SINGAPORE: A Five Stars Express coach travelling from Ipoh to Singapore caught fire along Malaysia’s North-South Highway early Sunday (Jul 12) morning.
According to a spokesperson from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no one was injured, and the passengers managed to continue their journey to Singapore.
“We have not been approached for assistance by any Singaporeans in this case,” the spokesperson added.
Michelle Lim, a passenger on the bus, which was travelling from Ipoh’s Jalan Bendahara to Golden Mile Complex in Singapore, told Channel NewsAsia she smelled burning odour about three-and-a-half hours into the journey at 1.30am. She said there were about 20 passengers travelling on the coach.
The fire happened along the highway after Jasin, Melaka and near Tangkak, Johor, said The One Travel & Tours Bus Service, the agency operating the bus route.
“At around 2am, the bus driver sensed something was wrong and pulled up along the round shoulder,” Ms Lim said. “The driver ordered passengers to disembark from the bus after thin smoke was seen inside the bus. The passengers disembarked in an orderly fashion and the bus driver’s assistant helped retrieve belongings from inside the bus as well as from the luggage hold.”
She added: “After we got out, the bus caught fire and was engulfed in thick smoke – and both the driver and his assistant were pouring buckets of water to put out the blaze.”
Although most passengers retrieved most of their belongings and luggage, some left their passports behind in the coach, according to Ms Lim.
At 2.30am, another coach, operated by TransStar, arrived on the scene to pick up Ms Lim, her husband and two other passengers. The rest of the passengers remained at the site waiting for other buses to pick them up.
A Five Stars Express coach with around 20 passengers caught fire along Malaysia’s North-South Highway during its journey from Ipoh to Singapore early this morning. No one was injured, according to a passenger on the bus. http://bit.ly/1NXqCZBVideo: Michelle Lim
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
Goh Meng Seng: Workers’ Party Should Contest Fewer Seats
While I know most of my haters and detractors here are mainly WP supporters, but I would like to put this perspective forward to you.
WP has apparently taken more than what it could chew. Sylvia Lim has admitted that the management of WP’s Town Council is far from good as mistakes have been made. It is only wise for WP to focus on its current turfs of 7 seats, fortify themsevles further instead of going into expansion mode and step into other unfamiliar turfs.
I do not wish to see WP losing its current seats just because of its unwarranted ambition to win more seats. And I do not think WP can convince voters that it could manage ADDITIONAL constituencies well when it is currently struggling with the present 7 constituencies’ municipal management. WP may risk a total collapse of credibility if it won more seats but in the end TC management become a horrible nightmare. This will in return destroy WP totally by the elections after next.Stay focus on the current 7 seats will be its best strategy. I believe LTK will want to fortify his positions in these current seats instead of having the ambition to win even more seats.
Having said that, it would be natural to expect WP not to contest more seats than it has done before. In fact, it should be contesting less seats instead.
So I do not expect to have problems in multi-corner fight,especially with WP as long as they are rational and not that greedy or overly ambitious unless WP has other agendas which are not about winning more seats but disruption of other party’s chances of winning seats and growing the pie of opposition presence in parliament.
I am pretty optimistic that we have people with very rational and responsible heads in WP who would put the overall development of democracy for Singapore as top priority over party’s interests.
Source: Goh Meng Seng
Stark Differences Between Hong Kong’s MTR And Singapore’s MRT
Earlier this year, CNN looked at why Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is so successful. CNN described MTR as the “most envied metro system” in the world (‘Hong Kong’s MTR: Taking a ride on the world’s most envied metro system‘).
MTR was established as a public entity in 1973-74 before it was privatized and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange as MTR Corporation Ltd in 2000. At the time, the Hong Kong government sold its stake in public utilities, with the aim of reducing expenditure and boosting overall efficiency. But the government remained majority shareholder of MTR Corp.
MTR is both competitive and profitable, and able at the same time to serve the Hong Kong public efficiently.
99% on-time performance
“Hong Kong’s MTR is one of the best designed, best operated and most successful metro systems in the world,” said Robert Cervero, professor of city and regional planning at UC Berkeley.
The system is world class in terms of finance, operation service and transit-property integration, says Jin Murakami, an associate professor at City University of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s MTR carries more passengers (more than 5 million) than London’s subway and almost the same number as New York’s. This is despite Hong Kong having less track than London and New York.
Figures show that MTR runs about 20 hours and 8,000 train trips per day, and it boasts a staggering 99.9% punctuality rate.
In the first half of last year, MTR ran for 120 consecutive days without a single delay over 8 minutes, establishing a record for the company, if not the world.
In contrast, there have been 60 over breakdowns and delays over the past 2 years for Singapore’s MRT, since LG (NS) Desmond Kuek took over SMRT Corp from his predecessor, Saw Phaik Hwa:
The latest Singapore train service disruptions on Tuesday (7 Jul) affected 250,000 commuters at all 54 MRT stations on both the North-South Line and East-West Line, with many commuters taking their frustrations online, scolding SMRT – which runs both lines – and Desmond Kuek its CEO.
MTR helps London Overground enhance its punctuality
MTR’s reputation as one of the world’s top metros has attracted many international clients seeking its expertise.
MTR now operates the London Overground, 2 lines of the Beijing Metro, as well as parts of the Shenzhen and Hangzhou Metro systems in China, the Melbourne Metro in Australia and the Stockholm Metro in Sweden.
In 2014, it won a contract for a new rail project in Sydney. As part of the US$6.5-billion deal, MTR will deliver and operate the Australian city’s North West Rail Link, the largest public transport project in the country and its first fully automated rapid transit network.
MTR also provides consultation services to railway networks around the world. According to a 2013 Wall Street Journal report, these overseas operations have improved both the network’s punctuality at home, as well as its profitability. London Overground enhanced its punctuality from 88.4% in 2007 to 96.7% in 2013 after MTR took over its operations for a year.
Will the PAP government consider engaging MTR to help LG (NS) Kuek and his cohort of SAF officers? Or perhaps PAP thinks that SAF scholars and soldiers are better?
Continual investment in maintenance, upgrades and renewals to train system needed
Another key to MTR’s success in keeping Hong Kong’s subway in tip-top conditions is its willingness to continuously reinvest profits back into its MTR system.
“A railway requires ongoing investment and a lot of resources in order to keep it in tip-top form,” said Jacob Kam, the operations director of MTR. “Even for a system considered state of the art, in 10 years time, everything – signaling systems, urban railways – will have changed.”
Each year, US$645 million is invested in maintenance, upgrades and renewals to the MTR system. It’s a significant amount compared with many other cities and systems, said Prof Cervero.
In contrast, during the public inquiry in May 2012 into the major train breakdowns occurred in Dec 2011, previous CEO Saw Phaik Hwa became defensive when the COI questioned her about SMRT maintenance budgets.
AGC presented data showing SMRT did not raise its maintenance budgets in nearly 10 years since 2002, despite rising ridership, more frequent train runs and ageing assets. Ms Saw then stoutly defended the SMRT’s maintenance regime. She said SMRT had not only met, but exceeded, maintenance standards set out by rail manufacturers and the LTA. She claimed that money spent on mid-life upgrades for the trains had actually helped in saving maintenance cost.
When it was pointed out to her that the upgrades were mainly for the train cabins and air-conditioning units, Saw then said parts such as wheels and propulsion systems are “upgraded continuously” and are “changed on a regular basis.”
“If there is any need to upgrade, anything in the system, it would have been,” she added. Saw also blamed the new trains for the spike in train faults. The new trains were a source of bugs, she said. One of the COI panelists, Prof Lim of NTU, cited an SMRT internal report showing a 20% drop in maintenance cost per kilometer operated. Saw replied “that could be wrong numbers” or “errors in the parameters”.
She said the events that triggered the train breakdowns on Dec 15 and 17, 2011 were unprecedented. The trains stopped because a section of the electrical ‘third rail’ had dropped off after several support claws were dislodged. No power was being supplied to the trains. She said that nothing like that had happened before. Prof Lim then pointed out that the ‘third rail’ did sag in 2010 and before 2006. Saw said management was not aware of the seriousness of the events because the dropped claws were reinstated. To that, Prof Lim retorted, “You knew the risks, and you didn’t do enough. You implemented cable ties.”
High-tech tools to aid operations
MTR also invests and employs a range of high-tech tools to aid operations.
After the last trains depart from stations at about 1 a.m., more than 1,000 workers spring into action to maintain the system.
“Because of the high demand for track space and the small amount of down time, we need to quickly move engineering trains, deliver materials and provide space for people,” said Mr Kam. “We have an A.I. system that helps us optimize the use of space in a limited time.”
The A.I. program was specially designed and built for the MTR. “We also apply a lot of radio-frequency identification technology that helps monitor the condition of the trains and machinery and gives us an early warning in case of potential problems,” he explained.
Infrared monitors on tracks are used to detect cracks too small for the human eye to detect.
“We use man to do what machines can’t do, and machines to create efficiency and accuracy that’s beyond the reach of man,” said Mr Kam, summing up a principle that’s made Hong Kong’s MTR the envy of the world’s mass transit systems.
In the case of Singapore, it sounds more like a case of “What’s wrong with collecting more money?”
This is specially so on hearing what was revealed by the COI in 2012 that SMRT did not raise its maintenance budgets in nearly 10 years since 2002, despite rising ridership, more frequent train runs and ageing assets. In fact, COI reports showed that there was a 20% drop in maintenance cost per kilometer operated by SMRT.
A former SMRT staff even told TRE that many of the experienced engineering staff were “forced to retire” under the pretext of reorganization during Saw Phaik Hwa’s time. Apparently, these experienced engineering staff were deemed too “expensive” and their salaries would eat into SMRT’s profits.
He said, “I can tell that during Saw’s time many veteran ASP Trains were forced to retire under the pretext of Re-Org. Those officers with decades of rail experience were considered too costly. They hired younger and fresh diploma holders without rail experience but cheaper and with few benefits especially medical and leave benefits.”
What caused SMRT to degenerate into a “money worshiper” at the expense of public service?
Source: www.tremeritus.com
Warga Senja Antara 50 Keluarga Terima Habuan Raya Dari Persatuan Peguam Islam
Pada usia senja mencecah 70 tahun, Encik Sarif Awang masih lagi mencari rezeki sebagai pekerja pembersihan sambilan.
Ini bagi menampung kos kesihatan dan penjagaan anaknya, Cik Noor Azlinah, 43 tahun, yang terlantar sakit di rumah dan tidak mampu bertugas selepas diserang angin ahmar empat tahun lalu.
Bekas petugas pejabat yang menjanda itu juga menghidap pelbagai komplikasi lain sehingga menjejas ginjal dan daya penglihatannya.
Melihat keadaan keluarga ini yang memilukan, Persatuan Peguam Islam (AML) tampil menghulurkan bantuan di ambang Syawal.
Keluarga Encik Sarif antara 50 keluarga susah yang menerima habuan sekitar $15,000 di pasar raya NTUC FairPrice di Joo Chiat Complex semalam.
Habuan berupa duit Raya $100 dan bajet beli-belah $150 diberikan kepada setiap keluarga dengan ibu tunggal, warga senja atau pesakit kronik.
Bungkusan ayam segar juga diagihkan AML yang menerima sumbangan wang daripada peguam bukan Islam, yang menghargai kerja amal mereka itu.
Ketika ditemui Berita Harian, Presiden AML, Encik Noor Mohamed Marican, berkata pihaknya menggerakkan projek ini sejak lima tahun lalu apabila jawatankuasa baru dilantik.
Penerima bantuan dipilih daripada kes yang pernah dikendalikan atau atas rujukan pihak tertentu.
Kerja amal ini bukan tertumpu pada musim Lebaran sahaja malah diperluaskan ke musim perayaan Deepavali dan Tahun Baru Cina.
“Masih ada kelompok masyarakat kita yang miskin dan perlu dibangkitkan semangatnya menjelang Syawal. Sebab itu, saya galakkan mereka beli kuih Raya dan minuman ringan.
“Saya kira, kita harus mengubah bentuk bantuan agar memenuhi keperluan semasa. Kita harus berganjak daripada tempoh habuan keperluan asas seperti beras dan minyak sahaja diberikan.
“Lantaran itu, AML mengusahakan agar peruntukan bajet diberi bagi setiap keluarga. Mereka bebas memilih barangan yang mereka perlukan. Mereka juga tidak perlu malu bahkan dianggap seperti pembeli lain di pasar raya ini,” jelasnya.
Encik Sarif yang ditemani cucunya, Noreen Marsya Mohd Saruan, 14 tahun, terharu seraya berkata:
“Dengan adanya peruntukan ini, bolehlah saya beli beberapa barangan keperluan harian dan khusus buat Hari Raya.
“Saya gagahkan semangat bekerja pada usia senja kerana kasihan melihat anak yang sakit dan perlukan dorongan saya. Saya sahaja harapannya kerana ibunya pun sudah meninggal dunia. Kalau nak fikirkan, saya sendiri dah berusia dan berpenyakit.”
Source: http://beritaharian.sg
Beraya Solo Dengan Air Mata Syawal
Lampu lap-lip di luar rumah Encik Rafi Hassan berkerdipan indah di malam hari, menyambut Lebaran yang bakal menjelang tidak lama lagi. Beberapa botol kuih Raya sudah pun tersaji.
Bagaimanapun, setiap kali suara takbir bergema, sebak terasa di dadanya mengenangkan ibu bapa dan nenek yang sudah tiada.
Anak tunggal dan bujang berusia 42 tahun itu sudah biasa hidup menyendiri. Yang dianggap teman penawar duka di rumah tiga biliknya di Tampines Street 41 ialah tiga kucing yang cukup manja lagi jinak, menyambut kedatangan penulis. Flat itu sudah dimilikinya sejak beliau berusia 29 tahun lagi.
Namun, di ambang 1 Syawal, Encik Rafi, seorang penyelia di syarikat pelancongan, menanti peluang keemasan beraya di kampung ibu saudaranya di Senggarang, Batu Pahat. Sudah lama desa yang sudah dilengkapi dengan kemudahan tandas itu tidak dikunjunginya.
Sebagaimana ceritanya dalam pertemuan lebih sejam baru-baru ini:
“Mak cik saya selalu prihatin dan bertanya, ‘Rafi, kau beraya di mana?’ Saya pun terfikir seronok betul kalau saya balik kampung dan rasakan semangat gotong-royong di malam Raya! Lagipun di sana masih ada botol oren dan Sarsi macam zaman saya kanak-kanak dulu.
“Saya akan tolong mengemas rumah, potong bahan memasak lauk-pauk Lebaran. Maklumlah saya ni suka memasak dan tak kekok di dapur. Cuma menganyam ketupat sahaja saya tak boleh diharap! Nak bakar kuih pun tak ada kesabaran. Pernah cuba bakar kuih tart, tapi semuanya ranap dan hangus!”
Encik Rafi kehilangan ibunya yang bisu, Cik Aisa Bee Ismail, sewaktu usianya semuda 18 tahun. Ibunya, yang cekal dan bersemangat waja, menghidap tekanan darah tinggi dan meninggal dunia pada usia 47 tahun.
Bapanya, Encik Hassan Bakar, yang menetap di rumah jagaan warga senja dan pesakit kronik pula pergi menyahut seruan Ilahi pada usia 64 tahun sekitar tiga tahun lalu.
SUARA TAKBIR
“Saya memang rindukan mak dan menitis air mata apabila mengenangkannya yang sudah lebih 20 tahun tiada. Ingat lagi saya tatkala ada mak cik panggil mak ‘si pekak’ di sekolah saya dulu. Saya mengamuk tak terima, bahkan sempat tarik baju mak cik tu, marah kerana mak saya dipersenda.
“Kadang macam berat nak dengar suara takbir sebab pastinya kenangan bersama mak muncul di ruang minda. Sewaktu arwah ayah ada, sekurang-kurangnya saya terhibur juga walaupun beliau dirawat di rumah jagaan. Dapat bawa dia bersiar-siar pada Hari Raya pertama.
“Terus terang saya katakan, hilang mood nak beraya selepas kehilangan kededuanya dan nenek saya. Tapi apabila difikirkan kembali saya tak harus biarkan kesedihan saya berterusan. Saya masih ada mak cik dan saudara-mara lain khususnya yang lebih tua untuk dikunjungi.
“Kadangkala teman-teman pun undang saya ke rumah mereka. Cuma saya akui timbul sekelumit kesedihan apabila melihat orang lain beraya bersama isteri dan anak-anak mereka. Tapi, apabila fikirkan betapa saya sudah biasa hidup bersendiri dan bebas membuat pilihan baju, perhiasan rumah dan kuih-muih tanpa merujuk pada orang lain, kelegaan timbul serta-merta,” ceritanya.
Ditanya tidakkah saudara-maranya mendesak agar beliau segera menamatkan zaman bujang, Encik Rafi, yang juga terlibat dalam bidang peragaan pakaian pengantin, bahkan pernah menyertai peraduan Senior Manhunt, menambah secara berseloroh:
“Saya tak berkecil hati dengan soalan mak cik saya yang prihatin. Malahan, saya selalu bergurau dengan mereka. Saya kata, ‘Tak ada anak dara yang sanggup menikahi saya sebab mereka tak mampu sediakan hantaran $50,000 serba satu!’
“Kalau sampai masanya, mak cik tinggal datang saja ke majlis ringkas saya di Pejabat Pendaftaran Pernikahan. Bakal isteri saya pun tak perlu susah payah. Tinggal bawa beg pakaian dan menetap di sini. Dah tak ada mak mentua garang pun yang akan mengawasi mereka sebab saya ni anak yatim.”
Lawak jenaka menjadi penawar dukanya. Masanya sering disibukkan dengan tugas serta menyertai peraduan memperaga pakaian. Beliau juga pernah menerima tawaran mengacara di beberapa majlis rasmi dan berharap dapat mengendalikan bengkel etika keyakinan diri buat anak Melayu suatu hari nanti.
Bagaimanapun, di sebalik senda guraunya itu, ada perkara bermain di fikirannya. Katanya mengakhiri perbualan kami:
“Harapan saya pada Syawal nanti, dapatlah saya menikmati kemeriahan beraya di kampung dalam suasana yang berbeza daripada sambutan di Singapura.
“Jerih payah saya berdikari dari usia muda menjadikan saya lebih cekal dan yakin meneruskan kehidupan saya tanpa mengira apa tanggapan orang terhadap diri saya atau status saya. Tak semestinya kita hidup membujang hidup kita kurang bahagia. Ada juga teman yang berumah tangga tapi tidak sehati sejiwa dengan pasangan mereka, lantas menjejas keceriaan beraya.
“Saya belajar erti kerja keras dari bawah. Saya juga hargai erti persahabatan dan membantu orang mana yang termampu. Sungguhpun begitu, saya mengharapkan yang terbaik agar kesihatan saya terpelihara kerana baru-baru ini, doktor khuatir saya ada masalah jantung tersumbat apabila terasa mengah semacam. Tak pasti adakah saya perlu jalani pembedahan.”
Source: http://beritaharian.sg