REACH (Telegram) 40 - 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)
11 Nov 2024 (10am - 7pm)
REACH (Telegram)
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 10:07 AM]
Dear contributors,
Welcome back! π
⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10:15am to 7pm today. ⏰
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Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies.
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Thank you.
Megan π
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 10:15 AM]
π’ Topicπ’
Parliament will sit today (11 Nov) at 12pm. Parliamentary questions regarding the recent oil spill incidents, the disruption of Singtel landline services, telemedicine standards in Singapore in the wake of a probe into MaNaDr Clinic and the recent Bukit Panjang LRT disruption will be raised.
π¬ 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.
π Oil Spills in October
• On 20 Oct, oil spill containment measures were activated after a leak from a pipeline belonging to major energy company Shell occurred. On 29 Oct, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was alerted to an oil spill off Changi during bunkering operations between a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier and a licensed bunker tanker.
• MPs have asked whether a review is required for oil sighting and alert mechanisms given Singapore's status as a global bunkering hub, the impact of the spills on Singapore’s seawater quality and marine ecosystem, whether the government will be checking the structural integrity of all oil pipelines in Singapore’s waters, and whether any penalties will be imposed on companies that cause such issues.
π Disruption of Singtel landline services
• An hours-long Singtel landline outage on Oct 8 disrupted calls to emergency services, healthcare institutions, banks and businesses in what the telco said was an "isolated incident".
• MPs asked about what could have caused the landline disruption, whether existing business continuity requirements are adequate for instances where a telco supports essential services, how such an incident could be prevented in future, and whether any action will be taken against Singtel.
πTelemedicine Standards in Singapore
• MPs asked about the measures in place to ensure telehealth providers consistently meet patient care standards, whether additional regulatory frameworks will be developed, whether teleconsultation services meet the appropriate standards, and whether MOH has received feedback on potentially errant medical clinics
π Bukit Panjang LRT
• MPs asked when the Bukit Panjang LRT services would be resumed, the current progress of its upgrade project and the status of the replacement of its first-generation trains.
ππ» https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/parliament-order-paper-singtel-landline-outage-oil-spill-telemedicine-oxley-road-4735506
ππ» https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singtel-phone-line-users-report-service-outage
ππ» https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/oil-spill-in-singapore-waters-after-leakage-in-shell-s-land-based-pipeline
ππ» https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/oil-spill-bunkering-operations-changi-bahamas-flagged-bulk-carrier-bunker-tanker-4708711
ππ» https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/manadr-clinic-lapses-flag-importance-of-good-clinical-governance-telehealth-players
ππ» https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lrt-bukit-panjang-disruption-train-fault-stall-4695971
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 10:15 AM]
Other Salient issues
• PM Wong’s 8 Nov Press Conference
• Pritam Singh’s trial
• Priest stabbed during Mass on 10 Nov
• Expansion of National Electronic Health Record
----
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 11:04 AM]
[ Poll : Which issue are you most interested in for today’s Parliament sitting? ]
- Oil Spills in October
- Disruption of Singtel landline services
- Telemedicine Standards in Singapore
- Bukit Panjang LRT disruption
Dr. Goh, [11/11/2024 11:10 AM]
None. Plenty of backlog regarding job data and employment of local born.
May Ong, [11/11/2024 11:45 AM]
What about DACs for post-18 students? There's a great lack of supply for many years.
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 12:53 PM]
Telemedicine is just too much limitations
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 12:57 PM]
You expect to diagnose people with just online meetings without doctors looking at your throat and pressing your body hearing your lungs?
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 1:01 PM]
I think to ensure standard 5 minutes at least for consultation
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 2:01 PM]
π’ Topic π’
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 2:14 PM]
Dear Contributors,
We want to HEAR MORE from you!
π¬ 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.
We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.
Thank you!
Megan π
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 2:33 PM]
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/telemedicine-standards-valid-enforcement-ong-ye-kung-manadr-clinic-moh-4740151
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 2:39 PM]
*Disruption of Singtel ISDN landline services*
1. ISDN landline - which are usually PRI (Primary Rate Interface) are used for hotline voice 23 concurrent call 64Kbps.
It also can be used for video conferencing, data transmission etc.
ISDN PRI is usually used by enterprise.
2. ISDN BRI (Basic Rate Interface) with 2 channels is used for SME voice and data transmission.
3. Looking at so many enterprise voice hotlines down, likely Singtel ISDN PRI is affected that trigger downtime.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 2:44 PM]
1. With the advent of advanced data technology like SONET, DWDM backbone and GE (Gigabit Ethernet), MPLS VPN, router, LAN switches, Optical technologies - it has replaced ISDN PRI and BRI - to transmit data, voice, image, video, video conferencing etc.
2. But ISDN PRI are still used by voice hotlines in many enterprises such as the 999, 995 and other public services or private enterprises as dedicated voice hotlines.
3. Redundancy, resilient system in any IT systems are usually very important - because if the primary system is down, rightfully the backup system should be able to take over - to ensure there are no downtime.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 2:50 PM]
1. In the case of police, civil defense, hospital and other voice hotlines, usually it is a good practice to connect 50% of the voice hotline to a primary Singtel ISDN PRI and 50% to a secondary Singtel ISDN PRI (if Singtel has 2 ISDN PRI system).
2. Else, it is more prudent for police, civil defense, hospital and other voice hotlines, to subscribe to 50% of the voice hotline to a primary Singtel ISDN PRI and 50% to a secondary Starhub ISDN PRI.
I believe Starhub does have a ISDN PRI system.
3. In this way, if Singtel primary ISDN PRI is down, only 50% of the voice hotline is affected, while the other 50% secondary ISDN PRI is still up and can service the voice hotline -- with no downtime to the public.
Singtel can then take its time to bring up its down ISDN PRI line - and is transparent to the public.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 2:52 PM]
1. But of course for the public sectors and private enterprise to subscribe to 2 ISDN PRI systems - likely it will involve higher costs - as it lack Economies of Scale.
2. But balancing the consequences of downtime to critical voice hotlines to public services that can be life threatening, the higher cost maybe warranted.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 2:59 PM]
*Telemedicine Standards in Singapore*
1. It is shocking to read so many doctors involved in this telemedicine malpractice (whereas some doctors are even employed in public hospitals or clinics).
2. More than 6 years of study and medical practice go down the drain for these doctors - and their licences could be suspended.
Very sad that these doctors unable to observe the Medical Hippocratic Oath that they swear upon - to benefits patients with medical ethics and hurt themselves and their livelihood.
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 3:02 PM]
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore-proposes-laws-to-stop-stubborn-scam-victims-from-sending-money-to-syndicates
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 3:07 PM]
3. An errant boss in the medical service providers can set poor examples to the medical doctors he employed.
4. But as a trained professional doctors, they must stay strong and abide by their professional medical ethics and human moral ethics - what they do are right or wrong, and whether they have break the laws.
If what they are told to do is wrong, they must resist from wrong moral ethics and whistle-blow --- so that they will not hurt the patients they serve and eventually bad medical practices will be discovered - and their licences will be imperil.
5. Don't take chances and always be mindful to human inherent conscience that if a malpractice are force upon them, the doctors must stand up and not succumb to wrong practices - that will eventually hurt them and others.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 3:15 PM]
1. During the covid, we have 1st experience on telemedicine with a polyclinc.
2. The telemedicine session is conducted in a professional manner (as it is a repeat consultation).
3. During the telemedicine via a Zoom video conferencing, the doctor go through the history, ask about symptoms, refer to previous medication given, visually eyeballs the patient (short of physical examination) and then prescribe the medicine (that are deliver to my house).
4. Patient recover after taking the medication and the telemedicine save travelling time and cost and is effective for repeat consultation (though I have some reservation about illness that are not follow-up consultation).
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 3:16 PM]
1. After covid, I will still prefer physical consultation at the clinics or hospitals - rather than telemedicine - as the doctors can do physical examination and checks - that cannot be done by telemedicine.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 3:21 PM]
1. Just saw the CNA news flash - that the backup system kick in did not work when the primary ISDN PRI system go down.
2. If the ISDN PRI system (Primary and Secondary) are configured as "Active/Backup" - then chances is that the failover may fail - if contingency exercise are not conducted or the failover protocol may sometimes fail.
3. Good practice is to configure the ISDN PRI to be "Active-Active" - that is 50% on primary system, and 50% on secondary system.
If primary system is down, 50% of call is down. But 50% of the secondary system configure in "Active" mode still serve the public - no downtime - and transparent to the public.
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 3:28 PM]
Removing mandatory minimum sentences for first time traffic offender.
Which smart fellar come out with this idea
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 3:30 PM]
Proposed changes to traffic rules to prevent some offenders from being overly punished
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/proposed-changes-to-traffic-rules-to-prevent-some-offenders-from-being-overly-punished
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 3:34 PM]
1. Using a network analogy to illustrate the "Active-Backup" concept versus the "Active-Active" concept.
2. Eg. 2 network systems are configured as HSRP "Hot Standby Routing Protocol" - as the name suggest:- Primary network system is configured as active to serve the public, and Secondary network system is configure as passive on standby mode.
Only when primary network system go down, then HSRP protocol will be activated and kick in to start up the passive Secondary network system.
But if HSRP protocol fails, then the backup network system will not start up.
Public will encounter the following downtime :-
a. Primary network system downtime
b. HSRP failover downtime
c. If failover fails, backup system unable to start up ---- then long downtime.
3. However if the 2 network system are configured as "Active-Active" - then VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) will be needed to ensure both Primary network system and Secondary network system are active.
If primary system is down, secondary system still serving the public - no downtime - primary system downtime is transparent to the public.
4. So ISDN PRI should similarly configure on an "Active-Active" mode - and should not rely on an "Active-Backup" mode.
xXx.SCAR.xXx, [11/11/2024 3:35 PM]
Learnt something new today
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 3:35 PM]
Hahaha
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 3:43 PM]
*Oil spills*
1. Singapore is a regional hub for oil bunkering - and due to previous covid pandemic follow by Mediterranean war and Middle East war - Singapore port and oil bunkering service grow phenomenally as many ships berth around our ports.
2. Hence as our ports get more and more congested, ships accidents and oil spills will become more likely.
3. Not sure if AI, maritime systems and technologies can make berthing and bunkering of ships more efficient to prevent accidents and oil spills.
Steven Ong, [11/11/2024 3:52 PM]
IMO, the landline disruption is unacceptable as we should have some kind of backup system to maintain seamless operations, especially for essential services. At the same time, it's a learning opportunity to prevent major issues in communication when unforeseen national level circumstances happen.
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 4:04 PM]
π’ Topic π’
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 4:05 PM]
*PM Wong's 8 Nov Press Conference*
1. PM Lawrence Wong bring up a very worrying issue - geopolitical tensions - that will have a longterm profound effect on Singapore.
2. I feel the same, and in fact, if we analyse and look deep the challenges ahead of us ---- it is quite worrying.
3. The new US President in his election campaign has bring up a few policies that he intend to roll out if he wins - which are basically massive inflationary economic policies to booster the US Economy in an explosive manner :-
a. 60% tariff for China imported goods, 10 - 20% tariff to all other Countries import, 100% tariff to Canada and Mexico.
b. Tax cut
c. Deport illegal immigrants enmass that form the backbone of low cost blue collars work
d. Conjure American MNCs to come back to US.
e. Easing financial regulations.
f. Interest rate cut.
4. Let us examine the outcome and impact of such massive inflationary economic policies measures - and how it will impact us.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 4:20 PM]
*Tariff war against all other Countries*
1. US has just recovered from the high inflation during covid 9.06% to the current 2.44% (Source:- Meta AI) - due to FED prudent intervention in regulating interest rate, quantitative tightening --- through Monetary Policy.
2. The reasons why US inflation shoot up to almost double digit (in which the Worlds also face such high inflation) are due to :-
a. Covid pandemic - disrupt production of goods, services, food and logistic supply chain.
b. War in Ukraine, Middle East war - disrupt shipping and production.
c. Global climate conditions that disrupt crops production.
d. US quantitative easing (printing money), very low interest rate, tax cuts, ramping up tariff war with China, EU and other countries (pre Biden times) --- whereby too much money chasing too little goods and services.
--- that cause inflation worldwide to spike during Biden's time.
3. Now, the factors that trigger the last inflation again surface - and will be double down or triple down.
4. 60% tariff, 10-20% tariff and 100% tariff are no joke.
$1 become $1.60, $1.20, $2.
5. American consumers will have to pay for the high tariff.
6. American consumers will reduce consumption, World export greatly impacted.
Singapore trade with US - about $120 billion will be impacted. And our export to US will likely to go down.
7. Other countries may retaliate with tariff on US, and the imported goods from US will also rise - leading to imported inflation.
8. Hence our inflation that we have controlled to about 2.5% will again spike.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 4:22 PM]
*Tax Cut*
1. Tax cut will means more American companies and individuals to have more disposable income to invest and spend - boosting Economic Activities.
2. This means, more money will flow into the market to buy goods and services - to chase up limited supply - again trigger inflation to spike.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 4:26 PM]
*Deport illegal immigrants working in blue collar*
1. Many American companies and SMEs are relying on low wage illegal immigrants (millions of them) to work and sustain their business.
2. Mass deportation will means labour shortage for US business, jack up high wages to employ locals (but many locals don't want to work eg. in construction, oil drilling, manufacturing etc).
3. Triggering wage-induced inflation - and inflation spike.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 4:32 PM]
*Conjuring MNCs to on-shore*
1. Policies such as high tariff to make MNCs more expensive to export goods to US, BEPS (Global Minimum tax rate), sanctions etc --- are meant to conjure MNCs that wish to sell to US Economy from cheap production outside US to come onshore.
2. US is a very big consumption economy with $27.36 trillion (Source :- Google).
Hence some MNCs which predominantly sell to US Economy may force to uproot.
3. But the Global Economy GDP is $100 trillion minus $27.36 million - about $62 trillion.
4. Many MNCs may decide to stay and continue production to outside US Economy to the rest of the World - while pulling back some manufacturing capacities to US.
And US labour costs are very high as many skilled manufacturing workers are lost - and may lack skilled workers.
5. This lead to higher manufacturing overhead and costs --- and lead to higher prices goods and services --- again trigger inflation
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 4:40 PM]
*Easing financial regulations*
1. The Democrats and Biden administration have tighten financial regulations - to ensure sufficient financial reserves set aside in banks, prevent risky investment products, protect banking consumers - but this will limit banks and financial institutions in earning, higher compliance costs and lost opportunities.
2. By easing financial regulations in banks and financial institutions - that means banks and financial institutions will undertake more risky investment, less financial reserves to prevent run-on banks ---- and again subject banking customers to financial risks - as well as global lenders to US treasury.
3. Easing financial regulations is in effect a quantitative easing policy - and again will flush hot money into US economy as well as to Global financial market ---- again triggering runaway inflation -- as there will be too much money floating to the Global Financial System.
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 4:48 PM]
*Pressuring FED to reduce interest rate*
1. FED is a central bank - and is instrumental in using Monetary Policy to regulate the Economy (another arm to Government Fiscal Policy) - to keep US economy on even keel --- and should work independently to prevent on board Government from influencing the Monetary Policy - a check and balance measure to prevent US economy from going the wrong path - and cause catastrophic economic failure.
2. But the new President insist to intervene, want to sit as chairman and even insist on putting a pliant FED chief if the term ends for the current chief in 2026.
3. Basically the new President want the FED chief to keep interest rate low - so that business and individuals can borrow more loans and money --- to boost consumption -- causing more money supply to flow into the Economy ---- and trigger a phenomenal spike in inflation.
4. In so doing, the President business that depends on high leverage, debt and borrowing to run his business - will have more money to run his business.
5. But the consequences of all the above inflationary meausres will be the phenomenon call "Hyperinflation" --- a monster that result in Deep Depression in 1930s and trigger the WW2.
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 5:36 PM]
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/rail-reliability-target-mrt-lrt-cost-taxpayer-commuters-chee-hong-tat-4740341
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 5:38 PM]
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/recent-bukit-panjang-lrt-disruption-due-to-gear-failure-in-faulty-trains-wheel-assembly
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 5:49 PM]
Have you ever wondered why failure rate of smrt is so high
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 5:51 PM]
I think we don't mind mrt break down what we cannot accept is the lack of efficient alternative
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 5:52 PM]
Especially the west side there is no Tel downtown line that run parallel to east west line
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 5:53 PM]
And north south line there's no other alternatives so far that are parallel
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 5:56 PM]
And north east line from punggol to little india I can't imagine if this section breaks down
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 6:02 PM]
For free bus service during disruption it is not enough
notice not all mrt stations are connected directly with a car route. They often need to go a big round.
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 6:04 PM]
π’ Topic π’
Jun Ming, [11/11/2024 6:06 PM]
So my suggestion is
1.)build more roads that are parallel to mrt
2.)More intersection in mrt tracks so mrt can terminate at more station
3.) allocate more resources on stations with limited alternative in terms of maintenance
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 6:46 PM]
Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan π
LCL (Danny εΏ), [11/11/2024 6:48 PM]
Channel 8 news Minister Sun Xueling say, government also exploring Telco diversity.
Means looking at Starhub ISDN PRI as secondary network system for example as part of resiliency strategy.
REACH Singapore, [11/11/2024 6:59 PM]
Dear Contributors
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan π
====
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