SINGAPORE IS FAILING BECAUSE PORLUMPAR HEADS AND CEOs ARE NEVER SACKED FOR THEIR FAILURES. EVEN WHEN FAILURES ARE REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IF CANNOT MANAGE MEANS CANNOT.
WHEN WILL THE SCUMS EVER LEARN. SELF PRAISE IS RUBBISH AND DETRIMENTAL TO A COUNTRY'S WELL BEING.
IF CANNOT MANAGE MEANS CANNOT.
WHEN WILL THE SCUMS EVER LEARN. SELF PRAISE IS RUBBISH AND DETRIMENTAL TO A COUNTRY'S WELL BEING.
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</td></tr> <tr><td class="msgtxt"> Jun 9, 2010
SMRT says sorry for serious security lapse
Staff mistook graffiti for ad or artwork; alarm raised only after 2 days
<!-- by line --> By Maria Almenoar & Teh Joo Lin
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<!-- story content : start --> SMRT workers did not react to glaring graffiti on two carriages because they brushed it off as an advertisement or artwork, the train operator said yesterday.
Consequently, a serious breach in the perimeter fence of its Changi depot - a hole opened either late on May 16 or in the early hours of May 17, according to police - went undiscovered for almost two full days.
Breaking a nearly week-long silence on the incident, SMRT said that inaction on its part led to a delay in alerting the authorities. Meanwhile, the train was allowed to run in full view of train users for that length of time, leading to a YouTube video posted by a commuter.
The gaffe was admitted yesterday by SMRT's chief executive Saw Phaik Hwa, who apologised for the 'serious lapse'. In its statement, SMRT said its staff noticed the graffiti on the two train carriages on May 17, but thought nothing of it.
The first time someone noticed that something was amiss was at 4pm on May 19, when the train pulled into SMRT's workshop for routine maintenance.
Given the seriousness of the breach, SMRT has been asked to give a full account of what happened to <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 50%; -moz-background-size: auto auto; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" leohighlights_keywords="the%20police" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520police%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520police%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_underline="true">the police</leo_highlight> and the Land Transport Authority, said the <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 50%; -moz-background-size: auto auto; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_1" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" leohighlights_keywords="ministry" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dministry%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dministry%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_underline="true">Ministry</leo_highlight> of Transport in response to queries yesterday from The Straits Times.
Ms Saw said: 'We deeply regret that a serious security lapse occurred in our depot. I would like to reiterate that every single individual at SMRT must take responsibility for the security and safety of every commuter as well as the entire system.' (SHE SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD AND RESIGN FOR TRAINS THAT HAVE NO AIRCON, CROWDED, AND VERY JERKY DURING TRAVEL:oIo
Immediate steps have been taken to strengthen security, she added. These included increasing the number of security personnel at each depot, including the 25ha (equivalent to 32 football fields) Changi depot, increasing their patrols, and installing more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Visibility along the perimeter of the depots has been improved and barbed wire is being put up along the 3km perimeter fence around the Changi depot, SMRT said. Its staff and security personnel have also been briefed to be more vigilant and exercise stricter scrutiny.
Police have said two men were allegedly responsible for the break-in.
One, Swiss national <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 50%; -moz-background-size: auto auto; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_2" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" leohighlights_keywords="oliver" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Doliver%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Doliver%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_underline="true">Oliver</leo_highlight> Fricker, 32, has been charged with vandalism and trespassing. He is out on bail.
His employer, Swiss company Comit AG, has suspended him.
The other, believed to be Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, is still at large. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.
Noting public concern over the incident, SMRT detailed the security measures it has in place currently.
It said it reviewed its security procedures in 2005 and 2007, after the Madrid and London terror incidents which led to numerous deaths after public transport systems there were targeted by terrorists.
This resulted in a number of new security measures, such as CCTV cameras and hardened barriers to prevent entry, being implemented. Staff also carry out daily checks on the trains' brakes, doors, sealed switches, fire extinguishers and other equipment before the trains are let out of depots to pick up commuters.
Campaigns to get commuters to be alert to suspicious objects have been run regularly, and reminders constantly blare out from the public address systems at train stations.
Yesterday, Ms Saw reiterated the need for commuters to play their part. 'This incident also reaffirms the importance of the public's participation and support in reporting any suspicious sightings in our system,' she said.
Questions about whether the measures are adequate, however, have rolled in.
Several people have written to The Straits Times to express concern, and the incident is a <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 50%; -moz-background-size: auto auto; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_3" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_3')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_3')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_3')" leohighlights_keywords="hot%20topic" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dhot%2520topic%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dhot%2520topic%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_underline="true">hot topic</leo_highlight> online.
A Transport <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_4" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_4')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_4')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_4')" leohighlights_keywords="ministry" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dministry%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dministry%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_underline="true">Ministry</leo_highlight> spokesman said such concern is understandable.
'The incident has revealed certain lapses in the security at the depots... This incident has served as a good reminder on the importance of maintaining vigilance by all stakeholders to enhance the security of our MRT system,' she said.
Meanwhile, <leo_highlight style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; -moz-background-size: auto auto; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_5" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_5')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_5')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_5')" leohighlights_keywords="the%20police" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520police%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520police%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_underline="false">the police</leo_highlight> have alerted all Interpol member countries to look out for Alexander. The Briton left Singapore before the incident was reported to <leo_highlight style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; -moz-background-size: auto auto; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_6" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_6')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_6')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_6')" leohighlights_keywords="the%20police" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520police%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520police%26domain%3Dforums.delphiforums.com" leohighlights_underline="false">the police</leo_highlight> on May 19. He is believed to have fled to Hong Kong. When contacted, Hong Kong police said they do not comment on individual cases.
British Transport Police said they are working with the Singapore authorities. Its spokesman said: 'Those who commit graffiti offences often believe that their work is art. Sadly, when the chosen canvas is railway property, it cannot be considered art and is nothing more than wanton damage that costs thousands of pounds to clean up.'
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