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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Shanmugam: SMRT is not a Govt entity...</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:38 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 2) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>34872.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Shanmugam lashed out at SMRT for security lapse
June 20th, 2010 |
Author: Your Correspondent
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/06/20/shanmugam-lashed-out-at-smrt-for-security-lapse/
Beleaguered PAP minister Shanmugam has lashed out at SMRT for the security lapse at its depot which rocked the entire nation two weeks ago.
On 17 May 2010, two foreigners slipped completely undetected into a SMRT depot at Changi and sprayed graffiti on the carriage of a train. The security breach was not detected until two days later.
The atrocious “feat” shocked many Singaporeans who are left wondering what the outcome might be had the vandals been trained terrorists instead.
The ministries of transport and home affairs were quick to distance themselves from the mistake, leaving the hapless SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa to express “regrets” to Singaporeans.
Though the state media has been keeping the matter out of public spotlight in the hope that Singaporeans will soon forget about it, negative sentiments on the ground towards the PAP prompted Mr Shanmugam to criticize SMRT and “tai-chi” the responsibility to it.
Speaking to reporters during a community event today, Mr Shanmugam said it is “impossible and unacceptable to require the taxpayer or the public to pay for the security of thousands of profit-making entitles in Singapore.”
“You look at SMRT. 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?….When it comes to private sector organisations, like the SMRT depot, it has been gazetted as a protected place, but 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,” he was quoted as saying in Channel News Asia.
The PAP has suffered collateral damage from the resultant PR fallout as the security lapse reminded them of the embarrassing escape of famed terrorist Mas Selamat Kasteri from the Internal Security Department two years ago.
Though SMRT is a public-listed company, it is owned partially by Temasek Holdings, which is owned by the Ministry of Finance.
In his desperation to absolve the PAP from any responsibility, Mr Shanmugam even chided Singaporeans for not realizing that the government has “nothing” to do with SMRT.
“If they do not see SMRT as a private company, 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 to the shareholders…..Some people have said Temasek has shares in SMRT. Does that make it a government entity? Temasek has shares in many companies – DBS, Keppel both within and outside Singapore. Does that mean they do not pay taxes to the government?”
PAP leaders have demonstrated that they are only good at pointing fingers at others, but never themselves when things screw up. As for Mr Shanmugam, he has brought the art of “tai-chi” to another level altogether.
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http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/06/20/shanmugam-lashed-out-at-smrt-for-security-lapse/
Beleaguered PAP minister Shanmugam has lashed out at SMRT for the security lapse at its depot which rocked the entire nation two weeks ago.
On 17 May 2010, two foreigners slipped completely undetected into a SMRT depot at Changi and sprayed graffiti on the carriage of a train. The security breach was not detected until two days later.
The atrocious “feat” shocked many Singaporeans who are left wondering what the outcome might be had the vandals been trained terrorists instead.
The ministries of transport and home affairs were quick to distance themselves from the mistake, leaving the hapless SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa to express “regrets” to Singaporeans.
Though the state media has been keeping the matter out of public spotlight in the hope that Singaporeans will soon forget about it, negative sentiments on the ground towards the PAP prompted Mr Shanmugam to criticize SMRT and “tai-chi” the responsibility to it.
Speaking to reporters during a community event today, Mr Shanmugam said it is “impossible and unacceptable to require the taxpayer or the public to pay for the security of thousands of profit-making entitles in Singapore.”
“You look at SMRT. 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?….When it comes to private sector organisations, like the SMRT depot, it has been gazetted as a protected place, but 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,” he was quoted as saying in Channel News Asia.
The PAP has suffered collateral damage from the resultant PR fallout as the security lapse reminded them of the embarrassing escape of famed terrorist Mas Selamat Kasteri from the Internal Security Department two years ago.
Though SMRT is a public-listed company, it is owned partially by Temasek Holdings, which is owned by the Ministry of Finance.
In his desperation to absolve the PAP from any responsibility, Mr Shanmugam even chided Singaporeans for not realizing that the government has “nothing” to do with SMRT.
“If they do not see SMRT as a private company, 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 to the shareholders…..Some people have said Temasek has shares in SMRT. Does that make it a government entity? Temasek has shares in many companies – DBS, Keppel both within and outside Singapore. Does that mean they do not pay taxes to the government?”
PAP leaders have demonstrated that they are only good at pointing fingers at others, but never themselves when things screw up. As for Mr Shanmugam, he has brought the art of “tai-chi” to another level altogether.
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