SMRT vs Saw Phaik Hwa vs LTA vs Temasek vs Govt

[Varuna]

You board and disembark on the second coach and on the second last coach. In this way, the capacity can be increased by about 33 %.

This sort of solution is beyond the capability of the current SMRT management team. They could not figure out the basics of what they were supposed to do in the first place, it would be too naive to expect them to venture into advance level of operation.

 

[Candide]

[video=youtube;j-egyleuhmM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-egyleuhmM[/video]

[video=youtube;rDqatJPvOfk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDqatJPvOfk&feature=related[/video]

 

[mojito]

Nonononono... Please... don't call for her resignation. That will only mean she will be parachuted elsewhere to other Temasek-linked companies. Slap a mind-boggling penalty to SMRT, watch the price dive below a dollar, and let the law of the jungle deal with this cretin.

 

[Windsor]

My take on this is that the LTA as the body that oversees the SMRT should the the one to be blame, more so than SMRT. Firstly, who is responsible for the influx of foreigners into Singapore, such that the MRT is literally bursting at the seams to accommodate the increase in passenger loads. SMRT said and rightly so, it is not so bad and the capacity is not yet "crushload."

Then LTY with a new portfolio as Transport Minister due to pressure requested for an increase in the number and frequency of trains to lessen the traffic. Has SMRT a choice? SMRT started in 1987 which was 24 years ago and as far as I can recall, there had not been any major overhaul or replacement since then. Obviously, originally designed for a smaller population and not taking into account of a population explosion, the MRT succumbed to the stress that it was not designed to absorb.

LTA should have done a proper study and re-look at it in totallity, being the body responsible for the transport system to serve the needs of the population. Ultimately, the responsibility lies more with the government than SMRT.

 

[scroobal]

There is no doubt that LTA failed in its oversight role. But have to disagree that culpability is less on SMRT. They took on the lease to operate the damn thing and if they thought that it was not possible, they should have made it known. It will be interesting to see what the inquiry would throw out.

My take on this is that the LTA as the body that oversees the SMRT should the the one to be blame, more so than SMRT. Firstly, who is responsible for the influx of foreigners into Singapore, such that the MRT is literally bursting at the seams to accommodate the increase in passenger loads. SMRT said and rightly so, it is not so bad and the capacity is not yet "crushload."

Then LTY with a new portfolio as Transport Minister due to pressure requested for an increase in the number and frequency of trains to lessen the traffic. Has SMRT a choice? SMRT started in 1987 which was 24 years ago and as far as I can recall, there had not been any major overhaul or replacement since then. Obviously, originally designed for a smaller population and not taking into account of a population explosion, the MRT succumbed to the stress that it was not designed to absorb.

LTA should have done a proper study and re-look at it in totallity, being the body responsible for the transport system to serve the needs of the population. Ultimately, the responsibility lies more with the government than SMRT.

 

[Varuna]

Next on the list waiting to be making the headlines is the SBS. And if LTA thinks that their job ends with SMRT and that by shoving responsibility downstream, operators will auto-pilot to a smooth happily ever after ending, they must be insane. I have taken double-deckers with drivers driving like shooting Hawaii-Five-O movies. On the other extreme, I have also encountered drivers crawling to the interchange and could tell they were hoping for the traffic light to turn red at every junction. Notably, the quality of transport is getting worse. They might have gotten the newest hardware, but the software and people running the show is deteriorating, hovering just above hopeless level.

 

[ChaoPappyPoodle]

There is no doubt that LTA failed in its oversight role. But have to disagree that culpability is less on SMRT. They took on the lease to operate the damn thing and if they thought that it was not possible, they should have made it known. It will be interesting to see what the inquiry would throw out.

The COI will result in a template answer.

1) Everyone did what they could.
2) Equipment wear and tear is bound to happen. No amount of maintenance could have prevented the incidents unless maintenance runs were done within peak hours.
3) Cite other MRTs around the world with similar or worse incidents.
4) Ask commuters to be more helpful and understanding during stoppages (deliberate non-mention of breakdowns).
5) LTA asks SMRT for more frequent maintenance reports.
6) LTA asks SMRT to improve templates for messages to peasants. Include sign language. SMRT says will take 5 years learn different languages, including Tagalog, Hindustani, Burmese and a few others to implement. LTA says OK. LTA does a *wink* *wink*.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

The COI will result in a template answer.

1) Everyone did what they could.
2) Equipment wear and tear is bound to happen. No amount of maintenance could have prevented the incidents unless maintenance runs were done within peak hours.
3) Cite other MRTs around the world with similar or worse incidents.
4) Ask commuters to be more helpful and understanding during stoppages (deliberate non-mention of breakdowns).
5) LTA asks SMRT for more frequent maintenance reports.
6) LTA asks SMRT to improve templates for messages to peasants. Include sign language. SMRT says will take 5 years learn different languages, including Tagalog, Hindustani, Burmese and a few others to implement. LTA says OK. LTA does a *wink* *wink*.

I think this time there'll be a bit more than the just plain wayang. Maybe some resignations here & there, or some action that appears to be harsh on SMRT just to fool people.

No heads will roll (as in, no one will be sacked) but the wayang will be a bit more serious. This is receiving attention from PMO itself and they've just lost a GRC so there's a need to up the ante.

 

[bullfrog]

This is a story about 5 people..

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.
Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody
wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody.

 

[Leongsam]

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody.

That's what used to happen when I worked in an office full of Singaporeans.

Eventually the boss got really pissed off and fired the majority of locals and replaced them with Foreign Talent instead.

Since then, everything has been running a lot more smoothly. Deadlines have been met, overheads are down, productivity has doubled and moral has been significantly boosted.

He couldn't believe the transformation and wished he had done it sooner.

 

[freedalas]

That's what used to happen when I worked in an office full of Singaporeans.

Eventually the boss got really pissed off and fired the majority of locals and replaced them with Foreign Talent instead.

Since then, everything has been running a lot more smoothly. Deadlines have been met, overheads are down, productivity has doubled and moral has been significantly boosted.

He couldn't believe the transformation and wished he had done it sooner.

My dear Leongsam, I know u r trying to be provocative with this post of yours. But hey, u can do much better than this, coming out with such a ridiculous story, when the whole of S'pore knows the actual situation is the reverse. Come on, don't start getting lazy, think harder, think of something better, u can do it.

 

[Kohliantye]

That's what used to happen when I worked in an office full of Singaporeans.

Eventually the boss got really pissed off and fired the majority of locals and replaced them with Foreign Talent instead.
Since then, everything has been running a lot more smoothly. Deadlines have been met, overheads are down, productivity has doubled and moral has been significantly boosted.
He couldn't believe the transformation and wished he had done it sooner.

Leongsam is humble and put it very nice. let me interprete what he says;
The first para means that the BOSS (refering to the current leadership) really got pissed with local Anak Singapura original and allowed more FTs in...
The FTs did a good job and transformed Singapore.....
"He couldn't believe the transformation" means that ONLY now the Government had reaslised their folly that the locals are much more unhappy now than before this FTs took over their jons.
That is demonstrated thru the result of the last GE which saw the majority vote for PAP plunging, Aljunied being conquered and Hougang retained. Many other neighbouring "provinces" (GRCs) saw their shar0 of votes plunged.
Terima Kasih Pa Leongsam. Skarang saya mengerti

 

[brocoli]

That's what used to happen when I worked in an office full of Singaporeans.

Eventually the boss got really pissed off and fired the majority of locals and replaced them with Foreign Talent instead.

Since then, everything has been running a lot more smoothly. Deadlines have been met, overheads are down, productivity has doubled and moral has been significantly boosted.

He couldn't believe the transformation and wished he had done it sooner.

which nationality ??

 

[bhoven]

The COI will result in a template answer.

1) Everyone did what they could.
2) Equipment wear and tear is bound to happen. No amount of maintenance could have prevented the incidents unless maintenance runs were done within peak hours.
3) Cite other MRTs around the world with similar or worse incidents.
4) Ask commuters to be more helpful and understanding during stoppages (deliberate non-mention of breakdowns).
5) LTA asks SMRT for more frequent maintenance reports.
6) LTA asks SMRT to improve templates for messages to peasants. Include sign language. SMRT says will take 5 years learn different languages, including Tagalog, Hindustani, Burmese and a few others to implement. LTA says OK. LTA does a *wink* *wink*.

The haste with which each party is playing Roger the Dodger ( ministar holds BOD responsible:BOD holds CEO responsible: CEO holds the COO( who had resigned earlier ) responsible: etc etc...one really wonders if the COI will come up with anything useful or insightful....Most likely it will be another MaS Selamat type of Inquiry...especially since the SMRT and the BOD are having their own investigation teams which suggest that only the "right" findingstually emerge. The GPC is for once correct in asking that the BOI be truly independent....for starters it should recall the previous COO for questioning and scrutinise the decisions sanctioned by the BOD re capital expenditure/maintenence...Whilst the CEO must bear primary responsibility, accountability should be more broad based extending surely to the BOD which is now playing Pontius Pilate. Nor can LTA simply wash its hands off because it has handed over the infratsructure to SMRT. Indeed, accountability should go back even further to the planners who came up with such an ill conceived structure for what it claims is a world class transport system.