Seasoned civil servant to join SMRT

[BuiKia]

Another failed scholar given chance and chance again. If he is any good, he won't need come back after leaving for IBM.

Beleaguered rail operator SMRT Corp has hired a seasoned civil servant to help it foster a better relationship with the Government.

Mr Colin Lim, 43, currently senior director of planning and organisation at the Ministry of Home Affairs, will join the Temasek-owned transport group next month. He will be in charge of government relations and business development.

Neither Mr Lim nor SMRT would comment on the move, but The Straits Times understands it is to help build a stronger relationship with the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and, in particular, the Land Transport Authority - which regulates the transport industry.

Mr Lim, a scholarship holder and with the elite Administrative Service, was previously with the transport ministry.

He later left the public service to join computing giant IBM in Britain, before returning to Singapore to join the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

His last position at the LTA was group director for vehicle and transit licensing. From there, he joined the Ministry of Home Affairs. A well-placed observer said: "The relationship between SMRT and the regulator has been patchy, especially of late, with all the rail incidents.

"Colin is the ideal person to help smooth things over as they (LTA and MoT) are familiar with him."

However, Mr David Leong, managing director of recruitment firm PeopleWorldwide Consulting, said the move might not solve SMRT's biggest problem.

"To make it frictionless between operator and Government is needless because the operator is supposed to work with guidance from the Government. It won't add to the efficacy of the rail system. It won't reduce the failure rate, which is an engineering issue."

 

[GoldenDragon]

Is he there to collect salary because no one else wants him or is he there to help in the operation of SMRT?

 

[BuiKia]

Looks like a post created just for him. What do you think?

Is he there to collect salary because no one else wants him or is he there to help in the operation of SMRT?

He will be in charge of government relations and business development. Neither Mr Lim nor SMRT would comment on the move, but The Straits Times understands it is to help build a stronger relationship with the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and, in particular, the Land Transport Authority - which regulates the transport industry.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Looks like a post created just for him. What do you think?

I dunno what to say.

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

>>However, Mr David Leong, managing director of recruitment firm PeopleWorldwide Consulting, said the move might not solve SMRT's biggest problem.

"To make it frictionless between operator and Government is needless because the operator is supposed to work with guidance from the Government. It won't add to the efficacy of the rail system. It won't reduce the failure rate, which is an engineering issue."<<

Looks like a lameass position created just to wayang then

 

[KuanTi01]

I dunno what to say.

No need to think lah! It's either yes or no!

 

[tryharder]

It's a post created for him. MOT, LTA and SMRT are all-in-one. there's no barrier wide enough to warrant a "communication agent".

I dunno what to say.

 

[winnipegjets]

In the developed countries, this would not be allowed. He leaves his employer so that he can be manage relations with his ex-employer for his new employer! Conflict of interest!!!!!

 

[Brightkid]

Noticed there were no dates of joining and leaving each organisations?

How long he worked in IBM? 3 months? 1 year? Or just 1 month? Why leave if working for a top class company?

Government can be 'smoothen' with a relationship manager? Something is very wrong inside government if it can be done such way! If not, then SMRT is just wasting money and fares going increase soon!

 

[mojito]

Is he going to be new transport minister? Very convenient, paid by smrt and government. Relations sure smooth smooth, but i can't say the same about your train ride though!

 

[Confuseous]

In the developed countries, this would not be allowed. He leaves his employer so that he can be manage relations with his ex-employer for his new employer! Conflict of interest!!!!!

SG short of talent mah.
That's why so many ministers hold more than one portfolio.
Except those in the PM's office.
What do they do, except organise 80th birthday parties or attend
Grand Prix and getting fat.

 

[marjojohn]

Is he going to be new transport minister? Very convenient, paid by smrt and government. Relations sure smooth smooth, but i can't say the same about your train ride though!

Desmond choo failure joining Peter Lim our NTUC like his father company take him back n now on a bandwagon at tampines grc riding on e cotetail! Where got capability n ability?