Another train disruption: LRT train stalled between Bukit Panjang and Senja LRT stations

One day after Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew ticked off SMRT for the recent spate of breakdowns, a LRT train stalled in Bukit Panjang today causing distressed passengers to be evacuated from it.

According to a netizen, he saw two LRTs stopped somewhere in the middle of Bukit Panjang and Senja stations today. A fire engine, red rhino and ambulance were also on standby in the vicinity:

[Source: Hardwarezone Forum]

Another commuter Teo Wei Shen added:

“Service A is disrupted; Services B and C (via BP7 Petir) are available. One vehicle has broken down and another vehicle has coupled to the broken down vehicle, likely to be sent back to depot. It appears to be the exact same section of track where a vehicle’s guide wheel disloged about 10 years ago.”

Passengers were forced to alight from the stalled train and walk back to the LRT station:

As usual, there are no public statements from SMRT as its management has long run out of excuses to cover up for its gross incompetence.

The Temasek Times is the FIRST news site in Singapore to report on the latest SMRT cock-up as such ‘minor’ disruptions continue to get censored by the state media.

For instant updates on the latest train disruptions, traffic jams and accidents, please visit The Temasek Transport Review Facebook here.

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Circle Line hit by major train disruption this morning

Singaporeans late for work as SMRT hit by major train disruptions this morning

SMRT: Experts found our maintenance regime consistent with good practice

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Lui Tuck Yew: 13 percent of bus drivers from China

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Temasek Times’ readership exceeds TODAY and Zaobao in Singapore

In less than three months, new kid on the block Temasek Times not only rises up the rank from nowhere to become Singapore’s ‘number one’ socio-political blog, but its readership has exceeded some of the online versions of the mainstream media itself.

The recent surge in readership has propelled Temasek Times to become one of the top 100 sites in Singapore. As of 21 April 2012, it has attained a traffic ranking of 63 in Singapore according to information from web analysis site Alexa.com:

[Source: Alexa.com]

This put it ahead of TODAY Online and Lianhe Zaobao which are ranked 72th and 90th respectively in Singapore.

With zero funding, a simple wordpress platform and few contributors, the Temasek Times has managed to build a daily readership of more than 30,000 with more than 100,000 page views. Imagine how much more we can achieve with just a little bit more funding and resources.

Despite its stunning success, the Temasek Times is only a ‘prototype’ for us to build a more sustainable and secure new media platform in the future after which it will be split into two separate websites – a credible socio-political commentary site and a tabloid news site with the long-term plan to go into print.

With Malaysia liberalizing its media laws lately, we believe it is only a matter of time before Singapore changes its outdated media laws to allow private companies to enter the print media market as well.

If you are keen to join us on this exciting project either as an investor, journalist or contributor, please email us at:

temasektimes@yahoo.com

 

 

CIMB Bank warns of rising social and political discontent in Singapore

Despite the rosy outlook in Singapore’s economy this year, analysts at Malaysian bank CIMB has expressed concerns at the rising social and political discontent in Singapore stemming from its widening income gap.

Singapore has the highest income gap between the rich and the poor among the thirty most developed economies in the world after Hong Kong.

In its 34 page report “Frankenstein in Asia’s El Dorado,” CIMB noted a combination of rising costs and an increase in anti-foreigner sentiment may pose potential threat to Singapore’s economic success:

“Singapore has found enviable economic success since 2007…But the fruits of its success have not filtered down to everyone. The masses complain that if wealth is measured by happiness, Singapore is far from being El Dorado.”

With the government shifting its policy towards ‘more inclusive growth’ to placate disgruntled Singaporeans, the move may reduce reduce foreign direct investment and population growth while raising inflation.

“This raises medium-term competitiveness concerns for Singapore. As the government tightens its immigration policy, businesses will pursue growth in other regions instead of Singapore. Real GDP growth might decelerate. Wages and cost of basic services will rise, so too will cost of living,” CIMB added.

Read more here.

CGH molest case: Sri Lankan doctor called up by police for questioning

According to reliable information we received from a CGH insider, the Sri Lankan doctor who was accused of molesting a nurse has been called up for questioning by the police.

A resident physician from Sri Lanka who works in the hospital’s Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care department was accused of touching the buttocks of a nurse in an operating theatre earlier this month.

When contacted by the media, a CGH spokesperson confirmed the incident:

‘This is a very serious matter….The hospital expects the highest level of conduct from our staff at all times. We are investigating the allegation and the staff has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation,” she said.

Though a police report was initially not lodged, the victim decided to do so sometime this week which led to the doctor being hauled up by the police.

The doctor is currently suspended by CGH, but is understood to have attended a Committee of Inquiry last week. He has not been dealt with by the Singapore Medical Council yet.

There are large number of foreign doctors working in CGH which seems to favor them over local doctors because of their lower salaries and supposedly wider experience as most of them are already working as ‘specialists’ in their homelands.

Three weeks earlier, a CGH doctor from Malaysia Ivan Ngeow Ko-Yen was charged for outrage of modesty by exposing his genitals to a female NUS student cross-dressed in the female uniform of Victoria Junior College.

Last year, Indian national Thiyagarajan Mathimaran, 33, a doctor at CGH’s urology department at that time, was charged with molesting a 42-year-old woman in the hospital’s toilet. He was later cleared of the charge after he paid $5,000 to the woman he allegedly molested and was allowed to continue working as a doctor in CGH.

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Related articles:

CGH insider: Nurse was asked not to lodge police report against pervert foreign doc

Foreign doc from CGH suspended for allegedly touching buttocks of nurse

Netizens outraged by CGH’s defence of pervert doctor Ivan Ngeow Ko Yen

PHOTO: Former Thai PM Thaksin eating Bak Kut Teh in Singapore with younger daughter

Former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was seen in Singapore two days ago having ‘Bak Kut Teh’ with his youngest daughter at the famous Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh restaurant at Rangoon Road:

[Source: soshiok.com]

VIDEO: Man got ambushed by TNP reporters after turning up to meet girl for sex

A man got ambushed by TNP reporters after turning up to meet a girl for sex. The girl was actually a TNP ‘special correspondent’ posing as a student on an adult forum seeking ‘friends.’

She claimed that within 48 hours, she received 80 sent emails from men, many of whom offer her money to have sex with them.

One of the men who was lured into meeting her didn’t bother to clarify if she is above 18 years old before agreeing to go to her flat for sex.

Just when he thought he could have a ‘piece’ of the sweet young thing, three TNP reporters showed up from nowhere and ‘ambushed’ him on the spot after which he was coerced to give an impromptu interview:

So guys, be careful when you look for sex online next time because you will never know when you will be entrapped .

 

Cocky NUS law undergraduate: Local undergrads with single degrees are ‘least intelligent’

A cocky law undergraduate boasted about his education qualifications on a forum and described local undergraduates with single degrees as ‘least intelligent’.

The comment was posted on “BrightSparks Singapore Scholarship and Higher Education Forum” in response to a thread on local versus overseas universities.

The forumer, who uses the moniker “Grandiloquence” claimed that he got into NUS Law to do a Double Degree course and also obtained a scholarship to go to a top overseas universities.

He classified people into four different tiers of intelligence:

[Source: BrightSparks Forum]

His post was chanced upon by a Singaporean Yeo Kai Wen who was disgusted by it:

“Are Singaporean scholars getting cocky? I was quite disturbed when I chanced upon this post up on a Brightsparks forum.”

Such an ‘elitist’ mindset has been long ingrained in the Singapore’s administration which gives scholarships to the top cohort of Junior College students each year, many of whom are subsequently groomed for the top jobs in the public service.

 

Desmond Choo reaching out to WP’s base in Hougang with visits to temples

As the Workers’ Party continues to ‘hibernate’ in Hougang, PAP grassroots adviser for Hougang organizations Desmond Choo has been working very hard on the ground to win the support of Hougang residents.

In the last one week alone, Mr Choo has been seen in the constituency almost every day in addition to the weekly ‘tea party’ sessions he conducts on Monday nights at the Hougang Community Club.

Two days after celebrating Tamil New Year with Hougang residents, Mr Choo joined in a temple celebration near Block 309, reaching out directly to the Workers Party’s base in Hougang.

The Teochew-speaking community in Hougang, many of whom are Buddhists and Taoists, form the bastion of support for WP Chief Low Thia Kiang since he captured the constituency in 1991.

However, with ex-Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong’s reputation in tatters after being involved in alleged extra-marital affairs with multiple married women, conservative Hougang residents may have a change of heart this time, judging from the response received by Mr Choo at the event.

Many residents were seen walking up and shaking Mr Choo’s hand and had kind words of encouragement for him.

In a post on his Facebook, Mr Choo wrote:

“Joined in the temple celebrations near Blk 309. It was my first time joining them. They shared the rich history behind the different rites an rituals. What a wonderful journey thru a piece of Chinese history! The organizer, Ah Keong, told me how he visited different places of worship to better understand the religions in S’pore. He’s a true believer that all faiths can grow together in Singapore in harmony and respect. Was extremely impressed by his religious knowledge. He also did 20 paintings for the functions!”

[Source: Desmond Choo’s Facebook]

Meanwhile, there is nothing heard about the Workers Party’s activities in Hougang. Its likely candidate for the Hougang by-election Png Eng Huat does not have a Facebook page yet and the last update on the Hougang SMC’s Facebook page was on 16 April about a Health Talk. There was no mention of Mr Png whose public visibility in Hougang has been far below Mr Choo.

According to some observers, WP’s ‘inactivity’ in Hougang is a sign of its sheer ‘arrogance’ that it will win Hougang easily again as it has been a WP stronghold for the last twenty years. WP members and supporters have also been making snide remarks about Mr Choo’s chances in cyberspace with some asking him to ‘Balk Kampung’ and stop wasting his time as Hougang ‘belongs’ to WP.

To learn more about Mr Choo, please visit his Facebook page here.

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Desmond Choo: I am ready to serve Hougang residents

Why it’s time to consider nationalizing our metro train system

The fact that our metro train system has become an integral part of our daily landscape moving millions of pax trips cannot be over emphasized. There will be more train lines opening up soon with the billions of public funds committed to it’s network expansion. It is now timely for a thorough review and revamp of the entire rail system i.e. the model of full or partial privatization or nationalization in the form of setting up a Statuatory Board to run the entire rail network system autonomously and independently without any third party interference!

Obviously the current model of fully privatized business entity with LTA as the regulator doesn’t seem to work anymore. The natural tendency for a private enterprise to aim for maximum profits and minimum costs by cutting down on expensive assets maintenance & operation costs is clearly in conflict resulting in our present sorry state of affairs. If there is no problem then why this high powered COI lasting 6 weeks parading in a public court? Whilst the COI is in progress to probe into the system’s failure on last Dec, yet the trains are still breaking down even more frequently.

The instabilty and unreliablity of the rail network is so obvious to the public that any more self- denial simply won’t assuage an irate discerning public. A re-think and revamp of our current model is therefore timely. Already universities and polytechnics are arranging for alternative transport on exams period just in case. The trust is no longer there!

There are advantages of nationalization. Instead of the LTA as regulator telling the train operator what to do and how to run the trains now the stat board will decide everything on its own. The blaming game stops there and now. As it is from the on going court case, LTA and SMRT getting first class expensive lawyers to ‘finger pointing’ each other. Pushing blame to each other to the chagrin of an appalled public! WTF! The commuting public actually suffer and at the losing ends with two fellows fighting over whose faults or incompetency that resulted in our current mess!

ALAN TANG

*The above was first published as a comment here

PM Lee highlights importance of recognising contributions of nation’s seniors

With an aging population, Singaporeans will need to adopt a positive mindset towards elders, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Speaking during a community event in his constituency of Teck Ghee, PM Lee said it is only right for the society to support them in their silver years and encouraged residents to show support when the government starts to build studio apartments, nursing homes and day care centres in the different estates.

The government’s recent move to build elderly service centers in some estates had met with fierce opposition from some residents who are afraid the value of their properties will plummet as a result.

PM Lee added that Singaporeans should treat the elderly the way they wish to be treated when they get old and on the part of the government, it has implemented financial assistance schemes, including the Enhancement for Active Seniors and Silver Housing Bonus, announced during Budget 2012.