Another army general parachuted into top job in govt-controlled company

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Rear-admiral and Chief of Naval Staff of Republic of Singapore Navy cannot make it in the private sector.

ComfortDelGro’s taxi, private-hire chief Jackson Chia quits​

Mr Jackson Chia said he is not moving to another job, but will be taking time off to spend more time with family. PHOTO: COMFORTDELGRO

Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent

Jun 25, 2024

SINGAPORE – The chief executive of ComfortDelGro Corp’s newly formed Private Mobility Group (PMG), Mr Jackson Chia, has tendered his resignation.
PMG covers the transport giant’s taxi, private-hire vehicle, car rental and leasing as well as lifestyle businesses. It was formed in June 2021, with Mr Chia as its head.
Mr Chia, who turns 55 in 2024, was previously ComfortDelGro’s group chief sustainability officer.
He joined the Singapore-listed transport group in 2017 after a 28-year career in the Singapore Armed Forces, where he held the rank of rear-admiral and was chief of naval staff of the Republic of Singapore Navy.
When contacted, ComfortDelGro group chief executive Cheng Siak Kian said an announcement will be made on Mr Chia’s successor shortly.
Mr Chia told The Straits Times that “after seven years, it was time to move on”.
He said he is not moving to another job, but will be taking time off to spend more time with family. “There are things which money cannot buy, like time and health,” he said, adding that he is serving notice till September.


Mr Chia is also a director of Vicom, a vehicle inspection subsidiary of ComfortDelGro.
Other recent resignations include Mr Stephen Chow, head of ComfortDelGro’s Zig app business. Mr Clement Chua, who headed the group’s insurance brokerage business, has also quit.
ComfortDelGro’s share price ended one cent lower to $1.35 on June 25 – less than half its value just five years ago.
The company has been facing profit erosion since ride-hailing companies such as Grab, Gojek and Ryde entered the Singapore market a decade ago.
The group reported a net profit of $40.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 – a 23.8 per cent increase over the same period in 2023. Revenue rose 10.8 per cent to $1 billion, from $906.4 million over the same period in 2023.

 

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East-West Line disruption to go into second day, no MRT service between Jurong East and Buona Vista​

About 850 commuters on board a stalled train near Clementi MRT station safely disembarking on the tracks and being guided back to the station platform. PHOTO: SMRT/FACEBOOK

Fatimah Mujibah

Sep 26, 2024

SINGAPORE – There will be no regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista on Sept 26, marking a second day of disruptions for commuters on the East-West Line (EWL).
This comes after a power fault halted normal passenger service between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations for most of the day on Sept 25.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement late on Sept 25 that engineers from LTA and train operator SMRT started recovery works in the afternoon, and will continue into the night.
“However, as the damage to the tracks is extensive, more time is required to do the necessary repairs and replacements,” the authority said.
Both SMRT and LTA will check all first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains overnight, before they are put into service, LTA added.
A defective mechanical component of a first-generation KHI train contributed to the power fault on Sept 25.
In a Facebook post, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said: “LTA will do a thorough investigation to ascertain what happened and identify areas for improvement.”

Separately, the authority said: “LTA and SMRT will perform a rigorous investigation into the cause of the incident and provide an update in due course.”
There will be free regular bus services between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations on Sept 26, as well as free bridging bus services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations. Also, there will be a shuttle train service between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and also between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations at 10-minute intervals.
“We are deeply sorry and thank all commuters for their understanding and patience as we do our best to recover train services on the affected stretch of the East-West Line,” SMRT said.

As Primary 6 pupils will sit their English papers in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) on Sept 26, the Ministry of Transport will work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) to “prepare contingencies to minimise the impact on our students”, said Mr Chee, who is in Beijing for the Global Sustainable Transport Forum.
In a media reply, the SEAB said there are existing arrangements for such contingencies and pupils have been briefed.
It said: “SEAB would like to assure examination candidates that they will not be penalised for being late to their examination due to train service disruptions. Candidates will be given the full duration of the paper if they reach the examination centre before the end of the paper.”
In a Facebook post, MOE said pupils who are late due to the train disruption should inform the exam centre and continue to go to their exam venue, or the nearest one. They should also approach staff at the MRT stations’ passenger service centre if they need help with directions.
A parent told The Straits Times that she would accompany her son to school by bus on Sept 26, to make sure he does not get lost. The child, who studies in a primary school in the west, is sitting his PSLE English written examinations, and typically would take the train to school on his own.
LTA said earlier that the eastbound train developed a fault on the EWL near Clementi station at about 9am on Sept 25. SMRT helped passengers to disembark at Clementi station, before withdrawing the train towards Ulu Pandan Depot.
While the train was being withdrawn, a power trip was detected at 9.25am, causing another train on the EWL between Queenstown and Boon Lay stations to stall near Clementi station, LTA said.
SMRT said there were about 850 commuters on board this train, and they safely disembarked on the tracks and were guided back to the Clementi station platform.

SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming and group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping explained in a statement that the incident was the result of an unforeseen issue during the withdrawal of an old train, where a defective mechanical component dropped.
That caused the wheels of a bogie – a framework to support a rail car’s traction and braking – to come off the running rail and hit track equipment, including the third rail and point machines, leading to the power fault.
“We fully understand the inconvenience, frustration and delays this disruption has caused, and we deeply regret the impact it has had on your journey,” they added.
The hours-long train disruption affected many commuters, with some telling The Straits Times that they were late for work by more than an hour.

Commuters were advised to use alternative transport arrangements, and check for updates on SMRT’s and LTA’s social media platforms, as well as LTA’s MyTransport app.
From 5pm, SMRT started running separate shuttle train services between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations, at intervals of 10 minutes.
Free regular and bridging bus services were available between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations, with commuters advised to take alternative lines.
There was confusion among commuters about where to board the bridging buses in the morning, and which platforms to board the shuttle trains in the evening, according to ST’s interviews at the affected stations.
This is despite ST observing SMRT staff and TransCom police officers assisting affected passengers at the stations. Some commuters also had to contend with trying to board packed bridging buses in the rain at around noon.

In a Facebook post, Acting Transport Minister Amy Khor said she visited the Queenstown station on the evening of Sept 25 and observed SMRT staff proactively guiding commuters towards alternative transport arrangements.
“I also had the chance to speak to affected commuters, and although some felt inconvenienced by the disruption, commuters were generally understanding,” said Dr Khor, who is the Senior Minister of State for Transport, and Sustainability and the Environment.
“I thank commuters for their patience and assured them that SMRT is working closely with LTA to resume normal train services as soon as possible.”


Last week, the Circle Line (CCL) grappled with two consecutive days of disruptions – a power fault that caused delays on Sept 17, and another one caused by a fire in the power system cubicle at Kim Chuan Depot on Sept 18.
The first incident caused about a 30-minute delay during the evening peak-hour commute, where a total of 11 trains stalled in the CCL tunnels during the traction power outage.

In the Sept 18 incident, the power fault was later isolated from the network, as SMRT engineers worked overnight to ensure smooth operations. It is not known if both incidents are linked to each other.
This is not the first time that a train delay coincided with the PSLE. In 2017, commuters on the EWL experienced a three-hour delay, starting at about 6am, due to a train fault. However, no candidate sitting the PSLE papers was affected by the disruption.
MOE also said at the time that students who were affected by the train delay on EWL need not submit an excuse letter and would be given the full paper duration.
In 2023, when a cracked rail was discovered on the CCL, SEAB did not receive any reports of candidates who were unable to take their exam on time because of the disruption.
In the first quarter of 2024, EWL was the second most reliable MRT line, managing 5.05 million train-km between delays of more than five minutes.
Both the EWL and North-South Line had just undergone a $2.6 billion renewal programme in 2023 that upgraded four of its six core systems. These revamps included the replacement of sleepers that hold the running rail in place, changing of the third rail that supplies traction power to trains, upgrading of the signalling system, and renewal of the power system.

 

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New chief executive at the helm of Hindu Endowments Board​

Mr Jeevaganth Arumugam, 57, began his appointment as chief executive of the Hindu Endowments Board in mid-September. PHOTO: HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD

Rhea Yasmine

Oct 10, 2024

SINGAPORE - The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) has appointed a new chief executive to take the helm.
In a statement on Oct 9, HEB said Mr Jeevaganth Arumugam, 57, began his appointment in mid-September.
Mr Jeevaganth was previously employed at the the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Armed Forces and the private sector.
He has experience in managing operations, human resource work, and designing and managing programmes.
At HEB, Mr Jeevaganth will focus on strenghtening the board’s operations and its ties with other religious communities in Singapore.
“I am honoured to lead such an important national body and l look forward to working collaboratively with volunteers and stakeholders to strengthen our social compact,” he said.
Mr Jeevaganth holds an engineering degree from the National University of Singapore, as well as two master’s degrees and three post-graduate diplomas in various domains including business administration, career counselling and coaching, and defence technology and systems.

He also founded an endowment for at-risk youth, known as the Youth Avesha Fund.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeevaganth Arumugam to our team,” said HEB chairperson Rajan Krishnan.
Mr Jeevaganth takes over the reins from Mr T. Raja Segar, 61, who had led the board since 2017 and left on March 31 this year. Mr Raja is currently the editor of Tamil-language daily Tamil Murasu, a role he has had since April.
HEB operates four Hindu temple endowments under its administration – namely the Sri Mariamman Temple, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Sri Sivan Temple and Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple –- and is involved in initiatives focused on the Hindu community.

 

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The PAP MPs in NTUC's Central Committee: Ng Chee Meng, Heng Chee How, Desmond Tan,
The PAP MPs, former PAP MPs and ministers on the board of directors of NTUC Enterprise: Lim boon Heng, Lim Swee Say, Ng Chee Meng
are all sleeping!

NTUC central committee not aware of capital reduction plan in Allianz-Income deal: Desmond Tan​

NTUC Enterprise went into the deal to strengthen Income in the longer run as it recognised the challenges that Income had been facing. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

Oct 17, 2024

SINGAPORE – The labour movement’s central committee did not know of the plan to return $1.85 billion to shareholders under the Allianz-Income deal before it was mentioned in Parliament on Oct 14, said NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan.
Speaking in Parliament on Oct 16, Mr Tan said the central committee had been briefed by Income Insurance and its parent company, NTUC Enterprise, on the strategic imperatives of the deal, but the capital reduction plan was not highlighted to it.
As Income is a non-listed public company, it would have to comply with the legal responsibility of non-disclosure of commercially sensitive information on Allianz’s plans post-acquisition, he said.
Mr Tan made the point in response to questions from Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai and Nominated MP Raj Joshua Thomas during the debate on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, adding that Income is subject to the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers.
The capital reduction plan is a key factor in the surprising turn of events that saw the Government block the hotly debated $2.2 billion deal between Income and German insurer Allianz that was first made public in July.
Allianz had made an offer to buy a controlling stake of at least 51 per cent in Income.
On Oct 14 in Parliament, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said in a ministerial statement that the Government had decided it would not be in the public interest for the transaction to proceed in its current form.

While the Government does not have concerns over Allianz’s standing or suitability to acquire a majority stake in Income, the concerns lie in the terms and structure of this specific transaction, particularly in the context of Income’s corporatisation exercise, he said.
Mr Tong added that before the deal was raised in Parliament in August, his ministry had not seen the plan for Income to return some $1.85 billion in cash to its shareholders within the first three years after completion of the transaction.
During the debate on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill on Oct 16, Mr Tan explained why NTUC had supported the proposed deal.

When NTUC was briefed on the proposal, it was difficult for the unions to learn that Income was planning to sell a majority stake to Allianz, given the company’s history as the labour movement’s first social enterprise, said Mr Tan, who is Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
But NTUC Enterprise went into the deal to strengthen Income in the longer run as it recognised the challenges that Income had been facing amid a more competitive and tightly regulated insurance landscape, he noted.
“The NTUC central committee agreed with the strategic intent and approached it in good faith,” he said.
He also clarified that NTUC, as a major shareholder of NTUC Enterprise, does not get involved in the day-to-day running of operations.

It delegates to the board of NTUC Enterprise the responsibility of making decisions pertaining to all businesses.
Mr Tan also noted that Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat had acknowledged that NTUC had acted in good faith and in the interest of workers and members.
“If you look at it, the Government and NTUC share the same strategic intent and broader objectives for Income and the co-op movement,” said Mr Tan.
“But as far as the specifics of this transaction are concerned, there is now perhaps a difference in view,” he added, referring to the concerns Mr Tong had raised about the deal.
He added that NTUC has reviewed the matter and accepts the Government’s considerations and decisions on the proposed transaction.
“We note that the Government remains open to any arrangement that Income may wish to pursue, whether with Allianz or any other partners, so long as the concerns highlighted are fully addressed.”
Mr Tan added that Income has committed to study carefully the implications of the ministerial statement by Mr Tong and the amendments of the Insurance Act, and will work closely with the relevant stakeholders to decide on the next course of action.
“The labour movement – which includes NTUC Enterprise and NTUC – is united in (its) purpose and we will continue to do right by our people, and what is necessary for the longer-term interest to serve workers and the people of Singapore,” he said.
In a Facebook post on the evening of Oct 16, labour chief Ng Chee Meng said the decision to halt the Allianz-Income deal and its implications were of key concern to the labour movement and union leaders who had supported the deal.
He added that Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Mr Tong and Mr Chee held an “honest and productive engagement” with NTUC and union leaders to clarify issues after the Parliament sitting.
“NTUC respects and accepts the Government’s decision that the transaction cannot proceed in its current form,” he said.