REACH (Telegram) 31 - Over the course of the sitting, we will be sharing articles on key issues discussed. Please share with us what areas you might be interested in and let us have your views on them.
(SK)
14 Oct 2024 (10am - 7pm)
REACH (Telegram)
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 9:46 AM]
Dear Contributors,
Welcome Back! 😊
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Megan 😊
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 10:00 AM]
📢 Topic 📢
Parliament will sit today (14 October) at 12pm. Parliamentary questions regarding the East-West Line (EWL) disruption, school bullying in the light of recent high-profile cases , the “surprise” layoffs by Dyson as well as the implications of former transport minister S Iswaran’s criminal conviction will be raised.
💬 Over the course of the sitting, we will be sharing articles on key issues discussed. Please share with us what areas you might be interested in and let us have your views on them.
📌 East-West Line (EWL) disruption
- Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista MRT stations were disrupted for six days after a faulty train caused damage to the track and other equipment when it was withdrawing to Ulu Pandan Depot. Free bridging buses were deployed daily during the disruption.
- MPs have asked whether the faulty train was withdrawn in accordance with approved procedures, the total number of affected commuters, the estimated fare revenue loss, and the total expenditure on bridging bus services.
- They also inquired if the Ministry of Transport will conduct a review of the MRT network to prevent future disruptions, whether penalties will be imposed on service providers, and sought information on the end-of-life date and maintenance regime of the first-generation MRT trains, which contributed to the recent East-West Line disruption.
📌 School Bullying
- A viral video of a bullying incident showing a Bukit View Secondary School student being kicked and taunted by fellow students at a void deck surfaced on September 15. On September 25 footage of a Qihua Primary School student being assaulted by an older boy also surfaced online. The Ministry of Education reiterates its stance that bullying is unacceptable.
- MPs have called for updates on whether teachers are sufficiently trained to identify and manage bullying, if schools have enough trained personnel such as counsellors to support teachers and students, the extent of collaboration between schools and the police when bullying occurs outside of school grounds, the number of bullying cases reported over the past five years, as well as a breakdown between online and offline bullying incidents reported to schools.
📌 Retrenchments
- Technology company Dyson conducted a round of layoffs in Singapore, which serves as its global headquarters, on Oct 1. Several MPs highlighted how it gave just a day’s notice of the retrenchment exercise to the United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries.
- MPs have called for updates from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on whether it will address the short notice given by Dyson, if current retrenchment protocols will be reviewed to ensure unions receive timely notice, and what steps are being taken to improve pro-worker guidelines that “simultaneously encourage multinational companies to maintain their presence in Singapore while safeguarding welfare of workers”.
📌 Implications of S.Iswaran’s conviction
-MPs have asked whether Singapore’s anti-corruption laws should be reviewed for greater efficacy in the wake of Iswaran's sentence and if the definition of "public servant" under the Penal Code is fit for purpose for an offence under section 165 of the Penal Code which punishes the obtaining of gifts in public office when there are official business dealings between the parties.
👉🏻https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/parliament-order-paper-ewl-train-disruption-school-bullying-iswaran-dyson-layoffs-4672576
👉🏻https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/train-services-on-east-west-line-back-to-normal-westbound-trains-moving-slower-on-repaired-tracks
👉🏻https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/police-report-lodged-after-video-of-secondary-school-bullying-incident-goes-viral
👉🏻https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dyson-retrenchment-singapore-layoffs-job-cuts-4651606
----
G, [14/10/2024 10:26 AM]
Trains:
Why is hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the white elephant "founders memorial" rather than replacing the aging fleet of trains?
Public infrastructure spending:
How much more money is being diverted away from other public infrastructure upkeep/maintenance to fund new white elephant projects?
G, [14/10/2024 10:29 AM]
Iswaran:
Is 12 mths jail long enough? Feels too short, too light. Same feeling as the ex Singaporean pianist Melvyn Tan who skipped/dodged NS, returned to SG in his 50s, only pay a paltry $5,000 fine.
G, [14/10/2024 10:31 AM]
Iswaran:
Why were corruption charges dropped for lesser charges?
Somehow this wasn't adequately explained, especially when the prosecutor was taking such a strong position
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 11:00 AM]
[ Poll : Which issue are you most interested in for today’s Parliament sitting? ]
- East-West Line (EWL) Disruption
- School Bullying
- Retrenchments
- Implications of S. Iswaran’s conviction
Nicholas, [14/10/2024 12:12 PM]
School bullying has been going on all this while. Only now this batch of bullies have filmed themselves and provided evidence of its existence. Time to nip this issue in the bud.
Jun Ming, [14/10/2024 1:18 PM]
I think most people will be interested in things happening on the ground. So like ewl disruption will be most in public interest. Where the case of iswaran is not fully related to normal people as most of us are not civil servant.
But yes it is important to address and give a leaway for civil servant to earn extra income and to receive gifts from relatives and friends for birthdays and etc. if not who would want to be a civil servant?
Jun Ming, [14/10/2024 1:24 PM]
Bullying has been happening for the longest period of time for small to big. Different backgrounds of people give different types of bullying. From elite to neighbourhood school I think bully may comes in a different form. For neighbourhood school is more likely physical abuse while sometimes cyber abuse and mental abuse can be hidden easily.
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 2:00 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 2:18 PM]
📢 Income-Allianz deal off; government assesses it’s ‘not in the public interest’
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ntuc-income-allianz-deal-singapore-government-edwin-tong-4675491?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_14102024_cna
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 2:24 PM]
Income must be sustainable.
Unless government guarantee its viability.
Hmm..
As long as government guarantee, then I ok.
But that means taxpayers money will got to be used to prop it up when Income come under financial stress to safeguard the customers interest that have bought the insurance products.
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 2:42 PM]
*Retrenchment*
1. Currently, Singapore GDP Q3 2024 is growing very well 4.1% as compared to 2.9% in 2nd quarter of 2024.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-economy-grew-41-q3-2024-mti-advance-estimates-4672826?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_14102024_cna
2. This means that it will prop up job creation and job growth.
3. However there are some worrying trends of announcement of retrenchments by various MNCs.
Some are due to exploitation of AI that have replaced worker's jobs.
ByteDance's TikTok cuts hundreds of jobs in shift towards AI content moderation replacing human jobs.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/bytedances-tiktok-cuts-hundreds-jobs-shift-towards-ai-content-moderation-4672301?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_11102024_cna
Explainer: Why are there so many tech layoffs in 2024 amid the rise of AI?
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/explainer-why-are-there-so-many-tech-layoffs-2024-amid-rise-ai-2342721
4. There are also a likely wave of retrenchment in 2024 due to a number of factors - e.g E-commerce slowdown, global supply disruption, decoupling, war disruption etc.
Why Singapore Employees Need To Be Ready For Retrenchment In 2024.
https://dollarsandsense.sg/business/why-singapore-employees-need-to-be-ready-for-retrenchment-in-2024/
The recent Dyson retrenchment.
5. So there are needs to look deeper as whether retrenchments will become a trend due to AI disruptions as well as other economic factors - so that our Workers, Government and Business are prepared to tackle it without triggering adverse social impact.
Adam, [14/10/2024 2:45 PM]
If tech companies set up shop in singapore, gov should see if they are here to develop local ai technologist or just business jobs
Adam, [14/10/2024 2:45 PM]
Well doesnt have to be ai. Generally people who develop the core technology instead of administrative functions
Adam, [14/10/2024 2:47 PM]
We should create an environment for high skilled, lasting jobs for locals instead of having places that is easily replaced
Adam, [14/10/2024 2:49 PM]
Emphasis for locals. There is a difference between the jobs the gov expects the corps bring in and what we actually see happens
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 3:23 PM]
*School Bullying*
1. School bullying has happen since early times - even happen during our times.
2. With the advent of social media and the proliferation of smartphones with video camera - school bullying in its raw form surface in the social media when recorded and uploaded.
3. Physical form of bullying, beating and physical abuses frequently happens in primary, secondary, ITE and sometimes polytechnics.
Psychological and mental bullying also occurs.
With more youth of social media, bullying extend into the cyberspace.
4. Such bullying physical and mental - will take a tremendous toll on the victims and parents putting their children into schools expect their children to be in safe spaces - and not let their children suffers physically and mentally.
5. Hence, MOE, schools and even police - must devote resources to prevent bullying, have specific procedures to report, monitor, handle, punish and rehabilitate offenders and victims.
Else the damage to victims cannot be under estimated whether mentally as well as physical injuries.
6. I realise lately, schools are adopting a soft and pacifiying approach to offenders in bullying and often punishment are not made known to public.
Though soft approach and education have beneficial effects in helping victimes cope and recuperate from the bullying as well as make bullies realise their mistakes, repent and rehabilitate in some cases --- but hardcore bullies, gangsters and abused famillies will not have effects on some harden bullies.
Hence carrot and stick approach may be required for physical bullies - to instill fear, deterrence and make public the approach taken to deal with bullies.
7. For physical bullying that result in physical assault, beating and torture - punishment must be made known to public - that such physical abuse will not be tolerated and punish severely - so that future bullies will think thrice not to commit such acts.
Eg.
a. Caning in front of assemblies by disciplinary master
b. Police frequent talks and presentation of how bullies and criminals are cane in prison
c. And how bullies are monitored, counsel and rehabilitated must be made known - to make future bullies be aware that bully will have its consequences.
8. Counsellors, physiologists must also be rope in to ensure victims are not mentally and physically harm from the bullies and help victims to recuperate.
9. Parents of both offenders and victims - must be rope in to walk the rehabilitation journey for both offenders and victims.
10. As physical bullies, mental bullies (in verbal and social means) as well as social media bullies are different - various approach to handle them need to be devised.
Adam, [14/10/2024 3:33 PM]
How about the bystanders too. I feel like this is a culture issue. We want to foster a community and environment so i dont think the focus should entirely be on the bullies and bullied.
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 3:34 PM]
Yes bystanders also must be educated to respond to bullies.
G, [14/10/2024 3:56 PM]
Yes. Citizens shouldn't stand silently by the side when there's political bullying too. e.g. when political parties bully each other.
Especially so when the PAP bullies the population into taking the experimental covid jabs. This PAP put in place so many obstacles to make life difficult for anyone who they arbitrarily deemed to be "not fully vaccinated"
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 4:03 PM]
*East West MRT line disruption*
1. I notice that EW line MRT disruption is - a tail end problem that trigger the disruption.
What do I mean by this?
2. As a result of aging MRT lines in EW and NS, a widespread breakdown happens few years ago - and an overhaul plan is formulated to replace the signaling system, power system, rail lines and replacement of the 1st generation MRT train.
Noticeably, the replacement will go on until 2026 (in the replacement of 1st generation MRT train - Kawasaki train) - which are more than 30 years old - notably 35 years old.
The long duration of replacement could be due to, MRT manufacturers need lead time to build the new MRT train.
And also budget needs to set aside funds to fund the MRT train replacement.
3. So given the constraint, I feel that the recent detachment of axle box of the faulty MRT train - is a very rare occurence.
With such incident, revise procedures (such as inspection of axle box) for faulty train need to be made before the train can be tow back to depot for maintenance - to prevent damaging the rail lines, power and signaling system.
If axle box is observed to have been detached, then stopping the MRT line may be required and on the spot fix may be required before the faulty train can be towed back to depot - without damaging the rail track, power lines and signaling devices.
4. This means that occasion disruption maybe expected along the EW line - until all the aging MRT trains are replaced by 2026.
5. Meanwhile, I noticed that the main artery line along the EW line have some redundancies - notably the orange CCL line and the red NS line.
So at least the majority of the passengers can take alternative line if EW line encounter some hiccups.
6. Having say so, buses, taxis and private hire - will need to be in place if EW are sometimes disrupted - and SMRT staff must be trained to handle occasional hiccups while waiting for all the old MRT trains to be replaced.
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 4:04 PM]
🔈 Allianz-Income deal off in its current form, Govt to open new arrangement: Edwin Tong
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/allianz-income-deal-in-its-current-form-called-off-as-it-s-not-in-the-public-interest-edwin-tong-in-parliament
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 4:11 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 4:14 PM]
*Iswaran conviction*
1. The civil service IM (Instruction Manual) is always very clear about accepting gifts from business or individuals.
2. Any gifts below $50 must be declared.
3. Gifts above $50 cannot accept (unless civil servants pay for it).
4. Hence the conviction is conforming to the IM - quite a straight forward case.
Jun Ming, [14/10/2024 4:37 PM]
I noticed that the east side is kind of established in mrt lines but the west side currently only east west line and north south line. People staying in the west will tend to affect more of the breakdown is at the western part. Any break down before bouna vista have a devastating effect. So I urge mrt not to breakdown in the area in the west as there's no alternative line before Jurong regional line ls build up
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 4:39 PM]
I think nobody wants the MRT to breakdown.
But total replacement got lead time.
That's even got money cannot replace if manufacturers still building the MRT train in factory.
Meanwhile, got to beef up alternative means of transport until 2026.
Jun Ming, [14/10/2024 4:45 PM]
And I also notice that the north south line has more newer trains than the east-west line. I am thinking why don't they equal up the ratio so it wouldn't be that bad? 🤔
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 4:46 PM]
I also noticed that.
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 4:47 PM]
But if 2 lines got a mix of old and new, there is a possibility that 2 lines could breakdown together.
Because MRT lines are sequential.
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 4:47 PM]
I think Smrt strategy is to quickly replace one line one after another.
Adam, [14/10/2024 4:52 PM]
If only we could forsee how much the population grew.
Maybe we couldve built ahead of demand.
Wait why should we even build in anticipation. We need a bto system for mrt. Reserve your place in public transport or pay for private. Solve all crowding issues.
Weirdly enough, in spite of our rock bottom birthrate we are still growing in pop
Adam, [14/10/2024 4:54 PM]
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/we-don-t-want-overmaintenance-smrt-chairman-flags-need-to-balance-rail-reliability-with-costs
Adam, [14/10/2024 4:56 PM]
Btw will smrt get fined for service disruption? Telcos get it
Adam, [14/10/2024 4:57 PM]
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/smrt-fined-record-54-million-for-july-7-breakdown
Adam, [14/10/2024 4:57 PM]
Wonder how much it will be
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 5:03 PM]
And I believe red NS line are replaced first because it is older than EW line if I am not wrong.
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 5:05 PM]
I check Google:- it say NS line started in 1987 - the oldest line.
G, [14/10/2024 5:27 PM]
Because PAP realised it may cost them some votes? 😂
Weren't they vehemently backing this deal to be pushed through?
Hanny, [14/10/2024 5:29 PM]
If we look at the case of Iswaran, the monetary gain is not significant (I am comparing with corruption at other countries). It’s really sad that ministers can fall into this kind of issue. I would suggest that ministers must go through training so that they truly understand what can fall under bribery. Do it yearly so that they are reminded.
G, [14/10/2024 5:31 PM]
When acts to be amended "urgently".. it just makes it seem like
"Ok maybe the last deal was borderline dodgy, let's amend the act so that it's clean then we can try again"
Not much different from retrospectively amending the constitution to allow for sitting presidents and other political office holders to hold concurrent appointments in foreign bodies, thereby opening up SG to the increased risk of interfering with other countrys' domestic politics
Rule by law, not rule of law
Hanny, [14/10/2024 5:33 PM]
Retrenchment is every where nowadays, not just Singapore. AI has started to work. Just need to ensure that companies follow the rule of retrenchment. This is a good time for government to boost its marketing effort to enhance people’s capabilities. The threat and fear are real.
Hanny, [14/10/2024 5:34 PM]
Stick n carrot to make people make that move.
Hanny, [14/10/2024 5:38 PM]
On school bullying, I suggest that moe hires school counselors with the right qualifications. I have a son and I can see the quality of the school counselors is really like day and night at various schools. Some school counselors are just like admin person. No proper qualifications.
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 5:49 PM]
Now there is a need for Parliament to explain the financial viability of Income since the deal has fall through.
Is Income able to honour all the financial commitment of all the insurance products sold to customers?
Some insurance products are very long haul - stretch up to 30 years.
Some even end of life.
In the event if Income come under financial stress, what remedies does Income have?
Will the government commit funds to support Income financial commitment?
Understand that Income will continue to search for partners to get a better deal.
But meanwhile, customers of Income need to be assured their products invested are protected.
LCL (Danny 心), [14/10/2024 5:53 PM]
In fact this is a more serious scenario compare to the partner alliance hoo-ha that are stem on emotions.
Jun Ming, [14/10/2024 6:00 PM]
A form sg quiz like what the army do shall be good to all civil servants
Jun Ming, [14/10/2024 6:00 PM]
Including minister and president I guess
REACH Singapore, [14/10/2024 6:13 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
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