should be on the chopping board to account for these chaos. Who and what are the factors responsible?

1) SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa

Number 1 on the target board. One of the most well-paid CEO in the region ($1.8 million) angered Singaporeans with callous remarks on several occasions. Given such major screw-ups, if Saw still doesn’t go, it will only tell how greedy and unprincipled Singapore’s corporate system has become.

The PAP ruling Government, through the controlling shareholder, the state-owned Temasek Holdings, may just force Saw to resign from SMRT so as to ensure that the buck stops at her level.

Also, as the Malaysian CEO is not a PAP member, the PAP leadership will have no qualms distancing themselves from her. The state-owned media is already joining in the public outcries calling for her resignation. The question remains who will be the next SMRT CEO?

2) PAP Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew

Taking over one of the most difficult ministries, Singapore’s Transport system has been a mess since Raymond Lim’s time. Aside from getting on cameras featuring how he has been “helping” commuters and paying lips services over the media, Lui has so far been a no show. Unlike Lui’s counterpart who took over a similar difficult profile, Minister Khaw Boon Wan has at least been seen trying his best to institute new housing policies, with the notable ones like reducing the price of new HDBs, increasing new HDB constructions and slamming an extra 10% stamp duty on foreign home buyers. Lui pales in comparison as he does not see any problems with the current policies and looks more interested in maintaining the status quo and appearing in public riding public transport.

Under Lui’s watch, public transport operators’ applications for public transport fare raise were given the green light with zero discussions and public feedback. Car ownership to foreign buyers saw no levies and the prices of Certificate of Entitlement (COEs) reached new heights. Private ownership of taxi and buses are still being disallowed when it is clear that the SBS and SMRT monopolies are unable to meet demand.

3) Influx of Foreigners

The 24 year old MRT train system was well-known for its reliability in the past and was an exclusive bragging tool of the ruling PAP Govt. However in the recent years, due to PAP’s relentless intake of foreigners, every train was fully loaded and train frequencies were increased to the maximum limit in the past 6 years. Operating at maximum load every day, it is only a matter of time before the system faces an engineering death.

4) Consumer Commission of Singapore(CCS)

This Statutory Board has proven itself to be totally useless when it comes to charging NTUC-arm National Taxis Association’s call to price-fix taxi fares. Fare prices of public transport are still dictated by the few PAP-approved companies and there is certainly no open economy concept in Singapore public transport.

Alex Tan

http://www.tremeritus.com/2011/12/18/43647/

 

[sense]

SINGAPORE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Singapore's public transport operator SMRT Corp Ltd said she was not planning to leave the company following major disruptions in its train services last week, a newspaper reported on Monday.

Her statement was in response to calls for her resignation after a string of train breakdowns caused commuter chaos in the usually well-run city state.

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has called for a comprehensive review of the train network.

"No good leader will leave the field when the battle is on. I am staying put now to do my work, and put everything right," the Straits Times reported the CEO of SMRT, Saw Phaik Hwa, as saying.

About 80 people gathered at a Singapore park on Saturday and some of them called for her to step down, the newspaper said.

The Land Transport Authority had found that several metal grips that helped keep rails stable had fallen off, the newspaper said.

A train breakdown on Saturday was the third in a week including a five-hour disruption on Thursday that left 127,000 commuters and Christmas shoppers stranded.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-transit-ceo-says-no-plan-resign-paper-000847763.html

 

[sense]

6 January 2012
SMRT BOARD ACCEPTS SAW PHAIK HWA’S OFFER OF RESIGNATION;
BOARD DIRECTOR, TAN EK KIA, TO SERVE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Board of Directors of SMRT Corporation Limited has accepted the offer of resignation from
the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Saw Phaik Hwa. Ms Saw will conclude her
executive responsibilities with effect from today.

Ms Saw will remain with the Group to assist the relevant investigation teams and the Committee
of Inquiry (COI) reviewing the causes of, and responses to, the disruptions to train operations in
December, and with the transition to new executive leadership.

Board Member, Mr Tan Ek Kia, will assume interim executive responsibility for the management
of SMRT, with a particular focus on rail operations, while the Board conducts a search for a new
CEO.

Mr Tan has been a Board Director of SMRT since July 2009. He is a former Managing Director
of Shell Malaysia Exploration and Production and Chairman of Shell North East Asia. He has
diverse experience in engineering & construction, safety, operations and business management.
Chairman of SMRT, Mr Koh Yong Guan, said: “The Board recognises the importance of this
transition period, and this is why Tan Ek Kia will provide executive leadership while a search is
underway for Phaik Hwa’s successor.”

He also thanked Ms Saw for her dedicated service as President over the last nine years.
“On 7 December, Phaik Hwa spoke to me about her desire to move on during 2012, after having
served nine years and led SMRT through considerable growth. The growth in the Group’s
network has included new stations on the East-West line, the new Circle Line, and the bus and
taxi network, transforming SMRT to a multi-modal public transport corporation. In addition, new
business segments have been created, capitalising on opportunities in retail and advertising to
diversify the Group’s revenue base.

“During her tenure, SMRT has delivered strong results, and is regarded as one of the world’s
leading public transport operators,” Mr Koh said.

Ms Saw said that she acknowledged the time was right for the Board to look at new leadership
for the organisation.

“I have had the privilege of leading a group of very committed and loyal staff over the last nine
years. I feel it is now time for SMRT to bring in new leadership and take the organisation to the
next level. This is the culmination of a discussion I began with the Chairman in early December.
I also feel it is important for me to stay on and support the relevant inquiries, and the transition to
new leadership. I will also be supporting Ek Kia as he leads the organisation through its
transition to a new CEO.”

Executive Director, Tan Ek Kia, said he would work quickly to ensure the leadership team of
SMRT has whatever support they need to ensure the delivery of reliable public transport services
to commuters.

“The staff of SMRT are aware of public expectations that we deliver on our commitment to learn
lessons from December’s incidents. My focus will be on ensuring that we meet our commitment
to public to provide reliable public transport services. I will put a particular emphasis on rail as
the cornerstone of our public transport system.

“I will be giving the organisation the leadership and support it needs, through the transition, to
ensure all commuters continue to have a reliable public transport system.”

http://www.smrt.com.sg/Upload/20121618551560873.pdf

 

[Ramseth]

The problem clearly started with RL and SPH. It's not LTY fault; he took over MT just half a year ago. RL failed to plan ahead for the transport system ahead or even in tandem with PAP policy of increasing immigration. SPH heading SMRT tried to boost profit sheets by skimming on maintenance and security staff, as reflected in the easy break-ins for vandalism and frequent breakdowns. Both RL and SPH were dismissed in a space of half a year.

LTY taking over MT, top on his agenda was to build another line and more stations. This is necessary since SBS shortened or outright phased out many bus service lines since they own NEL and cannot be possibly duplicating their own services or competing among themselves. That'd be meaningless since it's the same company with the same P&L and balance sheets. LTY performance as MT is still too early to assess.

 

[laksaboy]

The problem is a systemic one. Saw Phaik Hwa and SMRT is just one tiny part of the big picture.

Within a short period of time we've had:
1) MRT breakdown
2) Flood pondings
3) Singtel no 3G signal
4) HSA DNA test errors
5) HDB BTO flats tiles crack
6) DBS/POSB accounts hacked
7) NUS site hacked
9) M-League returning, S-League going... going...
10) SG power stations all sold to foreigners, SG buys electricity from M'sia

The corporate fascist state called Singapore Inc. is cracking at its foundations.
It is caused by the trickle down effect of greed and complacency from the political leadership.