Dear Mr Tan,
I have just started a Foreign Currency FD blog: . This allows Singaporeans to access information about FCFD at a glance, rather than searching the websites of individual banks. Would you like to add a link from your blog?
Note:
The URL is also shown on the right panel of this blog.
Your may find it not worthwhile to invest in foreign currency fixed deposit for the short term. You have to incur a spread of 1% (or more) to convert from SGD to foreign currency and to convert back to SGD, reducing the yield on the fixed deposit. If you invest for a longer term, it may be all right.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Improve transport system
Three years ago, I wrote an article on our transport system in Singapore. It was publised in the features pages of the Straits Times. It contained several recommendations to improve our transport system, including the hub-and-spoke system. The article is published here.
Bus stop numbers
Publised in the Straits Times Forum page, 27 April 2010
Fifty years ago, there were a few main roads leading to different parts of Singapore. The milestones on these roads were used to identify the destinations for travellers.
Singapore has grown many times over the years and now has many roads. Now, it is not practical to use the milestones to identify locations. Some people use buildings or block numbers but it is not easy to locate these signs.
We need to find another way to make it easy for people to find their destination. I suggest that the bus stops be used as markers. As each bus stop has already been given a unique 5 digit number, the number could be displayed in a large sign above the bus stop, to be visible from far away.
This large sign will make it easy for commuters to identify the bus stop to alight and also be aware when they have missed their bus stop, as the numbers are likely to be in sequential order.
These markers can also be used to give directions to taxi and car drivers, for example, “drive along Yio Chu Kang road until you pass bus stop 55079 and take the first turn to the left”.
Tan Kin Lian
Fifty years ago, there were a few main roads leading to different parts of Singapore. The milestones on these roads were used to identify the destinations for travellers.
Singapore has grown many times over the years and now has many roads. Now, it is not practical to use the milestones to identify locations. Some people use buildings or block numbers but it is not easy to locate these signs.
We need to find another way to make it easy for people to find their destination. I suggest that the bus stops be used as markers. As each bus stop has already been given a unique 5 digit number, the number could be displayed in a large sign above the bus stop, to be visible from far away.
This large sign will make it easy for commuters to identify the bus stop to alight and also be aware when they have missed their bus stop, as the numbers are likely to be in sequential order.
These markers can also be used to give directions to taxi and car drivers, for example, “drive along Yio Chu Kang road until you pass bus stop 55079 and take the first turn to the left”.
Tan Kin Lian
Justice
One key pillar of Singapore society is the principle of justice. There are written laws in Singapore and legal cases to determine what is legally right and wrong and what are crimes (which has to be prosecuted by the state) and what are civil wrongs (which has to be taken up by the plaintiff in a civil suit).
For example, murder, robbery and violent assault are crimes that has to be investigated and prosecuted by the state. It is not possible for a small citizen to find the money to carry out the investigation and to prosecute the offender. Even if the citizen has the money, they do not have the state power to carry out the investigation and gather evidence. These matters have to be handled by the state.
Cheating cames in a grey area. If one person claims that another person has cheated him, it could be considered as a civil offence that has to be prosecuted individually.
However, if several people complained that they have been cheated under a common mode of operation, it warrants investigation by the authority. This is more urgent when the target of the complaint had advertised their product in the mass media to reach out to a large number of people and continues their mode of operation after complaint has been received.
If the authority carried out an investigation, this mere act would probably put the party under alert and prevent them from continuing their activity blatantly. At the least, it would prevent other ignorant parties from being harmed.
Another option for the police is to carry out the investigation secretly and gather evidence. In some cases, they may carry out what is called a "sting" opertion, i.e. to simulate a case and gather the evidence.
The attorney general in a country is not only the lawyer of the government. This office is also the lawyer of the people. It has the duty to ask for potential wrong doings to be investigated by the police and to prosecute the offender, if sufficient evidence is gathered.
This would strenthen the rule of law and uphold the principle of justice in a country. It is important that all citizens should have access to justice and fairness, regardless of their financial wealth and ability to pay for a civil suit. If you look at the scale of justice, it has to be balanced and not weighted in favor of the rich and powerful.
Tan Kin Lian
For example, murder, robbery and violent assault are crimes that has to be investigated and prosecuted by the state. It is not possible for a small citizen to find the money to carry out the investigation and to prosecute the offender. Even if the citizen has the money, they do not have the state power to carry out the investigation and gather evidence. These matters have to be handled by the state.
Cheating cames in a grey area. If one person claims that another person has cheated him, it could be considered as a civil offence that has to be prosecuted individually.
However, if several people complained that they have been cheated under a common mode of operation, it warrants investigation by the authority. This is more urgent when the target of the complaint had advertised their product in the mass media to reach out to a large number of people and continues their mode of operation after complaint has been received.
If the authority carried out an investigation, this mere act would probably put the party under alert and prevent them from continuing their activity blatantly. At the least, it would prevent other ignorant parties from being harmed.
Another option for the police is to carry out the investigation secretly and gather evidence. In some cases, they may carry out what is called a "sting" opertion, i.e. to simulate a case and gather the evidence.
The attorney general in a country is not only the lawyer of the government. This office is also the lawyer of the people. It has the duty to ask for potential wrong doings to be investigated by the police and to prosecute the offender, if sufficient evidence is gathered.
This would strenthen the rule of law and uphold the principle of justice in a country. It is important that all citizens should have access to justice and fairness, regardless of their financial wealth and ability to pay for a civil suit. If you look at the scale of justice, it has to be balanced and not weighted in favor of the rich and powerful.
Tan Kin Lian
Financial services in Australia
Here are the changes to the legislation on financial services in Australia. Payment of commisison to financial advisers will be banned, to ensure that they put the interest of their clients at the forefront.
Developer familiar with C++
I am looking for a developer who is familiar with C++ to be trained to work on the Qt language that can be used for many mobile platforms. If you are interested to work full time, send a resume to kinlian@gmail.com.
Public Opinion on the Mainstream Media
Bryan Ti said that my article on "An Accountable Parliament" contained a hidden suggestion that the mainstream media is biased against the "opposition" candidates. He asked me to provide evidence to substantiate my point.
I am voicing an opinion tht is shared by many people. The public see what is going on and form their opinion. If you want the public to form a different opinion, you have to give them the reason to change that opinion. After all, this is what public opinion is all about.
I want to share a story. Twenty five years ago, I invited a retired Englishman, and a good friend, to stay in my house for three months. After a week, he told me, "Kin Lian, what kind of rubbish is the ST producing". I was taken aback. He said that the ST presented only the favorable aspect of government policies. It is not possible for any policy to have only one side; there is always another side. In the UK, the papers will write both sides and let the public make their judgement.
Many Singaporeans may not be aware about the hidden bias in the reporting of the mainstream media. I hope that Bryan Ti is right that the mainstream media is now more balanced in their reporting. However, this has to be an opinion that is made by the general public on their own volition.
Tan Kin Lian
I am voicing an opinion tht is shared by many people. The public see what is going on and form their opinion. If you want the public to form a different opinion, you have to give them the reason to change that opinion. After all, this is what public opinion is all about.
I want to share a story. Twenty five years ago, I invited a retired Englishman, and a good friend, to stay in my house for three months. After a week, he told me, "Kin Lian, what kind of rubbish is the ST producing". I was taken aback. He said that the ST presented only the favorable aspect of government policies. It is not possible for any policy to have only one side; there is always another side. In the UK, the papers will write both sides and let the public make their judgement.
Many Singaporeans may not be aware about the hidden bias in the reporting of the mainstream media. I hope that Bryan Ti is right that the mainstream media is now more balanced in their reporting. However, this has to be an opinion that is made by the general public on their own volition.
Tan Kin Lian
Long distance bus routes
Here is the reply from the Government about the change to the long distance bus routes.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_519120.html
My comments
I prefer a system of express buses that operate from one interchange to another. It can travel a long distance and have a few stops. Commuters can take the feeder bus to catch the express bus at the interchanges and the limited express stops. The travelling time will be reduced. Although the commuter has to make some transfer, it is good exercise and is similar to transfers to catch the train.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_519120.html
My comments
I prefer a system of express buses that operate from one interchange to another. It can travel a long distance and have a few stops. Commuters can take the feeder bus to catch the express bus at the interchanges and the limited express stops. The travelling time will be reduced. Although the commuter has to make some transfer, it is good exercise and is similar to transfers to catch the train.
General election - TV debate
This writer suggest that a debate on TV for the political parties contesting in the general election.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_519057.html
My comment
It is a good suggestion.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_519057.html
My comment
It is a good suggestion.
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