Category: Singapuraku

German CEO Of DB Schenker Logistics (Asia Pacific) Jailed 2 Weeks And Fined For Slapping Taxi Driver

A drunk German chief executive was given two weeks’ jail and fined $1,000 for slapping a taxi driver and kicking his vehicle after the cabby had declined to pick him up.

Jochen Thewes, 45, of DB Schenker Logistics (Asia Pacific), had earlier paid $2,950 in compensation to the driver and apologised to him in court. He also paid $250 for repair work on the damaged cab.

Thewes, who was fined $1,000 for causing damage to the taxi, is appealing against the conviction and sentence over the charge of causing hurt by slapping.

At about 3.50am on Sept 24 last year, cab driver Malcolm Xu, 33, was at a taxi stand at Tan Tye Place, Club Street, when he declined to pick up a drunk-looking Thewes. Thewes then walked over to the driver’s side and kicked the locked door.

When Mr Xu opened his door to check the damage, Thewes pushed him and slapped him on his left cheek. Mr Xu suffered a bruised and bleeding nose, and was treated at a private clinic the next day.

Mr Xu testified in court that he thought Thewes was drunk, which was why the cab ahead of his vehicle at the taxi stand did not want to pick him up and had driven away .

Thewes appeared unhappy and frustrated, and hurled vulgarities at him when Mr Xu explained he could not pick him up as he was headed east to change shift and not to the destination sought by Thewes.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Stephanie Koh argued that Mr Xu’s evidence was consistent with video footage in the area and that Thewes was inebriated after a night of drinking and had approached cabs intending to go to another place.

Mr Xu did not ” exaggerate or embellish” his account, which was supported by other evidence, she said.

District Judge Salina Ishak was convinced, noting in judgment grounds released yesterday, among other things, that closed-circuit television footage showed Thewes behaving in a “drunken and unruly manner”. She ruled that Thewes lacked credibility in court when his defence was simply that he was too intoxicated to remember what had happened.

In mitigation, Thewes, through his lawyer Selva K. Naidu, acknowledged that it was shameful for him to have behaved in the way he did and said he had learnt his lesson.

Mr Naidu added that this was a brief incident and there was early compensation paid for the victim’s injury and damage to the car.

The judge, in finding Thewes guilty, pointed to aggravating factors which warranted a two-week jail term.

“This was a case of an unprovoked assault by an intoxicated offender on a public transport worker in the course of his duty in the wee hours of the morning,” she said.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

September 15, 2016
Why Sack Driver When SMRT’s Statements Did Not Show Driver Was At Fault For Fatal Accident?

I agree totally with Andrew Loh that the sacking of the driver involved in the fatal accident smacks of “scapegoating”.

No need to look too far until the lembu balik rumah?

Take a look at the statements by SMRT, Where did it say the driver was at fault? So why sack the driver?

Mati

Reader Contribution

September 15, 2016
Victim’s Family Questions Sacking Of MRT Driver

The families of the victims in the fatal SMRT accident in March have questioned the operator’s sacking of the train driver involved in the tragedy, before investigations by the relevant authorities are complete and the Coroner’s Inquiry is held.

Expressing their sympathies for the sacked driver, they reiterated the need for the full picture to emerge. Amid concerns that the sacking could prejudice the ongoing probes, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in response to TODAY’s queries that the sacking was “an internal decision by SMRT”.

“Investigations by MOM and LTA are ongoing and will be based on the facts of the case,” they added.

On Wednesday (Sept 14), The Straits Times reported that Mr Rahmat Mohd, 49, was dismissed on Tuesday after an internal disciplinary inquiry. Citing sources, it added that an operations control centre staff member had also left the company earlier on account of the incident, which occurred on March 22.

Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24, and Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26, were killed by an oncoming train while on their way, as part of a team of 15, to check on a warning signal from a monitoring device.

Speaking to TODAY, Nasrulhudin’s eldest brother Nasrifudin, 33, said his family was shocked to hear about the sacking of Mr Rahmat. “He could be the breadwinner of the family so we are also sad for him,” said the civil servant.

Asyraf’s cousin, who wished to be known only as Mr Khai, noted that all the staff involved in the accident as well as their colleagues would have been “affected emotionally and mentally”.

While he felt that SMRT had its own reasons for dismissing the driver, it would have been better if the operator based its disciplinary actions on the Coroner’s Inquiry, which would uncover the “real sequence of events”.

“They should wait (for the inquiry),” he said. Nevertheless, he said the family is thankful for SMRT’s support following the tragedy. “We have to accept the situation as it is … The takeaway from all this is that hopefully, none of this happens again,” he added.

Mr Melvin Yong, the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) executive secretary, said that the union had previously written to SMRT, asking it to withhold any disciplinary action until official investigations are complete, so as to not prejudice the outcome.

“We will now review the situation, study the grounds for SMRT dismissal, and work with the affected staff on the next steps. The union will continue to render affected staff the necessary support and assistance during this difficult time, as we have since the incident,” he added.

In April, SMRT shared the findings by an independent panel on the accident. The panel found that the team involved had stepped onto the train track before “vital” protection measures were implemented. Also, a speed limit to prevent trains from entering the track area on automated mode was not set, and watchmen were not deployed to look out for and warn of approaching trains, “directly causing” the accident.

The report was submitted to LTA, MOM and the police to assist with their statutory investigations. A Coroner’s Inquiry will be held after official investigations conclude. LTA had earlier said that its investigations would be completed in the third quarter of this year.

When contacted, SMRT spokesman Patrick Nathan reiterated that the company does not comment on staff disciplinary measures.

The sacking of Mr Rahmat also drew flak online.

Writing on Facebook, prominent blogger Andrew Loh said the firing was a case of “scapegoating”. He asked if the sacked train driver was really at fault, and even if he was, whether he should be made to bear the full responsibility. He added: “Amazing that, at the other end, despite years of failures, disruptions, delays and all sorts of incidents on our trains, affecting millions of commuters, NOT A SINGLE higher-up has ever been held accountable.”

Referring to Mr Rahmat, Ms Emily Chong wrote on SMRT’s Facebook page: “At 49 years old, he now has to find a new job to support himself and his family — for a mistake that was not his to bear.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

September 15, 2016
Former Journalist Ismail Kassim: PAP Should Nominate Strong Minority Candidate For Upcoming Presidential Elections, Not Amend Constitution To Stifle Competition

A note to PM

Dear Prime Minister

By now you ought to know how divisive your proposal to amend the EP system has become. I cannot think of any issue in the last three decades that has caused such a wide and deep division within the electorate.

The tragedy is that your aim to ensure that members from minority communities too have a chance at becoming an EP is commendable, and has its merits.

Unfortunately, the way and timing of your move have also prompted considerable misgivings over your real motive:

Is it really to ensure minority representation or is it to prevent an independent-minded citizen from being elected EP in 2017?

Because of suspicions and emotions aroused over motive, it has become very difficult, even for those in the middle ground, to look at the proposed changes in a calm and objective manner.

And any rush to implement a system that is deemed unfair may have adverse repercussions on the EP itself.

Reserving the post for a particular minority is fundamentally flawed and goes against the grain of multiracialism and meritocracy. Likewise, the obsession with higher qualifications without giving due weight to strength of character and integrity is both elitist and undemocratic.

Will any good arise from foisting a minority candidate in a closed race open only to members from that community on the nation; in all likelihood too, it is likely to become a farce, reminiscent of a past EP election, when a businessman was forced to compete to give the semblance of a democratic race.

Such an EP is unlikely to command wide respect, and in all probability will be regarded as a ‘kayu’ (wood) by significant sections of the people, including members from his own community.

There is still time for you to salvage the situation; just make sure that whatever changes that will be adopted will not come into effect in the 2017 presidential election.

In this way, your protestations that they are not aimed against any individual will instantly become more credible.

The minority community that has not yet produced an EP for the last 47 years will not mind waiting a little longer.

As far as I know, they have grumbled over a lot of things such as continuing discrimination in the military and national service for their males and the unfair banning of their tudung-clad females from becoming nurses and policewomen.

But over the EP, there is none.

The PAP, notwithstanding its faults, is a great party with a sterling record.

If you feel strongly, you should nominate a minority for the coming EP and use all the powers at your disposal to get him elected.

If you think it is too risky, you can always field a stronger candidate. There is someone with impeccable credentials from your ranks who cannot become PM because of his ethnic origins. I think he will be unbeatable in any contest.

These are the heroic options, which a party with a solid reputation to protect, should choose.

Do not stoop so low now as to amend the Constitution out of fear, just to exclude opponents and independent-minded citizens.

So Mr Prime Minister, I hope you will reconsider all your options, and choose one that will unite the people, and not divide them further.

Ismail Kassim
14th November 2016

Source: Ismail Kassim

September 15, 2016
Woman Loses Singaporean Husband And Father In Motorbike Accident

Every year, without fail, her family would balik kampung (Malay for return home) to spend Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Haji with her parents.

Madam Noraini Hassan, 35, and her family reached her parents’ home at Kampung Seri Lalang near Kluang, Johor, safely last Sunday, the eve of Hari Raya Haji.

But around 12.40am on Monday, fate dealt the Malaysian woman a devastating double blow.

The two men dearest to her – her Singaporean husband of 10 years and her father – were cruelly snatched away in a fatal road accident.

Her father, Mr Mohamed Hassan Ali, 65, was riding with her husband, Mr Noraripen Surni, 48, on his motorcycle when it collided with another motorcycle ridden by Mr Muhammad Hafiz Ghazali, 21.

Mr Muhammad Ekmal Yussry Md Yassin, who was riding behind Mr Hafiz, could not brake in time and his motorcycle crashed into the other two bikes.

Mr Noraripen and Mr Hafiz were killed on the spot.

Mr Hassan died in hospital after he was taken there by a neighbour who was riding behind them when the accident occurred.

Mr Ekmal was also taken to hospital with injuries. His condition is not known.

Madam Noraini, who works as an admin officer in Johor Baru, told The New Paper in Malay yesterday: “I was devastated when I found out that my husband and father were involved in an accident.”

She said they were returning home after having drinks with other villagers at a coffee shop nearby.

The accident occurred about a kilometre from her parents’ house.

PHONE CALL

When a neighbour went to the house to tell her about the accident, she immediately called her husband on his mobile phone, but a man who identified himself as a doctor answered and told her to go to the accident scene.

Madam Noraini went there with her two children, Norqiestina, nine, and Izzul Zikri, four.

On the way, she kept hoping that her husband and father were still alive, and tried to maintain her composure for the sake of her children.

“In the car, my neighbour told me to take deep breaths to calm down,” she said.

When she reached the scene, her husband’s body was already in an ambulance.

“My heart broke into pieces when I saw their bodies, especially when my daughter started crying.”

Madam Noraini said her neighbour later said that “when she told me about the accident, she already knew my husband was gone but could not bear to tell me the news”.

Her father and husband were buried at the Muslim cemetery in Kampung Seri Lalang on Monday afternoon.

During the burial ceremony, her son asked her: “Why is ayah (Malay for dad) being put in the hole?”

“It pained me to explain to him what happened. I told him, ‘You’ll see him again in heaven, God willing,’” said Madam Noraini.

“My husband was a truly wonderful, amazing man. There will never be another one like him.

“I met him through a mutual friend, and we became friends. When I introduced him to my father, he was immediately taken with him. My father was the one who suggested that we got married.

“I fell in love with my husband because of what a great person he was. He was a man of few words, very quiet, but he’s one of the best people I know.

“He would always take time off to spend time with us as a family. Every Hari Raya, he would take our family to balik kampung.”

Mr Noraripen had worked in a Japanese food factory at Senoko Road for close to 20 years. He moved to live in JB after their marriage 10 years ago, and would commute to and from work daily.

He was the youngest of five siblings. They grew up in Singapore, but, like him, two of them also moved to JB, and another to Kuala Lumpur.

His siblings and mother attended his funeral.

DEVASTATED

His sister, Madam Norizah Surni, told TNP that she last saw him alive at her house in JB last Saturday.

The 53-year-old housewife received a call from her sister-in-law at 1.04am on Monday to tell her that Mr Noraripen had met with an accident.

The call left her fearing the worst, and she was devastated when Madam Noraini later confirmed her brother had died.

“I was upset that I would never see him again, no more seeing him every week at my house,” said Madam Norizah.

“I lost one of the most important people in my life. This was my brother. He was the one I always talked to whenever I faced any problems. I told him everything.”

Source: www.tnp.sg

September 14, 2016