By Andrew Loh
Perhaps it is because the elections are near. No one really knows – except the Prime Minister himself. The word is that it could take place anytime now. Some have proffered as early a date as September. One clue could be the circus of ministers and Members of Parliament falling over themselves in passing the buck of responsibility in the recent spate of “unforeseen events”.
The latest to do so is the Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam, with regards to the recent security breach at the SMRT Changi Depot. Addressing the point made by some that the government is responsible for the security of the depot and thus the intrusion into it by two graffiti painters, Mr Shanmugam seems to lay the responsibility squarely on the SMRT instead. “You look at SMRT,” he reportedly said to Channelnewsasia. “It is an entity that makes profits. It is a listed company which makes profits for its shareholders. Is it fair for the public, through the government, to pay for that security either in manpower terms or in terms of the costs?”
He added that although the depot has been gazetted as a protected place, “the actual security of the premises is within the control of the company, as it should be, and SMRT has accepted that its responsibility is to provide for the security.”
This is a curious claim by the Law Minister. While no one would say that SMRT is without fault or that part of the responsibility lies with it, the fact is that the government has been providing security support to the SMRT.
In 2004, Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng, said: “In the case of MRT stations, you see that there are cameras, there are security features in places, and of course there are areas that can be improved and these are areas that are now being looked at by both the Transport Ministry, LTA, the operators themselves. And working together with MRT, the Police and the ISD and these measures will be in place from time…at the right time when the resources are available.” (MHA)
And over at the Land Transport Authority (LTA) website, it says: “A Police MRT Unit was first set up in August 2005 to complement the security in the MRT system. It has since evolved to become a fully operational police command called Transcom. The police officers of Transcom are armed and trained to look out for suspicious activities and items, conduct security patrols and checks, as well as respond to any security threat at MRT stations, trains and bus interchanges.” (LTA)
On the Singapore Police Force website, it describes the composition and responsibilities of Transcom, which was set up in 2009. “TransCom is a SPF specialist unit established to oversee and manage all policing efforts throughout the entire public land transport network in Singapore, which comprises rail (both MRT and LRT) and bus networks. Its functions include security planning, contingency planning and deployment of foot and fast response car patrols in both day-to-day and major deployments for effective response and management of security incidents in the public land transport system.”
[Is Transcom staffed by National Servicemen?]
Clearly, the government had expended resources in beefing up security for the SMRT, a “private company”, according to Mr Shanmugam.
“If they do not see SMRT as a private company,” Mr Shanmugam tells Channelnewsasia, “then that is a misconception because it is a listed company, but it is private in the broad sense that it is not a government entity. It declares dividends which goes (sic) to the shareholders.”
While this may be true, surely the SMRT is a special case and should be treated as such. This is simply because SMRT together with SBS Transit are the sole providers of public transport in Singapore, which is used by millions of Singaporeans each day. To treat transport operators as “private companies” which are responsible for (national) security is highly suspect – given that the government itself has taken pains to warn and remind Singaporeans of the terrorism threat in public transport.
Are not train depots key installations, ones which are targeted by terrorists? Did not the government itself reveal that as far back as 1997, the terrorist group, Jemaah Islamyah, had Yishun MRT station as one of its targets?
What if a bomb had been planted at the Changi Depot and resulted in casualties?
Would Mr Shanmugam say that it is the SMRT to blame? That the responsiblity for securing its premises lies with it?
Surely, Mr Shanmugam is not saying that terrorist threats to trains or train depots – key installations – are or should be the primary responsibility of the transport operators, is he? Did not the London and Madrid bombings teach us anything?
If the minister insists that SMRT is indeed solely responsible, why then is the government providing resources to them, which would contradict what Mr Shanmugam said – that it would be unfair “for the public, through the government, to pay for that security either in manpower terms or in terms of the costs”?
Is the government not already doing so – especially through Transcom?
And since it already is, why is it so adamant in passing the responsibility to the SMRT? Should not the government accept part of the responsibility as well?
The fact of the matter is that the SMRT and indeed SBS Transit are ultimately partly-owned by the government through its investment arm, Temasek Holdings, which itself falls under the charge of the Ministry of Finance.
On the SMRT website, it is clearly stated: “Temasek Holdings owns 54.5% of SMRT Corporation as at 3 June 2009.”
How then can SMRT be a “private company” when the majority share is owned by the government?
So, what is the minister talking about? I am not sure. I am also not sure he knows either.
The minister’s attempt at shirking responsibility for the security breach is therefore disingenuous – and worrying.
It is, however, nothing new. We saw the same behavior from ministers when terrorist suspect Mas Selamat Kastari gave his guards the slip and escaped to Malaysia in 2007. The Prime Minister and the Home Affairs ministers then laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of the lower-downs. In recent weeks we also saw Members of Parliament blaming everyone else but themselves for the low scores they had received for estate management. And the flooding at Orchard Road proved that accepting responsibility is something which no one wants to do. In that case, the blame was laid on the “unexpected volume of downfall” and “choked drains”.
It is disconcerting that when something goes awry, no one in authority steps up to take full responsibility. No one, including the Prime Minister who has kept a total silence on all these events, says, “The buck stops with me.”
This is the greater worry – that when it comes to national security or when things go wrong, we have no leader who dares, in the words of a friend, to “man up”.
Indeed, what we are witnessing is the Great Singapore Farce – with our ministers in the leading roles.
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PS: Mr Shanmugam’s argument that responsibility lies with the private companies, in any case, is a red herring. Perhaps inspired by “political motivation” to deflect any political costs to his party. For even when the security breach took place in a government-owned entity – as it did when Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in 2007 – no one in the government took responsibility. Indeed, the finger was pointed squarely at the centre’s guards.
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*Special thanks to our Facebook fans for their input
Further Reading: The TCMR finger-pointing farce
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it is so disappointing to see such comments by our ministers. instead of clearing the air, still try to push the all the blames to SMRT. y cant the government boldly share the blame with SMRT and move on with it.
I agree on how the article explain the hob scope of Transcom. However, SMRT should also do their job to protect their premises. They cannot depend every single thing on the police. Transcom is doing policing and not work as a security guard who will guard the premises 24hrs. So I do not agree to blame the police for such lapses. People reading the article should get the point right.
what happened to ministerial responsibility? Technically if its not under a ministry, then there is no ministerial reponsibiity. Somebody has to expand on whether ministers can be made responsible. So you have to track the corporation’s particulars and what is the link to such and such a minister and rework theory. Or am I out of target entirely?
“Who rescued the hostages from the hijacked SIA aircraft years ago?” anonymous
If I remember correctly the hijackers were armed with firecrackers, knives and forks.
PAP government has redefined fire-crackers to be explosives.
How PATHETIC And PATHETIC (PAP):
> So BLOODY COMFORTABLE of our PAP Politicians to bull-doze through Parliament and arm-twist S’poreans to pay themselves world-infamous obscenely-humongous million-dollar salaries, bonuses and other perks.
> Yet so DAMN UNCOMFORTABLE being TRANSPARENT (telling the whole truth) and ACCOUNTABLE (accepting responsibility) and saying a SIMPLE SINCERE SORRY to S’poreans (the very same people who are paying for their million-dollar remunerations).
What The FISH (polite version of the other dirty four-letter F-word) !!!
The premises has been government gazetted as a security-protected location. You will see along the fencing of all security-protected location, the silhouette of a rifle carrying amry personnel with a civilian having his hands raised. This gives the impression to anyone that the area is heavily fortified and protected by rifle-armed security personnel.
It looks like in the need to cut costs, the signage was the only and final deterrent, just like to signs in our HDB lifts that state a particular area is under video surveillance, almost all which are just dummy cameras.
All government gazetted security protected location should come under the responsibility of the Government. There is no need for a separate list of installations that is the responsibility of government.
Marina Bay Sand is a private entity. You look at MBS. why got mata inside????
I had bet with friends that this fella won’t be caned. Sure win.
If the govt try to shun responsibility to the private entity, then why have our police specially trained to guard theft and fraud in the two IRs. Is SMRT less important than the gambling resorts we are building?
This is a classic example of being legally and technically correct but morally wrong and irresponsible. Shanmugan is an extremely intelligent man and capable lawyer so he knows exactly where the ‘legality’ of the issue can be used to argue to his favor. But by doing so, he shows that he is using his expertise and intellect to protect the interests of his clique rather than to protect the interest of Singaporeans. Watch this man and observe what he says; you can see that his heart is never for the good of the singaporean people. do you want to entrust the future of your lives into such a person?
We have been witnessing the incompetency of the govt for the past several years.
These are the cocks and buffoons that LKY and LHL boast so much about.
Without a doubt these fools are there because of their willingness to sell their soul for a perceived value of being a govt minister.
They are the Lee’s precious collection of fools, damned fools and nincompoops.
this is the problem with the PAP run govt- sell away a public service provider for $$$, now blame that entity for seeking profits.
the relevent govt agency should be held responsible for the sale of a vital public service provider.
i wonder what will happen if there is a power disruption that lasts more than 48 hours in CBD. that will be interesting. heh…
another freak event in 50 years?
@martian 21 June 2010
“atobe, my decision will depend on my constituency and who’s running.”
Why should the constituency – where you live in – affect the outcome of you choice in the ballot paper ?
Only patriots will offer themselves to run as a candidate to give citizens a true voice in Parliament.
If you have no strength to give even moral support to such a patriot, do not complain after the Elections that sees the PAP retaining another Parliamentary majority, which will allow them to pass new laws to tighten the noose on our necks.
Any voice in Parliament – to boost the two soft ones now – will be more true in representing Singaporeans, and better than the monotonous baying sound made in unison obedience by the PAP majority to their own Master’s voice.
Rich people are more important that they need to be protected mah, us MRT ‘lesser mortal’ can die a few, doesn’t matter.
saying sorry makes him lose face, you know. as somebody respected and high-ranking, he simply couldn’t have that. call it the asian code of honour if you will, but humility is not accepted.
living behind the times, this dude is.
SMRT could say that their shareholder will feel its unfair for them to pay more for security cost. They are not security guard, you know.
Very confuse again, who should pay and who should bear more responsibilty?
money money money, very funny, its pocket deep inside.
and the money,,,,goes to th and gic and goons out of sight…
except that darkman,,,,,funny they go to great lengths for …lies
SMRT could fork out the money they squeezed from commuters to beef up their security. What with removal of seats in the cabins, increase in fares, etc. Why make the innocent citizens be responsible for their depot? And their CEOs and shareholders go laughing all the way to the bank. For this cause, I stay with the Law Minister.
Ultimately the SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE is responsible for security in Singapore. If not, why do we pay taxes, GST, etc.?
If only the police are 30% as energetic as when they spend their time giving out summons, crime rate in Singapore would go right down.
If only the government personnel of Singapore under its multi-millionaire ministers were to spend 1% of the effort on the wild goose chase looking for Mas Selamat, all of Singapore’s vital installation would be secured; no random floods like in Bukit Timah and Orchard Road.
Factual error: SMRT and SBS are not the only public transport providers.
ComfortDelgro is the other one, and they run the NE MRT line.
Joseph,
You mean the NEL MRT Line?
It is run by SBS Transit:
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/transport/trpt_overview.aspx
Blame the lower ranks, as usual. The moment i read the news, i knew it PAP is using the old tactics. Same old PAP, nothing change. Wonder why Singaporeans still vote for this incompetent party….
While I don’t think the SMRT is free of responsibilities, I am concerned about the argument used to substantiate that they (no one else quoted), as responsible. Most of us stay at homes which we purchased (though some take longer to pay off mortgages than the rest). So if 1 day, the area outside my home is vandalised, am I left solely to fend for myself because I am the ‘private’ owner of my home ?
” I take full responsibility”
says the president, in the saga of the oil spill in the Mexican Gulf!!
And this president only gets paid a quarter what our PM is getting!!
And this president’s duty covers from the issues at the bottom of the ocean to the far end of the Galaxy, not to mention the on-going issues in the US and aroundthe world!!
Whereas in this tiny red dot, our PM, who,in the recent interview with Charlie
Rose,said ” I am the best man for the job” and he is being paid 4 times the salary of the US President!!
Did he or for that matter, any of his
ministers,ever come out and say “I take full responsibility” in any of the incidents which have happened in Singapore??
You be the judge as to how efficient they are!!
kf
So if 1 day, the area outside my home is vandalised, am I left solely to fend for myself because I am the ‘private’ owner of my home ?
……………….
let me tell you a joke based on a realives event amon the hdb dweller…
imagined this scenerio…
you are livin on the lower floor..
your upstairs jumbuan hdb sewered pipe got choked…
the upstair dweller cannot used their jumbuan coz it gonna overflowed with s h i t…hdb investigates..blamin on the common jumbuan sewer pipe..hdb meanwhile tell you and your upstair dwellers..you 2 will hav to pay for the unblockages meanin new pipes/labours which can be amounted to a 4 digits sum…
you being the lowered owner hav no blockage @ all..but must shared with your upstair dweller juz to ensure they can hav a proper crappin?
Let’s face it – the papy elites are self-serving, more concerned with their emoluments and perks than with anything else.
With the govt holding stakes in so many businesses [GLCs], the govt is virtually in control of many aspects of life in Singapore. And the govt is under the control of one political party!
We have been fools to think that one party is always good for governing Singapore or the lives of Singaporeans.
Folks, it is time to reverse the situation, for our good and for the good of future generations.
Vote for the opposition, any opposition, in the coming GE.
KICK THE PAPIES OUT!
Ever since Lee Junior taken over as PM our counrty since to be getting worse & worse shape. Recession, Mas Salamat, flood, SMRT security violation etc….
Say what you want about those minister, don’t you think the leader of the lot should be blame for all the incompetencies for the world to see?
And we pay so much money to these buffoons too.
To myviewsareguranteedBETTER,
This actually happened to my ln-laws not the pipe but the toilet bowl. Water leaked to their downstair unit spoilt their cornice and they have to pay 1/2 the repair fee. Went to quarrel with MP who is useless. In the end still have to pay. Sigh!