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Tag: SCA

  • SDA Member, William Lim, Resigned From Party For ‘Personal Reasons’

    SDA Member, William Lim, Resigned From Party For ‘Personal Reasons’

    A member of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) who helped set up an alternative association for cabbies touted by the party has resigned.

    In a statement to the media, Mr William Lim said he resigned yesterday (Aug 30) due to “personal reasons”.

    A full-time taxi driver, he told TODAY he was leaving the party to concentrate on his work and other business commitments, and currently does not have plans to join any other political party. He had been a member at SDA for over a year.

    He also took pains to say that the new Singapore Cabbies Association (SCA), which was announced less than two weeks ago by him and SDA chairman Desmond Lim, was “never associated with the SDA in any way”, other than the fact he is the SCA’s founding president and until now, an SDA member. The SCA, which has 200 members, aims to be an alternative to the National Taxi Association in championing cabbie welfare.

    Mr William Lim’s announcement comes two days before Nomination Day, but SDA chairman Desmond Lim said that while Mr William Lim was a member of the party, he was not a potential candidate for the upcoming General Election.

    “(He is leaving for) personal reasons, our hearts are heavy, but we have to respect (his decision),” said Mr Desmond Lim.

    Mr Desmond Lim also said the SCA is still subject to approval by the Registry of Societies. “We had this idea, because we know taxi drivers have certain issues that need us to address. We are very concerned. Since (Mr William Lim) is a taxi driver, we helped him to form this (association), and he was a member of SDA, so it was affiliated to the SDA.”

    Mr Desmond Lim added that he would prefer to wait to see if the SCA gets its approval, before commenting on whether the association will continue to be affiliated to the party.

    However, Mr William Lim said the SCA will become a “non-partisan association”. “I am the only one who is handling it. Actually I have been planning to set up the SCA since last year,” he said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • SDA Establishes Alternative Association For Taxi Drivers

    SDA Establishes Alternative Association For Taxi Drivers

    Members of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) have registered a new Singapore Cabbies Association (SCA), aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of taxi drivers here.

    The SCA will serve as an “alternative” to the National Taxi Association (NTA), said founding adviser and SDA chairman Desmond Lim, by fighting for stronger regulation of third-party applications such as Uber, enhancing training for taxi drivers and public education.

    For example, it wants the authorities to push for Uber drivers to undergo formal training and comply with the same regulations as taxi drivers, and ensure Uber drivers have up-to-date Medisave contributions to renew their vocational licences.

    Added founding president and SCA assistant treasurer William Lim: “The NTA is only one single association. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and taxi companies are not taking into consideration their suggestions enough.”

    Mr William Lim, a full-time taxi driver, said the SCA also intends to engage veteran taxi drivers and traffic police officers to provider training for new cabbies. The current training that taxi operators provide is very basic, he said.

    The 200-member-strong association also plans to offer legal advice and financial education for cabbies, and educate the public on, for instance, the safe spots to flag cabs.

    The SCA’s annual membership is open to taxi drivers who hold valid taxi driver vocational licences and costs S$60. Mr Desmond Lim submitted the application to the Registry of Societies yesterday.

    When contacted, NTA executive adviser Ang Hin Kee told TODAY many agencies and authorities, including the LTA, Traffic Police and Central Provident Fund Board, work with the NTA because of its existing vast network and membership. “Importantly, there is an ongoing, continual effort on our part to reach out, so it is not a once-off event,” said Mr Ang, who is a Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

    While Mr Ang did not directly comment on the SCA, he questioned: “What do you bring new to the scene? … I still feel it is may be more effective (if) we can channel our resources through existing networks so that (NTA) can benefit the drivers.”

    Mr Ang added that the NTA is looking to leverage technology and work with companies managing third-party booking apps to facilitate better matching of cabbies and commuters.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com