Dear Sir,

For your info.

With salutations,
Linus

—– Forwarded Message —-
From: Linus chew
To: Public Transport Council
Sent: Wednesday, 12 November 2008 10:05:50
Subject: Re: Feedback on PTC Members

Dear Madam Jane Lee,

Thank you for your reply. I would like to the remind the PTC council members to be objective in their views regarding looking after the interest of public transport operators. As land is limited for roads building in Singapore, having a world-class public transport system that is a comfortable and viable way to commute is VITAL for a less congested road. As being all drivers themselves, they should know better than to ‘push’ people to taking taxis or buying a car to commute. They are literally shooting themselves in the foot.

Still, this does not absolve them from knowing and analyzing the ground situations of everyday commuters. Have they taken a feeder bus service along with a train or another bus to their destination (how long it takes to arrive)? Do they know what commuters are complaining daily about to the bus and train operators? Are there temperature controls on the buses and trains (back sweating hot or freezingly cold)? Is ventilation even an issue with commuters? Have they taken public transport during peak hours? Do they know some buses takes 15-20 mins to arrive during evening peak hours in the city (I know this as a fact)? These are the questions I hope they have discussed and analyzed long and hard on. From what I see now, I seriously doubt they have. If they need me (a nobody) to tell them this, they are not doing their job!

Thank you.

With salutations,
Linus

From: Public Transport Council
To: Linus chew
Cc: mot
Sent: Tuesday, 11 November 2008 6:41:29
Subject: Re: Feedback on PTC Members


Dear Linus,

We have noted your opinion and preferences.

Actually, there are currently 4 representatives from the labour unions and civil service in the 16-member Council. In addition, there are also 2 representatives from grassroots’ organisations. We believe that the composition of the Council does facilitate a representation of diverse views, notwithstanding that they may or may not own private cars. Please be assured that there are already members who do speak up strongly for commuters – adults, students, senior citizens, the needy, etc.

Like any decision-making, there are bound to be competing demands and preferences. The Council cannot simply take side with the operators or solely go along with individual preferences of the commuters. The Council has to consider all relevant concerns, examine all implications, take a balanced view, make judgement calls and decide independently, however difficult the decisions may be. This the Council has done since 1987.

If you wish to know more about the working of the PTC, please do visit our website at http://www.ptc.gov.sg.

Thank you.

Jane Lee
for Secretary
Public Transport Council

cc MOT

—– Original Message —–
From: Linus chew
To: Public Transport Council
Cc: Raymond_LIM@mot.gov.sg
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 1:16 PM
Subject: Re: Feedback on PTC Members

Dear Madam Jane,

With all due respect, having just one(1) member, out of 15 members that does not own a car, is not a logical and statistically sound arrangement. Do you honestly tell me that the rest of the 14 members actually will forgo their cars to take our overcrowded, infrequent and inefficient public transport? Moreover, they will actually crowd and squeeze with rude and uncouth smelly foreign workers in the enclosed bus and train cabins? Or walk 5-10 minutes in the sun and rain to the bus stop/train station? And wait and waste another 20 minutes of their precious time for a bus? I think not! I am sure any intelligent Singaporean citizen will not too! Even if you can somehow magically convince me they do, they cannot be taking public transport for more than once a week in my estimate.

Your examples of the PTC’s ‘looking after’ daily public transport commuters, pales in comparison with the hundreds of million dollars of profit the operators made every year.

Based on the above, please will the chairman of PTC’s council consider worker’s union members or civil servants who are lower middle class or who can’t afford to own a car as 1 or 2 more members in the council? They can be of good “competency, good public standing and experience” also.

Thank you for your time.

With salutations,
Linus

From: Public Transport Council
To: Linus chew
Cc: mot
Sent: Thursday, 6 November 2008 4:56:35
Subject: Re: Feedback on PTC Members


Dear Linus,

I refer to your email on 30 Oct 08.

The 16 Council Members (including Chairman) are appointed on the basis of http, especially their ability to contribute effectively to PTC’s deliberations on issues relating to public transport. We agree with you that decision-makers should travel by public transport to know the ground situation. Contrary to common perception, Council Members commute by public transport regularly and they do have first-hand experiences as commuters themselves. In fact, one of our Council Members does not even have a car and his family relies entirely on public transport. Given their experience/expertise in public transport operation, there are instances when the Council has disagreed with the operators and rejected their proposals. For example, the PTC recently did not go along with the operators and had instead set stretched targets in the new quality of service standards for basic bus services for their compliance. This year the PTC made the operators bear more of the increase transfer rebate (making them to forgo $30 million every year henceforth) than they had proposed. Last year, the PTC even rejected operators’ proposals to increase train fares.

We hope this clarifies.

Thank you.

Jane Lee
for Secretary
Public Transport Council

cc MOT
—– Original Message —–
From: Linus chew
To: mot@mot.gov.sg ; ptc@www.ptc.gov.sg ; talk2lta@www.lta.gov.sg
Cc: janice_quah@mot.gov.sg ; soffy_hariyanti@mot.gov.sg ; laura_chua@mot.gov.sg ; neo_lay_yiing@mot.gov.sg
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 11:53 AM
Subject: Issue of Composition of Public Transport Council members

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to see the Public Transport Council members to be comprised of non-car owners, either private or company-owned. This is to ascertain that they fully and logically looks after the interest of daily public transport commuters that they represent.

The way I see the 15 members now is, although they come from diverse backgrounds, I do not see them as middle-class or lower-middle class to be non car owners. There are lawyers, senior directors and professors in the council. It will be far fetched to ‘claim’ that they are regular public transport users!

The ministry of transport has been avoiding this issue that has been brought up, time and again, in the media and the forums. It is time it addresses this in a timely and appropriate manner.

With salutations,
Linus Chew

I am really disgusted at how our ruler welcomes tonnes of foreigners to come here to improve the economy for more moolah, vastly increasing overpopulation, & of course, the frustrations that come along with it.

Unfortunately, & quite obviously, the overpopulation problem spilled over & led to crowded public transport, & it doesn’t look like PTC is doing well to tackle this problem & deserve a price hike in fares.

I noticed during super peak-hours like in the morning, trains come in frequency of 2 or 4 minutes. I was doped into thinking that the next train which comes just 2 minutes after the 1st crowded train would be quite empty & comfortable. But no! I got a bloody rude shock to see streams of lemmings in the 2nd train, identical to that of the 1st train!

If 2 minutes frequency between trains ain’t enough to make our rides more roomy, something is seriously wrong. The size of our country isn’t made to hold so many people. It’s so wrong, it’s satanic!

NOW oil $ does down,whY the petrol station still remain so high,,,

GOV is it want to earn money to us??
don act le lah.dare to say out lah.. always like tat want,,,

TAKEcare of us..??.
makes me feel like _L_!!! !!!!!

You mean they should WALK THE TALK ?
I no idea man.
Singapore is tiny town, actually cycle to work is green and hip like hiphop.
Maybe its possible. I oso wanna see them cycle to work because singaporeans many are followers. They will do when shown how to or instructed to do so. Some are leaders oso lah. a few percent lor. So, leaders should lead by example.

I oso like to talk leh. I like to say, world peace! I like to say, tear down these walls! I like to say, lets live in peace and harmonious all night long.
I like to say, more good years!
I like to say, mee siam sometimes if you luckie got juicy hum.
I like to say, if you pay high high, no corruption wan. People hunger for weath got limit wan.
I like to say, Terrorism is easy to solve.
I like to say, everyone will live long long and not die living beyond 89 so work long long lah.
I like to say, BE HUNGRY and FEEL MORE HUNGRY. Its good for you.
I like to say, 1st world salary will drive MNCs to ho-lahnd.
I like to say, while oil price lowers, hiked price might not ler. Cheem hor?

regards
Mr Ho Pinkie
World Record TK King

The real issue is do we have a decent public transport by any standard, subjective or otherwise? In what ways it can be improved?

if we look back some 20 years ago, how has our public transport changed? Has it gone down the drain? Has it improved? Can it be better at a pace that people can adapt to?

Instead of juding how far short it is, why not ask how far more it should go , knowing well that the faster it goes, there are those who just want a decent basic public transport, at a pace they are comfortable with.

If its so good to pass off, would anyone give it a miss ??

Also, I’m always of the opinion that elderlies must be respected, regardless of race, language, religion and social class. Afterall, most if not all of them has contributed to the success of Singapore in one way or another.

I still think TV mobile should stay but remove the speakers. It’s not difficult to get a FM receiver (handphones have it!) So that those who really wanted to watch can put on their earphones while the rest do not get disturbed.

“Service – money, money and money. These are what will make our transport system world class.”
Greed of money not only make transport world-class but also world-class kangaroo court and MonkeyPeople. Money can buy their conscience and moral authority.

Let action speak louder than words :

Have you been to :
1. PC Show?
2. Used our roads each morning , evening?
3. Go to Orchard Road?

Just open your eyes, and take a look.

Enjoy more good years.
Sometime say Swiss standard, othertimes say Sweden Standard.

Is your pay 1st world?

I see that many hdb playground exercise equipment imported from China.
I also see China’s housing have excellent exercise equipment for its people.

Spore, please catch up. 1st world leh.
Coincidentally, China only woken up about a couple of decades only. Younger than spore. Look at China. Wonderful.

is it CRAZY???
hai…THEY JUST don understanding our feeling….

vote is impt,vote will awake them,,
stand up,singaporeans!!

Can we extend this to the Ministers and senior bureucrats?