Is Seniors being made the scapegoat for Covid19 worsening situation ?

 I find it troubling that our seniors are being made to be the scapegoat for Spore covid19 worsening situation. Recently a local site The Independent News carries an article by an Australia newspaper titled "Singapore recovery stalled by 100K seniors who won't get jab".

Foreign press gets the impression that seniors are the problem is because our government has been indirectly implying that seniors are the one spreading the infection. Govt keeps highlighting senior’s infection rate but not other age group.  Looking at the statistics, on average senior’s daily infection rate is around 12 to 15% but the focus is always on them. We know that even with vaccination, one still can get infected and die. Why is the govt giving the impression that those seniors infected are not vaccinated?  

Our local media recently interviewed seniors who are outside saying they can’t stay at home as they are bored. It is skewed and biased as they are interviewing small numbers of seniors who apparently enjoys being out. But the damage is done – the message is seniors get infected and spreading the virus because they move around too much.

Minister Ong has said that those 70 years old and above is 87% jab, while the vaccination rate of 60 to 69 years old is more than 90%. Our senior aged 65 and above population is 639K, with the home vaccination program and the campaign to get senior jab, the unvaccinated seniors numbers has dropped from 200k to 70k. MOH should POFMA The Independent site for publishing a divisive article and spreading untrue information.  It is sad that even local site is supporting biased views targeting our seniors.

I wish to highlight that low vaccination rate amongst senior initially is because the government did not realise many has mobility problem. Besides, during the early stage of vaccination, only those healthy seniors were encourage to jab, those with underlying health conditions were told to check with their doctors and immune compromised were told not to jab.  Seniors may not be able to ‘reset’ their mindset when later government changed directive which encourage practically all groups to be vaccinated.  So why keep giving the impression seniors are anti-vaccination? Why don’t government provide data of those below 65 who are not vaccinated?

We are told that for those elderly, especially those with health problem they should be vaccinated to protected them from covid19.  But now if vaccinated seniors with underlying health problem die – the blame is on their underlying health condition, not the vaccine ineffectiveness.  It seems that for seniors who are infected or dying it is all due to their fault. Is this fair?

Why is Polyclinic consultation fee so high ?

The consultation fee in Polyclinics has been rising almost every year.  It is also relatively high compare to what HDB heartland GP charges.  Currently it is 48.13.  The average consultation fee of GP is around 20+.

Polyclinic is meant for the public masses, it is ridiculous to jerk up the fee and then provide govt subsidy.  It looks like the govt is very generous with the subsidy but in actual fact the out of pocket payment by patients is more due to the high fee.

Those who have CHAS card is better off seeing their GP.  Reasonable fee, much shorter waiting time even if there is no prior appointment and simple administration for registration, collection of medication, payment....etc.    At polyclinic the waiting time to see a doctor can be around 3 hrs without appointment.  Then patients have to more from one counter/station to another for registration, collect medicine, etc... which the elderly finds it hard to handle.

US canine war hero

US president posted a photo of the war canine hero in his tweet. Its name is not revealed because according to a US Army General, they need to protect the dog's identity as it is carrying out secret missions. The dog is under classified unit and so the dog needs some degree of anonymity.

I find this funny - isn't a picture of the dog more revealing than its name ? I suppose US president tweeted the photo without knowing that the dog is 'classify' something like a spy whose identity needs to be protected.

$4.7M white elephant bike parking lot

I read with disbelieve that our govt spend $4.7M to build a bike parking lot which will be scrapped just after 2 years of operation. It took 4 years to build the bike lot.

It was reported that this bike parking lot is the first auto underground parking system to be build in S'pore in Admiralty under Sembawang GRC.  It was opened in Jan 18 and will be closed by Dec 19.  There was a 1 month free trail at its opening and then charges were fixed at $22 for unlimited parking or 25cents/hr.  The rate was increased to $48 or 45cents/hr after Apr 18.

It has 500 lots and it was reported that only 3 lots were utilized between Feb 18 to Sep 19. How can this be ? It that some mistake in reporting ?  Granted it is a badly conceived project - such ridiculous take up rate means that is something very wrong with our govt planning.

What is worrying is this case could be indication of a systemic problem with our govt wanting to be a SMART nation at all cost, without thinking through what are the must have changes vs cosmetic frills.  Our govt is responsible to use public fund wisely.

This bike parking lots speaks volume of govt lack of understanding of public needs and sentiment.  I suppose all these ministers with high salary would not be able to understand that anyone with common sense will not pay $48 to park our bike. We cycle to MRT station....is to save money on transport.  Paying for bike parking would wipe out whatever saving. Besides, bike parking is free and so convenient above ground.  This underground auto parking may not be so convenient after all.

The increase in parking fee after a short period of  3 months reflected greed. I do not know the details but it does not make sense to increase fee when there is weak demand. This whole episode is a reflection of a worrying trend of governance in S'pore.

NEA vs Aqicn.org data on haze

On 19/9/19 in Today paper "NEA addresses questions over the veracity of PSI, as alternative air quality reading emerge".  Same old story over the years every time when haze descends upon Singapore - NEA desperately defending their 24hrs average data.

NEA Dr Khairunnisa Yuhya even accused aqicn.org haze reading as being 'incorrect' compare to NEA 24 hr PSI reading. Aqicn.org is not incorrect but more accurate as it is instantcast reading.  Besides their data is obtained from NEA hourly reading, so how can it be incorrect ?  If NEA converts its 1 hr PM2.5 reading in ug/m3 into PSI, its reading will be very close to those of aqicn.org too.

Why does NEA not convert its hourly reading into PSI ? Their 24 hr average PSI reading is actually  converted from ug/m3. The only reason for not doing so for the 1 hr reading is that they don't want the public have easy comparison.  Most folks only remember the number above '100' PSI means unhealthy. But they may not be aware that 56 ug/m3 in the 1 hr reading is equivalent to above 100 PSI. The descriptive 'elevated' in 1 hr reading has the same meaning as 'unhealthy' in 24 hr averaged data. (note: as safe exposure limit for PM2.5 is base on 24 hrs, for conservative safety reason, we can base 1 hr safe expose limit on the 24 hr recommendation ie 56 ug/m3 'elevated' being the start of unhealthy range)

NEA don't seems to understand that for public safety - its 24 hr average reading is not helpful at all.  As an analogy, if there is a chemical gas leak in a factory - workers will be evacuated base on real time reading. Emergency response team will put on protective mask base on real time reading.  This is the same for environmental pollution - public should base their decision on real time reading and NOT averaged down 24 hrs data.

Environment pollution 24 hour data is used to gauge exposure health issues that may arises. Public decision to wear face mask or to stay indoor or not - should be based on real time reading (1 hr data).  It is NOT safe to base decision on 24 hour averaged down reading !

Aqicn.org under their FAQ explains in details how they derive their reading.  They also explained why they think 24 hr averaging is a "very bad idea" as air pollution is dynamic and no one can wait for 24 hrs before knowing that the air quality is good.

NEA should consider using Nowcast data formula suggested in aqicn.org website which is more reflective of haze suitition.

The NowCast is computed from the most recent 12 hours of PM monitoring data, but the NowCast weights the most recent hours of data more heavily than an ordinary 12-hour average when pollutant levels are changing. The NowCast is used in lieu of a 24-hour average PM concentration in the calculation of the AQI until an entire calendar day of hourly concentrations has been monitored." 

NEA should stop being so defensive and get their priority right by making the haze reading/descriptive easy for public to understand.  

TV haze broadcast of 1 hr reading is NOT in PSI

Many are not aware that there is a difference in PSI reading and ug/m3 (microgram per meter cube). This is because the health warning levels are different.

NEA 24 hour average reading is in PSI. However NEA 1 hour average reading is in ug/m3.

S'pore official health advisory is based on 24 hours average PSI reading. For our personal health concern, we should base our activities on 1 hour real time reading ie to stay indoor or not, when to use face mask.

Table 1 : Health advisory by NEA in PSI for 24 hour averaged reading:
0 -50        Good
51-100     Moderate
101-200   Unhealthy
201-300   Very Unhealthy
above 300 Hazardous

Table 2 : Health advisory by NEA in ug/m3 for 1 hour averaged reading,
0-55        Normal
56-150    Elevated 
151-250  High
above 250 Very High

Table 3 below is the previous descriptive reference from NEA website from past years which is no longer found in their current site :

Table 3:
Index Category           PSI            24hrPM2.5 ug/m3
Good                           0-50          0-12
Moderate                   51-100      13-55
Unhealthy                101-200    56-150  
Very Unhealthy        201-300     151-250
Hazardous             above 301     above 251

As there is no safety limit given for 1 hr reading, we could take the unhealthy range level as 56 ug/m3 and above.

For the haze reading broadcast over TV provided by NEA, the 24 hr data is in PSI. But the 1 hr data does not have a unit a measurement attached to it - this may mislead the public into thinking it is in PSI. We can see from Table 3 - unhealthy level is at 56 ug/m3.

NEA is not helping the public as they could have easily converted the reading into PSI which the public is familiar with. They could have also used the same descriptive for both 24 and 1 hour data. Public may not understand that 'elevated' is 'unhealthy'.  


NOTE : 

1) US EPA adopts 35 ug/m3 as unhealthy limit for 24 hrs PM2.5 which is a more stringent standard than S'pore.

2) For real time 1 hourly data on haze please refer to : aqicn.org  - which provides air pollution Air Quality Index (AQI) for more than 60 countries in the world. AQI descriptive :

0-50                 Good

51-100             Moderate

101-150           Unhealthy for sensitive groups

151-200           Unhealthy

201-300           Very Unhealthy

301-500           Hazardous

Huawei running fake promotion or ...???

Did Huawei run a fake promotion for publicity gimmick ?  Or was it a very badly planned and executed promotion ? If not how can handsets be sold out in some outlets even before they open for business on the very 1st day of the promotion ?  Notice was put up to redirect customers to bigger outlet which either never even open for business or ran out of phones.  Then police were call in due to the people lingering outside the store and for outlets with large crowd - safety became an issue.

Huawei ran a widely publicized promotion over media of their phone model Y6 Pro 2019 which is selling for $54 instead of the normal retail price of $198. This is to celebrate S'pore 54th national day and give recognition to seniors as only those age 50 and above are eligible.

It is also stated the each person can buy 2 sets. You can buy for an eligible senior as long as you have the his/her IC to show to the sale staff at the 27 concept stores and selected retailers. This promotion offer is to last for 3 days (26 to 28 Jul).


It is reported in the media that Huawei announced at 1130 that some of the stalls will be closed for safety reasons. It was also reported that only about 20 to 30 sets are available for the promotion for stores at Jewel, Vivo, Nex and Toa Payoh. While customer at Yishun was told only 10 sets available and was directed to North Point.

Looking at the timing of the announcement and the number of sets available - Huawei is neither sincere nor serious in their phone promotion . They are not new kids on the block but experience and should know what to expect if they run a promotional offer with large discount.  It is very irresponsible of them to inconvenient the public and cause safety problem in public spaces due to large crowd gathering.  As police were roped in at a few outlets - it only confirm how badly run was the promotion was.

Then they have the cheek to announce there is another promotion on Saturday for their Mate 20 at Challenger outlets.  This is a more costly phone though also comes with large discount.  So is this Y6 Pro 2019 publicity gimmick to pave the way for Mate 20 promotion ?  It was said that the Mate 20 promotion is cancelled. Could it be due to police cautioning them of the public nuisance they have become ?

Culling of pigeons should be done humanely

The recent case of a pigeon culling video at Aljunied Hougang Town council, which ACRES described as "an outright case of cruelty" - is the common practice used by pest control companies engaged by all Town Councils in S'pore.  Culling is normally done regularly every 3 months.

AVS (formally AVA) is well aware of the method employed as they are the one who approved this inhumane and cruel method of culling pigeons. SPCA is aware of it too but they believe AVS is working towards a more humane way of culling.  Unfortunately - their 'belief' never materialised as AVS sticks to this low cost quick fixes which they claimed is 'effective'. I thought ACRES is aware too - after all this bad practice has being going on for more than a decade with little result in controlling the pigeon population. This itself is evident that the method is NOT effective.

We understand the need to control the pigeon population in housing estate, but a more humane method should be used. It is very cruel to have them suffered so much pain first by poisoning then suffocation while being culled. It is extremely disturbing to see poisoned pigeons falling off ledges. Most of birds though unable to fly are still alive when they are thrown into bags. 

Those pigeons that did not ingest sufficient poison food, flew off and we often see dead birds the next two days at various blocks. If the cleaners do not spot them, the carcass will pose a hygiene problem.

AVS has tested out contraceptive feed method to reduce pigeon population at a mosque and a temple as I recalled for around 3 to 5 years. However AVS seems hesitant to implement it as it is more costly. This method has been found to be effective in other countries.

Sterilization of stray cats has been very effective, thus contraceptive method on pigeons would likely see fruitful results, which years of ruthless poison plus suffocation culling has not.

We are a developed nation, we should stop such cruel culling.  Besides the current method contradicts the spirit of the law of cruelty against animals. It also goes against our national kindness movement and compassion teaching in various religions.

Marine Parade TC committed an offence under cruelty to animal

Pet abandonment is considered as cruelty.  Thus, if a owner who abandon and release his/her pet at a food center - he/she is deemed to have committed an offence under the law and could be fined up to 15,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 18 months.

The recent case where Marine Parade Town Council (MPTC) gave instruction to abduct/steal 2 cats from a resident, Mdm Tan and later abandoned them by releasing them at Harbour Front food center is an OFFENCE. It is pet abandonment - only the offence is committed not by the owner but by MPTC.  One of the cat has been found dead. The other still missing, the likelihood of it being also dead is high.

MPTC has committed a very cruel act to both the pet cats and their owner. The cats are dependent on their owner for food and shelter, they must have suffered unimaginable distress to be abandoned  at an unfamiliar place and left to fend for themselves. Mdm Tan suffers mental agony of not knowing what happen to her pets. She has been searching high and low for her cats for more than 3 weeks.  MPTC has made matter worst for Mdm Tan by being evasive and not telling her initially what they have done to her cats.

Animal cruelty is an offence - thus MPTC should be answerable to the law. The Town Council has abused their power by removing the 2 cats without informing the owner or obtaining her consent.  They even took Mdm Tan's cage for their abduction.  This is stealing both cage and cats while the owner is not at home !!

Singhealth Data Breach - No Action Needed ??

It takes more than 2 months - from 1 May to 4 July 18 before the cyber attacked on Singhealth was discovered.  By then 1.5 million patients' non-medical data was breach.  Because of the late discovery - a further 160,000 patients' medical record was stolen between 27 Jun to 4 Jul.

Think the hacker(s) must be having a field time, first steal personal data, since no one notice go for medical record too.  Why does it takes more than 2 months before major attacked was notice?  IT security system limping weak or Singhealth IT dept sleeping on the job?

Then all these diversion tactics as usual on MSM to take the public focus away from the important questions.  Who attacked us?  What they intend to do with our data?  What is the govt doing to apprehend the hackers?  

We are not interested in how many sms were send out to inform patients their data are stolen or not stolen.  Neither do we find comfort that PM Lee and Mr Goh CT data was access - which the MSM seems to think so. We find it ridiculous that the MSM reported that Singhealth / govt should be 'lauded' for their handling of this cyber attack - which should not have happened in the first place!

They said it is a major attacked and they know who but can't tell us due to security reason. What the crap!  There is no mentioned at all of going after the hacker.  What is the point of forming a committee - so many committee have been form in the past whenever something happened.  Just like the SMRT issues - they still happened and have gotten even more serious after CEO Ms Saw departure.

They can tell us 'no action needed' in the sms. We are small fly - what can we do, BUT we expect concrete action from the govt.  Govt said breach is done by some big time foreign hacker(s) - if so do they steal for fun? Surely they intend monetize the stolen data.  So govt knows who behind it and yet not going after them?

Or can it be they are hiding something from us?  Everything is national security issue when they don't want us to know-  just like GIC, Temasek and our national reserve financial status.

Major cyber security breach and we are not given any details!  What are we to think?  Maybe for all we know it is a small time hacker and they need to save face for their limping security system.

SMART Nation with handicap security system which can't even protect public data.  What a joke! 

Govt in overdrive to justify $20 M Summit spending

Seems like the focus of our govt after the US-N Korea Summit ended is to justify the $20 M poured into holding it.  Could it be because of the negative outcome as most critics said the agreement signed between the 2 leaders is full of holes?  Or could it be because our closest neighbor Malaysia is cutting back on govt expenditure while ours is still spending like they have a gold mine?

The main stream media went into overdrive the last few days to highlight how much monetary benefits Spore has gotten out of the summit.  Really?

I recalled after PM Lee announced that $20 M will be splashed on the summit, CNA interviewed 2 economists if Spore would benefit from the summit.  Both said the tangible economic benefits are limited.  However, after the summit we are thrown figures like $700M - Meltwater report, $200M worth of global publicity, $150M to $750M of economic benefits ($750M- increase by $50M overnight ?)......

Looking at the figures from $150M to $750 M - the difference is $600M ie 400% difference! Such a wide gap - and they expect us to accept them at face value and believe in them?

The $20M is already spend on the Summit, but all these airy figures are intangible benefits which may not even materialized.

To top it up, Minister K Shanmugam said that North Korea missiles can reach S'pore in 20 mins. The same old trick- using scare tactics.  Since when did North Korea ever threaten S'pore?  If US, our long time friend thinks we are part of Malaysia, N Korea likely has a more fuzzy idea of our geographical location before the summit.

Sigh! After wasting $20M of public fund, now they want to dupe us into believing the money spend is worth it. This is too much to stomach in 1 week.

US-N Korea Summit, YOG, F1 Race - $ Worth ??

What is common linkage of US-North Korean Summit, YOG and F1 Race in Singapore ?
Answer : Obscene amount of money splashed on them. 

F1 Race started in 2008. The licencing cost is $65 million every year. The cost of hosting it is in the range of $150 million.

Youth Olympics Game (YOG) was held in Spore in 2010. The initial budget was $104 million, but it overshot by $280 million.  YOG cost us a cool $387 to host.

The recent US-N Korea Summit on 12/6/18 cost $20 million to host.

What is the justification of all these big spending ?  F1 and YOG were supposed to put S'pore on international stage - get the world to know Spore through wide media coverage and exposure.

The recent summit is Spore 'contribution' to world peace.  But after the 2 presidents signed a piece of loose binding agreement which most critics have doubt of its effectiveness of getting N Korea to denuclearized - our govt change track and said the money well spend as it gives Spore international coverage. 

US State Dept made a mistake to address Spore as part of Malaysia in the recent summit. For US to make such a mistake to the host country - it is a wake up call to PM Lee that no amount of money or apple polishing is going to correct misconception of Spore being part of some other bigger country (eg China, Malaysia, ....)

It also reflects the obscene amount splashed into money losing venture such as F1 race over the years does little enhance world citizens knowledge of Spore geographical location.  If a high US official  can made such mistake - what can we expect from common folks ?

Similarly the $387 million spent on YOG for international coverage was also money down the drain, as most would not care where is Spore located.

What makes our PM Lee thinks that folks around the world are more interested in politics than sports?  Beside US, Japan and South Korea - the likelihood of other countries citizens paying much attention to this summit event is minimum, as they are not affected and have no direct stake in it.

Our govt expects us to be proud that Spore is hosting this summit.  But what is there to be proud about ?  Trump leadership is full of controversy and is the laughing stock even within his own party.  Kim is a brutal dictator who terrorized neighboring countries and US with his nuclear arm. He murdered his own relatives and brother.  He don't believe in human rights and starve his people to fund his nuclear program.  He never foot his own bill.  N Korea still yet to pay up the bill for the cars they imported from European country.  South Korean paid around US$3 million for N Korean to participate in the Winter Olympics and Para Olympics game.  N Korean internet hackers stole millions from third world country bank which had weak security system. Kim is just a big time gangster, robber and terrorist.

So just because he is a the head of a country - all these can be overlook?  This seems like it seeing how our PM Lee and ministers butter him up.

As a S'porean I feel ashamed and disappointed at our leaders behavior.  It is a waste to spend $20 million to host the summit.  Besides our govt put our Spore and us at security risk as these 2 leaders are not the most likable nor popular and have plenty of enemies.

Likely the summit serves as a ego booster for our govt leaders instead than anything else.

Careshield Life - review community Chairman's statements don't hold water

CNA interviewed Careshield Life review community Chairman, Mah and the discussion touched on higher premium for female and the starting payout of $600 which is still pretty low to be helpful to those who are severely disable. But according to Mr Mah, this new scheme has 'significant improvement'.

Mr Mah said females are required to foot higher premium because they live longer.  But it is the average life span of female which is longer than male, NOT survival years after being hit with severe disability. Are that statistic to show that severely disable female lives longer than their male counter?

According the Mr Mah, the new scheme has 'significant improvement' as the payout is $600 for life. But it is only $200 more than the previous scheme which payout is $400 for 6 yrs. This was last revised in 2007. So it is a miserable $200 increase over 13 years ! (2020-2007 as Caresheild Life starts from 2020).  Is this amount significant? 

We also need to see concrete statistic that those severely disable does live longer, as previously we were told the surviving years is 6 after being hit by severe disability.  If not there is no significant improvement in Careshield Life, except that it is significantly more expensive with 10 years earlier sign up age and 12 yrs longer and higher premium payment compare to formal Eldershield scheme.

Mr Mah also claimed that the new scheme caters for inflation.  He gave the example of a person suffering from disability at age 31 (2021) will get $600 payout for life.  While one who suffers from disability at age 55 (2045) will get $1000 for life. But to me this is because he/she pays longer premium that is why the payout is more rather than catering for inflation.  What about that poor chap who is hit with disability at age 31?  He still gets $600 in 2045 presuming he is still alive.  How can this be catering for inflation ?

Thus, the review committee for Careshield Life justification for the scheme premium and so call 'significant improvement' don't hold up to reasoning.

Careshielf Life ...another 'helping us' scheme to load up CPF coffer

Seems like what started out as voluntary scheme in CPF always end up being compulsory.  The latest being Eldershield renamed as Careshield Life. So they claim that it is a better scheme as payout is for life - if one meets the criteria of unable to do 3 basic daily activities such as feeding, washing, dressing, mobility, toileting and transferring.

What an irony, if one is so severely disable, one would wish to go earlier than to live longer to get more payout. Perhaps they should consider including legalizing euthanasia if they are serious about helping us. What is the point if our quality of life is at rock bottom.

The most important clause in the formal scheme remain untouched - criteria for claim eligibility. This has been a point of contention of the public as most likely to suffer 1 to 2 disability. To suffer from 3, is too strict a criteria.  Perhaps that is the reason the payout rate is so low since only a minority meets the claim criteria.

It is stated that there are 1.3 million Eldershield policy holders and the total premium paid is $3.3 billion, but payout is only $133 million ! So much profit perhaps that is the reason CPF taking over the scheme from the appointed 3 insurance companies.

It is not stated out of the 1.3 million policy holders the percentage that meet the claim criteria when they suffer from disability. Their biggest 'selling' point in this new scheme is the life payout if one is disable.  But what is the point if one can't even meet the criteria for claim.

In the old scheme, the payout is for 6 years because they told us that their statistic has shown that those who suffer from severe disability die within 6 years.  Now they tell us this scheme is so 'good' as it is life payout. But likely most will still go to heaven within 6 years and CPF coffer will be loaded  with premium paid.

Besides premium being higher in Careshield life, premium payment is 12 yrs longer than the previous scheme.  The premium also gets higher each year (unlike previous scheme, premium fix at joining age).  Only the first five year premium is made known to increase by 2 % each year after that it is unknown. Oh yes - there is some subsidy which will last for 5 years - this has always been the 'carrot' they offer us whenever they come out with some new scheme or increase taxes...etc.

They said that the opt out rate for the old scheme has been stable at 5%.  So if the new scheme is so good - why make it compulsory?  Wouldn't everyone rush to join in even if it is to remain voluntary?

Shouldn't AVA Be Prosecuted ?

In the recent case of culling of chickens in Sin Ming, who can verify that all those birds culled were domestic fowls?  There is a high probability that there are red jungle fowls among them.

A healthy brood of red jungle fowls which are protected endangered species has been featured in a few documentaries (besides Wild City). Thus it is unbelievable when AVA claims that those were all domestic chickens.  It is unlikely that a healthy brood of red jungle fowls 'disappeared' overnight to be replaced by a brood chickens.

Besides, AVA also claims that the birds were killed humanly. However, there is no explanation on the method used.  If the current method to cull pigeons is used - it is very cruel.  Pigeons are first poison to incapacitate their motion, so we see pigeons falling of ledges and roofs after ingesting poison but still alive. Then they are stuff into bags to suffocate slowly to death.

It is an irony that AVA being the 'gatekeeper' for the act on cruelty against animals condone such inhumane culling method for years.  Can AVA be trusted to be a reliable 'gatekeeper' for our protected endanger species?

What if the authority such as AVA has crossed the line and infringed upon the Act to protect endangered species and animals against cruelty in the Sin Ming fowl incident - who will prosecute AVA ?

Can we trust AVA to own self check own self ?

HAZE - NEA 1 hourly averaged data is not PSI but in ug/m3

Many are not aware that there is a difference in PSI reading and ug/m3 (microgram per meter cube). This is because the health warning levels are different.

NEA 24 hour average and 3 hour average readings are in PSI. NEA 1 hour average reading is in ug/m3 (not PSI).

S'pore official health advisory is based on 24 hours average PSI reading.  However, for our personal health concern, we should base our activities on 1 hour real time reading in PSI, a reference we are familiar with.  NEA does not provide real time 1 hour data in PSI.

*Health advisory by NEA in PSI for 24 hour averaged reading:

0 -50      Good
51-100   Moderate
101-200 Unhealthy
201-300 Very Unhealthy
more than 300 Hazardous


*Health advisory by NEA in ug/m3 for 24 hour averaged reading:

less/equal 55   Normal
56-150      Elevated 
151-250    High
more than 250  Very High

It seems that NEA has changed their reference parameter this year for haze reporting in ug/m3. It has chosen to use such neutral descriptive words, which render them useless for public health reference.

**Formal descriptive reference from NEA and MOH website last year:

Index Category           PSI            24hrPM2.5 ug/m3
Good                           0-50        0-12
Moderate                   51-100      13-55
Unhealthy                101-200    56-150  
Very Unhealthy        201-300     151-250
Hazardous             above 301     above 251

Thus, on 26/8/16 at 12 noon Spore West area hitting 216 ug/m3 (not PSI) is very alarming, as it is in the very unhealthy range !

NOTE : 

1) US EPA adopts 35 ug/m3 as unhealthy limit for 24 hrs PM2.5 which is a more stringent standard than S'pore.

2) For real time data on PSI please refer to : aqicn.org  - which provides real time air pollution information for more than 60 countries in the world

Vandalism along HDB corridors

Vendors who are mostly providing plumbing, electrical and lock/keys services have been vandalizing HDB common corridor for years. They paste their advertising stickers on electricity meters and water pipes.

These stickers are hard to remove. Last year, the flats in my area have been given a fresh coat of paint which includes the water pipes outside the flats. Now these pipes have been vandalized again with unsightly stickers.

Their company name and contact number are on the stickers and could be easily traced. Why do HDB/Town Council not take action to warn and prosecute these vendors ?

SMRT priority - Safety or Service?

SMRT CEO, Desmond Kueh said "The safety of our people has always been the utmost priority..". But at the same time SMRT was quoted saying it is their "priority to deliver a high level of reliability" in its train network.

What then is SMRT top priority?  Safety of its staff or service reliability?

Likely it is service reliability over staff safety as the CEO himself said that to have a team of staff walking along the 0.5m wide maintenance track while the train is in operation is "standard...It is a routine activity".  By treating high hazard work as 'routine', the head of SMRT has trivialized the importance of safety.

It is also reported that an average of 2 to 3 authorizations are given daily for maintenance staff to access the track while the trains are running. It seems like SMRT is tempting accident to happen.

With the narrow maintenance walkway and running train, one would have thought that having a team of staff on the track would be the exceptional rather than it being standard and routine activity.

If staff need to risk their lives on daily basis, then there is something very wrong with the reliability of the signaling condition monitoring devices, one of which the team was trying to access when the accident happened.

To say that the accident is due to the train entering the affected area because of failure in co-ordination between the team and the station staff is just scratching the surface.  There were 15 staff on the track when the accident happened. Has SMRT heard of the saying "too many cooks spoil the broth" ? It is a high hazard working condition, the number of staff should be kept to minimum, not forgetting the walkway is only 0.5m wide!

Could the large number of staff that resulted in co-ordination problem? The supervisor, assistant engineer and engineer each thought that the other had contacted the station to stop the train?

The deeper problem could be SMRT company safety culture which can affect the quality and standard of the operation safety procedures and staff compliance to them.  For high risk/hazard work, the basic requirements are the use of operation checklist and maintenance of communication (eg via walkie-talkie) between the maintenance team and station control. Were these basic requirements in place? If so, did the team adhere to safety protocol?

However, the most uncomfortable possibility is that the team took unnecessary risk to minimize train service disruption due to pressure from the top.




   

Town Councils Mindless Implementations

Recently there have been highlights in the internet regarding Town Councils mindless implementation such as :

- putting sign stating "No Playing of Chess in Common Areas" at a HDB void deck in Haig Road
- installing barriers on a walkway which caters to wheel chairs users at Bedok

These idiotic quick fixes in responses to feedback and/or complaints give us a glimpse of the working mentality of Town Councils. Seems like they suffer from a deficiency of common sense.

There are many examples of such Town Councils stupidity around our HDB estates in S'pore.  Here are more of their idiotic implementations :

1) installing bicycle ramps on the stairs of a overhead bridge.. There is an overhead bridge near Tampines MRT which has heavy pedestrian movement.  With the bicycle ramps installation at stairs, the stairs become much narrower. No cyclist in his/her right mind will ever push the bike up 2 flights of stairs of the overhead bridge which has steep slope.  Controlling the bike on the ramp when going down is a hazard. Likely you have to press the brake and release it repeatedly as you move down the stairs.  If you lost control, the bike will tumble down the flight of stairs posing a danger to pedestrians using the overhead bridge.  Besides, there are 2 traffic light crossings on both sides of the overhead bridge.  As a cyclist myself of sound mind, I will go for the traffic light crossing instead of endangering myself and other pedestrians by using the bicycle ramps of the overhead bridge.

2) putting cones at extended roof shelter to stop vehicles from letting passengers alight at the shelter.  These extended shelters are built with the purpose of sheltering folks on rainy days when they alight from vehicles. So it makes no sense to put cones there as it defeat the purpose of building such shelters in the first place.

3) installing electronic board just to display a few shop blocks layout plan.  When the electronic boards were installed, the purpose is to display and update information effectively.  We thought it will replace the previous display notice boards. But alas, the layout plan put up during testing period still remains till today. The old notice boards are more useful as they are updated regularly on the HDB zone activities and govt policies (recently mostly on medisave life).

Town Councils are wasting resident money on white elephant installations and their mindless quick fixes render good intention installation useless to residents.

Myna Population Control in Yishun and Clementi

It was reported in the media that fogging of selected trees will be done to manage the myna population in Yishun and Clementi by AVA, due to residents complain of the noise created by the birds.

The authorities do not think it is a long term solution.  Likely it will not be effective as we have seen how years of culling of pigeons by poison has not work.  It used to be the same with stray cats, with AVA culling them and discouraging feeding, but with limited result in controlling of the strays population. This is until NGO groups actively promotes sterilization of stray cats. The sterilization program has been very effective in reducing the strays population.

Contraceptive bird feed has been found to be effective in other countries. AVA is doing trail run on pigeons at a mosque in Singapore.  AVA should expedite this program and extend it to both pigeon and myna population control island wide.

Fogging will only drive the myna from on location to another.  So peace in this neighborhood results in noise in another. Besides, though fogging does not kill the birds, but it is still chemical involved. Chemical dissipated into the air can land in surrounding locations and caused irritant to human and pets. It may be inhaled and cause health issues.

Must we drive and kill off all other animals (except pets) in HDB ?  Can we learn to be more tolerant towards stray cats and birds in our estate. They add life and colour to our concrete jungle.